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China's Shenzhou-18 astronauts complete handover, returning to Earth on Monday

Xinhua) 09:49, November 02, 2024

This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 30, 2024 shows the crew of Shenzhou-18 and Shenzhou-19 manned spaceships talking with each other. (Xinhua/Li Jie)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The crew of China's Shenzhou-18 spacecraft held a handover ceremony with the Shenzhou-19 crew and transferred the keys of the country's space station to the latter on Friday.

The Shenzhou-18 crew has now completed all planned tasks. The three astronauts will take the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft and return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Nov. 4, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

At present, the landing site and all participating systems are making final preparations to welcome the trio back.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
Mayor London Breed walks down the steps of City Hall with Dustin Sharpe while attending the San Francisco Opera Ball in 2022. Sharpe was hired to perform at event funded by her Dream Keeper program, the Chronicle has learned. Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle 2022

An Oakland hip-hop artist dating Mayor London Breed appears to have been paid $2,500 to perform during San Franciscos official Juneteenth concert that was sponsored by her signature city initiative.

The mayors boyfriend, Dustin Sharpe, was among the paid performers listed in a newly unearthed talent budget for the event held outside City Hall in June. An event producer working with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission to organize the concert submitted the budget to the agency for approval. The Chronicle obtained the budget in a batch of documents released by the city Thursday evening in response to a public records request filed weeks ago.

The records show Sharpe, a member of the Oakland underground hip-hop group Zion I, was to be paid $2,500 for a 10-minute performance. He was scheduled to perform less than an hour before Breed was due to speak on the same stage. Breeds office said he performed for longer than planned and that the mayor did not end up attending the concert, only the Juneteenth parade before the show.

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While there was no indication the mayor violated city policies or laws, the prospect of the city paying her boyfriend to perform at an event through the Dream Keeper Initiative creates a perception problem for Breed, experts said.

At the time of the event, the mayor was open about the presence of her boyfriend there, sharing on her Instagram account a promotional poster that featured his name.

Parisa Safarzadeh, a Breed spokesperson, said Breed had no role in organizing or making decisions about the Juneteenth event.

It was a public and free event put on to celebrate the Black community, featuring a number of Black artists with long careers in the Bay Area, Safarzadeh said. Organizers for the event made the decisions about which artists to invite and include.

Safarzadeh said Sharpe performed for 30 minutes, not 10 as initially scheduled.

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The Juneteenth concert was sponsored by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission as part of Dream Keeper, which Breed launched in 2021 to inject tens of millions of dollars a year into the Black community.

The initiative has been hailed for helping Black people get job training, buy homes and start small businesses. But it has also been roiled by reports of mismanagement and conflicts of interest in recent months, which led to Breed asking her close ally and friend, Sheryl Davis, to resign from her job overseeing the program. Davis stepped down as the executive director of the Human Rights Commission Sept. 13.

Breed and Sharpe have frequently attended events and been photographed together as far back as the summer of 2022. A day before the Juneteenth concert, Sharpe posted a video of him sitting at a dinner table with the mayor and a group of people decked out in Golden State Warriors gear, toasting with glasses of wine.

The Chronicle was not able to determine whether Sharpe was ultimately paid the $2,500 that the document showed was budgeted for his performance. He did not respond to questions when reached by phone or in subsequent text messages.

Ethics experts interviewed by the Chronicle said Sharpes performance raises at least two questions: Did Breed use her influence or authority to get him the job? Did someone hire him in an attempt to curry favor with the mayor?

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There were no indications that Breed was involved in selecting Sharpe as a performer for the concert or in deciding to pay him.

Richard Carpiano, a public policy professor at the University of California Riverside, characterized the situation as an unforced error that the mayor should have known might draw scrutiny and distract from her more important duties.

Even if everything was honest with this, it cant help but raise suspicion, Carpiano said. It has the appearance of being fishy.

Sean McMorris, transparency, ethics and accountability program manager with the good-government group Common Cause California, said Breed likely did nothing wrong if she did not attempt to influence the decision to hire Sharpe. But McMorris said the public rightfully assumes nothing is a coincidence in politics.

Politicians have to go above and beyond to prove otherwise and they know that going into public office, McMorris said. Knowing that, they should be cognizant of something like this happening and the blowback they might receive because of it.

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The budget listing Sharpe as a paid performer for the Juneteenth concert was submitted to the Human Rights Commission by an event producer, Kamel Jacot-Bell, and approved by Davis.

This works for me, Davis wrote in a May 4, email to Jacot-Bell.

An attorney for Davis, Tony Brass, said that Davis was reviewing it in terms of costs, not in terms of who the performers were or how any of that was managed.

Davis greenlit the budget while her department was in the process of finalizing an up to $1 million Dream Keeper contract for an event production company, Sounds Bazaar, to produce the Juneteenth concert and other events. City records show that the Human Rights Commission has paid a nonprofit acting as a fiscal sponsor for Sounds Bazaar $151,859 under the contract since July.

Asked whether Sharpe was paid the $2,500, Jacot-Bell said in a text message that Sounds Bazaar was involved in advising the booking process but not responsible for compensation nor reimbursements.

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Jacot-Bell said the organization was honored to help produce this years Juneteenth event. The business has said it had contacted performers with which it had a long-standing relationship.

Dustin is a respected musical artist weve collaborated with for over two decades, said Jacot-Bell, adding that organizers selected Sharpe in part because of his connection to Zion I, and to honor a member of the group, Steve Zumbi Gaines, who died in 2021.

Sharpe is a native of South Africa who immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager and began rapping at age 18. He attended New York University, graduating in 2005, according to his LinkedIn profile, where he lists himself as the CEO and founder of Sharpe Innovations, with specialties in live music performance, event marketing, and legal cannabis cultivation and distribution.

As a musician, Sharpe went by the aliases D.U.S.T. and Young Lion, according to a 2012 profile published in the Redwood Bark, the student newspaper at Redwood High School in Larkspur, where Sharpe was working as a campus supervisor. He joined Zion I and performed across the U.S. and Europe, with artists including Method Man and Ice-T.

He told the student newspaper that he liked making music for people who are struggling.

I dont make gangster rap, I dont make anything thats easy to put in a box, he said in the interview. If you listen to it, hopefully it will empower you, give you some hope.

After the concert, Sharpe posted pictures of his performance on social media.
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Louis Vuitton collaborated with Parisian chef Cyril Lignac to make the new cafe

Heathrow Airport this week opened a new designer cafe, Le Cafe Louis Vuitton.

The latest food spot, made in collaboration with Parisian chef Cyril Lignac, is a sign that, despite often appearing like a fad, there's a growing appetite for luxury restaurants.

While the airport opening increases accessibility to designer cafes, the concept is nothing new, and luxury lovers have long been sipping on logo-embossed cappuccinos around the globe, including at Vivienne Westwood's cafe in Shanghai.

As expected, the goods cost a premium price, with the Prada Cafe in London charging a staggering 6.25 for a cup of tea and Cafe Louis Vuitton charging 9 for a Pain au chocolate.

Despite a cost of living crisis, it's a trend luxury brand expert Nguyen Huy believes is set to stay. He explained that customers, particularly the social media generation, are keen to be associated with 'the level of luxury and exclusivity' at the locations.

Italian fashion label Prada had fans travelling to Harrods for it's designer mini treats, which cost 15 a piece

'Designer cafes, like the Louis Vuitton one at Heathrow, tap into the luxury experience that's become a key trend in recent years,' Huy explained.

He continued: 'These spaces aren't just about grabbing a coffee; they're about offering a full lifestyle experience. People who visit these cafes are looking for more than just food or drinkthey want to immerse themselves in the brand's identity.

'It's the same reason people buy designer clothes or accessories. They're not just paying for the product; they're paying for the association with that level of luxury and exclusivity.'

In a world where people are keen to flex their lifestyle on social media, it's relatively easy for brands to find customers ready to take selfies and record content in store locations.

Huy said: 'The customer base is generally fashion-forward, well-off individuals, often younger consumers drawn to high-end experiences.

'These are people who follow brands like Louis Vuitton for more than just their products but for status, style, and exclusivity. The cafe itself becomes an extension of that.

'It's not surprising to see this pop up in an airport like Heathrow, where the foot traffic is international, often affluent, and looking for unique experiences during travel.'

'As for the quality of the food, luxury brands aren't likely to skimp on that. There's a certain expectation when you step into a designer cafe that everythingdown to the pastries and coffeeis going to be premium.

A TikTok creator, who goes by @internetcult, shared a snap of the food on offer at the Vivienne Westwood cafe in Shanghai

Content creator Brad, who goes by @bradsplanet_, rated Ralph's by Ralph Lauren a 9.5 out of ten

'Whether it's worth the price is subjective, but for those who value the brand and the experience, it's more about the setting and the connection with the brand than just the quality of the coffee itself.'

While most trends come and go, Huy believes designer cafes are different, saying: 'The trend doesn't seem like a fad to me. People have shown they're willing to pay for experiences that go beyond the ordinary.

'As long as brands continue to innovate in how they deliver these experiences, I see this lasting for quite a while,' Huy concluded.

Founder of Streamline PR Joseph Hagan agreed that there's been an 'increased demand for high-end spots, particularly among luxury consumers who are drawn to the lifestyle that brands like Louis Vuitton represent.'

He explained that the rise in designer cafes isn't about the dining element but a sense of 'exclusivity' and social media clout that comes with the experience.

'It's not just about the coffee or food, but the experience and exclusivity that comes with dining in a space tied to such an iconic name,' he said.

Joseph continued: 'Many influencers use designer cafes as content pieces, showcasing their lifestyle and creating visually stunning posts that align with the luxury brand's aesthetic.

Chef Cyril Lignac (pictured) said he is 'delighted with this new experience were creating for travelers'

Content creator @eatsmarily shared her food order at Louis Vuitton's new Heathrow Airport cafe

A quick scroll on social media reveals a host of individuals filming content at the locations.

Food content creator @eatsmarily, who splits her time between London and Athens, was one of the first to share a TikTok at the Louis Vuitton cafe at Heathrow Airport.

She claimed the new food spot was the 'perfect addition' to Heathrow. With a friend, she dined on a 32 crab and avocado salad, a 18 slice of avocado on toast, and a 22 crab and avocado salad.

Elsewhere, content creator Brad, who goes by @bradsplanet_ on TikTok, took to Bond Street to try Ralph's.

'It's that time to review another coffee shop, and today we've got a pretty special one for you,' he started. Brad continued: 'We are at Ralph's coffee by Ralph Lauren himself. Now this place is lux, really just has the feeling of pure class'.

'Disclaimer this place is not cheap at almost 10 for a brownie and a flat white. I had high expectations, and I will say that they were met. It's a great smooth cup of coffee, and the brownie is chewy and very good.

He concluded: 'It's a great spot to treat yourself; I'd rate it 9.5 out of ten'.

Meanwhile, a TikTok user called @internetcult shared a clip of the Vivienne Westwood Cafe in Hong Kong, where customers indulge in orb-embossed sweet treats and savoury foods.

Joseph explained that at these locations, the products are made from top of the range ingredients.

'When it comes to the quality of the products, you'd expect nothing less than premium. Whether it's 'worth the price' is subjective, some see the value in the overall luxury experience, while others may view it as more of a splurge,' he said.

At Louis Vuitton's Le Cafe Cyril Lignac, menu highlights include a 28 truffle croque-monsieur, a 30 lobster roll, and a heritage beetroot salad for 25.

When MailOnline visited Prada's pop-up cafe in Harrods last year, prices were similarly high, with the store charging 6.25 for a cup of tea, 6.50 for a cappuccino and 6.95 for a bottle of sparkling mineral water.

Among the most popular items on the menu were the individual glazed sponge cakes, emblazoned with a 'Prada Milano' logo and available in lemon, apricot, hazelnut, strawberry and pistachio.

The mini-treats  or 'monoportions' as the cafe calls them  cost 15 and can be devoured in a couple of bites.

Alternatively, sweet-toothed patrons might opt for a box of 12 designer chocolates for 50.

'As for the trend lasting, I think it's here to stay for a while, as more consumers seek out lifestyle-driven experiences to merge their love for fashion, food, and social media in one place,' Joseph concluded.
An evil neonatal doctor put a hit out on his estranged wife asking criminals he found on the dark web to kidnap and torture her until they agreed to get back together - before his plot was thwarted by a British journalist.

Dr. Ronald Ilg, 57, from Spokane, Washington, paid a hitman more than $55,000 to kidnap and beat his beautician wife Jennifer, with whom he had a son with in 2018.

He also asked for her to be injected with heroin until she agreed to get back together with him.

Jennifer was notified about the hit by journalist Carl Miller who found messages on the dark web to a murder-for-hire service with her name, picture and address on it, as well as a detailed list of instructions on how to torture her.

Carl, 38, from London, and his team embarked on a four-year mission to warn others on the list after initially being dismissed by police, eventually the FBI, the Metropolitan Police and Interpol would all get involved.

Scorned lovers and debt-ridden exes were among the 175 people who took out hits, the majority being men targeting women, often wives or girlfriends, according to Carl's podcast Kill List from Wondery and Novel.

Dr. Ronald Ilg, 57, from Spokane, Washington, paid a hitman on the dark web over $55,000 [42,300] to kidnap and beat his beautician wife Jennifer, with whom he had a son with in 2018

The case that frightened Carl 'more than any other' was Ronald Ilg, a celebrated neonatal doctor, from Washington, who was jailed for eight years in 2023.

In March 2020, Ron's request listed Jennifer's name and address as the intended target, under his username Scar215, he offered $55,000 in Bitcoin for the job.

The message read: 'The target destroyed two families and walked away as if she did nothing.

'I want the target kidnapped for seven days. While being held, she will be given injections of heroin at least two times per day.

'She will be taught to do it herself and pics and videos of her doing on her own should be collected.'

The request goes on to say 'all means necessary' must be done to get her to drop all her court proceedings, return to her family, and promise to tell nobody about the kidnapping.

'She should be told that her family's health, including her father and her kids, depend on her completing these rules.'

Adding: 'It would be unfortunate if her older boy became addicted to heroin.

'Or her dad be severely beaten or her dog be slaughtered.'

Eerily Ron also devised a 'bonus structure', suggesting the attackers could break her father's hands and kill her dog in a bid to get Jennifer to stop divorce proceedings and return to him.

Ron's request listed Jennifer's name and address as the intended target, under username Scar215, he offered $55,000 in Bitcoin for the job

Jennifer provided the FBI with a history of their relationship and the text messages she had received detailing his fantasies

They read: '1. Stop all court proceedings immediately $10,000, 2. returns back to her husband immediately for reconciliation of their marriage and relationship, 3. Keep her mouth shut and tell nobody.'

He offered a total of $30,000 in bonus payments to the hitman if the requests were all met.

However all was not as it seemed, despite receiving more than 400,000, no murder was arranged by the hitman, because it was all a money scam.

But Carl and his team still believed the targets were in perilous danger.

The risk was that if some of those bad actors realised they had been scammed they might, in anger, be willing to do the job themselves.

Jennifer met Ron online in 2011 after recently separating from her first husband, who she had two young children with.

She said: 'At first I wasn't that interested because he wasn't my usual type and quite a lot older than me.'

Finally she decided to give him a change after months of messaging online and all seemed perfect at the beginning.

The pair soon moved together and eventually married in 2016, but that's when Ron began to change.

Ron's mistress gave the FBI text messages in which she is shown accusing him of trying to hire someone to carry out a seven-day kidnapping

Ron's mistress gave the FBI text messages in which she is shown accusing him of trying to hire someone to carry out a seven-day kidnapping

First he told Jennifer that he was into BDSM and eventually he requested she call him 'sir' everyday, he installed cameras, cages and ropes in their house and put a GPS tracker on her car.

One day he handed her a 'cloudy drink' which looked like a pill had been dissolved in it but Jennifer refused to drink it.

After giving birth to their son in 2018, Jennifer found out Ron was having a BDSM affair with a mistress, which involved a sex-slave contract signed in blood and a sex-dungeon bunker buried on his property.

Jennifer said: 'He was trying to force her into our marriage saying I have to except her and I have to be her friend, he was saying that he can be in love with more than one person.

'It just became a fantasy at that point, he was delusional.'

Jennifer even ended up reaching out to Ron's mistress, she said: 'She was definitely an enemy for awhile, but then the more I talked to her and heard what she was going through I was trying to help her and trying to tell her she needs to get out of this situation.

Finally, one day in the spring of 2020 the women actually sat down together to compare notes.

Jennifer said: 'She said he put her in a hole in the yard, like a septic tank thing in his yard, he put her down in there and put the top on and was threatening to leave her in there for hours.'

Ron told his mistress that he was trying to divorce Jennifer, all while telling Jennifer he was trying to let the mistress down gently to end the relationship.

The women challenged Ron together which angered him even more and made him unravel even further.

While Ron was away on a work trip Jennifer seized the opportunity to move out of their home, when he arrived back she was gone.

Jennifer said: 'He was doing everything he could to get me back, promising counselling, promising he would get rid of our prenuptial agreement if I agreed to stay.'

Jennifer was notified about the hit by Journalist Carl Miller (pictured) who found messages on the dark web to a murder-for-hire service

Jennifer filed for divorce but Ron continued harassing her and blowing up her phone with calls and messages. She went to court for an anti harassment order.

Jennifer wrote in the restraining order application: 'Ron is spiralling and continues to get worse, to where now he is threatening to come to my home despite my opposition, this has to stop.'

Ron responded to the restraining order proceedings by saying he was in a 'raw emotional state' from the recent tumult in his life, and that he would leave his wife alone. Despite that promise, he soon sent her a letter professing his love.

He wrote: 'I do love you, more than words can describe, more than actions can show, every fibre of my body, every ounce of my life energy calls out for you.'

However Ron didn't stop and began stalking her, even showing up outside her work place one evening.

Jennifer spotted large amounts of money going out of their joint bank account, including one transaction of $10,000 to MoonPay, a site to buy cryptocurrency.

Eventually the FBI got involved and looked into the evidence that Journalist Carl had collected.

Ron was on holiday in Mexico over the dates he had planned for Jennifer to be kidnapped, possibly a deliberate allaby.

As he arrived back in the US, the FBI were waiting for him in the airport and pulled him into an interrogation room.

While speaking to the investigators Ron admitted to being on the dark web but claimed he was contacting hitmen to murder him, as a way of killing himself.

He claimed he was doing this to 'protect' his girlfriend, the woman he was having an affair with, so she would receive his life insurance, however Ron was unaware that the FBI had access to the messages between him and the hitman.

In April 2021, Ron's house was searched and computers seized, however he wasn't yet arrested.

A few days later a family friend went to check on Ron and he was found unresponsive on the kitchen floor, he had taken an overdose of Xanax pills and had a black eye.

He left a suicide note mentioning Jennifer an his mistress and asking for forgiveness.

Ron was placed in the intensive care unit for a couple of days to recover and for 24 hours a day FBI stood outside his hospital room keeping watch.

Jennifer said: 'He actually had the nerve to call me from the hospital...it was creepy, I was angry because I felt he was taking the easy way out.

'He didn't say anything about his kids, he didn't say sorry or anything. I think he did it to get under my skin. I hung up on him.'

Ron was arrested at the hospital and charged with attempted kidnapping and sentenced to eight years in prison.

It was the highest sentence available under the terms of Ron's plea agreement. In addition, Judge William Fremming Nielsen ordered him to pay more than $25,000 [19,248] in restitution and a $100,000 [76,993] fine.

Ron will also spend three years on federal supervision following his release from prison.

According to court documents and information from the sentencing hearing, Ron also sent dozens of messages in early 2021 through the dark web as part of a plot to injure a former professional colleague.

For years, Ron lived a seemingly normal life, he was a successful neonatologist and ran for a local school board but in 2019, two co-workers at his office filed behavioural claims against him, one saying he had harassed them and another complaining about his scheduling practices.

According to the Daily Beast, employees were so revolted by the claims many said they felt they couldn't look him in the eye and rumours began to swirl that he was bringing a gun into the office.

The doctor was asked to resign from his job but refused to. He was subsequently fired in December 2020.

The previous spring Jennifer had filed for divorce, and after he lost his job he became increasingly erratic.

In the months after he was fired, Ron tried pay hitmen on the dark web to give a 'significant beating' to a former co-worker as well as the kidnap request for Jennifer.

Scar215 posted on a dark web murder-for-hire website in February of 2020 requesting that somebody break into his colleagues home to deliver a 'significant beating' to her, specifically asking they 'injure both hands significantly or break the hands.'

Scar215 said about $2,000 in Bitcoin had been placed in an escrow account and would be paid out upon completion of the attack.

Though the job was unfulfilled, a month later Scar215 posted another request on the same website asking for the kidnapping and torture of Jennifer.

Journalist Carl learned of the 'hits' through Chris Monteiro, a British vigilante hacker, who discovered a 'backdoor' into the site that allowed access to messages between the site and those soliciting murder.

Chris previously claimed in 2018 that the Romanian group believed to be behind it, known as Yura, had boasted about earning 4.6million from the scam.

Out of the 175 ordered hits, so far there have been 34 arrests and 28 convictions in 11 countries and prison sentences exceeding 150 years.

Kill List, from Wondery and Novel, is available now on Wondery+ or wherever you get your podcasts.
In hindsight, August should have been a career-defining month for Blake Lively.

Her hotly anticipated film It Ends With Us - based on Coollen Hoover's book of the same name - finally hit cinemas.

She released her first ever haircare range - after fans spent years fawning over her luscious locks.

Her glamorous, floral-inspired press tour wardrobe was widely praised by fashion watchers around the world and Blake wowed fans when she wore Britney Spears' iconic Versace gown to the New York premiere.

However, the actress found herself at the centre of a major PR storm as a result of several interviews where fans accused 'tone-deaf' Blake of 'trivialising domestic violence' and promoting the film, which depicts an abusive relationship, 'like a romantic comedy'.

Pictured: Actress Blake Lively posing on the It Ends With Us premiere red carpet in London in August

On top of this, the internet was alight with rumours of an ongoing feud between Blake and her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, who reportedly felt 'sidelined' by the leading lady.

But rather than stepping back from the spotlight amid the controversy, Blake and her team appeared to have settled on a rather different approach: having her undergo a 'relatable rebrand'.

Speaking to FEMAIL, celebrity publicist Joseph Hagan - who is also the founder of Streamline PR - explained: 'The backlash from It Ends With Us was damaging for Blake because it revealed a disconnect between the tone of the promotional rollout and the sensitive subject matter of domestic violence.

'The marketing seemed to clash with the gravity of the story, making it feel at times tone-deaf or trivialising a serious issue. This put Blake in a tough spot, especially since fans expected more nuance from such a well-known figure.

'Her relatable rebrand is likely her teams way of course-correcting and emphasising her authenticity, fun-loving personality, and her highly relatable marriage to Ryan to bring the focus back to the traits people admire most about her.'

Earlier this month, the actress proved she was anything but a diva as she was spotted waiting for a table at a popular Italian restaurant in the West Village.

Commenting on this recent appearance, Joseph said: 'Blakes "non-diva" behaviour at the NYC restaurant really reflects her commitment to staying grounded and relatable, especially in a time where public perception can easily shift.

'By choosing to act like any regular diner, she is distancing herself from the idea of celebrity entitlement and reinforcing her connection to her fan base. Its a subtle but powerful way to show that shes just like everyone else, which works in her favour following the controversy around It Ends With Us.'

Actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds hold hands while on a morning walk in New York City last month

the internet was alight with rumours of an ongoing feud between Blake and her co-star and director Justin Baldoni (pictured)

In recent weeks, the star has also been pictured on a 'PDA' tour with Ryan Reynolds around New York - with the two putting on a very united front while on coffee runs and while watching a Broadway show for her husband's 43rd birthday.

The expert continued: 'This is a well-timed move that plays into both their brands. Ryan is riding high after the success of Deadpool & Wolverine, and being seen more often with her media darling husband can only boost Blakes image, helping her gain more positive traction.

'People love seeing their playful, affectionate relationship humanises them both and keeps Blake in the spotlight in a very approachable way.

'By embracing this "power couple" dynamic, Blake is reinforcing the idea that, despite the Hollywood drama, her personal life is thriving, which brings fans back to her side.'

What's more, the expert highlighted how Blake's social media presence has a more relatable touch.

Blake Lively, Maya Boyd and Ryan Reynolds pose for a selfie backstage at the hit Max Martin Musical & Juliet earlier this month

After posting what her makeup looked like at the start of the night at the CFDA Awards, the actress then shared a barefaced selfie where she delved into some of her old beauty habits

Earlier this week, the star praised her makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez, who she worked with for the CFDA Awards.

After posting what her makeup looked like at the start of the night, the actress then shared a barefaced selfie where she delved into some of her old beauty habits.

She joked: '[I've accepted] that [I'm] a millennial girl, who in high school, used to wear lip gloss with alarming amounts of chilli peppers inside for a plump because we were THAT committed to bad ideas.'

Joseph added: 'By showing more of her everyday life, quirky sense of humour, and behind-the-scenes moments on social media, shes signaling that shes not just a Hollywood star, but someone whos in touch with her fans and able to laugh at herself.

'Following the backlash from It Ends With Us, shes leaned into a more relatable, down-to-earth image to reconnect with her audience. The relatable rebrand is a smart move for someone like Blake, whos built a career on being seen as approachable yet glamorous.'

Pictured: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, PR expert Joseph Hagan said: 'Her relatable rebrand is likely her teams way of course-correcting and emphasising her authenticity, fun-loving personality, and her highly relatable marriage to Ryan to bring the focus back to the traits people admire most about her.'

Blake Lively is seen attending the 2024 CFDA Awards at American Museum of Natural History in New York

Blake's appearance at the CFDA Awards was one her first since the Ends With Us backlash.

A source told DailyMail.com that she is, 'definitely saddened by the hate she is getting and is trying not to let it affect her but it is.'

'She thought this was her moment to shine but is now looking at it like the end of her career. She's fearing no one will want to work with her after this.'

The insider added, 'She really wants to continue producing and directing and acting but she knows she needs to take a step back for a minute to reassess the future.'

A separate source informed People, 'She initially felt very vulnerable and upset. During the promotion of the movie, not one day went by when she was not in the news in an unfavorable light. She's just not used to this kind of drama.'

While the drama 'felt out of control to her,' Lively still 'enjoys working and will continue to push forward projects that she's excited about.'
When it comes to style, we are all inspired by what we see; whether it be a well-dressed celebrity, a blow-your-mind catwalk presentation or even a fashionable passerby.

As fashion editors, we're moved by all of the above, and then some. We're exposed to under-the-radar labels; we get a first-hand look at collections months before they hit stores; we attend VIP events; we're tapped into brands with chic-yet-cheap offerings and we shop  a lot.

To share our knowledge, FEMAIL brings you Style Swoon, a weekly series of the latest, greatest and on the verge. We hope this series will serve as a buying guide and point of inspiration for all.

On Tuesday, MOTHER denim released Reifler by MOTHER, a special-edition denim created in collaboration with model and longtime friend Paige Reifler

New fall denim

On Tuesday, MOTHER denim released Reifler by MOTHER, a special-edition denim created in collaboration with model and longtime friend Paige Reifler.

Paige is a New York-based model known for her pretty face and effortless style.

'After over a year in the making, we're thrilled to finally share this project with the world!,' shared Paige on Instagram.

'Thank you to everyone who poured their heart and soul into brining it to life.'

This exclusive fit - a straight leg with a slight kick, a mid-rise waist and a full-length inseam with a clean hem - draws inspiration from the boldest elements of the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

This exclusive fit - a straight leg with a slight kick, a mid-rise waist and a full-length inseam with a clean hem - draws inspiration from the boldest elements of the 70s, 80s, and 90s

Crafted from SUPERIOR 100% cotton denim, Reifler by MOTHER is available in two washes: Early Blue and After Midnight

'Every detail of these jeans was crafter with care - hope you love them as much as I do,' said Paige.

Crafted from SUPERIOR 100% cotton denim, the Reifler by MOTHER style is available in two washes: Early Blue and After Midnight.

Early Blue ($288) is a medium blue wash, with subtle fading and whiskering, channeling the carefree vibes of the 70s with a hint of 80s opulence.

After Midnight ($315) is a classic blue wash with distressed, worn-in details is reminiscent of 90s grunge.

Both styles are available exclusively on motherdenim.com

Both styles are available exclusively on motherdenim.com

On Thursday, alice + olivia dropped their collection celebrating the 60th anniversary of the The Beatles first U.S. tour in 1964

All you need is love

On Thursday, alice + olivia dropped their collection celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles first U.S. tour in 1964.

This spectacular collection combines the artistry of The Beatles (like their iconic logo) with the bold, modern aesthetic of alice + olivia, featuring artwork spanning the legendary band's career.

The 17-piece collection includes embellished dresses, tops, sequin skirts, vegan leather and varsity jackets, and popular cardigans.

The cool offerings are available for purchase at alice + olivia, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, Shopbop, Revolve, and Bloomingdale's.

Prices range from $250 to $1,995.

This spectacular collection combines the iconic artistry of The Beatles with the bold, modern aesthetic of alice + olivia, featuring artwork spanning the legendary band's career

The 17-piece collection includes embellished dresses, tops, sequin skirts, vegan leather and varsity jackets, and popular cardigans

New York fashion designer and RHONY star, Rebecca Minkoff, celebrated the pre-launch of her upcoming holiday collection

Designer preview

New York fashion designer and RHONY star, Rebecca Minkoff, celebrated the pre-launch of her upcoming holiday collection with a glamorous cocktail party set in the heart of New York at the Titsou Bar and movie night in the ultra-chic Cannes Cinema at Fouquets NYC.

Notable attendees, including RHONY co-stars Ubah Hassan, Sai De Silva, Vienna Sky, Carson Light, Stephanie Leigh, and Maggie McCormack, enjoyed a special private screening of the beloved classic, "The Holiday."

Manhattan Happy Meals, champagne and popcorn were served.

Prior to movie night, guests previewed the latest Rebecca Minkoff handbag and RTW holiday collection over cocktails.

RHONY co-stars Ubah Hassan and Sai De Silva showed their support

The Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with Cosmetica Italia, welcomed editors and influencers to the West Hollywood EDITION in Los Angeles for BEAUTY MADE IN ITALY - WHATS NEW/WHATS NEXT

International beauty

The Daily Front Row on behalf of the Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with Cosmetica Italia - The Personal Care Association and Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna - welcomed editors and influencers to the West Hollywood EDITION in Los Angeles for BEAUTY MADE IN ITALY - WHATS NEW/WHATS NEXT.

Guests enjoyed a beautiful lunch before a panel discussion with leading experts in the beauty industry.

Panelists included Cosmoprof Worldwide Bolognas head of business development Francesca Maturi, Cosmetica Italias vice president Fabio Franchina, and territory manager of Comfort Zone/Davines North America Jessica Ruth.

As well as Diana Madison Beauty founder Diana Madison, and Gente Beauty founder Mari Fonesca.

The panel was moderated by blogger and NUUDS founder, Daryl-Ann Dexter.

The exclusive event shined a spotlight on the latest and upcoming beauty innovations from Italy and the unique traits that make Italian products special

'We were thrilled to bring the excellence of BEAUTY MADE IN ITALY to Los Angeles, providing the US audience with an opportunity to experience Italian lifestyle and quality through our exceptional beauty products,' said Erica Di Giovancarlo

The exclusive event shined a spotlight on the latest and upcoming beauty innovations from Italy, a country renowned for its creativity, taste, style and design.

'We were thrilled to bring the excellence of BEAUTY MADE IN ITALY to Los Angeles, providing the US audience with an opportunity to experience Italian lifestyle and quality through our exceptional beauty products,' said Erica Di Giovancarlo, Trade Commissioner of ITA New York.

'This event was a perfect blend of insight and inspiration, showcasing the best of Italian beauty innovation.'

Guests included Vernon Francois, Lilliana Vasquez, Marta Pozzan, Ashley Haas, Merle Ginsberg, and more.

Fabio Franchina said, 'Made in Italy cosmetics not only promote wellness and healthy lifestyles but we're also perceived as high-quality products, providing a competitive advantage in the US market.

'The BEAUTY MADE IN ITALY event aimed to highlight the excellence of the Italian beauty industry, which is appreciated worldwide, with a specific focus on California consumers tastes.'

Francesca Maturi (left), Daily Front Row's Chief Content Officer, Eddie Roche (far right) and guest

On Wednesday night, W Hotels celebrated the newly transformed W Hollywood with an invite-only rager

Hotel revamp

On Wednesday night, W Hotels celebrated the newly transformed W Hollywood with an invite-only rager.

The transformation of W Hollywood - a vision of the Rockwell Group - marks a fresh chapter for the beloved hotel known for its luxurious, modern vibe and prime location.

Situated right on Hollywood Boulevard, the 300,000 square foot property boasts sweeping views of the lush Hollywood Hills.

Inspired by the citys rich history of film, music, palm tree-lined streets, and shimmering prisms of light, the 319 room property is ideal for visitors and locals looking to experience classic Hollywood.

Situated right on Hollywood Boulevard, the 300,000 square foot property boasts sweeping views of the lush Hollywood Hills

Anderson Paak smiled for the cameras

The transformation of W Hollywood - a vision of the Rockwell Group - marks a fresh chapter for the beloved hotel known for its luxurious, modern vibe and prime location.

'Grey's Anatomy' actor, Jesse Willams, looked casually cool in an all-grey outfit

Nicholas Alexander Charvez, Justine Skye, Jesse Williams, Rickey Thompson, Denzel Dion, Zoi Lerma, Baron Schoenvogel, and Isaac Hindin-Miller were just a few of the notables spotted at the official relaunch party.

'Grey's Anatomy' actor Jesse Willams looked casually cool in an all-grey outfit while Ashley Haas was party ready in a short sequin dress.

Throughout the evening, DJ Pee Wee, Mia Moretti, Tay James, Eli & Fur, DJ Sinego, DJ Joiya, and TaRon Lockett & Lavender Shea Butter Funk Band gave dynamic live performances at every corner of W Hollywood - from the Loft to the WET Deck and Living Room.
Bob Egelko has been a reporter since June 1970. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000, then joined The Chronicle in November 2000.

His beat includes state and federal courts in California, the Supreme Court and the State Bar. He has a law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and is a member of the bar. Coverage has included the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the appointment of Rose Bird to the state Supreme Court and her removal by the voters, the death penalty in California and the battles over gay rights and same-sex marriage.
A woman who endured horrific sexual assaults in a blackmail ploy orchestrated by her own father has revealed she bravely chose to waive anonymity to ensure her abuser was named.

David Masterson, 56, from Dublin, Ireland, was jailed for 17 years for a seven-year abuse campaign against daughter Charlene, now 32, which started when she was aged 18.

Because of the sexual crimes carried out against her, Charlene has an automatic right to lifelong anonymity, but the close family relationship between them means restrictions may have also protected her abuser's identity.

Charlene  who now campaigns to protect women  revealed she made the agonising decision to waive her right to ensure he wasn't shielded from his crimes.

She told the Indo Daily podcast: 'Waiving anonymity isn't for everybody, it really isn't.

Charlene Masterson, 32, from Dublin, Ireland has chosen to waive her right to anonymity in order to name her abuser

David Masterson 55, originally from Tallaght in west Dublin pleaded guilty to six counts of rape sexual assault representing 30 offences carried out between March 2007 and June 2014

'I had to be named for him to be named, if you name him then it's very easy to figure out it's me.

'It's important for people to realise if anybody is out there that has been raped they don't know their perpetrator or they're not related to them they can remain anonymous,

'But I just think it's an important story and I know that by waiving anonymity I just wanted to help even one person.'

Charlene revealed her father started abusing her in 2007 after making up a bizarre blackmail plot which forced her into performing sex acts while blindfolded and with music playing in her ears.

It all began when the then teenager received an anonymous text message which claimed to have incriminating information about her that would be leaked if she did not perform the acts. It later transpired the text had been sent by David.

Her father would pretend to let a person into their home while Charlene was blindfolded and had music in her ears. Pretending he was a different person each time, David would then force her to give him oral sex and in turn, sexually assault her.

The abuse started shortly after she turned 18, and afterwards she realised her father had been controlling her since her early teens.

She said from the moment the abuse started she stopped considering him her dad. She added: 'Family members said to me "he's still your dad". That to me is extremely disrespectful for abuse survivors or victims.

Charlene Masterson, 32, from Dublin, Ireland, was abused by her manipulative father David Masterson, 56, who was later jailed for 17 years

'I haven't had a dad since I was 18, since he laid his hand on me for the first time. That was it. I don't want to hurt him and I won't portray him in a light that he wasn't violent growing up but I haven't had a father since that day.

'For people to say he's still your dad, I'm like no, if he was he wouldn't have done what he did.

In her victim statement in court, Charlene said there was still a 'massive stigma' in Ireland around rape.

She has since been campaigning to change the system to develop a message similar to FAST alert for victims of strokes.

She added her abuse took place for seven and a half years and she had had seven years since to 'process it', adding: 'I'm out the other side now'.

Speaking about how the campaign of abuse began, she told the Indo podcast: 'I randomly got messages from a number, I didn't know the number, and it read ''I know what you did'', and anyone that knows me, knows I hate being in trouble, so I immediately panicked.'

Charlene explained that, although she hadn't done anything to be exposed for, she still 'tried to fix' things, and replied to the person at the other end of the phone - not realising it was her own father.

When Charlene replied, the 'blackmailer' threatened to have her father fired from his job at an airline at Dublin airport unless she met his demands.

Charlene praised Dublin rape crisis for their help following her case

The messages began demanding that she do sexual things with men while threatening to send information to her father's work if she didn't.

When she told her father about what was happening, he told her that she would have to do these things because his job was at risk.

She said: 'The one person you go to for help is your dad, and I did, and his response was ''you're going to have to''. It wasn't the reaction I was expecting.'

The person texting Charlene never actually explained what she had supposedly done, but she said she was quite 'naive' at the time and panicked.

She said: 'It was him, so he knew I didn't do anything, I don't even know how he concocted this whole thing, he knew exactly what I had done, which was nothing.'

It was arranged that her father would let a person into their home and she would do whatever this person wanted while wearing a blindfold and earphones playing music. She was then sexually assaulted.

She said: 'I remember it vividly, sitting there in whatever he had demanded I wear that night and he would be looking out the window going, ''oh he is coming across the field.''

'He is meant to be a stranger, so how would my father know what he looks like, and then he pretended to be downstairs and then pretending to walk the person out of the house.

Charlene is pictured speaking at an event to help other victims

'He would say ''oh we drove him up to the mountains and he won't come back again'', like he was trying to play the hero and the protector. After the 'stranger' had left he would be the doting father again.'

These attacks continued to occur before escalating to her having to engage sexually with two men while blindfolded.

She said: 'I had mentally checked out, it did start to get more physical five years in because I started to stand up to him and started to object more to it, he obviously didn't like that so the coercive control got much worse towards the end.'

Charlene finally discovered her father's role in the abuse when she attempted to assist her grandmother install a programme on her laptop and found a DVD with a recording of two of the abuse incidents.

She said: 'I didn't watch past the first 10 seconds. When he came home I was still getting messages from the stranger and I replied ''I know you are my dad''.

Her father 'screamed' and asked how she could think it was him, but she never received anymore blackmail text messages after that.

Charlene said that's when the abuse turned into 'open abuse' in the home, where he would physically grope and rape her.

She added that her father would follow her to her part-time job which she was eventually forced to give up.

When Charlene was 25, she went away on a weekend with friends - against her father's wishes.

During the time away, she got threatening messages, saying people wanted to meet her.

Her friend at that point asked he was abusing her, she said no, and that he thought what he was doing was 'completely normal'.

At another point, Charlene left a magazine story about incest out hoping to trigger her father but he 'laughed it off'.

After Charlene started withdrawing, her trainee social worker friend asked if her father was abusing her and she replied that he wasn't. But months later, she was able to open up to the friend.

Her father found out the friend knew and told he you'll 'never see her again' and then held her by the throat up against a wall one night even though there was another friend staying over.

Charlene praised the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre for their support during the court case and afterwards

In 2014, Charlene's friends went to her mother and explained the abuse she had endured for years.

As soon as her mother heard what had been happening she told the father to 'get out' - and he has had no contact with his wife and daughter since.

She has only seen her father at his mother's funeral and on three occasions in court since.

After seeing him in court, she was shocked that he hadn't changed at all physically and didn't seem any older or more frail.

David was jailed for 17 years for sexually abusing Charlene over a seven year period after first blackmailing her.

The Central Criminal Court heard that David went on to defile three girls, having sexual encounters with two teenage girls and entering into a sexual relationship with a third, who lived with him for a period of time.

Charlene said she hopes her experience helps one person to speak out and for them to know that there are resources and help out there and not to stay silent.

Speaking on RTE radio after the case, Charlene said that if her friend, who was training to be a social worker, had not confronted her about the abuse she did not know what would have happened

She said: 'I feel it's an important story, and I know by waiving anonymity I could help even just one person to speak out.'

Charlene said her father didn't show any remorse in court, she said: 'It was something the judge called out on his day of sentencing.

Charlene Masterson now campaigns for other survivors

'The judge questioned ''no remorse?'' and his barrister said ''there is a full admission'' and the judge added ''I'm not questioning the admission but can I confirm that there is no remorse'' and the barrister said ''no''.

'It was gut wrenching, you'd think that he will be a little bit sorry. I am never going to get an apology. No remorse, but he has to live with that.'

David accepted there were other men involved, but only told the gardai one of their names and claimed it was the only name he knew.

Charlene praised the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre for their support during the court case and afterwards.

Then-Taoiseach Micheal Martin was among those Charlene's strength.

In a tweet Mr Martin said: 'The decision of Charlene Masterson to waive her anonymity and speak out about the horrific abuse inflicted by her father cannot have been easy, but her bravery and eloquence will have helped and inspired many, many other people in abusive situations.'

Charlene said she once dreamed of being married and having children by the time she was 30, but she doesn't feel like that will ever happen for her now.
Want to banish purple eye bags? Dont scrimp on concealer. After plumper, more luscious-looking lips? Go for a bold lipstick. And for flawless, pore-less skin? Reach for maximum coverage foundation, of course.

Right? Wrong.

It turns out these age-old beauty tips have the same outcome: they make you look older, no matter which decade youre in.

Celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney from Sydney is known for her 'light-handed' approach and her ability to bring out her clients' best features  rather than drawing the eye to the products themselves.

She's worked with stars of all ages including actress Jessica Alba, 43, model Barbara Palvin, 31, and designer Diane von Furstenberg, 77, and has created iconic looks for the Met Gala and the Cannes Film Festival.

And no matter the occasion, less is always more, in her opinion.

Here, she shares the common mistakes women make at different stages of their lives, the products you should banish from your beauty bag - and how to shave years off your face

Tobi Henney has spent 15 years travelling the world as a go-to makeup artist for the likes of Jessica Alba, Barbara Palvin and Diane von Furstenberg. Now she is sharing her beauty secrets

Tobi says our makeup routine needs to evolve as we age and experience different concerns. She is pictured with model and actress Barbara Palvin, 31, one of Tobi's most loyal clients



Twenties

According to Tobi, women in their twenties often make the most mistakes as they're yet to fully understand their skin's needs.

The most common mistake Tobi sees among women in their twenties is overapplying foundation, which leads to the dreaded 'cakey' look like the one seen on Kendall Jenner, then age 20, when she attended the MTV Movie Awards in April 2016

And their most common error? Over-applying foundation to achieve flawless skin.

This is a common social media trend, with reels on how to contour, a process whereby cosmetics are used to sculpt the face, but one which can also rob a face of its natural beauty, leading to the dreaded 'cakey' look.

Youthful skin doesn't need much coverage no matter how many perceived flaws. In fact, layering foundation over spots only draws attention to them.

Tobi recommends younger women use a lighter foundation or a tinted moisturiser to enhance their natural skin, such as Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($70), which has a dewy illuminating finish.

At a glance: the makeup mistakes we make at every age Twenties : Don't over-apply foundation or use the wrong shade

: Don't over-apply foundation or use the wrong shade Thirties : Avoid dark eyeshadow and use sunscreen every day

: Avoid dark eyeshadow and use sunscreen every day Forties : Avoid dark or heavy lipstick, opt for glossier, softer colours

: Avoid dark or heavy lipstick, opt for glossier, softer colours Fifties and beyond : Don't use the wrong concealer or ignore brows Advertisement

The next most common mistake is buying the wrong colour base.

Opt for a brand like Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. Her Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation ($62) comes in an impressive 50 shades and is a oil-free formula that won't clog pores. And remember: 'It's essential to test makeup in natural light to make sure it matches the skin tone,' warns Tobi.

Thirties

'This is when women need to start adjusting their makeup routine to account for subtle changes in skin texture, tone and facial structure,' says Tobi.

Heavier eyeliner and dark eyeshadows should be ruled out because they make the eye look smaller. Tobi recommends opting for browns instead, such as Teddy Eye Liner by MAC ($52).

Now is the time to start with the daily sunscreen, too - a must to avoid premature ageing and skin damage. It needs to become part of your everyday routine. Even if the makeup you use says it includes SPF, it's always safer to buy a dedicated product and apply it separately.

Try La Roche Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF 50+ ($37.95). Fast-absorbing, friendly to sensitive skin and dermatologist-approved, it has become a cult beauty classic for a reason.

You might be used to finishing your makeup with setting powder to mattify a shiny nose or chin  but beware of overdoing it. Powders will only emphasise fine lines and make skin look dull.

Heavier eyeliner and dark eyeshadows should be ruled out after a woman turns 30 because they make the eye look smaller. Cara Delevingne, then 30, rocked heavy eyeliner when she attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills on March 12, 2023

Tobi's 15-year career has taken her from Sydney to LA, where she works with celebrity clients

Forties

As they approach the perimenopause, women need to rethink their makeup routines.

Hormonal changes can often lead to drier, more uneven skin tone and texture, and your face may become more sensitive to products.

'Women at this age have different skin concerns, says Tobi, and certain makeup techniques that worked in the past might not be as flattering. For example, dramatic, dark or heavy lipstick needs to make way for creamy, moisturising lip colours in softer and more subtle shades, with an added touch of gloss.

She explains that the darker, matte colours make lips appear thin, but the softer and glossier shades will give the lips a gentle fullness that looks more youthful.

When a woman approaches her forties, dramatic, dark or heavy lipstick - like the one seen here on American actress Kirsten Dunst - should to make way for creamy, moisturising lip colours in softer and more subtle shades, with an added touch of gloss

Fifties and beyond

This era is all about 'enhancing natural beauty' while maintaining a 'fresh and youthful appearance'  but this certainly doesnt mean ditching makeup altogether.

In fact, Tobis number one tip is dont forget the brows. They are often overlooked at this age - just when they need most attention.

They become thinner as we age so use a brow pencil or powder to fill in the sparse areas. This will frame the face and peel back the years.

Using the wrong concealer also ages more mature skin; if it's too light or too thick, it will only accentuate under-eye circles and fine lines.

Tobi urges women in their fifties not to ignore their brows, which become thinner as they age and require definition in order to avoid looking washed out (photo posed by model)

'Choose a lightweight, hydrating concealer that matches your skin tone and apply it sparingly. Invest in a damp Beautyblender makeup sponge ($34) to blend properly.'

Trends to avoid at any age

Youthful makeup is all about hydration and dewiness: 'Matte and dry skin is very ageing, as it can make fine lines and wrinkles appear more visible,' says Tobi.

Instead use cream-based products that offer a 'dewy' foundation upon which you can build your desired look. This makes for 'fresh-looking, hydrated skin'.

She also warns against any eyeshadow or lash looks that drag the eyes downward instead of lifting them up. This invariably makes the wearer look years older.

She recommends #1 The Serum (from $114) and #2 The Serum ($204) by Australian luxury skincare brand Rationale.

As for eyeshadow, she says MAC Cosmetics are the best, and the shade Woodwinked ($35) - a light brown with a metallic finish - works for everyone.

Above all, be sure to ditch products that have expired. Mascara goes off fastest, so typically you'll need to update it every three months.
Wearing contact lenses while showering or swimming  or sleeping with them in  may seem like harmless time-savers.

But these common habits increase the risk of agonising eye problems and even blindness, experts have warned.

The main concern is a microscopic parasite which is often found in water, including tap water, called acanthamoeba keratitis.

The bug is normally harmless, but wearing contacts can create microscopic tears in the front part of the ye, the cornea  through which acanthamoeba can enter.

They then multiply, causing eye pain, redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and watery eyes. In the worst cases, it can lead to blindness.

Acanthamoeba can get into the eye while bathing or showering, and if contacts are being worn during these activities, the chances of infection increases dramatically.

Even leaving contacts in overnight can increase the risk.

This is because small numbers of acanthamoeba can be transferred into the eyes if a person washes their hands then touches their face.

Nina Wang, 30, from London, fell victim to the parasite while on holiday in Bali in July 2019

At first, Ms Wang just felt irritation and stickiness, but her symptoms progressed into soreness, pain, and an unbearable sensitivity to light. Two days later on July 16, 2019, she went to hospital

If contacts are worn during sleep it creates the perfect environment in which acanthamoeba can thrive.

Lens manufacturers and opticians make these risks clear yet, hundreds of Britons suffer the infection each year, according to the College of Optometrists.

Meanwhile, an estimated 1,500 Americans get it each year, according to The Cleveland Clinic.

Nina Wang, 30, from London, fell victim to the parasite while on holiday in Bali in July 2019.

The businesswoman who has been wearing contact lenses since she was 11, first stared feeling irritation in her right eye, but assumed her symptoms were just mild conjunctivitis and would go away on their own.

'I've dealt with many an irritations that are normally insignificant, but it got worse the next day,' she told MailOnline.

She admitted to occasionally falling asleep with her contacts in, which she alternated between monthly and daily types to limit the number she had to carry on her six-week trip.

At first, Ms Wang just felt irritation and stickiness, but her symptoms progressed into soreness, pain, and an unbearable sensitivity to light.

The photograph (Left) shows the scar blocking the pupil and the vision, and the photograph on the Right shows how specialist treatment cleared the pupil area of scar and simultaneously reduced the myopia (short-sightedness) significantly

Two days later on July 16, 2019, she went to hospital.

When her symptoms escalated, she sought medical help at a local hospital in Bali, where she was diagnosed with microbial keratitis.

She was given antibiotics and the medical staff advised her to travel to Jakarta for more specialised treatment, but she decided to remain in Bali.

Ms Wang followed the hospital's initial instructions, which included wearing an eye patch, avoiding sunlight, and using prescribed drops.

Upon returning to the UK three weeks later, on August 4, Ms Wang sought further care at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where specialists recognised the infection.

Over time, the infection caused a scar to develop that blocked the vision in her right eye, however she continued to wear her contacts for 18 months.

Eventually, she went to Professor Dan Reinstein, a specialist ophthalmic surgeon at London Vision Clinic, in November 2020.

She underwent laser eye surgery helping her regain 90 per cent of her vision.

McCasland was forced to stop working at the cafe as a result of the infection. The pain, which had persisted for a month and half, made it difficult to work, as did the lost of vision in her left eye, which caused changes to depth perception

McCasland has lost vision in her right eye, and is awaiting an expensive transplant that only has a small chance of restoring her sigh

Ms Wang said: 'This has been a multiple year process, with a lot of time and money gone into correcting the scar, and Dan has done an incredible job.'

She added that her sight is now 'completely manageable'.

But not everyone is as lucky as Ms Wang  for some the infection leaves them permanently blind.

Brooklyn McCasland, 23, from Texas US, lost all vision in her right eye after she contracted the parasites  which also lives in fresh and salt water  when she swam with her contact in.

The barista was first told by doctors she just had sand in her eye. Late they blamed a common infection and gave her eyedrops and antibiotics.

But the pain went on and the outer layer of her eye began clouding over, with what her doctor assumed was damage from an infection.

Ms McCasland is now blind in her right eye, and is awaiting an expensive corneal transplant that only has a small chance of restoring her sight.

In May 2019, Emily Kelleher, a high school English teacher in Massachusetts, was left feeling like her left eye was being stabbed by a 'knife or an ice pick'  she had also been infected with the parasite.

Ms Kelleher's eye under the microscope (pictured here) in her doctors office revealed the presence of acanthamoeba parasites

Her doctors told her she likely got it when the parasites got into her eye while showering with contact, something she used to do every day.

Last year, Rachel Prochnow, an Austin, Texas-based lifestyle writer, went blind in her right eye after showering with her contacts in.

She had always been careful about taking care of her eyes, having worn contacts since she was 12.

Ms Prochnow claims she always took them out at night, cleaned them well and threw away her contact lens cases regularly  ensuring everything was sterile.

But she admits she did not realise that showering, swimming or getting in a hot tub with her contacts in could leave her vulnerable to infection.

If acanthamoeba keratitis is caught early, doctors can treat it easily with eyedrops.

Tina Patel, contact lens optician from Feel Good Contacts, stressed that the best way to avoid infection is to maintain a proper lens care routine.

She told MailOnline: 'If you wear two weekly or monthly lenses, make sure your lenses are removed, cleaned and stored properly every night before going to sleep.

Ms Prochnow first noticed something was wrong when her eye felt a little scratchy and sensitive to light. Soon, she was in excruciating pain, and was unable to see anything besides light and hand movements

'Contact lenses should also never be worn in swimming pools, hot tubs and showers.'

She warns that even any residual water left on the hands before inserting lenses could be enough to cause acanthamoeba keratitis.

Professor Reinstein told MailOnline: 'Soft contact lenses are most prone to acanthamoeba keratitis, due to the higher water content which can attract and harbor microorganisms.

'Additionally, extended-wear lenses, which are often worn overnight, limit oxygen to the cornea and can trap contaminants against the eye for prolonged periods, increasing the risk of infection.'
Medics have sought to raise awareness of a rare condition that causes genital 'tingling' and triggers spontaneous orgasms throughout the day without sexual contact.

In a new case report, a team of Turkish neurologists warned that patients often face delays in diagnosis, because they're referred to the wrong specialists.

The condition, called restless genital syndrome (RSG) or persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), is thought to be caused by misfiring in brain signals that control nerves in the genital area.

It is rare, thought to affect just one per cent of people globally, most of which are women.

Patients report feeling permanently on the verge of an orgasm that they can't complete without sexual desire or stimulation.

Some say they feel tingling, burning, or pain, according to the report, published in the journal Cureus.

It's considered similar to restless leg syndrome (RLS), with some doctors classing it as an 'atypical' form of the condition.

The medics, Buse Cagla Ari and Elifnaz Sahin from Bahcesehir University in Istanbul, tell of the experience of a patient  a 35-year-old woman who sought medical help after experiencing persistent numbness and tingling in her genitals for six months.

One patient who suffered the condition is Scarlet Wallen, who has experienced the sensations since she was about six years old, when it prevented her from playing outside with friends.

At first, she only felt the tingling feeling only affected her groin, but it gradually spread to her right and left extremities.

She described these sensations as a sharp unpleasant pain, which could be relieved by moving her legs.

At first, her symptoms worsened before going to bed and occurred consistently after periods of rest. But they then began occurring during the day.

She reported spontaneous sexual arousal and orgasms throughout the day  which caused challenges in her professional life.

The neurologists reported that several tests including an ultrasound and blood tests came back 'normal' and did not explain her symptoms.

After further examination, the doctors concluded she had restless genital syndrome, and prescribed a drug called pramipexole, which affects the brain hormone dopamine, which is responsible for movement.

Following some dosage adjustment, the patient's symptoms resolved.

One woman who has previously spoken out about her experience of the condition is 21 year-old student Scarlet Kaitlin Wallen from Rhode Island in the US.

In an interview given earlier this year, she said she'd 'always' experienced a 'pins and needles' feeling in her vulva, admitting that it was constantly burning: 'It was like I was naturally aroused but I didnt want it.'

The Rhode Island native has only had a handful of pain-free days over the last 15 years.

In 15 years, shes only had a handful of pain-free days  and is unable to work or study full-time.

Ms Wallen, a part-time courier and art student, described the pain as 'burning bugs under my skin'  and like her genitals were on fire.

She said: 'In my brain it was like, I didnt want to feel this. I wanted to be playing outside.'

She underwent surgery to have some nerves in her vagina removed to alleviate the constant burning feeling.

Other women with the condition have described the orgasms they experience as 'an intense pleasure' that can 'end up causing me pain'.

In a recent post shared on Reddit, one sufferer said the sensation is 'strongest in my cervix area.'

WHAT IS PERSISTENT GENITAL AROUSAL DISORDER? Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a condition in which someone cannot control their physical sexual arousal and has orgasms at random. The condition is not sexual or linked to desire and can be debilitating and painful for those who suffer from it. Doctors don't know how many people have the condition, but it is believed to be significantly more common among women and is estimated to affect as many as one per cent of females. Signs of the condition may include wetness in the vagina, itching, the feeling of pressure, burning, pounding, or pins and needles. Some describe it as feeling congested. PGAD's causes aren't well understood but it could be triggered by stress, certain medications, nerve damage or certain types of cysts called Tarlov cysts. Treatment may involve behavioural therapy, painkillers or in some cases medication, but the condition is not curable. Source: Medical News Today Advertisement

The woman said: 'For me its not sudden but its a slow build up, and the build up doesnt always end in an orgasm, so I never truly know if Im going to have an orgasm.

'But just that alone makes me order groceries to my front door.

'It's intense pleasure that if it does end up causing me pain, it makes me nauseous and the nausea makes me more fearful or upset than the pain because I hate throwing up.'

On a 'good day,' she deals with about three to five orgasms. But on a bad day, that number can be as high as 25. The highest number she's suffered in a day is 50.

Sitting up suddenly also makes her more prone to an orgasm, possibly due to pressure on her genitals. The woman added that she avoids masturbating to keep from intensifying the sensations.

Some experts have suggested that varicose veins in the pelvis, cysts along the base of the spine, and abscesses near the clitoris could be partly to blame.

One 2020 study by Harvard Medical School studied 10 patients with the condition and found nine of them had lesions on or problems with the lower spinal cord or nerves that controlled sexual arousal and orgasm.

Study authors explained the dorsal nerve, which has roots in the spinal cord and travels to the genitals, largely controls sensation to the clitoris or penis.

It explained anything which puts pressure on a nerve or interrupts the flow of electrical signals can cause unwanted effects by triggering uncontrollable signals to and from the brain.

Tarlov cysts, most commonly found at the base of the spine around the nerve roots, were the most common problem found in the study.

The fluid-filled lumps can damage nerves by putting pressure on them, affecting sexual, bladder and bowel function.
Wine lovers are being short changed in the latest round of 'drinkflation'.

Drinkers have been shocked to find out that massively popular Blossom Hill wines have dramatically reduced the alcohol percentage of their products.

But, despite the widely sold drinks becoming weaker, the price has has increased.

A 75cl bottle of Blossom Hill White Zinfandel was 11 per cent alcohol two years ago, and cost 5.25.

Today it's 5.75 and its strength has gone down to 8.5 per cent. One consumer described it as a 'glorified Shloer'  an alcohol-free fizzy grape drink.

Meanwhile the brand's Soft & Fruity Red Wine has been reduced from 12.5 to 10.5 per cent  and they aren't the only wines that have been weakened.

Hardys Stamp Shiraz Cabernet, for example, was reduced from 13.5 per cent to 11 per cent in 2023, while the cost has risen from 5 to 5.25.

The change comes after the previous Government upped taxes on stronger booze, meaning wine, beer and spirits are now sold with less alcohol in them.

Wine lovers are being short changed in the latest round of 'drinkflation' (file image)

A 75cl bottle of Blossom Hill White Zinfandel was 11 per cent ABV two years ago, and cost 5.25

Hardys Stamp Shiraz Cabernet, for example, was reduced from 13.5 per cent to 11 per cent in 2023, while the cost has risen from 5 to 5.25

Experts have said that the trend for reducing alcohol content is likely to have a small positive public health impact.

'Only people who are drinking for the specific purpose of getting drunk are being short-changed,' says Colin Agus, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield and expert in alcohol consumption.

Writing after popular beer brand Heineken announced similar money saving measures last year he said: 'Reducing the alcoholic strength is in the commercial interests [of manufacturers].

'But it also aligns with trends in consumer demand and is likely to be a benefit to public health by reducing overall alcohol consumption.

'It's incredibly rare for these usually competing interests to be pulling in the same direction, so perhaps the current trend is something worth celebrating for almost everybody.'

The change from Blossom Hill comes as wine takes over beer as Brits drinking.

However last year the World Health Organisation warned that there was no safe level of alcohol consumption.

The WHO estimates that excessive alcohol consumption kills 3million people around the world each year.

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It is estimated that over 9,000 people a year die an alcohol related death in the UK.

Writing in The Lancet Public Health, a team of WHO experts last year said that 'alcohol consumption' as a whole was behind the toll.

They said 'alcohol consumers should be objectively informed about the risks of cancer and other health conditions associated with alcohol consumption.'

The NHS recommends people do not drink more than 14 units a week and to spread them over three days or more.

Ian Hamilton, an addiction expert at the University of York, told MailOnline that the WHO experts are 'correct' that there is 'no safe level' in terms of risks to health.

However, he added that it was 'important to stress' that by sticking to the guidelines the risk to health is 'small'.

The risk of developing alcohol related diseases is 'greatest for those who consume large amounts in a small period of time', he added.

Mr Hamilton said: 'Ensuring that everyone understands the risks associated with their consumption is important but for those drinking occasionally and low quantities the risks to their health are small.'
When Elijah Portillo, 11, fell at school a few months ago and had trouble standing, his parents took him to the doctor to make sure he was okay.

The provider said Elijah was fine, and the headaches, nausea and dizziness the boy was experiencing may have been from a virus or high blood pressure.

But the middle-schooler's headaches wouldn't go away and became so severe he couldn't sleep at night. His mom, Michelle, knew something was wrong.

They visited the doctor again - taking him to an emergency room in Las Vegas, Nevada. There, he underwent a CT scan - which takes images of the brain, bones, blood and organs.

The scan revealed a 1.1-inch tumor lurking at the base of his skull, near the part of the brain that controls balance, movement and posture, which may have contributed to his fall.

Elijah's father, Richard Portillo, told local outlet Fox5 the doctor said he needed to be airlifted to a more equipped hospital in Utah.

Mr Portillo quickly packed a bag for himself and his son so they could be transported to Primary Childrens Hospital in Salt Lake City, where the boy would undergo a seven-hour surgery to remove his brain tumor.

Because Elijah's mother is on dialysis and blind, she could not join them and remained in Las Vegas to care for their two other sons.

Richard said that seeing the tumor in his son's skull and the emergency surgery was terrifying. He told FOX5: 'It's the scariest experience I've ever had in my life'

Richard flew with his son to the hospital in Utah. His wife Michelle had to stay home to watch Richard's brothers, and is unable to travel because she is blind and on dialysis

Richard told Fox5 Vegas: 'The biggest lesson learned for us parents is, react. A lot of people say, theyre trying to get out of school or what not.

'This was not the case. He had a life-threatening condition.'

The surgery took place on October 24, and for almost a week, the family waited to see the results that would tell them whether or not Elijah's tumor was cancer.

The biopsy came back on October 30 with the news that Elijah had brain cancer, though the family did not specify what type.

A family member posted on a GoFundMe page for the family: 'Elijah's biopsy results came back with the worst possible result.

'Elijah has cancer and is going to fight with everything he has. He will not give up and is determined to beat this!'

They said he has a long road ahead with treatment consisting of either chemotherapy or radiation.

And the family is still mourning the loss of their son Art from Covid in 2020 and their daughter Jasmine in 2023 from an accident.

The family has been given two choices for treatment: return to Las Vegas for chemo and radiation or remain in Utah for a six-week tumor-targeted chemotherapy, which is expected to have better results and be easier on Elijah's.

While this is the 'preferred treatment,' the post continued, it comes with more financial hardships.

Now, Elijah has to remain in the hospital for the foreseeable future and may need to undergo another surgery due to an accident he had.

A post on GoFundMe said Elijah had fallen in the restroom, which caused a tube draining fluid from his skull to fall out, and he may need to have a procedure to reinsert it.

The GoFundMe has been set up for his medical costs as Richard is the family's sole provider, but has had to take time off of work to be with his son in Utah.

But Richard said his son's spirit has been the thing keeping him going: 'If it wasn't for Elijah's positivity, I wouldn't have been able to make it through this.'
Charlotte Simpson and Isabel McEgan did not know each other, but shared a love of spending time with their friends, their families and their dogs, as well as an ambition to become teachers.

Sadly, however, what the teenagers also share is the shocking way they were let down by GPs who failed to spot they had the symptoms of a deadly cancer. It is a situation that is becoming all too common.

Last month The Mail on Sunday revealed the appalling story of 17-year-old Ruby Fuller, whose symptoms of blood cancer were missed seven times by six doctors, who dismissed them as allergies or insisted she was 'under the weather'. One even laughed off a suggestion by Ruby's worried mother that it could be cancer, saying: 'Not in a 17-year-old  she's far too young.'

Charlotte Simpson was 17 when she started having symptoms of bowel cancer, but by the time doctors tested her, it had spread throughout her body

In October 2019, Charlotte, from Hampshire, who was 17 and studying for her A-levels, began experiencing constipation, diarrhoea and stomach pain.

Despite repeated trips to the GP, she was told there was nothing to worry about. Even when she began to lose weight and was vomiting, they suggested she was simply run down. 'If you were older, we'd be extremely worried,' her GP said. 'But you're only 17.'

It was only when Charlotte spotted blood in her stool, three months later, that she was sent for tests. Scans revealed advanced bowel cancer which had spread throughout her body.

Four months later, she died, with her mother Sarah, father David, younger brother Elliott and boyfriend Scott at her side.

In 2018, Isabel McEgan, from Merseyside, had not long finished her A-levels when she began complaining of a racing heart and palpitations at night.

Over the following months, having started a philosophy course at the University of Liverpool, Isabel kept visiting the GP with new symptoms. They said she was just stressed. In February 2019 she lost feeling in her chin, and was again told not to worry.

Isabel McEgan had her symptoms dismissed by doctors, who said she was just stressed

But while in the US on holiday, her face swelled up and a Pennsylvania dentist thought a wisdom tooth could be to blame. However, as he was removing it, he noticed a tumour in her jaw.

Back in the UK, scans revealed that Isabel had kidney cancer which had spread into her liver, adrenal glands, jaw, pelvis and spine. She died in May 2020  less than two weeks before Charlotte Simpson also passed away.

Remembering her daughter's last words, Isabel's mother Amanda, 53, said: 'I told Isabel, "I love you." She said, "Love you more". That was the last thing she said to me.'

Hauntingly, Charlotte's mother Sarah, 50, recounts saying goodbye to her daughter with exactly the same exchange.

While the families will never know for certain, both question whether an earlier diagnosis could have saved the girls. So Charlotte and Isabel's parents have now joined forces in a bid to raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer in children.

They are working with The Children's Cancer And Leukaemia Group (CCLG), which has created a poster, which they want displayed in all GP surgeries, to inform patients, parents and doctors about the warning signs.

'Early diagnosis is vital,' says CCLG chief executive Ashley Ball-Gamble. 'And it could be as simple as accessing the right information at the right time.

'If we can get this poster in front of them, GPs should have the information they need to make referrals.'

Charlotte Simpson with her mother Sarah

Across the UK, the number of children and young people diagnosed with cancer have risen more than 15 per cent since the 1990s, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. About 3,755 under-25s are now diagnosed with cancer each year, including 1,645 under 15.

Yet NHS research published last year suggests that opportunities for early diagnosis are being missed. It showed that in 41 per cent of cases where a child was diagnosed with cancer, their families had taken them to GPs at least three times with the same symptoms before they were referred for tests.

Experts say one of the main reasons GPs miss signs of cancer in children is that the symptoms differ to those seen in adults.

Campaigners say one solution is Jess's Law  proposed new legislation requiring GPs to elevate a case to an urgent review if a patient comes to the surgery three times complaining about the same symptoms. It is named after Jessica Brady, 27, from Hertfordshire, who died in 2020 after adenocarcinoma  a cancer in the mucus-producing glands lining the organs  was missed 20 times by four GPs.

Isabel enjoying a day out at Disneyland

But the CCLG charity says it is also crucial to educate GPs about the signs of the disease.

It's for this reason that the CCLG has developed its child cancer symptom poster.

'It can be hard for GPs to spot cases of childhood cancer because they encounter them rarely,' says Dr Sharna Shanmugavadivel, a paediatrician at Leicester Royal Infirmary. 'Putting the poster in every surgery might help doctors and patients recognise that certain symptoms are key warning signs for cancer and should trigger further investigation or referral.'

In 2021, the NHS regulator, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), gave its backing to the poster. However, at the time it did not commit to funding distribution to GP surgeries.

Isabel's mother Amanda believes the move would save lives, saying: 'Many of Izzy's symptoms should have been red flags.

'It would also help parents be advocates for their children, if they could point at symptoms on a poster and just say, "Look!"'
The name of the supermarket every influencer currently wants to visit is  somewhat ironically  an anagram of Nowhere. Youre forgiven for not having heard of Californias Erewhon chain, but your Gen Z relatives almost certainly have because its establishing itself as the worlds most zeitgeisty (read: expensive and Instagrammable) food retailer.

The stores must-have items  as far as the youth is concerned  are the 15 smoothies. This is partly because, in a shop where six large ice cubes cost 23, a smoothie is all most of them can afford. It is also down to the smoothies celebrity creators, who include Olivia Rodrigo, Kendall Jenner and Insta-medic of the moment Dr Paul Saladino (well come back to his formula shortly).

While showing off about your Erewhon purchases on social media is a popular pastime, so is laughing at the stores excesses. On TikTok, games of It cost how much? rack up millions of views. The idea is simple: take an uninitiated friend or relative to one of Erewhons ten outlets in Los Angeles and capture their disbelief on video. One reveal on a box of mixed berries (32) has 8.6 million views, while that on a tiny bottle of lavender oil (65) has 12.6 million.

The prices are not the only talking/laughing point. Erewhon eagerly embraces the latest food fads no matter how batty they may sound outside Beverly Hills. The smoothie from Dr Saladino is a blend of freeze-dried cow organs mixed with antioxidant-rich colostrum and berries. If you fancy making your own at home, a tub of bovine colostrum will set you back 100 (nobody is vegan any more, havent you heard?). Another TikTok, meanwhile, has its comic creators mock-salivating over bone broth and adaptogens (nope, us neither). Interestingly, the anagram Erewhon is the title of Samuel Butlers 1872 novel in which poverty and illness are criminalised. We can only imagine what hed have made of his satire being used to brand a food store accessible only to the wealthy.

I visit the Beverly Hills branch at midday on a Wednesday. Lululemon- clad girls in their 20s and 30s queue for 39-for-two wagyu fillet steaks. Young mums fill their canvas totes with 31 jars of sea moss and Japanese sweet potatoes (12 per lb). On the front terrace a couple in scrubs exchange sweet nothings over 9 matcha lattes activated with collagen, while a glamorous mother and daughter with matching Chanel bags share a pistachio-sprinkled 15 mortadella sandwich. I order a Sabrina Carpenter Short N Sweet smoothie only to be chided because its no longer available  so instead I go for Hailey Biebers 15 Strawberry Glaze Skin smoothie (think organic strawberries, dates, avocado and collagen).

Its novel, and novel stuff works on TikTok, says Lauren Sherman, fashion correspondent for online magazine Puck, whose insider-y newsletter is the industrys must-read. She likens Erewhons popularity to that of the Stanley cup, a 35 giant insulated tumbler with a straw, and the Sephora skincare fridge  attainable luxury items that act as signifiers of a charmed life of self-care, and scream that dreaded word whose currency continues to rise: wellness.

Erewhon started life in Boston in the 1960s, launched by a pair of macrobiotic evangelists to cater to the growing appetite for grains, legumes and avoiding sugar and animal products. But its recent success is down to husband-and-wife owners Tony and Josephine Antoci, CEO and president respectively, who acquired the one remaining shop in 2011. Eight years later, Erewhon got a private equity cash injection that allowed it to open stores proffering budget-crippling nonessentials in ten of LAs most affluent areas. The timing was fortuitous. The pandemic shutdown (although LA never had a lockdown) gave Angelenos a lot of time to think about their health. As the city bounced back to life, Erewhon was a one-stop shop for their new-found neuroses. If you were off caffeine, there was adaptogenic tea. If youd done a 180 on nut milks, it had raw organic cows milk. Not to mention irresistible luxuries like Dead Sea bath salts, New Zealand spring water and biodynamic wine from Catalonia.

While Tony handles the balance sheets, it is Josephines gatekeeping that creates the in-store magic. She is known to sample assiduously and scrutinise thousands of fresh and packaged goods and supplements each year before deciding which gets a hallowed spot in Erewhons library-like narrow aisles. Be organic, non-GM, sustainable, biodynamic and regenerative-farmed and youll whet her appetite; use processed sugar, bleached flour or canola oil and youre in the bin. Its a family (or nepo baby) affair, too  the Antoci children Alec, Austin and Maddy are full-time employees.

Theres also a fashion element, and its no coincidence. Having collaborated in 2022 on a juice and tote bag with Paris-based brand Casablanca, last year Erewhon teamed up with Balenciaga. For its autumn 2024 collection, the fashion house held a catwalk show on a palm tree-lined street in LAs Hancock Park, where mansions for movie moguls built during cinemas golden age provided the backdrop. With the Hollywood sign in the distance, models in hoodies, Lycra, tracksuits and the occasional faux-fur coat strutted with leather Erewhon shopping bags on their arms, part of a collaboration that included sweaters, caps and aprons starting at 330.

I refuse to shop in American supermarkets as everything is packed with additives, says Brit-in-LA Jessica Walsh, a former Tatler fashion editor and founder of Formula Fig facial and injectable bars. In the UK standards are higher, and thats what Erewhon has done so well  you trust them even if its so goddam expensive. Walshs order of choice is the Jing City, a 12 deer antler bone broth. Every time I go in looking for one thing, Ill come out having spent 120 on something totally different, she says.

Could it work in the UK? We already have Daylesford Organic, the cafe and deli founded by Lady Carole Bamford, but it doesnt have the hip factor that Erewhon has. Stroll past Daylesfords Notting Hill outpost of a Saturday and youre unlikely to see lines of influencers instagramming its beetroot kimchi.

So for now, British Gen Zs chasing social-media gold must fork out for the transatlantic flight plus a 15 Hailey Bieber smoothie. Does it taste of health and privilege? Honestly, to me, it tasted like a McDonalds milkshake, but owner Josephine recently told the Los Angeles Times they sell 45,000 of these a month. So what do I know?

Artwork: Ellie Allen-Eslor

Images: Erewhon/BACKGRID, @haileybieber/instagram, Getty images, Jam Press/Erewhon
T om Davies is standing in the acetate kitchen of his factory in Brentford, West London, demonstrating how he makes the frames for his 600 gold-leaf glasses. Standing at the production line, he pours 100 grams of clear acetate chips into a steel mould and sprinkles over a handful of gold leaf. After taking the mould out of the oven he hands me the plate from which the frames will be cut. I got the edible gold leaf from Heston Blumenthal, he tells me. I saw it and asked if I could have a pot. Its not expensive but its dramatic.

Like Blumenthal, Davies is a huge fan of the precious metal. He has even created a pair of 10,000 18ct gold frames. Its like King Midas touched a pair of glasses and the whole thing turned to gold, he says. I sold a pair over Christmas. This lady said to me, Why should I buy those? And I replied, Happy Christmas me. So she bought them. He also has a gold business card. I gave it to Stephen Fry, and he said, Damn it. Ive just given up cocaine. It would have been very useful, he says, laughing.

Tom Davies with admirer Ed Sheeran

At 50, Davies is rapidly becoming the King of Specs: he has a host of celebrity clients including Victoria Beckham and Ed Sheeran, and is Hollywoods go-to glasses maker. He made all the frames for Cruella, starring Emma Stone and Emma Thompson, also designing for Winona Ryder in the Beetlejuice sequel and Angelina Jolie in the Maria Callas biopic. He is very much the Willy Wonka of eyewear, a mad professor who makes glasses out of crushed meteorites and wears his own designs despite having 20:20 vision. I once bought a meteorite that hit Mars 3,000 years ago, he says. I crushed it down into powder and made a pair of sunglasses, which I auctioned off for 3,000 on behalf of the eye charity Orbis.

Davies had no idea that he would end up as an eyewear designer when he was growing up in Derbyshire. After graduating from the University of East Anglia in 1996 with a degree in art and design, he flew out to Hong Kong with 200 in his pocket and applied for a variety of jobs. He landed on his feet when a clockmaker, who wanted to branch out into eyewear, hired him to design glasses. I had to learn fast, he admits.

Angelina Jolie as Callas, the operatic diva, in Maria

I started by buying Vogue and drew glasses on the model on the front cover. Then I asked customers at the bar where I had worked what sort of glasses they wanted and designed frames for them.

Four years later he returned to Britain, setting up his eponymous company in 2002. He now has four stores in the heart of London equipped with hospital-grade technology and has recently launched state-of-the-art dry-eye clinics.

Henry Cavill as Clark Kent in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justic

Davies lives in Southwest London with his wife Kerstin, 47, who works for data analytics company Lexis Nexis, and their children Oscar, 18, and Amelia, 15. We met at the Hippodrome on my 26th birthday, he says. I remember seeing her blonde hair in a sea of men swarming round her and I walked up to her and said, Ooh, get off my girlfriend. So cheesy but it worked.

His first celebrity client was Sir Richard Branson. I remember flying with Virgin and the lady behind the check-in desk was wearing really badly fitting glasses. I was chatting to her because I was a nervous flyer and said to her, Come and see me and Ill make you a new pair. I wasnt trying to get an upgrade, but she moved me from economy to upper class. I later designed a pair of glasses to thank Sir Richard. I got his head measurements at Madame Tussauds by climbing under the ropes and measuring his waxwork.

Rita Ora

His movie break came when the costume designer for Rowan Atkinsons 2005 film Keeping Mum went into Harrods opticians, which sold his range, looking for a pair of glasses for its star. He made Atkinson a bespoke pair and Hollywood soon came knocking. Since then he has designed frames for A-listers including Angelina Jolie in The Tourist, Henry Cavill in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Brad Pitt in Allied and Tom Holland in Spiderman: Homecoming.

I remember driving to Derby and getting a call from the prop master saying, Im on set with Angelina Jolie. She doesnt like the Ferragamo glasses weve chosen. She likes your sunglasses. I need them on set in Venice in four days. I almost did a handbrake turn on the M1.

He even lent his own glasses to actor Andrew Leung, who played Emma Thompsons assistant Jeffrey in Cruella. The celebrated costume designer Jenny Beavan told him Jeffrey was described in the script as the Best Dressed Man in London. I asked her, How long have I got? And she said, Were filming this afternoon. So I gave him my own glasses. Afterwards I saw a picture of him and thought, Damn, he looks better in my own glasses than I do.

Brad Pitt in Allied

One of Daviess most bizarre encounters was with the late Carrie Fisher. My store manager rang me up and said, Tom, Carrie Fisher is in the shop. It was like one of those cartoons where theres a puff of smoke and the phones still hanging in the air. Within five minutes of chatting to her, she declared me Mr Fisher, which I later discovered was an honour bestowed on very few. She took him with her to the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and it was the start of a close friendship that even had the actress proposition him. I said, Carrie, Im a married man, and she said, What the f*** has that got to do with it?

Emma Thompson in Cruella

Heston Blumenthal is another loyal fan. I once swapped a pair of sunglasses with him for a microwave oven, says Davies. Wed had a bit too much to drink and I found myself hailing a taxi at 1am lugging a prototype of his advanced culinary microwave down Barnes High Street.

Tom with Carrie Fisher

Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran found him on Google. When Ed got his first five pairs of horn glasses, I asked my assistant to meet me at his house and bring my special tools. She was so excited she forgot my frame heater, which I use to adjust my horn frames, so I asked Ed for his wifes hair straighteners, as a hairdryer is not hot enough.

Rowan Atkinson

The frames began to burn so I cut up a pair of Eds old socks to protect them. That didnt work with all the frames  for the others I said, I need cooking oil and Marigolds. I put the gloves on to avoid burning my hands, heated up all the oil we could find in the house and gently dipped the frames in to heat them up  so I could adjust them  while listening to Eds new album.

Afterwards, Sheeran asked Davies to sign the wall in his studio. I signed next to Damien Hirst, who had sketched a shark next to his name. Obviously, I had to draw a pair of specs next to mine.
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This weekend marks a major milestone for the nation's road network.

It is 65 years to the day that the M1 - the UK's first cross-country motorway - officially opened and welcomed traffic to its tarmac.

The first 73-mile stretch between Watford and Rugby was completed on Monday 2 November 1959 having taken 19 months to construct.

But do drivers love it or loathe the M1 today? Use our map infographic to find out how it ranks in the order of England's 14 major motorways based on motorists' feedback about congestion, potholes and safety.

Happy 65 years to the M1: These are some of the first vehicles to use the 73-mile M1 when it opened on 2 November 1959. But what do drivers make of it today?

During the first year it was open, 20,000 motorists used it each day. Fast forward to 2024 and daily traffic volumes on the M1 have increased seven times over to between 130,000 and 140,000 vehicles

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The M1 now runs for 193 miles linking London to Leeds and has long been recognised as the North-South gateway.

It was constructed in four phases with the final part completed in 1999.

There's much debate about which is the UK 'first' motorway, given the Preston Bypass was opened a year earlier in 1958. However, it originally stretched a mere eight miles before forming part of the M6 in 1964, which is why the M1 is widely recognised as the initial cross-country route.

Transport minister Ernest Marples had the great honour of declaring it open in 1959 to spearhead a major national development and boost to the economy, providing direct transport links never experienced before in Britain.

Prior to construction of the UKs motorway network, drivers relied on a series of A roads which went through towns and villages, these were often single carriageway and commonly subject to congestion.

However, the motorway drivers experienced for the first time on 2 November some 65 years ago is very different to the M1 we drive up and down today.

2nd November 1959: Transport Minister Ernest Marples on a road bridge near the London end of the newly opened M1 motorway

This image from the day of the M1's inauguration shows Marples using a police radio telephone to order County Police to open up the M1 motorway to traffic

Ernest Marples, the Minister of Transport (pointing) discusses Britain's first motorway with Sir Owen Williams

A workman sweeps rubble off part of the new M1 at the then-longest straight section - it spanned six miles near Dunstable. Construction of 73-mile initial stretch of the M1 took 19 months to complete

Traffic seen using the M1 near Luton in Bedfordshire on the day the motorway opened

A group of children sit on the verge watching traffic pass on the M1. When it opened, there was no speed limit. That wasn't introduced until 1967

The M1's arrival in 1959 spearheaded a major national development and boost to the economy, providing direct transport links never experienced before in Britain. This image shows the Broughton roundabout at the junction with the Dunstable and Newport Pagnell roads

People marvel at the fast-moving traffic from a bridge over the newly-opened first section of the M1 motorway on 2 November 1959

This is a driver's eye view from inside a car travelling along the first stretch of the new M1 motorway. Lighting wasn't added to the M1 until 1973, along with the first crash barriers

When it opened it had no speed limit, crash barriers, or lights, and had soft verges rather than hard shoulders.

A speed limit of 70mph was first trialled in December 1965 for a four-month period and then rolled out permanently from 1967. Lighting and tensioned safety barriers didn't come until 1973.

In the 1960s, the M1's Watford Gap Services became something of a celebrity hangout. A-listers including the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones often visited to take advantage of its 24-hour service while London's pubs shut at 23:00 on the dot.

Today, there are 12 service stations on the M1.

During the first year it was open, 20,000 motorists used it each day. Fast forward to 2024 and daily traffic volumes on the M1 have increased seven times over to between 130,000 and 140,000 vehicles.

Like congestion levels, breakdowns have also risen, despite the arrival of more dependable new vehicles.

The AA says that around 14,000 drivers were assisted on the M1 in its first year of operation by its fleet of Land Rover patrols coordinated from a special Mobile Operations Centre at Newport Pagnell.

Last year, the breakdown provider attended 15,000 call outs on the motorway.

Despite the significant increase in callouts, the main causes of drivers breaking down at the side of the M1 haven't changed in the last 65 years; engine trouble, tyre issues and flat batteries are the still top of the list for problems.

This photo from 1965 shows the new 70mph speed limit signs on the approach to the M1. The speed limit was made permanent in 1967

This image from 1971 shows the M1 looking very different to how it is today. Lighting was not installed on the motorway until 1973

The M1 has also seen its fair share of tragedy.

On 8 January 1989, a Boeing 737 crashed onto the embankment while attempting an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport.

No drivers were injured or road vehicles damaged, however, 47 passengers on board the aircraft were killed and a further 74 passengers and crew members were seriously injured.

Tragedy: The Kegworth air disaster occurred when British Midland Airways Flight 092, a Boeing 737-400, crashed onto the motorway embankment between the M1 motorway and A453 road near Kegworth

The pilot had attempted to make an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport on 8 January 1989 during a scheduled flight from London Heathrow Airport to Belfast International Airport. A malfunction had triggered an engine fire

Of the 126 people aboard the passenger plane, 47 died and 74 sustained serious injuries. No motorists were injured and not one vehicle on the M1 damaged

Closures have been sporadic throughout the years.

In April 1997, the M1 was closed due to an IRA bomb threat. And just over one year later, extended sections of the northbound carriageway were shut between London and Northampton to allow for the funeral procession of Diana, Princess of Wales to Althorp.

In an unprecedented event, police allowed pedestrians onto the normally busy motorway almost the entire length of the closed route to pay their respects.

Closures have been sporadic throughout the years, too. In April 1997, the M1 was closed due to an IRA bomb threat

The M1 was closed to traffic - but not to the public - on Saturday 6 September 1997 to allow for the funeral procession of Diana, Princess of Wales to Althorp. A woman is pictured throwing flowers towards the hearse as crowds gather at junction 15 of the M1 motorway to pay their respects

The Princess' funeral sparked an unprecedented event when the police allowed pedestrians onto the normally busy motorway almost the entire length of the closed route to pay their respects

Crowds gathered almost the entire length of the closed stretch of M1 motorway awaiting the funeral cortege of Diana, Princess of Wales, in September 1997

Issues around the M1 have also caused major disruption on the busy motorway.

On 11 December 2005, an 18-mile stretch had to be shut following a major explosion and fire at the Buncefield Oil Depot which is less than half a mile from the busy motorway.

One significant temporary closure followed in June 2007 when the junctions 32 to 36 had to be closed for a number of days after the Ulley Reservoir developed cracks after being deluged by heavy rainfall, triggering fears it could flood the M1.

A year later, on 24 August 2008, part of the motorway close to Tinsley Viaduct was closed to allow safe demolition of the Tinsley cooling towers. The M1 remained closed for much of the day until the stability of the viaduct was confirmed.

A fire at Buncefield fuel depot in Hemel Hempstead triggered the closure of the M1 in December 2005

This image shows smoke from the fire following the explosions at Buncefield Fuel Depot over the M1 motorway, which had to be closed

In June 2007, junctions 32 to 36 of the M1 in Yorkshire had to be closed for a number of days after the Ulley Reservoir developed cracks after being deluged by heavy rainfall, triggering fears it could flood the motorway

24 August 2008: The Tinsley cooling towers come crashing to the ground after standing next to the M1 motorway in Sheffield for 70 years

As well as becoming Britain's first motorway, another significant landmark came in 2009 when the M1 introduced the first stretch of 'Smart Motorway' between Luton South and the M25.

Now, 120 miles of the M1 is subject to some form of smart motorway rules with variable speed limits.

The AA says it had severe reservations about smart motorways in 2009, and still has them today. It says 81 per cent of its members want to see them scrapped.

As well as becoming Britain's first motorway, another significant landmark came in 2009 when the M1 introduced the first stretch of 'Smart Motorway', with sections converted to make the hard shoulder a live lane to ease congestion

Today, some 120 miles of the M1 is subject to some form of smart motorway rules with variable speed limits

The M1 now runs for 193 miles linking London to Leeds and has long been recognised as the North-South gateway

Edmund King, AA President, said the M1 has been 'the backbone of British motoring for 65 years'.

He added: 'Whilst it has its issues, people forget or don't realise what it was like before our major motorways were constructed.

'The construction of the M1 led to more freight moving to road enabling easier North to South delivery routes.

'Major towns and cities were congested, and journey times were much higher than they are today. However, more than half of motorists said congestion on the M1 is a major issue for them.

'The M1 transformed mobility in the UK  it enabled families to visit relatives in far-flung parts of the country which would have taken many more hours to get to and led to the expansion of motorway network we recognise today.'

National Highways, the Government-owned company responsible for the nation's motorway network, said the M1 is 'a key artery of the UK's road network'.

A spokesperson told the BBC: 'Sixty-five years on, the motorway continues to support the British economy and moves goods and people to places around the country.

'The improvements we are making now will keep road users safer and ensure it lasts for years to come.'

How do drivers feel about the M1 today? The AA ran its own poll to survey motorists about the motorway, however, a more extensive annual report by Transport Focus scores it against 13 other 'M' roads to see where it ranks in the hearts and minds of British drivers

Do drivers love or hate the M1 today?

To coincide with the M1's 65-year anniversary, the AA surveyed 7,428 motorists who have driven on it in the last 12 months about their general perspective of the motorway today.

They were asked for their impressions of the congestion; road condition; road markings; signage; lighting; quality of service areas; and litter.

Over half (60 per cent) responded that congestion is poor; a third say that the road condition is poor, but nearly half (48 per cent) think the signage is excellent.

But how does the M1 rank against other motorways in England?

The survey quizzed more than 9,100 road users about their last journey on a motorway or major A road in England - all of which are managed by National Highways. The M1 was 17th out of 27 routes in total - and 10th out of 14 for just motorways

ENGLAND'S MOTORWAYS RANKED 1. M40 - 79% satisfaction score 2. M4 - 78% 3. M5 - 77% 4. A1(M) - 76% 5. M56 - 73% 6. M3 - 73% 7. M60 - 72% 8. M6 - 71% 9. M27 - 70% 10. M1 - 69% 11. M11 - 68% 12. M25 - 67% 13. M62 - 60% 14. M42 - 56% Source: Transport Focus poll of 9,166 drivers

An annual survey of more than 9,000 drivers carried out by independent watchdog Transport Focus earlier this year put it closer towards the bottom of the order.

Like the AA poll, motorists were asked to score each motorway and A-road across the following categories: overall satisfaction; journey time; road surface; road management; feeling safe; and road markings.

Of the 14 motorways scored by motorists, the M1 was tenth with an overall score of 69 per cent, suggesting it's very much the middle of the road in the eyes of the nation's drivers.

It scored well for making drivers feel safe (77 per cent) and its signage (77 per cent) but was heavily weighed down for its poor performance for the volume and management of roadworks with a rating of just 39 per cent.

One driver blasted the M1, saying: 'Endless 50mph average speed, no night work being carried out in road works, additional speed restrictions out with the roadworks, matrix signs stating non existent hazards.'

Another told the survey the M1 was suffering 'long sections of road works slowing traffic' and said they had to 'constantly avoid potholes or poorly repaired potholes'.

One driver was far more positive, though: 'My second favourite motorway; first is the M40, of course.'

And many of the other drivers who responded to the poll agreed.

The M40, which spans 89 miles and links London, Oxford, and Birmingham, was the motorway that received highest marks as road users gave it 79 per cent, with one even stating: 'It is one of the few motorways that has few delays when I travel on it.'

Motorists rated the M42 as England's worst motorway in the annual report.

The 40-mile-long stretch, which connects Birmingham with the likes of Nottingham, Solihull, Tamworth and Redditch, was ranked last in the survey with a satisfaction score of just 56 per cent.

Unfortunately for the M42, the poll of 9,166 road users was carried out at the end of March, which coincided with major roadworks taking place on the busy section around Birmingham Airport, which likely weighed on drivers' opinion about the road.

*You can read the full results in our in-depth coverage of the 2024 report.
The Hetch Hetchy reservoir, seen beyond the OShaughnessy Dam in 2022, supplies much of San Franciscos drinking water. Tracy Barbutes/Special to the Chronicle

San Francisco is often said to have some of the best drinking water in the nation.

Fed by snow on the peaks at Yosemite, the cold, unspoiled supplies are so crisp and clean that the water requires no filtration before being piped 160 miles to Bay Area taps. Celebrity water sommelier Martin Riese once called the citys water smooth with earthy notes and almost like you have little lime in the aftertaste.

This beloved elixir, however, may not be as good as some people think it is. A recent taste test found that the citys supplies were slightly inferior to water from other Bay Area providers.

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To be clear, the test conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder, with Bay Area residents doing the tasting, is not the final word on San Francisco water. Tasting trials are often riddled with error as it can be tough to control whats tested  local water sources often vary  and its difficult to weed out personal biases, such as people liking what theyre familiar with. The Colorado researchers acknowledged several flaws in their work and said more testing needs to be done.

Still, the findings raise real questions about the superiority of the citys water and whether it lives up to the hype. The results also underscore the role of individual preference in determining whats best.

We cant say for certain what it was in San Franciscos water that stood out, said Katherine Halama, a graduate student in the University of Colorados Masters of the Environment program and one of the organizers of the water taste test. But there might be things in San Franciscos water that people prefer less.

The city, through the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, provides water supplies for about 2.7 million people, both within the city limits and suburban communities in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties.

Earlier this year, the researchers conducted a double-blind taste test with randomly selected Bay Area residents that entailed sampling San Francisco water as well as water from two other suppliers in the region, East Bay Municipal Utility District and Marin Municipal Water District. Participants were asked to rank each of the samples.

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Through a ranked-choice tally of the results, with first-place ratings counting more than second-place and second-place ratings counting more than third-place, the Marin water scored highest with 61 points, followed by the East Bay water with 59 points. The San Francisco water was deemed the least favorite with 53 points. (The San Francisco water also had the fewest first-place ratings.)

While the test didnt seek to find out why people liked or disliked what they drank, the researchers sent the water samples to a lab to better understand their chemical composition. They found that the San Francisco water had the highest PH level, indicating alkalinity, and the lowest hardness rating, indicating fewer dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

This suggests that the taste-testers might have preferred water with greater acidity and more minerals, which tends to convey a salty or bitter taste. (Too much of these qualities, though, is generally disliked.)

Water sommelier Anistacia Barrak-Barber, who was consulted by the Colorado researchers for the report, seemed to make these points when she separately tested the water from the three Bay Area providers. She noted a distinct chlorine taste in the Marin water, a sweet, perfumy taste in the East Bay water and no outstanding taste in the San Francisco water.

Her favorite was the San Francisco water, which she described as just like from melted ice, leaves your mouth (with) a cooling and moisture feeling.

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A major caveat that comes with the reports findings is that the three water supplies are subject to change. Large water providers commonly have several sources of water, which dont necessarily taste the same, and these sources are often combined and delivered in different ratios depending on their availability. The sources can also be disinfected differently, which may further alter the aesthetics of the water.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission gets about 85% of its water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which collects snowmelt in Yosemite National Park. This pristine supply, which the city calls among the purest in the world, would reasonably have fewer ingredients and a more neutral flavor profile.

The other 15% of the citys supply comes from reservoirs in the Bay Area and groundwater.

When the city began mixing groundwater into supplies for some parts of its service area, Chronicle food and wine writers sampled the new blend and observed a slight bit of dissolved minerals.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District also gets much of its water from the Sierra Nevada, though at a lower elevation, in the Mokelumne River watershed. Additionally, it relies on local reservoirs and sometimes imports from the Sacramento River. The Marin Municipal Water District doesnt get any water from the Sierra, relying on local reservoirs and imports from the Sonoma County Water Agency.

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San Francisco water officials had not fully reviewed the University of Colorado report. But they stood by the quality of their legendary product.

Our customers consistently rate the taste of our water as excellent, said Nancy Hayden Crowley, spokeswoman for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission in an email to the Chronicle. But taste is only part of the story. The most critical measures of any water supply are safety and reliability. For over 100 years, weve reliably delivered safe, clean and affordable water to residents and businesses.  Without this water system, the Bay Area as we know it doesnt exist.

The taste test was commissioned by an organization advocating for the removal of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The group, Restore Hetch Hetchy, has taken up the fight of iconic conservationist John Muir, maintaining that draining the reservoir would uncover a spectacular basin similar to Yosemite Valley.

The head of the group said he pursued the independent water report to find out how much the drinking water there would be missed if his group succeeds in its longshot bid to reclaim the basin.

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Car makers are being forced to build thousands of electric vehicles that customers don't want  and they face large fines if they don't.

That's the strategy being pursued by the Government because of a green plan dreamed up by civil servants that could lead to a glut of expensive EVs.

Further still, it could create a shortage of low-polluting, petrol-electric hybrids for which demand is booming, crash residual values and destroy what's left of UK car manufacturing as China moves in to mop up.

Ultimately, UK consumers will pay the price, along with motor industry workers and suppliers who face losing their jobs as factories are forced to close.

But don't take my word for it. Ask Labour peer and former trade union leader Lord Woodley of Wallasey, who has condemned the plan as 'political suicide'.

Sparking debate: Numbers don't add up for electric vehicles

He should know. As a teenager, Tony Woodley began his automotive career at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant in Merseyside.

When I first met him in the mid-1990s, he was the hard-nosed but highly respected chief motor industry negotiator for the giant Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), before becoming its general secretary from 2004 and joint general secretary of the Unite union from 2007 to 2011.

Like industry bosses, he has stressed that moving towards an electric future is right  but what is wrong is the unsustainable timetable and draconian fines.

This is about the Government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which requires 22 per cent of all new cars sold to UK customers this year to be fully electric.

That rises to 28 per cent next year then ever upwards to 100 per cent by 2035.

Car makers are fined 15,000 for every non-EV vehicle sold up to the target number.

'It is ridiculous,' Lord Woodley told peers.

So far, the industry is falling about 4 per cent short of that quota  on track for 1.4billion in fines.

Car firms are already subsidising each EV by around 6,000, which Lord Woodley revealed adds another 2billion to costs.

Fines can be offset by buying credits from manufacturers who exceed their EV targets  namely Chinese makers and the US brand Tesla.

'The idea of UK manufacturers paying the Chinese or the Americans billions in credits is a nonsense and, I suggest, political suicide in automotive constituencies across the country,' he added.

'The market has collapsed, apart from fleet sales, so we need incentives both to build and to buy.'

Electric future: The ZEV mandate will force car makers to sell an increasing volume of EVs between now and 2035

Instead, VAT on new electric cars should be reduced and VAT on public chargers should be lowered to equal that on private domestic chargers.

The higher road tax on expensive car purchases should be scrapped and the ZEV mandate timetable 'reset' to realistic levels.

Exported EVs and commercial vehicle EVs should be counted as 'credits'.

Two Vauxhall van plants  Ellesmere Port and Luton  are already 'at serious risk of being closed' because of this, he warned.

Robert Forrester, boss of the car dealer Vertu, welcomed his comments, saying: 'At last, Parliament has debated electric vehicles with a proper discussion on the damaging Zev Mandate.'
Of all the unpleasant personal finance measures announced in the Chancellor's high-spending, high-taxing Budget, the one that took most experts by surprise was the hike in capital gains tax (CGT) on share sales.

Not the increases themselves  chattering Treasury officials had widely let it be known pre-Budget that the rates would be going up  but the fact that they came in straight away.

It means that anyone selling shares must now do so cognisant of the fact that the old CGT regime is no more. Finito. New higher rates now apply.

So, instead of investment profits being taxed at a minimum 10 pc for basic-rate taxpayers and 20 pc for higher and additional-rate taxpayers, they will now attract respective rates of 18 pc and 24 pc.

Thankfully, the first 3,000 of gains banked in any tax year  the snootily named 'annual exempt amount'  remains (thank you Rachel Reeves).

According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the new rates will raise precious little extra revenue for the Chancellor's kitty in the current tax year. But by the time the 2029 tax year has completed its course, it will be bringing in some 2.5 billion (aided by CGT receipts from a few other sources).

Yet, for the majority of you who are currently on an investment journey  or are about to embark on one  there is no reason why you should fall foul of this CGT grab. Through the prudent use of wealth tax wrappers and smart reorganisation of investments, you can even avoid it altogether.

Just think how good that would feel  a wealth portfolio immune from Reeves's tax claws. Here's how you do it...

Eat, sleep and breathe ISAS

An Individual Savings Account (Isa) is a wrapper that allows you to build an investment fortress free from tax.

This means there is no CGT on gains made on investments held inside the tax-free wrapper  be it from UK shares, international shares, investment funds or investment trusts. Nor is there any tax on dividends generated from the investments. Also, and importantly, withdrawals from Isas are tax-free.

You should view an Isa as a personal tax haven  an adjunct to a pension. So, whenever you invest from now on, maybe because of an investment article you've read in this newspaper, I urge you to always go down the Isa route. Think Isa.

If you've already got an investment (stocks and shares) Isa, use it  don't invest outside of it unless you've already exhausted your annual 20,000 allowance.

If you haven't got an investment Isa and wish to accumulate long-term wealth, set one up.

It's easy to do online  leading providers include AJ Bell, Fidelity, Hargreaves Lansdown, and Interactive Investor. Most banks also provide them, and you can usually get details from a local branch as well as online.

As mentioned, the rules allow you to contribute up to 20,000 in the current tax year into an Isa. If you're married or in a civil partnership, that means 40,000 between you  doubly generous. Although you should always be sceptical about what politicians say, Ms Reeves did state in her Budget that the 20,000 annual Isa allowance will remain in force until April 2030.

Just think about that in cash terms. Including this tax year, it gives you the opportunity to squirrel away a maximum 120,000 into an Isa between now and April 2030  240,000 per married couple. That gives you great scope to protect your wealth from tax. Finances permitting, take advantage.

And don't forget about investment Isas for your children. You can invest up to 9,000 a year into a so-called Junior Isa (Jisa) up until your son or daughter reaches age 18  relatives can also put money into the account.

The tax breaks are the same  no tax on income and no CGT. And Ms Reeves has also promised to keep this 9,000 annual allowance going until April 2030.

Just one warning: unlike an adult Isa, a Jisa can't be accessed until age 18.

Other anti-CGT measures

If you hold investments outside of an Isa, CGT will not become an issue until you decide to dispose of them.

You may wish to keep your portfolio intact  maybe in the hope that in the future a new government may introduce a more benign CGT regime with

a higher annual exemption (it was 12,000 back in 2019).

But there is nothing to stop you gradually reducing your portfolio's exposure to CGT.

For example, you could use your exemption to take 3,000 of profits tax-free every year.

Alternatively, you could sell 3,000 of shares and then, through a process called 'bed & Isa', buy them back inside your Isa. By doing this, you pay no CGT on the sale (the bed) while moving the shares into a CGT-free wrapper. Your Isa provider will do this for you. Just be aware that the transaction

must be within your permitted 20,000 allowance.

You can also do the same with a self-invested personal pension (bed & pension).

Moving assets

Finally, if you are married or in a civil partnership, ensure any investments you own outside of Isas and pensions are held to your best overall tax advantage.

For example, you can transfer shares to your spouse without triggering a tax charge. By making such an 'interspousal transfer', you then have two CGT annual exemptions at your disposal.

Transferring shares to the partner who is a lower-rate taxpayer also means less tax to pay on future capital gains that exceed 3,000  18 pc instead of 24 pc. Your broker or investment platform should be able to help with transferring shares.

Yes, dear reader, with a little bit of planning, your investment journey can avoid the perils of CGT. How glorious that will be.
Tesco will return 700million to shareholders after completing the sale of its banking business to Barclays.

Britain's largest supermarket group said it would begin a share buyback after completing a previous 1billion buyback programme that is still ongoing.

Tesco shares rose almost 1.7 per cent, or 5.8p, to 348p yesterday. They are up by 20 per cent for the year to date.

Every little helps: Tesco will return 700m to shareholders after completing the sale of its banking business to Barclays

Investors have been attracted by record profits and growing market share  despite fierce competition from discount rivals Aldi and Lidl since the cost-of-living crisis.

The grocer has now begun a ten-year partnership with Barclays, which will supply Tesco-branded banking products.

Barclays has paid around 600million for Tesco's credit cards, unsecured personal loans, and savings business.

The supermarket continues to operate its own insurance business as well as cash points and travel money services.

Vim Maru, chief executive of Barclays' UK operations, added: 'We will bring the strength of both businesses together, benefiting customers and colleagues.'
The owner of Dettol and Durex saw its shares rise at their fastest pace in 24 years following a major win in the US courts.

Reckitt, which also owns Vanish washing powder and Nurofen painkillers, surged 6.6 per cent, or 310p, to 4994p after a judge in Missouri ruled that the company's US arm Mead Johnson was not responsible for causing a boy to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)  a potentially fatal intestinal disease that almost exclusively affects premature infants.

The lawsuit alleged that Mead Johnson, which makes baby formula, had failed to warn that its products could cause the illness, with the plaintiffs seeking damages of up to 4.8billion.

But following a five-week trial, the jury found the company, as well as rival Abbott Laboratories, was not liable.

It sparked a rally in Reckitt's share price on Friday. The ruling is a welcome relief for investors on the formula issue. The Missouri case had formed part of around 1,000 similar lawsuits across the US.

Boost: Reckitt surged 6.6 per cent, or 310p, to 4994p after the judge's ruling

They sparked fears that the company's specialised formulas, used to help feed newborns in intensive care units, could be pulled from sale.

Plaintiffs in the cases allege that Mead Johnson hid the fact that its formulas were riskier than alternatives, such as natural milk from donors.

The company denies the allegations. Earlier this year, the firm suffered a blow when a court ruled in March that it would have to pay 46million ($60million) in damages to the mother of a premature baby who died of NEC after being fed its Enfamil baby formula.

'There are still plenty of outstanding cases so this issue will not go away for Reckitt overnight, but it certainly represents a crumb of comfort for long-suffering shareholders,' said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

It comes amid speculation that Reckitt could be looking to sell the Mead Johnson business, which it originally purchased for 12.8billion in 2017.

The FTSE 100 rose 0.8 per cent, or 67.05 points, to 8177.15 and the FTSE 250 gained 0.5 per cent, or 90.78 points, to 20479.74.

Following a volatile week in the run-up to Labour's first Budget, which took place on Wednesday, traders appeared to have settled during the final session of the week.

The blue-chip index was supported by oil firms, with Shell shares inching up 0.02 per cent, or 0.5p, to 2579p and BP edging ahead by 0.4 per cent, or 1.55p, to 378.2p.

Brent crude jumped nearly 2.5 per cent to around $74.60 a barrel following reports that Iran could be preparing to conduct military strikes on Israel within days, further escalating tensions in the oil-rich Middle East.

Over in the US, shares in tech giant Apple fell nearly 2 per cent in early trading in New York after its results, posted on Thursday night, saw it pencil in lower sales growth for the Christmas quarter than expected by analysts.

Results from online retail giant Amazon enjoyed a better reception, with shares surging more than 6 per cent after it reported better than expected quarterly profits.
Motorists are having their number plates scanned by ULEZ-style cameras 45 times every second, figures show.

Clean-driving schemes in the likes of London, Birmingham and Newcastle have all started monitoring motorists in a bid to thwart emissions and curb pollution.

But privacy campaigners are alarmed over the ever-growing surveillance networks, warning of the threat of 'mission creep' should the surveillance systems be abused by authorities.

Police already have access to some of the data captured by cameras patrolling low emissions areas, including London's hated ULEZ.

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ANPR cameras enforcing low emissions zones are a scanning almost 45 cars every second according to research conducted by privacy campaigners Big Brother Watch

ANPRs are linked directly to the DVLA database and allow local authorities to check the ownership and emissions data for cars entering their controlled zones.

If a vehicle is eligible for a charge and it hasn't been paid, a penalty charge notice is automatically issued.

However, emissions data held by the DVLA can be incorrect, with tens of thousands of motorists having been incorrectly charged.

According to Big Brother Watch, which uncovered the figures through a Freedom of Information request, 118million number plates of cars entering Clean Air Zones (CAZ) are checked each month.

According to the RAC, there are approximately 41.7million vehicles on UK roads.

Big Brother Watch, a pressure group which monitors attempts by the state to follow its citizens, found that Birmingham City Council signed 'a secretive' deal with West Midlands Police to allow access to their ANPR network ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Big Brother Watch said: 'It gave police unfettered access to numberplate data, and this appears to still be in force.'

Birmingham City Council would not, according to the privacy campaigners, release details of the amount of data handed over as part of the deal.

In London, until early September, the Metropolitan Police had access to TfL's CCTV traffic monitoring network until the system was attacked by cyber criminals who knocked it offline. Before the attack, between August 2023 and June 2024, the Met sought details of 163.2m vehicles.

The live CCTV network is different to the cameras enforcing the ULEZ zone. Until 2022, the Met had access to a limited number of TfL ANPR cameras covering a small section of central London.

London has the biggest ANPR camera network with more than 3,500 employed to enforce Transport for London's Ulez scheme

The ULEZ cameras, scattered across London, check all numberplates against the DVLA database to determine whether a vehicle breaches emission rules.

Drivers of offending vehicles are slapped with a 12.50 daily charge.

Jake Hurfurt, of Big Brother Watch, told MailOnline: 'ANPR cameras in the UK already make up one of the biggest surveillance networks on the planet.

'It is alarming that Clean Air Zones could grow this further.

'Millions of innocent peoples car journeys are captured by automated cameras every day and this level of surveillance is a threat to everyones privacy.

'Local authorities must be extremely careful not to undermine our privacy, even when pursuing noble aims like cutting air pollution.

'Robust oversight is needed to make sure that even if ANPR is used in this situation, mission creep does not allow it to become part of a surveillance behemoth.'

According to TfL, which has the most extensive camera network in the UK for monitoring an emissions zone, images of cars which have either paid the ULEZ charge or are compliant or registered for a discount or exemption are deleted within 30 days of being captured.

TfL said data captured by the wider ANPR network 'can be requested by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on a case-by-case basis to support investigations'.

It stressed that no organisation such as the police or security services has 'real time access' to the ANPR camera network.

Figures show that TfL scans an estimated 3.3million car number plates each day to enforce the ULEZ network. A further 672,000 motorists a day are scanned by clean air zones outside the capital.

Since the extension to the ULEZ zone in August 2023 to cover the majority of the Greater London area, the number of TfL enforcement cameras has increased to more than 3,500.

TfL also has cameras which monitor traffic offences such as illegal turns, blocking yellow junctions and bus lane violations.

CCTV cameras are also fitted to London buses.

Addressing the London Assembly in June 2023, Mr Khan said: 'The ANPR is a vital tool that assists police in identifying, locating and detaining offenders, including those suspected of serious organised crime and terrorism.'

Mr Khan said access to TfL's camera network is on a 'case by case basis' and that data is stored for 12 months, 'unless it is saved as evidence for an investigation'.

Addressing the expansion, Mr Khan noted: 'Before the MPS gets access to any of the cameras in the expanded ULEZ there needs to be another data protection impact assessment.'

Privacy campaigners have expressed dismay over the proposals.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said he is considering an application from the Met Police to allow access to more cameras on TfL's ULEZ network

Sian Berry, previously a Green Party member of the London Assembly before her election to the House of Commons, questioned whether the Met Police can be trusted to access such sensitive data given the number of criminal cases involving officers misappropriating such information.

The roll-out of ANPR cameras across the UK to police clean air zones has alarmed privacy campaigners.

Birmingham City Council, which also operates a clean air zone, told MailOnline they capture images of 'non compliant vehicles' using their ANPR system.

If they do not receive payment within 13 days, the information is passed onto 'the statutory process that applies to penalty charge notices'.

If the correct daily fee is paid, the system deletes images of the vehicle, although the number plate is kept on the system for 180 days.

Birmingham City Council said 'police services from across the country are able to submit a data access request to the Council as part of a criminal investigation.'

A spokesperson added: 'No police authority has "real time" access to the Clean Air Zone ANPR cameras.'

In January 2024, MailOnline revealed how TfL tried to issue 128,577 penalty charge notices to motorists which were later scrapped on appeal. In many cases, motorists could prove that the emissions data held by the DVLA and used by TfL was incorrect.

The various Low Emissions Zones have so far cost motorists in excess of 1bn in charges and penalties.

MailOnline has approached the Metropolitan Police and TfL for comment.
A California mom was nearly strangled to death with a shoelace in a horror attack outside her hotel room in Las Vegas.

Kailee Woods, 27, had traveled to the Nevada city to see an Eagles gig on September 22 and was staying by herself at the Plaza Hotel on Main Street.

The single mother told police she had been approached by a young man while outside the hotel casino who had asked to borrow her cellphone. She said he later followed her to her room and brutally assaulted her in the corridor.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, her sister Kristal Miller, 29, said Woods suffered a serious brain injury from a lack of oxygen and was only alive because two men ran out to help her after hearing the commotion. She also shared horrific photos of Woods' injuries and the crime scene in the hotel.

The suspect was later identified as Antonio Cortez Hernandez, 21. He appeared in court on Wednesday after being charged with attempted murder, battery by strangulation and battery with a deadly weapon.

His charges were referred to District Court for an in-custody evaluation, a District Court law clerk told DailyMail.com. He is scheduled back in court on November 15 where he will be evaluated by a physician to see if his mentally fit to stand trial.

He is currently being held in the Clark County Detention Center on $500,000 bond.

Kailee Woods, 27, is pictured with her young son on her graduation from nursing school. Before the terrifying attack she was working as a home healthcare aide

A black shoelace pictured on the hotel floor where Woods told police she was attacked

Woods told police she was standing outside the hotel and smoking with another man she had met that night when her attacker first approached her.

She said he claimed he had been separated from his friends and that his cell phone had died so needed to borrow a phone to ask a family member to pick him up.

Miller told DailyMail.com that her sister said he reminded her of their younger brother, was dressed nicely and very polite so she wanted to help.

Woods then asked for her phone back and told the man she was going to her room.

But after riding the lift up to the eleventh floor she said the man appeared out of nowhere in the empty hallway near her room.

Eager to go to sleep since it was around 3.30am and startled that he had found her, she became irritated when he asked to use her phone again.

Her sister told DailyMail.com she said to him that 'you can't follow people up to their rooms' - and told him to go to the lobby for help.

'My sister never gave her floor number out and she didn't know his name,' Miller said.

He reportedly claimed he needed the numbers he had dialed from her phone so she told him to step back from the door and went to find him some paper and a pen.

Unable to find these, she tore a page from a book she was reading and grabbed an eyeliner from her make-up bag.

The strangulation marks around Wood's neck taken when she was in the hospital after the near- fatal attack that happened last month at The Plaza hotel

Kailee Woods, 27 (right) pictured with her older sister Kristal Miller, 29

She told police that it was at this moment she noticed he was carrying a black shoelace in his hands that had not been there before.

Miller recalled her sister describing having a 'strange feeling' and that she knew then that something was wrong.

She said he then asked her to help him write the numbers down for him which she started to do in the hope he would leave.

She claimed he then became upset and tried to grab her, so she threw the paper to the ground and ran down the hallway while yelling 'get the f*** away from me.'

Her sister told DailyMail.com that a struggle ensued and he put the shoelace around her neck, squeezing it tightly until she fell to the floor unconscious.

Miller said her sister was not sure how long she was out but when she awoke she began screaming and kicking a nearby door as he continued to strangle her.

Eventually two men in the room closest to the attack opened their door and saw the victim unconscious on the ground.

The attacker fled and the men were unable to catch him. But a black shoelace and mystery orange band were found discarded in hallway.

The men called the police and an ambulance transported Woods to University Medical Center where she was placed into ICU.

Miller said her sister suffered a brain injury and was told by doctors that if the attack had lasted just another few seconds she would likely have died.

A picture of hallway at the The Plaza Hotel where the attack took place

Woods described how she gave her attacker an eyeliner and tore a page from the book she was reading to write down a number just moments before the assault

Hernandez was arrested two weeks later on October 5, according to the police report.

He was charged with battery by strangulation, attempted murder and battery with a deadly weapon and is being held on $500,000 bond at the Clark County Jail.

Miller said her sister was initially subpoenaed to be present at Wednesday's hearing but the District Attorney's office told her it had been postponed.

Detective Dorethea Brewer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told DailyMail.com she was unable to provide further details about the case because it is an active investigation.

Megan McCarthy with the public records unit at the LVMPD said that under a new Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that went into effect last month mugshots for open cases cannot be released.

Hernandez was also charged with larceny for an unrelated incident. On Monday, he appeared in court for that preliminary hearing.

Miller claimed that hotel security initially misreported the attack as a possible one-night stand gone wrong.

'The head of security said that is was domestic violence after she got into a tiff with a romantic partner but that is not what happened,' she continued.

'They have video footage and everything corroborates that this was a random stranger. He was never in her room and they didn't take the same elevator or go up together. It made us very upset. They weren't taking it seriously.'

Miller added: 'The attack was so brazen. He did it out in the open. We don't understand how he got on the elevator without a room key.' The family said they are planning to file a lawsuit against the hotel.

DailyMail.com has contacted the hotel for comment.

The Plaza Hotel & Casino on Freemont is located on the Vegas strip on N. Main Street

Woods is recovering at home as the marks on her neck heal

Another angle of the hallway at The Plaza Hotel & Casino where the elevators are located

Miller explained that her sister was originally supposed to travel to Vegas with a friend who was unable to make the trip at the last minute.

She added that she did not go herself because she has just had a baby but described her sister as very 'independent'.

The concert was on September 20, with the attack occurring two days later.

Miller said Woods, who is a single mom to a seven-year-old son, is traumatized and has been struggling with anxiety and PTSD since the assault.

She added that Woods was working as a home health care aide but is now terrified to be alone in a stranger's home.

Miller said the ordeal has made her 'sick to her stomach.'

'We believe what he did showed premeditation and that he left his house that night with the intent and plan to hurt a stranger. We hope he has a long jail sentence'.

Miller created a GoFundMe to help her sister with her physical and emotional healing. As of Saturday more than $3,200 has been raised towards their goal of $5,000.

She added: 'I am hoping her story will help other women be careful and not make the same mistakes my sister did that allowed her to be an easy target.'

The Plaza Hotel is one of the largest downtown properties located on the strip in Las Vegas. It has been featured in a number of motion picture, television productions and music videos since it was built in 1971.

The hotel is 22 stories high with 504 guest rooms and a 66,000 sq. ft. casino, according to the company's media kit.
A retired detective who investigated the gruesome Black Dahlia murder has revealed his top suspect behind America's most notorious cold case.

Aspiring actress Elizabeth Short, 22, was found dead and drained of blood in a vacant lot in South Los Angles on January 15, 1947.

Her face had been slashed 'Joker-style' from cheek to jaw, and her body was cut in half with surgical precision.

David Lambkin, 71, examined the case when he was head of the Los Angeles Police Department's Cold Case Unit in 2001 - more than a half-century after the killing.

He has now told the Los Angeles Times he believes a surgeon, Dr. Walter Alonzo Bayley, whose estranged wife lived just one block from the crime scene, may have slayed Smart in a fit of rage after losing his son.

Elizabeth Short, 22, (pictured) was famously murdered in 1947 in Los Angeles and her case has never been solved. The aspiring actress was found strewn beside a sidewalk

The case gained national attention and Short, due to her fashion style, was quickly dubbed the Black Dahlia. She was found with her torso chopped in half, drained of blood and a joker smile carved into her face. Pictured: Short's body at the crime scene

In an interview Wednesday, Lambkin first conceded how he believes the 1947 case will likely stay unsolved - before painting Bayley as his 'favorite' suspect.

'Very few have anything going for them,' he said of the slew of suspects that came before in an interview with The LA Times.

'My favorite is [Bayley].'

When asked why the former top cop told the paper how the researcher first responsible for the theory 'could actually connect his suspect to that location' - something not seen in other speculations surrounding the slaying.

The man responsible for that theory is Larry Harnisch, a retired copy editor who previously worked for the Times.

Over the years, he has surfaced as one of the most knowledgeable experts on the case, which continues to captivate - and confound - the country so many years later.

He pointed to Bayley as a possible suspect back in 1997, years before Lambkin even began investigating.

The crux of his hypothesis was Bayley's undiagnosed brain disease - confirmed to be Alzheimer's following his death in 1948.

David Lambkin (left) examined the case when he was head of the Los Angeles Police Department's Cold Case Unit in 2001 - more than a half-century after the killing. He supports a theory from Larry Harnisch (right), a retired copy editor who worked for the LA Times

They believe the man to blame is Dr. Walter Bayley (seen in this undated image), a surgeon whose wife lived a block from the scene

He was also in the middle of a divorce, and still reeling from the death of his son more than a decade before.

The boy died after being hit by a truck when he was just 11, and Short's body was found two days after the anniversary of his death, Harnisch pointed out.

He began digging into the case while working at the paper in 1996, and soon found other unsettling connections between Bayley and the murder.

'He was desensitized to blood, was comfortable with a knife, and although he had a medical degree, he did work with his hands rather than his brains,' he wrote in his blog a few years later.

'He also had a strong but troubled link to the immediate vicinity of the crime scene', the researcher added - while also citing accounts of how the doctor's degenerative diseases had vastly altered his personality.

At the time, Bayley had been 66, and was freshly kicked out of his home in the Leimert Park neighborhood of LA in January 1947 - where Short's body was found.

She was found naked by a mother taking her child for a walk the morning of January 15, her body positioned in such a way she thought it was a mannequin at first glance.

Bayley had an office near the Biltmore Hotel, where Short was last seen. She was dropped off at the Biltmore by a traveling salesman who told cops she had been going to meet her sister

Despite the body's horrific state, not a drop of blood was found - leading detectives Harry Hansen and Finis Brown to believe a surgical hand was responsible.

Harnisch, meanwhile, suspected the doctor at some point crossed paths with Short somewhere near the Biltmore Hotel. Bayley had an office near the hotel, where Short was last seen.

The two would most likely have known each other; Short's sister had gotten married at the very house Bayley had been kicked out of, Harnisch pointed out.

After a few days together, Bayley fell into a rage, kill Short and dump her body a block away from Bayley's estranged wife's house, according to Harnisch's hypothesis.

Perhaps after being rebuffed romantically or losing his cool during a sensitive conversation, he theorized.

The latter option, the former journalist said, could have occurred when Short told a lie she was known to repeat while traversing Hollywood - that she had a son who died at a young age.

This false admission could have been what set Bayley off, he claimed - citing the surgeon's already unstable state of mind at the time.

Within a year, Bayley would die following his battle with Alzheimer's disease, with his January 1948 obituary hailing his work as an associate professor of surgery at University of Southern California and chief of staff at Los Angeles County Hospital.

It also pointed out how he 'maintained a private practice at the Professional Building' at 1052 West 6th Street in Los Angeles,' which was located a stone's throw from the still-standing Biltmore.

The tribute also added how the doctor 'specializ[ed] in women's surgical procedures and treatment' over the course of his decades-long career - experiences Harnisch said could have served as his practice.

She was found dead days later, seemingly placed on the sidewalk for all to see. The killer took such a risk to place the body where he did to make a statement, former agent John Douglas and Harnisch suspect

Police, meanwhile, previously learned that Short had several brief encounters with men in the months before her death - almost all of whom maintained the meets never led to sex.

Detectives handling the case would go on the bill the female victim as 'a tease,' at the time saying: 'She probably went too far this time, and just set some guy off into a blind, berserk rage.'

Following failures to find a suspect, the FBI was brought in to find the culprit.

Years later, a FBI profiler who worked on the case would tell Harnisch there had likely been meaning in where Short's body was found - citing how it was seemingly placed on the sidewalk for all to see.

The killer took such a risk to place the body where he did 'because he wanted to put the fear of God in that neighborhood,' former agent John Douglas said, according to Harnisch.

'Under the influence of alcohol, he is drawn like a magnet to that area,' the retired investigator added - claiming must have had some connection to the neighborhood.

Bayley met that criteria in spades, Harnisch and Lambkin both agreed - with the former telling the Times, 'Bayley had the skill to do what was done to [Short].

'He's not a perfect suspect,' he added, 'but he checks more boxes than anyone else.'

'He's not a perfect suspect,' Harnisch added of Bayley being responsible for the woman's still-shrouded death. 'But he checks more boxes than anyone else'

Meanwhile, many other persons of interest have surfaced as suspects - some of them possessing a surgical background just as Bayley did.

But a lack of physical evidence - which Lambkin said was nonexistent even when he took on the case more than 20 years ago - has failed to produce anything concrete.

Suspects of note include George Hodel, a well-known surgeon who lived and worked in Los Angeles at the time of the murder.

His son, retired LAPD homicide detective Steve Hodel, came forward in 2019 to claim that his father could be the one responsible - citing the way the body was cut up.

On Wednesday, however, Harnisch slammed that theory as 'crap' - pointing to a lack of proof.

'Its fabricated,' he told the paper - before putting to bed speculation surrounding another potential culprit in Biltmore bellhop Leslie Dillon, who was 27 at time.

He was booked on suspicion of the murder in January 1949, but was released after providing an air-tight alibi.

'He didnt do it,' Harnisch said, adding that if the person responsible for the theory, true crime author Piu Eatwell, 'had talked to me for five minutes, I would have said, "That's bulls**t."'

Meanwhile, many other persons of interest have surfaced as suspects, including George Hodel, a well-known surgeon who lived and worked in Los Angeles at the time of the murder. On Wednesday, Harnisch slammed that theory as 'crap' - pointing to a lack of proof

He also put to bed speculation surrounding another suspect, Biltmore bellhop Leslie Dillon, who was booked on suspicion of the murder in January 1949, but was released after providing an air-tight alibi

Famed gangster Bugsy Siegel was even named as a person of interest - demonstrating how little evidence in the case their actually is

Harnisch called that theory - along with one that Orson Welles was responsible seemingly because he pretended to saw an assistant in two for a magic act in August 1943 (seen here) - 'ridiculous [and] painfully stupid'

As to where the then-27-year-old hotel worker was at the time of the murder, Harnisch proclaimed, 'he was in San Francisco.'

Another suspect came in the form of Dr. Patrick Shane OReilly, an Orthopedic surgeon in the Los Angeles area at the time of the murder.

He was included in a 1951 suspect list curated by then LAPD Lieutenant Frank Johnson in 1951 for his association with two of Short's friends, after assaulting one of their secretaries. He was investigated but never arrested.

In 2023, it was discovered that O'Reilly was actually using an alias and that his real name was Patrick Trear, reigniting suspicions he could have been the person responsible.

But as is the case with all the other now-deceased persons of interests, nothing physically ever linked him to the crime, leading him to be cut loose.

Another author famously fingered 'Citizen Kane' director Orson Welles as the party responsible, seemingly because he pretended to saw an assistant in two for a magic act in August 1943.

'People are so nuts,' Harnisch said of the not-so-usual suspects. 'People dont want the record set straight. People want this grab bag of noir tropes.'

He proceeded such theories, including the one that painted the killer as famed gangster Bugsy Siegel, as 'ridiculous, painfully stupid.'

The LAPD confirmed the The Black Dahlia case remains open. According to the FBI, it will likely stay unsolved

DailyMail.com has reached out to Harnisch and Lambkin for comment.

The LAPD confirmed the The Black Dahlia case - which inspired the 2006 film of the same - remains open.

According to the FBI, it will likely stay unsolved.

Harnisch, meanwhile, remains hard at work on his own book surrounding the Dahlia murder, which received its name for the victim's dyed, jet-black hair and matching hue of the clothes.

Writers would go on to paint her as a femme fatale, after she was dropped off at the Biltmore by a traveling salesman who told cops she had been going to meet her sister - her last lie before being found days later.

Such tall tales were not irregular from the struggling actress, cops later found.

Harnisch believes this is how she met her end, at the hands of a broken, unbalanced man whom cops never got the chance to investigate.

Bayley today is interred at the Grand View Memorial Park and Crematory in Glendale. DailyMail.com was not able locate any of his living relatives for this report.
They exploded into the news six years ago and have barely been out of the headlines since - but what will 2024 mean for the so-called Democratic 'Squad'?

The group was established in Congress in the 2018 midterm elections conducted halfway through Donald Trump's term in the White House.

It emerged as what Democrats saw as a progressive correction and response to the former president's populist conservative policies.

All four original members were minority women younger than the average member of the U.S. House, which was 58-years-old.

In successive congressional elections more progressive politicians arrived in the House and added to the group, with their slogan becoming: 'I Stand With The Squad'.

The new additions were either welcomed by the existing members themselves or linked to the growing section of lawmakers by the media.

Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley were all elected to the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterms in what was seen as a progressive response to Donald Trump's presidency. They were immediately dubbed 'the squad'

However, in this election cycle, the squad has begun to shrink for the first time.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) was the first to fall after he was defeated in his June primary election following only one term.

Then in August, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) also lost her primary election amid a massive push from pro-Israel group to oust pro-Palestinian members of Congress.

The 2024 election brings many questions for the future of the country  and Congress  including whether the 'squad' will maintain its influence.

Here, DailyMail.com breaks down the four main members of 'The Squad' and how the races are leaning in their respective districts:

While members have been added to squad over the last two election cycles, the 2024 cycle has yielded the first losses for the group after progressive Reps. Cori Bush (left) and Jamal Bowman (right) were defeated in their respective primary races

AOC  New York's 14th Congressional District

Republican candidate Tina Forte is taking on the grand challenge of trying to oust the most famous squad member  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

It isn't likely that AOC is going anywhere in her very safely blue district in New York City, which encompasses the eastern part of The Bronx and an area of north-central Queens.

The 35-year-old congresswoman won her primary this year with 81.1 percent of the vote and is on her way towards a fourth term.

AOC won her seat in Congress in the 2018 election when she earned a commanding 78.2 percent of the vote. Her victory margin has decreased since then, but still remains very large.

The millennial lawmaker won her second term in 2020 with 71.6 percent of the vote and a third in 2022 with 70.6 percent.

There are very unlikely chances of an upset for AOC in November.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the squad member with the most notoriety. When elected at age 29, she was the youngest woman to ever serve in the U.S. Congress

Ilhan Omar  Minnesota's 5th Congressional District

Possibly the second-most recognizable squad member, American-Somali Rep. Ilhan Omar, 42, is facing Republican candidate Dalia al-Aqidi in the general election.

The Minnesota congresswoman became the first to ever wear a hijab on the floor of the U.S. House and was one of the first two Muslim women to be elected to Congress along with fellow squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

Omar had a too-close-for-comfort primary run against Democrat Don Samuels this cycle, with approximately 16,000 votes separating the two in their August election.

But the 5th district in Minnesota is by far the most blue in the state with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of Democrat+30, meaning it's highly unlikely Omar will be ousted by her Republican rival in the November 5 elections. Omar's district includes Minneapolis, as well as several other cities in the surrounding area.

In her first election to the House in 2018, Omar won with 78.0 percent against Republican Jennifer Zielinski, who earned 21.7 percent.

Omar is the first Somali-American to serve in Congress.

Her family fled Somalia to escape the Civil War and spent four years in a refugee camp in Garissa County, Kenya.

Rep. Ilhan Omar often faces the ire of Republicans for her anti-Semitic comments. Omar was the first woman to ever wear a hijab on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives

The future congresswoman's family secured asylum in the U.S., arriving in New York in 1995.

Her family lived for a time in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Arlington, Virginia before moving to and settling in Minneapolis, which she now represents in the House of Representatives.

Omar has faced controversy through her time in Congress for her criticism of Israel.

Like the rest of the squad, Omar is staunchly pro-Palestinian.

Omar speaks with fellow squad member Rashida Tlaib during a press conference on March 13, 2019

Rashida Tlaib  Michigan's 12th Congressional District

The first Palestinian-American congresswoman overwhelmingly won her 2018 election to represent the 13th district of Michigan. She earned 82.4 percent of the vote.

In 2020, she won the general election with 78.1 percent and in 2022 won with 70.8 percent.

Her margin of victory has decreased by several points each election cycle  but it's unclear so far how she will fare against Republican James Hooper on November 5.

The lawmaker has also steered clear of fully endorsing Kamala Harris over the Biden administration's role in the war in Gaza.

Tlaib's district includes Dearborn and other western suburb areas of Detroit, which is a very blue area. She ran unopposed in her primary election this cycle.

In the 2020 census, Michigan lost a seat in the House, and in 2023 redistricting saw Rep. Tlaib's jurisdiction changed to the 12th Congressional District.

Tlaib, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, also helped lead a coalition of Muslim and other anti-Israel voters in the presidential primary election casting their ballots 'uncommitted' instead of for President Joe Biden.

It was a show of widespread protest against Biden's continued support for ally Israel in its war against Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza.

No lawmaker has been more vocal in their criticism of the U.S. support for Israel.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib is the first Palestinian-American elected to Congress. She is a vocal supporter of the Palestinian people and staunchly anti-Israel

Rep. Ayanna Pressley rounds out the original four 'squad' members. In comparison to the other members of the group, she keeps a relatively low profile

Ayanna Pressley  Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District

Also first elected in the 2018 midterm elections, Pressley won her primary against fellow Democrat Michael Capuano by a 17.2 percent margin.

She ran unopposed in the general election and easily sailed to her first term in the House.

Pressley's district includes roughly three-fourths of the very liberal Northeastern city of Boston and a few of its northern and southern suburbs, which are also very progressive. There is no sign that the area will flip any time soon.

The congresswoman's first reelection was easy with no challengers in her primary and then 86.6 percent of people in her district voting for her to get another term.

In 2022, Pressley also didn't have any primary challengers and easily beat her Republican rival with 84.6 percent.

No one jumped in the primary or general election race this year, so Pressley is well on her way to her fourth term along with the rest of the squad.
An increasingly common email signature used by bosses has left workers fuming about feeling pressured to work out of hours.

Communication and human skills specialist and author Leah Mether said since the new right to disconnect legislation was introduced in Australia, bosses have started using the signature to cover themselves.

The message which says 'I choose to work flexibly but please don't feel like you need to respond until your working hours', means bosses can get away with contacting their workers out of hours.

'Leaders will say to me "well, I'm doing my bit there, Leah", but you've got to be aware of that power dynamic,' Ms Mether said.

'You get that person trying to make a good impression - they're new, they're young.

'They want to impress you. They may still be responding.'

In Australia, employees won the right disconnect from late August this year.

According to the Fair Work Commission, workers can 'refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact or attempted contact from their employer, or another person if the contact or attempted contact is work-related'.

Ms Mether (pictured) said workers can be 'smart and strategic' when wanting to talk about their boundaries

Ms Mether said many bosses are now putting this signature on their emails (pictured)

For staff, receiving the message with the signature is also like a guessing game, questioning if bosses really mean it because they are sending emails after hours, Ms Mether said.

'As a leader you have to be very conscious of modelling the behaviour you're asking of your team,' she said.

'I'm saying all of the right things, however I'm the leader and I never leave on time - or early - if they don't see you prioritising your life out of work, actions speak louder than words.'

Ms Mether said workers will believe a leader's behaviour rather than what they say, and companies need to be aware of the added pressure this can place on staff.

'It makes it harder for people to hold their own boundaries because they do feel like they're out of step with the cultural norms of that team,' she said.

The communication and human skills specialist said even with leaders assuring staff 'you don't have to respond at night', they actually need to stop sending the emails in the first place.

'If you choose to work at night because that works for you, you need to be scheduling emails so they turn up in peoples' work hours,' she said.

'There's no excuse to not do that in this day and age  it's so easy to do. Learn how.'

Ms Mether also warned bosses and workers that the new legislation allowing the right to disconnect will not work unless they step up and discuss what it means for them.

'We need to discuss around how and when are we communicating with each other,' she said.

'What's OK and what's not OK. Each industry and role is different because there are some roles that we have to be available outside of standard hours.'

Ms Mether said for those roles, it could be a case of asking to be texted after hours rather than via email so a worker doesn't have to constantly check their phone.

For workers who are worried they are not being heard, Ms Mether said they needed to raise it in a 'smart and strategic' way rather than presenting it as a "this is my boundary and you need to respect it".'

Ms Mether also said employees need to have a conversation with their boss on how and when they can be contacted - and if it is part of their role, they can suggest which mode of communication is best for them

'Present it in a way where you're essentially looking for the win-win with your leader,' she said

'Say "I want to make sure I am doing my best work for you and to do my best work I need to turn off and recharge so I can give 100 per cent at work".

'You're also presenting your boundaries in a way that shows the leader this is in their best interest too. This is what the smart communicators do.'

Ms Mether said there is a relearning happening for bosses and workers who are 40 and over because in the past, longer hours meant a person was working hard.

'A lot of older workers - we came out of the hustle culture,' she said.

'How we were trained is not how we get optimal performance.

'All research shows us that after a certain point workers become really unproductive.'
Democrats desperate to convince vital swing-voters that theirs is not an effete party of snooty coastal elites might be best advised to steer eyes away from the pages of Vogue.

And, in particular, from a breathless July feature introducing readers to the magazine's new 'political correspondent'.

Bob Woodward of Watergate fame, perhaps? CNN anchor Dana Bash? Or maybe veteran political strategist Donna Brazile?

No. Vogue was welcoming Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy's only grandson and, more important for the fashion Bible, a Gen-Z dreamboat who lights up TikTok just as his grandpa once caused the hearts of so many '60s women to skip a beat.

Vogue readers were spared any evidence of Schlossberg's extensive CV in political journalism for the simple reason that he doesn't have one.

Instead, they were invited to drool over his familiar Kennedy traits  all that patrician New England breeding, private education and chiseled good looks.

Democrats desperate to convince vital swing-voters that theirs is not an effete party of snooty coastal elites might be best advised to steer eyes away from a breathless July feature in Vogue. The mag was welcoming Jack Schlossberg as its new 'political correspondent'.

Not for Vogue and its latest signing a few photos of him grilling politicians in Congress or scribbling away at a White House press conference.

Its glossy photoshoot pictured Schlossberg pressing his swoonsome facial features onto the screen of a Vogue office photocopier  then lying sprawled on the floor surrounded by a sea of photos of his own face.

It was the perfect narcissistic image for an ageing fashion magazine trying to elbow its way into social-media relevance.

At least the clownish Schlossberg  the 31-year-old son of Caroline Kennedy and artist Edwin Schlossberg, who was educated at a top Manhattan private school followed by Yale and Harvard  didn't waste time pretending he was going to bring journalistic rigor or political impartiality to his new role.

'I'm a silly goose  a silly goose who's trying, just trying, to get the truth out there,' he declared to Vogue. 'I still think, at the end of the day, voting for Democrats is going to be the right way to go.'

'I'm worried,' he continued. 'I feel like things will actually go badly in daily life if Trump wins.'

A recent Town & Country magazine profile suggested his friends complain they wished he'd grow up and stop playing the dilettante. But John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg shows no sign of listening.

Not a correspondent so much as a comrade of the Democrats  although he's hardly alone in the US media on that front  he seems determined to plough the same political furrow as the rest of the Kennedys (aside, of course, from his Trump-backing cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who he has dismissed as a 'prick').

The Democrats, of course, are the party his family once ruled.

Since his July signing, and with the election looming, Schlossberg has penned just six articles for Vogue.

Short and shockingly banal, they appear to be aimed at a readership more comfortable scrolling through Schlossberg's TikTok page. Meanwhile, his political musings have provided such incisive observations as 'remember that federal agencies do amazing things', 'Republicans are united behind their nominee' and 'no one actually knows what will happen'.

Undeterred, Vogue dutifully ran Schlossberg's gushing address to the 2024 Democratic National Convention in August and posted a series of pictures to the magazine's Instagram account showing the young 'political correspondent' hobnobbing with leading Dems like Nancy Pelosi and showing off his Kamala Harris friendship bracelets.

Since his signing, Schlossberg has penned just six articles for Vogue. Undeterred, the mag has dutifully posted a series of pictures to its Instagram account showing the young 'political correspondent' hobnobbing with leading Dems like Nancy Pelosi.

Anna Wintour (pictured with Michelle Obama in 2014) has long used Vogue as a vehicle for hobby horses and has never made her Democrat sympathies any secret in an industry that is also solidly blue.

Yet it's difficult to think of a previous election in which she has allowed Vogue to become such a naked cheerleader for the party. (Pictured: Melania and Donald Trump with Wintour in 2005)

Chloe Malle, editor of Vogue.com, admitted that she saw his appointment as an opportunity to motivate the magazine's readers to vote.

'We all know the stakes of this election and it is critical to Vogue that we do all we can to get our audience motivated to vote,' she said  though some will surely wonder whether a magazine so often accused of being style-over-content couldn't have come up with a less-cliched solution to the challenge of voter turnout than dredging up yet another good-looking member of the Kennedy clan.'

Even the New York Times has suggested that some of Schlossberg's social media videos, in which he patronizingly imitates ordinary working Americans, have done the Democrats few favors.

In one, he imitates a foul-mouthed Italian American. In another, he impersonates an older Jewish man screaming: 'Who is going to protect my money?'

The Times said that Schlossberg's 'hackneyed stereotypes' and 'heavily accented caricatures' had clearly insulted some people.

If only Vogue and its resident ice queen editor, Anna Wintour, could 'stick to fashion', say insiders.

The all-powerful 'Nuclear Wintour', as she's nicknamed, has long used Vogue as a vehicle for hobby horses and has never made her Democrat sympathies any secret in an industry that is also solidly blue.

Yet it's difficult to think of a previous election in which she has allowed Vogue to become such a naked cheerleader for the party.

After Vogue endorsed Kamala Harris (just two days after Joe Biden announced he was stepping aside in July), Wintour marshalled 16 US-based designers  including Thom Browne, Gabriela Hearst and Willy Chavarria  into a collective called 'Designers for Democracy' which created pro-Dem clothing such as a T-shirt declaring that 'America Is An Idea'.

She also organized a 'non-partizan' (though of course it was) 'Fashion for Our Future' march through Manhattan during September's Fashion Week. The surprise guest was Jill Biden.

The other not-so-surprise guest on the recent digital cover for Vogue was Kamala Harris, alongside an inevitable glowing endorsement: 'The candidate for our times'.

Harris first appeared on the cover of the February 2021 print edition, wearing her trademark Converse sneakers  a decision that sparked angry complaints that the magazine was patronizing a woman of color.

This time round, the editors took no chances, making Kamala look entirely presidential and keeping her footwear out of shot.

The cover proved no less embarrassing, however: it later emerged the photoshoot had taken place on October 7, a day when the rest of the world was marking the anniversary of the Hamas massacre in Israel.

Earlier this year, Wintour was holding private fundraisers for Biden and put his wife Jill on the cover for the third time.

After Vogue endorsed Kamala Harris, she also organized a 'non-partizan' (though of course it was) 'Fashion for Our Future' march through Manhattan during September's Fashion Week. The surprise guest was Jill Biden.

Harris first appeared on the cover of the February 2021 print edition, wearing her trademark Converse sneakers - a decision that sparked angry complaints that the magazine was patronizing a woman of color.

Earlier this year, Wintour was holding private fundraisers for Biden and put his wife Jill on the cover for the third time. (Pictured: Wintour with actor Tom Hiddleston and Jill in September).

The August issue  released just days before Biden withdrew the 2024 race  featured a fawning profile of Jill dressed in a 3,900 Ralph Lauren coat-dress and under an imperious (if wildly un-prescient) headline: 'We will decide our future'.

At the time, Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and the New Yorker, noted that an appearance on the Vogue cover is a 'rite of passage' for first ladies.

(It isn't a 'rite of passage' for all first ladies, however. Melania Trump  at whose 2005 wedding to Donald, Wintour was a guest  was snubbed while in the White House.)

Another magazine industry veteran, Janice Min, now running Ankler Media, said of Jill Biden cover to the New York Times: 'It's not a great look when the President refuses to give news outlets one-on-one interviews but his wife has her third Vogue cover during an election where voters are saying over and over again it is all about the economy.'

Min went on: 'In an era where trust is in question, and Donald Trump is telling people the system is rigged and people believe him, I have to wonder about the wisdom of speaking through a publication edited by one of Joe Biden's biggest fund-raisers.'

Such skepticism raises another important question: why Vogue and Wintour allow themselves to be accused of cheapening the brand by appearing to be such desperate toadies for the Democrat cause.

But, with its once-imposing print circulation now in troubling decline, 'desperation'  as in desperation to remain relevant  rather sums up the magazine's behavior of late.

Jack Schlossberg's most recent election missive for Vogue is a breathless puff piece about the brilliance of Harris's 'groundbreaking' digital campaign after getting  naturally  a briefing from two of its leading lights.

'Young people will  and always do  play a critical role in electing a president,' says Schlossberg.

As it happens, it's a statement that could hardly be less true as most young Americans don't vote at all.

So, will Team Vogue make the difference this time round? Kamala Harris shouldn't hold her breath.
The new Stanford Robotics Center brings researchers from across disciplines into one place to work on everything from medical devices to a bot that makes your bed. Students from Karlsruhe in Germany showed a humanoid assistance robot for daily tasks on Friday. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Steve Cousins, executive director of the Stanford Robotics Center, discusses the OceanOneK robot at the center on Friday. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Amid the excitement over artificial intelligence, some of the machines are being trained to learn from human actions, such as the H1 humanoid robot, which has gotten quite good at folding shirts and putting on shoes. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle A robotics student handles the OceanOneK robot, a humanoid robot used to take on underwater tasks too dangerous for humans, at the Stanford Robotics Center on Friday. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Industrial robots are sometimes kept away from humans and behind cages for fear of their mindless iron grip and bone-crunching power. But in the gleaming corridors of the new Stanford Robotics Center, researchers are working to bring an array of softer bots into our lives.

Were trying to bridge research to the real world, said Steven Cousins, the director of the center, located on the subterranean level of Stanfords David Packard building at the School of Engineering.

The center brings together robotics experts from Stanford and across the world, but also computer programmers, aerospace engineers and myriad other scientists to dream up and build robots that can do everything from gently bathing a person to diving into shipwrecks 1,000 meters deep.

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Before the new robotics center, Stanford had a collection of labs working in isolation, said Oussama Khatib, whose decades of research helped build the humanoid OceanOneK robot, which can reach depths beyond the limitations of any meat-covered skeleton.

If we want to get to the real world  we need to join forces, Khatib said of the centers cross disciplinary approach, his black suit coat a study in contrast with his shock of white hair. Like the robots around him, he was in constant motion, his arms and hands gesticulating like the machines in the lab.

The OceanOneK robot, a humanoid robot used to take on underwater tasks too dangerous for humans, was shown at the new Stanford Robotics Center on Friday. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

To each side of a long white hallway floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer a glimpse of a robot driven-future. Its the kind of place where dawdling too long in an entryway risks having a Swiss graduate student scoot by you with a quadruped walking robot the size of a Bernese mountain dog.

Behind one set of windows sits a bedroom straight out of an IKEA catalog, save for the robotic arms on wheels roving around picking up loose clothes and toys and casually flicking them into bins.

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One researcher sits in a chair, as a robot arm equipped with a fork carefully selects apple slices to bring to her mouth. These kinds of smart helpers could one day help people with daily activities in a time when pricey in-home help is in short supply, Cousins said.

Priya Sundaresan demonstrates a robot-assisted feeding system at Stanford University on Friday. These kinds of smart helpers could one day assist people with daily living at a time when pricey in-home help is in short supply. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Another project is the kind of collaboration the new center is already fostering among researchers in different fields.

Called BatheBot, it is the brainchild of roboticist Cosima du Pasquier and computer scientist Jennifer Grannen. The home care robot uses flexible, finger-like grippers and finely calibrated sensors to grasp a wash rag with the right pressure in a cleaning motion to one day bathe people who have trouble doing it themselves.

The finger-like grippers are a far cry from the clunky metal vices on display from decades past near the entrance to the centers headquarters.

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Other robots are designed to crawl into tight spaces and unfurl claws with arms made of space-age materials for tough jobs like mining or repairs. Some help speed up walking with a boot-like exoskeleton that looks like it just fell off a Star Wars droid, complete with flashing lights and swinging wires.

Stanford University robotics post-doc student Cosima du Pasquier demonstrates the BatheBot, a soft-touched robotic arm used to do sensitive tasks such as bathing. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Amid the excitement over artificial intelligence, some of the machines are being trained to learn from human actions, such as the H1 humanoid robot, which has gotten quite good at folding shirts and putting on shoes.

The big thing thats happening is this excitement around end-to-end learning, or showing robots how to do a task and programming them to learn by example, said UC Berkeley professor Ken Goldberg, who teaches robotics and automation and isnt involved in Stanfords center.

A young boy watches a screen with featured robotics systems inside the Stanford Robotics Center on Friday. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

He said the amount of data you need to get a robot to learn to do a task correctly from scratch can be prohibitive. Instead he favors good old-fashioned engineering combined with these learning methods.

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For instance, hes working to modify an existing surgery robot operated by doctors to help maintain a steady hand during delicate procedures such as suturing.

Like Goldbergs work, many of the applications at the Stanford lab are medical.

Vishal Singh demonstrates the magnetic milli-spinner, a tiny robot that moves through blood vessels with imaging-guided robotic control on Friday at Stanford University. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

One project uses metallic devices smaller than a Tic Tac candy to swim through models of human arteries, guided by an operators magnet. The work could provide a minimally invasive way of breaking up blood clots to prevent or treat strokes, Cousins said.

Others are using robot arms equipped with sensors to perform ultrasound on dummy patients, using touch feedback that works like a fine tuned-Xbox controller, which could allow for more remote medical procedures.

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That kind of breakthrough could allow for smaller clinics to treat patients remotely, Khatib said.

A similar kind of sensory feedback technology was aboard the OceanOneK robot when Khatib recently piloted it deep underwater in the Mediterranean. His team salvaged items from a Roman-era wreck and explored ships that have been lying in the deep since World War II.

The iCub, a humanoid robot used to help develop and test embodied AI algorithms, tries to solve a puzzle on Friday at the new Stanford Robotics Center. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

He recalled touching a ships rail 500 meters below the surface for the first time in decades. Being able to feel it through the robots feedback system was like receiving an electric shock through his system, he said.
A new poll shows that a significant number of Americans are less likely to believe Vice President Kamala Harris' claim that she worked at McDonald's when she was in college.

The Democratic presidential has used her story of serving fries and ice cream at a franchise in Alameda, California, to bolster an image that of coming from humble roots.

But 58 percent of likely American voters expressed some doubt or outright disbelief in the claim, according to a Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll.

Thirty-seven percent of voters said they did not believe her claim and 21 percent of voters in the poll said they were 'unsure.'

Just 43 percent of likely American voters said they believed Harris' claim

The survey included 1,003 likely voters and was conducted October 27-29 with a margin of error of three percent.

A new poll shows that a significant number of Americans are less likely to believe Vice President Kamala Harris' claim that she worked at McDonald's when she was in college

Former President Donald Trump campaigned extensively to question Harris' claim of working at the nation's biggest fast food chain, even appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonald's to make french fries and serve food at the drive-thru window.

'I've now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala at McDonald's,' Trump told reporters and customers after the campaign event.

In the poll 49 percent also said that Trump's visit to the fast food joint was 'staged'. Another 32 percent said his shift in a Golden Arches apron was 'genuine' and 19 percent weren't sure.

Despite Trump's repeated taunting, Harris remains unable to provide any evidence to prove her claim.

The Harris campaign maintains that Harris worked at a McDonald's location on Central Avenue in Alameda, California during the summer after her freshman year at Howard University in 1983.

Staff at the restaurant have reportedly been sworn to secrecy and when DailyMail.com contacted them to ask, an employee replied 'no, sorry'.

The Harris campaign maintains that Harris worked at a McDonald's during the summer after her freshman year at Howard University in 1983. She is pictured when she was younger

She is believed to have worked at the Central Avenue location in Alameda, California

The New York Times cited Wanda Kagan, a close high school friend of Harris who remains active in the campaign, as recalling Harris' mother, now deceased, once mentioned that Harris worked at a McDonalds.

Despite Trump's continued torment of Harris on the issue, the vice president and her team have no new information to prove her claim.

Experts noted on social media that Harris could easily access her Social Security tax records from the government to prove her employment at the location.

Social Security keeps records of tax forms for employees working in the United States, 'from 1978 to the present' according to the agency's website.

McDonald's revealed earlier this summer that they do not have records to verify Vice President Kamala Harris' claim - but praised her 'fond memories' of working at the franchise location.

'[W]e and our franchisees don't have records for all positions dating back to the early '80s,' the company noted in an internal memo that was published online.

Donald Trump, pictured serving fries at Pennsylvania McDonald's over the weekend, has consistently said Kamala's story of working at the fast food joint said

Harris first made the claim that she used to work at McDonald's in college when protesting with workers to raise the minimum wage in 2019 when she ran for president.

'I worked at McDonald's, I was a student when I was working at McDonald's,' she said detailing on social media that she worked making fries and serving ice cream.

In April 2024, she revisited the subject with the Drew Barrymore show, revealing that she 'did fries' at the restaurant and that her go-to meal was a quarter pounder with cheese.

'I did, yes I did work at McDonalds when I was at school ... I did fries,' she said. 'I did fries and the cashier.'

'I didn't know that about you!' a surprise Barrymore replied.

Harris repeated her claim briefly when a reporter shouted out a question on Monday asking her if she had ever worked there.

'Did I? Yes, I did,' she said before entering her vehicle.

I worked at @McDonalds when I was a student, doing french fries and ice cream. There wasn't a family relying on me to pay the bills  but that's the reality for too many workers today. Proud to stand with @SEIU today for livable wages and a safe working environment. pic.twitter.com/essu9q63JF  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 14, 2019

The campaign remains unable to provide evidence to prove the vice president's claim, such as a photo, a pay stub, or a fellow employee that can confirm her employment.

An employee said 'I'm sorry, I don't have any information,' when DailyMail.com contacted the location where Harris claims to have worked on Monday to ask if Harris had ever worked at the franchise location.

A copy of her job resume she submitted after college does not include any information about her job at McDonald's, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

The Harris campaign has used her claim about working at McDonald's to demonstrate her working class credentials.

After weeks of mocking Harris' claim as false, Trump visited a McDonald's in Pennsylvania on Sunday, putting on an apron, and making several batches of fries in the kitchen.
'Charming' George 'Fox' Saul was a well-to-do son of a lawyer and Round Table stalwart - until he was accused of smuggling 100 million of cocaine across the Atlantic in his luxury yacht.

Born in Norwich, Saul grew up surrounded by long sandy beaches and quiet rural villages in the tourist hotspot of Norfolk.

But it is this unlikely spot that the charming, friendly son of a local lawyer - as locals describe him - would make the setting for a crime drama worthy of its own Netflix series.

A new investigative podcast series by the BBC, Finding Mr Fox, has unravelled how the businessman allegedly masterminded a cocaine smuggling plot which stretched from beachy Norfolk all the way to Brazil.

The scheme centred on Saul's private yacht, the Rich Harvest, which he had sailed to Brazil in 2016 before it spent nearly a year at a marina receiving interior refurbishments.

'Charming' George 'Fox' Saul is accused of organising a 100m cocaine smuggling plot from Brazil to the UK - all from the sandy beaches of Norfolk

It is alleged he planned for more than 1,000kg of cocaine to be hidden in a false bottom of his private yacht, before hiring four sailors to sail it back to the UK

Saul (middle) is pictured with two of the Brazilian sailors he hired to return his ship to the UK

When complete, he posted an advert recruiting a team of sailors to return his boat to his home in the UK - and three Brazilian sailors and a French captain eagerly signed up.

But unbeknownst to them, the journey would start a nightmare they could barely begin to imagine.

The team only discovered anything was amiss during a sudden search of the vessel during a stopover in Cape Verde.

Police found 1,157 kilograms of cocaine hidden under false bottoms in the ship - worth up to 100 million if sold on the European market.

'I felt my freedom was going down the drain,' Brazilian sailor Daniel Guerra, 43, told the podcast. 'I was furious, couldn't accept what was happening, you know? I'd been really fooled.'

The sailors protested fruitlessly that they had no idea about the hidden cargo - but a court sentenced them to ten years in prison for drug smuggling.

Meanwhile Brazilian police officers were certain about the identity of the man behind the plot: Saul, known as 'Fox'.

Sailors Daniel Guerra (left) and Rodrigo Dantas (right) were convicted of drug offences but had no idea about the cargo the yacht was carrying

Police in Cape Verde found 1,157 kilograms of cocaine hidden under false bottoms in the ship - worth up to 100 million if sold on the European market

The yacht had spent almost a year in Brazil having interior refurbishments completed (stoch image)

When confronted by a BBC reporter, Saul denied the allegations that he is a cocaine smuggler

A few months after their convictions, Saul was arrested in Italy - but extradition paperwork to Brazil arrived too late and he was released.

Continuing their investigation, Brazilian police officers failed to find anything linking the four convicted sailors to Saul or to any criminal underworld, and their convictions were eventually overturned in 2019.

Pivotal in freeing the innocent sailors was one of Saul's alleged closest accomplices, Robert Delbos - a convicted British drug trafficker.

Delbos, 71, was jailed for 12 years in 1988 for attempting to smuggle 1.5 tonnes of cannabis into the UK. And before the Rich Harvest yacht left Brazil, police observed him supervising the first stages of the yacht's renovations.

Officers extradited Delbos to Brazil, where he spent months in prison, but was acquitted of any wrongdoing after a judge ruled it couldn't be proved he knew about the drug smuggling plan.

Still Saul had not been brought to justice, and it was widely assumed he had gone into hiding.

Saul (left) has been living a relatively normal like in Norwich, and was even pictured with the city's former Lord Mayor (right)

Brazilian sailor Daniel Guella (pictured) was one of four innocent men convicted of drug smuggling - until their convictions were overturned in 2019

Rodrigo Dantas was another of the Brazilian sailors, who were led by a French captain on the trip

Campaigners spent years fighting for the imprisoned sailors to be set free

Pivotal in freeing the innocent sailors was one of Saul's alleged closest accomplices, Robert Delbos (pictured) - a convicted British drug trafficker

The well-to-do son of a lawyer was described as 'charming' by friends - and has never been arrested in the UK

But it has now been revealed he is living a normal life in Norwich, running his own property business and contributing to the local community as a Round Table club member.

He has even posted photos of himself with the city's then-Lord Mayor, James Wright, the BBC reports.

Reporters subsequently confronted Saul at a Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Norwich. When asked about claims he was a drug smuggler, he replied: 'I'm not'.

Back in Brazil, the sailors still want to see Saul hauled before a courtroom.

But the NCA has said there is 'currently no warrant in place to arrest the subject, and we are not aware of any offences he may have committed in the UK'.

They added that if Brazilian police wanted to pursue the case, they would have to file a fresh extradition request.

* Finding Mr Fox is a six-part podcast and part of the BBC's World of Secrets investigative series. All six episodes are now available to download.
A curry house owner is locked in a war with his local council after he was slapped with an eye-watering fine for launching an illegal advertising campaign on his van.

Ifran Raja Ahmed was found guilty of parking his giant banner van on several roads around Yate in Gloucestershire, where he runs his Spice 37 food outlet.

The offence, known as fly-posting, landed him a total of 4,413 in fines and costs after South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted him.

Mr Ahmed, who did not attend the hearing at Bristol Magistrates Court, intends to continue using his banner van - but will in future park it on private land only.

And he says he plans to fight the conviction at an appeal hearing yet to be scheduled.

Ifran Raja Ahmed was found guilty of parking his giant banner van on several roads around Yate in Gloucestershire, where he runs his Spice 37 food outlet

Mr Ahmed says 'we're all human and sometimes we make mistakes'. But some locals think he should have been clobbered harder

He said: 'I had no idea the council was prosecuting me because I've been busy caring for my mother who is dying of cancer.

'If I have broken the law, I will accept that and pay the fine, but I want to go to court and have my say because I think this is all a misunderstanding.

'We're all human and sometimes we make mistakes.'

But locals in Yate, where Mr Ahmed has a unit next to a Tesco supermarket, backed the magistrates, with some even saying he should have been clobbered harder.

One, an unemployed 36-year-old man called Dan, said: 'No one is above the law. If he's been parking up a giant mobile billboard on public roads, it's potentially dangerous to motorists who could easily be distracted by it.

'Also, why should he be allowed to advertise his business for free in a public space? The magistrates have got this dead right. In fact, I think he should have been fined more to ensure he or anyone else doesn't do it again.'

Another, retired printer Jim, 66, agreed. 'If it's parked up on a public road, of course it's going to be a distraction,' he said. 'It's downright dangerous.

'I'm all for people trying to get a bit of business, but you've got to respect the law.

'His van shouldn't have been parked where it was, simple as that.

Spice Takeaway in Yate, Bristol, where the owner has been charged with fly tipping in relation to advertising on a truck which was parked in various locations near the outlet

'But I hope it doesn't force him to close his takeaway because we need places like this here. Everyone loves a curry and his are pretty good.'

Retired NHS finance worker Kay, 77, also made her views clear as she strolled past the takeaway shop this week.

Kay said: 'I don't think anyone should be fly-posting because it's illegal and frankly, the banner van is an absolute eyesore.

'So, of course it's going to be a distraction to anyone driving past and that could easily result in an accident, which no one wants.

'The magistrates were right to fine him. I hope he's learnt his lesson.'

And Val, a retired accountant now in her early 80s, said she had not been aware of the fly-posting fine imposed on Mr Ahmed, but agreed his actions could have been 'very dangerous indeed'.

She said: 'These laws exist for a reason. Driving on busy roads is hard enough, without having additional distractions and hazards.

'The size of this thing could very easily catch a motorist's attention, or even block the driver's view. It's just not acceptable.'

Former gas showroom worker June, now 86, said she too considered Mr Ahmed's contraption a 'potentially deadly' distraction for motorists.

She said: 'The roads in and around Late can be incredibly busy and the last thing drivers need is another thing to look out for.

Retired NHS finance worker Kay, 77, also made her views clear as she strolled past the takeaway shop this week saying the banner is an 'absolute eyesore'

Val, a retired accountant now in her early 80s, said she had not been aware of the fly-posting fine imposed on Mr Ahmed, but agreed his actions could have been 'very dangerous indeed'

'I hope this is the end of it now and we never see it parked up here again. It's simply too dangerous.

'And I don't think people should be able to use public roads as a place to advertise their businesses for nothing. It's just not right or fair.'

Another local, mother-of-one Sarah, 39, said: 'To be honest, I didn't even know there was an offence called fly-posting.

'I can see why it shouldn't be allowed, though, because it gives people un unfair advantage, I guess.

'Either way, it didn't work because I never saw it and I've never been in there for a takeaway.'

Magistrates fined Mr Ahmed 2,500 and ordered him to pay costs of 913 and a victim surcharge of 1,000, making a total of 4,413.

The court heard that on October 12, 2023, the council first became aware of an Iveco banner van parked on the highway at Lodge Road, Yate. The vehicle was noted as advertising a business called Spice 37, an Indian takeaway located at Wellington Road, Yate.

A letter was sent to Mr Ahmed highlighting the offence and requesting its removal. The letter also noted that the vehicle was untaxed and had no MOT certificate to be on the highway.

On April 2, 2024, Mr Ahmed was again sent a warning letter about the banner van being parked stationary on the highway at various locations, including at a roundabout in Rodford Way, Yate.

A few days later, the vehicle was again seen parked up elsewhere in Rodford Way, near its junction with Westerleigh Road. A Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) was issued and sent to the business on April 16 accompanied by a Community Protection Warning (CPW) restricting any further fly-posting.

But the FPN went unpaid and a reminder letter was sent on May 1 with a further reminder sent on May 15, but still no payment or contact from the owner of the business was forthcoming.

On May 29, a council officer visited Spice 37 shop and spoke to staff there who provided the owner's name, Mr Ifran Raja Ahmed, and telephone number. The council spoke to Mr Ahmed on June 3 and he confirmed he was the owner of the business but claimed he had not received the FPN. The council delivered a new copy of the Notice to the shop on June 6.

Mr Ahmed was then sent a message on June 12 confirming that a new copy of the FPN had been left at the shop for him.

A further call was made to Ahmed on June 19 to ask how he wished to proceed with the FPN and he stated that once he had seen it he would arrange payment without delay.

'To date no further contact has been had with Ahmed and the Fixed Penalty has not been resolved,' a council spokesperson said.

Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: 'I'm pleased to see this considerable fine handed to the takeaway owner. Unauthorised roadside advertising is illegal, often unsightly, and can block visibility or cause a distraction to other road users.

'The council will always try to work with local businesses to resolve any issues however in cases such as this where owners fail to engage, we are left with no option than to prosecute through the courts.'
A tiny Midwestern village has become the unlikely locus for a civil war involving military-grade aircraft and a mounting death toll.

Nestled between the banks of Palisades Reservoir in Idaho and the snow-capped mountains of the Wyoming Range, the idyllic town of Alpine is home to little more than 1,000 people.

But the sweeping greenery of the surrounding Grand Teton National Park belies a fervent fight between locals and wealthy airplane enthusiasts who are disturbing the tranquility - while allegedly putting lives at risk.

Alpine is home to a 5,850-foot airstrip straddling the Wyoming-Idaho border, which has been drawing increasing numbers of wealthy Top Gun wannabes to the area.

Locals have said the air traffic growth has become out of control, bringing constant noise to the town as well as deadly accidents when people crash.

A tiny Midwestern village has become the unlikely locus for a civil war involving military-grade aircraft and a mounting death toll

Nestled between the banks of Palisades Reservoir in Idaho and the snow-capped mountains of the Wyoming Range, the idyllic town of Alpine is home to little more than 1,000 people

Longtime Alpine resident Jay Goodrich described the questionable flying practices and jet fly-bys as 'a circus' in the sky above his otherwise idyllic hometown.

'As a private pilot myself, watching the stuff they are doing at the airpark, I can't believe the FAA is not down there,' he told Jackson Hole News and Guide.

'It's extreme wealth versus the common man,' he added. 'In rural Wyoming, do we really need fighter jets taking off so they can practice? As a pilot, you want to stay sharp.

'When I was flying, I was flying every day of the week, but I wasn't piloting a fighter jet. Do we need fighter jets in Alpine, Wyoming, saying they don't have to report to anyone?'

Goodrich said the fly-in residential park was designed to host single-engine planes flown by veteran pilots - but it's now riddled with military-grade aircrafts and private jets.

'We have been here for three years, and we were very aware of the airstrip,' Matt Grant, who lives in Alpine Meadows next to the Airpark, told the News and Guide.

'Little did I know that during our first Fourth of July, the house would start shaking. It sounded like a 'Top Gun' film.

'We have rules in our neighborhood that come from the Forest Service that say we are not allowed to have fences because of the wildlife.

'I'm sure the Forest Service didn't intend to have fighter jets flying over. It sounds like an episode of MASH down there.'

Pictured: the moment a plane plummeted in Alpine on July 4 this year, killing pilot Edan Shalev

Edan Shalev pictured with his GB1 GameBird aircraft. Shalev died on July 4th after his plane nosedived into shallow waters in the Palisades Reservoir

Alpine residents say recent crashes, such as a deadly collision on July 4 this year, are the result of unfettered air traffic by hobbyists

Alpine residents say recent crashes, such as a deadly collision on July 4 this year, are the result of unfettered air traffic by hobbyists.

A Game Composites GB1 Gamebird plane, described as a 'racing car for the sky', nosedived into the Palisades Reservoir on Independence Day, killing pilot Edan Shalev.

Kevin Nettleton, who witnessed the horror crash and rushed toward the downed plane in his boat seeking survivors, said the scene was like something from 'Mad Max'.

But he said recovery efforts were hindered by a Black Hawk helicopter which landed nearby to aid them - but ended up whirring up strong winds which sent water spraying in all directions.

'I know he was trying to help, but it was hell. I'm still shaken up over it,' Nettleton told Jackson Hole News and Guide. 'He came out of nowhere.'

Several other crashes have been documented in the vicinity, including a horrific incident which killed parents David and Jessica Anderson, leaving their children orphaned.

The couple were killed in the Cessna crash which also took the lives of Thomas and Heidi Summers in March 2016, according to East Idaho News, which tracked several more similarly deadly incidents around the same time.

Residents are also worried about constantly breathing in jet fuel, which has tainted the air with a permeating odor, and caused potential pollution to Palisades Reservoir.

The airstrip can be used by the public, but the Alpine Airpark executive board decides who can fly in and out of the private development.

Residents have written a letter of complaint to the airpark board, citing its own guidelines, and Alpine Mayor Eric Green.

Airpark board president Raj Narayanan said that accidents like the July 4 crash are not within the airpark's jurisdiction.

Pictured: The wreckage of a crash in Alpine, Wyoming in March 2016

Parents David and Jessica Anderson were killed in a Cessna crash near Alpine, which also took the lives of Thomas and Heidi Summers in March 2016

Thomas "Brook" Summers, 39, and Heidi Summers, 36, whom along with Jerry "David" Anderson, 40, and Jessica Anderson, 38, died in the crash that occurred north of Alpine, Wyoming, near Palisades Reservoir on March 2016

Residents have written a letter of complaint to the airpark board, citing its own guidelines, and Alpine Mayor Eric Green (pictured)

'One of the things we can do as an airpark is to be proactive and establish procedures, policies and guidelines for members that fly into the airpark or live at the airpark,' Narayanan told the News and Guide.

'We do have very formalized, established procedures and guidelines for members of the airpark, and we ask that all members convey those to their guests to ensure that they're aware of standard departure corridors, arrival corridors and performance limitation requirements that we've established to try to be neighborly and try to be courteous to all of our residents within the community at large.'

'What I would say is, the airpark is definitely part of the Alpine ecosystem, but it's not in the town of Alpine,' Mayor Green told the News and Guide.

'As mayor and town council, we have very little jurisdiction over what happens at the airpark.

'Part of the problem is that there are a few people who don't abide by the rules, and that's what causes the consternation.'
As willing volunteers, 2.5million Indians who fought for Britain in the Second World War played a key role in helping to defeat Hitler's Nazi Germany.

Troops of the British Indian Army fought alongside their British counterparts in South-East Asia, during the invasion of Italy, in the Middle East and in North Africa.

But, until he made a documentary for Channel 4, Bafta-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar, 44, was largely ignorant of his Indian grandfather's contribution to Britain's victory.

In Soldiers That Saved Britain, Mr Azhar discovers that his late grandfather, Major Nawab Din, signed up to the Indian Signal Corps in 1931.

In 1942, he contributed to British triumph in the landmark Battle of El-Alamein, which marked a turning point in the Second World War.

But Mr Azhar expresses his belief that the role played by Indian troops in Britain's victory has been 'overlooked in the UK for so long'.

He also struggles with the notion that his grandfather made an active choice to fight for a country that 'colonised his homeland', but concedes at the end of the programme: 'I've had a bit of a shift.

Major Nawab Din, the late grandfather of journalist Mobeen Azhar, is seen in the uniform of the Pakistani army after the Second World War. He was one of the 2.5million Indians who fought for Britain in the conflict

Until he made a documentary for Channel 4 , Bafta-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar, 44, was largely ignorant of his Indian grandfather's contribution to Britain's victory

'I can be angry and upset and disgusted at the idea of empire and I can still acknowledge that millions of Indians volunteered, joined an army, fought, sacrificed and defined history,' he adds.

Tonight's programme also reveals plans to build a new bronze memorial to the Indian soldiers who fought in the Second World War.

The work is being designed by artist Mahtab Hussain, whose grandfather also fought for Britain in the war.

His design includes a Gurkha, a Skikh, a Hindu, a Muslim and a woman, to reflect how Indian troops were part of a 'multi-faith army', Mr Hussain says.

The artist is working in collaboration with the Royal British Legion. It is hoped the memorial will have a permanent place in London.

If commissioned, the work will be the second memorial to Indian troops in the capital.

The first, the Memorial Gates at Constitution Hill, was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002.

Her Late Majesty shed a tear when she laid the foundation stone the previous year.

As well as those from India, the memorial commemorates the soldiers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Africa and Sri Lanka who fought for Britain in both World Wars.

When war broke out in Europe for the second time in 25 years in September 1939, there were 250,000 men in the British Indian Army.

By the end of the war, the number of volunteer soldiers from India who had signed up stood at 2.5million.

Nearly 90,000 Indian troops were killed.

India had by then been a direct part of the British Empire for nearly a century. The country would not achieve its independence until 1947.

Mr Azhar's parents came to live in the UK in the 1960s, settling in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.

Mr Azhar's grandfather was born in 1911 in the city of Sialkot, a city in the Punjab that is now part of Pakistan. Above: Nawab Din in military uniform

Indian troops seen atop a tank in Egypt during the Second World War

When war broke out in September 1939, there were 250,000 men in the British Indian Army. By the end of the war, the number of volunteer soldiers from India who had signed up stood at 2.5million

His grandfather, who passed away aged 75 in 1989, did not come to live in Britain.

He was born in 1911 in the city of Sialkot, a city in the Punjab that is now part of Pakistan.

What was the Battle of El Alamein? The Battle of El Alamein was widely hailed as one of the turning points in the Second World War. More than 4,000 Allied servicemen lost their lives and almost 9,000 were wounded in the combat that saw General Sir Bernard Montgomery's troops defeat German general Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps. At the time of the battle, which began on October 23, 1942 and ended on November 4, the Allies were fighting to keep their vital supply lines open from the Mediterranean to the East. Rommel had inflicted heavy defeats on Allied forces in Africa, forcing them back to the village of El Alamein, about 60 miles west of Alexandria. On October 23 General Montgomery ordered a counter-attack with almost 900 guns levelled at the German positions to be discharged at once. While previously the Suez Canal was threatened, and with it Allied access to the rich oilfields of the Middle East, now the Allies were able to press their advantage and eventually push the Germans and Italians out of Africa. Recalling the importance of the Allied victory at the Battle of El Alamein, Sir Winston Churchill said: 'Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat.' Advertisement

Mr Azhar says at the start of the documentary that his history classes at school felt 'quite explicitly white'.

He adds: 'I really want to know what motivated a brown man from India one day to say, 'I'm going to join the British Army?'

'Because a lot of that to be honest, is a big part of my history. And so I really want to understand what he went through. And I want to understand who he was. '

He adds: 'Empire is ugly and brutal and bloody. And I don't want to hear anyone talk about, "Yes, but we gave them railways".

'You know, I've been hearing that my entire life.'

Mr Azhar enlists the help of his cousin and researchers to uncover the extent of his grandfather's service in the war.

He is shown a photo of his grandfather dressed in the uniform of the Pakistani arm after the war.

A visit to the Royal Signals Museum in Dorset then reveals that Nawab joined up the day before his 20th birthday, on November 3, 1931.

As a signaller, Nawab's duties would have included the operation of wireless phones and telephones, laying cables, and generally helping to maintain communication between commanders and troops on the ground.

But all of these tasks would have been carried out often in significant danger, on or near the battlefield.

Mr Azhar says he feels 'really uncomfortable' at the idea that his grandfather would have been reporting to a senior British officer who may have been younger than him.

'I can't really separate that from the fact this is in a colonial context,' he says.

The journalist adds: '...I am in this country primarily because Britain was seen as the mothership, and it was seen as the mothership because it colonised a huge amount of the world.

'And my grandfather, as happy as he looks here, he wouldn't have been in this role if India hadn't been colonised.'

Mr Azhar then retraces his grandfather's steps in Egypt and speaks with military historian Dr Rob Lyman.

The expert tells him: 'Your grandfather was here as part of the fourth Indian Division, in one of the most cataclysmic battles of the Second World War.'

Dr Lyman explains that the signals squadron was the 'beating heart' of the 4th Indian Division.

Men of the 4th Indian Division pose with captured Nazi flag at Sidi Omar in the Egyptian desert during the Second World War

Indian troops are seen training in the desert in North Africa during the Second World War

An Indian tank hunting squad seen running into action in North Africa

An Indian mortar crew seen about to fire a projectile. Indian troops' contribution in the war was vital

Indian troops serving with Britain's 8th Army pose for a photograph

'Your grandfather would have been responsible with his men for laying lines to each of the brigade headquarters and then from the brigades to the battalions,' he says.

'And then looking after the lines. So it's a very very difficult dangerous job. These weren't just ordinary soldiers, they were the brightest and the best.'

He adds: 'Your grandfather would have gone home, not a worse man but a different man.

'The reason he didn't talk to his children and didn't talk to you of course, is because these were experiences that he had gone through, which you couldn't comprehend.'

But the expert insists that Mr Azhar's grandfather's experience should not just be viewed through the 'lens of colonialism'.

He says: 'He volunteered for the Indian army. He was a professional soldier. He would have recognised that defeating the forces of Fascism was important for India.

'I think that is a really important thing for us to grasp. If we solely see his actions through the lens of colonialism, in my view, we remove his personal agency. We mustn't do that. '

One of the most consequential battles of the war started on October 23.

Soldiers and officers of the British infantry attacking among the smoke and the dust on the front of El Alamein, 1942

Scots guards go into action at El Alamein. The guards move forward under the protection of a smoke screen and the dust kicked up by the tank

Around 200,000 Allied soldiers, including Indian troops, fought for nearly two weeks against more than 100,000 Germans and Italians at El Alamein in Egypt.

The victory came at significant cost. Of 200,000 Allied troops who took part, there were more than 13,000 casualties, including 4,500 deaths.

Winston Churchill described the battle at the 'turning of the Hinge of Fate'. He would later write: 'It may almost be said, before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat'.

Mr Azhar says: 'It was men from the 4th Indian division- my grandfather's regiment that made the decisive breakthrough.'

Dr Lyamn tells the journalist: 'This is a moment when they can all look at each other and say, we have absolutely done it.

'There would have been a real sense in your grandfather that they were the victors of El Alamein.'

The Soldiers That Saved Britain airs at 7.10pm on Channel 4.
A man who was banned from charging his electric car at home said it is disgusting' he has been forced to get a new motor.

Retired mechanic David Kelsall, 76, has been pleading with the council for the six months to let him charge his car on the street outside his home in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

He does not have a driveway so his car would have to have been charged while parked on the street.

Council officials refused to budge with officials insisted an electric cable across the pavement to his electric vehicle would be a 'trip hazard'.

He gave up going to his local public charging point as his car had been attacked by three yobs.

So the exasperated father-of-three decided to solve his charging crisis himself.

However he has lost 7,000 after trading in his original car for an orange Fiat hybrid.

David Kelsall (pictured) has been forced to buy a new car after the council banned him from charging his EV outside his home in Oldham, Greater Manchester

Mr Kelsall told MailOnline: 'It's shocking in this day and age that I have to come up with a solution to this.

'It's a crazy situation.

'I mean electric cars are part of the solution to global warming and helping the planet.

'Yet the council are standing in the way of progress and want to stop me doing the right thing.

'So now I've had to trade in my electric one for a hybrid so I've lost 7,000 in equity.

'It's disgusting really that I've had to do this and the council have ignored my pleas.

'All they kept saying was that to run a cable over the pavement from my house was a trip hazard.

'But you should look at the state of the pavement on our road.

'There's trip hazards everywhere with bumps in the road or roots growing out of trees.'

Speaking by his new car, the former Kwik Fit manager said: 'I'm not doing this for myself but for others who will also have to go through this.

'I did think about suing the council and I have spoken to my MP.

'Thw rules need changing for people like me who don't have a driveway.

'I did put out a cable and my neighbours didn't complain, I asked them an they said we are 100 per cent behind you.'

Michael Dolan, 73, who lives opposite him, said: 'I support him but I don't think he's going to change the council's mind.

'This road is full of old people and they could trip over a cable.'

The retired engineer, who has worked in Siberia and Argentina after the 1982 Falklands War, said: 'Mind you, he is right.

'This needs fixing as electric cars are the future.'

Retired mechanic David Kelsall, 76, had been pleading with the council for the six months to let him charge his car on the street outside his home

Mr Kelsall wrote to the council with an idea for a trench in the pavement to run a cable but it was ignored as his pleas were rejected.

Oldham Council's highway technical officer Sean Newberry wrote back and told him that street charging was banned 'due to concerns 'over the risk of trips and falls'.

He added: 'The council has taken legal advise stating that it is not lawful to run a cable over the pavement' and told him to use public charging points.

However the divorced father said the public charging area is plagued with anti-social behaviour.

'I had three young men surround the car and kick it and then another time I was being harassed for money.

'It's not safe.'

Councillor Chris Goodwin said: 'We are still waiting for guidance to be published and in the meantime are working with Transport for Greater Manchester to develop a regional approach..

He said trials in other areas had shown cables in 'pavement channels' could be 'dangerous' to pedestrians, especially people with limited vision or mobility issues.

Local authorities including Milton Keynes and Bolton are piloting their own on-street parking schemes with designs that are fitted in ridges across the pavement.
A triple-zero call former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made after he and his wife collided with a cyclist has finally been revealed.

Mr Andrews was state opposition leader when the SUV he, his wife and their three children were travelling in collided with teenage cyclist Ryan Meuleman near Blairgowrie, on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, on January 7, 2013.

Mr Andrews has always maintained his wife, who was driving, came to a complete stop when a now-adult Mr Meuleman T-boned their Ford Territory.

In the leaked triple-zero call, obtained by The Herald Sun, Mr Andrews is heard telling the operator: 'We hit him'.

'We've turned right into Ridley Street and a kid's come flying through on the bike path and we've hit him,' he said.

'He's a teenager... I'd say he'd be... he'd be 15.'

The operator asked Mr Andrews how many ambulances were needed and if anybody else had dialled triple-zero regarding the crash.

'Ahhh, I don't think so...ahh, my wife, my wife might be,' Mr Andrews said.

The triple-zero call has been released which reveals what happened after Daniel Andrews' wife hit teenage cyclist Ryan Meuleman on January 7, 2013

The crash left Ryan Meuleman with serious injuries

The operator then confirmed that another call had been received from nearby 10 Ridley Street to which Mr Andrews replied: 'Well, that's the one.'

When emergency services arrived at the scene, Mrs Andrews was not breath tested.

Mr Andrews also told police in a statement less than a month after the crash 'I want to make it clear - the cyclist hit our vehicle'.

But questions have been raised about the lead-up to the crash and the police handling of the situation after a report into the crash released in September this year showed that the investigation was 'deeply flawed'.

Mr Andrews slammed what he called 'appalling conspiracy theories' after the review by former police assistant commissioner Dr Raymond Shuey, who was commissioned by Mr Meulemans' lawyers.

Peter Meuleman, the father of Ryan Meuleman, said the report shed 'a whole new light on what happened' to his son.

Peter said Dr Shuey's report 'contravenes the police report of what happened and contravenes Daniel and Catherine Andrews' version of events'.

'We are hoping Victoria Police will reopen the case and re-investigate the case thoroughly,' he earlier told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

Although Peter said a 'lot of old wounds have mostly healed' in the 13 years since the crash, the family felt at the time they 'did not really get justice'.

Andrews' Ford Territory after the crash with Ryan Meuleman

Ryan Meuleman spent 10 days in hospital and suffered serious injuries from the crash

Following the accident Mr Meuleman was airlifted to The Royal Children's Hospital with life-threatening injuries, including a punctured lung, broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding.

He lost 90 per cent of his spleen, with his father saying while many of the other injuries had healed, the most 'devastating and long-lasting effect' of the crash has been the 'mental trauma'.

Mr Andrews has always insisted his wife came to a 'complete stop' and 'turned right from a stationary position' moments before the teenager T-boned the Ford Territory.

In his 36-page assessment of the investigation Dr Shuey found the evidence did not back Mr and Ms Andrews' account of what happened.

Police closed the case without pressing charges, and officers were later cleared of any wrongdoing by the corruption watchdog over failing to breath test the driver.

Mr Meuleman is suing law firm Slater & Gordon, which represented him after the crash, for allegedly failing to act in his best interest when it negotiated an $80,000 compensation settlement with the Transport Accident Commission.

Slater & Gordon denies the claims and will defend the proceedings. The trial is scheduled for May, 2025.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest any wrongdoing by Mr or Mrs Andrews.
For a few heady weeks 20 years ago, its name was on everyone's lips. Amid a frenzy of intrigue and infidelity the Spectator magazine, known for its high-minded political coverage, was squirming with an altogether racier reputation.

Stories of sexual shenanigans and casual adultery cascading from the weekly's central London office became so frequent it was dubbed 'The Sextator'.

Many of these gossipy tales featured some of its better-known columnists but the most lurid of them all concerned the tangled love life of the magazine's married publisher Kimberly Quinn, who was revealed to have had an affair with the blind former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett.

She was also involved with parliamentary sketch writer and broadcaster Simon Hoggart and, as obituaries confirmed yesterday, Sandy Leitch, the multi-millionaire Labour peer.

Kimberly Quinn, left, with unlikely Romeo Sandy Leitch and his wife Noelle at an awards bash at Claridge's in 2004

Kimberly Quinn and then Home Secretary David Blunkett at the Last Night of the Proms in 2003

Lord Leitch, who died last month aged 76, was mocked as 'the fourth man' in this exotic romantic menage.

The bespectacled, softly spoken entrepreneur and personal finance tycoon was a most unlikely Romeo. Like his close friend, the former prime minister Gordon Brown, he was a model of Scottish rectitude. Or so it seemed.

But for a torrid few months after divorcing his first wife and before meeting his second, the coalminer's son was a notch on the society hostess's bedpost.

It was said that he was so embarrassed when the episode became public that he arranged to have it excised from his Wikipedia entry.

Happily for Lord Leitch, the mockery soon subsided, as his unmasking coincided with news that Mr Blunkett had been confirmed as the father of Mrs Quinn's then two-year-old son following a legally binding DNA test.

He couldn't entirely escape the saga, however, which by the time it had all blown over had provided enough material for a ribald farce  Who's The Daddy?  penned by two of The Spectator's own theatre critics.

Lord Leitch of Oakley at his introduction into the House of Lords in 2004

The former insurance company chief is understood to have met Mrs Quinn  then married to her first husband, investment banker Michael Fortier  in 1996, the same year he was divorced from his first wife Valerie Hodson, mother of his three elder children. His company, Allied Dunbar, sponsored the Spectator's annual political lecture.

Power and politics have always been a formidable aphrodisiac. And, at the time, the then plain Mr Leitch was a rising figure in the New Labour establishment and a friend of the then Prince Charles. The coquettish Mrs Quinn was entranced. Some time in 1999 the two are said to have begun a physical relationship.

When Allied Dunbar was taken over by Zurich Financial Services UK in 2001, Leitch, who was made chief executive, began to sponsor the Spectator's Parliamentarian of the Year awards. And it was at one such awards lunch that, ironically, the Scotsman introduced Blunkett  now Lord Blunkett  as guest of honour.

It was around this time that the former minister had replaced him as Mrs Quinn's lover. She was reported to have mischievously remarked: 'I have always wondered what it would be like to have sex with a blind man.'

Mr Blunkett later announced that Leitch was to become chairman of the Government's New Deal Taskforce and he was elevated to the House of Lords by Prime Minister Tony Blair. He was even introduced into the Lords by Blair's chief fundraiser, Lord Levy.

Not long afterwards, in 2002, Leitch met Noelle Dowd, a corporate strategist two decades his junior. They married the following year and had three children, the affair with Kimberly consigned to history  or so he hoped.

Spectator publisher Kimberly Quinn in the London office of the magazine in 2004

Kimberly with her second husband, Vogue magazine executive Stephen Quinn, in 2017

But in 2004 news of her relationship with Blunkett, which had ended acrimoniously, was sensationally disclosed by the now defunct News of the World. Soon after came news of her dalliance with Mr Hoggart, who was also employed at the Spectator.

Suddenly no secrets at the magazine were safe from exposure and it was just a matter of time before the then editor Boris Johnson's affair with Petronella Wyatt, daughter of diarist and former Labour grandee Lord Wyatt of Weeford, emerged.

Johnson first became close to Petronella, then the magazine's deputy editor, when he was made editor.

'Petsy', then 34, was a well-known figure in London in her own right: described perhaps unfairly as a 'pouting socialite'. Her love life had been equally colourful. Known to admire older men, she once complained about being pursued by 'a fat Arab who thinks he's engaged to me'.

Another figure to find his love life in the cross-hairs of media speculation was the magazine's brilliant columnist Rod Liddle. Mr Liddle left his then wife for an assistant on the magazine who was 21 years his junior and later became pregnant with his child. It is only fair to point out that the two have now been very happily married for many years.

Is it any wonder that someone would want to turn all this pulsating sexual tension into a play? Even so, it is not difficult to imagine how awkward Lord Leitch must have found it when his name was linked to the louche revelations.

He was, after all, no media playboy but a serious City figure who, despite his impoverished background  his father died when he was 18 months old and his mother was a cleaner  had made something of his life.

His involvement with Kimberly, whose second husband was respected Vogue magazine executive Stephen Quinn, was hardly a secret. She had attended parties at Leitch's 2 million mansion block flat near the Royal Albert Hall and met one of his daughters, Jacqueline.

Speaking at the time his link to the femme fatale emerged, his first wife, who met her husband when she was 20, said: 'All I know is that my daughter said she saw Kimberly at one of Sandy's parties. Because Jacqueline didn't know who she was, she said: 'Who's that?' Someone at the party said something about the Spectator.

'As soon as Jacqueline read about Kimberly Quinn and David Blunkett in the newspapers she rang me up to tell me about the party.

'Sandy is a different man from the one I first knew. He's now so powerful and wealthy. I don't know whether he would be attracted to Kimberly.

'When I first met him he was clever, but poor. My father even gave him financial help.

'Sandy was a family man at first, but then he became a workaholic, that's why I divorced him.'

After his walk-on part in the Spectator frolics, obscurity in the world of insurance beckoned for Lord Leitch. It was four years before he spoke in the House of Lords and in 2015 he was named as one of 29 peers who failed to speak in the Lords during the entirety of the 2010 to 2015 Parliament.

Not once, however, did he speak publicly about his Kimberly episode.
Terrified families have described living on a 'hell' hole council estate say they are treated worse than animals.

They have called for Barking and Dagenham Council in east London to close down Millard Terrace and 'start again'.

Vandals terrorise locals by breaking lifts and doors and families are constantly having to clean up human urine and excrement in stairways and landings each day.

Some children have been left so traumatised at the conditions that they have had to receive specialist counselling and therapy.

Millard Terrace sits above Heathway Shopping Centre and is formed of a six-storey block, a three-storey block and a deck level.

Shocking photos show drug equipment in public areas and suspected drug users sleeping rough outside the front door of residents.

Pictured: Alleged drug users brazenly sleep on mattresses they have set up on landings in Millard Terrace, Dagenham

Pictured: A used syringe is left discarded on the floor inside Millard Terrace in Dagenham

Mother-of-two Bianca Green (pictured) has lived in the block for 15 years and described it as 'third-world conditions'

The council bought Heathway Shopping Centre in 2020 as part of a Dagenham Heathway redevelopment bid, receiving 10.8 million for the project in January 2023 from the government's Levelling Up fund.

Mother-of-two Bianca Green has lived in the block for 15 years and described it as 'third-world conditions'.

The 31-year-old said: 'It is a living hell. It's a nightmare.

'You would not treat animals like this, so why families? It's a disgrace.

'Things have deteriorated in recent years to the point of no return.

'My daughter has had to have counselling.

'Drug users constantly abuse us. There's no other way to our front door than going by them and we just get yelled and screamed at either when they are high or on a come down.

'We have had five recent attempted break-ins. It's not safe.

'It is appalling.'

She said having to clear human waste was 'horrific'.

She added: 'That's almost a daily basis. We report it and nothing happens.

'It's disgusting. It's the lowest of the low. These people have no respect. They do not even live here, they just break in.

'We're supposed to put up with it.

Pictured: Crime is so bad on the estate armed police were recently called to an incident there

Pictured: Police gather outside a property in Millard Terrace before a number of people are arrested

Residents say they often find human waste left on the landings and stairwells and are forced to clear it up themselves (left)

'This is supposed to be Britain in 2024. It's as bad as it gets.'

She added: 'We are left to rot while they decide if they can actually afford to redevelop Millard Terrace.

'I'm scared, my children are absolutely petrified.

'We can't leave our home without fearing who's on our landing, who's going to be outside our door or who we will bump into in the lifts.'

Her children - aged two and seven - are scared of leaving the flat, still have nightmares after a break-in more than a year ago and have to walk past 'so many needles' on the way to the lifts.

Paul Warren, 55, described the area as 'filthy'.

Paul, who has lived there for nine years, said: 'It's terrible.

'It's a big crack den, in public. The worst thing I have seen is human waste on every single floor. It's dreadful.

'How bad are they going to let it get? How low are they going to sink before something is done?'

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said prostitution was also rife in the block.

She said: 'Pimps turn up and get business, it's so sad.

'It's a cesspit of humanity.'

Another said: 'It needs closing down and just starting again.

'It's Britain's worst estate'.

Pictured: Police lead a man away after a raid on a flat in crime-ridden Millard Terrace, Dagenham

Pictured: A broken bannister inside the crime-ridden tower block in Dagenham

Residents say the tower block is plagued by crime with drug dealing and prostitution rife

Residents at Millard Place (pictured) have described it as a 'living hell'

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'We are sympathetic to the concerns that residents have raised in Millard Terrace.

'Officers continue to patrol the area in order to reassure communities, tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.

'We are speaking with local residents and businesses and continue to work with local authority partners to look at ways of improving security and safety in the area.

'I urge anyone who is concerned about criminal activity in the area to come forward and talk to the police.'

A spokesperson for Barking and Dagenham Council said: 'The Council takes this very seriously and we're working closely with the police to address residents' concerns about safety at Millard Terrace, including conducting joint patrols and resident surgeries to engage with the community.

'CCTV coverage across Millard Terrace is also being expanded to improve security and deter criminal activities. Our control room, which monitors the cameras, works proactively with The Met Police, our Community Safety Enforcement Team, our appointed security team, and outreach for homeless or rough sleepers.

'Caretakers are onsite daily to empty bins, clean the stairwells and identify any health and safety concerns. We are also exploring new equipment and services for deep cleaning of the stairwells.

'Further improvements will include redecoration of the stairwells, the launch of a designated online hub specifically for Millard Terrace residents and more community open days where residents and council officers come together to make improvements.'
A female undercover journalist working to expose the predatory underbelly of the Majorcan tourist hotspot of Magaluf has revealed the disturbing moment she was targeted by an opportunistic male partygoer.

Journalists Ellie Flynn and Emily Birtley wore hidden cameras for the new Channel 4 film 'Magaluf Undercover: Predators and Parties' on the infamous Punta Ballena 'party strip' where they pretended to be drunk to see whether men would attempt to take advantage of their state.

Over the course of three days, Ellie - who was accompanied by a film crew while she disguised herself as a drunken reveller - secretly filmed in clubs, on the strip and on Magaluf beach after dark.

The crew documented the several sinister instances in which Ellie was followed and harassed - one of which saw a man watch her pretending to be drunk for 10 minutes before following her around the town.

The man in question waited until Ellie left Emily's side and set off up the road alone.

As soon as she was out of earshot, he seemed to signal to his friends he was going to go after her and hared up the hill to catch her isolated and vulnerable.

He refused to leave her alone despite Ellie showing no interest - and she was ultimately forced to double back and give her pursuer the slip to avoid his advances.

'He seemed to be alerting his friends... that he was going to target a vulnerable, drunk girl, and his friends were like ''yeah cool'' and just stood there while he did it,' she said.

'To see something happen... in such a targeted, orchestrated way was really shocking - I've never seen anything like that before'.

That was just one of many unsettling incidents revealed in the documentary.

Over the course of three days, Ellie (sitting against the beam) - who was accompanied by a film crew while she disguised herself as a drunken reveller - secretly filmed in clubs, on the strip and on Magaluf beach after dark

The man in the dark blue shirt had been watching her for 10 minutes and waited until she got up to leave before following her up the road and hassling her

'He seemed to be alerting his friends... that he was going to target a vulnerable, drunk girl, and his friends were like ''yeah cool'' and just stood there while he did it,' Ellie said

In another harrowing scene, the undercover journalists revealed a moment when one man blatantly began hitting on a woman he believed was a 15-year-old girl.

The journalists were filmed speaking to a pair of men outside a hotel bar when Emily, who is really in her twenties, said she was just 15 years old and on her first holiday with friends.

One of the men began hitting on Emily, prompting his friend to call him a 'nonce'.

He immediately retorted: 'It's okay bro, we're on holiday, it doesn't count... doesn't matter if she's 15, it doesn't count.'

The girls played along, clearly hoping he was joking, but the man then made an outrageous statement. 'If she's got a full hymen I'll know...' he said.

He initially tried to play it off, laughing when the journalists, clearly taken aback, pressed him on it.

But moments later he doubled down: 'I said, I want to see if she's got a fully developed hymen or not!'

Journalists Ellie Flynn and Emily Birtley went wore hidden cameras for the new Channel 4 film 'Magaluf Undercover: Predators and Parties' to expose the predatory underbelly of the Majorcan tourist hotspot

One man began hitting on Emily, prompting his friend to call him a 'nonce'. He immediately retorted: 'It's okay bro, we're on holiday, it doesn't count... doesn't matter if she's 15, it doesn't count.'

The girls played along, clearly hoping he was joking, but the man then made an outrageous statement. 'If she's got a full hymen I'll know...' he said

The documentary exposed the predatory behaviour women are subjected to in Magaluf

Another disturbing scene captured the moment local men shamelessly preyed on Ellie as she pretended to be passed out on a sun-lounger, forcing her to call in security to escape.

In the clip, a man can be seen walking over to the British reporter, who buries her face in her hands in an attempt to seem drunk.

'Hey, are you good? Sorry, are you good?', he asked Ellie as he leaned over her.

The reporter proceeded to tell him she was fine, but instead of leaving her to it, he asked her if she wanted 'to talk a little bit'.

The interaction takes a dark turn when Ellie shook her head no, to which the man responded: 'You are my last chance. Do you want to kiss a little bit?'.

Ellie told him no again, and the man momentarily walked off - only to tell his friend that 'she's completely wasted', to which his friend responded: 'Let's go for it! Let's go for it.'

'If you want, I can keep you company', the friend said after approaching Ellie and sitting next to her on the lounger. 'Where are you from?', he asked.

Ellie then stood up, explaining in her narration of the film how she felt 'genuinely scared', despite having a camera crew and security watching her.

Journalist Ellie Flynn went undercover for the new film 'Magaluf Undercover: Predators and Parties' to expose the 'predatory underbelly' of the Majorcan tourist hotspot - in which she pretended to be a drunk reveller alone on a beach

Shocking footage showed how a group of men shamelessly preyed on Ellie and tried to take advantage of her

Pictured: Ellie Flynn, the undercover reporter who filmed her experiences in Magaluf

She was seen signalling for help, and a female security guard rushed to her rescue and pulled her away.

'Sorry, that just scared me...I didn't see him coming', a relieved Ellie declared.

'I had seen the first two together, but the sudden appearance of another and having no idea at the time if they were together - was enough for me to signal security to get me out'.

Ellie went on to describe how she felt like she had 'experienced an orchestrated attempt to target drunk women alone on a night out in Magaluf'.

The documentary also revealed that 48 cases of rape were reported to the police in Magaluf in 2023 alone.

Things take a dark turn when a man asks a seemingly intoxicated Ellie: 'Do you want to kiss a little bit?'

The man that first approached Ellie goes up to his friend and informs him she is drunk. 'Let's go for it!', his friend responds, before he approaches Ellie himself

The second man approaches Ellie and sits next to her on the lounger - a moment that she later said left her feeling frightened

Ellie is then forced to signal for help from a female security guard who was on standby

Over the summer several instances of rape were reported at the tourist hotspot.

One female British tourist was allegedly raped by a man twice her age who intercepted her as she returned to her holiday apartment from a boozy night out with friends in Magaluf.

Another British woman was raped and robbed on a beach after she became separated from friends in the resort's Punta Ballena party strip.

The suspect was said to have picked her up and carried her to the beach where he allegedly raped her before stealing her mobile phone.

The Majorcan region of Calvia, where Magaluf is situated, has the highest number of reported sexual assaults per inhabitant in the whole of Spain.

The party resort on the Spanish island of Majorca is famed for its drink-fueled culture, which is often perpetrated by foreign tourists - in particular British and German.
From the outside the prison in Schaffhausen, near the Swiss border with Germany, looks more like an Alpine hotel. But no one should be under any illusion: the regime here is far from soft.

The 40 or so inmates, being held mainly on remand, spend 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in a cell with just a bed, basin and toilet. One of them is the unlikely figure of Florian Willet, who has just begun his sixth week in custody.

His backstory, which was controversial even before he was incarcerated, is rapidly developing, metaphorically speaking, into something resembling a Netflix series, given the developments of the past week.

The 47-year-old is co-president of The Last Resort, the operators of the futuristic 'suicide capsule' known as the Sarco (short for sarcophagus).

It was on September 23, in woods about five miles from the prison, that a woman  a 64-year-old mother of two from the American midwest  became the first person to end her life in the sealed chamber by pressing a button inside which flooded the pod with nitrogen, thus starving her of oxygen. Her death, Willet declared to the world, was 'peaceful, fast and dignified' and everything went 'according to plan'.

A 64-year-old mother became the first person to end her life in the sealed Sarco chamber by pressing a button inside which flooded the pod with nitrogen, starving her of oxygen

Despite this Willet  a lawyer, economist and member of high-IQ society Mensa, as well as an assisted dying campaigner  is now behind bars.

A disturbing question now hangs over his arrest: were strangulation marks found on the woman's neck when forensic officers removed her body from the capsule?

The allegation, which was reported to have been made by the public prosecutor in court and made headlines in the Swiss Press this week, was made after marks were allegedly discovered during a post-mortem examination.

The public prosecutor, who is said to have raised the suspicion of 'intentional homicide' to get a judge to extend custody, refused to confirm or deny the reports, which The Last Resort called 'ridiculous and absurd'.

Nevertheless, the imbroglio, together with further details that have emerged about the woman's haunting last moments, has added to the growing controversy surrounding the Sarco capsule which has been dubbed the Tesla Of Euthanasia.

But why should any of this concern us?

Firstly, there are 120 applicants waiting to use the Sarco  according to The Last Resort  and a quarter of them are said to come from the UK, including ex-RAF engineer Peter Scott and his wife Christine, both in their 80s, who have signed up to be the first couple to use a double suicide pod after Christine was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

The events in Switzerland must have filled them with trepidation. Secondly, the Sarco debacle offers a sobering glimpse of what can go wrong, whatever the truth of the 'strangulation' marks, in the emotionally charged issue of assisted dying at a time when a bill to give terminally-ill people in England and Wales the right to choose to end their life is about to be debated and voted on for the first time in Parliament on November 29.

Dame Esther Rantzen, who has terminal cancer, and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, whose ex-wife Paola Marra died aged 53 at the Dignitas clinic in Zurich in March after being told she had untreatable bowel cancer, are among those who have added their voices to the campaign for the law to be changed.

Australian-born Dr Philip Nitschke, 77 - nicknamed Dr Death - invented the Sarco, short for sarcophagus

Switzerland is one of the few countries where assisted dying is legal provided there is no 'external assistance' and those who help them to die do not do so for 'any self-serving motive'.

Officially Florian Willet, who was the only person present when the American woman died, is being held on suspicion of breaking this law, Article 115 of the Swiss Criminal Code.

The irony in all this is that the man who invented the Sarco, Australian-born Dr Philip Nitschke  nicknamed Dr Death for obvious reasons  left the scene just hours before police arrived in the forest near the village of Merishausen in the northern canton of Schaffhausen.

Nitschke, 77  who monitored the drama unfolding in the Sarco remotely from Germany  is now back in Holland, where the suicide machine was created using a 3D printer and where he is pictured on his houseboat with his wife Fiona Stewart, a director of The Last Resort, on the organisation's website.

The Dutch connection is the reason Amsterdam-based daily De Volkskrant was given exclusive access to the American's final journey. The paper's latest dispatch a few days ago, picked up by the Swiss media, claimed the scope of the investigation into her death had been extended to include suspicion of vorsatzliche totung or intentional homicide.

This line of inquiry, the article alleged, came to light at a court hearing when chief prosecutor Peter Sticher is said to have suggested the woman may have been strangled. The claim was based on a phone call from a forensic scientist to investigators a few hours after she had died that she had suffered injuries to her neck.

It has not been possible to verify this because documents apparently containing the information, among them the full autopsy report, have not been made public.

Fiona Stewart is a director of The Last Resort and a founding member of the organisation

A source close to The Last Resort, however, told Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung (NZZ) that there was a more innocent explanation: the woman had skull base osteomyelitis, a painful bone infection which could have been responsible for the marks.

Due to an immune disorder, she could not be treated for the disease which had left her in chronic discomfort.

Either way, it would be difficult to imagine more damaging headlines for a right to die organisation. A photographer from the Dutch daily and two lawyers acting for The Last Resort  who alerted the authorities of the death knowing there would need to be an investigation as there always is in such cases  were also arrested in the vicinity and detained for 48 hours on suspicion of aiding and abetting suicide.

But, nearly six weeks on, Florian Willet is still in solitary confinement in Schaffhausen prison.

Nor did a statement from the prosecutor offer any hope that he would be released any time soon.

'I can confirm that one person is still in custody pending trial,' Peter Sticher said ominously.

Such a lengthy period in custody, according to Swiss legal experts, is unusual if the only offence being investigated is for 'inducing or assisting someone to commit suicide for selfish reasons', which would be hard to prove in the circumstances.

The Last Resort  funded by donations, bequests and an annual voluntary membership fee  does not receive any payment for the use of the Sarco.

The American woman  the first person to use the machine, remember  stayed in a hotel in Germany where she gave a final brief interview before making the short trip across the border into Switzerland. The interview was featured in De Volkskrant.

Florian Willet, 47, is co-president of The Last Resort, the operators of the futuristic 'suicide capsule' known as the Sarco

Nitschke has a controversial track record. One of his many previous 'inventions' was the Exit Bag, a plastic bag which created an airtight seal around the neck to suffocate users

She told how she suffered such 'crippling headaches' that on some days she could barely move or go to the bathroom. Her sons, she said, who did not accompany her to Switzerland, were behind her decision 'one hundred per cent'.

She had previously tried to arrange her death with Pegasos, another Swiss right to die group, but found preparing all the documents they needed 'extremely time consuming' and the 'long waiting periods very frustrating'.

Of her impending death, she predicted: 'I think it's going to be amazing', pointing out that, this way, no doctor needed to be involved. She added: 'I cannot see why this wouldn't work.

'Scientifically, it makes sense... the experience has been wonderful and easy and less traumatic than I expected. It's been a great experience.'

Hard to believe she was describing the countdown to her last moments just a few hours later that same day.

At the outset the plan was for the Sarco to be placed in a grove which would offer a final 'beautiful view' of green meadows and mountains, but hikers arrived en masse and the capsule had to be hidden under trees in the forest.

The unfolding events were captured on a video  seen by De Volkskrant  taken by cameras inside and outside the Sarco.

The woman is said to have entered the capsule at 3.50pm. Willet asked her: 'Do you want to talk to Philip?' [Dr Nitschke] who was following proceedings remotely from Germany.

'No,' she replied. 'I'm okay.'

'Keep on breathing,' Willet told her from outside the Sarco after she had pressed the activation button. After one minute and 57 seconds the internal camera, which reacts to movement, turned on twice in quick succession.

A dark spot appeared in the fogged-up window  which De Volkskrant suggests is most probably her knees being raised.

Willet thought this was the result of her body 'strongly cramping', he would later tell police. The same thing occurred again after two and a half minutes.

At 4.01pm, Willet's iPad suddenly emitted a piercing alarm, thought to have been caused by the woman's heart rate monitor sounding, even though it was now six and half minutes into the process.

This was explained in the article by the fact that, after losing consciousness, it takes some time before the heart eventually stops. But Willet, the paper reported, seemed confused by the sound, nonetheless.

'She's still alive, Philip,' he told Dr Nitschke, while leaning over to look inside the Sarco. At this stage, Nitschke could only partially follow events from his base in Germany because of technical problems.

Finally, after 30 tense minutes, Willet believed the woman was dead. 'She had her eyes closed,' he informed Nitschke.

'And she was breathing very deeply. Then the breathing slowed down. And then it stopped... she really looks dead.'

Is there anyone, apart from members of The Last Resort, who think her death sounds 'peaceful, fast and dignified?'

In a joint operation with Dutch police, Nitschke's office in Haarlem outside Amsterdam, where his own euthanasia group Exit International is based, was raided.

Nitschke, a GP in Australia nearly two decades ago, has a long and controversial track record.

One of his many previous 'inventions' was the Exit Bag, a specially designed plastic bag which created an airtight seal around the neck to suffocate users.

'I hate the plastic bag,' he admitted at the time. 'And that's why I thought: how can we make a plastic bag look more beautiful? How can I make it a bit more glamorous and stylish?'

The result was the Sarco. The suicide capsule was confiscated by the Swiss authorities, but Nitschke is now creating another one, again using a 3D printer, he revealed in a YouTube video this week.

Back in Switzerland, his associate Willet speculated what he thought the police would do following the death of the woman, the paper reported.

'I think the chance that they will seize the body will be 99 per cent,' he said.

'And I estimate the chance they will take the Sarco at 80 per cent. The chance they will detain me, I estimate at 10 per cent.'

But did he calculate his own odds of still being in a prison cell nearly six weeks later?
Jesse Watters has criticized a commercial which encourages women to hide their vote for the upcoming election, suggesting going against your spouse with your vote was like an affair.

The ad, produced by Vote Common Good, a non-profit organization aimed at mobilizing religious voters, encouraging wives of Donald Trump supporters to quietly vote for Kamala Harris.

Watters criticized the ad both on The Five and his own show Thursday, saying it would be 'D-Day' if his second wife, Emma DiGiovine, were to pull the lever for Harris.

'If I found out Emma was going to the voting booth and pulling the lever for Harris, that's the same thing as having an affair,' he said.

Even some of his fellow conservative cast members on The Five were laughing at his the TV host, who chuckled himself when he finished the thought.

Jesse Watters criticized a commercial which encourages women to hide their vote for the upcoming election, suggesting going against your spouse with your vote was like an affair

Watters criticized the ad both on The Five and his own show Thursday, saying it would be 'D-Day' if his second wife, Emma DiGiovine (pictured right), were to pull the lever for Harris

Still, Watters soldiered on: 'That violates the sanctity of our marriage. What else is she keeping from me? What is she lying about?

'Why would she do that and vote Harris? Why would she say she was voting If I caught her and she said, "I lied to you for the last four years."'

Jeannine Pirro confronted him about this: 'So youd admit youd intimidate'

Watters responded: 'It's over Emma! That would be D-Day!'

The Fox host married DiGiovine in January 2020, after admitting to an affair with her that broke up his first marriage to Noelle in 2017.

The advert by Academy Award winner Julia Roberts endorsing Harris has sparked conservative backlash online, with some accusing it of undermining marital unity and sparking mistrust.

'In the one place in America where women still have a right to choose, you can vote any way you want, and no one will ever know,' Roberts says, as a woman hesitates before casting her vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

'Did you make the right choice?' her husband later asks. She responds, 'Sure did, honey,' insinuating that she voted for Harris.

The ad, produced by Vote Common Good, a non-profit organization aimed at mobilizing religious voters, suggests that wives of Trump supporters could quietly vote for Harris

Roberts concludes, 'Remember, what happens in the booth, stays in the booth. Vote Harris-Walz.'

Critics of the ad accused the organization of encouraging deceitfulness between married couples.

The View's Ana Navarro has called out Newt Gingrich after he criticized the spot for the upcoming US presidential election from their husbands.

Gingrich, 81, hit out at the advert and said: 'How do you run a country where you're walking around saying wives should lie to their husbands, husbands should lie to their wives? What kind of a totally amoral, corrupt, sick system have the Democrats have developed?' while Watters said his wife lying about her vote 'is the same as having an affair.'

After watching clips of both men during Friday's episode of The View, Navarro, 52, decided to have her say and told the panel: 'It's almost comical, if it wasn't so serious, it would be comical, is people like Newt Gingrich saying we shouldn't walk around saying wives should lie to their husbands or husbands should lie to their wives... he cheated on his first and second wife.'

With four days until election day, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are back campaigning in the swing states with the race still close to call.

DailyMail.com's final poll of the 2024 campaign has the Republican nominee three points ahead of Harris nationwide.
Three children are without their parents following a shooting believed to have been committed by man wearing a 'Halloween' Michael Myers mask.

The murder happened on Thursday night at the Houston home of Eric Pait, who was found lying in the garage with multiple bullet wounds at about 11:15pm.

Only weeks ago, the 38-year-old's estranged wife, Carman Peterson, was gunned down at her own apartment - shot to death in her bed as she slept. The killer is still at-large.

The same is the case in the incident surrounding Pait, with the only suspect a man seen walking in the area wearing a mask from the horror movie.

Two children were found unharmed in the home, cops said - adding in a statement how another, a toddler, was away with a relative. Most notably, cops looked into Pait as a person of interest in Peterson's murder, but never pegged him as a suspect.

Scroll down for video:

Cops in Houston are on the hunt for man wearing a 'Halloween' Michael Myers mask, who witnesses say shot 38-year-old Eric Pait to death in his own garage on Thursday night

Just weeks ago, the 38-year-old's estranged wife, Carman Peterson (seen here with Pait), was gunned down at her own apartment - shot to death in her bed as she slept. The pair married in April 2019

'Are we a hundred percent sure that this is that person who did it? No,' said Sgt. Michael Ritchie, as Harris County detectives remained at the scene well into Friday Morning.

'But yes, there was someone wearing a Michael Myers Halloween mask.

'Someone of that description was seen in the area during the shooting,' he added at another point from the scene.

'Again, we're reviewing video, processing the scene, interviewing witnesses to gather as much evidence as we can.'

Witnesses went on to tell KHOU the man in the Myers mask - seen skulking near the scene in CCTV footage - walked up the victim while he was in the garage on Halloween night.

Peterson filed for divorce against Pait this past March, moving out at some point. The killer remains at-large

Pait was named as a person of interest in Peterson's murder, but he was never officially named a suspect

The murder happened around 11pm, after which the homeowner was found lying in the garage with multiple bullet wounds

He then began shooting, they said - recalling how the bombardment of bullets came seemingly without warning.

'I was in my room, and I heard about three or four shots, and it was so loud that I thought it was my backdoor neighbors but it was over there,' Monica Melgar told the station.

'Things like that don't happen in this neighborhood.'

The woman added: 'Id like to think that someones not just randomly going out and killing anyone thats outside - but it still makes you want to stay inside a little bit.'

Pait, meanwhile, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The same was said for Peterson back in August, after she was shot and killed as she slept in her new apartment not far from the home she shared with her husband.

'I never thought that I would walk in on my sister, you know, just laying in a bed murdered,' her sister Kimberly White told reporters following Pait's murder, as both cases remain unsolved.

The two had three kids together, two of whom were at home when the murder occurred. None were injured, and the third was away with a relative, cops said

Witnesses recalled how the masked man began shooting without warning, after walking up to the deceased as he stood in his garage

Witnesses went on to tell KHOU the man in the Myers mask - seen skulking near the scene in CCTV footage - walked up the victim while he was in the garage

'It was heartbreaking and devastating. I never thought I would walk in on my sister murdered...with that many bullet holes,' she tearfully continued.

'She was shot over five times, so it was personal,' fellow sister Margaret Starghill said of the state the event planner had been found in.

'Nothing was taken. It is somebody that had the motive to kill her because they hated her so much.'

Both added how Peterson had just filed for divorce in March, as the connection between both cases remains unclear, and homicide investigators continue to look to find a link. The pair married in April 2019, a page promoting their wedding shows.

Peterson had just filed for divorce in March, as the connection between both cases remains unclear,

The victim's sister, Margaret Starghill and Kimberly White, on Friday again aired their beleif the August murder was personal, committed by someone who knew Peterson. Both cases remain unsolved

Cops are looking for a link, as a suspect has yet to be named in Peterson's case. She recently moved out of the house and into their own apartment, family said

Meanwhile, cops looked into Pait as a person of interest in the case surrounding Peterson, but never named him as a suspect.

A suspect has yet to be named in Peterson's case, and the man with with Michael Myers mask remains at large.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Harris County Sheriff's Department for comment, as both cases remain under investigation.
A respected Aboriginal leader has proposed an ambitious plan to stop 'stat dec blackfellas' from falsely claiming to be Indigenous.

Chief executive of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) Nathan Moran says 'Kinship Councils' will stop Australians with no genuine ties to Aboriginal culture from speaking for Indigenous people.

Mr Moran criticised state and federal governments at a heated meeting last week, arguing that the current three-part test to determine Aboriginal identity, also known as the tripartite test, was not being enforced correctly.

He said the kinship council would comprise of 'verified' Indigenous elders and native title holders who would ensure laws were being followed.

The test requires that the person has biological descent from Aboriginal peoples, identifies as Aboriginal and has acceptance in the community that they live.

'We ran Aboriginality forums to address fraud in 2016 and 2018. At both forums everyone said what is missing is an Aboriginality Kinship Council, a council of verified Aboriginal people,' Mr Moran told the Daily Telegraph.

He said members of the Aboriginality Kinship Council 'would be elders and native title holders, people associated with a land council' and would stop people setting up a corporation and 'trading as an Aboriginal'.

Mr Moran said Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy and NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris were open to the proposal.

Respected Aboriginal leader Nathan Moran (pictured) says 'Kinship Councils' will stop Australians with no genuine ties to Aboriginal culture from speaking for Indigenous people

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek (pictured) has been criticised by land council leaders for not listening to their views on cultural heritage claims

Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said Aboriginal fraud is a growing issue and that she is open to the idea.

'As Minister Plibersek's Blayney mine debacle makes clear, this is a serious issue that needs to be resolved,' she said.

'Many traditional owners I know are very distressed by the rise of opportunists and the reinvention of culture in aid of political and personal objectives.'

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has been criticised by land council leaders for not listening to their views on cultural heritage claims.

Ms Plibersek has been blasted for her decision to block development of a $1billion gold mine at Blayney in NSW's central-west on cultural grounds, based on views of an Aboriginal corporation, not the Orange LALC.
Maryland voters have been getting 'intimidating' letters that keep tabs of which of their neighbors have or have not voted  in a tactic Maryland's attorney general called 'unnerving.'

The letters, from the so-called Voter Participation Center, a nonprofit, remind voters that whether or not they vote is a 'public record.'

The letter lists the voting status of neighbors as well, with street information and names redacted.

'We will be reviewing these records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting,' the letter warns, in language some called threatening.

Maryland's attorney general called it 'unnerving'

The letter, which hit mailboxes in Baltimore, begins: 'We're sending this mailing to you and to your neighbors to share who does and does not vote in an effort to promote election participation.'

'While we have hidden the name and street number of your neighbors to protect privacy, these are true voting records.'

The matter attracted the attention off the office of Attorney General Anthony Brown, who issued a cease and desist letter.

The matter attracted the attention off the office of Attorney General Anthony Brown, who issued a cease and desist letter.

Somebody's watching: Maryland voters got a letter pointing out that the status of whether or not they voted was public information, and stated whether or not their neighbors had voted

'Voting is among the most important rights that Marylanders have. Any action that intimidates prospective voters, especially on the eve of such a consequential election, will not be tolerated,' he wrote.

'Let me be clear: these unnerving letters are unacceptable, and Maryland voters should know that their decision to vote this Election Day is entirely theirs to make.'

The state features a hot Senate race, where Democrat Angela Alsobrooks is trying to maintain a Democratic-held seat amid a push to unseat her by former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.

Maryland features a Senate race between Democrat Angela Alsobrooks and former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican

The Voter Participation and the Center for Voter Information are nonprofit. Scott Thomas, an attorney for the group with Blank Rome, wrote the AG to reject the accusation of intimidation in his October 31 letter.

'It is troubling that you would characterize these very standard [Get Out the Vote] messages, using typical 'social pressure' language, as 'threatening' and 'intimidating.'

'There is nothing in the content of these letters that constitutes a violation of Maryland or Federal law,' it goes on.

'It is not 'intimidating' or 'threatening' to promote voting by discussing neighborhood participation rates and stating that the records will be reviewed after the election to determine whether the recipient joined their neighbors in voting.'

He attached copies of the letter, which also includes 'voting options.'

Although the group is nonpartisan, it was founded by a Democratic operative and has been linked to Democratic politics.

The group also gave $47,000 to President Joe Biden's former presidential campaign.

The race between Harris and Trump is razor-thin

It has also been bombarding people's mailboxes with mail ballot requests, in a move some recipients who got multiple copies found annoying.

Those moves have swamped election offices, in a year, like most, when there have been legal skirmishes over governors purging voter rolls, problems with ballot collection boxes, and voter registration forms being scoured for potential fraud.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

A man is wanted in connection to an innocent cyclist being shoved into a car by a masked thug while travelling a high speeds.

Police are searching for Davontay Higgings, 21, after an unidentified motorcyclist filmed himself committing the assault in south London on October 21.

The force say they 'need to speak' to Mr Higgins, who drives a black Honda motorcycle with the number plate EJ24 TXX, regarding the incident.

It comes come following a MailOnline story that shared the shocking footage of the incident.

The video footage shows the assailant, riding what appears to be a motorbike, quickly approaching the cyclist, who is clad in hi-vis gear and wearing a backpack, from behind.

Police are searching for Davontay Higgings, 21, after an unidentified motorcyclist filmed himself committing the assault in south London on October 21

The video shows the assailant riding what appears to be a motorbike, quickly approaching the cyclist, who is clad in hi-vis gear and wearing a backpack, from behind

The cyclist slams into the car, flipping over his handlebars and onto the windshield of the vehicle as the masked man flees the scene

The cyclist's helmet makes a resounding crack on impact as he appears to slam his head hard on the car's bonnet

The push sends the cyclist careening out of control as he heads directly towards a parked car with no option to slow down to avoid his impending fate.

Slamming into the car, the cyclist flips over his handlebars and onto the windshield of the vehicle as the masked man flees the scene on his motorbike.

The cyclist's helmet makes a resounding crack on impact as he appears to slam his head hard on the car's bonnet.

Filming his own masked face, the motorcyclist then says something into the camera, but it is inaudible with wind blowing hard into the microphone as he flees the scene.

He seemingly shared the video to social media himself, but the footage was later spread further with the caption: 'I need answers because who thought this was okay?'

The unidentified yob filmed himself committing the assault yesterday in south London

The video received over 9,500 likes and more than 175 comments in the the 24 hours after the incident.

A statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Wandsworth Police reads: 'Police need to speak with Mr Davontay Higgings, (21) 11.09.2003, regarding a GBH that occurred on the 21st October in #Wandsworth

'Higgins drives a black Honda motorcycle with the number plate EJ24 TXX

'If seen, pls call 101 and quote ref 0316704/23'
King Charles and Queen Camilla are hoping to visit Italy next year, with the monarch said to be keen to 'make up for lost time'.

Charles, 75, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have felt 'lifted' by his recent trip to Australia and Samoa, where he carried out up to ten engagements a day.

The king is now set to return to a 'full programme' of overseas tours next year following a new vote of confidence in his health from his doctors.

And sources close to Charles, who paused treatment to undertake the 30,000-mile, 11-day round-trip, have explained it was all part of his 'mind, body and soul' approach to his cancer battle.

Travelling in particular is seen as a tonic for the King, who will likely visit the capital city of Rome and schedule an audience with the Pope at the Vatican.

Pictured: King Charles and Queen Camilla are hoping to visit Italy next year, with the monarch said to be keen to 'make up for lost time'. The royal couple in Florence in 2017

Charles on his last visit to Italy met with Pope Francis II at the Vatican, where the then Prince of Wales presented him with a large hamper of produce from his Highgrove estate

Camilla pictured during 2017's 'post-Brexit charm offensive' from the Royal Family

Charles was so buoyed by his Australia tour - as were his doctors - that he is looking at a return to normality next year.

'We're now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year,' a senior royal official said, suggesting that the traditional spring and autumn tours will be back on the cards.

Speaking about a potential visit to Italy, one royal source told The Mirror: 'The King is raring to go and incredibly positive about making plans for the future.

'Although in the early stages, a visit to Italy would provide a fantastic opportunity for the King and Queen to represent the UK and take in some of the incredible sites of one of our closest neighbours.'

Another insider said the King was 'keen to make up for lost time', having taken a step back to undergo treatment for cancer.

Charles is said to be optimistic and see the future as 'bright', which could not always be said to have been the case after the King was diagnosed earlier this year.

After the initial shock of such a 'striking' diagnosis, he realised 'in a heartbeat' how much he had in common with so many millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth.

It's been a huge source of strength, they say, for him to talk to others about their shared experiences.

Charles, 75, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have felt 'lifted' by his recent trip to Australia and Samoa, where he carried out up to ten engagements a day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a farewell ceremony at Siumu Village on the final day of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa

And he hopes others have taken comfort from the fact that even 'a king can get cancer'.

Charles and Camilla last made an official visit to Italy in 2017, as the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The four-day trip formed part of the Royal Family's 'post-Brexit charm offensive' and including Charles receiving a Renaissance Man of the Year award before meeting Pope Francis II in the Vatican.

As their discussion concluded Pope Francis urged Charles to work to bring peace in the world, saying: 'Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace.'

'I'll do my best,' Charles replied.

He presented the Pope with a large hamper of produce from his Highgrove estate - to be given to the homeless - and framed photos of himself and Camilla.

In return Charles was given a bronze olive branch - signifying peace - and copies of the Pope's writings on climate change bound in red leather, an ideal gift for the environmentally-minded monarch.
Donald Trump's daughter-in-law has questioned if Australia's ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd will be the best fit in Washington.

Lara Trump, Eric Trump's wife and chair of the Republican National Committee, blasted Kevin Rudd after he described her father-in-law as a 'traitor to the West' during a conversation with Sky News host Erin Molan.

Ms Trump said it would be 'kind of hard' for the government to keep Kevin Rudd in Washington if he hadn't shown signs of a 'change of heart' towards Trump.

'It's not my decision but I do think it would be nice to have a person who appreciates all Donald Trump has gone through to want to serve our country at this moment, this this really critical moment in the history of America,' she said.

'Obviously, that is a little bit tough to take, and maybe we would want to choose someone else (for the US embassy top job).'

Ms Trump also addressed Mr Rudd's comments directly.

'Donald Trump is of course the opposite of a traitor to the West, he is literally saving the free world,' she said.

'We had no new wars for the first time in 82 years under his leadership and that is a place the world agrees we want to get back to right now.'

Lara Trump, Eric Trump's wife and chair of the Republican National Committee, blasted Kevin Rudd after he described her father-in-law as a 'traitor to the West' (Ms Trump is pictured)

Donald Trump has said Mr Rudd 'won't be there long' if he were to make a return to the White House (Mr Rudd is pictured with former presidential candidate Joe Biden)

When Trump learned of Mr Rudd's comments in an interview with Nigel Farage in March he described the Australian diplomat as 'not the brightest bulb' and 'nasty'.

'Donald Trump is a traitor to the West,' Mr Rudd posted to X at the time.

'Murdoch was Trump's biggest backer. And Murdoch's Fox Television backs Putin too. What rancid treachery.'

In 2020, Mr Rudd called Trump 'the most destructive president in history'.

'He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division,' he wrote.

'He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence. All aided and abetted by Murdoch's FoxNews network in America which feeds this.'
President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a fresh plea for Western long-range missiles as he hinted at calls for a 'pre-emptive strike' on North Korean troops massing in Russia.

Up to 10,000 of Pyongyang's troops are thought to be on the brink of entering the Ukraine conflict with some having already made their way to the Kursk border region, US intelligence has suggested.

It comes after North Korea also tested its own new intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday, claiming it to be the 'world's most powerful strategic deterrent'.

Zelensky posted on X on Friday evening: 'Through Moscow's assistance, North Korea has advanced its artillery and missile capabilities.

'Now, they are learning the tactics of modern warfare. Thousands of North Korean soldiers are already near Ukraine's borders, preparing to fight.

The muscle-flexing comes amid a storm of international condemnation and rising alarm over what the US and others say is North Korea's deployment of 11,000 troops to Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky is holding talks with Keir Starmer in Downing Street today as he drums up support for the fight against Russia

'And the world is still watching. We know where these North Korean troops are gathering in Russia.

'We could act preemptively if we had the meanslong-range capability. Yet, America, the UK, and Germany watch.'

The Ukrainian leader has previously asked for Britain to give him permission to use its Storm Shadow missiles on targets in Russia - a plea which has so far been rebuffed by Downing Street.

However, Zelensky has likened this position to having to fight with his hands tied.

There were strong signals in September that a breakthrough on the issue was close, but the negotiations appear to have stalled amid threats of retaliation from Putin.

During a trip the Ukrainian president made to Downing Street earlier this month, the Government said the UK's position on Storm Shadow missiles had not changed.

As part of his victory plan, Zelensky has also asked the US if he can use America's ATACMS long-range missiles, a request that has also been rebuffed for fears of escalating the conflict.

'Biden can strengthen Ukraine and make important decisions for Ukraine to become stronger and protect its independence while he is the president of the United States,' Zelensky said back in September.

'I think it is a historical mission. Well, at least from the perspective of Ukraine.'

File image shows dictator Kim Jong Un supervising artillery firing drills in North Korea in March

New Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte joined the premiers for discussions, with Sir Keir underlining the UK's commitment to Kyiv

Kim Jong Un has reportedly dispatched 12,000 troops to support Russia's devastating invasion of Ukraine

A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on 23 October 2024 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) inspecting strategic missile bases

This picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 31 shows the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a test-fire

Russia has massively warmed ties with its North Korean neighbour since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with the UK Defence Secretary today warning of a 'growing alliance of aggression' between the wo countries.

John Healey said on Friday evening that UK Defence Intelligence had confirmed 10,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia, with a 'significant proportion' heading for the Kursk region.

In an intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was 'almost certain some have already deployed to the Kursk region', where Ukraine has been carrying out a counterattack.

Mr Healey said: 'This growing alliance of aggression shows why we must continue to stand steadfast behind Ukraine's fight for freedom.'

His statement comes after the US and Nato also warned that North Korea was likely to have sent troops to assist Russia, with Western leaders describing the move as a significant escalation.

Meanwhile, North Korea's foreign minister Choe Son Hui visited Moscow on Friday for a meeting with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that South Korea's spy agency suggested could have involved discussion of Pyongyang providing additional reinforcements.

The MoD's update said the countries had been looking to deepen their partnership, with Russia's parliament agreeing a treaty that included a mutual defence clause on October 24.

It comes after a video allegedly showing North Korean soldiers in Russia surfaced earlier this month

But Defence Intelligence added that Russian and North Korean forces would face 'interoperability difficulties' as a result of not having trained together.

It said: '(North Korean) troops conducting combat operations would almost certainly have issues operating Russian equipment, integrating into Russia's command and control structure, and working around the language barrier with Russian forces.'

The launch of North Korea's own ballistic missile is thought to be a response to pressure the country has come under due to its engagement with Russia.

Dictator Kim Jong Un attended the launch and said the test was a warning to enemies that have been threatening the country's security, KCNA state news agency said.

'The test-fire is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of informing the rivals, who have intentionally escalated the regional situation and posed a threat to the security of our Republic recently, of our counteraction will,' Kim reportedly warned.

The launch marked the country's longest ever ballistic missile test, with a flight-time of 87 minutes, according to South Korea, while state media in the North gloated that it set new records for its missile capabilities.

However, the move drew swift condemnation from the United States, Japan and South Korea, with Seoul warning Pyongyang could get missile technology from Russia for helping with the war in Ukraine.

The launch early on Thursday saw the missile take off on a sharply lofted trajectory from an area near the North's capital, before it splashed down about 125 miles west of Japan's Okushiri island, off Hokkaido.

It reached an altitude of around 4,300 miles (7,000 km) and flew a distance of 620 miles (1,000 km), the Japanese government said.

North Korea's last ICBM, dubbed the Hwasong-18, was tested in December last year.

Fuelled by solid-propellant and fired from a road launcher, it was also launched at a sharply raised angle and flew for 73 minutes, translating to a potential range of 9,300 miles (15,000) on a normal trajectory.

That is a distance that puts anywhere in the mainland United States within range.
A New York City police officer has delivered blunt testimony during the first day of Marine veteran Daniel Penny's manslaughter trial where he described how he believed homeless man Jordan Neely to be a 'dirty drug user'.

NYPD Sergeant Carl Johnson was among the first witnesses to give evidence during the trial which got underway on Friday.

Sergeant Johnson testified that none of his team performed mouth-to-mouth on Neely because he was a 'drug user'.

'He seemed to be a drug user.. he was an apparent drug user. He was very dirty. I didn't want them to get hepatitis,' Johnson said.

'If he did wake up he would have been vomiting. I didn't want my officers to do that.

Marine veteran Daniel Penny arrives at the Manhattan courthouse on Friday for the first day of his manslaughter trial

In this image from body camera video provided by New York City Police Department, emergency medical personnel in a New York City subway car attempt to revive Jordan Neely after he was placed in a chokehold by Daniel Penny in May 2023

'He was filthy. He looked like a homeless individual. You have to protect your officer,' the sergeant went on.

'I wouldn't want my officer to get sick if the person throws up,' Johnson said. 'There's a certain line where you have to protect your officers.'

Police detected a pulse on Neely after he was put in a chokehold by Penny, bombshell new bodycam footage reveals.

The video became public on Friday as Penny's manslaughter trial got underway.

Penny, then 24, is accused of killing Neely by putting him in what prosecutors say was a fatal chokehold.

The May 2023 incident sparked uproar in America with Black Lives Matter describing it as 'the racist killing of a mentally ill black man by an overzealous white military faithful.'

Others say Penny is a hero, a modern-day batman who stepped in when Neely made aggressive threats on the subway, including to a toddler boy whose mother shielded him with a stroller.

New bodycam shows two police officers checking Neely for a pulse - and finding one

Daniel Penny, standing at left, looks on in a New York City subway car as officers attempt to revive Jordan Neely

Daniel Penny, accused of choking a distressed black subway rider to death, arrives for opening statements

During opening statements today, bodycam footage of the moment cops found Neely was shown.

NYPD officers arrived on the train at Fulton Station at 2.33pm.

Two police officers confirmed that Neely still had a pulse when they arrived.

'I got a pulse,' one said. A second police officer confirmed that he too felt a pulse.

Neely was unconscious, lying on the subway car floor.

When asked how Neely ended up there, Penny replied: 'I put him out.'

Despite initially detecting a pulse, they issued Narcan - the drug used to reverse opioid overdoses - to Neely - and started CPR at 2.38pm.

Paramedics from Northwell Health arrived on the train at 2.48pm - 15 minutes after the police.

At 3.13pm - almost 45 minutes after police first arrived - Neely was still on the train, by then surrounded by paramedics. The bodycam released by the court today ends then.

A subway passenger filmed the moment Penny put Neely in a chokehold

Penny, left, waited for police to arrive. He told them: 'I put him out,' when asked how Neely ended up unconscious

Daniel Penny is seen as he arrived in court for opening statements in New York

He was not pronounced dead until he arrived at Lenox Health Hospital in Greenwich Village later that afternoon.

In opening statements, Manhattan prosecutors said: 'Jordan Neely took his last breaths on the dirty floor of an uptown F train. He was 30 years old, homeless and mentally ill.

'He quite literally, went for the jugular,' Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yoran said.

'His initial attempt was even laudable: to protect fellow New Yorkers from a perceived threat,' Yoran told jurors in an opening statement.

'But deadly physical force is permitted only when it's absolutely necessary and only for as long as it's absolutely necessary, and here the defendant went way too far.'

She said he showed 'indifference' toward Neely and 'didnt recognize his humanity.'

The prosecution accepted that Neely had been 'menacing' passengers on the train.

But she said the entire exchange, from the time Neely got on the train, to the time the doors opened at the next station, lasted just 30 seconds.

The May 2023 incident sparked uproar in America - BLM says it was the racist killing of a mentally ill black man by an overzealous white military faithful.

It was Penny's choice to keep Neely restrained for a further five minutes and 53 seconds that formed the basis of the state's case.

'We pass people like Jordan Neely every day. As New Yorkers, we train ourselves not to engage, not to make eye contact, to pretend people like Jordan Neely don't exist.'

Boarding the train car, Neely threw his coat to the floor, screaming that he was hungry, thirsty and wanted to go back to jail.

Witnesses will testify to the jurors that it was scarier than the usual New York subway encounter, Yoran said.

'His voice was loud and his words were threatening,' Yoran told jurors, although he was not armed and not physically threatening any particular individual. Within 30 seconds of Neely getting on the subway car, Penny came up behind him and used his left arm to squeeze Neely's neck.

Yoran told jurors that another man who helped to get Neely to the ground repeatedly told Penny that he could let go because he had a strong grip of his arms.

'The defendant has specialized training in chokeholds. A person passes out and you have to immediately let go a green belt Marine is taught, and clearly knows.

'He pushed Mr Neely to the point of no return, certain to die. When he did let go, he left Neely on the floor and didn't look back. He picked up his hat, dusted himself off, and stood over his body.'

Yoran said Penny's defense that he was acting to protect other, vulnerable passengers on the train can't be considered beyond the point that all the passengers had fled the train.

'[The level of force] may have been reasonable initially, [Neely's behavior] would justify an initial use of force. But at the point that Penny killed Mr Neely, there was no one to protect. At that point there was no excuse or justification for the deadly use of physical force.'

Jurors will see cellphone videos recorded from the platform. Yoran said that, as a Marine, Penny was trained in first aid and knew the chokehold he was using could be deadly.

'You will see Mr. Neely's life being snuffed out before your very eyes, but what you will also see in this video is how unnecessary this deadly chokehold was,' Yoran said. She noted that two men stayed on the car to help Penny restrain Neely.

'With the police clearly on their way, with the train virtually empty, the defendant's chokehold on Jordan Neely was just beginning,' Yoran said.

While the state intends to argue that Penny never let up the initial pressure he placed on Neely's neck, the defense insists he made several attempts to loosen his grip, and that only had a light hold on Neely by the time he stopped fighting back.

Black Lives Matter protesters outside the Manhattan courthouse on Friday

Protestors gather before Daniel Penny, the white veteran accused of choking a distressed black subway rider to death

A protestor speaks before Daniel Penny arrives for opening statements at the New York court

'This struggle did last five to six minutes. But Danny was not, and could not, have been squeezing his neck. We know that because if he was, Neely would have passed out in the first minute,' Penny's lawyer, Daniel Kenniff said.

Kenniff told jurors that Penny was a college student and on his way to the gym that afternoon.

'He still has no way of anticipating what is about to happen as the subway doors are about to close and a seething, psychotic man storms on and announces his presence,' Kenniff said.

Penny was prompted to act when he watched Neely move toward a woman with a young child, uttering the words: 'I will kill,' he said.

'What Danny does is leap into action,' Kenniff said. 'Danny's conduct that day wasn't consistent with someone who devalued human life.'

'In that moment, Danny could look away and pray, or he could summon the courage to put the safety of his neighbors above that of himself, to protect those who could not protect themselves,' and he did the latter, Kenniff said.

'It doesn't make him a hero. But it doesn't make him a killer.'

Kenniff told jurors that the evidence will not prove Neely died by asphyxiation, and that his death may have been a result of drugs in his body and the 'excitement' of the struggle. He said Penny at times loosened his grip around Neely's neck.

Once in court, Penny sat straight up in his seat at the defense table, mostly looking directly ahead.

Daniel Penny leaves Manhattan Supreme Court on the first day of his trial in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely

Protestors gathered outside the courthouse on Friday before proceedings began

A member of Neely's family who was in the audience sometimes sniffled with tears

Opening statements began on Friday after a grueling two-week process of selecting the 12-person jury.

An initial search was conducted of Neely's body and jacket, which was nearby.

No weapons were found, and the only possession he had at the time was a muffin stuffed into his jacket pocket.

Police initially felt a faint pulse, and a shot of Narcan was administered.

Once the pulse disappeared, officers began performing CPR, and then issued another shot of Narcan.

At no point did Neely regain consciousness.

Kenniff argued that Penny had only intended to intervene until police could come and take over.

'Something that took way longer than expected,' he said.

From the time police received the dispatch call, it took seven minutes for first responders to arrive.

It was then another 10 minutes before emergency services arrived with a defibrillator and more resources.

'Danny was desperately waiting for police to show up and help him the way he had helped other passengers on this train,' Kenniff said.

The trial is expected to last up to six weeks, and will call upon medical experts, first responders, and other passengers who were on the train that day.
Daring art thieves used explosives to break into a Dutch art gallery and steal a print of Queen Elizabeth II by renowned visual artist Andy Warhol.

Blowing out the door of the gallery to gain access, the thieves made off with two prints from an iconic set of four known as the 'Reigning Queens', leaving the final two canvases badly damaged in the street.

The MPV Gallery in Oisterwijk in North Brabant province saw glass blown across the building as the set of 'amateurish' thieves used heavy explosives in a tactic described as 'strange' by prominent Dutch art detective Arthur Brand.

Brand, who has previously made headlines for recovering artworks such as a missing Picasso and stolen Van Gogh and remarked on the uniqueness of this heist.

Warhol's 'Reigning Queens' series had been on display at the gallery ahead of its scheduled auction at the PAN Amsterdam Art Fair later this month.

The print of Queen Elizabeth II was one of two pieces which art thieves managed to successfully make off with during a brazen heist in the Dutch town of Oisterwijk

The painting had been part of Andy Warhol's famous series 'Reigning Queens', which was due to be sold later this month

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands looks on at her print in the Warhol series. It was the other work which the thieves managed to successfully escape with

Gallery owner Mark Peet Visser told local media that the collection had been expected to fetch 'quite a considerable sum'.

However, art inspector Brand disputed this assertion, claiming that the stolen was art was likely to be just one of a number of copies made.

Visser added that the bomb blast had been so 'violent' that neighbouring buildings had been damaged.

The 'Reigning Queens', who in addition to Queen Elizabeth II, included Margrethe II of Denmark, Beatrix of the Netherlands and Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).

All four had been in power in 1985 when the American pop artist created the series.

Police are continuing their investigations into the botched heist with forensics experts having examined the remnants of the gallery on Friday.
As feds raid the South Carolina home of pastor John-Paul Miller of the Solid Rock Church, their investigation is yet another turn into the ongoing turmoil following his wife's suicide.

The massive operation began at the 45-year-old pastor's Myrtle Beach Home on Friday morning, at the behest of the federal government.

Agents from the the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) were seen carrying items from the home well into the afternoon, including several boxes, a computer screen, and what appeared to be an external hard-drive.

A total of 25 FBI agents took part of a so-called 'court-authorized law enforcement' action, months after Miller's 30-year-old bride, Mica Miller, was found dead at a North Carolina state park.

The discovery was made on April 27, after which cops said the cause of death was suicide. Claims, however, continue to swirl - that the minister drove her to to the point where she was willing to take her own life.

Feds raided the South Carolina home of pastor John-Paul Miller of the Solid Rock Church on Friday. The 45-year-old is seen looking on at agents during the hourslong operation here

The operation serves as just latest turn into the ongoing turmoil following his wife Mica Miller's suicide, who several have since claimed was the result of a campaign of abuse from the clergyman

Who is John-Paul Miller?

Miller, a father-of-five, is a pastor at Solid Rock Church in South Carolina.

He has been a pastor there for the past eight years, holding the post since 2016.

He maintains he was not with his wife the day she shot herself in the head at Lumbee River State Park, saying he was in Charleston 'with about 100 people from [his] kids' school.'

In total, he has five children with another woman - sons Logan, Zachary, Eli, Asher and Selah.

At a May memorial, he claimed he has tried to raise her from the dead to no avail, telling those at his congregation: 'Ive been down to the body about four times this week and each time it still didnt hit me [that she was gone].

Miller - seen here giving a sermon at Solid Rock the day after Mica's death - has not been charged with a crime. The inner-workings of the FBI probe, as of writing, remain unknown

He was photographed him on an apparent date with another woman three days later and within weeks was back at the church

Solid Rock Ministries in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, (seen here) has a multimillion-dollar portfolio and owns four properties with a total taxable value of $5.59million

'I thought she was gonna wake up,' he added, days after DailyMail.com photographed him on an apparent date with another woman four days after Mica's death.

'I even tried to raise her from the dead one time this week,' he added, in what amounted to a strange spiel.

Miller has not been charged with a crime, but several have since painted him as both abusive and manipulative.

In a 2017 affidavit obtained by DailyMail.com, Millers first wife Alison accused him of engaging in sex acts with minors younger than 16 and having a penchant for prostitutes.

The mother of Miller's children went on to allege Miller had been caught in an affair with Mica back in 2015, when the deceased was working as their babysitter and had been married to his then-best friend Jeremy Deas.

What happened to John-Paul Miller's wife?

Prior to her death, Mica had been in the middle of divorce proceedings with Miller, amid claims from her family that she had been subject to an 'abuse and violence' campaign by him.

He followed her and hired others to keep tabs on wherever she went, sister Sierra Francis claimed in an affidavit filing to be the special administrator of Mica's estate less than a week after her passing.

The filing also came four days before the Robeson County Medical Examiner deemed Mica's cause of death a suicide, and after surveillance footage showed her buying a gun the day of her death.

Days earlier, she hit him with divorce papers alleging a tumultuous relationship, leading to the now-swirling speculation.

Miller was later seen wearing the same necklace Mica had been in the surveillance footage - as cops seemingly cleared him of any involvement with her death.

Images taken at a pawn shop prior to her death show Mica purchasing a gun the day of he suicide, seemingly wearing the same necklace

Miller was found dead at Lumber River State Park, North Carolina weeks after speaking about abuse within her marriage

She was found at Lumber River State Park on April 27 - spurring another strange sermon a day later.

In it, he told churchgoers that he was 'taking a little bit of a break' and that he did not 'want to have to worry about the church.'

He went on to announce his wife's death, saying only '[his] break may be a few days, a few weeks, I dont know.'

He returned to work within weeks, during which time reports began to surface about the abuse that some say led to Mica's suicide.

Among them were statements found in a February complaint about a stolen car after being discharged from an involuntary hospital stay, where Miller wrote she had been 'groomed' while working for Miller at Solid Rock before their marriage six years ago.

She said 'that she has known her husband since she was 10 years old' and that Miller had seized her car.

What has John-Paul Miller said of the allegations?

The suicide went on to capture national attention - especially after Miller delivered the sermon to announce Mica's death.

After about two months, Miller insisted to ABC 11 he was not to blame.

Addressing those who believe different, he said: 'They're the biggest idiots on planet Earth.

'I am the only one that tried to help keep her alive," he went on to insist, denying any instances of abuse.

'I took better care of her than any man could have possibly taken care of her in every way,' her claimed further - weeks after appearing in another interview with what he would later concede was the same pendant his wife had been wearing the day before her suicide.

After about two months, Miller insisted to ABC 11 he was not to blame, wearing the same necklace she did the day before she was found dead

Mica was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at at the park in North Carolina days after serving her husband with the divorce papers

Prior to her death, Mica had been in the middle of divorce proceedings with Miller, amid claims from her family that she had been subject to an 'abuse and violence' campaign by him

In another interview with NewsNation weeks later, he claimed he has tried to raise her from the dead - to no avail

In an emailed letter obtained by NewsNation weeks later, Miller admitted to posting a topless photo of Mica online just before her death.

'Im sorry for putting a picture of you on the internet,' he wrote. 'It was for less than one hour and immediately taken down.

'I was hurt that you are telling everyone horrible intimate details of my past sin, and I just wanted to try and hurt you. Please forgive me. It was evil of me to do that.'

It remains unclear what the current FBI investigation has to do with Miller, as investigators continue to keep mum on the nature of it.

Legal battle between Miller and Mica's family

As this was all happening, Mica's family called for a more robust investigation into Miller and the allegations she had been abused.

A lawsuit was filed in June, alleging in part that Miller and his church had colluded to undervalue the couple's home during divorce proceedings as an 'attempt to defraud and deprive his wife  from her fair share of the marital asset.'

The terms of a subsequent settlement, including who will administrate Mica's estate, were kept confidential, after the complaint was filed by Mica's sister.=

Both parties have agreed to end litigation and not file any lawsuits against one another in the future, spurring a triumphant statement from Miller's lawyer

'This is over,' Russell Long said in late July - almost two months into the since settled suit. 'This global agreement is Mica's justice. The next step is the legislative goal. We only ask that you remember Mica as the wonderful, beautiful person she was.'

As this was all happening, Mica's family called for a more robust investigation into Miller, who went on to settle the case with the family for an undisclosed amount

Mica's sister, Sierra Frances, had filed a petition to gain control over her estate but that request has also been withdrawn. She also alleged abuse led to her sister's death, but those claims have since been tossed

Protesters seen outside the pastor's South Carolina Church over the summer, as many still maintain he played a part

Regina Ward, a local attorney who represented Mica's family and hung a giant 'JUSTICE FOR MICA' banner in front of her offices, issued a statement pointing to the the confusion some of her supporters might be feeling.

'I know that some of you are going to be disappointed. Whenever you're involved in litigation of this magnitude and this many things to cover, it could take years to go through a court system,' Ward told WBTW at the time.

'We are ready to go to the next chapter,' she said. 'The next chapter is to go and convince our general assembly to take a look at the coercive control law bill. We need that on the agenda ASAP.'

She added that she doesn't 'want to talk about Mr. Miller' anymore and is going to start fundraising on behalf of such a bill, the last of which was stalled in the South Carolina legislature in 2021.

Long, similarly, asked protesters to now leave churchgoers at Market Common alone.

Miller maintains he was not with his wife the day she shot herself in the head at Lumbee River State Park, and had seemingly been cleared of any involvement with her death ahead of the Friday operation at his home

More than three months later, scrutiny into the case has resumed thanks to the now widely seen raid,which saw 25 agents carry out several boxes, a computer screen, and what appeared to be an external hard-drive

When asked, agents on the scene told WBTW they are 'conducting court authorized law enforcement activity' at the lavish property, but refused to comment further. Their investigation remains underway

Miller has not been charged with any crime, despite now being linked to a federal investigation

'The Francis family just asked them, through their attorney, to focus their energy on something else. She asked them to focus their energy toward the passing of this coercive control act,' he said.

'I would ask that they leave churchgoers alone. These poor people are just trying to go to church on Sundays, and they're being harassed and being put in fear.'

More than three months later, scrutiny into the case has resumed - thanks to the now widely seen operation that took over the pastor's front lawn.

When asked, agents on the scene told WBTW they are 'conducting court authorized law enforcement activity' at the lavish property, but refused to comment further.

Their investigation remains underway.
The armed police officer who shot and killed innocent Jean Charles de Menezes in the aftermath of the failed 21/7 London terror attack is set to break his silence in a shocking new documentary.

The documentary, titled 'Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube', will see the anti-terror officer interviewed over his shooting of the Brazilian electrician in a tragic case of mistaken identity.

In the trailer, a voiceover can be heard saying; 'One of the officers who pulled the trigger will now tell his side of the story'.

Just 27-years-of-age at the time, De Menezes had travelled to the UK in 2002 from rural Brazil in search of better paying work opportunities.

Then, in the summer of 2005, as fear gripped the streets of the nation's capital in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings just a matter of weeks before, De Menezes was shot seven times in the head by Met Police firearm specialists at Stockwell Tube Station.

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot and killed in a tragic case of mistaken identity at Stockwell tube station in 2005

In the aftermath of his killing, a mosaiced shrine was erected in memory of the innocent Brazilian electrician

De Menezes had been on his way to fit a fire alarm for a customer when he was intercepted by anti-terror police at Stockwell tube station

Just the day prior, four devices had exploded on London's transport infrastructure, but no one had been injured.

Four terrorists from this plot were identified by authorities who feared that they could strike again at any time.

Whilst watching the apartment complex in which De Menezes lived on July 22, 2005, officers mistook the electrician for one of the terror suspects as he exited the complex to go fit a customer's fire alarm.

Trailing the young Brazilian, officers tracked him to South London's Stockwell Station, in which tragedy ensued.

Mistaking De Menezes for one Hussain Osman, the police officer opened fire fearing that the Brazilian was the latest suicide bomber sent to strike London's transport services.

The officer hit the electrician a total of eight times, seven in the head and one in the shoulder.

In the new Channel 4 documentary 'Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube', the firearms officer who shot De Menezes speaks out for the first time about the incident

A tube passenger reacts emotionally to the shooting of the innocent De Menezes in the summer of 2005

Now, almost two decades on, the Curious Films documentary is set to send shockwaves throughout the British Policing establishment once again.

During the course of the Channel 4 trailer, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was in power at the time of the shooting, remarks on De Menezes' death by calling it a 'tragic accident'.

The documentary will also likely prove even more evocative than originally anticipated, given the recent court case which found another officer not guilty of murder after shooting London gangster Chris Kaba dead.

In the months that followed De Menezes' killing, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that no officers would be prosecuted for their roles in the Brazilian's death but the Met Police would be tried for breaching health and safety laws.

In November of 2007, the Met Police were found guilty of endangering the public and fined 175,000 along with an additional 385,000 in costs.

Next, a 2008 inquest rejected the official police line that De Menezes had been killed lawfully but were prevented by the coroner from returning an unlawful killing verdict.

Ultimately, no officer was ever prosecuted over the incident but the force did settle an undisclosed damages claim with the Brazilian's family in 2009.
Doctors, dentists and pharmacists will be forced to shut their doors and leave patients without care if they are not exempt from the National Insurance hike, health leaders have warned.

GPs have called for 'urgent assurances' from the Health Secretary that they will not have to pay the higher rate of employer contributions announced in the Budget.

They say surgeries are already struggling to fund the clinical and administrative staff they need.

And they fear the tax rise will be the 'straw that breaks the camel's back', with patients left to 'bear the brunt' of redundancies and closures.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the raid on Wednesday, with organisations representing care homes and hospices also voicing concerns about the sector's ability to plug the funding gap.

Doctors, dentists and pharmacists will be forced to shut their doors and leave patients without care (stock photo)

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the raid on Wednesday, with organisations representing care homes and hospices also voicing concerns

Dr David Wrigley, a GP and deputy chairman of the British Medical Association, said the impact of the rise would be 'monumental'.

And Dr Richard West, whose Suffolk practice serves 16,000 patients, said: 'Our accountants have calculated the practice will incur additional costs of 140,000 from April. This includes costs associated with the rise in employers' NICs and the Living Wage. This is equivalent to several senior clinical staff.'

The Independent Pharmacies Association said the 'dramatic increases' in National Insurance and the minimum wage will be a 'wrecking ball' that risks putting many out of business.

It estimates the overall cost to the independent community pharmacy sector would be more than 125 million, equal to 12,002 for an average pharmacy per year.

Meanwhile, Care England, which represents providers in adult social care, said the NI and wage rises will leave the sector with 'an additional circa 2.4 billion funding hole to plug'.

Under the changes announced by Ms Reeves, employers' contributions will increase by 1.2 percentage points to 15 per cent from April, and firms will have to start paying for staff who earn more than 5,000 a year, down from the current 9,100.

The Government had said the public sector would be exempt, but Treasury minister Darren Jones told BBC Question Time that GP practices were 'not part of the public sector' and would be subject to the extra taxes.

The Royal College of GPs has contacted Health Secretary Wes Streeting for assurance that practices will be protected like 'the rest of the NHS and public sector'. RCGP chairman Professor Kamila Hawthorne said: 'We have serious concerns about the impact of the increase in NI employer contributions on GP practices, many of whom are already struggling to keep their doors open, due to historic chronic underfunding.

Wes Streeting vowed before the election to shift billions of pounds of funding from hospitals to GPs, saying this would 'fix the front door to the NHS'

A No 10 spokesman yesterday said contracted workers, including GPs, were not eligible for an exemption from the NICs hike (stock photo)

'For some, this extra financial burden will be the straw that breaks the camel's back, forcing them to make tough decisions on redundancies or even closing their practice. Ultimately, it is our patients who will bear the brunt.'

Mr Streeting vowed before the election to shift billions of pounds of funding from hospitals to GPs, saying this would 'fix the front door to the NHS'.

A No 10 spokesman yesterday said contracted workers, including GPs, were not eligible for an exemption from the NICs hike, which she said was consistent with the approach of previous governments. But she suggested GP surgeries could receive extra support later in the year.

Paul Rees, of the National Pharmacy Association, said: 'It would be an insult if the Government was able to offer support to GPs with the National Insurance rise but not hard working pharmacies, who have faced nearly a decade of cuts in funding and are shutting at record rates.'

The British Dental Association has also written to the Chancellor'. It said: 'Make no mistake, these cost increases will have an impact on access to NHS dentistry.'

The Chancellor spent yesterday at Accord Healthcare in Newcastle, where she welcomed a 50 million deal to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to provide medicines for the NHS.
South Carolina death row inmate Richard Moore's last words were ones of contrition after he was executed by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk.

Moore, 59, was put to death despite a broad appeal for mercy by parties that included three jurors and the judge from his trial, a former prison director, pastors and members of his family. He pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Moore was convicted of killing James Mahoney, the Spartanburg clerk, in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later.

Afterward prison spokeswoman Chrysti Shain read his last words at a news conference.

'To the family of Mr. James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I caused you all,' he said.

South Carolina death row inmate Richard Moore's last words were ones of contrition after he was executed by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk

'To my children and granddaughters, I love you and am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. To all of my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.'

His final meal was steak cooked medium, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake and grape juice.

Moore went into the store unarmed, took a gun from the victim when it was pointed at him and fatally shot him in the chest as the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm.

Moores lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole because of his spotless prison record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates.

They also said it would be unjust to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and unfair that Moore, who was Black, was the only inmate on the state's death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans.

But McMaster refused to grant clemency. In a letter, he did not give a reason why but said he reviewed all the items submitted by Moores lawyers and spoke to the victim's family.

No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence, and 45 executions have now been carried out in the state since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to restart them nearly 50 years ago.

Unlike in previous executions, the curtain to the death chamber was open when media witnesses arrived. Moore's last words had already been read by Lindsey Vann, his lawyer of 10 years.

This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the witness room in the execution chamber at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia

Protestors look on prior to the scheduled execution of Richard Moore, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, outside of the prison

Moore had his eyes closed, and his head was pointed toward the ceiling. A prison employee announced the execution could begin at 6:01 p.m.

He took several deep breaths that sounded like snores over the next minute. Then he took some shallow breaths until about 6:04, when his breathing stopped. Moore showed no obvious signs of discomfort.

Vann cried as the employee announced the execution could start. She clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross. Sitting beside her was a spiritual advisor, his hands on his knees, palms up. Vann clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross.

Two members of the victims' family were also present, along with Solicitor Barry Barnette, who was on the prosecution team that convicted Moore. They all watched stoically.

Three jurors who condemned Moore to death in 2001, including one who wrote Friday, sent letters asking McMaster to change his sentence to life without parole.

They were joined by a former state prison director, Moore's trial judge, his son and daughter, a half-dozen childhood friends and several pastors.

They all said Moore, 59, was a changed man who loved God, doted on his new grandchildren the best he could, helped guards keep the peace and mentored other prisoners after his addiction to drugs clouded his judgment and led to the shootout in which Mahoney was killed, according to the clemency petition.

'He was not a danger to anyone, and the state eliminated a glowing example of reform and rehabilitation,' the Justice 360 law firm, which represented Moore, said in a statement.

This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the execution room at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, S.C. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP)

A protestor looks on prior to the scheduled execution of Richard Moore

'By killing Richard, the State also created more victims. Richards children are now fatherless, and his grandchildren will have to grow up without their `Pa Pa.''

Moore previously had two execution dates postponed as the state sorted through issues that created a 13-year pause in the death penalty, including companies' refusal to sell the state lethal injection drugs, a hurdle that was solved by passing a secrecy law.

Moore is the second inmate executed in South Carolina since it resumed executions. Four more are out of appeals, and the state appears ready to put them to death in five-week intervals through the spring. There are now 30 people on death row.

The governor said before the execution that he would carefully review everything sent by Moore's lawyers and, as is customary, wait until minutes before the execution started to announce his decision after hearing that all appeals were finished.

'Clemency is a matter of grace, a matter of mercy. There is no standard. There is no real law on it,' McMaster told reporters Thursday.

Prosecutors and Mahoney's relatives have not spoken publicly in the weeks leading up to the execution and did not speak after. In the past, family members have said they suffered deeply and wanted justice to be served.

Moores lawyers said his original attorneys did not analyze the crime scene carefully and left unchallenged prosecutors' contention that Moore, who came into the store unarmed, fired at a customer and that his intention from the start was a robbery.

According to their account, the clerk pulled a gun on Moore after the two argued because he was 12 cents short for what he wanted to buy.

Moore said he wrestled the gun from Mahoney's hand and the clerk pulled a second weapon. Moore was shot in the arm and fired back, hitting Mahoney in the chest. Moore then went behind the counter and stole about $1,400.

No one else on South Carolinas death row started their crime unarmed and with no intention to kill, Moores current attorneys say.

Jon Ozmint, a former prosecutor who was director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections from 2003 to 2011 and who added his voice to those seeking clemency, said Moore's case was not the worst-of-the-worst kind of crime that would usually prompt a death penalty case.

There are plenty of people who were not sentenced to death but committed much more heinous crimes, Ozmint said, citing the example of Todd Kohlhepp, who was given a life sentence after pleading guilty to killing seven people including a woman he raped and tortured for days.

Lawyers for Moore, who is Black, also said his trial was not fair. There were no African Americans on the jury even though 20% of Spartanburg County residents were Black.

'This execution underscores the flaws in South Carolinas death penalty system. Who is executed versus who is allowed to live out their lives in prison appears to be based on no more than chance, race, or status. It is intolerable that our state metes out the ultimate punishment in such a haphazard way,' Justice 360 said.
EastEnders star Scott Maslen was allegedly involved in a fight with a disabled dog-walker following a dispute over picking up poo in a park.

Michael Kelly, 55, who suffers from MS, has accused Mr Maslen, 53, of fracturing his eye socket after a heated debate in Regents Park in London.

He told the Sun how he and the soap actor ended up on the floor after the argument turned into a brawl which left him with whiplash and needing hospital treatment.

Sources close to Mr Maslen, who was walking his Labrador Chewbecca, said that there had been a 'scuffle' but insisted he did not start the altercation. MailOnline has approached Mr Maslen for comment.

Mr Kelly, who owns a four-year-old labradoodle called Ned and was walking in the park with his son-in-law, said he become aware of a man shouting behind him when he was on his phone.

EastEnders star Scott Maslen was involved in a fight with a disabled dog-walker following a dispute over picking poo

Michael Kelly, 55, who suffers from MS, has accused Mr Maslen, 53, of fracturing his eye socket after a heated debate in Regents Park (pictured) in London

Mr Maslen made his EastEnder's debut in 2007 and has been a main stay on the soap portraying hardman Jack Branning

He went on to say that the man, he later recognised as Mr Maslen, was 'furious' because Ned had gone to the toilet and he 'hadn't picked the poo up quickly enough'.

Mr Kelly claimed that the argument at the park on October 19 quickly turned into a brawl which left him with blood dripping from his face.

After the incident he said he drove back to his daughter's home in Islington, North London, before going to hospital where he needed stitches to his nose. He also says that he has to see an eye specialist for ongoing treatment.

'Of course I was going to pick up the dog poo but he didnt give me a chance,' Mr Kelly said.

'He was shouting obscenities. I told him Id pick it up when I was ready. It was unbelievable.

'He shouted, "Who do you think you are?". He kept calling me a mug. "You mug, you're such a mug, you're a f***ing mug". I was shocked but said, "You're the mug". I replied, "Who do you think you are? What are you doing?"'

Mr Kelly, a former charity worker, suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that affects the central nervous system and leaves him needing a stick and sometimes a wheelchair.

He added that a woman dog-walker called the police after witnessing the incident while he snapped two pictures of the actor after recognising him from EastEnders.

Friends close to Mr Maslen said there had been a row with a man in Regents Park after he had not picked up his dogs poo

The source said that the man was 'refusing' to pick up his dogs poo before the argument 'escalated by the other man' broke out

Friends close to Mr Maslen said there had been a row with a man in Regents Park after he had not picked up his dogs poo.

The source said that the man was 'refusing' to pick up his dogs poo before the argument 'escalated by the other man' broke out.

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police told MailOnline that an investigation into the incident has been launched.

The force said: 'Police are continuing to investigate an assault on a 55-year old man in Regents Park after it was reported on Saturday, October 19.

'Officers are now in their early stages of the investigation and are supporting the victim. No arrests have been made.

'Anyone with information concerning this incident should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting Connect ref: 01/981547/24 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111'

Mr Maslen first made his name starring as Detective Sergeant Phil Hunter in police drama The Bill between 2002 and 2007.

He went on to make his EastEnder's debut in 2007 portraying hardman Jack Branning, the brother of Max and April Branning.

In 2010, he took a brief break from the role to compete in Strictly Come Dancing in which he finished fourth alongside his dance partner Natalie Lowe.

He is married to Estelle Rubio, whom he shares a grown-up son, with the couple living in North London near to Regents Park.
Britain must not stop its criticism of Chinas treatment of Uyghur Muslims to pave the way for a trade deal, the Foreign Secretary has been warned.

Contrary to their bullish stance on Beijings conduct in the Xinjiang region in opposition  Labour seem to be rowing back on calling it genocide.

Seven current and former parliamentarians sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)  including former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, ex minister Neil OBrien and Tom Tugendhat  have challenged David Lammy to reject any deal that would see penalties lifted on both British MPs and those persecuting the Uyghurs.

China has been accused by the United Nations of subjecting the Uyghur minority to arbitrary and discriminatory detention. Human rights groups say Beijing also carries out the use of forced Labour in Xinjiang.

In a letter to the Foreign Secretary, first seen by The Spectator, the MPs wrote: Each of us would rather remain unjustly sanctioned by the CCP than to insult the suffering of the Uyghur community by comparing the genocidal atrocities they have endured with what has happened to us.

David Lammy has been urged by MPs not to cave into China and agree a deal that would see penalties lifted on British MPs and those persecuting the Uyghurs

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith is among MPs who have been sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for speaking out against the treatment of people in Xinjiang

Such a tit-for-tat exchange would show Beijing that they can evade accountability by imposing entirely unjust penalties upon foreign lawmakers. We must not do it.

The letter also notes how Labour stood so strongly with the Uyghur community in opposition and urges them to make clear to the Uyghur community that the many lives destroyed in Xinjiang mean something.

There are fears from some MPs that ministers will go soft on China to boost economic growth at the expense of pushing Beijing on human rights.

This week Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Government is open to reviving the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission  set up to boost bilateral trade and investment after it was frozen by the previous Government.

The Foreign Secretary did not directly address his concerns, but a Government spokesman said last night: There is no truth to the discussions regarding a potential deal to lift sanctions on Chinese officials.

David Lammy shaking hands with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing

Chinas sanctions, including against parliamentarians, are completely unwarranted and unacceptable, and are totally incomparable to the sanctions announced by the UK in 2021, which were based on compelling and widespread evidence of serious and systematic human rights violations in Xinjiang.

The Foreign Secretary has called on China to lift its sanctions on UK parliamentarians at every meeting with his counterpart, along with raising the UKs serious human rights concerns, including in Xinjiang.

Ex-minister Mr OBrien challenged Mr Lammy on his previous assertions that there was clear and compelling evidence of a genocide in Xinjiang.

Mr Lammy said: It must always be a matter for the International Criminal Court to make a determination of genocide, not for national government.
A fish and chip shop has hit back at a customer who left a review about a 'hot delivery girl', saying they will only send male drivers to him from now on.

Robinson's Traditional Fish & Chips in Wiltshire received a five-star review from a customer called Dan that read: 'Really hot food always great from Robinsons also hot delivery girl.'

The chippy then snapped back: 'Thanks for the kind review of the food, we will make sure a male delivers your food from now on.'

A fish and chip has hit back at a customer who left a review about a 'hot delivery girl', saying they will only send male drivers to him from now on (stock photo)

Owner Philip Robinson has since doubled down on the response, saying that although the review 'seemed harmless', they 'have to set boundaries with incidents like this' to protect their staff.

He said that he has a partner and sister and 'would want their employers to act the same' if faced with a similar situation.

Mr Robinson told BBC Radio Wiltshire: 'As a small business owner, we need our customers to return and I hope that hasn't put him off ordering from us again, but... that's just the person I am, if I see something that is making someone uncomfortable, I'll always call it out.

'Staff safety is paramount to us.'

He said while he was confident the incident would not be repeated, if it was 'we do have the logs and either myself or the manager of the shop will make sure that is delivered to them without any fuss'.

Robinson's Traditional Fish & Chips (pictured) received a five-star review from a customer called Dan that read: 'Really hot food always great from Robinsons also hot delivery girl

The review of the fish and chip shop near Trowbridge was left on Just East and reposted on Facebook - with the business's response praised by campaigners.

Fiona Oliver, joint chief executive of the Wiltshire Community Foundation, a local charity, said: 'We applaud the response from Robinson's for standing up for their employee.

She added: 'Harassment, stereotyping, and discrimination targeted towards women and girls happens far too often and is frequently referred to as harmless banter.

'The impact of such behaviour can really affect victims.'
Richard Allen was 'seriously mentally ill' when he made a string of prison confessions in which he admitted to killing Delphi teenagers Liberty German and Abigail Williams.

Jurors at Carroll County Court in the small Indiana town heard expert testimony on Friday from Dr Deanna Dweinger, who oversees mental health services in the state's Department of Corrections.

Under questioning from Bradley Rozzi, Dweinger told the court that Allen's 13 months in solitary confinement in the most secure unit in Westville Correctional Facility, Westville some 76 miles from Delphi, would have been 'toxic' for a man who was already suffering from depression and anxiety.

Allen, 52, has been charged on four counts relating to the February 13, 2017, murders  two of murder and two of felony murder, which means murder committed during the act of another crime, in this case kidnap.

If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 130 years in prison.

Richard Allen was 'seriously mentally ill' when he made a string of prison confessions in which he admitted to killing Delphi teenagers Liberty German and Abigail Williams.

Libby, 14, and Abby, 13, were killed outside their hometown of Delphi, Indiana, in February 2017

In his opening statements at the start of the highly anticipated trial lead attorney Andrew Baldwin promised the jury, 'You will watch the state's case fall apart before your eyes.'

But he got off to a faltering start with the first full day of defense evidence as he, Rozzi and Jennifer Auger got through ten witnesses and barely landed a punch.

In fact at least two of their witnesses actually shored up key aspects of the state's case.

Responding to questions from the jury  in Indiana jurors can pose questions after direct and cross examination - Dr Dweinger was forced to concede that even a person in the midst of a psychotic break could 'slip truths' into confessions.

She also revealed that she and her colleagues had lengthy discussions regarding the veracity of Allen's apparent breakdown which reached its peak between April and July 2023 and questioned if he was feigning it for attention or for other goals such as a prison transfer or visits from his wife.

Hammond Police Department Trooper Christopher Goote testified ahead of Dweinger.

The two best friends were last seen alive going on their fateful hike to Monon High Bridge in February 2017

The prosecution believes Allen's deteriorating mental state in prison was a ploy while his defense argued that it was because of his extensive time in solitary confinement

The suspect, who became known as 'Bridge Guy', was first spotted in footage captured on one of the girls' cellphones before they were killed

He was one of the officers to take local man Brad Weber's original statement regarding when he returned home from work on the day the girls went missing.

Weber's account is key because he lives at the end of a private driveway which runs beneath the side of the bridge from which the girls were abducted.

If he went straight home as he has claimed it seems to verify a detail contained in one of Allen's prison confessions that, the prosecution are confident, 'only the killer would have known.'

Allen told prison psychologist Monica Wala that he had intended to rape Libby, 14, and Abby, 13, but 'saw a van' and 'got scared' and so ordered the girls across the creek and killed them instead.

Weber drives a Ford Econoline van. He testified yesterday that he clocked into work at 5.14am and clocked out at 2.02pm and that it took him roughly 20 to 25 minutes to get home placing him near the scene at the time when the girls were taken.

Libby's video of Bridge Guy was recorded at 2.13pm and the last recorded movement on her iphone health app was at 2.32pm.

The defense had believed that Goote would offer up a different narrative as Weber has, they assert, given inconsistent accounts of his movements that day and originally told officers he went to check on the ATM machines he owns before going home.

But defense attorney Auger was left blindsided and stumped when Goote took the stand and testified Weber told him he simply, 'went home'  a claim that matches the state's timeline.

Later former Fire Chief Darrell Sterrett told the court about the searches that had been carried out around Delphi and near the trail on the afternoon and night of February 13, 2017.

The defense's theory is that the girls were not found until the following day because they were not there but were taken somewhere else then returned to be killed.

They assert that the area in which the bodies were ultimately found - upstream of the bridge and in heavy woodland  had been thoroughly searched the night before.

But Chief Sterrett took the stand to tell the court that the 'hasty' search party consisted of widely separated searchers, working in thick brush and darkness and not in a grid formation.

The abandoned Monon High Bridge outside Delphi, Indiana, where Abby and Libby were murdered

The trail in Delphi, Indiana, where Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14, were killed on Feb. 13, 2017

He stated that their efforts had primarily been focused on the southwest of the bridge  the opposite direction from where the bodies were ultimately found, again a statement which shored up the state's position.

At the time, he told the court, 'I believed they were hunkered down somewhere cold and afraid and just waiting for us to find them.'

After a day in which the defense struggled to make the impact they sought, they faced three disappointments.

Judge Frances Gull denied a request to have an FBI agent who interviewed Weber in February 2017 testify remotely via Zoom and she denied two motions in which they tried, yet again, to introduce evidence that the girls were the victims of multiple assailants participating in an Odinist ritual.

Addressing the attorneys after letting the jury go for the day Gull stated, 'The case law on third party suspects is clear. There has to be a nexus [to the defendant]. There is no nexus.'

The trial continues.
A huge fire that ripped through a nuclear submarine factory damaging a 1.3billion vessel was caused by an exploding tool, it has been reported.

Highly-flammable rubber tiles on the hull of nuclear sub HMS Agincourt ignited after a sand-blaster blew up at the BAE Systems factory in Barrow, Cumbria just after midnight on Wednesday.

The tiles, which are designed to absorb enemy sonar, are made of a foam-like polymer with a source saying the fire 'smelt like burning rubber but worse'.

The revelation debunks fears the blaze was caused by Russian sabotage, with sources saying it was merely an industrial accident.

Security services have been on high alert for Russian arson and sabotage attacks after mystery fires wrecked havoc across Germany, the Baltic and the UK.

The historic BAE Systems shipyard has built all but three of the UK's fleet of nuclear submarines and has been producing vessels for more than 100 years. The latest, HMS Agincourt, is due for completion in 2026.

A huge fire that ripped through a nuclear submarine factory damaging a 1.3billion vessel was caused by an exploding tool, it has been reported (picture from the scene)

The 1.3billion hunter-killer HMS Agincourt (pictured) is said to have suffered 'substantial damage' amid the flames

Pictured: Huge fire breaks out at the BAE Systems shipyard in Cumbria

Two night shift workers and five BAE firefighters were hospitalised for smoke inhalation following the blaze.

Employees were also shut out of burnt-out sections of the the site that were deemed 'unsafe'.

Locals said the fire appeared to be centred on the six-acre Devonshire Dock Hall, the main construction site, where the 1.3billion sub was being assembled.

In a statement at 4am on Thursday, Cumbria Police said: 'Emergency services are currently in attendance at BAE at a significant fire at the site.

'This incident was reported at around 00.44am this morning and remains on-going.

'There is no nuclear risk. However, people living nearby are advised to remain indoors whilst emergency services respond to the incident and keep doors and windows closed.

'Two people have been taken to hospital having suffered suspected smoke inhalation.

Two night shift workers and five BAE firefighters were hospitalised for smoke inhalation following the blaze (picture from the scene)

Emergency services raced to the nuclear submarine shipping yard around 1am on Wednesday (picture from the scene)

The historic shipyard has built all but three of the UK's fleet of nuclear submarines and has been producing vessels for more than 100 years

Cumbria Constabulary said the fire at the nuclear submarine shipyard broke out at about 12.45am on Wednesday

'At this time there are no other casualties and everyone else have been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock Hall and are accounted for.

'A road closure is in place on Michaelson Bridge.'

BAE Systems said: 'We are working with emergency services to deal with a fire at [our] site in Barrow in Furness.'

Locals took to social media to tell of their concerns as the fire at the massive factory could be seen for miles around.

One man told the Daily Mirror he had heard a 'big thump' from the building earlier in the night.

Another resident asked: 'Isn't this really bad?' A further local said: 'It's scary because the last thing you want is BAE of all places up in flames. But if it was a threat to life or the town they would have emergency-warned everyone.'

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service added: 'Fire crews are currently dealing with an fire in the vicinity of BAE systems in Barrow, residents in the area are advised to keep windows and doors closed and avoid the area.

'We appreciated your co operation whilst we deal with the incident.'
November 1, 2024: In 2023 an American company has begun production of a 21st century version of the World War II PBY Catalina patrol aircraft. The new Catalina weighs 14.5-tons and is powered by two turboprop engines. The new Catalina can carry up to 34 passengers or 5.5 tons of cargo and has a smaller crew. This version also has modern avionics and is built to land and take off in rougher seas than the original aircraft. Deliveries of the new Catalina are expected to begin in 2029. Most of the new Catalinas will be used for civilian applications, like transport to areas lacking airfields or performing rescue work at sea. Like the World War II version, the new Catalina will also be able to carry passengers and cargo. Maximum range is 2,700 kilometers. The peace time crew is only four personnel and, for long-range flights, only half a dozen passengers, plus some cargo, can be carried.

A military version of the new Catalina will weigh 18 tons and be used for patrols in combat zones as well as delivering and retrieving personnel in remote areas. U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) is interested in procuring some new Catalinas to support activities in remote areas. Catalina can land on rough airfields as well as lakes and rivers. The Catalina can fly low, slow and quietly to destinations in remote areas while avoiding localities where someone might fire on them.

The original Catalina was a 16-ton amphibious aircraft that was 19.5 meters long with a 32 meter wingspan. The wartime crew of eight consisted of a pilot, co-pilot, bow turret gunner, flight mechanic, radioman, navigator and two waist gunners. The aircraft was powered by two radial piston engines and had a cruise speed of 201 kilometers an hour and a range of 4,000 kilometers. The Catalina could stay in the air for about 19 hours at a time. This depended on the cargo or bomb load of two tons. Between 1936 and 1945 3,308 Catalinas were built, 27 of them in the Soviet Union.

During World War II Catalina were used for maritime patrol as well as search and rescue. Hundreds of downed military pilots were rescued by Catalina, which could land at sea and take the air force or navy aircrew on board. Sometimes Catalinas carried supplies or personnel to remote areas in the Pacific. The aircraft could return with sick or injured personnel. The maritime patrols searched for German submarines in the Atlantic. Catalinas could carry depth charges and bombs to use against targets, as well as flares to light up ships at sea during hours of darkness. After World War II, some Catalinas were used for very long distance flights, some of them taking two days to complete. The aircraft could stop along the way to take on or discharge passengers and cargo.

Currently there are no more World War II Catalinas in flying condition, but some are still able to taxi in the water and give people a close up look at a World War II aviation legend. The new Catalina will be produced in smaller quantities but will perform many of the same missions as the original Catalina. There are still at sea rescue missions to be carried out as well as maritime patrol work. For Coast Guards and Border Patrol agencies, the new Catalina offers needed surveillance and transport services.
He's the heartthrob lawyer who folds his underpants, but is 'the real Mark Darcy' actually the Prime Minister?

That's what a mug found in Sir Keir Starmer's former parliamentary office suggests - reigniting the rumour that Helen Fielding based her Bridget Jones character on him.

The mug was unearthed by Tory staffers as they were clearing out the Leader of the Opposition's office for the new Conservative leader, Politico reported.

One Tory aide quipped to the Mail: 'The last time they vacated office they left us a note saying there was no money left - so I guess this was an improvement of sorts.'

Starmer, 62, was a human rights lawyer, working on a series of high profile cases in the 90s at the time of Helen Fielding's columns in The Independent, which spawned the Bridget Jones's Diary series.

Rumours Colin Firth's brooding character was based on the Labour leader have refused to go away since emerging in 2014, with the new PM himself saying he doesn't know if they are true or not.

Sir Keir Starmer , 62, was a human rights lawyer, working on a series of high profile cases in the 90s at the time of Helen Fielding's columns in The Independent, which spawned the Bridget Jones's Diary series

Claims: Bridget Jones's love interest Mr Darcy is rumoured to have been based on new Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer

The writer may have met the politician when she lived in Leeds, while Keir read law at the city's university, or as his career blossomed while she was a journalist.

While Sir Keir- previously suggested he was flattered by the claims, he insisted no one will ever know the truth - except for the writer herself.

Speaking to ITV News, he said: 'Everybody asks me this question when they should be asking her the question because she knows the answer and I don't.

'It's a rumour that's been doing the rounds for some years but I honestly don't know the answer to it.'

When quizzed whether he'd be flattered if it was true, Sir Keir replied: 'Of course I would, but I honestly don't know the answer.'

It has also been rumoured that Colin Firth styled his performance on the father of two, with neither the actor, Fielding or Sir Keir publicly denying the claim.

The pairs' career paths even show similarities, as they both rose to prominence taking on pro-bono cases and as defence lawyers.

The pair also both went to Oxford University, even though they were in different years.

When quizzed whether he'd be flattered if it was true, Sir Keir (left) replied: 'Of course I would, but I honestly don't know the answer

The pairs' career paths even show similarities, as they both rose to prominence taking on pro-bono cases and as defence lawyers. They also both went to Oxford University, even though they were in different years.

Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth pictured in the thrilling climax of the first Bridget Jones film

Despite years of the talking around the rumour - Helen Fielding may have hinted it's not true in a 2020 interview.

'They are very similar, though,' she told the Radio Times Christmas issue. 'He's so good and decent and intelligent, but so buttoned up.

'I always want to say, 'Come on, Keir, loosen your tie, ruffle up your hair. He doesn't think of himself as sexy, but he's really sexy.'

The writer also likened Sir Keir's exchanges Boris Johnson in the Commons with the rows between Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver.

She added: 'And when he and Boris spar, it does remind me of Mark and Daniel.'

Labour did not respond to a request for comment last night.
Some of the nations biggest charities have urged the Treasury to axe a tax grab that threatens to leave good causes on the brink of collapse.

The NSPCC and Crisis were among those urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reconsider amid fears that new National Insurance contribution rules will have a huge impact on their finances.

The Treasury announced on Wednesday that businesses will pay more towards their employees pensions, increasing from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent, raising 25billion a year. Employers will start paying the tax on each employees salary on earnings above 5,000  down from 9,100.

Yet charities will not be spared the tax rise  even if they work with public sector services that have been exempted.

Furious charity chiefs said they would be forced to axe services, lay off staff or even shut down as a result.

Charities have urged the Chancellor to ditch her tax grab, which they say could collapse good causes

Matt Downie, boss of the homelessness charity Crisis, said: The decision to increase National Insurance contributions for charities will impact our ability to support the people that need us. With demand for our support at record levels and winter approaching this is a critical time.

We hope the Chancellor will reconsider.

Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said the tax increase will have a major impact on the budgets of any charity that employs people, adding: Is anyone thinking about the impact this will have on the work charities are doing?

'While the Government has rightly recognised the burden increased National Insurance bills will have on vital public services and allocated additional funding to Government departments accordingly, it is disappointing that similar funding has not been extended to charities.

This seems to contradict the Governments previous commitment to work hand in hand with the charity sector to maximise the impact we can make.

Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said the tax increase will have a major impact on the budgets of any charity that employs people

Debra Allcock Tyler, chief executive of the Directory of Social Change, which supports other charities, said: The whole bloody shebang collapses if were not there shipping people off to appointments and rescuing people from various situations.

What we are going to end up doing is deliver the same work with less money. Where are we going to find an extra one per cent? It sounds nothing, but its huge.

Katie Reade, head of policy and public affairs at the umbrella body Hospice UK, said: Hospices are already under significant financial pressure. This makes it all the more important that the Government commits to short-term emergency support for our sector.

St Christophers Hospice in Sydenham, south-east London, said the changes would cost it an extra 450,000 every year, which could otherwise be used to fund nine specialist community nurses. John Vickers, its director of finance, said: It will be worrying hospices across the country.
A farmer has tragically taken his own life after the Labour tax grab on inheritance, according to reports.

The father is said to have killed himself in a barn after his children were faced with a 20 per cent inheritance tax bill.

It came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on Wednesday in the autumn budget that she will revoke farmland's exemption from inheritance tax (IHT).

An anonymous post on the British Farming Forum said: 'This morning I found my dad in the barn having taken his own life.

'So afraid of the IHT implications on farms he took his own life rather than see the government take half the farm in IHT.

The father is said to have killed himself in a barn after his children were faced with a 20 per cent inheritance tax bill (stock photo)

It came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on Wednesday in the autumn budget that she will revoke farmland's exemption from inheritance tax (IHT)

'As a family, we are devastated and in shock! This is the human cost of government policy or potential government policy.

'They claim to be for the working man, no man worked harder than dad. He increased the acreage from my grandad's day and was proud of what he achieved.'

The author also claimed they believed their father aimed to 'beat the budget by ending his life' and that it is what happens when 'you have built something your entire life and see it robbed from beneath your kids' feet'.

The writer of the post claimed to be publishing anonymously in order to protect their children.

However, the National Farmers Union (NFU) told The Sun it could not confirm whether the claims were true.

The autumn budget has infuriated farmers across the country with a planned protest set to take place next month.

From April 2026, the IHT will be levied Farmer at an effective rate of 20 per cent on the value of business and agricultural assets over 1million in a shake-up of Agricultural Property Relief (APR).

The move has sparked fury and warnings that it could kill off family farms, damage food security and set back environmental protection work, including from TV property guru Kirstie Allsopp.

The National Farmers Union is to hold a major Westminster rally next month after Rachel Reeves revoked farmland's exemption from inheritance tax (IHT)

Farmers last demonstrated in London in March over food security fears (pictured)

Ms Allsopp was the most outspoken, accusing Ms Reeves of having 'f***ed all farmers' and 'destroyed their ability to pass farms on to their children'.

Mr Clarkson, who fronts the highly popular Clarkson's Farm series following his rural travails in the Cotswolds, posted on X: 'Farmers. I know that you have been shafted today'

Farmers are threatening to attend the November 19 demo with their tractors and other large machinery, which could grind the capital to a halt. Farmers last demonstrated in London in March over food security fears.

But the Chancellor and No10 have defended the change, saying little more than a quarter of farms will be affected, and even then they will pay at half the regular 40 per cent IHT rate.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw, who is meeting Environment Secretary Steve Reed on Monday, said the current plans to change agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) 'need to be overturned and fast'.

Mr Bradshaw spoke of 'the tension, the anger, the frustration' among farming communities.

Jeremy Clarkson, who fronts the highly popular Clarkson's Farm series following his rural travails in the Cotswolds, posted on X: 'Farmers. I know that you have been shafted today.

'But please don't despair. Just look after yourselves for five short years and this shower will be gone.'

Kirstie Allsopp said: 'Rachel Reeves had f***ed all farmers, she has destroyed their ability to pass farms on to their children, and broken the future of all our great estates, it is an appalling decision which shows the government has ZERO understanding of the what matters to rural voters.'

Rachel Reeves said the change was a 'fair' way for the government to raise money for public spending.

She told Channel 4 News: 'On top of the normal inheritance tax threshold that you can pass on - a couple of million pounds including a house - to your descendants, in addition agricultural property relief will now provide another million pounds of tax-free allowance and then above that there is a 50 per cent discount on inheritance tax compared with what everyone else pays.

'We have got to raise money, I feel we've done that in fair and balanced way - 73 per cent of farmers won't be paying a single penny more in inheritance tax.'
A diver has captured the terrifying moment he came face-to-face with a huge Great White shark that was circling around him while his mate was inside a cave looking for crayfish.

Tim Ryan posted an eight minute video of the heartracing encounter to YouTube after he went cray fishing with his friend Andy Nelson in Safety Bay, off Coventry Reef, about 55km south of Perth.

Just before the Great White popped over, Mr Nelson swam into a cave to look for crayfish and remained in there for five minutes, oblivious a 4m shark was swimming around his friend who was low on oxygen.

Mr Ryan waited for his mate outside the cave when the 'bloody big shark' appeared.

'Don, don, don, don literally and hilariously just popped straight into my head when I saw the shark pop out,' Mr Ryan said.

'''Oh my god it is Jaws'' I thought and then a second later I was bloody scared, then a second after that I thought I have to deal with this and this is how I do it.

'I did my very best to to hold it down.'

Mr Ryan said there was five things you should do during a shark encounter and he did all five.

Tim Ryan posted an eight minute video to YouTube after he went cray fishing with his friend Andy Nelson in Safety Bay, off Coventry Reef, about 55km south of Perth, when they encountered a huge Great White

'So obviously you have to not splash or flap about and become attractive to the animal,' he said.

'You've got to maintain eye contact with it at all times or it will come and sneak up on you, you have to remain vertical in the water, then you have to keep your breathing and heart rate down.

'I think I did all those things.'

Mr Ryan said the Great White was only a couple of metres away and it swam so close to him he could have touched it.

'There were a number of times when it swam overhead, and also when it swam along side me I could have reached out and touched it,' he said.

Diver Andy Nelson was looking for crayfish inside a cave oblivious to the fact a 4m shark had been circling his mate Tim Ryan for five minutes. Picture: Supplied.

'It circled me for a full five minutes, and oh my god, it came in and made passes at me for the full five minutes.

'It was only at the very end when Andy popped out of the cave, having a second person in the water scared it off.'

Mr Ryan said the swim back to the boat was 'pretty awful' because they could no longer see the shark and his oxygen was extremely low.

Mr Nelson swam back to find the boat and found the way quickest way back, but Mr Ryan kept having to turn around to see if he could see the shark after they lost sight of it in the water.

'Well that's the point when the adrenaline levels went up a little bit because that's their whole gig right, they go into the darkness and they sneak around and they come smashing up on you from behind,' Mr Ryan said.

'It's the one you don't see that you got to really worry about, especially when you definitely know there is one around.

'You just turn around and it's coming at you at 20 knots, you know.'

Mr Ryan said when they finally made it back to the boat the pair just laughed.

'It was all pretty exciting, you know, it took probably half an hour for us to get a heart rate and breathing rate back down,' he said.

'Andy at that stage had no idea that I had a full five minutes with the shark circling me, he was pretty amazed at the whole thing, we just shook our heads for a while.'
Tim Walz appeared to call Elon Musk a 'gay guy' on the campaign trail - leading to a swift response from the Tesla boss.

The Minnesota Governor made the remark while speaking out against tax cuts for the rich in Michigan - before painting the billionaire as someone who has benefited from them.

'If you're a billionaire, Elon Musk for example,' the aspiring vice president says in viral snippets of the speech, before getting into the apparent gaffe.

'That guy, that gay guy got-'

He proceeds to trail off - before laughing off what Harris's team now says was a slip.

Scroll down for video:

Tim Walz appeared to call Elon Musk a 'gay guy' on the campaign trail Friday while speaking out against tax cuts for the rich in Michigan

He painted the billionaire as a party who has benefited from them, before getting into the apparent gaffe

'Michigan knows that word,' the 60-year-old Kamala Harris running went on to say after the fact.

The crowd goes on to laugh too - as Walz goes on to finish his thought.

'That dude got a tax cut,' he says - as the clip continues to fain traction on social media.

Among those to take notice was Musk, who took to his own platform X to issue a response.

In it, the supporter of Donald Trump wrote, 'I have no problem being called gay,' while using a well-known acronym to express his frankness.

The response came within minutes and saw the X CEO seemingly brush off any brewing controversy, as the the creator of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin also went on to weigh in.

The man behind one of Musk's favorite digital tokens, Shibetoshi Nakamoto shared a tongue -in-cheek post where Musk had joked how he had been willing to 'sleep with' him - leading , leading to another response from the SpaceX boss.

'I guess Tim Walz read this post', Nakamoto wrote, capping the quip with a laughing emoji.

'If you're a billionaire, Elon Musk for example,' the aspiring vice president says in now viral snippets of the speech, before getting into the apparent gaffe. 'That guy, that gay guy got-' He proceeds to trail off - before laughing off what Harris's team now says was a slip

The remark earned a quick response from Musk, who appeared to brush the whole thing off

Musk, who recently aired an endorsement for Republican candidate Trump, responded by re-sharing Nakamoto's tweet, as others reacted to the circulating footage.

Hashtags like 'gays4trump' were the result - as speculation as to whether Walz actually intended to make such comments began to swirl.

Seeking to clear up any conjecture, the Harris-Walz campaign went on to issue a statement saying that Walz simply 'stuttered' during his spiel, and that what he actually intended to say was 'that guy got', a spokesperson told the New York Post.

He claimed the candidate got tripped up by a stray smear from the crowd, telling the paper, 'In the video, you can hear someone in the crowd yell dips**t! when the governor brings up Musk.

'The governor started laughing and stuttered while trying to say "that guy got" - he did not refer to Elon as a gay guy,' the rep continued.

His later comment to the Detroit crowd, he explained, had been referring to the the insult, the spokesman added - referencing Walz' assertion that those in attendance 'knew that word'.

The creator of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin - one of Musk's favorite digital tokens - went on to weigh in on the widely seen footage as well, leading to another response from the SpaceX boss

He recently aired an endorsement for Republican Trump, leading to criticism from the vice presidential candidate

The Harris-Walz campaign went on to clear up any conjecture around the comments, saying that Walz simply 'stuttered' during his spiel. Meanwhile, Musk has been the victim of barbs from Walz in the past, with the Democratic vice presidential hopeful mocking the mogul late last month

He used the same word his team said came from the crowd Friday to categorize the South African's dance moves, saying he moved like a 'dipsh*t' while dancing onstage at a October 5 Trump rally

Meanwhile, Musk has been the victim of barbs from Walz in the past, with the Democratic vice presidential hopeful recently mocking the mogul by using the same word his team now say came from the crowd.

Speaking from the college town of Madison in Wisconsin on October 22, the Minnesota politician accused Musk of dancing like a 'dips***' - during a raucous rally alongside Trump days before.

He recalled how Musk - who endorsed former President Donald Trump immediately after the July 13 assassination attempt - joined the Republican nominee at his second Butler, Pennsylvania, after almost being assassinated there this past summer.

'Elon was on that stage jumping around, skipping like a dips***,' Walz said at the time, while joined by former President Barack Obama.

'That guy is literally the richest man in the world, spending millions of dollars to help Donald Trump buy an election.'

The election, meanwhile, is now only days away. Multiple states - including Michigan and Pennsylvania - remain up for grabs.
An Aussie teacher could spend five years behind bars after she was arrested for allegedly stealing two laptops from a supermarket in Bali.

Vanessa Louise Crimmins, 45 is accused of stealing two backpacks that each contained a laptop from outside Popular Deli, a supermarket in North Kuta, on Wednesday morning.

Ms Crimmins was staying at an address in North Kuta however it is unclear whether she lives in Bali or was on holidays at the time.

Badung Police spokesperson Putu Sukarma said the alleged victims had left their bags in the sitting area at the Popular Deli supermarket at 7.30am.

When they returned at 9am, both of the bags were missing.

'The suspect has [allegedly] taken two laptops from two bags that have been left a while by the owner in the sitting area,' Mr Sukarma said.

Following a report to North Kuta Police Station, police investigated the scene of the alleged theft and checked CCTV footage.

Vanessa Louise Crimmins, 45, from Paddington in Sydney's east, is accused of taking two backpacks each containing a laptop from outside a supermarket in North Kuta, Bali

Ms Crimmins allegedly stole a MacBook Air and HP laptop (both pictured) from the sitting area of Popular Deli inside a supermarket in North Kuta in Bali on Wednesday morning

Police said the HP laptop and MacBook Air were allegedly stolen from Ardi Nurcahyadi, 42, from Jakarta and 24-year-old Denpasar university student Ni Nyoman Ari Purwaningsih.

If charged with theft under Section 362 of the Indonesia Criminal Code, Ms Crimmins could face a maximum penalty of five years in jail.

However, Ms Crimmins could walk free under a unique quirk in the Indonesian justice system if the alleged victims choose to forgive her.
A Donald Trump fan has been subjected to a sickening rant by a Kamala Harris supporter after he spotted her MAGA-themed shoes.

Emily Wilson, a conservative influencer who sells Trump merchandise, posted the video om social media on Friday night.

The clip shows Wilson asking a man walking his dog in Wilson's native California: 'I deserve to get raped?'

The twisted man, who Wilson describes as a 'lovely Kamala supporter' in a black sweatshirt and shorts, says: 'You do.'

'You're wearing MAGA shoes in West Hollywood,' he says, which Wilson then pans down to what she calls her 'dope-a** MAGA shoes' to put on display.

A Trump supporter was subjected to a vulgar rant by this unidentified man who she called 'a lovely Kamala supporter' after he spotted her MAGA-themed shoes

Emily Wilson, a conservative influencer who sells Trump-themed merchandise online, posted the video to social media, where it's gotten over a million views

'Go back a rapist,' the man continues. 'He's convicted for rape.' He then claims it's illegal for her to be filming him while he takes his dog out.

Wilson then asks him what he's going to do about it if she keeps filming him.

'Nothing, you dumb c***, you f***ing ugly b****,' he replies. 'You've definitely been raped and you're okay with it.'

Wilson says: 'You're so insane, you're so nuts!'

He then says: 'I'm insane? You're filming a stranger!'

'Yeah, cause you're literally saying you hope I get raped!'

He adds: 'I hope that you get what you deserve.'

The video begins in a smash cut to Wilson asking a man walking is dog in Wilson's native California: 'I deserve to get raped?' The unidentified man in a black sweatshirt and shorts answers back: 'You do.'

'You're wearing MAGA shoes in West Hollywood,' he says, which Wilson then pans down to what she calls her 'dope-a** MAGA shoes' to put on display

Wilson asks him what she deserves, ordering him to 'at least have the b***s' to say what he means.

He gets asked by Wilson about rumors of Joe Biden showering with his daughter in Ashley Biden's stolen diary.

The man replies: 'Biden's not running for president, you idiot!'

'He's the current president!,' Wilson retorts, before saying that she's 'just excited to make you famous.'

The man claims again that it's illegal to film someone in West Hollywood, before saying he doesn't even care what she does.

'Good, mind your own business,' Wilson says before ending the clip.

Wilson wrote about the encounter on social media afterward.

'Lovely Kamala supporter tells me I look like I've been raped and he hopes I get raped and get what's coming to me multiple times,' she claimed.

Wilson, who has over 300,000 followers on Instagram, wrote about the incident on social media afterward

'As I'm walking alone. All because I'm wearing MAGA shoes. I bet he's voting for her cause he cares so much about women's rights? Let's make him famous.'

She spoke about the incident later on Instagram, suggesting it was part of a deeper problem with liberals who are all 'mentally ill.'

'I encounter these psychopaths every day. I was viciously, verbally abused by one earlier today,' she said, referring to the man she filmed.

Wilson, who has over 300,000 followers on Instagram, is a frequent guest on Fox News and has posted photos from conservative events with the likes of Tucker Carlson, Vivek Ramaswamy and RFK Jr.

The man has yet to be identified.
A Texas woman accused of trying to sell her newborn baby on Facebook has been arrested.

In September, Juniper Bryson, 21, allegedly posted in an online group entitled 'Birth Mothers Looking for Adoptive Parent(s)'.

Bryson, who lives in Houston, said she would also be happy to travel in order to have the baby adopted.

She is alleged to have reached out to a family member in an effort to have the child taken off her hands rather than have it placed into foster care, noting that the baby would be drug-positive.

Juniper Bryson, 21, has been arrested accused of trying to sell her newborn baby on Facebook

Bryson, 21, was walked out of hospital in cuffs days after giving birth in September

'She needs someone there during labor and to take the baby boy home. She doesn't want him going into foster care,' charging documents said the post read.

But Bryson is then alleged to have asked for payment writing: 'It's not even like that, just enough to move into an apartment so I can work a job and get (my daughter) back, or a cheap down payment, or any car to get to different places to DoorDash. Nothing crazy at all,' charging documents as seen by ABC 13 state.

Bryson is believed to have written to at least seven people over the potential adoption of her newborn. Many of those who responded were either same-sex couples or struggling to get pregnant themselves.

Some were even prepared to drive through the night to pick up the infant with one same-sex couple driving from Louisiana to Houston - about 300 miles.

Wendy Williams believed she was going to adopt the child following its birth

Williams and her husband spent days at the hospital in the belief she was going to adopt

But about half way through their journey they were asked for money from Bryson.

Charging documents state: 'Juniper sent him a picture of the food she was trying to order, and he sent her money, a total of $25 via Apple Pay to complete the food delivery. (The prospective parent) stated that 3.5 hours into their trip to Houston, she asked them to send her $150.'

Bryson then blocked prospective parent's cellphone number before unblocking them to state: 'If the baby wasn't worth $200 to them, then screw all.'

The couple ended turning around and headed back to Louisiana.

One local woman, Wendy Williams, who already lives in Houston and was keen to adopt got in touch with Bryson even sending her an Uber when she was in labor in order to take her to hospital for her to give birth.

The baby was born hours later in the early hours of September 24.

Williams was keen to adopt a baby and got in touch with Juniper Bryson

The Williams family spend a few days with the newborn baby before it was taken into care

Williams remained at Bryson's side during her eight hour labor, was able to choose the baby's name and stayed at the hospital for a further three days believing she might soon be going home with her baby.

Documents were signed that gave Williams and her husband the ability to make legal decisions on behalf of the newborn.

'I felt a real bond between a mom and a baby. I felt a connection as if he were biologically mine', Williams told KTRK.

The baby tested positive for drugs following his birth while Williams watched as birth mother Bryson went through withdrawal symptoms in the hospital.

'I just thought this was someone who was in a really bad position. The drugs had overtaken, and she just wanted to get better,' Williams said.

It was only after Bryson posted about having found a home for her newborn on Facebook that others began commenting with some nasty messages.

'A lot of people started commenting really really ugly things,' Williams explained.

Williams spent time with the infant while Bryson was suffering from withdrawal symptoms from drugs

'"How dare you sell this baby?" And then they were tagging me, "How dare you buy this baby?"'

Williams says they were never asked for payment, nor had it been discussed - but when she asked Bryson, she was told to leave the room.

'"Hey, what is this? You know a lot of people are sending me these screenshots. What is going on?"' Williams asked Bryson.

'At that very moment, she requested that the nurse remove me from the room, and I did. I got escorted downstairs with gifts that my family had brought to the hospital.'

Feeling aggrieved, Williams contacted CPS which then saw the police get involved.

It led to Bryson being escorted from the hospital in handcuffs on open warrants just days after giving birth.

Bryson continued to act erratically and saw her then revoke custody of the child.

'I also do think that she felt betrayed as well. She knew I reported her and that CPS was coming. That may have been a trigger for her,' Williams said.

Currently, the baby is with a friend of Bryson's but she hopes to regain custody of the infant in due course.

'It was very heartbreaking, not just because we didn't get a baby out of this, because I think his safety is definitely above all,' Williams said.

'In every case where a child comes into the state's care, family members or friends are considered first for placement. Ultimately, the decision of where a child is placed is up to the court,' a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said.
A judge has denied a delay of trial motion for the migrant suspect in the Laken Riley murder case.

Patrick Haggard, a judge for the Athens-Clark Superior Court in Georgia, aired the judgment Friday, after defense attorneys for Jose Ibarra fought to stall proceedings.

They did so by a motion to exclude evidence related to DNA, in a case centered around the February slaying on the University of Georgia (UGA) campus.

It saw Ibarra, an undocumented 26-year-old immigrant from Venezuela, allegedly stalk and strangle the 22-year-old while she had been out for a morning jog.

Riley, a nursing student at nearby Augusta University, was found close to her apartment following a call from a friend to police - spurring an investigation that culminated with Ibarra's arrest.

Following Judge Haggard's rejection, the trial is still slated to kick off November 13.

Defense attorneys for Jose Ibarra fought to stall proceedings this week - but had a motion to expel evidence denied on Friday. Ibarra, 22, is seen during the day's proceedings

He's accused of stalking and strangling 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who, at the time, had been out for a morning jog

'I've tried to understand the data and I am unable to do so,' Defense attorney Dustin Kirby reportedly told the judge during his failed attempt to stop the trial in its tracks.

The jurist went on to engage in testimony surrounding TrueAllele, a DNA computerized system devised by the technology company Cybergenetics that has helped with the case.

Unknown evidence garnered by the system pertains to DNA, fingerprints, and cellphone data, lawyers from both sides said - citing how it had been analyzed by investigators and poised to surface during this month's proceedings.

Kirby argued the items were collected unlawfully by law enforcement, and that the defense team also needed time to enlist their own expert to analyze the evidence.

Unconvinced, Haggard's told Kirby and other attorneys hired by Ibarra he would not delay the trial over such issues.

Offering some respite, he said he would leave open the opportunity for the defense to provide their own expert, before disclaiming the case would resume as normal other than that.

That set the stage for a trial to be held in the wake of election week, indelibly linked to the greater situation at the US Border, where Ibarra gained entry to the country.

The case has since caught the attention of the entire country, due to its greater connotations of the situation at the Southern Border, where Ibarra gained entry to the country

Ibarra's brother, Diego, also an illegal migrant, has notched up a lengthy criminal history since arriving in April 2023 on a forged Green Card

Following Judge Patrick Haggard's rejection, the highly anticipated trial is still slated to kick off November 13

He was arrested the day after the murder at his apartment on on South Milledge Avenue, and has since pleaded not guilty to the 10 counts against him.

They include malice murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault and more crimes, which could see him hit with life in prison when all's said and done.

An investigation following his arrest laid bare how he entered the country illegally, through El Paso in late 2022.

He was subsequently apprehended by border officials, but quickly released due to a lack of space.

Within months, he was arrested in New York City - this one for riding a gas-powered moped with a 5-year-old on the back without a helmet or safety belt.

Despite the August 2023 infraction, he was again later release - paving the way for him to travel to Georgia to be live with his brother Diego.

Federal authorities went on to discover how Diego, the suspect's elder brother, boasted ties to the infamous Venezuela gang Tren de Aragua, which feds say has been trying to gain a foothold in the US.

Following the day's proceedings, Ibarra will continue to be kept at Athens-Clarke County Jail without bail, until his trial in a little over a week

He pulled up Riley's clothes to sexually assault her before bludgeoning her over the head and asphyxiating her, prosecutors have claimed

Homeland Security Investigators would soon find photos of Diego flashing the gang's hand signals online, as well as a slew of identifying tattoos like stars, clocks, trains, weapons and crowns.

More pictures showed him toting firearms - even though illegal immigrants in the US are not legally allowed to own guns.

Meanwhile, his little brother's defense recently requested a change of venue due to the widespread media coverage set to surround the case - a motion also denied by Judge Haggard as the case makes its way to court.

He pulled up Riley's clothes to sexually assault her before bludgeoning her over the head and asphyxiating her, prosecutors have claimed.

He will continue to be kept at Athens-Clarke County Jail without bail, officials said.

His trial will take place in a little over a week.
Cardi B has endorsed Kamala Harris for President claiming in her speech in Wisconsin that she 'wasn't going to vote' until the Vice-President entered the race against 'bully' Trump.

Both candidates held rallies within 7 miles of each other last night in the Milwaukee area as part of a fevered final push for votes in swing-state Wisconsin's largest county.

Milwaukee is home to the most Democratic votes in Wisconsin, but its conservative suburbs are where most Republicans live and are a critical area for Trump as he tries to reclaim the state he narrowly won in 2016 and lost in 2020.

One reason for his defeat was a drop in support in those Milwaukee suburbs and an increase in Democratic votes in the city.

The outspoken A-list rapper did find herself in an awkward moment at a rally for the Vice President, due to teleprompter issues.

However she continued: 'I wasn't gonna vote this year,' before adding that Ms Harris taking over as the Democratic nominee changed her mind.

'She's passionate, compassionate... and most of all she is not delusional,' she said.

She referred to Donald Trump as a 'bully'.

'He said he's gonna protect women whether they like it or not,' she says.

'If his definition of protection is not the freedom of choice... then I don't want it. I'm not giving Donald Trump a second chance.'

Democrats know they must turn out voters in Milwaukee, also home to the state's largest Black population, to counter Trump's support in the suburbs and rural areas. Harris is hoping to replicate, and exceed, turnout from 2020 in the city, which voted 79 percent for Biden that year.

Cardi B has endorsed Kamala Harris for President saying in her speech in Wisconsin that 'women have to work 10 times harder'

Both candidates held rallies within 7 miles of each other last night in the Milwaukee area as part of a fevered final push for votes in swing-state Wisconsin's largest county

Cardi B hugs Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Expo in West Allis

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a campaign rally at Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis

Cardi B speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris

Cardi B speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at the Wisconsin State Fair

The famous female rapper dressed in white took the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and immediately paused as the crowd cheered wildly.

'One second guys. One second!' she began as the crowd cheered her on.

She removed her white gloves and tried to begin speaking, but ultimately paused again after the teleprompter screen went blank.

'OK. So I don't take lightly the call,' she began, before pausing. 'I'm sorry guys, I'm a little nervous. I'm a little nervous guys, I've been waiting for this moment this whole life, my whole life.'

'I need patience over here, patience where are you girl?' she shouted. 'I need patience over here!'

'Are we ready to make history?' she asked repeatedly.

Four of the past six presidential elections in Wisconsin have been decided by less than a point, or fewer than 23,000 votes.

It was absentee votes from Milwaukee, which typically are reported early in the morning after Election Day, that tipped Wisconsin for President Joe Biden in 2020.

After about 90 seconds of stalling, finally an aide rushed on stage to give her a phone with what looked like her prepared remarks on the screen.

'Now I took my time writing my speech, so I wanted to make sure I delivered it right,' she said.

Cardi B quickly regained confidence and read off her speech from the phone.

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris delivered remarks at a campaign rally four days before Election Day

Cardi B arrives to speak during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at the Wisconsin State Fair Expo in West Allis

Cardi B admitted she was not interested in participating in the election in 2024, but that Harris' entry in the race changed her mind

It was absentee votes from Milwaukee, which typically are reported early in the morning after Election Day, that tipped Wisconsin for President Joe Biden in 2020

LMAO Cardi B's teleprompter was broken and she had no idea what to do for over a minute until someone ran on the stage to give her a phone to read off. Holy embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/BRl8xGP72e  aka (@akafaceUS) November 2, 2024

Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The hitmaker donned a red satin Jessica Rabbit costume featuring an extremely and tight corseted bodice that barely covered her nipples and a curve hugging skirt with a hip high slit

Cardi also donned purple gloves, just as the curvaceous cartoon character did in the Oscar winning 1988 whodunit. Cardi wore her hair in long red curls, and her makeup included purple eye shadow and a strong red lip

'Just like Kamala Harris I too have been the underdog, I've been underestimated, my success belittled, and discredited,' she said, praising Harris for 'standing up' to bullies.

'Women have to work ten times harder, perform ten times better and still people question us how we got to the top!' she said.

The rapper famously took shots at President Joe Biden in July when he was running for president, calling him and the Democratic party 'selfish' for not stepping aside for Harris.

Before heading to Milwaukee, Harris campaigned in the southern Wisconsin city of Janesville, where she talked up her support for organized labor in a speech at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local.

'Nobody understands better than a union member that as Americans we all rise or fall together,' Harris said. She promised to eliminate 'unnecessary' degree requirements for federal jobs and push private sector employers to do the same.

She called Trump 'an existential threat to America's labor movement' and said the nation lost manufacturing jobs during his presidency.

Trump, whose base includes working-class voters, has made sporadic efforts to reach out to rank-and-file union members, who have traditionally been core to the Democratic coalition.

Harris later went after Trump on health care, telling hundreds who packed into a high school in Little Chute, Wisconsin, that the former president wants to undo the Affordable Care Act law and take the United States back to the days when insurers could deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions.

Harris called Trump 'an existential threat to America's labor movement' and said the nation lost manufacturing jobs during his presidency

'I'm going to be real with y'all. I wasn't going to vote this year. I wasn't, but Kamala Harris joining the race, she changed my mind. Completely,' she said

So Cardi was making sense all along but yall was down talking her just coz of her accent? Interesting https://t.co/zvm7RSqBdx pic.twitter.com/CDwk2Lnayk  cockgang (@thefactfinder8) July 11, 2024

The rapper famously took shots at President Joe Biden in July when he was running for president, calling him and the Democratic party 'selfish' for not stepping aside for Harris

She went on to repeat a lot of familiar themes from the Harris campaign, hitting former president Donald Trump for selling $100,000 watches, sneakers and Bibles from China

She went on to repeat a lot of familiar themes from the Harris campaign, hitting former president Donald Trump for selling $100,000 watches, sneakers and Bibles from China

'I'm not giving Donald Trump a second chance,' she said. I'm not taking any chances with my future and I d**n sure am not taking any chances with my children. ... I'm not giving him the chance! I'm with Kamala!'

'I feel like this would have been her perfect time to shine. We already know she's sharp with the fking mouth,' she said in mid-July after Biden's disastrous debate performance.

She went on to repeat a lot of familiar themes from the Harris campaign, hitting former president Donald Trump for selling $100,000 watches, sneakers and Bibles from China.

'I'm not giving Donald Trump a second chance,' she said. I'm not taking any chances with my future and I d**n sure am not taking any chances with my children. ... I'm not giving him the chance! I'm with Kamala!'

Cardi B was one of several celebrities Harris recruited to speak or perform at the campaign event to rally supporters to vote in the final days before the election.

Rapper GloRilla took the stage at a Kamala Harris rally in Milwaukee on Friday, where she performed two of her hits: 'Hollon' and 'Yeah Glo.'

The more graphic lyrics were censored, but the amount of silenced lyrics prompted attendees to wonder if there were technical issues with her microphone.

Harris urged everyone in Wisconsin to get out and vote, and gave a shoutout to young Gen-Z voters who were voting for the first time.

'I love Gen-Z,' she said with a laugh. 'Here's what I love about you guys. You are rightly impatient for change. I love that about you!'
November 1, 2024: In September China had one of its new Zhou class Type 041 submarines sink at a pier. The cause was human error. This Type 041 submarine was the first of its class and easily identified because it had an X shaped rear rudder. The 041s displace 3,000 tons and are powered by an AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) system. Initially it was believed the 041 used a nuclear reactor. Then someone realized that the shipyard the 041 was being built in was not equipped to install nuclear reactors.

A US Navy nuclear submarine under construction, the Guitarro (SSN-665), sank in a similar accident in 1969. A failure of communication between two teams at opposite ends of the sub led each to simultaneously fill fore and aft ballast tanks until it sank at dockside.

The Type 041 is a third generation Chinese submarine that has VLS tubes for at least half a dozen anti-ship and land attack missiles. Torpedoes are also carried. Crew size is about 70 and endurance is several months.

Since the 1970s, China has been trying to develop and build nuclear submarines competitive with Russian and Western boats. Their latest nuclear submarines, the Type 096 SSN and Type 094 SSBN, appear to have closed the quality and performance gap with similar Russian subs. The U.S. Navy confirmed the improvements, which makes the Chinese subs more formidable adversaries. Currently only six Type 093 SSNs and six Type 94 SSBNs are in service. The first (of six) 094 SSBN entered service in 2007 while the first (of six) 093 SSN entered service in 2006. Their replacements, the 095 SSN and 096 SSBN, are expected to enter service during the late 2020s. Two Type 041 AIP submarines are also under construction and one of these recently sank accidently at pier side.

This first Chinese Type 091 sub entered service in 1974 after being under construction for nearly a decade. It was retired in 2000 but three of the other four o91 SSNs remain in service, undergoing numerous upgrades. In 2013 Chinese media declared that in 42 years of operation no Chinese nuclear sub has ever suffered a nuclear reactor accident. This was an indirect dig at the Russians, who are the only nation with nuclear subs to have suffered nuclear accidents, in part because most nuclear subs ever built were Russian. During the first 60 years of existence several hundred billion dollars has been spent on developing and building nuclear powered submarines. Some 400 have been built so far, most of them Russian.

In the 1990s China began investing heavily in building warships. By 2021 they had the largest fleet in the world in terms of numbers of warships and expect to increase the size of their fleet nearly 30 percent by the end of the decade while the Americans were having problems maintaining the force that China just passed in terms of number of warships, but not yet in total tonnage.

China still has some more fundamental naval needs. For example, China has never demonstrated any talent or enthusiasm for anti-submarine warfare. Considering the number of nuclear and conventional subs arrayed against it, anti-submarine warfare should have higher priority in China. Another serious shortcoming is mine-clearing capability. The Chinese Navy is well equipped to plant mines off hostile shores and in defense of its own waters but there is not a lot of capability to clear enemy mines. Many navies share this shortcoming but for a major maritime trading nation like China, it would be sad to see all that trade shut down by a few hundred naval mines.

China has three fleets. The Northern Fleet faces Korea and southern Japan. It currently has 66 warships, including an aircraft carrier, 18 attack submarines, four of them nuclear powered SSNs and the rest diesel-electric, 13 destroyers, 12 frigates, 12 corvettes and 15 fast patrol boats armed with anti-ship missiles. There are also five amphibious ships that can carry tanks and other vehicles onto a beach.

The Eastern Fleet faces the East China Sea and Taiwan. It has over 140 ships including 18 diesel-electric submarines, 13 destroyers, 23 frigates, 24 corvettes and 38 fast patrol boats armed with anti-ship missiles. There are also 24 amphibious ships that can land tanks and other vehicles onto a beach plus three larger amphibious ships with a flight deck.

The Southern Fleet faces Taiwan and the South China Sea. It has about 110 warships including an aircraft carrier and a new base for carriers and subs. There are 22 submarines including 14 diesel-electric and two SSNs. There are also six SSBN (nuclear powered ballistic missile) subs. There are ten destroyers, 14 frigates, 20 corvettes and 14 fast patrol boats armed with anti-ship missiles. There are also 15 amphibious ships that can land tanks and other vehicles onto a beach and five larger amphibious ships with a flight deck.

The Northern Fleet must deal with the two largest and most formidable fleets in the region; South Korea and Japan.

The Eastern Fleet has the longest coastline to defend and the new coast guard comes in handy to help, often using retired and repurposed corvettes. The Eastern Fleet also must assist the Northern Fleet against South Korea and Japan as well as any attack on Taiwan.

The Southern Fleet is currently concentrating on the South China Sea, as well as contributing forces for any attack on Taiwan.

In addition to new nuclear sub designs, the Chinese Navy has innovated in other ways. For example, during 2022 China introduced the Zhu Hai Yun, a 2,000-ton ship that carries up to fifty unmanned submarine, surface and airborne drones. Zhu Hai Yun is operated remotely to get it out to the high seas, where the ship operates autonomously to carry out a variety of missions it is capable of. China is depending on its AI (Artificial Intelligence) software to effectively carry out its mission and then signal that it is returning. The U.S. Navy has similar but smaller (145-ton) unmanned surface ships that do not carry and operate other autonomous vehicles but can stay at sea for up to sixty days carrying out ASW (anti-submarine warfare) missions. The navy has also developed larger autonomous cargo ships to move supplies long distances. Smaller armed and unarmed autonomous vessels have been in service for decades to patrol ports and coastal areas. China believes it has a lead in AI control software and the Zhu Hai Yun is an effort to test that. The Americans are depending on less ambitious technologies that have produced impressive results so far, while a new Orca autonomous submarine takes those proven concepts further than ever before.

Currently China has about 65 diesel-electric and nuclear submarines in service versus 42 operated by Japan and South Korea, each with 21. Malaysia and Indonesia each have two and Australia has six. The United States has about 30 nuclear attack subs in the Pacific versus a dozen Chinese SSNs and SSBNs. The anti-China coalition also has a large array of surface and aerial ASW forces.
An orphaned squirrel that became a social media star called Peanut was euthanized after state authorities seized the beloved pet during a raid on his caretaker's home.

Multiple anonymous complaints about Peanut - also spelled P'Nut or PNUT - brought at least six officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to Mark Longo's home near the Pennsylvania border in rural Pine City on Wednesday.

DEC officials took the squirrel and a raccoon named Fred from Longo's home after they carried out a search warrant signed by four state agencies, all ignoring calls for clemency.

'The DEC came to my house and raided my house without a search warrant to find a squirrel!' said Longo, who is 34. 'I was treated as if I was a drug dealer and they were going for drugs and guns.'

Mark Longo shows his pet squirrel Peanut that was seized by officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, at Longo's home in rural Pine City, New York

'For the last 7 years, Peanut has been my best friend. Hes been the center of my world and many of yours for so long, I dont know how to process this, emotionally,' Mark wrote onlin

The couple appeared devastated as they posted a video of themselves explaining what happened

Longo runs an animal sanctuary with him wife Daniela, yet it appears to have made no difference.

Longo penned a sorrowful message to his followers on Friday: 'Well internet, you WON,' he posted.

'For the last 7 years, Peanut has been my best friend. Hes been the center of my world and many of yours for so long, I dont know how to process this, emotionally.

'You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there's a special place in hell for you.'

A spokesperson for the DEC said earlier in the week how the agency started an investigation after receiving 'multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets.'

Peanut the squirrel had over 540,000 followers online and appears to spread joy

Peanut would eat a waffle while wearing crocheted bunny ears in one of his popular photos

The squirrel could perform tricks including jumping through hoops

Mark explained how he tried to release the animal back into the wild but he simply returned

On Friday, the DEC and Chemung County Department of Health confirmed both animals' fate.

'On October 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized,' the agencies said in a statement.

'The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has been in contact with these animals is strongly encouraged to consult their physician.'

Peanut had more than half a million followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms during the seven years since Longo took him in after seeing his mother get hit by a car in New York City.

Longo brought Peanut home and cared for him for eight months before trying to release the squirrel into the great outdoors.

The little rodent appeared to be an integral part of family life in the rural New York State home

Peanut would leap on to Longo's shoulder and delight thousands in doing so

Peanut the squirrel and his owners, Mark Longo and his wife are seen in Peanut's Instagram videos and stills

'A day and a half later I found him sitting on my porch missing half of his tail with his bone sticking out,' Longo said.

He quickly determined that Peanut lacked the survival skills to live in the wild and would remain an indoor squirrel.

Soon after Longo posted videos of Peanut playing with his cat, internet fame followed.

A scroll through Peanut's Instagram account confirms he was no ordinary squirrel.

Peanut would leap on to Longo's shoulder, wear a miniature cowboy hat, and eat a waffle while wearing crocheted bunny ears.

Over the years Peanut's story has been featured on TV and newspapers including USA Today.

Longo, who works as a mechanical engineer, was living in Norwalk, Connecticut, until he decided to move to upstate New York last year to start an animal sanctuary.

A scroll through Peanut's Instagram account confirms he was no ordinary squirrel

The cute squirrel appeared in more than 1,400 posts over the last seven years

Fred the raccoon was also euthanized by officials from New York State on Friday

PNuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary opened in April 2023 and now houses about 300 animals including horses, goats and alpacas, said Longo, who runs the sanctuary with Daniela and other family members.

He was aware that it was against New York state law to own a wild animal without a license and claimed he was in the process of filing paperwork to get Peanut certified as an educational animal.

'If we're not following the rules, guide us in the right direction to follow the rules, you know?' Longo said. 'Let us know what we need to do to have Peanut in the house and not have to worry about him getting taken.'

As for Fred, Longo said he only had the raccoon for a few months and was hoping to rehabilitate the injured creature and release him back to the woods.

'It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news: on October 30th, the DEC made the devastating decision to euthanize our beloved Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon,' he wrote on Instagram.

'Despite our passionate outcry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief.'
A federal jury has handed down a guilty verdict in the murder case surrounding the botched arrest of Breonna Taylor.

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison was convicted as a result, after jurors found he used excessive force during the 2020 drug raid that left Taylor dead.

The consensus paved the way for the first conviction in the high-profile case, putting away one of four officers involved.

All had been accused of violating Taylor's civil rights, with former Det. Kelly Goodlett this past August pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy charge for falsifying the warrant that led to the deadly chain of events.

The death of the 26-year-old black woman went on to spark protests nationwide, with activists alleging racial injustice played a part in police's actions that day.

A federal jury has handed down a guilty verdict in the murder case surrounding the botched arrest of Breonna Taylor, seen here in this undated photo provided by Taylor family attorney

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison was convicted as a result, after jurors found he used excessive force during the 2020 drug raid that left Taylor dead

'While it cannot restore Breonna to her family, it represents a crucial step in the pursuit of justice and a reminder that no one should be above the law,' wrote Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., in a social media post late Friday night.

The civil rights scion went on to brand the verdict 'a long-awaited moment of accountability,' as Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, was seen hugging a friend on the court house steps following the conviction.

She said in her own statement of the long-running case: 'It took a lot of time. It took a lot of patience. It was hard.

'The jurors took their time to really understand that Breonna deserved justice,' the woman concluded

Minutes before, several members of the 12-person jury were seen in tears - when the verdict was read around 9:30pm.

Earlier, they had indicated to the judge how they had been deadlocked on the charge of using excessive force.

The same charge had stumped a separate jury in 2022, who went on to acquit Hankison, 48, on state charges of wanton endangerment months before.

As the new jury remained deadlocked Thursday, members had sent correspondence to the judge asking whether they needed to know if Taylor was alive when Hankison fired shots into Taylor's Kentucky apartment.

Hankison had argued he was firing to protect his fellow officers from Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who shot at him and other officers as they broke down the woman's door

As the new jury remained deadlocked Thursday, members had sent correspondence to the judge asking whether they needed to know if Taylor was alive when Hankison fired shots into Taylor's Kentucky apartment, seen here after raid

Jurors indicated to the judge how they had been deadlocked on the charge of using excessive force. The 2020 crime scene is seen here

The same charge had stumped a separate jury in 2022, who went on to acquit Hankison, 48, on state charges of wanton endangerment months before

Hankison's attorney Don Malarcik told jurors it was on prosecutors to 'prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Taylor was alive' when Hankison fired the shots - leading to a point of contention between jurors

Hankison had argued he was firing to protect his fellow officers from Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who shot at him and other officers as they broke down the woman's door.

His attorney Don Malarcik told jurors it was on prosecutors to 'prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Taylor was alive' when Hankison fired the shots - leading to a point of contention between jurors.

Following the inquiry, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings urged them to keep deliberating - granting them the opportunity to air the long-awaited decision on Friday.

The six-man, six-woman jury went on to deliberate for several hours, before resurfacing Friday to give their decision.

Shortly before, Malarcik spoke at length about the role of Taylor's boyfriend, who fired a shot that hit former Sgt. John Mattingly at the door. Mattingly went on to retire the following year. He was not charged in the case.

Hankison, meanwhile, testified that when Walker fired, he moved away, rounded the corner of the apartment unit, and fired into Taylor's glass door and a window.

Other officers at the door also returned Walker's fire, hitting and killing Taylor, who was in a hallway.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings urged jurors to keep deliberating - allowing them to come to the long-awaited decision Friday

Hankison's lawyers used this during closing statements to argue their client was acting properly - 'in a very tense, very chaotic environment' they said lasted about 12 seconds.

They emphasized how Hankison's shots didn't hit anyone, and how it had been bullets fired by other officers that claimed the woman's life.

The cop-turned-convict also said Walker never tried to come to the door or turn the lights on as police were knocking - instead choosing himself and hid in the dark.

'Brett Hankison was 12 inches away from being shot by Kenneth Walker,' Malarcik insisted, while prosecutors maintained Hankison had acted recklessly when he fired 10 shots into doors and a window where he couldn't even see a target.

'[Hankison] violated one of the most fundamental rules of deadly force,' attorneys enlisted by the federal government said in their own closing arguments Wednesday.

'If they cannot see the person they're shooting at, they cannot pull the trigger,' they insisted, eventually swaying the jury to discern there was no doubt the officer used excessive force.

Meanwhile, neither of the officers who shot Taylor - Mattingly and former Detective Myles Cosgrove - were charged in the victim's death.

Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, was seen hugging a friend on the court house steps shortly thereafter. As for Hankison, his conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He will be sentenced on March 12 by US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings

Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany Meany ran a police unit that focused on aggressive drug investigations.

Police served five warrants simultaneously the night of the Taylor raid, four of them in a concentrated area where drug activity was suspected, and the fifth at Taylor's apartment nearly 10 miles away.

The warrant for Taylor's house alleged that she was receiving packages for a suspected drug dealer who was a former boyfriend.

The warrant, signed by Jaynes and approved by Meany, said Jaynes had confirmed with the postal service that packages for the ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, were going to Taylor's apartment. Investigators later learned that Jaynes had not confirmed that with the postal inspector.

Jaynes was fired in January 2021 for violating department standards in the preparation of a search warrant execution and for being 'untruthful' in the Taylor warrant.

Jaynes and Goodlett also allegedly conspired to falsify an investigative document that was written after Taylor's death, prosecutors said. Feds also allege that Meany, who testified at Hankison's first trial, lied to the FBI during its investigation.

As for Hankison, his conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He will be sentenced on March 12 by US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings.
Some of the last texts sent by a young man before he died after taking several pills at a music festival have been revealed.

Edward Lui, 21, died after taking three 150mg MDMA capsules and an 'imp', which contains 300mg of MDMA, at the Knockout Festival at Sydney Olympic Park in October last year.

The drugs had been secured by Mr Lui's friends, Jaime Tran and Nicholas Leow, who had bought them off Trong Ha Nguyen, 24.

Nguyen supplied 46 people with 1,894 capsules of MDMA, six imported tablets of MDMA, 87 bags of edibles and six bags of ketamine at the festival, according to court documents, news.com.au reported.

He made a profit of $33,725 on the day.

Police arrested Nguyen on his Rex flight back to Melbourne.

Officers also seized Leow's phone which showed a conversation between him and Mr Lui on the day of the festival.

Mr Lui asked if it was too late to order any more 'goodies' for the event and Leow told him it was.

Edward Lui, 21, died after taking three 150mg MDMA capsules and an 'imp', which contains 300mg of MDMA, at the Knockout Festival at Sydney Olympic Park in October last year

Text messages between Mr Lui and a friend are seen on the day of the festival where Mr Lui is seen asking for more 'goodies'

'I still have you down for one imp tho right?' Leow said.

'Yeh ye easy algs (all good). Just for other people. As long as I still got mine LOL,' Mr Lui replied.

After the festival, Mr Lui fell asleep in the taxi ride back to his George Street hotel but his girlfriend quickly noticed something was wrong.

Ngoc Chau Le Hoang saw her boyfriend acting strangely, kissing his jacket and 'flailing his arms around like he was not in control of his body' at around 10pm.

She called an ambulance after noticing Mr Lui's lips were purple and his skin was pale.

Police arrested Trong Ha Nguyen, 24, after discovering that he had supplied 46 people with drugs, including Mr Lui, at the festival

He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital to be treated for an excessive buildup of serotonin in his body.

Ms Hoang left Mr Lui's side to call his mother once he had arrived at the hospital, but by the time she returned to the room her boyfriend was already dead.

Leow and Tran have been sentenced for providing the fatal drugs to Mr Lui.

Both received community correction orders for one count of the supply of the prohibited drug MDMA.

The court also heard that Nguyen had previously spent a year in Villawood Detention Centre and that his student visa expired after his arrest.

He will be sentenced for drug supply on Tuesday.
Baby girls who were switched at birth back in 1967 at an NHS hospital are in line for compensation in a first of its kind case in the UK.

The newborns, now both grown women, were switched at West Midlands hospital shortly after birth, leaving their families none the wiser.

It was only when the sibling of one of the women took a DNA home testing kit that the truth came to light - 55 years later.

Tony received the kit as a Christmas gift in 2021 and when he carried it out, he was shocked to find a different name was listed as his full sibling.

He contacted the woman, who has not been named to protect her identity, listed as his sister. They realised she and another baby girl had been born around the same time in the same hospital.

Cases of babies being accidentally switched in hospitals are rare. A 2017 Freedom of Information request stated there were no documented cases of babies being given to the wrong parents.

Prior to the 1980s, maternity wards identified babies with handwritten tags and cards on cots (Stock image)

Prior to the 1980s, maternity wards identified babies with handwritten tags and cards on cots. Since then, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags have been used to keep track of and identify newborns on wards.

The NHS trust which oversees the hospital admitted liability but the level of compensation is yet to be agreed.

NHS Resolution, which deals with complaints against the NHS, told the BBC the switch was an 'appalling error' and that it had accepted legal liability.

It added that the case was 'unique and complex' and that it was still trying to determine the amount of compensation.

Tony's mother, Joan, told the BBC she was admitted to West Midlands hospital in 1967 due to high blood pressure, and that she was induced.

Her daughter was born at around 22:20 before being taken away to the nursery for the night so the new mother could rest.

A few hours later, just after midnight, another baby girl was born.

The next morning, Joan was handed a baby girl who was not her biological daughter. But despite the infant having fair hair unlike the rest of her family, Joan and her husband thought nothing of it.

The families took their new additions home and raised them, not knowing they were not their biological daughters for 55 years.

The truth was revealed when a DNA home testing kit was taken by Tony (Stock Image)

The daughter that Joan raised, believing her to be her own, now have a strained relationship. But Joan is adamant that the DNA results do not change anything.

'It doesn't make any difference to me that she isn't my biological daughter', she said. 'She's still my daughter and she always will be'.

Shortly after the DNA results came through, Tony and Joan met their biological sister and daughter.

'It just felt right', Joan told the BBC. 'I thought, she looked just like I did in my younger days'.

Her biological daughter now faced the practicalities of changing her birth certificate and documentation as, being born before midnight, she was a day older than she previously thought.

'My birth certificate is wrong, my passport, my driving licence - everything is wrong', she told the BBC.

She added that she and her new family are now very close. They have been on holiday to Ireland together to look into their biological roots and spent last Christmas together.

'I'd like to spend as much time as I can with them, of course, but that time is gone', she said. 'It was taken away'.
The next Tory leader will be named today with Kemi Badenoch favourite to edge out rival Robert Jenrick - but warnings to result could be 'close'.

The outcome of the ballot of party members will be announced in central London at 11am, bring the bitter contest to a conclusion after nearly four months.

Tensions have been rising between the camps, with allegations of 'dirty tricks' in the struggle to succeed Rishi Sunak.

The candidates have also brutal barbs at each other, with Ms Badenoch questioning Mr Jenrick's 'integrity' - and him suggesting the Conservatives will 'die' with her at the helm.

Polls of activists have suggested that Ms Badenoch will emerge victorious - but they are notoriously hard to survey.

Veteran Tory commentator Tim Montgomerie said: 'It's so close I'm not sure it is sensible to predict.'

The next Tory leader will be named today with Kemi Badenoch favourite to edge out rival Robert Jenrick - but warnings to result could be 'close'

The room in central London was packed for the announcement this morning

Tensions have been rising between the camps, with allegations of 'dirty tricks' in the struggle to succeed Rishi Sunak

Whoever wins will face a mammoth task to restore Tory fortunes and see off the threat from Reform after the astonishing July election rout that reduced the party to just 121 MPs.

They will also have to achieve the revival without some of the surviving 'big beasts'. James Cleverly - seen as the favourite for leader until his shock eviction in the final round of voting by MPs last month - has announced he will not take a job in the shadow cabinet.

Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has also said he will not seek to serve, as has ex-deputy PM Oliver Dowden. There are rumours that Sir Oliver will quit the Commons, with ousted Cabinet stalwart Grant Shapps said to be eyeing his seat.

Mr Sunak has insisted he will not leave Parliament, but is expected to return to the backbenches.

After the close of polls on Thursday, both candidates thanked their backers for their support through the contest.

Ms Badenoch described the party as a 'family' and said that it is 'much more to me than a membership organisation'.

Mr Jenrick also called for the party to 'move past the drama' of recent years and 'unite'.

'Together we can put an end to the excuses, move past the drama, and unite our party,' he wrote on X.

Immigration, the economy, and how the Conservatives can rebuild trust with the electorate and win back voters they lost at the election have all been discussed at length through the campaign.

The party lost seats to Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK in the July poll.

Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat and Mr Cleverly spent the summer campaigning alongside Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch after they put their names forward in the nominations at the end of July.

Dame Priti and Mr Stride were the first two contenders to be eliminated in September, leaving four by the time the party gathered in Birmingham for its autumn conference.

While the candidates spent four days vying to secure votes, both Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick found themselves embroiled in rows during the conference.

Ms Badenoch ended up asserting her support for maternity pay after comments caused a controversy.

Meanwhile, Mr Jenrick faced heat from other leadership rivals over claims he made about UK special forces.

Shadow home secretary Mr Cleverly looked in pole position after the conference, coming top of the third ballot of MPs with 39 votes, while Mr Tugendhat got knocked out after securing only 20.

But surprisingly Mr Cleverly then did not make the final two names to be put to members the following day, securing only 37 votes compared with Mr Jenrick's 41 and Ms Badenoch's 42.

MPs were blamed for trying to be 'too clever' by engaging in tactical voting to engineer who else was in the final two.

Since then Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch have been travelling up and down the country in their attempts to secure member support.

At the start of the campaign, Ms Badenoch wrote in The Telegraph that the party 'need to get back to first principles' and has been light on the details of specific policies she would enact.

Amid the events and speeches, Mr Jenrick criticised his opponent for offering up what he called 'a promise of a plan' rather than more concrete policies.

He told the BBC's Westminster Hour in October that 'I think it's disrespectful to the members and the public to ask for their votes without saying where you stand on the big issues facing our country today'.

Mr Jenrick added: 'A plan today is what I offer. A promise of a plan at some point in the future is what my opponent offers, and I don't think that's the way to rebuild the public's trust and confidence in us.'

The contest was triggered after Mr Sunak announced he would step aside in the wake of the party's election defeat in the summer.

Earlier this week the former prime minister played down suggestions that he would be leaving Westminster for California, and told MPs that he would be spending more time in the 'greatest place on earth'.

'If anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire,' he told Prime Minister's Questions.

There was speculation earlier this year that the Richmond and Northallerton MP  who previously worked at a hedge fund in California  could be in line for a job in Silicon Valley.

James Cleverly - seen as the favourite for leader until his shock eviction in the final round of voting by MPs last month - has announced he will not take a job in the shadow cabinet

'Today is my last appearance at PMQs and I'm happy to confirm reports that I will now be spending more time in the greatest place on earth where the scenery is indeed worthy of a movie set, and everyone is a character,' he said.

'That's right, if anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire.'

The Conservatives returned MPs in 121 seats at the July poll, down hundreds on their 2019 result, having secured less than 25 per cent of the vote nationally.

Speaking on Downing Street the morning after the election, Mr Sunak apologised to the country and his party.

'To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry,' he said.

'I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change.

'And yours is the only judgment that matters.

'I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.'

Speaking ahead of Saturday's result, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the contest has shown the Conservatives are 'refusing to take responsibility for the damage they did to the country'.

She said: 'Whoever wins the Conservative Party leadership contest will have to carry the can for years of failure that tanked the economy and left the NHS on its knees.'
James Cleverly has become the latest Tory big beast to rule out serving on the new leader's front bench.

The shadow home secretary said he did not want to be 'boxed back into a narrow band' after being 'liberated' by his own bid for the top job.

Mr Cleverly was seen as the favourite to take over from Rishi Sunak until his shock eviction in the final round of voting by MPs last month.

The decision to step aside, revealed in comments to the Financial Times, will spark speculation that he is positioning for another tilt should Mr Sunak's replacement Kemi Badenoch crash and burn.

Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt has also declared he will be taking a break from frontline politics.

James Cleverly has become the latest Tory big beast to rule out serving on the new leader's front bench

Tory members chosen Kemi Badenoch (pictured) as the new chief over Robert Jenrick

'We had a big drubbing in the election. I think we have to be humble and reflect on that and show new faces to the country,' he told Sky News this week.

'And you know, politics is a rough game, but I'm not complaining.

'So for the next few years, at least, I will be stepping back from the frontbench.'

Former Deputy PM Oliver Dowden announced his own departure from the Tory senior team in his final clash with counterpart Angela Rayner last month.

His valedictory tone fuelled rumours that he could even step down from the Commons, with ex-Cabinet veteran Grant Shapps said to be eyeing a comeback at a by-election.

Rishi Sunak has moved to quash similar speculation about his own intentions, laughing off claims he is planning to move to California and become a tech executive.

In his final appearance at PMQs last week he said: 'I'm happy to confirm reports that I will now be spending more time in the greatest place on earth where the scenery is indeed worthy of a movie set, and everyone is a character.

'That's right, if anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire.'

This morning former environment secretary Steve Barclay said he will not be seeking a job on the front bench.

Ex-Cabinet minister John Glen is also expected to take a step back.

Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt has also declared he will be taking a break from frontline politics

Former Deputy PM Oliver Dowden announced his own departure from the Tory senior team in his final clash with counterpart Angela Rayner last month

Mr Cleverly had been expected to make the final two of the leadership election after topping the ballot in the penultimate round of MP voting.

But he slipped to a shock third place in the final round, leaving the party members the choice of Ms Badenoch or Robert Jenrick.

MPs were blamed for trying to be 'too clever' by engaging in tactical voting to engineer who else was in the final two.
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Kemi Badenoch was named the new Tory leader today after closing out rival Robert Jenrick.

The shadow housing secretary emerged victorious as the result of a ballot of party members was announced in central London.

Ms Badenoch received 53,806 votes to 41,388 for Mr Jenrick - closer than many expected. Turnout was only 72.8 per of the 131,000 activists.

Tensions have been rising between the camps, with allegations of 'dirty tricks' in the struggle to succeed Rishi Sunak.

Check below for a recap of todays events.
The world's largest crocodile has died in captivity at the age of 110.

Cassius who weighed more than one ton and measured 18 feet long, had been in declining health since October his caretakers said.

The beast held the Guinness World Record as the world's largest a saltwater crocodile in captivity.

He took the title after the 2013 death of Philippines crocodile Lolong, who measured 6.17 m (20 ft 3 in) long, according to Guinness.

Before his life in captivity the knobbly monster was known to prowl the waterways of Australia before being taken to Marineland Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat on Green Island, off the coast of Cairns, Queensland.

The world's largest captive crocodile, Cassius (pictured) at the Marineland Melanesia on Green Island, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Australia

Green Island Marineland Melanesia's George Craig (pictured) feeding Cassius who has died at the age of 110

At the time of his capture, Cassius was estimated to be between 30 and 80 years old

In a post on Facebook, his caretakers said: 'He was very old and believed to be living beyond the years of a wild Croc.

'Cassius will be deeply missed, but our love and memories of him will remain in our hearts forever.'

The group's website said he had lived at the sanctuary since 1987 after being transported from the neighbouring Northern Territory.

Crocodiles are a key part of the region's tourist industry and Cassius became the star attraction.

Cassius, a crocodile notorious for causing trouble, was captured in 1984 near a cattle station on the Finniss River, southwest of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory.

At the time of his capture, Cassius was estimated to be between 30 and 80 years old and set the record as the largest crocodile ever captured alive in Australia.

'He had these big eyes that you'd look into and you could look into his soul,' one of his former keepers, Toody Scott, told AAP.

'He always had this spark about him, which is very different to working with other crocs.'

Cassius was captured in 1984 near a cattle station on the Finniss River, southwest of Darwin

Before his life a captivity Cassius was known to prowl the waterways of Australia before being taken to Marineland Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat

Three years after his capture, he was moved to Green Island by crocodile hunter George Craig, who had founded Marineland Melanesia back in 1969.

Scott said the croc had an especially close bond with his caretaker Craig and the pair would sit quietly together for hours on end.

Scott said: 'In the last couple of years, George has been getting around on a mobility scooter and every time he came near the enclosure, Cassius would come over to him.'
Never frightened to ruffle feathers, Kemi Badenoch's willingness to say what others may regard as unsayable has made her the darling of the Tory grassroots.

Her task now will be to convince voters to agree with her views as much as the Conservative Party members who have made her leader today.

Her forthright views on issues from gender identity to institutional racism have thrilled supporters on the right while outraging critics on the left in equal measure.

In the course of a turbulent ministerial career Ms Badenoch clashed with civil servants over her insistence public buildings should have separate men's and women's toilet facilities and faced accusations of bullying her own officials.

Seen as the scourge of the 'woke', to some Conservatives her direct, shoot-from-the-hip style offers the best antidote to the appeal of Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

Others, however, fear that her confrontational approach  it is frequently said she could start a fight in an empty room  risks generating needless controversies that distract from the imperative to regain lost political ground.

She earned the nickname 'Kemi-kaze' from her critics for her ability to put her foot in it and trigger a row out of nothing.

At the party's annual conference in Birmingham in October she had to clarify off-the-cuff comments suggesting she believed maternity pay was too high and that 'bad' civil servants should be in prison.

Kemi Badenoch aged 7 in Nigeria with her grandfather.

Ms Badenoch worked in McDonald's while putting herself through college in south London, living with family friends. She is pictured returning to a restaurant as a minister in 2022.

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For her part, Ms Badenoch has denied that she deliberately seeks confrontation or to engage in so-called 'culture wars'.

Equally, she has never been one to back away when criticised.

When the Doctor Who actor David Tennant told an LGBT+ awards ceremony he would like to wake up in a world where she 'doesn't exist any more' and that he wished she would 'shut up', Ms Badenoch hit back, vowing she would not be silenced by a 'rich, lefty, white male celebrity' attacking 'the only black woman in government'.

The row reflected her at times difficult relationship with elements of the LGBT+ community  she faced calls to resign as equalities minister when three government advisers on the issue quit over the government's failure to ban gay conversion therapy.

For some, there had been surprise to hear such robustly conservative views coming from a black woman  when she first arrived in Westminster she was sometimes mistaken for a Labour MP.

Ms Badenoch has, however, made clear that her political outlook is firmly rooted in her Nigerian heritage.

Her road towards the Conservative leadership has been anything but conventional.

Born in a private Catholic maternity hospital in Wimbledon, she grew up in Nigeria where her father was a GP and her mother a lecturer in physiology.

When the country's economy collapsed in the 1990s, her parents took advantage of her British passport to get her out, sending her at the age of 16 to live with a family friend in Morden, south London, to continue her education.

She is married to Hamish Badenoch, an investment banker, and the couple have two daughters and a son.

Ms Badenoch  who spoke Yoruba before she spoke English  later said that she was 'to all intents and purposes a first-generation immigrant'.

Enrolling at a local college to study A-levels, she also worked part-time at McDonald's to support herself.

Having come from a solidly middle-class background with an assumption she would go on to become a doctor, it came as something of a shock to find herself among working class youngsters of whom little was expected.

With her tutors seeking to deter her from applying for 'things I wouldn't get into', she decided to study computer engineering at Sussex University.

The attitudes she encountered among the left-wing students  'snotty middle-class north Londoners who couldn't get into Oxbridge'  helped drive her into conservative politics.

In particular, she was infuriated by the 'high-minded' way they spoke about Africa, while understanding little about the realities of life on the continent.

'These stupid lefty white kids didn't know what they were talking about,' she told The Times. 'And that instinctively made me think 'these are not my people'.'

On leaving university, she initially worked as a software engineer before moving into banking as an associate director at Coutts, later becoming a digital director at The Spectator magazine.

In 2005, at the age of 25, she joined the Conservative Party, citing Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and (perhaps more surprisingly) Airey Neave  who was assassinated by the INLA in 1979  among her political heroes.

She stood unsuccessfully for the Labour-held Dulwich and West Norwood constituency in the 2005 general election but gained election to Westminster in the safe Tory seat of Saffron Walden in 2017.

An ardent Brexiteer, she made an immediate impression, describing the vote to leave the EU as 'the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom' in her maiden speech and securing a place on the executive of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee.

When Boris Johnson became prime minister in 2019, he handed Ms Badenoch her first government role as junior minister for children and families.

Promoted to equalities minister, she created headlines with her outspoken defence of the controversial Sewell report, commissioned in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, which found the UK was not institutionally racist.

Her comments reflected a long-standing distrust of identity politics  she has complained at the way her three mixed race children with her banker husband, Hamish Badenoch, are regarded solely as black.

Her rise through the ministerial ranks under Mr Johnson did not stop her joining the tidal wave of resignations, precipitated by the Chris Pincher scandal, which finally forced him out of No 10 in 2022.

Despite her relative inexperience, Ms Badenoch stood in the contest to succeed him as Tory leader, finishing a creditable fourth out of the eight candidates to make it on to the ballot paper, dramatically raising her profile in the process.

She was rewarded with promotion to Cabinet by the winner, Liz Truss, who made her international trade secretary  a post she retained under Rishi Sunak, who also gave her the women and equalities brief.

While publicly loyal during his premiership, Ms Badenoch was reported to have ripped into him following the Tories' general election defeat, branding his decision to call a snap poll without consulting the Cabinet unconstitutional.

Launching her second leadership bid in two years, she argued they had 'talked right but governed left' as she made her pitch for a smaller state with government doing 'fewer things' but doing them with 'brilliance'.

Ms Badenoch stirred further controversy with a newspaper article in which she stated that 'not all cultures are equally valid' in that immigrants to the UK should 'share our values and contribute to our society'.

At conference she was forced to deny suggesting maternity pay for new mums is 'excessive'.

The shadow housing secretary came under furious attack from Labour after she was asked about the benefit during an interview.

Ms Badenoch was arguing that businesses face too much red tape and the tax burden is too high when she was pressed on maternity pay.

'Maternity pay varies depending on who you work for, but it is a function, where it's statutory maternity pay. It is a function of tax,' she said.

And in 2018 she apologised for hacking into Harriet Harman's website.

She said she carried out the 'foolish prank' before she was elected to Parliament, in a lighthearted interview for the online Core Politics channel.

Ms Harman said she had received a written apology from the Tory MP and accepted it.

The prank is said to have constituted a breach of the Computer Misuse Act (CMA), potentially a criminal offence.

It prompted a call for the MP to be investigated, although others said the way it had been dealt with between the politicians showed such incidents did not have to result in criminal action.

Asked what the 'naughtiest' thing she had ever done was, the MP for Saffron Walden, in Essex, replied: 'About 10 years ago I hacked into a Labour MP's website and I changed all the stuff in there to say nice things about Tories.'

She told the Mail on Sunday it was 'a foolish prank over a decade ago, for which I apologise'.
One young trick-or-treater showed an unexpected level of generosity this Halloween when he decided to fill up an empty bowl of lollies with his own candy.

Tahdyn Butterworth had stopped by a house in Adelaide on Thursday when he noticed all the lollies put out by the homeowner had already been taken.

The 11-year-old then selflessly decided to reach into his own bag to pull out two large handfuls of sweets to fill up the bowl for the next visitors.

Taydyn's act of kindness was caught on the home's Ring camera on the door, with the 11-year-old flashing a smile and wave to the camera before he took off.

'I was gonna pick up candy but there was none in there so I grabbed some out of mine, like two handfuls,' he told Seven News.

The video of Tahdyn refilling the bowl went viral on social media where dozens of people applauded the youngster for sharing his haul.

'He is going to grow into a caring & considerate gentleman... Such a little legend,' one woman said.

Tahdyn Butterworth emptied his own bag of lollies to refill a bowl of candy on Halloween

The 11-year-old's act of generosity was caught on a doorbell camera

'I saw a lot of kids doing this. Even sharing from own bucket to other kids on the street. Kids are generally kind hearted. Well done to this young boy,' a second added.

'He goes for the right team,' a third said, noting Tahdyn's Adelaide Crows AFL jersey.
Over the past two years, Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian targets have reached further and further into Russia. Russian naval and air force bases in Murmansk have increasingly suffered attacks by Ukrainian drones. How this can happen baffles the Russians because Murmansk is over 2000 kilometers from Ukraine and the Russians believed the Ukrainians did not have a drone that could get that far. Apparently, the Ukrainians do have drones that can reach Murmansk.

Earlier this year Ukraine revealed that they had developed and used their new Palianytsia turbojet powered drone. So far, this drone has been used in at least three successful attacks. Ukraine was believed to be working on longer range drones and that was what was apparently used for recent drone strikes on Murmansk.

Ukraine has already revealed that their new Palyanitsa drones have a range of 700 kilometers and cost about $100,000. It carries a 40 kg warhead. Speed is about 500 kilometers an hour. That means Palianytsia can reach a target 700 kilometers away in about 72 minutes. Palianytsia can fly low to avoid detection by radar.

Palianytsia was developed and in production after about 18 months of work. Palianytsia does not use any exotic or hard to obtain components and can be mass produced by Ukraine. Ukraine has been developing and building its own drones for over two years. It is likely that Ukraine now has a drone that can travel over 2,000 kilometers and hit targets in Murmansk. This bothers the Russians a great deal because they believed their aircraft and ships in Murmansk were safe.

Ukrainian drones are cheaper than American and Russian missiles, which cost over $10 million each and carry heavier warheads than drones. What the drones lack in warhead weight they make up with far more droves and increased ability to find and hit targets

Palianytsia and other new longer range drones are doing a lot of damage to Russian forces, factories and military bases. In a familiar pattern for the Ukraine War, Russia quickly came up with counter measures for specialized Ukrainian drones.

Russia found itself with a serious problem because there was no easy or economical way to defeat these drone attacks. Russia could not build enough air defense systems fast enough to prevent the Ukrainians from inflicting substantial damage on the Russian military and economy. Unlike the Russians, Ukraine only attacked military or economic targets. Russia has increasingly attacked towns and cities in an effort to demoralize Ukrainians. Instead it angered most Ukrainians and increased resolve to continue the war against the Russian invaders. The Russian invasion failed to defeat Ukraine and cost Russia far more time, resources and personnel than expected. The invasion was the idea of Vladimir Putin, who wanted to restore the Soviet Union. So far that effort has been an expensive failure. But the war is the first, since 1945, between nations with equal technical abilities. The result has been a tremendous amount of innovation. Wartime pressures usually produced this burst of inventiveness. One of the more notable innovations was the widespread development and use of drones.

NATO military aid has been massive but came with one restriction, no use of these weapons for attacks deep inside Russia. NATO could not prevent the Ukrainians from developing and building their own weapons for attacks on Russian targets. Initially these were carried out by drones. While Russia has used ballistic missiles, Ukraine had to develop their own. These missiles are much more difficult to defend against and do a lot more damage to targets deep inside Russia. Since these ballistic missiles will be produced in Ukraine, the Ukrainians can use them any way they see fit and that means not announcing the use of these missiles against Russia. It is unclear if Ukrainian ballistic missiles have been used against targets in Murmansk.

Both Ukraine and Russia have embraced cheap drones costing a few hundred dollars, and more expensive quadcopters, as essential battlefield weapons. This has a lot to do with economy and efficiency. Compared to a 155mm or 152mm artillery shell and the expense of an expensive howitzer to fire these unguided shells 20 or 30 kilometers, armed drones are more certain to find and attack enemy troops or vehicles than artillery shells. Drones are currently the primary cause of casualties in Ukraine. In 20th century wars, most casualties were inflicted by artillery.

Artillery still has its uses for long range bombardment of a specific target or more random harassment fire to discourage enemy use of certain roads or off road terrain. FPV (First Person Viewing) drone control range varies from one to ten kilometers depending on how much electronic jamming or random interference there is. Average range is closer to four or five kilometers. Within these ranges the amount and extent of the damage these drones can inflict is enormous, precise, and often decisive in a battle or encounter.

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces are using cheap quadcopter drones controlled by soldiers a kilometer or more away, who use FPV goggles to see what the day/night video camera on the drone can see. Adding night vision doubles the cost for each drone, so not all of them have that capability. Each of these drones carries half a kilogram of explosives, so it can instantly turn the drone into a flying bomb that can fly into a target and detonate. This is an awesome and debilitating weapon when used in large numbers over the combat zone, and Ukraine this year has produced more drones than Russia has produced artillery shells. If a target isnt moving or requires more explosive power that the drones can supply, one of the drone operators can call in artillery, rocket, or missile fire, or even an airstrike. Tanks and infantry obtain some protection from these attacks by erecting a screen above the vehicle or trench line of fox holes troops are in. When moving, the troops are vulnerable. For vehicles, multiple drone attacks will eliminate the overhead screen and damage or destroy the vehicle. Since the drone operator is viewing all this from the drone, these attacks are rather devastating.

A major limitation is the need for trained drone operators. These troops need over a hundred hours of training before they are able to start operating these drones, and another hundred hours of actual use before they are able to make the most out of the system. These drones are difficult to shoot down until they get close to the ground and the shooter is close enough, as in less than a few hundred meters, away to successfully target a drone with a bullet or two and bring it down. Troops are rarely in position to do this, so most of these drones are able to complete their mission, whether it is a one-way attack or a reconnaissance and surveillance mission. The recon missions are usually survivable and enable the drone to be reused. All these drones are constantly performing surveillance, which means that both sides generally commit enough drones to maintain constant surveillance over a portion of the front line, to a depth, into enemy territory, of at least a few kilometers. Both sides now seek to find and attack each others FPV drone operators. That means more drone operators near shelters.

This massive use of FPV-armed drones has revolutionized warfare in Ukraine and both sides are producing as many as they can. Not having enough of these to match the number the enemy has in a portion of the front means you are at a serious disadvantage in that area. These drones are still evolving in terms of design and use and are becoming more effective and essential.

One countermeasure that can work for a while is electronic jamming of the drones control signal. Drone guidance systems are constantly modified or upgraded to cope with this. Most drones have flight control software that sends drones with jammed control signals back to where they took off from to land and await. The jammers are on the ground and can be attacked by drones programmed to home in on the jamming signal and detonate their explosives on the source of the jamming signal. As a result, even countermeasures can be overcome and the side that can do this more quickly and completely has an advantage. That advantage is usually temporary because both sides are putting a lot of effort into keeping their combat drones effective on the battlefield.

Ukraine was not where extensive use of these drones first occurred. Innovative use of small drones is something that has been going on for several decades and is evolving all the time. This began in 2010 when the French firm Parrot introduced the first consumer friendly quadcopter. By 2017 Parrot had competition from the Chinese firm DJI, which innovated more quickly than anyone else and soon dominated the market for commercial quadcopters. This is why both Russia and Ukraine first turned to DJIs Mavic quadcopters as models for new militarized quadcopters they would produce. Both sides soon designed and built their own drones or heavily modified commercial models like Mavic. Russian troops had a more difficult time doing this. Russian troops also used Mavic quadcopters, when they could get them. Corruption in Russia made importing Mavic quadcopters difficult. This isnt just about Mavic because corruption became more widespread in Russia in 2022 when the Ukraine War started, and subsequent sanctions disrupted the Russian economy.

Ukrainians are encouraged to take the initiative in designing and building new models of drones. Many important innovations have come from Ukrainian civilians building drones at home. This is often done for family members of friends who are in the military and could always use a few more drones. Individuals or small groups of Ukrainian drone enthusiasts arose from peacetime groups interested in nonmilitary remotely controlled unmanned aircraft. When Russia invaded, the Ukrainian civilian drone hobbyists quickly joined or worked for the military.

In contrast, Russia has its national bureaucracy that not merely discourages and disrupts any private efforts to design and build not merely drones, but private efforts to build most anything which might compete with government ways of building or doing things. This has been true since the 1920s, originally because of the Communist system, then because that was normal even after the Communists were overthrown, and then because such private enterprise interferes with government corruption. Ukrainians have noticed that one of their assets in the war is the disruptive effect Russian bureaucracy has on the Russian military. The Ukrainians are faster in developing new weapons, and particularly new drones. The Russians have adapted, as they usually do, to the wartime drone emergency and adopted more effective procurement practices. These will disappear when the war is over, as most practical measures adopted in wartime tend to do.

While there is some corruption in Ukraine, there is also a lot more popular anger and active opposition to any corruption hurting the war effort. Less corruption in wartime Ukraine means there are a lot more opportunities for innovation without interference from some corrupt official or supplier. Russian troops still have lots of drones but not as many as the Ukrainians, and particularly not with all the innovations found in many Ukrainian drones. This made a difference and still does, even though the Russians have been quick to use new forms of jamming to disrupt or destroy Ukrainian drones. Both sides suffer heavy, as in the thousands, of drone losses each month and Ukraine, with NATO support and unencumbered by economic sanctions, is able to maintain a drone edge on the battlefield.

Earlier in 2024 Ukraine announced the creation of another branch of its military. Now, in addition to the army, national guard, navy, and air force there will also be an Unmanned Systems Force. This organization trains personnel to manage production of air and naval drones as well as development of new or improved models. The Unmanned Systems Force will develop and install useful changes in new or existing drones. As of late 2024 Russia has not responded to this innovation.
Iran has vowed to deliver a 'crushing response' to the US and Israel in the wake of an Israeli bombardment last week, reigniting fears of rapid escalation in the region.

Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted in a speech in Tehran today that 'both the USA and the Zionist regime [Israel]' would 'definitely' receive a sharp response over recent attacks against Iran and its proxy groups in the wider Middle East.

The supreme leader was welcomed by students, who chanted 'The blood in our veins is a gift to our leader!' Some also made a hand gesture given by the slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2020 in a speech in which he threatened that American troops would 'return in coffins.'

Khamenei spoke amid warnings from Iranian officials that Tehran would seek revenge for Israel's October 26 strike on military bases and other locations in the Islamic Republic - itself a response to an Iranian attack on Israel.

The Ayatollah did not elaborate on the timing of the threatened attack, nor the scope. The U.S. military operates throughout the Middle East, with some troops now manning a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, battery in Israel.

The US had been in 'close consultations' with Israel in the build up to last week's strike but played no military role. Israel had offered assurances to the US that it wouldn't strike sensitive targets in an apparent effort to avoid escalation.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to students in Tehran, vowing revenge for Israel's Oct 26 strike

Some students made a hand gesture given by the slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2020 in a speech in which he threatened that American troops would 'return in coffins.'

The crowd offered a raucous welcome to Khamenei, chanting: 'The blood in our veins is a gift to our leader!'

'The enemies, both the USA and the Zionist regime, should know that they will definitely receive a tooth-breaking response to what they are doing against Iran, the Iranian nation, and the resistance front,' Khamenei said in a speech to students in Tehran.

The supreme leader, 85, was referring to the alliance of Tehran-backed armed groups including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Regional tensions have soared since the outbreak in October last year of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, drawing in those Iran-aligned groups and others from Iraq and Syria.

Hezbollah and Israel exchanged cross-border fire for nearly a year after Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, before Israel ramped up the conflict on September 23.

On October 26, Israel conducted air strikes on military sites in Iran in response to Tehran's October 1 attack on Israel, itself retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed militant leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander.

At least four soldiers were killed in the attack which Iran said caused 'limited damage' to a few radar systems. Iranian media said a civilian was also killed.

In his speech, Khamenei paid tribute to the slain soldiers, saying their efforts in confronting Israel 'will not be forgotten'.

Smoke billows from a fire south-west of Tehran amid the Israeli attack on October 26

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets, as seen from Ashkelon, on Oct. 1

Israel has warned Iran against responding to the October 26 attack. And the US was pressed to reaffirm its 'ironclad commitment' to Israel earlier this week.

Standing by its commitment, the US announced on Friday that it would deploy of additional military assets to the Middle East, including ballistic missile defence destroyers and long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, serving as a warning to Iran.

Khamenei said Iran was 'certainly doing everything that should be done to prepare the Iranian nation, whether in terms of military, in terms of weapons, or in terms of political work', without elaborating.

Khamenei met with university students to mark Students Day, which commemorates a November 4, 1978, incident in which Iranian soldiers opened fire on students protesting the rule of the shah at Tehran University.

The shooting killed and wounded several students and further escalated the tensions consuming Iran at the time that eventually led to the shah fleeing the country and the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The crowd offered a raucous welcome to Khamenei, chanting: 'The blood in our veins is a gift to our leader!'

Some also made a hand gesture given by the slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2020 in a speech in which he threatened that American troops would 'return in coffins.'

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on November 1, 2024 in Tyre, Lebanon

Yemen's Houthi followers brandish rifles and chant as they take part in a protest staged in solidarity with Palestine and Lebanon against the Israeli wars in both regions, on November 1

Palestinians watch as smoke rises following Israeli strikes, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, November 1

A boy looks through the gate to a house that was hit, following an attack from Lebanon towards Israel, in the central Israeli town of Tira, November 2

Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said elsewhere today that Iran would respond 'decisively' to Israel.

'The enemy should learn that it cannot commit any evil (it wants); it will undoubtedly receive a crushing response to its evildoing,' said Naini, the Fars news agency reported.

A coalition of pro-Iran groups in Iraq meanwhile said it carried out four drone attacks on the Israeli resort of Eilat on Saturday, after Israel said it intercepted three drones approaching from the east.

In a statement, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq it was behind the attacks on what it called 'four vital targets' in the resort on Israel's Red Sea coast, all conducted within one hour.

Israel continued deadly air strikes on north Gaza, where the UN called conditions 'apocalyptic'.

Since October 6 Israeli forces have carried out a major air and ground assault on north Gaza, centred on the Jabalia area, vowing to stop attempts by Hamas from regrouping.

'The situation unfolding in north Gaza is apocalyptic,' said a joint statement by UN agency heads.

'The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue,' the heads of the humanitarian, health and other agencies said.

'The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence.'

Witnesses said Israeli warplanes twice hit Beit Lahia, adjacent to Jabalia, overnight.
Kemi Badenoch pledged a return to Tory 'principles' today after being crowned as the new leader.

The shadow housing secretary triumphed over rival Robert Jenrick when the result of a ballot of Conservative Party members was announced in central London.

But the scale of the task she faces was underlined as more big beasts - including James Cleverly and Jeremy Hunt - signalled they will not seek to serve in the shadow cabinet.

And the figures suggested there has been an alarming fall in the party's membership, to just 131,000 - many of whom did not even bother to vote this time.

In her speech, Ms Badenoch paid tribute to Rishi Sunak and also praised Mr Jenrick's 'energy'.

However, she acknowledged that the previous government had 'let standards slip' and the party must woo back voters. 'The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for the future,' she said.

Appealing for Mr Jenrick and other senior figures to join her top team, which will be appointed in the coming days, she told him: 'You and I know we don't actually disagree on very much... We have come through this campaign more united.'

Ms Badenoch said Keir Starmer had given the Tories an opportunity with his shaky start. 'The PM is discovering all-too late the perils of not having such a plan,' she said.

Ms Badenoch received 53,806 votes to 41,388 for Mr Jenrick - 56 per cent to 44 per cent, closer than many expected. Turnout was only 72.8 per cent.

She was congratulated by Sir Keir for becoming the first black leader of a major UK political party - another first for the Tories while Labour has yet to have a woman in charge.

Kemi Badenoch insisted it is 'time to get down to business' today after being named the new Tory leader

Kemi Badenoch was named the new Tory leader today after closing out rival Robert Jenrick

Mr Jenrick fell short in his bid to take the party's top job today

The room in central London was packed for the announcement this morning

Tensions have been rising between the camps, with allegations of 'dirty tricks' in the struggle to succeed Rishi Sunak

The moment brings to an end a four-month contest to succeed Mr Sunak that saw bruising blue-on-blue attacks and claims of 'dirty tricks'.

During the campaign the candidates aimed brutal barbs at each other, with Ms Badenoch questioning Mr Jenrick's 'integrity' - and him suggesting the Conservatives will 'die' with her at the helm.

In an early boost for Ms Badenoch, it has been confirmed that the threshold for triggering a Tory no-confidence vote has been raised from 15 per cent of MPs to 33 per cent.

Polls of activists had suggested that Ms Badenoch would be the victor - but they are notoriously hard to survey. She had raised concern towards the end of the campaign that activists were shunning the ballot.

In 2022, when Liz Truss defeated Rishi Sunak, 141,725 members out of a total of around 172,000 voted in that leadership contest.

However, there this time there were only 131,680 Tory members eligible to vote for their next leader, a drop of 23 per cent. Turnout fell from 82.6 per cent to 72.8 per cent meaning just 95,000 voted.

While previous Tory leaders secured more than 60 per cent of the vote, Ms Badenoch was backed by 56.5 per cent of those who took part.

The previous record lows for both membership and number of votes was in 2019, when 139,318 out of around 159,000 Tory members at the time took part and elected Boris Johnson over Mr Hunt.

The percentage turnout is also the lowest on record, under the 78.4 per cent from 2005.

Conservative membership stood at around 310,000 when members were given a vote on the leadership for the first time n 2001.

Ms Badenoch faces a mammoth task to restore Tory fortunes and see off the threat from Reform after the astonishing July election rout that reduced the party to just 121 MPs.

They will also have to achieve the revival without some of the surviving 'big beasts'. James Cleverly - seen as the favourite for leader until his shock eviction in the final round of voting by MPs last month - has announced he will not take a job in the shadow cabinet.

Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has also said he will not seek to serve, as has ex-deputy PM Oliver Dowden. There are rumours that Sir Oliver will quit the Commons, with ousted Cabinet stalwart Grant Shapps said to be eyeing his seat.

Mr Sunak has insisted he will not leave Parliament, but is expected to return to the backbenches.

Ms Badenoch said in her speech that it was an 'enormous honour to be elected in this role, to lead the party that I love, the party that has given me so much'.

'I hope that I will be able to repay that debt,' she said.

Mrs Badenoch smiled as she thanked her family: 'There are so many people to thank; firstly, my family, especially my husband Hamish  I couldn't have done this without you, thank you for being with me every step of the way.'

'I also want to thank Rishi, no one could have worked harder in such difficult times  Rishi, thank you for everything you did, we all wish you and your wonderful family the very best for the future.'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Mrs Badenoch smiled as she thanked her family, including husband Hamish (pictured)

Keir Starmer welcomed Ms Badenoch's achievement as the first black leader of a Westminster party

Boris Johnson said Ms Badenoch would being 'zing and zap' to the Tories

Cleverly joins big beasts saying they won't serve on Tory front bench James Cleverly has become the latest Tory big beast to rule out serving on the new leader's front bench. The shadow home secretary said he did not want to be 'boxed back into a narrow band' after being 'liberated' by his own bid for the top job. Mr Cleverly was seen as the favourite to take over from Rishi Sunak until his shock eviction in the final round of voting by MPs last month. The decision to step aside, revealed in comments to the Financial Times, will spark speculation that he is positioning for another tilt should Mr Sunak's replacement Kemi Badenoch crash and burn. Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt has also declared he will be taking a break from frontline politics. Former Deputy PM Oliver Dowden announced his own departure from the Tory senior team in his final clash with counterpart Angela Rayner last month. His valedictory tone fuelled rumours that he could even step down from the Commons, with ex-Cabinet veteran Grant Shapps said to be eyeing a comeback at a by-election. Rishi Sunak has moved to quash similar speculation about his own intentions, laughing off claims he is planning to move to California and become a tech executive. Advertisement

Turning to her rival, Ms Badenoch said: 'Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we don't actually disagree on very much, and I have no doubt that you have a key role to play in our party for many years to come.

'I would also like to thank all the other candidates: Priti, Mel, Tom and James, for your kind words and your many insights.

'We have come through this campaign more united and the party needs you now more than ever.'

Ms Badenoch said her task was 'tough but simple'.

'Our first responsibility as His Majesty's loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account,' she said.

'Our second is no less important. It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.

'The Prime Minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan.

'That huge job begins today.'

In a striking admission about the problems she is inheriting, Ms Badenoch said: 'This is not just about the Conservative Party, it is about the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party, it is about the people we need to bring into the Conservative Party.

'It is about what the Conservative Party needs to be over the next five, 10 and 20 years.

'Our party is critical to the success of our country, but to be heard we have to be honest  honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.

'The time has come to tell the truth. The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party, and our country, the new start that they deserve.

'It is time to get down to business, it is time to renew.'

Mr Jenrick congratulated Ms Badenoch in a post on X. 'Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch,' he said.

'Thank you to everyone who supported my vision for a Conservative Party rooted in the common ground of British politics.

'It's now time for the Conservatives to unite behind Kemi and take the fight to this disastrous Labour Government.'

Emma Levin, Associate Director of polling firm Savanta, said: 'Despite being the presumptive winner for many months now, not since David Cameron's unexpected victory in 2005 has there been such a relative unknown elevated to leader of the Conservative Party.

'For Kemi Badenoch, this may well prove to be a positive, as she gets a new opportunity to present herself to the public, and represent a clean break from a deeply unpopular Conservative government  even if she was a part of it.'

Immigration, the economy, and how the Conservatives can rebuild trust with the electorate and win back voters they lost at the election have all been discussed at length through the campaign.

The party lost seats to Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK in the July poll.

Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat and Mr Cleverly spent the summer campaigning alongside Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch after they put their names forward in the nominations at the end of July.

Dame Priti and Mr Stride were the first two contenders to be eliminated in September, leaving four by the time the party gathered in Birmingham for its autumn conference.

While the candidates spent four days vying to secure votes, both Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick found themselves embroiled in rows during the conference.

Ms Badenoch ended up asserting her support for maternity pay after comments caused a controversy.

Meanwhile, Mr Jenrick faced heat from other leadership rivals over claims he made about UK special forces.

Shadow home secretary Mr Cleverly looked in pole position after the conference, coming top of the third ballot of MPs with 39 votes, while Mr Tugendhat got knocked out after securing only 20.

But surprisingly Mr Cleverly then did not make the final two names to be put to members the following day, securing only 37 votes compared with Mr Jenrick's 41 and Ms Badenoch's 42.

MPs were blamed for trying to be 'too clever' by engaging in tactical voting to engineer who else was in the final two.

Since then Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch have been travelling up and down the country in their attempts to secure member support.

At the start of the campaign, Ms Badenoch wrote in The Telegraph that the party 'need to get back to first principles' and has been light on the details of specific policies she would enact.

Amid the events and speeches, Mr Jenrick criticised his opponent for offering up what he called 'a promise of a plan' rather than more concrete policies.

He told the BBC's Westminster Hour in October that 'I think it's disrespectful to the members and the public to ask for their votes without saying where you stand on the big issues facing our country today'.

Mr Jenrick added: 'A plan today is what I offer. A promise of a plan at some point in the future is what my opponent offers, and I don't think that's the way to rebuild the public's trust and confidence in us.'

The contest was triggered after Mr Sunak announced he would step aside in the wake of the party's election defeat in the summer.

Earlier this week the former prime minister played down suggestions that he would be leaving Westminster for California, and told MPs that he would be spending more time in the 'greatest place on earth'.

'If anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire,' he told Prime Minister's Questions.

There was speculation earlier this year that the Richmond and Northallerton MP  who previously worked at a hedge fund in California  could be in line for a job in Silicon Valley.

The leadership rivals shake hands after the announcement of the result today

James Cleverly - seen as the favourite for leader until his shock eviction in the final round of voting by MPs last month - has announced he will not take a job in the shadow cabinet

'Today is my last appearance at PMQs and I'm happy to confirm reports that I will now be spending more time in the greatest place on earth where the scenery is indeed worthy of a movie set, and everyone is a character,' he said.

'That's right, if anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire.'

The Conservatives returned MPs in 121 seats at the July poll, down hundreds on their 2019 result, having secured less than 25 per cent of the vote nationally.

Speaking on Downing Street the morning after the election, Mr Sunak apologised to the country and his party.

'To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry,' he said.

'I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change.

'And yours is the only judgment that matters.

'I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.'

Speaking ahead of Saturday's result, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the contest has shown the Conservatives are 'refusing to take responsibility for the damage they did to the country'.

She said: 'Whoever wins the Conservative Party leadership contest will have to carry the can for years of failure that tanked the economy and left the NHS on its knees.'
Rachel Reeves and her husband are reportedly collecting 74,000 a year in rent from two properties - despite hammering landlords in this week's Budget.

Stamp duty costs shot up from three to five per cent in the Chancellor's first Budget on Wednesday, targeting landlords and homeowners buying a second property.

Critics of the move warned the surcharge on extra properties 'makes no sense' and would ultimately see the costs pushed onto tenants.

Rachel Reeves and her husband will themselves be affected by the change, already effective, as the Telegraph reports they collect more than 6,000 a month in rent.

The outlet reports that Ms Reeves and partner Nicholas Joicey let out their four-bedroom home in south London for around 3,200 a month, having moved into Downing Street.

Mr Joicey is also believed to have let his two-bed flat in central London, with a market rental of nearly 3,000 a month, according to the Bricks&Logic property website.

Rachel Reeves stands outside Number 11 Downing Street with the red Budget box on Oct 30

Nick Joicey is Chief Operating Officer and Second Permanent Secretary at Defra

Mr Joicey is believed to have rented out his flat since 2011, the Telegraph understands.

A monthly income of 6,200 would scale up to 74,400 over a period of 12 months.

Ms Reeves has faced backlash from landlords over changes announced in Wednesday's Budget.

Effective from October 31, those purchasing additional properties have to pay a five per cent surcharge.

This is a two percentage point increase of the current 3 per cent surcharge, with Ms Reeves boasting the move will benefit other homeowners.

The Treasury forecast that the increase in the surcharge could earn 310million per year by 2029-30.

But critics suggested the additional costs facing landlords with multiple homes could end up being pushed onto tenants.

Responding to the increase in the surcharge on additional properties, Ben Beadle, of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: 'Hiking stamp duty on homes to rent when 21 people are chasing every rental property makes no sense.'

'The Chancellor has failed to heed the warnings of the Institute for Fiscal Studies that higher taxes on the rental market lead only to rents going up.

'What tenants needed was a Budget to boost the supply of new, high-quality rental housing. What we got is a recipe for less choice and higher rents.'

Craig Fish of Lodestone Mortgages said: 'This is another nail in the coffin of buy-to-let.

'Transactions in process are now at real risk as investors may well pull out and this will have a negative impact on any property chains where a buy-to-let is involved.

'This is going to have a further negative impact on housing stock, pushing rents higher.'

The Chancellor also made no announcement on extending the current discount on stamp duty, which was introduced by the Tories in 2022.

It means, from 31 March next year, home-buyers face paying thousands of pounds more in stamp duty.

An analysis by Savills showed first-time buyers in London would pay an additional 6,250 from 1 April, on average, when the tax-free threshold reduces.

Across the whole UK, the ending of the temporary stamp duty discount will see an extra 2,500 paid on the average home purchase.

Property experts warned of Britons rushing to complete home purchases before the cliff-edge deadline at the end of March.

The Prime Minister sparked fury in the lead-up to the Budget by suggesting landlords, shareholders and savers did not count as 'working people' - and thus would not be protected from tax increases per Labour's manifesto.

Labour's election manifesto maintained that the party 'will not increase taxes on working people, which is why we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT'.

Asked on Sky News whether 'someone who works but gets their income from assets as well, such as shares and property' qualified, Sir Keir Starmer replied: 'Well, they wouldn't come within my definition.'

He defined working people as somebody who 'goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque' but they did not have the ability to 'write a cheque to get out of difficulties'.

Ms Reeves delivers her Autumn budget statement in the House of Commons on October 30

Keir Starmer leaves Downing Street ahead of Prime Minister's Questions on October 30

Amid public backlash, Downing Street was forced to clarify that Sir Keir had meant people who 'primarily get their income from assets'.

'He's accepting that people have some savings. Those might be cash savings, or stocks and shares ISA savings or whatever,' the Prime Minister's spokesperson said.

'So it's not precluding people that have a small amount of savings. Those individuals clearly are working people.'

The Chancellor has since conceded that workers would be hit by the knock-on impact of her Budget, which will raise taxes by 40 billion a year.

She insisted: 'I said that it will have consequences. It will mean businesses will have to absorb some of this through profits and it is likely to mean that wage increases might be slightly less than they otherwise would have been.'

Ms Reeves urged firms to accept reduced profits rather than squeezing staff wages.
Farmers have been left furious at Labour's Environment Secretary Steve Reed - over the choice of his wellies.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was pictured just three months after he assumed his current role sporting a pair of 420 Le Chameau wellies, which were reportedly gifted to him by Lord Waheed Alli.

According to reports, the Labour peer has donated tens of thousands of pounds to seven Cabinet ministers, including Mr Reed.

And for farmers already furious at Budget plans to hike inheritance tax on agricultural land, the MP for Streatham's choice of footwear is one step too far.

'You'll never see a farmer who wears 400 wellies, because we're getting them covered in muck every day', Aled Thomas, a farmer and Conservative councillor based in Pembrokeshire, Wales, told the Telegraph.

'How can the MP for Streatham know anything about what's going on in the depths of rural Wales or England? There's this disconnect between the reality on the ground and what people are actually going through and what happens within the M25'.

He added that Mr Reed, 60, has left people feeling 'quite insulted'.

Steve Reed was pictured wearing 420 Le Chameau wellies with former National Farmers Union president Minette Batters

According to the Le Chameau website, the expense of the handmade boots is owed to the craftsmanship of a master bootmaker, as well as the use of high quality materials

Andrew Court, a farmer from Staffordshire, added that 'anything above 100 is not really appropriate for farming'.

'If you want to make the right impression with people, you probably want a more practical down-to-earth welly', he told the Telegraph.

According to the Le Chameau website, the expense of the handmade boots is owed to the craftsmanship of a master bootmaker, as well as the use of high quality materials.

It comes as farmers across the country have been left furious over the reforms announced by Rachel Reeves in her first Budget on Wednesday.

From April 2026, inheritance tax (IHT) will be levied at an effective rate of 20 per cent on the value of business and agricultural assets over 1million. Previously, farmland was exempt from the tax.

The changes mean that tenant farmers could be forced out as large landowners can secure alternative tax exemptions if land is used differently, while some will be unable to pass their farms down through their families.

Farming groups have been left furious over the change, with industry leaders accusing the Government of breaking 'clear promises' not to tamper with exemptions for agricultural property.

The National Farmers' Union predicted the change would 'snatch away the next generation's ability to carry on producing British food'  and could lead to higher prices.

And the Country Land and Business Association said the move would hit 70,000 farms  calling it 'nothing short of a betrayal' which would 'jeopardise the future of rural businesses'.

High profile celebrities like Jeremy Clarkson and Kirstie Allsopp have also blasted the Government for the move, with Ms Allsopp accusing Ms Reeves of having 'f***ed all farmers' and 'destroyed their ability to pass farms on to their children'.

From April 2026, inheritance tax will be levied at an effective rate of 20 per cent on the value of business and agricultural assets over 1million.

Ms Allsopp was the most outspoken, accusing Ms Reeves of having 'f***ed all farmers' and 'destroyed their ability to pass farms on to their children'.

And Mr Clarkson, who fronts the highly popular Clarkson's Farm series following his rural travails in the Cotswolds,posted on X: 'Farmers. I know that you have been shafted today. But please don't despair. Just look after yourselves for five short years and this shower will be gone.'

Mr Clarkson, whose show Clarkson's Farm follows his efforts to run a 1,000-acre farm in the Cotswolds, posted on X: 'Farmers. I know that you have been shafted today.

'But please don't despair. Just look after yourselves for five short years and this shower will be gone.'

Farmer Clive Bailye, who runs The Farming Forum discussion website, posted a tombstone image on social media. He said: When my parents pass away, I will have no choice but to sell the land and property. My children will never have the opportunity to farm.

The Staffordshire farmer added: There are next to no farms worth under 1million except hobby farms. A 1million farm is 100 acres just for the land and you cant make a living from 100 acres. Its almost an insult to say 1million protects the family farm.

In a sector with the highest rate of suicide of any profession, some might think its time to pass on the farm before this comes in. Is the Government going to have blood on their hands?

It comes following reports that a farmer is feared to have taken his own life after the tax grab plans were announced.

An anonymous post on the British Farming Forum said: 'This morning I found my dad in the barn having taken his own life.

'So afraid of the IHT implications on farms he took his own life rather than see the government take half the farm in IHT'.

New rules introduced by Rachel Reeves in the Budget mean inheritance tax will be levied at an effective rate of 20 per cent on the value of business and agricultural assets over 1million - axing a previous exemption

Industry leaders accused the Government of breaking clear promises not to tamper with exemptions for agricultural property (file image)

The author also claimed they believed their father aimed to 'beat the budget by ending his life' and that it is what happens when 'you have built something your entire life and see it robbed from beneath your kids' feet'.

However, the National Farmers Union (NFU) told The Sun it could not confirm whether the claims were true.

Farmers across the country are set to gather in London on November 19 as part of a major demonstration against the changes.

Many are now threatening to attend the demo with their tractors and other large machinery, which could grind the capital to a halt. Farmers last demonstrated in London in March over food security fears.

But the Chancellor and No10 have defended the change, saying little more than a quarter of farms will be affected, and even then they will pay at half the regular 40 per cent IHT rate.

Earlier this week, Ms Reeves risked sparking fresh anger when she said the change was a 'fair' way for the government to raise money for public spending.

She told Channel 4 News: 'On top of the normal inheritance tax threshold that you can pass on - a couple of million pounds including a house - to your descendants, in addition agricultural property relief will now provide another million pounds of tax-free allowance and then above that there is a 50 per cent discount on inheritance tax compared with what everyone else pays.

'We have got to raise money, I feel we've done that in fair and balanced way - 73 per cent of farmers won't be paying a single penny more in inheritance tax.'

Farmers last demonstrated in London in March over food security fears (pictured)

The National Farmers Union is to hold a major Westminster rally next month after Rachel Reeves revoked farmland's exemption from inheritance tax (IHT).

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the country had 'voted for change' and vowed to 'invest' as she mounted one of the biggest raids in history in the Commons

But the president of the NFU has said he is 'absolutely baffled' at the Government's decision to 'double down'.

Tom Bradshaw, who is meeting Mr Reed on Monday, said the current plans to change agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) 'need to be overturned and fast'.

Mr Reed said that the plans outlined in the Budget are a 'fair and balanced approach that protects family farms while also fixing the public services those same families rely on'.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph on Friday, Mr Reed said: 'I completely understand farmers' anxiety at any changes. But rural communities need a better NHS, affordable housing and public transport we can provide if we make the system fairer.

'That is why the Labour Government has announced plans to reform agricultural property relief.

'Only the richest estates will be asked to pay, not small, family farms as some misleading headlines have claimed.

'Look at the detail and you'll see that the vast majority of farmers will not be affected at all.

'They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.'
The club was asked to pay for Welcome to Country ceremonies

A surf club was told it would have to pay $2,000 to an Aboriginal corporation for the rights to hold surf events and a fundraising swim at a public beach.

The Yamba Surf Club, on NSW's far north coast, had made a request with the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to use the town's main beach to hold four events, including a nippers carnival and a fundraising ocean swim over summer.

The club was told it would have to pay a $500 service fee for each event for the corporation to perform Welcome to Country ceremonies.

Surf club members had made the request after the Yaegl people were granted native title over land in the area in 2015, and a stretch of the ocean in 2017.

While members of the Yamba Surf Club were enraged by the fee, Yaegl Traditional Owners Corporation general manager Bill Walker said a 'misunderstanding' was to blame.

He told The Daily Telegraph the request should have come from the local council or state government, and the fee charged to them - not the surf club.

'It's a confusing process. We get a lot of negative s**t from people who don't understand the welcome to country. We don't do it as a living, we do it as a cultural activity with a fee for service that brings in income just like any other organisation,' he told the publication.

'If it's a government agency that does it, we do charge because it's a legitimate act. But we're not going to charge the surf life saving club.

The Yamba Surf Club, on NSW's far north coast, had made a request with the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to use the town's main beach to hold four events, including a nippers carnival and a fundraising ocean swim over summer

'As far as I'm concerned they can still do their activities and we will not be charging them a fee for service, because the right people didn't come to us in the first place. It should have been the state or local government.'

Surf club officials had written to the corporation telling them that they understood the importance of respecting native title rights 'and are committed to ensuring that our activities comply with all relevant regulations and agreements'.

An official from the Yaegl wrote back to the surf club stating that a $500 'fee for service payment' was required to be paid 'directly to the Corporation who will then engage a Yaegl Native Title Holder to administer a Welcome to Country'.

'The Corporation will send through an invoice for payment once the event has occurred and as we are a non for profit (sic) organisation we would appreciate a prompt turnaround time for payment to be administered,' the letter said.

'This will support all visitors and participants to these fundraising events (to) retain an understanding of the importance of respecting Yaegl people's Native Title Rights and Interests on Land and Sea and Waterways when competing (on) or visiting our beautiful Yaegl Country.'

The club was told it would have to pay a $500 service fee for each event for the corporation to perform Welcome to Country ceremonies (pictured is Welcome to Country ceremony before Super Rugby match)

A standard fee for welcome to country ceremonies ranges from $300 to $750, according to the National Association for the Visual Arts.

One surf club member member told the publication a lot of people were 'outraged' by the request.

'It's pretty un-Australian to charge anyone to use the beach, let alone volunteer surf lifesavers wanting to compete and raise funds for their club,' he said.

Another member added that surf club were already struggling financially.

They added that the club's only fundraising events were the ocean swim, a trivia night and crab race.

Mr Walker said the Yaegl had non-exclusive native title rights over the beach and reaffirmed the surf club would be free to run their activities.

A Welcome to Country is a ceremony performed by Traditional Custodians to welcome visitors to their ancestral land and usually takes place in the form of singing, dancing and smoking ceremonies.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Yamba Surf Club and the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation for further comment.
Aussies will have 20 per cent of their student debt wiped under a major new plan set to be announced by the Albanese Government.

The Prime Minister will unveil the proposal in Adelaide on Sunday, saying the government will ensure the education system is 'fairer and affordable for every Australian'.

'I will always fight for every young Australian to have access to a good education,' Mr Albanese will say, according to extracts of his speech.

'We're already fixing indexation and today, we are going further by taking 20 per cent off student debt - for everyone with a student debt.'

About $16billion in student debt is expected to be cut from all student loan accounts that exist as of June next year.

This will mean average HELP debts of $27,600 will be slashed by about $5,520 next year.

The change will apply to all HELP, Vet Student Loans, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans and other income-contingent student loans.

Mr Albanese said the move will help those with student debt 'now' while the government works to 'deliver a better deal for every student in the years ahead'.

Aussies will have 20 per cent of their student debt wiped under a major new plan set to be announced by the Albanese Government (pictured are students at the University of NSW)

'Our whole nation benefits when we make it easier for people to access education,' he said.

'This is about opening the doors of opportunity - and widening them.

'No matter where you live or how much your parents earn - we will work to ensure the doors of opportunity are open for you.'

Legislation for the commitment is set to be introduced next year.

The changes come after the government reformed the way study loans are indexed, backdated to June 1 2023, which will wipe $3billion from student debts.

The major move comes just a day after the government pledged to raise the minimum repayment threshold for student loans.

Mr Albanese is expected to land in Adelaide this weekend for a campaign rally with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.

Called 'Building Australia's Future', Mr Albanese is set to lay out a plan to save average HELP debt holders some $680 in repayments per year at the rally.

Anthony Albanese is set to announce that $16billion in student debt will be cut from all student loan accounts that exist as of June next year

The plan to make 'the system better and fairer' would raise the minimum repayment threshold from around $54,000 in 2024-25 to $67,000 in 2025-26 and index it to keep it at 75 per cent of graduate earnings.

It would also shift repayments to a marginal repayment system in line with recommendations.

This means graduates would pay a percentage of all income above a threshold amount rather a percentage of total income after a threshold is hit.

A graduate earning $70,000 annually would have their minimum repayments cut by $1,300, while a graduate earning $80,000 would get a cut of $850.

The relief would applied to graduates earning up to $180,000 per year.

Anyone earning above that would continue paying a flat 10 per cent rate.
The city with the lowest cost of living in America has been revealed as a retail metropolis near the southern border.

McAllen in Texas is located along the US-Mexico border and was ranked number one for the lowest cost of living by Realtor.com.

The cost of homes are much lower compared to the national average, bringing the overall cost of living down, with the average home price being just $275,000.

'Nationally, the home price-to-income ratio is around 5.5 as of August 2024, meaning home prices are 5.5 times the median household income,' Senior Research Analyst at John Burns Research and Consulting, John Macke, told Realtor.com.

Add on that property taxes are much lower in the Southern state and there's no income tax, it helps keep cost of living lower, according to Real Estate Agent, Cara Ameer.

McAllen, Texas is located along the US-Mexico border and was ranked the number one for the lowest cost of living in the States by Realtor.com

The cost of homes are much lower in McAllen compared to the national average, bringing the overall cost of living down. The average home price in the city is $275,000

Compared to national averages, those paying $100 for necessities is equivalent to McAllen locals paying $86.92, according to Realtor.com.

Overall, the cost of living in McAllen is 13 percent lower than the national average.

And due to its proximity to the border, it is a popular shopping destination for tourists on a day trip, according to CNBC.

The town of nearly 38,000 is a 'shopping mecca', according to its website, with huge centers such as La Plaza mall attracting millions each year.

All of the cities that made Realtor.com's list are located in the South and Midwest, with Wichita, Kansas, coming in second, followed by Little Rock, Arkansas.

Three Ohio cities - the most of any state on the list - made the cut, with Toledo coming in fourth, Dayton in sixth, and Akron in eighth.

Overall, the cost of living in McAllen is 13 percent lower than the national average

Add on that property taxes are much lower in the Southern state and there's no income tax, it helps keep cost of living lower

Other cities include Scranton, Pennsylvania; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Birmingham, Alabama; and El Paso, Texas.

Wichita came in second, with home prices being around $293,000 on average.

The city has a long history of entrepreneurship with it being the birthplace of Pizza Hut, White Castle, and Koch Industries, according to Realtor.com.

Little Rock came in third and is popular with those from California looking for a cheaper lifestyle, the outlet said.

The average home price is $291,000.
A Wisconsin city which is the most 'politically divided in America' is being torn apart by warring locals in the run up to the election.

The partition in 'friendly' Algoma is so deep it even runs between husbands and wives.

The city of 3,200 people has always been tightly contested, but this election things are heating up even further.

Residents have been drawn into screaming matches in the street and even say they fear being 'shot' for declaring their political allegiances too outwardly.

Meanwhile, the intersection between the homes of two politically opposed neighbors has become so overrun with competing campaign signs it has been dubbed 'crazy corner'.

The Wisconsin city of Algoma is one of the most politically divided in the US

Dennis Paul, a Republican and Abbey Bridges, a Democrat, recently got into an online spat which spilled over into the real world when Paul, 65, began hurling insults at Bridges, 40 as she walked her dog, the New York Times reports.

Bridges ended up calling the police after she claims Paul made threats against her, which he denied.

Bridges said she has resorted to keeping her shades drawn to avoid any further confrontations.

'He called me a whole bunch of things that really didn't make sense,' she told the NYT. 'Now, I am avoiding him like the plague.'

Paul admitted to shouting but said he has 'no problem' with his neighbors ,even though he said he has had people honking and giving the finger to him over his Trump signs.

Their dispute began over an anonymous post in the Algoma community Facebook page, urging people to 'choose kindness' and not to tamper with people's political lawn signs.

The apparently innocuous request spawn a thread of more than 100 comments as feuding locals got into a heated back and forth.

The response to the mild mannered message is perhaps indicative of the political climate in Algoma, which is now taking up increasing amounts of police time.

Locals have become embroiled in heated online debates which have spilled into every day life

Algamo resident and proud Republican Dennis Paul ended up getting into a verbal back and forth with his Democrat voting neighbor which resulted in the police being called

In the last election, the Democrats won by just six votes in Algamo, which is currently polling too close to call

Police Chief David Allen has already had to deal with teens knocking down Kamala Harris signs, a Democrat supporter receiving anonymous hate mail and numerous complaints about campaign signs where they shouldn't be.

'It just seems like it just makes my job harder,' Chief Allen said. 'And it makes my officers' jobs harder. Their jobs are hard enough doing the things that they're dealing with.'

Outside the political divides, Algoma is a charming waterfront city best known for its picturesque harbor and small town feel.

The city's marketing slogan is, 'friendly Algoma', something which local Jacqueline Mary pointed out during the back and forth on the anonymous Facebook post.

'Let's try to live up to the marketing message please!' She urged among the slew of charged messages.

Margins in Algoma have always been tight. In the last election, Joe Biden won out by just six votes.

The local coffee club, run by Dusty Moore, meets every Friday and attracts a politically diverse group.

Kewaunee County Democrat Party Chair Stan Johnson's wife is the sister of a Republican official also living in the city. The two find a way to keep the peace in their family despite their different beliefs

The police chief described how his force is overworked dealing with the many incidents linked to political tensions

But one member recalled his fear after Moore turned up to one meeting sporting a 'white dudes for Harris' hat.

'I'm sitting here thinking, are we on a street that has a lot of Trump people?' Melanie Shaw said. 'Like we're kind of in an open area. Are we going to get shot at or anything?'

However, amid the tensions many locals find a way to live in harmony with those across the aisle.

Lawyer Jacob Blazkovec, who is an official with the county Republican Party, says his sister, who is married to the chair of the county Democratic party Stan Johnson, helps keep the peace.

'Our views are different politically,' Johnson said. 'But that's her brother and I'm her husband. She's the one that keeps the family together.'

But Blazkovec revealed there is division even in his home, with his wife Peggy, an independent, refusing his request to put up a Trump sign.

'She goes, 'I will not vote for that man,' and I think it's because of his character,' Blazkovec said. 'So we agree to disagree, and our votes are going to cancel out.'

Two residents who live opposite each other have begun putting out so many competing campaign sings their street has been dubbed 'crazy corner' by locals

City clerk Erin Mueller was also confident that the town would get through the election in one piece.

'This is a very small community, where everybody cares about everybody, regardless of what your political beliefs are,' she said. 'Everybody's going to sit at the same table and drink out of the same pot of coffee.'
Ahead of one of the most polarizing Presidential elections, a record number of ultra-wealthy Americans are packing their bags and seeking refuge abroad.

Citing mounting fears of political upheaval and economic instability, many high-net worth families look to abandon their lives in the US for 'greener pastures', regardless of which candidate wins the coveted position.

Attorneys and advisors to family offices and well-off families said they are seeing record demand from clients wanting to secure second passports or long-term residencies abroad.

'We've never seen demand like we see now,' Dominic Volek, group head of private clients at Henley & Partners, which advises the wealthy on international migration, told NBC.

Citing mounting fears of political upheaval and economic instability , many high-net worth families look to abandon their lux lives in the US for 'greener pastures', regardless of which candidate wins the coveted position

Attorneys and advisors to family offices and well-off families said they are seeing record demand from clients wanting to secure second passports or long-term residencies abroad. Pictured: Santorini, Greece, one of many places Americans are seeking asylum

Volek added that for the first time, wealthy Americans are decidedly the company's largest client base, accounting for 20 percent of its business - more than any other nationality.

He also said the number of Americans organizing plans to move abroad is up at least 30 percent since last year.

The firm added that, in the past four years, inquiries from Americans seeking a second passport or alternative residence has skyrocketed by an astonishing 504 percent.

Quoting issues such as civil and social unrest, political attacks on democracy, along with growing opportunities and lower taxes overseas, well-off Americans are now opting for 'more welcoming' countries like Portugal, Malta, Spain, Greece and Italy.

The mounting interest in leaving the US first skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic but now, the number of Americans hiring him for possible moves overseas has tripled over last year, David Lesperance, managing partner of an international tax and immigration firm, said.

The ultra-wealthy view citizenship in one country as a personal and financial risk as it offers the opportunity to diversify their investments and assets. Yet, the supercharged Presidential election and current US political climate have accelerated the push by wealthy Americans to consider a 'Plan B' abroad.

Quoting issues such as civil and social unrest , political attacks on democracy, along with growing opportunities and lower taxes overseas, well-off Americans are now opting for 'more welcoming' countries like Portugal, Malta, Spain, Greece and Italy. Pictured: A quiet square in Porto, Portugal

The ultra-wealthy view citizenship in one country as a personal and financial risk as it offers the opportunity to diversify their investments and assets. Yet, the supercharged Presidential election and current US political climate have accelerated the push by wealthy Americans to consider a 'Plan B' abroad. Pictured: Picturesque skyline in Siena, Italy

For more than three decades, Lesperance said that his American clients were mainly interested in moving overseas for tax-related reasons. Now, he says, 'it's politics and fear of violence', with next week's election turbocharging those fears.

'For some of them, the primary thing is "I don't want to live in a MAGA America,"' Lesperance said of his clientele.

Others are worried about violence if Donald Trump loses, or Vice President Kamala Harris' plan to tax unrealized capital gains for those worth more than $100 million.

While tax analysts say the unrealized gains plan has little chance of passing Congress, even with a Democratic majority, Lesperance said it's all 'still a risk.'

'Even if there is only a 3 percent chance that it happens, you still want to take out insurance,' he said.

The two candidates vying for the greatly sought after seat will learn their fate following next week's election. As for the rest of America, only time will reveal the what is to come after the tightly contended race.
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Defeated Robert Jenrick's wife struggled to hide her disappointment today as the Tories picked Kemi Badenoch as their new leader instead of him.

Michal Berkner was expressive as the result was announced in central London today on live television.

The high-flying corporate lawyer, who has been described as 'a force of nature' by Tory MPs, began applauding Ms Badenoch's win alongside her husband before trying to give up after a few seconds.

But she started again with a roll of her eyes as she realised that everyone else around her - including her defeated spouse - had kept going.

She then congratulated the party leader with a somewhat rictus grin before Ms Badenoch made her way to the stage to give her first speech as leader.

And her displeasure was obvious to watching social media users. One quipped: 'Robert Jenrick's ''gracious loser'' face needs work. His wife's attempt is non-existent.'

The high-flying corporate lawyer, who has been described as 'a force of nature' by Tory MPs, began applauding Ms Badenoch's win alongside her husband before trying to give up after a few seconds. But she started again with a roll of her eyes as she realised that everyone else around her - including her defeated spouse - had kept going.

She then congratulated the party leader with a somewhat rictus grin as Ms Badenoch made her way to the stage to give her first speech as leader.

Ms Berkner has been described as the driving force behind her husband's campaign

Kemi Badenoch paid tribute to Mr Jenrick after her election, saying he fought a great campaign.

'Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we don't actually disagree on very much, and I have no doubt that you have a key role to play in our party for many years to come,' she added.

Ms Berkner, who is nine years older than her husband, with whom she has three children, has been a central figure in his leadership campaign.

She was a high profile presence at his side at the Conservative Party conference earlier this year.

The pair met at Skadden Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom  a New York law firm which has done work for Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs, including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.

Ms Berkner, who is nine years older than her husband, with whom she has three children, has been a central figure in his leadership campaign.

She was a high profile presence at his side at the Conservative Party conference earlier this year.
DNA from a beer can led Montana authorities to a suspect who confessed to the murder of a man initially thought to have been killed by a bear.

Police arrested a suspect in the brutal killing of Dustin Kjersem, a camper initially believed to have fallen victim to an animal attack near Big Sky.

Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, confessed to the killing, which investigators described as a 'chance encounter.' There does not appear to be any connection between them.

The discovery of Kjersem's body in his tent on October 12 shocked the community and prompted a three-week manhunt.

Witnesses at first suspected a bear attack due to the severity of Kjersem's injuries, but an autopsy later revealed multiple 'chop wounds,' including to his skull. With no signs of animal involvement, police quickly shifted their focus to a homicide investigation.

DNA from a beer can led Montana authorities to a suspect who confessed to the beating and murder of a man initially thought to have been killed by a bear

On Thursday, police announced the arrest of Daren Christopher Abbey, of Basin, Montana, for the death of 35-year-old Dustin Mitchell Kjersem (pictured) of Belgrade

Abbey faces charges of deliberate homicide and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. If convicted of deliberate homicide, he could face a minimum of 10 years in prison or up to a life sentence.

Kjersem had arrived in the Moose Creek area on October 10 to set up a campsite, intending to pick up his girlfriend the next evening for a weekend together.

When he failed to show, his concerned girlfriend drove to the site, finding Kjersem's lifeless body in his tent.

Authorities traced Abbey to the crime through DNA evidence on a beer can Kjersem had shared with him the night of the attack.

Sheriff Dan Springer from Gallatin County said Abbey had planned to camp at Moose Creek and encountered Kjersem, who welcomed him and offered him a beer.

At some point, Abbey allegedly struck Kjersem in the head with a piece of wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and dealt a fatal blow with an ax. Abbey then reportedly removed items from the campsite to conceal his involvement and returned the next day to eliminate more evidence.

'This appears to be a heinous crime committed by an individual who had no regard for the life of Dustin Kjersem,' said Sheriff Springer, adding that the investigation is ongoing as detectives work to understand the motive.

Abbey, who was already on conditional release for a previous DUI, was arrested and remains in custody without bond on charges of deliberate homicide and evidence tampering. The homicide charge alone carries a potential life sentence.

The violent and unprovoked nature of the crime has raised concerns among campers in Custer Gallatin National Forest, where Kjersem was killed.

Investigators described the incident as a 'chance encounter,' noting that Abbey allegedly returned to the scene the next day to remove evidence (Pictured: Dustin Kjersem)

Mark Genito, a former backcountry ranger in Yellowstone, noted that despite common fears of wild animals, the real threat in the wilderness often comes from other people.

'Most of the things that are on four legs in the wilderness are more afraid of us than we are of them. And the biggest threat to your safety is always mankind  is your fellow human, sadly,' he said.

Camping experts urge people to be cautious and trust their instincts, especially when encountering strangers.

Security consultant George Babnick advises campers to carefully select campsites, avoid areas with signs of prior disruptive activity, and be mindful of any unsettling behavior nearby.

Public safety officials also emphasize their role in protecting campers. During peak seasons, rangers and patrols actively monitor campgrounds, offering assistance, warnings, or citations if necessary.

'Most of the things that are on four legs in the wilderness are more afraid of us than we are of them. And the biggest threat to your safety is always mankind  is your fellow human, sadly.

Abbey faces charges of deliberate homicide and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. If convicted of deliberate homicide, he could face a minimum of 10 years in prison or up to a life sentence.

Kjersem, a passionate outdoorsman and a dedicated father, was remembered in his obituary as someone who cherished his daughter's artwork, often decorating his home with her creations.

His family expressed gratitude on social media to law enforcement for capturing Abbey, saying it brought them 'a little bit of closure,' reports Fox 8.
Prince Andrew has broken cover on his shooting trip with daughter Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank after it was revealed that the King has cut off his '1m-a-year' allowance.

The Duke, 64, was spotted driving on the grounds of Windsor, to join his youngest daughter and her husband of six years on a pheasant shoot.

It's the first time he has been seen since being financially cut off by his brother, marking a new low in relations between the siblings.

An updated biography by acclaimed royal writer Robert Hardman, serialised by the Mail, reveals that despite the Duke of Yorks attempts to call the monarchs bluff, Charles has acted decisively.

In recent weeks he has instructed his Keeper of the Privy Purse, the monarchys finance director, to sever his beleaguered younger brothers annual personal allowance - believed to be in the region of 1 million a year - and no longer pays for his seven-figure private security detail.

The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King, confirms a source.

The Duke, 64, was spotted driving on the grounds of Windsor, to join his youngest daughter and her husband of six years on a pheasant shoot

Prince Andrew has now officially been financially cut off by the King, marking a new low in relations between the royal brothers

Princess Eugenie and Husband Jack Brooksbank (pictured driving) are hosting a Pheasant Shoot at Windsor

An updated biography by acclaimed royal writer Robert Hardman, serialised by the Mail, reveals that Charles has acted decisively

The King has long made clear his wish to see Andrew move out of his vast 30-room mansion at Windsor, Royal Lodge, a wish he reportedly shared with the late Queen Elizabeth.

According to sources, had she lived another year, the late Queen would have forced the Duke to leave his family home and downsize to Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan.

Sources close to the Duke of York have long argued that he had a cast-iron long-term lease on the late Queen Mother's former home in Windsor Great Park.

He is said to have made clear to the King's advisers that they have no right to force him to downsize and has firmly rejected suggestions that he move to nearby Frogmore Cottage.

Having been financially cut off, the Duke will be forced to find the funds for the upkeep of his property in addition to his security detail.

According to Hardman, this apparently includes the cost of protecting several valuable and historical works of art and pieces of furniture borrowed from the Royal Collection, the treasure trove of antiques held in trust by the monarch on behalf of the nation.

The Duke has repeatedly asserted that he can continue to pay for his own upkeep, claiming to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs.

The Duke is currently enjoying a weekend of pheasant shooting hosted by Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack

Sources have said that had she lived another year, Queen Elizabeth would have forced Andrew to leave his family home, Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park

She would have made him downsize to Frogmore Cottage, the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Andrew has been stripped of his patronages and military associations and effectively barred from using his HRH title in public over his association with Jeffrey Epstein

The Duke was stripped of his patronages and military associations following his infamous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis

The Duke was stripped of his patronages and military associations and is effectively barred from using his HRH title in public following his infamous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis about his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He no longer undertakes royal duties as a result.

An updated edition of Hardmans biography, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, which was published earlier this year, is now being brought out in hardback with extra material and three new chapters packed with fascinating detail.

Among the new revelations is how Prince Harrys determination to doggedly pursue legal action against the Home Office over its decision to withdraw his round-the-clock security when he quit royal duties has driven a wedge between father and son.

The King fears that if he repairs his relationship with Harry he could be dragged into the case, placing him in legal jeopardy.

Royal insiders have also hit back at suggestions that they failed to help Meghan when she joined the Royal Family, saying she threw their offer back in their faces.

They insist, far from throwing the Duchess to the wolves, as she has suggested, they did everything in their power to help her - and it was she who said no.

Sources say the King is not against some sort of rapprochement with the Sussexes despite the barrage of criticism he had received. But it has not been an easy process.

When Harry returned to the UK in May the two did not meet. The prince was offered a room at Buckingham Palace but instead chose to stay in a hotel.

We were told it was for security reasons, says a member of the Kings staff. Im not sure you could get anywhere more secure than the Palace.
Kemi Badenoch's assent to the Conservative leadership was hailed on all sides of politics today as she became the first black leader of a Westminster political party.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer led praise for the 44-year-old Londoner, born Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke to Nigerian parents.

The Labour leader branded it 'a proud moment for our country' that she had beaten Robert Jenrick. And her elevation was also seized upon by the Tories as further proof that it is more egalitarian than Labour.

She became the first black woman to lead a major European political party as she was named Conservative leader in London this morning.

The Tories have now had four female leaders, a British Asian leader and a black leader. Not only that, Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were all prime ministers, with varying levels of success.

Meanwhile Sir Keir's party has only had white, male permanent leaders at Westminster and has often struggled to even put forward viable minority candidates.

James Cleverly, the former home secretary and Tory leadership candidate, whose mother is from Sierra Leone, tweeted: 'Male, pale, and stale. Labour really do need to sort themselves out.'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer led praise for the 44-year-old Londoner, born Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke to Nigerian parents

The Tories have now had four female leaders, a British Asian leader and a black leader, while Sir Keir's party has only had white, male permanent leaders in its history

James Cleverly, the former home secretary and Tory leadership candidate, whose mother is from Sierra Leone, tweeted: 'Male, pale, and stale. Labour really do need to sort themselves out'

However, Ms Badenoch is not the first black leader in the UK. Vaughan Gething, whose mother is from Zambia, became the leader of Welsh Labour briefly earlier this year, to become the first black party leader in Western Europe before he was deposed over a donations scandal.

He was replaced by a female leader, Baroness Eluned Morgan.

Additionally, Anas Sarwar has been the British Asian leader of Scottish Labour since 2021 and Hamza Yousaf was also leader of the SNP - replacing female leader Nicola Sturgeon.

The Green Party has had three female leaders and Plaid Cymru have had a female leader.

In a post on X Sir Keir said: 'Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch on becoming the Conservative Party's new leader.

'The first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.

'I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people.'

And Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey added: 'I'd like to congratulate Kemi Badenoch on being elected leader of the Conservative Party.

'The election of the first Black leader of a major UK political party is a historic moment for the country.'

And Josh Babarinde, the Lib Dem MP whose father is Nigerian, added: 'Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch as Tory leader. Genuine respect. Kemi and the country have come so far.

'What we may agree on: That Naija jollof trumps all jollof.

'What we'll disagree on: Her view that maternity pay has gone "too far" & more.'
Six counties in Idaho will no longer be offering the COVID-19 vaccine after a regional health department board banned it.

In a 4-3 decision, the Southwest District Health - which covers several counties, including three in the Boise metropolitan area - decided to ban the controversial vaccine, despite concern from state health officials.

The board made the decision after watching presentations from multiple doctors that have been accused of spreading conspiracy theories, including Dr. Peter McCollough, a cardiologist who had his license threatened by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 2022.

They also heard from Idaho pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole; Dr. Renata Moon, who questioned vaccines before the Senate; and Dr. James Thorp, who appeared on the documentary Died Suddenly, which has since been debunked, according to Boise State Public Radio.

They were invited to speak by the only physician on the board, Dr. John Tribble.

The board also received more than 290 public comments, many of which called for an end to vaccine mandates or taxpayer funding of the vaccines, neither of which are happening in the district.

In a 4-3 decision, the Southwest District Health - which covers several counties, including three in the Boise metropolitan area - decided to ban the controversial vaccine, despite concern from state health officials

The board made the decision after watching presentations from multiple doctors that have been accused of spreading conspiracy theories, including Dr. Peter McCollough, a cardiologist who had his license threatened. The speakers were invited by Dr. John Tribble (pictured)

Dr. Perry Jansen, who works in the district, argued for the vaccine and its safety, saying: 'Our request of the board is that we would be able to carry and offer those [vaccines], recognizing that we always have these discussions of risks and benefits.

'This is not a blind, everybody-gets-a-shot approach. This is a thoughtful approach.'

Board Chairman Kelly Aberasturi also expressed disappointment with the decision, but said he supported them.

He said the board had overstepped the relationship between patients and their doctors - and possibly opened the door to blocking other vaccines or treatments.

'So now, you're telling me that I have the right to override that doctor? Because I know more than he does?' he said, according to Boise State Public Radio.

'It has to do with the right of the individual to make that decision on their own. Not for me to dictate to them what they will do. Sorry, but this pisses me off.'

Fellow board member Jennifer Riebe agreed with Aberasturi's concerns that it won't stop at just the COVID-19 vaccine and it could come down to the board making decisions on every vaccine.

'I'm not comfortable with that,' she said, according to Boise State Public Radio. 'It may be COVID now, maybe we'll go down the same road with the measles vaccine or the shingles vaccine coverage.'

Board members in favor of the decision argued people can get vaccinated elsewhere, and that providing the shots was equivalent to signing off on their safety.

Some may be reluctant to get vaccinated or boosted because of misinformation about the shots, despite evidence that they're safe and have saved millions of lives.

Dr. Perry Jansen (left), who works in the district, argued for the vaccine and its safety. And Board Chairman Kelly Aberasturi (right) also expressed disappointment with the decision. He said the board had overstepped the relationship between patients and their doctors

However, the people getting vaccinated at the health department - including people without housing, people who are homebound and those in long-term care facilities or in the immigration process - had no other options, Jansen and Aberasturi said.

'I've been homeless in my lifetime, so I understand how difficult it can be when you're trying to get by and get ahead,' Aberasturi told AP. 'This is where we should be stepping in and helping.

'But we have some board members who have never been there, so they don't understand what it's like.'

State health officials have said that they 'recommend that people consider the COVID-19 vaccine.'

Idaho Health Department spokesperson AJ McWhorter declined to comment on 'public health district business' to AP, but noted that COVID-19 vaccines are still available at community health centers for people who are uninsured.

Aberasturi said he plans to ask at the next board meeting if the health department can at least be allowed to vaccinate older patients and residents of long-term care facilities.

State health officials have said that they ' recommend that people consider the COVID-19 vaccine.' The vaccines will still available at community health centers for people who are uninsured

He believes the board is supposed to be caring for the 'health and well-being' of the district's residents.

'I believe the way we went about this thing is we didn't do that due diligence,' he told AP.

Aberasturi said he plans to ask at the next board meeting if the health department can at least be allowed to vaccinate older patients and residents of long-term care facilities.

He believes the board is supposed to be caring for the 'health and well-being' of the district's residents.

'I believe the way we went about this thing is we didn't do that due diligence,' he told AP.
France is at a 'tipping point' on drug-related violence, the country's new Interior Minister has warned, following a bloody shootout of some 400 gang members in the historic city of Poitiers this week.

Clashes broke out in front of a restaurant on Thursday after shots were 'fired from a passing car, injuring a number of people', before police could deploy tear gas and storm in to try to restore order, minister Bruno Retailleau explained.

Retailleau warned that France's struggle with drug-related violence is at a 'tipping point', and that the nation facing a choice between 'full mobilisation or the 'Mexicanisation' of the country, referring to rife organised crime and related deaths.

A 15-year-old boy shot in the head during the clashes died from his wounds today, the regional prosecutor announced. The teen had been in intensive care since the shootings on Thursday evening.

Four other minors, aged between 15 and 16, were also injured by gunshots fired in front of a restaurant during the incident.

Armed police during Retailleau's visit to Rennes amid concern over drug-related violence

France's Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau speaks with the media during his visit at the Fire and Rescue centre in Chessy, east of Paris on October 31

The shootout erupted in front of a Poitiers restaurant, reportedly the 'L'Othentik' kebab shop

French newspaper Le Parisien reported that the boy's family has been informed that he was left in a state of 'brain death', after he was rushed to the nearby Poitiers University Hospital.

The outlet also reported that the other four injured were also rushed to hospital after they suffered shots to the shoulder, head, ankle and feet, though they are in a less serious condition.

Police said that between 400 and 600 people were involved in the violence that escalated in the aftermath of the shootout, which reportedly came 'against a backdrop of tensions between the Maghreb and Guadeloupean communities.'

'What started as a shooting at a restaurant ended up in a fight between rival gangs that involved several hundred people', Retailleau said.

Retailleau, a member of the right-wing Republicans and seen as a hardliner on security issues, has called for the battle against drug violence to become a 'nationwide effort' since becoming interior minister in Prime Minister Michel Barnier's shaky minority government.

'The 'narco thugs' have no limits anymore... These shootouts aren't happening in South America, they're happening in Rennes, in Poitiers... we're at a tipping point,' Retailleau told BFMTV yesterday.

He warned that France could come to resemble Mexico, deeply scarred by cartel violence, if action is not taken.

'These shootings are not happening in South America, they are happening in Rennes, in Poitiers, in this part of western France once known for its tranquility', he starkly said.

Mexico has suffered more than 450,000 drug-related killings since the government started using the military to fight its notorious drug cartels in 2006.

Indeed, gangland violence long associated with Mediterranean port city Marseille has expanded into other French cities in recent years.

Victims can include gang members, some of them minors guarding dealing spots or employed as hitmen, but also innocent bystanders.

Cannabis plants found at a home in Poitiers during a cleanup operation in April 2024

Police have been working across towns nationwide to fight drug trafficking

Poitiers' experience on Thursday was 'unprecedented' for the city of 90,000, mayor Leonore Moncond'huy said, adding that it 'demonstrated rather serious developments in society'.

Moncond'huy said the incident was 'a new episode of violence unacceptable for the neighbourhood'.

Cops were 'set upon' by '80 to 100' people in the crowd as they tried to resolve the conflict on Thursday, and were forced to arrest dozens to restore calm by around 2:30am.

Officers ended up using tear gas to break up the fight, restoring order around 45 minutes after arriving on the scene, a source added.



French police told Le Figaro that 'at least 12' bullet holes, believed to have been 22-calibre rounds, were seen on the facade of the restaurant, while weapons were found at the scene.
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Kamala Harris appeared on Saturday Night Live for a surprise cameo in the final weekend of the campaign in what is shaping up to me historically close election with Donald Trump.

A record-breaking 70 millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, but the candidates are still pushing to persuade the final critical voters who could take them to victory.

DailyMail.com's polling partners J.L. Partners show Harris has the momentum going into sprint before November 5, with the race trending into tossup territory.

According to our model, Trump has seen a seven-point dip in the last five days as the momentum has shifted towards the Democrat.

Follow all the developments in our live blog:
Kemi Badenoch has won the race to be the leader of the Conservative Party after beating Robert Jenrick in a vote among Tory members.

By her side as she was announced ads the new Leader of the Opposition, was her husband Hamish.

Like his wife, Hamish is a true blue and also a former politician, having represented the Conservatives as a councillor in the past.

He will be hoping to add a stint as Britain's 'first gentleman' to his CV when the next election comes around, with Tories hoping internal disputes can be put to one side before the next election cycle comes around.

But what more is there to know about Hamish Badenoch? Find out below.

Kemi Badenoch was embraced by her husband Hamish as she won the race to be the leader of the Conservative Party - beating Robert Jenrick in a vote among Tory members

The couple are pictured on their way to finding out the former engineer would be the new Leader of the Opposition

Who is Kemi Badenoch's husband?

The new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch.

The family name comes from the Scottish Gaelic 'baideanach', meaning 'drowned land' - refering to a historic region of the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands where the upper River Spey caused seasonal flooding.

But he was born in Catholic maternity hospital St Teresas in Wimbledon - coincidentally, also the birthplace of his future partner.

Mr Badenoch went to Catholic private school Ampleforth - now costing over 30,000 a year for day students and 45,000 for boarders - in York.

He went on to become head boy before then studying at Cambridge University.

His mother moved to London from Ireland before Hamish was born, but Mr Badenoch once hoped to move to the Emerald Isle when he ran as the Tory candidate for Foyle in 2015.

To his disappointment, he finished last in that race with a meage 0.4 per cent of the vote - clearly lacking the knack for political success which his spouse has displayed.

How did Kemi Badenoch meet her husband?

Hamish has been by Badenoch's side for much of her political journey, helping her campaign in Dulwich before the 2010 General Election

The Badenochs first met on the campaign trail at the Dulwich and West Norwood Conservative Club in 2009.

Mr Badenoch had just moved to the area and coincidentally lived on the same road as his new colleague.

She recalled thinking her future husband fancied himself as a nominee, but the 25-year-old software engineer had already been selected.

She told The Times, 'it wasn't love at first sight,' but things developed as they worked together more and more.

Then Kemi Adegoke, the future Tory leader was fundraising ahead of the 2010 General Election when the Tories reclaimed power for the first time in over a decade

However, Badenoch lost out to former Labour minister Tessa Jowell.

Do Kemi Badenoch and her husband have children?

Kemi and Hamish married in 2012 and have three children - two sons and a daughter (pictured)

Badenoch took her newborn baby into the Commons as she was sworn in as an Member of Parliament on December 17, 2019

Kemi and Hamish married in 2012 and, like her defeated opponent Robert Jenrick, the Conservatives' new leader has three children - two sons and a daughter - who are kept out of the public eye.

The youngsters - aged from five to 12 - became an unexpected talking point during their mother's leadership campaign, when Sir Christopher Chope, 77 - a Tory backbencher supporting Jenrick - claimed the MP for North West Essex would struggle as leader due to being 'preoccupied' with motherhood.

Badenoch, who held multiple ministerial positions at once while the Tories were in power, quickly slapped down the claim.

The former Minister for Women and Equalities insisted parenting is a 'two person job'.

What is Kemi Badenoch's husband's job?

Mr Badenoch became a banker, now at Deutsche Bank, after a brief stint in politics himself

Mr Badenoch now works at Deutsche Bank after his own stint in politics.

When running to be the Tory's candidate in Foyle in 2015, Mr Badenock was in the middle of a term on Merton London Borough Council, where he represented the Conservatives from 2014 to 2018.

As he dropped out of politics, his wife only became more involved, landing her first junior ministerial position in 2019 under Boris Johnson, when she became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Families and Wellbeing.
Cardi B faced an awkward teleprompter mishap at Kamala Harris' rally on Friday, and was forced to read her endorsement of the vice president from her phone.

The outspoken rapper was telling the packed crowd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that she 'wasn't going to vote' until the Vice-President entered the race against 'bully' Trump.

The Grammy-winner then stopped in her tracks when the teleprompter suddenly had technical glitch.

For around a minute she stood on stage wondering how to respond as the audience cheered.

Cardi B faced with an awkward teleprompter mishap at Kamala Harris' rally on Friday, and was forced to read her endorsement of the vice president from her phone

A member of staff then had to frantically run to give her a phone, so should could finish the remarks in the battleground state.

Both candidates held rallies within seven miles of each other last night in the Milwaukee area as part of a fevered final push for votes in swing-state Wisconsin's largest county.

Milwaukee is home to the most Democratic votes in Wisconsin, but its conservative suburbs are where most Republicans live and are a critical area for Trump as he tries to reclaim the state he narrowly won in 2016 and lost in 2020.

Cardi B has endorsed Kamala Harris for President saying in her speech in Wisconsin that 'women have to work 10 times harder

One reason for his defeat was a drop in support in those Milwaukee suburbs and an increase in Democratic votes in the city.

'I wasn't gonna vote this year,' she said, before adding that Ms Harris taking over as the Democratic nominee changed her mind.

'She's passionate, compassionate... and most of all she is not delusional,' she said.

She referred to Donald Trump as a 'bully'.

'He said he's gonna protect women whether they like it or not,' she says.

'If his definition of protection is not the freedom of choice... then I don't want it. I'm not giving Donald Trump a second chance.'

Democrats know they must turn out voters in Milwaukee, also home to the state's largest Black population, to counter Trump's support in the suburbs and rural areas. Harris is hoping to replicate, and exceed, turnout from 2020 in the city, which voted 79 percent for Biden that year.

Both candidates held rallies within 7 miles of each other last night in the Milwaukee area as part of a fevered final push for votes in swing-state Wisconsin's largest county

Cardi B hugs Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Expo in West Allis

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a campaign rally at Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis

Cardi B speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris

Cardi B speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at the Wisconsin State Fair

The musician dressed in white took the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and immediately paused as the crowd cheered wildly.

'One second guys. One second!' she began as the crowd cheered her on.

She removed her white gloves and tried to begin speaking, but ultimately paused again after the teleprompter screen went blank.

'OK. So I don't take lightly the call,' she began, before pausing. 'I'm sorry guys, I'm a little nervous. I'm a little nervous guys, I've been waiting for this moment this whole life, my whole life.'

'I need patience over here, patience where are you girl?' she shouted. 'I need patience over here!'

'Are we ready to make history?' she asked repeatedly.

Four of the past six presidential elections in Wisconsin have been decided by less than a point, or fewer than 23,000 votes.

It was absentee votes from Milwaukee, which typically are reported early in the morning after Election Day, that tipped Wisconsin for President Joe Biden in 2020.

After about 90 seconds of stalling, finally an aide rushed on stage to give her a phone with what looked like her prepared remarks on the screen.

'Now I took my time writing my speech, so I wanted to make sure I delivered it right,' she said.

Cardi B quickly regained confidence and read off her speech from the phone.

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris delivered remarks at a campaign rally four days before Election Day

Cardi B arrives to speak during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at the Wisconsin State Fair Expo in West Allis

Cardi B admitted she was not interested in participating in the election in 2024, but that Harris' entry in the race changed her mind

It was absentee votes from Milwaukee, which typically are reported early in the morning after Election Day, that tipped Wisconsin for President Joe Biden in 2020

LMAO Cardi B's teleprompter was broken and she had no idea what to do for over a minute until someone ran on the stage to give her a phone to read off. Holy embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/BRl8xGP72e  aka (@akafaceUS) November 2, 2024

Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The hitmaker donned a red satin Jessica Rabbit costume featuring an extremely and tight corseted bodice that barely covered her nipples and a curve hugging skirt with a hip high slit

Cardi also donned purple gloves, just as the curvaceous cartoon character did in the Oscar winning 1988 whodunit. Cardi wore her hair in long red curls, and her makeup included purple eye shadow and a strong red lip

'Just like Kamala Harris I too have been the underdog, I've been underestimated, my success belittled, and discredited,' she said, praising Harris for 'standing up' to bullies.

'Women have to work ten times harder, perform ten times better and still people question us how we got to the top!' she said.

The rapper famously took shots at President Joe Biden in July when he was running for president, calling him and the Democratic party 'selfish' for not stepping aside for Harris.

Before heading to Milwaukee, Harris campaigned in the southern Wisconsin city of Janesville, where she talked up her support for organized labor in a speech at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local.

'Nobody understands better than a union member that as Americans we all rise or fall together,' Harris said. She promised to eliminate 'unnecessary' degree requirements for federal jobs and push private sector employers to do the same.

She called Trump 'an existential threat to America's labor movement' and said the nation lost manufacturing jobs during his presidency.

Trump, whose base includes working-class voters, has made sporadic efforts to reach out to rank-and-file union members, who have traditionally been core to the Democratic coalition.

Harris later went after Trump on health care, telling hundreds who packed into a high school in Little Chute, Wisconsin, that the former president wants to undo the Affordable Care Act law and take the United States back to the days when insurers could deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions.

Harris called Trump 'an existential threat to America's labor movement' and said the nation lost manufacturing jobs during his presidency

'I'm going to be real with y'all. I wasn't going to vote this year. I wasn't, but Kamala Harris joining the race, she changed my mind. Completely,' she said

So Cardi was making sense all along but yall was down talking her just coz of her accent? Interesting https://t.co/zvm7RSqBdx pic.twitter.com/CDwk2Lnayk  cockgang (@thefactfinder8) July 11, 2024

The rapper famously took shots at President Joe Biden in July when he was running for president, calling him and the Democratic party 'selfish' for not stepping aside for Harris

She went on to repeat a lot of familiar themes from the Harris campaign, hitting former president Donald Trump for selling $100,000 watches, sneakers and Bibles from China

She went on to repeat a lot of familiar themes from the Harris campaign, hitting former president Donald Trump for selling $100,000 watches, sneakers and Bibles from China

'I'm not giving Donald Trump a second chance,' she said. I'm not taking any chances with my future and I d**n sure am not taking any chances with my children. ... I'm not giving him the chance! I'm with Kamala!'

'I feel like this would have been her perfect time to shine. We already know she's sharp with the fking mouth,' she said in mid-July after Biden's disastrous debate performance.

She went on to repeat a lot of familiar themes from the Harris campaign, hitting former president Donald Trump for selling $100,000 watches, sneakers and Bibles from China.

'I'm not giving Donald Trump a second chance,' she said. I'm not taking any chances with my future and I d**n sure am not taking any chances with my children. ... I'm not giving him the chance! I'm with Kamala!'

Cardi B was one of several celebrities Harris recruited to speak or perform at the campaign event to rally supporters to vote in the final days before the election.

Rapper GloRilla took the stage at a Kamala Harris rally in Milwaukee on Friday, where she performed two of her hits: 'Hollon' and 'Yeah Glo.'

The more graphic lyrics were censored, but the amount of silenced lyrics prompted attendees to wonder if there were technical issues with her microphone.

Harris urged everyone in Wisconsin to get out and vote, and gave a shoutout to young Gen-Z voters who were voting for the first time.

'I love Gen-Z,' she said with a laugh. 'Here's what I love about you guys. You are rightly impatient for change. I love that about you!'
George W. Bush has been urged to endorse Kamala Harris in the upcoming election after his daughter Barbara canvassed for the Democratic nominee.

Speaking on The New Yorker Radio Hour podcast, former GOP representative Liz Cheney urged the former president to speak out on the dangers of Donald Trump.

Cheney, daughter of Bush's former Vice President Dick Cheney, said: 'I can't explain why [he] hasn't spoken out, but I think it's time, and I wish that he would.'

The elder Cheney has already crossed party lines and said Trump should 'never be trusted with power again', with his daughter confirming he was backing Harris.

With Barbara Bush, 42, canvassing in Pennsylvania last week for Harris, pressure is starting to mount for the former commander-in-chief, 78, to pick a side.

Bush looks on prior to Game One of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2023 in Arlington, Texas

Liz Cheney, daughter of Bush's former Vice President Dick Cheney, had already thrown her support behind Harris - alongside her father

In September of this year a spokesman for Bush told DailyMail.com that he had no plans to make any public endorsement.

'He retired from presidential politics many years ago,' they said, adding that neither Bush nor his wife Laura would reveal who they are voting for in November.

His former communications director Nicolle Wallace has also came out and told WSNBC she hopes Bush has a 'change of heart' and takes a stand against Trump.

She said: 'We have a right to hope that those who have stood for freedom and celebrated those who have protected it might have a last-minute change of heart in the closing hours of this campaign.'

Despite Bush keeping mom, his daughter Barbara told People: 'It was inspiring to join friends and meet voters with the Harris-campaign in Pennsylvania this weekend.

'I'm hopeful they'll move our country forward and protect women's rights.'

It was a low key gesture, but nevertheless made her the latest person identified with the pre-Trump Republican Party to throw her support to the Democratic candidate.

The activist is no stranger to campaigning, although she keeps a low public profile.

She spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2004 and campaigned for her dad's reelection in swing states.

Her twin sister Jenna previously spoke about the personal toll politics takes when Joe Biden announced he wouldn't be seeking reelection.

'We've become a country that is so divided about politics that sometimes it's hard to think, 'Oh my gosh, he's a human,' Jenna told the Today show.

'I just hope we can get back as a country to a place where it's like, 'Oh yeah, he's a human and this must have been a really difficult decision,' and one in which his family helped probably support, but also are sad about and that is understandable,'

It was a low key gesture, but nevertheless made her the latest person identified with the pre-Trump Republican Party to throw her support to the Democratic candidate

Both Cheneys are former House Republican leaders with the elder Cheney serving two terms as George W. Bush's Republican vice president between 2001 and 2009

The former president is seen here alongside his wife Laura, and daughters Jenna and Barbara

The registered Republican called his decision 'admirable' and said Biden had to make 'a hard decision because a lot of one-term presidents don't feel like the job has been done.'

Trump continually mocked George Bush's younger brother Jeb - the sister's uncle - throughout his successful 2016 campaign.

He has called their father's two terms in office 'a failed and uninspiring presidency,' while essentially taking over the party where the Bush dynasty held sway for years.

Trump has also tore into Dick Cheney, while labeling his daughter Liz Cheney  who is campaigning for Harris  a 'warmonger.'

'Her father was responsible for invading the Middle East, killing millions of Arabs  millions  and this is the one that Kamala is campaigning with,' Trump said.

Speaking on Thursday night at an event with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Trump sparked outrage after branding Liz Cheney a 'dumb war hawk'.

He said: 'She's a radical war hawk. Let's put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, okay, let's see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face.'

'She's a radical war hawk,' Trump began before speculating about a possible firing squad

Democrats immediately criticized him for the comment but Harris took it a step further, saying Trump should no longer be in the presidential race.

She told reporters: 'Anyone who wants to be president of the United States who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly is disqualified and unqualified to be president.'

Harris called Cheney 'a true patriot who has shown extraordinary courage in putting country above party.'

'Trump, however, considers his political opponents the enemy and is permanently out for revenge and increasingly unstable and unhinged. His enemies list has grown longer.'

'His rhetoric has grown more extreme, and he is even less focused than before on the needs and the concerns and the challenges facing the American people,' Harris added.

The Democratic nominees said she has not spoken to Cheney since Trump's remark.

Trump has long railed against Cheney, who criticized him for his role in the January 6th insurrection and was one of two Republican lawmakers who sat on the House committee investigating it.

Back in March, Trump called for Cheney to be jailed over her role in investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Cheney should 'go to jail along with the rest' of the select January 6 House committee.
A 55-year-old woman has been charged with murder after a police investigation.

Emergency services raced to a home in Enfield, North London and tragically found the body of 62-year-old Efthyia Constantinou.



Zaneta Peto, 55, also known as Maria Peto was arrested on suspicion of murder in the early hours of Friday morning.

Met Police were called to the home on Westerham Avenue shortly before 5pm on Wednesday, October 30.

Peto, of Charles Street, Enfield, appeared at Highbury Magistrates' Court today charged with murder. A photo of Constantinou has now been released to the public.

First picture of Efthyia Constantinou who was stabbed to death in her home on Wednesday

Met Police were called to the home on Westerham Avenue shortly before 5pm on Wednesday, October 30

Zaneta Peto, 55, appeared at Highbury Magistrates' Court today charged with murder

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee, from the Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Our sincerest condolences are offered to Efthyia's family, friends and the wider community who are so deeply saddened by her death.

'The investigation is at an early stage, but I can confirm that Zaneta was known to the victim and that we are not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident.

'Efthyia's family continue to be supported by specially trained officers.'

Detective Superintendent Marco Bardetti, leading local policing in Enfield and Haringey, said: 'I know that local people will be concerned by this shocking loss of life and there will be a heightened police presence in the area in the coming days to provide reassurance.

'A crime scene remains in place, and I would like to thank local people for their patience while our specialist crime colleagues, supported by local officers, conduct their inquiries.

'If you are concerned or worried, please do feel free to approach officers as they patrol or contact your local neighbourhood policing team.

'Our thoughts are with the victim's family at this sad time.'
Chinese opera group spices celebration of China-Zambia diplomatic ties of 60 years

Xinhua) 09:59, November 02, 2024

LUSAKA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- One of China's most well-known art troupes spiced up celebrations of the 60th anniversary of China-Zambia diplomatic relations with a thrilling performance.

On Thursday night, the Zambia Chinese Association in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Zambia presented a cultural event as part of celebrations for the bilateral ties by showcasing Chinese dramas and musical compositions.

Presented by east China's Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Center, the Wu Opera dazzled the audience, comprised of Chinese nationals and Zambian locals, who kept ululating and clapping for an encore.

They couldn't help but take videos and photos of the intriguing performance.

The event saw the group providing various performances which included "9-Pieced Segment Dragon," Suona Solo "Picking Dates," Wu Opera "the goddess of heaven scatters flowers."

Leonard Milomo, a resident of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, was left mesmerized by the performance. Milomo said he was overwhelmed by the performance because it was something he had never seen.

"I am overwhelmed by the performance of our visitors from China. I have never seen such, it's a very overwhelming feeling to be part of this partnership between Zambia and China, and it's something that we also learn from culture and tradition," he said in an interview.

Milomo said he would not hesitate to watch the performances anytime and that he was planning to visit during one of the holidays in order to have a feel of what China offers.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing said the frequent cultural exchanges and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have brought the people of the two countries closer. And the cultural exchanges between the two countries have been happening frequently with art groups paying exchange visits.

Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, has a history of more than 500 years and is the second major regional operatic genre in Zhejiang Province. It first grew in popularity in Jinhua and its surrounding areas and was named after Wuzhou, the name of Jinhua in ancient China.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
The campaign to end domestic violence needs the voices of men as well as women, challenging the cultural, economic and political context in which we all experience the world - HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.The moment has arrived. We can no longer ignore the fact that gender-based violence (GBV ) has become a national emergency. We must all rise and act with urgency - before we lose more lives!

It is about time our nation unites and make our voices heard through peaceful yet unwavering protests, demanding that our obdurate and hard-nosed government recognise and declare gender-based violence (GBV) as a national emergency. The GBV crisis has reached almost catastrophic levels in our country and it is our duty to tackle it directly and halt its advance, before it claims more lives of our most vulnerable people - women and children. GBV is ruthlessly taking the lives of the most endangered gender in our communities. Will we stand idly by as they are systematically stripped of their dignity and existence, by the very men who should protect them?

Imagine opening a newspaper and read a screaming headline: Gruesome murder: Man slits baby mamas throat.. (Eswatini Times, Monday 14, October 2024). Shocking!

Numerous articles have been authored by me in the past, urging our government to take immediate action and officially recognise gender-based violence (GBV) as a national emergency. I am not alone in this appeal; significant stakeholders, including the Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) have consistently voiced grave concerns regarding the alarming rise in GBV incidents to no avail.

Regrettably

The organisation has relentlessly called upon both previous and current administrations not only to condemn GBV, but also to take the vital step of declaring it a national emergency or disaster. Regrettably, empty promises and a disgraceful lack of action have drowned out this urgent plea. Oversight institutions, including Parliament, which ought to be advocating for action and urging the administration to address this gender-based crisis, remain conspicuously silent, making only feeble efforts to demonstrate their concern. The refusal of both past and current administrations to respond to this urgent call is downright perplexing, despicable and egregious; fuelling concerns that their hesitation to label GBV a national emergency hides far deeper issues than what is being shown on the surface.

Regrettably, past administrations offered weak justifications for their inaction. Disturbingly, the current administration appears to be mirroring the reluctance of its predecessors by maintaining the same inflexible position against declaring GBV a national emergency. The pressing question remains: How many vulnerable emaSwati, particularly women and children, must suffer or perish before the government chooses to take meaningful action? The alarming increase in cases of GBV which is progressively characterised by brutality and horror - continues unabated despite the governments refusal to classify this issue as a national emergency.

The inadequate justification offered by the authorities, specifically the government, for not classifying gender-based violence (GBV) as yet, holds little consequence for me. What truly matters is that GBV has long been recognised as a national emergency by commoners like you and me; and should be treated as such. It is clear that we have reached a critical point where it is essential for the nation to take firm action in recognising gender-based violence as a grave concern and a national emergency, effective immediately.

The most at-risk segments of our society, namely women and children, are daily victims of these atrocious acts, prompting many to wonder why the government is reluctant to implement decisive measures. This concerning surge in gender-based violence cases has definitely ignited widespread indignation and urgent calls for intervention. As a columnist and advocate for human rights and justice, I fully align myself with key stakeholders and advocates urging the government to acknowledge the gravity of this crisis and declare it a national emergency.

Essential

Such a declaration is essential for mobilising the necessary resources and focus to effectively tackle this pressing issue. It is clear even to an illiterate person that gender-based violence has escalated to alarming proportions, with women and children disproportionately affected by these heinous acts. The horrific murders and assaults directed at the most vulnerable segments of our society necessitate prompt and resolute action from the government. The decision not to classify this situation as a national emergency raises concerns regarding the governments dedication to safeguarding its citizens, particularly those who are most at risk. In fact, to be brutal with the truth...do the men and women who call themselves a Cabinet, CARE? The answer is, they do not - period.

One may question the governments hesitance to recognise the pressing need for a national emergency declaration. Is it possible that there are apprehensions regarding the potential repercussions on the nations reputation, tourism, or diplomatic relations? Nevertheless, such considerations should not overshadow the imperative to prioritise the safety and welfare of the populace. The seriousness of the situation necessitates steadfast focus and prompt action, irrespective of any perceived consequences.

Moreover, the lack of a national emergency declaration may impede the mobilisation of essential resources and support systems for those affected by gender-based violence. Sufficient funding, specialised services, and preventive initiatives are crucial for effectively tackling this widespread issue. In the absence of formal acknowledgment of a national emergency, there definitely exists a risk of inadequate resource distribution and a fragmented response to the crisis.

Diminishes

Furthermore, the choice not to categorise gender-based violence as a national emergency conveys a discouraging message to both survivors and advocates. It diminishes the gravity of their experiences and undermines the urgency needed to address this pervasive societal issue. The governments inaction in this matter not only prolongs the suffering of victims but also diminishes public trust and confidence in its capacity to protect and serve the community. On Sunday, October 13th, the Times Sunday newspaper published a harrowing account of a two-year-old toddler who was tragically murdered by a neighbour.

Below is a summary of the distressing event:

A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Mbikwakhe, located in the Manzini Region, where a two-year-old female toddler was fatally stabbed by a neighbour. This individual, who had previously engaged with the child and her family, was subsequently attacked by local residents and later died from his injuries at the hospital. As fate would have it, the following day Monday, the Eswatini Times daily reported on another alarming case of gender-based violence.

At the foot of page 2, some of us could not fail, but notice this article headlined: Gruesome murder: Man slits baby mamas throat:

A 35-year-old woman from the vicinity of Lomahasha was reportedly murdered in a brutal manner, allegedly by the father of her children. Reports indicate that the assailant employed a knife to sever the victims throat. While she pleaded for assistance, she was seen clutching her throat, which was bleeding profusely. She was pronounced dead upon her arrival at the hospital, after being transported there.

Numerous instances of unreported abuse exist, representing only a small fraction of the overall issue. Women and children frequently endure severe mistreatment on a daily basis, encompassing physical, emotional, and economic forms of abuse. Various factors contribute to the reluctance of some women to come forward and report these incidents. These factors include:Victims frequently experience intimidation and threats from their abusers, resulting in a deep-seated sense of fear and anxiety. This fear is justified, as abusers often utilise a range of strategies to exert control over their victims, which may include threats of additional harm or even fatal consequences. Consequently, numerous women may opt to stay silent due to worries about their own safety and that of their loved ones.

What could be the reasons behind governments reluctance to embrace the growing call to declare GBV a national emergency? I am engaging in speculation, yet there is a possibility that my assumptions may hold some validity. It appears that there are numerous reasons for this situation, not all of which are plausible or justifiable. It is well known fact that our government tends to be frugal regarding expenditures on initiatives that could serve the public good. One significant factor which could be contributing to governments reluctance to classify gender-based violence as a national emergency may be linked to the political and cultural dynamics prevalent in the nation.

Our political environment is uniquely shaped by longstanding traditions and cultural expectations. Traditional gender roles and societal norms significantly influence governmental policies and decisions. Consequently, tackling gender-based violence might be viewed as a challenge to established power structures and traditional values, potentially provoking resistance from various parties involved. Additionally, the governments reluctance may be influenced by apprehensions about resource allocation and the practical execution of policies designed to combat gender-based violence. Therein lies the rub.

Granted, declaring gender-based violence a national emergency would require a substantial investment of financial and human resources to facilitate prevention, intervention, and support services for victims. This could, in the distorted logic of our government, potentially overextend the budget and administrative capabilities, raising concerns about the longterm viability of these initiatives. If this is as true as I suspect, it is a well known secret that our government is infamous for spending recklessly on numerous projects that largely benefit the status quo. One cannot help, but ask: Sonani kuhulumende sive semaSwati to be treated in such a shabby manner?

Finally, to illustrate the dedication of certain governments globally to the welfare of their own citizens, I would like to present an intriguing article that convincingly demonstrates how some governments honour the preferences of their populace. The following is an excerpt from the Times of India, published on April 29, 2024.

Quote - Australian PM Declares Violence Against Women A National Crisis: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared violence against women a national crisis and an epidemic, prompting him to call for an urgent national cabinet meeting. This call to action comes in response to a series of protests that erupted across Australia over the weekend, where thousands demanded stricter laws on gendered violence.

In cities like Sydney, demonstrators flooded the streets with placards advocating for respect and an end to violence, following a series of high-profile incidents and a troubling statistic that reveals a woman is killed every four days in Australia this year. The governments response also comes in the wake of a mass stabbing earlier this month at the Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction, which resulted in the deaths of five women, raising concerns about targeted violence against women. Prime Minister Albanese, who also participated in a rally in Canberra, emphasised the need for comprehensive reform in his statements on social media and during the rally. Women in Australia deserve better, governments have to do better and as a society we have to do better, he stated, pushing for immediate, meaningful and practical action to address family violence. - Unquote

How I wished our government could read this article and emulate the Australian Prime Ministers patriotic stance! Pho-ke, bobani? Lingawa lilanga licoshwe tinkhukhu inyanisi!

I urge the nation, including human rights and gender-based advocates to keep pushing the clarion call advocating for declaring GBV a national emergency, otherwise we will continue losing our women and children to monsters posing as males. Peace! Shalom!
King Charles is making millions out of the cash-strapped NHS, a shocking investigation into secretive royal finances reveals.

The Duchy of Lancaster, a property empire which provides a private income to the monarch, is charging one NHS trust at least 11.4 million in rent to store its ambulances over the next 15 years.

Bombshell documents reveal the duchy is earning 830,000 a year from renting a two-storey warehouse to Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London.

The unprecedented audit of the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, the Prince of Wales's private estate, shows taypayers are shelling out millions every year to boost the wealth of the senior royals.

As well as the NHS, the Ministry of Defence, local authorities and other public bodies are swelling the coffers of the Duchies, a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation broadcast last night found.

Charities  even those where the King is patron  are also stumping up millions, the five-month investigation of more than 5,000 landholdings and properties shows.

The revelations come as struggling Britons were hit by Chancellor Rachel Reeves's 40 billion tax hike budget last week  and will spark renewed debate about how much tax the royals should pay, and how secretive they are about their operations.

Duchy money is private income for Charles and William on top of the Sovereign Grant, which will pay the Royal Family 132 million next year, up 50 per cent on this year.

The estates have helped make the British royal family one of the richest in the world, generating almost 50 million for the King and the Prince of Wales in the last year alone

The Duchy of Cornwall, helmed by Prince William , says that 'it is not a public body, nor is it funded by the taxpayer'

The Duchies are run as commercial enterprises, but pay no capital gains tax nor corporation tax. Both Charles and William do pay income tax, but it is not clear how much.

The astonishing findings show:

The Duchies have struck deals worth at least 50 million with public services such as the NHS, state schools and the Armed Forces;

The Ministry of Justice is paying 37.5 million over 25 years to use Dartmoor prison, which is currently empty because of radon gas;

Charles and William have made at least 22 million in rent from charities over 19 years  sometimes while serving as their patrons;

Homes rented out by the royal estates fail government energy efficiency standards and leave tenants struggling with mould;

Prince William, who tomorrow heads to South Africa for his eco Earthshot Prize, has allowed controversial mining companies to drill on Duchy of Cornwall land.

Dame Margaret Hodge, former chair of the Public Accounts Committee, led calls for greater transparency of royal finances  and for the tax regime to be tightened up.

The total asset value of the Duchy - a portfolio of land, property and assets held in trust for the Sovereign - rose by almost 3 per cent from 533 million to 548 million. Part of the estate is the medieval Lancaster Castle (pictured)

The 18,433 hectare Duchy estate, which was founded in the 13th century is a unique portfolio of land and assets in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Staffordshire. Another assest is Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire (pictured)

William's rental properties 'riddled with black mould' Scores of properties rented out by Prince William fail to meet the minimum legal energy efficiency standards, with some riddled with damp and black mould. An investigation carried out by Channel 4's Dispatches and the Mirror identified 500 of the 600 properties the Prince of Wales owns through his Duchy of Cornwall estate. It emerged that at least 50 were rated F, and 20 rated G on the Government's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Six received the lowest score of one point out of 100. Since 2020, it has been illegal for landlords to rent properties rated below an E on the EPC chart. But since the rules came in, William and his father have received 91million in profits from the Duchy. It also comes after William unveiled his campaign against homelessness, with the slogan: 'Everyone having a right to a safe and stable home.' One tenant said the Prince's PR 'stuck in her throat,' adding: 'He should bring his own houses up to modern standards.' The Duchy of Cornwall told the Mirror: 'We are a responsible landlord committed to continuous improvement of its properties. We work closely with our tenants to actively address energy efficiency of properties.' Advertisement

She said: 'I'd love King Charles to volunteer that he would open up the affairs of all these organisations to much greater public scrutiny at a time when people are feeling poor. It's taxpayers' money.'

The Duchy of Lancaster, which last year generated 27.4 million for the King, and the Duchy of Cornwall, which raised 23.6 million for William, are not required to pay business taxes.

Both estates claim they are not funded by the taxpayer, but the cache of documents obtained by Dispatches and the Sunday Times lay bare the huge income they receive from public services.

Last year, the Duchy of Lancaster said it was 'delighted to help and support' Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust as it sought a home for its new fleet of electric ambulances. But the hospitals are being charged 67 per cent more rent for the warehouse than the previous tenant, the Metropolitan Police.

The MoS can reveal that the NHS Trust's boss Professor Ian Abbs last year described its financial climate as 'extremely challenging'.

The Duchy of Cornwall is also profiting from public services. In 2017, it billed Devon county council 300,000 in a 21-year rental deal for a primary school on Dartmoor.

Other deals include charging a primary school near Bath 60,000 for a 25-year lease and 189,000 to a secondary school in Cornwall over 30 years to use a farmhouse. The Duchy of Cornwall also charges the military to train on its 67,500 acres of Dartmoor, but the MoD would not disclose the exact bill. That is despite Charles being head of the Armed Forces and William being a lieutenant colonel in the Army.

Charities have also paid millions to the duchies to rent a 1960s office block in London next to the MI6 HQ.

They include Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie Cancer Care, where Charles is patron, and Comic Relief, which William has promoted.

Former minister Norman Baker called the Duchies 'royal slush funds', adding: 'The 20-odd million pounds they each generate every year should be going to the taxpayer, The Royals want to be private when it suits them and public when it suits them.'

King Charles III watches his horse 'Gilded Water' run, and finish 12th, in the King George V Stakes on day three 'Ladies Day' of Royal Ascot 2024

The Monarchy was close to bankrupt when George III came to the throne in 1760. He gave his land to the state in return for an annual income - but held on to the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster, then seen as worthless

King Charles III attends a ceremonial welcome for The President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea at Horse Guards Parade on November 21, 2023 in London

The Duchy of Cornwall said it is 'a private estate with a commercial imperative... committed to restoring the natural environment', and said it was 'acting in a responsible and sustainable way' on mining.

The Duchy of Lancaster said it 'operates as a commercial company' and 'complies with all relevant UK legislation'.
The Metropolitan Police have refused to arrest a protestor carrying a sign glorifying former terrorist and Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar.

The female protestor was pulled aside by the entrance to Vauxhall Bridge, after she was spotted carrying a piece of wood with the words 'Sinwar Stick' written on one side and 'Spirit of Resistance' on the other.

She was one of thousands attending the demo.

The officer claimed that an allegation of inciting hatred had been made by a member of the public against her.

Despite being threatened with arrest, the protestor declined to provide police with her name and address.

Met police have refused to arrest protestor carrying sign glorifying dead Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar at a protest

The female protestor was pulled aside by the entrance to Vauxhall Bridge, after she was spotted carrying a piece of wood with the words 'Sinwar Stick' written on one side and 'Spirit of Resistance' on the other

Yahya Sinwar (pictured) served as chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau from August 2024 until his death in October 2024

However, the testy dispute was brought to an abrupt end after senior officers opted to let the protestor go, despite her insistence on not providing contact details.

During the dispute, a small group of around 7 protestors had gathered to watch. However, they were quickly moved on by police.

Yahya Sinwar is widely considered to be the mastermind of the October 7th terrorist attacks which killed 1,269 Israeli civilians last year.

After taking de-facto leadership of Hamas in August, Sinwar was killed in Gaza by Israeli forces last month.

The Met Police estimate around 10,000 people took part in the march to the American Embassy today.

The incident occurred directly opposite to a group of Pro-Israel counter protesters who had assembled to protest against the march.

Other protestors were pictured carrying signs with red triangles drawn on them, a symbol which many consider to be supportive of Hamas.

As of 14:00, no arrests had been made by the police during the march.



The refusal comes as police investigate after campaigners smashed cabinets and stole the two statues of Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann, from the Chemistry Building at the University of Manchester on the same day.

The red paint thrown over the charity Jewish National Fund in Hampstead

Demonstrators are seen holding pro-Palestine placards during the demonstration. Pro-Palestine demonstrators marched to the US embassy in London to demand an end to the conflict in Gaza

Jeremy Corbyn MP is seen giving an interview during the demonstration. Pro-Palestine demonstrators marched to the US embassy in London to demand an end to the conflict in Gaza

A demonstrator is seen holding a placard that says 'UK Jews say ceasefire now, stop the genocide' during the rally

A demonstrator is seen holding a placard that says 'Arrest Netanyahu Now' during the Palestine rally

They also defaced the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing building as well as throwing red paint over at the offices of the charity Jewish National Fund in London.
Two primary school pupils were among dozens of people referred to a government terror-threat monitoring programme in Scotland over a 12-month period.

The deeply alarming figures show 87 referrals were made to the Prevent de-radicalisation scheme in 2022-23. They involved 85 people, as two individuals were referred twice.

Those referred included two primary school children, 21 pupils from secondary schools and six from higher education.

Concerns over individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology accounted for 37 cases, while 31 of the referrals were for Right-wing extremism.

Ten referrals were related to Islamist extremism, with four of those involving children under the age of 15.

Scottish Conservative spokesman for victims Sharon Dowey said the figures were 'alarming'

Of the total number of cases, 22 referrals involved children under the age of 15. There were 31 in the 15-20 age group and 14 referrals for those aged 21 to 30.

The rest were over the age of 30.

Referrals were overwhelmingly male, with a total of 80, while females accounted for six. One transgender male was referred.

Sharon Dowey, Scottish Conservative spokesman for victims and community safety, said: These figures are deeply alarming.

It is crucial that authorities monitor any potential concerns to ensure that the public are kept safe, and children are not exposed to extremism.

The Prevent strategy aims to tackle all forms of violent extremism and terrorism, including international and Northern Ireland-related activities.

It is reserved to the UK Government and delivered in Scotland via devolved functions such as education, policing and local authorities.

The stated aim of the voluntary programme is to divert people from potential terrorism-related activity before they offend, and it is not a criminal sanction.

The Scottish figures show police and education bodies made the highest number of Prevent referrals, some two-thirds of the total.

Other referrals came from health bodies, local authorities, prisons, charities, employers and, in one case, a family member.

Police made 31 referrals, the education sector referred 29 people, with 15 referrals from the local authority sector, including 12 from social work and three from housing associations.

Of the 87 Prevent referrals in 2022/23, 44 were deemed suitable for Prevent Case Management, with 43 signposted to other services.

Of those, 25 were classified as no further action required, while 18 were referred onwards for potential further inquiries.

The figures were contained in data released by Police Scotland.

Chief Superintendent Matt Paden said the force played an essential role in the multi-agency delivery of Prevent, but the strategy was not police-led.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: We are clear that the Prevent duty should not, in any way, be used to suppress or limit freedom of speech.

Prevent aligns with existing safeguarding processes.
An Arizona man accused of murdering a former coworker he stalked at the gym kept a sick notebook detailing his obsession.

The journal belonging to Juan Cuellar, 51, was uncovered by police investigating the death of Doris Aguilar, 25.

Both were found dead in a car in outside a Phoenix steakhouse on July 7, a week after Aguilar was reported missing by her panic stricken family.

Police said Cuellar had killed her before shooting himself following what her family say was a campaign of harassment lasting more than a year.

The notebook contains chilling entries which shed further light on the extent of Cuellar's obsession, although investigators noted that many of the entries were false.

Doris Maricela Aguilar, 25,was found dead alongside her stalker on July 7 a week after going missing

'It took a little bit to get through the notebook, which offers a whole different dynamic of what happened than maybe what some of the evidence showed,' said Phoenix Police Sergeant Rob Scherer, told AZ Family.

One of the entries appears to reference the killing and make out like it was accidental.

'She picked it up. She didn't know that the safety was off. I went to grab the gun, and it went off. I panicked and left. I knew it was going to be my fault,' Cuellar wrote.

However, police refuted the statement saying the weapon found inside the vehicle does not have a safety.

Chillingly, he then details driving around with the victim and changing her clothes so she wouldn't be dirty.

'I couldn't bear to be without her in my life,' Cuellar wrote in another entry, which reportedly suggests he was angry about her seeing other men.

'I hope she can forgive me. Please tell my family it was an accident,' one of the last entries reads.

Police discovered a notebook filled with chilling entries written by her alleged killer Juan Cuellar which detailed his sick obsession

Her body was discovered along with Cuellar's inside a car parked outside this Phoenix steakhouse

Other bizarre writings included delusions about a daughter the two shared who does not appear to exist.

'I can tell you there was no element of a romantic relationship at the time of the homicide,' Scherer said. 'We don't have any information of a child in common between the two,' said Scherer.

Aguilar was reported missing on July 1 after she failed to turn up to the gym where she spent a lot of her time.

Her family immediately suspected her former co-worker Cuellar might be to blame after he sent her harassing messages.

The two met while working at a distribution center before Cuellar was fired over his threatening behavior.

The stalker would show up in the parking lot of the gym Aguilar attended, forcing her to switch gyms three times, according to a private investigator the family hired to try and trace her.

Just a few days before Aguilar mysteriously disappeared, on June 27, the alleged stalker seemed to indicate he knew which facility she was now attending.

Her concerned family had reported her missing a week prior and immediately suspected Cuellar might be involved after he had stalked her at several gyms

On June 27, just a few days before Aguilar mysteriously disappeared, an alleged stalker wrote on a Facebook page with a gun as its profile picture that he was getting his membership back - presumably to the gym that Aguilar would frequent

He wrote on a Facebook page with a gun as its profile picture: 'Getting my membership back... [see] you soon,' Fox 10 reports.

Aguilar's car was eventually found abandoned on July 8 at a shopping mall near the intersection of Interstate 17 and Bethany Home Road.

The car was unlocked, with her purse and wallet inside full of cash.

Police said that Cuellar killed Aguilar before taking his own life a few days later, although they cannot be sure where exactly she died.

Their badly decomposed bodies were later found in the same vehicle.

Aguilar's family say Cuellar's obsession is what drove him to murder.

'They have their belief as the why. Our investigators are still trying to get to that,' Scherer said.

Aguilar's family and Steve Fischer, a private investigator, believe that Cuellar had been Aguilar for over a year.

The notebook contained some entries which were false, including delusions about a daughter the two shared together who does not appear to exist

Private investigator Steve Fischer said the stalking had been going on for more than a year

According to Fischer, Cuellar was so obsessed with Aguilar that he kept showing up at the gyms where she worked out.

'He was obsessed to the point where he had a picture of her taped to the back of his cell phone,' Fischer said.
A builder has been jailed after boasting that he fought for the Russian mercenary Wagner Group in Ukraine.

Piotr Kucharski, 49, from Watford, was pictured wearing combat gear and badges with the Russian terror group's insignia as he took part in a Viking re-enactment in Suffolk.

Snapped at the event brandishing a knife, Kucharksi was arrested after becoming aggressive and waving the blade in a throat-slitting motion in October of last year.

Appearing before London's Old Bailey court on Friday, the Polish national was jailed for two-and-a-half years with a further year on extended license for professing to be a member of a proscribed terror group.

In September, 2023, the UK government designated the Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation, making it a criminal offence to belong or offer support to.

Piotr Kucharski (pictured) has been jailed for two-and-a-half-years for pretending to have fought for the Wagner Group in Ukraine

Kucharski posed for photos wearing Wagner Group insignia at a Viking re-enactment event in Suffolk last October

The Wagner Group was proscribed a terror organisation by the UK government in September of last year

Kucharski was arrested at the Viking re-enactment after brandishing his blade and making aggressive throat-slitting gestures

Other attendees at the re-enactment shared that Kucharski, who had previously been jailed for armed robbery in his native Poland, had told them about his faux fighting exploits on the Ukrainian frontlines.

Kucharksi also repeated these falsehoods online over the course of several Facebook posts and in direct messages to contacts too.

Interviewed in the aftermath of his arrest by authorities, Kucharski claimed he had purchased and used the insignias to 'provoke a reaction' as he held alternative views to the prevailing narrative around Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In a search of his home, police recovered a picture of Adolf Hitler along with a copy of his infamous manifesto 'Mein Kampf'.

Other fascist memorabilia was also found at the Polish national's residence.

49-year-old Kucharski claimed he only 'pretended' to be a part of the Wagner terror group, however even imitation of membership to such a group carries with it heavy sentences

Fascist memorabilia including the manifesto of Adolf Hitler were uncovered by authorities who searched Kucharski's home address in Watford

Whilst entering his guilty plea before the court, Kucharski reiterated his claim that he was only 'pretending' to be a member of the terror group.

However, this was immediately rejected by the judge who stated that the 49-year-old has acted with a 'foolish bravado'.

The Counter Terrorism Policing unit stated there was no evidence supporting Kucharski being a bona fide member of the Russian terror group or that he had fought in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Despite this, even the act of purporting to be a member of a proscribed terror organisation carries with it serious repercussions under UK terror laws.

Speaking to Kucharski's conviction, Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service, said; 'Piotr Kucharski claimed to be fighting for the Wagner Group as part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and aggressively threatened people with a knife, acting upon his extremist views and the reputation of a terrorist organisation to cause fear in others.

'The CPS will always seek to prosecute those who support terrorism in any way.'
Locals of a tiny California town are turning out in their droves to back Donald Trump for the presidency, despite being in a Democratic heartland.

Discovery Bay, on the east of Contra Costa County, in the San Francisco bay area hosts just a single supermarket, as well as a harbor and yacht club.

The town is an anomaly in the largely Democratic state of California, with the majority of residents supporting Trump in the 2020 election.

Residents Paul and Connie Rodgers, both Republicans, had moved to Discovery Bay from nearby Marin County in 2017 without realizing that the town was red.

Connie told The San Francisco Chronicle she had bit her tongue for years on her political views, saying the move to the area felt like 'being gay in the closet'.

Discovery Bay locals are seen here adorned in MAGA hats and patriotic get ups for a Trump boat parade held last month

Paul and Connie Rodgers, seen here, are both Republicans and moved to Discovery Bay from nearby Marin County in 2017 without realizing that the town was red

The two told the outlet that they are free to have their political discussions and disagreements without feeling villainized.

Initially nervous about moving from their longtime home, Connie said she overcame her nerves when her conservative views were met with agreement.

Connie said she overcame her nerves of moving to the area when her conservative views were met with agreement

Paul, an Air Force Veteran, had wanted to move into a smaller single-story home and for the chance to have his own boat, docked on the pontoon in his backyard deck.

They had both voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, with Connie contesting she sometimes wish he would talk less.

Despite their draw to Trump, they did concede to the outlet that they prefer his running mate Senator J.D. Vance.

The couple have been together for 49 years and describe themselves as moderates, Connie was originally a Democrat before changing her stance.

Paul said: 'People don't talk about their ailments. They talk about their boats and about fashionable cocktails. It's just a really refreshing place to live.'

Despite him wearing a Trump hat while talking with the outlet, he said he refuses to use Trump bumper stickers for when he drives back to Marin County to see family.

The town recently held a boat parade specifically for President Trump, with locals happily waving Trump flags from the back of their boats.

The town recently held a boat parade specifically for President Trump, with locals happily waving Trump flags from the back of their boats

Locals also adorned themselves in their MAGA hats and patriotic get ups for the occasion.

Jennifer Mix, who has lived in the area for twenty years, is the secretary of the local county Republican Party.

Shocked with the political and cultural stance in California, she found herself in Discovery Bay and prefers the slower and conservative lifestyle than the state.

She told the outlet: 'Everyone has a boat. Even if you don't live on the water, their boats are at the marina.'

Mix described the community as being a 'safety zone' from the problems plaguing California cities including widespread drug use and homelessness.

She said that Republicans don't feel heard and can be 'a little forgotten out here', with the majority of politicians representing the area being Democrats.

An enthusiastic Trump voter, she believes that many others back the former president too.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Saturday

She said she was 'absolutely confident' he will win the majority of the town's support.

The couple and Mix are both concerned about the economy and immigration, two central campaign issues.

Breaking away from typical Republican beliefs, Connie and Paul are also strong believers in reproductive rights and want abortion to be legalized.

The median age in the area is around 44, nearly six years higher than California's median age of 42.4.

House prices are also drastically lower than nearby San Francisco, with costs at $371 per square foot - compared to $958 per square foot in the city.

Census figures also points to Discovery Bay being older, whiter, and more native-born than the rest of the state of California.
A father has hailed a landmark legal decision in a long-running battle with a council to allow his daughter to take her dog into school.

We told in August how the family believed the golden retriever should be allowed to accompany their child into the classroom to assist with her well-being.

The parents say the girl, who has been refusing to go to classes at her school in Moray, would benefit as she suffers from anxiety and other conditions.

The council blocked the request on the basis other reasonable adjustments could be made to deal with her needs.

However, an education tribunal has ruled Moray Council must now make a fresh decision on the case.

The girl's family believe taking her dog to school would held with their daughter's anxiety

It is understood this could lead to a compromise with the girl able to take her dog to school for a limited number of hours each week.

The childs father, who does not want to be named, said: There were two decisions made. One that she should get a letter of apology.

The other is it has been given back to Moray Council to redo their decision. This is a landmark legal decision which will pave the way for others who are neurodiverse, or who have mobility issues, to secure the benefit of an assistance dog at school.

It marks the culmination of a nearly three-year struggle to show that our request for an assistance dog for a limited number of hours each week was a reasonable adjustment. Moray Council said: We will be reviewing the findings to consider our next steps.

It is believed the couple had paid thousands of pounds on specialist training for the dog. Assistance dogs can recognise when someone becomes anxious and can help calm and support them.

The tribunal had considered a number of issues including the impact on other pupils, such as those with allergies and those with a fear of dogs.

The decision could open the floodgates for similar requests although many councils are concerned about any liability they could face if a dog bit a child or triggered an allergic reaction.

Quango Education Scotland, which oversees the school system, said: Interest in using dogs in educational settings for therapeutic purposes is increasing.

It is the responsibility of local authorities to meet individual pupil needs.
Russell Brand could be facing charges over alleged historic sex offences following a 13-month inquiry in which the comedian was quizzed by the police three times.

Scotland Yard has asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider bringing charges against Mr Brand, 49.

The inquiry came after four women made allegations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse against Mr Brand in September 2023.

The allegations span from 2006 to 2013 when the comedian was working as a presenter on BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4 and as an actor in Hollywood.

It came following a joint investigation launched by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches.

Scotland Yard has asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider bringing charges against Russell Brand, 49 (pictured)

Brand (pictured in 2006) has strongly denied all accusations about his behaviour which allegedly took place at the height of his fame between 2006 and 2013

It has since been revealed that Russell Brand has been interviewed by the police on three separate occassions

Mr Brand was first interviewed under caution on November 16, 2023 over three sex offence claims after voluntarily attending a police station.

He was interviewed again on December 14 about a further six historical sex offences and a third interview took place on January 17 this year, The Times reported.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police said: 'Our investigation continues and a file has now been passed to the CPS.

'We have a team of dedicated officers providing specialist support to the women who have come forward.

'We are committed to investigating sexual offences, no matter how long ago they are alleged to have taken place.'

Russell Brand denies any wrongdoing and has said that all his sexual relationships were always consensual.

The comedian turned lifestyle guru, who also worked on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music programmes from 2006 to 2008, told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in a YouTube video earlier this year that the claims made against him were 'very, very hurtful'.

One of the first women to accuse Brand - referred to as Alice to protect her identity - claimed she was in an 'emotionally abusive and controlling relationship' with the comedian, then 31, as a teenager for about three months.

Russell Brand is pictured appearing on The Paul O'Grady Show in November 2017

One of the first women to accuse Brand - referred to as Alice to protect her identity - claimed she was in an 'emotionally abusive and controlling relationship' with the comedian

Alice, who has branded the star's alleged behaviour as 'grooming', claimed that throughout their relationship he would refer to her as 'The Child' and that he gradually became 'controlling, and then emotionally and sexually abusive'.

She claims: 'Russell engaged in the behaviours of a groomer but I didn't know what that was back then. He would try to drive a wedge between me and my parents, taught me to lie to them.

'I was at my dad's house and it was 11 o'clock at night. He texted me, I came up with a scenario where I said my friend was ill, and we would role play text message conversations. He had a whole script for me.'

Another woman claimed that Mr Brand sexually assaulted her while she worked with him in LA. She alleged she repeatedly told him to get off her and when he finally did he 'flipped'.

It was also claimed another woman was sexually assaulted by Brand in the UK and she also accused him of being physically and emotionally abusive towards her.

In the wake of the scandal, a fifth woman filed a report to the Metropolitan Police, claiming she was sexually assaulted by the star in Soho, London, in 2003.

Another woman has accused Brand of locking her in a dressing room and pinning her to a sofa with a 'glazed' look on his face.

The alleged incident, as reported in The Sun, was said to have taken place in 2008 when the comic was 33, after a gig in West London.

Russel Brand was accused of rape, assault and emotional abuse as part of a joint investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches programme, The Times and Sunday Times last year

Brand performs at The Hoping Foundation's Starry Starry Night Benefit Evening in 2014

One woman also came forward claiming Brand exposed himself to her in an office where BBC Los Angeles operated from in 2008, before going to pre-record a programme for Radio 2 where he appeared to joke about the alleged incident.

And another who was named Sarah to protect her identity, claimed the comic had left her feeling 'vulnerable and intimidated' after he allegedly refused to get her a taxi until she performed a sex act.

In recent years, Mr Brand has built up a large audience on social media.

He has more than 11million followers on X (formerly known as Twitter), while he also hosts daily live streams on video site Rumble to hundreds of thousands of viewers.

MailOnline contacted Russell Brand for comment.


The SNPs plan to clamp down on firework thugs has been branded worthless amid renewed chaos across Scotland.

Despite Firework Control Zones (FCZs) being introduced, disorder flared again, with police pelted with bricks and fireworks in a repeat of shameful scenes in previous years.

Astonishingly, some councils ran out of time for a recommended four-month consultation period for FCZs to be in place on Bonfire Night.

Others chose not to introduce them.

Edinburgh is the only city in Scotland with an FCZ. Its zone will run until November 10, making it an offence to ignite a firework in the Balerno, Seafield, Calton Hill and Niddrie areas.

Youths in Glasgow caused chaos this week and they let off fireworks in the street

Police in Dundee were faced with serious disorder last year

Critics say the regulations lack clarity or effectiveness, pointing out that legislation states youths would only be visited at their homes as a preventative step to curb violence.

The visits would target not only those with previous firework offences, but youngsters susceptible to peer pressure.

The Scottish Government said such visits are the responsibility of councils.

However, it has emerged that while some planned to act, others delegated responsibility to the fire service.

We can also reveal that Police Scotland carried out some home visits, while fire chiefs said they focused on speaking to youngsters in schools instead.

Shocking scenes unfolded in Edinburgh last week, with more than a dozen buses damaged during disorder on Halloween.

Officers were pelted with bricks and fireworks in the citys Niddrie area, with a female officer hurt when a vehicle window shattered.

Meanwhile, an open-top bus carrying young people with disabilities was targeted with fireworks at the citys Dynamic Earth science centre. There was also violence in Glasgow and Dundee.

Sharon Dowey, Scottish Conservative community safety spokesman, said: We warned the SNP about rushing through fireworks laws, but they refused to listen.

Police in Edinburgh's Niddrie area came under attack from youths around Bonfire night last year

Given the shameful scenes we have witnessed, they are not worth the paper they are written on.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said he would be meeting First Minister John Swinney to discuss the problem.

Moves to tackle the issue were introduced following disorder on Bonfire Night last year, especially in Edinburghs Niddrie, Dundee and Glasgow.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: It is up to local authorities to decide on prevention work such as youth intervention visits.

Police Scotlands Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said FCZs are implemented by local authorities and are only one power available to address antisocial behaviour, disorder and violence.
Family and friends of Liberty German and Abigail Williams were left furious at an Indiana court's decision to shield explicit prison video footage from public view out of 'respect' for the 'dignity' of the man accused of murdering the Delphi teens.

Jurors in Carroll County Court were the only members of the public permitted to view nearly two hours of video recordings made of Richard Allen during the 13 months in which he was held in Westville Correctional Facility in Westville, some 76 miles outside of Delphi.

Allen, 52, is facing four charges relating to the murders of best friends Libby, 14, and Abby, 13, who went missing after going for a hike on the Monon High Bridge trail on February 13, 2017.

Libby, 14, and Abby, 13, were killed outside their home town of Delphi, Indiana, in February 2017

Richard Allen denies murdering Liberty and Abby who were killed while hiking in their hometown of Delphi, Indiana

Family members of Liberty German and Abigail Williams listen as Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter announces during a news conference in Delphi, Indiana, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, the arrest of Richard Allen, 50, for the murders of two teenage girls killed during a 2017 hiking trip in northern Indiana

He has been charged with the murder and felony murder of both girls, which means murder committed during the act of another crime, in this instance the other act would be kidnapping.

He faces a maximum sentence of 130 years if convicted.

Today, his defense continued to make their case by admitting into evidence close to two hours of footage taken from camcorders used by guards who constantly monitored and filmed Allen during his 13 months in solitary confinement and suicide watch.

At the start of Saturday morning Judge Frances Gull explained that due to the 'rather explicit scenes' contained across the 15 videos she would be publishing the exhibit - meaning the videos could be viewed  but only to the jury.

Bradely Rozzi, one of Allen's team of attorneys, thanked Judge Gull for her decision saying: 'Out of respect for various parties including my client and his dignity this is the most professional way of dealing with this.'

In pictures both girls were seen lying on the mortuary table on their backs, their neck wounds gaping wide. Both were 5ft 4, Abby weighed 95lbs and Libby 200lbs

The abandoned Monon High Bridge outside Delphi, Indiana, where Abby and Libby were murdered

The large screen on which evidence has been presented to jurors was turned away from the public gallery while the videos, which contain no audio, played out to a silent court.

Visible to some members of the media from where they sat in the gallery, in some Allen is naked, in all he is cuffed or otherwise restrained.

In one, he kneels, naked, facing a wall while two officers soap him up and wash him down before drying him and placing a black 'spit hood' over his head.

Allen, in another, still bearded at the time, is getting a haircut, sitting apparently passive, his hands cuffed behind his back. At some point he is dragged along a hallway by two guards who take either arm.

In another, he appears to be lying down while guards attempt to get him up.

Another video shows Allen naked and placed in white spit hood.

Yet another shows him transported to the prison's medical unit, strapped onto a chair while he is apparently examined. Allen received several involuntary injections of the antipsychotic drug Haldol during his time at Westville.

The 'movement videos' were all taken when Allen was being transported in and out of his cell and filmed between April and June 2023, gleaned from hundreds of hours of footage reviewed by his defense team.

The jury is expected to be shown in cell video later next week.

The trail in Delphi, Indiana, where Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14, were killed

Richard Allen is slight, gaunt, with closely cropped hair and barely five-feet, yet witness Breann Wilber described 'Bridge Guy' as tall and muscular

They depict what the defense has presented as the peak of the 'serious mental illness' and psychotic breakdown they claim Allen suffered because of constant monitoring and his lengthy stay in solitary confinement in the most secure unit of Westville.

Jurors watched the footage intently, at times one put his hand over his mouth, but they were notably less visibly affected than Allen's own attorneys.

Jennifer Auger watched with clear discomfort as her colleague Rozzi presented each clip. At some point Andrew Baldwin, his arm round the back of Allen's chair where he sat beside him, looked close to tears.

Yesterday the court heard that Allen was 'seriously mentally ill' when he made a string of prison confessions to killing Libby and Abby.

The statement came in expert testimony from Dr. Deanna Dweinger, the psychologist who oversees mental health care in Indiana's Department of Corrections.

Under questioning from Rozzi, Dweinger told the court that the conditions in which Allen was held during his 13 months in Westville would have been 'toxic' for a man who was already suffering from depression and anxiety.
I envy political scientists.

They have the ability to predict political future developments. Basically, they studied political philosophy and political behaviour and identities. They are not gods, but they can foresee things and form an impression. I am not one of them. Nevertheless, I like them. We need them in society to guide and correct us so that we are always relevant to the times. Party splitting, floor-crossing, defecting and switching happen around the world. Even though I am not a political scientist, there are clear signs that something unpleasant within the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) is going to happen. It may happen before the end of the year. The movement, established in 1983, is under siege. Certain members of PUDEMO established the Communist Party of Swaziland.

Established

Perhaps, they are used to it, but the division currently obtaining among members of PUDEMO will result in an unfathomable split. Busie Mayisela, a senior member for the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), also established a new party styled Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF). The juxtaposition or comparisons of the leadership styles of Mandla Hlatshwayo, one of the founding fathers of PUDEMO and Mlungisi Makhanya, the current President, is a ruse that can distract ones thinking from the core issue. It is a fact we cannot easily denounce that PUDEMO has some members who see Hlatshwayo, my uncle (malume), as a political leader who can be the movements face at a time when the partys ratings have just slipped down terribly. I have to declare my interest. My mother is a Hlatshwayo and Makhanyas mother is a Nkambule.

The leadership styles of malume and mzala are not the issue here, but PUDEMO members share sharply contrasting ideologies that will undoubtedly result in the split. I have done my home work and discovered that the left within PUDEMO are of the view that the right should adopt a certain approach to the call for political reforms in Eswatini while the right, which is mostly made up of those who are in exile, strongly believe that the left must leave the country for exile. They believe that the left is obstructing the course for liberation. In fact, the left is now convinced that the right is a cult.

In April 2024, I intercepted a document with letterheads similar to those of PUDEMO, which caused commotion among members of the organisation. I can state with conviction that the document was crafted by certain members within the right. Before I analysed the paper in detail, it is important that I give a brief background of PUDEMO, which, as a newspaper, we published in 2022. A group of students at the University of Eswatini came together in July 1983 to form PUDEMO) to protect Queen Regent Dzeliwe.

The protection and re-installation of the deposed Regent was among a list of other demands that the students made in their earlier marches, dubbed the Dzeliwe Demonstration in August 1983. The gathering of the students was conducted behind the scenes, and it later transpired that the group, though formed at the backdrop of Queen Dzeliwes deposition as Regent, was actually the foundation of PUDEMO. More demonstrations followed as the Queen Regent Dzeliwe challenged her removal, by filing an urgent application at the High Court. PUDEMO was eventually launched on January 1985. By that time, it already had a working constitution, a programme of action and a manifesto.

While the first goal of the manifesto indicated that the organisation was calling for a constitution of a multiparty democracy system, goal number nine indicated that the organisation intended to promote and develop the rich heritage of Eswatini culture. The clause further highlighted that Eswatini law and custom would be codified and published for general information of the public and cultural institutions would be open for all. The political stand of the movement regarding the monarchy has always been a subject for debate over the years, as different leaders gave different versions of their interpretation of the manifesto. Meanwhile, the document in circulation, which the PUDEMO executive, disowned, suggested new strategies and ideologies that the movement was known to have discarded in the past.

It is stated in this paper that PUDEMO should disappear from the public eye and stop operations in Eswatini. The thinkers within the movement are of the view that all executive members should go into exile. They are of the view that PUDEMO must operate underground from exile.Interestingly, the thinkers and strategists suggested that the organisation should use secret strategies to take over Parliament. The executive told me that the national executive committee (NEC) never adopted such a document. But, it does exist and it is in circulation to date. Some PUDEMO members alleged that it was possible it was crafted by those who are already in exile. The document prescribes policies for the movement that are sharply contrary to its last years resolution to boycott anything to do with Tinkhundla System of Government. It contains ideas that draw PUDEMO members close to Tinkhundla System of Government.

It is titled PUDEMO Operational and Survival Strategy.

It is mentioned in this document that PUDEMO did not have to participate in last years general election but it does need to take over the August house and turn it into a site of struggle. The strategy borders on infiltration, radicalisation and agitation. To take over Parliament, it is mentioned in the document that PUDEMO should achieve this goal through covert infiltration via a structure that should not be known by the public and the regime that it had links with the party. There is a suggestion that the movement should get closer to the enemy through pushing for dialogue against its narrative that it (dialogue) has been concluded.

Investigations by the Times of Eswatini SUNDAY uncovered that some PUDEMO members suspected that a certain scholar could be behind the document. Other members suspected that ideological proponents of the Tinkhundla System of Government could be sowing seeds of discord within PUDEMO. I realised that there is confusion within the party. It is now divided into two camps. Another theory is that members of a certain political organisation crafted the document. There is also a strong belief that members of the organisation in exile authored the paper.

Relocate

Members opposed to the ideas expressed in the paper told me that the suggested organogram that the national working committee should immediately relocate to exile, set up an official office there and permanently operate from there triggered a lot of thinking and suspicion. The person or persons who crafted the document received funding, its my suspicion. Its possible we have PUDEMO members who think like that, the long-serving member of the organisation confided in me. The document spells out that the national working committee must be the only known members of the movement and all other national structures must disengage from public duties of the organisation and strictly operate underground.

The PUDEMO regional working committee must immediately disengage from all public PUDEMO work and retreat to underground alongside all its underlying structures including the leagues and branches, this is one of the proposed directive that does not sit well with the other faction of the movement. According to the document, PUDEMO inside Swaziland (Eswatini) must cease to publicly exist as a party. It is stated that all open and public PUDEMO work shall be carried out by the national working committee from exile using information provided by the underground regional structures within the country.

The new strategy spells out how the organisation must operate in the media space, with restrictions having been put forth for consideration. The document states that there should be no more publicising of PUDEMO work by any structure or individual under any circumstances. However, the national working committee, using its own intelligence to determine what should or what should not be publicised; shall be responsible for the entitys publicity. In its pursuit for publicity, it has been proposed that the national working committee shall strongly consider that underground structures and individuals within Swaziland (Eswatini) must be protected at all costs.

Pertaining to the implementation of the strategy, four tactics are to be employed as follows:

Organisationally, go underground and into self-exile.

Centralise organisational power and operate a bit more dictatorially to obliterate factions and shorten the chain of command.

Get closer to the enemy through pushing for dialogue against its narrative that dialogue has been concluded.

Self-censor the name and symbols of the movement inside the country to protect membership.

On the other hand, the clique proposing the new approach to the struggle has explained why it crafted the document whose objectives are to:

Advise PUDEMO about the urgent need to adapt to the imminent situation that shall be presented by the full implementation of the Suppression of the Terrorism Act (STA).

Suggest possible steps that may be taken immediately to prepare the organisation for the inevitable repercussions of the STA.

Raise the serious need for the organisation to strengthen itself, survive under the conditions and most importantly lead the National Democratic Revolution (NDR from the imposed shadows.

Influence the organisation towards the Value Added Approach to the struggle, especially since it is not waging a military struggle but a peaceful one.

Advance the NDR through building a strong, resilient and capable PUDEMO.

It is said that the document seeks to reform the PUDEMO organogram from that of a public organisation into one that suits an underground movement. I spoke to Penuel Malinga, the Secretary General of PUDEMO, Brian Sangweni, the National Spokesperson and Maxwell Dlamini, the Deputy Secretary General, about this document. They said it did not represent the ideologies of the organisation and it was not adopted by the NEC. They said only the NEC could release PUDEMO documents.

They said the Political and Ideological Department did not sanction this document to be discussed at branches through the NEC.They said the policy conference neither discussed it nor embraced it. However, I was reminded of this document this week, realising in the process that it is highly possible that PUDEMO is on the verge of the split. Proponents of the Tinkhundla System of Government celebrate each time there are problems within the party. The main undoing about Tinkhundla is that they lack a think-tank that studies patterns and strengthens the political system to stay relevant to the current times. Tinkhundla proponents are relaxed. They always react to situations, and have not been proactive to ensure stability and impressive rating of their own political system.

With PUDEMO showing signs of failure, it would have been a better time to regroup, refocus and fine-tune the political system so that it pays dividends in times of need. These are interesting times, I am watching.
Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib refused to endorse Kamala Harris for president during a campaign rally on Friday.

The first Palestinian-American in Congress is the only member of Congress' progressive group 'The Squad' to have not backed the Democratic presidential candidate.

The congresswoman from Michigan's 12th district has been one of the most vocal critics of the Biden-Harris administration's role in the Gaza war.

She was issuing a late rallying cry to voters at the United Auto Workers union rally in Detroit in one of the seven battleground states that will ultimately decide the election.

But she steered clear of supporting Harris and instead just encouraged union members to cast their ballots in what could be one of the closest elections in history.

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib refused to endorse Kamala Harris for president during a campaign rally on Friday

'Don't underestimate the power you all have,' she said according to The Detroit News. 'More than those ads, those lawn signs, those billboards, you all have more power to turn out people that understand we've got to fight back against corporate greed in our country.

Michigan is one of the battlegrounds that will go a long way to determining who is in the White House.

The Gaza war has greater importance there than anywhere else in the nation, because of large Muslim population.

Earlier in the day Tlaib tore into Trump during his visit to Dearborn, the only majority Arab-American city in the country, to court voters furious at the U.S. support of Israel.

Tlaib tore into the former president and the Biden White House's support for Israel during their relentless bombardment of Palestine.

'Trump is a proud Islamophobe + serial liar who doesn't stand for peace,' she wrote on X.

'The reality is that the Biden admins unconditional support for genocide is what got us here.

'This should be a wake-up call for those who continue to support genocide. This election didn't have to be close.'

Tlaib overwhelmingly won her 2018 election to represent the 13th district of Michigan. She earned 82.4 percent of the vote.

In 2020, she won the general election with 78.1 percent and in 2022 won with 70.8 percent.

Her margin of victory has decreased by several points each election cycle  but it's unclear so far how she will fare against Republican James Hooper on November 5.

Tlaib's district includes Dearborn and other western suburb areas of Detroit, which is a very blue area. She ran unopposed in her primary election this cycle.

In the 2020 census, Michigan lost a seat in the House, and in 2023 redistricting saw Rep. Tlaib's jurisdiction changed to the 12th Congressional District.

Tlaib, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, also helped lead a coalition of Muslim and other anti-Israel voters in the presidential primary election casting their ballots 'uncommitted' instead of for President Joe Biden.

It was a show of widespread protest against Biden's continued support for ally Israel in its war against Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza.

No lawmaker has been more vocal in their criticism of the U.S. support for Israel.

The so-called 'Squad' exploded into the news six years ago and have barely been out of the headlines since - but what will 2024 mean for the so-called Democratic 'Squad'?

The group was established in Congress in the 2018 midterm elections conducted halfway through Donald Trump's term in the White House.

It emerged as what Democrats saw as a progressive correction and response to the former president's populist conservative policies.

All four original members were minority women younger than the average member of the U.S. House, which was 58-years-old.

In successive congressional elections more progressive politicians arrived in the House and added to the group, with their slogan becoming: 'I Stand With The Squad'.

The new additions were either welcomed by the existing members themselves or linked to the growing section of lawmakers by the media.

Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley were all elected to the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterms in what was seen as a progressive response to Donald Trump's presidency. They were immediately dubbed 'the squad'

However, in this election cycle, the squad has begun to shrink for the first time.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) was the first to fall after he was defeated in his June primary election following only one term.

Then in August, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) also lost her primary election amid a massive push from pro-Israel group to oust pro-Palestinian members of Congress.

The 2024 election brings many questions for the future of the country  and Congress  including whether the 'squad' will maintain its influence.

Here, DailyMail.com breaks down the four main members of 'The Squad' and how the races are leaning in their respective districts:

While members have been added to squad over the last two election cycles, the 2024 cycle has yielded the first losses for the group after progressive Reps. Cori Bush (left) and Jamal Bowman (right) were defeated in their respective primary races

AOC  New York's 14th Congressional District

Republican candidate Tina Forte is taking on the grand challenge of trying to oust the most famous squad member  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

It isn't likely that AOC is going anywhere in her very safely blue district in New York City, which encompasses the eastern part of The Bronx and an area of north-central Queens.

The 35-year-old congresswoman won her primary this year with 81.1 percent of the vote and is on her way towards a fourth term.

AOC won her seat in Congress in the 2018 election when she earned a commanding 78.2 percent of the vote. Her victory margin has decreased since then, but still remains very large.

The millennial lawmaker won her second term in 2020 with 71.6 percent of the vote and a third in 2022 with 70.6 percent.

There are very unlikely chances of an upset for AOC in November.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the squad member with the most notoriety. When elected at age 29, she was the youngest woman to ever serve in the U.S. Congress

Ilhan Omar  Minnesota's 5th Congressional District

Possibly the second-most recognizable squad member, American-Somali Rep. Ilhan Omar, 42, is facing Republican candidate Dalia al-Aqidi in the general election.

The Minnesota congresswoman became the first to ever wear a hijab on the floor of the U.S. House and was one of the first two Muslim women to be elected to Congress along with fellow squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

Omar had a too-close-for-comfort primary run against Democrat Don Samuels this cycle, with approximately 16,000 votes separating the two in their August election.

But the 5th district in Minnesota is by far the most blue in the state with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of Democrat+30, meaning it's highly unlikely Omar will be ousted by her Republican rival in the November 5 elections. Omar's district includes Minneapolis, as well as several other cities in the surrounding area.

In her first election to the House in 2018, Omar won with 78.0 percent against Republican Jennifer Zielinski, who earned 21.7 percent.

Omar is the first Somali-American to serve in Congress.

Her family fled Somalia to escape the Civil War and spent four years in a refugee camp in Garissa County, Kenya.

Rep. Ilhan Omar often faces the ire of Republicans for her anti-Semitic comments. Omar was the first woman to ever wear a hijab on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives

The future congresswoman's family secured asylum in the U.S., arriving in New York in 1995.

Her family lived for a time in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Arlington, Virginia before moving to and settling in Minneapolis, which she now represents in the House of Representatives.

Omar has faced controversy through her time in Congress for her criticism of Israel.

Like the rest of the squad, Omar is staunchly pro-Palestinian.

Omar speaks with fellow squad member Rashida Tlaib during a press conference on March 13, 2019

Rep. Ayanna Pressley rounds out the original four 'squad' members. In comparison to the other members of the group, she keeps a relatively low profile

Ayanna Pressley  Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District

Also first elected in the 2018 midterm elections, Pressley won her primary against fellow Democrat Michael Capuano by a 17.2 percent margin.

She ran unopposed in the general election and easily sailed to her first term in the House.

Pressley's district includes roughly three-fourths of the very liberal Northeastern city of Boston and a few of its northern and southern suburbs, which are also very progressive. There is no sign that the area will flip any time soon.

The congresswoman's first reelection was easy with no challengers in her primary and then 86.6 percent of people in her district voting for her to get another term.

In 2022, Pressley also didn't have any primary challengers and easily beat her Republican rival with 84.6 percent.

No one jumped in the primary or general election race this year, so Pressley is well on her way to her fourth term along with the rest of the squad.
The late Queen had planned to end Harry and Meghan's lease of Frogmore Cottage and replace the pair with Prince Andrew, it has been has revealed.

The revelation is contained in an updated biography by acclaimed royal writer Robert Hardman, serialised by the Mail. Read the full extract here.

According to insiders, had the Queen lived another year she would have forced Prince Andrew, Duke of York to leave his family home - Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate and downsize to Frogmore Cottage.

'Had she lived another year, he would have been out,' says a former adviser to Elizabeth II firmly.

'It was her plan to move him out, to end the lease for the Sussexes at Frogmore Cottage and to move Andrew in there. It was mainly a money thing, as she could see it was becoming unsustainable.'

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Abel Tasman National Park. The Queen reportedly could have booted them out of the Cottage had she lived another year

Prince Andrew would have been downsized to Frogmore Cottage, the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the Endurance event on day 3 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor Great Park

An updated biography by acclaimed royal writer Robert Hardman, serialised by the Mail, reveals that Charles has acted decisively

An updated edition of Hardman's best-selling biography, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, which was published earlier this year, is now being brought out in hardback with extra material and three new chapters packed with fascinating detail.

As revealed exclusively by The Mail in its first extract from the book, Prince Andrew has officially been financially cut off by the King, marking a new low in relations between the brothers. Despite the Duke of York's attempts to call the monarch's bluff, Charles has acted decisively.

In recent weeks he has instructed his Keeper of the Privy Purse, the monarchy's finance director, to sever his beleaguered younger brother's annual personal allowance - believed to be in the region of 1 million a year - and no longer pays for his seven-figure private security detail.

'The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King,' confirms a source.

Also among the new revelations is how Prince Harry's determination to doggedly pursue legal action against the Home Office over its decision to withdraw his round-the-clock security when he quit royal duties has driven a wedge between father and son.

The King fears that if he repairs his relationship with Harry he could be dragged into the case, placing him in 'legal jeopardy'.

Royal insiders have also hit back at suggestions that they failed to help Meghan when she joined the Royal Family, saying she threw their offer back in their faces.

They insist, far from throwing the Duchess to the wolves, as she has suggested, they did everything in their power to help her - and it was she who said no.

Sources say the King is not against some sort of rapprochement with the Sussexes despite the barrage of criticism he had received. But it has not been an easy process.

Impeccably placed sources reveal that had she lived another year, Queen Elizabeth would have forced Andrew to leave his family home, Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park

Among the new revelations is how Prince Harry's determination to doggedly pursue legal action against the Home Office over its decision to withdraw his round-the-clock security when he quit royal duties has driven a wedge between father and son

When Harry returned to the UK in May the two did not meet. The prince was offered a room at Buckingham Palace but instead chose to stay in a hotel.

'We were told it was for security reasons,' says a member of the King's staff. 'I'm not sure you could get anywhere more secure than the Palace.'

As for Andrew, it can now be revealed that his attempts to play a dangerous game of high-stakes poker over Royal Lodge against his brother have backfired.

Sources close to the Duke of York have long argued that he has a cast-iron, long-term lease on the late Queen Mother's former home in Windsor Great Park.

Although he no longer undertakes royal duties, has been stripped of his patronages and military associations and is effectively barred from using his HRH title in public over his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the Duke has been determined to cling to the vestiges of his former life, most notably his home.

He has made clear to the King's advisers that they have no right to force him to downsize and has firmly rejected suggestions that he move to nearby Frogmore Cottage, which although smaller at five bedrooms, appears adequate for his needs and has the added benefit of being inside the Windsor Castle security 'ring of steel'.

Now that the King has effectively called his brother's bluff, Andrew is going to have to find the money for the upkeep of his vast property, as well as his security detail, with no visible sign of independent income.

According to Hardman, this apparently includes the cost of protecting several valuable and historical works of art and pieces of furniture borrowed from the Royal Collection, the treasure trove of antiques held in trust by the monarch on behalf of the nation.

Andrew has repeatedly asserted that he can continue to pay for his own upkeep, claiming to have found 'other sources of income' related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs. But His Majesty will be watching with interest.

'If he can find the money, then that is up to him, but if not, he will find that the King does not have unlimited patience,' adds an insider.

Family friends say although the matter has been temporarily resolved, Andrew's 'obstinacy' has 'soured' family relationships.
A resounding crash awoke sleeping neighbors in rural Philadelphia as a woman was hit and left to die in the street's of the city's Wissinoming section.

Philadelphia Police are now searching for a driver and vehicle involved in the deadly Saturday morning hit-and-run accident.

The unidentified victim was pronounced dead at the scene as she was hit with such force she was allegedly sent flying 200-feet into the street and both her sneakers were knocked off. She is believed to be in her late 20's to early 30's.

Philadelphia Police are now searching for a driver and vehicle involved in the deadly Saturday morning hit-and-run accident

The unidentified victim was pronounced dead at the scene as she was hit with such force she was allegedly sent flying 200-feet into the street and both her sneakers were knocked off

The tragic crash happened around 2:30 am in the 4800 block of Levick Street, surveillance video shows

'There are numerous broken car parts and pieces we believe were broken off of the striking vehicle from the impact,' Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department, said.

Clothes and jewelry said to be worn by the victim were found hundreds of feet from her body, police say, adding 'it was clear the driver was going way too fast' and that the driver did not stop.

The tragic crash happened around 2:30 am in the 4800 block of Levick Street, surveillance video shows.

Neighbors who stirred awake by the loud boom of the crash told police the driver was speeding when the victim was fatally struck.

The haunting surveillance footage shows what police are describing as a dark-colored SUV speeding away from the scene.

But, this isn't the first incident as ABC spoke to neighbors who say speeding is a regular occurrence as cars exit the nearby Tacony-Palmyra Bridge.

Neighbors who stirred awake by the loud boom of the crash told police the driver was speeding when the victim was fatally struck

The haunting surveillance footage shows what police are describing as a dark-colored SUV speeding away from the scene

'They keep happening, and they get closer and closer to home. I mean, you can't get closer to home than this,' the concerned neighbor said. She also added that she has witnessed fatalities before.

'There was a guy who was hit on his bike that was killed. There was a head-on collision on the bridge,' she added before urging the driver to come forward.

'Hopefully the right person turns himself in.'

Police say the suspect was driving a black or dark-colored SUV as they are reviewing surveillance camera footage with hopes to reveal a model or year of the suspected vehicle.
Ofsted has hit back at claims that it could mark down schools for taking in too many middle-class children as part of a radical shake-up in grading.

The plans were reportedly being discussed with senior Ofsted officials and were drawn up by Professor Lee Elliot Major from Exeter University who is an expert in social mobility.

However, an Ofsted spokesperson last night rebuked these reports, insisting; 'This story is untrue. Ofsted does not consider admissions during school inspections and we have no plans to do so in the future. The focus of our inspections is the quality of education provided for pupils'.

Despite Ofsted's denials though, the debate surrounding any such grading shake-up rages on, with Professor Major claiming that there is nothing to stop sought-after schools from admitting as many middle-class pupils as possible, and feels the plans will try to 'equalise the unlevel playing field'.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Prof Major said: 'Too often what happens is the schools we penalise are the ones serving the most challenging communities.

According to Ofsted's new rating system, schools will have to take their 'fair share' of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds (stock photo)

The plans are reportedly being discussed with senior Ofsted officials and were drawn up by Professor Lee Elliot Major from Exeter University (stock photo)

'This isn't about dumbing down, this is very much about improving standards for all.

'If you improve the learning for children from the most under-resourced background, you improve learning for all children.'

Pupil attendance would also be graded by Ofsted for the first time under the alleged new plans.

One-word ratings are set to be replaced by a scorecard containing ten separate grades based on 'key areas'.

Attendance could be one of these new performance ratings, as well as how well schools instil British values and prepare children for the outside world.

Other key areas could include the content of the school's curriculum and the quality of teaching.

Labour announced back in September it would scrap one-word Ofsted judgements with immediate effect following the tragic death of Ruth Perry.

The headteacher took her own life after an inspection downgraded her primary school in Caversham, Reading, from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate' with a coroner concluding that it had contributed to her death.

Ruth Perry, 53, was headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, and took her own life before a negative Ofsted inspection on the school was published

Rachel Reeves confirmed she was forcing private schools to charge VAT on fees from the new year

Starting in the new year fee-paying schools will no longer be exempt from the tax, and will get no business rate relief, as the Government looks to fund 6,500 extra teachers for state schools

Ofsted previously awarded one of four headline grades to schools it inspects: 'outstanding', 'good', 'requires improvement' and 'inadequate'.

It comes after the announcement in the autumn budget last Wednesday that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will scrap private schools' VAT exemption.

The government's own economic watchdog said the move will send an additional 35,000 children into state education.

Posh schools such as Eton, Winchester and Charterhouse, as well as countless smaller institutions, will lose the exemption from January.

They will also lose their business rate relief from April as Labour uses the schools to fund 6,5000 new teaching jobs in the state sector.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast the number of students at fee-paying schools would fall by 35,000, driven mainly by fewer pupils enrolling rather than current students being pulled out by struggling parents.

It said the cost of these children joining state schools was 300million. It forecast that the raid on VAT would add 1.7billion per year to Treasury coffers by the end of the Parliament.

Critics of the plan have argued that the change is coming in too fast and could force some schools to close as parents pull their children out due to higher fees.

But supporters of the change say it is a long-overdue closure of a loophole that allows wealthy schools to avoid tax.
The Royal Navy has released incredible behind-the-scenes footage of a first-of-its-kind trial mission in which its new helicopter missile shoots down a drone without crew assistance.

Firing the Martlet missile from a Wildcat combat chopper, the video shows a Banshee drone being directly hit and taken down out of the air at hundreds of miles an hour over the Bristol Channel.

The drill took place at RAF base Manorbier in South Wales and signifies an vital improvement in the armed forces capabilities in dealing with the 'very modern threat' of drones.

Earlier this year, a Navy helicopter faced an attack whilst aboard warship HMS Destroyer when Houthi rebels launched drones in the Red Sea and Yemeni Gulf.

Speaking in the aftermath of the trial, Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Dave Guest said the success of the unmanned missile system was a huge boost to the Navy's defensive arsenal.

'It's really important that we can demonstrate the Wildcat's effectiveness in engaging targets such as uncrewed systems - and that we can do so on our own, without requiring the assistance of other assets,' Lieutenant Guest said at RAF Manorbier.

In footage released by the Royal Navy, a Wildcat combat helicopter can be seen tailing and ultimately destroying a Banshee drone with a new high-tech missile system

The Banshee drone which was launched into the air over the Bristol channel

The incredible moment in which the Navy's new Martlet missile system can be seen taking out the Banshee drone

The view from the Wildcat chopper as the Martlet missile system destroys the Banshee drone

Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Dave Guest (pictured) said the success of the unmanned missile system was a huge boost to the Navy's defensive arsenal

Over the course of the two-day trial, the Royal Navy tested out its new autonomous weaponry by sending Banshee drones into the sky via a ramp.

In the video shared by the Navy, the drone can be witnessed flying across the Bristol Channel skyline with a helicopter trailing in pursuit.

Ultimately intercepting the drone, the new Martlet missile can be seen hitting and destroying the drone in a ball of flames.

The Martlet missile has been specifically designed with its lightweight build and laser-guided target locator to be deployed against a host of small and manoeuvrable targets such as fast attack craft, jet skis, and speedboats.

Commander James Woods, Commanding Officer of 815 Naval Air Squadron, stated that the trial was a 'fantastic development' as the Navy continues in its advancements towards neutralising airborne threats.
A body has been found inside a Melbourne home after fire tore through the building early on Sunday.

Emergency services were called to the Power Street home in Saint Albans at 2.40am, and arrived to find the single storey weather board house consumed by fire and a neighbouring three-storey apartment building under threat.

Residents from nearby properties were evacuated as 30 firefighters fought for 50 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

One person was located decesased within the home, with emergency services yet to release details about the person.

A crime scene has been established and arson chemist will attend the scene later today.

The neighbouring building was heavily impacted by smoke with 3 of the townhouses sustaining minor fire damage. Police are assisting with alternative accommodation for some of the occupants.

'Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or,' leading senior constable Jody Clayton said.
Most Tory MPs privately admit electing Kemi Badenoch is a risk  even those who openly backed her. They know about her reputation for starting fights in empty rooms and her 'direct' approach to social interactions, which is often confused with arrogance and rudeness.

But they also see her qualities: frank, fearless and settled in her belief system in a way which reminds many of Margaret Thatcher.

That, in the end, is what gave her the advantage over her opponent, Robert Jenrick, when the vote went to the party grassroots.

Mr Jenrick ran the best campaign, but ultimately could not shake his reputation for being 'Robert Generic', an identikit white, besuited Tory male. Like Rishi Sunak, his rags-to-riches story was one in which the later riches  he is a lawyer married to an older and even more successful lawyer  obscured the rags.

Mrs Badenoch was born in a private Catholic maternity hospital in Wimbledon, and grew up in Nigeria where her father was a GP and her mother a lecturer in physiology. Her British passport gave her a route out of the country when its economy collapsed in the 1990s: her parents sent her aged 16 to live with a family friend in Morden, south London, where she enrolled at a local college for her A-levels.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch pictured in Nigeria with her grandfather at the age of seven

Kemi Badenoch gives a speech after becoming the new leader of the Conservative party after beating Robert Jenrick

During the leadership contest she said that this was the period in which she 'became working class'  having been born into a middle-class family  by taking a job in McDonald's. She said: 'There's a humility there... you had to wash toilets, you had to flip burgers, you had to handle money.'

Mrs Badenoch, who spoke English as a second language after Yoruba and calls herself 'a first-generation immigrant', says her time studying computer engineering at Sussex University drove her towards Tory politics.

Surrounded by Left-wing students she describes as 'snotty middle-class north Londoners who couldn't get into Oxbridge', she says that she was appalled by the 'high-minded' way they spoke about Africa.

She said: 'These stupid lefty white kids didn't know what they were talking about. That instinctively made me think 'these are not my people'.'

After spells as a software engineer and an associate director at Coutts bank, her breakthrough came when she was made a digital director at The Spectator magazine. There she was championed by the then-editor Fraser Nelson and fell under the sway of Michael Gove  who has just supplanted Mr Nelson in the editor's chair.

Both Mr Gove and his friend Dougie Smith, the shadowy Tory fixer, had soon identified Mrs Badenoch as a future party leader, and encouraged her to adopt the anti-woke beliefs which have so resonated with Conservative members.

She entered Parliament in 2017 in the safe Tory seat of Saffron Walden, aligning herself immediately with the Brexiteer wing of the party as Theresa May endured her endless battle with the EU to secure a deal: in her maiden speech, she described the leave vote as 'the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom', and won a powerful place on the executive of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee.

She was given her first government role, as junior minister for children and families, by Boris Johnson when he became prime minister in 2019.

New leader of Britain's main opposition Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch smiles beside her husband Hamish

Kemi Badenoch shakes hands with rival Robert Jenrick as he congratulates her on winning the Tory leadership contest

Kemi Badenoch has made history after becoming the first black leader of a major British party

Her time as equalities minister gave her the platform to attack identity politics, clashing with civil servants over her insistence public buildings should have separate men's and women's toilet facilities and complaining about the way her three mixed race children with her banker husband, Hamish Badenoch, are regarded solely as black. She also created headlines with her outspoken defence of the controversial Sewell report, commissioned in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, which found the UK was not institutionally racist.

She lost to Liz Truss in the contest to succeed Mr Johnson as leader, but entered the Cabinet as international trade secretary  a post she retained under Mr Sunak.

Mrs Badenoch embraces her reputation for being confrontational, saying last week: 'I am somebody who is very blunt. I'm very forthright and I'm very confident as well. I'm not a wallflower.'

When Doctor Who actor David Tennant told an awards ceremony he would like to wake up in a world where she 'doesn't exist any more' and wished she would 'shut up', Mrs Badenoch said she would not be silenced by a 'rich, lefty, white male celebrity' attacking 'the only black woman in government'.

Yesterday, Mr Johnson gave his instant, powerful backing to her leadership by saying that she would bring 'a much needed zing and zap to the Conservative party'.

But she also brings gaffes  which is why she is a risk. In the space of a few days at the Tory Party Conference in Birmingham, during the early stages of the contest, she managed to declare that maternity pay was 'excessive' and said some civil servants were so bad that 10 per cent of them should be in prison.

Tory members have calculated that the risks of electing her are outweighed by the rewards: her ability to neutralise the appeal of Nigel Farage's Reform UK and to slot away the open goals which are being presented by Sir Keir Starmer's fumbling administration.
Radical reforms being considered by royal officials could see the word Empire dropped from British honours.

Under the outline plans, those recognised with an OBE  Order of the British Empire  could instead choose to receive an Order of British Excellence. A parallel Order of Elizabeth has also been proposed in remembrance of the late Queen.

In both cases, the traditional, colonial-era titles would be retained for those who wanted to accept them.

Any alteration to the honours system would be down to Sir Keir Starmers government.

A newly updated biography of the King, by the Mails Robert Hardman, quotes a senior Palace official saying: Any change is a matter for the government, but I think that they would find that this place was pretty open to the idea.

King Charles and Queen Camilla on a visit to Samoa. A new biography of the King has revealed plans to drop the word 'empire' from British honours

Ian Wright being made an OBE by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace

Davina McCall being made an MBE by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace

Australians waving union flags with King Charles as they wait to greet the monarch and Queen Camilla in Sydney on October 20

Members of the public greet the King outside Parliament House in Canberra

The move comes amid an increasing reappraisal of the British Empires legacy, with Caribbean countries calling for the UK to pay hundreds of billions of pounds in reparations for the slave trade.

Several public figures have refused honours because of their disdain for the word empire.

Last year, actor Alan Cumming returned his OBE saying he had misgivings about being associated with the toxicity of empire and poet Benjamin Zephaniah, whose parents came from the Caribbean, rejected an OBE in 2003, saying: I get angry when I hear that word empire. It reminds me of slavery.

The proposal is revealed in the updated biography of the King by acclaimed royal writer Robert Hardman, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday.

It has already dropped the bombshells that Charles cut off Prince Andrews allowance, and the late Queen was planning to evict him from Royal Lodge. And todays extracts reveal that the Princess of Wales deepened her religious faith since discovering that she had cancer.

The landmark biography also states that Queen Elizabeth was quite intrigued by a proposal to change the name of the OBE to the Order of Britain & Elizabeth and would not have objected to a discussion.

Last night, when asked about the honours proposal, a No 10 source said: We would not discuss any conversations with the Palace under any circumstances.

But Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a series of outspoken remarks about British colonialism, including his support for the idea of reparations, before entering Government.

Images of previous royal visits projected onto the Sydney Opera House on October 18

Any alteration to the honours system would be down to Sir Keir Starmer's government

The article is adapted from Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman (Macmillan, 22), to be published on November 7.  Robert Hardman 2024

The honours reform would be the first change to the Order of the British Empire since it was created by George V in 1917 to reward contributions to the arts and sciences, charitable and welfare organisations and public service outside the civil service.

There are five levels, from Knight Grand Cross to Member of the Order (MBE). The OBE is officially an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

The related British Empire Medal would also be reformed under the plans now under discussion.

A number of Commonwealth nations also make appointments to the Order.

Last month, the Prime Minister lost his battle to prevent Caribbean nations from using the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit to demand billions in reparations for the British slave trade.

After The Mail on Sunday revealed that they would be pressing the issue, No 10 insisted it was not on the agenda for the summit  and continued to do so until the final communique was published in which the leaders agreed that the time has come for a discussion on the matter, more than 200 years after the slave trade was abolished by the UK parliament.

Campaigners have called for 200billion in reparations, with some demanding many multiples of that sum.

Mr Lammy, who is descended from enslaved people, has described how his ancestors heard the twisted lies of imperialism as they were stolen from their homes in shackles and turned into slaves.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a series of outspoken remarks about British colonialism, including floating the possibility of Britain paying reparations , before entering government

A young boy was among spectators greeting the King during his visit to Sydney Opera House on October 22

He also controversially supported protesters who toppled the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol and dumped it into the harbour four years ago.

Dozens of other memorials to traders and colonialists were removed in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests.

The potential honours shake-up also comes after the Prime Ministers controversial decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius last month, in a move which has led to fears for the future of British control of other strategic territories including the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.

Reform to the honours system was first suggested by a Commons select committee in 2004, in a report entitled A Matter of Honour: Reforming Our Honours System.

It recommended phasing out the Order of the British Empire as its title was now considered to be unacceptable, being thought to embody values that are no longer shared by many of the countrys population.

The committee suggested switching Empire for Excellence and changing the rank of Commander (CBE) to Companion as the former was said to have a militaristic ring. However the MPs suggestions were rejected by Tony Blairs government.

Adapted from Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman (Macmillan, 22), to be published on November 7.  Robert Hardman 2024.

To order a copy for 19.80 (offer valid until November 15, 2024; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
Monika Lewinsky urged supporters to vote for Kamala Harris as the election enters its home stretch.

The activist, 51, took to social media to call on her 1.1 million followers to support the Democratic ticket, sharing a smiling selfie while wearing an 'I Voted' sticker.

'PLEASE VOTE!' she captioned the picture: '(Preferably like I did for Harris/ Walz)'.

It comes as both the Trump and Harris campaigns ramp up their get-out-the-vote efforts days before polls close on Tuesday, with early voting data showing more than 60 million Americans have already cast their ballot.

Monika Lewinsky urged supporters to vote for Kamala Harris with a smiling selfie while wearing an 'I Voted' sticker as the presidential race enters its final stretch

Lewinsky has made no secret of her support for the Democrats in the past, and has frequently urged her followers to support Harris in recent weeks.

And with early voting now open across the nation, Lewinsky and her supporters may have been buoyed by early data from the University of Florida's Election Lab.

The data found that of the 60 million Americans who have already cast their ballot, women made up 54 percent compared to men's 44 percent.

According to the results, several swing states see a similar 10% difference between the genders when it comes to who has voted early: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and North Carolina.

Pennsylvania, in particular, could be key to deciding the winner of the White House.

While the numbers only show that more women have voted  but not who they voted for - polls show Trump has a significant deficit with female voters compared to Kamala Harris.

Early voting data showed 54 percent of all voters have been women so far, giving a boost to Kamala Harris' chances in the race

Former President Donald Trump seen in North Carolina on Saturday, as both campaigns ramp up their efforts in swing states as the race enters its final days

An analysis of Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted in October shows that, among women, Harris led Trump by 12 points.

Additionally, Harris only trailed Trump by 2 points among white women - 46% to 44% - a much smaller margin than the 16-point lead Trump had over Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Polls have consistently shown the presidential race is a dead heat between the two candidates, however Trump's odds took a significant hit on Friday on the betting markets.

With four days until the election the prominent betting website Kalshi had Trump's chances of winning at 53 percent compared to 47 percent for Harris - a severe drop from the 64 - 36 lead he enjoyed just days before.
Justin Hemmes has allegedly been targeted by a man claiming to be a bikie who said the hospitality billionaire owed him money.

An 'agitated' Brendan Sean Cliff allegedly tried to get into Mr Hemmes' $100million mansion, known as The Hermitage, in Vaucluse, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in July.

Cliff allegedly claimed to be a member of the Comanchero motorcyle gang, made a gun shape with his hand and demanded a meeting with the Merivale boss.

The police took out apprehended violence orders (AVO) against Cliff, 48, to protect Mr Hemmes, 52, one of his staff and a neighbour, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Cliff was charged with stalking or intimidating Mr Hemmes' neighbour Sally Roth and the employee, who was at his home at the time of the incident.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mr Hemmes owes money or that he has any asssociation with bikies.

Police will allege a witness described Cliff as looking 'deranged' and that he was 'ranting' outside the heritage listed home.

Cliff allegedly asked to speak to 'Justin' and claimed to be part of the Comanchero, police documents said.

Justin Hemmes, 52, (pictured with his partner Madeline Holtznagel) was allegedly targeted by a man claiming to be a bikie who said he was owed money by the hospitality billionaire

He is accused of making the shape of a gun with his hand and pretending to fire it.

Police will allege Cliff approached Ms Roth, who lives in the property next door to Mr Hemmes, and asked her about the businessman.

Cliff was charged with two counts of stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear of physical harm to Ms Roth and another person.

The police took out three AVOs to protect Mr Hemmes, Ms Roth and a third person from Cliff, who reportedly lives in Kings Cross, an inner Sydney suburb 7km from Vaucluse.

He is barred from going within 500metres of Mr Hemmes' home or anywhere that he works or contacting him in any way.

Ms Roth is protected by similar conditions in AVOs taken out against Cliff which relate to them.

An 'agitated' Brendan Sean Cliff allegedly tried to get into Mr Hemmes' $100million mansion, known as The Hermitage, in Vaucluse, Sydney 's eastern suburbs, in July

Mr Hemmes' business empire includes high profile hospitality venues such as the Establishment, the Ivy and Hemmesphere.

Cliff, who was sent for a mental health assessment, is unemployed and gets social welfare payments. He was refused bail and has not entered a plea to the charges.

He is listed to face the Downing Centre Local Court on November 13.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Hemmes seeking comment.
Madam,

Some years ago employers preferred to Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Diploma-holders to UNESWA Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm) graduates. Regarded as the most popular modern apprenticeship pathway in the accountancy sector, providing unique skills, such as managing companies money and securing business deals and others that make employees thrive in the workplace, AAT was considered more professional that the B.comm, which was considered more academic than practical.

However, later the UNESWA Faculty of Commerce radically transformed its B.Comm programme into a robust course, offering general courses for the first three years leading to a Diploma in Commerce after which successful students specialised either in management, accounting or marketing. The faculty struck strategic partnerships with other universities, the private and public sector, professional organisations, development partners and communities.

Programme



The programme became so successful, that some graduates were spoilt for choice in terms of job offers. In fact, most did not have to go through the stress of job seeking, because they were already attached to various entities within both the public sector and private sector. The key to the success of the programme is enshrined in the facultys mission statement, that is: to develop programmes that are responsive to the needs of the public, private, and individual sectors. The faculty's mission is achieved through: Training, research, community engagement and service, and entrepreneurship.

The same cannot be said about the Faculty of Humanities. It is unfortunate that, for years, UNESWA has neglected to resolve the Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) dilemma until government decided to halt sponsoring students who wish the pursue that Bachelor of Arts in Humanities programme. Aside from the fact that the decision to cut scholarships for the BA Humanities programme seems to be centred around the saturation of the teaching profession, the fact that those who wish to pursue the BA programme have to pay from their own pockets means it is reserved for the affluent, much against the principle of equitable education. Equitable education systems are supposed to ensure that every student can achieve their educational potential regardless of their personal or social circumstances.

Stakeholders

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has come out to critisise the decision by the Minister of Labour and Social Security calling it a move to frustrate education and a clear indication that education issues should be addressed by the Ministry of Education and Training and its stakeholders. This suggests the decision was made without exhaustive consultation with relevant stakeholders. However, given the saturation of the job market and the fact that BA graduates are not employable, without the PGCE, it would seem that government made a good business decision. After all, why continue funding the production of a product that is not selling?

UNESWA has dropped the ball on this one. There is a need for the university to repackage its products or programmes to satisfy the job market. Otherwise, there is a high possibility that more programmes will soon be falling like dominoes from the government scholarship priority list. Given the financial challenges faced by government in other sectors such as health and the noose that seems to be slowly tightening around corruption, the possibility that this could be a first step towards the extinction of the government scholarship programme to divert funds is a scary prospect, for the future of education.

Concerned citizen






A Labour MP described as 'hard as nails' was forced to tap out in his brutal jiu-jitsu fight against an MMA professional.

Will Stone, a former soldier and newly elected Swindon North MP, was made to submit after four minutes and 37 seconds, almost halfway through the 10-minute bout against veteran fighter Matt Inman at Croydon's Fairfield Halls in south London.

Both men had agreed to donate their purses from this evening's event to The Kelly Foundation, a mental health charity in Mr Stone's constituency.

The fight was part of an event organised by Polaris, Europe's longest-running professional grappling promotion, which approached Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former soldier Mr Stone after he was elected.

After leaving the Army, Mr Stone ran a martial arts gym and was a regular competitor on the national grappling circuit before entering politics.

Will Stone, a former soldier and newly elected Swindon North MP, was forced to submit after four minutes and 37 seconds

Both men had agreed to donate their purses from this evening's event to The Kelly Foundation, a mental health charity in Mr Stone's constituency

Before Saturday's fight, he told the PA news agency: 'I did the trials for Polaris twice and didn't quite make the cut, but after I became the first ever Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt MP, they reached out to me.

'It's an amazing opportunity to elevate the sport so I had to take it.'

After the announcement of the fight, his fellow Labour MP Mike Tapp posted on X, formelt known as Twitter, that Mr Stone was 'one of the nicest guys in politicsand hard as nails'.

Mr Stone explained his martial arts background in his maiden speech in the Commons in September.

He told MPs: 'When I left the Army, I had offers to teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu across the world, from Abu Dhabi to Arizona, but I picked Swindon.

'I am often asked, ''Why did you choose Swindon?'', but it is an easy answer for me: I love Swindon. I love my hometown. It is a wonderful town built on industry and is full of passion and hope. Our history is a proud history of reinvention.'

The fight was part of an event organised by Polaris, Europe's longest-running professional grappling promotion, which approached Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former soldier Mr Stone after he was elected

After leaving the Army, Mr Stone ran a martial arts gym and was a regular competitor on the national grappling circuit before entering politics

After the announcement of the fight, his fellow Labour MP Mike Tapp posted on X, formelt known as Twitter, that Mr Stone was 'one of the nicest guys in politicsand hard as nails'

Mr Stone explained his martial arts background in his maiden speech in the Commons last month.

Mr Stone, a former British Army rifleman and jiujitsu black belt, took part in Polaris 30, 'a night of professional grappling' in south London.

Brazilian jiujitsu, or BJJ, is a martial art that's gaining high-profile celebrity fans including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Movie director Guy Ritchie is also a black belt. Former US President Barack Obama has a blue belt, and Peaky Blinders star Tom Hardy has won competitions in Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes.

It is an offshoot of Japanese jiujitsu that became a sport in its own right, and a key component of MMA fighting.

BJJ teaches students how to control their opponent. The aim is to create a submission hold (a joint lock or a stranglehold, for example) in an attempt to get a 'tap' (a signal that your opponent cannot escape and concedes).

Practitioners wear reinforced heavy cotton suits  known as Gis  designed to withstand the strong grappling, falls and rolls, and, similar to Japanese jiu-jitsu, competitors wear belts to signify rank which also range from white to black.
King Charless tour of Australia has been hailed a stunning success as a new poll shows support for the monarchy there soaring.

The Kings personal popularity down under has risen strongly, with his approval rating climbing from 50 per cent last year to 58 per cent today.

That makes Charles significantly more popular than Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, who scored 43 per cent.

And the exclusive poll for The Mail on Sunday shows that support for ditching the monarchy in Australia in favour of a republic has dropped to just 41 per cent.

That figure was 45 per cent when Australians voted in a nationwide referendum 25 years ago.

Paul Smith, YouGov director of public data, said: Our poll shows that if the republic referendum was held today, it would be defeated by a larger margin than in 1999.

King Charles  accompanied by Queen Camilla  crammed in up to ten engagements a day on his whistle-stop tour.

He was greeted by tens of thousands of cheering well-wishers who waited in the baking heat to see the monarch, with many saying they were greatly touched by his decision to travel so far despite his cancer treatment.

King Charles s tour of Australia has been hailed a stunning success as a new poll shows support for the monarchy there soaring

Nearly 45 per cent of the 1,500 Australians surveyed said the country should keep the monarchy after the King passes away, a rise from 35 per cent in 2023

The poll, conducted last week by YouGov, indicates that the tour has also grown support for the Royal Family as well as King Charles.

Nearly 45 per cent of the 1,500 Australians surveyed said the country should keep the monarchy after the King passes away, a rise from 35 per cent in 2023.

Queen Camillas favourability score also rose an impressive eight percentage points to 44 per cent.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who visited Australia in 2014 with a young Prince George, are still the most popular, at 74 and 73 per cent respectively.

And Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew were the least popular royals, scoring 30 per cent and 19 per cent. Lidia Thorpe, the senator who verbally attacked the King in parliament in Canberra, achieved a rating of just 13 per cent.

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers said: This is certainly good news for the palace. There is enormous respect for the fact the King made the long trip to Australia when he has been unwell.

In fact, the Australian senator Lidia Thorpe shot herself in the foot with her protest because it inspired so many people to be annoyed about it and come out in the Kings favour.

The YouGov poll showed the majority of Australians surveyed supported King Charles over a republic

Philip Murphy, director of history and policy at the Institute of Historical Research, said: Many people worried about what the death of the Queen would mean for the Commonwealth realms.

But King Charless low-key approach to royal visits, emphasising warmth and humour rather than glamour, has proved extremely well suited to the current climate.
A new audit of baby deaths at Lucy Letby's hospital has found that many of the most rapid deteriorations took place when she was not on duty, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The mortality data, which has been compiled from multiple sources, including Freedom of Information requests, is understood to show a broader spike in deaths during the period focused on by the police investigation  bolstering Letby's argument that the fatalities were caused by wider failures of care at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

A new legal team, led by Mark McDonald KC, has been instructed to take Letby's case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice and can refer cases back to the Court of Appeal for consideration.

Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to end the lives of seven more between 2015 and 2016. But several respected experts have come forward to express their concern about the reliability of the evidence.

Mr McDonald, who says the case could be the 'biggest miscarriage of justice in the history of the United Kingdom', is also focusing on the role of Dr Dewi Evans, the chief prosecution witness, whose evidence was pivotal to Letby's conviction.

A new audit of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester found that many of the most rapid deteriorations took place while Lucy Letby was not on duty

Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to end the lives of seven more between 2015 and 2016

The new findings bolster Letby's argument that the fatalities were caused by wider failures of care at the Countess of Chester Hospital (pictured)

Last month, following a Radio 4 investigation, Dr Evans changed his mind about how Ms Letby is said to have killed one of her victims, after it emerged that the nurse was not even at the hospital where the baby died at the time an apparently damning X-ray was taken.

Last week The Mail on Sunday revealed that a judge in a previous case had dismissed Dr Evans's evidence as 'worthless'.

And further questions have been raised about Dr Evans after an expert cited by him in the trial disputed Evans's interpretation of his work.

Dr Evans had referenced a 1989 academic paper by Dr Shoo Lee on air embolism in the bloodstream in babies  a central part of the prosecution's case that Letby had killed by injecting them with air. The paper described skin discolouration that indicated air embolism in babies caused by high-pressure ventilation  not at normal pressure, as Letby is said to have done.

Dr Lee, who retired recently from a career as one of Canada's top neonatologists, was not called by Letby's original defence team at the trial but told Letby's appeal that none of the descriptions of the babies' skin discolourations matched the kind that characterised air embolism.

He said that none of the babies in the trial should have been diagnosed with air embolism because it was 'a very rare and specific condition and should not be diagnosed by excluding other causes of death or collapse and concluding that it must be a case of air embolus because nothing else could be found'.

Letby was employed as a nurse by the Countess of Chester hospital in January 2012

Screen grab taken from body worn camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary of the arrest of Lucy Letby

However, the appeal court judges said his evidence was not admissable because her defence did not call him in the trial.

'No good reason has been shown why the applicant should now be allowed to adduce evidence which could have been obtained and adduced at the appropriate time,' they said.

A total of 24 experts in statistics, forensic science and neonatology have written to the Government pointing out a series of worrying anomalies in the case, including the fact that a number of baby deaths on the unit when Letby was not present had been excluded from the prosecution's analysis  something her new defence team will seek to remedy with the mortality data.

Dr Evans claims that questions over the convictions had arisen because the case was 'such a shocking thing to come to terms with, and of course one of the ways of dealing with shocking news is to go into denial'.
A loving dad has forked out nearly $3million for a home and promptly handed the keys to his daughter.

The father bought the four-bedroom house on 10 Murray Street at Marrickville, in Sydney's Inner West, for $2.912million just 30 minutes after inspecting it for the first time.

BresicWhitney Inner West agent Brad Papaellinas told the Sydney Morning Herald the father had been told by his daughter she was smitten with the property.

'The daughter fell in love with the home and told her dad,' Mr Papaellinas said.

'She previously rented in Newtown and loved the inner west and wanted to return to the area after moving back in with her parents in (eastern suburb) Bellevue Hill.

The doting parent had registered as one of seven bidders for the auction on Saturday.

The home had a price guide of $2.2 million.

Bidding opened at $2.35 million and soon soared past the $2.4 million reserve.

A doting father has bought this property in the inner western Sydney suburb of Marrickville for his daughter

The house last sold for $625,000 in 2007, meaning the price had more than quadrupled in 17 years.

To win the property, the father had to outbid four active bidders.

These included a couple who recently sold in Bellevue Hill, a Marrickville local, a single professional from Surry Hills and a family from Bundeena in Sydney;s outer southern outskirts.

The sale was one of 918 scheduled auctions in Sydney on Saturday.

A preliminary auction clearance rate of 59 per cent was reported by the Sydney Morning Herald from 890 reported results.

There were 206 auctions withdrawn, which are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate.

The father bought the house for almost $3million only 30 minutes after inspecting it for the first time

Last month it was reported a Melbourne father forked out $680,000 to buy a house for his school-aged daughter over fears she wouldn't be able to afford to purchase a property in the future.

The dad, who outbid two first-home buyers at an auction, said he planned to rent out the two-bedroom art-deco cottage in the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Frankston until his daughter was old enough to move in.
Police have swarmed Edinburgh's party district following unverified reports a 'severed head' was found in the street.

Eyewitnesses claimed the gruesome discovery was made in the Cowgate area in the city's Old Town, the Daily Record has reported.

So far, police have said they were responding to reports a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle, but have not released further details.

Images seen by MailOnline appear to show a body covered in a white sheet lying in the road with a forensic tent also set up.

Forensic officers pictured at the scene in Edinburgh following a 'major incident'

An image captured by witnesses show cops standing by the scene which has been taped off

Police Scotland are responding to a serious road traffic incident in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh

Emergency services were called to Cowgate shortly after 8pm on Saturday night with a number of streets now closed to the public.

Blair Street, Guthrie Street and Candlemaker Road have all been cordoned off, with multiple officers stationed in the area.

An eyewitnesses at the scene told Edinburgh Live: 'Police just appeared and started putting tape up. Whatever it is, it looks pretty serious.

'There doesn't look to be any cars inside the cordon anyway'.

A number of nightclubs and other venues in the vicinity of the incident have also been closed for the evening, with Halloween-themed events put on hold with emergency services remaining at the scene.

Nearby dance school Bachata Blues was once of the impacted businesses and released a statement reading: 'Following police instructions, all venues are going to be closed tonight due to a major incident.

Police have set up a forensic tent at the scene which has been taped off

Authorities have sealed off a number of streets, with emergency services remaining on the scene

Images captured by onlookers and shared across social media show Blair Street, Guthrie Street and Candlemaker Road all closed off by cops

'All ways to enter Cowgate are cut off. Unfortunately, we have to cancel tonight's event as Mash House will remain closed all night, following police instructions. We will be back soon & hope to reschedule our night as soon as possible!'

Police Scotland Edinburgh also released an official statement confirming they were attendance at a road traffic incident in the Cowgate area.

A spokesperson said: 'Officers in Edinburgh are currently dealing with a serious road traffic collision in the Cowgate area of the city.

'Shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday, 2 November, we responded to reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle. Enquiries are ongoing.

'Blair Street, Guthrie Street and Candlemaker Row are currently closed, and members of the public are asked to avoid the area until further notice.'
What does one do when the future King ends your relationship over the telephone?

You turn to your girlfriends of course, just like Catherine did.

After several years together, Prince William did not feel ready to commit to his now wife, and they went their separate ways after a 30-minute phone call in April, 2007.

Luckily, the girls swooped in and helped get Catherine back on her feet, Robert Jobson said in his recent biography of Kate.

'Gone were the frumpy tweeds as she stepped out in a slinky off-the-shoulder top and silky skirt, with a bare midriff and caramel tan,' Jobson wrote in Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography.

Catherine was soon snapped leaving the trendiest clubs and bars with her sister, Pippa Middleton.

Tatler magazine dubbed them the Sizzler Sisters - and photographs of them filled the newspapers, making it difficult for William to ignore.

Catherine and Pippa Middleton at a book launch at Aspreys in London in May 2007

Catherine stepping out of a taxi and going to a private house party in Chelsea in June 2007

Prince William leaving the Mahiki nightclub in London in April 2007 shortly after splitting up form Catherine

After a much-needed break in Dublin with her mother, from the media scrutiny, Catherine started going out.

She was often seen dancing all night with friends. Her younger sister, Pippa, moved in with her in Chelsea and joined Catherine at parties and events.

'Catherine accepted a slew of invitations and, in public at least, appeared more vibrant and sociable than she had been for some months,' Jobson wrote.

She was seen at a book launch party at Asprey and wore a strapless top and bunny ears to the promotion of the film Rabbit Fever, about a vibrator.

It was reported at the time how Catherine 'stepped out' with Pippa, 'strolling hand in hand in the full glare of a dozen paparazzi flashlights'.

Meanwhile, Prince William, was said to have shouted 'I'm free!' as he partied with friends at the Mahiki nightclub in Mayfair.

Catherine, wearing a blue dress with brown boots, heads to Boujis nightclub in London in May 2007

The now Princess of Wales leaving Kitts Club after going to an event with a friend in June, 2007

Kate Middleton training with the Scion Sisters ahead of their attempt to cross the Channel in a Chinese dragon boat, July 2007

The Daily Mail reported how the young prince had declared: 'I'm really happy. Everything is fine. Let's drink the menu.'

However, William's partying phase did not last long as he was then an army officer and his time was constricted by his military commitments.

Catherine had another support network of women behind her too. She had joined an all-female dragon boat racing crew - aptly named the Scion Sisters.

Alicia Fox-Pitt - a friend of Catherine's from Marlborough College and the younger sister of three-day eventer William Fox-Pitt - had urged her to join.

Prince William and Catherine at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2007, shortly before their split

Catherine being photographed by paparazzi as she attends a private house party in June 2007

However, when the couple began to rekindle their relationship, the Daily Mail reported how royal aides advised Catherine to pull out of the team ahead of a big charity race across the Channel.

There were security concerns over the media attention she was attracting and the safety of the other girls.

Catherine was said to be 'very upset' at the time because of how close it was to the date of the race.
She has been said to echo Princess Diana in some of her fashion choices.

But it seems that the Duchess of Sussex has now been drawing inspiration from a different source: The First Ladies of the United States.

And their influence appears to stretch back to the 1980s as Nancy Reagan's formal, almost regal approach to dressing has seemingly found its way into Meghans wardrobe.

From the elegance of Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obamas chic modernity, mixing contemporary designs and bold prints, Meghans wardrobe has subtly mirrored some of the most iconic figures in American political fashion history.

Back in the 1990s, Hillary Clinton turned heads when she donned a cold-shoulder Donna Karan gown at a White House event. That bold choice was a statement, pushing boundaries in an era when presidents' wives were often expected to be conservative and demure.

Now Meghan has adopted these First Lady formulas for her own fashion choices.

Melania Trump

Both Meghan and Melania share a very similar fashion taste, dressing with clean lines for a minimal American style look.

Both Melania and Meghan share a love of fashion and both seem to favour clean lines, creating a minimal American look

During Melania and Donald Trumps UK tour in 2019, the First Lady opted for a red cape gown by Meghans go to designer Givenchy at a Winfield House dinner. A year later, at the Mountbatten Music Festival, Meghan mirrored the ensemble in a Safiyaa frock with matching cascading cape sleeves, sleek wavy locks and statement earrings.

Michelle Obama

Meghan appeared to use Michelle as a muse when dressing for a visit to Marlborough House in London in 2018.

Michelle and Meghan wore these dresses nearly ten years apart, with the Duchess wearing it slightly below the knee with a higher neckline

Only occasionally incorporating vibrant hues in her wardrobe, she was bold and bright in a canary yellow dress by Brandon Maxwell, which looked strikingly similar to a design worn by Michelle in 2009.

First Lady Michelle selected the flattering Jason Wu bateau neck dress for a meeting at the Quirinale Palace in Rome almost a decade earlier.

Jackie Kennedy

As one of the most enduring fashion icons the world has ever known it's no surprise that Meghan has followed the style set by former first lady Jackie Kennedy more than 60 years ago.

These short-sleeved outfits worn by Jackie Kennedy and Meghan have great sartorial impact, both have been teamed with black handbags

One of Jackie's most famous fashion accessories was the neat and chic pillbox hat. Originally designed by Roy Halston while working for Bergdorf Goodman, she was seen wearing her trademark hat with her Oleg Cassini outfit during a state visit to France in 1961.

Meghan channelled the former First Lady and donned a short-sleeve Prada skirt suit featuring oversized buttons and a waist belt for the Young Leaders Awards in 2018. Skipping the iconic pillbox hat, Meghans ensemble mirrored Jackie's look when she visited the JFK memorial in 1965, from the wavy blowdry to the contrasting Prada black bag she carried.

Jill Biden

Stepping out with a sartorial bang on stage at the Ryman Auditorium in April, First Lady Jill Biden was sleek and chic in a white tailored tuxedo trouser suit by Giorgio Armani.

Both Jill Biden and the Duchess look chic in their single breasted white trouser suits worn only a month apart, with the First Lady appearing in hers first

Just one month later during her Nigeria tour Meghan followed the same minimalist dress code in a pristine single breasted Altuzarra suit layered over a simple camisole top with matching flared trousers.

Hillary Clinton

One of First Lady Hillary Clintons most talked about dresses was a black turtleneck Donna Karan gown with shoulder cutouts, which she wore for her first state dinner at the White House in 1993.

This whole new look for Mrs Clinton at her first state dinner at the Whitehouse has the same look as the Duchess's frock in Dusseldorf in 2023

Meghan often opts for a halterneck design, and here at an Invictus Games Reception in 2023 her form-fitting knitted Toteme dress with turtleneck collar is reminiscent of Hillarys most talked about look.

Nancy Reagan

Amid the splendour of the 80s, actress-turned-First Lady Nancy Reagan opted for a simple and formal style.

Nancy Reagan's fashion formula shows up in Meghan's simple Heidi Merrick polo dress worn in 2024

Former actress Meghan follows the same fashion formula with her draped cross-front Heidi Merrick frock which she wore at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge last year.

It has marked similarities to the cream halter-neck gown that Nancy chose for a GOP fundraiser at the Century Plaza Hotel in 1973.
King Charles is known as a man of discerning tastes and strong opinions. He has a long-held interest in alternative beliefs and mystical therapies, and we all know his thoughts on leaky pens.

But who would have thought His Majesty may also have been a close associate of visitors from another planet and was once spotted at the controls of a UFO?

That is the bizarre claim being made in a new TV documentary which examines the royals' interest in UFOs and other paranormal mysteries.

King Of UFOs, made by British musician and UFO buff Mark Christopher Lee and now available on Amazon Prime, asks the question: does the Royal Family know what's really out there?

In it, he speaks to a diver, Dan Costello, who says he witnessed Charles, then Prince of Wales, at the controls of 'a saucer-shaped craft with dual rotor blades' at Sandy Point in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1975.

King Charles may have been a close associate of visitors from another planet and was once spotted at the controls of a UFO

The then dashing 27-year-old prince was one of three pilots spotted steering the 'odd-looking' object, while serving as a qualified helicopter pilot with the Royal Navy, he claims.

Describing the aircraft, he says: 'It would sit and hover in the sky with the blades not on [rotating] with no sound of propulsion, just a faint crackle of electromagnetism.'

While, sadly, Costello goes on to admit that the aircraft Charles was allegedly flying was most probably not of alien origin, but part of a secret military operation, involving the British and Canadian governments  plus it hasn't been confirmed that Charles was anywhere near Canada at the time  it does bring into focus a royal fascination with all things 'other worldly', that goes back generations.

Indeed, as I can exclusively reveal, the King may well have inherited a keen interest in the subject from his late father, Prince Philip, and his great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten, both of whom were avid enthusiasts.

Philip had a lifelong interest and curiosity in a range of fringe subjects, including UFOs, crop circles and the Loch Ness monster.

Mountbatten's fascination, meanwhile, reached its zenith between 1950 and 1959, shortly before his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, the highest position in the British military. And it prompts Lee, in the documentary, to ask of our new King: 'Does he know the truth? If so, he should release this truth to the public.'

As an investigative journalist, university lecturer and committed ufologist, I first heard of the active role the royals had played in seeking the answer to the ultimate question  Are we alone?  as part of my research back in the early 2000s.

I was able to examine Mountbatten's private papers at the Broadlands Archive, which prove he had a thing for space travel and avidly consumed the early literature on flying saucers, as UFOs were known at that time.

Prince Charles, then Prince of Wales, was seen at the controls of 'a saucer-shaped craft with dual rotor blades' at Sandy Point in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1975

Lord Mountbatten and his nephew Prince Philip at the Royal Marines barracks in October 1965

The term 'flying saucer' was first used in 1947 after pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing a chain of nine objects in the sky while flying over Washington State, describing them as flying at great speed and skipping like a 'saucer on water'.

The world was gripped and, before long, saucers were being spotted everywhere.

In 1950, Mountbatten encouraged newspaper editor Charles Eade, who had served as his press secretary during the war in the Far East, to publish 'all the available evidence' in his paper, the Sunday Dispatch.

Eade wanted Mountbatten to allow his name to be used in his series as it would add to its credibility  but Mountbatten refused.

Instead, Eade's front-page splash, under the headline 'Flying saucers... the story that may be bigger than atom bomb wars', was credited to a source whom he described as 'one of the most famous men alive today' who 'commands universal respect and admiration'.

Mountbatten's theory was that they were craft from other planets, as his letters to Eade reveal: 'The available evidence shows they are not of human agency, that is to say they do not come from our Earth.

'If that is so, then presumably they must come from some heavenly body, probably a planet. Maybe it is the Shackletons and Scotts of Venus or Mars who are making their first exploration of our Earth.' This interest was shared by Charles and by Prince Philip, who was among the first subscribers to the magazine Flying Saucer Review, launched in London during 1955 and edited by retired RAF pilot Derek Dempster.

According to one of its later editors, Gordon Creighton, every copy was sent to Buckingham Palace.

In 2002 I was invited to tea by Mountbatten's youngest daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks, now 95, at her stately home in Oxfordshire to discuss the subject.

She told me how her father was fond of asking, 'Do you believe in flying saucers?' as a conversation opener during visits to royal courts and capitals across Europe.

She described a lunch with the then King Idris of Libya, when her father was Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean. 'After the usual pleasantries there was quite a long silence and my father decided to break it by asking [through an interpreter] what for him was the burning question, 'Will you ask his majesty if he believes in flying saucers?'

'There was this frightful pause, as the king thought his leg was being pulled. But when it was established that it was a genuine question, he said that of course he believed in them.

'He said he had seen two of them himself and added that the Prophet recorded how a close companion of his had seen one of the fiery sphere types  as had his camel.'

Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh's voracious appetite for information on flying saucers was confirmed to me by RAF Air Marshal Sir Peter Horsley, who served as his equerry from 1952 to 1955.

Lord Mountbatten with Prince Philip and Charles at a polo match in 1977

When I spoke to him in 2001, the year he died, he revealed he'd been tasked by his employer with finding out as much as he could on the subject and was given carte blanche to read any reports and to interview fighter pilots who had reported seeing unusual phenomena in the sky.

He told me he had arranged, with the duke's personal approval, for RAF Fighter Command to send copies of the latest sightings made by aircrew for examination at Buckingham Palace.

Perhaps the strangest outcome of this inquiry was Peter Horsley's role in inviting several UFO witnesses to discuss their experiences at Buckingham Palace.

These included the captain of a BOAC airliner, James Howard, who witnessed, along with other crew members and passengers, a strange formation of UFOs while flying over the North Atlantic in June 1954.

Another visitor to the palace was schoolboy Stephen Darbishire who obtained two photographs of a 'saucer' hovering above the slopes of the Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District, in February of that year.

Horsley explained his reason for inviting UFO witnesses to the palace was partly to 'put them on the spot' and to test their honesty in the presence of royalty  a method as effective as any truth serum.

They both passed the test with flying colours, convincing their esteemed hosts  and Horsley himself  that Earth had indeed had visitations from outer space.

Horsley was scathing about a growing movement of cranks and fantasists, however, who he thought were making a mockery  and quite a bit of money  out of the flying saucer craze.

Among those Horsley accused of making a joke out of a very serious subject was the notorious Polish-American writer George Adamski, who co-authored the 1953 best-seller Flying Saucers Have Landed with Desmond Leslie, a former Second World War Spitfire pilot who had his own contacts in the British establishment.

Leslie was friends with General Sir Frederick 'Boy' Browning, the husband of author Daphne du Maurier. After retiring from the military, Browning had become head of Princess Elizabeth's staff and, following her accession, worked for Prince Philip.

Browning was another member of what Horsley described as 'the flying saucer club' at the palace.

Adamski's book contained his personal account of an alleged meeting with the Venusian pilot of a flying saucer 'scout-ship' that landed in the Mojave Desert of California, communicating with its angelic occupant by telepathy.

In April 1959, Adamski embarked on a European lecture tour that included an audience with the Dutch royal family  proving they too had caught the alien bug  and, shortly before he arrived in London, Leslie wrote to the Duke of Edinburgh, enclosing a personal invitation for them to meet Adamski, in secret if necessary.

Prince Philip clearly realised the public relations danger this could place him in as he annotated Leslie's letter  now preserved in the Imperial War Museum archives  with the words, 'Not on your Nellie!', adding in a later note: 'He may not be a crank but he's a bit too fanciful for me!'

However, despite the royal disapproval, both General Browning and Peter Horsley met Leslie and Adamski during their visit at a private address in London.

Horsley told me he was not impressed by either. He felt that Desmond Leslie was 'probably sincere but gullible, sucked into the saucer cult by people who hoped to profit from it, such as Adamski' and he warned Browning against having any further contact with them.

Peter Horsley's direct knowledge of the duke's interest in UFOs and other strange phenomena ended when he left the palace in 1955 to return to RAF duties. Yet the royal fascination remained.

In 1978, Lord Mountbatten joined Prince Philip and the Queen at the star-spangled royal premiere of Steven Spielberg's Hollywood blockbuster Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the Odeon in Leicester Square. The film tells the story of government conspiracy to hide the first arrival of UFOs and their friendly alien crews on Earth.

Over the decades the duke had maintained an active interest in a range of esoteric subjects.

During the 1960s, he became involved in plans for a full-scale investigation in search of the Loch Ness monster.

A Conservative MP, David James, persuaded him to use his connections with the Royal Navy to push for a publicly funded expedition to Loch Ness. The MoD's Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Solly Zuckerman, raised the idea with the navy's Chief Scientist, Sir John Caroll, arguing that 'if a sonar investigation were to reveal something extraordinary in the loch, it would be of considerable scientific interest'. But Caroll blocked the idea, saying it would be too costly.

Royal interest in the arcane also extended to the crop circle phenomenon which, some argue, are created by extra-terrestrial life. One of the leading promoters of the mystery, Colin Andrews, sent a copy of his book Circular Evidence, co-written with Pat Delgado, to Queen Elizabeth.

In August of that year, The Times revealed that the book had been added to the Royal Family's 'holiday reading list'. Shortly afterwards, Andrews received a note from Buckingham Palace asking if he would provide updates 'on the latest developments on the Circles Phenomenon' for the Duke of Edinburgh, who had become a paid subscriber to his Crop Circles newsletter.

But the royals turned down Andrews' offer to provide a personal briefing on the subject, perhaps having learned lessons from the duke's earlier flirtation with George Adamski and his friends.

No one has been able to establish the full extent of the Duke of Edinburgh's personal interest in UFOs and other strange phenomena as he never mentioned the subject in media interviews.

However, several contributors to the documentary, King Of UFOs, say that the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle include sealed files that are not to be opened until 90 years after his death  so more may yet be revealed.

In 2017, I wrote to Prince Philip to ask if correspondence on UFOs and crop circles had been preserved. I said there was considerable public interest in its contents, in particular the private study of the subject, completed on his behalf by Peter Horsley in 1955.

After a lengthy delay, Prince Philip's private secretary, Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, responded: 'I am afraid that extensive searches have not yielded any papers that would be of help to your research. This letter comes with His Royal Highness's best wishes.'

If he did know the truth, the duke  private, discreet and careful to the end  took it with him. But what about King Charles?
We have all heard how elephants never forget, but it seems that some of our feathered friends also have long memories.

New research suggests that crows can hold grudges for up to 17 years against those who anger or threaten them.

The birds - long considered amongst the most intelligent of the avian species - were also found to be very good at recognising faces.

The study began in 2006 when Professor John Marzluff, an environmental scientist at the University of Washington, put on a scary mask and captured seven crows in a net. Before releasing them unharmed, he put identification rings on the birds' legs.

Professor Marzluff told the New York Times that he and his assistants would occasionally wear the mask in subsequent years as they walked around campus feeding the resident crows and recording their reaction.

New research suggests that crows can hold grudges for up to 17 years against those who anger or threaten them (stock photo)

The study began in 2006 when Professor John Marzluff, an environmental scientist at the University of Washington, put on a scary mask and captured seven crows in a net (stock image of a man wearing a scary mask)

On one occasion, Professor Marzluff recalled, he was subjected to aggressive 'scolding' caws from 47 out of 53 crows he encountered.

He said that as the number of crows was much higher than the original group that were captured, that the crows somehow learn to recognise threatening humans from their parents and relatives.

After peaking in 2013, the number of aggressive caws started to fall until no scolding calls were logged at all during one walk in September 2023 - 17 years after the experiment began.

As part of the study, members of the research team also used a 'neutral' mask resembling Dick Cheney, then vice-president of the US.

Those wearing the Cheney mask fed the crows without subjecting them to any trauma - and were not subsequently subjected to avian abuse.

In another part of the experiment, students used a different set of masks while trapping crows around Seattle.

Volunteers were then asked to wear the masks without knowing which were deemed 'dangerous' or 'neutral' by the crows.

One volunteer who put on a 'dangerous' mask, Bill Pochmerski, said: 'The birds were really raucous, screaming persistently, and it was clear they weren't upset about something in general. They were upset with me.'

As part of the study, members of the research team also used a 'neutral' mask resembling Dick Cheney (pictured), then vice-president of the US

On one occasion, Professor Marzluff recalled, he was subjected to aggressive 'scolding' caws from 47 out of 53 crows he encountered (stock photo)

Separately, people living in Townley and Beauval Roads in upmarket Dulwich, south-east London have reported a series of dive-bombing attacks from crows this year.

Local resident Alison Frean, 60, told Mail Online: 'Last year I was swooped on three times just trying to get out of my car. It was quite traumatising.... I tried to go out again with a bike helmet on.

'Kids on little scooters are being dive-bombed and people just stay in their houses, looking out.'

Previous studies show that crows' remarkable intelligence includes the ability to make tools and even count up to four.
America calls itself 'The Land of the Free'.

But travel blogger Kalyn Franke, who moved to the UK from Florida, claims that she feels more free in Britain than in the U.S, despite the latter's claim.

In a video for her Girl Gone London YouTube channel that's garnered over 160,000 views and 3,100 comments, she explains her reasons, which centre on healthcare, religion, public transport, jaywalking and annual leave.

She told MailOnline Travel that many Americans would be unaware of the differences between their country and Britain, 'because our news can be very local and America-centric'.

Read on for more on the entries in Kalyn's list.

HEALTHCARE

Travel blogger Kalyn Franke (above), who moved to the UK from Florida, claims that she feels more free in Britain than in the U.S

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is one of the most significant contributors towards Kalyn feeling freer in Britain than the U.S.

She says on the video: 'It's not just the fact that I can go to the doctor here and not pay anything or have surgery and not pay anything - it's also to do with the fact that I'm self-employed. If you're self-employed in a place like the UK that has a nationalised healthcare system, it means you don't have to factor this into your job.

'In the U.S, having health insurance is essentially mandatory to be able to go to the doctor. Typically, health insurance is attached to a salaried job. In the U.S, those who are self-employed have to source that health insurance and pay the monthly fees, which can be extortionate - we're talking at least in the multiple hundreds per month.'

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is one of the most significant contributors towards Kalyn feeling freer in Britain than the U.S

Kalyn told MailOnline Travel separately: 'The freedom of having a national health service and not having to worry about going into debt if you get ill, or choosing a job based on health insurance, is the most important freedom I feel I have in the UK that I would love to have in the U.S. It really makes a big difference and eliminates a huge stress that people feel in the U.S.

'They're always shocked about the ease of using the NHS. One thing that really makes them jealous is that you won't be billed in the UK after having to use an ambulance - you will sometimes have to pay thousands for this in the U.S.'

PUBLIC ACCESS TO LAND

Kalyn loves the UK's right to roam  remarking to MailOnline that many Brits she's met 'didn't realise that the ability to access public footpaths and walk across private land is quite special'.

She says in the video: 'In America, it's a much more private system with no public access or right of way in that sense. Of course, you can go to a national park, but I feel I can move a little more freely in the UK.'

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The vast majority of the UK is really well connected by trains and buses, says Kalyn

Getting around is much easier in the UK, says Kalyn  thanks to public transport.

She says: 'America for the most part is run on cars, and so is a lot of the UK. However, the vast majority of the UK is really well connected by trains and buses and other forms of transportation  so I have more options.'

EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND PAID LEAVE

Americans are often starved of vacations, remarks Kalyn  with Brits blessed with far more leave.

She says: 'In the UK, if I were to work a traditional nine-to-five salaried position, I would be guaranteed by the government 28 days of annual leave per year. In the U.S, if I were in the same exact position there are no federal government requirements for how many days I could have off.

'They're seen as a perk of the job  so you hope to pick a job that offers enough leave or enough days off. It could be zero! And even when you do tend to get vacation days included in your job in America, it's usually much less than in the UK.'

JAYWALKING

Brits  savour your right to cross the road. That's the message from Kalyn, who explains: 'In America, there are lots of laws in different states that say you cannot simply cross the road wherever you'd like to cross the road [known as jaywalking]. By law, you have to cross the road at a dedicated crossing  and if you don't you could run the risk of getting yourself a ticket.

'You're not likely to be put in jail for jaywalking, but it's still something that is codified as not legal. In the UK, I can cross the road wherever I want to cross the road [except motorways]. I can look to see if there's traffic with my own eyes and I can just decide to walk across that road.'

RELIGION

Kalyn remarks that in America 'it can be more difficult for someone to be in a position of power without being a part of the majority religion, which is Christianity'

Kalyn remarks that in America  it's difficult to hold a position of political power without being Christian.

She explains: 'In the UK, I feel like there is much more freedom to become somebody in power  whether that's at a local level or national level regardless of your religion.

'In America, it can be more difficult for someone to be in a position of power without being a part of the majority religion, which is Christianity.'

For more from Kalyn visit www.youtube.com/@GirlGoneLondoofficial and girlgonelondon.com. To see the original YouTube post click here.
MANZINI - Poverty at William Pitcher College is a reality, as some are provided with tea by lecturers, and others use negative coping strategies to survive.

This is according to William Pitcher College Principal Dr Ntombifuthi Mhlongo. She said this during yesterdays graduation ceremony for 143 graduates, which was held at Devine Healing Ministries International Auditorium.

The principal said the college does not currently have student support services, especially catering services, after the halt of the tendering process due to insufficient funds. She said some of their students do not get the necessary support from their families; hence, they use negative coping strategies to address their basic needs like food, shelter and clothing.

These negative coping strategies lead to psychosocial issues, the principal said. Therefore, she said she was happy that the graduation ceremony came at a time when the Ministry of Public Service was conducting a management audit. She said that as an institution, they hope their students will have at least the Dean of Student Affairs to take care of their individual needs.

Thereafter, she appreciated her colleagues who provided students with tea from their pockets. However, she said more sustainable options need to be explored. Therefore, she appealed to government to take a clear position on this matter so that all the investments already made in students are not wasted.

Financially

In the meantime, she encouraged parents, guardians, and families to financially support students during their college training. Again, the principal applauded the Ministry of Education and Training for providing most of its teaching and learning requirements, supporting the colleges research activities and staff development and providing continued support to ensure that the institution fulfils its mandate of producing competent secondary school teachers.



However, she said the absence of a controlling body in the colleges governance is a setback. With the current procurement procedures (highly hierarchical and bureaucratic), the little funds the college receives as tuition and boarding fees cannot be used to develop it.

She also said resource mobilisation is almost impossible with the current banking structures, which are characterised by limited access to and control over financial resources by the principal. Minister, schools are even better because they have these bodies like school committees, which concentrate on the development of schools.Therefore, she said a governing body will enable efficiency and allow the proper functioning of the college. We hope with the nkwe mandate, delegation of procurement and management of college funds within the college will be achieved shortly, Dr Mhlongo added.

Demanding

Meanwhile, the principal told the graduates that they had chosen a noble profession that carries tremendous responsibility and purpose. She said they are stepping out as educators, role models, mentors and leaders in their communities. She said they will be the guides who ignite curiosity, encourage resilience and inspire the next generation to believe in themselves and a brighter world.

She said she is alive and that the journey has not always been easy, with the late nights, early mornings, demanding coursework and intensive practicums all challenging them to grow, adapt and become stronger. Therefore, she asked the graduates to remember that education is about imparting knowledge and nurturing hearts and minds.

It is also about understanding the diversity of experiences each child brings into the classroom and finding ways to support, uplift and empower them. You will face challenges, and there will be days that test your resolve, but in those moments, remember that you have been trained not just in pedagogy, but in empathy, patience and resilience, Dr Mhlongo said. She said as they move forward, they should keep learning, keep questioning and keep growing. The world of education is constantly evolving, and so too should they.

Special

She further urged them to embrace innovation, stay curious and never lose sight of the passion that brought them to this career. After that, she paid special recognition to three of their former student leaders, who graduated yesterday: Sibonele Lukhele (former SRC President), Anele Dlamini (former sports and entertainment), and Phetsile Dlamini (former Chief Electoral Officer). She thanked them for their contributions to the college and for shaping the educational experiences of the entire student body.

On a special note, she extended profound appreciation to MA Consulting Engineers, who have continued to graciously sponsor three prizes for best Mathematics, Science and Information Communications and Technology (ICT) students. She said their interest and kind gesture to the college in sponsoring Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects is an investment towards developing human capital in the country.
Kelly Monaco made her final appearance on General Hospital during Friday's episode of the ABC soap opera.

It comes after the end of the 48-year-old actress' tenure on the series was announced in August.

Monaco appeared in more than 2,200 episodes as Sam McCall throughout 21 years, and in early October she said her firing 'doesn't make any sense' to her.

Upon learning about the fate of Monaco's beloved character, and after watching her final performance, fans took to social media to share their emphatic reactions.

One person wrote on X that Sam's face 'became synonymous with the words #GeneralHospital' and added, 'It is surreal that she will no longer be on the show.'

Kelly Monaco made her final appearance on General Hospital during Friday's episode of the ABC soap opera

Viewers have known since August that Monaco's character Sam McCall would be killed off

One person wrote on X that Sam's face 'became synonymous with the words #GeneralHospital' and added, 'It is surreal that she will no longer be on the show'

Although viewers knew McCall would be killed off, it was unclear exactly how until recently.

It later became apparent that her character's decision to donate her liver to Lulu Spencer would turn fatal.

On October 30 fans learned that her organ was successfully removed, but Sam did not survive the surgery.

Then, Fridays episode showed Sam's mom Alexis, played by Nancy Lee Grahn, breaking news of her daughter's death to her love interest Dante (Dom Zamprogna), explaining that she suffered a heart attack post-surgery.

Kelly's TV mom Nancy took to X ahead of the heart-wrenching episode and wrote, 'As hard as it may be for #gh viewers to watch today's episodes and the episodes to follow, it was equally as hard for me and my [castmates] to play.'

She added, 'Playing Kelly Monaco's mom has been effortless and the love is real.'

Fans praised her performance, with one replying in the social media thread, 'That was challenging and remarkable.'

The person added, 'I knew you guys would bring it. And I'm so sorry you had to.'

Kelly's TV mom Nancy Lee Grahn took to X ahead of her heart-wrenching final episode and wrote, 'As hard as it may be for #gh viewers to watch today's episodes and the episodes to follow, it was equally as hard for me and my [castmates] to play'

Fans praised Nancy's performance as Sam's mother, with one replying in the social media thread, 'That was challenging and remarkable'

Another fan added, 'It is so sad but I was hoping you would be with Sam the last scenes and you were'

Another fan added, 'It is so sad but I was hoping you would be with Sam the last scenes and you were. They were excellent. I am so said to see Kelly Monaco leaving.'

There was a longtime viewer who wrote, 'I really hope someone is able to step in and revise some of these storylines.'

The person went on to say, 'This past year has been emotional roller coaster and it breaks the fans hearts about Kelly.'

'Will miss Kelly. Truly a horrible call by the powers that be at GH,' someone else chimed in.

And one fan directed an angry message at show producer Frank Valentini: 'This is for Frank Valentini, for firing Kelly Monaco so callously and discarding the most popular #GeneralHospital character of the last 25 years. You have shattered viewers' hearts in the process & we'll never forgive you for it.'

There was a longtime viewer who wrote, 'I really hope someone is able to step in and revise some of these storylines'

'Will miss Kelly. Truly a horrible call by the powers that be at GH,' someone else chimed in

And one fan directed an angry post at show producer Frank Valentini

Kelly pictured with General Hospital guest star Valentin Chmerkovskiy and producer Frank, who fans say 'callously' fired her

Soap Opera Network reported in August that Monaco was 'blindsided' after she learned her longtime character would be 'killed off' the show

Soap Opera Network reported in August that Monaco was 'blindsided' after she learned her longtime character would be 'killed off.'

Monaco first joined the series in October 2003. She was the first-ever winner of the Mirrorball Trophy after competing on Dancing with the Stars in its inaugural season in 2005.

In 2012, she returned for the show's 15th season, the All Stars season. That year, she came in third place with professional dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy, who later made a guest appearance on General Hospital as a boxer.

In January she teased on social media, 'I put my dancing shoes back on for the @GeneralHospitalprimetime special (featuring a special appearance by @valentin). General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling airs tomorrow (January 4th) at 10pm on ABC. Dont miss it!'

In early October she shared a photo of herself with the show's Davis family  played by Kate Mansi, Nancy, and Kristen Vaganos  on Instagram, writing in the caption: 'Last scene with the Davis girls. Still doesnt make any sense to me.'

Nancy wrote in the comments, 'In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. Albert Einstein. I love you. All will be well. There are some things a TV mother just knows.'
A top BBC television judge has quit their role in their series and has been replaced by an iconic Celebrity Big Brother star.

RuPaul, 63, has stood down as the host of Drag Race Down Under ahead of season 4 which kicked off this month.

In a new trailer for the Australian version of the iconic show, it was announced that show regular and former CBB contestant Michelle Visage, 56, would be taking the helm.

Michelle joined RuPaul's Drag Race as a permanent judge back in 2011 and has been Ru's right-hand woman ever since, with the stunner also appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

And while Michelle has only hosted an episode of the show solo just once, for the first time in 'herstory', she will be in charge.

A top BBC television judge has quit their role in their series and has been replaced by an iconic Celebrity Big Brother star

RuPaul , 63, has stood down as the host of Drag Race Down Under ahead of season 4 which kicked off this month

The glitzy trailer for the upcoming series hears the narrator announcing the change, remarking; 'The new host of Drag Race Down Under, Michelle Visage.'

As the TV personality makes her grand entrance in a glitzy black dress, she states to the camera: 'Start your engines, and may the best drag queen win!'

The teaser then sees the star remarking: 'We're back! And you're in Michelle's house now.'

RuPaul will continue to serve as an executive producer on the show.

In a statement about the line-up change, RuPaul stated: 'It has been my great honour to bring Drag Race to Australasia.

'I cant wait to see the franchise continue to flourish under the leadership of the incredible Michelle Visage.'

Meanwhile, Michelle added: 'Thank you, RuPaul, for entrusting me with one of your beloved shows.

'The colour, humour, and outrageousness of Down Under drag holds a special place in my heart.

In a new trailer for the Australian version of the iconic show, it was announced that show regular and former CBB contestant Michelle Visage , 56, would be taking the helm

Michelle joined RuPaul's Drag Race as a permanent judge back in 2011 and has been Ru's right-hand woman ever since, with the stunner also appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and RuPaul's Drag Race UK

The glitzy trailer for the upcoming series hears the narrator announcing the change, remarking; 'The new host of Drag Race Down Under, Michelle Visage'

As the TV personality makes her grand entrance in a glitzy black dress, she states to the camera: 'Start your engines, and may the best drag queen win!'

'Im ready to do everything in my power to encourage these beautiful queens to believe in themselves and let their inner light shine through.'

Meanwhile, in an interview with Elle Australia, Michelle opened up on how it feels to be stepping into her longtime friend's shoes.

She explained: 'Hosting is a natural thing for me. Ive done radio for 20 years, so hosting, I can do in my sleep. But its an honour to step into these shoes because what I cant do in my sleep is try to deliver something that RuPaul has set such a high bar and won 7000 awards for.

'So when he handed it over to me, he said "Listen, I want to be you. I dont want you to be me. I want you to be you. Youre perfect for this." And I said, "You know what? Youre right."

In a statement about the line-up change, RuPaul stated: 'It has been my great honour to bring Drag Race to Australasia. I cant wait to see the franchise continue to flourish under the leadership of the incredible Michelle Visage'

'When he handed it over to me, he said "Listen, I want to be you. I dont want you to be me. I want you to be you. Youre perfect for this." And I said, "You know what? Youre right".'

The ten talented new queens from Australia and New Zealand will compete for the title of Down Under's Next Drag Superstar in the brand new season

'So, Im going to deliver me. When people watch it, thats what theyre gonna get. Theyre going to get my version of hosting. Its an honour, and was it nerve wracking? Yeah! But I love a challenge. Im a Virgo.'

Last month, streaming service Stan revealed the premiere date and fabulous new cast of queens appearing in the brand new series.

The new Down Under dolls attended an intimate Drag Brunch at iconic Sydney venue The Imperial in Erskineville to celebrate the announcement.

The ten talented new queens from Australia and New Zealand will compete for the title of Down Under's Next Drag Superstar in the brand new season.

The queen that takes their throne and impresses new host and global icon Michelle will also receive a cash prize.
Even by the standards of a Hollywood drama, the claims made by One Tree Hill actress Bethany Joy Lenz about being drawn into a warped cult that saw her forced to live in a commune and hand over more than $1m of her earnings are shocking.

But while Lenz, 43, has spent the past two weeks doubling down on her lurid allegations over the course of multiple interviews and has aired them in detail in her new memoir, an investigation by DailyMail.com has found not everything is as it seems.

In Lenzs telling, her fame as girl-next-door Haley James Scott on the popular teen drama, One Tree Hill, hid a reality that involved marrying the son of a charismatic cult leader who had drawn her into his world after she began attending his bible studies classes after moving to LA in her early twenties.

Bethany Joy Lenz's allegations about her father-in-law being a cult leader are nothing but a ploy to hang on to her 2000s fame, Michael Galeotti claims

Lenz (far right) starred in the hit 2000s drama One Tree Hill with Lee Norris, Antwon Tanner, Sophia Bush, Chad Michael Murray, Hilarie Burton and James Lafferty

Michael Galeotti said Lenz's claims are 'not how it went down' and says that he wants to protect his granddaughter Maria

Brainwashed and besotted, she left California behind to relocate to a small town in Washington where she moved into the Big House  a multimillion-dollar mansion that doubled as the headquarters of Wild Branch Ministries.

Lenz says members of the tiny covenant church lived commune-style in the squalid property and were expected to hand over most of their earnings to alleged cult boss Papa Mike Galeotti  a man she describes as being akin to the notorious Keith Raniere of the NXIVM sex cult.

She also claims Galeotti recruited a convicted rapist, who moved into the Big House with other members of the cult, and kept her isolated from her friends and family  including her parents.

Galeotti, who runs a wine bar in Battle Ground, Washington, where Lenz once lived, is the main villain in her new memoir Dinner for Vampires, along with his son  her ex-husband Michael Jr, 40.

White-haired and unassuming, the 62-year-old had a very different take on events when approached by DailyMail.com at his Washington home  calling the allegations aired in the memoir heartbreaking and saying his priority is to protect his granddaughter Maria.

Everybody sees things a little differently and she's going to cling to the fame, he told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

Good for her. She's going to make a name for herself. But it's not the way it went down.

His concerns were echoed by Lenzs ex-husband Michael, a former rocker with indie band Enation who now works at a Portland-area seafood restaurant.

Lenz had been in a lengthy custody battle over their daughter Maria with her ex-husband and former rocker Michael Jr. Galeotti since their 2012 divorce

Her new memoir, Dinner for Vampires, stated her marriage fell apart when Michael refused to leave his parents at the Big House to move with her to North Carolina

Michaels friends and family presented their own sworn declarations in the divorce case, insisting Wild Branch was not a cult

Lenz's filings included a creepy note that claimed Michael Jr. wrote a list of biblical demands she had to follow in her daily life

Like his father, Michael said he is worried about the effect the memoir could have on his 13-year-old daughter, telling DailyMail.com: I dont know what to make of this memoir after all this time.

He added: I have a daughter whos really important to me. I don't want it to affect her. Its too much. I don't really want to cause any problems for her.

The new book is not the first time Lenz has leveled claims of emotional and spiritual abuse at the Galeottis and their followers, with her allegations of cult-like behavior and malfeasance forming the central theme of her 2012 divorce.

Running to more than 400 claims and counterclaims, the epic legal battle dragged on until 2022 with both sides reopening the custody agreement more than once.

According to the filings, the marriage crumbled when Michael remained severely bonded to his parents, refusing to leave his basement digs at the Big House to move with her to North Carolina, where One Tree Hill was filmed.

The pair blamed one another for outbreaks of violence, Lenz accusing Michael of seeing red and punching holes in their walls while he claimed she had hurled a vase and hit him several times.

Her filings also included a creepy note that she claimed Michael wrote and made her pin to the wall when they finally moved to their own house.

When I feel wronged, run to Jesus  ask him to show me himself in Michael. Submit to Michaels (requests?) and humbly trust God to reveal the truth, it read.

Ask Jesus (pray continually) to reveal to me the meaning of unity and submission.

Lenz said of the handwritten missive: He expects me to be subservient to him on a daily basis. He instructed me to read this statement every day.

Michaels friends and family presented their own sworn declarations, insisting Wild Branch was not a cult. The Big House had taken a good beating down the years from the various rambunctious preteens and pets that had called it home.

Galeotti owns this wine bar in Battle Ground, Washington, and is the head of the Wild Branch Ministries

Lenz has been on a press tour for her memoir. She appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast where she claimed she was forced to have a 'sex schedule' while married to 'cult' leader's son

The former home of the Galeottis and the headquarters for Wild Branch Ministries - known as 'The Big House'. Lenz claimed it was filthy from pets and 'rambunctious preteens'

But it was not as filthy as Lenz described, asserted Rick Jackson, 69, a two-time congressional candidate whose wife Jeanine is portrayed as one of the forces behind Wild Branch by the 43-year-old.

Lenz, however, doubled down and claimed she had been forced to cut off all contact with her biological family during her time in the cult, even writing a heartbreaking email to her devastated dad that read: The Joy you knew is dead.

History teacher Robert Lenz, 68, received the crushing message from his actress daughter shortly after she came into the Galeotti's orbit, according to the court papers.

[Galeotti] positioned himself as her spiritual leader and substitute father, Lenzs aunt Diane Terraccino wrote in a 2012 court filing obtained by DailyMail.com.

Joys dad was sensing this pulling away and tried to talk to her about this situation. He had advised her to run the other way  but it was too late. This new family had already pulled Joy in.

But affidavits were also supplied by the Galeottis, with numerous local dignitaries writing in support of the family.

Lenz claimed she was forced to cut off contact with family and friends  sending an email to her father Robert, 68, that said the Joy you knew is dead'

Prominent Wild Branch members Jeanine and Rick Jackson said the allegations against Michael were false, and the group doesn't coerce people to stay

Annette Hunt supplied a statement praising the United States Marine veteran as an upstanding member of the citys Rotary Club.

The then-division chief of Clark County Fire & Rescue, Michael Ciraulo, said Michael and his father were honorable and exemplary citizens.

Prominent Wild Branch members Jeanine and Rick Jackson were among Galeottis most vociferous defenders.

'There have been allegations of Mike being overly controlling, and I have even heard the term cult leader thrown about by some who used to be a part of the ministry/church that Mike leads, Rick Jackson wrote in his declaration.

'This group does not force or coerce but rather invites each other to love God and each other in ways that have brought dramatic healing (physical and emotional) to many.

'Any who choose to no longer be a part of this community of faith are of course free to do this at any time. My sons were a part of this and now are not.

They were never told they must remain part of this ministry. They have received words of love and blessing.

Lenzs other main claim in her memoir relates to the alleged financial damage she suffered due to her earnings being managed by a company called Q-3  which was controlled by Papa Galeotti, Jeanine Jackson and a third friend, Jeff Quade.

According to Lenz, her signature was forged and her earnings were spirited away into a network of shady accounts to be spent on a string of failing business ventures, including a hotel and an organic, upscale restaurant.

But, as with the abuse claims, DailyMail.com discovered that Lenzs version of events is disputed, with both Jackson and Quade insisting that the reality was quite different.

It's never fun to have things that are untrue out there, Jackson said from her home in Battle Ground when approached by DailyMail.com.

Lenz claimed her money was squandered by the church to support a string of shady, failing businesses

Lenz appeared on the Kelly Clarkson show to talk about her memoir

Quade, 54 - listed online as Wild Branchs organizational head - said Lenzs version of events was ludicrous.

'She just seems to spout things that fit with the narrative that she has created, he protested.

I don't have anything to prove or to say really. I mean, she seems to be wanting to stay relevant.

Despite her protests, the long-running divorce feud ended with Lenz being told that her daughter would be allowed to spend time with the Galeottis, even as she was awarded primary custody and the right to take the child to live with her in LA.

There is no basis to restrict the childs contact with the fathers family or friends. There is no evidence of risk of harm to the child in fathers household, Judge James Rulli determined.

DailyMail.com reached out to Lenz to ask whether she ever reported the alleged fraud to law enforcement or initiated any other form of legal redress.Lenz, her manager and the two lawyers involved in her divorce have not responded to DailyMail.coms requests for comment.
Sara Sampaio is paying the price for dressing up as Chimp Crazy star Tonia Haddix for Halloween.

The top model took to her Instagram page on Friday, the day after the creepy and creative holiday, and shared a series of snaps, along with a couple of videos of her all decked out in her Chimp Crazy costume.

'All I can I say is that my back hurts #halloween,' Sampaio, 33, revealed in the caption of her post.

She would also enlist the help of actress and friend Georgie Flores, who played her primate side kick Tonka, while dressed up in a chimp suit.

For her costume, Sampaio slipped into a pink minidress underneath a sheer pink robe-like top with pink furry trim on the sleeves and bottom portion, along with her huge fake breasts and long blonde wig.

Sara Sampaio, 33, dressed up as Tonia Haddix, the star of the HBO documentary series Chimp Crazy, for Halloween, while enlisting actress and friend Georgie Flores to be the primate Tonka

Sampaio and Flores were spotted out partying it up in full costume on Halloween

The two ladies were spotted while out and about partying on the Halloween holiday on Thursday, where they stayed in character most of the time, but there were times when Flores lifted her mask up for a breather.

The catwalk queen also shared a bunch of pictures on social media that included her replicating the Chimp Crazy promotional photo, which is also where she got the inspiration for her light pink ensemble and blonde wig.

They proceeded to pose for a number of photos together in full costume, including one of Sampaio laying out on a floor, and another of Flores as Tonka snuggling up to his human friend.

The Portugal native also struck a pose as Haddix and an abundance of attitude while sitting in a living room.

Then the Famous In Love star jumped into the mix and sat on her bestie's pal for another pose together for the camera.

The star of the Halloween post would also give some behind-the-scenes looks at her costume and how she put it all together with such massive breasts.

One of them shows her standing in front of a full mirror shortly after putting on the fake boobs and then rubbing them with both hands and then jumping up and down.

'Oh my God I look like a disaster,' Sampaio says in another clip of herself after getting in to full costume, all while holding up her camera phone.

From there, she again starts to slightly move up and down to make her breasts jiggle, which got a laugh from the model and her gal pal.

A third video captured the longtime Victoria's Secret Angel grabbing at her plastic breasts repeatedly as she made her way around the Halloween party with the music pumping.

Sampaio got the inspiration for her ensemble and hair from a Chimp Crazy promotional photo. Tonia Haddix starring in the original

Sara was joined by Georgie Flores as the primate

The two gal pals also staged a number of poses together as the Chimp Crazy star

For her costume, Sampaio slipped into a pink minidress underneath a sheer pink robe-like top with pink furry trim on the sleeves and bottom portion, along with her huge fake breasts and long blonde wig

The Porto, Portugal native would also strike a pose as Haddix and an abundance of attitude while sitting in a living room

Then the Famous In Love star jumped into the mix and sat on her bestie's pal for another pose together for the camera

The star of the Halloween post would also give some behind-the-scenes looks at her costume and how she put it all together with such massive breasts

The top model kept wanting to test drive her massive cleavage

'Oh my God I look like a disaster,' Sampaio says in another clip of her after getting in to full costume, all while holding up her camera phone

A third video captured the longtime Victoria's Secret Angel grabbing at her plastic breaks pretty consistently as she made her way around the Halloween party with the music pumping

The HBO documentary, Chimp Crazy, premiered on HBO on August 18, and follows Tonia Haddix, whose love for a chimpanzee Tonka spins into a wild game with authorities and the animal rights group PETA

Sampaio was first discovered at the age of 15, though she was not allowed to compete in modeling competitions until the age of 16.

After finishing high school, she went on to reach her goal of working with VS when she walked the runway at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for the first time.

She has since gone on to work with many of the top fashion outlets, companies, and photographers, en route to becoming one of the top models in the world.

The HBO documentary, Chimp Crazy, premiered on HBO on August 18, and follows Tonia Haddix, whose love for a chimpanzee Tonka spins into a wild game with authorities and the animal rights group PETA.
Dorit Kemsley opened up about her son Jagger's 'difficult' battle with septic hip that led to multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospitalization.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 48, took to Instagram to share photos of herself, 10-year-old son Jagger, daughter Phoenix and estranged husband Paul dressed up as The Flintstones for Halloween as she updated her 1.6 million followers on her son's medical condition.

She admitted the past month had 'been very difficult for our family.'

'Jagger had 2 surgeries in under a week for septic hip, had to stay in the hospital nearly 2 weeks, and just when we thought it was all over, we had a set back this week.'

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the condition  also known as Septic Arthritis  is an infection of joint fluid and tissue that spreads through the bloodstream. It is most commonly found in children and is treated by administering antibiotics and draining excess fluid.

Dorit Kemsley opened up about her son Jagger's, 10, 'difficult' battle with septic hip that led to multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospitalization

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 48, took to Instagram to update her audience of 1.6M followers on her son's medical condition

The doting mother-of-two continued: 'Luckily, this incredibly brave, courageous little boy is a fighter (like Rocky, as he would say) and we were able to enjoy Halloween like he desperately wanted to. That made this Halloween extra special for all of us.'

And she praised her son's nurses and physicians at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for caring for his health and well-being.

'Grateful to @cedarssinai, all of the doctors and nurses involved and for all the love and support weve received from so many,' she said.

Dorit also penned a note to Jagger for his resilience and 'strength' through his health battle.

'Im in awe and so proud of our little munchkin, his strength, positive mindset and can do attitude hes maintained through everything hes been through. Feeling blessed and hopeful that better days lay ahead. Yabadaba dooo from the Flintstones! ,'she finished.

Last month, Dorit and Paul  who separated months ago but are still legally married  shared photos of their son in a wheelchair at the hospital, along with a message updating fans on his condition after he complained of feeling 'unwell.'

In a separate post, Paul, 57, wrote: 'Spent 24 / 7 with Jagger for the last few days, even though we are in the hospital, its such a gift to have the time, to listen to this little fella who honestly is wise beyond his years.

'@doritkemsley is an unbelievably brilliant mother, and Im happy to let you all know that Jagger is on the other side of this now and we are taking him home tomorrow. Dorit and myself are so grateful for all the well wishers  I know Im totally biased but this kid only has kindness and love in his heart .. I dont think you can teach that  its just him .'

She shared photos of herself, son Jagger, daughter Phoenix and estranged husband Paul dressed up as The Flintstones for Halloween

She admitted: 'The past month has been very difficult for our family'

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the condition  also known as Septic Arthritis  is an infection of joint fluid and tissue that spreads through the bloodstream; Jagger seen in October 2024

'Im in awe and so proud of our little munchkin, his strength, positive mindset and can do attitude hes maintained through everything hes been through,' Dorit said of her son; Jagger seen in December 2023

Despite still being legally married, Dorit and Paul separated last month; Paul Jagger, Dorit and Phoenix seen in December 2023

The co-parents frequently post updates on Jagger's condition via their social media pages; Jagger, Dorit, Phoenix and Paul seen in July 2023

The reality star's Halloween post was a hit with her followers, who empathized with young Jagger, racking up over 41K likes and hundreds of comments from supportive fans.

'So happy to hear Jaggy is hanging in there strong! Atta boy. Sending lots and lots of love,' one user wrote.

Another chimed in praising their costumes, 'Sending the biggest hugs and strength to big guy Jaggs!! Such a brave fella!! Love this theme!!'

Dorit and Paul, who also goes by 'PK', tied the knot back in March 2015. They publicly split in May of this year.
Triple M host Marty Sheargold is set to step into a new role at the network after vacating the breakfast slot in July.

In a massive shakeup at the network, Sheargold, 53, will see an extension of his national Marty Sheargold Show into the drive shift in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Currently, the show airs nationally from Monday to Friday, 3-4pm.

Listeners in these regions will now enjoy an additional two hours of the popular comedian's show from 4-6pm.

'I'm looking forward to returning to the Drive shift for NSW and Queensland listeners in 2025 and giving them the extended version of the show,' Sheargold said in a statement.

'The commute home is a time to unwind and finish the day with a chat and a laugh, and that's exactly what I will be aiming to deliver.'

Sheargold's shift into drive means that a raft local shows will be axed in 2025.

The Rush Hour, featuring Leisel Jones, Liam Flanagan, and Ben Dobbin, which airs in Queensland, will not be returning next year.

Triple M host Marty Sheargold is set to step into a new role at the network after vacating the breakfast slot in July

Similarly, NSW's Rush Hour with Gus Worland and Jude Bolton will also be discontinued.

The Adelaide and Perth Rush Hour teams will not be returning in 2025 either.

The Rush Hour team, consisting of James Brayshaw and Billy Brownless, who are currently heard in Melbourne and Tasmania, will now also be broadcast in South and Western Australia, as well as on some Triple M regional stations in the southern states.

On Friday, Liesel Jones took to Instagram to share the news with her fans, posting a photo of the on-air trio.

'Well it was fun while it lasted,' she wrote.

'Sad news today that @triplem_rushhour with Leisel Jones, Liam and Dobbo won't go ahead in 2025.'

In a massive shakeup at the network, Sheargold, 53, will see an extension of his national Marty Sheargold Show into the drive shift in Sydney , Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Sheargold is pictured in the ABC comedy Fisk

Sheargold's shift into drive means that a raft local shows will be axed in 2025 including Queensland's Rush Hour with Leisel Jones, Liam Flanagan, and Ben Dobbin

'I've learnt a lot working this job and I've enjoyed the laughs,' the post continued.

'Our intention with this show was to always lift your drive home no matter what kind of day you've had.

'I hope we were able to bring a smile or laugh to your arvo. We'll see you round like a rissole. Until next time.'

Sheargold added that he was committed to carrying on the local teams' legacies.

'I also wanted to thank the teams from the Sydney, Brisbane/Gold Coast and Queensland,' he said.

Sheargold took personal leave from his Triple M breakfast show in October 2023 and, after returning briefly in January, announced he was leaving the show for good in July, moving to the 3-4pm slot. Also pictured is actor Eric Bana (L)

'[They are] shows who have all had amazing stints and been hugely entertaining. I'm committed to carrying on their legacies.'

The Rush Hour team of Brayshaw and Brownless, who are currently heard in Melbourne and Tasmania, will now also air in South and Western Australia and across some Triple M regional stations in the southern states.

Sheargold took personal leave from his Triple M breakfast show in October 2023 and, after returning briefly in January, announced he was leaving the show for good in July, moving to the 3-4pm slot.

In July, he told how he was leaving his Triple M show to spend more time with his family and prioritise 'self-care' following his three-month absence after a drunken incident at the AFL Grand Final.

'Taking an extended break at the end of last year has reinforced the importance of spending more quality time with my family,' he said in a statement at the time.

'As a result, I have made the decision to prioritise self-care, maintaining a better work/life balance and will not be returning to my Triple M Breakfast show.
Married at First Sight 'hot couple' Evelyn Ellis and Duncan James have responded to backlash over their Halloween costumes with a series of racy snaps.

The pair were slammed this week for 'going drag' and dressing up as each other.

And on Friday, Evelyn, 28, shared a gallery of photos in which she posed in a g-string and see-through lace body suit and high boots with stiletto heels.

She completed the risque look with what appears to be cat-eye 'sex mask' and a pair of long black gloves.

Model Cece Buss was also seen in the photos alongside Evelyn, as they both wore identical outfits.

The pair posed provocatively in several pictures, utilizing a black 'spanking paddle' as a prop.

Evelyn's caption indicated that the outfits were from the lingerie brand Honey Birdette.

Duncan, 39, joined the pair while dressed in a costume that paid tribute to Ali G, the infamous rapper character created by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.

Married at First Sight 'hot couple' Evelyn Ellis responded to backlash over her Halloween costumes with a series of racy snaps. Pictured with model Cece Buss (right)

Sporting a thick stubble, Duncan wore a bright yellow jumpsuit, matching goggles, a black knitted beanie, and a 'bum bag'  an outfit well-recognised by Ali G fans.

Evelyn shared the snaps to her Instagram stories along with images of herself and Duncan dining in a ritzy night spot while wearing the outrageous costumes.

It comes after celebrity stylist Jamie Azzopardi slammed Evelyn and Duncan over their 'scary' choice of Halloween costume.

Evelyn and Duncan shared a carousel of photos of themselves dressed up as each other to Instagram on Thursday.

Duncan and Evelyn were slammed this week for 'going drag' and dressing up as each other. The MAFS 'hot bride' and her friend pose alongside Duncan, 39, in a costume that paid tribute to Ali G, the notorious 'rapper' character created by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen

Duncan went full red carpet glam as he donned drag, wearing a handmade replica of his girlfriend's 2023 Logies ensemble.

Meanwhile, the MAFS' 'hot bride' wore a black tuxedo and wig paired with faux facial hair.

'Spooky szn (season),' she wrote in the caption.

'This year we decided to take things a little further and fully commit, this took so bloody long haha and was one of the scariest things weve ever done.

'PS I dont look like Duncan at all.'

Evelyn and Duncan also dressed up as one another for Halloween in 2023 and were widely praised by their fans and fellow cast members for their costume.

But the influencer couple's handiwork hit a sour note for Jamie, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.

He said it was hurtful to see a heterosexual couple play with gender performance and be praised for it - while the the LGBTQ+ community is persecuted for doing the same thing.

'It's unfortunate that its posed like the "scariest thing" you could do in life is cross dress,' Jamie told Daily Mail Australia.

'I don't know how else to read that caption. It's tone deaf.'

The pair posed provocatively in a number of photos and used a black 'spanking paddle' as a prop. A caption revealed the outfits came from Honey Birdette lingerie range

The Sydney-based stylist likened the couple's costume to a white person dressing up as a person of colour with blackface, or choosing to 'wear' a culture as a costume for Halloween.

'I love Duncan and Evelyn and I know he has queer friends and family, so this move was out of character for them,' Jamie said.

'I dont think either of them are homophobic. Thats not my point. But if you're saying "This is scary", then you're making fun of people like me.'

Evelyn and Duncan rose to fame on the 2023 season of Australia's highest-rating reality series and although they were 'TV married' to different partners, wound up together.

The stylist also shared private direct messages, which they sent to the couple, and their responses with Daily Mail.

Evelyn shared the snaps to her Instagram stories along with images of herself and Duncan dining in a ritzy night spot while wearing the outrageous costumes

'Hey guys, sorry to be a pain but I've been asked about this, so I've decided to do the mature thing and tell you how I feel,' Jamie began their DM to Duncan and Evelyn.

'I think this can come off a little offensive and tone deaf to your queer friends!'

'To live in a city like Sydney and be a representation of modern Australians, I think it's unfortunate that it's posed like the scariest thing you both could imagine was to cross dress,' Jamie continued.

'As someone who is non-binary and does dress this way regularly, I think it's hurtful to a community who calls this everyday life.

'I'm sorry to be a downer - just wanted to be open and honest so you know where I'm coming from.'

Jamie has previously dressed up as Joe Exotic for Halloween and said that a bottle of P.Diddy baby oil was on their list of potential costume ideas for 2024.

When contacted by Daily Mail, Evelyn maintained she doesn't see anything wrong or offensive about her and Duncan's costume.

Evelyn and Duncan shared a carousel of photos of themselves dressed up as each other to Instagram on Thursday

'Im sorry, but your partner looking like you is scary!!!' she said.

However, Duncan took a more diplomatic approach in his personal response to Jamie.

'Hey Jamie, I really appreciate you reaching out. I've always respected your views and way of approaching them,' the ex-AFL player wrote.

'Although a lot of Halloween outfits are scary or haunting, there are many that aren't and this is one of them.

'I do think we always need to be mindful of all genders and all people that live on this planet.

Celebrity stylist Jamie Azzopardi (pictured) said that calling cross-dressing for Halloween 'the scariest thing you've ever done' is 'tone deaf'

'I would like to think that both Ev and I show through our actions that are extremely supportive and understanding of the wider community.'

'I'd welcome any discussion if people think that I shouldn't be allowed to dress up as my partner or cross dress if I want to.'

Jamie, who is known for their extravagant outfit choices and celebrity feuds, said the response was appreciated but that they were disappointed.

'In my community we often experience a lot of hate just based on this decision [to cross dress or perform drag],' the stylist explained.

'So for many of us (me included), it can be a hard pill to swallow.'

Jamie copped fierce backlash for arriving to Australian Fashion Week in an elaborate gown, which was attended to by a handful of entourage members earlier this year.

The stylist added that, 'There's a cultural appropriation element to all this'.

That's why Jamie said non-binary Aussie muso G Flip and wife Chrishell Stause dressing up as one another for Halloween wasn't offensive, but this was.
Vogue Williams joined The Traitors and Dancing On Ice star Mollie Pearce at Superdrug's biannual charity ball in aid of Marie Curie in London on Friday.

The Irish model, 39, hosted the event with drag star Miss Demeanour and stunned as she slipped into a dazzling silver sequinned gown while taking to the red carpet for the good cause.

Vogue's dress boasted quirky pleated detailing and hugged every inch of her gorgeous figure as she completed the look with silver heels and diamond jewellery.

Meanwhile Mollie, 22, who will take to the rink in January for 2025's DOI, oozed old Hollywood glamour her own off the shoulder black gown with white bow as she was joined at the bash by brother Sam.

She flashed a glimpse of leg thanks to a racy split and forewent a necklace letting the eye-catching outfit speak for itself.

Vogue Williams, 39 (L) joined The Traitors and Dancing On Ice star Mollie Pearce, 22 (R) at Superdrug's biannual charity ball in aid of Marie Curie in London on Friday

The Irish model hosted the event with drag star Miss Demeanour and stunned as she slipped into a dazzling silver sequinned gown and took to the red carpet for the good cause

Vogue later shared a snap of herself with co-host Miss Demeanour who was also dressed to impress in a glam gown and matching hat

Marie Curie is an end of life charity, providing care for people with any illness theyre likely to die from, including dementia and heart disease.

It comes after Vogue revealed she clashed with husband Spencer Matthews over their family plans.

The couple, who already share three children Theodore, five, Gigi, three, baby Otto, 22 months, have differing views on whether they should have a fourth.

Vogue explained how Spencer, 36, would have another 'straight away,' but she is the one who has to 'carry a baby for nine months.'

Speaking in an interview with The Sun, the model admitted: 'I had a timer on myself thinking: "Ill decide at the end of this summer," and now its the end of summer and I still really just dont know.

'If I said: "Lets go with it," Spencer would do it straight away, but I think of the logistics, whereas he doesnt. And he doesnt have to carry a baby for nine months, so its a bit more of a decision for me.'

The model joked: 'Ill probably be still thinking about it when Im 50! I dont want to have a child when Im 40, because I feel like Im going to start getting tired. Thats when I want to be going into my granny era and chilling out!'

In a recent interview Spencer recalled how alcohol took over his life and threatened to end the couple's relationship before he made the sudden decision to go sober.

Vogue's dress boasted quirky pleated detailing and hugged every inch of her gorgeous figure as she completed the look with silver heels and diamond jewellery

Meanwhile Mollie, who will take to the rink in January for 2025's DOI, oozed old Hollywood glamour her own off the shoulder black gown with white bow

She flashed a glimpse of leg thanks to a racy split and forewent a necklace letting the eye-catching outfit speak for itself

She attended with dapper brother Sam, following her recent break-up from boyfriend of three-years Max Backwell

The siblings beamed as they posed up a storm on the red carpet

Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson also looked smart in a suit

Mollie also shared a glimpse of the ball with her followers

During his years as a city broker in London and through to his Made In Chelsea days, drinking became a cornerstone of the TV star's life.

But it was when he reached his late twenties and met and married his wife Vogue, that alcohol began to threaten his future plans and his desire to settle down.

Speaking on The Mail's Everything I Know About Me podcast, Spencer admitted of his past behaviour: 'There was a certainty that I would lose Vogue, if I carried on drinking the way I was drinking.'

He recalled how in the early months of their romance, after meeting on 2017 reality show The Jump, he and Vogue would go out partying together, admitting 'we had this highly social, quite boozy relationship.'

Alcohol even brought the couple, now parents of three, together as he admits he was perhaps his most dependent on booze around the time they met. 'I think anybody who was on The Jump will tell you that it was quite something,' he explained.

'Although I went sober when I made the finals for ten days before the finals, only went and won!'

'When I won I went on some like mental bender, lost everything. I was beginning to feel like I was a real mess, then. And that was a bit unusual for me.'

Spencer explained though that while Vogue would 'binge drink every few days and drink to get drunk' he would carry on 'and it was every day.'

'She won't mind me saying she's a bit of a binge drinker. She actually hates alcohol, she can't stand being hungover. She doesn't like the taste of booze, but she'll drink to get drunk. Back then she would drink to get drunk every few days. Now, it's once a month type of thing,' Spencer explained.

It comes after Vogue revealed she clashed with her husband Spencer Matthews over their family plans

The couple, who already share three children Theodore, five, Gigi, three, baby Otto, 22 months, have differing views on whether they should have a fourth

'On the days off, I would drink and she wouldn't. And then she would get back on the horse. And then when she stopped, I carried on and it was every day, and she would draw attention to it.'

Around this time, Vogue fell pregnant with their eldest son Theodore. 'My drinking was emphasised by the fact that she wasn't drinking,' Spencer said.

'There was a general level of disappointment in her about me. Which felt s**t, right, because I've always wanted people who are close to me to be proud of me,' he added.

Spencer's turning point came after one boozy night in 2017 after he drank most of a bottle of whiskey at the London home he shared with Vogue.

Getting into bed drunk with Vogue, who was pregnant, he remembers how he told her he was going to quit. 'She didn't really believe me, and neither did anybody else,' he admitted but 'I didn't drink for three and a half years, just stopped.'
Zoe Saldana sizzled while attending the 27th SCAD Savannah Film Festival in Savannah, Georgia on Friday.

The Avatar star, 46, took part in The Hollywood Reporter Scott Feinberg's Awards Chatter podcast at the event, where she did a special special Q&A.

Zoe was a vision as she went braless in a plunging two-tone red hot dress that clung to her enviable figure.

The beauty  who recently donned another low-cut top at the Special Ops: Lioness premiere  wore her brunette tresses parted in the middle and cascading down in light waves.

The hourlong discussion highlighted Saldana's career as well as experiences on her new film, Emilia Perez.

Zoe Saldana, 46, sizzled while attending the 27th SCAD Savannah Film Festival in Savannah, Georgia on Friday

Zoe also wore a matching red silk blazer, but later took it off on the red carpet.

She accessorized with a gold chain necklace. A pair of strappy red heels completed the outfit.

She finalized her stylish look with light glam, featuring bronze eyeshadow and a touch of lip gloss.

Zoe stars as unappreciated lawyer Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Perez, the Jacques Audiard directed musical film hitting select theaters this Friday before it will head to streaming November 13 on Netflix.

Gold Derby has predicted Saldana is currently most likely to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the movie.

Her co-star Selena Gomez stars as Jessi Del Monte, a transgender Mexican cartel leader's ex-wife.

Emilia Perez, which also stars Sofia Gascon, already scored a 'certified fresh' 84% critic approval rating (out of 96 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film's plot reads on IMDb: 'In Mexico, a lawyer receives an unexpected offer to help a feared cartel boss retire from his business and disappear forever by becoming the woman he's always dreamed of being.'

Emilia Perez first premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival back in May, where it competed for the Palme d'Or.

The Avatar star was a vision as she went braless in a plunging two-tone red hot dress that clung to her enviable figure

Her brunette tresses were parted in the middle and cascaded down in light waves, and she accessorized the look with a gold chain necklace

Zoe also wore a matching red silk blazer, but later took it off on the red carpet

She took part in The Hollywood Reporter Scott Feinberg's Awards Chatter podcast at the event

The hourlong discussion highlighted Saldana's career as well as experiences on her new film, Emilia Perez

Zoe stars as unappreciated lawyer Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Perez, the Jacques Audiard directed musical film

The film will begin streaming on Netflix on November 13

The starlet looked stylish as she spoke on stage

She posed with the Vanguard Award after the event

She appeared to be in good spirits while flaunting her sizeable award

The project eventually won the Jury Prize during the festival, while the female ensemble won the Best Actress award.

It comes after both Zoe and Selena responded to Tony Hinchcliffe's controversial joke about Puerto Rico at Donald Trump's recent rally.

Zoe, whose mother is Puerto Rican, told Variety: 'It's sad that today, 2024, theres just so much poverty in character on so many people that we misname as leaders. We have to pick leaders that really represent who we are as human beings.'

Meanwhile Selena said she 'strongly disagreed with any comments that were made recently' after the comedian compared Puerto Rico to a 'floating island of garbage.'

Selena, who was born in Texas and who has family of Mexican descent, added, 'I definitely want to stand by my people.'
She might be a Balinese princess, but Lindy Klim was the queen of Derby Day on Saturday.

The 45-year-old attended the spectacular event at Flemington Racecourse that kicked off the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival, accompanied by her 18-year-old daughter, Stella.

And despite recently splitting from her second husband Adam Ellis after six years of marriage, Lindy radiated joy in the exclusive Birdcage area, looking regal in a gold tiara that adorned her raven locks.

Aside from the pop of golden colour from her glittering tiara, Lindy went for an all black look for race day.

She showcased her svelte figure in a daring, form-fitting dress featuring strappy lace detailing and a cut-out under the bust that highlighted her toned midriff.

Lindy's dress was concealed underneath a smart cropped jacket with wide lapels.

She accessorised with a black polished calfskin Dolce & Gabbana handbag and a subtle gold ring that she wore on her right middle finger.

Lindy was joined by her eldest daughter Stella, 18, who opted for a similarly noir look to her mother.

Balinese princess Lindy Kilm was the queen of Derby Day in Melbourne on Saturday

The 45-year-old showcased her svelte figure in a daring, form-fitting dress featuring strappy lace detailing and a cut-out under the bust that highlighted her toned midriff

Stella wore a sleeveless black top with a high neck and a matching form-fitting skirt.

She let her raven locks flow freely down her shoulders and accessorised with a large black headband.

While her mother chose gold to make her outfit pop, Stella went with silver, adding a chunky clutch to her ensemble.

She completed her race day outfit with some subtle silver accessories around her wrists.

Despite recently splitting from second husband Adam Ellis after six years of marriage, Lindy radiated joy in the exclusive Birdcage area, looking regal in a gold tiara that adorned her raven locks

Aside from the pop of golden colour from her glittering tiara, Lindy went for an all black look for race day

Despite her recent marriage breakup, Lindy was all smiles as she posed for photographers in the Birdcage.

She looked every inch the doting mother as she proudly stood with her daughter Stella as they showcased their glamorous outfits.

Lindy shares Stella with first husband, Olympic swimmer Michael Klim along with Rocco, 16, and Frankie 13.

She also shares Goldie, seven, with second husband Adam Ellis.

Two years after her divorce from Michael in 2018, Lindy married Adam in a lavish Tuscan ceremony.

Lindy recently revealed she was starting from scratch again after splitting with Adam and relocating back to Australia from Bali.

Lindy shared two striking images of a Balinese sunrise with the caption: 'Last few hours in Bali, see you soon Melbourne.'

She also teased her return to Australia by uploading a video of herself and Stella modelling the Viktoria & Woods Spring collection on Instagram.

'Shopping the new collection just in time for our move back,' Lindy captioned the post as she modelled several ensembles with her daughter.

Friends and fans excitedly inquired as to Lindy's return date and she simply said: 'Soon.'

Lindy was joined by her eldest daughter Stella, 18, who opted for a similarly noir look to her mother

Stella wore a sleeveless, high necked, black top and a matching form fitting skirt

Lindy looked every inch the doting mother as she proudly stood with her daughter Stella as they showcased their glamorous outfits

Speculation of a break-up between Lindy and her husband emerged last month, when the Balinese princess posed for a portrait with her four children - with no sign of Ellis.

After posting the image to Instagram, eagle-eyed followers noticed that Lindy was also no longer wearing her engagement ring.

An insider later claimed the pair have been well and truly over for some time.

'They have also not been seen together for a number of months,' an insider told Confidential.

Lindy shares Stella with first husband, Olympic swimmer Michael Klim along with Rocco, 16, and Frankie 13. She also shares Goldie, seven, with second husband Adam Ellis

Two years after her divorce from Michael in 2018, Lindy married Adam in a lavish Tuscan ceremony

'Plus he isn't in any of her social media photographs.'

Daily Mail Australia was the first to reveal a potential marriage breakdown between Lindy and Adam after the celebrity fashionista posted the tell-tale family photo to her social media.

Followers were quick to note Ellis' absence in the photo, as well as the missing large citrine engagement ring on her left hand wedding finger.

'My family, my world,' the Fig Femme founder captioned the photo.

The image includes all four of her children, and was taken by local photographer Nicole Riley.
MBABANE  A new mum bled to death after moving from one hospital to another, in need of assistance.

*Lulu, who is said to have originally been from Siphofaneni and Sithobela, is said to have given birth at the Mankayane Hospital. She is said to have undergone a cesarean section, also known as a C-section. Cesarean section birth is the surgical delivery of a baby through a cut or incision made in the birth parents abdomen and uterus. Healthcare providers use it when they believe its safer for the birth parent, the baby or both.

However, it was gathered that she continued to bleed after the surgery. This publication gathered that Lulu was a 17-year-old girl. Noteworthy, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one of the leading causes of death in mothers who have just given birth is bleeding, also referred to as postpartum haemorrhage.

Blood

According to the information gathered, Lulu is said to have returned to the Mankayane Hospital during the first week of October 2024, about a day after giving birth. It was gathered that the bleeding due to the C-section could not stop and that she was losing blood. She is said to have been using public transport.

*Jabha, a relative, revealed that when Lulu arrived at the hospital, she was told that she could not be assisted.

She had lost a lot of blood, and they told her they did not have any blood to give her, said the relative. Jabha said that upon noticing that she could not get assistance, Lulu had to board another public transport to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Manzini.

At this point, she was already weak as they had not given her any medication at all at Mankayane Hospital. So I believe the non-stop bleeding was taking a toll on her body, said Jabha.

Surgery

Upon arrival at RFM, she was allegedly attended to by a doctor who also could not assist, as he allegedly advised that she needed to go into surgery again. Still, the theatre at the RFM was not functioning. After realising that she could not be assisted at the RFM hospital in Manzini, she had to travel to the Mbabane Government Hospital to be assisted, still using public transport.

However, information gathered from healthcare workers at Mbabane Government Hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, was that it was already too late when she arrived. She had lost a lot of blood. She was so weak that the doctor certified her dead a few minutes after arrival, said the healthcare worker.

Speaking about the incident, a medical doctor wondered why the hospital in Mankayane was not able to assist her, especially since they had been able to carry out a C-section. The official said women who undergo C-sections should be monitored even when they are discharged.

Bleeding

The doctor said the woman should not have been allowed to leave the Mankayane Hospital in her state, primarily due to the report that she was still bleeding. The bleeding is said to have resulted in the loss of blood, eventually leading to her death. Calculating the distance travelled by the bleeding woman from Mankayane to Manzini and finally to Mbabane, the late Lulu travelled over 95 kilometres in search of medical assistance.

Assisted

Previously, this publication had received concerns from members of the public in the constituencies surrounding Mankayane, that another hospital was needed to ensure that women, in particular, were assisted without having to travel far. Other than Mankayane, the nearest significant hospitals are RFM and Mbabane.

Noteworthy, in neighbouring South Africa (SA), women who have undergone C-sections get prioritised treatment. Several measures are reportedly in place to ensure that mothers who have undergone C-sections are promptly assisted upon their return to hospitals if complications or concerns arise. Critical approaches include structured post-natal care, improved communication channels and national healthcare guidelines focused on maternal and postoperative care.

Meanwhile, according to an article published by the Times of Eswatini in 2023, over 6 000 pregnant women were flocking to RFM Hospital to deliver their babies, while at the same time, concerns over high mortality rate of the facility were raised.

Improvement

Just before the article was written, Members of Parliament (MPs) had called for the improvement of other clinics across the country to ease the pressure of pregnant women flocking to the RFM Hospital. MPs raised this issue during the Ministry of Healths annual report debate.

The Manzini Region MP, while making her submissions, said there was a serious concern regarding the high number of women who died while giving birth. The article was published on March 20, 2023. According to a report published by the Times of Eswatini, in 2019, four women out of 5 780 who gave birth died. About 10 women out of 6 079 deliveries died in 2020. Out of 6 712 women who gave birth in 2021, 16 of them died while giving birth. In 2022, out 6 980 deliveries, 15 of them passed on.
Dance Moms star Christi Lukasiak faced backlash after sharing a video urging her followers to vote and seemingly endorsing Kamala Harris.

The reality TV star, 47, posted a clip to her Instagram on Friday, telling her 2.6M followers: 'We are in the final countdown to the election, and I need you to hear me out. Because literally everything is on the line. From protecting our reproductive rights to the future of the Supreme Court and so much more.'

'This election, it's about so much more than the candidates on the ballot. It's about our democracy, our rights, out freedom to make decisions about our own bodies. And the kind of future we want to live in.'

Lukasiak  who was arrested for a DUI in July  added: 'We can't afford to sit this one out. Our rights depend on it. Let's show up and make history.'

However, her followers were less than thrilled about the political message, with one writing: 'I wish you could have kept your vote to yourself.'

Dance Moms star Christi Lukasiak, 47, faced backlash after sharing a video urging her followers to vote and seemingly endorsing Kamala Harris

Others blasted her for being privileged, writing: 'What would you know about affording a house, gas, cars, groceries, bills? YOURE RICH YOU HAVE NO CLUE!!'

'You have no idea what youre talking about,' yet another one wrote.

Many of her followers revealed they were not voting for the Democratic candidate, and instead casting their vote for Donald Trump as the next president.

'I'm sorry did you not notice that like 80 percent of your comment section is voting for Trump the last time you did this?' another commentator asked.

'You would have thought she would have learned by now with these posts,' someone else chimed in.

'All yall rich, "famous" people sound so uneducated when you post these videos.'

The comments continued, with yet another follower writing: 'Im voting for affordable groceries, a safe country, and a country where my daughters can feel safe in their own restroom and sports.'

Someone else made a play on Christi's plea to promote a different message, writing: 'Right people cant afford to sit this one out TRUMP 2024.'

'Trump 2024. Or you won't have a country Christi,' another wrote.

Lukasiak captioned the clip: 'So much is on the line this Election Day. Lets fight for our future, our democracy, and our freedom. Make your plan to vote on November 5, and lets make history together.  #Vote2024.'

She previously made a similar video in October, and her comments were flooded with similar messages.

The reality TV star posted a clip to her Instagram, telling her 2.6M followers: 'We are in the final countdown to the election, and I need you to hear me out'

'Because literally everything is on the line. From protecting our reproductive rights to the future of the Supreme Court and so much more,' she added

'We can't afford to sit this one out. Our rights depend on it. Let's show up and make history'

Christi captioned the clip: 'So much is on the line this Election Day. Lets fight for our future, our democracy, and our freedom'

However, her followers were less than thrilled about the political message, with one writing: 'I wish you could have kept your vote to yourself'

Others blasted her for being privileged, writing: 'What would you know about affording a house, gas, cars, groceries, bills? YOURE RICH YOU HAVE NO CLUE!!'

'You have no idea what youre talking about,' yet another one wrote

'I'm sorry did you not notice that like 80 percent of your comment section is voting for Trump the last time you did this?' another commentator asked

'You would have thought she would have learned by now with these posts,' someone else chimed in

Someone else made a play on Christi's plea to promote a different message, writing: 'Right people cant afford to sit this one out TRUMP 2024'

The comments continued, with yet another follower writing: 'Im voting for affordable groceries, a safe country, and a country where my daughters can feel safe in their own restroom and sports'

'All yall rich, "famous" people sound so uneducated when you post these videos'

'Trump 2024. Or you won't have a country Christi,' another wrote

Lukasiak is the latest celebrity to weight in on the upcoming November 5 election, as Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump continue to campaign, both holding rallies in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Friday

Lukasiak is the latest celebrity to weight in on the upcoming November 5 election, as Vice President Harris and former President Trump continue to campaign, both holding rallies in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Friday

It's been a tough year for Lukasiak. Earlier in July she was arrested for a DUI after 'crashing her car into a tree' in Pennsylvania.

Christi, who appeared on four seasons of the hit Lifetime reality series alongside her daughter Chloe, 23, is understood to have been booked by cops on June 27 after getting into a wreck, which 'left a telephone pole hanging over her car', according to TMZ.

The outlet, which obtained a copy of the Westmoreland County police report, said that cops noted Christi had 'bloodshot and glassy eyes, and slurred speech' and that one of the officers 'reported the smell of alcohol on her breath'.

Mom-of-two Christi is said to have admitted to consuming two glasses of wine before getting into her car, according to the police report, and submitted to a preliminary breath test, which was positive.

Officers also asked her to perform several field sobriety tests, which are said to have indicated that she was impaired and unable to safely operate her car.

During her time in the show, Christi was often seen enjoying a glass of wine with the other moms and would often make jokes about being drunk.

On one occasion in season three, dance teacher Abby Lee Miller suspended Christi and her daughter Chloe from the team after the mother-of-two got into an altercation with another mom in the street in New Orleans while enjoying a day of drinking.

While reflecting on her time in the reality series to Huffington Post in 2012, she slammed rumors that she was a 'huge drinker.'

It's been a tough year for Lukasiak. Earlier in July she was arrested for a DUI after 'crashing her car into a tree' in Pennsylvania; seen in a still from Dance Moms

Christi appeared on four seasons of the hit Lifetime reality series Dance Moms alongside her daughter Chloe, 23; they are seen in 2017

The mother and daughter duo pictured in a still from the show

Christi and Chloe left the show following season four after Christi got into a furious fight with Abby over claims the dance teacher was bullying her child; they are seen with Abby

'If there's one thing I would go back and change about last season it would have to be my jokes about drinking,' she wrote. It's just what I do, I'm very sarcastic.

'My joking, coupled with a few scenes of me and Kelly having a glass of wine, really created an uproar that I was a huge drinker.

'Not the case. I don't even have a bottle of wine in my home.

'But I do enjoy having a cocktail with friends, I'm a grown up. But I would definitely change that perception if I could.'

Christi and Chloe left the show following season four after Christi got into a furious fight with Abby over claims the dance teacher was bullying her child.

Christi and Chloe made a brief reappearance in season seven - and more recently returned for Lifetime's Dance Moms: The Reunion, although Christi was not present for filming and only joined via FaceTime.
Laura Harrier looked red carpet ready and commanded attention while enjoying the spooky festivities on Halloween.

The Spider-Man: Homecoming star, 34, flaunted her incredible figure in a racy cavewoman costume, consisting of daring leopard print mini dress with a sweetheart neckline.

On Thursday, she teamed her look with a pixie-cut wig, gem necklace and oversized pearl earrings while strutting her stuff on the streets of the City of Angels.

The actress tied her look together with trendy brown heels and a matching YSL purse.

She was spotted entering the Chateau Marmont in the latter hours of the evening, which hosted supermodel Kendall Jenner's Halloween party.

Laura Harrier looked red carpet ready and commanded attention while enjoying the spooky festivities at a bar on Halloween

The star-studded bash also saw stars along the likes of Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly, Camila Cabello, Cher, Nina Dobrev, Shaun White, Charli XCX and Rosalia.

Harrier first rose to fame at the age of 17 when she was discovered by a location scout in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

Upon gaining popularity the industry, the brunette beauty signed with IMG Models and Wilhelmina Models landing jobs with Urban Outfitters, Macy's and Steve Madden.

The multihyphenate fell in love with acting after starring in student films and commercials, leading her to study and pursue the art at the William Esper Studio  an exclusive preforming arts institution in the heart of Manhattan.

In 2017, she landed her first breakout role alongside British actor Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming, in which she played his character's love interest.

She also made waves in 2018's BlacKkKlansman, in which she played the role of civil rights activist Patrice Dumas. The role earned her a Black Reel Award and a SAG Award nomination.

In 2020, she took on the role of actress Camille Washington  which was derived from Dorothy Dandridge, the first Black woman to be nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar  for the Netflix series Hollywood.

Harrier is an ambassador for luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Calvin Klein and Boss.

Back in May, the actress  who is vegan  opened up to Vogue about how she learned to balance her social life, self care and her career as a busy woman in Hollywood.

'Its really hard for me. I need a lot of sleep and Im not naturally a good sleeper so Ive been diving into this whole world [of sleep aids]' she admitted to the outlet.

The 34-year-old flaunted her incredible figure in a racy cavewoman costume, consisting of daring leopard print mini dress with a sweetheart neckline

She was spotted entering the Chateau Marmont in the latter hours of the evening, which hosted supermodel Kendall Jenner's Halloween party

Harrier first rose to fame at the age of 17 when she was discovered by a location scout in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois; seen in May 2023

In 2017, she landed her first breakout role starring alongside British actor Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming where she acted as his character's love interest; seen in May 2023

Harrier has been engaged to her boyfriend of three years, Paris-based consultant Sam Jarou; seen in September 2024

When asked what activities she enjoys the model said, 'I just love the ease of being on a beach somewhere, eating amazing food with your friends.'

Harrier has been engaged to her boyfriend of three years, Paris-based consultant Sam Jarou.

The lovebirds first met in 2019 but weren't romantically linked until July 2021 when they were spotted kissing during a vacation in Monaco.

At the time, she gushed over her fiance in an interview, saying he is the 'first man Ive dated where Ill actually listen when he gives me outfit advice.'
Over three decades since Tom Cruise starred in Days of Thunder, he may be considering reprising his role in the racing drama.

Sources confirmed that the 62-year-old Hollywood icon is in early talks with Paramount Pictures for a sequel to the 1990 NASCAR film, Deadline reported on Friday.

Not much is known about the potential project, and the outlet reported that details about the possible creative direction are under wraps.

The Top Gun star  who is footing the bill for his daughter Suri's college tuition even though they haven't been seen together in 11 years and she dropped his last name  notably met Nicole Kidman while filming on the set of the movie in 1989.

The Oscar-nominee starred in the action film alongside Kidman, who would go on to marry and later divorce.

Tom Cruise, 62, is in talks to star in a sequel to his hit 1990 film Days Of Thunder, Deadline reported on Friday; pictured June 2023 in Abu Dhabi

It is unknown if Kidman will be involved in the movie, but considering rumors that Cruise skipped the 2023 Oscars to avoid an 'awkward run-in' with his ex, as DailyMail.com exclusively reported, it might be unlikely.

In Days of Thunder, which was directed by Tony Scott, Cruise stars as Cole Trickle, a hot-headed rookie stock car driver.

After joining NASCAR, he must overcome personal and professional challenges to achieve success.

His portrayal of the racer, alongside his 1986 action flick Top Gun, would cement his status as an action star.

While filming Days of Thunder, Cruise met and started a romance with Kidman  who played Dr. Claire Lewicki.

Less than one year after finalizing his divorce from Mimi Rogers, he tied the knot with Kidman  a year after meeting on Christmas Eve in 1990  with an intimate ceremony in Telluride, Colorado.

The pair went on to collaborate on movies Far and Away as well as Eyes Wide Shut.

They were married for 11 years before divorcing in 2001, and share they two children together.

In 1992, they adopted a daughter named Isabella James, and in 1995, they adopted a son named Connor.

Kidman joined the Church of Scientology for Cruise but decided to leave in 1997.

She reportedly got Cruise to leave the church for a brief period of time, according to The Daily Beast.

Sources confirmed that he's in early talks with Paramount, according to a Deadline. Little is known about the potential project; pictured in a still from Days of Thunder (1990)

The Top Gun star notably met Nicole Kidman while filming on the Days Of Thunder set in 1989; pictured together in Days Of Thunder

In the film, which was helmed by his Top Gun director Tony Scott, Cruise stars as Cole Trickle, a hot-headed rookie stock car driver; pictured with Kidman in a still from the film

Cruise later moved on with Penelope Cruz before marrying Katie Holmes in 2006.

Cruise and the Dawson's Creek alum, who share daughter Suri, split in 2012.

As for Kidman, she was briefly engaged to Lenny Kravitz in 2003.

Then, in June 2006, she wed country star Keith Urban, with whom she shares daughters Sunday Rose and Faith.
Heidi Klum was spotted grabbing pizza in New York with her family, the day after her incredible Halloween transformation.

The German model, 51, was joined by husband Tom Kaulitz, 35, and her rarely seen daughter Lou, 15, and sons Johan, 17, and Henry, 19, for dinner at Crazy Pizza in SoHo.

She dressed business chic for the occasion, wearing a black blazer over a semi-sheer top and matching black slacks.

The beauty  who recently raved about her sex life  held one arm around her daughter's waist as they walked together, with Lou rocking a black mini dress and matching stockings.

Her son Johan walked on the other side of her, sporting a black hoodie, sweatpants and worker boots.

Heidi Klum, 51, was spotted grabbing pizza in New York with her family, the day after her incredible Halloween transformation; seen with daughter Lou, 15, and son Johan, 17

The superstar walked with her arm around her daughter Lou

The German model was also joined by husband Tom Kaulitz, 35, and her rarely seen sons Johan and Henry, 19, for dinner at Crazy Pizza in SoHo

Meanwhile Henry wore a black crewneck sweatshirt and blue jeans, and was seen holding hands with a female companion.

Tom also sported a casual cool look, wearing a white t-shirt with jeans and white Converse sneakers.

Her husband's brother and Tokio Hotel bandmate Bill Kaulitz, 35, was also present for the family outing, and sported a rocker tee and black pants.

Heidi shares three of her four children with ex-husband, musician Seal, 61.

Missing from action was her daughter Leni, 20, whom she shares with ex Flavio Briatore, 74.

The family returned to the pizza place after attending its grand opening the week prior.

Heidi stepped out on Friday, after enjoying her annual bash the night prior, where she wowed in her incredible E.T. costume, alongside Tom who wore a matching look.

The supermodel made her grand arrival at her famous annual soiree dressed as the alien from the 1982 cult classic movie.

She dressed business chic for the occasion, wearing a black blazer over a semi-sheer top and matching black slacks

Heidi's blond tresses were worn down

Lou rocked a black mini dress and matching stockings

She accessorized with a black handbag

Lou added height to her outfit with kitten heels

The family returned to the pizza place after attending its grand opening the week prior

Heidi shares three of her four children with ex-husband, musician Seal, 61

Johan sported a black hoodie, sweatpants and worker boots. Meanwhile Henry wore a black crewneck sweatshirt and blue jeans, and was seen holding hands with a female companion

Her husband's brother and Tokio Hotel bandmate Bill Kaulitz, 35, was also present for the family outing, and sported a rocker tee and black pants

Missing from action was her daughter Leni, 20, whom she shares with ex Flavio Briatore, 74

Heidi recently admitted that her sex life with her younger husband is 'very good' and keeps her fit

The blonde beauty was pictured making her way inside

Heidi rocked red nail polish

She flashed a smile for the cameras

But later on in the night she switched into a slightly more practical version of the E.T outfit - keeping the face mask but toning down the rest.

She added an oversized T-shirt with the character's face on, sexy fishnet tight and long black boots.

Heidi also added an E.T. cap and flashed the peace sign as she posed with Kelsea Ballerini who had transformed into Sandy Grease.

Earlier in the night she proved the Queen of Halloween crown is still hers as she walked the red carpet at her bash, which was held at the Hard Rock Hotel in New York City.

Now in her 23rd year, she attempted the monumental feat of topping her countless, incredible costumes from many Halloweens past.

Some of her most memorable and recent looks include her hyper-realistic, slithering worm look from 2022 and her 2023 transformation into a stunning peacock with the help of nine acrobats dressed as her claws and feathers.

The supermodel's E.T. was dressed in a sheer, floral-patterned slip dress and sported a platinum blonde wig, slightly similar to her real hair, with a black bowler hat on top.

She also had a brown, fur scarf wrapped around her long neck, just right underneath the folds where Klum's face was positioned.

Heidi looked unrecognizable as she transformed into ET for her Halloween couple's costume with husband Tom

But later on in the night she switched into a slightly more practical version of the E.T outfit - keeping the face mask but toning down the rest; seen with Nicole Scherzinger

Additionally, from the cult classic movie, her version of E.T. was also wearing a scarlet red shawl and was sporting dramatic makeup.

Meanwhile, Kaulitz's E.T. was fully 'nude,' much like how the alien is when it is discovered by the young children on Earth.

This year, Klum started preparing for her party in the early hours of Halloween and kept her fans updated as she teased her highly anticipated reveal.

Klum's famous Halloween party has been held on the holiday every year since 2000, barring 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carrie Bickmore and Lauren Phillips looked to be having the time of their lives together on Saturday at Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

The radio rivals exuded glamour and style as they laughed it up and made their way into the exclusive event together.

At one point, the pair were seen making a cheeky video and flipped the bird to their camera phone.

Fox FM presenter Carrie Bickmore, 43, went braless and poured her figure into a very form-fitting white maxi dress.

Her stunning outfit came with a raunchy cut-out at her bust, which provided an intimate view of her decolletage.

The energetic presenter accessorised with a black fascinator which matched her pumps and designer clutch.

She completed her look with stylish sunglasses and wore her long blonde hair styled perfectly straight around her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Nova FM breakfast star Lauren Phillips, 37, perfectly complemented Carrie's white getup in a striking jet-black plunging gown, which showcased her very ample assets.

Melbourne radio stars Carrie Bickmore and Lauren Phillips flipped the bird as they arrived at Derby Day on Saturday

The pair looked to be having the time of their lives together as they arrived to Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne

Lauren's jaw-dropping gown featured a thigh-high split which also showed off her long slender legs.

She completed her look with matching heels and slick sunglasses.

Lauren had her hands full with a black handbag and her luscious brunette hair was elegantly styled, with loose tresses framing her elegant facial features.

The best friends looked to be having the time of their lives laughing it up together at the world famous event.

Other A-Listers to attend include Melissa Leong, Rebecca Judd, Nadia Bartel, Michael Clarke and Nick and Rozalia Russian.

The radio rivals exuded glamor and style as they laughed it up and made their way into the exclusive event together

At one point, the pair were seen making a cheeky video and flipped the bird to their camera phone

Fox FM presenter Carrie Bickmore, 43, went braless and poured her figure into a very form-fitting white maxi dress

Last month, Carrie gave a rare insight into her beauty regimen and revealed the secrets behind her youthful looks.

While many would be forgiven for thinking the blonde beauty spends hundreds of dollars on all manner of face creams and moisturisers, the truth is a little more low budget.

Carrie's go-to for facial rejuvenation is a humble tube of Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm Cream from La Roche-Posay, which costs as little as $21.

The cream is a multi-repairing hydrating balm for dry skin with a rich nourishing texture that can be used for multiple purposes on adults, children and babies with sensitive skin.

Her stunning outfit came with a raunchy cut-out at her bust, which provided an intimate view of her decolletage

The energetic presenter accessorised with a black fascinator which matched her pumps and designer clutch

Carrie took to social media to share a photo of her well used tube of the affordable face cream, cut in half so she could extract every last drop of the cream.

'When you cut open the tube to squeeze out every inch,' Carrie captioned the post, augmenting the sentiment with a laugh emoji.

Carrie has been rumoured to be romantically involved with her colleague Tommy Little since her split from partner of 11 years Chris Walker at the start of 2023.

Last year, Carrie and Tommy hosted their HIT FM radio show from Paris, France, which had fans convinced they were romantically involved.

She completed her look with stylish sunglasses and wore her long blonde hair styled perfectly straight around her shoulders
Real Housewives of Sydney star Terry Biviano has revealed the surprising reason she does not use social media.

The reality TV star, 49, told Daily Mail Australia at Derby Day in Melbourne on Saturday that she chooses to stay off social media in order to maintain some privacy in her life.

'I'm not big on social media, I never have been,' Terry began.

'I'm actually quite private and shy, even though I'm out there. So, I'm a bit of a contradiction.'

Terry cut a stylish figure at the event in a black Valentino lace jumpsuit, which featured transparent sleeves and an eye-popping white frilled collar.

She completed her getup with black platform boots and a matching large black hat.

The TV personality accessorised with a black designer Valentino handbag and stylish aviator sunglasses.

Her admission follows reports that Terry is set to make a dramatic return to the 2025 series of Real Housewives of Sydney.

Real Housewives of Sydney star Terry Biviano (pictured) has revealed the surprising reason she does not use social media

The shoe designer is said to have become a polarising figure among the cast, particularly with founding members Krissy Marsh and Nicole Gazal-O'Neil.

Biviano, who joined the show in 2023 to shake things up, found herself at odds with Marsh and Gazal-O'Neil, the only remaining original Housewives.

Sources close to the show told The Daily Telegraph that the producers went to great lengths to accommodate Biviano's demands, which included changing filming locations and enduring her habitual lateness.

The reality TV star, 49, told Daily Mail Australia at Derby Day in Melbourne on Saturday that she chooses to stay off social media in order to maintain some privacy in her life

By the end of season two, the rift had reportedly grown severe.

It reached boiling point when Marsh and Gazal-O'Neil, along with another cast member, issued an ultimatum to the producers: either Biviano goes, or they do.

Fortunately, they managed to work things out and Terry is set to join the other stars in the upcoming series of the popular Binge show.
Rebekah Vardy has shared a cryptic post after it was announced her rival Coleen Rooney is reportedly set to appear on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Coleen, 38, is said to have been keen on joining the show for years, but only recently felt confident enough to leave her family in the UK.

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show's history, exceeding Nigel Farage's 1.5million from last year.

Whilst Rebekah, 42, may not be an avid viewer, her legal team are said to be paying close attention to anything that could be said.

She is also thought to be getting the 'ultimate revenge' by signing up, with Rebekah, being booted out early in the 2017 series.

Rebekah Vardy has shared a cryptic post after it was announced her rival Coleen Rooney is reportedly set to appear on I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

Coleen, 38, is said to have been keen on joining the show for years, but only recently felt confident enough to leave her family in the UK

Rebekah apparently has no plans to watch Coleen's stint on I'm A Celebrity unless it's to catch her tacking a stomach-turning Bushtucker Trial.

Fans are desperate for Coleen to tell all about the Wagatha Christie drama on the reality show, but it's been reported that she is not taking any chances.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Rebekah shared text reading: 'I take rumours as a compliment. The fact you're bringing my name onto tables I don't sit at shows your obsession. Stay bothered.'

Meanwhile, the 'Wagatha Christie' case is returning to court after Rebekah launched an appeal against having to pay Coleen up to 1.8million in legal costs.

Barristers for the women battled in the High Court last month over how much Rebekah should pay in costs after losing a libel action in 2022 and her legal team confirmed on Friday she is challenging the judge's ruling.

In a three-day hearing, lawyers for Rebekah - the wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy - argued that the sum should be reduced due to what they said was 'serious misconduct' by Coleen's legal team.

But Senior Costs Judge Andrew Gordon-Saker found 'on balance and, I have to say, only just', that Coleen's legal team had not committed wrongdoing, and therefore it was 'not an appropriate case' to reduce the amount of money that Rebekah should pay.

Court documents show that Rebekah has launched an appeal bid, which her lawyers Kingsley Napley confirmed related to the misconduct ruling.

Rebekah shared text reading: 'I take rumours as a compliment. The fact you're bringing my name onto tables I don't sit at shows your obsession. Stay bothered'

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show's history, exceeding Nigel Farage 's 1.5million from last year

Coleen is thought to be getting the 'ultimate revenge' by signing up, with Rebekah, being booted out early in the 2017 series

In 2019, Coleen, the wife of former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, accused Rebekah of leaking her private information to the press on social media.

Mrs Vardy sued her for libel, but Mrs Justice Steyn found in July 2022 that the allegation was 'substantially true'.

The judge later ordered Rebekah to pay 90 per cent of Coleen's costs, including an initial payment of 800,000.

The previous hearing in London was told that Coleen's claimed legal bill - 1,833,906.89 - was more than three times her 'agreed costs budget of 540,779.07', which Jamie Carpenter KC, for Mrs Vardy, said was 'disproportionate'.

He claimed that Coleen's legal team had committed misconduct by understating some of her costs so she could 'use the apparent difference in incurred costs thereby created to attack the other party's costs', which was 'knowingly misleading'.

Rebekah had demanded a 50 per cent cut in the 1.8million settlement, as it was alleged that Coleen was charging for a lawyer's stay at a five-star Nobu Hotel.

Her lawyers argued that the opposing legal team's estimate of their costs for expenses including a luxury hotel and a hotly disputed minibar tab was deliberately misleading and that this warranted a reduction in the amount she had to pay.

Coleen's barrister Robin Dunne insisted, 'There has been no misconduct', and that it was 'illogical to say that we misled anyone'.

The 'Wagatha Christie' case is returning to court after Rebekah launched an appeal against having to pay Coleen up to 1.8million in legal costs

In 2019, Coleen, the wife of former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, accused Rebekah of leaking her private information to the press on social media

Mrs Vardy sued her for libel, but Mrs Justice Steyn found in July 2022 that the allegation was 'substantially true'

He added that the argument that the amount owed should be reduced was 'misconceived' and that the budget was 'not designed to be an accurate or binding representation' of her overall legal costs.

Barristers for Mrs Vardy had called Mrs Rooney's legal costs 'extraordinary', including money for a lawyer staying 'at the Nobu Hotel, incurring substantial dinner and drinks charges as well as minibar charges'.

They also demanded to know why digital forensics experts instructed by Mrs Rooney had spent 350 hours looking at social media data, at a cost of 140,000.

But Mr Dunne said that one of Coleen's solicitors only stayed at the hotel due to a problem with their original booking elsewhere.

Judge Gordon-Saker ruled that while there was a 'failure to be transparent', it was not 'sufficiently unreasonable or improper' to constitute misconduct - as he ruled the bill had been legitimately incurred.

He ordered Mrs Vardy to pay Mrs Rooney a further 100,000 ahead of the full amount owed being decided at a later date.

He said: 'I think there is some scope for a further payment on account so the defendant (Mrs Rooney) is not kept out of her costs, and I think that should be no more than 100,000.'

The hearing, which neither woman attended, dealt with several preliminary issues before a full 'line-by-line' assessment of costs takes place at a later date, which will decide the overall amount of money to be paid.

Judge Gordon-Saker said this could take place in early 2025, but added: 'The parties need to get on with this and put it behind them.'

He said: 'Realistically, it (the line-by-line assessment) is probably going to be next year, hopefully early next year.'

In 2019, Coleen publicly claimed Mrs Vardy's account was the source behind three stories in the Sun newspaper featuring fake details she had posted on her private Instagram profile.

These covered her travelling to Mexico for a 'gender selection' procedure, plans to return to TV and the basement flooding at her home.

After the high-profile trial, Mrs Justice Steyn ruled in Coleen's favour in July 2022, finding the post was 'substantially true'.

The judge said that it was 'likely' that Rebekah's agent Caroline Watt had passed information to the newspaper. and that the Leicester star's wife 'knew of and condoned this behaviour'.
Sarah Abo put on a cosy display with her rarely-seen husband Cyrus Moran at Derby Day in Melbourne on Saturday.

The Today host, 36, and her trader husband, 41, looked as loved-up as ever as they posed for photos at Flemington Racecourse.

Sarah looked chic in a black blazer dress which featured a plunging neckline and stockings.

The TV presenter completed her look with a pair of black heels, a matching coloured bag and fascinator.

Cyrus - who works at a Melbourne steel mill - also looked dapper in a grey suit and matching vest.

He finished his look with a white buttoned shirt, grey tie and brown dress shoes.

Sarah wrapped her arm around her husband as they appeared to be as smitten as ever.

The Syrian-born presenter tied the knot with Cyrus in 2012 and they celebrated their union with a romantic honeymoon in Bali, Indonesia.

Sarah Abo put on a cosy display with her rarely-seen husband Cyrus Moran at Derby Day in Melbourne on Saturday

The private couple keep their romance relatively under wraps and are rarely spotted out-and-about together.

Sarah occasionally posts loved-up pictures of the pair to her social media, and marked Cyrus' 40th birthday in 2022 with a sweet tribute.

Sharing a snap of them embracing at his birthday party, she captioned the photo: 'Happy birthday. Beautiful, blurry, you. #fortyandfine.'

The Today host, 36, and her trader husband, 41, looked as loved-up as ever as they posed for photos at Flemington Racecourse

Both are graduates of Monash University, with Cyrus completing his Bachelor of Arts History degree in 2004, the same year Sarah began studying journalism there.

Sarah has been based in Sydney since her promotion to co-anchor of Today in January, but the couple seemingly still split their time between the city and Melbourne.

She previously told how she has spent the last 10 years 'coming and going' between the two cities, but now marks the first time she has officially lived in Sydney.
Queen Mary of Denmark was spotted leaving Sydney on Thursday with her children after enjoying a low-key trip to Australia.

It is understood the Australian-born Danish monarch, 52, flew home to Hobart last week to attend her niece's wedding before travelling to Sydney, where she soaked up the sun at some of the city's most picturesque beaches.

After spending almost a week in her home country, Mary was seen jetting out of Australia with her 13-year-old twins Josephine and Vincent.

The mother-of-four put on a stylish display in blue jeans and a white shirt as she arrived to the airport in a black car.

She carried a large brown handbag as she stepped out of the vehicle with her two children.

Mary last visited Australia in December with her twins to spend Christmas with her family.

While the trip was a personal one, with the Queen keeping a low profile without her husband present, the monarch had an official royal engagement in Australia just months earlier.

She visited Sydney for a day in late April 2023 to 'participate in an event with Danish business representatives involved in the green transition in Australia, as well as visit a number of Danish-clad projects related to sustainable construction and transport'.

Queen Mary of Denmark (pictured) was spotted leaving Sydney on Thursday with her children after enjoying a low-key trip to Australia

It is understood the Australian-born Danish monarch, 52, flew home to Hobart last week to attend her niece's wedding before travelling to Sydney, where she soaked up the sun at some of the city's most picturesque beaches

After spending almost a week in her home country, Mary was seen jetting out of Sydney with her 13-year-old twins Josephine and Vincent

Mary's return to Australia comes 12 months after rumours exploded about her husband King Frederik, 56, having an affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova, which have been strenuously denied.

Frederik did not join his wife on her trip to Australia, choosing to stay in Denmark on official business.

However, his decision to stay home has raised the eyebrows of Danish royal fans who have closely watched the couple since the 'affair' scandal rocked their relationship.

Cracks began to appear in the pair's fairytale romance after the then-Crown Prince was photographed on a night out with Ms Casanova in Madrid last October.

The once 'playful, tactile' royal couple appeared icy and detached in their first public appearance following the photos being published by Spanish magazine Lecturas.

Since then, fans have mourned the outwardly loving relationship the couple once shared, with many claiming the fire has gone out between them.

She carried a large brown handbag as she stepped out of the vehicle with her children

Mary last visited Australia in December with her twins to spend Christmas with family

While the trip was a personal one, with the Queen keeping a low profile without her husband present, the monarch had an official royal engagement in Australia just months earlier

Ms Casanova strongly denied any affair with Frederik immediately after pictures of the pair together emerged and has refused to speak on the matter since.

Weeks after the pictures of the now King and Ms Casanova were published, Mary was spotted on another holiday in Sydney without Frederik.

During that visit she climbed the harbour bridge with Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

Mary's return to Australia comes 12 months after rumours exploded about her husband King Frederik, 56, having an affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova, which have been strenuously denied

Frederik did not join his wife on her trip to Australia, choosing to stay in Denmark on official business
Anne Hathaway showed off her impeccable style as she enjoyed a night out in Soho on Friday evening.

The Princess Diaries star, 41, put on a leggy display in a black mini dress, which she wore underneath a black coat.

She added a a pair of chunky lace-up knee-high boots and toted her belongings in a small stylish Kurt Geiger bag.

Anne completed her look with a pair of dark sunglasses and gold jewelry, adding a touch of glamour to her ensemble.

She appeared to be in high spirits, flashing a smile for the camera before heading off to enjoy her night.

Anne Hathaway showed off her impeccable style as she enjoyed a night out in Soho on Friday evening

The Princess Diaries star, 41, put on a leggy display in a black mini dress, which she wore underneath a black coat

The night out comes after Anne took to Instagram to share stunning selfies while looking unrecognizable in a blonde wig and eerie makeup.

Last Friday, she modeled a unique Lady Liberty costume, including a DIY 'Boo York City' T-shirt, a short bleach blonde bob wig and the monument's famous crown.

'Boo York City,' she captioned the carousel of photos along with various Halloween themed emojis.

She also threw on a leather jacket and tied a gray scarf around her neck and shared a video of herself enjoying the evening.

Her post was a hit with her 35.3M followers, racking up over 780K likes and hundreds of comments from fans praising that starlet for her unique take on the iconic Statue of Liberty.

It earned a like from Italian socialite Donatella Versace who also commented a series of grey hearts.

'you're the only one who could scare me and i wouldn't care,' one top comment read.

'you could haunt me any day or night,' another added. One supported chimed in, 'Try harder next time: you're still adorable.'

She added a a pair of chunky lace-up knee-high boots and toted her belongings in a small stylish Kurt Geiger bag

Anne completed her look with a pair of dark sunglasses and gold jewelry, adding a touch of glamour to her ensemble

She appeared to be in high spirits, flashing a smile for the camera before heading off to enjoy her night

Hathaway's hair-raising Halloween costume comes days after she revealed she is returning for the third installment of Disney's Princess Diaries franchise.

The starlet took to Instagram to confirm the news, sharing clips from the film alongside her counting down to the announcement.

'Miracles happen,' she penned to fans. 'Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney @somewherepictures. The fairy tale continues.'

However, Julie Andrews has already confirmed she would not be reprising her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi.

The Grammy winner told Access Hollywood, 'It was talked about very shortly after two [The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement] came out, but it's now how many years since then? And I am that much older and Annie the princess, or queen, is so much older.'

She also told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I think it would be too late to do it now. Especially me, it's too far down the line now to go back to it. It's a lovely thought, but I don't think it would probably be possible.'

It comes after Anne took to Instagram to share stunning selfies while looking unrecognizable in a blonde wig and eerie makeup

Her hair-raising Halloween costume comes days after she revealed she is returning for the third installment of Disney's Princess Diaries franchise (Anne pictured in 2001 with Julie Andrews)

Disney handed the reigns to the project over to celebrity director Adele Lim  who has previously worked on Crazy Rich Asians, Raya and the Last Dragon.

The filmmaker said, 'As a diehard fan of the original Princess Diaries, I'm beyond excited to be a part of bringing the third iteration of this beloved franchise to life. We look forward to celebrating its core tenants of female power, joy and mentorship with audiences worldwide.'

The hotly anticipated film has been in the works since 2022, but details surrounding the plot have been kept under wraps.

Disney has yet to confirm a release date.
Heidi Klum has revealed she received criticism for her relationship with her husband Tom Kaulitz because he is 16 years younger than her.

The supermodel, 51, told how she was forced to turn off her Instagram comments after being inundated with cruel messages about their age difference.

But the German beauty, who married Tokyo Hotel musician Tom, 35, in 2019, insisted she doesn't let the comments get to her

She said: 'I have a tough skin. I can cut out the noise when I go home, close the door and have a barbecue with the kids.'

Heidi also told how she dislikes the term 'toy boy', referring to the younger male partner of an older woman, because she doesn't think their age difference matters.

Heidi Klum has revealed she received criticism for her relationship with her husband Tom Kaulitz because he is 16 years younger than her

The supermodel, 51, told how she was forced to turn off her Instagram comments after being inundated with cruel messages about their age difference

In fact, the America's Got Talent judge admitted she and Tom sometimes joke about their age difference.

She said: 'He has to read the menu at dinner or I have to take a photo and zoom in if I forget my reading glasses, but we joke about it.'

The gap has benefited Heidi in other ways as she admitted the couple enjoy a great sex life.

Discussing her exercise regime, Heidi said: 'I eat right, I never exercise too much or do heavy weights. People can push themselves too hard. I listen to my body. I have no back or knee pain and I have my husband.

'[Sex is] very good. My husband is my match.'

Heidi hasn't been shy about discussing the couple's relationship and often shares loved-up snaps with Tom on her social media.

During the summer, the couple enjoyed a romantic trip to Sardinia.

Heidi's adventures abroad might be thanks to Tom, who she credits for turning her into a party animal.

But the German beauty, who married Tokyo Hotel musician Tom, 35, in 2019, insisted she doesn't let the comments get to her

Heidi also told how she dislikes the term 'toy boy', referring to the younger male partner of an older woman, because she doesn't think their age difference matters

When Heidi first came to the United States from Germany at 21 to pursue modeling, she was focused on her career and not socialising.

'In '94, I moved to America, and I was really business-oriented,' the Project Runway alum told Fox News in February. 'I came from Germany and I landed in America and I wanted to succeed.'

'Not necessarily that this would have been like a failure, let's say, but for me, I really wanted to follow my dream and I wanted to become a model. So, I did not go out,' Heidi explained. 'I really wanted to have a career, so I worked on that.'

The former Victoria's Secret Angel said that her 30s were about raising her four kids - Leni, Henry, Johan, and Lou.

'Now they're 19, 18, 17 and 14,' Heidi stated. 'I feel like the days of me going to bed at 9:30 are kind of over.'

'When you have four kids, they keep you up day and night because trust me, with four, there's always one  either [one] has a fever, the next one has a bad dream there is always something going on,' she continued. '

So I feel like with them all being older now, maybe it also has to do with my younger husband. I don't know, but it's just fun. It's fun to go to a club. I enjoy music most of the time.'

Heidi shares Henry, Johan and Lou with her ex Seal while she had eldest daughter Leni with her ex Flavio Briatore.
Katie Price's sister Sophie has given birth to her second child, a baby girl.

The podcaster, 34, announced the adorable news on her Instagram on Saturday alongside her 'birthing team' Katie and husband Harry Brooks.

Sophie gave birth to the little tot, named Olive Florence Beatrix Brooks, on Friday, via a planned C-section and shared gorgeous pictures cradling her daughter in the hospital.

She captioned her post: 'Our little family is complete...Olive Florence Beatrix Brooks arrived yesterday morning, and we couldn't be happier.'

Sophie and husband Harry are already proud parents to son Albert, who they welcomed via C-section in May 2021.

Katie Price 's sister Sophie has given birth to her second child, a baby girl!

The podcaster, 34, announced the adorable news on her Instagram on Saturday alongside her 'birthing team' Katie and husband Harry Brooks

She took to Instagram on Friday to share that she and Harry were preparing to welcome their baby daughter in a matter of hours.

Posting a Polaroid snap with her husband, she captioned the post: 'Today's the day... See you on the other side; C-section | Pregnancy | Pregnancy Journey.'

Sophie first shared the exciting news she was expecting her second child back in May as she shared a sweet Instagram post.

Sophie and Harry beamed as they posed for a selfie with son Albert in the middle and all held onto a sting of sonograms.

She captioned the exciting news: 'Round two... Due November 2024' with a series of emojis and finished: '#pregnant #secondtrimester #babydue2024.'

During her second pregnancy, Sophie gave a 26 week update in a short video on social media.

She admitted she had been 'a bit emotional' the past few weeks and was feeling 'really heavy'.

She said: 'I've been going for a swim before work which has been really helping me and my head. This week has been OK, not great but OK.

Sophie gave birth to the little tot, named Olive Florence Beatrix Brooks, on Friday, via a planned C-section and shared gorgeous pictures cradling her daughter in the hospital

She captioned her post: 'Our little family is complete...Olive Florence Beatrix Brooks arrived yesterday morning, and we couldn't be happier'

Sophie and husband Harry are already proud parents to son Albert, who they welcomed via C-section in May 2021

She took to Instagram on Friday to share that she and Harry were preparing to welcome their baby daughter in a matter of hours

'I have a birth plan update the other day with the hospital which was actually really good. We went through the different birth options.

'Last time I had a C-section so we were talking about the risks of having another one or having a natural birth.

'The plan at the moment is to try and deliver naturally if I can but we said if I go passed 39 weeks then I think we will have a planned C-section.'

The star later gave a 32 weeks pregnant update in another video as she admitted 'it's getting harder because I'm more tired'.

She said: 'I haven't done anything yet, I haven't bought a lot for her so need to go shopping. I have another scan this week and the swollen hands and feet, well by the end of the day I'm like, shall I take my wedding ring off.

'Still doing the swimming which is where I feel most comfortable at the minute.'

It comes after Katie admitted she 'wishes' she looked like her 'natural' sister Sophie despite her own love of plastic surgery.

The former glamour model, who recently revealed the results of her fourth round of lip fillers in five week, has had everything from facelifts to full body liposuction and fat injections into her bottom.

The couple are already proud parents to son Albert, who they welcomed via C-section in May 2021

Sophie is the younger sister of former glamour model Katie Price

Last year she underwent her 16th breast augmentation in 2022, opting for 2120 CC implants, in a bid to have the 'biggest breasts in Britain'.

But speaking on The Katie Price Show recently, Katie explained how she would rather look like Sophie.

The TV personality was born to Ray Infield and her mother Amy. He left when the model was just aged four with Amy going on to marry Paul Price and having Sophie.

Speaking about how they are 'both so different,' Katie revealed that they are very similar in their 'mannerisms.'
Eamonn Holmes and girlfriend Katie Alexander first exchanged flirty messages on social media 12-years ago.

According The Sun, the GB news host, 64, and relationship therapist, 42, were both married at the time and the messages initially included her then husband George.

Back in 2012, Katie's former partner joked that he believed his wife was 'flirting' with Eamonn, but with both men sharing a love for Manchester United, quipped: 'Good job we're both Red.'

Eamonn and Loose Women star Ruth Langsford, also 64, announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

The presenter and Katie then went public with their relationship and in September embarked on a 15K Mediterranean cruise, with Katie sharing leggy snaps of their trip to social media.

Eamonn Holmes, 64, and girlfriend Katie Alexander, 42, first exchanged flirty messages on social media 12-years ago (pictured together in September)

The couple have since gone public with their relationship and in September embarked on a 15K Mediterranean cruise (pictured)

Katie has shared a slew of leggy snaps of their trip to social media

Reports then emerged she'd been left 'devastated' when she discovered 'messages from another woman' on his laptop.

A source has now told the The Sun: 'We knew Eamonn and Katie got together via social media, but no one knew how far back they went.

'Ruth will be shocked they were in contact 12 years ago. I don't think she would have known.'

'Eamonn gets a buzz out of replying to messages from fans. He and Katie had a real connection, and it blossomed into something more.'

It comes after Ruth spoke candidly about heartbreak amid her divorce with Woman & Home in which she revealed heartbreak was her biggest fear, but not for her, instead fearing her son Jack, 22, would have his heart broken.

When asked what she 'wants most in life', Ruth confessed: 'Happiness. Happiness for my son, Jack.

'When you have children, you look at them starting out in life and just want everything to be good for them, for them to be happy and to not have their hearts broken. You can't guarantee any of that, but that's what I want most for Jack.'

Ruth shares Jack with Eamonn and she is also stepmother to his children Declan, 35, Rebecca, 32, and Niall, 30, from his first marriage to ex-wife Gabrielle.

According reports the GB news hostand relationship therapist were both married at the time and the messages initially included her then husband George (Katie pictured in September)

She tucked into fresh fruit and Champagne on the trip

Eamonn and Loose Women star Ruth Langsford, also 64, announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together (pictured 2021)

Jack came up again in the chat as she was quizzed on who or what was her greatest love.

She mused: 'My gorgeous son Jack, who is the most delightful, caring and wonderful young man. After him, it's got to be my Maggie our rescue dog.

'I thought I never wanted a dog. I didn't know I could love an animal as much as I love her, but I do.'

Ruth and Eamonn adopted the Border Collie in 2011 and are currently in the midst of a custody battle over the pooch - who is said to be like a 'second child' to them.

Finally, Ruth was asked about her 'plan B' in life, to which she responded: 'I don't have a plan B because I never had a plan A. Ever!'

Both Ruth and Eamonn have been continuing to wear their wedding rings amid their split.

While Ruth is believed to be single, Eamonn has moved on with relationship therapist Katie.

The host recently spoke out about heartbreak, having 'no plan B' and her 'greatest love' in a candid chat amid her divorce from Eamonn

Ruth revealed heartbreak was her biggest fear, but not for her, instead fearing her son Jack, 22, would have his heart broken

It was reported last month that Ruth has hired a 'fierce' divorce lawyer amid the bitter split.

As reported by The Sun, Catherine Costley has been called up by Ruth, who is seeking a financial settlement.

Ms Costley is known for her fierce approach to divorce settlements and has said all women should have a 'go bag' fund when exiting a relationship, according to The Sun.

The divorce lawyer was once an apprentice of 'Steel Magnolia' Baroness Fiona Shackleton, Britain's highest-profile divorce lawyer who famously represented Charles in his split from Diana in 1996.

Baroness Shackleton has also worked with A-list stars including Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher and Madonna, and was once doused with water in court by a furious Heather Mills while representing the Beatles legend during the couple's divorce in 2008.
Rebekah Vardy 'wants to make a shock return to I'm A Celebrity this year and surprise rival Coleen Rooney', according to new reports.

Coleen, 38, is said to have been keen on joining the show for years, but only recently felt confident enough to leave her family in the UK.

Amid reports the WAG has signed up to the jungle, Rebekah, 42, who appeared in the show in 2017, reportedly finds it 'hilarious that Coleen is copying her'.

A pal told The Sun: 'Becky would be straight on a plane if she had the chance. Shed love to see the look on Coleens face if she appeared. It would make the best television.

'But she imagines bosses have promised Coleen they have no such surprise planned. She thinks its hilarious that Coleen is copying her and it is only encouraging people to keep talking about Wagatha rather than leave it in the past.

Rebekah Vardy, 42, allegedly 'wants to make a shock return to I'm A Celebrity this year and surprise rival Coleen Rooney' (Rebekah pictured in the jungle in 2017)

Coleen, 38, is said to have been keen on joining the show for years, but only recently felt confident enough to leave her family in the UK

'Becky has nothing to hide though she would be game to put on her camp costume.'

MailOnline have contacted Rebekah's representatives for a comment.

It comes after Rebekah shared a cryptic post after it was announced Coleen is reportedly set to appear on the show.

Reports claim that Coleen has been offered the biggest deal in the show's history, exceeding Nigel Farage's 1.5million from last year.

Whilst Rebekah may not be an avid viewer, her legal team are said to be paying close attention to anything that could be said.

She is also thought to be getting the 'ultimate revenge' by signing up, with Rebekah, being booted out early in the 2017 series.

Rebekah apparently has no plans to watch Coleen's stint on I'm A Celebrity unless it's to catch her tacking a stomach-turning Bushtucker Trial.

Fans are desperate for Coleen to tell all about the Wagatha Christie drama on the reality show, but it's been reported that she is not taking any chances.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Rebekah shared text reading: 'I take rumours as a compliment. The fact you're bringing my name onto tables I don't sit at shows your obsession. Stay bothered.'

It comes after Rebekah shared a cryptic post after it was announced Coleen is reportedly set to appear on the show

Rebekah shared text reading: 'I take rumours as a compliment. The fact you're bringing my name onto tables I don't sit at shows your obsession. Stay bothered'

Meanwhile, the 'Wagatha Christie' case is returning to court after Rebekah launched an appeal against having to pay Coleen up to 1.8million in legal costs.

Barristers for the women battled in the High Court last month over how much Rebekah should pay in costs after losing a libel action in 2022 and her legal team confirmed on Friday she is challenging the judge's ruling.

In a three-day hearing, lawyers for Rebekah - the wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy - argued that the sum should be reduced due to what they said was 'serious misconduct' by Coleen's legal team.

But Senior Costs Judge Andrew Gordon-Saker found 'on balance and, I have to say, only just', that Coleen's legal team had not committed wrongdoing, and therefore it was 'not an appropriate case' to reduce the amount of money that Rebekah should pay.

Court documents show that Rebekah has launched an appeal bid, which her lawyers Kingsley Napley confirmed related to the misconduct ruling.

In 2019, Coleen, the wife of former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, accused Rebekah's Instagram account of leaking her private information to the press on social media.

Rebekah sued her for libel, but Mrs Justice Steyn found in July 2022 that the allegation was 'substantially true'.

The judge later ordered Rebekah to pay 90 per cent of Coleen's costs, including an initial payment of 800,000.

The 'Wagatha Christie' case is returning to court after Rebekah launched an appeal against having to pay Coleen up to 1.8million in legal costs

In 2019, Coleen, the wife of former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, accused Rebekah's Instagram account of leaking her private information to the press on social media

The previous hearing in London was told that Coleen's claimed legal bill - 1,833,906.89 - was more than three times her 'agreed costs budget of 540,779.07', which Jamie Carpenter KC, for Mrs Vardy, said was 'disproportionate'.

He claimed that Coleen's legal team had committed misconduct by understating some of her costs so she could 'use the apparent difference in incurred costs thereby created to attack the other party's costs', which was 'knowingly misleading'.

Rebekah had demanded a 50 per cent cut in the 1.8million settlement, as it was alleged that Coleen was charging for a lawyer's stay at a five-star Nobu Hotel.

Her lawyers argued that the opposing legal team's estimate of their costs for expenses including a luxury hotel and a hotly disputed minibar tab was deliberately misleading and that this warranted a reduction in the amount she had to pay.

Coleen's barrister Robin Dunne insisted, 'There has been no misconduct', and that it was 'illogical to say that we misled anyone'.

He added that the argument that the amount owed should be reduced was 'misconceived' and that the budget was 'not designed to be an accurate or binding representation' of her overall legal costs.

Barristers for Mrs Vardy had called Mrs Rooney's legal costs 'extraordinary', including money for a lawyer staying 'at the Nobu Hotel, incurring substantial dinner and drinks charges as well as minibar charges'.

They also demanded to know why digital forensics experts instructed by Mrs Rooney had spent 350 hours looking at social media data, at a cost of 140,000.

But Mr Dunne said that one of Coleen's solicitors only stayed at the hotel due to a problem with their original booking elsewhere.

Judge Gordon-Saker ruled that while there was a 'failure to be transparent', it was not 'sufficiently unreasonable or improper' to constitute misconduct - as he ruled the bill had been legitimately incurred.

He ordered Mrs Vardy to pay Mrs Rooney a further 100,000 ahead of the full amount owed being decided at a later date.

He said: 'I think there is some scope for a further payment on account so the defendant (Mrs Rooney) is not kept out of her costs, and I think that should be no more than 100,000.'

The hearing, which neither woman attended, dealt with several preliminary issues before a full 'line-by-line' assessment of costs takes place at a later date, which will decide the overall amount of money to be paid.

Judge Gordon-Saker said this could take place in early 2025, but added: 'The parties need to get on with this and put it behind them.'

He said: 'Realistically, it (the line-by-line assessment) is probably going to be next year, hopefully early next year.'
Starbucks has made a major change to its menu that will save customers money after years of price hikes.

The coffee giant announced that it will no longer charge extra for dairy alternatives in its drinks.

The surcharges applied to the likes of almond and oat milk can be as much as 80 cents in some of the chain's shops.

The change, which was announced on Wednesday, will reduce the cost of some customers drinks by as much as 10 percent.

The new policy will go into effect on Thursday, November 7, and follows years of customer complaints.

Starbucks just announced a major change to their menu that will save customers money

Starbucks has seen its US sales fall as its higher prices have put off customers.

'This is just one of many changes we'll make to ensure a visit to Starbucks is worth it every time,' CEO Brian Niccol said of the change.

Asking for a milk alternative is the second-most requested customization from customers, according to Starbucks.

This is only pipped to the post by those asking for an extra shot of espresso.

Customer can currently add up to four ounces of non-dairy milk to an order for no extra charge.

However, other drinks made with more milk, such as a latte, incur a charge.

The coffee retailer began offering non-dairy milk back in 1997, when it added a soy option to its menus.

As alternative milks have continued to gain in popularity others were added, including coconut milk in 2015, almond milk in 2016, and oat milk in 2021.

Starbucks first offered dairy-free milk alternatives back in 1997

Niccol took over as CEO last month and has announced his mission to turn around the chain's slumping sales.

The company unexpectedly released its earnings report early last month, which revealed that sales had fallen sharply for the third consecutive quarter.

US sales fell 6 percent, as cash-strapped customers have been increasingly put off by high prices and long wait times for drinks.

'The main issue is that consumers are buying less coffee from Starbucks in order to save money,' Neil Saunders, Managing Director of GlobalData Retail, told DailyMail.com.

Offering more promotions does not seem to have worked, said Saunders, and the chain announced it was scaling back on discounts offered through its mobile app earlier this month.
Diwali is a reminder of the many ways Americans of South Asian descent have enriched the United States, Secretary of State Tony Blinken said Friday as he hosted the annual reception of the festival of lights with members of the diplomatic community and Indian-Americans.

At its core, Diwali is about the idea that light will push back against darkness, that compassion, curiosity can overcome ignorance, and that everybody has an obligation to care for the other, he said in his remarks at the Diwali reception he hosted at the Department of State.

"I can't think of a more powerful lesson to take to heart in this time for our world than that," Blinken said.

"It is also a reminder of the many ways South Asian culture -- and Americans of South Asian descent -- have enriched our nation, from the novels of Jhumpa Lahiri to the fashion designs of Prabal Gurung. The United States derives so much strength from this diversity, including the truly remarkable public servants -- I can think of one offhand  the Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, World Bank President Ajay Banga, our very own Deputy Secretary of State Rich Verma," he said.

He said it was 10 years ago that then Secretary John Kerry hosted the first Diwali reception at the State Department, and since then this annual gathering has become a time-honored tradition.

"This year, more than 1 billion Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs around the world are celebrating Diwali, decorating homes in the vibrant patterns of rangoli, hanging garlands of flowers, lighting diyas. And with Diwali falling on October 31st this year, I understand that there are some people in the United States who have even been throwing 'Diwalloween' parties. And if time permits, we will get to one of those," Blinken said amidst laughter.

Diwali holds different meanings and practices for different communities, he said. "But Bengali poet Tagore perhaps captured the spirit of the holiday best when he wrote, and I quote 'faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark', he said.

In his remarks, Deputy Secretary Verma said Diwali festival is so much more than just a holiday. "It is a integral part of our identities, a powerful tradition that carries deep personal meaning and unites families and friends over shared memories, shared experiences, and shared emotions," he said.

He said he could remember his mother and father telling him their experiences of celebrating Diwali in Punjab, in Jalandhar, and the lights and the great sweets and the community that came together.

"I am reminded of my own family's upbringing in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where we also celebrated Diwali, enjoying traditional customs in this small town that welcomed us with sweets and colours and so much more. People have said there is Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and you had the 'Jalebis of Johnstown'," Verma said.

India's Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra was also present on the occasion.
The CPI(M) on Saturday slammed the Government for not granting political clearance to party MP V Sivadasan to participate in a parliamentary forum in Venezuela and called it an attempt to stifle the voices of those who did not conform with the ruling party's views. Terming the denial of permission "political discrimination", the CPI(M) said this should be a matter of concern for all opposition parties and their MPs.

"The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the Central Government's decision denying political clearance to Dr V Sivadasan, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), to attend the Parliamentarian's Forum Against Fascism, being held in Caracas, Venezuela," the CPI(M) said in a statement. "This is an attempt to stifle any voice that does not conform with the ruling party's views," it said.

The statement said the CPI(M) received an invitation from the National Assembly of Venezuela to nominate its Parliament members for the forum. The party nominated Sivadasan to participate in the forum, where parliamentarians from many countries are going to be present. "It is highly deplorable that in spite of getting the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) clearance, the Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance to Sivadasan, thus infringing his rights as a Member of Parliament," the CPI(M) said.

MPs are required to obtain prior permission of the Centre for accepting any foreign hospitality during their private visits abroad or visits abroad in their personal capacity under the FCRA. The CPI(M) further said, "The Government is following a policy of political discrimination, where differing voices are prevented from expressing their views. This should be a matter of concern for all opposition parties and their members of Parliament."
A day after a large number of residents, and tourists were seen bursting crackers and lighting diyas during Deepawali celebrations at Lal Chowk, the old city area of Khanyar in Srinagar witnessed its first anti-terrorist operation in the last 30 months. The forces gunned down Usman Lashkari, a commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) by the joint team of security forces and four jawans including two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) personnel received injuries in an over eight hour-long operation on Saturday.

Meanwhile, two more terrorists, one suspected to be a foreign terrorist, were neutralised by the security forces in the Halkan Gali area of South Kashmirs Anantnag district on Saturday. Of the two terrorists killed, one was a foreigner, and the other a local. Their group affiliation was yet to be ascertained, official sources said.

In another terror-related incident, a search operation was launched on Saturday after the movement of terrorists was observed in Jammu and Kashmirs Bandipora district.

According to preliminary reports, a joint team of the Special Operations Group of JKP and the CRPF jawans had launched a cordon-and-search operation in Khanyar early Saturday morning, following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. The search operation turned into an encounter as the terrorists opened fire at the search party, which retaliated, they said. The residential house, where a group of terrorists were hiding, was completely raised to the ground after it caught fire in the heavy exchange of gunfire.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range VK Birdi said, the day-long operation has been completed. Security forces have killed a terrorist, who has been identified as Usman Lashkari. IGP said the slain terrorist was the commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). He is a foreign terrorist and his role and involvement in the murder of Inspector Masroor has come to light and further investigation is being done in this regard.

While the encounter was still going on President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Dr Farooq Abdullah sparked off a fresh controversy by suggesting that terrorists should be captured rather than killed, to uncover the masterminds behind the recent surge in terror attacks across Jammu and Kashmir.

Farooq Abdullah also demanded an investigation into the Budgam terror attack and said he doubted that it was done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government in Jammu and Kashmir.

It should be investigated. How is it that the government has come and this is happening? I doubt that it was done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government...If they (terrorists) are caught then we will get to know who is doing this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them...We should check if there is an agency who is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah, Dr Abdullah observed.

Reacting strongly to Abdullahs statement questioning the rise of terror attacks in J&K, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Tarun Chugh said Abdullah should ask his mentors across the border about spilling blood in J&K.

He said everyone knows that Pakistan is a factory of terrorism and has been disrupting peace in J&K for so long. People also know that Abdullah has been siding with Pakistan openly asking the Indian government to hold talks. Abdullahs double standards must be exposed to make sure that J&K does not stop growing on its path of peace and development.

The Armys Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said in the late evening on Friday that troops spotted suspicious movement in the general area Panar in north Kashmirs Bandipora.

On being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire and escaped into the jungle, the Army said. A search operation is underway in the area, it added.

In the Jammu region, General Officer Commanding of Jammu-based White Knight Corps Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva on Saturday visited Jammu and Kashmirs border district of Rajouri and reviewed the security situation and operational preparedness.

Lt. General Sachdevas visit to Songri in the Rajouri sector comes a day after his tour of Navapanchhi in the Kishtwar district. Many parts of the Jammu region, including Rajouri and Kishtwar districts, have recorded terrorist movements over the past several months, prompting police and other security agencies to intensify anti-insurgency operations.

In a post on X, the White Knight Corps said Lt Gen. Sachdeva was accompanied by the general officer commanding counter-insurgency force Romeo to Songri in the Rajouri sector.

GOC underscored the need for unwavering commitment in maintaining peace and security in the region, it said.
Four sanitary workers were run over by the speeding New Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Kerala Express at 3 pm on Saturday.

The dead hailed from Tamil Nadu and were working for a firm hired by the Railways to remove the garbage and waste from railway tracks. Three bodies have been recovered and taken to the Government Hospital Shoranur for autopsy. Search for the fourth body, of that of a male, was called off by evening because of strong undercurrents in the river and fading lights. The Fire Brigade told media persons that a scuba team would be deployed on Sunday morning to retrieve the body.

All the victims hailed from Villupuram in Tamil Nadu. The incident occurred when the workers were collecting plastic garbage thrown at the tracks by passengers of trains. They were working at Kochin Bridge built over the Bharathapuzha which comes immediately after the Shoranur Railway Station.

Though there were ten workers in the team, six of them ran to safety while the remaining four (Lakshmanan, Valli, Rani and Lakshmanan) could not make it and were run over by the speeding train.

Till the time of going to press, the Railways remained tight-lipped about the details of the accident. The Railways had no answers to queries like whether the workers had been informed to stay away from the bridge as the super-fast train was approaching the bridge.
India on Saturday said it summoned the Canadian high commission representative and lodged a strong protest over Ottawas allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"We had summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday, a diplomatic note was handed over in reference to the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on October 29, 2024," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

India protested in the strongest possible terms the references made by a Canadian minister about Shah and said that such "absurd and baseless" allegations will have serious consequences for bilateral ties between the two countries, the MEA said on Saturday.

The comments came after Canadas Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison on Tuesday alleged that Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada. Morrison had also told Canadian Parliament members of the national security committee that he had confirmed Shahs name to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations.

Jaiswal said this revelation that high Canadian government officials deliberately leaked unfounded insinuations to international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the Indian government has long held about the current Canadian governments political agenda and behavioural pattern.

Replying to queries during a weekly Press briefing, Jaiswal said such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties.

He said India summoned a Canadian High Commission representative on Friday and the official was served a diplomatic note to lodge the protest in strongest terms on the "absurd and baseless" references made by the Canadian deputy minister about Indias Union Home Minister.

While addressing the Parliament members, Morrison did not say how Canada knew of Shahs alleged involvement. The diplomatic relations between India and Canada deteriorated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a year ago that Canada had credible evidence agents of the Indian government was involved in the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023. Dismissing the allegations as absurd, Indian government officials have consistently denied that Canada provided evidence.

Last month, India recalled its high commissioner Sanjay Verma after the diplomat was named as person of interest by Canada in its probe into Nijjars killing. New Delhi withdrew its high commissioner and expelled six Canadian diplomats from its soil.

Calling Canadas behaviour the pits, Verma in an interview last week said India was backstabbed and treated in a most unprofessional manner by a country that is supposed to be a friendly democracy. A handful of supporters of Khalistan have turned the ideology into a criminal enterprise, which indulges in a range of activities such as gun-running and human trafficking and yet the Canadian authorities turn a blind eye because they comprise a vocal electoral bank for local politicians, Verma said.

India also accused Canada of indulging in harassment and intimidation of Indian consular staff by putting them under audio and video surveillance in flagrant violation of diplomatic conventions. Yes, some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continued to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government, as we deem these actions to be in flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions Jaiswal mentioned during the briefing.

By citing technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation, he alleged.
Two men were killed and one was severely injured after a four-wheeler hit their motorcycle in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh in the early hours of Friday, police said

The incident occurred at Baroda village, approximately 25 km from the district headquarters around 3 am, Panagar police station in-charge inspector Ajay Bahadur Singh told reporters.

"Two persons were killed, while another one was seriously injured when the speeding vehicle hit their motorbike from the rear side," he said.

Shivam Sharma, Amit Sharma and Priyank Sharma were returning home in Majholi from a government medical college and hospital when they met with the accident, he added.
The Delhi Police has questioned over 50 people spotted near the CRPF school in Rohini before a blast occurred there last month. Those rounded up include a local resident who dropped a cigarette butt at the spot few minutes before the explosion.

"Whether the blast took off due to the cigarette butt is yet to established as we still don't know the exact composition of the explosive," a senior police officer said on Saturday, adding that forensic reports from the National Security Guard (NSG) and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are still awaited.

He also said it is yet to be confirmed if the white powdery material found at the spot after the blast was industrial waste. The police said they are yet to find any leads in the probe into the explosion.

According to the officer, over 50 people were spotted near the school in the CCTV footage of 10 days preceding the blast, but none of them have been identified as suspects.

A man walking with his dog was found to be the last person at the spot, which is usually used for dumping waste and public urinal.

He was seen smoking a cigarette, after which he threw the butt and left.

A few minutes later, the blast took place, according to the CCTV footage, the officer said. The man, a resident of Prashant Vihar, has been questioned and the police do not suspect his involvement in the blast, he said.

The strong blast ripped through the wall of the school in Rohini's Prashant Vihar area on October 20. While no one was hurt in the explosion, it damaged the hoardings of nearby shops and window panes of some vehicles parked in the area.

The police suspected that the explosion was caused by an IED (improvised explosive device) that was planted to give a message to the government authorities.

They also suspected that the explosive, wrapped in a brown coloured packet, was made using a mixture of three chemicals -- hydrogen peroxide, borate and nitrate -- weighing more than 2 kg.

Another senior officer privy to the investigation said, "There are multiple theories regarding people seen near the spot and speculations about industrial waste but we are yet reach a conclusion as we don't know its (the bomb's) composition." "Our further probe depends on the forensic report from NSG and FSL," the officer added.

He said as of now ten days of CCTV footage has been thoroughly checked, in which over 50 people were spotted near the spot.

"All have been verified and no one was found as a suspect," he added. The officer also said the police have still not ruled out the possibility of a terror angle into the case.

After the blast, the Delhi Police forensic teams and experts from the NSG collected samples from the spot. A day after the incident, a team of Central Reserve Police Force from Pune also visited the spot and collected samples.

A pro-Khalistani group had posted the blast's CCTV footage on social media claiming the explosion was in retaliation to the alleged "targeting" of pro-Khalistan separatists by Indian agents.
A controversy has erupted over the age of Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren with the BJP questioning the discrepancy in the age mentioned in Soren's affidavit. While the CM's age was shown as 41 in the 2019 election nomination affidavit, it was mentioned as listed as 49 in the 2024 affidavit. Ranchi MP and Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth raising the issue said that how can a person be the same in 5 years as he was after 7 years.

Seth, demanding EC to take cognizance over the issue said that by doing this, the Chief Minister has also cheated and deceived the Election Commission. It is a strange irony that this government, which came to power by deceiving and cheating the people of Jharkhand, has been doing only cheating and deceiving for 5 years. The youth were cheated in the name of employment. Businessmen were cheated in the name of security. Students were cheated in the name of education. Women, rural and urban people were cheated in the name of security and development.

There was a huge increase in crimes against women. Tribals were cheated in the name of tribal welfare, journalists were cheated in the name of journalist welfare. And now the Election Commission has also been cheated. This government of Hemant Soren is a government of thugs. This government has created a new record of cheating the state. The Minister of State for Defence said that the Election Commission should take cognizance of this matter and take action. After all, how can a person sitting on a constitutional post do this.

We have faith in every institution and people of the country but this is not faith in anyone. Seeing their defeat certain, the Indy alliance has lost its mental balance and is making mistakes out of frustration, said Seth.

Seth said that the general public is also enthusiastic about the BJP. The people of Jharkhand have resolved to form a BJP government in the state this time. The victory of the BJP and NDA alliance is certain in all the assembly constituencies of Ranchi Lok Sabha constituency. A government that will fulfill the dream of service, good governance and poor welfare will be formed in Jharkhand under the leadership of the BJP. The public has decided this. The people of Jharkhand are also ready to walk with that leadership and visionary personality, who are popular all over the world. The people of Jharkhand have stamped their approval on the development of Prime Minister Narendra Modi this time. Now the development of the state should not be obstructed. The centrally governed schemes have to be implemented properly in Jharkhand. For this, the formation of a BJP government in the state is certain.

Ranchi MLA and BJP candidate Shri CP Singh, who was present in this press conference, said that the public is ready to press the lotus button in Ranchi on November 13. I request all of you to definitely go and vote against the corruption of the government. Make BJP victorious by voting for the lotus symbol. In Jharkhand, there is a shortage of common things like sand and corruption is at its peak. There is chaos everywhere in Jharkhand. Only BJP can provide relief from this. Shri Singh appealed to every citizen of Ranchi to go to their booth and vote in favor of BJP. On this occasion, former Rajya Sabha MP and coordinator of Ranchi assembly constituency Shri Ajay Maru was also present.
As the assembly polling date approaches, political parties in Jamshedpur have shifted gears, emphasizing grassroots campaigning over digital strategies. With candidates recognizing the importance of direct voter engagement, both urban and rural areas have become bustling hubs of activity, as hopefuls embark on ambitious door-to-door canvassing efforts.



In Jamshedpur East, Dr. Ajoy Kumar, a prominent candidate, has taken to the streets with fervour. His public relations campaign recently unfolded across Bagunhatu, Kalyan Nagar, and Kashidih, where he was met with warm welcomes from local residents. Dr. Ajoy s approach focuses on creating personal connections, as he believes that understanding the electorates needs is crucial for effective representation. "This is the love of the people," he said, reflecting on the enthusiastic reception. "This time, the public will decide whether they want a safe, developed Jamshedpur or not." His campaign is built on addressing the pressing issues of health, education, and employmentareas he identifies as vital for the community's well-being. "Our entire focus will be on these priorities, and I am confident that I will receive full support from the people of Jamshedpur East," he assured.



Shifting focus to Jamshedpur West, Congress candidate Banna Gupta has also adopted an aggressive door-to-door strategy, particularly in the Mango locality. Gupta has made it a point to interact directly with voters, seeking their support and feedback. "We have promised better civic services for the residents of the non-company areas," he asserted, outlining his vision for enhanced traffic management and infrastructure improvements in Kadma and Bistupur. Guptas campaign strategy includes meticulous planning for ward-wise outreach, showcasing his commitment to listening to constituents and addressing their concerns.

Even as Gupta engages with voters on the ground, he maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. However, he acknowledges the importance of traditional methods, stating, "Not all sections of people are connected with social media, and padyatras are the best way to get firsthand information about the public." His dedication to walking the streetscovering 8 to 10 kilometers dailydemonstrates a genuine effort to connect with people from all walks of life.



The BJP, too, is in full campaign mode, with district spokesperson Anil Modi detailing the party's strategies in Jamshedpur East. Modi explained that party workers have been instructed to map out padyatra routes across the constituency, enabling candidates to meet voters directly. Purnima Das, a candidate for the BJP from Jamshedpur East, has made personal interaction a cornerstone of her campaign. She has already traversed several police station areas, actively listening to voters' grievances. "She spends two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening on padyatras, focusing on understanding the people's problems," Modi noted. Areas like Agrico, Sidhgora, Baridih, Bagunhatu, and Bagunnagar have seen her commitment firsthand, as she prioritizes face-to-face communication over digital outreach.



As Jamshedpur prepares for the upcoming elections, the emphasis on traditional campaigning methods highlights a broader trend among candidates striving for authenticity and connection with their constituents. The streets, filled with the sounds of candidates engaging with voters, stand as a testament to the enduring power of personal interaction in politics.
Cold winds and cloudy skies marked weather conditions in the state capital on Friday, even as the mercury continued to dip in other parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Temperatures in the city ranged between 34 and 16.4 degrees on the Celsius scale.

The Meteorological Department has indicated that chilly nights and mild cold winds are prevailing, and this trend is expected to continue over the next few days.

Overall, Madhya Pradesh is experiencing a decrease in temperatures, with the mercury hovering around 20 degrees or lower in most parts. Pachmarhi remains the coldest in the state, with the mercury diving to around 15 degrees Celsius in the picturesque mountain town.

The Meteorological Department forecasts that cold conditions may intensify over the next few days, with a continuous decline in night temperatures resulting in an incremental difference between day and night temperatures.

The monsoon in Madhya Pradesh entered on June 21 and departed on October 15, after which rain spells occurred due to cyclonic circulation. The trend of cold nights and hot days has been consistent over the past decade.

Looking ahead to November, significant variability in weather is expected. Night temperatures may drop to as low as 8 degrees, with fog anticipated in the mornings as humidity from the monsoon fades. The average temperatures are around 29.9 degrees during the day and 15 degrees at night, with a notable decrease in night temperatures observed in recent years.

There is also a possibility of rainfall in Madhya Pradesh in November, with an average of around 8.7 mm, maintaining the months cloudy conditions. Active cyclonic circulation is reported over northeast and west Assam, which may further influence weather patterns in the region.
A Barelvi Sunni Muslim cleric has issued a fatwa against Samajwadi Party candidate Naseem Solanki who is contesting by-election from Sisamau assembly constituency in Kanpur Nagar. Her fault was that she visited a Hindu temple and performed puja rituals on the occasion of Diwali.

The fatwa was issued by Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, president of All India Muslim Jamaat. He ruled that Solankis actions were against Islamic principles, calling her a criminal under Sharia law and asking her to seek forgiveness and recite the kalma anew.

Naseem Solanki recently visited the Vankhandeshwar Temple and offered jalabhishek. She also lit diyas in the temple as part of the Diwali celebrations. Videos of her acts were widely circulated on social media by Samajwadi Party supporters. However, the video sparked controversy among Muslim voters and within the Muslim community.

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said in a statement that as per the basic tenets of Islam, idol worship was strictly forbidden.

In Islam, only Allah is considered worthy of worship, and any form of idol worship, be it by a man or woman, is haram and impermissible, he added.

He stated that the practice of worshipping idols in any form is seen as a fitna or deviation from Islamic principles, rendering the person a criminal in the eyes of Sharia.

He added that Solankis actions were self-chosen and not performed under any apparent pressure, suggesting she willingly participated in the rituals.

The maluna urged her to repent, stating, As per Sharia, she must ask for forgiveness and read the kalma again to reaffirm her faith.

The cleric said that if someone, regardless of gender, engages in such acts under compulsion or without understanding the implications, they could repent without severe penalties under Islamic law.

In such cases, individuals are advised to seek forgiveness through prayer and refrain from similar acts in future, as these may otherwise endanger their faith and alignment with Islamic teachings, he added.

If done unknowingly or under duress, they should repent and recite the kalma, reinforcing their commitment to Islam, he said.

Naseem Solanki is the wife of jailed former MLA Irfan Solanki. She is contesting the by-election for the Sisamau assembly constituency following her husbands conviction in a criminal and his disqualification from the membership of the UP assembly.

In June this year, Irfan Solanki was imprisoned for harassing a woman, setting her house on fire and beating her son in an attempt to grab her land in Kanpur in 2022.

Since her nomination, Naseem Solanki has participated in several community events, including the Vankhandeshwar Temple visit, after which the controversy erupted.
General Secretary cum Spokesperson of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Supriyo Bhattacharya today said in a press conference that the CM of another state and a Central Minister celebrate Diwali in Jharkhand. This shows the bankruptcy of BJP. He said said that on 29th October, suddenly an order came to transfer Deoghar SP Ajit Peter Dungdung. Before this, an order came to transfer Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri. He said, why is all this happening, in what circumstances is it happening, it has to be understood.

Supriyo said that during the Lok Sabha elections, MP Nishikant Dubey had made some allegations against these two officers. Then the Election Commission had taken action. He said that according to the rules, candidates can complain against the officers. He said, but Nishikant is not a candidate in this election. Still both these officers were transferred. He said that one thing is clear from this that tribal and Dalit officers are the target of BJP.

He said that when the officials of the Election Commission of India had come to Ranchi, the party had said that till 15th November we have many big festivals and celebrations here. In this, people go to their homes. Right now, Sohrai is going on in Santhal Pargana. Diwali and Kali Puja are being celebrated. There is also Chitragupta Puja. Chhath is a great festival. It is Guru Nanak Jayanti. It is Birsa Jayanti. But as part of a conspiracy, this election is being held in the midst of festivals. He said, there is a conspiracy behind this to paralyze the entire administrative system.

Supriyo said that the officers and employees of the state also stay in their homes during these festivals. Festivals and celebrations are related to faith. They take leave on this occasion. Also, a large number of vehicles are needed to conduct elections. He said that Chhath is till 8 November and the first phase of voting is on 13 November. A large number of people from Jamshedpur and Ranchi go to Bihar and other states during Chhath. He said that if there is a shortage of vehicles, how will they come back. All these technical things were ignored at the time of announcement of elections. Just so that BJP could be benefited.

He said that the CM of a state and a Central minister also spend Diwali here. This shows how much bankruptcy there is in the BJP. He said that a big BJP leader said that Hemant Soren has filled the wrong nomination form. Hemant wrote 64 Hatia instead of his constituency number 3 Barhet. He said that the voters of 64 Hatia are Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Murmu Soren. We all know this. But we did not know that this BJP leader is so knowledgeable. BJP people have become so furious. A CM tweets that Hemant Soren has also given wrong information about his age. He said that such a BJP leader does not know that age is counted from the birth certificate and matriculation certificate. On this basis, Hemant Soren's nomination has been declared correct. But he is not aware of this either.
A layer of smog covered Delhi-NCR on Saturday morning, with the air quality index ( AQI) level was in the higher end of the  very poor category on Saturday after two days of Diwali festivities. According to data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the contribution of residue burning to Delhi's air pollution surged to 35.2 percent on November 1 from 27.6 percent the previous day, marking the highest level for this season. This alarming rise highlighted the worsening impact of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana. Meanwhile, a thin layer of toxic foam was also seen floating in river Yamuna as the pollution level in the river remained high.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the national capital recorded an average air quality index of 297 at 1 pm and settled at 316 at 4 pm. The most affected areas included Anand Vihar (380), IGI Airport (341), RK Puram (340), and Punjabi Bagh (335). Additionally, AQI levels between 200 and 300, indicating 'poor' air quality, were recorded in 19 other areas, including Alipur (295), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (284), and Mundka (288).

In Delhi's neighbouring cities, Faridabad in Haryana recorded a 'moderate' AQI of 165 while Gurugram recorded a 'poor' AQI of 219. In Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad the AQI was 308 which falls in the 'very poor' category, in Greater Noida it was 'poor' at 202, and in Noida it touched 250, reflecting similarly 'poor' air quality across the region.

Meanwhile, satellite remote sensing has revealed a significant surge in residue burning events associated with rice harvests in six Indian states. On November 2, satellites detected 861 such incidents, with Punjab notably at the forefront, recording 379 cases.

The breakdown for the other states included 19 in Haryana, 87 in Uttar Pradesh, none in Delhi, 80 in Rajasthan, and 296 in Madhya Pradesh. This discovery underscored the ongoing challenge of stubble burning as a major environmental concern. From September 15 to November 2, a total of 9,376 residue burning incidents were reported across these states. Punjab led the figures with 3,916 incidents, highlighting its longstanding struggle with managing post-harvest waste. MP followed with 2,302 incidents, UP with 1,272, Rajasthan with 1,036, and Haryana with 838. The data indicated a worrying trend, particularly with Punjab witnessing a sharp increase, reaching its seasonal highest with 587 cases on November 1, compared to 484 on Diwali, October 31. This significant rise over successive days points to urgent needs for intervention and effective management.

A latest survey has revealed that 69 per cent of families have one or more members suffering from pollution-related ailments including sore throat, and cough. Conducted by LocalCircles, a digital platform the survey gathered over 21,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.

The survey results are alarming: 69 percent of families reported at least one member suffering from sore throat or cough, while 62 percent experienced burning sensations in their eyes due to the high pollution levels. Additionally, 46 percent reported symptoms such as a running nose or congestion, showcasing a widespread impact on health. The Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to a staggering 999 on the night of Diwali, marking one of the highest levels recorded in the area.

The survey also revealed that 31 percent of families reported breathing difficulties or asthma, while headaches affected another 31 percent. Furthermore, 23 percent of respondents noted experiencing anxiety or difficulty concentrating, and 15 percent reported trouble sleeping. On a slightly positive note, 31 percent of families indicated that no one in their households faced health issues related to pollution.

The survey also explored how residents plan to cope with the ongoing pollution crisis. Only 23 percent of respondents intend to use air purifiers to mitigate the effects of poor air quality, while an equal number stated they would "just live with it. With many already having cough and cold and some even suffering or already suffering from respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the severe or hazardous AQI levels post Diwali are likely to make things worse, the survey reads.

Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, has accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of not being serious about tackling pollution in the city. Gupta stated that the Delhi government is indifferent to the Lieutenant Governors directive to reinstate marshals, previously dismissed by Kejriwal, to help combat pollution. Despite this order, the Delhi government has shown no urgency in reinstating them. Gupta criticized the AAP government, claiming that it resorts to politics on every issue to shirk its responsibilities, covering up its failures and corruption by shifting blame.
A 38-year-old Nepalese man on whom the Delhi police has put a reward of Rs 50,000 for killing a doctor in south Delhis Jangpura area during a robbery bid. He was arrested from Uttarakhand -Nepal border. During investigation, it was revealed that the accused after commission of crime has changed around eight mobile sets and nearly 20 SIMs. Further a tip off was received that he is presently in Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh and trying to flee to Nepal. In the meantime he boarded a bus to Banbasa, Indo-Nepal border from where he was nabbed.The Crime Branch team travelled nearly 1600 km continuously in 24 hrs to nab the accused.

It was also revealed that Shahi also changed his name six times and used fake identity papers wherever he went, the police said, adding they found papers with the names Vishnu Swaroop Shahi, Shakti Sai, Satya Sai, Surya Prakash Shahi, Gagan Oli, and Krishna Shahi.He was carrying the fictional identity 'Gagan Oli' when he was arrested, the police said.

DCP (Crime) Sanjay Kumar Sain said, the accused Vishnuswaroop Shahi a native of Kalikot, Nepal was absconding in a murder cum robbery case of Hazrat Nizamuddin police station.

DCP said, in May earlier this year, a doctor was killed during a robbery. During the probe, it was found that there were many accused persons behind the crime. The police had already nabbed three accused including the maid and two other accused Akash Kumar and Himanshu Joshi while mastermind Vishnuswaroop Shahi and his four associates were still at large.

The police received intelligence that Vishnuswaroop Shahi was hiding in Himachal Pradesh's Suket valley, from where he planned to escape to Nepal. Shahi came to meet his wife and daughter who are residing in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, after spending months in Nepal. The accused fled to Dehradun before a police team reached his Himachal hideout, the police said.

According to police, the accused was previously found to be involved in two cases of Himachal in which he was declared proclaimed offender. He used to socialize with Nepalese maids to get details of house owners.

Further investigation is in progress. The doctor, Yogesh Chandra Paul, 63, was found murdered in his Jangpura house where he lived with his wife. While his body was found in the kitchen, the rooms bore signs of vandalism suggesting robbery.
The morning after Diwali in Punjab revealed a worrisome picture as cities across the State recorded hazardous levels of air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) spiking to unprecedented levels. Despite government-imposed restrictions on cracker usage, and continued incidences of Stubble burning, the pollution levels surged to the very poor and severe categories, exceeding AQI readings of 500 in some areas.



In several cities, the AQI soared to alarming levels, with cities like Amritsar recording a peak of 500 by 10 pm, Mandi Gobindgarh hitting 493 by 5 am, and Khanna nearing 491 by midnight. Even Ludhiana and Jalandhar showed readings in the very poor range, averaging above 200 through the night, indicating an environment highly detrimental to respiratory health.



The average AQI across Punjabs main cities fluctuated between 250 and 350, pushing the air quality into categories where sustained exposure can trigger significant health issues.



The Punjab Government, to curb Diwali-related pollution, had limited the burning of green crackers to a two-hour window, between 8 pm and 10 pm, and strictly prohibited those made with harmful chemicals like barium salts and lithium. However, these rules were widely flouted as residents continued to set off fireworks late into the night. The aftermath has left environmental experts and health professionals deeply concerned, with many emphasizing that regulatory frameworks must be tightened to prevent future spikes in pollution.



Health experts have raised red flags over the immediate and long-term health implications of poor air quality, particularly for vulnerable groups. With pollution levels at their peak, hospitals across Punjab saw an influx of patients reporting respiratory issues, allergies, and eye irritation. Children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions are among those most affected. The state Health Department have advised the residents to wear masks and minimize outdoor activity, especially during peak pollution hours in the early morning and late evening.



A senior doctor based in Ludhiana said: Weve observed an increase in patients complaining of asthma exacerbations, breathlessness, and other respiratory complications. Exposure to high levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollutants, which are much higher than safe limits post-Diwali, heightens the risk for chronic respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular conditions.



In cities such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Mandi Gobindgarh, AQI levels peaked dangerously due to the dense smoke from firecrackers. Amritsar recorded a maximum AQI of 500 at 10 pm, while Ludhianas AQI reached 500 by 2 am. Such hazardous levels are far above the World Health Organizations guidelines, and prolonged exposure to these concentrations can cause lasting health effects.



As per the data available, Punjabs cities saw alarming surges in air quality levels on Diwali night, with pollution reaching hazardous peaks. Amritsar recorded an average AQI of 292, spiking dramatically to 500 by 10 pm; while Ludhiana, with an average AQI of 233, also hit a critical 500 at 2 am.



In Jalandhar, the AQI climbed from an average of 248 to an astonishing 500 at 11 pm, echoing similar trends in Mandi Gobindgarh, where levels soared from an average AQI of 325 to 493 by 5 am.



Despite prior government directives, many residents celebrated with a range of firecrackers, some of which were not compliant with the green classification. Punjab Government had issued strict guidelines permitting only eco-friendly crackers during limited hours, cautioning residents against violations and warning of legal action. However, the continued use of traditional firecrackers past midnight in numerous areas has exposed the gap between regulations and compliance.



Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has acknowledged the shortfall in enforcing restrictions effectively and is reviewing measures to improve compliance. PPCB chairperson Dr Anil Bhaskar said: While the use of green crackers was allowed within a strict timeframe, enforcement was difficult in certain districts. Moving forward, a more robust monitoring system and awareness campaigns are essential to control pollution levels.



Experts have expressed the need for a stricter approach to curb pollution spikes during festival seasons. Many recommend more extensive public awareness campaigns and assertive government action to ensure adherence to restrictions on cracker usage. Advocates for cleaner air are also urging the government to expand awareness initiatives that highlight the health hazards associated with poor air quality. Many experts argued that only through widespread education can communities be motivated to adopt more eco-friendly practices during celebrations.


Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dismantled an inter-state illegal weapons smuggling module linked to USA-based Dilpreet Singh with the arrest of seven operatives and recovered 12 pistols along with 16 magazines and 23 live cartridges from their possession.

Sharing details, the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday said that those arrested have been identified as Karanjeet Singh alias Dhanni, Jashandeep Singh alias Maya alias Chillar, Ishmeet Singh alias Rishu, Amritpal Singh alias Spura and Dilpreet Singh alias Dil  all residents of Chheharta, Amritsar; Varinder Singh alias Ravi and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of Baba Bakala Sahib in Amritsar.

DGP Yadav said that preliminary investigations revealed that the module was providing logistical support to various gangs by procuring weapons from Madhya Pradesh. Probe also revealed that accused Karanjeet Dhanni along with his brother Jashandeep Singh and Ishmeet brought weapon consignments from Madhya Pradesh to further deliver them to different persons on the instructions by USA-based Dilpreet Singh, he added.

Further investigations are on to trace the other people involved in the module and more arrests are expected in the coming days, said the DGP.

Also sharing operation details, Amritsar Commissioner of Police (CP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that acting swiftly on a secret information about illegal weapons being smuggled from Madhya Pradesh and are being supplied to criminal elements in the state, Police teams from Islamabad Police Station and CIA Staff-2 under the supervision of DCP Investigation Harpreet Singh Mander launched a special operation and apprehended the accused from the area of Chheharta and Baba Bakala.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister Atishi saying he is yet to receive any proposal for the re-appointment of civil defence volunteers (CDVs) who were removed as bus marshals last year. Around 10,000 CDVs working as marshals in public transport buses in Delhi were removed from their jobs in November last year after objections were raised by the Revenue and Finance departments. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP has threatened to gherao the chief Minister Atishi if she did not send the proposal on reemployment of CDVs.

"Of course, you and your party leaders may continue to do the politics of taking credit for their reinstatement but any more delay in the welfare of these economically weaker and helpless people, is not right in any way," Saxena stated in the letter.

In a post on X, the Raj Niwas said the LG has again written to the chief minister underling the non-engagement of CDVs till now and has asked her for their immediate re-appointment.

The LG has also asked for a concrete scheme to be formulated by the government for their immediate as well as long-term engagement, it said. Saxena in his letter to Atishi accused that leaders of her Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) engaged in "undesirable politics" over the issue, yet "unfortunately he has not received any proposal from her so far".

Citing his earlier communication to the chief minister on October 24, Saxena said he had directed to ensure the re-appointment of the CDVs from November 1 and had sought a comprehensive proposal for their long-term engagement. He said he had ordered the reinforcement of the CDVs to help the national capital combat air pollution.

"The air pollution in Delhi is at its peak and if these volunteers were timely reappointed, they would have definitely been helpful in tackling the situation besides being benefited themselves," the LG said. He asked the chief minister to swiftly address the matter and direct officials to present a proposal for the reinstatement of the volunteers.

Lambasting the Atishi led AAP government, South Delhi BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that AAP government has been exposed. Despite LGs directions, Chief Minister Atishi did not send the proposal on reemployment of CDVs. They have time to address press conferences thrice or four times in a day to get media coverage. But they dont have time to prepare a proposal on CDVs, he added. Bidhuri said that all these leaders of AAP know that these volunteers lost their jobs in October 2023 due to the decision of the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Bidhuri said that what could be more unfortunate than this that the Lieutenant Governor has to remind the Delhi government that they are entangled in credit politics and have not been able to send the proposal till now.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the the Kejriwal-Atishi government has no intention of reinstating these volunteers, and even if a proposal is made today, if AAP comes back to power, they will dismiss them again in March.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav said that the Aam Aadmi Party Government has been shedding crocodile tears for the sacked Civil Defence Volunteers (CDVs)/Bus Marshals. Yadav said that the AAP legislators had created a hue and cry during the two-day session of the Delhi Assembly last month by raising the issue of the marshals, and even passing a joint resolution demanding the marshals reemployment, who were sacked by the Kejriwal Government. He said that the AAP Ministers also created a big drama when Saurav Bharadwaj fell at the feet of Opposition leader Vijender Gupta, pleading with him to accompany the AAP leaders to meet the LG to take up the bus marshals case.
The Mumbai police have forwarded a proposal for extradition of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's younger brother Anmol Bishnoi, who has been named as an accused in some high-profile crimes, including the Baba Siddique murder case, an official said.

The proposal was sent after the US authorities informed the Mumbai police about Anmol Bishnoi's presence in their country, the senior police official said on Saturday.

Last month, the Mumbai police's crime branch moved the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court here stating that it intends to "initiate the extradition procedure of fugitive criminal Anmol Bishnoi".

It filed an affidavit "for further necessary action", which was allowed by the special court. Both Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi have been named as wanted accused in the April 14 firing incident outside the Bollywood actor Salman Khan's Galaxy Apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area. Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal had carried out the firing.

They, along with Sonukumar Bishnoi, Mohammed Rafiq Choudhary and Harpal Singh, were arrested and are currently in judicial custody. One accused Anujkumar Thapan committed suicide during his police custody. In the chargesheet filed in the case, police have shown Lawrence Bishnoi and Anmol Bishnoi as wanted accused in the case.

NCP leader and former MLA Baba Siddique was shot dead by three gunmen near the office of his MLA-son Zeeshan Siddique on October 12. The police have so far arrested 15 persons in connection with the murder.

The role of Bishnoi brothers, who hail from Fazilka in Punjab, is suspected in the case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi. Lawrence Bishnoi is currently lodged in a jail in Sabarmati in Gujarat. A lookout circular was issued in April against Anmol Bishnoi, who had claimed responsibility for the firing incident outside Salman Khan's residence.

An FIR was also registered by the NIA against nine accused, including both the Bishnoi brothers, in August 2022 for being part of a conspiracy to "raise funds, recruit youth to carry out terrorist acts in the Union Territory of Delhi and other parts of the country" besides "targeted killings of prominent persons".
Ahead of the scheduled visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to poll-bound Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday requested the Centre with folded hands to clear Rs 1.36 lakh-crore coal dues to the state.

Modi is scheduled to address two rallies in Jharkhand on November 4 while Shah will address three public meetings on November 3.

"The PM and the home minister are coming to Jharkhand. I once again request them with folded hands to clear the outstanding (coal dues) of Rs 1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhandis. This amount is crucial for Jharkhand," Soren posted on X.

He also appealed to BJP MPs to facilitate clearance of the amount.

"I would also appeal to my BJP colleagues, especially the MPs, to help Jharkhandis in getting our dues," Soren posted on the microblogging site, sharing a copy of a letter to the prime minister.

Soren emphasised that the dues with central PSUs, like Coal India, are "rightful" to the state and claimed that "non-clearance is causing irreparable harm to Jharkhand's development".

"I, Hemant Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand, am drawing your attention towards a serious issue which is creating obstacles in the path of state's development. Our dues from coal companies stand at Rs 1.36 lakh crore," Soren wrote in the letter to the PM.

"In spite of provisions in the law and judicial pronouncements, coal companies are not making any payment... These questions have been raised at various forums, including your kind office, Finance Ministry and NITI Aayog. But till now this compensation (Rs 1.36 lakh crore) has not yet been paid," he said.

A recent ruling by a nine-judge Supreme Court bench affirmed the state's right to collect its mining and royalty dues.

Soren pointed out that the development of Jharkhand and essential socio-economic projects are getting hampered owing to the non-clearance of dues.

"Jharkhand is an under-developed state and there are lots of social economic development projects which are getting hampered due to non-payment of our justifiable demands," Soren wrote.

Last month, he suggested a direct debit from Coal India's account to the state, similar to the arrangements made for Jharkhand State Electricity Board dues to the DVC.

"This delay in payment of the just demand raised by the state has constrained me to write to you that this negligence is causing irreparable damage to Jharkhand and its people. Various social sector schemes in education, health, women & child development, clean drinking water and last mile connectivity are unable to be translated on the ground because of lack of funds," Soren said.

Earlier, he accused the central government of indifference to the state's plight, highlighting the disparity in treatment regarding dues.

The Jharkhand assembly polls will be held in two phases  November 13 and 20.

The counting of votes will take place on November 23.
Israeli army says killed senior Hamas official

Jerusalem, Nov. 1 (UNI) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it on Friday killed Izz al-Din Kassab, a member of Hamas' political bureau and head of its relations and coordination with other factions within the Gaza Strip.

The statement noted that Kassab was killed in an airstrike in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, based on intelligence from the IDF and the Israel Security Agency.

"Kassab was a significant source of power and, by virtue of his role, was responsible for the organization's strategic and military relations with other factions in the Gaza Strip," the statement read. "He held the authority to direct the execution of terror attacks against Israel."
Finance Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald visited The Playhouse in Derry last week to hear about the positive impact the arts are having on the environment, jobs, people and communities across the North West.

The Minister spent the afternoon with the Chief Executive and Chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) which provides core funding to the venue, and met with staff from the Playhouse and local arts practitioners.

The Playhouse, is an award-winning producing theatre in the centre of Derry City. Its year-round programme of work includes theatre shows, workshops, professional training and skills development in the arts and a globally renowned arts and peacemaking programme.

In 2022 it became the first theatre on the Island of Ireland to appoint a Climate Action Officer. This unique appointment enabled it to develop Artitude, a one-of-a-kind project that would use storytelling to break down the jargon around climate change and engage communities in positive action.

On the visit, the Minister had the opportunity to hear first-hand about how the Artitude project is working with a range of partners, including Derry City and Strabane District Council, to take what is a global issue and explore what it means for local people within their own homes and environment. In the first year of the programme, 800 people across the region took part. Since then numbers have continued to grow as the now annual Artitude Festival opens up conversations on environmental issues in a fun and accessible way.

Kevin Murphy, CEO of The Playhouse, commented: "We were delighted to welcome Minister Archibald to The Playhouse and to showcase not only our groundbreaking work on climate change but our open learning and training pathway for emerging talent. The Playhouse is an important city centre venue and producing theatre - it delivers outstanding public benefit and increases access to the arts for many under-represented groups, from LGBTQ+ to D/deaf disabled.

"We are proud of what weve done and with more investment we can do more as a creative employer, producer and arts hub for the North West.

The Minister also met with some of the arts organisations based at The Playhouse. This included Sole Purpose Theatre Company, an Arts Council funded multi-award winning theatre company that has been making high quality theatre for social change for 27 years.

Their current production 'The Marian Hotel by Caitriona Cunningham is based on the writers lived experience of being in a mother and baby home in Newry. Games Education specialists Kippie were also in attendance, along with disability arts organisation, Lilliput Theatre and cutting-edge music events specialists, Northern Lights.

Mark McLaughlin and Niamh Morrison, two young artists who benefitted from professional training and skills development at The Playhouse, pictured with Minister Archibald, alongside Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, Kevin Murphy, Chief Executive of The Playhouse and Liam Hannaway, Chair of the Arts Council.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Minister of Finance, speaking after her visit said: I was delighted to be at The Playhouse to see this fantastic facility and hear more about the important projects the theatre runs. Artitude, is an inspiring community engagement initiative in Derry using the arts to encourage behaviour change and challenge attitudes to waste, consumption and climate action - a key priority in the draft Programme for Government.

"The arts make a valuable contribution to wider society through creative projects like this.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland Chief Executive Roisin McDonough also had an opportunity to talk with the Minister about the role of the arts in creating awareness of issues like climate change, building skills for young creative people and increasing access to the arts for everyone.

Speaking at the event, Roisin McDonough said: It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister to The Playhouse today. The arts are key not just to individuals but to communities, and the enrichment of society. Venues like this create jobs, provide opportunities for education, professional training and skills development and of course provide safe spaces for communities to come together.

Performers from The Playhouse's Bridge programme

The Arts Council has a long-standing history with The Playhouse and, back in 2001, provided National Lottery investment for its refurbishment, marking the beginning of its transformation into the wonderful creative space it is today. There are so many fantastic initiatives here which really harnesses the power of the arts to engage audiences in creative and new ways, bringing important issues to the fore to provoke meaningful engagement and promote change.

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Reflecting on the visit, Liam Hannaway, Chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: The Minister had the opportunity to hear about many different aspects of the work which goes on here at The Playhouse. Programmes like the Open Arts Pathway are a real success story, engaging young people from all kinds of backgrounds, empowering them, skilling them up and helping them to gain valuable qualifications.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet today with several new staff members, who were direct beneficiaries of the Open Arts Pathway and are now employed here as officers at the Playhouse. It was encouraging to hear how, as active members of staff, they are now able to pass on some of what they have learnt here to the next generation of young people coming through.

The Playhouse engages with over 80,000 people each year (live and digitally) and works with up over 300 facilitators and artists every year. It is an important creative hub in the city centre. For more information on its work and upcoming events go to: www.derryplayhouse.co.uk
Derry: a town full of so much musical talent were often forced to export our musicians to places that havent been blessed with the gifts we have. Over the years, people such as Paul McGilloway, Jimmy McShane (Baltimora) and Peter Cunnah (D:Ream) are just some of the names that have left Irelands finest musical city (with the possible exception of Dublin) to bring our brilliance to the world.

To this day, this tradition is being kept alive by groups such as GETNER, the Manchester-based group that features Derrys own Quentin Wylie (vocals/guitar) and Ruari Coyle (drums). The group, also featuring Charles Barber on lead guitar and Ted Downer-Wills on bass, will be making their triumphant return this Saturday (November 9) when they play the Casbah (with support from Tessio, Selador, Telezura and Pants on Fire).

I caught up with Quentin and Charles recently to talk about the gig: GETNERs tour started on the October 18 with a warm up gig in Manchester, and Dublin will be basically our first show on Friday, November 8 then were playing Derry on November 9 and Belfast on November 10.

Its going to be a complete flying visit. Were getting the ferry over Thursday evening from Liverpool, arriving in Belfast Friday morning, driving to Dublin, playing Dublin that night, not staying in Dublin, driving straight back to Park and then getting up to play Derry the next day. Were doing the same as we did the last time, releasing our single Meadows of Adelaide the night before, on the 7th, while were on the ferry across to Belfast.

Next, we spoke about the aforementioned song: We recorded it on August 19. Its our third release this year and I think it properly encapsulates what we are as a live band. Its the heaviest yet and its one of those moments in our set when we sound most like the band, which is why we recorded it. We were hoping to get a couple more out this year, but it was just tour commitments and cost.

"It was written by Ruari, which is an odd thing, but were pretty much all writing now. The set is a combination of myself, Charless and Ruaris writing now. The first two were tunes of mine and this next one is a Ruari tune. Its essentially about struggles with alcoholism and faith. It was called Ballad Of An Alco 130BPM or something like that as a working title before we came up with this. The title was lingering in Ruaris head for ages, Meadows of Adelaide, and we were like, none of us have ever been to Australia.

"Is it a case where theres some deep meaning or something like that? But we got a message from Ruari the other night saying that Adelaide Meadows is a street in Donegal. In classic GETNER fashion, its related to Ireland.

We recorded it in classic us fashion in a single day. A four item bap and a ten hour day in the studio tends to be the way that we work. Generally it would be Ruari comes in, tracks some drums. Ted comes in, tracks some bass. Charles comes in, tracks some guitar.

"If I need to track guitar I would, then vocals and weird sounds. Ive been in the studio with other bands where its taken several days and weve done this and that, but I feel like you kind of lose what youre trying to achieve. I think you think about it too much, whereas that day were like this is what feels right.

"Generally, the mix that we put out isnt too far away from what we initially thought of that day because weve rehearsed it, learned all the parts weeks and weeks before.

Charles: Theres no point recording something thats not finished. You need to know what you need to do.

Quentin: We wont name names, but other bands weve been with would write in the studio. We cant afford that because studio time is expensive and I feel like the feeling in the room that day is something you capture a little bit better.

And thats it from GETNER. They will be playing the Casbah this Saturday (9th November) and their new single Meadows of Adelaide is out on Friday.

READ MORE: MacD on Music

Now, onto other business. This Friday will see Gush playing this Friday (8th November) in the 7Twenty with support from Empty Spaces and String Cut Puppets. Tickets are 7 and available on Skiddle and doors are at 8pm.

Finally, TomCat will also be playing their last gig for a while this Friday in Bennigans with support from Foreign Mornings and Baroda. Tickets are at offaxisgigs.com/product/tomcat.

Now, time for the socials. Gush can be found on Instagram @gushbandofficial, TomCat @tomcat_band and GETNER @getnermcr.
The Bloody Sunday Trust has expressed disappointment that Dublin has not responded to its call for the imposition of trade sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel.



The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion, delivered on 19th July this year, declared that Israels occupation of Palestinian land, including settlements and their infrastructure, are unlawful and ordered that the occupation must be brought to an end.



The ICJ opinion also rules that all states have an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israels illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.



Following this, Tony Doherty, Chair of the Trust wrote to the Taoiseach pointing out that the ICJ had ruled that Israel is obliged to immediately halt all new settlement activity; evacuate all settlers from the occupied territories; and pay reparations to Palestinians for the damage caused by Israels 57 years of military repression.



Mr Doherty stated that: "The ICJ ruling must surely provide those who wish to act with an urgent moral case for the imposition of trade sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel."



He added that: "Ireland played a meaningful and honourable role in ending apartheid in S Africa. We urge you to now find the moral courage to play a similar role by taking the actions we have suggested as a step towards freeing the Palestinian people from decades of oppression."



Although this letter was received by the Taoiseach, Simon Harris in August and then passed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin, no reply has been received to date.



States can no longer lawfully trade with illegal Israeli settlements on occupiedPalestinian land. Yet this trade continues.



As does the transfer and sale of weapons, parts, and ammunition despite their use in harming civilians and violating international law with many such shipments transiting through Irish airspace.

Reacting to the lack of response from Dublin, Mr Doherty recalled the statement made by Francesca Albanese, the UNs special rapporteur on human rights in the West Bank and Gaza during a visit to Ireland last March, Theres this tendency to be very supportive with rhetoric, as Ireland has, but when it comes to taking concrete actions, there is zero. Not a little. Zero.



The Chair of the Trust said he believed that for those who are horrified by the Gaza genocide, rhetoric will not much longer shield Dublin from the change of complicity if the failure to act continues.
County Derry band, Lore, with their quintessential folk style, are set for a special Christmas Concert at Glor Dhun Geimhin on Saturday, December 14 at 8pm.

The band will return home after their 10 Date Irish tour with Vocal Harmony Group G4.

The tour saw them perform in venues across Ireland.

Just in time for Christmas, Lores concert will bring some added festivity, with the band performing in a unique Candlelight setting.

This time Lore will be supported by Dungivens own Jim Millar who will bring his own repertoire of folk songs on the evening.

Lead Vocalist, Carolann, is excited about the opportunity to come back to Dungiven, just in time for some Christmas songs.

We cant wait to return to Dungiven with our special Candlelight show," she said.

"It will be a special setting to perform some Christmas songs and a few of our own as well.

The band are also set for another unique collaboration in 2025 with Concerts alongside The Dublin Gospel Choir at Derrys Millennium Forum and The Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Bellaghy.

Tickets for all Lores concerts are available here
Addis Ababa, Nov 2 (UNI) Confirmed mpox cases in Africa have surged by over 500 percent this year compared to the total for all of last year, with the number of affected countries rising to 19, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

During an online media briefing Thursday evening, Ngashi Ngongo, chief of staff and head of the executive office at Africa CDC, said since the beginning of this year, Africa had reported 48,093 mpox cases, with 10,372 confirmed and over 1,048 deaths.

"When we compare (the confirmed cases reported this year) with the entire 2023, that is more than a 500 percent increase," Ngongo said, adding that "the situation is not yet under control. We are still on the upward trend generally."

Mauritius became the latest African country to report mpox cases, bringing the total number of affected countries to 19. Data from the Africa CDC also show that the Central Africa region is the most affected by the outbreak, accounting for 85.7 percent of all reported cases and 99.5 percent of deaths.

In the past week, the African continent reported 2,766 new cases, with 1,254 confirmed, along with 34 new deaths. He said the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi accounted for 94 percent of all new confirmed cases.

The AU's specialized healthcare agency also expressed concern over the recent increase in mpox cases in Liberia and Uganda. According to Ngongo, some of the risk factors contributing to the rapid spread of mpox in Uganda are related to cross-border and sexual transmissions of the virus.

Mpox, known as monkeypox, was first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958. It is a rare viral disease typically spread through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and other contaminated materials. The infection usually causes fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

In mid-August, the Africa CDC declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa 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 mpox for the second time in two years.

UNI/XINHUA ARN
A well-known and popular Dundalk chipper welcomed a social media food reviewer over the long weekend, earning a solid score in a now-viral clip.

Paul Micheau of the Is It Worth It food review channel, who describes himself as Irelands most honest food reviewer, recently made the trip to County Louth to try Dundalks most popular takeaway.

Visiting Roma Restaurant in Dundalk, Paul opted for a varied selection from the menu which included a chicken breast, fresh cod, a battered sausage, chips, curry sauce, and a bottle of Oasis. His meal came to a total of 24.10, which he deemed reasonable.

Providing running commentary throughout, Paul rates each restaurant based on the price, taste, and overall experience before giving a final score.

Impressed with the service and atmosphere, Paul described Roma as so welcoming and noted that it would be an ideal spot to visit after a night out. A staff member even surprised him mid-review with a free homemade ice cream, adding to the positive experience.

In the end, Paul described the price as good, the chips and battered sausage as delicious, but found both the chicken breast and fish to be dry. He concluded with what he called his fair and honest score of 7.3 for the popular Dundalk restaurant.

You can watch Pauls full review above and let us know if you agree with his score or suggest which Louth institution he should try next.
Speed limits on roads in County Louth need to be looked at as a matter of urgency, with Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu also suggesting that a rolling audit needs to be carried out by local authorities.

Road safety was raised by the Dundalk deputy with Taoiseach Simon Harris last week and he highlighted the example of the N53, Dundalk to Castleblayney Road, because there have been a number of crashes on it.

He said that at Sheelagh, there is basically a double turn-off - there is one for Ballybinaby and one for Crossmaglen.

Deputy O Murchu said: When I ask questions about this, I am generally told that the national road speed limits will be reviewed in the next 24 months and that particular attention will be given to this issue.

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These speed limits need to be looked at. There is a similar issue regarding speed limits on the route from Knockbridge to Stonetrough.

We need a system within local authorities for a rolling audit of this. I know Cllr. Kevin Meenan is trying to get an audit of estates that do not have the traffic calming features found in other estates.

We do not necessarily have a proper system for getting ramps. You are almost waiting for a disaster to happen. We need an overall review of this. Could the Taoiseach engage with the Minister for Transport because we need this audit and a better system?

In response to Deputy O Murchu's raising the N53, An Taoiseach said: I will ask the Minister for Transport to see if anything can be done on that in the intervening period and to engage with the local authority.
The number of homeless children in the North East region, which comprises Louth, Monaghan and Cavan, has close to doubled in the past year, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

72 families with 150 children accessed emergency accommodation in the North East region during the week of 23-29 September 2024, according to the Monthly Homelessness Report September 2024, released last Friday. This is up from 68 families with 132 children in August, and also close to double 83 children in 34 families reported in September of last year.

The number of homeless adults also rose again in Louth and the North East in September, with 252 recorded as homeless in the North East, including 229 in Louth. This is up from 241 adults, including 216 in Louth in August. It is also significantly higher than the 185 adults reported in the North East in September 2023, which included 163 in Louth.

Of the 252 adults recorded as homeless in September of this year, 121 were male and 131 female. 37 were aged 18-24; 139 aged 25-44; 71 aged 25-64; and five aged 65 and over. 139 were Irish citizens; 61 from the EEA/UK; and 52 were non-EEA citizens.

Nationally, 10,199 adults and 4,561 children were recorded as homeless in September, giving a total of 14,760 homeless people, up from 14,486 in August and another record high number of homeless people in the State.

Commenting on the latest figures, David Carroll, Chief Executive of Depaul, the charity supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, said that Housing for All, the Government's housing plan, hasn't been enough to deal with the housing crisis and that "any new government must adopt a radical approach to addressing this national crisis.

Mr Carroll said that: The obvious truth is the housing market is not working for those most vulnerable, and particular cohorts such as single and young people are particularly disadvantaged. The coming election must give hope to those more than 14,760 people languishing in temporary accommodation, many who have been there for over a year or more and there is no coherent housing plan for those in Direct provision who have permission to remain in Ireland.

We have a generational opportunity to utilise the power of the state to create a more cohesive society. We eagerly await confirmation of how Apples 13 billion tax payment could be spent on infrastructure and housing. In the meantime any new government must gather a strong response to this crisis.

Housing is the most basic and fundamental need yet a large number of people in this country do not have a secure, affordable, decent place to call home. Something has to change. We are asking any new government to recognise the needs for:
Louth senator John McGahon has welcomed the Maternity Protection Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Bill 2024 passing all stages in the Oireachtas.

The legislation will allow an employee who receives a diagnosis of a serious illness to postpone maternity leave until treatment is concluded, and follows the Leave Our Leave campaign by the Irish Cancer Society.

The maternity leave can be postponed for between five and 52 weeks, on certification from their doctor. Postponing maternity leave will not sacrifice other forms of leave, such as unpaid maternity leave and Parents Leave.

Senator McGahon said: This is something that was brought to my attention earlier on in the year. I was amazed to even realise that such an anomaly existed.

Its something I went directly to Taoiseach Simon Harris about and he was keen to have the issue resolved.

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This is a really important win for women who have shared their stories publicly about the trauma of having to use up maternity leave to undergo life-saving treatment.

I was really pleased to work alongside the Irish Cancer Society and their #LeaveOurLeave campaign and to convince the Government that this was the right thing to do, but more importantly, to get it approved and resolved in legislation before the General Election takes place by the end of this year.

The Bill will allow women who suffer a serious illness during their maternity leave to postpone that leave. This is a small, simple change that will have a big impact for so many women at a very challenging time in their lives.

The Bill will now go to the President to be signed into law.
Louth People Before Profit-Solidarity election candidate, James Renaghan, has said that unaffordable housing is to blame for the teacher recruitment crisis in the State at present, and has condemned the Government as homeless figures reach new record high of 14,760 including 4,561 children.

James Renaghan commented on Friday following the release of the latest figures, that after one hundred years of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael we have a housing crisis that gets worse by the month. House prices and rents are both at the highest levels ever recorded. House prices increased by 10% in the last 12 months alone, with no end in sight to the spiral of unaffordability."

He continued: "Earlier this week it was reported that at least 951 teacher posts in primary and special schools are vacant and schools expect this number to treble in coming months because of the teacher shortage. The survey found that the shortages are attributed largely to the high cost of housing.

"Across all schools surveyed, 29% said they were unable to fill all teaching positions. More than half of the special schools reported vacancies. The same problem is evident in trying to recruit workers for the health service and other sectors. The housing crisis is affecting every part of our society.

"Now today, it has been announced that the number of homeless people in emergency accommodation in the State has reached a new record high of 14,760. The number of homeless people in emergency accommodation is almost 2,000 higher than a year ago. The latest figures include 4,561 children whose lives will be forever blighted by the damaging effects of the deprivations of life without a home.

"This is what Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have delivered and this is what they will continue if they are returned to power. Voters will soon have the opportunity to end 100 years of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in the general election. Those who are eligible to vote should make sure they are registered at checktheregister.ie so they can vote for People Before Profit and for another Ireland.
The new National Enterprise Hub is an innovative online platform designed to support the growth of small and medium enterprises across Ireland. The team at Local Enterprise Office Louth invite local businesses to check out this one-stop shop for accessing essential information about the range of supports, services, and funding opportunities available to them.

Sarah Mallon of Local Enterprise Office Louth explains: The National Enterprise Hub simplifies the journey for business owners seeking guidance, bringing all relevant local and national resources together in one place. Through the platform, you can explore options for mentorship, training, and financial supports tailored to your specific business needs.

"From start-up advice to scaling up for export, the Hub helps Louths businesses at every stage of their growth, signposting them to the tools and assistance that can make a real difference.

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For businesses eager to stay competitive, the Hub offers highlights supports available in digitalisation, sustainable practices, and financial management. It also highlights essential funding pathways, including information on grant applications and loan schemes for those seeking financial support.

Sarah concludes: This new National Enterprise Hub is accessible from anywhere, making it ideal for busy entrepreneurs who need support at their fingertips. Business owners can connect with advisors, access resources, and keep informed on new and evolving supports, all through one platform. Designed to be user-friendly and comprehensive, we encourage local businesses to check out the new National Enterprise Hub.

For more information visit www.neh.gov.ie, and, remember that the team at Local Enterprise Office Louth are always there to support your business journey.
Chinese-invested expressway in Cambodia marks 2nd anniversary of operation

Xinhua) 10:00, November 02, 2024

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Cambodia's first high-speed toll road, celebrated the second anniversary of its operation on Friday.

Cambodian Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin took part in the event, held here at the headquarters of the Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., the operator of the 187-km expressway.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ponea said the expressway has become a key strategic route, linking the first economic powerhouse of Phnom Penh with the second economic powerhouse of the coastal province of Sihanoukville.

"This expressway has been providing great benefits to Cambodia's socio-economic development and tourism," he said. "It has played a crucial role in improving the efficiency of travel and goods transport."

The minister said the motorway was one of major achievements in Cambodia under the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, in addition to the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and the Morodok Techo National Stadium.

"These achievements are a solid testament to our joint efforts in building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future," he said.

Wang said the expressway was a landmark project of China-Cambodia cooperation under the BRI.

"It is a vivid example of China-Cambodia joint efforts in building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard community with a shared future in a new era," he said.

The ambassador said the expressway has significantly contributed to creating job opportunities, promoting regional development and improving the well-being of local people.

At the event, the company offered a one-year free travel to Chhum Sophearun, a 42-year-old taxi driver, who was the 10 millionth user of the expressway.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
Russia, NKorea committed to implement comprehensive strategic partnership treaty

Moscow, Nov 2 (UNI) The Russian and North Korean foreign ministers have confirmed their commitment to fully implement the provisions of the agreement on a comprehensive strategic partnership, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

"Both sides reaffirmed their firm commitment to fully implement the provisions of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which consolidated the reaching of traditionally friendly Russian-Korean relations to a new qualitative level," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the consultations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui.

Russia supports measures taken by the North Korean leadership to curb the aggressive policy of the United States and its allies in Northeast Asia, the statement read.
The funeral details have been announced for the late journalist and broadcaster David Davin-Power who died at the age of 72 on Thursday.

The Dublin-born journalist began working with RTE News in 1978 and became one of the first presenters of Morning Ireland.

Mr Davin-Power later served as Northern Ireland editor and then worked as a political correspondent in Dublin for more than 15 years. He retired in 2017 but continued to write columns for the Times Ireland edition and the Sunday Independent.

He is survived by his wife Dearbhla and five children Nick, Caroline, Julia, Ben and Emily.

On his death notice on RIP.ie, it states Beloved husband of Dearbhla, cherished father of Nick, Caroline, Julia, Ben and Emily.

"He will be sadly missed by his family, sister Mary, grandchildren Oisin, Rossa, Rogan, Vincent, Margot and Frederick, parents-in-law Jim and Brid, brothers-in-law Andy, Donagh, Finghin, sister-in-law Mary, nephews Charlie and Manus, extended family, neighbours, friends and colleagues".

Mr Davin-Power will repose at his home on Monday, November 4 from 5pm until 7pm with his funeral mass taking place at 11.30am on Tuesday, November 5 in St. Vincent de Paul Church, Marino, followed by private cremation.

Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to him as a trusted name who was welcomed into homes across the country throughout his long career.

He was one of the first presenters of Morning Ireland, an accomplished Northern Editor of RTE at a key moment in history, a political correspondent who knew the Dail inside out, and in recent years, a witty and insightful columnist.

David was always a consummate professional, a thorough journalist, and a gentleman. He was a storyteller who was generous with his time, he was an interesting person who was interested in other people, and he was kind to those around him.
New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) India on Saturday said that the Indian firms sanctioned by the US are not in violation of Indian laws, and is working to sensitise Indian companies on applicable export control provisions.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, answering questions on the US sanctions on over 19 Indian companies for selling dual use tech to the Russian military, said:

We have seen reports on US sanctions. India has a robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade and nonproliferation controls. We are also a member of three key multilateral non- proliferation export control regimes - the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime, and have been effectively implementing relevant UNSC sanctions and UNSC resolution 1540 on non- proliferation.

Our understanding is that the sanctioned transactions and companies are not in violation of Indian laws. Nevertheless, in keeping with India's established non-proliferation credentials, we are working with all the relevant Indian departments and agencies to sensitise Indian companies on applicable export control provisions, as also inform them on new measures being implemented that could impact Indian companies in certain circumstances.

Regular strategic trade/export control outreach events for Indian industries and stakeholders are being carried out by agencies of the Government of India. We are also in touch with the US authorities to clarify issues.

Amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, the US has sanctioned 19 Indian companies and two nationals for allegedly selling supplies and dual use technology to the Russian military.

As per the list released by the Department of Treasury on Thursday, the 19 India-based companies are Abhar Technologies and Services Private Limited; Denvas Services Private Limited; Emsystech; Galaxy Bearings Ltd; Orbit Fintrade LLP; Innovio Ventures; KDG Engineering Private Limited; and Khushbu Honing Private Limited.

The Indian companies include Lokesh Machines Limited; Pointer Electronics; RRG Engineering Technologies Private Limited; Sharpline Automation Private Limited; Shaurya Aeronautics Private Limited; Shreegee Impex Private Limited; and Shreya Life Sciences Private Limited.

On Wednesday, the US announced sanctions on as many as 398 companies, including four Indian companies along with firms from Russia, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

The companies have been accused of shipping items such as microelectronics and supplying other materials which will be used by Russia in weapons technology.

According to reports, the four Indian companies in the sanctions list include Ascend Aviation India Private Limited, Mask Trans, TSMD Global Private Limited and Futrevo.

UNI RN
The perfect day celebrated with family and friends marked the wedding of this couple. Katie Kinahan (nee Ryan), who grew up in Dripsey in Cork, married Daniel Kinahan, of Blackpool in Lancashire, England.

Katie had moved to London to be closer to family in 2014. In June, 2017, her family opened a hotel. Katie is currently working for a company called Empowerment Charity, in the HR department.

Daniel was born in Grange Park in Blackpool and works as a window fabricator.

The couple currently live with their son Donnacha, in Daniels family home in Grange Park, with his mum, dad and niece.

Katie and Daniel Kinahan with their son Donnacha, who was born in February this year.

The couple met on Tinder on May 1, 2020.

We went on our first daily walk together on May 24, 2020, we used our daily walks to meet during lockdown.

They were engaged in July, 2021, during a visit to London to see family, in Cricklewood.

The happy couple had a civil ceremony at Glendower Hotel, Lytham, England, surrounded by family and friends.

They were married on May 24, 2024, on their four year anniversary, in a civil ceremony at the Glendower Hotel, North Promendate, Lytham St Annes.

The bride wore a dress from Blush in Poulton, while make-up was by Christina Jackson, and hair was by Laura @ lhockings hair.

Their wedding party was made up of close family and friends. Katie said one of the highlights of the day was having so many people they love in the same room.

Flowers and cake were by their neighbours.

For her something borrowed, Katie had her nannys engagement ring and grans brooch.

Daniels suit was from a local shop called Suit Bae.

The couple met on Tinder in 2020 and went on daily walks together during lockdown.

Katie said: We were lucky enough to have both sets of parents there.

Another special guest on the day was son Donnacha, who was a very happy surprise and was born on February 16, 2024.

They had lots of family and friends travel from Ireland and even further afield, from Melbourne.

By his side.

The couples first dance was to The One by Kodaline.

As to their favourite parts of the day, Katie said: Seeing Dan waiting at the top of the aisle with his face full of love and affection was my favourite part of the day, as well as having so many people that we love in the same room talking and laughing with each other.

By her side.

Other stand-out moments were when Katies uncle Donie OCallaghan, from Ballygarvan, sang Gods Plan by Derek Ryan. Dans brother Anthony Kinahan read a poem out while family and friends also read some quotes from Winnie the Pooh, and Ricky OCallaghan read an Irish blessing.

People travelled from Ireland for the special day, some even came from further afield, like Melbourne in Australia, to be there with the couple.

The couple had Irish dancers from Whittaker Dance Centre, they also had a singing waiter called Craig Squance.
Three talented teen musicians from three Cork secondary schools have been recognised following their performances at the 2024 Top Security/Frank Maher Classical Music Awards for secondary schools.

Cellist Oscar Casey (18) from Douglas Community School, violinist Meadhbh Ni Chathasaigh (18) from Gaelcolaiste Choilm in Ballincollig and pianist Amhlaoibh O Siochain O Beolain (18) from Colaiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire took part in the final held recently at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin.

Lyric FM presenter Marty Whelan was MC for an evening of teen talent, where the top prize of 5,000 was won by pianist Ai Lin Sun from the Institute of Education in Dublin.

Oscar, Maedhbh and Amhlaoibh from Cork, along with the other finalists, each received a 300 bursary.

The awards were created in 2001 by Top Security chairman Emmet ORafferty to honour the memory of his late teacher Fr Frank Maher who taught music at Castleknock College in Dublin.

On behalf of Top Security, congratulations to our winner Ai Lin Sun and our equally talented finalists Oscar, Meadhbh, Amhlaoibh, Aidan and Chloe for their excellent performances on the night, Mr ORafferty said.

This competition not only recognises their hard work and dedication but also helps them pursue opportunities that can shape their musical futures. We wish them all the very best wherever their talent takes them.

The awards aim to showcase exceptional young musical talent in Irish schools and are open to sixth year post-primary students of strings, woodwind, brass and piano.

The 5,000 top prize must be used to attend a recognised place of tuition, a course of study in Ireland or abroad or on a purchase necessary for the development of their talent.

2023 winner pianist Joe OGrady is now studying music as part of his Bachelor degree at Harvard University in Massachusetts and other winners have used the prize to further their studies at other prestigious institutions such as the Juilliard School in New York, Hochschule fur Musik und Theater (HfMT) in Hamburg and the Royal College of Music in the UK.
Cork Airport has celebrated the start of a new four-times weekly Aer Lingus Regional flight service to Glasgow.

Operated by Emerald Airlines, on behalf of Aer Lingus Regional, flights will operate on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.

The new route will cater to both business and leisure customers alike, providing a direct link between Leeside and Clydeside.

The ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, which can carry 72 passengers, is significantly more environmentally friendly than regional jets and other turboprops, because it emits 40% less CO2.

In addition to the new Glasgow route, Aer Lingus Regional has increased capacity on its popular Cork-to-Bristol service by adding three extra flights per week.

We are delighted to see our new Cork-to-Glasgow route officially take off, said Ian Lough, head of commercial at Emerald Airlines.

Equally, the added capacity on our Cork-to-Bristol route reflects our continued commitment to meeting the needs of our passengers.

Head of aviation business development and communications at Cork Airport, Tara Finn, said: It is wonderful to celebrate the start of the new Cork-to-Glasgow service.

Glasgow has so much to offer: Its rich history, vibrant arts-and-music scene, fantastic food, and great shopping experiences.
A farmer appealing a jail term for attacking a veterinary inspector after a visit to his farm was ordered not to conduct any type of farming that would require inspection from the Department of Agriculture.

Judge Helen Boyle made that order at Cork Circuit Appeals Court in the appeal by Andrew Scannell, aged 65, at Lackaneen, Lissacreasig, Macroom, County Cork.

For the assault under appeal in relation to the eight-month jail term on the charge that on October 28, 2023, at his farm he assaulted a Department of Agriculture official, causing him harm, the judge increased the sentence to 12 months but suspended the balance of it. Mr Scannell has already spent some time in custody in the case.

Judge Boyle noted yesterday that because it was Mr Scannells second time assaulting an officer of the Department of Agriculture he should not engage in any farming such as the keeping of animals that would require inspection visits from the department. The judge noted a description from the defendants last doctor that he suffered anxiety, depression, isolation and paranoid delusions and was like a John B. Keane character caught out of time.

Defence barrister Alan ODwyer referred to social and medical difficulties of the accused who was unable to get a doctor or a medical card despite the Herculean efforts of his solicitor, Patrick Goold.

The assault occurred where Mr Scannell punched the inspector in the side of the head when the injured party was changing out of his work clothes following an inspection of his farm and he had no opportunity to defend himself from the blow.

Judge Boyle noted an earlier conviction the same farmer had for assaulting a female inspector from the Department of Agriculture on October 2, 2020.
Ballincolligs Tidy Towns volunteers will be out on Sunday morning, business as usual, despite having just won Irelands Tidiest Town 2024 in the prestigious TidyTowns awards.

Ballincollig was named Irelands Tidiest Town as well as Irelands Tidiest Large Urban Centre, earning its 12th gold medal in the competition.

Ballincollig Tidy Towns (BTT) chairman Tom Butler said it had been a very emotional occasion for the volunteers who attended the awards in Croke Park in Dublin on Friday.

If I could do one thing, I would dedicate this to our dear friend Tony Whelan, who passed away exactly two years ago, Mr Butler said.

Tony gave his heart and soul to Ballincollig Tidy Towns and we miss him, and we know hes with us in spirit for this award.

Mr Butler, who has been BTT chairman for 25 years, said the groups success was entirely down to community effort.

It doesnt come easy, weve improved year-on-year but it takes a long time to get there and a lot of dedication from our volunteers and committee, as well as all the help from our sponsors and from Cork City Council and Cork County Council before them, he said.

Well be back at it on Sunday morning in the car park of Quishs SuperValu, this doesnt change what we do, it just makes us very proud of what we do, but we still have to do it, because you dont get to the standard to drop the standard.

More than 900 towns from across the country were competing in the 66th year of the annual competition, which has been running since 1958.

Tom Butler, chairman and Pat Clarke , vice chairman of Ballincollig Tidy Towns. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, said BTTs volunteers had worked hard over the years to make Ballincollig one of the most attractive spots to live and work in Cork.

The teams have done fantastic work around greening, fostering biodiversity and are trailblazers in terms of community climate action and protecting local heritage, Mr Boyle said.

Cork City Council works well with the BTT team and everyone in City Hall believes the award is so deserved after years of dedication by the people who live there.

Offering her congratulations, Valerie OSullivan, chief executive of Cork City Council, said the award was a testament to Ballincolligs community spirit and pride of place.

Cork City Council is very proud to support and appreciates the dedication and volunteer effort that goes into winning such a prestigious award, she said.

Ballincollig councillor and Fine Gael election candidate Garret Kelleher, who is a BTT committee member and volunteer, said the win was down to the tireless work of volunteers over decades.

Ballincolligs Tidy Towns volunteers will be out on Sunday morning, business as usual, despite having just won Irelands Tidiest Town 2024 in the prestigious TidyTowns awards. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

This is our 12th gold medal in a row and over that time span, we have improved our results in the national competition every year without ever taking a backwards step, he said.

Having finished in second place twice in 2018 and again last year, some of us were wondering if we were ever going to reach the top and win the overall national title so today, it feels like we have finally reached the promised land.

Padraig OSullivan, Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central, said he often commented to family and friends in Ballincollig that the place was pristine, and offered his congratulations to all involved.

Colm Burke, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central and minister of state at the Department of Health, said Tidy Towns group across Cork would be eligible to apply for funding totalling 143,000 for the county in 2025.

Pictured at the 2024 SuperValu TidyTowns competition was (at centre) Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu; Tom Butler, Chairperson, Ballincollig Tidy Town Committee; and Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, along with members of the Ballincollig Tidy Town Committee at the awards ceremony at Croke Park. Pic:Naoise Culhane

All groups in Cork who entered the competition will be eligible to apply for a grant of between 1,000 and 4,000 for 2025, he said.

Ballincollig councillor and Sinn Fein candidate Joe Lynch described BTTs work as invaluable.

Comhghairdeas mor leo uilig, he said.

Manus OCallaghan, organiser of the Cork Person of the Year awards, said he was delighted that Tom Butler and some of the BTT team had been honoured by the scheme.

This big award is creating great excitement amongst Ballincolligs 20,000 population and Ive never seen such pride amongst everyone in the town, he said.

Ballyphehane Tidy Towns was also recognised for youth engagement, being awarded the Young Persons Award.

Ballyphehane-based councillor and Social Democrats candidate Padraig Rice said the work of local volunteers was visible every week in the area.

They are a phenomenal group of volunteers who are a credit to our community, he said.

Pictured at the 2024 SuperValu TidyTowns competition was (centre, back row)) Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu; Tom Butler, Chairperson, Ballincollig Tidy Town Committee; and Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, along with members of the Ballincollig Tidy Town Committee at the awards ceremony at Croke Park. Pic:Naoise Culhane

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Joe Carroll, thanked all the volunteers in towns and villages across the county for their work.

A massive well done to the winners, you truly are champions, are an inspiration to us all and can be very proud of what you have achieved, he said.

A total of 26 medals were awarded to towns and villages in County Cork with special awards given to Bere Island and Sherkin Island. Ballineen and Enniskeane TidyTowns Association was also named the National Winner of the Waters and Communities Award.

In the city, Douglas was also recognised with a bronze medal in their respective category.

Ballinlough volunteers also earned an endeavor award for their efforts. Endeavour awards are given to the entrant in each county that made the biggest improvement on the previous years score, in percentage terms.
Today the people make their choice proclaimed the front page of the Evening Echo on election day, Wednesday, February 28, 1973.

The polls had been open since 9am as the nation turned out to elect the 20th Dail, and while the final results were not expected until Friday morning, the paper predicted that the outcome would probably be available by Thursday evening.

After one of the hardest-fought campaigns of recent years  in which prices, rates, social welfare, jobs and national security were the main issues  a close result is expected, ran our lead story.

It could hinge, in fact, on one or two seats in which case the country might be biting its nails until late on Friday before knowing whether Fianna Fail or the Coalition will form the next Government.

With 144 seats in Dail Eireann and 73 seats needed for a majority, the outgoing Taoiseach, Corks Jack Lynch, had 75 seats and he hoped to repeat the victory he had secured in the 1969 election.

The National Coalition, as it was known, of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, had, for the first time in 16 years, fought the election together in a pre-election pact.

General Election candidate Gerard Carroll campaigning outside Cork churches 18/2/1973

Fianna Fail had been in office since 1957, and had won the subsequent three elections, which occurred in 1961, 1965 and 1969, with Sean Lemass replacing Eamon de Valera as party leader and Taoiseach in 1959 when Dev was elected president, and Jack Lynch taking over in 1966.

Both the Taoiseach, Mr Lynch, and the leader of Fine Gael and alternative Taoiseach, Mr Cosgrave, were out early in Dublin to cast their votes, we reported.

Accompanied by Mrs Lynch, the Taoiseach travelled to Rathgar National School, near where he resides, shortly after 9 oclock, while Mr and Mrs Cosgrave exercised the franchise at Ballyroane National School, Rathfarnham, at about 9.15.

The next day, the Evening Echo headline read: The national jury is out.

There were some straws in the wind, though. Labour fare badly in Cork, we reported, with early indications suggesting a slight swing in favour of Fianna Fail in both Cork city constituencies.

However, across the page, another headline read: Strong vote for Labour in Mid Cork, as Labours Eileen Desmond, who would later serve as minister for health and social welfare from 1981 to 1982, only the third woman to serve in Cabinet, was on course to top the poll in Macroom. In Fermoy, Fine Gaels Dick Barry was said to have polled well, and in East Cork Fianna Fails Liam Ahern was going well, while in Mallow, outgoing defence minister Jerry Cronin looked likely to top the poll.

In the end, although Fianna Fail actually increased its share of the vote, it lost six seats, leaving it with 69 seats, and Jack Lynch, reading the transfer tealeaves before the final seats were declared, became, in an interview with RTEs Brian Farrell, the first Taoiseach to concede defeat live on television.

Politician Dick Barry T.D. Fine Gael Cork East

Fine Gael gained four seats, leaving it with 54, and Labour gained one, giving it 19 seats, leaving the National Coalition with a combined total of 73, a bare majority.

The outgoing Taoiseach, Mr Lynch, after conceding defeat this morning, said he would be glad to have early discussions with Mr Cosgrave to bring him up to date on the Governments dealings with Britain on the question of Northern Ireland, we reported on Friday, March 2.

The 20th Dail met on Sunday, March 4, to nominate Liam Cosgrave as the new Taoiseach, and he was duly appointed by President de Valera, who was by then 90 and three months from retirement. With Labour leader Brendan Corish as Tanaiste, the Cosgrave government would be nicknamed the cabinet of all the talents.

For Corks Real Taoiseach, it would be four long years before he would lead Fianna Fail into a general election, for what would turn out to be his final time.
As Lord Mayor, I get to acknowledge historic events and people who have helped shape the story of Cork.

I have done so on several times in recent days.

This week saw the 100th anniversary of the dissolution of Cork Corporation, what Cork City Council was known as until 2001.

This saw the standing down of all then elected members and their replacement with a full-time administrator, Philip Monahan, who would subsequently become the first city manager.

The dissolution was politically suspect, and, in my opinion, led to local government becoming less democratic in Ireland.

The anniversary gave me an opportunity to visit the courthouse on Washington St, a building that resonates history.

A century ago, Cork City Council met there while waiting for the new City Hall to be built.

I also participated in an event organised by the law society at University College Cork to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of Jack Lynch.

Other speakers include former taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Professor Gary Murphy, and the president of the college, John OHalloran.

As well as being Irelands fourth Taoiseach, Jack Lynch also served as an alderman/councillor with Cork Corporation. I was proud to be able to acknowledge his contribution to Cork and Irish life.

A beautiful art installation, Lantern, by the artist, Eoin Turner, was launched at Nano Nagle Place.

The opening gave me the opportunity of thanking the Presentation congregation, for it has followed through on Nano Nagles legacy, for many years through schools on Douglas St, and in recent times through community-based education.

Organisations like the Lantern Project and the Cork Migrant Centre continue Nano Nagles work by showing learning to be a shared and lifelong activity.

As the light from this new Lantern grew stronger as evening fell, I was reminded that it is important that we do remember, what it is we should remember, and, most importantly, of all how we remember.
By David Young, PA

Three people have been arrested and two suspected victims of human trafficking rescued after police raided a property in south Belfast.

The three suspects  two men aged 42 and 41 and a 39-year-old woman  were detained on suspicion of offences including brothel keeping and controlling prostitution following a search in the Annadale Embankment area on Friday night.

Police said specialist support was being offered to the two rescued women.

A sum of cash was also seized during the search.

During a follow-up search of a property in the Newtownards Road area of east Belfast, three suspected firearms were recovered.

The suspects remained in custody on Saturday afternoon.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The new Peres II solar farm constructed in a former open pit mine against the backdrop of the Lippendorf coal-fired power plant in Saxony, Groitzsch, Germany on Sept. 27, 2023. Jan Woitas / picture alliance via Getty Images

Greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union fell by eight percent last year  to 37 percent below 1990 levels  according to a new report, Trends and projections in Europe 2024, by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The massive reduction in pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels in 2023 was aided by the ramping up of renewables like solar and wind, as well as the shutting down of coal-fired power plants.

The impact of climate change is accelerating, said Executive Director of the EEA Leena Yla-Mononen, as The Guardian reported. This leaves us no choice but to strengthen our resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The European Commission called the reduction very encouraging, saying it reinforced confidence in the blocs ability to meet its goal of slashing emissions by 55 percent by 2030.

The EU Climate Law sets ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions  a net 55% reduction below 1990 levels by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, to deliver European commitments under the international Paris Agreement. This target includes net removals from the so-called land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector as well as emissions from international aviation and maritime transport activities regulated under EU law. The European Commission has also recommended a 90% net reduction target for 2040, a press release from EEA said.

The EEA report found that current EU policies are predicted to lower emissions by 43 percent below 1990 levels by the end of the decade, The Guardian reported. Additional measures that have yet to be implemented would bring the total reduction to 49 percent  leaving a six percentage point gap.

Updates to national energy and climate plans  where several Member States have yet to submit their revised plans  offer an opportunity to implement additional measures to bridge the gap towards the target. An initial European Commission estimate of the plans submitted so far confirm[s] an increased collective ambition level and a reduction of the gap, EEA said in the press release.

The average Europeans emissions were slightly higher than the worldwide average of 6.59 tonnes of greenhouse gases last year at 7.26 tonnes, according to the report.

The energy sector saw the largest reduction due to the rapid deployment of renewables, which sped up the move away from fossil fuels.

Emissions from the industrial sector were down six percent, as some factories slashed production and others became more efficient. The building sector was found to have achieved similar progress.

Some sectors did not see such success, with emissions from the transport sector falling by just one percent in 2023 and agricultural emissions down two percent.

This years Trends and Projections Report calls for comprehensive action across all sectors to achieve our shared goal of balancing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon removals within the next two and a half decades, Yla-Mononen said in the press release.
From: Dr. Louis Perron - Political Consultant Zurich , None Saturday, November 2, 2024



Author and Global Political Consultant: What Goes Through a Candidate's Mind in the Final Days AUTHOR AND GLOBAL POLITICAL CONSULTANT: WHAT GOES THROUGH A CANDIDATE'S MIND IN THE FINAL DAYS November 2, 2024



For immediate release Zurich, Switzerland Dr. Louis Perron, author of Beat the Incumbent, has been involved in many high-stakes elections. The final week of the campaign is one of great stress for the candidate and the campaign manager.



Here is how he describes it:



"This is the time where, as a consultant, you get calls at 1am or 2am, when the candidate is on the way home, exhausted, but wants to get rid of something that goes through his mind. At this stage, as a consultant, you do probably more listening than talking as the strategic decisions are reached (or at least, this should be the case).



"Deep inside, all candidates think about winning and losing, but the latter is suppressed. This unleashes a lot of energy. It's also the time where candidates stop sleeping and campaign day and night. It's another way of dealing with the fear of losing that you don't want to leave any stone un-turned.



"It's like in sports. One thing that the winners have in common is that they are scared to death of losing."



Dr. Perron also doubts that the undecided voters are really undecided: "Most independents are not really independent. Corollary, most undecideds are not really undecided. There is a case to be made that the chunk of them are hidden Trump voters."



According to Perron, that doesn't necessarily mean that Trump will win, however. "The polls in the U.S. were off far more two years ago, four years ago and eight years ago. It's possible that pollsters are now overcompensating after having underestimated Trump for many years."



"Tactically, I think this race has now clearly shifted to get out the vote. But this is actually changing to take home delivery of the vote. Manpower on the ground has to adapt. It still includes door knocking, but also a lot of logistics on the early and absentee voting", said Dr. Perron.



Dr. Louis Perron has been featured in Newsweek, USA Today, C-SPAN, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and many other media outlets. For more information, or to schedule an interview with Dr. Louis Perron, please contact Kevin McVicker at Shirley & McVicker Public Affairs at (703) 739-5920 or kmcvicker@shirleyandmcvicker.com.


Defra has expanded the bluetongue restricted zone to cover parts of Warwickshire, making it the twentieth county to face tougher restrictions on movement.

Following confirmation of over 150 cases across England, the restricted zone and infected area have been extended, covering 20 counties and one city authority.

The zone now covers all of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and East Sussex.

It also covers Essex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey and West Sussex, and parts of Warwickshire, Hampshire, Berkshire and Leicestershire.

Defra said in its latest update: "Following the identification of a case in cattle on the Leicestershire and Warwickshire border, the restricted zone was extended on 1 November to include part of Warwickshire."

Two cases of the disease have also been confirmed in Wales in animals imported from England. Wales currently has no restricted or control zones.

Farmers and livestock keepers in England's restricted zone must follow restrictions on animal and germinal product movements.

Susceptible animals cannot be moved out of the zone without a specific licence, and a general licence to move animals to designated abattoirs is also available. Movements within the restricted zone are permitted.

Some farmers have sounded the alarm over price deductions being offered by abattoirs for animals from within the bluetongue restriction zone.

The NFU said the development was 'unacceptable' and called for more fairness in the supply chain.

NFU livestock board chair, David Barton said: We are incredibly disappointed to hear that some farmers in the restricted zone are being unfairly penalised by having deductions taken from some processors in the supply chain.

Livestock farmers up and down the country are facing a very difficult time with the threat of the bluetongue virus and they are doing everything they can to limit the spread by adhering to biosecurity measures.

"We will continue to raise our concerns with Defra, that the requirements being imposed on processor is adding costs, but we must see farmers within the RZ are treated fairly.

It follows the government confirming that all livestock keepers in England can use any of the permitted bluetongue vaccines without applying for a specific licence.

However, it said that farmers must still meet the legally-binding conditions of the general licence for any vaccination activity.

Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

BTV is a notifiable disease. Suspicion of it in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301.
The mum was on holiday with her family when she noticed the pool beds being reserved each day, even if they weren't being used by guests at the time.

The Aussie mum noticed all the sun beds around the pool were taken early by hotel guests and wondered if she too should reserve one. Source: TikTok/m.lliepatterson

An Aussie mum on holiday in Fiji with her family has reignited an age-old debate about poolside etiquette after experiencing the common and frustrating scene at the hotel where she and her family were staying during their tropical trip abroad.

Millie Patterson, who visited the popular island with her husband and two kids last week, found herself pondering what to do after noticing that by 8am every morning "all the pool beds are gone" meaning she'd often miss out.

They were being reserved by other guests hoping to snag a spot early even if they weren't being used at the time.

It's a familiar scene witnessed at hotels across the country, and even the world, and one that often infuriates early birds and late risers alike. Often, sunbeds can't be pre-booked so guests attempt to snap one up by placing belongings like a towel on it to show it's taken.

Holidaymaker questions what to do with poolside dilemma

But the controversial move has long divided holidaymakers with many arguing it's "selfish" and "ridiculous" especially if they're not in use. Some however have long argued it's fair game.

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Taking to TikTok last week during her stay, Millie put the question to her followers. She revealed that she and her husband disagree on their approach to the poolside dilemma. "Guys, we need to settle the age-old pool bed debate," she said.

"In my opinion, you got to get down there too. The precedence has been set," she argued, implying her husband disagreed.

"I wouldn't be the first one to do it. I think it's a d**k move, but I'm also not going to miss out on a pool bed because everyone else has selfishly taken them.

"What side are you on?" she asked.

Aussies chime in on controversial poolside debate

Comments rolled in from holidaymakers sharing their views and, perhaps surprisingly, most agreed it's totally acceptable to fight for a chair.

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"You absolutely go down there and put your towels down there too sis," said one. "Take one like everyone else," another said. "I agree, dont miss out".

An Aussie woman staying at the Callie Hotel in Queensland previously documented how quickly all the pool beds were reserved each morning. Source: TikTok/em.bamford

If you do happen to miss out on snagging a chair though, some suggested moving the towels if the chair is not in use  even if someone's reserved it.

"Don't miss out, simply move the towels," one said. "If youre not actively using the chair or in the pool area, its free for anyone else to use," expressed another.

"I havent experienced this but surely you cant reserve a bed if youre not there!!! And someone who is there cant sit down? Thats crazy," another chimed in.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Bill Nighy "stole the complete works of Shakespeare" to prepare for his drama school audition.

Bill Nighy has recalled stealing from a library

The 74-year-old actor and a friend of his stole from a library, after applying for the Guildford School of Acting in a bid to impress a girl.

Bill - who was eventually accepted into the drama school - told BBC Radio 4's 'This Cultural Life': "We could have borrowed it like everybody else, but for some reason, we were sort of developing a criminal mentality."

The actor was determined to be accepted into the school because he was desperate to impress the girl.

Bill said: "She could have said astronaut and I would have given it a shot."

The veteran star has actually performed two Shakespeare plays in his professional life, 'The Taming Of The Shrew' and 'King Lear'. But Bill doesn't have "any particular interest" in performing Shakespeare's work.

He reflected: "I just thought, 'I can't go through this anymore because I don't have any particular interest in the delivery of Shakespeare'.

"I understand he's the greatest poet the world has ever known, but the performance of it, I will leave to other people."

Meanwhile, Bill previously admitted that he doesn't always feel connected to his characters.

The actor told The Independent: "If youre in the company of anybody who suggests that an actor has to feel everything that they portray, then youre talking to somebody whos basically an amateur.

"Often its a way to punish actors. I think drama teachers do it sometimes to control students. To just stand there and say, Youre not feeling it. How do you know Im not feeling it? What am I supposed to be feeling?

"You dont have to have been bereaved in order to act somebody whos bereaved - otherwise, well, how would we proceed? Yknow, acting is acting."
Eddie Redmayne is "quite astonished" by the success of Jamie Dornan, Andrew Garfield and Robert Pattinson.

Eddie Redmayne moved to LA in search of success

The 42-year-old actor was part of a contingent of British actors - which included Jamie, Andrew and Robert - who relocated to Los Angeles around the same time, and Eddie is amazed by what his friends have managed to achieve in Hollywood.

Speaking to The Independent, Eddie shared: "We were just a group of dreamers trying to become actors. And wed all been told that it was an impossible trade - and it is an impossible trade, just as the amount of unemployment is so extreme - so were all quite astonished that were still here and working.

"Its a weird one, though, because in the early days it was profoundly intense, because we were all competing against each other for everything. So these were friendships that were certainly wrestled through, but always with great love and respect."

Eddie loves that he and his friends still have so much in common, and have been through so many similar life experiences.

The actor explained: "Its so lovely to be navigating such odd terrain yet having pals going through similar things who you can call up. And it evolves, too. Like, how do you negotiate being an actor and being a parent? How do you negotiate deciding whether to go off and do a job for eight months?"

Despite this, Eddie insisted they've never did any "crazy" things when they were living together in Los Angeles.

He said: "I wish wed done more crazy s*** 20 years ago, just so wed have more things to spew up on the Jimmy Kimmel show. But the material is running pretty dry at this point."
The late Queen Elizabeth II is making a surprise Hollywood movie cameo.

The late Queen Elizabeth II is making a surprise Hollywood movie cameo

Her Majesty, who died aged 96 on 8 September 2022 at her beloved Balmoral estate in Scotland, will be appearing in Paddington in Peru when it is released on 8 November after a seven-year wait since Paddington 2 was released about the marmalade-loving bear.

The late monarch was famed for her sense of fun when it came to getting involved in Hollywood stunts  appearing with Daniel Craig in a James Bond sketch to mark the start of the London Olympics in 2012.

She also sat down with a version of Paddington for tea and a marmalade sandwich for a skit filmed for her 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

A section of the footage of her with the CGI bear will make up her cameo in Paddington 3, which will star The Crown actress Olivia Colman.

Approval from Buckingham Palace was needed to use the Paddington footage featuring the Queen, and the producer of Paddington 3 said the royal family was very happy for it to happen.

Ron Halpern, head of global productions at Studiocanal, which is behind the bear film, added to Variety its use came with the consent and agreement of the royal household.

Producer Rosie Alison added to the publication: (The royal family) were actually very happy for it to happen.

But we dont like to make a big deal of it, because Paddingtons obviously a very modest fellow.

Olivia, 50, said she signed without hesitation to appear in Paddington 3, and will return to the franchise to play nun the Reverend Mother.

She said: Paddington is just the best person in the whole wide world. Imagine if everyone was like Paddington  wouldnt that be lovely?

The film will follows the iconic bear, which is animated and voiced by actor Ben Whishaw, 44, as he travels abroad to visit Aunt Lucy in his homeland of Peru.
Tom Holland searches Zendaya's name on Google.

Zendaya and Tom Holland have been together for years

The 28-year-old actor and Zendaya went public with their romance back in 2021, and Tom has now revealed that he searches her name to "check" that she's okay.

Appearing on Samah Dada's 'On The Menu' podcast, Tom shared: "The last thing I Googled was actually Zendaya.

"Im not on [social media], and I delete it when Im not using it. So, sometimes, like, its more of a bit of an anxiety thing, but Ill check to see if everythings good and to make sure were all cool.

"So I just give her a little Google and look [through] the news, and Im like, Shes good.'"

Zendaya, 28, previously admitted that she tries to "control" what she shares with the outside world.

The Hollywood star has a huge online following, including more than 180 million followers on Instagram - but Zendaya has still managed to retain a degree of control over her life.

The actress - who has starred alongside Tom in the 'Spider-Man' film franchise - told ELLE magazine: "Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public. I cant not be a person and live my life and love the person I love.

"But also, I do have control over what I choose to share."

Zendaya's overarching ambition behind her approach to social media is to protect her "peace".

The actress - who first found stardom as a child - explained: "Its about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist. You cant hide. Thats not fun, either. I am navigating it more than ever now."
Shah Rukh Khan's Emotional Speech

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filmfare (@filmfare)

When Irrfan Khan Recreated Mohabbatein's Scene

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filmfare (@filmfare)

Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla's Unmissable Chemistry

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SRK's 'Hosting Disorder' Skit

Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan hosting the Filmfare Awards

Shah Rukh Khan's association with Filmfare goes back a long time. The actor started hosting the awards in 2003, but he won his first Black Lady in 1993 for his debut film Deewana. The actor who is well known for his sharp sense of humour and immense charm has given several memorable moments on the stage of Filmfare, that remain a significant part of our pop culture to date. On his 59th birthday, we look back at some of the most iconic moments of Shah Rukh Khan at the Filmfare Awards.Shah Rukh Khan accepted the Best Actor Award for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai at the 1999 Filmfare Awards. While he thanked Yash Johar and Hiroo Johar, his emotional speech won hearts. He recalled Yash Ji's advice of not giving up, even if one does not get it right the first time.Watch it here:Irrfan Khan is one such actor whose void is still felt in the film industry. He had paid tribute to King Khan's Mohabbatein at the Filmfare awards in his own humorous way. He held a violin in his hand with a sweater on him and recreated a scene of SRK playing the violin in the film. The late actor also gave a twist to the dialogue Ek Ladki Thi Deewani Si. The banter between the two legendary actors left the audience in splits.Watch it here:Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla's chemistry is not only confined to their movies. At the 52nd Filmfare Awards, the duo left everyone in stitches with their stage presence and banter. Shah Rukh compliments Juhi for her looks but the latter takes it upon her to roast SRK. And we must say, her humour was on point and Shah Rukh played along.Watch it here:It is a known fact that no one can host award shows like Shah Rukh does it. So, what happens when the actor is not allowed to host shows? He gets a 'Hosting disorder'.This skit remains one of the most iconic moments of Shah Rukh at the Filmfare Awards.In 2007, the two Khans of Bollywood came together to host the Filmfare Awards. They entered the stage on an auto and SRK asked Saif Ali Khan to pay for the ride because he did not have money. Shah Rukh and Saif also did a segment where they wore towels and face packs and roasted their industry colleagues. Shah Rukh called him and Saif vulgar for their shenanigans on the stage and joked that the organisers will never invite them to host the awards again.Filmfare wishes Shah Rukh Khan the happiest of birthdays.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2024) - SILICON METALS CORP. (CSE: SI) ("Silicon Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company has entered into an amendment agreement on October 31, 2024, amending the Hedge Hog Property Option Agreement with Eastfield Resources Ltd. The Hedge Hog Project is located 15km north of the town of Wells in the Caribou Mining Division of central British Columbia. Under the existing terms of the agreement, to maintain the option in good standing, the Company was required to incur expenditures of $25,000 on June 21, 2024, make a cash payment of $70,000 and issue $40,000 worth of shares on December 21, 2024, and incur expenditures of $1.63 million, make a final cash payment of $80,000 and issue $90,000 worth of shares on December 21, 2025. Under the amended terms of the agreement the Company and Eastfield have agreed to amend and extend the schedule of future expenditures, payments and issuances as follows:

Payment

Period Expenditures

Amount Cash

Payment Shares

($Eq) On or before Oct 31, 2024 - $10,000

(Paid) - On or before March 31, 2025 $25,000 - - On or before June 30, 2025 - $60,000 $40,000 On or before June 30, 2026 $1,630,000 $80,000 $90,000 $1,655,000 $150,000 $130,000

About Silicon Metals Corp.

Silicon Metals Corp. is currently focused on exploration in western Canada, namely British Columbia. The Company holds an undivided 100% right, title and interest in the Ptarmigan Silica Project located approximately 130km from Valemount, British Columbia, and currently has an Option to explore the Hedge Hog Project located 15km north of the town of Wells in the Caribou Mining Division of central British Columbia. Management and the board of directors currently consists of Morgan Good (Chief Executive Officer and Director), Leighton Bocking (Director), Adrian Smith (director and Qualified Person) and Bennett Liu (Chief Financial Officer).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

SILICON METALS CORP.

"Morgan Good"

Morgan Good

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/228621

SOURCE: Silicon Metals Corp.
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2024) - KaJ Labs, the developer behind the multichain AI-NFT platform Colle AI (COLLE), has announced plans to invest up to $100 million in Bitcoin over the next ten years. This long-term strategic investment reflects KaJ Labs' commitment to diversifying its portfolio and supporting decentralized digital assets as the future of global finance.

Seamless innovation with AI-powered tools and multichain NFT technology

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The gradual investment strategy will allocate funds incrementally over the decade. With Bitcoin gaining increased institutional adoption, KaJ Labs aims to position itself strategically within the evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency landscape, aligning with its core mission of promoting decentralized innovation.

As the developer of Colle AI, KaJ Labs has consistently pushed boundaries in AI and blockchain integration. This Bitcoin investment aligns with the broader vision of leveraging decentralized assets for sustainable innovation across its projects. Colle AI will continue to deliver advanced AI-powered NFT tools and multichain features to its users, reflecting the spirit of decentralization and creative empowerment.

This move underscores KaJ Labs' confidence in Bitcoin as a long-term store of value and a key driver of the future financial ecosystem. Through this initiative, the company aims to inspire further trust in blockchain-based assets while contributing to the broader adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi).

About KaJ Labs

KaJ Labs is a decentralized research organization focused on AI and blockchain technology. The organization is committed to developing innovative solutions that foster sustainability and decentralized frameworks in technology and beyond.

About Colle AI

Colle AI leverages AI technology to simplify the NFT creation process, empowering artists and creators to easily transform their ideas into digital assets. The platform aims to make NFT creation more accessible, fostering innovation in the digital art space.

Social Media:

Twitter

Instagram

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/228157

SOURCE: Kaj Labs
Dr Nicole Rous said she's never had a client make this kind of threat before.

A popular vet has sparked a discussion about the cost of animal care in Australia after a client told her to keep their two kittens after disputing the bill. Dr Nicole Rous, owner of Melbourne-based Mont Albert Vet clinic, shared her shock after the surprising twist following a routine desexing of two purebred kittens.

"The client called the week prior to the booking to find out how much a desexing was and the vet nurse said it was $300 for a cat to get desexed," she told Yahoo News Australia. It's understood the client then booked the two kittens in to have the procedure, but when the $600 bill was presented to the pet owner, "they claimed it was $300 for both cats, not per cat".

"They said 'just keep the cats Im not paying it'," Rous said, adding the clash was "quite confronting" for the vet nurse who spoke to the owner. Rous said the clinic eventually let the owner take both kittens and pay just $300 with the intention of keeping a close eye on the kittens' welfare in the future.

"I dont know if they were calling our bluff," she said of the threat. "I havent had someone say just keep the animals before."

Discussion over true cost of vet care

After posting about the incident on her social media accounts, Rous said she was taken aback by the heated discussion that ensued about the cost of vet care in Australia.

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"I didnt think that $300 per animal to get a general anaesthetic and a procedure is expensive, I was just blown away," she said, adding that the response to her video highlights the negative perception from the public about the "true cost" of vet care.

"Vet care is expensive, I get it. We dont have a medicare system for our pets so everything is out of pocket," she said, adding "we're used to everything being covered by Medicare [for ourselves]."

Rous points out the cost of a desexing involves a number of factors  including staff costs, medication, anaesthetic equipment, training, and even rent.

'Its not like we pick a number out of thin air, there is a reason behind it. Were the standard price for metro Melbourne," she said, adding desexing "can be one of the most complicated surgeries we do. Its a really hard surgery."

Rous explained there is a "long history" in Australia of vets discounting desexing. "We've done it as a community service but the downside is that people don't understand thats the true cost."

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Vet hopes incident opens up vet healthcare discussion

Dr Rous said she hopes it helps open up the discussion on the true cost of healthcare in Australia for our pets.

"The good thing is that weve had a bit more of the chat," she said as a result of the incident, adding "theres nothing more heartbreaking about making a decision about the life and health of a pet based on finances".

"Its a trauma that is so hard," she said. "We still try and support all our clients and cost is an issue for so many people these days," she said.

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Rous says she always recommends pet owners take out health insurance, and those struggling can even use apps like AfterPay and Vetpay as a payment plan for big bills.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Teva Pharmaceuticals disagrees with the European Commission decision, which is based on legal theories that the company believes are extreme, untested, and factually unsupported

The company intends to appeal the outcome and is fully prepared to mount its defense

Teva has supported the MS community since 1996 and will not be distracted from providing access to this important standard-of-care treatment

Teva works to the highest ethical standards with all our external experts and do so in a highly regulated environment



TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 31, 2024following its investigation into the company's practices regarding COPAXONE -- the standard-of-care treatment for multiple sclerosis - and announcing its intention to appeal the judgement and fine imposed.

The company is deeply disappointed by this decision and has been cooperating extensively with the EC since 2019. Teva disagrees with the Commission's legal theories which are legally untested and, Teva believes, not supported by the facts. The company will vigorously defend its position on appeal and is well prepared financially to mount a defense.

Teva conducts its business lawfully and ethically and has been a strong partner to Europe, its patients, economy and healthcare systems. This misguided decision will not distract Teva from its unwavering support for patients living with MS and their families.

Media Contacts:

Kelley Dougherty (973) 832-2810

Eden Klein +972 (3) 906 2645
Challenges traditional view of transition from nomadic pastoralism to nascent urbanism

ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New archaeological research has revealed an exceptional Bronze Age town in the Khaybar oasis of northwest Arabia, confirming a major transition from mobile, nomadic life to settled, town life in the second half of the third millennium BCE.

The finding infers that oases such as Khaybar were carefully controlled and valued landscapes that, with the advent of agriculture, supported permanent populations as centres for exchange and interaction with mobile communities. This nascent urbanism profoundly impacted the region's socio-economic organisation.

Known as al-Natah, the newly discovered town provides evidence for differentiated functional areas - residential and funerary - within fortifications. Al-Natah was built around 2400-2000 BCE and endured until 1500-1300 BCE. Home to some 500 people across 2.6 hectares, it was protected by a stone rampart that encircled the Khaybar oasis.

People in al-Natah lived in dwellings with the ground floor possibly used for storage, with living spaces above. They walked along narrow streets and buried their dead in stepped tower tombs. They prepared food with mortar and pestle, made and traded pottery, and travelled extensively. They worked metals, grew cereals, and raised animals.

His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla and Minister of Culture for Saudi Arabia, stated: "This important archaeological discovery highlights the Kingdom's global significance in the field of archaeology and confirms the depth of civilisation that the land holds. This discovery reinforces the Kingdom's efforts in protecting cultural and historical heritage and emphasises the importance of exchanging knowledge and expertise with the world to enhance awareness of our shared human heritage."

His Highness added, "This discovery confirms the Kingdom's commitment to preserving the world's heritage and promoting cultural heritage in accordance with the provisions of Saudi Vision 2030. It also highlights the importance of strengthening international partnerships to present this rich legacy to future generations and the world."

The discovery was led by Dr Guillaume Charloux of the Khaybar Longue Duree Archaeological Project and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and includes Saudis from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), Dr Munirah Almushawh, a co-director of the project, and Saifi Alshilali, a historian and a member of the local community in Khaybar.

The research was sponsored by the RCU and the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (AFALULA). RCU's Archaeology, Collections and Conservation team is directing an ambitious archaeological research programme in AlUla.

The discovery furthers the emergence of AlUla and Saudi Arabia as global centres for archaeological research and intercultural dialogue. By commissioning and championing revelatory research on past human activity, RCU is demonstrating its archaeological leadership and responsible custodianship of cultural heritage.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, the research challenges the picture of mobile pastoral-nomadism as the dominant economic and social way of life of northwest Arabia in the Early and Middle Bronze Ages.

Dr Charloux, stated: "Our discovery challenges the model of northwest Arabia in the Bronze Age. Al-Natah confirms that rural urbanism arose earlier than believed, making it possible to consider the complexity of a sedentary settlement in a walled Bronze Age oasis."

During the coming autumn fieldwork season, RCU is supporting 10 archaeological projects comprising more than 100 archaeologists and associated specialists in AlUla County and Khaybar.

The article can be found here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0309963

For an image gallery and captions, including a rendering of what al-Natah might have looked like, visit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_Jbw6gbmTHGG27DGtdyMcVwxc-M8y_k4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2546742/RCU_Fig_14.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2546743/RCU_Fig_7.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2546752/RCU_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/archaeologists-discover-bronze-age-town-buried-in-northwest-arabia-the-regions-first-discovery-of-its-kind-302294660.html
The event's first day saw a memorable kick-off with Emirati and Chinese dignitaries touring cultural exhibits, enjoying performances, and celebrating the UAE-China partnership.

Visitors are encouraged to join the further festivities on November 2nd and 3rd as there are still plenty more exciting celebrations to come

ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The much-anticipated "Building Bridges for the Future UAE & China" event kicked off today in grand style on Abu Dhabi's Corniche, celebrating 40 years of UAE-China diplomatic relations.

This unique cultural festival, running from November 1st to 3rd, brings together the rich traditions and shared future of these two nations. The celebration offers a vibrant mix of cultural exhibitions, hands-on workshops, live performances, and culinary experiences, inviting everyone to explore the evolution and vision of UAE-China relations.

The event's opening day welcomed an array of distinguished guests, including H.E. Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth; H.E. Zhang Yiming, the Chinese Ambassador to the UAE; H.E. Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh, UAE Minister of State, and H.E. Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Tourism and Culture Authority - Abu Dhabi.

Starting with a traditional Al-Ayyala dance, gahwa, and dates, the dignitaries were guided through the event's three thematic areas: Past, Present, and Future. In the "Past" section, large narrative scrolls displayed key moments from the early days of UAE-China diplomatic ties, highlighting milestones that paved the way for the current relationship. Moving into the "Present" area, visitors experienced the "walking together" theme, Kung Fu performances and Emirati cultural displays symbolized the harmony and mutual vision both nations share. Finally, in the "Future" area, interactive exhibits invited attendees to imagine the shared aspirations of the UAE and China, symbolizing the nations' continued journey toward deeper collaboration.

After a memorable first day, "Building Bridges for the Future UAE & China" will continue through November 3rd. Visitors can look forward to more live performances, immersive workshops, and unique culinary delights, celebrating the enduring connection between the UAE and China. As these two nations look forward, this event underscores their shared values, mutual respect, and commitment to building a future of unity and progress.

When: November 1st to 3rd

Timings: from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM for all days

Where: Abu Dhabi's Corniche

Buy tickets online here - https://abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/95487/building-bridges-for-the-future

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2547365/UAE_China.jpg

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute wrapped up Day 3 of its 8th annual gathering in Riyadh, with an "Investment Day" under the theme of "Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow." Leaders, investors, and innovators explored avenues to drive impactful investment in emerging markets, venture capital, and sustainable growth strategies, setting the stage for the future of global finance and economic development.

Richard Attias, CEO of the FII Institute, commented on the day's events: "Today's discussions underscored the power of targeted investments to transcend traditional boundaries, creating opportunities in markets that promise to shape the next economic era. Our collective focus on deploying capital with long-term vision and sustainability will guide us as we navigate an ever-changing landscape."

Standout Moments from FII8 Day 3:

1. Opening Remarks by H.E. Faisal F. Alibrahim

H.E. Faisal F. Alibrahim, Minister of Economy & Planning for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia opening remarks set the tone for the day, emphasizing the role of investment in Saudi Arabia's economic transformation under Vision 2030, highlighting non-oil growth as pivotal for future diversification.

2. Panel on Alternative Asset Growth in Emerging Markets

Key insights were shared during a session featuring H.E. Mohammed El-Kuwaiz, Chairman, Capital Market Authority (CMA); Rishi Kapoor, Vice Chairman & CIO, Investcorp; Chip Kaye, Chairman, Warburg Pincus LLC which focused on new frontiers in alternative asset growth. This panel explored trends driving investments in emerging economies, spotlighting regions set to lead the next growth phase.

3. Capital Allocators Roundtable

A high-level discussion gathered influential leaders to discuss 2024's projected impact for alternative assets and the diversification trends shaping institutional portfolios. The roundtable featured a diverse array of experts, including institutional investors, and thought leaders, all sharing insights on how alternative investments are becoming crucial in navigating economic uncertainties.

4. Venture Capital Hotspots: Catalysts for Disruption

In this session, the panel explored the evolving landscape of innovation funding, with a particular emphasis on developments in burgeoning markets like Saudi Arabia.

5. Health Humanity Initiative

In a global effort to secure a healthier future for all, FII Institute launched the Healthy Humanity Initiative inviting over 100 corporations, 10 health insurance companies insurers and governments from the Global South and North to join the movement to impact lives by providing free preventive health checkups for citizens every two years, waive up to 50% in health bills and ensure tax-free benefits. So far, this initiative has garnered support from Saudi Health in All Policies (HIAP), Claure Group, Moderna, Merck GCC, ?Ausmed Global, ?Qi Ming Venture Partners, ?Burjeel Holdings, SCAI, CURA, Genrait and Cleveland Clinic.

6. Health Longevity Compass

The FII Institute presented findings from the Healthy Longevity Compass, which surveyed 22,600 respondents across 21 countries in partnership with The McKinsey Health Institute. The study revealed that 70% of individuals aspire to adopt healthier living habits, yet 43% in developing countries are dissatisfied with access to nutritious food. Read the Full Report Here.

7. Investment Day

FII8 Investment Day launched a dynamic new chapter for the entrepreneurial ecosystem, transforming bold visions into actionable solutions that drive progress. At the inaugural global program hosted by FII Institute, five start-up companies showcased their cutting-edge tech solutions tackling world's most pressing global challenges in artificial intelligence and robotics, sustainability, health and education. Among the innovators were: Oxccu, Sakuu, Beyond-Aero, Archireef and Bytelearn.

In the finale, Sakuu emerged as the winner and was crowned FII8 Innovator 2024. Each participating company received 2025 FII Institute complimentary membership and access to the FII Venture Program - powered by General Atlantic and Lakestar. This comprehensive support system is designed to accelerate their growth, offering unparalleled opportunities for market expansion, knowledge sharing and global visibility. Additionally, the innovative start-ups are eligible for a market expansion package providing over $10 million in financing grants and startup support. They may also benefit from soft landing program through NTDP (Saudi Arabia) and Hong Kong Science and Technology Park.

8. Closing Remarks by H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, KSA Minister of Foreign Affairs. H.H. Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of global citizenship in addressing today's pressing issues. He highlighted that collaboration across nations is vital for tackling conflicts, climate change, health crises, and economic disparities.

9. Announcements: During the four days of the FII8 conference, over 30 plus announcements worth 70 billion dollars were made that focused on promoting sustainable development and innovative solutions for humanity. Additionally, strategic partnerships were established highlighting collaboration across various sectors, including technology, quality of life, and innovation.

As FII8 wrapped up, the narrative of a united front for positive change was clear. The collective voices of leaders and innovators echoed the sentiment that the future is not just a vision; it's a movement we are all part of Day 3 at FII8 demonstrated the Institute's commitment to connecting capital with impactful initiatives, further strengthening the global investment landscape. The FII Institute continues its mission of fostering sustainable and forward-looking investments that empower change across diverse geographies.

For media inquiries, please contact: media@fii-institute.org

About FII Institute

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute is a global non-profit foundation driven by data with an investment arm and one agenda: Impact on Humanity. Global and inclusive, we foster great minds from around the world and turn ideas into real-world solutions in four critical areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Robotics, Education, Healthcare and Sustainability.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fii8-day-three-ends-with-70-billion-in-deals-announced-302294716.html
Kher gears up for a new film called Vijay 69 that will stream on Netflix on November 8. And in an exclusive interview with Firstpost, spoke about it read more

Anupam Kher began his journey at the age of 29 by playing a 60-plus retired common man in mentor Mahesh Bhatts aching Saaransh. Cut to 2024, he has been hailed as the most profitable actor many times, has successfully completed more than 500 films, written two very inspirational books, hosted a chat show about the inner personalities and hidden struggles of actors and filmmakers, and hosted a show called Manzilen Aur Bhi Hain.

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He now gears up for a new film called Vijay 69 that will stream on Netflix on November 8. And in an exclusive interview with Firstpost, spoke about it.

Edited excerpts from the interview

I first want to start by asking you about your 40 years in the industry, more than 500 films, how would you describe your journey?

Miraculous. Fantastic. Superb. Gratitude. Thankfulness. Its a great journey. Im thankful to my producer, directors, and the god almighty for giving me a possibility. Theres a beautiful line in the film that dreams have no expiry dates, Id like to add they dont have any quota either. I genuinely believe all dreams come true. All dreams come true. You just have to work hard and be honest and be optimistic about it.

Be it Saaransh, be it Shola Aur Shubnam, be it A Wednesday, be it Khosla Ka Ghosla, be it Vijay 69; how do you prepare for your characters? What does your prep look like as well?

Over a period of time, things have changed. My preparation style has changed. Earlier, I was trying to prove to the world that Im a brilliant actor. And, now my competition is with myself, when youve done so much work, you can only give your best if you make your job difficult. And as an actor, you can make your job difficult by thinking how not to do it in a conventional manner. Lets try and sort of do it in a different manner. Even signature, which right now is being talked about. In this character, Im in every film, Im not in a hurry now to, sort of say. I just like to create a character which is very unlike my own personality, Very unlike the way I would like to do.

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Like, if I have to, do a scene which sort of says that inherent anger is there. But there are millions of them. 4 people are sitting here, 7 people are behind the camera. There are 11 ways of doing anger scenes. Im not a lazy actor. Its laziness which makes a brilliant actor into a mediocre actor. I may be lazy about anything else, but not when it comes to my job. And I also discovered at a very early stage that what you do in front of the camera is registered now for 1000 of years. But I dont want to either. I think opening an acting school gave me an added sense of responsibility.

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I dont want my students to see me and say Yeh humara Principle hai? And also opportunities like Vijay 69 are brilliant opportunities. You cant go wrong. You cant get a script like this and be not 100%. You have to be 100% because theres a possibility that the opportunity is given. And youre also doing one film at a time. I learned how to swim for this film. I never would have thought. I thought I am 68 right now, obviously, swimming technique is a good thing. But that was a challenge. The parallel between my personal life and Vijays life of ambition, of dreams is the same.

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I have given everything to Vijay 69. All of us have given in whatever reservoir we have. And also, I think when you are doing the role of the film, its your job to inspire everybody to do their best. Its not an individuals journey. If I am 100% giving myself and hes giving 80, no. He has to give 100%. He has to give 100%. And thats what everybody has done. Were very fortunate to have a director and writer in Akshay who s not 69. Hes much, much younger. But for him also in his mind, I think with all that story running, I have to make this film a success, for myself to sort of validate myself.

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I remember I was having breakfast with Yash Chopra ji at his house when his secretary came and said Kaka ready hai. He was taught how to ride a horse and do action and when the discussion about acting came, he said, Woh to seekh jaayega. (Laughs) If you can prove yourself to be an actor, you can live longer in todays time. Otherwise, you can be a star. How many people go viral in todays time? Everyday, there are some viral stories. Everyday, there are some people trending on social media. You dont remember who was trending yesterday on social media? Nobody.

One of my all time favourite characters of yours is Major IM Lathi from Shola aur Shabnam. Its a fantastic character. Tremendous amount of repeat value. What are your memories of shooting that?

Oh, amazing. Amazing. The best thing about David Dhawan is that he has a rough idea of the scene and rough idea of the script and poori picture set pe hi banti hai. My character is a big fan of Sridevi. And then, Govinda and other people play a prank on him that shes staying in room number 368. He shaves off his moustache he prides and goes to meet her in that room. He lies down next to her. And he says Aaj badi different lag rahi ho,, and this and that. And then she turns and he turns towards her. It was all improvised. I had a great time and I meet so many people whose favorite film is Shola Aur Shabnam. It was great working on that film and Govinda is a very fine actor.
On the eve of his special day, The Academy paid tribute to Shah Rukh Khan by sharing his iconic entry from Karan Johars Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, where the actor enters his Raichand mansion on Diwali read more

The megastar of the Indian film industry, Shah Rukh Khan aka SRK, who enjoys global stardom, is celebrating his 59th birthday today.

On the eve of his special day, The Academy paid tribute to the Jawan star by sharing his iconic entry from Karan Johars Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, where the actor enters his Raichand mansion on Diwali. As soon as Rahul (SRK) lands in the black chopper and puts his feet on the ground his mother Nandini (Jaya Bachchan) feels his presence around.

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Sharing the post, The Academy captioned it, A mothers intuition is always right. (sparkle emoji). In a comment, The Academy also wrote, Is this SRKs best entry scene? (thinking emoji).

Fans reacted to the clip as one user wrote, One of his best entries And its the whole scenario, basically! This scene is etched on our minds like SRK is the king of romance due to dreamy movies like these (heart eyes and red heart emojis).

Unbelievable. This has reached even the Academys!!!! another fan commented. While one netizen wrote, This is one of the most ICONIC moments in Indian cinema ever! another user said, SRK face of Indian Cinema and his iconic Film KKKG featured in Official Page of the Accademy that too on one day before SRKs birthday, what else do i need to cherish as a SRK fanboy and a Cinema lover from India? . This GOATed Entry scene n film does deserve all the fame  ( hope it aint a regional post)

Karan Johar shared the clip on his Instagram story and wrote, This post made me smile wide. K3G also featured Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Johny Lever, Farida Jalal, Sushma Seth and others with cameos from Rani Mukerji and Jugal Hansraj.
Clearer skies, above-normal temperatures in October and strong winds saved Delhis air quality from deteriorating into the severe category, despite relentless bursting of firecrackers during Diwali celebrations read more

People jog at Kartavya Path as air quality continues to remain poor, in New Delhi, early Saturday morning, Nov. 2, 2024. PTI

Clearer skies, above-normal temperatures in October and strong winds saved Delhis air quality from deteriorating into the severe category, despite the relentless bursting of firecrackers during the celebrations the previous day.

On Friday morning, the pollution level was the lowest since 2015, with the exception of 2022, even though the 24-hour average air quality on the days before Diwali and on Diwali  Wednesday and Thursday, respectively  was worse than in the previous two years.

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Lets take a closer look.

Delhi air quality

A thick layer of haze blanketed the National Capital, with the air quality index (AQI) recorded at 362 at 9 am as people defied a citywide ban on firecrackers on Diwali. However, the condition improved and the citys 24-hour average AQI at 4 pm was 339, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe and above 450 severe-plus.

It was anticipated that the citys air quality would enter the severe category due to the bursting of firecrackers, but it remained very poor.

Of the 40 weather-monitoring stations in the city, 32 recorded very poor air quality, the data showed.

People burst firecrackers during the Diwali festival celebrations, in New Delhi, Thursday night, October 31, 2024. PTI

Areas including Alipur (335), Anand Vihar (385), Ashok Vihar (365), Aaya Nagar (316), Bawana (364), Burari (345), Mathura Road (332), IGI Airport, Dwarka (367), Jahangirpuri (361), Mundka (340), Patparganj (339), Rohini (367), Sonia Vihar (370) and Wazirpur (366) recorded very poor air quality, according to the Sameer app that provides hourly updates of the National AQI published by the CPCB.

Fridays post-Diwali 24-hour average air quality index was 339, just 11 points higher than Thursdays reading of 328. The post-Diwali air quality this year was better than 358 on November 13, 2023, the day after Diwali. With an AQI of 462, Delhi had the worst post-Diwali air quality day in 2021.

As the air quality remained in very poor category, Environment Minister Gopal Rai expressed gratitude to Delhiites for largely refraining from bursting firecrackers on Diwali.

Thanks to the responsible actions of many residents who avoided using firecrackers, we managed to avoid a severe AQI reading, he said.

Also read: Why is the Delhi air quality so poor despite firecracker ban?

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Low pollution levels

The report said the PM2.5 levels decreased by four per cent as compared to last years Diwali, while the PM10 levels increased by 11 per cent. The acceptable annual standard for PM2.5 is 40 micrograms per cubic metre.

PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles with a diameter that is generally 2.5 micrometre or smaller and are hazardous for health conditions. PM10 are particulate matters that are 10 micrometre or less in diameter.

The Capital also saw an increase in noise pollution levels between 6 pm and midnight on Diwali, data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) showed.

Pigeons eat grains by the side of a road, in New Delhi, Friday, November 1, 2024. PTI

The reason

This years favourable post-Diwali air quality was maintained by a number of variables, including the National Capitals warm temperatures and strong winds.

Despite the ban, firecrackers were burst in Delhi-NCR. However, the air quality did not reach the severe category as the winds helped improve the situation, environmentalist Vimalendu Jha told PTI. However, he added that in the coming days, there is a possibility of a spike in pollution levels in the capital due to unfavourable weather conditions.

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Higher temperatures cause the atmospheres mixing heightan imperceptible layer that allows particles to travel freelyto rise. This mixing height is lowered by low temperatures, which also slow down the flow of these pollutants and particles.

Temperatures were significantly lower last year when Diwali was celebrated on November 13, with a monthly average lowest of 13 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 27.8 degrees Celsius.

Vehicles move on a road amid low visibility due to smog, on Diwali, in New Delhi, Thursday night, October 31, 2024. PTI

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this years October was the warmest in 73 years. The monthly maximum and minimum averages recorded at the citys Safdarjung weather station in October were 35.1 degrees Celsius and 21.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Another factor of the weather that improved the air quality was the wind speed, which until Friday morning was only three to seven kilometres per hour. From midday onwards, the wind speed gradually increased to 15 km/h.

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An average wind speed of 10 kilometres per hour is considered favourable for the dispersal of pollutants.

Tiny pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10, which had increased on Thursday probably as a result of crackers popping and stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, decreased the following day as a result of the stronger winds.

Also read: In Graphics | What breathing polluted air does to your body?

Record number of emergency calls

The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) reported a surge in fire-related calls on Diwali, with more than 300 such incidents  the highest in 13 years  reported from across the city.

According to a DFS official, the increase in the number of such calls this year was due to the extensive use of firecrackers.

People light sparklers during the Diwali festival celebrations, in New Delhi, Thursday night, October 31, 2024. PTI

Delhi hospitals reported more than 280 cases of burn injuries, largely caused by firecrackers, on Diwali.

The Safdarjung Hospital, which has the largest burn unit in the country, recorded the highest number of 117 such cases on Thursday, followed by 48 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and 19 at the LNJP Hospital.

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Of the patients, 102 suffered minor burns and were treated in the outpatient departments, while 15 with major burns were admitted, according to hospital authorities.

Although the Delhi government had set up 377 enforcement teams and spread awareness through local associations to ensure compliance with the firecracker ban, neighbourhoods across the eastern and western parts of the city reported large-scale flouting of the restrictions.

Gaps in enforcement, limited monitoring and easy access to firecrackers at places in the National Capital Region (NCR) where restrictions were slack were largely responsible for the widespread flouting of the firecracker ban, experts said.

With inputs from PTI
India has reasons to cheer this week. Ahead of Diwali, the country got its first private military aircraft facility in Gujarats Vadodara. Indias anti-drone gun, Vajra-Shot, was also a big talking point. All this and more in our weekly roundup read more

Its the Diwali weekend and India has had a couple of reasons to cheer. Make in India is no longer a distant dream.

For starters, Indias first private military aircraft facility was opened in Gujarats Vadodara. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez inaugurated it.

India is also taking big strides in defence exports. Top buyers include the United States, France and Armenia. And the country is getting innovative with its arsenal. As drones become a big part of modern warfare, India now has its own anti-drone gun called Vajra-Shot.

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Festives filled the air. Diwali was celebrated with much joy across the country. Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya stole the show, as it lit 25 lakh diyas and held a mega aarti, breaking two Guinness World Records.

Volunteers light earthen oil lamps along the Saryu river during Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of Diwali, in Ayodhya, on October 30. AP

All this and more in our weekly roundup of stories from India.

1. Until a few years ago, India was reliant on other nations to boost its defence. But no more. With each passing year, it is becoming more self-reliant (atmanirbhar), which has been the prime ministers vision. Earlier this week, PM Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the Tata-Airbus aircraft facility. Its the first such plant that will see a military aircraft being made on Indian soil.

The Vadodara facility will manufacture 40 C-295 transport planes for the Indian Air Force. From jobs to defence manufacturing, heres why this project is a reason for India to celebrate.

2. From the conflict in West Asia to the Russia-Ukraine war, drones are a big part of modern warfare. Counter-drone technology then is the need of the hour. Not wanting to be caught unawares, India is preparing for any potential threats.

A Chennai-based defence start-up Big Bang Boom Solutions developed an anti-drone gun called the Vajra-Shot. The handheld weapon can detect and jam drone signals, disrupting communications between drones and their operators. Heres everything we know about it.

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3. India is growing as a defence exporter. And one of its top buyers is the tiny West Asian nation, Armenia.

As defence exports reached an all-time high in the financial year 2023-24, Armenia became a top buyer. It has secured advanced missile systems, surveillance aircraft, and rocket launchers from India. The country, which depended on Russia, is now looking at other options. We tell you all about it in this story.

Defence Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired the indigenously developed Pinaka guided rocket system, at Pokhran, in March 2019. This is among the India-made weapons that India exports to Armenia. File photo/PTI

4. Russias war in Ukraine continues and the sanctions are beginning to hurt Moscow. The country airlines are facing a shortage of planes, making it difficult to keep pace with the rising demand for air travel.

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In such a situation, it has turned to friendly nations like India for help. It wants them to run domestic flights in its airspace. Is it possible? Will New Delhi step in? We explain.

A passenger aircraft flies past multi-storey apartment blocks before landing at Sheremetyevo International Airport, on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia. The nation is facing a shortage of planes as it continues to be slapped with Western sanctions for invading Ukraine. Reuters

5. Dhanteras has become synonymous with gold. Indians rush to buy the precious metal on this auspicious day. But guess what the Reserve Bank of India did this Dhanteras. It shipped 102 tonnes of gold from the Bank of Englands vaults in London to secure locations within India.

This year alone, the RBI has brought back 202 tonnes of gold. So why was gold stored in a bank overseas? And whats behind Indias latest move? We tell you all about it.

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The Reserve Bank of India has shifted 102 tonnes of gold from the vaults of the Bank of England to India this Dhanteras. Representational image/Reuters

6. When you think of Diwali shopping what comes to mind? Clothes, jewellery, firecrackers? But in parts of India, people are shelling out up to Rs 50,000 to buy owls. Illegal trade of the bird sees a spike during this time of the year. We tell you why.

A seized horned owl is displayed by the Delhi Wildlife Department in New Delhi. The demand for the birds in illegal markets surges ahead of Diwali. File photo/Reuters

7. This year, Diwali coincided with another festival, Halloween. Until a few years ago, this was only a tradition in the West. But through pop culture, Halloween transcended to Indias metros and now children going trick-or-treating and costume parties are not unheard of.

But did you know that India too has its own traditions that celebrate dead ancestors, the supernatural and the spooky? This story tells you all about them.

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Thats our curated reading list for the Diwali weekend. Enjoy the celebrations. And if you like the way we explain the news, bookmark this page, please.
With threats being issued for an attack on the Jatiya Partys central office in Dhaka, things are going from bad to worse in Bangladesh read more

Unidentified attackers targeted an office of the Jatiya Party, an ally of Sheikh Hasina's party the Awami League, in Dhaka on October 31, 2024, amidst ongoing unrest in the country . Image courtesy: AP

In recent days, leaders of the anti-discrimination movement have levelled verbal attacks against the Jatiya Party, accusing it of colluding with the Awami League. Notably, the Jatiya Party was not invited to discussions facilitated by the Chief Advisors office, which have included all other political parties except for the Awami League and its allies. In Rangpur, a stronghold for the Jatiya Party, those student leaders were declared unwelcome by the party. Subsequently, one student leader, Sarjis Alam, visited the city accompanied by the Inspector General of Bangladesh Police.

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On October 31 in Dhaka, student leaders announced plans for an attack on the Jatiya Partys central office, which resulted in vandalism and arson, indicative of a coordinated assault. This raises concerns about the orchestration of prior incidents of violence, which were previously characterised as mob actions.

A student leader admitted on a television program that the fires at metro stations and the killings of police officers were part of their strategy. Advisor Nahid Islam stated that if their so-called revolution faltered, they had intentions to initiate an armed movement, even preparing a video message with a journalist for this purpose. This further underscores that this movement was not a spontaneous uprising; Muhammad Yunus described it as a meticulously designed initiative.

Various tactics were employed to engage segments of the public as part of their plans A, B, and C, which seemingly included arson and armament theft. This raises critical questions regarding the origins and whereabouts of the weapons intended for their planned armed uprising and whether there was a coordinated effort to assist jailbreaks and facilitate the escape of militants. What prior arrangements may have been made with top criminals, and can Gen-Z engage critically with these issues?

In Mirpur, garment workers attempted to loot a police food truck due to prolonged unemployment resulting from over a hundred factory closures. This desperation led to clashes between the workers and security forces, culminating in the army opening fire, resulting in the deaths of two workers. In retaliation, the workers set fire to army and police vehicles. Amid this turmoil, a sudden attack on the Jatiya Partys central office was orchestrated, seemingly to divert attention from the unrest. Claims were made that Jatiya Party workers had instigated the violence, even presenting a plastic gun as evidencean item that broke under scrutiny from a journalist, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.

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Additionally, Yunuss recent interview with The Financial Express has ignited debate and criticism among journalists, with many questioning his undemocratic inclinations. Reports indicate that Asif Nazrul, serving as a legal advisor, has been granted authority akin to that of a Speaker of the Parliament.

Connecting these events provides insight into the current political trajectory of the country. The consequences of such actions will inevitably impact all, including those who may currently stand outside this dynamic. Even the Jatiya Party, which supported this so-called revolution on July 16, may find itself facing repercussions, as will others in the broader political landscape.

The author is a Sweden-based blogger and IT expert known for insightful analysis on Bangladeshs political landscape. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to simmermarked by covert operations, cyberattacks, and a protracted war of influencethe Eagle-44 base is a strategic asset for Iran that could tilt the balance read more

Deep within Irans rugged Zagros Mountains lies a military marvel thats reshaping the balance of power in the Middle Eastthe Eagle-44. This hidden fortress, packed with long-range missiles, resilient drones, and fortified bunkers, isnt just a strategic asset; its a bold declaration in Irans shadow war with Israel. As regional tensions simmer, Eagle-44 emerges as a potent deterrent and a nightmare scenario for Israels defence planners.

What makes this underground base so formidable, and how could it escalate the Iran-Israel conflict to unprecedented levels? Dive into the hidden depths of Eagle-44 and discover why this secret base could redefine Middle Eastern security forever.

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What is Eagle 44

The Eagle-44 missile base, unveiled by Iran in July 2023, is a crucial addition to the countrys military infrastructure, reflecting Tehrans ambition to fortify its defence capabilities and create a potent deterrent against regional adversaries, particularly Israel. As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to simmermarked by covert operations, cyberattacks, and a protracted war of influencethe Eagle-44 base represents a strategic asset that could tilt the balance. Heres an in-depth look at how the Eagle-44 could play a pivotal role in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, from its operational capabilities to its psychological impact on Israels defence strategy.

Strategic Role

The Iran-Israel conflict has grown increasingly complex, with each nation leveraging both conventional and unconventional warfare. Israel, with its superior air force and technological edge, has conducted numerous operations targeting Irans nuclear and military infrastructure. In response, Iran has steadily expanded its missile and drone capabilities, developing underground facilities like Eagle-44 to safeguard its strategic assets from Israeli airstrikes.

Eagle-44, located in the protective embrace of the Zagros Mountains, bolsters Irans capacity to launch retaliatory strikes against Israel or its allies in the event of conflict. The bases strategic positioning and fortified design provide Iran with a reliable counterstrike option, complicating any plans Israel might have for pre-emptive strikes. Israels strategy relies on rapid, precision attacks on Irans missile and nuclear capabilities; with bases like Eagle-44, however, Iran gains the ability to endure an initial assault and respond forcefully, potentially inflicting severe damage on Israeli assets.

Advanced Missiles for Long Range Threats

The Eagle-44 is equipped with a range of missiles that can strike targets deep within Israel. The Hoveizeh cruise missile, one of Irans most advanced, has a range of over 1,350 kilometres, making it capable of reaching virtually any point in Israel. The Raad-500 missile, known for its mobility and speed, is another powerful asset, allowing Iran to launch rapid attacks with minimal warning. These missiles are equipped with precision guidance systems, which enhance Irans ability to accurately target critical Israeli military installations, infrastructure, and urban centres if hostilities escalate.

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Such long-range missile capabilities pose a direct threat to Israels Iron Dome, Davids Sling, and Arrow missile defence systems. While Israels defence architecture is sophisticated, it is not impenetrable. The sheer volume of missiles that the Eagle-44 can store and launch from its fortified position increases the potential for overwhelming Israeli defences, especially if combined with simultaneous attacks from other bases or allies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Drone Capabilities for Asymmetrical Warfare

Iran has invested heavily in drone technology, and Eagle-44 serves as a hub for both surveillance and combat drones. These drones are central to Irans strategy of asymmetrical warfare, allowing it to conduct operations against Israel without directly engaging in air-to-air combat, where Israels superior air force would dominate. Irans drones have previously been deployed against Israel and its allies, including Saudi Arabia, and are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

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At Eagle-44, drones can serve multiple roles: gathering intelligence, attacking targets with minimal detection, and creating confusion in Israels airspace. The drones could be deployed in swarm formations, potentially overwhelming Israeli radar systems and causing delays in response. Furthermore, Iran could use these drones to probe weaknesses in Israels air defences, identify target vulnerabilities, and gather real-time data to aid in missile strikes.

Survivability and Resilience

One of the core benefits of the Eagle-44 is its survivability, thanks to its location within the mountainous terrain of the Zagros range. This environment provides substantial natural protection against airstrikes, including Israels advanced bunker-busting bombs. Eagle-44s fortified infrastructureencompassing underground missile silos, blast-resistant bunkers, and sophisticated launch facilitiesensures that Irans strategic weapons remain operational even under sustained bombardment.

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For Israel, the existence of such a base complicates potential strike operations. A preemptive strike aimed at neutralising Irans missile capability would need to penetrate Eagle-44s defences, likely requiring multiple waves of precision strikes to ensure complete destruction. The time and resources required for such an operation increase the risk and reduce the likelihood of success, particularly if Iran retaliates during or after the strikes.

Additionally, the resilience of the Eagle-44 serves as a message to Israel that any attempt to incapacitate Irans missile capabilities will be met with a prepared and entrenched response. This could deter Israeli leadership from launching preemptive strikes, forcing Israel to reconsider its approach to Irans missile program.

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Psychological Warfare and Deterrence

Irans unveiling of the Eagle-44 is as much about psychological warfare as it is about military capability. Israel, already on high alert due to Irans advancements in missile technology and nuclear enrichment, now faces a visible and tangible representation of Irans deterrence strategy. The mere existence of Eagle-44 sends a message to Israeli decision-makers that any offensive against Iran will come at a steep cost.

This psychological dimension impacts not only Israels leadership but also its population, potentially stoking fears of retaliatory strikes. The psychological deterrence of a retaliatory Iranian strike could play a role in shaping Israeli public opinion, pressuring Israeli leaders to explore diplomatic avenues rather than escalating the conflict. In the event of an attack, Iran could utilize its missile and drone assets at Eagle-44 to target Israeli cities, a tactic that could have a profound impact on Israeli society and its perception of security.

The Ripple Effect

Eagle-44s capabilities could also influence Irans regional allies, particularly Hezbollah and Syrian factions loyal to Tehran. By enhancing its missile and drone infrastructure, Iran strengthens its position as a regional power and demonstrates to its allies that it has the means to counter Israeli aggression. Hezbollah, which already possesses a significant missile stockpile, could benefit from technical and logistical support from Irans fortified bases like Eagle-44, improving its own deterrent posture.

For Israel, this dynamic creates a multi-front threat, with the risk of coordinated attacks from Iran-backed forces in Lebanon, Syria, and possibly Iraq. Eagle-44 amplifies Irans ability to support its allies and increases Israels strategic vulnerability to coordinated regional attacks. This scenario forces Israel to consider not only direct threats from Iran but also the broader network of proxies that could be mobilised in a conflict.

For the United States, which maintains a strategic interest in curbing Irans missile and nuclear ambitions, Eagle-44 represents a significant challenge. The bases resilience against conventional strikes means that diplomatic efforts or alternative tactics may need to be prioritised. The US may bolster its missile defence systems in the Gulf region or increase intelligence support for Israel to counterbalance Irans missile capabilities.

Potential Israeli Responses

Faced with the strategic and psychological challenge posed by Eagle-44, Israel may adopt a variety of responses, from cyber warfare to diplomacy. Israel has a sophisticated cyber warfare unit that could attempt to disrupt Irans command and control systems at Eagle-44. However, Iran is aware of such capabilities and has invested in cybersecurity to protect its critical military infrastructure.

Another potential response could involve increased intelligence-sharing with allies like the United States to identify vulnerabilities in Irans defence. Collaborative efforts with the U.S. and Gulf states could provide Israel with additional military and economic leverage against Iran. Additionally, Israel may intensify its diplomatic efforts to pressure the international community to sanction Iran further, though Iran has repeatedly proven its resilience against sanctions.

While Israel is well-equipped to conduct surgical strikes on Iranian facilities, the Eagle-44 presents a unique challenge due to its protective terrain and robust fortifications. A direct strike on Eagle-44 would likely necessitate a prolonged military engagement, which could escalate into a larger regional conflictsomething neither Israel nor Iran might prefer.

Broader Implications for US and Gulf Security

The unveiling of the Eagle-44 has implications for the United States and Gulf Arab states, many of which are uneasy about Irans growing missile and drone capabilities. The Gulf states, some of whom have normalised relations with Israel, view Iran as a common adversary. Eagle-44 could push these countries to strengthen their alliances and explore joint defence initiatives to counter the Iranian threat.

For the United States, which maintains a strategic interest in curbing Irans missile and nuclear ambitions, Eagle-44 represents a significant challenge. The bases resilience against conventional strikes means that diplomatic efforts or alternative tactics may need to be prioritised. The US may bolster its missile defence systems in the Gulf region or increase intelligence support for Israel to counterbalance Irans missile capabilities.

Takeaways

Eagle-44 is more than just a military base; it is a cornerstone in Irans deterrence strategy against Israel. With its advanced missile and drone capabilities, fortified location, and strategic significance, the Eagle-44 enhances Irans ability to threaten and deter Israel. It forces Israel to contend with a resilient adversary capable of launching devastating retaliatory strikes even if its primary facilities are attacked.

As the Iran-Israel conflict continues, Eagle-44 will likely play a central role in shaping both nations strategies. For Israel, the challenge is clear: finding ways to neutralise or mitigate the threat posed by Eagle-44 without triggering a large-scale regional war. For Iran, Eagle-44 symbolises its resolve and ability to endureand respond toescalating hostilities. The bases presence will likely serve as a critical factor in both deterrence and escalation, influencing the Iran-Israel conflict and regional stability in the years to come.

The author is a columnist, Group Captain (retd) and a former fighter pilot of the IAF. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Gold Coast man John has been taking his pet poodle Emma for a paddle in Queensland's waterways for 11 years. But this time, it came at a price.

Dog owner John has been taking his pet poodle Emma for a ride in his kayak for 11 years. But recently, doing what he always does, the Gold Coast man copped an eyewatering $806 fine.

It wasn't for paddling the waterways with his best friend in tow but for having his pet unrestrained during the 10-metre walk from his van to the water's edge along Budds Beach in Surfers Paradise.

For years, the Gold Coast man has been driving down to the water and carrying his kayak across the tiny stretch of sand, Emma is often by his side or in the kayak itself. But this time, his routine earned him a hefty infringement from council.

The fine comes amid a statewide crackdown on dog owners following a spike in serious dog attacks across Queensland. From August, on-the-spot fines more than doubled for owners who fail to control their dogs in public spaces  jumping from $322 to $806.

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In September, a Queensland business owner was left in tears after she too was slapped with a $806 fine. Robyn was taking a coffee break outside her store at Moffat Beach on the Sunshine Coast when she was approached by council workers.

She told Yahoo News her eight-year-old Blue Heeler was on a lead which was under her foot, and not in her hand. This simple mistake was deemed a fineable offence by council.

Sunshine Coast business owner Robyn copped an $806 fine after council workers spotted her dog's lead down by her leg outside her store. Source Supplied

Council crack down on off-lead dogs across state

Like Robyn, John was baffled as to how council concluded he was being irresponsible. He said it was "very unfair" and argued it was just a few metres and that it had never been an issue until now.

"Just before I got to the water, [the council worker] ran up with his partner and said 'hey mate, stop I wanna talk to you' and he just swopped in and started asking me questions," he told A Current Affair on Saturday.

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The council officer allegedly asked for his name and address but mentioned nothing of a fine. So John was shocked when, a few days later, he received a phone call to say he was "guilty of having a dog off a lead".

It was then he copped a fine to the value of $806 for "failure to exercise effective control of a non-regulated dog in a public place".

Dog owner claims he 'did nothing wrong'

There are allegedly signs further along the beach stating the rule  that dogs must be on a leash at all times. While taking a walk, Johm argues Emma is always on a lead.

"But I wasn't wandering along a footpath or in public areas, I was just travelling a few metres from the car to the water. I really didn't think that I was doing anything wrong," he said.

Queensland dog fines. Source: ACA

Gold Coast City Council told the program, "Officers will provide both an enforcement and educational approach when issuing infringements."

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But John feels he should have been let off with a warning on this occasion, since he's never been in trouble with Emma before.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Pakistan, supposedly carved out of India as a safe haven for all Muslims, has become a breeding ground for sectarian extremism where Shias are treated as outsiders in their own homeland read more

The dream of the Muslim Ummahhomogenous and unitedis not just an impracticality; its a cover for an exclusivist, communalist vision that marginalises anyone who dares to be different. Representational image, courtesy: AFP

On October 29, 2024, a disturbing display of anti-Shia hatred unfolded in Islamabad, shockingly close to the ISI headquarters. Members of Sipah-e-Sahaba, an extremist organisation infamous for orchestrating violence against the Shia minority, gathered openly to spread vile accusations and call for the expulsion of Shias from Islam. They didnt just stop at wordsthey demanded that Shias visiting Iran for pilgrimage have their passports and identity cards revoked, essentially calling for their statelessness.

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This isnt just bigotry at the fringes; its a frighteningly bold assault on a minority with the tacit acceptance of a state that has turned its back. Pakistan, supposedly carved out of India as a safe haven for all Muslims, has become a breeding ground for sectarian extremism where Shias are treated as outsiders in their own homeland.

In Kurram district, the situation is even more tragic. What began as a land dispute between Sunni and Shia tribes in July 2024 has escalated into a brutal sectarian conflict, claiming over 43 lives and injuring more than 200 people. These are not just figures; they are human lives, each story marked by fear and loss, in a region where sectarian violence has become routine. Sunni tribes reportedly receive support from across the Afghan border, while Shia families are left vulnerable, caught in the crossfire of tribal rivalries and a history of bloodshed.

Kurram, with eight active conflicts spanning decades, symbolises the absolute breakdown of law and order in the face of unchecked sectarian hatred. And yet, those with power and influence continue to look away, allowing extremist agendas to dictate the fate of Pakistans Shia community. In every death, every displacement, the idea of Pakistan as a sanctuary for Muslims away from the Hindus gets shamelessly defeated.

Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), now masquerading under different names to evade bans, has long been the spearhead of anti-Shia violence in Pakistan. Founded in 1985 in Jhang by Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, SSP was born from a toxic blend of sectarianism and the ambition to forge a Pakistan aligned solely with Sunni orthodoxy. What started as a reactionary movement to counter Irans post-revolutionary influence rapidly transformed into an engine of terror, targeting Pakistans Shia minority in pursuit of an exclusionary religious state. SSPs philosophy is clear: Shias are heretics and enemies within, and thus deserving of systemic violence, a message that has permeated society for decades through SSPs madrassas, sermons, and hate-filled rhetoric.

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SSPs violence against Shias is not abstract; its ruthlessly real and shockingly consistent. By the late 1990s, the group claimed responsibility for thousands of killings across Punjab and Sindh, with its offshoot, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), amplifying the brutality by targeting prominent Shia figures, doctors, and even children. SSPs ideology gave rise to a wave of assassinations, including the cold-blooded murder of Shia leader Arif Hussain Hussaini in 1988 and mass casualty attacks, such as the Quetta bombing in 2013 that killed over 90 Shias. According to Pakistans own security records, from 2001 to 2018, SSP and its offshoots have been responsible for more than 2,300 deaths in sectarian violence across Pakistan. Even banned repeatedly, SSP manages to rebrand and continue its operations, often under names like Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), working with impunity, emboldened by tacit state support.

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Today, as SSPs followers gather openly near government establishments like the ISI headquarters, brazenly calling for Shias to be ostracised and stripped of their nationality, its clear that SSPs toxic legacy remains firmly rooted. With its networks deeply embedded in Pakistans social and political fabric, it remains a force that thrives on hate, division, and the states reluctant tolerance. SSPs influence is not merely a chapter of Pakistans history but a continuing tragedy, one that shows the tragic, unrelenting power of sectarianism to shape a nations fate.

When we call Pakistan a failed state, its tempting to point only to its economic troubles, mounting debt, or its democracy that sways under the militarys thumb. These issues, while severe, are merely the symptoms of a far deeper failure. Pakistan is, at its core, a failed ideaan idea rooted in the flawed concept of religious nationalism, which from the start was bound to crumble. Pakistans creation, justified on the belief that a separate Muslim nation would secure unity and peace for Muslims of the subcontinent, has paradoxically sown endless division. The secession of Bangladesh in 1971 was the first major crack, exposing the folly of assuming that a shared religion alone could forge a cohesive, unified nation. Cultural, linguistic, and ethnic identities proved stronger than this manufactured religious nationalism, and the very foundation of Pakistans purpose was shaken.

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The notion that Muslims form one homogenous political unit under the banner of a Muslim Ummah is a fiction Pakistan has desperately clung to but which daily reality undermines. In Balochistan, the calls for autonomy and freedom rise louder each year as the state clings to control through repression. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the people are besieged by militancy and sectarian conflict, fuelling a sense of alienation from the Pakistani identity forced upon them. And for the Shia community, Pakistan has become a hostile ground, where extremist groups like Sipah-e-Sahaba are allowed to threaten their very right to exist. These arent isolated incidents but a pattern, revealing that the idea of a unified Muslim Pakistan cannot contain the diversity and contradictions within it.

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The dream of the Muslim Ummahhomogenous and unitedis not just an impracticality; its a cover for an exclusivist, communalist vision that marginalises anyone who dares to be different. Each time a Shia is attacked, each time a Baloch voice is silenced, each time a non-Sunni citizen is othered, it becomes clear that Pakistans founding vision is not a force of unity but of fragmentation, one that has left the nation perpetually divided against itself.

The less said about the plight of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan, the better. Officially declared non-Muslims in 1974 and targeted by blasphemy laws, Ahmadis live in perpetual fear. They cannot openly profess their faith; they are banned from using Islamic symbols, and even the most basic acts of religious expression invite harassment, arrests, or worse. Ahmadiyya mosques have been desecrated, their graves defaced, and their homes attacked, with the state standing idly byor worse, actively sanctioning the oppression. This persecution is a testament to the utter failure of Pakistans vision of religious purity, which paradoxically bred religious violence, stripping away the security and freedom promised at its inception.

In stark contrast, India embraced the principle of composite nationalisman inclusive vision where every citizen, irrespective of religion, contributes to the nations identity. This secular, pluralistic approach, though certainly tested by its own challenges, has allowed India to become a sanctuary where Muslims, including Shias, Sunnis, Bohras, Sufis, and even Ahmadis, can live and worship freely. Indian Muslims may face their own socio-political challenges, but they do not face systematic, state-sanctioned exclusion for the faith they profess.

Indias democracy provides a framework that upholds religious freedoms, and its secular constitution protects minorities from the kind of institutionalised intolerance rampant in Pakistan. For Muslims across the world, the irony is stark: the Hindu-majority India they were told to fear has proven a far safer, more inclusive home than the land of the pure.

Its often argued that comparing India with Pakistan is unfair, that the two nations developed along entirely different paths, but this reluctance to draw a comparison is little more than the soft bigotry of low expectations. Pakistan, as a nation carved out on the basis of religious exclusivity, was not a mere political rearrangement but a radical experiment with immense human cost. Millions were displaced, countless lives were lost, and the cultural fabric of the subcontinent was torn apart in the name of safeguarding a specific religious identity. Given this backdrop, its not only reasonable but essential to scrutinise whether Pakistan achieved what its founders envisioneda prosperous, safe, and unified homeland for Muslims. Has it? The answer seems abundantly clear when we look at Pakistans internal divisions, economic instability, and perpetual sectarian violence.

The comparison between India and Pakistan is not arbitraryit is a textbook case of how two nations, sharing the same cultural, linguistic, and racial roots, have diverged dramatically based on ideological choices. India chose pluralism, enshrining a secular constitution and embracing its diversity, while Pakistan chose a narrowly defined religious nationalism. The results speak volumes: India, despite its own set of challenges, has maintained democratic stability, economic growth, and a level of religious tolerance that far exceeds Pakistans fractured landscape. Pakistan, by clinging to the myth of an Islamic state capable of uniting diverse Muslim communities, has become a case study in ideological failure. The very identity it tried to impose on itself has become its undoing, while Indias open, composite identity has allowed it to become a more resilient, united, and thriving society. The subcontinents history demands that we ask whether the ideological divergence was worth itand its becoming harder and harder to justify the price paid for an idea that has failed so tragically in practice.

The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
As Hezbollah suffers military setbacks and its influence within Lebanon diminishes, its dual identity as both a resistance entity and a political movement hangs precariously in the balance read more

In light of the recent events following the offensive executed by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah finds itself at a critical crossroads. Historically recognised as a preeminent military and political entity within Lebanon and the broader Middle Eastern landscape, Hezbollah is currently contending with significant challenges in maintaining its esteemed status and operational efficacy, exacerbated by a series of strategic miscalculations, increasing casualties, and internal disarray.

The unpredictable characteristics of Hamas Operation Al-Aqsa Flood initially placed Hezbollah in a condition of considerable disorganisation. Historically acknowledged as the representation of Lebanese resistance, Hezbollah demonstrated a notably slow response, misinterpreting the communications from Hamas. This organisation, which has primarily focused its efforts on augmenting regional dominance as an Iranian proxy rather than engaging in direct dealings with Israel following its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, nevertheless established a front in southern Lebanon to ease the pressure on Hamas.

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Contrary to Hezbollahs anticipations of a swift resolution, the protracted conflict has led to Israeli forces progressively dislodging Hezbollah from the border, thereby eroding its historical status as a deterrent force and inciting domestic calls for disarmament.

The assassination of Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, during an Israeli airstrike in September 2024, significantly exacerbated the organisations existing turmoil. This momentous incident broke apart Hezbollahs enduring belief in their invulnerability, casting the group into an unprecedented level of disorder. The organisation has not only encountered obstacles in finding a successor to Nasrallah but has also failed to observe key Islamic burial practices, which led to Nasrallah remaining unburied for longer than the customary 24 hours. This situation illustrates a serious organisational inadequacy within Hezbollah, as its failure to respect its deceased leader appropriately points to a meaningful operational deterioration.

Irans Strategic Leverage Over Hezbollahs Future

It is crucial to acknowledge that Irans current engagement with Hezbollah indicates a diminishing focus on safeguarding its military assets, instead highlighting the possible effects of Hezbollahs regressionor developmentto advancing Irans strategic priorities in the region. In this framework, Hezbollah can be construed as possessing greater importance for Iran as a tool of strategic leverage in pivotal geopolitical discussions rather than merely as a legitimate military force.

Tehran may perceive the military defeat of this group or its retreat from southern Lebanon as a strategic concession that could be leveraged for increased influence in other areas, such as Iraq. If Hezbollah is perceived as ineffectively countering Israeli manoeuvres or safeguarding Lebanons territorial sovereignty, Iran might advocate for its diminishment as a military entity, capitalising on its reduction to negotiate concessions on other matters, including its nuclear aspirations or regional hegemony in Iraq.

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This creates the possibility of a post-Hezbollah era defined by either the dissolution of the organisation or its transformation into a purely political entity. Nevertheless, Hezbollahs discourse has persistently been anchored in its resistance ideology, and in the absence of its military assets, it may face considerable challenges in sustaining its political significance both domestically within Lebanon and in a broader geopolitical framework.

Post-Hezbollah Phase

The dissolution of Hezbollah would undeniably create a significant power vacuum within the Lebanese state. According to Imad Salamey, a distinguished scholar specialising in Lebanese affairs and a political scientist affiliated with the Lebanese American University, The dismantling of Hezbollahs operational capabilities is likely to empower its adversaries and anti-Iranian factions within Lebanon. Salamey also foresees that the looming power void might spark civil unrest and unravel the fabric of societal harmonyand could allure international actors to take advantage of the turmoil for their own gain.

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Given the evident deterioration of the group, adversaries of Hezbollah within the domestic sphere could exploit this situation to enhance the marginalisation of the organisation. In this scenario, the Amal Movement and Nabih Berri assumes paramount significance. As the experienced Speaker of Parliament and head of the Shiite-orientated Amal Movement, Berri has traditionally wielded considerable influence within Lebanons sectarian political landscape. In a Lebanon that has transitioned beyond Hezbollahs dominion, Berris authority would be instrumental in steering the political evolution for the Shiite community.

Nevertheless, the question remains whether Hezbollah can endure as merely a political force without its formidable military arm. The essence of the organisations narrative has been intrinsically tied to its position as a bastion of resistance, and the lack of key figures such as Hassan Nasrallah would significantly jeopardise Hezbollahs capability to function within the political domain.

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Deprived of the legitimacy afforded by its military wing, Hezbollah would face substantial challenges in garnering internal support. Conversely, Berri may rise as the pivotal Shiite leader adept at steering this transformation, potentially contributing to either the consolidation of the political landscape or the exacerbation of sectarian divisions. His deep-rooted connections within Lebanons political framework, along with his capacity to mediate among diverse factions, could position him as the cornerstone of any Shiite political agenda in a post-Hezbollah context. Nonetheless, the ability of the Amal Movement and Berri to flourish independently without Hezbollahs endorsement remains an open question.

Conclusion

The anticipated future of Hezbollah is now irrevocably linked to the evolving regional dynamics, wherein Iran perceives the organisation as an indispensable asset in its negotiations with global authorities. As Hezbollah suffers military setbacks and its influence within Lebanon diminishes, its dual identity as both a resistance entity and a political movement hangs precariously in the balance. At this critical juncture, Irans determination to either bolster Hezbollah or permit its disintegration remains ambiguous. Conversely, Lebanon finds itself at a pivotal crossroadspotentially its terminal juncturewhere changes in demographics, political alliances, and regional accords will significantly shape its trajectory and the well-being of its populace.

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The author is a Foreign Policy Analyst based in India. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The roof, which provided shelter to the benches at a train station came crashing down on Friday morning. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, confirmed the death toll soon after read more

At least 14 people lost their lives after part of an outdoor roof collapsed at a train station in the Serbian city of Novi Sad. The roof, which provided shelter to the benches at a train station came crashing down on Friday morning. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, confirmed the death toll soon after.

We hope this will be the final number: 14 people have died. Of these, we have been unable to identify five individuals, the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, said hours after the incident.

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We must all come together to support the families of those who lost their lives and do everything in our power to minimise the damage and help those who have lost their loved ones as much as possible, he added in an address televised nationwide. The Serbian president mentioned that a child aged six or seven was among those killed in the crash.

Those responsible will be punished: Vucic

During his television address, Vucic made it clear that those responsible for the tragic incident would be punished. On Friday evening, people lit candles and laid flowers at the makeshift memorial for the victims near the railway station in the citys main square.

I am speechless, Natasa Siladji told Radio Free Europe. I cant believe something like this could happen in my city," she added. The head of the citys Vojvodina Clinic, Vesna Turkulov, told reporters that three people who had been pulled from the rubble were in serious condition.

The injuries are very severe, she said. Meanwhile, Cranes and excavators worked alongside emergency responders digging through the rubble to search for the survivors, AFP reported. The operation is still ongoing and extremely challenging. More than 80 rescuers are involved, with the assistance of heavy machinery, the Interior Minister, Ivica Dacic, said on Friday afternoon.

While the rescue operation is underway, the Serbian government has called for a day of mourning on Saturday for the victims of the incident. Meanwhile, Serbian Railways issued a statement in which they mentioned that the outdoor roof that collapsed had not been part of the renovations completed at the station.

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Serbian Railways regrets the accident that occurred, and the causes and any new details from the investigation will be promptly announced, the company wrote in a social media post.

With inputs from AFP.
Palau is going to vote the same day as the US, that is, on November 5. The country serves as a hotbed for geopolitical gains that China and America want to win. It is one of the 12 countries in the world that has chosen Taiwan over China in terms of diplomatic relations read more

All eyes are on November 5 as it is the day the US votes for its next president. While the result of this election has worldwide implications, America and China are closely observing the polls of Palau, a small island nation, that could decide the regional course of the Pacific as both Washington and Beijing have vested interests.

Palau is going to vote the same day as the US, that is, on November 5. The country serves as a hotbed for geopolitical gains that China and America want to win. It is one of the 12 countries in the world that has chosen Taiwan over China in terms of diplomatic relations.

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Elections in Palau will largely be based on the current outlook of the nation but its results are expected to have repercussions outside borders too. Palau receives significant aid from the US under the Compacts of Free Association, or COFA. On the other hand, a belligerent China has often attempted incursion by entering its territorial waters in the Pacific.

As the country prepares for its most important elections, here are xx things to know about the practice:

This election will be a showdown between two family members. Incumbent President Surangel Whipps Jr is pitted against his brother-in-law and former president Tommy Remengesau Jr. Both are polls opposite when it comes to their allegiance. On one hand, we have Whipps who is pro-US and has vowed to improve Palaus tumbling economy and form closer ties with Washington, and on the other, Remengesau has expressed his intentions to work closely with China

Over 16,600 Palauans are registered to cast their votes on November 5. The key issues that will affect voters decisions range from domestic issues like economic policy, public services, and social welfare to broader international concerns

Surangel Whipps Jr., the incumbent, has emphasised the importance of the Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST) as a revenue mechanism essential for funding public services like child subsidies and tax refunds. This has faced criticism from his brother-in-law, Tommy Remengesau Jr., who argues that the PGST contributes to the rising cost of living and fuels outmigration by Palauans

While both the candidates have separate outlooks when it comes to foreign policy, Palaus allegiance to Taiwan finds support from its voters that provides the island nation with a slurry of support including scholarships to study at Kainan University, free medical checkups, among other things

The battling brothers-in-law converge in at least one aspect, Chinas influence on its tourism which makes up about 40 per cent of its economy. Both candidates have accused Beijing of using economic pressures to influence its domestic policies, which they say, have affected tourism in the country
This is the first physical extraction of melted fuel from within the reactor containment vessel, a milestone in the challenging decommissioning process of the damaged Fukushima plant read more

The Fukushima disaster was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

A remote-controlled robot has successfully retrieved a small piece of melted nuclear fuel from inside one of the damaged reactors at Japans Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), which manages Fukushima Daiichi, announced that the robot, resembling an extendable fishing rod, used its tongs to clip a 5-millimeter fragment of fuel from the molten debris inside Reactor No. 2.

This is the first time that melted fuel has been physically removed from within a containment vessel at the plant since the Fukushima accident in 2011.

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That is a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to clean up the site more than a decade after a catastrophic meltdown. Well explain why thats the case shortly. But first, some context about the disaster.

What was the Fukushima disaster?

The Fukushima disaster was triggered on March 11, 2011, when a powerful 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Japans northeastern coast, unleashing a massive tsunami that flooded the plant and knocked out its power supply.

With backup generators disabled, cooling systems failed, causing the nuclear fuel in three reactors to overheat and melt.

Hydrogen gas buildup in the damaged reactors led to explosions, releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere and contaminating the surrounding area.

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated, and Japan was forced to embark on a decades-long mission to decommission the plant and manage radioactive contamination.

Why is the robots retrieval significant?

In that context, the retrieval of this melted fuel fragment is significant for several reasons:

Advances decommissioning efforts: This is the first physical extraction of melted fuel from within the reactor containment vessel, a milestone in the challenging decommissioning process. Showcasing the capability to retrieve even a small fragment of fuel is a promising step toward eventually handling larger quantities.

Provides key data for future cleanup: Examining the retrieved sample may offer insights into the fuels condition. That in turn could help researchers in understanding how to safely manage and remove the remaining 880 tons of radioactive debris. The data will also help develop technology suited to Fukushimas unique conditions.

Represents a technological achievement: Using robotics to safely retrieve fuel in such a hazardous environment is a massive technological feat one that shows the importance of advanced technology in nuclear cleanup. The mission faced setbacks, including camera malfunctions and procedural delays, yet ultimately proved that robotic solutions can overcome extreme conditions and protect human safety.

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TEPCO and the Japanese government have set a 30-to-40-year goal for decommissioning the plant, though experts caution that the complexity of the task may require a revised timeline. While the full removal of fuel debris remains a distant objective, this initial success moves scientists closer to that goal and offers a glimmer of hope in managing one of the worlds most challenging nuclear cleanups.

With inputs from AP
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India summoned a Canadian High Commission representative on Friday and the official was served a diplomatic note to lodge the protest in strongest terms on the absurd and baseless references made by the Canadian deputy minister about Indias Union Home Minister. read more

India on Saturday denied home minister Amit Shah had plotted to target Sikh activists on Canadian soil and said it had officially rebuked Ottawa over the absurd and baseless allegation.

The comments by the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came after Canadas Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison alleged on Tuesday that Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada.

Ottawa has previously accused India of orchestrating the 2023 killing in Vancouver of 45-year-old naturalised Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan campaigner.

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But this week, Canadian officials said Ottawa had traced a broader campaign targeting Canadian Sikh activists to the highest levels of Indias government, implicating Prime Minister Narendra Modis powerful right-hand man.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this revelation that high Canadian government officials deliberately leaked unfounded insinuations to international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the Indian government has long held about the current Canadian governments political agenda and behavioural pattern.

Replying to queries during a weekly press briefing here, Jaiswal said such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties.

He said India summoned a Canadian High Commission representative on Friday and the official was served a diplomatic note to lodge the protest in strongest terms on the absurd and baseless references made by the Canadian deputy minister about Indias Union Home Minister.

While addressing the Parliament members, Morrison did not say how Canada knew of Shahs alleged involvement.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said a year ago that Canada had credible evidence agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.

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Dismissing the allegations as absurd, Indian government officials have consistently denied that Canada provided evidence.

With inputs from agencies.
Israel rejects any role by Hamas in Gaza after the war is ended and has said it doesnt trust the rival Palestinian Authority of Abbas to run the enclave either read more

People wave Palestinian, Hamas and Fatah flags during a march in support of the people in the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank city of Nablus. AFP

Senior officials of the rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas are meeting in Cairo to discuss forming a committee to manage Gazas post-war governance, an Egyptian security source was quoted as saying by Egypts Al Qahera News TV on Saturday.

The talks are part of Egypts broader mediation efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hamas and to expand humanitarian access to the enclave.

Leaders from Hamas and the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met in Cairo last month to discuss forming the committee based on a proposal put forward by Egypt, but talks were adjourned for later discussion, sources close to the talks told Reuters.

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The sources said the committee would be made up of independent Palestinian figures not aligned to a particular movement, addressing the question of who would run Gaza after the year-long war is over.

Israel rejects any role by Hamas in Gaza after the war is ended and has said it doesnt trust the rival Palestinian Authority of Abbas to run the enclave either.

Mediators, including Egypt and Qatar with backing from the United States, have so far failed to secure a truce that would end the Gaza war and facilitate a release of Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas, along with thousands of Palestinians detained by Israel.

Hamas is pressing for an end to hostilities while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will continue until Hamas is dismantled.

Hamas political official Izzat al-Risheq dismissed proposals of limited or temporary truces as smokescreens.

We are positively open to any proposals or ideas that ensure the cessation of aggression and the withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza, al-Risheq said in a statement.

The conflict continues to exact a heavy humanitarian toll, with medics reporting that five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gazas Bureij refugee camp on Saturday.

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Palestinian health officials said at least 60 people had been killed by Israeli military strikes across Gaza Strip since Friday.

The war erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Israels retaliatory offensives have killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and reduced most of Gaza to rubble.
Hindus make up around eight per cent of the population in mostly Muslim Bangladesh, where incidents of violence have also been reported at Sufi shrines, reportedly targeted by Islamists opposed to alternative forms of Islamic practice read more

The presence of radical forces in power has brought bad times for the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. Source: AFP.

Hundreds of people marched in Bangladeshs capital on Saturday (November 2), calling for protections for Hindus and other minorities who say they have faced violence and intimidation since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Organisers of Saturdays protest called for a law to protect minorities and for a guaranteed minimum level of minority representation in government, among other demands.

Tensions escalated earlier this week when sedition charges were filed against 19 people who had attended a minority rights rally in Chittagong. The group was accused of disrespecting the Bangladeshi national flag by hoisting a saffron flag, a symbol of the Hindu faith, above it.

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Framing our leaders with false charges, like sedition, has made us sceptical of the governments intentions, protester Chiranjan Goswami told AFP.

Attacks on minorities: Are they political or religious?

The removal of Hasina in a student-led uprising in August sparked a wave of reprisals against Hindus, widely seen as strong supporters of her government.

The caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which assumed power after Hasinas departure, has condemned attacks on minorities but suggested that many incidents are politically rather than religiously motivated.

Since then, regular protests have demanded that Yunus administration, an advisory council tasked with implementing democratic reforms and preparing for new elections, take stronger action to protect minority communities.

Its deeply regrettable that the council of advisors do not acknowledge the sufferings minorities have endured, Hindu civic leader Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari told AFP. I have witnessed the atrocities against them  their temples, businesses, and homes.

State of Hindus in Bangladesh

Hindus make up around eight per cent of the population in mostly Muslim Bangladesh, where incidents of violence have also been reported at Sufi shrines, reportedly targeted by Islamists opposed to alternative forms of Islamic practice.

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Saturdays demonstration in Dhaka followed a larger rally in Chittagong on Friday (November 1), which drew around 10,000 people. Minority leaders have pledged to hold more protests in the coming weeks.

With inputs from agencies
Canada has for the first time named India in a list of cyberthreat adversaries and suggested state-sponsored actors could be spying against it. read more

Canadas deepening dispute with India over its alleged cyber espionage intensified on Saturday with New Delhi dismissed the allegation, calling it another example of Ottawas ongoing strategy to attack India.

The statement came after Canada named India among its cyber threat adversaries for the first time in its National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 (NCTA 2025-2026) report.

The report places India fifth after China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea suggesting that state-sponsored actors from India could be engaged in spying activities against Canada.

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MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi: Another category, Canada has put India into. This categorisation is as per the cyber report that they have issued. It appears to be another example of a Canadian strategy to attack India. As I mentioned earlier, their senior officials have openly confessed that they are seeking to manipulate global opinion against India, as on other occasions, imputations are made without any evidence, Jaiswal added.

While rejecting India being bracketed in that category, the MEA spokesperson said the accusation being levelled against India is absolutely not right. India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

India is also mentioned in the trend on Geopolitically inspired non-state actors are creating unpredictability citing as example how a pro-India hacktivist group claimed to have defaced and conducted brief attack against Canadian websites after India was accused of involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen.

We assess that Indian state-sponsored cyber threat actors likely conduct cyber threat activity against Government of Canada networks for the purpose of espionage, the report said.

India has been cited in discussions on the growing influence of geopolitically inspired non-state actors, with an example highlighting a pro-India hacktivist groups brief cyberattacks on Canadian websites.

The group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which reportedly involved defacing websites, shortly after allegations surfaced of Indias possible involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen.

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The NCTA 2025-2026 that highlights the cyber threats facing individuals and organisations in Canada was released on October 30 by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre), which is Canadas technical authority on cyber security, and part of the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE). The assessment reports are released every two years.

While there was no mention of India in the National Cyber Threat Assessment reports of 2018, 2020 and 2023-24, the 2025-26 assessment mentions India  along with China, Russia, Iran and North Korea  in the Cyber threat from state adversaries section that introduces the state cyber threat ecosystem and discusses the cyber threats to Canada.

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Indias leadership almost certainly aspires to build a modernised cyber programme with domestic cyber capabilities. India very likely uses its cyber programme to advance its national security imperatives, including espionage, counter-terrorism, and the countrys efforts to promote its global status and counter narratives against India and the Indian government, the assessment report said.

We assess that Indias cyber programme likely leverages commercial cyber vendors to enhance its operations. We assess that Indian state-sponsored cyber threat actors likely conduct cyber threat activity against Government of Canada networks for the purpose of espionage, it said further.

We judge that official bilateral relations between Canada and India will very likely drive Indian state-sponsored cyber threat activity against Canada, it claimed.

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CSE and its partners in Canada and across the Five Eyes are attuned to the cyber threats to Canada from state and nonstate cyber threat actors and are tracking them as they evolve, the report said.

NCTA 2025-2026 provides the Canadian public with CSEs current insights on the state and non-state cyber threat actors conducting malicious cyber threat activity against Canada and how we assess the cyber threat landscape will evolve in the next two years, it added.

Canada is confronting an expanding and more complex state cyber ecosystem, the report said, and talked about strategic adversaries, emerging cyber programmes and wider cyber ecosystem.

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In the Emerging cyber programmes, it said: At the same time, countries that aspire to become new centres of power within the global system, such as India, are building cyber programmes that present varying levels of threat to Canada. While emerging states focus their cyber efforts on domestic threats and regional rivals, they also use their cyber capabilities to track and surveil activists and dissidents living abroad, it added.

The NCTA 2025-2026 also mentioned Geopolitical conflicts and tensions are inspiring disruptive cyber threat activity from non-state groups, commonly referred to as hacktivists and gave example of how geopolitically motivated hacktivists typically conduct attacks to gain attention, such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, website defacements, and data leaks from Russia and India.

Diplomatic tensions are also inspiring hacktivist activity. After Canada accused India of involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen, a pro-India hacktivist group claimed to have defaced and conducted brief DDoS attacks against websites in Canada, including the public-facing website of the Canadian Armed Forces, the report said.

This non-state ecosystem is dynamic and unpredictable, it added.

The development comes as the bilateral relationship has gone south since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a year ago that Canada had credible evidence that agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023, a charge dismissed as absurd by India.

India last month expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrawn its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other targeted officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawas charges.

With inputs from agencies.
For many, the primary issue is the Biden administrations response to the war in Gaza and Lebanon. Despite Trumps close ties to Israel during his presidency, some community members see his campaign as a chance for change read more

The Arab American vote that has traditionally sided with Democrats, is swaying away from Harris. File image/Reuters

In a surprising shift, Arab Americans frustrated by the Biden administrations support for Israel are rallying around Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, potentially making him a contender for their vote in key swing states like Michigan.

The traditionally Democratic-leaning community has been disillusioned by what they see as unwavering support for Israeli military actions, and some activists believe a vote for Trump could send a powerful message.

Take the credit for your power, Al Jazeera quoted Yemeni American activist Samraa Luqman, who argues that the Democratic Party has taken Arab voters for granted.

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In the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, where Arab Americans form a significant portion of the population, Trump met with community members, receiving a warm reception that contrasts sharply with his history of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies, including the Muslim travel ban he implemented during his first term.

Wars in Gaza, Lebanon

For many, the primary issue is the Biden administrations response to the war in Gaza and Lebanon. Despite Trumps close ties to Israel during his presidency, some community members see his campaign as a chance for change.

Even if he will continue this genocide at a 99 per cent chance, Im going to take that 1 per cent chance that hes going to stop it, Luqman said, contrasting this with the 100 per cent chance that the Gaza war is going to continue under Harris.

The frustration has led to unusual alliances, including Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, who has endorsed Trump. He says things, but I can tell you that he wants to bring this country back together, Bazzi, who, like others, believes that Trumps platform now presents a better alternative to the status quo, told Al Jazeera.

Broader dissatisfaction with Biden administration

The communitys pivot also comes amid broader dissatisfaction, with advocates arguing that Bidens policies have failed to address Arab American concerns.

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders, such as Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, have warned against aligning with Trump, pointing to his record, which includes moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and supporting Israels annexation of the Golan Heights.

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People in this community know what Trump stands for, Hammoud said. But activists like Luqman see their vote for Trump as a statement.

If we show that we have an impact, both parties will try to appease us, she said, reflecting the growing sentiment that Arab American voters will not remain loyal to a party that disregards their concerns.

With Michigan set to play a decisive role in the upcoming election, the shift among Arab Americans in places like Dearborn could have a substantial impact on the outcome, building a major change in the political dynamics surrounding the Arab American vote.
The particular species was only discovered on this site in 2021.

A rare plant that grows in only two places in the world has been discovered flowering in abundance at a secret Aussie location.

Experts with Green Adelaide, South Australias first government urban environmental organisation, were out monitoring a reserve in the Mt Lofty Ranges last week for threatened species when they made a pretty special and pungent find  bayonet spider orchids in bloom.

Despite the number of orchid enthusiasts that are out every spring looking for this family of plants, we still find new surprises every now and again, and this particular species on this site was discovered relatively recently in 2021, flora ecologist Jack Casley-Smith told Yahoo News Australia.

In the years following, weve still found new plants in the area, so they can be inconspicuous and tricky to spot. It was great in this most recent monitoring to see the orchids flowering. Spider orchids do not always have multiple flowers on the same plant, but if theyre happy and healthy, they can.

Rare orchid's locations not revealed for protection

The bayonet spider orchid (Caladenia gladiolata) is a special species that has been recently confirmed at only two locations in the world, including in the Mt Lofty Ranges and southern Flinders Ranges, Mr Casley-Smith said.

The species, which smells like wood varnish, was only discovered on this site in 2021. Source: Jack Casley-Smith

The exact location of particular orchid species is often deliberately not revealed, to help protect these rare plants, he explained, adding site sensitivity has played a role in the plants rareness.

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Where it occurs in the Mt Lofty Ranges, it has faced threats from weeds, grazing animals, be that natives, domestic or pest species, and vegetation clearance. This has led to a small population on this site, not large enough to attract many pollinators, he said.

Plant species has distinct 'wood' smell

The species is closely related to other similar-looking spider orchids, but it has a stand-out characteristic  a wood-varnish scent.

Other similar spider orchids dont share this same fragrance, or even have scents that are especially notable. But a strong wood varnish fragrance is noticeable on this unique orchid, the flora ecologist told Yahoo.

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The orchid itself has a light green, hairy, thin oval-shaped leaf, and produces a greenish to yellow flower with a strip of red colour that makes its way all the way down to the tip of the petals, he said.

Part of its look is in its name. Gladiolata originates from the Latin 'gladius' meaning a sword, aptly referring to its sword or bayonet-shaped flower petals.

The local population receives is cared for under Green Adelaides Threatened Flora Project, including site management, regular monitoring, and wild translocations of plants grown by the SA Seed Conservation Centre.

And we shoulder careful site management in a number of ways such as reducing the threat of invasive weed species and managing the potential threat of grazing from native, domestic or pest animals through fencing, Mr Casley-Smith said.

Many aspects of caring for this special orchid are ongoing tasks that we undertake not only for this species, but for a range of threatened plants. The work, though, has great rewards when you get to see unique species such as the bayonet spider orchid flourishing in its home.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Canadian actions are a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions and that they risk ties to deteriorate further between the two countries read more

India on Saturday accused Canada of spying on Indian consular officials and said that high commission officials in the country are functioning in an environment of extremism and violence.

Some of our Consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian Government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

He said that the Canadian actions are a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions and that they risk ties to deteriorate further between the two countries.

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By citing technicalities, the Canadian Government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian Government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices, Jaiswal added.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Some of our Consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian Government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested pic.twitter.com/R6Gi90rJB9  ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024

Relations between India and Canada have gone sour with New Delhi recalling its High Commissioner in Ottawa. The ties witnessed a setback after Canada accused India of killing its citizen and Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a claim that has been strongly rejected by India all along. New Delhi, on the other hand, has slammed the country of levelling baseless accusations without the existence of evidence.

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On allegations against Amit Shah

India has protested in the strongest possible terms the references made by a Canadian minister about Union Home Minister Amit Shah and such absurd and baseless allegations will have serious consequences for bilateral ties between the two countries, the Minister of External Affairs has said.

The comments came after Canadas Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison on Tuesday alleged that Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Regarding the latest Canadian target, we summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday... It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless pic.twitter.com/8rJhp9uS9G  ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024

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Morrison had also told Canadian Parliament members of the national security committee that he had confirmed Shahs name to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations.

Jaiswal said this revelation that high Canadian government officials deliberately leaked unfounded insinuations to international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the Indian government has long held about the current Canadian governments political agenda and behavioural pattern.

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With inputs from agencies
The move marked a significant step towards reducing tensions in the region after Beijing and New Delhi agreed to end the four-year-long military standoff read more

The Indian and Chinese armies have resumed patrolling at two friction points in Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The patrolling commenced after the disengagement process was completed between the two nations on Thursday.

The move marked a significant step towards reducing tensions in the region after Beijing and New Delhi agreed to end the military standoff. The tensions between the two armies began following the deadly Galwan clashes in 2020. According to The Indian Express, a source from the Indian Army has confirmed that coordinated patrolling began in the Demchok area on Friday. The source also assured that patroling will commence in the Depsang plains soon.

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It is pertinent to note that the disengagement came in line with the agreement between India and China which was announced on October 21. The agreement came two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia. Both nations are now involved in finding ways to repair bilateral ties with each other.

Indian and Chinese armies celebrate Diwali

The patrolling in Demchok resumed a day after the two armies exchanged sweets at the border points of LAC to celebrate Diwali. In the past, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had cut off Indian access to patrolling points (PPs) 10 to 13 in the Depsang Plains. In keeping the agreement in mind, talks are being held between local commanders  Brigadier rank and below.

The source stated that verification of the disengagement is currently underway, with both sides ensuring the removal of temporary structures and troop withdrawals. While commenting on the development along the border, the Chinese military on Thursday said that both countries are making progress in implementing the agreement to disengage.

China and India have reached resolutions on the issues concerning the border areas through diplomatic and military channels, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence Zhang Xiaogang said in his first comment on the matter. The frontline troops of the two militaries are making progress in implementing resolutions in an orderly manner, he added.

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Meanwhile, discussions on other buffer zones, including Galwan, have not yet taken place. The matter is likely to be discussed in the coming days through commander-level talks between the two armies.

With inputs from agencies.
This development follows an agreement reached on October 21, 2024, between India and China on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, ending the over four-year military standoff. read more

The Indian Army has started verification patrolling in the Depsang area of eastern Ladakh, the second key friction point where such operations are underway, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday.

Patrolling at Demchok started on Friday, shortly after Indian and Chinese troops concluded disengagement efforts at both locations.

During a weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the verification patrols in Demchok and Depsang are proceeding under mutually agreed terms as part of the disengagement agreement with China. This development represents a significant step toward de-escalating tensions along the disputed border in eastern Ladakh.

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Notably, in a significant diplomatic development, India and China held their first bilateral talks in five years on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, marking a crucial step towards mending the strained relations between the two neighbouring countries, which have been marred by a prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Jaiswal said, The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place in Kazan. It was bilaterally arranged. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri while addressing the media in Kazan, stated that this agreement is the outcome of extensive discussions over the past several weeks with Chinese interlocutors at both diplomatic and military levels.

He noted that military commanders have been involved in negotiations aimed at addressing the tensions that have persisted since 2020.Misri explained that the agreement signifies a path toward disengagement and a potential resolution of the issues that arose during the significant confrontations in 2020.

He recalled the clashes that occurred between the Peoples Liberation Army of China and the Indian Army, particularly highlighting the violent encounters in June 2020, which resulted in casualties on both sides.

On several areas along the Line of Actual Control, we held discussions with Chinese interlocutors both on diplomatic as well as the military levels through meeting with military commanders at various levels. These discussions had in the past resulted in the resolution of standoffs at various locations. There are some locations and areas where stand-offs had not been resolved, said Misri.

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The disengagement is seen as a first concrete step towards restoring the pre-2020 status quo ante. Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, resulting in casualties on both sides, was the most severe conflict between the two nations in decades. Additionally, agreements have been reached in other sectors along the LAC.

India and China emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity at the border, underscoring that mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity should form the foundation of their relationship. PM Modi highlighted that the restoration of peace in the border areas is essential for the normalisation of bilateral relations.

With inputs from agencies.
Regional tensions have soared since the outbreak in October last year of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, drawing in those Iran-aligned groups and others from Iraq and Syria. read more

A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on November 2, 2024, shows him waving to the crowd during a meeting with Iranian students in Tehran. Image- AFP

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed on Saturday to retaliate against what he described as aggressive actions by Israel and its ally the United States, targeting Tehran and allied regional groups.

Speaking to students in Tehran, Khamenei said The enemies, both the USA and the Zionist regime should know that they will definitely receive a tooth-breaking response to what they are doing against Iran, the Iranian nation, and the resistance front.

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Khameneis remarks referred to Irans alliance with several Tehran-supported groups across the region, including Yemens Houthi rebels, Lebanons Hezbollah movement and the Palestinian group Hamas.

The move came hours after the US announced the deployment of additional military assets to West Asia as tensions grip the region with Iran preparing a counterattack against Israel.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said, Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people.

According to Fox News, the military assets sent to the region by the United States include ballistic missile defence destroyers, long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, tanker aircraft, and Navy destroyers.

The additional resources build on previous US defence deployments to the Middle East in support of Israel, including a THAAD missile defence system deployed to the country late last month, operated by American troops on the ground.

Hezbollah and Israel exchanged cross-border fire for nearly a year after Hamass unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, before Israel ramped up the conflict on September 23.

On October 26, Israel conducted air strikes on military sites in Iran in response to Tehrans October 1 attack on Israel, itself retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed militant leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander.

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At least four soldiers were killed in the attack which Iran said caused limited damage to a few radar systems. Iranian media said a civilian was also killed.

In his speech, Khamenei paid tribute to the slain soldiers, saying their efforts in confronting Israel will not be forgotten.

Israel has warned Iran against responding to the October 26 attack.

The United States announced Friday the deployment of additional military assets to the Middle East, including ballistic missile defence destroyers and long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, serving as a warning to Iran as it and Israel trade tit-for-tat strikes.

Khamenei said Iran was certainly doing everything that should be done to prepare the Iranian nation, whether in terms of military, in terms of weapons, or in terms of political work, without elaborating.

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Also on Saturday, the Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran would respond decisively to Israel.

The enemy should learn that it cannot commit any evil (it wants); it will undoubtedly receive a crushing response to its evildoing, said Naini, the Fars news agency reported.

With inputs from agencies.
Earlier today, Lebanese authorities said that it was investigating the abduction of a Lebanese ship captain by armed men who reportedly landed on a coast north of Beirut, with speculation surrounding possible Israeli involvement read more

A building, left, in Batroun, northern Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, where Lebanese officials say a ship captain was taken away by a group of armed men who landed on a coast north of Beirut and they're investigating whether Israel was involved. Image- AP

Israeli naval forces captured a senior Hezbollah operative in northern Lebanon, an Israeli military official said on Saturday.

The operative has been transferred to Israeli territory and is currently being investigated, the military official said, without providing the name of the person in detention.

Lebanese authorities announced an investigation into whether Israel was involved in the abduction of a Lebanese sea captain earlier today, who was taken by armed men that landed on the coast near the northern town of Batroun on Friday.

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Two Lebanese military officials confirmed to the Associated Press that a naval force landed in Batroun, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Beirut, and abducted a Lebanese citizen. Neither gave the mans identity or said whether he was thought to have links to Lebanons Hezbollah group. They did not confirm whether the armed men were an Israeli force.

Speaking to Lebanons Al-Jadeed TV, Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamie declined to go into details or answer questions about whether it was thought to be an Israeli operation.

Three Lebanese judicial officials told AP the incident occurred at dawn Friday, adding that the captain might have links with Hezbollah. The officials said an investigation is looking into the man is linked to Hezbollah or working for an Israeli spy agency and an Israeli force came to rescue him.

Both the military and judicial officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were unauthorized to share details about the incident or the ongoing investigation.

Hezbollah issued a statement calling what happened a Zionist aggression in the Batroun area. The statement did not give details or confirm whether one of Hezbollahs members was captured by Israel.

Meanwhile, Israels military announced updates to its Home Front Commands defensive guidelines on Saturday, raising the alert level in the Lower Galilee and southern Golan regions from partial to full.

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It also eased restrictions in its precautionary guidelines to the public by permitting gatherings of up to 2,000 people in some communities.

The changes follow ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which shares its southern border with Israel and has exchanged fire with Israeli forces since October 2023.

With inputs from agencies.
Two Lebanese military officials confirmed that a naval force landed in Batroun, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Beirut, and abducted a Lebanese citizen. read more

Israeli army tanks manoeuvre in a staging area in northern Israel near the Israel-Lebanon border. File Image- AP

Lebanese authorities are investigating the abduction of a Lebanese ship captain by armed men who reportedly landed on a coast north of Beirut, with speculation surrounding possible Israeli involvement, officials told AP on Saturday.

The incident, which happened in Batroun, around 30 kilometers from Beirut, was confirmed by two Lebanese military officials who said that the naval force involved abducted a Lebanese citizen but did not disclose his identity or any ties to Hezbollah.

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Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamie, speaking to Al-Jadeed TV declined to confirm if the operation was linked to Israel. Judicial sources revealed that investigators are exploring potential connections between the captain and Hezbollah or Israeli intelligence, suggesting that the operation could have been a retrieval mission.

Both the military and judicial officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were unauthorized to share details about the incident or the ongoing investigation.

Hamie told Al-Jadeed the man was a captain of civilian ships. He graduated in 2022 and in late September joined the Batrouns Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute for additional courses. Hamie said that the man lived roughly 300 meters (980 feet) from the institute.

Hamies remarks came shortly after two Lebanese journalists posted a video on social media showing what appeared to be about 20 armed men taking away a man from in front a house, his face covered with his shirt.

Kandice Ardiel, a spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force deployed in south Lebanon, denied allegations by some local journalists who said that the peacekeepers helped the landing force in the operation. The U.N. mission, known as UNIFIL, has a maritime force that monitors the coast.

Disinformation and false rumors are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk, Ardiel said.

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There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.

Israel has carried out in the past commando operations deep inside Lebanon to kidnap or kill Hezbollah and Palestinian officials.

With inputs from agencies.
In a statement on Friday, Mikatis office denied the claims that the US had asked Lebanon to declare a unilateral ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah read more

Amid the brewing tension in West Asia, Lebanons PM Najib Mikati has denied reports that the United States has asked the country to declare a unilateral ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Earlier this week, two unnamed sources, a Lebanese political source and a senior diplomat, made the claim to Reuters.

The officials stated that US envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein had communicated the proposal to Mikati, this week. The Biden administration has come-up with several proposals to foster a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon. However, none of these proposals have turned out to be fruitful.

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In a statement on Friday, Mikatis office denied the claims that the US had asked Lebanon to declare a unilateral ceasefire in the region. The Lebanese premier said that his governments stance on the war was clear as they seek a ceasefire from both sides and implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701. Interestingly, the resolution in question last ended the conflict between the two nations back in 2006.

The Lebanese prime minister made it clear that the countrys armed forces are not involved in the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which began firing rockets at the Jewish nation soon after the October 7 attack.

Hezbollah needs to agree to such proposal

It is important to note that any efforts to reach a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict has to be agreed by Hezbollah since its members are part of the Lebanese cabinet and its allies hold a significant number of seats in the parliament. Meanwhile, the US embassy in Beirut is yet to comment on the report.

There have been a major flurry in American diplomacy, during which the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, appeared more optimistic than parties to the conflict about bringing it to an end. This comes in the backdrop of the upcoming US Presidential Elections.

When it comes to the conflict in Lebanon, diplomats mediate with Hezbollah through the groups ally Nabih Berri. In the past, the Iran-backed militant group has said that it backs Berris efforts to reach a ceasefire but that a deal must meet certain parameters without providing details.

The report which was eventually denied by Mikati suggested that Washington had sought to persuade Beirut to take back some initiative in the talks, particularly given the perception that Israel was likely to continue military operations. The Jewish nation has already eliminated Hezbollahs top brass, including the groups former chief Hassan Nasrallah and has destroyed much of the countrys south.

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Amid the chaos, a Lebanese source told The Guardian that a unilateral declaration was seen as a non-starter in the country because that would have meant surrendering in the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Mikati has accused Israel of stubbornness in the negotiations, while the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his priority was to impose security despite any pressure or constraints.

With inputs from agencies.
RSF fighters have laid siege to the city of some two million people since May and and famine has already been declared in the Zamzam camp for the displaced to its south. UN officials have voiced mounting concern about the dire conditions in Darfur and across Sudan. read more

Members of Sudan's security forces walk past supporters in the opening ceremony of a headquarter facility in the army-controlled Port Sudan, where the government loyal to the army is based on the Red Sea coast, on October 28, 2024. Image- AFP

Shelling by Sudanese paramilitary forces on Saturday killed at least 12 people in the north of the vast Darfur region that is almost completely under their control, activists said.

Five people were also wounded in the bombardment by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting the regular army since April last year, according to the local resistance committee, one of hundreds of volunteer groups coordinating aid across the country.

RSF fighters took three people captive after the bombardment north of the town of Kutum, the committee added.

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The regions governor, former rebel leader Mini Minawi, who is close to the regular army, said the paramilitaries had torched some 20 villages in the area.

The army has largely been confined to the North Darfur state capital of El-Fasher since the paramilitaries swept through the rest of the region last year.

RSF fighters have laid siege to the city of some two million people since May and and famine has already been declared in the Zamzam camp for the displaced to its south. UN officials have voiced mounting concern about the dire conditions in Darfur and across Sudan.

The people of Sudan are living through a nightmare of violence  with thousands of civilians killed, and countless others facing unspeakable atrocities, including widespread rape and sexual assaults, UN chief Antonio Guterres told the Security Council late last month.
America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians as well, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on allies to stop watching and take action as North Korean troops arrive in Russia.

He has warned that the troops could soon join Moscows fight against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy raised the possibility of a preemptive strike on training camps for North Korean soldiers but said Kyiv would need approval from Western allies to use long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russia.

InsteadAmerica is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians as well, Zelenskyy had posted on Telegram on Friday (November 1)

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The Biden administration said Thursday (October 31) that approximately 8,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russias Kursk region near Ukraines border to assist Kremlin forces.

Ukraines military intelligence agency GUR reported Saturday (November 2) that over 7,000 North Koreans, armed with Russian equipment, had been transported to areas near Ukraine, where they are undergoing training at five locations in Russias Far East.

Western leaders have described the deployment as a serious escalation that could destabilise relations in the Indo-Pacific and potentially lead to technology transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang. That, in turn, could bolster North Koreas nuclear and missile programs.

Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have pressed for permission to use Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike targets such as arms depots and airfields far from the front lines.

US defence officials have expressed concerns about escalating tensions and argued that Ukraines existing long-range drones are sufficient for these operations.

Moscow has consistently signalled that it would regard such strikes as a severe provocation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had warned on September 12 that Russia would consider itself at war with the US and Nato if Western countries authorised strikes on targets inside Russian territory.

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Meanwhile, Kyiv endured five hours of air raid sirens early Saturday as Russian drones targeted the capital, sparking a fire in an office building and injuring two people, according to city officials.

With inputs from agencies
Supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales stormed into multiple military barracks and took around 20 soldiers hostage. The country has been embroiled in turmoil for months due to Moraless tussle with the ruling regime read more

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, below, face off with supporters current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia. AP

Supporters of Bolivias former President Evo Morales barged into the military barracks in the central Chapare region and took around 20 soldiers hostage. The military sources confirmed the news to AFP on Friday. The whole ordeal marked a dramatic escalation in their standoff with the state.

The hostage situation came three weeks after backers of Morales began blocking roads to prevent the arrest of the countrys first indigenous president. Morales claimed that the Bolivian authorities are pushing trumped-up rape charges that are aimed at thwarting his political comeback.

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The 65-year-old served as the South American nations president from 2006 to 2019. He eventually had to resign due to pressure from the military and was accused of committing election fraud. On Friday, the Bolivian armed forces released a statement in which they said that irregular armed groups had kidnapped military personnel and seized weapons and ammunition in the Chapare.

Morales seeks to challenge an old friend

In the videos that are circulating online, 16 soldiers were seen surrounded by protesters holding pointed sticks aloft. The Cacique Maraza Regiment has been taken over by Tipnis activists. They have cut off our water, and electricity, and are keeping us hostage, a uniformed man was heard saying in the video.

         



Hundreds of civilians took over a military base in the Cochabamba area and took captive the soldiers who were there. They also stole weapons and ammunition.



The pic.twitter.com/gaHe9yzYqi  The Global Beacon (@globalbeaconn) November 1, 2024

It is pertinent to note that despite being barred from contesting in the polls, Morales expressed his intention to challenge his former ally turned rival, President Luis Arce, for the nomination of the left-wing Mas party. The country is scheduled to hold presidential elections in August 2025.

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Earlier, Morales led a march of thousands of mainly Indigenous Bolivians on the administrative capital, La Paz, to protest against Arces policies. Soon after the demonstrations, prosecutors announced that the former president is being investigated for rape, human trafficking, and human smuggling over his alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2015. In the case, Morales was accused of fathering a daughter with the girl. However, he has denied all the allegations hurled against him.

President calls for an end to the protests

Amid the chaos, on Wednesday, Arce demanded an immediate end to the roadblocks and said the government would exercise its constitutional powers to safeguard the interests of the Bolivian people if the protesters did not comply.

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Many Bolivians took the countrys presidents warning as a threat to use the military to end the blockade, which has caused widespread food and fuel shortages and prompted prices of basic goods to soar. Interestingly, Chapare is the same place where Morales claimed that he was a victim of an assassination attempt last week.

The government at that time noted that police fired on the vehicle after coming under fire from Moraless convoy at a checkpoint set up to combat drug trafficking in the Chapare.

With inputs from agencies.
The stunning spot on the NSW south coast has already claimed several lives, with boaters and fishers being warned of the dangers that are present.

The Narooma Bar tidal crossing is located on the Far South Coast of NSW and is popular for boating and fishing. Source: Supplied/Sean Kinchela

Incredible photos captured by a local photographer perfectly depict the beauty of what Australia's coast has to offer. But hidden within the "stunning" images taken at an idyllic beach lurks a dangerous truth putting dozens of locals at risk daily.

Local man Sean Kinchela told Yahoo News Australia he visits the Narooma Bar often. "I go there nearly every sunrise," he said sharing the photos with Yahoo which capture the famous tidal crossing from above.

The crossing, located on the Far South Coast of NSW on the south bank of Wagonga Inlet, is a popular waterway for general boating and fishing with an entrance between two breakwaters extending roughly 300 metres.

However, due to its shallow and narrow nature, it can present some large and rough waves with locals deeming the coastal spot "really dangerous". Data released last year revealed the Narooma Bar as the deadliest tidal crossing on Australia's east coast.

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"Having seen rescues and people even in small boats trying to cross the crazy big waves, Im not surprised at all," one local said in response to the data.

"I thought I was going to die crossing that bar. One of the worst experiences on the sea ever," said another in response to Kinchela's photos.

The shallow and narrow channel can get some extremely rough waves making it dangerous for boats to pass through. Source: Facebook/MbK For Life

Several deaths reported at popular NSW tidal crossing

In the past decade, the narrow and shallow channel has claimed four lives and resulted in six serious injuries, according to Transport for NSW.

In 2023, a man died after his boat capsized while attempting to enter the harbour. A woman, believed to be aged in her 60s who was in the boat with him, was rescued from the water by a passing boat.

Meanwhile, a 32-year-old man and a 75-year-old man drowned attempting the same manoeuvre in March 2020, the ABC reported. It's understood that life jackets were being worn in all of the fatal incidents.

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According to locals, the crossing is used by dozens of recreational and commercial fishers each day, and conditions are known to quickly change from calm to treacherous within hours.

A local photographer captures the incredible spot from above. Source: Supplied/Sean kinchela

Boaters warned to proceed with caution when crossing

Boaters attempting to tackle the crossing are advised by the NSW government to plan ahead and avoid any unnecessary travel.

"When planning a bar crossing or going offshore, carefully consider the suitability of your vessel to handle the conditions and understand how to safely cross coastal bars," it warns.

If gale force winds are forecast, or if sea swells are large, people are advised to avoid the water. Transport for NSW last year warned boaters to consider their safety first.

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We see far too many boaters take on coastal bars in conditions that arent suitable for their vessel, or their level of experience as a skipper. Know your limits, and if theres any doubt, dont go out," they said.

Boaters are warned to take care when attempting to tackle the crossing. Source: ABC South East NSW (Floss Adams)

Kinchela agreed it's a "really beautiful" spot but said it can be "deadly". Thankfully for him, he just captures it all on camera.

"I've got a lot of experience crossing the bar but that doesn't mean to say I'm not scared every time I go over it," local man and former president of the Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club, Les Waldock told the ABC.

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Zelenskyy said that Ukraine can plan a preemptive strike on Russian camps where North Korean soldiers are getting trained and confirmed that Kyiv knows those locations. But in order to do so, it needs its allies approval to use Western-made long-range weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia read more

Soldiers march in a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Sept. 9, 2018. (File photo: AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged its allies to take action sooner rather than later before North Korean troops enter the battlefield.

But instead  America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians as well, Zelenskyy said in a post late Friday on the Telegram messaging app.

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine can plan a preemptive strike on Russian camps where North Korean soldiers are getting trained and confirmed that Kyiv knows those locations. But in order to do so, it needs its allies approval to use Western-made long-range weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia.

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The presence of North Korean troops in Russia, which has been confirmed by Washington, has caused anxiety among leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who has called for their withdrawal.

Earlier this week, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said that some 8,000 North Korean troops are in Russias Kursk region near the Ukrainian border and are preparing to help the Kremlin fight against Ukrainian troops in the coming days.

Meanwhile, North Korea on Friday said it will support Russia until it achieves victory in Ukraine amid reports that Pyongyangs military is playing an active role in the war.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui made the statement after talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

She was in Moscow as the West says thousands of North Korean troops are in Russia and will possibly be used in Ukraine.

We repeat that we will always stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said, according to a Russian translation.

We have no doubt whatsoever that under the wise leadership of the honourable Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian army and people will surely achieve a great victory in their sacred struggle to defend the sovereign rights and security of their state, she added.

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With inputs from agencies
In recent years, Greece has experienced occasional violence linked to left-wing and anarchist guerrilla groups. Attacks occur periodically and continue to raise concerns about political extremism within the European country read more

Anti-terrorist unit's forensics officers search an apartment where a man was killed and a woman was seriously wounded in an explosion, in Athens, Greece, October 31, 2024. Reuters

Greek authorities have charged three individuals with involvement in a terrorist organization following a bomb explosion in an Athens apartment that killed a 36-year-old man and left a woman seriously injured, police announced on Saturday (November 2).

The explosion took place on Thursday (October 31) while the bomb was allegedly being assembled, police said, leading anti-terrorism officials to suspect connections to anti-establishment guerrilla groups active in the country.

Who are the accused people?

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The individuals accused in the case include the injured 33-year-old woman, who has been hospitalised in Athens since the blast, and a 31-year-old Greek man who testified to authorities on Friday (November 1) night before being formally arrested.

He is scheduled to appear before a prosecutor on Saturday. Reuters quoted police sources as revealing that the man admitted to being associated with the apartment.

However, he denied any involvement in the bombs assembly or detonation. He reportedly has a history of prior arrests, including one in Germany, the police said.

Authorities are also seeking a third suspect. This is a 30-year-old woman who is believed to have ties to the group.

Evidence collected from various searches includes two firearms, ammunition, mobile phones, digital storage devices, masks, wigs, and handwritten notes.

Investigators are continuing to analyse these items as they work to determine the groups intended target. So far, details on that front are scant.

Rise in left-wing violence in Greece

In recent years, Greece has experienced occasional violence linked to left-wing and anarchist guerrilla groups, some of which emerged following the disbandment of the notorious November 17 group.

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During Greeces financial crisis from 2009 to 2018, small-scale bombings and arson attacks targeting politicians, police, judges, and businesses were common.

Although such incidents have since diminished, attacks still occur periodically. That continues to raise concerns about political extremism within the European country.

With inputs from agencies
Pollings are now suggesting that the Democratic presidential nominee is significantly ahead among those who have already voted either through absentee, mail-in or in-person ballots read more

With just a few days left for the November 5 polls, the 2024 US Presidential election has already set records for pre-Election Day votes. While Republicans have been excitedly urging people to take part in early voting, things are looking great for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Pollings are now suggesting that the Democratic presidential nominee is significantly ahead among those who have already voted either through absentee, mail-in or in-person ballots. Recent national polling from ABC News/Ipsos, The New York Times/Sienna College and CNN show that Harris is leading Trump by 62 per cent to 33 per cent; 59 per cent to 40 per cent; and 61 per cent to 36 per cent respectively.

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Interestingly, Harriss lead is potentially bigger than former US Secretary of State Hillary Clintons, who fought against Trump in the 2016 US Presidential Elections. However, the figures are shy of US President Joe Bidens margins in late 2020 polls when Democrats embraced mail voting and Trump attacked it and persuaded his supporters not to do it.

Can we rely on the polls?

The only state where Harris was predicted to be trailing is the state of Nevada, where according to CNN, Trump is leading by 6 points. However, this is a limited number of polls, and the subsamples of those who say theyve already voted have larger margins of error. Hence, these data are prone to being off just like polls are more general.

Another interesting fact about this phase is that women have outpaced men in early voting turnout by nearly 10 percentage points. This is seen as good news for Harris since the vice president has managed to gain solid support from American women throughout the election cycle.

Four days from Election Day, 53 per cent of early voters nationally as of Friday have been women and 44 per cent men, according to TargetSmart, a Democratic-aligned firm that tracks early voting data. The margin is about the same as the 2020 elections which was eventually won by Biden.

The Democratic women, especially, appear to be just more fired up. Even though the Republicans vote share is increasing, youre still seeing those gender gaps hold, said Tom Bonier, CEO of TargetSmart. According to the University of Florida Election Project, more than 67 million Americans voted early as of Friday afternoon. It is pertinent to note that over 100 million Americans voted early in 2020 polls which took place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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With inputs from agencies.
With less than a week left for the US presidential elections, Vice President Kamala Harris called for the disqualification of former US President Donald Trump after the Republican presidential nominee suggested that Liz Cheney should have guns trained on her face read more

US Vice President Kamala Harris (right) called for disqualification of former US President Donald Trump (left) over his violent rhetoric against former congresswoman Liz Cheney (centre). AP

With just a few days ahead of the US presidential elections, Vice President Kamala Harris called for the disqualification of former President Donald Trump after the Republican nominee pushed violent rhetoric against ex-congresswoman Liz Cheney. While holding a rally in Arizona on Thursday, Trump was asked for his take on Cheneys endorsement of Harris.

The former president called Cheney a deranged person and added: But the reason she couldnt stand me is that she always wanted to go to war with people. If it were up to her wed be in 50 different countries. He went on to call her a war hawk and alluded to guns pointing at her face.

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Shes a radical war hawk. Lets put her with the rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. OK, lets see how she feels about it. When the guns are trained on her face," the former president continued. Both Liz and her father ex-Vice President Dick Cheney, have been ardent critics of Republicans support for Trump. Earlier this year, the two conservative politicians announced their endorsement of Harris.

Harris slams Trump

On Friday, the Democratic presidential nominee slammed Trump for his violent rhetoric and called for his disqualification. Harris told reporters at the airport in Madison that she had not talked with Cheney since Trumps comments.

He has increased his violent rhetoric, Donald Trump has, about political opponents and in great detail suggested rifles should be trained on former Representative Liz Cheney. This must be disqualifying," the Vice President said, describing Cheney as courageous and incredible American.

I will tell you, I know Liz Cheney well enough to know that she is tough, she is incredibly courageous and has shown herself to be a true patriot at a very difficult time in our country, she exclaimed.

Vice President Kamala Harris: "He has increased his violent rhetoric, Donald Trump has, about political opponents and in great detail suggested rifles should be trained on former Rep. Liz Cheney. This must be disqualifying...Rep. Cheney is a true patriot." pic.twitter.com/ngVmMPtwKX  CSPAN (@cspan) November 1, 2024

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We see this kind of rhetoric that is violent in nature, where we see this kind of spirit coming from Donald Trump that is so laden with the desire for revenge and retribution  I think that Liz Cheney is courageous and that we will always make sure that we are all fighting against and speaking out against any form of political violence, the Vice President furthered.

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Trump doubles down on his criticism

Despite facing backlash, Trump reiterated his criticisms against Cheney. While addressing the Michigan rally, the former president called Cheney a war hawk. He went on to slam former Vice President Dick Cheney for being responsible for massive losses of life across the Middle East when he was in office with ex-President George W. Bush.

In his first term, Trump recalled that Cheney was always telling him, We should attack this nation, that nation, nations that people have never even heard of we should attackbut if you give Liz Cheney a gun and put her into battle facing the other side with guns facing at her, she wouldnt have the courage or the strengthto even look the enemy in the eye. Oh, we ought to go attack Iran, Iraq, everybody. Thats why I broke up with her. All she wanted to do was to go to war with everybody

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The former congresswoman from Wyoming has vocally opposed Trump since the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Meanwhile, on Friday, Trump and Harris are scheduled to hold duelling rallies in the Milwaukee area as part of a final push for votes in swing-state Wisconsin. It is pertinent to note that Milwaukee is home to the most Democratic votes in Wisconsin, but its conservative suburbs are where most Republicans live and are a critical area for Trump.
The military assets sent to the region include ballistic missile defence destroyers, long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, tanker aircraft, and Navy destroyers read more

A B-52 aircraft from the US Air Force is parked at Nellis base. Reuters

The Pentagon has announced the deployment of additional military assets to West Asia as tensions grip the region with Iran preparing a counterattack against Israel.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said, Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people.

The US has been clear about its position in the conflict and has vowed to safeguard both Israeli and American interests in West Asia. Meanwhile, Israel has said that it is on a high level of readiness should Iran strike back.

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What has US sent?

According to Fox News, the military assets sent to the region include ballistic missile defence destroyers, long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, tanker aircraft, and Navy destroyers.

The additional resources build on previous US defence deployments to the Middle East in support of Israel, including a THAAD missile defence system deployed to the country late last month, operated by American troops on the ground.

Ryder said the new forces will begin to arrive in coming months. " However, it is unclear where the military resources will be sent in West Asia.

Are there any US troops in West Asia?

In September, the Joe Biden-led administration announced that it sent a small number of additional troops to West Asia in response to a sharp spike in violence between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

The American presence in the region is designed both to help defend Israel and protect US and allied personnel and assets. Navy warships are scattered across the region, from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Oman, and both Air Force and Navy fighter jets are strategically based at several locations to be better prepared to respond to any attacks.

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With inputs from agencies
Chinese FM holds talks with Slovak counterpart

Xinhua) 10:06, November 02, 2024

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar in Beijing on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the new orientation of the China-Slovakia strategic partnership injects strong impetus into bilateral cooperation in various fields and sends a positive signal to the world.

China appreciates Slovakia's friendly policy toward China and its adherence to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, Wang said, noting that China and Slovakia share similar ideas, and have mutual understanding and respect for each other's core interests.

Noting that China has always viewed and developed its relations with Slovakia from a long-term and strategic perspective, Wang said that China is ready to work together to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and push for the steady and long-term growth of bilateral relations.

Blanar said Slovakia will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy and looks forward to taking the establishment of a strategic partnership as a new starting point to promote greater development of bilateral relations.

Slovakia fully supports the six-point consensus proposed by China and Brazil on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and is willing to work with all parties to achieve peace through dialogue and consultations, Blanar said.

The two sides expressed a willingness to give full play to the role of the inter-governmental cooperation mechanism under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, and agreed to take the opportunity of China's 15-day visa-free entry policy for Slovak citizens to deepen friendly exchanges between the two countries.

They also exchanged views on China-Europe relations. China and Europe are partners rather than rivals, Wang said, adding that it is hoped that Europe will adopt an objective and rational attitude toward China, and jointly work for the steady and sound development of China-Europe relations. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
Anyone attempting to tackle Australia's most remote and notorious stretch of road should wait until next year, experts tell Yahoo News.

Aussie caravanners and 4WD enthusiasts planning to attempt Australia's most treacherous stretch of road have been warned to "delay" their trip until at least May 2025 as oppressive weather conditions arrive early.

The Gibb River Road, a 647km stretch of road between Derby and Kununnura in Western Australia, is known as the "roughest most challenging" 4WD track in Australia thanks to heavy stretches of unsealed roads that offer deep corrugations, loose gravel, potholes and flash flooding.

While it's an adventurer's dream, scores of travellers have reported serious damage to their rigs, and without the right preparation, situations can quickly become life or death.

Local tourism expert Anthony, who runs The Gibb River Road tourism page, told Yahoo News Australia oppressive heat has "come early this year", with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a severe heatwave warning for the region where temperatures can get to over 45 degrees.

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"Even if you are fully prepared, defer it till May 2025," he said.

The 647-kilometre road runs from Derby to Kununurra and is mainly unsealed. Source: Main Roads

Life or death conditions on 4WD road

While Anthony says that most who attempt the track are well prepared for the driving conditions, the heat is a different story. "A lot of people [doing the track] are prepared, but theyre not prepared for the heat, and that is something they need to be very careful about," he said.

"Tourists think they are fully prepared, and they are in the cooler months but as soon as that heat comes on theyre not prepared," he said.

"Some of these isolated areas, this time of year you wont find too many people. If you break down and you dont have a satellite phone and you dont have enough water, youre gone. Theres no such thing as help as such, especially at this time of year."

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It's recommended to only attempt the track between mid-May to October, but Anthony says he's known of tourists attempting it as late as December when the wet season has kicked in.

Anthony advises anyone doing the track must have a satellite phone, Starlink, as much water as you can carry. He suggests keeping speeds low to keep tyres healthy too.

WA Main Roads says track is open but amenities are 'closed'

WA Main Roads told Yahoo that while the track remains open, very few amenities along the long stretch of road are still open at this time of year and conditions are ever changing.

"Driving on Gibb River Road can be unpredictable as road conditions are constantly changing, presenting unique challenges for even the most experienced travellers," A West Australian Main Roads spokesperson told Yahoo News.

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"While Gibb River Road is currently open, most accommodation providers, attractions, stations and roadhouses are closed. Road users planning to travel the Gibb should prepare, plan and pack for their journey accordingly as the risk of isolation and lack of assistance in the event of an incident or emergency is high."

Main Roads recommends only travelling in a larger 4WD in high range with a high clearance like a Prado, Pajero or Hilux. They don't recommend caravans, motorhomes and camper trailers on the unsealed roads, but some caravans can be specially designed for off-roading.

Steph and Aaron Churchill with their 4WD and Caravan before tackling the notorious stretch of road.

Caravan family's 'red hot crack' at 4WD track

Steph Churchill, who is travelling the country with her family, echoed the advice of Anthony and Main Roads, but encouraged Aussies to give it a go when the conditions are right.

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"I dont think you can say youve travelled Australia unless youve experienced the Gibb," she said.

Steph and her partner Aaron left their home on Queensland's Gold Coast four years ago to caravan around the country with their two kids and have no plans to return to regular life.

The family are experienced in 4WDing thanks to Aaron's background in the defence force and tackled the road earlier this year. "We had heard that it was one of the roughest, most challenging tracks in Australia," Steph said, adding it was because of that, they were inspired to give it "a red-hot crack".

When it comes to 4WD adventures, Steph said "It's in a class of its own  there is no comparison."

Another caravan family shared images of the awkward moment they crossed paths with a road train. Source: Facebook/T Rafter

Tips for tackling Gibb River Road

The family said they were "lucky" to only inflict "minimal" damage to their set-up - a Wonderland RV Caravan & Toyota Landcruiser. She adds that "preparation is key".

"The Gibb River Road is a seasonal track! With the off-season experiencing extreme heat, flash flooding which is a part of their wet season", she said.

"The roads are harsh, so be prepared for the worst," she said, adding the family taped their doors, cupboards and tent vents. A low point on the track was the lack of water supplies.

"Make sure you have the right recovery gear such as spare tyres, snap straps, tools, some sort of communication," she said. The family added that they use Starlink, a favourite communication device among caravanning families.

"Have some basic knowledge of tools and know how to at least change a tyre. Another thing we do regularly is torque the wheel nuts and suspension components to be on the safe side," she said.

"Once you have all your preparation sorted just get out there and enjoy yourself."

To follow Steph and Aaron's adventures, click here.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Fred Hutch Cancer Center grows new scientists at every age from elementary school students who extract DNA from smooshed strawberries to high school and college interns who learn basic lab skills to postdoctoral researchers who run their own research projects.

At every level of education, Fred Hutch encourages participants from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups to make the leap to the next level.

The leap from college to graduate school has become a chasm in recent years, however, as PhD programs have become increasingly competitive, favoring applicants who already have extensive lab experience and even authorship on published scientific studies as undergraduates.

That kind of experience often is out of reach for students from underrepresented groups for many reasons including the size, location and resources of the colleges where they earned degrees.

But this summer, recent college graduates reported to their labs at Fred Hutch to begin training in the first full year of a new program that will increase their chances of admission to graduate school and a career in biomedical science.

The Fred Hutch Postbaccalaureate Scholar Program provides recent college graduates $50,000 a year and benefits as full-time Fred Hutch employees. The salaries are funded by the principal investigators who want postbacs in their labs. The job is like the role of a research technician, but with an expanded emphasis on career guidance and preparation for further studies.

One of those new postbacs, Angie Aguirre-Tobar, is looking for a greater sense of purpose at Fred Hutch than she felt after graduating from Brandeis University in Massachusetts.

I didnt have that passion in me, she said. This postbac program really presented an opportunity to find it and also integrate values that I have outside of basic life sciences, which include diversity, equity and inclusion.

She is one of four postbacs working with Nasa Sinnott-Armstrong, PhD, in their lab within the Herbold Computational Biology Program of the Public Health Sciences Division, which uses both computational and experimental methods to better understand gene-environment interactions.

As a scientist, I want to be able to create a change that isnt just a new discovery on this microorganism in a cell. I want it to be: how do we make science more inclusive and relevant to the communities that I am a part of?" Aguirre-Tobar said. "This postbac program and being in Dr. Nasas lab has given me that opportunity.

Scholars in the program receive a salary for the 40 hours a week they spend in a lab, and they are paid another $5,000 a year for additional training and mentorship, currently funded through generous philanthropic support. Some of the participants helped launch the program last year, some have been referred by Fred Hutch faculty, and 20 of the scholars who started in July were selected from 200 applicants in the programs first national search.

About 40 scholars are working in labs this year, but going forward, Fred Hutch will recruit new classes of about 30 each year.

The program defines diversity broadly, said program manager Kyle Shea.

Its not only historically excluded populations in terms of race and ethnicity, its also social class and economic status, Shea said. Because we have more flexibility in who we can hire, we can look for people who maybe came from small liberal arts colleges who only have a summer or two of research experience.
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Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Even though state officials said the inadvertent leak of certain passwords for an unknown number of county election computers didnt pose a threat to ballot tabulation, the Colorado Secretary of States Office  with help from Gov. Jared Polis  have updated all impacted election computers, the two agencies announced Friday.

That occurred one day after Polis announced that his office would help supply the manpower and other resources to help Secretary of State Jena Griswold get the passwords changed as quickly as possible.

Every Coloradan can rest assured that their vote will be counted fairly and accurately, Polis said. While the leaked passwords compromised just one of many layers of security that protect our election integrity in Colorado, we knew it was critical to take swift action and to work with Secretary Griswold and the county clerks to update the passwords immediately.

The effort, which the secretarys office had been working on for days, included eight staff workers in Griswolds office, and 22 state cybersecurity personnel from other state agencies. All had the appropriate background checks and underwent the proper training to work on the election systems, Polis and Griswold said.

Neither the governors office nor Griswold has revealed just how many counties were impacted, but a spokesman for the secretary of state said it wasnt anywhere near the 63 of the states 64 counties as the Colorado Republican Party, which first alerted the public to all this, have been saying.

Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross said she was initially told the county wasnt affected, but later learned that it was. Gross was already irritated with Griswold for revealing an ongoing investigation in the county last week over ballots that appear to have been cast by the same person.

We were just notified by the state we are affected, Gross said Wednesday. Last night on the call (with the state and county clerks) that they had already contacted the counties affected. While I am disappointed, once again we did not receive accurate information. I am still confident in the securities that we have in place.

None of the countys election computers have the hardware or the software needed to allow for wifi or remote access.

The passwords in question are known as BIOS, which stands for basis input/output system, according to Lifewire, an online news outlet about everything tech. It is software used on every computer to instruct them on basic functions, such as booting and keyboard and mouse controls. As such, they have little to do with tabulating ballots, Griswolds office said.

Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said that although the BIOS passwords are an important level of security, they arent the only level. Not only is a second password that only each individual county knows needed, but all election equipment are in secure rooms that require special key cards to enter.

Additionally, they are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The county clerks urge all voters to cast their ballot with confidence in our system, Crane said. It was built with many layers of security to protect against just this type of occurrence. Every clerk is taking this issue seriously and is staying laser-focused on delivering the safe and accurate elections that Coloradans have come to expect.

Regardless, the Colorado Republican Party wants a more thorough investigation into the incident.

As a result, Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch and a member of the bipartisan Legislative Audit Committee, requesting a formal investigation be conducted by the Office of the State Auditor.
Mon Monday

65 /44

More clouds than sun. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the mid 40s.
DNI Releases Appropriated Budget Figure for 2024 National Intelligence Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ODNI News Release No. 27-24

October 31, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congress appropriated an aggregate amount of $76.5 billion to the National Intelligence Program (NIP) for Fiscal Year 2024. This includes supplemental funding.

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) discloses this amount consistent with 50 U.S.C. 3306(b), not later than 30 days after the end of the fiscal year.

Beyond the disclosure of the NIP top-line figure, there will be no other disclosures of currently classified NIP budget information. The only exceptions to the foregoing are for unclassified appropriations.



###

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Israel arrests several suspects on charges of leaking highly classified information: Report

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 11:53 PM

Israeli media has reported that the Shin Bet arrested several suspects in the Israeli regime's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on charges of leaking highly classified information related to the genocidal war on Gaza.

A number of suspects were arrested on Friday concerning a leak of classified documents from the prime minister's office (PMO), the Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court announced in a statement, the Israeli media reported.

Judge Menachem Mizrahi said that the arrests were part of a joint investigation by the Shin Bet, the occupation police, and the Israeli occupation forces.

He added that the arrests were made "on suspicions of risking sensitive information and harming the achievement of the war goals in Gaza."

A report from Ynet stated that one of the arrested was a spokesman who worked with the PMO.

Israel unleashed a genocidal Gaza onslaught on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led resistance groups carried out a surprise operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the occupying regime has killed at least 43,259 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 101,827 others in the besieged Gaza, according to the latest official tally.

In its brutal aggression, Israel has deliberately targeted buildings and tents sheltering displaced Palestinians and committed war crimes.

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PM Netanyahu at the IDF Officers Course Graduation Ceremony

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Events and Speeches

The 37th Government

31.10.2024

Following is an excerpt from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech this evening, at the IDF Officers Course Graduation Ceremony, at IDF Training Base #1:

"I would like to reiterate: We are dismantling the axis of evil that we face, with calculated blows. No longer will terrorist armies be on our borders. Hamas will no longer rule in Gaza and Hezbollah will not sit on our northern border, at positions a few meters from our border, from which it could invade. This will not happen anymore. We are also severing Iran's weapons pipelines to Hezbollah - through Syria and from there to Lebanon.

As for the talk about an arrangement in Lebanon, I would like to make it clear: The agreements, documents, proposals and numbers - 1701, 1559 - with all due respect, are not the main point. The main point is our ability and determination to enforce security, thwart attacks against us, and act against the arming of our enemies, as necessary and despite any pressure and constraints. This is the main point.

Regarding Iran, we struck its soft underbelly. The haughty words of the Iranian regime's leaders cannot cover up the fact in Iran today, Israel has greater freedom of action than ever before. We can go anywhere that we need to in Iran.

The supreme objective that I have set for the IDF and the security services is to prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons. Halting the nuclear program has been - and remains - our chief concern. I have not taken, we have not taken and we will not take, our eyes off this objective. Obviously, I cannot detail our plans to achieve this supreme goal."

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Security Council Extends UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara by One Year, Adopting Resolution 2756 (2024) by Vote of 12 in Favour, with 2 Abstentions

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9771st Meeting (PM)

SC/15882

31 October 2024

The Security Council today voted to extend by an additional year the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), emphasizing the need to reach a political solution based on compromise and the importance of aligning MINURSO's strategic focus and UN resources toward that end.

Authorizing the Mission's continued operations until 31 October 2025, the 15-member organ adopted resolution 2756 (2024) (to be issued as document S/RES/2756) with 12 votes in favour, zero against and two abstentions (Russian Federation and Mozambique). One State, however, did not participate in the vote.

Through the text, the Council called upon the parties to negotiate under the Secretary-General's auspices without preconditions and in good faith, encouraging the continuation of consultations between his Personal Envoy and Morocco, Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro (Frente POLISARIO), Algeria and Mauritania to build on progress achieved. It reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

By other terms, it called on the Secretary-General to apply to MINURSO the comprehensive and integrated UN peacekeeping performance policy framework set out in resolution 2436 (2018) and for the safe and regular resupply of MINURSO team sites to ensure the sustainability of the Mission's presence.

It also strongly urged enhancing cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including through facilitating visits to the region, and strongly urged Member States to provide new and additional contributions to fund food programmes to ensure the refugees' humanitarian needs are adequately met.

Algeria's speaker says its positions were 'deliberately ignored'

Algeria's representative, whose country had earlier proposed two amendments to the resolution, said his delegation did not participate in the vote because of "the attitude of the penholder". His country's views and positions, despite having been "well-founded" in consonance with the Council's processes, were "deliberately ignored". He regretted that the penholder did not demonstrate objectivity or impartiality, but circulated a text that did not "at all" contain elements of prior agreements. "The vote on this resolution changes nothing on the fundamental crux of this issue," he said. Algeria believes that the right to the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara belongs only to the Saharawi people, and as such will "strive to speak out" on all matters thereon.

Members reject two amendments to resolution

Presenting the proposed amendments before the vote, both of which were not adopted, he said his delegation "has been forced to submit to you these two amendments quite simply because the penholder decided to impose its own draft resolution, and to put it in blue yesterday at 5:30 p.m.". The Council risks being accused of double standards to the detriment of the people of Western Sahara. "It is the legitimacy of the Council on the subject of human rights that is in question here," he added. By denying the people of Western Sahara the legal protection that is guaranteed for them under international law, "we will have lost a great deal of his Council's legitimacy," he said.

On the first amendment to insert a new paragraph after preambular paragraph 19, the Council voted six in favour (Algeria, China, Guyana, Mozambique, Slovenia, Switzerland) to zero against, with nine abstaining (Ecuador, Japan, France, Malta, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, United States).

Similarly, the second amendment which sought to insert a new paragraph after operative paragraph 13, saw five members (Algeria, China, Guyana, Mozambique, Slovenia) voting in favour, none against and 10 abstaining.

Mozambique's delegate, who voted in favour of the amendments, said he did so because they were consistent with previous Council decisions and valid on their own merit, because they relate to human rights. "The resolution in its current form, without the Algerian amendments will not assist the parties in achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution," he said. On the contrary, it entrenches the trend of a gradual departure from the Mission's original mandate.

The representative of the Russian Federation, who abstained on the both the United States-prepared draft resolution and on Algeria's proposed amendments, stressed: "The resolution, in our opinion, does not reflect the real situation on the ground and is hardly going to help facilitate achieve a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict." A series of proposals and suggested additions to the texts made by his Government and other delegations were ignored. "Our request to clearly delineate in the text of the document the two sides of the conflict, Morocco and the Polisario Front, was also not given necessary attention," he said, adding: "American penholders have once again forced us to think seriously about whether they are able to act as an impartial participant in the discussions on the subject of Western Sahara."

Delegates support MINURSO's critical role in maintaining regional stability

Several members saw renewing MINURSO's mandate as key to the region's well-being. "We think this is critical to maintaining stability in the area," Ecuador's delegate said. Recalling that his country was part of the Security Council in April 1991 when the Mission was established, he hoped that by the next time Ecuador takes up membership, both parties would act towards each other with political will, good faith and the support of the international community.

Adding to that, the speaker for Sierra Leone urged all parties to the conflict to return to a ceasefire without delay and resume round-table engagements. Further, MINURSO's operational activities should be continually expanded through increased ground patrols and the resumption of full demining operations east of the Berm for the first time since 2019. Highlighting the international momentum for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, he urged an exploration of "this option".

Also calling for a cessation of hostilities and a return to a ceasefire, France's speaker said: "the low-intensity hostilities should not make us forget the risks that this conflict poses to the stability of the region and to the local populations." He welcomed the resumption of refuelling operations at its observation sites east of the Berm, underscoring the importance of respecting MINURSO's freedom of movement. He added that his delegation did not vote on Algeria's proposed amendment because it believes that the mandate in its current form is adapted to the situation in Western Sahara.

The representative of the United States said it is more urgent than ever to reach a political solution for Western Sahara and that Council members should lend all possible support for a solution that is just, lasting and mutually acceptable. "The people of Western Sahara and the region are counting on us," he said. "Today is an important step, which now should be reflected in urgent action consistent with the resolution we just adopted."

"This resolution reaffirms the Council's commitment to assisting the parties in achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution based on compromise," added the United Kingdom's representative. Slovenia's representative echoed that sentiment, noting that he also voted in favour of the amendments presented by Algeria because "we believe that as a cross-cutting matter, UN Missions are strengthened by having human rights responsibilities". This benefits the local population and contributes to a more sustainable peace.

Rounding out the meeting, Switzerland's speaker, in her capacity as Council President for October, said it is "absolutely critical" to support a consensus that "can allow this mandate to be discharged". Her delegation voted on the amendment stating that OHCHR didn't get to the region for the ninth consecutive year, she said, adding that her country is "strongly attached to the protection of human rights in all contexts," including Western Sahara. Because the Mission's mandate provides strong support to the work of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy and Special Representative for a fair, mutually acceptable political solution, her delegation abstained on the second amendment to ensure continuity for the Mission's work.

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Georgia's parliamentary elections

Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1 November 2024

The Australian Government notes the official results of parliamentary elections which took place in Georgia on Saturday 26 October.

While we welcome the fact that millions of Georgians have exercised their right to vote, the preliminary findings of impartial election observation missions have recorded widespread acts of voter intimidation, vote buying and other irregularities.

Australia calls on the Government of Georgia to fully and promptly investigate all voting irregularities.

Australia supports a democratic, stable, and prosperous Georgia which upholds its commitments to democratic principles including human rights, media freedoms, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.

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Qassam Brigades destroys Merkava tanks, kills 12 Zionists

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 1, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Al-Qassam Brigades annouced that the hideout of 12 Zionist soldiers were attacked in Al-Qassasim area in the Jabalia camp, as a result of which the mentioned soldiers were killed wounded, as well as a personnel carrier and a tank of the occupying regime were destroyed.

According to the Palestinian Ma'a news agency, al-Qassam battalions emphasized that its fighters targeted a house in al-Qassasim area in the Jabalia camp where 12 occupation soldiers were hiding with an RPG rocket, which resulted in their deaths and injuries.

Following this attack, three Zionist soldiers were fleeing towards a Merkava tank, which was also destroyed by a high-explosive bomb.

Al-Qassam Brigades emphasized that its soldiers also targeted a personnel carrier of the occupying regime's army with an "al-Yasin 105" rocket in a combined operation.

2050

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Hezbollah conducts massive missile attack on Galilee north of occupied Palestine

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 1, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Zionist media admitted that Lebanon's Hezbollah launched a massive rocket attack on northern occupied Palestine, and at least 9 Zionists were injured in one of these attacks.

Quds News Network quoted Hebrew-language sources as saying that a massive rocket attack had been conducted from Lebanon to Galilee in northern occupied Palestine.

These media stressed that at least 30 rockets were fired towards Galilee in the north of occupied Palestine.

Several rockets have hit the Zionist settlements of Karmiel and Majd al-Krum.

The Zionist Army Radio also admitted that dozens of rockets fired from Lebanon have hit Karmiel and Ma'alot-Tarshiha.

According to the Zionist media, Hezbollah rocket attack on Karmeil town injured at least 9 and one of the rockets directly hit a building.

At the same time, alarm have sounded in the towns of Karmeil, Kfar Vradim and Ma'alot-Tarshiha in the West Galilee.

Lebanon's Hezbollah announced that since the beginning of the Zionist regime's military attack on southern Lebanon, 95 Israeli soldiers were killed and 900 others were injured.

9376**2050

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Ninety-five Israeli forces killed in about a month, Hezbollah says

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 1, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has announced that 95 Israeli forces have been killed and 900 others injured since September 23.

Hezbollah has annihilated over 40 Merkava tanks of the Israeli regime in the battle fields in southern Lebanon in October, the Lebanese resistance media reported on Friday.

Also, Hezbollah has destroyed 50 military tanks and vehicles of the regime and its five drones including three Hermes 450 and two Hermes 900, during the period, the report says.

Hezbollah announced that the number of the killed in Israel includes the Zionist soldiers and officers.

On October 31, Hezbollah stated that it had launched the missile and artillery operation against the Israeli regime on the border areas and in the depth of the occupied Palestine.

In response to aggravation of the Israeli regime's aggression against various areas in southern Lebanon late September, Hezbollah has started its attacks against the Zionist bases from the early hours of the aggression.

The Health Ministry of Lebanon had already announced that over 2,500 have been killed in the country after the Israeli aggressions.

1483**9417

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Iraqi resistance says conducts attack against Israeli bases 6 times in a day

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 1, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic resistance in Iraq announced it has attacked with drones against the important Israeli bases six times in a day.

In a statement on Friday, the Iraqi resistance said it carries out attacks against the Israeli regime to support the Lebanese and Palestinian people and the resistance against occupation.

The statement underlined the importance of continuing the fight against the Zionist regime.

In its important attack on the Israeli bases and settlements in the occupied Palestine, the Iraqi resistance has already killed and injured 25 Zionist military forces, the statement says.

The Islamic resistance in Iraq has already warned it would intensify its attacks on the Israeli bases if the regime continued aggression against the Gaza Strip.

1483**9417

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HMNZS Manawanui in Samoa

New Zealand Defence Force

1 November 2024

Update: 3.24PM NZDT

The latest update on the HMNZS Manawanui response.

Monitoring and surveillance of the HMNZS Manawanui continues.

The main fuel tanks remain intact and any small leaks are being managed and contained.

New Zealand Defence Force Senior National Representative, Commodore Andrew Brown said: "The New Zealand Defence Force is actively engaged in discussion on options for fuel removal from the ship, which remains our next priority."

"We are currently undergoing due diligence around contract negotiations and ensuring the Samoan authorities are fully involved in this process."

"We will provide updates once the contract has been signed and we will be able to provide details for the fuel removal plan as soon as it is available."

It is expected the process of fuel removal from HMNZS Manawanui will start this month. How long it will take will be dependent on external influences such as weather.

Commodore Brown said: "As always our focus is on minimising any possible environmental impacts. This remains our absolute priority."

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Be honest, which one are you driving out of there? - Photo: NaVCIS

An impressive haul of luxury cars has been uncovered in Thailand, including models from Lamborghini, Mercedes and Porsche. This wasnt the collection of a billionaire, however, and was instead a fleet of cars that had been bought fraudulently overseas with the aim of selling on to unsuspecting buyers in Thailand.

The fleet of 30 cars has been recovered in Thailand as part of a sting operation into a gang operating in the country that reportedly stole 35 cars. The group was fraudulently acquiring cars overseas, shipping them into Thailand and then selling them off, reports the Guardian.

The operation uncovered a warehouse full of cars that was collectively worth as much as $8 million, and included a Lamborghini Huracan, three Nissan GT-Rs and luxury models from the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and BMW:

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Detectives from the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (Navcis) said the cars were obtained from dealerships in England and from a company that hires out high-end vehicles in 2016 and 2017. They were shipped to Thailand by sea and air, where they were sold on via legitimate dealerships by members of the gang, which allegedly included Thai and British people. The operation to find and recover the cars, codenamed Titanium, was launched after an inspection of a container at the Port of Southampton found four Mercedes.

The cars were found scattered across dealerships and industrial estates in Thailand, where they were being stored before getting sold off, reports the BBC. Once the 30 cars had been identified and rounded up, they were shipped back to the UK where they were originally from.

After 8 years, 35 vehicles, original value over 6million were returned from Thailand following Op Titanium. These were obtained on fraudulent finance and within a few days were shipped to Bangkok. It took years of work and fantastic assistance from Thai authorities. pic.twitter.com/Ig0H5L2i97  NaVCIS (@NaVCIS_UK) October 31, 2024

Agents involved in the case are now working to return the vehicles to their rightful owners, with the BBC adding that the Lamborghini has already been taken back to its owner more than seven years after it was first stolen. As the site adds:

The vehicles were acquired through hire-purchase agreements, before being air freighted with false papers to Singapore and shipped to Thailand, DSI said. Raids at nine locations in Bangkok uncovered eight Mercedes Benz vehicles, five BMW M4s, five Porsches and other expensive models, the department added. Charges had been brought against 13 people including the alleged gang leader, DSI said.

Five cars reported stolen as part of the case are yet to be accounted for, the site added.

The cars recovered in the raid arent your typical stolen vehicle, as the list for the most stolen cars in America is awash with things like Hyundais and Kias. Instead, the case in Thailand echoes a similar sting operation here in the U.S., where law enforcement brought charges against a man who had stolen more than a $1 million worth of luxury cars by renting them, cleaning the titles and then selling them off.

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Hezbollah strikes more Israeli military bases, settlements in retaliation

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 6:52 PM

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has carried out fresh retaliatory operations against Israel, targeting several settlements and military positions of the regime.

In a series of statements released on Friday, the resistance group said at least three Israeli settlements including Qiryat Shemona have been targeted by missiles throughout the day.

The fighters also bombed the settlements of Karmiel and Ma'alot Tarshiha with a large rocket barrage.

Hezbollah earlier said it attacked a gathering of Israeli troops in Khiyam north of the occupied territories with missile.

Israel's Jerusalem Post newspaper confirmed that ten soldiers and settlers were wounded after at least 30 rockets were fired toward military bases and settlements in north.

Hezbollah has been responding to the aggression with retaliatory operations, targeting the occupied territories.

The Lebanese resistance group says the attacks are in response to Israeli strikes against Lebanese towns, villages and civilians.

Meanwhile, more deaths and destruction took place on Friday as the Israeli regime's air and artillery strikes hit residential areas across the Arab country.

Lebanon's health ministry says at least ten people have been killed and more than two dozen others injured in the Israeli attacks on Baalbek-Hermel region.

Majority of the casualties were reportedly from the village of Amhaz.

Attacks on southern city of Tyre also continue, leaving a Lebanese killed and another injured.

The health ministry says at least 50 people have lost their lives across Lebanon in Friday's attacks.

Since October 2023, Israel has killed over 2,800 people in Lebanon. Most of them have lost their lives in the past month amid the intensified airstrikes and a ground offensive.

The Lebanese Resistance movement has vowed to keep up its operations against Israel as long as the regime continues its campaign of genocide in Gaza, which has so far killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

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15 Israeli forces killed, injured in northern Gaza as Qassam fighters target hideout

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 6:22 PM

Fighters with the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas have announced killing and wounding as many as 15 Israeli troops during a complex operation in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, as the armed wing is named, made the announcement in a statement on Friday.

"In a complex operation, al-Qassam fighters managed to target a Zionist personnel carrier with an al-Yassin 105 shell, and target a house where 12 soldiers were holed up with a TBG (thermobaric grenade) shell, killing and wounding them," the statement read.

"While three soldiers were escaping towards a Merkava tank, it was targeted with a highly explosive device in the al-Qasasib area in [the city of] Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip," it added.

Palestinians have increased their resistance operations in the face of intensified Israeli aggression in the northern Gaza that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people over the past weeks.

The fatalities are among the 43,000-plus Palestinians, who have been killed as a result of the Israeli regime's October 2023-present genocidal war on the territory. Women and children comprise the majority of the victims.

Al-Qassam's statement came after the Israeli military announced the loss of at least 62 forces in confrontations with resistance fighters in Gaza and Lebanon in a month.

The death toll marked the highest to be incurred among Israeli troops since last December, when 110 forces were killed at the height of the war.

Also on Friday, Hamas armed wing's Tulkarem Brigade, which operates in the city of Tulkarem in the northwestern part of the occupied West Bank, reported "detonating a highly explosive device" in the city's al-Balawneh neighborhood during an Israeli raid on the city's refugee camp.

The brigade also released a video, showing its setting off of the device during the advancement of an Israeli bulldozer in the area.

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Israel massacres scores in new bout of carnage in central Gaza

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 11:10 AM

The Israeli regime has claimed the lives of nearly four dozen Palestinians, most of them women and children, in fresh strikes on the central Gaza Strip as the occupying entity forges ahead with its atrocious onslaught on the blockaded territory.

Palestine's official news agency WAFA said on Friday that at least 47 Palestinians were confirmed dead following overnight Israeli aggression on the city of Deir al-Balah, the Nuseirat refugee camp and the town of al-Zawaida in central Gaza.

The news agency cited medical sources as reporting that the bodies of the deceased were transported to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah and numerous others had sustained injuries due to the horrific Israeli bombardments on various residential areas.

"Many victims were killed in Nuseirat, where Israeli airstrikes hit several homes, including those sheltering displaced families from other regions," WAFA said.

The resistance media stressed that four brothers (pictured below) were among the fatalities after the Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp, identifying them as Moataz, Mohammed, Omar and Mustafa Mazan Abu Khadra. Another brother Mahmoud had also been killed hours before them.

The Abu Khadra brothers reunite in martyrdom with their father, who had previously lost his life in Israeli bombardments on central Gaza.

Local media reports said search and rescue operations are ongoing as efforts continue to locate missing individuals trapped under the rubble in the targeted areas.

In a statement earlier in the day, the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement condemned global silence on the ongoing "ethnic cleansing" in the besieged Gaza Strip following Israel's deadly bombing of Kamal Adwan Hospital that torched medical supplies and disrupted operations.

Israeli warplanes on Thursday once again struck Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, killing at least four people, including two children, and wounding several medical staff.

Hamas stressed that deadly aerial aggression against the hospital "is a compounded war crime committed by the fascist occupation army within the context of the comprehensive war of genocide it is waging against our steadfast people in northern Gaza."

Israel unleashed a genocidal Gaza onslaught on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led resistance groups carried out a surprise operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the occupying regime has killed at least 43,259 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 101,827 others in the besieged Gaza, according to the latest official tally.

In its brutal aggression, Israel has deliberately targeted buildings and tents sheltering displaced Palestinians and committed war crimes.

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Israeli air raids strike southern Beirut despite ceasefire efforts

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 9:14 AM

Israeli fighter jets have conducted fresh aerial assaults on several areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut, less than 24 hours after their aerial aggression killed 11 people in the Lebanese capital.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Israeli airstrikes targeted the Ghobeiry and al-Kafaat neighborhoods, the Sayyed Hadi Highway, the vicinity of the Al-Mujtaba Complex and the old airport road early on Friday.

"The raids left massive destruction in the targeted areas, as dozens of buildings were leveled to the ground, in addition to the outbreak of fires," the report added.

The attack came hours after the Israeli military's spokesman Avichay Adraee, in X posts, warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to clear away from several buildings.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Israel's "expansion" of its attacks on his country indicated a rejection of efforts to broker a truce after more than a month of war.

"The Israeli enemy's renewed expansion of the scope of its aggression on Lebanese regions, its repeated threats to the population to evacuate entire cities and villages, and its renewed targeting of the southern suburbs of Beirut with destructive raids are all indicators that confirm the Israeli enemy's rejection of all efforts being made to secure a ceasefire," Mikati said Friday.

Mikati's statement came a day after reports said Israel's extremist prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had met visiting US officials to discuss a possible deal to end his war on Lebanon.

The Lebanese premier said Israel's diplomatic behavior suggested it was rejecting a ceasefire.

"Israeli statements and diplomatic signals that Lebanon received confirm Israel's stubbornness in rejecting the proposed solutions and insisting on the approach of killing and destruction," Mikati said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Mikati said US envoy Amos Hochstein had signalled during a phone call that a ceasefire in the war was possible before US elections are held on November 5.

The same day, Hezbollah's new leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said the resistance movement would agree to a ceasefire with Israel under acceptable terms, but added that a viable deal has yet to be presented.

On Thursday, Israeli strikes killed a total of 11 people, including children, and injured 14 others in the Lebanese city of Baalbek and nearby villages.

Israel has been carrying out bloody acts of terror and aggression across Lebanon after the occupying regime unleashed its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

At least 2,865 people have been killed and 13,047 others injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early October 2023, according to the country's health ministry.

In late September, the regime assassinated Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, head of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, in a strike on southern Beirut.

Since then, Hezbollah has increased its retaliatory attacks against Israeli targets and vowed to continue its fight in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon.

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Oct. 31: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 9:02 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 43,200 Palestinians so far, as well as the ongoing genocide in Lebanon, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Thursday, October 31, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Oct. 31:

Targeted and destroyed an Israeli military Hummer jeep with an RPG shell east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces storming Tulkarem Camp in the occupied West Bank, using bullets and explosive devices.

Targeted and destroyed a Merkava tank with two high-explosive devices in western Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip.

Targeted an Israeli troop carrier with an anti-armor shell near the Civil Defense, west of Jabalia Camp, in the northern Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Oct. 31:

Targeted and destroyed an Israeli military troop carrier by detonating a pre-planted Thaqib explosive device in the Al-Atatra area, northern Gaza Strip.

In collaboration with the Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, targeted concentrations of Israeli soldiers in the Juhr Al-Dik area with a barrage of mortar shells.

Detonated an explosive device on a Namer troop carrier and engaged in clashes with Israeli forces along the Manshiyya axis in Nour Shams Camp, Tulkarem.

Detonated a pre-planted high-powered explosive device on an Israeli military bulldozer along the main street axis in Nour Shams Camp in Tulkarem.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades operations' Oct. 31:

Targeted an Israeli military personnel carrier with an RPG shell west of Jabalia Camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

Conducted several ambushes in Nour Shams Camp in Tulkarem and detonated pre-prepared explosive devices targeting Israeli soldiers and military vehicles.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Oct. 31:

Targeted the command and control headquarters of Israeli forces stationed in the so-called "Netzarim Axis" with multiple Haseb-111 rockets.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq's operations on Oct. 31:

Launched a drone toward a critical Israeli military target in the occupied Golan Heights.

Targeted a key Israeli military site in the occupied Haifa area with a drone.

Targeted the Dimona radar facility in the southern occupied Palestinian territories.

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Gen. Qaani: Quds Force to stand by Hezbollah until Zionism eradicated

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 8:20 AM

The commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has reaffirmed the force's support for the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah until the full liberation of the occupied al-Quds and the eradication of the Israeli regime.

Brigadier General Esmail Qaani made the statement has he extended his felicitations on the appointment of Sheikh Naim Qassem as Hezbollah's new leader after the Israeli assassination in September of the movement's former secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

"I assure you that your brothers in the Quds Force will stand by Your Excellency and Hezbollah until the elimination and eradication of the evil lineage of Zionism and the freedom of Palestine and Holy al-Quds," Qaani said.

The top commander also praised the appointment of Sheikh Qassem as Hezbollah's new leader and commemorated the sacrifices of his predecessor, Nasrallah, as well as former head of Hezbollah executive council Hashem Safieddine, who were both martyred in Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese capital of Beirut's southern district of Dahieh.

"By the grace of God, the resplendent and struggle-filled path of the martyrs will continue with more speed and strength under the management and leadership of Your Excellency," Qaani added.

Sheikh Qassem is a veteran figure in Hezbollah, having served as deputy secretary general of the Lebanese resistance group since 1991.

He was appointed deputy secretary general under Hezbollah's late secretary general, Abbas al-Musawi, who was assassinated by an Israeli helicopter attack in 1992. Qassem remained in the role when Nasrallah became leader.

IRGC vows 'unimaginable' response to Israel

In another development on Thursday, IRGC's Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami warned the Israeli regime of an "unimaginable" response for its recent act of aggression against Iran.

Addressing a cultural event in Iran's southern province of Fars, Salami pointed to the Israeli attack on Iran on October 26, saying the regime is mistaken to think that it can change history by launching a few rockets.

The IRGC chief reminded the Israeli regime of Iran's retaliatory Operation True Promise II in early October, warning Tel Aviv that it will be given "an unimaginable response" for its latest act of aggression.

"The Israelis think they can change history by launching a few rockets," Salami underlined. "You may not have forgotten Operation True Promise II that how Iran's missiles pierced through the skies and your missile defense systems failed and wiped sleep out of the people's eyes. You intruded, but should know that we will give you an unimaginable response."

On October 1, the Islamic Republic launched 200 missiles towards Israeli military and intelligence bases all over the occupied territories as part of Operation True Promise II.

The operation came in response to more deadly atrocities by the regime against the country and other regional nations, including Israel's assassinations of the Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah's leader Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoushan, a commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

The operation came six months after its prequel that saw the country firing more than 300 missiles and drones against the occupied territories in reprisal for deadly aggression by the Israeli regime that had targeted Iranian diplomatic facilities in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier that month.

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Iraqi resistance carries out six drone strikes on Israeli targets

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 6:03 AM

Iraqi resistance fighters have launched separate drone strikes on "vital" targets within Israeli-occupied territories, in retaliation for the Tel Aviv regime's ongoing brutalities against Palestinians across Gaza and military aggression in Lebanon.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in separate statements published on its Telegram channel on Friday, claimed responsibility for six drone strikes against Israeli targets in the occupied lands.

In one of the statements, the group said it had attacked a vital target in the occupied Golan Heights.

It said the attack was carried out in continuation of resistance against the occupying Israeli regime, in support of the Palestinian and Lebanese nations, and in response to the massacres that the Zionist entity is perpetrating against ordinary people.

The coalition noted that it will continue to target and destroy important installations across the occupied lands.

Hours later, the resistance group reported a drone strike on another Israeli target located in the same area.

"The fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, today Friday 1-11-2024, attacked a vital target in the occupied Golan for the second time in recent hours, using drones," it said in a follow-up statement.

Also on Friday, the anti-terror alliance claimed responsibility for four separate drone strikes on different areas, including the southern sector of the occupied lands and Tel Aviv with bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has been conducting numerous such operations against sensitive targets lying across the occupied territories since October 7 last year, when the Israeli regime began waging a genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.

At least 43,204 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in the brutal Israeli military onslaught so far.

The coalition has also carried out retaliatory attacks against the US occupation bases across Iraq and neighboring Syria due to Washington's unbridled political, military, and intelligence support for Israel's atrocities in Gaza.

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95 Israeli troops killed, 900 injured since regime's ground invasion: Hezbollah

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 2:03 AM

The Hezbollah resistance movement says more than 95 Israeli officers and soldiers have been killed and 900 others wounded since the regime started its ground invasion against Lebanon.

Hezbollah said in a statement issued on Friday morning that in the past 45 days, it has destroyed a large number of Israel's military vehicles, including 42 Merkava tanks, 4 military bulldozers, 2 Hummer vehicles, 1 armored vehicle, and 1 troop carrier.

Resistance fighters also downed three Hermes-450 and two Hermes-900 drones.

"Enemy forces avoid movement within the visibility range of resistance fighters to prevent being targeted. They have established invisible crossings and paths and resort to nighttime infiltration into border villages, retreating after destroying civilian homes and sabotaging infrastructure," Hezbollah said in the statement

"Supply lines to the front and engagement axes have not been severed since the start of the aggression on Lebanon, with fronts continuously supplied with arms and personnel as per pre-arranged plans," the resistance group added.

"Despite the intelligence blockade imposed by the enemy in southern skies, fighters continue to launch hundreds of rocket barrages targeting enemy troop positions deep within the entity daily and around the clock, as confirmed by videos released by the military media. The enemy has not thwarted any launches from Lebanese territory," it said.

Hezbollah continued to hit more Israeli targets in fresh retaliatory operations across the occupied territories.

It launched rocket attacks on several Israeli military sites, including the Ramim barracks and a warehouse east of Akka, while targeting the settlements of Karmiel, Metulla, and Krayot.

Several gathering points of the regime's soldiers were also directly hit with Hezbollah's rockets.

Since October 2023, Israel has killed over 2,700 people in Lebanon. Most of them have lost their lives in the past month amid the intensified airstrikes and a ground offensive.

Hezbollah has been responding to the aggression with retaliatory operations, targeting the occupied territories.

The Lebanese Resistance movement has vowed to keep up its operations against Israel as long as the regime continues its campaign of genocide in Gaza, which has so far killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

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Vietnam accuses China of 'illegal detention' of South China Sea fishermen

Vietnam's foreign ministry demands immediate release of fishermen detained near the Paracel archipelago.

By RFA Staff 2024.11.01 -- Vietnam has accused the Chinese coast guard of "seriously violating" its sovereignty in the Paracel islands, which both countries claim, by detaining a number of Vietnamese fishermen and their fishing boats in the area.

A foreign ministry spokesperson told a press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday that the Vietnamese government had "resolutely" protested and demanded China "immediately release all the fishermen and fishing vessels, appropriately compensate them for the damages and stop the harassment against Vietnamese fishermen" operating in the contested Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea.

Vietnam, China and Taiwan all claim sovereignty over the island chain, known as Xisha islands in Chinese, but Beijing has been controlling the entire area since 1974 after defeating and expelling troops of the government of the then South Vietnam.

The Vietnamese spokesperson, however, did not provide any details on how many fishermen had been detained or when.

Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson Lin Jian said his country urged Vietnam "to effectively strengthen education and management of its fishermen and not to engage in illegal activities in waters under China's jurisdiction."

On Thursday, the Chinese defense ministry's spokesperson, Zhang Xiaogang, told reporters that the Chinese military wished to "deepen the traditional friendship as comrades and brothers with Vietnam, as well as enhance strategic mutual trust."

Last month, Vietnam protested after Chinese law enforcement personnel boarded a fishing boat from Quang Ngai province and beat the crew with iron bars, seriously injuring four of them.

The crew claimed that most of the equipment on the boat was smashed and taken away along with the catch.

China responded by saying that "on-site operations were professional and restrained, and no injuries were found."

China's ramped up activities

Separately, the Chinese defense ministry spokesperson revealed on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army navy recently conducted the first ever dual aircraft carrier exercise in the South China Sea.

The exercise was carried out in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea, with real combat scenarios, Zhang told a press briefing in Beijing without specifying the time frame.

The navy released photos and videos featuring the dual carrier formations led by China's first aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong, with more than 10 destroyers, frigates, and replenishment ships.

According to the Xinhua news agency, the multi-day exercise was conducted between the Mid-Autumn festival (Sept. 17) and the National Day holidays (Oct 1-7).

Over the past year, Beijing has intensified its activities in the South China Sea, where it has disputes with some of its neighbors, including Vietnam and the Philippines.

Euan Graham, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told a forum on the South China Sea that while in the last 15 years or so, China mainly usedg coercive tactics known as gray-zone activities, "the number and intensity of incidents involving physical force and threat of armed violence has increased."

Maritime tensions between China and the Philippines have risen sharply this year, as well as between China and Taiwan, which Beijing considers a Chinese province that shoul be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

On Oct. 14, the Chinese military launched a large-scale exercise, called Joint Sword-2024B, in the air and waters of the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan island.

Updated with comment from China's foreign ministry.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Pentagon Announces New Deployments To Middle East In Warning To Iran

By RFE/RL November 01, 2024

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several B-52 long-range strike bombers to the Middle East, a Pentagon statement said on November 1.

The forces will begin to arrive in the region in the coming months to replace the departing USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in the statement.

The announcement comes three weeks after U.S. President Joe Biden said he had ordered the Pentagon to send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and troops to Israel as part of U.S. efforts to defend its ally and build up positions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"These movements demonstrate the flexible nature of U.S. global defense posture and U.S. capability to deploy worldwide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats," Ryder said in the statement.

It added that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people."

The long-range nuclear-capable B-52 bomber has been repeatedly deployed to the Middle East in pointed warnings to Iran. The action announced on November 1 is the second time this month that strategic U.S. bombers will be used to bolster U.S. defenses in the region.

Ryder did not provide the specific number of aircraft and ships that will be moved.

He said the movements were in keeping with U.S. commitments to the protection of U.S. citizens and U.S. forces in the Middle East, the defense of Israel, and de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy.

The moves come as Israel's war in Gaza against Hamas and the war in Lebanon against Hezbollah rage. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU. Hezbollah is considered a terrorist group by the United States, although the EU has only blacklisted its armed wing, and not the political party.

The United States is pressing for cease-fires, while repeatedly saying it will defend Israel and continue to protect the American and allied presence in the region.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-pentagon-austin-ryder- aircraft-carrier-bomber/33184326.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Photo credit: The Mike Francesa Podcast

Mike Francesa used to love Election Day and all the trimmings until former president Donald Trump went and sucked the joy out of it.

Francesa has long discussed his interest in presidential history and politics, spawned by his affinity for John F. Kennedy. The former WFAN host has also often boasted about his excitement surrounding Election Day and the way the event gets covered on various networks. But knowing Trump will challenge any election loss is putting a cloud over the day this year.



I love Election Day, Francesa said on a recent episode of his podcast. What has taken a lot of the history and the joy out of it is all the accusations about it not being on the level. Because spending so much time with so much tedious stuff about that part really has stripped it of its historical perspective and really hurt the whole process.

Its an annoyance. Im sick of hearing it. Im sick of listening to it. And the idea that we would go through that again is nauseating. Absolutely nauseating. I would hope that win or lose, Trump would take a defeat in stride. But he wont. Its just not his nature. He cant accept defeat on any terms. So that will not happen. If he loses, hell be screaming just like he did last time. And that is really bad for the country.

If Trump loses the 2024 presidential election to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris next week, he will cry fraud just as he did four years ago when he was defeated by Joe Biden. Trump has desperately tried to cast doubt over Americas democratic process, attempting to overturn the election results in 2020 and repeating baseless claims that he was cheated out of the presidency. And his refusal to go quietly has Francesa bracing for Trumps attempts at further dividing the country next week.

Francesa was a staunch Trump supporter in 2016, believing the polarizing businessman and media personality was a builder out to build a better country, not someone just looking to feed his ego. But Francesas opinion of Trump turned in 2020 when he ripped the presidents inept handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately voted for Biden. Last year, Francesa dubbed Trump unelectable.

Francesa has not stated who hes voting for in this years election, but like most of America, hes already bracing for Trumps antics and attempts at further dividing the country next week.

[The Mike Francesa Podcast]
The Azadi Briefing: Taliban Detains Afghan Political Commentator

By Abubakar Siddique November 01, 2024

The Key Issue

The unrecognized Taliban government in Afghanistan has detained a political commentator and former university lecturer.

Jawed Mohmand was detained by Taliban intelligence agents outside his home in the capital, Kabul, on October 19, his family said.

A relative of Mohmand, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadithat he was "not faring well psychologically" in detention.

The Taliban has not revealed the reason for his detention. But his arrest came soon after the Taliban barred him from appearing as a guest on private Afghan television stations.

Mohmand was not known for his criticism of the Taliban and appeared at times to support the extremist group's policies.

Why It's Important: Mohmand's detention is part of the Taliban's crackdown on dissent.

The hard-line Islamist group has arrested and jailed scores of academics, political commentators, teachers, journalists, and activists since seizing power in 2021.

Last month, the Taliban detained Jawed Kohistani, a well-known political and military analyst, for over two weeks.

Shahrazad Akbar, executive director of the Rawadari rights organization, told Radio Azadi that the Taliban was creating a society "where no one dares to criticize its repressive policies" because the group "does not believe that rulers should be accountable to the people."

What's Next: The Taliban's crackdown on dissent is likely to continue.

Journalists, activists, and academics who criticize the extremist group are likely to be targeted.

The Taliban has further stamped out free speech in recent months. In September, the group imposed new restrictions on Afghan broadcasters, banning live broadcasts of political shows and on-air criticism of its policies.

What To Keep An Eye On

The Taliban has said that two Afghans were killed in a shooting incident in Iran earlier this month.

Local reports and rights groups said Iranian border guards fired on and killed Afghan migrants seeking to cross into Iran from Pakistan on October 13. Iranian officials have denied the incident took place.

Hamdullah Fitrat, a Taliban spokesman, said the group's investigation found that "explosions and gunfire" targeted Afghan migrants, some of whom were wounded.

The United Nations and international rights groups have demanded a full investigation into the deadly incident.

Why It's Important: Iran has been the main destination for Afghans fleeing Taliban rule.

Many Afghans in Iran, who number several million, have complained of increasing violence and harassment at the hands of the Iranian authorities.

The Islamic republic has deported over 1 million Afghans in the past year.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-dissent-mohmand- media/33183420.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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The Russian Tail: How Data Could Reveal Georgian Election Fraud

By Luka Pertaia, Ivan Gutterman and Wojtek Grojec November 01, 2024

TBILISI -- Electoral experts and data analysts have noticed anomalies in the graphical distribution of votes across Georgia's regions and suspect this may be indirect evidence of election fraud, similar to what is said to have happened during Russia's 2020 constitutional referendum. They call this trend the "Russian Tail."

Against the backdrop of hundreds of violations identified by election observers and questions about vote secrecy, the president and opposition parties do not recognize the election results. The Central Election Commission and the ruling Georgian Dream party deny any falsification.

In this article, we examine what the recently circulated graphs show, what they're based on, and what they cannot show.

"If elections are conducted in a free environment without violations, the graphical representation of parties' received votes shows certain patterns," said Roman Udot, a data analyst and former political prisoner in Russia.

"If conducted in an unfree environment with violations and various manipulations, we can see irregularities, deviations, and anomalies in the data's graphical representation. In Georgia, we see exactly such deviations."

Udot, currently in Tbilisi, is one of several data analysts who independently concluded that Georgia's 2024 parliamentary election results show signs of manipulation.

Russian Precedent

How can simple numbers indicate to observers that citizens encountered some form of manipulation in the electoral process?

Russian data analysts and scientists have been analyzing for decades what voter turnout, distribution of party votes, and patterns or irregularities in these expected patterns might tell us about election fairness using various methods.

One of those scientists was Sergei Shpilkin, a Russian physicist whose approach is frequently used by analysts and journalists in Russia. The Russian monitoring organization Golos indicates has relied on the Kisling-Shpilkin method in observing numerous elections.

Here's how this method works:

Initially, public turnout is analyzed across all polling stations nationwide; in Georgia, turnout was 58.94 percent. According to the theory, in fair elections, turnout indicators typically follow a regular graphical representation that resembles a bell shape. If anomalies appear in the data -- for example, forms different from the bell shape or the bell "grows a tail" -- this indicates unfair elections.

What Does Georgia's Data Show?

Levan Kvirkelia, living in San Francisco, is one of the data analysts who published his findings on the social network X. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili later shared his findings.

According to Kvirkelia, there are clear differences between voter turnout indicators in Georgia's urban and regional districts.

While in cities the data representation mostly follows a bell shape, in the regions it is anomalously deviated.

"In rural settlements, an unusual 'tail' is noticed -- on the graphical representation, on the right side -- which indicates falsification," he writes.

Udot agrees, presenting the same data differently using the Sobyanin-Sukhovolsky method.

Like Shpilkin's method, the Sobyanin-Sukhovolsky method is used to determine election manipulation based on numbers.

It was developed by Russian researchers Sergei Sobyanin and Vyacheslav Sukhovolsky. The method relies on exactly the same data as Shpilkin's method but is graphically represented differently and focuses on votes received by parties. Specifically: The method analyzes vote distribution among political parties at all polling stations and tries to identify deviations that indicate unfair elections.

According to the theory, if a number of stations emerge where one candidate -- the "beneficiary" -- is unusually high, this might indicate falsification. There's a high risk of manipulation where increased overall voter turnout is reflected only in support of the "beneficiary."

How are the "points scattered" in Georgia? Udot says that in Georgia's big cities, a relatively regular picture appears, while the situation is different in the regions.

Here's the graphical representation in Georgian cities: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, Poti, and Senaki:

"Relatively healthy regions look like this -- starting from one point and gradually growing like a ray. Of course, certain deviations exist here, too, but not dramatic ones," Udot explained.

'Unhealthy' Anomalies

"But when we look at all other districts, for me, they're simply strange. Unhealthy. Here the deviation is higher than expected. The scatter of points is wider than expected. It doesn't follow a straight line and, of course, raises suspicions."

He explained: "The anomaly is high votes for Georgian Dream in specific points -- meaning stations...under high turnout conditions. The points were too scattered in specific stations, showing their received votes."

"We'll get the same using Sukhovolsky's method," Udot said. "We call this number distribution a histogram, and the thin part of the histogram [is called] the tail. In my research, I call this the 'Russian Tail,' as we often see it in Russia. Over the years, we watched it grow like a tumor and eat away at the healthy parts of districts."

But how can numerical anomalies be evidence -- even indirect -- of "falsification"? Couldn't these deviations be explained by other factors?

"Yes, everything in this world can be explained differently. And the authorities in Russia explained our findings in thousands of ways.... Look, when a drunk person behaves as they do on the street, you can think of a thousand reasons why they behave that way, but in reality, we all know well that they simply drink too much," Udot told RFE/RL.

"And when we observe these 'scattered points' and see them, we know this isn't normal."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-election-manipulation- russian-tail/33183374.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Macron Voices Message Of European Unity To Moldovans Ahead Of Crucial Vote

By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service November 01, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron has encouraged Moldovans to continue on the path of integration into the European Union ahead of a decisive presidential runoff vote pitting pro-EU incumbent Maia Sandu against Moscow-friendly Alexandr Stoianoglo amid reports of Russian interference that the Kremlin denies.

The November 3 vote comes after Sandu won the first round two weeks earlier with a little more than 42 percent of the vote, not enough to avoid a runoff after Stoianoglo garnered a larger-than-expected 26 percent, followed by business figure Renato Usatii with nearly 14 percent.

Usatii has refused to throw his support behind either candidate, telling his followers to vote as they want.

A simultaneous referendum on Moldova's future integration into the EU held together with the first round passed by a wafer-thin margin of less than 1 percent, raising concerns of outside interference and vote buying by actors associated with Russia, whose decades-long influence in the ex-Soviet republic's politics and economy has been all-but-curbed by the U.S.-educated Sandu.

As some critics also pointed to the Moldovan voters' less-than-enthusiastic stance toward the EU despite the country gaining much-coveted candidate status and already opening accession talks, Macron, a staunch supporter of Chisinau, urged Moldovans to choose a democratic future.

"At this decisive moment for Moldova and, together with it, for our Europe, I want to convey to the Moldovan citizens a message of courage and hope," Macron wrote on X.

His message appeared to underline the importance of the Moldovan vote for Europe's unity following a harsh defeat of the pro-Western opposition in another ex-soviet republic, Georgia, at the hands of the long-standing Moscow-friendly ruling party amid accusations of Russian interference.

"The European way is that of freedom and democracy, the foundation of a common future," Macron continued, adding, "United we are stronger."

Sandu has repeatedly accused Russia of interference in Moldova's electoral process, claiming that as many as 300,000 votes, or more than 10 percent of the country's population, had been bought by "criminal" groups associated with Ilan Shor, a fugitive Moldovan oligarch who was found guilty of involvement in the disappearance of $1 billion from the banking system of Europe's poorest country in 2014-15.

Shor, sentenced to seven years in 2017, has fled Moldova and is currently said to be living either in Russia or in Israel, whose citizenship he also possesses.

Russia, which still maintains some 1,500 troops in Moldova's separatist Transdniester region, said on November 1 that it was monitoring the runoff, but denied any interference despite accusations to the contrary by Sandu and the West.

"We strongly reject any accusations that we are somehow interfering in this [Moldovan election], we do not do this," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow, in turn accusing Moldova of stifling pro-Russian voices.

Separately, Moldova's National Anti-Corruption Center (CNA) announced on November 1 that police and prosecutors raided several locations in the country as part of six criminal investigations into electoral corruption.

The CNA said at a news conference in Chisinau that 12 members of Victorie, a political bloc controlled by Shor, are being interrogated for allegedly having bribed people to vote for an unspecified candidate in the second round on November 3.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-sandu-stoianoglo-runoff- macron-eu/33183392.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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IDF Bulldozers Damaged UNRWA's Office in West Bank - Chief

Sputnik News

20241101

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on Friday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) used bulldozers to seriously damage one of the organization's offices in the West Bank.

"Using bulldozers, Israeli Forces severely damaged today (Thursday) the UNRWA office in the Nur Shams Camp, north of the WestBank. The office can no longer be used. It was the hub to deliver basic services to more than 14,000 Palestine Refugees in the camp," Lazzarini said on X.

He added that roads, as well as water and electricity networks, were also destroyed in the camp during the Israeli military operation.

The Israeli parliament passed two bills on Monday banning UNRWA from operating within Israel and barring Israeli authorities from making contacts with the UN agency, the main provider of relief aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Lazzarini warned that the move effectively delegitimized the agency's efforts to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees.

 Sputnik

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Stop the assault on Palestinians in Gaza and on those trying to help them

UNICEF

Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee

01 November 2024

NEW YORK/GENEVA/ROME, 1 November 2024 -- "We the leaders of 15 United Nations and humanitarian organizations urge, yet again, all parties fighting in Gaza to protect civilians, and call on the State of Israel to cease its assault on Gaza and on the humanitarians trying to help.

"The situation unfolding in North Gaza is apocalyptic. The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue. Just in the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and thousands have once again been forcibly displaced.

"Hospitals have been almost entirely cut off from supplies and have come under attack, killing patients, destroying vital equipment, and disrupting life-saving services. Health workers and patients have been taken into custody. Fighting has also reportedly taken place inside hospitals.

"Dozens of schools serving as shelters have been bombed or forcibly evacuated. Tents sheltering displaced families have been shelled, and people have been burned alive.

"Rescue teams have been deliberately attacked and thwarted in their attempts to pull people buried under the rubble of their homes.

"The needs of women and girls are overwhelming and growing every day. We have lost contact with those we support and those who provide lifesaving essential services for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence.

"And we have received reports of civilians being targeted while trying to seek safety, and of men and boys being arrested and taken to unknown locations for detention.

"Livestock are also dying, crop lands have been destroyed, trees burned to the ground, and agrifood systems infrastructure has been decimated.

"The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence.

"Humanitarian aid cannot keep up with the scale of the needs due to the access constraints. Basic, life-saving goods are not available. Humanitarians are not safe to do their work and are blocked by Israeli forces and by insecurity from reaching people in need.

"In a further blow to the humanitarian response, the polio vaccination campaign has been delayed due to the fighting, putting the lives of children in the region at risk.

"And this week, the Israeli Parliament adopted legislation that would ban UNRWA and revoke its privileges and immunities. If implemented, such measures would be a catastrophe for the humanitarian response in Gaza, diametrically opposed to the United Nations Charter, with potential dire impacts on the human rights of the millions of Palestinians depending on UNRWA's assistance, and in violation of Israel's obligations under international law.

"Let us be very clear: There is no alternative to UNRWA.

"The blatant disregard for basic humanity and for the laws of war must stop.

"International humanitarian law, including the rules of distinction, proportionality and precautions, must be respected. IHL obligations do not depend on reciprocity. No violation by one party ever releases the other from its legal obligations.

"Attacks against civilians and what remains of civilian infrastructure in Gaza must stop.

"Humanitarian relief must be facilitated, and we urge all parties to provide unimpeded access to affected people. Additionally, commercial goods must be allowed to enter Gaza.

"The wounded and sick must receive the care they need. Medical personnel and hospitals must be spared. Hospitals should not turn into battlegrounds.

"Unlawfully detained Palestinians must be released.

"Israel must comply with the provisional orders and determinations of the International Court of Justice.

"Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally and must abide by international humanitarian law.

"Member States must use their leverage to ensure respect for international law. This includes withholding arms transfers where there is a clear risk that such arms will be used in violation of international law.

"The entire region is on the edge of a precipice. An immediate cessation of hostilities and a sustained, unconditional ceasefire are long overdue.

#####

Signatories:

 Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

 Ms. Nimo Hassan, MBE, Chair, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

 Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

 Ms. Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

 Mr. Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

 Ms. Abby Maxman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Oxfam 3

 Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs)

 Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

 Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)

 Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

 Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

 Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)

 Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women

 Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)

 Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)



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'Historic development' in Thailand as it moves to end statelessness for nearly 500,000 people

1 November 2024 - In a landmark move towards ending statelessness, Thailand's cabinet has approved an accelerated pathway to permanent residency and nationality for nearly half a million stateless people, marking one of the region's most significant citizenship initiatives.

The decision announced on Friday will benefit 335,000 longtime residents and members of officially recognized minority ethnic groups, along with approximately 142,000 of their children born in Thailand.

'Historic development'

"This is a historic development," said Ms. Hai Kyung Jun, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Bureau Director for Asia and the Pacific. The measure is expected to dramatically reduce statelessness, addressing the situation of the majority of nearly 600,000 people currently registered as stateless in the country.

Thailand's commitment to eradicating statelessness has positioned the Government as a leader in addressing this humanitarian challenge, the agency said.

The country recently pledged at the Global Refugee Forum 2023 to resolve statelessness and was among the founding members of the Global Alliance to End Stateless, an initiative launched by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, in Geneva last month.

The nation has also been actively involved in the Get Every One in the Picture campaign, from UN regional commission ESCAP, which promotes the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade across Asia and the Pacific, due to end this year.

UNHCR has expressed its commitment to continue working closely with the Royal Thai Government on the implementation of this groundbreaking decision and to ending statelessness overall.

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Security Council Adopts Presidential Statement Expresses Deep Concern about Challenging Situation in Central African Region

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9773rd Meeting* (PM)

SC/15883

1 November 2024

The Security Council today unanimously adopted a presidential statement on the Central African region, introduced by the representative of the United Kingdom, President for November, expressing deep concern about the challenging security situation in the subregion.

By the text (to be issued as document S/PRST/2024/7)  and noting the key role of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa in the region  the Council cited the threat of armed conflicts, the spread of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, and transnational organized crime, strongly condemning continued violations of international humanitarian law, including those involving attacks against civilians and civilian objects. The 15-member organ further voiced deep concern regarding the persistent violence perpetrated by armed groups in some countries of the subregion against civilians, including humanitarian workers and United Nations peacekeepers, and at violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights.

Also by the statement, the Council expressed particular concern at the continuing terrorist activities of terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin, strongly condemning all such attacks in parts of the subregion, which have resulted in significant loss of life and widespread destruction  reiterating that terrorist groups continue to pose a significant security risk to civilians, undermining stability and development in the affected countries. Further, the increasing use of explosive ordnances, including improvised explosive devices and landmines, used by armed groups and terrorist groups, disproportionately affect civilians, pose risk to peacekeeping and security forces and hinder humanitarian efforts. The Council stressed the need to further investigate and combat this threat, as well as expressing concern regarding piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea as set out in resolution 2634 (2022).

The Council further expressed grave concern at the devastating humanitarian consequences of ongoing violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, and conflict in parts of the subregion, including food insecurity and water scarcity, health emergencies and the threat of epidemics such as yellow fever and mpox, and increased numbers of internally displaced persons and refugees. The statement also noted with concern the cross-border impacts of the conflict in Sudan, including large-scale displacement and refugee crises that are straining already fragile host communities in the subregion, and posing significant humanitarian challenges.

However, the Council also cited planned elections across the area in the upcoming period of the Regional Office's mandate and emphasized the need for national stakeholders to work together to facilitate the timely preparation for, and the holding of, free and fair elections conducted in an inclusive, transparent, peaceful and timely manner. The 15-member organ expressed serious concern at the unconstitutional changes of Governments in parts of the subregion, welcoming efforts to prevent and fight against unconstitutional changes of Government, and encouraged the Regional Office to continue its support to States of the subregion in this regard.

__________

* The 9772nd Meeting was closed.

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Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on Sudan

United Nations Secretary-General

New York

01 November 2024

Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the recent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in Aj Jazirah State amidst escalating violence across Sudan.

The Secretary-General is appalled by reports of large numbers of civilians being killed, detained and displaced, acts of sexual violence against women and girls, the looting of homes and markets and the burning of farms. Such acts may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Perpetrators of such serious violations must be held accountable.

The Secretary-General notes with alarm that the humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to worsen, with hunger and disease continuing to spread and half of the population in need of aid. He demands that all parties to the conflict facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need in Sudan, through all necessary routes, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General renews his call for a ceasefire to spare Sudanese civilians from further harm. The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General will continue to engage the parties and all relevant stakeholders to de-escalate the conflict and explore modalities to strengthen the protection of civilians.

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950th Spectrum Warfare Group, 17th Electronic Warfare Squadron activate at Robins AFB

Published Nov. 1, 2024

By Senior Airman Anna Smith

350 Spectrum Warfare Wing Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- The 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing activated the 950th Spectrum Warfare Group and the 17th Electronic Warfare Squadron in an assumption of command ceremony held at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, Oct. 29, a full three years ahead of schedule.

Col. Michael G. Middents, 950th Spectrum Warfare Group commander, assumed command of the group, and Lt. Col. Christoper R. Cox, 17th Electronic Warfare Squadron commander, assumed command of the squadron, both of which will be headquartered at Robins AFB.

"We don't know how much time we have before the Air Force is ordered into large-scale combat again, but if we look at history it is only a matter of time," Middents said. "...the team that dominates the Spectrum will have the upper hand in the modern fight."

This time last year, the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, Detachment 1 and the 87th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Detachment 1, were activated at Robins AFB, both under the command of Cox. Personnel under the command of the 350th SWW Det. 1 transitioned to become the group staff, and personnel under the command of the 87th EWS Det. 1 transitioned to make up the 17th EWS.

"As we execute and celebrate these activations and assignments, we cannot forget the monumental task that lies ahead for our organization and for our continued dedication to the unwavering commitment to securing our nation's future," said Col. Larry Fenner Jr., 350th SWW commander.

The group will be responsible for four mission essential functions: developing electromagnetic warfare assessments; executing EW assessments for all aircraft in the Air Force inventory; integrating approach to improve current capabilities and mature and facilitate operationalization of future capabilities; and conducting assessments of large force exercises and combat operations across the globe.

"We will now focus solely on building our organization over the next two years," Middents said. "...simultaneously executing our mission while building our capabilities, and we will gratefully do so in support of everyone here today."

The activation of the 950th SWG and 17th EWS brings the number of units the 350th SWW has activated since it stood up in 2021 to five, reinforcing the Air Force's commitment to invest in EW.

The 950th SWG and its units will allow the Air Force to grow its ability to conduct EW assessment beyond its Combat Shield mission, which assesses EW capabilities onboard Air Force platforms and is operated by the 87th EWS, an already existing squadron that will remain at Eglin AFB but will now be part of the 950th SWG.

"We are going to evolve Combat Shield into a true weapons system evaluation program and assess cradle to grave Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations to inform commanders and units of their EMSO capabilities and senior leaders of the EW health of the force," Middents said.

Before its formal activation, the group was already supporting the Air Force through its participation in the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center's Bamboo Eagle 24-2 exercise, providing assessment expertise to participants in areas ranging from EW systems effectiveness to the quality of the replicated threat environments and more. Both units pull from historical units that are being reactivated under the EW-focused wing.

The 950th SWG, originally the 950th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems Group, and later the 950th Electronic Systems Group, has evolved its original mission of ISR integration and acquisition, to overseeing the assessment of Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations at a Department of the Air Force level.

Likewise, the 17th EWS pulls from a rich heritage dating back to World War II of supporting warfighters that rely on mastering the electromagnetic spectrum to overcome adversarial challenges.

"In the 1950s, the 17th took on a new role of training up our ground forces and our aviators on how bad a war could be," Cox said. "...by equipping B-25 Mitchells, B-29 Superfortresses and B-57 Canberra with as many jammers as possible, so they could fly near the enemy forces and harass them."

The unit's prior mission of evaluating flying electromagnetic spectrum tactics, techniques and procedures were decisive reasons to be chosen for activation.

"The 17th was reactivated to ensure that we know what it takes to win," Cox said. "...to ensure we are training effectively to reach those criteria for victory. This reactivation is a sign of turning tides."

The assessment of Air Force EW capabilities, tactics, techniques and procedures is critical to ensuring the readiness of forces for joint force commanders. Providing assessments to warfighters and commanders about how the EW-enterprise is used in both exercise and real-world operations provides critical feedback that will increase the lethality of warfighters.

"The establishment of the 950th Spectrum Warfare Group and its squadrons is pivotal to expanding our capacity to assess the electromagnetic systems of our platforms," Fenner said. "It is driven by the need for a dedicated spotlight on ensuring our weapons systems will achieve combatant commanders' intent when it matters most: in combat, as a unified fighting force."

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U.S., Egyptian Navies Conduct Bilateral Exercise in Red Sea

US Navy

01 November 2024

From Courtesy Story

USS Stockdale (DDG 106) conducts a bilateral exercise with the Egyptian navy in the Red Sea.

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY - U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and Egyptian Navy El-Suez-class corvette ENS Abu Qir (F941) conducted a bilateral exercise in the Red Sea, Oct. 19.

The passing exercise occurred after Stockdale's port visit to Safaga, Egypt, where Cmdr. Lauren Johnson, commanding officer of Stockdale, and Egyptian Navy Commodore Ramy Ahmed Ismael Mohamed, commander, Red Sea Naval Base, held a senior leadership exchange to strengthen interoperability between the U.S. and Egyptian Navy in the Red Sea.

"Stockdale and Abu Qir sailing together showcases U.S. and Egypt's partnership and commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and security of the seas," said Johnson. "This exercise was a fitting conclusion to Stockdale's time in Egypt, where we were graciously hosted by the base commander and our crew was able to enjoy much deserved liberty. We look forward to supporting our nations' continuing relationship."

Meeting at sea, Stockdale and Abu Qir coordinated close quarters maneuvers and tactical communication to strengthen interoperability and enhance bilateral cooperation. An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, attached Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71, deployed aboard Stockdale, conducted flight quarters during the exercise.

The passing exercise highlights the strength of the U.S.-Egyptian military cooperation and historic partnership, which plays a leading role in stability and security in the region.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water space and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

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With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, many people worry that their jobs  or even their very roles in society  could be replaced by AI and robots. But can AI or robots truly replace humans?

The idea of machines replacing humans has deep roots in history. Humans build machines to extend and enhance their own capabilities  from tools that can act as substitutes to human hands, to vehicles that do the job of feet, and much faster, to computers that augment human minds.

Yet machines possess many "superpowers" that humans lack. They're tireless, capable of working 24/7 while we sleep; they can process data at lightning speed, handle complex calculations effortlessly, don't have personal agendas; and work without getting sidetracked or taking breaks.

Every major technological advancement brings with itself a fresh wave of "machine replacement" anxiety, raising the fear that machines will outdo us at every turn. From the textile mills of the Industrial Revolution to today's intelligent systems, every era has raised the same fear.

So, will machines actually replace humans?

First, it's true that machines have a replacement effect. Machines have surpassed human capability in many fields. In the production sector, the replacement of humans by machines hinges on a machine's ability to effectively perform a task.

Automated equipment freed up hands, industrial robots became "super employees" on assembly lines, and smart algorithms now make faster, more efficient decisions. Tasks once exclusive to humans are now partly or fully done by machines. This shift is happening across sectors. The jobs of factory workers, dispatchers, drivers, customer service providers are being taken over by automation because machines often match or exceed human efficiency.

On the consumer side, cashier-free stores and self-checkout services are replacing entry-level service jobs, ushering in a world of unmanned and smart services. But beyond replacement, machines are creating new job opportunities for humans. Rather than viewing machines only as competitors, we should recognize the new demands they create. In fact, each new machine requires skilled operators and maintenance workers, creating at least one job, even though part-time.

During the industrial automation wave, new technical roles emerged, focusing on human-machine collaboration. When large AI models were introduced, some predicted that creative people risk losing their jobs, assuming that AI would replace human creativity. Yet creative people who embraced AI tools have become more innovative, demonstrating the creative potential that machines can unleash in humans.

To analyze whether machines can replace humans in many, if not all, jobs, it is necessary to make clear that machines replace skills, not people. For instance, during the early assembly line era, companies only needed workers to tighten screws on some products. When machines "mastered" the "screw-tightening" skill, the need for workers in that role declined. As machines evolve, they improve their precision in specific tasks. So once human skill levels stagnate, machines with higher accuracy can become the preferred choice.

While automation may replace humans in jobs like "screw-tightening", it creates more jobs in the machine maintenance and operation sectors. Companies now require individuals with managerial and analytical skills to optimize production and workflow. Thus, machine replacement and creation effects are two sides of the same coin.

A common joke goes something like this: "Don't worry about being replaced by a machine  you're cheaper." It highlights the economic rationale behind automation. Replacement only makes sense when machines can reduce costs without compromising output. Machines don't need breaks or paychecks, which makes them attractive for labor-intensive industries. In such cases, for jobs that don't demand complex human capabilities, machines serve as low-cost alternatives to boost profits.

But this replacement effect has limits. Human labor retains unique, hard-to-replace qualities like creativity, emotional connection and complex judgment. These traits are essential in jobs requiring innovation, flexibility, management, or decision-making. The logic of "machines replacing humans" is not only about technical advancement but also about economic optimization, driven by cost-benefit analysis. It reshapes job markets, shifting human labor from easily replaceable roles to more valuable, innovative positions.

Fortunately, humans are more than just a collection of skills. Every individual has multifaceted qualities  hands that can work, minds that think  and can use experience productively and feel emotions. Embracing creativity, empathy, and intellectual curiosity is key to avoiding replacement. As long as we continue to develop our unique traits, machines will remain tools at our disposal, not our replacements. The real question is not whether machines will replace us, but rather, what can we uniquely achieve.
FRCSW Bids Farewell to Its Last Legacy Aircraft

US Navy

01 November 2024

From Janina Lamoglia

CORONADO , California - Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) has been a pillar of naval aviation maintenance since its establishment in 1919. Over the decades, the facility has supported the U.S. Navy's mission readiness, ensuring iconic aircraft like the F-14 Tomcat, A-6 Intruder, and S-3 Viking remained airworthy. Now, FRCSW signifies a major shift with the final maintenance of its last legacy aircraftan F/A-18 Hornet.

Introduced in the 1980s, the F/A-18 Hornet has been a versatile and essential asset in naval aviation, serving in major conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm and the Kosovo War. This particular Hornet, designated AQ-99, carries a rich operational history, symbolizing both the aircraft's role in naval conflicts and the legacy of FRCSW's aircraft maintenance program. "This is monumental for the depot," said Ehren Terbeek, FRCSW Tactical Air Program Manager. "Many artisans here began their careers working on these aircraft, and it's a milestone for everyone involved."

The facility's role in maintaining these legacy aircraft has been extraordinary. Through innovations like the center barrel replacement, FRCSW extended the operational life of the F/A-18 far beyond its original limit of 6000 flight hours, with some Hornets surpassing 9,000 hours. "The aircraft is old so parts were hard to source, and structural repairs were challenging, but our team's skills and knowledge ensured these aircraft kept flying," Terbeek emphasized. These efforts have been crucial in keeping naval aviation mission-ready for decades.

FRCSW's artisans, many of whom are veterans, take immense pride in their work. The departure of the second-to-last Hornet to Fort Worth, Texas and now the final Hornet returning to Miramar, marks a bittersweet moment for those who spent their careers ensuring these aircraft remained battle-ready. For many, working on the F/A-18 has been a career-defining experience. "It was bittersweet knowing we were saying goodbye to an aircraft that defined our work for decades," Terbeek reflected.

As FRCSW transitions to newer aircraft models like the F-35 and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle like the MQ-8, the experience and expertise gained from decades of maintaining legacy aircraft will continue to inform its evolving role. The final maintenance effort on this F/A-18 Hornet is both the end of a chapter and a tribute to FRCSW's historical contributions and the skilled workforce that has upheld the highest standards of aircraft maintenance. The legacy of excellence remains, as the facility prepares to support the next generation of naval aviation.

Fleet Readiness Center Southwest is the Navy's premier West Coast aircraft repair, maintenance, and overhaul organization specializing in the Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and their related systems.

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Lebanon searches for survivors after Israeli airstrikes kill 52

By VOA News November 01, 2024

Rescuers in northeastern Lebanon searched for survivors Friday after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 52 people, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Israel airstrikes pounded Lebanon's Bekaa Valley early Friday, sending families fleeing from their homes. Video from the scene showed some buildings in rubble as smoke rose above the skyline.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said 72 people were injured in the bombardment.

Israeli warplanes also destroyed dozens of buildings Friday in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, but there were no reports of causalities.

The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, reported that seven people were killed in northern Israel by cross-border rocket attacks from Hezbollah.

In statement posted to its X social media account, the IDF said during the night Thursday into Friday, its fighter jets "attacked with precise intelligence" sites for weapons production, as well as what it said were Hezbollah central headquarters and other "military infrastructures" in the Beirut area.

The IDF said its fighter jets also attacked overnight what it described as Hezbollah's "southern front" headquarters throughout Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon. They said advance warnings were given to the population in the area to mitigate the risk to civilians.

Lebanon's state National News Agency, or NNA, reported Lebanon's acting prime minister, Najib Mikati, said Friday the overnight strikes and the "expansion of Israeli aggression" in Lebanon show that Israel "rejects all efforts" to reach a cease-fire. Earlier this week he had expressed hope for the possibility of such an agreement.

In Gaza, doctors and local sources reported more than 30 people killed in Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza overnight Thursday into Friday. Officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah told The Washington Post that 26 bodies arrived at the hospital, including 21 from Nuseirat refugee camp.

The leaders of 15 U.N. agencies and humanitarian organizations said Friday, "the situation unfolding in northern Gaza is apocalyptic."

The officials, which included the heads of the World Health Organization, World Food Program and children's agency UNICEF said, "The entire region is on the edge of a precipice" and said Palestinians have been denied basic humanitarian aid and lifesaving supplies.

The IDF said in a statement its troops had identified and eliminated "several armed terrorists" in central Gaza and had eliminated "dozens of terrorists" in targeted raids in northern Gaza's Jabalia area. They also told the AP they had hit a Hamas infrastructure site and had targeted a militant who was operating in the Nuseirat area.

The violence comes as U.S. diplomats, including U.S. CIA Director William Burns, left the region this week after a series of meetings to push for a cease-fire.

A senior Hamas leader, Taher al-Nunu, told news outlets Friday that the militant group has rejected the latest short term cease-fire proposal presented by mediators from Egypt and Qatar because it did not include a lasting cease-fire.

At a news conference Friday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he remains optimistic regarding peace and cease-fire efforts on both fronts.

Regarding Lebanon, Blinken said once again, the basis of a diplomatic resolution to the crisis would be the effective implementation of the 2006 U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for Hezbollah to withdraw its armed presence from an area south of the Litani River and for Israeli forces to get out of Lebanon.

Blinken made the comments at a joint briefing with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The two held talks Friday with their South Korean counterparts in Washington.

Blinken was asked about a letter he and Austin sent to Israel, calling on Tel Aviv to take steps to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza or face possible restrictions on U.S. military aid.

The secretary of state said their teams are tracking "very carefully" Israel's response and efforts regarding humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Blinken said there has been "progress" but added it has been insufficient.

"We're working on a daily basis to make sure that Israel does what it must do to ensure that this assistance gets to people who need it inside of Gaza," Blinken said. "It's not enough to get trucks to Gaza; it's vital that what they bring with them can get distributed effectively inside of Gaza."

Blinken also mentioned the World Health Organization's successful initial polio vaccination campaign for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza. He said for that campaign to be concluded, there must be a second round of vaccinations completed quickly, and he called on Israel to facilitate that effort.

The WHO said Friday the next phase of the polio vaccination campaign will begin Saturday after being postponed from October 23 due to a lack of access and a lack of humanitarian pauses in the fighting in Gaza.

The war in Lebanon erupted late last month, nearly a year after Hezbollah began low-intensity cross-border fire into Israel in support of Hamas.

Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, the U.K. and other Western countries.

The conflict in the region began when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages in their October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 the military says are dead.

Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed at least 43,259 Palestinians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, with Israel saying the death toll includes thousands of militants. The Israeli campaign has devastated much of the Gaza Strip, where the fighting and Israeli evacuation orders have displaced about 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Israel strikes both Lebanon, Gaza overnight

By VOA News November 01, 2024

Israel launched strikes overnight and early Friday on the Beirut suburbs, causing heavy damage and loss of life as a U.S.-led effort to restart cease-fire talks in Lebanon and Gaza is underway.

In the first attacks of its kind in more than a week, Israel airstrikes pounded the southern Lebanon suburb of Dahiyeh and other areas early Friday after issuing evacuation orders to residents. Video from the scene showed some buildings in rubble as smoke rose above the skyline.

The Associated Press, citing Lebanon's state National News Agency , or NNA, reported 24 people were killed in Friday's strikes in the Beirut area. Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, is reporting seven people were killed in northern Israel by cross-border rocket attacks from Hezbollah.

In statement posted to its X social media account, the IDF said during the night Thursday into Friday, its fighter jets "attacked with precise intelligence" sites for weapons production, as well as what it said were Hezbollah central headquarters and other "military infrastructures" in the Beirut area.

The IDF said its fighter jets also attacked overnight what it described as Hezbollah's "southern front" headquarters throughout Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon. They said advance warnings were given to the population in the area to mitigate the risk to civilians.

NNA reported Lebanon's acting prime minister, Najib Mikati, said Friday the overnight strikes and the "expansion of Israeli aggression" in Lebanon show that Israel "rejects all efforts" to reach a cease-fire. Earlier this week he had expressed hope for the possibility of such an agreement.

In Gaza, doctors and local sources report more than 30 people killed in Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza overnight Thursday into Friday. Officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, told The Washington Post that 26 bodies arrived at the hospital, including 21 from Nuseirat refugee camp.

The IDF said in a statement its troops had identified and eliminated "several armed terrorists" in central Gaza and had eliminated "dozens of terrorists" in targeted raids in northern Gaza's Jabalia area. They also told the AP they had hit a Hamas infrastructure site and had targeted a militant who was operating in the Nuseirat area.

Meanwhile, U.S. diplomats remain in the region pushing for cease-fires in both Lebanon and Gaza.

U.S. CIA Director William Burns met Thursday with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi, one of the mediators of the suspended cease-fire negotiations. A statement from Sissi's office said the two discussed ways to de-escalate tensions in Gaza, advance cease-fire talks, release hostages and improve access to humanitarian aid.

His visit came as U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein and U.S. Middle East adviser Brett McGurk met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to discuss efforts to craft a cease-fire on both fronts. Netanyahu said any cease-fire deal with Hezbollah would have to guarantee Israel's security.

At a news conference Friday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he remains optimistic regarding peace and cease-fire efforts on both fronts.

Regarding Lebanon, Blinken said once again, the basis of a diplomatic resolution to the crisis would be the effective implementation of the 2006 U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for Hezbollah to withdraw its armed presence from an area south of the Litani River and for Israeli forces to get out of Lebanon.

Blinken made the comments at a joint briefing with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The two held talks Friday with their South Korean counterparts in Washington.

Blinken was asked about a letter he and Austin sent to Israel, calling on Tel Aviv to take steps to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza or face possible restrictions on U.S. military aid.

The secretary of state said their teams are tracking "very carefully" Israel's response and efforts regarding humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Blinken said, there has been "progress" but added it has been insufficient.

"We're working on a daily basis to make sure that Israel does what it must do to ensure that this assistance gets to people who need it inside of Gaza," Blinken said." It's not enough to get trucks to Gaza; it's vital that what they bring with them can get distributed effectively inside of Gaza."

Blinken also mentioned the World Health Organization's successful initial polio vaccination campaign for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza. He said for that campaign to be concluded, there must be a second round of vaccinations completed quickly, and he called on Israel to facilitate that effort.

The WHO said Friday the next phase of the polio vaccination campaign will begin Saturday after being postponed from October 23 due to a lack of access and a lack of humanitarian pauses in the fighting in Gaza.

The war in Lebanon erupted late last month, nearly a year after Hezbollah began low-intensity cross-border fire into Israel in support of Hamas.

Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, the U.K. and other Western countries.

The conflict in the region began when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages in their October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 the military says are dead.

Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 43,259 Palestinians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, with Israel saying the death toll includes thousands of militants. The Israeli campaign has devastated much of the Gaza Strip, while the fighting and Israeli evacuation orders have displaced about 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people.

The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters provided some information for this story.

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UN chief 'appalled' at RSF attacks in Sudan's Al Jazirah state

By Margaret Besheer November 01, 2024

The U.N. secretary-general on Friday strongly condemned recent attacks in Sudan's Al Jazirah state by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and reiterated his call for the war to end.

"The secretary-general is appalled by large numbers of civilians being killed, being detained or being displaced, as well as acts of sexual violence against women and girls, the looting of homes and the looting of markets and the burning of farms," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

"Such acts may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Perpetrators of such serious violations must be held to account."

From October 20 to 30, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out major attacks in villages across eastern Al Jazirah state, reportedly killing more than 120 civilians.

The International Organization for Migration said Friday that more than 135,000 people have fled the area in the past week, with most going to Gedaref and Kassala states.

The U.N. office for humanitarian affairs says it and its partners, especially local organizations and volunteers, are supporting thousands of the new arrivals with humanitarian aid, mental health support, family reunification services and other assistance.

The RSF has been locked in battle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for nearly 19 months, since their leaders turned against one another and engaged in a power struggle that has tipped the nation into catastrophe.

Dujarric said the U.N. chief is alarmed that the humanitarian situation continues to worsen and "demands" that all parties to the conflict facilitate "safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need in Sudan."

Eleven million people have been displaced and half of Sudan's population, an estimated 25 million people, are struggling with crisis levels of food insecurity. Famine was confirmed in August in parts of Sudan's Darfur region. At least 14 other areas of Sudan are considered at risk of famine in the coming months. Meanwhile, diseases, including cholera, are spreading.

"The secretary-general renews his call for a cease-fire to spare Sudanese civilians from further harm," Dujarric said.

Security Council action

Assistance has been slow to reach the Sudanese because of the fighting and lack of access to parts of the country.

In August, the government reopened a critical border crossing from Chad that it had closed because it feared the RSF was using it to smuggle in arms and other war materiel. The Adre crossing reopened for an initial three-month period, which will expire on November 16. Humanitarians and diplomats have urged that it be permanently reopened.

Britain assumed the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council on Friday, and Ambassador Barbara Woodward told reporters that scaling up the humanitarian response is a priority for the U.K.

"Even since the Adre border opened in August, fewer than 30 trucks of aid are getting in per week, and that is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of 9 million people suffering in Darfur," she said.

She said use of the border crossing must be renewed and "all possible routes" for aid - whether across borders or conflict front lines - must be maximized.

"If they're not, countless lives will be lost," Woodward said.

On Monday, Sudan's U.N. ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, told Security Council members that his government had opened nine crossings in addition to Adre and seven airports for humanitarians. But he cautioned that his government needed to review every three months and consider the security risks of keeping Adre open.

"The border crossing at Adre is really a threat to national security," Mohamed said.

Britain's Woodward said her delegation would convene a meeting on Sudan on November 12 to be chaired by the U.K.'s minister for the United Nations and Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury, to focus on the protection of civilians and the scaling up of aid.

She said Britain, which leads the negotiating and drafting of resolutions on Sudan, would soon circulate a draft resolution to Security Council members.

"The draft resolution will be based on the secretary-general's recommendations and will focus on developing a compliance mechanism for the warring parties' commitments they made on the protection of civilians in Jeddah over a year ago, in 2023, and ways to support mediation efforts to deliver a cease-fire, even if we start with local cease-fires before moving to a national one," she said.

Just weeks after the fighting erupted, the SAF and RSF signed a declaration in Saudi Arabia reaffirming their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid for them, including precautions to avoid and minimize civilian harm, which both sides have failed to do.

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No war to access sea, says Ethiopia prime minister

By Eskinder Firew November 01, 2024

As the dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia over sea access escalates, Ethiopia's prime minister on Thursday said his country was seeking access to the Red Sea "through peaceful means."

Speaking at the parliament where he was questioned by lawmakers, Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia has a "clear stance" on the issue.

"Let the world hear today, Ethiopia maintains a clear national interest  it needs Red Sea access through peaceful means," he said.

"If we do not succeed, our children will," Abiy added.

Somalia and Ethiopia have been involved in a heated diplomatic dispute since Addis Ababa in January signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the self-proclaimed independent republic of Somaliland, a move Somalia sees as infringing on its sovereignty.

Ethiopia and Somaliland defended the MOU which, if implemented, would give Somaliland recognition from landlocked Ethiopia in return for the leasing of about 20 kilometers of seafront, according to Somaliland officials.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last month, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Somalia faced a "serious threat" from Ethiopia for signing a sea access deal with Somaliland.

Barre said Somali ports have always been accessible for Ethiopia's legitimate commercial activities but alleged that Ethiopia has other motives.

"Ethiopia's attempts to annex parts of Somalia under the guise of securing sea access are both unlawful and unnecessary," Barre said.

Barre warned that Ethiopia's approach and deal with Somaliland could "embolden secessionist movements."

Abiy on Thursday denied any interest in annexation.

"When we signed the MOU with Somaliland, we requested a 99-year lease, but they didn't agree, and we signed a 50-year lease agreement," he said.

"How can a 50-year lease be an annexation?" Abiy asked.

Abiy told MPs that Ethiopia did not have any agenda in Somalia other than access to the sea.

"Ethiopia is a country which has the second-largest Somali population in the world next to Somalia. They are our brothers," he said.

Ethiopia has several thousand troops in Somalia helping its government in its struggle against Islamist extremists.

Somalia on Tuesday expelled an Ethiopian diplomat, accusing him of engaging in "activities incompatible with his diplomatic role."

Somalia did not specify the actions allegedly committed by Ali Mohamed Adan, a counselor at Ethiopia's embassy in Mogadishu, but said in a statement that they "constitute a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

Abiy did not comment on the expulsion of the diplomat during the session at Parliament.

This story originated in VOA's Horn of Africa service.

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What's at stake in Moldova's weekend run-off election?

By Amy Kellogg November 01, 2024

Moldova's Constitutional Court on Thursday validated the results of last month's referendum, formally recognizing the country's decision to join the European Union.

The "yes" result, however, was an incredibly close one, much closer than polls had predicted, and the road toward EU membership for Moldova is not expected to be smooth either.

Supporters of the measure attribute the much closer than expected result to Russian meddling in the run-up to the vote held on October 20, together with the presidential election.

Both campaigns were marred by massive Russian disinformation and an alleged vote-buying scheme said to have cost the Kremlin tens of millions of dollars. Some have described an atmosphere of bitterness and division with unprecedented mud-slinging and "hate speech," including ethnic slurs and fascist tropes, leaving the country, some would say, dangerously divided.

The top two presidential candidates, incumbent pro-Europe President Maia Sandu and pro-Kremlin former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, face a run-off vote on Sunday.

"I hope that the pro-European forces, that Maia Sandu will win elections, but I am worried that this victory will be achieved with a small margin," Ludmila Barba, host of Moldovan program The European Vector, told VOA. "That was the case with the referendum. And this state of affairs means that this antagonism in society will remain."

Moldova is a parliamentary republic and those elections will take place next year. Right now, the government is controlled by Sandu's PAS party, but some predict it could lose control next year.

Analysts expect Moldova will remain a battleground for hearts, minds and political allegiances for some time to come and Moscow is no doubt poised to further exploit divisions. It has been throwing its weight around Moldova since the collapse of the USSR but has been honing its meddling technique since last year's local elections.

"It was like a bootcamp for them [the Kremlin] for interference and then they scaled it," Orysia Lutsevych, deputy director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at London's Chatham House, told VOA. "They've seen what worked and that was vote-buying, trying to put eggs in different baskets ... but underneath it all, having influence, having them on the payroll of Russia."

The most audacious part of the scheme was the participation of fugitive Russia-based oligarch Ilan Shor, who was convicted in 2017 of banking fraud in Moldova. He is accused of buying off a network of up to 300,000 Moldovans, paying them to vote against Europe in last month's referendum.

"They have been paid for their activity, from the equivalent of 50 euros a month and up. It's not big money, but when you take into account the complicated economic and social situation in Moldova, for people with a low income, these 50 euros are important," Barba said.

President Sandu called out the scheme but was unable to stop it.

Moldovan runoff follows Georgia election

Moldova's runoff comes on the heels of a hotly disputed victory for Georgia's pro-Russian Georgian Dream party.

Georgia's opposition-aligned president, Salome Zourabichvili, declared the results illegitimate, describing a "Russian Special Operation" to undermine the vote and she is fighting back, at this point, with uncertain effect.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE]) has noted voter intimidation, ballot stuffing and bribery in Georgia, but Moscow claims its hands are clean. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, the showing by the pro-Russian party is a dramatic turn for a country that had full-blown war with Russia in 2008.

"I would never have imagined Russia or a Russian agenda having such a strong comeback in Georgia. There was for a while so much open hatred toward Russia, that anything suspected to be related to Russia would immediately be rejected," Lutsevych said.

"This is where Russians are smart in how they play the subversion game. They are not openly saying this is a Russian agenda."

The recent passage in Georgia of a "Foreign Agent" law, an act clearly inspired by Moscow, got the EU to pause further discussion about bringing Georgia into the bloc. And the conduct of last week's elections was to be another "litmus test" for Brussels on Tbilisi's readiness to join.

While there may be clever, forward-thinking manipulation on the part of Moscow, Barba says one cannot ignore the effect of the immediate raw rage coming from the Kremlin.

"This is the first election since the Russian aggression in Ukraine began. The situation is more complicated because Russia is furious that it didn't manage to take Ukraine in three days and that makes it more aggressive," she says.

"Since it was not able to clinch victory in Ukraine, it is going after smaller ones in Georgia and Moldova to prove or assert its status."

For the people of Moldova, fear has become the main theme of the elections. Barba points out that the pro-Russian side has said that if Moldova stays close to Russia, "the country will be safe. That Ukraine has war because they went toward the EU."

"That narrative is going around. And thepro-Europeans say if we end up with Russia, we will have war, we will be dragged in. Both sides are trying to say that the other option could lead to war."

According to Lutsevych, fear can ultimately drown out Sandu's main message that Moldova can have a brighter future with Europe. And this is taking its toll on some young members of Sandu's team.

"They don't feel it's a fair game. They don't feel they can win against that. It's so powerful. It's hard to compete when someone like Russia fuels anger, fear, and you have to compete on a positive agenda."

Still, getting into Europe is a fight in itself and Lutsevych praises Sandu for taking up that fight. And the nature of this election campaign, she concludes, has put Moldova more front and center on Europe's agenda and perhaps put enhanced focus on what Russia is doing on the sidelines of the Ukraine war.

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Kenya's new deputy president sworn in

By Mariama Diallo November 01, 2024

Kithure Kindiki was sworn in as Kenya's deputy president Friday, less than 24 hours after a court lifted orders blocking his nomination to replace impeached DP Rigathi Gachagua, who has filed lawsuits to regain his position.

In a televised ceremony at Nairobi's Kenyatta International Convention Center, Kindiki said he will always serve his country and will not let down President William Ruto, who appointed him.

Ruto told attendees he knows his former interior minister as "a dedicated professional," and "a patriot whose dedication to cohesion, national unity and inclusivity is beyond reproach."

Kindiki has been part of Ruto's cabinet for two years and came under fire for supporting alleged police brutality during anti-government protests earlier this year.

He also faced criticism when Kenya decided to send police forces to Haiti, a deployment he and his boss vehemently defended.

The swearing in ceremony took place 24 hours after a court lifted orders blocking Kindiki's nomination, dealing a blow to former DP Gachagua, who was impeached and removed from office in mid-October amid accusations of gross misconduct and undermining the president.

Gachagua's lawyers filed about 30 court cases arguing against the decision in the last two weeks.

A three-judge bench appointed to hear the case made the highly anticipated announcement Thursday.

"Public interest in this matter favors giving way to the constitution, which in any event is the will of the people," said Judge Antony Mrima, who heard the case along with Eric Ogola and Freda Mugambi.

"We choose to abide by that calling, as such public interest demands that the office of the deputy president should not remain vacant."

President Ruto took less than a day to nominate Kindiki, after Gachagua's removal from office. The selection was approved by lawmakers in the National Assembly a few hours later.

However, the court suspended any further action until it could hear the case. Since then, the three-judge bench has faced questions and petitions from Gachagua's lawyers contesting the validity of their appointment and their own impartiality. Those challenges were rejected.

Gachagua was convicted on five of 11 charges against him, which included accusations of gross misconduct, irregular acquisition of wealth and undermining the president. Gachagua has denied all the charges.

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Botswana's president concedes as opposition leader declared election winner

By Mqondisi Dube November 01, 2024

Botswana will have a new ruling party for the first time in 58 years after an opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change, secured a landslide victory in a general election held Wednesday.

Outgoing president Mokgweetsi Masisi expressed shock at the loss, but accepted defeat. In a televised address Friday he conceded defeat, which denied him a second and final term in office.

Masisi, 63, was elected Botswana's president in 2019.

"I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election. I am proud of our democratic processes, and I respect the will of the people," Masisi said. "I wish to assure all of you, as I have already assured the president elect, Advocate Duma Boko, that although I wished to continue serving you as president for a second term, the final term, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process ahead of inauguration."

As he vacates office, Masisi said he does not have concerns he might be prosecuted over actions while in office.

"Look at my hands. They look clean. I feel they are clean, I know they're clean," he said. "If anyone finds any evidence, take me to court. Now will be the time because it's in the constitution. The protection of the president is only temporary."

President-elect Duma Boko pledged a people-centered approach to his incoming administration.

"I am truly, truly humbled, and I can only pledge to them that I will do the very best and as I told them, where I fail and falter, I will look to them to guide and assist, that's all one can do with humility," he said. "Thank you very much to the nation."

Boko, a 54-year-old human rights lawyer, praised Masisi for the smooth transfer of power, which he says maintains Botswana's place among peaceful and democratic nations in Africa.

"What has happened today takes our democracy to a higher level," Boko said. "It now means we have seen a successful, peaceful, orderly democratic transition from one regime to the next, and this happened in full view of the citizens of this country, with their full participation and endorsement."

The Botswana Congress Party, which pulled out of the Umbrella for Democratic Change alliance in 2022 over differences, will now become the main opposition in parliament.

Its leader, Dumelang Saleshando, said his party will keep the new government in check in line with the role of the opposition.

"The voter has said the UDC must form a government, and the voter has said they want the BCP as the biggest opposition block," he said. "We are going to get ready as BCP to perform that function."

Former Botswana President Ian Khama's party, the Botswana Patriotic Front, came in third in the vote count, while Masisi's Botswana Democratic Party was last. Boko will be officially sworn in by the country's chief justice later this month.

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WFP calls for cash to frontload South Sudan operations amid warnings of rising hunger

World Food Programme

1 November 2024

JUBA -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is urgently appealing to donors to provide early funding for next year's operations in South Sudan so the food agency can preposition food to prevent spiralling operational costs and hunger through 2025.

This appeal follows the release of the WFP-FAO Hunger Hotspots report which warns that South Sudan is a country of highest concern where humanitarian action is essential to prevent starvation and death.

WFP currently has no food supplies in South Sudan to preposition for next year's humanitarian response and needs US$404 million to frontload assistance. Failure to do so will leave WFP reliant on expensive airdrops later in the year to reach isolated communities who are facing the most severe levels of hunger and depend on humanitarian food assistance.

"It can take months to turn pledged donor funds into food in the hands of hungry people in South Sudan. The country's limited road networks are impassable for much of the year - particularly in the east and central parts of the country where food insecurity is highest," said Shaun Hughes, WFP's Acting Country Director for South Sudan.

Funds received before the end of this year will enable WFP to preposition food by road in remote hunger-hit areas during the brief dry season window from December to April.

"Airdrops are always last resort for WFP. Every dollar spent on planes is a dollar not spent on food for hungry people. But there is a simple solution: get food to communities by road before they are cut off by heavy rain and flooding," said Hughes.

This year WFP had to double the amount of food delivered by airdrops to meet hunger needs during the lean season, adding US$30 million to overall operational costs, because food was not in-country in time. In comparison, WFP was able to reduce airdrops by 70 per cent in 2019 when prepositioning was optimized due to generous donor contributions and the timely arrival of food.

Acute food insecurity in South Sudan - where 56 per cent of population already faces crisis (IPC3) or worse levels of hunger - is likely to worsen as the 2025 lean season approaches, typically starting in May. This deterioration is driven by high food prices, a severe economic crisis, conflict and insecurity, cross-border movements from Sudan, and flooding.

Amidst global instability that is increasing humanitarian needs, WFP has been forced to reduce the number of people it reaches in South Sudan and the amount of assistance each person receives. Only 2.7 million of the 7.1 million hungry people (38 per cent) received assistance through the 2024 lean season, and most have been receiving half rations. Reducing operational costs is essential to enable WFP to reach as many vulnerable people as possible.

Note for editors:

The delivery options for humanitarian assistance in South Sudan include road, river, and airdrops. However, road transport is only feasible for a couple of months of the year, while river convoys are slow and have limited capacity. Airdrops in South Sudan can be as much as 17 times more expensive than road transport and deliver much less cargo in the same timeframe.

The lean season in South Sudan runs from May to August and is the period just before harvest when communities have the least to eat and hunger typically rises.

In 2024, the lean season was swiftly followed by significant flooding which destroyed crops and displaced entire communities. WFP extended its humanitarian assistance to reach more than 1.2 million people impacted by flooding.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 01 November 2024 - Day 982

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that around 10,000 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) combat troops are in Russia. It is almost certain some have already deployed to the Kursk region.

Russia and DPRK have committed to deepening their bilateral partnership with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which includes a mutual defence clause, and was ratified by the Russian State Duma on 24 October 2024. For Russia, DPRK's military support to their war in Ukraine has highly likely been the core driver for the partnership and has until now, centred around North Korea's provision of arms. In return, DPRK has received high level international support from Russia and has secured a trading partner willing to break sanctions.

Russian and DPRK forces would almost certainly experience interoperability difficulties having not previously carried out joint military exercises. DPRK troops conducting combat operations would almost certainly have issues operating Russian equipment, integrating into Russia's command and control structure, and working around the language barrier with Russian forces.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 126 combat clashes, Russian forces launched 3 rocket strikes (5 rockets), 52 aviation strikes (73 CAB in particular) and 400 kamikaze drones strikes, made 2926 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Kharkiv direction there is one battle near vovchansk. Russian forces actively applied aviation and launched five air strikes, dropping 11 CABs in the areas of the settlements Dergachi, Riznikove, Goptivka and Vilhuvatka, also releasing four NARs in the Bochkovoye area.

The Russian aggressor made five attacks on Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupians .komu direction. At this time, four clashes in the areas of Petropavlivka, Lozova, Kruglyakivka and Zagrizovye have ended, another attack is ongoing.

In the Lyman direction a day, Russian troops 14 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Druzhelyubivka, Katerynivka, Grekivka, Makiyivka, Terniv and in the Serebryansk forest. All attacks of the opponent are repelled.

In the kramators komu direction, three attempts of zagarbnikiv to advance near stupocok ended in failure.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers for today three times stormed in the areas of Toretsk and scherbinivka. Active Russian bombing aviation near Toretsk, Konstantinivka and Petrivka. Fighting continues in one location.

Intensely attacks the Russian opponent of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. During the day, in total, 36 assault and offensive actions were carried out. The largest activity of Russian occupiers is kept in the areas of Sukhoi Balka, Sukhoi Yaru, Myrolyubivka, Mykolaivka, Fox, Cool Yaru, Novogrodivka and Selidovoye. Seven boeclashes in the direction are still ongoing. Russian forces used aviation means of impact on the areas of populated areas of Myrolyubivka, Oleksandropil, Stara Mykolaivka.

According to preliminary calculations, today Ukrainian warriors eliminated 115 and wounded 192 Russian occupiers. Two battle armored vehicles, one tank, one car and one buggy were destroyed.

In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day counts 48 boezitknen . Attacks of the Russian enemy were repelled by Ukrainian soldiers in the districts of Ostrivsky, Ilyinka, Novoselidivka, Kreminnoi Balka, Novodmitrivka, Vovchenko, Maksimilyanivka, Dalniyo, Antonivka and Katerynivka. The Russian occupiers dropped cabs near Kurakhovy and Dalnyi.

In the vremivs komu direction, Russian forces twice tried to break through to the labor, but the obstacle of this became Ukrainian courageous defenders.

In the Pridniprovsky direction there is an operational situation without significant changes. Russian forces carried out four unsuccessful attacks.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 26 October to 1 November, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have launched 44 group strikes by high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles. Russian troops have hit Ukrainian power facilities that provided support for military industry enterprises, the infrastructure of military airfields and railway communication routes used by the AFU for the transfer of Western-made weapons and hardware.

In addition, a UAV Command Centre of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a production facility and storage area of attack drones, ammunition depots, POL bases as well as temporary deployment areas of AFU manpower, nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries have been eliminated.

Over the past week, the units of the Sever Group of Forces continued to eliminate AFU formations in Kursk region.

Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of a tank brigade, six mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a marine brigade, four territorial defence brigades, and two national guard brigades.

In Kharkov direction, units of a mechanised brigade, a motorised infantry brigade, and three territorial defence brigades of the AFU have been hit.

Over the past week, the enemy losses were over 2,810 troops, three tanks, eight infantry fighting vehicles, including Swedish-made CV-90 vehicle, one U.S.-made Stryker armoured personnel carrier, and 59 other armoured fighting vehicles.

In addition, two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS systems launchers, 38 field artillery guns, including five U.S. 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery systems, and 114 motor vehicles have been eliminated.

The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have liberated Kruglyakovka (Kharkov region).

Russian troops have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, and one airmobile brigade of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and two national guard brigades. In addition, 35 counter-attacks launched by AFU assault detachments have been repelled.

The AFU losses were more than 3,620 troops, six U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 16 other armoured fighting vehicles, 31 motor vehicles, 26 field artillery guns, 14 of them manufactured by NATO countries, 12 electronic and counter-battery warfare stations as well as 16 field ammunition depots.

As a result of active operations by units of the Yug Group of Forces, Aleksandropol and Katerinovka (Donetsk People's Republic) have been liberated.

Russian troops have launched strikes on formations of two tank brigades, six mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one infantry brigade, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one airmobile brigade, and one air assault brigade, one territorial defence brigade and one national guard brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ten counter-attacks launched by AFU assault detachments have been repelled.

The enemy losses were more than 5,390 troops, two tanks, including one German-made Leopard tank, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, eight other armoured fighting vehicles, and 51 motor vehicles.

One U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS system launcher, 32 field artillery guns, including 15 Western-made ones, six electronic warfare stations, and 14 field ammunition depots have been neutralised.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing into the depths of enemy defences and liberated Selidovo, Gornyak, Tsukurino, Leonidovka, and Izmaylovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Strikes have been delivered at manpower and hardware of seven mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, two infantry brigades, one jaeger brigade, one airborne brigade, one marine brigade, four territorial defence brigades, and two national guard brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russian servicemen have repelled 72 enemy counter-attacks.

Over the past week, the enemy losses were up to 3,840 troops, 20 armoured fighting vehicles, including two Swedish-made Viking armoured personnel carriers, 23 motor vehicles, and 33 field artillery guns.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have liberated Dobrovolye, Novoukrainka, Shakhterskoye, and Yasnaya Polyana (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian units have engaged formations of a mechanised brigade, a motorised infantry brigade, two territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.

The AFU losses were up to 840 troops, three tanks, eight armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, 50 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery guns, including 10 self-propelled artillery systems and 155-mm howitzers made by NATO countries.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of the AFU two mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one marine brigade, and five territorial defence brigades.

The AFU losses were up to 500 troops, 27 motor vehicles, and 11 field artillery guns. 11 electronic and counter-battery warfare stations and six field ammunition depots have been eliminated.

Air defence facilities have shot down seven ATACMS operational missiles and 26 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, nine French-made converted Hammer aerial bombs, one S-200 anti-aircraft guided missile converted to hit ground targets, and 815 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

During the week, 54 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered on the line of contact.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 647 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 35,119 unmanned aerial vehicles, 585 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,012 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,482 MLRS combat vehicles, 17,158 field artillery guns and mortars, and 27,898 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.

The units of the Sever Group of Forces continued offensive actions and inflicted losses on formations of 22nd, 41st, 115th mechanised brigades, the 17th Tank Brigade, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, the 36th Marine Brigade, 103rd, 112th, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Daryino, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, and Plyokhovo.



The Group's units repelled six enemy counter-attacks in the direction of Novoivanovka and Plyokhovo. The AFU losses were up to 50 troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, and one motor vehicles. One AFU serviceman surrendered.



Army Aviation and artillery inflicted fire damage on clusters of manpower and hardware of 21st, 41st, 47th, and 61st mechanised brigades, the 17th Tank Brigade, 80th, 82nd, and 95th air assault brigades, the 36th Marine Brigade as well as the 1st Special Operations Brigade, 112th, 129th territorial defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the 17th National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Guyevo, Daryino, Pervy Knyazhy, Kolmakov, Kruglenkoye, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Martynovka, Melovoy, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Novy Put, Plyokhovo, Pravda, Sverdlikovo, Sudzha and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye.



Operational-Tactical Aviation and Missile Troops delivered strikes at concentration area in Sumy region and reserves of 21st, 41st, 61st, 115th mechanised brigades, the 17th Tank Brigade, the 95th Air Assault Brigade, and the 129th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU near Alekseyevka, Basovka, Belovody, Vodolagi, Katerinovka, Miropolye, Pavlovka and Khoten.

The AFU losses were more than 250 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles as well as six artillery guns, including one French-made Caesar self-propelled artillery system, one mortar, one anti-aircraft missile system, and nine motor vehicles. One AFU serviceman surrendered.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses were more than 28,850 troops, 180 tanks, 101 infantry fighting vehicles, 106 armoured personnel carriers, 1,062 armoured fighting vehicles, 777 motor vehicles, 254 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, ten anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 58 EW stations, 12 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 25 of engineering and other materiel, 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.





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Planetary Mixers

Axios reported that on 25 October 2024 Israel destroyed 12 "planetary mixers" used to produce solid fuel for long-range ballistic missiles. Irans import of planetary mixers, particularly those designed for rocket propellant or high-viscosity applications, is subject to strict international controls due to the sensitive nature of this equipment. Planetary mixers used for solid propellants or other military applications fall under the category of dual-use goods, which means they have both civilian and military applications and are therefore regulated under various international nonproliferation agreements.

It is very different from a mixer that may be used in a kitchen, and the way it mixes is different. There are hundreds of thousands of small simple ones in the food industry, paint industry, and chemical processing used across the world. They are important for solid rocket fuel because it is important that the propellant is mixed very uniformly. If there are materials clinging to the edge of the container & differences in areas of the mix, that will lead to a non uniform burn during ignition, which can cause an explosion.

Planetary mixers for solid rocket propellant mixing are categorized as "dual-use" technology and are subject to export controls by the Wassenaar Arrangement and Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). These agreements restrict the sale of equipment that could contribute to missile development, which includes planetary mixers capable of processing solid propellants. UN, U.S., and European Union sanctions have historically restricted Irans ability to import dual-use technologies, especially those related to missile and nuclear capabilities. Specific licensing is generally required for companies exporting these items, and direct exports of such equipment to Iran are typically prohibited by countries that observe these sanctions.

Due to restrictions, Iran has developed a domestic capability to manufacture or modify industrial equipment, including mixers, to meet its defense and aerospace requirements. Reports suggest that Iran may produce certain machinery domestically or acquire components from countries where sanctions are less strictly enforced. Some countries or companies may supply components that can later be assembled or modified for similar purposes, though this also often occurs under scrutiny or at risk of secondary sanctions.

In the past, Iran has sometimes sourced equipment indirectly through intermediary countries or via private firms based in regions where oversight is lower. However, such transactions are often monitored internationally, with measures taken to prevent equipment from reaching Iran if there is suspicion of military use. Iran faces substantial technical and resource limitations due to these sanctions. As a result, obtaining highly specialized planetary mixers is challenging, pushing Iran to innovate domestically or adapt available industrial mixers to meet its requirements for rocket fuel production.

As per the Volza's Iran Planetary, Mixer Exporters & Suppliers directory, there are 61 active Planetary, Mixer Exporters in Iran exporting to 53 Buyers. SABA DOCHARKH CO accounted for maximum export market share with 12 shipments followed by BAZARGANI SETARE ROSHAN with 4 and FARAB CO at the 3rd spot with 3 shipments. These facts are updated till 2 July 2024, and are based on Volza's Iran Exporters & Suppliers directory of Planetary, Mixer, sourced from 70 countries export import shipments. But these are restaurant items, not for weapons production,

Decker Eveleth reported "Industrial mixers of the sort used in the production of solid rocket motor propellant are large, complicated, and export controlled. Iran imported mixers from Europe in violation of sanctions, and such items will be very difficult to replace."

While Irans official records or details about its imports of planetary mixers are typically not public due to the sensitive nature of this equipment, the country continues to advance its aerospace and missile technology largely through domestic innovation and self-reliance under the constraints of international sanctions.

Conventional rocket propulsion systems to propel missiles have performance limitations imposed by a number of factors including a requirement to transport a required amount of oxidizer. For a given take-off mass this results in shorter range powered flights or reduced payloads relative to systems like ramjets and scramjets which obtain the oxidizer from atmospheric air. Most missiles today employ solid rocket propellants that contain an intimate mixture of fuel and oxidizer chemicals which when ignited produce a highly energetic stream of gas used effectively for propulsion. Liquid bi-propellant rocket systems separate the fuel and oxidiser until injected into the rocket motor but have a risk of leakage and fire if the tanks are breached by accident or enemy action. Accidental ignition of the propellant)s) that can cause severe hazards for the user of the weapon.

A solid propellant uses a solid fuel and a solid oxidizer, and has a simple structure and a small number of parts. In particular, since a moving part is not required in an engine, high reliability can be easily obtained. , Easy to handle, can be stored for a long time with propellant loaded, can be fired immediately, can easily obtain a large initial acceleration because it can easily obtain a large thrust compared to the weight of the rocket, and small ones are liquid A larger mass ratio than a rocket engine, relatively easy development and low production costs.

Solid rocket motor propellants are widely used in a variety of aerospace applications, such as launch vehicles for satellites and spacecraft. Solid propellants have many advantages over liquid propellants for these applications because of their good performance characteristics, ease of formulation, ease and safety of use, and the simplicity of design of the solid fueled rocket motor when compared to the liquid fueled rocket motor.

The solid propellant is obtained by mixing an oxidizing agent component, a binder, which is a fuel component, and an appropriate auxiliary agent if necessary. The compositions comprise a homogeneous mixture of predetermined stoichiometry, suitable for use in a solid rocket propellant, of metallic particles and solid oxidizer wherein individual metallic particles are generally uniformly distributed throughout a solid oxidizer matrix.

The conventional solid propellant typically consists of an organic or inorganic solid oxidizing agent, a solid metallic fuel, a liquid polymeric binder, and a curing agent for the binder. Additional components for improving the properties of the propellant, i.e., processability, curability, mechanical strength, stability, and burning characteristics, may also be present. These additives may include bonding agents, plasticizers, cure catalysts, burn rate catalysts, and other similar materials. The solid propellant is typically prepared by mechanical mixing of the oxidizer and metallic fuel particles, followed by addition of the binder and curing agent with additional mixing. The resulting mixture is then poured or vacuum cast into the motor casing and cured to a solid mass.

Oxidizing agents include ammonium perchlorate (AP), ammonium nitrate (AN), nitronium perchlorate (NP), It is also possible to include a small amount or an appropriate amount of potassium perchlorate (KP), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), or the like. As the binder (cumulative binder), which is a fuel component to be mixed with such an oxidizing agent component, it is possible to select from various hydrocarbon polymers or rubber materials and use it appropriately. However, for example, polysulfide (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), polyester (PE), terminal carboxyl group polybutadiene (CTPB), terminal hydroxyl group polybutadiene (HTPB), glycidyl azide A polymer (GAP) or the like can be used.

The solid propellant formulations most widely used today contain as key ingredients aluminum (Al) particles as the metal fuel and ammonium perchlorate (AP) particles as the oxidizer. The Al and AP particles are held together by a binder, which is also a fuel, albeit one of substantially less energetic content than the metal. The most commonly used binder comprises hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). This particular type of propellant formulation is favored for its ease of manufacture and handling, good performance characteristics, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

The relative amounts of the components in this formulation are chemically stoichiometric. In other words, there should be just enough oxidizer molecules present in the formulation to completely react with all the fuel molecules that are present, with no excess of either oxidizer or fuel. This formulation contains one oxidizer (AP) and two distinct fuels, i.e., Al and binder. The weight ratio of AP to Al for a stoichiometric mixture, i.e., no excess oxidizer or fuel, is 42:19. The weight ratio of ammonium perchlorate to binder for a stoichiometric mixture is 26:12. These ratios are the same regardless of any other components that may be present in the mixture.

Because of their burn characteristics, conventional Al/AP propellants are most suitable for use in conjunction with a particular motor design. This design is the hollow core or center perforated (CP) core motor design in which the propellant grain is formed with its outer surface bonded to the inside of the rocket motor's casing with a hollow core extending through most or all of the length of the grain. The burning front progresses outwardly from the core to the case. This motor design is bar far the most common design for solid fuel motors.

The propellant grain in a CP design must have substantial structural integrity to keep the grain intact during operation. A binder is therefore used to glue the particulate components of the propellant together. During the initial mixing of the propellant, the percentage of the binder, initially in the form of a liquid resin, is high enough to maintain a relatively low viscosity, such that the propellant is in a slurry form, allowing the propellant mixture to be poured or injected into the motor casing. A mandrel is placed in the middle of the motor casing to create the hollow core (typically before the propellant is poured into the core) and is removed once the propellant has cured.

A mixer is a machine in which a shaft with blades rotates in a cylinder or tank to blend and mix a plurality of materials into a mixture or a suitable consistency. The stirring machines are divided into various types, such as a forced stirring machine, a single horizontal shaft stirring machine, a double horizontal shaft stirring machine and the like. For mixing the equipment mainly planetary and trough-type mixture machine of material of sticky shape, the mixture homogeneity of planetary-type mixer is much better than trough type mixing machine, the mixed cylinder of existing planetary stirring machine is all the bulk containers having the fixing end, top-open, cylinder bottom and casing wall are welded into an entirety, mixed cylinder of this fixing end is comparatively large for thick solid material discharging difficulty, is a technical barrier of sticky material mix and blend operation for a long time.

The processing technology of material stirring all has and relates in all trades and professions, especially in chemical industry or food service industry, the Mixing Machine traditional for the larger material of some viscosityes cannot meet its well-beaten user demand, therefore need to adopt the agitating device that performance is more excellent to process.And planetary mixer is a kind of novel, multi-functional homogeneous mixer, it adopts paddle rotation and the mode of revolution combination to stir material, its to the mixing effect of sticky material obviously due to the mixing plant of conventional helical structure. Spiral mixers from Hobart for commercial kitchen use feature a bowl that rotates in both directions as the spiral hook kneads the dough. This keeps the dough at a lower temperature and provides consistent production. It also allows to mix less than 10% of the units capacity  very small to very large batches with the same machine.

The term planetary mixer refers to an equipment that can be used to mix or blend different materials for producing a homogeneous mixture, which consists of a single or double blade with a high speed dispersion blade. The rotational speed can be expressed in unit of rotations per minute (rpm) which refers to the number of rotations that a rotating body completes in one minute.

The planetary mixer is a new type high-efficiency mixing and stirring equipment without dead point, it has unique and novel stirring form, in the interior of the kettle two or three multilayer blade stirrers and 1-2 automatic scrapers are set, and the stirrers can be revolved around the axis of the kettle body, and at the same time, they can be rotated at high speed around their own axis at different rotating speeds, so that the material can be made into complex movement in the kettle body.

The traditional planetary mixer is mostly composed of two low-speed stirring paddles, which is also called as a double-planetary mixer, but with the improvement of the demand, other mixers such as various dispersing blades, emulsifiers and the like are added into the planetary mixer, so that the multifunctional application is increased, and the application range is expanded. At present mixer is mostly open type structure, splashes easily everywhere at stirring in-process material, and factor of safety is lower, and the (mixing) shaft leads to the stirring inhomogeneous owing to can only fix a position stirring moreover, and stirring effect is relatively poor.

Planetary mixers have a single motor and a stationary bowl. They come in smaller countertop versions and larger floor-standing models and are among the most popular mixers for commercial kitchens. As the name implies, planetary mixers feature an agitator that moves around the bowl like a planet. Planetary mixers are very versatile. Planetary mixers designed specifically for pizza dough provide more torque for heavier mixing jobs. Plus, there are options for commercial kitchens that need a mixer for multiple applications, limited batch use and shorter periods of mixing. Whips, beaters, dough hooks, mixing paddles, whisks and pastry knives are common agitators used with planetary mixers. Available attachments increase the versatility of planetary mixers, with options for slicing vegetables, chopping meat or grating cheese.

In certain embodiments, the rotational speed of the planetary blade is from about 20 rpm to about 200 rpm and rotational speed of the dispersion blade is from about 1,000 rpm to about 3,500 rpm. In further embodiments, the rotational speed of the planetary blade is from about 20 rpm to about 150 rpm or from about 30 rpm to about 100 rpm, and rotational speed of the dispersion blade is from about 1,000 rpm to about 3,000 rpm or from about 1,500 rpm to about 2,500 rpm.

A planetary mixer for solid rocket propellant is a specialized industrial mixing device that produces homogenous, high-quality propellant by combining binders, fuels, oxidizers, and other additives under controlled conditions. The planetary mixer has unique features to ensure proper distribution of these dense and often hazardous materials. They feature heavy-duty construction, designed with robust materials to handle highly viscous and abrasive propellant ingredients, ensuring durability and operator safety. Variable speed control allows for adjustments in mixing speed to optimize the blend depending on the stage of mixing or viscosity changes.

A Planetary Mixer for Solid Rocket Propellants may feature Dual or Triple Mixing Arms, equipped with multiple mixing arms that rotate both around their axis and around the central mixing bowl, ensuring thorough and uniform blending. Planetary mixers typically feature two or more blades that revolve around their own axes while simultaneously orbiting the center of the mixing vessel. This double motion ensures that all material inside the chamber is subjected to intensive shear forces, necessary for blending the dense mixture uniformly.

Temperature Control includes cooling and heating systems to maintain safe and optimal temperatures during mixing, as these materials can be sensitive to heat. The mixing chamber is often jacketed to allow temperature control with circulating heated or cooled fluid. This helps maintain a consistent temperature, reducing the risk of accidental ignition due to frictional heating. Temperature sensors monitor both the internal and external conditions of the chamber. Some mixers integrate alarms and automated shutdown systems to prevent overheating. The process can be configured with intervals for cooling between mixing phases to manage heat accumulation and sustain safe operation over extended mixing times.

Vacuum Mixing removes air bubbles and reduces voids in the propellant, which is critical for consistency and stability. Vacuum mixing reduces air entrapment in the propellant, which is crucial as air bubbles can compromise structural integrity and combustion consistency. The vacuum system often operates throughout the mixing process, maintaining a stable, low-pressure environment. As ingredients like binder and fuel are mixed under vacuum, the mixer helps release entrained air or other volatiles, improving density and stability.

Blades are often contoured or helical to optimize the transfer of shear forces, enhance mixing efficiency, and reduce dead zones in the mixing bowl. Some blades are Teflon-coated or have anti-stick surfaces to prevent adhesion of materials. Mixing solid rocket propellants involves hazardous materials, so planetary mixers designed for this purpose are often equipped with explosion-proof motors, safety interlocks, and reinforced containment systems. The mixers containment vessel is sealed and reinforced to prevent any reaction from escaping in case of ignition. Explosion-proof gaskets and seals are typically employed. Motors are often shielded or isolated from the main chamber, and electrical components are rated to withstand potential explosive conditions, often classified to stringent standards.

Many mixers use Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Systems to manage mixing speeds, vacuum levels, temperature, and other parameters. These controllers can store multiple recipes and adjust settings automatically based on material conditions or mixing stage. Safety Interlocks prevent the system from operating unless all conditions are met (e.g., vacuum level, correct temperature, secure lid). This reduces human error and enhances safety.

For more complex formulations, the mixer allows ingredients to be added sequentially during the mixing process. This helps prevent certain reactions or allows intermediate materials to form before adding the next component. Automated systems can add ingredients at precise intervals or quantities, supporting uniformity and reducing manual handling risks. These mixers are extensively used in the production of cast-cure solid propellants and other high-viscosity rocket fuels. They support high consistency in the particle distribution, ensuring optimal burn rates and performance in the final rocket motor.

A planetary mixer is an industrial mixer famous for its fast mix time and aggressive mixing action. It produces a unique counter current motion that results in a quality homogeneous mix. When a solid propellant having a desired shape is obtained by mixing hydroxylammonium nitrate, which is an oxidizing agent component, and a polyester, which is a combustion component, with a binder, and forming the solid propellant in a desired shape, the desired shape is obtained as a solid, not a liquid will be maintained.

Prescott Vertical Mixers are influential for propulsion, ammunition, pyrotechnic and energetic manufacturing. Prescott Vertical Mixers are all ASME or CE certified and constructed. The Planetary Vertical Mixers are designed first and foremost with the clients safety in mind at all times. All Prescott Vertical Mixers encompass a twofold blade kneading action. The kneading process guarantees batch integration, while eliminating the unresponsive mixing spots within the bowl. The Planetary Mixers are driven with a hydraulic drive or an electrical explosion proof motor. The mixing bowls are designed to be jacketed for thermal heating or cooling and are inter-changeable, allowing for perpetual process batch mixing.

Hundreds of B&P Littleford mixing systems are at work worldwide mixing energetics materials and manufacturing munitions, propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics. These machines have delivered unparalleled safety and industry-leading longevity, and reliability. B&P Littleford's primary systems for energetics are our dual planetary vertical mixers. These systems incorporate a unique design with both blades mounted off-center to ensure complete mixing with no dead spots or hot spots, and for the highest standards of safety.

The B&P Littleford Vertical Planetary Batch Mixer includes blades that rotate on their own axes, while orbiting the mix vessel on a common axis. A unique blade design continuously advances along the periphery of the bowl, removing material from the wall and transporting it to the interior for mixing. After one revolution the blades pass through the entire bowl, after three revolutions the bulk of the material is mixed, and after only 36 revolutions, the blades contact and virtually mix the entire batch resulting in a homogeneous mixture.

This mixer was specifically designed to handle the processing of energetics materials in a safe manner. It has been engineered to have an ample amount of power, pull a full atmosphere of vacuum without contaminating seals or pulling lube oil into the mix, and achieve full mix in a very short amount of time. B&P Littlefords extensive experience with the energetics industry clearly indicated adapting an existing mixer would never be good enough  this mixing machine was created for energetics from the ground up.

One of the largest propellant mixers ever built, the Regal Rocket Propellant Mixer (J.H. Day 1,800 gallon) was built. The Regal stands 38 feet high and weighs over 160,000 pounds. It is driven with a 400 horsepower motor.

Anduril Industries announced 03 October 2024 a partnership with FlackTek, a global leader in high-velocity bladeless mixing and processing solutions, to develop and manufacture the worlds most advanced mixing machine  the Mega FlackTek, also known as The GOAT  in Boulder, CO. This groundbreaking bladeless dual asymmetric centrifugal mixer, the only one of its kind globally, surpasses conventional planetary mixers by enabling multi-hundred-kilo batch processing in twin drum-style containers comparable to 55-gallon industrial drums.

Anduril has a demonstrated track record of success using previously existing FlackTek mixers since 2020, and has years of experience and extensive knowledge in the use of dual asymmetric centrifugal mixing for solid rocket propellant across its contracted programs. The new mixers size, speed, and efficiency will make it the heart of Andurils rocket propellant production capability that capitalizes on Andurils other advancements in rocket motor fabrication, all at a fraction of the footprint and labor requirements of more traditional facilities.

This larger and more advanced dual asymmetric centrifugal machine will power a more than ten-fold increase in Andurils production throughput, which amounts to a more than 24x increase in production throughput when compared to conventional planetary mixers of a similar size. For most tactical rocket propellants, the new mixer will match the throughput of a traditional 500-gallon bladed mixer and will exceed that throughput for particularly high-performance formulations that typically take longer to mix. FlackTek machinery also provides exceptional repeatability, minimizes waste, and ensures safer working environments through enhanced safety features, consistent processing, and minimized exposure to energetic material hazards.





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Exercise Keen Sword concludes

Issued by Defence Media

2 November 2024

Around 80 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed to Japan last month to participate in Exercise Keen Sword - a biennial Japan-US exercise focusing on the defence of Japan.

This year's Keen Sword included 12,000 US and 33,000 Japanese troops, 40 vessels and 370 aircraft. The ADF contingent included two RAAF P-8A Poseidon and crews, civil-military cooperation personnel, and amphibious landing observers.

Keen Sword forces worked together on a range of activities relating to air defence, logistics, maritime operations, and crisis response exercises including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, recognised the shared commitment by Australia and Japan to strengthen collective deterrence and safeguard the security of the Indo-Pacific region.

"Japan is an indispensable partner for Australia and we welcomed the opportunity to continue our military engagements after the successful conduct of Exercise Keen Edge in February this year," Vice Admiral Jones said.

"Our contribution of personnel and aircraft demonstrates our continued commitment to Japan and supports our ongoing shared vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region."

Commander of the Australian Contingent, Wing Commander Adam Saber, said Keen Sword provided valuable opportunities to train alongside partners focusing on a broad range of contingencies.

"Keen Sword demonstrated an increasing complexity in our military relationship with Japan, from higher end warfighting to homeland defence," Wing Commander Saber said.

"The exercise was a great opportunity to hone our own skills across that spectrum, both in mainland Japan and its surrounding islands."

Keen Sword concluded on 1 November 2024.

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Canada-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defence (2+2) Ministerial Meeting joint statement

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

November 1, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

We, the ministers of foreign affairs and ministers of national defence of Canada and the Republic of Korea (ROK) met on November 1, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada, for the inaugural Canada-ROK Foreign and Defence (2+2) Ministerial Meeting ("the ministerial"). The ministerial builds upon the elevation of our diplomatic relationship to that of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and is a key deliverable of the CSP Action Plan launched in July 2024.

Today, through several new announcements and initiatives, we demonstrate our resolve to deepen cooperation to reinforce global stability in the face of interconnected challenges in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. In this, Canada and the ROK are stronger together.

Partners for global stability

We condemn in the strongest possible terms North Korea's deepening military cooperation with Russia in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, including the provision of millions of rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles to support Russia's brutal and unjustifiable war of aggression in Ukraine. We are gravely concerned that large numbers of North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia, which is a significant escalation with dangerous implications for security and stability in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. We are closely monitoring what Russia provides North Korea in return for weapons and military personnel, including Russia's possible provision of sensitive technology to advance North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs. We call on North Korea and Russia to immediately cease these unlawful and destabilizing activities and to withdraw North Korean troops from Russia. Recognizing that the security of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions are increasingly interconnected, we commit to actively pursuing further measures together with the international community.

We call on Russia to withdraw its forces immediately, completely, and unconditionally from all Ukrainian territory to its internationally recognized borders; we reiterate our unwavering support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to protect and defend Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We express our deep concern with any nation's efforts to support Russia's war economy, such as through the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, which enable Russia to prolong and sustain its illegal war in Ukraine.

We condemn North Korea's nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs, and continued missile launches, including its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test on October 31 (local time), which threatens peace and stability in the region and across the globe, are in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) and international law. It only demonstrates that North Korea continues to prioritize its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people, and we call on North Korea to cease its destabilizing actions. We reaffirm that any further nuclear test by North Korea would be met with a strong and resolute response from the international community. We continue to call for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's WMDs. The ROK reiterated the goals of its Audacious Initiative and 'August 15 Unification Doctrine' and

Canada expressed strong support for the ROK's efforts to achieve a denuclearized, free, peaceful, prosperous, and unified Korean Peninsula.

Both countries remain committed to multilateral sanctions evasion monitoring efforts and Canada will continue to provide assets via the Canadian Armed Forces' Operation NEON.

We were pleased to join other participating countries last month in launching the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT). We reaffirm the goal of assisting all UN Member States in implementing UN sanctions on North Korea by publishing information on sanctions violations and evasion attempts.

We highlight the valuable contributions of the United Nations Command (UNC) to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The ROK commends Canada for its unwavering support of the UNC since its inception, and Canada's current leadership role within the UNC through its provision of its Deputy Commander. The co-hosting of the UNC Ministerial together this year is a symbol of our powerful ties and shared priorities in the areas of security and defence, and we will continue to collaborate closely to strengthen cooperation among the ROK, UNC and its Member States.

The ROK and Canada are committed to working together to actively promote and protect human rights in the Indo-Pacific and around the world, including within North Korea and to seeking accountability for human rights violations.

We reiterate that the situation of human rights in North Korea is intrinsically linked to international peace and security, and we call on North Korea to engage fully and constructively with the international community, including during its upcoming Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council. We also look forward to the next iteration of the Canada-ROK North Korean Human Rights Dialogue.

Canada and the ROK affirm our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, based on the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes. We continue to advocate for peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region. We oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific. We reaffirm that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to international security and prosperity.

Canada and the ROK express their support for the global maritime order based on international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We express concern about developments in the South China Sea, and emphasize the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation and overflight in and above the South China Sea , consistent with UNCLOS.

Canada appreciates the ROK's participation in the Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula, hosted by Canada, Ukraine and Norway in Montreal on October 31st, demonstrating our joint resolve to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Canada and the ROK will continue to discuss ways to jointly support Ukraine's Peace Formula, while providing the support Ukraine requires to secure a just and lasting peace.

Indo-Pacific partners

Canada and the ROK acknowledge the Indo-Pacific region's pivotal role in shaping global geopolitical and economic relations in the 21st century, with long-term implications for our shared prosperity and security. Canada and the ROK share a common vision for the region to be more secure, free, peaceful, prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable.

In this context, we congratulate the organizers of the successful Canada-Korea Forum held on October 24-26, 2024 in Montreal, and the Korean Peninsula Symposium on October 23, 2024, co-organized with the Embassies of Japan, and the United States.

To deepen and implement bilateral collaboration in the region, we announce today the launch of the Canada-Korea Indo-Pacific Dialogue, where our respective Special Envoys for the Indo-Pacific will engage on identifying synergies and joining action on shared regional priorities.

We also look forward to the Indo-Pacific High-Level Forum, co-hosted by the ROK and Australia, in Seoul on December 13, as we recognize the importance of cooperation with the broader community of Indo-Pacific partners.

In 2025, we look forward to Canada's G7 Presidency and the ROK's hosting of APEC. We further elaborated today how our two countries will establish synergies and use our leadership for cooperation on regional and global challenges. Canada looks forward to working with the ROK on advancing G7 priorities as relevant, including building economies that benefit everyone, fighting climate change, and managing rapidly evolving technologies. Furthermore, the ROK and Canada look forward to working together for a productive APEC in 2025.

As actively engaged global partners, we will deepen our collective engagement with ASEAN, leveraging the ROK-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Canada-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, while reaffirming our commitment to the principle of ASEAN Centrality.

Partners in security and defence

Canada and the ROK are committed to deepening partnerships in security and advancing shared defence priorities through bilateral and multilateral initiatives. Canada and the ROK will strengthen bilateral and multilateral exercises, including holding regular Army Staff Talks, with the inaugural edition to be hosted in Canada.

We are committed to jointly delivering and collaborating on Women, Peace and Security, so that women have full, meaningful and equal participation in defence and security, peace operations and peace negotiations. As we seek to enhance women's participation in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and post-conflict state building, Canada and the ROK will leverage the ROK's 2024-2025 UNSC seat to jointly advance the Women, Peace, and Security agenda globally as well as in the Indo-Pacific region.

We will continue to cooperate on maritime safety, and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, including through detecting dark vessels and joint patrols under Operation North Pacific Guard. We will also continue to explore ways of addressing maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific through enhanced maritime domain awareness and relevant instruments such as the Regional Cooperation Agreement Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

We will further utilize the Canada-Korea Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Materiel Cooperation to share technical information, discuss defence equipment and technology issues of mutual interest, and identify opportunities for bilateral defence materiel cooperation, and hold the 3rd Joint Meeting (Materiel) in Canada in 2025.

We agree to expand our work within the Canada-Korea Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Research and Development, to encourage collaboration between respective defence research and development organizations.

Canada welcomes the contribution of the ROK as a NATO partner and commits to working with the ROK to advance its Individually Tailored Partnership Programme. Canada further welcomes the ROK's recent participation at the NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Brussels.

Addressing non-traditional security challenges

We recognize that climate change is the defining challenge of our time and a threat multiplier that impacts our collective security, including within the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic areas, and we affirm our strong support for NATO's Climate Change and Security Agenda.

We acknowledge that our democratic values, institutions and processes, and our citizens' fundamental freedoms, are increasingly vulnerable to hybrid and digital threats, such as foreign interference and disinformation, and we will continue to expand our cooperative efforts to combat these threats.

We are committed to addressing threats and seizing opportunities linked to cybersecurity and emerging technologies, including threats to the rule of law, democracy, and critical infrastructure. We are pleased to announce today that we will hold Canada-Korea Cyber Policy Consultations to exchange information on each other's policies, strategies and capabilities. Canada is also pleased to note the ROK's fruitful engagement with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallin, Estonia, of which Canada is also a member.

We recognize the importance of the responsible use of artificial intelligence, including in the military domain. Canada commends the ROK for hosting several high-level international gatherings on AI to advance discussions on global AI governance, including the AI Seoul Summit in May 2024, and the Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military domain (REAIM) Summit in September 2024, in Seoul. We strongly support the Seoul Declaration for safe, innovative, and inclusive AI and the principles for the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI in the military domain articulated in the REAIM Blueprint for Action.

The relationship between our two nations dates back centuries; reinforced by our countries' collective efforts to defend peace and security on the Korean Peninsula since the Korean War. We commit to meeting in this format on a biennial basis and look forward to the next iteration of this Ministerial in 2026, where we will reflect on and examine how we may further build upon the achievements stemming from today's discussion.

Annex - announcements

Today, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Canada and the Republic of Korea announced that our countries have agreed to:

Hold this Ministerial on a biennial basis and look forward to its next iteration in 2026 to follow-up on the achievements of today's discussion.

Launch the Canada-Korea Indo-Pacific Dialogue, where our respective Special Envoys for the Indo-Pacific will engage on identifying synergies and joint action on shared regional priorities, including in the North Pacific.

Advance bilateral diplomatic intelligence cooperation and analytic exchanges between our respective foreign ministries.

Expedite the negotiations to finalize the Agreement on the Protection of Classified Military/Defence Information.

Explore measures to facilitate and deepen military operational cooperation.

Strengthen bilateral and multilateral exercises, including holding regular Army Staff Talks, with the inaugural edition to be hosted in Canada.

Hold the 3rd Joint Meeting (Materiel), hosted by Canada in 2025 under the Canada-Korea Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Materiel Cooperation, and continue to identify and expand opportunities for defence cooperation.

Hold Canada-Korea bilateral Cyber Policy Consultations.

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FM urges Japan, EU not to harm interests of others as Tokyo, Brussels boost defense ties

Global Times

By Wang Qi Published: Nov 01, 2024 10:29 PM

Security and defense cooperation between various parties should be conducive to regional peace and stability, and not target any third party or undermine the security interests of other countries, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday, in response to a new EU-Japan security and defense pact signed during the Tokyo visit of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, made the remarks at a press briefing on Friday. He said due to historical reasons, Japan's military and security moves have been closely watched by the international community and its Asian neighbors, urging Japan to earnestly draw lessons from history, adhere to peaceful development, respect the security concerns of its neighbors in Asia, and stay prudent in military and security areas.

We also hope that the EU will not interfere in the disputes on territorial and maritime rights and interests between regional countries, but instead play a constructive role for regional peace, stability, and development, Lin said.

On Friday, Borrell co-chaired the first EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue together with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo, the first stop of his East Asia tour to Japan and South Korea from November 1 to 4, according to the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea.

During the dialogues, Japan and the EU agreed to launch a defense and security partnership that will lay the ground for closer cooperation in critical areas such as maritime security and tie-ups in the defense industry, according to Japanese media.

More concretely, these include more joint training and capacity-building, finding ways to jointly counter terrorism and exploring potential avenues for joint initiatives in the defense industry, said the Japan Times. Details of the agreement have not been released as of press time.

According to the Japan Times, Borrell and Iwaya have expressed concerns about tense territorial and maritime disputes in the East and South China Sea, and reaffirmed the "strategic importance" of peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits for regional and global security and prosperity.

Lu Chao, director of the Institute of US and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University, told the Global Times that both Japan and the EU are clearly targeting a third party to create a confrontational camp and a Cold War mentality, and Asian countries should be vigilant about it.

He said that the EU has traditionally been more focused on economic and political affairs, but now, it is also showing a trend of "NATO-ization," with a greater focus on defense and security, following NATO's Asia-Pacific pivot.

EU and Japanese officials also pointed out that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and "Indo-Pacific" is inseparable.

The EU official's visit to Japan and South Korea to discuss security cooperation is a very dangerous move that could make the situation on the peninsula even more dangerous and unpredictable, Lu noted.

In terms of what is available from reports and their respective military strengths, Japan's military cooperation with the EU is still more of a political and symbolic one, Shen Yi, a professor at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Friday.

Their defense and security cooperation is more about an alternative means for the EU and Japan to prevent the negative impact of a possible Trump return and his intention of withdrawing from alliances, Shen said.

As for Japan, Shen said that it is also using defense cooperation with the EU as "symbolic progress" that "Japan has taken another step toward normalcy," which could be helpful for some Japanese politicians to further hollow out Article 9 of Japan's pacifist constitution.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on November 1, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: November 01, 2024 18:36

At the invitation of the Chinese side, Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim will pay a working visit to China from November 4 to 7.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: I have a question about the tourist attack in Iran. On Saturday, October 26, 2024, a foreign terrorist group supported by and linked with ISIS-Khorasan, carried out a terrorist attack on two vehicles of the patrol unit of the Islamic Republic of Iran Police Command in the city of Taftan in the province of Sistan and Baluchistan. This attack by the Jaish al-Zalm terrorist group unfortunately led to the martyrdom of 10 Iranian policemen. What is the Chinese government's comment in this regard?

Lin Jian: China condemns the terrorist attack. We oppose terrorism of all forms and support Iran's effort to keep the country safe and stable.

Reuters: Viet Nam on Thursday said they have protested against China's alleged detention of Vietnamese fishermen and fishing vessels in the Paracel Islands. Please could the Foreign Ministry confirm this?

Lin Jian: Xisha Qundao is China's inherent territory. China hopes Viet Nam will earnestly raise the awareness of its fishermen and make sure they will not engage in illegal activities in waters under China's jurisdiction.

AFP: A question about the reported presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said he was surprised by China's "silence" on this issue of the North Korean soldiers. What is China's response to the Ukrainian President?

Lin Jian: We have noted some reports related to this and responses from various parties recently. The DPRK and Russia are two independent sovereign states, and how to develop bilateral relations is a matter for themselves. China is not aware of the specifics of bilateral exchanges and cooperation between the DPRK and Russia.

China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Let me stress that China hopes that parties will work to ease tensions and remain committed to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. This position remains unchanged. China will continue to play a constructive role to this end.

AFP: Still a question on the same topic about the reported presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia. The US said that up to 8,000 North Korean troops have reached Russia's border region with Ukraine. Do you confirm these claims and is China in contact with North Korea on this issue?

Lin Jian: I am not familiar with this. On the Ukraine crisis, I have shared China's consistent and clear position just now.

Reuters: Myanmar's local media reports the head of Myanmar will visit China. Please could the Foreign Ministry confirm this visit?

Lin Jian: I have nothing to share on that.

AFP: Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is visiting Japan starting from today. During the visit, the Japanese government and the European Union will sign the Japan-EU Security and Defence Partnership agreement, which according to local media reports, targets China. What is China's response to the agreement between the EU and Japan?

Lin Jian: Security and defense cooperation between various parties should be conducive to regional peace and stability, and not target any third party or undermine the security interests of other countries. Let me stress that due to historical reasons, Japan's military and security moves have been closely watched by the international community and its Asian neighbors. We urge Japan to earnestly draw lessons from history, adhere to peaceful development, respect the security concerns of its neighbors in Asia, and stay prudent in military and security areas. We also hope that the EU will not interfere in the disputes on territorial and maritime rights and interests between regional countries, but instead play a constructive role for regional peace, stability, and development.

The Paper: The seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) will kick off next week, and the preparations are almost completed. According to statistics, the number of participants will hit a new record, with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies, industry leaders and nearly 800 trading groups from various countries set to attend the event. How do you view the significance of this year's CIIE to China's effort of expanding high-standard opening up?

Lin Jian: Hosting the CIIE is an important step for China to further open up and a concrete action China took to build an open world economy. The numbers you just mentioned showcase the appeal of China's mega-sized market, speak volumes about the strong confidence of the international community in China's economic outlook, and demonstrate the common aspiration of all sides for win-win result through open cooperation.

Since the first CIIE in 2018, the event has been upgraded and expanded into a window for China to forge a new development paradigm and a platform to advance high-standard opening up. The CIIE has an expanding network of friends and growing significance as an international public good. This year's CIIE provides support for 37 least developed countries to participate in country exhibition and business exhibition, and further expands the exhibition area for African products in the food and agricultural products exhibition, in an effort to help more developing countries take part in the universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Openness is the core value of the CIIE and a defining feature of today's development in China. China is striving for high-quality development by advancing high-standard opening up. We stand ready to work with all sides through the CIIE to make the pie of opening up bigger and the list of cooperation longer, so that the opportunities of China's huge market can be shared by all countries and benefit people across the world.

Bloomberg: Viet Nam said it has asked China to immediately release vessels and fishermen detained in the South China Sea. It has also demanded compensation for losses. Would the Foreign Ministry like to respond to this?

Lin Jian: I answered the relevant question just now.

******************************************

The following question was raised after the press conference: During the meeting with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, President Xi Jinping announced China's unilateral visa-free policy to Slovakia. Could you share with us more details? Besides the 20 other countries whose ordinary passport holders have enjoyed the unilateral visa-free policy, has China rolled out this policy to more countries?

Lin Jian: To further facilitate cross-border travel, China decided to give visa-free treatment to more countries by extending the visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and the ROK on a trial basis. From November 8, 2024 to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from these nine countries can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes.

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US blacklists 3 more Chinese textile firms over Uyghur slave labor

78 Chinese companies are now accused of using forced labor.

By Alex Willemyns 2024.11.01

WASHINGTON -- U.S. customs authorities have added three more textile producers to a burgeoning list of Chinese companies banned from trading with Americans due to their use of Uyghur slave labor.

Goods produced by Esquel Group, Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., and Turpan Esquel Textile Co. can no longer be imported into the United States after they were added to the Entity List, said a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday.

The statement says Esquel Group is based in Hong Kong, while Guangdong Esquel Textile is based in nearby Guangdong province. Turpan Esquel Textile, meanwhile, is based in Xinjiang, it says, where most Uyghurs live under strict surveillance by Chinese authorities.

The blacklisting is due to the firms' role in the "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups" in the Xinjiang region, it says, citing their use of Chinese government-run "poverty alleviation" programs there.

Beijing says the programs are voluntary and intended to train Uyghurs in vocational skills, but outside observers and the U.S. government say they are thinly veiled slave-labor operations. The United States in 2021 said China's treatment of the mostly Muslim Uyghurs is a "genocide."

China's government has strenuously denied those claims and accused the United States of making up the claims to tarnish its reputation.

All three of the blacklisted firms are accused of sourcing cotton picked by Uyghur slaves in Xinjiang. Cotton is one of the most commonly cited goods tied to forced labor, with cut-price Chinese fast-fashion outlets like Temu and Shein accused of selling clothes tainted by slavery.

The latest listing brings the total companies on the Entity List to 78.

World Uyghur Congress executive chair Rushan Abbas told Radio Free Asia that she welcomed the blacklisting of the companies but believed many more companies tied to Uyghur slavery could still be added.

The group urges "continued efforts to ensure all supply chains are free from complicity in these atrocities, safeguarding American consumers from unknowingly supporting the Uyghur genocide," Abbas said.

"All businesses must scrutinize their supply chains to ensure they do not, even indirectly, benefit from these atrocities," she added.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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American democracy 'messy,' Chinese state media says

With all eyes on US presidential election, support is roughly divided between Harris and Trump.

By Qian Lang for RFA Mandarin 2024.11.01 -- As China watches the countdown to the U.S. presidential election results, state media has been hammering home the point that American democracy is messy, violent and encourages extreme behaviors on both sides, while ordinary people seem to support Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in roughly equal measure, commentators told Radio Free Asia.

"In the past three months, Trump has survived multiple assassination attempts," the state-run China Daily newspaper said in an Oct. 29 commentary. "Harris's campaign office in Arizona was also shot at and vandalized."

"Political violence is on the rise as polarization and public opinion divisions intensify ahead of the election," the paper said, adding that there are widespread fears of political violence that could follow even when results are known.

Other media reports focused on name-calling in the campaign, including the description of Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage" at a Trump campaign event, and Harris' taunting of the former president for not being able to "finish a thought."

While Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed brief "condolences" following the shooting of Trump at a campaign rally in July, officials have largely refrained from commenting in public on the election campaign.

Yet many in China are still watching closely, with similar levels of support for each party's candidate, commentators told RFA Mandarin in recent interviews.

"It's actually really interesting -- [some] people in China hope that the U.S. will elect a president who doesn't favor the Chinese Communist Party," a Guangdong resident who gave only the surname Zhou for fear of reprisals told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview.

"But there is roughly equal popular support for both candidates in China," he said.

He said it's unsurprising that the Chinese media try to play up the "instability" angle when covering the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign trail, given the Chinese Communist Party's focus on stability as a top priority at home.

Yuan Dong, a scholar from the central province of Hunan, said there is a dedicated group of social media users in China who have followed the election step-by-step since campaigning started.

"People are paying much more attention this time around compared with four years ago," Yuan told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview. "Chinese social media users aren't allowed to talk about domestic current affairs, and the U.S. election will have an impact on the international situation, particularly the Ukraine war."

"A lot of the people paying the most attention are dissidents and former political prisoners."

While many Chinese believe that the outcome of the Nov. 5 poll will have a crucial impact on China, very few are publicly supporting either candidate, taking their cue from official silence on the topic, Yuan said.

"Most people are getting their information from blogs and WeChat friend circles," he said. "Very few are getting it from traditional media like newspapers, TV or radio."

Overseas Chinese have less to worry about when it comes to taking sides, according to former Anhui prosecutor Shen Liangqing.

"[Some are] relatively friendly to the United States and hope the party they like will get elected," Shen said. "The arguments among the Harris and Trump supporters are more intense."

Another group of overseas Chinese is fairly hostile to the U.S., and is watching the process as if it were a joke, relishing any expression of "chaotic" behavior, he said.

"There are fierce arguments between Harris and Trump supporters, and people are even falling out and blocking each other," Shen said. "There's another attitude too, which is that it doesn't matter who comes to power, because the U.S. is a democratic country."

A commentator who gave only the surname Zhou for fear of reprisals said some people in China have expressed envy at the right to vote for the next president in a country where President Xi has amended the constitution to abolish presidential term limits, paving the way for indefinite rule.

"A lot of people are paying attention to the U.S. election, because actually we envy it," Zhou said. "The so-called 'full process democracy' we have here is just a word. We don't have democracy here at all."

"Even our village committee elections are controlled by [the ruling party]," he said. "We would love to have one person, one vote one day, so we could elect our own national leaders."

A Protestant pastor from the southwestern province of Yunnan who gave only the surname Cao for fear of reprisals said his church members are watching closely, and many wish that the Chinese people also had the right to vote.

"But what is the point of the Christians in our church having any opinions? There's nothing they can do about any of it," he said. "Opinions are a luxury."

Zhejiang-based scholar Zhao Zhi said the complexity of the Sino-US relationship has been the main focus in the official media.

"While the general public are watching the election as spectators, the official media is emphasizing the potential risks of dividing U.S. society," Zhao said, adding that Beijing is also keen to find out which of the candidates' China policies will be implemented.

In an economic commentary on Oct. 29, the China Daily said U.S. China trade and economic policy is unlikely to be hugely affected, regardless of whether Harris or Trump forms the next administration.

"No matter which party controls the House or/and Senate, there is little chance this 'small yard, castellated wall' approach will change any time soon," the paper said in a separate commentary on recent Treasury rules curbing U.S. investments in high-end computer chips, AI and quantum computing.

"Containing Chinese scientific and technological progress has become a bipartisan consensus in US domestic politics, and a key pillar of US geopolitical strategy," the paper said.

"Beijing has been cast as the foremost threat to US national security. And national security has been a handy rallying cry for US politicians to concentrate support both at home and abroad," it said.

Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Eugene Whong.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China, Slovakia lift relations to strategic partnership

Global Times

Upgrading bilateral ties to inject strong momentum into collaboration

By Liu Xin and Fan Anqi Published: Nov 02, 2024 12:07 AM

China and Slovakia have decided to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, which meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and strong momentum into bilateral cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while meeting with visiting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Slovakia, Xi said that after three-quarters of a century of development, the traditional friendship between the two countries is full of vitality, and the cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

"We have decided to elevate China-Slovakia relations to a strategic partnership, which meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and powerful momentum into bilateral cooperation," Xi said, adding that China is willing to work together with Slovakia to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and lift their ties to a higher level.

China has decided to grant 15-day visa-free entry to Slovak citizens, Xi added.

China attaches great importance to China-EU relations, Xi said, adding that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and China-EU relations should demonstrate due maturity and stability.

For his part, Fico said Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government representing all of China.

Slovakia appreciates China's decision to grant Slovak citizens the 15-day visa-free treatment, Fico said. Slovakia supports facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy and infrastructure, he added.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi expounded on China's consistent principle and position, commending Slovakia for adopting an objective, rational and impartial stance. He welcomed Slovakia, as well as more like-minded countries, to play a positive role in promoting peace talks.

The two governments on Friday released a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership. It said that friendship and cooperation have always been the mainstream of bilateral relations and are in line with the common and long-term interests of the two peoples.

During the visit, Fico also met Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held talks with Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar on Friday. Wang said that Fico's visit is rich in content and fruitful.

Pragmatic cooperation

In the current complex geopolitical environment, the elevation of relations between China and Slovakia holds significant positive implications, said Yan Shaohua, a research associate professor at the Center for China-Europe Relations, Fudan University.

He noted that due to the trade frictions and renewal of the leadership in the EU's main institutions, China-EU relations have experienced some twists and turns. The elevation of China-Slovakia relations helps improve political trust between China and Central and Eastern European nations, while also sending a positive signal that both sides are eager to stabilize their bilateral relations, Yan said.

Amid Europe's current economic challenges, Central and Eastern European countries are seeking to attract Chinese investment and pursue high-tech cooperation as a path for future growth. Slovakia's unique strengths in traditional automobile manufacturing, electromechanical products, and the chemical industry offer promising conditions for collaboration with China, said Zhao Junjie, senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

According to a release from the Slovak government's press office, in addition to visiting Beijing, Prime Minister Fico will travel to Hefei in East China's Anhui Province to visit Chinese battery maker Gotion, and travel to Shanghai to attend the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo.

The locations in East China that Fico will visit are known for their rapid economic development and leading role in driving China's innovation, said Zhao, noting the potential for expanding cooperation on electric vehicles (EVs) and battery production.

Cooperation between China and Slovakia in areas such as automobile manufacturing, electromechanical products, and high technology not only benefits countries like Slovakia but also provides opportunities to strengthen China-EU relations. Fico's visit is expected to yield meaningful results and conducive to improving and stabilizing these ties, said the expert.

Yan also noted that the meeting between Xi and Fico will have a positive impact on China-EU relations. Despite the EU's decision to impose tariffs on imports of Chinese EVs, negotiations between the two sides are still ongoing, and Slovakia holds significant influence within the European automotive supply chain.

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Xi, Slovak PM meet in Beijing, agreeing to elevate ties

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:43, November 02, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Slovakia, Xi said that after three-quarters of a century of development, the traditional friendship between the two countries is full of vitality, and the cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

"We have decided to elevate China-Slovakia relations to a strategic partnership, which meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and powerful momentum into bilateral cooperation," Xi said, adding that China is willing to work together with Slovakia to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and lift their ties to a higher level.

Xi said the two countries need to deepen political mutual trust, calling on both sides to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, adhere to mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns.

In order to expand pragmatic cooperation, Xi said the two countries should make good use of the newly established inter-governmental cooperation committee to strengthen synergy in new energy, transportation and logistics, infrastructure construction and water resources management. China encourages its enterprises to invest in Slovakia and welcomes Slovak enterprises to explore the market in China, he said.

Xi said the two countries should promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He called on both sides to carry out communication and dialogue among political parties, local governments, youth, think tanks, and the media, and make good use of platforms such as the Confucius Institutes to consolidate the foundation of public opinion for China-Slovakia friendship across generations.

China has decided to grant 15-day visa-free entry to Slovak citizens, Xi added.

Xi noted that the two countries need to strengthen international cooperation. In a complex and rapidly changing world, Xi said, both sides should uphold true multilateralism, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, embrace a vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

China attaches great importance to China-EU relations, Xi said, adding that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and China-EU relations should demonstrate due maturity and stability.

Xi expressed the hope that the new EU institutions will adhere to the orientation of the China-EU partnership, adopt a positive and pragmatic approach, properly manage differences, and refrain from politicizing economic and trade issues.

Fico said Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government representing all of China. Slovakia opposes any interference in other countries' internal affairs and advocates for respecting each country's choice of development path.

Slovakia appreciates China's decision to grant Slovak citizens the 15-day visa-free treatment, Fico said. Slovakia supports facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy and infrastructure, he added.

Slovakia appreciates the three major global initiatives put forward by President Xi, and is willing to strengthen exchanges with China on state governance experience and actively promote the EU's commitment to handling differences through dialogue and consultations, Fico said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi expounded on China's consistent principle and position, commending Slovakia for adopting an objective, rational and impartial stance. He welcomed Slovakia, as well as more like-minded countries, to play a positive role in promoting peace talks.

Fico stated that China's position on the Ukraine crisis is fair, objective and constructive. Slovakia is willing to join the group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis and work with China to contribute to the political settlement of the crisis.

Following the meeting, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership.

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North Korea says missile test shows 'irreversible' means to deliver nuclear bombs

South Korea, Japan and the US condemned the test; China said it was concerned about developments

By RFA Staff 2024.10.31 -- North Korea said on Friday its "milestone" test of a new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile had secured it the "irreversible" status of developing the means to deliver nuclear weapons, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

North Korea fired the intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, on Thursday, days before the U.S. presidential election, in a demonstration of what leader Kim Jong Un said was its determination to "counteract" its rivals and bolster its nuclear forces.

"The test of the latest strategic weapon system updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK and demonstrated the modernity and credibility of its world's most powerful strategic deterrent," Yonhap cited the North's Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, as saying. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK, is North Korea's official name.

Kim said the test proved the "hegemonic position" that the North had "secured in the development and manufacture of nuclear delivery means of the same kind is absolutely irreversible," KCNA said.

North Korea said the Hwasong-19 traversed 1,001.2 kilometers (622 miles) at a maximum altitude of 7,687.5 kilometers (4,715 miles) and flew for 5,156 seconds (85.9 minutes), the longest flight time for a North Korean missile.

The South Korean military said it believed the missile was a new solid-fuel ICBM.

Photos carried by North Korean state media showed the missile being fired from a 11-axle transporter erector. Kim's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, also inspected the missile launch, Yonhap reported.

The record-long ICBM test, North Korea's first since December and its seventh in as many years, indicated its missile program was being helped along by its closer ties to Russia, North Korea observers in the United States told Radio Free Asia.

The test came in the midst of rising global alarm about North Korea's deployment of thousands of troops to Russia to help with its war in Ukraine, which South Korea and its allies have warned risks triggering a dangerous escalation of the conflict.

"North Korea is getting ever more dangerous missile technology thanks to its new alliance with Russia, and I think yesterday's test goes a long way to proving that," Harry Kazianis, of the Washington-based Center for the National Interest think tank, told RFA Korean.

South Korea, Japan and the United States condemned the test, North Korea's latest violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed at curbing its development of nuclear weapons and the missiles to carry them around the world.

China, which has long been North Korea's closest ally, said it was concerned about the latest developments and reiterated its position that "preserving peace and stability on the peninsula and promoting the process of political resolution to the peninsula issue aligns with the common interests of all parties."

Edited by Mike Firn

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Feature: Foreign classics inspire Chinese President Xi

Xinhua) 10:12, November 02, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- "Should we allow the world to descend into the abyss of disorder and chaos, or should we strive to steer it back on the path of peace and development? This reminds me of a novel by Nikolay Chernyshevsky entitled What Is to Be Done?" said Chinese President Xi Jinping recently.

"The protagonist's unwavering determination and passionate drive are exactly the kind of willpower we need today. The more tumultuous our times become, the more we must stand firm at the forefront," Xi said in a speech at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

It was not the first time that Xi mentioned the novel when meeting foreign friends. Over a decade ago, when meeting with Russian sinologists, Chinese language students and media representatives in Moscow, he said he was inspired by the novel when he was young.

"Chernyshevsky was a democratic revolutionary, and his works have given us much inspiration. I read his What Is to Be Done? while living in the cave dwellings of Liangjiahe, and it had a profound impact on me," he once said.

In the novel, the protagonist lives an ascetic life, even going so far as to sleep on a bed of nails to strengthen his will. Xi was so moved that he emulated the protagonist and removed his cotton-padded mattress and chose to sleep on a brick bed so as to steel his own willpower.

The Chinese leader has always been an extensive reader of domestic and foreign literature. In the 1960s, when he was sent from Beijing to work as a farmer at Liangjiahe, a village in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, he brought two suitcases full of books.

During his stay in the village, Xi read nearly all the literary classics he could find. Once, after he overheard that a young man from Beijing had a copy of "Faust," he walked over a dozen kilometers of bumpy and dusty country road to borrow it.

His extensive reading has significantly shaped his global perspective. Since assuming leadership in China, he has prioritized cultural interaction as a trademark of his diplomacy to foster a deeper understanding between China and the international community.

"What's past is prologue," he quoted Shakespeare -- whose works he first read 40 years ago -- at the British Parliament during his state visit to Britain in the autumn of 2015, shedding light on his country's perspective on China-UK relations.

He likes to quote classic books by French luminaries, particularly Victor Hugo, in his speeches. Addressing the landmark 2015 Paris climate change conference to call for a deal, Xi cited an insightful line from Les Miserables: "Supreme resources spring from extreme resolutions."

Xi also draws insight from the classics for his visions of building a better world for all. A decade ago when Xi attended the sixth BRICS summit in Brazil, he mentioned in his speech a book named Brazil: A Land of the Future. The book, a significant work by Austrian Writer Stefan Zweig, offers an essential reading for understanding Brazil, as well as profound reflections on humanity.

"A Brazilian friend told me about a bestselling book titled Brazil: A Land of the Future, which expresses a beautiful hope for human civilization. I look forward to the BRICS countries jointly becoming, as envisioned in the book, a future of prosperity, strength, democracy, and civilization. Together, they can create a brighter future where global economic growth is more diverse and international relations are more democratic," Xi said.

A decade on, in the speech at the 16th BRICS Summit, Xi reaffirmed the vision for the BRICS inspired by the book and proposed to build it into a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations and a vanguard for advancing global governance reform.

"China is willing to work with all BRICS countries to open a new horizon in the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, and join hands with Global South countries in building a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
North Korea pledges support to Russia 'until victory' in Ukraine

By VOA News November 01, 2024

North Korea's foreign minister Friday pledged to support Russia "until it achieves victory" in its war against Ukraine, during a visit to Moscow as some 8,000 North Korean troops are reportedly poised to join Russian troops on the battlefield.

Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui held talks with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. As cameras rolled after their meeting, each praised the new levels that the relationship between the two nations has reached.

The North Korean top diplomat accused the United States and South Korea of a military build-up and war provocations, and praised Russia's efforts to put an end to "hegemonic practices of the U.S. and the West and to establish a new international order."

She said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has unwavering faith that Russia will achieve victory and said her country will stand with them until that victory is achieved.

Lavrov expressed Russia's gratitude for its Korean friends and for their "principled" position regarding "the events that have now unfolded in Ukraine," and praised the "very close contacts" that "have been established between the military of the two countries."

Neither diplomat made any direct reference to North Korean troops being deployed in the region.

Speaking Friday in Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a joint briefing with his South Korean counterpart it is believed at least 10,000 North Korean troops are set to be deployed to the region, with about 8,000 of them already in Russia's Kursk oblast.

At the same news conference, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. expects North Korean troops to enter the war against Ukraine in the coming days.

More than a half-million Russian troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale illegal invasion on February 24, 2022, U.S. officials said, adding that Russia is now turning to pariah state North Korea to bolster its forces.

In an interview with Estonia's public broadcaster ERR Friday, Estonian Defense Forces intelligence chief Colonel Ants Kiviselg said he thinks North Korean troops are likely to suffer heavy losses, potentially even more than the Russians. He said they are not familiar with or trained for combat in the region's terrain, climate or geography.

Also Friday, the U.S. Defense Department, or DOD, announced an additional $425 million in security assistance for Ukraine. It is the 69th tranche of equipment to be provided from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August of 2021.

In a statement, the department said the defense package will provide Ukraine with assets to help the country meet some of its most urgent security needs, including air defense interceptors, munitions for rocket systems and artillery, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons.

The statement said the United States will continue to work together with some 50 allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to meet Ukraine's urgently needed battlefield requirements and defend against Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, Kyiv's military reported Friday that Russia launched 2,023 drone attacks on Ukraine in October, the most since the war began. The report said that the total is nearly 700 higher than the number of attacks launched in September, the month with the previous record for drone attacks.

The report said Russia has launched 6,987 since the beginning of 2024.

Earlier Friday, Russia's Defense Ministry reported its defenses shot down 83 Ukrainian drones over six regions early on Friday.

In a statement posted to its Telegram social media channel, the ministry said, "36 drones were shot down over the Kursk region, 20 over the Bryansk region, 12 over Crimea, eight over the Voronezh region, four over the Oryol region, and three over the Belgorod region."

Separately, Aleksandr Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk, said one person was wounded when a Ukrainian drone crashed into an apartment building in the city of Bryansk.

In the Stavropol region, a drone fell on an oil depot in the city of Svetlograd, regional Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said on Telegram.

In Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, a Russian missile struck a fire station, wounding two firefighters, regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force said its defenses shot down 31 Russian drones and one missile over nine regions  Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsya, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Chernihiv and Poltava.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.

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INDIAN ARMY CONTINGENT DEPARTS FOR INDIA- US JOINT SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE 'VAJRA PRAHAR'

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 2:40PM by PIB Delhi

The Indian Army contingent departed today for the 15th edition of India- US joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 2nd to 22nd November 2024 at Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, USA. Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya in December 2023. This will be second exercise of the year between Indian and the US Army, the previous being Exercise YUDH ABHYAS 2024, conducted at Rajasthan in September 2024.

Contingents of both the countries taking part in the joint exercise will comprise 45 personnel each. The Indian Army contingent will be represented by Special Forces units and the US Army contingent will be represented by Green Berets of US.

Aim of Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR is to promote military cooperation between India and the US through enhancement of interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics. The exercise will enhance combined capabilities in executing joint Special Forces Operations in desert/ semi desert environment. The exercise will focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.

Drills/ aspects to be rehearsed during the exercise will include planning a Joint Team Mission, Reconnaissance Mission, employment of Unmanned Aerial Systems, execution of Special Operations, actions of Joint Terminal Attack Controller and Psychological Warfare in Special Operations.

Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR will enable the two sides to share their best practices and experiences for conduct of joint Special Forces Operations. The exercise will facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of both the countries.

****

SC



(Release ID: 2070099)

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INDIAN ARMY SPECIAL FORCES CONTINGENT DEPARTS FOR INDONESIA FOR JOINT EXERCISE 'GARUD SHAKTI'

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 10:47AM by PIB Delhi

The Indian Army contingent comprising 25 personnel departed for Cijantung, Jakarta, Indonesia to take part in the 9th edition of India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24. The Exercise will be conducted from 1st to 12th of November 2024.

The Indian contingent is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and Indonesian contingent comprising 40 personnel is being represented by Indonesian Special Forces Kopassus.

The aim of Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24 is to acquaint both the sides with each other's operating procedures, enhance mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of both armies. The Exercise is designed to develop bilateral military cooperation and strengthen bond between two armies through conduct of discussions and rehearsal of tactical military drills.

The Exercise will involve planning and execution of special operations, orientation to advance special forces skills, sharing of information on weapon, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques & procedures. Joint Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 24 will also involve jointly practicing Special Forces Operations in Jungle terrain, strikes on terrorist camps and a Validation Exercise integrating basic and advance special forces skills apart from gaining an insight into the lifestyle and culture of both countries to foster military cooperation.

The Exercise will provide an opportunity to both the contingents to strengthen their bond and share best practices. It will also act as a platform to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly nations.

*****

SC

(Release ID: 2069969)

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Iran is likely to increase range of its missiles: SCFR chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 1, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Head of Iran's Strategic Council of Foreign Relations Kamal Kharrazi said that Iran will develop the range of its missiles if western nations do not acknowledge Iran's concerns, particularly regarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"If Western nations do not acknowledge Iran's concerns, particularly regarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Iran then will disregard the concerns of Western countries. Therefore, it is likely that Iran will develop and extend the range of its missiles," Kharrazi told Al-Mayadeen on Friday.

"Iran's missile capabilities are well-known, having been demonstrated in various operations. He stated that the current focus is on the ranges of the missiles used thus far, in which they [the Iranians] have considered the concerns of Western countries," he added.

He said that the "unequal" war in the region is "led by Israel, which perpetrates ethnic cleansing and the extermination of people", and is fighting those who are defending their lives, existence, and land.

He expressed hope that the war would come to a swift conclusion, asserting that "Israel" is engaging in "horrific ethnic cleansing" while mistakenly believing it has achieved victory.

Kharrazi stressed that such actions cannot be perceived as a true victory but rather as a profound violation of human rights.

Kharrazi emphasized that Iran has showcased its deterrence capabilities through Operation True Promise II, during which it launched hundreds of ballistic missiles on "Israel", noting that in the time being, it is up to the Israelis; if they choose to continue their hostile actions, Iran will respond accordingly.

Elsewhere in his remarks the Iranian official referred to Israeli regime's attempts to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) activities, saying: "This move represents "the climax of anti-humanitarian values."

Touching upon ceasefire negotiations, Kharrazi said: "Iran does not intervene, asserting that it is the Lebanese and Palestinians' right to negotiate and reach a ceasefire deal."

He also affirmed Iran's support for any decision the countries make.

Iran remains committed to its previous agreements, provided that the other party also upholds its commitments, he stated.

He expressed disappointment that the opposing side has not adhered to their obligations and, instead of engaging in negotiations, continues to impose sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He described martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as a "powerful, wise, brave, and popular figure" who became a significant political leader in the Islamic world.

The loss of such a great leader is, in fact, a profound loss for everyone, particularly for the Lebanese people, he noted.

Elaborating on Iran's strategy in foreign relations, Kharrazi said: "Emerging powers, including Iran, should play a prominent role in shaping a new world order that promotes more democratic governance, away from Western colonialism."

He underlined that the agreement between Iran and the Russian Federation is ready and it encompasses all aspects of bilateral relations and cooperation.

Kharrazi noted that the agreement was originally scheduled to be signed during the recent BRICS meeting in Kazan, Russia, but the Russians preferred to finalize it during a bilateral visit to emphasize its significance, which will occur soon.

9376**2050

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Two Iran-made destroyers to set afloat soon: Official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 1, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Two homegrown destroyers will be launched soon, the commander of the Navy of the Iranian Army Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says.

The Iran-built Sahand destroyer is about to be prepared to be sent on a mission to secure the waters of the northern Indian Ocean after participating in a major military exercise, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said on Friday.

Zagros is the newest and most state-of-the-art destroyer of the Iranian Navy, he pointed out.

The combat-intelligence destroyer is capable of carrying a helicopter, he said, adding that Zagros will be launched soon, as well.

7129**2050

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IRGC dismantles four terror, evil gangs in SE Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 1, 2024

Zahedan, IRNA -- The spokesman for the Martyrs of security drills of the IRGC Ground Force said that eight members of the four terror and evil gangs were identified, arrested and four others were killed in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

The IRGC ground forces with the participation of the intelligence forces inflicted deadly blows on the terrorist teams in Sistan and Baluchestan on Thursday night, Brigadier General Ahmad Shafaie said on Friday.

In this operation, which was carried out using the IRGC equipment, combat drones and new tactics, one of the main elements of the terrorist group, which played a role in the martyrdom of security defenders in Gohar Kooh Taftan , was arrested, he added.

Eight members of the terrorist groups were arrested and four were killed, he noted.

Significant amounts of weapons and ammunition were seized from these teams, he stated.

9376**2050

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Iran 'likely' to extend missile range; response to Israel 'certain': Senior diplomat

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 6:17 PM

The head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations says the Islamic Republic will likely increase the range of its missiles, warning that the country can change its entire military doctrine, if it faces an existential threat.

"If the Islamic Republic of Iran faces an existential threat, we will inevitably change the policy of our military doctrine," Kamal Kharrazi said in an interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television.

He stressed that Iran is capable of producing nuclear weapons, but what prevents it is the fatwa (religious decree) issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei against weapons of mass destruction.

"We now have the necessary capability to produce [nuclear] weapons, and the only obstacle is the Leader's fatwa that prohibits the production of nuclear weapons."

Regarding the range of Iran's missiles, Kharrazi said, "We have so far considered the Westerners' sensitivity, particularly the Europeans'. But when they don't consider our sensitivities, especially regarding the issue of the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, there is no reason for us to continue to consider their sensitivities."

"Therefore, there is a possibility that the range of Iran's missiles will increase."

Commenting on Israel's recent deadly strikes on military sites in Iran, Kharrazi said the country "will definitely respond at the right time and in the right way."

He reiterated that Iran is not interested in the expansion of the war into the entire region, but stressed that, "We are ready for a war."

Noting that Israel has made "miscalculations" since it waged aggressions on Gaza and Lebanon, Kharrazi said, "They thought they could destroy Hamas and Hezbollah by attacking Gaza and Lebanon. They thought that with the martyrdom of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, these popular movements would collapse. These were their miscalculations. In Israel itself, many admit these miscalculations."

Since early October 2023, Israel has been waging brutal two-front aggression that has killed more than 43,259 people in the Gaza Strip and at least 2,867 others in Lebanon so far.

Over the same period, the usurping regime has also assassinated several resistance leaders, including Hamas's political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

In support of Palestinians in Gaza, resistance groups have launched retaliatory attacks on Israeli targets and vowed to keep fighting until the Gaza onslaught ends.

In response to Israel's barbaric acts of assassination against the resistance front's top leaders, Iran carried out Operation True Promise 2 earlier last month.

Iran has said it is resolved to respond to the recent Israeli act of aggression against the country and will not abandon its rights.

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Iran has 'not yet revealed' its capabilities against Israel: IRGC cmdr.

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 5:41 PM

A senior IRGC commander says Iran has not yet demonstrated its capabilities to the Israeli enemy, noting that the "irreparable" defeat of the regime has led to a turning point for liberating Palestine.

"The Iranian nation has not yet revealed its full capabilities to the Zionist enemy," stressed Head of the Basij Organization Brigadier General Gholamreza Soleimani on Friday while addressing thousands of Basij forces in Sari, Mazandaran Province.

"As the Islamic Revolution Leader highlighted, the regime has made a miscalculation, and soon these errors will lead to a devastating blow to the regime," he added.

Operation Al-Aqsa Storm inflicted an "irreparable" defeat on the Israeli regime, challenging this "cancerous tumor," he said, referring to the surprise operation carried out by Palestinian resistance forces in Gaza last October.

The operation came in response to the Israeli regime's intensified aggression against Palestinians. It saw the fighters storming the occupied territories, taking control of Israeli military bases and illegal settlements around Gaza, and taking Israelis captive.

Soleimani added that the Muslim world entered a "new phase" after the operation which proved that the regime can be defeated.

"These events are a crucial historical turning point for the Islamic world, and we must use this historical opportunity to save the Holy Quds," he said.

Pointing to Iran's retaliatory operations against Israel, dubbed Operation True Promise I and II, the Basij head said the Israeli regime's military equipment and shields lack the necessary efficiency.

Israel is on the verge of a historical collapse, he said, adding, "The current situation has become very difficult for this regime, and it is resorting to crime and violence to maintain its existence."

"Today, the Eastern and Western world is standing by the resistance front and soon this fake regime (Israel) will be eliminated," he pointed out.

The remarks come as Tehran has vowed to respond to an Israeli aggression against its soil last Saturday which was largely repelled, yet claimed the lives of four servicemen.

The Islamic Republic launched some 200 missiles towards the Israeli entity's military, and espionage and intelligence bases all over the occupied territories on October 1 as part of Operation True Promise II.

The operation came in response to the regime's assassinations of senior leaders of the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance front and a commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).

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Iran Navy to take delivery of two new warships amid regional tensions

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 3:38 PM

Iran's Navy chief Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says two new Iranian warships are set to sail soon, amid regional tensions sparked by Israeli aggressions.

"Sahand Destroyer is being prepared quickly to be deployed on a mission to secure the waters of the northern Indian Ocean after participating in major drills," Irani told media on Friday.

"Zagros destroyer is the newest and most advanced destroyer in the Navy, designed for both combat and intelligence missions," he said.

The warship is equipped with a hangar for permanently carrying a helicopter, the commander said. "We are awaiting official orders to launch it."

The news of the delivery of the warships comes as Iranian armed forces repelled an Israeli aerial attack against the country last Saturday.

Tensions have been running high in the region since early October 2023, after the Israeli regime began a brutal two-front aggression that has killed more than 43,259 people in the Gaza Strip and at least 2,867 others in Lebanon so far.

Over the same period, the usurping regime has also assassinated several resistance leaders, including Hamas's political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

In support of Palestinians in Gaza, resistance groups have launched retaliatory attacks on Israeli targets and vowed to keep fighting until the Gaza onslaught ends.

In response to Israel's barbaric acts of assassination against the resistance front's top leaders, Iran carried out Operation True Promise 2 earlier last month.

Iran has said it is resolved to respond to the recent Israeli act of aggression against the country and will not abandon its rights.

It has warned the United States, which plays a pivotal role in supporting Israeli actions in destabilizing regional peace and security, to rein in the illegitimate regime.



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China asserts support for Iran's efforts to safeguard national security, stability

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 3:18 PM

China's foreign ministry says Beijing supports Iran's efforts at maintaining national security and stability, after foreign-backed terrorists waged deadly attacks on Iranian police in a border province.

"China condemns the terrorist attack and opposes all forms of terrorism," spokesman Lin Jian also said during a press conference on Friday.

He was referring to a terror attack that claimed the lives of 10 police forces in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan late last month.

The attack targeted a police convoy in the city of Taftan in the southeastern province close to the border with Pakistan on October 26.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, which is based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the ambush.

Also on Friday, the Ground Forces of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said they had begun conducting major counterterrorism exercises in the province that had so far led to the death of four terrorists, including a major member of the terror outfit that conducted the attack.

Earlier this week, the Chinese official also commented on attacks that were carried out by the Israeli regime against several military facilities across the Islamic Republic late last month, killing four servicemen of the Iranian Armed Forces and one civilian.

"China opposes violating the sovereignty and undermining the security of other countries and opposes the abuse of force. The tensions in the Middle East are running high. Relevant parties need to refrain from further increasing the overall security risks in the region," he said.

"The recent incidents once again highlight the urgency to end the fighting. The international community, especially major countries with influence, should take concrete actions to play a constructive role and create necessary conditions for the de-escalation of regional tensions," the spokesman added.

Iran has asserted that it is not after war, but reserves the right to retaliate against the Israeli atrocity and will deliver appropriate responses to potential further acts of aggression against the country.





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Iran launches anti-terror drills in 'real operational environment' in southeast

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 1:57 PM

The Ground Forces of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have begun conducting major counterterrorism exercises in the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

The forces' commander, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said on Friday that the drills were underway involving the servicemen enlisted with the IRGC's Quds Headquarters.

He said the drills had been scheduled to go underway later this month, but were launched on October 26 following a foreign-backed terrorist attack on a police convoy in the province that claimed the lives of 10 police forces.

The "ongoing" exercise, said the commander, feature identification, pursuit, and destruction of some foreign-backed terrorist teams.

"It is being conducted in a real operational environment and will continue in several phases until specific operational objectives are achieved," he said, adding, "Currently, there is no set end date for the exercise."

According to Brigadier General Ahmad Shafayi, the headquarters' deputy commander, the drills had so far led to the arrest of eight members of four terror teams and elimination of four other terrorists.

Those eliminated included a major member of the terrorist outfit that perpetrated the attack on Iranian security forces in the province's city of Taftan on October 26, the official stated on Friday.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the deadly ambush. The foreign-backed outfit, which is based in Pakistan, has been involved in numerous assaults targeting both civilians and security forces across the border province over the past several years.

According to Shafayi, the IRGC's operations "delivered serious blows to the enemy's proxy terror teams in the province."

A significant amount of weapons and ammunition has also been discovered and seized from the terrorist teams, he added.

The successful operations took place in cooperation with the intelligence forces of the province's General Intelligence Directorate and Law Enforcement Force, he added.

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Israel's Attack On Iran Has Left Tehran Offensively And Defensively Weaker

By Kian Sharifi November 01, 2024

Iran was quick to downplay the impact of Israel's attack on key military sites on its territory on October 26.

But satellite images suggest Israel has degraded Tehran's air-defense and missile-production capabilities, analysts say.

Fabian Hinz of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said Israel had dealt a "significant blow" to Iran's ability to produce long-range ballistic missiles.

Ability To Sustain Long-Range Attacks

On October 1, Iran launched its biggest-ever direct attack on Israel, firing nearly 200 ballistic missiles at its archenemy. Dozens of the missiles, aimed mostly at military sites, penetrated Israel's formidable air defenses.

Israel's retaliatory strikes on October 26 were aimed at hindering Iran's production of solid-propellant ballistic missiles that were used by Tehran in its assault, the "weapons that are of most concern to Israel," Hinz said.

Solid-propellant missiles require fewer personnel and little time to prepare for launch compared to liquid-propellant missiles, Hinz explains, making them ideal for launching volleys in quick succession.

Israel struck missile-production sites around Tehran, including the Parchin military complex, the Khojir military base, the Shahrud missile site, and a factory in the Shamsabad Industrial Zone.

Jeremy Binnie, a Middle East defense specialist at the global intelligence company Janes, says the full extent of the damage caused to the facilities is still unclear.

But he adds that Israel likely wanted to prevent Iran from being able to sustain long-range missile exchanges, especially given the numbers it needs to penetrate Israel's formidable air defenses.

"The Israelis probably don't know precisely how many ballistic missiles [Iran] has with the requisite range, but have tried to reduce its ability to replenish is stockpile," Binnie said.

Blinded Offensively And Defensively?

Israel's attack was also aimed at weakening Iran's ability to fend off aerial attacks by targeting its radars and Russian-made S-300 air-defense systems.

There have been unconfirmed reports quoting U.S. and Israeli officials claiming that three S-300 systems were taken out in the Israeli attack.

"The S-300s are Iran's most capable air-defense capabilities, so targeting them again emphasizes Iran's inability to defend itself and gives the Israeli Air Force more freedom of operation in the future," Binnie said.

Satellite images also showed that at least two radar systems -- one in the western Ilam Province and another in the southwestern Khuzestan Province -- were hit.

The radars are an essential part of Iran's early warning system, Hinz told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. Taking them out, he said, would mean Israel had "degraded Iran's ability to resist any air attack even further, making it more vulnerable."

Fox News quoted a U.S. defense official as saying that the radars also had an offensive purpose, and have been used by Iran to track ballistic missiles after launch to assess their trajectories and course-correct if necessary.

Binnie said that "would be unusual but might explain how [Iran] has achieved a fairly high level of accuracy with its ballistic missiles -- though not good enough to do really significant damage."

Impact On Iranian Retaliation

There are growing numbers of reports that Tehran is considering retaliating against Israel as the extent of the damage caused by the October 26 attack becomes clearer.

Given that Iran has suffered damage to both its offensive and defensive capabilities, it is unclear if it can launch another large-scale attack on Israel, experts say.

Binnie said the United States' deployment to Israel of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), an advanced anti-missile system, will further "swing the balance in [Israel's] favor."

Media reports citing Israeli sources say that Iran is preparing to launch an aerial attack on Israel using Tehran-backed Shi'ite militant groups in Iraq. That would suggest the Islamic republic hopes its proxies will absorb the brunt of a potential Israeli response.

Hannah Kaviani of RFE/RL's Radio Farda contributed to this report

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-missile- production-air-defenses/33183370.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Notice to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Iran

November 01, 2024

On November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Iran pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and took related steps to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the situation in Iran.

Our relations with Iran have not yet normalized, and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January 19, 1981, is ongoing. For this reason, the national emergency declared on November 14, 1979, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond November 14, 2024. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Iran declared in Executive Order 12170.

The emergency declared by Executive Order 12170 is distinct from the emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 on March 15, 1995. This renewal, therefore, is distinct from the emergency renewal of March 12, 2024.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

November 1, 2024.

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Iraq gets new parliament speaker after yearlong deadlock

By VOA News November 01, 2024

After nearly a year's deadlock, Iraq's parliament elected a new speaker Thursday.

Prominent Sunni lawmaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who served as parliament's speaker from 2006 to 2009, was elected by 182 of the 269 politicians in attendance.

Iraq's parliament has been without a speaker since last November, following a ruling of the Federal Supreme Court in a case that involved then-speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, the country's most powerful Sunni politician, and fellow lawmaker Laith al-Dulaimi, also Sunni.

In the lawsuit, Dulaimi claimed Halbousi forged Dulaimi's signature on a resignation letter, according to an Associated Press report. Halbousi denied the claim. Iraq's top court's ruling in the case dismissed both lawmakers from parliament but did not give a reason for the verdict.

Iraq's political landscape operates under a delicate power-sharing system, created to avoid factional conflict. Under the arrangement, the country's president is always a Kurd, the prime minister is Shite and parliament's speaker is Sunni. Mashhadani's selection as speaker was made possible by a Sunni and Shite bloc, according to reports.

Under such a fragmented system, the speaker plays a critical role. The speaker is expected to ensure that politicians adhere to proper legislative order. In addition, the speaker is also tasked with resolving conflicts and building consensus among the lawmakers.

Mashhadani assumes the speaker position at a critical and fractious time, as the Middle East has erupted in wars and Iraq is seeking to maintain its relationships with several countries, including former adversaries Iran and the U.S.

Some information provided by Reuters and The Associated Press.

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Government Approves 2025 State Budget

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Events and Speeches

The 37th Government

01.11.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Summarizes the Government's Approval of the 2025 State Budget

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today , following the Government's approval of the 2025 state budget

"We are here to summarize the budget. I want to thank the Finance Minister, the ministers, and the men and women of the ministries, who worked very hard.

We convened for an important and difficult - but necessary - budget in a year of war.

On this I would like to say that the budget we are allocating for the Defense Ministry does not include the strengthening components of the Nagel Committee recommendations, which I believe will reach us on a serious scale. But, of course, this is the committee's decision. We will see this in mid-December.

This means that we will be able to add to the defense budget the strengthening components according to the Nagel Committee. It is possible that we will succeed in putting this in the current budget, before it passes in January, and if necessary, we will submit a supplemental budget."

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Dermer

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

November 1, 2024

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. The Secretary and Minister discussed necessary steps for regional de-escalation. The Secretary emphasized the importance of ending the war in Gaza and bringing all of the hostages home, as well as charting a path forward in the post-conflict period that provides governance, security, and reconstruction. He discussed the dire status of humanitarian conditions in Gaza, reviewed steps that have been taken to improve the situation, and urged further actions to surge aid to civilians. The Secretary and Minister discussed ongoing efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that allows both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to return safely to their homes. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's security against threats from Iran and Iran-backed proxy groups.

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Japan: High Representative/Vice-President holds first EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya

European External Action Service (EEAS)

01.11.2024

EEAS Press Team

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takeshi Iwaya held the first EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue on 1 November in Tokyo.

During the Dialogue, High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Iwaya announced the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership. Japan is the first country in the Indo-Pacific to adopt such a political framework for enhanced cooperation on security and defence with the European Union. The new partnership will frame, streamline and enhance bilateral cooperation and dialogue on key areas such as maritime security, participation in EU missions and operations space security and defence, cyber issues, Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference (FIMI) and disinformation, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and disarmament, and defence initiatives and industry, among other. The agreement underlines the strategic importance of deepening cooperation on security and defence in the face of growing and multifaceted security challenges.

During their discussions, High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Iwaya reaffirmed their staunch commitment to peace, stability and prosperity, grounded in shared values and common interests. They highlighted the importance of closer collaboration on regional and global security, with particular focus on the interconnected security environments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The EU was welcomed as a close partner in Asia.

The High Representative and the Foreign Minister also reiterated their unwavering commitment to support Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia's war of aggression and their condemnation of third-country support to Russia's illegal war of aggression. They also shared their grave concern over Russia's deepening military cooperation with the DPRK, including the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia and arms transfers between DPRK and Russia which flagrantly violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, and over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

In their discussions, the High Representative and the Foreign Minister also shared serious concerns about the situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and expressed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion and increase tensions that could undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order. Both reaffirmed that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of strategic importance for regional and global security and prosperity.

High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Iwaya expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in the Middle East. They called for an immediate ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border and in Gaza, as well as for the release of all hostages and unhindered humanitarian access. They stressed the need for a renewed focus on a two-state solution and the protection of civilians and peacekeepers in conflict zones, particularly in line with UN mandates.

They also announced the formal entry into force of the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement at the end of 2024, following ratification by all 27 EU Member States. The SPA has been applied on a provisional basis since February 2019, and has produced a deepening of bilateral ties across all policy dimensions and issues of global concern.

Background

The establishment of a Strategic Dialogue at foreign ministerial level was agreed at the 2023 EU-Japan Summit, and marks a key moment in strengthening the bilateral security partnership.

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Japan: Press remarks by the High Representative ahead of the EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue

European External Action Service (EEAS)

01.11.2024

EEAS Press Team

Dear Minister [for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Takeshi Iwaya], dear Ambassadors,

We live in a very dangerous world. We live in a world of growing rivalries, climate accidents and threats of war.

And there is only one antidote to this challenging world, which is partnerships among friends.

Japan is the EU's closest partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Our bilateral relations between Japan and the European Union have never been stronger. But they can be improved.

I am very happy to be here in Tokyo once again, to meet for the first Strategic Dialogue under the recently ratified EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement.

And today we open a new chapter in our relations. A new chapter that is not about trade or economics, this is about security and defence.

I am extremely pleased to be here with Minister Iwaya to announce the conclusion of this Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and Japan.

It is the first agreement of this nature that we conclude with the Indo-Pacific countries. And it is so important because we are fully aware that the Indo-Pacific is the theatre of the history of mankind will be written in this century.

It's a historical and very timely step given the situation in both of our regions.

This political framework deepens our ability to tackle emerging threats together, and work towards a future where our values of democracy, human rights, and the rules-based international order will continue to guide the way.

I would like to thank you, Minister, and our Japanese partners for your trust and our shared vision. Together, we are reinforcing our ties, and building a stronger, more secure future for our regions, for our people and for the world.

Link to the video (starting at 06:30): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-263113

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Japan, EU sign defense pact fueled by threats from China, Russia

By Chung-Hsi Tu November 01, 2024

The Japanese government and the European Union signed a security and defense partnership agreement Friday amid escalating tensions with China and concerns about its support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

The partnership was announced during a visit to Tokyo by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell for the first-ever Japan-EU Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya.

"We live in a very dangerous world," Borrell told reporters without specifically naming China, Russia or North Korea, the top security concerns for both Japan and the EU. "Given the situation in both of our regions, this political framework deepens our ability to tackle emerging threats together."

Borrell described the security pact as "historical and very timely," noting it is "the first agreement of this nature" the EU has made with an Asia-Pacific country.

The text of the EU-Japan Security and Defense Partnership, seen by Agence France-Presse, says the two parties will promote "concrete naval cooperation," including through activities such as joint exercises and port calls, which may include "mutually designated third countries."

It also says the EU and Japan will discuss "the development of respective defense initiatives including exchange of information on defense industry-related matters."

Katsuya Yamamoto, program director and senior research fellow of security studies at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, said, "By repeating joint training, cruising, port visit, cross-boarding in peacetime, our like-minded countries can continuously make it known to China and the surrounding countries that the European fronts and the Indo-Pacific fronts are standing together."

He said, "It will make China understand that this is not a regional security challenge, but a worldwide [problem]."

Beijing and Moscow have been developing closer relations, including militarily, since the West cut ties with Russia over its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In September, the two countries held joint military drills near Japan.

In an August visit to Taipei, Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba voiced concerns that China could invade Taiwan as Russia did with Ukraine.

Taiwan is a self-governing and democratic island that Beijing considers a breakaway province that must one day reunite with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Russia has repeatedly backed China's position on Taiwan, and its defense minister earlier this month visited Beijing to bolster their defense ties.

China on Thursday said it had carried out its first naval exercises with its two aircraft carriers in the South China Sea, where Beijing's territorial claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

China and Japan have competing claims to islands in the East China Sea.

Stephen Nagy, professor at the Department of Politics and International Studies of International Christian University in Japan, told VOA the EU-Japan agreement aims to deal with the threats to stability in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where China has conducted repeated threatening military exercises.

"This may include sharing information and technology related to maritime domain awareness, countering hybrid warfare including cyber and disinformation. I believe we may see more joint transits through the Taiwan straits as well."

Wei-Hsiu Huang, a project researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia at the University of Tokyo, said Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's activities in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea have been a factor in the enhanced Japan-EU cooperation.

But, he said, "The future direction of security cooperation between Japan and Europe will be very broad, and it will not be limited to the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, North Korea and Russia."

Analysts say Europe's role in East Asian security could become more important if former U.S. President Donald Trump is re-elected. Trump has pushed for Taiwan and Japan to do more for their own defense, indicating he might support less U.S. military involvement in the region.

His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, would be expected to continue current Biden administration policies in the region.

Nagy warned that Japan and the EU cannot mount a sufficient deterrent to keep China from rewriting the region's security architecture "if the U.S. were to withdraw entirely from the region," which he called "unlikely."

Yamamoto said that regardless of whether Trump or Harris is elected, the U.S. government and society will expect greater efforts from Japan and Europe.

Huang agreed that Japan's cooperative relations with Europe are unlikely to be affected by the U.S. presidential election "because no matter who is elected, it is in the interests of the U.S. to strengthen security cooperation between Japan and Europe."

After Japan, Borrell will visit South Korea to discuss mutual concerns about North Korea, which has been sending weapons, ammunition and now thousands of troops to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

On Thursday, North Korea test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile with a range sufficient to hit almost anywhere in the United States. The test was condemned by the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United Nations secretary-general.

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.

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Blast Kills 5, Including 4 Children, In Pakistan's Restive Balochistan

By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal November 01, 2024

A roadside bomb targeting a van that was transporting the police guarding polio vaccination teams killed four children and a police officer in Pakistan's restive Balochistan Province.

Police official Miadad Omrani, told RFE/RL that the explosion occurred near a girls' school in the city of Mastung as a motorized rickshaw that transports children to school was passing by.

Omrani said three police officers were wounded in the blast, which appears to have been triggered by remote control.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Balochistan's chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, both condemned the attack and vowed to rid the country of militants.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The mineral-rich southern province has been marred by a spate of deadly attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months.

Baluch separatist groups, such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), designated as a global terrorist organization by the United States, are engaged in fighting against the Pakistani government.

On October 29, armed men attacked a construction site in Balochistan's Panjgur area, killing five builders who were working on a dam near the border with Iran. The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack.

On October 24, four people were wounded in a blast in the region's Kala Saifullah area.

On October 11, 20 coal miners were killed in the Duki district in an attack that also went unclaimed by any group.

Baluch separatists have been active in Pakistan's Balochistan for years and they demand the province's independence and what they say would be a fair share of the region's mineral revenues.

Pakistani Army and paramilitary forces have been stationed in Balochistan for almost two decades and have continued to carry out operations against armed groups there.

The separatists have claimed responsibility for attacks on Pakistani security forces, government officials, and on Chinese workers who are in Pakistan working on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

China is conducting numerous projects in Pakistan under the umbrella of the CPEC.

The $60 billion initiative encompasses a wide range of development and infrastructure projects.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-balochistan-police- attack/33183036.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Bomb kills 9, mostly schoolchildren, in southwest Pakistan

By Ayaz Gul November 01, 2024

A bomb blast in southwestern Pakistan early Friday morning killed at least nine people, including five schoolchildren, and injured 17 others.

Authorities said that a homemade bomb attached to a motorcycle was detonated in Mastung, a district in the violence-affected Balochistan province, apparently targeting a police vehicle near a school.

At least one police officer was among the dead, and several others also sustained injuries.

Officials reported that a police vehicle was transporting personnel to protect polio vaccination teams involved in the ongoing national campaign to immunize children against the paralytic virus.

Pakistan is facing a resurgence of polio cases in 2024. The country has reported 43 infections this year, with 22 occurring in Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan.

The provincial government and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in separate statements, condemned the violence as a "terrorist attack."

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Balochistan, renowned for its abundant natural resources, where several ethnic Baloch separatist groups routinely target security force members and government installations.

On Tuesday, gunmen attacked workers at the site of a dam in the sparsely populated province's Panjgur district, killing five and wounding two others. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, claimed responsibility for that attack.

Last month, heavily armed assailants stormed a coal mine in another district and massacred 21 coal workers.

BLA, listed as a global terrorist organization by the United States, and other allied insurgent groups claim to be fighting for Balochistan's independence.

They have also targeted China-funded projects in the province and Chinese nationals working on them, alleging Beijing is assisting Islamabad in exploiting the region's resources. Both countries reject the charges and label insurgents as enemies of the development in impoverished Balochistan.

Polio teams targeted

Earlier this week, militants in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which sits on the Afghan border, killed two police officers guarding polio vaccinators going door-to-door.

Islamist militants, commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, are believed to be targeting polio teams in northwestern districts, suspecting them of spying for the government.

The Pakistani government launched its weeklong vaccination campaign on Monday, aiming to administer polio drops to more than 45 million children nationwide.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where polio continues to be endemic and paralyze children. The World Health Organization has reported 66 polio infections this year: 43 from Pakistan and 23 from Afghanistan  up from six each in both countries in 2023.

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Joint Statement on the 4th Annual U.S.-ROK Democratic Governance Consultations

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

November 1, 2024

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Korea on the occasion of the 4th annual U.S.-ROK Democratic Governance Consultations.

Begin text:

On November 1, the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held the 4th annual U.S.-ROK Democratic Governance Consultations in Washington, D.C.

ROK Director General for International Organizations Lee Chul and U.S. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Allison Peters were the senior representatives for the consultations. In their opening remarks, the two representatives underscored the strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance in advancing democracy and human rights globally. At the consultations, the ROK and the United States discussed strategies to leverage emerging technology and multilateral channels, including the United Nations, to protect democratic institutions and promote respect for human rights. In addition, both sides shared their respective efforts to uphold these values domestically. The consultations provided a valuable platform for deepening mutual understanding of each country's policies and initiatives in these areas while exploring further avenues for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

End text.

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Joint Statement of the 2024 United States-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2)

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

November 1, 2024

The text of the following joint statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Korea.

Begin Text:

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosted a Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul and Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun in Washington on October 31, 2024.

The two sides reaffirmed the shared vision, common values, and unwavering commitment to their combined defense posture and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) as the bedrock of our security partnership. They noted the U.S.-ROK Alliance serves as the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Both sides affirmed that our unwavering resolve is our greatest deterrent and pledged to coordinate closely together in the event of any provocations. The recent conclusion of consultations on the Special Measures Agreement serves as a tangible symbol of our shared commitment to the Alliance, enhances our combined defense posture, and supports the continued presence of U.S. forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula.

The Secretaries and Ministers also recognized the U.S.-ROK Alliance has evolved into a global comprehensive strategic alliance, built on respect, trust, close friendship, strong people-to-people connections, and the shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. They committed to further advancing mutually reinforcing and forward-looking cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, including climate change, health security, nonproliferation, and supply chain diversification.

The United States reaffirmed its commitment to the defense of the ROK. The Secretaries and Ministers further pledged to enhance the Alliance's deterrence posture and emphasized the importance of maintaining joint readiness against shared regional and global threats through combined training and exercises. The Secretaries and Ministers noted that U.S. forces in the ROK continue to play a critical role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and committed to ensure that we have the force posture and capabilities necessary to meet our common challenges.

The Secretaries and Ministers also highlighted deepening U.S.-ROK security cooperation to enhance interoperability and strengthen extended deterrence by the continued implementation of commitments outlined in the U.S.-ROK Washington Declaration, announced by Presidents Biden and Yoon in April 2023. Both sides reiterated that the ironclad U.S. extended deterrence commitment to the ROK is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear. They reaffirmed that any nuclear attack by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) against the ROK will be met with a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response. The United States also reiterated that any nuclear attack by the DPRK against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime, in line with the 2022 U.S. Nuclear Posture Review.

Both sides welcomed the achievements of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), an enduring bilateral forum that has continued work to strengthen extended deterrence, discuss nuclear and strategic planning, and manage the threat the DPRK poses to the global nonproliferation regime. They applauded the successful completion of the "U.S.-ROK Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula," which represents the tremendous progress of the NCG, as commended and endorsed by President Biden and President Yoon. The Guidelines provide the principles and procedures for the Alliance to maintain and strengthen credible and effective nuclear deterrence as equal partners, with further progress planned for the next principal-level NCG meeting later this year. Both sides pledged to deepen consultations and strategic planning, further enhance the regular visibility of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula, and expand table-top exercises and simulations to ensure an effective response to any changes in the threat environment.

Both sides also affirmed the need for the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) to discuss and coordinate on security strategy and policy issues affecting the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific region - including by leveraging all elements of national power. The Secretaries and Ministers committed to collaborate against harmful disinformation about extended deterrence on the Korean Peninsula. The ROK expressed its support for U.S. efforts to engage the People's Republic of China and Russia on reducing nuclear risks.

Both sides reaffirmed their longstanding commitment to their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global nonproliferation regime, as well as their continuing commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, consistent with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The Secretaries and Ministers strongly condemned the DPRK's dangerous and provocative behavior, including its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test on October 31 (local time) and continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in violation of multiple UNSC resolutions. The ICBM test only demonstrates the DPRK continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people, and we call on the DPRK to cease its destabilizing actions. The two sides committed to further enhance coordination, including through the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), to address violations and evasions of UN sanctions by the DPRK, including violations of the arms embargo and other related military cooperation, dispatch of overseas laborers, malicious cyber activities, oil smuggling, and the trade of prohibited items, including by ship-to-ship transfers. Both sides reiterated that the DPRK's human rights violations and abuses were inextricably linked with its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile advancements, and committed to further strengthening cooperation to promote human rights in the DPRK. The United States expressed its support for the goals of the Audacious Initiative and President Yoon's vision of a free, peaceful, and prosperous Korean Peninsula, and reiterated its support for a peacefully unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace. Both sides reaffirmed that they remain open to dialogue with the DPRK without preconditions.

The Secretaries and Ministers condemned in the strongest terms deepening military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including continued unlawful arms transfers and the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia. They made clear that this military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK constitutes not only a violation of multiple UNSC resolutions but also prolongs the suffering of the Ukrainian people and threatens stability in both the Indo-Pacific and Europe. Both sides further identified measures to address the challenges posed by increased DPRK-Russia security cooperation, resolved to closely monitor and further expose Russian support to the DPRK, and urged Russia and the DPRK to abide by international law, including the relevant UNSC resolutions. Both sides committed to enforce the current autonomous sanctions regime and actively pursue necessary measures together with the international community to deter further unlawful, reckless, and destabilizing behavior.

The Secretaries and Ministers also strongly condemned Russia's brutal, unprovoked, and unjustifiable war against Ukraine. They recognized that Russia's violation of the UN Charter and its attempts to unilaterally change borders by force through its ongoing aggression present a clear challenge to the international order, with global impacts including on the Indo-Pacific. Both sides condemned Russia's coercive nuclear threats and its attacks against critical infrastructure, and they reiterated the need for Russia to be held accountable for its actions.

The Secretaries and Ministers also recognized the deepening interconnectedness between the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic and discussed the implications for diplomatic and defense cooperation in the face of a complex security environment. The two sides recognized the importance of the ROK deepening its partnerships with NATO and other Indo-Pacific partners, and resolved to advance security, peace, and prosperity in both regions.

Both sides expressed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific. They recognized the importance of opposing unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea. The United States and the ROK underscored the importance of maritime safety and security, upholding international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea, and peaceful resolution of disputes as essential for regional stability and prosperity.

Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community. They expressed concern over provocative actions, particularly the recent military drills around Taiwan that escalate tension and concurred that no further actions should be taken that could undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. There remains no change in our basic positions on Taiwan, including the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

The two countries are united in their support of ASEAN centrality and other regional efforts. Both sides acknowledged the contributions of ongoing bilateral and multilateral dialogues to expand regional coordination with Pacific Island countries and in the Mekong sub-region that aim to enhance connectivity, economic development, and environmental sustainability. The United States and ROK reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, emphasizing the importance of these platforms in promoting peace, stability, and security in the region. Additionally, both sides highlighted their collaborative efforts in addressing transnational challenges, including maritime security, cyber threats such as the DPRK's cryptocurrency heists, and climate change through ASEAN and other regional frameworks.

The Secretaries and Ministers emphasized the critical importance of deepening trilateral cooperation with Japan to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the region and to address common challenges such as the DPRK's increasing nuclear and missile threats. Trilateral cooperation is furthered by the leadership commitments at the Trilateral Leaders' Summit at Camp David in 2023 and respective trilateral foreign and defense ministerial-level meetings this year. Both sides pledged to continue prioritizing mutually beneficial, forward-looking cooperation to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the region.

The United States recognized the ROK as a Global Pivotal State committed to addressing global challenges, noting its 2024-2025 non-permanent membership in the UNSC. The United States and the ROK reaffirmed their commitment to working closely within the UN framework to address pressing global issues such as nuclear non-proliferation, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and climate change. The two sides also discussed strategies to strengthen multilateralism and improve the effectiveness of the UN in responding to emerging threats and crises. Both sides also recognized the important role of the United Nations Command (UNC) in managing, implementing, and enforcing the terms of the Korean Armistice Agreement, deterring DPRK aggression, and coordinating multinational united responses in case of contingencies on the Korean Peninsula. They also affirmed that the UNC has successfully contributed to those aims for over 70 years and will continue to carry out its mission with the utmost respect for the sovereignty of the ROK, the primary host nation of the UNC.

Both sides affirmed that international law applies in cyberspace and that a cyberattack could - in certain circumstances - constitute an armed attack for the purposes of Article III of the MDT. The Secretaries and Ministers also affirmed that attacks to, from, or within space present a clear challenge to the security of the Alliance, and such attacks - in certain circumstances - could lead to the invocation of Article III of the MDT. Both sides affirmed that a decision as to when attacks in either domain would lead to an invocation of Article III would be made on a case-by-case basis, and through close consultations between the United States and the ROK, as would be the case for any other threat. They emphasized the importance of enhancing interoperability and information sharing for space and cyber domain awareness and concurred on the need to strengthen joint response capabilities against increasing space and cyber threats.

The two sides also pledged to continue expanding cooperative measures to enhance compatibility between the U.S. and ROK defense industrial bases. The Secretaries and Ministers highlighted their shared view that the Regional Sustainment Framework, recently announced by the U.S. Department of Defense, would strengthen Alliance maintenance capabilities and increase readiness regeneration capacity. They discussed recent measures to cooperate on Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) projects and welcomed the U.S. Navy certifying ROK shipyards to conduct MRO services on U.S. ships. In addition, both sides recognized the need to improve reciprocal market access to deepen defense cooperation and enhance supply chain resiliency. Both sides are committed to accelerate cooperation with the goal of signing the Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement next year based on guidance from both Presidents.

The two sides recognized the contribution of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) partnership in sustaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Both sides noted ongoing consultations for potential collaboration on advanced capability projects under AUKUS Pillar II.

The Secretaries and Ministers noted that since both sides established the basic principles of the transition of wartime Operational Control (OPCON) in 2006, the ROK and United States have achieved great progress through their combined efforts and reiterated their firm commitment to wartime OPCON transition consistent with the Conditions-Based OPCON Transition Plan. Building on this progress, the Secretaries and Ministers pledged to continue efforts toward the systematic and stable transition of wartime OPCON.

The Secretaries and Ministers emphasized the United States and the ROK are united by shared values and a common purpose. Both sides reiterated their commitment to further advancing and deepening U.S.-ROK cooperation.

Both sides also recognized the importance of the Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial as an important bilateral forum to further enhance the Alliance, and committed to holding the Ministerial Meeting regularly.

End text.

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New Jersey Resident Pleads Guilty to Helping Russia's Defense Sector Evade U.S. Export Controls

Friday, November 1, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Defendant Facilitated Russia's Acquisition of Millions of Dollars of U.S.-Made Dual-Use Electronics Used in Radar, Surveillance, and Military Research and Development

Vadim Yermolenko, 43, a dual U.S.-Russian national and resident of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States for his role in a transnational procurement and money laundering network that sought to acquire sensitive dual-use electronics for Russian military and intelligence services.

"This defendant joins the nearly two dozen other criminals that our Task Force KleptoCapture has brought to justice in American courtrooms over the past two and a half years for enabling Russia's military aggression," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "This defendant admitted to playing a central role in a now-disrupted scheme with Russian intelligence services to smuggle sniper rifle ammunition and U.S. military grade equipment into Russia. The Justice Department will never stop working to aggressively disrupt and prosecute both the criminal networks and the individuals responsible for bolstering the Russian war machine."

"The illegal export of sensitive, dual-use technologies in support of Russia's war effort poses a significant threat to the United States and its allies and must not be tolerated," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "The defendant in this case played a key role in exporting U.S. technology that in the hands of our adversaries could pose great danger to our national security. The FBI and its partners will continue to focus on protecting strategic innovation at home and hold accountable anyone who facilitates illegal transfers to hostile nations like Russia."

"To facilitate the Russian war machine, the defendant played a critical role in exporting sensitive, dual-use technologies to Russia, facilitating shipping and the movement of millions of dollars through U.S. financial institutions," said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. "This plea highlights my Office and our law enforcement partners continued commitment to use all tools available to prosecute those who unlawfully procure U.S. technology to send to Russia."

According to court documents, the defendant was affiliated with Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC, Moscow-based companies that operate under the direction of Russian intelligence services to procure advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment for Russia's military industrial complex and research and development sector. Serniya and Sertal operated a vast network of shell companies and bank accounts throughout the world, including the United States, that were used in furtherance of the scheme to conceal the involvement of the Russian government and the true Russian end users of U.S.-origin equipment.

The defendant and his co-conspirators unlawfully purchased and exported highly sensitive, export controlled electronic components, some of which can be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computing and other military applications. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) levied sanctions and imposed additional export restrictions on Serniya, Sertal, and several individuals and companies used in the scheme, calling them "instrumental to the Russian Federation's war machine."

Sertal was licensed to conduct highly sensitive and classified procurement activities by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia's principal security agency and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union's KGB. The Serniya network's Russian clients included State Corporation Rostec, the state-owned defense conglomerate; State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom); the Ministry of Defense; the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR); and various components of the FSB, including the Department of Military Counterintelligence and the Directorate for Scientific and Technological Intelligence, commonly known as "Directorate T."

To carry out the scheme, the defendant helped set up numerous shell companies and dozens of bank accounts in the U.S. to illicitly move money and export-controlled goods. During the period charged in the indictment, more than $12 million passed through accounts owned or controlled by the defendant. These funds were used in part to purchase sensitive equipment used in radar, surveillance and military research and development. In one instance, money from one of the defendant's accounts was used to purchase export-controlled sniper bullets, which were intercepted in Estonia before they could be smuggled into Russia.

Co-defendant Alexey Brayman previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and is awaiting sentence. The case against co-defendant Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected FSB operative, was dismissed after Konoshchenok was removed from the United States as part of a prisoner exchange negotiated between the United States and Russia. Defendant Nikolaos Bogonikolos' case remains pending. Defendants Boris Livshits, Alexey Ippolitov, Svetlana Skvortsova, and Yevgeniy Grinin remain at large.

The FBI, BIS, and IRS are investigating the case.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs, and Estonian authorities provided valuable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Artie McConnell, Andrew D. Reich, and Matthew Skurnik for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

Today's actions were coordinated through the Justice Department's Task Force KleptoCapture and the Justice and Commerce Departments' Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia's unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.

Topics: National Security

Export Control

Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - New York, Eastern

Press Release Number: 24-1384

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Meeting with Head of Khakassia Valentin Konovalov

Head of the Republic of Khakassia Valentin Konovalov briefed the President on the socioeconomic situation in the region.

November 1, 2024

13:30

The Kremlin, Moscow

Valentin Konovalov reported that the Republic demonstrates reasonably good socioeconomic performance, with the economy growing in a number of indicators since 2017 including the region's gross regional product, industrial output, investment, and wages. Khakassia has been working on expanding the non-resource sector as per the objective set by the President. In 2020, it drafted a new socioeconomic development strategy until 2030 and has been offering additional support to the processing sector.

The Head of the Republic went on to talk about housing construction, which reached a new all-time high in 2023 with 373,000 square metres commissioned, which amounted to a per capita indicator of 0.7 square metres. The region has been actively supporting the tourism and services sectors. Since 2017, revenue generated from the processing sector increased by a factor of 1.7, while the same indicator almost doubled for agricultural production. Proceeds from tourism tripled, while the SMEs doubled their revenue. However, the regional economy still depends on aluminium and coal production, which reflects a historical trend. During Soviet times, the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP was built to serve aluminium plants, while coal production played a major role in the local economy even before the 1917 Revolution, but gradually, the regional economy has come to depend less on these sectors lately.

Turning to national projects, Valentin Konovalov said that they enabled the region to attract over 35 billion rubles since 2019. The Republic of Khakassia built 39 healthcare facilities. Most of them were rural paramedic centres and outpatient clinics, but there were also several major urban projects. For example, the oncology centre got a new radiology building which now serves not only the residents of Khakassia, but also patients from Tyva and the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The region has also upgraded almost its entire fleet of ambulances and medical vehicles, and also bought 1,500 units of medical equipment. In an effort to attract specialists to the Republic, there is a local programme enabling doctors and paramedics to buy housing.

The President noted that the region has yet to reach a national average in terms of the availability of doctors, while Valentin Konovalov responded that Khakassia has gone to great lengths to attract medical professionals and has started training paramedics at its educational institutions.

The discussion also touched on education, kindergartens, schools, and a programme of integrated development of rural areas where new schools, kindergartens, cultural centres, infrastructure facilities and apartment houses are being built.

Valentin Konovalov spoke separately about the special military operation. Over 500 tonnes of humanitarian aid had been dispatched to the frontline and to people in the new territories. Special attention is being given to the families of the fighting personnel, with a separate programme comprising a package of measures, benefits and payments. The Defenders of the Fatherland foundation is operating in the region.

The Head of Khakassia also spoke about the territories under the patronage of the Republic. They include the city of Sverdlovsk and the Sverdlovsk District in the Lugansk People's Republic. Last year, a school and a kindergarten were repaired with costs standing at 50 million rubles, children were sent to summer camps, and Russian language, literature and history books, as well as musical equipment for culture centres were provided. Two more schools are being repaired this year.

Vladimir Putin pointed out that more construction projects were underway in the Republic, investment was growing, and the unemployment rate had seriously decreased. Valentin Konovalov confirmed that the unemployment rate was record low, namely 1.6 percent according to international standards, while the registered rate was 0.7 percent. Both public sector and private companies are fighting to hire more staff.

The President raised one more issue which concerns many regions, namely the disposal of solid household waste. He suggested that closer ties should be developed with waste disposal companies, which need assistance but should also organise their work to properly implement their duties. Valentin Konovalov said their goal was to build a waste processing complex until the end of 2026.

Vladimir Putin noted that some issues were of special concern for society, such as the situation in the zone of the special military operation, the implementation of large-scale projects, and the further development of shipbuilding and the aviation sector. There are many global issues, but they must not be allowed to overshadow the importance of seemingly minor details in people's lives because the quality of their lives depends on them, the President said. He expressed the hope that other regions would also take this into account and would not neglect the issues that are extremely important for people's lives and remain topical.

After that, the discussion touched on other issues prepared by the Head of Khakassia in writing.

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Lavrov: US, Russia on 'brink of direct military conflict'

Iran Press TV

Friday, 01 November 2024 11:04 AM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that his country and the United States are very close to engaging in "direct military conflict," days ahead of the next week's US presidential election.

"Under the current president (Joe Biden), who has taken the downward spiral of Russophobia in the US to its logical conclusion, our countries are on the brink of direct military conflict," Lavrov said in an interview with the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet which was published on Friday, without elaborating.

Asked about the US presidential race where former Republican president Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris are competing, Lavrov said the election outcome would make little difference to Moscow.

"We have no preference. When the Trump administration was in power, it adopted the highest number of anti-Russian sanctions compared to its predecessors," he said.

"No matter who wins the elections, we don't think the United States' anti-Russian bent can change."

His remarks came as the US accused Russia of attempting to interfere in the upcoming US presidential elections. Moscow categorically dismissed the claims.

Some media reports claim that Russia may prefer to see Trump win the election because the Republican candidate has expressed his desire to end the Ukraine conflict.

Putin last week stressed that Russia's ties with the US would depend on what attitude Washington adopts after the election.

Russia launched what it called a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, partly to prevent NATO's eastward expansion after warning that the US-led military alliance was following an "aggressive line" against Moscow.

The Western countries have been fueling the flames of the war with their unchecked delivery of weapons to Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that such a flow of weapons to Kiev will only prolong the conflict.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Choe Son-hui, Moscow, November 1, 2024

1 November 2024 13:10

2060-01-11-2024

Comrade Choe Son-hui,

Friends.

We are sincerely delighted to welcome you to Moscow for these strategic consultations.

The bilateral relations between our countries have reached an unprecedented level over the past years thanks to the special attention and care by President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong-un. The signing of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Pyongyang during the historical meeting between our two leaders elevated these relations to a whole new level.

Indeed, this is a strategic partnership, including in terms of the momentum we have built in promoting out political dialogue. The June summit became a major milestone. In 2023, Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong-un undertook an important visit to Vostochny Space Launch Centre. This was a very important visit from a practical standpoint. This is the sixth time you and I have a meeting this year.

The Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has laid a solid foundation for further strengthening our bilateral relations in all their aspects. It is also designed to play a stabilising role in Northeast Asia and across our continent in general.

We are grateful to our North Korean friends for their principled position regarding the developments in Ukraine, which result from the Western policy of promoting NATO's eastward expansion and encouraging what amounts to an outright racist regime in its efforts to eliminate all things Russian in education, culture and even in everyday life. They have recently enacted legislation to ban the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Our countries have established close military-to-military contacts and at the level of our respective security agencies. This enables us to address and be effective in our efforts and achieve important objectives for the sake of ensuring security for our citizens.

The Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation has been hard at work. It held its latest meeting on November 15, 2023, and it will hold its next 11th meeting in November 2024 in Pyongyang. I am certain that it will devise recommendations that would enable us to expand our trade, investment and economic ties.

We appreciate our proactive cultural, humanitarian and educational exchanges, and are committed to further expanding them, especially considering the attention and commitment by the people of Russia and the DPRK to forge closer ties in these domains.

Inter-parliamentary ties are also a prominent element in our partnership. The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK have established dedicated groups for promoting friendship between our countries. We believe in the importance of regularly exchanging parliamentary delegations and ensuring close party-to-party cooperation between United Russia and the Workers' Party of Korea.

We have so many things on our bilateral agenda, and must regularly touch base on international and regional matters. I appreciate the opportunity to have this conversation with you today in this comradely setting to discuss all these matters in order to come to a shared understanding of how our two foreign ministries can contribute to carrying out the provisions of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

I am delighted to see you. Once again, welcome.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the unveiling ceremony for a memorial plaque dedicated to Kim Il Sung's first visit to Russia, Moscow, November 1, 2024

1 November 2024 13:02

2059-01-11-2024

Comrade Choe Son-hui,

Friends,

Colleagues.

We are present at a landmark event honouring the time when our cooperation, close friendship and practical partnership began.

One of the main events, one of the main milestones of that period was the visit of Comrade Kim Il Sung, the founder and first head of the new state, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

First of all, I would like to thank those who contributed to this project - Russian Railways, the Moscow Government and the DPRK Embassy in the Russian Federation.

Today's ceremony underscores our respect for our shared history and our gratitude to our great predecessors.

Today, under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un, Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, we continue their work and try to be worthy of the contribution to our friendship that our predecessors made.

Our cooperation is on the rise today. Our ties continue to expand at an accelerated pace and have been reaching new heights across the board. The historic summit at the Vostochny Space Launch Centre in the autumn of 2023 was followed by another milestone event, President Vladimir Putin's state visit to the DPRK in 2024, when our countries signed the historic Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The agreements formalised by the treaty are beginning to be translated into practice for the benefit of both nations, stability on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia and on the Eurasian continent as a whole.

I would like to offer my sincere welcome and congratulations to all the participants in this important ceremony.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, November 1, 2024

1 November 2024 07:14

2058-01-11-2024

Question: Turkiye has expressed its intention to join BRICS. What is your take on how this process will go and what its result will be? How might Turkiye's full membership affect the group? And what is Moscow's perspective on Turkiye's accession?

Sergey Lavrov: We welcome Turkiye's interest in strengthening ties with BRICS. This reflects the appeal of the group that is based on respect for the UN Charter, openness, pragmatism, and non-directedness against third parties.

We support the expansion of BRICS relations with countries of the Global Majority, particularly those committed to upholding multilateral approaches, pursuing a sovereign foreign policy, and refraining from participating in unilateral sanctions.

During the summit in Kazan, a decision was made to strengthen the current composition of BRICS by including partner countries in the group. I am confident that Turkiye can make a meaningful contribution to the ongoing development of BRICS. The parameters for Turkiye's participation in the group will be determined by consensus, respecting the sovereign choices of all BRICS countries and Turkiye itself.

Question: A year has passed since the Israeli attacks on Gaza began, and tensions in the region have escalated significantly due to Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Who will intervene to stop the aggression by the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu? Will Russia take the lead in efforts to stop Israel? In this context, what stance will Russia adopt in case of a potential military intervention by the US and Israel in Iran?

Sergey Lavrov: The failure to settle the long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict has sparked a new wave of violence, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians in Gaza. The number of casualties in Lebanon reaches thousands. More and more countries are becoming embroiled in this escalating confrontation.

Russia has condemned Israel for killing political leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as high-ranking Iranian military officials. We asked the UN Security Council to give its assessment of these deeds, but this initiative was blocked by opposition from Western members of the Council.

We urge all parties to refrain from actions that could further escalate violence and lead to a situation beyond control. There will be no winners in this conflict.

The way to normalise the situation lies in halting the bloodshed and creating conditions for a political resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on universal international legal principles. This includes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Only this solution can guarantee lasting peace in the Middle East.

Question: Turkiye at the top level has reaffirmed its intention to help resolve the Ukrainian crisis and indicated its readiness to make every effort to revive the Dolmabahce process. In this context, what are your thoughts on Turkiye's role as a mediator and host for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the near future? How do you evaluate the country's initiatives to resolve the crisis?

Sergey Lavrov: We appreciate Turkiye's efforts to help resolve the Ukrainian crisis. The Turkish government played a crucial role by offering the Istanbul platform for consultations with representatives from Kiev in the spring of 2022 and facilitating the grain deal. However, the Istanbul negotiations were ultimately undermined by the Anglo-Saxons, who prevented Vladimir Zelensky from reaching agreements that could have stopped hostilities and ensured the balance of interests of all parties involved.

Russia is open to achieving a political settlement, but this should not merely lead to a temporary ceasefire; it must lead to a resolution of the conflict by eliminating its root causes. These include NATO's eastward expansion, the creation of threats to Russia's essential security interests, and the Kiev regime's infringement on the rights of Russians and Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine.

At the moment, our opponents do not appear to want peace. Ukraine's reaction to President Vladimir Putin's peace initiative proposed in June was an invasion of the Kursk Region by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, along with airstrikes on targets in other border areas. Washington and its allies continue to provide extensive support to Kiev, discuss the possibility of using Western long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory. Vladimir Zelensky has not revoked his order prohibiting negotiations with Moscow. Given these circumstances, it seems unlikely that any country, including Turkiye, will succeed in mediation efforts.

Regrettably, Ankara continues its military-technical cooperation with the Kiev regime. Turkish weapons are being used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to kill Russian soldiers and civilians, which is perplexing in light of the Turkish leadership's statements of readiness to offer mediation services.

Question: Turkiye also remains in close contact with Moscow on the normalisation of relations with Syria. Although Ankara has repeatedly expressed its point of view regarding the meeting with Assad, Damascus puts forward preconditions for negotiations, such as the "withdrawal of Turkish troops from the region." How do you assess this attitude of Damascus and the possibility of normalisation?

Sergey Lavrov: The normalisation of Syrian-Turkish relations is of great importance for sustainable stabilisation in Syria and strengthening security in the entire Middle East.

Russia is taking consistent efforts to help bridge the gap between Damascus and Ankara. My colleagues from Turkiye and Iran and I discussed this issue during the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Astana process guarantor countries on September 27 in New York.

Last year, several meetings were held in Moscow between the foreign ministries, defence ministries, and special services as part of the Russia-Iran-Syria- Turkiye quadripartite format. Topics of particular interest have been identified, including the return of Syrian refugees, the fight against terrorism, and border security.

The differences in the positions of Damascus and Ankara have led to a pause in the negotiation process. The Syrian government believes that first it is necessary to settle the issue of withdrawing the Turkish military contingent from Syria. Overall, Turkiye confirms its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, but suggests returning to the issue of the withdrawal of its troops later.

We will actively promote re-launching the negotiation process as soon as possible, because both capitals signal that they are quite interested in resuming the dialogue.

Question: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that serious steps can be taken with Russia on the Sinop NPP. Is there any progress on this issue? Will this step be taken in Sinop after the Akkuyu NPP?

How does the West's embargo against Russia affect the country's economy? At what stage is trade with Turkiye today? What would you say about the course of economic relations between Turkiye and Russia?

Sergey Lavrov: The Turkish authorities have to decide on what foundation and with whose assistance the Sinop NPP construction project will be implemented. If we manage to agree on the parameters of Russia's participation, then we believe that both parties will benefit from this. We have a successful example of cooperation: the construction of the Akkuyu NPP.

Russia has adapted to the sanctions pressure and is developing successfully. In terms of GDP at purchasing power parity, we have become the fourth in the world and the first in Europe. The growth of the Russian economy this year should be about 3.9 percent. We have the lowest unemployment rate among the largest economies in the world: 2.4 percent.

The United States is trying to restrict the opportunities of our foreign partners interested in trade with Russia. Unfortunately, Turkiye is no exception. The prospects for our practical cooperation depend on whether experts will be able to find mutually acceptable solutions in the near future.

Question: Presidential election will be held in the United States in November. During the election campaign, Russia often becomes the centre of attention. Which presidential candidate would Moscow prefer to see in the White House? Donald Trump or Kamala Harris?

Sergey Lavrov: We have no preferences. In the past, the Trump administration was the one that introduced the greatest number of anti-Russia sanctions compared with its predecessors. Under the current president, who has spun the spring of Russophobia in the United States to the limit, our countries are balancing on the brink of a direct military clash.

Whoever wins the election, we can see no possibility of the United States changing its Russophobic course. For our part, we will be ready for dialogue if and when the Americans demonstrate serious intentions to negotiate honestly, based on respect for each other's interests and the principle of reciprocity.

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Recent US strikes spotlight growing Islamic State threat in Syria

By Sirwan Kajjo November 01, 2024

Airstrikes carried out by the U.S. military this week against several Islamic State targets in Syria highlight concerns about the terror group's growing presence in the war-torn country, experts say.

U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, said Wednesday that its forces had conducted strikes on Monday targeting multiple camps belonging to IS, or ISIS, in the Syrian desert. Nearly 35 IS operatives, including senior leaders, were killed in the airstrikes, the U.S. military said.

Despite its territorial defeat in 2019, IS has been carrying out attacks through sleeper cells across Iraq and Syria. In recent months, militants affiliated with the group have increasingly become active in areas controlled by forces loyal to the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and their Iranian and Russian allies.

The Syrian Desert, also known as the Badia, where the U.S. forces struck IS positions this week, has seen a significant surge in violence by IS militants in recent months.

IS had maintained training camps in the Syrian desert for many years, according to Gregory Waters, a research analyst at the Counter Extremism Project who closely follows IS activities in central Syria.

"These are the places where it trains the next generation of fighters  often children it recruits from northeast Syria  and where adult fighters can return to in between their operations," Waters told VOA. "While the central Syrian desert is under Russian and Syrian regime control, ISIS does not abide by these arbitrary lines."

He added that IS cells in the central desert support the cells operating in northeast Syria, which is largely under the control of U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF.

The United States has about 900 troops in northeast Syria as part of a global coalition against IS.

"Oftentimes the fighters will cross from one region to the other to either conduct attacks or to escape from counter-ISIS operations," Waters said.

Colin Clarke, director of research at The Soufan Group, said the U.S. strikes demonstrate that the terror group remains a significant threat in Syria.

"Moreover, the Assad regime lacks either the will or the capability to counter ISIS, so the United States has remained vigilant in its efforts to keep the group on the defensive," he told VOA.

"Any time you have a terrorist group with the legacy of the Islamic State, with a proven track record of being able to recruit, plan and conduct attacks, including external operations in the West, it is never a good idea to become complacent," Clarke said. "The strikes are necessary to keep ISIS from regrouping, whether in Syria or the hinterlands of Afghanistan."

Abdul Wahab Assi, a researcher at the Istanbul-based Jusoor Center for Studies, said the U.S. strikes in the Syrian Desert carried a political message, as well.

"It sent a message to Russia, which ostensibly operates against IS in that particular area, that it's not doing enough" to counter IS activities in Syria, he told Syria TV, a news channel affiliated with the Syrian opposition.

Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced the killing of the IS leader in Iraq and eight other senior IS commanders in a joint operation by U.S. and Iraqi forces.

CENTCOM said in its Wednesday statement that alongside its allies and partners in the region, it "will continue to aggressively degrade ISIS operational capabilities to ensure its enduring defeat."

This story originated in VOA's Kurdish Service.

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I read three articles about presidential election on  Bucks County Herald October 24, 2024. Barbara gave me the newspaper.

1) Courting Bucks Voters

Trump chats with reporters, mans Feasterville McDonalds drive-thru window. written by Peg Quann.

Former President Donald Trump worked the drive-thru lane at the McDonalds on East Street Road in Feasterville as thousands of his supporters lined the busy highway in Lower Southampton Sunday to greet him.

Trump talked to the reporters through the window about a variety of topics.

The formal president said he loved Pennsylvania. Trump told the reporters the crowd was  happy but they want hope. Were going to make it fact, he said.

2) Courting Bucks Voters

 At Washington Crossing, Harris challenges Republicans to  put country first written by Freda R. Savana

Vice President Kamala Harris brought her battle for the presidency to the picturesque Washington Crossing Historic Park Oct.16, noting its where Gen. George Washington crossed the Delaware River in a turning point of the Revolutionary War.

Endorsed by more than 100 prominent Republicans who have dropped their support for their partys nominee Donald Trump, Harris stressed the need to elect a president who will uphold  their sacred oath to the Constitution.

The Constitution laid the foundation of our democracy, said Harris.

Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger called on voters to put country over party.

 Let us together stand up for the rule of law, for our democratic ideals and the Constitution of the United States said Harris.

3) Why I believe Kamala Harris is the best choice written by Jim Greenwood.

I had the honor to serve Bucks County in Pennsylvania House and senate and United States Congress for 24 years. I am a lifelong Republican.

This year I am supporting Kamala Harris.

It is alarming to see thousands of refugees from Central America and other countries crossing our southern border without permission. We want to maintain our history of welcoming refugees looking for freedom and opportunity. Our diverse population has been central to our strength as a nation. But we also believe in lawful and orderly immigration.

To solve the problem, Congress must act. Conservative Republican Senator James Lankford collaborated with Democrats and Independents to craft a bipartisan border security bill that would massively increase the number of new enforcement tools.

Before Congress could pass this toughest-ever bipartisan legislation, Trump persuaded Republican Congressional leaders to kill it. Rather than solve the crisis, he chose to prolong it, so he could exploit the chaos for his election campaign. Kamala Harris has pledged to support the bill and sign it as president.

According to the Wall Street Journal, 68% of surveyed economists said prices would rise faster under Trump due to his plans to improve tariffs.

For me, the choice is clear.

Harris support a strong bipartisan immigration bill, and her economic plans are better for the economy

I am confident that Republicans in Congress will be able to work with her.

4Election day is coming and I don't know who will win in the end. But I think Let us together stand up for the rule of law, for our democratic ideas and the Constitution of the United States. is right. Country over party.

I hope China will also move towards democracy and the rule of law.
EU warns of China aggression against Taiwan, calls for Indo-Pacific contingency

ROC Central News Agency

11/01/2024 05:39 PM

Taipei, Nov. 1 (CNA) The European Union (EU) has warned of the "staggering" impact on its member states of potential Chinese aggression against Taiwan, calling for the bloc to adopt "a major contingency in the Indo-Pacific."

A report issued on Wednesday by the European Commission, the EU's executive body, noted Beijing's "long-held ambitions to take over Taiwan" and warned that the "potential economic and security impact of Chinese aggression against Taiwan or in the South China Sea would be staggering for Europe and the world."

The report raised concerns over Beijing's gray-zone tactics -- coercive actions that stop short of war -- through measures such as seizing Taiwan's outlying islands, restricting maritime traffic to and from the country under the guise of shipment inspections, or launching a full blockade of Taiwan.

These scenarios may cause "severe disruption in [the EU's] critical sectors," given the bloc's deep economic ties with China and dependency on Taiwan's supply of advanced semiconductors, the report said.

Beyond its agenda on Taiwan, the report continued, China's "coercive foreign and security policies" toward its neighboring countries, including India, the Philippines and Vietnam, are "undermining regional stability."

The report then called on the EU to "strive to prepare for, but also to prevent, a major contingency in the Indo-Pacific" by working closely with its partners in the region.

The report also encouraged cooperation between the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on coordinating actions and exchanging information in light of China's continued assistance to Russia in its war against Ukraine and the strategic rivalry between Beijing and Washington.

"The security and prosperity of the Euro-Atlantic region are closely interconnected with those of the Indo-Pacific," said the report authored by former Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, who currently serves as a special adviser to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

The report, "Safer Together: Strengthening Europe's Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness," assesses the geopolitical challenges facing the EU and presents recommendations to decision-makers in all the bloc's institutions and member states for the period 2024-2029.

In a press release issued on Friday, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said it sincerely welcomed the EU's emphasis on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and across the Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan will continue to work with the EU and other like-minded democratic partners to defend the rule-based international order and contribute to regional and global stability, MOFA added.

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/ASG

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Turkiye Hopes to Launch International Gas Hub in 2025

Sputnik News

20241101

ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - Turkiye hopes to launch an international gas hub in 2025 in cooperation with Russia's Gazprom, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Friday.

"We have created a strong infrastructure to launch operation of a trading platform within the Istanbul Financial Center in 2025 under the Botas-Gazprom partnership," Bayraktar told Turkish newspaper Milliyet.

The minister said that gas prices would be determined under the Istanbul gas index.

Turkiye also hopes to get a discount, which means Turkiye will get a special price when the existing contract terminates in 2025, the minister added. In his opinion, even if Ukraine does not extend the contract on Russian gas transit, there will be no problems with the security of supplies, but there could be an increase in gas prices.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia's Kazan that both countries are continuing to work on the creation of a gas hub, and that Russia remains a reliable supplier of gas to Turkiye.

Turkiye expects that a gas hub will help it become a strategic center for gas pricing in the region and also increase gas imports from 50 billion cubic meters to 70-80 billion cubic meters.

The gas hub was first discussed in October 2022. At the time, Putin suggested redirecting gas transit from the blast-damaged Nord Stream pipelines to Turkiye. In July, Bayraktar said that Turkiye was close to realizing the gas hub project and had the necessary infrastructure in place.

 Sputnik

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Russia, Turkiye to Benefit If Moscow's Participation in Sinop Nuclear Plant Agreed on - Lavrov

Sputnik News

20241101

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow believes that if it is possible to agree on the parameters of Russia's participation in the construction of the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant in Turkiye, both countries will benefit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"The Turkish authorities have to decide on what foundation and with whose assistance the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant's construction project will be implemented. If we manage to agree on the parameters of Russia's participation, then we believe that both parties will benefit from this. We have a successful example of cooperation: the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant," Lavrov said in an interview with a Turkish newspaper as quoted by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The United States is trying to hinder trade between Russia and Turkiye, and the prospects for cooperation between Moscow and Ankara depend on whether mutually acceptable solutions are found soon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"The United States is trying to restrict the opportunities of our foreign partners interested in trade with Russia. Unfortunately, Turkiye is no exception. The prospects for our practical cooperation depend on whether experts will be able to find mutually acceptable solutions in the near future," Lavrov said.

 Sputnik

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Canada concludes the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula

Global Affairs Canada

News release

November 1, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday concluded the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula, which she co-hosted in Montreal with Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha and Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

At the conference, the ministers announced the Montreal Pledge concrete steps to help return prisoners of war, unlawfully detained civilians and deported children, including support as these people reintegrate into their daily lives.

Minister Joly hosted foreign ministers and high-level representatives from more than 70 countries and international organizations to advance Ukraine's 10-Point peace formula, identify diplomatic approaches to address the human dimension of the war and strengthen the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. The minister chaired a session on identifying strategies to increase the exchange of information on the locations, health statuses and legal statuses of prisoners of war, unlawfully detained civilians and deported children.

The harrowing survivor testimonies  from a detained Ukrainian military medic, the wife of an imprisoned journalist and a former prisoner of war  shared during the conference served as powerful reminders of the human cost of Russia's war against Ukraine.

As co-chair of Working Group 4 and leader of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, Minister Joly thanked Qatar, South Africa and the Holy Sea for their offer to serve as intermediaries to support and negotiate the return of children. She also thanked the United Arab Emirates for the role they are continuing to play on mediating the exchanges of prisoners of war. Finally, she expressed her appreciation to Norway, Lithuania and Qatar, who have offered to provide a supportive environment for returning Ukrainians returning home.

During the conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the diverse group of states that came together to find diplomatic solutions and concrete actions to protect Ukrainian people.

Quotes

"Canada is taking action to help return prisoners of war, unlawfully detained civilians and deported children and to strengthen existing humanitarian support. I am proud to announce the Montreal Pledge to bolster Canada's support for Ukraine in its efforts for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace." - Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada

Quick facts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula at the G20 summit in November 2022.

In August 2023, 10 working groups were established, each dedicated to a specific pillar of the formula.

Canada, Norway and Ukraine are co-chairs of the Kyiv-based Working Group 4, which focuses on the return of prisoners of war, detained civilians and unlawfully transferred and deported children.

Canada and Ukraine co-lead the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. Launched by Minister Joly in Kyiv in February 2024, this coalition has expanded to include a diverse group of 40 states from across the globe.

In June 2024, Ukraine and Switzerland hosted the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, a diplomatic initiative to garner international support for Ukraine's peace formula. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the summit, chaired a break-out session on the human dimension of the war in Ukraine and announced that Canada would host the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula.

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November 1, 2024

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov today to discuss battlefield dynamics and U.S. support for Ukraine. Secretary Austin provided an update on U.S. security assistance, noting the scale and speed of our ongoing efforts. The leaders also noted the importance of further strengthening Ukraine's industrial base to meet its defense needs.

The two leaders pledged to remain in close contact.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3954308/

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Norway to provide additional NOK 80 million to help forcibly deported Ukrainians

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 01/11/2024

According to estimates, roughly 40 000 people have gone missing in Ukraine. UNICEF reports indicate that thousands of children have been forcibly deported since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This week, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide co-hosted the Ministerial Conference on the Humanitarian Dimension of Ukraine's Peace Formula in Canada, with a focus on the release and return of deported children, civilian prisoners and prisoners of war. During the conference, Norway announced that it will provide an additional NOK 80 million in support to the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UNICEF to trace missing persons, deported children, civilian prisoners and prisoners of war.

'The protection of children is a key component of Norwegian humanitarian policy and is given high priority in Norway's support to Ukraine. It is very distressing that thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported since Russia started the war against Ukraine. UNICEF plays a key role in efforts to reintegrate the children who come home, and the ICRC has a unique mandate related to ensuring the humane treatment of prisoners of war and tracing missing persons,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

'We are deeply concerned about the ramifications of Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, particularly for civilians and children who are by definition innocent bystanders. The efforts of the ICRC and UNICEF to protect vulnerable people affected by the war are invaluable. This is why we are now increasing our support for these organisations' work in Ukraine,' said Mr Eide.

Norway, Canada and Ukraine together took the initiative to organise the Ministerial Conference, which highlights the human dimension of President Zelensky's Ukraine Peace Formula. The aim of the conference is to develop a concrete plan for all stages in connection with registering, assisting and obtaining the release of arbitrarily imprisoned civilians, including children and prisoners of war from Ukraine.

'It is one of Norway's key priorities to promote respect for international humanitarian law. Ensuring respect for international humanitarian law is crucial to prevent war crimes and reduce the suffering of innocent people, as well as to make sure that humanitarian aid reaches those who need it most. We are very concerned that Russia is giving the ICRC little or no access to Russian-controlled areas. This makes it virtually impossible for the ICRC to monitor Russia's compliance with international humanitarian law,' said Mr Eide.

During his recent trip to Kyiv, the Foreign Minister visited a centre for forcibly deported children who have been returned to Ukraine. Mr Eide had the opportunity to meet with several Ukrainian organisations to learn more about how Norway can help to accelerate the efforts to release and return deported children, civilian prisoners and prisoners of war. These centres are charged with safeguarding the children's best interests upon their return in order to prevent further trauma. It is essential to have a good system in place to care for the children who have been returned. Ukrainian civil society organisations play a vital role in this work.

Norway has provided almost NOK 8 billion in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale attack in February 2022. This includes some NOK 2.55 billion provided in 2024. The additional support to the ICRC and UNICEF is part of the overall budget framework. Norway's humanitarian support provided under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.

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Harris Or Trump: What Will It Mean For Ukraine?

By Todd Prince November 01, 2024

WASHINGTON -- When Americans vote for president on November 5, their decision will reverberate around the world. Ukraine, whose defense against Russia is heavily dependent on U.S. military, financial, and diplomatic support, may feel the effects more than any other foreign country.

Under outgoing President Joe Biden, the United States has committed more than $56 billion to Ukraine in security assistance alone since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. It has allocated tens of billions more in financial and humanitarian aid.

"The most significant factor that's going to be driving the outcome of the war, I think, and certainly what happens in the next few months, is the U.S. election," said Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King's College London.

The result of the vote "will determine, in effect, whether Ukraine continues to be supported by the United States, or the extent to which it's supported by the United States," Deyermond told RFE/RL.

Republican former President Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris have expressed vastly different positions on backing for Ukraine.

Harris has said she would continue Biden's policy of aiding Ukraine, clearly expressing the desire to see Russia defeated.

Trump has questioned U.S. support for Ukraine, saying that Europe should be carrying the bulk of the burden in backing Kyiv against the Russian invasion, and has left NATO's future in doubt. He has declined to comment on whether he wants Ukraine to win and has asserted repeatedly that if he is elected, he will end the war very quickly -- even before he takes office in January.

"While we could expect a Harris White House to continue to act in much the same way, perhaps, as the Biden White House, certainly not a dramatic turn away from Ukraine, Donald Trump has made it very clear that he wants to see an end to the war quickly," Deyermond said.

"And we know that one of his long-term foreign policy priorities, one of the few consistent foreign policy positions he's held since before he was elected in 2016, was, as he puts it, getting along with Russia," she said. "So he would want to see the war ended quickly, and on Russia's terms, I think."

Trump has said Putin's conditions for peace talks are "not acceptable," argues that he was tougher on Russia than previous presidents, and claims that Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if had he been in the White House. In 2017, he gave the green light for the United States to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, something his predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama, had refused to do because of concerns about provoking Moscow.

'No More'

In April, Trump said he would be open to something like the lend-lease program the United States launched to help allies during World War II as an alternative to aid grants.

Trump has said little about how he would seek to engineer an end to Russia's war against Ukraine.

In an interview with Fox News in July 2023, he indicated he would try to push Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate by threatening to open the aid spigots for Ukraine. Conversely, he said he would pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy by threatening to withhold aid.

"I would tell Zelenskiy: 'No more. You got to make a deal.' I would tell Putin: 'If you don't make a deal, we're going to give [Zelenskiy] a lot. We're going to [give Ukraine] more than they ever got if we have to,'" Trump said. "I will have the deal done in one day. One day."

Ukrainians fear that any push for a quick peace agreement would play into Russia's hands, leaving about one-fifth of their country under Moscow's control while also letting Putin use a cessation of hostilities as a chance to build up its forces for a future attack.

Words And Actions

In any case, exactly what the winner will do once in power is uncertain, and there are a number of variables that could affect the next president's actions.

Zelenskiy's government has been frustrated with the Biden administration, saying U.S. military aid is coming too slowly and with too many restrictions. Despite persistent entreaties, Biden has not permitted Ukraine to use U.S. long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russia.

Ukraine is still short of air defenses and ammunition, enabling Russia to pound its cities and critical infrastructure from the skies and advance deeper into the Donetsk region. This month, Russia has made its largest territorial gains since March 2022, the month after the full-scale invasion.

Harris hasn't made clear if she would be more aggressive with aid deliveries and loosen the limitations, one of the points in the "victory plan" that Zelenskiy has been presenting to Western leaders whose reception has been lukewarm. She hasn't commented on the other key point in the plan -- a swift invitation for Ukraine to join NATO.

One factor in how a Trump presidency would affect Ukraine and the Russian invasion would be the makeup of his cabinet.

The Trump campaign is reportedly considering former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for the position of defense secretary and former national-security adviser Robert O'Brien for secretary of state. Both have criticized the Biden administration for restricting the use of U.S. weapons and called for more sanctions on Russia.

In an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal in July, Pompeo called for creating a $500 billion lend-lease program to help the country defend itself. He also called for giving Ukraine NATO membership, something O'Brien said this week "is too provocative at this point."

'The Year Of Diplomacy'

Yet another variable: Congress. While presidents have greater sway over foreign policy, the legislature holds the nation's purse strings and could force the White House to adjust its stance on the issue of military and financial support for Ukraine.

Control of the House and Senate could flip in the November 5 election, with the Democrats gaining a majority of seats in the lower chamber and the Republicans in the upper chamber.

That would be a more advantageous situation for Ukraine, as a Republican-controlled Senate would be likely to support aid to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine negotiations in 2017-19, told RFE/RL last month. He said a lend-lease program would be easier to get through Congress.

"I think making the case for spending real U.S. taxpayer money for Ukraine is harder and harder, but letting them borrow as much as they need in order to buy U.S. weapons and fight the war, that should not be controversial at all, and I think should get massive bipartisan support," he said.

But Charles Kupchan, an analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations, told RFE/RL that the United States would likely nudge Ukraine toward talks regardless of who wins the election, in part because the war is straining Western resources.

"I would expect 2025 to be the year of diplomacy," Kupchan said. "I don't believe that where we are today is sustainable."

At the same time, he said cutting off aid to Ukraine was not the way to get the two sides to the negotiating table.

"That's an invitation to Putin to keep coming," Kupchan said.

Steve Gutterman contributed to this report

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-election-ukraine-aid-war- russia/33181875.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Slovakia Ready To Join Chinese-Brazilian Peace Plan Already Rejected By Ukraine

By RFE/RL November 01, 2024

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Bratislava is ready to join a proposal promoted by Brazil and China to resolve the war in Ukraine.

Fico met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 1 in Beijing and said afterward that China's position on the war in Ukraine "is fair, objective, and constructive."

China and Brazil in August jointly published a "six-point consensus" meant to bring about a lasting political solution to the war that Russia launched in February 2022. The plan calls for cooling down the fighting and a recognition that dialogue and negotiations are the only way to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called the proposal "destructive" and "mostly pro-Russian" as it calls for a compromise from Ukraine and was created without input from Kyiv.

He rejected it in an interview in September with Brazilian media, saying it has nothing to do with justice or with values and fails to take into account Ukraine's position and the issue of territorial integrity.

Despite Zelenskiy's rejection of the plan, Fico said Slovakia is willing to join other countries that China says have positively received it "and work with China to contribute to promoting a political solution to the crisis," according to a Chinese government statement.

Fico, who has criticized EU policies on Ukraine and has opposed sanctions on Russia, said Slovakia is "very keen on China's diplomatic efforts dedicated to regulating the conflict in Ukraine and have exchanged our attitudes on this fundamental issue."

China could play a "decisive role" regarding the Ukraine conflict, he added on Facebook.

China has been criticized by Western countries for maintaining friendly ties with Russia and for providing dual-use equipment such as electronics needed for weapons production.

Beijing has said that the plan it developed with Brazil, which it calls Friends Of Peace, has received a "positive response" from more than 110 countries.

Fico landed in Beijing on October 31 for a state visit set to end on November 5.

Slovakia and China announced on November 1 that the two countries had signed a strategic partnership agreement and granted Slovak citizens 15-day visa-free entry to China.

Xi said China would strengthen bilateral cooperation with Slovakia in areas such as new energy, transport and logistics, and infrastructure construction, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/slovakia-china-fico-xi- ukraine-war-proposal-zelenskiy-russia/33183657.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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North Korea Says It Will Back Russia Until 'Victory' In Ukraine

By RFE/RL November 01, 2024

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said Pyongyang will stand by Russia until "victory" in Ukraine as Washington predicted North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk region will enter the fight against Kyiv in the coming days.

At a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov after arriving in Moscow on November 1, Choe hailed the "very close ties" between the armed and special services of the two countries, and "we will always stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day."

After weeks of intelligence reports warning that thousands of North Korean troops were heading to Russia, confirmation that Pyongyang's soldiers are not only on Russian soil but have already been deployed in a western region bordering Ukraine have raised fears of a potential escalation in the war, triggered by Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.

Moscow and Pyongyang have trumpeted their increased defense cooperation since the launch of the invasion, but the Kremlin has neither denied nor directly confirmed the presence of North Korean troops on its soil.

NATO, however, confirmed on October 28 that North Korean troops had been deployed in the country's western Kursk region, where Russian forces are trying to beat back a Ukrainian incursion.

The military alliance's chief, Mark Rutte, said the deployment marked "a significant escalation" of North Korea's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, a threat to global security, a violation of international law, and a sign of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "growing desperation."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on October 31 that while Washington believes North Korean troops have yet deploy into combat against Ukrainian forces, "we would expect that to happen in the coming days."

Blinken reiterated that the troops -- some 8,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to now be in the Kursk region -- would become "legitimate military targets" if they are deployed.

Blinken's comments came the same day that the United States, South Korea, and Japan released a joint statement condemning an ICBM test-launch by Pyongyang as a "flagrant violation" of numerous UN Security Council resolutions.

The timing of the case coincides with a period of strained U.S.-Russia relations, exacerbated by Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions aimed at weakening Moscow's position.

Prior to his meeting with Choe, Lavrov told the Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet that "Russophobia" from the U.S. administration had brought Russia and the United States to "the brink of direct military conflict."

Choe said in Moscow that the situation on the Korean Peninsula could become "explosive" at any moment and therefore North Korea needed to strengthen its nuclear arsenal and readiness to deliver a retaliatory nuclear strike if necessary.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/north-korea-russia-troops-victory- ukraine/33183286.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Policeman Killed, 30 Wounded In Fresh Strike On Kharkiv

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service November 01, 2024

A Russian attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv hit a police station, killing a policeman and wounding more than two dozen other people, the head of Ukraine's National Police said on November 1.

"Today, the Russian enemy targeted a police station in the center of Kharkiv with 2 missiles, killing a police officer and wounding 26 other police officers and 4 civilians," Ivan Vygivskiy, the head of Ukraine's National Police, wrote on Facebook.

Dmytro Chubenko, spokesman of the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office, said Russian troops attacked earlier on November 1 with two ballistic missiles, badly damaging two private houses and injuring two people.

The prosecutor's office said the strike was carried out from the territory of a settlement in the Belgorod region of Russia.

Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said earlier that a 75-year-old man was killed and three people were wounded by Russian shelling in the town of Derhachi, just north of Kharkiv city.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, located only about 35 kilometers from the Russian border, has been struck regularly by Russian drones and missiles recently.

Russian shelling and drone strikes also killed one person and wounded 13 others, and several houses and a school were destroyed in the southern region of Kherson, where Russian forces shelled 19 settlements, towns, and cities over the past 24 hours, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on November 1.

Russian forces have been regularly attacking the part of the Kherson region that was recaptured by Ukrainian forces, bombarding it from across the Dnieper River, where they retreated in November 2022 in the face of the Ukrainian advance.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on November 1 took to social media to thank Ukrainians and especially emergency workers and first responders for their unity and spirit of sacrifice.

"After Russian strikes and shelling, and amid the emergency and critical situations the enemy creates against our country, our people can always count on help, no matter the circumstances," Zelenskiy wrote on X.

"I am grateful to each and every one of you who arrive at the scene after Russian attacks in all our regions, clear the rubble, extinguish fires, provide first aid, and -- above all -- ensure the rescue of our people.

"The State Emergency Service, police, medical professionals, volunteers, and everyone involved in saving lives -- Ukraine is proud of you," Zelenskiy wrote.

In the Black Sea port of Odesa, a Russian missile struck a fire station, wounding two firefighters, regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force said its defenses shot down 31 Russian drones and one missile over nine regions -- Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsya, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskiy, Sumy, Chernihiv and Poltava.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said its defenses shot down 83 Ukrainian drones over six regions early on November 1.

"36 drones were shot down over the Kursk region, 20 over the Bryansk region, 12 over Crimea, eight over the Voronezh region, four over the Oryol region, and three over the Belgorod region," the ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

Separately, Aleksandr Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk, said one person was wounded when a Ukrainian drone crashed into an apartment building in the city of Bryansk.

In the Stavropol region, a drone fell on an oil depot in the city of Svetlograd, regional Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said on Telegram.

After suffering numerous attacks on its civilian and energy infrastructure, Ukraine has in recent months started striking Russian targets -- mainly fuel and oil depots used by the military -- with its own drones.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia- air-strikes/33182966.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (1 November 2024)

01.11.2024

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.

The units of the Sever Group of Forces continued offensive actions and inflicted losses on formations of 22nd, 41st, 115th mechanised brigades, the 17th Tank Brigade, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, the 36th Marine Brigade, 103rd, 112th, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Daryino, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, and Plyokhovo.



The Group's units repelled six enemy counter-attacks in the direction of Novoivanovka and Plyokhovo. The AFU losses were up to 50 troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, and one motor vehicles. One AFU serviceman surrendered.



Army Aviation and artillery inflicted fire damage on clusters of manpower and hardware of 21st, 41st, 47th, and 61st mechanised brigades, the 17th Tank Brigade, 80th, 82nd, and 95th air assault brigades, the 36th Marine Brigade as well as the 1st Special Operations Brigade, 112th, 129th territorial defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the 17th National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Guyevo, Daryino, Pervy Knyazhy, Kolmakov, Kruglenkoye, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Martynovka, Melovoy, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Novy Put, Plyokhovo, Pravda, Sverdlikovo, Sudzha and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye.



Operational-Tactical Aviation and Missile Troops delivered strikes at concentration area in Sumy region and reserves of 21st, 41st, 61st, 115th mechanised brigades, the 17th Tank Brigade, the 95th Air Assault Brigade, and the 129th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU near Alekseyevka, Basovka, Belovody, Vodolagi, Katerinovka, Miropolye, Pavlovka and Khoten.

The AFU losses were more than 250 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles as well as six artillery guns, including one French-made Caesar self-propelled artillery system, one mortar, one anti-aircraft missile system, and nine motor vehicles. One AFU serviceman surrendered.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses were more than 28,850 troops, 180 tanks, 101 infantry fighting vehicles, 106 armoured personnel carriers, 1,062 armoured fighting vehicles, 777 motor vehicles, 254 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, ten anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 58 EW stations, 12 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 25 of engineering and other materiel, 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russian Defence Minister congratulates 40th Separate Marine Brigade on liberation of Shakhtyorskoye and Novoukrainka (Donetsk People's Republic

01.11.2024

Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov congratulated the command and military personnel of the 40th Separate Marine Brigade on the liberation of Shakhtyorskoye and Novoukrainka (Donetsk People's Republic).

'This victory continues the heroic way of the unit and will always remain a symbol of courage and resilience for the next generation of the defenders of the Fatherland. In fierce battles with the enemy, marines showed courage and bravery. They are decisively defeating the enemy on the Donetsk land,' said the Russian Defence Minister.

More than 1,000 servicemen have been awarded state honours for their heroism, courage and bravery, and three of them have received the honorary title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

Andrei Belousov thanked the servicemen of the formation for successful performance of combat tasks and loyalty to the military oath and expressed confidence that the soldiers will continue to serve Russia with honour and ensure its security.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry

01.11.2024

Last night, the Russian Armed Forces have foiled the Kiev regime's attempts to launch terrorist attacks using fixed-wing UAVs against the facilities in the Russian Federation.

Eighty-three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted and shot down by alerted air defence systems. Russia's alerted air defence systems shot down and intercepted 36 UAVs over Kursk region, 20 UAVs over Bryansk region, 12 UAVs over Republic of Crimea, eight UAVs over Voronezh region, four UAVs over Oryol region, and three UAVs over Belgorod region.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Ukraine Loses Over 5,390 Soldiers in Battle With Russian Forces in Past Week - MoD

Sputnik News

20241101

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Battlegroup Yug has eliminated more than 5,390 Ukrainian servicepeople over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"The enemy's losses amounted to over 5,390 servicepeople, two tanks, including a German-made Leopard tank, two US-made M113 armored personnel carriers made, eight other combat armored vehicles and 51 automobiles," the ministry said, adding that the southern group has repelled 10 counterattacks.

Russia's Battlegroup Zapad repelled 35 counterattacks, and Kiev has lost over 3,620 soldiers, while Battlegroup Tsentr has repelled 72 counterattacks and eliminated up to 3,840 Ukrainian troops, the ministry said.

In battles with Battlegroup Sever, Kiev has lost over 2,810 soldiers, the ministry said, adding that a total of 54 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered to the Russian armed forces.

Additionally, the Russian forces have taken control of the village of Leonidovka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), as well as the settlements of Novoukrainka and Shakhterskoye in the DPR.

 Sputnik

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North Korea Confident in Russia's Victory in Ukraine Conflict - Foreign Minister

Sputnik News

20241101

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Pyongyang is confident in Russia's victory in the conflict in Ukraine and will always stand next to its Russian comrades, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said on Friday.

"We have no doubt that under the wise leadership of the respected Russian president, Vladimir Putin, the Russian army and people will certainly achieve a great victory in their sacred struggle to protect their sovereign rights and defend the security of their state. We once again assure you that until the victorious day we will always stand firmly next to our Russian comrades," the minister said at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula is very dangerous and unstable due to the actions of the US and its allies, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said.

"Now the situation and security of our country due to the machinations of the United States and its satellites, all this is in a very dangerous and unstable state ... the military alliance of the United States and South Korea is turning into a military alliance with a nuclear component. This shows that the situation on the Korean Peninsula can become explosive at any moment. This is very dangerous for the security of the Korean Peninsula and for the Northeast Asian region as a whole.," the minister said.

Pyongyang will continue to improve its readiness for a nuclear retaliatory strike, Choe Son Hui said.

"Yesterday, our esteemed Chairman of State Affairs once again clearly noted that the current situation, as well as future threats and challenges, require more than ever to strengthen our modern strategic offensive nuclear weapons, as well as improve our readiness for a nuclear response, and I assure you once again that our country will not change course of strengthening its nuclear forces in any case," Choe Son Hui said.

Close contacts have been established between Russian and North Korean military and security services, which allows the two countries to handle vital security issues, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"Very close cooperation has been established between military and security services of the two countries. This also allows us to effectively address important issues related to the safety of our and your citizens," Lavrov said.

 Sputnik

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Air Defense Shoots Down 83 Ukrainian Drones Over Russian Regions Last Night - MoD

Sputnik News

20241101

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems destroyed 83 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over the Kursk, Voronezh, Bryansk, Oryol and Belgorod Regions, as well as over Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"The air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 83 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles; 36 UAVs were shot down over the territory of the Kursk Region, 20 over the territory of the Bryansk Region, 12 over the territory of the Republic of Crimea, eight over the territory of the Voronezh Region, four over the territory of the Oryol Region and three over the territory of the Belgorod Region," the ministry said.

Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into Russia almost daily since it launched its counteroffensive in early June 2023. The United Nations said in August last year, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure.

 Sputnik

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United States Announces Significant New Military Assistance for Ukraine

US Department of State

Press Statement

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

November 1, 2024

The United States is providing another significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment to our Ukrainian partners as they defend against Russia's ongoing attacks. This additional assistance, provided under previously exercised Presidential Drawdown Authority from Department of Defense stocks, is valued at $425 million. It includes Stinger missiles; air-to-ground munitions; additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) equipment and munitions; Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers; small arms and ammunition; medical equipment; grenades and training equipment; demolitions equipment and munitions; and spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.

This latest package demonstrates the United States' commitment to surge security assistance to Ukraine that Congress has authorized. President Biden has been clear that we will utilize as much of the authority that Congress has authorized in support of Ukraine as possible before he leaves office. We will continue to surge security assistance for Ukraine and provide Ukraine the support it needs to succeed on the battlefield and prevail in its defense against Russia's aggression.

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First Thousands of North Korean Soldiers Are Not Far from Ukraine's Border - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

1 November 2024 - 22:38

North Korea has tested a new ballistic missile. This occurred the day before. Record flight time and sufficient altitude. Yet the world is just watching. Watching as this threat grows.

North Korea has learned to make better artillery. This has already happened, thanks to cooperation with Moscow. It has also learned to make better missiles - this is already evident. Now, sadly, it will learn modern warfare. The first thousands of North Korean soldiers are not far from Ukraine's border. Ukrainians will be forced to defend themselves against them. And the world will be watching again.

We have repeatedly said that such threats should not be given the time to grow. Russia should not be allowed to seek and find allies. No enemy of the free world should be given the time to grow.

What connects Pyongyang and Moscow? Only their ambition for warfare.

Now, we see every site where Russia is accumulating these North Korean soldiers on its territory - all their camps. We could strike preventively if we had the capability to hit with sufficient range. And it depends on our partners. Yet instead of providing the much-needed long-range capabilities, America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start targeting Ukrainians.

We know all the logistics between Russia and North Korea that help Russian aggression, and these logistics must be blocked. It depends, among other things, on powerful Asian states. It depends on China, which frequently talks about ending the war. Yet remains an observer. And while these words are being spoken, North Korean soldiers are heading to the front.

Everyone in the world who truly wants to prevent this Russian war against Ukraine from expanding and spreading beyond Europe to other regions of the world - everyone must do more than just watch. We must act. Words about the unacceptability of the escalation and expansion of the war must be matched by deeds.

North Korea's involvement in this war in Europe is a threat to the entire world.

A threat that must be stopped.



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Andriy Yermak Meets in Montreal with U.S. Under Secretary of State, Canadian and French Ministers, and Representatives from the Vatican and Switzerland

President of Ukraine

1 November 2024 - 09:02

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held several meetings in Montreal with representatives from the U.S., Canada, France, the Vatican, and Switzerland.

In particular, the Head of the President's Office met with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya.

Andriy Yermak highlighted meetings he had on October 29 in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

"We never tire of beginning with words of gratitude to the President of the United States, the White House Administration, the Department of State, both parties and chambers of Congress, and of course, the American people for their truly remarkable historical support from the very start of the full-scale invasion," he said.

The Head of the Office of the President spoke about the importance of implementing the Victory Plan. During the meeting, they specifically discussed further steps to implement the fourth point of the Peace Formula related to the release of all Ukrainian captives and deportees.

"Today, we are concluding our thematic conferences. Soon, we will be ready to present proposals to be considered at the second Peace Summit," said Andriy Yermak.

He also provided an update on the recent meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and representatives of Ukrainian civil society, after which military and government officials received specific instructions from the President.

In a meeting with the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Andriy Yermak expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his prayers for peace in Ukraine and his calls for the return of Ukrainian captives.

Additionally, they discussed strengthening cooperation and the Vatican's role in the Peace Formula, particularly in supporting Cardinal Matteo Zuppi's mission to bring back abducted Ukrainian children and prisoners.

Additionally, they discussed strengthening cooperation and the Vatican's contribution to the implementation of the Peace Formula, in particular the implementation of Cardinal Matteo Zuppi's mission to return abducted Ukrainian children and captives.

Andriy Yermak thanked Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly for organizing the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula and for her leadership in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. He also noted Canada's crucial support from the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion, including financial, military, and humanitarian assistance.

The parties coordinated their positions in preparation for the second Peace Summit. Ukraine counts on Canada's assistance in engaging as many states as possible.

In a meeting with Gabriel Luchinger, Head of the International Security Division at Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the main topics were cooperation on the Peace Formula, Ukraine's recovery, and humanitarian support for Ukrainians.

Andriy Yermak expressed appreciation to Switzerland for organizing the first Peace Summit and for its participation in the thematic conferences.

During the meeting with France's Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad, they discussed the Victory Plan, the implementation of the Peace Formula, and preparations for the second Peace Summit.

The Head of the Office of the President thanked France for successfully organizing a thematic conference on October 17 in Paris, which focused on the Peace Formula's point on radiation and nuclear safety. France co-leads the corresponding working group.

Andriy Yermak also acknowledged France's significant efforts, alongside Canada and other partners, to return Ukrainian children abducted and deported by Russia.





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Ukraine doubles down on psychological campaign against North Korean troops

By Young Gyo Kim, Andriy Borys November 01, 2024

As North Korean troops prepare to join Russian forces in the war on Ukraine, Kyiv is stepping up a psychological warfare campaign to target the North Korean soldiers, a high-ranking Ukraine official said.

The effort is liable to get a boost from a team of South Korean military observers that Seoul's defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, said this week will be going to Ukraine to watch and analyze the North Korean troops on the battlefield.

Last week, the Ukrainian military intelligence service-run project "I Want to Live" released a Korean-language video message on YouTube and X. The project also posted a Korean-language text message on Telegram.

The messages urged North Korean soldiers to surrender, arguing that they do not have to "meaninglessly die on the land of another country." It also offered to provide food, shelters and medical services.

Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Combating Disinformation under Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, told VOA Ukrainian on Wednesday that "in the future, additional videos featuring North Koreans will be published."

"The North Koreans will undergo training in modern warfare and then be used in actual combat," Kovalenko said. "We (the Center for Combating Disinformation) are actively involved in identifying the individuals who have arrived and the units they are joining, as well as gathering evidence of their presence in Russia, their likely participation in combat against the Ukrainian army, and their presence in temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine."

Influence campaign

Ukraine has been running similar psychological operations toward the Russian soldiers since the beginning of the Russian invasion, U.S. experts said.

"Ukraine has been doing that with the Russians early on in the war," Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, told VOA Korean on the phone Thursday. "They got a lot of Russians to defect, and I suspect they will try to do the same things with the North Koreans."

Bennett added that drones can also be used for sending messages in leaflets and in audio form to North Korean soldiers in the war zone.

David Maxwell, a former U.S. Special Forces colonel who served on the Combined Forces Command of the U.S and South Korea, said this could be "a great opportunity" to learn how to employ psychological tactics on North Korean forces in the time of war.

"Bombing and gunfire doesn't happen 24/7," he told VOA Korean by phone on Wednesday. "Military operations are also characterized by large amounts of boredom and inactivity, where soldiers are waiting for something to happen, and this is the time when loudspeakers and leaflets can really have an effect, because those messages give them something to think about."

Earlier this week, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed in a phone call "to intensify the intelligence and expertise exchange" and "to develop an action strategy and a list of countermeasures," according to a statement released by the Ukrainian presidential office.

Some experts in South Korea said the team of South Korean military observers headed to Ukraine will likely include psychological warfare strategists who can offer advice to the Ukrainian officials.

Cho Han-bum, a senior research fellow at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said psychological warfare could be a real threat to the North Korean army.

"In the case of North Korean soldiers, they now have been mobilized for a war without any justification," he told VOA Korean by phone on Tuesday. "It is hardly likely that they have a strong will or high morale."

South Korea's role

Cho said the South Korean government can help Ukraine develop psychological tactics against North Korean soldiers, since the country "has the know-how of a long-term psychological war with North Korea."

Ban Kil-joo is a senior research professor at Korea University's Ilmin International Relations Institute. He told VOA Korean in a phone interview Tuesday that psychological warfare could help weaken the military cohesiveness between Russia and North Korea.

"The Ukrainians don't know much about North Korea, don't understand the North Korean culture, as we do," Ban said. "We can provide indirect support in a more social sense, rather than military or operational support."

Ban added that it is important for the South Korean team to be "well-integrated with the Ukrainian forces through its supporting role," to achieve the desired political and operational effect of a psychological campaign.

Other experts, however, are not convinced that psychological warfare will be effective to persuade North Korean soldiers to surrender.

Mykola Polishchuk, a Ukrainian author who wrote the book Northern Korea in Simple Words, said Ukraine's counterpropaganda will not work with North Korean soldiers.

"As for North Koreans, they are not particularly politicized," Polishchuk told VOA Ukrainian. "These individuals have little interest in politics."

Robert Rapson, a former charge d'affaires and deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul from 2018 to 2021, told VOA Korean that South Korea should carefully make a decision about whether to be engaged in Ukraine's psychological warfare.

"If the ROK [Republic of Korea] does decide to deploy technical personnel to Ukraine to solely monitor and help advise the Ukraine military on matters related to North Korean troops deployed to the region, they would need to ensure they do not acquire, inadvertently or otherwise, status as combatants," he said. "There are, of course, clear risks to ROK personnel whether they're combatants or not."

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has deepened military ties with North Korea. North Korea has exported dozens of ballistic missiles and more than 18,000 containers of munitions and munitions-related material to Russia since the invasion, according to the U.S. State Department.

In June, the two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement mandating immediate military assistance if either of them is attacked by a third country.

VOA Korean's Kim Hyungjin contributed to this report.

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Hwasong-19 - 1st Flight - 31 Oct 2024

On 31 October 2024 North Korea launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) towards the Sea of Japan, also known in Korea as the East Sea, in what analysts say was the longest flight time yet for any North Korean missile. An official video report Worlds Strongest Missile Test" was released 01 November 2024 about the test of the new North Korean ICBM. The state-controlled Korean Central News Agency identified the missile as the Hwasong-19, dubbing it "the world's strongest strategic missile" the latest version of the ICBM and a "perfected weapon system." Before the release of this video, considerable noise was generated by "file" photos of unrelated hardware.

The question of the "newness" revealed in this test is largely a function of the external dimensions of the missile itself. Some observers suggested This is a much larger missile than the Hwasong-18. The Hwasong-18 used a nine-axle transporter-erector-launcher (TEL), whereas the Hwasong-19 uses an eleven-axle TEL (similar to the liquid propellant Hwasong-17). At a glance, the Khasogn-19 aeroshell [aka nosecone] seemed rather blunter that Hwasong-18, suggesting the possibility of multiple warheads [though none were observed in this firs test]. Estimating the external dimensions of the Hwasong-18 has been a tricky business, given the absence of information on the cameras used to photograph the launches, and the angles from which the photos and video were taken. Some sources report a length of 28 meters, somewhat longer than the 25 meters assessed for the Hwasong-18. But there is no apparent variance between the Hwasong-19 launch and prior Hwasong-18 launches, suggesting that any improvements were minor internal upgrades, not so extensive as to require a new designator.

The Transporter Erector Launcher for the Hwasong-19 is clearly not off-road mobile, and given the parlous state of North Korean roads, is unike to be road mobile in any meangiful sense of the term. It seems suited for "Rollout to Launch" (ROTL), where final steps for launch are taken to prepare a missile once it is rolled out from its horizontal storage tunnel. This process is highly streamlined and designed for rapid readiness, particularly in military applications where response time is crucial. The standard "group photo" of the launch team indicates a head-count much smaller than liquid propellant test flights. ICBMs, such as the Minuteman III in the U.S. or the RS-24 Yars in Russia, are often kept in a high state of readiness, which means their ROTL processes are faster than typical launch vehicles or space-bound rockets.

Chinas land-based nuclear forces primarily consists of ICBMs with different basing modes complimented by several theater-range road-mobile MRBMs and IRBMs. The PRC has approximately 100 ICBMs, including the silo-based CSS-4 Mod 2 (DF5A) and Mod 3 (DF-5B); the solid-fueled, road-mobile CSS-10-class (DF-31, DF-31A and DF-31AG) and CSS-20 (DF-41); and the more limited range roll-out-to-launch CSS-3 (DF4). China has 11 horizontal roll-out-to-launch sites for its CSS-3 ICBM, which has a range of 7,000 km. These sites are currently unoccupied, but six operational CSS-3 units are located in nearby support facilities and could be deployed in a crisis.

The missile flew for 86 minutes - the longest flight time ever recorded by the regime - and approximately 1,000km (620 miles) at a maximum altitude of 7,000km (4,350 miles) before it splashed down off the coast of Hokkaido, outside Japans exclusive economic zone, according to Japans Defense Agency. By comparison, thr first announced test of the Hwasong-17 on 24 March 2022 had an apogee of 6,250 km (3,900 mi) and a horizontal displacement of 1,090 km (680 mi), with a total flight time of 4,050 seconds. Pyongyang last launched an ICBM-class missile on 18 December 2023, when it test-fired a nuclear-capable Hwasong-18 ICBM.

As the ratio of flight time, range, and maximum altitude indicates, this was a launch along a hover trajectory: with maximization of apogee at the expense of range. This is how the DPRK has usually tested its powerful missiles since 2016. Such launches allow all the necessary physical data to be collected and easily recalculated for launching along normal, combat, trajectories.

Pyongyang needs such trajectories for a number of reasons. Firstly, geography: North Korea is not a large enough country to freely test missiles of all classes only over its territory, as in Russia. Therefore, neutral waters have to be used. Secondly, there are several countries near the DPRK, and the Sea of Japan is not a large Pacific Ocean. And the outlines of state territories and waters in the region are not simple. And the fall of a missile in the territorial waters of neighbors is also unacceptable. This also forces shooting at the shortest possible distance so that the missile falls strictly in neutral waters and away from anyone's shores.

Thirdly, there remains the need to control the missile's flight. In the absence of a long-range tracking fleet and a satellite group capable of taking parameters of the product outside the visibility zone from the territory of the DPRK (or the waters of the Sea of Japan) due to the curvature of the earth's surface.

North Korean news agency KCNA said that the launch showcased "the world's strongest strategic missile", which was also tracked by military officials in South Korea and Japan before it splashed into the Sea of Japan. "The new-type ICBM proved before the world that the hegemonic position we have secured in the development and manufacture of nuclear delivery means of the same kind is absolutely irreversible," North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said during launch, according to KCNA. Photos released by KCNA showed a large, multi-stage missile launched from a canister carried by a transporter-erector-launcher vehicle. KCNA said the Hwasong-19 will deploy alongside the Hwasong-18, which was first launched by North Korea last year and was also powered by solid fuel.

Kim Jong Un claiming the regime has secured an "irreversible" means of delivering nuclear weapons. Kim said the launch demonstrated the missile's "matchless strategic nuclear attack capability before the world," according to a report in the official Korean Central News Agency. The new missile appeared to be substantially larger than its predecessor. Some images released by state media showed the "Hwasong-19" mounted on an 11-axle transporter-erector launcher while the Hwasong-18 uses a 9-axle TEL. But some of these images appeared to be of the rather hefty liquid propellant Hwasong-16 and seem to be "file" video. Other images more clearly associate the 11-axle TEL with the Hwasong 19.

Shamim Chowdhury reported for Newsweek that " ... analysts were quick to label the declaration as propaganda, saying that the missile's size renders it impractical for combat.... Despite the performance, experts suggest that the regime has yet to overcome critical technological challenges necessary for developing ICBMs capable of striking the U.S. mainland.... analysts note that both the missile and its launch vehicle appear oversized, raising concerns about their mobility and survivability in wartime scenarios. "When missiles increase in size, the launch vehicles do too, which hampers mobility," explained Lee Sangmin, a researcher at South Korea's Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.... The Hwasong-19 is estimated to be at least 28 meters longsignificantly larger than advanced U.S. and Russian ICBMs, which typically measure less than 20 meters."

Japan's defense officials announced the North fired at least one missile at 7:11 a.m. from an area believed to be close to the capital, Pyongyang. They say the missile is believed to have fallen outside of Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, about 200 kilometers west of the island at 8:37 a.m. They also said the flight lasted one hour and 26 minutes, the longest of the ballistic missiles the North has ever launched. He added it is estimated to have flown about 1,000 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of 7,000 kilometers. Japanese government sources say the missile may have been fired at a lofted trajectory. That means it was fired at a steep, almost-vertical angle. The coast guard officials say they had not received any news about damages related to the launch so far. This would be the 12th time this year the North has launched ballistic missiles, or projectiles believed to be ballistic missiles.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the country's leader Kim Jong Un attended the launch. The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, made the announcement through the country's state-run news agency. He said, "The test-fire is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of informing the rivals, who have intentionally escalated the regional situation, ... of our counteraction will." North Korean state media confirmed that an ICBM was launched to inform rivals of the countrys powerful capabilities, while Japans Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said the test could possibly mark a new kind of ICBM missile. Test launching long-range missiles is an important part of North Koreas military development process as leader Kim Jong Un acquires a vast arsenal of missiles and nuclear weapons that analysts say are capable of one day reaching targets as far as Japan and the US.

Kim Jong-un's prompt comment on the weapons test is also seen as a rare move. A professor at Dongguk University noted "It is very unusual for the North Korean state media to report the ICBM launch so quickly. I think the reason probably lies in their confidence in its success." The North usually sends out messages a day after it tests missiles but in a surprise move, Kim Jong-un delivered a message just five hours after the launch. Likewise, the North appears to have embedded several strategic aims behind its latest missile launch, amid heightened security tensions in the Middle East and on the Korean Peninsula. The KCNA also quoted a defense ministry spokesman as saying the test, conducted on Kims orders, set a record for strategic missile capabilities and demonstrated the modernity and reliability of the Norths world-leading strategic deterrence forces.

Japan's Defense Minister Nakatani Gen said: "The missile launched this time is believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile. But the ministry is continuing to analyze details, including whether it was a new type of ballistic missile."

South Korea's defense ministry said that North Korea might have launched a new type of long-range solid fuel ballistic missile from a large mobile launcher with 12 wheels on each side. The launcher was first revealed in September when North Korea's state-run media released photos of it. South Korea's initial analysis has shown that the missile is presumed to be a new solid-fuel ICBM. The South Korean military said North Korea may have fired a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), using the recently unveiled 12-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL). At a press briefing, Joint Chiefs of Staff(JCS) spokesperson Lee Sung-joon shared the early-stage assessment, adding that further analysis is necessary to determine whether the missile is an improved version of the existing Hwasong-18 or a completely new model. The spokesperson said Pyongyang may be aiming to develop the capabilities to load a heavier warhead and strike any part of the United States. When asked about the Norths intentions with the latest test, the spokesperson said the military views it as part of the regimes strategy to gain leverage ahead of next weeks U.S. presidential election.

"The missile could fly a longer distance than existing ICBMs if it were to be launched at a normal angle. In that sense, it can be seen as an even bigger threat." Professor Kim explained that such a launch could put the entire U.S. within striking range. The provocation was anticipated by many,.. as the U.S. is approaching its presidential election next week. However, another expert said there's more behind Pyongyang's motives. "The focus on this provocation was more on showing that North Korea's maintaining its defense posture even after the dispatch of troops to Russia, rather than the U.S. presidential election. It's showing that it has sufficient nuclear power to maintain deterrence despite the dispatch of troops."

A retired vice admiral of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force says Russian technical assistance to North Korea may have helped the country upgrade its missile technology. North Korea's state-media announced it had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday. Its flight reached the highest altitude and lasted the longest of all the ballistic missiles the North has ever launched. Ito Toshiyuki, now professor at Toranomon Graduate School of Kanazawa Institute of Technology, said that while the propellant force of the first stage is believed to be unchanged, North Korea "may have used new technology to upgrade the missile's second and third stages which are used to add propellant force to the missile after it travels out of the atmosphere".

Ito inferred that North Korea "may have acquired new technology from Russia and that it may have launched the missile to test such technology". He said it will become possible to determine whether the missile was a Hwasong-18, its upgraded type, or a completely new missile, once North Korea reveals images showing the object ascending into the sky.

An NHK camera on Hokkaido's Okushiri Island caught a footage of white objects appearing to fall over the Sea of Japan west of the island at about the same time when the missile is believed to have fallen. Ito said the objects looked bright because they were burning with the heat generated as they were falling. He added that the first object is the missile's warhead and the following one could be the third stage. As they were no other visible warheads in flames at the same time, Ito concluded it is unlikely the missile had multiple warheads.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemned the next launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea on October 31, 2024. "This is another irresponsible provocation that undermines peace and stability both on the Korean Peninsula and in the world as a whole. North Korea, which provides Russia not only with artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles, but also sends its military units to participate in the war against Ukraine, continues to deliberately destabilize the situation," the ministry said in a statement.

According to Ukrainian diplomats, the test of the missile, which reached the maximum height compared to previous launches, indicates the further advancement of the North Korean missile program. "On this background, the deepening of military cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK is of particular concern, which requires an immediate and decisive response from the world community. We call on our partners to take immediate action to resolutely oppose the Russian and North Korean regimes  from increasing sanctions pressure on Moscow and Pyongyang to maximally strengthening Ukraine's capabilities in within the framework of the victory plan presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky," the statement reads.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said the latest launch is an outrageous act that escalates tensions in the entire international community. He said North Korea's actions threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region and the international community. He added that it is totally unacceptable.

President Yoon Suk Yeol called for close coordination with the international community in response to North Korea's latest ICBM launch. Following a briefing by the National Security Council hours after the launch on this Thursday morning, President Yoon also called for extensive preparation against any unexpected provocation by North Korea. South Korea's National Security Council, for its part, has denounced North Korea's violation of UN Security Council resolutions and has decided to designate fresh sanctions on the regime while working with partners to ensure effective implementation of existing sanctions.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that "North Korea's long-range ballistic missile launch is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Our military strongly condemns the Kim Jong-un regime's illegal and reckless provocations and urges it to stop immediately as this harms peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the international community." The JCS added that North Korea has been engaging in "illegal provocations" despite repeated warnings from the South, and warned that the North will be responsible for any kind of circumstances that may follow.

White House National Security Council Spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement that the launch is a "flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions." It says "US Indo-Pacific Command has assessed the launch did not pose an immediate threat to US personnel, or territory, or to its allies." But it added the launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region. The statement also said the national security team is closely coordinating with US allies and partners. It adds that the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and its allies, South Korea and Japan.

NHK World's reporter and former Seoul correspondent Tokuda Ryosuke says there is no doubt Pyongyang did this with the United States in mind ahead of the presidential election next week. The Policy Research Council of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party Onodera Itsunori told reporters that, given the long flight time, the missile may have been capable of reaching the east coast of the US. Onodera says the North sent a very strong message.

Following Kim Jong Un's visit to a uranium-enrichment facility in September, Pyongyang announced this month that he inspected ballistic missiles at strategic-missile bases. Tokuda says the North could be trying to demonstrate to the world it will continue to be a nuclear power. He also says North Korea will not change its stance of strengthening its deterrence against the US, regardless of which candidate wins the upcoming US presidential election.

Pyongyang's five-year defense plan, published in 2021, calls for advancing various types of missile development. The plan includes the development of solid fuel ICBMs that can be launched quicker than those using conventional liquid fuel. In September North Korea unveiled a mobile launcher larger than previous models. South Korea's defense ministry said North Korea may have used the new mobile launcher on Thursday to fire the long-range ballistic missile.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa told reporters after the launch that there could be more missile launches and also possibly a nuclear test. Pyongyang revealed plans late last year to launch three more military reconnaissance satellites by the end of the year 2024. Hayashi says Japan will work closely with the international community, including the US, South Korea and the UN Security Council, to deal with the North.

NHK's reporter Tokuda Ryosuke says North Korea has been rapidly making closer ties with Russia, which is one of the council's permanent members. He says this relationship makes the council dysfunctional. Tokuda says that Pyongyang may further advance its military development if the international community does not find a way to stop it.

In response to the North's ICBM launch, South Korea and the U.S. Air Forces on Thursday conducted large-scale aerial maneuvers as part of the Freedom Flag 2024 exercise. South Korea's F-35A, F-15K, and KF-16 fighter jets equipped with precision-guided weapons, flew in formation with U.S. F-35B and F-16 fighters, as well as the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle. The previous day, the forces successfully struck targets simulating the enemy's Transporter-Erector-Launcher. The Freedom Flag exercise is a combined, large-force flying exercise between the allies, aimed at boosting defense capabilities and readiness against North Korean threats.

North Korea displayed a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time on 10 October 2020 during the countrys highly-anticipated military parade, held for the 75th anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK). The parade finale featured four of the new ICBM on 11-axle transporter erector launchers (TELs), as well as four of the previously large Hwasong-15. the Hwasong-17, which was mounted on an 11-axle transporter-erector launcher (TEL). This ICBM is larger than previous North Korean missiles, and may even be the world's largest road-mobile liquid-fuelled missile.

The Wanshan WS51200 is a Chinese 16x12 special wheeled chassis. It has been developed by Wanshan Special Vehicle company, using technology from Belarusian Minsk Automobile Plant. Older Wanshan trucks were based on Belarusian designs. This special wheeled chassis has a payload capacity of 80 000 kg. It was specially designed as a road mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) for intercontinental ballistic missiles. A four-door crew cab of this vehicle accommodates driver, co-driver and a launch crew of the missile.

Vehicle is powered by Cummins KTTA19-C700 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 700 hp. It is a commercially available industrial engine. Engine is mounted behind and under the cab. It is mated to a ZF automatic transmission. First 3 axles and last 3 axles are steerable. This feature significantly reduces turning radius of this oversized vehicle. The Wanshan WS51200 special wheeled chassis has some degree of cross-country mobility. Though it is mainly intended to operate on hard surface roads.

In 2011 a total of 8 Wanshan WS51200 vehicles have been exported to North Korea. Officially these have been delivered as a lumber transport in order to overcome UN sanctions, imposed on North Korea. North Koreans locally converted these vehicles into missile launchers by installing hydraulic gear and controls to erect a missile.

In North Korean service the WS51200 trucks are used to carry Hwasong 13 (KN-08) and Hwasong 14 intercontinental ballistic missiles. These are similar in size to the Russian Topol-M road mobile ICBM. A mockup of the Hwasong 13 missile, as well as the Wanshan special wheeled chassis were first publicly revealed in 2012. This missile was first successfully launched by North Koreans in 2017. It seems that the North Korea is the only operator of the Wanshan WS51200 special wheeled chassis. As far as it is known Chinese armed forces do not use this vehicle.

Wanshan WS21200 is a very similar special wheeled chassis, but with 16x16 configuration. It is used by Pakistan and carries Shaheen 3 medium-range ballistic missile.

Wanshan 18x12 special wheeled chassis, based on the WS51200, but with an added non-driving axle and a different cab. It is used by North Korea and carries Hwasong 15 intercontinental ballistic missile. It was first observed in 2017 and was first publicly revealed in 2018 during a military parade.
DELAND, Florida, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new poll conducted by Stetson Universitys Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR) shows former President Donald Trump with a notable lead over Vice President Kamala Harris among likely Florida voters.

The survey, conducted between Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, reveals Trump ahead by 7 points, securing support from 53% of likely voters compared to 46% for Harris.

The poll surveyed 452 likely voters, with results weighted by age, ethnicity, race, gender, education, party affiliation and geography to reflect the states historical voting patterns. The survey has a credibility interval of +/- 5%.

In the U.S. Senate race, the poll indicates incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Scott holds an 8-point lead over Democratic challenger, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

The survey also addressed Amendments 1-4 on Floridas ballot, finding majority support for all.

This includes strong backing for Amendment 3, which permits individuals to possess up to three ounces of marijuana for personal use, with 64% in favor of the Amendment.

Amendment 4, also known as the Right to an Abortion Initiative, has garnered substantial support among Florida voters, with 64% expressing favorability toward the measure.

Interpretations should be mindful of the +/- 5% credibility interval, which reflects a margin of uncertainty in voter support estimates.

Methodology

The survey collected data via an online non-probability sample from Qualtricss panels. The data was weighted to reflect the 2024 General Election Likely Voter population. Weighted variables include DMA grouping, gender, age, political party, race, ethnicity, and education. Estimates for all demographics were sourced from records based on voter turnout in Florida in previous elections and were adjusted for a likely voter audience based on historical voting patterns and stated intent to vote. For more information please visit: stetson.edu/cpor.

About the Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR)

The Center for Public Opinion Research at Stetson University specializes in nonpartisan public opinion polling and survey research. CPOR provides valuable insights into political, social and economic issues affecting Florida and the United States. For more information, visit stetson.edu/cpor.

Attachment
NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) between December 7, 2023 and July 17, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important November 19, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Dominos securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Dominos class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=29047 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 19, 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Dominos Pizza Enterprises (DPE), Dominos largest master franchisee, was experiencing significant challenges with respect to both new store openings and closures of existing stores; (2) as a result, Dominos was unlikely to meet its own previously issued long-term guidance for annual global net store growth; (3) accordingly, Dominos business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (4) as a result, Dominos public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Dominos class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=29047 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

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Bortoleto signs Audi-Sauber contract?

The driver market 'silly season' in Formula 1 is exploding once again.

Valtteri Bottas, Mexican GP 2024

 Sauber

The only real vacancy for 2025 is at Audi-Sauber, and incumbent Valtteri Bottas no longer sounds confident he will be retained.

There's always a lot of politics in the background in this sport, the Finn said at Interlagos.

We are talking about a big corporate company, a big business, Bottas added, referring to the newly Audi-owned Swiss team. There are many reasons for decisions.

It appears that McLaren has agreed to fully release its academy junior Gabriel Bortoleto, 20. Apparently the contract is already signed and the announcement is imminent, claimed Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt.

The only missing detail is whether Bottas might be retained for one more season, allowing Bortoleto to integrate into the team ahead of the full debut of the works Audi F1 entry from 2026.

In terms of McLaren, we will not stop the possibility for Gabriel to drive in Formula 1, McLaren boss Andrea Stella said at Interlagos.

So conversations are ongoing and we will see what the scenario will be for the future.

Red Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen thinks Bortoleto should race straight away in 2025.

I mean, if I was Sauber, I would have signed him already, he said in Brazil.

And '26, big rule change. It's always good to get used to a team for a year, make your mistakes here and there, get integrated well, understand the car a bit. Feel much more prepared and comfortable and then start in '26.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri also commented when asked about Bortoleto: "From my point of view, when you're achieving those kinds of results, you deserve to be in F1.

I have the personal experience of the pain of not getting a seat, so for his sake, I hope he doesn't have to go through that.

(GMM)
F1 pundits completely done with F-word scandals

The FIA has given Charles Leclerc a more lenient penalty than Max Verstappen for a nearly identical faux-pas.

Max Verstappen, United States GP 2024

 Red Bull

For his 'F-word' uttered in the Thursday FIA press conference in Singapore recently, triple world champion Verstappen was sentenced to a day of community service.

But then after the Mexican GP last Sunday, in the post-race FIA press conference, Charles Leclerc also said f*ck - before immediately recognising his error and apologising.

F1's governing body was silent on the matter until Friday at Interlagos, where the Ferrari driver was summoned to the stewards. Leclerc was issued with a 10,000 euros fine, half of which is suspended for a full year.

What Leclerc did was worse than what I did, Verstappen responded. "It was a much more important meeting with the media, with more people present.

But, you know, I'm not going to waste any more of my time on this. It is what it is.

In its ruling, the stewards noted that Leclerc had been asked a somewhat leading question about how he felt whilst almost losing control of his Ferrari in Mexico.

In response, Leclerc used coarse language being the accurate recollection of what he thought to himself at the time, the FIA said. Leclerc immediately realised his error and apologised.

The stewards also noted that in his hearing, Leclerc expressed his regret for his momentary lack of judgment .

F1 pundit Kees van de Grint, a former Bridgestone and Ferrari engineer, is not impressed with the FIA's swearing clampdown.

I don't like the F-word either, he told Viaplay, "but that happens spontaneously. You're allowed to make a mistake.

Rules are rules, but to start talking about this again days later? What is this all about?

Former F1 driver Christijan Albers agrees.

I'm also completely done with it, said the Dutchman. It's a great season, and all we're talking about is idiotic track limits and that swearing is not allowed.

(GMM)
F1 silly season explodes once again in Brazil

A seismic rumour at the Brazilian GP is that Red Bull Racing is contemplating pairing meteoric Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto with Max Verstappen from 2025.

Atmosphere, Mexican GP 2024

 Red Bull

Red Bull's patience with Sergio Perez appears to be up, especially with the Mexican qualifying just 13th for Saturday's sprint race. He was half a second slower than Max, or even six tenths, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Viaplay.

That's too much.

Also on Friday, Horner was spotted leaving the hospitality unit of the rival Williams team, who have 21-year-old Colapinto under firm contract for 2025 and beyond - but with no race cockpit to offer him.

Williams boss James Vowles laughed off the visit.

We've recently signed a new coffee sponsor and he really wanted to try it, he smiled. That was a good part of the conversation.

Horner also played down his meeting with Vowles. There are no negotiations for yet, he told Sky Italia. "We have Liam Lawson, who is also doing a great job.

We have plenty of talent in the Red Bull program. There are always various issues to discuss up and down the pitlane, but Franco is doing a great job and we'll keep an eye on him.

When pressed by reporters at Interlagos, Vowles admitted that multiple teams are interested in Colapinto, who has not only stunned F1 with his pace and personality but also the commercial interest he is drumming up within his native Argentina and beyond.

Our responsibility is both towards him and Williams, said Vowles. Hopefully we'll have some great news to be able to talk to everyone about, but today that isn't available.

Yet another explosive rumour, reported by Kleine Zeitung newspaper, is that Red Bull could oust Perez, extract Carlos Sainz from his Williams deal, leaving Vowles free to run Colapinto alongside Alex Albon in 2025.

Max Verstappen said at Interlagos: "I mean, it's complicated to answer because he (Colapinto) is still contracted to Williams, and of course he's doing a great job.

I think also Williams is probably scratching their heads a bit about what to do with Franco.

(GMM)
Shwartzman to leave Ferrari, tipped to race in Indycar

Robert Shwartzman appears to be giving up on his Formula 1 dream.

Robert Shwartzman, Mexican GP 2024

 Sauber

Mere days ago, the Ferrari reserve driver was actually at the wheel of a Ferrari-powered Sauber in Friday practice for the Mexican GP.

The 25-year-old, who used to race as a Russian but now competes under an Israeli license, was even given a five-place grid drop - for passing under yellow flags - that he only must serve if he ever starts a grand prix.

That now seems unlikely. Sportscar365 reports that Shwartzman is set to sever all ties with Ferrari, including competing for AF Corse in WEC, in order to accept an opportunity to race in Indycar from 2025.

The report suggested Shwartzman will race for Ferrari-affiliated Prema, the Italian outfit famed for its successes in F2 and F3 that will have a two-car Indycar entry from next year.

He has decided to make another choice, but maximum respect for him, Antonello Coletta, head of endurance racing at Ferrari, said.

(GMM)
Pierre Gasly

 Alpine

Oracle Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen (4th, 1:09.219): "For tomorrow, I don't think we are the strongest in the race, so will have to see how that goes in the Sprint. As soon as we went into Sprint qualifying it looked like we were off. It was a bit difficult with the bumps and I feel like the resurfacing has made it more difficult to drive. It was extremely bumpy which isn't great for our car as it was jumping around a lot and unfortunately costing us quite a bit of lap time. For tomorrow, I don't think we are the strongest in the race, so will have to see how that goes in the Sprint. Of course the weather might have an impact, but we will have to wait and see. We have a bit more work to do."

Sergio Perez (13th, 1:10.024): "We got caught out with the conditions on track today, but we're looking forward to improving for tomorrow's qualifying and Sprint race. Sprint weekends are always a bit of an unknown, especially here at Interlagos. We had a good SQ1, but in to SQ2 we were struggling with the balance and had a bit of understeer with the track coming down. We tried to do something with the brake balance and then ended up too rear limited. It was a bit confusing with the run programme, we thought we might have a chance for a second lap at the end, but we didn't and that ended our day a bit early. We got caught out with the conditions on track today, but we're looking forward to improving for tomorrow's qualifying and Sprint race."

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

George Russell (6th, 1:09.443): "That was a challenging session as the track cooled through Sprint Qualifying. Finishing P6 is reflective of where we are right now, at the back of the front pack of teams, and with a pace delta to the next group behind us. I enjoy the challenge of Sprint weekends, getting straight into the action, and of course today has also brought the slightly unexpected challenge of a very bumpy track - which obviously is the same for everyone. For tomorrow, I will be looking to move forward and using the Sprint to work out where we can improve the car for qualifying and the Grand Prix on Sunday."

Lewis Hamilton (11th, 1:09.941): "It has been a difficult day for me - notwithstanding the incredible support from the amazing fans here in Brazil. I think the ride on the bumpy surface has been pretty bad for everyone, and it made FP1 very challenging inside the cockpit. We lifted the car during the break and improved the situation, but the pace simply wasn't there when it came to the timed laps - the balance is on a knife edge, and the car just so tricky to drive and I couldn't attack any of the corners as I wanted to. I hope we can move forward from P11 during the Sprint and keep working to figure out how to find the sweet spot of the balance in qualifying tomorrow afternoon."

Andrew Shovlin: "It has been a challenging day for us in Interlagos. Running in very warm conditions in FP1, it quickly became clear that the resurfaced track was as bumpy as ever, and that this would provide us with a set-up challenge for the weekend. Both drivers completed decent long runs, and we made relatively small changes going into Sprint Qualifying. Once we began running, it became clear that neither George nor Lewis were completely happy with the balance, suffering with snaps at the rear. This cost Lewis confidence and lap time, and saw him knocked out of SQ2 by less than 0.1s. George was able to reach SQ3, eventually taking P6 but with a substantial gap to Piastri on pole. The Sprint tomorrow is going to be useful to learn about the long run balance ahead of qualifying in the afternoon. It's normally a good circuit for overtaking so if we have pace, there's every opportunity for both drivers to move forward."

Scuderia Ferrari

Charles Leclerc (3rd, 1:09.153): "I'm relatively happy with our Sprint Qualifying, I think we maximised our result for the session today and I don't think there was anything more to gain. The McLarens were particularly fast, and we'll give it everything to challenge them in the Sprint Race. It will be important to bring home every point we can."

Carlos Sainz (5th, 1:09.257): "Today was really challenging, especially because of the track conditions. During Sprint Qualifying, it was windy and the track was much colder, which didn't help us at all. In Q2, I managed to do a very good first lap on the Medium tyre and didn't need to push a second time, so we saved that tyre a bit for the Sprint race. The final run with the Soft was good, but we still need to find more grip if we want to qualify further forward."

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal: "We wanted to be in the mix in this Sprint Qualifying and we managed to do it, so we can be quite satisfied with our starting positions for tomorrow. We knew it would have been difficult to do better than this today, as the McLarens were clearly faster. The key was for the drivers to adapt to the car and the conditions with the track being very hot in practice and much cooler for Sprint Qualifying. Now we'll focus on tomorrow's race, and then we will try to do a better job in the real qualifying since the most important moment in terms of points, is on Sunday."

McLaren Formula 1 Team

Oscar Piastri (1st, 1:08.899): "I'm really happy to be starting on Pole tomorrow, and a great result for the team to be starting 1-2. It was a tricker session as in SQ3 my first lap didn't feel amazing, but I knew there were a couple of places I could improve, and I was able to put it all together for the final run. I suspect it's going to be a very different kind of Sprint to last year because of the resurfacing. We'll have to see what the weather does, but I'm starting from the best seat in the house, so let's see what we can so."

Lando Norris (2nd, 1:08.928): "A good session for us as a team to start the weekend in Brazil. We were struggling to get a feel of the car in practice, so the improvements made in today's Sprint Qualifying are pleasing. The pace is easily there and to lock out the front row is a great result. We'll work hard to maintain maximum points tomorrow."

Andrea Stella, Team Principal: "A strong performance for both Lando and Oscar in the Sprint Qualifying session. The car seems to be performing well and Lando and Oscar put together clean laps. At the same time, we need to remain calm, because the conditions in Sprint Qualifying were very different from those in practice. The track was cold and the sky was overcast - we know that our car enjoys these conditions. For the remainder of the weekend, there's some weather around, so we just have to remain focused, maximise the potential of the car and adapt to the challenges that we will face. As a starting point, this is encouraging, and we hope that we can earn some good points tomorrow."

Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team

Fernando Alonso (16th, 1:10.978): "We didn't have the pace in Sprint Qualifying today. We had to make some changes to the car after Free Practice 1 due to the bumpy track conditions, which we knew would be detrimental to our pace. It's going to be difficult to score points tomorrow in the Sprint, so we have to keep ourselves focused on Sunday."

Lance Stroll (19th, 1:11.280): "I think everybody is suffering with the track conditions. It's very bumpy compared to previous years and that's having a big impact on things. It has not been easy to set the car up and we have tried a lot of things. Apart from that, we just didn't have the pace to fight for more today. Let's wait and see what we can do tomorrow and if we can find some more performance."

BWT Alpine F1 Team

Pierre Gasly (7th, 1:09.622): "I'm delighted with today's Sprint Qualifying result. It's our third Q3 appearance in a row even if today is just for the Sprint. It was a strong Qualifying for us from the beginning. I have felt good in the car all day, which led into SQ1 where we managed to get through. From then, we put together some good laps, one after the other, building the pace up bit by bit. In the end, we are top of the midfield, which is a sign of improvement for us, so we can all be very happy with that. The aim now is to be in the battle for points in the Sprint tomorrow. It will not be straightforward but I am pleased with this start and we will continue to work hard to gain points over the rest of the weekend."

Esteban Ocon (17th, 1:11.052): "We cannot be pleased with our end result in Sprint Qualifying even if I felt good with my actual lap in SQ1. It was a clean lap, no mistakes, but it looks like we are lacking somewhere and we need to look into the reasons why and find some improvements for the rest of the weekend. Tomorrow is another chance to continue our learning and we have to target some improvements. The Sprint is an opportunity, we will see how it goes, and I will give it all I can."

Williams Racing

Alexander Albon (9th, 1:10.078): "I'm a little disappointed with P9, as I felt we could've been a bit higher up today. The tyres are so delicate so it's crucial to get the exact window around here. Tyre degradation will be significant tomorrow, and we still need to understand the Soft tyre slightly better, but our race pace seems pretty strong and it should make for an interesting Sprint Race. We're sitting just outside the points, so we'll see what we can do from there."

Franco Colapinto (14th, 1:10.275): "It was good to get in the car today; my first time driving on the Interlagos circuit here in Sao Paulo. It was quite a tough afternoon in Sprint Qualifying. In Q1 it was taking the tyres a long time to hit the window and my Q2 wasn't a clean lap, and the times are so incredibly close. Let's see what we can do tomorrow as there's still a lot to play for this weekend. It has been amazing the past couple of days to see all the support I have here and the fans that have travelled to the race creating such a nice atmosphere."

Sven Smeets, Racing Director: "As we expected, it's very tight in the midfield here in Brazil. In SQ1, there were only three tenths difference from P7 to P15. Both cars had a very good last lap in SQ1 and moved swiftly into SQ2. Unfortunately, Franco's only push lap wasn't clean enough to move into SQ3 as he didn't find the right car and tyre balance. Alex's single push lap just did the trick as he finished 10th just ahead of Hamilton. In SQ3, we didn't get the tyres completely in the right window, finishing P9 for Alex. Our long runs this morning showed good pace but tyre management will be very important tomorrow, however we're confident we can fight for points."

Visa Cash App RB Formula One

Liam Lawson (8th, 1:09.941): "It's my first time back in SQ3, I know it's a Sprint, but it's positive that we made a good step up from this morning. I'm very happy. It's my first time back in SQ3, I know it's a Sprint, but it's positive that we made a good step up from this morning. The track was really challenging for everyone earlier, but what we did worked, and I'm pleased with the work that everyone's done. Obviously, it's going to be tough tomorrow, but we'll be pushing for points. We struggled on the long runs, but we were also on softs so let's see, anything is possible, I'm sure it's going to be a rough race, but we'll do our best."

Yuki Tsunoda (18th, 1:11.121): "I felt my lap was pretty good, and normally it should have been enough to get through SQ2. It was a tough Sprint Qualifying. I felt my lap was pretty good, and normally it should have been enough to get through SQ2, but unfortunately, I just didn't have pace. I'm surprised that we're so far away in terms of lap times. Tomorrow it won't be an easy Sprint starting from the back but I'll give my best."

Alan Permane, Racing Director: "A very good day for Liam and congratulations to him for reaching SQ3. We'll be reviewing everything with Yuki's car. It was a mixed day across our cars. A very good day for Liam and congratulations to him for reaching SQ3. We'll be reviewing everything with Yuki's car because we exited FP1 with both drivers pretty happy and confident about doing a good job in the afternoon session. For one reason or another, Yuki didn't have the car he wanted in SQ1 and finished P18. There's limited work we can do with cars in Parc Ferme, but we'll be looking through the data just to make sure the setup changes that we made between FP1 and SQ1 are all correct. For the Sprint tomorrow we have every chance to score points with Liam, and that's what we'll be doing, just going flat out to try and score some points."

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber

Valtteri Bottas (15th, 1:10.595): "It was good to make it into SQ2 today, especially after a challenging start to the weekend. We found the track really bumpy, so we had to adjust the setup quite a bit for qualifying. I'm glad we did, though, because it taught us a lot about the setup direction for the rest of the weekend. The car feels more drivable now, though the balance still needs to be improved. We've got some work ahead of us for both qualifying and the race, but first up is the sprint from P15. We'll try to maximise everything we can while also focusing on learning more about the setup for the main days. Making it into SQ2 was a positive step, especially since reaching that stage hasn't been so common for us lately."

Guanyu Zhou (20th, 1:12.978): "Today was definitely not our day. FP1 showed that the track is very bumpy and that we'll have to work hard to find the right setup. Sprint qualifying was quite a disappointing session for me as, unfortunately, the timing for our final run was mismanaged. By the time I was in a position to start the lap, the chequered flag was already out. While it's frustrating since it ruined our starting position for tomorrow's sprint, overtaking is possible, and we'll see what we can do. As for now, we need to understand what went wrong today: tomorrow is a new day to make things better."

Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Representative: "First and foremost, we must apologise to Zhou, as we made the wrong call in SQ1, and he was unable to start his second attempt. A new lap would have given him the chance to improve his time with the track evolutionas we saw on Valtteri's car with his improvement on the second push lap. Analysing what went wrong in the communication process is very important to avoid repeating such a mistake. For Valtteri, it was encouraging to see him clear the first part of qualifying for the second consecutive time, achieving P15 in SQ1 and holding that position in SQ2. That said, there's still work to do on the car to find additional lap time, especially in the opening of the lap and in Sector Two, where we weren't as competitive as we need to be for a stronger starting position. Tomorrow's sprint gives us a chance to better understand tyre behaviour in race conditions and to see if we can better control tyre degradation on the race compounds. It's also an opportunity to further improve the car setup and give back to Zhou what he lost out on today."

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team

Oliver Bearman (10th, No Time): "The car was feeling really good all day, from the first lap in practice. I'm happy to be in SQ3 and have made it through to the third stage of a qualifying session. I made a mistake in sector one, which cost me a lot of time as the rest of the lap was really good, so I'm disappointed with that. Ayao woke me up this morning with his call about driving today, and I give my best to Kevin as I know he doesn't feel great and has had a lot of success on this track. I'm happy to jump back into a Formula 1 car though, it's always a pleasure."

Nico Hulkenberg (12th, 1:09.964): "The resurfaced track is not amazing to be honest, so that was a big topic after practice. This session was a bit difficult, a bit of a continuation from last week with the struggle of not finding harmony in the car. I was very happy with my lap, but I didn't have anything else to find  so it's strange. We need to investigate as I didn't feel the love from the tire and didn't feel like I had the grip. The Sprint is a bit of a reset with parc ferme being open so we can work on set-up, so we'll take it step-by-step."

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: "Ollie is impressive, considering he's had minimal preparation, and it was a last-minute call-up. His first timed lap in FP1 was already impressive and then he built from there. His driving in SQ1 and SQ2 was amazing, and in SQ3 we had an issue on our side relating to the tire temperature control box, so the tires weren't up to temperature, so the fact he went off in turn 2, was not his fault. His others sectors were very competitive, so I'm disappointed we couldn't get his maximum potential out, but from his side it was impressive and he was happy with the car. On Nico's side, he wasn't as happy with the car. In FP1, the bumpiness of the track he struggled with, and then in Sprint Quali, he couldn't find consistency. It's a similar issue as in Mexico, so we need to look at how we can make the car better after the Sprint. Still, starting in P10 with Ollie, we can go for points tomorrow, so that's what we're focused on."
NMC mustnt waver in dealing with indecent content

Daily Graphic Editorials Nov - 02 - 2024 , 10:05 4 minutes read

The National Media Commission (NMC) last Saturday, October 26, 2024, announced that 44 television stations in the country were broadcasting unethical, indecent and offensive content.

It, therefore, summoned the owners to a meeting on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

According to the Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, a final warning was going to be issued to the owners at the meeting, following which the NMC would use all measures to stop them from continuous broadcast of indecent content.

This action is an addition to the NMCs regulation of the media to check hate speech and inciteful language.

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According to Mr Sarpong, this category of infraction comes with greater punishment.

The NMC says by this action, it is using its own inherent powers and the laws of the National Communications Authority (NCA) to ensure sanity on the airwaves and the media generally.

We cannot close our eyes as a country to the fact that as we inch towards the 2024 Elections, incendiary and inciteful speech would be rife on the airwaves. It is therefore, important that state institutions clothed with the responsibility of ensuring responsible broadcasting and publications, strengthen their supervisory and monitoring role to ensure a responsible media space.

We commend the two institutions for this effort, particularly in the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling of 2016, where certain regulations in the Content Standards Regulations 2015 (LI 2224), were said to amount to censorship and a contravention of Article 162 Clause 4 of the 1992 Constitution.

Perhaps the decision of the Ghana Broadcasters Association (GIBA) to take that aspect of the law to the apex court, resulting in that decision, has created some gaps in content regulation on our air waves and television stations. The collaboration between the two organisations to deal with the challenge thus is welcoming.

The Daily Graphic, however, charges the two institutions not to limit this exercise to the period of elections. This type of monitoring must be done all year round to make Ghana a safe and peaceful country.

The Daily Graphic minces no words in saying that Ghana's media landscape has reached a critical juncture. This is so especially when the NMC's Executive Secretary, Mr Sarpong, emphasises that this category of offences differs from hate speech, which warrants harsher punishment.

It is apt that the commission has issued a final warning to the offending stations, cautioning that failure to comply will result in severe consequences, potentially including licence revocation.

Indeed, we advocate that there is no other way to go since the unwholesome content plaguing our media landscape can have detrimental effects on society.

We recall a recent incident that happened around Kasoa, where two teenagers, one of whom has already been sentenced to life imprisonment, murdered a friend ostensibly for money rituals.

The accused then were reported to have claimed that they saw the act on television and decided to get a human being for money.

The NMC's actions are thus a step in the right direction but more needs to be done. Other countries have successfully enacted legislation to regulate media content while protecting freedom of expression.

We want to drum home to the TV stations involved in these broadcasts that such exposure to indecent content can harm children's emotional and psychological well-being and perpetuate harmful social norms and behaviours.

As we advise parents to try and supervise their children to regulate the contents they watch on TV, we demand that broadcasters must prioritise responsible content that educates, informs and entertains.

Certainly, we can clean up the airwaves when we strengthen regulations by updating the laws to reflect contemporary media challenges while safeguarding freedom of expression.

We also encourage the NMC and the NCA to continue their joint monitoring efforts to identify and address indecent content, while they engage broadcasters, producers and stakeholders to promote responsible content creation.

The NMC's crackdown on indecent content marks a significant turning point in Ghana's media landscape.

By working together, we can create a safer, more responsible media environment that benefits all Ghanaians.
GHAMRO: Rating Rex Omars performance

Richmond Adu-Poku Showbiz News Nov - 02 - 2024 , 09:00 6 minutes read

IN the ever-evolving landscape of Ghanaian creativity, few groups are as talked about as the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO).

Its significance lies not only in its role as a guardian of artistes' rights but also in the sheer number of individuals it servesfrom musicians to songwriters and producers. However, GHAMRO has long been plagued by challenges and scandals, with leadership crises and contentious elections frequently dominating discussions.

When Rex Omar assumed the chairmanship in 2017, many hoped it would herald a new era of stability and progress. Yet, the past seven years have proven to be some of the most controversial in the organisations history.

The Organisation

GHAMRO was established under section 49 of the Copyright Law, Act 690 of 2005 and regulated under L.I. 1962 of 2010 to collect and distribute royalties on behalf of authors/composers and other right owners.

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Like all other copyright societies, GHAMRO is a non-profit corporate body (limited by guarantee) and therefore all fees collected are distributed among the right owners whose works have been used, in this instance composers, authors and producers, publishers in proportion to the use made of their works.

GHAMRO was formed in December 2011. Before 2011, it existed as the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA) which was formed in 1986 and a general body creative products.

After just under three decades, the music arm of COSGA was handed over to GHAMRO, which instituted an interim board to administer its duties. When GHAMRO was established it was ran by Carlos Sakyi until an order of the Human Rights Division of the High Court presided over by His Lordship Kofi Essel-Mensah J. ruled that, the then executives, should step aside for a new five-member interim board to take over the affairs of the organisation.

In 2015, Kojo Antwi took over and handed over in 2017 but not before a change in the constitution to make the chairmanship term four years. Rex Omar was subsequently elected Chairman and has led for the past seven years.

The Man

Rex Omar is a respected musician who has also trained as a management professional specialising in intellectual property rights. He is considered by many as a leading authority on copyright in Ghana.

He is a former Vice President of the Copyright Society of Ghana and a member of the 2013 Committee for National Intellectual Property and Policy Strategy. He is the former head of Business and Finance of the Musician Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). Rex Omar is a Member of the Copyright Society of Switzerland and is on publishing contract with EMI (Germany).

Within the context of universal copyright principles, Rex, together with some likeminded people formed the Coalition of Concerned Copyright Advocates (COCCA), a group that caused the then President, John Agyekum Kufuor, to withhold his assent to the Copyright Bill in order for some discrepancies to be corrected.

Rex Omar is a consummate musician, a vociferous copyright advocate, a fierce, firm, resolute and vocal firebrand who is often misunderstood and somewhat comes off as cocky and narcissistic until you encounter the inner calm, cool, knowledgeable persona of this gem.

The Work

To the ordinary industry person and many a Ghanaian, GHAMRO lives in the headlines associated with a simple google search; Okyeame Kwame details reasons GHAMRO is struggling (modernghana), GHAMRO Leaders Insensitive To Plight Of Rights Owners (peacefmonline), I've received GH374 from GHAMRO as royalties  Fancy (3news), Royalties from GHAMRO are very disappointing  Kwabena Kwabena (happyghana), Controversy surrounds GHAMRO board election (musicinafrica).

Here is a true picture

Under Rex Omar's leadership, the GHAMRO administration has achieved remarkable milestones, fundamentally transforming the organisation into a more efficient and supportive entity for musicians in Ghana.

Notably, royalties are now distributed twice a year, a significant improvement from the previous annual distribution, ensuring that artistes receive timely financial support. Despite a decrease in government-levied blank media fees, the Rex Omar administration has successfully collected more royalties than any previous leadership.

The monumental progress in constructing a modern office complex stands as a testament to GHAMROs commitment to its members, alongside a newly structured welfare system that includes support from an insurance firm, benefitting aging musicians.

Under his guidance, GHAMRO has undergone extensive renovations, resulting in a more organised and effective operation, better positioned than other collective management agencies in Ghana, servicing over 4,000 rights owners annually.

Furthermore, Omar secured a significant deal with CAPASSO, which has notably increased the funds available for distribution. Under his chairmanship, payouts have skyrocketed; while Daddy Lumba once received the highest distribution of GHc4,000, artistes such as Shatta Wale have since been awarded over GHc50,000 in a single payout, highlighting the profound impact of his leadership.

Under his leadership GHAMRO has distributed a whopping GHc 11,199,755.12 in royalities and spent a further GHc2,480,893.94 in welfare payments, a feat unprecedented.

A groundbreaking deal which is to change the phase of GHAMRO and completely digitise its processes have been reached and the GHAMRO Information System (GHAMIS) is due to be launched.

The Let Down

There is a glaring disparity between the high expectations placed on Rex Omar's leadership of GHAMRO and the realities that have unfolded. While the organisation has achieved certain successes, these accomplishments pale in comparison to the trust and hope the industry vested in him.

Given his extensive knowledge, groundbreaking court victories regarding personal rights, and his unwavering advocacy for musicians, it was only natural for the industry to anticipate transformative change. Yet, the results have not matched the ambition; instead, his tenure serves as a poignant reminder of how even the most promising leaders can face scrutiny and disappointment.

History has shown that many great figures, once maligned and demonised, are often celebrated as heroes in retrospect, but for now, the collective sentiment remains one of unfulfilled potential and a yearning for the leadership that was promised but not fully delivered.

Rex Omar and GHAMRO need a better public relations system and must learn to manage the expectations of their membership by providing them with apt and timely updates as well as putting out financial statements regularly.

Also, there has to be a clear dichotomy between the work of management and board.

The Future

The narrative surrounding GHAMRO under Rex Omars leadership embodies a complex interplay of hope, ambition, and disappointment. The legacy of GHAMRO is shaped not just by its achievements but also by the weight of expectations that have, in some instances, gone unmet. It is crucial for GHAMRO to recalibrate its vision and align its efforts with the needs of its members, fostering an environment where creativity can flourish.

The hope remains that, with renewed focus and commitment, GHAMRO can rise to meet its potential and fulfill the promise that its stakeholders so deeply desire.
Exploring Africa with Francis Doku: Empowering women in tourism to expand Africas growth potential

Francis Doku Features Nov - 02 - 2024 , 12:58 5 minutes read

Empowering women in tourism to expand Africa's growth potential Tourism in Africa is thriving, propelled by its rich cultures, unique landscapes and the warm hospitality of its people.

Yet behind every thriving tourism destination, there are women  many of whom are often unrecognised yet instrumental in shaping the sector.

The recent Women in Tourism Regional Conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone, emphasised this role, highlighting both the achievements of women in African tourism and the significant gaps in support and opportunity they still face.

The host minister, Nabeela Tunis, Sierra Leones Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, called for women to be at the centre of sustainable tourism, reaffirming the ministrys dedication to creating equitable opportunities for women in tourism. She also emphasised tourism's role in socio-economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation, especially for rural communities.

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I believe that to fully harness the sector's potential, strategic steps must be taken to address barriers and support womens growth within the industry. I have highlighted and addressed some of the necessary steps to be taken below for effective womens inclusion in tourism.

Leadership in tourism African tourism is traditionally male-dominated but this is gradually changing as more women rise into leadership roles.

Women leaders often bring a community-focused, inclusive approach that drives both economic and social impact, particularly in rural areas where tourism can significantly uplift families and communities. However, many aspiring women leaders still lack the mentorship and training that would enable them to take on executive roles.

 Expand mentorship networks: Programmes connecting young women with established leaders can help foster skills, build confidence and establish networks that make entering the sector more accessible. A structured mentorship programme  backed by tourism boards and educational institutions  can pave the way for women to excel in management roles and bring fresh, inclusive ideas to the industry.

 Invest in leadership development: Workshops and seminars focusing on business management, digital marketing and strategic planning can build essential skills for women leaders. Such initiatives can equip them to make decisions that transform their communities and uplift the tourism industry.

Enabling financial inclusion

Access to funding is one of the most significant barriers facing women in tourism.

While the industry offers robust opportunities for entrepreneurship, many women struggle to secure financing for their ventures. Addressing these issues requires innovative approaches that go beyond traditional lending.

 Promote micro-loans and grants: Financial programmes tailored for women entrepreneurs such as micro-loans and start-up grants can provide the necessary capital for women to launch or grow their tourism businesses. As highlighted in Freetown, sessions on financial empowerment are essential, providing women with insights into navigating credit and investment landscapes effectively.

 Expand financial literacy: Beyond financing, financial literacy workshops can equip women with the skills to manage budgets, make investments and sustain profitability. These programmes should be localised and accessible, making financial empowerment a reality for women across various regions.

Leveraging digital technology

The digital revolution has transformed global tourism, opening up opportunities for even the smallest enterprises to reach a worldwide audience.

However, women entrepreneurs across Africa often lack access to digital tools and training that would enable them to leverage this growth.

 Digital marketing support: Government and private partnerships can sponsor digital marketing workshops specifically for women-led tourism ventures. Training on social media, booking platforms, and e-commerce tools can help women entrepreneurs reach international markets, expand their business reach and enhance their economic resilience.

 Tech partnerships for training and resources: Partnerships with tech companies can help bridge this gap by offering digital resources and training programmes tailored to tourism. Providing women with these tools will allow them to innovate, streamline operations, and improve outreach, helping them stay competitive in a fast-evolving market.

Collaboration and networks

Africas tourism potential grows when countries collaborate. Women-led tourism businesses stand to benefit immensely from cross-border tourism networks that connect women entrepreneurs, facilitate business opportunities and promote regional tourism as a unified brand.

 Develop regional networks: Creating cross-border associations for women in tourism allows for knowledge sharing, joint ventures and stronger regional ties. These networks can host annual events, training programmes and trade shows to strengthen partnerships between women in tourism and increase their visibility on the global stage.

 Simplify cross-border tourism policies: Governments can support regional tourism growth by simplifying visa policies and promoting multi-country travel packages. This can also boost small women-led businesses, as many travellers prefer curated, authentic experiences that female entrepreneurs often provide.

Recognising womens contributions

Women are not only essential to tourisms economic success; they are also instrumental in preserving African cultures, sharing local stories and fostering community development.

Recognising and supporting womens contributions can enhance Africas global image and attract travellers interested in authentic, immersive experiences.

Women-led ventures often place a high value on sustainability and community impact, values that resonate deeply with todays socially conscious travellers.

By championing initiatives that focus on empowering women through tourism, African countries have the chance to redefine the tourism narrative, making it not only a vehicle for economic growth but a powerful platform for social transformation.

A path forward

The Women in Tourism Regional Conference in Freetown underscored the potential and resilience of African women in tourism, celebrating their contributions while calling for continued support.

Empowering women isnt just about equity  its an economic necessity that will strengthen Africas position on the global tourism map.

By investing in women through mentorship, financial inclusion, digital access, regional networks and industry recognition, Africa can build a tourism sector where women lead and where communities thrive.

Through these focused, actionable steps, African tourism can chart a brighter, more inclusive future where women play a central role in telling Africas story to the world.
International Day of the Girl Child: Lets escalate message of hope

Vicky Wireko Reality Zone Nov - 02 - 2024 , 10:14 5 minutes read

She is boisterous, acts like a boy, She comes in overconfident, She is too assertive. These are some of the comments generally made when girls or young women try to defy societys tag and wrong image of girls.

Traditionally, a girl should be humble, subservient and submissive and not overshadow boys or compete with them for recognition in a male-dominated world.

Even in the house of God that subtle step down attitude was applied to girls or women, until recently when some of those barriers were relaxed.

In those churches, girls could not be servers at the altar whereas boys were, or were allowed to. Women could not be ordained as priests. The message of hope was completely closed to the girl or woman no matter how competent and capable.

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Thankfully, the picture is either changing or has completely changed and our girls and young women are seeing some ray of hope with the general inclusivity drive, which is strongly coming up.

Also of help are external pressures from womens groups and international bodies that are giving hope to the future of girls and women.

And so this years International Day of the Girl Child observed a couple of weeks ago, with the theme, Girls Vision for the Future, sought to draw minds of decision-makers, local and international, to the fact that the future of girls is important for future development.

The theme must be embraced not just as a lip service, but actionable service to the future good of girls.

This future is all-encompassing, starting from the home to school to the university and the job market where the progression of girls from youth to adulthood, now and the future must be intentional, and closely monitored for predictable outcomes.

Education

Upfront, one can commend the positive trend in our educational system of late with the free Senior High School (SHS), where formally, parents would have prioritised the education of their sons over that of their daughters where funding was critical.

With free SHS, there has been a change in the situation according to available statistics.

One is informed that there are more girls entering SHS than there are boys. Not only that. Also encouraging is the fact of a shift to get more girls into the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

This means breaking the myth and getting girls interested in the area of the Sciences, thus creating hope for the future of girls in terms of expanded career and job opportunities, especially in areas that were traditionally the preserve of boys.

It is also worth noting the forward-looking agenda of some public universities intentionally creating admission quotas to enrol a greater number of females than they used to do.

And as educational policies are being created to entice more girls for a better future, we have organisations and NGOs whose primary aims are to see to women and girls interest and progress in society.

Zonta Club

One such organisation is Zonta Club, a service organisation with women and girls at the centre of their operations, working tirelessly to help build a better world for them.

To mark the International Day of the Girl Child, the Zonta Club of Accra held a day of counselling for girls from the Dome Anglican Junior High School in Accra.

The Vice-President of the Club, Mrs Doris Wunu, in her address during the counselling, noted that girls were powerful agents of change, suggesting that the visions of girls must be supported by all.

She acknowledged the challenges girls faced as well as their potential, saying, We should invest in their education, health and their rights by creating a more just and equal society for all.

She concluded that Girls voices must be heard, rights protected and their future guided, as she encouraged the girls to think about their future and strive to achieve a better tomorrow for themselves.

The guest speaker for the day was Madam Adiza Ibrahim, a motivational speaker and a broadcast journalist.

Madam Ibrahim advised the girls to stay focused in life and always have a goal as to what they want to do or achieve.

She told them education was very important so they should not abandon their education for anything else. She advised them to refuse to be pressurised by peers and the only time they should follow peers is when they find them on the right path in life.

She advised them to focus on becoming women achievers.

With the theme for the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child focusing on girls vision for the future, there is something to believe that the time to celebrate the resilience, creativity and strength of girls is here. In doing that, one is likely to help create and support a system where every girl gets empowered to dream and dream big and break barriers.

International Day of the Girl is only a reminder that we should all work together to ensure our girls voices are heard, their rights protected and their future are made bright.

Writers E-mail:vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com
Daylight robbery in Accra: Gunmen escape with sacks of money from Adabraka market

Graphic.com.gh Nov - 02 - 2024 , 14:43 2 minutes read

On Saturday, November 2, the Adabraka Market in Accra was rocked by a daring daylight robbery that took place right in front of stunned residents.

Four heavily armed and masked men targeted a man in a red Toyota Corolla parked near the bustling market.

Witnesses reported that the robbers approached the vehicle with their guns drawn, immediately firing multiple shots into the air to scatter the crowd.

Shoppers and vendors rushed for cover, ducking behind stalls and seeking safety as the gunfire rang out across the market.

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The robbers quickly forced their way into the Toyota, seizing large sacks of cash stored inside.

In just minutes, they loaded the bags into their getaway vehicle and fled the scene, continuing to fire shots to keep bystanders at a distance.

An eyewitness recounted, We deal in gold here, and we heard a loud noise, and we realised it was a sporadic shooting. I cant even talk, Im surprised, we hid and locked our gate, but they didnt come to our end. We heard them saying open the boot and we saw them carrying bags of money from some of the shops. They spent some few minutes.

Another eyewitness also said, There are several gold dealer shops here, so one of the owners of the shops had bags containing monies in his Toyota Corolla, immediately he landed, the robbers approached the car and took the money away. This is the second time such an incident has happened. The police came in late, by the time they arrived, the armed robbers had bolted away with the bags of money in their Toyota Highlander. They fired multiple gunshots. They spread some money in the air to distract onlookers attention and scare them away.

The robbery was captured on video by onlookers and soon spread on social media, showing the gunmens swift, coordinated movements and the terror that swept through the market.
Next article: East Legon accident: Accused was showing off Jaguar F-Pace Sports speed while leading convoy of 3 SUVs with friends

Ghana deploys 5G technology

Justice Agbenorsi Nov - 02 - 2024 , 09:32 4 minutes read

The countrys digital transformation agenda took a significant leap when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched the fifth generation (5G) mobile network service in Accra.

With the launch of 5G, Next Gen Infraco (NGIC), a new shared infrastructure company, co-promoted by the government and seven other firms, has been granted a 10-year exclusive licence to invest in and roll out the 5G services.

Together with its partners, such as Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana, NGIC will leverage on an open access network where each operator does not need to invest in the same infrastructure that provides the services, but can access it from the neutral wholesale provider, NGIC.

NGIC will also empower the telecommunications service providers with the network capabilities needed to deliver the rollout of high-speed and reliable 5G services across the country, starting from Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, and followed by deployment to additional urban centres and eventually the entire country in the next two years.

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Currently, AT has signed onto the platform to enable it to provide the 5G services to its subscribers, while Telecel is finalising agreements to roll out the service. Other mobile network operators and small firms providing bespoke internet solutions are also expected to follow suit.

The launch in Accra yesterday of the 5G, which is said to be 10 times faster than the fourth generation plus mobile network (4G+), was on the theme, "5G: Accelerating Ghana's Digital Transformation.

5G is said to have shorter download and upload times, coupled with stronger connectivity and better reliability,

Launch

Launching the network in Accra yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said it would accelerate growth and transform lives across all sectors, describing the 5G technology as a significant leap towards a digitally inclusive future.

The President detailed how 5G technology would integrate innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and data analytics into daily life, to impact sectors from health care and education to agriculture and security.

Imagine healthcare consultations conducted remotely, real-time crop monitoring, and access to educational content even in the remotest regions, he said, asserting that these advancements were not distant dreams but imminent realities if Ghana acted with foresight and commitment.

President Akufo-Addo added that with faster and reliable internet, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) could reach new markets, streamline logistics and scale up their operations, while agriculture, which supported the majority of Ghanaians, could also benefit immensely from innovations such as precision farming and smart irrigation.

The President further reiterated the government's commitment to build a responsive administration that evolved with the digital age.

As a result, he said, the government was working to ensure that the benefits of 5G reached all Ghanaians, especially those in rural communities, adding, Our vision is a Ghana where every citizen, regardless of location, can harness the power of 5G.

Responsible

President Akufo-Addo called for a responsible approach to the new technology, stating, With this power comes the responsibility to use it wisely. We must address concerns around data privacy, cybersecurity, and responsible use to ensure that it fosters progress, not division.

He further charged the youth, who make up the majority of the population, and who would benefit immensely from the 5G, to take advantage of initiatives such as the Ghana Innovation Hub and coding programmes.

Through such initiatives, the President said, the government was equipping them with digital skills to drive the future of innovation in the country.

By empowering the youth, we ensure a future where domestic talent drives our digital transformation, President Akufo-Addo added.



Potential

The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, described the arrival of 5G in Ghana as a significant step in the countrys digital journey, saying it had the potential to drive innovations in various sectors, including agriculture, health, transportation, and manufacturing due to its speed.

She added that policies had been instituted to foster investment, innovation, and inclusiveness, ensuring every citizen was included in the digital revolution.

Inclusiveness

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NGIC, Tenu Awoonor, said his company was proud to play a part in the transformation of creating a more inclusive society where no one would be left behind.

We are investing in the future of Ghana. We believe that 5G is not just a tool for innovation, but a catalyst for growth, development and empowerment of every Ghanaian.

Whether you are a farmer in Tamale, a small business owner in Kumasi or a student in Cape Coast, 5G will connect you to the world and open doors to new opportunities, he said.
Media have been key ally in National Service Authoritys journey  NSA Director-General

Daily Graphic Nov - 02 - 2024 , 12:49 3 minutes read

The Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, has commended the Ghanaian media for their unwavering support and objective reportage on the activities of the authority.

He said that for the past 50 years, the media has played significant roles in the then National Service Scheme (NSS) activities.

He encouraged the media to continue to support the authority in the spirit of mutual respect and commitment towards building a better Ghana for all Ghanaians.

Mr Assibey Antwi made these statements during a media engagement event organised as part of the activities for the official transition of the NSS to the NSA.

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He observed that for 50 years, the NSS performed its core mandate of mobilising and deploying eligible Ghanaians to the various sectors of the Ghanaian economy for national development and that the scheme has successfully achieved its expected targets. However, we need to do more now as an authority, he added.

Need to do more

Mr Assibey Antwi reiterated the need to maintain the bond between the authority and the media as we do whatever we can to ensure the development of the country's youth.

Mr Assibey Antwi said rolling over from a scheme to an authority meant that more responsibilities have been placed on the management and staff, now that the scheme has become an authority.

Becoming an authority means that we need to change our attitudes towards the work we do and be more responsive to the expectations of the general public, especially our major stakeholders.

Many of the things that we do must meet the general expectations of the public, especially regarding our deployment exercise, which is our core mandate as an authority, he stated.

Special consideration

Responding to some concerns and questions from the media, the Deputy Director-General of the authority in charge of General Services, Gifty Oware-Mensah, cleared the perception that all deployments of the authority are allegedly done based on protocol postings for children and relatives of rich and influential personalities of the society.

She explained that people with special needs and disabilities, married women, pregnant women and those who are specifically requested by tertiary institutions and other user agencies are usually given special consideration to be posted to specified places.

These, however, do not transcend the specifically identified individuals to every person in the posting process, she stressed, and urged the media to disregard sensational rumours and always seek the truth from management of the authority.

Our doors are always open for the media to come to verify whatever you need to know, and we will always be here to welcome you and to provide you with the needed information about the authority, she added.
Next article: Media have been key ally in National Service Authoritys journey  NSA Director-General

Over 79 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa raped, sexually assaulted  Study

Daily Graphic Nov - 02 - 2024 , 13:28 2 minutes read

The United Nations Childrens agency says one in eight girls and young women across the world have endured rape and sexual violence, with the highest number of victims recorded in sub-Saharan Africa.

UNICEF published its first-ever global estimate on sexual violence against children, revealing that 79 million girls  one in five  in sub-Saharan countries hit by conflict and insecurity had experienced sexual assault or rape before turning 18.

Its terrifying, said Nankali Maksud, a child violence specialist at UNICEF based in Nairobi, Kenya. It is generations of trauma.

Girls who had suffered the trauma of sexual abuse were often unable to learn at school, she said.

Sexual violence

Globally, UNICEF estimates that sexual violence has affected some 370 million  or one in eight girls and young women.

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The number rises to 650 million, or one in five when taking into account non-contact forms of sexual violence, such as online or verbal abuse, according to the agencys report published on Wednesday.

US politics, Canadas multiculturalism and South Americas geopolitical rise will bring you the stories that matter.

The report said that while girls and women were worst affected, 240 to 310 million boys and men, or about one in 11, have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood.

Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

It inflicts deep and lasting trauma, often by someone the child knows and trusts, in places where they should feel safe, she said.

Fragile settings

Numbers were highest in fragile settings, including those with weak institutions, where UN peacekeeping forces are present or where there are large numbers of refugees.

We are witnessing horrific sexual violence in conflict zones, where rape and gender-based violence are often used as weapons of war, said Russell.

However, the data showed that sexual violence against children is pervasive, cutting across geographical, cultural and economic boundaries.

Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest number of victims, with 79 million girls and women affected, followed by 75 million in Eastern and Southeastern Asia, 73 million in Central and Southern Asia, 68 million in Europe and Northern America, 45 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, 29 million in Northern Africa and Western Asia, and six million in Oceania.

The release of such a figure is a first, calculated using national data and international survey programmes from 2010 to 2022, UNICEF Chief Statistician Claudia Cappa said.

She said there were inevitable holes in the data, as well as under-reporting from some countries.
Speaker summons Parliament on November 7

Nana Konadu Agyeman Nov - 02 - 2024 , 13:41 6 minutes read

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has summoned Parliament to resume sitting on November 7, 2024.

He said the summon of the members of the House was in line with Article 112 (3) of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament.

Pursuant to Article 112 (3) and Orders 5 and 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana, I, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin,

Speaker of Parliament, hereby summon Parliament to sit on November 7, 2024, at 10 oclock in the forenoon at the Grand Arena, Accra International Conference Centre, he said.

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This was contained in a notice of summon signed by the Speaker on October 31, 2014, and issued by his office yesterday.

Why recall?

On October 23, this year, the Majority Caucus in Parliament requested the Speaker of Parliament to summon Parliament to transact urgent government business.

A memorandum addressed to the Speaker signed by the Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefwi Akontombra, Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, cited three urgent matters for consideration.

They were a request for tax exemptions for designated beneficiaries under the One District One Factory programme, the consideration of a $250-million International Development Association facility to operationalise the Ghana Financial Stability Fund and the consideration of six bills; namely, the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 2024; the Social Protection Bill, 2023; the Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Budget Bill, 2023; the Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2023, and the Intestate Succession Bill, 2022.

We respectfully request that, upon recall of the House, the following urgent Government Business be deliberated upon and transacted, including any other business that comes before the House, he said.

Context

Providing the context of the request, the Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip said Parliament had adjourned sine die without any explanation of the circumstance leading to the adjournment.

You may also recall that at conclave, you confirmed the service of a Supreme Court Order which was explicit. At the time, the above stated items had been advertised and scheduled to be carried, the memorandum said.

The Sefwi Akontombra legislator emphasised that the request was being made in utmost good faith and in the national interest to enable the government to discharge its constitutional and democratic obligations to the people of Ghana.

Legal basis for request

Mr Djornobuah cited Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 53, among others, for the request for Parliament to reconvene.

Article 112(3) of the Constitution states: "Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, fifteen per cent of Members of Parliament may request a meeting of Parliament; and the Speaker shall, within seven days after the receipt of the request, summon Parliament."

Standing Order 53(1) reiterates: "Despite any other provision, fifteen per cent of the Members of Parliament may request a meeting of Parliament and the Speaker shall, within seven days after the receipt of the request, summon Parliament."

Standing Order 53(2) further stipulates: "Parliament shall convene within seven days after the issuance of the notice of summons."

Furthermore, Standing Order 57(3) provides: "The Speaker may summon a sitting of the House before the date or time to which the House has been adjourned or at any date or time after the House has been adjourned sine die."

Again, Standing Order 58(4) states that: "The Speaker shall summon Parliament within a period determined by the Speaker and the requirement for a fourteen-day notice shall not apply where there is an emergency."

Based on the legal basis, Mr Djornobuah and his colleagues on the Majority side asked the Speaker to summon Parliament to a meeting within the stipulated seven-day period.

Considering the constitutional and statutory provisions cited above and in the exercise of our rights as Members of Parliament, we respectfully urge you to summon Parliament for a Meeting within the stipulated seven-day period.

We stand ready to provide any additional information or clarification that may be required and look forward to your favourable consideration of this request, Mr Djornobuah said.

Background

Government business in Parliament took a hit last week when the Speaker adjourned the House indefinitely.

This followed the Speakers acknowledgement of the legal proceedings surrounding the composition of the House and the attendant public interest over the declaration of the seats of four MPs vacant.

With the Supreme Court order restraining him on the matter that evoked drama in the nations political space last week, the Speaker adjourned proceedings less than 15 minutes after he had assumed his chair in the chamber.

In view of the current circumstances, the fact that there is a question on the composition and constitution of Parliament and having regard to the public interest and the exigencies of the state of affairs in Parliament, I will proceed to, in accordance with Standing Orders 59(1), adjourn the House indefinitely, i.e., sine die, he said in the brief address to the members.

Vacant seats, court processes

The Supreme Court granted a restraining order on the Speaker regarding the execution of his verdict to declare the seats of four MPs vacant for filing to contest the 2024 parliamentary election on tickets different from what they represent in the current Parliament.

The four MPs are the Agona West Member of Parliament (MP), Cynthia Morrison, of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Amenfi Central MP, Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Suhum MP, Kwadwo Asante, of the NPP, and Fomena MP, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, an independent MP.

Ms Morrison, Mr Kwakye-Ackah and Mr Asante have all filed as independent candidates in the December 7 polls, while Mr Asiamah Amoako has filed to contest as a candidate of the NPP.

It is on the basis of this that Mr Bagbin, seeking to enforce clauses (g) and (h) of Article 97(1) of the Constitution, declared that the four had vacated their seats by filing to contest the next polls on new tickets.

Article 97(1)(g) states that a Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament if he leaves the party of which he was a member at the time of his election to Parliament to join another party or seeks to remain in Parliament as an independent member, while Article 97(h) states that the member would forfeit his seat if he was elected a Member of Parliament as an independent candidate and joins a political party.

In response to the Speakers ruling, the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, filed an ex parte application at the Supreme Court arguing that the Speakers action was premature and legally flawed.

Mr Afenyo-Markin insisted that the matter ought to be properly adjudicated by the courts before any such declaration could take effect.

The apex court, after considering the application, agreed to halt the Speakers ruling, pending the final determination of the substantive case.
2024 Elections test of Ghanas democracy  UN Special Representative

Alberto Mario Noretti Politics Nov - 02 - 2024 , 09:10 3 minutes read

The Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary- General and Head of the UN Office (UNOWAS) for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao, has said this years general election will be a serious test of the strength of Ghanas 30-year-old democratic process.

This is because the elections are being organised in an environment marked by regional security challenges, misinformation and disinformation that spread quickly on social media, and the erosion of political enthusiasm among the youth, he explained.

The envoy said socio-economic hardships; rising inflammatory statements and hate speech by some members of the public also contributed to the challenges facing the electoral process.

Mr Simao made the remarks at the opening of a days stakeholders forum to promote a peaceful 2024 general election in Ghana, organised by the National Peace Council (NPC) with support from the UN in Ho, last Thursday.

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About 80 participants, made up of traditional rulers, representatives of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, state institutions, trade unions and the judiciary attended the forum, which was on the theme: Building trust for peaceful elections.

The forum, which presented the participants with the opportunity to dialogue on critical issues pertaining to the conduct of peaceful elections, is the fourth in the series after those held in Tamale, Kumasi and Cape Coast.

Triggers

Mr Simao said the event testified to the excellent collaboration and enduring partnership between the NPC and the UN in their common desire to seea peaceful election in Ghana.

He cautioned that the spread of hate speech was a possible trigger for the disruption of electoral activities and needed to be addressed with utmost seriousness.

On security, Mr Simao said the issue was now a major concern in West Africa and the Sahel.

Although an area such as the Volta Region is not considered a high-risk security zone, there is the urgent need to remain vigilant about issues such as socio-economic suffering and toxic campaign rhetoric that can easily spark violence, he said.

UN Resident Representative

The United Nations Resident Representative, Charles Abani, said Ghanas journey as a stable democracy reflected decades of dedication and institutional strengthening by stakeholders.

He said since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1992, Ghana had consistently conducted transparent and credible elections, a legacy supported by deliberate reforms that had enhanced trust in the electoral process.

The establishment of a permanent independent Electoral Commission (EC), implementing biometric voter registration, and the introduction of secure ballot systems had elevated the quality of electoral administration in Ghana, Mr Abani added.

The UN Resident Representative said in the countdown to the general election, it was clear the EC and other political actors remained committed to a stable, credible, peaceful and transparent process.

However, he said the low participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities in political roles highlighted ongoing gaps in political inclusivity, which must be actively addressed.

The Volta Regional Chairman of the NPC, Rev. Seth Mawutor, said the forum was a clear indication of the councils firm stance to fulfill its mandate of facilitating and developing mechanisms for conflict prevention, management and resolution.

The President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, who chaired the opening, said peace was an essential commodity which must be cherished and preserved at all times by the people because its absence could spell disaster for the nation.
Dont deploy military to polling stations  Dr Bonaa

Daniel Kenu Politics Nov - 02 - 2024 , 10:52 3 minutes read

SECURITY analyst, Dr Adams Bonaa, has cautioned against the deployment of the military at polling stations during the December 7 polls.

He said the Ghana Police Service was well-resourced to handle activities before, during and after the polls, adding that the continual deployment of the military during such exercises should be discouraged.

"We are not under attack. The military can be deployed only during a state of emergency," he said.

Lecture series

Dr Bonaa was speaking at a democracy lecture series in Accra on the theme: "Ghana's democracy development: Assessing the implementation of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act 2019 for ensuring peaceful December 2024 elections."

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It was organised by Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana (Care Ghana), a civil society organisation (CSO) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).

The democracy lecture series seeks to address the increasing instances of electoral violence, inflammatory statements by high-ranking officials, and promote transparency on the steps to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections on December 7, 2024.

Vigilantism

Dr Bonaa said since the promulgation of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 to disband vigilante groups including political party vigilante groups and land guards; the groups have quadrupled to 72.

He said although about 20 of such groups were disbanded, they have metamorphosed into "men in uniforms" spread across all the security services.

"Unfortunately, those who get involved in such acts are promoted. The danger is that those who perpetrated such acts are still in the system and in uniform.

"Some have modified their operations by forming private security companies to perpetrate same atrocities in a disguised form," he alleged.

Dr Bonaa said such practices were inimical to Ghana's democracy and urged voters to rethink and give power to people who would be accountable.

He called on the judiciary to be fair in its rulings because a lack of trust could lead to civil disobedience.

Elections

The Head of the Political Science Department, University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Alidu Seidu, said vigilantism had the propensity of disenfranchising people because once voters fear for their lives, they will not turn out to vote.

He explained that the root cause of vigilantism was mistrust among the political elites that compelled them to form their own security guards to protect them.

Clarity

Providing some clarity to the topic, the former Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, whose doctoral thesis dwelt on the subject, said internal party security should not be misconstrued to be vigilantism.

"Internal party security are well trained by professionals to provide security and are on the payroll of the party.

Dr Ampofo noted that in the past, the names of returning officers and their deputies were published for people to do background checks, "unfortunately the situation has changed and all kinds of people are recruited to handle such an important job."
EC opens up ballot paper printing to media with tour

Timothy Ngnenbe Politics Nov - 02 - 2024 , 09:04 3 minutes read

In a major step towards promoting transparency in the electoral process, the Electoral Commission (EC) has opened up the process of printing ballot papers for the December 7 polls to the media.

Ghanaians will go to the polls on December 7, this year, to elect a President and 276 Members of Parliament, and in preparation for that, a team of officials from the EC yesterday led journalists to some of the printing companies, where they were given access to the production rooms to observe the printing process, an exercise the EC said was the first time.

Although it is being printed by six companies, the EC's team, led by the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, took the media to three of them  Buck Press, Innolink and Acts Commercials Ltd.

At each of the locations, agents of political parties, representatives of independent candidates, the police and national security operatives were there to observe the process.

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Transparency

The Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Benjamin Bannor-Bio, explained that the visits formed part of efforts to deepen transparency in the electoral process.

He said the EC decided to open up the printing of ballot papers so that it would boost the confidence of members of the public.

We want to assure the world that the EC has nothing to hide and so we want members of the public to have confidence in the commission, Mr Bannor-Bio said.

Observation

At the Buck Press, where parliamentary ballot papers for the Ashanti, Central, Savannah, and Oti regions were being printed, the Daily Graphic observed that the staff at the various units were working briskly to deliver on their tasks.

There was a robust security regime at every stage of the production process, with the agents of political parties keeping eagles eye on the production.

The Executive Director of Buck Press, Dr Francis Nyanin, said the process was going on without hindrance. At Innolink, where ballot papers for the Greater Accra and North East regions were being printed, it was also observed that security personnel and political party agents, who included those of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) as well as those of independent candidates were there monitoring the process.

With the printing of the presidential ballot papers halted following the death of GFPs presidential candidate, Akua Donkor, the printing entity was now focused on delivering the parliamentary ballots.

The General Manager of Innolink, Kingsley Addo Ntow, said production of the ballot papers was going according to schedule.

The situation at Acts Commercials Ltd printing house was not any different, as printing of parliamentary ballot papers was ongoing for the Upper East, Upper West and Western North regions. Here again, the political party agents were recording the printed ballots to ensure transparency.



EC satisfied



Dr Bossman Asare said the EC was satisfied with the level of participation and cooperation from the political parties and security agencies.

He said the commission was optimistic that with the level of transparency and the vigilance party agents and other stakeholders were exhibiting at the printing houses, every printed ballot paper would be accounted for in the conduct of the polls.

"Printing is done with the full participation of political parties, and we are happy that the party agents are working together with all other stakeholders for quality assurance and transparency.

"When we finish printing and start bagging the ballots, all parties put their seals on it and also ensure that their padlocks are intact on warehouses, and this demonstrates the transparency of the process," he said.

Touching on the status of the presidential ballot papers, he said the EC would give a clear roadmap on how the printing would be done by next week.

Until the death of the GFP presidential candidate, Akua Donkor, 13 aspirants were expected to be on the ballot paper.
Queenmother of Bechem urges support for "visionary" Bawumia in 2024 Election

GraphicOnline Politics Nov - 02 - 2024 , 07:37 2 minutes read

Nana Adwoapo Dwamena Serwaa II, the Paramount Queenmother of the Bechem Traditional Area in the Ahafo Region, has called on her community and all Ghanaians to prioritize Ghana's future and elect Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the countrys next President.

Speaking during Dr. Bawumias visit to Bechem on Friday as part of his Ahafo Regional tour, the Queenmother praised his dedication and vision for Ghana.

My fellow citizens, let us look at what is good for us as a country. Let us look at someone who has the nation at heart and someone who delivers what he promises," said Nana Serwaa, urging voters to choose a leader with a track record of commitment to national progress.

The Queenmother highlighted Dr. Bawumias contributions as Vice President, particularly his role in spearheading key national innovations. She stressed the importance of continuity in leadership to maintain Ghanas development trajectory. When we get it right now, it will really help our country. We are on course as a nation with so many innovations, so let us not go back. We should give Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia an opportunity to continue with the good work he has started, she urged.

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Nana Serwaa, acknowledging the traditional stance against chiefs engaging in politics, expressed her strong support for Dr. Bawumia, noting the visible progress she has witnessed. They say traditional rulers should not involve themselves in politics, but as for what we have seen with our eyes, we cannot gloss over them. We have been saying the good things we have been seeing and we will continue to say them.

In a heartfelt message, she prayed for Dr. Bawumias success, saying, My son, dont worry. Remain resolute and be bold because victory awaits you. By the grace of God, youll be sworn in as President a month after December. By the grace of God, it will come to pass.
We've chosen Akua Donkor's replacement  Ghana Freedom Party

Graphic.com.gh Politics Nov - 02 - 2024 , 15:18 1 minute read

The Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) has announced that it has selected a new presidential candidate for the upcoming December 7 elections, following the recent passing of their founder and former candidate, Akua Donkor, on October 29.

Party officials stated that the new candidate will be introduced to the public in the coming days, emphasizing GFP's commitment to the election and its vision for Ghana despite the loss of their founding leader.

At a news conference in the Ashanti Region on Friday, November 1, GFP leaders spoke to members and supporters, expressing unity and determination to uphold Akua Donkors legacy.

Nsawam-Adoagyiri parliamentary candidate Patrick Tetteh confirmed that the partys executive council has reached a consensus on both the presidential candidate and a running mate, chosen to uphold GFPs values and dedication to the Ghanaian people.

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Tetteh highlighted the significance of this decision, emphasizing that it represents the leaderships collective commitment to honor Akua Donkors contributions and continue the partys mission in her memory.

The executives and leadership of the Ghana Freedom Party have decided and agreed on the next presidential candidate and running mate which will be announced and presented to the EC and the general public within the given period of the Electoral Commission to enable the Commission to proceed with its legal mandate and the democratic process of our country.
When democracy dies

Professor Jeffery Haynes Politics Nov - 02 - 2024 , 10:25 5 minutes read

In 1900 no countries qualified as a democracy as we understand it. A hundred years later, in 2000 there were 120 democracies, the highest number in human history. In 2024, 80 countries around the world, home to around four billion people, are holding national elections.

So, alls well with democracy, then? In a word: no. Despite an impressive number of elections in 2024, democratic liberties are in decline. In 2023, an estimated 52 countries saw declines in democratic freedoms, because of global conflicts, acute voter dissatisfaction and mass disinformation. Today, around the world there are 63 electoral democracies and 74 autocracies, that is, countries with few or any democratic freedoms.

According to International IDEAs Global State of Democracy initiative, Ghana performs in the mid-range across all four categories of the Global State of Democracy framework. Although Ghana is among the worlds top 25 per cent of countries with regard to several factors, there are recent declines in Credible Elections, Access to Justice, and Freedom of Association and Assembly. Liberal dimensions of Ghanas democracy are in decline.

Liberal democracy involves: (1) Elections between or among multiple, distinct political parties (2) Separation of powers into different arms of government (3) Rule of law in everyday life as part of an open society (4) Market economy with private property (4) Universal suffrage (5) Equal protection for all citizens of human rights, civil rights, civil liberties and political freedoms.

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Quality of democracy

Many Ghanaians are dissatisfied with the quality of the countrys democracy. International observers identify concerns. Swedens Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) categorised Ghana as a liberal democracy between 2003-2014, an electoral democracy in 2015-23, and an autocratizer in 2024, indicating a significant democratic decline.

An autocratic regime is one which manages to bypass or weaken democratic institutional constraints such as an impartial administration, vertical and horizontal accountability, as well as free and open media.

What are Ghanas democratic strengths? There is a viable multi-party system, electoral reforms to improve the structure and process of elections, a lively civil society and independent media, as well as widespread acknowledgement of the importance of democratic norms by both the mass of ordinary Ghanaian citizens and political elites, behaviourally, attitudinally and constitutionally.

Weaknesses

What are Ghanas democratic weaknesses? Observers have noted the following: electoral processes that continue to be saddled with significant flaws that undermine the integrity of elections and pose a threat of democratic relapse, an executive presidency with wide, some claim, excessive powers, ethnically or tribally based politics potentially undermining political stability, periodic pre- and post-election violence, and limited policy influence for civil society. In its 2023 report on Ghana, Freedom House notes the following democratic weaknesses: discrimination against women and LGBT+ people, weaknesses in judicial independence and the rule of law, corruption and public service delivery [which] present challenges to government performance, political violence, and illegal mining  galamsey  causing immense destruction to water bodies.

Recent Afrobarometer data indicate that democracy is not working well for Ghanaians, for several reasons, including perceptions of increased petty and state-level corruption, as well as pessimism about the direction of national development and lack of belief that successive governments have the ability to deal with these problems.

In 2023, Afrobarometer found that 77 per cent of Ghanaians say the level of corruption in the country increased during the previous year and 87 per cent of citizens think Ghana is heading in the wrong direction. At the same time, a large majority of Ghanaians (75.9 per cent) express the view that democracy is preferable to any other kind of government. This implies that democracy per se is not the problem but rather that most Ghanaians believe that democracy is not working well for them.

Freedom of expression

Writing recently in the Daily Graphic, George Bernard Shaw, the pseudonym of a Ghana-based lawyer, referred to Ghana as a hot cauldron of human rights issues, with particular concerns about freedom of expression and association and the right to personal liberty. George Bernard Shaw was referring to the brouhaha generated by the recent three-day protest, organised by Democracy Hub, drawing attention to the devastating effects of galamsey and calling on the government to act swiftly and ban the act.

Protests bring public attention to an issue or problem but do not on their own necessarily lead to meaningful changes. What is also required is that those with political power, that is, the president and parliament, devise new and more effective ways to deal with the issues that the popular protests identify.

So Ghanas democracy has significant flaws. Does this mean that democracy is on death row in Ghana, as it is currently in several neighbouring countries where recent military involvement in politics has led to newly autocratic regimes?

To improve democracy in Ghana, it is vital to promptly rejuvenate and refocus relevant institutions, such as parliament, the presidency and the judiciary. To achieve this, it is essential to have a popularly elected government, both accountable and transparent, where serious state-level corruption is minimised, and where ordinary peoples concerns are not only listened to but also purposively addressed by those in power.

What are the chances of this happening after the 9th round of Ghanas presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7?

The writer is an Emeritus Professor of Politics, London Metropolitan University, UK.
Last week, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE was 585 for an 8/128GB model and 640 for an 8/256GB one. It did come with a free Galaxy Watch FE, which was nice, but wouldnt you rather just have a lower price?

If you would, then have another look at Amazons offer  the prices for the 8/128GB and 8/256GB models have fallen to 550 and 600, respectively. No free watch this time, but there is an alternative offer for a bundle of S24 FE plus Galaxy Buds3 that comes out lower than the combined S24 FE + Buds3 price.

This week, its the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 that come with a free timepiece  its just a Samsung Galaxy Fit3 smart band, but that is on top of the 100 discount for these phones, which makes it a pretty sweet deal if youre aiming for a mid-range phone.

And this one isnt for everyone, but you can also get a free Galaxy Fit3 if you buy the Galaxy XCover7. Do you need a rugged phone with a removable battery?

Lets look at the Samsung Galaxy Fit3 itself, which goes for 40 right now (43% off MSRP). It has a 1.6 OLED display, supports fall detection and emergency SOS (so its a suitable gift for old folks) and promises to last up to 13 days on a charge. Note that it lacks a built-in GPS, so you need to bring your phone with you, if you want to track outdoor exercises like running or biking.

The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra flip foldable is down to 800. This buys you a 6.9 internal and 4 165Hz external displays, a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a 4,000mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging and a 50+50MP camera that includes a 2x portrait lens.

Foldables are a cool form factor, but one that is limited in terms of cameras. For less money you can have the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra instead  this one has a 50MP main (1/1.3 sensor), 64MP 3x telephoto (72mm) and a 50MP ultra wide, plus a 50MP selfie. This Ultra also uses the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 rather than the full fat 8 Gen 3 and has a 6.7 144Hz OLED display. The battery is larger and faster with 4,500mAh capacity and 125W/50W charging.

If the Ultra is too big for you, check out the Motorola Edge 50 Neo. It has a 6.4 display and is around the same size as the Pixel 9. It doesnt quite have the camera prowess of the Ultra, but it does have a 50MP main (1/1.5), 10MP 3x tele (73mm) and 13MP ultra wide. Be warned though, the camera was the biggest issue we had with this phone in our review. The 4,310mAh battery lasts a good while and is fast to top up with 68W wired charging and less so with the 15W wireless charging. The Dimensity 7300 is a bit weak for this class, but the discount makes this limitation easier to accept.

But if large screens arent an issue, check out the Honor 200 Pro. The screen in question is a 6.78 120Hz OLED with a dual camera cutout  a 50MP selfie and a 2MP depth sensor. The phones curiously shaped camera island is home to a 50MP main (1/1.3), a 50MP 2.5x telephoto and a 12MP ultra wide. The Silicon Carbon battery boasts a capacity of 5,200mAh and you get 100W wired and 66W wireless charging.

The Honor Magic V2 is a 2023 phone, though it only arrived in Europe in early 2024. It shows its age with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, but it has solid cameras  50MP main, 20MP 2.5x tele (62mm) and 50MP ultra wide. And a large 5,000mAh battery with 66W wired-only charging.

For reference, the slender new Galaxy Z Fold6 Special Edition is thicker than the V2 (10.6mm vs. 9.9/10.1mm closed) while having a smaller battery (Samsung kept the 4,400mAh of the original Z Fold6). True, it does bring a new 200MP sensor in the main camera, but the telephoto is still a 10MP 3x module and the ultra wide a 12MP module. And this is only for people who can even buy the Special Edition, which is available only in South Korea for now. Meanwhile, the Magic V2 is here and can be yours for 1,000.

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According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Q3 2024 saw a total of 39.6 million tablets shipped worldwide, which represents a YoY growth of 20.4%.

Apple maintains the top spot within the segment with a sizeable lead in front of the competition but just a modest 1.4% YoY growth. Still, 12.6 million units is nothing to scoff at. The second spot for number of units sold goes to Samsung, with 7.1 million or 18.3% YoY growth. Analysts believe this is solely due to the commercial success of the Galaxy Tab A9 series.



IDC Q3 2024 tablet sales YoY

Amazon and its tablet sales take the third port with 4.6 million units shipped, but an absolutely amazing 111.3% YoY growth. Those are mostly attributed to strong Amazon Prime Day sales. Huawei also had a strong quarter with 3.3 million units and a 44.1% YoY increase. And finally, we have Lenovo in the fifth spot with 3 million units sold and 14.7% YoY growth.

Sound off in the comments since we are kind of wondering if you picked up an Amazon tablet recently just because it was a great deal.

Source | Via
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Hita Litekyan and Micronesia Climate Change Alliance invite the public to the closing ceremony of Ta Nai Animu at the Guam Museum Rotating Gallery on Sunday, Nov. 3.

The closing event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and offers a final chance to experience the artistic contributions that honor indigenous land stewardship and environmental justice, according to a release.

The exhibition, titled Ta Nai Animu (To give your entire spirit): Celebrating Indigenous Art and Land Stewardship, brought together over 45 CHamoru and Pasifika artists, each presenting unique perspectives on sustainability, climate change, and cultural preservation through various media, including painting, sculpture, and photography.

In line with Plastic Free July, featured artists used 25% recycled materials in their works, reflecting the communitys dedication to sustainable practices.

Select pieces from the Ta Nai Animu exhibition will be available for bidding in a silent auction, offering a unique opportunity for art lovers and community members to own meaningful works by native creatives that celebrate indigenous heritage and environmental activism, the release states.

Proceeds from the auction will support the artists and fund future initiatives by Hita Litekyan and the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, enabling continued advocacy for climate justice and cultural preservation in the Mariana Islands.

In addition to exploring the artworks, attendees are invited to a teach-in with Robert A. Underwood, a distinguished educator, former president of the University of Guam, and current board member of the Pacific Center for Island Security.

Underwood has been at the forefront of research and advocacy on critical security issues affecting the Pacific, with a focus on the intersections of militarization, regional sovereignty, and island resilience.

During this event, Underwood will discuss Guams missile defense system, delving into its strategic, environmental, and socio-political implications for our island and people. With his leadership and extensive research with the Pacific Center for Island Security, Underwood offers a crucial perspective on how militarization impacts Guams resources, lands, and future, the release states.

Additionally, the event will include a comment drive for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Enhanced Integrated Air & Missile Defense System, adding community voices to this important environmental review process.

We are grateful to have gathered with our community and allies throughout this exhibit to honor our land and heritage, said Maria Hernandez May, co- director of MCCA and Hita Litekyan organizer. As we close, we hope that Ta Nai Animu leaves a lasting impression of the strength found in our shared stewardship and creativity, carrying forward the spirit of protection and respect for our lands.
One trial continues and three others are scheduled to start next week in the Superior Court of Guam.

In the case of the People vs. Johnny Acfalle, Rogelio Marquez Jr. and Yolanda Megofna, Acting Chief Prosecutor Gloria Rudolph has already called her first witness to the stand, Guam Police Department Officer Geon Diaz.

Diaz was the arresting officer on Aug. 31, 2024, when he pulled over a white sedan driven by Acfalle for expired registration. Court documents state that the three gave misleading information about their names, which Diaz corroborated on the witness stand.

The suspects were asked to exit their vehicle, and Acfalle gave consent to search the vehicle, while also telling police that he borrowed the car. Inside, police found a scale, several small baggies and 23 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

The trio was charged with drug possession and possession with intent to deliver. Two of the three had an active warrant for arrest, and all faced charges of commission of a felony while on felony release.

Their trial resumes Wednesday morning in Superior Court of Guam Judge Maria T. Cenzons courtroom.

Three trials

Superior Court Judge Alberto E. Tolentino has two trials scheduled to start on Monday, Nov. 4.

In the first case at 9 a.m., People vs. Jesse Taitano Basaliso, court documents state that on March 13, 2024, Basaliso allegedly took a yellow bus from the Core Tech barracks off of Rt. 34. Basaliso allegedly rammed the main gate of the Two Lovers Point entrance and then took off.

Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but he operator refused and continued northbound on Rt. 3. Court documents state that he appeared to stop, then speed up multiple times.

As the operator approached the entry to Andersen Air Force Base, he stopped at a red light and continued to motor when the light turned green. He then collided with a concrete barrier by the base gate. According to the magistrates complaint, Basaliso allegedly said, Im here for recruitment.

He faces charges of vehicle theft as a second-degree felony, eluding a police officer and criminal mischief for the damaged property. He also faces a special allegation of commission of a felony while on felony release.

At 1 p.m. in Tolentinos courtroom, a trial is scheduled to start in a 5-year-old case.

Tysone Benavidez Usana was 29 when in 2019, a 16-year-old girl told police that Usana had touched her private parts since she was about 8 years old.

Documents state that when she was younger, the abuse happened almost every day. She fought him off as she got older and it happened less frequently, according to the documents.

Usana is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct as first-degree felonies, two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct as first-degree felonies and one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Finally, at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 starts the trial of People vs. Duane Manuel Cruz.

Cruz, a registered Level 1 sex offender and defendant on pre-trial release for a family violence case last year, was arrested in September 2024 after a 14-year-old girl told police that she had been sexually assaulted by a man known to her, later identified as Cruz.

The prior year, when the victim was 13, she told police that when she visited Cruz at his residence, he asked her if she wanted to have sex with him, and she replied, No. He raped her, she said, then told her to go and clean up.

The following month, in September 2023, Cruz allegedly grabbed her breasts and touched her inner thighs. Documents state that she told her family, but they took no action.

Cruz was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct as a first-degree felony, and three counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct as a first-degree felony. He faces life in prison if convicted.
Interview: China's success in urbanization sets an example for Bangladesh, says scholar

Xinhua) 10:18, November 02, 2024

DHAKA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's success in urbanization, particularly in areas like advanced transportation systems, pollution control and enhanced public engagement, has set an example for Bangladesh, a Bangladeshi scholar has said.

Shamsad Mortuza, director of the Center for China Studies at the University of Dhaka, shared insights with Xinhua on World Cities Day regarding the transformative effects of China's urban policies and their relevance for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's urban population share reached 40.47 percent in 2023, up 0.8 percent from the previous year and continuing an upward trend over recent years, according to Statista data, an international data and business intelligence platform.

"This steady urban growth is promising for Bangladesh," Mortuza said. "Dhaka is on its way to becoming a cosmopolitan city, with projects like metro rail, elevated expressways, and modernized airport terminals contributing to a more organized urban layout."

However, Dhaka's role as a migration hub in a country with a population of about 173 million remains a challenge. "Many newcomers lack familiarity with urban norms and civic codes," Mortuza said. "While we're making strides in infrastructure, fundamental issues like traffic congestion, pollution, and inefficient waste disposal persist as barriers to a sustainable urban future."

Emphasizing that decentralizing growth from Dhaka is essential for sustainable development, Mortuza underscored that Bangladesh could learn valuable experience from China's urban planning practices.

Citing the vast network of waterways in Dhaka, he proposed that Bangladesh leverage its rivers for public transport to ease congestion, similar to the way Chinese cities have optimized their natural resources. "Expanding river-based transport could ease traffic pressure while offering a cleaner, efficient mode of transit," he said.

During Mortuza's visits to cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Kunming, he learned about China's varied and successful urban approaches. "Beijing is culturally rich, Shanghai showcases modernity and urban planning at its peak, and Kunming presents a relaxed and eco-friendly lifestyle with parallels to Bangladesh's environment," he said.

He was particularly impressed with the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. "Their vision for managing waterways and repurposing suburban areas is truly inspiring," Mortuza said, adding that Dhaka's suburbs could also be transformed by rehabilitating neglected areas for housing, public parks, and other uses.

The Bangladeshi scholar emphasized that pedestrian-friendly and green urban spaces, which he has seen in Chinese cities, are crucial for fostering a healthier and more active lifestyle.

"China's parks and public spaces serve as valuable examples. Expanding green areas in Dhaka could improve air quality, reduce heat, and encourage recreational activities," he said, adding that with more space dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists, Dhaka could improve mobility and the quality of life.

China's approach to urban energy management offers valuable experience for Dhaka, especially in leveraging renewable energy sources for urban infrastructure, Mortuza said. "Cities like Shanghai have efficiently integrated energy management into public transport and building design in efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. Dhaka could follow suit by promoting energy-efficient practices in construction and urban lighting."

In terms of public transportation, he said that China's advanced systems serve as a model. "China addressed transportation challenges similar to those we face by building sophisticated networks," he said, stressing that Bangladesh could benefit greatly from this approach.

"Traffic congestion and pollution remain critical barriers to a healthy urban lifestyle in Dhaka. China's efforts to address these issues serve as a blueprint for us to build a cleaner and more livable city," Mortuza said.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
The campaign in the 142nd Assembly District has generated some of the roughest TV ads airing locally this election cycle as a GOP challenger hammers the Democratic incumbent over allegations of workplace misconduct.

Republican Marc D. Priore has run a political commercial reviving claims made by former staffers of Assembly Member Patrick B. Burke that the Orchard Park Democrat made inappropriate remarks within his office. Priore contends the allegations are fair game and its important voters understand Burkes true character.

Burke said the Assembly Ethics Committee investigated the claims and determined they were unfounded. He denied making any of the statements attributed to him and said he is focused in his re-election bid on talking about what hes accomplished in office.

The 142nd District covers South Buffalo and the citys Lovejoy and Fillmore sections, along with Lackawanna, West Seneca and Orchard Park.

Democrats make up 47% of registered voters in the district, far outpacing the 23% who registered as Republicans.

Burke, a 40-year-old South Buffalo native, was a community activist before serving five years in the Erie County Legislature and, later, winning election to the Assembly in 2018.

He won re-election in 2022 by 53% to 47% over Republican Sandra Magnano of West Seneca, after the candidates spent a combined $250,000 on the race.

Burke started the year without any money in his campaign account, but he has a fundraising edge in the race, bringing in $75,544 compared to the $40,376 raised by Priore, financial disclosure reports for 2024 show.

Priores plan to overcome the Democratic enrollment edge in the district leans heavily on reminding voters of the accusations lodged against Burke.

They trace back to Burkes decision to fire three staffers in May 2022 for what he called gross insubordination in a disagreement over whether the Assembly member had sufficiently spoken out against white supremacy in the days after the 5/14 racist massacre at the Jefferson Avenue Tops Markets store.

Eleven months later, one of the ex-staffers, former legislative director Nicole Golias, filed a complaint with the state Division of Human Rights that accused Burke of making offensive remarks in the workplace. Burkes former community relations director, Matthew Dearing, joined Golias in a lawsuit against Burke that repeated the concerns.

Their claims include that Burke frequently and explicitly commented on womens bodies, including the desirability of his teenage sons romantic partners; discussed and ranked his comfort level in having sex with people with various disabilities; and mocked a fellow Assembly member who revealed she had been sexually abused as a child.

Burke previously and again in an interview this week denied making any such comments. He is not accused of making sexual advances against any of his employees.

The Assembly Ethics Committee, made up equally of Democrats and Republicans, investigated and did not find evidence of wrongdoing, Burke said.

The Division of Human Rights, however, found probable cause to move ahead with a public hearing into Golias allegations and, further, added the Assembly to the complaint. Lawyers for the Assembly have tried to block the public hearing and to remove the Assembly from the complaint.

They dont want the truth to come out, said Priore, 51, a West Seneca resident and administrative lieutenant with the Erie County Sheriffs Office. And, to me, were not throwing mud at the wall here and seeing what sticks; were looking at a situation where, if there was nothing to hide, you wouldnt be suing to have the Division of Human Rights not be allowed to investigate.

Priore said the allegations show Burke isnt fit to continue serving in office. The accusation that Burke mocked the Assembly member was particularly painful because, Priore said, he also was abused as a child.

Burke said voters dont bring up the complaints as a concern when they talk to him.

Ive run an honest, good campaign based on issues and what Ive done and what Im going to do for my constituents, Burke said. And my opponent has run probably the ugliest race Ive ever seen.

Burke said the No. 1 issue he hears from constituents is fear about the economy.

Burke said hes proposed a Fair Deal for the Middle Class  a nod to Theodore Roosevelts Square Deal and Franklin Roosevelts Fair Deal  that would, for example, create a $200 million state fund that would offer loans to people who live paycheck to paycheck for new windows or other home improvements at zero-percent interest.

If something happens to their home, theyre not going to be able to fix it, Burke said. Those people are angry, and they should be, and their government should be doing something for them.

He said theres a level of racism and ugliness in the criticism leveled by Republicans against state aid thats going to migrants and that party has blocked attempts in Congress to reach a bipartisan solution to what is a federal problem.

People have raised legitimate frustrations, Burke said, but New York cant ignore the issue.

If you dont spend any money at all on it, youre gonna have a bigger problem. Youre gonna have people who are legally allowed to reside in this country with nowhere to go. Like, if theyre here, do you not want them housed? said Burke, adding the state is constitutionally obligated to educate any and all children.

His opponent, Priore, worked as a Buffalo Police cell block attendant before joining the Sheriffs Jail Management Division as a corrections officer in the late 1990s. He has moved into the administrative ranks and has served as a union officer as well.

Priore said he decided to run for office after seeing a Buffalo News article last December that identified two Republicans who were interested in challenging Burke in 2024. He bested the other two contenders to win Republican and Conservative backing for the election.

Priore said the states tax burden is already too high and Albany should not be spending $2.4 billion annually to care for asylum-seekers in the state when that money could go toward veterans, the homeless and the middle and working class.

He also criticized Burke for supporting bail reform when it was initially passed and for not doing enough to address complaints from police and prosecutors about its implementation. Burke has said there was a need to reform how bail functions in the state but he has pushed to make changes to the original law in response to those concerns.

These are the issues that I hear when Im out in the district, Priore said. They dont feel safe. They dont feel like theyre getting a fair shake when it comes to our tax dollars staying home.

Burke, for his part, said hes an independent voice in the State Legislature who still is able to leverage his position as a member of the Democratic majority to the benefit of his district.

Our community would lose a ton of resources and representation if I wasnt returned to Albany, said Burke, who chairs the Assemblys Great Lakes Watershed Task Force.

Burke is too beholden to liberal interests in the State Capitol, said Priore, who insists he can work effectively with members of all parties.

Im not saying that any one individual Assemblyman is going to be able to change all this, Priore said. But what I do know is that youre either part of the solution or youre part of the problem.




Haiti - FLASH : Documents required for the Vitem 3 humanitarian visa for Brazil





The International Organization for Migration (IOM - Haiti), which operates the Visa Application Center for Brazil, reminds you of the documentation required for the humanitarian visa (VITEM 3).



Required documents :

- Passport valid for at least twelve (12) months on the day the applicant's file is submitted, with at least two (2) blank pages;

- Two (2) recent passport-size photos on a white background (5 x 5 cm);

- Criminal record extract or police certificate issued by the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police of Haiti (DCPJ) (valid for 6 months) or by the Courts of First Instance (TPI) (generally valid for 3 months), for adults;

- Reservation of the plane ticket (travel itinerary);

- Extract of birth certificate issued by the National Archives, duly legalized by the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship. Birth certificates issued by the Courts of Peace will not be accepted;

- Original receipt for payment of the BVAC fees, in the amount of 60 US dollars per application, to the IOM account at SOGEBANK # 2616027989.



VITEM 3 implies that the applicant is an adult.



See read :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43529-haiti-flash-resumption-of-online-appointments-for-the-vitem-3-humanitarian-visa-for-brazil.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Haiti maintains February 7, 2026 to install a new elected government





From October 28 to 30, a delegation from Haiti and representatives of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe met for a series of high-level meetings organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) through its Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) of the Secretariat for the Strengthening of Democracy, as part of the follow-up to OAS Permanent Council Resolution 1237. These sessions focused on essential constitutional and legislative measures necessary to facilitate future elections in Haiti.



At the request of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, the Venice Commission issued an interim opinion in June 2024 on possible constitutional and legislative solutions for the conduct of future electoral procedures in Haiti. This opinion, although provisional, stressed the importance of a secure and inclusive electoral framework and underscored the principle that the Haitian people and their representatives will determine the conditions and timetable for resolving the current crisis.



Progress Toward the 2025 Elections and the Need for Security :



The Haitian authorities confirmed their intention to maintain February 7, 2026 as the target date for the inauguration of a new elected President. As participants discussed establishing interim steps toward this goal, all parties emphasized that the restoration of security is a fundamental prerequisite for the holding of the referendum and elections.



Support for constitutional reform and future elections :



In parallel with these efforts, the Steering Committee of the National Conference plans to launch a national consultation on constitutional reform starting on 7 November 2024, with a draft Constitution expected by the end of December. This draft is expected to be presented to the public before a referendum scheduled for March 2025. The Venice Commission has offered to provide recommendations on the draft Constitution, while DECO remains available for technical cooperation on specific issues, if requested by the Haitian authorities.



Commitment to transparency and continued international collaboration :



The Haitian authorities have committed to keeping the public and international partners informed of the progress of these initiatives. In a spirit of collaboration, Haiti, the Venice Commission, and the OAS committed to open channels of communication and consider a roadmap to support Haitis next steps following the adoption of a new Constitution. The conclusions of these discussions will be made public next week.



The Venice Commission is expected to issue its final opinion in December 2024 on potential constitutional and legislative solutions for Haitis electoral processes. This opinion will address several areas discussed during the meetings, such as the stability of electoral institutions, gender equality in elections, youth representation, voting by Haitians abroad, electronic voting, party financing and training, security conditions for voters and materials, and the right to vote.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43519-icihaiti-politic-a-high-level-haitian-delegation-discusses-the-situation-in-haiti.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





New Head of the PAP Police Station

On Thursday, October 21, 2024, Divisional Commissioner Luckner Dumond, Departmental Director of West-1, installed Commissioner Junior Lacombe as the new head of the Port-au-Prince Police Station. During the installation ceremony, Lacombe called on all police officers and the population to collaborate to better address security challenges.



Mexico condemns

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico condemns the acts of violence that have occurred in recent days in Haiti, perpetrated by armed gangs in Port-au-Prince, the metropolitan area and in the Artibonite department.



Important working session with the PM

Prime Minister Garry Conille held an important working session this week with members of the National Conference Commission and representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Haiti. This session focused on priority actions relating to the implementation of the National Conference and Constitutional Reform Projects.



Taiwan doubles rice yield in southern Haiti

Since 2019, the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) has been supporting the Association of Planters and Breeders of Warf Massey (ASPEWM) in the Southern Province, through the Rice Production Improvement Project. By creating a Rice Multi-Service Center. The TTM provides facilities for drying, milling and storing rice, thus improving processing efficiency and reducing costs. Through these efforts, ASPEWM has increased rice yields from 1.8 to 3.9 tons per hectare and expanded into activities such as selling ice cream and cold drinks since the project was implemented. Recently, ASPEWM secured an order for 50 tons of white rice to support the National School Canteen Program.



RAM and Boukman Eksperyans in Paris

As part of the promotion of Haitian culture in France, the Haitian Embassy in Paris hosted the groups RAM and Boukman Eksperyans, for a warm exchange with the press and members of the Haitian community as part of their participation in Ayibobo Mascarade Paris, an event organized on October 31 by ErnstProd, Imperial Group and Kouzen Lakay.



DR : Slight drop in exports with Haiti

Despite the general crisis that Haiti is going through and the strained relations between the two nations of the island, exports from the Dominican Republic to Haiti amounted to 660.1 million dollars for the first 9 months of the year (- 7.1% compared to the same period in 2023). Exports to Haiti represent  6.8% of the total exports of the Dominican Republic in the world for this period. Among the nationally manufactured items most in demand in the border territory are cotton t-shirts worth 69.4 million dollars; Portland cement, for 37.4 million and wheat flour for 32.3 million, among other products.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The new Mac mini with M4 SoC was the real star of Apple's "Mac Week", which ended on Wednesday: a new, much smaller form factor meets speedy hardware that can be upgraded to M4 Pro. The first hands-on images published by The Verge and others show just how much the new compact computer has shrunk: The footprint has shrunk considerably, only the height went up from 3.58 cm to (certainly tolerable) 5 cm.

Anzeige

Looking at the published images, however, one question arises: Where is the device switched on? The answer: Apple has moved the power button to the underside  or more precisely: to the rear left, below the three USB-C sockets on the back of the device. This is not ideal, as you always have to lift the Mac mini M4. But the problem can be solved. But the problem can be solved, as several dedicated hobbyists have demonstrated within a very short space of time.

Several 3D printing projects at the start

The power button on the bottom is definitely not very elegant  Why Apple has not found a place on the back of the Mac mini M4 will have to be revealed by the first teardowns of the device when it is launched on November 8. To start the compact Mac in its natural state, you have to lift the 670 (M4) or 730 (M4 Pro) gram device briefly upwards, as mentioned, should your fingers not fit underneath  at least on the side of the button. If you have peripherals, such as an external SSD, on the Mac mini, they must first be removed.

The Munich-based systems engineer and hardware hacker Ivan Kuleshov has proposed an initial solution with his iFixTheButton project. This is a kind of rocker that guides the button outwards. If you press the button attached to it, another button attached under the device is pressed upwards, which activates the actual power button. Kuleshov has already printed out an initial prototype. Models including images and other sources are available on GitHub.

Second solution is more elegant

In addition to iFixTheButton, there are other ideas for the button problem. User danielha2058 submitted his proposal on MakerWorld. This seems somewhat more elegant than Kuleshov's, but is also more complex. In this case, a side attachment is attached to the Mac mini M4, which guides the button all the way to the top. However, the solution is based on more components, but appears more stable overall.

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As mentioned, Apple will be selling the new Mac mini from next Friday. Prices start at 699 euros in the minimum configuration with 256 GB SSD  with 16 GB RAM.

Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen. Preisvergleiche immer laden Preisvergleich jetzt laden

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The candidates are strikingly different, and their campaign ads have invaded local network television. The district for which they are competing includes Cheektowaga, a political battleground whose race for town supervisor last year was almost evenly split among parties, as well as Lancaster, Depew and Sloan.

Wallace is proud of her accomplishments over eight years in office, measured, independent presence in Albany, and her diverse platform and respect she has cultivated outside of her party.

People know that Im an effective, thoughtful voice, the incumbent said Friday. She is also supported by the Working Families Party.

Chludzinski, a Cheektowaga Police Department lieutenant, champions major party themes  demanding the repeal of bail reform and holding leaders accountable for asylum-seekers to Western New York  and believes hes capable of an upset despite being severely out-fundraised. Hes made up some financial ground through new public campaign financing, an approach Wallace called a waste of taxpayer funds.

I know this community better than just about anyone, said Chludzinski, who also has received Conservative Party support. Im a whole lot more in touch than my opponent.

Heres a look at key issues in the race:

Public safety





Erie County GOP committee endorses two police officers for state Assembly seats Two police lieutenants have been endorsed by the Erie County Republican Committee to run for seats in the state Assembly, committee chairman Michael Kracker announced Saturday.

The districts safety is the anchor of Chludzinskis platform and a component of Wallaces. The candidates differ, however, in their perceptions of effectiveness.

Chludzinski accuses Wallace of having a pro-criminal agenda thats made the district less safe and decimated the quality of life. Chludzinski said he has seen a revolving door in police departments because of bail reform and urges stiffer punishments for repeat violent offenders. He said current discovery laws tie the hands of prosecutors and make the criminal justice system less efficient.

I see firsthand, day-to-day the failures of what bail reform has caused to our community, he said.

OTB board urged to cancel $500,000 in 'sweetheart' payments to outgoing executives Three elected officials blasted the approved payouts to outgoing President and CEO Henry Wojtaszek and two other executives as illegal and financially imprudent.

Wallace referenced her background as an attorney and federal law clerk to show her concern for accountability and justice. She voted against bail reform as a standalone bill, she said, and this summer advocated to tighten rules around parole violations, stemming from convicted killer Edward Kindts absconding from transitional housing. Its something I take very seriously, she said.

Wallace added she strives for justice against corrupt governance, loudly protesting the sweetheart payments doled out to Western Region Off-Track Betting executives in July. Im most proud of restoring integrity to government in general, she said.

Asylum-seekers

Chludzinski lambasts Wallace for not fighting New York Citys dispersal of hundreds of asylum-seekers to be housed temporarily in Cheektowaga hotels. He questions how well vetted the asylum-seekers were prior to their arrival.

It was badly handled in every way, he said. Residents have paid a heavy price financially and theres been a negative impact on their quality of life. The challenger said, at his police job, the department receives regular calls to the hotels and disturbances at neighboring properties.

Wallace has advocated for the children of asylum-seekers, and she clarified that state representatives have no jurisdiction over where they are placed; the decisions are made at a federal level. The asylum-seekers would be leaving the area at the end of the year, she added.

Asylum-seekers bused from NYC to Buffalo area may be sent back by the end of year A representative with DocGo stated Friday that "based on direction from the city," those who have not transitioned to other housing programs will be "reconnected with friends and family with the City of New York covering the cost of travel; or returned to the Arrival Center in New York City."

While Chludzinski demands New York City leaders pay Maryvale Central Schools for educating asylum-seeker students, Wallace pointed to the consistent increase the school district has received in state aid, which she has said more than offsets the costs to educate the English language learners.

Breadth of platform

The current Assembly members body of work has embraced several areas of district life. Wallace expanded free lunch programs for students, bolstered college tuition assistance, advocated for improved child care access, promoted workforce development to benefit small business, and taken steps to better protect victims of domestic violence.

One campaign hallmark is affordability, she said, which can show itself in many ways. She pointed to how she and Speaker Carl Heastie secured $2 million in state funds to repair the sewer infrastructure of the Harlem Road Pump Station, resulting in a huge savings for property owners.

Her concerns about the NY Heat Act were economically driven as, although she supports moving away from fossil fuels, she was worried local homeowners would face extreme costs in retrofitting gas stoves inside old homes to meet electric standards.

She conveyed her stance on womens reproductive rights through her television advertising. My opponent doesnt think that women should make decisions about their own bodies and their own reproductive healthcare, Wallace said. Weve seen what has happened in states that have criminalized abortion care. She pointed to a recent example of a Texas woman who died after being denied care for her miscarriage.

Western New York candidates reap close to $1.3M in public campaign funds Welcome to the new system of campaign financing in New York  a system in which taxpayer dollars fund political campaigns in an effort to keep major donors from dictating the course of elections.

Wallace said her decision-making process as a law clerk is reflected in her role with the State Assembly.

I look at one sides arguments, the other sides arguments, look at the law, and then make the best decision under the circumstances, she said.

Chludzinski, however, said door-to-door conversations with residents have sharpened his initial focus to four areas: public safety, crime, state taxes and general affordability. He believes Wallaces priorities are not as focused. He believes that, as a U.S. Army veteran, he would continue to serve his community honorably.

I will stand up for residents and be the strong voice to carry to Albany to voice their concerns, he said.
In 2009, U.S. Navy veteran Ezra Biesterveld was hanging out of a helicopter tracking Somali pirates with other soldiers along the Horn of Africa.

Years later, the Chippewa Falls resident is being thanked for service to his country in a tangible way. Biesterveld is a beneficiary of Project MXL, which covers the costs of CrossFit memberships across the country for military veterans.

Biesterveld and U.S. Navy veteran Matt Lewis of Chippewa Falls will step up for fellow veterans Nov. 9 during a special workout fundraiser when members of CrossFit Chippewa Falls will raise money ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The fundraiser will ensure other veterans in Chippewa Falls have the opportunity to get gym memberships for free. It is organized by CrossFit Chippewa Falls owner Allison Short who is known for her support of military service veterans, Biesterveld said.

Helping local vets

Short and members of the CrossFit Chippewa Falls community are working with Project MXL to raise money for veterans. Project MXL is a nonprofit group that connects veterans and their families with fitness programs to help them lead healthy and happy lives.

Organizers put veterans in contact with CrossFit affiliates and high-intensity interval training programs across America. Donations to Project MXL are mostly used to cover veteran gym fees.

MXLs big goal is supporting vets, giving veterans a community of people to help combat PTSD, depression, all that stuff that comes along with serving our country, right? Short said.

This is the first year CrossFit Chippewa Falls has held a fundraiser for MXL.

CrossFit is for anyone, but it's not for everyone, Short said. It's hard, and a lot of people don't like it. It's definitely very mentally and physically challenging, but, I mean, I think that's rewarding, she said.

CrossFit Chippewa Falls Address: 16 Taylor St., Chippewa Falls Hours: 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday Information: 715-379-6441 or Allison@CrossFitChippewa.com

CrossFit workouts

Shorts CrossFit model involves structural gymnastics and weight lifting, cardio and gymnastics.

We do a lot of body weight stuff, so like burpees, we'll do handstands, we'll do hands down walking, we'll do handstand push ups, we'll do pull ups. That kind of stuff is considered our gymnastics, she said.

Biesterveld is a local veteran who has benefited from Project MXL. His gym membership is one of five at the Chippewa Falls location covered through the MXL funding.

He said it is appreciated because CrossFit and gym memberships are pretty expensive. Short is the one who approached him about the opportunity and now he is enjoying its benefits.

Biesterveld said after he got out of the Navy he gained weight and found himself in the obese category.

Friends encouraged him to join the gym. During the pandemic he spent a year doing CrossFit with Short. He lost 70 pounds and has remained at a healthy weight since May 2021, he said.

He said he finds the motivational aspect of working out in the group setting encouraging, even on challenging days.

I was never really into it when I was in the Navy but it has its hooks in me now, he said.

'Hunting African pirates'

His naval career covered a span of four years. Biesterveld entered the Navy in 2006 and got out in 2010, he said.

One of the more eyebrow-raising assignments he was given in the Navy was helping combat piracy in Somalia during what he describes as the Captain Phillips years.

The Maersk Alabama cargo ship was attacked in 2009 and captured by four Somali pirates off the Coast of Somalia, according to the U.S. Navy. Captain Richard Phillips and the crew were taken hostage, and then the pirates took the captain off the ship into a lifeboat. Upon orders from President Barack Obama, U.S. Navy forces fatally shot all but one of the pirates and rescued Phillips. The story made national news and was later adapted into a Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks as Phillips.

I worked on the helicopters, right? And so we were on a small ship, and then the helicopters would buzz around the water, and then they'd pick out suspicious looking boats or whatever, he said of his time spent off the coast of Somalia.

It was along the Horn of Africa that he was tasked with hunting African pirates.

He also deployed to the Persian Gulf during his service.

Way to say, 'Thanks'

Biesterveld said the gym membership for veterans is a tangible way for people to make a difference in veterans lives.

It shows support for veterans like myself, he said. Everyone is always like, Thank you for your service but it can be hard to respond, to know how to show appreciation but this is a way you can say, Thank you in a different way.

Matt Lewis is another veteran benefiting from CrossFit in Chippewa Falls.

He joined the Army National Guard in high school immediately after 9/11 and then enlisted in the Navy for explosive ordinance disposal, which he performed from 2010-18.

He now works in software development and continues to travel frequently, though he works from home in Chippewa Falls.

He said he wasnt invested in CrossFit at first.

In my unit we had a couple of guys that were really into it but I didnt participate at all back then. It wasnt my kind of thing, he said.

He said he gave it a second look because he missed the community and camaraderie of the military.

Then Allison called and said, Hey we just partnered with MXL and she took care of it. It took awhile to get approval but its a great program, he said.

He said he appreciates the Project MXL funding.

Sponsor a workout

On Nov. 9, CrossFit Chippewa Falls will host the workout Chad, which is 1,000 box step ups.

Participants may do it with or without a rucksack. Sponsors are asked to pay for a step box at $100 a piece.

There are now 20 sponsors, but the gym is looking for more.

The workout Chad is in remembrance of Chad Wilkinson who took his life after a traumatic brain injury suffered in combat and PTSD.

I thought it was a fitting workout for the cause, Short said.

Veterans can apply for the Project MXL program online at: https://projectmxl.org/veteran-application.
Chinese vice premier welcomes Australian firms to cooperate more with China

Xinhua) 10:24, November 02, 2024

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with an Australian high-level business delegation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes Australian enterprises to strengthen cooperation with China in trade, investment, finance and other areas, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said on Friday.

He made the remarks in a meeting with an Australian high-level business delegation led by David Olsson, National President of the Australia China Business Council.

While China is advancing high-level opening up and further easing market access, it will protect the national treatment and legitimate rights and interests of foreign-funded enterprises, said He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

He welcomed Australian firms to share the opportunities brought by the Chinese modernization to achieve win-win results.

Representatives of Australian enterprises said that they are optimistic about China's economic prospects and are willing to commit to long-term cooperation with China and promote the sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade ties.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
New U.K. Legislation: Failure to Prevent Fraud Offence - Is Your Hospitality Business Prepared? - Image Credit Unsplash

There will be significant update in legislation that introduces the Failure to Prevent Fraud (FTPF) offence, which intensifies the obligation on businesses to strengthen their anti-fraud strategies. This legislation received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. Implementation of the FTPF offence is expected following a preparatory period, which will begin once the government issues guidelines on reasonable procedures for compliance. These guidelines are expected imminently, with the legislation likely to take effect in late 2024 or early 2025.

Its crucial for all businesses to understand these changes, take proactive steps to prepare for this legislation, and protect your business.

About the Failure to Prevent Fraud offence

The FTPF offence is a new legal measure that holds businesses accountable for failing to prevent fraud committed by their employees or associated persons. This liability applies to all levels of operation, from frontline staff to senior management. The hospitality sector, where transactions often occur rapidly and in high volumes, must be particularly vigilant.

Key implications for businesses

Increased responsibility Businesses are required to take proactive steps to prevent fraud within their organization. This includes implementing and maintaining effective anti-fraud policies, procedures, and controls. Risk of legal liability If an employee or associated person commits fraud, the business could be held legally liable if it cannot demonstrate that it had adequate procedures in place to prevent such actions. Enhanced compliance requirements Companies must invest in training, monitoring, and auditing systems to ensure all employees understand and adhere to anti-fraud measures. This may involve regular risk assessments and policy updates to mitigate the risk of fraud. Reputation management Non-compliance or involvement in fraud cases can severely damage a companys reputation. Businesses must be vigilant in protecting their brand and maintaining trust with customers, partners, and regulators.

Consequences of non-compliance

Financial penalties: Companies found guilty of failing to prevent fraud could face significant fines. The severity of the penalty would likely depend on the extent of the fraud and the level of non-compliance.

Companies found guilty of failing to prevent fraud could face significant fines. The severity of the penalty would likely depend on the extent of the fraud and the level of non-compliance. Criminal liability for senior management: In some cases, senior management or directors may also face personal criminal liability if it is proven they were complicit or negligent in preventing fraud.

In some cases, senior management or directors may also face personal criminal liability if it is proven they were complicit or negligent in preventing fraud. Legal proceedings: Businesses could face legal action, leading to lengthy and costly court battles, financial strain, and negative publicity.

Businesses could face legal action, leading to lengthy and costly court battles, financial strain, and negative publicity. Loss of contracts or business opportunities: Companies in violation may lose existing contracts or be disqualified from future business opportunities, especially in the hospitality sector where compliance with ethical standards is critical.

Companies in violation may lose existing contracts or be disqualified from future business opportunities, especially in the hospitality sector where compliance with ethical standards is critical. Increased scrutiny: Non-compliance could lead to increased regulatory scrutiny, resulting in more frequent audits and inspections, and potentially additional regulatory requirements.

The FTPF offence places significant pressure on businesses to establish and enforce robust anti-fraud measures. Failure to comply could result in serious financial, legal, and reputational damage. Therefore, businesses must proactively adopt comprehensive compliance strategies to avoid these risks.

Steps hospitality businesses can take to ensure compliance

Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment Evaluate your fraud risk frameworks thoroughly, analysing both internal operations and external interactions to ensure comprehensive coverage against potential fraud. Cultivate an anti-fraud culture through training Foster an environment where every team member, from executives to frontline staff, is committed to ethical behaviour. Training programmes that emphasise the consequences of fraud and the critical role each employee plays in prevention can fortify this culture. Capcon has developed a training programme specifically for this purpose. Implement robust procedures Develop and implement strong internal controls to prevent and detect fraud. This includes secure handling of payments and verification processes for bookings and refunds. Utilise technology Automated systems can detect anomalies in transactions that might indicate fraudulent activities. Undertake compliance audits Regular audits are essential to ensure anti-fraud measures are effective and being followed. These audits can also help demonstrate compliance with the law if your business needs to defend its practices. Collaborate and share information Work with UKHospitality to share best practices and learn from others in the sectors experiences in fraud prevention. Enact thorough due diligence Extend fraud prevention strategies to include due diligence checks on all staff, business associates, suppliers, vendors, and third-party service providers. Screen employees Implement stringent screening procedures for new hires and ensure ongoing reviews of current staff. This should include periodic audits of employee access to sensitive information and financial controls to deter misappropriation of funds, alongside enforcing conflict of interest policies to mitigate internal fraud risks.

Capcon's anti-fraud services

Tailored anti-fraud procedures: Capcons anti-fraud protocols adhere to government guidelines and industry standards. They help businesses implement effective, scalable solutions that address unique operational needs, from booking systems to payment processing.

Capcons anti-fraud protocols adhere to government guidelines and industry standards. They help businesses implement effective, scalable solutions that address unique operational needs, from booking systems to payment processing. Risk assessments: Capcon conducts comprehensive risk assessments to identify potential fraud risks within hospitality operations. They evaluate security measures and operational practices to find vulnerabilities and recommend appropriate safeguards.

Capcon conducts comprehensive risk assessments to identify potential fraud risks within hospitality operations. They evaluate security measures and operational practices to find vulnerabilities and recommend appropriate safeguards. Anti-fraud culture training: Capcon offers training programmes to enhance fraud awareness across all levels of an organisation. Their courses, tailored to your needs, cover ethical behaviour, fraud implications, preventive actions, and more, supporting a culture of integrity and vigilance.

Capcon offers training programmes to enhance fraud awareness across all levels of an organisation. Their courses, tailored to your needs, cover ethical behaviour, fraud implications, preventive actions, and more, supporting a culture of integrity and vigilance. Ongoing fraud prevention strategy reviews: Capcon ensures your fraud prevention strategies remain scalable and effective through regular reviews and updates, adapting to new fraud tactics and regulations.

Capcon ensures your fraud prevention strategies remain scalable and effective through regular reviews and updates, adapting to new fraud tactics and regulations. Thorough due diligence: Capcons due diligence services include vetting suppliers, third parties, and new hires, along with continuous monitoring of existing staff. They focus on verifying information accuracy, managing financial controls, and enforcing conflict of interest policies to mitigate internal fraud risks.

Given the substantial impact of fraud, and the effect the upcoming measures could have on the hospitality industry, it is crucial for all UKHospitality members to understand the implications and take steps to comply by implementing robust anti-fraud measures.

Capcon, a UKHospitality supplier, can provide detailed insights into what these changes entail and how businesses can prepare, as well as tailored training programmes for your management and staff to assist in preparing your business against fraud and meeting the requirements set out in the FTPF legislation.

For more information, contact Marcus Jones, Managing Director, Capcon, for a free initial consultation: M: 07939 436841
Natalie Placer - Image Credit Four Seasons Hotels

Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans announces the appointment of Natalie Placer as the propertys new Director of Marketing. A seasoned luxury hospitality professional, Placer brings more than two decades of experience to her new role, including significant tenure with Four Seasons properties across the country. A native of Louisiana, Placer is charged with leveraging her wide-ranging hospitality expertise on behalf of her home state's only AAA Five Diamond hotel.

"Natalie's extensive experience within the Four Seasons brand, coupled with her deep connection to Louisiana, makes her the ideal leader for our marketing efforts," says Esther Oh Kostecky, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans. "As we embark on a substantial year for the city, including Super Bowl LIX in February, Natalies understanding of luxury hospitality and her passion for New Orleans will be invaluable as we elevate the guest experience and showcase our property as the premier destination in the Crescent City."

A graduate of Louisiana State University, Placers career in hospitality began at the Westin New Orleans, where she honed her skills as a conference services manager before joining Four Seasons. Starting at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, Placer quickly rose through the ranks, holding various roles including Sales Manager, Director of Catering, and Director of Sales, demonstrating her versatility and leadership in various aspects of hotel operations.

Throughout her career with Four Seasons, Placer has played integral roles in major hotel renovations, market repositioning, and implementing innovative sales strategies. Her experience spans from overseeing multi-million dollar catering budgets to managing comprehensive sales and marketing teams. Most recently, Placer served as the Director of Sales and Marketing at Four Seasons Hotel Austin, where she developed, implemented, and executed marketing plans and selling strategies for the iconic property. She looks forward to returning to New Orleans with her husband, Scott McClure, who was born and raised in the Crescent City, dining at their favourite restaurants and rediscovering the destination.
Lipton wants to invest $3 million in the old Mobil gas station on Main Street, but the ZBA has ruled that 'gas station' is not a recognized use in that zone.

Lipton Appealing Dalton Code Enforcement Ruling on Gas Station

DALTON, Mass.  A public hearing on Nov. 12 will determine whether the new owners of 630 Main St. can proceed with their plan to reopen a gas station.

The location has been an automotive repair shop, Miller's Service, for several decades until its owner, Darren Miller, sold it to Lipton Properties in February 2024 for $500,000.

Lipton Properties agreed to purchase the property provided the environment was in good condition, and the garage lifts and unused underground tanks were removed, said Michael Lipton, president of Lipton Inc.

The tanks had to be removed to comply with the state Department of Environmental Protection's requirements. The agreement also included Lipton's intention to later install new tanks in the same location as the removed ones.

This plan was hindered after the town's zoning enforcement officer denied Lipton's zoning use with an opinion citing the proposed use for "bulk storage and/or sale of petroleum products" are not allowed in a B-2 zoning district and "gas station" is not a recognized use.

Although "bulk storage and/or sale of petroleum products" are not allowed in that zoning district, the property has been operating in this capacity since 1934, so is considered a pre-existing nonconforming use, Lipton said in the Zoning Board of Appeals application.

According to Exhibit A from the town, "The property has been used as a gas station in the past, but during the last five years  I have not observed the property being used in such a manner. It has been a Massachusetts vehicle inspection station."

The argument from the building inspector is that bulk fuel sales had stopped but this determination is incorrect as Miller was selling bulk fuel right up until he sold the property, according to Lipton.

"They never did stop selling bulk fuel. A 55-gallon drum of oil is considered bulk fuel and [Miller] regularly purchased these and then resold it. So, he had never stopped selling bulk fuel," Lipton said.

Lipton filed an administrative appeal to the ZBA. If approved, Lipton will continue its plans to invest approximately $3 million to revitalize and modernize the property to reopen it as a convenience store and gas station.

The property had been a Mobil gas station and service station for decades, known as Culverwell's Mobil station for nearly 30 years until it was demolished and the current structure built in 1970 as Dalton Mobil. Mobil's request to demolish it and build a larger station and canopy was rejected in 1990. Miller purchased the property in 1996.

Lipton said he has spoken to some community members who are excited about their plans to redevelop the property.

If approved, "it's going to get rid of an eyesore that's sort of there now. It's going to provide jobs, probably I would say at least eight new jobs," Lipton said.

"We're investing approximately $3 million in this location, if we're permitted to do so. So, that alone, I think, will be nothing but a positive for the town."

Lipton Inc. currently operates nine other gas stations, with seven located in Berkshire County, one in Greenfield, and one in Brattleboro, Vt.

During the Select Board meeting on Monday, the board voted in favor of the administrative appeal. This vote will be taken into consideration during the public hearing, during which the Zoning Board will make a final determination.

"Three gas stations that have been allowed in Dalton in the last several years, yet a place that's been there for 90 years is not allowed anymore, because there's no mention of gas station in the zoning bylaw as a use," Select Board member John Boyle said.

The exclusion of the word gas station in the bylaw needs to be corrected, he said.

Board members agreed and subsequently voted in favor of supporting the administrative appeal.
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The author of The Handmaids Tale, Margaret Atwood has shared a powerful and cryptic cartoon, urging women to vote in the upcoming US election.

Voting will close on 5 November in the US presidential election and candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are reportedly neck and neck in the polling.

Abortion rights have been a prominent debate in this election cycle after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, something which Trump celebrated.

For months, Harris has warned Americans that Trump will go to greater lengths to restrict reproductive freedoms than he already has, pointing to plans laid out in Project 2025  a document created by The Heritage Foundation to which Trump has multiple ties.

The former president has promised he wouldnt do so while distancing himself from Project 2025.

Atwood has now shared an impactful cartoon by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Mike Luckovich at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hinting just how important womens rights will be in the outcome of the vote.

The image shows a line of Handmaids, complete with their red cloaks and white bonnets, lining up at a voting booth. After each of the women cast their vote, they toss aside their Handmaid outfits and walk away wearing modern clothes.

Atwood posted the cartoon without a message but it has since received a flurry of replies in support. One person wrote: Lets leave Gilead to fiction. Everyone vote!

Another person said: Women will vote for their freedom.

Current UK Labour MP Stella Creasy also shared the image adding: If you think this is just a concern for American politics, you dont understand that even in 2024 around the world women are just at different points in this queue...

Atwoods 1985 novel is set in a dystopian version of the United States which has been overtaken by a radical religious cult, who have renamed the country Gilead. Under the new government, many women are enslaved and called Handmaids whose sole purpose is to bear children for rich families.

The novel has since been turned into an award-winning television show starring Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd, Bradley Whitford and Joseph Fiennes.

Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaids Tale' ( Hulu )

Women dressed as Handmaids have appeared at protests in the United States throughout Trumps ascension as a political force, with many comparing the overturning of Roe v Wade to the events of the book.
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Ten years ago, if youd asked anyone to sum up the constituent parts of a Hugh Grant movie, their answer might have gone something like this. Grant plays a charming posho with a knack for transforming even the most straightforward piece of dialogue into a bumbling collage of erms and aahs. He exclaims bugger! a lot, often while bumping into various beautiful women. The floppiness of his fringe is inversely proportional to his level of caddishness (if his hairs longer, hes nice; if its shorter, run). And if Richard Curtis isnt in the directors seat, then his name is quite probably lurking somewhere in the credits.

For a very long time, thanks to films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, Grant was synonymous with a particular sub-genre of romantic hero: one who lived in a nice part of west London and was good at swearing Britishly. Now, though, that has all changed. By his own admission, the 64-year-old is in the freak show period of his career. The man who was one of the most pigeonholed actors of the Nineties and Noughties has carved out a new niche, gleefully leaning into playing characters that are twisted, ugly, weird [and] misshapen (again, his words). Hugh 2.0 has earned some of the best reviews of his career so far. But as celebrated as this second act has been, it does make you wonder: has Grant simply swapped one form of typecasting for another, replacing the romcom stammerer with the unhinged oddball? Is he about to get trapped in another, stranger box?

Take his new film Heretic. Its an unsettling slow-burn horror from cult-favourite production house A24. Grant plays Mr Reed, a bespectacled, cardigan-wearing type who is visited by two naive Mormon missionaries, who have turned up because he has expressed an interest in learning more about the Church of the Latter Day Saints. He invites them in to discuss the finer points of their beliefs (and to sample some of the blueberry pie that his wife is cooking). But the atmosphere soon sours. Reeds affable chatter gives way to strangely insistent theological questioning; his eyes become more maniacal behind the Deirdre Barlow specs. The lights go out. The front door wont unlock. That blueberry smell? Just a scented candle. Its one of Grants most dynamic performances to date, one that has earned him raves from critics: Empire praised him as genuinely chilling, while The Telegraph called him a wicked delight.

open image in gallery Unsettling: Grant has earned rave reviews for his performance in Heretic ( A24 )

Mr Reed would be a real curveball of a part if Grant had, say, jumped straight into edgy horror after delivering his speech about David Beckhams right foot in Love Actually. But it is merely the latest in a string of roles that have allowed him to channel his inner bad guy, and riff upon the tics of his earlier performances in increasingly unsettling ways. The Hughnaissance (is it really an actorly comeback if the press dont stick naissance on the end of your name?) kicked off in 2017, somewhat surprisingly with Paddington 2, when he put in an unforgettable turn as washed-up, narcissistic actor and bear nemesis Phoenix Buchanan (a role that involved him disguising himself as an unusually attractive nun). It continued when Grant lent an air of sly menace to the role of disgraced Liberal MP Jeremy Thorpe in the BBC miniseries A Very English Scandal. Then he starred as Nicole Kidmans creepy husband in 2020 drama The Undoing, a man whose veneer of charm shatters in slow motion over the course of the series, to horrifying effect.

This trio of roles challenged our notion of what Grant could do. Soon it became de rigueur for filmmakers to cast him as their movies resident oddity. He was a cartoonishly evil villain in the Dungeons & Dragons movie, and a grumpy, tangerine-hued Oompa Loompa in Wonka, dancing under duress. This phase is a little harder to sum up than the first half of his career, but at a push, its about weirdos, freaks and ruthless b*****ds.

There was always an undercurrent of villainy in his acting DNA

Whats arguably most interesting about this latest career phase is how it plays upon our preconceptions, and remoulds the signatures of Grants past performances. There was always an undercurrent of villainy in his acting DNA: you only have to watch him as the sleazy Daniel Cleaver in the Bridget Jones movies or as the shallow man-child of About a Boy to know that. He has simply dialled that up, while also twisting his old performance hallmarks  the stammers, the blinks, the self-deprecating faces  into something sinister. It works so well precisely because were so aware of his past filmography. As The Independents film critic Clarisse Loughrey put it in her review of Heretic, the genius of his performance is that, really, hes the same Hugh Grant as before. He still rushes headfirst into his sentences, only to end them with a sheepish smile In short, hes irresistibly charismatic. Its charm weaponised to disturbing effect.

Grant seems far more at ease embracing this darker side than he ever did as Curtiss leading man. He recently told The New York Times that it was a mistake to ever lean into his Four Weddings persona (an alter ego he perfectly sums up as Mr Stuttery Blinky) on-screen and off. Hes also spoken at length about the relief of having aged out of the romantic hero category, and how it has allowed him to push himself as an actor.

open image in gallery Eccentric: Grant as an Oompa-Loompa in Wonka' ( Warner Bros )

An actor playing against their onscreen persona is a classic Hollywood reinvention trick, one that audiences lap up (you only need to look at Daniel Craig in his post-Bond era for a textbook example). But its a ploy that performers can only pull off so many times before this just becomes a new type to trap them. To keep pushing himself, and to maintain this brilliant momentum, Grant now arguably needs to dial down the freakiness and shift gear. Otherwise, he is running the risk of building up (then getting stuck in) another stereotype of what a Hugh Grant film is.

Next up will be a real throwback, when Grant reprises his role as Cleaver in the fourth Bridget Jones movie, Mad About the Boy (yes, the filmmakers appear to have resurrected him after killing him off in film number three, a wild creative choice that I wholeheartedly respect). Im crossing my fingers that making peace with his romcom past in this way will lay the groundwork for him to move into another, even more varied chapter of his career. Period pieces, political thrillers, police procedurals: there are so many possibilities. Grant has always been a much better actor than his industry has known what to do with  as much as he seems to be enjoying his weirdo era, itd be a mistake to pigeonhole him again.
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Harrison Ford has endorsed Kamala Harris for president, urging American voters to dont do this again when referring to Donald Trump.

The 82-year-old Indiana Jones and Star Wars actor joins the likes of Taylor Swift, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Martha Stewart in endorsing the Democrat ahead of Tuesdays vote.

Meanwhile, Trump has received backing from the likes of Elon Musk, Harrison Butker, Hulk Hogan and Jake Paul.

Speaking in a black-and-white video released by the Harris-Walz campaign, Ford said: When dozens of former members of the Trump administration are sounding alarms, saying, For Gods sake, dont do this again, you have to pay attention. Theyre telling us something important. These arent soft people. Theyre governors, generals, standing up against the leader of the party they spent their lives advocating for.

The Blade Runner star added: The truth is this, Kamala Harris will protect your right to disagree with her about policies or ideas, and then, as we have done for centuries, well debate them. Well work on them together, and well move forward. The other guy, he demands unquestioning loyalty, says he wants revenge. Im Harrison Ford. Ive got one vote  same as anyone else  and Im going to use it to move forward. Im going to vote for Kamala Harris.

Ford went on to accuse Trump of spending four years turning us against each other while embracing dictators and tyrants around the world.

He added: Thats not who we are. We dont need to make America great again. Come on, we are great, but what we need is to work together again. What we need is a president who works for all of us again.

Recently rapper Sexyy Red announced that she had switched sides just a year after she had voiced support for Trump.

The 26-year-old artist made the surprise announcement on X/Twitter on Friday (November 1), writing: I just voted!!! Dont tell us what to do with our coochies!! #Kamala4President. Her post included two pictures of herself standing in front of a black SUV, wearing I Voted stickers on her bottom.

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They support him in the hood. At first, I dont think people was f***ing with him. They thought he was racist, saying little s*** against women. But once he started getting Black people out of jail and giving people that free money. Awe, baby, we love Trump. We need him back in office, she said on a 2023 episode of Theo Vons This Past Weekend podcast.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris ( REUTERS )

With just days to go in the election, polls show that the two candidates are virtually tied in the race for the White House.
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Who Framed Roger Rabbit director Robert Zemeckis has revealed why he believes the film will never receive a sequel, despite a good script being written.

The Forrest Gump filmmaker, 72, has said that the current Disney would never make Roger Rabbit today and suggested the character of Jessica Rabbit is too sexualised for the modern iteration of the studio.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Zemeckis explained that original screenwriters Peter S Seamen and Jeffrey Price had written a follow-up, but that the sequel isnt ever going see the light of day, as good as it is.

Theres a good script at Disney, but heres the thing: The current Disney would never make Roger Rabbit today, he said. They cant make a movie with Jessica in it.

He added: I mean, look what they did to Jessica at the theme park. They trussed her up in a trench coat, you know?

Zemeckis went on to say that the original 1988 movie, which featured a ground-breaking combination of live action and animation, was a product of a period of time when Disney was ready to rebuild itself.

open image in gallery Bob Hoskins with Roger Rabbit in 1988s Who Framed Roger Rabbit ( Rex Features )

We were there when that new regime came in, and they were full of energy, and they wanted to do it, said the director.

I kept saying, and I sincerely say this, I do believe this, Im making Roger Rabbit the way I believe Walt Disney would have made it. The reason I say that is because Walt Disney never made any of his movies for children. He always made them for adults. And thats what I decided to do with Roger Rabbit.

When the film marked its 30th anniversary in 2018, The Independent film critic Clarisse Loughrey wrote that Jessica Rabbit has feminist appeal.

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Jessica Rabbit may not dominate the screen time of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but her legacy has become as outsized as her bra measurements, wrote Loughrey. Thanks to those fantastical proportions, shes both a legitimate sex symbol and the parody of one; an animated cartoon character whos been lusted over and fetishised to the maximum.

Shes the pure product of the male gaze, in many ways, since her creators  animator Richard Williams and director Robert Zemeckis  have openly described her as the ultimate male fantasy. A walking, talking punchline, too: the drop-dead gorgeous babe whos saddled with the meek, dorky type. How did a gal like her ever end up with a rabbit like Roger?

Yet, the most legendary of sex symbols can rarely be so simplistically interpreted. From Marilyn Monroe to Lara Croft, pop culture pin-ups have often come with their own subversive, feminist appeal: especially within the construct of third wave feminism, which allows space not only to embrace contradiction, but to celebrate it.
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Rapper Sexyy Red has officially voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election.

The 26-year-old artist made the surprise announcement on X/Twitter on Friday (November 1), writing: I just voted!!! Dont tell us what to do with our coochies!! #Kamala4President. Her post included two pictures of herself standing in front of a black SUV, wearing I Voted stickers on her bottom.

The U My Everything rappers endorsement for Harris comes a year after she spoke out in support of former president Donald Trump.

They support him in the hood. At first, I dont think people was f***ing with him. They thought he was racist, saying little s*** against women. But once he started getting Black people out of jail and giving people that free money. Awe, baby, we love Trump. We need him back in office, she said on a 2023 episode of Theo Vons This Past Weekend podcast.

In his final hours in office in 2021, the Trump administration released the full list of 143 people who will receive either pardons or commuted sentences, including rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black. Wayne, who had pled guilty in federal district court for illegal possession of a weapon while traveling to Florida on a private plane in 2019, was facing up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted. However, his sentencing never came as a result of Trumps clemency.

Sexyy Red announces she voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election ( Getty Images )

In a statement at the time, the White House praised Lil Wayne as trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous, adding that he has exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of food banks.

Meanwhile, Kodak Black had been serving a 46-month prison sentence after he pled guilty in March 2020 to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, following an arrest in April 2019 at the border between the US and Canada. The Wake Up in the Sky rapper was released from prison early after Trump commuted his sentence.

Earlier this summer, Sexyy Red  real name Janae Nierah Wherry  performed at New York Citys Governors Ball in June. A large inflatable red Make America Great Again hat was on display behind her during her headlining performance, though she later told the crowd she wouldnt be endorsing anybody in the election.

Its Sexyy Red 4 President. Im my own candidate Im not endorsing anybody period, she said.

Her comments came one month before President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. Weeks later, Sexyy Red was forced to deny rumors that she was expected to perform at Trumps Atlanta rally in August.

Dey fakin dats cap, she wrote on X.
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Its an unseasonably warm October day in London, and Eddie Redmayne is gazing out of the window. Im worried he wants to jump out of it solely to get away from this conversation.

I suppose, the actor stutters, as any human would, you take each moment, each criticism, each interrogation, each, um... err... He pauses. Each opinion piece... um. Everyones voices... He starts again. Often something youve done is just a part of a much bigger discussion, and you try to make sense of it with the understanding and comprehension of any human being. Redmayne turns back to me. He clears his throat.

I havent asked him anything thats especially probing. Ive merely enquired how hes gone about navigating the rocky terrain of his most illustrious role, that of Man at the Centre of Every Bit of Toxic Discourse of the Last Decade. He was the freckly, Eton-educated face of the British film industry when he won an Oscar for playing Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, sparking conversations about equal opportunities for actors who arent able-bodied, cisgender men of privilege. Hed poke that bear again less than a year later, portraying a trans woman in the regrettable The Danish Girl. And he was leading the Fantastic Beasts franchise at the same time as its creator JK Rowling went public with her views on trans people, which transformed her  over the course of three movies  from beloved childrens author to unbridled agent of chaos.

So, without me hammering the point home too aggressively, how has he dealt with it? Redmayne, dressed in a multicoloured jumper and wearing bright red spectacles, stops talking for an unnervingly long period of time. Four seconds pass. Five. We somehow eke it out to six. You answer, you trip over, you get quoted, get misquoted, he sighs. Its all par for the course. But the way I explain it to myself is Im just a f***ing actor. He lets out a surprisingly booming laugh for a relative wisp of a man. I wasnt bred to be a politician, or a great speaker, or a particularly articulate advocate. I will, of course, sputter my way through [advocacy] for the things that I care about... but Im just an actor. He laughs again, those icy blue eyes of his catching the light. Then he smiles. He wears the expression of a man never more relieved to reach the end of a thought. I think hes going to stay in the room.

Redmayne is excellent company: loose, self-deprecating, gregarious. The 42-year-old has a great physical elasticity to him, his limbs in constant motion. He likes to cradle his chin in the palm of his left hand and dart his head from side to side. Often to look out of that window. He went to clown school a few years ago  or, as its properly known, Pariss esteemed Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq  where he learnt to stretch and bend and curl himself into odd shapes. It left him seemingly completely at ease in his own skin. So I feel bad for briefly making him want to crawl out of it.

Theres no clowning in Redmaynes new project  he left that behind on the stage, where he played the rubbery, eerie Emcee in Cabaret in the West End in 2022, then on Broadway earlier this year. Instead, hes carrying a very big gun and wearing enviably plush suits. A new adaptation of Frederick Forsyths 1971 novel The Day of the Jackal, which arrives on Sky and Now next Thursday, casts him as an immaculately tailored assassin-for-hire: the Jackal of the title, immortalised on film first in 1973 by Edward Fox, then in 1997 by Bruce Willis. This TV reboot transposes the story into a modern setting, with the Jackal ordered to take out tech gurus and CEOs while disguising himself using cutting-edge makeup and prosthetics. In pursuit, meanwhile, is a ruthless MI6 agent played by No Time to Dies Lashana Lynch. What unfolds over 10 tautly plotted episodes is a high-pressure game of cat-and-mouse, with shades of Killing Eve in the pairs dynamic.

At the audition, I put on my best space emperor with mummy issues voice, and that was what came out  it was definitely a big swing

Its very fun  Ronan Bennetts scripts are nicely propulsive and twisty  and very pretty. It shot for seven months across Europe, including in Budapest and Croatia. There have been many years when Id watch The White Lotus and go, Why do I never get those jobs and hang out on beautiful beaches?, Redmayne laughs. So I wouldnt want to say that was the reason for taking the job, but it was pretty high up there. Ive spent years playing Elizabethans and Victorians, or people in the 1920s or 30s. This was the first contemporary thing I think Ive done in years. And it was nice to be able to just whip on a pair of trousers and a shirt every day, versus lots of 26-piece tweed suits.

Redmayne grew up watching the 1973 adaptation with his family, so was apprehensive at first when he was approached for the revival. You dont want to butcher things that youve been obsessed with, he says. But as he read each of Bennetts scripts, he found himself won over  10 hours with the Jackal, rather than just two, allowed for a real character to shine through. Edward Fox had this astonishing charisma, and could remain deeply enigmatic but deeply compelling, he says. But over 10 hours you can get inside that person. Here, that means introducing the Jackals wife and children, sun-kissed Spaniards with no clue what he does for a living.

open image in gallery Suited and booted: Redmayne in Skys The Day of the Jackal ( Marcell Piti )

The overarching story, too, can be a little more complex. The original film was quite binary  the Jackal was the baddie, Charles de Gaulle [the Jackals target] was the goodie. Here, though, everyone is morally grey. Lashanas character has these questionable behaviours, too. So you have two people who are obsessive and meticulous, and both extraordinarily compromised.

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He didnt dig too deep into the world of international assassins while researching the role. I did quite a lot of weapons prep, but I didnt delve into the dark web and try to find an expensive assassin, he deadpans. I chose to put my efforts elsewhere. But I do think these people exist in some capacity. And I suppose the line between assassination and terrorism is probably quite thin? He nods his head. Oh gosh, this interview suddenly got very serious, didnt it? Redmayne does this a lot  as if leaping out of the conversation to carefully self-edit in real time, or try to envisage what the finished interview will look like. (That his wife Hannah, with whom he shares two children, previously worked as a publicist may or may not be a coincidence.)

Anyway, Redmayne is perfectly cast in The Day of the Jackal. He replicates the tapered-down opacity of Foxs performance, while lending the character exciting notes of humour. You like him, even if you probably shouldnt. For my money, its probably the most relaxed and human Redmaynes ever been on screen; a total inverse of the squirming menace of Cabaret.

open image in gallery Squirming menace: Redmayne and the cast of Cabaret perform at the Tony Awards earlier this year ( Getty )

Redmayne has described himself in the past as a Marmite actor  someone whose mere presence in a project will either tickle your fancy or send you running for the hills. This might be down to his penchant for big swings, though; performances that bend to pomp and theatricality. Think the pouty flamboyance of his star-making turn in 2007s Savage Grace, alongside Julianne Moore. Or the huffing, gasping vocal derangement of his work in Lana and Lilly Wachowskis 2015 sci-fi flop Jupiter Ascending. Must a performance, though, always be good? Can it not just be so balls-to-the-wall wacky that it becomes practically hypnotic?

There was a moment in the Jupiter Ascending script that described the characters voice, Redmayne explains carefully, as if hes standing in the dock. It said that his throat had been gnarled out, or something like that. So at the audition I put on my best space emperor with mummy issues voice, and that was what came out. The Wachowskis let him keep it for filming. I had the most wonderful time making that film, but it was definitely a big swing. I do hear that there are people who are into [my performance], which is nice. Though Im also conscious I have a prize somewhere for giving the worst performance of the year. He chuckles. (It was Worst Supporting Actor at the 2016 Golden Raspberry Awards, if youre curious.)

open image in gallery Oh dear: Redmayne, playing to the rafters, in the sci-fi film Jupiter Ascending ( Shutterstock )

Does he read his own reviews? Oh, yeah, absolutely, he replies, without hesitation. He only finds it difficult to read them if hes in a play, where they cant help but impact what hes doing night after night. TV and film, though, often its so long since you did the thing that theres a level of detachment from it. But the interesting thing about them is that Id say most actors are harsher critics of themselves than any critic can be. Its rare that Im sitting reading a bad review of one of my performances, going, No! They got it wrong! I typically sit there going, Oh, yeah, I saw that too.

It sounds like a relatively healthy approach to criticism, I suggest. Oh, none of its healthy! he shoots back. The whole industry is deeply unhealthy. Its a horrendous job to do for health reasons. He giggles again.

Im curious about his relationship with some of his past work, too. The Danish Girl, for instance, has had an unusual afterlife. While the film  in which Redmayne played Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of gender-affirming surgery  earned reasonably strong reviews upon release, and Redmayne a Best Actor Oscar nod, its since been generally regarded as Very Very Bad, a relic of a different era in trans representation and films about queer lives. Redmayne has long stated that he probably shouldnt have starred in it (I made that film with the best intentions, but I think it was a mistake, he said in 2021). But does he have pride in the work itself?

I think that goes back to what I was saying about reviews, he explains. Im certainly more critical of my own work than most critics, I would say. So the reason I do this job is to aspire to those glimmers of something that momentarily feels real. He rubs his eyes. It sounds f***ing pretentious, but there are those moments, and sometimes they last for under a second, where youre completely free, and youre playing against someone, and everything is alive, and momentarily you go somewhere else.

open image in gallery Divisive: Redmayne in the Oscar-winning, if controversial, The Danish Girl ( Universal Studios )

How often does he get that feeling? Perhaps once every five years? And it lasts under two seconds, but its addictive. Its a drug, and the thing you keep aspiring to. But pride... Right, he says. He takes a big pause. When you watch stuff back, 99 per cent of it is not that moment. I see the foibles and the things that dont work. And whether something Ive been in has been criticised or scrutinised because of what it says to the world, that can definitely shift what I think of the story, or how I feel the story should have been told. But thats separate from whether I have pride in the work, absolutely. He takes another pause. That was really convoluted, wasnt it?

If Redmayne is very good at a kind of wordy obfuscation, its likely because hes done this for a while now. He was 33 when he won his Oscar for playing Hawking in The Theory of Everything, and had already bounced around Hollywood for nearly a decade before that. He was part of a starry contingent of British actors who went over to Los Angeles around the same time, all of whom seemed to flatshare or at least sleep on each others sofas at one point or another: Jamie Dornan, Andrew Garfield, Robert Pattinson, Daredevils Charlie Cox.

We were just a group of dreamers trying to become actors, he says, proudly. And wed all been told that it was an impossible trade  and it is an impossible trade, just as the amount of unemployment is so extreme  so were all quite astonished that were still here and working. Its a weird one, though, because in the early days it was profoundly intense, because we were all competing against each other for everything. So these were friendships that were certainly wrestled through, but always with great love and respect.

open image in gallery Old pals: Redmayne and Andrew Garfield in 2023 ( Getty )

Today, hes massively grateful for them. Its so lovely to be navigating such odd terrain yet having pals going through similar things who you can call up. And it evolves, too. Like, how do you negotiate being an actor and being a parent? How do you negotiate deciding whether to go off and do a job for eight months? How do you deal with the press and interrogation?

Having such famous friends, though, means hes often expected to pull out anecdotes from their shared history, yet comes up empty. I wish wed done more crazy s*** 20 years ago, just so wed have more things to spew up on the Jimmy Kimmel show, he laughs. But the material is running pretty dry at this point.

As for whats next, Redmayne is unsure. Fantastic Beasts is over, as far as Im concerned, so his diary is currently open. But hes excited for the future. I love variety, and I love pushing myself, and I hope to continue doing that, he says. Ill always take a big swing, and... He pauses. He turns to look out of that bloody window again. We sit in silence for a few seconds. Three go by. Then four. Redmayne finally swings his head back round to me. Oh, I wanted to say something really profound! he enthuses. Dammit! he sighs, as if imagining our interview wont now have a proper ending. But A for effort!

Its the thought that counts.

The Day of the Jackal begins on Sky Atlantic and Now on 7 November, and can be streamed weekly on Sky Go and Now
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India has accused Canada of indulging in harassment and intimidation of its consular personnel after Ottawa placed officials on audio and visual surveillance amid an escalating diplomatic row between the two countries.

The Indian foreign ministry said it summoned the Canadian high commission representative and lodged a strong protest over Ottawas allegation against minister for home affairs Amit Shah, prime minister Narendra Modis chief lieutenant

Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday.

Relations between India and Canada have suffered since Ottawa accused the Indian high commissioner and other top diplomats of being directly involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Mr Nijjar, 45, a Canadian Sikh who was wanted in India, was shot dead by masked gunmen in Surrey outside Vancouver in June last year. He was the face of the Khalistan movement, which seeks to carve out an independent Sikh homeland in western India.

open image in gallery A photograph of late temple president Hardeep Singh Nijjar, back right, is displayed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey

New Delhi had long accused Mr Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, of being involved in terrorism, an allegation he denied.

It comes as Canadian deputy foreign minister David Morrison reiterated that Mr Shah sanctioned a wave of violence targeting Sikh separatists across the North American country.

On Tuesday, Mr Morrison confirmed he was the source of the The Washington Post story which first named Mr Shah as the senior official in India who authorised the intelligence-gathering missions and attacks on Sikh separatists in Canada. The story did not name the source of the report when it was published last month.

Mr Jaiswal said the Canadian government deliberately leaked unfounded insinuations to international media to discredit India and influence other nations.

He said the foreign ministry delivered a strong note of protest to firmly condemn the baseless allegations made against Mr Shah.

The foreign ministry said that some consular officials in Ottawa said they were recently informed by the Canadian government that they had been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance.

open image in gallery Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in a news conference on violent criminal activity occurring in Canada with connections to India ( AP )

Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions, he said.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau went public with the allegations against Indian officials last year, sparking a diplomatic fallout between the two countries.

Bilateral ties hit a nadir last month when Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, accusing them of involvement in the killing. New Delhi, in a tit-for-tat move, expelled six Canadian diplomats.
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Alex Consani revealed how she felt breaking barriers as the first trans model to walk the Victorias Secret fashion show.

In a cover interview with Teen Vogue, the 21-year-old model reflected on the history-making walk on the Victorias Secret runway.

She explained that didnt even realize she would be the first trans model to strut the annual fashion show. Consani told the outlet that shed assumed that fellow trans model Valentina Sampaio held that title after appearing in a Victorias Secret campaign in 2019.

open image in gallery Consani said she did not realise she was the first at the time ( Getty Images for Victorias Secret )

Its crazy, though, because I didnt even realize I was the first to walk until after I walked the show, Consani said. I thought that Valentina had already walked a while ago, so having that in my mind took the pressure away.

However, she stressed to the outlet that there was more work to be done in terms of representation, adding that it could be difficult to advocate for change when many people in power are actively working against minority groups.

Its scary, though, because if you talk about the need for diversity to someone in power, they might X you out and say, Well, if youre upset then well just make sure youre not included,  she explained, noting that her rise in the fashion industry could be partly credited to her whiteness. When we have a conversation about fashion, were talking about what society views as beautiful or acceptable.

I dont see the people who Im inspired by doing the same jobs Im doing or getting the same support. Its upsetting, Consani continued. Where are the dolls of color? Wheres the South Asian models? The Native American/Indigenous models? Im close to people in those communities, and its really changed my perception of fashion.

She also noted that many of the things the public celebrates her for - including her hilarious TikTok presence - are heavily influenced by black trans women.

The personality that I have and the energy that I give is so heavily inspired by Black trans women, she explained. People see me as kitschy and different, but if youre ever around a Black doll, then you kind of get the same energy that Im celebrated for. Im celebrated because Im White.

Consani said she envisions a future where models do more than strut the runwaythey use their voices to make an impact.

Were at a point now where, generally, people recognize that you have to support a disadvantaged community in order for everyone to see them as equal, she said. Fashion, now more than ever, values a voice. If you have the ability to use your voice, then you have to use it.

The fashion show marked the lingerie giants first live runway event since 2018. Many of the brands angels returned to the catwalk on Tuesday night, including Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Tyra Banks, and Adriana Lima. They joined newcomers Consani, Sampaio, Lila Moss, Ashley Graham, and Paloma Elsesser to celebrate the fashion shows return from its six-year hiatus.
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Generation Z has started a new trend leading up to the 2024 US presidential election  canceling out their fathers votes.

Just days away from Election Day, many women have on TikTok have hinted that theyre voting for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, while their parents are voting for Republican nominee Donald Trump. As part of the trend, each video shows social media users with a piece of paper in hand as they leave their houses to go vote.

In one video posted earlier this month, Arizona-based resident Jeanne could be seen walking around her house. She had her ballot in her hand and did a little dance in her living room, with the video set to the song We Both Reached For The Gun from the hit musical, Chicago.

On my way to cancel out my fathers vote for [the former guy], she wrote in the text over the video, referring to former president Trump. The text also included a blue circle to represent the Democratic party.

Another woman named Isabella, whos also based in Arizona, shared a video about supporting Harris while her partner was voting for Trump. The video began with the TikTok user dancing for the camera, before heading into her car. She then kicked her leg and arm out  with her apparent ballot in hand  while sitting in the drivers seat before closing the door. The video was set to Level Up by Ciara.

Women share videos of themselves going to vote for Kamala Harris and cancel out their familys vote for Donald Trump ( TikTok )

POV, [on my way] to cancel out my Trump-loving husbands vote in a swing state, she said, along with a blue heart emoji and an American flag emoji.

Meanwhile, some people on social media have made pop culture references when taking part in the trend. One video featured a clip of Taylor Swift wearing sunglasses and holding her cat, which was originally taken during Swifts Eras Tour stop in Miami, Florida, last October.

In the edited TikTok clip, Swift was instead shown walking into a room of voting stands, before she takes her sunglasses off and looks around. Me on my way to cancel my dads vote, the text over the video read, along with three blue heart emojis in the caption.

However, some people have used the trend to share a different perspective. In a clip posted by a woman named Jess, she could be seen standing outside of her house and smiling, though she highlighted a deeper meaning behind canceling out someones vote.

Going to cancel out my dads vote and going to cancel out my husbands vote feels especially dark when you realize theyre also trying to cancel out our vote, she wrote. These men who raised us, took vows with us, men who pride themselves on being protectors, are voting to silence our voice, diminish our rights, and counter our choices. Were voting for ourselves and theyre voting against us.

And if [Trump] wins Ill never forgive them (not my dad and husband tho, but yours lol. And most of my uncles), she added in the caption.

As for Generation Zs overall choice for president, its still somewhat split. Half of Gen Z voters said they would vote for Harris in November, while one-third said they would vote for Trump, according to a poll shared in September. In the sample poll of roughly 2,600 registered voters aged 18 to 29, 10 percent said they would not vote and six percent said they would vote for a different candidate.

In just four days, Harris will go head-to-head with Trump in the 2024 election. Early voting data has already rolled in, with more than 47 million votes already cast. A new poll has shown that Harris may have an edge in two major swing states, which will be crucial to get ahead in the electoral college. Nearly 100 electoral votes are too close to call, marking perhaps the closest election in several decades.
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A life-sized Taylor Swift cake collapses on its way to an international baking competition, Cake International.

According to BBC, artist and baker Elza Baldzhiyska planned on showing off the Swift cake at the competition taking place near Birmingham on November 1.

The cake captured the pop star, 34, rocking her iconic pink-and-blue jeweled Versace bodysuit and those glittering knee-high bootsher go-to look for the Lover era on tour, now reimagined in frosting and fondant glory. However, as the cake was being transported, it began to fall apart.

Photos capture the cake starting to buckle at the knees, with Baldzhiyska desperately propping up the drooping Swift with one hand while attempting emergency repairs. Photos of the wilting cake revealed a handless Swift, though event organizers noted to the BBC that her hands were always planned to be a last-minute addition.

Ultimately, though, the artist had to bow out of the competitionher life-sized masterpiece simply couldnt shake it off.

Cake International, marking its 30th anniversary this year at the National Exhibition Centre from November 1 to 3, is all about cake decorating, sugar art, and baking alongside showcasing the jaw-dropping talent of cake artists worldwide. Visitors can catch live demos, view edible art installations, and stock up on baking essentials.

open image in gallery Elza Baldzhiyska trying to salvage her life-sized Taylor Swift cake after it was damaged ( AFP via Getty Images )

The life-sized Taylor Swift cake was planned as the star attraction and focal point of the anniversary celebration, according to the events website. The Swift cake wasnt the only humanoid cake set to reportedly be on display, with artist Emma Jayne showing off a life-sized rendition of Queen Elizabeth I.

This isnt the only super-sized tribute to the Tortured Poets Department artist to pop up lately. Just this past Thursday (31 October) Indianapoliss Lucas Oil Stadium snagged the traveling giant friendship bracelet that first made its debut at the New Orleans Caesars Superdome.

open image in gallery Elza Baldzhiyska attempting to fix her Taylor Swift cake for the Cake International competition ( AFP via Getty Images )

Originally crafted for Swifts shows in New Orleans as a playful nod to the beloved friendship bracelet trading at her Eras Tour, the bracelet was a fan-suggested idea to trade it between stadiums, letting each venue get in on the Swiftie spirit as the tour heads toward its Canadian finale in December.

Caesars Superdome General Manager Evan Holmes decided to make things official with Lucas Oil Stadiums Eric Neuburgeroffering up their oversized friendship bracelet as a token to cement their stadiums friendship.

Indy has a longstanding tradition of cooperative relationships and they dont stop at the downtown mile square outline, or the city limits, or a state line, Neuburger told the press. We like to believe that hospitality has no limits and friendships can exist everywhere. We saw the bracelets on the Superdome early on and thought it was such a cool idea, so we happily accepted the offer to bring them to Indy and are grateful to New Orleans for its generosity.

Created by artist Shawn Kolodny, these giant friendship bracelets are no ordinary arm candythe inflatable beads stand seven feet tall each, and the strands stretch a jaw-dropping 140 feet.
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Archaeologists were shocked to unearth an ancient tomb with 11 sealed burials near the famed city of Luxor.

Egyptian authorities said teams from Egypt and the United States discovered the tomb in the South Asasif necropolis, next to the Temple of Hatshepsut on the Niles West Bank in Luxor.

Egypts Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said in a statement on Friday the tomb dates back to the Middle Kingdom (1938 B.C.-1630 B.C.).

The joint Egyptian-American mission excavating the necropolis found coffins for men, women and children, suggesting that it was a family tomb used for generations during the 12th Dynasty and the beginning of the 13th Dynasty, said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt.

He said ancient floods destroyed most of the burials wooden coffins and linen wrappings.

However, some items such as jewelry in womens burials were found intact, including a finely crafted necklace with 30 amethyst beads and two cylindrical agate beads framing a hippo-head amulet, according to the statement.

Catherine Blakeney, chief American archeologist with the mission, said they found two copper mirrors, one with a lotus-shaped handle, and the second with a unique design of Hathor, goddess of the sky, women, fertility and love in ancient Egypt.

Pharaonic status displayed at the new halls of the Grand Staircase of the Grand Egyptian Museum ( Getty Images )

The discovery came as Egypt has doubled efforts to attract more tourists, a significant source of foreign currency for the cash-strapped North African country. Tourism, which depends heavily on Egypts rich Pharaonic artifacts, suffered a long downturn after the political turmoil and violence that followed a 2011 uprising.

Last month, the Grand Egyptian Museum, a mega project near the famed Giza Pyramids, opened 12 halls exhibiting Pharaonic artifacts for visitors as a trial ahead of the yet-unannounced official opening.

A year ago a new airport  Sphinx International  opened east of Cairo. It allows easy access to Giza, the Pyramids and GEM without travelling through the Egyptian capital.

Some prospective tourists have been staying away because of the increasing tension in the Middle East. But Philip Breckner, director of specialist tour operator Discover Egypt, told The Independent earlier this year: Egyptian life in the street, in the shops, the hotels, on the cruises is perfectly normal  and pretty oblivious to events outside and in neighbouring countries.
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A proposal to build a data center on the edge of the English village of Abbots Langley was rejected by local authorities amid fierce opposition from villagers. But it's getting a second chance from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, which is pursuing reforms to boost economic growth following his Labour party's election victory in July.

Residents of Abbots Langley, 18 miles northwest of London in Hertfordshire, worry the facility will strain local resources and create noise and traffic that damages the character of the quiet village, which is home to just over 20,000 people. Off the main street there's a church with a stone tower built in the 12th century and, further down the road, a picturesque circular courtyard of rustic thatched-roof cottages that used to be a farm modeled on one built for French Queen Marie Antoinette.

Its just hideously inappropriate, said Stewart Lewis, 70, who lives in one of the converted houses in the 600-year-old Tithe Barn. I think any reasonable person anywhere would say, Hang on, they want a data center? This isnt the place for it.'

As the artificial intelligence boom fuels demand for cloud-based computing from server farms around the world, such projects are pitting business considerations, national priorities and local interests against each other.

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has stepped in to review the appeals filed by developers of three data center projects after they were rejected by local authorities, taking the decision out of the hands of town planners. Those proposals include Abbots Langley and two projects in Buckinghamshire, which sits west of London. The first decision is expected by January.

The projects are controversial because the data centers would be built on greenbelt land, which has been set aside to prevent urbanization. Rayner wants to tap the greenbelt for development, saying much of it is low quality. One proposed Buckinghamshire project, for example, involves redeveloping an industrial park next to a busy highway.

Whilst its officially greenbelt designated land, there isnt anything green about the site today, said Stephen Beard, global head of data centers at Knight Frank, a property consultancy thats working on the project.

Its actually an eyesore which is very prominent from the M25 highway, he said.

Greystoke, the company behind the Abbots Langley center and a second Buckinghamshire project to be built on a former landfill, didnt respond to requests for comment. In an online video for Abbots Langley, a company representative says, We have carried out a comprehensive search for sites, and this one is the very best. It doesn't specify which companies would possibly use the center.

The British government is making data centers a core element of its economic growth plans, deeming them critical national infrastructure to give businesses confidence to invest in them. Starmer has announced deals for new centers, including a 10 billion pound ($13 billion) investment from private equity firm Blackstone to build what will be Europe's biggest AI data center in northeast England.

The land for the Abbots Langley data center is currently used to graze horses. It's bordered on two other sides by a cluster of affordable housing and a highway.

Greystoke's plans to construct two large buildings totaling 84,000 square meters (904,00 square feet) and standing up to 20 meters (66 feet) tall have alarmed Lewis and other villagers, who worry that it will dwarf everything else nearby.

They also doubt Greystoke's promise that it will create up to 260 jobs.

Everything will be automated, so they wouldnt need people," said tech consultant Jennifer Stirrup, 51, who lives in the area.

Not everyone in the village is opposed.

Retiree Bryan Power says he would welcome the data center, believing it would benefit the area in a similar way as another big project on the other side of the village, the Warner Bros.' Studio Tour featuring a Harry Potter exhibition.

Itll bring some jobs, whatever. Itll be good. Yeah. No problem. Because if it doesnt come, itll go somewhere else, said Power, 56.

One of the biggest concerns about data centers is their environmental impact, especially the huge amounts of electricity they need. Greystoke says the facility will draw 96 megawatts of IT load." But James Felstead, director of a renewable energy company and Lewis neighbor, said the areas power grid wouldnt be able to handle so much extra demand.

It's a problem reflected across Europe, where data center power demand is expected to triple by the end of the decade, according to consulting firm McKinsey. While the AI-fueled data boom has prompted Google, Amazon and Microsoft to look to nuclear power as a source of clean energy, worries about their ecological footprint have already sparked tensions over data centers elsewhere.

Google was forced to halt plans in September for a $200 million data center in Chiles capital, Santiago, after community complaints about its potential water and energy usage.

In Ireland, where many Silicon Valley companies have European headquarters, the grid operator has temporarily halted new data centers around Dublin until 2028 over worries theyre guzzling too much electricity.

A massive data center project in northern Virginia narrowly won county approval last year, amid heavy opposition from residents concerned about its environmental impact. Other places like Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Singapore have imposed various restrictions on data centers.

Public knowledge about the industry is still low but people are realizing more that these data centers are quite problematic, said Sebastian Lehuede, a lecturer in ethics, AI and society at Kings College London who studied the Google case in Chile.

As awareness grows about their environmental impact, Lehuede said, Im sure we will have more opposition from different communities."
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It took a year for Hannahs* abuser to start to show his true colours  when he began telling her to lose weight and banning her from cutting her hair, or dyeing it particular shades.

But at the beginning of the relationship, she thought everything was perfect. Her partner had love-bombed her, told her she was his dream woman and called her an amazing mother.

He would make you feel really secure and you like were the one, Hannah tells The Independent. He would say, I look at other women and there is nothing I would change about you, youre perfect.

However, as the relationship progressed, he became steadily more possessive and controlling, isolating her from her family and taking her money.

If he thought I shouldnt have the money or I didnt do what he wanted, he would transfer it out, Hannah says. He would use the same system loan sharks use where I would borrow 100 and then owe him 200.

Be a brick, buy a brick and donate here or text BRICK to 70560 to donate 15

open image in gallery Hannah says her ex would physically attack her once or twice a week for most of their decade-long relationship ( Getty )

It comes as The Independent continues its Brick by Brick campaign, in partnership with the leading domestic abuse charity Refuge, to raise funds to build two houses for women escaping abusive partners. The initial 300,000 target has recently been reached thanks to generous donations from readers, with more than 500,000 of donations pouring in so far and plans are already underway for the building of a second home.

He would carefully hide my bruises

Hannah says her abuser would physically attack her once or twice a week for most of their decade-long relationship - punching and slapping her, throwing things at her, ordering the dog to attack her and even hitting her while she was pregnant.

But he would be careful to make sure the bruises were in places on her body where nobody could see them, she says.

His abuse worsened during lockdown measures rolled out during the pandemic, and that was when she managed to flee him.

I went through Covid, I spent a lot of time with him, she says. The abuse got worse. I knew I was dead inside - there was nothing there. I just woke up one day and thought, I dont want to be with you anymore. You need to leave.

But he refused to leave the house, only agreeing to go after she paid him a substantial amount of money.

The abuse got worse. I knew I was dead inside - there was nothing there. I just woke up one day and thought I dont want to be with you anymore. You need to leave. Hannah

It was after Hannah left her abuser that things went from bad to worse - with him repeatedly breaching court orders blocking him from contacting her.

He tried to kidnap our daughter

She recalls a time he bombarded her with scores of calls and messages after she briefly left her phone at home when she went out.

After she returned, he unexpectedly turned up at her home and tried to kidnap their young daughter. He attacked her as she tried to intervene, she adds.

She was in my arms and he was just beating the s**t out of me, Hannah recalls.

She says her ex-partner went on to be arrested that same day and was later convicted of assault by beating, common assault and battery for the attack, and given a suspended sentence.

After the relationship ended, he admitted to her he had taken videos after secretly spiking her drink with drugs when they were still together, she explains.

I thought he was saying something to be spiteful and vindictive, never in a million years did I think it was true, she adds.

open image in gallery Hannah says she is still looking over her shoulder every day ( Getty )

But Hannah says her ex-partner then showed a social worker - who had become involved due to her abusers arrest - one of the videos in an attempt to portray her as having mental health problems. The social worker then showed Hannah the footage.

Describing the video, Hannah adds: I couldnt talk. My eyes were rolling back into my head when I was trying to talk - it was like I was talking a foreign language.

Hannah asked the social worker to send the video to the police but she deleted it, claiming the footage could not be included in the case as it was not about domestic abuse. Hannah says the footage made her feel like her body was no longer her own, branding it degrading and a violation.

He basically said he did sexual things to me and Ive no idea what happened to me, she adds.

His post-separation abuse of her has involved him routinely turning up at her home unexpectedly, and she also suspects he is behind the drones she has heard flying near her house when she didnt answer his calls.

After fleeing him, she also discovered he had a tracker fitted on her car when she sold the vehicle. He kept arriving in the same places as her, she says, but had just assumed it was a bizarre coincidence at the time.

Hannah adds: Despite any order I had to stop him from contacting me, he would not stop. I am still living in fear and looking over my shoulder every day.

She may have found the strength to end her relationship - but says domestic violence charities offer a chance for women to escape and start a new life, when they may have previously felt trapped with their abuser.

I think Refuge is a saviour for domestic abuse survivors. Without them, more victims would stay, and many of them would be killed, she concludes.

Please donate now to the Brick by Brick campaign, launched by The Independent and charity Refuge, to help raise another 300,000 to build a second safe space for women where they can escape domestic abuse, rebuild their lives and make a new future. Text BRICK to 70560 to donate 15

The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated mens advice line on 0808 8010 327

*Hannahs name has been changed to protect her identity
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A former CEO of a dating app company, who was accused of bullying staff and reducing them to tears, was drafted in to judge an industry diversity and inclusion awards.

Rhonda Alexander, who was the boss of female-friendly dating app Fluttr, boasted about her judging credentials on social media despite claims against her including reducing colleagues to tears and throwing eggs at ideas.

A native New Yorker, Ms Alexander set out to create Fluttr, a dating app that sought to beat Tinder Swindler type dating app scams to create a safe space for women.

She describes herself as a fierce female and diversity, equity, and inclusion champion and a fierce advocate for female leaders and entrepreneurs.

However, an employment tribunal earlier this year ordered her the company which runs Fluttr to pay a former employee almost 100,000 after hearing testimony of manipulative behaviour perpetrated by the Cambridge graduate.

Pimfa, a trade association for investment managers, welcomed Ms Alexander to their panel to judge the awards given to individuals or organisations to celebrate inspiring stories of diversity and inclusion across the industry.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms Alexander has served on the judging panel since the awards were created in 2021, but since this years event earlier this month, the panel has since disbanded.

A Pimfa spokesperson told The Independent: Our 2024 judging panel has disbanded and as far as we were aware Ms Alexander refuted and investigated all allegations.

Laura Cameron Peck, who was the CEO of a sister start-up to Fluttr, told her bosses that Ms Alexander was passive aggressive and often wore down her employees confidence by throwing eggs at ideas.

Following her complaint, Ms Cameron Peck was forced out of the company after three months and was awarded 97,361 in compensation for the mistreatment.

Ms Cameron Peck was hired to lead digital company Wndr Social Ltd., a subsidiary of firm Ethical Social Group (ESG), in August 2021. Fluttr, run by Ms Alexander, was also a subsidiary under ESG, which was on a mission to rebuild social platforms for good.

However, Ms Cameron Peck told the tribunal she received a swathe of complaints from employees, some of whom were in tears, about Ms Alexanders behaviour, which she flagged to the ESGs founder and CEO Graham Pullan in a WhatsApp message.

The hearing was told: She wrote about people contacting her in tears, talking about the bullying and rudeness they experienced and the way they had been treated, having eggs thrown at their efforts or suggestions and becoming silenced, deep professional experience being talked down by louder inexperienced and rude voices, confidence being eroded.

It also heard how Ms Cameron Peck told her boss she had experienced much of Ms Alexanders passive, aggressive, and manipulative behaviour herself.

(Incidents) included calling out and trying to embarrass/humiliate colleagues in open settings, such as online meetings, and adopting inappropriate and purposefully aggressive facial expressions and gestures on team/group video calls when someone she chose to be in confrontation with spoke, making it uncomfortable for others and for her target, the tribunal heard.

ESG ceased trading in 2022, and Ms Alexander now works at The Maven Group, a consultancy she founded in 2016 working to strategically accelerate growth, diversity and inclusion, marketing, and funding plans for start-ups, not for profits and SMEs.

Ms Alexander was contacted for comment.
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Kemi Badenoch has won the race to become the new leader of the Conservative Party, beating Robert Jenrick in the ballot of party members on Saturday.

She will take over from Rishi Sunak after winning 53,806 votes, while her rival received 41,388 votes.

Here is her first speech as party leader in full, delivered immediately after the result:

I want to start by thanking Richard Fuller for his work as our party chairman since July, and also Bob Blackman as returning officer for this contest. You and your teams have done us all a great service.

I also want to pay tribute to everyone in the Conservative Party who has been involved in this very long campaign. It has been an experience none of us candidates will ever forget. Thank you for hosting us in your communities, in your village halls, in your pubs and in your homes.

It is the most enormous honour to be elected in this role, to lead the party that I love, the party that has given me so much. I hope that I will be able to repay that debt.

There are so many people to thank; firstly, my family, especially my husband Hamish - I couldnt have done this without you, thank you for being with me every step of the way.

I also want to thank Rishi. No-one could have worked harder in such difficult times. Rishi, thank you for everything you did, we all wish you and your wonderful family the very best for the future.

Id also like to pay a special tribute to Robert Jenrick, who has fought a great campaign.

Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we dont actually disagree on very much, and I have no doubt that you have a key role to play in our party for many years to come.

I would also like to thank all the other candidates, Priti, Mel, Tom and James, for your kind words and your many insights.

We have come through this campaign more united and the party needs you now more than ever.

The task that stands before us is tough but simple.

Our first responsibility as His Majestys loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account.

Our second is no less important. It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.

The Prime Minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan.

That huge job begins today.

It will seek to involve all of our colleagues in Parliament, in the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd, our friends in Northern Ireland, as well as councillors and party members.

But this is not just about the Conservative Party, it is about the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party, it is about the people we need to bring into the Conservative Party.

It is about what the Conservative Party needs to be over the next five, 10 and 20 years.

Our party is critical to the success of our country, but to be heard we have to be honest - honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.

The time has come to tell the truth. The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party, and our country, the new start that they deserve.

It is time to get down to business, it is time to renew.
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Kemi Badenoch has called for the Tories to be honest about their mistakes in government after winning the Tory leadership vote  becoming the first Black leader of a Westminster party.

After beating Robert Jenrick in the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak, the former business secretary said the Conservatives need to unite behind her after years of infighting.

And, in a frank assessment of the partys post-Brexit record, Ms Badenoch said: We have to be honest; honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch has been elected leader of the Conservative Party, becoming the first black woman elected to lead a major UK political party (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

After a four-month leadership contest, Ms Badenoch won the backing of 53,806 Tory members, with Mr Jenrick taking just 41,388 votes.

Addressing current and former MPs, party members and the press at a hotel in Westminster, Ms Badenoch said: The time has come to tell the truth. The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party, and our country, the new start that they deserve.

"It is time to get down to business, it is time to renew."

Labour congratulated Ms Badenoch, with Sir Keir Starmer saying: The first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.

I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people, the prime minister added.

Foreign secretary David Lammy said: Your election as the first Black leader of a Westminster party is an important moment not only for Brits from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but for our whole country.

But Labour chairman Ellie Reeves went on the attack, saying the Conservatives have learned nothing since the British people resoundingly rejected them in July.

Kemi Badenochs election as leader shows theyre incapable of change, she added.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch defeated Robert Jenrick by 53,806 votes to 41,388 to win the Tory leadership on Saturday (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and Nigel Farages Reform UK also criticised the new leader, pointing to Conservative failures and her roles in government.

Ms Badenoch faces the daunting challenge of trying to win back voters from the right-wing populist party, while also seeking not to further alienate more moderate Conservative voters who abandoned the party for the Lib Dems in July.

open image in gallery Boris Johnson congratulated Kemi Badenoch after her win ( PA Archive )

She takes over the Conservatives as the party recorded its first poll lead over Labour since the Partygate scandal broke in December 2021, with BMG Research finding the Tories on 29 per cent of the vote, compared with Sir Keirs party on 28 per cent. But a YouGov poll published ahead of the result found four in 10 voters had an unfavourable view of Ms Badenoch, including 29 per cent of Conservative voters, while Britons were more likely to think Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer would make a better prime minister.

Ms Badenoch also becomes the fourth woman to lead the Conservative Party after Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss.

The Tory leadership election, which followed the partys worst general election defeat in history, saw six candidates go head to head for the backing of MPs and party members over more than 100 days. It saw gaffes including Ms Badenochs suggestion maternity pay is excessive, her claim that 50,000 very bad civil servants should be jailed and repeated allegations of dirty tricks including around the shock ousting of moderate Mr Cleverly by MPs.

But, while she won the backing of more than half of the 96,000 Tory members who voted, Ms Badenoch was supported by just 42 of the remaining 121 Conservative MPs.

Mr Sunak urged the Conservatives to unite behind their new leader, saying: "I know that she will be a superb leader of our great party. She will renew our party, stand up for Conservative values, and take the fight to Labour." And his predecessor, Boris Johnson, said Ms Badenoch brought a much needed zing and zap to the Conservative Party.

After telling Conservatives the party is now more united following the leadership contest, Ms Badenoch said: The task that stands before us is tough but simple.

"Our first responsibility as His Majestys loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account.

"Our second is no less important. It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.

"The prime minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan. That huge job begins today.

Conceding to Ms Badenoch, Mr Jenrick said on X: Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch.

"Thank you to everyone who supported my vision for a Conservative Party rooted in the common ground of British politics.

"Its now time for the Conservatives to unite behind Kemi and take the fight to this disastrous Labour government."
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The bookmakers and many observers have almost given up on the Tory leadership final as a contest, with Kemi Badenoch now the firm favourite to replace Rishi Sunak.

But history shows that Tory leadership elections are often far from predictable  whether it is in the early rounds where MPs wittle down the contenders to two, or the final run-off, where party members have their say.

Ms Badenochs rival, Robert Jenrick, only made it to the final because of some clever tactics in persuading MPs to switch to him from former home secretary James Cleverly. He also was perceived to come off badly in the debate on GB News and a recent ConHome poll suggested Ms Badenoch had the backing of 55 per cent to his 31 per cent.

It all appears to be in the bag for Ms Badenoch, but despite that there are a number of reasons Mr Jenricks supporters are still very confident.

open image in gallery Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick ishoping to pull off an upset (Jacob King/PA) ( PA Wire )

1. Favourites often lose

Just look at the previous round of the contest, when Mr Cleverly was a surprise loser despite having a substantial lead in the round before that.

Cleverly had been so relaxed about getting to the final that he even attended the party for Boris Johnsons book launch the night before, instead of hitting the phones.

Tactical voting has plagued Tory leadrship contests, and many times the frontrunner has found themselves ditched. Previously race leaders to have lost their leads include Ken Clarke, Michael Portillo, David Davis, Boris Johnson (at the first attempt in 2016), and Rishi Sunak (in 2022).

open image in gallery Shadow home secretary James Cleverly had a surprise exit from the contest (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

2. Jenricks work ethic

There is little doubt that Mr Jenrick hit the ground sooner and harder than any of his five rivals at the start of this contest.

By the time the contest in the final run-off of two began, he had already visited more than 150 constituency parties and attended almost all the hustings.

Ms Badenoch took a family holiday at the start of the campaign and as a result was initially lagging behind Mr Jenrick. But, more to the point, unlike him, she has a shadow ministerial portfolio which means she has to divide her time between campaigning and holding the government to account.

It means Ms Badenoch has not succeeded in getting to as many parts of the country as Mr Jenrick and there have been complaints about her sending substitutes to hustings.

open image in gallery Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch (Peter Nicholls/PA) ( PA Wire )

3. Tories looking for rightwing policies

While Ms Badenoch has the support of the leading voice on the left of the tories, Damian Green, the ex-chairman of the one Nation Group, Mr Jenrick has deliberately gone after policies on the right with party members clearly spooked by the success of Nigel Farage and Reform.

His support for leaving the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) has even seen leading members from the left of the party like former health secretary Victoria Atkins back him.

In contrast Ms Badenoch has deliberately avoided policies apart from a pledge to reverse the VAT on private school fees. She believes it is dishonest to have firm policies so far from an election.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage has spooked the Tories(Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

4. Handing power back to members

Mr Jenrick has also led the way on party reform  pledging to give ordinary members much more of a say in who their candidate is and even electing the chairman.

This has become much more of an issue in recent years with a sense that Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) has become overbearing and over powerful, taking away choice from members over who their local candidate is. Perhaps the low point came in the last election when party chairman Richard Holden forced himself on Basildon and Bilericay in a candidate shortlist of one  himself.

open image in gallery Richard Holden was elected MP for Basildon and Billericay in July (James Manning/PA) ( PA Archive )

5. Nobody really knows the Tory membership electorate

While it is easy to track some Tory members on social media, many of them are older and many are not even regular users of the internet. So polling by brands like ConHome has a limited scope.

This is in many ways the biggest problem in predicting who the inner will be. Both candidates are from the right of the party which in theory will appeal to a membership which is generally seen as more rightwing than the MPs the party gets elected.

Added to that a lot of members do not even attend events so it is hard to tell who the less active membership card holders will support.

The winner of the contest is due to be revealed at 11am on 2 November. The Independent will have full coverage.
It should probably come as no surprise that what the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, once described as a tax on jobs has turned out to be... a tax on jobs. Her decision in the Budget to raise up to 25bn from an increase in employers national insurance contributions (NICs) has obviously proved controversial.

A heated but largely inconclusive debate has surrounded the question of whether the move violates Labours manifesto promise not to raise taxes for working people. But now the change is coming under sustained attack from a number of sectors with tight profit margins, where the employment of lower-paid and/or part-time workers means an immediately higher tax bill for the employers.

In particular, the secondary threshold  the level at which employers become liable to pay national insurance on each employees salary  will come down from 9,100 per year to 5,000 per year.

This is presenting notable difficulties in the health sector...

Who is complaining?

GP surgeries, pharmacists, and those who run private care homes and hospices are all set to be badly affected by the changes. Though there are exceptions, and some who work in primary healthcare and social care are well remunerated, the sectors are under some financial pressure, and employ many people who will now be more expensive to keep on. In some cases, the situation could be worsened by increases to the minimum wage, and by the costs of dealing with new workers rights under proposed legislation.

Employers say that they will have no alternative but to slow or freeze recruitment, lay people off, and, in the case of the self-employed or partnership GP surgeries, hand their NHS contracts back to the government  at a time when primary care is in crisis. The hospices are in an especially precarious position: they get one-third of their income from the NHS, but rely on charitable donations for the rest  a far less predictable source of funding.

How bad could it get?

Care England, a trade body for providers of adult social care, says its members are in unprecedented danger and that the closure of services that are no longer viable is likely.

Doesnt small employers relief deal with this?

Not really, because it is only an extra 5,000 per year per employer at most.

Isnt every private organisation in the same position?

No. Larger employers can usually absorb increased costs and/or pass them on, either through higher prices or via lower wage settlements. But these sectors are already suffering from severe labour shortages and understaffing, and they may not be able to charge the NHS or local authorities higher fees.

GPS, care homes, pharmacies and care homes are private or third-sector concerns. They are highly dependent on the NHS, and in many ways an extension of it, but are treated differently in relation to NICs. The health secretary, Wes Streeting, has confirmed that the NHS will be refunded for the rise in national insurance contributions  but care homes, who so often take on discharged patients, will not.

What about the extra funding theyre going to get?

Reeves did boost that, but its not immediately available to deal with the wages bill  or generous enough. Thus, the extra 600m provided to local authorities for adults and children's social care would be wiped off instantly by increased staffing costs, according to those businesses involved. GPs will get some 100m to cover upgrades to premises at 200 practices  but this cash is ring-fenced.

What does the government say?

It wont change the policy. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, is adamant: Non-public-sector organisations will not be exempt: they will have to pay employer national insurance contributions in the same way that they normally do, and therefore at the higher rate.

What does the opposition say?

The Liberal Democrats, who have made care a focus of their campaigning, want the government to exempt the social care sector from the rise in national insurance. Victoria Atkins, shadow health secretary, hasnt gone so far for the Conservatives: Labours jobs tax will clobber GP practices, social care providers, hospices, pharmacies and dental practices. This is economically illiterate and shovels more costs onto services. Labour needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with meaningful reforms for health and care services.
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Slovakias populist Prime Minister Robert Fico reacted angrily on Friday after the U.K. ambassador to Bratislava criticized his interview with Russias Rossiya 1 state-owned television, saying, Slovakia is not Britains colony.

I dont know what gives you a right to interfere in my media activities, Fico said in a video sent by his office. He is currently on a visit to China.

That you represent a bigger and stronger state in Slovakia does not justify your unacceptable behavior, Fico said, calling on Ambassador Nigel Baker to stop interfering in his government's sovereign foreign policy.

In his interview for the Russian propaganda channel, Fico condemned Western support for Ukraine that is fighting the Russian aggression, repeating his opinion it only prolongs the war and accusing the European nations of not being interested in a peaceful resolution.

Baker said on X on Wednesday he regretted that Fico agreed to talk to a presenter who is under British and European Union sanctions and said Ficos claim that the West doesnt want peace is not true. He also said that the fastest way to peace would be the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

Fico returned to power for the fourth time last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform.

His views on Russias war on Ukraine and other issues sharply differ from the European mainstream. Fico ended his countrys military aid for Ukraine, opposes EU sanctions on Russia, and wants to block Ukraine from joining NATO.

In the interview with Russian TV, he said it would be an honor for him to attend a traditional military parade in Red Square in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII on May 9 next year.

The interview was condemned by Slovakia's opposition and politicians in the neighboring Czech Republic.
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The Scottish secretary pulled out of a Whitehall event to reportedly avoid undermining striking staff.

Cabinet ministerIan Murray was set to attend a reception at the Scotland Offices Dover House headquarters on Tuesday with business group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

But, at the last minute, Mr Murray pulled out. Sources close to the minister confirmed he did not want to undermine security guards, who were on strike as members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union.

Ian Murray did not want to cross the PCS picket line ( REUTERS )

One guest at the reception told The Times: Lots of people were discussing his conspicuous absence, which was very odd, given how many people had turned up to hear from him.

Another said: I know the Government wants to show its on the side of working people but yet again this seems to be at the expense of business. This is the most prestigious event of the year for Scottish firms and Ian Murrays no-show was insulting to everyone who had travelled down to be there.

The reception had been described as a unique networking opportunity and the chance to highlight key business priorities directly to Scotlands political representatives at Westminster.

The PCS staff are striking from 28 October to 10 November in a dispute over their terms of employment. Security guards in several government departments are employed by external contractors and outsourcing firms, who the PCS say have failed to make a reasonable pay offer, offering only the London Living wage and failed on members employment terms.

PCS wants Labour to follow through on its election promise to carry out the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation.

Ahead of the strike, PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: This escalation reflects the anger of our G4S and ISS members. They are particularly incensed by the insulting pay offers and the unacceptable fact that many receive no company sick pay.

Ministers must settle these disputes and work towards the insourcing of these contracts to end this perpetual race to the bottom on pay and conditions.

"Our members deliver vital services that keep the civil service functioning and deserve to be treated as civil servants, not second class citizens in their own workplaces."

The ministers decision to skip a work event in solidarity with those on strike marks a stark contrast for Sir Keir Starmers government. As leader of the opposition, Sir Keir sacked a shadow transport minister for giving broadcast interviews from a picket line as the RMT were striking.

Sir Keir also said that no MP should be on a picket line if they want to be in government.

And the PM previously declined to say whether he would cross any picket line at Parliament during a civil servants strike.
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Supporters of Bolivias former president Evo Morales stormed a military facility and took soldiers hostage, intensifying a standoff with the government over rape allegations, according to the countrys military.

The Bolivian Armed Forces said in a statement that irregular armed groups had kidnapped military personnel and taken control of military units in the central Chapare region, which has emerged as a battleground with supporters of Mr Morales surrounding the area.

The armed forces urged those responsible for the takeover to immediately and peacefully abandon the facility and warned that anyone who takes up arms against the country will be considered a traitor.

Around 20 soldiers were taken hostage by the armed groups, according to reports citing military sources.

The clashes between supporters of Mr Morales and the government erupted three weeks ago when Bolivian prosecutors launched an investigation into accusations that the ex-president fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl in 2016, classifying their relationship as statutory rape.

Mr Morales has refused to testify in court regarding what he calls trumped-up rape charges.

President Luis Arce condemned the seizure of three military units by supporters of Mr Morales on Friday, calling it an absolutely reprehensible criminal act that is far from any legitimate social claim of the Indigenous peasant movement.

open image in gallery Demonstrators block roads amid rising political tensions, in Parotani ( REUTERS )

Mr Arce said: The taking of a military unit is a crime of treason against the homeland and an affront to the countrys Constitution.

We have taken a first step: unblocking Cochabamba towards the west of our country. Now we will continue working until we free this department from the hostage situation to which it is subjected, he said in another update on X.

Since reports circulated of a possible warrant against him, supporters of the countrys first Indigenous leader have erected roadblocks and fortified areas in Chapare to prevent his arrest.

open image in gallery Bolivias former president Evo Morales was in office from 2006 to 2019 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Images and videos showed at least 16 soldiers with their hands tied behind their backs, surrounded by members of the armed group.

Police officers attempted to clear the roadblocks, and 30 were injured after a standoff between security forces and supporters of Mr Morales. More than 50 protesters were arrested.

The coca-growing region of Chapare has emerged as the political bastion and refuge of Mr Morales, who was himself a former coca grower. Loyalist coca growers have kept watch to prevent his arrest.

On Sunday, Mr Morales shared a video claiming his car was shot at in what he described as an assassination attempt against him.

The Bolivian government denied claims that it was a targeted attack against Mr Morales, stating that police fired on the vehicle after coming under attack from Mr Moraless convoy at a checkpoint.
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Opening statements began on Friday in the New York trial of Daniel Penny, 26, a former Marine whos charged with manslaughter for spending minutes choking Jordan Neely, 30, a homeless man who was suffering from mental illness and threatening subway passengers in May 2023.

In a Manhattan courtroom, opposing sides of the case painted starkly different pictures, with the prosecution arguing Penny may have had understandable initial intentions to protect his fellow passengers, but took them way too far as he continued to wrap Neely in a chokehold after the man went unconscious and subway riders exited the train car.

Mr. Penny was so reckless with Mr. Neelys life because he didnt recognize his humanity, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yoran said in opening arguments, claiming Pennys indifference towards Mr. Neely, the man whose life he was literally holding in his hands, caused him to disregard the most basic precautions and needlessly kill him, long after any threat he had posed had already dissipated.

Defense attorney Thomas Keniff, meanwhile, described Penny as a courageous citizen who did for others what we would want someone to do for us.

That doesnt have to make him a hero  it doesnt make him a killer, Kenniff said.

Penny is charged with manslaughter and criminal negligent homicide, and has pleaded not guilty.

open image in gallery Daniel Penny, accused of choking a distressed Black subway rider to death, arrives for opening statements in New York on November 1 ( AP )

The parties were similarly split over the nature of the chokehold in which Penny held Neely.

The defense argued that Penny, who had martial arts training, put the homeless man in a variation of a nonlethal chokehold and made every conscious effort to avoid killing him, while suggesting drugs in Neelys system or a genetic risk of sickle cell couldve contribued to the death.

Last May, the New York City medical examiner ruled Neelys death a homicide with compression of neck (chokehold) as the cause.

Prosecutors, however, say the former Marine held Neely around the neck for nearly six minutes on the floor of the F train and shouldve known it could be deadly, especially once Neely went unconscious.

A chokehold is only permitted when its absolutely necessary and only for as long as its absolutely necessary, Yoran said.

The trial will center on analysis of bystander video of the incident.

The prosecution argues Penny approached Neely within 30 seconds of him entering the train car, while the defense says the former Marine had already been struggling for two minutes to restrain the homeless man before the video began.

The killing prompted outcry and a deeply split public response.

open image in gallery Relatives of Jordan Neely attend his funeral ( REUTERS )

Some saw the incident, of a white man choking out a Black man with a long history of mental illness and homelessness, within the context of the citys struggle to care for vulnerable residents, and within a legacy of excessive white vigilantism aimed towards Black people.

Others, meanwhile, viewed Penny as a hero and saw the incident as a sign of New York Citys struggles with public safety.

In the courtroom, Yoran noted that while many New Yorkers train themselves to ignore vulnerable people like Neely, the homeless man demanded to be seen, and spoke desperately about being hungry and thirsty between threats. The defense, for its part, said the man was seething and psychotic, alarming transit passengers.

In the gallery, Neelys father Andre Zachery looked on.

If convicted, Penny could serve up to 15 years in prison.

New York City Eric Adams has made policing crime and safety incidents on the subway a priority, flooding the system with officers on foot, and controversially directing first responders to involuntarily hospitalise mentally ill New Yorkers regardless of whether they are believed to pose any danger to themselves or others.
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Tempted by the false promise of $9 million by a man she met online, Denali Dakota Skye Brehmer lured her so-called best friend into the Alaskan wilderness where the teenager was bound with duct tape and shot in the head as part of a brutal murder plot.

What began with a bizarre online catfishing scheme, ended in the death of Cynthia CeeCee  Hoffman, 19, who was developmentally disabled.

A man from Indiana, Darin Schilmiller, then 21, posed as a millionaire from Kansas called Tyler on Snapchat. He struck up a relationship with Brehmer, who was 18 years old at the time, and offered to send her millions of dollars via PayPal for the rape and murder of someone in Alaska.

open image in gallery Denali Dakota Skye Brehmer is serving 99 years behind bars for the murder of Cynthia Hoffman ( Court TV )

Brehmer agreed. She enlisted other friends into the plot and then on June 2, 2019, they carried out the murder of CeeCee near Thunderbird Falls, a popular trail area just north of Anchorage. Her death was captured in photos and video that were sent back to Tyler on Snapchat as proof.

In February 2023, Brehmer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Her friends were also charged in the murder: 16-year-old Kayden McIntosh pulled the trigger, and 19-year-old Caleb Leyland, who provided the vehicle to carry out the plot.

Now, for the first time, Brehmer is speaking publicly about the murder in the third episode Catfishing for Murder of Court TVs new limited series Interview With a Killer.

Ive already admitted guilt so now Im ready to fully take responsibility for what Ive done, Brehmer says in the interview at the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center.

But as shes confronted about what happened that fateful day, her story begins to change.

Brehmer acknowledges that the murder was somewhat premeditated, but then blames it on panic when a bound and gagged CeeCee began freaking out about going to the cops which led to McIntosh grabbing the gun.

I just went along with it, Brehmer says calmly in the interview. Because problem solved, right?

A catfish murder

On June 2, 2019, CeeCee  who thought of Brehmer as a best friend  was invited to Thunderbird Falls for what was supposed to be a hike. Brehmer later said in the interview that a hike meant they were going off to get high.

Brehmer and McIntosh, who were the last two people to ever see CeeCee alive, were hanging out with her in the woods when the three of them agreed to duct tape each other and take photographs, McIntosh told detectives, according to the criminal complaint. Its unclear why they decided to do this.

But then CeeCee, whose wrists and feet were bound with duct tape, which also covered her mouth, started panicking, according to the complaint.

open image in gallery Hoffman, known as CeeCee, thought of Brehmer as her best friend, family members say ( alaskacremation.com )

When they removed the duct tape from CeeCees mouth, she told them she was going to call the police and tell them that they had kidnapped her and sexually assaulted her, according to the complaint.

McIntosh then grabbed the 9mm gun that Brehmer had in her hand and shot CeeCee in the back of the head, he told police.

Brehmer told police at the time that she saw CeeCee twitching before McIntosh pushed her body into the river, according to the complaint.

But in the new interview with Court TV, Brehmer said the shooting happened very suddenly because they had panicked when CeeCee threatened to call the police, despite not having her phone with her because McIntosh had already taken it.

open image in gallery In a new interview with Court TV, Brehmer speaks publicly for the first time about the murder ( Court TV )

Brehmer and McIntosh then tried to cover up CeeCees death by burning her clothing, purse and cell phone, along with the gun, according to the complaint.

McIntosh then instructed Brehmer to text CeeCees sister and tell them they had dropped her off at a local park. Brehmer told police that she did as she was told because she was scared of McIntosh.

CeeCees bound body was found in the river on June 4, a day after she was reported missing.

The fake millionaire who supposedly encouraged murder

Three weeks before CeeCee was killed, Brehmer and Tyler, who met on Snapchat, began talking on the app about their plans to rape and murder someone in Alaska.

The Anchorage Police Department later learned that Tyler was actually Darin Schilmiller of Indiana who had posed as the millionaire online with fake pictures as part of the catfishing scheme in which he offered to pay Brehmer $9 million or more to commit the murder and send him videos and/or photographs of the murder, according to a statement released at the time.

Brehmer asked some of her friends to help and offered them an unknown amount of the so-called prize money for their part in the planning of the murder, according to police.

open image in gallery Brehmer tells Court TV host David Scott about what happened that led up to the murder ( Court TV )

Police said Schilmiller later admitted to targeting CeeCee after he learned that she and Brehmer had gotten into a fight over a boy.

Initially, when we all came up with it, I agreed and said yeah because I was mad at her and she was mad at me and I was just over her s***, Brehmer says in the interview about the fight they had over a boy named Zack. I wanted to make amends, I did want to make amends but she needed payback for what she did with Zack.

When asked in the documentary if she deserved payback with her life, a defeated Brehmer sighs and says, no, adding thats on me.

Brehmer was eventually arrested, and once she realized she had been catfished or tricked by Schilmiller, otherwise known as Tyler, she told authorities that she had been solicited by him.

She was given the maximum sentence for her role in the killing, according to the Alaska Department of Law.

open image in gallery Denali Brehmer at her arraignment in the Anchorage Correctional Center on June 9, 2019 ( AP )

She may not have pulled the trigger, but this never would have happened it if it werent for [her] Patrick McKay, Anchorage assistant district attorney, said of Brehmer during sentencing.

She executed Cynthia Hoffman in a murder-for-hire plot. She conspired with numerous other individuals in and outside of Alaska, including juveniles, forever altering everybodys life.

Schilmiller, who posed as Tyler online, was also sentenced to 99 years in prison for his role in the murder.

He admitted to federal agents and the Indiana State Police he chose CeeCee as the victim after he heard about the fight and told Brehmer to kill her, court documents said.

open image in gallery Schilmiller was sentenced to 99 years in prison ( Alaska Department of Law )

He said Brehmer communicated with him throughout the killing and sent Snapchat photos and videos of CeeCee while bound and after she was killed.

Prosecutors said that Schilmiller had also solicited Brehmer to try to obtain child pornography, which led to federal charges against Brehmer.

Leyland pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November 2023 and in August 2024, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

McIntosh, who was 16 at the time, was charged with murder for shooting CeeCee in the head. His sentencing is set for November 14.

Another tragic death

open image in gallery In 2019, Timothy Hoffman, right, sits next to a picture of his daughter Cynthia Hoffman, during Darin Schilmiller's arraignment for murder charges ( AP )

Every year on the anniversary of CeeCees death, her father had organized a celebration motorcycle ride.

Timothy Hoffman, 58, was one of the participants on the 2 June event this year as friends and family gathered to remember CeeCee. However, he lost control of his motorcycle and was killed in the crash.

That ride was the first time his wife, CeeCees mother Barbara Jeanie Hoffman, had gone with him to the memotial event.

open image in gallery Timothy Hoffman died during memorial motorcycle ride commemorating the fifth anniversary of his daughters death. ( GoFundMe )

She survived the crash but has endured several surgeries after suffering a fractured skull, broken back, and broken bones, a family member told the Anchorage Daily News.

The Hoffman family has seen their share of tragedies, but Hoffmans brother Donald Hoffman Jr has vowed to continue to search for justice for CeeCee.

In an interview with Court TV, he says that Brehmer does not deserve to ever get out of prison.

As much as you guide your children, there are a lot of unsavory people in the world. We see the end result. My niece is not here no more. Shes dead, shot in the back of the head, he said. And for what? She was led there, she went willingly, thinking this was all a game. Its just like the wolf leading the lamb to the slaughter.

I think she has no conscience, he added about Brehmer. Shes evil. She murdered my niece without blinking an eye. And if she couldve gotten away with it, she wouldve.

Interview With a Killer airs Sunday nights at 8 pm ET on Court TV.
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A Florida man has been arrested after allegedly hiding two radio-controlled explosive devices in the toilets of a casino, police said.

Bryan Robert Eckley, 46, of Tampa, was arrested on October 30 and charged with two counts of making and placing destructive devices with the intent to harm, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in a release on Thursday.

Eckley did everything he could to hide from law enforcement, FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said. But thanks to the exceptional work of this investigative and forensic team, he will be held accountable for his actions.

The investigation began on September 30 in Tampa after the suspect allegedly hid the devices inside two restrooms in a local casino.

Employees at the casino found the devices before they could cause damage.

Authorities did not name the casino in the news release but the Tampa Bay Times reports the devices were found at the citys Hard Rock Casino.

According to an arrest warrant, the devices posed a risk of serious bodily injury to anyone in the vicinity had they detonated, the paper reported.

Investigators learned that a few days earlier, a man was behaving suspiciously at the casino. The man was seen driving a white Ford Explorer and after lengthy interviews, surveillance and analytical work, investigators traced the vehicle back to Eckley.

Days before planting the explosive devices, Eckley was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office in an unrelated case of aggravated assault with a firearm. Forensic analysts tied evidence from that case to the devices.

This case is a shining example of how our local and state law enforcement agencies work together to make our community safe. When you intentionally attempt to harm innocent people, you will be held accountable by my office, State Attorney Suzy Lopez added. I want to commend each of our law enforcement partners for their swift actions that ensured this defendants arrest and prosecution.

Eckley was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail. His pretrial detention hearing is scheduled for November 5.
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South Carolina on Friday executed Richard Moore, 59, for the 1999 fatal shooting of store clerk James Mahoney, despite growing calls for clemency.

Moore was lethally injected with pentobarbital and pronounced dead about 20 minutes later at 6:24pm.

To the family of Mr. Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I caused you all, Moore said in a final statement. To my children and granddaughters, I love you, and I am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. To all of my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.

The execution marks the second execution in the state since killings resumed in September after a 13-year pause, owing to drug companies refusing to sell lethal injection chemicals to South Carolina.

Moore is also thought to be the only person in state history executed for armed robbery despite not bringing the weapon used onto the scene. The 59-year old, who is Black, was also thought to be the last person to be sentenced to die in South Carolina after having all Black jurors removed from their trial, according to South Carolinas The State newspaper.

He was not a danger to anyone, and the state eliminated a glowing example of reform and rehabilitation, Justice 360, the law firm representing Moore, said in a statement. By killing Richard, the State also created more victims. Richards children are now fatherless, and his grandchildren will have to grow up without their Pa Pa.

Advocates argued Moores deeath sentence was disproportionate and racially biased

Moore was sentenced to death in 2001 for the September 16, 1999, killing of Mahoney in Nikkies Speed Mart, an all-night store near Spartanburg.

Moore did not enter the store armed.

Prosecutors say Moore, who had just lost his job, took a gun from behind the counter of the store as he attempted to rob the store to get money to buy crack cocaine. He left the encounter with a bag of $1,408 in cash.

Moores attorneys claim Mahoney fired the first shot on Moore during a dispute because the customer was 12 cents short on his purchase. They allege he was able to grab another gun stored under the checkout counter and return fire in self-defense, killing Mahoney. They further claim shell casings found at the crime scene can prove it was self-defense, though a court never agreed to hear that evidence.

A witness, Terry Hadden, who was blind in one eye, said he saw Moore holding both of Mahoneys hands in one of his one and a weapon in the other. Hadden claimed that Moore fired at him, prompting him to play dead. Hadden says he then heard multiple gun shots.

Mahoney shot Moore in the arm, while Moore shot Mahoney through the heart.

Advocates argued in a clemency petition to South Carolina governor Henry McMaster that Moore had become a devout Christian and positive mentor to fellow inmates in prison, and that his case was a part of the well-documented racially disproportionate use of capital punishment against Black people in America.

Virtually all death penalty cases in the county at the time of the trial involved victims who were white, and as of Friday, including Moore, almost half of the states death row inmates were Black, despite comprising little more than a quarter of the population.

In a 2022 dissent to a court decision upholding Moores punishment, former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Kaye Hearn called the situation a relic of a bygone era and proof that our system of capital punishment is broken.

Three jurors and Moores trial judge were among those urging McMaster to grant clemency, which he declined on Friday, a day after the US Supreme Court declined to halt the execution.

I have carefully reviewed and thoughtfully considered the application, matters of record, including transcripts, briefs, and judicial decisions, McMaster said of his decision, noting hed spoken with one of Mahoneys family members.

Supporters argued Moores sentence was disproportionate.

State Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, said in a statement after the execution Moores crimes werent as bad as those of Alex Murdaugh, the wealthy South Carolina lawyer who killed his wife and son as a part of a larger multi-million dollar theft scheme amd was sentenced to life in prison.

Kimbrell said in a statement to capital punishment should be applied fairly, consistently, and in cases that truly meet the threshold of societys more reprehensible crimes.

Tonights execution of Richard Moore does not rise to that level.

Moores final meal was steak, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake and grape juice.

Observers believe that a Donald Trump win in November would lead to a dramatic increase in executions on federal death row, alongside continued state executions like that of Moore.
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Michael Keaton has issued a withering attack on Donald Trump in a stark message to voters days before polling day.

The actor famous for his roles in Beetlejuice and Batman made it very clear who he doesnt think Americans should be supporting when they go to the polls on Tuesday in an Instagram clip he posted this week.

The Republican candidate for the presidency is someone who lies and cheats, treats women horribly, mocks handicapped people calls war veterans who gave their lives suckers and losers, Keaton says, adding he was raised by two really great parents in Western Pennsylvania.

His mother suffered a stroke that left her disabled when he was 18.

He continued: When you go into that booth, before you check that box or punch that ballot, I want you to ask yourselves, is that how I would want my son or daughter to live?

Is that how your mother and father raised you? I dont think so. He's not one of you, and I don't think you're like him.

open image in gallery The actor made it very clear who he thinks voters should not support ( Getty )

In a video posted the day prior, Keaton discussed how Trump called late US Senator and Prisoner of War John McCain a loser after he lost to Former President Barack Obama in 2008.

While speaking at a campaign event in 2015, Trump said: Hes not a war hero. Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people that werent captured.

Keaton reminded his Instagram followers of the remarks.

Donald Trump calls him and women and men who gave their lives for Democracy, which we and myself included, take for granted. And if its gone, it aint coming back in my lifetime, trust me, Keaton said.

He calls them losers. He wont visit the graveyards of these people who gave their lives. Im sorry, this is no patriot. This is anything but a patriot. Im grateful to all those people.
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The byzantine Electoral College system has, five separate times since America began, delivered the White House to a candidate who lost the popular vote.

The Founding Fathers established the Electoral College at 1787s Constitutional Convention, lifting the concept from the Holy Roman Empire, which established the method in the year 962, to choose emperors. The move inspired a number of other countries to borrow the concept for their own presidential selection processes. Colombia was first, adopting its own electoral college in 1821, followed by Chile (1828), and Argentina (1853), Finland (1925), and France (1958).

However, each of them later cast aside the idea and returned to straightforward popular votes  France doing so after just seven years. (The Roman electoral college was dissolved, alongside the empire itself, in 1806.) When Argentina jettisoned its electoral college in 1995, the United States remained the sole democratic nation that elects a president via an electoral college.

open image in gallery The United States is alone among nations in having an Electoral College ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The popular vote decides every other election, federal, state, and municipal, in the United States.

How does it work?

When citizens cast their ballots for president, they are not actually voting for president but for one of 538 electors meant to represent the will of the people. The victor is the first to win a majority of electors, the so-called magic number of 270. Each states slate of electors then convene before sending off the collected votes to Congress for its January 6 counting and certification of the electoral votes.

In its simplest form, while still not particularly simple, each state gets one electoral vote for each of their two senators, plus a fluctuating number of electoral votes based on how many congressional representatives a state has. By this formula, Delaware (one congressional district) gets three electoral votes, the fewest; California gets the most, with 55.

open image in gallery The January 6, 2021, pro-Trump riot at the US Capitol has led to ultra-secure security measures when Congress certifies the electoral vote ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The Electoral College ensures that even the most sparsely populated states have an effect on the final result (Wyoming, Vermont, and Alaska come in at the three least populous US states, respectively), and that the most populous states dont have an outsized say in the matter.

It also means that both contenders end up focusing a large part of their efforts on a small number of swing states, those so-called battlegrounds that could tip to either party, such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. These electoral votes are crucial, since most states are reliably red or blue, and, according to one political science professor, means 2024s presidential election will, for all intents and purposes, be decided by roughly 150,000 voters.

Of course, although the numbers even the playing field, the mismatch between population and electoral votes means it is mathematically possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but still lose the Electoral College. This happened most recently in 2016, when Hillary Clinton earned three million more overall votes than Donald Trump, who took the Electoral College, and the Oval Office, 304 to 227. In 2000, Al Gore got 543,895 more votes than George W. Bush, who ended up winning the election with 271 electoral votes.

What if...

If neither candidate gets a majority of electoral votes, or in the event of a 269-269 tie, the Electoral College hands the deciding vote over to Congress. In 1824, when four candidates ran for president, the electoral vote was diffused to the point that none received a majority. The House subsequently picked John Quincy Adams, who had in fact lost the popular vote to Andrew Jackson. In 1800, the House voted Thomas Jefferson into the presidency after he and Aaron Burr, who was installed as Jeffersons vice-president, tied in the Electoral College.

The government has considered myriad scenarios when drawing up contingency plans, according to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which administers, on behalf of the Archivist of the United States, certain aspects and proceedings of the Electoral College. There is no established process in place if the winner of the electoral vote dies or becomes incapacitated between the general election and the meeting of electors, who gather on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December. Their votes are officially counted and certified on January 6 of the new year, in a joint session of Congress, and the president-elect is sworn in on January 20.

open image in gallery The Washington, D.C. memorial to Thomas Jefferson, who the House installed as president after he and Aaron Burr tied in the Electoral College vote ( AFP via Getty Images )

It is also unknown what would happen were the winning presidential candidate to die between the meeting of electors and January 6, as the Constitution does not specify if the candidate, at that stage, can be formally considered the president-elect, but if so, Section 3 of the 20th Amendment would apply, elevating the vice-president-elect to the presidency, according to NARA. (The same rule would apply if the winning candidate died or became incapacitated after the election was certified in Congress but before the inauguration.)

Why it exists  but should it still?

Direct elections  that is, electing the presidential candidate who gets the most votes overall  were rejected by many state Constitutional Convention delegates who feared the uninformed masses were not wise enough to make such important decisions. And so the modern Electoral College was born out of a compromise over slavery between the Northern states and those in the South, where the practice remained legal until 1865.

Southern state delegates, specifically, were concerned they would lose power and influence because, while their populations were about equal to their northern counterparts, some one-third of those residents were enslaved people and prohibited from voting. But the conventioneers reached a deal to count three of out every five enslaved persons, the three-fifths compromise, with regard to proportional representation, giving a more significant presence in Congress to the five southern states where slavery remained in existence, and thus, more electoral votes on the backs of enslaved people who were themselves totally disenfranchised.

open image in gallery The Electoral College dates from the time of George Washington, leading many to say it is outdated ( Getty Images )

Today, it is considered by many to be, in the words of MSNBC commentator Hayes Brown, an arcane formula devised over 200 years ago, and one with no valid reason [to keep] such an undemocratic institution around. In short, according to Brown, the Electoral College is nothing more than a convoluted practice that adds an unnecessary layer between the people and the presidency.

The mathematical gymnastics required to determine a winner is absurd, Brown wrote recently, noting that the system serves to disenfranchise urban conservatives and rural liberals alike, substituting geography for political agency.

A world where the direct popular vote was determinant would force candidates to compete for every vote in every state, Brown wrote. It would be another much-needed step in Americas centuries-long transformation from an amalgamation of independent states into a single national unit.
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A pro-Trump columnist quit his position at The Washington Post after dramatically storming out of an interview live on air.

Hugh Hewitt, a veteran conservative pundit, slammed fellow columnists Jonathan Capehart and Ruth Marcus for running the most unfair election ad and said that he would not be returning.

The outburst came during a discussion on The Posts First Look show, live on Friday, on a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania. The suit, filed in Bucks County, claimed voters submitting mail-in ballots in person have been turned away.

During the interview Marcus stated that Trump was attempting to go to every courtroom he can in America where its relevant to make whatever arguments he can, no matter how far-fetched.

She was interrupted by Hewitt, who has been a regular contributor of opinion pieces for the Post, who berated her for not reporting the whole story.

open image in gallery Conservative commentator High Hewitt (top right) stormed out of a Washington Post live interview on Friday after being challenged by Jonathan Capehart (left) ( The Washington Post )

We are news people, even though we have opinions, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story, he said. So yes, [Trump] is upset about Bucks County, but he was right, and he won in court. Thats the story.

After an awkward pause, Capehart told Hewitt: I dont appreciate being lectured about reporting Hugh when many times you come here saying lots of things that arent based in fact.

I wont come back Jonathan, Im done, Hewitt shot back furiously, tearing out his in-ear headset. This is the most unfair election ad Ive ever been a part of. He then stood up from his chair and left the room.

A spokesperson for The Post declined to comment on Hewitts departure, though Fox News reported his decision to leave his role at the outlet earlier on Friday.

The Post has faced turmoil for the past week, after the papers owner, Jeff Bezos, decided not to endorse a candidate in the presidential race. Multiple people have resigned from the paper, and some 250,000 readers reportedly canceled their subscriptions.

open image in gallery Hewitt, who has been a regular contributor of opinion pieces for the Post, berated a fellow pundit for not reporting the whole story ( Getty )

Hewitts outburst comes following a growing amount of litigation surrounding the 2024 election emerging in Pennsylvania  the largest of the swing states, with 19 electoral votes going to the victor.

Following the lawsuit from Trumps campaign and GOP senate candidate David McCormicks campaign, a state judge agreed that voters can have more time to apply for and return mail-in ballots in Bucks County.

Long lines of voters previously drew complaints that the state was suppressing votes. The state does not have in-person early voting options, so voters were queuing for mail-in ballots to be collected and returned in person.

Voters in Bucks County were given an extended deadline to apply for those ballots until the end of the day on Friday.

Due to its value as a prominent swing state, Pennsylvania has drawn a flurry of Republican litigation alleging wrongdoing  just as Trumps campaign and his allies did in 2020.

Election law experts claim that with the new lawsuits, Trump and his allies are trying to lay the groundwork to challenge the results, if the former president loses.

Additional reporting by Alex Woodward
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Within hours of being released from federal prison, Steve Bannon returned to his rightwing show War Room to declare Kamala Harris a fascist, repeat election fraud claims, and label himself a political prisoner  perhaps an omen of the potential damage he could cause in the few days remaining before the 2024 election.

On Tuesday, Bannon became a free man  and immediately renewed his support for Donald Trump  after a four-month stint at FCI Danbury following a contempt of Congress conviction for not complying with a House panel investigating the January 6 insurrection.

The 70-year-old with a shaggy gray mop and ever-present scruff may appear unassuming, but the damage he can do in the final stretch of the election could be consequential, given his track record and his constant proximity to a microphone.

open image in gallery Steve Bannon, former advisor to former President Donald Trump, holds a press conference in New York City following his release from U.S. Federal jail on October 29 ( REUTERS )

Steve Bannon is the intellectual leader and general of the MAGA movement, Mike Davis, a frequent contributor on War Room, told the New York Times.

Ex-Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro predicted to the outlet that Bannon would drive voters to the polls: Hell do that broadcasting the show, and he will reach a lot of people with the message of how important this election is.

The federal prison stint not only didnt break me, but it empowered me, Bannon told his War Room listeners on Tuesday upon his return to the airwaves.

If theres one thing Bannon has long had, its power. He may no longer be within a few feet of Trump, but his influence on the former presidents supporters could still be significant.

Bannon has lived many lives. He was an officer in the Navy, went to Harvard Business School and was a Goldman Sachs investment banker. Then in the 1990s, he started working in the film industry as an executive producer.

In 2012, Bannon took on the position that launched him into the spotlight: executive chairman of the conservative news site Breitbart. While there, he wiggled his way into Trumps favor as Breitbart published fawning stories about the then-presidential candidate. His work there prompted Bloomberg to dub him in 2015 as the most dangerous political operative in America.

By August 2016, he successfully attracted the attention of Trump, who tapped Bannon to serve as the chief executive of his campaign, a role that later segued into him becoming Trumps chief strategist in the White House.

open image in gallery Bannon appears in court in New York in January 2023 ( AP )

Many former employees of Breitbart News are afraid of Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro, then an editor-at-large at the outlet, wrote when Bannon was hired by the Trump campaign. He is a vindictive, nasty figure, infamous for verbally abusing supposed friends and threatening enemies.

When Bannon was tapped to serve in Trumps White House, 170 Democrats signed a letter oppoising the appointment, citing his divisiveness.

Millions of Americans have expressed fear and concern about how they will be treated by the Trump Administration and your appointment of Mr Bannon only exacerbates and validates their concerns, the Congress members wrote in 2016. As the Executive Chairman of BreitbartNews, Mr Bannon repeatedly and aggressively pushed stories that promote anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and racism.

But his stint in the White House was cut short in 2017. Bannon reportedly said disparaging remarks about Trumps children, including calling daughter Ivanka dumb as a brick, leading the livid then-president to fire his chief strategist, saying he had lost his mind.

open image in gallery Bannon with Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the White House at an event in 2017 ( AFP via Getty Images )

While watching Trumps State of the Union address in 2018, Bannon provided a Bloomberg reporter with a crucial insight into his strategy: The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with s**t.

In other words, throwing so much disinformation into the ether that it becomes impossible to separate fact from fiction. As journalists try to sift for the truth, Trump and his allies became a disinformation machine, churning out an incredibly daunting list of claims to fact-check while simultaneously blaming the mainstream media as broadcasting fake news.

Perhaps that effort is best exhibited by War Room, which Bannon started in 2019 to counteract the master class in political warfare seen in the first impeachment of Donald Trump, he told Yahoo News at the time.

Ever since, Bannon, via the show, has served as Trumps mouthpiece. He has laid bare his feelings about controversy du jour: Covid-19 mandates, the Biden family, and election fraud claims.

In fact, War Room was found to be the biggest offender of spreading election misinformation, leading the other top 20 political podcasts tracked from the date that Biden accepted the Democratic nomination through January 6, 2021, according to a 2022 Brookings Institution analysis.

Trump and his allies are still promoting rigged 2020 election allegations  despite courts across the country finding no evidence to support them  and are already questioning the 2024 election before its happened.

Perhaps its no surprise, then, that Bannon is already flooding the zone with more baseless claims in the final stretch before Election Day.

open image in gallery Bannon returns to his War Room podcast hours after his release from federal prison ( Real Americas Voice / screengrab )

On his return to War Room on Tuesday, he promoted 2020 stolen election conspiracies. He suggested Democrats will do anything to try to nullify and delegitimize the election if Trump wins  which he dubbed a third victory.

But perhaps most terrifyingly, he warned: If youre not prepared to be sent to a federal prison as a political prisoner, then youre not worthy to be in this movement, and to step forward and try to save your country.

You have to understand: they want to put you in prison and they will put you in prison. If you cant accept that, then you dont know what they represent.

He is speaking as a self-described political prisoner. Even behind bars, Bannon has been putting in the work for the former president, not taking a break from spewing Trumpian rhetoric.

He taught a weekly civics class for fellow inmates at Danbury every Tuesday afternoon this fall, Rolling Stone reported, where he echoed some of Trumps defenses. He told the group that Taylor Swift was a cult leader, repeated Trumps concerns about the 60 Minutes interview, and suggested he wouldnt deter Trump from deploying the US military against US citizens  a move that the GOP nominee has reportedly threatened numerous times.

Bannon told the class that the constitution prohibits this action, prompting a student to quip: You might need to remind Trump that he cant do it.

Why would I want to do that? Bannon asked.

The MAGA fixture has a few more days to exact his influence once again before November 5.

To the ruling class in this country, theyre right, I am dangerous, Bannon warned inThe Wall Street Journal in July before turning himself in. And guess what? Im gonna be a lot more dangerous. So theyre right.
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During a campaign stop in New Mexico, Donald Trump used the final moments of the 2024 election to continue spreading false claims, telling voters the previous two presidential votes in the state were rigged.

Albuquerque officials, meanwhile, were worried about a different count: the roughly $445,000 they say the Trump campaign still owes for a 2019 visit.

Ahead of the former presidents visit to the state, mayor Tim Keller said part of the reason the Albuquerque Convention Center turned down a Trump campaign request to use it for Thursdays rally was because of the remaining bill.

With anyone who wants to use any [city-owned] facility  you cant have money owed to the city, Keller said, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. For us to consider the fact that were half a million dollars short is something we would do for any candidate or anyone who wants to rent the convention center in general.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

The bill stems from a 2019 rally in nearby Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and includes $71,000 for police services, $7,000 for barricades, and $132,000 for other city resources, according to local station KOAT, a total thats risen since because of interest.

open image in gallery The mayor of Albuquerque says Trump campaign still owes over $445,000 for 2019 event ( Getty Images )

Local Republicans criticized Keller, arguing the bill claims are a stupid political game, given that the city doesnt historically bill campaigns. City officials told KOAT We have billed for extreme use of resources and services, such as Trumps 2019 visit that shut down City Hall and required additional barricading downtown.

New Mexico isnt the only place where Trump is allegedly trailing IOUs.

The campaign still owed over $25,000 in Arizona, over $208,000 in Minnesota, and over $65,000 in Washington, Al Jazeera reported last week.

As of early October, the Trump campaign allegedly owed more than $750,000 across five jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania, Texas, Montana, and Arizona, according to an investigation from NBC News.

Part of the problem is that many of the costs related to a campaign visit, especially by a high-profile party frontrunner / former president like Donald Trump, flow from local law enforcement assisting the Secret Service, rather than the campaigns directly.

The Secret Service told NBC it lacks a mechanism to reimburse local governments for their support during protective events and has identified this issue as a critical need that could be improved with congressional reform.

Trump, who campaigns on the idea that hes a master dealmaker and successful businessman, has long been accused of stiffing his partners in his business career.

open image in gallery Trump has long been accused of not paying business partners and employees ( Reuters )

During the 2016 campaign, hundreds of former contractors and employees, including carpenters and dishwashers on various Trump enterprises, said they went unpaid for their work.

Some of the alleged costs are multiple decades old, including from workers on the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, which opened in 1990.
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As has been the case ever since he was shot in the head in July, former president Donald Trump spoke behind a glass barrier that ensconced him from another would-be gunman.

But Trump touched down in Gastonia, North Carolina as a means to create another protective barrier: a firewall to stave off a rising Kamala Harris in the Tar Heel State.

The crowd was just as rapturous and raucous as any Trump rally in the past nine years since he debuted. There was a sense of finality to the weekend, knowing that if he won, this would be Trumps final campaign week.

Still, a sense of anxiety hovered over the rally. The final weekend of the campaign is ostensibly about showing strength. It should be about campaigning in states to play on offense when it has certain states locked up. North Carolina was the only swing state in 2020 that broke for him.

open image in gallery A Trump support in the Gastonia crowd sported a painted orange face ( Getty Images )

One of his first stops after his second indictment last year was at the state GOP convention, a show of strength that showed he would muscle out his-would be challengers Ron DeSantis and his former vice president Mike Pence.

He made the chairman of that state party Michael Whatley the co-chair of the RNC. His campaign has repeatedly dispatched his running mate JD Vance to North Carolina.

We win this state. We're going to win the whole ball game., Trump said at the airport, to applause.

Some of Trumps supporters dressed in garbage bags and trash cans, a reference to them being angry at President Joe Biden for supposedly calling them garbage. The White House has claimed that Biden was specifically referring to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage.

open image in gallery A supporter of the former president Donald Trumps dressed in a garbage can following Joe Bidens comments this week ( Eric Garcia )

Polling shows Harris and Trump about dead-even. And moreover, Harris is now making a last-minute push by visiting Charlotte later on Saturday evening at the nearby PNC Music Pavilion. After a brief stop in Virginia, Trump will head to Greensboro. On Sunday, he will campaign in Kinston and on Monday, he will hold a rally in Raleigh.

But at the Gastonia Municipal Airport, there was a sense of disbelief that North Carolina, or the election nationally could be close. Two volunteers conversing talked about how surprised they were how close it was, talking about how some states were purple.

I can't believe that it's close, Donna Speed from Gastonia told The Independent, adding that she thinks that Trump would win North Carolina.

I don't think that the polls are doing justice, Donnas husband James Speed added, claiming that pollsters have just stated their bias as either left-wing or right-wing.

Indeed, the sense of disbelief seemed to pervade the entire rally. Before he took the stage, Representative Dan Bishop of North Carolina bragged about Republican prospects.

open image in gallery Trump stood behind a glass barrier at the rally ( Getty Images )

In three days, I'll be elected the first Republican elected Attorney General of North Carolina in 128 years, Bishop said. But polling shows Bishop trailing Democratic candidate and fellow congressman Jeff Jackson.

At the same time, Bishop highlighted one advantage Republicans have against their opponents.

Republicans lead early voting for the first time in history, he said.  But here's the best news of all, there are plenty of Republicans who haven't voted yet.

But just before he took the stage, Bishop spoke with a supporter about how Mark Robinson, the beleaguered Republican nominee for governor, would have a tough time. It was a tacit admission that Republicans will likely not win back the governorship even if Trump picks up the state.

As the crowd waited for Trumps arrival, the former president seemed keen to portray himself as a wrestling babyface (or good guy), playing footage of him shaving former WWE executive Vince McMahons head during a Wrestlemania. McMahons wife Linda worked in the Trump administration.

After familiar hits including Van Morrisons Brown-Eyed Girl and Guns N Roses, the rally even played the entrance music of The Undertaker, the retired WWE legend who recently had Trump on his podcast.

open image in gallery A member of law enforcement takes position before Trump speaks ( AP )

When Trump eventually came on, he bragged about the size of his crowd, saying that about 20,000 people attended the rally.

We were just going to stop over real quick a little group of people, he told the crowd to hollers. And this is not a little group.

But a few minutes into Trumps speech, the Speeds left. Indeed, plenty of people said that they were leaving either because they were tired from standing or wanted to beat traffic.

Karen Pratt said she had crossed the border from Spartanburg, South Carolina. She had first gone to see Trump in South Carolina back in 2015 when he first ran.

We got here early, so we've been standing quite a while, Pratt, who wore socks with Trumps likeness, told The Independent.

Trump continues to have the support of the diehards though and many stayed. In the same vein, numerous houses in the neighborhood bore massive Trump-Vance banners.

What remains to be seen is whether all those people could help Trump Force One get off the ground in the state where the Wright Brothers flew their first plane.
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Earlier this year, Donald Trump made history by becoming the first former president ever convicted of a crime.

Now, after soaring to victory in the 2024 election against Kamala Harris, he has made history again: by becoming the first convicted felon elected to the nations highest office.

On May 30, Trump was convicted in New York of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the days before the 2016 election, in order to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter one decade earlier.

Judge Juan Merchan delayed his sentencing until after the November 5 election but could still hand down jail time to Trump  potentially paving the way for an unprecedented situation where the president of the US is running the country from a prison cell.

So what happens now?

At this point, Trump is still obligated to continue complying with the legal system. Hes currently scheduled to face sentencing on November 26 in New York for his hush money scandal, but there is a chance hell be able to skate. Judge Juan Merchan has until November 12 to decide if hell toss the conviction out in light of the Supreme Courts presidential immunity ruling.

If Merchan doesnt toss the conviction, Trumps lawyers will likely try to delay the sentencing to buy themselves time to appeal his ruling. Even if the judge sentences Trump, he may not sentence him to prison, but give him a less restrictive punishment to account for the fact that he is the president.

In the US Constitution, there are no restrictions barring a convicted felon from seeking or winning elected office, even if that ultimately means becoming president and running the country from prison.

But the Constitution also offers no explanation for what should happen in that scenario.

open image in gallery Donald Trump declares victory in the 2024 election ( Getty Images )

As a highly litigious individual, Trump is likely to appeal whatever sentence Judge Merchan hands down.

But, he will not be able to use the powers of the presidency to pardon himself  and in turn spare himself from prison  because the New York case involves state charges.

The state and federal systems in the United States are completely separate, Steve Duffy, a jury consultant at Trial Behavior Consulting, told The Independent prior to the hush money trial verdict earlier this year.

The only person who could pardon him would be the governor of New York  who is exceedingly unlikely to do that, Duffy added.

Assuming Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul does not take such a step, a legal brawl is likely to break out to determine whether there is a way for the commander-in-chief to wriggle out of serving time.

open image in gallery Trump in court during his hush money trial in May ( Getty Images )

The feud could end up all the way at the Supreme Court  a nine-justice court consisting of three Trump appointees.

If, after exhausting all legal avenues, Trump still finds himself unable to avoid jail, it could pave the way for calls for his third impeachment or for attempts to remove him from office via the 25th Amendment.

Should that fail and he really does find himself serving as president from a jail cell, Trump would quickly find that there are many duties and trappings of the role he would simply not be able to fulfill while incarcerated.

In his federal cases in Florida and Washington DC  relating to classified documents he kept at Mar-a-Lago and the Capitol riot  Trump, once hes president, can simply fire Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and shut down the investigations.

The viewing of classified materials would create an obvious national security conflict. And traveling abroad to meet fellow world leaders at summits or on diplomatic missions would obviously also be out of bounds.

Trumps RICO case in Georgia  which accuses him and co-defendants of working to undermine the 2020 election  may also be in trouble once he takes office.

That case is on hold as an appeals court is weighing whether or not Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis continues to prosecute. Willis allegedly had a relationship with a man who she hired to work on the Trump case. A ruling in that case isnt expected until next year, likely after Trump takes office.
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A night of dueling rallies in Milwaukee, the largest city in the key battleground state of Wisconsin, turned into a night of high contrast.

Kamala Harris was supported by local officials including Senator Tammy Baldwin, but also by a host of entertainers including comedian Keegan Michael-Key and rapper Cardi B. The vice president was then introduced by an elementary school teacher.

Speaking before Donald Trump took the stage were two sitting senators, Markwayne Mullin and Eric Schmitt, a candidate for the Senate, Eric Hovde, and Robert F Kennedy Jr, who introduced him. Needless to say, the energy levels were very different.

While at the Harris rally an apparent teleprompter failure led to Cardi B reading her speech from a phone, there were bigger tech failures at the FiServ Forum a few miles away.

At the same venue where Trump accepted the Republican Party nomination in July, the former president was plagued by an audio problem.

Trump kicked off his rally by asking the question he starts all his rallies with: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?

No! the near-capacity crowd roared, pleasing Trump, who commented on the size of the crowd several times.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump unhooks the microphone as he speaks in Milwaukee ( AP )

Soon though, the crowd became frustrated with the sound levels in the venue, even chanting: Fix the mic!

Trump eventually got the message and ripped the microphone from the podium to hold it closer to his mouth.

I think this mic stinks, Trump said. And then we don't pay the contractor. I say don't pay the contractor then they write a story, Trump doesn't pay his bills, he's a bad guy.

At one point, as the problems appeared to continue, the former president said: Youve gotta be kidding. Do you want to see me knock the hell out of people backstage?

The crowd cheered and Trump continued: I dont mind if they want to come up a little forward or something but its a pretty stupid situation, but thats OK.

I get so angry, Im up here seething. Im seething, Im working my ass off with this stupid mic, he carried on.

Im blowing out my left arm. Now Im going to blow out my right arm, and Im blowing out my damn throat too, because of these stupid people.

Ill make you a deal, Trump said to the crowd. Pretend youre listening to it perfectly and Ill come back and do another one with a decent mic.

He added that the only thing he asked for, over lighting or teleprompters, was a decent mic.

After holding a microphone for roughly 15 minutes, Trump complained about its weight.

Its like Im weightlifting, he said, adding that the mic was heavy.

During an earlier rally in Michigan when there was another technical problem, Trump again suggested that the contractors should not be paid.
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Cassius, the worlds largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, has died. The 18ft Australian crocodile, who lived on Green Island in the Great Barrier Reef, was thought to be more than 110 years old.

Cassius was titled the worlds largest crocodile in captivity in 2011 by the Guinness World Records.

Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat announced beloved mate Cassiuss death on Saturday.

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our beloved mate Cassius, a spokesperson said.

He was more than just a crocodile he was a cherished member of our family and brought joy and companionship to his best mate George for over 37 years.

It said that Cassiuss condition declined since 15 October.

The crocodile weighed more than a ton and was believed to be between 30 and 80 years old when he was caught in the 1980s.

He was very old and believed to be living beyond the years of a wild croc, they added.

Cassius will be deeply missed, but our love and memories of him will remain in our hearts forever.

open image in gallery His handler says Cassius had a lovely personality but that one should never trust a crocodile ( EPA )

Toody Scott, who was personally responsible for Cassiuss care, described him as a sweetheart.

He had these big eyes that youd look into and you could look into his soul, he told AAP.

In an interview in 2011 with the Guinness World Records website he said the crocodile had a gentle nature.

His eyes are so big and dreamy you could get lost in them forever, he said.

He has a gentle nature unlike most but we have to remind ourselves he can be cunning as a croc and the best way to win his heart is through his stomach. After all we are in croc country and its always best to stay crocwise.

open image in gallery Keepers estimate that Cassius was born in 1903 ( EPA )

It is estimated that Cassius was born in 1903; he was transferred to the zoo in 1987 on a truck from the Finniss river, south of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The croc had a missing snout and a portion of tail missing which Mr Scott said were common injuries among crocs due to territorial disputes with other crocodiles during his time in the wild.

However, the missing snout and tail were never factored into his record-breaking length and he was never remeasured after 2011.

Cassiuss title was briefly taken away by the Philippines Lolong crocodile who measured 20ft 3in after it was captured in Agusan del Sur, Mindanao in the same year.

But he reclaimed the title in 2013 after Lolong died.
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Yellow weather warnings for rain are in force in Spains northeastern Catalonia region a day after Barcelona was hit by fresh flooding following the countrys worst natural disaster in living memory.

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez warned that the devastation caused by flash flooding is not finished after at least 217 people were killed last week, mostly near Valencia.

Cities such as Valencia and Malaga were inundated last week after nearly a years worth of rain  close to half a metre  fell in just eight hours in some areas, leaving residents trapped like rats in homes and cars, as described by one desperate local mayor recalling the chaos.

A missing British couple, Don Turner, 78, and his wife, Terri, 74, were missing in the downpours and later found dead in their car on Saturday. In an emotional interview with the BBC, daughter Renee Turner said she was extremely angry at the Spanish authorities and the local government.

open image in gallery Floods deposited cars in piled heaps on streets thick with mud ( AFP via Getty )

She is one of many who feel abandoned, with residents anger erupting on Sunday when a crowd pelted mud off the streets at Spains king and queen, the prime minister and regional leaders as they made their first visit to an affected area.

The floods have also caused the death of another person from the UK. The unnamed 71-year-old man died hours after being rescued from his home on the outskirts of Malaga after heavy rain and hailstorms triggered flash floods in the area.

As volunteers engage in a huge clean-up effort after the floods swept away bridges and deposited cars and other debris in piled heaps on streets thick with mud, Spains interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that authorities can still not give a reliable estimate of the missing.

Calm weather returned to the hardest-hit areas around Valencia, but the AEMET state weather agency issued a yellow alert for Barcelonas coastal area, the Pyrenees, Girona and Tarragona, all in the Catalonia area.

Those warnings, of up to 40mm of rain in 12 hours, span around 170 miles from Puigcerda in the north to Amposta in the south. Heavy rain pounded the Barcelona area on Monday morning, with more than 50 flights due to take off from El Prat airport cancelled or severely delayed.

open image in gallery Flood damaged cars are seen outside the Bonaire shopping mall on the outskirts of Valencia, eastern Spain ( AFP via Getty Images )

The disaster, which has prompted the central government to deploy 10,000 troops and police officers, has killed over more than 200 people in Valencia, with further deaths in Castilla-La Mancha and Malaga. The number of missing remain unknown. There are fears the death toll could rise as the relief efforts reach previously inaccessible areas.

Emergency services are working around the clock to clear out a 1,800-space underground car park at a shopping centre in Valencia, where sudden, tsunami-like flooding caught staff and shoppers by surprise.

Emergency crews are navigating murky waters to locate potential victims at the shopping centre, using boats to access areas where at least a metre of water remains. As police teams pump out the floodwaters and search through the roughly 50 waterlogged vehicles discovered so far, no bodies have yet been found.

Survivors described the terrifying event to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo as a nightmare and worse than the tsunami movie with shop assistants recounting how they narrowly escaped as torrents of water surged into the complex.

Read our liveblog on the floods for the latest updates

While the most suffering was inflicted on municipalities near the city of Valencia, the storms unleashed their fury over huge swaths of the south and eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula. Homes were left without water as far southwest as Malaga in Andalusia, where a high-speed train derailed.

Greenhouses and farms across southern Spain were also ruined by heavy rains and flooding. The storms spawned a freak tornado in Valencia and a hail storm that punched holes in cars in Andalusia.

open image in gallery Residents try to clean their houses in the Valencia town of Alfafara ( AFP via Getty )

The town of Chiva, west of Valencia province, recorded 491mm of rain in just eight hours  more than it has seen over the past 20 months, according to Spains weather service.

Spains Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most powerful flash flood event in recent memory. Scientists link it to climate change, which is also behind increasingly high temperatures and droughts in Spain and the heating up of the Mediterranean.

Human-caused climate change has doubled the likelihood of a storm like this weeks deluge in Valencia, according to a rapid partial analysis by World Weather Attribution, comprising dozens of international scientists who study global warmings role in extreme weather.
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The death toll after flash flooding wreaked devastation in Spain has reached 211, as the prime minister announced that 5,000 additional soldiers had been deployed to assist the rescue operation.

An unknown number of people remain missing after the country suffered its deadliest natural disaster in living memory, which saw heavy rainfall wash away houses and cars in the eastern and central regions.

On Saturday, rescuers were still searching for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings on Saturday, four days after the storm which has devastated the country.

Speaking after chairing a meeting of the flood crisis committee, prime minister Pedro Sanchez has announced that 5,000 more police officers were also being sent to Valencia, the worst-hit area.

open image in gallery Firefighters wade in water as they search for victims under a bridge ( REUTERS )

It is the biggest operation by the Armed Forces in Spain in peacetime, Mr Sanchez said. The government is going to mobilize all the resources necessary as long as they are needed.

At present, there are some 2,000 soldiers involved in the emergency work, as well as almost 2,500 Civil Guard gendarmes - who have carried out 4,500 rescues during the floods - and 1,800 national police officers.

Thousands of volunteers are helping to clean up the thick mud that is covering everything in streets, houses and businesses in the hardest-hit towns.

There are still dozens of people looking for their loved ones and hundreds of households mourning the loss of a relative, a friend or a neighbour, Mr Sanchez said in a televised address on Saturday morning.

I want to express our deepest love to them and assure them that the government of Spain and the entire state, at all its different administrative levels, is with all of them.

open image in gallery Vehicles pile up on the train tracks in the aftermath of flooding ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

He stressed that the rescue operation was prioritising the recovery of the dead, and added that specialist forensic personnel and mobile morgues were already in the disaster zone and would work day and night; night and day for as long as it takes.

Hopes of finding survivors were boosted when rescuers found a woman alive after three days trapped in a car park in Montcada in Valencia, with residents bursting into applause.

Thousands of volunteers flocked to Valencias City of Arts and Sciences centre for the first coordinated clean-up organised by regional authorities. The venue has been turned into the nerve centre for the operation.

In Valencias Picanya suburb, shop-owner Emilia, 74, said We feel abandoned, there are many people who need help. It is not only my house, is all the houses and we are throwing away furniture, we are throwing away everything.

When is the help going to come to have fridges and washing machines? Because we cant even wash our clothes and we cant even have a shower.

open image in gallery The death toll has risen to 211 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Nurse Maria Jose Gilabert, 52, who also lives in Picanya, said: We are devastated because there is not much light to be seen here at the moment, not because they are not coming to help, they are coming from all over Spain, but because it will be a long time before this becomes a habitable area again.

During his speech, Mr Sanchez acknowledged the growing public anger that was mounting over the authorities handling of the flooding, saying: I know we have to do better and give it our all.

Many have questioned why the Valencian government did not send out an emergency alert until after 8pm on Tuesday, with the prime minister stressing that there would be time later to assess what went wrong and if lessons could be learnt.

The storm triggered a new weather alert in the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia, where rains are expected to continue during the weekend.

Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more frequent in Europe, and elsewhere, due to climate change. Meteorologists think the warming of the Mediterranean, which increases water evaporation, plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe.
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At least 217 people are dead after Spain was struck by the worst floods in recent memory that submerged towns, toppled bridges and cut entire communities off from the outside world.

The deadly floods left cars piled up like toys in streets, swallowed homes, and covered entire neighbourhoods in sludge and debris.

Muddy rivers swept away everything in their path  roads, houses and key infrastructure.

Thousands of people are still facing power and water cuts and shortages of basic goods, especially in the eastern region, the worst affected.

Follow our live coverage of Spain floods.

Rescue workers are facing challenges as they sift through the wreckage in search of survivors.

Authorities have reported 202 fatalities so far, most of them from the eastern city of Valencia.

The search for the missing people continues, but as the floodwaters recede, fears are mounting that more bodies will be found in remote or inaccessible areas. Many cars piled up in the streets are also suspected to have bodies inside.

open image in gallery A man stands next to flooded cars piled up in Valencia, Spain ( AP )

The prime minister has declared the Valencia region a disaster zone and warned that the devastation is not finished.

Our priority is to find the victims and the missing so we can help end the suffering of their families, Pedro Sanchez said.

Heres all we know about the devastating floods, the causes, and the scale of the impact.

What is gota fria?

The disaster started early last week, when an unusual weather pattern known locally as gota fria or cold drop hit the eastern coast of Spain. It occurs when a cold air mass interacts with warmer, moisture-laden Mediterranean air, triggering heavy rainfall over a concentrated area.

Spains national weather service said it rained more in eight hours in the Valencian town of Chiva than it had in the preceding 20 months.

open image in gallery Satellite pictures show Valencia after, left, and before the deadly floods ( Maxar Tech )

Rivers quickly swelled, escaping their banks and inundating towns with little warning. Then the streets turned to rivers, sweeping away cars, trees, and anything else in their path.

In the town of Gandia, floodwaters surged through neighbourhoods, forcing residents to flee within minutes.

The speed and intensity of the flooding caught many off guard, with some people stranded on rooftops or clinging to trees as the water rose.

One video showed a driver and a passenger clinging to the roof of a car as the water surged around them.

open image in gallery Residents carry their belongings as they leave their houses affected by floods in Valencia, Spain ( AP )

First responders worked round the clock to evacuate those in immediate danger, but many were trapped as bridges collapsed, roads were washed out and power outages spread.

Everything looks apocalyptic

The floods have displaced thousands of people, forcing them to abandon homes, farms and businesses. For many, going back is impossible right now with entire residential blocks submerged in some places.

A man wept as he showed a reporter from national broadcaster RTVE the shell of what was once the ground floor of his home in Catarroja, south of Valencia.

It looked as though a bomb had detonated inside, obliterating furniture and belongings, and stripping the paint off some walls.

open image in gallery A young woman laments after seeing the state of her house in La Torre, Valencia, Spain ( Anadolu via Getty )

In Paiporta, mayor Maribel Albalat said Thursday that at least 62 people had perished in the community of 25,000 next to Valencia city.

Paiporta never has floods, we never have this kind of problem. And we found a lot of elderly people in the town centre, Ms Albalat told RTVE.

There were also a lot of people who came to get their cars out of their garages ... it was a real trap.

People clean a house as the street is covered in mud after flash floods affected La Torre in Valencia, Spain ( AFP/Getty )

The disaster is also taking a high emotional toll as families mourn lost members and face the grim reality of starting over. Community centres and temporary shelters are struggling to accommodate the displaced, providing makeshift beds and emergency supplies to meet basic needs.

Alba Paredes Borja is from the Spanish town of Alfafar, one of the areas hardest hit by the deadly storm, where local authorities are calling for urgent help in receiving food, water and medical supplies.

Im terrified. Everything looks apocalyptic, she told The Independent.

Volunteers from nearby regions have stepped in to provide aid while local charities are distributing food and clothing to those who fled with only the clothes on their backs.

Flights and trains suspended and highways broken

The floods have devastated infrastructure. Roads are strewn with broken barriers and washed-out sections, and key bridges have collapsed, leaving many areas cut off from emergency responders.

Valencias high-speed trains to Madrid remain suspended, with several segments of the tracks washed away, and major highways blocked by landslides and debris.

open image in gallery A man stands next to houses affected by floods in Valencia, Spain ( AP )

Air travel has been disrupted as well, with flights delayed or cancelled at several airports in the region. Authorities warn that restoring normal travel could take weeks as crews work to assess damage, clear rubble, and reconstruct essential routes.

On Wednesday, the UK Foreign Office issued a new warning for people planning to visit Spain and advising them to pay close attention to weather warnings.

Severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas of Southern and Eastern Spain, particularly the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha. Journeys may be affected, it said.

How climate crisis exacerbated Spains floods

The rainfall was amplified by unusually warm Mediterranean temperatures, a result of manmade climate crisis. Warmer air holds more moisture, so higher temperatures have been known to exacerbate rainfall and related events around the world.

A rapid analysis by scientists at World Weather Attribution found that the climate crisis made Spains rainfall about 12 per cent heavier and doubled the likelihood of a storm as intense as this weeks deluge of Valencia.

open image in gallery People cross a bridge through piles of debris after floods hit parts of the country in the Paiporta municipality of Valencia, Spain ( Getty )

With every fraction of a degree of fossil fuel warming, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier bursts of rainfall, Dr Friederike Otto, lead at World Weather Attribution and lecturer at Imperial College London, said.

These deadly floods are yet another reminder of how dangerous climate change has already become at just 1.3C of warming.

Spains Aemet also said the climate crisis is to blame for the intensity and scale of the floods.

It is not possible for air and sea temperatures to be increasing and everything else to remain the same, an Aemet spokesperson told local media.

The forecaster added that not only has the temperature change intensified the phenomenon and torrential rain, it has also made them more frequent.

open image in gallery Cars are piled up on a street in La Torre neighbourhood in Sedavi, Valencia, Spain ( Reuters )

Given the long-term warming trend, we expect events like the one observed in Spain to become more frequent, Dr Marilena Oltmanns, research scientist at the National Oceanography Centre, said.

The increased summer heat has also meant the ground in Valencia is harder and less able to absorb the excessive amount of water.

The flood defence system could not handle the deluge. Concerns have been raised over delayed alerts and inadequate drainage, especially for smaller towns near rivers.

Our infrastructure and civilisation are based around a climate that no longer exists, Dr John Marsham, professor of atmospheric science at University of Leeds, said. The ongoing increase in extremes is like watching an avoidable car crash in slow motion.

Rescue operations continue

In response to the disaster, Mr Sanchez declared three days of national mourning and visited the hardest-hit areas to offer support.

Local and national rescue teams, alongside military units, have been deployed, racing against time to locate any remaining survivors.

One dramatic video of a rescue operation showed an elderly woman and baby being airlifted to safety.

Authorities are setting up temporary housing, coordinating food supplies and accessible health services. Financial aid packages are being fast-tracked to support reconstruction efforts, while psychologists and counsellors are offering services to help residents process the trauma of their experiences.

The rescue efforts are being hampered by heavy debris, damaged infrastructure, and treacherous, muddy conditions that have made some parts of the affected regions nearly impossible to reach.

In the aftermath, law enforcement is stretched thin. Amid the chaos, police have detained 39 people on suspicion of looting in the affected areas.

Reports of theft from flooded homes and abandoned vehicles have added to the woes of the affected people.

Police have increased patrols to maintain order and prevent further such incidents, but the need for heightened security has diverted resources away from recovery and relief operations, complicating an already challenging situation for rescue workers.

There is a growing call for investments in flood defences, early-warning systems, and sustainable city planning to protect populations from future extreme events.

Europe is the fastest heating continent on the planet. In recent months, devastating floods have overwhelmed the infrastructure across the continent.
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More than 200 people have been killed in Spain as the army joined rescue efforts on Friday in the aftermath of the worst flash floods to hit the country in decades, leaving victims in the ravaged region begging for aid.

Dani Sorni, a 22-year-old resident of Paiporta, the epicentre of the disaster, described the grave conditions. This town is a cemetery, with bodies trapped under a metre-and-a-half of mud and under cars, he told The Independent.

With the final death toll feared to be 400, survivors described a tsunami of water trapping victims in their cars and their fury over poor planning and slow response by authorities.

Three days have passed since torrential waters swept through the Paiporta community, leaving behind a scene of unimaginable destruction with streets buried under thick sludge and crushed vehicles piled high.

Located just six miles from Valencias centre, this town has been transformed from a peaceful community into what feels like a war zone overnight. The floods, triggered by an intense weather system known as Dana, have shocked the community that is home to around 25,000 people.

Dani, a factory worker, said: We have been abandoned. We are still waiting for aid to come. Theres no army, its just us.

open image in gallery Residents clean up a mud-and-debris-covered street after flooding hit Paiporta, Valencia ( Getty Images )

Many homes remain without running water, electricity, gas, or internet, forcing thousands into the streets in search of essential supplies.

This is a war zone. We dont have water even to shower. And all the supermarkets have been looted, Dani said. You can barely walk through the streets, and everyone knows of someone who has died.

As people continue to try and recover the last remnants of their lives in the town, frustration and despair have enveloped residents, who have accused the government of delaying aid supplies.

We dont know anything about when help will arrive. We feel abandoned and neglected, Dani said.

The emotional toll of the situation weighs heavily on him. Its hard to sleep knowing that there are still dead people trapped out there, he said.

Among the dead in Paiporta were six residents of a care home on the outskirts of town. As floodwaters surged, they were trapped in their rooms when the lower floors were inundated.

Distressing images from that moment went viral, showing communal areas flooded, with many residents partially submerged.

open image in gallery People walk carrying water in an area affected by heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta ( Reuters )

open image in gallery People carry supplies to help places affected by heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain ( Reuters )

Dani said: Weve found the body of a woman hugging her three-month-old dead baby. Neighbours had to remove the body themselves because we havent received help yet.

He explained that many residents were caught off guard, scrambling to save themselves and their belongings, while others rushed to save their cars.

Dozens are believed to be trapped under car garages. Weve seen people sitting outside their homes waiting for forensic teams to come and take the body of their relative, he said.

Everything that is ground level has been erased. Its turned upside down, he said. All the schools, all the houses have been destroyed. Nothing remains standing.

The lack of clean water is particularly troubling, as it poses significant health risks after the flooding.

open image in gallery People stand next to a shopping cart on a street covered in mud ( Reuters )

Dani added: Were all day covered in mud and dirt, and we have been drinking water even if its not potable. Were collecting water thats left in the garages to flush the toilet.

We dont know how long it will take for the government to bring us water supplies. We dont know anything.

open image in gallery A man sits behind a big pile of mud following the devastating effects of flooding on Paiporta ( AFP via Getty Images )

As rescue teams work tirelessly to recover the dead and assist the living in other towns, Dani warned that the worst disaster is yet to come.

When the services come and start moving cars, the number of deceased will increase. Nothing has been moved yet, he said. Everything is destroyed. We are destroyed.

Meanwhile, a new red alert was issued in the southern province of Huelva on Friday, where residents have been told to stay at home ahead of intense rainfall.
Donald Trump hit out at stupid people as he asked a rally audience if they wanted to see him knock the hell out of people backstage after experiencing problems with his microphone in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday (1 November).

With three days of campaigning left in the 2024 race, the former president and his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris are making their final pitches in key battleground states.

They both hosted competing rallies in Wisconsin where they attempted to shore up support from voters in one of the blue wall states.

As Mr Trump experienced problems with sound levels, he said: Im seething, Im working my ass off with this stupid mic.

Im blowing out my damn throat too, because of these stupid people.
Johnny McEvoy on the death of his beloved wife: I never said goodbye. She didnt either. She was going. She wouldnt do any more chemo
Exclusive | Paul Williams: How Kinahan cartel planned to lure me to my death  and the bomb threat that left me at all-time low

In an exclusive extract from his new book, Crooks, Paul Williams talks about his life as a hard-hitting crime reporter

The Irish Independent's Paul Williams in 2016. Photo: Damien Eagers

Paul Williams Sat 2 Nov 2024 at 03:30

The National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) is the garda equivalent of the FBI and is responsible for the investigation of major and serious crime on a national level.
Party says others talked about move for years in what could be seen as a dig at Fine Gael

Fianna Fail will commit to annual reductions in the cost of inheritance tax on grieving families if returned to government after the general election.

In a move that could be perceived as the party seeking to woo Fine Gael voters, Fianna Fails election manifesto will pledge consistent increases in the inheritance tax threshold over the lifetime of the next government.

Yesterday, senior Fianna Fail figures took aim at Fine Gaels lack of action on reducing the burden of inheritance tax while in government, despite its TDs regularly calling for increases in the threshold while it was in power over the last 13 years.

Easing the inheritance tax burden for families and workers in the economy will be a key offering in Fianna Fails tax package proposals, a Fianna Fail source said.

While other parties have talked about the issue for years, it was only in the most recent budget that it was delivered.

The changes introduced by [Finance Minister] Jack Chambers allowed for the much-needed reform to ease pressure on recipients of family homes and other assets.

In Mr Chambers first budget, the main inheritance tax-free threshold, which applies to children or a spouse, was raised from 335,000 to 400,000.

Inheritance tax is a death tax levied on savings and assets that were lawfully acquired. Stock image

In tandem, the threshold for parents, siblings, nieces and nephews increased to 40,000, while the category for uncles, aunts, cousins and friends went up to 20,000 tax-free.

Fianna Fail will commit to significant increases in all three thresholds if it secures enough seats to return to government after the general election.

The changes in Budget 2025 have been well received and will be of huge benefit to workers, families, those whose house value has increased significantly in recent years across Ireland, a Fianna Fail source said.

This is a key focus area for Fianna Fail. Budget 2025 showed the partys delivery and recognition of this as a key issue for middle Ireland and people all over the country.

There is a determination to go even further in the years ahead to reward hard work and ease the tax burden imposed by the tax on inheritance with further increases all thresholds.

All three government parties agreed to the reductions in inheritance tax in the last budget.

I dont understand how a premises that isnt regarded as suitable for international protection accommodation suddenly becomes usable for a creche for young kids

However, there was some jockeying for position among the parties when seeking to take credit for the tax cut.

The new Fianna Fail policy pledge comes amid increasing divisions within the Coalition as the three parties seek to differentiate themselves to voters ahead of the country going to the polls.

It emerged this week that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are pushing back against a Green Party strategy for reducing road traffic and introducing polluter-focused taxes on motorists.

However, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman insisted he will continue to push for the plan to be signed off on by this Government, despite resistance from his coalition partners.

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman. Photo: PA

Mr OGorman added that Fine Gaels proposal to examine whether state-owned buildings unsuitable for international protection accommodation can be used for creches doesnt seem well thought out.

I dont understand how a premises that isnt regarded as suitable for international protection accommodation suddenly becomes usable for a creche for young kids, Mr OGorman said.

He said creches are specially designed to adhere to regulations.

There are specifications that are required in terms of Tusla regulations, in terms of size, in terms of toilet facilities, in terms of sometimes cooking facilities.

They are bespoke buildings, and this idea that we can just throw them up anywhere doesnt seem to me well thought out.

But again, Im just responding to the article that I saw.
Without urgent reform, people with mental health difficulties will continue to be impacted by inappropriate and outdated practices

Over 15,000 people are admitted for care every year. Posed by model

Long-awaited changes to give people with mental illness new rights around their care and treatment will again be delayed when the election is expected to be called next week.

The Mental Health Bill 2024 will fall and it will be left to the next government to reintroduce it to progress to the next stages.

It has important provisions including the start of inspections of community services as well as for the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs) for the first time.

The setback follows 10 years of pressure to improve and modernise mental health services. The bill was published in July.

The Mental Health Bill will have a profound impact on people with mental health difficulties, their family members and carers, the organisation Mental Health Reform said.

Every year, over 15,000 people in Ireland are admitted to in-patient mental health units. Last year, more than 2,500 people were involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act.

It is paramount that people who access mental health services receive care that respects their will and preferences and supports their recovery.

Our research shows that many people using mental health services do not feel that they are being treated with dignity or respect.

They say they do not have enough choice or control over their mental health treatment, such as the medications they are given.

Without urgent reform, people with mental health difficulties will continue to be impacted by inappropriate and outdated practices.

In a guide to the legislation the organisation pointed to changes in the involuntary admission of patients. It points out that currently gardai make most of the applications to have someone in severe mental distress involuntary admitted, amounting to 30pc of cases.

Having a mental health difficulty is a health issue and not a criminal justice issue, the organisation said.

The role of gardai will now be diminished, except for exceptional circumstances, and HSE will need to hire more authorised officers. A spouse or relative of a person is still allowed to make a direct application for involuntary admission.

It will also mean that 16- and 17-year-olds will be able to make more decisions around their mental health treatment, although protections are still in place where they are at risk.

Parents and guardians will also be given stronger rights to information about their childs treatment.

The Department of Health said yesterday that progression of the lengthy and complex bill to replace the Mental Health Act 2001 remains a priority for the Government.

Significant resources have been, and continue to be, allocated to the bill by both the Department of Health and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, aspokesman said.

The bill will shortly be ready for committee stage. Necessary amendments are being progressed following contact with some key stakeholders including the HSE, Mental Health Reform, the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, and An Garda Siochana.

"A formal submission is also awaited from the Mental Health Commission.

Department of Health officials are progressing a number of amendments to ensure the legislation is as robust as possible.

Officials will continue to prioritise this work in the weeks ahead to ensure all relevant issues raised by stakeholders since publication have been considered and it will provide a legal framework for mental health services for decades.
Wicklow independent candidate Rob Carry has said the Governments delay in announcing the date of the election may mean thousands of young people will miss out on their first chance to vote.

Mr Carry claims the messing around in confirming the election date will mean the countys unregistered first-time voters will have a much reduced window to get their names on the register.

Although rumours are rife that the Government will announce 29 November as the date of the next general election, Taoiseach Simon Harris has so far refused to confirm if that will be the case.

However, Mr Carry has pointed to a 10-day wait time for voter registrations to be complete and called on the Government to stop playing games with the electorate.

Its profoundly unfair on young voters that the Taoiseach would play politics with the election date, Mr Carry said. The Local Elections this year, for example, were announced nearly three months ahead of time so there was time to work on getting young people registered. Now it looks like well barely get three weeks.

If you log on to checktheregister.ie today youll likely have to wait a minimum of 10 days before your application is processed. That means that those who are unregistered have a little over two weeks to register  and the date still hasnt been announced."

Mr Carry, a well-known local business owner and community activist, held a Voter Registration Day during which he and a team of volunteers helped to get dozens of young people onto the register.

It was part of his campaign to run for a seat in the Dail in the Wicklow constituency, with this year has been reduced from five seats to four due to the formation of a new constituency that incorporates a large part of south Wicklow and north Wexford.

Mr Carry will be running against Mr Harris for one of those four seats, along with four other sitting TDs in Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Jennifer Whitmore (Social Democrats), John Brady (Sinn Fein) and Steven Matthews (Green Party).

Mr Carry, who lives just outside Wicklow town near the village of Glenealy, runs several businesses in the Bray area including a gym and a well-known martial arts club.

He has a Masters in Journalism and worked in the media in Ireland, Australia and Thailand for 10 years. However, he has a major hill to climb if he is to secure a seat in what looks likely to be a an extremely competitive constituency.

Wicklow is one of the most difficult constituencies to stand in, said Mr Carry. I decided to throw my name into the hat because I dont believe theres any real alternative to the same old political establishment parties.

Independents  men and women who are not career politicians and who have had some real-world experience outside of political circles  are sorely needed.
The Government will act "immediately" on the central recommendations of a Tusla review into the disappearance of schoolboy Kyran Durnin, the minister for children said.

Roderic O'Gorman received on Friday evening the "detailed" report from the child and family agency about its engagement with Kyran and his family.

A spokesperson for Mr O'Gorman said the Department would engage with Tusla on the findings into the "concerning" case.

Gardai launched a murder investigation in October into the disappearance of the Co Louth schoolboy, who was potentially missing for two years, unknown to authorities.

Gardai suspect that Kyran may have died in 2022 when he was six.

Tusla said it raised a "significant" concern about the missing child to police in August.

Last week, investigators searched a former family home in Dundalk and adjoining land.

Missing eight-year-old boy Kyran Durnin. Photo: Cate McCurry/PA

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Saturday, November 2

Ireland's police chief has described the case as "extraordinary" and said he has never seen one like it in his 40-year career.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said on Friday that he is updated every day on the investigation.

He said Gardai had received "a huge amount of information from the public" after several appeals.

"I can assure you that that investigation is very active, we're pursing all the lines of inquiry that we have," he said, speaking in Co Laois.

"We have received a huge amount of information from the public, so all of that has to be processed, and we're also engaging with Tusla and received a lot of information from Tusla as well.

"All of that feeds into the inquiry. It is a very complex and properly resourced investigation and is being assisted by national bureaux in terms of expertise around interviewing and the assessment of the witness accounts we've received so far."

Mr O'Gorman said that he would receive a report from Tusla on its engagement with Kyran and his family.

A separate report would be issued to Education Minister Norma Foley in relation to Tusla's Education Support Service about Kyran's interactions with school authorities.

"I and my department will engage with Tusla in terms of the implementation of any of the immediate recommendations for that report," Mr O'Gorman said.

"It's a detailed report and we're very conscious that there's an ongoing Garda investigation, a murder investigation, ongoing right now, so Tusla won't be putting out anything that is any way prejudicial to an ongoing murder investigation.

"But importantly, this report will also go to the National Review Panel, that's the independent body that examines the death of any child who was known to Tusla, and the internal report from Tusla will be considered by the National Review Panel.

"But we will be acting immediately on any central recommendations that this review brings to us today."

The National Review Panel, which conducts reviews of child deaths and serious incidents with the aim of improving the services, is prioritising the case.

Tusla said its internal review of interactions with Kyran Durnin and his family would not be made public.

A spokesperson said: "In accordance with standard practice in sensitive situations, and in the context of the live investigation by An Garda Siochana and the highly sensitive nature of the personal information involved, the review cannot be published at this time."
In just over a weeks time, world leaders will gather in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to kick off two weeks of talks on tackling climate change. This annual Cop summit will be the 29th one since most countries signed up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992.
The two top decision-makers in the Covid pandemic, former chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan and ex-HSE chief Paul Reid said yesterday they are ready to be questioned at the upcoming inquiry of how Ireland handled the global public health emergency.

But it will all likely happen behind closed doors and the public will have to wait for a final report in 12 to 18 months to receive an analysis of what the Government got right and got wrong.

Dr Holohan said: I look forward to participating in the process the Government is putting in place to evaluate Irelands experience of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Reid said: I welcome the establishment of the Covid inquiry. I will be more than happy to attend if requested and to support its working in any way I can.

Both men have now moved on, with Dr Holohan working in the HSEs National Cancer Control Programme, as well as adjunct professor in both UCD and Trinity College.

Mr Reid most recently chaired the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use.

Dr Holohan chaired the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nepht), which exercised major control over recommendations around lockdowns, freedoms such as how far people could exercise outside their home, as well as the closure of schools and hospitality.

In his memoir, We Need To Talk, Dr Holohan criticised the Governments decision to reopen hospitality in late 2020 for a meaningful Christmas.

He said: There were more than 1,500 Covid deaths in January 2021. It was the single worst month for deaths over the entire course of the pandemic.

This was at a time when we knew how to control the spread of the virus, but we failed to do so as a country.

As the head of the HSE, Mr Reid was tasked with putting the response to the virus in to operation by rolling out the Covid vaccines, test and trace, as well as managing hospitals and other services that were curtailed.

A key element of managing the next pandemic will have to be ensuring more healthcare services remain in place.

The Government evaluation will be mostly or entirely held in private and will be chaired by Professor Anne Scott, with a multidisciplinary panel. It will have no powers of compellability.

The Department of the Taoiseach was unable to answer further questions about the operation of the evaluation yesterday.
We are left with terrible thoughts  Parents of baby Mihai seek answers after his death from sepsis in Dublin hospital

Couple want an inquiry into how their seven-month-old son was treated in Tallaght and Temple Street childrens hospitals

Nicolae and Olesea Marandici who lost their seven-month-old son Mihai. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Eavan Murray Sat 2 Nov 2024 at 21:30

A devastated young couple are seeking an independent inquiry into the treatment of their baby son, who died from sepsis after treatment over three days in Tallaght and Temple Street childrens hospitals, during which time he returned home for a period.
Asking price: 349,950

Agent: Brian Wallace Auctioneers (051) 560 958

A recent Energia study revealed that Wexford is the sunniest county in Ireland, soaking up 1,359 hours of sunshine a year. Located close to a choice of sandy beaches, Wellington Cottage has plenty of sparkle of its own with which to dazzle house hunters, not least its one-acre plot with a detached building containing living/work space, a shower room and storage.

Spanning 1,302 sq ft, the main house has a living room, kitchen/diner, utility, shower room, three bedrooms (one en suite) and a bathroom.

Hillcrest, Knockenpadden, Dunmore East

Hillcrest, Knockenpadden, Dunmore East, Co Waterford

Asking price: 650,000

Agent: Griffin Auctioneers (051) 330 569

Located 1km from Portally Cove beach, this detached house stands on two-thirds of an acre with sea views stretching across to Hook Head. Extended in 2014 to over 2,000sq ft, it was recently upgraded with rewiring, replumbing and double-glazed windows.

Accommodation includes a living/dining room, kitchen/diner, sitting room, utility room, guest WC, four bedrooms (one en suite) and a shower room. Theres a 700sq ft detached garage to the side. Its a 20-minute drive to the Dunmore East cliff walk and Waterford city.

Spring View, Mayo, Crettyard

Spring View, Mayo, Crettyard, Carlow, Laois

Asking price: 650,000

Agent: REA Sothern (059) 913 1218

While technically in Laois, this detached home is in a sunny spot less than a 15-minute drive from Carlow town. Built in 2006, it had solar panels, a new septic tank, electric gates and an oil burner installed two years ago.

Measuring 3,230sq ft and with an A3 BER, the property has an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room, a utility, sitting room, five bedrooms (two en suite), a home office, guest WC and a family bathroom. Its on a 2.2-acre site with a 1,340sq ft dormer garage currently used as a home gym.

The Mill, Paulstown

The Mill, Paulstown, Co Kilkenny

Asking price: 775,000

Agent: Sherry FitzGerald McCreery (056) 772 1904

Set on 1.8 acres, this country house has been extended to 3,320sq ft and refurbished with a geothermal heating system and a B2 BER. At ground level, theres a living room, dining room, kitchen/dining/living room, conservatory, utility and guest WC. Upstairs are three bedrooms (one en suite and all with walk-in wardrobes) and a bathroom.

On the floor above, the principal bedroom has a bathroom, two walk-in wardrobes and a dressing area. Its a 10-minute drive to Bagenalstown and 20 minutes to Kilkenny city.
Ciara Kelly: If I had a chance to meet my younger, headstrong self for coffee, here are the six things Id say to her
From one dynamic city to another, Mobile Broadband Forum 2024 is a must-attend event for anyone interested in technology.

As MBBF 2024 in Istanbul approaches, I find myself brimming with excitement. The memories of last year's event in Dubai are still fresh. It was an enriching experience, one that deepened my understanding of the telecommunications industry while showcasing the incredible innovations shaping the future. It provided a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the excitement surrounding 5G, 5G-Advanced technologies, and indoor digitalisation, all set against the backdrop of one of the world's most dynamic regionsthe UAE.

And coming up soon, the 2024 Global Mobile Broadband Forum (MBBF) is set to take place on October 30-31 in the vibrant and historic city of Istanbul, Turkiye. I can hardly wait to embark on this new journey, to experience the exciting potential of 5.5G and the advancements of Mobile AI applications that will drive growth across sectorsfrom homes and vehicles to industries and personal experiences, to witness the cutting-edge innovations, and to engage in face-to-face conversations with global industry leaders.

Personal Reflections: Learning as a reporter

Covering the Mobile Broadband Forum in Dubai was not only a professional assignment but also a personal journey of discovery. Staying up-to-date on the fast-evolving developments in 5G technology is no easy feat, but the event allowed me to better understand the nuances and complexities involved.

The diversity of speakers and attendees, representing different sectors, regions, and disciplines, provided a global perspective on how telecommunications is shaping the future. From technology innovators to regulatory bodies, the collaborative spirit I observed gave me confidence in the industry's potential to tackle some of societys most pressing challenges.

One of the most striking takeaways from MBBF 2023 was the growing importance of indoor digitalisation in urban environments. I had the opportunity to engage with industry leaders who spoke passionately about the synergy between 5G and indoor digitalisation. I learned how essential ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) is for sectors like healthcare and manufacturing, where precision and speed are not just luxuries but necessities. Covering this topic challenged me to think beyond the conventional applications of 5G and explore how technology is transforming physical spaces and services in real-time.

A key message from the event was the ongoing evolution from 5G to 5G-Advanced (also known as 5.5G). Other than the enhancements in network speed, capacity, and reliability, what struck me the most, however, was Huaweis emphasis on sustainable development and green technologies. Attending the forum gave me an appreciation for how the telecom industry is aligning itself with global sustainability goals while continuing its digital transformation.

Looking ahead: Istanbul to host MBBF 2024

MBBF 2024 is just around the corner. It will bring together global industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders for discussions that will shape the next phase of mobile technology.

Key Highlights to Watch Out For

1. 5.5G Solutions Unveiled: Huawei will showcase its latest suite of 5.5G solutions, redefining the capabilities of mobile networks. Attendees will get an insiders look into cutting-edge technologies for building the more advanced, more simplified, and greener 5G and 5.5G networks and explore future development pathways for the mobile industry.

2. New Intelligence Project: The forum will introduce a new project that is led by the industry organization, aiming to accelerate the development of high-level autonomous network and the standardization of valuable applications through industry collaboration and technological innovation, in turn driving business growth.

3. Mobile AI Applications: MBBF 2024 will showcase a wide range of Mobile AI applications spanning people, homes, vehicles, industries, and everyday objects. This is a unique opportunity to experience and explore emerging trends and capitalise on the opportunities presented by the Mobile AI era.

Interactive Experiences and Networking

In addition to keynotes and presentations, attendees will engage with live demonstrations and one-on-one discussions with industry leaders. Highlights include:

5.5G Boutique Tour: Experience the future of mobile connectivity with the 5.5G 10 Gbps experience, Native Green solutions, VIP Guarantee, and ultimate service delivery.

Exclusive 1-on-1 Discussions: Gain deeper insights into 5G and 5.5G deployment strategies, innovative business models, and the latest industry practices through interactions with global mobile technology experts.

Who Should Attend?

MBBF 2024 is a must-attend event for mobile operators, technology innovators, industry leaders, and anyone with a stake in the future of mobile technology. With over 1,000 attendees expected, including a significant percentage of CXOs and VPs, the forum offers unparalleled opportunities for networking, collaboration, and learning from the best minds in the industry.

Let's meet in Istanbul to witness, learn, and exchange ideas together, and take a leap to the future connectivity.
The inaugural graduation of the iEd Hub's MSc in Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences, Operations and Management in UCC. Photo: David Keane

The inaugural graduation of the iEd Hub's MSc in Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences, Operations and Management in UCC. Photo: David Keane

The iEd Hub, a groundbreaking educational initiative created in partnership between University College Cork (UCC) and Munster Technological University (MTU), celebrated its inaugural conferring ceremony last Friday.

This landmark event saw the first graduates of the MSc in Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences, Operations & Management (IPSOM) programme receive their diplomas.

The Masters programme combines industry-focused teaching with a unique curriculum: one-third technical expertise, one-third operations, and one-third management. This is then complemented by an eight-month internship.

Students benefit from iEds state-of-the-art facilities, including specialised labs for tablet production, aseptic processing, 3D printing, VR, podcasting, simulation rooms, and a 360 immersive environment for experiential learning.

Professor Helen Whelton, Head of the College of Medicine and Health at UCC and Co-Lead of the iEd Hub Project, praised the graduating group, stating: I am thrilled to congratulate our IPSOM graduates as they embark on the next step of their journey. Addressing the needs of the life sciences industry is a strategic priority for the College of Medicine and Health as we build a high-quality Academic Health Sciences System, founded on partnerships between the University, Health Service, and Life Sciences Industry.

This collaboration ensures the best service for our population. Today also marks a milestone for the iEd Hub team, shaping the next generation of life sciences leaders through this inaugural conferring.

Professor Mark Tangney, Head of the iEd Hub, echoed these sentiments, saying: This conferring ceremony is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience of our graduates who are rightly proud to receive their parchments today.

By developing professionals with both technical prowess and essential transferable skills, these graduates represent the future leaders of the life sciences industry, supporting a key component of the Irish economy. Our holistic approach, bringing together multiple academic disciplines with industry expertise, has positioned the iEd Hub as a go-to partner for solving skills challenges in the life sciences sector.
Planning permission is being sought from Kerry County Council (KCC) by Lidl Ireland to develop a new store on a site at Park Road in Killarney,

The plan is to construct a licenced discount food store with ancillary infrastructure and associated site development works totalling 2,347.6 sq. m. of floor space.

The building would range in height from one to two storeys in the townland of Avenue on a site approximately 0.9464 hectares.

A rooftop photovoltaic solar panel array totalling 975 sq. m., and corporate illuminated signage, mounted externally, are included in the specifications.

A total of 97 car parking spaces are to be provided with 20 designated for EV charging, and 24 bicycle parking spaces as part of the development.

Vehicular and pedestrian access to the proposed new Lidl would be provided via the enhancement of the existing vehicular and pedestrian road link access from Park Road.

The owners of the site  Torcbridge Limited  informed KCC in writing that it gives its consent to Lidl Ireland to apply for planning permission.

Lidl Ireland already operate a store in Killarney which is located on Limerick Road.

KCC are due to make a decision on the project in early December.
Its been confirmed that 125 schools in Kerry are to receive free installation of Solar PV panels on their rooftops.

It means 125 out of the countys 162 schools have now had free Solar PV panels installed since the launch of the Solar for Schools Programme in 2023.

Minister for Education Norma Foley made the announcement, saying the scheme has delivered a rooftop revolution for Kerry schools that will reduce carbon emissions and energy bills by up to 1,600, year on year.

The schools received the welcome news after the minister approved the funding to proceed with the installations for all schools nationwide as part of the second and final phase of the programme.

Up to 4,000 primary, post-primary, and special schools in Ireland will be eligible for PV panels.

I have seen the PV panels in place in many of the schools that I have visited, Minister Foley said.

I believe the Solar for Schools Programme will accelerate the installation of PV panels on the roofs of homes and businesses because people can see the benefits of renewable energy in action in their local school buildings, she added.

Minister Foley congratulated the selected schools and explained how the solar panels will also connect to the electricity grid so that energy can power other homes and businesses when schools are closed at weekends and during school holidays.

The overall programme will see up to 24 megawatts of installed renewable energy provision on schools with associated savings in the region of 5.5 million per year across 4,000 schools.

The typical amount a school can save will depend on a number of factors. For example, a school with a 6 kW Solar PV installation can expect to save in the region of 1200-1600 per annum on bills, including credit for their electricity export.

Monitoring software is also being provided to each school to allow review and discussion of the energy generated each day for staff and students.

The Solar for Schools Programme is funded by the Governments Climate Action Fund.
One Opera Square, a 106,000-square-foot office development in the heart of Limerick, has officially reached its topping out milestone, meaning that structural works have been completed.

The building is being developed by social impact investment company, Treaty Stone Partnership, a Joint Venture between Limerick Twenty Thirty DAC and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).

At the topping out ceremony after the 80m project reached roof level on time and on budget, Treaty Stone Partnership Chairman Barry OSullivan said that the development will be a catalyst for the regeneration of the prominent city centre block.

The project will be an employment hub for 1,000 people and it will be the first commercial building in the Mid-West to achieve this level of sustainable design accreditation. It will, he added, be an international model for impact investing.

When completed in April 2025 the building will comprise over 106,000sq.ft office space over 5 floors with a capacity of 1000 employees. It will also hold 3 restaurant/retail units at the ground floor level.

The wider Opera Square Area will include a world class civic plaza, a new city library, a hotel and apartments with retail and restaurant units at ground floor level.

As one of the largest city centre build projects undertaken in Ireland outside of Dublin, work on the wider 3.7acre landmark Opera Square commercial development commenced three years ago and is targeted for completion in 2027.

The programme so far has involved the largest demolition and enabling works undertaken in Limerick, including navigating delicate works around retaining 16 of 18 Georgian buildings as well as archaeological features, including old walls, caverns and vaults.

Limerick Mayor John Moran, present at the event, underscored the developments symbolic importance for the city. One Opera Square is a testament to Limericks vision and ambition, he remarked. This development not only sets the highest benchmark for office space in the Mid-West, but it also underscores our commitment to sustainable and impactful urban regeneration. The success of One Opera Square is a clear signal that Limerick is ready to compete on the global stage.

Designed by Coady Architects and constructed by Sisk, the project involved the retention of 16 out of 18 Georgian structures within the development site.

Limerick City and County Council Director General, Dr Pat Daly added: One Opera Square is a testament to Limericks vision for sustainable and innovative urban development.

This project will have a lasting positive impact on our community and economy, setting a new benchmark for office space in the Mid-West.
I could have done without being beaten  Hot Press illustrator David Rooney reveals hard start to artistic life

Happy at home with his drawings and guitars, this Hot Press veteran had a tough start in life, as he tells reporter David Medcalf

David Rooney. Credit Patrick Glennon

David Medcalf Wicklow People Sat 2 Nov 2024 at 16:40

David Rooney is one of those blessed individuals who knew from day one what he wants to be  and then goes on to fulfil their ambition. The 62-year-old, who lives in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, realised early in life that he was an artist, that he was fated to be creative even if the world of his difficult boyhood offered scant inspiration to someone with such aspirations.
Bill Nighy says he stole complete works of Shakespeare from a library (Yui Mok/PA)

British actor Bill Nighy said he stole the complete works of Shakespeare from a library to prepare for his drama school audition.

The Oscar-nominated star said he applied for the Guildford School of Acting to impress a girl but had to prepare two pieces for the audition  one from a modern playwright and the other from William Shakespeare.

Along with his older friend, they stole the complete works of Shakespeare, and we stole the complete works of George Bernard Shaw which we thought was sort of modern, Nighy told BBC Radio 4s This Cultural Life.

Bill Nighy said he applied for drama school to impress a girl (Yui Mok/PA)

We could have borrowed it like everybody else, but for some reason, we were sort of developing a criminal mentality, the 74-year-old said.

Nighy inadvertently learnt two female parts for the audition while down the pub with his friend.

He performed the role of Eliza Doolittle from Shaws play Pygmalion, and the part of Cesario in Twelfth Night  not realising the part was female character Viola disguised in male clothing.

Despite the panel looking a bit confused by his interpretation of the brief, Nighy said he was invited back with more suitable material and he was later accepted into the drama school.

Nighy said the girl he was trying to impress had originally written the letter to the drama school to gain an audition.

She could have said astronaut and I would have given it a shot, he admitted.

Bill Nighy was nominated for an Oscar last year (Ian West/PA)

During his esteemed career, which saw him nominated for an Oscar last year for his role in Living, Nighy has performed two Shakespeare plays professionally.

The first was The Taming Of The Shrew at the Gateway Theatre in Chester, and the second was King Lear with Sir Anthony Hopkins at the National Theatre in London.

He told BBC Radio 4: I retired from Shakespeare sometime after that in the bathroom I remember, nobody took a blind bit of notice, but I just thought, I cant go through this anymore because I dont have any particular interest in the delivery of Shakespeare.

I understand hes the greatest poet the world has ever known, but the performance of it, I will leave to other people.
Relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes at a memorial erected outside Stockwell Tube station in south London where he was shot dead by police (PA)

A senior firearms officer who shot a man wrongly suspected of being a terrorist after the 7/7 bombings will speak publicly for the first time in a new documentary.

Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead a fortnight after suicide bombers exploded devices on three Tube lines and a London bus on July 7 2005, killing 52 people.

The senior firearms officer who will appear in Channel 4s Shoot To Kill: Terror On The Tube has remained anonymous for nearly two decades.

Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, was mistaken for a terrorist on his way to work (family handout/PA)

Alisa Pomeroy, head of documentaries at Channel 4, said: I hope that hearing the personal testimony of the firearms officer involved in the tragic shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes will help the British public understand the complexity of the atmosphere in London that summer, and what was subsequently the events surrounding what became one of the biggest crises in British policing history.

Would-be suicide bombers targeted the transport network again on July 21, but their devices failed to explode.

The following day, 27-year-old electrician Mr de Menezes was mistaken for one of them and shot seven times by two marksmen at Stockwell Tube station, south London.

On July 23, Scotland Yard confirmed Mr de Menezes was not connected to the July 21 attacks.

Dame Cressida Dick, who was promoted to Metropolitan Police commissioner in 2017, led the operation in which Mr de Menezes died.

A jury cleared her of any blame in his death at the end of the prosecution of the Met under health and safety laws.

The Brazilian electrician was shot dead inside Stockwell Underground station (PA)

Sir Tony Blair, who was prime minister at the time, and Gesio de Avila, a close friend of Mr de Menezes, have contributed to the two-part documentary, with senior police officers and civilian witnesses also featuring.

The programme will look at the marksmans understanding of the role of the police as goodies vs baddies and the pressure of being at the centre of one of the most controversial moments in the history of British policing.

Dov Freedman, chief executive and co-founder of production company Curious Films, which made the documentary, said: The films capture a very specific moment in the summer of 2005 when the UK was living under the very real threat of terrorism, and air of huge uncertainty and tension was high across the nation.

The access to the previously anonymous firearms officer is unparalleled, with his candid interview providing unique insight about that time.

Shoot To Kill: Terror On The Tube will air on November 10 and 11 on Channel 4.
Love him or loathe him, Im flying the expat flag for my old friend Donald Trump, says former US radio host now living in Ireland

Ex-DJ Chaunce Hayden, now living in Monaghan, recalls late night chats on air with Trump before he entered politics

Chaunce Hayden

Mark Bain Sat 2 Nov 2024 at 09:00

He may be more concerned about the state of his swing than the swing states these days, but Chaunce Hayden still keeps a close eye on the US election.
A definitive and painful response  Iran plans to launch attacks on Israel through proxy militia in Iraq

Move could before US election on Tuesday and may be attempt to avoid further Israeli retaliation

An armed Israeli Air Force plane departs from an unknown location to attack Iran last Saturday. Photo: AP

Neil Johnston Telegraph.co.uk Sat 2 Nov 2024 at 03:30







Iran is preparing a fresh attack on Israel within days, intelligence officials believe.
Harris takes lead among voters who have cast their ballots early

However, neither candidate has wide margins in polls, so its effectively neck-and-neck at this stage

Democratic presidential nominee US Vice President Kamala Harris and Jennifer Lopez attend a campaign rally in North Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Daniel Hardaker UK Independent Sat 2 Nov 2024 at 03:30







Kamala Harris has a lead over Donald Trump among American voters who say they have already cast their ballots, polls show.
China's top legislator meets Slovak PM

Xinhua) 10:28, November 02, 2024

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Slovakia 75 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing steadily and the traditional friendship has been strengthened.

He said China is ready to work with Slovakia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, consolidate the political foundation, expand the Belt and Road cooperation and China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and take China-Slovakia relations to a higher level.

Zhao added that the NPC of China is willing to deepen exchanges at all levels and in all fields with the National Council of Slovakia, strengthen exchanges of governance experience, and provide policy support and legal guarantee for bilateral practical cooperation.

Fico said Slovakia attaches great importance to developing relations with China, adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to further enhance bilateral cooperation, promote exchanges between legislative bodies, serve the development of both sides and benefit the two peoples.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
File photos from LinkedIn/Unsplash/Wikimedia Commons

California/IBNS: A US District Court judge in California has ruled that former Twitter executives, including ex-CEO Parag Agrawal, may proceed with a lawsuit against Elon Musk for severance pay, Bloomberg reported on Saturday (Nov. 2).

In a decision issued late on Friday, November 1 (US time), the judge determined that the ousted executives could sue Musk, claiming he dismissed them during his acquisition of Twitter to avoid paying severance benefits, despite their intention to resign.

According to the Bloomberg report, the lawsuit, filed by Agrawal, former CFO Ned Segal, former legal and policy head Vijaya Gadde, and ex-general counsel Sean Edgett, argues that Musk terminated their roles before their resignations could take effect.

Musk took control of Twitter in a high-profile buyout in 2022, later rebranding it as "X."

The executives complaint, filed in March 2024, references Musks biography by Walter Isaacson, in which Musk reportedly mentioned a "$200 million gap in the cookie jar" between closing the acquisition that night or the following morning.

The former executives are demanding one years salary in severance and unvested stock awards at the acquisition price.

Xs representatives did not immediately comment, according to Bloomberg.

The case, titled "Agrawal v. Musk," is filed under case number 24-cv-01304 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco.

This lawsuit is one of several Musk faces after his sweeping layoffs at Twitter.

Judge Chesney, who is presiding over two other cases involving former Twitter executives, also declined on November 1 to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Nicholas Caldwell, Twitters former general manager of core technology, who seeks $20 million in severance compensation.

In other legal developments, an ex-employee secured severance pay through arbitration in September 2024, setting a precedent.

However, in July 2024, Musk and X won a case that sought $500 million in severance for approximately 6,000 laid-off workers.
Representational image by Zhiyue on Unsplash

California/IBNS: Apple has acquired Pixelmator, the Lithuanian-based company behind popular image editing apps like Pixelmator, Pixelmator Pro, and Photomator.

Pixelmator, which was founded in 2007, announced the acquisition in a recent blog post, confirming that the deal is subject to regulatory approval.

The company assured users that it currently has no plans to make major changes to its Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, or Photomator apps.

Pixelmator has long developed apps for iOS and macOS, often highlighted by Apple during its product events.

From the start, Apple has been our inspiration, and weve focused on creating products that match their design, ease of use, and performance standards, Pixelmator stated.

The company expressed excitement about reaching a larger audience.

Its remarkable what our small team in Vilnius, Lithuania, has achieved over the years. Now, with Apple, we have the opportunity to reach more creative individuals worldwide and make a greater impact, Pixelmator shared.

Apple has not commented on the acquisition, in line with its usual policy of silence on acquisitions.

This purchase aligns with Apples strategy of acquiring smaller companies rather than making large-scale purchases.

Other recent acquisitions by Apple include the weather app Dark Sky in 2020 and Workflow in 2017.
In frame: Anmol Bishnoi | Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from YouTube video

Mumbai/IBNS: The Mumbai Police has initiated the extradition process to bring back Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, whose gang has claimed responsibility for the firing outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's house and killing Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique, media reports said.

Police sources, as NDTV reported, said a special court for cases related to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) issued a non-bailable warrant against Anmol Bishnoi.

Police began the extradition process after the United States alerted about his presence in the country.

The National Investigation Agency added Anmol's name in the most-wanted list last month.

A reward worth Rs. 10 lakh was also announced for Anmol's arrest.

After Siddique's murder, one of the Bishnoi gang members shared a post on Facebook where he hinted at Siddique's close ties with Salman and links to underworld people that cost him his life.

On the night of April 14, gunfire shook Mumbai's Bandra neighbourhood when two men on motorbikes fired multiple rounds outside Salman Khan's residence.

The attackers, linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, were charged with conspiracy to murder and other serious crimes.

The Bishnoi gang is operating with 700 shooters from five states with an outreach outside India as well.

Bishnoi, who is in jail, operates from prison using mobile phones. He is switched from one prison to the other. First jailed in 2012, he is now in Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Jail where he was shifted from Delhi's Tihar Jail last year in August.

Why is Lawrence Bishnoi targeting Salman Khan?

Lawrence Bishnoi, who is now lodged in Sabarmati jail, was just five when Salman Khan allegedly hunted down two endangered blackbucks along with his co-stars during a film shoot in Jodhpur in 1998.

In the same year, members from the Bishnoi community had filed a case against Salman and his co-stars from the film, Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Twenty-six years later, the threat on Salman's life looms large as Bishnoi, who was a kid in 1998, is now running a gang which has a team of about 700 shooters with the rage over the allegedly killing of blackbucks on.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

Kolkata/IBNS: In another shocker from the state of West Bengal, a five-year-old girl was raped and murdered by a 40-year-old man in the Alipurduar district on Friday, media reports said.

Mona Roy, the accused, reportedly confessed to the villagers that he had raped and murdered the child.

Taking law into their own hands, the angry villagers beat the accused to death.

The girl went missing from a Kali Puja pandal on Friday afternoon.

When the family members were searching for the girl, some boys told them that she was seen with Mona.

The angry villagers went to Mona's house where the accused was seen washing his hands and feet drenched in blood.

Mona confessed he had lured the girl with jalebi and brought the child to his home, raped and murdered her and threw the body in the pond.

The angry villagers tied Mona to a tree and beat him to death.

A large team of police officers reached the spot and took away the bodies for post-mortem.

This the latest incident of such a crime from the state, which was rocked by protests over the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Photo courtesy : Indian Army X

Srinagar/IBNS: Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag on Saturday, media reports said.

The encounter broke out after the security forces launched an anti-terror operation in Anantnag.

The operation was launched after receiving inputs that some terrorists were hiding in the area.

This comes after a similar encounter broke out in Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar.

The Khanyar locality was cordoned off and a search operation was launched after the security forces received inputs about the presence of terrorists in the locality.

The encounter began after terrorists fired at the forces.
Photo Courtesy: Kamala Harris X page

Harris shared an image of the way the Vice President's residence has been lit on the occasion of Diwali.

"In celebration of Diwali, we illuminated the Vice Presidents Residence and remember to see the light in our world, in each other, and in ourselves," she posted on X.

She also shared a video of her celebration with the Indo-American community members.

"Tonight, we join more than 1 billion people across America and around the world lighting diyas and celebrating the fight for good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness," she said.

Tonight, we join more than 1 billion people across America and around the world lighting diyas and celebrating the fight for good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness.



Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights! pic.twitter.com/VhgCkjeieg  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) October 31, 2024

Apart from Harris, Tim Walz, who is running as the Vice-President candidate for the upcoming US Elections, also participated in Diwali celebration.

Honored to light a diya today to celebrate Diwali and recognize the many contributions South Asians have made to our nation.



Diwali is a reminder that light always triumphs over darkness. Im inspired by the love, community, and joy I felt today. pic.twitter.com/A9VDjeJiEe  Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) October 31, 2024

"Honored to light a diya today to celebrate Diwali and recognize the many contributions South Asians have made to our nation," he said.

"Diwali is a reminder that light always triumphs over darkness. Im inspired by the love, community, and joy I felt today," the politician wrote on X.

Diwali is more than just a festival; it's a powerful reminder of the values we all cherish: patience, togetherness, kindness, and unity.



To all who celebrate, all over the world, and with us here in the U.S., I wish you a Diwali filled with joy, peace, and prosperity.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 1, 2024

American Secretary of State Antony Blinken greeted the community on Diwali and wrote: " Diwali is more than just a festival; it's a powerful reminder of the values we all cherish: patience, togetherness, kindness, and unity." "To all who celebrate, all over the world, and with us here in the U.S., I wish you a Diwali filled with joy, peace, and prosperity," he said.

The Hindu community members across the globe celebrated Diwali on Thursday.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to visit Singapore and Australia this month. Photo Courtesy: IBNS File

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Singapore to attend the 8th Roundtable of ASEAN  India Network of Think Tanks.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaishankar will meet the leadership of Singapore to review the close partnership between the two countries and explore avenues to further enhance the bilateral relationship.

Ahead of his visit to Singapore, Jaishankar will reach Australia from October 3 to October 7.

"During the visit, EAM will travel to Brisbane and inaugurate Indias 4th consulate in Australia. EAM will also co-chair the 15th Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue (FMFD) with Australian Foreign Minister H.E. Ms. Penny Wong in Canberra," the statement said.

Jaishankar will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the 2nd Raisina Down Under to be held in the Australian Parliament House.

He is also scheduled to have interactions with Australian leadership, parliamentarians, members of the Indian diaspora, business community, media and think tanks.
November 2, 2024 | 05:12 am PT

Students walk past Wilson Library on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S., Sept. 20, 2018. Photo by Reuters

Having spent VND3.5 billion (US$138,000) to study abroad, who would return home to work for VND15 million ($590) per month?

It can cost about VND3.5 billion to study abroad in Australia for four years. If students come back to a meager monthly salary of VND15 million, how long would it take for them to break even?

Only students who cannot find jobs abroad or those from wealthy families with large businesses can afford such a choice.

Reader nguyenthydan2

The above comment was left on a news article about how a report found that up to 80% of self-financed Vietnamese students studying abroad do not return to their home country after completing their education, opting instead for higher salaries and better benefits abroad.

Many readers echoed the same sentiment:

Reader Dai Hai Thuy:

"No one would invest such a large amount of money that, in some cases, is equivalent to a lifetime's savings, just to earn VND20 million per month. Thus, they must find ways to stay abroad at least until they have recovered the amount they spent. Another reason is that the knowledge they learned there may not necessarily be applicable in Vietnam. There is also the challenge of re-adapting to the Vietnamese lifestyle."

Reader Quan Tran:

"80% of self-funded international students stay abroad to work, which is normal given their circumstances. After investing billions of dong, would they really return home to find a job with an average income? It is easier to find jobs abroad, and they may not necessarily stand out back home, except for their advantage in foreign languages. Expertise often depends more on the field of study and the extent of work experience rather than whether one studied overseas or at home.

Vietnams economy and technology must develop significantly, creating a suitable environment for talented people."

Reader nguyenhuuhieuhs:

"After four years of studying abroad, international students have become accustomed to the environment and lifestyle overseas. Few want to change their living conditions, especially when income, advancement opportunities, and the working environment there are better.

If salaries in Vietnam could reach $3,000-4,000 per month, then I believe many would want to return to live closer to their homeland, family, and loved ones. With that level of income, they could easily enjoy a good quality of life in Vietnam."

What do you think prompts international students to work overseas instead of returning home?

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress viewpoints.
Photo Courtesy: PIB

The Indian government on Saturday summoned a Canadian high commission representative and lodged a strong protest over the recent allegation levelled by the country against Union Home Minister Amit Shah .

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times: "We had summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday, a diplomatic note was handed over in reference to the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on October 29, 2024."

It was conveyed in the note that the government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the committee by deputy minister David Morrison, Jaiswal said.

The Canadian government earlier publicly alleged that Shah was behind a recent series of plots to murder and intimidate Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.

Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison recently testified before the parliamentary committee recently when he acknowledged he had leaked information to the Washington Post about Shahs alleged role in a campaign of violence and threats against the Sikh diaspora over the last few years.

The journalist called me and asked if it [Shah] was that person. I confirmed it was that person, he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

The United States has called Canada's allegations that India's Home Minister Amit Shah was involved in a plot targeting Khalistani separatists in Ottawa "concerning", media reports said.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters, "The allegations made by the government of Canada are concerning, and we will continue to consult with the Canadian government about those allegations."

India-Canada standoff over Khalistani row

A recent standoff between New Delhi and Ottawa was triggered after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian officials of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India responded sharply after Canada called the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats "persons of interest" in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a long statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) earlier said, "We have received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are persons of interest in a matter related to an investigation in that country. The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics.

"Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian Government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains."

In a statement which leaves India vindicated, Trudeau later said he had no "hard evidentiary proof" to back his claims that India government officials were involved in Nijjar's killing.
Image Credit: Video grab

New Delhi: Three days after the United States sanctioned 19 Indian private firms and two Indian nationals for allegedly supporting Russias war efforts in Ukraine, Indias Ministry of External Affairs stated on Saturday that these companies had not violated Indian laws, media reports said.

The ministry added that New Delhi is engaging with U.S. authorities to address the concerns.

In a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the government is collaborating with relevant Indian departments and agencies to raise awareness among companies about applicable export control regulations, Indian Express reported.

India has a robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade and non-proliferation controls. We are also a member of three key multilateral non-proliferation export control regimes  the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group (AG) and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)  and have been effectively implementing relevant UNSC sanctions and UNSC Resolution 1540 on non-proliferation, the official was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Our understanding is that the sanctioned companies are not in violation of Indian laws. Nevertheless, in keeping with Indias established non-proliferation credentials, we are working with all the relevant Indian departments and agencies to sensitize Indian companies on applicable export control provisions and also inform them of new measures being implemented that could impact Indian companies in certain circumstances he said.

Starting shortly!



Tune in for our Weekly Media Briefing:https://t.co/QNwIRYDrnv  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 2, 2024

The 19 companies and two Indian nationals were included in a list of nearly 400 entities and individuals from various countries targeted for sanctions.

This U.S. move comes amid strained bilateral relations, following allegations of an Indian nationals involvement in a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

Pannun, who is a US-Canadian dual citizen of Indian origin, was designated as a terrorist by India in 2020 and extended the status for five years in July this year.

Last year he indirectly threatened to blow up an Air India plane flying on Nov 19 urging Sikhs not to fly on that day by the airline.

Pannun works as the general counsel for the New York-based Sikhs for Justice, which is banned in India. The group seeks to carve out an independent Khalistan state for Sikhs from India's state of Punjab.

Last week, the U.S. intensified its stance, stating it would only be "fully satisfied" if Indias investigations into the alleged failed plot resulted in meaningful accountability.

On Wednesday, while announcing the sanctions linked to Russias invasion of Ukraine, the State Department said: The United States is today sanctioning nearly 400 entities and individuals for enabling Russias prosecution of its illegal war. In this action, the Department of State is imposing sanctions on more than 120 individuals and entities. Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating more than 270 individuals and entities. The Department of Commerce is also adding 40 entities to its Entity List.
Delhi Police Crime Branch team intercepted murder mastermind after 1600 km chase at Nepal border. (Photo courtesy: x.com/CrimeBranchDP)

New Delhi: Police have arrested the main accused in the murder of a prominent doctor, who was murdered at his residence in South Delhis Jangpura area in May.

The victim, Dr. Yogesh Chandra Paul, 63, was discovered murdered in his home in Jangpura, where he lived with his wife.

According to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, the main suspect in the murder changed at least eight mobile phones and used 20 different SIM cards while on the run.

Police chased Vishnuswaroop Shahi, for over 1,600 km to the India-Nepal border, where he was ultimately caught.

Shahi used various aliases and carried forged identity documents throughout his escape, police said.

Investigators found papers bearing names such as Vishnu Swaroop Shahi, Shakti Sai, Satya Sai, Surya Prakash Shahi, Gagan Oli, and Krishna Shahi. At the time of his arrest, he was using the fake identityGagan Oli.

ONE DREADED CRIMINAL, REWARDEE OF  50,000/- WANTED IN SENSATIONAL MURDER CUM ROBBERY CASE OF PS H.N. DIN, DELHI ARRESTED BY ISC, CRIME BRANCH



ACCUSED WAS MASTERMIND BEHIND THE INCIDENT IN WHICH MURDER OF A DOCTOR COMMITTED IN JUNGPURA, DELHI



TEAM INTERCEPTED HIM ABOUT 1600 pic.twitter.com/inZf1AXpwF  Crime Branch Delhi Police (@CrimeBranchDP) November 2, 2024

The victims body was found in the kitchen, and signs of ransacking indicated a robbery motive.

Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Sen stated that the suspect looted the residence before killing Dr. Paul. Surveillance footage around the area revealed the involvement of several people in the crime.

During the investigation, police detained the doctors domestic helper, Basanti, and two others identified as Akash and Himanshu Joshi, while Shahi and four accomplices remained at large.

Upon taking over the case, the Crime Branch began tracking Shahi through old phone numbers, analysing call detail records (CDR) for about two weeks.

"Given the sensitivity of the case, a dedicated team comprising SIs Gaurav & Ankit, HCs Naveen, Tarun, Nitesh, Sunil and Vinod was formed under the leadership of Inspector Mahipal, supervision of Inspector Satendra Mohan and Sh. Ramesh Chander Lamba, ACP/ISC was constituted," police said in a statement.

They identified active numbers linked to Shahi, who had switched between eight phones and 20 SIM cards.

Intelligence indicated that Shahi was hiding in Suket Valley, Himachal Pradesh, with plans to flee to Nepal.

Before police could reach him there, he moved to Dehradun and then boarded a bus toward the India-Nepal border.

The police team drove 1,600 km in 24 hours and intercepted him at the Nepal border, finally, arresting him.

The police revealed that the house help had informed Shahi about a substantial amount of cash and jewellery kept in Dr. Pauls residence, prompting him to plan the robbery and murder.

Police said Shahis associates, including one Bhim Jora and Joras wife, were involved in plotting the crime.

From the loot, Shahi allegedly obtained Rs 40,000 and 13 grams of gold.

Police said Shahi, whose wife and daughter live in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, is a resident of Nepal.

He first came to India in 2002 and started working as a labourer in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur. He has a criminal record with arrests in 2018 and 2020.

Later he started illegal opium trade and was arrested twice in NDPS Act cases. After that, he began committing theft by Drugging (Zehar Khurani) incidents along with some other criminals to fulfill his greed, police stated.

Modus Operandi

Shahi socialized with Nepal-based domestic-helps to get wealth details of the households they worked in with the motive of robbery.

Police said he wanted to accumulate a large sum of money from the robbery to set up his own business in Nepal.

In this way, he came in touch with the maid, who worked at Dr Yogesh Chandra Paul's residence, and committed the crime.

After each incident, Shahi changed his identity and was most recently using the name Gagan Oli.
The ammunition cartridge was found in a seat pocket of a Dubai-Delhi Air India flight. Representational image (File image/ Credit: PR Team)

New Delhi: In what is being considered a major security breach, an ammunition cartridge was discovered in a seat pocket on an Air India flight after it arrived in Delhi from Dubai on October 27, media reports said.

The Tata-owned airline has lodged a complaint, and police are investigating the incident.

One ammunition cartridge was found in the pocket of a seat of our flight AI916 after it had landed from Dubai at Delhi on 27 October 2024 and all passengers had safely disembarked. A complaint was immediately lodged with the Airport Police by Air India strictly adhering to the laid down security protocols. We understand the matter is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. Safety and security of our passengers and crew remain the topmost priority for Air India, an Air India spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday, reported Indian Express.

This discovery comes amid a recent wave of bomb threats targeting Indian airlines, mostly posted on the social media platform X from anonymous, unverified accounts over the past three weeks.

Since October 14, more than 500 bomb threats have been directed at flights operated by Indian airlines, causing widespread alarm among airline staff, airports, and security agencies.

The threats, all of which have proven to be false so far, have led to occasional flight diversions and extensive post-landing security checks.

In response, aviation security across Indian airports has been heightened, with increased screenings at multiple checkpoints to ensure no prohibited items are brought on board.

However, India has limited authority over security protocols at foreign airports.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and other relevant government bodies are coordinating to address these threats and reinforce the countrys aviation security.

While the airline refrained from commenting further as the matter is under police investigation, sources revealed that the ammunition cartridge was discovered by airline staff during a routine cleaning of the aircraft after it arrived in Delhi from Dubai, according to the Indian Express report.

Officials declined to provide details about the investigations progress, the lines of inquiry being pursued, or whether aviation security authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been asked to assist with the probe.
AIMIM's Maharashtra chief Imtiaz Jaleel said his party is a serios player in the state. (Photo courtesy: x.com/imtiaz_jaleel)

Mumbai: Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party is contesting only 16 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra on November 20.

This is about one-third of the 44 seats it contested in the 2019 elections and even fewer than the 22 seats in 2014.

Given its recent decline in fortunes, AIMIM sources indicate that the party has prioritized "winnability" over expanding its base in the vast state of Maharashtra. Amid a complex electoral landscape with shifting loyalties among coalitions, AIMIM aims to position itself as a "kingmaker" by securing five to seven seats, according to an Indian Express report.

We had received 230 applications for contests from ticket aspirants, but we decided that instead of big numbers we must focus on important seats which we can win. We are very sure that the seats we have selected are going to give us positive results, said Imtiaz Jaleel, the AIMIMs Maharashtra unit president and former Aurangabad MP, while speaking to The Indian Express.

Jaleel is counting on the dynamic nature of the Maharashtra polls, where new political alignments will be tested, the Maratha quota agitation will influence outcomes, and "confusion" exists regarding the ideological affiliations of some leading candidates.

Calling it a complex election, Jaleel said that it is likely neither of the two alliancesthe ruling Mahayuti or the opposition MVAwill emerge victorious with a full majority, as there are too many players in the fray.

In this scenario, any party with five to seven MLAs could emerge as a kingmaker," Jaleel asserted.

AIMIM has nominated four Dalit candidates for the SC-reserved seats, aiming to consolidate Muslim-Dalit votes in its favor.

The party's campaign highlights issues such as mob lynching, minority persecution, and the hijab, which resonate with a significant portion of the Muslim community, said the report.

Jaleel said that he received significant Dalit support in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when he won the Aurangabad seat while allied with Prakash Ambedkars Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).

Although that alliance could not be reformed this time, he believes they still have the backing of the Dalit community, which is facing a leadership crisis.

He noted that the Dalit masses are turning to his party as they advocate for the preservation of the Constitution, and he also indicated that the Maratha community is looking to them due to the agitation for the Maratha quota led by Manoj Jarange Patil.

The four Dalit candidates fielded by the AIMIM are contesting from Miraj in Sangli, Murtijapur in Akola, Kurla in Mumbai and Nagpur South in Nagpur. The remaining candidates are Muslim faces contesting from Aurangabad East, Aurangabad Central, Bhiwandi West, Versova, Byculla, Mumbra, Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar, Malegaon, Dhule, Solapur, Nanded South and Karanja. Jaleel himself will contest from the Aurangabad East constituency.

The Malegaon and Dhule seats are currently held by AIMIM. In the 2019 Assembly polls, the party stood second in Aurangabad Central, Aurangabad East, Byculla, and Solapur City Central.

AIMIM sources indicated that by contesting fewer seats, the party aims to shed the "BJP's B team" label given by various INDIA alliance parties in Maharashtra, as both blocs target similar voter bases. An AIMIM leader said that if the party wanted to cut into MVA votes, it would have contested 230 seats.

He maintained that AMIM is a serious player in Maharashtra politics.

The party had previously sought an alliance with the MVA.

Jaleel claimed he proposed an alliance to Congress and NCP, but Congress rejected it.

AIMIM's reduced electoral push comes amid a decline in fortunes, as Jaleel lost the Aurangabad seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the party lost Byculla and Aurangabad Central in the 2019 Assembly polls.
Shaina NC said she wanted to know MVA's stand on Arvind Sawant's remark 'objectifyng' women. (Photo courtesy: Video grab)

Mumbai: BJP leader and Mahayuti candidate for the Mumbadevi constituency in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Shaina NC, criticized the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) after Arvind Sawant, an MP from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, allegedly used a derogatory term against her, media reports said.

Expressing her outrage, Shaina questioned why leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and Priyanka Chaturvedi from the MVA, which comprises Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, and Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, had not condemned the remark, according to an India Today report.

I want to know the official stand of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. You target a woman, and the apology comes only after Nagpada police filed an FIR, 30 hours later, she remarked, referring to Sawants apology, said the report.

She also challenged Congress candidate Amin Patel, claiming he laughed during Sawants comments.

"Would he react the same way if the remark was directed at a woman from his religion or community? she asked.

Shaina stated that she had campaigned for Sawant in past elections, during which he referred to her as "ladki behen," but now he has stooped to the level of objectifying women.

In 2014 and 2019, I was a ladki behen (dear sister), but now I am maal? I am a daughter of Maa Mumbadevi; I will fight and I will win, she was quoted as saying by India Today.

The situation intensified when Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut defended Sawants comments, asserting that no apology was necessary.

In response, Shaina stated, If Sanjay Raut has no objection to the word 'maal', it shows his mentality, adding, Maal is objectification. It means you are the property of someone."

Shaina argued that the election discourse should focus on the issues facing the Mumbadevi constituency, such as the redevelopment of Kamathipura and chawls.

She questioned whether Aaditya Thackeray, who resides in Bandra and represents Worli, would also be seen as an outsider.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar commented on the issue during a speech in Baramati, advising that one should take care while talking, but he refrained from labelling Sawants remarks as a personal attack.
Recent allegations have sparked significant debate in Canada following claims by former Sikh community member Bob Rai, who has raised concerns about the potential infiltration of Canadas government by extremist elements within the World Sikh Organization (WSO).

According to Rai, this organization is not only influencing Canadian politics through its ties to the Unity Party government but may also have links with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), raising questions of foreign influence and conflicting interests at the highest levels of public service.

Rai, who chose to distance himself from Sikhism, attributes his departure from the faith to its alleged hijacking by extremist groups. They never spoke for me, and I do not support their extremist and terrorist ideologies, he stated, challenging the legitimacy of the WSOs self-proclaimed representation of Sikhs across Canada.

His statements reflect a broader concern among Canadians about political influence by groups associated with extremist or separatist agendas.

An insider to Sikh community dynamics, Rais assertions touch on a conflict of interest tied to the WSOs founding president, Gian Singh Sandhu, and his daughter, BC Supreme Court Judge Palbinder Shergill.

Rai further connects these concerns to the 2006 Air India Inquiry, which investigated the devastating 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182, a tragedy linked to Sikh extremists that claimed 329 lives.

The inquiry spotlighted tensions within the Sikh community over the extent of extremism and the degree to which it affected community leadership.

The implications of Rais statements are profound, as they cast doubt on the neutrality of government structures and the impartiality of certain judicial appointments.

Furthermore, Rais claims could lead to calls for transparency regarding CSISs alleged involvement with community organizations.

The potential for conflicts of interest within the Canadian judicial and political systems is sparking widespread calls for greater scrutiny into the relationships between Canadian intelligence, judicial officials, and groups with political influence in the Sikh diaspora.

While the WSO has yet to respond publicly to these allegations, Rais perspective is prompting both political analysts and the general public to question the boundaries of political activism and national security.

The ongoing debate raises pivotal questions regarding the balance between religious freedom, community representation, and national security in Canada.

As the story unfolds, Canadians are watching closely to see how government agencies and political figures respond to these allegations and what measures may be introduced to address concerns of foreign interference within Canadas political landscape.

(Photo and text courtesy: Khalsavox.com)
Photo courtesy: Sandip Hor

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Deepali Ray moved to Singapore from Kolkata in 1998. While working in the corporate world, her passion for food led her to explore the citys exotic culinary landscape. Soon she discovered the absence of typical Kolkata style food, which in addition to dal, bhat, shukto and macher jhol boasts of other items that reflect touches from China, Europe and Central Asia.

This led her entrepreneurial mindset to start in 2006 an Indo-Chinese eatery called Tangra Chinese Restaurant, serving Chinese dishes that came out of Tangra, a Kolkata suburb, once home to tanneries owned by Hakka Chinese immigrants.

The cuisine from there is a distinct variety of traditional Hakka Chinese food adapted to the Bengali palate, maintaining the essence of the original ingredients while introducing regional spices and flavours.

She didnt stop there. She recently opened Kolkata Beckons to connect Singapore with authentic Bengali cuisine, so that lovers of Kolkata food don't miss anything from chilli chicken and hakka noodles to mochar chop , shorshe ilish and mutton biriyani loaded with an egg and a potato.

Both the restaurants are located almost next to each other at the Race Course Road inside culturally explosive Little India, one of the citys most tourist haunted quarters. Its a buzzing historic area that shows off the best of Singapores time-honored Indian community from vibrant cultural goodies and incredible human scenes to endless shopping and spicy food adventures.

Located not far from the glamourous Orchard Road and Raffle City precinct, Little India stretches couple of kilometers on both sides of Serangoon Road between Little India and Farrer Park MRT Stations

Like colourful saris and glittering gold ornaments, Indian cuisine is an important aspect of this neighbourhood. By virtue of its evolution with people from South Indian background, the menu has been traditionally influenced by South Indian style.

There are some North Indian and Mughlai eateries as well, but there was never a place in Little India and beyond in Singapore to fulfil the craving of a Bengali with authentic Kolkata style Bengali dishes.

The menu at Kolkata Beacons includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items alongside a long list of sweet dishes.

We bring together the diverse flavors of original Bengali cuisine with a touch of Mughal heritage and European sophistication, said Deepali when the author met her at the restaurant during my recent visit to Singapore

At Kolkata Beckons, we honor this rich heritage by incorporating modern cooking technologies. Our use of air frying, sous vide, and steaming replaces traditional deep frying and microwave heating, ensuring a healthier yet flavorful dining experience. We pride ourselves on home-blended spices and herbs that infuse each dish with a unique and authentic flavor profile, she added

I noticed many of his favourites there, from luchi , motor shutir kachori, mangsher chop, kathi rolls and fish fry to cholar dal with narkel, shukto, kanch kolar kofta and pabda fish, rui kalia , dab chingri, shorshe ilish and kasha mangsho.

As imagined, it would require several visits to the restaurant, to taste all the items. I sampled some of his darling picks, the aroma and tastes of which surely transferred me to the kitchens of Kolkata and revived memories of my birthplace. Living in Australia for more than four decades, it was like revisiting my home kitchen with my mother and aunties cooking. Each dish was very well presented and displayed character and abundance of flavour. The ending with Malpoa and Patishapta, both served with Kheer was awesome.

TRAVEL NOTEBOOK

Getting There: Singapore Airlines flies direct from several Indian cities including Kolkata to Singapore

Accommodation: Conveniently located just minutes away from the colourful and vibrant Little India, Village Hotel Albert Court (www.villagehotels.asia) effortlessly straddles the best of both worlds. While a walk around the compound will uncover traditional Indian and Peranakan carvings and motifs on the walls, a peek into any room will reveal modern facilities catered to both business and leisure travellers.

Kolkata Beckons details: www.kolkatabeckons.com.sg

(Sandip Hor is a Sydney-based travel writer. He can be reached on sandiphor@hotmail.com)
As Bollywood's Badshah celebrates his 59th birthday today, which is on November 2, here is the list of his upcoming movies that fans can expect on the big screen soon. The list is subject to changes.

1. King

Shah Rukh Khan has been ruling the Hindi film industry for decades now. The actor is often called the King of Romance as he has done several romantic movies, but this is not it; he has also played tough roles like in Darr, Swades, and even in Chak De India.

The movie that is talk of the town right is his upcoming King. The film is one of his most anticipated movies in which he will be seen doing the lead role.

All about King's plot, cast, and release date:

King is being directed by Sujoy Ghosh. The film is expected to be a suspense thriller just like Sujoy's Kahaani, Jaane Jaan, and Badla. Other than Shah Rukh, the film is also expected to feature SRK's daughter Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan.

Shah Rukh Khan sharing his happiest moments with his daughter and bestfriend Suhana Khan pic.twitter.com/QtIjvXwxsu  SRK's Library (@SRKsLibrary) May 27, 2024

As per reports that Abhishek can be seen playing an antagonist in the movie.

All about SRK's role in King:

As per reports, Shah Rukh Khan will be seen playing a don who, besides being the OG ruler of the criminal world, guides Suhana Khan's character.

According to reports, King is scheduled to be released after two years, that is, in the year 2026. The official date for the film has not been announced.

2. Pathaan 2

Pathaan 2 is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language action thriller movie. According to media reports, the movie will be the eighth installment in the Yash Raj Films' Spy Universe and acts as a sequel to Pathaan, Tiger 3, and a prequel to Tiger vs. Pathaan.

Wondering who else will be there apart from Shah Rukh Khan being the Pathaan? If reports are to be believed, Deepika Padukone will be seen as Rubina Mohsin in the movie.

According to media sources, shortly after its debut in January last year, the makers, including Adi and SRK, agreed to spin Pathaan into a solo franchise within the Spy Universe, and the former began brainstorming ideas for a sequel to this all-time hit. According to sources, Pathaan 2 is set to begin filming in December 2024.
Famous fashion designer Rohit Bal passed away on Friday, leaving behind his legacy of innovative designs and his unmatched fashion sense. While we all know Rohit was a celebrated designer, did you know he used to occasionally appear in the movies too? Yes, you read it right. There are movies in which Rohit gave a special appearance. Today, as we are remembering his contribution to the fashion industry, let's also recall the movies in which he appeared:

Love You Hamesha

Love You Hamesha is an Indian Hindi-language romance film by director Kailash Surendranath. The movie starred actors like Akshaye Khanna and Sonali Bendre in the lead roles but also had Rohit Bal in a special appearance. Since the movie is about people who come to Mumbai in search of fame, Rohit played himself (a fashion designer) in the movie. The film had a delayed release after over two decades on YouTube in 2022.

True West

True West is a filmed play about two brothers; out of them, one is a criminal and the other is a screenwriting family man who becomes appalled by his wayward brother's relationship with a producer. Other than actors like Bruce Willis and Chad Smith, Rohit Bal played a small role in the movie.

Other than these two, Rohit was also there in Monsoon Wedding and Boom.

Contribution to Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion

Other than giving his special appearance in movies, by helping director Madhur Bhandarkar in his deep research, Rohit had also contributed to the hit movie Fashion.

The Indian Hindi-language movie Fashion that starred actors like Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut was all about how the fashion industry in India works, and for the in-depth research required in this matter, Rohit helped Madhur with his insights. The movie was an instant hit.

Other than appearing in the movies and lending his knowledge of fashion to the directors like Madhur Bhandarkar, Rohit also designed clothes for many movies for years. He designed costumes for the movies that were traditional as well as contemporary. Well known for his creative designing that Bollywood celebs also loved both on and off-screen, Rohit over the years became a fashion legend in the film industry as well.

Rohit is now not with us, but his legacy continues to inspire many in both the fashion industry and Bollywood.
Ending a nearly two-week manhunt, Nagpur Police have detained a man believed to be the sole suspect in the serial hoax bomb threats involving over 350 flights operated by Indian carriers. The suspect, identified as Jagdish Shriram Uikey, a resident of Arjuni Morgaon in the Gondia district of eastern Maharashtra, was detained on Thursday, Nagpur Police said on Friday.

CREDIT: X/ Jagdish Uikey

Who is Jagdish Shriram Uikey

The 35-year-old had been on the run for the past few days after police identified him as the primary suspect in these unprecedented hoax bomb threats, which have resulted in losses worth hundreds of crores for the airlines.

Uikey, who studied only up to Class XI, claims to have authored a book on terrorism titled Aatankwad - Ek Tufani Rakshas.

What is his book on terrorism

On Amazon, Uikey describes his book as one that "puts all the truths of terrorism in front of you and provides secret information about terrorism that no country or author has previously revealed to the world."

CREDIT: AMAZON

He further claims that the book offers a "solution to save you, your family, and your country from terrorism." Additionally, Uikey promises to donate 50 percent of the earnings from his book, priced at Rs 350, in the interest of the country.

Also read: Author of book on terrorism reportedly behind hoax bomb threats, had sought meeting with PM

Was arrested in 2021

Police revealed that Uikey had previously been arrested in 2021 for making a phone call reporting a hoax bomb threat. Following this, he reportedly left Maharashtra and relocated to Delhi, from where he sent the recent threats.

CREDIT: X/ Jagdish Uikey

How he was identified

Investigators, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Shweta Khedkar, zeroed in on Uikey based on the emails he had sent to various establishments. He had been living in Delhi for the past few years, from where he issued the threat emails across the country.

The police said that an internet protocol (IP) address linked to an email sent to a central minister, as shared by Google, confirmed it had been sent by Uikey. The investigation also revealed that the SIM card in his mobile phone was registered under his name and listed his Arjuni Morgaon address.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
A video has gone viral on social media showing what appears to be a woman stealing trick-or-treat candies meant for kids on Halloween from several houses in Canada. According to reports, the 'theft' happened in the Cornell locality of Markham, Ontario.

Trick-or-thief on Halloween

In videos posted on social media, the same woman, who is dressed in a salwar kameez, is seen moving from house to house, stealing candies from bowls of treats set out for trick-or-treaters on Halloween. At one such home, the woman was seen even stealing decorative lights.

Trick Or Thief In Markham , Same Woman Raids All The Candy For Halloween  pic.twitter.com/t01kYCWku0  RealTorontoNews (@RealTorontoNewz) November 1, 2024

Video causes outrage

The video, which has since gone viral, has caused outrage online, with many calling the woman's act 'trick-or-steal' and 'trick-or-thief'. Many native Canadians also wondered what Halloween costume the woman was wearing.

I don't recognize her costume. What's she dressed as?  MattKinapen (@MattKinapen) November 1, 2024

Some also blamed Canada's liberal immigration policies for the incident, saying migrants from India who are refusing to assimilate with local customs are ruining their traditions.

Indians ruined Canada  anarcho tyranny (@_anarchotyranny) November 1, 2024

Woman suffering from mental illness: City councillor

After the incident caused massive outrage on social media, Markham city councillor Andrew Keyes issued a statement, saying that the woman "suffers from a mental health disorder." He said that the stolen items would be returned to the affected families.

"These events and the social media attention they have generated have caused the family an enormous amount of distress, and it would be very much appreciated if people could please tone down the rhetoric, stop posting and sharing these videos, and if you're able, please remove any posts you may have distributed," he said.

However, Keyes deleted his original post defending the woman after many called him out on social media.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Travelling in Karnataka can be a challenge for those unfamiliar with Kannada, as locals often communicate solely in their native language, leaving little room for English or Hindi speakers. In a bid to improve interactions and enhance the experience of visitors in Bengaluru, the local police have launched an initiative to bridge this communication gap. This effort aims to make navigating the city smoother for everyone, regardless of their language skills.

In a commendable move to bridge the language gap for non-Kannadigas visiting Bengaluru, the local traffic police have launched an innovative initiative designed to teach basic Kannada phrases.

On Friday, they began placing informative posters on 5,000 autorickshaws throughout the city. These posters showcase essential conversational Kannada sentences transcribed in English letters, accompanied by their English translations.

The goal is to enhance communication between passengers and drivers, making travel in the city smoother for everyone.

This initiative, which aims to extend to a total of 50,000 autorickshaws within the month, was inspired by the Auto Kannadiga project, spearheaded by Azzu Sulthan, a 31-year-old autorickshaw driver from Jakkur.

Sulthan initially introduced boards in his auto with common Kannada phrases and their English translations to assist non-Kannada speakers in navigating the local culture.

Recognising the potential impact of such an approach, the traffic police decided to collaborate and further develop this idea.

MN Anucheth, the joint commissioner of Bengaluru traffic police, emphasised that a significant number of customer complaints against autorickshaw drivers were rooted in misunderstandings caused by language differences.

Representational image/ ET Auto

By implementing this educational campaign, they aim to alleviate those issues.

Anucheth shared that the police have also added a few more phrases to the original list, such as meter haaki (put on the meter), which will be especially useful for passengers.

The posters will also include emergency contact numbers for the police, ensuring that riders can reach out if needed.

This creative approach is a win-win for everyone involved, making Bengaluru a more welcoming place for all its inhabitants and guests.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Diwali may have come and gone, but one individuals festive post is still attracting attention. It is none other than the fugitive Vijay Mallya. Mallya recently reemerged in the headlines with his Diwali greetings, but it wasnt his message that caught everyones attention; it was the hilarious reactions from social media users that took the spotlight instead.

The 68-year-old former owner of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines made an appearance on X on November 1, the day after Diwali when government offices including banks had the official holiday, posting a generic Diwali greeting.

A glance at his past posts reveals that he primarily uses the platform for festival wishes.

However, it was the comments that stole the show, with users delivering hilarious jabs.

One user said, "Oh, is today a bank holiday?" while another joked, "SBI is missing you."

The witty remarks continued, with fans asking when he'd return their money and commenting on his punctual festival greetings despite the backlash.

Check out some of the other posts below:

Please come Here to India



Let's celebrate Diwali Together :)



SBI will join us as a special guest  Investment Books (Dhaval) (@InvestmentBook1) November 1, 2024

Tyohar Matlab inks tweet  Indian Retail Investing (@IndianInve10186) November 1, 2024

Best wishes to SBI Bank   The Kalyan Fans (@iamjanasenani) November 1, 2024

Aapki diwali doosro ka diwaala  Luvkush (@karmalogy108) November 2, 2024

Vijay Mallya: The fugitive former businessman

Vijay Mallya, a former Indian businessman, has been at the center of controversy for quite some time now due to his financial mismanagement related to Kingfisher Airlines, which he founded.

The airline faced severe financial difficulties, leading to the default of loans worth approximately Rs 9,000 crores (about $1.3 billion).

Mallya has been accused of fraud and money laundering, resulting in legal actions against him.

He fled to the UK in 2016, where he has been fighting extradition to India to face these charges.

In 2019, he was declared a fugitive in India under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
With the U.S. presidential election just two days away on November 5th, the race is heating up, and the exchanges are getting sharper. During a campaign stop in Detroit, Tim Walz, Kamala Harris's running mate, referred to Elon Musk as a "gay guy," and Musk was quick to respond.

'That gay guy'

Kamala Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, made a remark about the billionaires influence in elections, referencing Elon Musk with the phrase, "That guy, that gay guy."

He added, "Michigan knows that word Look, that dude got a tax cut."

BREAKING: The Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, Tim Walz, called Elon Musk a gay guy.



This is beyond pathetic. Elon Musk is a national asset and deserves respect, regardless of the party or candidate he supports. Shame on the Democrats. pic.twitter.com/29V3Qb3JTs  DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) November 1, 2024

Walz's use of "gay" in a dismissive way and as an insult does not bode well for the Democratic party.

Elon Musk responded on X, stating, "I have no problem being called gay tbh [to be honest.]"

I have no problem being called gay tbh  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2024

The Tesla CEO, who has openly supported Republican candidate Donald Trump and even conducted monetary giveaways on X, seemed unfazed by the comment.

Well it isn't just Walz, even Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance seems to be making controversial statements.

Appearing on the Joe Rogan podcast recently, he had suggested that upper-middle to lower-middle-class white progressives, especially those aiming for Ivy League schools like Harvard or Yale for their children, might feel pressured to embrace progressive views. Vance claimed this pressure could even extend to encouraging their children to identify as LGBTQ+.

NEW: JD Vance explains the new phenomenon where white progressives are encouraging their children to be trans so they can virtue signal.



Rogan: "There has to be some reason why there is an enormous percentage of Hollywood kids who are trans."



Vance: "It becomes a social pic.twitter.com/vA8XHrDjZw  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 31, 2024

How did people respond?

One commenter noted, "Waltz just used 'gay' as a slur and not in its correct context... where's the outrage from liberals? I thought people couldn't use the word "gay" as a joke anymore."

Another wrote, "Weird how they use a term that's not an insult as an insult.'

Someone else added, "His intent was to disparage you using that word."

Yet another said, "But it's telling that he means it as an insult. We all know he's not complimenting you. The pro-LGBTQ+++++ caucus uses 'gay guy' as a slight? I thought they loved the gays and all the letters?"

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Rohit Bal'e net worth, career, family, education and more: The fashion industry is deeply saddened by the passing of Rohit Bal, popularly known as "Gudda." The celebrated designer, famous for mixing Indian traditions with modern fashion, passed away on 1st November at the age of 63. Sunil Sethi, Chairman of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), confirmed the sad news, sharing that Bal had been facing heart problems for some time. He had been struggling with a heart ailment. He was rushed to the hospital today but, unfortunately, he didn't survive, Sethi informed The Indian Express.

Just two weeks ago, Rohit Bal showcased his final collection at grand finale of Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, where he unveiled his much-anticipated collection, Kaaynaat: A Bloom in the Universe, reported in TOI.

Last December, he had been admitted to intensive care at a private hospital in Gurugram for heart-related issues. After his release, he shared a heartfelt message on social media, thanking everyone for their well wishes.

Rohit Bal's early life, family, education

Rohit Bal was born on 8th May 1961 in Srinagar, Kashmir, into a Kashmiri Pandit family. His father, Duffy Bal, passed away in 1968. He had a brother, Rajeev Bal, and two sisters, Aruna Bal Sharma and Neera Bal. He attended Woodlands House School and Burn Hall School in Srinagar, but his family moved to Delhi in the 1970s due to rising tensions in Kashmir. In Delhi, Gudda continued his schooling at Delhi Public School on Mathura Road, eventually graduating with a degree in History from St. Stephen's College. Later, he pursued his passion for fashion at the National Institute of Fashion Technology.

Rohit Bal's Net Worth

Over his long and successful career, Rohit Bal built an impressive net worth estimated at $1 million to $5 million as of 2023, according to fashionabc.org. His brand, Rohit Bal Design, was highly sought after and admired for its rich use of velvet, brocade, and detailed patterns, including his signature lotus and peacock motifs. These elements made his work unique, symbolising his love for Indian culture and luxury.

Rohit Bal's Career Journey

Rohit Bal's fashion career began in 1986 when he started a company with his brother, Orchid Oversea Pvt. Ltd. By 1990, he had launched his first solo collection, quickly establishing himself as a leading designer in Indian fashion. Bal's designs featured intricate floral patterns, vivid colours, and luxurious styles, which gained him a global following. His clientele included international celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, and Uma Thurman, alongside top Bollywood stars.

Bal's creativity went beyond clothing. He worked with Khadi Gram Udyog, India's largest handloom group, and also designed outfits for the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. Throughout his career, he opened stores in several Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Chennai, and also ventured into jewellery design. In one of his key collaborations, he partnered with Biba Apparels to introduce "Biba by Rohit Bal."

Awards and Recognitions

Rohit Bal earned numerous awards throughout his celebrated career. He was named 'Designer of the Year' at both the Indian Fashion Awards in 2006 and the Kingfisher Fashion Achievement Awards in 2001. He was honoured as the Lakme Grand Finale Designer in 2012 and, in 2020, was recognised as the "Iconic Fashion Designer of the Country" by the Rajnigandha Pearls India Fashion Awards.

Bal's impact on Indian fashion extended far beyond the runway. His unique style and dedication to the craft have left a lasting legacy in the industry.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
President Xi Jinping and visiting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico decided on Friday to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership as China and the Central European country are committed to upgrading their 75-year-old relationship with enhanced mutual trust, expanded practical cooperation and closer people-to-people exchanges.

When meeting with Fico at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi lauded the flourishing development of the China-Slovakia traditional friendship, saying that bilateral cooperation across various fields has yielded fruitful results benefiting the people of both countries.

Fico, accompanied by a large delegation of ministers and business representatives, started a six-day official visit to China from Thursday.

He will also visit Hefei, Anhui province, to tour the production facilities of an electric vehicle battery component manufacturing company, and Shanghai for the opening of the 7th China International Import Expo, aiming "to deepen Slovak-Chinese bilateral relations and enhance mutual economic cooperation", according to the Slovak Prime Minister's Office.

Calling Fico "an old friend and good friend" of the Chinese people, Xi said: "I believe that with our joint efforts, the China-Slovakia relationship will enter the fast lane, open up a new chapter and move toward a higher level."

Bilateral trade between China and Slovakia has significantly increased in recent years, with the trade volume growing from $3.75 billion in 2010 to $12.15 billion in 2022, according to the Foreign Ministry. Slovakia is now China's fourth-largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, while China is Slovakia's largest trading partner outside the European Union.

To expand practical cooperation, Xi called on the two sides to strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as new energy, transport and logistics, as well as infrastructure construction. China encourages capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Slovakia and Slovak companies are welcome to explore the Chinese market, he said.

The Chinese president encouraged the two countries to carry out dialogue among political parties, local communities, youth, think tanks and media outlets, and better utilize the Confucius Institute and other platforms for closer people-to-people exchanges.

Xi also announced China's decision to grant a 15-day visa-free entry policy to Slovak citizens.

Fico's visit came after the European Commission finalized its decision to impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, which Slovakia voted against.

Noting that next year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, Xi said this relationship should reflect the maturity and stability it deserves, expressing his hope that EU institutions will keep positioning China as its partner, adopt an active and pragmatic China policy, effectively manage differences, and avoid politicizing economic and trade issues.

Fico said that his country firmly pursues the one-China policy, which serves as the foundation of China-Slovakia cooperation and opposes any interference in other countries' internal affairs.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi, who reiterated China's consistent position on the Ukraine issue, expressed appreciation for Slovakia's objective, rational and fair approach and welcomed Slovakia and more like-minded countries to join China in playing a positive role for promoting peace and dialogue.

Fico praised China's fair, objective and constructive position, saying that Slovakia is willing to join the group of Friends for Peace to address the Ukraine crisis and work with China on promoting a political settlement.

Shortly before departing for Beijing, the Slovak prime minister had said that, "China is becoming a decisive world player and I even think that settling the dispute in Ukraine will not be possible without China's active cooperation."

On Friday, Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, also met separately with Fico in Beijing.

Li and Fico witnessed the signing of multiple cooperative documents covering areas including transportation, trade and the economy, and culture and tourism.

Cai Ge, the Chinese ambassador to Slovakia, said that Fico's visit will be extremely significant in strengthening understanding, deepening mutual trust, expanding practical and mutually beneficial cooperation, and fostering a future-oriented friendship.

Noting that it is the first visit by a Slovak prime minister to China in the past 17 years, Cai said the trip will have a milestone significance in the China-Slovakia relationship that helps bring bilateral ties to a new level.

In 2007, Fico visited China for the first time as Slovak prime minister. He was appointed prime minister for the fourth time in October last year.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file of protesters arraigned over the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest to his office.

This comes after chaos erupted at a federal high court in Abuja on Friday when some minors among the 76 protesters charged collapsed while waiting to be arraigned.

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In a statement, the Minister of Justice said, It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbad governance violent protest in court for various offences including treason.

There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to take an informed decision.

He acknowledged that the Court has remanded the defendants in detention centers and adjourned the case to January, but clarified that its not within his power to vary the court order.

READ ALSO:Ebonyi Police Apprehend Four Suspects For Organ Harvesting

Instead, he directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) to review the case and consider bringing the adjournment date forward.

The arraignment of minors has sparked widespread condemnation, with Amnesty International describing their detainment as unlawful and criticizing the governments disregard for the law.

Other prominent Nigerians, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Shehu Sani, have also denounced the minors arraignment.

Presiding Judge Obiora Egwuatu granted N10 million bail to the defendants, requiring two sureties in like sum.

One surety must be a civil servant of grade level 15 or higher with a verifiable address within the courts jurisdiction, while the other surety must be a parent of the defendant.

The protest has generated significant controversy, with many questioning the governments handling of the situation.
Controversial Nigerian lawyer, Malcolm Imirhobo, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubus Tax Reform Bill.

Imirhobos reaction is coming, amid the recent Bill sent to the National Assembly by President Tinubu.

Recall that the National Economic Council, consisting governors, had tasked Tinubu to withdraw the bill while it called for further consultations.

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Following NECs response to the bill, the President also rejected their advice and ignored the Northern governors stance over the development.

Meanwhile, in a statement, shared via his X page on Saturday, Imirhobo said that he supports the tax reform bill because it will correct tax distribution inequalities.

He added that Northern Nigerian has been robbing the South region for many years, adding that they cant continue to reap from where they didnt sow.

READ MORE: Tax Reform Bill Wont Be Withdrawn, NASS Can Make Adjustment- Tinubu Insists

He said: I support the tax reform bill because it will correct tax distribution inequalities. The North has been robbing and raping the South for decades; it has to stop.

If we sincerely want to return to the regional government and want this country to make progress, tax reform is sine qua non.

Every state must bring something to the table; the North cannot continue to reap where it did not so.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted a bail of N10 million each to arrested #EndbadGovernance protesters.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that those granted bail on Friday, are expected to present one surety who must be a civil servant.

The suspects are facing a ten-count charge bordering on alleged treason, and conspiracy to commit felony with intent to destabilize Nigeria, which is contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act.

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READ MORE: EndBadGovt Protesters Faint In Court Before Trial

Recall that there was panic at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, as some young protesters detained for participating in the #EndBadGovernance movement, collapsed before the trial began.

With the assistance of lawyers in the courtroom, the malnourished looking individuals were rushed to the courts clinic while their co-defendants, many of whom were visibly shaken, wept uncontrollably.

They were all arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano and are being accused of treason among others.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has condemned the detention and prosecution of young individuals for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest.

Recall that the arrested protesters were brought by the Nigerian police for arraignment on Friday, with some of them reportedly collapsing before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

They were charged with 10 counts of terrorism, an attempt to overthrow the government, and alleged mutiny over their participation in the nationwide protest.

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Meanwhile, Justice Egwuatu granted bail to some of the protesters that were arraigned to the tune of N10m each.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Friday night, via his X handle, Obi described it as disturbing.

The former Anambra State governor called on Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, the Police, as well as the National Human Rights Commission, to thoroughly investigate the matter.

He said: The offense being alleged against these suspects, including minors, is protesting against bad governance that was directly affecting their livelihood and which our constitution under a democratic dispensation guarantees them.

READ MORE: EndBadGovt Protesters Faint In Court Before Trial

Curiously, most of the people in government today leveraged this aspect of the Constitution standing as champions of good governance while in opposition.

Moreover, our status presumes that suspects deserve some dignity, even in a correctional home as human beings.

The reason why we should all be concerned about a situation like this is because we are part of a global community where human dignity should be respected.

May I appreciate the presiding lordship for halting the trial and saving the country further embarrassment it would have been to the World as a democratic nation?
Manchester City suffered their first Premier League defeat in 2024 as they were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth on Saturday.

Citys 32 games unbeaten run in English Premier League eneded during their visit to the Cherries.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that it is also a second defeat in four days for Pep Guardiolas side, following their midweek Carabao Cup exit at Tottenham.

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The Cherries, in good form after picking up four points from their past two games against Aston Villa and Arsenal, started quickly and full of positivity.

Ederson was forced into a double save after just two minutes as he denied Semenyo and Justin Kluivert.

Bournemouth continued to press high and they were rewarded in the ninth minute when Milos Kerkezs cut-back from the byeline was turned in by Semenyo.

The host came out for the second period, full of confidence and were close to doubling their lead in the first minute, but Ederson was sharply off his line to keep Evanlisons effort out.

City finally registered an attempt on target in the 80th minute, albeit a tame one, with Erling Haaland struggling to get any power on his volley.

And two minutes later, Josko Gvardiol headed beyond a despairing Mark Travers to offer hope but the Premier League champions were unable to grab an equaliser.

READ MORE: Manchester United Appoint Amorim As Ten Hag Replacement

The defeat means City slip to second after Liverpool came-from-behind to beat Brighton, while Bournemouth climb up to eighth.

Earlier today, Alexander Isaks brilliant header earned Newcastle United a 1-0 win over Arsenal, while Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool to come from behind and beat Brighton 2-1 at Anfield to move top of the Premier League.
No fewer than five suspected criminals have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing streetlights across the Federal Capital Territory.

Disclosing this on Friday, while addressing newsmen, the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council AMMC, Felix Obuah, said that the series of arrests is coming, following a crackdown on vandals in the FCT.

He added that the suspects were apprehended with the support of local vigilantes and hunters on Thursday, while two others were on the run.

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READ MORE: FCT NSCDC Arrests Nine For Vandalizing, Buying National Assets

Obuah warned that any individual involved in vandalising government property would be prosecuted, including the buyers.

He said: Security is everyones responsibility. We have enlisted the support of local vigilance teams and hunters, which led to todays arrests.

The equipment used suggests a level of sophistication beyond ordinary miscreants.
A Delaware County man has been charged with killing the mother of their 8-year-old son and the womans mother during a break-in at their Willingboro home, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and Capt. Ian Bucs, acting Willingboro Township public safety director, announced Saturday.

Junior Edwards, 37, of Lansdowne, has been charged with two counts of murder as well as home invasion burglary and weapons charges, authorities said. He was taken into custody Friday in Philadelphia on unrelated charges, authorities said.

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Edwards is charged with fatally shooting Catherine Nunez, 33, and her mother, Marisol Nunez, 54, authorities said. Both had been shot several times and were found in an upstairs bedroom in their home in the Hawthorne Park section of Willingboro, authorities said. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

A son that Edwards and Catherine Nunez have together was home when the shootings occurred but was not physically injured, authorities said. Edwards was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The child has been placed with the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, according to Joel Bewley, a spokesman for the county prosecutors office.

A possible motive for the shootings was not disclosed. Edwards and Catherine Nunez had not been romantically involved for some time, Bewley said.

Police were dispatched to the home in the first block of Harrington Circle around 4 a.m. Wednesday by a 911 call from Catherine Nunez for a report of a burglary in progress, Bewley said. The intruder smashed a first-floor window and entered the home, authorities said. A handgun believed to be used in the homicides was found outside, authorities said.

Edwards is being held in Pennsylvania, Bewley said. The Burlington County prosecutor plans to seek his extradition to New Jersey on the murder charges, he said.
The Pennridge school board in September rolled back the prior Republican-led boards policy banning sexualized content in library books. But that hasnt put an end to books being pulled from library shelves. Read more

The Pennridge school board in September rolled back the prior Republican-led boards policy banning sexualized content in library books. But that hasnt put an end to books being pulled from library shelves.

Under the new policy, the district has removed seven books and graphic novel series, deeming them age-inappropriate. Thats on top of 18 books and graphic novel series that the district disclosed this fall were removed based on the old policy, or whose status was challenged during its existence.

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Some community members have accused the board, which is now run by Democrats, of enabling book banning. The boards president says the districts librarian and other staff have recommended the removals.

There are some books that shouldnt be in a high school library, said the board president, Ron Wurz. I dont call that banning, I call that age-appropriateness.

Heres a breakdown of the actions the district has taken on books, and the continued community divide around what should be allowed in the districts libraries:

Which books have been removed?

At a policy committee meeting in August, the districts superintendent, Angelo Berrios, said the district was in the process of reviewing 22 books that were pulled in the 2022-23 school year. Those books were not formally challenged but were checked out for prolonged periods by staff members that school year, after Republican board members warned of pornographic filth in the libraries. A parent took the district to court over the issue, and won an open records case last year, with a Bucks County judge ruling that Pennridge had effectuated a cover-up of book removals.

The committee in August directed the administration to pause reviewing the books until it passed a new policy. Well ask the librarians if repurchasing these books is appropriate, Leah Foster Rash, a Democrat who chairs the committee, said.

But according to a presentation Pennridge administrators gave the committee in October, the high school librarian decided that 14 of those books shouldnt go back in the library.

This was her professional opinion, Berrios told the committee, adding that the librarian was evaluating the books as if they were new books to add to the library, rather than existing books being challenged. We werent coercing, fearmongering, or anything else.

Among the books the librarian ruled out: Gender Queer, the frequently challenged graphic novel about a young person grappling with gender identity that includes depictions of oral sex; The Haters, a coming-of-age book about aspiring musicians taking a road trip; and Push, a novel about a girl sexually abused by her father that became the basis of the movie Precious.

But the district also issued decisions on a series of additional books challenged since last year. It removed 11 books and graphic novel series that were reviewed by a reconsideration committee of staff members. Some had themes of revenge and the occult or were excessively violent, with graphic sexual content.

Other books included American Psycho and Sex is a Funny Word  the latter of which Assistant Superintendent Kathy Scheid said was meant to be used by adults with students, as a resource book. Its not a book thats even written for kids to take out of the library, Scheid said.

 READ MORE: Central Bucks released the reports on books its banned and kept. Heres what they show.

Which books have been kept?

Some books that have been reviewed have been maintained by the district. Pennridge decided to return to library shelves six of the 22 books that disappeared in the 2022-23 school year, including the popular young-adult novel Looking for Alaska and Beloved, by Pulitzer Prize winner Toni Morrison.

It also kept some of the books that were formally challenged by community members  though it will require parental consent for students to check them out. That group includes Identical, about twin sisters who struggle with a fathers sexual abuse and addiction, and A Stolen Life, a memoir about a girls kidnapping.

Pennridges high school librarian also referred to the districts reconsideration committee two titles that disappeared from library shelves in 2022-23: The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Cirque Du Freak. Their review status was unclear this week.

What are community members debating?

Some Democrats on the board expressed frustration that books popular with teenagers have been removed  including several in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas, and It Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover.

I feel like were missing an opportunity to engage children in voluntary reading, Rash said at the October policy committee meeting. She said she had checked the online libraries of the 10 highest-ranked school districts in Pennsylvania and found they carried many of the books Pennridge was excluding.

Districts performing way better than us, what are their best practices? Did they kick these books out, too? she said. (Scheid noted that Pennridge promotes independent reading, from kindergarten on.)

Meanwhile, Republican board and community members questioned the districts process for evaluating books, voicing concern that the district would consider recommendations from the American Library Association, in light of a former ALA presidents post on Twitter identifying herself as a Marxist. Some objected to new rules that parents read an entire book before challenging it.

Ricki Chaikin, a Republican on the board, said during Octobers policy committee meeting she wouldnt want her daughter reading some of the books that were removed from library shelves in 2022 that the Pennridge librarian had decided to reinstate.

If you want the committee to review a book, you would follow the same process, Scheid said, telling Chaikin she could submit a reconsideration form.
The Flyers hosted their first-ever moms trip this past week, joining the team in Boston on Tuesday and Philly on Thursday. With one win in their previous eight games, the moms brought the energy and the Flyers won consecutive games. Aside from the recent wins, we asked a few moms to share their favorite memory of their son.

Philadelphia Flyers
About 80 people attended a canvasing event to support the Harris-Walz ticket days before the election. Read more

Correction: This article has been corrected to note that, as a nonprofit, Alpha Kappa Alpha does support or endorse political candidates.

With days to go before the election, the push to get voters to go to the polls is far from over.

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Growing up during the Donald Trump administration led Victoria Matthews to travel three hours from Washington to Germantowns Fernhill Park  along with other Howard University students and members of Vice President Kamala Harris sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha  to join the volunteers with Working Families Party on Saturday, knocking on more than 5,000 doors for the Democratic ticket.

Matthews was in ninth grade when a boy ran across the stage carrying a Trump flag, interrupting her Mexican American classmate with hostile mannerisms and comments during cultural appreciation week.

That really put into perspective how whos in the presidency affects the way that people think that they can act, said the 20-year-old. Because how are you expected to do better if the highest order in this country isnt doing better than anybody else?

Valerie Bose, Harris Alpha Kappa Alpha sister, said she thinks setting a better example wont be a problem for the vice president.

Some members of sorority have been supporting Harris candidacy in multiple states, particularly swing states like Pennsylvania. (The sorority itself is a nonprofit and does not endorse candidates.) But for Bose, fully dressed in Alpha Kappa Alphas signature salmon pink, the backing feels more personal.

A Howard University graduate, Bose was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha at the same time as Harris.

You know, [shes] that person who is calm [when] everyone else is freaking out about the test, Bose said. Shes always been able to handle stress with calm, seriousness, and clearheadedness.

That lucidity is just what Malik Abdul Bey is looking for in an election he calls terrifying.

At 16, Abdul Bey was incarcerated and never got a chance to vote. After three decades behind bars, he believes education could have been life-changing to him and many other people in his situation.

Trump has vowed to shut down the Department of Education if he is elected to a second term.

Abdul Bey believes that Harris is in touch with our struggles and the paths that lead us to crime in the first place, [including] the lack of education.

I may have chosen a different path had I had that, and its the same thing now for so many other young men walking around here on these street corners  they dont feel like theres anything for them, said the 48-year-old.

Abdul Bey is canvassing for Harris to give back to the community, hoping she is the kind of person who will help build up the country, he said.

Howard University student Haley Lucas is confident Auntie Kamala, as she called her, can do just that, but stresses that all their canvassing work isnt a love letter to Kamala.

This is more of a chess move, Lucas said. Its opening doors for the future. Its opening doors for young Black women like me to see spaces that we can occupy.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with visiting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that Slovakia is one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with China, Li said that over the past 75 years, China-Slovakia relations have developed in a healthy and stable manner. The two sides enjoy mutual respect, equality and friendly cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, he added.

China is willing to maintain high-level political mutual trust with the Slovak side, Li noted, saying that the two sides should expand cooperation led by the high-quality Belt and Road development.

Li said that both countries should give full play to the role of the joint economic committee and the science and technology cooperation committee, and promote cooperation in fields including China-Europe Railway Express, connectivity, and infrastructure construction.

The two sides should further expand bilateral trade volume, and explore the cooperation potential in emerging industries such as digital economy and green economy, to jointly foster new economic drivers for both countries, said Li.

China and Slovakia should make joint efforts to provide a better business environment for enterprises in each other's countries, said the premier. He noted that both sides should continue to improve exchanges in cultural tourism, science, education, sports, media, youth, and other areas of people-to-people exchanges, and promote the establishment of cultural centers in each other's countries to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

For his side, Fico mentioned that China's development accomplishments in recent years have set an example for countries around the world. He said Slovakia supports the global initiatives proposed by China.

Slovakia firmly abides by the one-China policy, and recognizes that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, said Fico.

The prime minister said that Slovakia opposes the extra tariffs imposed by the EU on Chinese electric vehicles, adding that the EU and China should seek a proper solution through dialogue and consultation. He said that Slovakia is willing to strengthen exchanges and coordination with China in international affairs to jointly tackle global challenges.

After their talks, Li and Fico witnessed the signing of multiple documents on bilateral cooperation in the fields of transportation, economy and trade, culture, tourism, and green and low-carbon development.
FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris takes a photo with Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, left, and others, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, May 17, 2022, during a reception to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) Read more

Wei Chen has been a political organizer and activist for more than 10 years. But he just received his first ever candidate campaign mailer translated into Chinese two days ago from Democratic Sen. Bob Caseys reelection campaign.

I refused to throw it away because I want to keep that, Chen said. I want to show all the politicians that this is a model you should practice.

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Chen is part of a network of elected officials, organizers and activists who are mobilizing Pennsylvanias 600,000-person strong Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, community, as they work to elect the first Asian American president. The electorate makes up more than 3% of eligible Pennsylvania voters. Its diverse and hails from regions stretching from Hawaii to the Middle East. That means the groups top issues are varied, organizers said. And because of the wide ethnic range, Vice President Kamala Harris identity as a half-Indian woman may not resonate much with all AAPI voters.

When we talk about her, I hardly talk about her identity, said Philadelphia Councilmember Nina Ahmad. Because what Im talking about is what will she deliver for the people.

After Trump attacked Harris ethnicity, her campaign launched several ads focused on AAPI voters in battleground states including Pennsylvania to remind Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voters that the choice in this election is clear for our communities, Andrew Peng, the Harris campaigns AANHPI spokesperson, said in a news release at the time. The Harris campaign has since launched its Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders coalition in Philadelphia, and hired someone specifically to lead its AAPI outreach efforts in the city, among other targeted outreach to AAPI voters.

In response to questions about their efforts to reach Asian American voters, former President Donald Trumps campaign said Asian Americans experienced strength and successes during his presidency.

There has been no bigger advocate for the AAPI community than President Trump, as he created an environment where diversity, equal opportunity, and prosperity were afforded to everybody, said Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign senior adviser.

The two campaigns interest in Indian American voters popped into view this past Wednesday when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz celebrated Diwali at a Hindu temple in Montgomery County , while Trump commemorated the holiday on social media.

While there is not reliable state-specific polling on election sentiment in the community, a late September survey from Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote found 66% of Asian American voters nationally plan to support Harris, compared to just 28% who plan to support Trump.

We know that, not just for identity reasons but for policy reasons, [Harris] will be so much better for Asian Americans than Donald Trump ever will be, said Mohan Seshadri, executive director of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance. He cited issues like affordable housing, nonharmful immigration solutions and the war in Gaza.

Its history-making, Seshadri said, and also its not enough to elect someone from our community if shes not going to stand with our folks.

Speaking the language of a diverse electorate

Take a ride down South Philadelphias Seventh Street business corridor and youll see a mass of Asians for Harris signs calling out specific ethnicities. State Sen. Nikil Saval (D., Philadelphia) pointed to the work he did with the South Philly Voter Project to help make that happen.

Through a lot of work over many years, the community is super well-organized and politically active, he said of the historic refugee and immigrant population in the neighborhood.

Seshadris APIPA knocked on 300,000 doors to speak to voters in 22 languages, sent mailers printed in 10 languages, and digital ads in at least six languages.

In Philadelphia, AAPI residents represent more than 6% of the eligible voter population and Indian Americans make up the largest Asian ethnic group in the state, according to data from Indian American Impact.

Montgomery County officials translated the county voter guides into eight different languages, including Hindi and Korean, for the first time, said Commissioner Neil Makhija.

No matter who theyre gonna vote for, we want to make sure that every citizen has a say in the future of the country, Makhija said.

Chen, who is the civic engagement director at the nonpartisan Asian Americans United, said his organization helped host a voter drive party in the Northeast that saw 39 Chinese Americans register at once.

Thats gorgeous, Chen said. That means people care about voting.

Harris could be the first President Auntie

Abortion rights, racism, safety, climate change, and housing affordability are among the top issues for AAPI voters, Saval said.

But I would say that theres also issues that affect different communities differently, Saval added. The Cambodian community is very concerned about Trumps immigration policies. Trump has leaned on anti-immigration rhetoric to bolster his campaign, and recently said he would renew an 18th-century law that gives presidents more deportation power.

Seshadri highlighted the case of Sereyrath One Van, a Cambodian refugee who grew up in Philadelphia and now faces deportation.

That is something that we need our elected officials to do better on, Seshadri said.

Harris policy proposal to use Medicare to cover home health care should appeal acutely to South Asians, said Ahmad.

The South Asian community usually takes care of the parents, she said. I was a [part of] the sandwich generation myself. Ahmad took care of her ailing father and her young child while working full time. It was very difficult. And I know what so many people do in order to take care of their loved ones.

Saval said hes seen a genuine excitement, about Harris Indian ancestry.

I think people see the images of the vice presidents mother, whos been a huge part of her story  leading up to this, and see themselves in it, Saval said. I see my familys story, in part, in that.

Harris Indian background has also brought playful colloquialisms like auntie more into the mainstream.

It is incredibly exciting as an Indian American to have someone who one day my kids can look at and say thats our Auntie President, or President Auntie, as some folks are calling her, said Seshadri.

Makhija said he has a Vice President Aunty  another accepted spelling of the term  sweatshirt. Born in America to parents who immigrated from India, the term auntie  one of endearment, respect, and sometimes used jokingly  means something to him.

Our whole family was abroad and the family that we had instead was the other immigrant families around the Lehigh Valley where I grew up, Makhija said.

Aunties are always checking up on younger people. When it comes to Vice President Harris, the term underlines her relationship to Indian Americans.

Shes of the family, Makhija said.
Access to transportation can be one of the biggest obstacles for voters who live far from their polling place. For undecided voters, it could even determine whether they vote at all.

Thats why organizations in Philadelphia are drawing on volunteers from across the country to drive voters to the polls for free or provide promo codes for free Uber and Lyft rides. Phillys efforts are being driven by at least two movements, Philly Souls to the Polls and Drive Your Ballot.

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These efforts turn every sign-up into a vote. We want to be a force multiplier and reach people who often dont vote, said Tom Conrad, a local organizer for Philly Souls to the Polls. Undecided voters decide very late in campaigns if theyre going to vote, and if we can remove the transportation barrier, it will mean a difference between voting and nonvoting for a lot of people.

These groups are nonpartisan and are focused on breaking down barriers and preserving democracy, Conrad said, pointing to the 2020 election when one out of every three registered voters in Philadelphia stayed home on Election Day.

In addition to free rides from volunteers, Uber and Lyft are also offering discounted rides to polling locations. Heres how to get a free or discounted ride to the polls in Philadelphia on Election Day, Nov. 5.

How to get a free ride to the polls in Philadelphia

Philly Souls to the Polls and Drive Your Ballot are offering voters free rides to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 5. No eligibility requirements or questions asked, just sign up for a ride.

The groups encourage voters to sign up before Nov. 5, but sign-ups will be open throughout Election Day.

Philly Souls to the Polls

Voters who sign up will receive a call from their driver on Election Day, 10-15 minutes before pickup. Drivers will wait while voters cast their ballots and then bring them back home.

Drive Your Ballot

Voters can receive either a volunteer driver or a promo code for a free Uber or Lyft ride.

How to get a discounted Uber or Lyft ride to the polls in Philadelphia

Lyft is offering a 50% discount (up to $10) on rides to the polls on Election Day. Use promo code VOTE24 when scheduling a ride to receive the discount. The code is only valid for rides ordered for Nov. 5, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Uber is offering a 50% discount (up to $10) on rides to the polls on Election Day. When opening the Uber app on Election Day, there will be a new dedicated Go Vote button on the home screen. After clicking the Go Vote button, riders can book a ride to their polling location and the discount will be applied to the trip.

Hungry? Uber is also offering 25% off Uber Eats orders (up to $15) on Election Day. Orders must be at least $25 or more to be eligible.

How to volunteer to drive voters to the polls in Philadelphia

Philly Souls to the Polls received so many volunteer applications that they paused recruitment efforts.

Drive Your Ballot needs volunteer drivers and ride coordinators for Election Day. Sign up to volunteer online at driveyourballot.com/volunteer.
Married to an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy, Ana Harley has spent the last 15 years moving around the country. But shes always considered Chester County home.

Her drivers license lists a county address. She pays taxes there. And  up until she recently received an anonymous letter linked to a mysterious P.O. box in Delaware  shed planned to vote by mail in the county, too.

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Instead, the message, signed only a friend from Pennsylvania, urged her to cancel her voter registration, noting she and her husband also had a listed address outside the state.

For a moment I questioned my status and then I remembered that I had, probably two weeks before, submitted my request for my mail-in ballot, she said. So I brushed it off as a cowardly attempt to try and cancel my voter registration.

That missive was the work of an organized movement that has sought to cancel the votes of hundreds of Pennsylvanians just days before the Nov. 5 election. And Harley, 38, was one of roughly a half dozen Chester County residents who showed up to a board of elections meeting Friday to defend their right to cast a ballot there.

 READ MORE: Activists are challenging the eligibility of hundreds of voters in Phillys suburbs. Experts say the effort is legally baseless.

The campaign has targeted voters whose names appear in the U.S. Postal Service National Change of Address database, suggesting that at some point someone with their name filed to receive mail at an address different from where they are registered to vote.

But while the activists behind it maintain those voters should be purged from local county rolls, experts have noted the database is notoriously prone to error and cannot be reliably used to determine whether someone is an eligible voter.

It is alarming to me that someone would take such an approach to disenfranchise legitimate voters, said Josh Maxwell, chair of the Chester County Board of Elections. I cant think of anything less American than that.

Maxwells board rejected challenges to the eligibility of more than 200 county voters brought by Diane Houser, a Chester County resident who told the board she was working with the group PA Fair Elections.

That organization, led by self-styled election integrity researcher Heather Honey, has fueled misinformation campaigns about Pennsylvania elections for years. But it later denied any ties to Housers effort, saying that shed acted alone and had only participated in a letter writing campaign with the group this summer.

No challenges were filed by PA Fair Elections, and no challenges were filed on behalf of PA Fair Elections, the group said in a statement that did not identify its author.

Houser is also the lead plaintiff in a pending lawsuit in federal court in Harrisburg from the group United Sovereign Americans, seeking similar purges to the statewide voter rolls.

No matter who is behind the campaign, the activists efforts resulted in challenges to the eligibility of some 4,000 mail voters voters in 14 counties across the state, elections officials said. More than 190 await review in Bucks County and another 140 remain pending in Delaware County. Counties have seven days to schedule and hold hearings on challenged applications  its likely several will wait until after Election Day.

This was a statewide effort, Houser told the Chester County elections board during its contentious meeting Friday. If youre living in Florida, you shouldnt be voting here.

But the grilling Houser endured from board members exposed deep flaws in the groups methodology for flagging potential ineligible voters and the slipshod vetting it had employed to make its case.

Harley, for example, rightfully maintained her voter registration in Chester County under allowances provided by law to military members and their families.

Other voters the group challenged Friday included a couple who had recently moved back to West Grove after a stint living in California, a recent college graduate from Wayne currently away on a three-month trip abroad to Italy, and a 37-year-veteran of Chester County law enforcement who currently works in the District Attorneys Office.

Eric Roe, a Republican member of the countys three-person elections board, interrupted at one point during the proceedings to personally vouch for one of the targeted voters.

This woman was a mother figure to me, he said. I have a mother, but if I had a second one it would be her. And I can tell you she still very much resides at her listed address.

Again and again, Houser was confronted by the voters whose ballots she had attempted to nullify  and after each objection, she sheepishly withdrew her request. She acknowledged she had not personally vetted the eligibility of any of them.

But when pressed by the board to identify who had, she demurred, refusing to give up a name.

Who sent the anonymous letters to voters? Grassroots volunteers, Houser said enigmatically.

Who had paid the $10 fee for each of the 212 challenges shed filed?

Donors, Houser said.

And who had prepared the list of names for her to challenge?

Data guys, she replied.

Eventually, Houser and her attorney, Meaghan Wagner, acknowledged that at least some of the information had come from EagleAI NETwork, a database developed by right-wing activists to flag potentially suspect voter registrations in battleground states. Its use to vet voter rolls across the country has been shown to be less accurate than those used by local officials, and it has repeatedly flagged valid voters for removal.

The rest, they said, they had run through open-source, internet-based background-check tools referencing documents like LinkedIn profiles that appeared to belong to voters they believed had moved.

Some of the anonymous letters sent by the group  Maxwell, the board chair, noted  included return addresses to a post office box in Bellefonte, registered under the name Robert E. Lee, the commanding general of the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Who monitors that box? Maxwell demanded.

I dont want to say, Houser hesitated, then responded: Its not Robert E. Lee.

Eventually, Maxwell, a Democrat, gave up in exasperation.

I have serious concerns that this is throwing spaghetti against the wall to try to get Chester County voters to cancel their voter registrations without evidence, he said. This is a very serious accusation youre making against these people. Youre accusing them of breaking the law.

The board summarily rejected every one of Housers requests in the end. Wagner, her lawyer, suggested that she and her organization could still appeal.

But Houser interrupted as the hearing neared its conclusion, whispering quietly, in an exchange caught on a hot microphone.

No, she said. Im not going to appeal.

Editors note: This story has been updated with a statement from PA Fair Elections denying involvement in the challenges filed by Houser.
President Joe Biden presents Rita Lewis the Presidential Citizens Medal during the Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 692 in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday, November 1, 2024. Lewis is the widow of the Butch Lewis, a Teamster who was the namesake of the Butch Lewis Act. Read more

President Joe Biden swung through Philly for an event with union laborers just four days before Pennsylvania voters are poised to choose his successor.

Biden received a warm welcome at the UA Local 692 Sprinkler Fitters in Northeast Philadelphia Friday, with the crowd cheering and chanting Thank you Joe! as he took the stage. Large swaths of the crowd remained standing even after Biden began speaking, holding phones up and watching him intently.

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The event was an official visit  likely one of Bidens final ones to the city as president  rather than a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has had to distance herself from Biden on the campaign trail.

But the union setting highlighted the role that blue-collar workers in Philadelphia could play in determining whether Harris or former President Donald Trump succeeds Biden as president.

As speakers lauded Bidens support for unions as president, they also took jabs at Trump and Republicans.

Though Biden often spoke softly, he kept the crowd energized and laughing, and raised his voice with conviction at certain points.

Biden said he is proud to be the most pro-union president in American history, which was met with applause.

Biden presented the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor, to the wife of the late Butch Lewis, the namesake of the Butch Lewis Act, a provision of the American Rescue Plan, which the White House says protected more than 1.2 million pensions.

When Biden noted the number, some attendees blurted out Yes! and broke out into applause. He said that 65,000 pensions were saved by the plan in Pennsylvania alone.

Biden called the legislation the most significant pension security measure enacted in over 50 years. Butch Lewis was a Teamster and pension-protection advocate. After boasting about the impactof the act, Biden called up Lewis wife, Rita, to accept the honor on behalf of her late husband.

The medal was created by former President Richard Nixon in 1969 to recognize citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.

In her own remarks, Rita Lewis highlighted the electoral stakes by noting that every Republican in Congress voted against the legislation.

Not one Republican voted to save your pension, she said. The Democrats didnt forget us.

Biden said he and Harris worked like hell to include the Butch Lewis Act in the American Rescue Plan, the 2021 COVID relief package passed in the first months of Bidens presidency.

Trump hangs out with Elon Musk

Before Biden took the stage, Bill Hamilton, president of Teamsters Joint Council 53 and Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, denounced Trump for embracing Elon Musk on the campaign trail, calling the tech giant a billionaire who doesnt give a lick about working people.

Tommy Callan, vice president of Teamsters Local 623 in Philadelphia, also brought up concerns about Trump and Musks relationship in an interview.

He hangs out with Elon Musk, and Elon Musk flat out says any striking worker should be fired, said Callan, 58, of New Jersey. Thats really not union friendly. Thats really not what we want to hear.

While the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters and several Philly locals have endorsed Harris, their parent organization, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, chose to remain neutral in the race.

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, who also spoke at the event, had his father, Francis Boyle  a retired SEPTA janitor  stand up in the crowd. He was met with applause. The lawmaker said his father relies on his Teamsters pension, also touting the Butch Lewis Act.

I have never forgotten who I am, where I come from, and who Im fighting for, and neither has Joe Biden, said Boyle, a Democrat who represents Philadelphia.

While a sense of anxiety has been clear among some Democratic circles, attendees of Bidens speech projected calm ahead of Tuesday.

Dan Kane, 60, president of Teamsters Local 202 in New York, said that the country is split politically  and Pennsylvania maybe even more so  but he still thinks Harris will prevail.

I think theres more enthusiasm, and I got to be hopeful that we need some kind of normal politics, he said. "  and the racist and misogynist rhetoric that comes from the other campaign, I just dont think most Americans support that.
Leese Walker (left) and Rolf Sturm (right) pose for a photo by Jeffery Gordon in LOVE Park Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 after appearing at multiple get-out-the-vote events at City Hall. They are members of the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble from New York City, and were also seen around Philadelphia before and after the 2020 election (then dressed as mailboxes.) Read more

Its time to close the deal.

With Election Day just four days away, Pennsylvania has become a focal point of the nation and an epicenter of activity for both presidential campaigns as they try to squeeze every last vote out of the Keystone State, which could deliver the White House.

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Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, who have already traveled to Pennsylvania more than 50 times combined this campaign cycle, will each make stops here again before Election Day. And across the commonwealth, top surrogates will host events, glad-hand with voters, and pump up campaign volunteers.

It all underscores the degree to which Pennsylvania has become perhaps the most crucial battleground in America and the state that could determine the president. But while both sides are intensely focused here, theyre using dramatically different tactics in the final hours before Election Day.

Harris campaign and its allied groups  including labor unions and progressive political organizations  are using conventional tactics like massive door-knocking and phone-calling operations to ensure their supporters become actual voters.

Top surrogates like first lady Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton, and former first lady Michelle Obama will speak to voters in the state this weekend. Harris herself will stop at get-out-the-vote events in Allentown and Pittsburgh Monday, then cap her campaign on election eve in Philadelphia, where shell host a major event and concert in front of the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Trump will also campaign in Pennsylvania before Election Day  hes scheduled to hold a rally in Lancaster County Sunday, then will host two more, in Reading and Pittsburgh, on Monday.

But his campaign is taking a different approach to get-out-the-vote. The former presidents campaign is reportedly targeting a small number of voters who dont frequently cast ballots, and it is relying in part on disjointed, inexperienced outside groups, like a super PAC run by billionaire Elon Musk, to motivate voters in the final stretch.

The Trump side zeroes in on fraud claims

Trumps campaign has also focused much of its attention on election integrity, gathering an army of lawyers and volunteers to watch polling places on Election Day, challenge voters they suspect of engaging in fraud, and filing a litany of lawsuits.

That effort is also likely to be centered in Pennsylvania, which has already become the epicenter of Trumps election-fraud claims. Over the last week, hes made false claims about voter registration collection and proclaimed theyve already started cheating in the state.

 READ MORE: How Elon Musk and X have become an incubator for election misinformation in Pennsylvania

Some of Trump top surrogates who in 2020 advanced conspiracy theories and false claims about the election will be campaigning for him in Pennsylvania this weekend as part of a bus tour traversing the state. Among them are Peter Navarro, a Trump administration economist who went to prison this year for refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, will also attend. Bondi falsely claimed in the days after the 2020 election that Trump had won Pennsylvania, and appeared outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia where ballots were being tallied and demanded the count be halted.

The bus tour will also feature three lawmakers who voted in 2020 to sustain objections to the election results: Rep. Ronny Jackson (R., Texas), Rep. Byron Donalds (R., Florida), and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R., Miss.).

The Harris side gets help from outside groups

In addition to the Harris campaigns own expansive field operation, dozens of outside groups are also working through the weekend to get-out-the-vote.

One coalition of independent, Democratic-aligned organizations plans to knock on more than 2.5 million doors across 27 counties before Election Day. (There are about 9 million registered voters in Pennsylvania.) The group includes progressive organizations like the Working Families Party and For Our Future PA, as well as labor unions like the Service Employees International Union and Unite Here, which represents hospitality workers.

The nations top labor leaders are also campaigning for Harris in the region.

They include the presidents of the national unions that represent teachers, government workers, and service workers, as well as Liz Shuler, the president of AFL-CIO, the groups massive umbrella union. Theyll gather in West Philadelphia Saturday morning along with 600 door-knockers, then rally in South Philadelphia Saturday evening.

Jimmy Williams Jr., president of the national union that represents painters, will also be in Philadelphia to campaign for Harris Saturday, capping a nationwide get-out-the-vote bus tour here.

Inquirer staff writer Julia Terruso contributed to this article.
An Erie judge on Friday ordered the countys board of elections to remain open through the weekend after as many as 17,000 mail ballots may not have been delivered to voters who requested them and hundreds more received a ballot intended for someone else  a major issue caused by the mail ballot vendor and likely to cause vote-counting delays in a bellwether part of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

The United States Postal Service, the Erie County Board of Elections, and its mail ballot vendor, ElectionIQ, are unable to accurately determine the delivery status of more than a third of all requested mail ballots in the county, according to the order from Erie County Court Judge David Ridge. An additional 1,200 residents who requested mail ballots to out-of-state residences, such as universities, did not receive their mail ballots, the order said.

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The mail ballot issues in Erie have persisted for weeks, after the county announced that about 300 voters received ballots intended for others in addition to their own because of errors made by Ohio-based ElectionIQ.

The judges order now paints a much bleaker picture just four days before Election Day: Officials estimated in hearings on Thursday and Friday that more than 375 mail voters received a ballot intended for someone else in addition to their own, and that between 13,000 and 17,000 mail ballots are unaccounted for.

 READ MORE: Pa. Democratic Party sues Erie board of elections over up to 20,000 missing mail ballots in the bellwether county

Thomas Talarico, the attorney representing Erie Countys elections board in the case, said that the 17,000 ballot estimate is exaggerated and extreme and was calculated based on the number of voters who had not yet returned their mail ballots, and that not all might be missing. Of the 42,152 Erie County voters who requested a mail ballot, 16,330 are still outstanding, according to Department of State data.

Were all confident that in spite of the mail ballot delays, that everyone will ultimately have the opportunity to vote, Talarico added.

Erie was one of three counties to flip from voting for Barack Obama in 2012 to former President Donald Trump in 2016. It was also one of two, along with Northampton, to flip back to Joe Biden in 2020  though by only about 1,400 votes.

Ridge ordered the election board to remain open through the weekend for extended hours, to add an additional printer to its offices in the Erie County Courthouse to reduce wait times  which previously lasted between two and three hours  for affected voters to get a new ballot, and to collect enough ballots and provisional ballots for affected voters to use on Election Day.

He also ordered the county to release the names of the out-of-state voters and hire an overnight delivery service to ship them replacement mail-in ballots. The county is already in the process of reaching out to all 1,200 out-of-state voters by email to offer to send them a new ballot, Talarico said.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party sued Erie Countys elections board Tuesday, alleging that 10,000 to 20,000 voters who requested mail ballots did not receive them and seeking an injunction to require the county to take additional actions so all voters could cast their ballots. The Pennsylvania Republican Party has since been allowed to join the suit, according to the Friday order.

While Republicans and Trump have already filed several legal challenges across the state to litigate which mail ballots get counted on Election Day, the filing in Erie marked the first lawsuit the state Democratic Party has filed over mail ballots ahead of Tuesdays election.

 READ MORE: Activists are challenging the eligibility of hundreds of voters in Phillys suburbs. Experts say the effort is legally baseless.

Erie voters who received a duplicate ballot and those who did not receive their ballot must be contacted by the board of elections and given the option to cancel their past ballot, and all of the affected ballots must be segregated for further review post-Election Day, the judge ordered. County employees are driving to the homes of some of these voters to offer them these options, Talarico said.

The mail ballot issues will likely cause delays in counting Erie Countys vote in what is expected to be a presidential race decided by just thousands of ballots in Pennsylvania.

It will definitely be affected, but were prepared for that, Talarico said, adding that the county has hired extra sheriffs deputies and made additional accommodations for party watchers.

The county has not yet paid ElectionIQ for its mail ballot services and will likely take legal action against the vendor for the alleged errors, Talarico said. The county claimed that the vendor had multiple printing errors that caused the ballots to be coded incorrectly, was often unresponsive to county questions, and more.

All voters who did not receive their mail ballot are eligible to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day.
Former first lady Michelle Obama will headline a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris in Montgomery County Saturday night. Read more

Former first lady Michelle Obama will travel to the Philly suburbs Saturday to make the case for Vice President Kamala Harris, three days ahead of the 2024 election.

Harris wont be attending the event, which will take place in Norristown, Montgomery County, Saturday night. Instead, Harris will be holding rallies in two other battleground states Saturday  one in Atlanta and another in Charlotte, N.C.

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Instead, Obama will be joined by music superstar Alicia Keys, who campaigned with Harris in 2020 and was among those who protested former President Donald Trumps migration policies in 2018.

Obama, the wife of former President Barack Obama, has hit the campaign trail hard for Harris in recent days. Nowhere is the presidential race closer than Pennsylvania, where public polling shows the race in a virtual tie leading up to Election Day on Tuesday. An Inquirer analysis of early voting data shows women and seniors breaking for Democrats.

At a rally in Michigan last week, Obama called on men to support Harris, warning that their wives, daughters, and mothers would become collateral damage to the rage they feel heading into the election. And in a get-out-the-vote speech Tuesday near Atlanta, she called on voters to stop the spiral of disillusionment and apathy.

Weve got a lot of folks thirsty for likes from their followers but uninterested in the needs of their communities, Obama said. Weve got folks excited to vote on reality shows but not willing to vote for their actual reality.

Obama remains among the most popular public figures in the country, and a large part of her appeal is her outspoken disdain for politics. But that hasnt prevented her from directly criticizing Trump, calling out his erratic behavior and obvious mental decline in Michigan last week.

She was nasty, Trump responded at a rally in Atlanta earlier this week. That was a big mistake that she made.

Where is Michelles Obama rally located?

Obamas rally will take place at Norristown High School in Montgomery County Saturday.

Those interested in attending can register via a listing on the Democratic National Committee event page. That may also add you to their mail and fundraising list.

What time does Michelle Obamas rally start?

The rally is expected to begin around 7 p.m.

How can I watch the rally from home?

Viewers can tune into C-SPAN to watch the rally, and youll also be able to find a live stream to the event Saturday on the Harris campaigns YouTube page.

Kamala Harris will be back in Philly on Monday

Harris will spend nearly all day campaigning in Pennsylvania Monday, with events scheduled during the day in Allentown and Pittsburgh.

The vice president will then travel to Philadelphia to hold a rally and concert in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Monday night, where road closures have already been announced. Shell be joined by a yet-to-be-announced musical guest.

Donald Trump will rally in Lancaster County Sunday

Trump will return to Pennsylvania Sunday, where hell rally at Flyadvanced Lancaster in Lititz, Lancaster County. Doors are scheduled to open at 6 a.m., with Trump expected to speak around 10 a.m.

The former president will then be back in Pennsylvania Monday, the day before the election, to hold rallies in Reading at 2 p.m. and Pittsburgh at 6 p.m.  around the same time as Harris rally just a mile away.

 READ MORE: To turn out Pa. voters this weekend, Harris and Trump are using very different tactics
Charito Morales of Philly Boricuas holds a list of Latino voters who had issues with their mail ballots in 2022. Read more

Theres a 24-year-old Venezuelan man living in Iceland who spreads political misinformation in Spanish to American Latinos on YouTube. Hes a viral smash.

On WhatsApp, a free international messaging and calling platform, misinformation about the presidential election accumulates in bunches.

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In August, a group of Republican Cubans from Florida showed up in Fairhill, Philadelphia, to tell the more than 80% Latino community through phone calls, leaflets, and sidewalk confrontations, The 2020 election was rigged, and if youre a real Christian, you have to vote for Donald Trump.

Latino voters in Pennsylvania could play a pivotal role in this election as both parties jockey for their support. It makes them a target for misinformation.

While political misinformation is vexing enough in English, those same lies and distortions can create another level of difficulty for people in the United States who speak Spanish.

One reason is that debunking falsehoods on social media, already hard to do in English, is nearly impossible in Spanish, because there are fewer Spanish-language moderators. When available, moderators try to maintain decency, remove harassing or bullying comments and, if possible, flag fake news.

Also, platforms like WhatsApp are encrypted, meaning messages are private, making it extremely difficult to moderate or fact-check whats being disseminated, as Facebook tries to do for public posts.

Also, certain pieces of misinformation that Americans may have grown inured to can hit the ears of some Latinos very differently.

For example, at campaign rallies, its not unusual to hear former President Donald Trump say: She [Vice President Kamala Harris] is really a Marxist.  This country is not ready for a Marxist or a communist.

Such freighted labels, emblematic of the terror that caused immigrants to flee hostile leftist regimes in Central and South America, make Harris an unpalatable choice and Democrats seem like monsters, experts say.

The emotions white Americans may feel hearing those words dont come close to matching those of Latinos, said Laura Zommer, CEO and cofounder of Factchequeado. a Spanish language fact-checking organization based in Argentina with ties to Philadelphia Latino media.

And, Zommer said, when some Latino immigrants or their children hear Trumps lies about a stolen election in 2020, it doesnt seem so far-fetched. Venezuelan elections have been marked by fraud, she said. Some people are accustomed to non-transparent elections, and may not bother to vote.

YouTube phenomenon

Its not clear why Juan Torres, the Iceland fabulist, talks up Trump to Latinos in America. Around 40% of Latinos in the United States speak Spanish in their homes; there are 62.5 million Latinos living in the United States, 19% of the population.

Nour Saudi, a producer for Futuro, a nonprofit news organization, said in an interview that Torres has 170,000 subscribers on YouTube.

His channel is called Venezuela News, but its only about U.S. politics, Saudi said. He falsely tells his Latino audience that Kamala Harris wants to abolish ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement], defund the police, and confiscate Americans guns. I dont know what motivates him.

Whatever the reason, such propaganda can be effective.

Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas, a research hub operated by and for Latinos in the Western Hemisphere, conducted a poll of Latino adults in the United States in September to learn what kinds of misinformation is making its mark:

Around 40% of 3,000 people surveyed agreed with the statement, Kamala Harris is a border czar who failed to fix the immigration issue during her time as Vice President. Just 35% disagreed. Despite what the Trump campaign repeatedly says, the Biden administration never named Harris a czar, or put her in charge of fixing immigration issues.

Nearly 20% believe the following false claim and say theyve seen it in action: Democrats have won elections by resorting to fraud and electoral manipulation. Around 20% wrongly say Kamala Harris is a communist; by a 48% to 34% margin, respondents agree with many white Americans that so-called illegal immigrants raise crime rates, though statistics show thats untrue; and nearly a quarter of those polled baselessly say they have seen proof that Democrats are failing to secure the U.S. southern border in order to allow undocumented immigrants to vote for them in U.S. elections.

Flourishing in Philly

That misinformation is flourishing among the roughly 250,000 Latinos living in Philadelphia is no surprise to Olga Renteria, executive director of Philatinos Radio, based in South Philadelphia. The station is a partner of Factchequeado.

For many of the Latinos we talk to in Philadelphia ... theres no politics conversations in the home at any time, and we try explaining it to them, and to dissuade them from believing misinformation, he said.

Many Philadelphia Latinos simply believe what they see and hear on WhatsApp, said Jasmine Rivera, executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition.

The Pew Research Center has found that 54% of U.S. Hispanic adults are on the platform, which is favored by immigrants as well as any users with families living abroad because there are no subscription fees or charges for use.

(Hispanic refers to a person with ancestry from a country whose primary language is Spanish. Latino refers to a person with origins from anywhere in Latin America. The terms are often used interchangeably.)

Ive seen the political propaganda videos on WhatsApp, she said. There needs to be a better system of checks on what is being said in Spanish. If there are things Meta [WhatsApps owner] is doing to correct Spanish misinformation on WhatsApp, Ive never been aware of it.

Scripps News has reported that a Meta spokesperson said the company has incorporated new tools to help stop the spread of suspicious or false information, including labels and limits on forwarded messages, banning mass messaging, and providing more support for a large network of fact-checkers.

A misinformation fight in Fairhill

Not all misinformation is imparted online.

Thats a hard truth gleaned from the citys streets, according to Charito Morales, a well-known Fairhill activist and nurse who has cofounded Philly Boricuas (Puerto Ricans), a grassroots group that supports Latinos and battles election misinformation.

When a group of Cuban Republicans traveled from Florida in the summer and began proselytizing for Trump, as she said, Fairhill residents were caught off guard.

Oh, my God, they were everywhere, Morales said. Outside drug stores, supermarkets, churches, all telling us in Spanish to vote for Trump.

Group members falsely told anyone whod listen that Election Day is Nov. 6. They incorrectly asserted that first-time Pennsylvania voters dont need ID to vote. They wildly claimed that Roe v. Wade was never a real thing, having been conjured by demonic people who want their daughters to have abortion abominations, Morales said.

I had to get out some bullhorns and debunk their misinformation right there on the streets, she added. We didnt chase them. But we did outargue them with bullet points, and they left.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday unanimously rejected a Republican request to bar Pennsylvania voters who submitted faulty mail ballots from casting provisional votes at the polls on Election Day  a decision seen as a victory for Democrats in the battleground state.

But in rebuffing the last-minute appeal from the Republican National Committee and the Pennsylvania GOP, three of the courts Republican justices  Samuel A. Alito Jr., Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch  described the issue as a matter of considerable importance and appeared to leave the door open for future litigation after the election.

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At issue was a 4-3 decision last week by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allowing voters whose mail ballots had been rejected for procedural errors like missing dates or failing to use a required security envelope to still vote at the polls.

The case arose out of Butler County, which had a policy of rejecting those provisional votes. It was part of a broader array of litigation that has shaped what votes will be counted in Pennsylvanias election.

Separately Friday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court blocked a lower-court ruling that injected confusion into the debate over whether election officials should count undated mail ballots. Instead, it doubled down on an earlier ruling on the issue that this year, at least, they should not.

Tens of thousands of ballots are rejected each election due to such voter errors. And in a state like Pennsylvania, where this years presidential race is likely to turn on an incredibly thin margin, the fate of voters ability to cast a provisional ballot if they made a mistake could ultimately become significant.

Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to vote by mail.

Republicans, in their appeal of the Butler County case, accused the states highest court of rewriting election law. They urged the U.S. Supreme Court justices to set aside any provisional ballots cast by voters whose mail ballots had been previously rejected until further litigation could be settled.

Democrats and voting rights groups argued placing a hold on the ruling would only cause confusion, create problems for election administrators, and, even worse, potentially disenfranchise thousands of otherwise eligible voters.

Though the U.S. Supreme Court justices ultimately decided to let the state court ruling stand, Alito and his Republican colleagues expressed some appetite for weighing in on the issue in the future. But they described the current case as an improper vehicle for that debate.

Because the only state election officials who are parties in this case are the members of the board of elections in one small county, they wrote, we cannot order other election boards to sequester affected ballots.

In a statement following the ruling, RNC spokesperson Claire Zunk touted the partys victories in other cases in Pennsylvania including a ruling forcing Bucks County to extend on-demand mail voting for three days.

While we are disappointed in the the Supreme Courts ruling, we have secured three major victories for election integrity this week in Pennsylvania, she said.

But Witold Walczak  legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, which argued for the inclusion of the provisional ballots  hailed it as a win for voting rights.

A petty error that is irrelevant to a persons eligibility to vote should never interfere with the counting of ballots, and provisional ballots are a decades-old fail-safe  a backup for voters, he said. Were grateful that the RNCs argument has failed and that voters can count on provisional ballots as a way to make sure that their vote counts.
A county representative unlocks the door so that Wendy and Jeff Eisenberg from Abington can use the Ballot Drop at the Willow Grove Annex on May 15, 2023 Read more

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court doubled down Friday on its previous rulings that undated mail ballots should not be counted in next weeks election, staying an order from a lower court that had injected uncertainty into the status of thousands of votes that will now be rejected.

In a unanimous ruling, the justices blocked a Commonwealth Court decision this week that failing to include them in statewide vote tallies violated the rights guaranteed to voters under the state constitution.

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While the Supreme Court has yet to take up the merits of that claim, in its order Friday, it reiterated guidance it issued earlier this month that it would neither impose nor countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election.

And in a biting concurrence, Justice Kevin Dougherty, a Democrat, chastised Commonwealth Court for what he saw as defiance.

We said those carefully chosen words only weeks ago. Yet they apparently were not heard in the Commonwealth Court, the very court where the bulk of election litigation unfolds, Dougherty wrote. We said what we meant and meant what we said.

That decision ends  for now  what has become a yearslong battle over some of Pennsylvanias most hotly contested votes. Each year, tens of thousands of voters forget to date their mail ballots, as required by state law, or write an incorrect date on their ballots envelope.

While undated ballots represent a small fraction of votes cast in Pennsylvania, they still have the potential to affect close races. And parties will be vying for every vote next week because Pennsylvania could decide the fate of races for the White House and the U.S. Senate.

Republicans call the dating requirement common sense and argue that overturning it would subvert the will of the General Assembly.

But voting rights groups and Democrats, who are more likely to cast ballots by mail, have argued they should count anyway since elections administrators dont use those handwritten dates to determine whether a ballot was received on time. Rejecting them, they say, leads to thousands of otherwise eligible voters being disenfranchised each year.

Though the state Supreme Court had been asked to take up the issue last month, it rejected the case, saying it was too close to the election to consider substantially changing the rules.

But Commonwealth Court, with its ruling Wednesday, threw that dynamic into confusion.

On its face, its decision that undated ballots should count applied only to an August special election in Philadelphia. But the logic the judges used  that failing to count them amounted to a constitutional violation  left county election officials unsure how to proceed as they prepared for next weeks election.

Regrettably, Dougherty wrote in his statement Friday, the run-up to the vote has seen a number of cases from challengers seeking to alter election rules. Even more unfortunate, he added, lower courts repeatedly have taken the bait.

Justice Christine Donohue, a Democrat, agreed with her colleagues ruling to stay the Commonwealth Court decision, but did not join in Doughertys criticism of the lower courts, noting that at some point the Supreme Court would have to take up the case.

There is an election in this Commonwealth approximately every six months, she noted. Undoubtedly, the appellate resolution of cases filed after the completion of one election may bump up against the next election. "

Republicans celebrated the ruling Friday as a victory and an endorsement of the states ballot dating requirement.

Democrats have repeatedly tried to eliminate this important ballot safeguard, and we have stopped them each time, Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley said in a statement.

Neil Makhija, a Democrat who chairs the Montgomery County Board of Elections, said that while Fridays order meant his county wont be including undated ballots in its final tallies, he intended to still keep a separate count of them.

We will continue to  let voters know exactly how many voters could be disenfranchised as a consequence of what we believe remains an unconstitutional provision of the election code, he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again emphasizes the need to allow the use of Western weapons for strikes deep into the territory of the aggressor.

"Constant terrorist strikes on Ukrainian cities prove that the pressure on Russia and its accomplices is not enough. Today, since four in the morning, air raid sirens have been in effect in Ukrainian cities. Unfortunately, due to the attack by Russian drones, there are damages and casualties in different districts of Kyiv. There were also strikes and damages in Poltava, Sumy and Kharkiv regions," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Saturday morning.

"I thank our sky defenders who shoot down Shaheds every night. This year, almost every night, sometimes morning and day there is the threat of Shaheds. The attack drones that Iran gave Russia and which have become one of the main weapons of Russian terror against Ukraine," the president emphasized.

"We need more pressure on Russia's ability to produce such weapons. We need the ability to destroy both the storage bases for Shaheds and the entire existing infrastructure for their production and logistics. Terrorists, unfortunately, know how to use the time that the indecisiveness of the free world gives them," the Ukrainian leader said.
In this 2022 file photo, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee holds a press conference in Philadelphia to announce they'd flipped the state House from Republican control. Rep. Joanna McClinton (D., Phila.), at the microphones, is now the House speaker. Read more

When Melissa Cerrato learned she had successfully unseated a longtime Republican state representative, it was a week after Election Day and her win came down to just 63 votes.

Cerratos highly competitive race in Montgomery County tipped the Pennsylvania state House, allowing Democrats to seize control of the chamber for the first time in more than a decade.

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That was just two years ago. Today, Cerrato is running for reelection, and a repeat nail-biter of a race is not expected this time. In fact, her race is hardly competitive. Her Republican challenger doesnt appear to have a campaign website and hasnt filed recent fundraising paperwork with the state.

Its a very different scenario to be in, Cerrato said.

Her 151st Legislative District is one of several in the suburbs of Philadelphia that Democrats flipped in 2022  to unexpectedly take control of the state House  that are nowhere near as competitive this year. Its an illustration both of Democrats growing dominance in much of the collar counties, and of how redrawn legislative districts rendered some areas out of reach for the GOP.

Of the 39 state House districts representing more than 2.3 million Pennsylvanians in the rapidly growing four collar counties around Philadelphia  Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, and Bucks  31 districts are represented by Democrats. Whats more: Nearly half of them have flipped from Republican to Democratic control since 2018, and as the redrawn districts have grown increasingly blue, many remain uncompetitive today.

Control of the state House remains a toss-up and will come down to about 10 races statewide. Republicans are targeting seats held by vulnerable Democrats in other parts of the state that are leaning redder. Meanwhile, Democrats hope to pick up some of the few remaining GOP-held seats in the collar counties  like Rep. Craig Williams seat as the last Republican representing parts of Delco or two Lower Bucks seats represented by Republican Reps. K.C. Tomlinson and Joe Hogan  as ones they think they can flip to maintain and expand their narrow majority.

 READ MORE: These are the Pa. House races to watch in November that will determine who takes or keeps control

The suburbs offer a huge path forward, said House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery) earlier this fall. The realignment that weve seen just since 2018 in the suburbs, a wholesale move from red to blue, is encouraging.

Only one Democratic state representative in the Philadelphia suburbs is in a highly competitive race: Rep. Brian Munroe, in central Bucks County, where GOP challenger Dan McPhillips has received more than $600,000 in ads from a Jeff Yass-backed political action committee, the Commonwealth Leaders Fund, to try to flip the seat back to red.

Munroe unseated former GOP Rep. Todd Polinchock in 2022 by just a few hundred votes. Republicans have invested big money in McPhillips to win the seat back, as well as on seats in other parts of the state, to flip the narrow statehouse majority back into their control. On Saturday, Gov. Josh Shapiro  who endorsed Munroe and other Democrats in hopes of expanding his partys majority in the chamber  is expected to rally with Munroe in Warminster.

Bucks County represents an outlier in the increasingly blue Philadelphia suburbs  a politically purple swath where Republicans now have more registered voters than Democrats  and the county boasts a strong GOP and is represented by a Republican in Congress, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.

But elsewhere in the Philadelphia collar counties  especially the fast-growing suburbs in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties that have increasingly helped lift Democrats to statewide victories  the environment has changed.

Even in 2022, the 151st District, which includes Horsham and Upper Dublin, was already a challenge to hold onto for incumbent Rep. Todd Stephens. He was a popular, moderate Republican who before that year had been endorsed by Planned Parenthood twice. But President Joe Biden won the district with 60% of the vote in 2020, making Stephens a prime target for Democrats to pick off.

 READ MORE: City folks who moved to Phillys fast-growing suburbs could help Kamala Harris defeat Donald Trump in Pa.

Its a similar story in Delaware Countys 168th District that stretches from Radnor to Newtown Square and surrounding areas, which had been held by Republican Chris Quinn and was long controlled by the GOP. But the county was trending toward Democrats for a decade, and the seat was something of a white whale for the party.

Newly redrawn House districts made Quinns district bluer in 2022. Democrat Lisa Borowski unseated him, though it wasnt particularly close. Despite both sides spending big in the area and Quinn having the benefit of incumbency, Borowski won by 12 percentage points.

 READ MORE: Is the new Pa. congressional map better for Democrats or Republicans? We tested it.

Two years later, Borowski is running for reelection and facing Republican challenger Kathryn Buckley, who has struggled with fundraising. Buckley reported raising about $6,000 between May and October, according to a recent campaign-finance filing. Over the same period, Borowski raised $84,000.

Democrats have solidified the Philly suburbs as a stronghold because of the new maps and because of the changing coalitions of the two parties: more suburban educated voters joining the Democratic Party, while blue-collar workers concentrated elsewhere shift red, said Harrisburg-based GOP consultant Christopher Nicholas.

Joe Corrigan, a strategist who works with House Democrats, said the trend in some suburban districts is in many ways a reflection of redistricting. Independent analysts said new maps that took effect in 2022 were more evenly split than before, when the districts had favored Republicans.

Speaker [Joanna] McClinton and leader [Matt] Bradford swung for the fences on the redistricting, and you can see the difference, he said.
The Irish economy currently has more money than it knows what to do with. The Department of Finance estimates that the State will post a general surplus of up to 25bn this year, underpinned by continued gains in corporation tax receipts and the 14bn back tax from Apple that Ireland fought so hard against receiving.

In addition, a strong jobs market has led to major boosts in income tax which is forecasted to exceed 34bn this year, with this figure set to only grow further in 2025.

Across Europe, slow economic growth is causing major headaches, with tax hikes across France and the UK aimed at combatting stagnation while Germany struggles with growing unemployment and a self-imposed debt brake.

Yet, Ireland has more money than ever before and despite serious infrastructure gaps, cannot spend it.

Being a high-income country remains a relatively new phenomenon for Ireland. Throughout the 1980s, the States debt-to-GDP ratio reached 130%, similar to what Greece and Italy ran during the financial crisis, while its current account deficit topped 15%. Meanwhile, unemployment reached 16.3% in the latter part of the decade, higher than it ever reached in the aftermath of 2008.

Not until the mid-90s did things pick up, with rapid advancements in growth leading to the Celtic Tiger era, fuelling access to cheap borrowing and excessive spending, ultimately bringing the economy to its knees come 2007.

Legacy effect

The fallout from the financial crisis continues to haunt Ireland to this day, with strict commitments not to use windfall corporation tax receipts to fund permanent or recurring expenditure. At the same time, Ireland continues to struggle with significant infrastructure deficits in key areas such as housing, health, energy and transport. While Ireland is a very rich country, it fails to behave like one.

Theres definitely a legacy effect to all of this, says Niall Conroy, senior economist at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac).

Speaking to the Irish Examiner about a report this week published by the fiscal watchdog, Mr Conroy said that gaps in infrastructure are largely impacted by the States newfound wealth, noting; Ireland has not always been high-income, leading to other countries having a head start.

The report found that housing remains a "big challenge", with the State having a historically low level of infrastructure. According to the watchdog, the gap between Ireland and other higher-income countries in Europe is 25% per person. However, Ifac noted that this has narrowed from 47% per person in 1995.

A big part of the housing story, where our biggest deficit is, seems to be a legacy of the financial crisis, said Mr Conroy.

After 2008, a lot of construction firms went bust, with many workers emigrating as a result. There was very little capacity left to build houses, with Ireland still trying to build that capacity up to build homes in the intervening years.

The report also found that the gap between health spending in Ireland and other high-income countries remains large at 53% despite recent hikes in investment, with the shortfalls consisting of buildings and structures.

Meanwhile, the gap between transport spending was 41%, with the gap between electricity spending at 26%.

Value for money

In its report, Ifac noted that while some additional government investment may be required, the amounts that are required are modest relative to overall government spending, highlighting another key issue that the Government has struggled with in the post-financial crisis era.

The Government should look to get better value for money on its investments, says Mr Conroy.

If you look at public investment and compare it to other European countries, we are a little bit higher. Are we getting good value for that? Is Ireland getting a lot of capital and infrastructure projects for the amount of money that its spending?

We're spending a lot in areas like housing. Maybe we could do more to examine or audit our existing expenditure to see what parts are effective and which are not. One thing that could help this is reforming the planning system.

Planning reforms

According to the publication, Ireland's planning and objection system remains one of the biggest barriers to delivering infrastructure projects, with its "slow and unpredictable" nature increasing costs and delaying the country's infrastructure needs.

Reforming the planning system is something that not only enables the private sector to build houses by also helps the public sector to deliver these projects on time and within budget, Mr Conroy said.

The report stressed that reforms to the system will be "essential" to addressing Ireland's infrastructure deficits, adding that "time will tell if the new Planning and Development Act will bear fruit".

Ifac found that almost 80,000 additional workers may be needed to combat infrastructure deficits

Given the scale of Ireland's infrastructure deficits and challenges, the watchdog said that these cannot be addressed in a single year, stressing that long-term, multi-year planning is needed to address these issues.

This sentiment has been echoed by Hubert Fitzpatrick, director general of the Construction Industry Federation who, responding to the report, stressed that capital budgets need to be spent with clear timelines and commitment to delivery".

The construction industry has the capacity to deliver on Irelands infrastructure and housing needs but must have certainty on a pipeline of new work in order to invest in and scale up resources. Uncertainty around investment and delivery timelines in public projects has a detrimental effect on the ability of contractors to retain talent and plan resources, Mr Fitzpatrick added.

Additional workers

To combat this deficit, Ifac found that almost 80,000 additional workers may be needed, with this figure needed to build new housing and retrofitting existing homes.

However, it noted that a rise in productivity in the construction sector and a movement of workers could see this figure reduced to less than 20,000.

The watchdog said that construction productivity in Ireland remains 32% lower than the average. Compared to a country like Norway which is at the frontier, productivity in Ireland is less than half of that level.

"If productivity improved greatly, then house building could increase substantially without additional workers," Ifac said. This could help address a key issue for the Irish economy and society.
I received a letter just the other day that brought a tear to my eye. And no, before some smart arse says it, it wasn't a bank statement.

It was a letter from a lonesome West Cork bachelor farmer... a man in the mid-sixties... a man in his prime... one of life's good guys.

"All the eligible ladies are gone to Australia," he tearfully wrote, "What am I to do?"

It was a story that I had heard a thousand times before.

The writer explained that he had a fine holding with no debt attached to him.

His Single Farm Payment was also in a healthy state.

His mother was still alive and able to drive, and so was independent for the most part.

And yet, in spite of all these advantages, he had failed to secure a suitable partner.

"I have searched," this diligent servant of the land wrote, "all over Ireland. From every low-lying ditch to high up boulder, and yet, I can't find a tender hand to hold. Has the world gone crazy?" He asked.

"There are no women left. Australia has taken them all," he declared.

T'was an emotional correspondence for sure, and one which left me grasping for answers.

But then, at the end, the lonesome lothario had this to say: "You must go to Australia, Denny!

"You must go out there in search of women. You are our last hope."

So there you have it. Here was a man clearly at the end of his tether, and he was now expecting me to hop into action like some class of a bucking kangaroo.

The letter arrived here almost a week ago, and in normal circumstances, it would go directly into the fire. I am a busy man, after all, and not usually swayed by matters pertaining to the heart.

However, with the wind howling outside and with the rain pouring down from every corner, I must confess I have thought about Australia quite a bit.

And now, unable to resist the call any longer, I have decided that I will go to Australia and do what I can.

I must answer the Irish bachelor's call and attempt to sway the departed into returning. And if this means swapping my tired, old wellington boots for a colourful pair of Australian flip-flops, so be it.

Now, at this stage, I have almost everything in place for my trip down under.

I have my passport. I have my rosary beads. I have 16 pairs of underpants and the bachelor's letter, of course, to explain my reasons for going.

All I am really short of are the funds to get me to Australia. Hence, my reason for mentioning it today.

The lack of funds is the only fly in my Australian ointment.

So today, I am calling on the decent people who run the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to sponsor my trip to Australia as I go in search of single ladies for the lads.

Granted, it's a trip that won't come cheap, nor is it one that can be done in a hurry.

I will need deep pockets, and that's for sure.

And with the rain pelting down outside here in Kilmichael, I will need suntan lotion too, for Bondi Beach.

I intend to spend six months in Australia, at the very least, and then if I have no luck there, perhaps carry-on to New Zealand.

The aim, of course, will be to chat with single ladies everywhere, of every nationality. I feel it might be best to broaden the scope.

Sure, I needn't tell you because you already know that rural Ireland is in a shambolic state due to a lack of numbers and a general decline in canoodling.

There is a canoodling crisis in rural parts. Action is badly needed, and any moves I can make will surely be welcome.

There is urgency in my trip to OZ. In fact, I can't wait to go.

So if you don't hear from me again until next summer, don't worry. Auld Lehane is doing grand.

I'm probably out in Australia someplace sunning myself on the beach and telling all about how wonderful life is back in Ireland.

We need to get rural Ireland canoodling again.
Every now and then I go on a little skite to recharge the batteries, find new ingredients, and get some exciting new ideas and meet the makers. Ostensibly, my recent trip to the UK was to visit several of our grandchildren in Bristol and Wales so they too joined us on the voyage of discovery.

In Cardiff we found a restaurant called Thomas by Tom Simmons. Among many good things we enjoyed, were mushroom croquettes with chive mayo and Parmesan and a memorable truffled mac and cheese. In Bristol, Marmo on Baldwin St yielded many memorable tastes of deliciously simple food with exquisite ingredients. I particularly remember an oozing burrata covered with freshly grated bottarga (dried mullet roe) and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

The bread and homemade cultured butter came from Field bakery in Bridgwater. So good that we later made a pilgrimage to the source where the heritage wheat for the bread is grown by inspirational farmer and citizen scientist, Fred Pryce. Still at hyper seasonal Marmo with chef owner Cosmo Sterck and his wife Lily we loved the plate of six plump anchovies in a pool of extra virgin olive oil sprinkled with marjoram. Another highlight was fricco (a little rectangle of yeast dough, deep fried into a puffy pillow) with wafer thin slices of pancetta  they were just the starters.

The dry aged pork chop with silky mashed potato, girolles, sweetcorn, and tarragon were also memorable and oh, the chocolate mousse with a blanket of softly whipped jersey cream and a dusting of cocoa powder  I wont forget the flavour and texture of that in a while. Little French in the Westbury Park area is another gem with an interesting natural wine list and a wonderful choice of edgy French classics.

Dont miss the queen scallops served simply in the shell with various sauces. Really easy and delicious.

Im halfway through the article and have only told you about two restaurants of the eight or 10 we enjoyed over five days. On another morning we were up at the crack of dawn to try to beat the queues at Farro. Maybe Bristols best bakery in a town that has many brilliant artisan bakeries, many of whom mill their own flour from ancient and heritage landrace wheat varieties for their natural sourdough loaves.

Quite unlike the faux sourdough in many supermarkets, real sourdough has just four ingredients: flour, water, salt, and natural levain. If you get to Farro, there are a whole range of temptations but dont miss the kouign-amann and a West Country Queen and there are tender madeleines with a dab of icing on top and the spice bun. We also love Harts Bakery under the arches by the railway station and also check out The Bristol Loaf and Little Pantry.

There are many wine bars selling an exceptional choice of natural wines (no hangover). Look out for Limeburn Hill wines made by Robin and his wife Georgina on their biodynamic vineyard close to Chew Magna. Georgina shared the recipe for the delicious apple and almond tart that we enjoyed at her kitchen table. If youre in Bristol on a Sunday morning, wander through The Tobacco Factory Market and Wapping Wharf and swing by Five Acre Farm Shop, then make sure you have lunch at Sonnys Store on Birch Road. We loved the Cockles Aqua Pazza, and Ill be back for more of that salted focaccia ice cream with extra-virgin olive oil.

Roast Scallops with Butter & Thyme recipe by:Darina Allen Inspired by the scallops at Little French. A sublime way to cook beautiful fresh scallops, the thyme leaves, lemon and butter enhance the sweetness of the shellfish deliciously. Servings 4 Preparation Time  15 mins Cooking Time  5 mins Total Time  20 mins Course  Starter Ingredients 8 large scallops on the rounded half shell

2 tsp thyme leaves, finely chopped

1 tsp finely grated lemon

zest from an organic lemon

25g butter

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

flaky sea salt and freshly ground pepper

To Serve: lemon wedges

Method Preheat the oven to 250C/Gas Mark 10. If the scallops are in the shell, open and remove all the contents. Remove the fringe, coral and muscle from the fish. Discard the fringe and muscle. Trim the coral neatly. Place the scallop back in the deep shell along with the corals. Mix the chopped thyme leaves, freshly grated lemon zest, soft butter, and extra virgin olive oil together in a bowl. Spoon a teaspoon onto each scallop. Season with a little salt and freshly ground pepper. Bake in the very hot oven until the butter is sizzling and the scallops barely cooked, 4-5 minutes approx. Serve immediately with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Sonny Stores Salted Focaccia Ice Cream with Extra Virgin Olive Oil recipe by:Darina Allen Special thanks to Pegs for sharing. A little vanilla extract and chopped rosemary is also delicious added to the ice cream base, it enhances the ice cream even further. A brilliant, inspired way to use up stale focaccia. Servings 6 Preparation Time  15 mins Cooking Time  25 mins Total Time  40 mins Course  Dessert Ingredients 150g-200g stale focaccia

extra virgin olive oil

caster sugar, for sprinkling

 litre milk

1 litre cream

 tsp vanilla extract or 2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary (optional)

7-8 egg yolks, depending on size

200g caster sugar

Maldon sea salt Method Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4. Tear the focaccia into thumb-sized pieces, pop onto a baking tray, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle generously with caster sugar. Toss well turning occasionally and bake for 20-25 minutes or until crispy and golden. Cool a little. Heat the milk and cream in a heavy bottom saucepan until it comes to the shivery stage, dont boil. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, vanilla extract and sugar together until light and pale. Gradually add the hot liquid, whisking all the time. Return to the saucepan and cook over a medium heat until it thickens slightly, barely coating the back of a spoon (do not allow to boil or the mixture will curdle). Pour out onto a low sided dish, a stainless-steel gastro pan if available. Pour the ice cream mixture over the focaccia on the baking tray, cover and leave overnight. The next day, scoop out the focaccia and blend (not too fine). Mix with the ice cream. Cover and freeze. To Serve Put one or two scoops into a bowl or plate, drizzle with a little really good extra virgin olive oil. sprinkle with a few flakes of sea salt, and serve immediately.

River Cottage Apple & Almond Cake recipe by:Darina Allen Try this delicious cake which I enjoyed recently at Limeburn Hill Vineyard, just outside Bristol. Georgina gives full credit to River Cottage. Servings 8 Preparation Time  15 mins Cooking Time  45 mins Total Time  60 mins Course  Baking Ingredients 3 eating apples

25g butter

25g granulated sugar

 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

For the batter

150g butter

125g caster sugar

2 eggs

75g self-raising flour

75g ground almonds

20cm round springform cake tin. Method Preheat the oven to 170C/gas mark 3. Line the base and sides of the tin. Peel and core the apples, cut them into quarters and then slice each quarter into about 3 pieces. Heat the butter and sugar in a frying pan, then gently fry the apples, stirring occasionally until they get an even colour. When they are nearly tender and starting to caramelise, add the cinnamon (if using) and take off the heat. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, add the eggs, then the flour followed by the ground almonds. Scrape into the tin, smooth over, arrange the apples and then spoon over any juices from the frying pan on top. Bake for 40-45 minutes (until a skewer comes out clean). Leave for 20 minutes before unclipping the tin and leaving to cool. Best served warm with cream.
A funeral procession pours along the streets of Accra. Almost everyone is clad in Ghanas traditional red and black mourning colours, and theyre carrying the coffin closer and closer.

Thats when you notice there is a curious winged vessel being carried aloft by the crowd... Is it a bird, is it a plane? Neither: its a fantasy coffin, also known as a FAV (Fantastic Afterlife Vehicle).

When it comes to unorthodox transportation to the afterlife, nothing comes close to Ghanas fantasy coffins.

For more than 70 years, Ghanaian artists have been chiselling coffins shaped like ships, chilli peppers or airplanes. Any object even vaguely oblong in shape can inspire a unique creation  made to order by one of a dozen FAV makers in Ghana (mostly around the capital, Accra).

An animal coffin in Ghana.

TOTEMIC PROTECTION

The originator of fantasy coffins is Kane Kwei, who established a coffin workshop in the 1950s and passed on his unmistakable style and craft to many apprentices.

But the concept dates back much further, to okadi akpakai: palanquins (wheelless litters) that were used to carry kings and sub-chiefs of the Ga people.

Palanquins took the shape of the owners totem, a symbolic object or animal; being transported inside okadi akpakai was believed to guarantee protection.

Local stories tell of a chief who died before he could be paraded around in his cocoa- pod-shaped palanquin, so he was buried inside it instead. This is believed to have inspired Kweis fantasy coffins, which quickly became an Accra funeral fixture.

Ghanaian mourners.

A ROYAL SENDOFF

Fantastical coffins are no longer reserved for royals, and nor do they need to be modelled on traditional totems. Today, their shape is only limited by your imagination. You can be buried inside a giant palm fruit, or meet eternity in a pen-shaped casket.

You can send your dad to heaven in a beer-bottle-shaped casket, or bury your stern auntie inside a hawk in flight.

If the deceased was pious (or you just want to ensure the pastor allows the coffin into church for the funeral ceremony), you can opt for a Bible-shaped coffin.

But its most common for a fantasy coffin to represent something the deceased enjoyed in life, like a wine bottle, a sneaker, a mobile phone or a cigarette.

The coffin might even represent the dead persons dreams and ambitions, and act as the final fulfilment of their aspirations in life.

A papaya coffin, Ghana.

EXQUISITE TASTE

Accras coffin workshops are a riot of hammering, sawing and swishing paintbrushes, as artists busily assemble and decorate oversized insects, fish and ears of corn.

With this standard of craft, it takes at least a couple weeks to create a bespoke coffin and demand for these premium products is at sky-high levels.

Most locals spend the equivalent of US$1000, but coffin makers increasingly take commissions from people overseas who are willing to pay a premium, including art collectors around the world.

One Porsche-shaped fantasy coffin sold for an impressive US$9200 at London auction house Bonhams, and even former US president Jimmy Carter is believed to have purchased a Ghanaian FAV.

An ant coffin in Ghana.

BRIGHTENING THE AFTERLIFE

In Ghana, a body typically spends weeks in refrigerated storage while the family makes extensive funeral preparations.

This gives artists plenty of time to fashion the coffin: perhaps a snarling lion, or a shiny black dress shoe.

Death is viewed as preparation for a journey, so its logical to equip a loved one with a vessel that is suitably grand, and reflective of their personality and status.

When the day of the funeral arrives, typically a Saturday, the unveiling of the fantasy coffin is just one component of a lavish celebration of life, where the festivities extravagance is a tribute to the dead.

Attendees often bring donations to give to the grieving family. Crowds will gather, including people who may have had no relationship with the deceased, to follow a funeral procession that might include paid mourners.

Some funerals even have dancing pallbearers, who transport the coffin with a variety of eclectic dancing styles: rhythmically crawling with the coffin on their backs, or performing choreographed moves while holding the coffin aloft.

The procession and burial are often followed by up to three days of celebration, complete with feasting, live music or a DJ.

Many Ghanaians believe that fantasy coffins will remind the dead person of their passions and talents when they arrive in the spiritual realm.

Its also believed that your ancestors have the power to influence your fate on Earth, so its important to keep them happy after death  making springing for that expensive Porsche coffin a prudent decision.

Guitar coffin, Ghana.

PORTRAIT OF A LIFE

Imagine throwing a party for a friend whos moving overseas. Youre sad that theyre leaving, and you wish youd had more time; but youre eager to celebrate everything theyve meant to you.

You put Champagne on ice, invite friends and family and have one glorious final knees-up before they get on that plane.

This is the sentiment behind Ghanaian funerals: sorrow cuts deep, but the funeral doesnt need to be a sombre affair.

People will weep and mourn, but theyll also joke, dance and feast. After all, we live our lives in technicolour, so why not our deaths?

When we lose someone, it can be upsetting if our final image of that person is a blank coffin lowered into the ground.

In Ghana, instead it can be a bright totem representing something they held dear. Subdued mourning customs are optional; we can choose to showcase treasured memories that bring us delight.

A shoe coffin with a boat in the background, Ghana.

THE ART OF MOURNING

The main drawback of being buried in a fantasy coffin? You wont get to admire it for yourself. But even if you never make it to Ghana, you can still see elaborate FAVs in galleries around the world.

The largest permanent exhibition of fantasy coffins can be found at the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston, Texas.

Several artists have become celebrities in the coffin creation world. Some, like Ataa Oko, kept their styles typically Ghanaian.

But others have flung open their arms to collaborations with European artists, such as Kudjoe Affutu, whose work has been displayed in Hamburg, Paris and Monaco.

The most famous living artist is Paa Joe; his creations can cost up to US$15,000 and are shipped overseas to delight a vast international clientele.

A former apprentice of coffin-art visionary Kane Kwei, Paa Joe has amassed almost 16,000 Instagram followers and has been visited by former US president Bill Clinton; his fantastical coffins have been displayed at exhibitions as far afield as Paris and New York.

Papa Joes apprentice, Daniel Hello Mensah, has also risen to prominence. Coffins created in his studio in Teshie, southeastern Ghana, have been showcased in Londons British Museum.

Extract from Lonely Planets Guide to Death Grief and Rebirth.

Reproduced with permission from Lonely Planet  2024
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/CinCAFofUkraine

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky met with the delegation of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic headed by Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Karel Rehka and discussed the continuation of the implementation of the current initiatives of the Czech Republic to support the Ukrainian army.

I informed my Czech colleagues about the situation on the front line, which remains difficult. Active military actions that continue in certain areas require constant renewal of resources of Ukrainian units. Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding back one of the most powerful offensives of the Russians since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Syrsky wrote on Telegram on Saturday.

He also noted that the Czech Republic is a loyal ally of Ukraine and has initiated a number of critical initiatives, including the coalition to develop artillery, armored vehicles, as well as the aviation coalition and the coalition of the integrated air defense/missile defense system.

Syrsky expressed hope for the continuation of the practical implementation of the current initiatives.
Rocky Elsom, an ex-Leinster rugby star and former Australian player, has reportedly fled Ireland and gone into hiding after gardai called to his home looking for him.

Last month, a French court sentenced 41-year-old Mr Elsom to five years in prison for misusing corporate funds during his time as president of the Narbonne Mediterranean Racing Club.

Mr Elsom was convicted in his absence, and an international warrant was issued for his arrest.

After the conviction, the former Wallabies captain remained in Ireland, but he now says he left the country after gardai visited his home and workplace with the intent to arrest him.

The gardai came to where I worked, came to my home, with the intention of taking me into custody, Mr Elsom told the Sydney Morning Herald.

He said that gardai told him they would have to take him into custody if he stayed in Ireland, which he worries would make his defence much harder and more costly.

The important thing to remember is if I am in custody, my defence gets a lot more expensive and a lot harder," he added.

Mr Elsom has not revealed where he is currently hiding. He says he is laying low while he finds a French lawyer to appeal his case.

"I'll have to go outside at some point but I am keeping my head down, that's for sure, he said, adding that hes trying to keep some normalcy, despite feeling under pressure.

"In a way, the attack on me has been going on for eight years so you wouldnt put it past them to be going on for months and months," he said.

The French court found Mr Elsom guilty of financial misconduct and ordered him to repay 705,000.

The allegations include backdating a club doctors contract, redirecting a payment from Heineken to a company in his name, and arranging early salary payments for players.

Mr Elsom denies any wrongdoing and claims he wasnt given a fair chance to defend himself in court, and he says he suspects that French authorities may have made things intentionally difficult for him.

Mr Elsom's rugby career spanned over a decade, during which he became a notable player for Leinster, Toulon, and Narbonne in France.

He was named European Player of the Year in 2009 after helping Leinster clinch the Heineken Cup.
A Lebanese orphanage supported by the Irish Defence Forces has been severely damaged in an Israeli air strike.

The orphanage, in the town of Tibnine, was empty at the time as its 40 children had been evacuated after the launch of the Israeli offensive on September 23.

A building next door suffered a direct hit at around 10pm on Friday night, and the blast blew out windows and doors in the orphanage.

It also tore through walls and appears to have destroyed the property's generators and air conditioning systems.

Shrapnel and huge chunks of masonry litter every room and corridor all along the side of the building nearest the blast.

Pictures of bomb damage to Tibnine orphanage in southern Lebanon

The damage, which is also understood to have hit recently installed solar panels, is on top of the damage the orphanage suffered when Israel first started bombing the southern Lebanese town.

Then bombs exploding within 50 to 100 metres of the orphanage left the 40 children cowering in terror as debris flew in and around them.

Staff, led by orphanage director Ali Saad, quickly put the children into a bus and they joined the hundreds of thousands of people who fled to Beirut, to get away from Israeli air attacks on targets across southern Lebanon at the time.

After their 15-hour journey to the Lebanese capital, they were put up in a hotel near the centre of the city.

But the increase in bomb attacks on the city led to the children being split up and housed in a mixture of around 20 different homes.

'Appalled'

Mr Saad said: We were told that smoke could be seen from the area around the orphanage.

But as it was too risky to move around at night to check, because of the drones that monitor the town, we were only able to survey the damage early this morning.

I am appalled at what has happened.

The orphanage has taken years to establish and all the hard work and efforts over those years now lie in ruins.

It is just so terrible to see what has been done.

We absolutely condemn what has happened to what is one of the best-known buildings in southern Lebanon.

The international community is well aware that this building is here.

The Defence Forces soldiers serving with Unifil in southern Lebanon have been informed.

Pictures of bomb damage to Tibnine orphanage in southern Lebanon

It is also understood Defence Minister and Tanaiste Micheal Martin has also been informed.

He has repeatedly met children and staff from the orphanage when he has visited in his capacity as Taoiseach or Tanaiste and Minister of Defence in the last two years.

Tibnine itself - and its orphanage in particular - has always held its place in the hearts of anybody who has served in Lebanon since the 1980s.

Although the orphanage was built with the help and support of peacekeepers from the Netherlands in 1979, Irish peacekeepers have been heavily involved with it ever since.

This was especially the case when they were based in the town.

During the 1980s, Irish soldiers supplied the orphanage with food and helped to equip and install bedrooms.

Irish medics serving with the UN have also done health checks on the children and as well as providing fresh water, soldiers have also taught English to the children.

Funding for the orphanage comes from a variety of sources, including the Lebanese government, Defence Forces personnel serving with the UN, and donations from UN veterans.

Funding usually comes via Irish Aid, Irelands development cooperation programme, and is for so-called 'micro projects'.

Funds supplied by Irish Aid and Defences Forces personnel have supplied buses over the years, as well as a kitchen and a playground.

Irish soldiers came into their own during the so-called July War of 2006, when they helped shield and protect orphans during what turned out to be a 34-day armed conflict between Hezbollah paramilitaries and Israeli forces.

A Defence Forces spokesperson said: Our Tanaiste and Minister for Defence, our Chief of Staff, the entire Defence Forces community, in particular our Veterans who have served in UNIFIL, are shocked and saddened to learn of the damage that has befallen Tibnine.

Although no longer in the Irish Area of Operations, strong historical ties remain.

Soldiers of the 124th Inf Bn visited the Tibnine orphanage on the 11th of September, where they conducted maintenance and repairs of bedframes, wardrobes and cupboards.

This project was funded through donations from serving personnel.

The Irish Contingent, through the Department of Foreign Affairs funding, facilitated the purchase, delivery and installation of carpets and furniture at the end of September.

The project was completed.

However, the ceremony to mark the completion of the project was scheduled for 26 September but due to the deterioration in the security situation it was postponed until a more permissible environment prevails.
Families of the Disappeared victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles have urged those who know where they are buried to end their pain.

The bereaved took part in their annual All Souls Day silent walk to Stormont in Belfast on Saturday to commemorate those whose remains have never been found.

Since the last wreath-laying event took place at the start of November last year, fresh searches for two of the Disappeared  Co Tyrone teenager Columba McVeigh and British Army Captain Robert Nairac  ended without success.

They were among 17 people who were abducted, killed and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries during the Troubles.

Families of the Disappeared victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles take part in their annual All Souls Day silent walk at Stormont (David Young/PA)

Aided by a commission set up by the UK and Irish governments to investigate their whereabouts, 13 have been found over the last three decades.

The remains of Mr McVeigh, Capt Nairac, former monk Joe Lynskey and Seamus Maguire, who was in his mid 20s and from near Lurgan, Co Armagh, have never been recovered.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) continues to appeal for information to help find their burial places.

Co Down hairdresser Lisa Dorrian, who vanished in the post-Troubles era from a caravan park in Ballyhalbert, Co Down in 2005, is now considered one of the Disappeared victims.

Republican paramilitaries were not suspected in her case. Finding her remains is outside the remit of the commission, with that task instead being led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

A wreath dedicated to the five Disappeared was laid on the steps of Parliament Buildings at the conclusion of Saturdays poignant walk.

Earlier, priest Fr Joe Gormley led the families in a special prayer for the Disappeared.

A wreath is laid on the steps of Parliament Buildings as families of the Disappeared conclude their silent walk (David Young/PA)

Dympna Kerr, the sister of Mr McVeigh, said all her family wanted was to bury her brother beside her late parents.

We are all gathered here again on All Souls Day, we once again seek the recovery of our loved ones who remain disappeared, she said.

Five of our loved ones have not yet been recovered. My younger brother Columba, Joe Lynskey, Seamus Maguire, Robert Nairac and Lisa Dorrian.

In the case of my brother Columba, he disappeared nearly five decades ago.

He was taken from Dublin on Halloween night and brought to Bragan Bog in County Monaghan.

In the last year, the search ended without success. Finding his body and bringing him finally home for a Christian burial at St Patricks Church in Donaghmore (Co Tyrone) and putting him in the grave beside our mum and dad is our only wish. We need him brought home.

Dr Sandra Peake, from the WAVE Trauma Centre  an organisation that supports the families, said they endure constant pain from not knowing where their loved ones lie.

We can only hope that they can take some comfort from the fact that they do not have to face their plight alone, she said.

The unbreakable bond of solidarity with the other families of the Disappeared is immensely important and that is why events like the Silent Walk where they can come together in mutual support is so significant.
The mental competency of a man accused of the murder of Cork-born Bishop David OConnell to stand trial will not be determined until the new year.

Earlier this month, the case against Carlos Medina, the husband of Bishop David OConnells housekeeper, was suspended after his lawyers raised concerns about his ability to stand trial during a pre-trial hearing.

He is charged with the murder of the Brooklodge native at his home in Hacienda Heights in Los Angeles in February 2023. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He is also charged with a special allegation that he used a firearm during the commission of an offence.

On Thursday, a competency hearing opened in Hollywood courthouse and it has now been adjourned until January 15 for further proceedings, according to Los Angeles County District Attorneys office.

It is understood that the concerns of his legal team arise from interactions they have had with Medina since his arrest in February 2023.

His behaviour while in prison awaiting trial has also sparked concern, the court was told. He also was assessed by an independent expert who believed he was not able to stand trial.

Medinas wife worked as a housekeeper for the bishop, while Medina himself also carried out some work for him on a number of occasions.

He was arrested after barricading himself into his home following the discovery of the bishop's body by a deacon who went to the house after Bishop OConnell failed to turn up for a scheduled meeting.

If Medina is found mentally unfit to stand trial, he will be required to undergo psychiatric treatment by a licensed psychologist. Following that, the judge will decide on what options of treatment are required, which could include referral to a state mental health facility, for a period of up to four months.

After that, the court could grant additional time for treatment, or order that the criminal proceedings against him could continue. If convicted, Medina could face up to 35 years to life in prison.

The 69-year-old bishops killing was met with devastation by Catholics across the Los Angeles archdiocese, where he had served since his ordination in 1979. All county flags in Los Angeles were lowered to half-mast in his honour, while vigils were held nightly in the week after his death.

He was laid to rest in a crypt in Los Angeles Cathedral. An exhibit of some of his belongings has been opened in a church where he served.
When they buried her, they thought they were burying her malign forces too. They padlocked her foot and pinned her down with an iron sickle  failsafe ways to protect the world from this 17th-century vampire.

Now, with a kind of irony that fits the season, the young Polish woman once believed to be a force of evil has reemerged into the light of the 21st century. Using the marvels of modern technology, scientists have not only reconstructed her centuries-old face, but they have rendered this poor mistreated soul human again.

Gathering up the dishonoured remains of a woman who suffered God only knows what horrors in her lifetime reminds us that some kind of retrospective justice is possible.

In this case, Zosia  as she was named by locals  was considered to be a supernatural threat. That was evident when, in 2022, archaeologists discovered her body in an unmarked cemetery in Pien, northern Poland. The sickle, padlock and types of wood found at the grave site were all items once thought to ward off vampires, according to archaeologists from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland.

In real life, 18-year-old Zosia most likely suffered from a health condition that would have caused fainting and severe headaches, as analysis of her skull showed.

Now, at least, the woman has been returned to us while the monster has been relegated to the past.

The same spirit of reclamation will be present at a multi-faith ceremony of atonement in St Canices Cathedral in Kilkenny tomorrow to mark the 700th anniversary of the death of Petronella de Meath, believed to be the first woman executed for witchcraft in Ireland.

She was flogged in six parishes and then burned alive at the stake, according to one account.

Florence Newton, the witch of Youghal.

When I was growing up, I wish I had known about her fate and that of Florence Newton, who died while being tried as a witch in Youghal, Co Cork. There were so many others. Some 60,000 people  80% of them women  were hanged and burned at the stake in the real witch trials that swept Europe in the 15th to 18th centuries.

If I had known, I might have cast off the plastic witch mask, with its wart-encrusted nose, and done something different.

At least now, we are being offered inspiration on how to re-imagine Halloween. Kudos to the organisers of the new Kilkenny Toil and Trouble Festival in marking Petronella de Meaths anniversary by exploring the societal fears, power struggles, and personal stories that shaped this notorious trial.

At a time when a US presidential candidate can seemingly get away with accusing immigrants from Haiti of stealing and eating cats, it is worth remembering where wild claims and conspiracy theories can lead.

We might also remember the eight women convicted of witchcraft at Islandmagee in Antrim in 1711. That case was the last witch trial to be held in Ireland and, unlike Petronella and Florence Newton, the women were not put to death.

They were, however, convicted on the evidence of local woman Mary Dunbar, who claimed they caused her to vomit pins, have fits and convulsions and see apparitions of demons.

While witch trials in Ireland were relatively rare, in Europe and parts of America similar evidence was relied on to send tens of thousands of innocent women and men to their deaths.

In neighbouring Scotland, more than 2,500 people left this world in the most horrible of ways after being convicted in a country that had witch-hunter general, James VI (later James I of England), as its leader.

President Michael D Higgins at the signing of a pardon for Sylvester Poff and James Barrett at Aras an Uachtarain with Louise Browne O'Sullivan, great great niece of James Barrett, and Thomas OBurke, great grandson of Sylvester Poff. Picture: Maxwells

Recent attempts to pardon the 4,000 people tortured and often executed under the Witchcraft Act 1563 have proved controversial and difficult to implement. Scotland, and other countries around Europe, have been more open to memorialisation and apology. Both are welcome.

The difficulties of granting posthumous pardons was illustrated this week when President Michael D Higgins awarded a rare pardon to two men wrongly accused of murder. It is just the fourth such pardon in the history of the Irish State.

On Wednesday, Sylvester Poff (35) and James Barrett (21) were pardoned after they were wrongfully convicted of the murder of Thomas Browne in Co Kerry in 1882, then hanged at Tralee Gaol in January 1883.

As President Higgins said, the pardon cannot undo what happened, but it can acknowledge a great wrong. He said: We may not be able to undo what took place... the people of Kerry remember. But we can lift the shadow.

The case also highlights the invaluable work done by local historians. The pardon was based on extensive research and a detailed report from UCD legal expert Dr Niamh Howlin. That, however, became possible because Michael ODonoghue, a local historian from Castleisland, Co Kerry, came across the case in Tralee library.

After his death, Johnny Roche and Janet Murphy of the Castleisland District Heritage Group took up the case.

The relatives of those two wronged men, Tomo Burke and Mike Sugrue, spoke of the torment of the wrongful conviction, and the subsequent relief in having it lifted.

Their comments bring me back to the ceremony for Petronella at St Canices Cathedral tomorrow. Those taking part will be asked to reflect on the terrible wrong done to her and the lessons for modern society.

We might take that as a cue to think about developing a different kind of Halloween holiday. Could we begin to use this liminal time of spooks and spectres to explore the shadows, and the wrongs lurking in them? And then, as President Higgins put it, lift those shadows. Or, at least, attempt to do so.

In the Browne murder case, weve seen how enduring the pain of injustice can be, even more than a century later.

How sharp and vivid, then, the pain must be for those who spoke this week about the corporal punishment cruelties perpetrated in our schools during the 20th century.

Will their voices be enough to conjure up the political will to do something that the Irish Government has, up to now, failed to do? That is, put the survivors at the centre of a commission of inquiry and any redress scheme that might come from it.

Lets hope so, because we have seen all too clearly how the wrongs of the past come back to haunt us when we do not do enough to atone for them.
Could 2024 be the year of the pollical comeback kid?

Having failed to retain the presidency back in 2020, Donald Trump believes he can now reclaim the White House in what is a critical election for the US and the entire world.

This side of the Atlantic, a number of high-profile candidates hope they can also make a return to political life after stints away from Leinster House.

It means the next Dail may include a not inconsiderable number of career-break TDs.

But what does it say about the electorate?

Voters can be cruel and fickle in equal measure when it comes to elevating or ejecting political representatives. Will they be willing to give their former TD another chance?

Timing, circumstance, and unaddressed issues have all been cited as reasons by those hoping to return to national politics.

Past elections have resulted in surprise sackings of politicians who have been dedicated to the communities they serve.

Some have been fired by the public because support plummeted for the particular party they represented. This was seen in 2016 when Labour, coming out of a coalition with Fine Gael, recorded its worst election in its 104-year history, falling from 37 TDs to just seven.

Poor party strategy can also be a factor; running too many or too few candidates in a constituency or failing to manage the vote correctly can be the difference in winning or losing a seat.

Depending on the perspective adopted, politicians are either eternally optimistic or shamelessly assuming to put themselves forward after defeat.

Name recognition and incumbency

For Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher, the timing of a Sinn Fein surge in 2020 resulted in the former Fianna Fail TD losing his seat. Now, at the age of 76, The Cope will be banking on strong name recognition to get him across the line once again.

Incumbency is usually seen as a considerable benefit to any candidate going into an election, but the exception may be in Donegal where voters have successively ousted sitting TDs, including Padraig Mac Lochlainn in 2016, Mary Coughlan in 2011, and Cecilia Keaveney back in 2007.

"The one thing that is in his favour is that he is not a sitting TD," one Donegal politician said of The Cope's chances this time around.

Having made a swinging return at local level in June's elections, former Independent Alliance junior minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran is in strong contention to claim back the Dail seat he dramatically lost in 2020.

The taxi-driver has been literally working from the ground up, volunteering to paint the railings and lampposts in Athlone and making regular appearances on local radio.

He has made it clear that he is now "in it to win it" in Longford Westmeath.

Constituency shakeups

Another Independent hoping to break back into national politics is Clare Daly, who is running in Dublin Central having lost her seat in the EU elections.

There is also speculation that former MEP Mick Wallace may run in Wexford, while senator and former attorney general Michael McDowell this week put an end to the rumours by ruling himself out of running.

Another well-known name entering the election fray is Fine Gael's Noel Rock.

Rock has made no secret of his ambition to return to national politics and had been speculated as a possible candidate both to run in June's EU elections and as a replacement for Regina Doherty in the Seanad, neither of which materialised.

It is understood that far-right councillor Gavin Pepper's decision to run in the general election in Dublin North West, while not a defining development, was also a factor for Rock.

Announcing his intention to run, Rock stressed that during his time as a TD, he fought hard to bring positive changes to our community  and Im ready to continue that work".

The departure of Social Democrats TD Roisin Shortall also shakes up the constituency.

However, it is likely that Rock will have to take out sitting Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe to be certain of a seat, with Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis expected to be safe and the Social Democrats' replacement candidate, Rory Hearne, also in the hunt for one of three seats.

Coveney factor

Fine Gael launched its general election campaign for Cork South Central, with councillors Shane O'Callaghan and Una McCarthy, and senator Jerry Buttimer set to contest. Picture: Darragh Kane

The departure of long-serving minister Simon Coveney, coupled with Michael McGrath's elevation to the European Commission, has significantly altered the landscape in Cork South Central, a three-seater constituency which has always been a tightly contested battleground.

While McGrath's brother Seamus, a poll-topping councillor, is widely expected to fill the vacated Fianna Fail seat, Jerry Buttimer will be seeking to take advantage of the Coveney-shaped crater on the Fine Gael side.

Buttimer lost his Dail seat in 2016 and failed to regain it in 2020, but changed circumstances may this time benefit the senator.

Buttimer is among a number of former TDs turned senators  including fellow Fine Gael member Sean Kyne and Fiona O'Loughlin and Lisa Chambers of Fianna Fail  who want back into the lower chamber.

Meanwhile, former TD Kate O'Connell and former justice minister Alan Shatter are to run under their own Independent banners, having broken loose from the Fine Gael stable.

The Dublin-Rathdown constituency, which Shatter is running in, will increase to a four-seater, providing a potential opening.

In a direct plea to the grey vote, Shatter's constituency leaflets call for a political culture that is not ageist", one that "embraces wisdom" and "values experience".

Whether voters are willing to give experience a second chance will become clear in the coming weeks.
Israel launched waves of deadly airstrikes across Lebanons northeast that killed at least 45 people on Friday and transformed once-bustling neighbourhood blocks in Beiruts southern suburbs into smouldering ruins.

The latest violence comes against the backdrop of the Biden administrations renewed diplomatic push, days before the US election, to reach temporary ceasefire deals.

Israel has broadened its strikes in Lebanon to bigger urban hubs, like Baalbek, in recent weeks after initially targeting smaller border villages in the south, where Hezbollah draws deep support.

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Iran-backed Hezbollah doubles as a major political party and provider of social services in Lebanon.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles from Lebanon into Israel in solidarity with Hamas immediately after the Hamas-led October 7 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.

The year-long cross-border fighting boiled over to full-blown war on October 1, when Israeli forces launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006.

In Lebanons northeast  where small farming villages nestled between the countrys mountain ranges had largely been spared the worst of Israeli bombardment until last month  Israel conducted a series of heavy airstrikes Friday, killing at least 45 people, driving more families to flee with whatever they could carry and sending thick plumes of smoke over the horizon.

Intensified Israeli airstrikes on and around the north-eastern city of Baalbek this week have prompted 60,000 people to flee their homes and have emptied many small villages in the area, said Hussein Haj Hassan, a Lebanese official representing the region.

Rescuers searched for survivors after airstrikes killed seven people in Younine, a town in the Bekaa Valley, said Governor Bachir Khodr.

Smoke rises from a destroyed building hit by an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh (Hussein Malla/AP)

The strikes brought down a building believed to be housing 20 people.

Further Israeli strikes in the north east killed 11 people in the village of Amhaz, five people in the town of Nahleh and 14 others across the Bekaa Valley, Mr Khodr added.

Lebanons state-run National News Agency also reported that four others were killed in the small village of Ollak, bringing the total death toll from Fridays attacks on the Bekaa Valley to 45.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the deadly strikes.

In Lebanons capital of Beirut, Israeli planes pounded the southern suburb of Dahiyeh overnight and early on Friday for the first time in four days, spreading panic after a rare lull.

The Israeli military, which warned residents to evacuate at least nine locations in Dahiyeh, said it hit Hezbollah weapons manufacturing sites and command centres.

There were no reports of casualties from Dahiyeh, where fears of Israeli bombings drive a mass outflow of residents each night.

A worker uses a bulldozer to remove the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit in an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh (Hussein Malla/AP)

Bulldozers rumbled through clouds of dust and smoke on Friday, clearing rubble from the pulverised roads where Israeli warplanes had reduced dozens of buildings to their skeletal remains.

Formerly home to families and businesses, mid-rise apartment blocks were left open to the breeze, walls blown off and furniture buried.

Hezbollah supporters in several locations raised the groups bright yellow banner atop the rubble.

Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted last year, more than 2,897 people have been killed and 13,150 wounded in Lebanon, the Health Ministry reports, not including Fridays toll.

Health authorities say that a quarter of those killed were women and children.

Overall, UN agencies estimate that Israels ground invasion and bombardment of Lebanon has displaced 1.4 million people. Residents of Israels northern communities near Lebanon, roughly 60,000 people, have also been displaced for more than a year.

Hezbollah has continued firing rockets into northern Israel, with projectiles launched from Lebanon on Thursday crashing into agricultural areas and killing seven people, including four Thai farm workers.
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to host duelling rallies within seven miles of each other in Milwaukee as part of a fevered, final push for votes in swing-state Wisconsins largest county.

Milwaukee is home to the most Democratic votes in Wisconsin, but its conservative suburbs are where most Republicans live and are a critical area for Mr Trump as he tries to reclaim the state he narrowly won in 2016 and lost in 2020.

One reason for his defeat was a drop in support in those Milwaukee suburbs and an increase in Democratic votes in the city.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the media after walking off Air Force Two in Madison, Wisconsin (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)

Both candidates recognise that the road to the White House runs directly through Milwaukee County, said Hilario Deleon, chairman of the countys Republican Party.

The duelling rallies  Mr Trumps in downtown Milwaukee and Ms Harriss in a suburb  may be the candidates last appearances in Wisconsin before Election Day.

Both sides say the race is once again razor-tight for the states 10 electoral votes.

Four of the past six presidential elections in Wisconsin have been decided by less than a point, or fewer than 23,000 votes.

It was absentee votes from Milwaukee, which typically are reported early in the morning after Election Day, that tipped Wisconsin for President Joe Biden in 2020.

Democrats know they must turn out voters in Milwaukee, also home to the states largest Black population, to counter Mr Trumps support in the suburbs and rural areas.

Ms Harris is hoping to replicate, and exceed, the turnout from 2020 in the city, which voted 79% for Biden that year.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Macomb Community College (Paul Sancya/AP)

Mr Trump is trying to cut into the Democrats margin. Mr Deleon called it a lose by less mentality.

Before heading to Milwaukee, Ms Harris campaigned in the southern Wisconsin city of Janesville, where she talked up her support for organised labour in a speech at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local.

Nobody understands better than a union member that as Americans, we all rise or fall together, Ms Harris said.

She promised to eliminate unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs and push private-sector employers to do the same.

She called Mr Trump an existential threat to Americas labour movement.

Ms Harris said Mr Trump is one of the biggest losers of manufacturing jobs in American history, hanging on the word loser as she was flanked by union workers in bright yellow T-shirts.

Mr Trump, whose base includes working-class voters, has made sporadic efforts to reach out to rank-and-file union members, who have traditionally been core to the Democratic coalition.

The former president was in the Detroit area, where he stopped at a restaurant in Dearborn, the nations largest Arab-majority city, to meet with supporters.

Many in the community remain distrustful after his first act in office in 2017 was to sign an executive order effectively banning travellers from predominantly Muslim countries.

Were winding down. Nine years weve been doing it, and now were winding down, Mr Trump said later at the start of a rally in Warren, Michigan. And hopefully well be going to the next phase, which is turning our country around.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event in Janesville (Kayla Wolf/AP)

In Milwaukee, a lot of Democrats are anxious and cautiously optimistic, said Angela Lang, founder and executive director of Black Leaders Organising for Communities in Milwaukee.

Especially given 2016, when there wasnt the same amount of energy, I think its clear Dems learned lessons about the importance of Milwaukee and Wisconsin as a whole, she said.

In another late outreach effort targeting Black voters, former President Bill Clinton campaigned with local faith leaders on Thursday night at a centre for celebrating African American music and arts in Milwaukee.

Hillary Clinton did not campaign in Wisconsin in 2016 after her primary loss, a mistake that Ms Harris is not repeating.

The Friday stop will be her ninth in the state as a presidential candidate and her fifth to Milwaukee or its suburbs.

It will be Mr Trumps 10th stop in Wisconsin, not counting the Republican National Convention, which was held in Milwaukee, and his third visit to the Milwaukee area.

Wisconsin Republican Party chairman Brian Schimming said that Ms Harris having to return to the Democratic stronghold of Milwaukee shows she is on defence while Mr Trump is on offence.

Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trump (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

The Milwaukee Election Commission estimated on Thursday that it expects to receive more than 100,000 ballots by Election Day, but that lags early vote returns from the conservative suburbs.

The question no one knows the answer to is who those voters are voting for, said Wisconsin Democratic Party chairman Ben Wikler. My feeling is that there may be some pleasant surprises for Harris.

Ms Lang, the Milwaukee organiser, said it is a tradition for many voters her group contacts to cast their ballots on Election Day.

And if they dont?

Then were in a world of trouble, said Mandela Barnes, a former lieutenant governor and president of Power to the Polls, a group that has been working to boost turnout.

Mr Trumps rally is being staged in the same arena where the Republican convention took place three months ago.

The Harris rally, to be held at the state fair park in West Allis, will include the rapper Cardi B, who is slated only to speak, and performances by GloRilla, Flo Milli, MC Lyte, The Isley Brothers and DJ GEMINI GILLY.
Three suspected militants have been killed in a gunfight with government forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said, while troops also exchanged fire in the disputed regions main city.

Indias military said soldiers intercepted a group of militants in a forested area in southern Anantnag district on Saturday, leading to a gun battle that killed two rebels.

In a separate incident in the regions main city of Srinagar, police and paramilitary soldiers exchanged fire with at least one militant after troops cordoned off an area on a tip that he was hiding in a house.

Residents said the troops torched the home where the rebel was trapped, a common tactic employed by Indian troops in the Himalayan region. There was no independent confirmation of the incident.

Flames and smoke billow from a residential building where militants are suspected to have taken refuge during a gun battle in Srinagar, in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday (Mukhtar Khan/AP)

India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety.

The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over the territory since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhis rule since 1989.

Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

Pakistan denies the charge and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle.

Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
Defense Forces shoot down 39 of 71 enemy drones that attacked Ukraine on Friday evening and Saturday

The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Saturday the destruction of 39 enemy UAVs in Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Sumy and Poltava regions out of 71 that attacked Ukraine, 21 drones were locally lost, 5 UAVs returned to the Russian Federation.

"On the night of November 2, 2024 (from 19:00 on November 1), the enemy launched a strike with a Kh-31P guided missile from the airspace of Belgorod region and 71 Shaheds and unidentified drones from the directions of Orel, Kursk - the Russian Federation," the report on Telegram says.

The air attack was repelled by anti-aircraft missile troops, aviation, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine.

"As of 11:00, the downing of 39 enemy UAVs in Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Sumy and Poltava regions has been confirmed. Some 21 drones were lost locally, five UAVs returned to Russia. There are about five attack UAVs in the air. Combat operations continue! Information is being clarified and updated," the report says.

According to preliminary data, because of the Russian attack, apartment buildings and private houses in Sumy, Poltava, Kyiv and Odesa regions were damaged due to falling debris, the report also says.
Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 81F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Becoming partly cloudy and windy. High 82F. W winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Syrsky once again speaks with Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff of U.S. Armed Forces Brown

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/CinCAFofUkraine

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky informed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces Charles Brown during a telephone conversation about the situation on the front line and the urgent needs of the Ukrainian army.

I informed my American colleague about the situation on the front line, which remains difficult. The enemy does not stop assault operations in several directions, using the advantage in the air and long-range fire weapons, and has a significant advantage in artillery shells. We discussed in detail the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces to contain the Russian occupiers and the next stages of military support, Syrsky wrote on Telegram on Saturday.

In turn, Brown assured of full support for the Ukrainian Defense Forces and continued practical assistance in our fight against the Russian aggressor, the statement said.
The Belgian company THALES signed a memorandum of cooperation with a Ukrainian defense enterprise on the joint production of missiles to counter enemy UAVs, said Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Herman Smetanin.

"THALES Belgium signed a memorandum of cooperation with a Ukrainian defense enterprise. This agreement provides for the joint production of missiles to counter enemy UAVs. We also expect that this cooperation will expand in the future to the transfer of technologies and components for these missiles," the minister wrote on Telegram on Saturday.

"This cooperation will strengthen the Ukrainian defense industry and the protection of critical infrastructure from enemy drones," Smetanin noted.
In Kingman, Arizona, where Route 66 winds through the Mojave Desert, Jack Alexander operates his biker gear shop, Thunder Road.We love Trump here, he tells me amid the biker leathers and an array of Donald Trump memorabilia that fill his store.

We consider him the best president this country has ever had  perhaps only second to Ronald Reagan.Although Jack is officially registered as an Independent voter  mirroring one in three residents in Arizona, the highest percentage in the nation  he proudly wears a MAGA hat and a Trump T-shirt, signaling his voting allegiance. He claims to have been the very first person in line when early voting commenced in this county.

We dont believe her. She cant articulate her views or what she stands for, he says, expressing concerns about the opposing candidate.

A Mismanaged ElectionHowever, Jack is worried about the upcoming elections management due to the previous experience during the last election.The issue was that the election was stolen, Jack asserts.

We know it was a mismanaged election. We tried  and I mean a lot of people and myself personally  to get the voter rolls checked to confirm that those registering to vote with drivers licenses and other forms of ID were legally eligible to vote in our state. The authorities refused to carry that out.

Jack believes that a significant number of illegal immigrants  between 11 to 20 million over the last four years  can register to vote using drivers licenses as identification.

If youre registered using the federal form, it merely requires a checkbox that says Im a citizen, and theres no verification to confirm that those checking that box are indeed citizens.

He warns that there are more than enough illegal immigrants in Arizona to potentially sway the election if they are registered and choose to vote.

We have no way of knowing, and we are very concerned, Jack admits.

In all likelihood, most illegal immigrants are avoiding attention by refraining from registering to vote or participating in elections.

This situation is part of what has made Arizona a hotspot for election conspiracy theories, leading to court challenges, threats against election workers, and an elaborate plot to overturn the results of the 2020 Presidential election  the infamous Fake Electors scheme.

Joe Biden won Arizona by slightly under 10,500 votes, marking his narrowest victory margin and flipping a historically Republican state to the Democrats.

Joe Biden secured Arizona in 2020  the first Democrat to do so since Bill Clinton in 1996.

Prior to this, Arizona had only supported a Democratic President once in 70 years (that being Bill Clinton in 1996).

The election also sparked intense debates about the conduct of elections in the state, and disputes continue to this day.

The states Attorney General has succeeded in obtaining indictments against 18 individuals, including 11 Arizona Republicans and key Trump allies such as Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, and former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

This case parallels criminal cases being pursued in three other swing states: Georgia, Nevada, and Michigan, which similarly involve Fake Electors committed to pledging their votes to Donald Trump, hoping that on January 6, 2021, the then Vice President Mike Pence would acknowledge their votes instead of the legitimate ones cast for Joe Biden.

Outside the Capitol building, a smoldering protest developed, eventually erupting into a violent attack on Congress.

Upon announcing the charges in April, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stated, Justice demands accountability for the actions taken by the defendants and other unindicted co-conspirators to undermine the will of Arizonas voters during the 2020 presidential election.

Arizonas election was conducted freely and fairly. The people of Arizona elected President Biden. Unwilling to accept this fact, the defendants indicted by the Grand Jury allegedly conspired to obstruct the lawful transition of the presidency.

Unlike Georgia, Donald Trump has not been indicted in Arizona or the other two states; however, he has been labeled as an unindicted co-conspirator in this case.

Donald Trump at a rally in Tempe, Arizona

All four cases are currently proceeding, albeit at a sluggish pace. Nonetheless, they serve as a stark reminder of the turmoil that unfolded four years ago.

This is not the only ongoing legal battle. Kari Lake, a former newscaster now running for the US Senate in Arizona (for the Republican Party), is engaged in litigation pertaining to her loss in the governors race two years ago  a result she refuses to accept. She is also a staunch Trump supporter.

Outside the early voting center at Kingman library, local Republican officials assert that there are no issues with the electoral system in the county  never have been, they declare.

We feel very secure with our voting process. We have an outstanding recorder and an excellent director for our elections department, and they are dedicated to ensuring our voting remains impeccable, says Jeanne Kentch, the Chair of the Republican Party in Mohave County.

She is confident that Trump will win their county; only the margin is uncertain.

I estimate that we could be looking at about 70% Republican to Democrat, and thats a very conservative estimate. It might be as much as 80%, considering weve been around 75% in the past, she expresses.

Her party colleague, Jeff Rider, the Republican Party director for district one, which includes Kingman, shares that Republicans previously discouraged early and mail-in voting but now view it as a winning strategy.

Trump cast his ballot by mail in Florida to set a precedent.

The trend four years ago was to vote in person, and we completely reversed that. Now, we see more early voting than Democrats, which is remarkable given that this has traditionally been a strong Republican in-person voting town, he explains.

This earlier disdain for early voting may have contributed to Trumps defeat four years ago.

Party leaders were determined not to repeat that error and convinced Trump to reconsider his stance on early and mail-in voting.

For this election, the message to Republicans is clear: vote early. Trump himself has already cast his mail-in ballot in Florida as an example.

In an election where mobilizing voters is crucial, every method matters.

I believe we were overconfident in 2020, Jeanne Kentch reflects.

We assumed we were in a red state. We believed we were a red county. We thought we would win regardless. This complacency is what ultimately hurt us, as Biden won by about 10,000 votes.

This time around, we will perform much better. Theres no complacency here in Mohave County  were actively voting.

We also know that if we rally our votes in Mohave County, we can surpass any irregularities in other counties, Jeff Rider states.

Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona

The irregularities refer to various ongoing legal and illegal challenges to the integrity of the election system in other areas of Arizona, including scrutiny of voter rolls and ID requirements, intimidation tactics against election workers, and even death threats.

This Wednesday, the Central Election office in Phoenix held a press conference featuring the Sheriff of Maricopa County (which encompasses most of Phoenix and 60% of the states electorate).

The Sheriff outlined the physical security measures enacted for the election to safeguard counting center workers and ballot boxes.

Bill Gates, the director of elections (a Republican, like the majority of Arizonas elected officials), noted it was regrettable that an election press conference had to focus primarily on security.

Back in Kingman, we visited the local Democratic Party headquarters, where volunteers are busy preparing leaflet distributions. District chair, Maris Baudman, observes a noticeable difference compared to the 2020 campaign.

Oh, its completely different. Its been incredible. Weve had individuals walk in here who have never set foot in our office before, and its simply amazing.

They say theyve been lifelong Republicans but are now re-registered as Democrats. They want to know how they can help. Why? I think they are just exhausted by the division and the hatred perpetuated by Trump. They are simply tired of it.

Arizona residents waiting in line to vote early

When I asked her if she personally had concerns about the integrity of the voting system in Mohave County, she replied: Not here  we have the best, echoing the sentiments of her Republican counterpart.

I encourage people who have doubts about the voting process to volunteer as observers and see firsthand how everything operates. Theyll realize there are no shenanigans happening whatsoever.

So why dont the same views apply to other areas of the country?

I think people jump to conclusions. Its simply not happening  its a figment of their imagination and the misinformation propagated by right-wing media outlets everywhere.

The country is inundated with this rhetoric. You cant listen to the radio without hearing one of these right-wing extremists spreading baseless propaganda. Its disappointing  but thats the reality we face here.

The branch treasurer, Danny Baker, remains optimistic about the state-level elections, although he acknowledges the challenges in Mohave County.

It is a robust Republican stronghold. Were outnumbered roughly three to one in Mohave County.

Does he believe Kamala Harris can win in Arizona?

I truly think shell win Arizona. Weve experienced significant turnout. Did you see how packed it was over there? Thats always a good sign for Democrats when we see high turnout.

However, given the strong likelihood of legal challenges post-election in Arizona, it may be a while before we definitively know who emerged victorious on Route 66 during the 2024 election.
Rescuers have resumed their somber search for bodies as Spain hastily organized aid for affected citizens following catastrophic floods that have claimed over 200 lives.

Chances of discovering survivors are diminishing more than three days after torrents of mud-laden water inundated towns and devastated infrastructure, marking this as the countrys deadliest disaster of its kind in decades.

Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that an additional 10,000 troops and police officers will be deployed to the eastern Valencia region.

During a televised address, Mr. Sanchez confirmed that he had granted the regional leaders request for 5,000 extra troops and would also send an additional 5,000 police officers and civil guards, as the death toll rose to 211.

Firefighters are conducting searches for victims among the debris along the riverbank in Valencia.

Officials reported that numerous individuals remain unaccounted for, but ascertaining an exact number is challenging due to the severe damage to telephone and transport networks.

There is hope that the estimated count of missing persons will decrease once telephone and internet services are restored.

Reestablishing order and distributing aid to the devastated towns is a top priority.

Efforts to restore order and deliver aid to towns and villages that have been isolated from food, water, and power for several days are critical.

Authorities have faced criticism regarding the effectiveness of warning systems prior to the floods, and some residents have voiced concerns that the disaster response has been inadequate.

Susana Camarero, the deputy head of the Valencia region, informed reporters today that essential supplies were delivered from day one to all accessible areas.

She acknowledged, however, that it was logical for affected residents to request more assistance.

Valencia authorities have restricted access to roads for the past two days, allowing emergency services to conduct search, rescue, and logistics operations more effectively.

Overwhelmed by community support

Thousands of everyday citizens, pushing shopping trolleys and carrying cleaning supplies, took to the streets on Friday to assist with cleanup efforts.

Camarero mentioned that some municipalities were overwhelmed by the abundance of solidarity and food they had received.

This wave of community support continued today as approximately 1,000 individuals set out from the Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia towards nearby towns devastated by the floods, as observed by an AFP journalist.

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Authorities have urged the public to remain at home to prevent traffic congestion that could impede the efforts of emergency services.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez chaired a crisis committee meeting with top cabinet members on Saturday and is expected to address the nation later.

The storm that triggered the floods on Tuesday formed as cold air moved over the warm waters of the Mediterranean, which is typical for this time of year.

However, scientists caution that climate change driven by human activities is intensifying the severity, duration, and frequency of such extreme weather events.
The Significance of North Korean Troops in Russia: An Analysis

Beginning in mid-October, Ukrainian authorities alerted the global community about the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

On October 18, South Korea raised its concerns as well.

However, it was only this past Monday that NATO officially acknowledged, after a thorough analysis of intelligence reports, the presence of these troops in Russia.

Both Ukrainian and US intelligence services have indicated that North Korea has sent roughly 10,000 troops to eastern Russia in recent weeks.

Ukraines military maintains a strategic position in Kursk due to its unexpected advance into the area back in July, suggesting that Moscow intends to utilize these new forces to push the Ukrainians out.

According to Mr. Blinken, Russia plans to engage the North Korean troops in combat in the upcoming days.

If this claim is validated, it would represent the first instance in Russias ongoing war with Ukraine where a foreign nation will act as a combatant.

This situation also involves South Korea, increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula and broadening the geopolitical implications of the war to East Asia.

Yesterday, the Financial Times reported that Seoul is contemplating providing arms directly to Ukraine, a shift from its previous stance of offering only non-lethal assistance.

This week, South Korea dispatched its foreign and defense ministers to Washington DC for briefings with their American counterparts.

The South Korean intelligence agency also briefed NATO officials, as well as the intelligence agencies of Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, regarding what they know about the covert troop deployments, highlighting growing concerns among NATOs partners in the broader Indo-Pacific region.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun spoke at The Pentagon on Wednesday.

Mark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister who took over as NATO Secretary General last month, characterized the presence of North Korean troops in Russia as a significant escalation and a dangerous expansion of Russias war.

Mr. Rutte noted that Pyongyang has already provided Russia with millions of rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles.

The gradual delivery of these military supplies from North Korea to Russia has been ongoing since 2022, formalized in June when Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a strategic partnership agreement in Pyongyang.

This agreement ensures that Russia and North Korea will assist each other if either is attacked by another nation.

Its quite beneficial for both parties, stated Mykhailo Samus, a Ukrainian defense analyst, in conversation with RTE News.

For North Korea, this is an opportunity to acquire substantial Russian investments, and we can include Chinese and Russian investments for the North Korean defense industry due to the production of ammunition.

Now the North Koreans have a chance to gain practical experience in modern warfare, said Mr. Samus, who is also the director of the New Geopolitics Research Network, a think tank in Kyiv.

South Koreas defense minister remarked to reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday that North Koreas price for sending troops to Russia is likely access to Russian nuclear technology, a prospect that is alarming for the South Korean government due to the frequency of ballistic missile tests conducted by its northern neighbor.

In exchange, Russia receives ballistic missiles, millions of rounds of ammunition, and now, troops as well.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un celebrate their countries strategic partnership agreement in Pyongyang last June.

The reported number of North Korean troops currently deployed to Russia is relatively small, making it difficult to determine their significant impact on the ongoing battle in Kursk.

However, its unclear if this is a lone deployment from Pyongyang or merely the first of several.

Russia certainly needs to consistently replenish its ranks with new recruits.

The British Ministry of Defence estimates that Russia is suffering around 30,000 casualties each month during the war.

That casualty figure may have reached as high as 40,000 when combining both killed and wounded combatants in October, according to Estonias military intelligence agency.

While the Kremlin appears reluctant to issue another large-scale mobilization order, as it did in September 2022, a continuous influx of North Korean troops could help address recruitment gaps in the Russian army.

According to Astrid Chevreuil, a visiting fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, Pyongyangs engagement could aid in maintaining a quantitative advantage on the ground for Moscow.

Though the North Korean troop deployment is currently symbolic, Ms. Chevreuil believes it also aligns with Moscows communication strategy.

Russia could project an image of having allies ready to contribute personnel on the ground, while Ukraine only receives material assistance, she added.

Most of the North Korean troops sent to Russia are believed to be light infantry, which means they will likely be assigned to battle as small units using light arms and mortars.

Moreover, the North Koreans lack experience in drone warfare, and in a conflict where drones play a pivotal role, this may lead to a brutal learning experience for these new combatants.

If the North Korean forces are only engaged in combat on Russian soil in Kursk, then a reaction from the US and NATO is unlikely, Mr. Samus commented.

However, uncertainty remains about NATOs response should they be deployed to fight within Ukrainian territory.

To be frank, NATO is absolutely unprepared for this scenario, believes Mr. Samus, who adds that while the alliance can voice criticism regarding such developments, it cannot provide any decisive, practical solutions.

There may also be a role for China to play in this situation.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that US officials have already engaged in discussions with senior Chinese diplomats to leverage their influence on Pyongyang to halt further troop deployments.

A Pentagon spokesperson indicated during the week that there would be no restrictions on Ukraines use of US-supplied weaponry against North Korean troops acting as co-belligerents in the conflict.

Ukraine has historically urged the US and its European NATO partners to remove restrictions on the use of long-range weapons against Russian military assets within Russian territory. It would seem unusual for them to be limited to using Western-supplied arms against North Korean units while excluding Russian targets.

The deployment of North Korean troops represents a concerning escalation, illustrating Russias readiness to adopt new strategies to prolong the conflict.

If these troops are intended for action in Ukraine, any future response from the US and, more broadly, NATO could hinge on the outcome of Tuesdays US presidential election.
The circumstances in northern Gaza are described as apocalyptic as Israel carries out a military campaign against Hamas militants in the region, a warning from top United Nations officials indicates.

The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza faces an imminent threat of death due to disease, famine, and violence, the officials stated in a declaration co-signed by the acting UN aid chief Joyce Msuya, directors of various UN agencies such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme, along with other humanitarian organizations.

Israel initiated a significant military operation in northern Gaza last month. The United States has indicated that it is monitoring the situation to ensure that its allys actions do not imply a policy of starvation in the northern regions.

Humanitarian aid struggles to meet the extensive needs due to accessibility issues. Essential, life-saving supplies are increasingly unavailable. Humanitarian workers face dangers in their efforts and are impeded by Israeli forces and security concerns from reaching those in need, they remarked.

Israels mission to the UN in New York chose not to comment on the statement. Last month, Israels UN Ambassador Danny Danon informed the Security Council that the issue in Gaza was not related to a lack of aid, claiming that over a million tons had been delivered in the past year. He accused Hamas of manipulating the aid efforts.

Hamas has consistently rejected Israeli accusations of aid theft and asserts that Israel is responsible for the shortages.

On Monday, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service reported that approximately 100,000 individuals were stranded in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza without access to medical care or food supplies. Reuters could not independently verify this figure.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power held discussions with Israels ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, as a deadline imposed by Washington approaches for Israel to improve the situation, or potentially face restrictions on US military assistance.

Power and Herzog discussed the urgency of delivering more assistance to the Palestinian population, said USAID spokesperson Benjamin Suarato, who added: Administrator Power expressed serious concerns regarding the humanitarian conditions in northern Gaza.

This situation unfolds as medical professionals in Gaza report that around 64 individuals lost their lives and dozens more were wounded during Israeli strikes last night and into this morning, targeting the city of Deir Al-Balah, the Nuseirat camp, and the town of Al-Zawayda, located in the central and southern regions of Gaza.

According to medics at the Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, fourteen individuals were killed by an Israeli strike at the entrance of a school sheltering displaced Palestinians.

Additionally, medics reported that ten people were killed in a vehicle in Khan Younis, situated in the southern part of Gaza.

Intensive Israeli assaults are still ongoing in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza City.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has announced that the much-needed second round of child polio vaccinations in northern Gaza will finally commence tomorrow, after initial efforts were interrupted by Israeli bombings.

The announcement allowing the final phase of polio vaccination to proceed followed US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens call for Israel to ensure a swift completion of the campaign.

The vaccination initiative began on 1 September after the besieged Palestinian territory reported its first polio case in 25 years.

The first round of immunizations was completed throughout Gaza, with the second roundcrucial for enhancing immunityinitiated as scheduled on 14 October, starting in central Gaza and then moving south, facilitated by temporary humanitarian pauses in the conflict.

However, the WHO delayed the final four-day phase in the north, originally scheduled to start on 23 October, due to intense bombardment making the conditions on the ground impractical.

Israel launched a significant air and ground offensive in northern Gaza last month, citing a desire to prevent Hamas militants from re-establishing themselves in the area.

The final phase of vaccinations was postponed following intense bombardment in Gaza (File image).

119,000 children left awaiting vaccination.

Polio vaccination in northern Gaza is set to resume tomorrow, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on X.

We have assurances of the necessary humanitarian pause in Gaza City to carry out the campaign.

Regrettably, the area covered is significantly reduced compared to the first round of vaccinations, which will leave some children unprotected and at an increased risk of infection.

In its initial rationale for delaying vaccinations in the north, the UN health agency mentioned that the area permitted for humanitarian pauses had been limited solely to Gaza City, leading to many children potentially missing their second doses.

This could seriously undermine efforts to halt the transmission of poliovirus in Gaza, the agency warned. Approximately 119,000 children in the north are awaiting their second dose, while 452,000 have received vaccinations in central and southern Gaza.

#Polio vaccination in northern #Gaza is set to resume tomorrow. We have secured the necessary humanitarian pause in Gaza City to conduct the campaign. Unfortunately, the area covered is substantially reduced compared to the first round of vaccination, which will leave some

 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 1, 2024

The WHO asserts that a minimum of two separate doses of the oral vaccine are required to interrupt the transmission of poliovirus, necessitating that 90% of all children under ten in a given community are vaccinated.

Typically transmitted through sewage and contaminated water, poliovirus is highly contagious.

It can cause disabilities and paralysis and is potentially lethal, primarily affecting children aged five and under.

Search and rescue operations were conducted in central Gaza following an Israeli military attack.

Hospital strikes result in malnutrition.

The Israeli military has accused Hamas of using Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia for military purposes, claiming dozens of terrorists have been hiding there.

Health officials and Hamas have denied these allegations.

The health ministry in Gaza has called on all international bodies to safeguard hospitals and medical personnel from the brutality of the (Israeli) occupation.

WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris indicated that due to the attacks, the hospitals malnutrition stabilization center has been closed, leaving no such facility operational in the north.

Prior to this closure, we had been witnessing a steady increase in the number of children with severe acute malnutrition requiring treatment month after month, she conveyed during a media briefing.

We have not observed any food aid entering north Gaza since 2 October. People are running out of coping mechanisms. Food systems have collapsed, and the capacity to support those in the most critical condition is no longer present, she stated.

Over 86% of the population across Gaza are experiencing heightened levels of food insecurity.

Its always the children who face the hardest consequences.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported that one of its doctors at the hospital, Mohammed Obeid, was detained by Israeli forces last Saturday.

MSF has called for the protection of him and all medical personnel who are enduring horrific violence as they attempt to provide care.

The conflict in Gaza escalated following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages to Gaza, according to Israeli figures.

Israels ensuing offensive on Gaza has claimed the lives of over 43,000 Palestinians and reduced a significant portion of the enclave to ruins, according to Palestinian authorities.
By Sarah Elizabeth Scales, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Blake Erhardt-Ohren, University of California, Berkeley; Debarati Guha Sapir, Universite catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain); Khidir Dalouk, Oregon Health & Science University; and Rohini J Haar, University of California, Berkeley | 

(The Conversation)  The ongoing war in Sudan has often been overlooked amid higher-profile conflicts raging across multiple continents. Yet the lack of media and geopolitical attention to this 18-month-long conflict has not made its devastation in terms of human lives any less stark.

Since fighting broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, both of which had been part of a power-sharing military government, the country has seen the displacement of more than 14 million people and the carving up of the country by geography and ideology.

And while we may never know the exact death toll, the conflict in Sudan is certainly among the deadliest in the world today.

As scholars of public health, conflict and human rights and Sudanese-American health workers, we are keenly aware of how fraught it can be to estimate mortality in war for a slew of practical and political reasons. But such estimates are of critical importance: They allow us to understand and compare conflicts, target humanitarian aid for those still at risk, trigger investigations of war crimes, bear witness to conflict and compel states and armed groups to intervene or change.

The difficult work of counting the dead

A profound humanitarian crisis is occurring in Sudan, characterized by ethnic cleansing, mass displacement, food scarcity and the spread of disease, complicated further by flooding in the northern states.

Considering a death toll in such a conflict includes counting not only those who are killed as a direct result of violence  itself a difficult thing to determine in real time  but also those who have died by conflict-exacerbated factors, such as the absence of emergency care, the breakdown of vaccination programs and a lack of essential food and medicine. Estimating this latter death toll, called indirect mortality, presents its own challenge, as the definition itself varies among researchers.

In congressional testimony, U.S. special envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello recognized the estimation challenges when noting there had been anywhere between 15,000 and 150,000 deaths in Sudan  an exceedingly wide range that was attributable, in part, to the complexity of determining indirect mortality.

Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), a nonprofit specializing in conflict-related data collection, has recorded an average of more than 1,200 direct conflict deaths per month in Sudan, with nearly 19,000 deaths in the first 15 months of the conflict. This figure is similar to the 20,000 deaths estimated by the Sudan Doctors Union and the 19,000 figure used by the Sudan Protection Cluster, a centralized group of U.N. agencies and NGOs that used World Health Organization data.

ACLED sources its estimates of deaths from traditional media, reports from international NGOs and local observers, supplemented by new media such as verified Telegram and WhatsApp accounts. The Sudan Doctors Union, on the other hand, gives on-the-ground estimates of conflict deaths.

When available, distinct data sources such as surveys, civil registers and official body counts can make an estimation more accurate. However, this data is often available only in retrospect, after the cessation of conflict. It is therefore critical to use both the available data and precedents from previous conflicts to capture a reasonable estimate of the human costs of an ongoing conflict.

A 2010 article in The Lancet estimated that there are 2.3 indirect deaths for every direct conflict death, based on data from 24 small-scale surveys conducted in Darfur from 2003 to 2005. As such, using ACLEDs data of 18,916 direct deaths, we estimate that in the current Sudan conflict, there are an additional 43,507 indirect deaths  or more than 62,000 total deaths.

We believe our estimate is very conservative. When estimating mortality in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a different group of scholars, also writing in The Lancet, used a multiplier of four indirect deaths for every direct death to estimate the overall mortality there.

Meanwhile, a report from the Geneva Declaration Secretariat showed an average of 5.8 indirect deaths for every direct death across 13 armed conflicts from 1974 to 2007.

Using that latter multiplier, the number of indirect deaths in Sudan would jump to nearly 110,000  meaning the total deaths in the region amount to 130,000  double our estimate.

This range is wide, but it acknowledges how difficult it can be to estimate indirect deaths and how they can vary significantly with the shape of a conflict.

The Sudanese conflict in context

For all the tremendous loss of life these numbers reflect, they surely underestimate the true human costs of the conflict.

Sudan already had a fragile and underfunded health system before the fighting started. And compared with other ongoing conflicts such as in Gaza and Ukraine, there was already a more precarious baseline, with higher child mortality and lower life expectancy.

Since the war in Sudan began, there have been consistent reports of mass killings, forced disappearances, sexual violence, deliberate blocking of food and medicine, and other forms of violence against civilians.

Much of the violence is ethnically targeted, and the Darfur region  where a full-scale famine has been declared  has suffered disproportionately.

The destruction of civilian infrastructure and interrupted aid mechanisms are preventing medicine, food, clean water and vaccinations from getting to in-need populations.

Health care workers and facilities, not only in at-risk Darfur but also throughout the country, have been the target of attacks. Nearly 80% of medical facilities have been rendered inoperable. And at least 58 physicians have been killed, in addition to the many that were targeted in previous crises.

Given the persistent targeting of health care systems and restricted access to humanitarian corridors, indirect deaths in Sudan are likely to grow as hospitals shut down, even in the capital Khartoum, due to bombardments, ground attacks and a lack of critical supplies.

The costs for Sudanese children are especially alarming. Thirteen children die per day in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, according to Doctors Without Borders, mostly due to undernutrition and food scarcity.

And nearly 800,000 Sudanese children will face severe, acute malnutrition through 2024, a condition that requires intensive care and supplemental nutrition merely to prevent death. Even before the conflict, children were severely threatened by a lack of access to care, including basic preventive care such as early immunization.



Refugees, Digital, Midjourney / Clip2Comic, 2024

Finally, the transmission of communicable diseases thrives in conflicts like the one in Sudan, where there has been widespread population displacement, malnutrition, limited water and sanitation, and lack of appropriate sheltering. In August, a cholera outbreak led to a spiking death rate of more than 31 deaths per 1,000 cholera cases. And instances of such disease effects are likely underestimates in a country lacking health care penetration and monitoring.

The limitations of estimations

The massive internal displacement of more than 14 million people in Sudan complicates the estimation of death tolls, as shifting populations make establishing baselines nearly impossible.

Moreover, there is typically a dearth of official information collected and released during conflicts.

So establishing a concrete estimate of the true impact of armed conflict often comes after the cessation of hostilities, when expert teams are able to conduct field studies.

Even then, estimates will require assumptions about direct deaths, indirect-to-direct death ratio and the quality of existing data.

But as scholars working at the intersection of public health and human rights, we believe such work, however imperfect, is necessary for the documentation of conflict  and its future prevention. And while there are many current global conflicts that require our urgent attention, the conflict in Sudan must not be lost in the mix.

_Editors note: Israa Hassan, a physical medicine and rehabilitation resident at Texas Rehabilitation Hospital-Fort Worth and advocacy director at the Sudanese American Physicians Association, contributed to this article.

Sarah Elizabeth Scales, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Environmental, Occupational, and Agricultural Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Blake Erhardt-Ohren, DrPH Candidate, University of California, Berkeley; Debarati Guha Sapir, Professor of Public Health, Universite catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain); Khidir Dalouk, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, and Rohini J Haar, Faculty, Epidemiology Division, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Bill Clinton is a Rhodes scholar and a voracious reader. He is not a stupid man. He is, however, morally stupid. Im not referring to his personal life but to his remarks on Israels behavior in its total war on little Gaza.

Clinton came to Michigan and said,

I understand why young Palestinian and Arab Americans in Michigan think too many people have died, I get that. But if you lived in one of those kibbutzim in Israel, right next to Gaza, where the people there were the most pro-friendship with Palestine, most pro-two state solution of any of the Israeli communities  and Hamas butchered them. He said, hed been asked, Yeah but look how many people youve killed in retaliation, so how many people is enough to kill to punish them for the terrible things they did? Well, youll have to forgive me, Im not keeping score that way. It isnt how many weve had to kill. Because Hamas makes sure that theyre shielded by civilians, theyll force you to kill civilians if you want to defend yourself.

Clintons callous and morally stupid words explain how a majority of Americans can close their eyes to a year of Israeli genocide. He, and they, should read my new book, Gaza yet Stands. Clinton makes it sound as though the Palestinians have no legitimate grievances, even though 70 percent of families in Gaza had been driven out of their homes by the Israelis and made penniless refugees, while Israelis stole all their land and property.

The argument Clinton made is that the killing of hundreds of civilians by al-Qassam Brigades cadres on October 7, 2023, justifies the high rate of civilian deaths in Israels war on the people of Gaza. Indeed, October 7 is fetishized so that it authorizes anything and everything.

That assertion is not true. For a non-state actor like the paramilitary of Hamas to kill civilians for political purposes is terrorism. It is an ugly crime that certainly merits punishment. Moreover, Clintons assumption that Israeli actions in Gaza are mainly directed at Hamas militants is not in evidence.

United Nations officials have their hair on fire, shouting at the top of their lungs that the entire population of Gaza is at risk of death. That is over 2 million people on the verge of extinction, as though everyone in Houston, Texas, were to be killed. Mass death on that scale is not and cannot be a war aim. Public health specialists are saying that when it is all over as many as 300,000 people in Gaza will have been killed by the Israelis. Now the UN officials are saying it could be seven times that.

There is nothing in International Humanitarian Law that authorizes a disproportionate military response just because the enemy killed civilians. Ironically, it was Judaism that most famously enshrined the principle of proportionality, in Exodus 21:2325. Although an eye for an eye sounds brutal today, the prescription was intended to forestall victims from taking two eyes for one eye. The God of Exodus would frown on taking 150,000 eyes for 550.

The denial of the applicability of the principle of proportionality on the emotional grounds that civilians were killed who were nice people is, to put it bluntly, the first step toward justifying genocide.

The Rome Statute makes it clear, drawing on the Geneva Conventions enacted after World War II, that you cant kill large number of civilians with no legitimate military purpose, and you cant destroy civilian infrastructure (objects) not connected to a military objective. The response has to be proportional to the initial attack.

Clintons glib repetition of the canard that Israel is only trying to kill Hamas militants and cant get at them except by killing tens of thousands of civilians fails on many grounds. Clinton assumes that all Israeli military actions in Gaza have been legitimate and directed at fighting Hamas. But UN investigations have brought into question whether some of the large numbers of 2,000 pound bombs Israel dropped on Gaza, obliterating entire apartment buildings and neighborhoods, had any discernible military targets.



Eyeless in Gaza, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / Clip2Comic, 2024

The physicians who served in Gaza as volunteers maintain that Israeli soldiers deliberately shot children. American surgeon Mark Perlmutter saw children shot twice. No child, he observes, gets shot twice by mistake.

Even the announced Israeli goal of killing all 37,000 militants in Gaza is not a normal military objective. Typically you try to defeat the enemy and take the rest captive or drive them to demobilize, not kill them all. The October 7 operation involved 4,000 cadres, not 37,000. It was a tightly held secret except among those who actually launched it. The other 33,000 people Israel is trying to kill may not even have known about it in advance, much less participated in it.

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevy announced in October that Hamas has been defeated.

Ordinarily, such a pronouncement by the army chief of staff would indicate that the war is over, not that hundreds of civilians should continue to be killed every week.

Some 18 million men served in the German army of the Nazi government. Between 4 and 5 million were killed by the Allies. The victors didnt make it a goal to kill all 18 million. Prominent West Germans such as Nobel-prize-winning author Gunter Grass had been enlisted men in the Nazi army. In 1957, 77 percent of the senior officials in the West German Ministry of Justice were former members of the National Socialist Party. The Nazi military personnel were much, much worse than Hamas, and even they were not dealt with as Israel says it wants to deal with the Hamas paramilitary.

The human shield argument also holds no water. The high civilian death toll doesnt come from killing shields. Israeli rules of engagement allow 15 to 20 civilian deaths per militant killed. Israel uses a computer program to track suspected militants, droning them to death only when they go home at night, making sure to kill their family members, friends and neighbors. The militants could have been killed out in the open. Their families were not shielding them. The families were deliberately targeted along with the militants.

Those are not the rules of engagement of a civilized country. NATO has cut off military cooperation with Israel during this past year because NATO rules of engagement, like those of the US military, require the minimization of civilian casualties, an endeavor in which the current Israeli authorities have no interest.

The point is not that anyone is, in Clintons horrid phrase, keeping score. It is that a disproportionate military response that kills 38 of the enemy for every one of your deaths is unethical and illegal. Generals were tried at Nuremberg and executed for that sort of thing.

We dont have to guess whether Israeli officials and officers are ordering a disproportionate response in places like Lebanon. They have a whole military doctrine mandating it.

Ultimately, Clintons remarks are a form of unfaced racism on his part. Israeli kibbutzim are white people, whose deaths are to be mourned. The 42,000 dead Palestinians are brown people, mere statistics, whose deaths, while unfortunate, are necessary so that white people can feel safe  which is what really matters. It is the same logic Clinton used, as president in 1996, when he spoke of African-American superpredators.

And no, no one has to forgive him, and they wont. Im not a political scientist or an Americanist, and I have no idea whatsoever what will happen in Michigan with its large Arab and Muslim American population  next Tuesday on election day. But Clinton seems to me to be trying to lose it for the Democrats. Worse than their electoral impact, those words from a former president point to a deep malaise in the American soul, an inability to feel viscerally the deaths of 17,000 brown children, a classification of them not as people with mothers, fathers, siblings and futures, but as an inconvenience to be swept under the rug.
( Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network )  After a year of enduring relentless violence and devastation, Palestinians stand at a pivotal moment. This commentary reflects on the immense losses for the Palestinian people since October 2023 and the emerging opportunities to work towards a future free of settler colonial oppression. It argues that now is the time for the movement to shift from a reactive stance to one that defines its own priorities. As part of this transition, this commentary outlines three necessary steps: moving beyond a reliance on international law, deepening connections in the Global South, and dedicating resources to exploring radical visions of a liberated future.



Taking Stock: A Year of Inconceivable Devastation

Over the last year, Palestine has been irrevocably changed in ways that, for many of us, were once inconceivable. Since the beginning of the genocide, the Israeli regime has killed over 50,000 Palestinians in Gazaan estimate provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health that includes over 6,000 unidentified bodies in the ministrys possession and an additional 10,000 assumed to be still buried under the rubble. Devastatingly, some will never be retrieved. Meanwhile, a July 2024 article in the Lancet medical journal on the importance of accounting for Gazas fatalities argued that a conservative estimate of total deaths in conflict scenarios equated to four indirect deaths per one direct death. By this calculation, Israels genocide has likely resulted in the loss of over 250,000 Palestinian lives since October 2023.

In addition, Gaza is now home to more than 42 million tonnes of rubble. These ruins include many peoples destroyed homes, businesses, and essential public infrastructure. Relentless Israeli bombing has also released hundreds of thousands of tonnes of toxic dust into the air, with long-lasting and deadly consequences. 80% of schools and universities have been damaged or destroyed, and, for the first time since the Nakba, Palestinian children in Gaza did not begin school this year.

Concurrently, the Israeli regime and its settler community stole a record amount of land across the West Bank over the past twelve months. This theft has been accompanied by increasing violence against Palestinian bodies: Over 700 have been killed, 5,000 injured, and thousands more arrested, bringing the number of Palestinian political prisoners to nearly 10,000.

Further north, in Lebanon, the Israeli regime has expanded its assault and displaced over one million people in the space of days and killed over 1,800, including Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. Israeli bombardments have continued to target neighborhoods and Palestinian refugee camps from the sky, while colonial forces began a ground invasion in early October 2024.

Amid this brute violence, the issue of complicity has never been starker. Allied regimes, including the US and Germany, have continued their unabated support for Israel with increased military aid packages and weapons sales. Most of the Israeli regimes diplomatic and trade relationships also remain intact, not only in the West but across the Arab World as well. These collaborations are done in flagrant violation of international law, which requires third states to do everything in their power to prevent genocide and not to aid and abet war crimes. At the same time, media coverage of the genocide across mainstream Western outlets reveals a pattern of deeply rooted Palestinian dehumanization.

Thus, while pundits and policymakers alike have frequently portrayed Israel as an unstoppable force over this past year, it is anything but. On the contrary, Israels most powerful allies have not only failed to take any material steps to pressure the colonial state to end its ongoing and ever-expanding violence across the region, but they have been active and willing accomplices. Depictions of Israels incessant persistence accordingly only obscure the complicity and inaction of other nations that continue to enable such brazenness.

Notably, the road to Israels genocide in Gaza and the escalation of its aggression elsewhere was, in large part, paved by increasing Arab normalization. While Israel has long positioned itself as a lone democracy surrounded by hostile enemies on all sides, this description is unequivocally false, historically and currently. Indeed, since its establishment in 1948, the Israeli state has enjoyed both covert and public relations with various Arab regimes. These relationships have expanded over security and intelligence cooperation in the last decade, culminating in the 2020 Abraham Accords. The formalized relationships between Israel and several Arab states have led to a sharp divide across the regionone that Israel exploits to fuel the racist notion of two opposing axes in Southwest Asia: that which is aligned with Western civilized values, and that which Netanyahu recently described as the curse.

While pundits and policymakers alike have frequently portrayed Israel as an unstoppable force over this past year, it is anything but Share on X

A different picture is evident at the grassroots level, where the popular mobilization of millions worldwide demonstrates the massive disconnect between government policy and the people. Indeed, it has been made abundantly clear that there is an ever-growing consensus for support of the Palestinian struggle for liberation from Zionist settler colonialism. Cities the world over have seen consistent demonstrations, vigils, sit-ins, and civil disobedience in outrage over the ongoing genocide. University campuses have also been sites of confrontation, where students and faculty have called on administrations to cut ties with complicit institutions and divest from complicit investments.

Reimagining Palestine, Midjourney, 2024

Closer to Palestine, countries across the region have also seen consistent popular mobilizationoften in defiance of local authorities. In Jordan, for example, the streets have been awash with protests in solidarity with Palestinians and against the countrys complicity with the Israeli regime, stemming from the 1994 Wadi Araba peace agreement and extending to economic ties with Israel and military support from the US. In Egypt, small but powerful demonstrations have similarly taken place, with protestors condemning the governments direct involvement in Gazas siege. Increasingly, people throughout the Arab world are making the direct link between the USs imperial presence in the region, rising authoritarianism, and the oppression of the Palestinian people.

What Next? Envisioning A Liberated Future

Taking stock of this unfathomable devastation is a challenge on its own, particularly as both Israels genocide in Gaza and attack on Lebanon persist, and as the region seems on the brink of an even wider war. Beyond the past and present, however, lies an even greater but necessary task: to think beyond this current moment to a time when Zionist settler colonial oppression is no longer a feature of Palestinian life, and to envision ways to bridge the gap between the present and this radically different future.

Plenty of obstacles stand in the way of this practice. The continuum of tragedies and violence that Palestinians face on a daily basis is perhaps among the greatest impediments to future visioning, with those in Gaza continuing to bear the brunt of Zionist settler colonial violence. Inevitably, fundamental survival takes priority for many, and dedicating thought to visions of a liberated Palestinian future seems like an impossible, if privileged, task.

Another barrier to this effort is that the parameters of what is both possible and feasible for a Palestinian future have long been shaped by those whose policies and values are antithetical to Palestinian liberation. Indeed, for over the last two decades, Palestinians have been told to imagine their futures within the framework of the two-state solution, where their collective and individual rights are diminished, and a truncated form of autonomy is disguised as sovereignty. On its part, the Palestinian leadership capitulated to these parameters in return for scraps of power, transforming what was an anti-colonial liberatory struggle into a state-building project. For many third states, the narrative of the two-state solution has been a convenient smokescreen that has effectively enabled the continued colonization of Palestinian land.

The parameters of what is both possible and feasible for a Palestinian future have long been shaped by those whose policies and values are antithetical to Palestinian liberation Share on X

In early 2020, a renewed call to action emerged among Palestinians and allies that emphasized the urgent need to imagine liberation and begin crafting a path toward a radically different future. Following the traditions and scholarships of other Indigenous peoples facing colonial erasure, these efforts and works sought to create space for carving out a blueprint of a future free of colonial domination. Since then, Palestinians have had to weather a global pandemic, the crushing of popular and unifying movements, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Yet the task to imagine remains as urgent as ever. The past year necessitates a reordering of movement priorities to return to the practice of future visioning. Bearing in mind that this effort is a long-term commitment without the fruit of short-term gains, the steps below reflect directions that may help open possibilities for the Palestinian imaginary:

Decenter International Law

In the last two decades, significant segments of Palestinian civil society and the wider solidarity movement have placed international law at the center of their work. Yet, for many, the ongoing genocide in Gaza has had a profound impact on the perceived power of the international legal regime and made clear its deep institutional biases.

Israel has systematically violated the provisions of the Geneva Conventions related to warfare and occupation, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has found the state to be committing plausible acts of genocide in Gaza over the past year. Still, not only have the US, the UK, and others played down and disregarded these violations, but they have also actively blocked attempts to hold Israel accountable for them through available legal channels. Hence, the Gaza genocide has only underscored what many have long knownthat international law requires the political will of states to enforce it and invoke accountability mechanisms. Furthermore, Western hegemony at the UN means that the lives of some are considered more valuable than others. This was demonstrated par excellence with the international response to Ukraine amid Russias invasion compared to that toward Gaza.

While legal activists may make some gains from within the international legal regime for the Palestinian struggle, it is clear that the Palestinian people will achieve neither accountability nor liberation through UN resolutions. International law, therefore, must be decentered as a framework and considered merely one of many tactics in the resistance toolbox rather than the toolbox itself.

Reorient Around the Peoples of the Global South

For many in the Eastern Mediterranean and across the Global South, engaging with the Palestinian struggle has never been a theoretical or rhetorical exercise. Rather, this engagement has long been understood as praxis, with the liberation of Palestine as a necessary component for radical change worldwide.

During the Egyptian revolution, activists often said the road to Jerusalem runs through Cairo. Among them was Alaa Abd El Fattah, an Egyptian writer and political prisoner. Abd El Fattah is of a generation of Egyptians raised on images of Palestinians resisting occupation during the Second Intifada. The student demonstrations in support of the Palestinian uprising eventually fed into the movement that would lead the Egyptian revolution in 2011. In 2021, Abd El Fattah wrote that, for him and many others of his generation, the roots of the revolution were in Palestine.

Abd El Fattahs insights reflect a notion commonly shared across the region: that Palestinian freedom is inherently tied to the freedom of all communities under authoritarian rule, whose regimes serve primarily colonial and imperial interests. To struggle for one is to struggle for the other. This connection in shared resistance extends beyond the Arab World to other communities of the Global South, from Algeria to South Africa to the native peoples of Turtle Island. The South African government, for example, brought the charge of genocide against the Israeli regime to the ICJ in December 2023. In April 2024, Nicaragua extended the legal battle and brought legal action against Germany for facilitating the genocide.

It is now a matter of urgency that we work proactively to re-anchor the Palestinian struggle to one that orients itself around a Global South framework. Doing so requires moving away from prioritizing solidarity efforts with people in positions of supremacist power and instead towards collective power-building with other colonized and marginalized communities.

Build the Infrastructure for Decolonial Imagining

For decolonial imagination to thrive at scale, Palestinian society requires infrastructure that accommodates and values such a collective process, alongside the prefigurative practice of experimenting with those future visions in the present.

A powerful Palestinian history of this praxisof imagination and experimentation coming togetheralready exists. The 2021 Unity Intifada, for example, demonstrated in real time what it looks like to overcome fragmentation and embody a version of unity that much of Palestinian society has long demanded. This was exemplified by the Manifesto of Dignity and Hope, which called for the singular goal of reuniting Palestinian society in all of its different parts; reuniting our political will, and our means of struggle to confront Zionism throughout Palestine. In other words, the manifesto advocated for non-partition as the only framework to challenge colonial parameters of possibility.

It is now a matter of urgency that we work proactively to re-anchor the Palestinian struggle to one that orients itself around a Global South framework Share on X

Over the past year, protest camps across university campuses likewise illustrated the vital role of claimed spaces toward this effort. There, students demonstrated what decolonial, participatory knowledge sharing can and should look like, distinguishing themselves from the dominant knowledge paradigms rooted in white supremacy and indigenous erasure.

Today, it is imperative that the movement builds on these past achievements and dedicates resources to initiatives that enable radical thinking and prefigurative exploration. This can happen at various levels, from popular organizing to reenvisioning policy to new approaches in education. Doing so will serve to expand the collective understanding of what is possible, ready the ground for a liberated future, and sharpen the skills necessary to reach that end.


Interview: Loyal participant gains from CIIE's spillover effect

Xinhua) 14:39, November 02, 2024

WELLINGTON, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) is not only a six-day event but also has a significant flow-on effect, effectively connecting exhibitors to the Chinese market, said Roy van den Hurk, general manager of Theland Global R&D from Milk New Zealand Dairy Ltd., before Theland's participation in the CIIE for the seventh time in a row.

The CIIE, an open platform filled with opportunities, embodies China's high level of openness, Roy told Xinhua, adding that each CIIE offers invaluable insight into global strategic planning in the Chinese market.

Starting as a small exhibitor with just a 50-square-meter booth, Milk New Zealand Dairy now has a 200-square-meter space and is a "full-attendance participant" after seven years at CIIE, Roy said.

"When we first joined the CIIE in 2018, Theland was still a small exhibitor," he said, adding the trade facilitation policies at CIIE, however, offered enormous opportunities to small-to-medium exhibitors.

"They enabled our fresh milk to clear customs with 'zero wait time,' allowing our milk from New Zealand farms to reach Chinese consumers' tables within just 72 hours, something unimaginable before," Roy said.

The CIIE provides a high-level procurement platform, facilitating on-site connections between exhibitors and a strong pool of professional buyers, which greatly enhances supply-demand efficiency. The CIIE's spillover effect also accelerates the rollout of new products, he added.

Citing an example of Theland's 4.0 milk, which was launched at the CIIE and was expanded from first- and second-tier cities to small counties in three months, a process that usually takes at least a year, Roy said this fourfold increase in speed has allowed the New Zealand company to establish roots in the Chinese market and continuously grow.

The CIIE has connected supply chains with distribution networks, he said. Theland signed a partnership with Beijing Wumart Group during the second CIIE in 2019, and quickly expanded to cover 25 provinces, 52 regional leaders, and 5,000 stores. Later, the company quickly entered strategic partnerships with major e-commerce platforms, further embedding itself in China's food industry cluster.

At each CIIE, Theland introduces global debut products, using China as a testing ground and expanding, Roy said, adding that Theland is committed to deepening its roots in China.

This is also the second year that Theland has led a group of New Zealand small and medium enterprises to the CIIE, increasing from 12 to 21 companies, hoping to share China's growth opportunities and market dividends with more New Zealand enterprises, he said.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has approved the Tavria combat module for use in the troops for armored vehicles and robotic platforms, the department reported on Telegram on Saturday.

"This is a remotely controlled turret equipped with two machine guns, one of which is large-caliber. The module is designed for installation on armored vehicles or robotic platforms," the report says.

Tavria has a modern control system for targeting and tracking, can conduct aimed fire at moving objects at any time of the day, and is equipped with armored protection from bullets and debris.




Saturday, November 2, 2024 - The Kenya Meteorological Department has predicted that the October and November rain will be short and poor.

Speaking on Friday, Kenya Met Director General, David Gikungu said a forecast by the United Nations shows Kenya is among the countries likely to experience severe hunger early next year.

Gikungu blamed the delayed rains on a phenomenon called a negative Indian Ocean Dipole, which refers to cold waters in the Indian Ocean near East Africa.

This causes dry weather in the region. The delayed onset is a result of the negative Indian Ocean Dipole that has been developing over the past few weeks, he said.

Gikungu said the rains will trickle in next week or the second week of November in most places. The areas where rains will be depressed include the Coast, northeastern Kenya, the entire eastern Kenya, and Mt Kenya.

Rainfall is anticipated to be below the November-to-January long-term mean across most areas, except for the northern parts of Turkana County, where near-average rainfall is expected.

"Temperatures are likely to be warmer than average throughout the country, he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Azerbaijan is deeply saddened by a devastating tragedy that occurred in Novi Sad, Serbia, resulting in tragic loss of lives and a large number of injuries, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) shared in a post on its X page, Trend reports.

We express heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones, to the friendly people and Government of Serbia, and wish a swift recovery to those injured, the publication reads.

To note, at least 11 individuals, with 4 others, were injured after part of an outdoor roof collapsed at a train station in the Serbian city of Novi Sad.

A ceiling measuring 50 meters made of glass, concrete, and metal came crashing down at the railway station in Serbias second-most populous city.

In the wake of the tragedy, President Aleksandar Vucic visited Novi Sad, and the government declared November 2 as a day of mourning.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel






Friday, November 1, 2024 - The wife of a missionary who was killed in a "violent, criminal attack" in Africa last week was arrested in connection to his death, his church announced.

Beau Shroyer, 44, from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, was killed on Oct. 25 while on a missionary trip to Angola, Africa with his wife and their five kids.

Shroyers parish, Lakes Area Vineyard Church, announced in a statement Friday, Nov. 1, that his wife, Jackie Shroyer, was arrested but offered no other details.

Today, our grief and sadness has deepened immeasurably as weve learned that his wife, Jackie Shroyer, has been arrested in connection with his death, a statement from lead pastor, Troy M. Easton, read.





The pastor continued to say they did not have words to express their disbelief and sorrow following the news of her arrest.

The family moved to the country three years ago to be missionaries for the organization SIM.

The pastor said the couples five children were being well cared for at this time.

SIM released a statement following Shroyers death saying they were working closely with the Lakes Area Vineyard Church to care for the Shroyers five children.





SIM USA Chief Personnel Officer and General Counsel Mark Bosscher told the Detroit Lakes Tribune the organization has taken steps to ensure that Jackie has appropriate legal representation.

The Shroyer family previously spoke with the Detroit Lakes Tribune about their move to Angola.

They told the outlet they were moving to a remote bush village with no electricity. Jackie said the family would be teaching the regions residents about Christianity and Gods love.




Saturday, November 2, 2024 - Detectives in Kasarani have launched a manhunt for a suspect who stabbed his girlfriend to death and fled.

The suspect, George Mutegi, is said to have attacked his lover, Lilian Achieng Aluko, with a kitchen knife at their three-bedroom apartment in Kahawa West.

Lilians body, which had multiple stab wounds, was discovered in the house.

A kitchen knife believed to be the murder weapon was found at the scene.

Reports indicate that the suspect switched off his phone and went into hiding after committing the brutal murder.

The deceased's body has since been moved to the Kenyatta Memorial Funeral Home for storage as investigations into the incident continue.

Below is a video courtesy of Citizen TV.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Friday, November 1, 2024 - A former Playboy model has claimed Sean Diddy Combs forced her to watch a Jennifer Lopez music video on repeat at one of his Freak Off parties.

On an episode of the Daily Mails The Trial of Diddy podcast, Rachel Kennedy alleges she was invited back to his room at a Tokyo hotel in 2000 after meeting him at a topless club in Japan along with her two friends.

I realized before we even walked through the front door that it was just him. I was like, This is not a party. This is not the kind of party that we were all expecting, she said. We went in. We didnt think anything weird. He was friendly enough to where we decided, OK, well just hang out with him.

Kennedy said when they walked into the room, the television was playing one of Lopezs videos on a continuous loop.

It was kind of an odd thing to find out that we were watching (Lopezs) videos, Kennedy said. It seemed a little bit creepy to me, very disrespectful since we were already in his room, and there was no party going on.

The women engaged in sex acts with Combs, now 54, but Kennedy says there was nothing forceful about it.

It was just, hes like, this is what I want. And both I and the other girl proceeded to pleasure him that way, she said.

Kennedy also spoke about Combs pencil-like manhood.

The length is fine. I mean, its a nice, average length, but the width is, you know, pencil-like. Its very thin. Unfortunately, I still remember that, she said.

The night ended when Combs bodyguard stormed into the room, saying, Thats my girl! Thats the girl from last night! Whats going on?'

He proceeded to start to try and like throw us out of the room like grabbing at us trying to kick  I would say stomp is more of the appropriate word than kick, Kennedy said. He was trying to like stomp us out of the room, grabbing at us, trying to get us out any way he could.

Combs allegedly didnt try to calm his employees violent outburst, as the women scrambled for the exit.

(The bodyguard) was just so violent and so angry. We just couldnt believe what was happening. We were in shock. First of all, how does he have that much access to Puff Daddys room? Thats the first thing I thought. How does he just come in like that?

After they managed to escape, Kennedy said she tried to call Combs to ask why they were treated in such a harsh manner, but the rapper just kept hanging up the phone.

In the wake of the recent allegations against Combs, who was charged last month with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution in a criminal conspiracy authorities allege goes back over a decade, Kennedy says she feels lucky.

In no way do I compare myself to these other people that have been brutalized by him but it makes sense now that I see everything thats going on, she said. He is the puppet master of this, and thats why these people think its okay because hes teaching them that this kind of behavior is acceptable. And thats regular people. They arent celebrities or executives or whatever. We dont matter. Our lives dont matter. Were just nothing to them. Were disposable.

Details about the alleged behavior that occurred at Combs Freak Offs have made headlines in recent weeks as the Bad Boy Records founder also faces over 120 lawsuits from people as young as 10 years old who claim he abused them at one of his parties.

According to one party planner, Combs was very particular about the type of girls he wanted to see at his bashes.

The organizer, who worked with Combs in 2004 and 2005, and asked to remain anonymous, told the New York Post this week that none of the women attending Combs bashes could weigh more than 140 pounds.

We would do a weigh-in, if necessary, the source said. The girls had to be young and hot, so I always had a scale nearby in case I needed to make sure. The number was 140 pounds, but if a girl was really tall, there was a little bit of discretion involved.

There were other requirements Combs allegedly demanded of all the female attendees: No flab, no cellulite. Not overly pierced or tattooed. No short hair. And the girls had to be young and hot.




Saturday, November 2, 2024 - An alarm has been raised after a young man was arrested by officers based at Banisa Police Station allegedly under orders from the local MCA.

This arrest reportedly stems from the young man's outspoken criticisms regarding corruption and mismanagement of community development funds as well as his efforts to expose stalled projects within Banisa Constituency.

A video circulating on social media shows his grandmother visibly distressed and crying for help outside the police station.

In Mandera, a young activist was arrested by Banisa Police, allegedly on orders from an MCA. He had been vocal about corruption and stalled projects in Banisa Constituency. A circulating video shows his distressed grandmother pleading for help outside the station @DCI_Kenya pic.twitter.com/oPuURO8fPy  Hassan Adow (@HassanAdow6) November 1, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Friday, November 1, 2024 - One person was killed Thursday night, October 31, when gunfire rang out inside a Washington State mall as the shopping complex was hosting a trick-or-treating Halloween event.

The fatal shooting happened at the second-floor food court of the Vancouver Mall just after 7:30 p.m. as shoppers ran for safety out of the building, the Columbian reported, citing emergency scanners.

Two people were injured and rushed to a local hospital, Vancouver Police said on X. Their conditions were not immediately known.





There is currently no active threat inside the mall and police are making contact with people who were sheltering in place inside the mall, the department said. More information will be released as soon as it becomes available.

The chaotic scene unfolded as the mall was wrapping up its annual Boo-tacular Trick-or-Treating event.

The mall-wide Halloween celebration encouraged community members of all ages to dress in costumes and walk around to certain stores that were giving out candy.

The event was scheduled to end at 8 p.m.





One father had just finished up trick-or-treating with his wife and kids and was inside the malls Round1 bowling when people began running out of the bowling alley, before learning of an active shooter.

I grabbed my two kids and put them behind me, Gregory Iiams told the Columbian.

Officials havent released details of the shooter or the victims.




Saturday, November 2, 2024 - President Ruto's Senior Economic Advisor Moses Kuria has sent former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua a coded message, suggesting he set himself up by playing abrasive politics during his tenure as the second in command.

Speaking after Deputy President Kithure Kindikis swearing-in ceremony at KICC, Kuria faulted Gachagua for orchestrating a retrogressive narrative intended to alienate the Mt Kenya region from the rest of the country.

He emphasised that the Mt Kenya region, despite being populous, could not succeed independently without the input of other regions particularly because Mt Kenya residents are mainly traders and thus heavily depend on the rest of Kenyans to purchase their products.

Anyone thinking that they can mobilize their politics around ethnicity, around one region. What does it benefit you to win the whole world and lose yourself? It is only a foolish businessman who fights his customers, Kuria cryptically commented while referencing Gachagua.

We came very close to losing it to the politics of negativity. The message is clear to everybody, your region cannot be better than the rest of the nation. This backward, primitive narrative has been overtaken by events, he added.

While addressing journalists, Moses Kuria pointed to the need for unity and collective effort in driving the nation forward.

The former CS noted that Gachaguas impeachment would act as a lesson for Kenyans who thought their region was better than the rest of the country.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 2, 2024 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is back in his village after losing court battles following his impeachment.

Gachagua yesterday shared photos of him spending quality time at his native home in Mathira, Nyeri County alongside his family, including his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi.

In the pictures shared by the former deputy president, Gachagua with his family members were captured sitting on the grass while enjoying the warmth of sunshine moments after the swearing-in of Kithure Kindiki as his replacement.

The former deputy president expressed joy to be back home, stating that "the smell of the fresh grass and the sounds of the chirping birds are what a family needs in such moments."

Gachagua went ahead to commend his family for their motivation and moral support following the political turmoil that saw him get impeached by the Senate.

"Thanking God for the gift of my family. The smell of fresh grass and the sounds of chirping birds is what a happy family needs. I will remain forever grateful to God, for giving me a loving and supportive family. We are happy to be home, where I was born and brought up," Gachagua wrote.

Gachagua further added that he would soon resume his morning walks in Hombe Forest which is located in Nyeri County.

"I cant wait for the morning to take my walk in Hombe Forest and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mt Kenya as I thank God for His kindness," Gachagua remarked.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 2, 2024  President William Ruto may be on the verge of achieving his mission of extending his presidential term limit.

This is after it emerged that most Kenyans support the idea fronted by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.

Speaking on the issue, Cherargei alleged that the Senate has received over 500,000 emails, of which 60% of Kenyans support his Bill to extend President William Ruto's Term from 5 to 7 years.

According to him, only 40% of Kenyans rejected the Bill.

The Senator made the revelation during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, during which he revealed that Gen Zs have been buzzing his phone with phone calls and messages about the Bill.

"As of now, 60% of Kenyans are supporting my Bill, 40% are opposing it," Cherargei alleged.

During his contribution, the senator further alleged that his privacy was breached while commenting on the data privacy issue during the Parliamentary session.

"I have been a victim of a data privacy breach for the past week. My phone has been ringing, and I have received insults. I have received praises," the senator alleged.

"My phone has over 12,000 messages, I have close to 20,000 WhatsApp messages, very many phone calls."

The Constitutional Amendment Bill fronted by the senator seeks to extend the terms in office for the president, county governors, Members of Parliament, and those of county assemblies from five to seven years, among other constitutional amendments.

It has so far received rejections from several bodies in government including the Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM).

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, November 2, 2024 - President William Ruto has urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to take decisive action against criminals behind femicide and murder cases being witnessed in the country.

While delivering remarks during Kithure Kindiki's swearing-in as the new Deputy President on Friday, Ruto stated that individuals responsible for the increasing number of femicide cases and murders should face legal consequences.

I call upon the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and all the investigating authorities in Kenya must stand up to these criminals. We must deal decisively and firmly with them, he said.

Ruto urged Kenyans to exercise caution especially while interacting with strangers to ensure their safety.

I want to ask us as a society to be careful with strangers and people who lure our girls and women into situations that compromise their security, he urged.

A coalition of prominent human rights organizations and advocacy groups in Kenya on Tuesday, October 29 2024 issued a joint statement urging President Ruto to officially declare femicide a national crisis and disaster.

The coalition called for an immediate, coordinated government response to address the systemic violence women face nationwide citing a troubling rise in brutal murders of women and girls.

The coalition highlighted recent cases, including the murders of Starlet Wahu and Rita Waeni, the discovery of six womens bodies in Kware, Embakasilinked to a primary suspect, Collins Jumaisi, who remains at largeand the recent death of Yvonne Jirangwa, a 23-year-old trainee nun, whose body was found in a sewer pit in Rongo.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 2, 2024 - Thousands of employed Kenyans are now taking home reduced salaries as the 2.75% statutory deduction on their gross pay for the Social Health Authority (SHA) took effect on October 28.

Previously, under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Kenyans contributed between Ksh500 to Ksh1,700 monthly and between Ksh6,000 and Ksh20,400 annually for the least earning and highest contributors respectively.

However, under the new health insurance scheme, a Kenyan earning Ksh20,000 now faces a monthly salary deduction of Ksh550 while employees earning Ksh50,000 and Ksh70,000 currently undergo a pay cut of Ksh1,375 and Ksh1,925 respectively.

Meanwhile, Kenyans earning Ksh100,000 and Ksh150,000 will have their pay sliced by Ksh2,750 and Ksh4,125 respectively every month while employees earning Ksh200,000 and Ksh500,000 now face salary deductions of Ksh5,500 and Ksh13,750.

Similarly, following the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss the Court of Appeal's pronouncement that declared the Finance Act 2023 unconstitutional, Kenyans will have to grapple with a further increase in salary deductions under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Housing Levy.

For instance, a Kenyan earning Ksh50,000 in 2024 takes home Ksh39,092 after statutory deductions including Ksh2,160 under the NSSF and a deduction in the housing levy set at Ksh750.

An employee earning Ksh200,000 gross pay currently earns Ksh138,000 in 2024 compared to Ksh146,000 in 2022 following President William Ruto's administration's introduction of new tax measures.

A salaried Kenyan earning Ksh100,000 currently earns Ksh72,000 after statutory deductions compared to Ksh76,000 in 2022.

It is worth noting that the decrease in salary earnings excludes other personal deductions.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
The French colonization of Vietnam remains one of the most harrowing chapters in the legacy of European imperialism, leaving an indelible scar on Southeast Asia. France's conquest of Vietnam began in the mid-19th century when European powers were feverishly expanding their reach eastward, hungry for new resources, labor, and markets.

Scholars, politicians, and human rights advocates worldwide view the French colonization of Vietnam as a tragedy marked by mass killings, forced labor, cultural annihilation, and the severe economic devastation of the region.

The Beginnings of Colonization and Its Motives

French intervention in Vietnam officially started in 1858, when French forces began seizing key ports along Vietnams coast. This expansion into Indochina was more than mere opportunismit was part of a carefully orchestrated strategy by the French government to secure influence in the East, especially as the rivalry with Britain was heating up. By 1887, the colony of French Indochina was established, covering todays Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. This territorial stronghold didnt just extend Frances reach; it gave the empire a critical grip on Southeast Asia's trade and access to valuable resources like coal, rubber, and minerals.

Economic Exploitation: Vietnam as Frances Profitable Venture

The exploitation of Vietnams resources was no side effectit was the central aim. Under Frances "economic exploitation regime," the colony's economy was fully subjugated to serve metropolitan interests. French authorities seized vast tracts of land from local farmers, transferring it to French entrepreneurs. Historian David Marr points out that by the 1930s, over 80% of Vietnamese land was under the control of French colonists and their allies.

Frances plantation economy in Vietnamfocused on rubber, coffee, and other cash cropsdemanded a massive workforce, which led to forced labor on an alarming scale. Entire communities, including children, were coerced into labor under brutal conditions on these plantations. Research by Professor Marian Walker shows that death rates among Vietnamese workers on these plantations were shocking: around 25% of the labor force died from overwork, malnutrition, disease, or physical abuse. Days stretched from 12 to 14 hours, with violent punishment for even minor infractions. French historian Jean-Pierre Dabin details how plantation managers often resorted to beatings and, in some cases, outright killings to maintain control through fear.

Social Consequences and Cultural Destruction: A Systematic Erasure of Identity

Beyond exploiting Vietnam's resources, French colonizers targeted the soul of Vietnamese societyits identity. French authorities systematically dismantled indigenous cultural institutions, imposed European values, and banned the teaching of Vietnamese history and language. Education in the native tongue was severely restricted, while traditional customs and practices faced derision and outright discrimination.

For France, colonization was more than an economic enterprise; it was a civilizing mission, one that demanded erasure of the colonized culture in favor of European ideals. This cultural domination sought to convert Vietnamese identity into something aligned with France's own imperial vision, reinforcing an enduring legacy of oppression.

Conclusion: A Lasting Impact

Frances colonial rule in Vietnam was far from a benevolent intervention. It was a ruthless pursuit of profit and power, systematically stripping Vietnam of its resources, its autonomy, and its cultural heritage. This dark history continues to echo in Vietnam today, a reminder of the heavy price of colonial ambition and the resilience of those who endured it.

Mass Repressions and Population Extermination

Alongside economic exploitation, French colonial rule in Vietnam was marked by brutal repression designed to crush any sign of resistance. Political persecution, mass executions, and widespread repression became the norm. Historian Julien Marey, renowned for his studies on colonial warfare, describes how French forces decimated entire villages suspected of supporting anti-colonial activities, resulting in devastating civilian casualties.

During World War I, France forcibly conscripted approximately 100,000 Vietnamese to serve on European battlefields. Over 30,000 of them died in combat, while those who returned carried profound physical and psychological scars. Thousands more were coerced into working in French factories, where they faced degrading treatment and harsh conditions, often performing grueling labor that left little room for dignity.

Cultural Ruin and Social Oppression

French colonial policy was not only aimed at economic control but also sought to erase Vietnamese cultural identity, turning the local population into submissive subjects of the empire. The Vietnamese were denied access to meaningful education and opportunities for cultural growth, their indigenous values suppressed and replaced by colonial ideals. The education system was designed solely to produce colonial servants who would uphold Frances interests. The vast majority of the Vietnamese population was excluded from this system; by 1930, literacy rates stood at only 15%. Historian Joseph Butlers notes the stark contrast between educational opportunities for the French and the limited access afforded to native Vietnamese.

National Liberation Movement and Resistance

Frances harsh policies inevitably fueled strong resistance. By the early 20th century, clandestine organizations advocating for independence had already formed within Vietnam. One of the most prominent leaders of this movement, Ho Chi Minh, galvanized the fight against the French colonial regime. Frances diminished power during World War II provided further momentum to the burgeoning national liberation movement.

Yet, despite its weakened position, France clung to its hold on Indochina. The end of World War II was quickly followed by the eruption of the First Indochina War, where French forces engaged in intense combat against the Viet Minh. Villages were razed again, with thousands of Vietnamese killed, tortured, or subjected to brutal reprisals. This violent chapter concluded with the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, where a decisive defeat forced France to acknowledge its inability to maintain its colonial grip and finally retreat.

Frances Crimes: Assessments and Condemnation

French colonial rule in Vietnam left a legacy scarred by crimes against humanity for which the French government has never been held accountable. Vietnamese historians and modern researchers continue to demand an official apology and reparations for decades of colonial oppressiona call that remains a poignant issue for the Vietnamese people, who have yet to see these crimes fully addressed.

In France, prominent historians like Benjamin Stora and Didier Ess underscore the importance of France acknowledging its responsibility for the catastrophic effects its colonial policies inflicted on Vietnam. They emphasize the cultural destruction, economic hardship, and social disintegration that are felt in Vietnam even today.

Maison Centrale: The Prison Where Courage Defied Colonial Brutality

Maison Centrale, widely known as the Hanoi Prison, became an enduring symbol of Vietnamese resilience and defiance under colonial oppression. The French administration viewed political prisoners as threats to their rule and treated them with merciless cruelty. Prisoners were issued only a single set of coarse clothing, which quickly deteriorated and offered scant protection against the cold, leading to rampant illness and death from exposure, especially during the bitter winter months. Denied medical assistance, prisoners relied on their own ingenuity and solidarity to survive, organizing protests that won small concessions, such as the right to a second set of clothing.

Food conditions in the prison were equally appalling. French authorities reduced rations, depriving inmates of essential vegetables and fruits, leading to widespread vitamin deficiencies and the death of more than 40 prisoners. Even the rice provided was often contaminated, resulting in hundreds of additional fatalities. For the colonizers, Vietnamese lives were of minimal consequence; prisoners were treated as disposable.

An almond tree that grew on the prison grounds became the prisoners' only source of natural medicine. They used its fruit and leaves to treat infections, heal wounds, and boost immunity. Today, this almond tree still stands in the prison museum, a living testament to the resilience and ingenuity of Vietnamese revolutionaries.

Despite the inhumane conditions, political prisoners sustained their spirit of resistance. They organized study groups, shared knowledge, and held philosophical discussions, which enabled them to preserve their spirit and mentally prepare for the eventual struggle for independence. These gatherings became sites for learning about politics and philosophy, inspiring one another to strengthen their commitment to fighting oppression.

Maison Centrale also served as a center for torture and public executions. The solitary confinement cell was particularly dreadeda narrow space with only a tiny window, where prisoners were chained and nearly starved. Even more terrifying was the execution yard, where a guillotine was used to sow terror among the inmates. Executions were carried out publicly, forcing prisoners to witness the deaths of their peers to reinforce fear and obedience, quashing any impulse toward resistance.

French Neocolonialism: The Modern Context

The formal end of French colonialism in Vietnam in 1954 did not signify a complete withdrawal of French influence. France continues to assert its presence in Vietnam and other former colonies through economic, cultural, and political channels, creating new structures of dependency and influence.

Economic Dependency

French companies continue to exert substantial influence over Vietnams economy, with trade dynamics that often remain skewed in favor of France, reinforcing historical dependencies and entrenched economic structures. French corporations and banks provide significant investments and loans that tether Vietnam to foreign financial flows. A sizable share of foreign trade and critical infrastructure projects in Vietnam are financed by French firms, translating into an economic influence that allows France to maintain a foothold in the country.

Cultural Influence

France sustains its cultural influence through institutions like the Alliance Francaise and other educational and cultural bodies. These organizations promote the French language, culture, and values, cultivating a favorable view of France among the Vietnamese. While these initiatives are framed as cultural exchange, they are often perceived as neocolonial; by fostering ties to French identity, they preserve Vietnams cultural linkage to France, laying the foundation for continued influence and dependency.

Political Influence and International Relations

On the global stage, France uses international bodies such as the UN, the IMF, and the World Bank to shape the policies of Vietnam and other former colonies. Economic aid and loans often come with conditions that require compliance with standards and recommendations originating from Paris or Brussels. Vietnamese representatives argue that these stipulations frequently prioritize Western interests and restrict Vietnams autonomy in making economic and political decisions that serve its own interests.

France also actively engages with the Vietnamese diaspora and Francophone communities, leveraging cultural diplomacy to advance its interests through influential networks. This strategy enables France to sustain its sphere of influence over Vietnam, even long after the colonial era has formally ended.

 French colonialism left a lasting mark on Vietnam, and despite formal independence, neocolonial mechanisms continue to function. Economic dependency, cultural influence, and political pressures from France are all present, perpetuating colonial-era ties and underscoring that neocolonialism is still very much alive.






Friday, November 1, 2024 - Former US President, Donald Trump has sued broadcast network, CBS, claiming the networks interview of Vice President Kamala Harris was doctored and a form of election interference.

Trump alleges that CBS aired two different responses from Harris when she was asked about the Israel-Hamas war.

His lawyers argue that the 60 Minutes version of the interview that aired on October 6 did not have Harris word salad response to how the Biden administration influenced Israels actions.

A preview of the interview aired on Face the Nation showed correspondent Bill Whitaker asking Harris why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not seem to be listening to the US.

Harris said in the Face the Nation version: Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in several movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of, many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region.

The next day when the same question was shown on 60 Minutes primetime, Harris was instead shown saying more concisely: We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.

To paper over Kamalas word salad weakness, CBS used its national platform on 60 Minutes to cross the line from the exercise of judgment in reporting to deceitful, deceptive manipulation of news, states Trumps lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Texas on Thursday, five days before the US election.

Trumps lawyers claim that CBS edits were an attempt to tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party as the heated 2024 Presidential Election  which President Trump is leading  approaches its conclusion.

The former president is seeking at least $ 10 billion in damages and a jury trial.
When I was doing my medical training at St. Vincents Hospital in New York City (a proud and fine hospital that has sadly closed), the official word was that we could not counsel patients to use condoms to prevent HIV transmission. Like many other doctors in training, I was bothered by this edict but kept in mind that St. Vincents had been at the forefront of providing compassionate care to people with AIDS since the very beginning of the epidemic. I went right ahead and counseled patients at risk for HIV infection to use condoms without suffering any consequences.

That kind of interference between doctor and patient, easily sidestepped, seems quaint today. We are experiencing a dangerous and increasingly successful power grab by many politicians to pass legislation controlling how medical providers are allowed to practice medicine. How could this be happening? It may have started with abortion restrictions and access to family planning care, but political ideology is now being used to affect general medical practice in ways that will have consequences for every single American. Every time I talk to colleagues about how politics is creeping into our profession, I see that they share my outrage. We all know how much blood, sweat, tears, and time are necessary to become a competent medical practitioner. The idea that politicians without a shred of medical training are writing laws that restrict what prescriptions we can write and what procedures we can perform is unfathomable.

It is common knowledge that politicians in many states have by now enacted laws that only permit abortion when a womans life is in danger. And we have seen elected officials argue with obstetricians about whether a womans life is truly in danger. Women have now died because they could not get a court order for an abortion in time. We all know that many states have now taken away parents rights to allow gender-affirming care in their children. And there are strong forces that have IVF in their crosshairs. But are you aware that politicians such as state attorneys general have joined lawsuits that would force the FDA to rescind the licensing of a safe and effective medication because it is used for medical abortion, among other things? And that they are making efforts, which have been successful in the courts, that will affect whether insurance companies pay for preventive care such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and lung CTs for long-term smokers.

Most people have never heard of the United States Preventive Services Task Force. This panel makes recommendations about preventive health care measures and cancer screenings, and their guidelines are followed by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies to decide whether to cover tests like mammograms or bone density scans.

It is no exaggeration to say that the USPSTF is universally respected and continuously consulted by American medical providers. Their recommendations are always evidence-based. Up to now, insurance companies that participate in the Affordable Care Act have been mandated to follow the USPSTFs Grade A and B recommendations to cover screening tests. That mandate has been stricken from the ACA by a three-member panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Not only did they declare that insurance companies can ignore the USPSTFs guidelines, but they went further and questioned the constitutionality of using their guidelines at all. This decision is being appealed but is already in effect in states covered by the Fifth Circuit; in those states, ACA-participating insurance plans are now free to charge co-pays for screening tests and to deny coverage of some preventive medications on religious grounds. Originally dreamed up to limit access to medications that prevent HIV infection (PrEP), this lawsuit, likely to reach the Supreme Court, will have real-life effects on coverage of expensive screening tests such as mammograms, breast MRIs, and colonoscopies.

I am old enough to remember a time when politicians across the political spectrum agreed that the government had no role in personal medical decisions. That principle has weakened in recent years, with far-reaching consequences that most Americans have not considered. As you cast your ballot next week, think about which candidates are committed to keeping government out of the exam room, leaving medical decisions to patients and their health care providers.

Kevin Armington is an internal medicine physician at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Robert Wood Johnson. AIDS activism in the 1980s guided him toward a career in medicine. He is board-certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine and is an HIV specialist. He currently practices on telemedicine platforms.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive, later called the "Iron Fist" operation on September 27, 2020 in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces on the frontline.

The 44-day Karabakh War put an end to nearly thirty-year-occupation and resulted in the restoration of Azerbaijans territorial integrity.

Trend presents the chronicle of the 44-day Karabakh War.

- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone talks.

- The Armenian armed forces were forced to retreat by sufferinglosses.

- During one day the list of the destroyed military equipment of the Armenian armed forces was announced.

- Armenia violated the ceasefire regime on the state border.

- The Azerbaijani Army has a full advantage over the Armenian armed forces.

- Another UAV of the Armenian armed forces was destroyed.

- The Armenian armed forces fired at Azerbaijans Fuzuli district by using Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

- The reconnaissance and sabotage group was destroyed in the direction of Azerbaijans Zangilan district.

- A video footage showing the destruction of two more ammunition depots of the Armenian armed forces near Khankandi city has been released.

- The sniper group of the Armenian armed forces was destroyed.

- The Armenian armed forces fired on Azerbaijans Aghdam and Aghjabadi districts.

- The Armenian head of regiment fled, but the servicemen went missing.

- The commander of the Armenian armed forces tank battalion was killed, several tanks were destroyed as a result of explosion.

- The phosphorus shell fired by Armenia at Azerbaijans Tartar district has been neutralized.

- A video footage showing the destruction of the Armenian armed forces tanks in the battles around Khojavand district has been spread.

- The commander of the Armenian armed forces motorized infantry regiment was killed.

- A video footage showing the destruction of the Armenian armed forces artillery in the direction of Khojavand district has been released.
FAMED for his part on the perennial ITV quiz The Chase, though probably less well so for his work with entemology and neuroscience, Dr Darragh Ennis returns to his alma mater Maynooth University (MU) in a fortnight for a book launch.

Entitled The Body: 10 Things You Should Know, the launch is open to the public in the university Library from 7-9pm on Thursday, 21 November.

It will feature a discussion with Dr Ennis, a live Q&A session and a book signing, offering a unique opportunity to meet the author, scientist and TV star  Ennis The Menace.

The book reveals everything about the human body in 10 informative, bite-sized essays, which should answer all our questions about our body.

"It is with great pride and excitement that we welcome well-known Maynooth University alumnus, Dr Darragh Ennis, back for the Irish launch of his new book, said Professor Paul Moynagh, interim executive dean of the faculty of science and engineering at Maynooth University.

This book is a testament to his commitment to advancing knowledge and making complex ideas accessible to the public, and is not only a celebration of his outstanding work but also of the vibrant community of scholars, creators, and leaders fostered at Maynooth University.
When I arrived as Dean of St Canices Cathedral almost three years ago, I threw myself into learning the stories of this fabulous building and the city to which it gives its name.

The most extraordinary story I encountered is the one the city commemorates at the beginning of November, the Kilkenny Witch Trial. At the heart of that story is Bishop Richard Ledrede, often described as the most extraordinary bishop ever to hold the See of Ossory  and for good reason.

If visitors to the cathedral know little else about Ledrede, they know that there was a bishop here who had an innocent servant girl burned at the stake for heresy and witchcraft.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this terrible story, trying to make sense of the man and separate fact from fiction. The witch trial represents a tragic low point in the life of our city, profound wrong and unspeakable injustice.

One additional sadness is that we know so little about that servant girl, Petronella. Her life, her story is lost among the stories of people more powerful and influential than her.

When we try to see Petronella, we end up almost chasing shadows. But we do know more about Ledrede. He was an Englishman who had spent most of his ecclesiastical career in Avignon at the Papal Court. There, he may have seen the destruction of the Knights Templar on similar charges of witchcraft.

When appointed to the See of Ossory, he came to reform the city. He took the novel step of actually living in Kilkenny and undertook a thorough inspection of his diocese. He wrote new laws for the better running of the church. We know much of this because he recorded it in the Red Book of Ossory, his episcopal register, which is currently on display in the cathedral for the first time in its 700-year history.

Dean Farrell at the tomb of Bishop Ledrede

Also in that book is an extraordinary medical recipe, Aqua Vitae. Today, it is known as whiskey, but then it was at the forefront of medical science, the equivalent of the Covid vaccine, in the war to vanquish the black death which ravished the county.

The hard thing for us to understand through todays eyes is that just as Ledrede wanted to save his people from the threat of the Black Death, he wanted to save them from the disease of heresy. He saw himself as having a righteous cause.

Today, we see the world differently. But there is a danger that we roll our eyes and say, Thank God we are no longer like that.

On Sunday, November 3, we will have a service of commemoration in St Canice's Cathedral as we seek to lament these events and to commend Petronella unto God in a way she was denied in 1324. But we will also seek to examine ourselves.

The more I think about Ledrede, the more I ask, who are the Petronellas of today? In 700 years, when the people of Kilkenny look back on our time, I wonder, what will seem as unjust and misguided as the witch trial of 1324?
Plans to establish a new Cabinet Committee on Water Quality represents Fine Gaels absolute commitment to retaining the nitrates derogation, a Fine Gael councillor and general election candidate said.

Councillor Michael Doyle, the Callan Thomastown district councillor who is running for Fine Gael in the general election in Carlow/ Kilkenny, said An Taoiseach Simon Harris plans for a new committee focused on water quality represents the best possible chance of retaining Irelands nitrates derogation.

The nitrates derogation is an asset on which farmers across Carlow/Kilkenny depend. Ireland has a unique grass-based livestock production system with over 92% of our agricultural land under grassland," Councillor Doyle said.

The loss of the derogation would have significant negative impacts not only for the farmers directly affected in Carlow/Kilkenny but also the wider agriculture sector and our rural economy.

An Taoiseach Simon Harris has announced plans to establish a new Cabinet Committee on Water Quality, to drive improvements directly from the Department of the Taoiseach and steer a national effort to retain the derogation.

This will bring representatives from Government departments, Irish Water, local authorities, the EPA and others around the table to ensure no one is passing the buck, and no one is working in a silo.

Farmers across Carlow/Kilkenny are doing their bit to improve water quality, and Fine Gael in Government will support them in those efforts.

An Taoiseach Simon Harris is leading on the retention of the derogation for the agriculture sector, but in order to secure the derogation post-2025, we need to ensure Fine Gael remains in Government.

While other parties have been ambiguous on this issue in the past, Fine Gael has always been steadfast in our absolute commitment to retaining the derogation post-2025. Ultimately, If you want a Government that listens to farmers and stands up for farmers, you need to vote for it, concluded Cllr Michael Doyle.
If you want to hear the music of The Bee Gees then head along to the Watergate Theatre later this month.

The Bee Gees Music is Still Going Strong, 65 Years after the band was formed by Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb in 1958 with this incredible tribute act.

You may not be able to see the Bee Gees anymore, but you can see the Nights on Broadway: The Bee Gees Story Live Concert Experience, a show which tells the fascinating story of the Bee Gees and their place in music history; you can listen to hit after hit from four decades of the incredible music penned by The Brothers Gibb.

This show features seven top-class Irish and UK musicians, and is fully live.

BAFTA-winning International comedian, star of Mrs. Browns Boys, Brendan OCarroll, has commended the show.

This is an absolutely superb show. It is highly recommended. The boys have the vocals down to a tee.

Known also as The Irish Bee Gees, six of seven performers are from Ireland, with the seventh, the bands musical director, hailing from the UK. Individually, they have performed, recorded and guested alongside some music greats, including The Rolling Stones Ron Wood, Jerry Lee Lewis, Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy, The Dubliners and Don Baker. Since its inception some years back, Nights on Broadway: The Bee Gees Story has been selling out theatres and hotel venues all over Ireland, and 2023 is already looking like anothersuccessful year for concert bookings and tours. The show has also toured in the UK, Germany, and The Netherlands, and was invited to perform a series of dates in Dubai in December 2019.

A sold-out Vicar Street show  due to play on the day Ireland locked down  is rescheduled for late 2023.

Nights on Broadway: The Bee Gees Story presents a tribute to the Bee Gees through their catalogue of hits over four decades from the 60s to the 90s. The fully-live band blends the classic hits, acoustic medleys and killer disco tunes which define the unmistakable and versatile sound of The Bee Gees.

This is a totally live concert experience which prides itself on musical and vocal authenticity, while the accompanying costume changes complement the show to give audiences a truly original experience.

The show takes place on Saturday, November 30 at the Watergate Theatre at 8pm.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. On November 1, the Heydar Aliyev Center opened an exhibition featuring renowned Italian monumental sculptor Lorenzo Quinn, Trend reports.

The timing of this exhibition is no coincidence, as it precedes the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will be hosted in Baku. Titled Equilibrium in Nature, the exhibition once again draws attention to environmental issues.

The concept of the Baku exhibition centers around a deep understanding of the environment and the importance of caring for nature.

At the opening, Heydar Aliyev Center Director Anar Alakbarov thanked Lorenzo Quinn for arranging the exhibition on such short notice. He mentioned that the Center has hosted presentations by several Italian sculptors and artists this year and noted the stunning sculptures on display in this exhibition. Alakbarov highlighted that Quinns works were brought to Azerbaijan as part of COP29, expressing hope that visitors coming to the conference will enjoy these masterpieces. He also announced plans for numerous upcoming events at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

Olga Daniele, founder of 365 Art and the exhibitions curator, expressed her gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Center for organizing the event at such a high level. She noted that Lorenzo Quinns sculptures are rooted in the themes of love, compassion, and care for the planet, with each piece reflecting the artists remarkable vision and talent.

Lorenzo Quinn remarked on Bakus beauty and the citys anticipation of COP29. He expressed delight in presenting his work in such a magnificent setting and shared that his sculptures embody nature's strength. We must love Earth. Just as a mother cares for her child, so must we care for Earth. Theres no other place for us to live. We need to understand this because we have no other choice, Quinn stated.

The exhibition began with Quinns work Union of Love, which calls for mutual love and support to foster harmony and enduring human connections.

Quinns sculptures will be displayed throughout the Heydar Aliyev Centers park and lobby until May 11, 2025. Visitors can view notable works such as A Balanced World, Hand of God, Give and Take, and Together in the Centers plaza, while pieces like Eros, Parallel Universe, and Love Yourself are presented in the lobby. A total of 15 of the artists works are on display.

The sculpture Love Yourself encourages expressing love through self-love, sharing this feeling with the world, and illuminating the path of righteousness.

Another prominent piece, In Perspective, underscores the delicate and tiny nature of our world when compared to the vast universe. With this work, Quinn invites viewers to see our world through a broader perspective.

Among the exhibits is the iconic Hand of God, featuring a man seated wearily on a large hand that holds him in support. Quinn dedicated this piece to his son, using it to symbolize the perils that young people face today. Over time, this hand became a recurring element in Quinns monumental works, representing love, hate, creativity, and the power of destruction.

Another remarkable work, Together, first displayed near the Great Pyramid of Giza, brought contemporary art closer to this ancient site. Since then, it has been shown at Cannes in 2021 and Dubai in 2023. Now, it will be on view in Baku for six months in the Heydar Aliyev Centers park. The piece depicts hands that symbolize both creation and destruction, with Quinn asserting that our fate is in our own hands.

Force of Nature, another exhibit in Baku, features the form of a delicate yet powerful woman, embodying Mother Nature. This sculpture series, central to Quinns career, has been showcased globally, adorning iconic sites in major cities.

The piece A Balanced World conveys the sensitive notion that, while our worlds may seem like polar opposites at times, true balance can only be achieved with each other.

Visitors to the Heydar Aliyev Center will also encounter Give and Take, a work that has captivated audiences worldwide, underscoring the importance of balance in life and nature.

Lorenzo Quinn, the son of Oscar-winning actor Anthony Quinn and costume designer/actress Iolanda Addolori, studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in New York. Initially pursuing a career in painting, he eventually shifted to sculpture to channel his energy and original ideas. He is also an actor and has appeared in films.

Known as a creator of emotions and artist of feelings, Quinn has become one of todays most sought-after sculptors. His works convey messages of peace, harmony, and the power of choice, reflecting the balance between humanitys positive and negative sides.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Work has begun to inscribe the Ateshgah Temple on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Trend reports.

The State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan has started preparations in this regard.

The nomination document will be prepared.

Currently, the Ateshgah Temple is listed on the UNESCO tentative list. Azerbaijan has five sites on the World Heritage List and ten sites on the tentative list.

The Ateshgah Temple is located on the Absheron peninsula, in the Surakhani district, near Surakhani settlement. Throughout its history, the temple has served as a place of worship for Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Sikhs. It was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries at the site of eternal flamesnatural gas outletswhich is why the temple is named "Ateshgah", meaning "House of Fire".

By a decree of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, an open-air museum was established around the complex, and it was declared a State Historical and Architectural Reserve. On average, it attracts about 145,000 visitors each year.

In 1998, Ateshgah was included in the list of candidates for the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 2. CHN Energy Investment Corporation Group has expressed interest in developing coal chemical production in Kazakhstan, which will be an important step in expanding the country's economic potential, Trend reports.

Yan Gochun, Deputy General Director of CHN Energy Investment Corporation Group, expressed his interest in this production during a business meeting with Roman Sklyar, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

In the meeting, participants explored potential collaboration in the coal chemistry sector and discussed opportunities for investment projects in Kazakhstan.

Partnering with a prominent energy company like CHN Energy Investment Corporation Group, which specializes in coal extraction and processing, presents significant benefits for both Kazakhstan and the corporation by enhancing bilateral ties in the manufacturing industry.

China Energy Investment Corporation operates 97 coal mines with an annual production capacity of 650 million tons and is a key player in the global market. Its international assets are located in countries including China, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Greece, and Germany.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. The 2nd high-level ministerial dialogue on climate action is set to take place in Baku on November 15, as part of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture.

The meeting is planned to be held in the Blue Zone at COP29, the ministry noted.

Ministers, deputy ministers, and leaders from international organizations will attend the event organized by the ministries of culture of the UAE, Brazil, and Azerbaijan. Approximately 120 guests, including experts and representatives from NGOs, are expected to participate. The high-level dialogue aims to foster international consensus on integrating cultureencompassing art and heritageinto the action plan for combating climate change.

Additionally, within the framework of COP29, Azerbaijan's pavilion will host an event co-organized by the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action, UNESCO, and the ministries of culture of Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Brazil. The project "Culture for Climate" (C4C), initiated by Azerbaijan, will also be presented.

To note, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture has prepared a series of initiatives leading up to COP29, including presentations of cultural events to be held at UNESCO headquarters, a conference titled "COP29 and Culture: Cultural Aspects of Climate Change," and panel discussions addressing environmental protection and the impact of climate change on cultural heritage at the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

Other events include a special conference on the effects of mines and unexploded ordnance on cultural values in the city of Aghdam and the presentation of a bibliographic collection titled "Ecology of Azerbaijan," dedicated to the "Green World Solidarity Year," alongside 10 major and minor activities.
By KTimes

Yu Bibim, 60, who gained popularity after appearing on the Netflix reality show "Culinary Class Wars," announced the closure of his restaurant, admitting to past illegal business practices.

Yu posted a lengthy handwritten letter on social media, Friday, expressing regret and confessing to previous wrongdoings. With a heavy heart, I confess my past mistakes, he began.

Yu shared that over the years he had tried various businesses, including fruit vending, street food stalls and a hair salon, all of which ended unsuccessfully. Since 2003, he had operated a restaurant without proper authorization, which eventually led to his arrest and a suspended sentence.

Although I deeply reflected on my actions and closed the restaurant for a year, I later reopened it under my wifes name to bypass regulations and continued operating until recently, he said.

He said that despite reaching out to public institutions and regulatory bodies to request support for legitimate operations, his efforts were unsuccessful.

Yu revealed the emotional toll this journey had taken on him and his wife, saying, As a private individual suddenly under public scrutiny, we havent had a moments peace.

Yu said, With a heart of apology, I will open the restaurant space Ive dedicated myself to for the past 20 years as a free venue for 'bibimbap' (mixed rice dish) exhibitions and performances for everyone.

Yu explained that after gaining fame through "Culinary Class Wars," his current establishment faced numerous complaints about potential legal issues, along with warnings from the authorities.

He said that he will operate a fully licensed restaurant in Jeonju Hanok Village, North Jeolla Province.

Yus legal issues date back to 2015, when he was sentenced to eight months in prison for violating food business laws, later reduced to probation on appeal. He had also received several fines for related violations over the years.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
Blockchain network to host xDay Global next year in Korea after success in Germany

By Lee Kyung-min

Korea is an ideal Asian launchpad with an ambition to overtake Singapore and Hong Kong as a hub for innovation as a blockchain powerhouse, underpinned by a high standard for robust and user-friendly technology, according to a marketing representative of a blockchain network operator headquartered in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

Blockchain technology is decentralized, defined as not being owned by a single entity. It is resistant to data modification, since recorded data is hard to alter or delete. The technology is emerging as a solution for verifying a surge of content generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

MultiversX CMO Adam Bates said that committed public-private initiatives to drive blockchain adoption with forward-thinking approaches are propelling the growth prospect of the high-tech economy.

Also of note is the countrys businesses and consumers being open to new technologies, as evidenced by Korean won trading in cryptocurrency exceeding that in U.S. dollars for the first quarter this year.

Korea is among the leading regions in digital innovation with values that are in direct alignment with our mission to deliver a scalable infrastructure on which intuitive solutions are built, he said in an interview with The Korea Times.

He came to Korea to attend Blockchain Week Busan 2024 from Oct. 28 to 29. It was organized for leading global digital exchanges to share vision and goals to advance blockchain-mediated innovative city planning and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs).

Launched at the event was Asian Exchange Alliance, an alliance of digital asset exchanges. Among them are Japan's Open Digital Exchange (ODX), Singapore's Asia Digital Assets Exchange (ADDX), Malaysia's Green Exchange (GreenX), Thailand's Token Exchange (TokenX) and Cambodia's Mekong Digital Exchange (MKEX).

Korea has a collective ambition to accelerate blockchain adoption to benefit the whole country and the wider APAC region rather than an individual or single country," Bates said. "The new Asian Exchange Alliance announced at Busan is a great example. A year ago, the idea was announced. This year, it is live."

Scalability

MultiversX claims that it is the most scalable blockchain network in the world.

Scalability refers to the capability to handle an increasing amount of work for growth, while maintaining efficiency without compromising performance or security.

The firm uses what the industry calls sharding whereby a network and blockchain are split into shards to increase network speed and security.

For example, we currently have 77,000 transactions per second, which is 1,200 times faster than Ethereum Max. We can increase the transaction processing capacity of any Layer 2 solution by 100 times.

In simple terms, improved performance of Layer 2 solutions means more transactions per second handled, leading in turn to faster and cheaper transactions. Layer 2 solutions aim primarily to improve scalability and speed, whereas Layer 1, the main blockchain protocol, is for security and foundational functions.

Our Sovereign Chain technology means anyone can combine the superpowers from any and all chains to create something amazing. What we have built is for the benefit of all blockchains. Only by sharing this technology do we believe blockchain will achieve mass adoption.

The highly jargon-heavy and technical description carries significance, because the scalability of such competence can help verify so-called fake AI contents.

The insane amount of power and computing AI needs, only a blockchain network with robust scalability is able to accommodate and validate all the data it produces at speed. Between 25 percent and 44 percent of all AI content is hallucination, so if you want to know what is true or not, you need a blockchain to check it  but only one that can do it at speed.

xDay Global

The blockchain firm chose Korea as a venue to host xDay Global 2025, an event it called the G20 of Web3. It held a similar event last week in Munich, Germany.

Web3, the next generation of the internet, seeks to create a more open, transparent and user-oriented internet, enabled by decentralized control through blockchain. It aims to resolve the drawbacks of the current Web2 model whereby platforms are owned by centralized entities.

We can bring together leaders who can explore avenues of enhancing blockchain integration, establishing trust and expanding the potential of Web3 in Korea and beyond," he said. "This is why we are bringing the event to Korea.

The previous event in Germany was a satellite gathering with a developer and community focus.

Germany's reputation as a leader in building world-class, robust technology, combined with its deep industry connections, was a point of attraction," he said. "Koreas high standard for technology is what makes it a prime venue.

The firm says next years event will help raise awareness of MultiversX, grow the whole blockchain market and ecosystem as well as unite all the blockchains for the benefit of all.

We have created the perfect island nobody really knows about. We want to grow the pie rather than fight for a bigger slice of the same pie," he said. "Events like xDay Global are perfect opportunities for us to take visionaries, thought leaders and digital innovators to this island to shape the industry's future.

Partnerships

The firm is in search of partnerships with government bodies and large market players in Korea.

The government can change policies and allocate resources to achieve dramatic changes and advancements at speed," he said. "They can also support education by supporting programs to train and incentivize people to play and build with blockchain.

Working with established players allows for user feedback.

Weve been talking to innovative exchanges like Bdan and its CEO Kim Sang-min, with whom we hope to partner," he said. "Big corporations are essential if we want to make blockchain mainstream.

Read More Blockchain changes financial landscape

Bdan is short for Busan Digital Asset Nexus, the official brand name of the Busan Digital Asset Exchange, announced Oct. 28 at the Busan event.

Bdan signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire CenGold, a blockchain-based digital goods trading platform with a transaction volume of 1.1 trillion won ($797 million) thus far and 1.18 million users.

CenGold trades in seven types of precious and non-ferrous metals, including gold, silver and copper. Bdan plans to expand the trading portfolio to include a variety of RWAs.

"We are looking forward to strengthening our presence in Korea and beyond," Bates said. "Blockchain has to become as essential to our daily life as the internet. Soon, we'll be asking ourselves, How did we live without it before?"
Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, condemned the United Nations, Saturday, for criticizing the country's recent test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), reaffirming Pyongyang's stance to retain nuclear weapons development.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced, Thursday, North Korea's launch of a Hwasong-19 ICBM as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Workers' Party's Central Committee, expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with Guterres' remarks, calling them "unfair and prejudiced" in a statement carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Saturday.

Kim accused countries "hostile" to North Korea of forming a military bloc based on nuclear weapons, asking, "Does the U.N. secretary-general think ... peace can be ensured on the Korean peninsula" if North Korea restrains itself?

She also reaffirmed the North Korean leader's stand of never changing the country's "line of bolstering" its nuclear forces.

"Have sanctions, pressure and threats stopped us? They have only made us stronger," she said, stressing that the country "will never tolerate any attempt to threaten the security environment of the state."

In a separate statement carried by the KCNA, the North's foreign ministry also protested the UNSC's plan to convene a meeting Monday on North Korea's latest ICBM launch.

The ministry accused "hostile forces" of creating a critical situation against the security environment of North Korea through "illegal double standards," strongly denouncing the meeting as a violation of the U.N. Charter and a "grave challenge" to international peace and security.

"The more provocative act the hostile forces take in defiance of the DPRK's grave warning, the stronger counteraction they will face," the ministry said, using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (Yonhap)
North Korea and Russia have accused the United States and its allies for being the "root cause" of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, reaffirming their commitment to implementing the new bilateral treaty, the North's state media reported Saturday.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shared the views during their "strategic dialogue" held in Moscow on Friday (local time), a press statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Choe has been on a trip to Russia since Monday. Her visit came at a time when tensions have heightened with the North's deployment of thousands of its troops to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.

Choe's trip also coincided with the North's launch of the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Thursday, its first such test launch that came just days ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

"The two sides expressed the common understanding that the root cause of ever-escalating tensions in the Korean peninsula, Northeast Asia and other parts of the world lies in the provocations of the U.S. and its vassal countries," the statement read.

"The exchange of views on major international issues confirmed that the two sides are unanimous in their assessment of the present international situation," it said.

The U.S. has said about 10,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia, with 8,000 of them sent to the front lines near Ukraine expected to join the combat soon.

There was no mention about the North's troop dispatch in the statement.

North Korea has forged stronger ties with Russia, claiming to have elevated their relations with a new treaty that comes with a provision committing to mutual military assistance in the event of an attack on either side.

At the dialogue, Lavrov expressed Russia's "full support" for the measures North Korea has taken to deter the "aggressive policy" of the U.S. and its allies, the KCNA said, apparently meaning its support for the North's latest ICBM launch.

Choe and Lavrov also had in-depth discussions on "practical issues" to enhance their ties further, including implementing the agreements from the treaty, signed between the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at their June summit.

The dialogue marked an "important occasion" in the development of their bilateral relations in line with the new partnership treaty, it added.

Ahead of the talks, Choe attended a ceremony at Yaroslavl Railway Station in northeast Moscow for the unveiling of a plaque to honor the first visit to Russia by North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung in 1949.

In a speech at the ceremony, Choe stressed the strategic value of her country's relations with Russia holds greater importance in the grave international political situation, the KCNA reported.

"The strategic value and significance of the DPRK-Russia relations are given greater importance in the severe international political landscape," Choe said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The great friendship and unity" built between North Korea and Russia to attain the common objective "would be firmly carried forward and developed along with the new era of overall efflorescence," she said.

Before flying to Moscow, Choe visited the Russian city of Vladivostok in the Far East, a location where South Korea and Western nations believe the North Korean soldiers are undergoing adaptation training for possible deployment to the war front lines in Ukraine. (Yonhap)
South Korea and Canada have called for the withdrawal of North Korean troops dispatched to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine, labeling the deployment "a grave escalation" of tension that threatens security in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

The call was made in a joint statement adopted during a "two plus two" meeting of the two countries' foreign and defense ministers in Ottawa, Friday (local time), Seoul's foreign ministry said the following day.

Representing South Korea were Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, while Canada was represented by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Defense Minister Bill Blair.

The United States said Thursday there were 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia, with 8,000 of them deployed to the country's western front-line Kursk region to enter the fight against Ukraine in the coming days.

The high-level meeting is the first of its kind between the two countries and was held as part of an action plan adopted in July following the signing of a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty during a summit in May 2023.

The statement strongly condemned North Korea's increased military cooperation with Russia, describing it as a breach of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. It also criticized Pyongyang's provision of ammunition and ballistic missiles to support what the ministers described as Russia's "brutal and unjustifiable" aggression in Ukraine.

Both countries stated they are closely monitoring what Russia might be providing to North Korea in return for its military support.

They pledged to actively consider additional measures with the international community based on the perception that security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions is increasingly inter-connected.

The statement also condemned North Korea's continued missile launches, including the recent test of the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-19, Thursday.

They reiterated their call for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction.

Canada expressed strong support for South Korea's efforts to realize a unified Korean Peninsula that is free, peaceful, prosperous and denuclearized.

The ministers agreed to deepen regional cooperation by launching a "Korea-Canada Indo-Pacific dialogue" and advancing negotiations for a military and defense confidentiality agreement.

They announced plans to establish a regular army dialogue, with the first session scheduled to be held in Canada. (Yonhap)
Defense ministers of South Korea and Canada condemned North Korea's troop deployment to Russia and discussed ways to enhance defense cooperation between their countries during a bilateral meeting in Ottawa, Seoul's defense ministry said Saturday.

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and his Canadian counterpart, Bill Blair, held the talks Friday (local time) on the sidelines of the first "two plus two" meeting involving foreign and defense ministers of the two countries.

During the bilateral meeting, Kim and Blair strongly denounced the troop dispatch as a violation of U.N. resolutions and an "illegal act" that threatens peace on the peninsula and the rest of the world. They pledged to work closely with the global community in response.

The meeting comes amid rising international concerns over Pyongyang's expanding military alliance with Moscow. The United States said Thursday there were 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia, with 8,000 of them deployed to the country's western front-line Kursk region to enter the fight against Ukraine in the coming days.

Kim also expressed his appreciation for Canada's contribution to maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and in the broader region through its active enforcement of sanctions against North Korea and support for the United Nations Command. He emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations to further enhance regional and global security.

The two ministers agreed to enhance interoperability and strategic solidarity between South Korea and Canada by closely cooperating in various areas, including expanding participation in joint exercises, strengthening solidarity among UNC member states, and collaborating with like-minded countries.

They also agreed to seek more chances to expand cooperation in the defense industry, and defense science and technology sectors, with an aim to create a mutually beneficial partnership model for both countries, according to the ministry.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul also had a separate meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly, the same day on the sidelines of the "two plus two" talks to discuss regional issues, including North Korea's troop dispatch, and ways to enhance practical cooperation between their countries.

According to the foreign ministry, Cho assessed during the bilateral meeting in Ottawa that the inaugural "two plus two" meeting had laid the foundation for institutionalizing the security and defense partnership between the two countries.

He expressed hope for deepening cooperation in the defense industry sector in the future, including Canada's ongoing next-generation submarine acquisition project.

In response, Joly acknowledged the excellence of Korea's defense industry and suggested continuing discussions on industrial cooperation as part of the comprehensive security partnership between the two countries, according to the foreign ministry.

Cho emphasized North Korea's troop deployment to Russia and its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch were serious violations of UN Security Council resolutions and a grave threat to global peace and security.

The Canadian minister responded by strongly condemning the North's expanding military cooperation with Russia, including the troop deployment, and its latest ICBM test. (Yonhap)
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its supporters staged a massive rally in central Seoul on Saturday, urging President Yoon Suk Yeol to accept a special counsel bill for an investigation into allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee.

Some 300,000 people comprising DPK lawmakers, party members and supporters  a count claimed by the party  gathered near Seoul Station in Yongsan to join the demonstration on what they called an "action day for the people."

The DPK leadership, including party leader Lee Jae-myung and floor leader Park Chan-dae, and almost all of the 170 incumbent DPK lawmakers took part in the rally.

The rally came as Yoon's office has been embroiled in controversy over a slew of allegations Kim faces, including a stock manipulation scheme, an illegal receipt of a luxury bag and interference in the party's candidate nominations for the April general elections.

The scandal is snowballing after Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, has come out alleging that Yoon used his influence for a former ruling party lawmaker to help her win nomination for the April elections.

The DPK has released recorded phone conversations between Yoon and Myung, escalating political attacks against Yoon and the first lady.

"Kim Keon Hee enjoys the privilege of immunity from any wrongdoing, effectively wielding presidential power at her discretion," Park said at the rally.

"Kim Keon Hee rules this country. We will push ahead for the special counsel," Park said.

Choosing to refrain from making harsh comments, Lee highlighted that the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye was initiated by the "candlelight" protests of the people in 2016.

"It was the people who always rose up and took action at every turning point in history," Lee said.

Some other DPK lawmakers called for Yoon to "step down."

The participants marched from Seoul Station toward Seoul City Hall, filling one side of the main streets. (Yonhap)
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and election rival Donald Trump traded barbs across battleground states Friday before converging on Wisconsin's biggest city for competing rallies, a dramatic split-screen image in the final days of a volatile presidential race.

With political heat reaching a boil ahead of Election Day November 5, Trump faced criticism for violent rhetoric targeting a high-profile Republican supporter of Harris, who lambasted him for the provocative attack.

More than 70 million Americans have already cast their ballots -- 45 percent of the 2020 total -- ahead of Tuesday' s election. Opinion polls show Trump and Harris running dead even, with victory depending on who prevails across the seven swing states.

Both held a full day of campaign events, with Harris attending rallies and visiting a union hall in Wisconsin while Trump stumped for votes in neighboring battleground Michigan.

"Everything we have been fighting for these past four years comes down to the next four days," Trump told supporters in Warren, Michigan.

Later Friday the rivals rallied just miles apart in Milwaukee, where Trump boomed: "I don't want your money, I want your damn vote!"

The former president was addressing the same venue where he earned the Republican Party nomination over the summer and gave a triumphant acceptance speech just days after surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

Harris -- who only entered the race in July after President Joe Biden dropped out amid fears over his declining mental acuity -- was joined onstage by star rapper Cardi B in the latest of a series of high-energy events.

Cardi B, speaking of America's potential first woman president, asked the crowd, "Are we ready to make history?"

Earlier, Harris reprimanded Trump for using "violent rhetoric" when discussing one of his chief Republican critics.

Trump has "suggested rifles should be trained on former representative Liz Cheney," Harris told reporters in Madison, Wisconsin.

"This must be disqualifying. Anyone... who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified to be president."

'True patriot'

Trump has doubled down on his most provocative talking points, seeking to fire up a base he needs to turn out in massive numbers.

Along with Pennsylvania, the biggest swing state prize of all, Michigan and Wisconsin are part of the Democrats' Midwestern "blue wall." But the region could go either way -- and with it the presidency.

The other path to victory could run through Sun Belt swing states, where Trump and Harris both campaigned Thursday.

In Arizona, Trump claimed Thursday without evidence that polls are being rigged in Pennsylvania -- reinforcing expectations that, as in 2020, he will refuse to accept the results if he loses.

But it was his comments about Cheney that stirred the most controversy.

Citing her hawkish foreign policy views, Trump conjured the image of Cheney -- daughter of former Republican vice president Dick Cheney -- being shot.

"She's a radical war hawk. Let's put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Let's see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face," Trump said.

Cheney responded, saying, "This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death." Harris defended Cheney as a "true patriot" and accused Trump of being "permanently out for revenge."

But Trump did not back down, saying Cheney "doesn't have the guts to fight."

Adding to tensions, social media is awash with disinformation that authorities say has been stirred by Russian operatives and amplified by prominent right-wing voices -- including Trump ally Elon Musk, the world's richest man and owner of the X platform.

Much of Musk's effort has involved pushing lies about non-citizen immigrants voting.

'Junk science'

Trump notably campaigned Friday in Dearborn, Michigan, home to the nation's largest Arab-American community, where outrage over Israel's war in Gaza has alienated many Muslims from the Democratic Party.

After meeting supporters at a halal restaurant, Trump confirmed to reporters that vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr would play a "big role" in health care if he were elected.

Harris described Kennedy as a promoter of "junk science and crazy conspiracy theories."

For a few minutes in Michigan, Trump's oratory suggested a traditional rousing speech in a campaign's final days.

"I'm asking you to dream big again," he said in Warren.

But he quickly reverted to type with a sinister take on immigration and falsely branding the Biden-Harris economy a "total disaster."

Economists say the U.S. economy is actually in robust shape, with low unemployment and strong growth. (AFP)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Since October 28 of this year, the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company and UNFCCC have organized information tours for the advance working groups of delegations that will visit Azerbaijan, as well as for the diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan, the company posted on its social media page, Trend reports.

The purpose of these visits is to familiarize them with the preparation processes for the conference.

Participants closely familiarized themselves with the relevant preparations at the COP29 venue and shared their positive impressions of the large-scale efforts successfully organized in a short period, the publication reads.

To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.
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Spanish floods kill at least 205, PM pledges comprehensive support

Xinhua) 15:33, November 02, 2024

A vehicle cleans up a flood-hit area in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 1, 2024. Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

MADRID, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for.

With the ground too dry to absorb the intense rainfall, which exceeded 400 liters per square meter in many areas and reached up to 600 liters in some, the torrential overnight downpours on Tuesday led to devastating flash floods.

Videos posted on social media have shown torrents up to three meters high sweeping cars down the streets to pile them up as if they were toys. Bridges were swept away, railway tunnels collapsed and fields were swamped as people climbed onto roofs of their homes and cars to seek refuge, but not all survived.

The official death toll, initially 12 on Wednesday morning according to the Center for Coordinated and Integrated Operations, has now soared to 205, with 202 fatalities in the region of Valencia, two in Castilla-La Mancha and one in Andalusia.

The Feria de Valencia exhibition center has had to be used as a temporary mortuary. With many people still missing, the number of fatalities is expected to climb further.

The Spanish newspaper Eldiario.es reported on Friday that 1,900 people are still missing. Witnesses in the affected areas said many people had gone into underground garages to save their cars, only to be trapped by the extreme deluge. The media outlets are filled with heart wrenching stories, with loved ones making final calls from vehicles trapped in rising waters.

Moreover, over 130,000 homes lost power during the floods, and by Friday, power company Iberdrola confirmed that 23,000 homes still remained without electricity.

The floods left the Valencia region in eastern Spain almost isolated, with the high-speed rail link between the capital city of Madrid and Valencia closed for up to three weeks following the collapse of two tunnels.

Around 80 km of local rail lines and 100 roads were damaged, prompting the government to allocate 25 million euros (27 million U.S. dollars) on Friday for emergency repairs.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the affected areas on Thursday and pledged comprehensive aid for recovery efforts. The government declared three days of official mourning as sporting events in the Valencia region were all postponed.

Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 military personnel, supported by 400 vehicles and 15 helicopters, have been deployed to assist in rescue and recovery operations. Hundreds of mud-caked Valencia volunteers were seen helping clear streets and homes with shovels and brooms.

However, police also reported that approximately 60 people have been detained for looting in the wake of the floods.

Relief support has poured in from across Spain, with funds being set up by the Red Cross and other agencies to aid rescue and recovery. Additionally, the international community, including the European Union, has offered assistance.

Three days after the deadliest floods in decades, Valencia remains under alert for further downpours, with high warnings issued for Huelva, Castellon, Mallorca, and Catalonia.

A vehicle cleans up a flood-hit street in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 1, 2024. Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

People clean up a flood-hit street in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 1, 2024. Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

People clean up a flood-hit street in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 1, 2024. Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Various information resources established for COP29 have undergone security audits by the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security, with relevant findings and recommendations provided to the Operating Company, Azerbaijans State Service for Special Communications and Information Security told Trend.

"The primary information resource for organizing the high-level event, COP29.az, along with the email service serving over 800 users, has been migrated to state hosting and email systems, with monitoring conducted by our service around the clock.

In addition, regular monitoring of COP29 traffic through the state network, AzStateNet, has been organized to detect cyber attacks and anomalous activities. To enhance internet traffic protection against cyber threats, our staff participated in a week-long special training and knowledge exchange program in Germany," the service noted.
By David Young, PA

Families of the Disappeared victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles have urged those who know where they are buried to end their pain.

The bereaved took part in their annual All Souls Day silent walk to Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast on Saturday to commemorate those whose remains have never been found.

Since the last wreath-laying event took place at the start of November last year, fresh searches for two of the Disappeared  Co Tyrone teenager Columba McVeigh and British Army Captain Robert Nairac  ended without success.

They were among 17 people who were abducted, killed and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries during the Troubles.

Families of the Disappeared victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles take part in their annual All Souls Day silent walk at Stormont (David Young/PA)

Aided by a commission set up by the UK and Irish governments to investigate their whereabouts, 13 have been found over the last three decades.

The remains of Mr McVeigh, Capt Nairac, former monk Joe Lynskey and Seamus Maguire, who was in his mid 20s and from near Lurgan, Co Armagh, have never been recovered.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) continues to appeal for information to help find their burial places.

Co Down hairdresser Lisa Dorrian, who vanished in the post-Troubles era from a caravan park in Ballyhalbert, Co Down in 2005, is now considered one of the Disappeared victims.

Republican paramilitaries were not suspected in her case. Finding her remains is outside the remit of the commission, with that task instead being led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

A wreath dedicated to the five Disappeared was laid on the steps of Parliament Buildings at the conclusion of Saturdays poignant walk.

Earlier, priest Fr Joe Gormley led the families in a special prayer for the Disappeared.

A wreath is laid on the steps of Parliament Buildings as families of the Disappeared conclude their silent walk (David Young/PA)

Dympna Kerr, the sister of Mr McVeigh, said all her family wanted was to bury her brother beside her late parents.

We are all gathered here again on All Souls Day, we once again seek the recovery of our loved ones who remain disappeared, she said.

Five of our loved ones have not yet been recovered. My younger brother Columba, Joe Lynskey, Seamus Maguire, Robert Nairac and Lisa Dorrian.

In the case of my brother Columba, he disappeared nearly five decades ago.

He was taken from Dublin on Halloween night and brought to Bragan Bog in County Monaghan.

In the last year, the search ended without success. Finding his body and bringing him finally home for a Christian burial at St Patricks Church in Donaghmore (Co Tyrone) and putting him in the grave beside our mum and dad is our only wish. We need him brought home.

Dr Sandra Peake, from the WAVE Trauma Centre  an organisation that supports the families, said they endure constant pain from not knowing where their loved ones lie.

We can only hope that they can take some comfort from the fact that they do not have to face their plight alone, she said.

The unbreakable bond of solidarity with the other families of the Disappeared is immensely important and that is why events like the Silent Walk where they can come together in mutual support is so significant.
A LAOIS Corgi puppy, who was crowned the Laois winning Petmanias Puppy of the Year came second in the national final last week.

To qualify for the final in Laois, Luna beat the other contenders in the competition, that was held in the Petmania store in the Portlaoise Retail Park, and represented the county in the final of the 9th annual canine competition which is becoming more popular each year.

It was Lunas, genuine and engaging personality, that won over the hearts of the judges and placed her in second position of the all-Ireland competition.

Lunas owner and dog-lover Ruth Roberts from Portlaoise was thrilled with the award.

She said: My dog Sam was my best friend for 13 years. When he crossed the rainbow bridge last year he left a huge hole in my heart that I never thought would be filled.

When little Luna came along with her cute puppy smile, big cuddles and even bigger heart it has brought immense joy back into my familys life.

Im so happy that Petmania and the Puppy of the Year competition has allowed me to share her joy and puppy smiles to anyone who needs it. Im so proud she was selected as a finalist, and so appreciative to everyone that voted for her.

For more information about Petmania, the latest advice on pet healthcare and wellbeing and to find your local store, log onto www.petmania.ie
A MEETING is to be sought between officials from Bord na Mona, the interim Executive Officer of Laois County Council, Portlaoise councillors and a local committee to examine the possibility of opening up the old railway lines linking Cashel and Ross Bogs and Cul Na Mona to develop a cycle and walkway.

Councillors at the Portlaoise Municipal District Council meeting in October agreed to such a meeting after the district councils Cathaoirleach cllr Willie Aird proposed such a motion.

Cathaoirleach Aird said: Bord na Mona will not meet with any group without the backing of Laois County Council and without council officials being present and thats been made very clear to me.

I want to thank the Clonkeen group who started this originally under the leadership of Val Hennessy, John Seale, Helen Bonham and one or two others. Its a great project.

I had to call it something when I was writing to the minister about it and I called it The OMoore Way. They can call it whatever they come up with afterwards. We cant call it after any bog, because if we do people on the different bogs wont be happy with us for that.

Cathaoirleach Aird was at pains to point out when he said: I want to make this crystal clear. We will not be touching or having hand, act or part to do with any of the banks that are there that are being cut by people at the moment. That is not the agenda. The agenda is on the old railway line that Bord na Mona built when they were extracting the peat off the bogs which are now complete and finished. Whether they re-wet them or whatever, that is not our remit.

Our remit is to start on the Abbeyleix Road or come in from Cashel onto the old railway line under the Abbeyleix Road. Go across and pass down by the Cul na Mona factory, then onto the side of Togher Woods and on down then to cross Clonkeen Road. You then go onto the old Limerick Road onto the underpass on the new Motorway.

He said: This is a very exciting project and a huge opportunity to do it in conjunction with Bord na Mona when they are lifting the lines. You could be back-filling at the same time and it could be opened up relatively quickly.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said: This has been ongoing for just a year. Theres a very active committee working on it. The council is very positive about this project as well. Laois Partnership are now getting involved with the committee. Its a very exciting project not just for locals but for Laois and for tourists. So far Bord na Mona have been very positive in response to it. When you put the three areas together itd be the biggest bog in Ireland.

Cllr Fitzgerald said that the committee is also trying to purchase the last working locomotive from Bord na Mona.

Its a huge opportunity for tourism in the county and a huge opportunity for both Ballyroan and Abbeyleix, said cllr Barry Walsh.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly said: All you have to do is look at the success of the Abbeyleix Bog Project and the amount of people using it on a daily basis. 25-years ago, next year, we had to have a bit of a protest to stop Bord na Mona cultivating it. After a couple of years they saw the light and now have an agreement with the bog project in Abbeyleix for a 50-year lease. Theres nothing only positives out of this.

Cllrs Caroline Dwane Stanley and Tommy Mulligan also lent their support to the project.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, November 2. Direct flights from Tajikistan to Qatar are being initiated, the travel operator "EASYBOOKING," the flight organizer in partnership with the Tajik national airline "Somon Air" said, Trend reports.

Flights will operate weekly from Tajikistans Dushanbe Airport on Thursdays, with the inaugural flight scheduled for November 28.

To note, Tajik citizens can enter Qatar without a visa and stay for up to 30 days. A similar visa-free regime applies to Qatari citizens entering Tajikistan.

Additionally, "EASYBOOKING" and "Somon Air" launched direct flights to Georgias Tbilisi in April of this year.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the proper response when an atheist sneezes, instead of God bless you? What about people you dont know? I had a lady give me a hard time when she sneezed and I didnt say bless you.

GENTLE READER: You could try saying gesundheit, but then by your logic, someone might think you were German.

Miss Manners suggests that you try to be less literal about an admittedly nonsensical convention. And if you leave out the God part, consider that no one said it has to be his blessing -- only a considerate humans.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
Authorities are investigating the death of a New Jersey man found in his car in Lehigh County on Thursday, officials said Saturday.

Vyacheslav Chornyy, 56, of Hackettstown, was found dead in his car on the 6000 block of Warden Road in Lowhill Township Thursday around 12:45 p.m., officials said Saturday.

The circumstances of Chroneys death did not seem suspicious, according to authorities.

The cause and manner of death remain under investigation by the Lehigh County Coroners Office, officials said Saturday.

The Pennsylvania State Police and coroners office are investigating the incident, authorities said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Seven years on from the disastrous Mountmellick flood, the Taoiseach and the Minister in charge of the Office of Public Works, have addressed the long wait for flood barriers in the town and in Portarlington.

Minister of State for the OPW Kieran O'Donnell was at the official turning of the sod for Portlaoise Garda Station by Taoiseach Simon Harris on Friday morning, November 1.

They were asked by the Leinster Express / Laois Live if it was acceptable that there are still no flood defences in place in the town Laois towns.

"In terms of Mountmellick, I understand people's frustrations but Laois County Council would be putting in an application for planning at the end of this year. The intention would be that it would commence construction in 2025 and be completed by 2027," Minister O'Donnell said.

Emergency services evacuating residents in Mountmellick on November 22, 2017. Photo: Kevin Byrne

"In Portarlington, there have been delays but the intention would be that Laois County Council would go for planning in 2025, once again with construction to commence the year after and be completed by 2028.

"There is a steering group which involves the OPW and Laois County Council and other stakeholders who meet regularly. I've asked my own officials in the OPW to engage intensively with Laois County Council and see what interim measures can be brought forward in advance of the main schemes being constructed. It's something I want to see happening immediately," the Minister said.

He added that Laois County Council has drafted an environmental report to address the concerns of residents of Derrycloney who fear that the flood scheme will force their area to flood.

"That will be shown to the residents before the end of November so they'll have that reassurance around that area also," the OPW Minister said.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is conscious of the stress of waiting for the flood barriers.

"These are schemes that the Government has committed funding to, and the funding is in place to get one of these into construction in 2025 and get the planning application in for the other.

"We have the money. We need to get it done and I welcome Minister O'Donnell's commitments in terms of interim measures. I'm conscious that this is a stress that communities live with. It also does highlight the need to do more and do better when it comes to the delivery of infrastructure.

"It frustrates and quite frankly drives people mad. They hear that the Government has their money in place to deliver schemes but bureaucracy takes too long. I passionately believe when we're forming the next Government, whoever is elected, the delivery of a department of infrastructure, we've got to cut through red tape. Particularly when those things are so important to people's homes, businesses, farms and we're seeing in other countries the devastating impacts that floods have had and we've seen them in this country as well," Taoiseach Harris said.

The Taoiseach had expressed his sympathy to the people of Valentia in Spain, where deaths from flash floods had risen to over 200 by Friday.

"It's an extraordinarily tragic and sad time, the scale of loss of life from these flood, and the speed at which they happened, and sadly there may be more to come in terms of weather events in Spain. The advice is clear to Irish citizens, you shouldn't travel to the Valentia region or Eastern Spain with the weather predicted," he said.

Mountmellick suffered widespread floods in 2017 which forced a shutdown of the N80 main street, emergency evacuations and damage to nearly 100 homes and businesses. Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme includes reconstruction of the stone bridge in Derrycloney to allow more river water to flow through.

The Mountmellick scheme, a mix of flood walls and wide embankments, is now expected to cost 7.45 million and the Portarlington scheme 15 million.
It was perhaps appropriate that the final speaker at the Civic Reception held by Laois County Council to honour Francie Gorman was his school friend, fellow farmer and IFA colleague John Fitzpatrick.

Both, the event was told, made their communions together and John was by Francie's side during the IFA presidential election campaign that culminated in Francie ascending to lead an organisation of 75,000 members across the 26 counties.

John's brief few words of praise for his friend and colleague concluded with the comment. "We're behind you all the way Francie, he said.

It was a profound compliment to Francie and his leadership which thousands of farmers in Laois and beyond saw when they voted for him in the IFA presidential election.

This continued support was reflected at the Civic Reception in County Hall Portlaoise on Friday, October 31 when county chairs from Cork, Galway, Tipperary, Kildare and Offaly gathered to celebrate Francie's electoral achievement.

His status and popularity in the association was also reflected by the presence of IFA Director General, Damian McDonald, vice-president Alice Doyle and others. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Apart from John Fitzpatrick, Laois County Chair for Francie's election campaign, Laois farmers were out in force to honour their president.

It was those members who backboned his campaign around a core group of Pat Hennessy, Ann Marie Aird, John Fitzpatrick, Henry Burns and others.

Henry and Pat were among the speakers at the Civic Reception. Apart from their praise for their president, they were fulsome in their thanks to Laois IFA members present who got Francie over the line in an election that he started as an outsider.

As Laois County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Padraig Fleming had the honour of bestowing the Civic Reception on the Ballinakill man in recognition of his electoral success.

Laois municipal district chairs Cllr Willie Aird, Cllr Conor Bergin and Cllr Vivienne Phelan were all delighted to speak in praise. They were joined by Cllr John King, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, Cllr Aisling Moran and Cllr Ollie Clooney. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Laois IFA Chair, Henry Burns, IFA Director General, Damian McDonald, IFA President Francie Gorman. Pic: Leinster Express / Laois Live

Laois Offaly TDs, Minister of State Sean Fleming and Dep Brian Stanley also congratulated Francie on his achievement.

Simon Walton, acting council CEO, spoke on behalf of the local authority executive and staff.

Just like racehorse trainer Aidan O'Brien after winning a big race, Francie was humble, fulsome and generous in his praise and thanks to everyone who helped him to become IFA president.

Initially reluctant to run, the former Portlaoise Rugby Club player told the gathering that when he made his mind up to have a go he would give it everything just like he probably did during games at Togher.

When I put my head down I said to myself I'd stay going, he said.

Stay going, a great Laois phrase, he did and Francie's campaign didn't stop until he got to the Irish Farm Centre this February to assume the leadership of Ireland's biggest farm organisation for a four-year term. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Cllr Padraig Fleming makes a presentation to Francie, Kay and son Tom Gorman. Pic: Leinster Express / Laois Live

He said he was honoured to accept the award in his native county because Laois and its people, is for Francie, where all starts and ends.

I'm a proud Laois man and even if I won the lotto I wouldn't want to live anywhere else but Laois, he said.

The event concluded with Pat Delaney reading the Civic Reception citation which was presented by Cllr Padraig Fleming.
A dedicated Laois mother with three of her four young children needing extreme care, has been chosen as the Netwatch LaoisFamilyCarer of the Year for 2024.

Family Carers Ireland, the national charity supporting Irelands family carers has announced that this years Netwatch Laois Family Carer of the Year is Sarah Dooley from Debbycot, Mountmellick.

Sarah, who was nominated by a friend, is a mum of four boys including twins John and Patrick (5). Cathal (7) and Eoin (9).

The twins are autistic and non-verbal while Cathal has been treated for leukaemia over the past three years which has required constant hospital visits.

Sarah has had to battle hard to get her youngest sons a school place and has put her career on hold to care for her children full-time.

"She is a remarkable woman who shows incredible dedication to her kids every day," Family Carers Ireland say about Sarah.

Now in their 17th year, the awards seek to honour all family carers while shining a light on the urgent need for greater recognition and support of those who go above and beyond in caring for their loved ones, often without the necessary support from the State including appropriate financial compensation, respite and vital therapies for their loved ones.

There are over 500,000 family carers in Ireland caring for children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses, mental health challenges or addiction. Family carers play a critical role in our society and each week provide 19 million hours in unpaid work.

If the State were to seek to replace this support, it would cost an astonishing 20 billion annually.

Beth Wogan is the local Community Support Manager with Family Carers Ireland.

Each year, the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year awards remind us of the vital role that family carers play in our society and shine a light on the incredible work that they do, which is too often unseen and unrecognised. As a society, we must do much more to ensure that family carers are properly recognised, valued and supported to care safely for their loved ones at home.

Netwatch Brand Ambassador is the Irish rugby legend Mick Galwey.

Ive seen the dedication family carers show day after day, often without any acknowledgement. Whether it's a mother caring for a child with additional needs or a young carer supporting a parent, the commitment and love they show is truly inspiring. These awards offer us all a chance to give something back and to let these carers know we see their struggles and their strength, he said.

Family Carers Ireland is the national charity supporting the 500,000+ family carers across the country who care for loved ones such as children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses, mental health challenges, or addiction.

It provides a range of services and supports for family carers through its Carer Support Centres nationwide and through its National Freephone Careline 1800 24 07 24. See www.familycarers.ie for more information.
Twenty five Portlaoise families living in food poverty have been given a kind boost of 5,000.

Car rental company Enterprise Mobility has donated 20,000 to Childrens Rights Alliance Funds to support charities in Donegal, Dublin, Monaghan, Cavan, Limerick and in Portlaoise in Laois.

A new report from the Childrens Rights Alliance, in partnership with Enterprise Mobility and four local charities, has highlighted the significant financial burden faced by families during school holidays.

In response of the report, Enterprise Mobility generously donated 20,000 to support over 230 families and nearly 800 children across six counties in Ireland.

Through Enterprises Fill Your Tank initiative, the funding has been distributed to charities including Doras, FamiliBase, the Portlaoise Family Resource Centre and the National Childhood Network.

Portlaoise Family Resource Centre in Treo Nua centre.

The support is particularly crucial during school holidays when families often face increased expenses for food and activities.

In County Laois, Enterprise Mobility has donated 5,000 to the Portlaoise Family Resource Centre in Knockmay. This funding has provided 25 families, including 100 children and young people, with essential supermarket vouchers.

One Social Worker at Portlaoise FRC who supported a single mother, described the benefit.

Mum was so delighted to get the weekly voucher over the summer as it allowed her to keep up with payments of bills as she had the vouchers towards food costs.

Leslee OLoughlin is HR Manager for Enterprise Mobility in Ireland.

No family should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Through our Fill Your Tank initiative, we aim to provide real, tangible support to families in need. We are proud to help ease the strain that so many parents face, especially during the school holidays when children are at home.

Over the past three years, the Fill Your Tank initiative has made a significant impact, supporting nearly 1,000 families and 2,300 children across eight counties in Ireland.
South East Technological University (SETU) has been hit by a cyber attack.

SETU said in a short statement on Friday that its IT systems were targeted.

The university said the cybersecurity incident was identified at the earliest possible stage and its IT team moved swiftly to safeguard its systems.

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that any data or information has been compromised. However, we continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations are ongoing, it said.

Our internal IT team is liaising with external cyber security experts to resolve the issue and minimise any potential impact.

However, staff and students may experience some disruption as we continue to work to resolve the issue.

It said that relevant Government departments and authorities have been notified.

SETU, Irelands fifth technological university, was established on May 1 2022 and has 18,500 students across four campuses in Waterford, Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow.
SDCL EDGE Acquisition Corp. Announces Redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares





SDCL EDGE Acquisition Corporation (the "Company") (NYSE:SEDA) announced today that due to the Company not consummating an initial business combination within the time period required by its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the "Charter"), the Board of Directors of the Company has elected to dissolve and liquidate the Company in accordance with the provisions of its Charter.

As stated in the Charter, if the Company does not consummate a Business Combination by (i) August 2, 2024 or (ii) November 2, 2024, in the event that the Directors resolve by resolutions of the board of Directors, to extend the amount of time to complete a Business Combination for up to three (3) times for an additional one (1) month each time after August 2, 2024, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles, the Company shall: (a) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (b) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Class A shares issued as part of the units issued in the initial public offering ("Public Shares"), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Company's trust account (the "Trust Account") held with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company ("Continental"), including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then Public Shares in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders' rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (c) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company's remaining shareholders and the Directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

Net of taxes and dissolution expenses, the per-share redemption price for the Public Shares is expected to be approximately $11.31 (the "Redemption Amount") based upon the amount held in the trust account as of September 30, 2024, which was approximately $58,688,796.

The Company anticipates that the Public Shares, as well as the Company's publicly traded units, will cease trading as of the close of business on November 1, 2024. After November 1, 2024, the Company shall cease all operations except for those required to redeem the Public Shares and wind up the Company's business. The redemption of the Public Shares is expected to be completed within ten business days after November 2, 2024, by November 18, 2024 (the "Expected Redemption Date"). As of the Expected Redemption Date, the Public Shares will be deemed cancelled and will represent only the right to receive the Redemption Amount.

There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company's warrants, which will expire worthless. The Company's initial shareholders waived their redemption rights with respect to the outstanding Class B ordinary shares issued prior to the Company's initial public offering.

In order to provide for the disbursement of funds from the Trust Account, the Company will instruct Continental to take all necessary actions to liquidate the Trust Account. Registered holders may redeem their shares for their pro rata portion of the proceeds of the Trust Account upon presentation of their respective share or unit certificates or other delivery of their shares or units to Continental, the Company's transfer agent. Beneficial owners of Public Shares held in "street name," however, will not need to take any action in order to receive the Redemption Amount.

The Company expects that The New York Stock Exchange will file a Form 25 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") to delist its securities. The Company thereafter expects to file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration of its securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

About SDCL EDGE Acquisition Corp.

SEDA is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any business combination target and therefore in accordance with our Charter, we will proceed with the dissolution and liquidation of the Company. For more information above SEDA, please visit https://www.sdcledge.com. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release and certain materials the Company files with the SEC, as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by the Company, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs regarding future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events, certain of which are beyond the Company's control, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, a variety of risk factors affecting the Company's business and prospects disclosed in the Company's annual, quarterly reports and subsequent reports filed with the SEC, as amended from time to time. Any or all of these occurrences could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements, and the Company does not undertake to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that may arise after the date of the forward-looking statements.

1 november 2024 at 21:00

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A CROOM businessman is back in the winners enclosure with two more industry awards.

Padraig Broderick, who runs Spar in the town, was successful at this years Checkout National Grocery Awards, which were held in Dublin.

These accolades highlight best in class performance in retailing and honour those who help Irelands pioneering stores and retail outlets achieve levels of service and product excellence that set them apart from their competitors.

READ MORE: AIB invests 40 million in upgrades to branch network with six refurbishments in Limerick

Brodericks Spar won retail store of the year, small supermarket, for the second year in a row.

Mr Broderick was also presented with a Best Food to Go offering award.

Spar sales director Colin Donnelly said: These two national awards are terrific recognition for Padraig and all the team in Brodericks Spar Croom. For the second successive year this terrific Spar store has been acknowledged on the national stage. I want to offer my wholehearted congratulations to Padraig and his team in Spar Croom. They are great champions for the Spar 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.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 2. Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover with the US reached $672.2 million from January through September 2024.

Data obtained by Trend from the country's Statistics Agency shows that this number increased by 52.2 percent compared to the same period last year ($441.6 million from January through September 2023).

The US ranked in the top ten in terms of trade turnover among Uzbekistan's largest trading partners for the period.

Uzbekistan's exports to the US totaled $238.4 million, which is 134.6 percent more than last year ($101.6 million from January through September 2023).

Uzbekistan's imports from the US totaled $433.8 million from January through September 2024. This figure is a significant increase of 27.5 percent over the same period last year ($340 million from January through September 2023).

To note, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $48.2 billion from January through September 2024. This indicator increased by 7.7 percent compared to the same period last year ($44.7 billion in January-September 2023).
COUNTY Limerick residents are powering themselves up for another battle as proposals for a gas-fired power plant returned to planners for a third time.

Kilshane Energy is once again seeking permission from Limerick City and County Council to develop at an abandoned quarry site in Luddenmore, near Ballyneety.

The company, which is headquartered in Armagh, is seeking permission to build a new open cycle turbine power generation station.

READ MORE: Over 26k raised for Milford Care Centre in memory of late Limerick resident

The proposal will see one gas turbine and one 44 metre high exhaust stack.

Other facilities will include fuel storage tanks, plus a storage and warehouse building.

The plant would be capable of generating power for up to 300,000 homes, but would primarily be used to tackle energy shortages which may occur during extreme weather events.

An action group made up of locals from the surrounding area has once again swung into action and are preparing an objection to the application, which has a decision date of early next month.

"The community of Lough Gur, Ballyneety and Caherconlish are deeply disappointed to see a third planning notice erected at the site of the old Roadstone quarry," they said in a statement.

Kilshane has been before the council twice before with similar applications, and on each occasion, has withdrawn the plans before a decision is made.

Suzanne Higgins, who lives close to the site, has pledged that the local community will "fight every application that is made".

"The quarry has been abandoned 14 years and has been reclaimed by nature. The old quarry is brimming with wildlife and home to birds of prey," she said.

For its part, consultants for the company said the development is consistent with the objectives of the National Development Plan and will help in addressing limits on the electricity grid, where renewable energy cannot meet the demand.

They also argue it is in line with Limerick's County Development Plan to deliver new energy infrastructure.

Attention was also drawn to a government policy statement on electricity supply which says new conventional electricity generation "is a national priority" and "should be permitted and supported".

When Kilshane's plans went before council first, 841 people signed a petition in opposition, while 53 wrote to local planners outlining their concerns.

The campaign group have pointed out that almost 2,500 has been spent in lodging submissions to planning, which could have been used to improve the local community field or support the school.
OpenAI's last major Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) release, GPT-4, launched in March 2023, and since then, ChatGPT users have been eagerly awaiting the next big upgrade. Although OpenAI introduced GPT-4o, an iteration of GPT-4 with enhanced text, vision, and audio capabilities earlier this year, there has been no sign of a significant new model release. However, Sam Altman has now provided an official update on the future of GPT-5 during a recent AMA session on Reddit.

When asked about the release date and features of GPT-5, Altman responded, we have some very good releases coming later this year! nothing that we are going to call gpt-5, though.

Altmans response indicates that while GPT-5 itself may not be on OpenAIs immediate roadmap, users could expect a new model release by the end of this year.

Replying to another question about why GPT-5 is taking this long to deliver, Altman said, All of these models have gotten quite complex and we can't ship as many things in parallel as we'd like to. (we also face a lot of limitations and hard decisions about we allocated our compute towards many great ideas.)

OpenAI takes on Google with ChatGPT Search: Meanwhile, OpenAI on Friday announced a new search functionality in ChatGPT, taking it toe to toe with Microsoft's Bing and Google search. The new search feature is powered by the GPT-4o model and is a more evolved version of the SearchGPT prototype unveiled by the company earlier this year.

The ChatGPT search feature is triggered by default based on what the user is searching for. There is also an option to manually activate the search functionality by clicking on the new web search icon, located just adjacent to the attachment icon.
A California district court judge in the United States has allowed ex-Twitter executives, including former CEO Parag Agrawal, to pursue lawsuits against Elon Musk for severance pay, Bloomberg reported on November 2.

In a ruling made late on November 1 (US time), the judge ruled that dismissed Twitter executives can sue the billionaire for terminating their roles with the social media company during his acquisition and before they could resign, in order to cheat them of their severance, it added. Agrawal, ex-CFO Ned Segal, ex-legal and policy chief Vijaya Gadde, and the company's former general counsel Sean Edgett have filed the lawsuit.

Musk took over Twitter in a much publicised buy-out in 2022 and soon re-branded the social media platform as X.

200 Million Differential According to the complaint filed in March 2024, the former high-ranking officers cited Musk's biography by Walter Isaacson, in which Musk told the author there was a "200 million differential in the cookie jar between closing tonight and doing it tomorrow morning" when referring to the rush in Twitter's $44 billion acquisition.

The ex-execs claim that they are owed severance benefits equal to one years salary and unvested stock awards valued at the acquisition price.

Representatives of X didnt immediately respond to queries, the report added. The case is Agrawal v. Musk, 24-cv-01304, US District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

Future Course for Other Lawsuits This is among many legal claims against Musk, who suddenly fired thousands of Twitter staff after acquiring the company.

Judge Chesney is overseeing two other lawsuits brought by Twitter executives, including one by Twitter's former core tech general manager Nicholas Caldwell, who is seeking $20 million as lost severance compensation. The judge on November 1 also denied a request by Musk's lawyers to dismiss Caldwell's claims.

In September 2024, one such ex-employee won unpaid severance through closed-door arbitration, setting a precedent for other cases, lawyers told Bloomberg. And in July 2024, Musk and X successfully fought off a suit for $500 million in severance pay for around 6,000 laid-off employees.

Also Read | Nvidia set to replace Intel in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on November 8
A market share of 50% in a highly competitive industry is a rarity. Of all the major Indian companies, only two, Asian Paints and IndiGo, have managed that consistently. While the first is an 82-year-old company, which makes its 53% market share and sustained leadership a magnificent achievement, IndiGo has been in business for less than 20 years.

Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal, the two men who have guided IndiGos destiny over the years as its co-founders, are a part of Indian corporate folklore. While only Bhatia is left in the pilots seat, Gangwal is the more intriguing personality, not least because of his decision to exit the firm he helped build, at its peak.

The airline industry veteran attended Don Bosco School in Kolkata before studying engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Early jobs with Philips India, at a time when it was considered a blue-chip employer, and Ford in the US were his career launch pads.

A stint with Booz Allen Hamilton followed, where Eli Lilly was a client. Inspired by the pharmaceutical giant, Gangwal returned to India to establish a firm making capsules. But the Indian bureaucracy stymied his efforts.

Also read | How Ratan Tata set the leadership benchmark for his successors

Gangwal flew back to the US and built a reputation as an airline industry specialist based on his time at United Airlines and Air France. He then took over as the chief executive of US Airways, and subsequently led Worldspan Technologies, a travel technology and information services company, as its CEO from 2003 to 2007.

The stage was set for his return to India with an entrepreneurial idea that would change the face of Indian aviation. At that point, the airline market in India was dominated by gold-plated carriers like Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways, which figured out only too late that balance sheets are filled by hard numbers, not goody bags.

IndiGo, guided by the obsessively cost-conscious Gangwal, chose a different flight path marked by tight cost controls and no-frills operations while delivering on-time schedules to passengers. The approach was a runaway success, and the low-cost airline model took root in India, forcing even full-service airlines to compete on price and punctuality. The IndiGo co-founders went on to pioneer other cost-saving measures, such as placing bulk orders for planes with a single manufacturer on a wet lease basis.

Also read | Bankings Mir Jafars who sold out India to the colonizers

A second wind

Gangwal once likened the airline business to a candle lit at both ends, which meant that the window for opportunity to make money was limited. But he built on IndiGos early success, guiding the airline to its pre-eminent position in an Indian market where heavyweights like Jet, Kingfisher and Go First have gone into liquidation.

But just when IndiGo looked like it was soaring, the pandemic came, wreaking havoc on the airline business. Not surprisingly, IndiGo slumped into losses. Simultaneously, its only serious rival, the Tata group, added heft to its airline capability by buying the government-owned Air India, which had long turned into a white elephant.

But for IndiGo, the biggest setback came when Gangwal announced in February 2022 that he would leave the company he had helped set up and gradually sell off his stake. A difference of opinion over how the company was being managed appeared to be the immediate cause, though Gangwal had been voicing concern over corporate governance issues for a while. For a man known to refuse even concessional tickets to friends and family, that was a deal-breaker.

Also read | Mint Explainer: IndiGo adjusts flight path with business class and loyalty programme. Tailwinds or headwinds?

But while Gangwal may have left aviation, the sector was in no mood to leave him. Earlier this year, he joined the board of Southwest Airlines, the low-cost US carrier that was facing growing pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management over leadership and strategy changes.

Putting his money where his mouth is, a few months later Gangwal acquired 3.6 million shares of the American airline for $108 million. Southwests shares are up nearly 10% over the last six months since Gangwal joined the airlines board.

Gangwal will be keeping a close watch on that number since it will be a guide to the airlines performance.

Also read | Haridas Mundhras Butterfly Effect: How one mans schemes shook Indias markets and government

Why pamper the customer?

The money Gangwal makes from Southwest Airlines will be the last thing on his mind. His net worth as per Forbes may be $5.6 billion, but his attitude to wealth hasnt changed in all these years.

Not averse to wearing old, hand-knit sweaters, Gangwal has very few indulgences, and his lifestyle remains that of a typical Jain family from Kolkata. So when in 2015 Gangwal and his wife Shobha bought an 80,000 sq.ft. Miami Beach home for $30 million from Charles Johnson, the retired founder of Franklin Templeton Funds, it came as a surprise to many.

Also read | Bijon Nag, the entrepreneur who personified what Bengal could have been

Tarun Shukla in his fascinating book Sky High: The IndiGo Story, offers a great insight into the mans attitude: Gangwal felt that there was no need to pamper the customer with extras. A piano on the plane may make it look fancy, but does it add to profitability? New ideas are a dime a dozen, but commercially worth little. Its like a diseaseget excited and introduce frills from lounges to frequent fliers to everything elsethen never recover the costs incurred."

If only the likes of Vijay Mallya (Kingfisher Airlines) and Naresh Goyal (Jet Airways) had paid heed to those words.
(Bloomberg) -- The 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference, held in Cali, Colombia, was suspended on Saturday as countries failed to agree on the creation of a new global fund for nature, after tense talks that stretched through Friday night. Establishing the fund was a key demand of developing countries, but the EU, Switzerland and other developed nations raised last-minute objections.

An EU negotiator said the bloc could not accept a new official development assistance fund further fragmenting the biodiversity finance landscape. A new fund does not mean new funding.

With delegates trickling out of the closing plenary to travel home, COP President Susana Muhamad, Colombias environment minister, invoked a quorum and then announced there were not enough people to deliberate, suspending the conference.

The conference has not been closed, said David Ainsworth of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. When and where it will resume is still to be determined.

Anything already adopted at COP16 still stands and is operative, Ainsworth said. That includes an agreement on a separate new fund for countries to protect nature, to be paid into by companies that sell products, like drugs and cosmetics, based on genetic data from the natural world.

Also still standing is the creation of a permanent body to include Indigenous peoples and local communities in decision-making, which Leila Salazar-Lopez, executive director of the nonprofit Amazon Watch, called a historic victory.

Delegates at the two-week-long COP16 worked to advance on a landmark global biodiversity pact adopted by 196 nations in Montreal two years ago.

Jiwoh Abdulai, Sierra Leones minister of environment and climate change, said, Two years ago, we made a commitment to do better and be better. This COP has neither delivered that additional funding nor given us confidence that governments will work together to deliver it in a transparent and urgent manner.

--With assistance from Andrea Jaramillo.

(Updates with comments from the EU, Leila Salazar-Lopez and Jiwoh Abdulai.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
The INDIA bloc finalised its seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly polls on Saturday  with the Hemant Soren-led JMM set to contest 43 seats. The Congress will field candidates from 30 constituencies. The Rashtriya Janata Dal will contest six seats while the Left parties will contest three seats.

Bloc leaders have however indicated the possibility of a friendly battle in three Jharkhand constituencies. The JMM and CPI-ML have already opted for a clash in Dhanwar. Meanwhile the Congress and RJD are still working to avoid a similar face-off for the Chhattarpur and Bishrampur seats.

"JMM, Congress, RJD and CPI-ML are jointly contesting the Jharkhand polls under INDIA bloc. Seat-sharing arrangements have been settled for all the constituencies in the alliance  excluding Chhatarpur, Bishrampur and Dhanwar. The JMM has decided to go for a friendly contest with CPI-ML in Dhanwar seat," JMM general secretary Vinod Pandey told reporters on Saturday.

Also Read | Jharkhand Assembly Elections: CM Hemant Soren files nomination from Barhait seat

Both the RJD and Congress have fielded their candidates from Chhatarpur and Bishrampur seats. The seat sharing arrangement has not been officially declared and Pandey indicated that results were likely in a day or two.

Soren had stoked outrage last month after contending that the Congress-JMM combine would be fielding candidates from 70 out of 81 seats. The assertion had left the RJD and other allies outraged at the time with members of the bloc engaging in a furious war of words. Pandey however confirmed on Saturday that the RJD had been allocated six seats following discussions while CPI-ML was given three seats under the INDIA bloc.

Elections to the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20. Votes will be counted later this month on November 23.

The JMM had won 30 seats in the 2019 elections while the allied Congress secured 16 seats. The BJP won 25 seats, JVM-P three, AJSU Party two, CPI-ML and NCP one each. Two seats were bagged by Independents.
Jharkhand Elections: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday accused Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the JMM government of doing corruption in the name of government schemes.

Chouhan, who is also BJP's election in-charge for Jharkhand, claimed that Hemant Soren and the JMM govt had done corruption in the money allotted to them for MGNREGA and Jal Jeevan Mission.

The former Madhya Pradesh CM also alleged that JMM government also misused the money that was allocated for the widow sisters.

"It will be investigated where all the money which the central govt has allocated to them has gone. This govt has misused the money of the central government," added Chouhan.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is also grappling with the ongoing controversy over his age.

Also Read | Jharkhand: Former state Congress working president joins BJP ahead of polls

Sanjay Seth, Union Minister of State for Defence, has criticised Soren for inconsistencies in his stated age on nomination papers, claiming that even the gods are astounded to see Soren age seven years within a span of five.

However, Soren's wife and JMM MLA Kalpana Soren accused the BJP of bringing 'age controversy' to the limelight, and stated the saffron party is scared of Hemant.

BJP MP Deepak Prakash accused Soren of taking the entire Jharkhand towards anarchy.

Also Read | EC enforces exit poll ban ahead of Jharkhand, Maharashtra Assembly elections

"If anyone has taken the entire Jharkhand towards anarchy today, it is the Hemant Soren government... Under whose protection are these things happening? Who has looted the mineral wealth that nature has given us?... The tribals are in danger today, their culture is in danger... Champai Soren is also a tribal, Sita Soren was also a tribal but with what indifference did you (Hemant Soren) evict them... Stop cheating in the name of tribals," Deepak Prakash said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday said that JMM stands for 'Jhol, Muslim appeasement and the Mafia'.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will go head-to-head next week as a vast majority of US citizens cast their ballots. The Republican leader has repeatedly assured that he would accept the results of a free and fair election  without actually explaining what that might look like. Poll watchers and top officials remain braced for a premature victory declaration reminiscent of the previous election.

We are sadly ready if he does and, if we know that he is actually manipulating the press and attempting to manipulate the consensus of the American people  we are prepared to respond, Harris told ABC News during a recent interview.

She has previously indicated that there were teams in place to tackle such a situation.

The former POTUS has repeatedly insisted for the past four years that he had won the 2020 polls  with many supporters backing the assertion. It is also pertinent to note that supporters of the Republican leader had led the January 6 Capitol riots after his defeat to Joe Biden.

Trump had also dubbed himself the winner hours after Election Day in 2020  well before the results were tallied. President Biden was later declared the winner on the Saturday after Election Day.

Disinformation about the 2024 US presidential election is currently spreading on an unprecedented scale  with online instigators sowing doubts about the integrity of the electoral process as millions of Americans cast their ballots.

Heading into Election Day, conspiracy theorists and foreign actors are amplifying unverified allegations of fraud that echo Donald Trumps claims that the result cant be trusted if he loses to Vice President Kamala Harris. Theyre using Elon Musks X and other social media platforms to sow skepticism among voters by circulating fake images of destroyed ballots and bogus reports about blocked polling places.
New Delhi: Bangladesh, the worlds largest garment producer, has opted to bypass India and ship its textile exports through the Maldives for onward distribution to global markets, hurting the cargo revenue prospects of Indias airports and ports amid strained bilateral ties, according to three people aware of the development.

Previously, Bangladeshi goods were shipped through Indian airports, but now they are rerouting shipments from other locations. This shift means Indias airports and ports lose revenue previously earned from handling these cargoes," Deepak Tiwari, managing director of MSC Agency (India) Pvt Ltd, toldMint over the phone. The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is a leading global container shipping company.

Bangladesh is rerouting its textile exports to the Maldives by sea and then dispatching cargoes by air to its global customers including H&M and Zara, the three people said.

The redirection of textile exports could weaken trade relations between India and Bangladesh and reduce the collaborative opportunities in logistics and infrastructure projects. It could also potentially threaten Indias revenue from port and transit fees, alongside business generated from Bangladeshs exports that pass through Indian borders.

Also Read | Bangladesh garment factories to western buyers: You can rely on us

Seized by the issue, the Indian government is exploring a balanced solution to ensure that Bangladeshs textile exportssignificant in volume and linked to Indian manufacturing hubs in Bangladeshremain beneficial to Indian interests, one person said.

A significant portion of these Bangladeshi textile exports are being produced in facilities or factories owned or operated by Indian companies based in Bangladesh," the first person said.

Bangladesh's textile industry contributes 80% of its exports and 13% of its GDP.

The issue is under the government's attention. We are currently reviewing its impact on India," the second person said.

Controlling supply chain

Industry experts suggested that Bangladesh took this step to gain greater control over its supply chain and meet its shipment deadlines by avoiding delays caused at Indias airports.

This new route offers Bangladesh a strategic advantage along with improved reliability, which is crucial for meeting tight deadlines in the international clothing market," said Arun Kumar, president of the Association of Multimodal Transport Operators of India, an industry body advocating seamless, efficient transportation solutions across sea, rail and road networks in India. Furthermore, by avoiding reliance on Indian ports, Bangladesh is ensuring greater control over its supply chain."

Kumar explained that textiles are also treated as perishable goods and that failure to deliver them on time results in the rejection of consignments. Garments meant for a specific season lose their value if they are delivered late.

Indian textile exporters had a different perspective on the rerouting of exports by Bangladesh.

Theres nothing to read into this. Indian airports are already congested, and we had also requested the government to restrict Bangladeshi textiles from passing through Indian airports," Anil Buchasia, executive member, eastern region, Apparel Export Promotion Council, toldMint over the phone.

The third person aware of the developments dismissed suggestions that the move was linked to the ouster in August of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently said to be staying in India. The International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh) had issued an arrest warrant against her in October.

The government does not see this as a reaction to Sheikh Hasina's asylum. Textiles are the backbone of Bangladesh's economy, so they must have made this decision to promote their textile exports," the third person said.

Garment exports

Bangladeshs garment exports fell 4.34% to $44.47 billion in FY24, according to Bangladesh Bank. The decline was attributed primarily to reduced shipments of readymade garments, reflecting broader economic challenges.

Bangladesh's garment exports had surged 17% to $46.49 billion in FY23, up from $39.8 billion in FY22. The country was the third-largest exporter of clothing last year, following China and the European Union, and the sector accounted for over 80% of its total export earnings. In comparison, Indias garment exports were less than half that size, placing the country in sixth position.

Queries emailed to the secretary and spokesperson of the ministry of commerce and industry and the High Commissions of Bangladesh and Maldives in India remained unanswered until publication time.

Maldives Airports Company Ltd offers a sea-to-air cargo transshipment service, which allows goods to be transported to the Maldives by sea and then flown to global destinations. Started in March 2024, the inaugural shipment consisted of garments from Bangladesh, which arrived in the Maldives by sea and were flown to Germany via Turkish Airlines in May, according to a media report.

Seven airlines - Qatar Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, Gulf Air, Neos Airlines, and Etihad Airways - were part of the transshipment network, the report said.

Also Read | Why texpreneurs are unable to capitalize on the shift from China & Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the worlds largest garment producer and a supplier to western brands such as H&M, Zara and Carrefour.

The neighbouring country is an important manufacturing hub and export destination for India, with annual cotton shipments to Dhaka reaching $1.86 billion out of total exports of $2.18 billion in FY24, according to commerce ministry data. Indias total exports to Bangladesh in FY24 increased from $2 billion in FY23.

From April to September 2024, Indias exports to Bangladesh totaled $1.25 billion, with cotton accounting for $1.11 billion. In the same period in FY24, exports were worth $912.62 million, with cotton making up $785.1 million.
Adam Smith would be baffled by microelectronics. When the great economist died in 1790 James Watts two-cylinder steam engine passed for the height of technological sophistication. If he recognised the prefix nano"a fair bet for a precocious classicist proficient in dead languages by 14it would be as a derivation of the Greek word for dwarf", not as a reference to the billionths of a metre in which modern semiconductors are measured. The word billion" had entered the English language by Smiths time but the number it denotes would have seemed unfathomable. Some 200bn transistors etched onto a few halfpennies in Nvidias latest Blackwell artificial-intelligence (AI) chip? Black magic, even for an enlightened Scottish rationalist.

The man who observed that the division of labour is limited by the extent of the market" would, though, be on familiar ground seeing the global chip industry. Stripped of modern jargon, the semiconductor supply chain is Smiths insight in action. As the markets extent has swelled, from sales of $45bn in 1979 (in todays money) to perhaps $600bn in 2024 and, forecasters reckon, over $1trn by the early 2030s, labour has been divvied up accordingly.

Gone are the integrated chip giants of the 1970s that, like Americas Intel back in the day, did everything themselves. This is the era of hyperspecialisation. Nvidia and other designers prepare the blueprints. Foundries" like TSMC of Taiwan turn these into physical products by feeding silicon from one set of firms into machines assembled by another. These in turn contain gubbins from even more specialised providers, and so on.

What has not been split as finely is the AI windfall. Since mid-2022 the worlds 100 biggest semiconductor companies by market capitalisation have added $5.4trn in shareholder value. The 48 foundries and equipment-makers among them got just $1trn. The 32 fabless" chipmakers, which design but do not manufacture their own processors, nabbed $4.2trn. Nvidia, whose chips are favoured by AI model-makers, captured three-quarters of that figure. (The 20 firms that continue to both design and manufacture chips, like Intel and Samsung, made barely any gains.)

Nvidias good fortune can be explained by its dizzying financial results. Its revenues nearly quadrupled between the first half of 2022 and the same period this year. It is on course to make $71bn in net profit in 2024, up from $8.4bn two years ago. Still, the foundries and toolmakers may be forgiven for feeling nettled. Nvidias 31 fabless peers are worth nearly as much as the foundries and equipment firms, despite bringing in half as much revenue and only two-fifths as much net profit. They also spend less than half as much on fixed assets and research and development (R&D). Moreover, the equipment-makers (though not the asset-heavy foundries) boast higher operating margins and a better return on capital than the fabless chipmakers.

The disparity is all the more curious in light of Smithian hyperspecialisations side-effect in the chip industry: its hyperconcentration everywhere except the busy fabless end. As product niches have narrowed, the chip supply chain has come to resemble a string of micro-monopolies and duopolies. TSMC and Samsung (which makes chips for clients as well as for itself) tower over the foundry business. ASML of the Netherlands is the sole purveyor of advanced lithography gear. DISCO, a Japanese company, sells 85% of the precision tools to grind and dice silicon wafers into shape. Cadence and Synopsys, two American firms, share the market for chip-design software. Advantest, from Japan, and Teradyne, from America, control post-production chip testing.

The niches may be small but barriers to entry are sky-high. Relative to market size, downstream firms spend huge sums on capital investments and R&D. For DISCO the annual figure is equivalent to 10% of its total addressable market; for ASML and TSMC it exceeds 20%. State-controlled Chinese challengers willing to stomach the necessary investments are being shut out of foreign markets on national-security grounds. To top it off, the incumbents can tap $150bn in handouts from Western and Japanese governments desperate to rebuild domestic chip industries.

If all this looks like a rent-seekers paradise, it doesnt feel like one, sighs a big toolmakers finance chief. For some micro-oligopolists that is because they sell directly to similarly domineering firms one link up the value chain. Having only a handful of buyers tempers a sellers market power. Other companies benefit from a more diverse customer base but have preferred not to squeeze big purchasers such as TSMC, notes Chris Miller, a scholar of semiconductor history at Tufts University.

Poolside manner

Quiescence is harder to sustain when demand for AI chips from deep-pocketed buyers such as Microsoft and Google lets Nvidia charge a fortune for each new model. Its gross margin is now 75%, up from 60% in 2022. Blackwells may go for $40,000 apiece, and tech giants are mulling purchases of a million or more. TSMC, the profit pools second-biggest bather, is expected to raise prices for cutting-edge manufacturing by up to 15%. Other firms that help turn blueprints into reality feel entitled to some of the bonanza, especially when the flow of income from China is slowing as America restricts high-tech exports to its geopolitical adversary.

The fabless and their suppliers could improve their profitability in tandem if all raised prices. But this might crush demand for the end product. Investors readiness to punish any hint of such softness, like ho-hum sales forecasts from AMD, a fabless rival of Nvidias, on October 29th, constrains the chipmakers pricing power. That may prove less of a deterrent downstream. Dont be surprised if the reluctant oligopolists become a bit less bashful about flexing their rent-seeking muscles by the poolside.

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 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 2. Uzbekistan and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed a three-year cooperation program providing for the allocation of non-sovereign financing for projects of Japanese companies in Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

The signing took place during a meeting between the Uzbek Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov and the JBIC Chairman Tadashi Maeda.

Kudratov also met with representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

At the meeting, the parties approved a program for developing new projects in areas such as the training of engineering personnel, the creation of an industrial technopark, and the launch of the "One Territory - One Product" program to teach entrepreneurship skills to the population.

To note, on October 29-31 of this year, Kudratov held a series of meetings and negotiations in Tokyo with officials, heads of financial institutions, and major companies from Japan.

During the meetings, the parties discussed a number of pressing issues related to Uzbek-Japanese trade, economic, and financial-technical cooperation and developed concrete steps to further increase the volume of industrial cooperation and trade across various sectors of the economy.

Overall, the visit highlighted the high level of trust from Japanese government and business circles in the investment climate created in Uzbekistan, as well as their readiness to actively participate in the implementation of investment projects and establish direct cooperation with the countrys entrepreneurs.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
With the September quarter earnings of Indias largest bank by total assets, State Bank of India, just around the corner, analysts have turned bullish on the stock, forecasting a healthy upside from its current market price.

SBI will announce its September quarter (Q2) results on Friday, November 8.

In the first quarter of the current financial year, SBI's net profit remained almost flat. Its net interest income (NII) rose 5.7 per cent year-on-year, while the net interest margin (NIM) dropped 12 basis points (bps).

Also Read | Small-cap stocks tumble as investor sentiment shifts and earnings cool

SBI stock Q2 expectations For Q2FY25, the bank is expected to report a healthy rise in profit, but higher provisions could occur, and margins may witness a slight compression.

According to brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services, SBI may report a 14.5 per cent year-on-year (YoY) rise in net profit while operating profit may rise 37.9 per cent YoY. Net interest income (NII) for the quarter increased 5.3 per cent YoY.

According to Manish Chowdhury, the head of research at Stoxbox, the bank may report healthy performance and profitability this quarter.

Also Read | Dhanteras 2024: Mehta Equities recommends 20 stocks to buy for long term

Chowdhury underscored that the bank has one of the lowest domestic LDR, a strong LCR, and a robust regulatory retail deposit base.

"During the quarter, we can see NIM compression by 10bps, as management said. However, it remains in line with the overall banking sector. During Q1, the slippages were quite high. However, management has stated that the slippages are seasonal, and they are not worried about the underlying quality," said Chowdhury.

"Although overall loan growth in the sector is moderating, we believe SBI has a solid opportunity to capture a larger credit market share. SBI expects credit growth to be nearly 15 per cent for FY25, supported by broad-based credit growth across segments. Given these circumstances, we believe SBI, a leading public sector bank, will likely show solid performance this quarter, with a positive fundamental outlook ahead," Chowdhury said.

SBI share price trend SBI shares have seen healthy gains in the last one year. The stock has risen about 45 per cent over the last year. It hit a 52-week high of 912.10 on June 3, while a 52-week low of 555.25 on November 22 last year.

On the monthly scale, the stock rose 4 per cent in October even as market benchmark Sensex declined 6 per cent.

SBI stock target price Experts believe the stock may potentially rise to the level of 874 in the near term after Q2 results.

"Technically, a close above 824 is good for the stock. Further, we may see an upside to 845, 860 and 874 levels in the coming days. One can keep a stop loss near 794," said Mahesh M Ojha, AVP  Research at Hensex Securities.

Read all market-related news here
The Indian stock market delivered an impressive performance last Samvat, with the benchmark Nifty 50 soaring almost 25 per cent. However, according to Shankar Sharma, ace investor and the founder of GQuant, an AI-tech company, Samvat 2081 could be challenging and a year of moderate to negligible returns.

"India's performance in the last year has been exceptional, to say the least, and frankly, a little beyond my expectations. I think the coming year will be far more challenging than investors are prepared to accept," Sharma said.

Sharma believes that the end of the bull market could be near. He pointed out that the Indian stock market has been on a solid uptrend for the last four years, and usually, bull markets lose steam between five and six years.

"We have had four amazing years of a bull market, and usually, bull markets retire between five and six years. It does not necessarily mean a bear market. All it can mean is a year of moderate to negligible returns," he said.

Also Read | Expert view: Expect moderate returns from the Indian stock market in Samvat 2081

Views about the Indian market Sharma underscored the stretched valuation of the market. He highlighted while valuations of the Indian market have always been much higher compared to those of most emerging markets, one must be cautious about the crazily valued markets.

At this juncture, Sharma is positive about the Chinese market.

"China is one such bit of a market because it has underperformed for a very long time. I do believe it is at an inflexion point, and the returns from China for the next few years can be far ahead of the returns from India," he said.

He believes investors must be cautious due to weak corporate earnings and moderating economic growth.

"We should be cautious about GDP growth numbers because I do believe we are in for a moderation in GDP growth numbers as the government capex slows down," he said.

Also Read | Indian economy likely to impact from Trump proposed tariffs on all countries

Investment strategy Sharma said his investing style is betting on 25 to 50 small and very small market-cap companies and is not interested in large-cap stocks because they have little headroom for growth.

"For me, the large-cap segment holds no interest whatsoever because those are companies that have already become extremely big relative to the size of the economy, and the headroom available for large growth is vastly limited. It is small caps and even smaller caps, and I'm prepared to take the risk and significant losses that come with small-cap investing," Sharma said.

"M investing strategy remains unchanged for the next 12 months, which is to buy a basket of 25 to 50 small and very small market cap companies. I do know that even in the worst of markets, I'm going to get at least five stocks that deliver massive returns and which will more than make up for any losses that I make in the bad ones," said Sharma.

Read Shankar Sharma's full interview here
In 2007, Priyadarshan directed Vidya Balan as the ghostly apparition Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa, with Aneez Bazmee taking over the reins of this comedy-horror franchise in 2022. Akshay Kumar was replaced by Kartik Aaryan, who played Ruhaana charlatan masquerading as a psychic, who communicates with and channels spirits. Tabu stepped into the dual roles of the trapped spirit, Manjulika, and her twin sister, Anjulika.

In part three, Bazmee reinvents the wheel, casting Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit as the (maybe) Manjulikas. However, the presence of these two seasoned actresses in one film does not amount to much. In fact, its a wasted opportunity. While you have two times the Manjulikas, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is half the fun. Even Kartik Aaryan comes across as fatigued, with his character Rooh Babas fake ghostbusting antics.

Writer Aakash Kaushiks story travels 200 years. In the past, this thriving royal house in Bengal formed the backdrop to intense rivalry between the heirs for the throne. A dancing figure was burnt at the stake by an irrationally enraged father, but rose from the ashes to return as a malevolent spirit identified as Manjulika. The spirit was entrapped in a room and sealed off with all kinds of spells, strings and locks.

In the present day, the descendants of the same royal family seem richly dressed but are apparently impoverished and desperate to exorcise their palace of its spirited resident, so they can sell the estate for a handsome sum of money. Rooh Baba is enlisted for the job, and the promise of a substantial payout is all the incentive he needs. His motivation is bolstered by the kings (played by Vijay Raaz) attractive single daughter Meera (Triptii Dimri).

With over 150 minutes of running time, the script is replete with twists:Who is Manjulika? How many Manjulikas are there? Is Ruhaan the reincarnation of Manjulikas half-brother, the erstwhile prince Debendranath?

Balan plays restoration expert Mallika, and Dixit turns up as Mandira, a potential buyer for the palace. Neither characters modus operandi really plays out. The dynamic between Dixit and Balan is an opportunity wasted, filled by the tiresome trio of Bade Pandit, Panditayeen and Chhota Pandit played by Sanjay Mishra, Ashwini Kalsekar and Rajpal Yadav respectively. Their humourless scenes add to an already long film thats high on concept, low on mood, scares, gags and wit. Meta jokes like a send-up of Jawan and Aaryans own misfire Shehzada also fall flat.

You know a film is being built around a formula when romance happens in one moment, and in the next scene the hero and his leading lady have been transported from a dusty locationrepresentative of Bengalto stark, cold and serene Ladakh for a romantic song sequence. The climax is a tonal and thematic shift, attempting a little woke-ism and shifting attention away from the strong female leads, in whose orbit the greenness of Aaryan and Dimri becomes all the more apparent.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 might be a case of being third time unlucky.
Dressed in a cotton and silk tutu with linen slippers, Belgian dancer Marie van Goethem stands proud, face upturned, and feet in classic ballerina pose. Shes been immortalised for eternity as Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, a wax sculpture by Edgar Degas. Today revered for being one of his greatest works, Little Dancer wasnt warmly received by critics and French bourgeois society who called it ugly", repulsive" and oddly, a threat to society". All because Marie didnt fit the society idealshe was, after all, an opera rat", a term given to working-class young dancers with the Paris Opera ballet.

Today, a recast of Marie is one of the highlights at Washington DCs National Gallery of Art.

It speaks volumes that even today women are still often lambasted for not fitting a perfect society ideal. As Marie shows us, it is absolutely alright to stand out from the crowd because history will remember you.

It is my maiden visit to Washington DC, the capital of a country that could soon be electing its first woman President. There, I find many other powerful women, like Marie, whose stories fascinate and delight.

At The National Museum of Women in the Arts, I am reacquainted with that legendary feminist painter, Frida Kahlo. Its a self-portrait painted for her lover, Russian revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, during their brief affair. Shes dressed in a pink embroidered skirt, gold jewellery and honey-hued shawl, black hair woven with flowers.

View Full Image Frida Kahlo, a self-portrait. (courtesy National Museum of Women in the Arts)

The revolutionary artist and feminist may be the most famous woman in the museum but hers isnt the only inspiring work. The museum is the first of its kind dedicated only to women (or those identifying as women) artists, with paintings and sculptures that are big, bold and powerful.

Take Lalla Essaydis Bullets Revisited #3, a staged photo where a henna-d model sleeps on bullet casings. This photograph is to showcase the role of women in revolutions, which often gets ignored. Its also a way of talking about how the white gaze has impacted perceptions of Arab women," says our guide, Micah Koppl.

Theres a floor dedicated to heavier work, sculptures in iron and wood because work by women are thought to be delicate and small".

The beauty of this museum is that it is all inclusivethere are non-binary artists work on display, it features transgender artists during exhibitions, theres a nursing lounge for mothers, and all-gender bathrooms.

Interestingly, its grandeur is owed to the fact that it sits in what was once a Masonic temple. Elsewhere, on a visit to a functioning Masonic temple, Scottish Rite House of the Temple, what stands out in this all-male bastion is the fact that my guide is a woman. She has no connection to the freemasons and yet, conducts a tour that is informative, knowledgeable and extremely witty.

While on the subject of women breaking the mould, theres aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum, which deservedly pays tribute to this record-setting aviator and pilot. I learn that Earhart was also a trendsetter when on the ground. She designed and wore her own clothes. The line, Amelia Fashions, released in 1933, was revolutionary for its time, being practical, fuss-free and meant for active women".

Americas many women icons can be found in museums and institutions across Washington DC.

A tour of the US Capitol takes me to the rotunda with its paintings and heavily decorated ceiling, and the National Statuary Hall. There, the newest statue is of civil rights leader and journalist Daisy Lee Bates. In the rotunda, a white marble sculpture honours three prominent Suffrage pioneers, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

Tour guide Ann mentions that Rosa Parks (also in the hall) was the first woman to lie in honour in the Capitol when she passed in 2005; her statue was the first full-length statue of an African American.

View Full Image Rosa Parks' statue at Capitol. (courtesy Architect of the Capitol )

Helen Keller is here too, captured as a seven-year-old showing her expression the first time she touched water. The disability rights advocates ashes are interred at the Washington National Cathedral.

The Neo-Gothic structure is the second largest church building in the country but perhaps best known for possessing a gargoyle of Darth Vader.

The Episcopal cathedral looks like a traditional religious structure, but offers much for those with a keen eye. In the section titled the Human Rights Porch", are small sculptural heads of Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt. This year is important to the cathedralit marks the 50th anniversary of the first ordination of women as priests in the Episcopal Church, and they hired their first woman stonemason.

As religious structures go, it certainly is unique.

Museums and their food

One of my favourite finds in the city is the Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe in the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian, which showcases native foods. Mitsitam offers a taste of native foods, some in new avatars. There is frybread, manoomin (wild cakes) with smoked salmon, bison burgers and hotdogs, wild rice salad and corn pudding. This kitchen is pathbreaking also because it is led by chef Alexandra Strong and sous chef Toshiba Veneythe first all-female team at a Smithsonian museum cafe.

Right outside the museum I find presidential candidate Kamala Harris staring at me. Given that it is election time, she and Donald Trump are everywhere.

The stretch of road in front of many Smithsonian museums is parked with vans dishing out hotdogs, pretzels and souvenirs. Harris face adorns many of the vans, and you can also find it on tees, caps and magnets. Her famous Im Speaking" phrase (from the 2020 vice-presidential debate with Mike Pence) is a particular favourite. It may seem like just a cheap souvenir but it is a sign of the time, or possibly of history in the making.

At the Made in Washington store promoting black artists, it is easy to see whom they supportHarris shows up on candles, magnets, coasters, and tea towels.

Like many of the other iconic women in Washington DC, Harris seems set to become a part of the countrys history.

Joanna Lobo is a Goa-based journalist.
For those who started their fashion careers in the 1990sa time when the industry was just starting to find its placeRohit Bal was a guiding light. And this was borne out when almost every member of the fashion industry, from designers and stylists to photographers, models and fashion writers, had a special memory to share of working with him, soon after the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) announced the death of legendary designer on 1 November. He was 63.

Bal, or Gudda as he was fondly known, was among the most respected and loved fashion designers of India. Born in 1961 in Srinagar, he was a pioneer of the Indian fashion industry and began his journey as a designer in 1986 after graduating from Delhi University with a degree in history and then studying at Delhis National Institute of Fashion Technology.

I first came across the work of Rohit Bal in Mumbai in 1990 at the then three-year-old multi-brand store Ensemble. I was 17 and had just arrived from London, my home city. A few months earlier, my father had met Bal at a wedding, and they had hit it off immediately. Although my father wasnt particularly interested in fashion, he told me about this blonde-haired man with blue-green eyes who made beautiful, swirling kurtas, and suggested I see his creations on my next trip to India.

Even after returning to London, I couldn't get his designs out of my mind. So, a year later, during my next trip to India, I went to Delhi to meet Bal in person. I still vividly remember the way he combined rani pink with bright orange, using delicate Kashmiri embroidery. His work, inherently Indian but also modern, always told a story of his enduring love for Kashmir, where he grew up in a Kashmiri Pandit household, surrounded by traditional craft and nature, all of which have influenced his design vocabulary.

Bal had asked me what I wanted to do, and I had said I was interested in political journalism or possibly working as a lobbyist in British politics. He replied, You have such a love for India and of Indian fashion. I think youre going to do something here." Perhaps it was Bal who first planted the idea in my mind, and four years later, I was in India, working as a business journalist.

Bal and I stayed in touch, and he invited me to his shows. At the time, I knew little about Indian textiles or fashion history. I just knew his clothes were magical and museum-worthy, and I wanted to know more.

His prediction turned out to be true, and I eventually became a fashion journalist.

View Full Image Actor Ananya Panday with designer Rohit Bal during the grand finale of Lakme Fashion Week, in New Delhi, on 13 October (PTI)

Bals shows became the highlight of the Indian fashion calendar, even before the first edition of Lakme India Fashion Week (as it was called over two decades ago). His shows were the most coveted ticket in townthey were inventive and imaginative, featuring men in ghaghra skirts adorned with sindoor and supermodels in ivory kurtas in pools of water like lilies. A 2000s show set against Delhi's Qutub Minar with Shubha Mudgals soulful voice in the background brought a sense of spectacle to Indian fashion that had never been seen before. Bal not only brought fantasy to Indian fashion, but also showmanship. He pushed the boundaries and reimagined Indian textiles and embroideries.

View Full Image From the 'Harpers Bazaar' magazine shoot with Rohit Bal in 2009. (Courtesy: Sujata Assomull)

He was the life of any party, and one of my favourite memories of him was during the launch of Harpers Bazaar magazine in India in 2009, of which I was the editor then. In one of the first shoots, Bal insisted on bringing his own style to the mix, being photographed at a restaurant he part-owned. He wanted to create an image inspired by the Joker. Shot by Tarun Vishwa, it became a standout image, one that was picked up by bloggers across the country. It is not be an exaggeration to say that his death marks the end of an era. He nurtured designers such as Manish Arora, Ashish Soni, and Pankaj and Nidhi. Celebrated supermodels such as Arjun Rampal began their careers with him.

One of my greatest regrets as a fashion journalist is missing his recent, and last show, at the Lakme Fashion Week on 13 October in Delhi. Despite being unwell, he danced down the stage in a way only Gudda could. He will indeed remain one of the brightest stars Indian fashion has ever seen.
The Centre has clarified the General Provident Fund (GPF) disbursement to government employees upon retirement. This clarification, provided by the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW), addresses inquiries regarding interest payments on delayed GPF payments after retirement.

The new instructions, dated October 25, 2024, highlight the importance of timely processing at every stage, from preparing retirement lists to issuing the Pension Payment Order (PPO). Additionally, this notice clarifies the payment of interest on delayed General Provident Fund (GPF) final payments for retiring government servants, addressing the responsibilities of relevant authorities and the consequences of any delays in disbursement.

Also Read | Planning to open a PPF account on Diwali 2024? 3 new rules that you MUST know

Recently, a few references regarding interest on delayed payment of GPF to the retired government have been received to clarify whether interest is payable on GPF after retirement, the memorandum said.

Centre issues clarification on payment of GPF

Centre issues clarification on payment of GPF to retired employees: Key Points 1)Rule 34 of the General Provident Fund (Central Service) Rules, 1960 states that the Accounts Officer must ensure timely payment of the GPF amount upon the subscriber's retirement.

2)The GPF amount is the sole asset of the individual government servant, and any pending disciplinary actions do not affect its disbursement.

3)Interest on Delayed Payments: According to Rule 11(4), if the GPF balance is not paid at retirement, interest must be paid for the period beyond retirement.
A 22-year-old political prisoner has died behind bars in Belarus, the country's oldest human rights group said Saturday.

Russian-born Dmitriy Schletgauer, who had been serving a 12-year sentence for espionage and facilitating extremist activities is the seventh dissenter to die in jail since Minsk launched a harsh and extensive crackdown on the opposition in 2020, the Viasna rights center said.

Huge protest swept Belarus following a disputed election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office, and that his critics and the West decried as rigged. Authorities arrested tens of thousands in response.

Human rights groups say that the country now holds some 1,300 political prisoners, and that many are denied adequate medical care and contact with their families.

According to Viasna, whose Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder Ales Bialiatski is himself imprisoned, Belarusian authorities have refused to disclose the cause of Schletgauers death, which came on Oct. 11 but has only become known recently.

The death of yet another political prisoner illustrates the catastrophe in Belarusian jails, where conditions have been created that constitute torture, where political prisoners are denied medical care, and opposition leaders have been held incommunicado for over a year, Viasna representative Pavel Sapelka told AP.

A young man died behind bars and the authorities are responsible, he said.

According to Sapelka, Schletgauer had become a father while in detention. A Russian citizen who gained a Belarusian residency permit in 2018, he had worked at a polymer plant before his arrest, Sapelka said.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski is serving a 19 1/2-year sentence in Belarus, has called for an independent investigation into Schletgauers death, and said international experts must be allowed into the countrys jails.
Tens of thousands of minority Hindus gathered to call on the interim government of Muslim-majority Bangladesh to safeguard them from ongoing attacks and harassment. They also urged the government to dismiss sedition charges against leaders within the Hindu community.

As per PTI report, about 30,000 Hindus gathered and demonstrated at a major intersection in the southeastern city of Chattogram chanting slogans demanding their rights while police and soldiers guarded the area. Other protests were reported elsewhere in the country.

Hindu organisations have claimed that there have been thousands of attacks on Hindus since early August 2024, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's secular government was ousted following a student-led protest, prompting her to leave the country. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winner appointed to lead the interim government after Hasina's removal, argues that these numbers have been inflated.

In Bangladesh, Hindus make up about 8 percent of the country's nearly 170 million people, while Muslims are about 91 percent.

The country's influential minority group Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has said that there have been more than 2,000 attacks on Hindus since August 4.

Hindus and other minority groups have claimed that the interim government has not provided sufficient protection for them, noting that hardline Islamist factions have been gaining more power since Hasina's removal.

Friday's protest in Chattogram was hastily organised after sedition charges were filed on Wednesday against 19 Hindu leaders, including prominent priest Chandan Kumar Dhar, over an October 25 rally in that city. Police arrested two of the leaders, angering Hindus.

The charges stem from an incident when a group of rally-goers allegedly placed a saffron flag above the Bangladesh flag on a pillar, which was considered disrespecting the national flag.

Another Hindu rally has been planned for Saturday in Dhaka.

Separately, supporters of Hasina's Awami League party and its allied Jatiya Party have said they also have been targeted since Hasina's ouster. The Jatiya Party's headquarters was vandalised and set on fire late Thursday.

On Friday, Jatiya Chairman G M Quader said his supporters would continue to hold rallies to demand their rights despite risking their lives. He said they would hold a rally in Dhaka on Saturday to protest price hikes of commodities, and what they call false charges against their leaders and activists.
NOVI SAD, Serbia (AP)  Hundreds of people lit candles and left flowers and toys on Saturday to commemorate 14 people who were killed when a concrete canopy crashed at the entrance of a railway station in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad.

Holding signs with names of the victims - the youngest of whom was a 6-year-old girl - residents of Novi Sad stood quietly in grief across the street from the station building where the roof fell on people on Friday.

Many were quietly crying and those who came said they were unable to comprehend how such a tragedy was possible and demanded answers from the authorities. Three people were also injured and remained in a life-threatening condition on Saturday.

My first feeling was anger because we allow amateurs to run this country, said Natasa Beljic. "And because I am aware of the fact that no one will be held accountable and that responsibility will fall on completely irrelevant people.

The long, concrete canopy collapsed suddenly around noon on Friday as people were sitting on benches or coming in and out. Surveillance camera footage on Friday showed the canopy crashing down in seconds.

Serbias government declared Saturday a day of mourning, as officials promised a thorough investigation into Friday's collapse. Prosecutors said they are questioning all the people involved, including government ministers.

The train station has been renovated twice in recent years, and critics of Serbias populist government attributed the disaster to corruption and sloppy renovations. Opposition politician Marinika Tepic said on Saturday, this is not an accident, this is murder!

In the Serbian capital of Belgrade, liberal opposition Green-Left Front threw red paint outside the Serbian government headquarters, to send a message that your hands are bloody.

Officials have insisted that the canopy had not been part of the renovation work. Goran Vesic, the government minister for construction and infrastructure, told the state RTS television the tragedy would not have happened had the canopy been renovated as well.

Authorities deployed heavy machinery and some 80 rescuers who struggled for hours to remove large parts of concrete. The rescue effort lasted until late Friday evening with bulldozers rummaging through tons of rubble outside the building.

Mira Stankovic, a Novi Sad resident who also came to the vigil said she now feels unsafe: I feel terrible, I feel anxious, I have some fear inside me. She said she no longer trusts the railways, tunnels or bridges.

The railway station, including the canopy, was built in 1964. The renovation work was carried out by Chinese companies.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Iran plans to set import duties on iPhone mobile phones at around 30 percent, Irans Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Abdulnasir Hemmati said in a statement to the media, Trend reports.

He noted that, similar to other mobile phone brands, import duties will also be applied to the iPhone.

The Iranian minister mentioned that the Cabinet will modify the duty decision regarding the import of the specified mobile phone.

To note, a ban was imposed on the import of Apples iPhone 14 and higher models into Iran last year. However, the Iranian Cabinet lifted the ban on mobile phones and set a customs duty of 96 percent on October 30 of this year.
India-Canada row: India on Saturday rejected allegations levelled against Union Home Minister Amit Shah by the Canadian minister as absurd' and baseless amid deteriorating bilateral ties between the two countries.

Addressing to media during a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties, and acknowledged that India summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission on November 1.

David Morrison, the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada, on Tuesday alleged that Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada.

Also Read | Justin Trudeau promises to stand with Hindu community amid India-Canada row

The allegations were first reported by an international daily after Morrison confirmed Shah's name. He also told the Canadian Parliament members of the national security committee about confirming Shah's name.

Regarding the latest Canadian target, we summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday. It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison, said Jaiswal.

Also Read | Justin Trudeau promises to stand with Hindu community amid India-Canada row

The MEA spokesperson further stated that that the revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the government of India has long held about the current Canadian government's political agenda and behavioural pattern.

MEA spokesperson on cancelled Diwali celebration We have seen some reports in this regard. It is unfortunate that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism.

MEA spokesperson on reduction in number of visas by Canadian govt We are monitoring the well-being of our students and professionals who are working in Canada. Our concern for their safety and security remains strong.

A year ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada had credible evidence that agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The allegations were dismissed by the Indian government.

However, recently, Justin Trudeau admitted that Canada had no evidence against India regarding Nijjar killing.
India-Canada row: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson on Saturday hit back at Canada after Justin Trudeau government described New Delhi a cyber adversary amid ongoing diplomatic row.

That description was made in the National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 which was released on Tuesday by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.

Pointing to the recent Canadian classification of India as a cyber adversary, alongside Russia, China, and North Korea, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed it as another example to "attack" India.

"This appears to be another example of a Canadian strategy to attack India. As I mentioned earlier, their senior officials have openly confessed that they are seeking to manipulate global opinion against India. As on other occasions, imputations are made without any evidence," Jaiswal stated.

Jaiswal stated that some Indian consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government about the ongoing surveillance.

He also criticized Canada for attempting to justify its actions by citing technicalities, arguing that such justifications cannot excuse what he described as harassment and intimidation of Indian diplomatic personnel.

Also Read | Justin Trudeau promises to stand with Hindu community amid India-Canada row

On Wednesday, the Canadian signals intelligence agency that monitors foreign-based cyber threats said New Delhi was most likely already conducting threatening cyber activity against Canadian networks for spying purposes, reported Reuters.

"As Canada and India potentially may have some tensions, it is possible that we may see India want to flex those cyber threat actions against Canadians," the report said quoting Caroline Xavier, head of the agency, known as Communications Security Establishment Canada.

Also Read | Canada Oppn leader Pierre Poilievre explains why Diwali event was cancelled

What Canada said in National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 report  Countries that aspire to become new centres of power within the global system, such as India, are building cyber programs that present varying levels of threat to Canada.

 We assess that Indias cyber program likely leverages commercial cyber vendors to enhance its operations.

 We assess that Indian state-sponsored cyber threat actors likely conduct cyber threat activity against Government of Canada networks for the purpose of espionage.
National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah on Saturday sparked a row after he demanded that terrorists shouldn't be killed, rather they should be caught and questioned.

The remark comes after two labourers from Uttar Pradesh were shot at by terrorists in Budgam on Friday. The Budgam attack was the fifth in the Kashmir valley since a new government was formed.

Also Read | Two migrant labourers shot in Kashmir, second targeted attack in 12 days

When asked if Pakistan should be blamed every time for terrorist attacks, Abdullah said, There is no question of this, I would say that there should be an investigation into this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them.

Farooq Abdullah said that he has a doubt that is it done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government in Jammu and Kashmir which is led by Omar Abdullah.

Meanwhile, BJP slammed Abdullah saying it is very unfortunate that instead of giving priority to the nation, some people are giving priority to politics, family and vote bank.

It does not befit Farooq Abdullah to blame the Indian Army, Indian agencies to escape his responsibility or to save the sponsors of terrorism, said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.

Poonawalla added that it seems to become a habit for the Congress and the ecosystem which is in power in Jammu and Kashmir, because we have seen that the Congress gave a clean chit to Pakistan and the sponsors of terrorism in the 26/11 case. Now the same modus operandi has been used..."

Also Read | Indian Army dog Phantom dies heroically in clash with terrorists in J&K

However, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that the LG has the responsibility of law and order and if terrorist attacks are happening there, BJP should take the responsibility.

"I am saying that terrorists are coming from Pakistan, why are you not stopping them?...What is the Modi government doing? It is the government's responsibility to stop them, to arrest them. This is the failure of the Narendra Modi government that they are not able to stop the terrorists," reported ANI quoting Owaisi.

Meanwhile, Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Kavinder Gupta said that NC Chief should not make such irresponsible statements.
The doors of the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples will close soon during winter after special prayers and worship for the next six months. According to the news agency PTI, Gangotri temple will close on Saturday, November 2, and Yamunotri temple will be closed on Sunday, November 3.

Special prayers and worship will be held before the doors of the Gangotri temple are closed.

Gangotri temple closure date As per religious tradition, the doors of Gangotri temple will be closed on Saturday at 12:14 pm during the Annakoot festival. After the doors are shut, the festival idol of Ganga ji will be brought to Mukhwa village from Gangotri Dham in a doli (palanquin). The idol will remain seated in the Ganga temple during winter season.

After the doors are closed, the festival idol of Ganga ji will be brought to Mukhwa village from Gangotri Dham in a doli (palanquin). There, it will remain seated in the Ganga temple during winter. Devotees can have darshan and worship in the Ganga temple of Mukhwa during winter.

Yamunotri temple closure date Yamunotri temple doors will be closed on Sunday, November 3 at 12:05 pm. The temple will be shut for devotees after performing rituals on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. Just like Gangotri Dham, Yamunotri Dham temple will be closed after the main idol of the pilgrimage is seated in another temple located in Kharsali village. During the winter season, devotees will be able to visit and worship Yamuna ji at a temple in Kharsali village.

During the ceremony closure ceremony The Gangotri Temple Committee and Yamunotri Temple Committee have completed all preparations for closing the doors. In addition to special decorations in the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples, temples located in Mukhwa and Kharsali have also been decorated.
The Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with US authorities to clarify issues following widesweeping sanctions against companies and entities supporting Russia. 19 Indian companies and two individuals had been named in the lengthy list announced by American authorities earlier this week. The MEA however insisted on Saturday that these entities were not in violation of any Indian laws.

"Our understanding is that the sanction, transactions and companies are not in violation of Indian laws. Nevertheless, in keeping with India's established non-proliferation credentials, we are working with all the relevant Indian departments and agencies to sensitize Indian companies on applicable export control provisions and also inform them of new measures being implemented that could impact Indian companies in certain circumstances, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

The top official also reiterated India's robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade and nonproliferation controls during his address.

We are also a member of three key multilateral non- proliferation export control regimes - the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime, and have been effectively implementing relevant UNSC sanctions and UNSC resolution 1540 on non- proliferation, he said.

According to an official communique, the US Department of State sanctioned more than 120 individuals and entities this week while the Department of the Treasury added over 270 others to the list.

Two Indian nationals  Vivek Kumar Mishra and Sudhir Kumar were also sanctioned alongside their company. Delhi-based aircraft spare parts company Ascend Aviation India featured on the list for shipping CHPL items to Russia  including US-origin aircraft parts.
News Wrap: Between October 29 and November 1, Indian markets fluctuated, with Nifty and Sensex both closing in the red. Adani Ports reported a significant profit increase, while Ola Electric shares plummeted. In Uttarakhand, over 19 men tested HIV positive after contact with a minor. Prime Minister Modi honoured Sardar Patel, and Telangana banned raw egg mayonnaise after a food poisoning incident. Internationally, Trump claimed the title of 'father of IVF,' and Iran warned of retaliation against Israel. Canada's Parliament Hill also faced a contention with Indian community over Diwali celebrations.

October 27 The market capitalisation of nine of the top ten most valued firms in India dropped by 2.09 lakh crore amid persistent selling and lacklustre quarterly earnings. In the US, Vice President Kamala Harris regained a slight lead over Donald Trump, indicating a closely contested 2024 election. Additionally, over 50 flights received bomb threats, prompting heightened security measures, while ISRO announced new timelines for major space missions, including Chandrayaan-4. READ HERE

October 28 On October 28, Indian benchmark indices rebounded, with the Nifty 50 closing up 0.65% at 24,339, while the S&P BSE Sensex gained 0.6% to finish at 80,005. NTPC Green Energy received SEBI approval for a 10,000 crore IPO, and Tata Technologies reported a 2% drop in Q2 net profit to 157 crore, despite a 2% revenue increase. In contrast, Suzlon Energy saw a significant 96% rise in Q2 net profits to 200.20 crore, while Sun Pharma and LIC Housing Finance reported year-on-year profit increases of 28% and 11.25%, respectively. Additionally, the Nifty FMCG index faced its worst monthly drop in six years, down 9.6%, and the central government plans to conduct the next Census in 2025. READ HERE

October 29 On October 29, Indian indices rebounded, buoyed by strong performances from Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank. Adani Ports reported a 37% rise in Q2 net profit to 2,412.54 crore, while Ola Electric shares plunged 52.5% below their issue price. Maruti Suzuki faced a 17% drop in net profit amid declining sales. Swiggy informed they will open IPO on November 6, and the Election Commission rejected Congress's irregularity claims in Haryana as baseless. Additionally, Hezbollah appointed Sheikh Naim Kassem as its new leader, and the Nifty IT index surged 36% since last Diwali, outperforming the broader market. READ HERE

October 30 On October 30, Indian markets closed in the red, with Nifty 50 dipping 0.51% and Sensex falling 0.53%. Infrastructure giant L&T reported a 5% rise in Q2 profit to 3,395 crore, while Dabur saw a 17.5% drop in net profit to 425 crore. Deepak Fertilisers shares approached a one-year high, and the Indian and Chinese armies completed disengagement in Ladakhs Depsang and Demchok. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris urged undecided voters to move past Trump's turbulent presidency during her campaign speech. READ HERE

October 31 In Uttarakhand, over 19 young men tested HIV positive after engaging with a 17-year-old girl allegedly addicted to heroin. Prime Minister Modi honoured Sardar Patel on his birth anniversary at the Unity Day Parade in Gujarat. Following a food poisoning incident that killed one in Hyderabad, Telangana has banned raw egg mayonnaise. Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets in Ladakh during Diwali after completing a disengagement process, while an explosion involving 'onion bombs' ahead of the celebrations killed one and injured others. READ HERE
Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal on Saturday threw polluted water outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, claiming that the same water is being supplied to the people of the national capital.

The development comes days after AAP alleged that Delhi is grappling with severe water shortage due to alarmingly high ammonia contamination in the Yamuna river, primarily attributed to industrial waste from Haryana.

Swati Maliwal said that the people of Sagarpur, Dwarka had called her, and the situation there is very bad.

I went to a house and black water was being supplied there. I filled that black water in a bottle and I brought that water here, at the Chief Minister's residence, added the AAP MP.

Stating that since 2015 they have been hearing that next year everything will be fine, Maliwal added, They have no shame. Will Delhi drink this?

The former DCW chairperson has also warned Chief Minister that the water she brought was just a sample and if she does not fix the water supply of the entire Delhi within fifteen days, she will bring a whole tanker full of such water.

Also Read | How much air pollution has increased post Diwali celebration? Check data

"I am leaving this water for her. She can bathe with this water, drink this water or purify her sins. Chhath Puja is coming. Today it is Govardhan Puja, yesterday it was Diwali and this is the condition of Delhi. Who can stay alive after drinking this water? The Chief Minister is also the Water Minister. Is her job just to make fun by holding ten press conferences every day?," quipped Maliwal.

Also Read | Delhi govt declares public holiday on November 7 for Chhath Puja
The Mumbai Police officials are in connection with the US government authorities to extradite Lawrence Bishnoi's brother, Anmol Bishnoi, after US authorities raised an alert about the presence of the jailed gangster brother, reported ANI on Saturday.

Anmol Bishnoi was allegedly involved in a firing incident outside Salman Khan's house and also played a key role in the murder of senior NCP leader Baba Siddique.

The recent update on Anmol Bishnoi's extradition from the US has come after the Mumbai Police, on October 16, submitted before the court that their intention to initiate Anmol's extradition in connection with the Salman Khan house firing case.

A red corner notice issued to Interpol The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court has issued a non-bailable warrant for Anmol Bishnoi's arrest, a senior Mumbai Police official told ANI on Saturday. Additionally, the court has also issued a red corner notice to initiate search for him abroad.

"Waiting for certain court documents to complete the formalities, after which a formal proposal will be sent to the central government for further action," the Mumbai Police officials told ANI.

A red corner notice is an Interpol alert to locate and arrest a person who is wanted by a judicial jurisdiction or international tribunal. Anmol Bishnoi.

Earlier on October 25, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a reward of 10 lakh for the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

To formalise the extradition process, the crime branch would also require certified copies of court documents, according to the Crime Branch officials.

"The special MCOCA court approved his Crime Branch application on October 16 and the police is expected to get the documents soon. For further action, Mumbai Crime Branch has sent an application to the Central Government for extradition of Anmol Bishnoi," they stated.

Who is Anmol Bishnoi? Anmol Bishnoi is the brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is facing multiple criminal charges, including those for extortion and murder. Anmol Bishnoi is under NIA's radar for two cases registered in 2022. He is wanted in connection with a shooting incident outside Salman Khan's residence.
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya (Mother Shashti), who is believed to be the sister of the Sun.

It is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, as well as by the diaspora from these regions.

Chhath Puja spans over four days and is one of the most significant and rigorous festivals, involving strict rituals and fasting to express gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth.

Also Read | Delhi govt declares public holiday on November 7 for Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja: Significance Chhath Puja celebrates and honors the Sun as the source of all energy and life. It is believed that the Sun's energy helps cure diseases, ensure prosperity, and provide well-being. Devotees offer prayers to Surya and Chhathi Maiya to seek blessings for health, prosperity, and happiness.

Chhath Puja: Date Nahay Khay: November 5 from 6:36 AM till 5:33 PM

Kharna: November 6 from 6:37 AM to 5:32 PM

Sandhya Arghya: November 7 from 6:38 AM to 5:32 PM

Usha Arghya: November 8 from 6:38 AM to 5:31 PM

Chhath Puja: Significance of four days of puja Nahay Khay (Day 1): The first day involves purification and cleansing. Devotees take a dip in holy rivers or ponds, particularly in the morning, and consume a single meal prepared without onion or garlic. This marks the beginning of the purification process.

Kharna (Day 2): On this day, devotees fast without water from sunrise until sunset. In the evening, they prepare prasad, usually kheer (rice pudding made with jaggery) and chapati, which is then shared with family members and neighbors. After the evening ritual, devotees break their fast.

Sandhya Arghya (Day 3): This is the main day of the festival. Devotees fast throughout the day without consuming even water. At sunset, they gather by a riverbank or pond to offer arghya (prayer offerings) to the setting sun. Traditional songs and rituals mark this evening as devotees' express gratitude for life and energy.
Happy Gujarati New Year: The Gujarati New Year is celebrated every year on the first day of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. This year, the new year, aka Vikram Samvat 2081, is celebrated on November 2. The day marks the celebration of the new year, also called Bestu Varas. Here are top wishes to share on the occasion.

Happy Gujarati New Year: Top wishes to share with friends and family 1. As we enter into the new year, wishing you a year filled with happiness, prosperity, and endless opportunities. May Bestu Varas bring you abundant joy and success!

2. May this New Year bring warmth, peace, and harmony into your home. Let your lives shine as brightly as the festive diyas.

3. May Goddess Lakshmi bestow you with wealth, health, and happiness. Wishing you a year of progress and prosperity.

Also Read | PM Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers in Gujarat | 8 key quotes

4. On the auspicious day of Bestu Varas, may your life be filed with fresh hopes, positivity, opportunities, new beginnings, and wonderful memories. Happy New Year!

5. Let the New Year bring in the strength to overcome all obstacles and the courage to chase all dreams. Wishing you a fulfilling and successful year ahead.

6. May you get the strength to fulfill your dreams and aspirations this year. Let's start this new chapter of life with love, joy, and prosperity. Best wishes for an inspiring and joyous Bestu Varas!

7. May you be blessed with health, happiness, and endless achievements this year. Let this Bestu Varas bring a brighter future for you and your family.

8.As we step into the New Year, may all your dreams come true, and may happiness and success be with you always. Happy Gujarati New Year!

9. May this New Year bring in good fortune, health, wealth, opportunities, and blissful moments for you and your loved ones. Wishing you an incredible Bestu Varas!

Happy Bestu Varas images to share with friends and family

Happy Gujarati New Year 2024

Happy Gujarati New year 2024

Happy Gujarati New Year 2024: Bestu Varas, also called 'Nutan Varsh'

Happy Gujarati New Year
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Turkiye's exports to member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) decreased by 3 percent in September 2024 compared to the same month in 2023 and amounted to $6.8 billion.

Data obtained by Trend from Turkiye's Trade Ministry shows that the country's exports to OIC member countries totaled $50.7 billion from January through September this year, up 9.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

"Turkiye's imports from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation decreased by 12.1 percent in September this year compared to the same period in 2023 and amounted to $3.5 billion," the ministry statement said.

Additionally, it was noted that Turkiye's imports from OIC member countries fell 8.7 percent year-on-year to $30.7 billion from January through September 2024.

Besides, Turkiye's foreign trade turnover reached $49.1 billion in September 2024.

The ministry noted that Turkiye's exports totaled $21.9 billion in September 2024, which is 1.9 percent less than the same month in 2023, while imports totaled $27.1 billion, down 1.4 percent.

"Turkiye's foreign trade turnover reached $443.9 billion from January through September this year," the ministry statement read.

However, the ministry added that Turkiye's exports rose 2.6 percent to $191.7 billion from January through September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, while imports fell 8.1 percent to $252.1 billion.

To note, Turkiye's foreign trade turnover reached $617.5 billion last year.

Turkiye's exports totaled $255.7 billion in 2023, up 0.6 percent compared to the same period in 2022, while imports decreased 0.5 percent to $361.7 billion.
Shah Rukh Khan Birthday: In a delightful twist of fate, The Academy chose the perfect moment to honour Shah Rukh Khans legendary entry scene from the 2001 classic Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghamthe day after Diwali and just ahead of the superstar's 59th birthday.

The Academy's Gift to Shah Rukh Khan The Academy took to Instagram to share the unforgettable scene set against the backdrop of Diwali at the Raichand mansion. As SRKs character, Rahul Raichand, descends from a helicopter in a striking black outfit, his mother, played by Jaya Bachchan, feels his presence before even seeing him.

Dressed in an elegant white sari by Manish Malhotra, she transitions from welcoming her husband, Yash Raichand (Amitabh Bachchan), to instinctively walking towards the entrance to meet her son.

Also Read | Happy Birthday SRK: Top 10 Shah Rukh Khan films to watch

In a heartwarming exchange, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan), with his trademark charm, asks his mother, Hey mom, how do you sense my presence every time before I arrive? To which Jaya, with tears in her eyes, applies tilak to his forehead and gently caresses his face. The Academy aptly captioned the post, A mothers intuition is always right.  and even posed the question, Is this SRKs best entry scene? 

The Internet Reacts: SRK Still Reigns Supreme Social media was abuzz with reactions as fans celebrated this iconic moment on Shah Rukh Khan's birthday. One enthusiastic user declared, One of his best entries... And it's the whole scenario, basically! SRK is the king of romance due to dreamy movies like these .

Another quipped about the helicopters dramatic entrance, saying, Helicopter sound be like: what???????

One user also said, Everything was fine until i saw who shared it. Another quipped, This post? From THE ACADEMY????"

One Instagram user asked, The Academy after 23 years of this blockbuster movie! But what about DDLJ and Mohabbatein? To this The Academy replied, We posted Mehndi Laga k Rakhna earlier this year.

Karan Johar, the mastermind behind Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, couldnt resist sharing the Academys post on his Instagram Stories, expressing his joy with the caption, This post made me smile wide.

Whats Next for SRK and Karan Johar? Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham remains a cultural phenomenon, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, and Rani Mukerji.

As Karan Johar gears up for his upcoming Netflix series, Shah Rukh Khan is set to dazzle audiences once again in the crime drama King, slated for release on Eid 2026.
Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance delivered a passionate message to students at High Point University, North Carolina, during a town hall meeting on Thursday, urging them to be pissed off about the economic challenges facing their generation. In his address, Vance highlighted the unprecedented difficulties young Americans encounter today, particularly in owning homes and achieving financial stability.

Setting the tone: You should be pissed off You should be pissed off, Vance declared, setting the tone for a rallying cry aimed at the audience of students. He elaborated on the reasons for their anger, emphasizing that they represent the first generation in American history facing the grim prospect of being unable to buy homes or earn livable wages sufficient to support families.

Economic frustration rooted in homeownership and wages And why should you be pissed off? You should be pissed off because youre the first generation in the history of the United States of America that is unlikely to be able to own a home, that is unlikely to be able to earn a wage on which you can raise a family, stated Vance.

Youre more likely to be indebted than to accumulate wealth, he added.

Rising costs and the burden of college debt Focusing on economic issues, Vance tackled pressing topics such as the soaring cost of living and the burden of college tuition debt. He underscored how these factors contribute to a bleak financial outlook for young people, who are increasingly feeling the weight of financial insecurity.
Billionaire Mark Cuban and former President Donald Trump traded heated words on Thursday, with Cuban criticizing Trump for "not being seen around strong, intelligent women" and later apologizing. In response, Trump fired back on Truth Social to label Cuban a "loser" and "very weak", and called his remarks on women 'totally unacceptable'

Cuban's comments The exchange began after Cuban, appearing on The View, said, claimed that Trump avoids strong, intelligent women. Donald Trump, you never see him around strong, intelligent women, ever, Cuban remarked. He doesnt like to be challenged by them, and, you know, [Nikki Haley] will call him on his nonsense with reproductive rights and how he sees and treats and talks about women. I mean, he just cant have her around, it wouldnt work, he further said.

Trump's Campaign responds Trumps campaign responded on social media. Karoline Leavitt, Trumps national press secretary, called Cubans comments extremely insulting to Trumps female supporters, employees, and women voters. These women are mothers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. And yes, we are strong AND intelligent! #WomenForTrump, Leavitt tweeted.

Supporter defends Trump Trumps campaign co-manager, Susie Wiles posted on X, Im told @mcuban needs help identifying the strong and intelligent women surrounding Pres. Trump. Well, here we are! Ive been proud to lead this campaign. She also highlighted other prominent Trump supporters, including Linda McMahon, chair of Trumps transition policy, and Lara Trump, RNC co-chair.

Trump slams Cuban Hours later, Trump took to Truth Social to personally attack Cuban, labeling him a really dumb guy. ALL women are great, whether strong or not strong, Trump wrote. He went on to call Cuban a fool.

Cuban clarifies his comments Cuban has issued a clarification regarding his commenta statement, emphasizing that he does not believe female voters or women associated with Trump lack intelligence or strength. Cuban also acknowledged the presence of strong women who have worked closely with Trump.

Cuban issues apology Following the backlash, Cuban issued an apology on X, clarifying his comments. When I said this during the interview, I didnt get it out exactly the way I thought I did, Cuban wrote. So I apologize to anyone who felt slighted or upset by my response. As I said, it wasnt about Trump voters, supporters, or employees. Cuban added that he regretted setting himself up for the 6 sec soundbite and expressed hope for more respectful public discourse.

Also Read | Harris vs Trump: THESE stocks may swing Wall Street on US elections verdict

Trump dismisses Cuban's apology Trump, however, dismissed Cubans apology in a subsequent Truth Social post. Mark Cuban, a total loser, is being decimated by women all over the Country, Trump wrote, suggesting Cubans apology was worthless. Trump claimed Cuban was a bad guy with major character flaws and stated that Cuban was very weak and insecure. He further accused Cuban of backing Kamala Harris only because he no longer accepted his calls.
In a notable shift in voter sentiment, traditional Democratic supporters among Indian Americans, Muslims, and African Americans in Michigan are increasingly favoring Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. This trend could have significant impact in a state pivotal to the upcoming electoral outcome.

For individuals like Ashok Baddi, a businessman and community leader, Vice President Kamala Harriss Indian-African background has not swayed their voting decisions this election cycle. Baddi stated in Detroit, as reported by PTI, She has never connected with the (Indian) community, explaining why he is choosing to support Trump over Harris. The report noted that Baddi voiced concerns regarding Harriss possible effects on U.S.-India relations and commended Trump for maintaining strong relationships with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, Baddi mentioned that the rising costs of essential goods during the Biden-Harris administration have significantly influenced his voting choice.

Sunny Reddy, who is running for a seat on the Wayne State Board of Governors, was reported to share Baddi's views and forecast that Indian American votes on Election Day will be nearly split between Trump and Harris. According to the report, Reddy highlighted growing dissatisfaction among auto workers, who are unhappy with the Democrats' push for mandatory electric vehicles, as they worry that these policies could result in job losses due to automation.

Kamal Rahman, a Bangladeshi-American advisor to Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, noted in the report that approximately 20% of Michigan's Muslim Americans have shifted their support to Trump in this election cycle. Ghalib, who is the first Arab-American and Muslim to hold the mayoral position, has recently backed Trump. Rahman explained that this change in support is due to various factors, including economic concerns and Trump's position on LGBTQ issues. He stated, I am voting for Trump, despite being affiliated with the Democratic Party.

According to the news report, Rahman highlighted that many African Americans feel that the Democratic stance on illegal immigration threatens their job security, prompting them to rethink their support. Both Reddy and Rahman noted that the unity within African American communities and labor unions is weakening in the Democratic Party.

Community leader Sam Matthew, who has been actively campaigning for Trump throughout Michigan, expressed optimism about Trump's prospects in the state, citing a widespread dissatisfaction with Harris. He pointed out that numerous voters who had previously opposed Trump are now showing increasing support for him.

Additionally, the report mentioned that several Indian American groups are working to support Harris, including prominent lawmakers like Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, and Pramila Jayapal. These leaders have been connecting with the community through door-to-door outreach, visits to temples, and participation in local events. Shekhar Narasimhan from the AAPI Victory Fund urged voters, saying, This is your chance to be part of history. One of our own is being elected as the President of the United States.

As Election Day approaches, the evolving dynamics among Indian Americans, Muslims, and African Americans signal a potentially transformative election in Michigan, a key battleground state where every vote will count.

Shifting demographics and strategic campaigning in Michigan Michigan is gearing up for the 2024 elections as a key battleground state, known for its diverse voter base and pivotal role in determining the outcome of the presidential race. The state features a significant Muslim population and several Congressional districts predominantly represented by African Americans. Detroit, the states largest city, is experiencing a rapid growth in its Indian American community, evidenced by the increasing number of temples, restaurants, and grocery stores catering to this demographic over the past decade.

With the expectation of a razor-thin margin of victory, Michigan stands as one of the seven critical battleground states that could sway the election. Detroit, recognized as the auto capital of the world, plays a vital role in Michigan's economy, generating numerous jobs in the manufacturing sector, particularly within the automotive industry. The state is characterized by a strong working-class presence and robust labor unions, factors that contribute significantly to its electoral landscape.

In a strategic move to engage with local communities, Donald Trump visited Detroit on Friday to court the Muslim and Arab populations. This outreach effort highlights the importance of these demographics in the upcoming election, as candidates vie for every possible vote in a tight race. Recognizing the critical nature of Michigan in his campaign, Trump plans to hold his final public rally in Grand Rapids on Monday, underscoring the urgency of securing support in this crucial battleground state.
With just days left for the US Presidential polls, Kamala Harris' partner in the race and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stirred the pot by referring to Elon Musk as a gay guy while discussing billionaires and their influence at a campaign stop in Detroit.

The political stakes are at their peak with Vice President Kamala Harris hosting a star-studded rally in Milwaukee on the same day.

Walz remarks were met with a lot of criticism, and the billionaire himself was quick to respond. Musk has been actively campaigning for Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Also Read | Elon Musk loses bid to move case over $1 million voter prizes

That gay guy Walz caused a social media outrage after tossing Elon Musk into the political ring while discussing billionaires roles in elections.

That guy, that gay guy, Walz joked, chuckling, Michigan knows that word. He added, Look, that dude got a tax cut

Tim Walz was touring through Michigans vital blue wall. He mingled with Black community leaders, inspired the Union troops in Detroit, and energized supporters in Flint.

In his low-key fashion, Walz also threw some jabs at his Republican rival Donald Trump, and his connections with billionaire Elon Musk.

Criticizing Trump's proposal for sweeping tariffs on imports to boost US manufacturing, Walz pointed out the irony of Trump's age, suggesting that at 78, he should understand the implications of tariffs.

You would have thought in his nearly 80 years on the planet, he could have learned what a damn tariff was and how it worked, he said.

Also Read | Harris and Trump intensify campaigning in swing states with sharp rhetoric

Elon Musk reacts I have no problem being called gay, to be honest, the Billionaire posted on X, without wasting a second to respond.

Tim Walz face backlash Tim Walz's comment sparked fury among Trump and Musk fans, who slammed Harris' mate for his words.

The weird gay guy calling other people weird and gay is interesting, one user quipped.

Its not a problem to be gay. Why does he think its such a problem? Does he have something to hide? another added.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Adam Makary and Ahmed Tolba

-Senior officials of the rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas are meeting in Cairo to discuss forming a committee to manage Gaza's post-war governance, an Egyptian security source was quoted as saying by Egypt's Al Qahera News TV on Saturday.

The talks are part of Egypt's broader mediation efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hamas and to expand humanitarian access to the enclave.

Leaders from Hamas and the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met in Cairo last month to discuss forming the committee based on a proposal put forward by Egypt, but talks were adjourned for later discussion, sources close to the talks told Reuters.

The sources said the committee would be made up of independent Palestinian figures not aligned to a particular movement, addressing the question of who would run Gaza after the year-long war is over.

Israel rejects any role by Hamas in Gaza after the war is ended and has said it does not trust the rival Palestinian Authority of Abbas to run the enclave.

Mediators, including Egypt and Qatar with backing from the United States, have so far failed to secure a truce that would end the Gaza war and facilitate a release of Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas, along with thousands of Palestinians detained by Israel.

Hamas is pressing for an end to hostilities while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will continue until Hamas is dismantled.

Hamas political official Izzat al-Risheq dismissed proposals of limited or temporary truces as "smokescreens".

"We are positively open to any proposals or ideas that ensure the cessation of aggression and the withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza," al-Risheq said in a statement.

The conflict continues to exact a heavy humanitarian toll, with medics reporting that five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza's Bureij refugee camp on Saturday.

Palestinian health officials said at least 60 people had been killed by Israeli military strikes across Gaza Strip since Friday.

In the latest round of violence, Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group allied with Hamas, said it launched rockets at Sderot, Mefalsim and other Israeli territory near the Gaza border late on Saturday.

The Israeli military said two projectiles crossed from northern Gaza, landing in an open area but caused no injuries.

The war erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's retaliatory offensives have killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and reduced most of Gaza to rubble.
BATROUN, Lebanon  Israeli naval forces captured a senior Hezbollah operative in north Lebanon, an Israeli military official said Saturday, as the conflict between the Iran-backed group and Israel showed few signs of easing.

Earlier on Saturday, Lebanese authorities said it was investigating whether Israel was behind the capture of a Lebanese sea captain who was taken away by a group of armed men who had landed on the coast near the northern town of Batroun on Friday.

The operative has been transferred to Israeli territory and is currently being investigated, the military official said, without providing the name of the person in detention.

The operation marks the first time Israel has announced it deployed troops deep into northern Lebanon to take a senior Hezbollah operative captive since the conflict between the two sides escalated in late September. Since then, Israeli forces began a ground invasion of southern Lebanon and intensified its airstrikes across the country, including southern Beirut and the eastern Bekaa valley, killing most of Hezbollah's senior commanders.

Hezbollah issued a statement describing what happened as a Zionist aggression in the Batroun area. The statement did not give details or confirm whether a Hezbollah member was captured by Israel.

Two Lebanese military officials confirmed to The Associated Press that a naval force landed in Batroun, about 30 kilometers north of Beirut, and abducted a Lebanese citizen. Neither gave the mans identity or said whether he was thought to have links to Lebanons Hezbollah group. They did not confirm whether the armed men were an Israeli force.

Three Lebanese judicial officials told the operation took place at dawn Friday, adding that the captain might have links with Hezbollah. The officials said an investigation is looking into whether the man is linked to Hezbollah or working for an Israeli spy agency and an Israeli force came to rescue him.

Both the military and judicial officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were unauthorized to share details about the incident or the ongoing investigation.

Soon after Israel went public about the operation, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on Lebanons foreign minister to file a complaint against Israel at the U.N. Security Council.

Israel has carried out in the past commando operations deep inside Lebanon to kidnap or kill Hezbollah and Palestinian officials.

Recounting the event, Lebanese residents from the apartment building where the man was seized said the armed group introduced themselves as state security.

We were terrified. They were breaking into the apartment next to ours, Hussein Delbani told The Associated Press near where the man was captured. I thought a state agency was doing a security operation, said Delbani, who was displaced from south Lebanon a month ago when the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted.

He said he saw from his balcony people down on the coast and they screamed again for him to go inside.

Hamie told Al-Jadeed the man was a captain of civilian ships. He graduated in 2022 and in late September joined the Batroun's Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute for additional courses. Hamie said that the man lived some 300 meters from the institute.

Hamie's remarks came shortly after two Lebanese journalists posted a video on social media showing what appeared to be about 20 armed men taking away a man from in front a house, his face covered with his shirt.

Kandice Ardiel, a spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force deployed in south Lebanon, denied allegations by some local journalists who said that the peacekeepers helped the landing force in the operation. The U.N. mission, known as UNIFIL, has a maritime force that monitors the coast.

"Disinformation and false rumors are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk, Ardiel said.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles from Lebanon into Israel in solidarity with Hamas immediately after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza. The yearlong cross-border fighting boiled over to full-blown war on Oct. 1, when Israeli forces launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006.

Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Sally Abou Aljoud in Beirut and Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.

Follow s war coverage at /hub/israel-hamas-war
Amid a spate of hoax bomb threats to flights, Indian Airlines flight for New Delhi from Kathmandu received fresh threat on Saturday.

We have received a bomb threat on an Indian Airlines flight that was bound for New Delhi from Kathmandu, Dambar Bahadur BK, Chief of Police at the airport told ANI.

However, after hours of searches, no suspicious or explosive object was found in the plane.

On Monday, Nepal received a bomb hoax call on an Air India flight AI 216 that was set to return to New Delhi. It was the second hoax call that Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport has received within a week.

The Air India flight prompted authorities to activate the emergency protocol as the flight landed at 2:41 PM (Nepal Standard Time) at Tribhuvan International Airport received a bomb threat.

"We didn't find any suspicious or explosives on board the plane. It is preparing to take flight following the procedures," Kiran Bajracharya, AIG at Valley Police Office, Ranipokhari, confirmed to ANI over the phone.

Over the last few weeks, over 400 Indian flight, including of Air India, Vistara and Air Akasa have received bomb threat.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, a 35-year-old man who was allegedly behind a series of hoax bomb threats to airports and railway stations across the country was been arrested after he presented himself before Nagpur Police.

Officials said that Jagdish Shriam Uikey, resident of Arjuni Morgaon in Gondia district of eastern Maharashtra, arrived in Nagpur by flight after the city police sent him a notice seeking his presence for probe, and surrendered on Thursday evening.

Also Read | Bengaluru-Ayodhya Akasa flight among 50 airlines get hoax bomb threat today

The IT Ministry has asked social media platforms to observe due diligence obligations and promptly remove or disable access to misinformation within the strict timelines prescribed under IT rules.
By Nandita Bose and James Oliphant

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) -Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris flew unexpectedly to New York on Saturday amid a rumor she would appear on the "Saturday Night Live" TV program just three days before her election showdown with Republican Donald Trump.

The New York Post reported that Harris would appear during the popular comedy show's opening skit. A "Saturday Night Live" appearance would add a surprise jolt to ahead of the presidential election on Tuesday.

Harris' campaign declined to say why they were traveling to New York, rather than Detroit as originally planned. NBC, the network that airs the show, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier in the day, Harris was greeted by an unusual sight as she arrived for a rally in North Carolina: Trump's red-white-and-blue airplane.

As Harris descended from the vice-presidential airplane Air Force Two at the Charlotte airport, Trump's private Boeing 757 was parked on the tarmac nearby.

The close encounter was a dramatic illustration of how the two candidates are focusing on a handful of states where Tuesday's U.S. presidential election will ultimately be won or lost.

It was the fourth day in a row that the candidates campaigned in the same state. Only seven states, including North Carolina, are seen as truly competitive.

Harris was arriving in Charlotte for a rally with rock star Bon Jovi. Trump campaigned in suburban Gastonia a few hours earlier, and it was not clear whether he was on his plane when Harris arrived.

Trump and Harris stuck to familiar themes at their appearances.

Trump said he would deport millions of immigrants if elected and warned that if Harris wins, "Every town in America would be turned into a squalid, dangerous refugee camp."

Campaigning in Atlanta, Harris said Trump would abuse his power if he returns to the White House.

This is someone who is increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and the man is out for unchecked power," she said.

More than 72 million Americans have already cast ballots, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida, short of 2020's record early-voting pace during COVID-19, but still indicating a high level of voter enthusiasm.

Some 4 million votes have already been cast in North Carolina. The state's western counties that were devastated by Hurricane Helene appeared to be voting at roughly the same rate as the rest of the state, according to Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer.

Trump criticized the federal government's response to the disaster and repeated his false claim that aid had been diverted from the state to help immigrants entering the country.

'BEAUTIFUL WHITE SKIN'

At a later rally in Salem, Virginia, a state that analysts say he is unlikely to win, Trump said he ran for office to rescue the economy from "obliteration," even though it would have been easier to relax at one of his oceanfront resorts.

"I didn't need to be here today," he said. "I could have been standing on that beach, my beautiful white skin getting nice and being smacked, being smacked in the face by a wave loaded up with salt water."

Trump was joined on stage by women from a local college swim team who have objected to competing against transgender athletes. Some of Trump's TV ads have sought to capitalize on transgender controversies.

Harris and Trump have very different policies on major issues including support for Ukraine and NATO, abortion rights, immigration, taxes, democratic principles and tariffs, which reflect the schisms between the Democratic and Republican parties.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Friday that if Trump wins and Republicans control Congress, his party would "probably" repeal the CHIPS Act, which was passed under Joe Biden's administration and provides over $50 billion in subsidies to companies for semiconductor chip manufacturing and research in the United States.

Democrats have seized on the remarks.

"It is further evidence of everything I've actually been talking about for months now, about Trump's intention to implement Project 2025," Harris said Saturday, referring to a conservative blueprint to remake U.S. government and policies that was written with the help of many of Trump's closest advisers.

Johnson revised his remarks later on Friday, saying the act would be streamlined to eliminate regulations.
GASTONIA, N.C.  Donald Trump will rally supporters in North Carolina every day until Tuesday's election, a flurry of late activity in the only swing state that he won in both his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.

Even as Trump looks to expand the electoral map and project strength with trips to New Mexico and Virginia, two Democratic states not widely viewed as competitive, he is putting considerable time into North Carolina, which last backed a Democrat for president in 2008.

The former president's path to the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the presidency gets significantly more complicated if he loses North Carolina. The fast-growing Southern state gave Trump his smallest margin of victory  1.3 percentage points  over Democrat Joe Biden four years ago.

Trump will campaign in Gastonia, west of Charlotte, and Greensboro on Saturday, with a stop in Salem, Virginia, in between. He will be in the eastern city of Kinston on Sunday and in Raleigh on Monday. Those four rallies will bring his total events in North Carolina since Oct. 1 to nine. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has been in the state six times during the same period, most recently on Friday.

Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's Democratic rival, will also be in North Carolina on Saturday for a concert and rally in Charlotte. Her campaign has not announced any other travel to the state before Election Day.

The extensive damage from Hurricane Helene across western North Carolina has created a dose of uncertainty about the state of play here. Flooding destroyed homes and displaced residents in several counties, including the liberal city of Asheville and the conservative rural areas surrounding it.

Trump's team has said it is confident about his chances in North Carolina. Democrats see Trump's attention on the state as a signal of optimism for Harris.

The repeat appearances may signal Trumps campaign is in trouble, said Democratic state Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham. If Trump continues with his dangerous, violent rhetoric these last few days, it may backfire. A campaign of personal retribution does not win votes from people.

Trump adviser Jason Miller said Trump's late-campaign travels are not a signal of alarm.

I'm not worried about anything," Miller told reporters Friday. "We have a smart strategy that's going to get President Trump across 270, maybe even a couple of states that surprise you, that slide in there. But were going to follow our strategy. Our strategy comes from our data and our targeting.

Trump, in a Fox & Friends interview Saturday morning, was asked about his message to women after businessman Mark Cuban suggested the former president does not surround himself with strong and intelligent women.

Trump said he has been defended by women who make men look like babies and that he has given women chances, too." He cited Kellyanne Conway, who ran his 2016 campaign, and Susie Wiles, his current campaign manager.

He also said he was so disappointed by Julia Roberts, who provided the voiceover for an ad about women hiding their votes from their husband. He predicted she will look back at it and cringe. "Can you imagine a wife not telling a husband who shes voting for? Do you ever hear anything like that? he asked.

Roughly half of North Carolina's 7.8 million registered voters had already voted as of Friday, buoyed by early in-person voting, which ends on Saturday afternoon.

North Carolina Republicans have been encouraged by early voter turnout among their supporters after national and state GOP leaders switched this year to a bank your vote strategy, rather than focusing on Election Day turnout.

Entering the final days of the campaign, over 50,000 more GOP registered voters than Democrats had voted early or by absentee ballot, even though there are over 100,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans statewide, according to state elections data. It is unclear whether the Republicans' early vote surge will result in a higher overall turnout for Trump supporters.

Independent voters now make up the largest group of registered voters in North Carolina. Trump lost ground with independents between 2016 and 2020.

The states voters have shown a propensity to split their ticket over the years. That's why while Republicans have controlled the state legislature since 2011, Democrats have held the governors mansion for all but four years since 1993.

The GOP's hopes to break that hold on Tuesday appeared to dwindle in recent weeks after the partys nominee for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, received unwanted publicity from a CNN report that alleged he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography websites message board more than a decade ago.

While Robinson denied writing the messages and sued CNN for defamation last month, his campaign nearly imploded, raising fears that a large victory by Democrat Josh Stein, the state's attorney general, could harm GOP candidates in other races.

Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Detroit and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report.
A year after its launch, the Leica ZM 11 represents the brands continued dedication to design, photography and innovative watchmaking, guided by the creative minds that shaped its identity

When Leica first introduced the ZM 1 and ZM 2 two years ago, it marked a bold step into the world of luxury watchmaking for the Wetzlar brand. These early models were celebrated for their strong connection to Leicas legendary cameras, blending functional innovation with the aesthetic spirit of high-end photography gear.

But a year later, the ZM 11 took this journey further, embodying a new approach to design. No longer tied as closely to camera design, the ZM 11 draws on photography itself as inspiration  with a focus on light, shadow and depth.

According to Henrik Ekdahl, Managing Director of Ernst Leitz Werkstatten, Leicas division for fine craftsmanship, the ZM 11s departure from its predecessors in both design and concept was deliberate.

Henrik Ekdahl, Managing Director of Ernst Leitz Werkstatten  Leica

With the Leica ZM 1 and ZM 2, we managed to bring many of the characteristics from the cameras and a lot of Leica DNA to the watches, explains Ekdahl. On the ZM 11, we have a fascinating gradient effect on the dial. We wanted to focus even more on these characteristics and bring even more of the Leica DNA to the wrist.

Inspired by Photographic Language

As such, Leicas team embraced a design language inspired not by the physical components of a camera, but by the core elements of photography.

Marcus Eilinger, Creative Director at Ernst Leitz Werkstatten, describes the approach: At Leica, I quickly realised that photography is their actual language, with its basic elements of light and shadow. Light and shadows provide various depths to and perspectives on an object, so it can be seen differently. We wanted to integrate this into the product and tried to make these elements come alive.

The three versions of the ZM11  Leica

This philosophy is reflected in the design of the ZM 11s dial, which plays with light to create a sense of depth and dimension. Eilinger and his team experimented with outside-the-box techniques to achieve a layered construction that gives the dial its organic gradient effect.

He says: We designed the dials and hands of the watch in three dimensions whenever possible and structured them with various surface finishes. We built two different layers on top of each other with a thickness of 0.4 mm. We tried different production processes and found a solution in an etching technology, unconventional in the industry. It made this unique dial possible.

Markus Eilinger, Creative Director at Ernst Leitz Werkstatten  Leica

Offered in Midnight Blue, Coffee Black and a Launch Edition in black with red accents, each dial plays with light subtly, while the diamond-cut, lume-filled hands and indices, with their brushed and sandblasted finishes, enhance its eye-catching nature.

A Modern, Sporty Aesthetic

The design of the ZM 11 also signalled a shift from the traditional styling of the ZM 1 and ZM 2 towards a more modern and sporty aesthetic. Its 41mm case is sleek, featuring integrated lugs and a double-domed sapphire crystal that contributes to a streamlined profile.

The Coffee Black ZM11  Leica

The ZM 11 is also equipped with a screw-in crown and offers water resistance of up to 100 metres, making it suitable for both everyday wear and more active pursuits.

The case materials vary between editions, with 316L stainless steel for the Midnight Blue model and Grade 5 titanium for the Coffee Black and Launch Edition.

Eilinger highlights the thoughtful design choices: [The case] has a very modern silhouette with its integrated lugs. The polished, satinised and brushed surfaces are combined with one another in a variety of ways, so the ensemble creates a harmonic, beautiful object.

Additionally, Leica incorporated an Easy-Change system into the ZM 11, allowing wearers to switch effortlessly between different strap options  vulcanised rubber, Cordura fabric or an integrated stainless steel or titanium bracelet. A signature red button on the back of the lugs operates this feature, providing a functional reference to Leicas iconic red dot.

The Easy-Change system with the iconic red dot  Leica

I endeavoured to include iconic elements into the design and to make them functional. For example, the red dot was designed so the strap can be changed without a tool, Eilinger adds.

A Movement for a Broader Audience

A key difference between the ZM 11 and its predecessors lies in the movement. The ZM 1 and ZM 2 were equipped with proprietary movements developed in collaboration with Lehmann Prazision in Germany. But the ZM 11, designed for wider distribution at a lower price point, required a movement that could be produced at a larger scale while still delivering the aesthetic and functional quality we expect to see from Leica.

To achieve this, Leica partnered with Swiss firm Chronode to develop the LA-3001 automatic movement, regulated to keep time within -4 to +6 seconds per day and offering a 60-hour power reserve. A quick-correction system integrated into the crown allows for easy adjustment of the date.

Assembling the LA-3001 automatic movement  Leica

Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement is finished with a blend of brushed and blasted surfaces, lending it an industrial aesthetic that complements the ZM 11s modern design.

Jean-Francois Mojon, Managing Director of Chronode, shares: [The movement] base is a Chronode construction that has been adapted to the needs of Leica. For example, the bridge geometry has been fully revised. The finishes have also been customised. It has laser structuring and a NAC colour, a particular tone that further distinguishes the Leica ZM 11.

Jean-Francois Mojon, Managing Director of Chronode  Leica

Mojon also highlights the attention to detail in the movements components: We have our own screws and our own pins. The jewel bearings are also specific to our projects. This is so we have control over their dimensions and characteristics. Its really about choosing the best components and best materials to obtain a successful product.

Leicas Watchmaking Journey

A year after its launch, the Leica ZM 11 continues to demonstrate the brands dedication to innovative design, precision engineering and the artistic heritage of photography. With a more accessible price tag and a modern, sporty aesthetic, the ZM 11 has expanded Leicas reach in the world of horology.

Through thoughtful collaboration and a focus on light and shadow, the ZM 11 has represented an exciting step in Leicas ongoing watchmaking journey  where time is not only measured, but experienced. And with Leicas global retail network, the opportunity to experience the ZM 11 in the metal is just a visit away.

As Henrik Ekdahl puts it: A big advantage of being part of Leica Camera AG is that we can rely on Leicas distribution. We can already be found in Leica stores from Los Angeles to Tokyo. Besides cameras, long-range optics and other Leica products, you can get to know our watches there. Slip one on your wrist and you will see what masterpieces they are!

For further details, visit the Leica website or one of its stores worldwide.
King Charles III reportedly fears building bridges with Prince Harry in case he is dragged into his sons court case against the Home Office, said a report by The Telegraph citing British Royal Family experts.

The Duke of Sussexs tendency to reveal private conversations, as seen in his memoir Spare, could put the Monarch into legal jeopardy, said experts.

Prince Harry had filed a lawsuit against the Home Office for its 2020 decision to limit his police protection while in the United Kingdom (UK).

Also Read | Kate Middleton has ditched her engagement ring because

A senior constitutional adviser to the Royal Family told The Telegraph: Here you have the infelicitous situation where the Kings son is suing the Kings ministers in the Kings courts. That is pulling the King in three directions.

You also have the situation where the Kings son publishes accounts of private conversations, some of which have been, shall we say, wrong.

However, Palace officials claim that King Charles is open to mending ties with Harry and Meghan Markle but must tread carefully.

In June, Harry was allowed to appeal a prior rejection of his case, seeking a fair and lawful application of the security policies applied by the Royalty and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec).

The Duke of Sussex hopes he will obtain justice from the court of appeal. The Duke is not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of Ravecs own rules, a spokesperson for Prince Harry had said.

According to a report by Mirror, Prince Harry was infuriated when King Charles allegedly had said he could not afford to pay for Meghan Markle's expensive lifestyle in the future.

Robert Jobson in his book Our King: Charles III  The Man and the Monarch has revealed that the Duke in an interview recalled the moment when he planned to propose to the Suits actress and received a frosty response from both his father and brother Prince William, said the report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent criticisms of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge have ignited a fierce political debate in Karnataka, highlighting the growing tensions. PM Modi accused the Congress of being unable to fulfill poll promises in Karnataka

Stating that the 'B' in BJP stands for 'betrayal' while 'J' stands for 'jumla', Kharge said in a post on X, Narendra Modi ji, Lies, Deceit, Fakery, Loot and Publicity are the 5 adjectives which best describe your government! Your drum beating regarding a 100-day plan was a cheap PR stunt!

BJPs Allegations of Deceit PM Modi claimed the Congress Party is failing to keep promises in Karnataka and other states, stating, "The Congress Party is realising the hard way that making unreal promises is easy but implementing them properly is tough or impossible."

Worsening Governance PM Modi remarked that Congress's governance is "turning from bad to worse," highlighting unfulfilled commitments in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.

Congress Hits Back Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge responded sharply, stating, "Lies, Deceit, Fakery, Loot & Publicity are the 5 adjectives which best describe your (PM Modi) Govt!"

Kharge's PR Stunt Accusation Mallikarjun Kharge condemned Modi's 100-day plan as a "cheap PR stunt," and cited an RTI response that declined to provide details on Modi's claim about consulting 20 lakh people for a roadmap.

Modi Ki Guarantee Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Modi's promises, calling "Modi Ki Guarantee" a "cruel joke on 140 crore Indians."

Economic Woes PM Modi asserted, "The victims of such politics are the poor, youngsters, farmers and women," lamenting unfulfilled promises that dilute existing benefits.

Siddaramaiahs Defence Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah countered Modi by claiming, "We are fulfilling every promise we made to our people," referencing a budget of over 52,000 crore for five guarantees.

Corruption Claims Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of leaving Karnataka "plagued with 40 per cent commission corruption," stating, We're using that same 40 per cent -- redirecting it to benefit the people.

Political Battle Intensifies Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel warned Modi against "petty politics," stating, "The Prime Minister should not be indulging in petty politics and should not play this dirty blame game for short political gains."

Parameshwaras Rebuttal Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara dismissed Modi's criticisms as "election-driven jealousy," affirming, We have made a provision of around 56,000 crore in our budget for these guarantees."
Tensions within Maharashtra's political landscape escalated over derogatory comments made by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant, targeting Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena party leader Shaina NC. Arvind Sawant referred to Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC as imported maal. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have both publicly condemned the remarks, demanding accountability and respect for women in politics.

Kirit Somaiya Calls for Arvind Sawant's Apology On Saturday, Kirit Somaiya did not hold back in his criticism of Uddhav Thackeray's faction, urging them to reflect on their language. Speaking to ANI, he stated, Uddhav Thackeray Sena uses a word like 'maal' for a woman candidate, Shaina NC. They should feel ashamed. Uddhav Thackeray should apologise to the nation.

Somaiya's remarks highlight a growing concern about the treatment of women in political discourse, particularly in the context of an upcoming election.

CM Eknath Shinde Weighs In Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, echoed Somaiya's sentiments, declaring Sawant's comments as unfortunate. He suggested that if Balasaheb Thackeray, the late founder of the Shiv Sena, were alive, he would have strongly condemned such remarks.

"It's very unfortunate. Speaking ill of a woman is highly condemnable, and no amount of criticism is enough," Shinde asserted. He added that actions like Sawant's expose the true character of the party, stating, If Balasaheb were alive, he would have strongly condemned and would have broken his mouth.

Arvind Sawant's Imported Maal Remark Row The uproar began when Arvind Sawant referred to Shaina NC as imported maal, implying that outsiders do not belong in Maharashtras political scene. He said, Look at her condition. She was in the BJP all her life and now she went to another party. Imported 'maal' doesn't work here; only original 'maal' does."

In response to the comments, Shaina NC filed a complaint at the Nagpada Police Station, asserting her right to challenge derogatory remarks against her. "FIR has been registered regarding outraging the modesty of a woman and defamation as he has used a derogatory remark. The law will take its course," she stated, emphasising her commitment to justice.

Arvind Sawant Defends Himself Amid Backlash Facing significant backlash, Sawant attempted to clarify his comments, claiming he did not mention Shaina NC by name. I never mentioned her name. I only said that someone who is an outsider will not be able to work here. It's their habit to create uproar, he said.

Also Read | Maharashtra: Shiv Sena MLA Srinivas Vanga goes missing after party denies ticket

He also defended his respect for women, insisting, I have always respected women and accused my opponents of trying to tarnish my reputation. Sawant portrayed Shaina NC as a friend, stating, Shaina NC is my friend, she has worked for me, and I respect her.
The man who is betting more than $30 million on a Donald Trump victory wants you to know that he isnt trying to manipulate the U.S. election.

My intent is just making money," the man, who called himself Theo, said during a Zoom call with a reporter from The Wall Street Journal earlier this week. He described himself as a Frenchman who had previously lived in the U.S. and worked as a trader for banks.

Theos huge wagers on Polymarketa prediction market that isnt open to Americansdrew broad attention last month after the Journal reported that four accounts on the platform had been systematically purchasing wagers on a Trump victory. The bets lifted Trumps odds of beating Vice President Kamala Harris, as shown on Polymarket. Blockchain data showed that the accounts were all funded by the same crypto exchange, fueling debate about the motives of the Trump whale" behind them.

Last week, New York-based Polymarket said it had contacted the Trump whale as part of an investigation into the wagers. The company described the person behind the bets as a French national with extensive trading experience and a financial-services background.

Based on the investigation, we understand that this individual is taking a directional position based on personal views of the election," Polymarket said in a statement.

The details in Polymarkets statement lined up with how Theo described himself. He confirmed that he had spoken to a member of Polymarkets legal and compliance team.

Election-watchers are poring over any and all data in an effort to predict the outcome of one of the most contentiousand, seemingly, closeU.S. presidential elections on record. Prediction markets that allow people to place bets on a variety of potential events have emerged as one possible way to forecast election winners. Historical research suggests that, more often than not, the presidential candidate with the best odds in betting markets before Election Day goes on to take the White House.

Yet the emergence of the Trump whale exposes the limits of todays prediction markets: Even though volumes have surged on Polymarket this year, it is still small enough for one wealthy, opinionated individual to push prices around with a multimillion-dollar bet.

Theo emailed the Journal after the publication of an Oct. 18 article about his wagers. To prove that he was behind the Polymarket wagers, the Journal asked him to place a bet on whether Taylor Swift would announce that she is pregnant in 2024one of the many small, non-political wagers available on the platform. Minutes later, Polymarkets website showed that one of the four accounts, Theo4, had placed a small bet on Swifts pregnancy.

During the Zoom call, Theo wore a gray Nike sweater and sported a short, neatly trimmed beard. Speaking English with a slight accent, he said he had made his bets after concluding that polls were underestimating Trumps support. He denied speculation that his wagers were aimed at creating a sense of momentum for Trump.

Theo declined to give his real name, and the Journal wasnt able to confirm all the elements of his story. Although Theo said he was funding the bets with his own money, it couldnt be determined whether this is true. Nor could the Journal rule out links between Theo and any political organization or Trump allies.

I have absolutely no political agenda," Theo wrote in his initial email.

Theo said he didnt want to share his name because his own friends and children dont know the extent of his wealth, and he doesnt want them to know about his Trump bet. He described himself as a veteran financial investor willing to risk tens of millions of dollars on high-conviction trades. But political betting was new for him, Theo said.

Theo said he took an interest in U.S. polling data earlier this year. He observed that many polls underestimated Trumps support in 2016 and 2020, and concluded that if Trump outperformed again this year, he would beat Harris. Theo also cited the shy Trump voter effect"the idea that people were reluctant to tell pollsters that they supported Trump.

I know a lot of Americans who would vote for Trump without telling you that," Theo said. Asked about changes that pollsters had made in their methodologies in an attempt to fix the problems of 2016 and 2020, Theo was dismissive, saying he had not seen anything substantial."

Theo sent dozens of emails to the Journal reporter over a two-week period. In many of them, he criticized polls from mainstream-media outlets that he saw as skewed in favor of Harris. On the Zoom call, he alleged that Democrat-aligned media organizations were laying the groundwork for social unrest by stoking expectations of a close race, instead of the Trump blowout that he anticipates.

Theo said he was caught by surprise when his trades drew public attention. He started quietly in August by betting several million dollars on Trump, using an account with the username Fredi9999. At the time, Trump and Harris had roughly even chances on Polymarket.

Theo spread out his wagers over multiple days and weeks to avoid causing a price spike. Still, as his bets grew, Theo noticed other traders were backing away from quoting prices when Fredi9999 was buying. That made it harder for Theo to get attractive prices. He created the other three accounts in September and October to obscure his purchasing, Theo said.

Now, Theo could get a payday of more than $80 million-more than double his investmentif all of his expectations of a sweeping Trump victory come true. Besides his main wager on Trump winning the Electoral College, Theo has bet millions more on Trump winning the popular votea scenario that many political observers consider unlikelyand on Trump winning individual swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

If Harris wins, Theo could lose most or all of his $30 million, which he described as the majority of his available liquid assets.

He is such a big trader on Polymarket that hes effectively stuck, unable to exit his wagers without crashing the market. The four Trump whale" accounts collectively hold about 25% of the contracts on Trump winning the Electoral College and over 40% of the contracts on Trump winning the popular vote, according to data provider Polymarket Analytics.

Theo admitted feeling nervous. He voiced confidence that Trump would winassessing his odds of winning the election at 80% to 90%but fretted that his bets could be thrown off by something unexpected.

A surprise can always occur," Theo said.

Write to Alexander Osipovich at alexo@wsj.com
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are at odds on many policy issues, but one topic is particularly personal for both: for-profit colleges. Mr Trump once owned a for-profit college, predictably called Trump University. He agreed to pay $25m in 2016 to settle lawsuits brought by students alleging their alma mater had not taught them anything. Three years earlier, as Californias attorney-general, Ms Harris went after a different for-profit college. She sued the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges for predatory and unlawful practices" and won $1.2bn.

The outcome of the upcoming election could be consequential for for-profit institutions. Ms Harris would probably want to crack down, while Mr Trump would probably loosen the reins. Both would claim they were acting in the name of fairness.

View Full Image Graphic: The Economist

For-profit colleges have grown quickly, but their progress has not been steady (see chart). Enrolment tends to increase most during tough economic times. Between 2000 and 2010, for-profit college enrolment grew four-fold from 450,000 students to 2m. Interest also grew in 2020 during the pandemic. For all of the attention paid to them by politicians, for-profit colleges are small players in the postsecondary market. For-profits accounted for only $14bn in revenue from tuition and fees in 2021-2022 compared with $81bn from non-profit private institutions that same year.

Keep up with the contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump with our US election forecast model

For-profit colleges tend to receive outsize attention, and not of the positive kind. Many perform as expected, but the sector has been tarnished by scams. In 2018 the Century Foundation, a think-tank, studied federal-borrower defence claims, which allow federal-loan forgiveness for students who successfully prove that they have been defrauded. It found that 98% of successful applications were from students who attended for-profit institutions.

For-profit colleges rely on student tuition and fees more than other institutions. As such, theres a big incentive [for for-profit institutions] to bring students in the door and enroll them," says Stephanie Riegg Cellini of George Washington University. And theres not a big incentive on the backside to ensure that students have good outcomes." Compared with their non-profit peers, for-profit college graduates have higher loan-default rates and lower earnings and employment rates.

In 2014 Barack Obamas administration implemented the gainful employment" rule to deal with these concerns. The regulation required for-profit colleges to prove the value of their degree or risk losing federal funding. This posed a threat to for-profit colleges, which get 70% of their revenues from Pell grantsfederal aid for poor students. Data released by the Department of Education in 2017 showed that about one-tenth of programmes, nearly all of them at for-profit institutions, would have failed the test. Many of these programmes closed voluntarily. But then Mr Trump took office and reversed course. In 2019 his administration officially rescinded the gainful employment" rule, which it argued unfairly punished for-profit colleges. Mr Trump also vetoed a bipartisan resolution that would have facilitated student-loan forgiveness for those who attended allegedly fraudulent colleges.

And then as quickly as they were taken away, the regulations returned with Joe Bidens election. Rather than merely reinstate the Obama-era rules, the Biden administration proposed new ones. The updated regulation cuts off federal funds to colleges that saddle students with debt they are unable to repay. A new provision also denies federal student aid to career programmes that demand more training than required by state law. This part of the rule was set to take effect on July 1st of this year, but a judge issued a temporary injunction in June.

Teachers for Trump

A Harris administration would continue in this vein. In addition to suing a for-profit college as attorney-general, Ms Harris has at various times pushed for student-loan forgiveness and free college for all. A second Trump administration would undo regulations on for-profit schools again.

Democrats want federal financial aid directed towards high-quality programmes, whereas Republicans want it to be spent in as many programmes as possible, says Dominique Baker of the University of Delaware. Both parties claim that they are doing what is best for studentsDemocrats by regulating predatory colleges and Republicans by expanding access to a wider range of options beyond the traditional four-year degree.

The world has been stuck in an unfortunate, unproductive back-and-forth for the last few administrations without any creativity," says Daniel Currell, a former senior adviser in the Department of Education. Still, at least some educators will be rooting for Mr Trump.

Stay on top of American politics with The US in brief, our daily newsletter with fast analysis of the most important electoral stories, and Checks and Balance, a weekly note from our Lexington columnist that examines the state of American democracy and the issues that matter to voters.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Nothing CEO Carl Pei has once again expressed his appreciation for India, stating that he is highly optimistic about the country's potential as growth in China slows down. Pei also highlighted Nothing's rapid expansion in the Indian market and discussed the challenges of establishing local manufacturing in the country.

In an interview with TechCrunch, Pei said, Now that the China story is slowing down a lot, I am very bullish on India. Notably, Pei had lived in China during 2011-21 where he co-founded OnePlus and was a key member of the company's leadership team.

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India is biggest market for us: Carl Pei While discussing Nothing's recent growth in India, Carl Pei noted that India is the biggest market for the companys smartphones and highlighted that Nothing distinguishes itself as the only brand with true differentiation in a market largely dominated by Chinese brands. According to the latest Counterpoint data, Nothing was the fastest-growing brand in India, achieving a remarkable 510% year-over-year growth in shipments in Q3 2024 and entering the top 10 list for the first time.

Answering a question about the importance of India for Nothing, Pei said, It's the biggest market for us for smartphones There's actually not a lot of competition. If you think about it, 80% of the market share in India. Are these Chinese smartphone brands. Samsung is like, maybe 15 to 18% and Apple is very small, because it's very expensive.

The Chinese brands, they compete on price and spec. Like good quality, good spec, good performance, good price, but they take 80% of the market share, and there's no differentiation between their products. So if you were to not look at the logos of those phones, consumers wouldn't be able to tell what's what. We are the only company with differentiation in the market. Pei added

Carl Pei also noted that it was painful to set up the 2 manufacturing facilities in Noida and Chennai. He stated that because Nothing makes transparent products, it was a big pain point to stop the dust from entering the product.
With a bombardment of news throughout the week, its hard to keep in touch with all the major updates. To help with that, we have compiled the Weekly Tech Recap, where we take a look at the top news making waves in the world of technology. This week, OpenAI rolled out its much-awaited ChatGPT Search feature, Apple upgraded its MacBook lineup, OnePlus 13 and iQOO 13 made their debut in China, Android 16 received a launch timeline, and iOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence started rolling out. Without further ado, lets jump right into the top tech news of the week.

Top tech news of the week: 1) OpenAI launches ChatGPT Search: After much speculation over the past year, OpenAI is finally taking on Google and Microsoft Bing with the addition of search functionality in ChatGPT. The new search feature is powered by the GPT-4o model and is a more evolved version of the SearchGPT prototype unveiled by the company earlier this year.

The ChatGPT search feature is triggered by default based on what the user is searching for. There is also an option to manually activate the search functionality by clicking on the new web search icon, located just adjacent to the attachment icon.

2) Apple upgrades MacBook lineup: Apple upgraded its MacBook lineup this week with the launch of new MacBook Pro models featuring M4 chips, along with a new Mac Mini and iMac. Among these launches, the one that garnered the most attention was the new slim and lightweight Mac Mini, now powered by the M4 and M4 Pro chipsets. Despite boasting numerous enhancements, the new Mac Mini with a 256GB SSD starts at a price of 59,900 in India, making it one of the most cost-effective devices for day-to-day users. Meanwhile, the new MacBook Pro lineup starts at 1,69,900, and the new iMac lineup begins from 1,34,900 in India.

3) Android 16 is coming sooner than anticipated: Google has confirmed the speculations that Android 16 will indeed be rolled out earlier than the usual release cycle adopted by the company. The Mountainview California based company said that the latest update will help drive innovation in apps and devices with higher stability and polish.

Google usually releases its new Android software updates in Q3 or Q4 of each year. Just to put things in perspective, the last time Google did not release a new Android update in the last three months of the year was with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, back in 2012.

4) iOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence rolled out: Apple has finally rolled out the first wave of its Apple Intelligence, aka AI features, for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users with its iOS 18.1 update on Monday. Notably, Apple Intelligence was first announced at WWDC 2024, though the new features werent ready in time for the iPhone 16 launch in September.

With the iOS 18.1 update, Apple is bringing numerous AI features to iPhones, including a more natural and conversational Siri, system-wide writing tools, call recording transcription and summaries, smart replies in the Mail and Messages apps, AI-backed Focus Modes, and more.

5) OnePlus 13, iQOO 13 launched: The first wave of Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphones finally hit the market, with the OnePlus 13, iQOO 13, and Realme GT 7 Pro being unveiled in China. The new phones have an IP68/IP69 rating, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, over 6,000mAh of battery, and fast charging support.
Almost 20 years ago, the British-French film "Pride and Prejudice" was released worldwide. Directed by Joe Wright, the film adaptation of the novel of the same name by English writer Jane Austen not only gained popularity among the audience but also won the BAFTA Award for Best First Feature.

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The actors, who portrayed the love story of a girl from a poor family and a wealthy, but at first glance too proud man, became public favorites and managed to take firm root in the film industry. OBOZ.UA will tell you how the stars of the cult drama have changed and how their lives have developed.

Keira Knightley

The English actress and model made her breakthrough in the film industry in 1995 when she played the lead role in the movie "Bend it like Beckham." The "Pirates of the Caribbean" series of films and "Pride and Prejudice," for which the celebrity was nominated for an Oscar, brought her particular popularity. Her masterful acting made Keira Knightley famous throughout Hollywood. In addition to a successful career, the star has also created a good family. In 2013, she married musician James Righton, with whom she has two children together: Edie and Delilah.

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Matthew MacFadyen

Matthew MacFadyen's acting career began with theater performances. He made his television debut in 1998 when he appeared in the film adaptation of the novel "Wuthering Heights." However, the drama "Pride and Prejudice" brought him recognition, where he played the wealthy Fitzwilliam Darcy. After participating in the film "Criminal Justice," the star received a BAFTA television award, and in 2022 he won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a TV series "Legacy." In 2004, the celebrity married actress Keeley Hawes. The couple had three children.

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Donald Sutherland

Throughout his long career, Donald Sutherland has managed to become the star of a large number of successful projects. He has starred in more than 140 films, including: "Johnny Got his Gun," "M.A.S.H," "Il Casanova di Federico Fellini," "The Menagerie," "The Italian Job," "Pride and Prejudice," and others. In 2017, the star received an Oscar for outstanding services to cinema, and earlier he won the Emmy and Golden Globe awards. The celebrity could have continued to delight fans with his skillful performance, but unfortunately, his life ended at the age of 88 on June 20 due to a "long illness."

Rosamund Pike

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The English actress managed to make a loud statement in the film industry after appearing in the 007 movie "Die Another Day." Among the most successful projects with Rosamund Pike's participation are: "Pride and Prejudice," "Doom," "Clones," and "Johnny English Reborn." In 2019, the celebrity married businessman Robbie Uniacke, with whom she has two sons: Solo and Atom.

Carey Mulligan

After appearing on world screens in the movie "Pride and Prejudice," Carey Mulligan began a successful acting career. The star began to be invited to the highest-grossing films, and in 2009 she won a BAFTA award for her film "An Education." For the same work, the actress was nominated for an Oscar. The celebrity's best projects are: "Never Let Me Go," "Drive," "Shame," "The Great Gatsby," "Inside Llewyn Davis," "Far from the Madding Crowd," "Suffragette," and "She Said." In 2012, the celebrity got married to musician Marcus Mumford.

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Rupert Friend

After making his debut in "The Libertine," Rupert Friend began appearing in projects of various genres. The actor is known for his roles in the films "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas," Cheri," "The Young Victoria," and "Hitman." For 5 years, the celebrity was in a relationship with his colleague Keira Knightley, but their romance ended in 2010. The star is currently married to Aimee Mullins.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) has wholeheartedly condemned the actions of a group targeting sex workers in Longford.

The Longford Leader carried out its own enquiries into how ringleaders in the sex workers industry and landlords are negotiating deals on a Longford town WhatsApp group chat to use rental properties as brothels.

However, information from a group called Escort Ireland Watch was sent to media outlets and public representatives in Longford, Kerry, Galway, Carlow and Leitrim in recent weeks.

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Linda Kavanagh, spokesperson for SWAI described how it contained photos of sex workers and they stressed the campaign is opening sex workers up to blackmail.

Need we remind people that sex work is supposed to be decriminalised in Ireland? Surveillance of women going to a place of work by an anonymous group is harassment," she said. The reports show no evidence that exploitation is occurring."

Ms Kavanagh said self-appointed monitors of migrant women are 'dangerous'.

"Ask yourself, would you be comfortable with someone sending your image from social media and photos of where you work to strangers? This is stalking behaviour.

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Ms Kavanagh stated brothel-keeping laws are written so broadly that these sex workers could be merely sharing a space to keep costs down and to ensure their safety.

"These actions can jeopardise real Gardai investigations and open people up to blackmail. Nothing this group is doing addresses trafficking or exploitation," she said. "This behaviour by a vigilante group is a continuation of the harassment sex workers have faced in Ireland in recent years."
German Mercedes, known as a manufacturer of expensive cars, decided to revise its strategy in 2024 and focus on cheaper models to increase sales.

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According to Motor1, in 2024, Mercedes planned to stop production of the A-Class. This is the company's basic and most affordable model. Currently, the life of the Mercedes A-Class has been extended until 2026.

The new strategy of the German automaker is aimed at higher sales. Even if it means selling less marginal affordable cars. Earlier, the company held a meeting in the United States with its American dealers, who were informed of the new sales plans.

Earlier, Mercedes developed a strategy to strengthen its presence in the prestigious segments with the S-Class, SL, and G-Class models, as well as the AMG and Maybach car lines. In addition, they planned to increase the production of electric vehicles, but this was also abandoned. Such cars cannot be sold in large numbers in a short time.

Now they decided to focus on cheaper models. The goal is to sell more than 300,000 cars in the US in 2024. By the way, dealers liked the new strategy. It is easier for them to sell such models regularly than to wait for a long time for a buyer for a car worth $100,000.
The MBTA will close multiple train lines for stints of work during November as it drives to meet a long-sought benchmark of improved service by the end of the year.

T officials said last November that by the end of 2024, they aimed to repair the nearly 200 slow zones then plaguing the transit system. Each represented an area where the MBTAs ailing infrastructure limited how fast trains could travel, lengthening commute times.

After extensive work throughout the last year, just 16 slow zones remained by the end of October, MBTA data showed.

The upcoming closures will affect the Red Line and the E and D branches of the Green Line as work crews chip away at remaining maintenance projects.

For all closures, full details on the alternative transit options  including fare-free shuttle bus and Commuter Rail rides  can be found on the MBTAs website.

Work crews perform maintenance during a recent closure of the Orange Line. (Courtesy of the MBTA).MBTA

Red Line

The Red Line will shut down between Broadway and North Quincy from Nov. 5 to 10 for track work. On Nov. 9 and 10, the closure will extend from Broadway to Ashmont.

Shuttle buses will ferry riders between the affected stops, and Commuter Rail rides will also be fare-free between Braintree and South Station during the shutdown.

Shuttle buses replace Red Line service between Broadway and North Quincy, Nov. 5 to 10. The Commuter Rail will be fare-free between Braintree and South Station during the closure. Shuttles will extend to Ashmont on the weekend of Nov. 9 to 10. (Courtesy of the MBTA).MBTA

From Nov. 18 to 24, the Red Line will close between Harvard and Broadway for track work. Shuttle buses will replace train service, but will not stop at Park Street or Downtown Crossing. Instead, riders in those areas should board shuttles at Haymarket or State stations, the MBTA said.

During the closure, the Commuter Rail will also be free between Porter Square and North Station and between Braintree and South Station.

Separately, the MBTA said shuttle buses would replace Red Line service between Braintree and Quincy Center on Nov. 3 from the morning to about 2 p.m. for an emergency training exercise.

Shuttle buses will replace Red Line service between Braintree and Quincy Center on Sunday, Nov. 3, from start of service to approximately 2 p.m. for an "emergency training exercise." (Courtesy of the MBTA).MBTA

Green Line

The Green Lines E and D branches will not stop between Park Street and East Somerville the weekend of Nov. 15 to 17 during track maintenance. The closure will begin at 8:30 p.m. that Friday and last through Sunday.

The MBTA encouraged riders to take shuttle buses or use the Orange Line to travel between downtown stops.

From Nov. 11 to 17, the D Branch will shut down between Union Square and Lechmere for track work. The MBTA encouraged riders to use the 86 and 91 bus routes for travel between Union Square and East Somerville.

Green Line D Branch service is suspended between Union Square and Lechmere, Nov. 11 to 17. From 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 17, Green Line E and D branch service will be shut down from Park Street to East Somerville. (Courtesy of the MBTA).MBTA

The D Branch will also close between Riverside and Kenmore from Nov. 9 to 10 for signal improvements. The MBTA said riders hoping to reach Union Square should instead take the C Branch, which will have trains running between Cleveland Circle and Union Square.

Shuttle buses replace Green Line D Branch service between Riverside and Kenmore stations, Nov. 9 to 10. (Courtesy of the MBTA).MBTA

Bit by bit, the extended closures have allowed the MBTA to drastically reduce its volume of speed restrictions.

On Oct. 22, the agency reopened an expansive section of the Orange Line that had been closed for nearly two weeks for critical upgrades to the rail tracks. The work led officials to lift train speed restrictions in 20 areas. The closure also allowed maintenance crews to upgrade signaling systems, security features and station amenities, the MBTA said.

Work crews perform maintenance during a recent closure of the Orange Line. (Courtesy of the MBTA).MBTA

Had repair crews worked only each night when the subway system is normally closed, the Ts massive backlog of maintenance projects could have taken years longer to complete, MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said this summer.

Its a lot of catch-up but I thank the public for their patience, Eng, who was appointed last year after serving in top posts in New York Citys public transit, said. Because at the end of this year, they will have a system that they can better rely on.

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/early-voting-statistics.htm
LAVEEN VILLAGE, Ariz. (AP)  President Joe Biden did something Friday that no other sitting U.S. president has: He apologized for the systemic abuse of generations of Indigenous children endured in boarding schools at the hands of the federal government.

For 150 years the U.S. removed Indigenous children from their homes and sent them away to the schools, where they were stripped of their cultures, histories and religions and beaten for speaking their languages.

We should be ashamed, Biden said to a crowd of Indigenous people gathered at the Gila River Indian Community outside of Phoenix, including tribal leaders, survivors and their families. Biden called the government-mandated system that began in 1819 one of the most horrific chapters in American history, while acknowledging the decades of abuse inflicted upon children and widespread devastation left behind.

For many Native Americans, the long-awaited apology was a welcome acknowledgment of the governments longstanding culpability. Now, they say, words must be followed up by action.

Bill Hall, 71, of Seattle, was 9 when he was taken from his Tlingit community in Alaska and forced to attend a boarding school, where he endured years of physical and sexual abuse that lead to many more years of shame. When he first heard that Biden was going to apologize, he wasnt sure he would be able to accept it.

But, as I was watching, tears began to flow from my eyes, Hall said. Yes, I accept his apology. Now, what can we do next?

Rosalie Whirlwind Soldier, a 79-year-old citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, said she felt a tingle in my heart and was glad the historical wrong was being acknowledged. Still, she remains saddened by the irreversible harms done to her people.

Whirlwind Soldier suffered severe mistreatment at a school in South Dakota that left her with a lifelong, painful limp. The Catholic-run, government-subsidized facility took away her faith and tried to stamp out her Lakota identity by cutting off her long braids, she said.

Sorry is not enough. Nothing is enough when you damage a human being, she said. A whole generation of people and our future was destroyed for us.

The schools were designed both to assimilate Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children and to dispossess tribal nations of their land, according to an Interior Department investigation launched by Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to lead the agency.

Introducing Biden on Friday, Haaland said that while the formal apology is an acknowledgement of a dark chapter, it is also a celebration of Indigenous resilience: Despite everything that happened, we are still here.

Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, commissioned the investigation in 2021. It documented the cases of more than 18,000 Indigenous children, of whom 973 were killed. Both the report and independent researchers say the overall number was much higher.

The report came with several recommendations taken from the testimony of school survivors, including resources for mental health treatment and language revitalization programs.

Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis noted that Biden has pledged to make good on those recommendations.

This lays the framework to address the boarding school policies of the past, he said.

Benjamin Mallott, president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, who is Lingit, said in a statement that the apology must be accompanied by meaningful actions: This includes revitalizing our languages and cultures and bringing home our Native children who have not yet been returned, so they can be laid to rest with their families and in their communities.

That view is shared by Victoria Kitcheyan, chairwoman of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, which sued the U.S. Army in January seeking the return of the remains of two children who died at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.

That healing doesnt start until tribes have a pathway to bring their children home to be laid to rest, Kitcheyan said.

In an interview Thursday, Haaland said Interior is still working with several tribal nations to repatriate the remains of several children who were killed and buried at a boarding school.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who introduced a bill last year to establish a truth and healing commission to address the harms caused by the boarding school system, called the apology a historic step toward long-overdue accountability for the harms done to Native children and their communities.

And Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican who is vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, also commended Biden while saying it reinforces the need for a truth and healing commission.

This acknowledgement of the pain and injustices inflicted upon Indigenous communities  while long overdue  is an extremely important step toward healing, Murkowski said in a statement.

As Biden spoke Friday, tribal members rose to their feet, with many recording the moment on their phones. Some wore traditional garments, and others had shirts supporting Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

There was a moment of silence, the formal apology and then an eruption of applause.

At the end of Bidens remarks, the crowd stood again. There were shouts of, Thank you, Joe.

Hall, the boarding school survivor in Seattle, and others have long been advocating for resources to redress the harm. He worries that tribal nations will continue to struggle with healing unless the government steps up, and he sees a long road yet ahead.

It took a lifetime to get here. Its going to take a lifetime to get to the other side, he said. And thats the very sad part of it. I wont see it in my generation.

___

By GRAHAM LEE BREWER and SEJAL GOVINDARAO Associated Press. Associated Press writer Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, contributed to this report.
Tick-tock, tick-tock ... its that time again  time to turn the clocks back an hour.

On Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m., Americans will turn their clocks back to 1 a.m.  participating in.a century-long tradition.

Twice a year, people throughout the country adjust their clocks, first springing forward to cherish an extra hour of evening daylight during the summer months before falling back to standard time for winter.



In the United States, this has the effect of creating more sunlit hours in the evening during months when the weather is the warmest, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

This act of falling back, marks the end of daylight saving time (DST) in 2024 and the beginning of standard time.

Daylight saving lasts for 238 days  about 65% of the year, according to NIST.

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It will start up again on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

And while one thing is certain  clocks will be springing ahead in March  how people feel about the transition depends on who you ask.

Time change controversy

Many states have pushed for legislative change to avoid bouncing back and forth between daylight saving time and standard time.

Last year, three bills were proposed to establish permanent standard time in Massachusetts, but none passed.



Days before Americans are slated to turn their clocks back at 2 a.m., a bipartisan group of legislators, including U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sent out a reminder that theyre trying to abolish the biannual ritual.

Read More: Popular retailer cuts prices on more than 2K items ahead of the holidays

This head-spinning ritual of falling back and springing forward has gone on long enough, Markey said in a statement. It isnt just a nuisance  changing our clocks also has a very real impact on our economy, our health, and our happiness."

Earlier this year, Massachusetts lawmaker, Markey, joined by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., touted their plan, the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide.

Read more: This iconic restaurant chain will close 150 locations nationwide by 2026

In a 2023 YouGov poll of 1,000 Americans, 62% of participants said they no longer want to change their clocks twice a year.

Of those sampled, 50% said they preferred daylight saving time all year round while 31% wanted standard time all year. Only 12% voted they did not have a preference while 7% said they were not sure where they stood on the matter.

As of 2024, at least 30 states have considered or are considering legislation related to daylight saving time. This year alone, 28 bills have been introduced and 36 have been carried over from the last session, NCSL reports.

Bills to transition to standard time failed in Maine and Virginia earlier this year.

Indiana is currently considering a resolution petitioning the entire state move to share a universal time zone as the northwest and southwest corners are in the central time zone while the rest of the state is in the eastern time zone.
A yes vote on this question would give transportation network drivers (Think Uber and Lyft drivers, but not your DoorDash delivery person), who are now independent contractors, the right to form a union and engage in collective bargaining.
A brush fire burning in the woods of Northampton has doubled in size overnight, the citys police and fire departments announced Saturday. Its one of several significant fires reported in the region in the past 24 hours.

Its now around 40 acres in size, and is in the middle of a conservation area running along a valley and swamp.

A high wind yesterday [Friday] brought a lot more leaves, including especially oak leaves down, which put that dry fuel on a fire, Jake Wark, spokesperson for the State Fire Marshals office, told MassLive on Saturday morning.

Put some more wind behind it, and that just kicks the fire right back up again, he said.

The flames in Northampton had been partially contained at 21 acres by 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

But the blaze expanded again after firefighters left for the evening to ensure their safety and monitor by drone, the local departments said.

There were about 50 firefighters at the scene to contain and ultimately extinguish the fire as of 9:20 a.m. on Saturday, the fire department said.

There is no current threat to structures or homes. Evacuations are not required or anticipated, officials said.

Octobers Inferno

The Northampton blaze is one of 113 wildfires that have been burning in Massachusetts over the past seven days, Wark told MassLive on Saturday.

This includes 10 fires reported over the past 24 hours, he said.

Central and Western Massachusetts had several significant fires reported late Friday night into early Saturday morning, though the ongoing fires are statewide, Wark said.

The flames had been previously concentrated to the eastern side of the state.

At a rate of 1,200%, with around 200 fires in October, there have been a much larger number of fires than the average of 15 per month usually seen in the Commonwealth, the State Fire Marshals Office said in a statement Friday.

Nearly half of these fires were reported in the last week of October, with early data indicating they all a result of human activity, state officials said.

[The October fires] accounted for more than half of the 1,158 acres burned so far this year, David Cellino, the chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, said in a statement.

The weather conditions and dry surface fuels that have contributed to these fast-moving fires are expected to continue in the days ahead, Celino said.

Dry weather, drought conditions, high temperatures and increased winds have all fueled the chances for fires to break out in parts of Massachusetts.

Statewide, 45% of homes are in or near a wooded area, which puts residents at potential risk.

State Fire Marshal Advisories

To prevent more fires, the State Fire Marshals office advised the following:
On the night of November 2, Russian troops again attacked Kyiv with "Shaheds". The invaders hit residential buildings in six districts of the city.

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Debris was recorded falling in Solomyanskyi district, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported. In Sviatoshynskyi district, a fire broke out in a 16-story building, partially destroying the upper floors, and there are victims, while in Shevchenkivskyi district, an office building was damaged.

According to the KCIA, at 9 a.m., there were reports of debris falling in six districts of the capital: Solomyanskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi, Pecherskyi, and Dniprovskyi districts. All the fires that broke out at the impact sites were extinguished by then.

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Under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, criminal proceedings have been initiated over violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the SBU Main Directorate in Kyiv and Kyiv region.

"In Sviatoshynskyi district, a fire broke out in an apartment on the top floor of a 16-storey building, the residents managed to escape from the building. So far, two victims have been reported: an elderly woman with an acute stress reaction from a neighboring building and a police officer. In the other five districts, windows and balconies in apartments and cars were damaged. Rescuers and law enforcement officers are working at the scene," the Prosecutor General's Office said.

They also showed what the apartments in the affected 16-story building look like.

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The city authorities began reporting the first consequences of the attack before 6 am.

"As a result of the attack of the Russian armed forces on Kyiv, debris fell in the Solomyanskyi district of the city, on the territory of residential buildings. Preliminary, window glazing was damaged in several houses. There was no information on casualties or damage," said Serhii Popko, head of the KCMC, at 05:42.

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He later added that the attack damaged at least five cars parked near the crash site.

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Meanwhile, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klychko said that ambulances were sent to the Sviatoshinskyi district of the capital.

"Calling medics to Sviatoshynskyi district. According to preliminary information, a fire broke out in a residential building as a result of debris," the statement said.

The fire occurred on the upper floors of a 16-story residential building.

"As a result of the UAV attack, there was a fire on an area of 50 square meters and partial destruction in apartments on the 15th and 16th floors of a 16-storey residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district of the city. Rescuers are evacuating the building's residents. Information about the victims is being clarified," the SES said.

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"There is currently one injured person in Sviatoshynskyi district in a residential building where a fire broke out as a result of a UAV debris hit. The man was treated by medics on the spot," Klychko said.

As of 8 a.m., the number of injured increased to two people. One of them was hospitalized, the other was treated on the spot.

"A patrol policeman who was helping residents of a burning house in Sviatoshynskyi district was hospitalized, preliminary diagnosis  poisoning by combustion products. Another victim, a resident of the same district, was treated by doctors without hospitalization," the National Police said.

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As of 07:30, the fire in the 16-story building has been extinguished.

"Rescuers evacuated 18 residents of the building, one person was injured. Nine vehicles and 40 rescuers are working at the scene," the State Emergency Service said.

In addition, a non-residential building in the territory of a private building was damaged in Sviatoshynskyi district.

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A fire was also reported in a 9-storey building in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv, but it later turned out to be a domestic fire and not related to an enemy attack: the fire occurred in one of the apartments on an area of 2 square meters.

However, it later became known that localized fires broke out on several balconies of apartment buildings. As of 9 a.m., the information was being updated.

There were no reports of casualties.

Meanwhile, in the Shevchenkivskyi district of the capital, debris fell on an office building.

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"In the Shevchenkivskyi district, the fragments of a drone hit a multi-story office building. Preliminary, there was a fire on one of the floors. Emergency services are at the scene," Klychko said.

He informed about the call of rescuers to the Shevchenkivskyi district shortly before 9 am.

The KCSA added that a fire broke out between the 3rd and 4th floors of an inactive multi-storey building in the Shevchenkivskyi district on an area of 2 square meters. The fire was extinguished, and no one was injured.

In Holosiivskyi district, in a 22-storey residential building, the glazing of several apartments was partially damaged. There was no fire and no injuries.

In Pecherskyi district, an 8-storey residential building's balcony was damaged. There were no injuries and no fire.

The night in the Kyiv region was not without consequences. As a result of a Russian attack in the region, an 82-year-old woman sustained shrapnel wounds.

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"The victim was taken to a district hospital with head wounds and a hypertensive crisis. Her condition is satisfactory. She is receiving all the necessary medical care. Operational services are currently recording damage to residential buildings as a result of falling debris from downed enemy targets," said Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration.

The consequences of the attack were recorded in several districts of Kyiv region.

"As of 11:20 am, six private houses, two outbuildings, and a car wash were damaged in several districts of the region... Investigators will initiate criminal proceedings over the violation of the laws and customs of war under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," the Kyiv regional police said.

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By 12:00, according to updated information, the consequences of the attack were known in four districts of the region. Shrapnel from the "Shahed" damaged 8 private houses, an apartment in a multi-storey building, and two outbuildings.

"The damage is minor  windows and doors were smashed, facades and roofs were damaged. In addition, power lines were damaged. As of now, 1,860 subscribers in one of the region's settlements are without electricity. Also, a combine harvester burned down in a private household as a result of falling debris from the downed targets," Kravchenko said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to another drone terror in Ukraine.

"Constant terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities prove that the pressure on Russia and its accomplices is not enough. Today, since four in the morning, an air alert has been in place in Ukrainian cities. Unfortunately, the attack of Russian drones caused damage and casualties in different parts of Kyiv. There were also strikes and damage in Poltava, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions," the Head of State noted.

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He reminded that terror can be stopped only by depriving Russia of the opportunity to produce or purchase weapons from Iran and the DPRK, as well as by destroying them in warehouses in Russia and in the workshops where they are produced.

"I am grateful to our defenders of the sky who shoot down the Shaheds every night. This year, almost every night, sometimes in the morning and during the day, there is a threat of Shaheds. These are the attack drones given to Russia by Iran, which have become one of the main tools of Russian terror against Ukraine. We need to put more pressure on Russia's ability to produce such weapons. We need to be able to destroy the storage bases of the "Shahed" and the entire infrastructure for their production and logistics. Terrorists, unfortunately, know how to use the time given to them by the indecision of the free world," the President emphasized.

The air alert in Kyiv was announced at 04:54. A minute later, the KIAA called on Kyiv residents to immediately go to shelters, and two minutes later, Popko said that air defense was operating in the capital.

To recap, Russia launched the first Shaheds, which opened the countdown to the night attack, before 8 p.m. on November 1. They flew in several groups. The launches lasted all night.

It was also reported that a Shahed hit a high-rise building in Sumy. At least five people were injured, including a pregnant woman. Residents of two damaged high-rise buildings were left without electricity and gas.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Police are still looking for the second driver believed to be involved in a crash that killed two people and hurt two others on Interstate 495 early Saturday morning.

The fatal crash happened on the northbound side of the highway in Methuen around 6 a.m., the Essex County District Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Troopers and firefighters found several people trapped inside a heavily damaged pickup truck at the scene, the office said.

While no other vehicle was stated to be found at the scene, investigators said they believe another driver left the scene of the fatal incident.

One person who was inside the truck was pronounced dead at the scene, prosecutors said. Another pulled from the truck later died at the hospital.

The two others brought to the hospital had non-life-threatening injuries.

The names of the people who were killed will be released pending family notification.

Massachusetts State Police, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and officers from the district attorneys office are leading the investigation into the crash.
Democrat Amy Mah Sangiolo and Republican Vladislav are running to represent the 11th Middlesex District on Beacon Hill.

Incumbent Democratic state Rep. Kay Khan announced in February that she would not seek reelection, according to Fig City News . Khan was the longest-serving member of Newtons state delegation.

Sangiolo won 83% of the vote during the September primary .

She served on the Newton City Council for 20 years and currently, works in the state Attorney Generals Office assisting people facing eviction and foreclosure.

She is also the co-founder of Fig City News, a news blog covering Newton.

Sangiolo has emphasized environmental issues throughout her career, according to her campaign website .

Climate change is an existential crisis threatening all that we hold dear, including the very livability of our planet, she wrote on her website. While Massachusetts is considered a leader in climate action ... there is much more to do.

But to truly meet the urgency of the moment and reach the state goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, we must do much more, and we must have a partner on Beacon Hill to help us, she wrote.

Yanovsky, a veteran, businessman, health care professional and educator, was born in the former Soviet Union, according to his campaign website.

He advocates upholding current immigration laws. Massachusetts, in his words, still grapples with some of the same issues and debates surrounding immigration policy and enforcement.

Yanovsky is running to champion policies that support and strengthen the family unit, according to his campaign website .
With the clock ticking down to Election Day, Massachusetts' two U.S. Senate candidates have made their closing arguments to Bay State voters.

In dueling emails this week, incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Republican hopeful John Deaton each have cast the race as a binary choice between candidates with clear visions and distinctions.

"Elizabeth Warren has become the candidate of control, the anti-freedom candidate," Deaton, a Swansea attorney, making his first bid for elected office argued in an email to his supporters.

Shes led policies that hurt working families, restrict personal freedoms, and make it harder for Americans to achieve prosperity, the Republican argued.

Warren has argued that Deaton, who has said hed buck GOP leadership, is a reliable vote if the narrowly divided Senate flips to Republican control on Election Day.

And with the race for the White House between Democratic Vice President and Republican President Donald Trump on a knifes edge, Warren, of Cambridge, also made a pitch for the top of the ticket.

Senate Democrats are struggling to hold onto a slender, 51-seat majority, with Harris often called upon to cast a tie-breaking vote.

"One conversation with a voter could determine whether or not they make a plan to cast their ballot. A few ballots per precinct could add up to swing a whole state," Warrens campaign wrote in an email to supporters.

One states electoral votes could make the difference between President Kamala Harris (it feels wonderful to type those words) or four more years of Donald Trump in the White House (you know how it feels to read those words), the email continued.

Emails from both campaigns directed supporters to fundraising pages.

Warren, whos seeking a third term, has held a consistent advantage in both polling and campaign cash.

While some incumbents run as if theyre underdogs, Warren told MassLive that she [runs] as if I respect the voters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which I do.

I am so grateful that they took a chance on me 12 years ago, someone whod never run for public office, she continued. And I get up every day in the fight to honor the trust that theyve placed in me.

Speaking to MassLive in April, Deaton said he believed that its time to get someone who fights for things, further declaring that Warren fights for the rich and wealthy, while he [wants] to fight for the poor and the middle class.

Deaton is up against a nationally known, party-wide legend, longtime Bay State political consultant Anthony Cignoli told MassLive at the time. Her ability to raise money is amazing. She wont have to rely on a Massachusetts base [for fundraising].

Election Day is Nov. 5.
You may have put off digging out your winter coat because of the 70-degree Halloween. But this first weekend of November is officially the time to do it.

Temperatures are expected to drop across Massachusetts in a seasonable manner this weekend starting Nov. 2, forecasters from the National Weather Service predicted.

Statewide, some clouds were expected Saturday with highs in the mid to upper 50s  over 20 degrees cooler than the days before, forecasters said.

Cold air will move in Saturday night in stark contrast to 24 hours previous with temperatures dropping to the upper 20s and low 30s, forecasters said.

Clear skies and light winds will continue into daytime on Sunday, and temperatures will creep just below normal in the upper 40s and mid-50s.

Those temperatures will remain mostly the same overnight as clouds roll in, forecasters said. That will give way to a cloudy Monday in the 50s.

However, Tuesday and Wednesday may take a turn for the warmer, as temperatures rise to the mid-60s and low 70s.

Another cold front is expected Thursday, but temperatures should remain a little higher than average.

Fire Weather

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning on Friday that continued Saturday for the entire state due to critical fire conditions.

The prolonged period of dry weather coupled with a very dry ground has continued to raise concerns on fire weather this weekend, the forecasters said.

There have been 113 separate wildfires in the past week alone, said Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the State Fire Marshals Office, said. That includes 10 fires reported over the past 24 hours, he said.

A high wind yesterday [Friday] brought a lot more leaves, including especially oak leaves down, which put that dry fuel on a fire, Wark told MassLive on Saturday morning, referring to Northamptons ongoing brush fire.

Put some more wind behind it, and that just kicks the fire right back up again, he said. Northamptons fire had doubled in size overnight, officials said, as 50 firefighters went to the scene again on Saturday morning to battle the blaze.

Central and Western Massachusetts had several significant fires reported late Friday night into early Saturday morning, though the ongoing fires are statewide, Wark said.

The flames had been previously concentrated to the eastern side of the state.

At a rate of 1,200%, with around 200 fires in October, there have been a much larger number of fires than the average of 15 per month usually seen in the Commonwealth, the State Fire Marshals Office said in a statement Friday.
Western Massachusetts filmmaker Evan Goodchild is celebrating his directorial debut.

On Oct. 27, a special preview of his debut documentary, The Painted Life of Gregory Gillespie, was screened at the Academy of Music.
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"Our normal daily work is to research all kinds of creatures on the mountain. We need to record their habits and then through those records, we can answer some scientific questions." Recently, Italian photographer Fabio Nodari visited the Diaoluo Mountain area of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, where he went on a nocturnal excursion to explore the wonders of the rainforest. As night falls, all kinds of "sprites" wait for their opportunity to start their "day." The rainforest comes alive as the chirping of insects and croaking of frogs interweave into a natural symphony. "Why are we heading into the rainforest at night?" Armed with this question, Fabio and his new friend Cheng Kunming, a PhD student in ecology at Hainan Normal University, traversed the primordial forest bursting with ancient ferns. Soon enough, they encountered the super cute Hainan odorous frog. "Most amphibians and reptiles come out at night. Although it is pitch black in the rainforest, this is when we start our daily monitoring work once we've packed necessities such as flashlights, compasses, food, and knives," said Cheng. "Ribbit, ribbit..." While walking through the rainforest, the people on the excursion heard a strange call. "This is the Hainan odorous frog, a species unique to Hainan Island. They usually move at night and typically make their homes in rock crevices next to waterfalls or in grass by streams. When they feel threatened, they secrete a pungent smell to ward off enemies," explained Cheng. While out in the rainforest, Fabio observed that the animals, plants, people, and environment formed a unique and complete rainforest ecosystem. Hainan tropical rainforest is the best-preserved, densest, most diverse, and largest contiguous continental island-type tropical rainforest in China and is an important component of the world's tropical rainforest system. It is an outstanding example of an insular tropical rainforest, a treasure house of tropical biodiversity and genetic resources, and an ecological security barrier for Hainan Island. Thus, it has a deep significance as a national symbol and in global conservation efforts. Further into the forest, Cheng picked a few wild figs from the tree and handed them to Fabio. "Although they are not as sweet as those cultivated specifically for human consumption, these wild figs can be eaten in an emergency," said Cheng. "It's interesting to come to the rainforest at different times of the day. You will have the opportunity to see species that are active at different times." Fabio said that the mystery and magnificence of the tropical rainforest would remain emblazoned on his memory. This unforgettable journey helped him realize the meaning behind the animism of all things - ecology and civilization are intricately linked, and respecting nature is respecting life. (Sponsored by the China Internet Development Foundation and jointly organized by Hinews and the Hainan International Media Center)
Ukraine has already made progress in the production of mortar and artillery shells. Today, their production has reached millions of units per year. However, the shortage of explosives prevents it from continuing at this level and increasing the pace.

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Herman Smetanin, Minister for Strategic Industries and former Director General of Ukroboronprom, told Reuters. He noted that the potential of Ukrainian producers is much greater, but they are forced to adapt to the supply.

"The only problem we face now is gunpowder and explosives. The amount of explosives supplied to Ukraine means the amount of shells we have," the agency quoted the minister as saying.

According to him, the country is now producing its own artillery shells, including 155 mm caliber, which are used in heavy artillery that has been supplied by NATO allies.

"However, this is still not enough," Mr. Smetanin said. Even at the current rate, Ukraine's production of shells is much less than Russia's.

Mr. Smetanin added that one of his main tasks in his new position (he joined the Cabinet of Ministers from Ukroboronprom in September of this year) was to establish mass production of Ukrainian missiles. However, Ukraine is also facing difficulties in this area of production due to supply issues. He did not disclose what exactly the supply problems are for this production.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the fact that the Ukrainian military-industrial complex is already producing its own 155 mm caliber shells was previously confirmed by the Presidential Advisor on Strategic Issues Oleksandr Kamyshyn. However, he also noted that "this is a very complicated process" that has its own difficulties.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
by Ray Schultz , October 31, 2024

The Washington Post may be losing subscribers by the hundreds of thousands over its decision to not endorse a presidential candidate (specifically Kamala Harris).

But The Guardian, which supports Harris, garnered pledges of $2.16 million through Tuesday night from U.S. readers with fundraising emails that pulled $485,000 last Friday alone, according to NiemanLab.

The email from U.S. Editor Betsy Reed, which linked to the papers endorsement of Harris, was titled On the Washington Post and L.A. Times, NiemanLab reports.

Reed wrote as follows: The L.A. Times and the Washington Post both have a tradition of issuing editorial endorsements, but in this most consequential of contests for our country, they have chosen to sit on the sidelines of democracy and not alienate any candidate. Something these two papers have in common? They both have billionaire owners who could face retaliation in a Trump presidency."

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The email continues: It has never been clearer that media ownership matters to democracy. The Guardian is not billionaire-owned; nor do we have shareholders. We are supported by readers and owned by The Scott Trust, which guarantees our editorial independence in perpetuity. Nobody influences our journalism. We are fiercely independent and accountable only to you, our readers.

The Guardian, which does not have a paywall, funds itself in part through reader donations.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, which has also endorsed Harris, pulled more than 4,200 digital subscribersthree times the typical weeks total, Sarah Scire writes in NiemanLab.

However, The Los Angeles Times -- another paper that declined to endorse a candidate -- lost 7,200 subscribers, that paper reported earlier this week.

Presumably, some of the Posts and Times subscribers will return when the election is over.

Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report in The Daily Mail states that Post owner Jeff Bezos has ordered his editors to hire more conservatives.
by Sarah Mahoney , Staff Writer @mahoney_sarah, November 1, 2024

Johnsonville Sausage is reinvigorating its current Keep it Juicy positivity campaign with a hefty dose of anti-political messaging, with Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the epicenter.

With giveaway slogans like "Thank Sausage It's Almost Over" and "Sausage Stands with Scranton," the company tapped Brian (The Office) Baumgartner to man the grill.

The company is calling the effort part of its Swing State Sausage Support Plan, acknowledging that while swing state residents are all suffering from the barrage of political ads, Scranton has been hit hardest: Major campaigns have spent $81 million on ads in the city, or $155.75 per voting-age adult. The company says that, on average, thats about 223% more than other "Blue Wall" cities like Detroit, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, and more political spending per voter than New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Phoenix and Las Vegas combined.

Jamie Schmelzer, senior director of marketing at Johnsonville, tells CPG Insider the stunt stems from pure empathy. The company is based in Wisconsin, another swing state, and employees there are fending off the onslaught of ads. We know how it feels, he says.

Johnsonville promoted the event, which was held at the Lackawanna County Courthouse, with an ad spot. The company also gave away T-shirts with messages like I wanna lacka political ads and I survived $81 million in political ads, and all I got was this sausage.

Johnsonville says the effort draws on Americas vast disregard for political ads: Research conducted for Johnsonville by Harris Polling finds that 72% of Americans agree that they don't like political advertising, 51% block political messaging, and 59% dread this election season.

The idea is to build on the Keep It Juicy campaign introduced earlier this summer, using ads voiced by Vince Vaughan to lament democracy gone sideways, offering barbe-q-and-a as a tasty alternative to bitter (and sausage-less) Town Halls.

The election is important, and we certainly werent making light of that, he says via email. We provided free sausage to bring a little reprieve and togetherness to hundreds of people who likely dont agree on every issue, but sure seemed to agree $81 million in political ads was a lot, and pretty exhausting.
The future of vision: 10 million people at risk of glaucoma by 2033.

  Trusted Source

Glaucoma Epidemiology Analysis and Forecast to 2033



Go to source Trusted Source

Global Glaucoma Landscape



By 2033, 10 million people across 7 major markets could be living with undiagnosed #glaucoma? #eyedisease #eyepressure 

Glaucoma Epidemiology Analysis and Forecast to 2033 - (https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/glaucoma-epidemiology-analysis/)

According to GlobalData, diagnosed cases of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), including normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), are projected to reach 10 million across seven major markets (7MM*) by 2033, reflecting an annual growth rate (AGR) of 1% from approximately 9.1 million cases in 2023. The rise in glaucoma cases was found to be associated with increased disease awareness, enhanced diagnostic capabilities, and demographic shifts within these regions ().GlobalDatas recent report, Glaucoma: Epidemiology Forecast to 2033, highlights that the prevalence of NTG within POAG cases varies by region. In the US and five European markets, around 40% of POAG cases are NTG, whereas Japans population shows a significantly higher susceptibility, with NTG expected to comprise 91% of POAG cases there by 2033.Anna Moody, Senior Epidemiologist at GlobalData, notes, Further research is needed to understand the heightened NTG risk in Japanese populations. Insights into these risk factors could guide prevention strategies and improve patient outcomes.Age also plays a critical role in POAG prevalence. Excluding NTG, the incidence of POAG increases with age, reaching 2.5% in individuals aged 8084 by 2033, compared to just 0.1% in the 4049 age group. The correlation of age with rising glaucoma risk is linked to the natural rise in intraocular pressure with age.Moody adds, As elderly populations grow across the 7MM, encouraging regular eye exams for individuals over 40 is essential for early glaucoma detection. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce severe outcomes, including blindness.*7MM includes the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan.Source-Eurekalert
When you think of the Ambanis, you think of lavish parties, designer outfits that can even make the starry constellations blush, and a massive display of wealth and power. Upholding this legacy of throwing grand soirees, it seems that the Ambanis and Piramals are gearing up for yet another big bash. Anand Piramal is reportedly all set to celebrate his birthday in Japan with Drake headlining the event. The rapper, who was also rumoured to be performing at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants wedding, seems to have finally been roped in by the billionaire family for this special performance.

@ Instagram/Drake For the unversed, Anand Piramal is Isha Ambanis husband and a beloved part of the Ambani family. Hes always in attendance at family gatherings like weddings, festive celebrations, etc. Son of Swati and Ajay Piramal, Anand comes from a well-known business family, with his parents holding prominent positions in the Piramal GroupSwati as vice-chairperson and Ajay as chairman. Anand has an impressive academic background, holding an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

@ Reuters After Harvard, Anand launched Piramal eSwasthya, a rural healthcare initiative aimed at improving medical access in underserved areas. Today, he oversees the financial services division of Piramal Group and manages Piramal Realty, the companys real estate arm. In 2018, Anand married Isha Ambani, and the couple moved into a lavish five-story residence in Worli, Mumbai, named Gulita. This luxurious property, reportedly worth around Rs 450 crore, was a wedding gift from his parents.
After the huge success of the first season of Wednesday, Netflix has announced the renewal of the show, with the second season scheduled for release in 2025. The new season promises even more intrigue, as Wednesday Addams remains at the center of the action, and the plot will once again focus on her supernatural adventures at Nevermore Academy.

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The series, created by Tim Burton and starring actress Jenna Ortega, has become Netflix's most popular original project with over 252 million views. This figure far surpassed shows such as Stranger Things and Bridgerton, according to Netflix.

Teaser for the second season

The new season of the series will be filmed in Ireland. Quite a change from the first season, which was shot in Romania. The success of the show made Romania a tourist destination for fans of the series, but logistical difficulties led to the decision to change the location. The second season is scheduled to start filming in April 2024. The pause caused by the Hollywood strikes previously delayed the start of production.

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Cast

The first season of Wednesday received 12 Emmy nominations. The plot of the second season is being kept under wraps, but the show's creators, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, hint that the new episodes will give more screen time to the Addams family members. The series also plans to expand the focus on Wednesday's relationship with her mother Morticia, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. Along with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman and Isaac Ordonez joined the main cast of the second season.

In addition to the regular actors who will return to the screens, new stars will appear in the second season. Among them are Joanna Lumley, who will play the role of Wednesday's grandmother, and Thandie Newton as Dr. Fairburn. In addition, Frances O'Connor, Haley Joel Osment and Christopher Lloyd will appear among the guests of the series.

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Jenna Ortega, who is also the executive producer of the second season, said that the new episodes will have a more intense focus on horror rather than teen romance, which was the dominant theme of the first season. According to Ortega, each episode of the second season will resemble a separate movie, filled with dynamics and dark atmosphere.

Unlike the first season, the second will also feature an expanded cast. The new faces include Billie Piper, Steve Buscemi and other well-known actors who will appear in new roles. At the same time, several actors from the first season, including Percy Hynes White and Jamie McShane, will not return in the new episodes.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
With the aim of empowering students who have disabilities, Meridian Community College and the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services hosted their annual Employer Spotlight Luncheon.

Our goal is to empower students with disabilities by connecting them with employers who value inclusivity, helping them explore career opportunities and build pathways to success, said Ashley Garrett, MCC Career and Technical Education support services coordinator.

Email newsletter signup Newsletter sign up WIDGET

Representatives with the City of Meridian, Ochsner Health, and 1st MS Federal Credit Union shared insights on career opportunities and their partnerships with MDRS.

For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/supportservices.
Current and former airmen who worked with America's nuclear missiles are not at higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer, according to the latest findings in an ongoing Air Force study, but officials explained there's still more data to examine before making conclusions.

Air Force Global Strike Command officials said during a town hall on Thursday that the latest findings were released as part of the periodic updates on the ongoing probe into health and cancer concerns among generations of service members. As the study continues, the service said it wants service members who worked with nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles to trust its methodology.

The widespread cancer study now includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs electronic records as well as cancer registries from the VA and Department of Defense -- some of which went back to 1976. The latest data results appeared to show that levels of cancer among the nuclear missile community were not higher as compared to the rest of the Air Force and the general population.

Read Next: VA Backtracks on Budget Shortfall Warning, Angering Lawmakers Who Vow an Investigation

Probes into cancer concerns started last year, after a Space Force officer and former missileer created a presentation that revealed concerning cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among those who served at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. A widespread investigation followed. The first round of initial data, looking at just DoD medical records, showed elevated breast and prostate cancer rates among those who served at intercontinental ballistic missile bases.

A Military.com investigation this year found that two separate small studies of missileer cancer in the early 2000s raised warnings about potential cancer clusters but weren't acted on. Air Force Global Strike Commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere told participants in the town hall meeting Thursday that he understands why current and former service members would be wary.

"I sense in the community writ large that there is some skepticism based on the results of the 2001 and 2005 report," Bussiere said. "I share, and I've been very vocal about my unsatisfaction with those two reports, but this study, this effort and this energy, is significantly more focused and engaged than those two times."

There were several adjustments Air Force medical officials made to their study results released Thursday, namely they excluded anyone who had less than one year of service in the career fields tied to intercontinental ballistic missiles -- which excluded more than 19,000 from the missile community.

Additionally, officials said the methodology for calculating the incidence rates was tweaked slightly, determining "there's no statistically significant difference in the incidence of most types of cancers" between those in the missile community and the Air Force, Col. Anthony Waldroup, the chief of aerospace medicine for the 711th Human Performance Wing, said during the town hall.

Officials detailed that almost all of the data suggested "that the missile community had lower relative risk for developing these types of cancers than the general U.S. population," Waldroup added.

Air Force Global Strike Command officials hedged on that finding by saying they're still about halfway through the data they need to get.

"The release of the preliminary information is just an attempt to be transparent, not definitive, in the discovery journey," Bussiere said during the town hall. "Roughly about 50% of the data that's out there, we still have another 50% of the data to go through."

The next steps will start to look at cancer-specific mortality in the missile community, followed by a wide-ranging probe of civilian tumor registries.

Examining state and local cancer registries is a crucial step, as many missileers told Military.com that they had not sought care from the VA or through the Department of Defense because they did not believe, at first, their illnesses were tied to their service, or that it had been decades since they had been in uniform and were already receiving care through their primary private-sector practitioner. Those results will likely not be available until 2025.

But the long wait for findings has been tough on some.

Missileers and their families have been fighting to get VA benefits and connect their service to their illnesses. Relatives for Mark Holmes, a missileer who died in 2020 at the age of 37 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, spoke out at the town hall about the headwinds they've experienced.

"My son's death was determined to be not service related by the VA and not to be in the line of duty by the Air Force," Dan Holmes, a former missileer and Mark's father, said during the town hall. "Mark died in the service of his country, but in addition to fighting this gutless, soulless, heartless, bureaucracy that is the VA for three years now, now it appears to our family that the Air Force, my Air Force, doesn't care, either."

Related: They Stood Sentry over America's Nuclear Missile Arsenal. Many Worry It Gave Them Cancer.
WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is sending additional bomber aircraft and Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster the U.S. presence in the region as an aircraft carrier and its warships are preparing to leave, U.S. officials said Friday.

Austin ordered several B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft, tanker aircraft and Navy destroyers to deploy to the Middle East, according to four U.S. and defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements.

The moves come at a critical time as Israel's wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon rage, even as officials press for a cease-fire. The U.S. has repeatedly said it will defend Israel and continue to protect American and allied presence in the region, including from Yemen-based Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea.

The long-range nuclear-capable B-52 bomber has been repeatedly deployed to the Middle East in pointed warnings to Iran and it is the second time this month that strategic U.S. bombers will be used to bolster U.S. defenses in the region. Earlier this month, B-2 stealth bombers were used to strike underground Houthi targets in Yemen.

Officials did not provide specific number of aircraft and ships that will move into the region. There have been as many as 43,000 U.S. forces in the region recently.

According to a U.S. official, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and the three Navy destroyers in its strike group are scheduled to leave the Middle East by mid-month and return to their home port in San Diego.

The Lincoln and two of its destroyers are now in the Gulf of Oman, and the third destroyer is with two other warships in the Red Sea.

When the Lincoln departs, there will be no aircraft carrier in the Middle East for a period of time, the official said. To make up for that gap, Austin is ordering the deployment of other Navy destroyers to the region.

Those destroyers, which are capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, would come either from the Indo-Pacific region or Europe, the official said.

The shifts are likely to result in an overall decrease in the number of U.S. troops in the region, largely because an aircraft carrier contains as many as 5,000 sailors. But the addition of bomber aircraft beefs up U.S. combat strength.

Eventually, it is expected that the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and its three warships will move to the Mediterranean Sea, but they won't get there before the Lincoln departs. The Truman strike group has been in the North Sea, participating in a NATO military exercise.

Officials declined to say how long there will be a carrier gap in the Middle East. Military commanders have long argued that the presence of an aircraft carrier strike group, with its array of fighters jets, surveillance aircraft and heavily armed warships is a significant deterrent, including against Iran.

There are two destroyers and the Marine amphibious ready group  which includes three ships  in the Mediterranean Sea.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged its allies to stop watching and take steps before North Koreans troops deployed in Russia reach the battlefield.

Zelenskyy raised the prospect of a preemptive Ukrainian strike on camps where the North Korean troops are being trained, and said Kyiv knows their location. But he said Ukraine cant do it without permission from allies to use Western-made long-range weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia.

But instead  America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians as well, Zelenskyy said in a post late Friday on the Telegram messaging app.

The Biden administration said Thursday that some 8,000 North Korean soldiers are now in Russias Kursk region near Ukraines border and are preparing to help the Kremlin fight against Ukrainian troops in the coming days.

On Saturday, Ukraine's military intelligence said that more than 7,000 North Koreans equipped with Russian gear and weapons had been transported to areas near Ukraine. The agency, known by its acronym GUR, said that North Korean troops were being trained at five locations in Russia's Far East. It did not specify its source of information.

Western leaders have described the North Korean troop deployment as a significant escalation that could also jolt relations in the Indo-Pacific region, and open the door to technology transfers from Moscow to Pyongyang that could advance the threat posed by North Koreas nuclear weapons and missile program.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart in Moscow in Friday.

Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly said they need permission to use Western weapons to strike arms depots, airfields and military bases far from the border to motivate Russia to seek peace. In response, U.S. defense officials have argued that the missiles are limited in number, and that Ukraine is already using its own long-range drones to hit targets farther into Russia.

Moscow has also consistently signaled that it would view any such strikes as a major escalation. President Vladimir Putin warned on Sept. 12 that Russia would be at war with the U.S. and NATO states if they approve them.

Dozens injured in Russian strikes on Ukraine

Russian missiles hit Ukraines second largest city of Kharkiv overnight into Saturday, killing a policeman and injuring dozens, local Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported. According to Syniehubov and Ukraines national police force, one missile slammed into a spot where a large group of police were gathered, killing a 40-year-old serviceman and injuring 36 more.

In Ukraines southern Kherson province, Russian shelling on Saturday killed a 40-year-old woman and wounded three others, including two children, local Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

In Kyiv, air raid sirens wailed for over five hours early Saturday morning as Russian drones rained on the capital, sparking a fire in an office block downtown and injuring two people, according to the citys military administration.

Overall, Russian forces overnight attacked Ukraine with over 70 Iranian-made Shahed drones, the Ukrainian air force reported Saturday. It said most were shot down or sent off-course using GPS jamming. Falling debris damaged power networks and residential buildings in multiple provinces and injured an elderly woman near Kyiv, officials said.

Ukraines Foreign Ministry hinted that Russias drone campaign was slowing down, saying Moscow launched just over half as many in October as the month before.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
The popular inexpensive Toyota RAV4 crossover was shown online with a new design before the premiere of the next model. The car is being prepared for its debut after a major modernization.

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The details are reported by Drive. They have already shown their version of the possible design of the crossover model. However, there is no data to confirm or deny this style. Interestingly, the features of the large Toyota Crown Signia crossover, which has recently gone on sale, are noticeable here.

The new Toyota RAV4 is scheduled for release in 2025. So, the car is almost ready. The manufacturer is busy finalizing the model and is close to completing the design. It is surprising that the details of the development are kept secret.

In fact, there is still no exact information on what kind of car buyers will eventually receive  a deep modernization of the 5th generation Toyota RAV4 or a full-fledged new car. The current model appeared in 2018 and will soon turn 7 years old.

The only thing that is known is that the Japanese company is very careful in modernizing this successful model. It is reported that the Toyota RAV4 will retain its formula and will not demonstrate dramatic changes in the concept. The car will definitely not turn into an electric vehicle. And hybrid modifications will remain in the lineup  they will become more efficient and receive new batteries.

The Toyota RAV4 2025 crossover will exceed the 30-year model life. The car appeared in 1994 at the beginning of the popularity of compact city crossovers and was very popular with buyers, as well as similar models from other manufacturers.
Left-hander Robbie Ray has declined the opt-out clause in his contract, meaning that hell remain with the Giants for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons. ESPNs Jeff Passan (X link) was the first to report the news. The five-year, $115MM pact Ray signed with the Mariners prior to the 2022 season was slightly backloaded, and thus Ray will earn $25MM in each of the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Its not terribly surprising that Ray is taking the proverbial bird in the hand here. He underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, and a flexor tendon repair in May of 2023. While recovering from that operation, the Mariners traded him to the Giants.

Ray was able to get back on the mound with San Francisco in 2024, but made seven starts with an unimpressive 4.70 earned run average before spending the month of September on the injured list due to a left hamstring strain.

Pitchers with injury question marks can still get paid but Ray would be hard-pressed to find more than $50MM on the open market. Carlos Rodon had plenty of injury absences in his early career but was able to secure a two-year, $44MM deal from the Giants going into 2022. However, Rodon had just made 24 starts for the White Sox in 2021 with a 2.37 ERA and was going into his age-29 season. Ray, on the other hand, is now 33 years old and has made eight starts over the past two years with a 5.03 ERA.

Taking all that into consideration, Rays best financial move was to keep this guarantee. Hell return to the Giants next year and hopefully get back on track. While its probably unrealistic to expect him to get back to his Cy Young winning form from 2021, getting even part of the way back there would be nice. The year that he earned that hardware, he made 32 starts for the Blue Jays with a 2.84 ERA, 32.1% strikeout rate and 6.7% walk rate.

One Giant starter is departing, as Blake Snell has opted out of his deal. Next years rotation in San Francisco projects to include Ray, Logan Webb and Kyle Harrison. Perhaps Jordan Hicks will get another shot at starting or maybe hell be back in the bullpen. Guys like Landen Roupp, Keaton Winn, Tristan Beck, Hayden Birdsong and others would also be in the mix.

If the club looks to bolster that group, the free agent market will be headlined by guys like Snell, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty and plenty of others. The trade market should feature Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray and more.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Julian Singleton was going to Paris with his best friend Brennan Lydick. The two had planned the trip a year in advance, but then Lydick died in a car crash in July 2023.

That was his favorite place, Singleton said of his friend. He really wanted to see the Eiffel Tower. He was actually kind of a fanatic (about it). He had posters of it all around his room.
ANN ARBOR, MI  A popular specialty cupcake shop founded in Chicago has found its way to Michigan.

Mollys Cupcakes opened on East Liberty Street in Ann Arbor in July 2024, bringing a rotating variety of cupcakes to the doorstep of the University of Michigan campus. Ann Arbor is the 15th location, and the first in Michigan, in the chain opened by founder John Nicolaides in 2007.

When Nicolaides branched out of advertising to open the fist Mollys Cupcakes in Chicagos Lincoln Park, his goal was to create a place for young people to gather outside the neighborhood bar scene. Years later, he still owns locations in Chicago, New York and Ann Arbor and franchises others in Iowa, Ohio and Nashville, Tennessee.

READ MORE: New business offers sweet treats and hang-out spot in downtown Ann Arbor

The bakery chain is named after Nicolaides third grade teacher Miss Molly, who would bake cupcakes for her students on their birthdays. The Ann Arbor locations interior draws from that schoolhouse motif, with seating inspired by school desks and chalkboards on the walls featuring a Periodic Table of Cupcake Elements.

The bakery eventually became nationally recognized for both specialty flavors and classics like a Red Velvet cupcake that was voted best in Chicago. The chain was also voted Best Cupcake in New York City by the Village Voice and even finished at the top spot on the Food Network series Cupcake Wars.

Mollys Cupcakes offers signature filled cupcakes that feature a variety of flavors piped into the center of each pastry. Popular center-filled options available at every location include the Boston Cream, which imitates a Boston cream pie with its pastry cream filling and chocolate ganache on top, and Creme Brulee, which is filled with custard and topped with caramelized sugar and glazed berries.

Madalyn Denham, manager at the Ann Arbor location, said the Birthday Cake and Creme Brulee center-filled cupcakes have been the stores most popular options, with seasonal options like Smores and Tiramasu drawing in new customers for fall. Denham said the coffee-dipped Tiramisu is one of her favorites.

Its honestly my favorite. Its got a whipped cream topping, then the whole cake itself is dipped into coffee, she said. You might have to eat it with a spoon or a fork, but its got a great coffee taste.

Denham said Mollys is already proving to be a popular hangout spot for students and older Ann Arborites, especially the later crowd. Guests will come in for a late-night coffee or sweet treat, to play board games or just to sit and chat at a low bar on swings that hang from the ceiling.

We have games like Jenga and Uno, she said. On a Friday night, well have some cool music playing and a bunch of students will be in here playing games and talking. Its kind of a fun environment.

Cookies, brownies, coffee, pies, cake pops and chocolate-covered Oreos are available, as well as custom cakes and catering orders. Each catering order is hand-decorated by a cake decorating specialist using house-made fondant. Denham said. the made-to-order pastries have already allowed for some creative fun, including classic car-themed cupcakes and a batch that was topped with fondant farm animals.

The cupcakes are made every morning. The bakers come in late at night and leave really late in the morning  then the decorators come in every morning and decorate all of them. Denham said. Theyre always fresh, and were never going to be out of stock.

Mollys Cupcakes, 617 E Liberty St., is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Learn more about it online or by phone at 734-800-4943.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids Police are asking for the communitys help in finding a missing teenager.

The police department is trying to find Cortez McConer Jr., 16, who was reported missing from his Grand Rapids home.

There have been several tips on Cortezs last known location and we are working with his family and our law enforcement partners to ensure his safe return home, a Saturday, Nov. 2 news release said

Additional details about Cortezs last whereabouts were not immediately available.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department at (616) 456-3380 or tips can be sent anonymously through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or www.silentobserver.org.
On the evening of November 1, the Russian occupiers once again attacked Kharkiv with ballistic missiles. One law enforcement officer was killed in a missile strike on the city. Another 46 people were injured, including dozens of police officers, and an administrative building and nearby residential buildings were damaged.

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According to the head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhivskyi, the Russians hit the center of Kharkiv with two S-300 missiles. Rescue and search operations at the site of the hit were completed by 9 a.m. on November 2.

"Kharkiv: rescue and recovery operations after nighttime missile strikes completed. The attack killed 1 person and injured 46 others. Rescuers of the Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk garrisons of the State Emergency Service, the 2nd Special Rapid Response Center, public utilities, and volunteer dog handlers are involved in the aftermath," the State Emergency Service said on Saturday morning.

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A total of 200 cubic meters of construction waste was removed. SES psychologists provided assistance to 15 people.

We would like to remind you that the first missile destroyed a private house. As it turned out, the second missile  launched at 16:05  hit the location of law enforcement officers.

Police colonel Andrii Matvienko was killed in the center of Kharkiv as a result of these strikes. Another 26 law enforcement officers were injured.

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According to the head of KHOVA, Oleh Syniehubov, Colonel Andrii Matvienko was only 40 years old and "faithfully served the society and the state, ensuring law and order in the frontline region."

According to Syniehubov, among the 26 wounded police officers, some are in serious condition, and doctors are now fighting for their lives.

All relevant services arrived at the scene promptly. People are already being helped, and the police are collecting evidence of another crime by the occupiers.

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Criminal proceedings have been opened over the violation of the laws and customs of war.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov clarified that among the injured civilians were three women and one man. All are in light and moderate condition, the mayor said.

As of 22:00, police in Kharkiv region reported an increase in the number of casualties as a result of a rocket attack on Kharkiv. According to the latest information, 30 police officers, one rescuer, and nine civilians were wounded.

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20 residential and six non-residential buildings and 11 vehicles were damaged. Emergency and rescue operations are underway at the site of the impact.

There is also an investigative department headquarters where citizens can file reports of property damage.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, in the evening of October 30, the occupiers struck the Saltivskyi district of Kharkiv with an air bomb and hit a high-rise building, where almost the entire entrance was destroyed. A 12-year-old boy was killed and 36 people were injured.

Later, a 15-year-old boy was found dead under the rubble. In total, three people died, including two children.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Late in the evening of February 23, 2022, Ukrainian border guards at the Chongar checkpoint (administrative border with Crimea) saw that the Russians had turned off the lights on their side, and then began moving columns of heavy equipment and lining it up. On February 24, at about 4-5 am, the enemy sent a drone for reconnaissance, after which the Russian army began shelling and invading this section of the front.

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Border guard Oleksii Ruzhynenko, a native of Kirovohrad region, who was on duty on the night of February 23-24, 2022, told about what he saw on the administrative border with Crimea. On the first day of the great war, he was captured by the enemy. After 2 years and 4 months of captivity, on July 17, 2024, Ruzhynenko returned home as part of an exchange, Krym.Realii was told.

An employee of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine noticed clear signals of a Russian invasion on February 23, 2022.

People traveling from the occupied peninsula to the mainland said that Russian troops were moving closer to the border.

"We basically passed it on to the department. They said: "Everything is fine, it's just a training exercise, nothing so terrible." Then, closer to 22-23:00, maybe (I don't remember), they lost power. Anyway, for some time  an hour, maybe no more  people were still leaving and entering the building. They said that there were a lot of soldiers there, some tanks, and armored personnel carriers. We were also so tense and reported it," the border guard recalled.

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Toward nightfall, border guards in the Chongar spotted the movement of convoys of vehicles, including tanks, through a thermal imager. When it drove closer, enemy Grad multiple rocket launchers lined up on the border.

"Then, around one o'clock in the morning, everything became quiet, it was so quiet. It became very tense, even scary. We had already turned off the lights, closed one line, and allowed only one line, that is, entry and exit," said Ruzhynenko.

After that, the Russians blocked the traffic at Dzhankoy EECP  buses coming from Donetsk turned around and went in the opposite direction.

Around 4-5 a.m., SBGS officers heard a noise in the sky. It was Russian drones.

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"A drone is coming, hovering over us. At first, we didn't see it, but one guy saw it and shouted: "Air!" They pointed their guns at him to shoot or just scare him. He turned around and flew back  and literally in 30 seconds Grad rockets started flying," Ruzhynenko said about the first shelling.

He and some other border guards ran into a dugout. The explosions lasted about 40 minutes.

After that, they were supposed to be evacuated from the checkpoint by bus. But the unexpected happened. Ruzhynenko saw armored personnel carriers and armored vehicles, military men shooting in the direction of Crimea. Therefore, the border guards were sure that it was the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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"We all lowered our weapons and shouted: "Our own, our own!" Some in Russian, some in Ukrainian. They also look at us, and lowered their weapons. We came closer, 15-20 meters away, and saw that the uniforms were not ours at all, they were wearing red and white armbands, and everyone was wearing masks, it was completely unclear... Then they look at us, they also see our uniforms, our flags. And they just say these words: "Ahh, these are f*ckers," the Ukrainian recounted the events. He still can't explain why the Russians fired at his convoy.

That's how Ruzhynenko and his colleagues were captured. The occupiers put them on the ground, took their weapons, phones, and badges. They shot at civilian cars on the Chongar bridge.

Hiding behind a human shield, the captured border guards were taken in columns to the village of Chongar. Only on the way did they realize that a full-scale war had begun, Ruzhynenko admitted.

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"We walked about 20-25 meters and were put on the asphalt again. We were already lying down, and a column of tanks started moving... And there was a caterpillar literally 20-30 centimeters from my head. It was scary then. Then it became clear that the war had really begun," said the former prisoner of war.

First, he was taken to Dzhankoy (Crimea), where Ruzhynenko saw a convoy of military equipment moving to the mainland of Ukraine. Then, apparently, they were taken to the Kursk region of Russia. Then to Shebekino, Stary Oskol, Valuyki, and colony No. 4 in Alekseevka, Belgorod region. Oleksii Ruzhynenko stayed in this penal institution until July 17, 2024.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A 49-year-old Pole, Piotr Kucharski, who claimed to be a member of the private military company Wagner and participated in the war against Ukraine, has been sentenced in the UK. He was arrested last year after he threatened people with a knife.

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This was reported by The Guardian. Kucharski was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for supporting terrorism.

On October 28, 2023, Kucharski attended an event of the British Viking Society, which reconstructs Viking culture. He appeared there in military clothing with Wagner symbols, waved a dagger, and made a gesture that imitated throat slitting.

According to witnesses, Kucharski told them about his participation in Wagner and fighting against Ukraine, and later confirmed this on social media. The man repeated his claim of belonging to the Wagner PMC in several posts on Facebook and in messages to his contacts.

However, Kucharski explained to the police that he had purchased the Wagner patches and attached them to his clothes to "provoke a reaction" due to differences of opinion about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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In his home, police found a photo of Adolf Hitler, a copy of his work Mein Kampf (My Struggle), and other fascist souvenirs. During the sentencing, the judge noted that Kucharski did not realize "the consequences of his words and actions." The court also rejected his explanation that he acted out of "stupid bravado" to provoke a reaction.

Kucharski was sentenced to two and a half years in prison with the next year of extension of the sentence.

Earlier it was reported that in the city of Omsk (Russia), an ex-convict who returned to freedom after fighting against Ukraine beat his pregnant girlfriend to death for breaking a speaker. In the colony, 36-year-old Sergei Kozlov signed a contract with the private military company Wagner, received a medal for courage during the criminal war, and returned to Russia in the summer of 2023.

As previously reported by OBOZ.UA, a monument to Dmytro Tetianenko, a fighter of the Wagner PMC who died in Ukraine, is planned to be erected in the Russian village of Abatske, Tyumen region. The occupier came to the front from a penal colony where he was serving a sentence for the brutal murder of his fellow villager, a father of three.

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Russian occupation forces have moved speedboats from Crimea to the Kinburn and Tendra spits in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. The Russians fear a possible offensive by the Defense Forces, in particular, the forcing of the Dnipro River.

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This was stated by Vladyslav Voloshyn, a spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces, on the air of FREEDOM on Friday, November 1. According to him, the troops of the aggressor country have deployed a battery of river speedboats from Sevastopol to improve the defense of this territory.

"The enemy is afraid that we will force the Dnipro River and take control of the spits, organize a bridgehead for further offensive," Voloshyn explained.

According to him, the occupiers are conducting reconnaissance by combat in small infantry groups of 5-10 people on the Dnipro River in Kherson region.

"They want to seize small bridgeheads to draw as many of our forces as possible there and threaten our settlements located on the right bank of the Dnipro from there. They are still constantly attacking Kherson from the air, but the shelling will intensify during the seizure of the bridgeheads. This is a tactic of terrorism against civilians," said the spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces.

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It should be noted that during the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive in November 2022, the Kinburn Spit remained the only part of Mykolaiv region captured by Russian troops. On August 12, 2024, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine raised the flag of Ukraine on the Kinburn Spit, but the territory of the spit remains under Russian occupation.

According to the military, the Kinburn Spit should be liberated, then there will be a chance for Mykolaiv port to start working and join the ports of Odesa. It is valuable to the enemy because it allows them to shell the Kutsurubska and Ochakivska communities of Mykolaiv region and keep the northwestern part of the Black Sea under tension.

The Tendra Spit is a narrow spit island about 65 km long and up to 1.8 km wide. The spit is located in the northern part of the Black Sea, off the coast of Kherson region.

As OBOZ.UA reported, in October 2024, Russian troops suffered significant losses. A record has been set for the number of destroyed armored combat vehicles of the occupiers since the beginning of the full-scale war.

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Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov intends to send 84,000 Chechens to fight against Ukraine. It is claimed that these people were recruited "voluntarily," i.e., not as part of the mobilization.

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Moreover, Kadyrov believes that these Chechens, who will become cannon fodder, should be grateful to him for this. This was reported by the Center of National Resistance under the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

It reminded that the head of Chechnya claims that the republic has already fulfilled all the tasks set by the Kremlin to avoid mobilizing its population.

"However, Moscow cannot cope with the situation, the war it has unleashed is dragging on, and there is a lack of 'cannon fodder'. Therefore, the puppet regime will try even harder to use every opportunity to send Chechens and representatives of other national minorities to the front, serving the schizophrenic ideas of Putin and his entourage," the statement said.

We would like to add that the Chechen authorities regularly report on "overfulfilling the plan" in terms of volunteers to participate in the war. For the first time, Ramzan Kadyrov announced this immediately after Putin's mobilization. According to him, by September 2022, the republic had already exceeded the plan for volunteers "by 254%," so there would be no mobilization in the region.

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In December 2023, he reported on recruiting volunteers "by 1500%" more than planned. By February 2024, the plan was "overfulfilled" by "8224%". According to Kadyrov, "36 thousand fighters were sent to Ukraine, including about 16 thousand volunteers."

However, according to human rights activists, there are many Chechens who were forcibly sent to war. They note that hidden mobilization continues in Chechnya: some people are faced with the choice of going to prison or going to war, and others are sent to the front for having opposition views.

Kadyrov recently announced a new approach to dealing with "problem youth" in Chechnya. Now, young Chechens for whom "no laws are written," i.e. those who have committed some kind of offense, can be sent to war against Ukraine instead of facing administrative responsibility.

"From now on, the conversation with them will be short. If you don't respect the law, either go to jail for the maximum appropriate term or sign a contract and go to the combat zone. There you can show your bravery, audacity, and daring to the enemy. Instead of bringing to administrative responsibility, it is more expedient to send offenders to serve in the ranks of the Russian troops," Kadyrov wrote.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the terrorist country Russia continues to recruit prisoners in Russian prisons and colonies for the war against Ukraine. At the same time, not only Russian citizens but also people from Central Asia and other foreigners are being taken to the front.

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Ukraine is working on its own cruise and ballistic missiles. The Defense Forces may receive them next year.

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Oleksii Petrov, director of the state enterprise "Spetstechnoexport," shared this forecast. In an interview with OBOZ.UA, he said that he had seen flight tests of domestic missiles, and "there are results."

"I would say that the state and, finally, the private sector are moving in this direction. And it was a smart decision to remove the monopoly on the missile industry. Therefore, I think that we will have our own missiles, such as cruise and ballistic missiles, by mid-2025," the expert said.

He called it a positive thing that we are now developing our own (including private) production.

For example, Ukraine produces 155-mm NATO-standard shells. They can operate at "a fairly favorable distance to fight the enemy."

"In addition, Ukrainian state-owned companies are trying to restore or expand the production of Soviet-standard ammunition, which, unfortunately, we cannot get rid of yet. A 152-mm round that flies 30 kilometers is extremely necessary, as well as 122-mm rounds. They are in constant shortage because they were used in large numbers by the defense forces," Petrov said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 Ukrainian-made UAVs have already destroyed more than 200 military targets in the Russian Federation, including those located more than 1000 km from the border with Ukraine, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said earlier.

 In Naples, Italy, Umerov called for investment in the Ukrainian defense industry in his speech at a meeting of G7 defense ministers.

 He also announced that citizens will learn details about our large missile program either by the end of this year or in 2025.

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The United Kingdom, which holds the presidency of the UN Security Council in November, has announced a meeting of the Security Council to mark the 1000th day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The meeting will be held in the afternoon of November 18.

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Barbara Woodward, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, made the announcement at a press conference on November 1. According to her, the meeting will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, David Lammy.

Woodward presented the Security Council's schedule for November. According to her, the priorities will include the consequences and risks of war in the Middle East, Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and the conflict in Sudan.

The Permanent Representative emphasized that the UK intends to use its presidency of the UN Security Council to expose Russian disinformation and raise the issue of Russian war crimes.

"London will continue to support Ukraine's fight for its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principles of the UN Charter. This support remains unwavering," Woodward emphasized.

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Barbara Woodward also stated that the international community is determined to support Ukraine. It "should not and will not be complacent, because Putin would not stop with Ukraine".

She added that Russia is involved in most of the global conflicts in the world.

"President Putin's hand is rarely far from the place where death and chaos reign," Woodward emphasized.

The British Permanent Representative noted that Russia does not even deny the fact that it is making deals with Pyongyang. Moscow, she said, uses North Korean troops as cannon fodder. It also buys drones from Iran and finances terrorism in the Middle East, which increases the threat to peace in all countries.

Woodward also said that the Russian delegation had blocked the approval of the UN Security Council's work schedule for the month, as it includes consideration of the Ukrainian issue.

However, this will not prevent the UN from holding a meeting outside the schedule at the request of the member states of the organization, Barbara Woodward emphasized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, at a meeting of the UN Security Council on October 31, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said that there is evidence that "right now" there are 8,000 North Korean troops in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. He asked Russian representative Vasily Nebenzya whether Moscow would continue to deny the presence of the DPRK military near the border with Ukraine. The Russian did not answer this question.

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On the opening night of the second Latinx art triennial, New Yorks Museo del Barrio welcomed 650 people over the course of four hours. This was a predictably high turnout, given that its one of the largest exhibitions of contemporary Latino art in the world. The first edition took place in 2021, in the midst of the pandemic.

The title of the triennial  Flow States  reflects the curatorial work carried out by Maria Elena Ortiz, Susanna Temkin and Rodrigo Moura to expand on the meaning of whats considered Latino, going beyond a specific geography.

[This exhibit considers] Latinx artists from an expansive perspective based on imperialist colonial history, Ortiz notes. Thats why the exhibition also includes the work of Indigenous artists, such as Mario Martinez, as well as Filipinos, such as Norberto Roldan. The idea is to also show the complexity of the diaspora, by including artists whose mother tongue isnt Spanish, but whose roots are Latino (as their names prove). This conceptualization reconnects various personal paths, which involve movement and can be very different from each other. Yet, what they have in common is the fact that, as metamorphosis takes place, individuals are exposed to vulnerability, exclusion and loss.

For two years, the curators conducted more than 80 studio visits to artists across the United States, but also beyond its borders. The result is a pluralistic and inclusive exhibition, which includes the work of promising young artists, such as Alina Perez, Ser Serpas and Kathia St. Hilaire, all born in 1995. Their contribution is innovative and refreshing.

Hilaire  born in Palm Beach to Haitian parents  presents a labor-intensive work that addresses magical realism with elements of voodoo, giving importance to both the spiritual and artisanal aspects of her native country. Serpas builds sculptures from discarded objects, while Perezs gaze is visceral and courageous.

One of the works that can be admired in the exhibition is Family Romance, by Perez. Its an impactful mural made with charcoal, which denounces incest and captures the shock, horror, and pain of sexual abuse and rape perpetrated on children by their relatives. So much of who we are is based on unlearning what we have absorbed, the artist explains.

'Marise,' by Kathia St. Hilairey. Guillaume.Ziccarelli (Guillaume Ziccarelli)

The inclusion of works by Venezuelan artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess  who was born in Caracas in 1929  is another inspiring part of the triennial. She discovered her love of art during her childhood, which was spent in an orphanage. Frimkess has remained in the shadows for much of her career: she held her first solo exhibition in 2013, when she was 83-years-old. At the Museo del Barrio, you can see several of her small ceramic sculptures based on cartoon characters  such as Popeye or Mickey Mouse  as well as some drawings.

This triennial serves as a springboard for many Latinx people who are exhibiting their work in a museum for the first time, or [at least] for the first time in New York City. It helped boost the careers of the artists who participated in the first edition, such as Lucia Hierro, whose work was purchased by the Guggenheim after it was seen in the exhibition. Or Joey Terrill, whose work has been exhibited at MoMA and the Whitney Museum, co-curator Susanna Temkin explains. The triennial is accompanied by a catalog  which is extremely important  because while Latinx art is experiencing a boom period and many exhibitions are being organized, Latinx works arent usually documented, researched, analyzed, or integrated into the canon.

The exhibition  which includes 10 commissions  is accompanied by two social practice projects. One is La misma cancion (The Same Song) led by artist Mark Menjivar, of Salvadoran descent, who was born in Virginia in 1980. Its based on a metaphorical comparison of the migratory patterns of birds with those of humans, as a way of using a softer image to frame difficult conversations about migration. In his workshops, he invites participants to create welcome or farewell signs, while also taking a birdwatching walk with him in Central Park.

The other project is led by Salvadoran artist Jose Campos through his Studio Lenca. The initiative was developed during workshops held in Mexico and New York: undocumented immigrants were invited to express their migratory experience in an artistic way, giving visibility to those who feel invisible.

In a society that operates in constant tension with political validation systems, creating an art triennial implies opening a [front] in favor of flows and multiplicities, explains Patrick Charpenel, director of the Museo del Barrio. Possibilities are expanded and we open ourselves up to a new type of structural diversity.

A group photo of the artists whose works are exhibited in the triennial. Miguel McSongwe/BFA.com

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In the 2000 U.S. election, the Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore won the popular vote with a difference of 0.5% over his Republican challenger George W. Bush. Despite this, the Electoral College awarded the victory to Bush as he secured five more electors than Gore. In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton won almost 3 million more votes than Donald Trump, however, the Republican secured 77 more electors than Clinton, and he won the election. Due to these results, the Electoral College system has caused controversy among some voters, but it is still the main basis that defines elections in the United States.

The idea of the Electoral College emerged during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as a middle ground between two perspectives on how to elect the president. While some preferred to decide the winner based on the popular vote, others wanted Congress to select the president. It was felt that a direct vote would not be fair since more populous states would have a greater influence than smaller states. Similarly, they wanted to maintain a balance between the powers of the federal government and each state. Because of this, the Electoral College is considered a system that gives each state a voice, based on population and state representation.

The Electoral College is comprised of 538 electors. A candidate must secure a majority of votes (at least 270) to win the presidency. The number of electors each state has is determined by the number of representatives they have in Congress: two for each Senator and a variable number based on their population for the House of Representatives. For example, California  the most populous state  has 54 electoral votes, while states with smaller populations, such as Wyoming, Vermont and Alaska have only three. Although not a state, the District of Columbia also has three electoral votes.

If a states population rises or falls, the number of electoral votes they are allotted can change between each census. This happens in the reapportionment process, in which the number of seats in the House is adjusted based on population changes.

How are electors chosen?

Political parties usually choose the electors in each state, and they are usually party loyalists or prominent figures within the party. When citizens cast their ballots in the presidential election, they are actually voting for the electors in their state, not for the presidential candidates. After the general election in December, electors gather in their respective states to cast their votes for president and vice president. Their votes are then sent to the President of the Senate, who formally announces the result at a joint session of Congress, which occurs in January.

While electors are expected to vote for the candidate to whom they are committed, in some cases certain faithless electors have cast ballots for the candidate who did not win the states popular vote. However, this rarely happens and has never affected the outcome of a presidential election. In addition, several states have laws requiring electors to vote in accordance with the states popular vote. In 2020, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the constitutionality of these laws.

Controversy

The Electoral College system has caused controversy, particularly when it results in a candidate winning the presidency without having a majority of the popular vote. This has happened five times in U.S. history, including during the 2016 election, when Donald Trump won the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by at least three million votes.

Critics often point out that the Electoral College disproportionately favors less populous states by giving voters in those places more influence per person than voters in larger states. As an example, in Wyoming, each elector represents about 193,000 people, while in California, one elector represents approximately 719,000 people. Because of this, some claim that the system is undemocratic because it allows the will of the majority of voters to be ignored by the Electoral College process.

However, advocates of the system claim that it protects the interests of smaller states and prevents some more populous regions from dominating presidential elections. Similarly, the Electoral College forces candidates to campaign in states that differ in opinion, including key states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania, rather than focusing only on areas with larger populations such as California and New York.

How many electoral votes does each state have?

Below is a map showing how many electoral votes each state has, based on the most recent census information.

Could the Electoral College disappear?

There have been numerous attempts to reform or abolish the Electoral College, although none have been successful. It would take a constitutional amendment to eliminate the Electoral College, which is a difficult process requiring approval by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

In recent years, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact has emerged as an alternative that would allow dispensing with the Electoral College without amending the Constitution. Under this agreement, the states that have signed commit to awarding their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, but the compact will only go into effect once enough states have joined to secure a majority of electoral votes (270). At the moment, only 17 states plus the District of Columbia are part of the Compact, totaling 209 electoral votes. These are the states:
M Snehanjali

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Shah Rukh Khan thanks fans for coming over to celebrate his birthday, strikes his signature pose

Sarika Sharma

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Sonam Kapoor mourns Rohit Bal's demise; says, 'I've been blessed to have known you'

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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'Absurd, baseless': India summons Canadian official over allegations against Amit Shah by Canada minister

Swarali Bodas

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Outside a polling station in the Texas city of Fort Worth, in Tarrant County, a voter supporting former president Donald Trump reported that the machine had changed his vote. A video of the incident went viral, sparking a wave of accusations against the electoral process. In response, electoral authorities issued a statement clarifying that only one in every 58,000 ballots cast on the first day of early voting (October 21) was misprinted due to voter error. However, by that point, the misinformation had already begun to spread.

Tarrant Countys voting system electronically marks a voters candidate selections and prints a final paper ballot for review before the ballot is cast, the statement explains, arguing that there is no reason to believe that votes are being switched by the voting system. It adds: The Tarrant County Elections Department highly encourages voters to confirm their selections on the physical paper ballot before placing it into the scanner to be counted.

Similar complaints were made in from states like Tennessee and Georgia. In Georgia  a key swing state in the November 5 elections  Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene alleged that a voting machine changed a ballot in Whitfield County, north of Atlanta.

In response, the Board of Elections and Dominion Voting Systems  the manufacturer of the machines , said that the issue stemmed from voter error and was addressed while the voter was still at the polling center. Humans make mistakes. Theyre called mistakes for a reason, Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer in the office of Georgias Secretary of State, posted on his X account. Anyone claiming machines are flipping votes are lying or dont research. This issue is human/user error.

The allegations havent just come from the Republican side. Democratic Congressman Antonio Parkinson also reported claims of vote tampering in Shelby County, Tennessee. However, the local Election Commission denied any voting irregularities, urging voters to carefully review their ballots before submitting them.

A longstanding controversy

In the 2020 election, Donald Trump also made unfounded claims against voting machines, without providing any evidence to support his allegations. Both Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, the two primary manufacturers, filed defamation lawsuits against individuals and media outlets that propagated false information. Notably, Fox News had to pay Dominion over $787 million for spreading baseless accusations.

In 2024, businessman Elon Musk has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of voting machines, questioning their integrity and calling for them to be banned. However, Derek Tisler, an advisor to the Brennan Centers Elections and Government Program  a progressive, non-profit watchdog  reassured CBS that there is little to fear from these machines, which undergo rigorous testing both before and after the election. Election officials will review a sample of these paper records after the election to confirm voting machine tallies, he said. These audits serve as a key safeguard for voting in the United States. Around 98% of votes cast in the upcoming November 5 election will have a paper record.

Tisler added that issues like frozen screens or jammed ballot scanners are far more common than any form of malicious interference or hacking. Experts underscore the importance of voters verifying their ballots and ensuring their selections are correct before submitting them. Electoral authorities are also well-equipped to address any incidents that may arise.

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101Reporters

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Antony Blinken quotes Rabindranath Tagore at Diwali reception; praises South Asian contributions to the US

Deblina Halder

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Smriti Mishra

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Four sanitary workers killed after being hit by train in Kerala

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TTD chief says only Hindu staff in Tirumala, while Centre wants non-Muslims in Waqf Boards: Owaisi

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Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data

If only those who invest in cryptocurrencies voted in the United States, Donald Trump would win the election by a wide margin.

The crypto world is predominantly male. So much so that men are estimated to be twice as likely to participate in cryptocurrency investments compared to women. This gender gap significantly influences electoral behavior in the United States, giving Trump an advantage of over 10 percentage points among crypto investors, often referred to as crypto bros.

Trump has made significant efforts to engage this audience, even though a recent Federal Reserve study shows that only 7% of Americans own cryptocurrencies. He aims to reduce the Democratic Partys advantage among three key demographics that helped Joe Biden secure the White House four years ago: voters under 30, African-American voters, and Latinos. In a tight election, every vote counts.

In the last two elections (2020 and 2022), youth voter turnout reached record levels, largely due to increased mobilization among women, which particularly benefited the Democrats. The Republican campaign has taken notice, leveraging the higher-than-average cryptocurrency usage among men under 30 to mobilize this electorate. The party is also targeting African-American and Latino voters, who traditionally lean Democratic, but show higher rates of cryptocurrency investment in that age group. While Trump only has 8% support among African Americans, 21% of men under 50 indicate they will vote for him. This initiative to win over crypto bros parallels his similar efforts to court gym bros. The goal is the same: to mobilize young men.

This strategy extends beyond Trumps campaign and the United States. Right-wing leaders in several countries have successfully targeted crypto investors. Nayib Bukele made El Salvador the first country to officially recognize cryptocurrencies as legal tender, and Javier Milei has promoted cryptocurrency investments both as a candidate and now as the president of Argentina. These developments likely influenced Trump, who back in 2021 called cryptocurrencies a scam and disaster waiting to happen. Now it is an important part of his strategy to return to the White House.

Proposals and social networks

In September, Trump launched his own cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial. The website prominently features a photo of the candidate with an injured ear that was taken after the July assassination attempt.

The Trump campaign has also secured support from influential figures in the crypto world, including Ryan Selkis, who boasts over 350,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter) and plays a key role in Fair Shake, a Political Action Committee that donates primarily to conservative candidates; Jesse Powell, with over 200,000 followers; and the Winklevoss twins, Tyler and Cameron, who collectively have over 1.7 million followers.

Through these channels, the campaign pushes messages centered on masculinity. Research indicates that crypto bros often adhere to traditional gender stereotypes and fear they are failing to meet societal expectations of masculinity. This mindset can lead them to adopt far-right ideologies, including the belief that gender equality or support for minority groups harms their interests.

The Democratic reaction

The Kamala Harris campaign is aware of Trumps strategy to attract young men and recognizes the significant increase in financial donations from the crypto world during this election cycle. In response, her campaign is making a concerted effort to dissuade or win over Republican voters, putting special focus on crypto bros.

Harris has proposed supporting the growth of the cryptocurrency market while providing a regulatory framework to protect the investment of vulnerable groups, such as African-American men. Her goal is to change the perception that the Democratic Party is less favorable to the interests of crypto investors.

Whats more, her campaign has also been supported by influencers like Mark Cuban, who has invested in various cryptocurrency projects and provides both financial and media backing to the vice president.

On November 5, it wont just be crypto bros voting; but the votes of this 7% could prove decisive. If Harris wants to secure the presidency, she must prevent Trump from capturing this demographic. It remains to be seen which strategy will yield better results.

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Beijing publicly slams Pakistan over attacks on its citizens: It is unacceptable

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Elon Musk tests role of money in US politics with multimillion-dollar effort to back Trump

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Trump will spend every day until the election in North Carolina, a swing state he won twice

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At a rally in Detroit, Michigan, Donald Trump heavily criticized Vice President Kamala Harris's economic policies, branding them a "disaster." He asserted that his administration would launch a new economic initiative, termed a "Trump economic miracle," aimed at bolstering American manufacturing and job creation. Trump claimed that under Harris, nearly 30,000 private sector jobs and 50,000 manufacturing positions have been lost, portraying her economic agenda as harmful to American workers.

He described Harris as a "radical left Marxist," linking her to the "Defund the Police" movement and alleging that her policies have led to widespread job losses and increased crime. Trump vowed to "fire Kamala" and promised significant tax cuts, increased wages, and a revitalisation of manufacturing jobs in Michigan.

Meanwhile, Harris slammed Trump for allegedly fostering division among Americans. She underscored her commitment to common-sense solutions and inclusive leadership, stating, "America deserves better than what Donald Trump is offering." Harris highlighted the importance of understanding the US's global responsibilities and promoting democracy.

Harris has been vocal about her commitment to being a president for all Americans, promoting inclusivity and democratic values, and suggesting that Trump fosters division among the electorate. Trump's rhetoric, on the other hand, is marked by sharp criticism of Harris and her economic policies, framing them as detrimental to American workers.

As the presidential campaign enters its final days, both Harris and Trump are intensifying their efforts in key swing states, delivering their closing arguments to voters.
US to deploy B-52s, warships to Middle East as aircraft carrier departs

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By Rini Dutta, KYODO NEWS - Nov 2, 2024 - 09:33 | World, All

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' Indian aunt Sarala Gopalan believes her niece, the Democratic nominee for the Nov. 5 presidential election, was shaped by her late mother's self-reliance and sense of justice.

Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, would become the first woman to serve as president of the United States if she defeats Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Gopalan, an 80-year-old retired doctor in Tamil Nadu state in southern India, said her older sister Shyamala Gopalan, who arrived in the United States to study medicine in 1958 and became a breast cancer researcher, was a major influence on Harris.

"My sister had definite views...In fact, way back when she went to the United States, nobody would dream that from a South Indian family, a girl of 18 or 19 would go to the USA to study," Gopalan told Kyodo News in her modest apartment in a suburb of the state capital Chennai late last month.

Shyamala, then a science major student in New Delhi, made the decision by herself to study abroad and applied for a scholarship, according to Gopalan.

"My sister got all that without any help," she said. "She encouraged her daughters also to grow up in that way," Gopalan said about Harris and her sister Maya.

Harris, 60, was born to Shyamala and Donald Harris, a Jamaican economist, whom Shyamala met when joining the civil rights movement.

In a speech at the Democratic National Convention in August when she formally accepted the party's nomination following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, Harris noted she had mostly been raised by her mother after her parents divorced when she was in elementary school.

"She taught us to never complain about injustice, but do something about it," Harris said in reference to her mother.

Gopalan said Shyamala never accepted injustice.

"She would tell them (her daughters) they must fight for the right and do the right things and look after people," Gopalan said.

After Shyamala died in 2009 following colon cancer, Harris flew to Chennai to scatter her mother's ashes in the Bay of Bengal, together with Gopalan and other relatives.

Harris respects her family members from India, Gopalan said, noting that she wrote about her Indian family among others in a picture book called "Superheroes Are Everywhere" about those who had influenced her.

"It's a nice concept where she tried to explain we can learn something from everyone around us," she said.

In early October this year, Gopalan contacted Harris.

"During the call, I told her, joking, that I'm losing my identity because everybody calls me Kamala's 'chitti' (meaning aunt in the Tamil language) and they don't know my real name. So she laughed and said 'Nothing to worry about'," she said.

When asked about her expectations for the presidential election, Gopalan only said she believes her niece is doing a great job in achieving a milestone in her life.

"If my health permits, and if she becomes president, I will go (to the inauguration ceremony), but it's not that I will not visit her if she doesn't become president. I will visit her. She's family," Gopalan said.

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 2, 2024 - 11:01 | All, Feature, Japan

Until bears settle in for the winter, people should remain vigilant on roads, even in urban areas, following a record number of bear sightings in Japan earlier this year.

Conventional wisdom suggests that bears descend from mountains or explore new trails in search of food. Some public data also link the frequent recent sightings of bear cubs in residential areas to the fact that their parents were killed or captured by hunters, leaving the cubs to roam alone in the wild.

In an effort to reduce the danger bears pose to humans, several municipalities across Japan have begun using an artificial intelligence-assisted surveillance system to pinpoint bear locations when they wander onto farmland roads and into urban areas.

Cameras have been installed along riversides, mountain roads and in residential areas with the cooperation of private companies. The images captured by these devices are analyzed 24 hours a day to notify authorities and residents when bears are spotted, helping to ensure public safety.

The system was jointly developed by Hokutsu Co., a communications systems company based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and a special laboratory of Hokuriku Electric Power Co. It is currently used by nearly 20 prefectural and city governments.

Preliminary figures from the country's environment ministry on the number of bear sightings from April through July totaled 10,704, far exceeding the 8,536 cases over the same period last year, which saw the largest number of human casualties on record.

As of July, 2,471 bears had been killed or captured, while from April to August, there were 56 incidents involving human casualties, affecting 58 people, including two fatalities.

Brown bears in Hokkaido and black bears in Honshu and Shikoku are the two species that inhabit Japan, living in at least 34 prefectures, according to the ministry. However, the number of "urban bears" venturing into human settlements in search of food is on the rise.

In recent months, national and local headlines reported incidents of people encountering bears, including one spotted playing in a river at a popular tourist spot. In another case, a mother holding her baby kicked a charging bear after encountering what appeared to be a family of three before fleeing to safety.

Another bear was detected shortly before dawn on May 23 in a residential area of Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, through the AI-based system, which sent an instant message alert to a city official.

It included an image of the animal walking down the road and the address and map of the location where the photo was taken.

The official then contacted a nearby junior high school and police before notifying residents of the potential danger via his instant messaging account. The junior high school took precautions to ensure students were not harmed while commuting to school.

The system works by having cameras detect moving objects and capture them. The data is then sent to the AI, which has been trained on around 50,000 bear images and sends an alert only if it identifies the object as a bear.

In Komatsu, 227 bear sightings were reported in 2020, prompting the adoption of the new system the following year. In 2023, sightings dropped to just 15, but despite these efforts, a man was mauled and seriously injured by a bear in October of that year.

Daisuke Hanida, a counselor for Komatsu's agriculture, forestry and fisheries division, explained that installing the cameras in residential areas in close proximity to mountain forests, where bears forage for acorns and other nuts, can lead to early detection.

The adoption of the system has seemingly lessened the heavy reliance on local hunters -- traditionally the principal resource to cope with the threats posed by bears and other animals.

"Now we can dispatch hunters based on reliable information," said Yoshinori Honda, director of the Ishikawa prefectural hunters' association, praising the new AI technology. He has received requests from the local governments to hunt more bears.

The Environment Ministry first began trials in Toyama Prefecture to determine whether Hokutsu's AI-based reporting system could detect bears using images from existing surveillance cameras.

Municipal governments that have already introduced the system include the prefectures of Gunma, Ishikawa, Kanagawa, Toyama and Yamagata, along with the cities of Fukui, Kobe, Komatsu and Toyama. Meanwhile, the northeastern cities of Akita and Hanamaki have opted reporting systems different from Hokutsu's.

A central government meeting held last month to discuss countermeasures against bears took place just before the period when more urban bears are expected to appear as winter approaches.

"There is a possibility that more human casualties will occur from September and beyond, and extreme vigilance is needed until the bears hibernate," one expert said at the meeting hosted by the Environment Ministry.

Hiroshi Saito, a professor at the University of Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture, points out that bears tend to frequent residential areas no matter how many times they are sent packing.

"No matter how many times you chase a bear away, it will come back to places inhabited by people," Saito said.

Even so, he is not opposed to a more aggressive approach, having developed a system that emits strong lights and sirens to drive the animal away once detected by an AI-based camera.

Twenty such cameras have been installed in six locations in Fukushima Prefecture to determine the system's effectiveness.

Whether it will ultimately succeed remains to be seen. In the meantime, staying vigilant in bear territory may be the best advice.

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 2, 2024 - 19:16 | World, All, Japan

China informed Japan that an "unexpected obstruction" was what caused one of its military planes to breach Japanese airspace in August, diplomatic sources said Saturday, seemingly attributing the blame to the Japanese defense force's activities prior to the unprecedented intrusion.

Beijing has not acknowledged any wrongdoing or outlined measures to prevent a recurrence, the sources said. The "obstruction" may be a reference to the tracking of Chinese military planes by Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft.

This marks the first time China's explanation for the airspace breach has been disclosed.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to seek further explanation on the issue during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is being arranged on the sidelines of multinational gatherings slated to be held in South America in mid-November.

The Chinese military Y-9 spy plane flew over the East China Sea off the Danjo Islands in the southwestern prefecture of Nagasaki for around two minutes from 11:29 a.m. on Aug. 26 despite repeated warnings, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

Following the intrusion, which led the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force to scramble fighter jets, China described the situation in September as "completely accidental," according to diplomatic sources.

Beijing did not explicitly refer to Japan or the SDF when claiming that there was an "obstruction," they said.

The Japanese government has dismissed the Chinese claims as "nonsense," calling on Beijing to clarify the facts, the sources said.

Tokyo has also warned that if Beijing refuses to provide sufficient information, it could further damage Japanese public sentiment toward China and complicate efforts to resolve the issue, according to the sources.

China has not voiced regret over the airspace violation.

China has, meanwhile, explained to Japan that the airspace violation was "not a reaction" to the entry of the Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Suzutsuki into Chinese territorial waters in July, the sources said.

The captain of the MSDF vessel has been replaced, with sources saying that the Japanese government concluded that Suzutsuki inadvertently sailed for around 20 minutes in Chinese waters off the coast of Zhejiang Province on July 4.

After a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine entered Japanese waters off the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture in 2004, Beijing openly expressed regret and unofficially told Tokyo that the incident was the result of a "technical error," the sources said.

Katsutoshi Kawano, former chief of the SDF Joint Staff, said he is confident that ASDF planes "never" obstruct other aircraft in a way that would trigger excessive reactions. Japan is committed to an exclusively defense-oriented policy under its war-renouncing Constitution.

Given that scrambled ASDF fighter jet pilots are basically not authorized to use weapons except in cases of legitimate self-defense or other emergencies, they "cannot hinder other aircraft," Kawano added.

During his campaign for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election, Ishiba, who became prime minister on Oct. 1, proposed that Japan should consider amending laws to enable the SDF to use weapons in the event of an airspace intrusion by a Chinese military plane.

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RUSAPE  A dark cloud descended upon Chipinge Junior Primary School yesterday following a devastating bus accident that claimed the life of one teacher and left 59 others injured, three critically, along the Harare-Mutare highway near Rusape.

The hired Gold Class bus, carrying pupils and staff returning from a school trip in Harare, overturned at approximately 2:30 pm near Crofton Farm, around the 165km peg.

The accidents grim details emerged as the injured were rushed to Rusape General Hospital. Three pupils, suffering serious head injuries, were later transferred to Harare Hospital for specialised care. One teacher tragically perished at the scene, trapped beneath the wreckage after being thrown from the bus.

Makoni District Schools Inspector (DSI), Mr George Chidwakwa, who was present at the scene, confirmed the heartbreaking news.

It is true that the bus carrying school children and teachers from Chipinge Junior Primary School was involved in an accident in Rusape while on their way from Harare. The bus was carrying 53 school children, six teachers and an SDC member. We have one female teacher who died on the spot after being trapped under the bus, he stated.

The Makoni District Development Coordinator (DDC), Mr Edwin Mashindi, heading the districts civil protection unit (CPU), provided further details on the casualties.

One teacher died after being trapped by the bus while three children who sustained serious head injuries were transferred to Harare Hospital. The rest of the victims have been admitted at Rusape General Hospital, and their condition is stable. Nobody has been discharged, he reported.

Meanwhile, the Makoni District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Tendai Nyafesa, offered an update on the medical situation at Rusape General Hospital.

At the moment we are still busy treating the patients, most of whom escaped with minor injuries, with the exception of three pupils who sustained serious head injuries that require special care. We will give you further details later, Dr Nyafesa explained.

National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, attributed the cause of the accident to a combination of reckless driving and adverse conditions.

On approaching the 165km peg along the Harare-Mutare Road, the driver tried to overtake a haulage truck. Due to speeding, he lost control of the bus. The bus veered off the road to the right side, overturned and landed on its left side facing the northern direction. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has established that one female adult died on the spot. 25 students and six adults were injured. They have been taken to Rusape General Hospital, Commissioner Nyathi detailed.

He explicitly stated that the overtaking manoeuvre was performed in front of oncoming traffic, under slippery road conditions.

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Yves here. Medea Benjamin and Nicholas Davies provide an important service by chronicling some key belligerent actions of the Trump and Biden-Harris administrations and why both are sure to continue and extend US war-mongering. However, anti-war advocates too often seem to overlook opportunities to build strong alliances with other natural opponents of the military-industrial complex, such as environmentalists and green energy advocates and proponents of stronger social safety nets. It may be too much to ask given the urgency of the genocide in Gaza and the potential the Middle East conflicts and the war in Ukraine to trigger a nuclear exchange for peace advocates to up their game as organizers. But that is the task before them if they are to increase their base of support and ability to mobilize it.

Admittedly, a core problem, as the framing of the article makes clear, is the fact that American democracy is not all that democratic. Witness, for instance, the perverse way in which views that score well in polls are demonized as populist and more and more of our elites demand social media censorship. Former US Ambassador Chas Freeman, in a recent interview with Nima of Dialogue Works, points out that our democracy is similar to that of the much-pilloried authoritarian Iran [starting at 19:30]:

And I think probably Iranian voters, who after all do function in a guided democracy, it is a democracy, it is a guided democracy in which certain positions are ruled out of order for the elections, frankly although that is open and institutionalized in Iran, its not that different from other democracies. There are opinions in the United States, for example, the majority of people in the United States want an end to arms sales to Israel, do not want a war with Iran, do not want a wider war in the Middle East. Probably a majority now are against continuing to support Ukraine in the manner we have. And yet our political elite rules their views as out of order and proceeds as though they didnt exist. So one of the phenomea that has emerged which is deeply disturbing everywhere is elite opinion ignoring popular opinion, manipulating it, but not taking it into consideration so there is a gap between the political establishment and the society as a whole, and this calls democracy into disrepute and it threatens it. And this is the case in almost every democracy that I know these days.

By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies, the authors ofWar in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, published by OR Books in November 2022. Medea Benjamin is the cofounder of CODEPINK for Peace, and the author of several books, including Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nicolas J. S. Davies is an independent journalist, a researcher for CODEPINK and the author of Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq

On October 24th, a U.S. presidential candidate told an interviewer, Our day one agenda also includes picking up the phone and telling Bibi Netanyahu that the war is over, because its basically our proxy war. We control the armaments, the funding, the diplomatic cover, the intelligence, etc., so we can end this in the blink of an eye with a single phone call, which is what Ronald Reagan did when Israel had gone into Lebanon and was massacring thousands of people. So we can do that right now. Thats day one.

Tragically, the candidate who said that was not Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, but Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Most Americans have been persuaded that Stein cannot win the election, and many believe that voting for her in swing states will help elect Trump by siphoning voters from Harris.

There are many other third-party candidates for president, and many of them have good policy proposals for ending the genocidal U.S.-Israeli massacre in Gaza. As the website for Claudia de la Cruz, the presidential candidate for the Party of Socialism and Liberation, explains, Our tax dollars should be used to meet peoples needs  not pay for the bullets, bombs and missiles used in the massacre in Gaza.

Many of the principles and policy proposals of third-party and independent candidates are more in line with the views of most Americans than those of Harris or Trump. This is hardly surprising given the widely recognized corruption of the U.S. political system. While Trump cynically flip-flops to appeal to both sides on many questions, and Harris generally avoids committing to policy specifics at all, especially regarding foreign policy, most Americans understand that they are both more beholden to the billionaires and corporate interests who fund their campaigns than to the well-being of working Americans or the future of the planet.

Michael Moore has published a flier titled This Is America, which shows that large majorities of Americans support liberal positions on 18 different issues, from a ceasefire in Gaza to Medicare For All to getting money out of politics.

Moore implies that this should be reassuring to Democrats and Harris supporters, and it would be if she was running on those positions. But, for the most part, she isnt. On the other hand, many third party and independent candidates for president are running on those positions, but the anti-democratic U.S. political system ensures that they cant win, even when most Americans agree with them.

War and militarism are the most deadly and destructive forces in human society, with real world, everyday, physical impacts that kill or maim people and destroy their homes, communities and entire countries. So it is deeply disturbing that the political system in the United States has been corrupted into bipartisan subservience to a military-industrial complex (or MICIMATT, to use a contemporary term) that wields precisely the unwarranted influence that President Eisenhower warned us against 64 years ago, and uses its influence to drag us into wars that wreak death and destruction in country after country.

Apart from brief wars to recover small neocolonial outposts in Grenada, Panama and Kuwait, all now many decades ago, the U.S. military has not won a war since 1945. It systematically fails on its own terms, while its nakedly lethal and destructive power only fills graveyards and leaves countries in ruins. Far from being an effective vehicle to project American power, unleashing the brutality of the U.S. war machine has become the fastest, surest way to further undermine Americas international standing in the eyes of our neighbors.

After so many wars under so many administrations of both parties, neither Republicans nor Democrats can claim to be a lesser evil on questions of war and peace, let alone a peace party.

As with so many of Americas problems, from the expansion of corporate and oligarchic power to the generational decline in living standards, the combined impact of decades of Democratic and Republican government is more dangerous, more lasting and more intractable than the policies of any single administration. On no question is this more obvious than on questions of war and peace.

For decades, there was a small but growing progressive wing in the Democratic Party that voted against record military spending and opposed U.S. wars, occupations and coups. But when Bernie Sanders ran for president and millions of grassroots Democrats rallied around his progressive agenda, the Party leaders and their corporate, plutocratic backers fought back more aggressively to defeat Bernie and the progressives than they ever fought to win elections against the Republicans, or to oppose the war on Iraq or tax cuts for the wealthy.

This year, flush with blood money from the Israel lobby, pro-Israel Democrats defeated two of the most progressive, public-spirited Democratic members of Congress, Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman.

On the Republican side, in response to the U.S. wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, the libertarian Republican member of Congress Ron Paul led a small group of Republicans to join progressive Democrats in an informal bipartisan peace caucus in Congress. In recent years though, the number of members of either party willing to take any kind of stand for peace has shrunk dramatically. So while there are now over 100 Congressional caucuses, from the Candy Caucus to the Pickleball Caucus, there is still not one for peace.

After the neocons who provided the ideological fuel for Bushs catastrophic wars reconvened around Hillary Clinton in 2016, President Trump tried to make Americas military great again by appointing retired generals to his cabinet and characteristically staking out positions all over the map, from a call to kill the families of terrorists to a National Defense Strategy naming Russia and China as the central challenge to U.S. prosperity and security, to casting himself as a peacemaker by trying to negotiate a peace treaty with North Korea.

Trump is now running against Bidens war in Ukraine and trying to have it both ways on Gaza, with undying support for Israel and a promise to end the war immediately. Some Palestinian-Americans are supporting Trump for not being the VP for Genocide Joe, just as other people support Harris for not being Trump.

But most Americans know little about Trumps actual war policy as president. The unique value of a leader like Trump to the military-industrial complex is that he draws attention to himself and diverts attention away from U.S. atrocities overseas.

In 2017, Trumps first year in office, he oversaw the climax of Obamas war against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, which probably killed as many civilians as Israel has massacred in Gaza. In that year alone, the U.S. and its allies dropped over 60,000 bombs and missiles on Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan,Yemen, Libya, Pakistan and Somalia. That was the heaviest bombing since the first Gulf War in 1991, and double the destruction of the Shock & Awe bombing of Iraq in 2003.

Most chillingly, the Iraqi forces who defeated the last remnants of ISIS in Mosuls Old City were ordered to kill all the survivors, fulfilling Trumps threat to take out their families. We killed them all, an Iraqi soldiertold Middle East Eye. Daesh, men, women and children. We killed everyone. If anyone is counting on Trump to save the people of Gaza from Netanyahu and Bidens genocide, that should be a reality check.

In other areas, Trumps back-pedaling on Obamas diplomatic achievements with Iran and Cuba have led to new crises for both those countries on the eve of this election. By moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, bribing Arab despots with Abraham deals, and encouraging Netanyahus Greater Israel ambitions, Trump primed the powder-keg for the genocide in Gaza and the new crisis in the Middle East under Biden.

On the other side, Harris shares responsibility for genocide, arguably the most serious international crime in the book. To make matters worse, she has connived in a grotesque scheme to provide cover for the genocide by pretending to be working for a ceasefire that, as Jill Stein and many others have said, the U.S. could enforce in the blink of an eye, with a single phone call if it really wanted to. As for the future, Harris has only committed to making the U.S. military even more lethal.

The movement for a Free Palestine and an end to the genocide in Gaza has failed to win the support of the Republican or Democratic presidential campaigns. But this is not a failure on the part of the Palestinian-Americans we have listened to and worked with, who have engaged in brilliant organizing, gradually raised public awareness and won over more Americans to their cause. They are leading the most successful anti-war organizing campaign in America since the Iraq War.

The refusal of Trump or Harris to listen to the calls of Americans whose families are being massacred in Gaza, and now in Lebanon too, is a failure on the part of the corrupt, anti-democratic political system of which Trump and Harris are figureheads, not a failure of activism or organizing.

Whomever each of us votes for in the presidential election, the campaign to end the genocide in Gaza will continue, and we must grow stronger and smarter and more inclusive until politicians cannot ignore us, no matter how much money the Israel lobby and other corrupt interests throw at them, or at their political opponents.

Whomever we vote for, the elephant in the room will still be US militarism and the violence and chaos it inflicts on the world. Whether Trump or Harris is president, the result will be more of the same, unless we do something to change it. As legendary Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu famously said, If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

No American should be condemned for voting for a candidate of their choice, however successfully the Democrats and Republicans have marginalized the very concept of multi-party democracy that the U.S. claims to support in other countries. Whoever wins this election, we must find a way to put peace back on this countrys national agenda, and to make our collective voices heard in ways that cannot be drowned out by oligarchs with big bags of cash.
By Takuya Hatakeyama, KYODO NEWS - Nov 2, 2024 - 16:19 | All, World

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken a "gamble" in sending troops to Russia amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a former senior diplomat who defected from Pyongyang last year has said.

Ri Il Gyu, a former counselor at North Korea's embassy in Cuba, also told Kyodo News in a recent interview that Kim will never abandon the nuclear weapons program, even though it has caused severe financial hardships in his country, and that Pyongyang remains highly interested in economic aid from Japan.

The United States said that North Korea has sent some 10,000 troops to help Russian forces in the war against Ukraine in line with a treaty signed by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June.

Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has clearly confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops in the region because they fully recognize it violates international law, said Ri, who currently works for a think tank under the South Korean National Intelligence Service.

"The troops (of North Korea) can actually gain war experience" to enable them to fight "with courage and without any fear," he said, explaining why he believes Kim's regime has sent military personnel to Russia.

But nobody -- including Kim or Putin -- knows whether the ongoing defense cooperation will bring good or bad results, he said, adding that Kim has made "quite a gamble with this decision."

The 52-year-old Ri, who arrived in South Korea in November last year, is believed to be the second highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to defect from the homeland after Tae Yong Ho did so as minister at the embassy in Britain in 2016.

Ri said that in North Korea, even those who are very close to Kim can be sent to prison. "Nobody is guaranteed" protection, he said.

The number of defectors who served as senior government officials has increased in recent years as their work is not fairly rewarded, while the scrutiny and discipline imposed upon them are becoming more stifling by the day, according to Ri.

Pyongyang may not maintain such close ties with Moscow if the war against Ukraine ends, Ri said, but noted that North Korea will need to work closely with China given the geographical and strategic importance of the relationship.

Although the development of nuclear weapons was initially favored by the people, it has not helped to improve their lives, Ri said.

North Koreans have now seen in "news from outside societies" that their country has been slapped with many sanctions making it difficult to earn a living due to the weapons program, he said.

"They are not welcoming nuclear weapons anymore," though they cannot express such opinions publicly, he said.

Ri said Kim will not give up on the nuclear arsenal, as the regime cannot be maintained without it, but urged South Korea, Japan and the United States as well as other Western countries to be "united to put pressure" on Pyongyang.

Regarding Japan, North Korean authorities seek to gain its economic support while resolving the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to Pyongyang decades ago, Ri said.

Kim's focus has currently been on the deployment of military personnel to Russia, but looking ahead to a possible resumption of dialogue with the United States if former President Donald Trump is elected for a second term, North Korea would also "surely try to send some message to Japan," Ri said.

Related coverage:

North Korea troop dispatch threatens world order: Japan minister

North Korea conducts longest-ever ICBM test, condemned by Japan, U.S.

U.S. says North Korea likely to join Russia's fight against Ukraine
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Readers will recall my view that the distinctive competence of the modern political party is control over the ballot: Who gets listed on it, how and when it gets cast (and who gets to cast it), how it is counted, and the validity of the count[1]. In the modern era, since Bush v. Gore (2000), this question of validity (certification) has assumed increasing importance, and since Trump (2016), the intelligence community (IC) [2] has become increasingly involved with it, under the aegis of preventing election interference. (This effort is closely allied with the Censorship Industrial Complex, with its notions of misinformation and disinformation.)

Readers will also recall my view that the modern political party is in fact quite hard to put a boundary around, but that the Democrat Party can be thought of as a network that includes electeds, funders, vendors, apparatchiks, NGOs, miscellaneous mercenaries, most of the press, and the dominant figures in the intelligence community (all, of course, centered on the ballot, as above).

This post started out, and I really hoped was going to end up as, a simple listing of the intelligence agencies (spooks, OED sense 2[3]) involved with election integrity.[4] However, in the collective, trackless Gish Gallop that is our contemporary discourse, Foreign Malign Influence Center was suddenly all over the field, and I had to add material to cover it, which is interesting and revealing, as we shall see.

The institutional fluidity of the Democrat Party allows events like the following to take place. From Politico (2020), Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say:

More than 50 former senior intelligence officials have signed on to a letter outlining their belief that the recent disclosure of emails allegedly belonging to Joe Bidens son has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation. The letter, signed on Monday, centers around a batch of documents released by the New York Post last week that purport to tie the Democratic nominee to his son Hunters business dealings. Under the banner headline Biden Secret E-mails, the Post reported it was given a copy of Hunter Bidens laptop hard drive by President Donald Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who said he got it from a Mac shop owner in Delaware who also alerted the FBI. While the letters signatories presented no new evidence, they said their national security experience had made them deeply suspicious that the Russian government played a significant role in this case and cited several elements of the story that suggested the Kremlins hand at work./p> If we are right, they added, this is Russia trying to influence how Americans vote in this election, and we believe strongly that Americans need to be aware of this.

Later, of course, it turned out that the letter was not quite as spontaneous (dozens of former intel officials say ) as we had first supposed. From the Wall Street Journal (2023), The Hunter Biden Laptop Disinformation Is Exposed:

Now we have this deposed transcript with [Michael Morell, former acting CIA director] in front of the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees, and he says that three days after the Post story broke, he got a call from Antony Blinken who was at that time, a senior age, the Biden campaign, who is now Secretary of State, saying, Whatd you think of this story? And the way the letters put it is that while he apparently called, mostly is just gathering Morells reaction to it. Morell acknowledged that prior to Blinkens call, he didnt have any intent to write this statement. After Blinkens call, he got all the rest of the intelligence officials together and put it out there. The Biden campaign also apparently helped strategize its release in terms of who it went to in the press. And so the bottom line is, this letter that supposedly was this automatic response from some of these officials that they felt they needed to set the record straight. In fact, the Biden campaign had been involved in the genesis of this statement, which it then went on to use to refute any of the claims that were out there.

Summarizing, the letter was arranged by the Biden campaign, through its then campaign operative, Anthony Blinken, and the spooks were only too happy to co-operate (supporting Gramscis concept, if I summarize correctly, that the State (the CIA) and civil society (the Biden campaign) are only separable as objects of study, and in fact are two aspects of a single ruling class).

Given the above, therefore, in what follows we need to disabuse ourselves from the notion that intelligence officials are in any way politically neutral. Many, perhaps most, of them are; but when a perceived emergency coincides with the appropriate permission structure  say, the election of a Hitler  the professional integument bursts asunder, and party is revealed (rather like the chestbuster scene in Alien, except with 50 former senior aliens[5]).

In this post, then, Ill first present that simple list; if and when any of them appear in the news, at least well have a scorecard that lists the players. Then I willl dig into the Foreign Malign Influence Center. Ill conclude with some more speculation on the structure of the Democrat Party.

Spooks Involved with Election Integrity

Let me caveat that this list is the result of some reasonably persistent searching. I cant claim to have found every Federal intelligence agency involved with election integrity (and I didnt even look at the states (or the localities; looking at you, NYPD)). Nor can I claim that I understand the org chart, let alone the real relationships). In any case, here they are (and there are rather a lot):

DHS (Department of Homeland Security). From their Election Security page:

We recognize the fundamental link between the trust in election infrastructure and the confidence the American public places in basic democratic function. A secure and resilient electoral process is a vital national interest and one of our highest priorities at the Department of Homeland Security. We are committed to working collaboratively with those on the front lines of elections  state and local government, election officials, federal partners and the vendor community  to manage risks to election infrastructure. We will remain transparent as well as agile to combat and secure our physical and cyber infrastructure against new and evolving threats.

DHS has a sub-agency, CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency):

CISAs services are available at no cost to the state and local government and officials. All services we provide are available upon request and are strictly voluntary, CISA only provides services when requested by state and local election officials. Key areas of our services include the following: Cybersecurity Advisors and Protective Security Advisors , regionally located personnel who offer state and local governments, as well as private sector partners, immediate and sustained assistance, coordination, and outreach to prepare for and protect from cyber and physical threats.

, regionally located personnel who offer state and local governments, as well as private sector partners, immediate and sustained assistance, coordination, and outreach to prepare for and protect from cyber and physical threats. Cybersecurity Assessments , such as Cyber Hygiene Scanning, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment, and Cyber Resilience Reviews.

, such as Cyber Hygiene Scanning, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment, and Cyber Resilience Reviews. Detection and Prevention , such as Cyber Threat Hunting and Enhanced Cyber Services.

, such as Cyber Threat Hunting and Enhanced Cyber Services. Information Sharing and Awareness , such as National Cyber Awareness System alerts and advisories, and the Homeland Security Information Network portal.

, such as National Cyber Awareness System alerts and advisories, and the Homeland Security Information Network portal. Incident Response, provides 24/7 intrusion analysis in response to cyber incident.

provides 24/7 intrusion analysis in response to cyber incident. Training and Career Development, including the Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE) cybersecurity training, and National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies Catalog. Additional Resources Election Infrastructure Security Resource Guide

Glossary of commonly used cyber terminology (Note: this glossary is based on standard definitions, and is not intended to be technically comprehensive)

FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). From the Election Crimes and Security page:

Fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and the FBI is committed to protecting the rights of all Americans to vote. The U.S. government only works when legal votes are counted and when campaigns follow the law. When the legitimacy of elections is corrupted, our democracy is threatened. While individual states run elections, the FBI plays an important role in protecting federal interests and preventing violations of your constitutional rights. An election crime is generally a federal crime if: The ballot includes one or more federal candidates

An election or polling place official abuses their office

The conduct involves false voter registration

The crime intentionally targets minority protected classes

The activity violates federal campaign finance laws

And from Election Crimes and Security:

The FBI is the lead federal agency responsible for investigating foreign influence operations. In the fall of 2017, Director Christopher Wray established the Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF) to identify and counteract malign foreign influence operations targeting the United States. Foreign influence operations have taken many forms and used many tactics over the years. Most widely reported these days are attempts by adversarieshoping to reach a wide swath of Americans covertly from outside the United Statesto use false personas and fabricated stories on social media platforms to discredit U.S. individuals and institutions. Other influence operations by adversaries include: Targeting U.S. officials and other U.S. persons through traditional intelligence tradecraft

Criminal efforts to suppress voting and provide illegal campaign financing

Cyber attacks against voting infrastructure, along with computer intrusions targeting elected officials and others

ODNI (Office of the Director of National Intelligence)

From the FMIC (Foreign Malign Influence Center home page, We Lead The ICs Efforts to Protect The United States From Foreign Malign Influence:

We mitigate threats to democracy and U.S national interests from foreign malign influence (FMI) by managing the Intelligence Communitys (ICs) collection resources, building partnerships, and advancing strategic analysis, while protecting the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. FMIC serves as the primary U.S. Government organization for integrating intelligence pertaining to foreign malign influence (FMI), including on election security. FMI is defined as subversive, undeclared, coercive, or criminal activities by foreign governments, non-state actors, or their proxies to affect another nations popular or political attitudes, perceptions, or behaviors to advance their interests. To address the persistent and dynamic threat from foreign malign influence, the FMIC team engages with colleagues from a wide variety of institutions, including other IC agencies, the wider U.S. Government (including law enforcement and diplomatic elements), the private sector, civil society, and the academy.

(More on the FMIC below.) Non-IC Federal actors include DOJ (United States Department of Justice), the EAC (United States Election Assistance Commission), and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). For those who have long memories, I should also mention Fusion Centers, which Obama used to suppress Occupy. Washington D.C.s Fusion Center is interesting, because it seems to be operating with a national scope. WaPo, As midterms near, D.C. fusion center watches for political violence:

As the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential election approach, analysts at D.C.s fusion center are scanning social media and browsing the dark corners of the internet, looking for threats against election officials in battleground states and large rallies that could turn violent. D.C. has had a fusion center  where analysts gather threat-related information and distribute it to other local, state and federal agencies  since 2012, but will soon break ground on a new facility in the Navy Yard area. The new facilitys Emergency Operations Center is about 9,000 square feet  three times the size of the previous facility  and will have larger, better-equipped conference rooms, officials said. For the midterms, [Christopher Rodriguez, the Director of D.C.s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency], said the city has contacts with the other 79 fusion centers in the country

Now lets turn to FMIC, in detail.

The Foreign Malign Influence Center

The New Yorkers David D. Kirkpatrick, The U.S. Spies Who Sound the Alarm About Election Interference begins with local color:

The Intelligence Community Campus-Bethesda, a vast office complex covered in vertical panels of maroon siding and mirrored glass, sits on a cliff overlooking the Potomac, surrounded by a forty-acre lawn and a tall wrought-iron fence. Roughly three thousand employees of various United States spy agencies work there. About two dozen of them are assigned to the Foreign Malign Influence Centerthe command hub of the battle to protect the Presidential election from manipulation by foreign powers. The center, which opened in 2022, is responsible for deciphering, and defeating, surreptitious efforts to rig or tilt the American vote. The October before an election is the busy season.

And the story begins with an interview:

Jessica Brandt, a forty-year-old newcomer to the intelligence world, is the centers first director. Before her appointment, last year, shed spent her career writing research papers at Washington think tanks, most recently on digital authoritarianismthe way dictators use technology to control or manipulate people, at home and abroad. At a thirty-seat conference table in the center, we talked about her move from theory to practice. Now that Brandt has access to classified intelligence, she knows as much as anyone about how foreign powers are trying to tamper with American elections.

Writing research papers at Washington think tanks seems curiously vague for a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, especially one who started his career as a fact checker. So who is Jessica Brandt? From her bio at JustSecurity:

Jessica Brandt (@jessbrandt) is Head of Policy and research at the Alliance for Securing Democracy. She is a David Rockefeller Fellow of the Trilateral Commission and a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Lets stop our knees from jerking at the mention of the Trilateral Commission and the CFR, and ask: What is the Alliance for Securing Democracy? (From Brandts CV, she was at both ASD and GMF 2019-21, immediately after the events I am about to relate.) From the German Marshall Fund (GMF):

The Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD), a nonpartisan initiative housed at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, develops comprehensive strategies to deter, defend against, and raise the costs on autocratic efforts to undermine and interfere in democratic institutions. ASD has staff in Washington, D.C., and Brussels, bringing together experts on disinformation, malign finance, emerging technologies, elections integrity, economic coercion, and cybersecurity, as well as Russia, China, and the Middle East, to collaborate across traditional stovepipes and develop cross-cutting frameworks.

More to the point:

The Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) is a political advocacy group formed in July 2017. The organization is chaired and run primarily by former senior United States intelligence and State Department officials.

(In other words, when Kirkpatrick writes that Brandt is a forty-year-old newcomer to the intelligence world, hes just wrong.) Even more to the point, ASD created the notorious Hamilton 68 Dashboard. From Matt Taibbi, interviewed by Chris Hedges, in Hamilton 68: How former intelligence officials and Democratic operatives conspired to manufacture Russiagate

[TAIBBI:][T]he shortcut version of this story is that after Trump won the election, Chris, there was immediately a series of stories coming from different directions saying that the election was illegitimate, that Trump had been assisted by Russians, that there was some kind of collusion going on, and that there was disinformation in the news media that had been amplified by Russian accounts that Trumps own accounts and hashtags and tweets had been amplified by Russian forces. And then formally in, I believe it was August of 2017, this group Hamilton 68 came out. Its an outgrowth of both the German Marshall Fund and a think tank called the Alliance for Securing Democracy. And it was basically a tool designed to be used by reporters and academics that track Russian disinformation by monitoring accounts that were called linked, linked to Russian influence activities online. Now, they never disclosed what was on this list or what they were actually tracking, and it was only by accident looking through some Twitter files, emails that we find this big conversation where internally Twitter is saying, weve got the list. Weve reversed engineered it, and theyre not Russians. These are mostly ordinary people. Out of 644 accounts, only 36 of them began in Russia, and most of the rest of them, from what Ive found, were ordinary people, a lot of them right leaning, but some of them on the left, too. So it was a fraud. It was a big gigantic media fraud

And Taibbi writes, in Matt Taibbi: Move Over, Jason Blair: Meet Hamilton 68, the New King of Media Fraud, hammering home the partisan connections:

Hamilton 68 was and is a computerized dashboard designed to be used by reporters and academics to measure Russian disinformation. It was the brainchild of former FBI agent (and current MSNBC disinformation expert) Clint Watts, and backed by the German Marshall Fund and the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a bipartisan think-tank. The latters advisory panel includes former acting CIA chief Michael Morell, former Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, former Hillary for America chair John Podesta, and onetime Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol.

And:

This was not faulty science. It was a scam. Instead of tracking how Russia influenced American attitudes, Hamilton 68 simply collected a handful of mostly real, mostly American accounts, and described their organic conversations as Russian scheming. As Roth put it, Virtually any conclusion drawn from [the dashboard] will take conversations in conservative circles on Twitter and accuse them of being Russian.

Now lets return to Brandts CV. I have examined her two-and-one-half pages of Select Recent Publications. Of the eight articles that might have reasonably have mentioned the Hamilton 68 project  Muellers investigation is over. Russias election meddling isnt (2019), How global efforts to limit disinformation could infringe speech (2019), How Not to Handle Security Threats to Our Elections (2019), Defending 2020 (2021), How Democracies Can Win an Information Contest Without Undercutting Their Values (2021), and When democracies employ repressive technology, what are the repercussions? (2023)  none did, whether pre-Taibbi, as a success, or post-Taibbi, as a debacle. A strange omission for ASDs Head of Policy and Research! And a question that surely Kirkpatrick might have asked?

(Tantalizingly, ASDs Wikipedias page has a See also entry for Propornot, which, aided by Marty Barons WaPo, attacked Naked Capitalism in 2018. ProporNot, however, which looks like a crude and early version of Hamilton 68, seems to be a creature of The Atlantic Council, not ASD, although its definitely spook-adjacent. See Yves on Propornot here.)

The bottom line is that Brandt walks, as it were, both sides of the the street: She may very well be a spook defending the country against election-related foreign malign information, but she has also been intimately involved with spook-adjacent and -filled institutions that created and weaponized domestic malign information that smeared US citizens, civilians, exercising their First Amendment rights, on behalf of one political party, and so far as I can tell without a moment of self-reflection. If she took any responsibility for the debacle, her CV certainly doesnt show it. And yet all that goes unquestioned in Kirkpatricks piece, which we must now sadly characterize as puff. Down the memory hole it goes!

Conclusion

So now ASDs Jessica Brandt is taking point for election integrity at ODNIs Foreign Malign Influence Center; what she comes up with will surely be not without interest, especially in the event of a Trump victory. In that case, one might wonder whether questions about the validity of the balloting could be raised, particularly if foreign malign influence were to be assessed, as with RussiaGate. I am sure we will all follow Brandts career with interest, now that The New Yorker has introduced her to a broader public. I make no predictions, but I do indicate possibilities. These people, after all, have form.

* * *

I said Id speculate a bit on the structure of the Democrat Party, which seems to be top-of-mind with a variety of people. Eric Raymond, of open source software fame, has this to say:

I think its because the Democratic fraud machine isnt a single organization with a unitary command structure. Its decentralized in order to be deniable  a bunch of little, relatively localized criminal conspiracies run by GOTV operatives and corrupted partisan bureaucrats, a stochastic network the DNC funds but deliberately doesnt control or coordinate.

And from Roger Kimball in The Spectator:

By the Syndicate (what I sometimes call the Committee), I of course mean the shadowy board of overseers that controls the Democratic Party and, by extension, the administrative apparatus that governs us. No one knows exactly who sits on this board. I suspect that even those who, in retrospect, we can see have occupied senior positions in its ranks are often uncertain about their place in the hierarchy. Elsewhere, I have invoked C.S. Lewiss idea of The Inner Ring to explain the dynamics of this phenomenon. In every social organization, Lewis noted, there exist two hierarchies. One is an official and public hierarchy. The other is covert. The names of its members are not printed anywhere. You are never formally and explicitly admitted by anyone. You discover gradually, in almost indefinable ways, that it exists and that you are outside it and then later, perhaps, that you are inside it It is not easy, even at a given moment, to say who is inside and who is outside. Some people are obviously in and some are obviously out, but there are always several on the borderline.

I think Raymond has the right structure but the wrong scale; and Kimball has the right scale but the wrong structure. A stochastic network makes sense to me, but at the national level (though to be fair, Raymond is talking about election fraud, typically local); and the Inner Ring that governs us makes sense, too, but there is no single board. The phrase emergent Flex-Net popped into my head, but that is a post for another day.

NOTES

[1] Note that the Electoral College can be considered a form of balloting, too.

[2] There is, amusingly, a government site called The Intelligence Community, which includes 18 agencies, but has no About page. The page has an ODNI logo on it, so I assume thats who runs it.

[3] Sense 3: A derogatory term for a black person. Thats not my intent. My impression is that this usage is now fading (Merriam-Webster leaves it out.) Ive been using spook to mean intelligence operative for some time, and that usage seems never to have given offense. And Ive never been able to come up with a better term. In any case, LeCarre has been said to have used it.

[4] Never eat at a place called Moms.

[5] None of whom were ever reprimanded, and many of whom are still making bank on national television.
For decades, scientists have raised alarms about the Arctic warming at an alarming pace, with melting sea ice, shifting ecosystems, and intensified weather extremes threatening global stability. Now, a new study from researchers at UC Riverside offers a nuanced perspective, suggesting that a slowdown in a major ocean current might slightly mitigate this rapid warming - though the reprieve is limited and far from a comprehensive solution.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study titled "Impacts of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation weakening on Arctic amplification,"reveals that the projected 10C rise in Arctic temperatures by the centurys end could be tempered by 2C due to a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The AMOC, a key component of Earths climate, circulates warm water from the tropics to northern latitudes. Its gradual slowing is expected to reduce heat transport to the Arctic, potentially delaying some of the extreme warming impacts.

The AMOCs Role in Arctic Heat Dynamics

"The AMOC is a critical component of our climate system because it moves heat around the globe," said Yu-Chi Lee, UCR graduate student and lead author of the study. "We found that its weakening reduces the amount of heat reaching the Arctic, which slows down the rate of warming."

While this slowdown offers a glimmer of optimism, the researchers caution that Arctic ecosystems remain under grave threat. Polar bears face diminishing hunting grounds as sea ice vanishes, while exposed, darker ocean surfaces absorb more sunlight- further accelerating warming through a feedback loop known as the albedo effect.

The AMOC slowdown could ripple beyond the Arctic, leading to disruptions in the global climate system. One potential concern is a southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a key rain belt in the tropics.

The study also highlights a common misconception about Arctic ice and sea levels: while melting sea ice doesnt directly cause sea level rise, land-based ice and ocean thermal expansion do. The AMOCs role in sea level rise is minor but nonetheless contributes to significant global climate shifts.

A Complex Climate Picture

Wei Liu, a UC Riverside associate professor and co-author of the study, stressed the intricacies of AMOCs influence. "The AMOC slowdown may offer some temporary relief in the Arctic, but this is not a simple good-news story," Liu said. "The overall impact on ecosystems and weather patterns, both in the Arctic and globally, could still be severe."

Using a coupled climate model, the research team examined interactions between ocean currents, the atmosphere, and land ice. Simulations isolated the AMOCs impact by comparing scenarios with and without an AMOC slowdown under rising greenhouse gases, revealing that the currents weakening would only moderately alleviate Arctic warming.

Uncertain Future for AMOC

Scientists have limited data on AMOC trends, with direct monitoring only starting in 2004. While some research suggests a potential AMOC collapse by 2100, others debate its stability.

"Our simulations allowed us to clearly see how much of the future Arctic warming is tied to the AMOC slowdown," Lee said, according to SciDaily. "Even though the slowdown reduces warming by a couple of degrees, the overall effects on Arctic ecosystems and the global climate system remain severe."

This study serves as a reminder of climate changes interconnected nature. With Arctic temperatures rising three to four times faster than the global average, even small shifts in ocean circulation have planetary ramifications. While the AMOCs weakening offers a partial relief, it underscores the urgent need for coordinated climate action to address both the Arctics future and the broader global climate system.
BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Shiite militia group, on Saturday claimed responsibility for four drone attacks on the southern Israeli city of Eilat.

In a statement, the group reported that its fighters launched separate drone attacks on four "vital sites" in Eilat in southern Israel.

The statement did not provide further details about the targeted sites or report any casualties.

The group said that the strikes were carried out "in solidarity with our people in Palestine and Lebanon," pledging to continue targeting "the enemy's strongholds at an escalating pace."

Since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has repeatedly attacked Israeli and U.S. positions in the region to show support for Palestinians in Gaza.

The militia has stepped up its attacks on Israel after the latter intensified strikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon on Sept. 23. 
Mumbai, Nov 1 : Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh who welcomed their first child on 8th September, 2024 revealed their daughter's name on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

Deepika Padukone took to Instagram to share pictures of her daughter's feet. She captioned the post: "Dua Padukone Singh." Deepika explained, "Dua means 'a prayer' because she is the answer to our prayers." The actress concluded, "Our hearts are filled with love and gratitude. - Deepika and Ranveer." Deepika and Ranveer started dating while shooting for the film 'Ram Leela'. Later they got married in the year 2018. They married in Lake Como, Italy. They had two wedding ceremonies, one in South Indian style and the other one in Sindhi style. Deepika and Ranveer released their wedding video on 'Koffee With Karan', showcasing previously unseen moments from their special day. After being married for six years they welcomed their first baby in November 2024. Deepika was admitted to hospital on 7th November and delivered the baby on 8th Nov. On the work front Ranveer Singh's film 'Singham Again' released in theatres on Nov 1. Ranveer Singh reprises his role as Simba in the movie, where he helps Singham fight against villain Arjun Kapoor. Deepika Padukone has also made a small cameo in 'Singham Again' as Shakti Shetty. Her dialogue in the promo 'Main Singham nahi, Lady Singham Hai' has already caught everyone's attention. Few days back Ranveer Singh said in a press conference that his baby has already made a debut as Deepika shot for 'Singham Again' while she was pregnant. Prior to this, Deepika was seen in 'Kalki' and 'Fighter'. While 'Kalki' did decent business, 'Fighter' failed to meet makers expectations. While nothing is official but as per various reports Deepika will be next in the film 'The Intern'.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : India's petrol, aviation turbine fuel, and LPG consumption shot up in October this year compared to the same month last year, reflecting the rising demand for these fuels in a growing economy.

While petrol sales have gone up by 7.3 per cent, LPG consumption surged by 7.5 per cent and jet fuel demand increased 2.5 per cent year-on-year during the festive season, according to data released by the public sector oil companies on Friday.

However, diesel sales declined by 3.3 per cent as the extended monsoon which led to the delay in the sowing season, impacted demand for the fuel in the farm sector.

Petrol sales of Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum, which account for over 90 per cent of the total market, increased 3.1 million tonnes during October from 2.87 million tonnes in the same month last year. This comes against the backdrop of rising sales of cars, SUVs and two-wheelers in both urban and rural areas of the country.

The increase in air travel, which comes on the back of a surging middle class that is benefiting from higher economic growth, drove up the consumption of jet fuel to 6,47,700 tonnes during October 2024.

Domestic airlines flew 1.30 crore passengers in September, which is 6.38 per cent higher compared to the year-ago period, according to the latest data.

Cooking gas LPG sales were up 7.5 per cent year-on-year at 2.82 million tonnes in October 2024. LPG consumption is now 13.1 per cent higher than in October 2022.* *LPG consumption has been on the rise with as many as 10.33 crore deposit-free LPG connections being issued under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) to women from poor households across the country as of August 1, 2024, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi informed the Lok Sabha recently.

The target to release 8 crore connections was achieved in September 2019. To cover the remaining poor households, the second phase of the scheme Ujjwala 2.0 was launched in August 2021 and by January 2023, 1.60 crore connections had been released. Further, in view of fresh requests, in September 2023, the government approved the release of an additional 75 lakh PMUY connections.

The public sector oil marketing companies have completed the release of these 75 lakh PMUY connections as of July 8, 2024, the minister said.

Besides, other steps have been taken to popularize LPG such as spreading awareness about the advantages of using LPG over other conventional fuels and the safe usage of cooking gas through LPG Panchayats and awareness camps

As a result of these efforts, the per capita consumption for PMUY beneficiaries has improved to 3.95 refills in FY 2023-24, the minister added.
Istanbul, Nov 2 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani have held a closed-door meeting in Istanbul, according to a statement from the Turkish presidential office.

During their discussions on Friday, Erdogan highlighted the serious security threats that terrorist organisations pose to both Turkey and Iraq. He called for a unified strategy to combat these threats, stressing the importance of peace and stability for both nations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Erdogan also expressed concerns over the rising "Israeli aggression" in Gaza and Lebanon. He urged the international community, particularly regional nations, to take collective action to stop the violence.

The Turkish President emphasised the need to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly through the Development Road Project, which aims to improve connectivity between the two countries by establishing an extensive network of railways, roads, and ports to facilitate trade and transportation.

The Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that Al-Sudani and Erdogan called on Arab and Islamic countries, along with international organisations and the United Nations, to support efforts for a ceasefire in the region. They underscored the necessity of facilitating relief operations, providing humanitarian aid to those affected, initiating reconstruction efforts, and preserving the Palestinian presence on its "historical land".

Additionally, the INA noted that the two leaders discussed ways to implement existing agreements and partnerships in various economic and development sectors.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : A string of Bollywood personalities such as Sonam Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ananya Panday and others on Saturday mourned the death of connoisseur of luxury fashion wear Rohit Bal, fondly known as 'Gudda' in the industry, who passed away aged 63.

The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) late on November 1 night announced the passing away of the iconic designer, who was known for his lotus and peacock motifs.

The fashion designer was suffering from a heart ailment and in 2023 was admitted to the intensive care unit.

The FDCI shared a post on Instagram, which read: "We mourn the passing of Legendary designer Rohit Bal. He was a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). Known for his unique blend of traditional patterns with modern sensibilities, Bal's work redefined Indian fashion, and inspired generations."

"His legacy of artistry, and innovation along with forward thinking will live on in the fashion world. Rest in peace GUDDA You are a legend."

The designer's last show was at the Lakme Fashion Week in the National Capital and his muse was Bollywood actress Ananya Panday, who took to her Instagram stories and shared a picture of the two strutting the ramp after the grand finale.

She captioned the image: "Gudda. Om Shanti."

Actress Sonam Kapoor shared a string of images, including a WhatsApp chat with the designer. She wrote a heartfelt note for Bal, whose creations she wore the same day for Diwali celebration.

She wrote: "Dear Gudda I heard about your passing on my way to celebrate Diwali in your gorgeous creation that you generously lent to me for the second time. I've been blessed to have known you and worn you and walked for you multiple times. I hope you're at peace. Always your biggest fan."

Actor Sidharth Malhotra shared a picture with the iconic designer, who was known for his blue eyes and golden hair, and wrote: "Deeply saddened by the loss. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti."

Kareena Kapoor Khan just shared pictures from his younger days and dropped red white and black hearts to caption the images.

Gulshan Devaiah wrote: "ROHIT BAL : 8 MAY 1961 - 1 NOVEMBER 2024."

Actress Nimrat Kaur said: "Visionary, trailblazer, icon. Rest in Excellence #RohitBal #RIPRohitBal."

Bal's work was not limited to just the country. His creations have been worn by global head turners such as Pamela Anderson, Uma Thurman, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell.

The iconic designer will be cremated Saturday at the Lodhi Road Crematorium in the National Capital.
Mumbai, Nov 2 : Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant struck blazing half-centuries to take India to 195/5 at lunch on the second day of the Third and final Test of the 2024 series, 40 runs adrift of New Zealand's first innings total of 235 here on Saturday.

On another warm and humid day at the Wankhede Stadium, Pant and Gill were hotter with the bat than the conditions as they dominated the first morning, batting with controlled aggression, taking on the New Zealand spinners, capitalising on the two catches dropped by the fielders.

At lunch, Gill was batting on 70 with Ravindra Jadeja keeping him company at 10 off 18 balls as Pant, who had set the tone for the day, departed for a run-a-ball 60 as India recovered from the 10-minute madness towards the first day evening which saw them losing three wickets in seven balls to slump to 86/4.

Gill and Pant added 96 runs for the fifth wicket partnership that helped India dominate the morning session on the second day as the hosts battled on, hoping to avoid a 0-3 whitewash in the series.

Pant came out with aggressive instincts and launched into Ajaz Patel in the first over itself, jumping out for lofts over the bowler's head off the first two deliveries of the morning. Another four in the over, proved that the Indian batters were not going to allow the New Zealand bowlers to settle down.

There were a couple of edges here and there but both Pant, who started on the overnight score of one run, and Shubman Gill made it clear that they were not going to miss out on anything that was not perfect.

Pant used his feet, employed the reverse sweep and struck his shots at will, hitting Patel for a four and a six off successive balls -- a reverse sweep to the boundary followed by a charge-out for a lofted drive onto the roof of the stadium over the sightscreen.

The wicketkeeper-batter from Delhi raced to the fastest half-century by an Indian against New Zealand in Tests, reaching the mark off just 36 balls. Pant improved on the record held by Yashasvi Jaiswal who reached the half-century off 44 balls in the previous Test in Pune. He struck

Gill, starting from 31 overnight, got a huge reprieve when substitute fielder Mark Chapman dropped a skier at long-on. Gill slipped a bit as he tried to reach the pitch of the delivery, went ahead with the shot, and skied it. Chapman reached it easily, but the ball just went through his hands, hit his chest, and spilt to the ground. Gill made the most of that life as he reached his half-century off 66 balls, adding fifty runs for the fifth wicket partnership with Pant off 56 balls.

The left-hand, right-hand combination of Pant and Gill was cruising, bruising and squeezing New Zealand as India dominated the first hour of play and the lead dwindled rapidly. Pant too had a life when Matt Henry dropped an easy call at long-on off Glenn Phillips. New Zealand's fielding on the second morning was patchy with Pant and Gill benefitting from it.

With boundaries drying up for a bit of time, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi made the much-needed breakthrough for New Zealand, breaking the partnership by sending Pant back to the pavilion.

After he had despatched a wrong'un pitched out off by Sodhi past short-cover and mid-off for a boundary, Pant missed a leg break that went onto strike the pad. The batter used the DRS hoping to reverse the verdict but the replays show the ball missed the bat and was going to hit the leg stump. DRS ruled it "umpires call" and Pant had to walk off the field for 60 off 59 balls, studded with eight boundaries and two big sixes.

With lunch approaching, Gill dropped the anchor, shunning misadventures, going for lunch in the company of Ravindra Jadeja, who was sent ahead of Sarfaraz Khan to maintain the right-hand and left-hand combination, which has served India so well on the second morning.

Brief scores:

At lunch, Day 2: New Zealand 235 lead India 195/5 in 43 overs (Shubman Gill 70 not out, Rishabh Pant 60, Ravindra Jadeja 10 not out; Ajaz Patel 2-76) by 40 runs.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : India has updated its biodiversity action plan and has committed to conserve 30 per cent of its terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by 2030.

The updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was unveiled at the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, and had 23 national targets.

The targets are aligned with the 23 global goals set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) -- adopted at the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference in Canada in 2022.

Protecting at least 30 per cent of the world's land and ocean areas by 2030 is a key goal of KM-GBF. It will also work to restore degraded ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, and rivers, to ensure they continue providing essential resources like clean water and air.

The updated NBSAP showed that from 2017-2018 to 2021-2022, India spent around Rs. 32,200 crore on biodiversity protection, conservation, and restoration.

It projects that the annual expenditure for biodiversity conservation through 2029-2030 will reach Rs. 81,664.88 crore.

India's biodiversity strategy focuses on themes such as reducing threats to biodiversity; meeting people's needs through sustainable use and benefit sharing and developing tools and solutions for implementation.

Reducing threats includes eight targets focused on major biodiversity threats, such as land and sea use changes, pollution, overuse of species, climate change, and invasive species, as well as restoring ecosystems, conserving species diversity, and enabling the sustainable use of wild species.

The theme of meeting people's needs focuses on supporting the sustainable management of agriculture, fisheries, forests, and animal husbandry -- vital to the livelihoods of rural populations, including farmers, herders, fishers, and indigenous communities. It also stresses sustainable use of wild species, ecosystem service management, equitable access to green spaces, fair sharing of biodiversity benefits, and public support for conservation.

The solution-providing theme includes 10 targets focused on adding biodiversity to development objectives, encouraging sustainable production and consumption, reducing waste, repurposing subsidies, fostering skills and knowledge-sharing, mobilising resources, and ensuring inclusive and fair planning in biodiversity conservation.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Greek government has announced plans to establish two additional consulates in India, located in Mumbai and Bengaluru, aiming to bolster diplomatic presence and engagement with India.

The decision was conveyed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a telephone conversation.

Currently, Greece maintains three diplomatic representative offices in India, including an Embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Chennai and Kolkata.

This move is part of a broader effort to enhance India-Greece relations, especially following the adoption of a strategic partnership framework during PM Modi's official visit to Athens in August 2023.

Discussions also highlighted Greece's role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, which could open new avenues for cooperation on global issues.

During the conversation, the two leaders expressed mutual commitment to strengthening the India-Greece Strategic Partnership, emphasising cooperation across sectors such as trade, Defence, shipping, and connectivity, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday.

They reviewed recent high-level exchanges and the resulting momentum in bilateral relations, underscoring investment opportunities and initiatives for enhanced maritime connectivity.

Greek PM Mitsotakis extended his congratulations to PM Modi on his re-election in June, expressing optimism for the future of India-Greece relations.

PM Modi later shared the conversation on his X handle, noting, "Yesterday, had a productive conversation with PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, reaffirming our shared commitment to strengthening the India-Greece Strategic Partnership. Together, we aim to deepen our collaboration across trade, defence, shipping, and connectivity. Greece is a valued partner for India within the EU as well."

The PMO's statement also noted that both leaders reviewed the progress of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), an initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity through strategic economic corridors. They exchanged views on various regional and global issues, with a particular focus on developments in West Asia.

Earlier this year, Greek PM Mitsotakis visited India as the chief guest at the Raisina Dialogue, India's premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics. The visit highlighted the significance of maritime connectivity and corridor partnerships, with both leaders emphasising the role of IMEC in strengthening India-Greece ties.

This expansion of Greece's diplomatic footprint in India through new consulates in Mumbai and Bangalore is anticipated to accelerate cooperation and promote closer relations between the two nations.
Chennai, Nov 2 : Tamil superstar and founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Katchi (TVK) party, Vijay, will embark on a statewide tour from December.

The tour is set to begin on December 2 in Coimbatore and conclude on December 27 with a major public rally in Tirunelveli.

During this tour, Vijay plans to connect directly with the public across Tamil Nadu, preparing his new political party for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections.

He announced in a recent public meeting that the party intends to contest all 231 seats in Tamil Nadu's Assembly.

The Tamil superstar launched his political party in February 2024 but clarified that TVK would not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, choosing instead to focus on the 2026 Assembly polls.

According to party insiders, Vijay is set to appoint district-level office bearers and booth committee heads soon.

He also plans to recognise and promote leaders who played a key role in organising the successful public rally in Vikravandi, Villupuram district, on October 27, which saw a turnout of over 300,000 people.

Veteran Tamil actor Rajinikanth recently praised Vijay's successful political entry, calling his first major public meeting well-organised.

Speaking to the media during Diwali festivities outside his Chennai residence, Rajinikanth congratulated Vijay on the success of his debut rally, stating, "He conducted the conference very successfully. My greetings to him."

However, Rajinikanth refrained from commenting on certain allegations made by TVK leaders during the rally.

Vijay, one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars, is the first to enter the political arena on this scale since the late M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), the founder of AIADMK and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

His political debut is anticipated to significantly impact the state's political landscape.

It is notable that Rajinikanth himself once announced intentions to enter politics, intending to contest the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

However, he later decided against it, declaring that his fan club, Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM), would remain a charitable organisation rather than a political party.

-IANS




Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization Ursula Owusu-Ekuful speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Accra, Ghana, on Oct. 30, 2024. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

by Justice Lee Adoboe

Chinese companies' contribution to Ghana's digitalization agenda has been positive, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said.

ACCRA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies' contribution to Ghana's digitalization agenda has been positive, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, the minister highlighted the Chinese technology companies, including Huawei, that have a significant role in propelling Ghana's digitalization process.

Owusu-Ekuful said Huawei is one of the largest original equipment manufacturers working for both the public and the private sector in Ghana and has been an integral part of the implementation of the West African country's digitalization agenda.

"You can not do digitalization without digital infrastructure, and Huawei provides key components for all telecommunication network operators, both private and public, in the country, depending on the needs of the service provider," she said. "We have an open-door policy toward all companies, but Huawei is one of the largest original equipment manufacturers in this country, working for both the public and the private sector."

According to Owusu-Ekuful, since the government was satisfied with Huawei's service delivery, it contracted the Chinese telecommunication technology company to help power Ghana's rural telephony network.

"That equipment was provided by Huawei. They developed that technology in Ghana because we insisted that they provide us with affordable rural connectivity solutions," she added.

People visit the Huawei booth during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

The minister insisted that Huawei did an impressive job, working with MTN and other service providers with the support of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications to develop the rural-style solution that's currently in use for Ghana's rural telephony project.

"We are happy with that project, and it has become an example for many other African countries, which want to set up similar infrastructure. We are happy with the services that we are getting from them," she said.

While hailing Huawei for participating in other digitalization projects, the minister said many other Chinese companies were operating in the Ghanaian technology space with satisfactory results.

"We want more technology transfer, and we want them to work with local firms more closely so that there is knowledge and technology transfer," said the minister. "We want more Chinese companies to set up factories here, as we are setting up high-speed networks. They can set up factories anywhere in the country to produce these devices locally, to reduce the cost of devices for delivering both 4G and 5G services to subscribers."

The official listed opportunities for collaboration between Ghanaian and Chinese firms in the technology space, including activating high-performance technology systems within a closed environment, urging Chinese online trading companies to consider using Ghana, which hosts the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, as their logistics hub to reach the rest of Africa.

She said Chinese firms could also partner with Ghanaians to set up high-speed data centers and in research and development, where Chinese firms have extensive capabilities and are doing a lot of interesting things.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday visited the Field Gun Factory, a unit of Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), at Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

The factory specialises in manufacturing barrel and breach assemblies of various artillery guns and tanks including the T-90 tank and Dhanush gun.

During the visit, the Defence Minister inspected key facilities, including the Heat Treatment and the New Assembly Shop of the factory, to take stock of critical indigenous defence capabilities. He was accompanied by Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V. Kamat, according to a Defence Ministry statement.

Following the visit to the shop floor, Rajnath Singh was briefed by the CMDs of three Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) based in Kanpur -- AWEIL, Troop Comforts India Limited, Gliders India Limited (GIL) -- and Director of Defence Materials and Stores Research & Development Establishment, a DRDO laboratory located in Kanpur, the statement added.

During the presentations, the CMDs of the new DPSUs apprised the Defence Minister about the product profile, major ongoing projects, R&D efforts and modernisation activities being undertaken in their pursuit to meet the requirements of the services.

AWEIL specialises in manufacturing small, medium and large calibre gun systems. The main products of TCL are combat uniforms, ballistic protective gear, extreme cold clothing and tentages for high altitude. Whereas, GIL has the largest and oldest production unit of parachutes in India.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently said that the Modi government has prioritised the defence sector, and along with the promotion of indigenous manufacturing, was aiming at an export target of Rs 50,000 for military hardware by 2028-29.

He said that the government had corporatised the ordnance factories which had made them more technology-friendly and increased accountability which has resulted in an increase in production. He said that the government has also put its trust in indigenous companies such Hindustan Aeronautical Limited, Tata and L&T to boost the defence sector.
Chandigarh, Nov 2 : The Haryana government on Saturday appealed to the farmers of the state to refrain from burning crop residue after harvesting paddy as burning crop residue not only leads to air pollution but also depletes soil nutrients.

Instead of burning, farmers should mix the residue into the soil using machinery. Incorporating paddy residue into the soil will enhance soil fertility and will contribute to a cleaner environment as well.

Sharing information in this regard, an official spokesperson for the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department said that the government has started the Haryana Parali Protsahan Yojana -- 2024-25 to promote crop residue management.

Under the scheme, a subsidy of Rs 1,000 per acre is being provided and to apply for the scheme one has to register themselves on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal. Interested farmers can apply online at the departmental portal agriharyana.gov.in till November 30 to avail benefits of the scheme.

The spokesperson further stated that the scheme aims to refrain farmers from burning stubble and to provide them with financial assistance.

This initiative will not only protect the environment but also encourage farmers to manage crop residue properly. This will also help to combat the air pollution caused due to stubble burning.

The spokesperson further said that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare is also conducting awareness campaigns to educate farmers about the harmful effects of burning crop residue. Agricultural experts are providing farmers with information about government schemes.

The crop residue management scheme is a significant government initiative. Under this scheme, farmers are provided with agricultural equipment such as super seeders, zero-tillage machines, straw choppers, happy seeders, reversible ploughs, etc., at subsidised rates. These tools can help farmers mix the stubble into the soil to improve soil fertility.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Highlighting the sops offered by the government to families of anti-Sikh riots for securing jobs, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday demanded an apology from the Congress for the 1984 carnage in which 3,000 community members were killed.

"The Congress seems to have no regret for the cold-blooded atrocities," Puri told IANS.

People like former MP Jagdish Tytler, whose name also surfaced as accused in connection with the incidents, have been given a prime post in the All India Congress Committee, he said.

Puri's remarks come close to a decision taken by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, on the direction of the Central government, to relax the minimum educational qualification while applying for government jobs for victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The decision to lower the minimum educational qualification from Class 10 to Class 8 for riot victims had been pending due to bureaucratic delays.

The minister said the Congress failed to come to the help of families of the riot victims.

Puri said it was only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the matter that Sikh families were now going to get this relaxation in educational qualification for government jobs.

The decision is likely to benefit members of Sikh families who would now be able to easily secure jobs in government offices.

The LG office claimed the decision was taken after conducting a survey to study the problems faced by families of Sikh riot victims.

Puri's remarks on relief for riot victims applying for government jobs are a part of BJP leaders' efforts to highlight initiatives taken by the Centre for the welfare of the community.

These include highlighting the significance of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that grants citizenship to Sikh refugees who suffered torture, forceful religious conversion and terrorism in neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The BJP leaders also attacked the Congress for the 1984 riots, stating that it was the Modi government that established an SIT and re-opened 300 cases, leading to the imprisonment of the guilty and ensuring justice for the riot victims, besides providing them financial assistance.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Snow will taper off and end this morning but skies will remain cloudy this afternoon. High near 40F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 24F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around in the morning. High 39F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 24F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
NEW DELHI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A live ammunition cartridge was found inside an Air India's international flight in Delhi on its return from Dubai, confirmed an airline's official on Saturday.

The live round of ammunition was found on Oct. 27 from inside the pocket of a passenger seat of the said flight during the routine cleaning work. Later, a formal complaint was lodged with the Delhi Police, and an investigation was on to crack the serious security breach.

"One ammunition cartridge was found in the pocket of a seat of our flight AI-916 after it had landed from Dubai at Delhi on Oct. 27, and all passengers had safely disembarked," an Air India spokesperson was quoted as saying in an official statement.

He added that a complaint was immediately lodged with the Airport Police by Air India.

The incident assumed even more significance as it came amid a spate of hoax bomb threats about bombs being placed onboard flights. As per an estimate, more than 510 domestic and international flights had received bomb threats over the past two weeks, which were later found to be hoax. 
TVS Registers Highest Ever Monthly Sales in October 2024, Retailed 4.89 Lakh Units

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 12:29 IST

Electric Vehicle EV sales registered a growth of 45% with sales increasing from 20,153 units in October 2023 to 29,308 units in October 2024.

TVS Jupiter 110. (Photo: Samreen Pall/News18)

Registers highest ever EV monthly sales with a growth of 45% Bengaluru, Karnataka, India (NewsVoir) TVS Motor Company recorded monthly sales of 489,015 units in October 2024 with a growth of 13% as against 434,714 units in the month of October 2023.

Two-Wheeler Total two-wheelers registered a growth of 14% with sales increasing from 420,610 units in October 2023 to 478,159 units in October 2024. Domestic two-wheeler registered growth of 13% with sales increasing from 344,957 units in October 2023 to 390,489 units in October 2024.

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Motorcycles registered a growth of 14% with sales increasing from 201,965 units in October 2023 to 230,822 units in October 2024. Scooter registered a growth of 17% with sales increasing from 165,135 units in October 2023 to 193,439 units in October 2024.

Electric Vehicle EV sales registered a growth of 45% with sales increasing from 20,153 units in October 2023 to 29,308 units in October 2024.

International Business The Companys total exports registered a growth of 9% with sales increasing from 87,952 units in October 2023 to 95,708 units in October 2024. Two-wheeler exports registered a growth of 16% with sales increasing from 75,653 units in October 2023 to 87,670 units in October 2024.

Three-Wheeler Three-wheeler registered sales of 10,856 units in October 2024 as against 14,104 units in October 2023.

Talking about TVS Motor Company, it is is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer globally, championing progress through sustainable mobility with four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in India and Indonesia.

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First Published: November 02, 2024, 12:29 IST
Swiggy IPO to Open on Wednesday: GMP, Price, Lot Size, All You Need to Know

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 15:52 IST

Unlisted shares of Swiggy Ltd are currently trading just Rs 22 higher in the grey market, signalling a 5.64 per cent listing gain from the public issue.

The Swiggy IPO will be available for subscription between November 6 and November 8.

Swiggy IPO: Food and grocery delivery major Swiggy will launch its initial public offering (IPO) on Wednesday or November 6, 2024. The Rs 11,300-crore IPO will be concluded on November 8. The price band of the IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 371 to Rs 390 apiece. According to market observers, the grey market activity currently suggests a muted interest in the IPO as Swiggys unlisted shares are currently trading at just a 5.64 per cent premium.

Swiggy IPO: Opening Date, Allotment, Listing

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The Swiggy IPO will be available for public subscription between November 6 and November 8. The allotment will be finalised on November 11 and shares listing will take place on both BSE and NSE on November 13.

Also Read: Niva Bupa Health Insurance IPO: Opening Date, Size, Financials, All You Need to Know

Swiggy IPO: Price Band and Lot Size

The price band of the IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 371 to Rs 390 apiece.

A lot size has been fixed as 38 shares. Retail investors need to apply for a minimum of one lot comprising 38 shares, or in multiple of 38 shares thereof.

The minimum lot size investment for small NII is 14 lots (532 shares), amounting to Rs 2,07,480, and for big NII, it is 68 lots (2,584 shares), amounting to Rs 10,07,760.

Swiggy IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Swiggy Ltd are currently trading just Rs 22 higher in the grey market than its issue price. The Rs 22 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 5.64 per cent listing gain from the public issue.

The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Swiggy IPO More Details

Big investors including Norways sovereign wealth fund Norges and Fidelity have placed bids worth more than $15 billion in the Swiggy IPO, 25 times the $605 million portion reserved for such investors, according to Reuters.

Swiggy is one of the most valued new-age consumer brands to tap the Indian capital market. The companys Rs 11,300-crore IPO is a combination of fresh issue of shares worth Rs 4,500 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of Rs 6,800 crore, they added.

Those selling shares in the OFS route are  Accel India IV (Mauritius) Ltd, Apoletto Asia Ltd, Alpha Wave Ventures, LP, Coatue PE Asia XI LLC, DST EuroAsia V B.V, Elevation Capital V Ltd, Inspired Elite Investments Ltd, MIH India Food Holdings B.V, Norwest Venture Partners VII-A Mauritius and Tencent Cloud Europe B.V.

Early investors like Accel, Elevation Capital and Norwest Ventures are making up to 35 times in returns on the portion they decided to sell. On the other hand, SoftBank continues to stay invested.

Going by the IPO papers, proceeds from the fresh issue to the tune of Rs 137.41 crore will be used for debt payment of subsidiary Scootsy.

Additionally, Rs 982.40 crore will be invested in Scootsy for expanding the Dark Store network in the quick commerce segment, with Rs 559.10 crore allocated for setting up dark stores and Rs 423.30 crore for lease or licence payments.

The company will also invest Rs 586.20 crore in technology and cloud infrastructure, Rs 929.50 crore for brand marketing and business promotion, and funds will be allocated for inorganic growth and general corporate purposes.

Founded in 2014, Swiggy had a valuation of nearly USD 13 billion in April. The companys annual revenue stood at USD 1.09 billion as on March 31, 2023, and has more than 4,700 employees, according to Tracxn, a global startup data platform.

Swiggys confidential offer document was approved by Sebi in September and following this updated draft papers were filed.

The company filed its offer document on April 30 through the confidential pre-filing route.

Under the confidential filing process, Sebi reviews confidential DRHP and provides comments on it. Thereafter, the company going public is required to file an update to the confidential DRHP (UDRHP-I) after incorporating the regulators comments. This UPDRHP-I is made available for public comments over 21 days.

Finally, after incorporating the changes due to public comments, the company is required to update the DRHP-II (UDRHP-II).

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In April, sources had previously stated that Swiggy received shareholders approval for an IPO to raise Rs 10,414 crore through issue of fresh equity shares and an offer for sale.

A special resolution was passed at an extraordinary general meeting of Swiggy on April 23, they stated.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 15:52 IST
'Would Seek Legal Recourse': Congress's Counter-Response To Poll Body On Haryana Elections

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 09:39 IST

The Congress party submitted a counter-response to the Election Commission, criticizing its "generic" dismissal of rigging complaints in the Haryana polls and stating it would pursue legal action. The party accused the ECI of condescension and bias in handling complaints.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh (Photo: PTI)

Days after the Election Commission rejected Congresss allegations of rigging in the Haryana Assembly polls, the party, on November 1, submitted a counter-response to the poll body, saying it would seek a legal recourse" against the poll body. The party also described the Election Commissions initial reply as generic" and focused on dismissing the complaints and their petitioners. The Congresss letter also stated the Election Commission has given a clean chit to itself.

The letter was shared by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on his official X handle, captioned, The ECI gave a non-reply to Congresss specific complaints in 20 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in Haryana. Here is the INCs response to this non-reply."

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Not surprisingly, the ECI has given a clean chit to itself. Ordinarily, we would have left it there. However, the tone and tenor of the ECIs response, the language used, and the accusations levelled against the INC compel us to submit this counter-response," the letter read.

Criticising the pattern" outlined by the ECI in Paragraph 8 of its reply, the Congress called it disingenuous" and said, The majority of issues raised concern the period between the announcement of the Model Code of Conduct and the end of the election, i.e., the date of counting."

Grievances arise quickly, often within minutes, and sometimes only become apparent once results are declared or information from other booths can be compared. If not addressed on the ground, these issues become moot, leaving only the option of an Election Petition, which is a lengthy process that can take years to resolve," it stated.

The party added, We approach the ECI with whatever information we possess, and the ECI, with its vast resources, examines and reviews this information to assess its accuracy. Often, the ECI finds our information correct; at other times, it does not. Yet we refrain from naming and shaming the ECI after the election concludes."

Second, the recent tone of the Commissions communications to the INC is a matter that we refuse to take lightly anymore. Every reply from the ECI now seems to be laced with ad-hominem attacks on either individual leaders or the party itself. The INCs communications confine themselves to issues and are written with a regard for the high office of the CEC and his brother Commissioners," the letter, signed by nine senior leaders including KC Venugopal, Ashok Gehlot and Ajay Maken, stated.

However, the ECIs reply are written in a tone that is condescending. If the current ECIs goal is to strip itself of the last vestiges of neutrality, then it is doing a remarkable job at creating that impression. Judges who write decisions do not attack or demonise the party raising the issues. However, if the ECI persists then we shall have no choice but to seek legal recourse to expunge such remarks (a remedy with which the ECI is familiar since it unsuccessfully sought to do the same with a High Courts unflattering but accurate observations after Covid)," it added.

The Congress also claimed that, despite filing over a hundred complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the ECI has taken action on none, while holding Congresss present and former chiefs to account for their actions or speeches.

As mentioned, it is unsurprising that the ECI has reviewed our complaints and exonerated itself. The response on the fluctuating battery levels of the voting machines is more obfuscating than clarifying. In essence, the ECIs reply is a standard, generic explanation of machine functionality, rather than a specific response to the particular complaints we raised. While our complaints were specific, the ECIs response is generic and focused on dismissing the complaints and the petitioners," the Congress said.

The ECI gave a non-reply to @INCIndias specific complaints in 20 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in Haryana. Here is the INCs response to this non-reply. pic.twitter.com/dX98FkbEvU Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 1, 2024

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On October 29, the Election Commission had categorically rejected the Congresss allegations, including concerns about the battery levels of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), describing them as baseless, misplaced, and devoid of facts."

Congress had claimed that their party was winning on EVMs with 60-70 per cent battery charge but was losing on those showing a 99 per cent charge.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 09:39 IST
Sunil Kedars Support For Rebel Candidates Shakes Nagpur Congress Unity Ahead Of Maharashtra Polls

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 14:28 IST

Party insiders argue that Kedars influence among the rebels, combined with his tacit endorsement of their candidacies, poses a serious challenge to the Congresss efforts to maintain unity

While Sunil Kedar has been a prominent Congress leader in Vidarbha, the recent acts of rebellion by his loyalists have cast doubts on his leadership within the party. (PTI)

The Congress is facing fresh internal conflicts in the lead-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections  this time in the Nagpur region.

Veteran Congress leader Sunil Kedar has been accused of supporting rebel candidates against the partys official nominees in Nagpurs key constituencies, triggering discontent among local Congress workers. Concerned by this turn of events, Nagpurs Congress candidates have escalated the matter to the party high command, even appealing to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to intervene and discipline Kedar.

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Kedars supporters have reportedly stirred up rebellion in four significant constituencies in Nagpur district. In Ramtek, former minister and Nagpur Congress district president Rajendra Mulak has filed his nomination, challenging Maha Vikas Aghadis official candidate Vishal Barbate. Known as a close ally of Kedar, Mulaks candidacy was openly endorsed by Kedar himself who, along with MP Shyamsunder Barve and Rashmi Barve, attended Mulaks nomination process.

Similarly, in Umred, Kailas Chute, who serves as the chairman of the Zilla Parishad and is also aligned with Kedar, has entered the fray against the MVAs official Congress candidate Sanjay Meshram.

In Hingna, former Zilla Parishad chairperson and Kedar supporter Ujjwala Bodhare has filed her nomination, directly opposing NCPs Ramesh Bang, the MVAs designated candidate. In West Nagpur, Narendra Jichkar, a close ally of Kedar, has defied the party line to contest against Congress Vikas Thakre, the official candidate in this constituency.

The ongoing rebellion has sparked a wave of internal strife in Nagpur Congress. Despite having finalised official candidates through the MVA coalition, Kedars followers have raised the banner of revolt, undermining the partys unity. Observers believe that such infighting, particularly in a critical district like Nagpur, could adversely affect the Grand Old Partys chances in the upcoming elections and potentially strain the coalition dynamics within the MVA.

Following the outbreak of internal dissent, questions are emerging about the partys leadership and its ability to manage factionalism. The decision of Kedars supporters to defy the official candidate list has led to concerns about the lack of cohesion in the partys ranks. Party insiders suggest that if Kedars actions are left unchecked, this rift could widen, resulting in long-term damage to Congresss organisational strength in Vidarbha.

While Kedar has been a prominent Congress leader in Vidarbha, the recent acts of rebellion by his loyalists have cast doubts on his leadership within the party. His support for rival candidates against the Congresss official nominees has raised alarm and caused friction within the ranks. Party insiders argue that Kedars influence among the rebels, combined with his tacit endorsement of their candidacies, poses a serious challenge to the Congresss efforts to maintain unity. If the Congress leadership refrains from taking corrective action, it risks sending a message of leniency towards factionalism, which could impact party discipline adversely.

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Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, in a press conference held in Mumbai, said Kedar is with the party and working for it", suggesting that there is no need for action against him.

As Congress attempts to maintain cohesion in the strategically significant Vidarbha region, it will need to navigate these internal disruptions carefully. The leaderships next steps will be closely watched, as a decisive approach to Kedars conduct could prevent further fragmentation. Without intervention, however, Congresss image and electoral performance in the region may suffer, possibly weakening the partys footing in Maharashtra. It would be interesting to see how Congress dictates Kedar to make his loyalists withdraw their candidature and work for the official MVA candidate.

Location : Nagpur, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 14:28 IST
What's The Stand Of Sena (UBT) On Womens Respect: Shaina NC

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 19:09 IST

Shaina also questioned the silence of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, including Supriya Sule of NCP (SP) and Priyanka Chaturvedi of Sena (UBT).

Shaina NC

Shiv Sena candidate from Mumbais Mumbadevi assembly constituency Shaina NC on Saturday demanded to know the official stand of Shiv Sena (UBT) on womens respect, referring to its MP Arvind Sawants alleged derogatory remarks against her.

Under pressure, Arvind Sawant apologised after 30 hours, while (his party colleague) Sanjay Raut justifies me being dismissed as an imported maal," Shaina told a press conference.

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Shaina, formerly with the BJP, claimed that her rival candidate from Congress Amin Patel laughed when Sawant made the objectionable" comment.

Would he react the same way if the remark was directed at a woman from his religion or community," she asked. Sena (UBT) should spell out its stand on womens respect, she said.

Sawant on Saturday apologised for his alleged insulting remark targeted at Shaina, a day after a case was registered against him in this connection.

Shaina said she was a ladki bahin" (dear sister) to Sawant when he contested the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat in 2014, much before the division in the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena.

I campaigned for him extensively in south Mumbai and Mumbadevi and now I am called an imported maal. I am a resident of south Mumbai and Mumbadevi is my mothers home," she said.

If an apology has to be given, it should be to goddess Mumbadevi. I am her daughterI will fight and win," she said.

Shaina also questioned the silence of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, including Supriya Sule of NCP (SP) and Priyanka Chaturvedi of Sena (UBT). The cause of women is bigger than party politics. I have always stood by women irrespective of party politics," she said.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Congress are partners of Uddhav Thackeray-headed Sena (UBT) in the opposition bloc MVA.

(Congress leader) Priyanka Gandhi says Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon (I am a girl and I can fight). Why are the opposition leaders quiet now? Why are Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and Nana Patole (of Congress) not reacting," she asked.

If Sanjay Raut claims that Sawant didnt say anything wrong, what is the official stand of Sena (UBT) and MVA on womens respect, she asked.

Maal is objectification. It means you are the property of someone," she said, adding that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, has empowered women through the Ladki Bahin scheme.

In Mumbadevi, there are 40,000 beneficiaries of whom 15,000 are Muslims, she said.

The Sena candidate said discourse should be on issues in an election. What has happened to Kamathipura redevelopment, redevelopment of chawls and cluster redevelopment (in Mumbadevi)," she asked.

She also wondered if Sena (UBT) leader and former state minister Aaditya Thackeray, who lives in Bandra and contests from Worli, is not an outsider.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said in Baramati in Pune district that he didnt think there was any personal attack, referring to the controversy. However, one should take care while talking," he advised.

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Outside Maharashtra, MP Misa Bharti of RJD, Sena (UBT)s opposition INDIA bloc partner, also voiced disapproval of Sawants alleged derogatory remarks against Shaina.

Political differences aside, no offensive remarks should be made about a woman, even if she happens to be a rival," said Bharti, who is also the eldest daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 19:09 IST
Action Will Be Taken Under Established Procedures: MEA On Anmol Bishnoi Case

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 21:45 IST

The proposal was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs after the US authorities informed Mumbai police about his presence in their country

Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi | File Image

In the wake of Mumbai police seeking extradition of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnois younger brother Anmol, the external affairs ministry on Saturday said these matters come under legal domain and so action will be taken under established procedures.

The proposal was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs after the US authorities informed Mumbai police about his presence in their country, a senior police official said in Mumbai on Saturday.

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Anmol Bishnoi has been named as an accused in some high-profile crimes, including the Baba Siddique murder case.

"You spoke about Anmol Bishnoi. Investigation is underway. Probe is in progress. These matters come under legal domain. And, since these things come under legal domain, so under established procedures, action will be taken on this issue," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in Delhi.

He was asked if the US has shared any details on the brother of Lawrence Bishnoi for extradition.

Last month, the Mumbai polices crime branch moved the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court here stating that it intends to "initiate the extradition procedure of fugitive criminal Anmol Bishnoi".

It filed an affidavit "for further necessary action", which was allowed by the special court.

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The Mumbai police have sent the proposal for Anmol Bishnois extradition to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which will then be forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the police official said.

Both Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi, who hail from Fazilka in Punjab, have been named as wanted accused in the April 14 firing incident outside the Bollywood actor Salman Khans Galaxy Apartment in Mumbais Bandra area.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 21:45 IST
DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania on Friday inaugurated the "Angel of Life" Midwifery Training Center, the first of its kind in the country, aimed at reducing infant mortality rates.

The inauguration ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's port city, was jointly organized by the Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association and Wenzhou Medical University of China.

Yang Qingjiu, vice governor of China's Zhejiang Province, along with a Chinese delegation, senior officials from the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, and board members of the Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association attended the event.

Joseph Kahama, secretary general of the Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association, expressed gratitude to China for establishing the midwifery training center, saying that it would contribute to lowering infant mortality rates.

"Midwives trained at the center will be able to assist pregnant women who cannot afford the funding and transport needed to reach health centers for delivery," Kahama said, adding that pregnant women in remote rural areas often have to travel long distances to access healthcare services.

According to the Ministry of Health, Tanzania's infant mortality rate in 2024 is projected to be 33.021 deaths per 1,000 live births, down 3.36 percent from 2023.

Dong Qixin, chief executive officer and general coordinator of the "Angel of Life" African Midwifery Training Program, said that Chinese doctors will provide training for midwives in Tanzania, with 20 to 30 midwives trained per session. 
'Aim To Deepen Our Collaboration': PM Modi, Greece Counterpart Review Bilateral Ties

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 11:33 IST

Modi and his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis have appreciated the momentum in bilateral ties following recent highlevel exchanges

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, August 25, 2023. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone call with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis Friday and expressed appreciation for the momentum in bilateral ties following recent high-level exchanges.

An official statement said on Saturday that the two leaders reiterated their firm commitment to further strengthening the India-Greece strategic partnership. In his call to Modi, Mitsotakis warmly congratulated him on his re-election in the general elections.

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Yesterday, had a productive conversation with PM @kmitsotakis, reaffirming our shared commitment to strengthening the India-Greece Strategic Partnership. Together, we aim to deepen our collaboration across trade, defence, shipping and connectivity. Greece is a valued partner for Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 2, 2024

Yesterday, had a productive conversation with PM @kmitsotakis, reaffirming our shared commitment to strengthening the India-Greece Strategic Partnership. Together, we aim to deepen our collaboration across trade, defence, shipping and connectivity. Greece is a valued partner for India within the EU as well," Modi said in a post on X.

They reviewed the progress in a number of areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade, defence, shipping and connectivity, in a follow-up to Mitsotakiss visit to India earlier this year. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of interest, including the IMEEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) and developments in West Asia, the statement said.

Strategic Partnership

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After PM Modis official visit to the Hellenic Republic last August, both sides agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership" and to further expand cooperation in the political, security, and economic spheres. During this visit, both leaders shared their vision for a free, open, and rules-based Mediterranean Sea and Indo-Pacific.

According to a joint statement, both leaders noted that the EU and India represent the largest democratic and free market spaces in the world, agreeing that deepening EU-India relations would be mutually beneficial and positively impact the globe. The two Prime Ministers had also expressed strong support for the ongoing India-EU trade and investment negotiations and the early implementation of the India-EU Connectivity Partnership.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 11:17 IST
Amid Bomb Threats, Ammunition Cartridge Found On Air India Dubai To Delhi Flight

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 19:44 IST

An ammunition cartridge was found on an Air India flight from Dubai to Delhi, amid a series of hoax bomb threats affecting flights and airports across India.

Air India flight (Photo: PTI)

An ammunition cartridge was found inside the pocket of a seat on an Air India flight from Dubai to Delhi on October 27. A complaint was later registered in connection with the case with the airport police.

Confirming the incident, a spokesperson for the airline said, One ammunition cartridge was found in the pocket of a seat of our flight AI916 after it had landed from Dubai at Delhi on 27 October 2024 and all passengers had safely disembarked."

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A complaint was immediately lodged with the Airport Police by Air India strictly adhering to the laid down security protocols," the spokesperson added.

Police said that they are investigating the security breach and said that an FIR was filed under the Arms Act.

This comes amid a spate of hoax bomb threats to several flights, airports and other establishments across the country over the past few days.

On October 30, a message claiming a bomb had been placed on Air Indias flight from Delhi to Mumbai via Indore was posted on a social media platform which later turned out to be a hoax.

Later, the Indore police in Madhya Pradesh registered a case in this connection against an unidentified person.

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In the last two weeks, more than 510 domestic and international flights received bomb threats that later turned out to be hoaxes, causing major operational and financial distress for the airlines.

Most of the threats were issued through social media.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 13:21 IST
Central Intelligence Warns Of Threat To Devendra Fadnavis' Life; Security Cover Upgraded

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 15:01 IST

Citing threats from certain groups, the intelligence agencies issued two consecutive alerts regarding a potential risk to the BJP leader's life.

Security cover of Devendra Fadnavis was upgraded following the intel | Image/File

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Central intelligence agencies warned of a potential threat to the life of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, prompting the authorities to buttress his Z plus security cover with ex-Force One personnel.

The intercepted communications by the intelligence teams suggested the threat to the BJP leaders life, according to highly-placed sources in the state home department.

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Without specifying any groups, they said they are investigating the nature and extent of the potential threats, and urged Fadnavis to exercise caution.

Ex-Force One Commandos Deployed

Earlier, the state police upgraded the security of Fadnavis with 12 ex-Force One commandos as a precautionary measure, citing security reasons in view of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election.

Fadnavis enjoys Z plus security cover at present, which is taken care of by the Maharashtra polices Special Protection Unit, said officials.

The intelligence revealed that some groups are preparing a planned attack on Fadnavis ahead of the state election. In response, the state police conducted a thorough review of his security arrangements and increased it accordingly, said sources.

They added that the extended security measures have been put in place at the BJP leaders official residence in Mumbai and his residence in Nagpur. It will be present during his public engagements too, they said.

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The Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 will take place on November 20, while the votes for all 288 seats will be counted three days later, on November 23.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 14:49 IST
Elephant Deaths in Bandhavgarh: Centre, MP Govt Initiate Parallel Inquiries

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 21:47 IST

The Union Environment Ministry said in a statement that the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has set up a team to investigate the elephant deaths.

he Madhya Pradesh government has also formed a five-member committee. (Representative image)

The Union government has initiated an inquiry into the death of 10 elephants in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh this week.

Four wild elephants were found dead in Sankhani and Bakeli under the Khitoli range of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on October 29, with four more dying on October 30 and two the next day. Preliminary reports from Madhya Pradesh officials suggest that the elephants may have died due to poisoning.

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The Union Environment Ministry said in a statement that the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has set up a team to investigate the elephant deaths.

The Madhya Pradesh government has also formed a five-member committee, led by the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), to look into the incident.

The head of the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) is also investigating the matter. The STSF has been searching the forests and nearby villages and is conducting an in-depth inquiry into the incident, the statement said.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh is currently in Bandhavgarh to oversee the investigation and ensure that appropriate actions are taken.

The additional director general of forests (Project Tiger and Elephant), member secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, and AIG NTCA, Nagpur, visited the sites to discuss with state officials the issues and causes of the elephant deaths.

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State wildlife officials said the actual cause of death will be confirmed after a thorough investigation, detailed postmortem findings, and results from histopathological and toxicological analyses, along with other supporting evidence.

In the meantime, state officials have implemented preventive measures to ensure similar incidents do not recur while monitoring of other elephant herds in and around Bandhavgarh Reserve has been intensified.

Location : Bhopal, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 21:47 IST
India Accuses Canada Of Harassing Its Diplomats Through Audio, Video Surveillance

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 19:30 IST

Responding to a query during a media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said India has 'formally protested' to the Canadian government

Ministry Of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. (File Photo)

India on Saturday accused Canada of indulging in harassment and intimidation" of Indian consular staff there by putting them under audio and video surveillance in flagrant violation" of diplomatic conventions.

Responding to a query during a media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said India has formally protested" to the Canadian government.

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He was asked about reports claiming that many Indian diplomats in Canada were allegedly under surveillance amid the diplomatic standoff.

Yes, some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continued to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government, as we deem these actions to be in flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions" Jaiswal told reporters.

the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation," he alleged.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeaus allegations in September last year of a potential" involvement of Indian agents in Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjars killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd".

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

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India has expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrawn its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other targeted" officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawas charges.

Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian government aggravates the situation, and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices," Jaiswal said.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 18:41 IST
Indo-China Border: Verification Patrolling Begins In Ladakh's Demchok & Depsang, Says MEA

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 21:48 IST

The development came days after India and China arrived at a border patrolling pact to disengage from the two friction points along the LAC.

Indian and Chinese Army personnel exchange sweets on the Diwali festival, at a border point along LAC. (PTI)

The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday confirmed that the verification patrolling has commenced on mutually agreed terms along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Demchok and Depsang in Eastern Ladakh.

The development came 10 days after India and China arrived at a border patrolling pact to disengage from the two friction points along the LAC.

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MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his weekly press briefing said, On October 21, 2024, the last phase of disengagement was agreed upon between India and China. As a result, verification patrolling has commenced on mutually agreed terms in Demchok and Depsang. We will keep you updated."

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, On October 21, 2024, the last phase of disengagement was agreed upon between India and China. As a result, verification patrolling has commenced on mutually agreed terms in Demchok and Depsang" pic.twitter.com/DnufX4M8a1 ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024

Earlier on Friday, the Indian Army sources had confirmed that coordinated patrolling" began in the Demchok area and would soon commence in the Depsang Plains.

The MEA spokesperson further elaborated that relevant dialogue mechanisms at the level of foreign ministers and other officials will be used to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations."

Earlier, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had said that the foreign ministers and national security advisors (NSAs) of India and China would meet to decide on the fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the border issue.

At a meeting in Russias Kazan on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit on October 23, two days after the Indian governments announcement of the border patrolling pact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping had welcomed the agreement between their countries on patrolling along the LAC as part of a process they hoped would eventually lead to disengagement and de-escalation.

In a breakthrough development, India had announced that it had reached an agreement with China on patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. The agreement is anticipated to ease patrolling in the Depsang and Demchok areas, where major issues remained unresolved.

Jaishankar had said that Indian and Chinese soldiers will resume patrolling as they did before the 2020 border face-off.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said that the agreement between the two countries was finalised after several weeks of negotiations and would help resolve the issues that arose in 2020.

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Ties between the two Asian giants nosedived following a fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, marking the most serious military conflict between them in decades.

(With inputs from ANI)

First Published: November 02, 2024, 21:14 IST
Three Terrorists Killed In Jammu & Kashmir In Separate Encounters, Top LeT Commander Gunned Down

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 22:05 IST

Security forces killed two terrorists in a brief encounter in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, two CRPF jawans and two policemen were injured in a separate encounter in Srinagar.

Encounter underway in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (Photo: PTI)

Three terrorists were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Two terrorists were killed in Anantnag while one terrorist was killed in Khanyar, near Srinagar.

Sources speaking to News18 said that a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander was killed in the encounter in Khanyar. The suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, identified as Osman  also known by the aliases Lashkar Ilyas and Chota Waleed  was likely a foreign national. His body was taken by the authorities for further identification and investigation.

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Reportedly, the security personnel were tracking the movement of foreign terrorists in the area when an encounter broke out and subsequently, the two terrorists were killed. They said more terrorists could be present in the area.

Later in a press conference held by Brigadier Anirudh Chauhan of the Indian Army and Javid Iqbal Matoo, DIG South Kashmir, of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police respectively, said that the terrorists neutralised had killed a security personnel and non-local labourer.

We had inputs about the presence of PAFF group terrorists. On October 8, in the Sheikhpora area they killed Rifleman Hilal and then shifted to Kulgam," the officers said. They said that the terrorists were identified as Zahid Rashid from Bijbehara and Arbaz Ahmed Mir of Qaimoh, Kulgam.

They were responsible for many attacks and killings. One of the terrorists, Arbaz Mir, had gone to Pakistan in 2018 and stayed there for a long time and returned in 2022-2023 after receiving training," they said.

The officials, however, said that they apprehended and killed two terrorists in the encounter in Anantnag.

Big Anti-Terror Op In Jammu

On Saturday morning, the security forces launched one of the biggest anti-terror operations in over 30 locations across the Jammu region.

The search operations were underway in the Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, and Rajouri areas.

#GOC #WhiteKnightCorps along with #GOC CIF# Romeo visited #Songri #Rajouri sector to review the security situation and operational preparedness.GOC underscored the need for unwavering commitment in maintaining peace and security in the region.@adgpi@NorthernComd_IA pic.twitter.com/NC1eeIGIQe  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) November 2, 2024

Terror Activities Will Be Wiped Out: Rajnath Singh

`

On the recent terror attacks and subsequent encounters, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while speaking to reporters in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur said, This is not an issue of security lapses. Compared to earlier times, attacks have been reduced."

Our security forces are on alert, such a situation will come that from there (Jammu and Kashmir), terror activities will be fully wiped out and the Union Territory will develop fast. The attacks that happened were unfortunate, our security forces are giving befitting replies also, so many terrorists have been killed," he said on Saturday.

The encounters come a day after two labourers from Uttar Pradesh were shot at by terrorists in Budgam district on the evening of November 1.

On October 29, security forces gunned down two terrorists holed up in a forest area near a village in the Akhnoor sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Terming the operation successful", General Officer Commanding of the 10 Infantry Division Maj Gen Sameer Srivastava said the terrorists had come for a major strike". We were ready as we were getting information continuously. They were encircled in an area and we used technology for surveillance, including unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence," he added.

Maj Gen Srivastava said the terrorists had moved into the area from the hinterland intending to target a security convoy but swift action thwarted their conspiracy.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 10:46 IST
Kolkata App Biker Harasses Woman Doctor For Cancelling Ride, Held

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 22:24 IST

The accused was slapped with different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment, outraging a womans modesty and criminal intimidation, he said.

The accused was arrested within a few hours of the victim filing the complaint. (Representative image)

A woman doctor of a private hospital in Kolkata lodged a police complaint on Saturday accusing an app biker of sending her pornographic videos after she cancelled the booking since he was getting too late, an officer said.

The accused was arrested within a few hours of the victim filing the complaint.

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The accused was slapped with different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment, outraging a womans modesty and criminal intimidation, he said.

The doctor, associated with a private medical facility in the southern part of the citys Jadavpur area, booked the app bike at 8 pm from the hospital.

Initial probe revealed that the accused app-biker had called the doctor at least 17 times and sent her sexually explicit content on WhatsApp after she cancelled her booking, the officer said.

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The rider also allegedly threatened her with dire consequences.

"The doctor first filed an e-complaint with the Police Commissioner and the Joint CP Crime. She also sent an email to the cyber cell before lodging a complaint with the Purba Jadavpur Police Station," the officer said.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 22:24 IST
Manipur Police Constable Shoots Sub-Inspector Dead After Verbal Spat, Arrested

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 23:28 IST

A police official said in Imphal that the incident occurred at Mongbung village police post, an area currently under heightened security due to ongoing violence in the region.

The exact reasons and circumstances leading to the shooting still remain unclear, with authorities investigating the motives behind this deadly act. (Representative image)

A Manipur Police constable in Jiribam district fatally shot his senior colleague, a Sub-Inspector rank police officer, on Saturday after a verbal spat over some issue, officials said.

Police have yet to find out the reason for the spat behind the killing.

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The accused constable was immediately arrested by the other policemen.

A police official said in Imphal that the incident occurred at Mongbung village police post, an area currently under heightened security due to ongoing violence in the region.

Quoting preliminary reports from the area, the official said that police constable Bikramjit Singh allegedly opened fire, at point-blank rage, with his service rifle on Sub-Inspector Shah Jahan, who died on the spot. The two were said to have had an altercation earlier on Saturday.

The exact reasons and circumstances leading to the shooting still remain unclear, with authorities investigating the motives behind this deadly act.

The deceased Sub-Inspector was a resident of Yaripok Tulihal in Thoubal district and posted at Mongbung village police post under Jiribam police station. The accused police constable was of Naharup Pangong Makhong in Imphal East district.

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After the incident, senior officials from the Jiribam police station arrived at the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. The accused constable will be interrogated to ascertain the facts surrounding the shooting and to take appropriate action.

Police officials said that a large number of Manipur Police personnel had been stationed in Mongbung village to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of residents amid escalating tensions in the district. The mixed-populated Jiribam district, adjoining southern Assam, has witnessed several incidents of violence this year. The overall situation in the district had been relatively peaceful even after ethnic violence broke out in many districts of the northeastern state since May last year.

Location : Imphal, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 23:28 IST
Pakistan MP Abdul Rehman Attends INLD's Diwali Event In Haryana Village

Published By :

IANS

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 07:33 IST

The INLD's felicitation ceremony in Chautala village celebrated the victory of Arjun and Aditya Chautala in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, with Pakistani MP Abdul Rehman Kanju attending as a special guest.

Pakistani Parliamentarian Abdul Rehman Kanju (IANS)

A felicitation ceremony of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to mark the victory of its two legislators in the Haryana Assembly elections 2014, both hailing from the Chautala family saw the participation of Pakistani Parliamentarian Abdul Rehman Kanju.

The event, coinciding with Diwali celebrations turned many heads and also set tongues wagging among locals particularly youth as they curiously discussed the attendance of a Pakistani lawmaker in an event organised at the popular Chautala village in Sirsa.

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The party also shared on its social media handle how Chautala residents held a grand reception for the chief guest of the event  Pakistani politician Abdul Rehman Kanju.

The felicitation ceremony was organised to celebrate the resurgence of INLD in Haryana politics and also to mark the Chautala clan taking on the mantle of its ancestors. In the 2019 elections, INLD was completely decimated with just Abhay Singh Chautala securing his seat; however, in the 2024 elections, the partys vote share has seen modest gains. Arjun Chautala won Rania Assembly seat and Aditya Devilal Chautala won Dabwali, both with a margin of about 50,000 votes.

Abdul Rehman Kanju thanked the residents of Chautala village for giving a warm reception and said that he was overwhelmed with their love and warmth.

Recalling his ancestral links to a village near Punjab, he said that he lost his father at an early age and talked about the support he got from the Chautala family.

He expressed gratitude to the family for supporting him through the difficult phases of life and said that the Chautala family has been committed to peoples welfare for many decades and continues to do so till date.

He also extended Diwali greetings to all the villagers and prayed for the long life of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.

I appeal to the youth to always respect their elders as they are our guiding force," he said addressing the crowd.

The INLD also issued an official statement on last evenings felicitation Diwali function and said that the chief guest from Pakistan made the event more special.

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The hearts of all the villagers and our family member and MP Abdul Rehman Saheb, who came as the chief guest from Pakistan on this special occasion, for the felicitation ceremony organised to welcome Aditya Devi Lal and Arjun Singh Chautala on the land of our ancestral village Chautala yesterday evening, express our deepest gratitude. His participation in the event has made it all the more special.

Notably, Chautala village in Haryanas Sirsa district has been home to as many as five Members of Parliament, 14 MLAs and a Deputy Prime Minister.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 07:33 IST
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A total of 198 people were killed and 111 others injured in separate terrorist attacks in Pakistan during October, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank said on Saturday.

Despite a slight reduction in the overall number of militant attacks, the month emerged as the second deadliest month of the year, followed by August when 254 people were killed and 150 others injured in such incidents, the data released by PICSS noted.

The killed included 89 militants, 62 security personnel, and 38 civilians whereas 56 civilians, 44 security forces personnel, and 11 militants were injured in the attacks.

The previous month also recorded the highest number of fatalities of militants and security forces, with combatants accounting for 81 percent of the total deaths, the think tank said.

The PICSS data show that although the militant attacks decreased by 12 percent with 68 incidents recorded in October, the overall death toll surged by 77 percent compared to September.

The report also highlighted that 87 percent of the attacks were concentrated in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, followed by 24 incidents in the southwestern Balochistan province, while the remaining attacks occurred in other regions across the South Asian country.

"Pakistan has endured a total of 785 militant attacks during the first 10 months of 2024, resulting in 951 deaths and 966 injuries, reflecting a persistently high level of violence across the country," the think tank added. 
'Rs 100 Crore': This Is What Prashant Kishor Charges For Giving Advice In One Election

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 12:30 IST

Prashant Kishor has said he charges a minimum of Rs 100 crore for election strategy consulting. He also said governments in 10 different states are running on his strategies.

Prashant Kishor (Photo: PTI)

Ahead of the upcoming by-elections on four assembly seats in Bihar, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has revealed he charges a minimum of Rs 100 crore as fee for advising any political party or leader as an election strategist. The revelation came while the political strategist-turned-activist was addressing a gathering in Bihars Belaganj on October 31.

He also asserted no one charges a fee equivalent to him in the entire Bihar, also claiming that the government of nearly 10 states are running on the strategies formulated by him.

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Do you think I wont have enough money to set up tents and canopies for my campaign? Do you think Im that weak? In Bihar, no one has heard of fees like mine. If I advise someone in just one election, my fee is Rs 100 crore or even more," Kishor said.

For the next two years, I can continue to fund my campaign with just one such election advice," he added.

Government in 10 different states are running on my strategies," Prashant Kishor told the gathering.

A day before, on October 30, Kishor had urged the people of Bihar to give up supporting political parties in the name of jaat (caste) and bhaat (free ration), blaming the voting behaviour for the states chronic backwardness.

For the upcoming by-elections, Mohammad Amjad is Jan Suraajs candidate from Belaganj, Jitendra Paswan from Imamganj, Sushil Kumar Singh Kushwaha from Ramgarh, and Kiran Singh from Tarari.

The by-elections are scheduled for November 13, with results to be declared on November 23. The four seats include Belaganj, Imamganj, Ramgarh, and Tarari.

On October 2, Prashant Kishor officially launched his new political party, Jan Suraaj Party," in Patna.

At the launch event, Kishor said that the party has been active for the past two years and recently received approval from the Election Commission of India.

With the Election Commissions nod, the Jan Suraj Party is now expected to contest in all constituencies in the Bihar assembly elections next year.

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Earlier, Prashant Kishor announced that the party would contest elections on all 243 seats out of which there will be 40 women candidates from the party to be formed.

The assembly elections in Bihar are likely to be held in October-November 2025.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 11:50 IST
Rajasthan Raises Compensation For Farming Accidents That Lead To Spinal Cord Fracture Or Coma

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 13:44 IST

The assistance amount for cases involving spinal cord injuries and head injuries leading to coma due to farming accidents has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh by the state's agriculture department

Assistance under the scheme is provided based on FIR lodged at the local police station and a post-mortem report in cases of death. (Local18)

The Rajasthan government has raised the assistance amount under the Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Sathi Sahayata scheme for farmers who suffer accidents while farming, resulting in limb fractures or fatalities. The assistance amount for cases involving spinal cord injuries and head injuries leading to coma due to farming accidents has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh by the states agriculture department.

The Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Sathi Sahayata Yojana, initiated in 2009 and amended in 2013-14, provides assistance to farmers, agricultural labourers, and porters. The scheme offers support in case of death or disability resulting from accidents during agricultural work.

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The scheme covers accidents leading to death or disability while using agricultural machinery, digging wells during irrigation work or installing a tube-well, and electric shocks while operating tube-wells or damage to power lines crossing fields.

Coverage also includes death while spraying chemicals on crops, fruits, and vegetables in the fields, or accidents involving agricultural machinery in the main mandi yard, sub-mandi yards, and purchase centres designated by the state government.

Provision of Up to Rs 2 lakh for Death

Following the recent amendment, assistance of Rs 2 lakh is provided in case of death due to accidents or spinal injuries resulting in coma due to head injuries. Apart from this, the assistance amounts are as follows:

Rs. 50,000 in case of damage to two limbs (both hands, legs, or eyes),

Rs. 40,000 for complete de-scalping of hair,

Rs. 25,000 for partial de-scalping,

Rs. 25,000 for a fracture of one limb (such as an arm or leg),

Rs. 20,000 for the amputation of four fingers.

How to Apply

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The application form must be submitted to the relevant Mandi Samiti office within six months of the accident. Applications received after this period will not be considered.

Assistance under the scheme is provided based on FIR lodged at the local police station and a post-mortem report in cases of death. In the event of limb fractures, a doctors certificate from the local government or private hospital where the treatment was received, along with the treatment slip, must be attached to the claim form.

Location : Rajasthan, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 13:44 IST
'Has Sandip Ghosh's Role Been Probed': Bengal Doctors Question CBI, Announce New Protests

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 07:56 IST

Junior doctors in West Bengal are protesting the alleged slow pace of the CBI's investigation into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, expressing dissatisfaction with the limited scope of the charge sheet.

RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Protest (Photo: PTI)

The West Bengal Junior Doctors Forum on November 1 said they were unhappy with the pace of the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, thus announcing a slew of fresh agitations.

Nearly three months after the incident which happened on August 9, the doctors said they were dissatisfied with the probe agency. Referring to the main accused Sanjoy Roy, they said the charge sheet filed before the Supreme Court in the trainee doctors murder case named only one person as accused, who was arrested by the police before the CBI took over the investigation on a Calcutta High Court order.

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Speaking at a press meet at the RG Kar Hospital, forum spokesperson Debashis Halder said, We will take out a rally in Kolkata on November 9 from College Square to Esplanade along with members of civil society organisations. There will be similar rallies in different parts of West Bengal. We are also giving a call to light lamps at every locality of Bengal on November 4."

The doctors also said a mass convention will be held on November 9 on Rani Rashmoni Avenue in the Esplanade area demanding justice for the murdered medic.

At the press meet, Halder said that the junior doctors feel from media reports that the role of other perpetrators" of the crime has not been fully spelt out in the CBI charge sheet which only named one person directly involved in the crime.

Has the role of other arrested persons including former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh been entirely investigated?" Halder asked.

Ghosh was initially arrested in a related case of financial irregularities at the hospital when he was at the helm there. He, however, was later linked to the rape and murder case.

Voicing dissatisfaction over the pace of the CBI investigation, Halder said that the junior doctors apprehend that such a probe may help the accused get bail.

Why such a routine kind of investigation was held? We wish to know what steps the central agency has undertaken against higher authorities in the hospital and whether the sleuths talked to higher-ups in the health department," Halder said.

He said the junior doctors had organised a rally to the CBI office before Diwali to press for expediting the probe, but given the present situation, they are forced to intensify" their stir.

Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress slammed the junior doctors for resorting to agitation again.

Claiming that the agitation by junior doctors is lacking direction, senior TMC MP Kalyan Bandyopadhyay said, The movement seems to be hijacked by CPI(M) as the junior doctors have no concrete issue any more." The CBI is investigating the RG Kar incident and the case is sub-judice, he said.

What is the point in chalking out one programme after another inconveniencing the common man?" he asked.

JUNIOR DOCTORS HOLD TORCH RALLY IN KOLKATA

On October 30, agitating junior doctors along with common people organised a torch rally in Kolkata, demanding justice for the trainee medic.

Representatives of the West Bengal Junior Doctors Forum and several civil society organisations took out the procession from the West Bengal Medical Councils office in Salt Lakes Sector 3 to the CBIs office at the CGO Complex in Sector 1.

Shouting slogans like We want justice, the participants demanded that the CBI complete its investigation into the rape-murder case quickly.

Its almost three months since the incident happened. The CBI is still investigating the matter. We want them to quicken their probe," one of the agitating doctors said.

At the rally, one of the doctors held a clock in his hand as a symbol to demonstrate that time is passing since the crime took place at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, while others held torches and posters demanding that the ongoing probe by CBI be completed at the earliest.

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The agitating doctors at the end of their rally announced their decision to switch off lights and light diyas on the night of Kali Puja on Thursday (October 31) to unite brothers and sisters.

On August 9, the body of a woman medic was recovered from the seminar hall of the RG Kar Hospital following which the junior doctors went on a cease work across West Bengal demanding justice for the victim and strong security measures in the state-run medical establishments.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 07:56 IST
S Jaishankar To Visit Australia, Singapore From November 3 To 8, Meet Key Leaders

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 14:41 IST

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Australia and Singapore from November 3 to 8 to meet leaders, co-chair the 15th FMFD in Canberra, and address the 8th ASEAN-India Roundtable in Singapore.

EAM S Jaishankar (Photo: PTI)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Australia and Singapore from November 3 to 8 during which he will meet leaders of the two countries and address the 8th Roundtable of ASEAN, an official statement said on Saturday.

Jaishankar will co-chair the 15th Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue (FMFD) with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra, the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

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EAM will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the 2nd Raisina Down Under to be held in the Australian Parliament House. EAM is also scheduled to have interactions with Australian leadership, parliamentarians, members of the Indian diaspora, business community, media and think tanks," it said.

During the visit, Jaishankar will travel to Brisbane and inaugurate Indias fourth consulate in Australia, it added.

At the second India-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue held in Delhi in November last year, both sides had welcomed the positive and increased momentum of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) that helps support the security and prosperity of the region.

On the second leg of the visit, Jaishankar will travel to Singapore on November 8, the statement said.

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During his visit, the minister will address the 8th Roundtable of ASEAN  India Network of Think Tanks. He will also meet the leadership of Singapore to review the close partnership between the two countries and explore avenues to further enhance the bilateral relationship, it said.

Jaishankar last visited Singapore in March.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 14:41 IST
Temples At Stake If Congress Wins, Says Surya As Siddaramaiah Halts Waqf Notices

Published By :

IANS

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 19:05 IST

Surya claimed that more lands belonging to farmers are being named as property of the Waqf board.

Tejasvi Surya said that Congress empowers the Waqf board whenever there are elections. (IMAGE: News18)

BJP National Youth President and MP Tejasvi Surya said on Saturday that all the temples and mutts will be handed over to the Muslims if people will again vote for the Congress.

If votes are given to Congress party for freebies, all our temples, houses, mutts will be handed over to Muslims. If you still vote for the Congress party, there wont be any freebies in future and the Hindu pilgrimage centres like Dharmasthala and Sringeri wont exist," said Surya while addressing media in Bengaluru at BJP headquarters.

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He claimed that more lands of farmers are being named as the Waqf property in the state.

In Karnataka, the Waqf board has claimed more than 50,000 acres of land," he claimed, adding that no one can predict when the farmers lands will be transferred to the Waqf board.

I have brought this matter to the notice of the Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). I have requested the Chairperson to come down to Hubballi and Bengaluru to receive the petitions from farmers. He is likely to visit on November 6 and 7 to the state," he added.

He alleged that as per the instructions of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan is conducting the Waqf Adalats.

Under which law the provision for conducting the Waqf Adalat is made? What is the legal standing for the Waqf Adalat? Which provision of the Constitution allows the Waqf Adalat? The Waqf Adalat is an unconstitutional invention of the Congress party. Until the Congress party stops Waqf Adalats, the BJP will agitate," he said.

He said that many cases of South Indian states have come before the JPC, adding that the Waqf board has claimed the temples which existed before when Islam was born.

Whenever there is an election, the Congress has been empowering the Waqf board," he claimed.

The central government has formed a JPC to amend the Waqf Act. Egypt and Singapore have banned the Waqf. We are not demanding a ban on Waqf. We are also not demanding their lands. Our demand is clear. Let the Waqf keep the land which rightfully belongs to it and it should not claim our lands," he claimed.

He said that Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan had compared the Muzarai and Waqf, adding that all Muzarai temples are under the control of the government.

Why does the Waqf board have no control? Is Minister Zameer ready to bring Waqf under the control of the government? The centre is all set to curtail unlimited power to the Waqf," he said.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday directed officials to immediately retract all notices sent to farmers over Waqf land issues, emphasising that the latter should not be inconvenienced.

The Chief Ministers directions came after a high-level meeting involving senior officials from the Revenue Department, Minority Welfare Department and the Waqf Board.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 19:05 IST
Two Women Devotees Hospitalised After Pot Of Hot Khichdi Falls On Them At Mathura Ashram

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 18:21 IST

Eight more women standing in the queue also suffered minor injuries when the hot khichdi from the utensil splashed onto them

All the injured devotees were rushed to the district hospital, from where two in critical condition were referred to a hospital in Agra. (Representational image via AP)

Two women devotees from West Bengal waiting in a queue for prasad outside an ashram here suffered serious burns after a person serving khichdi slipped and the hot food fell on them, officials said on Saturday.

Eight more women standing in the queue also suffered minor injuries when the hot khichdi from the utensil splashed onto them, they said.

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All the injured devotees were rushed to the district hospital, from where two in critical condition were referred to a hospital in Agra, they added.

The incident took place on Friday at the Gauri Gopal Ashram in Mathuras Vrindavan area, the officials said. Chief Medical Superintendent of the district hospital Dr Vandana Agrawal said the women belonged to a group of devotees who had come from West Bengal on a trip to Vrindavan.

On Friday morning, when all of them reached the Gauri Gopal Ashram located in Parikrama Marg Sant Colony, prasad was being distributed outside. As the devotees queued up to receive khichdi, which is made with rice and lentils, a person carrying the utensil slipped and the hot food fell on the women standing nearby, Dr Agrawal said.

The incident caused panic among the devotees and the 10 injured women were rushed to the hospital, she added.

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According to hospital authorities, two devotees who were seriously injured were immediately referred to SN Medical College in Agra, while the remaining were discharged after first aid treatment.

Aniruddhacharya of Gauri Gopal Ashram said the prasad is distributed to a large number of devotees every day. Fridays incident happened when an employee of the ashram carrying the khichdi slipped.

Location : Mathura, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 18:21 IST
Uncle Rapes, Murders Four-Year-Old Niece In Tirupati, Buries Body In Field

Curated By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 18:02 IST

The man, Nagaraju, lured the child to a field with snacks and then raped and murdered her.

Nagaraju after raping and murdering his four-year-old niece buried her in a field near a government school. (IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/REPRESENTATIVE)

A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered by her distant relative at a village in Tirupati district, said a police official on Saturday.

According to Tirupati district superintendent of police L Subbarayudu, Nagaraju (24), who is the victims maternal uncle, lured the girl to a secluded place in AM Puram village by offering her snacks on Friday evening and committed the crime.

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Nagaraju lives near the girls house and used to play with her everyday. Yesterday (Friday) evening he took her to a shop and bought some snacks. Later, he took her away from her house and sexually assaulted and killed her," he said.

Later, the parents of the girl noticed that she was missing and launched a search for her, and realised that she was last seen with Nagaraju.

They lodged a police complaint over the missing girl.

Following the complaint, the police immediately registered a missing case and took Nagaraju into custody.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime, they said.

Later, police took Nagaraju along to search for the girls body and found it near a government school around 9 pm.

Nagaraju was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and other relevant sections.

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The accused will be produced in a local court on Saturday.

Tirupati SP said they will seek a fast-track court for a speedy trial of the case.

Location : Tirupati, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 18:02 IST
5 Unique Celebrity-Inspired Outfits You Need To Try This Festive Season

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 17:26 IST

Diwali is synonymous with rituals, family gatherings, festive treats and dressing in beautiful ethnic attire.

Sharvari Wagh's lehenga presents a contemporary twist on traditional attire. (Photo: Instagram)

Diwali, one of the most significant Hindu festivals, is celebrated as the festival of lights, symbolising the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. The five-day celebration is steeped in traditions, each day holding its own special significance. Diwali is synonymous with rituals, family gatherings, festive treats and dressing in beautiful ethnic attire. This season is the perfect opportunity to refresh your ethnic wardrobeso why not take inspiration from these unique celebrity styles?

Sharvari Wagh

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Sharvari Waghs lehenga presents a contemporary twist on traditional attire. The skirt features a vibrant blend of blue, green, and mustard yellow, complemented by a wide gold zari-embellished border. She paired it with a stunning sweetheart-neckline golden blouse, complete with puffed sleeves and golden embellishments, along with a matching dupatta.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sharvari  (@sharvari)

Bhumi Pednekar

Bhumi Pednekar is known for her unconventional style, and her latest look is no exception. She donned a bright sweetheart-neckline blouse with full-length sleeves and a structured neckline. The blouse has various multicoloured patterns, which gives it a heavy yet vibrant look. She combined it with a red and white polka dot saree, which was a striking contrast with the bustier.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bhumi Pednekar (@bhumipednekar)

Sonakshi Sinha

For her festive look, Sonakshi looked lovely in a stunning crimson salwar suit with elaborate mirror work, combined with a nicely managed bun and delicately ornamented with a traditional gajra. She also donned sindoor, which further enhanced her look.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona)

Kriti Sanon

Kriti Sanon looked stunning wearing a yellow sequin saree with a pearl-adorned top. Her blouses plunging neckline and backless shape gave the traditional look a sensuous twist. Jhumkis, a mang tika, embroidered juttis and a centre-parted hairstyle rounded out the ensemble.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti (@kritisanon)

Ananya Panday

Ananya Panday wore a handmade Manish Malhotra saree at the designers Diwali bash. She donned a white pearl-embroidered net saree, an embroidered bodycon underskirt, and a bralette shirt with crystal decorations at the back. Ananyas accessories included a bold choker necklace, a maang tika, center-parted loose hairstyle.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ananya  (@ananyapanday)

What outfit are you choosing this festive season?

First Published: November 02, 2024, 17:26 IST
Sonam Kapoor's Tribute To 'Gudda' Rohit Bal: 'Blessed To Have Known You and Worn You And...'

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 13:19 IST

Sonam Kapoor pays a heartfelt homage to Rohit Bal's legacy by wearing his design and sharing treasured memories of their friendship and collaboration.

Sonam Kapoor pays tribute to the legendary Rohit Bal. (Image: Instagram)

Sonam Kapoor, though unfortunately coincidental, was wearing one of Rohit Bals beautiful designs when she received the heartbreaking news of his death while travelling to a Diwali celebration. Sonam thought back on their times together and how much she admired his artistic ability through a heartfelt tribute to the legendary designer on her Instagram page.

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Sonam Kapoors homage to the designer is among the most wholesome tributes any fashionista could have paid for Bal. Sonam Kapoor, a fashion icon in her own right, has worked with Rohit Bal on several occasions and has also walked the runway for his shows. Kapoor paid a moving homage in a recent social media post, and there couldnt have been a more fitting or appropriate manner to do it. Sonam Kapoor wore a gorgeous fusion of Rohit Bals recent and vintage designs for a Diwali party. Sonam wore a golden netted shrug over a white anarkali-style dress. She finished it off by wearing a really stylish piece around her neck that was etched with a 3D rose.

She posted several pictures from his couture. Sonam also shared one of her final conversations with the designer, in which she complimented him on her performance at the most recent Lakme Fashion Week 2024. Love You was Bals last reply to her. Sharing the pictures on Instagram, Kapoor wrote, in Gudda for Diwali. Forever and Ever.  In Rohit Bal Husn-e-Taihrat 2015 Kroshni 2016 Kaynaat 2024.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rhea Kapoor (@rheakapoor)

Manish Malhotra, Ananya Panday, and other Bollywood celebrities paid their respects to Rohit Bal on social media. Ananya, who just had the privilege to serve as Rohit Bals last muse in his homecoming show at Lakme Fashion Week 2024, expressed her deepest condolences and added, Gudda Om Shanti."

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Meanwhile, renowned designer Rohit Bal, who significantly transformed Indian fashion, died on November 1 at the age of 63.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 13:16 IST
Anand Ahuja Says Daddy Duty Is The Best As He Enjoys Day Off With Vayu

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 17:20 IST

Anand Ahuja and Sonam Kapoor often share adorable pictures and videos spending quality time with Vayu.

Sonam and Anand welcomed Vayu in 2022. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Anand Ahuja and Sonam Kapoor embraced parenthood after welcoming their son Vayu in August 2022. Amid professional duties, the two always find time for their munchkin. They often share adorable pictures and videos spending quality time with Vayu. Recently, Anand posted a cute video from his day off with his baby boy. Sharing the clip, the businessman wrote, Daddy Duty is the best. Esp w Zu chachu @farazkhalid CC @sonamkapoor."

The video featured Vayu donning a yellow raincoat and playing with some colourful balls in a pool, while his doting father stood behind him and caressed his tiny head. Anand wore a black T-shirt paired with grey pants and accessorised the look with white sneakers and a luxurious wristwatch.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by anand s ahuja (@anandahuja)

As soon as the video was shared online, the comment section was flooded with reactions from fans. An Instagram user wrote, So cute", while another fan commented, Adorable."

Recently, Anand and Sonam jetted off to Maldives with their kid Vayu, producer Rhea Kapoor and her husband Karan Boolani to spend some quality time together.

Sharing a photodump from their Maldives trip on Instagram, Anand wrote in the caption, Look at the sea, look how it sings for you! Our own rendition of Yellow, now titled Blue! Thank you @rheakapoor for planning our first holiday with Vayu and happy bday to @karanboolani!"

View this post on Instagram A post shared by anand s ahuja (@anandahuja)

Sonam and Anand recently made headlines when they bought Mumbais iconic music store, Rhythm House. The couple purchased the store for Rs 47.8 crore. Rhythm House. Originally established in the 1940s, it is located in Kala Ghoda and spans 3,600 square feet. The store was shut in 2018 after Nirav Modi, the former owner, failed to repay bank loans.

On the work front, Sonam Kapoor is reportedly preparing for her upcoming film, Battle for Bittora, which is based on Anuja Chauhans 2010 novel. The film follows an animation expert who unexpectedly enters a political battle against a former king for the Bittora elections. The film will be produced under the banner of Anil Kapoor Films and be directed by Shashanka Ghosh.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 17:20 IST
This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 30, 2024 shows the crew of Shenzhou-18 and Shenzhou-19 manned spaceships talking with each other. (Xinhua/Li Jie)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The crew of China's Shenzhou-18 spacecraft held a handover ceremony with the Shenzhou-19 crew and transferred the keys of the country's space station to the latter on Friday.

The Shenzhou-18 crew has now completed all planned tasks. The three astronauts will take the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft and return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Nov. 4, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

At present, the landing site and all participating systems are making final preparations to welcome the trio back. 
Raha Kapoor Steals The Show Performing Diwali Aarti With Alia Bhatt And Ranbir Kapoor; See Viral Photos

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Last Updated: November 01, 2024, 22:05 IST

Alia Bhatt shared a heartwarming glimpse of her Diwali celebration with husband Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Raha, radiating love, light, and festive spirit.

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor celebrate Diwali with daughter Raha, sharing heartwarming family moments on Instagram.

The festive spirit of Diwali has lit up Bollywood, with celebrities sharing joyful moments online. Alia Bhatt, joined by her husband Ranbir Kapoor and their daughter Raha, delighted fans with a touching Diwali post on Instagram on Friday.

Alia shared glimpses of her Diwali celebration, filled with love, light, and cherished family moments. Captioned Lights, love, and precious moments. Happy Diwali," the post radiated warmth and festivity. Accompanied by the calming flute tune of Kesariya, each image captured the essence of family and deepened the festive mood. The post begins with a heartwarming image of Alia, Ranbir, and Raha in coordinated golden attire, as little Raha holds Aarti with her parents help, symbolizing the passing of traditions. Another photo features Alia with her sister Shaheen, highlighting their close bond, while a third captures a tender hug between Alia and her mother, Soni Razdan, embodying maternal comfort and support.

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In the fourth picture, Alia and Ranbir are joined by Raha and Ranbirs mother, Neetu Kapoor, creating a multi-generational family moment of love and blessings. Alias solo shot in a golden saree under Diwali lights radiates elegance, while another close-up showcases her hair adorned with marigold flowers, adding a festive touch. The final image, a vibrant rangoli, symbolizes positivity and tradition.

In a separate Diwali sighting, Alia and Ranbir were seen with little Raha as they stepped out to celebrate. Rahas adorable expressions stole the spotlight as the family was spotted heading to their car, with Alia holding her daughter close.

Professionally, Alia was recently seen in Jigra, directed by Vasan Bala and co-starring Vedang Raina. She is set to appear in Alpha with Sharvari, marking the first female-led film in YRFs spy universe. Ranbir, meanwhile, is gearing up for Love And War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, where he stars alongside Alia and Vicky Kaushal. Both Ranbir and Vicky returned from Bikaner just in time for Diwali festivities in Mumbai.

First Published: November 01, 2024, 22:05 IST
Opinion | Politicians Indulge In Blame Game As Delhi Becomes Gas Chamber Again

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Last Updated: November 01, 2024, 17:49 IST

While our politicians are insouciant about the lethal effects of environmental degradation on peoples health, many among our intellectual elites too are not much concerned about air pollution

Against the backdrop of pollution levels in NCR peaking, frequently reaching very poor and severe categories, the blame game continues. (Image: Getty)

High air pollution levels in Delhi in the earlier days of winter are among the inglorious certainties that the people of the national capital and surrounding areas are condemned to suffer every year. Other certainties include political blame game, a number of ad hoc measures (all ineffective), and a heavy toll on the health of millions of people.

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So, a few days ago, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi held the farm fires in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, both under the Bharatiya Janata Party, responsible for the alarming levels of air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR). Her contention was that farm fires in Punjab, ruled by her Aam Aadmi Party, have declined sharply, but those in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have risen. On his part, BJP Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP government of not properly responding to the pollution problem.

Against the backdrop of pollution levels in NCR peaking, frequently reaching very poor and severe categories, the blame game continues. The culprits are well-knownlow-wind speeds, dust arising from construction sites and other areas, vehicular pollution, smoke from garbage and stubble burning. These have been known for many years.

Politiciansat the Centre and in states, in the ruling party and the Oppositionare aware of the factors contributing to foul air in winters. So, of course, do the bureaucrats at all levels. Judges keep castigating the authorities both of them. The Supreme Court recently said, We will take the Union of India to task It has not created any machinery. The Environmental Protection Act has become toothless. You have got rid of punishment and replaced it with a penalty by amending Section 15 and the procedure to be followed for imposing a penalty cannot be followed."

It was responding to the statement of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati who assured the court that the necessary rules would be finalized within 10 days and the Act would be fully enforced. The issue was the widespread stubble burning in neighboring states.

The apex court also slammed the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana, who were present. It said that their attempts to address crop burning fires as superficial." Earlier too, the court had rebuked the two states for failing to act against those flouting the ban on farm fires.

It looks like our political masters and bureaucrats have also become insolent. The only thing that excites our netas is emotive issues, most of which have nothing to do with our life and libertythe issues like caste census, cow protection, mohabbat ki dukan", changing names of places, and shedding colonial legacy. This is despite the fact that air pollution is seriously cutting life expectancy.

Delhis persistent air pollution is reducing the life expectancy of its residents, the latest Air Quality Life Index 2024 report said in August. In fact, it said, Delhi-NCR is one of the most polluted regions in the northern plains. The report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) said that 1.8 crore people living in Delhi were likely to lose an average of 11.9 years of life expectancy, as compared to the World Health Organizations guidelines.

While our politicians are insouciant about the lethal effects of environmental degradation on peoples health, many among our intellectual elites too are not much concerned about air pollution. In fact, they are more concerned about the big picture than the local factors contributing to pollution. For the big picture is sexy; it is about climate change, something that animates professional revolutionaries and cultural illuminati.

This brings us to a supreme ironythat of the hapless citizens of a rising power. India aspires to become a global leader, but its people are miserably vulnerable and defenceless against grey rhinoshighly probable risks with major impacts.

It is not that the national aspiration is groundless: India is the fastest growing major economy and is expected to remain so for some time; it has made immense progress in the last 33 years after liberalisation, resulting in the uplift of hundreds of millions of people from abject poverty; it has the potential and even the heft to emerge as a major player on the global stage; it has the entrepreneurial drive, scientific prowess, technological brilliance, and youthful energy for explosive economic growth and development in the foreseeable future. And yet, citizens in the national capital are hapless and helpless.

All that the authorities are capable of offering are temporary measures. So, the alarming rise in air pollution has evoked Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Stage II. These steps include a ban on the use of coal and firewood, including tandoors in hotels, restaurants, and open eateries, as well as on diesel generator sets, except for emergency and essential services.

Meanwhile politicians, whose favourite sport is blame game, continue to fight their word war.

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The author is a freelance journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 01, 2024, 17:49 IST
Opinion | Sworn To Serve, Selective In Allegiance: The Hypocrisy Of J&K Leaders

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 07:18 IST

If J&K leaders view the UTs status as something they cannot honour, then it raises the question of their right to occupy positions within that very system

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah during a meeting in New Delhi. (File pic: PTI)

Public office in India demands an unwavering commitment to constitutional principles and national integrity, particularly in regions with unique governance frameworks like Jammu and Kashmir. This is not merely a formal duty but a pledge to serve as a bridge between regional aspirations and the nations constitutional ideals. When leaders, who have taken solemn oaths to uphold the integrity of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, selectively engage with the responsibilities of their office, it not only undermines public trust but raises questions about the consistency of their allegiance.

On October 16, 2024, Omar Abdullah, leader of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), took the solemn oath as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, declaring: I, Omar Abdullah, do swear in the name of God that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, discharge my duties as Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and faithfully adhere to the Constitution of India." This pledge, deeply rooted in the principles of unity and commitment, signifies a binding promise to uphold the dignity, sovereignty, and legal framework of J&K as an inseparable part of India.

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Yet, barely two weeks into his term, the leaders who pledged this commitment are now boycotting the Union Territory Foundation Daya foundational moment meant to honour the regions integration into India. This action raises an essential question about the ethical and moral stance of these leaders: how can they occupy and benefit from the very offices created by the UT framework while simultaneously rejecting the recognition of this framework? The selective allegiance displayed here not only damages public trust but also calls into question the depth of their commitment to national unity.

By declining to participate in the UT Foundation Day, these leaders are implicitly rejecting a core aspect of the governance framework that legitimises their authority. The irony lies in their selective acceptance of their roles: they willingly assume the privileges and responsibilities of office, yet refuse to engage in foundational celebrations that reaffirm their commitment to this office. This behaviour does not merely skirt around their duties; it fundamentally undermines the trust placed in them by their constituents and betrays the spirit of their oaths.

The moral contradiction here is stark. If these leaders view the UTs status as something they cannot honour, then it raises the question of their right to occupy positions within that very system. Such selective allegiance is not only an ethical dilemma but also carries legal implications. The oath taken by public officials mandates loyalty to the Constitution of India and, by extension, to the framework of the Union Territory. By boycotting key symbolic events, they are sending a mixed message to the publica message that could inadvertently encourage divisive and anti-national sentiments among their supporters.

This selective approach isnt a one-off occurrence; rather, it reflects a troubling pattern of behaviour in which certain leaders and parties, particularly the JKNC, have engaged in actions that challenge the spirit of national unity. In the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370, the same leaders, instead of focusing on the potential for peace and development, took positions that often mirrored separatist sentiments, distancing themselves from initiatives aimed at integration. This pattern has sown confusion and weakened the very notion of accountability to the Union.

Instances of such selective loyalty can be traced through several years of political posturing that has, at times, prioritised local agendas over national unity. By sidestepping the responsibility of fully integrating with Indias broader framework, leaders like Omar Abdullah and others in the JKNC have, intentionally or otherwise, perpetuated a legacy of contradiction that hampers true progress.

The refusal to celebrate the UT Foundation Day and the selective allegiance displayed by these leaders go beyond personal or party stances. Such actions have the potential to fuel anti-India sentiment in a region that has long been a focal point of separatist ideologies. In the eyes of the public, these symbolic gesturesor their lackspeak volumes. When leaders choose to dismiss a foundational day that marks unity and inclusion, they embolden narratives that stand against national integration.

One cannot overlook the impact of public actions on public perception. These leaders, as prominent figures, bear a responsibility to foster unity, stability, and hope within the region. By choosing instead to send a message of selective allegiance, they risk alienating the youth and communities who are eager for peace and development, inadvertently providing fodder for those who question Jammu and Kashmirs place within the larger national context.

For public officeholders, moral and legal consistency is paramount. By occupying positions that represent the Union Territory, these leaders are bound by an ethical duty to exemplify unity and respect for the Constitution of India. The actions of leaders like Omar Abdullah set a tone for governance and accountability. Their selective participation in governance, celebrating only those moments that align with regional agendas while neglecting those that symbolise unity, creates a dangerous precedent for the future.

As the UT moves forward, it is crucial for both Central and regional authorities to emphasise that public office is a commitment to the whole of India and not merely to a segmented or selective idea of governance. Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and other authorities have a duty to ensure that those in office uphold the dignity of the positions they hold and work towards a harmonious integration of Jammu and Kashmir within the national fold.

Ultimately, if leaders such as Omar Abdullah and others in the JKNC are to remain in public office, it is incumbent upon them to honour their commitments in both word and action. Selective allegianceengaging with certain aspects of governance while dismissing othersbetrays the very trust the public has placed in them. To truly serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir, these leaders must transcend their historical contradictions, embrace the unity that the UT Foundation Day symbolises, and build bridges with the Central government to foster progress and prosperity.

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Only through genuine commitment to these values can they validate their roles as representatives and contribute meaningfully to the future of Jammu and Kashmir within India.

Mudasir Dar is a social and peace activist based in South Kashmir. He received a Rashtrapati Award and has contributed to many local and national publications on a diverse range of topics, including national security, politics, governance, peace, and conflict. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 02, 2024, 07:18 IST
Balasaheb Would Have...: Shinde Slams Arvind Sawant Over Imported Remark On Shaina NC

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 13:38 IST

CM Eknath Shinde termed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant's 'imported maal' remark against Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC as 'unfortunate'.

CM Eknath Shinde said women will teach a lesson to those who disrespect them in the forthcoming Maharashtra election | Image/PTI (File)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday condemned Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawants derogatory remark on Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC, saying if Balasaheb Thackeray were alive, he would have broken his mouth.

Shinde termed Sawants imported maal remark against Shaina NC as unfortunate and said that women will teach a lesson to those who disrespect them in the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly election.

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Its very unfortunate. Speaking ill of a woman is highly condemnable, and no amount of criticism is enough. Claiming to follow Balasaheb Thackerays ideology, their actions reveal their true nature. If Balasaheb were alive, he would have been strongly condemned and would have broken his mouth," Shinde was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Their character is exposed by their actions, MVA earlier defamed our women, and sisters in Guwahati. In the upcoming elections, women will surely teach a lesson to those who disrespect them," he added.

#WATCH | Thane: On Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawants remark over Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde says, This is a very unfortunate thing. It is very condemnable to say such things about a sister This is their nature. In Guwahati also, they had pic.twitter.com/MhO7qn7HXE ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024

Arvind Sawant Sparks Row

Sawant on Friday sparked controversy after referring to Shaina NC, former BJP leader who switched to Shiv Sena ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, as imported maal."

She stayed all her life in the BJP and now look at her Humare yahan imported maal nahi chalta (Imported material does not work here). Only original maal works here. We have the original material," Sawant remarked while speaking to the media.

The Shiv Sena leader, who was at the receiving end of the sexist slur, said that people will teach the rival party a lesson in the polls.

This reflects the mindset of Arvind Sawant and his party. Does he think every woman of Mumbadevi is a maal? On one side there is Eknath Shindes Ladki Behan Yojana, on the other side there is Prime Ministers Ujjwala, Mudra Banking, Housing Scheme, where women are empowered," she said.

Thackeray Sena Leader Apologises

After facing backlash over his imported maal" remark, Arvind Sawant on Saturday apologised claiming that he did not mention Shainas name and accused the Mahayuti alliance of creating uproar to tarnish his image.

Never in my 55 years of political career have I insulted a woman. My statement was distorted. But I want to extend an apology if anyone was hurt by my statement," said Sawant.

He further accused the Mahayuti alliance of hatching the controversy for political benefits and said that he had no intention to hurt anyone.

Shaina NC Files Case

The Shiv Sena leader filed a formal complaint against the UBT leader over the remark and noted that the law will take its course and the police will take action against him.

FIR has been registered in Nagpada police station under Sections 79 and 356(2) outraging the modesty of women. The Election Commission and Women Commission have also taken cognizance. This is a fight for the respect of women," she said.

#WATCH | Mumbai: On Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawants remarks, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC says FIR has been registered in Nagpada police station under Sections 79 and 356(2) outraging the modesty of women. The Election Commission and Women Commission have also taken pic.twitter.com/hH4N4ILU6T ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024

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She said that Sawants derogatory remark exposed his mindset and perverted mentality, adding that objectification of women and outraging the mode of women is not a small problem.

Location : Maharashtra, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 11:02 IST
J&K NCs Farooq Abdullahs Terrorists Shouldnt Be Killed Remark Sparks Row

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 18:33 IST

Farooq Abdullah said that it must be found out whether some agency has been assigned the task of destabilising the Omar Abdullah-led J&K government.

NC President Farooq Abdullah. (ANI)

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Saturday called out for an independent investigation into the recent spurt in terror activities across the erstwhile state to find out if theres any conspiracy to destabilise the newly-elected government.

He further triggered a row by suggesting that terrorists should be captured and not killed and be interrogated to uncover the masterminds behind the attack.

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It should be investigated. How is it that the government has come and this is happening? I have a doubt that is it done by the people who were trying to destabilise the governmentIf they (terrorists) are caught then we will get to know who is doing this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind themWe should check if there is an agency who is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah," news agency ANI quoted Farooq as saying.

#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On being asked if Pakistan should be blamed every time for terrorist attacks in J&K including the recent Budgam terror attack, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah says, There is no question of this, I would say that there should be an pic.twitter.com/IXvtOxZleh ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024

He further said that it must be found out whether some agency has been assigned the task of destabilising the Omar Abdullah-led J&K government.

The NC president has also demanded that the terrorists in Khanyar encounter should be arrested alive and not killed to find out who is trying to destabilise the elected government.

On being asked if Pakistan should be blamed every time for terrorist attacks in J&K, including the recent Budgam terror attack, Farooq said, There is no question of this, I would say that there should be an investigation into this."

Sharad Pawar Defends Farooq

Meanwhile, NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar defended Farooq Abdullahs statement saying that the central government should take the latters statement seriously.

Farooq Abdullah is the tallest personality of the Jammu and KashmirHe spent his life serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I have no doubt about his integrity and honesty. If such a leader is making any statement then the central government, especially the home ministry, should take it seriously and try to work out on how that situation can be resolved," Pawar said.

BJP Questions Farooq Abdullah

However, the BJP accused Abdullah of blaming the Indian Army, Indian agencies to escape his responsibility".

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, It is very unfortunate that on such a sensitive issue, instead of giving priority to the nation, some people are giving priority to politics, family and vote bank. It does not befit Farooq Abdullah to blame the Indian Army, Indian agencies to escape his responsibility or to save the sponsors of terrorism".

#WATCH | On JKNC chief Farooq Abdullahs statement on the Budgam terror attack, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, It is very unfortunate that on such a sensitive issue, instead of giving priority to the nation, some people are giving priority to politics, family and pic.twitter.com/3BpqZ61zKI ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024

Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina said that the army, police, and security forces should have our full support.

Farooq Abdullah knows that this terrorism is coming from Pakistan This is a well-known fact. What is there to investigate in this? He knows that the terrorist attacks that are taking place in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and terrorist organisations are involved in this We all should support our army, police and security forces We have to fight unitedly against those who are the enemies of humanity," Raina said.

Surge In Terror Attacks In J&K

The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a surge in terror attacks after the Omar Abdullah government took over the throne. National Conference had secured a decisive victory in the recently-held assembly elections. The party won 42 out of 90 seats, with ally Congress adding six seats, and Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister.

A Pakistani terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was killed and four security personnel were injured in an encounter that broke out in the Khanyar area in Srinagar on Saturday. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the densely populated locality of Khanyar in the interior city following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area, a police official said. The search operation turned into an encounter as the terrorists opened fire at the search party, which retaliated, the official said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the densely populated locality of Khanyar in the interior city following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area, a police official said.

In another ongoing operation, two terrorists were gunned down by the security forces near Halkan Gali in the Shangus-Larnoo area in Anantnag district.

On October 29, the security forces neutralised three terrorists in a high-stakes encounter in Akhnoor, Jammu and Kashmir, following an attack on an Army convoy.

On October 24, terrorists ambushed a vehicle of the army at the Botapathri area of Gulmarg. Five people including three army soldiers and two civilian porters working for the army were killed in the Botapathri attack. Peoples Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) took responsibility for the Botapathri attack.

On October 20, two terrorists fired indiscriminately at a workers camp of an infrastructure company in the Gagangir area of the Ganderbal district. Seven people including six non-locals and a local doctor were killed in the Gagangir attack.

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Intelligence agencies believed that after successful, people participative Lok Sabha and legislative assembly elections, handlers of terrorists across the border have become frustrated and they have now instructed the terrorists in J&K to carry out terrorist attacks, as reported by IANS.

(With inputs from agencies)

Location : Srinagar, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 18:33 IST
Doctor Faces Backlash For Giving Condom To Beggar On Diwali: 'Insensitive'

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 12:44 IST

A doctor sparked widespread outrage online after he shared a video where he is seen handing over a condom to a beggar.

The video was later deleted by the user. (Reprsentative Image)

A doctor came under heavy criticism after he shared a controversial video on social media that many deemed inappropriate. In the clip, which was posted on October 31, the doctor approaches a woman holding a toddler during Diwali and hands her a condom instead of offering assistance. This gesture quickly gained traction online which resulted in widespread outrage.

The video was originally shared on X by a user named Duryodhan but it has since been deleted. In the footage, the doctor walks up to the woman sitting on the sidewalk. Instead of giving her money or food, he hands her a condom. The situation becomes worse when the toddler next to her tries to grab it.

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The doctors caption, Best way to help roadside beggars," was aimed to make a statement about the issue of planning children without the means to support and educate them. However, it sparked a wave of criticism for its insensitivity, with many users expressing their outrage in the comments.

One user wrote, This is extremely inappropriate and offensive. You made a content out of her suffering. You used it without CONSENT. As a doctor or responsible citizen, do you think its okay to shame her for fun? Its shameful enough for anyone, but its rather disappointing from a doctor."

This is extremely inappropriate and offensive. You made a content out of her suffering. You used it without CONSENT . As a doctor or responsible citizen , Do you think its okay to shame her for fun ? Its shameful enough for anyone , but its rather disappointing from a doctor Koushik Chatterjee (@Koushik92118686) October 31, 2024

Another user said, Its truly shameful. There is a thin line between empathy and awareness, grow up and get a life, man. I hope your parents havent seen this yet."

It's truly shameful. There is a thin line between empathy and awareness, grow up and get a life, man. I hope your parents haven't seen this yet.  Siddiqui  Someone else describing the video as vile" and insensitive," asked, Did you not feel any shame or empathy making it??" What a vile and insensitive video. Did you not feel any shame or empathy making it ??  Andromeda (@outrageeouss) November 1, 2024

If lack of empathy had a video, then this would be it, your intentions were correct but the way you executed only shows your lack of empathy," one more user pointed out.

If lack of empathy had a video, then this would be it, your intentions were correct but the way you executed only shows your lack of Empathy. Anthony -{ Have some shame bro, shes already suffering. If you cant help her dont even act like a hero and make such a video for reach. You really need to think about this, its very painful to see her suffering," another comment read. Have some shame bro, she's already suffering. If you can't help her don't even act like a hero and make such a videos for reach. You really needs to think about this, it's very painful to see her suffering.  Rohan (@Rohanriffs) October 31, 2024

A person noted, Best way to help and uplift the roadside beggars is the caption of the video. That certainly doesnt seem like a way to raise awareness about contraception."

Best way to help and uplift the road side beggars is the caption of the video. Thats certainly doesnt seem like a way to raise awareness about contraception. Shriyal (@SulciNgyri) November 1, 2024

Lastly, an individual added, I dont know how to be polite & talk about this disturbing video I came across. I didnt want to say anything, but my conscience didnt allow me to ignore triggering content. I dont expect this from someone who is a doctor himself and has no idea about how wrong this is."

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I don't know how to be polite& talk about this disturbing video I came across . I didn't want to say anything, but my conscience didn't allow me to ignore triggering content. I don't expect this from someone who is a doctor himself and has no idea about how wrong this is . https://t.co/EK3IDrn2Wi Dr Ishika (@DrIshika_S24) October 31, 2024

Many others called the act of the doctor shameful."

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 12:42 IST
Eat That Frog: The Productivity Hack That Helps You Conquer Procrastination

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 13:06 IST

Begin by identifying the task that is both the most significant and most likely to be postponed throughout your day.

Using Eat That Frog technique, your productivity can greatly improve. (Representative Image)

As a working professional or student, weve all faced that moment when an assignment looms large, and time slips away because weve been putting it off. This is where the Eat That Frog technique can become your ultimate ally in the battle against procrastination. If youre grappling with laziness or searching for a spark of motivation, this method is tailor-made for you. The essence of Eat That Frog is simple yet powerful  tackle your toughest or most crucial task first thing in the morning.

This approach is inspired by a famous quote from Mark Twain: Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day."

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The concept gained popularity through Canadian-American motivational speaker Brian Tracys book, Eat That Frog. Tracy outlines how this technique can help you conquer procrastination and supercharge your productivity.

So, heres how you can make optimal use of this technique:

 Identify your frog: The first step is to determine which of the tasks is the largest and most likely to be postponed throughout the day. This task is often referred to as your frog  something youd usually prefer not to do but which is actually necessary for your journey.

 Tackle it first: Once you have clearly defined your frog, your plan should be to tackle it first thing in the morning. This eliminates anxiety about the task in question and fosters a positive attitude for the rest of the day, as the initial job has been accomplished.

 Build momentum: Completing the task that you find most challenging can help generate positive energy towards the completion of other tasks for the remainder of the day. This approach is more proactive than reactive, which can lead to distractions and other agendas pulling you off course.

Benefits of the technique:

 By addressing the most challenging tasks, you can reduce the likelihood of procrastination.

 Focusing on priorities can help you meet daily responsibilities more effectively and achieve better results.

 The technique helps in improving the planning process, making it easier to prioritise and schedule events.

Implementation tips:

 Determine what your frog will be each day to ensure that achieving these targets aligns with your overall vision.

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 Ensure that there are minimal interruptions from emails, messages or any activities during the scheduled frog-eating time.

 This technique should be practised consistently and incorporated into your schedule as part of your daily routine.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 12:31 IST
Marry A Swiss Man,: Ukrainian Woman Shares 'Hack' To Get Rich Fast

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 11:28 IST

In the viral video, Rue du Midi, a content creator, asks a woman about her daily expenditure in Switzerland.

Netizens have questioned the authenticity of the video.

The desire to spend a luxurious life is the basic need of many people. Some work hard for it, while others adopt smart measures to achieve this need. A video went viral recently where a woman talks about becoming rich in a jiffy. The woman in conversation is from Ukraine and reportedly spends Rs 20 lakh a month. In the viral video, when a woman asks the Ukrainian girl about how to become rich, she suggests marrying a Swiss guy, in her response. Netizens are shocked to know this hack to richness. Many also called the video fake and questioned the authenticity of the girl. Many claim that the girl is not from Ukraine.

In the viral video, a woman named Rue du Midi takes a mic and asks the woman in the car to roll down the window. With a cheerful demeanour, the girl asks about the money she spends to live in Switzerland. In response, the woman in the car says I think 20 thousand Swiss Francs (about Rs 20 lakh)." The woman is named Oksana Neven.

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After this, the woman admits that she is not originally from Switzerland. She belongs to Ukraine. On this, Rue Du Midi asks her the reason for her arrival in Switzerland. The woman from Ukraine says that she will answer this with complete honesty." So let me tell you that I just married a man living in Switzerland." said Oksana Neven. The video has been shared on Instagram from the account named Stretching.ch. So far this video has been viewed more than 13 lakh times. At the same time, thousands of people have liked and shared it. Take a look at the video,

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Apart from views the video has also garnered a sea of comments from the viewers. One of the users agreed with the marriage hack of getting rich. She admitted that she got married and made her life better.  I am proud to be Ukrainian and this woman seen in the video is very beautiful. And yes, we Ukrainian people have different looks." said another user. Many people have said about this woman that she does not look like a Ukrainian.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 02, 2024, 11:28 IST
'Absurd': India Summons Canadian Official, Protests Allegations Against Amit Shah

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 16:14 IST

In the diplomatic note, the Indian government protested references made to Amit Shah before a Canadian parliamentary committee.

India summoned a representative of the Canadian High Commission this week to protest references made towards Amit Shah, the home minister, before a Canadian parliamentary committee. (IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK)

India expressed its disapproval towards remarks made in a Canadian parliamentary committee on October 29 regarding Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned a representative from the Canadian High Commission on Wednesday and presented a diplomatic note where it condemned the comments as absurd and baseless".

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David Morrison is the Canadian deputy foreign affairs minister. He earlier this week told the Canadian Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security that Khalistani extremists were targeted on orders of Shah.

It was conveyed in the Note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison," the statement said.

The external affairs ministry also said that the recent reports of highly-placed Canadian officials deliberately leaking unfounded insinuations to the international media" is a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations".

It further added that these actions confirms the view Government of India has long held about the current Canadian Governments political agenda and behavioural pattern".

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Canadas national security and intelligence adviser Nathalie Drouin and deputy foreign affairs minister David Morrison told a parliamentary committee in Ottawa that they had leaked details of Shahs alleged role to the media. However, Morrison did not explain how Canada had verified this information.

Morrison said that he had leaked information to US-based newspaper The Washington Post.

Location : Ottawa, Canada

First Published: November 02, 2024, 15:27 IST
Canadian Strategy To Attack: India Reacts To Trudeau Govt's Cyber Adversary Label

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 23:13 IST

The MEA said the categorisation was an example of how Canada strategised to attack India.

India has said that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given space to violent Khalistani extremists in the country. (IMAGE: AFP)

India criticised Canada on Saturday for labelling it as a cyber threat adversary," calling this classification yet another instance of Canadas ongoing strategy to attack" India.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticised Canada over its National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 report which accused New Delhi of preparing for so-called state-sponsored hacking and cyber-espionage attempts.

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We judge that official bilateral relations between Canada and India will very likely drive Indian state-sponsored cyber threat activity against Canada," the report, published earlier this week, said.

Their senior officials have openly confessed" that they are seeking to manipulate global opinion against India", and as on other occasions, imputations are made without any evidence," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in response to queries on the issue.

The October 30 report includes a category Cyber threat from state adversaries with China placed as the most comprehensive cyber security threat". India is named fifth after China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. It is the first time India has been included in the list.

Another category, Canada has put India into. This categorisation is as per the cyber report that they have issued. It appears to be another example of a Canadian strategy to attack India," Jaiswal said.

As I mentioned earlier, their senior officials have openly confessed that they are seeking to manipulate global opinion against India, as on other occasions, imputations are made without any evidence," he said.

While rejecting India being bracketed in that category, the MEA spokesperson said, You first state absurd and baseless things and then level such an accusation against us. This is absolutely not right".

The report, whose last edition was issued two years ago, comes amid an escalating diplomatic row between the two countries.

The report also categorises India as a state adversary" along with China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

It also accused India of building cyber programmes that threaten Canada.

Countries that aspire to become new centres of power within the global system, such as India, are building cyber programmes that present varying levels of threat to Canada," the report said.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegations in September last year of a potential" involvement of Indian agents in Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjars killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd".

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

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India has expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrawn its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other targeted" officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawas charges.

(with PTI inputs)

First Published: November 02, 2024, 22:31 IST
A demonstrator holds a slogan during a rally against Arizona's abortion ruling in Scottsdale, Arizona, the United States, on April 14, 2024. (Photo by Xuguang Sui/Xinhua)

Currently, ten U.S. states have made abortion rights a key topic for the 2024 elections. With the debate over "life" now being completely partisan, abortion rights have been transformed into a political symbol, further widening the divisions splitting the American society.

BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. media revealed in September a tragic death case that happened in 2022: 28-year-old Amber Nicole Thurman from the state of Georgia took abortion pills but, due to complications, still needed surgical procedures to complete the process.

Just in that year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision in 1973 that secured the country's constitutional right to abortion. The state of Georgia then made routine procedures of dilation and curettage a felony, with doctors facing up to a decade in prison for violations. Thurman thus had to wait for long hours and eventually died of infections in a hospital that could have saved her.

The New York Times commented that when such stories are exposed, they "can be used by either side of the political spectrum to advance its causes." Currently, ten U.S. states have made abortion rights a key topic for the 2024 elections. With the debate over "life" now being completely partisan, abortion rights have been transformed into a political symbol, further widening the divisions splitting the American society.





ABORTION AS POLITICAL, NOT HEALTH ISSUE

Prior to the 1970s, U.S. politicians' views on abortion didn't break down along neat party lines. In Congress, Republicans voted against abortion at about the same rate as Democrats.

The turning point came in 1972 when Republican Richard Nixon used an anti-abortion stance to win Catholic voters and other social conservatives. The shift against abortion rights was aimed to portray the Republican Party as pro-family and mobilize socially conservative voters, gradually making abortion a partisan issue.

A May study by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) showed that Republicans and Democrats are deeply divided on abortion, with a 50 percentage point gap between them, a figure that is "larger than ever."

The abortion issue is now deeply embedded in U.S. politics, with both parties using legislative and executive orders to influence abortion rights as tools to sway public opinion and build voter bases. In 2021 alone, nearly 600 abortion restrictions were introduced nationwide, with 90 of them enacted into law.

"We're seeing the largest partisan gap we've ever seen when it comes to Americans' attitudes about abortion legality," said Melissa Deckman, the CEO of PRRI.

Demonstrators rally for abortion rights in Washington, D.C., the United States, Oct. 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

While Republicans shore up their conservative base with an anti-abortion stance, Democrats supporting abortion rights have strategic moves of their own.

According to The New York Times, during the 2022 midterms, Democrats seized the opportunity of the Roe v. Wade reversal to link abortion rights with family and healthcare issues. By tapping into voter concerns over the rise of conservatism, they shifted focus away from economic issues and strengthened support among women and young voters, ultimately preventing a Republican "red wave" in the midterms.





POLITICAL PARTY-INTEREST GROUP ALLIANCE

Chloe Thurston, political scientist from Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University, believes that as abortion becomes more central to Congress and presidential elections, alliances between political parties and interest groups with clear stances on abortion have become more common, further widening the partisan divide on the issue.

Analysts note that the alliance between parties and interest groups is a win-win scenario. Parties need donations and endorsements, while interest groups use lobbying and financial influence to impact government policies.

Since 1989, abortion-rights groups have donated 32 million U.S. dollars to Democrats and 3 million dollars to pro-abortion Republicans, while groups that opposed abortion have given 14 million dollars to Republicans and 372,000 dollars to Democrats, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks money in politics.

Protesters gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States, June 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Interest group funds are not limited to direct contributions to politicians. Super Political Action Committees (PAC), created after the Supreme Court loosened restrictions on donations in 2010, raise funds from individuals, corporations, and interest groups, using them to run ads influencing public opinion and election outcomes. OpenSecrets reports showed that in the 2023-2024 election cycle, pro-abortion groups donated 3.37 million dollars, part of which went to Super PACs.

According to The 19th, an independent, nonprofit U.S. news organization, in just one month before the 2022 midterm elections, four Super PACs focused on abortion spent 6 million dollars on campaign ads and voter outreach. Spending millions on ads close to election time is strategic, with these groups believing abortion rhetoric can swing election results, which "tells a story about the electoral environment." 
China Extends Visa-Free Entry To Citizens From 9 More Countries

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 07:47 IST

China announces visa-free entry for citizens from nine countries, including South Korea and Norway

A woman poses for pictures amid tourists visiting the Badaling section of the Great Wall on the National Day holiday in Beijing, China October 1, 2023. (Reuters)

China will extend visa-free entry to citizens from nine additional countries, including South Korea, Norway, and Finland, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

Starting November 8, nationals from these countries, which also include Slovakia, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco and Liechtenstein, will be allowed to enter China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days without a visa, the ministry said. The policy will be in effect through December 31, 2025.

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Chinese foreign ministry last month promised efforts to optimise the visa waiver and other relevant policy measures to make it more convenient for foreigners to visit and stay in the country. We are glad to see the travel boom," state media outlet China Daily quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian as saying. Jian made the remarks during a press briefing in response to a query about the visa waiver policies.

He noted that according to the latest statistics, in the third quarter this year, inbound foreign travelers had reached 8.186 million, up by 48.8 percent year-on-year. Among them, 4.885 million had entered China via the visa waiver policy, a year-on-year growth of 78.6 percent.

Referring to the implementation of a series of facilitating measures, Lin said the waiting time of foreign travelers for checks and inspections on entry has been further shortened, and they can directly swipe their overseas bank cards to take the subway.

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(With agency inputs)

Location : Beijing, China

First Published: November 02, 2024, 07:32 IST
Chunk Of Democratic Indian-Americans, Muslim Voters In Michigan Shift Support To Trump

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 21:51 IST

Michigan is one of the seven battleground states in the 2024 elections with a razor-thin margin of victory expected

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, right, looks on as local Muslim leaders speak during a campaign rally. (AP file photo)

A section of Indian-Americans, Muslims, and African-Americans in the battleground state of Michigan, who traditionally supported Democratic candidates in previous elections, have shifted their support towards Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump  a move that could significantly impact the results of the November 5 US election.

Michigan is one of the seven battleground states in the 2024 elections with a razor-thin margin of victory expected. As the auto capital of the world, Detroit drives Michigans economy, generating numerous jobs in the manufacturing sector, particularly in the automotive industry. The states strong working-class presence and robust labour unions add to its significance in the electoral landscape.

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Michigan stands out for its diverse demographics like New York in the East Coast and California in the West Coast. The state boasts of a significant Muslim population and several Congressional districts predominantly represented by African Americans. Detroit, in particular, is home to a rapidly growing Indian American community, evident in the increasing number of temples, restaurants, and grocery stores catering to this population over the past decade.

For many traditional Democratic Indian Americans like Ashok Baddi, a successful businessman and community leader, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harriss Indian-African ethnicity and common cultural roots have not made an impact on his decision to vote this year.

Unlike in the previous years, Baddi says he is voting for Trump and not Harris.

Multiple factors," Baddi told PTI in Detroit on Friday. "She (Harris) never associated herself with the (Indian) community. Harris would not be good for the India-US relationship. On the other hand, Trump has been good to Hindu Americans. He has a very good relationship with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi," he said.

Furthermore, Baddi said there was no war under Trumps administration. The cost of essential commodities have skyrocketed under the Biden-Harris administration, he said.

Sunny Reddy, who is running for an at-large seat of the Wayne State Board of Governors, believes that the Indian American votes on Tuesday would be split equally between Trump and Harris.

"Its a close fight. A large section of Indian Americans has moved towards Trump," Reddy told PTI.

South Asian Kamal Rahman, who is of Bangladeshi origin and advisor to Mayor Amer Ghalib of Hamtramck, Michigan, notes that at least 20 per cent of the Muslim Americans in Michigan have moved towards Trump this election cycle. Ghalib, who is the first Arab-American and the first Muslim to govern the city, has recently endorsed Trump.

The reasons for this shift, Rahman said, are manifold, including the economic situation and Trumps stand on LGBTQ.

He (Trump) is not anti-Muslim," Rahman told PTI. Rahman and his Mayor are Democrats. However, he said, I am voting for Trump." On Friday, Trump was in Detroit courting the Muslim and Arab communities in the state. Given that this is going to be a tight election, Trump has decided to hold his last public rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Monday.

Sam Matthew, a community leader, who has been campaigning for Trump across the state for the past few months, believes that the Republican candidate will win the election in the state despite it being a close contest.

There is a widespread dissatisfaction with Harris. Trump has won over many of the sections of the people who earlier did not vote for him. We see a surge in support for him," Matthew told PTI.

Meanwhile, several groups of Indian Americans have come to Michigan to campaign for Harris. Indian American lawmakers, including Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, and Pramila Jayapal, have campaigned for Harris. They have knocked on the doors, visited temples and attended community events.

"This is your chance to be part of history. One of our own is being elected as the President of the United States," said Shekhar Narasimhan from AAPI Victory Fund.

Both Reddy and Rahman said that the African American communities and workers union are no longer united with the Democrats.

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Auto workers are angry with the Democrats because of their push for mandatory electric cars, which they believe would result in automation and large-scale job loss, Reddy said.

Rahman said a major section of African Americans feel that the push for illegal immigration would have a terrible impact on their employment prospects. On the other hand, a stop on illegal immigrants, African Americans believe, would help them have their jobs secure.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2024, 21:51 IST
Watch: Trump Rips Mic Off Podium After Fix The Mic Chant During Election Rally

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 12:28 IST

Donald Trump dramatically rips a faulty microphone off the podium during a Milwaukee speech

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he campaigns in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. November 1, 2024. (Reuters)

Former US President and Republican nominee Donald Trump faced technical difficulties during his rally at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday, prompting him to rip a malfunctioning microphone off its stand.

As the audience chanted Fix the mic," Trump responded, Oh the mic? Yeah, I think this mic stinks," before opting to hold the microphone himself. During his speech, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, Trump voiced frustration over the sound issues, saying, Im seething. Im working my a off with this stupid mic."

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Wisconsin Campaign

The rally was part of a competitive campaign event in Wisconsin, where Trump and US Vice President Kamala Harris held separate rallies just miles apart. While Trump focused on familiar campaign themes such as immigration and economic recovery, Harris emphasised unity and cooperation among Americans. Both candidates are vying for crucial support in a state pivotal to the upcoming 2024 election.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Kamalas closing message to Americans is that she hates you. My closing message is that I love Americaand I am inviting you to join us in building an extraordinary future for our nation. My oath of office is an oath of allegiance to you, the American People. pic.twitter.com/UAjp0oPnk5 Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 2, 2024

70 million Americans

Harris and Trump traded barbs across battleground states Friday before converging on Wisconsins biggest city for competing rallies, a dramatic split-screen image in the final days of a volatile presidential race.

More than 70 million Americans have already cast their ballots  45 percent of the 2020 total  ahead of Election Day on Tuesday. Opinion polls show Trump and Harris running dead even, with victory depending on who prevails across the seven swing states.

Both held a full day of campaign events, with Harris attending rallies and visiting a union hall in Wisconsin while Trump stumped for votes in neighboring battleground Michigan. Everything we have been fighting for these past four years comes down to the next four days," Trump told supporters in Warren, Michigan.

Trump Vs Harris

Trump notably campaigned Friday in Dearborn, Michigan, home to the nations largest Arab-American community, where outrage over Israels war in Gaza has alienated many Muslims from the Democratic Party. According to a new Marist Poll released on Friday, Harris holds a slight lead over former President Donald Trump in key battleground states crucial to her presidential campaign.

The poll indicates that Harris is leading in Blue Wall states, a term that refers to a group of Midwestern states that traditionally vote Democratic in presidential elections. The Democratic nominee is ahead by 3 percentage points in Michigan and 2 points in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, The Hill newspaper reported.

In Michigan, Harris leads Trump 51% to 48%, although this represents a slight decline from her 5-point lead in September. However, she has improved her standing among independent voters, increasing her margin from 2 points to 6 points.

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(With agency inputs)

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2024, 11:54 IST
Iron Beam: Israel Plans To Use High-Power Lasers To Shoot Down Missiles Amid Ongoing Conflict

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 09:41 IST

The Israeli defence ministry stated that the new anti-missile defence system, Iron Beam, will complement the country's Iron Dome.

Israels Iron Beam is a cutting-edge laser-based defence system designed to intercept short-range threats | Image/X

In the middle of the ongoing conflict with Iran-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel is planning to make a new addition to its air defence system with the induction of the Iron Beam which will use high-power lasers to shoot down incoming projectiles.

The Israeli defence ministry stated that the new anti-missile defence system will complement the countrys Iron Dome and other existing technologies, ushering in a new era of warfare." It will be operational within a year.

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Unlike the Iron Dome, Israels well-known air defence system which is already popular for intercepting rockets and missiles, the Iron Beam will use a cutting-edge laser system to down the incoming mortars, rockets, and drones, with unprecedented precision.

Designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the developer of Israels Iron Dome, in collaboration with Elbit Systems, the Iron Beam can intercept targets at the speed of light over distances ranging from hundreds of meters to several kilometres.

It features an unlimited supply of ammunition, near-zero cost per interception, and minimal collateral damage, according to Israels defence ministry.

Israel to Spend $530 Million

Israels defence ministry said on Monday it has earmarked $530 million to accelerate the development of the laser air defence system known as Iron Beam".

The Ministry of Defence has signed a major deal worth approximately 2 billion shekels to significantly expand procurement of the laser interception systems, Iron Beam,," a statement said.

Defence company Elbit said in a separate statement the ministry granted it a contract worth about $200 million specifically to develop Iron Beam.

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The system is aimed at improving the interception of drones and other projectiles, which Hezbollah in Lebanon has fired at Israel since the start of the war in Gaza in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas.

It comes after Israel announced in late September it had received a new US military aid package worth $8.7 billion, at a time when it is at war with both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Location : Israel

First Published: November 02, 2024, 09:37 IST
Missile Strike In Israel's Tira Injures 19 As Tensions With Hezbollah Escalate

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 12:54 IST

Missile strike in Israel's Sharon area injures 19, including 4 seriously. Conflict with Hezbollah escalates amid ongoing tensions in Gaza and Lebanon

Hasan Nasrallah hangs near the smouldering rubble of a building in the aftermath of overnight Israeli airstrikes that targeted the neighbourhood of Kafaat in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 1. (AFP)

A missile strike in Israels Sharon area wounded 19 people, police said early Saturday, after the army reported three projectiles were fired from Lebanon into central Israel. All 19, four of whom were in moderate condition", were taken to hospitals for treatment, the Israeli police added.

Israels Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency medical service earlier said that several people had been wounded in a strike on the central city of Tira, including a male around 20 with shrapnel injuries".

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Until Hezbollah is dismantled

Videos posted by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on social media showed fire and smoke spilling from a building into the street and emergency responders swarming the site. This is the result of a direct hit of a Hezbollah rocket on a building in the Israeli Arab town of Tira, injuring 19 civilians," the ministry said in the post. We cannot and will not rest until Hezbollah is dismantled," it added.

The Israeli army said on Telegram that it had intercepted some of the three projectiles fired from Lebanon. Tira, a predominantly Arab town, is located around 25 kilometres northeast of Tel Aviv, near the border with the occupied West Bank. The war raging in the Gaza Strip has spread to Lebanon, where Israel has been carrying out air strikes against Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian group Hamas.

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According to Israeli figures, at least 63 people have been killed on the Israeli side since cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah erupted following Hamass deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. On Thursday, rocket fire from Lebanon killed seven people in Metula, northern Israel, including four Thai farmers.

Hamass October attack on Israel resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israels response has killed 43,259 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territorys health ministry, which are considered reliable by the United Nations.

Location : Jerusalem, Israel

First Published: November 02, 2024, 12:53 IST
Pakistan Parliamentary Body Approves Bill To Raise Number Of SC Judges To 25

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 10:59 IST

A parliamentary panel in Pakistan has approved a controversial bill to increase Supreme Court judges from 17 to 25

A view of the Supreme Court of Pakistan building during sunset hours in Islamabad, Pakistan October 3, 2023. (Reuters)

A Pakistan parliamentary panel has approved a controversial bill to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 17 to 25 despite its disapproval by the opposition lawmakers who termed it an attempt to manipulate the judiciary.

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Act 2024 which sought to increase the number of judges from 17 to 25 was moved in the Senate last month by independent senator Abdul Qadir to deal with the rising number of "pending cases".

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It was then referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, which met on Friday and its meeting was chaired by Senator Farooq H Naek of the Pakistan Peoples Party. The committee approved a bill proposing an increase in the number of judges in the Supreme Court (SC) from 17 to 25 despite opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI).

After the committees approval, the bill would be presented to the Senate for discussion. The bill aims to address the issue of delay in cases. About 60,000 cases are pending in the apex court. However, the opposition alleges that the government would pack the court with the choicest judges to influence cases about leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

After the bill was moved last month, PTI leader Ali Zafar said that the government should have introduced reforms in the lower judiciary instead of talking about increasing the number of judges in the SC. This is called court-stacking," he said, adding that several African, Latin American, and Asian countries in the past had increased the number of judges in the superior judiciary in line with the same practice.

The purpose is to take over the court system by bringing those judges who are favourable to a certain regime." Separately, the government on Friday presented in the Senate a controversial ordinance promulgated by President Asif Ali Zardari in September giving a dominant role to the Chief Justice of Pakistan in the formation of benches.

The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, was laid in the house by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and referred to the standing committee concerned by the deputy chairman. The ordinance changed the composition of the committee that forms benches and fixes cases under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023.

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The three-member committee originally comprised the Chief Justice and two senior judges of the court. Now it will consist of the Chief Justice, the next most senior judge, and a judge to be picked by the Chief Justice.

Another significant change is the handling of cases under Section 184(3) of the Constitution, as the ordinance makes it mandatory to document why a particular case is considered a matter of public importance before it is taken up by the court. The ordinance also takes away the power of the apex court to take up a case for hearing out of turn, making it mandatory for the court to record reasons and justifications for taking a case out of turn.

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: November 02, 2024, 10:59 IST
Thousands Of Bangladeshi Hindus Rally To Demand Protection From Wave Of Attacks

Published By :

Associated Press

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 13:41 IST

Thousands of minority Hindus protested in Bangladesh, demanding government protection from violence

Bangladesh Hindus participating in a rally to demand that an interim govt withdraw all cases against their leaders and protect them from attacks and harassment in Chattogram Nov. 1. (AP)

Tens of thousands of minority Hindus rallied Friday to demand that the interim government in Muslim-majority Bangladesh protect them from a wave of attacks and harassment and drop sedition cases against Hindu community leaders.

About 30,000 Hindus demonstrated at a major intersection in the southeastern city of Chattogram, chanting slogans demanding their rights while police and soldiers guarded the area. Other protests were reported elsewhere in the country.

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Hindu Community

Hindu groups say there have been thousands of attacks against Hindus since early August, when the secular government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown and Hasina fled the country following a student-led uprising. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel peace laureate named to lead an interim government after Hasinas downfall, says those figures have been exaggerated.

Hindus make up about 8% of the countrys nearly 170 million people, while Muslims are about 91%. The countrys influential minority group Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has said there have been more than 2,000 attacks on Hindus since Aug. 4, as the interim government has struggled to restore order.

UN Concern

United Nations human rights officials and other rights groups have expressed concern over human rights in the country under Yunus. Hindus and other minority communities say the interim government hasnt adequately protected them and that hard-line Islamists are becoming increasingly influential since Hasinas ouster.

The issue has reached beyond Bangladesh, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi voicing concern over reports of attacks. While the administration of United States President Joe Biden has said it is monitoring Bangladeshs human rights issues since Hasinas ouster, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has condemned what he described as barbaric" violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Barbaric violence against Hindus

In a post on X, he said: I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos." Hindu activists have been staging protest rallies in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere since August to press a set of eight demands including a law to protect minorities, a ministry for minorities and a tribunal to prosecute acts of oppression against minorities. They also seek a five-day holiday for their largest festival, the Durga Puja.

Fridays protest in Chattogram was hastily organized after sedition charges were filed Wednesday against 19 Hindu leaders, including prominent priest Chandan Kumar Dhar, over an Oct. 25 rally in that city. Police arrested two of the leaders, angering Hindus.

The charges stem from an event in which a group of rally-goers allegedly placed a saffron flag above the Bangladesh flag on a pillar, which was considered disrespecting the national flag. Hindu community leaders say the cases are politically motivated and demanded Thursday that they be withdrawn within 72 hours. Another Hindu rally was planned for Saturday in Dhaka.

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Separately, supporters of Hasinas Awami League party and its allied Jatiya Party have said they also have been targeted since Hasinas ouster. Jatiyas headquarters was vandalized and set on fire late Thursday. On Friday, Jatiya Party Chair G.M. Quader said his supporters would continue to hold rallies to demand their rights despite risking their lives. He said they would hold a rally Saturday at the party headquarters in Dhaka to protest price hikes of commodities, and what they call false charges against their leaders and activists.

Later Friday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police announced it was banning any rallies near the Jatiya Partys headquarters. Hours after the police decision, the party said it postponed their rally to show respect to the law and a new date for the rally would be announced soon. The police decision came after a student group strongly criticized the police administration for initially granting permission for the rally, and threatened to block it.

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: November 02, 2024, 13:33 IST
UN Warns Of 'Apocalyptic' Situation In North Gaza

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 19:19 IST

Israel launched a major air and ground assault in northern Gaza last month, saying it wanted to stop Hamas militants regrouping there

Medics evacuate injured people and cancer patients from the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on October 28, 2024. (AFP photo)

The unfolding situation in the northern Gaza Strip is apocalyptic", United Nations chiefs said Friday, warning that its entire population was at imminent risk" of death.

They said the entire Middle East region was now on a precipice and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

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Israel launched a major air and ground assault in northern Gaza last month, saying it wanted to stop Hamas militants regrouping there.

The situation unfolding in North Gaza is apocalyptic," said the joint statement from heads of organisations that form the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue. Just in the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and thousands have once again been forcibly displaced.

The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence."

They urged all parties fighting in the besieged Palestinian territory to protect civilians, and called on Israel to cease its assault on Gaza and on the humanitarians trying to help".

Humanitarian aid cannot keep up with the scale of the needs due to the access constraints. Basic, life-saving goods are not available. Humanitarians are not safe to do their work and are blocked by Israeli forces and by insecurity from reaching people in need," they said.

Humanitarian relief must be facilitated, and we urge all parties to provide unimpeded access to affected people," while hospitals should not turn into battlegrounds".

The statement was signed by the heads of the UN humanitarian, health, food, rights, migration, refugee, development, children and womens agencies, among others.

The entire region is on the edge of a precipice. An immediate cessation of hostilities and a sustained, unconditional ceasefire are long overdue," they said.

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Hamass October 7 attack on Israel last year triggered the war and resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israels retaliatory bombardment and ground war have killed 43,259 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to data from the health ministry, figures the UN considers reliable.

Location : Switzerland

First Published: November 02, 2024, 18:26 IST
US Deploys B-52 Bombers To Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Escalation

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 13:38 IST

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered more warplanes and Navy ships to the Middle East to bolster U.S. military presence

A B-52 Stratofortress, flown by Capt. Will Byers and Maj. Tom Aranda, prepares for refueling over Afghanistan during a close-air-support mission in this undated handout photo. (Reuters)

SThe United States is sending bomber aircraft, fighter jets and more Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster the countrys presence in the region, the Pentagon announced Friday.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered several B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft, a squadron of fighter jets, tanker aircraft and Navy destroyers to deploy to the Middle East, said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, in a statement. He said that the US forces would begin arriving in the region in the coming months, as the USS Abraham Lincoln heads home.

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Israels wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah

These developments come as Israels wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon rage, including a retaliatory strike on Iran a week ago that likely damaged a base that builds ballistic missiles and launches rockets as part of Tehrans space programme.

The Biden administration is pressing for cease-fires, while repeatedly saying it will defend Israel and continue to protect the American and allied presence in the region, including from Yemen-based Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea. Austins latest order, said Ryder, shows the US capability to deploy world-wide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats."

Nuclear-capable B-52 bomber

The military spokesperson said Austin continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people." The long-range nuclear-capable B-52 bomber has been repeatedly deployed to the Middle East in pointed warnings to Iran and it is the second time this month that strategic U.S. bombers will be used to bolster its defences in the region.

In October, B-2 stealth bombers were used to strike underground Houthi targets in Yemen. Ryder did not provide the specific number of aircraft and ships that will move into the region. The shifts are likely to result in an overall decrease in the total number of US troops in the Middle East, largely because an aircraft carrier contains as many as 5,000 sailors. Additionally, there have been as many as 43,000 U.S. forces in the region recently.

USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier

According to US officials, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and the three Navy destroyers in its strike group are scheduled to leave the Middle East by mid-month and return to their home port in San Diego. When it departs, there will be no aircraft carrier in the Middle East for a period of time, officials said.

Military commanders have long argued that the presence of an aircraft carrier strike group, with its array of fighters jets, surveillance aircraft and heavily armed warships, is a significant deterrent, including against Iran. Keeping that gap in mind, Austin is ordering the deployment of other Navy destroyers to the region. Those destroyers, which are capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, would come either from the Indo-Pacific region or Europe, the official said.

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(With agency inputs)

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2024, 08:32 IST
US Election 2024: Who Will Alaska Choose Come November 5?

Published By :

Associated Press

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 23:39 IST

In Alaska, all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same primary ballot. The top four vote-getters then move on to the general election.

Elmendorf, Alaska, US on his way to the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

Alaska voters will decide in the Nov. 5 general election which presidential candidate will receive the states three electoral votes, but the race for the sole US House seat might have bigger national implications.

Republicans hold a slim majority in the US House, and control of the chamber in the next Congress could come down to whether Democratic US Rep. Mary Peltola can fend off a competitive challenge from Republican Nick Begich under the states ranked-choice voting system.

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Peltola first won the seat in a 2022 special election following the death of longtime Republican congressman Don Young. She defeated a field that included both Begich and former GOP governor and 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

In Alaska, every candidate runs on the same primary ballot, regardless of party affiliation. The four candidates who win the most votes automatically advance to the general election, when voters can rank them in order of preference on the ballot.

In this years US House race, Peltola won just over half of Augusts all-party primary vote and advanced to the general election with Begich and two other Republicans, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and Matthew Salisbury. Dahlstrom and Salisbury dropped out of the race after the primary, advancing the fifth- and sixth-place candidates to the general election and leaving Begich the sole remaining Republican in the race.

Replacing Dahlstrom and Salisbury on the ballot are Alaskan Independence Party chairman John Wayne Howe and Eric Hafner, a Democrat who received less than half a percentage point of the vote in the primary. Hafner is serving a 20-year prison sentence in New York for threatening officials in New Jersey.

Peltola and Begich are the best-known and best-funded candidates. But the two lesser-known candidates could thwart Peltola or Begich from surpassing 50% of the vote.

In that event, the race would go to ranked-choice voting.

The votes released on election night are technically voters first-choice candidates.

Under ranked-choice voting, the state eliminates the candidate with the fewest votes on election night from contention.

Voters whose first choice was eliminated will have their votes redistributed to their second-choice candidate. That process continues until a candidate surpasses a majority of the vote.

The state Division of Elections says the results of the ranked-choice voting process will be released on Nov. 20.

On the presidential ballot, voters will have the option to rank Republican former President Donald Trump, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, and six third-party candidates.

Voters will also weigh in on an initiative that eliminates ranked-choice voting and restores the traditional, single-choice system. It would also eliminate open primary elections in which all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party affiliation.

Heres a look at what to expect in the 2024 election in Alaska:

Election Day: Nov. 5.

Nov. 5. Poll closing time: 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET. Alaska covers two time zones. Votes could be released as early as 45 minutes after voting ends in the first time zone, at midnight ET.

12 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET. Alaska covers two time zones. Votes could be released as early as 45 minutes after voting ends in the first time zone, at midnight ET. Presidential electoral votes: 3 awarded to statewide winner.

3 awarded to statewide winner. Key races and candidates: President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Jill Stein vs. Cornel West (Aurora) and two others.

President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Jill Stein vs. Cornel West (Aurora) and two others. At-large Congressional District: Peltola (D) vs. Begich (R) vs. John Wayne Howe (AK Independence) vs. Hafner (D).

Peltola (D) vs. Begich (R) vs. John Wayne Howe (AK Independence) vs. Hafner (D). Ballot measures: Measure 2 (repeal ranked-choice voting).

Measure 2 (repeal ranked-choice voting). Other races of interest: State Senate, state House and one other ballot measure.

State Senate, state House and one other ballot measure. Past presidential results: 2020: Trump (R) 53%, Biden (D) 43%

2020: Trump (R) 53%, Biden (D) 43% AP race call: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, 12:17 p.m. ET.

Voter registration and turnout

Registered voters: 609,933 (as of Oct. 3, 2024). About 12% Democrats, 24% Republicans, 45% undeclared and 14% nonpartisan.

Voter turnout in 2020 presidential election: 60% of registered voters.

Pre-Election Day voting

Votes cast before Election Day 2020: about 53% of the total vote.

about 53% of the total vote. Votes cast before Election Day 2022: about 35% of the total vote.

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How long does vote-counting take?

First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 1:15 a.m. ET. on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

1:15 a.m. ET. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. By 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 4: about 44% of total votes cast were reported.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2024, 23:39 IST
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand Asia Pacific Film Festival (NZAPFF) 2024, showcasing films from China, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand, was launched on Friday night.

Chairman of NZAPFF Bo Li stressed the festival's commitment to diversity in his opening speech.

"At this year's festival, we have maintained strong international inclusion, inviting filmmakers and artistic panels from all backgrounds to share their unique stories. This commitment to diversity enriches our festival and deepens our understanding of the world through the lens of the film," Li said.

Glen Katu from the NZ Maori Tourism said the festival is "a remarkable celebration of the diverse cultures and stories that shape our vibrant Asia Pacific region."

"Storytelling is foundational in both Maori and Asian cultures, serving not only as a bridge between generations but also as a heritage. This connection is visible tonight as we gather to share stories, a universal language that transcends boundaries and brings us all together," said Katu.

The opening ceremony concluded with lucky draws and a film screening of the award-winning movie "A Place Called Silence."

This year marks the 12th anniversary of the NZAPFF. It also features the first New Order Youth International Film Festival (NOYIFF), which is the brand of the NZAPFF short film unit to encourage young filmmakers to participate in the event and discover their talent. The NOYIFF has received 5,691 submissions from 120 countries, with the award to be given at the closing ceremony of the NZAPFF next week.

The New Zealand Asia Trust, the New Zealand Culture and Arts Foundation, and the New Zealand Maori Tourism co-organized this year's festival. The opening ceremony was attended by over 600 people including representatives from the Maori Tourism Board, diplomatic envoys, community leaders, movie lovers, celebrities and artists. 
US Presidential Poll 2024: What To expect In Indiana On Election Day

Published By :

Associated Press

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 23:12 IST

Two of the states top elected leadership positions will change hands after the Nov. 5 general election, with no incumbents running for governor or U.S. senator

November 5 will be the first general election where new voter ID laws will be in effect. (AP file photo)

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump will compete for Indianas 11 electoral votes on Election Day, with a full slate of other federal and state races rounding out the ballot. Two of the states top elected leadership positions will change hands after the Nov. 5 general election, with no incumbents running for governor or U.S. senator.

Republican presidential nominees have carried Indiana in 13 of the last 14 presidential elections. The lone exception was 2008, when then-Sen. Barack Obama became the first Democrat to win the Hoosier State since President Lyndon Johnson. The state has not been competitive since. Neither Harris nor Trump have campaigned there since officially becoming their parties nominees. Harris did address members of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta in Indianapolis on July 24, just three days after her former running mate, President Joe Biden, dropped out of the race.

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Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun is giving up his seat as he campaigns for governor. Spending by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick has made the race more competitive than expected. Another interesting twist is the presence of a third-party candidate with strong support: Libertarian Donald Rainwater, who captured 11% of the vote in 2020.

In the race to take Brauns U.S. Senate seat, Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Banks faces Democrat Valerie McCray. Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan seeks a third term in Indianas 1st Congressional District. Although not a top GOP target this cycle, Mrvan is more vulnerable than the states only other Democratic congressman, Andre Carson, in the 7th District. Mrvan took home 53% of the vote in his latest victory in the northwest Indiana district. Biden received about the same share of the vote in the district in 2020.

In the state Legislature, Republicans hold and are expected to keep a veto-proof supermajority. Half of 50 state Senate seats and all state House seats are up for election.

Nov. 5 will be the first general election where new voter ID laws will be in effect. Republican lawmakers passed measures to tighten mail-in voting requirements, and first-time voters now must supply proof of residency in order to register to vote. Most polls in the state close at 6 p.m. ET  the earliest closing time in the country.

Heres a look at what to expect in the 2024 election in Indiana:

Election Day

Nov. 5.

Poll closing time

6 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET. Indiana covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in the southwest are casting ballots until 7 p.m. ET.

Presidential electoral votes

11 awarded to statewide winner

Key races and candidates

President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (We the People).

U.S. Senate: Banks (R) vs. McCray (D) and one other.

Governor: Braun (R) vs. McCormick (D) vs. Donald Rainwater (Libertarian).

Other races of interest

U.S. House, state Senate, state House, attorney general and a ballot measure.

Past presidential results

2020: Trump (R) 57%, Biden (D) 41%, AP race call: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, 8:52 p.m. ET.

Voter registration and turnout

Registered voters: 4,813,264 (as of Oct. 10, 2024).

Voter turnout in 2020 presidential election: 64% of registered voters.

Pre-Election Day voting

Votes cast before Election Day 2020: about 61% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2022: about 36% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2024: See AP Advance Vote tracker.

How long does vote-counting take?

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First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 6:03 p.m. ET.

By midnight ET: about 77% of total votes cast were reported.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2024, 23:12 IST
White House Accused Of Altering Bidens Garbage Remark About Trump Supporters

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2024, 11:49 IST

The White House modified a transcript of President Biden's controversial "garbage" remark about Trump supporters

Biden created an uproar earlier this week with his remarks to Latino activists responding to racist comments at a Trump rally made by the comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. (File Photo)

The White House has come under fire for altering the transcript of Joe Bidens remarks regarding Donald Trumps supporters, a move described as a breach of protocol" by the White House Stenography Office.

This row began after the outgoing US President made controversial comments during a video call with Latino activists, where he appeared to rebuke GOP supporters following a derogatory joke by popular US comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally.

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Floating island of garbage

During the call, Biden responded to Hinchcliffes remark about Puerto Rico being a floating island of garbage," saying, The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters." However, the White House press office later modified this statement by adding an apostrophe, changing supporters" to supporters," which implied that Biden was only referring to Hinchcliffe rather than Trumps broader base.

BREAKING: Biden refers to millions of President Trumps supporters as garbage."Does Kamala disavow? pic.twitter.com/Zx4g3NOU9L  Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 30, 2024

An internal email

This issue sparked backlash and raised serious concerns among stenographers responsible for documenting presidential statements accurately. An internal email from Amy Sands, the director of the Stenography Office, revealed that the press office proceeded with the modification without proper approval.

According to the New York Post, Sands underlined that while the press office could request changes, any edits must be approved by her office to maintain transcript integrity. The email stated, If there is a difference in interpretation, the Press Office may choose to withhold the transcript but cannot edit it independently."

The urgency for a revised transcript came after Bidens comments ignited controversy, prompting quick action from the press office. However, Sands was not available to review the proposed changes before they were released publicly. The altered version was disseminated on social media and the White House website shortly after it was created, further complicating matters.

Calls For Probe

Republican lawmakers quickly seized upon Bidens remarks, accusing him of insulting Trump supporters. Former US President Trump capitalised on the situation during a rally in Wisconsin, where he mocked Bidens comments by appearing in a garbage truck. Trumps supporters echoed this sentiment, framing Bidens remarks as an attack on millions of Americans.

House Republicans are considering launching a probe into what they describe as a false transcript" released by the White House. They have urged the administration to preserve all documents related to the incident and are calling for a corrected transcript that accurately reflects Bidens original words.

Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik demanded the White House produce the records. Theyre also calling for the White House to make available for a briefing the top supervisor of the White House Stenographys Office.

The White House cannot simply rewrite President Bidens rhetoric," Comer and Stefanik wrote. We are concerned with the latest reporting of the White Houses apparent political decision to protect the Biden-Harris Administration, instead of following longstanding and proper protocols."

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(With agency inputs)

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2024, 08:10 IST
PORT SUDAN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 journalists have been killed since the war broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate announced on Saturday.

"Since the war broke out in Sudan, violations against journalists, both men and women, have escalated in an unprecedented manner, where 13 journalists, including two women, have been killed," the syndicate said in a statement on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which falls on November 2 each year.

The syndicate added that 11 other journalists, including three women, were exposed to physical attacks and injuries, in addition to one case of sexual assault.

A total of 30 journalists, 10 of whom are women, were exposed to gunfire and shelling, which killed 15 of the journalists' relatives and severely damaged their homes, according to the statement.

The syndicate cited 60 cases of kidnapping and forced detention, including nine female journalists, and six complaints of hindering journalists' work and restricting their movement.

According to the statement, 58 cases of personal threats were recorded, including 26 against female journalists, and 27 cases of physical assault and looting of property, including three against female journalists.

"What Sudanese journalists are exposed to necessitate the concerned authorities, both internally and externally, to undertake their responsibilities to ensure that the attackers are held accountable and provide the necessary protection for journalists who risk their lives to report the truth," the syndicate said.

The syndicate called on both parties in the conflict to respect international laws that protect journalists as civilians and ensure their security and safety in their work.

The syndicate urgently appealed to the concerned regional and international parties to defend press freedom, support efforts to hold the aggressors accountable, and protect Sudanese journalists against the imminent dangers to enable them to report the truth to the world.

The ongoing war in Sudan has forced hundreds of journalists, both men and women, to flee conflict zones or the country in search of safety.

Since February, internet and mobile phone services have been interrupted in large areas of Khartoum, affecting the work of journalists in those areas.

According to a situation report issued by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project on Oct. 14, the deadly conflict has resulted in more than 24,850 deaths.

The conflict has also displaced over 14 million people, either inside or outside Sudan, according to the latest estimates by the International Organization for Migration on Oct. 29. 
At the very least, it's a great yarn. But if some cavers are correct, it might also be a massive, fabulous cave tucked beneath the Rockies. The Colorado Sun explains: Back in the 1880s, a journalist named Orth Stein wrote of visiting what he dubbed the Cyclopean Cave via a mine shaft in Leadville, Colorado. He described intricate caverns, a waterfall he likened to a "hushed Niagara," countless stalactites, and even an underground river where miners were panning for gold, writes Jason Blevins. Unfortunately, Stein had a reputation for telling tall tales in print (including one about a sea serpent of the Twin Lakes), and his amazing cave was largely relegated to hoax status in the ensuing years. Today, however, a small group of dedicated spelunkers led by Richard Rhinehart thinks Stein may have been onto something.

Rhinehart, editor of the Rocky Mountain Caving Journal, pored over all the old stories, as well as maps, and pinpointed the abandoned shaft he believes should lead to the cave. For the last few years, he and a small teamwith the landowner's permissionhave been digging out the shaft. They've made it down about 45 laborious feet so far, and if the myth is true, that means they are closing in. Stein described the shaft as being 52 feet deep when it opened up into the legendary cavern. "The potential here is pretty fantastic," says Mike Frazier, a member of the team who has previously found caves considered lost or forgotten. "All the signs are right. But honestly, we could be in the wrong spot. You just don't know." (Read the full story.)
Hundreds of seasonal firefighters protested outside Greece's Civil Protection Ministry on Thursday, urging for permanent roles as their contracts end. These firefighters, dressed in their tan and red uniforms, voiced frustrations using whistles and aerosol horns. They are part of a group of 2,500 whose temporary positions expired Thursday. Their plight is highlighted by a devastating wildfire season, which burned approximately 675 square milessignificantly exceeding the average size of previous years. Moreover, the union stresses the need for a year-round firefighting force due to climate changes prolonging fire threats beyond summer.

Union leaders insist that experienced members, especially those with significant tenure, are crucial. Evangelos Tsoukalas from the Seasonal Firefighters' Association revealed that veterans with over six years of service are excluded from specialized units because of an age limit set at 35. "There is an age cut-off...so we are being thrown out," he said. This exclusion has left seasoned firefighters concerned about future employment and Greece's firefighting capabilities amidst intensifying risks. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
In Rome, tourists eagerly flocking to the iconic Trevi Fountain are now tossing coins over a temporary barrier and into a makeshift pool due to maintenance work. The setup, a small pool encased in a simple plywood box, has stirred varied reactions among visitors. Some, like Marianna Strekstadt from the Netherlands, considered it a charming alternative, while others, such as Daniela Carbone, found it less appealing yet participated for the sake of family tradition. Notably, the coin-throwing ritual at the Baroque fountain is believed to ensure a return trip to the city, a practice generating about 1.5 million euros annually for the Catholic charity Caritas.
A blue-and-white crowd estimated by police at 225,000 flooded downtown Los Angeles on Friday to celebrate the Dodgers' World Series victory. A parade that included players waving from the top of double-decker buses was followed by a party at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Times reports. "Everybody loves the Dodgers," Dennis Villegas, 30, said along the parade route. "Everybody and their mama is out here." At the stadium, star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who sat out the World Series with an injury, told the crowd, per USA Today, "I didn't have anything to do with this championship but it's the best feeling in the world."
JERUSALEM, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A rocket fired from Lebanon on Saturday hit a building in the Arab-Israeli city of Tira in central Israel, injuring 19 people, four of them moderately and the rest lightly, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported.

According to the TV channel, a drone launched from Lebanon on Saturday hit a factory located north of the city of Nahariya in northwestern Israel, with no casualties.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Saturday that two additional rockets launched from Lebanon into central Israel were intercepted by the Israeli air defense system.

The IDF said it killed two Hezbollah commanders in the city of Tyre in southwestern Lebanon on Friday.

Mousa Izz al-Din, the commander of Hezbollah's forces in the coastal sector, and Hassan Majid Daib, the Lebanese armed group's artillery commander in the same region, were responsible for launching more than 400 projectiles into Israel over the past month, according to the IDF. 
Iran's supreme leader on Saturday threatened Israel and the US with a "crushing response" over attacks on Iran and its allies. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke as Iranian officials are increasingly threatening to launch yet another strike against Israel after its Oct. 26 attack on the Islamic Republic that targeted military bases and other locations and killed at least five people. Any further attacks from either side could engulf the wider Middle East, already teetering over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon, into a wider regional conflict just ahead of the US presidential election this Tuesday, per the AP .

"The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front," Khamenei said in video released by Iranian state media. The supreme leader didn't elaborate on the timing of the threatened attack, nor the scope. The US military operates on bases throughout the Middle East, with some troops now manning a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, battery in Israel. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier likely is in the Arabian Sea, while Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Friday that more destroyers, fighter squadrons, tankers, and B-52 long-range bombers would be coming to the region to deter Iran and its militant allies.

The 85-year-old Khamenei had struck a more cautious approach in earlier remarks, saying officials would weigh Iran's response, and that Israel's attack "should not be exaggerated nor downplayed." Iran has launched two major direct attacks on Israel, in April and October. But efforts by Iran to downplay the Israeli attack faltered as satellite photos analyzed by the AP showed damage to military bases near Tehran linked to the country's ballistic missile program, as well as at a Revolutionary Guard base used in satellite launches. Iran's allies, called the "Axis of Resistance" by Tehran, also have been severely hurt by ongoing Israeli attacks, particularly Lebanon's Hezbollah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran long has used those groups as both an asymmetrical way to attack Israel and as a shield against a direct assault. More here.

(More Iran stories.)
South Carolina put Richard Moore to death by lethal injection on Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk, despite a broad appeal for mercy by parties that included three jurors and the judge from his trial, a former prison director, pastors, and members of his family. Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24pm ET, per the AP . His final meal: steak cooked medium, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake, and grape juice. Moore was convicted of killing James Mahoney, the Spartanburg clerk, in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later. Moore went into the store unarmed, took a gun Mahoney had pointed at him, and fatally shot the victim in the chest as the victim shot him in the arm with a second gun.

Moore's lawyers had asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole due to his spotless prison record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates. They also said it would be unjust to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense, and unfair that Moore, who was Black, was the only inmate on the state's death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans. But McMaster refused to grant clemency. In a letter, he didn't give a reason why but said he reviewed all the items submitted by Moore's lawyers and spoke to the victim's family. No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence, and 45 executions have now been carried out in the state since the US Supreme Court allowed states to restart them nearly 50 years ago.

Three jurors who condemned Moore to death in 2001 sent letters asking McMaster to change his sentence to life without parole. They were joined by an ex-state prison director, Moore's trial judge, his son and daughter, a half-dozen childhood friends, and several pastors. They all said Moore was a changed man who loved God, doted on his grandkids, helped guards keep the peace, and mentored other prisoners, according to the clemency petition. "He was not a danger to anyone, and the state eliminated a glowing example of reform and rehabilitation," the Justice 360 law firm, which represented Moore, said in a statement. Prosecutors and Mahoney's relatives haven't spoken publicly in the weeks leading up to the execution and didn't speak after. In the past, family members have said they suffered deeply and wanted justice to be served. More here.

(More execution stories.)
Twenty-nine children could be facing the death penalty in Nigeria after they were arraigned Friday for participating in a protest against the country's record cost-of-living crisis. Four of them collapsed in court due to exhaustion before they could enter a plea. A total of 76 protesters were charged with 10 felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance and mutiny, according to the charge sheet seen by the AP . The minors range in age from 14 to 17. "A country that has a duty to educate its children will decide to punish those children," a lawyer for some of them said. "These children have been in detention for 90 days without food."

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to several mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot to death, and hundreds more were arrested at a protest demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people. Akintayo Balogun, a private lawyer based in Abuja, said the Child Rights Act does not allow any child to be subject to criminal proceedings and sentenced to death, per the AP. "So taking minors before a federal high court is wrong, ab initio, except if the government is able to prove that the boys are all above 19 years," Balogun said.

The court eventually granted $5,900 bail to the defendants and imposed stringent conditions they are yet to meet, counsel Marshal Abubakar said. Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of Enough is Enough, a civil society organization promoting good governance in Nigeria, said authorities have no business prosecuting children. "The chief justice of Nigeria should be ashamed, she is a woman and a mother," Adamolekun said.

(More Nigeria stories.)
The UK's struggling Conservatives announced Saturday that they have made a historic decision in electing the daughter of Nigerian immigrants to lead their party back to power. Kemi Badenoch received votes from 53,806 party members, NBC News reports, to Robert Jenrick's 41,388. Both are members of Parliament with Cabinet experience. She succeeds Rishi Sunak, the prime minister who lead the Conservative Party to a resounding defeat in the July elections. For the party to rebound, she said after her victory, per the AP , "we have to be honesthonest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip."

Badenoch, 44, is the first Black woman to head a major British political party; three women have had the job. Sunak was the nation's nonwhite prime minister. She faces a long road to winning that job, per the New York Times. The Labour Party now has a huge majority in Parliament, and the Tories will be the opposition party for at least four years before the nation is due for another election. Badenoch promises to rebuild her party on a more authentically conservative base, calling on her training as a computer engineer that she said taught her how to fix problems.

"I grew up somewhere where the lights didn't come on, where we ran out of fuel frequently despite being an oil-producing country," Badenoch told the BBC. She was born in London but spent much of her childhood in Africa, per the AP. At 16, she returned to the UK from the chaos in Nigeria. Badenoch worked part time at McDonald's during school. After receiving a degree in computer systems engineering, she got a law degree, then worked in financial services. "I don't take what we have in this country for granted," Badenoch said. "I meet a lot of people who assume that things are good here because things are good here and they always will be. They don't realize just how much work and sacrifice was required in order to get that." (More United Kingdom stories.)
Aerial photo taken on June 24, 2022 shows the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway project in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia. (Photo by Li Zhen/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Cambodia's first high-speed toll road, celebrated the second anniversary of its operation on Friday.

Cambodian Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin took part in the event, held here at the headquarters of the Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., the operator of the 187-km expressway.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ponea said the expressway has become a key strategic route, linking the first economic powerhouse of Phnom Penh with the second economic powerhouse of the coastal province of Sihanoukville.

"This expressway has been providing great benefits to Cambodia's socio-economic development and tourism," he said. "It has played a crucial role in improving the efficiency of travel and goods transport."

The minister said the motorway was one of the major achievements in Cambodia under the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, in addition to the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and the Morodok Techo National Stadium.

Aerial photo taken on June 24, 2022 shows the operation center of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Li Zhen/Xinhua)

"These achievements are a solid testament to our joint efforts in building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future," he said.

Wang said the expressway was a landmark project of China-Cambodia cooperation under the BRI.

"It is a vivid example of China-Cambodia joint efforts in building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard community with a shared future in a new era," he said.

The ambassador said the expressway has significantly contributed to creating job opportunities, promoting regional development and improving the well-being of local people.

At the event, the company offered a one-year free travel to Chhum Sophearun, a 42-year-old taxi driver, who was the 10 millionth user of the expressway. 
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BEIRUT, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were injured on Saturday afternoon in an Israeli airstrike on a building in Hadath in Beirut's southern suburbs, said the Lebanese health ministry.

The airstrike targeted a shop selling motorbikes in a densely populated area near a shopping mall and several restaurants, local TV channel al-Jadeed reported.

Ambulances rushed to the area to transport casualties to the hospital, and Lebanese security forces arrived at the scene to investigate the attack.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been conducting an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah.

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 war between Hamas and Israel continues in the Gaza Strip. 
ACCRA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Ghana on Friday launched its first 5G network to boost the country's digital transformation and economic growth.

The 5G network was built by Next-Gen InfraCo, a consortium of telecommunication service companies, which received exclusive rights for 10 years to roll out 5G and 4G infrastructure across the country to drive network coverage and reliability in Ghana.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said during the launching that the entrance of the 5G network marks a defining moment in the journey toward a digitally inclusive and transformed Ghana.

Akufo-Addo said the advanced technology is a leap forward in connectivity to strengthen the country's vision as a digital economy hub.

He said the initiative supports Ghana's Digital Agenda 2030 and aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063.

"This new technology is more than just faster internet, but a leap forward in connectivity that aligns with Ghana's vision to become a digital economy hub, accelerating growth, enhancing services, and transforming lives across all sectors," Akufo-Addo said.

"The 5G technology will drive our agenda forward, embedding the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and data analytics into daily life across Ghana," he added

The president said he hoped that all sectors, including agriculture, health, education and manufacturing, among others, would benefit from the advanced technology provided by the 5G network.

"5G will be a catalyst for industrial growth, empowering domestic businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of our economy, with faster, more reliable internet," he added. 
A 37-year-old man has been charged with two counts of murder in a Burlington County shooting earlier this week that killed a woman and her adult daughter, officials announced Saturday.

Junior Edwards, of Landsdowne, Pennsylvania broke into the home of Catherine Nunez, 33, and her mother, Marisol Nunez, 54, early Wednesday and fatally shot both women, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office alleges.

The shooting took place in the Hawthorne Park section of Willingboro and an initial investigation revealed that Catherine Nunez and Edwards shared an 8-year-old son who was in the house at the time of the shooting, officials said.

The child was not injured in the shooting, authorities said Saturday.

Edwards is also charged with first-degree home invasion armed burglary, endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree weapons offense.

Willingboro police were called to the first block of Harrington Circle just after 4 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a burglary in progress and discovered that someone had broken into the home through a first-floor window, authorities said.

The bodies of the women were found in an upstairs bedroom. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.

A gun believed to be used in the shootings was found outside the home, investigators said.

Edwards was served with the charges Friday in Philadelphia where he was already in custody on unrelated charges, authorities said Saturday.

An attorney for Edwards could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
His richly imagined wizards, hobbits, dragons, Jedis and web-slinging superheroes became some of the most iconic images of comics, books, calendars and films.

New Jersey artist Greg Hildebrandt, known for his work in fantasy and science fiction illustration alongside his twin brother Tim Hildebrandt, has died.

Hildebrandt, whose art could be found in images associated with Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Marvel and DC comics and more, was 85.

His wife and agent, Jean Scrocco, announced his death on X (formerly Twitter) Friday.

The light has gone out in my life. At 12:36 pm yesterday afternoon the love of my life, my best friend and soulmate passed away, she said.

He was the sweetest man I ever knew. We worked together for 45 years. We lived together for 33 of those years. We had a beautiful life we were blessed. Greg has been fighting for 5 months to regain his ability to breathe after a serious side effect of a heart medication. He fought very hard to win this battle but in the end he was just too weak. He passed away peacefully in my arms. He knew he was safe and he was loved and he will be missed terribly. I cannot imagine my life without him. He was my guy, yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. You are my heart and it is broken!

Hildebrandt died Thursday in Denville, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Gregs fraternal twin brother, Tim Hildebrandt, his first partner in art, died in 2006, at 67.

The pair of illustrators, Detroit natives known as the Brothers Hildebrandt, had a studio in Morris Plains. Some of their most high-profile fans included celebrities like Michael Jackson and Robin Williams.

Twin brothers Greg Hildebrandt and Tim Hildebrandt survey their work in the comic strip "Terry and the Pirates" at their studio in Morris Plains in 1995.Jim Pathe | The Star-Ledger

They worked together starting in 1959 on art for comic books, childrens books and textbooks, film production design, movie posters, collectibles, trading cards and advertising.

But they first teamed up as artists when they were 2 years old  Greg Hildebrandt once shared that the brothers loved color so much they would try to eat their crayons.

As working artists, theyd start from different ends of a canvas and meet in the middle.

They created one of the original Star Wars movie posters and a series of popular calendars for J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings published in the 70s.

The Brothers Hildebrandt created this 1977 poster for "Star Wars" as well as illustrations for popular "Lord of the Rings" calendars in the '70s. The Brothers Hildebrandt

In the poster they made for the United Kingdom release of the first Star Wars movie (1977), an image known as Style B, Luke Skywalker holds a gleaming lightsaber above his head as the huge shadowy head of Darth Vader emerges from the darkness of the background. The posters blaster-toting Princess Leia, who stands next to Luke, was modeled after Greg Hildebrandts first wife, Diana Stankowski, since the artists were not given reference photos of the cast.

Greg, who owned the Spiderwebart Gallery in Hopatcong, used his son, Greg Hildebrandt Jr., as a model for the hobbits in the Tolkien calendars.

The Hildebrandt brothers also collaborated on a film poster for the 1981 movie Clash of the Titans. They parted ways that year, when Tim moved to Texas.

After a decade living and working separately, they reunited, with work including comics posters for Marvel and DC.

They illustrated a 1995 revival of the newspaper comic strip Terry and the Pirates written by Batman movie producer and lifelong comic book fan Michael Uslan, a Jersey City native who grew up in Bayonne and Ocean Township.

The light has gone out in my life. At 12:36 pm yesterday afternoon the love of my life, my best friend and soulmate passed away. Greg was 85 years young. He was the sweetest man I ever knew. We worked together for 45 years. We lived together for 33 of those years. We had a pic.twitter.com/GKFYzYFckr  Greg Hildebrandt (@HildebrandtGreg) November 1, 2024

Greg Hildebrandt also painted a series of 40s and 50s-style pinup images called American Beauties, which he launched in 1999.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, the Hildebrandts painted tributes to benefit the families of firefighters and EMS workers.

The brothers painted more than 100 illustrations for the card game Magic: The Gathering in the 2000s.

Since 2003, Greg Hildebrandt designed the yearly tour programs for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, including the upcoming 2024 program. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, he also designed album covers for the Illinois band as well as the Black Sabbath album Mob Rules, released in 1981.

Greg Hildebrandt of Hopatcong paints a Lake Hopatcong scene from the early 20th century during the Lake Hopatcong Block Party at Lake Hopatcong State Park in 2015.Jerry McCrea

His book illustrations included art for Mary Stewarts Merlin Trilogy in 1984 as well as classics of literature like The Wizard of Oz and Dracula.

Greg Hildebrandts book illustrations included his own book, Greg Hildebrandts Favorite Fairy Tales, also published in 1984.

Hildebrandt received the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists Chesley Award for lifetime artistic achievement in 2010, and the Brothers Hildebrandt were honored with Comic-Cons Inkpot Award in 1995.

Greg Hildebrandt is survived by Scrocco, his wife of 15 years; his son Greg Hildebrandt Jr.; his daughter Mary; his sister Jane; his daughter-in-law Jane and son-in-law David.

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
A New Jersey man was arrested Friday at Newark Liberty International Airport after officers found a gun in his carry-on backpack at the security checkpoint in Terminal C, officials said.

The Ridgewood resident told Transportation Security Administration officers he was armed because he had previously been a crime victim, the TSA said in a statement.

This is an understandable reason to own a firearm, TSA Federal Director for New Jersey Thomas Carter said in a statement. However, guns are not permitted to be carried into the cabin of a plane. As a result, not only does this individual face criminal charges from the police, but he also will face a stiff federal financial civil penalty that is likely to set him back several thousands of dollars.

Guns can be be brought on commercial flights if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and declared to the airline while checking in.

Firearms are transported in the belly of the plane during the flight.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Iron Maiden are on their way to New York and New Jersey, and you need to get tickets soon.

The heavy metal band will perform at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Nov. 2, and tickets are under $50.

If you happen to miss this show, then you can catch them live at the Prudential Center in Newark on Nov. 9.

If you want to make sure you get your hands on Iron Maidens The Future Past Tour tickets, here is how you can.

How to get last-minute Iron Maiden tour tickets

The cheapest ticket at the time of publication on the secondary market for Iron Maidens Nov. 2 Barclays Center concert is $57 on Vivid Seats.

If you want to snag tickets to their Prudential Center concert on Nov. 9 instead, then you can find tickets, before fees, for $93 on Vivid Seats.

If you happen to miss out on these cheapest tickets, then Iron Maiden fans can find tickets on StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketCity and SeatGeek.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

A complete list of Iron Maidens tour dates is available here.

Iron Maiden Tour 2024: Dates, schedule & more

Iron Maiden began their tour on Oct. 4 in San Diego and will wrap up on Nov. 17 in San Antonio.

The Future Past Tour will feature songs from Iron Maidens most recent studio album Senjutsu as well as their 1986 album Somewhere In Time.

In 2025 and 2026, Iron Maiden is promising fans a spectacular and elaborate new show on its 50th anniversary tour. The Run For Your Lives world tour starts in May 2025 in Hungary.

Upcoming 2024-2025 tours

Iron Maiden is not the only group heading out on tour.

Here are a few more groups you dont want to miss out on: Oasis, Metallica, GHOST and Coldplay.

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Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Voters in one New Jersey town will be asked in Tuesdays election if they want to allow weed stores to open, more than three years after the state legalized cannabis sales.

State law gives municipalities the option to opt out of having stores in within their borders.

Stanhope, a Sussex County borough of about 3,500 residents, rejected allowing cannabis sales in 2021. Now its leaders are having second thoughts, leaving it up to residents.

The municipality in its 2021 ordinance said it rejected allowing cannabis establishments within its borders due to the complexity of cannabis law and community concerns.

 ... it is at this time necessary and appropriate, and in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the Boroughs residents and members of the public who visit, travel, or conduct business in the Borough of Stanhope, to amend the Boroughs zoning regulations to prohibit all manner of marijuana-related land use and development within the geographic boundaries of the Borough, read part of the ordinance.

Tuesdays referendum is not binding. New Jersey currently has more than 150 dispensaries throughout the state and cannabis is expected to become a billion dollar industry.

Cannabis stores need permission from the states Cannabis Regulatory Commission and the local town before they can open.

Municipalities also have the ability to put in place their own licensing process independent of the state and levy local taxes and application fees.

About 70% of New Jerseys municipalities have opted out of the of cannabis sales.

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Jelani Gibson is a cannabis and politics reporter for NJ.com. He can be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @jelanigibson1 and on LinkedIn.
A local historical society believes America is a nation filled with music as diverse as its people, influenced by cultures from around the world.

Thats why a program called From Bessie Smith to Beyonce" will be featured Sunday at the Harrison Township Historical Society.

Composer, guitarist and producer Kevin Hanson will journey through a century of popular music to offer an insiders perspective on the evolution of American music. He has performed and recorded with The Roots, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Usher, Jill Scott, Bobby Caldwell, Terrell Stafford and Bernadette Peters, a statement from the historical society said.

The presentation will look at music decade by decade, Hanson told NJ Advance Media on Friday. Well look at the socio-political impact on popular music like the marketing of so called race records subsequently being marketed as R&B and soul music. Well look at how it impacted the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, both the messaging and the content of the songs, and how political views were expressed in popular music.

Bessie Smith to Beyonce: 100 Years of American Music is the focus of guitarist, composer and producer Kevin Hanson's program Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Richwood Academy Cultural Center in Harrison.provided

In addition to being a session musician and stage performer, Hanson, 52, has taught at The University of the Arts, Swarthmore College, and Rowan and Temple universities.

Kevin brings first-hand knowledge of American popular music, having performed with many of the top recording artists today, said James Turk, a program coordinator for the historical society.

Hanson was born and raised in Spokane, Washington, and arrived on the Philadelphia musical scene in 1992. He quickly got gigs with The Roots, a popular hip-hop group that now also serves as a house band on the Jimmy Fallon late-night NBC show.

New Jersey has a rich tradition of musicians who were born or came of age here. Including Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli, Dionne Warwick, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Whitney Houston. Other musicians, such as The Isley Brothers and George Clinton, of Parliament-Funkadelic, gained fame while living in New Jersey.

The Isleys worked out of Teaneck, and named their record label T-Neck. Clinton had a barbershop in Plainfield where he and others first formed the Parliament.

Hanson said he may include some Jersey musicians in his presentation Sunday at at Richwood Academy Cultural Center in Harrison, which also includes the Mullica Hill section of town.

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
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NIAMEY, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The government of Niger, represented by Minister of Communication Sidi Mohamed Raliou, signed an agreement on Friday in the capital, Niamey, with Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of Russia's Roscosmos space agency, to acquire three satellites aimed at bolstering the nation's security and defense capabilities.

The deal includes a communications satellite, a remote sensing satellite and a radar satellite for defense and security purposes, with production set to take place in Russia over the next four years, Raliou said at the signing ceremony.

"We are committed to securing our sovereignty in this field," he said, noting that the project will also involve training teams in Niger to manage the equipment.

In the interim, Russia has agreed to lease similar equipment to Niger, Raliou added.

Following a coup last year, Niger has increasingly distanced itself from France, its former colonial power, and is strengthening ties with other international partners, including Russia. 
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Eleven security personnel were injured in a terrorist attack in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, official sources said.

The incident happened in the tribal district of South Waziristan where the militants attacked a military base, the sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The injured people, including an officer, were shifted to a nearby hospital.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. 
ULAN BATOR, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Saturday commemorated National Pride Day, marking the anniversary of the birth of Genghis Khan.

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene and other members of parliament and government ministers paid their respects to the statue of Genghis Khan in front of the government palace in Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia.

During the observance, Khurelsukh issued a decree aimed at enhancing Mongolian historiography. This decree seeks to deepen the study of the origins of the Mongolian nation, its state traditions, the heritage of nomadic civilization, and the contributions of the Mongolian people to world history, while also promoting national unity and values to reinforce Mongolia's independence, according to the presidential press office.

Additionally, the president conferred the Order of Genghis Khan, the country's highest state award, on Ban Ki-moon, former secretary-general of the United Nations to recognize his leadership in adopting the Sustainable Development Goals and ratifying the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as his unwavering commitment to global peace, human rights, justice, and equality.

The Order of Genghis Khan is awarded to Mongolian citizens who have made significant contributions to strengthening national unity, studying Mongolia's history and culture, and promoting Mongolian culture internationally. It is also granted to foreigners who have positively impacted Mongolia's unity, prosperity, and international relations, enhancing the nation's reputation and contributing to its economic, social, and spiritual development.

The National Pride Day celebrations also featured traditional wrestling, a gala concert, and an exhibition showcasing Mongolian history and cultural heritage.

Mongolia has been observing National Pride Day as an official public holiday since 2012, with Genghis Khan's birth anniversary falling on the first day of the first winter month of the lunar calendar. 
Tim Jones, chair of the South West Business Council, has voiced serious concerns about the recent budget announcement by the Chancellor, characterising it as one of the most radical tax increases seen in a generation.

In an exclusive interview with the North Devon Gazette, Mr Jones stated that while the necessity for change was evident, the extent of the Chancellor's strategy poses significant risks to the economy.

He highlighted that, while the previous government's policies could not continue indefinitely, the current government's approach could lead to considerable pain before any potential gain is realised.

He expressed scepticism about whether the government's plans would effectively stimulate growth, noting that external factors could hinder success and that a substantial amount of luck would be required.

The financial markets have already responded nervously, Mr Jones explained.

Some commentators have likened this situation to the Liz Truss reaction from the money markets, which is an exaggeration, but it underscores the precariousness of international funding. The budget has diminished the value of sterling and escalated the cost of government borrowing.

Mr Jones pinpointed agriculture and the hospitality sector as particularly vulnerable to the proposed changes, both of which are vital to the North Devon economy.

He emphasised the longstanding challenges faced by the agricultural sector, which has relied heavily on government support in recent years.

The government's plan to accelerate the wind-down of basic farm payments, coupled with the introduction of new funding under Environmental Land Management, threatens the financial stability of local farmers.

The current administration has not adequately addressed the need for increased agricultural support, he said, highlighting concerns over a nearly 400 million underspend in agricultural funding.

Furthermore, the introduction of a 20 per cent Inheritance Tax could force family farms to sell land or even the entire business to cover tax bills, creating additional distress in the sector.

Mr Jones also expressed alarm over the implications for the hospitality, tourism, and leisure industries, which have faced numerous challenges in recent years, including the aftermath of COVID-19, soaring energy costs, staff shortages, and dwindling customer demand.

New measures, such as a 6.7 per cent increase in minimum wage, higher National Insurance contributions, and reduced business rate relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent, further compound the struggles faced by businesses in this sector.

The government often talks about its financial black hole, currently estimated at 22 billion or possibly 40 billion, Mr Jones remarked.

What they overlook is that the hospitality sector already grapples with a 10 billion shortfall.

Mr Jones concluded by asserting that it may take five years or more for the impact of these changes to positively influence the economy.

He urged caution, stating that the effectiveness of this budget will soon be tested. Additionally, he warned that changes in US leadership and potential protectionist policies could further threaten UK economic stability, particularly concerning export trade.

As businesses brace for what Mr Jones describes as a dangerous game of roulette, the coming months will reveal whether these radical measures yield the anticipated growth or lead to further economic turmoil.
NAIROBI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The 27.1-kilometer Nairobi Expressway, built by a Chinese firm, received four prestigious awards on Friday evening for advancing green and seamless mobility in Kenya and across the East African region.

The expressway garnered acclaim at the third annual Africa Mashariki Transport Award (AMTA), an event established in 2022 to honor excellence in transport across Kenya and the broader region. Hosted by BH Media Agency in collaboration with Kenya's Ministry of Roads and Transport, the AMTA awards recognize organizations with outstanding records in sustainability, efficiency and customer-centered service.

The award ceremony took place ahead of the third annual ATMA Expo and Gala, which ran from Wednesday to Friday, bringing together a diverse range of participants to showcase innovations under the theme "Data-Driven Approach to Safety in Transport."

The Nairobi Expressway received four major honors: Road Transport Infrastructure of the Year, Sustainable Transport, Best Technological Innovation and Corporate Road Safety Initiative of the Year. Speaking on the recognition, Jeanne May Ong'iyo, spokesperson for the Nairobi Expressway, said the awards reaffirm the company's dedication to customer satisfaction, green mobility and positive economic impact.

"We are committed to continually enhancing the customer experience and partnering with like-minded industry players to deliver world-class service," Ong'iyo said.

Construction of the Nairobi Expressway began in September 2020, and the road was officially launched in July 2022 after a successful trial period that started in May 2022. Since its launch, the toll road has significantly cut travel time between Nairobi's southern areas, home to the main airport, and the upscale Westlands suburb, from two hours during peak times to just 20 minutes. 
In July, a gunman tried to assassinate Trump at a rally. In September, the authorities charged another man with trying to kill Trump. In which two places did the attempts occur?
How Missile Defense Works (and Why It Fails) Iran fired two of the largest barrages of ballistic missiles ever at Israel this year. Even the worlds best defenses dont always stop them.

15 ft. 15 ft. Time Time Once a ballistic missile is fired into the air, a defender has only minutes to identify its precise trajectory and try to shoot it down. The target, an enemy warhead , is inside an object about the size of a car that typically flies through the edge of space at many times the speed of sound. In April and October, Iran launched two of the largest ballistic missile attacks in history at Israel. The worlds most advanced missile defense systems, deployed by Israel and the United States, stopped some of the missiles  but not all of them. Neither attack caused major damage, but some Israeli and American officials said it may have been a Heres why stopping a ballistic missile attack is hard. Neither attack caused major damage, but some Israeli and American officials said it may have been a matter of luck that it was not worse. After Israel struck back at Iran last week, Iranian officials threatened another round of retaliation , although their plans remain unclear.Heres why stopping a ballistic missile attack is hard.

Ballistic missiles like the ones Iran fired last month escape the atmosphere and accelerate to great speeds as they fall back down to Earth. It took only about 12 minutes for Irans missiles to reach Israel, analysts estimate. But there was far less time to make critical decisions about how to stop them.

Interception Interception Within seconds, satellites must detect the heat signature given off by a missile launch. Radars must find the missile and try to calculate its exact course. A defensive missile called an interceptor must be fired soon after that to reach the incoming missile in time. Thats all hard enough with one missile. But Iran fired a large volley of them last month  nearly 200 ballistic missiles in less than an hour. The goal appeared to be to overwhelm Israeli defenses. Radars can only track so many targets at once, and launchers, once emptied, may need a half hour or more to reload. Radars can only track so many targets at once, and launchers, once emptied, may need a half hour or more to reload. Beyond that, if they are concerned about future attacks, targeted countries may also need to make a critical split-second decision to reserve valuable interceptors only for the incoming missiles that appear likely to do the most damage.

After Irans second barrage, in October, Israel said its defense systems had shot down many of the missiles, and those that struck appear to have caused limited damage.

But satellite imagery does show that the barrage, which analysts said used more advanced missiles, left dozens of craters at one air base, Nevatim. Had those missiles landed in a populated area, the death and destruction could have been extensive.

Israels best-known defense system, the Iron Dome, was built to stop short-range rockets, and is too slow and limited when it comes to ballistic missiles. For that, Israel relies on several more advanced layers of defense designed to counter ballistic missiles at different stages of flight.

The most advanced systems, long-range interceptors like the Arrow 3, operate in space, where ballistic missiles like those Iran fired spend most of their time. They are the first chance to stop a missile, but high above the atmosphere, there is no room for error.

Interceptor Enemy missile Kill vehicle Re-entry vehicle SPACE ATMOSPHERE Enemy missile Re-entry vehicle Interceptor Kill vehicle SPACE ATMOSPHERE Enemy missile Re-entry vehicle Kill vehicle Gimbaled sensor Rear thruster Enemy missile Re-entry vehicle Kill vehicle Gimbaled sensor Rear thruster Enemy missile Re-entry vehicle Warhead Enemy missile Re-entry vehicle Warhead Layers of defense Layers of defense Both an interceptor and an enemy missile shed the boosters that power them into space. Just two smaller vehicles remain, hurtling toward each other. The interceptor seeks a direct hit to destroy the warhead. To home in, the interceptor carries sensors to track the enemy missile and thrusters to move toward it. But by the time an interceptor senses its target a mile away, it has only a split second to adjust. Thats because missiles like Irans latest are only about three feet wide at the base by the time they are in space, and they are traveling about two miles every second. If that werent hard enough, some ballistic missiles carry decoys to trick the interceptor. Debris leftover from the boosters can also confuse it.

Its unclear how often interceptions above the atmosphere actually work. Governments tend to avoid disclosing specific interception rates, and they have every reason to present a positive picture, even when interceptions fail. So do the companies that manufacture the pricey systems.

When combined with U.S. antimissile systems in the region, Israel currently has the most layers of missile defense in the world. If outer-layer defenses fail to stop a missile, shorter-range systems that intercept missiles closer to the ground may have another chance.

But time runs out quickly. The closer a ballistic missile gets, the more dangerous it becomes. And even if a lower-altitude intercept is successful, the resulting debris can still be deadly.

Out of the atmosphere Upper atmosphere Medium range Long range Out of the atmosphere Upper atmosphere Medium range Long range Out of the atmosphere Upper atmosphere Lower atmosphere Short range Medium range Long range Out of the atmosphere Upper atmosphere Lower atmosphere Short range Medium range Long range Ballistic missiles Planes Cruise missiles Drones Rockets, artillery, mortars Ballistic missiles Planes Cruise missiles Drones Rockets, artillery, mortars If a missile succeeds in re-entering the atmosphere, often less than a minute remains before it strikes. Defenses that work in the upper atmosphere  like Israels Arrow 2 or the THAAD system that the United States recently sent to Israel  must fire their interceptors within seconds. Defenses that work like Israels Arrow 2 or the THAAD system that the United States recently sent to Israel  must fire their interceptors within seconds. As the missile nears the ground, close-range defenses like the Patriot system from the U.S. provide a final chance to stop it. But these systems have a range of about 12 miles and can only protect limited areas. An attacker can draw on a variety of tactics. To distract the enemy, it can fire a volley of cheaper weapons timed to arrive at the same time as the ballistic missiles. This is what Iran tried in its April attack, but Israel and its allies appear to have been able to triage between the faster and slower weapons, using other defenses like fighter jets to counter them.

Israels retaliatory strike at Iran last week targeted missile production sites and degraded Irans ability to produce the kind of missiles it fired in October. The attack damaged at least one rocket production facility, as well as fuel mixers that make propellant for Irans missile fleet.

It is unclear how Iran will respond or whether it will fire another round of ballistic missiles, but if it does, the fundamental imbalance of missile warfare will remain: Firing a ballistic missile is a lot easier than stopping one. And making a ballistic missile is cheaper and faster than making an interceptor to shoot one down.

Over the course of a protracted conflict, it could become a question of which side runs out of missiles first.
A CONTRACTOR has been appointed to carry out conservation work at an historic site in Birr, a recent meeting of Birr 20:20 was told.

Denis Shine, Chairperson of Birr 20:20, and also Director of the Irish Heritage School, told the meeting that the old St Brendan's Church at the junction of Castle Street and Church Lane has been closed to the public for many years because it's not 100% safe. A contractor has been appointed to carry out conservation and health & safety work there and the paperwork has been done. We are now waiting for the contractor to get on site and begin the work.

The idea is that eventually this very important site, which gives an insight into Birr's medieval past, will be open to tourists and visitors.

The site is a possible location for St Brendan's Monastery (which was founded in the 6th Century). In an excellent article on its website, Birr 20:20 points out that archaeologically the evidence for a monastery at Church Lane is not extensive. However, human remains and a curving ditch on Main Street were discovered in two sets of archaeological test-excavations about 15 years ago which gave the people of Birr a tantalising glimpse into what could be preserved below ground.

Geophysical surveys were carried out at the site in 2017, co-ordinated by the Irish Heritage School and requested by Birr 20:20, and these inferred that grave cuts continued outside the current nineteenth century graveyard boundary.

Historically, the monastery is reasonably well recorded, notably as having been the location of several significant church synods, probably including the Synod of Adomnain (named after Adomnain an Abbot of Iona) in 697 AD.
THREE Offaly areas have scooped Gold Medals in the prestigious Super Value Tidy Towns competition.

Birr claimed its first ever Gold Medal, Geashill retained its Gold Medal while Tullamore captured an unbelievable tenth Gold Medal.

Details of the national and county winners in the competition were revealed at a gala occasion in Croke Park on Friday.

Tullamore was awarded 375 points in the competition  up from 362 last year  and they recorded points increases in all categories.

Birr scored 376 points, up from 361 in 2023, while Geashill was awarded 384 points, up from 357 the previous year.

Speaking after the announcement of the winners, the chairperson of Tullamore Tidy Towns committee, Shane Murray said he would like to thank all the volunteers on the body for their hard work which he said made such a difference to the town.

"What an amazing group you are  this Gold Medal is for you all," he said on the group's What's App.

Mr Murray also congratulated Birr and Geashill Tidy Towns committees on achieving Gold status.

Full details of how all Offaly areas performed in the competition including the area reports are available at www.tidytownms.ie

At the event, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys announced Ballincollig, Co. Cork as Irelands Tidiest Town for 2024.

Over 600 TidyTowns volunteers were present at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin with the event live-streamed to many more online.

This year, 904 towns were competing for the prestigious awards demonstrating the continuing huge national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, which has been running since 1958.

Ballincollig Co. Cork was named as Irelands Tidiest Town as well as Irelands Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

Minister Humphreys also presented the Young Person in TidyTowns award to Ballyphehane TidyTowns, Co. Cork as well as the Town Centre First National Award today to Carrickmacross TidyTowns, Co Monaghan recognising their tremendous efforts to address vacancy and dereliction in line with the Governments Town Centre First policy.

Announcing Ballincollig as the overall winner, Minister Humphreys said: I offer my warmest congratulations to Ballincollig and all of its TidyTowns volunteers for being crowned Irelands tidiest town for 2024.

This is a truly great achievement and a special moment of immense pride for Ballincollig and indeed the wider county of Cork.

Having first entered the competition in the 1960s, Ballincollig today continues to showcase all that is good about innovation, sustainability, community spirit and volunteerism. This is at the core of what the competition is all about.

The Minister continued: As in previous years, the standard of competition was exceptional this year in all categories, with 904 entries received overall from the almost 1000 active groups nationwide.

I want to pay tribute to all the winners today across all the various categories.

In particular, I want to recognise the vital role of volunteers across the country who are working so hard all year round to ensure our communities are vibrant, sustainable places to live, work and visit.

You are truly an inspiration, and the embodiment of everything that is good in our communities.

Investment in our communities through this wonderful competition reaps long-term rewards for all, as showcased by the winning groups here today.

The impact of Supervalu TidyTowns can be seen, particularly in fostering inclusion, sustainability and community engagement.

SuperValu has been the competitions main sponsor since 1991, and today Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu, announced the results with Minister Humphreys.

Some of the other big winners on the day included:

 Ballinahown, Co. Westmeath awarded Irelands Tidiest Village.

 Blackrock, Co. Louth awarded Irelands Tidiest Small Town.

 Westport, Co. Mayo awarded Irelands Tidiest Large Town.

 Ballincollig, Co. Cork awarded Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

The Minister also thanked SuperValu, the competitions sponsor, adding:SuperValu has been a loyal supporter and sponsor of the competition for over 30 years and continues to champion sustainability through their supportive network of retailers countrywide. The team has worked very closely with my Department to make sure that this competition continues to be a success. Many of our groups have entered the competition consecutively for over 50 years  demonstrating a great example of dedication to their communities.

Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu commented after the awards: I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ballincollig on being crowned Irelands Tidiest Town for 2024  an outstanding achievement that reflects the tireless dedication and hard work of the committee and volunteers. This award is a true testament to what can happen when individuals within a community come together with passion and commitment to make their towns and villages better places to live, work, and play. At SuperValu, we take immense pride in the communities we serve, and it's fantastic to see that same pride shining through the efforts of TidyTowns committees across the country.

SuperValu TidyTowns is not just a competition; its a sustainability movement that thrives on the power of collaboration. The dedication of the volunteers and our independent SuperValu retailers, who go above and beyond for their local communities, is one of the driving forces behind this success. We are deeply committed to supporting this programme, which plays a vital role in fostering a sense of community and ensuring the vitality of our towns and villages.

Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu continued: The SuperValu TidyTowns competition has evolved into one of the most powerful community-led initiatives, driving the biodiversity and sustainability of our towns and villages. It is a shining example of how local action can create a significant impact, contributing to a more sustainable future for all. With 20% of committee members now under 25, the future of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition is bright.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of the Department, whose unwavering dedication has been fundamental to the success of this competition. SuperValu is incredibly proud to stand behind this initiative, and we look forward to working alongside the Department and local committees for many years to come. To all those who have participated this year, I wish you continued success and thank you for your remarkable efforts.

Minister Humphreys also announced a special allocation of 1.5 million in funding to support the work of TidyTowns groups in their continued efforts to make their towns and villages better places to live, work and visit.

Since 2017, the Department has provided almost 11 million in funding to support the activities of these groups.

The Minister concluded: The focus on sustainability and biodiversity are particularly impressive and important for all of us. The funding from my Department will help Groups continue with their inspirational efforts to transform their communities and the local environment.

The SuperValu TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and sponsored by SuperValu who have sponsored the competition since 1991.
by Xu Jiatong, Dai He

NAIROBI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Surging trade with China over the past 15 years has served as a catalyst for job creation and an uplift in living standards across the African continent, a Kenyan economist told Xinhua.

In an interview with Xinhua, Professor Xn Iraki from the University of Nairobi underscored the critical role of balanced trade as a foundation for a win-win scenario, propelling rapid development in Africa and China.

Iraki shed light on the significance of dialogue platforms between China and African nations, notably Kenya, such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, highlighting their role as essential conduits for aligning mutual interests, overcoming trade challenges, and seizing untapped opportunities.

He encouraged open discourse among trading entities to foster deeper commercial ties and explore new frontiers in trade, despite the geographical distance between China and Africa.

Iraki highlighted China's commitment to delivering top-tier products at competitive prices, without tariff barriers, which is instrumental in cultivating a more transparent and balanced trade ecosystem.

Reflecting on the historical shift in global trade, Iraki applauded China's burgeoning presence. He projected a promising trajectory for Kenya-China trade hinged on Kenya's embrace of Chinese products and services, and China's dedication to quality and affordability.

Regarding investment, Iraki said China's status as the "workshop of the world" has naturally attracted foreign investment, which is bolstered by its efficient systems and supply chains.

On China's assistance to Africa, the Kenyan expert highlighted its unconditional and visible nature, which is often manifested in infrastructure projects like roads and ports, as opposed to the conditional aid from some Western countries. 
JAKARTA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- As many as nine people were killed and four others injured following a large fire at a cooking oil factory near Jakarta, Indonesia's largest city, an official said on Saturday.

According to Idham Kholid, head of the reconstruction and rehabilitation unit at Bekasi's disaster management and mitigation agency, the fire occurred on Friday at an industrial complex in the town of Bekasi and all flames have now been extinguished.

"Nine people died in the fire, and four were injured," he told Xinhua, explaining that most of the casualties, including three of the injured, were factory workers. The fourth injured person was a firefighter who responded to the incident.

"The fire has been completely put out, and now the site is in a cooling phase," Kholid added, referring to efforts to prevent any potential re-ignition.

Agung Priambodo, head of the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office, noted that the injured individuals are receiving treatment in a hospital for burn-related injuries. 
Smoke billows after Israeli airstrikes in Nabatieh, Lebanon, on Nov. 2, 2024. Israeli airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Friday and Saturday morning have killed at least 69 people and injured 126 others, according to local authorities. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Friday and Saturday morning have killed at least 69 people and injured 126 others, according to local authorities.

The Public Health Emergency Operations Center under the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement that Israeli raids on the Baalbek-Hermel governorate in eastern Lebanon have resulted in 52 deaths and 72 wounded.

As for southern Lebanon, the Israeli raids and shelling continued Saturday, killing at least 17 and injuring 54, according to the head of the Tyre District Medical Department at the Ministry of Health, Wissam Ghazal.

A report released by the Disaster Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers reported that in the past 24 hours, 120 air raids were recorded in areas in the south, Nabatieh, the southern suburb of Beirut, and Baalbek in the east of the country, bringing the total number of raids since Oct. 8, 2023, to 11,767.

For its part, Hezbollah issued a series of statements on Saturday announcing that its fighters attacked several Israeli forces and settlements with suicide drones and missile salvos.

The attacks included the Glilot base of the 8200 military intelligence unit in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, Israel's Palmachim Airbase in southern Tel Aviv, and several Israeli settlements.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been conducting an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah.

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 war between Hamas and Israel continues in the Gaza Strip. 

This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2024 shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Mashghara, Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Friday and Saturday morning have killed at least 69 people and injured 126 others, according to local authorities. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

A man watches the ruins caused by Israeli airstrikes in Mashghara, Lebanon, on Nov. 2, 2024. Israeli airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Friday and Saturday morning have killed at least 69 people and injured 126 others, according to local authorities. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

Smoke billows after Israeli airstrikes in Khiam, Lebanon, on Nov. 2, 2024. Israeli airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Friday and Saturday morning have killed at least 69 people and injured 126 others, according to local authorities. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)
BERLIN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Culture Center in Berlin launched an exhibition on Chinese sustainable design Friday night, featuring 81 innovative exhibits and 26 programs.

The month-long event, co-hosted by the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, demonstrates China's innovative approaches to sustainable development in daily life, covering themes aligned with the United Nation's sustainable development goals, including rural revitalization, recycled materials, and women's empowerment.

During the opening ceremony, Sun Qinghang, director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Berlin, noted that this exhibition not only showcases China's strengths in sustainable design but also highlights the country's active engagement with global sustainability issues.

Cui Qiao, chairman of the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, voiced her hope that the innovative exhibits would inspire audiences, shaping their lifestyle and building global consensus.

Following the opening, Ansgar Eidens, a professor from Brand University of Applied Sciences, Zhang Hanmin, an inheritor of batik craftsmanship from China's Bai ethnic minority, and fashion designer Louis Shengtao Chen shared their insights with the audience. Topics included sustainable design, the preservation and innovation of traditional batik techniques, and the fusion of fashion design with traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

"Their discussion reflects the intersection of industrial and artistic thinking, presenting a fascinating and productive dialogue between China and Germany," Cui said. 
In the 1990s, the British Physical Laboratories, popularly known as the BPL, was a familiar name and a proud fixture in living rooms across India. The BPL colour television sets still evoke a sense of nostalgia for countless Indians, who remember it as a mark of quality and innovation.

At the heart of BPL's success was T P G Nambiar, who transformed the company established in Palakkad into one of India's top electronics brands. Nambiar passed away on Thursday at the age of 94. Under his leadership, BPL became a market leader in consumer electronics and telecommunications and left an indelible mark on Kerala's industrial landscape.

BPL introduced Indians to large-screen TVs and VCRs. Colour televisions entered the Indian market during the 1982 Asian Games, and BPL seized the opportunity and quickly emerged as a standout name in the market. With manufacturing plants in Palakkad and Bengaluru, BPL established a robust production base.

The rise of BPL

T P G Nambiar entered the electronics industry equipped with his experiences from the UK and the US. In 1961, he took over British Physical Laboratories, renaming it BPL Limited. Initially focused on producing electrocardiograph machines and panel meters, BPL soon expanded into consumer goods, introducing products of international standards to the Indian market.

In the 1990s, BPL ventured into televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines. Known for their durability, elegant designs, and technological standards, BPL products became the favourite brand of Indian households. Their television sets and refrigerators became part of many Indian families.

In the 1980s, BPL enhanced its technological edge by joining hands with Sanyo Electric, Japan. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, BPL was flourishing, registering an impressive annual turnover of Rs 2500 crores. In 2002 alone, the company sold several lakhs of television sets across India.

Challenges and a strong comeback

Even as BPL reached the height of its popularity, it also faced formidable challenges. In the 1990s, the Central Government opened the Indian market to foreign companies, allowing South Korean giants like Samsung and LG to enter with new, advanced technology.

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Despite this intense competition, BPL held its ground, though internal challenges began to strain the company. Family disputes over business direction eventually led to legal battles, which hindered BPL's operations. Gradually, these factors contributed to the company's decline, pushing it to the market's periphery.

However, in 2015-16, BPL made a strong comeback under the leadership of Ajith Nambiar. In addition to manufacturing medical equipment and printed circuit boards (PCBs), the company began focusing heavily on the consumer goods sector. Beyond TVs and air conditioners, it expanded its product line up significantly.

Today, BPL offers various products, including LED TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, mixer grinders, washing machines, wireless headsets, Bluetooth neckbands, fans, and home theatre systems. The company also maintains a presence in telecommunications, medical products, and PCBs.

Ajith Nambiar, the current Chairman and Managing Director, is the son of T P G Nambiar. In 2023-24, BPL reported a gross profit of Rs 13.40 crores and a turnover of Rs 71.93 crores, a significant increase from the previous financial year's figures of Rs 5.05 crores in profit and Rs 62.10 crores in turnover.

The company is also publicly listed, trading on the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange. Its total market value is currently Rs 530 crores. Today, the stock price fell by 1.6 per cent to Rs 108.05 per unit. Over the last five years, BPL has seen remarkable growth, gaining 460 per cent. In the past year alone, the company's stocks achieved a 30 per cent increase.

At the heart of BPL's success was T P G Nambiar, who transformed the company established in Palakkad into one of India's top electronics brands. Under his leadership, BPL became a market leader in consumer electronics and telecommunications and left an indelible mark on Kerala's industrial landscape.

BPL introduced Indians to large-screen TVs and VCRs. Colour televisions entered the Indian market during the 1982 Asian Games, and BPL seized the opportunity and quickly emerged as a standout name in the market. With manufacturing plants in Palakkad and Bengaluru, BPL established a robust production base.

ADVERTISEMENT

The rise of BPL

T P G Nambiar entered the electronics industry equipped with his experiences from the UK and the US. In 1961, he took over British Physical Laboratories, renaming it BPL Limited. Initially focused on producing electrocardiograph machines and panel meters, BPL soon expanded into consumer goods, introducing products of international standards to the Indian market.

In the 1990s, BPL ventured into televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines. Known for their durability, elegant designs, and technological standards, BPL products became the favourite brand of Indian households. Their television sets and refrigerators became part of many Indian families.

In the 1980s, BPL enhanced its technological edge by joining hands with Sanyo Electric, Japan. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, BPL was flourishing, registering an impressive annual turnover of Rs 2,500 crores. In 2002 alone, the company sold several lakhs of television sets across India.

Challenges and a strong comeback

Even as BPL reached the height of its popularity, it also faced formidable challenges. In the 1990s, the Central Government opened the Indian market to foreign companies, allowing South Korean giants like Samsung and LG to enter with new, advanced technology.

Despite this intense competition, BPL held its ground, though internal challenges began to strain the company. Family disputes over business direction eventually led to legal battles, which hindered BPL's operations. Gradually, these factors contributed to the company's decline, pushing it to the market's periphery.

However, in 2015-16, BPL made a strong comeback under the leadership of Ajith Nambiar. In addition to manufacturing medical equipment and printed circuit boards (PCBs), the company began focusing heavily on the consumer goods sector. Beyond TVs and air conditioners, it expanded its product line up significantly.

Today, BPL offers various products, including LED TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, mixer grinders, washing machines, wireless headsets, Bluetooth neckbands, fans, and home theatre systems. The company also maintains a presence in telecommunications, medical products, and PCBs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ajith Nambiar, the current Chairman and Managing Director, is the son of T P G Nambiar. In 2023-24, BPL reported a gross profit of Rs 13.40 crores and a turnover of Rs 71.93 crores, a significant increase from the previous financial year's figures of Rs 5.05 crores in profit and Rs 62.10 crores in turnover.

The company is also publicly listed, trading on the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange. Its total market value is currently Rs 530 crores. Today, the stock price fell by 1.6 per cent to Rs 108.05 per unit. Over the last five years, BPL has seen remarkable growth, gaining 460 per cent. In the past year alone, the company's stocks achieved a 30 per cent increase.
Kozhikode: Cheated off their money, tortured physically and mentally for days and forced to scam elderly people, seven Malayali youths felt that they would never return home from Cambodia.

Tricked into accepting jobs in Chinese companies that operate out of Poipet in Cambodia, these Malayali men lived as cyber slaves till a lucky break helped them escape to safety. Back in Kerala, they spoke to the media about their ordeal. Aswant Babu TP, Semil Dev, Abhinav Suresh, and Arun S A from Kurunthody at Maniyur; Abhinand CP from Vatakara; Roshan Antony from Manjali near Angamali; and Ajmal MT from Ponnani said they were offered jobs in an advertising company in Thailand but were forced to join a Cambodian company that scammed people online. They recorded their statements with Kalamassery police on Sunday.

They said that nearly 300 companies owned by Chinese people run scamming rackets targeting Indians holding SBI accounts aged between 60 and 80. "These companies earn up to Rs 3 or 3.5 crore daily," one of them said.

"We were tortured daily for refusing to scam others. After quitting our jobs, we left Kerala with dreams of starting a new career abroad. Now, we don't have jobs or any money, and we had to face physical and mental torture for several days. We are lucky to be alive and back home safely," one of the youths said.

Abin Babu from Perambra, the eighth group member from Kerala, is still in Cambodia. The scamsters did not hire him initially, stating he had not cleared the interview.

Trapped by scamsters

A group including Anurag Thekke Malayil and Athirat Sreenivasan from Thodannur, near Vatakara, Mohammed Rasil Valiya Kunnummal from Mantharathur, Puthuppanam near Vatakara, and Nasarudheen Sha of Koottanad, Malappuram approached the youths offering them jobs in a sales and advertising company named Infinite International in Bangkok. The four-member Malayali agency received $2,500 to 2,800 per person from the Chinese company for recruiting the boys from Kerala, the escaped youths said.



Nasarudheen Sha, Athirat and Anurag. Photos: Special arrangement.

Anurag was friends with many in the cheated gang, and Nasarudheen Sha is Ajmal's cousin. They paid $540 and Rs 5,000 to get the job directly to Anurag and the team. Further, to reach Thailand and later to Cambodia, they had to spend Rs 1 lakh more.

They departed in three groups and took flights to Bangkok from Bengaluru and Kochi in the first and second week of October. Once they reached Thailand, the agency representatives told them the company's office was in a border city.

But on reaching Poipet, they realised that they had been trapped. The office building stood in a remote place in a closed, vast land. The office carried a restaurant's name. They had to train for a week before being deployed to scam people. They also had to learn a script of conversation by heart and figure out tricks and loopholes to swindle money from unsuspecting elderly.

Various ways to swindle money

Chinese companies acquire contacts of SBI account holders with the help of agents in India. Then scamsters, pretending to be SBI officials, call and tell the account holders that they have spent Rs 1 lakh on their credit card. If a customer refuses to acknowledge this claim, they would say that someone else was using a fake card using the account holder's Aadhaar number.

To "redeem the money spent", the account holders would be connected to a police officer on a video call. The fake police would lead them to believe that they have been involved in money laundering and extract money from them to 'settle' the case.

Days of torture

Upon understanding it was a scam centre and not an advertising agency, the men stated their unwillingness to work for the company. Infuriated with their refusal, as the Chinese guys claimed they had to pay $2,500 to $2,800 per person to bring them to Cambodia, the Malayali men were locked in a room and tortured. On the first day of harassment, they were not allowed to sit. They were hit with iron rods and liquor bottles on their legs, head and abdomen. They were rarely given food. They were given a bottle to relieve themselves, and if they spilt anything, they would be tortured again. This went on for a week, the youths said.

The scamsters seized their mobile phones, electronic gadgets, money, and valuables. They assaulted Arun for hiding a mobile phone inside his shoe. Ajmal fractured his left hand and had to undergo surgery on his return.

However, they managed to contact Anurag, Mohammed Rasil and Nasarudheen Shah and informed them about their ordeal. But they refused to help. Scamsters were infuriated when they found out they had contacted their job agency. As a punishment, they were taken to another dark room and tortured for two days.

Then, they decided to sell the men to another company to redeem the money spent on them. A taxi driver was entrusted with their transport. On the way, the Malayali youths managed to snatch their passports from the driver and run away. As they boarded a Tuk Tuk, the taxi driver blocked their path. But the group begged and convinced the driver to take them to the Indian Embassy in Combodia.

After all the procedures, the Embassy officials served food and provided them shelter for a day under the instruction of the Ministry of External Affairs. The Kerala State Government and Norka also ensured their safe return. Upon their arrival, they filed different complaints at the Nedumbassery Airport police station, which will later be shifted to their respective stations.

Concerned about Abin

"Abin Babu, who accompanied me, is still in Cambodia. He is with Anurag and the team. He assured his family that he is safe; however, we have concerns about whether he was coerced into making that statement in the video or unaware of the actual situation there," said Semil Dev to Onmanorama.

"Abin's family lodged a complaint against me at Perambra police station as we went together for the job," he added.

Seven of the eight job seekers reached Kerala on Sunday. They have recorded their statements with Kalamassery police.
Thiruvananthapuram: On November 9, flight services from Kerala's capital city's international airport will be suspended for five hours. From 4 pm to 9 pm, the airport's runway will serve as one of the routes for the historic 'Alpassi Arattu' procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, considered the world's richest Hindu temple.

Traditionally, the centuries-old procession from the temple to the Shanghumugham beach proceeds by crossing the runway. The airport runways are closed every year for the processions of the bi-annual Alpassi festival that falls in October-November and the Painkuni festival of March-April. Even after the airport was established in 1932, the rituals continued to keep the culture and traditions intact.

Updated flight timings

Passengers can log in to their respective flight's app or page to check the updated timings of the airlines.

The runway at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport remains closed twice a year for the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple procession to pass through. pic.twitter.com/xXYx0DHeTb  Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (@TRV_Airport_Off) November 2, 2024

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What is Alpassi festival?

Cultural experts say the word 'alpassi' is connected with harvest celebration and agricultural cycles. The festival honours Lord Vishnu's presence as Padmanabhaswamy in Thiruvananthapuram, and the renewal of faith and commitment of devotees' beliefs. Thousands of devotees take part in the Alpassi arattu procession, and it is known for bringing together people of various communities as well.

The procession consists of priests in Garuda Vahanas (a chariot depicting Lord Vishnu's vehicle, Garuda), four decked-up elephants, and the devotees who carry Utsav Vigrahas (idols) of deities Padmanabhaswamy, Narasimha Moorthy, and Krishna Swami. After they take a dip in the beach, the idols are carried to the temple with another procession marked with traditional torches, thus concluding the festival.

When the airport was constructed in Thiruvananthapuram, the then Travancore King Sree Chithira Thirunal promised that the airport would be open to the public for 363 days in a year, but two days for Lord Padmanabha's festivals. The practice has continued since then.
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American Oligarchs

By Joel D. Joseph

An oligarchy is a small group of rich people having control of a country. An oligarch is a rich business person with strong political connections.

Modern oligarchs in Russia came to wealth, power and influence in the early 1990s. When Soviet Union collapsed, the oligarchs took advantage of the collapse of major government-run institutions, including industry, banking, oil, agriculture and mining. These are the Russian oligarchs that took over state industries that were there during the Soviet era, and in 1991, there was a battle for who was going to run these industries.

American oligarchs are different than Russian oligarchs because most American oligarchs are entrepreneurs, or wives thereof, who built businesses from scratch.

I have identified eight American Oligarchs, all billionaires, and all are owners of major media publications. Together they control many of the major newspapers in the United States. Together they have donated billions of dollars to politicians. Here are the eight American oligarchs:

1. Elon Musk

2. Jeff Bezos

3. Patrick Soon-Shiong

4. Laurene Powell Jobs

5. John Henry

6. Glen Taylor

7. Miriam Adelson

8. Marc Benioff

Elon Musk is the most influential and obnoxious of these oligarchs. Musk earned his billions with Tesla, SpaceX and other ventures. He is currently the richest man in the world. Musk bought Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion and has given the Trump 2024 campaign hundreds of millions of dollars. Musk was born in South Africa (as was Patrick Soon-Shiong). He moved to the United States when he was in his early twenties to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He moved to California in 1995 to attend Stanford, but dropped out after two days and, with his brother Kimbal, co-founded the online city guide software company Zip2. The startup was acquired by Compaq computer company for $307 million in 1999. That same year, Musk co-founded X.com, a direct bank. X.com merged with Confinity in 2000 to form PayPal. In 2002 Musk acquired US citizenship. That October, eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion. Using $100 million of the money he made from the sale of PayPal, Musk founded SpaceX, in 2002. Two years later, Musk was an early investor who provided most of the initial financing in Tesla Motors.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, purchased The Washington Post for $250 million in 2013. Recently, Bezos overruled the editorial board of the Post who wanted the newspaper to endorse Kamala Harris for president. The Washington Post has endorsed candidates for the past fifty years, until 2024. Mr. Bezos' purchase of The Washington Post ended decades of ownership by the Graham family-- which had steered the paper through its legendary coverage of Watergate and the Pentagon Papers-- and signified a new era of expansion under one of the world's most famous entrepreneurs.

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The European Union's (EU) decision to impose definitive countervailing duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) for a period of five years has sparked strong opposition from officials and key industry stakeholders in Germany. #GLOBALink




While our polarized country faces an election, I wonder what matters most.

I dream of regulatory commissions wherein legislators respectfully get informed about a given conflict's history and the ecological and public health consequences of a new technology before they vote on anything.

I wonder where we can discuss anything respectfully in these times.

When the American psychologist Ram Das (aka Dr. Richard Alpert) went to India, his guru Neem Karoli Baba told him, "Love everybody." Later, when George W. Bush became president, Ram Das acknowledged that he struggled with the job of loving President Bush.

Today, both mainstream candidates have policies that unsettle me. Neither candidate promises to direct Israel to stop starving and killing Palestinians and Lebanese people. Neither speaks about the impacts of telecommunications on public health or wildlife. Neither seems aware that when we evaluate solar PVs, industrial wind turbines, battery storage systems, electric vehicles, A.I. and nuclear power from their cradles to their graves, they are not renewable or sustainable. They require enormous amounts of mining, water and energy-- and generate all manner of toxins and fire hazards.

When we focus on technology's impacts on our economy-- or politicians' impacts on our economy-- we neglect our dependence on healthy ecosystems. As long as we degrade nature, we cannot sustain our economy. We need leaders who can help us face this-- and create a society that respects nature's limits.

I admit that while I sincerely appreciate the candidates' unenviable work in running for the U.S. presidency, loving Kamala Harris or Donald Trump stretches me.

After the election, how/could we nourish peace between people who voted for different candidates?

If a candidate you don't respect wins, could you name one benefit to their winning?

Could you name two?

Pandora's Electronic Box

After Israel planted explosive devices into 5000 new pagers in Lebanon (killing 32 and injuring thousands), Dennis Kucinich (running to represent an Ohio district in Congress) named: "With assassination by pagers and electronic devices occurring in Lebanon, the weaponization of things electronic, the world has entered into a sphere of activity where there is no refuge, no safety, no security, and no privacy. We have journeyed from the Internet of Things to the destruction of all things and all people connected to the internet. Turning electronics into personal bombing devices will have major economic and social consequences. We have just witnessed the opening of Pandora's Electronic Box."

A.I.'s huge energy needs are set to grow. A single search query for a chatbot such as OpenAI's ChatGPT requires 10 times as much energy as a typical Google search, according to the International Energy Agency. The I.E.A. predicts that electricity consumption by A.I., cryptocurrency and data centers could double by 2026."

Colorectal cancer soaring in young adults; are smartphones in the mix? Epidemiologist De-Kun Li wants to know.

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Hospital-acquired infections are fuelling antimicrobial resistance

SHOBHA SHUKLA - CNS



Prevent drug resistance: We need to save the medicines that protect us

(Image by CNS) Details DMCA



When we go to seek healthcare in hospitals or other healthcare settings, getting infected with hospital-acquired infections instead, is not part of the deal. "Why are hospital-acquired infections so acceptable?" rightly questions Dr Nour Shamas, a Lebanese infectious disease clinical pharmacist, who is also part of the World Health Organization (WHO) Task Force of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Survivors.

The issue of AMR got personal for her when her mother developed a hospital-acquired urinary tract infection caused by a drug-resistant microbe in 2018 - and continues to battle antimicrobial resistance even today. Even before this happened, Dr Nour Shamas has led antimicrobial stewardship programmes and knows how to dispense drugs to treat infections, keeping in mind the threat of AMR.

Her mother had gone to the hospital for a spinal column surgery in 2018 - not to get infected with hospital-acquired infection in return. Getting a drug-resistant infection while in hospital was the beginning of a series of hospitalisations and treatment failures that were complicated by the fragile healthcare system in Lebanon- a country beset with economic challenges, and conflict. Nour felt helpless about her mothers' situation. This feeling of helplessness inspired her to champion the cause of AMR in the Middle East and now globally.

"I am a carer of an AMR Survivor (my mother)"

"I am from Lebanon where the economic situation is generally tough. In addition to that, healthcare infrastructure is severely compromised. In 2018 when I was in the USA at an infectious disease conference, I got a call that my mother had to undergo an emergency spine surgery. It was scary. We had to spend a lot of money as healthcare is out of pocket back home. A couple of months later, she started complaining of back pain. For a very long time it was thought to be back or age-related. But her back pain actually turned out to be a urinary tract infection that had affected her kidneys," said Nour.

Things became even more serious when Nour and family learnt that her mother had sepsis as a drug-resistant strain of bacteria had gotten into her blood stream. "This could be just any other story, because all of us are at risk of going through antimicrobial resistance (AMR). But it is also important to understand that it was the failure of the healthcare system which impacted our ability to take care of my mother because we could have afforded it if the standard service was available," said Nour.

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rst and Second Amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms," reads a petition circulated by Elon Musk's America PAC. "By signing below, I am pledging my support for the First and Second Amendments."

While pledging support for key elements of the US Constitution might seem non-controversial to most, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner took Musk to court over the petition, claiming that awarding prizes of $1 million to randomly selected signers who are also registered voters constitutes an "illegal lottery scheme to influence voters."

A judge put Krasner's case on hold, on Halloween, when Musk's attorneys attempted to move the matter to federal court. We're probably not going to see any real movement on the legal aspects until after the election.

It's true that Elon Musk supports a particular presidential candidate (Donald Trump).

It's true that Musk's PAC has been doing "ground game" canvassing work on behalf of Trump's campaign in Pennsylvania and other swing states.

It's clear that Musk hopes the giveaway and the attention it draws will help Trump.

But, let's be clear here:

The million dollar prizes aren't contingent on the recipient voting for Trump -- or for that matter, voting at all.

The petition signature required for entry doesn't mention Trump, It doesn't mention the presidential election. It doesn't even mention voting.

The process for entering the drawing, and potentially winning a prize, is a lot more like a "sweepstakes" than a "lottery."

A lottery or raffle generally involves a material consideration: The participant must purchase something to have a chance of winning.

A sweepstakes only requires the participant to provide some information (mostly for determining eligibility, delivering prizes to the correct addresses, and facilitating future contact).

Yes, in THIS case, that information includes a pledge that participants support the First and Second Amendments. But there's no deliverable consideration. No vote. No donation. No shift as a campaign door-knocker.

If I give lifetime supplies of ice cream to random members of a group who sign statements saying they like ice cream, am I running a lottery? They're free to lie. I'm not making them buy, or eat, ice cream. I'm just giving away money to people who say they like ice cream.

If Musk's scheme is an "illegal lottery," so is every voter registration drive and "get out the vote" event that hands out random merch.

Krasner clearly doesn't support the First Amendment.
In late October, the Los Angeles Times published its list of candidate/issue endorsements for this year's general election. Missing from the list: Any endorsement for president. Semafor reports that the paper's owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, nixed the Times editorial board's planned endorsement of Kamala Harris over Donald Trump.

A few days later, the Washington Post similarly announced that it won't endorse for president this year or "in any future presidential election." Once again, NBC News reports, that decision was made by Post owner Jeff Bezoz, who vetoed the editorial board's planned endorsement of Harris.

The stories drew applause from some media critics -- unsurprisingly, mostly those associated with the Republican Party -- for a supposed move toward "neutrality," or even "objectivity" (those two words do not mean the same thing) by the Times and Post.

Those same stories, of course, drew condemnation from other media critics -- unsurprisingly, mostly those associated with the Democratic Party -- over their faux silence in the face of e.g. Trump as "existential threat to democracy."

Let's get that "neutrality" and "objectivity" nonsense out of the way first.

American news media are not and never have been "neutral." Neutrality means taking no side in a conflict. American media -- newspapers in particular -- have a long history of identifying with political parties and endorsing those parties' candidates in elections.

In fact, many newspapers once bore the stamp of their party affiliations in their names (I grew up with the Lebanon, Missouri Daily Record, previously the Rustic Republican) and others still do (for example, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette). They weren't "neutral." They took sides.

In the 20th century, under the influence of journalists like Walter Lippmann, journalism began portraying itself as "objective." While many (including far too many journalists) treat that as a synonym for "neutrality," it isn't. Objectivity means accurately representing reality.

Reality, objectively reported, often implies a better or worse side.

Reality, neutrally reported, just reports the sides and refuses to take one.

In reality, most news media are neither neutral nor objective. Their reportage is biased, just more subtly than openly.

Most journalistic outlets use the more attractive-sounding term for the side they support and the less attractive-sounding term for the side they oppose. Even if a story is accurate in its factual statements, it's written to make one side sound like the good guys and the other side sound like the bad guys.

Quick example: Pro-choice and pro-life versus pro-abortion and anti-abortion.

Or look at reporting on the war in Gaza. Supporters of one side or the other will mix and match words like "self-defense," "resistance," "terrorism," and "genocide" to make precisely the same actions sound better or worse depending on which side takes those actions.

We know which candidate the editorial boards of the Times and Post prefer -- and which candidate the owners of those newspapers prefer. Silence on both isn't "neutrality" or "objectivity," it's just one preference vetoing the other.

We'd all be better informed if media just went back to wearing their biases on their sleeves.


False Grandma Alert

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The Democrats have been stringing us along with abortion rights for too long now -many decades. While the media portrays the Democrats as champions for women's rights, in reality, every time Democrats have had the opportunity to enact abortion rights into federal law, they've refused to do it.

Obama's big campaign promise during 2008 was to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would've turned abortions rights into federal law. But as early as 2009, only four months into his presidency, Obama made it clear he had no intention of signing federal protection of abortion rights into law. "The Freedom of Choice Act is not my highest legislative priority," he stated.1 But in fact, as reporter Margaret Kimberley observed, "It wasn't even his lowest legislative priority," because, as she reports, "Obama never lifted a finger to get it passed, even during his first two years in office when he had majorities in the House and the Senate." [1] (But then, what else should we expect from a "community organizer" who hides the fact that his grandfather is the first cousin of none other than George Bush Sr.) They insist only the U.S. Supreme Court can legalize abortion rights, but that is false. Margaret Kimberley writes:

"Even worse, the Democrats lie about their ability to protect abortion rights. They could pass the Women's Health Protection Act which would make Roe v. Wade federal law and do away with abortion restrictions across the country. They could have done this when Bill Clinton and Barak Obama had Democratic control of both houses of congress and they can still do it now. Democrats have been lying about their ability to protect abortion rights for the last 30 years." [2]

Most women have never even heard of the Women's Health Protection Act, but it would provide federal protection for abortion rights and invalidate any anti-abortion laws in all 50 states, and the Democrats have been refusing to pass it since 2013. In Sept 2021, the Women's Health Protection Act had 48 sponsors in the Senate but, as David Sirota reported, the Democrats still refused to sign it into federal law. [3] Instead of exposing the Democrat Party for its lead role in preventing abortion rights for the past 30+ years, the media continues to push the falsehood that only the U.S. Supreme Court has the power to legalize abortion rights and that the Democrats are the only ones who will choose the right judges to do that. Nevermind that five of the 7 U.S. Supreme Court judges who decided in favor of abortion rights in 1973, in Roe v. Wade, were chosen by Republicans, nor the fact that one of the 2 judges who decided against abortion rights was selected by a Democrat.

But as luck would have it, one of the judges who decided against abortion rights in Roe v. Wade, was selected by a Republican (Justice Rehnquist, who later went on to be selected by Ronald Reagan to become Chief Justice), and because of this, the Democrats have been able to use their "Supreme Court" scare tactic to hold women's rights hostage ever since.

If the end result is the same, what's the difference? By misleading American voters with false promises to legalize abortion rights, the Democrats have been far more effective at preventing abortion rights than Republicans could ever dream. Clearly, the Democrats have no intention of attaining abortion rights for women.

By contrast, however, the Democrats have gone out of their way to accommodate a certain group of entitled men by changing the law to redefine the word 'women' to include men, even with their male genitalia still intact.

Obama was the first to bend over backwards to change the Title IX law for women and girls to include men and boys -despite the fact that the Title IX law of 1972 was originally intended to give women and girls the same opportunities as men and boys to safely participate in activities like sports, etc. Trump, however, immediately restored Title IX's definition of "women" back to women-only, whereupon Biden immediately reversed Title IX back to Obama's definition of "woman" to include men, as it remains today, as of this writing. It is on this point that Democrats have been specifically clear, that any man, regardless of whether his male genitalia is intact or not, must be allowed into female-only spaces if he declares that he is a woman. [4]

Its bad enough that women don't have abortion rights, but now, thanks to Democrats and by extension all those who vote for them, women have lost the right to safety from sexual assault. As of August 1st 2024, it is a federally protected "human right" for men and boys to expose themselves in front of women and girls in various states of undress in female-only spaces, such as bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, homeless shelters, and in prisons. [5] It is an illegal "hate crime" for women to set personal boundaries or to take safety precautions against voyeurism and indecent exposure whenever a man declares that he is a "woman," because a man's word is the law and all women and girls are mandated to accommodate him and call him a "she" and welcome him with open arms into our personal spaces where we change our clothes and shower.

While the media was in full celebration mode over the Penn state transgender swimmer William ("Lia") Thomas on the women's swim team, the media ignored the entire team of young women who were required to change their clothes and shower with this 6 ft man as often as 18 times a week, as "transgender Thomas" paraded around the women's locker room with his male genitalia intact and exposed for all to see. But the media, along with the Democrat Party, celebrates this kind of horrifying situation as a victory for human rights and "diversity and inclusion."

It is not a "human right" to commit sexual assault, and that includes voyeurism and indecent exposure. Forcing women and girls to endure voyeurism and indecent exposure is sexual assault and basically excludes them -half the human race- from their basic human rights. You cannot mandate a woman's consent but that is exactly what Democrat have done by changing federal law, Title IX, to allow men unrestricted access to female-only locker rooms and showers. Epstein sex-trafficker, Ghislaine Maxwell, was put in prison for facilitating sexual assault of young women and girls. But with their new Title IX definition of "woman," Democrats are facilitating sexual assault of women and girls on a much greater scale.

The Democrat party is infested with Ghislaine Maxwell clones who are unanimously agreed that it is not sexual assault, but rather "progress" for "diversity and inclusion" to force women and girls to endure increasing risk of voyeurism and indecent exposure, as well as all manner of sexual harassment/assault and rape in our prisons, homeless shelters, locker rooms, showers and bathrooms, [6] (to say nothing of abandoned female children who are wards at the mercy of the state). And not one single elected Democrat representative voted against this legislation. Not one!!!

It is also deemed a "hate-crime" for women to say 'no' to men's violation of our personal boundaries. Women and girls who dare to speak out against this "progress" get the full wrath of the pro-trans judicial system and are routinely prosecuted for hate crimes of "transphobia" and "mis-gendering" in Democrat-dominated jurisdictions. Nevermind the fact that a "phobia" is defined as an irrational fear, and that 98%-99% of all sexual assault crimes against women and children are committed by men, it is women who are demonized as "irrational" for fearing and taking precautions against sexual assault from men -even men with rape convictions who are now being housed with women in the women's prisons, all thanks to the pro-transgender policies of Democrats. [7] Increasing numbers of men convicted of particularly heinous crimes against women and children, are being rewarded for their crimes by being housed with women in the women's prisons granting them easy access to more vulnerable victims. In my home state of WA, increasing numbers of violent rapists transferred from the men's prisons are being housed with women in the women's prison [8] but WA state Democrats decided to pass a law protecting these men from public scrutiny and WA state voters are no longer allowed to know just how many men convicted of rape are in the women's prison. [9]

The ACLU also firmly specifies that any convicted rapist with intact male genitalia who claim to be a "woman," must be housed with women in the women's prisons. [10] This abrupt reversal of the ACLU's policy of "civil liberties for all" is likely because the majority of the ACLU's funding now comes from billionaire transgender industrialists like the Pritzker family [11] (the same Pritzkers who funded Obama's presidential campaigns).

The implicit core philosophy of transgender ideology is that persons with male genitalia are more important than persons with female genitalia -and a more succinct description of 'sexism' could not be found. Misogyny is an equal-opportunity endeavor as evidenced by all the Ghislaine Maxwell clones in the Democrat party. When a woman wants to move up to a higher position of power, all she has to do is sell out the basic humans of women and girls and the Democrats will reward her with higher positions of power. To name one typical example, Biden nominated a female judge for a higher position in the judicial system, even though she had ordered the placement of a 6'2" convicted rapist into a women's prison and over-ruled objections as "based on bias and fear and not on evidence" as she put it, despite the glaring evidence of his past multiple rape convictions. [12] Democrats even got a Biden-nominated transgender ideologist installed as a judge on the U.S. Supreme Court, but we're all supposed to celebrate this because she's a black woman in a position of power? In my own home state of Washington, women assaulted by men from Antifa find themselves being reprimanded by female judges to refer to her male attacker as a "woman" and a "she." [13] Examples of this judicial misconduct in America, and the rest of the world, are endless.

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"It's truly sad to see how low the dark special interest forces that have destroyed LAUSD have stooped in their negative attacks--



- Sam Yebri, USC Law Professor

I am in the crowd somewhere with my year and half old daughter on my shoulders. I was not throwing mud.

After Scott Schmerelson won his election for the LAUSD School Board in 2015, he was seated on the dais next to long-term Board Member Monica Garcia. Disdain for his neighbor was often visible as the BD 2 representative was everything Scott was not. As a principal, Scott had learned how to lead groups with disparate interests and approached his new job with a friendly demeanor that encouraged respectful dialog and compromise. Garcia was bombastic and willing to push any group aside, even children with Special Education needs, to advance her agenda.

When I launched my long-shot attempt at displacing Garcia in 2017, Scott supported me by being one of the two sitting Board Members who donated to my campaign. However, to make their support public would have been a breach of etiquette; by tradition, Board Members are not supposed to campaign against their peers. Therefore, both donated below the threshold so their names did not have to be revealed, keeping their support anonymous.

As a gentleman, Scott would have never dreamed of breaking protocol, but the board members supported by the Charter School Industry have no such qualms. Nick Melvoin and Tanya Franklin have endorsed Scott's competitor, Dan Chang, in the race. Franklin even provided a quote for use by billionaire Bill Bloomfield as part of a $4.48 million campaign to unseat the incumbent:



(Image by Kids First Supporting Dan Chang for LAUSD School Board 2024) Details DMCA



Beyond being a breach of etiquette, Franklin's statement is blatantly false. First, it suggests Dan received the "endorsement of teachers and LAUSD parents" when United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) endorsed his opponent. Dan is not even backed by his co-workers at James Madison Middle School as they endorsed Scott. The incumbent was also endorsed by Parents Supporting Teachers, which claims to be the largest parent-led education advocacy group in Los Angeles, having over 29,000 members on its Facebook page.



(Image by Scott M. Schmerelson for LAUSD) Details DMCA



The second falsehood in Franklin's statement is that Scott and his supporters are hurling "distorted smears against Dan Chang". This fits with the flyer's theme: "Why is Scott Schmerelson throwing mud at Dan Chang?"

As a voter in LAUSD BD3, this accusation seemed strange to me. My mailbox has been flooded with flyers and I have been frustrated by the lack of attacks from Scott against Dan and his history of trying to privatize our public schools. To confirm, I checked the records on the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission's website and found that most of Scott's communications focused on his decades-long career as an educator, including being a teacher, counselor, and principal in the LAUSD.

The negativity that is contained in Scott's campaign literature is not focused on Dan, but on those who are supporting him. Sure enough, the flyer making the mud-throwing accusation received major funding from Bill Bloomfield, an out-of-state billionaire who gave at least $30,400 to the National Republican Congressional Committee (when white supremacist Steve King was a member) and supported the presidential campaign of Rudy Giuliani.



(Image by Kids First Supporting Dan Chang for LAUSD School Board 2024) Details DMCA



Also funding this campaign is the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) Advocates. In the 2020 campaign cycle, the CCSA supported Scott's challenger, Marilyn Koziatek , using a flyer that was widely condemned for its use of Anti-Semitic tropes . The Charter School Industry continued their support of this candidate even after her ties to anti-gay and anti-abortion groups were uncovered.Contrary to Scott, Dan and his supporters are flinging plenty of mud towards the incumbent. Some of their questionable accusations include:

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Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) October 30, 2024: I should begin this article with a personal disclosure: I was in the Jesuit order (known formally as the Society of Jesus) from 1979 to 1987. As part of my standard Jesuit novitiate experience, I made a 30-day directed retreat in silence (except for the daily conferences with the retreat director), following the succinct instructions in the short book of spiritual exercises titled the Spiritual Exercises and written by the Spanish Renaissance mystic St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556). In any event, my 30-day directed retreat was a memorable event in my life.

Consequently, when the Argentinian Jesuit Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (born in 1936) was elected pope in March 2013, I decided to read up about him and then follow him and his papacy. He took the name Pope Francis in honor of the medieval Italian saint and founder of the Franciscan order, St. Francis of Assisi (c.1181-1226).

Now, because the Roman Catholic Church is a worldwide church and has an enormous number of faithful members, all popes are well covered by the news media, including Pope Francis. In his interactions with journalists, he turned out to be golden-tongued. Journalists did their jobs diligently and reported his golden-sounding words in the news media. Some of his golden-sounding soundbites sounded like music to the ears of certain liberals who had long considered the Roman Catholic Church a bastion of conservative views on several well-known issues.

Against this backdrop, I wrote my widely read OEN article "Pope Francis on Evil and Satan" (dated March 24, 2019):

Click Here

It is a profile of the doctrinally conservative Pope Francis.

More recently, I wrote a critique of the Roman Catholic Church's moral vision of individual personal development in my OEN article "Robert Moore on Optimal Human Psychological Development" (dated September 17, 2024):

Click Here

Briefly, I use the thought of the late Jungian psychotherapist and psychological theorist Robert Moore (1942-2016; Ph.D. in religion and psychology, University of Chicago, 1975) to discuss the two "shadow" forms of the masculine Lover archetype and the feminine Lover archetype in the human psyche: (1) The Impotent Lover "shadow" form of each; and (2) The Addicted Lover "shadow" form of each.

According to Robert Moore's psychological theory, there is only one optimal form of the masculine Lover archetype and of the feminine Lover archetype in the human psyche.

In any event, in my critique of the Roman Catholic Church's moral vision for individual personal psychological development, I claim that that vision embodies The Impotent Lover "shadow form of the masculine Lover archetype in the human psyche; and The Impotent Lover "shadow" form of the feminine Lover archetype in the human psyche.

I mention in passing that the women and men who work in the porn industry are mainlining The Addicted Lover "shadow" forms of the masculine Lover archetype and The Addicted Lover "shadow" form of the feminine Lover archetype in the human psyche. In addition, they tend to be strongly exhibitionistic. (I will return briefly below to the men and women in the porn industry, many of whom come from a Christian background, in connection with a certain passage in Pope Francis' new 2024 encyclical.)

In the meantime, no doubt many other ordinary Americans are also mainlining The Addicted Lover "shadow" forms of the masculine and the feminine Lover archetypes in the human psyche. But most ordinary Americans do not tend to be strongly exhibitionistic, as men and women in porn tend to be.

Similarly, a good many other Americans are mainlining The Impotent Lover "shadow" forms of the masculine Lover archetype and the feminine Lover archetypes in the human psyches.

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"Billy Valdivia eventually arranged to be alone in the vehicle with B.A., and sexually assaulted and battered her there."



- Civil Filing, Case No.: 24NVVCV00084

"the plaintiff's unfortunate occurrence, happened almost a year after my March 2020 campaign ended"



- Graciela Ortiz

There is no doubt that the former LAUSD student identifying herself as B.A. was sexually assaulted at gunpoint. Billy Valdivia was caught red-handed by the police in a sting operation while setting up an inappropriate meeting with the minor. He then pleaded nolo contendere to the "especially violent" assault and was found guilty of sexually molesting her. Because he used a gun "to intimidate and threaten the victim of the sexual battery", he also was found guilty of a firearms violation.

With the criminal justice system having already established the guilt of Billy Valdivia, the victim is now pursuing civil action against LAUSD School Board candidate Graciela Ortiz for having failed to protect her from these violent assaults. In January, B.A. filed a lawsuit against Valdivia, Ortiz, Efren Martinez (who is a close ally of Ortiz and is currently running to represent District 52 in the California Assembly), and YVote!, an astroturf organization run by both Ortiz and Martinez. The victim requested damages for sexual assault and battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy.

In the age of #MeToo, Ortiz's reaction to the lawsuit should disqualify her as a representative of children on the school board of the second-largest district in the county. The lawyer she formerly shared with Martinez ignored the proven harm done to the plaintiff and described the allegations as "malicious and defamatory" as well as a carefully timed political "smear." Ortiz personally dismissed the violent act of sexual battery as nothing more than an "unfortunate occurrence".

As a defendant, Ortiz has every right to defend herself against the allegations. However, this must be done by presenting facts. Attacking a victim who has already proven that she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint is inexcusable. This is especially true when the victim was a former student of Ortiz, and trusted the LAUSD School Counselor to keep her safe.

Just before a recent court hearing where Ortiz's new lawyer asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed, Michael Trujillo, the campaign spokesman she shares with Martinez, once again ignored the harm done to B.A. and declared that it was "unfortunate folks want to play politics with the court system to influence an election." He added that they "expect this case to be kicked out."

That claim sounds suspiciously like another politician's claim of "election interference" whenever someone tries to hold him accountable for allegedly committing crimes. It also seems Trujillo needs to pay attention to what has happened to Trump. The disgraced former president was made to pay E Jean Carroll $83 million for calling her a liar when she accused him of sexually assaulting her even though criminal charges were never filed. A penalty, therefore, seems called for when Trujillo makes similar allegations against a proven victim of sexual assault.

Despite Trujillo's confidence, the judge in the case ruled on Friday that Ortiz would not be excluded as a defendant. While she was dismissed from the portion of the suit that alleged she was negligent in Valdivia's hiring, training, and supervising, she will still have to answer to the claim that she did not properly protect the victim. In the words of the judge:"

The trial will also consider evidence that both Ortiz and Martinez "agreed to a common plan" to cover up Valdivia's actions.

With these allegations still pending and Ortiz having attacked a victim of a sexual assault, it is inconceivable that her endorsees have not joined the CSEA in retracting their support of her campaign. Yet, her list of supporters still includes SEIU 99 and the Los Angeles Democratic Party. If you agree that these organizations should withdraw their support please sign this petition.

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
UPDATE: Gresham police announced just after 8 p.m. that they had arrested the suspect and lifted the shelter-in-place order in Damascus.

Authorities are asking residents in a part of Damascus to shelter in place Friday as they look for an armed suspect who fled from a traffic stop.

Gresham police officers attempted a traffic stop near Southeast 222nd Drive and Bohna Park Road, according to police spokesperson Jarom Sweazey. The driver of the car fled from officers and crashed.

The driver then ran away, Sweazey said. Police believe the motorist is armed with a gun, so officers have surrounded the area and have called SWAT for help in the search.

A little over 30 police units are in the 21700 block of Southeast Bohna Park Road, according to scanner logs.

Authorities sent messages and phone calls to residents in the area to shelter in place. Sweazey said police are asking other drivers to avoid the area.

Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221- 4323, zshaikh@oregonian.com or on X @zaeemshake.
Vancouver police and Crime Stoppers of Oregon are asking for the publics help to identify two women who were at the Vancouver Mall Thursday evening when a shooting killed one person and injured two others. Detectives want to speak with the women, but police do not think they were involved with the shooting, according to a news release.

Anyone who can identify the women in the photos above is asked to submit an anonymous tip to the Crime Stoppers of Oregon website. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest in an unsolved felony case.

The shooting occurred at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 in the food court area as a family-friendly Halloween event was taking place at the mall, sending hundreds of parents and children running for exits or safe places to hide.

The shooter is still at large, Vancouver police said Saturday. Anyone with information about the shooting who has not spoken with police is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department tip line at 360-487-7399.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
Press Release

November 1, 2024 ARE WE READY FOR THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? "The Philippines should prepare for the impact of the U.S. elections on the Philippines and the world," Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Imee R. Marcos emphasized. She noted that U.S. policies on immigration, investments, and defense could undergo rapid and significant shifts following the 2024 presidential elections. With nearly 4.5 million Filipino Americans living in the United States, including both U.S. citizens and residents of Filipino origin, Senator Marcos emphasized the need for a peaceful and orderly electoral process. She stated, "The political and economic stability of the U.S. is integral to world economic stability," highlighting the Philippines' responsibility to protect its economy and citizens. She noted that any U.S. president will naturally prioritize American interests, underscoring the importance of vigilance in safeguarding the Philippines' own interests. She said that stricter U.S. immigration policies could lead to the deportation of thousands of undocumented Filipinos, while efforts to bring American companies back onshore may decrease direct investments and reduce BPO jobs in the country. The senator also expressed concern that, even under the current U.S. "friend-shoring" policy, the Marcos administration has continued to miss out on major foreign investments. Consequently, the manufacturing sector in the Mactan Export Processing Zone and other ecozones has been "languishing." Earlier this year, American multinational consumer goods corporation Procter & Gamble announced plans to invest USD 100 million to expand its factory production in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Microsoft revealed plans for investments in artificial intelligence and cloud facilities worth USD 1.7 billion in Indonesia, and Google committed USD 1 billion to Thailand for building a data center and accelerating AI growth. The Philippines, however, missed out on these major foreign investments, raising concerns over the country's competitiveness in attracting multinational corporations. "Aside from boosting domestic demand, we must also attract investments into the country and revive our manufacturing sector. To do that, we must make our country attractive to investors by bringing down the power cost and making it easier for them to avail the incentives that we are currently offering," Marcos added. On the topic of defense, Marcos maintained that it is unclear whether the next U.S. president will continue the aggressive expansion of U.S. military presence in the Philippines and maintain the current level of defense funding assistance. According to Senator Marcos, given this uncertainty, the government should fully implement the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act as soon as possible for the country to be capable of fending for itself.
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- "I'm going to work on extreme light for medical and energy fields," Nobel laureate Gerard Mourou said on Friday, speaking on plans for his work in China.

The French physicist, who joined Peking University's School of Physics as chair professor last month, made the remarks on the sidelines of this year's Beijing Forum, a global academic forum on innovation and human progress.

At the opening ceremony of the annual forum, he outlined the applications of ultra-high intensity lasers in such areas as medicine and nuclear energy.

In 2018, Mourou shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Arthur Ashkin and Donna Strickland "for groundbreaking inventions in the field of laser physics."

He is expected to assist in the establishment of a new institute for scientific research and international cooperation in the fields of laser physics, particle physics, nuclear physics, medical physics and astrophysics, according to a statement from Peking University.

As China invests heavily in developing science and education, talent is arriving from around the world at an increasing pace. Fields Medal winner Caucher Birkar has been teaching mathematics full-time at Tsinghua University since 2021. Structural biologist Yan Nieng returned to China from Princeton University in the United States in 2022 to found a medical academy in Shenzhen. Yan also delivered a keynote speech at this year's Beijing Forum.

And about one week after Mourou joined Peking University, a symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the J particle brought several notable individuals to China: Nobel laureates Samuel Chao Chung Ting, Sheldon Glashow and David Gross, as well as Luciano Maiani, former director-general of the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

"Achievements of the Chinese efforts are truly remarkable," Gross told the media, explaining why the event was taking place in China despite the fact that the J particle was not discovered in the country.

Though the initial discovery was made elsewhere, all 30 newly identified members of the J particle family were found at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of High Energy Physics, Ting said.

Mourou praised China for its scientific and technological advancements over the past decades. "I knew some of the scientists," he said. "And they are interested about what I'm doing."

He joked that those scientists had been "smart enough" to convince him to join the university and start a new institute for ultra-high intensity lasers.

Mourou said that he has been impressed by Chinese students, noting that they excel in innovation -- not just in their coursework, as is often the stereotype.

More than 500 scholars and experts from over 30 countries and regions are taking part in the 2024 Beijing Forum. Topics include sustainable development, the environment and health, and digitalization and artificial intelligence.

"The best is yet to come," Mourou said on the future applications of his research. 
At precisely 9:19 a.m. on a recent school day, Michelle Doyle, principal of Happy Valley Middle School, stood at the front entrance, ready for the morning rush of around 1,000 students.

Click it, lock it, put it in your pocket, Doyle sang out, over and over, as buses pulled up to the curb and disgorged waves of students who, as of this year, must pause to lock the gray and green neoprene pouches meant to hold their cellphones.
Oregon health officials said three people traveled to the state from Washington while they were infected with avian influenza.

The three people were poultry workers who were already being monitored by public health officials because they had been exposed to birds that tested positive for the virus in Washington, according to state health officials. Officials said there was little risk to public health because the H5N1 bird flu is unlikely to spread between humans.

Washington public health officials were already investigating human cases of H5N1 bird flu. Several workers at a farm experiencing an avian influenza outbreak among chickens had tested positive and were showing mild symptoms.

The three new human patients carrying H5N1 have returned to Washington, where that states public health staff are monitoring them.

The Oregon cases bring the total to nine associated with the Washington outbreak.

Oregon health officials, citing health privacy laws, did not say why the people Washington infected with avian influenza traveled to Oregon while sick, or whether they were isolated or quarantined while staying in the state.

Jonathan Modie, spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, said that there have been no infections among people living in Oregon.

At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza and there was no risk of H5N1 for people in Oregon with this travel, Modie said in an email Friday.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife warned against touch dead wild birds, which could be infected and transmit the virus to humans.

The wildlife agency reported Thursday that the state was seeing an uptick in birds infected with avian influenza with the fall migration in full swing. Officials said infections and mortality rates were on the rise, especially among cackling geese in the Willamette Valley. Oregon is the first state to report a spike in infections this fall, officials said.

Fish and Wildlife officials asked the public to report groups of sick or dead wild birds to the states wildlife lab by calling 866-968-2600 or emailing wildlife.health@odfw.oregon.gov.

The H5N1 virus has affected over 100 million domesticated birds across the U.S. since the outbreak started in February 2022, according to the USDA. The recent skyrocketing of egg prices was linked to avian influenzas impact on the supply chain, as outbreaks of the virus led to significant reductions in egg-laying chickens.

Meanwhile, a backyard pig in central Oregons Crook County was confirmed to have bird flu, representing the first known swine case of the virus in the U.S.

-- Kristine de Leon covers consumer health, retail, small business and data enterprise stories.

Reach her at kdeleon@oregonian.com.Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today.
RED SPRINGS, N.C. (AP)  Native American communities were decisive voting blocs in key states in 2020, and with the 2024 race remaining stubbornly close both campaigns have tried to mobilize Native voters in the final weeks of the presidential election.

But when it comes to messaging, the two campaigns could not be more different, many Native voters said. Its been 100 years since Native Americans were given the right to vote, with the passage of the Snyder Act in 1924, and whichever campaign is able to harness their power in this election could swing some of the most hotly contested counties in the country.

In swing states like Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nevada, the candidates  particularly Vice President Kamala Harris  have been targeting Native Americans with radio ads and events on tribal lands featuring speakers like Bill Clinton and Donald Trump Jr.

Native American voters tend to favor Democrats, but theyre more likely to vote Republican than Latinos or African Americans, said Gabriel R. Sanchez, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. He said they are one of the least partisan and youngest voting demographics in the country, often motivated by issues that directly impact their communities, like land rights and environmental protections.

In 2020, the Biden administration campaigned in several tribal nations in critical states like Wisconsin and Arizona, and precincts on tribal lands there helped narrowly tip the election for the Democrats. Arizona was kind of like a textbook example of what that could look like if you make those early investments, Sanchez said.

As part of a $370 million ad campaign released this month, including on several reservations, Harris said the U.S. should honor treaty rights and uphold tribal sovereignty. Crystal Echo Hawk, CEO of IllumiNative, a nonprofit that works to increase the visibility of Native Americans, said those commitments, along with the economy and environmental protections, are the top issues Native voters have identified in IllumiNatives surveys.

Echo Hawk said those investments could pay off again for the Democrats. I havent seen the same kind of targeted messaging and outreach from the Trump campaign, she said. Harris also stands to inherit some of the goodwill left from the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, she said.

Obama increased consultation with tribes on matters like land protections and criminal justice, and Biden appointed more than 80 Native Americans to senior administration roles.

The minute that the announcement came that Harris was stepping into the race, you saw people organize overnight, Echo Hawk said. And Trump, she said, will have to contend with his reduction of Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and his revival of the Keystone XL pipeline, both unpopular with Indigenous peoples. I think a lot of these people remember that, she said.

On Friday, Biden formally apologized for the countrys support of Native American boarding schools and its legacy of abuse and cultural destruction. While seen as long overdue, it was met with praise from tribal leaders. On Saturday, vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will campaign in the Navajo Nation.

The Trump campaign hasnt released ads targeting Native Americans, but U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has stumped for the former president in Native communities in North Carolina, a swing state that was decided by less than one point in 2020.

On a crisp evening earlier this month, Mullin sat alongside Donald Trump Jr. and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat who recently announced she is joining the Republican Party, on a small stage in front of several bales of hay to take questions from an audience of a couple hundred people. They discussed issues ranging from the economy to tribal self-determination.

The event took place on a small farm in Red Springs, North Carolina, part of the traditional homelands of Mullins ancestors and current home to the Lumbee Tribe, a state-recognized tribe with about 55,000 members.

The federal recognition of the Lumbee has been opposed by several tribal nations, including the nearby Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Mullins own tribe, the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. The Lumbees push for federal recognition has become a focal point for both campaigns and a rare issue where both parties agree. Last month, Trump said he would sign legislation granting federal recognition to the Lumbee. Harris called the Lumbees tribal chairman last week to discuss the legislation.

This is an injustice that needs to be fixed when it comes to Lumbees, Mullin told the crowd. This is absolutely absurd. It needs to be done. I was so proud to hear President Trump say that he would sign it.

But Mullin soon touched on one of the many areas where the two candidates differ: energy policy. Highlighting the fact that he believed a second Trump term would mean a better economy and lower energy costs, Mullin laid out Trumps policy in one recognizable term that was echoed by the audience, Drill, baby, drill.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations pushed to produce more oil and gas than ever, including extractive energy projects that were opposed by Indigenous peoples. However, Native leaders have expressed concern that Trump is more likely to further erode protections for tribal lands.

Mullin suggested that if tribal nations are truly sovereign, they should be able to conduct energy extraction without the burden of federal intervention. He said just like the Lumbees fight for federal recognition, the rights of tribes to govern their own lands is the victim of federal bureaucracy.

Why is tribal land treated like public land? Mullin asked, questioning why the federal government should have any oversight on tribal nations that extract natural resources on their own lands. You have natural resources being pulled out of the ground right across the fence from reservations. You have private land owners that are extremely wealthy and you have people that are literally starving inside reservations, he said, comparing some to third-world countries.

He promised Trump would have a deep understanding of tribal sovereignty.

That message resonated with Robert Chavis Jr., a physical education teacher and Army veteran who was at the rally and will be voting for Trump. Chavis, a member of the Lumbee Tribe, said tribal nations arent just governments, theyre businesses, and the U.S. is no different. I feel like you dont need a politician in there. We need a businessman to run the country like it should be.

But other Lumbee voters arent as convinced. At her art gallery a few miles away in Pembroke, Janice Locklear said Trump promised he would federally recognize the Lumbee last time he was in office, and she had no reason to believe he could accomplish it this time. But looking broader than her community, she said what Trump did on Jan. 6, 2021, represents a nationwide threat to democracy.

He thought he could actually be a dictator, go in there and take over. Even though he had lost the election; he knew he had lost the election. So what do you think hell do this time, she said.

Locklear said as a woman of color, she trusts that Harris will have a deeper understanding of the unique challenges facing Native Americans. Im sure shes had to face the same problems we face, Locklear said. Discrimination, Im sure shes faced it.

 By GRAHAM LEE BREWER Associated Press
For any Oregon voter who has not yet filled out and returned a ballot for Tuesdays general election, here is helpful information to get your vote on its way. All Oregon ballots have been mailed out so call your county election office Monday if you did not receive yours.

The deadline is Tuesday to drop off your ballot at an approved ballot drop-off site or have your mailed ballot postmarked. Mailed ballots that arrive at election offices after Tuesday will be counted until Nov. 12 so long as they have been postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 5, and no later.

Nov. 1 was the last day to drop mailed ballots in blue USPS collection boxes, elections officials warn. Better to take your ballot to your local post office to ensure it is postmarked no later than Tuesday.

Voters can also drop ballots in official ballot drop boxes around Oregon until 8 p.m. Nov. 5, Election Day. Look up nearest official ballot drop sites by address, anywhere in Oregon.

Due to two high-profile attacks on local ballot boxes, some voters may wish to drop their ballots at election offices.

Portland-area elections offices have announced extended hours this weekend and into Election Day. In Multnomah County, the elections offices in Southeast Portland and Gresham will be open to help the public at these times:

Saturday, Nov. 2, open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 4, open from 8 a.m.  7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, Election Day, open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

In Multnomah County, here are your options for dropping your ballot at the elections division, according to county elections officials:

Portland: 24-hour Official Ballot Drop Site is a slot available to pedestrians on the north side of the building as well as a drive-up Official Ballot Drop Box located on both SE 11th Ave. and SE Belmont St. Voters may use the elections office to vote at any time during the voting period.

Gresham Voting Center Express: There is an Official Ballot Drop Box located inside the Voting Center Express on the first floor of the Multnomah County East Building. The Voting Center Express is only available during Voting Center Express open hours. You will need to park and walk inside to deposit your ballot. The nearest 24-hour Official Ballot Drop Box is at the Gresham Library at 385 NW Miller Ave.

Clackamas County elections will have extended hours at two locations, including on Saturday, to help voters.

Oregon City: Clackamas County Elections Office, Oregon City Red Soils Campus, 1710 Red Soils Ct., Suite 100, Oregon City OR 97045.

Happy Valley: Happy Valley Vote Center, Inside the Happy Valley Library, 13793 SE Sieben Park Way, Happy Valley OR 97015.

Hours for both locations: Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m.  2 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m.  5 p.m.

Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7 a.m.  8 p.m.

Find ballot drop sites in Clackamas County.

Washington County elections office will also have Saturday hours to help voters.

Hillsboro: 2925 NE Aloclek Drive, Suite 170, Hillsboro, OR 97124

Saturday, Nov. 2, open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 3, open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, Election Day, open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Find ballot drop sites in Washington County.

The Oregonian/OregonLives newsroom has published extensive coverage ahead of the general election. Voters can read all of the coverage on the newsrooms election page or at oregonlive.com/politics.

For city of Portland voters seeking information on ranked-choice voting, numerous explainer articles and a helpful video are online.

Last week, the Oregon Attorney General highlighted the Voter Protection Hotline (971-673-4111), managed by the Oregon Department of Justice. The hotline will help Oregon voters with non-emergency questions and any concerns they might have. Voters should call the hotline if they suspect voter intimidation, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said.
Oregons highly consequential 5th Congressional District race has drawn more than $25 million in spending from outside groups ahead of Tuesdays election.

On Friday, it ranked as the 11th most expensive U.S. House race in the country, according to Open Secrets, which tracks money in politics.
A claim from a Missouri-based sovereign Americans group that Oregon election officials allowed massive irregularities and illegal voting in November 2022 is riddled with misunderstandings and doesnt hold up to scrutiny, state election officials told The Oregonian/OregonLive this week.

At a meeting of the Clackamas County Commission last week, Oregon-based members of the group, United Sovereign Americans, cited the detailed 13-page complaint sent the Oregon Elections Division two months ago as a basis to ask for new barriers to voting in this falls election.
Medicares open enrollment for 2025 benefits runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Help with the sometimes-complicated process is available in Oregon for no charge.

The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program, known as SHIBA, provides free assistance. Counselors are trained to help senior citizens navigate Medicares maze of choices to help ensure they are making the best choices for their individual circumstances.

Before you start

There are a few essentials you should gather before seeking help:

Medicare card

MyMedicare.gov login information, if you have an account

Pharmacy name and address

List of all prescription drugs, strength and dosages

A list of medical issues or concerns youd like to cover

Medicare resources online

There is a lot of information online. Visit Medicare.gov and its comparison tool, medicare.gov/plan-compare. The tool allows you to compare costs for a wide range of health services across multiple drug and Medicare Advantage plans available in your area. It also has ratings on each plans performance and quality. Most important, it allows you to enter your prescription drugs to find out which plans cover them and at what cost.

Medicare expanded its Medigap search engine tool to include cost ranges depending on age, gender and smoking status. Access it via bit.ly/MedigapPlanSearch.

Check Medicare Rights Centers Medicare Interactive site (Medicareinteractive.org) to help you find answers about Medicare benefits.

Read our past coverage (search.oregonlive.com/medicare) on picking a Medicare plan.

Medicare open enrollment help by phone

For Social Security, call 800-772-1213 (available 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday). To find a local field office, visit ssa.gov/locator for Medicare Part A and Part B questions.

Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) with Part D (drug plan) questions.

Call the nonprofit Medicare Rights Centers national helpline at 800-333-4114, Monday through Friday.

Medicare open enrollment help in Multnomah County

Call 503-988-3646 and press option 3 to schedule an appointment. Virtual appointments are available with counselors, with limited in-person consultations. Residents who live in zip codes near the sites will receive postcard reminders, said John Henry Crippen, Multnomah County SHIBA program supervisor. Appointments should be scheduled in advance, however, he said.

In-person counseling, all by appointment only:

Charles Jordan Community Center, 9009 N. Foss Ave., Portland: Nov. 22

East County, MCE, 600 N.E. Eighth St., Gresham, (Chinook Room, 1st floor): Oct. 25, Nov. 15

Holgate Library, 7905 S.E. Holgate Blvd, Portland: Nov. 8, Nov. 21

Hillsdale Library, 1525 S.W. Sunset Blvd., Portland: Oct. 18, Oct. 28, Nov. 13

Hollywood Library, 4040 N.E. Tillamook St., Portland: Nov. 1, Nov. 25, Dec. 2

Neighborhood House Senior Center, 7688 S.W. Capitol Hwy, Portland: Oct. 23, Nov. 5

Medicare open enrollment help in Oregon

Counselors from the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program can answer questions by phone 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some are also scheduling virtual conferences. Call 800-722-4134 (toll free) to schedule a consultation or visit shiba.oregon.gov.

Check the website for online presentations coming up. For in-person, dont delay  appointments book quickly.

Other resources

Health insurance brokers are often knowledgeable about choices and can help you choose and purchase a plan. Its probably best to deal with licensed independent brokers. They cover plans from several different insurance companies, receive training each year on the plans and are overseen by state and federal regulators. Consumers dont pay directly for this help. Instead, brokers earn sales commissions directly from the plans. You can search for local Medicare brokers in your community at OregonHealthCare.govs website: bit.ly/ORAgentSearch. Be sure to scroll down the page to Find Local Help and select Medicare Agents when you search.

Check an agents license online at bit.ly/or_broker_licenses or call the Oregon Insurance Commissioners Consumer Advocacy Unit at 1-888-877-4894.

Insurance carrier websites and customer-service phone lines can be good places to verify coverage details, but only for their plans. Find that information in our Advantage Plan and Part D charts in this publication.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that Republicans probably will try to repeal legislation that spurred U.S. production of semiconductor chips, a statement he quickly tried to walk back by saying he would like to instead streamline it.

Johnson made the initial comment while campaigning for a vulnerable New York GOP congressman in a district that is anticipating a large new Micron semiconductor manufacturing plant.

A reporter asked Johnson whether he would try to repeal the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had disparaged last week. I expect that we probably will, but we havent developed that part of the agenda yet, Johnson replied.

Democrats quickly jumped on the Republican speakers comments, warning that it showed how Johnson and Trump are pursuing an aggressive conservative agenda bent on dismantling even popular government programs. The White House has credited the CHIPS Act for spurring hundreds of billions of dollars of investments as well as hundreds of thousands of jobs. Vice President Kamala Harris has pointed to the legislation on the campaign trail as proof that Democrats can be entrusted with the U.S. economy.

Johnson, who voted against the legislation, later said in a statement that the CHIPS Act, which poured $54 billion into the semiconductor manufacturing industry, is not on the agenda for repeal.

To the contrary, there could be legislation to further streamline and improve the primary purpose of the billto eliminate its costly regulations and Green New Deal requirements, the speakers statement said.

It wasnt the first recent comment Johnson has had to walk back. Earlier this week he had to clean up comments he made saying he wanted to take a blow torch to the regulatory state and make massive changes to the Affordable Care Act. After facing political blowback, he said that repealing the health care law was not on the table.

The incident was emblematic of Johnsons struggle working closely with Trump and at the same time campaigning for his House colleagues, especially those locked in tough reelection battles that are crucial to Republicans holding a narrow majority. The speaker was campaigning for Rep. Brandon Williams, a New York Republican who worked in the tech industry before running for Congress and supported the CHIPS Act.

Williams said in a statement that he spoke privately with Johnson after he suggested that the act could be repealed.

He apologized profusely, saying he misheard the question, Williams said.

Williams' district is anticipating a large new Micron semiconductor manufacturing plant. The company has said it received grants of $6.1 billion from the CHIPS Act to support its plans.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement Friday, Anyone threatening to repeal the CHIPS & Science Act is threatening more than 50,000 good-paying jobs in Upstate New York and $231 billion worth of economic growth nationwide.

Democrats are hoping that the comments give them a late boost as they try to court working class voters in regions that depend on factory jobs. Harris, during a campaign stop in Saginaw, Michigan earlier this week, toured another semiconductor factory to bring attention to the 2022 law.

In response to Johnsons comments Friday, a spokesperson for Harris campaign, Ammar Moussa, said, Harris is running to bring manufacturing jobs back to America and make us competitive globally. The only way to guarantee these Republicans never get a chance to repeal these laws that are creating jobs and saving Americans money is to elect her president.

As of August, the CHIPS and Science Act had provided $30 billion in support for 23 projects in 15 states that would add 115,000 manufacturing and construction jobs, according to the Commerce Department.

Intel is set to receive $8.5 billion in grants $11 billion in loans to help pay for new factories, including a multibillion-dollar expansion of Intels D1X research factory in Hillsboro. Other chip manufacturers with operations in Oregon are set to receive money to fund expansions as well.

CHIPS Act fund are intended to unlock private capital and enable the United States to produce 30% of the worlds most advanced computer chips, up from 0% when the Biden-Harris administration succeeded Trumps presidency.

Viet Shelton, spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said, Most politicians usually go to a community promising to create jobs in the town theyre visiting  Mike Johnson, ever the trendsetter, decided to visit a town and promise to kill jobs in that town.

-- Stephen Groves, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States is sending additional military assets including warships, fighter jets and bombers to the Middle East, said the Defense Department on Friday.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin "ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several U.S. Air Force B-52 long-range strike bombers to the region," and these forces are expected to arrive in the coming months, Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said in a statement.

The latest deployment comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group prepares to depart the Middle East, Ryder said.

The Amphibious Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was previously deployed, will remain in the region, he said.

"Secretary Austin continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people," Ryder said in the statement.

Austin's order followed Israel's retaliation a week ago against Iran in response to the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile attack against Israel on Oct. 1. 
MOSCOW, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Russia's pipeline gas exports to Europe rose by over 15 percent to 26.52 billion cubic meters in the first 10 months this year, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Saturday.

For the entire year of 2023, the figure amounted to about 28.15 billion cubic meters, said the report.

In the first 10 months this year, Russia's pipeline gas exports to Western and Central Europe via Ukraine totaled 12.85 billion cubic meters, up by 7 percent year on year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would not renew its transit agreement with Russia's gas giant Gazprom, which is set to expire at the end of this year.

Experts said that though a renewal of the transit agreement appears unlikely due to tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the EU countries could still secure Russian gas through auctions, capacity bookings, and revised gas delivery points. 
Five people were arrested Friday afternoon in Lancaster County after gunfire broke out in a neighborhood, striking a home with people inside, according to area police.

Police in Columbia were sent to the 400 block of K Avenue around 1:30 p.m. for reports of shots fired. When officers arrived in the area they found several spent shell casings in the road and confirmed a residence was hit by gunfire, the police report said.

The home was occupied by an unknown number of people, but no injuries were reported, police said. It is unclear how many shots were fired in the incident.

Officers learned the suspected shooters ran into a house on the 200 block of South 4th Street, just a few hundred feet away, where police made announcements over a loudspeaker before arresting five individuals.

The names, ages and addresses of the people arrested were not included in the police report.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbia Police at 717-684-7735.
By STEVE PEOPLES, AP National Political Writer

NEW YORK (AP)  The 2024 presidential contest speeds into its final weekend with Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump locked in a razor-thin contest.

At this late stage in the campaign, every day matters. And while few voters might change their minds this late in a typical election, there is a sense that what happens in these final days could shift votes.

Heres what were watching on the final weekend before Election Day, which is Tuesday:

Where will Harris and Trump be?

You only need to look at the candidates schedules this weekend to know where this election will likely be decided.

Note that schedules can and likely will change without warning. But on Saturday, Trump is expected to make separate appearances in North Carolina with one eyebrow-raising stop in Virginia in between.

No Democratic presidential candidate has carried North Carolina since Barack Obama in 2008, although it has been decided by less than 3 points in every election since. Trumps decision to spend Saturday there suggests Harris has a real opportunity in the state. But Trump is also trying to convey confidence.

There is perhaps no more important swing state than Pennsylvania, where Trump is expected to campaign Sunday in Lititz, Lancaster County.

Former President Donald Trump, right, held a town hall with Fox News Sean Hannity at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. .September 4, 2024. (Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com, file)

Vice presidential candidate JD Vance plans to be in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Monday. Talk of a Sunday event in York petered out, but Trumps website says he and Vance will be in Delaware County on Sunday afternoon.

Trump also has another appearance scheduled for North Carolina in addition to Georgia, a Southern state that had leaned Republican for almost three decades  until Joe Biden carried it by less than a half percentage point four years ago.

Meanwhile, Harris is expected to campaign in North Carolina and Georgia on Saturday in a sign that her team is sensing genuine opportunity in the South. Shes planning to make multiple stops in Michigan on Sunday, shifting to a Democratic-leaning state in the so-called Blue Wall where her allies believe she is vulnerable.

She plans to be in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on Monday.

Trump plans to hold rallies Monday in Reading and Pittsburgh, which is sending city workers home early because of the dueling events.

Vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz and his wife plan to be in Harrisburg on Election Day.

Do they stay on message?

Trumps campaign leadership wants voters to be focused on one key question as they prepare to cast ballots, and its the same question he opens every rally with: Are you better off today than you were four years ago?

Harris team wants voters to be thinking about another: Do they trust Trump or Harris to put the nations interests over their own?

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign rally at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, October 30, 2024. (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com, file)Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Whichever candidate can more effectively keep voters focused on their closing arguments in the coming days may ultimately win the presidency. Yet both candidates are off to a challenging start.

Trump opens the weekend still facing the fallout from his recent New York City rally in which a comedian described Puerto Rico as a floating pile of garbage. Things got harder for Trump late Thursday after he raised the prospect of Republican rival Liz Cheneys death by gunfire.

It was exactly the kind of inflammatory comment his allies want him to avoid at this critical moment.

Harris campaign, meanwhile, is still working to shift the conversation away from President Bidens comments earlier in the week that described Trump supporters as garbage. The Associated Press reported late Thursday that White House press officials altered the official transcript of the call in question, drawing objections from the federal workers who document such remarks for posterity.

The spotlight of presidential politics always burns brightly. But it will burn brightest, perhaps, this final weekend, leaving the campaigns virtually no margin for error. In what both sides believe is a true tossup election, any final-hours missteps could prove decisive.

How will the gender gap play out?

Trumps graphic attack against Cheney was especially troublesome given his allies heightened concerns about women voters.

Polling shows a significant gender gap in the contest with Harris generally having a much better rating among women than Trump has. Part of that may be the result of the GOPs fight to restrict abortion rights, which has been disastrous for Trumps party. But Trumps divisive leadership has also pushed women away.

Going into the weekend, Trump allies, including conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, are warning that far more women than men appear to be casting early ballots. While its impossible to know whom theyre voting for, Kirk clearly believes thats bad news for Trump.

Trump isnt helping his cause. A day before his violent rhetoric about Cheney, the Republican former president made waves by insisting that he would protect women whether they like it or not.

Harris, who would be the nations first female president, said Trump doesnt understand womens rights to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies.

It remains to be seen whether the Democrats argument can break through on this packed weekend. But Harris team believes theres still a significant chunk of persuadable voters out there. And they say the undecideds are disproportionately Republican-leaning suburban women.

What happens with early voting?

More than 66 million people have already cast ballots in the 2024 election, which is more than one-third the total number who voted in 2020.

They include significantly more Republicans compared with four years ago, largely because Trump has backed off his insistence that his supporters must cast ballots in person on Election Day.

And while early in-person voting has ended in many states, there will be a huge push for final-hours early voting in at least three key states as the campaigns work to bank as many votes as possible before Election Day.

That includes Michigan, where in-person early voting runs through Monday. Voters in Wisconsin can vote early in-person through Sunday, although it varies by location. And in North Carolina, voters have until 3 p.m. Saturday to cast early ballots in-person.

The early voting period ended Friday in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada. In Pennsylvania, mail-in ballots are due at 8 p.m. Tuesday; postmarks dont count.

Meanwhile, questions remain about the Trump campaigns get-out-the-vote operation, which is relying heavily on well-funded outside groups with little experience  including one group funded largely by billionaire Elon Musk thats facing new questions about its practices.

Harris campaign, by contrast, is running a more traditional get-out-the-vote operation that features more than 2,500 paid staffers and 357 offices in battleground states alone.

Will misinformation intensify?

Trumps allies appear to be intensifying baseless claims about voter fraud, and some are being amplified by Trump himself. He has spent months sowing doubts about the integrity of the 2024 election in the event he loses  just as he did four years ago.

His unfounded accusations are becoming more specific, in some cases, as wild claims begin to show up on social media.

Earlier this week, Trump claimed on social media that York County, Pennsylvania, had received THOUSANDS of potentially FRAUDULENT Voter Registration Forms and Mail-In Ballot Applications from a third party group.

He has also pointed to Lancaster County, which he claimed had been caught with 2600 Fake Ballots and Forms, all written by the same person. Really bad stuff.

Trump was referring to investigations into potential fraud related to voter registration applications. The discovery and investigation into the applications provide evidence the system is working as it should.

The Republican nominee has also raised baseless claims about overseas ballots and noncitizens voting, and suggested without evidence that Harris might have access to some kind of secret inside information about election results.

Expect such claims to surge, especially on social media, in the coming days. And remember that a broad coalition of top government and industry officials, many of them Republicans, found that the 2020 election was the most secure in American history.

This story was updated with information on Trumps schedule.
Editors note: A line in this story was changed Sunday night, Nov. 3, to reflect the correct name of the organization involved at the rally.

Harrisburgs Reservoir Park on Saturday afternoon was filled with hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers who came together for a canvassing event and rally held by CASA In Action.
ERWIN, Tenn. (AP)  Rescue workers in Tennessee said Friday they have recovered the body of the final person still missing after massive flooding from Hurricane Helene hit a plastics factory there.

Rosa Andrade, 29, was one of six employees killed after they were unable to escape the rising waters around Impact Plastics in Erwin, a small town in East Tennessee. Surviving workers have stated they were not allowed to leave until water had flooded the plants parking lot and the power went out. Eleven people were swept away; five were rescued.

Mourners gather during a vigil for victims of the Impact Plastics tragedy as a helicopter continues search and rescue work over the disaster site in the distance in the days after Hurricane Helene in Erwin, Tenn., on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, file)AP

The captain of Unicoi County Search and Rescue, Andrew Harris, said emergency workers discovered Andrades body on Wednesday, more than a month after the Sept. 27 flood of the Nolichucky River.

Normally running 2 feet deep, the river rose to a record 30 feet that day, with more than 1.4 million gallons of water running downstream each second  twice as much as Niagara Falls.

Relatives of some of those who were killed have sued Impact Plastics and its owner, Gerald OConnor. They include the family of Johnny Peterson, who managed to climb onto a bed of a semi-trailer that was attempting to escape the area and send text messages to his family before being swept away.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is probing the allegations involving Impact Plastics at the direction of the local prosecutor. The states workplace safety office has also opened its own investigation into the circumstances behind the deaths.

OConnor has said no employees were forced to keep working, and they were evacuated at least 45 minutes before the massive force of the flood hit the industrial park.

Damage caused by flooding from Hurricane Helene is seen around Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tenn., on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, file)AP

The workers who died were among the more than 200 people killed by Helene in remote towns throughout the Appalachians. It was the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005. The storm also left millions without power, knocked out cellular service and destroyed drinking water systems.
WELLSBORO  A fired state trooper is appealing his vehicular homicide conviction to the state Superior Court.

The action Thursday by Michael J. Brown likely means he will remain free on bail instead of starting a sentence of 6 to 23 months in the Tioga County Jail.
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nobel laureate Angus Deaton used his hip surgery as a chance to study U.S. healthcare firsthand, and he turned out to be disillusioned.

Costs were extreme -- over 10,000 U.S. dollars per day for a shared room -- with little price transparency. Although his insurance covered 90 percent of the negotiated price, he still faced nearly 2,000 dollars in out-of-pocket costs due to additional fees.

Reflecting on his experience in his book Economics in America, Deaton noted that without insurance, he'd likely still suffer from his painful hip.

For many Americans, high costs and limited access mean essential care remains out of reach.

SKYROCKET COSTS

A September Gallup and West Health survey showed that over two-thirds of Americans worry that a major health event could lead to medical debt. "Issues with healthcare costs and access impact voters directly, regardless of party affiliation," the survey noted.

A Commonwealth Fund report also found that the United States, despite spending more on healthcare than any other high-income country, ranks lowest in accessibility, life expectancy, and preventable deaths.

Without universal insurance, most Americans rely on employer-provided or private plans. Those uninsured face exorbitant out-of-pocket costs.

The KFF-Peterson Health System Tracker, an online resource evaluating the U.S. healthcare system, estimates that around 20 million Americans -- nearly 1 in 12 adults -- carry medical debt. Collectively, Americans owe at least 220 billion dollars in medical debt. Approximately 14 million individuals owe over 1,000 dollars each, while around 3 million owe more than 10,000 dollars individually.

In 2022, health expenditures per person in the United States reached 12,555 dollars, exceeding the spending of any other high-income nation by over 4,000 dollars. On average, other large, wealthy countries spent about half as much per person on health as the United States, according to the KFF-Peterson Health System Tracker.

POLITICAL CALCULATIONS

A September poll from the Pew Research Center found that healthcare is the second most prioritized issue for voters, following economic concerns.

However, during the 2024 party conventions, not a single day was devoted to addressing the challenges faced by uninsured individuals or middle-class families struggling with high premiums.

During the September presidential debate, when the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, was raised, both presidential candidates offered little in terms of specific policy proposals.

"This is the first election in maybe decades where health reform has not been a central issue," Larry Levitt, the executive vice president for health reform at KFF was quoted by The New York Times as saying.

The New York Times commented that both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have learned the hard way that proposing major changes can alienate some voters even as it thrills others.

Trump's unsuccessful effort to repeal Obamacare in 2017 was followed by major Democratic gains in the 2018 midterms. Harris faced intense criticism after a 2019 Democratic primary debate in which she appeared to endorse abolishing private health insurance.

A joint Gallup and West Health poll indicated that two-thirds of Americans feel healthcare is under-prioritized in this election, and one-third express distrust in both candidates on this issue.

"Republicans think they can ignore healthcare, and Democrats think they've solved it. But neither is correct," noted Michael Cannon, Cato Institute's director of health policy studies.

SYSTEMIC TRAPS

Both Democrats and Republicans seem unable or unwilling to pursue substantial healthcare reform, with national initiatives frequently stalling due to entrenched conflicts as low-income groups advocate for expanded public coverage, while high-income groups resist tax increases.

Meanwhile, the public wants lower healthcare costs, but industry groups oppose more regulation. These tensions lead to complex legislative and administrative battles, not only between the parties but also within them, creating divides between reformists and conservatives.

At a deeper level, the U.S. healthcare industry prioritizes profit over patient care. Esteemed medical professionals often transition to roles as directors or partners in private firms, while nonprofit health organizations increasingly adopt for-profit models to secure capital.

The consolidation of hospitals, managed care organizations, and insurers has resulted in what Matthew Anderson of the Journal of Social Medicine describes as "a formidable complex."

Many analysts argue that the underlying issues are less about insufficient funding and more about a system that reflects class-based oppression, impacting working- and lower-income groups. The true maladies in U.S. healthcare, they note, are deeply political, representing systematic oppression directed at the lower classes through the healthcare system. 
By Bret Pallotto, Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) (TNS)

A new episode of a true-crime television series that will recount the killing of a Penn State professor is set to premiere Sunday evening, likely bringing renewed interest to a case that captured Centre Countys attention.

The latest episode of Snapped is to air at 6 p.m. Sunday. The hourlong, documentary-style episode will revisit the August 2016 death of Penn State professor Ronald Bettig and the ensuing prosecution of George G. Ishler Jr. and Danelle Geier, who were both convicted of murder after Bettig was found dead at the bottom of a quarry.

Viewers can find the episode on the Oxygen channel, which is available through cable, streaming or online via FuboTV (free trial) or SlingTV.

Heres what you should know about the case.

Ronald Bettig

Who was Ronald Bettig?

Bettig, 56, of Lemont, was an associate professor at Penn State. A faculty member in the universitys College of Communications since 1988, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses on the political economy of communications.

He earned the Excellence in Teaching Award from the colleges alumni society in 1996 and escorted the colleges undergraduate student marshals during commencement a half-dozen times.

At the graduate level, he led or served on nearly five dozen scholar, masters and doctoral thesis committees. In an August 2016 article published by the university, College of Communications Dean Marie Hardin said Bettig was part of the fabric of this College for many years.

All except our very newest faculty and staff members very likely knew Ron, who was one of our longest-tenured faculty members, Hardin said. Ron was the kind of teacher who connected powerfully with students, who found his classes in political economy  at both the undergraduate and graduate levels  transformative.

Bettig was also the author of two books and a longtime member of the Union for Democratic Communications, an organization dedicated to creating connections between academics, journalists and others.

The university described him as intensely private and a man who fought for the underdog. Away from the university, Bettig played his harmonica, guitar or piano.

He was an alumnus of the University of Illinois and the University of California at San Diego.

Ronald Bettig was a man ahead of his time; people just didnt realize it, Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said in April 2018. His body of work was based on analyzing the media and the source of media, believing that you needed to have a critical eye for where you get your source of information. This was written 10 and 15 years ago.

The countys top prosecutor later added: He was a brilliant man. He listened to a different drum beat and he offered great wisdom to an area of study that people will still refer to.

What were Ishler and Geiers relationships to Bettig?

Bettig and Ishler, according to state police at Rockview and Centre County prosecutors, built a relationship that centered on marijuana. Bettig was then introduced to Geier, whom he allowed to live in his basement.

The three were friends, police wrote.

What were the circumstances of his death?

Bettig was initially reported as a missing person, but police began investigating his death as a homicide when he was found at the bottom of a quarry in rural Potter Township.

His convicted killers were accused of luring him there before Ishler pushed him off a ledge, causing him to fall about 75 feet to the pit of the quarry. Bettig died of blunt force trauma from the fall.

They later returned to the quarry to make it appear Bettig had been there alone.

George Ishler Jr. and Danelle Geier (Police photos, file)

What happened at trial?

As the joint trial unfolded in April 2018, prosecutors put forward a theory that Ishler and Geier believed they would benefit financially from Bettigs crude will.

Ishlers defense lawyer argued the professor died by suicide, while Geiers public defender claimed she had no motive, only became aware of what happened afterward and was threatened by Ishler.

After hours of questioning by police, Ishler admitted to pushing Bettig off the ledge. Both were found guilty at the end of a six-day trial of first-degree murder and other lesser charges.

They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Who will be in the episode?

Former Centre County First Assistant Public Defender Deb Lux, who represented Geier; former State College police Detective Chris Weaver; Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers and former state police at Rockview trooper Brian Wakefield are among those in the episode.

Where are they now?

Ishler, 47, is incarcerated at Coal Township state prison in Northumberland County. Hes been at the prison since Nov. 5, 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections told the Centre Daily Times.

Geier, 40, is incarcerated at Muncy state prison in Lycoming County. Shes been at the prison since June 7, 2018, the DOC said. It was less clear if she has active appeals; the state Supreme Court refused last month to take up her case.

Both saw their direct appeals denied by statewide appellate courts. Court documents showed Ishler was pursuing another appeal as recently as August.

It was not immediately known if Geier plans to pursue any appeals in federal court. The state Supreme Court refused to take up her case last month.
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first national-level import-themed expo, is about to be held for the seventh consecutive year in Shanghai, with overseas enterprises gathering to take the pulse of the Chinese market.

Scheduled to be held from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions and international organizations, and achieved a new record with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders set to attend.

The previous six editions saw nearly 2,500 new products, technologies and services make their debuts, with combined intended turnover reaching over 420 billion U.S. dollars.

The CIIE serves to showcase China's major opening-up measures and confidence, and to share China's new development opportunities with other countries. It has become a platform for high-level opening up and a public good for the whole world.

China has continued to roll out policies to spur foreign trade growth and attract foreign investment, cultivating new international competitive advantages and achieving mutual benefits with other countries.

On Oct. 25, the country issued a guideline to promote the experience in aligning some eligible free trade zones and the Hainan Free Trade Port with high-standard international economic and trade rules.

The eligible FTZs are in Shanghai, Guangdong, Tianjin, Fujian and Beijing. The pilot measures, which will be replicated in other FTZs or even nationwide, cover six aspects: trade in goods, trade in services, digital trade, personnel entry, business environment, and risk prevention and control.

China has built 22 pilot FTZs, covering coastal, inland and border areas, contributing about 20 percent of the country's total foreign investment and import-export volume. Foreign trade of the FTZs expanded by 11.99 percent year on year in the first three quarters of 2024.

Continuous efforts have been made to lower tariffs. In September, China announced it would give all the least developed countries having diplomatic relations with the country zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines starting from Dec. 1 this year.

China also keeps rolling out policies to nurture fertile ground for foreign investors. The new edition of the national negative list for foreign investment took effect on Friday, scrapping the two remaining items in the manufacturing industry on the previous list.

The items on the latest negative list, specifying fields off-limits to foreign investors, have been further slashed to 29.

This fully demonstrates China's active willingness to expand mutual benefits and a clear attitude to supporting economic globalization, said Jin Xiandong, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, adding that further efforts will be made to improve the level of foreign investment liberalization and facilitation, and to optimize service for foreign-invested enterprises.

Besides the manufacturing sector, China is also pushing forward broader and deeper opening up in the service sector.

China announced in September that it would allow the establishment of wholly foreign-owned hospitals in certain cities and regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and throughout the island of Hainan.

In October, the country decided to allow foreign investors to operate wholly-owned businesses such as internet data centers and engage in online data processing and transaction processing in certain areas as part of a pilot program to expand opening up in value-added telecom services.

A total of 42,108 new foreign-invested firms were established across China in the first nine months of 2024, up 11.4 percent year on year. Notably, foreign direct investment inflows into medical equipment and instrument manufacturing surged 57.3 percent, while inflows into computer and office device manufacturing grew by 29.2 percent during this period.

Opening up to the outside world is not just a matter of "opening the door," but, more importantly, is actively aligning with international economic and trade regulations as well as other high-standard rules, said Zhang Bin, deputy director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Zhang underlined the need to enhance synergy between the domestic and international markets as well as resources to constantly cultivate and consolidate new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition. 
Infamous 2006 WSOP Trash Talker Eric Molina Coolered to Soft Bubble NAPT Opener

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Connor Richards Editor & Live Reporter U.S. Copy link

An infamous poker boom era trash talker returned to action on the first day of the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Las Vegas series and ran into a brutal cooler at the most inopportune time.

Eric Molina, known for berating and insulting opponents during the 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, hasn't been seen much in poker the past 18 years. But he showed up on Friday to compete in the Day 1a session of the $550 Mystery Bounty, a $300,000 guaranteed tournament, at Resorts World. And he ran into a tough spot right before the money bubble burst.

Molina's Set of Aces are No Good

Eric Molina

Molina, in his early 20s at the time, finished 31st out of 8,773 players for $329,865 in the 2006 WSOP Main Event, still his only WSOP cash. The deep run is only remembered by his behavior at the table, which included verbally sparring with eventual champion Jamie Gold and many others. He's not so young anymore, but he still occasionally shows up at various tournament stops in Las Vegas.

There were 232 entrants in the first of four Day 1 starting flights  the second taking place Friday evening. The field played down to the money when it reached 35 players. High roller Justin Young, who bagged the second largest stack (522,000) burst the bubble to finish off the session. Chris Shebat finished with the largest stack at 570,000.

Molina found a double up before one of the last breaks when he flopped top pair (kings) and received action from an ambitious player attempting to turn a small pocket pair into a bluff. But the run came to an end just two spots away from the Day 1a money bubble.

Molina opened with AxAx and received two calls, including from Shebat, who had K10. The original raiser would bet his set of aces on the AxQxJx flop after it was checked to him, and both opponents called.

The turn was a 2x and Molina was feeling great about his hand. Little did he know at the time he was up against the nut straight. He moved all in, which forced one player off the hand, but Shebat snap-called.

Molina was in desperate need of the board pairing on the river, but the Kx was of no help. He made a quiet exit from the field on the soft bubble.

Day 1b kicked off at 5 p.m. from the Resorts World Las Vegas poker room and had over 130 entrants at the time of publishing. Molina can get back in action if he so chooses in any of the final three starting flights.

Molina won over 75% of his career live tournament earnings in the 2006 WSOP Main Event. He has less than $30,000 in combined cashes over the past nine years, according to The Hendon Mob. The notorious trash talker was part of a 10-way chop in a $400 hold'em event at Venetian in 2021, which paid him $3,400.

PokerNews attempted to interview Molina at NAPT, but he politely declined.

Follow PokerNews Live Coverage of the NAPT

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Leo Worthington-Leese

The last two flights of the 2024 Irish Poker Festival 3,000 Main Event are now over, here at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. After a total of 59 entrants were combined in Day 1a and 1b, Day 1c broke records with 137 entries.

Players like Niall Farrell qualified for Day 2 through Day 1c after unsuccessful attempts earlier in the week, while recent EPT Cyprus Eureka Main Event champion Leo Worthington-Leese was entering the tournament for the first time today. It seems like one bullet was enough for him, as he ended the day as the chip leader with 288,700. Second in chips is Ravi Sheth (265,600), while Farrell takes third place (258,000).

2024 Irish Poker Festival 3,000 Main Event Day 1c Top Ten

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Leo Worthington-Leese United Kingdom 288,700 180 2 Ravi Sheth United Kingdom 265,600 166 3 Niall Farrell United Kingdom 258,000 161 4 Raul Martinez Spain 250,700 157 5 Lukas Paliulis Lithuania 189,800 119 6 Richard Ashby United Kingdom 178,000 111 7 Noel Hayes Ireland 173,400 108 8 Alex Todd United Kingdom 171,000 107 9 Aleksander Januskevic Lithuania 168,300 105 10 James Donnelly Ireland 154,500 97

Day 1c's Action

Despite a slow start, more players quickly joined the field, including Andy Black, Thomas Murphy, Olga Iermolcheva, Mallory Frere, and Michael Sklenicka, who was first in chips during the first break of the day. But by the second break after Level 4, Worthington-Leese had already taken the lead in chip counts. He held the top spot until the end, calling with jacks on an ace-high board to take chips for example.

With him, only three players surpassed 200,000 chips by day's end: Raul Martinez, who hit a full house in one of the last hands, ending with 250,700; Farrell, who doubled up in Level 8, catching Mircea Rus bluffing; and Sheth.

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Richard Ashby (178,000) also bagged a big stack, as did Alex Todd (171,000), who reentered after being one of the first eliminated players today.

"The Chip Race" podcast co-host Dara O'Kearney managed to bag 123,100 chips, along with Eoghan O'Dea (122,900), Adi Rajkovic (117,100), and Lars Kamphues (102,100). The 2023 EPT Prague champion Padraig O'Neill (26,800) and Nils Pudel (18,300) also qualified for Day 2, though with some of the shortest stacks.

Bobby James, Roope Tarmi, and Kuljinder Sidhu did not qualify for Day 2. Olga Iermolcheva also fell short, being eliminated in a three-way all-in situation. However, all of them still have the opportunity to enter or re-enter the tournament on Day 2 until the end of Level 12.

Olga Iermolcheva

A few hours after the end of Day 1c, Day 1d Turbo ended with 22 remaining players out of 31 entries. Tomas Flanagan (183,400) had the biggest stack, in flight where Andy Black (78,600), Leo Lombardozzi (48,500) or Maria Lampropulos (44,800) found a bag.

For the 121 remaining players, Day 2 kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, November 2 at 1 p.m. local time. Blinds will start at 800/1,600 with a big blind ante of 1,600.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the latest action from the tables and find out who makes it through to the third and final day.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Thunderstorms, some locally heavy this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 45F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Friday marks the first anniversary of the establishment of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ). #GLOBALink
The $348 million parking expansion at Charleston International is the first stop in the airport's "flight path to the future" that includes more than $1 billion in capital projects over the next several years.

That was among the messages for the roughly 400 hospitality and travel industry representatives who attended the inaugural "State of the Airport" event on Oct. 29.

Charleston County Aviation Authority CEO Elliott Summey said CHS has "truly become South Carolina's airport." He cited passenger data showing travelers drive up to 200 miles to catch a direct flight.

"Every day we have more passengers come through Charleston International Airport than from Myrtle Beach and Columbia's airports combined," Summey said in his address.

Charleston International Fast Facts Charleston International Fast Facts 18 gates

The number of nonstop destinations CHS flies to tripled since 2019, now totaling 69

12 airlines

92 daily direct flights

29,300 airplanes landed in 2023

6.1 million passengers and 6.9 million bags checked in 2023

Flies to 46 cities

The population of the greater Charleston area is projected to grow to more than 1 million residents by 2030. Summey said the airport authority needs to play a role in encouraging economic development to attract more industrial jobs and to maintain the "robust air service that visitors and residents rely on." He said CHS needs more gates to meet the demand.

In 2019, CHS saw 4.3 million passengers and last year it set a record of 6.1 million. If the airport had more space for aircraft, Summey estimated the traffic figure could rise to 8 million to 10 million.

Work is now underway on the $348 million parking garage, a three-year endeavor that kicks off the next phase of expansion projects that include adding more overnight aircraft parking, another concourse, a new baggage-handling system and energy plant upgrades.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Thunderstorms - some locally heavy downpours are possible, especially during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High 73F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
NORTH CHARLESTON  The doors of a hotel off Ashley Phosphate Road have closed to visitors for good, but an extensive renovation under new ownership will transform it into a place 90 veterans can call home.

The New York-based nonprofit Tunnel to Towers Foundation held a groundbreaking Oct. 30 to signal the next phase of its campaign to end veteran homelessness with Veteran Villages: permanent affordable housing sites with 24/7 onsite supportive services.

A prototype village opened in Houston last year. A 161-room hotel was converted into housing for 131 veterans, with a resource center on the first floor that connects them with behavioral health specialists, case managers, employment and other services.

The vision for Charleston County is similar.

It is not a shelter or transitional site; each veteran will have their own apartment, said Gavin Naples, vice president of the nonprofit's Homeless Veteran Program.

This is permanent affordable housing for veterans, Naples said. Its not enough to provide a roof over a veterans head if theyre struggling with other challenges. You have to help them address the root causes and provide a pathway to rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community.

Hotel key to apartment key

Tunnel to Towers leadership wants to replicate efforts to convert hotels into residential units in major cities across the country.

The foundation purchased the Comfort Suites for $11.6 million, with plans for a multi-million-dollar renovation to convert the hotel into apartments. Each room needs to be retrofitted with a small kitchenette. The first floor of the hotel, which once contained a lobby, meeting space, pool, lounges and rooms, will be gutted to create a multi-purpose room, gym, free clothing closet and supportive services center. Case managers can connect the veteran with behavioral health and entitlement specialists, housing and employment coordinators and whatever else they might need.
This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2024 shows a snow mountain seen from the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

A staff member prepares food at a homestay at Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Tourists take a rest at a service station of Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Tourists visit the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

A tourist rides a horse at the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Tourists take a rest at a service station of Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)

Tourists visit the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)

A staff member provides hot water to a tourist at a service station of Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)

Red-billed choughs are pictured at Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)

Tourists take photos during sunset at the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

A staff member (R) provides an oxygen cylinder to a tourist at a medical service station at Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Tourists pose for photos at the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Tourists take a rest at a homestay at Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)

This aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 31, 2024 shows a view of the Yading Village in Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)

Tourists visit the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 31, 2024. The autumn scenery of the Yading scenic spot in Daocheng County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze is at peak recently, attracting tourists to explore its beauty.

In recent years, the local authorities have made efforts to improve the infrastructure and management to meet tourists' needs.

So far this year, the scenic spot has attracted over 860,000 tourists. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
YANGON, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities seized 880,000 stimulant tablets in Mandalay region of central Myanmar, the state-run daily The Mirror, citing police sources, reported on Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics police searched a vehicle in Kyaukse township of Mandalay region on Oct. 27 and confiscated the drugs, the report said.

Two suspects on board the vehicle were arrested, and the seized narcotics had a street value of approximately 1.32 billion kyats (about 628,571 U.S. dollars), it added.

An investigation showed that the narcotics were being transported from Shan state and intended for delivery to Kayin state, it said.

The suspects have been charged under the country's drug laws, and further investigation is ongoing, it added. 
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-02 16:00:35

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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin" or "the Company") (NYSE:BEN) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Franklin admitted on July 26, 2024, that "following the launch of an internal investigation focusing on certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select Western Asset Management (WAM') accounts, WAM received notification of parallel investigations by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice." The Company then disclosed on August 21, 2024, that WAM co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech had been played on leave "effective immediately" adding that "in light of Mr. Leech's leave of absence, the Company has determined that closing its Macro Opportunities strategy (approximately $2.0 billion in AUM as of 7/31/2024) is in clients' best interests." Finally, the Company also disclosed that Leech had received a Wells Notice from the SEC. Based on this news, shares of Franklin fell significantly.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss,click here to participate .We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website atwww.schallfirm.com , or by email atbschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335info@schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Globus Medical, Inc. ("Globus" or "the Company") (NYSE:GMED) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Globus disclosed in an August 13, 2024, SEC filing that, "on July 16, 2024, Globus Medical, Inc. received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the FDA') following an inspection of our facilities in Audubon, Pennsylvania. In the warning letter, the FDA cited deficiencies in the response letters sent by the Company to the FDA following the Form 483, List of Investigational Observations, which was delivered to the Company in connection with the inspection that occurred from February 15, 2024 until March 7, 2024. The letter describes observed non-conformities in establishing and maintaining product complaint procedures, including complaint investigations, trending, risk reconciliation, and Medical Device Report (MDR) procedures including timely reporting, pertaining to the ExcelsiusGPS robotic system." If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss,click here to participate .We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website atwww.schallfirm.com , or by email atbschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335info@schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
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EDMONTON, AB / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2024 /OneSoft Solutions Inc. (TSXV:OSS) ("OneSoft" or the "Company") is pleased to announce receipt of the final order from the Court of King's Bench in Alberta (the "Final Order") approving the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") with irth Solutions LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary irth Acquisition Corp. (collectively, "Irth"), a Blackstone portfolio company (the "Transaction").The Transaction closed on November 1, 2024. Pursuant to the terms of the Arrangement, Irth acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of OneSoft (the "Shares") for $0.88 in cash per Share, representing a total cash equity value of approximately CDN $113.4 million on a fully diluted basis. The Shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") and the Company will submit an application to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws.Action Required by OneSoft ShareholdersShareholders whose Shares are registered in the name of an intermediary such as a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company or other intermediary should expect to receive payment for their Shares from their intermediary, without the need to take any further action.Registered shareholders of the Company are reminded to submit and follow the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal that was included in the voting information meeting materials sent to shareholders prior to the Meeting. Payments to shareholders are expected to be processed imminently.NI 62-103Upon completion of the Arrangement, Irth holds 100% of the issued and outstanding Shares. Prior to completion of the Arrangement, Irth did not hold any of the issued and outstanding Shares. The head office of the Company is located at 4227 Enterprise Sq., 10230 Jasper Av., Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 4P6. The registered office of Irth is located at Suite 1700, 421 7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 4K9. A copy of the Form 62-103F1, Early Warning Report can be obtained by contacting Brad Gammons, CEO of Irth at bgammons@ irthsolutions.com or (214) 695-7895.About IrthIrth, a Blackstone portfolio company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, provides enterprise software solutions for critical network infrastructure. It blends geospatial data with business intelligence and AI to offer 360-degree situational awareness. For over 25 years, Irth has served critical infrastructure operators, helping them manage damages, mitigate risk, manage compliance, and optimize asset performance through data-driven insights.About OneSoft and OneBridgeOneBridge Solutions is the developer of Cognitive Integrity Management (CIM), an AI-powered platform that energy infrastructure owners use to manage asset integrity, predict failures, and optimize performance. OneBridge's technology is built on Microsoft Azure and incorporates machine learning, data science, and predictive analytics to improve asset safety, reduce operational costs, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. OneBridge has industry-leading clients in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, and Colombia, including several Fortune 50, 100, and 500 companies.Visit www.onesoft.ca and www.onebridgesolutions.com for more information.For more information, please contactDwayne Kushniruk, CEO kushdr@ gmail.com780) 446-5992Paul Johnston, CFOpjoh01@ gmail.com(780) 868-9507Forward-looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the payment for the Shares and the delisting of the Shares on the TSXV. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "believe", "will", "intends", "plans" and similar expressions. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information is provided to deliver information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Investors are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions.In respect of the forward-looking information and statements the Company has placed reliance on certain assumptions that it believes are reasonable, including expectations and assumptions concerning the timing of payment of the purchase price consideration and the delisting of the Shares from the TSXV. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, such information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to many factors and risks.Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities within the United States. The securities to be offered have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of such Act or other laws.The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: OneSoft Solutions Inc.
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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 2, 2024 / The law firm ofRobbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLPannounces that purchasers or acquirers of The Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD Bank") (NYSE:TD) securities between February 29, 2024 and October 9, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until December 23, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the TD Bank class action lawsuit. Captioned Tiessen v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, No. 24-cv-08032 (S.D.N.Y.), the TD Bank class action lawsuit charges TD Bank as well as certain of TD Bank's top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the TD Bank class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@ rgrdlaw.com CASE ALLEGATIONS: The Toronto-Dominion Bank offers its products and services in the United States under the "TD Bank" and "America's Most Convenient Bank" brand names.The TD Bank class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material adverse facts concerning the true state of TD Bank's anti-money laundering ("AML") program; pertinently, TD Bank concealed or otherwise minimized the significance of the failures of TD Bank's AML program and made no indication that the imposition of an asset cap or other punitive or compliance measures would be imposed that would undermine TD Bank's continued growth for the foreseeable future.The TD Bank class action lawsuit further alleges that, on October 10, 2024, TD Bank unveiled the resolutions reached from U.S. investigations, which included, in addition to the punitive payment of $3.09 billion, both an asset cap, preventing TD Bank's U.S. subsidiaries from exceeding a collective $434 billion, a reflection of TD Bank's assets as of September 30, 2024, and further subjects TD Bank to more stringent approval processes for its product, service, and market rollouts. Further, the U.S. Department of Justice, in their own corresponding release, highlighted the significance of TD Bank's failures as "the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures and the first U.S. bank in history to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering," the complaint alleges. On this news, TD Bank's stock price fell by more than 10%, according to the TD Bank class action lawsuit.THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired TD Bank securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the TD Bank class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the TD Bank class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the TD Bank class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the TD Bank class action lawsuit.ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases - over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever - $7.2 billion - in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Contact:Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLPJ.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101800-449-4900info@ rgrdlaw.com SOURCE: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Italy's Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Rome, Italy, Oct. 31, 2024. Li led a CPC delegation on official goodwill visit to Italy from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of the Italian Senate. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

VENICE, Italy, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese senior official Li Xi met with Italian leaders this week to deepen strategic ties, marking the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership and advancing cooperation in areas like green energy and digital technology.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, met with Italy's Senate President Ignazio La Russa, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome during his visit from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of the Italian Senate.

During the meetings, Li highlighted the enduring ties between China and Italy, and called on the two sides to advance the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in July.

Li emphasized cooperation through the "China-Italy Action Plan," which aimed at enhancing political trust and collaboration in existing and emerging sectors like green energy, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing people-to-people exchanges and multilateral coordination in multilateral arenas such as the United Nations and Group of 20 (G20) to elevate China-Italy relations.

China and Europe share extensive common interests in upholding multilateralism, addressing climate change, and promoting global economic recovery, Li said, noting that China advocates for resolving relevant economic and trade issues through consultation based on pragmatic and balanced principles.

He urged the Italian side to view China-Europe economic and trade relations "with an open attitude and a long-term perspective," and play a constructive role in China-Europe consultations and negotiations.

China is willing to work together with Italy and other European countries to promote the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations, he noted.

Li also hailed the successes of China's anti-corruption campaign, which has bolstered public trust in the Party. China will continue to pursue a unique approach to anti-corruption, leveraging institutional and legal strengths to create a system where officials "do not dare, cannot, and do not want to engage in corruption," achieving both preventive and comprehensive governance, he said.

China is committed to sharing governance insights and enhancing anti-corruption cooperation with other countries, including Italy, Li noted.

La Russa spoke highly of the historic friendship between Italy and China, praising the CPC's achievements in Party-building and China's modernization, affirming Italy's readiness to enhance exchanges between legislative bodies and political parties.

Tajani emphasized China's role as a vital economic partner, noting that Italy hopes to strengthen economic and trade exchanges with China, fostering a balanced and mutually beneficial relationship. He reiterated Italy's commitment to open economic policies and to actively working towards resolving trade frictions between Europe and China through negotiations.

Italy also seeks to work with China to promote global peace and stability amid today's challenges, he noted.

During his visit, Li also traveled to Venice to attend a cultural exchange event titled "Be a Contemporary Marco Polo, Build a New Bridge of Friendship," commemorating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's passing. 

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome, Italy, Oct. 31, 2024. Li led a CPC delegation on official goodwill visit to Italy from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of the Italian Senate. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, attends a cultural exchange event titled "Be a Contemporary Marco Polo, Build a New Bridge of Friendship," commemorating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's passing, in Venice, Italy, Nov. 2, 2024. Li led a CPC delegation on official goodwill visit to Italy from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of the Italian Senate. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
JINAN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and four others remain trapped after a roof caving accident at an iron ore mine in east China's Shandong Province on Saturday, local authorities said.

Seven miners were trapped when the accident occurred at around 3:20 p.m. at the mine in Lanling County in the city of Linyi, according to the county's emergency management bureau.

As of 9 p.m., the bodies of three miners had been recovered. The other four miners are still being trapped. Rescue work is ongoing. 
"Our normal daily work is to research all kinds of creatures on the mountain. We need to record their habits and then through those records, we can answer some scientific questions." Recently, Italian photographer Fabio Nodari visited the Diaoluo Mountain area of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, where he went on a nocturnal excursion to explore the wonders of the rainforest.

Italian photographer Fabio and Cheng Kunming, a PhD student in ecology at Hainan Normal University, take a nighttime excursion on Diaoluo Mountain. (Photo: HIMC)

As night falls, all kinds of "sprites" wait for their opportunity to start their "day." The rainforest comes alive as the chirping of insects and croaking of frogs interweave into a natural symphony. "Why are we heading into the rainforest at night?" Armed with this question, Fabio and his new friend Cheng Kunming, a PhD student in ecology at Hainan Normal University, traversed the primordial forest bursting with ancient ferns. Soon enough, they encountered the super cute Hainan odorous frog.

Italy photographer Fabio interacts with a stick insect. (Photo: HIMC)

"Most amphibians and reptiles come out at night. Although it is pitch black in the rainforest, this is when we start our daily monitoring work once we've packed necessities such as flashlights, compasses, food, and knives," said Cheng.

Fabio and Cheng Kunming observe a baby snake. (Photo: HIMC)

"Ribbit, ribbit..." While walking through the rainforest, the people on the excursion heard a strange call. "This is the Hainan odorous frog, a species unique to Hainan Island. They usually move at night and typically make their homes in rock crevices next to waterfalls or in grass by streams. When they feel threatened, they secrete a pungent smell to ward off enemies," explained Cheng.

While out in the rainforest, Fabio observed that the animals, plants, people, and environment formed a unique and complete rainforest ecosystem. Hainan tropical rainforest is the best-preserved, densest, most diverse, and largest contiguous continental island-type tropical rainforest in China and is an important component of the world's tropical rainforest system. It is an outstanding example of an insular tropical rainforest, a treasure house of tropical biodiversity and genetic resources, and an ecological security barrier for Hainan Island. Thus, it has a deep significance as a national symbol and in global conservation efforts.

Further into the forest, Cheng picked a few wild figs from the tree and handed them to Fabio. "Although they are not as sweet as those cultivated specifically for human consumption, these wild figs can be eaten in an emergency," said Cheng.

"It's interesting to come to the rainforest at different times of the day. You will have the opportunity to see species that are active at different times." Fabio said that the mystery and magnificence of the tropical rainforest would remain emblazoned on his memory. This unforgettable journey helped him realize the meaning behind the animism of all things - ecology and civilization are intricately linked, and respecting nature is respecting life.


NANNING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed when a house collapsed following an explosion in a village in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local authorities said on Saturday.

The collapse occurred at approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday in Nanguan Village, which is located in Binyang County's Silong Township. The local government has dispatched rescue forces to search for those who remain missing.

As of 7:12 p.m., the bodies of three people have been recovered. Rescue work is ongoing. 
"Prometheus Initiative" Lights Up Africa's Green Energy

BEIJING and NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst the global shift towards energy transition and sustainable development, the 2024 Regional China-Africa Renewable Energy Investment Summit and Match-Making Workshop is poised to grandly open from November 5th to 9th in Nairobi, Kenya. The summit will convene nearly a hundred distinguished guests from China-Africa government sectors, renewable energy enterprises, and investment institutions to dialogue on the new ecosystem of China-Africa energy cooperation and to foster the advancement of renewable energy achievements.

This summit is jointly organized by Odyssey Technology, based in Hong Kong, WWF Africa Regional Energy Hub, the Office of the First Lady of Kenya, and Impact Hub Kenya, sponsored by Hithium Energy Storage, a globally leading new energy enterprise, to deepen cooperation between China and Africa in the renewable energy sector, promoting sustainable energy development in Africa, and providing a platform for Chinese renewable energy companies to gain insights into the potential of the African market.

The summit will highlight the progress and outcomes of the China-Africa "Prometheus Initiative", initiated by the Odyssey team, which is dedicated to assisting Chinese renewable energy companies in tapping into the potential of the African market, exploring new demand scenarios, and connecting with established African enterprises for collaborative innovation. At this summit, leading Chinese renewable energy companies, including Hithium Energy Storage, are bringing clean energy solutions to various applications in Africa, contributing to the enhancement of local energy accessibility. These companies are not only introducing advanced technology and management expertise but also actively promoting the optimization of Africa's energy structure and environmental improvement.

The high-level summit in Nairobi and the field visit to the Kakuma refugee camp are designed to provide attendees with an in-depth understanding of African renewable energy projects and demand scenarios, aligning closely with local needs. They also offer opportunities to provide renewable energy equipment support and capacity-building training for refugees, fostering business exchanges and project implementation in the China-Africa renewable energy sector.

The summit organizing committee stated, "We sincerely look forward to the participation of global investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry experts. Odyssey Technology will join you in further deepening mutual understanding, establishing closer cooperative relationships through the China-Africa 'Prometheus Initiative', to promote a green, low-carbon, and sustainable energy future."

Media Contact: Zhang Chenyang

Email: [email protected]
XI'AN, China, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Xi'an, an ancient capital and starting point of the Silk Road, is growing rapidly into a cosmopolis of technological innovation, industrial transformation and international cooperation. The city is becoming a global hub for innovation and economic cooperation and a destination that converges historical heritage with modern creativity. By leveraging initiatives in New Quality Productivity, the Internet of Things, high-tech industries, culture, and international business services, Xi'an showcases its dynamic blend of past and future.

Industrial Development: Technology and Innovation Drive Emerging Industry Clusters

Aiming to establish itself as an international hub with rapid scientific and technological innovation, Xi'an is now building a comprehensive national science center and a center for science and technology innovation.

The Silk Road Technology City is now home to more than 4,000 companies and has fostered two major industry clusters, in optoelectronics and automobiles, each worth tens of billions. Leading industry giants like BYD and Samsung have established themselves here, taking advantage of Xi'an's robust policy support for innovation-led growth. LONGi, a world leader in solar technology, is actively building Shaanxi's 100-billion-grade silicon-based solar PV industry innovation cluster, driving industry-wide growth through R&D and supply chain expansion; while BYD's comprehensive new energy vehicle industry chain has also positioned Xi'an as a key base for new energy technology and electric vehicles.

Belt and Road Hub: Connecting Development Across Borders

As a central hub along the Belt and Road, Xi'an recently hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Think Tank Cooperation, fostering collaboration and advancing connected, networked development through the trans-Eurasian transport corridor. With growing trade opportunities, Xi'an is also expanding its reach into international markets, particularly in Central Asia, exporting specialty agricultural products like kiwi fruit.

Through conventions and conferences, Xi'an has demonstrated its significant potential for international economic cooperation, establishing stronger ties in Central Asia and Belt and Road countries.

New Quality Productivity: Smart Technologies and Advanced Manufacturing Fuel Growth

New Quality Productivity is driving Xi'an's high-quality development leveraging smart technologies and intelligent manufacturing. Local enterprises like SUNNYIT are promoting innovative applications of IoT technologies to tackle industry bottlenecks, Xi'an Chinastar M&C Limited is supporting real-time urban management with products including smart manhole covers and parking monitoring systems to support urban safety and municipal services.

Industrial robots and intelligent manufacturing are also accelerating Xi'an's industry transformation. Xi'an Aerospace Automation's 4,000-kilogram robot, designed for warehouse logistics, highlights the city's advancements in high-load, high-precision applications.

High-Quality Development: Digital Technology Empowers Xi'an's Smart City Ambitions

Xi'an is progressing in smart city development, enabling companies to utilize big data and AI for comprehensive traffic analysis, enhancing traffic management efficiency, and establishing a "transportation+" multi-scenario service system to improve travel experiences.

Xi'an looks to cooperate with more companies and research institutions in fields of environmental protection, water-related affairs, education, and urban management with the goal of promoting technological breakthroughs in areas such as intelligent video analysis and large-scale AI models, empowering city management and services through digital technologies and support the development and innovation of companies in the city.

Opening Up to the World: Xi'an Shares Its Story and Strengthens Business Environment

The newly established Xi'an International Communication Center shares Xi'an's story in multiple languages, promoting Chinese culture and positioning Xi'an as a major platform for cultural exchange. Additionally, a legal service center in Xi'an Chanba International Port now offers comprehensive legal support, fostering a fair and just international business environment..

SOURCE CCTV+
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until December 9, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against EngageSmart, Inc. ("EngageSmart" or the "Company") (NYSE: ESMT), if they (1) purchased or otherwise acquired EngageSmart common stock between October 23, 2023 and January 26, 2024, or (2) held EngageSmart common stock as of the December 21, 2023 record date of the take-private acquisition of the Company (the "Merger") by Vista Equity Partners Management, LLC and its affiliates. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

Get Help

EngageSmart investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-esmt/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

The Complaint alleges that a pattern of material misstatements and omissions of material facts concealed the conflicted and tainted sales process that led to EngageSmart's January 2024 take-private Merger with Vista, which was motivated not by what was best for Unaffiliated Stockholders but by controlling shareholder General Atlantic's desire to monetize part of its five-year investment in EngageSmart while maintaining its control position or, at the very least, to roll over some of its equity to maintain an upside benefit in the Company going forward, in violation of an "equal treatment" provision in the Company charter.

The case is Altshares Event-Driven ETF v. Engagesmart, Inc., et al., No. 24-cv-1083.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
SILICON VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 25th, 2024, the International Innovators Awards celebrated leaders advancing racial justice, eco-sustainability, and technology ( Davis Vanguard: International Innovators ). Candidate for governor and former California State Controller Betty Yee was honored, addressing "we're here today for justice today, whether it's climate justice or food justice. We stand for what's right." Dr. Bart Fisher, two-time Nobel Prize nominee, emphasized "igniting ideas and driving real change." Former United Nations Gordon Tapper highlighted immigrant rights. Reverend Thomas (NAACP) and Obie Anthony (Exonerated Nation) echoed the above as they all underscored racist wrongful convictions like Anand Jon .

Innovators Unite for Justice, Sustainability, and Tech Transformation at Global Awards with Representatives from the United Nations and NAACP Post this Vinod Balakrishna, Sukhdev Singh Bainiwal, David Greenwald, Vijay Yeshudas, Betty Yee, Tracy Young, Sanjana Jon, Raymond Bishop, Sangram Singh, Payal Rohatgi, Shashi Abraham, Gordon Tapper, Dr. Bart Fisher, Obie Anthony, Elyana Violet & TheBFly.co talent. Art: "Black Madonna" Lamavis Comundoiwilla & "Arise, Awake, Liberate!" Anand Jon (PRNewsfoto/International Justice Alliance)

Tracy, California Mayor Nancy Young and Brian Hofer (Secure Justice) empowered minority youth, highlighting future nominee Eza Iqbal (Words Beyond Worlds CBS ). Inna Braverman, founder of Eco Wave Power, shared her plans to expand renewable energy to India and Dubai with Pact International . Meanwhile, Time magazine-recognized Kauna Malgwi advocated for ethical AI practices ( Time Magazine: Top 100 AI ). Raymond Bishop (Hollywood Producers Guild, former LA Planner) spoke on the need for systemic justice reform, stating, "Building a fair society is more than a visionit's a commitment." California Assemblymember Mia Bonta shared her journey fighting for gender equality and racial justice. Vinod Balakrishna of the International Justice Alliance ( IJA ) introduced figures like Rajendra Vora (Jain Foundation) and APAPA, stressing cross-community solidarity.

Continuing the momentum from the IJA Summit in Malibu , activists and actresses Disney's Dara Renee and Elyana Violet, alongside Dr. Sanjana Jon, promoted the upcoming H2O Movement docuseries with Dr. Fisher, Chet Jain, Sangram Singh, and Bisleri's George Angelo, to support global water sustainability.

San Quentin's award-winning artists Lamavis Comundoiwilla (Black-Madonna) and Anand Jon (Arise-Awake-Liberate! SQNews:AnandJon) and auctioned pieces; ArtworkInitiative promotes and protects intellectual rights for marginalized communities through the Poor Man's Copyright App.

EcoKnowMix's "Sustainability-with-Style" fashion show showcased designs from ExoVvear, Sanjana Jon , GetLky, and TheBFly talent, with performances by America's Next Stars TV series and music by AVVAKEND . Indian superstar Vijay Yesudas bridged cultural divides with a musical performance.

The exotic dinner provided by Urban Grill/Shubham Halls, in collaboration with Ayurvedic Youth , featured Kalifornia Wines .

The Changemakers for Good docuseries in progress captured the collaborative work of innovators dedicated to building a sustainable and inclusive future.

Support the initiative: GoFundMe

2025 Nominations: [email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE International Justice Alliance
MADRID, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Goya Europa, the Spanish subsidiary of Goya Foods Inc., and the largest Hispanic owned food company in the United States, in collaboration with Global Empowerment Mission, delivered its first trailer of humanitarian aid including a variety of products and much needed water and juices to victims in Valencia, Spain.

Goya Europa, the Spanish subsidiary of Goya Foods Inc., and the largest Hispanic owned food company in the United States, in collaboration with Global Empowerment Mission, delivered its first trailer of humanitarian aid including a variety of products and much needed water and juices to victims in Valencia, Spain.

"At Goya Europa, we strongly believe in the importance of solidarity and helping communities during times of disaster. Through our Goya Cares initiative and our close partnership with Global Empowerment Mission, we are able to quickly aid in Valencia's recovery and support those who need it the most," said William Unanue, General Manager of Goya Europa.

Through Goya Cares, a global initiative dedicated to protecting and helping those in need, has always been at the forefront of humanitarian aid and disaster relief; donating millions of pounds of food each year in times of crisis worldwide. Through Goya Europa, the company was able to donate food to the people of Poland and Ukraine.

To learn more about Goya Foods, please visit: www.goya.com

About Goya Foods

Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America's largest Hispanic-owned food company and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities worldwide. The combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings, and convenient preparation makes Goya products ideal for every taste and table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com.

SOURCE Goya Foods
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Owlet, Inc. f/k/a Sandbridge Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: OWLT).

On October 4, 2021, the Company disclosed the receipt of a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") stating that "the Company's marketing of its Owlet Smart Sock product . . . renders [it] a medical device requiring premarket clearance or approval from FDA," which requirement the Company had not obtained, and also requesting that "the Company cease commercial distribution of the Smart Sock for uses in measuring blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate where such metrics are intended to identify or diagnose desaturation and bradycardia using an alarm functionality to notify users that measurements are outside of preset values."

Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. Recently, the court presiding over that case denied the Company's motion to dismiss in part, allowing the case to move forward.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Owlet's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Owlet shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-833-938-0905 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-owlt/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, 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, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Bultosa Hirko, deputy head of the Oromia Regional State Education Bureau, speaks at the first annual seminar on Chinese language education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, on Nov. 1, 2024. The first annual seminar on Chinese language education was held Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, emphasizing the need to promote Chinese language education across the East African country.(Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The first annual seminar on Chinese language education was held Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, emphasizing the need to promote Chinese language education across the East African country.

The event, which brought together Chinese and Ethiopian language instructors and experts, focused on establishing an effective Chinese language education system in Ethiopia and addressing challenges in the process.

Speaking at the seminar, Zhang Yawei, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said the conference aimed to share experiences, build on successes, address issues and jointly advance Chinese language education in Ethiopia.

"With globalization accelerating and cultural exchanges between China and Ethiopia increasing, expanding Chinese language education in Ethiopia is essential. It helps Ethiopian students understand Chinese culture and history and opens more opportunities for them in the future," Zhang said.

Noting that Chinese language education in Ethiopia faces challenges such as a shortage of teaching staff and resources, Zhang said that a significant number of Ethiopian students are now studying Chinese at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in both Ethiopian and Chinese universities.

Bultosa Hirko, deputy head of the Oromia Regional State Education Bureau, said Chinese language education is gaining popularity in Ethiopia, unlocking economic opportunities, promoting cultural exchange and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

"Ethiopia and China have developed a robust partnership over the years, marked by collaboration across various sectors, including education, infrastructure, trade, investment and development assistance," Hirko said. He added that China's rising global influence has underscored the importance of learning and understanding the Chinese language worldwide.

"The Chinese government has been instrumental in supporting the implementation of the Chinese language curriculum in Ethiopia, recruiting and training teachers, and providing essential curriculum materials," Hirko added.

The seminar also featured presentations of research papers on Chinese language learning in Ethiopia, the recognition of Chinese as a global language, and the strengthening strategic partnership between China and Ethiopia.

With Ethiopia's strong economic ties to China and the growing presence of Chinese companies, especially in road, railway and industrial zone development, the demand for Chinese language education has surged in Ethiopian universities and colleges. 

Zhang Yawei, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, speaks at the first annual seminar on Chinese language education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, on Nov. 1, 2024. The first annual seminar on Chinese language education was held Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, emphasizing the need to promote Chinese language education across the East African country.(Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

The first annual seminar on Chinese language education is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, on Nov. 1, 2024. The first annual seminar on Chinese language education was held Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, emphasizing the need to promote Chinese language education across the East African country.(Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement by Emily Wilkins, President of the National Press Club asking the Israeli Defense Forces to allow the urgent medical evacuation from Gaza of Al Jazeera journalists Ali Al-Attar and Fadi Al Wahidi.

"We call on the IDF to allow Al Jazeera cameraman Ali Al-Attar and reporter Fadi Al Wahidi to be evacuated from Gaza. The lives of both these seriously wounded journalists are at now high risk. Al Jazeera has requested evacuation weeks ago and the request has not been granted. We are adding our voice to this today and call on other news organizations to do the same.

Al-Attar took shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah on October 7  almost a month ago. He is suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage and needs specialized care as soon as possible. Two days later, on October 9, Al Wahidi was shot by an Israeli sniper while reporting in Jabalya. He is paralyzed and in need of immediate specialized medical attention.

We ask IDF to allow these two journalists to get the life saving care they urgently need. Their lives are in the balance. It has been weeks since Al Jazeera first made this request. Journalists are non-combatants. They should not be targeted. And they must not be denied life saving medical care. We call for an immediate end to this grave injustice."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization, the Club is a leading voice for Press Freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
YIWU, China, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yiwugo.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world. According to statistics from Yiwugo, "umbrella" is one of the most popular categories on Yiwu's market, ranking within the top 20 search keywords on the platform as of October 2024. Real Star Umbrella, a market leader both of this industry and on Yiwugo, has gained renewed vitality with the addition of fresh talent.

RST Umbrellas

With a legacy of three generations and a commitment spanning half a century, Ms Zhang Jiayuan, the inheritor of Real Star Umbrella, is bringing fresh perspectives to the company by assisting her mother with daily business operations, infusing the shop with a unique new energy.

Starting from her grandparents, Real Star rose to prominence from the Umbrella City in Shangyu, Shaoxing, and has long engaged in international trade. Its products are now popular across Spain, Germany, Dubai, South America, and Asia. Ms. Zhang Jiying, Jiayuan's mother and the previous owner, transformed Real Star into a leading enterprise in Yiwu's umbrella market and was among the first to embrace e-commerce in the region.

As the daughter stepped into the business, new e-commerce models like livestreaming surged, the domestic market gained momentum, and brand-oriented strategies became essential. She started exploring a branding path by strengthening the company's unique style, enhancing fashionability of its products, and establishing an ingenious brand image.

To meet the high demands for fast product updates, high design expectations, and strong acceptance of premium products in the Chinese market, Real Star has collaborated with various independent illustrators in the country, in addition to its "RS" (Real Star) brand registered in over 100 countries and regions. It also recruits fresh visual arts graduates annually to maintain an active, original design team that participates in various domestic and international competitions, using these opportunities to showcase its brand to global buyers while learning from other industry experts. Additionally, the company has integrated the personal image of its owner, into product design as a fusion of company and personal branding, which has significantly strengthened its impression among both domestic and international clients, forming a unique and sustainable brand style and company culture.

Real Star umbrellas are not only highly original, with a considerable speed of new product release, but also feature targeted theme designs catering to the preferences of different cultural elements. In the Chinese market, designs reflect a love for national and traditional culture, while in the international market, there is a range of regional styles. The design team's attention to umbrella cases and packaging helps position their umbrellas as not only a functional item but also a gift and cultural creative product, attracting orders from well-known brands and cultural organizations. In a matter of years, Real Star has transitioned from a purely export-driven enterprise to one with balanced growth, with about 30% of sales now in the domestic market.

Two years ago, influenced by the trend of Dunhuang-inspired art, Real Star's Dunhuang-themed series became an instant hit. Other distinct original series, such as "Abundance of Prosperity," saw over 20,000 units sold at the retail level within a month of launch, despite a high price point. Many customers chose these items as gifts for friends.

As Real Star's creative design capabilities have become more recognized within cultural and creative fields, it has signed partnerships with institutions like the China Umbrella Museum in Hangzhou, Lishui Cultural Tourism Investment Development Co., Ltd, Ningbo Foreign Affairs School, and the Yuwangtai Park Scenic Area in Henan. The company has also maintained a longstanding relationship with China Daily, one of China's leading media agencies.

Zhang Jiayuan shared that in addition to its strong design capabilities, Real Star's craftsmanship honed over more than fifty years remains excellent. Take their ultra-light carbon fiber umbrellas as an example: creating a foldable umbrella that is wind-resistant and durable is challenging. While industry standards generally achieve a weight of 300g-500g for umbrella frames, Real Star has managed to create an ultra-light version that weighs around 100g without compromising wind resistance and durability, a series particularly popular with young people.

Real Star also retains a group of skilled artisans dedicated to producing high-quality umbrellas. It takes them more than six times longer to hand-sew an umbrella than with machine processes, yet the intricate craftsmanship and unique ribbing techniques rely on their expertise. Today, these artisans, together with Real Star Umbrella, are experiencing renewed vitality, supported by the e-commerce platform Yiwugo, and embodying the spirit of a flourishing modern enterprise.

SOURCE Yiwugo.com
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Paragon 28, Inc. ("Paragon 28" or the "Company") (NYSE: FNA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether Paragon 28 and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until November 29, 2024 , to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Paragon 28 securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On July 30, 2024, Paragon 28 disclosed that its previously reported financial results for 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 were unreliable. The Company admitted to material weaknesses in its internal controls and disclosed significant accounting errors. Specifically, Paragon 28 understated its cost of goods sold by 19%, resulting in an overstated operating loss by 22% and net loss by 20%.

On this news, Paragon 28's stock price fell $1.24 per share, or 13.73%, to close at $7.79 per share on July 31, 2024.

Then, on August 8, 2024, Paragon 28 reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. Among other items, the Company said that it now expects full-year revenue between $249 million and $255 million, down from a previous range of $249 million to $259 million. Paragon 28 further disclosed that, in an effort to cut costs and preserve cash, it is implementing an operational efficiency strategy that includes laying off approximately 7% of its workforce, as well as reducing inventory and adjusting executive compensation.

Following these announcements, Paragon 28's stock price fell $1.67 per share, or 20.1%, to close at $6.64 per share on August 9, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Nomura Holdings, Inc. ("Nomura" or the "Company") (NYSE: NMR). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Nomura and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On September 30, 2024, media outlets reported that Nomura was excluded as lead manager for several yen bond deals after an investigation by Japan's securities watchdog into suspected market manipulation in government bond futures found rule violations by Nomura.

On this news, Nomura's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $0.26 per ADR, or 4.74%, to close at $5.22 per ADR on September 30, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of SAP SE ("SAP" or the "Company") (NYSE: SAP). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether SAP and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On September 25, 2024, Bloomberg News reported that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating SAP and other companies for potentially conspiring to overcharge U.S. government agencies over the course of a decade, by "fix[ing] prices on sales to the U.S. military and other parts of the government".

On this news, SAP's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $7.64 per ADR, or 3.31%, to close at $223.29 per ADR on September 25, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Stride, Inc. ("Stride" or the "Company") (NYSE: LRN). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Stride and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On October 16, 2024, Fuzzy Panda Research ("Fuzzy Panda") published a report alleging that Stride has been inflating its earnings by misleading investors about the impact of federal COVID-19 relief funds. The Fuzzy Panda report claims that more than 25% of Stride's EBITDA came from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, which expired in September 2024. The report also accuses Stride of hiding "ghost students" and failing to disclose schools leaving the company, alongside allegations of overbilling and fraudulent reimbursement claims.

On this news, Stride's stock price fell $6.55 per share, or 9.28%, to close at $64.04 per share on October 16, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Domino's Pizza, Inc. ("Domino's" or the "Company") (NYSE: DPZ) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and docketed under 24-cv-12477, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Domino's securities between December 7, 2023 and July 17, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Domino's securities during the Class Period, you have until November 19, 2024 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Domino's, through its subsidiaries, operates as a global pizza company in three segments: U.S. Stores, International Franchise, and Supply Chain. Domino's offers pizzas and other food products under the Domino's brand name through Company-owned and franchised stores. The Company's largest "master franchisee"i.e., a franchisee that is charged with developing a geographical area and may profit by sub-franchising and selling food and equipment to those sub-franchiseesis Domino's Pizza Enterprises ("DPE"). As of December 31, 2023, DPE operated 3,840 stores in 12 international markets, accounting for approximately 28% of the Company's international store count and 19% of its global store count.

In December 2023, Domino's hosted its 2023 Investor Day, during which Defendants provided new long-term guidance of "1,100+" annual global net store growth for the years 2024 to 2028.

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) DPE, the Company's largest master franchisee, was experiencing significant challenges with respect to both new store openings and closures of existing stores; (ii) as a result, Domino's was unlikely to meet its own previously issued long-term guidance for annual global net store growth; (iii) accordingly, Domino's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On July 18, 2024, Domino's issued a press release announcing its Q2 2024 financial results. Among other items, Domino's disclosed that it "expects it will fall 175 to 275 stores below its 2024 goal of 925+ net stores in international primarily as a result of challenges in both openings and closures being faced by Domino's Pizza Enterprises ('DPE'), one of its master franchisees." Accordingly, "[t]he Company is temporarily suspending its guidance metric of 1,100+ global net stores until the full effect of DPE's store opens and closures on international net store growth are known." On an earnings call held that same day to discuss the Company's Q2 2024 results (the "Q2 2024 Earnings Call"), the Company's Chief Financial Officer Defendant Sandeep Reddy further revealed that the long-term guidance announced at the 2023 Investor Day did not accurately reflect the extent of DPE's challenges with respect to new store openings and closures of existing stores.

On this news, Domino's stock price fell $64.23 per share, or 13.57%, to close at $409.04 per share on July 18, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until December 23, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against The Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD" or the "Company") (NYSE: TD), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 29, 2024 to October 9, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Get Help

TD investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-td-1/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

TD and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On October 10, 2024, the Company disclosed resolutions reached from investigations by various U.S. Government entities into the Company's anti-money laundering ("AML") program compliance with the United States Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA"), which included a punitive payment of $3.09 billion, an asset cap preventing TD's two U.S. subsidiaries from exceeding a collective $434 billion, and a "more stringent approval processes for new bank products, services, markets, and stores to ensure the AML risk of new initiatives is appropriately considered and mitigated."

On this news, the price of TD's shares fell from a closing price of $63.51 per share on October 9, 2024 to $59.44 per share on October 10, 2024, and further to $57.01 on October 11, 2024.

The case is Tiessen v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, et al., No. 24-cv-08032.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
A vehicle cleans up a flood-hit area in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 1, 2024. Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

MADRID, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for.

With the ground too dry to absorb the intense rainfall, which exceeded 400 liters per square meter in many areas and reached up to 600 liters in some, the torrential overnight downpours on Tuesday led to devastating flash floods.

Videos posted on social media have shown torrents up to three meters high sweeping cars down the streets to pile them up as if they were toys. Bridges were swept away, railway tunnels collapsed and fields were swamped as people climbed onto roofs of their homes and cars to seek refuge, but not all survived.

The official death toll, initially 12 on Wednesday morning according to the Center for Coordinated and Integrated Operations, has now soared to 205, with 202 fatalities in the region of Valencia, two in Castilla-La Mancha and one in Andalusia.

The Feria de Valencia exhibition center has had to be used as a temporary mortuary. With many people still missing, the number of fatalities is expected to climb further.

The Spanish newspaper Eldiario.es reported on Friday that 1,900 people are still missing. Witnesses in the affected areas said many people had gone into underground garages to save their cars, only to be trapped by the extreme deluge. The media outlets are filled with heart wrenching stories, with loved ones making final calls from vehicles trapped in rising waters.

Moreover, over 130,000 homes lost power during the floods, and by Friday, power company Iberdrola confirmed that 23,000 homes still remained without electricity.

The floods left the Valencia region in eastern Spain almost isolated, with the high-speed rail link between the capital city of Madrid and Valencia closed for up to three weeks following the collapse of two tunnels.

Around 80 km of local rail lines and 100 roads were damaged, prompting the government to allocate 25 million euros (27 million U.S. dollars) on Friday for emergency repairs.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the affected areas on Thursday and pledged comprehensive aid for recovery efforts. The government declared three days of official mourning as sporting events in the Valencia region were all postponed.

Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 military personnel, supported by 400 vehicles and 15 helicopters, have been deployed to assist in rescue and recovery operations. Hundreds of mud-caked Valencia volunteers were seen helping clear streets and homes with shovels and brooms.

However, police also reported that approximately 60 people have been detained for looting in the wake of the floods.

Relief support has poured in from across Spain, with funds being set up by the Red Cross and other agencies to aid rescue and recovery. Additionally, the international community, including the European Union, has offered assistance.

Three days after the deadliest floods in decades, Valencia remains under alert for further downpours, with high warnings issued for Huelva, Castellon, Mallorca, and Catalonia. 

A vehicle cleans up a flood-hit street in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 1, 2024. Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

People clean up a flood-hit street in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 1, 2024. Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

People clean up a flood-hit street in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 1, 2024. Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)
Beirut, Nov 1 : Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday accused Israel of rejecting efforts to reach a ceasefire as Israeli forces resumed bombing Beirut's southern suburbs and other areas in Lebanon at dawn on Friday.

Israel's "renewed expansion of the scope of its aggression" and "its repeated threats to the population to evacuate entire cities and villages" are "all indicators of Israel's rejection of all efforts" in reaching a ceasefire, Mikati said during his meeting with Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, chief of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

In a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister reaffirmed "Lebanon's permanent commitment to UN Resolution 1701," calling on the international community to assume its responsibility to stop this "aggression."

According to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), a series of violent raids targetted different areas in Beirut's southern suburbs at dawn on Friday, causing massive destruction in the targetted areas, with dozens of buildings levelled to the ground and fires breaking out.

The Israeli forces also resumed intense airstrikes on the eastern city of Baalbek at noon on Friday, according to the Elnashra news website.

On Wednesday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV revealed a document claimed to be a draft agreement between Israel and Lebanon, proposed by the United States, to end the current Israeli-Hezbollah clashes, Xinhua news agency reported.

Quoting senior Israeli officials, the channel reported that the war cabinet is satisfied with the draft formulated by US envoy Amos Hochstein and submitted to Israel, and its chances of being accepted are high.

Since September 23, the Israeli army has launched an unprecedented, intensive air campaign on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the beginning of the war on October 8, 2023, has reached 2,867, with injuries climbing to 13,047.
Jerusalem, Nov 2 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it has killed Izz al-Din Kassab, a member of Hamas' political bureau and head of its relations and coordination with other factions within the Gaza Strip.

The statement noted that Kassab was killed in an airstrike in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, based on intelligence from the IDF and the Israel Security Agency, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Kassab was a significant source of power and, by virtue of his role, was responsible for the organization's strategic and military relations with other factions in the Gaza Strip," the statement read. "He held the authority to direct the execution of terror attacks against Israel."

It added that Kassab was one of the last high-ranking members of Hamas' political bureau in Gaza. His assistant, Ayman Ayesh, was also killed in the airstrike.

Hamas has not confirmed Kassab's death.
Washington, Nov 2 : The US Defense Department has announced additional security assistance for Ukraine worth an estimated $425 million.

The Pentagon in a statement on Friday said that the aid under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package is meant to meet Ukraine's critical security and defence needs.

The tranche of equipment to be provided under the aid include munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Stinger missiles; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) equipment and munitions; Air-to-ground munitions; Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition; Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armour systems; Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers; Small arms and ammunition; Medical equipment; and Demolitions equipment and munitions.

It is the 69th tranche of equipment to be provided from the US Defense Department inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

"The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated Capability Coalitions to meet Ukraine's urgently needed battlefield requirements and defend against Russian aggression," the Pentagon said in the statement.
New York, Nov 2 : Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that US presidential candidate Donald Trump's "unpredictability" is an asset because it is a form of "deterrence" that keeps foreign leaders off balance.

New York, Nov 2 (IANS) Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that US presidential candidate Donald Trump's "unpredictability" is an asset because it is a form of "deterrence" that keeps foreign leaders off balance.

"All deterrence is based on unpredictability, but it's also based on strength", he said in an interview to USA Today.

Taking a very different perspective from many leaders and media, he said, "People say that one of the things that worries people is his unpredictability, right? 'Oh, he's unpredictable'. That's a good thing."

"It's good dealing internationally, because foreign leaders are a little nervous about (Trump)", the Conservative British leader said.

He gave the example of Trump's claim that Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he had been in the White House.

"I think it is probably true that Putin would not have done it if he'd been in the White House  the '22 invasion. I think that feels right to me", he said.

Johnson was Britain's foreign secretary from 2016 to 2018 when he became Prime Minister, an office he held till 2022, enabling him to watch both Trump and President Joe Biden at close quarters.

He did not endorse Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris, saying, "This is the decision for the American people."

He said that unpredictability effectively gets the message across even to allies and recalled Trump at a 2017 NATO summit when Trump was accused of insulting the other leaders and acting churlish.

Trump tore up the prepared speech and "just extemporised this great tirade against everyone."

His message was that NATO countries should increase their Defence budgets.

"The point was it was pure U.S. policy but it was done in a totally unconventional way. And people later reported that summit saying, 'oh, Trump was threatening to leave NATO.' He wasn't doing anything of the kind. He was simply enunciating standard American policy and standard British policy about getting the allies to spend more and pay more (for Defence)", he said.

"He did it in a way that was unconventional", he added, but "it was good because they did start to pay more."

Johnson said that Trump's unconventional style "may offend refined political tastes", but it has an appeal.

Many European leaders "think it's kind of uncouth, but I don't, and it is a terrible thing to admit, but I like it, so shoot me", he said.

"If he turns up in a garbage truck to satirise his opponent, I like that. That's my kind of level, OK? And maybe it doesn't suit more refined political tastes, but I happen to go with it", he said.

Johnson was referring to Trump turning up in a garbage truck with a trash collector's vest on Tuesday in Milwaukee after President Joe Biden called his supporters "garbage".

"People attack populism, but I kind of feel that our system is a great, great system, and it won't work if you can't actually address what people want you to fix", he said.

Regarding the fears that Trump may give up on Ukraine, Johnson said that Trump's actual record shows otherwise.

He said that Trump, for example, had given Ukraine Javelin missiles, and "if you look at the actual evidence of what he did, it was actually in sharp contrast to the relative inertia under the previous Democrat administration."
New Delhi, Nov 2 : A layer of smog covered Delhi-NCR on Saturday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national Capital registering a 'poor' rating two days after Diwali celebrations, despite a government-imposed firecracker ban.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's average AQI was 294 at 7:30 A.M. on Saturday, with 18 areas reporting AQI levels above 300, indicating a 'very poor' category.

The most affected areas included Anand Vihar (380), IGI Airport (341), RK Puram (340), and Punjabi Bagh (335). Additionally, AQI levels between 200 and 300, indicating 'poor' air quality, were recorded in 19 other areas, including Alipur (295), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (284), and Mundka (288).

In Delhi's neighbouring cities, Faridabad in Haryana recorded a 'moderate' AQI of 165 while Gurugram recorded a 'poor' AQI of 219.

In Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad the AQI was 308 which falls in the 'very poor' category, in Greater Noida it was 'poor' at 202, and in Noida it touched 250, reflecting similarly 'poor' air quality across the region.

On Friday, the air quality in the National Capital Region continued to be a concern as it remained in the 'very poor' category a day after the festivities as people in Delhi and neighbouring Noida continued to burst crackers even on Friday night despite the ban on crackers and appeals by the government.

Delhi has seen worsening air quality over recent weeks, largely attributed to stubble burning and low wind circulation.

The Delhi government had imposed a firecracker ban from October 14 through January 1, 2025, and had also deployed 377 enforcement teams to tackle this.

However, many residents reportedly defied the restrictions to celebrate Diwali, contributing to the region's poor air quality. In response, the government deployed 377 enforcement teams to implement the ban more strictly.

An AQI between zero and 50 is classified as 'good,' 51 to 100 'satisfactory,' 101 to 200 'moderate,' 201 to 300 'poor,' 301 to 400 'very poor,' and 401 to 500 'severe.'
Kigali, Nov 2 : More than 1,600 people have been vaccinated against the Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, including those at high risk of contracting the virus and contacts of positive cases, a senior official has said.

Yvan Butera, Rwandan minister of state in the Ministry of Health, announced the figures on Thursday during a media briefing on the status of the Marburg virus outbreak in the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

With 500 contacts of positive cases being followed, the priority remains rapid detection, rapid testing, quick isolation, treatment of positive cases and vaccination, Butera said, noting that the measures have contributed to containing the outbreak.

Since the declaration of the Marburg virus outbreak in late September, Rwanda has recorded 66 confirmed cases and 15 deaths as of Thursday, according to the latest data from the health ministry, with the majority of the people affected being healthcare workers.

Besides, at least 49 people have recovered from the deadly disease while two are being treated.

Butera said the fatality rate is at 22.7 per cent, probably among the lowest recorded.

In terms of testing, the minister said that nearly 6,000 people mostly at risk have been tested as well as contacts of positive cases.

The Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Symptoms include high fever, severe headaches and severe malaise and many patients develop severe hemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
Tehran, Nov 2 : Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned Germany's move to close Iranian consulates on its territory in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian dual national.

He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X one day after Germany announced its decision to close all three Iranian consulates in the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The closure of Iran's consulates in Germany is a sanction against Iranians residing in that country, of whom most possess German citizenship as well," said Araghchi on Friday.

He added that the German government was sanctioning "tens of thousands of other Iranians holding a German passport in support of a terrorist who took 14 innocent lives and injured more than 200 others" in a bombing in Iran's southern city of Shiraz in 2008.

The three Iranian consulates affected by the closure decision are in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich. The Iranian embassy in Berlin will remain operational.

Iran's judiciary executed Sharmahd on Monday for his involvement in several "terrorist" attacks against Iranian people.
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 16, 2024 shows a view of the Pak-China Friendship Hospital in the Gwadar district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.(Xinhua/Jiang Chao)

by Misbah Saba Malik

GWADAR, Pakistan, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nadia Akram Ali's life took a devastating turn when a health worker informed her that her five-year-old son was showing symptoms of acute typhoid fever and urgently needed to be hospitalized to save his life in the Gwadar district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.

"I felt utterly helpless. I didn't have the resources to take him to big hospitals in far-off cities and there was no proper hospital in Gwadar," she said, adding that faced with limited options, her husband decided to take their son to the newly inaugurated hospital in the city.

To the couple's astonishment, the Pak-China Friendship Hospital in Gwadar was beyond anything they had imagined. "It was just like the big, expensive hospitals I had only seen on TV, and I never dreamed that my family could access such quality care," Ali told Xinhua.

Inaugurated in May this year, the 100-bed hospital, which includes emergency, outpatient, inpatient, medical technology, administration, and logistics facilities, is already making a significant impact, receiving approximately 900 patients daily from Gwadar and the surrounding areas.

As a livelihood project under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the hospital's state-of-the-art building, consisting of single and multi-story structures, and its advanced medical equipment, including a modern laboratory, CT scanners, and ultrasound machines, have been generously donated by the Chinese government.

Some of the hospital's facilities are integrated with an existing 50-bed hospital in the city, creating a combined operation of 150 beds. The new hospital complex includes outpatient services, medical technology departments, and ward buildings, all supported by China.

Speaking to Xinhua, Affan Faiq Zada, the medical superintendent of the hospital, said that it is nothing short of a blessing for the local community, transforming healthcare access in the region.

"Previously, there were no specialized healthcare services, and people had to travel hundreds of kilometers to access even basic medical care. Now, with this purpose-built, state-of-the-art hospital, residents can access primary, secondary, and even tertiary healthcare services locally," he added.

Zada, who has worked in several well-reputed hospitals in Pakistan, said that modern scanning machines and advanced laboratories have greatly improved the speed and accuracy of diagnoses, allowing for timely treatment.

"The hospital's impact is tangible, and the locals have embraced it wholeheartedly, with many describing it as a life-changing development," he said, adding that healthcare outcomes in the region have drastically improved, largely due to China's generous donation. This hospital is the only facility of its kind within a 500-km radius.

He noted that to handle emergencies, the hospital's surgery department offers a wide range of services, including general surgery, orthopedics, and urology, with round-the-clock trauma care.

Beyond curative services, the hospital has made strides in preventive healthcare by raising awareness among the local population. Expectant mothers are encouraged to attend antenatal visits, and there is ongoing education on child nutrition.

Shazia Ali, a gynecologist at the hospital, said that due to a lack of facilities in Gwadar and nearby districts, the rate of neonatal fatalities, miscarriages, and maternal deaths was previously very high. However, with the new operating theaters and ultrasound machines, this ratio has substantially decreased even within just a few months of the hospital's inauguration.

The hospital has been widely praised throughout the district, gaining a reputation for its excellent services. Patients from neighboring districts also come for medical treatment.

According to patients and doctors at the hospital, the Pak-China Friendship Hospital has transformed healthcare in the region, offering top-tier services that were once inaccessible to the local population, and became a symbol of the strong partnership between China and Pakistan by providing much-needed relief and hope to the community.

Lian Wenyong, an engineer for the hospital's maintenance from the project's Chinese constructor, said that the Chinese constructor also provides a two-year warranty service for this donated project to Gwadar.

"We are on call at any time to provide timely maintenance and repairs so that Gwadar people can better enjoy medical services," the Chinese engineer said.

Launched in 2013, CPEC, the flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), 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 and is expanding to the fields of agriculture and livelihood, among others. 

Patients wait for their turns at the Pak-China Friendship Hospital in the Gwadar district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Sept. 16, 2024.(Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

A doctor checks a patient at the Pak-China Friendship Hospital in the Gwadar district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Sept. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

This photo taken on Sept. 16, 2024 shows the Pak-China Friendship Hospital in the Gwadar district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

A girl waits at the registration counter at the Pak-China Friendship Hospital in the Gwadar district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Sept. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)
La Paz, Nov 2 : Opponents of the Bolivian government who sympathise with former President Evo Morales occupied the "Cacique Juan Maraza" military regiment in the town of Villa Tunari, the central department of Cochabamba on Friday, local media reported.

According to the occupants, the raid on the military facilities is in response to the road unblocking operation by the Bolivian Police and military forces in Cochabamba, reports Xinhua news agency.

The occupants of the local communities detained military and health personnel present at the barracks, in addition to disseminating photographs and videos showing them armed with sticks.

Supporters of Morales have been holding roadblocks for almost three weeks, demanding guarantees for the candidacy of the former president, who seeks to participate in next year's elections for a new presidential term, as well as the annulment of the criminal proceedings against him.

On Friday, police with military support began an operation to unblock the main road that connects the department of Cochabamba with the western region of the South American country.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Long-term exposure to air pollution particles like PM2.5 can prove to be detrimental to memory and cognition in people of all ages, finds a study, even as the air quality in the national capital continues to remain in the poor category.

On Saturday morning, a layer of smog covered Delhi-NCR with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national Capital registering a 'poor' rating.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's average AQI was 294 at 7:30 A.M. on Saturday, with 18 areas reporting AQI levels above 300, indicating a 'very poor' category.

The peer-reviewed study based on 8,500 children found that air pollution caused by ammonium nitrate -- which is usually a result of agricultural and farming operations -- can lead to poor learning and memory performance in children between 9- and 10 years of age.

"The specific component of fine particle air pollution, or PM2.5, ammonium nitrate, is also implicated in Alzheimer's and dementia risk in adults, suggesting that PM2.5 may cause neurocognitive harm across the lifespan," noted the findings appearing in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Ammonium nitrate is formed when ammonia gas and nitric acid, produced by agricultural activities and fossil fuel combustion, respectively, react in the atmosphere.

Megan Herting, an associate professor of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) called "for more detailed research on particulate matter sources and chemical components".

Understanding the nuances can help in regulating air quality & decoding long-term neurocognitive effects, Herting said.

For the study, the team used special statistical techniques to look at 15 chemical components in PM2.5 and their sources. They found ammonium nitrate as a prime suspect.
Chennai, Nov 2 : The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a yellow alert for 19 districts of Tamil Nadu, forecasting heavy rains over the next two days.

According to a statement from the Weather Department, these districts are expected to receive substantial rainfall due to a cyclonic system and an upper air circulation over the sea.

The affected districts include Coimbatore, Tiruppur, The Nilgiris, Madurai, Erode, Virudhunagar, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Krishnagiri, Ramanathapuram, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Thoothukudi, and Sivaganga.

The RMC stated that a cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Mannar has weakened, while an upper air circulation persists over the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the south Andhra coast.

According to extended-range predictions, coastal Tamil Nadu may experience below-normal rainfall, but above-average rainfall is expected in other parts of the state through November 7.

From November 8 to 14, near-normal to slightly above-normal rainfall is forecast in many areas of Tamil Nadu.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours due to expected winds of 35-45 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 55 kmph along the southern Tamil Nadu coast, the Gulf of Mannar, and around the Cameron region. Northeast monsoon brings heavy rainfall. The Northeast Monsoon, which began on October 17, has already brought substantial rainfall to Tamil Nadu.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast normal to above-normal rainfall for northern Tamil Nadu and normal rainfall for southern parts of the state, though many southern districts have already experienced significant rains.

For the October-December season, the IMD expects the southern peninsular regiona"including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesha"to receive 112 per cent of the long-term average rainfall of 33.4 cm. Tamil Nadu typically receives an average of 44 cm during the northeast monsoon period.

Tamil Nadu Health Department has urged the public to be cautious regarding the spread of contagious diseases, such as dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, and influenza. Since January 2024, Tamil Nadu has recorded 18,000 dengue cases.

The State Public Health Department has advised residents to remove stagnant water from their premises to prevent mosquito breeding.

The Health Department has already established monsoon health camps across the state to identify cases of dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, influenza, and other diseases.

Health Minister Ma Subramanian emphasised that the department is closely monitoring vector-borne diseases, particularly dengue, which is prevalent in 10 districts: Chennai, Coimbatore, Krishnagiri, Tiruppur, Tiruvallur, Theni, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thanjavur, and Tiruchi.

These districts account for 57 per cent of the total dengue cases in Tamil Nadu. Dr. T. S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, reported that the health department is tracking fever-related cases in both government and private hospitals.

The public has been advised to avoid storing rainwater in discarded items, which can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and to drink only boiled water to prevent waterborne diseases.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : An indifferent student, especially disliking history, he was advised by his school principal to become a politician or an actor, given his imposing personality and resounding voice. As fate would have it, Sohrab Modi became an instrument to teach cine-goers history, bringing alive various facets of India's glorious past from the era of Raja Porus to Rani Lakshmibai to the Ramakrishna Mission.

New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) An indifferent student, especially disliking history, he was advised by his school principal to become a politician or an actor, given his imposing personality and resounding voice. As fate would have it, Sohrab Modi became an instrument to teach cine-goers history, bringing alive various facets of India's glorious past from the era of Raja Porus to Rani Lakshmibai to the Ramakrishna Mission.

As an actor, director, and producer, his forte was making - and usually acting with his deep and thunderous but clear voice - in the lavishly-produced grand epic, comparable with the best of Hollywood's D.W. "Birth of a Nation" Griffiths and Cecil B. "The Ten Commandments" DeMille. Though his outpost is modest - around 30 appearances as an actor and 26 films directed or produced, they are classics of Hindi films.

Sohrab Merwanji Modi (1897-1984), born in Bombay on this day (November 2), spent his childhood in Rampur, where his father worked for the Nawab, and he picked up flawless Hindi and Urdu. His brush with films started in his teenage years as he and his brothers used to organise film shows across the Central Indian hinterland during the First World War. In the 1920s, he set up a drama company and this, in the mid-1930s, was transformed into his film production company, Minerva Movietone.

His grounding in theatre led to his first two films being adaptations of Shakespeare - "Khoon Ka Khoon" (1935) and "Said-e-Havas" (1936), based on "Hamlet" and "King John", respectively. However, these were recordings of stage performances and his first proper film was "Atma Tarang" (1937), based on the principles of Swami Ramakrishna Paramhans.

The film flopped and Modi recalled years later that he had gone to a Bombay theatre where the film was being screened but was aghast to find that the audience only numbered some two-dozen people. However, a group of four approached him, commended the film, and assured him that he would be a successful filmmaker one day. Modi said that it was only later that he found that all four were judges of the Bombay High Court.

An undeterred Modi kept on and went on to make a trilogy of socially relevant films - "Jailor" (1938, remade in 1958 with a different cast with him reprising the title role), the tale of a kind man turned domestic tyrant by betrayal, "Meetha Zahar" (1938) on alcoholism, and "Bharosa" (1940), dwelling on the taboo topics of illicit liaisons and incest.

Modi, like his contemporary V. Shantaram, realised the potential of films to deliver a powerful message on social issues, and his pictures would go on to champion the right of Hindu women to divorce and criticise patriarchy, outmoded traditions, and undue stress on social status in changing times.

But it was the vibrant pageant of history that Modi was most known for and began with "Pukar" (1937), set in the times of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, with him as loyal Rajput nobleman Sangram Singh, and continued with "Sikandar" (1941), where he played Raja Porus opposite Prithviraj Kapoor as the Greek invader, "Prithvi Vallabh" (1943) where he played the Parmar king, and then as the Rajguru of Rani Lakshmibai in "Jhansi ki Rani" (1952) - India's first technicolour film.

His oeuvre also included "Nausherwan-E-Adil" (1957), set in Zorastrian-era Persia - and which gave Raaj Kumar his break, mythological films like "Narasimha Avatar" (1949) - one of the few not to feature Jeevan as Narad Muni, "Kundan" (1955) based on Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables", and above all, "Mirza Ghalib" (1954), which brought back the poet into public consciousness and the golden tones of Suraiya, aided by Talat Mehmood and Mohammad Rafi, gave a new life to his ghazals.

It was, however, in "Sikandar" that he developed the "(verbal) confrontation" - as two titanic stars engage in a high-sparks rhetorical duel - as a major ingredient of Hindi cinema. He demonstrated his prowess over the trait as bitter persecuted Jew Ezra in Bimal Roy's "Yahudi" (1958) - where he got top billing over hero Dilip Kumar. Remember ".. Tumhara gham hai gham, auron ka gham khwaab-o-kahani hai? Tumhara khoon hai khoon, hamara khoon pani hai?"

His voice's power was such that it drew people just to hear him - as he learnt once when he was checking the response to his latest film in a Bombay theatre and saw a viewer sitting with closed eyes. It was found that the man was blind and came just to listen to Modi.

Modi made his final appearance as Hema Malini's axe-toting wazir in "Razia Sultana" (1983), and though in his mid-80s, was still game for a new film though his magnificent voice had weakened due to illness and age.

As his wife - and frequent co-star - Mehtab once revealed, her husband had no other interests apart from film-making.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
New Delhi, Nov 2 : With the active participation of a high-level Indian delegation, a G20 meeting has arrived at a consensus in finalising the first Ministerial declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), according to an official statement issued on Saturday.

The G-20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRWG) Ministerial Meeting was held from October 30 to November 1, 2024, in Belem, Brazil.

In his inventions, during various Ministerial sessions, P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, shared the progress made by the Government of India in reducing disaster risks and in upscaling disaster financing in the country, the statement said.

Mishra emphasised India's proactive approach to DRR, on five priorities of DRRWG, which were enunciated during the Indian Presidency of G20. These include early warning systems, disaster-resilient infrastructure, DRR financing, resilient recovery and nature-based solutions. In the disaster resilient infrastructure, he also shared PM Modi's global initiative of Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI), which has now 40 countries and seven international organisations, as members, the statement added.

The Principal Secretary to Prime Minister reiterated the Government of India's commitment to the Sendai Framework and called for increased international collaboration on knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and sustainable development to enhance disaster resilience globally.

The Indian delegation also participated in the Troika meeting with the Ministers of Brazil and South Africa, and held bilateral meetings with ministers from the host country Brazil and other countries namely Japan, Norway, South Africa, South Korea, Germany, and Heads of invited International Organisations.

"Responding to the call by UNSG on Extreme Heat, Principal Secretary to the PM, shared experience & steps being taken including the focus on promoting traditional practices to suit local conditions," the official statement said.

The first DRR WG was established on India's initiative during its Presidency of G20 in 2023. Mishra congratulated the Brazilian Presidency on its continuation of the DRRWG, and scaling it up to the Ministerial level and affirmed India's support to South Africa on DRRWG on their upcoming G20 Presidency next year.

India's participation underscores its growing role in global DRR efforts and its commitment to building a safer and more resilient world.
New York, Nov 2 : A criticism aimed at women supporting Donald Trump by a billionaire backer of Kamala Harris has backfired on her campaign as it is trying to douse controversy over President Joe Biden calling the Republican's supporters "garbage".

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"Donald Trump, you never see him around strong, intelligent women. Ever. It's just that simple. They're intimidating to him. He doesn't like to be challenged by them," Mark Cuban said on the TV talk show, The View, on Friday.

Trump's Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt hit back saying, "This is extremely insulting to the thousands of women who work for President Trump, and the tens of millions of women who are voting for him."

Linda McMahon, the co-chair of his transition team, scoffed, "I wonder just how Mark Cuban would define a strong, intelligent woman, especially given that the Left can even define what a woman is."

That was a dig at the Democratic Party promoting men who are transgender to use facilities for women and to play in women's sports.

In particular, it was aimed at Ketanji Brown Jackson, Biden's appointee as Supreme Court Justice, who was asked at a Senate hearing to define a woman and she evaded it by saying, "I am not a biologist".

The controversy over the insult to women who back Trump came three days after Biden had launched a broader insult at Trump supporters calling them "garbage".

Elise Stefanik, who is the leader of the Republican Party group in the House of Representatives, said, "Just two days ago, Joe Biden, the sitting President of the United States, called 250 million Americans 'garbage'. And then we have Kamala Harris' top ally calling women who support President Trump weak and dumb, saying that you can't be strong and intelligent and support President Trump."

"That is the disgraceful closing argument that Democrats are making," she said.

Trump who proudly put on a trash collector's vest and mounted a garbage truck to protest Biden's attack on his supporters, wrote on social media platform X about the latest insult to women backing him: "I surround myself with the strongest of women a" With the understanding that ALL women are great, whether strong or not strong."

He added, "Mark Cuban [is] a dumb guy, who thinks he's 'hot stuff' but he's absolutely nothing, is now out there saying that I don't surround myself with strong women."

Cuban apologised on X, writing, "When I said this during the interview, I didn't get it out exactly the way I thought I did. So I apologise to anyone who felt slighted or upset by my response. As I said, it wasnat about trump voters, supporters or employees. Current or former."

He had remarked about women backing Trump when he was asked on the programme from ABC about Nikki Haley not being asked to campaign for him.

And then he said, "Nikki Haley will call him on his nonsense with reproductive rights and how he sees and treats and talks about women. I mean, he just can't have her around. It would't work."

Haley, who served in Trump's cabinet and later ran against him for the Republican party's presidential nomination, has said she was ready to campaign for Trump but wasn't asked to.
Kolkata, Nov 2 : With bursting of firecrackers that started on Diwali, continuing till late on Friday night, pollution levels in Kolkata and the city's adjoining areas continued to spike on Saturday.

Kolkata, Nov 2 (IANS) With bursting of firecrackers that started on Diwali, continuing till late on Friday night, pollution levels in Kolkata and the cityas adjoining areas continued to spike on Saturday.

As per the Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring machines the AQI levels crossed the 300 mark on Friday night.

The AQI ranging from 301 and above comes under the apurplea or ahazardousa category, which means that there is a health warning of emergency conditions with the possibilities of all categories of people being affected by the dirty air.

The areas in the city from where maximum reports of firecrackers, including banned high decibel crackers being burst, were reported include Ballygunge Circular Road, Behala and Tollygunge in South Kolkata and Maniktala, Lake Town and Ultadanga in North Kolkata.

Despite police action against the bursting of banned high-decibel firecrackers, people continued to use them and in most places in the city the sound-levels were above the permissible limits of 75 decibels.

Similar infractions were reported from Salt Lake on the northern outskirts of Kolkata and the city-adjacent Howrah town.

In the last two days, Kolkata Police arrested a total of 601 people, which included 265 for bursting banned crackers with high decibels.

Environment activists say that police action is not enough to control this menace unless the people in general become aware of the hazards of the pollution caused by lighting crackers.

Generally, the pollution levels in the city start spiking from Kali Puja and Diwali and continue to go up in the entire winter season.

The only time there is a respite from the pollution is when there are occasional showers, the possibility of which has been ruled out right now by the Regional Meteorological Office in Kolkata.

As per the predictions of the office, the weather conditions will be dry in the entire south Bengal in the coming days with the possibility of temperature levels declining in the next couple of days.

However, the office has predicted some scattered rainfall in certain districts of north Bengal in the next couple of days.

The untimely rainfall in the state last month was because of the impact of the landfall of Cyclone Dana. However, with that impact being over, the state is getting prepared for a prolonged dry spell and high pollution levels.
Los Angeles, Nov 2 : Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, who is basking in the massive success of his superhero movie, 'Deadpool & Wolverine', is pleasantly surprised with different kinds of 'Deadpool & Wolverine' costumes people pulled off on Halloween.

The actor recently took to his Instagram, and dropped several pictures of Halloween celebrations in which people can be seen dressed up in different Deadpool costumes.

He wrote in the caption, "I can't believe the amount of Deadpool & Wolvie costumes last night. You'll never know what that's like if you're me. I'm suddenly five years old, staring out the window at some impossible future. People wore the best suits and costumes l've ever seen".

He expressed his delight at how creative people got with the costume ideas.

He further mentioned, "Quoting lines, laughing and performing stunts. I'm not cool or aloof about stuff like this  No part of me takes it for granted or feels entitled to it. It's like having a dream come true - but a dream you didn't know you were dreaming of".

Earlier, the actor batted for the stunt work in Hollywood, and called for recognition of the stunt work in Oscars.

The actor took to his Instagram, and shared an array of pictures from the making of 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. In the pictures, he could be seen in action along with the stunt team. The actor also penned a long note in caption as he expressed his gratitude towards some of the finest talents in the world of stunts.

He wrote, "Stunt work doesn't have a category at The Oscars and I hope that'll change someday. So many films SMASHED it this year Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Chaplin were stunt performers as well as filmmakers. Telling stories with their entire bodies. The #DeadpoolAndWolverine stunt team over-delivered".
Tehran, Nov 2 : Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has smashed four "terrorist" teams in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, according to a press release published on the IRGC's official news outlet.

The "terrorist" teams were identified and dismantled on Thursday night by IRGC's Ground Force units in an operational drill, Sepah News quoted Ahmad Shafaei, spokesman for the drill, as saying.

Shafaei said during the exercise, which was carried out jointly with the provincial intelligence and police forces, four "terrorists" were killed and eight others were arrested. Among the arrestees was a senior member of the "terrorist" group involved in a recent attack on law enforcement forces in the province, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Sepah News.

Shafaei noted that significant amounts of weapons and ammunition were seized from the terrorists.

On Saturday, ten members of law enforcement forces, comprising conscripts and policemen, were killed in a "terrorist" attack in the province's Taftan County.

Jaish al-Zulm, designated as a terrorist entity by Iran, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, Sistan and Baluchestan province has witnessed several terrorist attacks on both civilians and security forces over the past years.
Pune, Nov 2 : Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) President Prakash Ambedkar has warned that OBC and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes reservations could be at peril after the Maharashtra Assembly elections and urged the people to be on guard.

In a statement from his hospital ICU bed, a day after undergoing angioplasty surgery, Ambedkar, 70, said that the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly elections were critical for saving reservations, besides other reasons.

"After the polls, the OBC quotas shall be struck off and the Supreme Court directives on the creamy layer in SC/ST would be implemented, rendering many people unemployed... We must ensure to get maximum VBA lawmakers elected to foil these plans," urged Ambedkar.

He said it is imperative to elect the highest number of VBA legislators to stop "the attacks on SC/ST/OBC quotas", and appealed to the masses to cast their votes for the VBA candidates in huge numbers.

The VBA chief explained that the polls are also a battle of existence for quotas and to save the SC/ST/OBC reservations, as the Apex Court's directives on the "creamy layer" would be brought into effect that could claim several jobs.

"Hence the Assembly elections were very important for all and it was our responsibility to ensure that these assaults on quotas can be prevented. The people must vote for the VBA's symbol 'Gas Cylinder' to protect their future," urged Ambedkar, appearing weak.

On Thursday, Ambedkar a"the grandson of the Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution B. R. Ambedkar a" was rushed to a Pune hospital following chest pain and underwent an angiography.

The angiography report showed a small blockage in the right coronary artery after which an angioplasty was recommended.

A day later (November 1), Ambedkar underwent the angioplasty procedure successfully and was shifted to the ICU for convalescing, and his condition was now fine, VBA Spokesperson Siddharh Mokle said.

Ambedkar's sudden illness has pushed him out of the campaign for the Assembly elections in which the VBA was contesting in a majority of the 288 seats.

In his absence, the VBA state President Rekha, along with the Election Coordination Committee, Manifesto Committee and Media & Research Department, was leading the party's poll campaign for the next few days, added Mokle

Ambedkar has been travelling widely owing to the two elections within six months -- the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls -- selecting candidates for both, hammering out seat negotiations with different parties and plunging into gruelling poll campaigns.

The VBA had failed to open its account in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections for 48 seats in the state.

It has entered into friendly tie-ups with certain groups and smaller parties to give a tough fight to the ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances.

In barely three years, Ambedkar has been afflicted by a cardiac problem for the second time.

In July 2021, he had undergone a major emergency heart surgery at a Pune hospital and he was rendered out of action for many weeks post-operation.
Visitors line up to receive bookmarks featuring Chinese culture at the 41st International Istanbul Book Fair in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Nov. 2, 2024. The Book Fair kicked off here on Saturday, featuring participation from Chinese publishers and a diverse selection of Chinese books. Running until Nov. 10, the fair hosts 12 Chinese publishers this year, who are expected to sign copyright agreements to foster cooperation with participants, according to the fair's website. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

ISTANBUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The 41st International Istanbul Book Fair kicked off here on Saturday, featuring participation from Chinese publishers and a diverse selection of Chinese books.

Running until Nov. 10, the fair hosts 12 Chinese publishers this year, who are expected to sign copyright agreements to foster cooperation with participants, according to the fair's website.

The China-Turkiye Publishing Cooperation Forum was held on the fair's opening day, bringing together Chinese and Turkish publishing houses.

Zhang Jing, deputy head of Higher Education Press, one of China's oldest professional educational publishers, highlighted the importance of cooperation between key countries along the Silk Road.

He noted the deep historical friendship and cooperation between China and Turkiye, highlighting new opportunities in the current era.

Mustafa Karsli, vice president of the Turkish-Chinese Cultural Association, said that publishers from both countries are revitalizing and strengthening the rich legacy of the Silk Road, which spans thousands of years.

Chi Baodong, director of the publishing and media department at China Education Publishing and Media Group, highlighted the strong potential for intellectual collaboration between China and Turkiye.

Erdem Ergen, general publishing director of Turkiye's Nomos Publishing House, emphasized the importance of fostering such collaboration to enhance cultural and literary exchange.

With the theme "Childhood is a Celebration" and Azerbaijan as the guest of honor, the fair has brought together hundreds of authors and readers, along with over 1,000 publishers and civil society organizations. 

A visitor reads a book at the 41st International Istanbul Book Fair in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Nov. 2, 2024. The Book Fair kicked off here on Saturday, featuring participation from Chinese publishers and a diverse selection of Chinese books. Running until Nov. 10, the fair hosts 12 Chinese publishers this year, who are expected to sign copyright agreements to foster cooperation with participants, according to the fair's website. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

A visitor reads a book at the 41st International Istanbul Book Fair in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Nov. 2, 2024. The Book Fair kicked off here on Saturday, featuring participation from Chinese publishers and a diverse selection of Chinese books. Running until Nov. 10, the fair hosts 12 Chinese publishers this year, who are expected to sign copyright agreements to foster cooperation with participants, according to the fair's website. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
Belgrade, Nov 2 : The Serbian government has declared November 2 a national day of mourning for those who died in the collapse of a roof structure at the Novi Sad railway station.

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad said 14 bodies have been recovered from the debris so far.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday evening urged unity and accountability.

"We all must find the strength to unite, help the families, and do everything in our power to minimise the damage," Vucic said, expressing gratitude to rescuers and workers who have worked tirelessly.

Earlier, Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said that the accident marks one of the darkest days in the city's history and is a tragedy for all of Serbia.

Vucevic expressed his and the government's condolences to the victims' families, and thanked all those involved in the rescue efforts, Xinhua news agency reported.

Although the structure was 60 years old, authorities will identify those responsible for the incident, Vucevic said.

The concrete platform roof collapsed in front of the railway station earlier on Friday.

Three people were rescued and taken to hospital, and two were women who had been trapped in the rubble but managed to maintain vocal contact with rescuers.

Emergency workers arrived at the scene within minutes, with the rescue operation involving over 80 responders from multiple cities.

Eight deaths had been initially reported in the incident. However, as time went by, rescuers found more bodies.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said an investigation will follow the rescue operation.
Seoul, Nov 2 : Defence Ministers of South Korea and Canada have condemned North Korea's troops deployment to Russia and discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries during a bilateral meeting in Ottawa, said officials on Saturday.

Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and his Canadian counterpart, Bill Blair, held the talks Friday (Canadian time) on the sidelines of the first "two plus two" meeting involving foreign and defence ministers of the two countries, Yonhap news agency reported.

During the bilateral meeting, Kim and Blair strongly denounced the troop dispatch as a violation of UN resolutions and an "illegal act" that threatens peace on the peninsula and the rest of the world. They pledged to work closely with the global community in response.

The meeting comes amid rising international concerns over Pyongyang's expanding military alliance with Moscow. The United States said on Thursday there were 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia, with 8,000 of them deployed to the country's western front-line Kursk region to enter the fight against Ukraine in the coming days.

Kim also expressed his appreciation for Canada's contribution to maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and in the broader region through its active enforcement of sanctions against North Korea and support for the United Nations Command. He emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations to further enhance regional and global security.

The two ministers agreed to enhance interoperability and strategic solidarity between South Korea and Canada by closely cooperating in various areas, including expanding participation in joint exercises, strengthening solidarity among UNC member states, and collaborating with like-minded countries.

They also agreed to seek more chances for expanding cooperation in the fields of defence industry and defence science and technology, with an aim to create a mutually beneficial partnership model for both countries, according to the ministry.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul also had a separate meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly, the same day on the sidelines of the "two plus two" talks to discuss regional issues, including North Korea's troop dispatch, and ways to enhance practical cooperation between their countries.

According to the foreign ministry, Cho assessed during the bilateral meeting in Ottawa that the inaugural "two plus two" meeting laid the foundation for institutionalizing the security and defence partnership between the two countries.

He expressed hope for deepening cooperation in the defence industry sector in the future, including Canada's ongoing next-generation submarine acquisition project.

In response, Joly acknowledged the excellence of Korea's defence industry and suggested continuing discussions on industrial cooperation as part of the comprehensive security partnership between the two countries, according to the foreign ministry.

Cho emphasised North Korea's troop deployment to Russia and its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch are serious violations of UN Security Council resolutions and a grave threat to global peace and security.

The Canadian minister responded by strongly condemning the North's expanding military cooperation with Russia, including the troop deployment, and its latest ICBM test.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : State-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) stepped into its 50th year of inception, recording a spectacular 8.7-fold growth in production from 89 million tonne (MT) during 1975-76, to a massive 773.6 MT output in the FY 2024.

With 80 per cent of its entire supplies directed to coal-based power plants at highly competitive rates, CIL plays a key role in enabling citizens to get power at a just price.

The country's largest coal company came into being on November 1, 1975, as an apex holding company of the nationalised coking coal (1971) and non-coking mines (1973).

Though CIL's employee strength fell sharply by almost a third to 2.25 lakh now from 6.75 lakh employees during the early years of Nationalisation, the production has taken an upward leap.

Congratulating coal giant, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said, "As Coal India enters into its Golden Jubilee Year with many milestones under its belt, I convey my best wishes to the company. Coal is yet to peak to its full potential in India. Indigenous production is vital to avoid expensive imports. Coal India has to ramp up production to higher levels in future with equal importance to people-oriented social responsibility, welfare and safety."

"It has been an eventful five-decade journey for CIL. The company braved many changes and challenges, trials and tribulations but managed to deliver what was expected of it. From a pure play coal producing company, Coal India is now diversifying into solar power, pithead power stations, coal gasification and critical minerals in the National interest," the Coal Ministry said in a statement.

Beginning 2007, CIL had been formally observing its Foundation Day celebration as an in-house event. This includes J. B. Kumaramangalam Memorial lecture by either a former Chairman or an Industry expert and bestowing awards on best performers. This year as well the company will be celebrating the event on November 3 in Kolkata with the Coal Minister as the chief guest and the Coal Secretary as the guest of honour.
Mumbai, Nov 2 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP from Mumbai South, Arvind Sawant on Saturday tendered an apology for his off-the-cuff 'maal' reference to a Shiv Sena candidate, fashionista Shaina Nana Chudasama that sparked off a huge political uproar in Maharashtra.

Sawant, 72, said that his statement was misconstrued and blown out of proportions while emphasising that he enjoyed a good rapport with Shaina NC, 52.

"I had no intention of insulting any woman, let alone Shaina NC I have never used any objectionable words against any sister or mother ever. Since it has created some misunderstandings, I hereby apologise for it," Sawant told mediapersons here.

Simultaneously, the SS(UBT) leader referred to alleged derogatory remarks against women made in the past by several ruling side leaders like Ashish Shelar, Waman Mhatre, Sanjay Rathod, and asked, "A police complaint has been registered against me What action has been taken against all these people?"

The political mercury suddenly shot up after Sawant's reference to Shaina NC as imported 'maal' and she hit back by lodging a complaint with Nagpada Police Station, and Maharashtra State Commission of Women directed the police to take action in the matter.

During a media interaction in the poll campaign four days ago, Sawant was quizzed about the prospects of Shaina NC vis-a-vis the Congress' three-term Mumbadevi MLA Amin Patel.

"Yahan pe imported maal nahin chalega Yahan pe original maal chalta hai, aur wo hai hamare paas, Amin Patel (We don't need imported stuff here, only the original will work and we have that, Amin Patel)," said Sawant, pointing at a smiling Patel beside him.

Though a senior BJP leader, owing to seat adjustments, Shaina NC has joined the Shiv Sena and was given the ticket to the prestigious Mumbadevi seat where she is fighting Patel plus a strong BJP rebel Atul H. Shah.

Referring to the statement labelling her as a 'maal' - which also means 'item' in slang - Shaina NC hit back saying, "We (BJP) had campaigned for him (Sawant) and he was elected on our strength. Ask him where he is from? I am a 'laadli (beloved)' daughter of Mumbai, and working for the people of the city. I don't need any certificates from Sawant or the SS(UBT)."

After lodging a police complaint, along with other Mahayuti leaders, she lashed out strongly at the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc.

"I am not some 'maal' (goods) I am a daughter of Mumbai and working dedicatedly for the past 20 years. This is a crass comment by Sawant I am a 'mahila', not a 'maal'. Everyone knows that MVA has no respect for women. The Mahayuti government is doing a lot for our womenfolk like the 'Laadki Bahin' scheme," said a furious Shaina NC.

She warned that the people of Mumbadevi constituency will give an appropriate reply to Sawant who had won the (2019) Lok Sabha elections using the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, but has now stooped to making such remarks against women.

As the issue snowballed, Sawant attempted to do some damage control saying Shaina NC may have misunderstood his ('maal') comment.

"It refers to 'goods', but she could have misinterpreted it I had no such intentions," said Sawant, as he came under fire from the Mahayuti and even sections of the MVA.
Mumbai, Nov 2 : Bollywood star Rani Mukerji looked every-inch stunning as she celebrated Kali puja with her cousin Tanisha, however Kajol seemed to have given it a miss as she was not seen.

A video of Rani dressed in an aubergine hued Indian wear with gold and white detailing is doing the rounds, where she is seen posing with Kajol's younger sister Tanisha and other friends for pictures.

Kali Puja is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali and is celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Ashwayuja or Kartika. The festival is especially popular in the region of West Bengal, and other places like Mithila, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, and Tripura.

Rani, Kajol and Tanisha were seen together during Durga Puja. The sisters were seen playing Sindoor Khela on the last day of the auspicious event.

Talking about work, Rani will next be seen in the new chapter of "Mardaani." The movie was announced on August 22.

Production Yash Raj Films banner took to YouTube, where they dropped a teaser of sorts, which begins from the first installment, which first released in 2014. The teaser shows moments from the first film and then switches to "Mardaani 2", which hits the big screen in 2019

Directed by Pradeep Sarkar, the first installment of the action thriller revolved around

a headstrong police officer named Shivani Shivaji Roy, whose interest in the case of a kidnapped teenage girl leads her to uncover the secrets of human trafficking by the Indian mafia. The film also stars Jisshu Sengupta, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Saanand Verma in supporting roles

In "Mardaani 2", the 46-year-old star reprised her role as Shivani and this time her character was after a 21-year-old rapist and murderer, played by newcomer Vishal Jethwa. The film was directed by Gopi Puthran.
Agartala, Nov 2 : The Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) has taken suo-motu cognisance of three recent incidents of atrocities against women in the state.

The three cases include severe torture, parading naked of a woman; alleged ragging at the Tripura Medical College and forcing a woman to marry a youth, officials said here on Saturday.

An official of THRC said that the commission, headed by former Tripura High Court Judge Swapan Chandra Das, has directed the authorities concerned to enquire about all the three incidents and submit detailed reports on each case within two to three weeks.

In a shocking incident, a married woman was severely beaten, disrobed and paraded naked earlier this week at Bagber area under Kalamchaura police station in Sepahijala district.

Referring to the incident, the THRC in its order said that the fact which has been reported is bound to shock every person in a civilised society.

Referring to a Supreme Court case, the commission said that the apex court has given elaborate observations about women's rights which seem to be often violated, be it as it may, the THRC is greatly shocked to see such incidents in the BJP-ruled state of Tripura, where the rule of law is strictly followed.

The THRC directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report within three weeks.

The police have so far arrested three persons in connection with the incident while three more accused are on the run.

Referring to media reports on ragging, the THRC ordered the Principal of Tripura Medical College, a semi-government institution, to submit a comprehensive report on the alleged ragging incident within three weeks.

Additionally, the commission has mandated an independent enquiry by the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of West Tripura district and submission of the findings within three weeks.

"Ragging is not only a criminal offence, but it also violates the human rights of the students. It calls for immediate action in terms of the Tripura Educational Institutions (Prevention of Ragging) Act, 1990," said the panel.

The THRC order referenced previous interventions in a similar incident in 2022 at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Gomati District, which resulted in targeted recommendations to combat ragging.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds both Home and Health and Family Welfare Departments, while talking to the media condemned the ragging in Tripura Medical College and asked the authorities to take appropriate actions to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

In the October 30 order, the THRC also took notice of a report alleging unlawful interference in the private lives of two adults by local leaders, who acting outside legal bounds, forced an adult girl to marry a youth.

Despite the police being aware of the situation, the THRC noted, "the police action as reported is reversed," indicating a lack of appropriate response.

The commission deemed it necessary to seek a report from the DGP on the incident with a submission deadline of two weeks.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Indian model of inclusive economic policies that generate quality jobs, support social protection, and promote gender equality was highlighted by the country's delegation at the 352nd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) held in Geneva, a statement said on Saturday.

New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) The Indian model of inclusive economic policies that generate quality jobs, support social protection, and promote gender equality was highlighted by the countryas delegation at the 352nd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) held in Geneva, a statement said on Saturday.

The India delegation is led by Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, at the ILO meeting which shall continue till November 7.

During the discussions, Dawra highlighted the national efforts to create decent work opportunities for all segments of society, particularly women and youth, which align closely with ILOas call for a renewed social contract.

Dawra also shared with ILO Governing Body members India's commitment to improving living standards, which is reflected in significant initiatives covering all dimensions of poverty that have led to 248 million individuals escaping multidimensional poverty in the last nine years, as measured by the multidimensional poverty index.

Indiaas transformation over the past decade, in terms of financial inclusion and prioritising access to financial services for vulnerable populations, was also highlighted by the Indian team.

These steps by the Government have empowered millions of individuals and families, fostering a more inclusive and secure society, said Dawra.

Government initiatives like PM Jan Dhan Yojana bridge the financial gap for the unbanked, while PM Jeevan Jyoti Yojana and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana offer affordable life and accident insurance, the Governing Body was informed.

The Indian delegation also showcased the significant employment growth over the recent years, with government policies, skilling programmes, and economic growth adding around 170 million persons in economic activity during 2016-17 and 2022-23 as per provisional estimates. India's economic trajectory demonstrates sustained job creation across key sectors, it was underlined.

Dawra also said that India has significantly expanded its social protection coverage. This is recognised by the recent ILOas flagship World Social Protection Report 2024a"26, which points out the doubling of social protection coverage in India.

Besides, the Indian governmentas largest in-kind social protection scheme, namely the Targeted Public Distribution System, is well captured as a part of special coverage in the report, as one of the worldas largest legally binding social assistance schemes providing in-kind food security to about 800 million people, the ILO members were informed.

During earlier discussions on the proposal for greater democratisation within ILO Governing Body, India commended ILO but at the same time expressed support for comprehensive reforms in governance in not just ILO but other UN Bodies too.
Chennai, Nov 2 : Tamil superstar and founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Katchi (TVK) party, Vijay, will embark on a statewide tour from December.

The tour is set to begin on December 2 in Coimbatore and conclude on December 27 with a major public rally in Tirunelveli.

During this tour, Vijay plans to connect directly with the public across Tamil Nadu, preparing his new political party for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections.

He announced in a recent public meeting that the party intends to contest all 231 seats in Tamil Nadu's Assembly.

The Tamil superstar launched his political party in February 2024 but clarified that TVK would not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, choosing instead to focus on the 2026 Assembly polls.

According to party insiders, Vijay is set to appoint district-level office bearers and booth committee heads soon.

He also plans to recognise and promote leaders who played a key role in organising the successful public rally in Vikravandi, Villupuram district, on October 27, which saw a turnout of over 300,000 people.

Veteran Tamil actor Rajinikanth recently praised Vijay's successful political entry, calling his first major public meeting well-organised.

Speaking to the media during Diwali festivities outside his Chennai residence, Rajinikanth congratulated Vijay on the success of his debut rally, stating, "He conducted the conference very successfully. My greetings to him."

However, Rajinikanth refrained from commenting on certain allegations made by TVK leaders during the rally.

Vijay, one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars, is the first to enter the political arena on this scale since the late M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), the founder of AIADMK and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

His political debut is anticipated to significantly impact the state's political landscape.

It is notable that Rajinikanth himself once announced intentions to enter politics, intending to contest the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

However, he later decided against it, declaring that his fan club, Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM), would remain a charitable organisation rather than a political party.

IANS

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Seoul, Nov 2 : Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Saturday condemned the United Nations for criticising the country's recent test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), reaffirming Pyongyang's stance to retain nuclear weapons development.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced North Korea's launch of a Hwasong-19 ICBM as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, Yonhap news agency reported.

Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Workers' Party's Central Committee, expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with Guterres' remarks, calling them "unfair and prejudiced" in a statement carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Saturday.

Kim accused countries "hostile" to North Korea of forming a military bloc based on nuclear weapons, asking, "Does the UN secretary-general think ... peace can be ensured on the Korean peninsula" if North Korea restrains itself?

She also reaffirmed the North Korean leader's stand of never changing the country's "line of bolstering" its nuclear forces.

"Have sanctions, pressure and threats stopped us? They have only made us stronger," she said, stressing that the country "will never tolerate any attempt to threaten the security environment of the state."

In a separate statement carried by the KCNA, the North's foreign ministry also protested the UNSC's plan to convene on Monday on North Korea's latest ICBM launch.

The ministry accused "hostile forces" of creating a critical situation against the security environment of North Korea through "illegal double standards," strongly denouncing the meeting as a violation of the UN Charter and a "grave challenge" to international peace and security.

"The more provocative act the hostile forces take in defiance of the DPRK's grave warning, the stronger counteraction they will face," the ministry said, using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2 : With the new two-month-long Sabarimala temple season set to commence in mid-November, a review meeting, chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Saturday decided to provide free insurance life coverage to all pilgrims to the venerated hilltop shrine.

Under this new scheme, the kin of any pilgrim who passes away during the pilgrimage will get a sum of Rs 5 lakh and the authorities will also make arrangements for conveying the mortal remains to the pilgrim's hometown.

The Travancore Devasom Board, which manages all temples under their control in the southern districts of the state, will be paying the insurance premium for this unique insurance coverage scheme.

This time, the two-month-long season opens on November 16 and will go on until the last week of December when it closes for a brief while and then reopen for pilgrims till early in the third week of January.

At the meeting, it was also decided to deploy a record close to 14,000 police officials who, along with volunteers, will be on security duty and give a helping hand to the pilgrims.

Several Ministers and various departmental heads attended the meeting as this is one pilgrim venue where there has to be close monitoring of various agencies of the state government.

The parking facility for pilgrims has now been increased to 10,000 parking slots besides there will be rate cards in various south Indian languages on display at all the restaurants in and around the temple town.

The healthcare facilities in and around the temple town will also have state-of-the-art facilities for the pilgrims.

State Devasom Minister V.N. Vasavan said not a single pilgrim will have to return without having a darshan.

"The virtual queue booking has started... Besides, there will be 10,000 daily tickets for darshan for those who do not book online. There will be a smooth pilgrimage and for that, all things are getting ready," he said.

Situated on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 914 metres above sea level, Sabarimala temple is four kilometres uphill from Pamba in the Pathanamthitta district, which is around 100 km from the state capital.

The temple, which bars the entry of women who have attained puberty, is accessible only on foot from the Pamba river. As per practice, before setting off to the holy shrine, a pilgrim normally undertakes an intense 41-day penance where he does not wear footwear, wears a black dhoti, and sticks to strict vegetarian food.

Every pilgrim carries 'lrumudi', a prayer kit which contains coconuts which are broken just before climbing the 18 steps, on his head during the pilgrimage and without it, no one is allowed to step onto the holy 18 steps at the 'Sannidhanam'.
Participants visit the exhibition area of the 2024 China Automation Congress in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 2, 2024. The 2024 China Automation Congress, which focuses on the deep integration of automation and artificial intelligence as well as explores the innovative development of new industries and technologies, would last from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 here. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Participants visit the exhibition area of the 2024 China Automation Congress in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 2, 2024. The 2024 China Automation Congress, which focuses on the deep integration of automation and artificial intelligence as well as explores the innovative development of new industries and technologies, would last from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 here. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Participants look at a robot at the exhibition area of the 2024 China Automation Congress in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 2, 2024. The 2024 China Automation Congress, which focuses on the deep integration of automation and artificial intelligence as well as explores the innovative development of new industries and technologies, would last from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 here. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A participant looks at domestic chips at the exhibition area of the 2024 China Automation Congress in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 2, 2024. The 2024 China Automation Congress, which focuses on the deep integration of automation and artificial intelligence as well as explores the innovative development of new industries and technologies, would last from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 here. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Participants attend the 2024 China Automation Congress in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 2, 2024. The 2024 China Automation Congress, which focuses on the deep integration of automation and artificial intelligence as well as explores the innovative development of new industries and technologies, would last from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 here. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Participants attend the 2024 China Automation Congress in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 2, 2024. The 2024 China Automation Congress, which focuses on the deep integration of automation and artificial intelligence as well as explores the innovative development of new industries and technologies, would last from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 here. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Spiritual guru and former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Saturday said that those who do not have faith in the deity and beliefs should not be allowed to work in agencies involved in the upkeep of holy places like the Tirupati shrine.

"Just as mosques don't employ people who consume liquor or even deny entry to such people, Tirupati or other temples should be no-entry zones for people who do not respect the holy cow revered by Hindus," Acharya Pramod Krishnam told IANS.

By seeking a ban on non-Hindus workers' entry, the spiritual guru endorsed a call by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board chief B. R. Naidu, who has also called for ensuring that only Hindus are employed by the Board.

"I agree with the remarks made by TTD Board chief," he said.

The spiritual guru, who was expelled from the Congress in February for allegedly criticising his own party, said that Tirumala was a revered place of worship for Hindus and those who have "no faith in our deity, ethos and beliefs should not be allowed to work there."

The spiritual leader said that as a follower of Sanatan Dharma, he welcomed Naidu's suggestion to bar non-Hindus from working at the TTDB premises.

Naidu's comments have kicked up a storm in political circles in Andhra Pradesh as he also suggested shifting non-Hindu employees of TTD Board to other departments or offering them voluntary retirement.

The former Congress leader also hit out at the politics of making "fake promises" and, in a veiled manner, criticised Congress-led state governments like Himachal Pradesh for struggling to deliver on poll promises due to financial constraints.

He said public faith in democracy was getting eroded due to the fashion among politicians to offer freebies that were impossible to deliver.

"Sometimes they say money will be transferred to voters' bank account, sometimes they offer car, motorcycle or laptop this is nothing but cheating," said Acharya Pramod Krishnam.

The former Congress leader said, "There is no harm in making electoral promises, but these should be realistic and making unachievable promises amounts to cheating the public."
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Hormonal changes caused during pregnancy can trigger the risk of psoriasis in about 10-20 per cent of women, said health experts on Saturday.

Psoriasis is a commonly seen chronic autoimmune condition that causes skin inflammation, with thick, itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk, and even the scalp. The common symptoms are red patches, rashes, scaling of the skin, dry and cracked skin, itching, and soreness.

It is caused due to an overactive immune system that causes inflammation.

"Pregnancy is an exciting and life-changing phase for women. Though, it can often bring about various challenges for expectant mothers and one concerning problem is psoriasis. The hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy often lead to variations in immune response, which can trigger flare-ups," Dr Jisha Pillai, Dermatologist, Lilavati Hospital Mumbai, told IANS.

"Around 10-20 per cent of women may suffer from psoriasis during pregnancy. However, there will be no risk to the foetus due to psoriasis," added Pillai.

Pillai noted that stress during pregnancy can also aggravate existing psoriasis and lead to the new onset of this condition. Moreover, changes in skincare routine and sensitivity to environmental triggers might position pregnant individuals at greater risk for outbreaks.

Other trigger factors include smoking, secondhand smoke, alcohol, skin infections, cold weather, and certain medications.

Besides pregnancy hormones that can affect the immune system and skin, potentially altering psoriasis severity, changes in medicines can also work as potential triggers for psoriasis.

"Many psoriasis treatments are not recommended during pregnancy due to potential risks to the foetus. Women may need to discontinue certain medications, which can lead to flare-ups," Dr. Parinita Kalita, Associate Director, Obstetrics And Gynaecology, Robotic Surgery, Max Super Speciality Hospital, told IANS.

Women with more severe psoriasis before pregnancy may also have a higher risk of exacerbation, the doctor noted.

The health experts stressed the need to consult a dermatologist and an obstetrician to help manage psoriasis effectively during pregnancy. They must use products suggested by dermatologists only and avoid self-medication for managing symptoms of this condition.

"Women must report symptoms of psoriasis such as red patches, scaling of the skin, and itchiness without any delay for seeking timely intervention," Pillai said.
Bengaluru, Nov 2 : Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra said on Saturday criticised the state government, saying that Congress guarantees are straining the state finances.

"Members of the ruling party themselves have repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with these guarantees, often calling for a re-evaluation of the guarantee schemes. Before the 2023 Assembly elections, no one had demanded these guarantees from Congress, yet they introduced them," Vijayendra said.

He added that anyone grounded in reality knows there's no such thing as a "free lunch".

"Their (Congress) guarantees are now straining the state's finances, earning Karnataka the label of a zero-development state," he said.

He said that not a single road has been built nor a new foundation has been laid due to the severe lack of funds, adding that Congress leaders are now publicly acknowledging the need to rethink these promises.

He underlined that the people of Karnataka will see this "Tughlaq Durbar" for what it did and will support NDA in the upcoming by-elections ensuring a clean sweep in our favour in all three constituencies.

Responding to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's statement on potentially reviewing the Shakthi scheme, state Home Minister G. Parameshwara clarified that there is no confusion regarding the guarantee schemes and that they are being implemented smoothly.

He noted that any discussions on the topic would have to be brought before the Cabinet, and so far, 'no discussions about halting these schemes have taken place'.

Reaffirming the continuation of the guarantees, he mentioned that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also reiterated D.K. Shivakumar's words.

"Shivakumar had repeatedly clarified that the guarantees would continue. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded on this matter," he said.

Parameshwara asked how many promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been fulfilled. "He promised two crore jobs; has that been implemented? Has everyone's income doubled as promised," he asked.

He also clarified that Shivakumar never said they would stop the guarantees.

"Any decisions, if necessary, would not be made unilaterally by Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar. These would be discussed thoroughly in the Cabinet with a detailed review of pros and cons," he stated.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The delay in reappointment of bus marshals appears to be building up as a fresh flashpoint between Lieutenant Governor (LG) V.K. Saxena and the Delhi government, with Raj Niwas on Saturday pointing out to Chief Minister Atishi that her officials have missed the November 1 deadline for doing so.

Slamming the unnecessary politicisation of the matter by AAP leaders, the LG said, "Unfortunately no concrete proposal has been sent to me by the government."

In the letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the LG highlighted the non-engagement of about 10,000 civil defence volunteers (CDVs) as bus marshals and asked the CM to formulate a scheme for their immediate as well as long-term engagement.

Seeking immediate intervention from the CM on the matter, the LG said she should direct officials to draft a proposal to be sent to Raj Niwas for their long-term engagement.

The services of bus marshals were terminated in October last year.

Amid claims and counter-claims by officials of Raj Niwas and the AAP government about alleged attempts to delay reinstatement of bus marshals, the LG's latest letter makes it clear that the ball now is in CM Atishi's court.

With Assembly elections just three months away, the delay in appointment of bus marshals is set to be a hotly debated issue, with the Opposition BJP and the Congress accusing the AAP government of mismanagement.

"On October 24, I had asked you to ensure the reinstatement of bus marshals by November 1 in view of the festival season," the LG wrote in Hindi.

He said that the CM and her party colleagues had been making attempts to take the political credit for reappointment of bus marshals but "any delay in the welfare of these poor and helpless people shall not be appropriate."

Saxena said he had sought early reappointment of civil defence volunteers as a measure to deal with polluted air in the city.

"Their timely reinstatement would have helped fight pollution and contributed to their welfare," said the LG, expressing displeasure over the delay in the matter.

Last month, the Delhi government had passed a Cabinet note for immediate reinstatement of bus marshals for enhanced safety in public transport.

Both AAP and BJP legislators had also met the LG last month over the issue as a follow-up to a resolution passed by the Delhi Assembly.
Chennai, Nov 2 : AIADMK has scheduled a meeting of its district secretaries on November 6 which will be chaired by AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS).

The meeting will be held at the party headquarters in Chennai.

According to top party leaders, the meeting will focus on assessing preparations across districts for the upcoming 2026 state Assembly elections.

After a decade-long rule in Tamil Nadu from 2011 to 2021, the AIADMK faced several challenges, especially following the passing of its prominent leader, J. Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016.

Despite these difficulties, party insiders emphasise that the AIADMKas core voter base has remained largely intact. The party continued to govern the state until 2021, when the rival DMK, led by M.K. Stalin, secured victory.

Sources within the AIADMK noted that the party has conducted a thorough analysis of each constituency and plans to shape its strategy according to the unique needs of Tamil Naduas diverse population.

In the 2021 state elections, even in the absence of a charismatic leader like Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK managed to secure 66 seats and received 33.29 per cent of the vote, compared to the DMKas 37.70 per cent.

Sources said that the AIADMK is exploring alliances with new political partners ahead of the 2026 elections.

Possible collaborations with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), currently an NDA constituent, and Seemanas Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) are reportedly under consideration.

Additionally, the party may discuss its stance on Tamil superstar Vijay, who has recently launched a new political party, TVK.

During the November 6 meeting, the AIADMK will also appoint leaders in charge of each Assembly constituency and these in-charges will report to respective district secretaries.

The party has engaged a professional agency to conduct detailed surveys in each constituency, aiming to identify and address local challenges.

Full-time constituency in-charges will work on resolving these issues. The AIADMK will also launch a campaign across coastal districts, highlighting the ongoing issues of Tamil Nadu fishermen being regularly detained by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The campaign will critique both the Central and state governments for their perceived inaction on this matter.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Terming it as "absurd and baseless", India on Saturday trashed allegations made by the Justin Trudeau-led government that linked Union Home Minister Amit Shah - the "latest Canadian target" - to the targeting of pro-Khalistan activists in Canada, emphasising that the "unfounded insinuations" are part of Ottawa's "conscious strategy" to discredit India.

"We had summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday. A diplomatic note was handed over in reference to the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on October 29th, 2024. It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing.

"In fact, the revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view the Government of India has long held about the current Canadian government's political agenda and behavioral pattern. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties," added Jaiswal.

Earlier this week, while appearing before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU), Trudeauas National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie Drouin and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Morrison admitted that they had leaked the so-called 'intelligence" on India, including the details about the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, to the American media, much before it was revealed at home.

"The leak from Nathalie Drouin and David Morrison, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, accused India's powerful Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah of directing the violent operations from New Delhi," reported Canada's leading daily The Globe and Mail on October 29.

The leaks had once again exposed the Trudeau government's continued vindictive campaign against India.

Last month, Trudeau, who has been harping on having "credible evidence" on India's involvement in the killing of Nijjar, admitted that Ottawa had only some intelligence inputs and no hard proof before publicly accusing India.

Testifying before the country's foreign interference inquiry, Trudeau admitted that New Delhi had demanded sharing of proofs - something that India continues to insist till date - after the allegations.

"At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof," Trudeau admitted in an on-camera hearing before the committee.

New Delhi has been asserting for a long time that the Trudeau government has "consciously provided" space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.

India had announced the withdrawal of its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats from Canada on October 14, after the Trudeau government - in what was termed as "preposterous imputations" by New Delhi - suggested that the Indian diplomats are 'persons of interest' in a matter related to an investigation in the country.

India had repeatedly underlined that, in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, it had no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment to ensure their security.
Shimla, Nov 2 : Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Assembly Jairam Thakur on Saturday asked Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to go through his party's (Congress') manifesto and statements about guarantees given to the people during the 2022 Assembly elections.

"If the Chief Minister stops lying now, it will favour the state. Now even the Congress high command and national leadership have accepted that the condition of Congress today is like this because of lying and making big election promises," former Chief Minister Thakur said in a statement here.

"All Congress governments are being criticised because of lies," he said.

The Leader of the Opposition said because of the "lies spoken in Himachal Pradesh, today, no one was taking a Congress leader and his statement seriously. Because of the lies, the politics of guarantees of the Congress has ended today. The top leadership of the Congress is now distancing itself from Himachal and its leaders, but it is not going to liberate Congress from this. Every lie told by them from the big platforms to the street corners and intersections during the elections is recorded like a document. We will not let Congress escape this."

Saying the BJP would "expose" the lies of the Congress about the guarantees inside the Assembly with full paperwork and will do so in the future as well, the former Chief Minister said the grand old party should understand that a pot "does not boil again and again".

He said every word of what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said about Himachal Pradesh is 100 per cent true.

"Himachal has been in the news across the country for the past few months, due to which the state's image has been tarnished. Now the Chief Minister is holding a press conference and saying that the employees will get their salaries this month, " he said.

"The Chief Minister is saying that he has fulfilled five guarantees. According to the guarantees, when his government was formed two years ago, two lakh people were to be given jobs but not a single job was given. Contrary to this, more than 1.5 lakh posts were abolished and more than 12,000 people were fired from their jobs. Every woman between 18 and 60 years of age was to be given Rs 1,500 every month. The total number of eligible women was around 22 lakhs but just before the Lok Sabha elections, only 26,000 women were paid one installment. No one has received a penny since then," he said.

Prime Minister Modi on Friday slammed the Congress for making "unreal" and "fake" promises to the people, adding the poor, youngsters, farmers and women had become the "victims of such politics".

His remarks came in the wake of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's advice to his party's unit to make only those promises that are fiscally sound.

"The people of the country will have to be vigilant against the Congress-sponsored culture of fake promises! We saw recently how the people of Haryana rejected their lies and preferred a government that is stable, progress oriented and action driven," PM Modi said in a post on X.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Congress-ruled states, including Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, have been facing fiscal issues as the party has failed to implement their "so-called Guarantees".
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, can raise the risk for developing dyslipidemia, or high cholesterol by almost 30 per cent, finds a study.

The study, led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine involving more than 200,000 adults, showed that the abnormal lipid (fat) levels in the blood -- a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke -- may explain the rising worldwide incidences of heart problems post-pandemic.

The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, showed that older adults and people with type 2 diabetes experienced about two-fold increased risk for developing dyslipidemia.

Gaetano Santulli, Associate Professor of medicine and of molecular pharmacology at Einstein explained that SARS-CoV-2 can disrupt the function of endothelial cells -- that line the inside of blood vessels and play a critical role in regulating blood lipids.

He advised people to have their lipid levels monitored regularly. They called on high-cholesterol patients to get early treatments.

Santulli said that the advice would apply to all adults, not just those formally diagnosed with Covid-19, considering that many people have been infected without realising it.

The study focussed on the incidence of dyslipidemia in a group of more than 200,000 adults living in Naples, Italy, during the three years before the start of the pandemic (2017-2019) and compared with the same group between 2020-2022.

The findings showed Covid raised the risk of developing dyslipidemia by an average of 29 per cent in all participants. The risk was even higher among people over age 65 and those with chronic conditions, particularly diabetes and obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension, the study revealed.
Hubballi, Nov 2 : Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Saturday asked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah 'to hold his tongue', after his (Siddaramaiah) remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the guarantee schemes.

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lacks basic culture. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi derogatively as 'pudari' (a petty local politician indulging in politicking) shows his indecency and lack of culture," the Union Minister said.

He added that the desperateness of the Congress party is evident. "Siddaramaiah at least mind your language. I am clearly telling him (CM Siddaramaiah) to hold his tongue," Joshi stated.

He added that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had stated that he would revise the guarantee scheme, adding that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also stated that they should not promise what is not possible to deliver.

"In Himachal Pradesh, the state is facing bankruptcy. The government workers are not given salaries, retirees are not getting pensions. Amid all this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a realistic analysis. If there were to be any objections, it could have been clarified with courtesy," he said.

He said that even Congress MLAs have made statements against guarantees, adding that Siddaramaiah's economic advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy had made a statement while B.R. Patil, another advisor to the Siddaramaiah, had passed on similar remarks.

"Congress MLA Raju Kage has also talked about. How many names of the MLAs should I take? Your own people are talking about unrealistic schemes. When the PM raises questions, you should answer them decently," he said.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only reiterated the reality of what was spoken by the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge has stated that the government should not promise what is not in the budget, Joshi stated.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah said that it's disappointing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead of acknowledging Karnataka's progress and the success of our guarantee schemes that are boosting the state's economy, is disrespecting Karnataka and Kannadigas with false accusations and "behaving like a petty politician".

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should leave behind his habit of viewing everything through the party's political lens and try to understand Karnataka's development model from the perspective of a statesman. I challenge him to join an open debate on the promises made in his manifesto for the last two parliamentary elections," said Siddaramaiah.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2 : In a hard-hitting opening-up before the media, top Kerala BJP leader Sobha Surendran on Saturday described Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the biggest don in the state.

"CM Vijayan is clear that he doesn't wish to have my presence in Kerala. He (Vijayan) is deeply upset with me because I have been tracking all his things including his daughter Veena Vijayan and hence, he is against me. So is senior CPI-M leader E. P. Jayarajan who met me to discuss his joining the BJP," said Sobha.

Sobha was going hammer and tongs against a section of the media and went to the extent of naming who they were as they were coming out with fabricated stories against her in the now controversial 2021 Kodakara hawala case, allegedly involving BJP leaders, that re-surfaced early this week.

Sobha was fuming and asserted that she has nothing to do with former BJP Thrissur district office Secretary Tirur Satheesan who, the other day, revealed that the cash stolen from Kodakara was part of hawala money received by state BJP leaders for election expenditure.

"I have nothing to do with that and I am being targeted and the media is portraying that it's me who is behind Tirur Satheesan.. I am not going to take this and I will retaliate strongly as I have nothing to do in this," said an angry Sobha.

The CPI-M is up in arms and has demanded a further investigation into it.

Incidentally, the SIT formed for it has filed a charge sheet against 23 people, who are all presently out on bail.

She also pointed out that the probe by the national agencies in the now infamous Karuvanoor Cooperative Bank scam (in which few Thrissur top CPI-M leaders are involved) is not over and very soon more things will happen in that.

Sobha, at the April 26 Lok Sabha polls, though she finished third, had made a strong fight at the Alappuzha Lok Sabha seat and is known for her fiery speeches.
FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least seven travelers lost their lives, and four others were injured following a deadly road accident in north Afghanistan's Badakhshan province on Friday, provincial police spokesman Ihsanullah Kamgar said on Saturday.

The deadly road accident took place on Friday afternoon when a vehicle turned turtle and plunged into the Amu River in the Khwahan district of this province, leaving the seven dead and four injured, the official added.

The injured, some in critical condition, have been shifted to a nearby hospital, said the spokesman, who partly blamed mechanical failures for the incident. 
Srinagar, Nov 2 : Former chief minister and NC president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday demanded an independent probe to find out the reason for the spurt in violence in J&K after the formation of an elected government here.

"I doubt why there wasn't a spurt in gunfights before the government formation. There should be an independent probe to find out who is doing it," he said.

He added that it must be found out whether some agency has been assigned the task of destabilising the Omar Abdullah-headed government.

He demanded that the terrorists in today's Khanyar encounter should be arrested alive and not killed to find out who is trying to destabilise the elected government.

He said tourism was thriving and people were moving about doing their business and other normal activities of life till an elected government took office here.

There have been some deadly attacks in J&K during the last month. On October 20, two terrorists fired indiscriminately at a workers' camp of an infrastructure company in the Gagangir area of the Ganderbal district.

Seven people including six non-locals and a local doctor were killed in the Gagangir attack.

On October 24, terrorists ambushed a vehicle of the army at the Botapathri area of Gulmarg. Five people including three army soldiers and two civilian porters working for the army were killed in the Botapathri attack.

People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) took responsibility for the Botapathri attack.

Intelligence agencies believe that after successful, people participative Lok Sabha and legislative assent elections, handlers of terrorists across the border have become frustrated and they have now instructed the remaining terrorists in J&K to carry out terrorist attacks.

The Chief Minister, his council of ministers and the MLAs of the NC stayed away from the J&K foundation day celebrated on October 31 after the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 was implemented and the erstwhile state bifurcated into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh.

Lt Governor took exception to the non-participation by the Chief Minister and his ministers in the UT's foundation Day.

"This shows their dual character. They took oath under the Constitution of the country and they preferred to stay away from the UT's foundation day celebrations. It is a fact that J&K is a UT and everybody must accept this reality," he said
Palakkad, Nov 2 : In a tragic accident, four contract cleaning workers who were engaged in cleaning the railway track were trapped on a railway bridge and run over by the speeding Kerala Express at Shoranur in Kerala's Palakkad on Saturday evening, officials said.

The dead include two men and two women, all of them hail from Salem in Tamil Nadu.

Both the male cleaning workers were named Lekshman, while the women were identified as Valli and Rani.

According to the police, these casual cleaning staff were picking up the litter on the railway track on the Kochi bridge above the Bharatapuzha river when the accident occurred.

Seeing the fast-approaching Kerala Express train coming from Delhi and bound for Thiruvananthapuram, these hapless workers were unable to take cover and all four were killed instantly.

While three bodies have been recovered, the search for the fourth body, which had fallen into the river, is currently going on.

These casual workers are attached to a railway contractor who had taken the cleaning job on either side of the railway track in the area.

As per reports, these workers did not realize that the Kerala Express was all set to pass over the bridge when they were walking on it.

The local police and the Railway Protection Force have begun a probe into the gruesome accident.

The accident came days after four passengers were injured after an explosion occurred inside a Rohtak-Delhi passenger train.

An official said that the explosion took place near the Sampla station soon after the train departed from Rohtak station.

Eyewitnesses added that the sudden explosion led to a chaotic scene while the train was immediately halted. Reports suggested that the blast may have resulted from a large quantity of chemicals that a passenger was carrying which had accidentally ignited and caused the explosion.
Patna, Nov 2 : RJD MP Misa Bharti on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not fulfilling his 2015 campaign promise to reopen the defunct sugar mills in North Bihar.

"PM Modi had pledged to revive these mills and drink tea made from sugar produced in those mills," Bharti said.

She questioned whether Prime Minister Modi had any plans to fulfil his commitment and sarcastically asked whether "he had diabetes".

"He (PM Modi) should reveal to the people of Bihar about the reason for the unfulfilled promise.

Bharti also challenged the NDA government to disclose the number of new factories set up and operational in Bihar under its tenure, suggesting that despite making lofty promises, the NDA's efforts have not yielded tangible benefits for the people of the state.

"Such unfulfilled promises have failed to address the economic needs and employment opportunities for Bihar's residents, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors," She said.

Misa Bharti criticised NDA MPs from Bihar for their lack of engagement with issues affecting the state, noting that despite Bihar electing 30 NDA MPs, they rarely speak up in Parliament on matters important to their constituents.

"I have also been sitting in the Lok Sabha and NDA representatives seldom address Bihar-specific challenges in the parliament," Bharti said.

Bharti also took aim at Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh, denouncing his recent controversial remarks about "slapping people 100 times" who protested on the streets against him recently.

"Such language is unbecoming of a senior leader like him. He should focus on his responsibilities in the textile sector. What Singh has done for Bihar's textile industry, particularly in Bhagalpur, known for its weaving tradition, and in Motihari, which she identified as having potential for textile growth," she asked.

Bharti urged Singh to clarify what tangible steps he has taken to support Bihar's weavers and textile workers.

Bharti also reacted to derogatory language used against NDA leader Shaina NC, emphasising that respect for women should transcend party lines.

She also condemned any form of mistreatment toward women in politics, stressing that women, regardless of their political affiliation, deserve respect and fair treatment.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Delhi Congress on Saturday launched an all-out attack on the AAP government for neglecting the issue of re-employment of nearly 10,000 out-of-job civil defence volunteers (CDVs)/bus marshals.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Devender Yadav said that the Aam Aadmi Party government has been shedding crocodile tears for the sacked CDVs but not doing much to re-hire them for pollution control duties.

"It has become clear that Chief Minister Atishi failed to honour the direction given by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena on October 24 to re-employ CDVs from November 1, 2024, for deployment in enforcing pollution control measures," said Yadav.

The Delhi Congress chief, in a statement, said, that AAP legislators had created a hue and cry during the two-day session of the Delhi Assembly last month by raising the issue of out-of-job marshals but their government has failed miserably to act on the sensitive issue.

They even passed a joint resolution demanding the re-employment of the marshals who were sacked by the Kejriwal government, he said.

Yadav said that AAP leaders also created a big drama when Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj fell on the feet of Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, pleading with him to accompany AAP leaders to meet the LG to take up the bus marshals' case.

Despite the decisions taken in the meeting, nothing much was done in official files, he said.

Yadav said that Atishi did not pay heed to the letter written to her by the LG, directing her to re-employ the CDVs/bus marshals by November 1.

This was clear proof that the AAP government only indulged in cheap political gimmickry without having any intention to either re-employ the marshals or combat air pollution, said the Delhi Congress president.

The Congress leader also targeted Atishi and former CM Arvind Kejriwal for repeating a slew of promises, which Kejriwal could not fulfil in the past 10 years.

The two assured Delhi residents to fulfil all the pending tasks in the next four months before the Assembly election but those promises have remained only on paper, with the roads staying in a dilapidated condition, air pollution soaring to new highs and Yamuna water getting poisonous with the Chhath Puja just five days away, Yadav said.

He said that the AAP government has not taken any steps to ensure that lakhs of devotees hold the puja in fresh, clean waters by creating separate Chhath Ghats.
Chandigarh, Nov 2 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab received a significant boost for the Chabbewal Assembly bypoll with Kulwinder Singh Rasulpuri, the constituency in-charge for the Congress, and Gurpreet Singh, the grandson of former MLA Chaudhary Ram Charan, on Saturday joined AAP.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with Hoshiarpur MP Rajkumar Chabbewal formally welcomed both leaders into the party.

Kulwinder Singh Rasulpuri had been associated with the Congress party for 35 years. He was promised a ticket by the Congress for the by-election after Rajkumar Chabbewal left the party, but the Congress didn't fulfill its promise.

Disappointed, he left the Congress to join the AAP. He served as the Vice-President of the Punjab Congress trading cell and as Vice-president of the District Congress Committee of Hoshiarpur. He was also the president of the Sarpanch Union in the Mahilpur block for 20 years.

Gurpreet Singh was running as an Independent candidate in this by-election. He is an influential and respected figure in the area. His grandfather, Chaudhary Ram Ratan, served as an MLA from Chabbewal from 1962 to 1967.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Mann said the inclusion of both leaders will strengthen AAP not just in Chabbewal, but throughout Hoshiarpur. He asserted that they would work together for the development of Chabbewal and claimed they would win the election by a huge margin.

Punjab's four Assembly seats -- three represented by the Congress and one by AAP -- fell vacant after MLAs from these constituencies were elected to the Lok Sabha this year. The bypoll is scheduled on November 13.

Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the Congress legislator from Gidderbaha, was elected from the Ludhiana Parliamentary seat, while Raj Kumar Chabbewal, a Congress MLA who later switched loyalties to AAP, became MP from the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat.

Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who was a Congress legislator from the Dera Baba Nanak seat, got elected from the Gurdaspur parliamentary seat, while Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, the AAP legislator from Barnala, was elected as MP from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C. said the total number of voters in the four constituencies is 6,96,316, with a total of 831 polling stations.

For Dera Baba Nanak, there are 1,93,268 voters and 241 polling stations. In Chabbewal, the number of voters is 1,59,254, with 205 polling stations.

For Gidderbaha, the total number of voters is 1,66,489, and 173 polling stations will be established. The Barnala Assembly seat has 1,77,305 voters and 212 polling stations.
Srinagar, Nov 2 : Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Usman Bhai was killed in a gunfight with the security forces in downtown Srinagar city on Saturday, police said.

IGP, Kashmir, V.K.Birdi told reporters that top LeT commander, Usman Bhai, who hailed from Pakistan and was involved in a series of crimes, was killed in the daylong gunfight in the Khanyar area.

"Usman was wanted in many militancy-related cases including the killing of non-locals and security forces. He was also involved in the killing of Inspector Manzoor Ahmad Wani who was critically wounded on October 29, 2023, in the Eidgah area of Srinagar city," he said.

Two CRPF jawans and two policemen were injured in this gunfight on Saturday.

Officials said that following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists, security forces started a CASO (Cordon & Search Operation) in the Khanyar area.

"As the security forces came closer to the hiding terrorists, they fired at the security forces triggering an encounter which is now going on," an official said.

Saturdayas encounter in the heart of downtown Srinagar was the first such incident in the area in more than 10 years.

This area was once the hotbed of separatist sentiment and militants used to move freely in this area. With the passage of time, security forces managed to eliminate militancy from these areas. It was believed that Srinagar city in general, and the downtown areas in particular, had been cleared of militancy.

However, the gunfight in the Khanyar area seems to have dented this belief.

In another ongoing operation, two terrorists were gunned down by the security forces near Halkan Gali in the Shangus-Larnoo area of Anantnag district.

On Friday, terrorists shot at and injured two non-local labourers, Sanjay and Usman, both belonging to Uttar Pradesh, in Mazhama village of Magam area of Budgam district. Both injured were immediately shifted to a hospital where doctors described their condition as stable.

Last month, terrorists killed six workers of an infrastructure project company and a local doctor in the Gagangir area of the Ganderbal district. The workers were building a tunnel from Gagangir to Sonamarg tourist resort to make the Srinagar-Sonamarg an all-weather road and generate economic growth and employment in the area. Those killed in the Gagangir attack included six non-local workers and a doctor belonging to the Budgam district.

Later on, terrorists killed three army soldiers and two porters in the Botapathri area of Gulmarg in Baramulla district.
Bengaluru, Nov 2 : BJP National Youth President and MP Tejasvi Surya said on Saturday that all the temples and mutts will be handed over to the Muslims if people will again vote for the Congress.

"If votes are given to Congress party for freebies, all our temples, houses, mutts will be handed over to Muslims. If you still vote for the Congress party, there won't be any freebies in future and the Hindu pilgrimage centres like Dharmasthala and Sringeri won't exist," said Surya while addressing media in Bengaluru at BJP headquarters.

He claimed that more lands of farmers are being named as the Waqf property in the state.

"In Karnataka, the Waqf board has claimed more than 50,000 acres of land," he claimed, adding that no one can predict when the farmers' lands will be transferred to the Waqf board.

"I have brought this matter to the notice of the Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). I have requested the Chairperson to come down to Hubballi and Bengaluru to receive the petitions from farmers. He is likely to visit on November 6 and 7 to the state," he added.

He alleged that as per the instructions of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan is conducting the Waqf Adalats.

"Under which law the provision for conducting the Waqf Adalat is made? What is the legal standing for the Waqf Adalat? Which provision of the Constitution allows the Waqf Adalat? The Waqf Adalat is an unconstitutional invention of the Congress party. Until the Congress party stops Waqf Adalats, the BJP will agitate," he said.

He said that many cases of South Indian states have come before the JPC, adding that the Waqf board has claimed the temples which existed before when Islam was born.

"Whenever there is an election, the Congress has been empowering the Waqf board," he claimed.

The central government has formed a JPC to amend the Waqf Act. Egypt and Singapore have banned the Waqf. "We are not demanding a ban on Waqf. We are also not demanding their lands. Our demand is clear. Let the Waqf keep the land which rightfully belongs to it and it should not claim our lands," he claimed.

He said that Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan had compared the Muzarai and Waqf, adding that all Muzarai temples are under the control of the government.

"Why does the Waqf board have no control? Is Minister Zameer ready to bring Waqf under the control of the government? The centre is all set to curtail unlimited power to the Waqf," he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday directed officials to immediately retract all notices sent to farmers over Waqf land issues, emphasising that the latter should not be inconvenienced.

The Chief Minister's directions came after a high-level meeting involving senior officials from the Revenue Department, Minority Welfare Department and the Waqf Board.
Mumbai, Nov 2 : Actress Esha Deol is celebrating her birthday by going back to her roots. The actress took to her Instagram on Saturday, and dropped several pictures from her wholesome birthday celebrations in which she can be seen in traditional wear.

Her mother Hema Malini was also seen in the pictures posing alongside her daughter. The actress wrote in the caption, "Love love & only love #mybirthday #mylove #happybirthday #love #eshadeol #gratitude".

Last month, she had shared a picture with her mother in which the two can be seen twinning in blue. Esha wrote in the caption, "Happy birthday my adorable mamma. Love you".

Earlier in July, Esha had attended the Influencer Meet in Jodhpur where she spoke of the event organised by the Sindhi and Marwadi communities, and shared that the event will encourage a lot of women in the field.

She also reminisced about shooting for her film 'Tell Me O Kkhuda' in Jodhpur back in 2010. She told the media, "I remember spending a great time in Jodhpur back then". The actress shared that whenever she visits Jodhpur, memories wash over her mind from the time she shot for the film.

She further mentioned, "I got to experience the camel race, and learnt a lot. There's a camel here in Jodhpur whose name is Saddam, he is now my camel".

On the personal front, the actress and her husband Bharat Takhtani recently announced their separation after 12 years of marriage. They released a joint statement which read, "We have mutually and amicably decided to part ways. Through this shift in our lives, the best interests and welfare of our two children is and will be of utmost importance to us. We'd appreciate our privacy is respected".
Bhopal, Nov 2 : At least 12 people were injured after two groups pelted stones at each other over a minor dispute in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district on Saturday.

According to information, the incident occurred in Koni village, under Patan police station, around 60 km from district headquarters Jabalpur.

A 'Dial 100' police vehicle was also damaged during the violence.

The condition of two injured persons was said to be critical, and they were referred to Jabalpur Medical College.

The situation came under control after the police used laticharge to disperse the violent crowd and cordoned off the area.

The violence occurred after a youth of a group was allegedly thrashed by another party, due to which people from both sides came face to face.

Heated arguments and abuses between the two groups escalated leading to violence.

Upon receiving information, a team of local area police reached the spot. However, the miscreants damaged the police vehicle.

District police headquarters sent multiple teams to the spot to control the situation.

The police conducted a flag march in the village and people were asked to remain inside their homes until the situation improved, Jabalpur SP Sampat Upadhyay said.

The police said people from two communities residing in Koni village often indulge in violence over minor disputes.

"The situation is under control now, however, multiple police teams have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident. People from both sides have registered complaints against each other, and further investigation was underway," Upadhyay said.

An investigation was underway.
Bhopal, Nov 2 : Two officials associated with a hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Dindori district were suspended after a pregnant woman was forced to clean the blood-stained bed on which her husband succumbed to injuries, an official said on Saturday.

The man had sustained severe wounds during a brutal attack on his family.

The action (suspension of two officials) by Dindori district administration came hours after a video showing the woman cleaning a bed surfaced on social media, creating outrage.

Medical officer Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh, who was also in-charge of the primary health care in Gadasarai (from where the episode of woman cleaning bed was reported), has been transferred.

The deceased was one of the three members of a family who were brutally attacked by a group of around 25 people following a long-standing land dispute in Lalpur Sani village on Thursday evening.

The injured individuals were spotted in a field and were rushed to the hospital from there.

Dharam Singh Marawi (65), and his sons Raghuraj Marawi (40), and Shivraj Marawi (40) were reportedly attacked by their relatives.

The woman identified as Roshni, who was forced to clean the hospital bed, is the widow of Shivraj Marawi, who died shortly after being taken to the Gadasarai primary health care centre for treatment.

As per the information, Roshni, who is five-months pregnant, was made to clean the blood-drenched bed immediately after her husband's death.

The attack occurred around 4.30 p.m. on Thursday when the victims, along with Ramraj Marawi -- the sole surviving family member -- went to confront relatives who were harvesting paddy on their land.

As they approached the field, a group of 20-25 people, armed with sticks, rods, axes, and sickles, attacked them.

Police have arrested the four identified suspects and are actively searching for the remaining three. A case has been registered under relevant sections.

Meanwhile, it was learned that the condition of another individual (Dharam Marawi's 3rd son), who was also attacked, remains critical, and he is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary general of the Thailand Board of Investment, speaks during the launching event of DENZA in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2024. Chinese carmaker BYD officially launched its premium brand DENZA in Thailand on Friday in a move to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country's upscale automotive market. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese carmaker BYD officially launched its premium brand DENZA in Thailand on Friday in a move to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country's upscale automotive market.

Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary general of the Thailand Board of Investment, emphasized in his opening speech the importance of the entry of the DENZA brand into the Thai market, which marks a milestone in the development of Thailand's electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Narit noted that the debut of the DENZA brand not only reflects the confidence of international brands in the Thai market, but will also inject new impetus into Thailand's economic development. Thailand will continue to support the development of the EV industry and provide a good investment environment for enterprises.

Thailand has long been a regional automotive manufacturing and export hub. With the government's investment promotion efforts, the nation aims to convert 30 percent of its annual auto production into EVs by 2030.

Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia Pacific auto sales division, said BYD has currently sold 56,000 EVs in the Thai market, adding that the introduction of the DENZA brand is another important strategic plan for BYD after it opened its Thailand factory this year.

As an automotive industry center in Southeast Asia, Thailand has a mature luxury car market. Liu believed that the DENZA brand which combines luxury and sustainable technology will be recognized by Thai consumers.

As a world-leading automobile manufacturer and a pioneer in China's EV industry, BYD has vigorously expanded overseas markets in recent years.

BYD's EVs are currently sold in 88 countries and regions around the world. In addition to Thailand, BYD also has production bases in Brazil, Hungary, Uzbekistan and other countries. 

Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia Pacific auto sales division, speaks during the launching event of DENZA in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2024. Chinese carmaker BYD officially launched its premium brand DENZA in Thailand on Friday in a move to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country's upscale automotive market. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

A DENZA vehicle is on display in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov 1, 2024. Chinese carmaker BYD officially launched its premium brand DENZA in Thailand on Friday in a move to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country's upscale automotive market. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

A DENZA vehicle is on display in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov 1, 2024. Chinese carmaker BYD officially launched its premium brand DENZA in Thailand on Friday in a move to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country's upscale automotive market. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
Nanning, Nov 2 : Three people were killed when a house collapsed following an explosion in a village in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local authorities said on Saturday.

The collapse occurred at approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday in Nanguan Village, which is located in Binyang County's Silong Township. The local government has dispatched rescue forces to search for those who remain missing.

As of 7.12 p.m., the bodies of three people have been recovered. Rescue work is ongoing, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on August 7, three people were killed and another one injured in the collapse of a two-story residential building in Zhuhai City of south China's Guangdong Province.
Baghdad, Nov 2 : The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Shiite militia group, on Saturday claimed responsibility for four drone attacks on the Israeli city of Eilat.

In a statement, the group reported that its fighters launched separate drone attacks on four "vital sites" in Eilat in southern Israel.

The statement did not provide further details about the targeted sites or report any casualties, Xinhua news agency reported.

The group said that the strikes were carried out "in solidarity with our people in Palestine and Lebanon," pledging to continue targeting "the enemy's strongholds at an escalating pace."

Since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has repeatedly attacked Israeli and US positions in the region to show support for Palestinians in Gaza.

The militia has stepped up its attacks on Israel after the latter intensified strikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon on September 23.
Kolkata, Nov 2 : Kolkata Police said on Saturday that some social media posts sharing news about the vandalism of Kali Puja Pandals are misleading and unsubstantiated and also instructed people to be cautious about sharing fake social media content.

During the last 12 hours, the city police have issued two such alerts. In the first alert, the city police claimed that an attempt was made on social media to create a fake narrative about an incident at Narkeldanga in North Kolkata.

"No Kali Puja immersion procession was attacked. The issue was related to the parking of a bike which led to a fight between two individuals which further escalated. However, the police intervened timely and brought the situation under control. The scheduled Kali Puja immersion procession was completed peacefully and without any hindrance," said the city police.

The second alert was related to fake social media information over tension at a Kali Puja Pandal. The city police claimed that a social media claim has surfaced about an incident in an area under West Port Police station about an alleged tension at a Kali Puja pandal.

Claiming that the said social media post had misinterpreted facts, the city police stated that the narrative of vandalism at Kali temple or Kali Puja Pandal was misleading and unsubstantiated.

Police said that they acted swiftly and dispersed the mob while ensuring complete protection of the Kali puja pandal nearby, and preventing further unrest.

"Spreading false claims only fuels unnecessary tensions and diverts attention from the actual issue where a child was sexually assaulted by an accused who was swiftly arrested as soon as the information was received by West Port PS," police said.

Before the Kali Puja which happened last Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had issued a note of caution to the state and city police to be careful as there might be attempts to disturb the ambience of festivity on the occasion.
Kabul, Nov 2 : At least seven travellers lost their lives, and four others were injured following a deadly road accident in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, provincial police spokesman Ihsanullah Kamgar said on Saturday.

The deadly road accident took place on Friday afternoon when a vehicle turned turtle and plunged into the Amu River in the Khwahan district of this province, leaving the seven dead and four injured, the official added.

The injured, some in critical condition, have been shifted to a nearby hospital, said the spokesman, who partly blamed mechanical failures for the incident.

Earlier on October 31, four travellers lost their lives and five others were injured as a car collided with a head-on passenger bus in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, Xinhua news agency reported.

The deadly road crash took place on the Ghazni-Kabul highway when a car collided with a passenger bus coming from the opposite direction, leaving four commuters, including a woman, dead on the spot and injuring five others, some in critical condition.
Jaipur, Nov 2 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited Poonchri Ka Lautha of Deeg on Saturday and performed Govardhan Puja in Shrinathji Temple.

He also extended wishes to the people on Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhaidooj festivals and wished for the happiness, prosperity and well-being of the state.

The Chief Minister was given a grand welcome and felicitation by the common people at various places on the Saptakosiya Parikrama route by garlanding him.

He also met the pilgrims with affection, took blessings from the elders and wished everyone a happy Govardhan Puja.

The Chief Minister along with his wife Geeta Sharma participated in the religious rituals and performed abhishek.

He was accompanied by Minister of State for Home, Jawahar Singh Bedham, MLA Bahadur Singh Koli, Shailesh Singh along with public representatives, officers and others.

He is an ardent devotee of Govardhan Giriraj Ji Maharaj and after assuming the Chief Minister's post, he along with his family visited the Danghati, Shrinath Ji, and Poonchi Ka Lautha temples in Govardhan and offered prayers.

A few months back, a video went viral on social media, in which the Chief Minister's wife and son were seen performing the strenuous "dandavat parikrama" of Govardhan Giriraj.

Seeing the "parikrama", the devotees and netizens have been appreciating their unwavering devotion to Govardhan Maharaj.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : The Indian startup ecosystem has reached $12.2 billion in funding in the first 10 months this year, crossing the total amount raised throughout 2023 (about $11 billion), with two months to go.

Homegrown startups surpassed $1 billion in funding again across 119 deals in the month of October.

September saw the second-highest funding with $1.63 billion, behind the peak of $1.92 billion registered in June. In October, the growth and late-stage funding segment comprised 28 deals, contributing $846.2 million to the total funding amount, according to data by TheKredible.

Early-stage startups secured $355.38 million across 65 deals. Edtech startup Eruditus raised $150 million led by TPGas The Rise Fund, the multi-sector strategy of TPGas global impact investing platform, with participation from existing investors Softbank Vision Fund 2, Leeds Illuminate, Accel, CPP Investments, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Jaipur-based Finova Capital raised $135 million in a Series E round from Avataar Venture Partners, Sofina and Madison India Capital, with existing investor Norwest Venture Partners also participating in the round. Finova said it will use the funds to grow its loan book, invest in technology, expand geographically and further its vision of enabling financial inclusion at scale.

Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek invested an additional $60 million in higher education and upskilling startup Upgrad at a valuation of $2.25 billion.

Bengaluru-based startups led with 46 deals totalling $502.72 million, representing 41.84 per cent of the total funding in October.

Last month, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the setting up of a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital (VC) fund dedicated to the growing space sector. The deployment period of the proposed VC fund, under the aegis of IN-SPACe, is planned to be up to five years from the actual date of the start of the fund operations. The average deployment amount could be Rs 150-250 crore per year, depending on the investment opportunities and fund requirements.
Kanpur, Nov 2 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that India's Aatmanirbhar drive was "yielding the desired results" and the country was poised to reach Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029-30.

Addressing the 65th Foundation Day celebrations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, the Defence Minister called upon Indian youth to indigenously develop high-end technologies, which the country imports, to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'.

He stressed on the need to get a hold on high-end technology, urging the young ignited minds to realise their potential and contribute to the country's progress. He termed institutions like IIT Kanpur as academic engines, which can provide a dynamism to India in the present competitive environment.

Rajnath Singh said that the government's efforts to achieve self-reliance are turning out to be highly successful as defence exports, which were around just Rs 600 crore 10 years ago, crossed a record number of Rs 21,000 crore in Financial Year 2023-24. He exuded confidence that the progress will continue and defence exports will reach Rs 50,000 crore by 2029-30.

Highlighting the increasing role of technology in the defence ecosystem across the globe amidst ongoing conflicts, the Defence Minister said that the use of drones, laser warfare, cyber warfare, precision guided missiles and hypersonic missiles has transformed warfare into a technology-oriented one.

"The biggest hurdle in achieving 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence is that we are compelled to import some high-end technologies necessary for our items. There is a need to focus on the defence application of modern cutting-edge technologies in view of the changing nature of warfare," he added.

Rajnath Singh assured the government's full support in this endeavour and reiterated the commitment to take all stakeholders, including the private sector and academia, together to make India self-reliant in defence.

"India has dreamed of becoming a developed nation by 2047 on the strength of our youth. We must put in all our power to realise that dream. There is a proverb, 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together'. We need to walk together to achieve our target," he said.

Enumerating the steps taken by the government to promote self-reliance and innovation in defence, Rajnath Singh spoke about the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative which provides a grant of Rs 1.5 crore to innovators and start-ups.

He added that Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme was launched to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies, wherein start-ups are eligible to receive grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for their research, development, and innovation endeavours in defence technology.

The Defence Minister pointed out that manufacturing of a technology involves three major steps - ideation, application & production - and institutions like IIT Kanpur can play a big role from incubating ideas to creation of products. He underscored the importance of coming out with products and technologies, which become a necessity for the Armed Forces once they are developed.

As part of the celebrations, IIT Kanpur hosted a special event on defence innovation, aligning with the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.

Rajnath Singh visited a Defence Research, Product, and Incubation Showcase organised by the Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, which highlighted pioneering solutions from 23 SIIC-incubated start-ups, presenting advancements in defence technology such as autonomous systems, AI-driven surveillance, and next-generation communication tools.

The Defence Minister engaged with Start-up founders and research teams at the exhibition stalls, commending their contributions to enhance national security.

Several MoUs were also signed to strengthen partnerships, including IIT Kanpur's collaborations with BEML and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to drive advancements in military logistics & defence innovation, and a partnership with Kanpur University to strengthen incubation efforts. Secretary of DDR&D and DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat presented sanction letters for six transformative DRDO projects, while SIDBI's Matching Offer for iDEX-funded start-ups further boosted essential funding support.

The event also included key discussions on the country's latest defence initiatives, such as iDEX's Defence India Start-up Challenge 12 and ADITI 2.0 Challenges, which provided attendees with valuable insights into the defence innovation landscape.

A commemorative tree plantation, led by Rajnath Singh, symbolised IIT Kanpur's enduring legacy in technological and defence advancement and commitment to sustainability.

Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, Director of IIT Kanpur Prof Manindra Agrawal, Professor-in-Charge of SIIC Prof Deepu Philip, students and distinguished alumni of the institute attended the event.
Bengaluru, Nov 2 : All India Muslim Personal Board (AIMPB) said on Saturday that if the Muslims do not want amendments in the bill then it should be set aside, asserting that the new amendment will weaken the bill.

"Only in just 13 days, over 3. 66 crore Muslims have expressed their opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill via email. And when the Muslims do not want this bill then the government must set it aside," said AIMPB General Secretary Maulana Mohammed Fazalur Rahim Mujaddidi while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru.

He added that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) had sought public opinion on the issue.

"Previously, all amendments brought for the Waqf Board have been aimed at strengthening it. We know that the current bill would instead weaken the Waqf Board," Mujaddidi pointed out.

He said that is why the AIMPB is not accepting these amendments, adding that they will also decide how to approach the matter legally.

"We urge that attention be given to this issue and that consideration be given to what the Muslims want," he said.

He added that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's 29th conference will be held in Bengaluru on November 23-24, where various issues will be discussed.

"One of the main topics of discussion will be the Waqf Board Amendment Bill," he added.

On Saturday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials to immediately retract all notices sent to farmers over Waqf land issues, emphasising that the latter should not be inconvenienced.

The Chief Minister's directions came after a high-level meeting involving senior officials from the Revenue Department, Minority Welfare Department and the Waqf Board.

He also said any unauthorised modifications to the land records (pahani) without prior notice or legal procedure should be immediately nullified.

The Karnataka BJP has announced a state-wide protest on November 4, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi calling for the immediate removal of Minister Zameer and a halt to the Waqf Adalats.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Ahead of Assembly elections in Delhi, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Saturday mocked as a "hollow promise", the fresh assurance given by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, to waive inflated power and water bills if the latter's party wins the 2025 polls.

New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) Ahead of Assembly elections in Delhi, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Saturday mocked as a "hollow promise", the fresh assurance given by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, to waive inflated power and water bills if the latter's party wins the 2025 polls.

"Kejriwal should first say who is answerable for the inflated bills that Delhiites are getting despite his guarantee during last elections that water bills will be waived and electricity bills will be halved," Tiwari told IANS.

Expressing confidence in the BJP coming to power in Delhi, the BJP MP from the North East constituency said there is no chance of formation of an AAP government in 2025.

"The waiver of bills will be the responsibility of the new government. Why has Kejriwal started worrying about bills related to the tenure of the next government?" asked Tiwari.

Hitting out at the AAP convener for making fake promises, Tiwari said Kejriwal is once again trying to fool people with his tall claims but voters have seen through them. "Delhiites are going to teach AAP a lesson for not fulfilling its promises," he said.

The BJP MP also hit out at the poor condition of roads in the city. "People are dying in road accidents caused by potholes. The city is earning a bad name because of its ill-maintained roads," he said.

I sincerely wish that no state gets a chief minister like Kejriwal who has ruined Delhi and inflicted pain on its residents, he said.

Asked about National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah's conspiracy theory behind the latest terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Tiwari said Abdullah's party is in power and if he suspects that the terror attacks are an attempt to destabilise the state government then their government should conduct an inquiry.

Replying to a question on All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi objecting to demands to appoint non-Muslims on Waqf Boards, Tiwari said he does not deserve to continue as a member of the JPC on the Waqf Bill.

"He should present his views on the matter in the JPC. By talking on the issue outside the JPC he has violated rules, thus, he should be removed from the Committee," Tiwari said.

Earlier, Owaisi also voiced concern over the 'only Hindu-staff policy' at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : In a perfect example of growing rural consumption, Amazon India on Saturday said it witnessed highest-ever 140 crore customer visits during its month-long festive sales, with more than 85 per cent of them coming from non-metro cities.

Almost 70 per cent of participating sellers hailed from tier 2 and beyond cities, and the e-commerce giant also witnessed highest-ever number of sellers (from tier 2 and 3 cities) receiving a sale compared to the festive season last year.

The online marketplace said it delivered over three crore products to Prime members across the country during the ;Amazon's Great Indian Festival 2024' within the same or next-day - a 26 per cent increase from previous year.

"We are committed to creating more opportunities that unlock greater value for our entire ecosystem of customers, sellers, and partners," said Saurabh Srivastava, Vice PresidentCategories, Amazon India.

The festive sales saw over 70 per cent increase in sellers surpassing Rs 1 crore in sales compared to last year. Small and medium businesses, including women entrepreneurs, weavers, and artisans sold over 1,000 units every minute during the event, according to the company.

"Over 4,500 sellers experienced a 10x spike, over 7,000 sellers saw a 5x spike, and over 13,000 enjoyed a 2x spike in sales as compared to last year's event," said Amazon India.

EMIs fuelled big-ticket purchases. One in four electronics sales, from mobiles to large appliances, leveraged EMI options. A staggering four out of five of these were No Cost EMIs, registering 45 per cent YoY growth. Overall EMI adoption surged 25 per cent compared to 2023, said the e-commerce giant.

The premium smartphone segment (Rs 30,000 and above) saw the highest YoY growth (among all price segments, in volume) driven by wide range of selection, great deals and payment options. Tier 2 and beyond cities contributed to more than 70 per cent of the premium smartphone sales.

More than 50 per cent of TV purchases came from tier 2 and 3 cities and demand for large appliances from tier 2 cities grew by 25 per cent with customers preferring air conditioners and refrigerators.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Two Israeli soldiers were killed on Saturday in the city of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that the two soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade were killed by an explosive device during an operation inside a building. Another Givati soldier was seriously injured in the blast, according to the IDF.

On Friday, a Givati officer died from wounds sustained in mid-September, after being seriously injured by an explosion in a building in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Four other Israeli soldiers were also killed in that incident.

The IDF reported that 780 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah began in October last year. 
Washington, Nov 2 : Both US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump campaigned in Wisconsin, which is a 'Blue Wall' state, that the former needs to hold to win the race while the latter is trying to breach to secure his own victory.

Washington, Nov 2 (IANS) Both US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump campaigned in Wisconsin, which is a aBlue Walla state, that the former needs to hold to win the race while the latter is trying to breach to secure his own victory.

The aBlue Walla is a phrase used for 18 states and the District of Columbia that were securely Democratic in presidential elections until 2016 when former Trump breached it by winning three of them - Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

President Joe Biden flipped them back in 2020 to secure the aBlue Walla and win the presidency. Nowadays, the phrase aBlue Walla refers mostly to Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

The 15 other states comprising the aBlue Walla are California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Washington state, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware and Vermont.

All 18 of them along with DC, account for 238 of the 538 electoral college votes. Harris would need to hold the aBlue Walla and get 32 more electoral college votes to win a" the winner needs 270 or more to win the race.

The two nominees held rallies in Milwaukee in Wisconsin and at about the same time in different parts of the city. Trump returned for his rally to the venue of the Republican National Convention earlier in the year. Wisconsin has 10 electoral college votes and Harris and Trump are currently at 48.2 per cent and 47.4 per cent respectively in the weighted average of polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight.

The battle for Michiganas 16 electoral college votes is equally close with Harris at 48 per cent and Trump at 47 per cent in the FiveThirtyEight weighted average.

Trump was in Michigan also on Friday and met Arab American voters in a bid to secure their support, tapping into their anger with the Biden administration for its support for the Israeli invasion of Gaza.

Arab Americans have been a key part of the Democratic coalition, but not this election. Harris and her surrogates have reached out to them to bring them back in the fold. Harris herself will be campaigning in Michigan on Sunday.

Pennsylvaniaas 19 electoral college voters are locked in a tie with Harris at 48 per cent and Trump at 47 per cent in the FiveThirtyEight weighted average.

Harris is trying to win all three states and is also eyeing the four Sun Belt states North Carolina (16 electoral college votes), Georgia (16), Nevada (5) and Arizona (11), that were once solidly Republican.

Biden won Georgia, Arizona and Nevada in 2020. The Harris campaign is hoping to repeat that performance and add North Carolina to the tally.

The Vice President and the former president are tied at 47.3 per cent and 47.7 per cent in the FiveThirtyEight average in Nevada, but Harris trails Trump 47.1 per cent to 48.4 per cent in North Carolina; 47.1 per cent to 49.5 per cent in Georgia; and 46.7 per cent to 48.8 per cent in Arizona.
Chennai, Nov 2 : Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder and Member of Parliament Thol Thirumavalavan has called for November 1 to be celebrated as 'Tamil Sovereignty Day'.

The senior Dalit leader explained that on November 1, 1956, states in India were reorganised based on language, adding that like neighbouring states celebrating their formation days on this basis, Tamil Nadu should also commemorate the day in recognition of its own distinct linguistic and cultural identity.

"Tamil Nadu is not a newly formed state in terms of land area. During the linguistic reorganisation, we lost significant land to the neighbouring states. Although this loss is not a cause for celebration, we can take pride in the fact that the official demarcation of our state was established on this day," he said.

He further explained that the VCK has designated November 1 as 'Tamil Sovereignty Day' to assert the rights that have been "eroded" by the Central government.

Thirumavalavan emphasised that India is a federation of states, each with its own powers, as envisioned by leaders such as B.R. Ambedkar, who had drafted the Constitution.

However, he accused the current BJP-led Central government of infringing on these powers, claiming they aim to dismantle state-level political parties and bring all states under centralised control

"It is essential for us to reclaim our rights and raise awareness about Tamil sovereignty. The VCK pledges to protect Tamil sovereignty and restore the rights of the state," Thirumavalavan stated.

He added that during the 2006 golden jubilee celebrations of state formation, he had suggested to former Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi that Tamil Nadu should have a state day like its neighbours.

Karunanidhi responded that it was difficult to celebrate a day marked by the state's territorial losses.

The VCK, a prominent Dalit political party, is currently a coalition partner of the DMK-led INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu.

Thirumavalavan's call for a 'Tamil Sovereignty Day' reflects his commitment to raising awareness around state rights and autonomy, sparking conversations about the balance of power within the federalism.
Patna, Nov 2 : With Chhath Puja approaching, people from across the country and abroad are making a beeline for Bihar and Jharkhand via trains, buses and other modes of transport. Much like every year, the public carrier remains overcrowded with passengers during this time of year, however, with the Indian Railways ramping up its services, the situation is much better this time.

Notably, Indian Railways has started several special trains to handle the surge in passengers during the festive season, particularly towards Bihar.

A lot of passengers disembarking at various stations in Bihar shared their journey experience with IANS and praised the railway administration for making the train travel more comfortable and pleasant than before.

From Samastipur to Bhagapul to Danapur and more, the passengers hailed the improved amenities and facilities during train travel and described it as a welcome change from the past.

Shivam Kumar, who reached Samastipur from Delhi, said that there is no overcrowding in the train, and the bogie is clean. Bathrooms are also clean and water is normally available.

Kiran Devi, returning from Delhi, lauded Railways' efforts in de-crowing the trains and said that due to high frequency of special trains, people are getting better facilities. She added that police also maintained vigil during the train trip.

Passenger Phuleshwar Das said that waiting time has reduced due to operation of special trains.

"There is less crowd in train bogies and problems of passengers have reduced. Toilets and bathrooms are cleaner and water is available regularly," he said.

Eastern Railway CPRO Kaushik Mitra, in a special conversation with IANS, said that many 'Chhath' special trains are running daily in this zone.

"On November 3, one special train each will run between Bhagalpur to Udhna (in Surat city of Gujarat) and Bhagalpur to Anand Vihar (Delhi). Apart from this, a train between Bhagalpur and Anand Vihar will leave on Saturday," he said.

Another railway official said that this time, the number of trains has increased compared to last year. This time 7,200 special train trips are being run, whereas last time 4,500 special train trips were operated. This time, compared to last time, Railways has increased the number of special trains by more than 60 per cent.

In Bhagalpur, the railway passengers told IANS that the arrangements regarding the train, seating of passengers and cleanliness inside the station premises are quite satisfactory.

A female passenger who reached her Bhagalpur home for Chhath Puja from Malaysia said that she is quite satisfied with the arrangements of the Railways, this time.

RPF Commandant Asim Kumar Kullu said that dozens of special trains are in operation for the Chhath festival and safety of railway passengers is their first priority.

The passengers disembarking at Danapur railway station also looked happy. A couple of them deboarding special trains said that their train journey was better this time because of improved passenger amenities.

Leela Kumari, who came from Bengaluru at Danapur station via special train, said that she had to go to Bihar Sharif.

"There was proper arrangement for cleanliness, there was proper arrangement for water. The train is running on time. We are happy," she said.

Chandni Kumari said that the train was running on time and there was proper arrangement for food and drink.

Sahil, who arrived at Danapur from Ahmedabad, said that there was proper arrangement for cleanliness.

"The train reached Danapur station 5 minutes before time. We are happy," he said.
Bhopal, Nov 2 : A group of wild elephants went on a rampage, killing two persons and injuring another near the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Madhya Pradesh, officials said on Saturday.

The incident occurred days after BTR in Madhya Pradesh's Umaria district witnessed the death of 10 elephants.

The elephants that attacked the people are believed to be part of the same herd of which 10 jumbos died, the official added.

The first attack was reported in Devra village, around 10 km away from BTR, where Ramratan Yadav (50) was trampled to death early on Saturday.

The second incident happened at Brahe village in the buffer zone of BTR where 35-year-old Bhairav Kol was killed in an attack by elephants.

The injured person has been identified as Malu Sahu (32), a resident of Banka village, located just outside the BTR.

According to official sources, three surviving elephants from the herd were wandering in a radius of 15 km from the site where the 10 elephant deaths took place.

Following the death of 10 wild elephants in BTR, the forest department destroyed the standing Kodo millet crop in the surrounding area. Forest staff of BTR took this step after autopsy reports hinted the possible role of mycotoxins in that crop.

Investigating teams of forest staff had collected samples from the nearby agricultural lands, paddy fields, water bodies and from fields where the elephants consumed kodo millets, the Forest Department said on Thursday.

Four elephants died on Tuesday while another four on Wednesday, and two were reported dead early on Thursday.

Three other elephants were stated to be in normal condition, and their movements are being continuously monitored by multiple teams of veterinarians.

On Friday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav asked minister of state for forests Dileep Ahirwar, additional chief secretary (forest) Ashok Barnwal and the state's head of forest force (HOFF) Aseem Shrivastava to visit Umaria district and submit a report on the death of elephants.
Patna, Nov 2 : Purnea Police in Bihar arrested Mahesh Pandey, a man accused of threatening independent Lok Sabha MP Pappu Yadav posing as a member of the gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on Saturday.

Kartikeya Sharma, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Purnea, confirmed the arrest, clarifying that the accused has no connections with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang but had previous associations with some of Yadav's aides.

"Mahesh Pandey, a resident of Delhi, was apprehended in East Delhi, and police seized two mobile phones and SIM cards from him. One of the SIM cards had a Dubai number, which was used to make the threatening WhatsApp call to Yadav," Sharma said.

He said that the investigation is ongoing to uncover further details, and the authorities are examining the motives and any potential accomplices associated with the incident.

"Following a formal complaint from Pappu Yadav, we had put the Dubai-based number used to put the threat under surveillance, eventually tracing its location to Delhi. Yadav had identified the number," Sharma said.

He added that after investigation, it was revealed that Pandey had access to the Dubai number through a relative (his sister-in-law) in Dubai, which he likely obtained during a visit there.

"When Yadav did not answer the initial calls, Pandey reportedly sent a message with an image of Lawrence Bishnoi to intimidate him," Sharma said.

During questioning, Pandey disclosed that he previously worked at AIIMS in Delhi and in an army canteen, though he has no known connections to the Bishnoi gang and only used the gang's name to issue the threat.

Sharma also confirmed that Pandey had past associations with some of Yadav's close associates, which may have factored into the motive behind the threat.

Additionally, SP Kartikeya Sharma mentioned that Yadav had received threatening calls from other numbers as well, and these numbers are currently under investigation.

"The police are working to determine if there are any further connections or motives related to these threats," he said.

After the killing of NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai, Pappu Yadav uploaded a post on social media, saying that if the laws allow him, he would finish the network of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in 24 hours.

Following his post, he received multiple threatening calls and messages while the office of Pappu Yadav shared evidence supporting the threats he received, including seven voice-recorded calls, four screenshots of WhatsApp call logs with pictures of Lawrence Bishnoi, and a press statement by Mayank Singh who is also said to be a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The caller also said that Lawrence Bishnoi called Pappu Yadav after getting the jammer of Sabarmati Jail Ahmedabad switched off for 10 minutes but he did not pick up the phone.

However, after the threatening calls, Pappu Yadav said that whether they intend to kill actor Salman Khan or anyone else, is not his concern and is ultimately the responsibility of the government to address the issue.

In a Facebook live session on Friday, Yadav expressed his frustrations, underscoring that the issue was not about Hindu-Muslim conflicts and reiterating that he has no involvement with anyone's personal matters, including any potential threats to Salman Khan.
Vancouver, Nov 2 : A 60-metre buffer zone has been created around one of Vancouver's largest gurdwaras following an order passed by the British Columbia Supreme Court as Sikh extremist groups plan to create ruckus during a consular camp, later on Saturday.

Local media reported that the authorities at the Ross Street gurdwara had sought a preemptive injunction ahead of two consular camps planned for November 2 and 16, amid growing tensions between Canada and India that New Delhi has attributed to "vindictive campaign" unleashed by the government led by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, last year.

The Khalsa Diwan Society, which runs the gurdwara, said in court documents that it expects "intense protests" at the both consular camps which, the documents submitted in the court mentioned, are organised every year and help "seniors of Indian descent to complete administrative tasks with the Government of India, primarily in relation to their pensions, without the need for attending in person at the Indian consulate."

Designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun founded pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) had issued a statement Friday saying it would "counter" the camps in Vancouver and Surrey.

"The current climate is one of tension between pro-Khalistan supporters and the Indian government, and they are opposed to all manifestations of the Indian government, including in Canada. We think that's inappropriate and people need consular services and we're trying to assist people in accessing consular services a" full stop," Canada's CBC News quoted Scott Turner, the lawyer for the Ross Street Gurdwara leadership, as saying.

Earlier in the day, India said that some of its consular officials in Canada were recently informed by the Turdeau government of being under audio and video surveillance.

"Some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in New Delhi.

He also trashed allegations made by the Canadian government that linked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the targetting of pro-Khalistan activists in Canada.

"We had summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday. A diplomatic note was handed over in reference to the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on October 29th, 2024. It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison," said Jaiswal during the weekly media briefing.

"In fact, the revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view the Government of India has long held about the current Canadian government's political agenda and behavioral pattern. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties," he added.

India had announced the withdrawal of its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats from Canada on October 14, after the Trudeau government - in what was termed as "preposterous imputations" by New Delhi - suggested that the Indian diplomats are 'persons of interest' in a matter related to an investigation in the country.

India repeatedly underlined that, in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, it had no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment to ensure their security.
New Delhi, Nov 2 : From Maps to Search, Google has recently announced seven new artificial intelligence (AI) updates that offer more ways people can ask questions, search for information and get an AI overview across products.

Now, you'll be able to ask Maps more complex queries, like "things to do with friends" to get answers curated with Gemini, quick answers to questions about a place  in addition to helpful review summaries when you don't have time to read through each one, according to the tech giant.

"The latest AI update in Maps means that whether you're traveling across town or around the world, you can get the most up-to-date information possible, when you need it. Make sure to also check out the new updates we're making to Waze, Google Earth and our developer products," said the company.

Now, the users can also upload PDFs, Google Docs, websites, YouTube videos and more to NotebookLM to glean new insights and get deeper dives on new topics.

Google Shopping has rolled out new AI to help you pick the right product for you.

The new Google Shopping  which is available in the US to begin with  uses AI to help take the guesswork out of finding the right products.

"For example, when researching a product, an AI-generated brief will give you more details about the most important things to know before buying. And, as you browse the results, you will see AI-generated briefs about what to consider before making a purchase, plus the products that may (or may not) be a good fit for your needs," explained Google.

Google Search got a major AI update, expanding the types of questions people can ask.

In October, the company added even more updates, including helping people to identify songs in Circle to Search, shop for what they see and search with video.

All Chromebooks will now come with the Gemini app, and Chromebook Plus laptops include new Google AI productivity tools like Live Translate, Help me write, the Recorder app and Welcome Recap, which helps people pick right back up where they left off when logging into a Chromebook.
Chandigarh, Nov 2 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday appealed to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to stop former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from taking meetings of government officials along with state Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in violation of constitutional norms

In a statement here, senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia claimed while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab was earlier run from Delhi via remote control, now Kejriwal had directly taken on the mantle of the de-facto Chief Minister and was summoning Chief Minister Mann and senior civil and police machinery to Delhi at his beck and call.

Urging the Governor to intervene in the matter, he said: "Such acts are also a violation of the official oath of secrecy by the Chief Minister."

Giving details, Majithia said Kejriwal had held three meetings recently with the Punjab Chief Minister, senior officials and AAP legislators at Kapurthala House in Delhi. He said on October 28, Kejriwal summoned the Chief Minister as well as the state DGP, the Police Commissioners of Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana as well as AAP legislators from three cities.

The Akali Dal leader claimed that similarly on October 29, Kejriwal held two meetings at Kapurthala House in Delhi. He said in the first meet in the morning Kejriwal held a meeting with the Chief Minister, the state DGP as well as the Deputy Commissioners and the Senior Superintendents of Police of Kapurthala, Fazilka, and Bathinda and AAP legislators from these constituencies. He said in the second shift on the same day Kejriwal held a meeting with the DC and the SSP of Mohali as well as the Chief Minister and the state DGP.

Majithia, while urging the Governor to take strict action in the matter, also appealed to him to forbid the state government officials from attending any meetings called by Kejriwal in Delhi.

--IANS

vg/vd
New Delhi, Nov 2 : Government-owned National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), India's largest iron ore producer, has registered its best-ever October performance since inception with a record production of 4.07 million tonnes (MT) and sales of 4.03 MT, according to a statement issued by the Steel Ministry on Saturday.

While NDMC's production of iron ore has gone up by 3.8 per cent, its sales have surged by as much as 17.15 per cent compared to the same month last year.

NMDC's cumulative figures for FY25 now work out to 21.55 MT for production and 23.84 MT for sales, underscoring its commitment to meeting the country's growing demand for iron ore.

The growth in production volumes has been achieved through meticulous mine planning while the impressive sales figures are driven by increased demand and consistent offtake by customers, the official statement added.

NMDC's focus on enhancing production capacity, ensuring reliable iron ore supply, and adopting environmentally sustainable practices reinforces its dedication to responsible mining. The corporation remains steadfast in contributing to India's mining sector growth, aligning with its mission to foster a robust future for the industry, according to the statement.

Amitava Mukherjee, CMD (Additional Charge) of the company, said: "These record-breaking figures demonstrate the success of our strategic decisions, technology advancements, and long-term focus. We continuously assess our performance, and with this momentum, we're confident of surpassing our best this fiscal."

He has also commended the NDMC vigilance team which has just concluded its vigilance awareness programme.

"The vigilance organisation is more than a fault-finding body. NMDC has made remarkable strides in capacity building as we aim for our 100 MT goal. This is a quantum leap forward, requiring us to make systematic, informed decisions. Correct digital interventions enhance transparency and efficiency.

"Preventive vigilance leads to refinement and codification of processes which limits reliance on individual discretion in decision-making," he said.

He urged participants to actively engage in preventive vigilance activities, strengthen systems for transparency, and adhere to standardised procurement practices in line with government guidelines.
People stand on the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli attack in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 42 Palestinians were killed and over 150 injured in Israeli air and artillery bombardment on Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources said on Saturday.

The Israeli army has been bombarding inhabited houses in Nuseirat with both aircraft and artillery since Friday morning, said Palestinian security sources.

People collect items from the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli attack in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

The Gaza government media office condemned the strikes, describing them as the "deliberate targeting of civilians, including children and women," and called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt these actions against Gaza's civilians.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday that it conducted operations in Rafah and central Gaza to kill militants, dismantle militant infrastructure, and locate weapons.

Palestinians wait in a queue to buy bread from an operating bakery in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Photo by Marwan Dawood/Xinhua)

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Hamas attack across the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and approximately 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,314, according to a statement from Gaza-based health authorities on Saturday. 
Kolkata, Nov 2 : In a tragic incident, a youth at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Saturday committed suicide after hacking his wife.

The deceased couple has been identified as Kamal Karmakar and Bimala Karmakar. Kamal reportedly committed suicide by consuming position. The bodies of both have been sent for post-mortem purposes.

The cops of the local Mohanpur Police station have started a thorough investigation into the matter.

The relatives of the deceased couple told the investigating officials that Kamal, who was a habitual alcoholic, used to come back home in an inebriated state every night and pick up quarrels with his wife.

He had also been accused of beating his wife frequently. The relatives have also complained that Kamal often used to give life threats to Bimala publicly.

They said that Bimala, being an extremely timid person by nature, used to tolerate torture silently.

The relatives have also claimed that Kamal used to baselessly accuse his wife of having relationships with other persons although there was no truth in his allegation. All attempts by his relative to convince him to get over such baseless doubts failed.

One of the relatives claimed that on Friday night Bimala was sleeping in another room while Kamal came back home in a completely inebriated state.

"First he asked Bimala to come to their room. But we were not aware that Kamal had kept sharp weapons in the room for the purpose of hacking his wife. On Saturday morning the bodies of both were recovered from inside their room," he said.

While Bimala's body was lying in a pool of blood when the door of the room was broken, Kamal was still alive. The neighbours and relatives tried to rush him to a local hospital but he died midway.
Kolkata, Nov 2 : Two episodes pertaining of rapes of minor girls have been reported from two districts of West Bengal on Saturday -- the first at Kumargram in Alipurduar district, and the second at Domkal in Murshidabad district.

The victim in Kumargram is a nine-year-old minor, who was first allegedly abducted by the accused while she was swimming in a river.

Later, she was allegedly raped by the accused, who was known to the victim.

She was spotted at a secluded place, profusely bleeding from her private parts.

Based on the complaint by the victim's parents, the accused person has been arrested by the police on Saturday afternoon.

The minor girl is currently under treatment at Alipurduar District Hospital, and her condition has been reported to be critical. The accused is likely to be presented at a court soon.

In another incident, a middle-aged person has been arrested at Domkol in Murshidabad district -- also on Saturday -- on charges of raping a seven-year-old minor girl.

As per the complaint of the victim's parents, the accused person, who is a relative of the family, lured the victim minor with chocolates to come to her room and there raped her on Thursday night.

According to the complaint lodged by the police, initially the girl was in a state of mental shock and did not confine anything to her parents. However, after being persuaded, finally she confided everything to her mother late Friday night.

The parents lodged a police complaint on Saturday following which the accused was arrested.

The state of West Bengal has been in news for the last three months over repeated reports of rape, rape-murders, with the victims in many cases being minor.

The most talked-about tragedy on this count was the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises in August this year.
Agartala, Nov 2 : Since the unrest in Bangladesh, the infiltration into the northeastern states especially in Tripura and Assam has continued as five more citizens of the neighbouring country including a tout were arrested by the BSF on Saturday, officials said.

A BSF spokesman said that on specific information, border guarding troops of BOP Kamalasagar under Sepahijala District apprehended four Bangladeshi nationals while they were trying to enter Indian territory by negotiating the border fence.

Three of the four detainees are residents of the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh while the Bangladeshi tout, who was also arrested along with the three intruders, is a resident of Kasba, an area just along the India-Bangladesh border opposite to Sepahijala District

The Bangladeshi tout often facilitates illegal infiltrators, the spokesman said.

In another operation, BSF troops of BOP Samrupara under Unakoti District apprehended a Bangladeshi national while he was trying to infiltrate Indian territory.

The apprehended Bangladeshi national is a resident of the Netrakona district of Bangladesh.

The spokesman said that alert troops of BSF in different operations foiled various attempts of trans-border smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border, rescued 12 cattle and seized 900 kg sugar and other contraband worth three 3 lakhs.

On Friday, the BSF apprehended two Rohingyas from a bus stand in the Karbook area in southern Tripura.

According to BSF officials both the apprehended Rohingya illegal migrants are inmates of the Rohingya refugee Camp located in Cox Bazar in southeast Bangladesh.

BSF has enhanced the surveillance along the border to prevent trans-border crime and infiltration, he stated.

Over the last three and a half months, over 445 Bangladeshi nationals and over 60 Rohingyas were arrested by the Government Railway Police, BSF and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India.

In Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that in the last two months, police have detected 138 infiltrators and pushed them to Bangladesh.

"But one thing I must again repeat is that contrary to the expectation that Hindus would come inside India because of the instability in Bangladesh, we are finding that Bangladeshi Muslims and Rohingya Muslims are coming into our country. So, I think first, the perception about Hindu-Bengali is wrong," Sarma told the media.

Both the Bangladeshi nationals and the Rohingyas told the Indian security officials that they illegally entered India in search of jobs and shelter.
Ghaziabad, Nov 3 : A massive fire broke out in a three-storeyed building in the Khora area of Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district, with no casualties reported in the incident, a fire official said.

After receiving information about the incident that occurred at Ahilyabai Chowk, four fire brigade vehicles reached the spot and started dousing the fire, said Rahul Pal, Ghaziabad's Chief Fire Officer (CFO).

It has been reported that the work of making photo frames was being done on the ground floor of the building.

As fire broke out in the building, the fire was so intense that people living in the houses surrounding it were immediately evacuated to control the fire, Pal added

Around 10 fire brigade vehicles reached the spot to control the fire, the CFO said.

In a separate incident, a massive fire broke out at a factory in the Sahibabad area of Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district on Saturday evening.

According to sources, thick clouds of black smoke could be seen billowing from the area. Several fire brigade teams were currently at the scene, working to control the blaze. However, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far.

Upon receiving information about the incident, seven fire engines arrived at the location.

During the operation, firefighters rescued a person who had been trapped on the roof.

Additional fire engines were also called from nearby districts to assist.

According to reports, the Fire department received information about a large fire at a home appliance manufacturing company located in Site 2, Harsh Compound, Sahibabad.

The factory primarily produces coolers, and the flames spread rapidly, affecting an adjacent factory as well.

Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Rahul Paul said that fire engines from Ghaziabad, Noida, and Hapur were deployed to the scene, with about seven to eight vehicles already in operation.

The Fire department is working to contain the blaze from all sides, though firefighters are facing significant challenges in controlling the spread.
Gaza, Nov 3 : Three Palestinian children were wounded when an Israeli drone struck a medical facility during a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza City, Palestinian medical sources said.

The children were taken to al-Ahli Arab Hospital after the strike hit Sheikh Radwan Clinic in the northern part of the city, medical staff told Xinhua news agency on Saturday.

The Israeli army has not commented on the incident yet, Xinhua news agency reported.

The incident occurred as health workers launched an emergency polio vaccination drive for children under 10 in Gaza City.

The campaign has already begun in central and southern Gaza but has been delayed in the north due to ongoing military operations.

Separately, senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq on Saturday dismissed recent proposals for a temporary pause in fighting, calling them "a mere smoke screen" that failed to address key demands, including Israeli military withdrawal and the return of displaced Palestinians.

"We engage positively with any proposals ensuring the cessation of aggression and withdrawal of Israeli forces," al-Rishq said in a statement while accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using ceasefire talks as "cover" for continued military operations.

The comments follow a recent Qatari-American announcement about negotiations in Doha focusing on hostage release and potential ceasefire arrangements.

The second round of the polio vaccination campaign first began in central Gaza on October 14 and then moved to southern Gaza.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on October 27 that deferring the campaign in northern Gaza endangers the lives of thousands of children.

According to the WHO, children in Gaza require two oral doses of the polio vaccine. The initial phase concluded in mid-September, successfully vaccinating more than 560,000 children.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued a devastating offensive on Gaza since an attack last year by the Palestinian resistance group.

More than 43,300 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 102,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
Beirut, Nov 3 : Israeli warplanes struck the Al-Qaa Jousieh border crossing between Lebanon and Syria for the second time in a week, Lebanese military sources said.

Four air-to-ground missiles hit the Syrian side of the crossing in the northeastern Hermel region, creating a crater 10 metres long and 4 metres deep, the sources told Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity. The strike rendered the crossing inoperable after it had been partially reopened following an earlier raid.

Israel has targeted the Masnaa border crossing and five other official crossings, along with numerous unofficial routes along the Lebanon-Syria border, since October 4, according to Lebanese officials.

The strikes come amid intensifying cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah since September 23, which have raised fears of a wider regional conflict as the Israel-Hamas war continues in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.

The death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the beginning of the conflict on October 8, 2023, reached 2,968, while injuries went up to 13,319, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported on Saturday.

The Israeli military has accused the Hezbollah militant group of using the crossings to move weapons and military equipment from Syria to Lebanon. But humanitarian officials say that the closure of the crossings has intensified an already severe humanitarian crisis by blocking key routes for supplies and impeding access for those fleeing to safety.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said this week that around 430,000 people had crossed from Lebanon into Syria over the past month since Israel launched a major aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Lebanon as part of its push against Hezbollah. Lebanese officials give a higher estimate of more than half a million people.

Rula Amin, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, voiced concern over the damage to the crossings, calling them "a main lifeline for people escaping the conflict".
Cairo, Nov 3 : Representatives from Fatah and Hamas have begun talks in Cairo to discuss forming a committee to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip, Egypt's State Information Service said, citing an Egyptian security official.

The committee will be established by presidential decree from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the official said on Saturday, adding that it will include independent figures.

According to the security official, the Egyptian-sponsored meeting aims to achieve Palestinian unity and prevent the separation of the West Bank from the Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported.

He added that Hamas insists on addressing all issues related to the conflict comprehensively, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the prisoner exchange, and the entry of humanitarian aid.

Hamas fears that if these issues are handled separately, Israel may resume its attacks on Gaza after securing the release of Israeli hostages.

The official affirmed that Egypt is making intensive efforts to resume negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire, which have been suspended since July, adding that Cairo continues to work with Palestinian and Israeli parties to secure a truce and facilitate increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Hamas attack across the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and nearly 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 43,259, according to a statement from Gaza-based health authorities on Friday.
In Connors debut, Unromance (Forever, Jan.), a frequently heartbroken TV star asks a cynical romance writer to cure him of his hopeless romanticism by acting out classic rom-com scenarios.

How did you land on this premise?

I made a list of all my favorite rom-com elementsbecause Im a very type A personalityand thought, could I possibly fit all of these things into one book? To me, the natural answer was to have the characters do them all on purpose. But then the question was, well, who would do that? I knew it had to be someone who had previous knowledge of romance tropes, so an author and an actor made sense. And then Sawyer and Mason just kind of walked into my head and it took off from there.

What is it that drew you to the genre?

Ive always loved rom-coms. Theyre just so fun and such a source of joy. But I also think that romance is such a great vehicle to explore heavier topics with the comfort of knowing that, in the end, its going to be okaywhich I think is what everyone wants to hear: were going to be okay.

How did you balance the heart, the heat, and the humor?

Its such a human experience to want love. I wanted to put these two people on a journey of learning to ask for what they want and chase after it. Sawyer is obviously carrying around a lot of baggage from her previous relationship and has kind of cut herself off from the world because shes trying to protect herself. And then you have Mason, whos so desperately looking for love, which I thought was a fun characteristic to give a male character, as we dont get to see that very often. So thats the heart.

And then, I always wanted to write a funny couple because my husbands and my love language is definitely humor. The humor helps ground some of the ridiculousness of acting out tropes and shows why these two are so suited for each other. That way, when they have that big third-act conflict, youre still rooting for them because youve seen how well they complement each other and you actually believe that theyll make it work after the final page.

Tell me more about Mason.

Hes a hopeless romantic, which is something we dont get to see very often. Usually male characters are tortured or broody or cut off. So I thought it was fun to have the man be the one that wanted love. Hes actively dating and actively looking and even after heartbreak, hes still optimistic

about love.

And then Sawyers the opposite.

I really wanted to write a female character whose entire identity was not about falling in love, because historically weve had a lot of that, where the female characters plot just gets reduced to being married off. At the same time, I wanted to make Mason the perfect person to teach her how to reopen herself back up to the world and love again.
For Adam Haslett, clutter is anathema to creativity. The authors workroom in his house in Upstate New York, where he lives part of the year with his partner, is sparsely decorated. Save for a black-and-white framed photograph of a spiral staircase that a friend shot in Italy, the walls are bare, which is how Haslett prefers it.

I want to be able to look through the walls, into whatever is going on in my mind, as opposed to looking at objects, Haslett says. He meditates most mornings for about 45 minutes before he writes. Concentration is hard, and quieting the voices in my head is important. I want to lower the level of distraction. To let the quieter voices in, ones that might be sources of surprise for me.

Haslett is skilled at examining the interior lives of characters in states of emotional extremis, whether theyre dealing with anxiety, depression, loneliness, or mental illness, or facing homophobia or violence. His three previous booksthe 2002 story collection You Are Not a Stranger Here, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award; the novel Union Atlantic, winner of the Lambda Literary Award; and the novel Imagine Me Gone, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Awardhave been translated into 23 languages. Hes also the recipient of the Strauss Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a Guggenheim Fellowship, among other honors.

His new novel, Mothers and Sons, out in January from Little, Brown, examines love and longing, the price of keeping secrets, the impact of homophobia and violence on mental health, and the plight of asylum seekers struggling to stay in the U.S.

The plot centers on Peter, a gay 40-year-old asylum lawyer in New York City whos overworked, unfulfilled, and estranged from his mother, who left Peters father and now runs a womens retreat in Vermont. Peter spends his days working to exhaustion, and his humdrum love life consists of hookups with a man who wants more than Peter can emotionally offer. But Peters life changes when he meets Vasel, a young gay man from Albania who was forced to flee his country after his sexual orientation was exposed. As Peter works to help Vasel, he begins to recall a traumatic event from his own youth involving his first love.

Haslett had wanted to write a novel about a lawyer for a long time. He has a law degree from Yale Law Schoolhe graduated in 2003but has never practiced law, though over the years hes done volunteer legal aid work at immigration detention facilities. Going to court became part of his research for Mothers and Sons.

I went to Federal Plaza in Manhattan and sat in on immigration hearings, he says. Theyre open to the public, but no one tends to go. The courtroom is empty. Its just the judge, lawyers, and respondent. The lawyer for the asylum seeker leads the person through his or her story, then the ICE lawyer tries to pick that story apart and sow doubt as to the persons honesty. Most of the time, the judge decides right there and then, from the bench. The hearings can last a couple of hours or more, the decision only a few minutes.

Born in 1970, on Christmas Eve, in Rye, N.Y., Haslett was the youngest of three kids. He grew up primarily in Massachusetts, with a few years spent in England, the birthplace of his father, who suffered from manic depression and died by suicide when Haslett was 14.

Haslett has written about mental illness and severe anxietyfrom which his brother, who died by suicide at 42, sufferedin You Are Not a Stranger Here and Imagine Me Gone. When my fathers energy was up, it was a solar level of energy, he says. Things with my father took a turn when I was 12there was a lot of stress and heaviness, and the death was out of the blue. I wasnt a formed person; I formed around the event. One of the responses I had was to become elegiac.

In 1993, Haslett graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in English, then earned an MFA from Iowa Writers Workshop in 1999. By the time hed graduated from Yale, he had already published You Are Not a Stranger Here, to critical acclaim, and the law careerwhich once seemed like a more stable option than writingtook a backseat.

With Mothers and Sons, Haslett also wanted to explore the life of a single gay man. Someone who came of age when AIDS was raging, he says, when sex was already laced with danger, and is now trying to navigate hookup culture. I wanted to get at the pain and alienation, the way it can cause division between sex and intimacy, and at the shame of loneliness.

Whether writing courtroom scenes or exposing characters emotional wounds, constructing elegant, carefully paced sentences is top of mind for Haslett. With Mothers and Sons, my goal was to create a novel that had the lyric arc of the short story, he says. A lot of the effort for me was trying to think, where is the reader at this beat and that beat? Im always attuned to the rhythm of sentences. Its what I find most pleasurable.

His ability to capture what it means to be human, in all its beauty, mundaneness, and ugliness, is what makes Haslett a standout, according to his editor, Ben George. Adam is unsurpassed at making you feel, on finishing a novel, that its events and characters are part of your own experience, George says. Not fictional but real.

Sally Kim, president and publisher of Little, Brown, who has been a fan of Hasletts fiction from the start, agrees. Adam writes tender books that are also harrowing, she says, and has the ability to forge new ground with each one.

Haslett says he aims to write for those who might not see themselves in other work, and describes himself as a method writer, one whos trying to mirror his characters psychic states.

He hopes his books can act as a kind of quiet, uncluttered room for readers. Given how aggressively distracted the culture is, how forcefully our minds are dragged away from us, Im trying to create a space where people can become absorbed and slow down, he says. I want to give people the opportunity to enter into others livesand further into their own lives, too.

Elaine Szewczyks writing has appeared in McSweeneys and other publications. Shes the author of the novel Im with Stupid.
ran's Supreme National Security Council has decided to respond militarily to Israel for the attacks against the country on October 26, Azernews reports.

This was stated by Esmail Kosari, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee.

Some state officials and others may say that we will not respond to Israel, but these individuals do not make decisions within or outside the government. The decision for a military response to the Zionist regime (Israel) has already been made by the Supreme National Security Council, he said.

He also noted that Iran's military response to Israel's strike will be significantly stronger than previous ones and will involve the forces of the "Resistance Axis."

The parliamentarian emphasized that the Islamic Republic's new operation will serve as a lesson for the other side, ensuring they do not make the mistake of striking Iran again. The manner of the response will depend on the plan, while the timing and objectives are at the discretion of the planners, Kosari added.

It is worth mentioning that the "Resistance Axis" includes Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Palestinian Hamas movement and its allies in the Gaza Strip, the Iraqi Islamic Resistance, and Yemen's Ansar Allah movement comprised of Houthi rebels.
BEIRUT, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli naval commandos seized a Lebanese man in a pre-dawn raid on Friday, penetrating deep into Lebanese territory in an unusual operation that has drawn protest from Beirut, Lebanese and Israeli officials said on Saturday.

The operation, which took place in the coastal city of Batroun some 140 km north of Israel's maritime border with Lebanon, targeted Imad Amhaz, identified by Israel as a "significant figure" in Hezbollah's naval force.

The Israeli military later confirmed its elite Shayetet 13 unit carried out the operation.

According to Lebanon's state news agency NNA, about 20 Israeli commandos conducted a sea landing near a beach chalet where Amhaz was staying before departing on speedboats with the captive.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has filed an urgent complaint to the UN Security Council over the incident, his office said on Saturday. Mikati also consulted with military commanders and the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL, which said it was not involved in the Israeli operations and was investigating the matter.

Hezbollah has not commented on the incident. 
Broadleaf Signs Book on American Fascism Journalist, lawyer, and author Omer Aziz (Brown Boy) has sold North American rights to Shadows of the Republic: The Rebirth of Fascism in Americaand How to Defeat It to Valerie Weaver-Zercher at Broadleaf Books. Aziz was represented by Bonnie Nadell of Hill Nadell Literary Agency. Broadleaf said Shadows explores why fascism is appealing to younger and more diverse generations of Americans, delving into its precursors in American history, its modern incarnations, and how this American-made version of fascism will be a definitive idea and movement for the 21st century unless citizens find a way to counteract its appeal to youth. Publication is planned for spring 2026.

Ace Takes Publishers Romantasy Debut

After an auction, Ace executive editor Anne Sowards has taken North American rights to Amy Coombes debut fantasy, Stay for a Spell, as well as two other as-yet-untitled books. Coombe is the pseudonym of Anne Perry, the publishing director of Arcadia Books, the SFF imprint of Quercus U.K. Ace said Stay for a Spell is a cozy romantic fantasy for fans of Travis Baldrees Legends and Lattes and Emily Wildes Encyclopaedia of Faeries that follows an overworked princess who is cursed to remain in a bookstoreuntil she finds her hearts desire. Maddy Belton at Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency brokered the deal. Ace will publish Stay for a Spell in spring 2026.

Atria Lands YouTubers Motorcycle Memoir

In an exclusive submission, Yaniv Soha at Atria has acquired North American rights to Free Ride: Heartbreak, Courage, and the 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey That Changed My Life by Noraly Schoenmaker, a YouTuber with more than two million followers. Hannah Frankel at Atria will coedit. The deal was handled by Abigail Koons and Ben Kaslow-Zieve at Park & Fine Literary and Media on behalf of Luitingh-Sijthoff in the Netherlands. Atria said the book is an inspiring memoir of a woman in her 30s who, in a moment of personal crisis, embarked on an epic, transcontinental motorcycle ride. Free Ride will publish in June 2025.

Influencers Parenting Guide Goes to Harvest

In a preempt, child development specialist and social media influencer Siggie Cohen has sold world English rights to You Are the Parent to Sarah Pelz at Harvest. Kathy Schneider at the Jane Rotrosen Agency brokered the deal. Harvest said the book draws on Cohens 35 years of experience working with children and families, sharing the commonsense advice that millions of social fans love. A fall 2026 publication is planned.

Indie Author Sells Three to Bramble

After an auction, Erika Tsang at Bramble U.S. and Gillian Green at Bramble U.K. have jointly acquired three books in the Wizard of Ozinspired Great & Terrible Land series by indie author Nikki St. Crowe (Vicious Lost Boys series). Bramble said the story follows a very different Dorothy Gale, who finds herself dropped in a dark and shadowed land full of forest beasts, witches, a cursed soldier of fortune, and a wizard of immense power. Suzie Townsend and Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the world English rights deal. The first book in the deal will publish in spring 2026.

Vintage Takes LGBTQ Regency Sequel

In an exclusive, Anna Kaufman at Vintage has landed North American rights to TJ Alexanders A Lady for All Seasons, the LGBTQ regency sequel to the authors forthcoming A Gentlemans Gentleman (Vintage, Mar. 2025). The deal was brokered by Larissa Melo Pienkowski at Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Melo Pienkowski said the book is about a noblewoman whose lack of dowry and penchant for gossip leads her to plot a marriage of convenience with a very dear, very queer friend. But when a mysterious poetess hints that she is onto their scheme, cheeky hijinks ensue. The book is set to publish in spring 2026.
Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and the Hachette Book Group have all made news in recent years with companywide reorganizations. Simon & Schuster, purchased by KKR in late 2023, is now in the midst of a global expansion. Meanwhile, Macmillanthe fifth largest of the Big Five publishershas quietly been posting record-breaking sales numbers. And in a conversation with Lakeside Book Company CEO Dave McCree at the Book Manufacturers Institutes annual meeting on October 28 in Naples, Fla., Macmillan CEO Jon Yaged said the publisher is enjoying another strong year.

Sales in 2024 to date are up more than 18% over the same period in 2023, Yaged told PW in a follow-up interview. He attributed the growth to strong frontlist sales led by fabulous results for Kristin Hannahs The Women, stronger than expected backlist sales, and gains in digital audio and e-books. Another factor: a strong performance from Macmillans distribution group, whose clients include Entangled Publishing, home to Rebecca Yarross blockbuster Empyrean series. (A third volume, Onyx Storm, is set to be published in January 2025.)

At the BMI meeting, Yaged told the assembled book manufacturers that Macmillan has doubled the number of print copies its sold over the past decade, adding that he remains a firm believer in print, and in the importance of books as objectsa belief exemplified by the companys recent launch of Fabelistik, a collectables business. Yaged also said Macmillan has done more printing in the U.S. in recent years and would like to do more, if the price is right.

Yageds remarks on Macmillans performance came after the publisher endured a rough period beginning in late 2020, when longtime CEO John Sargent was let go by the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, Macmillans parent company. Yaged, who took the Macmillan helm in 2022, succeeding Don Weisberg (who went on to cofound upstart hybrid publisher Authors Equity), said the publisher has entered a period of stability. We have been right sized for a while now, and that continues to benefit us as we invest for growth, he noted.

While one motivation in the restructuring by Macmillans larger competitors has been to streamline their operations, Yaged said Macmillans imprints and divisions have long had their own personalities. You know a St. Martins Press book is different from a Farrar, Straus and Giroux book, he explained. Hes also grateful that Holtzbrinck is a private company and thus isnt fixated on meeting quarterly financial targets that public companies must address. We are investing for the long term, he added.

As for the long term, Yaged said Macmillans investments will remain focused on organic growth rather than acquisitions. Just this year, he pointed out, Macmillan has launched the aforementioned Fabelistik; Saturday Books, an imprint focused on the new adult market; and 23rd Street Books, an adult graphic novels imprint. In February, Macmillan took on the Balzer + Bray childrens imprint, which had previously been housed at HarperCollins, with Alessandra Balzer and Donna Bray building a new list of picture books, middle grade, YA fiction, and graphic novels for Macmillan Childrens Books. And these initiatives follow the success of Bramble, a romance imprint launched last fall by Macmillans Tor Publishing Group.

Yaged said he is generally optimistic about the current state of publishing, pointing to the increase in the number of bookstores as one positive sign. He also believes that inventory levels at most accounts are low, which should result in healthy holiday orders.

And while Yaged acknowledged the growing role of quality digital printing, he said he still believes in doing large print runs. With the industry in a period when many accounts are choosing to keep initial orders low, he explained, Macmillan doesnt want to get caught short when a book takes off. Things happen quickly, he said, pointing out that a BookTok influencers endorsement, for example, can quickly set the flywheel spinning.

Yaged is confident Macmillan can keep its own flywheel spinningand perhaps even move up in the Big Five rankings. If our growth initiatives go according to plan, I think fourth is in the cards, he said. Maybe third.
True crime accounts once focused on the crime and the perpetratortypically a manwhile marginalizing the victim, usually a woman. Thats begun to change in recent years, and PW spoke with three authors whose forthcoming books continue to shift the narrative.

Podcaster and true crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson recounts the scandalous murder trial that divided 19th century America and inspired Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter in The Sinners All Bow (Putnam, Jan. 2025). When the body of Sarah Maria Cornell was discovered hanged in rural Rhode Island in 1832, her death was originally thought to be suicide. The autopsy revealed that she was pregnant, and further investigation uncovered her involvement with a Methodist minister. Cornell had sought financial support and accountability, Dawson says; instead, she was found dead in a farmyard.

Dawson used modern investigative tools, such as forensic knot analysis and criminal profiling, and pored over contemporaneous accounts of the trial to get at a truth that still rings familiar today. A woman from 1832, you think you cant relate to her, but shes pregnant, shes the victim of a sexual assault, shes demanding justice, Dawson says. Shes standing up for herself and she ends up dead. How many times have we seen this happen? Youll read it and go, I know this story. 

Hallie Rubenhold, a social historian in the U.K., has dug into obscure corners of well-known stories before. She won the Baillie Gifford Prize for 2019s The Five, which covered the Jack the Ripper murders from an atypical perspective: by reconstructing the lives of the victims. In Story of a Murder (Dutton, Mar. 2025), she reexamines the trans-

atlantic criminal investigation into Dr. Hawley Crippen, who was executed in 1910 for the murder of his wife, Vaudevillian performer Belle Elmore. Rubenhold trains her attention on the three women at the center of the case: Crippens first wife, Charlotte, who died a mysterious death nearly two decades earlier; his mistress, Ethel; and Belle, whose remains were discovered in Crippens basement.

As Rubenhold read through reams of documents and newspaper articles from both sides of the Atlantic, she noticed the original, sensational news stories were often repeated without verification. I challenge you to go online and find a website that doesnt victim-blame Belle Elmore for her murder, or call her a fat, slovenly, slutty woman. She wasnt any of that, Rubenhold says. One of the most important things about the story is the way women were viewed. We have to go back and reassess all of it. These women were never able to tell the story from their perspective.

In The Secret History of the Rape Kit (Vintage, Jan. 2025), which PWs starred review called part historical detective story and part vivid character study of a pioneering feminist, journalist Pagan Kennedy sheds light on Martha Marty Goddard, a crisis hotline volunteer in 1970s Chicago. She counseled girls whod been assaulted and, frustrated by the widespread failure to prosecute their cases, pushed to standardize the way evidence of sexual assault was collected. The rape kit, an hours-long examination administered in a hospital or qualified health facility, was first adopted in Goddards home city and later in New York City and beyond. Its champion, meanwhile, died in obscurity.

Kennedy sees a new genre emerging for survivors of assault. As young women, were told we should walk through a parking garage holding our keys out like weapons, she says. The real message is that public space doesnt belong to us. Everything has been built by and for men. In addition to telling Goddards story, Kennedy examines the complicated history of forensics in the U.S. and the inequities in reporting sexual assault, and asks big questions: How can science make the kit more effective without retraumatizing victims? How much evidence is needed to prosecute a case?

As with Dawson and Rubenhold, Kennedys work is rooted in seeking justice. A lot of people who live in rural areas or on reservations physically cannot drive three hours in the snow or whatever to get [the examination], she says. That makes it inaccessible for a lot of people. Its so unfair. And thats something we need to talk about.
On November 1, 1954, Algeria ignited a revolution that became a defining moment in the global fight against colonialism. The revolution, spearheaded by the National Liberation Front (FLN), was not only a struggle for national independence from French colonial rule but also a symbol of defiance and self-determination for oppressed nations around the world. Algerias eight-year war for independence, which culminated in 1962, inspired revolutionary movements across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Today, this revolutionary spirit continues to shape Algerias role on the global stage.

Algerias fight for independence grew out of more than a century of oppression and economic exploitation under French colonial rule. Between 1830 and 1962, the colonial France forcibly displaced millions of Algerians, expropriated our land and denigrated our culture. The colonial power destroyed entire villages and reorganized the economy to the sole benefit of European settlers at the expense of native Algerians.

Algerias revolution was not only pivotal for its own people but also served as a beacon for anti-colonial movements across the world. The success of Algerias independence encouraged other nations, from Angola to South Africa, to challenge colonial powers and assert their sovereignty.

Gaining independence, however, did not mean an end to Algerias challenges. The legacy of colonialism left the country economically devastated with much of its infrastructure destroyed. Algerias initial post-independence policies focused on reconstruction. The newly recovered sovereign nation strove to balance its revolutionary and patriotic values with the need to modernize and stabilize its economy.

With the 11th largest proven natural gas reserves globally, the hydrocarbon sector served as the backbone of Algerias post-independence recovery. Since joining OPEC in 1969, Algeria has become a significant producer of oil, exporting 900,000 barrels a day and providing Europe with safe and secure energy.

Algeria embraces its role as a key figure in the global energy market, with proven hydrocarbon reserves across oil, gas, condensate, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) estimated at over 4,300 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE), or more than 12 billion barrels, with natural gas alone comprising 55% of these reserves. In 2023, Algeria made eight new discoveries, potentially increasing its natural gas production from 137 to 200 billion cubic meters (Bcm). As one of Europes leading gas suppliers, Algerias ongoing investments in energy infrastructure continue to bolster its position as a secure and reliable partner in global energy markets.

Algerias plentiful natural resources as well as its reliability as a partner also serve as a crucial component of Europes energy security. The Medgaz and TransMed pipelines, which connect Algeria directly to Spain and Italy, form a vital part of Europes energy infrastructure, delivering billions of cubic meters of gas annually. From 2022 to 2023, Algerias liquefied natural gas exports grew by 26.1 percent. Projects like the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline will further connect Africas natural gas reserves with European markets, providing significant potential for the future.

Algeria is not pinning its future on oil and gas only. Reflecting a strong commitment to sustainability, Algerias Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Development Plan, launched in 2015, sets ambitious goals for 2030, aiming to generate 27 percent of the countrys electricity from renewable sources.

Algeria is taking a multifaceted approach to diversifying its economy beyond its traditional reliance on oil and gas. The effort includes strategic incentives to attract foreign and private investment along with significant reforms to simplify bureaucratic processes through the creation of a "one-stop-shop" investment portal. As a result, Algerias economy is blossoming. Its economy grew by 4.1 percent in 2023.

Algeria also continues to affirm its role as a regional leader in North Africa, actively engaging in regional diplomacy and brokering peace to promote stability in the Sahel. Long committed to liberation and peacemaking, Algeria, under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, prioritizes constructive diplomacy over narrow self-interest and fosters solidarity within the Arab, African, and Mediterranean communities. As a key member of the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement, Algeria remains a strong advocate for the right of nations to govern themselves free from external interference.

This commitment to international partnership and shared values has deep historical roots. Algeria and the United States share diplomatic ties that go back to the Treaty of Amity and Peace, signed on September 5, 1795, when Algeria was among the first countries to recognize U.S. independence. Since then, mutual respect and a commitment to peace have underscored relations between our nations for over two centuries.

An enduring symbol of this bond is Elkader, Iowa, named after Emir Abdelkader, the revered Algerian leader who resisted French colonization. Known for his acts of compassion, Abdelkader sheltered thousands of Christians, including American diplomats, during conflict in Damascus in 1860, an act that earned him the admiration of President Abraham Lincoln.

Algeria and the U.S. have often united in championing values such as liberty, justice, and independence. Then-Senator John F. Kennedys steadfast support for Algerias independence in 1957 left an enduring legacy among Algerians, who remember his advocacy as pivotal on the global stage.

Today, as Algeria takes its seat on the U.N. Security Council amid the tragic escalation of violence in Palestine, its focus remains on advocating for the Palestinian cause and upholding the values of justice, cooperation and adherence to the U.N. Charter. These are values that Algeria and the U.S. can continue to defend together.

Algerias revolution was not merely a moment in history. It laid the foundation for the creation of a modern nation. From its fight for independence to its role today as a thriving economy and regional power, Algerias story is one of resilience, vision and growth. The revolutionary spirit that led to independence continues to guide Algeria as it strengthens its economy, expands its influence, and champions the rights of nations across the globe.

Sabri Boukadoum, Algerian Ambassador to the United States, is a former Foreign Minister of Algeria and has held senior diplomatic posts worldwide, including as Algerias representative to the United Nations.
TEHRAN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed on Saturday that Israel and the United States would face a "teeth-breaking response" for their actions against Iran and "the resistance front," according to a statement on his official website.

Speaking to students in Tehran, Khamenei warned that both Israel and its primary supporter, the United States, would be punished for their military action against Iran and "resistance groups" in West Asia. "The enemies... will undoubtedly receive a teeth-breaking response," he stated.

He added that Iran was fully prepared with military, political, and logistical measures to counter "global arrogance" -- a term Iranian officials use to refer to the U.S. and its allies. Khamenei also urged the Iranian people to fight against the "global arrogance" decisively without hesitation.

Referring to recent Israeli strikes on Gaza and Lebanon, Khamenei argued that U.S. support for these attacks exposed "the hypocrisy of American human rights claims."

The Israel Defense Forces announced last week that it conducted "precise and targeted" airstrikes on targets in Iran in response to recent attacks from the country.

Iran's air defense headquarters said it successfully countered the Israeli attacks, which resulted in only "limited damage." 
Bibek Debroy was one of the very few economists not bound by any single area of expertise and was simultaneously curious about economics and politics, myths and maths, chess and chemistry, and what not, remembers Laveesh Bhandari.

IMAGE: Dr Bibek Debroy, chairman of the prime minister's Economic Advisory Council, passed away at 69 on Friday, November 1, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

It was the early 2000s when I was setting up an economics research practice. Driven by necessity I was knocking door to door for work.

On my brother's reference, I called Bibek Debroy for outsourced research. He spoke to me for all of five minutes and offered to give me some data work ranking the states of India.

The Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS) would publish it and Bibek and I would co-author it. And he would give me some advance and the rest on completion.

We had a meeting soon after and figured out a methodology and variables and structure, etc. And I was out of his office in just 15 minutes.

A few weeks later I was back in his office with printouts of state-level data.

Gujarat was coming on top in my ranking. I had validated the numbers, the sources, and the methods, and had even done sensitivity analyses. There were no mistakes there.

IMAGE: Dr Debroy addresses the Bharatatma Ashok Singhal Ved Awards ceremony 2022 at the Chinmaya Mission in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

The questions on my mind were: Will Bibek ask me to change the method, or the weighting schema?

Would he remove his name from this study? Or would he ask me to abandon the study?

How could the head of the RGICS co-author a paper ranking post-Godhra Gujarat as the top-most?

Again it took Bibek all of 15 minutes, or perhaps it was 10, to clear the confusion.

"We will go with what you have, and we will publish with no change in results. Are you OK with that?" he asked me.

I did not realise at that time, neither did Bibek perhaps, his RGICS days would soon be over.

IMAGE: Dr Debroy, Amitabh Kant and Sanjeev Sanyal release the Competitiveness Roadmap for India@100 in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Over the next decade we would co-author many papers and a few books, and the pattern repeated each time.

Meetings that lasted at best a few minutes on what we were doing jointly were followed by longer ones, when he, his wife, Suparna, and I would talk of just about everything else -- travels, dogs, hobbies, personal experiences.

He was one of the very few economists not bound by any single area of expertise and was simultaneously curious about economics and politics, myths and maths, chess and chemistry, and what not.

Extremely sharp on the uptake, immensely trusting, quick to decide, and large-hearted as well, he was a joy to work with.

It so happened that he had great faith in the power of free markets, whereas I was instinctively distrustful of strong State intervention in economy and society.

There was much to agree on in those days when the economy was surging, and free markets appeared to be yielding very high economic benefits for all.

He also had little faith in international development institutions, foreign aid, and the necessity of non-market global intervention on development.

And for me, who was looking to find an Indian perspective which used markets and individuals as the primary driver of progress, more than State-driven, large company-driven, and globally driven narratives, Bibek was undoubtedly a guru I could look towards.

IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted this picture condoling Dr Debroy's demise. Photograph: ANI Photo

Sometime in the mid to late 2000s, Bibek started being increasingly drawn to India's Sanskrit heritage.

I was also interested in finding an Indianness in economics and the conversations veered more and more towards heritage, culture, myths and even the occult.

For me this was something fascinating that modern India had deprived my generation of, and through his English translations (from Sanskrit) some of that richness was becoming more and more accessible for many of us.

His work included translating in an unabridged manner the Mahabharata, Valmiki Ramayana, and many of the major Puranas.

There were other texts as well, including the Raghuvamsha and Ashtavakra Gita. He himself believed he was reincarnated from Manmath Nath Dutta, who has been the other most prolific translator of ancient Sanskrit texts.

Unfortunately, his desire to complete all the major Puranas could not be fulfilled. Would we need to wait for another reincarnation, I wonder.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi tweeted this picture condoling Dr Debroy's passing. Photograph: ANI Photo

But what were also fascinating for me were the changes in Bibek over time.

Economics was not driving him anymore. And so there was no one more surprised than me when he accepted a job in government -- the NITI Aayog and later heading the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister.

The Bibek I knew was quick, spontaneous, trusting, and not moderate in his reactions, to put it mildly.

Moreover, he was not naturally inclined to accept bureaucratic processes. And finally economic policy was definitely a passion of the past for him from my vantage point.

There is no way he will continue for long, I recall telling myself.

IMAGE: Sanjeev Sanyal in conversation with Dr Debroy at Penguin India on the occasion of World Book Day. Photograph: ANI Photo

How wrong I was! As the translations progressed, he was steadily and perceptibly changing.

As if the texts were not merely being translated, they were steadily embracing him, enabling and empowering their translator in ways that are difficult to fathom for those of us not familiar.

This Bibek Debroy, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister, was quick but less reactive, less public with his views, and far better at playing his assigned role than any other organisational job he had in the past.

His office time was devoted to fulfilling whatever duties his position involved (we rarely discussed his work). But his texts and work at home were absorbing him.

But what about his belief in free markets, less State intervention, greater focus on international trade and investment, administrative reforms, decentralisation, etc?

Had these now taken the backseat?

How could a life devoted to these principles not be louder?

Why was he no longer a public proponent of a more open economic order?

Why did he not speak out, as he often did in the past? Had Bibek changed his views? Or had he become more accepting?

He had no love for power or position, so there was something else.

I could not help but ask him.

"My role is to advise the PM as and when he requires it," he said.

Laveesh Bhandari heads the CSEP

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
'Everything can be resolved, but my husband's legacy is not up for sale.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy Godfrey Phillips India

Bina Modi, wife of the late industrialist K K Modi, was reappointed managing director of Godfrey Phillips India (GPI) with approval from 86.6 per cent shareholders at the annual general meeting on September 6.

Her son Samir Modi was ousted from the company's board the same day.

Bina Modi talks to Bhavini Mishra/Business Standard in an interview in New Delhi about GPI's exit from the retail business and inheritance battle with her son.

The shareholders have backed you as MD of GPI. What is the company's outlook?

We are growing everyday, our market share in the domestic business is increasing, our brands are becoming stronger, and our export of unmanufactured tobacco is expanding fast.

All of this is being seen by the market in a positive manner and helping unlock value for the shareholders.

Some stakeholders are unable to come to terms with you being at loggerheads with your son. Why did things reach this point?

It is not easy as an individual or as a mother to take things the way they have gone.

But I do not let any of these come in the way of discharging my responsibilities towards the company and the shareholders.

Everything can be resolved, but my husband's legacy is not up for sale. As managing trustee I want to assure all of their fair share.

Now that you have another term of five years as MD, what is your vision for GPI and Indofil?

GPI is at an all-time high in profitability and market capitalisation. Our market share is increasing.

Besides, as regards the people, GPI has been recognised as a great place to work for six years in a row.

This gives me confidence that GPI has a lot of potential to grow.

We are planning to increase our market share. We are entering new markets, expanding our export business, and monetising some of our valuable assets.

Indofil has a great future and our focus continues to be on crop protection, innovative solutions, biologicals, and design thinking.

The tobacco and cigarettes business is profitable but most companies want to de-risk their businesses by diversifying revenue streams.

Why is GPI doing the reverse? You decided to exit 24/7.

We have tried our hand at various ventures. They have not gone the way we would have liked. We have taken steps to exit those.

As of now, we want to focus on our core and expand our footprint in areas where there is scope for growth.

We are entering new markets, increasing the footprint in the leaf export, etc.

Recently we did a tieup with Ferroro Rocher, the benefits of which will start coming in the near future.

How are the relations with your joint-venture partner Phillip Morris? In your speech at the AGM, you talked of more involvement.

Relations with Phillip Morris are based on mutual trust. Since I took reins as MD, ties became stronger, which is evident from the unprecedented growth of Marlboro (a cigarette brand) in India over the past three years.

We always had Phillip Morris's support. Participation and support will continue.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Kamala has finessed bubblegum conversation about whether she is Black or Indian.

Her Irrelevancing-approach, an Irrelevance-code if you will, is Elevated and Elegant -- this is the Elevance of Kamala! asserts economist Dr Anuradha Luther Maitra.

IMAGE: Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, October 28, 2024. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

On July 24, 2024, President Joseph Biden withdrew from the US presidential race and endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him as the Democratic nominee.

Just a week later, at the Black Journalists' Convention in Chicago in July, former president Donald J Trump mis-pronounced her name and said: 'She was always of Indian heritage and promoting Indian heritage. I didn't know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black.'

'Turn'?

In this election cycle, Trump started it.

But four years ago, soon after Biden selected Harris as his running mate, my husband Professor Thomas Kailath and I had agreed to be interviewed by Indian TV host and former ambassador T P Sreenivasan who knew that I had requested the then San Francisco district attorney, a certain Kamala Harris, to deliver the inaugural Sarah Kailath Lecture (in memory of Tom's late wife) at UC Berkeley. The running theme of the series is 'Women and Leadership'.

Paraphrased below are my responses to questions on Kamala's Black identity, Indian heritage and geopolitical positions regarding the subcontinent:

Her racial identification is the natural realization of a wise decision by Dr Shyamala Gopalan , her Indian-American mother who was raising her mixed-race daughter in Oakland -- Kamala would thus have a community that she felt safe in and classmates she identified with, both with reciprocal advantages.

This was clearly NOT clairvoyant political posturing by a very young child and her single mother.

, her Indian-American mother who was raising her mixed-race daughter in Oakland -- Kamala would thus have a community that she felt safe in and classmates she identified with, both with reciprocal advantages. This was clearly NOT clairvoyant political posturing by a very young child and her single mother. Shyamala was evidently responsible for providing her daughter with a sense of cultural affinity to India and an appreciation of its post-Independence history as a democratic, secular country founded on Constitutional principles.

TPS and other Indians could draw comfort from that. But, in the interview, I had also insisted that the 'Indian' values of family, education, and hard work that desis see in her are universal (good) values, as much incorporated in her Jamaican roots as in her Indian parentage.

TPS and other Indians could draw comfort from that. But, in the interview, I had also insisted that the 'Indian' values of family, education, and hard work that desis see in her are universal (good) values, as much incorporated in her Jamaican roots as in her Indian parentage. But Kamala is different from Tom and me and many million others who were born and brought up in India, moved to the US as adults and are called Indian-Americans.

We feel it -- a general sense of gratitude to the country we were born in (and recognize as having provided us with the education and environment that allowed us to later enjoy American standards of living) as well as a social commitment, expressed by different people in different way, to improving the lives of India's citizens.

Kamala is different.

Like our children, she was born in America, raised in America and, as an American politician, her primary responsibility in the international arena would (rightly) be to safeguard and prioritize US interests -- within the ambit of her understanding about the world it was a part of.

IMAGE: Former US president Barack Obama at a campaign rally with Kamala Harris in Atlanta, Georgia, October 24, 2024. Photograph: Megan Varner/Reuters

Now, as her visibility has soared and the stakes have climbed, the conversation about Kamala's heritage of race, ethnicity, class, gender has also amped up, pervasive and loud. Regardless of Trump, this (I think) was bound to happen!

At the 2006 Sidhartha Maitra Memorial Lecture at UC Santa Cruz (a series named for my late husband), in a talk titled 'The Tyranny of Identity', my teacher and guru, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, had explained why a multiple-identity attribute is not a disorder, but something quite the opposite.

Our active recognition of it within ourselves (something that most people naturally have in our increasingly globalized modern world) greatly improves the chance that two (or more) randomly selected individuals will find common ground.

The confluence of multiple minority classifications such as the one Kamala fits into has recently generated a trove of scholarly work on 'intersectionality', a term coined in a 1989 paper by Professor Kimberle Crenshaw, who saw it as 'a prism to bring to light dynamics within discrimination law that weren't being appreciated by the courts.'

The term has since been adopted, adapted, co-opted by scholars, progressive activists, and right-wing conservatives to serve their own agendas -- 'make clinical observations, analyze power imbalances, and suggest tools to eliminate them'.

Understandable, since the everyday usage of its constituent words is dense with possible meanings.

I am using the word here in its Wiki definition: 'A theoretical framework that describes how multiple forms of oppression and discrimination can overlap and compound, creating unique challenges for people with multiple identities.'

IMAGE: Kamala Harris at a campaign rally and concert in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Kamala had responded to Trump's dismissive, disrespectful, condescending tone and phrasing with her own version of Michelle Obama's 'When they go low, we go high.'

It is the muting, no-nonsense 'Next question, please' that she used in late August during her first major interview as her party's presidential candidate, with CNN's Dana Bash.

NQP is a form of the former prosecutor's 'Irrelevant!'

And what exactly is the irrelevancy that she is trying to move us away from? It is the discussion about race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality as related to her candidacy that even just her name generates.

Yes, her name is Indian, but so what? Yes, her parents were immigrants -- father born in Jamaica, mother in India -- but, so what?

Yes, she is a woman, but so what? Yes, she is married to a Jewish man, but so what?

With her confident stride and trademark pantsuits, pearls and pussy-bows, Kamala seems to have negotiated her multiple identities/intersectionality by focusing on the idea that bias and stereotyping of anyone is bad, that all discrimination and inequality of opportunity should be fought.

Her Opportunity Economy and focus on the middle-class spans all social categories of Americans -- Black/White/Brown, Female/Male, Straight/LGBTQ.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

IMAGE: Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama at a campaign event at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, October 26, 2024. Photograph: Rebecca Cook/Reuters

We have two applicants for the highest office in the land; we should evaluate them just as we would for any job-opening we are empowered to make decisions about.

Both have articulated their positions, promises and policy-prescriptions, and it is interesting that so many supporters of Trump choose to believe in him while not quite believing him while, ironically, the opposite may be true for Kamala.

But they both also have a past, much of it public knowledge.

Importantly, Kamala asks that we focus not on their respective heritages per se but on the individuals, including what they did with their lives and their inheritances, that is, scrutinize their qualifications, accomplishments, records, preparation, grasp of issues, or lack thereof.

Thus, Kamala has finessed bubblegum conversation about whether she is Black or Indian.

Her Irrelevancing-approach, an Irrelevance-code if you will, is Elevated and Elegant -- this is the Elevance of Kamala!

IMAGE: Bruce Springsteen performs AT a campaign rally for Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 28, 2024. Photograph: Eloisa Lopez/Reuters

We need to rise to meet her. There is the real risk of 'intersectionality bias'.

It would be a pity if members of the South Asian 'model-minority' choose to view things exclusively through their own lens, in isolation from those of other intersecting groups, particularly a minority that has had a dramatically different, centuries-old history in America of slavery, ghettoization and systemic bias.

When Kamala speaks of equity for Blacks, she is not threatening to tax rich Indian men to support Black welfare moms but rather she is speaking of fairness in housing, lending and jobbing decisions.

We should not hope to be understood if we do not understand.

'Be the change you wish to see in the world'.

On Tuesday November 5, on the national stage, VOTUS (Voters of the United States) will decide on our next POTUS. Will we together declaim:

What's in a name? That which we call a lotus

By any other name would smell as fresh.

MLK, Gandhi and Shakespeare meet -- and we get Kamala!

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'This isn't political. This fight is for justice. This is the fight to give justice to the party workers.'

Video: Prasanna D Zore/ Rediff.com IMAGE: Gopal Shetty, who was twice elected (2014 and 2019) to the Lok Sabha from the Mumbai North constituency as a BJP candidate, explains why he decided to contest as an Independent candidate in the Maharashtra assembly election.

After spending an entire day filing nominations for Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena candidates, when Union Minister Piyush Goyal broke the news on Gopal Shetty -- the two-time former BJP MP from Mumbai North constituency, which he vacated for Goyal in 2024 and from where the latter won with a margin of 357,608 votes against Shetty's 2019 margin of 465,247 votes -- that the party has chosen Sanjay Upadhyay to contest from Borivali, Shetty was quick to tell Goyal that he would contest against Upadhyay as an independent candidate.

In an interview with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com at his suburban Kandivali West office, Gopal Shetty, who earlier in the day had filed his nomination as an Independent candidate, opens his heart out.

Sample this conversation where Shetty opens up when asked about his rebellion: "I am not against any outsider coming and contesting. Let me make it very clear again and again. It's okay once or twice. But successively four times is not acceptable. It is not acceptable."

Justifying his rebellion, a visibly pained Shetty then says: "Definitely it is wrong because the party workers are working day and night to build this party, to serve the people. And if anyone from anywhere comes and contests, then what is the use of party and sanghatna (organisation)?"

Interestingly, while Shetty will contest against Upadhyay, he says he has not quit the BJP and will not do so. "I am not going to resign. I am not going to leave my party's principles and ideologies. I am not going to contest this election by going to any other party. That's why I have chosen to fight as an Independent candidate."

After almost 35 years you filed your nomination as an Independent candidate. What was going through your mind? You have been a loyal BJP worker and it was after 35 years that you filed your nomination as an Independent candidate.

IMAGE: From left: Gopal Shetty, Piyush Goyal and Ashish Shelar who heads the BJP in Mumbai. Photograph: Gopal Shetty/X

After 35 years such a thing has happened. When the situation arrived I had to take such decisions. So I have taken (my decision).

What situation arrived? Why did you take this decision and how painful was it for you or is it for you?

It was and it is very much painful for me. Because the reason behind (contesting as an Independent candidate against a BJP candidate from the Borivali Vidhan Sabha constituency) it is the people were saying that if a man of your stature is not taking any decision against such happenings, then who will take (such decisions)? In the coming 50 years no one will take. So you have to take the decision.

You have to react against this (unfair) decision, which the party has taken to nominate Sanjay Upadhyay from Borivali.

Once again I'm not totally against any outsiders because if you don't have a strong candidate in a given assembly and if you have good candidates from other assembly constituencies, then the party should field (an outsider). But once, twice (is fine); thrice is much more. This is the fourth time this has happened (that the BJP fielded an outsider from Borivali).

First, Vinod Tawdeji contested; second time, Sunil Raneji contested, third time Piyush Goyalji contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Now in this assembly election Sanjay Upadhyay's name has been (announced).

What went wrong? Why do you think that the BJP ignored your candidature? You've been the most qualified person to contest from the BJP from this constituency.

Let me make it very, very, clear that I have not asked for a ticket from the party to contest this election. Party workers suggested my name; in the party's survey from the public, my name had come forward.

It was discussed and the party has taken decision to not field Sunil Raneji, the present MLA, again. The news was in the media that Gopal Shetty will be given a chance (to contest from Borivali). It was not by the party but it was by the media.

Yesterday, my party's district president Ganesh Khandkar's name was in discussion in the morning. I don't know how far it was right or wrong, but it was in the public domain. (But when Khandkar's name was not announced) party karyakartas approached me yesterday (on October 28) noon time.

I had made very much clear to them (those who decide in the BJP who will contest elections) that if any party worker from whether it was from Borivali or Magathane (Borivali's adjoining neighbourhood from where Ganesh Khandkar belongs) because there's just a road (in between these two Vidhan Sabha constituencies) in the middle. It doesn't make any difference.

So we should accept (Khandkar's name). Because if (I were to take) any decision against that (Khandkar's nomination) also, then people would not have liked it. People have seen me; what I am and (in that spirit) we should support that new party worker, whom the party has nominated (and get him elected).

I made all party workers to understand the situation. But suddenly sometime between 3 and 3:30 pm, TV channels broke the news came that Sanjay Upadhyay has been nominated from Borivali.

From the morning (of October 28) I was with Piyush Goyalji. We filed the nomination of Vinod Shelar (who is contesting from Malad). We filed nomination of Yogesh Sagarji (who is contesting again from Charkop), of Manishatai Chowdhary (from Dahisar) and Prakash Surve (BJP ally Shiv Sena's nominee from Magathane).

After filing all four nominations we went to the party office at Kandivali. Piyush Goyalji was also with me. He told (me) that the party has taken the decision (to field Sanjay Upadhyay from Borivali).

I told him at that moment only that this decision is not right. People will not accept it. I told him yesterday (October 28) that I am going to file (my nomination) as an Independent candidate.

Did Piyush Goyal, after you told him that you'll be filing your nomination as an Independent, try to convince you to change your decision? Did anybody from the BJP, Devendra Fadnavis, try to convince you not to contest as an Independent?

Yes, yes. Piyush Goyal tried to convince me.

Devendra Fadnavisji called me on phone; Ashish Shelarji (BJP chief whip in the assembly, Mumbai BJP president and the candidate from Bandra West) visited my home personally at midnight.

Yogesh Sagarji came in the morning. Atul Bhatkalkarji (BJP's sitting MLA from Kandivali) and several others leaders called me in the morning. All tried to convince me that you should not do this. But I made them understand why I am doing this.

Now that you have filed your nomination how do you plan to contest and win this election? What will happen on the ground because you will be fighting against your own family members?

The entire BJP was like a family till yesterday. Suddenly friends are no more friends... How do you feel as a human being, as a leader to be in this position?

IMAGE: Gopal Shetty with Piyush Goyal during a meet-and-greet during Goyal's Lok Sabha campaign in May 2024. Photograph: Gopal Shetty/X

Friends are always friends. Piyush Goyalji is also ours. All Bharatiya Janta Party workers are mine. I am for them.

I have appealed not only to Bharatiya Janata Party workers but of all the political parties that they should stand behind me in this fight because this is not a political fight. This is the fight to give justice to the party workers and to the people of Borivali.

This particular subject (of not giving party a ticket to loyalists) is not only (an issue limited) to Borivali. It is for the entire nation. I will say everywhere such things (loyal workers are not getting tickets to contest election) are happening. It should not happen.

Again I will say this that I am not 100% against any outsider coming and contesting. Let me make it very clear again and again. It's okay once or twice. But successively four times it is not acceptable. It is not acceptable.

How do you plan to win this election? How confident are you because this is going to be a multi-cornered contest where you have the two major alliances -- the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi -- and then you have the MNS in the fray.

Do you think it will lead to fractions among voters? How confident are you of winning this seat?

I don't see any fractions will be there. Definitely some fractions will be there. But most of the people from all the political parties will support me. They have seen my work and the reason I am fighting this fight.

I am not fighting for myself to gain something. I am fighting to make the system right.

So you think the system is wrong when they don't choose a loyal party soldier to contest the election?

Definitely it is wrong because the party workers are working day and night to build this party, to serve the people. And if anyone from anywhere comes and contests then what is the use of party and sanghatna (organisation)?

You have not yet resigned from the BJP. Neither has the BJP taken any disciplinary action against you.

I have told yesterday only I have not resigned. I am not going to resign. I am not going to leave my party's principles and ideologies. I am not going to contest this election by going to any other party. That's why I have chosen to fight as an Independent candidate. All are mine and I am for all. Okay.

Did the Maha Vikas Aghadi or any other party invite you to contest on their ticket?

Yes. I have received some phone calls from various political party leaders and my supporters have asked me to release a request letter through the media (that I am not going to fight on any other party ticket) and I'm going to do that. My message will be conveyed to all of them.

Why did you refuse to join any other party? You're still, from your heart, a BJP man.

I am not unhappy with my party. I am very much happy with my party. While I'm seeking support from other political parties also I am on record that I am happy with my party. I am happy with my party bosses, but some people are doing all these things.

Who do you think is responsible for you not getting the ticket?

So far I don't have any name. If I get (the names) I will bring it to your notice.

Is anybody from the BJP still trying to convince you that to take back your nomination?

Definitely they will try.

Are they trying even after filing your nomination papers?

No. I am directly coming from there (where nomination papers were filed in Dahisar) to here (Shetty's office in suburban Kandivali). I am hoping that people will contact me and I will talk to them.

I will make them understand why I am doing all this. That should always be open, no? I don't have any enmity with anybody. I have difference (with my party colleagues in BJP) due to this episode, but I don't have any enmity with anybody.

I heard this from your supporters who accompanied you for filing the nomination papers that they hounded Piyush Goyal who was also present at the nomination centre to file Sanjay Upadhyay's nomination. Is that true?

I don't think any such thing has happened. But if it has happened (then) that it is wrong. I will say such things should not happen because we are one. We all are one. Piyush Goyalji is a Cabinet minister elected from this constituency. And he's our leader. We should respect him. I will appeal to all the party workers.

(We must respect) not just Piyush Goyalji, but even small party workers. We are all. We all are one.

Such things should not happen again.

Did you have any second thoughts when you sacrificed your Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency for Piyush Goyal in 2024? Do you feel that you should not have done that?

Never. Never. Never. Never.

Let me make it very clear that the North Mumbai constituency was not my father's property. It was the party's (prerogative to decide who gets to contest from where) and it should always be the party's decision to decide who gets to contest from where. That was not my personal property.

The party has given me opportunity seven times. I fought, I won.

When the prime minister (Narendra D Modi) decided that North Mumbai is a very safe constituency and Piyush Goyalji should contest from there then it was my duty to fulfill the wish of my prime minister. I am proud he chose North Mumbai for that job.

Will you take back your nomination if the prime minister or the Union home minister calls you and requests you to take back your nomination?

I don't think that the prime minister or any big other leaders will do such things to me. Because we all are of one thought and thinking, I don't think what I have done is wrong. No one can tell me that you are doing something wrong.

If I had gone to some other party to fight the election and win election and go to the Maharashtra assembly, that would have been wrong.

When I sought support from other political parties (to help him win this seat), I have made it very clearly that I will not join any party and contest this election. This election is something different which I am contesting. I am hopeful that people of other party and sections will also support me.

If the Mahayuti alliance forms or doesn't form the government and if you win this Borivali seat will you join the BJP again?

I am in the BJP. I don't think that I should answer this question at this moment.

What would be your message to the people of your constituency and to the BJP leadership in Maharashtra and at the national level?

My message to my party leaders has been already conveyed through this agitation for which I have filed this nomination.

To the people of Borivali, I will appeal again and again, with folded hands that they should stand behind me in this fight. Things which are happening should not (have) happen(ed) before and in the coming days. Sometimes it is okay. But it should not happen again and again.

I am hopeful that people will stand behind me.
India on Saturday said it has protested in the strongest possible terms the references made by a Canadian minister about Union Home Minister Amit Shah and warned that such "absurd and baseless" allegations will have serious consequences for bilateral ties.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Photograph: @HMOIndia/X

The comments by the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came after Canada's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison alleged on Tuesday that Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada.

Morrison had also told Canadian Parliament members of the national security committee that he had confirmed Shah's name to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this revelation that high Canadian government officials deliberately leaked unfounded insinuations to international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the Indian government has long held about the current Canadian government's political agenda and behavioural pattern.

Replying to queries during a weekly press briefing here, Jaiswal said such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties.

He said India summoned a Canadian High Commission representative on Friday and the official was served a diplomatic note to lodge the protest in strongest terms on the "absurd and baseless" references made by the Canadian deputy minister about India's Union Home Minister.

While addressing the Parliament members, Morrison did not say how Canada knew of Shah's alleged involvement.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said a year ago that Canada had credible evidence agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.

Dismissing the allegations as absurd, Indian government officials have consistently denied that Canada provided evidence.
CAIRO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from Fatah and Hamas have begun talks in Cairo to discuss forming a committee to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip, Egypt's State Information Service said on Saturday, citing an Egyptian security official.

The committee will be established by presidential decree from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the official said, adding that it will include independent figures.

According to the security official, the Egyptian-sponsored meeting aims to achieve Palestinian unity and prevent the separation of the West Bank from the Gaza Strip.

He added that Hamas insists on addressing all issues related to the conflict comprehensively, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the prisoner exchange, and the entry of humanitarian aid. Hamas fears that if these issues are handled separately, Israel may resume its attacks on Gaza after securing the release of Israeli hostages.

The official affirmed that Egypt is making intensive efforts to resume negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire, which have been suspended since July, adding that Cairo continues to work with Palestinian and Israeli parties to secure a truce and facilitate increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Hamas attack across the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and approximately 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 43,259, according to a statement from Gaza-based health authorities on Friday. 
The Congress on Friday launched a multi-pronged attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his jibe at the former for its poll guarantees, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge saying before pointing fingers, the prime minister should note that the "Modi Ki Guarantee" is a "cruel joke" on 140 crore Indians.

Stating that the 'B' in BJP stands for 'betrayal' while 'J' stands for 'jumla', Kharge said in a post on X, "Narendra Modi ji, Lies, Deceit, Fakery, Loot and Publicity are the 5 adjectives which best describe your government! Your drum beating regarding a 100-day plan was a cheap PR stunt!"

Besides Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal also lashed out at Modi, citing Congress' track record in fulfilling its promises.

"On May 16, 2024, you claimed that you took inputs from more than 20 lakh people for the roadmap for 2047. RTI filed in PMO declined to put forth details, exposing your LIES!" the Congress chief said in the post.

Claiming to set the record straight, Kharge also raised the issue of the promise of "two crore jobs per year". "Why is India's unemployment rate at a 45-year high and why are stampedes witnessed wherever there are vacancies for a handful of jobs," Kharge asked.

"Who is responsible for 70 paper leaks in 7 years and who snatched 5 lakh government jobs by selling stake in PSUs," he further asked.

Stating that 'Bahut Hui Mehangai Ki Maar', the Congress chief asked, "Why have household savings plunged to a 50-year low? Why has the cost of a common thali increased by 52 per cent in just last year? TOP -- Tomato prices have increased by 247 per cent, Potato by 180 per cent and Onion by 60 per cent."

"Who levied GST on essential food items such as Milk, Curd, Aata, Dal? Who is penalising the middle class through Long Term Capital Gains Tax by indulging in tax terrorism," Kharge asked.

Taking a jibe at the BJP over its promise of "Acche Din", Kharge said, "Rupee is at an all-time low. Is it in ICU or in Margdarshak Mandal? Your Govt has borrowed Rs 150 lakh+ crores in past 10 years, amounting to a debt of Rs 1.5 lakh on every Indian. MSMEs have been destroyed through DeMO + Flawed GST."

"Clean chit to China post-Galwan, red carpet for Chinese investments and ruining relations with every neighbouring country," Karge said in the post.

He also accused the Modi government of "snatching government jobs from SC, ST, OBC and EWS communities by 91 per cent increase in Casual/Contract hiring".

"JUMLA of doubling Income of Farmers by 2022. Refusing Legal Guarantee for MSP. GST on 35 Farm articles. Turning permanent recruitment to Armed Forces to a temporary one through Agnipath! Modi ji, before finger-pointing, please note that MODI KI GUARANTEE is a cruel joke on 140 crore Indians!" Kharge said in the post.

Kharge's remarks came after Modi on Friday said the Congress stands "badly exposed" in front of people for promising to them what the party knows it will never be able to deliver.

Modi launched a fierce attack on the opposition party as he seized on Kharge's comments that the Congress' state units should make promises that are properly budgeted.

He also said the developmental trajectory and fiscal health in the Congress-ruled states of Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana is going from bad to worse.

Meanwhile, hitting out at Modi, Siddaramaiah said before pointing fingers at the Congress, he should take a hard look at BJP's "disastrous legacy" in Karnataka.

"We are fulfilling every promise we made to our people -- all 5 guarantees implemented with a budget of over Rs 52,000 crore, and an additional Rs 52,903 crore in capital outlay to build Karnataka's future," the chief minister said.

"BJP left Karnataka plagued with 40 per cent commission corruption, draining resources that could have transformed lives. We're using that same 40 per cent -- redirecting it to benefit the people. What was your 'achievement' here? Empowering corrupt practices, leaving Karnataka debt-ridden, and using propaganda to cover up your failures," Siddaramaiah said.

While Congress in Karnataka has delivered, BJP continues to fail Indians nationwide, he added.

Sukhu also hit out at Modi, saying the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh is steadfastly dedicated to fulfilling its promises and fostering inclusive development across the state.

"We are proud to have already delivered on five out of the 10 guarantees made during the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections," he said in a post on X.

"In just one year, our government has: Boosted the state's economy by 20 per cent, generating an additional Rs 2,200 crore in revenue.

"Our Vision is to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant by 2027 and the most prosperous state in India by 2032 and to create an empowered, opportunity-rich environment for every individual, and we are working every day to make this vision a reality," Sukhu said in the post.

Taking to X, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Baghel said, "Dear Mr Prime Minister, I am sure some clueless BJP leader in Chhattisgarh has misled you. The people of Chhattisgarh still remember the Congress govt as a government that did everything it had promised."

"The Prime Minister should not be indulging in petty politics and should not play this dirty blame game for short political gains. I still expect the same from you. Am I overexpecting," Baghel asked.

Slamming Modi, Venugopal said the "uncrowned champion of puffery, misdirection and unfulfilled promises" has the "audacity to question Congress' unparalleled track record of delivering welfare".

"Where are the Ache Din, Mr. Modi? Where is the Amrit Kaal? What happened to delivering housing for all by 2022, 100 smart cities, or the many lies you told the people about the benefits of demonetisation," he asked in a post on X.

"Our government in Karnataka, on the other hand, is routinely delivering Rs 2,000 to 1.2 crore women. We are ensuring food security through the Anna Bhagya Scheme which the Centre opposed," Venugopal said.

"Our Telangana government has taken the burden of debt and misery away from lakhs of farmers. Three crore women of Karnataka have experienced newfound freedom due to the free bus travel guaranteed by the Shakti scheme," he added.

"Unlike the BJP's election gimmicks, ours is a welfare model that has stood the test of time since Independence.

"Insincere, vengeful and non-performing leaders have no right to create doubt over our governance," Venugopal said.
Condemning Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MP Arvind Sawant for his "imported maal" remark against Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that if Balasaheb Thackeray were alive, he would have broken Sawant's mouth.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Photograph: @mieknathshinde/X

Shinde also termed Sawant's remarks as "unfortunate" and said that no amount of criticism is enough for him.

"It's very unfortunate. Speaking ill of a woman is highly condemnable, and no amount of criticism is enough. Claiming to follow Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology, their actions reveal their true nature. If Balasaheb were alive, he would have strongly condemned and would have broken his mouth. Their character is exposed by their actions, MVA earlier defamed our women, and sisters in Guwahati. In the upcoming elections, women will surely teach a lesson to those who disrespect them," the Maharashtra CM told ANI.

A first information report (FIR) was registered in Mumbai on Friday against Sawant for referring to Shaina N C, an assembly elections candidate of the rival Shiv Sena, as 'imported maal'.

Sawant, MP of Mumbai South, claimed that his remark was being misinterpreted, while Shaina, who is contesting from Mumbadevi assembly seat in the city, said it showed the mentality of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

Shaina, who was earlier with the Bharatiya Janata Party, joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena recently.

She is pitted against Amin Patel of Congress in the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.

Reacting to her allegations, Sawant said she misinterpreted the word 'maal'.

"In Hindi, it means 'goods'. I also said our candidate is the 'original maal'. Shaina is an old friend, not an enemy," he said.

"Please understand the motive behind spreading a narrative by bringing out a video clip of a speech made two days ago. In my 50 years of political life I have never insulted anyone," Sawant added.
Two incidents of violence over firecracker bursting on Diwali were reported from Haryana's Faridabad on Friday.

IMAGE: People burst firecrackers during the Diwali celebrations at Marine Drive in Mumbai. Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

An elderly man was allegedly beaten to death in Haryana's Faridabad after he objected to people bursting firecrackers in his locality, police said.

A case has been lodged on the basis of a complaint from the victim's son.

According to the complainant, Vinod, three men -- Raju, Dheeraj and Nandu -- were bursting firecrackers in front of the victim's residence in the Housing Board Colony in Faridabad's Sector 18 on Thursday evening. When his father objected to it, a verbal spat ensued, the complainant said.

Vinod managed to pacify the situation for the time being but at around 1 am, the three men came back and again started bursting firecrackers in front of their house, the complaint said.

As Vinod's father came out of the house and objected to it, he was allegedly thrashed by the three accused. Vinod and his wife were also allegedly roughed up by the three men when they tried to intervene.

The complainant's father succumbed to his injuries on the spot, police said, adding that a hunt is on to nab the accused.

In another incident, a family bursting firecrackers on Diwali in Faridabad district was allegedly attacked with sticks and stones by a mob, police said.

Police said the incident occurred in Ballabhgarh town on Thursday. The Hindu family has also alleged that members of a Muslim family allegedly broke down the door of their house in Subhash Colony and sexually harassed one of them, they said.

According to police, some children were bursting firecrackers in the area, to which some people belonging to the minority community opposed, and issued threats to the kids.

When some women from the Hindu family went to the house of the accused, they were allegedly attacked with sticks, and bricks and stones were pelted at them, a police spokesperson said citing the complaint.

The attackers, then, broke the main door of the complainant's house and sexually harassed a girl of the family, police said. A CCTV footage of the alleged incident has been recovered.

Police has registered a case and has started an investigation in the matter, the spokesperson said.
The Mumbai police have sent a proposal for extradition of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's younger brother Anmol Bishnoi, who has been named as an accused in some high-profile crimes, including the Baba Siddique murder case, an official said.

IMAGE: Anmol Bishnoi has been named as wanted accused in the April 14 firing incident outside the Bollywood actor Salman Khan's Galaxy Apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area. Photograph: ANI

The proposal was sent after the US authorities informed the Mumbai police about Anmol Bishnoi's presence in their country, the senior police official said on Saturday.

Last month, the Mumbai police's crime branch moved the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court here stating that it intends to "initiate the extradition procedure of fugitive criminal Anmol Bishnoi". It filed an affidavit "for further necessary action", which was allowed by the special court.

The Mumbai police have sent the proposal for Anmol Bishnoi's extradition to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which will then be forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the police official said.

Both Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi have been named as wanted accused in the April 14 firing incident outside the Bollywood actor Salman Khan's Galaxy Apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area.

Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal had carried out the firing. They, along with Sonukumar Bishnoi, Mohammed Rafiq Choudhary and Harpal Singh, were arrested and are currently in judicial custody.

One accused Anujkumar Thapan committed suicide during his police custody.

In the chargesheet filed in the case, police have shown Lawrence Bishnoi and Anmol Bishnoi as wanted accused in the case.

NCP leader and former MLA Baba Siddique was shot dead by three gunmen near the office of his MLA-son Zeeshan Siddique on October 12. The police have so far arrested 15 persons in connection with the murder.

The involvement of Bishnoi brothers, who hail from Fazilka in Punjab, is suspected in the case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi.

Lawrence Bishnoi is currently lodged in a jail in Sabarmati in Gujarat.

A lookout circular was issued in April against Anmol Bishnoi, who had claimed responsibility for the firing incident outside Salman Khan's residence.

An FIR was also registered by the NIA against nine accused, including both the Bishnoi brothers, in August 2022 for being part of a conspiracy to "raise funds, recruit youth to carry out terrorist acts in the Union Territory of Delhi and other parts of the country" besides "targeted killings of prominent persons".
India on Saturday accused Canada of indulging in 'harassment and intimidation' of Indian consular staff there by putting them under audio and video surveillance in 'flagrant violation' of diplomatic conventions.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters

Responding to a query during a media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said India has 'formally protested' to the Canadian government.

He was asked about reports claiming that many Indian diplomats in Canada were allegedly under surveillance amid the diplomatic standoff.

"Yes, some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continued to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government, as we deem these actions to be in flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions" Jaiswal told reporters.

"By citing technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation," he alleged.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd'.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

India has expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrawn its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other 'targeted' officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa's charges.

"Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian government aggravates the situation, and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices," Jaiswal said.
On Saturday, November 2, 2024 morning, an encounter broke out between the security personnel and terrorists holed up in a building in the densely populated Khanyar area of Srinagar.

The search operation turned into an encounter as the terrorists opened fire at the search party, which retaliated.

One Pakistan terrorist belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba has been gunned down in the ongoing encounter, officials said.

Two Central Reserve Police Force jawans and two Jammu and Kashmir policemen were injured in the encounter.

The injured personnel were taken to the Indian Army's 92 Base Hospital. Their condition is stated to be stable.

IMAGE: Personnel from the CRPF's Quick Response Team move towards the house where the terrorists were hiding during the final assault.

IMAGE: CRPF and J&K police personnel gather near the site of the encounter.

IMAGE: Security personnel keep watch.

IMAGE: Security personnel carry a stretcher to ferry the injured for treatment.

IMAGE: Security vehicles lined up on the side of the road.

IMAGE: Security personnel get ready for the assault here and below.

IMAGE: Smoke emerges from the building where the terrorists were holed up.

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the recently appointed chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has announced the Hindu-only staff policy in Tirumala, whereas the NDA government at the Centre wants to induct non-Muslims in Waqf Boards.

IMAGE: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi . Photograph: ANI Photo

In a post on X on Friday night, he said, "Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams' chairman says that only Hindus should work in Tirumala. But Modi govt wants to make it mandatory for there to be non-Muslims in Waqf Boards & Waqf Council. Most Hindu Endowment laws insist that only Hindus should be its members. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander, no?"

The newly-designated chairman of TTD Board rd B R Naidu on October 31 said all those who work at Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, should be Hindus.

Naidu said he would speak to the Andhra Pradesh government on how to deal with staff members belonging to other religions, whether they should be sent to other government departments or given VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme).
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials on Saturday to immediately retract all notices sent to farmers regarding Waqf land.

IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Photograph: Siddaramaiah on Facebook

This decision followed a high-level meeting with senior officials from the Revenue Department, Minority Welfare Department, and the Karnataka Board of Waqfs.

A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said, "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strictly instructed officials to withdraw all notices concerning Waqf land, ensuring farmers face no disturbance."

Siddaramaiah expressed dissatisfaction with recent actions by certain officials and noted that the Janata Dal-Secular and the Bharatiya Janata Party might be using the Waqf issue for political gain, potentially disturbing peace in the state.

He appealed to the public to ignore any misinformation and emphasised handling the matter sensitively.

All notices on land records related to Waqf properties must be retracted immediately, and officials were warned not to harass farmers regarding lands in their possession.

Siddaramaiah also ordered that unauthorised changes to land records (Pahani or RTC) should be nullified if done without proper notice or legal procedure.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, and senior government officials attended the meeting.

Waqf Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, in Vijayapura, reassured the public that all notices issued under the Waqf Act would be withdrawn, as he had previously informed people on Friday.

Earlier, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that all district deputy commissioners have been instructed not to serve any notices to farmers under the Waqf Act.

He stated that revenue records would be treated as final and administrative actions would align accordingly.

"The chief minister has directed all deputy commissioners to withdraw any such notices or letters. The matter is now resolved, though future developments remain uncertain," Parameshwara informed reporters.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya alleged that issues related to Waqf began after the initiation of Waqf Adalats.

According to him, the Waqf Adalat lacks legal validity.

"The problem started after Minority Welfare Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan began holding Waqf Adalats under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's direction," said Surya, who also serves as the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president.

Surya claimed a District Panchayat CEO issued a letter to subordinates stating, "These steps have been taken on the directions of the Chief Minister and Waqf Minister."

He questioned the origin and legality of Waqf Adalats, asking, "Under what law, and based on which provision of the Indian Constitution, were these notices issued to farmers and properties associated with 12th-century social reformer Basaveshwara?"

The Bengaluru South MP further alleged that the Waqf Adalat is an unconstitutional invention of Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Surya claimed that with an upcoming Central law under Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed at curbing the Waqf Board's power to encroach on properties, the Karnataka government quickly moved to allocate land to Waqf.

He alleged that the government's intent behind holding Waqf Adalats was to gift thousands of acres of land to Muslims.
IMAGE: Delhi Police's Additional Commissioner of Police Eastern Range Sagar Singh Kalsi and other police officers pose for a picture with Jitender, a native of Haryana, who stands 7 feet 6 inches tall, during midnight duty on Diwali. Photographs: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora with Jitender during his visit to Shahdara to offer sweets to police personnel on midnight duty on Diwali, here and below.

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
When it comes to the Congress and Wayanad, the only way the scepticism in the minds of some in Kerala may be addressed is by the Gandhi family proving that they are more than a passing caravan in town, reports Shyam G Menon.

IMAGE: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is mobbed when she arrives to address an election meeting at Eengapuzha in Wayanad, October 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

On October 23, 2024, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's speech from Wayanad, where she was to file her nomination papers, felt both routine and surreal.

Routine because the state's Congress unit getting excited over visits by the Gandhi family was a drama repeated umpteen times in Kerala.

For the Kerala unit of the Congress party, 'high command' signifying the Gandhi family and associated party higher-ups, has always been a coveted magnet to cozy up to.

It is the Congress equivalent of the political Left's politburo and 'Pinariyist' (a popular term in the state denoting die-hard loyalty to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan) and the Bharatiya Janata Party's hallowed combine of Prime Minister Narendra D Modi and Home Minister Amit A Shah.

Priyanka's speech felt surreal because against the backdrop of a constituency facing some serious issues, here was yet another politician parachuted into place and expected to win on the strength of celebrity quotient.

Priyanka's debut as a candidate in Wayanad is different from her brother Rahul's.

In 2019, when Rahul Gandhi first contested from Wayanad, it was a case of seeking a safe constituency.

The seat he had represented from the 2004 Lok Sabha polls onward, Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, received a new competitor in the form of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Smriti Irani.

It made Rahul's survival there dicey. His arrival in Wayanad, from where too he decided to contest to hedge his risk, generated much curiosity and thrill.

At that time, the floods of 2018, which devastated parts of Kerala and stood identified with the ongoing global phenomenon of climate change, were less than a year old.

Wayanad had many unique issues ranging from the desire to develop infrastructure to human-animal conflict plaguing high range agriculture, all of this amidst a wider emergent concern in Kerala over how to develop its hills following clear signs of extreme weather patterns playing out in the geography.

However, in the 2019 elections, much of these issues appeared brushed aside in the euphoria of a Gandhi family member standing for elections in Wayanad.

As predicted from the start, Rahul was elected by a fantastic victory margin; on the day of results, the margin was in excess of four lakh votes.

Same time, he lost in Amethi thus evidencing the merit in having contested from Wayanad.

IMAGE: Priyanka arrives to address an election meeting in Wayanad, October 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Congress leader's tenure as the MP from Wayanad was disrupted in March 2023 when he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha after he was convicted in a defamation case.

In August that year, the conviction was stayed by the Supreme Court.

On the bright side, it was during his days of association with Wayanad that Rahul, as the politician he is today, was shaped.

There was the lengthy battle against the BJP ever trying to silence him, there was the Bharat Jodo Yatra and eventually his rise through the successful return of the political Opposition in the 2024 general elections, to his being currently, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Wayanad stood by him through all this. Its proof being his successful re-election from the constituency, in the general elections of 2024.

This time, with stronger opponents in the fray, slight fatigue in the original excitement of a Gandhi family member contesting from Wayanad and the fact that he was contesting from both Wayanad and Rae Bareli -- not to mention, the issues Wayanad had been facing, continued notwithstanding the development works done by Rahul -- his victory margin dropped below four lakh votes.

Given he won from both Rae Bareli and Wayand and had to surrender one of the seats, Rahul chose to give up the latter leading thereby to the current by-election featuring his sister, Priyanka, as a candidate.

IMAGE: Priyanka and brother Rahul Gandhi greet supporters during her roadshow, October 23, 2024. Photograph: Kind courtesy INCIndia/X

In some quarters of Kerala, there is an underlying scepticism about the Gandhis and their tryst with Wayanad.

That Rahul won from Wayanad and gave it up in 2024 despite the constituency sharing the angst over his disqualification from Parliament, is there in public memory.

As are two other points. First, Priyanka used to be the Congress general secretary overseeing the party in Uttar Pradesh (from September 2020 to December 2023), which raises the same question once asked about Rahul of why the siblings are contesting elections from safe constituencies in Kerala.

That Rahul hedged his risks in Amethi with a second base in Wayanad and that under Priyanka's watch, the Congress won only two seats in the last UP assembly elections, don't help.

Second, people haven't quite understood why there is an urgency to see Priyanka in Parliament.

These questions have lent the Gandhi family's presence in Wayanad, the hue of a periodic caravan in town.

Something that comes and goes with fanfare; not something permanent.

The BJP and the political Left have been quick to cash in on this angle.

What makes the apparent impermanence concerning in the November 2024 by-election is that as a constituency, Wayanad is not what it was in the April 2024 general elections when Rahul Gandhi won for a second time from there.

On July 30, 2024, following heavy rains, a series of landslides had hit Punjirimattom, Vellarimala, Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages in Meppadi panchayat in Wayanad, claiming more than 400 lives (source: Wikipedia) with several still missing.

"This incident ranks among the worst tragedies in India. It isn't just the number of people who died or whose lives were dislocated; the incident has an impact on future generations," noted author Kalpetta Narayanan said.

The relocation and rehabilitation of those affected by the landslides have since become a major bone of contention between Kerala and the BJP led-central government with the former seeking central assistance and the latter, in what is widely seen as an oblique way of shaming the state for its weak finances, suggesting that Kerala dip into its state disaster relief funds to finance the rehabilitation.

Narayanan is among those who believe that Wayanad's tragedy of July 2024 and its aftermath haven't received the kind of attention it merits.

IMAGE: Priyanka files her nomination for the Wayanad by-election. Photograph: Kind courtesy INCIndia/X

Now, there are those who argue that elections to Parliament should be fought on national issues and not local ones.

In Wayanad, this is indeed what happened in the 2019 general elections.

When Rahul approached the electorate as a candidate, the people looked beyond Wayanad towards a national scenario threatened by Hindutva and the BJP's rise, and voted accordingly.

Similarly, Narayanan thinks that Wayanad's landslides are a national tragedy further contextualised by larger global issues like climate change.

He believes that Wayanad's present juncture requires representation by someone who will provide voice to the region's troubles and get them heard.

He emphasised that he isn't a blind supporter of any political party.

Still, notwithstanding the fact that the by-election would be Priyanka's first ever election, he felt that she may be able to represent Wayanad's needs because the region's challenges have outgrown the proportion of merely banking on local representatives or the traditional wisdom of viewing elections to Parliament differently from elections to the state assembly.

In the eyes of some others, a potential spoiler herein was how convincingly the Congress was able to communicate to the electorate all that happened following Rahul's election in 2019 (like his disqualification), how the party values Wayanad in the context of the continued support the electorate gave and how it explains why Rahul decided to keep Rae Bareli and give up Wayanad in 2024.

If Wayanad feels letdown by how the Gandhis treated it in the past, then continued goodwill may dilute commensurately.

IMAGE: Priyanka and Rahul pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Wayanad landslides at the Puthumala mass burial ground in Wayanad, October 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

On October 23, a small galaxy of Congress leaders had assembled in Kalpetta to witness and support Priyanka's electoral debut.

Reports in the next day's newspapers cited Rahul promising that Wayanad would have an official representative in Priyanka and an unofficial one in himself.

Rahul's heft matters because the electorate knows how he has changed over the years and how much that may have contributed to the opposition's return in the 2024 parliament elections.

In her speech from Wayanad on the day of filing her nomination papers, Priyanka, 52, told the audience, 'It is my honour to represent you, if you give me a chance.'

She said her family remained grateful for the support Wayanad gave her brother and promised to stand by the electorate through thick and thin.

She said that Rahul had apprised her of the challenges Wayanad faced, ranging from road connectivity to hospitals.

'For me, each one of you is a symbol of my responsibility to you,' she said.

Priyanka made sure to highlight India's secular values, the love and brotherhood resident in various religions and how that fabric of tolerance was being torn asunder by the BJP.

Her speech, seeking an emotional connect and showcasing the Congress's call for amity may have impressed a sizable section of Wayanad's electorate, which wishes for secularism and relief from the Hindutva-laden politics of the BJP.

In its parliamentary constituency form, Wayanad packs in a large number of Muslim voters.

Political observers in Kerala know that this vote bank, anchored by the Indian Union Muslim League, which is a member of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala, has always played a pivotal role in making Wayanad safe for high profile Congress candidates.

Two elections won by Rahul so and with Wayanad's old and new challenges still to address, electoral math alone as avenue to succeed is impressing less and less people; certainly, it isn't impressing some Keralites in the state watching Wayanad from far.

Prima facie a good, efficient MP for Wayanad has become important against the backdrop of its problems. Someone who can get things done.

Can the Congress's strategy of parachuting the Gandhi family to Wayanad or the determination of the Left Democratic Front and the BJP to simply counter the move, satisfy what Wayanad seeks?

IMAGE: Priyanka on her to address an election meeting at Panamaram, October 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

That parachute element has begun getting picked on by Priyanka's opponents.

A seasoned and respected politician, the Communist Party of India's Sathyan Mokeri represented the Nadapuram assembly constituency for a long time (in the 2024 general elections, the CPI candidate from Wayanad was senior party leader, Annie Raja).

At 71 years, he is the oldest of the main three candidates contesting the 2024 Wayanad by-election.

P Sandosh Kumar, senior CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala, who is overseeing Mokeri's campaign, said his party's approach to the Wayanad by-election was based on a few points.

First, the political Left saw the by-election as a forced one triggered by Rahul Gandhi's resignation from the Wayanad seat.

Replacing Rahul with Priyanka was equivalent to admitting that the Congress lacked suitable political talent locally.

It also smacked of wishing to keep things within the Gandhi family, which Sandosh argued, wasn't what was expected from a party committed to democracy.

He felt it was improper that INDIA bloc parties like the Congress and the CPI should compete mutually.

"In 2019, there was no INDIA bloc. When the 2024 general elections came and there was an INDIA bloc in place, the Congress's explanation was that the sitting MP should be allowed to defend his seat. But for the by-election, there is no sitting MP as Rahul Gandhi resigned his seat," Sandosh Kumar said.

When the Congress and the Left compete against each other, the anti-BJP vote gets split.

"Wasn't the need to listen to one's partners, one of the lessons for the Congress from the Haryana assembly elections?" he asked.

Sandosh Kumar wished there had been greater coordination within the INDIA bloc instead of precipitating situations wherein the Congress appears more anti-Left than anti-BJP.

"In the last few years, Wayanad has lacked a proper MP. For the Congress, it is still a transit constituency," he said.

As for the July landslides, Sandosh said the LDF had done its best to help despite the state's financial challenges.

IMAGE: Wayanad residents gather to hear Priyanka speak, October 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

At 39, the BJP's Navya Haridas, a councilor in the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation, is the youngest of the main three contestants (the BJP's Wayanad candidate in the 2024 general election was its state unit president, K Surendran).

Speaking about her campaign, the software engineer highlighted the need to uplift Wayanad's tribal community and bring in more development projects to the region without harming the environment.

A super specialty hospital for Wayanad was on her agenda too.

Referring to funding options for infrastructure already available under various central schemes and the people's need for a channel between them and the authorities, she said, "I was wondering what the elected MP was doing for the last five years."

She spoke of addressing farmers' issues and managing human-animal conflict in a balanced manner that didn't hurt either side.

Tourism would be allowed to develop without causing ecological damage.

Navya said that Wayand needed a representative who spoke the people's language.

Asked about the landslides of July, Navya said she saw the tragedy as a "man-made" disaster; the consequence of inapt development models and warnings ignored.

Pointing to the new army-built Bailey bridge, which restored road connectivity to the landslide-hit spots, she said, "People know that a major share of the rescue work came from the central government."

IMAGE: Congress supporters at an election meeting addressed by Priyanka, October 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

After speaking to the three competing sides, one got the impression that only the Congress (it isn't in power in Kerala or at the Centre) could afford to see July's landslides and its aftermath without anything to defend.

As the ruling front in the state, the LDF was protective of its contribution to rescue and rehabilitation; as the ruler in Delhi, the BJP saw the Centre's intervention as paramount.

"The tragedy of July is an issue in the by-election. Usually when a disaster of this scale happens, the Centre helps financially. That hasn't happened," A P Anil Kumar, the MLA from Wandoor and general convenor of the Congress's central election committee, said.

To their credit, the Gandhi siblings stayed in touch with Wayanad's tragedy.

In August, 2024, Priyanka had accompanied her brother to Chooralmala, among areas hit by landslides.

On October 24, media reports said that soon after filing her nomination papers, she and Rahul paid their respects at Puthumala, where some of those who died in the landslides of July have been laid to rest.

Still, when it comes to the Congress and Wayanad, the only way the scepticism in the minds of some in Kerala may be addressed, is by the Gandhi family proving that they are more than a passing caravan in town.

If she wins, commitment to her constituency will be expected from Priyanka.

"As a top Congress functionary, Rahul may be pulled here and there, away from Wayanad. People think Priyanka will stay. Further, this is her first election and she has the need to prove herself," a prominent commentator on politics I spoke to, said.

Within days of Priyanka filing her nomination papers, the BJP was in attack mode claiming that she hadn't made a full disclosure of information pertaining to her and her husband's assets.

Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
JERUSALEM, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that it had killed Jaafar Khader Faour, the commander overseeing Hezbollah's missile and rocket operations in its Nasser unit.

The IDF reported that Faour was targeted and killed in a precision airstrike by an Israeli Air Force fighter jet in the village of Jouaiyya in southern Lebanon, without telling the time of the operation.

The IDF said that Faour was responsible for initiating Hezbollah's first firing order on Oct. 8 last year, and since then had been responsible for multiple attacks from eastern Lebanon against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

He was also responsible for multiple rocket attacks towards the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, including the attack on Druze town Majdal Shams, which resulted in the killing of 12 children and teenagers in July, according to the IDF.

The IDF said another senior figure in Hezbollah's Nasser unit, the commander of the drone operations, was also killed in the airstrike.

Hezbollah has not commented on this matter. 
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with occasional showers this afternoon. Thunder possible. High 63F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 51F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch.
PORT SUDAN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 people were killed and five others injured in two separate attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur State, western Sudan, on Saturday, according to a medical group and a government official.

The Sudanese Doctors Network reported that 15 people were killed and five injured in an RSF attack on the Bardik area and nearby villages.

Separately, Ibrahim Khatir, director-general of North Darfur State's health ministry, told Xinhua that three people were killed in an artillery attack on the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur State. Medical staff at the hospital were unharmed.

Fierce clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF have been ongoing in El Fasher since May 10. The city, home to approximately 1.5 million people, including 800,000 internally displaced persons, has been severely affected by the conflict.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in mid-April 2023, has resulted in over 24,850 deaths and displaced millions of people, according to the latest estimates from international organizations. 
Barnas working day begins early in the morning, hours before she enters her office at a private media outlet in Kabuls trendy Karte-e Char area.

Barna, a 26-year-old Afghan reporter whose name has been changed for security reasons, says she carefully chooses stories to pitch to her editors via WhatsApp messages while she is still riding on a packed minibus in an hour-long journey to work.



By the time I reach the Pol-e Sorkh crossroad, which is about 15 minutes from the office, the editors and I go through several topics to make sure we pick a story that is important and interesting but at the same time is safe enough not to anger the authorities, Barna says in describing her daily work.



We have many red lines. We have to avoid certain topics, and we have to tone down our criticism in order to survive under the Taliban, she told RFE/RL by phone from Kabul. Our work and lives are full of restrictions and the government continues to impose even more.



Afghan journalists fear that they will soon lose what Barna described as their last remaining freedoms after the hard-line, Taliban-led government recently banned the publication of human and animal images as part of new morality laws. Unveiled in August, the laws also say that a womans voice should not be heard in public.

Several Afghan provinces -- including Kandahar, Helmand, and Takhar -- shut down most television stations to comply with the ban.



Television channels in these provinces have effectively been turned into radio stations, leaving dozens of cameramen, photographers, video editors, and others out of work. The radio stations, meanwhile, were prohibited from airing a womans voice.



Afghan media reported last week that all other television networks in the country have been given two months to follow suit. But a high-ranking government source denied those reports on October 29.



The source told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi that authorities will address the issues that some visual media outlets are facing in some provinces, but did not elaborate.

A cameraman in Takhar who lost his job because of the ban said the latest restrictions on the media will plunge Afghanistan into the dark ages.



It feels like we live in a backward society that does not care about progress and development, the cameraman told Radio Azadi, speaking on condition of anonymity. Media without photography and video is like a body without a head.

Another Afghan journalist condemned the ban as irrational and extremist and said the government would not be able to implement the policy throughout the country.

A 27-year-old reporter in Kabul said Afghan media would lose thousands of media workers if the Taliban tries to enforce the ban.



Many will lose their jobs, and many others will leave the industry because our work will become meaningless, the reporter told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity. How can you keep your audiences with male-only radio reports with no video and no music?



Thousands of Afghan journalists have left Afghanistan since the ultraconservative Taliban returned to power in August 2021.



According to press watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), of the 10,870 men and women working in Afghan media at the beginning of August 2021, only 4,360 were still working in the industry in December of that year. During that period, of the 2,490 female journalists, just 410 were still in their jobs.



At least 141 journalists have been detained or imprisoned under Taliban rule, RSF reported in August, but added that no media workers were imprisoned at the time of its report.



The biggest problem is that we dont have anywhere to complain, the Kabul-based reporter said. Who do you complain to when the culprit behind your problems is the government itself and it doesnt care about the criticism from the international community or public opinion?



Dream Versus Reality



In Kabul, Barna and her colleagues havent yet been told to comply with the new morality laws, but the staff -- like most journalists across the country -- are bracing themselves for it. Barna says her female friends working in radio and TV are fearing the worst.



Women journalists are already the hardest hit, and we stand to lose more, she said. Most Taliban officials refuse to speak to female reporters, so we must ask our male colleagues to get comments from officials for our reports.



Barna says officials from the Vice and Virtue Ministry have installed security cameras at her workplace and pay random visits to ensure female workers dont breach the strict Islamic dress code.



The latest constraints on Afghan media workers come amid the backdrop of grinding poverty and unemployment in the country.



Several journalists working for Afghan-owned media outlets in Kabul told RFE/RL they earn between 40 to 70 percent less in comparison to the wages they received before the Taliban came to power.
A senior aide to President Vladimir Putin has rejected any temporary cease-fire with Ukraine just hours before a US delegation arrived in Russia for talks with Moscow where they will urge the Kremlin to agree to a 30-day cease-fire proposal or face sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said in an interview broadcast on state television on March 13 that U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed cease-fire, which Kyiv has agreed to, would only give Ukraine time to recover from pressure Russia has been exerting on its troops.

"I have stated our position that this is nothing other than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more," said Ushakov, Ushakov, who has more than half a century of involvement in diplomacy and is considered to be the Kremlin's chief foreign policy adviser.

He added that he had laid out Moscow's position in a phone call to US national-security adviser Mike Waltz a day earlier.

"It seems to me that no one needs any steps that (merely) imitate peaceful actions in this situation," he said, noting that Russia wants a long-term settlement that addresses its interests and concerns into account.

During a March 12 White House meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Trump expressed confidence about securing a cease-fire for Ukraine and said that U.S. negotiators were traveling to Russia right now, as we speak.

On March 13, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the US team reportedly headed up by Trump's special envoy. The state news agency TASS later reported that the envoy, Steve Witkoff, had arrived in Moscow.

Trump had earlier told reporters that Russia "has no way out but cease-fire. If needed, we will sanction it, but I hope we won't need to."

The US President has made ending Russia's more than three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, quickly dispatching his top officials to Moscow and Kyiv to prepare the groundwork for peace talks.

His latest comments on the war come after Kyiv agreed to the temporary cease-fire plan following nine hours of talks with Trump administration officials in Saudi Arabia.

At the same time, it is unclear how interested Russia is in the idea, with Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to speak on Ukraine on March 13 after talks with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

"Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X on March 13.

"This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that U.S. pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war," he added.

Putin Visits Kursk

As Trump spoke at the White House, Russian President Vladimir Putin was donning combat fatigues for a visit to troops in Russia's Kursk region, where fierce fighting is currently taking place and Moscow's forces are advancing.

Ukraine seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August, a move seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip in any peace talks.

That strategy is now at risk of failing as Russian forces slowly push the Ukrainians out of Kursk, having retaken more than half the territory initially captured by Ukraine.

During his visit to Kursk -- his only visit since the incursion began -- Putin urged his troops to retake the region in its entirety "as soon as possible."

He also said that captured Ukrainian soldiers would be treated as "terrorists."

In an interview with Current Time, the editor in chief of Novaya Gazeta Evropa, Kirill Martynov, said that the US proposal of a cease-fire free of additional conditions had angered pro-war elements in Russian society, including so called Z-Channels on Telegram.

Putins appearance in military garb was a response, said Martynov, and a way of showing this more aggressive group of citizens that everything is under control, and he continues to wage war.

Absolutely in his style, after the situation has improved [in the Kursk region], he appears and takes credit for what is happening, Martynov said.

Unconfirmed reports on March 12 indicated that Ukraine has begun to draw back units as Russian officials claimed their troops had captured more settlements, including Sudzha, the largest settlement that Ukraine had taken in the offensive.

Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said that fighting continued in and around Sudzha.

"Despite increased pressure from the Russian and North Korean forces, we will maintain the defense of the Kursk region as long as it is appropriate and necessary," Syrskiy wrote on Telegram.

In a Facebook post, Syrskiy said that saving soldiers lives is a priority and that Ukrainian troops would "maneuver to more favorable positions, if necessary," wording often used to describe a retreat.

Concessions?

Trump has so far used Washington's significant leverage over Ukraine -- namely military aid and intelligence sharing -- to get Kyiv to agree to the cease-fire proposal, which, if implemented, would leave almost 20 percent of the country in Russia's hands for the time being at least.

The United States announced after the talks in Saudi Arabia that it would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and restore military aid to Ukraine, which could be a boost to Ukrainian forces, whose battlefield positions have been under heavy pressure, particularly in Kursk.

Trump lacks that kind of leverage with Russia, which has navigated sweeping US and European sanctions placed on its economy following the invasion much better than most experts forecasted.

Putin may seek to drag out talks with Washington over a cease-fire to improve Russia's position on the battlefield, experts say, and hence at the negotiating table when and if Moscow and Kyiv hammer out a peace deal.

Trump has also hinted that Ukraine would have to make concessions on land, something more and more experts say is inevitable given Russia's momentum on the battlefield.

"When we talk cease-fire [with Ukraine], we talked land, who's withdrawing -- we discussed a lot of things [with Ukraine]," Trump said.

"We don't want to waste time, people are dying. Russia is not in the best situation now. I hope [Putin] gets a cease-fire."

Trump has said fresh sanctions could do "very unpleasant, very bad things, devastating for Russia," but has offered few details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the cease-fire proposal and said he hoped it would be used as a draft for a lasting peace deal that included security guarantees for Ukraine.

"It's now up to Russia what is next," he said at a March 12 press conference, and whether "it wants to continue its aggression against Ukraine or not."

Moscow has so far declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal for the 30-day cease-fire.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was "carefully studying" the joint US-Ukraine statement issued following the Jeddah talks and will wait to comment until Russian negotiators receive more detailed information from Washington.

Reaction on the streets of Moscow, however, was mixed, with one man saying that "agreeing to a truce now, when the enemy is weakened, is completely inappropriate and wrong."

But others welcomed the news. "We just want this to end as soon as possible so that people stop dying," said one woman in the Russian capital. "So many have already perished."

Meanwhile, on the streets of Kyiv, some Ukrainians told RFE/RL's Current Time that they doubted whether Russia would sign on to, and adhere to, a cease-fire deal.

"I'm not sure what to say, but it all seems implausible, frankly speaking," said one Kyiv man, while a woman in the capital said the cease-fire talks were "meaningless without Russia taking part."
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.

I'm RFE/RL's China Global Affairs Correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now.

Minding The Transatlantic Gap

China is looking to capitalize on a transatlantic rift between the United States and Europe that is widening as U.S. President Donald Trump looks to quickly end the war in Ukraine.

But how much of an opening is there actually for Beijing?

Finding Perspective: The threat of tariffs, a war of words at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, U.S.-Russia talks that excluded Europe and Kyiv, and a standoff at the United Nations over how to commemorate the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine have all been recent fissures between Washington and European governments.

That brought new questions about relying on the United States to European capitals and left an opening for Beijing, which has been trying to woo back Europe over the past four years.

On the sidelines in Munich, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held bilateral meetings with several top European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Spain's foreign minister seems to be at least more open to the idea of keeping China closer amid tensions with the United States.

Jose Manuel Albares told the Financial Times that the European Union should craft its own China policy and not follow the more confrontational line with Beijing advocated by those in the Trump administration.

"Europe must take its own decisions, on its own. And we have to decide when China can be a partner and when China is a competitor," Albares told the newspaper.

How We Got Here: During Trump's first term in office, Washington pushed European governments to take a harder line on China. That led to the bloc labeling China a "systemic rival" in 2019.

The Chinese government's untransparent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, human rights, and supply chain concerns, and Beijing's backing of Russia throughout the war in Ukraine all saw that harder line solidify in Europe under former U.S. President Joe Biden's tenure.

Now amid growing transatlantic tensions, some European governments see following Trump's tough stance on China as a way to win over Washington. Others, like the Spanish government, are arguing to preserve vital economic ties with Beijing, especially amid growing uncertainty about the United States.

This has even led to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, one of Brussels's more hawkish voices on China, calling in January for a new effort to improve relations between Brussels and Beijing.

A True Rift? Tensions on each side of the Atlantic are real.

Following his party's victory in elections on February 23, Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor-in-waiting for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the Trump administration "does not care much about the fate of Europe" and that the Continent needs to act accordingly.

"My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the U.S.A.," he said.

Talk of a seismic shift in the geopolitical order is also under way in Brussels.

One EU official recently back from discussions with U.S. officials told RFE/RL that the White House's focus is on ending the war in Ukraine and that there is a "take it or leave it" attitude from Washington.

The Trump administration wants to "remove the Ukraine issue from the table and move on to other issues. It is becoming clear that Trump's goal is to rule the world together with Russia and China" and work toward "strategically separating them from each other," said the official, who was granted anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters.

Why It Matters: Europe may be grappling with a realignment, but that doesn't mean China is its only option to hedge.

As European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visit Washington, von der Leyen is set to arrive in India on February 27.

James Crabtree, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told me that "it's hard to imagine a better time to re-energize Europe's and India's historically lackluster ties" and that a focus of the trip will be technology cooperation.

"A meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council -- only the second since its foundation in 2023 -- offers opportunities to deepen collaboration in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to clean technologies," he said.

China may also be short on opportunities, with most EU members unable to look past its support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine. The bloc's most recent sanctions package passed on February 24 once again included Chinese companies and individuals.

What is likely to emerge is a more fragmented Europe when it comes to China. While some governments look to countries like India, South Korea, and Japan to balance out their foreign policy, others -- such as the current Spanish government and Hungary -- will keep courting Chinese investment and create new openings for Beijing.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. A Reverse Nixon?

China publicly backed the Trump administration's recent talks with the Kremlin, but analysts and former U.S. officials I spoke with mostly said the prospect of a U.S.-Russia reset is also making Beijing "nervous" about having less leverage over its partner.

The Details: "While a complete rapprochement might not be in the cards, they're nervous because if Trump lifts sanctions on Russia, then Moscow's dependency on China decreases," Dennis Wilder, who was a top White House China adviser to former U.S. President George W. Bush, told me.

One of the hallmarks of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's foreign policy has been a burgeoning strategic partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin that's grown closer since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Beijing has propped up the Russian economy through enhanced trade and energy purchases while fueling the Kremlin's war effort with the supply of key goods as both Xi and Putin have found common ground in wanting to challenge the West and unseat the United States.

The fear of all that being derailed by a new type of U.S.-Russia relationship born out of a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine is real for Beijing.

Wilder says he's had conversations with "very senior Chinese officials" since Trump's election in November who have expressed concern about a potential U.S.-Russia reset.

He says they've used the phrase "Only Trump goes to Moscow," a play on the historical reference to former U.S. President Richard Nixon's landmark visit to Beijing in 1972, when he defied precedent and courted China to exploit its split with the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War.

2. But Can It Work?

A grand bargain would be a major diplomatic feat, but it's something Trump administration officials have hinted at in public comments of late.

What You Need To Know: The Trump administration has made clear it sees managing a long-term rivalry with China as its top foreign policy objective and may look to deprioritize regions like Europe and the Middle East in order to raise pressure on Beijing in Asia.

Following the talks in Riyadh, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the possibility for future "geopolitical and economic cooperation" between Washington and Moscow was among the key points discussed.

And in an interview this month with The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington was prepared to reset the relationship with the Kremlin following an agreement over Ukraine as a move to end Russia's isolation and its growing dependence on China since the war began.

"It's not in Putin's interest to be the little brother in a coalition with China," Vance said.

The thinking is that even new cracks between the two powers may loosen Moscow's alignment with Beijing and could have a deterrent effect on China, especially if it decides to use military force to take Taiwan.

Still, both Beijing and Moscow are aware of what the White House is trying to do, and Beijing has made a point to show it and Moscow are still a tandem, including a recent phone call between Putin and Xi on the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

Steve Tsang, director of SOAS University London's China Institute, told me he believes Washington's efforts to reset its Russia ties are also not all bad news for Beijing.

"Xi does not want Putin to fail in the war, and so Trump delivering a peace that mostly meets Russian conditions is a positive," he said. "Who knows who will be the next U.S. president and if there will be a reversal of U.S. posture post-Trump."

3. Taiwan Watches A New U.S. Line On Ukraine

Ukrainians living in Taiwan and local supporters protested outside the de-facto Russian Embassy in Taipei on the eve of the third anniversary of Moscow's invasion.

What It Means: The self-governing island has been a vocal supporter of Kyiv, which the Taiwanese government sees as a foil for its own tenuous geopolitical position where China has long threatened to invade and annex Taiwan if it refused to peacefully accept unification.

Those parallels have grown since Trump's election. The United States is Taiwan's largest military backer and its support is considered vital for its survival, but Trump's global shakeup, including launching negotiations with Russia without Ukraine and threatening to cut off future aid to Kyiv, has brought anxiety to Taiwan about a similar withdrawal of American assistance.

When I was in Taiwan in December, I spoke with several senior officials who said they were closely watching what happened to Kyiv on the battlefield and with the new U.S. administration.

So far, the White House has reaffirmed its support for Taiwan, but Washington has also threatened tariffs on the island's semiconductor industry, which is responsible for around 60 percent of world production for microchips and 90 percent of the most-advanced ones needed for the global AI boom.

Across The Supercontinent

Choking Off Iranian Oil: Earlier this month, the United States brought in a new tranche of sanctions on Iranian oil, my colleague Kian Sharifi and I reported . The move is seen as an opening shot against Tehran and Beijing -- Iran's top oil customer.

New Bridge Deal: The Transport Ministry of Tajikistan and the Tajik branch of the Chinese company Zhejiang Communications Construction Group (ZCCC) signed a cooperation agreement for the construction of what will be the longest road bridge in Central Asia.

New Tools For Tashkent: Uzbekistan showcased on February 25 newly purchased Chinese-made air-defense systems, including the FM-90 short-range surface-to-air missile system and the KS-1C medium-to-long-range air-defense system.

One Thing To Watch

A Chinese-crewed cargo ship is detained in Taiwan's southern port of Tainan after a key Taiwan-Penghu Internet cable was mysteriously severed.

Taiwanese prosecutors are investigating whether this was an accident or part of a broader pattern of disruptions to vital communication lines, but the country's Coast Guard released footage of them apprehending the vessel.

The move comes amid growing tensions from a rise of so-called gray zone tactics, the term often used by Taiwanese officials to refer to the hybrid tactics used to intimidate the island but which remain below the threshold for war.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish
US President Donald Trump said he sees a "very good chance" for peace between Ukraine and Russia after "very good and productive discussions" between US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a March 14 post on his Truth Social site, Trump also said the United States had urged Russia to spare the lives of "thousands" of Ukrainian soldiers that Putin has said have been isolated by Russian troops in Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine disputes that claim.

The post came just hours after the Kremlin said it was "cautiously optimistic" following a meeting late on March 13 between Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump wrote.

Trump added that "thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position."

"I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared," he wrote. "This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II."

Putin said a day earlier that a group of Ukrainian troops were "isolated" in the Kursk region, the site of a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces last August. Responding to Trump's plea on March 14, he said the soldiers' lives would be spared if they surrendered and urged Kyiv to order them to do so.

Officials in Kyiv have said that while Ukrainian forces have been slowly withdrawing in the Kursk region under heavy pressure from Russian troops, but the armed forces general staff said on March 14 that "[r]eports of the alleged 'encirclement' of Ukrainian units...in the Kursk region are false and fabricated."

"There is no threat of encirclement of our units," it said in a statement on social media.

Zelenskyy Challenges Putin's Motives

Earlier on March 14, Putin's spokesman said there were grounds for "cautious optimism" over Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal, which Ukraine accepted earlier this week at talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine, meanwhile, questioned Moscow's sincerity in ending the war, which is now in its fourth year since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 2022.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Putin sent Trump a message about his cease-fire proposal after his talks with Witkoff in the Russian capital.

"When Mr Witkoff brings all the information to President Trump, we will determine the timing of a conversation (between Trump and Putin). There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic," Peskov said.

Putin said a day earlier that he agrees in principle with the US proposal for a temporary cease-fire with Ukraine, but added that "there are nuances," such as Western weapons deliveries to Kyiv, that he wants addressed first.

The Russian leader also said any agreement should lead to long-term peace that addresses the "root" reasons for the war, an apparent reference to NATO expansion and other developments Putin claims have put Russia's security in jeopardy.

In a video posted late on March 13, Zelenskyy questioned Putin's motives, saying the Russian leader was preparing to reject the proposal but was afraid to tell Trump.



"That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a cease-fire these conditions -- so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said.

He followed up on March 14 with a post on social media accusing the Kremlin of trying to "complicate and drag out the process."

"Russia is the only party that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to break down," he said on X after a call with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Putin's Response To Trump's Pressure

Kyiv agreed to Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal at a meeting in Jeddah on March 11, putting the onus for peace in Moscow's lap. Putin's response threw the ball back into US hands, at least to some degree.

Trump called Putin's initial reaction to peace talk developments "promising" but incomplete, though he added he hoped Russia would "do the right thing" and agree to the deal.

"I think the Russians are keen not to be seen as the intransigent party as that could lead to consequences from Trump, such as sanctions. So that informed Putin's comments today," John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, told RFE/RL.

Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, and is wielding US leverage to get both Kyiv and Moscow to the table.

On March 13, the US administration heightened pressure on Russia by increasing restrictions on the country's oil, gas, and banking sectors.

Among the measures, the Treasury Department was allowing the expiration of a 60-day exemption put in place in January by the Biden administration that let some energy transactions involving sanctioned Russian banks continue. The move would make it more difficult for other nations, especially in Europe, to buy Russian oil.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) -- which includes the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan -- said they discussed imposing more sanctions on Russia and boosting support for Ukraine if the Kremlin does not agree to the cease-fire.

Among the measures discussed during the March 13-14 meeting were caps on the price for Russian oil exports, they said in a joint statement. Western nations in late 2022 imposed a $60-a-barrel price cap on the export of Russian oil using Western ships or insurance. It is unclear if the G7 discussions touched on lowering the price cap. Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which account for a third of federal budget revenues.

In a joint statement following the meeting, the G7 said that "we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence."

"We welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the US and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," it added.

Putin also said there were several unanswered questions in the proposal, such as what to do about Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

"If we have a cease-fire, does that mean that everyone there would leave?" Putin said. "Should we release them [Ukrainian troops] after they committed crimes against the population? Or would they surrender?"

Ukraine denies committing such crimes, saying it abides by humanitarian law and does not target civilians.

Why Should Russia Agree To A Cease-Fire?

Kyiv seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August, a move seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip in any peace talks.

That strategy is now failing as Russian forces supported by North Korean troops push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russia has regained more than half the territory in Kursk initially captured by Ukraine.

Zelenskyy told reporters on March 14 that the situation in Kursk was "obviously very difficult."

Among the other concerns Putin voiced about the cease-fire proposal is whether Ukraine would use the 30-day period to mobilize and train forces or rearm with the help of the West.

He also raised the question of how the nearly 2,000-kilometer front would be monitored. Zelenskyy told reporters that the front could be monitored by US satellites.

Experts had warned that Putin would likely seek to drag out cease-fire talks because his forces have the upper hand on the battlefield.

Aside from the advances in Kursk, Russia is gaining territory in eastern Ukraine -- albeit at high human and material costs -- due to its significant manpower advantage.

However, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has stopped Russian forces at the gates of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub in Donetsk region, after months of fighting on the outskirts of the city. Zelenskyy asserted that the incursion into Kursk forced Russia to pull forces from eastern Ukraine, giving his troops time to defend the city.

Russia is seeking to capture at a minimum the entirety of the four regions of Ukraine it claims to have annexed in September 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. A cease-fire freezing the current front lines would leave them short of that goal.

"One way the Russians could slow down this process without coming out directly and saying 'no', is by dragging out those technical discussions on monitoring" the cease-fire, Hardie said.

"That could also give them ways to try to pin the blame back on Ukraine, by insisting on certain technical matters that Ukraine might find objectionable," he said.
In a November 3 presidential runoff, Moldovan voters will choose between pro-EU incumbent Maia Sandu, who won the first round with 42 percent of the vote, and former Prosecutor-General Alexandr Stoianoglo, who secured 26 percent with backing from the pro-Russian Socialist Party of Moldova (PSRM).

While the position of president is technically a ceremonial position in Moldova, holders of the office often wield considerable political influence. RFE/RL's Moldovan Service introduces the candidates, their campaigns, and the controversies that are complicating their careers.

Maia Sandu: Firmly In The EU Camp

A Harvard graduate and former employee at the World Bank, Maia Sandu became Moldova's first female president with a landslide victory in 2020. After winning with a strong pro-EU message and promises to fight corruption and reform the judiciary, Sandu has had her work cut out for her in her first term with an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic and rising geopolitical tensions with Russia.

The 52-year-old Sandu first rose to prominence in 2012, serving as the country's education minister. After an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2016, she briefly served as prime minister three years later when her party allied with the PSRM.

As president, Sandu was instrumental in securing Moldova's candidacy to join the European Union in June 2022, an achievement given extra urgency following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine a few months earlier.

Praised for her integrity by some, Sandu has also been criticized for the slow pace of judicial reform and for failing to revive Moldova's struggling economy. In a televised presidential debate on October 27, Sandu admitted that the promised judicial reform -- including combating corruption and overhauling the Prosecutor-General's Office -- had been slow and vowed such measures would be more efficient in the future.

Throughout her presidency, Sandu has been criticized by pro-Kremlin political parties who have accused her of stoking conflict with Moscow. In December 2022, she was chastised for limiting freedom of expression after she suspended the licenses of six pro-Russian TV channels for "dissemination of false information."

In her campaign for reelection, Sandu has pledged to maintain peace, improve living conditions (Moldova is the poorest country in Europe), and join the EU by 2030.

After a narrow victory in the referendum on EU membership, which was held simultaneously with the first round of the presidential election on October 20, Sandu alleged that Moldova was the target of unprecedented fraud and that "criminal groups" and "foreign forces" tried to buy 300,000 votes. She stopped short, however, of disputing the results.

With Moldovan police accusing fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor of being responsible for the vote-buying scheme, Sandu was criticized -- including by her challenger -- for presenting inadequate evidence and for exaggerating the numbers of Moldovans affected. (The police said that 138,000 people were beneficiaries of the vote-buying scheme, not 300,000).

Alexandr Stoianoglo: Hard To Pin Down

Alexandr Stoianoglo's past experience as Moldova's prosecutor-general between 2019 and 2021 has had significant bearing on the thrust of his presidential campaign: justice. The 57-year-old has promised that, if he becomes president, he will ensure the "triumph of law over defamation."

As prosecutor-general, Stoianoglo was widely criticized for his failure to address high-level corruption. Most notably, he was accused of inaction in the cases of Veaceslav Platon, an oligarch involved in the disappearance of around $1 billion from the country's banks, and Shor, who was caught on camera giving PRSM leader and former President Igor Dodon a suspicious-looking bag.

Despite being the most popular candidate among the Moldovan diaspora in Russia and supported by the pro-Kremlin PSRM, Stoianoglo says he has no political affiliation and rejects accusations that he is "Moscow's man." He has rejected accusations of corruption, abuse of office, and illicit enrichment, saying that all the purported evidence has been fabricated by Sandu's administration.

Stoianoglo has absolved himself of some of the criticism, however, winning a case at the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights related to his suspension from the position of prosecutor-general.

Politically, Stoianoglo is hard to pigeonhole. While he is a member of a pro-EU coalition in parliament, he has sometimes taken pro-Russian positions -- for example, by refusing to vote for a resolution condemning communist-era atrocities. His reaction to the war in Ukraine has also been ambiguous: He expressed a "negative attitude" toward the conflict but did not directly condemn Russia for the invasion.

His approach to Moldova's drive to join the European Union has also been marked by prudence. While he boycotted the referendum on the EU constitution and has criticized the pace and implementation of EU-mandated reforms, he recently proposed that he sign with Sandu a joint declaration supporting Moldova's European path.

This ambiguity has led to accusations of political opportunism and hypocrisy. Despite his typically anti-EU stance, he is also a Romanian (and thus EU) citizen, and his daughter reportedly works at the European Central Bank.
Pakistan reported two cases of wild poliovirus infection on November 1 in the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, raising the national count for the year to 45, according to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan, the statement said.

It said cases were confirmed in one girl in the Lakki Marwat district and a boy in the Dara Ismail Khan district.

So far, 22 polio cases have been reported from Balochistan Province, 12 from Sindh Province, nine from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab Province and Pakistans capital, Islamabad.

Seventy-six districts were affected in all, the program said.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic.

On October 28, Pakistan launched a weeklong nationwide vaccination campaign with the aim of immunizing more than 45 million children under the age of 5 against the paralytic disease.

Health workers distributing the polio vaccine and the security forces assigned to protect them have been targeted in the past by Islamist extremists who falsely assert that immunization campaigns are Western plots to sterilize Muslim children.
WELLINGTON, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) is not only a six-day event but also has a significant flow-on effect, effectively connecting exhibitors to the Chinese market, said Roy van den Hurk, general manager of Theland Global R&D from Milk New Zealand Dairy Ltd., before Theland's participation in the CIIE for the seventh time in a row.

The CIIE, an open platform filled with opportunities, embodies China's high level of openness, Roy told Xinhua, adding that each CIIE offers invaluable insight into global strategic planning in the Chinese market.

Starting as a small exhibitor with just a 50-square-meter booth, Milk New Zealand Dairy now has a 200-square-meter space and is a "full-attendance participant" after seven years at CIIE, Roy said.

"When we first joined the CIIE in 2018, Theland was still a small exhibitor," he said, adding the trade facilitation policies at CIIE, however, offered enormous opportunities to small-to-medium exhibitors.

"They enabled our fresh milk to clear customs with 'zero wait time,' allowing our milk from New Zealand farms to reach Chinese consumers' tables within just 72 hours, something unimaginable before," Roy said.

The CIIE provides a high-level procurement platform, facilitating on-site connections between exhibitors and a strong pool of professional buyers, which greatly enhances supply-demand efficiency. The CIIE's spillover effect also accelerates the rollout of new products, he added.

Citing an example of Theland's 4.0 milk, which was launched at the CIIE and was expanded from first- and second-tier cities to small counties in three months, a process that usually takes at least a year, Roy said this fourfold increase in speed has allowed the New Zealand company to establish roots in the Chinese market and continuously grow.

The CIIE has connected supply chains with distribution networks, he said. Theland signed a partnership with Beijing Wumart Group during the second CIIE in 2019, and quickly expanded to cover 25 provinces, 52 regional leaders, and 5,000 stores. Later, the company quickly entered strategic partnerships with major e-commerce platforms, further embedding itself in China's food industry cluster.

At each CIIE, Theland introduces global debut products, using China as a testing ground and expanding, Roy said, adding that Theland is committed to deepening its roots in China.

This is also the second year that Theland has led a group of New Zealand small and medium enterprises to the CIIE, increasing from 12 to 21 companies, hoping to share China's growth opportunities and market dividends with more New Zealand enterprises, he said. 
TOKYO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government plans to issue new bonds backed by securities it holds, including shares in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., to raise funds for supporting its semiconductor industry, local media reported Saturday.

The initiative, aimed at strengthening Japan's chip production capabilities, is expected to be integrated into an economic stimulus package set to be mapped out later this month, Kyodo News cited an informed source.

The move will benefit various semiconductor companies, including government-supported Rapidus Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which is constructing new plants in Kumamoto Prefecture.

The support aligns with Japan's goal to bolster its semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors through 2030, addressing challenges in securing these crucial technologies domestically.

The bonds will be structured with collateral provisions to ensure future repayment, maintaining Japan's fiscal discipline, according to the report.

Japan currently faces significant fiscal challenges, with the highest debt-to-GDP ratio among major developed nations. 
The air ambulance based in Athlone is to be stationed in Dublin over the next six to eight weeks, according to Deputy Claire Kerrane.

The Sinn Fein TD said that the relocation was happening because the hanger in Athlone was undergoing structural repairs. The air ambulance opened in Athlone in 2012.

According to information from the health services, County Roscommon is one of the counties which has one of the highest number of call outs for the air ambulance.

This will remove the very benefit of the air ambulance service for County Roscommon - speed," said Deputy Kerrane. "It takes about 30 minutes to fly from Dublin to Athlone.

"I understand the National Ambulance Service (NAS) was to consider other options to hold the aircraft after the last time this happened, and 6-8 weeks became three months. I want the NAS to look at Knock Airport or Galway and they should do this, they should have it done.

"This is unacceptable. I am getting more and more concerned about the decisions being made at management level in the NAS - they took away our 24/7 Advanced Paramedic cover in Roscommon and now they are doing this. I will not allow the NAS to do any of this quietly and I will not stop highlighting these issues."

The HSE and department of health were contacted about this.

Separately, Deputy Kerrane added that after a lot of over and back with the NAS on the removal of 24/7 advanced paramedics in Roscommon, a course will begin in the New Year to allow paramedics to work here as advanced paramedics.

Deputy Kerrane said she was delighted to get this agreement and she expected one to be stationed in Roscommon to complete and restore the 24/7 cover if an advanced paramedic was not put in place before then.
Ferozepur Police Rewards Farmers as Stubble Burning Declines, Launches Patrolling Efforts

SSP Ferozepur has deployed 29 additional patrolling teams led by SHOs and 65 special teams with PCR support.

Punjab Ferozepur Stubble Burning Latest News: The Ferozepur Police has initiated a program to reward farmers who manage stubble responsibly, highlighting the case of Gur Iqbal Singh, a farmer from Talwandi Jalle Khan, who was awarded mobile headphones for plowing his land without burning stubble. This initiative aligns with efforts to curb stubble burning, which has seen a substantial drop in incidents this year.

Currently, Ferozepur has registered 38 stubble-burning cases under Section 3223 of the BNS, distributed across Sadar, Arifke, and other stations. Compared to last years 516 cases reported from September 15 to October 30, this year has recorded only 268 in the same timeframe, reflecting a significant reduction. In 2022, the total incidents were even higher at 730 for this period.

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To support these efforts, SSP Ferozepur has deployed 29 additional patrolling teams led by SHOs and 65 special teams with PCR support. The police have collaborated extensively with the district administration, conducting about 165 meetings with farmer unions and 105 with Village Development Committees (VDCs). Regular patrols cover 100 hotspots for stubble burning, with cluster officers and police engaging in joint patrols across the district.

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India Needs 10 Million Jobs Annually to Sustain 6.5% GVA Growth Through FY30, Says Goldman Sachs

Report notes that construction remains a significant job creator in India, accounting for approximately 13 percent of total employment.

According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, India will need to generate around 10 million jobs each year from FY25 to FY30 to support an annual GVA (Gross Value Added) growth rate of 6.5 percent. Key strategies identified in the report include stimulating the real estate sector through affordable housing incentives, as this sector employs over 80 percent of labor in construction, which could accelerate job creation across various skill levels.

The report further suggests establishing IT hubs and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. This move aims to ease pressure on major urban centers while boosting job opportunities in underrepresented regions. Additionally, Goldman Sachs recommends directing fiscal incentives toward labor-intensive manufacturing sectors like textiles, food processing, and furniture to support jobs for low- to middle-skill workers.

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While Indias Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have so far benefited mostly capital-intensive industries, the report highlights a promising shift toward labor-intensive sectors, such as textiles, footwear, toys, and leather goods. With 67 percent of manufacturing jobs in labor-intensive sectors, this shift aligns well with Indias employment targets.

The report notes that construction remains a significant job creator in India, accounting for approximately 13 percent of total employment. Investment in real estate and infrastructure has not only spurred job growth but also positively impacted incomes among low- to medium-income households. Additionally, the service sector, contributing 34 percent of Indias employment, has expanded, notably with retail trade benefiting from digital transformation.

Indias Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) has increased from 50 percent in FY18 to 60 percent in FY24, driven largely by female workforce participation, especially in rural areas. Factors such as improved measurement, financial inclusion through women-targeted credit schemes, and growth in small and micro-enterprises have fueled this rise.

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With India in a unique demographic phase, boasting a low dependency ratio and a growing working-age population, the country has a vital 20-year opportunity to capitalize on this demographic dividend and meet its employment and economic goals.
Budgam Terrorist Attack: 2 non-locals shot at, injured in Jammu and Kashmir

Gunfight Breaks Out In Khanyar Srinagar

Budgam Terrorist Attack in Jammu and Kashmir: In a shocking incident, two non-locals were injured after terrorists fired upon them in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Friday evening, the sources said.

According to the official sources, both the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital where their condition is said to be stable.

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Reportedly, the incident took place at Mazhama village near Magam area of the district. Following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam, the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to nab the assailants.

Gunfight Breaks Out In Khanyar Srinagar

On the other hand, an encounter started between militants and security forces in the Khanyar area of Central Kashmir's Srinagar district on Saturday.

A senior police officer told GNS that a team of police and security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Khanyar based on very specific input.

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As the joint team approached the suspected area, the hiding militants fired upon the joint party, leading to an encounter, officer added.

Till this report was being filed intermittent exchange of fire was going on.
India Dismisses Canadas Allegations Against Amit Shah as "Absurd and Baseless"

India summoned a representative from the Canadian High Commission, issuing a formal note protesting these allegations.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly rejected Canadas claims that Home Minister Amit Shah was allegedly involved in plots to intimidate or harm Sikh separatists, labeling them "absurd and baseless."

On Friday, India summoned a representative from the Canadian High Commission, issuing a formal note protesting these allegations. The diplomatic move followed Canadian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Morrisons remarks before a parliamentary panel on October 29, where he accused Shah of authorizing efforts to target Sikh separatists in Canada. This accusation was the first official, on-record statement implicating Shah in such claims.

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During the panel inquiry into alleged Indian interference and criminal activity in Canada, Morrison mentioned information from The Washington Post, which cited anonymous Canadian officials. According to the report, these officials linked the June 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar to an Indian officials directive, implicating both a senior intelligence operative and Shah. Morrison confirmed to the panel that Shah was indeed the official in question when pressed by journalists.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized these assertions on Saturday, condemning Canadian officials' "unfounded insinuations" leaked to the media. He described Canadas actions as a deliberate attempt to damage India's global reputation and emphasized that this behavior is indicative of Canadas political agenda. Jaiswal further warned that such actions could harm bilateral relations between the two nations.
Punjab news: Petrol Bomb Thrown at Shiv Sena (Hind) Leaders Home in Ludhiana

CCTV footage revealed three attackers on a motorcycle throwing a bottle with a flammable liquid at Khurana's residence.

Punjab Ludhiana Petrol bomb Attack latest news today: In a shocking incident, three unidentified individuals allegedly hurled a petrol bomb at the home of Shiv Sena (Hind) leader Harjot Singh Khurana in Ludhiana's Model Town early Saturday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as confirmed by local police.

CCTV footage revealed three attackers on a motorcycle throwing a bottle with a flammable liquid at Khurana's residence. Initially, Khurana mistook the explosion for a Diwali firecracker, only to later find that a neighboring car had been damaged.

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The incident follows a similar attack two weeks ago when a petrol bomb was thrown at the residence of Shiv Sena (Bharti) leader Yogesh Bakshi in Ludhianas Chandar Nagar area. Police investigating Khurana's case found glass shards scattered near his home.

Additional Police Commissioner Shubham Aggarwal assured that the culprits would be identified soon, though there has been no breakthrough yet in the investigation of the earlier attack on Bakshis home. Police are actively reviewing CCTV footage as they pursue both cases.

(For more news apart from Punjab Ludhiana Petrol bomb Attack latest news today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Punjab declares three-day holiday in Novermber, Schools to Remain Closed

On November 15, Punjab will celebrate Gurpurab, marking the birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Punjab School Holiday Latest News Today: Punjab has declared a three-day holiday from November 15 to 17, with educational and government institutions set to remain closed. The state government announced the closures in honor of important cultural and historical observances.

On November 15, Punjab will celebrate Gurpurab, marking the birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and a revered spiritual leader.

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November 16 commemorates Martyrdom Day in honor of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, a freedom fighter who played a crucial role in Indias struggle for independence. Following these observances, Sunday, November 17, will round off the long weekend, allowing residents and devotees time for reflection and celebration.

These holidays highlight the states commitment to honoring its cultural heritage and important figures, providing citizens with an opportunity to participate in religious and historical events across Punjab.

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Pakistan to Offer Visa-On-Arrival for Sikhs from US, UK, and Canada, Promises 30-Minute Processing

The announcement came during a meeting with a delegation of Sikh pilgrims from the United States.

Pakistan Tourism Visa on Arrival Latest news: In a significant move to boost religious tourism, Pakistan has announced a new visa-on-arrival policy for Sikh pilgrims from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

According to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, visiting Sikhs from these countries will soon be eligible for a free visa processed within 30 minutes upon arrival, as reported by 'Dawn'. This initiative aims to strengthen ties with the global Sikh community, enabling devotees to visit sacred sites in Pakistan up to ten times a year.

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Naqvi emphasized Pakistan's commitment to welcoming Sikh pilgrims with minimal bureaucratic hurdles, explaining that applicants will simply need to fill out an online form to receive their visa promptly.

The announcement came during a meeting with a delegation of Sikh pilgrims from the United States, where Naqvi expressed Pakistan's eagerness to ensure a smooth and accommodating experience for visitors of all faiths. This visa policy marks a significant step in promoting cross-border religious and cultural connections.

The new visa arrangement aims to encourage Sikhs worldwide to visit key religious sites, including the revered Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, providing seamless access to Pakistan's spiritual landmarks.

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An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a section of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia. The number of users of the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Cambodia had hit 10 million during the first two years of its operation. The Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., which is the operator of the 187-km expressway, marked the motorway's second anniversary on Friday, awarding a gift to the 10 millionth user of the road. (Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of users of the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Cambodia had hit 10 million during the first two years of its operation.

The Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., which is the operator of the 187-km expressway, marked the motorway's second anniversary on Friday, awarding a gift to the 10 millionth user of the road.

According to the company, Chhum Sophearun, a 42-year-old taxi driver, became the 10 millionth user of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway on Oct. 2 and was given free travel for one year on the expressway.

Speaking at the event, Cambodian Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea said the expressway, the first of its kind in Cambodia, has become a key strategic route, linking the first economic powerhouse of Phnom Penh with the second economic powerhouse of the coastal province of Sihanoukville.

"This expressway has been providing great benefits to Cambodia's socio-economic development and tourism," he said. "It has played a crucial role in improving the efficiency of travel and goods transport."

Ponea said the motorway was one of the major achievements in Cambodia under Belt and Road cooperation, in addition to the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, and the Morodok Techo National Stadium.

"These achievements are a solid testament to our joint efforts in building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said the expressway was a landmark project of China-Cambodia cooperation under the BRI.

"It is a vivid example of China-Cambodia joint efforts in building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard community with a shared future in a new era," he said.

The ambassador said the expressway has significantly contributed to creating job opportunities, promoting regional development and improving the well-being of local people.

Wang added that he had traveled on the expressway many times and was impressed with the road's high quality and sound management.

Speaking to Xinhua at the event, Sophearun said he was excited to be contacted by an expressway staff member to inform that he had become the 10 millionth expressway user.

"Usually, I travel on the expressway from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and vice versa, carrying tourists from Europe, China or Indonesia," he said.

Sophearun said traveling on the expressway saves a lot of time, as it takes only two hours to go from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, while traveling on the National Road 4 takes up to five hours at the same distance.

"Traveling on the old road (National Road 4) takes a lot of time and costs a lot of money on fuel and car maintenance due to uneven road surface, so in sum, the expense for traveling on the old road is higher than that on the expressway," he said.

"The expressway is the best choice," he said. "I would like to urge all drivers to use this expressway because it is quite safe and very convenient to travel."

Invested by the China Road and Bridge Corporation under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model in the amount of 2 billion U.S. dollars, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway is the first-ever freeway in Cambodia and is the largest single project under the Belt and Road Initiative.

With two lanes for traffic in each direction plus an emergency lane on each side, vehicles can reach their destinations within two hours through the expressway instead of five hours on National Road 4.

Teng Sokhen, a 25-year-old toll collector at the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, said the expressway has provided a safe, convenient, and efficient travel option for all drivers.

"I'm really happy to work at this expressway because this road has contributed to Cambodia's social development, economic growth and tourism, and has provided a lot of benefits to the people of Cambodia," she told Xinhua.

"As a staff member, I'm glad to be a contributor to the society," she said.

According to Sokhen, more than 10,000 vehicles ply the expressway on average per day. 

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows the headquarters of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The number of users of the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Cambodia had hit 10 million during the first two years of its operation.

The Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., which is the operator of the 187-km expressway, marked the motorway's second anniversary on Friday, awarding a gift to the 10 millionth user of the road. (Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua)

Staff members work in a traffic camera control room of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Nov. 1, 2024. The number of users of the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Cambodia had hit 10 million during the first two years of its operation.

The Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., which is the operator of the 187-km expressway, marked the motorway's second anniversary on Friday, awarding a gift to the 10 millionth user of the road. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a toll station of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The number of users of the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Cambodia had hit 10 million during the first two years of its operation.

The Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., which is the operator of the 187-km expressway, marked the motorway's second anniversary on Friday, awarding a gift to the 10 millionth user of the road. (Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua)

Staff members work in a traffic camera control room of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Nov. 1, 2024. The number of users of the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Cambodia had hit 10 million during the first two years of its operation.

The Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., which is the operator of the 187-km expressway, marked the motorway's second anniversary on Friday, awarding a gift to the 10 millionth user of the road. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
Except for YoY prospect in Exports, Honda Cars sales Oct 2024 witnessed sales decline across the board in both YoY and MoM analysis

Around the festive season, Honda Cars India Ltd has had a good sales prospect in the month of October 2024. However, sales could have been better in the Asian subcontinent and numbers have been dwindling. Lets break the numbers down and take a closer look at how the company performed with respect to sales in October 2024.

Honda Cars Sales Oct 2024

There was a time once HCIL (Honda Cars India Ltd) offered a wide array of vehicles ranging from Brio at the lower end and Accord executive sedan with a sophisticated Hybrid powertrain at the top end. Now, HCIL offers three vehicles only  Amaze, City and Elevate. Next Gen Amaze is being tested and could uplift Honda sales by a considerable margin.

The sales performance of HCIL in the month of October 2024 fell short of what it achieved in October 2023 and September 2024. Despite the massive surge in footfall into showrooms around festive season and the exciting discounts and offers, Honda cars didnt see a lot of takers.

Honda Cars India Ltd sold a total of 5,546 units in the domestic market last month. When compared to the 9,400 units sold in September 2023, HCIL witnessed a massive YoY decline of 41%, losing 3,854 units in volume YoY. When opposed to the 5,675 units sold in September 2024, a month before, HCILs 5,546 units sales in October 2024 witnessed a MoM decline of 2.27%, losing 129 units in volume MoM.

Where exports are concerned, HCIL shipped a total of 4,534 units last month, which accounted for 23.11% YoY growth as opposed to 3,683 units shipped in October 2023. However, Honda shipped 5,236 units in September 2024, resulting in a 13.41% MoM decline in exports, losing 702 units in volume MoM.

Except for the YoY analysis for exports, rest of the sales performance witnessed a decline in both YoY and MoM analysis. In total (Domestic + Exports), HCIL pushed out 10,080 units and managed to register a 22.95% YoY decline as it lost 3,003 units in volume YoY and a 7.62% MoM decline losing 831 units in volume.

Statement from HCIL

Sharing thoughts on the sales performance, Mr. Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, The festive sales momentum in October with Navratra, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Dhanteras and Diwali celebrated in same month contributed strongly to the customer deliveries at the dealerships.

It surely revitalized demand compared to previous few months of muted activity for the industry. Our dispatches and deliveries aligned with our expectations. Our focused approach to aligning production and inventory with demand positions us well to sustain this momentum.

Also read  Next Gen Honda Amaze spied testing
NEW DELHI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Indian government Saturday said it has protested "in the strongest terms" Canada's allegations against its federal home minister Amit Shah, terming them as "absurd and baseless".

According to India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the Canadian High Commission representative in India was summoned and handed over a diplomatic note in this regard.

In the note, India accused Canadian officials of deliberately leaking unfounded insinuations to the international media "as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations", saying such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences on bilateral ties.

Diplomatic relations between India and Canada deteriorated further last month after the two countries expelled each other's diplomats including the high commissioners.

This situation came after Ottawa said the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats are "persons of interest" in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader and accused New Delhi of targeting Indian dissidents in Canada.

New Delhi strongly rejected Canada's claims and accused Ottawa of not sharing evidence to justify their claim. However, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) issued a statement on "violent criminal activity occurring in Canada with connections to agents of the Government of India".

New Delhi and Ottawa were locked in a diplomatic dispute in September 2023, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian agents played a role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader near Vancouver in June. India outrightly denied the allegations and described them as "absurd and motivated".

The row later led to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions between the two sides. 
MOSCOW/SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held strategic consultations in Moscow on Friday, reaffirming their commitment to fully implementing the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has formally elevated their traditionally friendly relations to a new level, according to a statement issued by Russia's Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his DPRK counterpart Choe Son Hui exchanged opinions on the key international problems, it said, and both parties agreed to continue their strategic consultations between the foreign ministers, and to continue the dialogue and exchanges between the foreign ministries at different levels.

During the strategic dialogue, the two sides made an in-depth exchange of views on the practical issues for developing bilateral ties, the official Korean Central News Agency reported, citing a press statement issued on Friday after the talks.

The two sides expressed their common understanding that "the root cause of ever-escalating tensions in the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and other parts of the world lies in the provocations of the United States and its vassal countries," said the statement.

The Russian side expressed "full support" for the measures taken by the DPRK leadership to "deter the aggressive policy of the United States and its allies and ensure regional peace and stability," the statement added. 
In South Sudan, the food crisis has reached a critical level, with more than half of the population facing crisis-level hunger, Azernews reports.

The humanitarian situation in the world's youngest country is deteriorating rapidly, with hunger and cholera epidemics spreading to more areas, and the need for aid increasing swiftly.

UN agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, are calling on the international community for more support to alleviate the widespread suffering. WFP's acting director for South Sudan, Sean Heuse, has stated that there are currently no food reserves available to respond to next year's humanitarian challenges.

The situation is further exacerbated by high food prices, economic instability, and ongoing conflicts, as well as an influx of refugees from neighboring Sudan. Additionally, South Sudan serves as a major entry point for both refugees fleeing conflicts in Sudan and returnees. Those most affected by hunger are particularly vulnerable children under five years old, who face high levels of food insecurity and limited access to essential services.
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly early this week to denounce Washington's 62-year embargo on Cuba.

This near-unanimous vote -- with 187 in favor, only two against and one abstention -- goes beyond rejecting a dated policy. For 32 years in a row, the United Nations has called for lifting the unilateral embargo, amplifying the message with each and every vote: the world has long loathed its economic stranglehold on Cuba.

The embargo is a vestige from the bygone Cold War era, an outdated ploy that Washington still resorts to as a stand for so-called "democratic principles." Yet the blockage has less to do with democracy than with systematically stemming Cuba from pursuing a different path of social development.

Since 2019, Washington has screwed up sanctions on Havana, adding economic pressure through such measures as restricting oil shipments to Cuba, and tightening limits on travel and remittances.

The chokehold's cumulative cost is staggering, with the damage over the past 62 years amounting to nearly 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars, according to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

Addressing the General Assembly, Parrilla expounded on the toll of U.S. "economic warfare" on the Cuban people during October's nationwide blackout, caused by a shortage of fuel and spare parts essential for Cuba's power plants and grid.

"Many families lacked running water, hospitals work under emergency conditions, and schools and universities suspended their classes, and businesses interrupted their activity," he said.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic when humanitarian needs should have outweighed politics, Washington still toughened up its restrictive policies against Cuba, cutting the Caribbean island off from basic medical supplies, food, and essential resources.

The U.S. policies have drawn stern international rebukes, notably those from U.S. allies. Speaking out through a Hungarian representative on Wednesday, the EU said, "The U.S. embargo and connected measures do not contribute to promoting these aims (in economic openness, human rights), they impede their achievement."

In fact, the U.S. stance toward Cuba has become a hallmark of its broader foreign policy filled with unilateralism, disregard for international norms, and a brand of exceptionalism that asserts U.S. laws should extend beyond its borders.

This annual vote is more than a policy critique. It is part of a global shift. Since 1992, the UN General Assembly has voted 32 times on resolutions demanding an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba, with an ever-louder voice for lifting the blockade over the years.

Emerging economies and countries across the Global South are pushing for a more just and equitable world order. In contrast, the United States finds itself increasingly isolated, clinging to unilateral punitive measures rooted in Cold War hostilities.

Even within the United States, public opinion largely disapproves of the embargo, viewing it as a failed policy that merely breeds resentment. A previous survey by the Pew Research Center found that 73 percent of Americans favored normalizing relations with Cuba and lifting the trade ban.

These massive outcries notwithstanding, U.S. politicians choose to turn a deaf ear to the call from either its people or the international community.

As the international landscape is fraught with changes and turbulence, a stable global future depends ever more on peaceful development and win-win cooperation rather than outdated power play. As the General Assembly's vote shows, the world is ready to forge ahead, leaving the shadow of the Cold War behind. After all, there is nothing wrong about wishing for a better world. Washington would do well to listen. 
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- As the U.S. presidential race enters the final stretch, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, have been presenting voters with their visions on issues like the economy, immigration, and foreign policy, yet leaving education conspicuously absent.

In recent election debates, including those between vice presidential candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Walz, the topic has been avoided entirely. At the same time, both parties are locked in a tug-of-war to shape American classrooms according to their own agendas. As a result, education in America is facing a slew of problems, unaddressed or ignored.

QUALITY DECLINES

Despite the United States being recognized for its educational advancements and high spending in this sector, public confidence in primary and higher education is waning amid concerns over declining education quality.

An April Pew Research Center survey found that 51 percent of Americans believe the public K-12 (from kindergarten to 12th grade) education system is headed in the wrong direction, with most citing insufficient focus on core academic subjects as a major reason.

Similarly, according to a poll by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation in July, Americans are increasingly skeptical about the value and cost of college, with most believing U.S. higher education is on the wrong track. Only 36 percent expressed strong confidence in higher education, down from 57 percent in 2015.

Political polarization has split education policy along party lines: Democrats push for diversity and inclusion in curricula, pushing to incorporate the histories and contributions of racial minorities and LGBTQ+ groups, while Republicans believe education should focus on core subjects like math, science and reading, rather than promoting "political correctness."

Therefore, students become the most unfortunate casualties, finding themselves in classrooms where educational priorities swing wildly depending on who is in power, rather than based on pedagogical needs or students' intellectual growth.

While politicians tussled over issues like book bans, students were increasingly slipping behind in basic academic skills. Numbers clearly indicate a decline in education quality as the partisan divide intensifies.

A global exam result released by U.S. news outlet Axios last December showed U.S. students lagging in math, with 2022 Program for International Student Assessment scores dropping 13 points from 2018. Another assessment by the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that average scores for 9-year-olds fell by five points in reading and seven in math since 2020, marking the largest reading decline since 1990 and the first-ever drop in math.

INEQUALITY WORSENS

Partisan battles and political polarization have led to starkly different education policies at the federal, state, and local levels, not only lowering the quality of education but also deepening educational inequality nationwide.

Amid such a trend, U.S. higher education resources disproportionately favor the wealthy. At the state level, wealthier states are often educational strongholds, and in terms of quality, top universities tend to come with top price tags.

Harvard economist Raj Chetty led a study, based on millions of anonymous tax filings and tuition records, revealing that at 38 colleges in America, including five Ivy League schools (Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale, Penn, and Brown), more students come from the top 1 percent of the income scale than from the entire bottom 60 percent.

The bipartisan neglect of the core issue of educational equity has allowed the resource gap between schools in poor and wealthy areas to keep widening. Data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that public schools in low-income districts receive nearly 1,500 U.S. dollars less per student each year than those in affluent districts.

Meanwhile, minority and immigrant students face significant educational disparities. According to the NCES, Black and Hispanic students consistently have lower graduation and college enrollment rates. Such inequities in educational access limit upward mobility, fueling broader social inequalities and intensifying racial and cultural divides across the country.

Bettina Love, a professor at Teachers College of Columbia University, noted in the journal EducationWeek that the lack of attention to education could suggest the candidates aren't committed to helping K-12 schools and students thrive. "I think it also sends a message that they're not interested in really solving the inequalities and the serious issues facing us," she said.

POLICY POLARIZES

Noting that education was once an issue that hasn't had "a lot of daylight" between the two parties in modern politics, but now has become especially partisan within the last decade, Jennifer Steele, a professor at American University's School of Education, said: "I've never seen education as divisive as it is in this presidential election."

Partisan battles over education are primarily reflected in policy instability. When administrations change, the incoming party frequently reverses the education policies of its predecessor. Education has become a weapon for partisan battles in an increasingly polarized political landscape.

Much of U.S. President Joe Biden's K-12 education strategy has centered on undoing Trump-era restrictions and reinstating protections. Meanwhile, his student loan forgiveness initiatives have faced fierce opposition from Republicans, with seven GOP-led states filing lawsuits claiming that the Department of Education's recent debt relief measures are illegal.

Just two weeks before the election, on Oct. 17, and with early voting already underway in some states, the Biden administration announced an additional 4.5 billion dollars in student debt relief for over 60,000 borrowers, leveraging its administrative resources to appeal to student voters.

As for former President Donald Trump, he has been calling for an end to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and opposing Biden's broader debt cancellation efforts, criticizing them as Democratic campaign tactics and blaming them for the rising federal deficit.

The polarization between the two parties is also evident in their priorities. States governed by Democrats often focus on funding public schools, aiming to raise teacher salaries and improve facilities, while Republican-led states prioritize school choice, supporting charter schools and voucher programs.

Charter schools in the United States are publicly funded, tuition-free schools that are granted greater flexibility in their operations in exchange for increased accountability for performance, while voucher programs refer to government-funded programs that provide families with vouchers to pay for their children's education at private schools, including religious and non-religious institutions, rather than attending public schools.

As Forbes observed in its article, Higher Education Is Now The Most Politically Polarized Institution In America, On Par With The Presidency, "from a talent and economic development perspective, this partisan divide on education will go down as one of the most damaging trends in U.S. history." 
Friends to Lovers: A Romance Bookstore will open this month at 103 South Saint Asaph St. in Alexandria, Va. The Washingtonian reported that owner Jamie Fortin "hopes to include a little of something for everyone. There will be at least one book or two in each major subgenre of romance."

Jamie Fortin

Describing the store as "a community space" for all people who love romance books, she said, "You're not gonna see just white and straight romance. If you're looking for small town romance, you'll find queer and BIPOC representation. We want to make it so they're not a niche find."

Fortin told the Washingtonian that the bookstore's name has two sources: her own story with her boyfriend as well as the desire to make it clear this store is not for kids. "This is for 'when Mommy needs her wine and to go to the bookstore,' " she said. "It's clearly for adult women and not just about reading smut. It's about spending time with your friends and doing what you love."

When Fortin moved to Alexandria in August, she decided she wanted to contribute to the community of bookstores there, having loved bookstores in D.C. "I wanted something to differentiate from other bookstores, and this felt obvious to me.... In D.C. where it's so transient, people are looking for an in-person space. We've heard of retail 'scaling back'--but niche businesses are 'scaling up' because they're looking to build community."

Thanks to the buzz for Friends to Lovers on TikTok and Instagram, the November 14 grand opening celebration sold out in 24 hours, with 200 people registered, the Washingtonian reported.

Fortin credited the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership mentorship program and free resources for entrepreneurs as well as Alexandria's community of women business owners as a great support system.
Snap (NYSE: SNAP) is the parent company of social media platform Snapchat. Its stock is down 85% from its all-time high, which was set during the tech frenzy in 2021. While many of its peers also plunged following that period, Snap struggled to mount a sustained recovery.

The company's revenue growth isn't keeping pace with other social media giants like Meta Platforms, and it also continues to lose money at the bottom line. However, Snap's recent financial results for the third quarter of 2024 (which ended Sept. 30) showed measurable progress on both fronts.

Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free 

Plus, one of Snap's key operating metrics is accelerating, which could bode well for its future financial results. Based on one traditional measure of valuation, Snap stock is trading near the cheapest level since it came public in 2017. Here's why that might be an opportunity for investors.

Snap has a promising innovation pipeline

Snap had difficulties adapting to the changes Apple made to its privacy policy back in 2021, which made it harder for app developers to track their users' activity across the internet. Suddenly, Snap could no longer sell highly targeted advertising slots to businesses.

But Snap has invested heavily in innovation for its advertising platform, and it's starting to pay off. For example, the company launched its 7/0 Optimization model last year, which assigns a seven-day learning period to every new ad campaign, with the budget calculated from scratch based on the results. The model is completely performance-based, as it doesn't draw assumptions from past ad spending or outcomes.

The 7/0 Optimization tool continues to deliver improving results. During Q3, Snap said advertisers saw their cost-per-purchase fall by 27% compared to past models, which means they are making more sales for every dollar they invest in marketing.

Outside its ad platform, Snap is experiencing incredible engagement in its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, My AI, which can do everything from answer complex questions to offer vacation ideas. During Q3, the company said the number of Snaps (messages) sent to My AI more than tripled from just three months earlier.

The company is rolling out other AI and machine learning features to encourage users to post content more frequently. Snapchat users can now instantly create AI-generated video mashups and collages, and creators can access improved video, text, and audio recognition tools to add more depth to their content. More posts on Snapchat leads to higher engagement, which in turn makes the platform more valuable to advertisers.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Six vehicle thefts were reported during the week of Oct. 21-27 on Staten Island.

Overall, the number of automobile thefts reported in the borough for the year through Oct. 27 was down 24% (289 vs. 380) when compared to the same period in 2023, according to the NYPDs latest CompStat figures.

The database indicates that six cars were reported stolen on Staten Island between Oct. 21 and 27, the most recent week for which statistics are available.

Heres a look at those incidents:

 On Oct. 21 at 11 a.m., a car theft was reported on Bement and Castleton avenues in West Brighton.

 On Oct. 22 at 5 p.m., a car theft occurred at the intersection of Poland Place and Todt Hill Road in Castleton Corners.

 On Oct. 24 at 8 a.m., a grand theft auto was reported at the intersection of Richmond Terrace and Heberton Avenue in Port Richmond.

 On Oct. 26 at 2 p.m., a car theft was reported on Lafayette Avenue and Van Buren Street in New Brighton.

 On Oct. 27 at 9 a.m., a car theft occurred at the intersection of Houston Street and Houston Lane in Graniteville.

 On that same day, during the evening, at 7 p.m., a car theft was reported at Burgher Avenue and Adele Street in Dongan Hills.

A dramatic shift in NYPD strategy has resulted in less crime overall, after 2023 saw a surge on Staten Island. The NYPD enacted a tactical shift at the end of the summer of 2023, developing an intricate, multi-state system to gather and analyze intelligence as a strategy to crack down on car thefts and burglaries in particular, Assistant Chief Joseph Gulotta, the former NYPD Staten Island borough commander, told the Advance/SILive.com in an interview last December.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is set to launch The Voices of Diaspora program on Sunday, Nov. 3a yearlong celebration of global cultural heritage and diaspora stories.

The Voices of Diaspora programa groundbreaking, year-long initiative that explores the stories and contributions of five diasporic communities to global cultureruns from November 2024 through May 2025. It highlights the resilience, wisdom and unique cultural practices of people who have journeyed far from their ancestral lands.

Supported by the New York City Council Cultural Immigrant Initiative Discretionary Grants from City Council Members Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) and David Carr (R-Mid-Island), The Voices of Diaspora promises to foster understanding, connection, and respect for the intricate histories that shape our communities.

On Sunday, Nov. 3, the program kicks off with A Day of Wisdom and Transformation, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitors will experience The Seven Offerings for the Prosperity of the Land Ceremony, a traditional rite honoring peace and abundance, alongside the hanging of prayer flagsa Tibetan tradition believed to bring blessings and purification to the community.

Additionally, experts Alice Kandell and Tashi Chodron will share their perspectives on the 1990s Tibetan Resettlement Project, a pivotal effort that helped 1,000 Tibetans relocate to the U.S. from India and Nepal, fostering new roots in a foreign land.

The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is set to launch The Voices of Diaspora program on Sunday, Nov. 3a yearlong celebration of global cultural heritage and diaspora stories.Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The program offers a carefully curated lineup of events, each celebrating diverse voices and histories:

Saturday, November 9, 2024: Shirley Chisholms Legacy: Reimagining Democracy in the U.S. and Diaspora  Dr. Zinga Fraser will present on the impact of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, at Christ Church Parish Hall.

Friday, November 15, 2024: An Evening of Live Jazz  Local jazz musicians will perform at Christ Church Parish Hall. Tickets are $20 and available online, offering a soulful evening that highlights the creativity of diasporic music traditions.

Sunday, November 24, 2024: Unsilenced Histories: The Untold Stories of Staten Islands African American Community  This program will delve into the hidden history of African American contributions on Staten Island, dating back to the 17th century.

ABOUT JACQUES MARCHAIS MUSEUM OF TIBETAN ART

Founded in 1945, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is dedicated to promoting Tibetan art and culture. Nestled on Staten Island, the museum provides an immersive experience of Tibetan and Himalayan heritage, inviting visitors to explore unique cultural artifacts and traditions in a serene setting.

For more information and to reserve tickets, visit www.tibetanmuseum.org.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Featured in this weeks Staten Islands Best Dressed are photos of Staten Island residents, both the young and the young at heart, who got into the Halloween spirit on a beautiful Thursday afternoon with creative costumes for the days spirited festivities.

For 2024, a variety of creative, family-friendly costumes were spotted in neighborhoods on all shores, from Captain America to characters from the musical Wicked to salt and pepper shakers, bringing cheer to everyone they came across while trick-or-treating.

Submitted photos from Staten Island Advance readers featured high schoolers, younger children and even some fun-loving adults who dressed up to bring Halloween fun to the much-anticipated non-official holiday centered around candy and other sweet treats.

Adults, including teachers and school staff, joined the festivities by wearing costumes that brought extra cheer to their students. Their not-so-scary costumes kept things lighthearted and added a sense of magic to the school day, especially for students who look forward to seeing their teachers get dressed up for Halloween.

Scroll below for a glimpse into day. Send your photos for consideration for future installations of Staten Islands Best Dressed to gsantos@siadvance.com. Make sure the photos are clear and everyones names in each photo are included.

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Pictured are: Matt Mouton, Kristine Shipone, Deenna Legere, Jaqueline Bell, Rawan Husein, Nicolette Becker, Chaya Pereira, Martha Schultz, and Toni Puma. (Courtesy Martha Schultz)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Pictured are Rob and Kerry Falcone Kerry as Casa Azul and "Titos 'n club." (Courtesy Kerry Falcone)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Ppictured is Brielle Blaine as Little Bo Peep. (Courtesy Katie Blaine)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Twins Patrick Jones and Violet Jones are Salt and Pepper Shakers. (Courtesy Tina Kenny Jones)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Timmy Quinn is pictured. (Courtesy Mary Terjesen)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Pictured are Harrison and Abigail Agman as Prince Charming and Snow White. (Courtesy Robyn Agman)Courtesy photos

Renee Riley submitted this photo of her beautiful granddaughter, Madalyn Riley, in her not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. (Courtesy photos)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Pictured are Steven Terjesen and Eve Myers. (Courtesy photos)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Mary, Allen and Michael Terjesen had fun with "Back to the Futre" theme. (Courtesy Mary Terjesen)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Pictured are Hudson White and his aunt, Madison Gattullo (Captain America & Batwoman). (Courtesy Madison Gattullo)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Pictured are teachers Amy Zuntag and Donna Flannery. (Courtesy photos)Courtesy photos

Staten Islanders share their not-so-scary costumes for Halloween 2024. Pictured is Mia Rose Cumming. (Courtesy photos)Courtesy photos
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Flags across New York state will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday to honor a fallen New York State Police member, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The symbolic order serves to honor Senior Investigator John L. Carey, a retired New York State Police member who died from illness linked to his time at the World Trade Center in the wake of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Senior Investigator Carey was a dedicated member of the New York State Police, and his passing is a reflection of the relentless bravery and unimaginable sacrifice that defines both a public servant and a hero, Gov. Hochul said. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 have claimed the life of another New Yorker, a New Yorker who will always be remembered for protecting his community and for his fearlessness in service.

Carey joined the State Police in 1982, serving for 32 years before he retired on July 30. 2014.

In the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, Carey was assigned to Ground Zero for two weeks, where he assisted in identifying the victims of the terrorist attack. It was while he worked at the site that Carey was exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes.

Senior Investigator Carey is survived by his wife, Christine; their four children, Andrew, Ashley, Adam and Jennifer; and his granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth.

Sept. 11 related illness has taken the lives of numerous responders since the fateful events of that day. A total of 343 members of the FDNY perished on Sept. 11, 2001, since then, more than 360 firefighters have passed away to related illnesses, according to a report from Spectrum News.
One of New Yorks favorite resident comedians, Jerry Seinfeld, blasted his kids former school for allowing the day after the election off for distressed students, according to published reports.

The New York Times said it obtained an email from Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx that was sent to parents about a proposal to allow children to take the day off after election day. According to the report, the email says the school wants to create a safe environment for students.

The Emmy Award winner told the Times that he took his son out of that school in the past because of such actions.

This is why the kids hated it, Seinfeld, 70, told the Times.

The Seinfeld series co-creator and wife, Jessica, sent their sons to the $65,000 per year Ethical Culture Fieldston School, but their younger son, Shepard, 19, transferred in eighth grade to the Riverdale Country School, according to the Daily News.

What kind of lives have these people led that makes them think that this is the right way to handle young people? To encourage them to buckle, said Seinfeld. This is the lesson they are providing, for ungodly sums of money.

Seinfeld has also been in the news lately for being vocal about his support of Israel amid its war with Hamas.

According to the Daily News, the Israel-Hamas War has caused infighting among Ethical Culture Fieldston School students, families, faculty -- and even alumni. As a result, head-of-school Joe Algrant stepped down, according to the Times.

TMZ reported that sources with direct knowledge of the situation said the day off will proceed as planned despite the backlash.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Kevin G. Hanley, a retired Navy veteran and NYPD detective remembered for his heroism, patriotism and selflessness, died on Oct. 26 due to complications from 9/11 related cancer.

Hanley was born in Brooklyn on Dec. 13, 1954, the youngest of three children. He grew up in public housing in Sheepshead Bay, graduating from Sheepshead Bay High School in 1972.

Two years later, in 1974, Hanley would go on to begin a 32-year career of both active and reserve duties in the U.S. Navy. After graduating from Navy Submarine School in New London, C.T., he served aboard several submarines during the Cold War. He completed seven patrols before being honorably discharged in 1978.

Returning home, Hanley followed in his fathers footsteps and joined the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 807, working as a truck driver before becoming a shop steward.

Young Kevin Hanley in Sheepshead Bay (Courtesy of Florence Hanley)(Courtesy of Florence Hanley)

In 1983, Hanley married his wife of 41 years, Florence. A year later, the couple welcomed their first son, James. In the years that followed, Kevin and Florence would welcome two more children, Florence and Patrick.

Hanleys professional path would once again take a turn when he joined the New York City Transit Police in 1988. Not long after, in 1989, he moved the family to Bulls Head, where they would live for some time before eventually settling in New Springville.

His distinguished career in law enforcement saw him serve in District 34, District 2 and the NYPDs 70th Precinct. It was during his time at the 70th Precinct that Hanley was promoted to detective. In this role, he served in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the 123rd Precinct, the Intelligence Bureau, and the Hostage Negotiation Team.

Theres letters from people that hes locked up in the past, to my dad. Thank you so much, because he treated people with dignity, you know, people who made mistakes in life, Hanleys daughter, Florence, said.

Like many of New Yorks finest, Hanley responded to the 9/11 terror attack on our nation.

Kevin Hanley (left) and Florence Hanley (right) at the Marine Corp ball at Tottenville High School. (Courtesy of Florence Hanley)(Courtesy of Florence Hanley)

In the midst of serving with the NYPD, Hanley re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve as an Intelligence Specialist. In this time he was deployed to Saudi Arabia as the Combat Air Intelligence Operations Control Chief.

Then, in 2005, Hanley was deployed to Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay as the Assistant Officer in charge of the Interrogation Control Element during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hanleys final deployment saw him serve for a year as an intelligence specialist and interrogator at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

These deployments earned Hanley various commendations.

In 2008, he retired from the NYPD and joined the U.S. Secret Service as a special officer. He remained with the service for 10 years before his retirement in 2019.

Upon retirement, Hanley attended the American Academy McAllister Institute for Funeral Service in Manhattan, subsequently working in the funeral industry.

After my brother (Patrick) died, my dad went back to school to be a funeral director, to be able to help other parents who bury their kids, added Hanleys daughter. So, if that aint selfless and that aint compassion, I dont know what is.

It was in this time as a funeral director that the COVID-19 pandemic struck and, as shared by his daughter, Hanley continued to assist families in putting their loved ones to rest with respect and dignity.

As noted by his daughter, Hanley was also a fourth degree Knight of Columbus.

(From left to right) Florence (wife), Liam Hanley (grandson), Kevin Hanley, as seen in May 2024. (Courtesy of James J. Hanley)(Courtesy of James J. Hanley)

Hanley enjoyed reading, debating, spending time with family and singing. In the 1990s, Hanley joined his friend Jay Black (Jay and the Americans) on tours and would occasionally take to the stage and sing and play the bongos.

In a family of big personalities, my dads was the biggest, an excerpt from the eulogy of James J. Hanley, Kevins son, reads. He was larger than life. He stood out in every room he was in. Growing up, playing sports, he was consistently the loudest voice from the sidelines, cheering on us kids, whenever he could be there because work and military service frequently took him away.

Hanley is survived by his wife, his two children, James and Florence, his daughter-in-law and six grandchildren.

All the good things I have, qualities about me, are inherited right from him, Hanleys daughter said. He was somebody in a room, he would light the whole room up. He was my dad, he was my hero, legitimately, he was my hero.

In the wake of Hanleys passing, the family has experienced an outpouring of love and support from the community and those who knew him.

Hanleys funeral Mass was held on Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church in West Brighton.

For the full obituary, click here.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A few weeks after Nicolina Barrett moved into New Broadview Manor, an assisted living center in South Beach, she began experiencing frequent bloody noses, lethargy and a host of respiratory distress.

She went there to recover from hip surgery, and ended up getting sick quite often, her daughter, Jackie Barrett, explained, detailing her mothers symptoms. She couldnt figure out why, but she felt like it had something to do with her new environment.

Thats when the 67-year-old discovered layers of mold in several corners of her room.

The substance that Barrett swabbed came back positive for four different types of fungi: Alternaria, Aspergiullus/Penicillium, Memnoniella and Stachybotrys. (Courtesy of Jackie Barrett)(Courtesy of Jackie Barrett)

She snapped pictures of the black substance, which was growing on ceiling tiles and in sheet rock crevices, and sent the visual evidence to her daughter, who lives in New Orleans. She reached out to administration at Broadview and called the buildings owners. When both parties were unresponsive, she swabbed the suspicious substance herself, forwarded it to an environmental lab for testing and sent the results to the city Department of Health (DOH).

The tests came back positive for four different types of fungi, two light, two heavy, Jackie Barrett noted, naming strains of Alternaria, Aspergiullus/Penicillium, Memnoniella and Stachybotrys that were detailed in a lab report produced by Iris Environmental Laboratories in July 2023. She was so happy when she got that report back, because she knew that was the cause of her illness. She was so desperately trying to be heard.

Barrett was treated for acute bronchitis, termed by her doctor in a health report as a reaction to black mold. (Courtesy of Jackie Barrett)(Courtesy of Jackie Barrett)

Barrett, who had worked for years as a health-care professional herself, was treated for acute bronchitis, termed by her doctor in a report as a reaction to black mold. After an investigation of the facility, spurred by Barretts complaints, the DOH substantiated her claims, issuing a violation to physical environment at Broadview on Oct. 3, 2023. It was one of 36 violations issued at the facility since 2020.

There were so many other issues at play, Jackie Barrett said.

Nicolina Barrett died on Feb. 20, 2024.

We dont think the mold was the cause of her death, but it definitely made her last days difficult, Jackie Barrett said. She was hospitalized because of her breathing issues and had constant recurring bloody noses. Her health was so fragile, but she kept writing letters. She kept fighting, because she believed there was negligence there.

Broadview Manor did not respond to several calls and emails regarding Barretts claims, and the W Group, which owns and operates the facility, was also unresponsive.

According to the Department of Health website, which publicly lists citations issued at all adult-care facilities, a total of 36 violations resulted from 27 inspections at Broadview from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024. Twenty-four of those violations were issued on Oct. 3, 2023, after Barretts urging -- six for environmental standards, eight for food services, six for resident services, two for personnel, and one each for general provisions and resident funds and valuables.

Three days later, the DOH sent a letter to Barrett, noting that an investigation had substantiated her complaints.

Barrett died on Feb. 20, 2024, at the age of 67. (Courtesy of Jackie Barrett)(Courtesy of Jackie Barrett)

This is to advise you that we have completed our investigation  and were able to substantiate your complaint, stated the letter, which was obtained by the Advance/SILive.com. An appropriate violation related to Physical Environment is being issued for the facility to correct.

But the mold issue was not corrected before Barretts death. And the DOH declined to comment on whether any of those violations have been cleared since -- terming the complaint as an ongoing investigation.

Ensuring all Adult Care Facility residents receive proper care is a priority of the New York State Department of Health, the DOH noted in a statement when questioned about Barretts case. The Department also reviews every complaint it receives to determine if the issue is a possible regulatory violation, which includes unannounced onsite surveys as well as offsite record reviews. The Department cannot comment on any open or ongoing complaints or investigations.

The DOH directed the Advance/SILive.com to view all publicly available information about New Broadview Manor Home for Adults on the NYS Health Profiles website, and suggested that persons with concerns about potential violations of residents rights file a complaint by calling 1-866-893-6772.

The department also suggested reaching out to New York States Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, which it called an effective advocate and resource for older adults and people with disabilities who live in nursing homes, assisted living, and other licensed adult-care homes.

A spokesperson for the Ombudsmen Program deferred an inquiry back to the DOH, however, since the question seems to be related to the enforcement status of Department of Health violations and complaints.

At a memorial service held at New Broadview Manor after Barretts death, residents vowed to continue her work.

[Nicky] not only gave a damn, she gave her life, one resident said during the service, portions of which were recorded and shared with the Advance/SILive.com. And we have to keep that going. If people want it better around here, they gotta stand up for themselves. She was carrying the weight of the entire resident facility. If you want it better, you got to stand up.

Jackie Barrett said she finds comfort in those sentiments.

Theres not a day that goes by that I dont think about what we could have done differently, she concluded. But its my hope that her voice and the complaints she made about this facility do not go unheard.
New York City public school students wont head to campus on Tuesday, as they have the day off because it is Election Day, and many schools will be open as voting sites.

It means students will head to class on Monday, Nov. 4, and then head back on Wednesday, Nov. 6, for the remainder of the regular school week.

The city Department of Educations (DOE) public school calendar includes some two dozen days off between the first day and the last day of classes. The calendar gives time off for the religious holidays, week-long breaks for winter recess, mid-winter recess and spring recess, and federal holidays.

For those looking further ahead, there are plenty of days off before the end of the year.

Election Day marks the second day off for students in November  as schools were closed on Friday, Nov. 1, to observe Diwali.

Looking ahead, schools will close on Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.

After these three holidays, students wont see any time off until Thanksgiving recess from Nov. 28-29. The last day of school before this recess will be Wednesday, Nov. 27, with kids heading back to campus on Monday, Dec. 2.

And winter recess will also start earlier this year, as Monday, Dec. 23, will now be an additional day off.

New York City public schools will be closed for winter recess from Monday, Dec. 23, to Wednesday, Jan. 1. The last day of classes before break will be Friday, Dec. 20.

Students will return to classes on Thursday, Jan. 2.

You can view the 2024-2025 academic calendar here.
Look for the premiere of A Kidnapping in Amish County, all set to debut on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT  and available to stream the next day.

The Lifetime website reports that the story unfolds when Lena (Jorja Cadence)  an Amish woman with a checkered past  realizes her daughter has been abducted.

As a result shes forced to turn to the only person who can help: her estranged best friend, Skye (Elise Bauman). But Skye has renounced the Amish way of life and has found fame on social media.

The movie also features Benjamin Sutherland as Aaron.

HOW TO STREAM A KIDNAPPING IN AMISH COUNTRY ONLINE FOR FREE

If youre a cord-cutter or dont have cable, you can watch A Kidnapping in Amish Country online on Philo TV and get it for free via a seven-day free trial.

This is one of the most cost-friendly streaming services, with the full price set at only $28 per month.

WHAT CHANNEL IS LIFETIME ON?

If you are watching on cable, catch Nightmare in the Desert on Lifetime.

You can find which channel Lifetime is on by using the channel finders here: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish.

MORE ON THE SHOW

A Kidnapping in Amish Country is produced by Reel One Entertainment.

Tom Berry, Suzanne Chapman, Sebastian Battro and Taylor Warren Goff serve as executive producers. Cat Hostick is the director from a script by Taylor Warren Goff.
CampusGrotto / Flickr.com

If youre investing in an in-person college education, you want more than just a degree  youre looking for an experience that makes the cost of those hefty student loans worthwhile.

The 2025 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Survey questioned over 50,000 students and recent graduates about the different aspects of their student experience, including campus facilities, community and social life and diversity.

Try This: Im a Bank Teller  4 Reasons You Should Withdraw Your Savings Right Now

Read Next: 9 Things You Must Do To Grow Your Wealth in 2024

Using that information, the survey identified the top colleges where students feel the experience justifies the expense.

Trending Now:

1. Scripps College

Scripps College, a womens liberal arts institution located in Claremont, California, ranked No. 1 in student experience.

According to students, it ranks highest for offering a supportive and inclusive environment followed by top marks for things like food, housing and extracurricular activities.

The actual surroundings also earned praise. It was described by one student as very pretty with a resort-like feel.

Check Out: Im a Money Expert  4 Reasons You Should Stock Up on $100 Bills Before the Winter

2. Harvey Mudd College

Harvey Mudd College, also in Claremont, California, has good rankings in all aspects of the student experience, but its strong suit is diversity.

Like Scripps, Harvey Mudd is part of the Claremont College consortium, a group of neighboring colleges that share campuses and various student services.

3. Florida International University

As its name would lead you to believe, Florida International University (FIU), which is Miamis largest public university, attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds, including those with different ethnicities, lower family incomes or disabilities.

It outranked every other university on the list regarding diversity. And even with the forced recent changes in its diversity programs due to state law, FIU remains committed to creating an inclusive environment.

4. Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, also ranks high in providing a supporting and inclusive environment for students.

Additionally, students praised its community and social life, which includes things like sense of community, emotional-health and mental-health support, sustainability, safety on campus, and party scene.
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There are many factors to consider when shopping for a new car, but fuel economy, along with safety and reliability, is usually at the top of the list for most consumers. Owning a vehicle with good gas mileage is a smart choice for the environment and your budget. With the cost of fuel fluctuating at high prices across the U.S., ditching a gas-guzzler for a cost-effective vehicle can have a less impactful impact on your expenses.

Read More: 5 New 2025 Car Models That Last Longer Than You Think and Are Worth the Money

For You: 9 Things You Must Do To Grow Your Wealth in 2025

The more miles per gallon (mpg) you can get, the less youll spend on gas. That said, the mpg varies on the type of vehicle, but according to Autolist, buyers should aim for vehicles above 35 mpg.

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Whether youre in the market for a hybrid or a gas car, here are the three brands with the best gas mileage.

Toyota

Known for being reliable, durable and long-lasting, with many models hitting 250,000 miles or more, according to iSeeCars, Toyota has maintained a reputation as high quality. However, besides performing well and offering a range of great features, Toyota is the top fuel-efficient car brand, according to Rob Dillan, automotive expert and founder of EVhype.

Toyota Prius offers up to 57 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available, he said. Toyotas commitment to hybrid technology across models like the Corolla Hybrid (50 mpg) and Camry Hybrid (51 mpg) solidifies it as a top choice for fuel-conscious drivers.

Toyota also has options with a high mpg for those who prefer a gas car.

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The 2025 Corolla starts at $22,175 with 32 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.

The 2025 Corolla Hatchback starts at $23,630 with 32 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.

The 2024 Toyota Venza starts at $35,070 with 40 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Consider This: 5 Affordable Car Brands That Will Last Over 10 Years With Proper Maintenance

Honda

Honda is another car brand with an excellent record of reliability, low maintenance costs and lasting 250,000 miles or more, according to iSeeCars. Honda also has several models with great gas mileage.

The Honda Insight EX with e-CVT achieves up to 55 city mpg and 49 highway mpg, competing closely with hybrid leaders, Dillan explained. Other models, like the Accord Hybrid (51 mpg), provide high efficiency across a range of options, making Honda a fuel-efficient choice.

These brands lead in fuel efficiency with proven hybrid and high-mpg options, making them top choices for drivers focused on gas savings.

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For gas cars with the best gas mileage, Honda offers the following:

The 2024 Honda Civic starts at $23,950 with 35 mpg combined.

The 2024 Honda Accord starts at $27,895 with up to 29 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

The 2025 Honda CR-V starts at $31,450 with 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

Hyundai

Hyundai is an affordable car brand that offers consumers well-designed, high-quality vehicles that are dependable. These vehicles also give people peace of mind with generous warranty options. Plus, several models have a good mpg.

The 2022 Hyundai Loniq Hybrid delivers up to 59 mpg combined, one of the highest ratings for hybrids, according to Dillan. Hyundais lineup includes efficient models like the Elantra Hybrid (54 mpg), enhancing its reputation for fuel economy.

Hyundai fuel-efficient gas car options include:

Hyundai Elantra, which starts at $22,775 with 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The Hyundai Sonata starts at $26,650 with up to 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

Understanding the miles per gallon when car shopping can save you greatly over the vehicles lifetime and help the environment. While there are many car brands to choose from, according to Dillan, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai lead in fuel efficiency.

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Editors note: Car details were sourced from Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, CarFax.com or directly from the respective maker.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Car Brands With the Best Gas Mileage
ID: Yes. And over many years I had got to know the worlds most famously successful investor, Warren Buffett, and I thought it would make a fabulous film to try and capture the mood and the spirit of the famous shareholders meeting that he conducts every year in his home town of Omaha, which he calls Woodstock for capitalists. It was perfect for me as a beginning because it was about a topic I knew intimately. Id been going there for the previous 10 years, had worked for a long time on Wall Street and knew all the people. I suddenly felt, well, I have an edge here, and if I could capture the mans wisdom when it comes to being the worlds best investor, it would really be something. He is so folksy and easy to understand  when you hear him or read him, everything makes sense  that I need to get it on film. Loading Fitz: Ian, I promise you, we will get to The Pool, but I cant resist. What was the distilled essence of his advice in what became your first doco, Woodstock for Capitalists? I warn you: everything you say can and will be used by me and all my readers when we contemplate the incomprehensible maze of the sharemarket and the endless gibberish analysing it. We are leaning in. IF: OK, quickly: 1. Invest in businesses you can personally understand. 2. When it comes to the people who run those businesses, back the ones of proven good character who you admire and trust. 3. Invest in a business that has some sort of protective moat around it or dominance in it. You dont want to be with the fourth or fifth player in a sector; you want to be with the best. 4. Dont bet your farm on anything, particularly not a business that is in itself betting the farm. You want one with relatively predictable earnings, not cyclical ones. 5. Buy stock or a business that you can hold forever because, if you keep trading and buying and selling, you might have a great track record, but tax is just going to keep eating away. Fitz: CUT! Thats a wrap on Buffett. Great, we have that in the can. That film was a big hit.

ID: Yes, and suddenly I was hooked. I thought, wow, this is incredible and this is what I really want to do. I was set on a new path. Fitz: Now lets go to the doco of yours that hit me hardest, The Final Quarter, all about the outrageous and racist vilification of Adam Goodes. How did that come about? A glorious career that ended sadly: Adam Goodes at the end of the 2012 grand final. Credit: Wayne Taylor ID: As a Swans supporter I already knew all about the vilification of Adam and had been appalled by it. And after he suddenly retired I felt there was so much unfinished and unanswered business, and it would make a good documentary to examine it. I approached Adam via Sam Mostyn [now the governor-general], the first woman AFL commissioner, and it went from there. Fitz: How did Adam react when he saw that extraordinary bit of work for the first time?

Stories of us: the performer Paul Kelly provided rich fodder for another Ian Darling documentary. Credit: Justin McManus ID: We let him watch it alone. We came in when it was done and we just sat in silence. I think the silence was more powerful than anything he or we could have said. But when we talked he was so dignified and gracious, grateful and very humbled and emotional by also seeing the incredible support he had had  some of which he had not known about at the time. He was particularly moved by seeing an interview with his mother, and he said, I didnt realise that Mum was even having to be out there and supporting me and telling people to stop the booing. Fitz: And on the very day your film came out the AFL apologised to him for its own inaction! ID: That was very pleasing. Fitz: All right. One more question before we dive into the pool. Lets go to my other favourite doco of yours, Paul Kelly  Stories of Me. Whats the man himself like?

ID: Different to how I imagined. Having seen him so often on stage in Melbourne in the 1980s, I always thought he was a pretty wild guy who may have been brought up on the wrong side of the tracks. But in person he was quiet, an incredible listener and very reserved. And, as I discovered over the course of making the film, he was an incredible sport at school, a scholar, and incredibly well-read. I think I must have taken it for granted that his songs just came out of thin air. But when you look at how much literature and poetry has affected his songwriting, you realise just how much learning has gone into it. Fitz: Which  you knew wed get there!  brings us to your latest, The Pool, about the famous Bondi Icebergs club, which premieres this week. Congratulations. I loved it. As one of your first viewers, can I humbly give you my take on it? ID: Go on  Fitz: I love the line from Bob Dylans song I Shall Be Released where he sings, down here next to me in this lonely crowd, which speaks to modern urban alienation  and this film was, for me, taking a real look at how a single structure can bring people together and be the beating heart of an extraordinary community across generations, for generations. Was that your north star? ID: Yes! Absolutely. Exactly that. Coming out of COVID, it was obvious to me how we are completely lost without connection and community. So I was looking at making a positive, uplifting, happy film with community as the theme. And I just happened to be down at Icebergs, swimming, having a coffee with a friend of mine and talking about it and she said, Well, what about this as a community? And I thought: thats exactly it. It was right there, under my nose. So we thought, lets make the pool itself the central character. And through all its beauty and in all its guises, through rain and storm and sunshine and rainbows, we would see how the users of this pool come together into one fabulous community of people of huge diversity, across all age groups, all looking after each other while the pool looks after them, and they look after the pool.

Fitz: So you have no narrator, and the pool as your central character, with a couple of dozen supporting characters throughout. How did you work out which Icebergs swimmers to choose to tell the story? Loading ID: We settled on themes. We wanted someone who would represent friendship, someone to represent mental health, someone else on physical health, and some who would represent routine like the two blokes who meet there every morning at 13 minutes to seven  which reflects so much about sport and community because neither wants to let the other down, so they both turn up, at exactly that time, even on down days. For old age we chose an 85-year-old bloke who was swimming every day while most of his contemporaries were in a nursing home. Fitz: And instead of being down there in this lonely crowd, they are all connected to each other. ID: Precisely. We wanted to reflect the reality of Icebergs by highlighting the importance of this community. Because whether its a swimming club or a church or a book club or whatever it is, people need that sense of connection. And weve shown how when some of the swimmers hit the water at 9.30 every morning and someone hasnt appeared for about three or four days, a phone call comes, with someone checking, Is everything OK? You, OK? And I think thats what were missing in the wider community. Whats inspiring is these close-knit communities where people are looking out for each other and keeping an eye out. And that is what is resonating with audiences, even those who dont have any interest in swimming.
Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews will on Sunday be lauded by the Zionist movement as a true and constant friend to the Jewish community and Israel.

Andrews will receive the Jerusalem Prize at a gathering of Jewish community, business and political leaders, which for security purposes is being held at an undisclosed location in Melbourne.

Daniel Andrews farewelled politics after leading Labor to three consecutive election wins. Credit: Getty Images

The award is given those who make an outstanding contribution towards strengthening Jewish communities in their own country and relations with Israel.

Andrews belonged to Labors Socialist Left, a faction that has long been critical of Israels actions against Palestinian people, including military occupation and human rights violations.
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The coverage of Qantas and its upgrades to politicians and bureaucrats should not really come as a surprise to any of us (Albanese under fire for Qantas upgrades, October 27). Mainly because it proves what many of us already suspect as being true. Those in power will take advantage of it to suit themselves. Its why the public has such a contemptuous view of so many of them and also reinforces the notion that the NACC is a praetorian protection outfit providing cover for them. But ultimately, it demonstrates the truism, Its only a rort if youre not in on it. At the least, it looks suspect and suggests theyre getting an advantage-benefit for free from Qantas that they dont want anyone else to know about.

Bernard Stever, Richmond

Awaiting the chosen few Credit: Getty Images

As a lifelong Labor voter, I was saddened by the story about our prime minister getting free Qantas upgrades. I know they all do it, but still. The ALP needs to start convincing people they understand and can make changes on the issues affecting them, or they will probably end up in minority government or worse.

Janice McLeod, Gymea

To say that the revelations about Albanese and his relationship with Qantas are deeply disappointing would be an understatement. That said, however, he is not behaving any differently than any other politician from either party, but, please, Mr Albanese, can we hear no more about your early struggles in a housing commission flat? Fortunately, the Coalition has managed to bring some humour to this sorry saga. To have the attack on Albanese being led by Bridget Sports Rorts McKenzie is Pythonesque; you couldnt make this up.

Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)

Thanks to Joe Astons revelations, we now know Alan Joyce cultivated Albanese and other politicians over many years. They were given Qantas Chairmans Lounge perks that were bestowed by Joyce on rich, famous and well-connected patrons. Qantas, in turn, benefited from government patronage. Meanwhile, sacked Qantas ground handlers were struggling to pay mortgages, find jobs and keep their families intact. PM Ben Chifley said in his inspirational light on the hill speech, I try to think of the Labor movement  as a movement bringing something better to the people, better standards of living, greater happiness. Perhaps Chifley envisioned the Qantas Chairmans Lounge. Gerardine Grace, Leura

Members of our government and their family members, as well as senior public servants, are all given special perks not available to the public to encourage them to travel on official business with Qantas. No calling for competitive quotes for flights. What other decisions are influenced by this? Michael McMullan, Avoca Beach

A small segment of the population can lead the most opulent lives, while a growing number are struggling to feed themselves and their families. The latest Foodbank Hunger Report concludes that nearly 2 million Australian households (19 per cent) experienced severe food insecurity in the past 12 months. Alan Morris, Eastlakes
Loughran said that Jack ran the Sunday Nation with extraordinary vigour and a stream of innovative ideas. One of these (by way of example) was both imaginative and innovative.

Sixty years later I can clearly recall the memorable collection of newspapermen (and one or two women) drawn to that unlikely place at a historic time. People like John Bierman, a former Royal Marine who was editor of the Daily Nation; news editor David Barnett, an Australian, who years later was Press Secretary to Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser; Jacks deputy Gerry Loughran, a sociable, talented Geordie from Newcastle upon Tyne; and, of course, the high-energy Scot, Jack Beverley himself.

We met in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1962 when Jack was managing editor of the Sunday Nation and I was a junior sub-editor on its sister paper, the Daily Nation. Both papers had been funded by Prince Karim, the Aga Khan, leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world, including a large community in Kenya.

Jack Beverley was one of my unforgettable characters. We were friends and newspaper colleagues on three continents for 60 years. I liked him. I enjoyed his company. I learned much from him.

It happened after some technical issue had prevented the transmission to Nairobi of the first news agency pictures of the moons surface. With a deadline looming and an empty front page, Jack used a close-up of a Ryvita biscuit he had spotted on a cheese plate at a restaurant near the office. The image on the front page of the Sunday Nation was infinitely sharper than the blurred lunar pictures used by the rest of the world!

Then there was the Beverley solution to a surprising marketing problem. The Sunday Nation had been used to launch a packaged soap powder but a week later sales of the new product all but collapsed. The managing editor investigated and found the powder was useless in the streams where much village washing was done. The soap suds simply floated away. Jacks solution was a special offer of a plastic bucket to Sunday Nation readers.

Jack Beverley: helped set up the China Daily.

Before Nairobi Jack had worked in Londons Fleet Street, but I didnt find out about one of his earliest jobs in journalism until much later. As a junior, during the closing days of World War II, he had written for the unique newspaper Good Morning. It was published for the Royal Navys submarine service and was a mixture of cartoons, quizzes, news and family stories. Numbered rather than dated, bundled copies of the newspaper were placed in a submarines safe before it left on patrol. Once a day when conditions permitted, the appropriate edition of Good Morning would be distributed among the crew, putting them in touch, briefly, with news of home.

After Kenya independence in 1963, Jack returned to the UK and when I saw him in London soon after he was night news editor of The Daily Mail. By the early 1970s, he was managing editor of the Westminster Press regional newspaper group and I was back in the UK as London bureau manager of The Age. One of my agreeable tasks was to assist in the emigration to Melbourne of Jack (and his wife, Sue) after he had been hired by David Syme & Company, publisher of The Age.
In its submission to the 11-month inquiry, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation included incidents of health workers having their own pain treated dismissively and witnessing women receiving gender-biased treatment. Loading It received more than 800 responses in four days to a member survey on womens pain. Of 89 per cent of nurses and midwives who had experienced acute pain, two-thirds felt dismissed by health professionals, and 53 per cent said the response was negative. A nurse on a mixed specialty surgical ward said gynaecology patients who describe 10/10 pain were given paracetamol as a first-line treatment to wait and see if it helps, while other surgical patients are given two to three lines of analgesia charted immediately at any instance of pain.

Another told of multiple colleagues judging young female patients subjective pain scores, calling them precious, princess or overreacting. Men were believed and treated sooner and often given more options. One nurse watched a man with a carpal tunnel be written up for 20 mg of IV [intravenous] morphine, but a woman with a full reproductive system removal gets written up for only a max of 10 mg of IV morphine. Women are seen as if they cant tolerate pain, or theyre weak or as, You bear children, you can deal with great amounts of pain. Sue Matthews, chief executive Royal Womens Hospital and National Womens Health Advisory Commitee We are treated differently and are often labelled as emotive or anxious, she said. The federations Madeline Harradence, a member of the Victorian Womens Health Advisory Council, said nurses and midwives reported a delay in women getting care for chronic pain and getting appropriate care or treatment for very acute conditions.

A woman who turns up in the emergency department is not believed, theyre having trouble getting in the door, she said. [Nurses] are constantly having to advocate for women against those gendered structures. Loading Professor Sue Matthews, the Royal Womens Hospital chief executive and inquiry co-chair, said it was heart-wrenching to hear from women at community forums, focus groups and online. The number one issue for women has been they felt dismissed, said Matthews, also a member of the National Womens Health Advisory Committee. One of the biggest things were hearing is that their pain is attributed to mental health issues or lifestyle factors, when it isnt [due to those].

Women are seen as if they cant tolerate pain, or theyre weak or as, You bear children, you can deal with great amounts of pain  Its the invisibility of those women thats the problem. Australian is behind other nations in stratifying research data by gender and including women in trials, she said. More eduction was needed to increase understanding that womens pain is not normal. Women in acute pelvic pain can receive gender-biased prescription of analgesia in hospital compared with men, nurses told Australias first womens pain inquiry. Credit: iStock That medical knowledge doubles every 73 days means it is very difficult for healthcare practitioners to keep up, Matthews said, and the inquiry would make recommendations about how to support them to do this. RACGP Victorian Council chair Anita Munoz acknowledged that in parts of the medical system, there are women who have had bad experiences of not being believed about their pain, but said inquiries often captured historical as well as contemporary experiences.

Poor understanding of womens pain was not just a general practice issue, but GPs faced particular challenges because patients often have multiple co-existing problems to be addressed in standard 15-minute appointments. GPs and patients bear the brunt of this: we have a more than 40-year-old funding system that financially punishes good GPs for spending in-depth time with patients. The patho-physiology of gynaecological issues and chronic pain is very difficult to do  in the that amount of time, Munoz said. If it achieves parity with MBS funding that would be good ... the rebate for scanning a scrotum is more than for scanning a female pelvis. Marilla Druitt, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists The Medicare funding system sets up GPs to fail. Dr Marilla Druitt, a councillor of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and president of Pelvic Pain Victoria, said she was not at all surprised by what women told the inquiry.

The colleges submission noted research shows that chronic pain affects a higher proportion of women and girls than men, yet women are far less likely to receive treatment. Druitt said it was hard to judge if the use of the term medical misogyny by some regarding responses to womens pain was justified, but if it helped change longstanding womens health funding problems it might be. If it achieves parity with Medicare Benefit Schedule funding that would be good. [For example] the rebate for scanning a scrotum is more than for scanning a female pelvis, she said. I desperately hope that some of what we recommended is accepted.
Most punters thought the Golden Eagle would be won by the Japanese or French. Somebody forgot to tell the English.

The William Haggas-trained Lake Forest and jockey Cieren Fallon rocketed along the rails to pop up at the last second to clinch the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday.

Cieren Fallon celebrates on Lake Forest in the Golden Eagle. Credit: Getty Images

French galloper Lazzat finished second, but not before lodging a protest and arguing that Lake Forest had taken his run in the last couple of strides.

The protest was quickly dismissed before the celebrations started for the connections of the English horse that was not expected to run the 1500m. Fallon intended to cut loose by downing a few cold pints of milk.
In the countdown to the running of the Melbourne Cup - on the first Tuesday in November - read the latest news, see expert analysis and download your Cup sweep.

Jamie Kah rode the emotions as well as the horses on an unforgettable day at Flemington on Saturday, which culminated in her winning her first Victoria Derby on South Australian horse Goldrush Guru.

She was suspended for her ride on Kuroyanagi in race two before riding Another Wil, owned by the late Colin McKenna, to victory in stirring fashion in race four.

Race five was a wipeout as her mount Hurry Curry gave Kah a blood nose when the horse threw her head back as they made their way to the barriers. With Kah ruled unfit to ride in the race, the Oaks chance was scratched at the barrier.

Suddenly, her chances of riding Traffic Warden in the Coolmore Stakes and Goldrush Guru in the Victoria Derby had, pardon the pun, nosedived. Such was the doubt, Goldrush Gurus trainer Andrew Gluyas started to examine contingencies.
She had her grand final, she backed up in this, which was always the plan, but she still had to do it. I was lucky to ride in an Arc de Triomphe meeting with [jockey] Frankie Dettori. I didnt win, but Frankie did, and he said, Craig, follow me back. The wave of the crowd from the stands at Longchamp was unbelievable. That [post-race reception] was like it today. And deservedly so. Shes an amazing thoroughbred. Part-owner and part-breeder Michael Christian, a 1990 premiership winner with Collingwood, had tears in his eyes in the mounting yard and said: When you hear the crowd welcome her back like that, its pretty special. She got all the favours, Craig gave her a beautiful ride  Im just so proud and blessed to be associated with her. Williams is happy to travel anywhere, including the other side of the world next winter, to stick with Bella Nipotina. Nature Strip bumps back to third on the all-time Aussie equine rich list with $20,755,018.

Sunshine In Paris ($4.40) and Lady Laguna ($18), two mares who ran in The Everest, completed the Russell Balding placings. Tie The Knot colours live on It never gets boring seeing the red and white colours made famous by champion Tie The Knot pop up at the racetrack. Kingston Charm did just that when she cut the corner to pinch the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway (1500m). Kingston Charm wins the Four Pillars. Credit: Getty Images

Tie The Knot won 21 races, including 13 group 1s, and was loved by John Thompson, who prepared Kingston Charm. I was good friends with [Tie The Knots trainer] Guy Walter. He stood next to dad [Vic] every day, he was a good friend and neighbour, and just to watch Tie The Knot was a dream, Thompson said. Sandy Tait bred and raced Tie The Knot and still owns a handful of horses, while his son, Jamie, part-owns Kingston Charm. For Jamie, Tie The Knots two Sydney Cup wins, and his Underwood Stakes triumph when he came from the back of the pack, remains his three personal favourite memories. As for Kingston Charm, Tait said: Weve had a great year with her because she won a Midway at Randwick about 60-1, then Zac rode a pearler on her at Hawkesbury last start, which got her rating up and into this race.

Toilet dash to cheer winner Trainer David Payne drew a few funny looks inside a toilet cubicle at a flashy Paddington restaurant when sneaking off to watch his State Of America win at Rosehill. Payne was across town for his sons 50th birthday at Ursulas and was unable to be trackside to see his gelding make it three wins on the trot. I looked at the time and then snuck into the toilet to watch the race on the Racing NSW website, Payne said. I could see him coming [at the top of the straight]. He should go further now hes learned to settle. Some of those cups [over the summer] could be ideal. Because hes so well, he might as well keep going.

Despite the handsome victory, Payne said he was not allowed to pay for the lavish spread. My future daughter-in-law, Faye, has already insisted she will pay  plus Ive picked up enough lunch tabs for the family over the years, he said. Meanwhile, Paynes War Ribbon was first emergency for the Victoria Derby, failed to gain a start, and will now return home for a possible tilt at the listed The Beauford over 2300m in Newcastle. Spanish Fox perfect apprentices horse Zac Wadick described Spanish Fox as the perfect apprentices horse after the Michael Freedman-trained gelding made it five wins on the trot. Spanish Fox looked gone at the top of the straight and again on the line, and will now go for a well-earned break.
Dyson engineers have invented a four-legged robodog that can vacuum carpets, mow the lawn and water plants.

The company has been granted a patent for a housekeeping robot that can be used to clean a home or a commercial environment such as a hotel.

Small and flat biscuit tin robotic vacuum cleaners are becoming increasingly popular, but the new invention is more versatile and complicated.

Robo dog vacuum. Credit: SMH

The new patent, which was granted in October, is for a four-legged machine that resembles the robotic attack hounds that featured in the television show Black Mirror.
In recent weeks, global markets have been influenced by rising U.S. Treasury yields, which have put pressure on U.S. stocks and led to a mixed performance across major indices. As investors navigate these challenging conditions, dividend stocks with attractive yields can offer a potential source of steady income amidst market volatility.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Yamato Kogyo (TSE:5444) 4.09%  Globeride (TSE:7990) 4.02%  Intelligent Wave (TSE:4847) 3.93%  China South Publishing & Media Group (SHSE:601098) 4.55%  Innotech (TSE:9880) 4.75%  CAC Holdings (TSE:4725) 4.60%  FALCO HOLDINGS (TSE:4671) 6.56%  Kwong Lung Enterprise (TPEX:8916) 6.35%  GakkyushaLtd (TSE:9769) 4.59%  Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (SWX:BCVN) 4.93% 

Click here to see the full list of 2016 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Dubai Investments PJSC operates in property, investment, manufacturing, contracting, and services sectors both in the United Arab Emirates and internationally, with a market cap of AED8.97 billion.

Operations: Dubai Investments PJSC generates revenue from three main segments: Property (AED2.26 billion), Manufacturing, Contracting and Services (AED1.19 billion), and Investments (AED253.17 million).

Dividend Yield: 5.9%

Dubai Investments PJSC has a reasonable dividend payout ratio of 55.4%, indicating dividends are covered by earnings, and a cash payout ratio of 38.9% suggests strong coverage by cash flows. However, the dividend yield of 5.92% is lower than top-tier payers in the AE market, and its dividends have been unreliable over the past decade with volatility in payments. Despite recent revenue growth, profit margins have decreased significantly from last years levels.

DFM:DIC Dividend History as at Nov 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Sanyo Special Steel Co., Ltd. manufactures and sells special steel products both in Japan and internationally, with a market cap of 97.42 billion.

Operations: Sanyo Special Steel Co., Ltd. generates revenue through its segments: Steel Products at 326.92 billion, Formed and Fabricated Materials at 18.30 billion, and Metal Powders at 5.31 billion.

Dividend Yield: 3.7%

Sanyo Special Steel's dividends are well-covered by earnings, with a payout ratio of 52.2%, and cash flows, with a cash payout ratio of 16.9%. Despite this coverage, the dividend yield of 3.68% is below the top tier in Japan. The company has increased its dividends over the past decade, but payments have been volatile and unreliable at times. Profit margins have declined from last years levels, impacting overall financial stability.
Musk amplifies conservative voices in liberal Silicon Valley



San Francisco, Nov 1 (AFP) Nov 01, 2024



Silicon Valley, a stronghold of Democratic politics, is experiencing a shift as more voices, seemingly emboldened by Elon Musk, have openly declared their support for Donald Trump.

The South African-born tech mogul is leading this change, committing nearly $100 million to the Republican's presidential campaign, while leveraging his X social media platform and personally campaigning in crucial swing states to aid Trump's White House bid.

"Musk is revered by a lot of people in Silicon Valley," said tech entrepreneur and author Vivek Wadhwa, who teaches at Carnegie Mellon University.

"More people on the right are just saying 'Look, we're fed up, we're going to vote for Trump,' and they're doing it fearlessly and are impacting the opinion of others."

Musk's embrace of Trump has amplified ideological currents that have long existed quietly in the California tech scene, best represented today by Peter Thiel, a conservative investor who worked with Musk at PayPal 25 years ago.

PayPal veteran David Sacks, a college friend of Thiel's, co-hosted a high-profile fundraiser for Trump in San Francisco in June and spoke at the Republicans' nominating convention.

Nick Pinkston, founder and CEO of Volition, noted that many conservative voices, led by Thiel, have always been present, guided by libertarian principles.

"Some of those people were already conservative, and now they're given more license to speak," he said.

According to Pinkston, who closely follows tech-world politics, this group has grown disillusioned with today's version of democracy and sees Trump as a ticket to less government and lower taxes.



- 'It's gone too far' -



Trump secured only 34 percent of California's vote in 2020 -- and just 12.7 percent in San Francisco -- but recent developments have given voice to anti-progressive sentiment.

A perceived, if statistically nonexistent, rise in crime, and the city's strict Covid-19 regulations, which led to the temporary closure of companies like Tesla, drew bitter criticism, with Republicans slamming San Francisco as out of control.

"San Francisco is far more left than the rest of the country, and many people think it's gone too far," said Sheel Mohnot, a Fintech investor. "We have a lot of problems -- crime, homelessness, et cetera -- and people are just wanting to pivot hard against that."

These Silicon Valley conservatives argue that progressive policies focusing on diversity, inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights have come at the expense of addressing crime and taxes, and advancing innovation.

"People are fed up with the extremism of the proclaimed progressives, how they have made San Francisco a complete mess and chased out companies such as Tesla," Wadhwa said.

Pinkston insisted that most tech workers remain relatively apolitical but vote Democratic in presidential elections.

"The typical worker is a centrist Democrat," he said, and not part of a group "that spends a lot of time thinking about women, for sure."

Abortion rights, protected in California but abolished or sharply limited in many American states, are a major theme of Democrat Kamala Harris's presidential campaign.

For Lawrence Quill, professor of political theory at San Jose State University, the start-ups of the early days of innovation have grown up.

"In the 1970s and '80s, technology companies...thought of themselves as revolutionaries, good guys."

"That simplistic view of morality is hard to maintain in a global marketplace," he said, adding, "Consider the issues surrounding Apple and Google doing business in China."



- Many techies still lay low -



While some billionaire tech leaders, notably including Musk, have been outspoken, most are avoiding political involvement.

Trump's relationship with this group has been contentious. During his presidency, he frequently criticized Amazon, allegedly denying the company a major defense contract due to his animosity toward founder Jeff Bezos.

Bezos recently prohibited the Washington Post, which he owns, from endorsing any presidential candidate, while Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reportedly initiated informal discussions with Trump.

Other tech giants are similarly distancing themselves from politics and trying not to offend Trump.

Mark Zuckerberg has stopped election-related philanthropy, while his company Meta has modified its algorithms to reduce political content.

Trump claims to have received calls from Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

But as their bosses lay low, opponents to Musk and Trump still outnumber their fans among "techies."

"Objectively, 'you' are the biggest threat to democracy in America today," Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun replied to a Musk post last week.

"You are an oligarch who bought himself a huge megaphone so he could use it to support a would-be dictator, and to discredit...all the institutions necessary for a functioning democracy," he added.
US announces new Mideast military deployments in warning to Iran



Washington, Nov 1 (AFP) Nov 01, 2024



The United States announced Friday the deployment of additional military assets to the Middle East, including ballistic missile defense destroyers and long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, serving as a warning to Iran as it and Israel trade tit-for-tat strikes.

"Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement.

The additional resources build on previous US defense deployments to the Middle East in support of Israel, including a THAAD missile defense system deployed to the country late last month, operated by American troops on the ground.

The new forces "will begin to arrive in coming months," Ryder said.

Israel launched significant strikes against Iran on October 26, devastating military infrastructure to the Islamic republic while steering clear of critical nuclear and oil sites.

Iran has carried out two major attacks against Israel in 2024 -- one in April after a strike on its consulate in Damascus that was blamed on Israel, and another in October that Tehran said was in response to the assassination of leaders of armed groups it backs in the Middle East.

Observers warn the continued military operations between the regional rivals could escalate further.
Deadly Israeli strikes on 'apocalyptic' north Gaza



, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2024



Israel on Saturday again carried out deadly air strikes on north Gaza, where the UN calls conditions "apocalyptic", as Lebanon's Hezbollah intensified rocket fire near Israel's commercial hub of Tel Aviv, on Israel's second front.

Since late September Israel has been engaged in full-scale war against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon while fighting continues against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which triggered the Gaza war by attacking Israel on October 7 last year.

The war has threatened to spiral even further after Israel and Iran attacked each other over the past few months. Iran's supreme leader vowed on Saturday a further response to attacks against the Islamic republic and its allies.

Since October 6 Israeli forces have carried out a major air and ground assault on north Gaza, centred on the Jabalia area, vowing to stop attempts by Hamas militants from regrouping.

"The situation unfolding in north Gaza is apocalyptic," said a joint statement by UN agency heads.

"The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue," the heads of the humanitarian, health and other agencies said.

"The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence."

Witnesses said Israeli warplanes twice hit Beit Lahia, adjacent to Jabalia, overnight.



- Deaths in Gaza -



Israel's military on Saturday said dozens of militants were killed around Jabalia "in aerial and ground activity."

Troops were also operating in central Gaza and Rafah in the territory's far south, it added, while witnesses said Israeli drones and boats opened fire on Al-Mawasi in south Gaza.

Medics and Gaza's civil defence rescuers on Saturday reported three people killed in a strike on Nuseirat, in central Gaza, a day after AFP images showed the blood-stained shrouds of several people killed there in an Israeli strike.

After nearly a year of tit-for-tat exchanges over Israel's northern border, which Hezbollah said were in support of Hamas, Israel on September 23 escalated its bombing campaign against targets in Lebanon and later sent in ground troops.

Hezbollah has since fired more deeply into Israel.

A strike in Israel's Sharon area north of Tel Aviv wounded 19 people, police said early Saturday, after the army reported three projectiles fired from Lebanon into central Israel.

Four of the wounded were "in moderate condition", the Israeli police said.

Hezbollah said it had again launched rockets at Israel's Glilot intelligence base near Tel Aviv.

AFP images from Tira, a predominantly Arab town about 25 kilometres (15 miles) northeast of Tel Aviv, showed the upper wall blown out in what appeared to be a residential building.

Several cars below were crushed.

Israel's military said a strike around the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on Friday killed two fighters "responsible for firing over 400 projectiles at Israel over the last month alone".

Late Friday, Lebanon's health ministry said 52 people had been killed in Israeli strikes in the country's east, attacks for which the Israeli army had not issued evacuation warnings.

Since the war escalated Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,911 people in Lebanon, according to an AFP tally of health ministry figures.



- Drone attacks -



Israel's military says 37 soldiers have been killed in Lebanon since it began ground operations on September 30.

According to Israeli figures, at least 63 people have been killed on the Israeli side since October last year.

Fears the war could engulf the entire Middle East intensified with tit-for-tat exchanges between Israel and Iran.

On October 26, Israel bombed military targets in Iran, killing four servicemen, in retaliation for the Islamic republic's barrage of around 200 missiles against Israel on October 1. Iran had said that barrage was itself a reprisal for the killing of top militants and a general in the Revolutionary Guards.

"The enemies, both the USA and the Zionist regime, should know that they will definitely receive a tooth-breaking response to what they are doing against Iran, the Iranian nation, and the resistance front," supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.

He was referring to Iran-aligned groups which also include those in Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

Analysts say Israel inflicted severe damage on Iranian air defences and missile capacities and could yet launch more wide-scale action against Iran.

On Saturday the Israeli military said it had intercepted three drones over the Red Sea, after late Friday reporting seven drones had been launched from "several fronts".

Iraqi pro-Iran groups later on Saturday said they carried out a drone attack on Israel's southern port town of Eilat.

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have repeatedly attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea, are transforming themselves into a "powerful military organisation" due to "unprecedented" military support from outside sources, particularly Iran and Hezbollah, according to a UN report published Friday.

Ahead of the US presidential election on Tuesday, United States officials have been pushing for a resolution of the Lebanon war.

On Friday the Pentagon announced the deployment of additional resources to the Middle East, including ballistic missile defence destroyers and long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, serving as a warning to Iran.

The capabilities will begin to arrive "in coming months", a Pentagon spokesman said.

Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed 43,259 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry which the UN considers reliable.

burs-it/dv
Guinea junta chief promotes self to army general



Conakry, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2024



Guinea's junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya has elevated himself to the rank of army general as the coup-hit West African country marked the creation of its all-powerful armed forces.

Doumbouya, 43, seized power by force in September 2021 by overthrowing President Alpha Conde, who had placed the then-colonel in charge of an elite force tasked with protecting the head of state from such coups.

The military leader "exceptionally" promoted himself to the rank of lieutenant general in January while making clear the junta would not keep its promise to hand power back to elected civilians by the end of the year.

In a decree on Friday evening, Doumbouya -- whose supporters have urged him to run for president when the junta does cede the reins -- was likewise also awarded the Grand Cross of the National Order of the Colatier, the country's highest distinction.

This was for "his constant efforts to promote social cohesion and cooperation between peoples".

Doumbouya is one of several officers who have seized power in West Africa since 2020, along with fellow military leaders in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Doumbouya has presided over an ongoing crackdown on dissent, with many opposition leaders detained, brought before the courts or forced into exile.

In spite of its considerable natural resources, Guinea remains an impoverished nation.

It has been ruled by authoritarian or dictatorial governments for decades.
Three suspected rebels killed in Indian Kashmir clashes



Mumbai, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2024



Indian security forces killed three suspected militants in two separate firefights in disputed Kashmir, the army and a senior police official said Saturday.

Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947 and is home to a long-running insurgency.

The first firefight broke out after Indian troops moved to check "suspicious movement" near Halkan Gali in Anantnag, resulting in the death of two militants.

The Indian Army's Chinar Corps said on social media platform X that a joint operation had been launched in the area.

"Terrorists opened indiscriminate fire," the corps said in its statement. "Troops effectively retaliated, resulting in elimination of two terrorists."

Another suspected militant was killed after a gunfight with police and army soldiers in Srinagar, a senior police official confirmed to AFP.

The clash started Saturday morning in the Khanyar area of the city after police were searching for armed militants.

Firefights between militants and security forces in the densely populated downtown areas of Srinagar have been rare for many years.

At least 500,000 Indian troops are deployed in Kashmir, battling an insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and rebels since 1989.

Last week suspected militants ambushed an army vehicle and killed five people, including three soldiers.

A week before that, gunmen killed seven people near a construction site for a strategic road tunnel to Ladakh, a high-altitude Himalayan region bordering China.

New Delhi regularly blames Pakistan for arming militants and helping them launch attacks, an allegation Islamabad denies.

The army says more than 720 rebels have been killed since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government cancelled the territory's limited autonomy in 2019.

In early October, Kashmir held its first elections since 2014 for a regional assembly for the territory of some 12 million people.
It's hard to call Warren Buffett anything but the king of investing. The "Oracle of Omaha"'s company, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) has seen its shares outpace the S&P 500 by over 931% since 1998. Buffett and the late Charlie Munger made this epic run by focusing on quality and value. Here are three investment options from Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio that I think are good long-term options for any investor.

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

Sometimes the easiest ways are the best ways. Everyone should have an S&P 500-focused index fund in their portfolio, and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) fits the bill. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like this one focus on tracking the movements of the S&P 500. This Vanguard fund is a simple and easy way to gain broader exposure to large-cap stocks in the market.

Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free 

By simply investing in the market through an instrument such as this, investors have passively seen their share price nearly double over the last five years. This is perhaps the simplest, most straightforward investment strategy there is. Even the best of hedge fund managers often struggle to outpace the S&P 500, and an ETF like this should be a piece of any reasonable investor's portfolio.

Moody's

My thesis for Moody's Corp (NYSE: MCO) is simple. The business of bond credit ratings is not going to go away anytime soon, and Moody's is pretty much at the top of the food chain. It's outpaced the S&P 500 by 22% over the last five years, and by a much much broader margin over the long term, so Moody's just makes sense. The credit rating behemoth has had a great 2024 so far, with revenues up 22% year over year and diluted earnings per share up 32% year to date through the third quarter.

For the full year, Moody's is anticipating diluted earnings of $10.85 to $11.05 per share. Going on the conservative end of that guidance, the stock is admittedly a little pricey at over 40 times forward earnings, but when you have such a steady and integral business, it's hard to overlook this stock.

American Express

American Express (NYSE: AXP) tends to offer a credit card for the higher-income consumer. That means that the business is likely to keep rolling even if we see weaker consumer trends on a broader basis.

Aside from that niche benefit -- though perhaps because of it -- I like American Express for its strong annual growth rates, and strong guidance for the remainder of 2024. This is a steady stock. You might not see the wild performance of something like Nvidia, but this is a company that has beaten the S&P 500 by nearly 28% over the last five years.
Lebanon sources say man seized on coast in suspected Israeli raid



Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2024



A Lebanese military source said Saturday that unidentified naval commandos abducted a trainee mariner in the coastal city of Batroun, in an operation a judicial official said was likely carried out by Israel.

"A naval commando force kidnapped a civilian," the military source said on condition of anonymity, adding an investigation was underway to determine whether the operation was carried out by Israel.

A Lebanese judicial official said Israel was likely behind the "kidnapping operation", the first of its kind since the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted in September.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, the official said there was a "90 percent chance" that Israel was responsible.

Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said they were checking reports of the incident.

Lebanon's official National News agency said an "unidentified military force" carried out a "sea landing" on the shore of Batroun, south of Tripoli, at dawn on Friday.

The force "went with all its weapons and equipment to a chalet near the beach, kidnapping a Lebanese man... and sailing away into the open sea on a speedboat," the NNA said.

An acquaintance of the abductee identified him as a student at the Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute (MARSATI) in Batroun.

He was taken from student housing near the Batroun institute, but was a resident of the Shiite-majority town of Qmatiyeh further south, said the acquaintance who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security concerns.

He was completing courses to become a sea captain, the source told AFP, adding that the man was in his 30s and was well known by the teaching staff at the centre.

The Christian-majority city of Batroun has been relatively sheltered from the Israel-Hezbollah war that has pummelled south Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

The war since September 23 has killed more than 1,900 people in Lebanon, according to an AFP tally of health ministry figures though the real number is likely higher due to data gaps.
Chad denies anti-jihadist operation hit civilians



N'Djamena, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2024



Chad's government has "firmly" rejected reports that its army struck civilians in an anti-jihadist operation, which local sources told AFP had killed scores of fishermen in neighbouring Nigeria.

In response to a Boko Haram attack on a Chadian military base that killed at least 40 last week, Chad's army on Wednesday launched an airstrike pummelling Tilma island in the Kukawa district on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad.

That hit and killed fishermen tending to their catch, fishermen and anti-jihadist militia said -- accusations Chad rejects.

"Chad firmly denies recent reports of attacks allegedly carried out by the Chadian army against civilians, in particular fishermen in the Lake Chad region," government spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah said on Friday in a statement.

"The operations carried out so far have targeted well-identified jihadist groups," he said.

The government spokesman insisted Chad's army operations were "organised and disciplined, and scrupulously careful never to target civilians".

But speaking on condition of anonymity, a Chadian general staff officer who confirmed the strikes to AFP raised the possibility the army made a mistake.

"Boko Haram fighters often blend in with the fishermen and farmers whenever they commit their crimes. It is therefore difficult to distinguish between the population and the terrorists," the officer said.

Babakura Kolo, an anti-jihadist militia leader in Nigeria, echoed those concerns.

Chad's fighter jet "mistook the fishermen for Boko Haram terrorists who attacked a military base inside Chad on Sunday," Kolo said.

Fisherman Sallau Arzika, who escaped the airstrike and made it back to the garrison town of Monguno, told AFP "the fighter jet encircled Tilma before beginning to drop bombs while people ran in all directions for cover".

"A large number of fishermen were killed. No one can give an exact number because bodies are still scattered across Tilma."

Chad's government denounced the accusations as "false allegations" designed to "sow confusion and destabilise public opinion".

Besides killing around 40 people, Boko Haram's Sunday raid on a base in the Lake Chad region also left dozens wounded, with the group claiming responsibility for the attack in a propaganda video released on Monday.

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby, who visited the military base after the jihadist attack, is said to be "personally" leading the army's counter-offensive against the militant group.

Located at the intersection of Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, Lake Chad is dotted with islands sheltering fighters from Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State in West Africa.

Since emerging in Nigeria in 2009, Boko Haram has spread to neighbouring countries while killing some 40,000 people and displacing more than two million.




Mr. Rhodes, a science teacher, is the subject of this week's crime. He was a gay man. The first suspect was a parent who believed Mr. Rhodes was improperly influencing his son, so he assaulted him. A song threatening Rhodes' life eventually surfaces. The beats were made by one student. The lyrics were written by another, Anthony. In true bloodhound manner, detectives Shaw and Reid helped them get beyond the "gay" red herrings and identify Anthony as the murder suspect.

"Report Card"  LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Colton Osorio as Anthony Turner, Mia Y. Anderson as Lynisha Austin. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC  2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC





Anthony, 13, is a foster kid. He runs when Shaw and Reid approach. Shaw, a consummate police officer sworn to protect the vulnerable, tries to shield the youngster from other officers who had their guns trained on him. Like Shaw, I was upset when Anthony placed a knife to his neck, screaming that his life was over. My God! I felt sorry for this terrified boy, seeing his fragility and maybe innocence. Shaw knows that fear makes scared people do bad things and not see the repercussions. Shaw presses Anthony to tell the truth. Anthony says he just wanted to scare his teacher and swears that he didn't know the gun was loaded.





In a conversation between Reid and Shaw, Shaw shares his personal story of being abandoned by his foster parents. Brooks' acting is a tour de force here. He captures the fragility of a wounded child and the intensity of an adult grappling with residual anger and pain. Shaw sees himself in Anthony, grateful for his father's return from deployment to care for him. Reid defends Shaw's character, assuring him he would never take another person's life. Shaw's message is undeniably: "There but for the grace of God, go I." The performance showcases Shaw's emotional control and strength  tears on the brink yet restrained. This alone is reason to watch.

"Report Card"  LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady, Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley, Mehcad Brooks as Det. Jalen Shaw. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC  2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC





When ballistics prove that Anthonys fingerprints were found on the bullets, Shaw realizes that Anthony has deceived him. In the concluding moments of the show, Brooks performance once more stands out. Shaw is betrayed. So, Brooks shows Shaws profound disappointment and ultimate retreat from his relationship with Anthony. He depersonalizes Anthony by not using his name, simply saying "Get in the car kid," when he tells him that his 10-year, plea deal has been revoked. Anthony will be charged as an adult.

"Report Card"  LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Colton Osorio as Anthony Turner, Mehcad Brooks as Det. Jalen Shaw. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC  2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC





The District Attorney's office made a controversial decision to "split the baby," dividing responsibility for the crime between the child shooter and the principal for his failure to act. The principal agreed to serve five years. I was ambivalent about this outcome, particularly because the victim's spouse did not want to see the principal charged. However, I realized that the principal needed to face accountability for giving in to his self-preserving motives. This episode serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of self-serving actions, as it can lead to chaos and dysfunction, tearing apart trust, cooperation, and community. Isnt this what Report Card exemplifies?





Public servants, including school principals, district attorneys, and the people who work in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, have a duty to act in the best interests of the people. The "Report Card" serves as a mirror to reflect the truth about public servants, allowing us to see flaws and failures. For example, this episode demonstrates the principal's disregard for protocol, while the DAs office charged a traumatized 13-year-old as an adult, despite the child's obvious lack of mental, emotional, moral, and ethical development. Foster care failed to provide consistent, supportive environments for vulnerable kids like Anthony (and Shaw). The juvenile justice system also failed, ironically, leading Anthony to kill to avoid returning to it.



"Report Card"  LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Mehcad Brooks as Det. Jalen Shaw, Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price, Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun, Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC  2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC





The episode underscores the widespread appeal of Law & Order, while also drawing attention to how unresponsive, unfair, and unable the American legal system is at delivering justice, particularly juvenile justice. Some critics lament that Wolfe's shows can excessively portray the positive effects of law enforcement. Law & Order, particularly "Report Card," is the opposite. The story takes viewers on a roller coaster ride, replete with stomach-churning highs and gut-wrenching lows. The story was both wild and nerve-wracking. It worked because it was done right!





What did you think of the episodes ride? How do you think the recent moral-ethical decisions affecting Shaws detainee Anthony and Reids brother will impact their friendship?





Overall Rating:

10/10





Lynette Jones



I am a self-identified 'woke boomer' who hails from an era bathed in the comforting glow of a TV, not a computer screen. Navigating the digital world can sometimes leave me feeling a bit unsure, but I approach it with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Patience and kindness in this new landscape are truly valued. Let's embrace the journey together with appreciation and a touch of humor!



"Report Card" is a captivating episode that explores the human condition and the complexities of delivering juvenile justice. Despite its unfortunate premise of a pre-teen boy murdering his teacher over rap lyrics, the show is way more than just this story. Its an indictment of the whole damned system. Mechad Brooks, as Det. Jalen Shaw, delivers an honest performance that tapped into genuine emotions, which he portrayed in a way that resonated deeply with me, and I trust the wider audience. Brooks performance is a standout. Therefore, I strongly suggest that you watch or rewatch "Report Card". Why? Let me say more.
Managing a difficult aftermath of fighting in Ukraine is likely to be even more difficult than supporting the war effort, according to a senior British general deeply versed in the crisis. A form of on-off conflict in Ukraine is likely to last to 2030 and beyond. It is unlikely to become a classic frozen conflict like the Korean war since 1953  but more a semi-freddo affair, bursting into sudden an unexpected life like several current conflicts in and around the Balkans and Caucasus.
One of the officers who pulled the trigger will now tell his side of the story, says a voiceover in a trailer for the episode.
Ford Motor Company

Hybrid vehicles are a great option for retirees looking to stretch their income. They are fuel-efficient, have a high resale value and are fun to drive.

If youre not ready to fully commit to an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid could be the way to go. However, not every hybrid should be considered. Some are too expensive for the value, have pricey repairs and poor ratings.

Read More: 5 Luxury Cars Retirees Should Consider Buying Before Christmas

Try This: 9 Things You Must Do To Grow Your Wealth in 2024

Although the holidays are around the corner and there will be deals, Rob Dillan, automotive expert and founder of EVhype, explained why these vehicles could be headaches down the road.

These vehicles present challenges such as high maintenance costs, limited fuel savings and depreciation, making them less ideal for retirees seeking dependable, cost-effective hybrids, he stated.

Dillan said retirees should avoid the following seven hybrid vehicles.

Trending Now:

BMW X5 xDrive45e

Price: $68,397

Besides the hefty price tag, the BMW X5 xDrive45e comes with high maintenance costs. CarEdge estimates maintenance and repair costs at $18,738 for the first 10 years of service, which is $4,586 higher than industry standards.

Plus, its not very fuel-efficient, said Dillan.

Its real-world fuel economy is around 20 mpg, which is comparable to non-hybrid SUVs, providing limited fuel savings, he added.

Trending Now: 8 Best Luxury Cars for Wealthy Retirees

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Price: $51,250

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan has plenty of great tech features and is a comfortable ride, but its pricey and not dependable.

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid faces notable reliability issues, having been rated as one of the least reliable minivans by Consumer Reports due to frequent transmission and electrical problems, said Dillan.

Additionally, battery-related repairs can cost over $3,500, adding a substantial financial burden for owners.

Ford Escape Hybrid

Price: $33,340

The Ford Escape Hybrid is a small SUV with a roomy inside that offers a smooth ride, but Dillan warned its not a great value.

The Ford Escape Hybrid has a track record of below-average reliability, consistently receiving low ratings due to engine and transmission problems, he said.

It also depreciates quickly, with a resale value 20% lower than similar SUVs, impacting its long-term value.

Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

Price: $33,400

Hondas are known for being reliable, durable and low-cost to maintain, but Dillan explained why the Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid should be overlooked.
Independent councillors Emma Dent-Coad and Mona Ahmed said in a joint statement: We are grateful that the Investment Committee has taken our demand for divestment seriously, and have read their response thoroughly. However, stating that the portfolio has zero exposure to indiscriminate weapons, weapons of mass destruction or nuclear weapons is no consolation when we hear that the United Nations is investigating specific cases of first responders being targeted by lethal drones as they attend to casualties after 2,000lb bombs have been dropped on residential areas.
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust, a Jewish communal organisation which protects synagogues and monitors antisemitism, said: It is horrifying to think that a person with views such as this would be teaching children, and it is entirely right that he has been suspended.
How to watch Celtic vs Rangers: TV channel and live stream for Old Firm derby in Scottish Premiership today

How to watch Celtic vs Rangers: TV channel and live stream
Rosie Alison, the producer of the third film to feature Michael Bonds beloved bear, told US outlet Variety that the royal family were very happy for a photograph of the late Queen taking tea with Paddington, which was part of a sketch for her platinum jubilee celebrations, to be used in the film.
I want to offer my full reassurance that this incident will be robustly investigated. We have been clear that we have zero tolerance for hate crime.
I had to make the decision, do I tell him? And I came to the conclusion that whatever was happening with me, I couldnt change it. But I could change dramatically what was happening in his life, Paris told the Mirror newspaper.
https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/knightscope-reports-four-asr-subscription-agreement-renewals-seven-deployments

The latest update is out from Agco ( (AGCO) ).

AGCO Corporation has successfully sold its Grain & Protein business to American Industrial Partners for $700 million, marking a pivotal step in its strategy to focus on high-growth agricultural machinery and precision technology. The proceeds will primarily be used for debt repayment, technological investments, and returning capital to shareholders, aligning with AGCOs long-term growth objectives.

See more data about AGCO stock on TipRanks Stock Analysis page.
https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/aon-plc-to-acquire-uk-based-insurance-broker-griffiths-armour

Aon signed a definitive agreement to acquire UK-based insurance broker Griffiths & Armour. Upon completion of the transaction, Griffiths & Armour will become wholly-owned by Aon UK Limited and is proposed to go to market as Griffiths & Armour, an Aon company. The acquisition aligns with Aons strategy to further expand its presence in the UK and Ireland. With around 200 employees, Griffiths & Armour are known for their specialist expertise in professional indemnity insurance and strength in general insurance broking. As part of the acquisition, Aon is committed to Griffiths & Armours Liverpool office at Princes Dock and its strong team in Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin and London. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur in Q1 2025. Aon and Griffiths & Armour will continue to operate independently until the closing date.

Published first on TheFly  the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>>

See the top stocks recommended by analysts >>

Read More on AON:
A number of 4,392 companies with foreign capital were established in Romania in the first nine months of 2024, down by 16.22% compared to the same period in 2023, according to the data centralized by the National Trade Registry Office (ONRC), consulted by AGERPRES.

The 4,392 new companies had a subscribed capital in the total amount of 16,902 million dollars, down 85.44% compared to the subscribed capital of companies registered in the first nine months of 2023, of 116,079 million dollars.





At the end of September 2024, there were 269,386 companies with foreign participation in the share capital in Romania. The value of the subscribed capital was over 71.526 billion dollars.
The reindustrialization of the country and solid financial support for SMEs represent the two main pillars for the country's economy to develop healthily, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Saturday, after the meeting with the representatives of the business environment in Arad.

"I agreed with the representatives of the business environment in Arad that the reindustrialization of the country and the solid financial support for SMEs represent the two big pillars for the country's economy to develop healthily! In our view, public investment means not only money allocated for infrastructure - roads, hospitals and schools. Equally important are the investments made in Romanian people and companies, in Romania's human resources, i.e. in energetic and daring people, capable of becoming business champions," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook, Agerpres informs.





"We invest billions of euros annually to support the businesses of local companies. This year, despite all the problems, we managed to reach investments of almost 120 billion RON in the Romanian economy! Arad has every right to hope for more and more investments and I will support this county to accelerate its economic growth because there is a huge potential that we must fully exploit. This is the sure way to develop Romania together," Ciolacu said.
The Minister of Justice, Alina Gorghiu, stated, on Saturday, in Sinaia, that the regional recovery centers for addicts cannot remain only on paper, pointing out that the law establishing them has been in force for four months, but the Ministry of Health has not issued "any word" on this subject.

"The state must treat young people addicted to drugs, addicted to gambling, addicted to any other problem. And the National Liberal Party (PNL) took a crucial step in Parliament. The law establishing the 8 regional recovery centers for addicts. These centers, however, they cannot remain only on paper. For four months (...) this law has been in force, but we have not heard a word from the Ministry of Health", said Gorghiu, in the speech given at the program presentation event of PNL governance.





"Effectively, there is no more time to lose and we all ask the Government to quickly put on the table a clear, concrete calendar for setting up these centers for the treatment of young people's addiction in Romania," Alina Gorghiu said, Agerpres informs.According to Alina Gorghiu, in these elections Romanians will have a choice between a "safe and stable" Romania or a Romania "confiscated by a Social Democratic Party (PSD) that wants all the power, defiant and arrogant".
The Ministry of Finance (MF) has planned, in November 2024, loans from commercial banks in the amount of 5.7 billion RON, to which the sum of 795 million RON can be added through additional sessions of non-competitive offers, related to bond auctions.

The total amount, of 6.495 billion RON, is 95 million RON higher than the one that was scheduled in October 2024, of 6.405 billion RON, and will be intended for refinancing the public debt and financing the state budget deficit.

According to the prospectus published in the Official Gazette, on November 7, an auction will be organized for an issue of treasury certificates with a discount, in the amount of 400 million RON, with maturity on October 27, 2025.

Also, during November 2024, auctions will be organized for nine benchmark bond issues, with a total value of 5.3 billion RON, followed the next day by an additional session of non-competitive offers, with a value of 15% of the initial value of the bond issue (795 million RON in total).

Thus, auctions were scheduled for three bond issues of 700 million RON each, on November 7, November 18 and November 21, for two issues of 600 million RON, on November 11 and November 25, and for four issues of 500 million RON each, on November 4, November 14, November 21 and November 28.
More than 560 driving licenses were seized by the police on Friday, 48 of them for alcohol consumption, informed the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police.

According to a press release from the Romanian Police sent to AGERPRES on Saturday, the police acted, at the national level, to prevent antisocial acts, organizing 406 actions and intervened in 2,831 events, of which 2,400 were reported by citizens through 112.





For other detected irregularities, the police applied 7,921 contraventional sanctions, in the amount of 3,335,843 RON.
Walthall Moore was elected on Nov. 2, 1920, as the first Black man to hold office in the Missouri Legislature.

Moore was 38 when he was elected as a Republican representing House District 6, in St. Louis. He lived at 3035 Pine; several newspapers at the time described that House district as one of the wealthiest in the city.

In December 1920, Moore spoke briefly after a lunch of Republican House members: "I am placed in a peculiar, but distinguished position, being the first one of color ever to sit in the Missouri Legislature, a distinction I appreciate. ... I have received a great deal of advice, probably more than any other member. I have been advised not to say very much in the Legislature, and I don't think I will, but to sit quiet and look on. I think that good advice, even here. However, I want to say that I will cooperate with you. I am interested in seeing the Republican policies carried out. I am particularly interested in educational legislation."

On the first day of the session, the editor of the St. Louis Argus carried a "huge bunch of flowers" to Moore's desk, which he arranged to applause. The flowers were from various churches and the Citizens Liberty League.

During his time in the legislature, he introduced a bill that converted Lincoln Institute, the state's Black college, to a university and gave it a $500,000 appropriation. He also introduced an anti-lynching bill. Moore lost re-election in 1922 after redistricting, but was elected in 1924, 1926 and 1928.

He was born in Alabama, and graduated from Howard University. Moore died in 1960.
I found the perfect place to get away from the clamor of an unpleasant election season  the Steamboat Inn in Steamboat, Oregon. There was no television, no cell phone coverage, no Wi-Fi or internet. The lack of these things is a point of pride at the inn.

The unincorporated community of Steamboat got its name from the nearby Steamboat Creek, which flows into the Umpqua River, which then rushes past the Steamboat Inn in a series of rapids. Towering pines line the other side of the river.

It is a place of great natural beauty, which is the currency in which my nephew trades. He has been the landscaper at the Steamboat Inn for the last eight years.

Chip grew up in a small town near Indianapolis. He was a social kid and had lots of friends. He went to art school in Cincinnati and decided that art school was not what he wanted. He preferred an outdoor life. He liked the beauty and challenges found in the wilderness. He went west and became a skier and snowboarder and kayaker and rock-climber.

He supported himself. Often, he got painting jobs, but he can do anything. He can build things, fix things. He is smart enough to figure out what needs to be done, and competent enough to do it. Guys like that always do fine.

He did not often return to the Midwest. I saw him last around 25 years ago. He came by with two huskies. My dog, Jorge, was an ancient pug. We were in the basement. The Huskies walked toward the couch where Jorge was resting. He restrained himself when the first dog walked by, but as the second approached, Jorge launched himself at his enemys throat. He couldnt get a grip and slid off. He seemed more embarrassed than disappointed. Happily, the husky didnt seem offended.

Jorges ridiculous attack was a gift. Every uncle and nephew should have a shared anecdote. Hey, remember the time

I always intended to visit Chip in Colorado or Montana or wherever he was, but life intervened. Its easy to let that happen, whether youre talking about relatives or old friends.

In my defense, I always figured hed get married and Id go to the wedding. But none of his relationships progressed to that point.

Wed exchange cards at Christmas. In recent years, hed send a video in which, dressed as Santa, hed be kayaking through fast and treacherous waters.

I sent him a note after my son and I were at Yellowstone and came upon four young people whose friend had just been washed away in the Yellowstone River. He had put his foot in the fast-moving water  showing off for the girls, I suspect  and had been knocked off his balance. There was no regaining it.

Life can get real in a hurry in the wilderness, Chip responded.

Recently, I made the decision to finally visit my late sisters son. Had it really been 25 years? I sent him a note, and asked if mid-October was a good time to visit. Fire season is over, he wrote back. Its a good time to come.

We flew to Eugene, rented a car and headed inland. One of the roads seemed dicey. It dropped steeply off to the right, which is where, as the passenger, I sat. Mary knows my fear of edges, but she was so intent on getting off that road before darkness settled in completely that she didnt seem to notice my sudden intakes of breath or little yelps of fear.

But we made it.

We started toward our cabin when Chip came striding up. He was middle-aged and bearded, but I could see the little boy he had once been. He still looked like a young man. His fathers people age slowly. We hugged.

The Steamboat Inn offers guests the option of having a bottle of Oregon wine waiting for them in their rooms. We opened the bottle and took it out to the porch. We could hear the river in the darkness. There were stars.

Hey, do you remember when that old pug of mine jumped one of your huskies?

Chip laughed. Of course, he said.

The Steamboat Inn is remote enough that it provides housing for some of its employees. Chip has a place overlooking the river. He built a pen next to his apartment so his two large dogs arent cooped up all day. The huskies are long gone. One of the current dogs is a wolf-dog. It howls.

That adds to the atmosphere. This is Sasquatch country. It is also waterfall country. We visited several in the next couple of days.

Chip was at home on the trails. He told me about once hearing the whoosh of a great horned owl as it flew by. How many people have experienced that?

Of course, life is about choices. You choose one life and miss out on half a dozen others that might have worked out just as well.

The inn shuts down in November and the employees move on except for Chip. He stays. The inn is just below the mandatory chains zone, but still, winter can bring storms. Sometimes there are power outages. Mostly, though, there is a lack of people.

Roseburg is the nearest town. Its about 40 miles away. Chip sometimes goes into town to play pool.

I mentioned that the inn is a perfect place to get away from politics, but is it possible to avoid the topic on the eve of an important election? I think not. Rural Oregon is MAGA Country, but Chip is an environmentalist and no fan of former president Donald Trump. The fire season gets longer every year. Smoke hangs on long after the fires are out.

Chip said he generally avoids talking politics with the locals, but one recent day he wore an anti-Trump shirt to town. It just said NOPE, and the O was a caricature of Trumps face.

Chip said a couple of men gave him a look but didnt say anything. However, several women came up to him and said they liked the shirt.

Based on that, he figures a lot of women in MAGA country arent going to tell pollsters or their husbands but are going to vote for Kamala Harris. He is predicting a Democratic victory.

Maybe it was the wine we drank every night, or maybe the stars or the gurgling of the river, but it made as much sense to me as anything Ive heard from the political experts. It lifted my spirits.

Back home, Im not so sure of that prediction, but Im awfully glad I finally made it to the Steamboat Inn.
Iran is reportedly preparing for a new attack against Israel in the coming days, Azernews reports, citing The Washington Post.

Intelligence has indicated that Iran is planning to launch an assault on Israel soon.

Previously, the Axios portal reported, based on sources, that Israeli intelligence agencies have information suggesting that Iran plans to carry out a large-scale attack on Israel from Iraq in the near future.
As the AI boom continues, investors are looking to invest in companies that offer the tools necessary to create AI products. Applied Materials is one such company, with a strong balance sheet and high shareholder returns that are going under the radar at the moment.

The chip maker is a global leader in materials engineering solutions, focused on the semiconductor, flat panel display, and solar photovoltaic industries. The companys uniqueness comes from its expertise in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and its ability to continuously innovate, facilitating the production of smaller and more powerful chips which are key for modern technology. It was created in 1967 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

The company offers a diverse range of products in three main categories: semiconductor manufacturing equipment, display technology, and solar photovoltaic equipment. The semiconductor manufacturing equipment includes tools for depositing thin materials onto semiconductor wafers, pattering semiconductor devices by removing materials with precision, and introducing ions into semiconductor wafers to modify their electrical properties.

The display technology segment is responsible for the manufacturing of flat panel displays including LCDs and OLEDs while the solar photovoltaic equipment segment specializes in producing solar panels.

5 Highest-Grossing Media Franchises of All Time

Approximately 75% of Applied Materials total revenue is generated by sales of semiconductor equipment and related services while the display division generates 15% of total sales.

The companys end markets encompass the semiconductor industry, consumer electronics, and renewal energy, with Intel, Samsung, Micron Technology, Qualcomm, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company being some of its top clients.

AMAT's strategic advantage stems from being a key player in the creation of AI infrastructure. It is a classic 'picks and shovels' company, except that its technological advancement allows it a respectable standalone position as well.

The company has doubled in revenue in the last 5 years, but that's not what investors are looking at. It is the improvement of EBITDA margin from 26% to 34% that has gained investor attention. The company also enjoys a high return on equity of 43%.

AMAT also has $9.1 billion in cash with a further $5 billion in accounts receivables. Even though the dividend yield stands at a modest 0.9%, shareholder returns are amplified by the stock buyback program. The company has bought back 7.6% of its shares outstanding in the last 3 years.
JERUSALEM  An attack on a central Israeli town early Saturday injured 11 people as Irans Supreme Leader vowed a punishing response to Israels attack last week.

The predawn strike on Tira, which followed air raid sirens across central Israel, was one of several barrages fired from Lebanon early in the day. Many of the projectiles were intercepted by Israeli air defenses, while others landed in unpopulated areas.

The Magen David Adom emergency service said 11 people were hurt by shrapnel and glass shards in a direct strike on a building in Tira, a predominantly Israeli Arab town. Three were in moderate condition, while the others suffered milder injuries.

Footage showed significant damage to the roof and top floor of the three-story building and cars below.

Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group claimed responsibility for firing missiles toward the Israeli militarys Unit 8200 base in Glilot on the edge of Tel Aviv and for attacking central Israels Palmachim Air Base with explosive drones, saying they scored precise hits on targets."

Israels military has not confirmed either base was targeted or hit.

Hezbollah said the Saturday dawn missile attack directed at Glilot was in retaliation for the massacres that are being committed by Israel. It was likely that the claim was linked to the strike on Tira, which is about 20 kilometers (11 miles) away from Glilot.

Tamar Abdel Hai, a resident of Tira, said that the attack was frightening. I call upon all the leaders in the Arab world and the leaders in Israel and to everyone who can help to end this war. Its enough, he said.

Hezbollah also said that its fighters have fired salvos of rockets into northern Israeli towns including Dalton, Yesud HaMaala and Bar Yohai.

Iran threatens more attacks

The early Saturday attacks may be only a precursor to a more severe strike against Israel.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, on Saturday threatened Israel and the U.S. with a punishing response over attacks on Iran and its allies following Israels Oct. 26 airstrikes that targeted Irans military bases and other locations.

The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front, Khamenei said in video released by Iranian state media.

A further attack by Iran, which has already launched two direct attacks against Israel this year, could push the wider Middle East closer to a broader conflict. Israel is already battling the Iran-backed militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The fight against Hezbollah has weakened the group but has also taken a heavy toll on southern Lebanon and other parts of the country.

On Friday, Israel launched dozens of intense airstrikes across Lebanons northeastern farming villages, killing at least 52 people and wounding scores more, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported.

Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in 2023, more than 2,897 people have been killed and 13,150 wounded in Lebanon, according to a Health Ministry update early Friday. United Nations agencies estimate that Israels ground invasion and bombardment of Lebanon has displaced 1.4 million people.

Residents of Israels northern communities near Lebanon, roughly 60,000 people, have also been displaced for more than a year.

Israel has also stepped up its offensive against Hamas remaining fighters in Gaza, raising concerns about humanitarian conditions for civilians still there. The World Health Organization has said it plans to finally resume its polio vaccination campaign on Saturday, but only in Gaza City as towns further north remain inaccessible as Israel tightens its siege.

Israels war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 people in Israel and took some 250 hostages back to Gaza. Health officials inside Hamas-run Gaza do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of the dead in the enclave are women and children.

Associated Press journalists Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Shlomo Mor in Tira, Israel, contributed to this report.
New York Times bestselling author James Patterson (center) and 1st Sgt. (Ret.) Matt Eversmann (right) hold a USO flag and pose for a picture with Army cadets from The United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., on Oct. 12, 2024. Patterson and Eversmann visited West Point with the USO for a Q&A session with cadets and faculty about their new book, American Heroes. (USO)

The cost of freedom is high, and people dont really necessarily understand that. Thats what this book is about, said New York Times bestselling author James Patterson.

Patterson is well-regarded for his suspenseful thriller and mystery novels such as the Alex Cross series and Womens Murder Club, but his new bestseller book, American Heroes, holds a different pace and purpose.

Co-authored by Patterson and Army 1st Sgt. (Ret.) Matt Eversmann, American Heroes is a collection of true accounts told by more than 30 recipients of Americas most distinguished military awards, including the Medal of Honor, for their actions in conflicts from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Each turn of the page tells an inspiring story from a service members own words, captivating readers in each personal experience told.

With this book, Patterson felt it was especially important to connect with a younger audience, hoping to inspire them with real, powerful stories that help them to understand duty, sacrifice and the costs that come with preserving the nations freedoms.

This is the real deal  young people will really benefit from reading this book, Patterson said.

On Oct. 25, Patterson and Eversmann visited The United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., with the USO for a Q&A with Army cadets and faculty about their new book.

As much as they have learned, as much as they have read, most of them havent actually experienced combat, and this [American Heroes] is a big dose of it  there was certainly a lot of interest in it, Patterson said.

Patterson grew up in Newburgh, about 15 miles from West Point, which made the military academy an attractive place to promote and talk about the new book. He said it was his first time speaking at West Point and that it was an exciting experience for him.

Patterson said cadets and faculty were intrigued by the history, the book covers and the opportunity of being able to meet in-person with a true American hero, Eversmann.

New York Times bestselling author James Patterson (center) and 1st Sgt. (Ret.) Matt Eversmann (left) speak with Army cadets during a Q&A session for their new book, American Heroes, during a visit with the USO to The United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., on Oct. 12, 2024. (USO) New York Times bestselling author James Patterson signs the inside of his new book, American Heroes, for a service member during his visit with 1st Sgt. Matt Eversmann and the USO to The United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., on Oct. 25, 2024. (USO)

Eversmann was assigned to the 3rd Ranger Regiment which was sent to Mogadishu, Somalia as part of a U.N. peacekeeping operation in 1993. He led a group of 12 rangers in the most hostile district of Mogadishu in a fight against an enemy militia until they were rescued. Eversmanns account of this experience, which he earned a Bronze Star medal with valor device for, was later immortalized in the Ridley Scott film Black Hawk Down, released in 2002.

It is because of Eversmanns testament to war and heroism that Patterson thought he would be perfect to co-author American Heroes. Eversmann and Patterson collaborated on previous books including Walk in my Combat Boots, Walk the Blue Line, E.R. Nurses and The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians. They are currently working on another book together called Walk in my Classroom, which is expected to come out in 2025.

Patterson says American Heroes is meant to be memorable by those who read it, and to convey the true meaning of being an American hero.

Its not one of those books thats drudgery  it holds your attention, and the stories are mind blowing, said Patterson.

American Heroes is available now at many bookstores and retailers including Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, Walmart, Bookshop.org and Amazon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during a meeting in Russia's Amur region in September 2023. (Vladimir Smirnov, Sputnik pool photo via AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Nearly three years into Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war has brought no shortage of complicated twists and turns. But one bizarre new element particularly stands out: North Korean troops in the battlefield mix.

South Korean intelligence first raised the alarm last month about their presence inside Russia, and since then, mounting evidence of that claim has been aired at NATO headquarters in Brussels, at the United Nations and in Washington.

For an already beleaguered Ukraine, the development is yet another flashing danger sign. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told South Korean television on Thursday that he expected North Korean troops to take part in combat against Ukrainian forces within days, not months.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, standing alongside senior South Korean officials at the State Department  and speaking hours after North Korea conducted its longest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile test  made a similar prediction Thursday, saying Russia could use North Korean forces in frontline operations in coming days.

Here is some background on how they came to stand at the doorstep of a fray 5,000 miles from home  and what the ramifications might be for the region and the wider world.

How big a deal is this?

Some analysts have framed it as a watershed moment.

The arrival of North Korean soldiers on the battlefields of Europe is a historically unprecedented event that represents a major escalation in the largest European invasion since World War II, wrote Peter Dickinson, editor of the Atlantic Council think tanks publication UkraineAlert.

Others, however, suggested that a contingent of some 10,000 North Korean forces  the figure cited by Blinken and the Pentagon  would do little to alter broad battlefield dynamics in a war in which estimates of Russian and Ukrainian military casualties already exceed half a million.

Why now?

Even if not numerically significant, any infusion of manpower can count at a time when both sides are suffering attrition and scrambling to find recruits.

The North Korean troops are thought to include some members of its special forces, and Ukrainian intelligence has said the contingent includes at least three high-ranking generals. North Korea for some time has been providing Russia with artillery and ballistic missiles to use against Ukraine, and its forces could help make more effective use of such weaponry.

Some analysts have said the move to seek outside help should be read as a sign of weakness on Moscows part.

It is because Russia is failing to achieve significant results on the battlefield that it resorts to drawing more manpower and drawing more materiel and kit from its allies, Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine forum at the British think tank Chatham House, told a webinar put on by the organization.

Zelensky, though, framed it as a Russian test of the will of Ukraines allies.

Putin is checking the reaction of the west, he said in his interview with South Korean television. And I believe that after all these reactions, Putin will decide and increase the contingent.

Will this lead to escalation?

Kremlin officials say NATOs longstanding aid to Ukraine is really no different than a friendly nation moving to help Russias war effort.

But throughout the war, both sides have taken care to avoid turning the conflict into a direct battle between Russia and NATO, whose 32 member nations, including the United States, have a mutual-defense pact.

North Korea turned up the rhetorical heat in a visit to Moscow on Friday by its foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, who met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. She said her government will stand by Russia until it prevails in Ukraine, calling it a holy war, and accused South Korea and the United States of planning a nuclear attack on North Korea.

South Korea, meanwhile, has already said it is weighing moving to help Ukraine militarily in response to North Koreas move.

What about China?

All this has left Beijing in an awkward position.

China has been supportive of Russia in the course of the Ukraine war  though stopping short of providing it with offensive weaponry  but has reason to be wary of a warming between Moscow and Pyongyang.

China does not like Russia to have so much influence over the North, wrote Victor Cha, the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. In addition, if the longer-term ramifications of this cooperation lead to greater DPRK capabilities that invite even more U.S. military presence and allied capabilities in Chinas region, that does not benefit China.

How does North Korea benefit?

North Korea and Russia signed a strategic partnership accord in June, and analysts said there could be quick quid pro quo for the troop deployment.

That could involve food assistance and financial support, said Chatham House Korea analyst Edward Howell, but what Kim Jong Un wants the most is advanced missile technology.

We know North Korea wants to improve its satellite technology capability, conventional weapons capability and missile delivery systems, he told Fridays webinar.

South Korea has amplified its own warnings, telling the Pentagon this week that North Korea is very likely to seek technology relating to tactical nuclear weapons, reconnaissance satellites and nuclear submarines.

How does the U.S. election play into this?

Transitions between U.S. administrations can be a tense time, particularly since the last one. Traditionally, Washington conveys stern but quiet warnings to adversaries against attempting to try to gain any military advantage from a perceived period of uncertainty, stressing that a changeover does not alter U.S. readiness.

If Kamala Harris were to win Tuesdays vote, there would likely be a greater element of continuity between the Biden administration and her own, if she were to be elevated from the vice presidency. If Donald Trump prevails, or contests the result, it could add a significant element of volatility.

Gen. Mark Milley, the then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described a sense of necessity for deconfliction measures during the final days of the last Trump administration.

In testimony last year, Milley told the Senate Armed Services Committee about his phone conversations with a Chinese general in 2021, including one that came days after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Milley said the calls with Gen. Li Zuocheng were intended to reassure China that the United States had no intention of staging an attack.

That testimony came after publication of the book Peril  by reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa  which said that Milley was worried at the time about the potential for erratic behavior by the departing president.

2024 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) -Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway extended their retreat from stocks in the third quarter, further slashing holdings in Apple and boosting cash to a record $325.2 billion.

In its quarterly report on Saturday, Berkshire said it sold about 100 million, or 25%, of its Apple shares over the summer, ending with about 300 million.

Berkshire has now sold more than 600 million of the iPhone maker's shares in 2024, though Apple remained its largest stock holding, at $69.9 billion.

It sold $36.1 billion of stock overall, including several billion dollars of Bank of America shares, and bought just $1.5 billion.

That made the quarter the eighth straight where Berkshire was a net seller of stocks.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate also conducted no stock buybacks for the first time since the second quarter of 2018, and did not repurchase stock in the first three weeks of October.

"Berkshire is a microcosm of the broader economy," said Cathy Seifert, an analyst at CFRA Research in New York. "Its hoarding cash suggests a 'risk-off' mindset, and investors may worry what it means for the economy and markets."

The Class A shares of Berkshire are up 25% this year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 has risen 20%.

Rising valuations have fueled concerns among some investors that many stocks have become too expensive.

Berkshire's cash stake grew from $276.9 billion at the end of June, and is more than 10 times the $30 billion cushion that Buffett has pledged to maintain.

Buffett has made no major acquisitions of whole companies for his $975 billion company since 2016.

Jim Shanahan, an analyst at Edward Jones in St. Louis, said the swelling cash hoard "begs questions about whether Buffett thinks stocks are overvalued or an economic downturn is coming, or is trying to build cash for a big acquisition."

In May, Buffett said he expected Apple to remain Berkshire's largest stock investment, but selling made sense because the 21% federal tax rate on gains would likely grow.

OPERATING PROFIT FALLS

Berkshire's quarterly operating profit declined 6% to $10.09 billion, or about $7,019 per Class A share, missing analyst estimates of $7,611 per share according to LSEG IBES.

The decline stemmed largely from underwriting losses on older insurance policies, insurance claims related to Hurricane Helene in September, and currency losses from a strengthening U.S. dollar.

These offset improved profitability at the Geico car insurer, where accident claims fell. Profit also rose at the BNSF railroad, which shipped more consumer goods, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, where operating expenses declined.
Californians of Sikh descent march Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, on Bradshaw Road toward the Gurdwara Sacramento Sikh Society in Vineyard to conclude a 16-mile trek from Lodi. The group started in Bakersfield on Oct. 9, marching up the Central Valley to mark the 40th anniversary of deadly anti-Sikh riots in India. (Jose Luis Villegas/The Sacramento Bee)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Tribune News Service)  For the last three weeks, Californians of Sikh descent have been making their way from Bakersfield to Sacramento in a 350-mile march through the Central Valley. Organizers say they expect around 500 Sikhs to walk the final stretch from West Sacramento over the Tower Bridge to the state Capitol Friday.

The Fearless for Justice march was initially focused on commemorating the 40th anniversary of a genocide in India that killed thousands of Sikhs, causing tens of thousands to seek refuge in California.

But current events have altered the focus.

Driven by reports from U.S. and Canadian intelligence agencies revealing assassination plots by the government of India targeting Sikh leaders in California, New York, and Canada, the march has turned into a civil rights demonstration against transnational repression or TNR.

As the march entered Elk Grove Wednesday an emotional Bobbie Singh-Allen, who in 2020 became the nations first elected Sikh woman mayor, walked with marchers as traffic whizzed by. I will always stand with my people,Singh-Allen said. Were commemorating history, but what is happening today is terrifying. People are dying and being threatened.

U.S. adversaries like Iran and Russia are well known for practicing TNR, which the FBI defines as when a foreign government reaches beyond its border to intimidate, silence, coerce, harass or harm members of their diaspora.

There is a growing body of evidence that Sikhs in California, especially those advocating for an independent nation of Khalistan in what is today Indian Punjab, have been surveilled, threatened, and even shot at in California.

March leaders say Californias response to threats against Sikhs has been muddled, partly because of lobbying from groups with close links to the Indian government. Police chiefs, elected district attorneys and federal officials were told in training sessions run by groups aligned with India, that Sikh activists, the vast majority of whom are law abiding U.S citizens, are linked to terrorism and organized crime.

Although roughly 40% of people of Indian descent in California are Sikhs, with most having settled in the Central Valley, in India they are a minority, comprising 2% of the population. According to Human Rights Watch, Prime Minister Narendra Modis ruling BJP partys ultranationalist Hindu ideology of Hindu supremacy known as Hindutva, has fueled and encouraged violence against religious minorities including Sikhs.

Californias estimated 250,000 Sikhs have plenty of reasons to be nervous.

Last month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expelled Indias top diplomat along with six other consular and embassy officials for their alleged role in the assassination of a Sikh leader, along with other murders and acts of intimidation.

In June 2023, the Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar a devout Sikh who founded the organization Sikhs for Justice, which advocates for Khalistan, was assassinated in the parking lot of a Sikh gurdwara temple in Surrey, British Columbia.

In announcing the expulsion of diplomats, a visibly shaken Trudeau described criminal syndicates teaming up with diplomats to commit violent crimes.

You cant make this stuff up, said former Canadian intelligence official Dan Stanton, who has helped lead an inquiry into foreign interference in the Canadian Parliament.

The Indian government was using their embassy and consulates as command and control centers to manage and plan serious crimes, homicides, violence, arson, and extortion, all to create the illusion that Canada is being overrun by criminal gangs and terrorists dedicated to the cause of a free Khalistan, Stanton said.

Sikh leaders want Governor Gavin Newsom to take a stand.

Leaders at 26 Sikh gurdwara temples in California told Newsom in a letter Tuesday that they are troubled by attempts to spread disinformation to local law enforcement agencies in California.

Referencing a Sacramento Bee investigation last month, the Sikh leaders said they were troubled by law enforcement training by the Hindu American Foundation, which they said was rife with disinformation being spread about the Sikh American community in California.

In a statement on its website, HAF defended its outreach to California law enforcement. HAF does not call for widespread surveillance of the Sikh community. Alleging that HAF supports a warrantless surveillance program of any community is a lie.

The gurdwara leaders told Newsom that after a TNR bill supported by the state assembly was killed in an appropriations committee after lobbying by Hindu nationalist organizations, they want Newsom to use his influence to fast-track a new bill.

When we came to the United States, we believed that we were safe from the government-sponsored terrorism of our homeland. However, in recent years, the long arm of the Indian Government has begun reaching into our communities in America and threatening our leaders and advocates, especially in California.

While the clearest evidence of violence sponsored by India has occurred in Canada, home to the largest population of Sikhs outside of India, evidence of India-sponsored TNR in California is abundant.

Sikh activists have been shot at on freeways, surveilled at their homes, and threatened with immigration consequences by a man claiming to represent the Indian consulate of San Francisco.

That incident, which happened at a Stockton gurdwara, was more than a year ago. Despite video evidence, which showed the man and the license plate of the SUV he was driving, no evidence of a federal or state investigation has publicly emerged.

On the one hand, were grateful. I mean the FBI thwarted assassination attempts. But theres anxiety out there. We want to see results, said Naindeep Singh, a march leader and the executive director of the Jakara Movement, a civil rights and youth empowerment non-profit with programs in 90 high schools across California.

Singh, also an elected school board official in Fresno, appears to have become a target of TNR.

Calls for surveillance of local Sikh activists

The Bee previously reported that Singh was labeled a terrorist with links to organized crime by a group of Hindus last October who met with the mayor and police chief of Fresno. The visitors insisted that Singh and another respected local Sikh leader, Gurdeep Shergill, a third-grade teacher and radio host, should be followed by law enforcement, former police chief Paco Balderrama said.

Singh said he is not active in the Khalistan cause, but believes he attracted the attention of Hindutva organizations, and the Indian government, because he is a key leader in the push for recognition of a Sikh genocide.

Balderrama said the meeting atendees were alarmed that both men attended a demonstration in Fresno last year protesting the involvement of India in the assassination of Nijjar. They provided photographs of Shergill interviewing Singh at the Nijjar protest, along with internet clippings suggesting that Nijjar and others in the Khalistan movement were terrorists.

The sense I got was that they wanted us to somehow stop these kinds of demonstrations from happening in the future, Balderrama said.

After The Bee revealed the undisclosed meeting, Fresnos mayor Dyer met with Sikh leaders and said he opposes transnational repression and stands with local Sikhs.

Fresno, with a population of around 50,000 Sikhs, has the largest population of Sikhs of any major city in the United States.

Indian officials have long taken an interest in Sikh activism in Fresno. In 2016, the Fresno Bee reported that the top official from the Indian Consulate of San Francisco met with every member of the city council to convince city leaders not to approve a resolution recognizing the deaths of thousands of Sikhs in India in 1984 as a genocide. The lobbying effort delayed the vote, but the resolution eventually passed.

In April, Indias Consul General, Srikar Reddy traveled to Fresno to meet with Mayor Dyer. Its unclear if concerns about Sikh activism in the city came up.

Dyers meeting with the Indian diplomat came six months after the October 2023 meeting when the two local Sikh leaders, Singh and Shergil, were described as nefarious actors.

A photograph taken that day at city hall, and sources familiar with the meeting revealed who some of the participants were. They included a prominent doctor, Harsh Saigal, his wife Sue Saigal (a former city council candidate), Anand Kapoor, a senior manager for CalTrans.

Kapoor did not return messages from The Bee. Anthony Presto, a spokesperson for CalTrans said the meeting was not connected to their agency.

Sue Saigal said in a brief phone interview, that there was no mention of Sikh activism at the meeting and called it a meet and greet focused on cleaning up Fresno.

Balderama stands by his account. He said Saigal and others described Shergill and Singh as extremists who should be surveilled.

Arjun Sethi, a Georgetown Law Professor and expert in TNR who advises Congress on the issue, said the Fresno meeting with police and other lobbying in California raises the possibility of violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. U.S Justice Dept. officials use FARA to prosecute espionage and secret lobbying by foreign governments.

Certain individuals and organizations met with law enforcement, prosecutors, and lawmakers, and peddled the very same disinformation as the Modi regime, namely that Sikhs who engage in peaceful activism, are criminals and terrorists. Sethi said the question is whether there is coordination between these individuals, organizations and the Indian government, and why the misinformation and demands are exactly the same.

Being described as a terrorist wasnt the only disturbing thing that happened to Singh in Fresno over the last year.

Singh said after the meeting between the Hindu representatives and the mayor and police chief, he was followed for about a month. He kept notes of the encounters, noting a partial license plate of a car that repeatedly followed him.

The alleged surveillance stopped in November 2023, after U.S. justice officials thwarted an assassination attempt against the U.S. leader of Sikhs for Justice, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. That plot was linked to the Indian government and a top intelligence official who was indicted for being part of the conspiracy.

FBI warned California Sikhs about threats

Other prominent Sikhs said they have been surveilled.

The Bee reviewed security videos that show chilling footage at the home of Dr. Pritpal Singh, an influential Sikh who met White House officials to discuss the TNR threat to Sikhs in October, according to reports from Reuters.

Pritpal Singh, director of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, attends the Yuba City Nagar Kirtan Sikh parade on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Sara Nevis/The Sacramento Bee)

Days after the Nijjar killing, Singh, who lives in the Bay Area, received a call from an FBI office in Dallas. He says an agent identifying himself only as Jason told Singh that his life was in danger. After the call, Singh reviewed security footage and discovered chilling surveillance of his home.

The June 2023 video was not the only surveillance of Singh. Security cameras captured another incident involving two men in a Tesla in November 2023 hurriedly taking cell phone photos.

Singh provided a license plate number to the FBI that The Bee traced to a Bay Area man.

Singh said since then he has not heard from the FBI or California law enforcement about the incident. Im grateful to the FBI for saving so many Sikh lives. At the same time, its disconcerting. We want to know whats going on.

Weeks after the second surveillance of Singhs home, federal law enforcement officials announced they had thwarted the assassination plot against Pannun. According to that same indictment, there were additional targets in California. One of those targets may have been Singh.

Khalistanis are terrorists

Legislation aimed at training law enforcement to recognize transnational repression died in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Its unclear why. The legislation had passed the California Assembly 72-0 and had the support of the California Sheriffs Association.

One thing that is clear is that non-profit organizations linked to the Indian government worked hard to oppose it by claiming it was Hinduphobic and in the interest of Khalistani terrorists.

Legislation is being proposed by terrorist and separatist supporters under the guise of stopping transnational repression, read one communication, which said Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano, who authored the legislation, was giving cover to terrorists.

The document came from the Hindu American Political Action Committee, which is closely tied to the Hindu American Foundation.

Federal Election Commission documents show the Hindu American PAC was initiated by several board members of HAF. Texas businessman Rishi Bhutada who also provided over a million dollars to HAF, regularly infuses the PAC with funds, hosts the email server and pays for the PACs PO box.

Momentum builds builds in California for a renewed TNR bill

Although it received scant attention at the time, accusations made in August that Californias failed TNR bill, AB 3027 was giving cover to Sikh extremists, has recently created a stir in the state legislature.

The California Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (AAPILC) released a letter last month denouncing any organization that says a California legislator is associated with terrorism. The Hindu American PAC has used dangerous rhetoric to mischaracterize Assembly Bill 3027, which received bipartisan support in the state legislature, regarding transnational repression that was introduced by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains, the letter said.

There are other signs that the pushback against TNR is having an impact. State Senator Anna Caballero, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee has not explained what happened with the previous bill. As appropriations chair, she would have almost certainly signed off on any decision not to advance the legislation.

But march organizers Caballero plans to march with the Sikh activists on Friday. In a letter she sent to Sikh leader Dr. Pritpal Singh, stated she would like to see new legislation soon.

The rise of transnational repression, she said, is unacceptable in any society and highlights a larger pattern of harassment and threats directed at individuals based on their political and religious views.

I support the overall goal and intention of Assembly Bill 3027 and have committed to work with Assemblywoman Bains and my colleagues in the legislature to take swift and immediate action to ensure the health and safety of members of the Sikh American community.

When asked in an interview if he was weary from the nearly 350 miles of walking alongside freeways and farmland in the Central Valley, Naindeep Singh,said he was more energized than exhausted.

The march leader, whose Sikh identity and pride in his heritage led to unfounded allegations that he is a terrorist, and alleged encounters with cars following him on California highways, says the fight against repression will lead to a safer environment in California. Because of the way we have pushed back, in a peaceful but forceful way, there is a growing awareness about this issue.

Maybe the governor will even meet with us.

2024 The Sacramento Bee.

Visit sacbee.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Supreme Court turned down an appeal from the Republican National Committee and refused to disqualify Pennsylvania voters who had sent in a mail ballot with an error on the envelope. (Olivier Douliery, AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  The Supreme Court on Friday turned down an appeal from the Republican National Committee and refused to disqualify Pennsylvania voters who had sent in a mail ballot with an error on the envelope.

There were no dissents.

The decision is a victory for voting rights advocates who fought the issue in Pennsylvania courts. They said voters should not lose their right to vote because they made a minor error on the mailing envelope.

The court did not issue an opinion explaining its decision. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., in a separate statement, said the Pennsylvania ruling was controversial and questionable, but there were procedural reasons for not ruling on the matter now.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch said they agreed.

In response to the decision, Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said a petty error that is irrelevant to a persons eligibility to vote should never interfere with the counting of ballots, and provisional ballots are a decades-old failsafe, a back up, for voters. Were grateful that the RNCs argument has failed and that voters can count on provisional ballots as a way to make sure that their vote counts.

The Harris-Walz campaign also applauded the outcome. Todays decision confirms that, for every eligible voter, the right to vote means the right to have your vote counted, a Harris statement read.

A decision in favor of the RNC could have affected several thousand voters across a state that is seen as pivotal in the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court gave legally registered voters a second chance to cast a ballot.

By a 4-3 vote, the state justices ruled that voters who sent in a defective mail ballot could go to their polling place on Election Day and file a provisional ballot that would be counted.

Trump and the Pennsylvania Republicans were highly skeptical of voting by mail four years ago, contending it could lead to fraud.

The Supreme Court conservatives have also been skeptical of judges making last-minute changes in voting rules.

On Monday, the RNC filed an emergency appeal in the Supreme Court and argued that the state court had dramatically changed the rules on mail voting  in the midst of the ongoing general election.

They said Pennsylvania law did not create a cure process for mail ballot errors.

Their appeal asked the justices to either throw out the state court ruling entirely or instead order the segregation of affected provisional ballots so they can be counted separately.

Election officials in Pennsylvania said the RNC claim is wrong. They told the court that many counties have offered provisional ballots to voters whose mail ballot was flawed. They said it would be dramatic change in the law to revoke that standard practice.

In its 4-3 decision, the state court said voters should not lose their right to vote because their mail ballot had an error on the envelope, such as a missing date or signature, or it was not mailed in a cover envelope.

The state judges agreed those defective ballots were void and could not be counted, but they said the voters should be permitted to cast a provisional vote in person.

What honest voting principle is violated by recognizing the validity of one ballot cast by one voter, said state Justice Christine Donohue for the majority.

The ACLU and other voting rights advocates defended that decision in response to the RNCs appeal.

The provisional voting process ensures that, for each voter, one ballot will be counted  not two ballots, and not zero ballots, they argued.

2024 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The U.S. is providing about $425 million in new military aid to Ukraine that includes air defense interceptors, munitions for rocket systems and artillery, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons, the Pentagon announced Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Kindsey Calvert/U.S. Marine Corps)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. is providing about $425 million in new military aid to Ukraine that includes air defense interceptors, munitions for rocket systems and artillery, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons, the Pentagon announced Friday.

The aid will be provided through the presidential drawdown authority, which means equipment is pulled from existing U.S. military stocks and sent to Ukraine on an emergency basis.

The announcement comes shortly after Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said the U.S. would provide more security assistance to Ukraine after Pentagon officials reported earlier in the week that 10,000 North Korean soldiers were training in Russia.

Blinken said during a news conference following a meeting with Austin and South Koreas foreign affairs and defense ministers that 8,000 North Korean troops have deployed to Russias Kursk region and the U.S. expects to see them fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine in the coming days.

Russia has been training [North Korean] soldiers in artillery, [drones], basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, indicating that they fully intend to use these forces in front-line operations, he said.

Austin had said Wednesday following an initial meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun that North Korean troops are being outfitted in Russian uniforms and equipment as they move from training in eastern Russia to the Kursk region. He acknowledged North Korean troops joining the fight in Ukraine could encourage other nations to take action. But he did not elaborate.

The U.S. last month provided $825 million in assistance to Ukraine, including Austin making an announcement during a surprise visit to Kyiv.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently outlined a victory plan for ending the conflict in Ukraine by next year. The plan includes a formal invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and permission to use Western long-range missiles to strike military targets in Russia  two steps that allies have been reluctant to support previously, The Associated Press reported.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the Ukraine invasion, more than 600,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured in the fighting there, Pentagon officials have said. The estimate is a sharp increase from estimates early in the year that were in the 350,000 range.

Russia has been suffering some 1,200 casualties a day in the east, more than at any other time during the war, Blinken said.

The U.S. has provided about $60.4 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February 2022.

The items in the military aid announced Friday include:

 Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems.

 Stinger missiles.

 Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems equipment and munitions.

 Air-to-ground munitions.

 Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.

 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition.

 Tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missiles.

 Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems.

 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers.

 Small arms and ammunition.

 Medical equipment.

 Demolitions equipment and munitions.

 Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training and transportation.
Elon Musk speaks before Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

During the chaos after the 2020 election, tech companies erected unprecedented defenses to prevent misinformation from spreading on their platforms.

Twitters Trust and Safety team added fact-checking labels to false claims about the election and blocked some of then-President Donald Trumps posts about vote fraud from spreading. Facebook peppered election posts with links to its voter information center, which was filled with reliable information about the legitimacy of mail-in ballots and voting in general. Several weeks after the race was called, YouTube began removing videos that made claims of widespread election fraud.

Four years later, all those platforms are in retreat.

Under Elon Musk, Twitter - now X - eliminated most of its content moderation staff, replacing them with a crowdsourced, and flawed, fact-checking experiment. Facebook, now Meta, has scaled down its voter information center, and has decreased the visibility of posts about politics across Facebook and Instagram. And YouTube now allows claims of election fraud on the network.

Facing legal threats and political pressure, programs to combat the spread of disinformation have waned at social media giants; most companies have declined to update their policies to respond to the 2024 election. A once-thriving ecosystem of academic and government programs intended to monitor the spread of hoaxes and foreign interference online also has diminished, opening the door for threats against election workers and viral, unproven claims about voting irregularities.

This new environment has fostered a flood of exaggerated claims about irregularities in the voting process, which researchers say has escalated as Election Day approaches. Some election officials and researchers argue this ecosystem exposes voters to an information free-for-all, warping their perception of the results and potentially contributing to political instability.

After 2020, the platforms really felt like mission accomplished, said Color of Change president Rashad Robinson, whose digital civil rights group has pushed tech companies to adopt tougher rules against voter suppression. And so [now] when you talk to them, they have moved a lot on believing that they know how to deal with the problem.

Some experts argue the saturation of online conspiracies could translate into dangerous offline actions. A large quantity of voter-fraud propaganda might prime the public to distrust the outcome of the election, for example, laying the political groundwork for GOP leaders to challenge the results.

Individual pieces of election misinformation could inspire physical or digital attacks against poll workers, election officials or immigrant communities.

We saw the dry run in 2020 of [election workers] being followed home and attacked, [facing] death threats online, [and] photos of them circulating on Facebook, said Nora Benavidez, senior counsel of the digital rights group Free Press.

Meta spokesman Corey Chambliss said in a statement that protecting the U.S. 2024 elections remains a top priority for the social media giant and no tech company does more to protect its platforms - not just during election periods but at all times.

We have around 40,000 people globally working on safety and security - more than during the 2020 cycle - and have invested more than $20 billion in teams and technology in this area since 2016, Chambliss added.

YouTube spokeswoman Audrey Lopez said in a statement that the company will support elections with a multilayered approach to effectively connect people to high-quality, authoritative news and information. A spokesperson for X did not respond to a request for comment.

The corporate retreat is fueled by several factors. A conservative legal and political campaign over allegations of censorship has successfully pressured government agencies, tech companies and outside researchers to stop working together to detect election falsehoods. Musk, who has dramatically reduced Xs misinformation programs, has inspired other companies to roll back safeguards against propaganda.

Some platforms arent just allowing false claims of election fraud to spread, they are actively soliciting them. X owner Elon Musks pro-Trump super PAC, America PAC, last month launched an Election Integrity community page on X to encourage more than 58,000 members to post examples of potential voter fraud in the 2024 election, creating a database that includes many unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations.

What is happening is much, much bigger than someone making a business decision to have less curated news sources and to have less content moderation, said Eddie Perez, who once ran Twitters civic integrity team and is now a board member of the nonprofit OSET Institute. Musk, in his support for Trump, is actually going to another extreme, which is to use the power of the platform in a proactive way, in favor of very specific antidemocratic viewpoints.

The deluge of election denialism arrives as the unfounded claim that the 2020 election was rigged against former president Donald Trump has become a mainstream talking point among conservatives. In the months before the vote, these claims have ballooned into a hodgepodge of conspiracy theories.

Since 2021, tech companies have opened the door to politicians contesting the election results. Trump has returned to Meta platforms, YouTube and X after the companies suspended his account in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Meta started allowing politicians to put 2020 election rigging claims in political ads, though fraud claims about the 2024 vote remained barred.

Twitter once banned misleading claims that could undermine the publics confidence in an election including false information about the outcome of the election. By 2023, a year after Musk took over the platform, that prohibition had disappeared from the companys civic integrity policy, according to its website.

They all get to a point where theyre like we cant do this for every election in the past, said Katie Harbath, CEO of the tech consultancy Anchor Change and a former Facebook public policy director. They might be more willing to take action for 2024 stuff than they are spending a ton of time constantly re-litigating 2020 and other past elections. Internet companies also have dramatically shifted how they promote accurate information about the election. Four years ago,

Meta ran a voter information center with continuous updates about the election from outside groups, including the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington think tank. The voter information center now directs users to static government websites, after Meta lobbyists complained that relying on the think tank could make them appear biased, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak on private deliberations.

A Twitter curation team, which included some seasoned journalists, pushed election-related articles from news outlets in Spanish and English to a dedicated election page on the platforms Explore tab. Today, the program doesnt exist. The company is directing users to a government voter registration page.

Both X and Meta have de-emphasized news stories in users news feeds, blunting the reach of mainstream journalists who share accurate updates about the election. Meta scrapped a news tab on Facebook promoting credible articles about elections and reduced the visibility of accounts that talk about politics and social issues.

While Meta has said shifting away from news and politics exposes users to less vitriolic content they dont want, experts and activists have argued the move could lower the quality and diversity of information online, particularly for people who dont actively seek out quality journalism from other sources.

I think in many ways, the solution for companies in the election context is simply to remove the possibility of accountability, Benavidez said. And one way to do that is by depoliticizing feeds.

Tech companies are also receiving less support from federal agencies this year to fight disinformation because the White House was mired in litigation with Republican state attorneys general. Their lawsuit, Murthy v. Missouri, alleged the Biden administrations coordination with the tech companies to tamp down on election and vaccine falsehoods amounted to censorship. The Supreme Court ultimately rejected the conservatives effort in June, but communication between internet platforms and government watchdogs is now more limited.

The Department of Homeland Security has pulled back from direct outreach to companies such as Meta, Google and X after years of holding joint meetings with them to discuss election threats including foreign influence campaigns, according to two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The FBI said in a statement that it was sharing information with social media companies and recently updated its procedures so that the platforms are aware they are free to decide on their own whether to take action.

Meanwhile, federal programs that combat foreign disinformation are in jeopardy. The Global Engagement Center, which was founded in 2016 to combat propaganda campaigns that undermine the United States, is expected to shutter in December unless Congress votes to extend its authorization. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) have co-sponsored an amendment to let the program to continue, but it faces resistance from House Republicans, who accuse the agency of mission creep and say its work could violate the First Amendment.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has publicly made it clear that continuing this vital work overseas is a priority, the State Department said in a statement.

Some disinformation research programs have also folded or shifted strategies to avoid being targeted by probes from House Republicans and conservative activists investigating allegations of digital censorship. Others are simply having trouble performing the research at all after both Twitter and Meta reduced or eliminated access to tools widely used to track viral misinformation on their platforms.

Now, researchers are waiting with trepidation to see how tech companies reduced defenses against misinformation and rising political propaganda will affect voters as they head to the polls.

The world of misinformation and disinformation is much broader than it was in 2020, said Tim Harper, who leads election work for the Center for Democracy and Technology, a Washington nonprofit that advocates for digital rights and freedom of expression.

How this plays out will be difficult to determine until the election is over.
Herbert Kilcline previously told Sunday World how information he provided to gardai investigating the murder of Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas led to the arrest of gangland criminal Alan Wilson

A former Dublin solicitor found guilty of fraud in court yesterday had previously spoken about his fears that he could be killed in prison.

Herbert Kilcline was found guilty of multiple counts relating to the fraudulent procurement of two Dublin City properties.

A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court deliberated for four hours and 15 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on eight counts against Kilcline, (62), a former solicitor with an address at Bessborough Parade, Rathmines.

Kilcline previously told Sunday World how information he provided to gardai during their investigation into the murder of Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas led to the arrest of gangland criminal Alan Wilson.

Wilson, who was ultimately found not guilty of the teenager's murder, is currently serving a separate six-year-sentence over a gangland murder plot to murder Kinahan cartel enemy Gary Hanley.

Alan Wilson

Kilcline told us how he fears that once behind bars, he will be a target for associates of Wilson seeking revenge.

"If I'm put in with the general prison population, I will be in danger," Kilcline told us in May of 2021.

"I might not survive it. I will have to ask for my safety to be watched over because I am a target."

He explained: "When I got involved in the Marioara Rostas case, I was told that these guys will kill you. Because of the struggles I have, the daily pain and strain, I actually didn't care.

"That's how I was, even when I got the GIM form [Garda Information Message officially warning a person their life is in danger]. I was actually shot at once, I was missed by about an inch, and I could feel the bullet going past me.

"But that didn't stop me; I have an obsessive approach to things.

"So I don't know  I might not survive it [jail].

"I would be at risk and I feel I would be at risk so I might have to be put into isolation.

"If I'm put in with the general prison population, I will be in danger.

"I have survived two murder attempts  and I wasn't allowed to stay in my house for a long time, I had to have a policeman watch over me.

"I will have to ask for my safety to be watched over because I am a target."

Gangland criminal Alan Wilson was acquitted by a jury of the murder of Marioara Rostas in July 2014.

The young Roma woman had only been in Ireland 18 days when she went missing while begging in Dublin's north inner city on January 6, 2008.

The prosecution failed to convince the jury she had got into a car with Wilson and had been taken to a house on Brabazon Street, near Dublin's Coombe Hospital, where she was assaulted and shot four times in the head.

It was argued that her remains were then driven to the mountains at Kippure on the Dublin-Wicklow border.

Solicitor facing prison for 120k welfare fraud says he fears gangland criminals will kill him in jail

The prosecution's case rested almost entirely on the word of convicted criminal Fergus O'Hanlon, who was in a relationship with Wilson's sister at the time and living with her and their child at the house on Brabazon Street.

Wilson and his former friend O'Hanlon were arrested in October 2008 and questioned about the murder, but no progress was made in the investigation until late 2011.

O'Hanlon then told gardai he could help locate the body and give information about the crime.

O'Hanlon, who had been granted immunity from prosecution, told the trial that he arrived home on January 8, 2008, to find a girl dead in his house and Wilson with a gun in his hand.

Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas

He said he helped his friend bury her body and clean up the scene, saying it was a case of "damned if you do and dead if you don't".

Ultimately, the jury found in Wilson's favour and returned a verdict of not guilty.

Kilcline previously told the Sunday World it was his role in convincing Wilson's former best pal O'Hanlon to give evidence that now puts him at risk.

"I was the one who convinced Alan's closest associate Fergus O'Hanlon to lead gardai to the site where Marioara was buried and give evidence against Alan Wilson," he told us.

"This was what allowed gardai to charge him with Marioara's murder - a crime of which a jury acquitted him."

Wilson was released from Mountjoy Prison in August 2017 after a separate conviction for carrying out a meat cleaver attack on a man during a burglary was overturned by the Supreme Court.

At that stage, Wilson had already served most of a six-year sentence relating to an incident in which he attacked a man after breaking into his home at Dromheath Drive, Blanchardstown in June 2009.

But in July 2019, Wilson was jailed again.

He was given a six-year-sentence after he was secretly recorded by gardai conspiring with fellow gunmen in a Kinahan cartel orchestrated plot to assassinate Dublin man Gary Hanley.

Passing sentence on Alan Wilson, Mr Justice Hunt said the conspiracy involved an "intricate" plan to kill in the context of an "ongoing feud" and the defendant had been prepared to carry out the role for financial gain.

Wilson is currently incarcerated in the Midlands Prison.

Yesterday Kilcline was found guilty of a total of eight counts, which included failing to apply the required measures as a designated person, using a false instrument and fraudulent procurement of entry to the land registry between September 2016 and June 2018.

A co-accused Matthew Murphy was acquitted by the jury of the four charges he faced.

A third accused, Philip Marley, pleaded guilty to three counts during the trial.

Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain set a sentencing date of December 9 of this year for both Kilcline and Marley. Both men were remanded on continuing bail to the sentence date, when full facts will be heard.
Senior CAB bosses moved in on the property in August after Jamie Dinnegan was jailed for 18 months for affray

The property had originally been bought for 24,000 by Jamie Dinnegan

The former home of a senior figure linked to an organised crime gang which was seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) earlier this year has sold for almost double its estimated minimum market value.

The four bedroom semi detached property, located in Longford town's Grian Ard area of Ardnacassa, had been the home of convicted criminal Jamie Dinnegan.

Senior CAB bosses moved in on the property in August after Dinnegan was jailed for 18 months for affray during which the father of one was mown down by a van in a shocking feud related incident just yards from his home in broad daylight.

That feud, it was revealed at Dinnegans sentencing hearing in July, had stemmed from a simmering rivalries which had surfaced between the Keenan and Stokes families.

The property had originally been bought for 24,000 by Jamie Dinnegan

Its genesis, Judge Kenneth Connolly, heard had emerged from a decision taken by a member of the Keenan family to stop short of standing in a photo with a member of the Stokes over the Christmas period.

It was as simple as that, said Det Sgt Keelan Brennan. It was seen as an insult to the Stokes family and following that there were tit for tat incidents which led to people taking sides.

Dinnegan miraculously escaped serious injury despite being flung into the air by a van which was driven by Michael Ward Jnr of Palace Crescent, Longford who was subsequently charged with careless driving causing serious bodily harm.

In the aftermath of those court proceedings, CAB seized the property after Dinnegan settled a High Court case to have his assets declared the proceeds of crime.

The court heard at the time that Dinnegan and his wife Teresa had reached a settlement agreement just hours before the case was due to be heard.

During the High Court action it emerged documents relating to a boob job and gastric band surgery in Turkey were found by gardai in the house, evidence which it was claimed illustrated the lifestyle of both Dinnegan and his wife.

A garda stated in his evidence that the documentation showed the Dinnegan family had just returned from Turkey and that Dinnegan had a sleeve gastrectomy surgery while Teresa Stokes had breast augmentation.

It was also stated that they both denied getting the surgery in an interview with gardai.

Designer goods were also part of the CAB case, including a Louis Vuitton Popincourt Tote, a Popincourt Wallet, another Louis Vuitton bag and a pair of Christian Louboutin Decollete nude heels.

Dinnegan was described as being deeply involved in organised criminal activity and was part of an criminal gang selling drugs in the area.

Teresa and Jamie Dinnegan

The house itself had been bought for just 24,000 which CAB said was funded partly from unknown sources with the explanation for another 14,000 being deemed not credible.

According to the Chief Bureau officer Michael Gubbins there was no evidence as to how improvements of in excess of 261,000 were financed.

In an interview, Dinnegan told gardai a list of the works found by gardai was in fact a wish list.

The house itself had been put up for sale by Dublin based firm BRG Gibson Auctions in recent weeks with an Advised Minimum Value (AMV) of 90,000.

Ahead of its sale, property experts described how prospective suitors would be suitably impressed by its well proportioned and high standard finish albeit some remedial works would be required prior to its new owners moving in.

In the wake of that move, the property had succumbed to vandalism typified with paint being daubed on steel shutters while several tiles lay strewn across the propertys front entrance within days of CAB taking over its ownership.

Despite that, the house attracted several bids at its online auction yesterday with an opening offer of 91,000 being made within minutes of proceedings getting under way.

Over the course of the next hour, that figure rose to over 160,000 as two main bidders vied to secure the propertys keys with the house eventually exchanging hands for 164,000 and 74,000 above its projected minimum value.
The offences occurred between December 2022 and November 2024 respectively.

The Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. Stock image

Gardai have arrested and charged a teenager as part of ongoing investigations into a number of thefts and road traffic offences in Dublin.

The offences occurred between December 2022 and November 2024 respectively.

A garda spokesperson said the arrest forms part of an ongoing investigation targeting criminal activity in the Eastern Region and Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR).

The male juvenile (aged in his teens) is due to appear before Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday morning, November 2 at 10.30am, they said.

Investigations are ongoing.
The mother of four joins a notorious club of women who have killed, though she has yet to find out how long she will spend behind bars

Julie Ann McIlwaine Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. Copy by Paul Higgins. 07973157553 Pics by Pacemaker. 07774179710 Wed 16 Oct O24 A woman on trial for the murder of her abusive partner today (wed) refused to give evidence on her own behalf. Moments after prosecution KC Richard Weir formally closed the Crown case against self-confessed killer Julie Ann McIlwaine, defence KC Eilish McDermott confirmed the 33-year-old defendant Owill not be giving evidence.O OHave you advised your client that the stage has now been reached at which she can give evidence and if she chooses not to do so or if, having been sworn refuses to answer questions the jury can draw such inference as may appear appropriate to do so?O trial judge Mr Justice Kinney asked. OI so confirm,O Ms McDermott replied. She told the Coleraine Crown Court jury of five men and seven women while McIlw

Julie Ann McIlwaine is the latest name on the infamous roll call of Northern Irelands coven of lady killers.

The mother of four joins a notorious club of women who have killed, though she has yet to find out how long she will spend behind bars.

This week the mother was physically sick when jurors at Craigavon Crown Court returned a unanimous verdict of murder.

McIlwaine doubled over and retched as she contemplated life in prison before she was led away in tears.

There will be a degree of sympathy for the woman who suffered years of torturous domestic abuse at the hands of abusive partner James Crossley.

But given the circumstances of his death, the jury had little alternative.

They heard how she repeatedly plunged a large kitchen knife into the chest and abdomen of her abusive partner as he lay sleeping.

Dressed in a grey cardigan and beige blouse, Julie Ann McIlwaine was bent double in the dock of Coleraine Crown Court and was audibly retching as Mr Justice Kinney told her that given the unanimous verdict of the jury, the only sentence that I can pass on you under the law is life imprisonment.

James Crossley

He told the weeping killer that once reports had been gathered together, he will then hold a tariff hearing, when the 33-year-old mother of four will be told the minimum period she will spend in jail before she can even be considered for release.

At Hydebank she will meet some of Northern Irelands most notorious lady killers.

Thats where Hazel Stewart is living out her life sentence for her part in the double murder of her husband Trevor Buchanan and her lovers wife, Lesley Howell.

Perhaps the Norths most notorious female killer, she planned the murders in cahoots with her then lover Colin Howell.

In May 1991 their bodies were found in a car close to holiday homes in Castlerock.

The bodies had been arrange to paint the picture of lovers who couldnt live with their secret.

It was Stewart and dentist Howell  who was dubbed the Driller Killer  who had been having the affair.

For years the deaths were put down to suicide and the couple looked to have got away with murder  until an attack of conscience in 2011 saw Howell walk in to a police station and confess.

Stewarts privileged life on the north coast came crashing down as she was handed 18 years for her part in drugging and killing her unsuspecting husband while he slept.

Jacqueline Crymble

Jacqueline Crymble will also be there to greet the new arrival. She has three years of her sentence left to serve for the murder of husband Paul, which was committed in partnership with lover Roger Ferguson in 2004.

Bound by his feet and hands with a plastic bag tied around his neck, Paul had been watched by his attacker as he fought for his final breaths.

The evil pair tied a plastic bag round his head and watched as their victim slowly suffocated.

Crymble maintains her innocence, claiming she and Paul were confronted by a gang when they returned home from a night out.

It didnt wash as it emerged he and lover Ferguson were planning a new life with the proceeds of a 300,000 life insurance policy.

Ferguson has since been freed, while killer Crymble is nearing the final years of her sentence.

In October 2011, Karen Walsh was given life for the brutal murder of elderly Maire Rankin in Newry, with the recommendation she serve a minimum 20 years.

Wiktoria Maksymowicz

The then 45-year-old pharmacist from Dublin inflicted a brutal and sickening sustained assault on a frail and vulnerable pensioner.

Maire Rankin was found in her house in Newry on Christmas Day in 2008.

She had been beaten with a crucifix.

Mrs Rankin also suffered 15 broken ribs during the attack, which took place in the pensioners home on Dublin Road.

Walsh, who had called around to visit her 81-year-old neighbour, lashed out at her with the crucifix which had been given to Mrs Rankin as a wedding present.

The judge said Walsh did not intend to kill Mrs Rankin but to cause her grievous bodily harm. However, she used the crucifix to attack Mrs Rankin, a devout Catholic, who was using a nebuliser when she was struck on the face.

Hazel Stewart

The only motive for the attack appeared to be that she was angry that the pensioner chastised her over her drinking.

Earlier this year Polish national Wiktoria Maksymowicz was handed 14 years for killing west Belfast man Tony Browne.

The 35-year-old stabbed her partner repeatedly as he lay asleep drunk.

She claimed she had been driven to taking his life after enduring domestic abuse at his hands.

Thats the sort of company McIlwaine will have for the coming years.

This week a jury of five men and seven women deliberated for around eight and a half hours over the course of two days before returning to unanimously convict McIlwaine of the murder of her abusive and bullying partner, James Joseph Crossley, on March 2, 2022.

During the two-week trial the jury heard how the 38-year-old had been lying fast asleep and snoring, filled with WKD and beer and having taken a sleeping tablet when McIlwaine crept down the stairs of her former home at Filbert Drive in Dunmurry and lifted the largest kitchen knife she had.

Walking back into the bedroom, she moved her ten-month-old daughter before stabbing her victim a total of 10 times  seven to his chest and abdomen, once in the leg and once in each arm.

Karen Walsh

As he awoke and called out help me Julie Ann, she grabbed their child and fled, locking herself in the downstairs bathroom where she rang 999 and then, under instruction from the call handler, she ran to a neighbours house to summon help.

An ambulance crew rushed to the scene and found the victim on all fours at the top of the stairs but, despite their best efforts, Crossley died within an hour of being stabbed.

While McIlwaine had always admitted inflicting the fatal stab wounds, she fought the murder charge on a partial defence of a loss of self control.

During her police interviews McIlwaine told detectives she and Crossley had been arguing off and on that day but, as her victim lay sleeping, I was getting all these thoughts in my head I didnt know what was going on I felt like a psychopath.

I didnt want me and him to be together. I didnt want to happen what happened, the 33-year-old told police, who suggested to her something came over you?

I couldnt stop. I just kept pushing it and pushing it. He said Julie Ann help me I took the baby and ran out.

As convicted killer McIlwaine was lead away to the cells, there were angry shouts exchanged between her family and the grieving relatives of Mr Crossley.
Colin Wright was also actively involved in the supply of cocaine and heroin in both Scotland and England as head of the gangs Scottish arm.

A major drug lord who was involved in an industrial-scale meth lab in Scotland has been convicted following his arrest in Spain

Colin Wright (38) of Torre Pacheco, Murcia, and previously of Motherwell, was arrested by the Spanish National Police in March of this year at the request of the National Crime Agency (NCA).

He was returned to the UK on October 4 where he pleaded guilty to five drugs charges at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday.

He will be sentenced at the same court on 25 November.

Wright had fled to Spain in August 2020 and stayed there when fellow members of his organised criminal gang were snared by NCA officers in March 2021.

Wright was actively involved in the supply of cocaine and heroin in both Scotland and England as head of the gangs Scottish arm.

He worked closely with Terence Earle (50) who was imprisoned for 16 and a half years in April 2023.

Terence's cousin Stephen Earle (52) was banged up for 11 years and four months in August of this year.

Wright used the EncroChat handle 'Jack-Nicklaus' to communicate with Terence, as he sourced drugs, assessed supply routes and found customers.

He created an amphetamine lab in Motherwell in March 2020, as the country entered its first Covid 19 lockdown.

A criminal associate sent boxes of alpha-phenyl acetoacetamide (APAA), a component of amphetamine production, to Wright.

However, even though intercepted messages between the gang messages indicated that the farm was ready, they struggled to secure the solvents required for the manufacturing process.

Terence and Wright also shared images of the liquid being treated to check what colour it should be.

Wright assisted in the shipment of at least 10 kilogrammes of heroin from Merseyside to Motherwell and seven kilos of cocaine in the opposite direction.

The NCA's investigation formed part of Operation Venetic, the UK-led law enforcement response to the takedown of the EncroChat service in July 2020.

NCA Branch Commander Jon Sayers said Wright was an integral member of this high harm criminal organisation, which posed a serious danger to communities across Scotland and Merseyside

"The drugs they trafficked would have fuelled violence and exploitation in these areas, so bringing this criminal group to justice has helped protect the public.

"Wright's case also shows that there is nowhere to hide for criminals who seek to avoid arrest by living overseas, as the NCA has the international scope to find you and make you pay for your crimes."
Enquiries are ongoing, confirmed a garda spokesperson.

Gardai are investigating the incident at Mary Butler TD's constituency office on the Quay in Waterford

Gardai are investigating an incident of criminal damage to a Waterford TDs constituency office.

A picture of the Minister of State Mary Butlers constituency office shows the front facade daubed with graffiti, with the phrases fix the housing and time for change.

Gardai are investigating an incident of criminal damage that occurred at a property on The Quay, Waterford, sometime between Wednesday evening, October 30, and Thursday morning October 31.

Enquiries are ongoing, a garda spokesperson confirmed.

The Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, issued a statement, saying: I was very disappointed to learn Thursday morning that my Waterford city constituency office was targeted overnight with paint.

"Unfortunately this is not the first time that I've had to deal with issues in relation to my personal safety and issues in relation to my constituency offices.

"However, it will not deter me from doing my job and contesting the general election in the next few weeks.
Soldiers deployed and temporary morgue set up in devastated region

A member of Spanish civil guard searches for the victims in a car laying on rail road tracks after heavy rains in Alfafar, Valencia, Spain yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Spanish rescuers opened a temporary morgue in a convention centre and battled to reach areas still cut off yesterday as the death toll from catastrophic floods rose to 205 people in Europes worst weather disaster in five decades.

In Valencia, the eastern region that bore the brunt of the devastation, about 500 soldiers were deployed to hunt for people who are still missing and help survivors of the storm, which triggered a fresh weather alert in Huelva in southwestern Spain.

Officials said the death toll is likely to keep rising. It is already Spains worst flood-related disaster in modern history and the deadliest to hit Europe since the 1970s.

Dozens and dozens of people remain missing, government ministers said. Unofficial sources involved in the rescue efforts told El Espanol that the number of missing is likely to be as high as 250.

In Alfafar, a suburb outside the city of Valencia, Spains third-largest, drone footage showed the tangled wreckage of dozens of vehicles strewn across rail tracks. Its all destroyed, shops, supermarkets, schools, cars, said local resident Patricia Villar. Close by, a boat that had been carried by the floodwaters lay on a muddy street corner.

Emergency services working to clear cars piled up at the entrance of a flooded underpass in the suburb feared finding more trapped bodies.

Were trying to remove vehicles bit by bit to see if there are victims, one rescue worker told state television. We dont know.

With about 75,000 homes still without electricity, firefighters were siphoning petrol from cars that had been abandoned in the floods to power generators to get domestic supplies back on.

Were going from car to car looking for any petrol we can find, said one firefighter who had travelled to Valencia from the southern region of Andalusia.

A year of rain fell in just eight hours on Tuesday night, destroying roads, railway tracks and bridges as rivers burst their banks.

The flooding also submerged thousands of hectares of farmland in the region, which produces nearly two-thirds of citrus fruit in Spain  the worlds top exporter of oranges.

The magnitude of the catastrophe has no precedent, Transport Minister Oscar Puente told local television.

While the waters have subsided in most parts of Valencia, emergency services have still not been able to reach a few areas due to blocked roads. They included Albal, a neighbourhood close to Alfafar, one resident said.

Supplies of bottled drinking water were running low in some places and residents in the Valencia suburb of Paiporta were taking turns to guard shops after authorities said 50 people had been arrested for looting.

Standing in a churned-up street as neighbours and volunteers did what they could to clean up in Paiporta, resident Amber Gonzalez (72) said rebuilding and recovering from the floods would take time. No matter how much help we get it is not enough, she said. This is not going to be fixed in a month or two.

As the death toll rose, a temporary morgue was set up at the Feria Valencia convention centre on the outskirts of Valencia city, emergency services said, and the first bodies started to arrive early yesterday.

In Valencia towns and suburbs such as La Torre, where eight people drowned in their buildings underground car park, military pumping trucks are flushing water and bodies out of basements.

In the building across from me they have found several bodies, and I think that could have been me and my children, Nuria Casasus, from the Benetusser municipality, told The Telegraph.

The number of deaths has prompted anger as well as grief in Spain, with some people accusing authorities of being poorly prepared and not having warned people soon enough about the dangers posed by the storm.

Valencia resident Hector Bolivar (65) questioned why a text message alert was only sent out at 8pm when the heavy rain had begun several hours earlier.

Juan Ramon Adsuara, the mayor of Alfafar, one of the hardest-hit towns in Valencia, said the aid wasnt nearly enough for residents trapped in an extreme situation.

There are people living with corpses at home. Its very sad. We are organising ourselves but we are running out of everything, he said late on Thursday. We are totally forgotten.

We must open roads and provide means for supplies, she said told reporters.

Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Meteorologists think the warming of the Mediterranean, which increases water evaporation, plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe.

Regarding these environmental catastrophes, we pray for the people of the Iberian Peninsula, especially the Valencian Community, swept away by the storm, Pope Francis said yesterday as he led prayers in St Peters Square in the Vatican. 
Fish and Game New Zealand has welcomed a new charter to improve access to public conservation land for fishing and hunting.

Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay launched the charter at the Sika Show at Mystery Creek in Hamilton.

It establishes guiding principles for the Department of Conservation (DoC) to provide clear and transparent decisions on public conservation land access that make it easier for Kiwis to go hunting and fishing, supported by Fish and Game.

The ability to get out in nature and catch a fish or hunt a duck for the table is part of a way of life for many New Zealanders, but constraints on access have made that challenging, Fish and Game chief executive Corina Jordan said.

Access is the No 1 issue for our anglers and hunters and we are proud to be able to be involved in supporting this work, Jordan said.

We are working with our hunting sector leaders, DoC, Herenga a Nuku, Land Information NZ, and others to make it easier and clearer for people to know where they can go and how to go about it.

Fish and Game maintains more than 3000 access points nationwide for anglers and game bird hunters.

Jordan said it had maintained those for more than 30 years and works with public and private landowners to ensure people can access and enjoy this resource.

We are working to support mobility-impaired people in being able to fish and hunt. We have created a wheelchair maimai, collaborated on fishing platforms, and have maps to show good spots they can use.

Every year, 1.2 million people hunt and fish recreationally.

McClay said the charter guarantees a common and consistent approach to access across all regions.

The charter is the first of its kind and a significant step towards preserving New Zealands hunting and fishing heritage while safeguarding the experience for generations of Kiwis.

It is a groundbreaking initiative that significantly contributes to preserving New Zealands hunting and fishing heritage, ensuring a quality experience for future generations of Kiwis, McClay said.

As Minister for Hunting and Fishing, I want to make sure every New Zealander who wants to get out and enjoy themselves, feed their families or help manage game animal populations can do so easily, he said.
Kuaka FM disc jockeys took to the airwaves on Friday afternoon and the happiness was obvious with Pharrell Williams Happy blasting as the first song.

Keira Gemmell and Raffy Duffy are the DJs of the little radio station at Omokoroa Point School and they held court like pros on their first day back on the airwaves.

Our DJs were practising doing the song intros like real radio DJs, teacher Deirdre Duggan says.

They were so excited to hear themselves over the radio and on the big speaker outside. Students gathered for the dance party celebrations.

The outside of the studio was decorated with streamers and balloons, music was playing and everybody was dancing and having a great time, she says.

Kuaka FM is part of the schools new motif and rebranding which focuses on the bar-tailed godwits (kuaka) characteristics as thinkers, citizens and navigators and on how they are known to take the longest migration from the Arctic to New Zealand.

The original 107.3 FM station began in 2013 in a small, makeshift soundproof studio on site. Student DJs delivered little jingles, school notices and various messages. But the equipment needed upgrading and the station was abandoned.

The station now has all the gear and skill they need thanks to Dan Hesson from Omokoroa IT, Nick Rose from Alliance AV, Justine Drift Drifter DJ and the Omokoroa Mens Shed.

Omokoroa Point School had a big celebration at the opening of Kuaka FM.

Over the term, we will test ideas from students about what content they would like to hear over the radio, have some lunchtime music, quizzes and maybe some stories.

The students have created a variety of jingles to play and will be recording themselves reading a story. Programming times will include some te reo, school and community news, special school event reporting and more.
Irene Quirante Malaga Saturday, 2 November 2024, 21:30 | Updated 22:20h. Compartir

It is a desperate situation. The fourteen firefighters from the CPB Malaga provincial brigade sent as volunteers to Valencia to help with the rescue work after the devastating flooding have been working throughout the night on tasks to decongest the main artery that crosses Alfafar and Benetusser districts. They managed to drain the water in a tunnel that had reached a height of seven metres. Inside the tunnel they found more than thirty vehicles with victims. For now it has not been revealed how many of the dead have been recovered.

Salvador Olivas, one of the members of the contingent, explained that despite the fact that this is the worst disaster they have ever experienced, they are maintaining their energy "at 300%". "I have attended several disasters, such as the earthquake in Lorca and the volcano in La Palma, but this is the worst I have seen and I think I will see in my life," said the commander in charge of the contingent, Salvador Olivas, speaking to SUR. "This looks like a war scene", he said. The lifeless bodies, as he explained, continue to appear in vehicles, homes and establishments: "Everyone is in shock, dismayed".

CPB

The firefighters departed from the Antequera and Estepona fire stations at around 11pm on Wednesday and, for now, have no return date. They were joined on Friday by three more professionals from the CPB, and another two from Torremolinos. In principle they will be in the Valencia region until Monday morning, although their return may be postponed, depending on how the situation develops over the next few days. "The emergency services here are overwhelmed, both those on the ground and those coming from outside," said Olivas.

Despite the consternation, the firefighters sent to Valencia, above all, arrived with a great desire to help. And even more so, with the knowledge that "there are people who have lost everything". So much so that, as the officer said, they decided not to stop the work on their first night. "It takes months of work and, in the time we are here, we are not going to stop to sleep unless we are totally exhausted; seeing this scene, we feel obliged to give 200 per cent of ourselves," he commented.

To do this, the contingent has taken with them two heavy rural pump type vehicles, three light vehicles and a command unit, but also some of most advanced technological means available to the CPBfor the search and rescue of victims, which can be key to finding both injured and deceased people. "We have brought three drones, one with a thermal camera that can help locate people by measuring their temperature, and two others that are smaller but very useful, for example, to take them into a building and see what state they are in or if there is anyone there," said Olivas. In the next few hours, two pick-up vehicles and a high-flow pump (4,800 litres per minute) will also be added, which will make it easer to work in flooded garages.

Specialised listening equipment used to search for people in collapsed structures has also been brought in. "It is the very latest technology and can detect very low frequency sounds," he said. In this sense, the firefighter was pleased that the CPB had not skimped when it came to making its most advanced resources available to help in Valencia, where it is vital. "We are the human part, but without this equipment it would be impossible to work at the rate we are doing," he said.

Along with Olivas, firefighters Juan Luis Moreno, Rafa Salas, Alex Cordoba, Antonio Villa, Javi Lopez, Germinal Fernandez, Juan Antonio Cisneros, Rafael Heredia, Juan Luis de la Cerda, David Pavon, Antonio Clavero, Jair Pereira and Juan Antonio Blanco have travelled from Malaga to Valencia.

They are not the only ones who volunteered. A total of 38 personnel expressed their intention to join the contingent to alleviate as far as possible the disaster caused by the 'Dana' storm. They are a sign of the solidarity of the brigade, which always comes to the fore in the worst disasters.
Regina Sotorrio Malaga Saturday, 2 November 2024, 22:28 Compartir

It is midday on Saturday and Tamara Sierra has just paid 99.96 euros for a shopping trolley of items at the Mercadona supermarket in the Martiricos district of Malaga city, but none of what she bought is going home. "This is to take to the fire station. I've just been paid and it doesn't cost me anything to spend it to help", she said as she filled the trolley with baby wipes, bottles of water and cartons of milk. And behind her, those who have some money to spare, are many more waiting in the queue. The person on the till recognises that such a large number of people at this time of day in the supermarket is unusual: "I've had a lump in my throat all morning to see how the people of the neighbourhood are pouring in". That trolley will be added to the tonne of aid being collected at the Malaga fire stations, one of the many points set up to collect materials for the victims of the 'Dana' storm.

A few metres away, in the Martiricos fire station, firefighter Juan Galvez regulates the traffic. Someone has to bring order to the numerous private cars that park, unload and leave. The trickle of vehicles and people carrying bags, boxes and shopping trolleys is incessant. Their faces are full of emotion, with some people in tears as they drop off their parcels, but also a sense of pride at the response of the public. "Life is worth living, there are so many good people in the world," said the Loring Rueda family after emptying their car at the fire station.

Not even the firefighters could believe it. "We were very surprised, we didn't expect so much in such a short time. It was immediate, things started arriving on Friday afternoon," explained Ernesto Garcia Ballesteros, chief officer on duty. They were overwhelmed, with volunteers, outgoing staff and others who came to the facilities when they saw the amount of aid that was arriving. The goods are distributed in groups on the park floor and moved to one of the store rooms when there is no more room. On Saturday morning two shipments left Malaga for 'ground zero' of the disaster and more are being prepared. There are even fire stations that can no longer collect any more items because they are blocking the emergency exits.

Marilu Baez

Milk, water, canned food, sliced bread, nappies, cleaning products, toilet paper, disinfectants, brooms, dustpans, blankets.... Every shovel that arrives is celebrated, they are much needed. These are the basics. But then there is another level of needs, things that for any of us would be essential but in the midst of tragedy become a luxury. "One lady brought a whole box of quince jelly. There are toys, baby car seats and even nail files," said Ana, a volunteer, "very moved" by such a display of generosity.

Because it comes from everywhere, even from the most humble places. In La Palma-Palmilla, the Asociacion de Comunidades Nuestros Barrios has raised more than 1,300 euros in record time to buy products for the firefighters. "And the residents and shops in the area continue to contribute," said Rafi Virella, from the community group, who cannot help but shed tears when he talked about how La Palma has turned its attention to the disaster.

"This can happen to anyone," added Carmen Hinojosa after leaving water and milk at the fire station. And it is this feeling that we are all with Valencia that is mobilising thousands of anonymous people to help in whatever way they can throughout Malaga province.

There are collection points set up in Marbella, Rincon de la Victoria, Torremolinos and at the Comedor Social Yo Soy Tu in Malaga city, among other places. Companies such as Construcciones Fearral, Reciclado Roster and Fundacion Ly Company have organised to collect materials donated by staff, and by late Friday morning they already had 15,000 litres of water, 7,000 litres of milk and four pallets of utensils and basic necessities. Alejandra Catering will also be a collection point until Monday morning at Finca Almodovar in Alhaurin de la Torre. Products can be donated in the 57 supermarkets that Maskom has throughout the province, in a plan that has the support of Malaga city council. Not forgetting that Caritas Malaga joins the national fundraising campaign through an account number (ES 33 2103 0146 94 0030016666) and Bizum (05041. Concept: Dana). As well as Bancosol Malaga, which spreads the collection of donations from the Spanish Federation of Food Banks with a bank account (ES34 2100 6106 8813 0126 8072) and a Bizum number (03816).

Town councils, religious brotherhoods, organisations of all kinds, residents' associations, communities... The number of initiatives to alleviate the situation of the victims has exceeded all expectations. In fact, the Diputacion provincial authority has offered its services, facilities and coordination capacity to channel the collection and transfer of aid from the province to the devastated areas. It all adds up.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves

Lets be honest. This Budget is a step towards a more socialistic country. The Labour ministers have made no secret of their intentions. The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. This is what Karl Marx wrote in The Communist Manifesto. That was in 1848. This Labour Government still, it would appear, believes this in 2024.

By raising taxes on capital, on wealth creation and employers, while claiming to protect working people, Labour have revealed their hand in a brutal way. They have pitted one group of people against another, in a way that only socialists do. In the real world, people dont think of rival interests and class war or class struggle, or whatever else you may call it. They do not believe that they and their colleagues are engaged in perpetual war with their bosses who, in turn, are seeking to exploit them at every occasion.

People think of their community and their families striving with other members of society to achieve shared objectives. They think of their colleagues and bosses trying to work for the same goal. Everybody wants to live in prosperity and security. Only a student mind, drenched in Marxist theory, would believe that taxing employers and capital would not harm employees.

So it was with alarm that many who believe in free enterprise saw the measures unfold in the Budget earlier this week. The 40 billion of tax raises would, we were told, be entirely borne by business , investors and farmers.

Of course, the parents of children at private schools would be paying in the tax raid. Though the parents VAT contribution would not matter much to the Treasury, in the context of 40bn, it would mean a large additional sacrifice to them.

The 25bn raid on businesses in the form of an increase in national insurance contributions has been marked to do most of the heavy lifting. In reality, as the OBR has calculated, most of that increase will ultimately be paid for by workers.

Businesses will pass on their increased tax burden to consumers in the shape of higher prices of goods. Working people, to use the Governments own nebulous phrase, will pay whenever they purchase anything from the shops.

They will also pay, as their employers will be less likely to increase their wages. In more extreme cases, business owners will not be able to employ more people , while some will even seek to shrink their work forces, which would result in actual job losses.

According to this socialist thinking, increasing tax on capital gains is not going to have any effect on working people, even if it disincentivises wealth creation and investment. In the Marxist mindset, working people  never benefit from rising prosperity because the increased wealth is all expropriated by capitalists or, in Marxs own phrase , the bourgeoisie.
Ithaca, N.Y.  A Tompkins County man faces life in state prison for the brutal abduction and murder of a homeless Ithaca man in 2023.

Joseph Howell, 38, was found guilty last week of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and three counts of witness intimidation in May 2023, according to local media reports.

Howell faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole in the murder of Thomas Rath. He is scheduled for sentencing on January 13, 2025.

Rath, 33, was abducted May 20 from an Ithaca homeless camp called the Jungle. His remains were found in a shallow grave on state land in Candor, Tioga County, on Aug. 3.

In Howells two-week trial held in Tioga County, it emerged that Rath was abducted by a group of people at the direction of Howell, the New York Times reported Friday.

Rath was zip-tied, beaten, hit in the head with a socket wrench and dragged to a waiting car, the newspaper reported. He was taken to a house where he was brutalized for hours and begged for mercy before he was taken into the woods and shot, according to the article.

Rath was dead within 24 hours after being kidnapped, troopers said.

On Oct. 24, the jury came out with its verdict of guilty on all charges.

In all, 12 other people were arrested in the case. More trials are planned.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- A stolen car being chased by police struck another car and flipped onto its side Friday evening near an entrance to the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse.

Syracuse police said officers observed a stolen vehicle near the mall about 6:15 p.m. The car immediately fled, and the city officers did not pursue it, police said.
Colonie, N.Y.  A New York State trooper was severely injured after being hit by a pickup truck on Saturday, troopers said.

The trooper stopped a driver around 12:28 p.m. on I-87 (Northway) southbound just before the exit 6-7 off-ramp in Colonie, said Trooper Stephanie L. ONeil, a spokesperson for the state police.

Due to a traffic law violation the vehicle needed to be towed, ONeil said. A tow truck arrived and the trooper and tow truck operator were outside their vehicles when a passing pick-up truck hit them both, she said.

The tow truck operator had minor injuries and was transported to be evaluated, she said. The trooper sustained severe injuries and is still being evaluated at Albany Medical Center, she said.

The driver of the pickup truck stopped and called 911, along with multiple witnesses, she said. The driver is in custody, she said.

Police ask anyone with information about the crash to contact them at 518-457-6811 or michael.altieri@troopers.ny.gov

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.
Peanut the squirrel, a social media star seized from his Upstate New York home earlier this week, has been euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The DEC also took a raccoon named Fred from the home of Mark Longo, who lives in Pine City (near Elmira).

Peanut and Fred were euthanized to test for rabies, according to a statement provided to rochesterfirst.com.

On Oct. 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel, the statement read. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized. The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has been in contact with these animals is strongly encouraged to consult their physician.

Peanut had hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms. Longo said he rescued Peanut seven years ago after the squirrels mother was hit by a car.

Despite our passionate outcry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief, Longo posted to Instagram on Friday afternoon. To add to our anguish, they informed the media of their decision before even notifying Pnuts Freedom Farm, his loving home. This demonstrates a troubling lack of respect and empathy. Their lives were precious, and we refuse to accept this loss in silence.

A DEC spokesperson said the agency started an investigation after receiving anonymous complaints.

Here is more information from a previous story by The Associated Press:

A New York man who turned a rescued squirrel into a social media star called Peanut is pleading with state authorities to return his beloved pet after they seized it during a raid that also yielded a raccoon named Fred.

Multiple anonymous complaints about Peanut  also spelled PNut or PNUT  brought at least six officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to Mark Longos home near the Pennsylvania border in rural Pine City on Wednesday, Longo said.

The DEC came to my house and raided my house without a search warrant to find a squirrel! said Longo, who is 34. I was treated as if I was a drug dealer and they were going for drugs and guns.

The officers left with Peanut, who amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms during his seven years with Longo. They also took Fred, a more recent addition to the family.

A spokesperson for the DEC said in a statement that the agency started an investigation after receiving multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets.

Longo, who runs an animal refuge inspired by his squirrel buddy called PNuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, took to Instagram to mourn Peanuts loss.

Well internet, you WON, Longo posted. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, theres a special place in hell for you.

Longo fears that Peanut has been euthanized. I dont know if Peanut is alive, he said in a phone interview Thursday. I dont know where he is.

The DEC spokesperson did not respond to a question about whether Peanut had been euthanized.

Longo said he saw Peanuts mother get hit by a car in New York City seven years ago, leaving the tiny squirrel an orphan. Longo brought Peanut home and cared for him for eight months before trying to release the squirrel into the great outdoors. A day and a half later I found him sitting on my porch missing half of his tail with his bone sticking out, Longo said.

Longo determined that Peanut lacked the survival skills to live in the wild and would remain an indoor squirrel.

This undated image provided by Mark Longo shows him with his pet squirrel Peanut that was seized by officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, at Longo's home in rural Pine City, N.Y., Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (Courtesy Mark Longo via AP)AP

Soon after Longo posted videos of Peanut playing with his cat, internet fame followed.

A scroll through Peanuts Instagram account suggests that this is no ordinary squirrel. Peanut leaps on to Longos shoulder, he wears a miniature cowboy hat, he eats a waffle while wearing crocheted bunny ears.

Over the years Peanuts story has been featured on TV and newspapers including USA Today.

Longo, who works as a mechanical engineer, was living in Norwalk, Connecticut, until he decided to move to Upstate New York last year to start an animal sanctuary.

PNuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary opened in April 2023 and now houses about 300 animals including horses, goats and alpacas, said Longo, who runs the sanctuary with his wife, Daniela, and other family members.

Longo is aware that its against New York state law to own a wild animal without a license. He said he was in the process of filing paperwork to get Peanut certified as an educational animal.

If were not following the rules, guide us in the right direction to follow the rules, you know? Longo said. Let us know what we need to do to have Peanut in the house and not have to worry about him getting taken.

As for Fred, Longo said he only had the raccoon for a few months and was hoping to rehabilitate the injured creature and release him back to the woods.

Longo is not the first animal owner to protest the confiscation of a pet by New York authorities. A Buffalo-area man whose alligator was seized by the DEC in March is suing the agency to get the 750-pound (340-kilogram) reptile back.
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The company is navigating regulatory challenges in the European Union regarding the ROSS compliance and exemption process, which could impact future operations.

Butterfly Network Inc ( NYSE:BFLY ) is still in the early stages of its home care pilot, which may take time to demonstrate significant financial impact.

The company faces challenges in maintaining software revenue growth, as product revenue growth outpaced software revenue with the launch of IQ3.

The gross margin percentage decreased slightly to 59.5% due to a lower proportion of higher-margin software and other services revenues.

Despite the revenue growth, Butterfly Network Inc ( NYSE:BFLY ) reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $8.4 million for Q3 2024.

Butterfly Network Inc ( NYSE:BFLY ) is forming a wholly-owned subsidiary, Octave, to commercialize and monetize its ultrasound-on-chip technology in non-competitive industries, potentially providing a new revenue stream.

The company is making significant strides in medical education with the introduction of the Scan Lab AI training app, which is being adopted by universities like Kansas City University.

Butterfly Network Inc ( NYSE:BFLY ) expanded its market presence internationally, launching in new markets such as Indonesia, Netherlands, and Belgium, and successfully launched IQ3 in Europe.

The company successfully reduced its cash use to the lowest level in its history while maintaining investment in key growth areas.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Cash Use: $8.3 million during the quarter, with a trailing 12-month use of $56 million.

Story Continues

Q & A Highlights

Q: How did the 23% unit growth and 10% price increase split between the US and international markets? A: Heather Getz, CFO, explained that the growth was roughly half and half, with most of the price increase coming from the domestic market, although international markets also contributed.

Q: Can you discuss the penetration of IQ3 versus the previous generation during the quarter? A: Heather Getz noted that IQ3 accounted for just over 50% of total sales, with over 80% penetration domestically. The international market saw some uptake following the September launch, but not to the same extent as the domestic market.

Q: How does the introduction of harmonics in the P5 chip affect heat generation and device lifespan? A: Joseph DeVivo, CEO, explained that the P5 chip increases mechanical pressure, allowing for harmonics without the heat issues associated with piezoelectric crystals. The semiconductor chips do not produce the same level of heat, allowing for higher quality imaging without the same heat artifact.

Q: The Q4 guidance appears sequentially flat. Is there conservatism built into this, or are there other factors at play? A: Joseph DeVivo and Heather Getz both acknowledged that while there is some conservatism, they are projecting a 20-25% growth quarter, which they consider a strong finish to the year.

Q: Can you provide more details on the EU's ROSS update and the next steps for Butterfly Network? A: Joseph DeVivo shared that the company had productive discussions with EU officials, who were receptive to Butterfly's innovation. The process involves public comments and due diligence, with a decision expected by the end of next year. If positive, enforcement plans would begin a year following that.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


red_hot_punto BHPian

Join Date: Mar 2024 Location: Bangalore Posts: 120 Thanked: 559 Times

re: Tamilnadu Temple Run: 1735 Kms of self drive in a Fiat Punto!

Rameswaram - Dhanushkodi - Rameswaram



The entire day was dedicated Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. Got ready early in the morning at 4am for "Spatika Linga Darshana" which opens up for devotees only from 5am to 6am and were in the queue by 4:15am. This Spatika Linga as understood from Wiki had been brought from Sringeri which was getting worshipped there with a request from the temple committee of Rameswaram recently around 2021. This will be kept infront of Shri Ramalingeshwara with curtain seperating both during 5am to 6am, and you will get to have only Spatika Linga Darshana during this time. Had darshan and were out by 5:30am.



Headed back to Uttaradimath and waited for Acharya who would accompany us at 6:30am for 21 well teertha snana, all of which were within the temple complex followed by one more teertha snana at Agniteertha, sea infront of east gopuram. This sea is much calm and it's part of Bay of Bengal.



Came back again to Uttaradimath which is walkable, got ready for darshan of Lord Ramalingeshwara by 9am. Witnessed abhisheka along with darshan and were out by 10am.



After a quick breakfast went straight to visit house turned memorial of late former President of India and everyone's beloved APJ Abdul Kalam sir just couple of kms away from temple. It showcases various achievements, awards and milestones from the life of Dr. Kalam. The memorial also houses a section selling souvenirs, sea shells, conches, pearls, books authored by Kalam and others. Bought few as a memory and reached back to Uttaradimath by 12pm for Teertha Prasada.



Had booked a auto at 2:30pm for 1.2K to cover local places of importance which are nearby and Dhanushkodi at the end which is ~25 kms away. As part of this, visited Ramar Pada Temple, situated at Gandhamadhana hill top, a place from where Lord Hanuman took off to Lanka. One can watch whole of Rameswaram from here and this is the highest point of the region.



Later visited Shri Rama, Lakshmana & Seetha Teertha and Panchmukhi Hanuman temple where one can witness floating stone. Reached Dhanushkodi by 5pm with a visit to Kodanda Rama temple on the way where Pattabhishekha or Coronation ceremony was held for Vibheeshana after the Ramayana war ended. An idol of Vibheeshana is also placed here in this temple along with Shri Rama, Lakshmana, Seetha & Hanuman.



Dhanushkodi! The southern most point of the Indian mainland, from where Lord Shri Ram and the Vanara army of Sugreev constructed floating stone bridge, with a detailed plan laid by Nal & Neel, to rescue Seetha from the clutches of Ravana was infront of us. The other end is Munnar island, Srilanka.



The bridge is 48 kilometres long and separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). Some of the sandy beaches are dry and the sea in the area is very shallow, only 3 feet to 30 feet (1 metre to 10 metres) in some places , making navigation difficult. It was reportedly crossable on foot until the 15th century when storms deepened the causeway. According to temple inscriptions, the Rama Sethu lay entirely above sea level until it was breached by a cyclone in 1480 CE.



The Bay of Bengal side of the sea is as silent as a lake in contrast with the ferocious sea of the Indian Ocean side, one can clearly see this difference.



Personally, like many others, I treat this ancient Ram Setu as the true symbol of love and commitment, and I gifted my wife pearl necklace right here as a reinforcement of this belief!



We spent whole evening at the shores of Dhanushkodi with cool breeze, sprinkled ourselves with holy sea water, collected customary sand and headed back to our den, Uttaradimath!



Ahhh! We had accomplished what millions of Indians crave for but could not. Our souls were brimming with satisfaction.



Shri Ramalingeshwara Temple:























Dr. Kalam Memorial:











Shri Ramar Pada Temple:



















Shri Rama Teertha:







Laxmana Teertha:







Kodandarama Temple, place of Vibheeshana's coronation, on the way to Dhanushkodi:







Ruins left by devastating cyclone:















Shops selling decorative items:











Light house, Government of India:







National emblem at Dhanushkodi, last point of mainland India, also called Arichal Munnai view point:





Few clicks as sun sets in the west:



































Me! (Pic credits: My better half):

Day 3 - 3rd October - ~60 kmsRameswaram - Dhanushkodi - RameswaramThe entire day was dedicated Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. Got ready early in the morning at 4am for "Spatika Linga Darshana" which opens up for devotees only from 5am to 6am and were in the queue by 4:15am. This Spatika Linga as understood from Wiki had been brought from Sringeri which was getting worshipped there with a request from the temple committee of Rameswaram recently around 2021. This will be kept infront of Shri Ramalingeshwara with curtain seperating both during 5am to 6am, and you will get to have only Spatika Linga Darshana during this time. Had darshan and were out by 5:30am.Headed back to Uttaradimath and waited for Acharya who would accompany us at 6:30am for 21 well teertha snana, all of which were within the temple complex followed by one more teertha snana at Agniteertha, sea infront of east gopuram. This sea is much calm and it's part of Bay of Bengal.Came back again to Uttaradimath which is walkable, got ready for darshan of Lord Ramalingeshwara by 9am. Witnessed abhisheka along with darshan and were out by 10am.After a quick breakfast went straight to visit house turned memorial of late former President of India and everyone's beloved APJ Abdul Kalam sir just couple of kms away from temple. It showcases various achievements, awards and milestones from the life of Dr. Kalam. The memorial also houses a section selling souvenirs, sea shells, conches, pearls, books authored by Kalam and others. Bought few as a memory and reached back to Uttaradimath by 12pm for Teertha Prasada.Had booked a auto at 2:30pm for 1.2K to cover local places of importance which are nearby and Dhanushkodi at the end which is ~25 kms away. As part of this, visited Ramar Pada Temple, situated at Gandhamadhana hill top, a place from where Lord Hanuman took off to Lanka. One can watch whole of Rameswaram from here and this is the highest point of the region.Later visited Shri Rama, Lakshmana & Seetha Teertha and Panchmukhi Hanuman temple where one can witness floating stone. Reached Dhanushkodi by 5pm with a visit to Kodanda Rama temple on the way where Pattabhishekha or Coronation ceremony was held for Vibheeshana after the Ramayana war ended. An idol of Vibheeshana is also placed here in this temple along with Shri Rama, Lakshmana, Seetha & Hanuman.Dhanushkodi! The southern most point of the Indian mainland, from where Lord Shri Ram and the Vanara army of Sugreev constructed floating stone bridge, with a detailed plan laid by Nal & Neel, to rescue Seetha from the clutches of Ravana was infront of us. The other end is Munnar island, Srilanka.The bridge is 48 kilometres long and separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). Some of the sandy beaches are dry and the sea in the area is very shallow, only 3 feet to 30 feet (1 metre to 10 metres) in some places , making navigation difficult. It was reportedly crossable on foot until the 15th century when storms deepened the causeway. According to temple inscriptions, the Rama Sethu lay entirely above sea level until it was breached by a cyclone in 1480 CE.The Bay of Bengal side of the sea is as silent as a lake in contrast with the ferocious sea of the Indian Ocean side, one can clearly see this difference.Personally, like many others, I treat this ancient Ram Setu as the true symbol of love and commitment, and I gifted my wife pearl necklace right here as a reinforcement of this belief!We spent whole evening at the shores of Dhanushkodi with cool breeze, sprinkled ourselves with holy sea water, collected customary sand and headed back to our den, Uttaradimath!Ahhh! We had accomplished what millions of Indians crave for but could not. Our souls were brimming with satisfaction.Shri Ramalingeshwara Temple:Dr. Kalam Memorial:Shri Ramar Pada Temple:Shri Rama Teertha:Laxmana Teertha:Kodandarama Temple, place of Vibheeshana's coronation, on the way to Dhanushkodi:Ruins left by devastating cyclone:Shops selling decorative items:Light house, Government of India:National emblem at Dhanushkodi, last point of mainland India, also called Arichal Munnai view point:Few clicks as sun sets in the west:Me! (Pic credits: My better half): Last edited by red_hot_punto : 28th October 2024 at 11:42 .
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

Cutting corners: Tech executives say there are long-term benefits to their AI investments, drawing parallels to the early days of cloud technology. However, Silicon Valley's spend-first, profit-later attitude tests many investors' patience. Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet have invested significant sums in AI infrastructure  money that has not yielded justifiable returns at this point  to the displeasure of Wall Street. And yet Big Tech is not to be deterred.

Tech giants are set to spend a staggering $200 billion on AI-related capital expenditures this year, according to Bloomberg's calculations, marking an all-time high for these companies. It is an unprecedented level of investment, ranging from securing scarce high-end chips and constructing expansive data centers to forging deals with energy providers and even reviving a controversial nuclear plant for power.

Amazon is leading the charge with a projected record $75 billion in spending for 2024, as CEO Andy Jassy describes AI as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Analysts at MoffettNathanson called the sum "truly staggering."

Meta is not far behind, with capital spending potentially reaching up to $40 billion in 2024, while CEO Mark Zuckerberg commits to increased investment in AI language models and futuristic projects.

Alphabet has reported higher-than-expected capital expenditures and is projecting "substantial" increases in spending for 2025.

Microsoft's AI-related expenses are also soaring, having spent $14.9 billion in a single quarter, a 50 percent increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, it faces challenges in meeting demand due to data center capacity constraints.

Apple, while not as aggressive in its AI spending, has introduced "Apple Intelligence," a suite of AI-enhanced services, though these new AI products have not significantly impacted its financial results.

Wall Street's response was mixed as the tech giants reported varied financial results this quarter. Amazon and Alphabet saw their shares soar after beating earnings expectations, largely due to strong growth in their cloud-computing divisions. However, Meta and Microsoft experienced stock declines following concerns about spending plans and cloud revenue growth projections.

While some analysts remain optimistic about the long-term potential of these AI investments, concerns persist regarding the massive expenditures. JPMorgan analysts, for example, noted that Microsoft's data center supply issues might "modestly" restrict its cloud business but viewed the company's investments, particularly in OpenAI, as "planting the longer-term seeds for success."

These companies are also rolling out products to justify, at least in part, the massive costs of their AI investments. Microsoft is pursuing various monetization pathways for AI, including through Azure cloud services and GitHub Copilot. Meta has said that AI is already positively impacting its core advertising business by allowing firms to create more engaging ads using AI tools, while Amazon's AWS and Google Cloud have reported significant revenue growth, partially attributed to AI services.
The post-Brian Niccol era is underway at Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG), and it's off to an inauspicious start.

Shares of the burrito chain are down about 8% since the company missed top-line estimates and reported its slowest earnings growth in more than two years.

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Chipotle posted same-store sales growth of 6%, which contributed to revenue's 13% rise to $2.79 billion, though that fell short of the analyst consensus at $2.82 billion.

Further down the income statement, its restaurant-level operating margin fell from 26.3% to 25.5% as food costs rose due to higher prices for avocados and dairy. Management also said it used more ingredients due to efforts to ensure "consistent and generous portions."

However, the company saved money in stock-based compensation expense due to Niccol's departure, and operating margin increased from 16.0% to 16.9%, leading earnings per share up 17% to $0.28. That topped the consensus estimate at $0.25, but it was also the company's slowest earnings growth in the last two years.

With Niccol now at Starbucks, Chipotle is at a pivotal moment. Let's take a look at three questions management needs to answer for investors.

Image source: Chipotle.

1. Will Scott Boatwright be the permanent CEO?

Niccol announced his departure more than two months ago and officially left for Starbucks in September.

Chipotle and its investors were clearly surprised by the move, and the company promoted Chief Operating Officer Scott Boatwright to interim CEO.

The future of Chipotle's leadership is still unclear, but investors deserve some clarity on the situation, at the very least by the next earnings report.

Keeping Boatwright on as the permanent CEO would seem to make sense based on the company's success under Niccol, as he's likely the best prepared to carry on that legacy.

The company previously said, "Boatwright played a critical role as part of the leadership team that created and executed the turnaround strategy," and he "will continue to execute the company's strategic plan without interruption."

While there's a clear blueprint for Chipotle's growth, whoever the next CEO is will have to put their own imprint on the company as well, and Chipotle's board should make that decision sooner rather than later.

2. How high can restaurant-level operating margin go?

Chipotle is a straightforward business, and there are only a few key drivers to its performance. The company has to open new restaurants, grow same-store sales, and, ideally, expand its margins.
Talks on halting nature loss enter extra time in Colombia



Cali, Colombia, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2024



Negotiations at the world's biggest nature conservation conference entered extra time in Cali, Colombia, on Friday as talks deadlocked on funding for efforts to "halt and reverse" species loss.

A closing plenary session, scheduled for 6:00 pm Colombian time (2300 GMT), had not started more than three hours later as smaller groups of negotiators huddled behind closed doors in a bid to iron out their differences.

The 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) opened on October 21 and was scheduled to close Friday, though many are now steeling themselves for a late night.

The conference, the biggest-ever meeting of its kind with some 23,000 registered delegates, is a follow-up to an agreement reached two years ago in Canada.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework that emerged from COP15 identified 23 targets to halt humankind's rapacious destruction of nature's bounty.

These included placing 30 percent of land and sea areas under protection and 30 percent of degraded ecosystems under restoration by 2030, reducing pollution, and phasing out agricultural and other subsidies harmful to nature.

It had agreed on $200 billion per year to be made available to protect biodiversity by 2030, including $30 billion per year from rich to poor nations.



- 'Cali Fund' -



COP16 was tasked with assessing, and accelerating, progress.

But negotiations on funding have failed to advance, observers and delegates say, even as new research presented this week showed that more than a quarter of assessed plants and animals are now at risk of extinction.

The Colombian presidency of the summit proposed a raft of last-minute draft texts for negotiators to consider as a way to end the stalemate.

One option was for talks on financing to continue after the summit -- and until the next one in Armenia in 2026 -- to find a "comprehensive financial solution to close the finance biodiversity gap."

Such talks would also assess the viability of creating a new, dedicated biodiversity fund -- a key demand from developing countries who say they are not represented in existing mechanisms, which are also too onerous.



- 'Cali Fund' -



Another point of contention is on how best to share the profits of digitally sequenced genetic data taken from animals and plants with the communities they come from.

Such data, much of it from species found in poor countries, is notably used in medicines and cosmetics that can make their developers billions.

COP15 in Montreal had agreed on the creation of a "multilateral mechanism" for sharing the benefits of digitally sequenced genetic information -- abbreviated as DSI -- "including a global fund."

But negotiators still need to resolve such basic questions as who pays, how much, into which fund, and to whom the money should go.

In a draft text for negotiators, the COP16 presidency proposed creating a new "Cali Fund" for the equitable sharing of DSI benefits.

Negotiators also remain stuck on the nature of a mechanism for monitoring progress toward the UN goals.



- 'Everyone has to cede' -



On Thursday, COP16 president Susana Muhamad, Colombia's environment minister, said the negotiations were "very complex."

UN chief Antonio Guterres, who stopped over in Cali for two days this week with five heads of state and dozens of ministers to add impetus to the talks, reminded delegates that humanity has already altered three-quarters of Earth's land surface and two-thirds of its waters.

"The clock is ticking. The survival of our planet's biodiversity -- and our own survival -- are on the line," he said.

Representatives of Indigenous peoples and local communities held demonstrations at COP16 to press for more rights and protections as delegates inside wrangled over a proposal to create a permanent representative body for them under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

On this, too, no agreement has been reached after nearly two weeks of talks.

The meeting was held amid a massive security deployment following threats from a Colombian guerrilla group with its base of operations near Cali.
Trump voters see only two outcomes: 'landslide' or 'fraud'



Salem, United States, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2024



Three days before the US presidential election, supporters of Donald Trump are ready to reject the results -- unless their man wins.

"I really wouldn't believe it if they told me she won," Brandon Dent, 22, told AFP, referring to Trump's rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.

"He'll take it in a landslide," the delivery driver said, observing the thousands of fellow Trump supporters lining up to see the president speak in the Virginia city of Salem, nestled among gentle mountains brushed in red and orange by the fall foliage.

The Republican candidate has spent his 2024 campaign preemptively casting doubt on the integrity of Tuesday's upcoming vote, reprising the rhetoric surrounding his failed 2020 reelection bid -- which culminated in his supporters storming the US Capitol in a deadly riot to "stop the steal."

After three presidential runs and nearly a decade of Trump on the US political scene, his signature brand of skepticism or denial has thoroughly set in among swaths of conservative voters, across age, race and occupation.

"Kamala's going to be president, but I think Trump is going to win" the real vote count, said Jace Boda, an engineer at a nuclear facility.

"I suspect there's going to be a lot of fraud."



- From the trail to the courtroom -



While Trump has been quick to whip up fears of fraud on the campaign trail, the Republican National Committee and allied groups have also pressed such claims in courts, filing lawsuits targeting ballot-counting procedures, voting machines, voter registration, absentee ballots, the certification of results and a host of other issues.

While many of the suits have been dismissed, observers worry that they could further muddy the waters around what people believe about this year's vote, especially with Trump so insistently repeating his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

"I've been skeptical since the last election of the Democrats," said Olen, a rallygoer who, like many others, declined to share his last name with the media.

"Everything they've done is crooked," said the 70-year-old logger and farmer, wearing a shirt emblazoned with a picture of a bloodied Trump pumping his fist after the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, complete with the words "fight, fight, fight."



- Virginia 'not in play' -



Trump's choice to hold a rally in Virginia could also dovetail into his narrative of fraud.

Polling shows the state going for Harris, yet on the last weekend before Election Day, Trump headed down to Salem rather than making another stop in a must-win battleground state such as Pennsylvania or Michigan.

Last month, as Trump campaigned across the Democratic strongholds of Colorado, Illinois, California and New York, Adrienne Uthe, the founder of Utah-based PR firm Kronus Communications, told AFP that holding rallies in such states could help build his campaign's "narrative of a 'national movement.'"

Ahead of his Salem rally, Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, told AFP that "Virginia is not in play. It's an attempt by the Trump campaign to make their base believe Virginia is in play."

National polling has Trump and Harris neck-and-neck.

If the election is called in a landslide for Trump, however, Republican voters told AFP they'd be ready to throw their doubts aside.

Cherl, who works for a nonprofit, said she would be "skeptical" if the results show a Harris win, but "pretty confident" if they point to a Trump victory.

"God already has a plan made for Trump to be president," the 39-year-old said. "We're just waiting up to it."
General Motors (NYSE: GM) doesn't get enough credit, in my opinion, for its massive turnaround since the financial crisis and Great Recession. Way back when, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) received great fanfare (and justifiably so) for getting through the recession on its own dime. It then quickly shifted gears to produce new and desirable products, improve communication and operations, and return to near-record profits in short order.

These two Detroit juggernauts have now seemingly swapped places, with GM having built incredible momentum in 2024. A recent report has some projections that should have investors optimistic that the automaker can keep driving higher in the decade ahead.

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All about the software

A quick look at the graph below shows just how well GM's stock has done this year versus competitors.

Despite its strong momentum in 2024, one aspect of GM that has been forsaken by investors is its Cruise operations, responsible for its robotaxi and driverless-vehicle strategy. But what investors might not realize is how lucrative the technology going into Cruise could become.

According to a report by the Oliver Wyman Forum, a think tank, the global market for advanced driver-assistance systems is likely to grow to $307 billion by 2035, from a meager $1.7 billion in 2023. More broadly, revenue from digital automotive services is forecast to grow 25% annually over the next decade, potentially reaching $610 billion in 2035, up from $42 billion in 2023. The report included 14 mobility services across car-as-a-service, micromobility, and digital services, among others.

Those pie-in-the-sky numbers are nice and all, but there's something a little more concrete for investors to be optimistic about: better margins. As more and more technology, driver assistance software, and subscription services (among other things) are added into vehicles, margins improve drastically.

Andreas Nienhaus, a partner for Oliver Wyman Forum's automotive and mobility business, told Automotive News that for automakers developing software, subscription services, and driver assistance technology:

"the economies of scale are huge. The more people who use this will provide [automakers] with more data ... and also just give [them] margin. You don't have a lot of hardware connected to it because it is built in the vehicle already."

A little proof?

We could be seeing proof of this already, in the form of rival Ford's commercial business. Management notes that its commercial customers are more likely to take software upgrades and subscription services, compared to mainstream consumers.
Q : How does Creative Newtech plan to improve margins with the growth of its licensing business? A : Ketan Patel, Executive Chairman and Managing Director, explained that as the Honeywell business grows, operational efficiencies will increase, leading to higher margins. The company aims to improve margins further as the licensing business contributes more to overall turnover.

The structured cabling business, while promising, is still in the early stages and requires significant effort to build market presence and achieve profitability.

Total income for Q2 FY25 saw a marginal decline from INR432.81 crores in Q2 FY24 to INR416.69 crores, indicating challenges in maintaining revenue growth.

Creative Newtech Ltd ( NSE:CREATIVE ) has maintained a healthy demand for key brands like Samsung, Cooler Master, and Honeywell, despite muted sales in some segments.

The company has seen significant traction in the home audio segment, aligning with the rapid growth of India's audio market.

The company has successfully expanded its licensing business, particularly with the Honeywell brand, which has become the top-selling air purifier in the Middle East.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Story Continues

Q: What is the expected growth for the Honeywell business next year? A: Ketan Patel stated that the Honeywell business is expected to grow by 50% to 60% annually. The company is focusing on categories like audio, which have high potential, and leveraging quick commerce platforms to drive sales.

Q: Can you provide details on the structured cabling business and its margins? A: Ketan Patel mentioned that the structured cabling business is a 20% gross margin business with a shorter working capital cycle of 60 days. The company is focusing on the premium segment and building relationships with consultants and installers.

Q: What is the current mix between licensing and distribution, and their respective margins? A: Abhijit Kanvinde, CFO, stated that licensing accounts for 16% of the business with a blended margin of 35% to 36%. Distribution margins vary, with FMSG at 8% to 10% and EV at 1.5% to 2%, leading to an overall EBIT margin of 5% to 6%.

Q: What are the future revenue growth targets for licensing and distribution? A: Ketan Patel emphasized the focus on growing the licensing business and FMSG products within distribution. The company aims to increase absolute margins and PAT by 30% to 40% annually, with a long-term goal of achieving a 50-50 split between licensing and distribution.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Since voting closed in the council elections just over a week ago, each day has seen The Age readers ask about where they can find results or at least an up-to-date count. That interest is heartening given the flawed and often disappointing electoral process.

Victorian council election ballot packs for 2024. Credit: Victorian Electoral Commission

It is disheartening to have to tell those contacting us that results in these elections could still be weeks away, that the figures we are relying on to keep our readers abreast of the voting have come from leaks by scrutineers and photos of paper notices stuck in councillors office windows (which weve then gone on to verify with sources).

If voters, well accustomed to seeing live tallies in state and federal polls, go looking, they will not find any results on the Victorian Electoral Commissions website this week.

With control of 78 local government areas and more than 600 council seats across Victoria to be decided, and more than 2200 candidates in the running, the public expectation of results within a day or two of voting might require the VEC to be considerably better resourced than it is now.
When the state government sold off VicRoads licensing and registration division it promised better service, but government documents show the opposite happened  intentionally.

Budget papers reveal that key VicRoads service targets were quietly reduced when it was privatised in a bumper $7.9 billion deal two years ago.

VicRoads employees say customers are getting worse service since privatisation. Credit: Joe Armao

Now, the impact of that is becoming clear: wait times have ballooned, customer satisfaction has plunged and staff say overworked colleagues are quitting in droves and not being replaced.

Staff shortages have forced customer service centres across the state to shut their doors to walk-in customers over the past 12 months, while learner drivers now face waits of up to 10 weeks to sit a driving test.
Moscow: North Korea will back Russia until it achieves victory in the Ukraine war, Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said on Friday at talks in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Our traditional, historically friendly relations, which have travelled the tested path of history, today  are rising to a new level of relations of invincible military comradeship, she told Lavrov, praising the role played by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at Yaroslavsky railway terminal in Moscow. Credit: AP

She said Pyongyang had no doubt that under Putins wise leadership the Russian army and people would achieve a great victory in their sacred struggle to protect the sovereign rights and security interests of their state.

And we also assure that until the day of victory, we will firmly stand alongside our Russian comrades, she said.
Washington: Vice President Kamala Harris is making an aggressive push for the youth vote in the final days of her campaign, banking on first-time voters turning up for her in numbers that will far outweigh Donald Trumps bid to court young apolitical men drawn by his machismo.

As the two candidates crisscrossed the midwest, Harris sharpened her pitch to young voters, campaigning with Grammy award-winning rapper Cardi B in Wisconsin and singling out Gen Z at a rally there and in Michigan by declaring: I see you  and I see your power!

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan. Credit: AP

You know what I love about this generation? Harris said in Wisconsin after asking for Gen Z voters to identify themselves in the crowd. You are all are rightly impatient for change. You are determined to live free from gun violence, to take on the climate crisis. You guys are gonna shake the world you inherit!

Trump, meanwhile, became the subject of an investigation by the Democratic attorney general of Arizona to see if he had violated state law when suggesting that former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney should be put on a battlefield with guns pointed at her face.
Mazda Reports October 2024 Sales Results







October Marks Sixth Consecutive Month for Sales Gains

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2024 -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total October sales of 37,307 vehicles, an increase of 58.7 percent compared to October 2023. Year-to-date sales totaled 350,759 vehicles sold; an increase of 18.5 percent compared to the same time last year. With 27 selling days in October, compared to 25 the year prior, the company posted an increase of 47 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 6,027 vehicles in October, an increase of 25 percent compared to October 2023.

October 2024 sales highlights include:

Sixth consecutive month for sales gains.

Best-ever October sales with 37,307 vehicles sold.

Best October sales of CX-30 with 7,216 vehicles sold.

Best October sales of CX-50 with 7,771 vehicles sold.

Best October sales of CX-90 with 5,236 vehicles sold.

Best-ever sales of CX-70 with 2,517 vehicles sold.

Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported October sales of 6,808 vehicles, an increase of 24.9 percent compared to October last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 61,961 vehicles sold; an increase of 25.9 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported October sales of 8,456 vehicles, an increase of 21 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 77,436 vehicles sold; an increase of 29 percent compared to the same time last year.

About Mazda North American Operations

Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia.















































Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date

























October October YOY % % MTD

October October YOY % % MTD



2024 2023 Change DSR

2024 2023 Change DSR























Mazda3 3,490 2,205 58.3 % 46.6 %

31,558 25,569 23.4 % 22.5 %

Mazda 3 Sdn 2,457 1,424 72.5 % 59.8 %

18406 14,218 29.5 % 28.4 %

Mazda 3 HB 1,033 781 32.3 % 22.5 %

13152 11,351 15.9 % 15.0 %























Mazda6 0 0 - -

0 0 - -























MX-5 Miata 911 531 71.6 % 58.9 %

6,691 8,100 (17.4) % (18.0) %

MX-5 482 236 104.2 % 89.1 %

3189 4,253 (25.0) % (25.6) %

MXR 429 295 45.4 % 34.7 %

3502 3,847 (9.0) % (9.7) %























CX-3 - 0 - -

- 0 - -

CX-30 7,216 5,908 22.1 % 13.1 %

80796 65,210 23.9 % 22.9 %

CX-5 10,166 7,963 27.7 % 18.2 %

114221 123,818 (7.8) % (8.5) %

CX-9 - 7 - -

4 17,447 (100.0) % (100.0) %

CX-50 7,771 3,168 145.3 % 127.1 %

66286 34,887 90.0 % 88.5 %

MX-30 0 0 - -

- 100 - -

Cx-70 2,517 0 - -

7405 0 - -

CX-90 5,236 3,722 40.7 % 30.3 %

43798 20990 108.7 % 107.0 %

CARS 4,401 2,736 60.9 % 48.9 %

38,249 33,669 13.6 % 12.7 %

TRUCKS 32,906 20,768 58.4 % 46.7 %

312,510 262,452 19.1 % 18.1 %























TOTAL 37,307 23,504 58.7 % 47.0 %

350,759 296,121 18.5 % 17.5 %













































*Selling Days 27 25





257 255



















































SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
Paving the Way for EV Battery Workforce Education: Stellantis Supplies 12 New Ram ProMaster Electric Vans to Battery Workforce Challenge Teams







AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 1, 2024 -- Participants from the Battery Workforce Challenge collegiate competition, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Stellantis, and Argonne National Laboratory, gathered today to hand over the keys for 12 new 2024 Ram ProMaster electric vans. Chris Feuell, Chrysler and Ram Brand CEO, and Mark Champine, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Head of North America Engineering Technical Centers were on hand to distribute the ProMaster EV keys to students who will design, build, test, and integrate an advanced battery pack for the ProMaster EV vans. The 2024 Ram ProMaster EV is designed specifically for electrification with a unibody design that efficiently incorporates the production battery pack. Useful as a commercial work van, this application serves as an exciting opportunity for students to design batteries for bigger vehicles.

Started in 2023, the Battery Workforce Challenge partners 12 North American university teams with local community colleges selected through an elite, competitive process. Participating students receive hands-on learning and work closely with industry experts to tackle one of the most relevant real-world engineering challenges facing the automotive industry.

"The Battery Workforce Challenge students continue to impress us with their creative ideas and overall EV knowledge as we've seen during this week's fall workshops," said Micky Bly, Stellantis senior vice president and head of Global Propulsion Systems. "I look forward to continuing to work with the students as they become workforce-ready EV experts."

The 12 student engineering teams gathered in Bloomfield Hills outside of Detroit this week to continue their EV learning journey with four days of learning and collaboration with EV experts.

"The Battery Workforce Challenge teams will develop engineering and manufacturing skill sets to prepare them for high-quality jobs building the batteries of the future right here in the United States," said Jeffrey Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the US Department of Energy. "The ability for the teams to experience hands-on learning working with the Ram ProMaster EVs is essential to the EV workforce of the future and advancing EV transportation technologies."

The competition will end in 2026, with winning teams receiving dozens of annual engineering and sponsor-related category awards; $100,000 in industry-provided prize money; and invaluable real-world experience working with industry leaders.

Selected university and vocational partners are:

California State University, Los Angeles ( Los Angeles, California ) and Cerritos College ( Norwalk, California )

( ) and ( ) Clemson University ( Clemson, South Carolina ) and Greenville Technical College ( Greenville, South Carolina )

( ) and ( ) Colorado School of Mines ( Golden, Colorado ) and Arapahoe Community College ( Littleton, Colorado )

( ) and ( ) Jackson State University ( Jackson, Mississippi ) and Hinds Community College (Utica, Mississippi)

( ) and McMaster University and Mohawk College ( Hamilton, Ontario, Canada )

and ( ) The Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College ( Columbus, Ohio )

and ( ) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Ivy Tech Community College ( Terre Haute, Indiana )

and ( ) University of Alabama and Shelton State Community College ( Tuscaloosa, Alabama )

and ( ) University of California, Merced and Merced College ( Merced, California )

and ( ) University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford College ( Dearborn, Michigan )

and ( ) University of Nevada, Las Vegas ( Las Vegas, Nevada ) and College of Southern Nevada ( Clark County, Nevada )

( ) and College of ( ) University of Waterloo ( Waterloo, Ontario, Canada ) and Lambton College : Lambton Energy Research Centre ( Sarnia, Ontario, Canada )

About the Ram ProMaster EV

With a targeted range of up to 162 miles in-city driving, the new Ram ProMaster EV is the brand's first available fully electrified vehicle.

Two mission-specific configurations will be available, including the delivery model and two cargo models. The Ram ProMaster EV cargo model will be available in two configurations, including a 12-foot cargo length and an extended 13-foot cargo length (both with 159-inch wheelbases).

ProMaster EV's battery is positioned under the floor in the center of the vehicle, which maintains a flat floor while cargo volume is unchanged from internal combustion engine vehicles.

Stellantis North America

Stellantis is one of the world's leading automakers and a mobility provider. In North America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic and award-winning brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat.

Powered by its diversity, Stellantis leads the way the region and the world move  aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates.

Battery Workforce Challenge

The collegiate competition is part of DOE's broader Battery Workforce Challenge Program, which also includes regional training with vocational and community colleges; STEM youth education; and an online tool for career and technical education. The program is dedicated to cultivating a diverse cohort of skilled engineers, technicians and workers to propel domestic battery technology forward.

SOURCE Battery Workforce Challenge
Toyota Exec Changes







 After more than 30 years of service, Robert Young, group vice president, Purchasing Supplier Development, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) will retire on March 28, 2025. In his role, Young is responsible for overseeing all vehicle parts and materials, indirect manufacturing procurement and supplier development, and preparation for TMNA.

Bob has been instrumental in maintaining the world-class reputation of our Purchasing group and continues to ensure our product development and manufacturing operations are set up for success and prepared for the future, said Chris Nielsen, executive vice president, Product Support and Chief Quality Officer. Were thankful for his dedication to Toyota, our suppliers and his community and wish him well in his upcoming retirement.

Bob joined Toyota in 1995 and has served in a number of roles in the Purchasing division, including several buying and department general manager roles. He currently serves on the Boards of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) and Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit economic development organization committed to growing the Ann Arbor regions economy.

Ryan Grimm will succeed Young as group vice president, Purchasing Supplier Development as of Dec. 2, 2024, reporting to Nielsen. Grimm is currently vice president of Parts & Materials Procurement in Purchasing Supplier Development at TMNA. Prior to his current role, Grimm was on assignment at Plano HQ and held responsibilities in OneTech and Part Supply Chain Operations. Grimm joined Toyota in 1998 as a Buyer in Purchasing and has spent 26 years in various functions at TMNA including three years at Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Toyota City, Japan.
A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model .

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd ( KLSE:DAYANG ) as an investment opportunity by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Analyst price target for DAYANG is RM3.57 which is 1.2% below our fair value estimate

Story Continues

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM360m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM5.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM5.3b ( 1 + 11%)10= RM1.9b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM4.2b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM2.2, the company appears quite undervalued at a 40% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

KLSE:DAYANG Discounted Cash Flow November 2nd 2024

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.271. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Energy Services market.

Opportunity

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Moving On:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd, we've put together three essential elements you should consider:

Risks: You should be aware of the 2 warning signs for Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd (1 is a bit concerning!) we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does DAYANG's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
With its stock down 5.2% over the past month, it is easy to disregard Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad (KLSE:DLADY). However, stock prices are usually driven by a companys financials over the long term, which in this case look pretty respectable. Particularly, we will be paying attention to Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's ROE today.

Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors money. In other words, it is a profitability ratio which measures the rate of return on the capital provided by the company's shareholders.

Check out our latest analysis for Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad

How Is ROE Calculated?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad is:

19% = RM88m  RM470m (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2024).

The 'return' is the income the business earned over the last year. Another way to think of that is that for every MYR1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn MYR0.19 in profit.

What Is The Relationship Between ROE And Earnings Growth?

So far, we've learned that ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. Depending on how much of these profits the company reinvests or "retains", and how effectively it does so, we are then able to assess a companys earnings growth potential. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that dont share these attributes.

Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's Earnings Growth And 19% ROE

To start with, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's ROE looks acceptable. On comparing with the average industry ROE of 10.0% the company's ROE looks pretty remarkable. For this reason, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's five year net income decline of 3.5% raises the question as to why the high ROE didn't translate into earnings growth. We reckon that there could be some other factors at play here that are preventing the company's growth. For example, it could be that the company has a high payout ratio or the business has allocated capital poorly, for instance.

So, as a next step, we compared Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's performance against the industry and were disappointed to discover that while the company has been shrinking its earnings, the industry has been growing its earnings at a rate of 22% over the last few years.
Kashmiri Muslims will regret exodus of Pandits one day, Kashmir incomplete without them





JAMMU :

ASSERTING that the majority community in Kashmir will one day regret the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said Kashmir is incomplete without their presence. Singh said that significant positive changes have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, and that deep down, common people, including Kashmir Muslims, are happy about it. Kashmir is no longer Kashmir without the presence of Kashmiri Pandits. The composite culture that Kashmir is already known for has been possible because of the presence of the Kashmiri Pandit community there, Singh said addressing a function here. The minister, who inaugurated the Mata Saraswati Auditorium at the Gandhi Memorial College, said I have no hesitation in saying this. Despite sounding orthodox or even rebellious, I have said that the day would come when the majority community in Kashmir would regret the exodus of Pandits. I believe this is going to happen soon.

He said that the values of composite upbringing, once imparted to children, are now fading. This was not realised immediately, but after two or three generations, it is being felt, he added. The Union minister emphasised that Kashmirs unique composite culture must be restored. Referring to his interaction with intellectuals of the Kashmiri Pandit community back in 90s, he said the heritage of the Valley was kept alive by Kashmiri Pandits living harmoniously with other communities. Singh reiterated that things have improved in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370. In their hearts, even the common man in the Kashmir Muslim community is supportive of its revocation, he said. The minister highlighted the governments efforts to revamp Indias education sector in line with the needs of contemporary India. Discussing the key features of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he emphasised that it aims to liberate students from choices imposed on them by parents or peers when selecting educational paths.

He noted that with the NEPs implementation, students are now free to pursue higher courses that align with their talents. Singh urged teachers to recognise and nurture students inherent talents, guiding them to contribute to nation-building. He said India is on par with other nations, particularly in education, science, and technology, as well as in start-ups. Singh said teachers had a crucial role in shaping students futures and encouraged them to motivate students to utilise technology to gain knowledge. He added that affordable educational resources are readily available today. Calling for the exploration of the Himalayan bio-resources, Singh remarked that they hold the potential for adding value to Indias economy. He encouraged teachers to inspire students to pursue start-up initiatives as new avenues for self-employment. The minister also informed that the government has decided to organise start-up exhibitions across the country to raise awareness. One such exhibition will be held in Srinagar soon, he added.
412 absconding warantees nabbed during Night Combing Operation





Police officers searching suspected persons during the night combing operation.

Staff Reporter :

Continuing a rigorous campaign Night Combing Operation against absconding criminals and warrantees, police have nabbed total 412 absconding warrantees in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. It may be noted that under the direction of Superintendent of Police, Sampat Upadhyay (IPS) police are conducting a special night combing campaign under the supervision of Additional SP (City), Anand Kaladgi (IPS), Additional SP (Crime), Samar Verma, Additional SP (Traffic), Pradeep Kumar Shende, Additional SP (Rural), Suryakant Sharma, Additional SP (Rural), Sonali Dubey, CSPs, DSPs and SDOPs to apprehend the absconding warrantees and taking preventive action against listed criminals.

During the night combing, 2 to 3 teams from every police station led by SHOs and Sub Inspectors conducted a rigorous search for warrantees and absconding criminals from 12 midnight to 5 am on Thursday. Police have apprehended 184 non-bailable, 228 bailable warrantees and 156 arrest warrantees who were absconding since a long time. The special campaign will be continued in coming days for implementing preventive policing in the district and maintaining law and order arrangements in the district.
AQI reaches to alarming levels in State





Staff Reporter :

As the State celebrated the festival of lights with gaiety, the air quality declined significantly in the region. According to the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI level in the city soared to 194 with o3 (Ozone) as a prominent pollutant. At many cities, the AQI was in the poor category whereas in others, the AQI levels were on the moderate side, with some at the brink of getting a poor level. As reported, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) had applied a strategy of spraying water in the city in order to control the decline in the air quality during Dussehra. The work was undertaken through sewage jet spray machine. According to the officials at the corporation, during the time of Dussehra, the corporation had incorporated such strategy through the AQI level had come down to 93 on the day of Vijayadashmi. But this time, AQI levels seemed pose a greater challenge to the authorities to control the air quality level.





What haunts citizens even more is the presence of 03 (ozone) in the air. Prior to that, the gas was also found on some occasions. As per information, during summers the gas generally increases in the environment due to UV rays. Earlier, the gas was found in the air of Indore city near Rajwada area. In May, Bhopal had recorded the presence of the gas for the first time in history. According to experts, this is something very unsafe for our health and inner body system. Presence of ozone in the air can take lives. Ozone has been mentioned as a prominent pollutant in the list of 12 pollutants marked by the Central Pollution Control Board. Increasing levels of 03 in our environment can be the main reason for heart diseases. Notably, there are three continuous ambient air quality monitoring systems in the city at different places. Daily reading of these systems gets updated on the official websites of the State and Central Pollution Control Board. Notably, the air quality of any place can be measured at six levels. AQI is measured on a scale ranging from 0 to 500. There are six AQI categories, namely Good (0 to 50), Satisfactory (51 to 100), Moderately polluted (101-200), Poor (201to300), Very Poor (301 to 400) and Severe (401 to 500).

AQI better than previous year, says BMC

According to BMC officials, this year, on the occasion of Deepawali, the teams of the Municipal Corporation continuously sprayed water last night through sprinklers installed on 21 sewage cleaning vehicles, due to which the Air Quality Index was 176, which was about 133 points or 43 percent less than the Air Quality Index of 309 recorded on the night of Deepawali last year. In compliance with the instructions of Corporation Commissioner Harendra Narayan to do the best possible work for the cleanliness of the city and environmental protection and improvement of air quality, the sewage cell of the corporation converted 21 sewage cleaning machines into water sprinklers and after the successful experiment done on Dussehra and Dhanteras, this year on Deepawali, water was sprinkled at the main intersections and main places of the city.

Due to the efforts made by the corporation, the air quality index at T.T. Nagar monitoring station established for monitoring air quality was found to be 168 last night which is 46 percent less than the reading of 310 recorded last year. Similarly, the reading at Collectorate monitoring station was 140 which is 55 percent less than the reading of 313 recorded last year and the reading at Paryavaran Parisar station was 221 which is 27 percent less than the reading of 304 recorded last year. This year the average reading was 176 as compared to 309 recorded last year on Deepawali. In this way, the air quality of the city has improved by 43 percent as compared to last year. Such efforts by the corporation will continue. The sewage cell of the corporation sprayed water at major intersections and main places etc. up to a height of about 40 feet with the help of 21 sewage cleaning machines so that the micro dust particles and other pollution causing particles could not float in the air and the air quality improved.

AQI deteriorates to severe category in India cleanest city

Indore,

Nov 1 (PTI)

The Air Quality Index in Indore, the countrys cleanest city, breached the 400 mark on Friday, indicating that the air quality has reached the severe category in Madhya Pradeshs financial capital. According to the State Pollution Control Board data, the AQI in the citys Chhoti Gwaltoli area was pegged at 404 at noon, while the PM 2.5 (particulate matter) average was recorded at 255.26. The average level of PM 10 in the city was 318.08. Chhoti Gwaltoli is a densely populated area of the city that sees heavy vehicular movement. Dr Dilip Vaghela, an environmental expert and former official of the state pollution control board, told PTI, The city started with loud Diwali fireworks from Thursday morning which continued till late night. The situation continued in many areas on Friday also. This is the main reason for the air quality in the city reaching the severe category.

The citys air quality usually remains in the satisfactory (AQI 51-100) category, the expert said. According to the India Meteorological Department, the wind speed in the city was recorded at zero km per hour at 08.30 am on Friday. Due to calm winds, pollutants could not get scattered here and there and settled in one place, further worsening the air quality in the city, Vaghela said. According to a study by Clean Air Catalyst, a global coalition working to improve air quality, vehicular pollution and road dust are the highest contributors (70 per cent) to the deterioration of air quality in the city in normal times. As per the MET Department, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. On the ground, however, Indore has been a model city for waste management. In January, it was ranked as the cleanest city in India for the seventh year in a row under the Centres annual Swachh Survekshan Awards.
Govt releases guidelines for Namo Drone Didi scheme





NEW DELHI :

THE Government on Friday released the Operational Guidelines for the Central Sector Scheme Namo Drone Didi, which provides drones to women self-help groups (SHGs) under Deendayal Antyodaya YojanaNational Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), with an outlay of Rs 1,261 crore. The guidelines, issued by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, stipulate the creation of an Implementation and Monitoring Committee, headed by the Additional Secretary, Department of Rural Development, and having representation from all other stakeholders, to effectively plan, implement, and monitor the scheme. The panel will provide advice and guidance on all technical matters related to the implementation of the scheme, which aims to provide 14,500 selected Women SHGs with drones from 2024-25 to 2025-2026 for rental services to farmers for agricultural purposes (e.g., application of liquid fertilisers and pesticides for the present).

The Central-level Empowered Committee will also include Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Department of Rural Development, the Department of Fertilisers, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development. On imparting training to women, the guidelines said one of the members of the women SHGs will be selected for a 15-day training consisting of mandatory drone pilot training and additional training for agriculture purposes for nutrient and pesticide application. DAY-NRLM is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Rural Development for promoting poverty reduction through building strong institutions for the poor. Under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, Central financial assistance of about 80 per cent of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges up to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh will be provided to women SHGs for the purchase of drones as a package.

The cluster-level federations (CLFs) of SHGs may raise the balance amount (total cost of procurement minus subsidy) as a loan under the National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF). Interest subvention at the rate of three per cent on the AIF loan will be provided to the CLFs/SHGs, a statement said. Under the scheme, drones will be supplied as a package consisting of a basic drone with spray assembly for spraying liquid fertilisers and pesticides, drone carrying box, standard battery set, downward facing camera, dual-channel fast battery charger, battery charger hub, anemometer, pH meter and one-year onsite warranty on all items. The package also includes four spare battery sets, one spare propeller set (each set contains six propellers), a nozzle set, a dual channel fast battery charger, a battery charger hub, 15 days of training for drone pilot and drone assistant, one-year comprehensive insurance, two years annual maintenance contract, and applicable GST. The additional sets of batteries will ensure continuous drone flying which can easily cover 20 acres in a day, said the statement.
Post-Diwali haze blankets Delhi as people defy ban on crackers





NEW DELHI :

A THICK layer of haze blanketed Delhi, with the national capitals AQI plunging to 362 on Friday as people defied a citywide ban on firecrackers during Diwali celebrations. Delhi also recorded its most polluted Diwali in three years. On Diwali on Thursday, the citys 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 330, compared to 218 in 2023 and 312 in 2022, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The national capitals AQI was recorded in the very poor category with a reading of 362 at 9 am on Friday. Most monitoring stations in Delhi showed similar pollution levels, with 37 out of 39 reporting air quality in the very poor category. According to the Sameer app that provides hourly updates of the national AQI published by the CPCB, the AQI in Alipur was recorded at 355, Anand Vihar at 396, Ashok Vihar at 389, Aaya Nagar 351, Bawana at 396, Burari at 394 and Mathura Road at 371. At IGI Airport, the AQI was at 371, Dwarka at 376, Jahangirpuri at 390, Mundka at 375, Patparganj at 365, Rohini at 390, Sonia Vihar at 396, and Wazirpur at 390. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe and above 450 severe plus.

The concentration of PM2.5 -- fine particles which easily penetrate the respiratory system and pose serious health risks, especially for children, the elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions -- also exceeded the safe limit. At 6 am on Friday, the PM2.5 concentration in Delhi was recorded at 207.8 micrograms per cubic metre. The safe limit for PM2.5 is 60 micrograms per cubic metre. In an effort to combat the spike in pollution during and after Diwali, the Delhi Government had enforced a comprehensive ban on firecrackers for the fifth consecutive year, prohibiting their manufacture, storage, sale and use. The city Government had also set up 377 enforcement teams and spread awareness through local associations to ensure compliance with the ban. Police teams were deployed to monitor neighbourhoods, with officials warning that legal action would be taken against violators. Despite these efforts, there was large-scale flouting of the restrictions in neighbourhoods across Delhi. Reports indicated widespread defiance across east and west Delhi, with firecrackers lighting up the sky in areas such as Jaunapur, Punjabi Bagh, Burari and East of Kailash.

Last year, a decrease in stubble burning incidents in neighbouring states and favourable meteorological conditions, including rain, prevented the national capital from turning into a gas chamber after Diwali. On Friday, the national capitals minimum temperature was recorded 2.3 notches above normal at 18.4 degrees Celsius. The wind speed was around 10 kilometres per hour, according to the weather office. Higher wind speeds help disperse pollutants, improving the air quality. At 8:30 am, the humidity level was at 70 per cent on Friday. The weather office has forecast clear skies during the day. Meanwhile, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) experienced a surge in fire-related calls this Diwali with more than 300 such incidents reported across the city, which is the highest in the past 13 years, an official said on Friday. According to officials, the increase is attributed to the extensive use of firecrackers. The figure marks the highest number of Diwali-related fire and emergency incidents in the past 13 years, DFS chief Atul Garg said.

The DFS, which had ramped up its readiness for the festival by deploying fire engines and personnel across the city, reported that most calls were received between 5 pm on October 31 and 5 am on November 1. According to the data shared by the DFS, they had received 206 fire-related calls in 2011, 184 in 2012, 177 in 2013, 211 in 2014, 290 in 2015, 243 in 2016, 204 in 2017, 271 in 2018, 245 in 2019, 205 in 2020, 152 in 2021, 201 in 2022 and 208 in 2023. This year, we received 318 fire-related calls. The number is the highest in the last 13 years. We were also fully prepared to tackle any and every situation with deployment of all the fire units and officials. We cancelled all the leaves and were ready to help everyone across the city, Garg said. He said at least 78 calls regarding fire incidents were received between 4 pm and 9 pm. He said the peak time of such calls this year was 6 pm to 11.59 pm, when the DFS received 176 fire-related calls, and from 12 am to 6 am, when received 144 calls. Last year during the same time, we had received 195 fire-related calls, he added.

The relentless bursting of firecrackers through the night blanketed Delhi in dense smoke, causing severe noise pollution and reducing visibility as residents defied the ban on firecrackers and celebrated Diwali on Thursday. In an effort to combat the annual spike in pollution, the Delhi Government had enforced a comprehensive ban on firecrackers for the fifth consecutive year, prohibiting their manufacture, storage, sale and use. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai mobilised 377 enforcement teams, working closely with resident welfare associations, market committees and social organisations to promote compliance. Police were deployed to monitor neighbourhoods, with officials warning that legal action would be taken against violators under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for defying Government orders. Meanwhile, another official of the DFS said they received three calls of fatal nature. Two calls were received from Sagarpur area and one was received from Daryaganj area. According to the southwest district police, they received two different calls regarding suicide at Sagarpur police station. In the first call, a 44-year-old man, identified as Madanlal, committed suicide near Air India Colony.

His body was found in an autorickshaw. He was addicted to alcohol and used to work as a labourer. No foul play behind the matter was suspected, a senior police officer said. He further said another call was also regarding suicide, this time by a 22-year-old man. Another PCR call regarding suicide was received at 7.16 pm saying a man committed suicide by hanging himself in his house. The deceased was identified as Tushar, said the officer. He said a suicide note was also found which did not blame anyone behind his step, the officer said. A police officer of central district said they received a call regarding the death of a 52-year-old man in a house in Daryaganj area. He was suffering from some ailment. He died due to multiple organ failure in his house, he said, adding that no foul play was suspected behind his death.

2 killed, over 50 injured in Odisha fire incidents on Diwali night

BHUBANESWAR,

Nov 1 (PTI)

AT LEAST two persons died and 50 people were injured in various incidents of fire across Odisha during Diwali celebrations, police said on Friday. In addition, properties valued at lakhs of rupees were gutted during the festival of lights on Thursday night, the police said. Two minor boys succumbed to burn injuries and one woman was injured in a fire incident at Batagaon in Puri town following a firecracker blast. The deceased were identified as Sanjay Jena and Bula Rout. Routs sister-in-law Lipa Routh received critical burn injuries and is under treatment at a hospital in Bhubaneswar, a police officer said. The deceased had reportedly suffered 80 per cent burns. Puri Superintendent of Police Vinit Agarwal said an investigation is on into the firecracker explosion and stringent action will be taken against those involved in illegal cracker manufacturing. Around 25 garment shops were gutted in a fire that broke out in a market in Bhubaneswar early on Friday, police said. No one was injured in the incident but garments were damaged due to the blaze, a senior police officer said.
Sanskardhani basks in Diwali festivities





A family enjoys the festivities by burning sparkles. (Pics by Anil Tiwari)

Staff Reporter :

From the lively streets of the city to the tranquil ghats of river Narmada in Gwarighat, Diwali was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour throughout Sanskardhani, on Thursday. Jabalpurians engaged wholeheartedly in traditional rituals, from performing Laxmi Puja to bursting crackers. People immersing themselves in the festival's vibrant atmosphere. People also flocked to temples to worship the God, Goddess as well as celebrated the auspices festival of light at home. Streets and homes across Sanskardhani sparkled with colorful lights, while bursts of crackers filled the night sky, adding to the festive joy.

The Festival of Lights is a five- day long celebration of our Indian culture. In Jabalpur, people have already celebrated Dhanteras, on 29th and Diwali on 31st. Now they are celebrating Govardhan Puja and Annakoot. Meanwhile, greetings and well-wishes are pouring in for citizens from every section of the society including political leaders and public figures are extending best wishes on the festive eve. City buildings are also adorned with vibrant lights and diyas lined doorsteps. People dressed in traditional attire are exchanging sweets, gifts and greetings. It may be noted that Diwali, one of the most cherished Hindu festivals, commemorates the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after 14 years in exile and the defeat of demon king Ravana. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. To celebrate the occasion, throughout the city, homes were adorned with diyas, lights and beautiful rangoli designs. People gathered in celebration, bringing hope, unity and prosperity.
Steps towards fulfilling resolution of building a developed MP, cultural renaissance





By Dr Mohan Yadav Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh :

Madhya Pradesh has begun 68 years of its journey towards its transformation. In this journey, till about two decades ago, the State was in the category of a BIMARU State. With continuous efforts for development, the State moved forward on the path of progress. For the last ten years, under the guidance of the successful Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State has taken a turn towards development and the State is moving towards becoming a developed State. Now, we have started a new journey of public service, good governance and all-round development of the State. Together with the people of the State, work is being done towards making the State a leading State in the country. The heart of India, our Madhya Pradesh is rich in forests, water, food grains, minerals, crafts, art, culture, festivals and traditions. We have the proximity of the holy river Maa Narmada and the blessings of Lord Mahakaleshwar. This is the land of countless heroes, martyrs and great personalities dedicated to the national culture. This is the birthplace of Lord Parashuram, the place of education of Lord Shri Krishna and the place of penance of Adi Shankaracharya. Here the heroic queen of Gondwana, Durgavati, sacrificed her life for her rights.

This is the workplace of the virtuous Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, who reestablished the cultural pride in the nation. Many programmes are being organised in the year of her 300th anniversary celebrations. We are fortunate that Madhya Pradesh boasts a rich historical heritage alongside abundant natural wealth. Now we will move forward with heritage along with development. Our illustrious Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has pledged to build a developed India to make India the best in the world. For the accomplishment of this pledge, he gave a new theme of GYAN, Garib (poor), yuva (youth), Annadata (farmers) and respect for Nari (women). These four classes are the pillars of development. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the state is going to work under the missions of Yuva Shakti (youth power), Garib Kalyan (welfare of the poor), Kisan Kalyan (welfare of farmers) and Nari Sashaktikaran (women empowerment) for development and welfare. Yuva Shakti Mission will work in mission mode by planning education, skill development, employment, entrepreneurship, leadership development, cultural and social work. Along with connecting the youth with self-employment, we have started a campaign to recruit more than one lakh youth in government jobs. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to implement the National Education Policy. Launch of PM College of Excellence in 55 districts of the state, Vice Chancellors being given the honour of Kul Guru, Indian knowledge tradition, environment and yoga meditation courses have been included in education.

All the works of development and growth of youth will be possible in Yuva Shakti Mission. Garib Kalyan Mission will work in the direction of self-employment and social security schemes, housing, education and health facilities etc. Under Nari Shakti Mission, girl education, Ladli Laxmi Yojana, Ladli Behna Yojana, Lakhpati Didi Yojana, empowerment of women self-help groups etc. will be undertaken with top priority. Work will be done in the Kisan Kalyan Mission towards making agriculture and horticulture a profitable business. Along with providing relief to the farmers, concrete efforts will be made to increase the agricultural yield. I have full faith that these four missions will play a pivotal role in fulfilling the resolution of building a developed Madhya Pradesh. Our effort is to establish industries according to the specific products of each region of Madhya Pradesh. For this, we organised Regional Industry Conclave in Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Sagar and Rewa. Road shows in Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Mumbai and inviting industrialists to the state for investment are initiatives for industrial expansion. This will start the process of establishing industries according to abundant regional local products and will bring revolutionary changes in industrial development. It is my resolution that there should never be a water crisis on the land of the state, every corner of it should be irrigated with water.

For this, we have started work on Ken-Betwa and Parvati-Kali-Sindh Chambal river link projects under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. In this campaign, by connecting the water of perennial rivers with seasonal rivers, our food-providing farmers will get sufficient water for irrigation, the problem of drinking water will end and the water level of the earth will increase. To encourage cow-rearing along with agriculture, a cow-shed will be opened in every village. Cow is the basis of our culture and agriculture. We are celebrating the Cow Conservation and Promotion Year in the state. In an effort for good governance under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the Cyber ??Tehsil project has been implemented in all 55 districts. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to take this initiative. Re-determination of boundaries of police stations, resolution of more than 80 lakh pending cases of transfer, partition, record correction, map correction and demarcation in 2 phases of Revenue mega campaign, online application system for residential plots has been implemented. Welfare of the poor is our priority. At the very beginning of the work, we got the rights of 4 thousand 800 workers of Indore's Hukumchand Mill and started PM Shri Air Ambulance service for poor patients suffering from serious diseases. More than Rs 57 crore was provided in the accounts of 19 lakh adolescent girls under the Sanitation and Hygiene Scheme for better health of daughters.

This work has also been appreciated by UNICEF India. Madhya Pradesh is rich in glorious heritage and culture. To preserve it and in the direction of spiritual upliftment, construction of Shri Ram Van Gaman Path, Shri Krishna Pathey, PM Shri Tourism Air Service, foundation stone of Veer Bharat Trust, launch of Vikramaditya Vedic clock in the event of Vikramotsav, marking Vikram Samvat in the government calendar. In the sequence of cultural renaissance, Rakshabandhan, Shravan Utsav and Shri Krishna Janmashtami festival were organised.

I am happy to inform that in the country the development works continuesly going on under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is leading the state towards development at a rapid pace. Madhya Pradesh is leading in the country in the implementation of the major schemes of the Central Government, PM Swa-Nidhi Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Pradhan Mantri Matru-Vandana Yojana, PM Swamitva Yojana, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Adarsh ??Gram Yojana, National Livelihood Mission, Swachchh Bharat Mission etc. and in providing their benefits to the eligible beneficiaries. I am happy to inform that this is the time of economic, social, industrial and cultural rise. Under the leadership of Prime Minister, I need the will power of the people of the state to implement the policies and decisions. I urge all of you to use local products, participate in the development journey in accordance with local characteristics and adopt Vocal for Local. We are working with full dedication to achieve these goals so that the youth, women, farmers and poor of the state progress equally, everyone's life is joyous, the state becomes developed and strong in the field of education, health and basic infrastructure. I not only hope but have full faith that with the cooperation and determination of the eight and a half crore people of Madhya Pradesh, we will make the state self-reliant and participate in the creation of a developed India. Best wishes to the people of the State on the 69th foundation day of Madhya Pradesh.
Two more jumbos die; death toll at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve now at 10





Staff Reporter :

Two more tuskers died and death toll rose to ten in past three days of devastating incident reported at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. In prima facie of the investigations, investigating teams found toxicity in the elephants stomach and Kodo millet. It may be noted that after spotting the carcass of four jumbos by a forest patrolling team on October 29, four more elephants died on October 30 and 31. The incident kept all the State and Central wildlife and forest agencies on toes and the State Government ordered a high level probe by constituting a 5-member committee led by The government has tasked the investigation panel, led by Additional PCCF, L. Krishnamoorthy, to provide a report within ten days. On the other hand, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, VKN Ambade, a 5-member team from Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Delhi, representatives of National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi are continuously monitoring the situation to ascertain reason behind the suspicious death of elephants.

According to L. Krishnamoorthy, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), in the autopsy of carcass, team of veterinarians found toxicity in the elephants' stomachs and a significant amount of Kodo millet was also found in their stomachs. This five-member committee, appointed by the state government to investigate the tusker deaths in Bandhavgarh, which spans Umaria and Katni districts, has sent viscera samples to the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health (SWFH) in Jabalpur for examination. Head of School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Jabalpur, Dr Shobha Jawre informed that only forensic examination will identify the specific toxin into the stomach of elephants. She added that the scientific investigations are underway and it will take some time to ascertain authentic reason behind the death of elephants. First of a kind incident involving death of 10 wild elephants According to the wildlife experts, this is likely to be the first incident in India where ten wild elephants have died in just three days. On Tuesday, four elephants were found dead in the Salkhania and Bakeli regions of the Khitoli range during regular patrols by forest guards. Following this, an additional six elephants died on Wednesday and Thursday.
Q : Have there been any surprises, either positive or negative, since closing the Base Resources deal? A : Mark Chalmers, President and CEO, stated that the integration is proceeding as scheduled with no surprises. The teams are working well together, focusing on technical aspects and operational efficiencies.

Labor shortages and the need for skilled workers are making it difficult to ramp up operations efficiently.

There are ongoing negotiations with the Navajo Nation regarding uranium transport, which could impact operations.

The company has not provided formal guidance for uranium production next year, creating some uncertainty.

The company is advancing its medical isotopes initiative, which could provide significant opportunities in targeted cancer therapies.

The acquisition of Base Resources is seen as a foundational move, providing expertise and significant resources in heavy mineral sands.

Energy Fuels Inc ( UUUU ) has a strong financial position with $183 million in working capital, mostly in cash and marketable securities, and no debt.

The company has successfully commissioned its phase one rare earth separation plant, capable of processing up to 1,000 tons per annum.

Energy Fuels Inc ( UUUU ) is experiencing significant momentum in uranium production, with three mines currently operating and plans for more.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Story Continues

Q: How have long-term contracts with utilities changed in terms of pricing and duration compared to a year ago? A: Mark Chalmers noted that utilities are recognizing that uranium prices are unlikely to return to lower levels. As a result, there has been an increase in both floor and ceiling prices in contracts, reflecting the growing demand and stability in the nuclear industry.

Q: What are your thoughts on inventory and production for next year, considering current spot prices? A: Mark Chalmers mentioned that formal guidance for next year hasn't been provided yet. However, they have about a million pounds in inventory and are receiving more ore daily. Contracts for next year are towards the end of the year, allowing flexibility in production and sales.

Q: Can you provide insights into the decision-making process for producing NDP R versus separating ND and PR? A: Mark Chalmers explained that the current ratio of ND to PR is adequate for most manufacturers. The decision to separate them further would depend on market needs and feasibility studies, which are ongoing.

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of conventional mining versus ISR, and how does this impact labor needs? A: Mark Chalmers highlighted that conventional mining offers flexibility in stopping and starting operations, unlike ISR, which requires long-term commitments. Labor challenges exist, but Energy Fuels has a stable workforce at their conventional sites, unlike the competitive environment for ISR in Wyoming.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Revenue: SEK18 million in Access for Q3 2024, up from SEK16 million in Q2 and SEK9 million in Q1.

Gross Margin: 38.7% when excluding R&D depreciation of SEK21 million.

Adjusted EBITDA: Negative SEK22.8 million for Q3 2024.

Free Cash Flow: Negative SEK27 million, including operating cash flow of negative SEK25 million and investing cash flow of negative SEK2 million.

Cash and Cash Equivalents: SEK49 million at the end of Q3 2024.

Headcount Reduction: More than 40% reduction since the end of the previous year, with a 10% reduction quarter-over-quarter.

OpEx Target: Less than SEK70 million by June 2025 on an annual run rate basis.

Debt Status: Debt-free after repaying all outstanding convertible bonds.

Release Date: October 31, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Fingerprint Cards AB (FGRRF) has successfully executed a transformation plan, resulting in improved gross margins by exiting unprofitable markets like mobile and PC.

The company is now debt-free after completing a rights issue and removing convertible bonds, strengthening its balance sheet.

There is strong sequential growth in the Access business, indicating robust performance despite transformational changes.

New product launches, such as AllKey and the latest IRIS technology, are expected to drive future growth in Access and Payments markets.

The company is actively exploring new partnerships and M&A opportunities to expand into the broader identity market, focusing on software-rich areas.

Negative Points

Revenue has decreased year-on-year due to the strategic exit from the mobile business, impacting overall financial performance.

The PC business is facing increased headwinds and commoditization, leading to a decision to exit this market as well.

There is continued volatility expected as the company undergoes a significant transformation, which may affect short-term stability.

The Payments market has been slow to take off, with pipeline movement not progressing as quickly as anticipated.

The company is experiencing challenges in the China market, which is highly competitive and cost-focused, leading to strategic exits.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you talk a little bit about the timing of the wind down of the PC business? A: We're starting to wind that business down immediately. It's something we've already begun, and we expect it to move quickly. We aim to do this with respect for our team and customers.

Q: What has changed in the PC market to prompt this swift exit? A: The PC market has become commoditized, similar to mobile. There's an oversupply, allowing customers to easily reallocate volumes, which is unsustainable for us. Additionally, the constant need for innovation at lower costs makes it untenable. The competition between using existing camera infrastructure for identification versus adding fingerprint sensors has also intensified.
Kyle Little / iStock.com

Generation Z may be on the younger side (the oldest of them are about 27) but they are already making big life changes in larger numbers than their older peers. According to HireAHelpers 2023 migration study, Gen Z adults (in the 18- to 26-year-old range at the time), comprised more than one-quarter (26%) of all the moves in this country in 2023, despite being only about 12% of the total U.S. population. While the majority of Gen Zers were moving to establish their own households (i.e. moving out of their family homes), about 9.2% said they were moving somewhere cheaper.

Find Out: Youll Need at Least $50K Saved To Buy a Home in These 13 Affordable Housing Markets

Read Next: 7 Reasons a Financial Advisor Can Grow Your Wealth in 2024

Gen Zers have already found the state of West Virginia a good place to move  the state saw a 138% increase in Gen Z residents in 2023  but now they might also want to look to neighboring Virginia, where rents are affordable and the economy is strong. In Virginia, the annual mean wage is a reasonable $70,050, with a 66% employment rate, suggesting a robust economy for Gen Zers launching into their careers.

To determine the lowest rent for Gen Zers in these (and other) cities, GOBankingRates analyzed the average rental cost of major U.S. cities and the cost of living in those cities. Drawing data from the U.S. Census, Sperlings BestPlaces, ApartmentList and Zillow, among others, these four Virginia cities turned up as great places for Gen Zers to rent.

Trending Now:

Virginia Beach

Gen Zers will find the beachy tourist-friendly city of Virginia Beach to be surprisingly affordable compared to other parts of the country. A one-bedroom apartment rents here for around $1,394. However, roommates can significantly bring their costs down by renting a two-bedroom, which has an average rent of $1,576 per month. Average overall monthly cost of living in this city is around $3,726. With a high livability score of 83, its a great place to make a home.

Check Out: 6 Best Cities To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years, According to Real Estate Agents

Chesapeake

Gen Z will love the natural beauty in Chesapeake, though youll likely need a car to live here or be willing to ride your bike, as public transportation is not robust. However, what you spend on transportation, you will save on rent. A one-bedroom apartment here rents for around $1,424 per month, and a two-bedroom is around $1,546. Average overall monthly cost of living in this city is around $3,686.
Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is a very well-run energy company. And it offers an attractive 4.3% dividend yield backed by 37 years worth of annual dividend increases. If you are looking for a diversified energy stock with a high yield, it would make a great addition to your portfolio. But if you care more about yield than about diversification, you might be better off with Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD). Here's why.

Chevron is great, but...

Chevron is what is known as an integrated energy major. The "major" part is related to its size and industry position, noting that, given its $270 billion market cap, it is one of the largest energy companies on the planet. Its business is spread around the world, giving it a material amount of geographic diversification. But that isn't the only diversification it has.

Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free 

Image source: Getty Images.

The real lynchpin for being called integrated is that a company must have operations in energy production (the upstream), energy transportation (the midstream), and in chemicals and refining (the downstream). These are the three main segments of the broader energy sector and Chevron is a big player in every one of them. If you are looking for a simple way to add energy exposure to your portfolio while collecting a sizable and reliable dividend, Chevron is a great choice.

The one problem is that Chevron's operation in the upstream and the downstream are highly volatile. That's because both are driven by commodity products. So Chevron's financial results can vary greatly from year to year and that can make it hard for more conservative investors to stick around over the long term.

Enterprise Products Partners is a bit boring

That's where a high-yield option like Enterprise Products Partners comes in. The yield is even larger at 7.2%. And this master limited partnership (MLP) operates in the most reliable segment of the energy patch, the midstream. It owns the transportation assets, like pipelines, that move oil and natural gas around the world.

The important piece here is that Enterprise charges fees for the use of the vital energy infrastructure it owns. The volume of energy products passing through its system is more important than the price of the products it is transporting. Energy demand tends to remain high even during oil downturns. And, thus, Enterprise's cash flows are highly reliable. That's how it has managed to increase its distribution every year for 26 consecutive years. Notably, the MLP's distributable cash flow covers its distribution by 1.7 times, which means that there's a lot of leeway for adversity before a cut would be on the table.
The financial arm of the the United Nations praised Rachel Reeves for sustainably raising revenue - Justin Tallis/Pool AFP

Perhaps there should be more sympathy for forecasters. No one is claiming to have a crystal ball. Predictions are snapshots of a moment in time, put together with all the information at hand. As that information changes  and it often does  forecasts shift with it.

After all, were less than a week out from the US election, and it still seems impossible to say definitively who will be the next president of the United States. So how can any one forecaster really be held to knowing what the prosperity or economic health of a country will be five years down the line? These are educated guesses. They are far from fact.

So having established sympathies, its even easier to issue a critique of the International Monetary Funds (IMF) decision to row in behind Labours first Budget.

In a rare intervention, the financial arm of the the United Nations praised Rachel Reeves and the Government for their envisaged reduction in the deficit over the medium term, including by sustainably raising revenue.

It added that the Budget pivoted to a focus on boosting growth through a needed increase in public investment while addressing urgent pressures on public services.

Its worth mentioning that the IMF doesnt have the strongest track record when it comes to assessing the UK economy. It predicted economic catastrophe in the wake of Brexit  a narrative which had to be watered down by the forecaster when growth projections were revised upwards in 2017.

Similarly, doom-and-gloom predictions were made after the lockdown years. At the start of 2023, the IMF forecast the UK to be the ugliest baby among advanced economies  a title that eventually fell to Germany instead. This time last year, it expected a growth rate of 0.6pc in 2024  a figure that was boosted substantially in the IMFs latest World Economic Outlook report, to 1.1pc.

But as already established, these revisions are bound to take place. Forecasts are always changing. What is so strange about the IMFs latest intervention is that its proclamations directly contradict what both the assessment of the Budget, and now the markets, are telling us about the policy changes: that this is not a growth-boosting Budget, but rather a continuation of economic stagnation.

Despite what the IMF says about boosting growth through increasing public investment, the Office for Budget Responsibility tells a different story: after rigorous assessment of the Governments borrowing and investment plans, it has actually downgraded its growth forecasts for the latter half of this parliament, ending 2029 with an underwhelming 1.6pc growth.
JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia said it has banned sales of smartphones made by Alphabet's Google due to rules requiring the use of locally manufactured components, days after blocking sales of tech giant Apple's iPhone 16 for the same reason.

Indonesia blocked sales of Google Pixel phones because the company has not met the rules which necessitate certain smartphones sold domestically to contain at least 40% of parts manufactured locally.

"We are pushing these rules so that there's fairness for all investors in Indonesia," Febri Hendri Antoni Arief, industry ministry spokesperson, said on Thursday. "Google's products have not adhered to the scheme we set, so they can't be sold here."

Google said its Pixel phones were currently not officially distributed in Indonesia.

Febri said consumers can buy Google Pixel phones overseas, so long as they pay the necessary taxes, adding the country would consider deactivating the phones that are illicitly sold.

The block comes a week after Indonesia said it had blocked the sales of iPhone 16 domestically, also for not meeting local content rules.

Companies usually increase the use of domestic components to meet such rules through partnerships with local suppliers or by sourcing parts domestically.

Google and Apple are not among the top smartphone makers in Indonesia. The top two smartphone makers in the first quarter of 2024 were Chinese firm OPPO and South Korean firm Samsung, research firm IDC said in May.

Indonesia has a huge, tech-savvy population, making the Southeast Asian nation a key target market for tech-related investment.

Bhima Yudhistira, director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies think tank, said the move was "pseudo" protectionism that hurts consumers and impacts investor confidence.

"This creates a negative sentiment for investors looking to enter Indonesia," he said.

(Reporting by Bernadette Christina and Stanley Widianto; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, BKW fair value estimate is CHF280

BKW is estimated to be 46% undervalued based on current share price of CHF152

The CHF160 analyst price target for BKW is 43% less than our estimate of fair value

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of BKW AG (VTX:BKW) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for BKW

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF (CHF, Millions) CHF397.7m CHF429.6m CHF451.3m CHF467.5m CHF479.7m CHF488.8m CHF495.6m CHF500.9m CHF504.9m CHF508.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 5.04% Est @ 3.61% Est @ 2.60% Est @ 1.89% Est @ 1.40% Est @ 1.06% Est @ 0.81% Est @ 0.64% Present Value (CHF, Millions) Discounted @ 3.5% CHF384 CHF401 CHF406 CHF407 CHF403 CHF397 CHF388 CHF379 CHF369 CHF359

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CHF3.9b

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.3%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 3.5%.
Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. Buying under-rated businesses is one path to excess returns. For example, long term Zurich Insurance Group AG (VTX:ZURN) shareholders have enjoyed a 32% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market return of around 13% (not including dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 25%, including dividends.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

Check out our latest analysis for Zurich Insurance Group

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During five years of share price growth, Zurich Insurance Group achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 4.8% per year. This EPS growth is reasonably close to the 6% average annual increase in the share price. That suggests that the market sentiment around the company hasn't changed much over that time. Indeed, it would appear the share price is reacting to the EPS.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

SWX:ZURN Earnings Per Share Growth November 2nd 2024

We know that Zurich Insurance Group has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? If you're interested, you could check this free report showing consensus revenue forecasts.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Zurich Insurance Group's TSR for the last 5 years was 74%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Zurich Insurance Group shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 25% over one year. That's including the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 12%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Zurich Insurance Group better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Zurich Insurance Group , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.
Larry and Dreama Bilby thought their under-construction home in Tampa, Florida was safe. Although they werent living on the property, they monitored it via home security cameras  which is how they noticed two strangers kept visiting the house. Then, they received a notification from their county clerk's office about a change to the deed on their home.

Scammers had used a shockingly simple method to claim the Bilby home: a fraudulent quitclaim deed, filed at the county clerk's office for less than a dollar.

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Just like that, your house is stolen. Its gone, Larry Bilby told ABC reporters. It only cost 70 cents and some paperwork.

The Bilbys nightmare is not an isolated incident. Florida prosecutor Michael Lennon told reporters that Michelle Cherry and Victor Rodriguez targeted several local properties, making multiple trips to the county clerks office.

Using forged signatures on fraudulent quitclaim deeds, the couple claimed ownership of at least three properties in the Tampa area. Both Cherry and Rodriguez were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and are awaiting trial.

Quitclaim deeds appealing for fraudsters

A quitclaim deed is a legal document used to quickly transfer ownership of a property from one person to another. It releases a persons ownership of a property without specifying what their rights or interests were.

Typically, quitclaims are used to transfer properties without a sale  for example, when a parent gives the family home to their adult child. These deeds require minimal documentation, which makes them appealing to fraudsters looking to claim ownership of properties they have no legal right to.

In cases like the Bilbys, scammers forge signatures and file these deeds at the county clerk's office, effectively stealing the home by transferring ownership without consent. This tactic allows the scammer to secure loans against the property or even sell it to unsuspecting buyers.

Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market  here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead

Real estate fraud growing concern

Real estate fraud is a growing issue, and Florida officials are calling for legal changes to make quitclaim deed fraud more difficult. In the meantime, there are practical steps you can take to protect your property.
Will approach Court, says hospital Director

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IMPHAL, Nov 2 : Dr M Dhanabir, Managing Director Diabetes Hospital and Research Centre located at Porompat, has said that he will send a legal notice to the DESAM president for giving a 'misleading statement' about him and the hospital.

Speaking to the media at the hospital today, Dr Dhanabir said that DESAM president M Somorjit threw 'unfounded charges' at him and the hospital and the same was unfortunate.

He said that a process is underway to register the hospital with the relevant authority. About the claim that he is a self declared doctor, Dr Dhanabir said that the DESAM president should examine furthermore whether he is a doctor or not and announce the finding within 20 days.

Dr Dhanabir said that he will send a legal notice to the DESAM president if he (Somorjit) fails to prove whether he is a doctor or not within the said period.

He also said that he won't make any comment about the issue during the 20 days

Claiming that there is delay in the registration of the hospital as there is a ban from an underground outfit, Dr Dhanabir said that they, nonetheless, are planning to register the hospital after the Ningol Chakkouba festival.

DESAM prying on the hospital instead of working for the wellbeing of students is unfortunate, he added.
NPO bans

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IMPHAL, Nov 2: The Naga Peoples Organisation (NPO) has banned all forms of com-mercial vehicular transpor- tation in Kuki areas with immediate effect.

According to a press release issued by Grievances Cell, NPO, some Kuki people seized commercial items belonging to a Naga woman from Senapati at the Gamgiphai COTU gate on October 29, 2024.

The seizure took place in spite of an agreement that exempts all Naga community members from any form of illegal taxation.

However, repeated incidents of harassment and unlawful taxation continues, violating this mutual agreement between the two communities, the Grievances Cell, NPO said.

In response and with a deep sense of grievance, the Grievances Cell, NPO is compelled to announce restriction on all forms of commercial vehicular transportation in the Kuki areas with immediate effect. This may intensify in due course of time, it said.

This measure will remain in effect until the Kuki community issues a sincere apology and commits to upholding the standing agree- ment in letter and spirit, it added.


A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Qantas Airways Limited ( ASX:QAN ) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

The AU$8.70 analyst price target for QAN is 3.6% less than our estimate of fair value

Story Continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.4%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$838m (1 + 2.4%)  (7.2% 2.4%) = AU$18b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$18b ( 1 + 7.2%)10= AU$8.9b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is AU$14b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$8.2, the company appears about fair value at a 9.4% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

ASX:QAN Discounted Cash Flow November 2nd 2024

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Qantas Airways as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.163. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Qantas Airways

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Significant insider buying over the past 3 months.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Australian market.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Qantas Airways, there are three pertinent elements you should further examine:

Risks: We feel that you should assess the 3 warning signs for Qantas Airways (1 is concerning!) we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does QAN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Alarmed by the indiscriminate use of high-intensity sound crackers and playing of DJ sound boxes during the Durga Puja immersion, Baji O DJ Box Birodhi Manch put up a strong protest against the use of DJ boxes during the Durga Puja immersions.

The organisation also carried out an awareness programme and peaceful protests against the indifferent attitude of the district administration. They demand implementation of the apex court directive strictly, ban high intensity sound crackers, and allow only green crackers and low-decibel firecrackers. The Delhi pollution committee to this effect had issued a notification on the ban on manufacturing, storage, sale and use of firecrackers in the city till 1 January, 2025.

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On the night of Diwali and Kali Puja, defying the prohibitory directives, high intensity sound crackers were burnt indiscriminately. After midnight, the situation turned alarming and the most affected were towns like Uttarpara, Hindmotor, Konnagar, Rishra, Serampore, Chandannagar, Bandel, Haripal, Singur, Kamarkundu and others.

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The president of All Bengal Citizens Forum, Sailen Parbat complained that it was a terrible night for us. Patients, the elderly, children and even pets were the most affected by the noise pollution.

Mr Sarkar said from 1997 till date, nearly 14 people have died protesting against high intensity sound crackers and playing of DJ sound systems.

The president of Serampore IMA, Dr Pradeep Das said, from the school level, students must be made aware of the adverse effects of sound and air pollution.
Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday pledged to waive off water bills if his party comes back to power in Delhi after the Assembly elections in February, 2025.

Kejriwal, who took part in the Vishwakarma Diwas Puja celebrations at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar here, shared the achievements and future goals of the Delhi Government and alleged that inflated water bills were sent when he was in jail.

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The AAP chief alleged, When I was in jail, the BJPs LG was running Delhi, he had all the power to work for the people of Delhi, but he stopped all the work. He acknowledged recent issues with inflated water bills and pledged to resolve them, urging residents to support his governments re-election for continued relief and benefits.

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He said,Recently, I heard that when I was in jail, they messed things up behind my back and sent you massive water bills again. Many people received incorrect and inflated bills. Those who received incorrect water bills, you dont need to pay them. Just let my government be formed again in February, and I will waive everyones water bills, he added.

The AAP chief alleged that the BJP through the LG stopped Delhis works, created garbage piles across the city, did not repair its roads and sewers, and said, Dont worry, I am back and I am fixing everything. He claimed that ten years ago, Delhi faced long power cuts, exorbitant electricity-water bills, and presently the AAP government made all these free of cost.

The AAP chief also hit out at the BJP saying it held power in MCD for 15 years, and alleged that they accomplished nothing but corruption. He claimed that since AAP came to power in the civic body, sanitation workers are now getting their salaries on time, and there havent been any strikes.

He acknowledged that garbage is still an issue in some places, and assured that the AAP dispensation is working on resolving the problem.
The situation remained uneasy for residents of the national capital on Saturday with the average air quality index witnessing no improvement, reeling under the very poor category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the average AQI based on the readings in the past 24 hours, was 316 on Saturday at 4 pm, according to the pollution monitoring agencys daily bulletin.

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Many people said that they are experiencing discomfort while breathing, and are also sneezing and coughing, while there is a burning sensation in the eyes.

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Several people were seen wearing masks to save themselves from the bad air, and have said that with the change in weather and drop in temperatures along with the kind of pollution, they are taking precautions against respiratory problems.

The data released by the CPCB was based on the observations from 39 air quality monitoring stations, out of the total 40 located across the city.

Anand Vihar was the only area in the city for now which recorded the air quality in severe zone with an index value of 407 at 4 pm, as per the pollution monitoring agency.

People continue to experience mornings covered with smog around the city, while the situation is even worse in the 13 hotspots.

Talking of the citys adjoining Delhi, Gurugrams air was in poor category, Ghaziabads AQI was very poor,  Noida reeled under poor zone, while Faridabad which also shares its border with Delhi had air reeling under the moderate quality.

The pollution monitoring agency says that when the air quality drops in the very poor zone, people are exposed to the likelihood of Respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.

The Delhi government has started off an initiative of water sprinkling at various places to bring down the dust to mitigate the rise in pollution levels.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai has said that teams are continuously working on dust pollution, vehicular pollution and efforts are underway to curb biomass burning.

The minister has said that 200 mobile anti- smog guns have been brought on roads to control dust pollution, and now the sprinkling will be carried into 3 shifts.
Two heavily armed terrorists were killed on Saturday in an encounter with security forces in the Halkan Gali forest area of South Kashmirs Anantnag district.

The Srinagar based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army wrote on X; Based on specific input, a Joint Operation was launched by the Indian Army, CRPF and J&K Police in general area Halkan Gali, Anantnag. On 02 November 2024, suspicious movement near Halkan Gali was observed and challenged by vigilant troops, as a result, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on the Army column. Own troops effectively retaliated, resulting in elimination of two terrorists, a defence officer said.

Reports said that an Army soldier on Road Opening Party (RoP) duty died due to accidental fire in Rawalpora area of Srinagar.

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Meanwhile, a fierce encounter has broken out between security forces and terrorists in Srinagars downtown Thung Mohalla, in Khanyar, Srinagar. Heavy exchange of gunfire is going on in the thickly populated locality. It is after several years that a gunfight has erupted in Srinagar city. A top wanted Pakistani commander, Usman of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is believed to be trapped in the firefight.Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the locality in the morning when the hiding terrorists opened fire at them. The security forces retaliated leading to the encounter.

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Another operation was reported in North Kashmirs Bandipora. The Chinar Corps said that On 01 November late evening, suspicious movement was spotted, in general area Panar of Bandipora, by alert troops. On being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire and escaped into the jungle. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi was present in Srinagars Khanyar supervising the anti-terror operation.
(Bloomberg) -- Elon Musk was dealt a significant setback in a court fight over compensation sought by the top Twitter Inc. executives he fired when he took over the company in 2022.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A judge ruled late Friday that former chief executive officer Parag Agrawal and other high-ranking officers can proceed with claims that Musk terminated them right as he was closing the deal to cheat them out of severance pay before they could submit resignation letters.

In the complaint the ex-executives filed in March, they cited a passage in Walter Isaacsons biography of Musk in which the billionaire is quoted telling the author as he rushed to complete the acquisition there was a 200-million differential in the cookie jar between closing tonight and doing it tomorrow morning.

Musk has been fighting legal claims for back pay by thousands of Twitter staff he laid off when he acquired the social media company for $44 billion two years ago and rebranded it as X Corp.

At least one former employee was awarded unpaid severance in September in a closed-door arbitration that could set a precedent for other similar cases, the workers lawyer told Bloomberg News.

In July, Musk and X Corp. defeated a lawsuit alleging that at least $500 million in severance pay was owed to about 6,000 laid-off employees under provisions of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

US District Judge Maxine Chesney on Friday rejected arguments by Musks lawyers that Agrawals claims should be dismissed. Agrawal was joined in the lawsuit by Vijaya Gadde, who was Twitters top legal and policy official; Ned Segal, the chief financial officer; and Sean Edgett, the companys general counsel.

They allege theyre owed severance benefits equal to one years salary plus unvested stock awards valued at the acquisition price.

Chesney is overseeing two other suits brought by Twitter executives, including one by Nicholas Caldwell, who was general manager for core tech and is seeking $20 million as compensation for lost severance. The judge on Friday denied Musks request to dismiss a claim by Caldwell that mirrors Agrawals allegations.

Representatives of X didnt respond outside regular business hours to a request for comment.

The case is Agrawal v. Musk, 24-cv-01304, US District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

(Updates with link to ruling in second paragraph.)
A top wanted Pakistani commander, Usman, of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was among three terrorists killed in two separate fierce encounters with security forces in the Kashmir valley on Saturday.

While Usman was gunned down in the thickly populated Srinagars downtown Khanyar locality, the other two, including a Pakistan terrorist, were eliminated in a gunfight with security forces in the Halkan Gali forest area of South Kashmirs Anantnag district.

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Four security forces personnel, including two of CRPF and two of J&K Police, were injured during the gunfight in Khanyar, reports said.

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The Srinagar based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army wrote on X; Based on specific input, a Joint Operation was launched by the Indian Army, CRPF and J&K Police in the general area Halkan Gali, Anantnag.

On 02 November 2024, suspicious movement near Halkan Gali was observed and challenged by vigilant troops, as a result, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on the Army column. The troops effectively retaliated, resulting in the elimination of two terrorists, a defence officer said.

Reports said that an Army soldier on Road Opening Party (ROP) duty died due to accidental fire in the Rawalpora area of Srinagar.

Meanwhile, a fierce encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Srinagars downtown Thung Mohalla, in Khanyar, Srinagar. As many as 12 houses were evacuated and the residents were taken to a safe place to prevent damage to civilians.

Heavy exchange of gunfire continued for hours in the thickly populated locality.

It is after several years that a gunfight has erupted in Srinagar city.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the locality in the morning when the hiding terrorists opened fire at them. The security forces retaliated leading to the encounter.

Senior officers of the Army, CRPF, J&K Police and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi were present in Khanyar supervising the anti-terror operation.

The development comes barely hours after two migrants from Uttar Pradesh were injured in a terrorist attack in Kashmirs Budgam district. The injured duo from Saharanpur, Sufiyan and Usman, sustained injuries after being shot at in the Mazhama area of Magam in Budgam.

Another search operation was reported in North Kashmirs Bandipora. The Chinar Corps said that On 01 November late evening, suspicious movement was spotted, in the general area Panar of Bandipora, by alert troops. On being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire and escaped into the jungle.

National Conference (NC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra and some other leaders have questioned the recent surge in terror attacks at migrant labourers following the elections.

On 24 October, terrorists ambushed an Army vehicle near Gulmarg, killing two soldiers and two Army porters and injuring another porter and a soldier.

Further incidents in the weeks prior included attacks on labourers from other states, such as the 18 October killing of a Bihari labourer in Shopian and a deadly attack on seven non-local labourers at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal on 20 October.
Balodabazar districts Damakheda Ashram, a spiritual haven for Kabir Panth followers, came under a violent attack on Friday night. Witnesses describe a chaotic scene as a large group of villagers stormed the premises with sticks, stones, and firecrackers, leaving the Kabir Panth community in shock. Assailants allegedly threatened Udit Muni, son of the revered Guru Prakash Muni, with death, a provocation that has ignited calls for increased protection of religious sites and people.

As tensions peaked, states Home Minister Vijay Sharma and former MLA Shivratan Sharma rushed to the scene at midnight to assess the situation firsthand. Police reports reveal that a dispute over firecrackers ignited the violence, culminating in a break-in by intruders carrying improvised weapons. Law enforcement managed to restore order, detaining 16 individuals in connection with the attack.

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Damakheda Ashram holds profound significance for the Kabir Panth community, regularly drawing crowds for its programmess dedicated to Sant Kabirs teachings. In response to the attack, the state Congress President Deepak Baij visited the ashram to meet Guru Prakash Muni, condemning the assault as a grievous blow to the community. He labeled the assault on Udit Muni as a targeted threat on his life, sparking a wave of outrage.

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Simga Police have filed an FIR under multiple sections, including 191(2), 193(3), 190, and 298 of the Indian Penal Code. SDOP Aishwarya Chandrakar confirmed that police are actively seeking additional suspects, including the local sarpanchs husband. Security across Balodabazar district has been intensified, with authorities urging the public to maintain calm and disregard rumors.

This recent attack on the Damakheda Ashram adds to an unsettling pattern of violence in Balodabazar, following Junes incident when government offices were set ablaze during local protests. Authorities are urging calm and pledging heightened vigilance, aware that maintaining peace in the district will demand a renewed commitment to security and community trust.
In a tragic incident, four sanitary workers including two women from Tamil Nadu were killed near Shornur railway station in Kerala when Thiruvananthapuram-bound Kerala Express train struck them.

According to the Railway police, New Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram train struck the workers at around 3.05 pm on Saturday while they were clearing garbage from the railway track near Shoranur bridge.

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The workers were thrown from the track due to the collisions impact. The deceased were identified as Laxman, Valli, Rani, and Laxmanan from Vizhupuram, near Salem in Tamil Nadu.

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It is learnt that all the deceased were part-time sanitation workers in the railways.
The Haryana government has appealed to the farmers of the state to refrain from burning crop residue after harvesting paddy. Burning crop residue not only leads to air pollution but also depletes soil nutrients. Instead of burning, farmers should mix the residue into the soil using machinery. Incorporating paddy residue into the soil will enhance soil fertility and contribute to a cleaner environment.

An official spokesperson from the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department on Saturday said that the government has initiated the Haryana Parali Protsahan Yojana 2024-25 to promote crop residue management. Under this scheme, a subsidy of Rs 1,000 per acre is being provided.

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To apply for the scheme, farmers must register on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal. Interested farmers can apply online at the departmental portal agriharyana.gov.in until November 30, 2024, to avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme.

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The spokesperson further stated that the scheme aims to discourage farmers from burning stubble and provide them with financial assistance. This initiative will not only protect the environment but also encourage farmers to manage crop residue properly, helping to combat air pollution caused by stubble burning.

The spokesperson also mentioned that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is conducting awareness campaigns to educate farmers about the harmful effects of burning crop residue. Agricultural experts are providing farmers with information about government schemes.

The crop residue management scheme is a significant government initiative. Under this scheme, farmers are provided with agricultural equipment such as super seeders, zero tillage machines, straw choppers, happy seeders, reversible ploughs, etc, at subsidized rates. These tools can help farmers mix the stubble into the soil to improve soil fertility.
India has lodged a strong protest with Canada over the absurd and baseless allegation made by Ottawa that Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists in Canada, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Saturday.

At a media briefing here, he said, Regarding the latest Canadian target, we summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday. A diplomatic note was handed over in reference to the proceedings of the (Canadian) Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on October 29, 2024. It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison.

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The spokesperson said that in fact, the revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the Government of India has long held about the current Canadian governments political agenda and behavioural pattern. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties, he added.

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About Canadas New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singhs statement his party will seek official recognition of the 1984 Sikh genocide in the countrys Parliament, the spokesperson said the promotion of extremism and violence by Ottawa has been a core concern for India. India, he said, hopes Canada will take appropriate action in the matter.

On Canada labelling India as an adversary in its National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026, the spokesperson this appears to be part of another strategy by Ottawa to attack India. He noted that senior Canadian officials have gone on record to say that they are manipulating global opinion against India.

He also stated that some Indian Consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian Government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions.

He said that by citing technicalities, the Canadian Government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian Government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices, he added.

Regarding reports about the cancellation of Diwali celebrations at Canadas Parliament Hill in the wake of the diplomatic row between the two countries, the spokesperson said, It is unfortunate that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism.

On the reduction in the number of visas by the Canadian government, The spokesperson said, We are monitoring the well-being of our students and professionals who are working in Canada. Our concern for their safety and security remains strong.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will leave here on Sunday on a six-day trip to Australia and Singapore.

During the visit to Australia, he will travel to Brisbane and inaugurate Indias fourth consulate in Australia. He will also co-chair the 15th Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue (FMFD) with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.

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Mr Jaishankar will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the second Raisina Down Under to be held in the Australian Parliament House. He is also scheduled to have interactions with Australian leadership, parliamentarians, members of the Indian diaspora, business community, media and think tanks.

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On the second leg of the visit, Mr Jaishankar will travel to Singapore for an official visit on 8 November, during which he will address the eighth Roundtable of ASEAN  India Network of Think Tanks.

He will also meet the leadership of Singapore to review the close partnership between the two countries and explore avenues to further enhance the bilateral relationship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and developments in West Asia during a telephonic conversation with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

PM Mitsotakis warmly congratulated PM Modi on his re-election following the general elections in India.

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Both leaders appreciated the momentum generated in bilateral ties through recent high-level exchanges and reiterated their firm commitment to further strengthen India-Greece Strategic Partnership.

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They reviewed progress in a number of areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade, defence, shipping and connectivity, in follow-up to PM Mitsotakiss visit to India earlier this year.

The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of interest, including IMEEC and developments in West Asia, an official release said on Saturday.

The IMEEC) is a planned economic corridor that aims to bolster economic development by fostering connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Persian Gulf and Europe. The corridor is a proposed route from India to Europe through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Greece.

Uncertainty hangs over the proposed corridor in the wake of the ongoing war in West Asia.

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The Thalassery Additional Sessions Court on Saturday found one person guilty and acquitted 13 members of the National Development Front (NDF) accused in the murder of RSS activist Ashwini Kumar (27) that happened on March 10, 2005.

The sessions court Judge Philip Thomas found MV Marshook (39), a native of Chavassery in Iritty, guilty in the murder .

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The court will pronounce the sentence on November 14. Those acquitted include Nurul Amin, PK Aziz, PM Siraj, MK Yunus, CP Ummer, Ali, Naufal, Yakub, Mustafa, Basheer, Shammas, and Shanavas, each of whom faced charges in connection with the murder.

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Iritty native Ashwini Kumar, a teacher at a parallel college, was murdered , while travelling from Kannur to Iritty. He was attacked inside a bus, where he was reportedly bombed and hacked to death.

RSS leader Valsan Thillankeri expressed disappointment over the verdict. He said that the RSS plans to appeal.

We expected justice from the court. The verdict is very unfortunate. The attack happened in broad daylight in front of hundreds of people. There were many eyewitnesses to the incident. We will go to any extent until Ashwini Kumars family gets justice, he said.


A middle-aged shepherd was killed on Saturday afternoon in an attack by a prowling tiger in the jungles adjoining the Ranthambore National Park.

A spokesman for the Forests and Wildlife Department said that Bharat Meena (50) of Oliyana village ventured into forests along the Kanwar valley in the Kundera forest range to graze goats when an unnoticed tiger pounced on him from behind the nearby bushes.

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The big cat grabbed the shepherd by the neck and tried to drag him away; however, villagers working in nearby areas raised an alarm to retrieve the victim from the predators jaws.

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Bharat died on the spot as a crowd of agitated villagers gathered and tried to chase the tiger.

Later, a mob of villagers staged Rasta Roko by blocking traffic on a nearby road.

The Ranthambore Sanctuarys Field Director, Anoop KR, sent a team of officials to pacify the agitating crowd.
The oxymoron a painful pleasure seems to be in effect when Kolkata gets global recognition ~ the city has ranked 19th by Savills Growth Hub Index for its rapid development. Is Kolkata burdened with the enigma of despair? Is it a great urban disaster? At least the graffiti on walls would lead one to believe there is no hope. What troubles the lovers of Kolkata most is that the questions could lately be answered spontaneously in the negative. Every discussion about the city of joy tends to become a sentimental journey into the past.

Inevitably a confrontation with the rot eating into the vitals of the city is like being a victim of ones own hubris. For a hardcore Kolkatan, harshly chastised by the relentless reality around him, the virtuous delights of organizing an unorganized system is a distant dream. He is cocooned in a defunct time-machine that neither takes him forward nor lets him bask contentedly in days of yore. In a way, he is trapped in a city which he loves and is unable to lift the malaise that has robbed it of its vibrancy.

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So why is Kolkata so special amidst all its traffic jams, bandhs, michhil, adda, et al? Even an individual being part of the swarm of citizens hurrying towards Sealdah and Howrah stations in the afternoon will proudly proclaim that it is difficult to find another city whose name one can associate with six Nobel Prize winners. In retrospect, there is something intense about Rudyard Kiplings relationship with Kolkata, where he was born and to which he came back in 1888 to work as a journalist. Characteristically, his first reaction was effusive but deeply proprietoral.

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As he looked at the large number of ships below the Hooghly Bridge, he exclaimed: What a divine place to loot! It seemed not only wrong but a criminal thing to allow natives to have any voice in the control of such a city adorned, docked, wharfed, fronted and reclaimed by Englishmen, existing only because England lives and is dependent for its life in England. The word loot, though used in a light-hearted manner, indicates the attitude typical of colonisers. Among Kiplings initial reactions to life in Kolkata was a holistic outburst at what he called the Big Calcutta Stink.

The reek of Calcutta beats both Banaras and Peshawar  It is faint. It is sickly, and it is indescribable It resembles the essence of corruption that has rotted More than three hundred years ago, Calcutta was promoted by a band of adventurous British traders with a vision to make it a competitive business centre. When by an irony of history the traders became rulers of the country, it was Calcutta which remained as the citadel of British imperial power in the Indian subcontinent for well over a century and a half. But what is often overlooked is the British perception of the citys strategic importance in international trade and commerce.

In terms of imperial political management, Calcutta had always played a vital role. In terms of furthering British business interests in the Far East too, it played a big role. Calcutta had been the main centre of Britains flourishing trade with China and its trade with Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong with the entire eastern region serving as the supply line through excellent manufacturing, mining and agricultural activities. Meanwhile, much water has flowed down the Bhagirathi and the city has changed. Lord Macau l ay, who had initiated the Indians into Western culture and education, speaks of the same wilderness that Mrs Kinders Leigh disparaged as the city of palaces.

In 1803, Lord Valencia wrote: Chowrin gh ee, an entire village of palaces runs a considerable length at right angles with it, and altogether forms the finest view I ever beheld in any country. When Daniel Moy nihan, former US Ambassador to India, described Calcutta as a necropolis, he was criticized. And late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis reference to Calcutta as a dying city was thought to be uncharitable. However, of late Kolkata appears static in a setting where progress is increasingly becoming an obsession. Every decision about the city tends to become a sentimental journey into the past. However, the crowds hardly suggest that it is a dying city.

In spite of its feeble economic structure, Kolkata has been trudging along the path of survival with stoic persistence. Now the city brims with the mystic festive spirit. And soon all will be back home celebrating Christmas and welcoming the new year with joy, fervour and enthusiasm. Whether we call it Kolkata or Calcutta, the city haunts everybodys mind. It remains a collage of multi-hued, multi-textured events, an abode of eminent intellectuals, keeping the Bengali spirit vibrant and ever enthusiastic and inspiring others to call it the intellectual capital of the country. It was not without reason that the city remained as the citadel of the British imperial power in the Indian subcontinent for well over a century and a half.

Even after 1912, when the capital was shifted to Delhi, Calcutta continued to enjoy a special preferential status from the British Indian government. The development of Calcutta during the British Raj has to be viewed in terms of its strategic role in the imperial management of both politics and economics. To play this role the sustained development and creation of supportive infrastructure facilities was a basic prerequisite, and Calcutta rose to the occasion. At the same time, the 19th century Calcutta, faced with the domination of the West, was looking for a definition of selfidentification. The aim of thinkers like Bankimchandra, Bhudev Mukherjee, Vivekananda and Rabindra nath was to rescue their countrymen from a state of mind where they were longing to hear if they were superior, in any way, to the most civilized nations.

Bankimchandra identified the crucial difference between European and Indian attitudes to knowledge and action. While the European believ ed that Nature could be conquered and lead to a better life on earth, the Indian view was that Nature was unconquerable, and was the source of all misery. Vivekananda strongly believed in the superiority of the Indians to the Europeans in their spiritualism. Tagores vision of Indian history led to a rich fulfillment in spite of conflicts, sufferings and even invasion. And, we must not disown Rammohans letter, datelined Calcutta, to Lord Amherst, urging him to brush aside the decision on a new Sanskrit school in Calcutta and instead allocate all the money to instruct the natives of India in mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry, anatomy and other useful sciences.

We must be all proud of the Bengali Renaissance, or for that matter, the Politics of Young Bengal, as Pearychand Mitra called it in 1877, started by Henry Derozio, whom Susobhan Sarkar calls the Calcutta Eurasian of Portuguese Indian ancestry. A whole corpus of literature grew around Sri Chaitanya Debs Vaishnavism, drawing Bengalis and Oriyas, Manipuris and others close together. NonBengalis also started learning the language just to go through Ramakrishnas Kathamrita, and Bankimchandra, Saratchandra and Rabin dranath in original. The English writings of Vivekananda and Aurobindo served to bridge European and Bengali culture. Religious thoughts and practices also emanated in the city and had a profound resonance across the globe.

Other than great spiritual thinkers like Rammohan Roy, Keshav Chandra Sen, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and Aurobindo, the lesser known who came to the city include Angarika Dharmapala and Nichidatsu Fujii. The profound spiritual legacy has been an inegral element of Kolkatas culture. Kolkata is a miniature of the whole world. Every race is represented and every culture can be traced here. A walk through its streets is an experience. The city teaches lessons of constant sharing with those poorer than oneself, tolerance towards all beliefs and castes, respect for strangers, true charity for beggars, the deformed, and the lepers. This is the city where Mother Teresa had visualized God among the millions. Kol kata today is a living, thinking, struggling, idealistic city.

Its people are still concerned with something other than making money, spending money and hoarding money. It remains one of the most aware, sensitive, intelligent and intellectual cities of the world. Even though the time when Gokhale said, What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow is long gone, there is reason to find the much-vaunted Bengali arrogance at a low key. Even though we are twice in receipt of the Nobel Prize in Economics, the city has reason to weep for having slipped into obsolescence. We see only the tip of hope in the quagmire that threatens to devour the citys vitality.

The hiatus between the idea and its translation into reality still appears to be unbridgeable. Its laid-back culture is now eating into the youngest rung of its populace. School goers are now planning their careers away from the city. Kolkata needs to shrug off its persecution complex and take charge of its destiny. The glorious intellectual isolation must end. Instead of basking in past glory, the city ought to author an inspiring future which appeals to common logic. Perhaps the hope lies in Kolkatas growing cosmopolitanism, and, of course, the recently earned glory

(The writer, a former Associate Professor, Department of English, Gurudas College, Kolkata, is presently associated with Rabindra Bharati University)
North Dakota will vote on whether to become first state without property taxes  but this move could haunt locals

North Dakota could soon make history by becoming the first U.S. state to eliminate property taxes  a bold move that supporters argue will ease the financial burden on homeowners and open doors for first-time buyers.

However, critics warn this sweeping change could leave local communities struggling to fund essential services, forcing them to depend on an uncertain state solution.

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Growing frustration with rising property taxes has fueled support for the measure, with advocates claiming it will provide long-needed relief and help make real estate more affordable.

The ballot question is straightforward, yet it carries serious implications: should North Dakota scrap property taxes altogether, fundamentally altering how local governments are funded?

By shifting this responsibility to the state, the measure would dismantle a primary revenue stream for counties and municipalities, raising concerns about how  and if  these services would continue unaffected.

Measure faces a long road

With the election right around the corner, voters in the traditionally conservative state are trending towards a no vote. North Dakota voters rejected a similar proposal in 2012, and the 2024 edition is facing similar voter headwinds.

A North Dakota Monitor poll from late September indicated that 40% of voters plan to vote against it, with 28% in favor  while a significant one-third remain undecided.

Opponents, including Republican Governor Doug Burgum, argue that property taxes are crucial for funding schools, emergency services, infrastructure, and other public services.

Removing this dependable revenue stream would destabilize budgets across counties and cities, potentially putting essential services at risk.

It's complete misinformation to say that if you vote for that thing, that somehow that you're ending property taxes, you're stopping property taxes; you won't, Burgum said at a recent gathering in the North Dakota town of Watford City.

What you will do, is, you will cause someone else to pick up the tab, that's what this whole thing is about. It's about who's going to pay for it, it doesn't lower the cost of delivering anything in our state, it just shifts the burden to somebody else."
In a bold and strategic move, the latest UK budget signals a significant shift in economic policy, opting for increased taxes, higher borrowing, and ambitious spending. This approach sets a clear departure from past economic orthodoxy, and aims to confront a sluggish economy with active government intervention. The government has three overarching goals: to stabilise public finances, drive growth, and affirm Labours unique approach. This budget is a calculated gamble, promising rewards that depend on close collaboration between government and private industry. The budgets targeted boost to public spending reflects an attempt to tackle immediate and long-standing issues in various sectors. One key area is the construction industry, where increased capital investments could pave the way for substantial infrastructure development.

However, with a pressing shortage of skilled workers, contractors may price bids higher, adding new pressures to an industry already struggling to meet demand. This raises questions on whether such spending will result in tangible improvements or if it could spiral into cost overruns that force the government into tough fiscal decisions down the road. For businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, the budget brings mixed prospects. A planned hike in National Insurance contributions could place an additio n al burden on employers, potentially stifling wage growth and leading to job cuts. This could significantly impact sectors like hospitality and tourism, which are already grappling with high operating costs and may be forced to cut back on hours or reduce staff. While the government argues that tax hikes will help strengthen public finances, there is concern about whether these additional costs might dampen business confidence, deterring the private investment necessary to fuel sustained economic growth.

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The budgets implications for rural communities present a particular challenge. New inheritance tax policies on farms may disrupt family farming traditions, imposing tax burdens that could discourage generational continuity. This shift highlights a longstanding tension between urban and rural priorities, reflecting how policies designed with metropolitan areas in mind often overlook the unique realities faced by rural populations. This move risks reigniting past frictions with rural communities, where resentment towards urbancentric policymaking has previously affected political dynamics. In Scotland, the increased funding allocation offers both opportunities and constraints. The Scottish government, while welcoming the financial boost, remains wary of its long term sustainability. With heightened expectations from unions and opposition parties for expanded services and pay raises, the administration must navigate pressures carefully to ensure responsible spending.

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This budget is undoubtedly a break from the status quo, but it comes with significant risks. Success depends on whether the governments spending can genuinely stimulate economic activity and encourage the private sector to invest in growth. Without this buy-in from businesses, high taxes and borrowing could result in further economic strain, rather than the robust growth envisioned. Ultimately, this budget marks a turning point. While the gamble may yield transformative change, it underscores the importance of fostering a partnership between public and private sectors. If executed well, this budget could redefine the UKs economic landscape.
The death of eight elephants in Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, likely due to consuming fungus-infected kodo millet, underscores a profound and growing challenge in Indias conservation landscape. As wildlife and agricultural zones increasingly overlap, the unfortunate outcomes highlight the urgent need for robust strategies that ensure the safety of both animals and rural communities. Elephants are highly social animals with complex foraging habits. As habitats shrink, they often wander into nearby farmland in search of food, inadvertently risking encounters with human agriculture.

In this case, a toxic fungus found in kodo millet ~ a crop typically harmless to humans ~ likely developed after seasonal rains. The high consumption of this millet appears to have led to tragic consequences for the elephants, exposing the overlooked threat posed by agricultural practices near protected areas. In Bandhavgarhs case, the situation demands immediate action on two fronts. First, there is an evident need for more thorough monitoring of potential hazards that could affect wildlife in buffer zones around parks. Current management systems may not fully account for the risks posed by seemingly benign crops that develop toxins under specific conditions.

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By conducting seasonal inspections of farms bordering reserves, authorities could mitigate such risks, identifying and addressing any crops susceptible to fungal growth or other natural toxins. Engaging farmers in this process is essential; for instance, compensated removal or controlled disposal of risky crops like kodo millet could prevent wildlife exposure to these toxins. Secondly, this incident highlights a larger need for a national framework that guides interactions between agriculture and wildlife. Indias rapid population growth and expanding agricultural footprint mean protected areas are increasingly encircled by farmland. To protect wildlife, the government should consider implementing clear policies on permissible crops near conservation areas, particularly during peak wildlife migration and foraging seasons.

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By encouraging farmers to grow wildlife-safe crops or introducing regulated planting practices in buffer zones, authorities could reduce the risk of fatal encounters between elephants and toxic crops. Such measures are vital not only for elephant conservation but for public safety as well. When food sources like kodo millet are abundant, elephants are more likely to enter human areas, raising the risk of conflict. A strategic approach that educates farmers on wildlife-friendly agricultural practices and offers support for crop modifications could ease the strain on both sides. Collaborations with conservationists and agronomists could yield sustainable solutions to better protect Indias endangered species without sacrificing farmers livelihoods. Ultimately, Bandhavgarhs tragedy reveals a broader issue that demands immediate attention.

Protecting Indias wildlife cannot stop at the borders of its national parks. It requires comprehensive, adaptive policies that reflect the realities of conservation challenges. By integrating wildlife safety into policy and involving local communities in conservation efforts, India can strive to secure a harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. The tragic loss of these elephants should serve as a turning point, pushing policymakers to prioritise wildlife safety in agricultural regions and prevent such disasters
In an address at the State Departments Diwali reception, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised the significance of the festival and reflected on the traditions decade-long history at the State Department, which began under Secretary John Kerry.

He also highlighted Diwalis message by quoting Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagores words: Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.

The remarks by Blinken came as he addressed the Diwali reception on Friday.

He said, It was 10 years ago that Secretary John Kerry hosted the first Diwali reception here at State Department. A decade later, this annual gathering has become a tradition, one I am very proud of and pleased to continue. This year, more than one billion Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs, from around the world are celebrating Diwali and decorating homes in vibrant patterns, rangoli, hanging garlands of flowers, lighting diyas.

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He added, Diwali holds different meanings and practices for different communities. But South Asia poet Tagore captured it the best when he wrote Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark. Diwali is about the idea that light will push back against darkness.

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Blinken emphasised the significance of South Asian culture in the United States, highlighting that the country derives strength from its diversity, including the contributions of South Asian Americans.

Its also a reminder of many ways of South Asian culture. The United States derives so much strength from this diversity, including the truly remarkable public service The Vice President of United States Kamala Harris, World Bank President Ajay Banga, our very own Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma.

Blinken concluded his remarks with a heartfelt wish and said, So as we celebrate Diwali, may we keep working to shape a world more peaceful, more prosperous and do it together. Happy Diwali.

Diwali is an auspicious festival that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Spectacular lights, firecrackers, irresistible traditional sweets and exchanging gifts mark the festival.
One person was killed and seven others injured on Friday in forest fires raging across the northern countryside of the northwestern province of Latakia since Thursday, according to Syrian state TV.

An unidentified object exploded during firefighting efforts, causing casualties in the village of Baytar.

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The report added that, in response to the threat, authorities evacuated several homes in Baytar to ensure the safety of residents.

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Firefighting teams, supported by Syrian army helicopters, are operating at full capacity, working to extinguish fires along the Mishrefeh-Sheikh Hassan axis, Badrousieh, and the Qardaha mountains, Xinhua news agency reported.

Fazkin Jabarian, the head of the Kessab municipality office, stated that the fires are partially under control and noted that local residents have actively supported firefighting teams in their efforts to combat the blazes.
The United Nations Human Rights Office voiced concern on Friday regarding the severe civilian impact of Israeli military operations in Lebanon, with a focus on damage to religious and cultural landmarks.

According to the UN office, since last October, Israel has destroyed or heavily damaged at least 10 mosques and churches. It emphasised that under international law, attacks on religious sites are prohibited.

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Expressing further concern over strikes near the UNESCO-listed ancient temple complex in Baalbek, the UN noted that international humanitarian law mandates the protection of civilian sites, except where military use is confirmed. Even in such cases, it underscored, attacks must be proportionate and executed with caution.

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Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN special coordinator for Lebanon, also warned on social media of risks to Lebanons heritage sites in Tyre and Baalbek, home to UNESCO-designated Roman ruins. Lebanons cultural heritage must not become another casualty in this devastating conflict, she stated, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on Friday as Israeli airstrikes targeted southern Beirut and resumed assaults on Baalbeks eastern regions at noon. Heavy clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces also erupted near Khiam, where Israeli air and artillery bombardments met with Hezbollahs retaliatory attacks on Israeli military positions. Hezbollah claimed it had carried out 63 operations within three days, targeting sites as far as near Tel Aviv.

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict, part of the broader Gaza-centered Israel-Hamas war, has intensified since September 23 with ongoing exchanges of fire along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Key Insights

Spark New Zealand's estimated fair value is NZ$5.19 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of NZ$2.88 suggests Spark New Zealand is potentially 44% undervalued

Analyst price target for SPK is NZ$4.01 which is 23% below our fair value estimate

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Spark New Zealand Limited (NZSE:SPK) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Spark New Zealand

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$492.9m NZ$383.8m NZ$391.0m NZ$406.0m NZ$386.5m NZ$377.5m NZ$374.6m NZ$375.7m NZ$379.6m NZ$385.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ -2.33% Est @ -0.78% Est @ 0.30% Est @ 1.06% Est @ 1.58% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.1% NZ$464 NZ$341 NZ$327 NZ$320 NZ$287 NZ$264 NZ$247 NZ$234 NZ$223 NZ$213

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$2.9b

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.8%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.1%.


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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Field Gun Factory in Kanpur, a unit of Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), and inspected major facilities, including the heat treatment and the new assembly shop of the factory, and took stock of critical indigenous defence capabilities.

The factory specialises in manufacturing barrel and breach assemblies of various artillery guns and tanks, including Tank T-90 and Dhanush Gun.

Following the visit, Singh was briefed by the CMDs of three Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) based in KanpurAWEIL, Troop Comforts India Limited (TCL), Gliders India Limited (GIL)and Director of Defence Materials and Stores Research & Development Establishment, a DRDO laboratory located in Kanpur.

ALSO READ: Which are the 15 Indian companies facing US sanctions for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine

AWEIL specialises in manufacturing small, medium and large caliber gun systems. The main products of TCL are combat uniforms, ballistic protective gears, extreme cold clothing, and tentages for high altitude. GIL has the largest and oldest production unit of parachutes in India.

The three CMDs apprised the defence minister about the product profile, major ongoing projects, R&D efforts and modernisation activities being undertaken to meet the requirement of the three services.

The defence minister was accompanied by Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO Samir V. Kamat.
As many as 15 companies from India are among the 275 individuals and entities facing the US sanctions for allegedly backing Russia's military-industrial base.

The US Department of Treasury, in a recent statement, said several companies from China, Switzerland, Thailand, and Turkey have been slapped with sanctions for supplying Russia with advanced technology and equipment for its war machine.

As per the list released by the Department of Treasury, the India-based companies facing sanctions include Abhar Technologies and Services Private Limited; Denvas Services Private Limited; Emsystech; Galaxy Bearings Ltd; Orbit Fintrade LLP; Innovio Ventures; KDG Engineering Private Limited; and Khushbu Honing Private Limited.

ALSO READ: Putin is showing 'clear sign of weakness', claims US; says the Russian president is in trouble

Lokesh Machines Limited; Pointer Electronics; RRG Engineering Technologies Private Limited; Sharpline Automation Private Limited; Shaurya Aeronautics Private Limited; Shreegee Impex Private Limited; and Shreya Life Sciences Private Limited are also facing US sanctions.

In addition to disrupting global evasion networks, this action also targets domestic Russian importers and producers of key inputs and other material for Russia's military-industrial base, a statement from the department read.

READ MORE: As Putin holds nuclear drill, a look at Russia's nuclear stockpile, capabilities

Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said the US and its allies will continue to take decisive action across the globe to stop the flow of critical tools and technologies that Russia needs to wage its "illegal and immoral war against Ukraine."

He further said the US is unyielding in its resolve to diminish and degrade Russia's ability to equip its war machine and stop those seeking to aid Moscow's efforts through circumvention or evasion of our sanctions and export controls.
Nearly 15 years ago, I met Rohit Bal late one morning at New Delhis The Grand hotel. The five-star was teeming over with beautiful people in its lobby  models, socialites, celebrities and other fashionably dressed somebodys. Gudda, as Bal was called by those who met him even twice, was preening about with a glass of champagne in his hand. Its only noon, Gudda, I complained seeing his champagne tulip. Its fashion week, he retorted before embracing me in a giant bear hug.

Gudda was like that. Always up for a good time. A good time was Gudda and Gudda was a good time. The two were inseparable, I suspect, till his dying days.

Rohit Bal, Gudda as we loved him, died last evening in New Delhi. The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), of which he was a founding member, announced his passing last night: We mourn the passing of Legendary designer Rohit Bal. He was a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). Known for his unique blend of traditional patterns with modern sensibilities, Bals work redefined Indian fashion, and inspired generations. His legacy of artistry, and innovation along with forward thinking will live on in the fashion world.

Bal had checked into hospital complaining of chest pain in the wee hours of yesterday morning. As the evening progressed, it seems the doctors couldnt revive him after several hours of trying. Bal has had heart ailments since 2010, when he had had a cardiac arrest and angioplasty. The last two years have seen him in and out of hospital and ICUs, often nearly dying, but then coming back to tell us we were all fussing and hes absolutely fine.

Gudda believed he lived to pursue beauty and to pursue happiness, and those came from fine fashions and a life of parties.

Rohit Bal, 63, was among Indias finest crop of designers. He made lush clothes, with reams of fabrics and layers, fabulously bold embroideries  roses, lotuses, peacocks  in gold and fine silk threads. Many of his motifs were derived from classical crafts, especially that of his hometown Kashmir. His clothing constructions were dipped into Indias heritage  shapes that filled Ahmedabads Calico Museum of Textiles. His workmanship was so fine, often you couldnt tell whether his embroideries were threadwork or painted patterns.

His fashion shows were as dramatic as he was. Models sashayed through ponds and fountains. Antediluvian edifices were lit up as backdrops. The music was an homage to old-world etiquettes. And Gudda would always come out dancing a little jig to take a bow.

Rohit Bal was born in Srinagar on May 8, 1961, to a Kashmiri Pandit family. His family moved to New Delhi in the 1970s, where Bal would graduate in History at St. Stephen's.

Bal was among Indias first crop of fashion designers as that term came to be introduced to Indias lexicon. The National Institute of Fashion Technology had opened in New Delhi, and he was among the first graduates. Indian fashion was just taking shape and innovative ideas that teamed western sophistication with Indian craft had begun experimenting. A decade or so later, India would have its first fashion week.

Bal became the face of fashion weeks in their earlier years. He would always be in the news, whether it was a fight with a fellow designer or then his controversial after-after parties. They were often late-night affairs brimming over with young male models aching to make it big in the glamour world. Bal was soon dubbed the bad boy of Indian fashion, a moniker I suspect he enjoyed. Bals ill health and his unserious business plans didnt allow him to reach the professional highs his contemporaries, such as Tarun Tahiliani, would scale.

After beating the grim reaper for the nth time, Bal was last months fashion week finale designer. He came on stage for his dancing bow once again, but he could barely stand, and had to be helped up by his models. No one minded, his clothes were spectacular and Bollywoods current It-girl Ananya Panday was his showstopper. The party always went on.

Bal will be remembered as a true fashion genius, an eccentric, aching heart that beats with immense passion for beauty and for life.
A pioneering pilot program launched by the UK's National Health Service (NHS) utilises a specialised iPhone device and accompanying app to streamline throat cancer diagnosis, potentially enabling hundreds of patients to receive clearance from suspected cancer more rapidly.

The innovative adapter providing a 32 mm lens and accompanying app can turn an iPhone into a portable diagnostic gadget. The new technology aids nurses to detect or rule out throat cancer in less than 24 hours.

The device can capture live endoscopy examinations of the throat in high definition. Easing the process, the tests could instantly be shared with specialists via a secure data cloud as well.

The live footage is then examined by the doctor, who can rapidly detect any traces of cancer.

"Detecting cancer early is key to providing treatment as soon as possible to help give patients the best chance of survival. For those needing tests to investigate suspected cancer, it can be an extremely worrying time...Being able to rule out the disease sooner can make a huge difference for people and their families," said Dr Cally Palmer, NHS England National Cancer Director.

"Through pioneering new innovations like this iPhone device, which could be used in any setting, we hope we'll be able to detect many more cancers sooner and in ways that are more convenient and less invasive for patients," she said.

An initial trial was conducted on low-risk patients at North Midlands University Hospitals NHS Trust in England, and it was found that no cancers were missed using this device. Also, the patients received their results within 23 hours of the tests.

According to NHS England, this "pioneering" gadget could be used in any NHS setting, helping hospitals treat cancer patients.

In future, it could be used in diagnostic centres, and in community settings making it easier for people.

"This new technology is a shining example of how innovation and research can tackle waiting lists, improve patient experience and speed up diagnosis," said UK Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth.

Over 1,800 patients were relieved as they found that they did not have cancer.
India has protested in the strongest possible terms the references made by a Canadian minister about Union Home Minister Amit Shah and said such "absurd and baseless" allegations will have serious consequences for bilateral ties between the two countries. India has also summoned a Canadian High Commission representative and the official was served a diplomatic note regarding this.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Some of our Consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian Government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested pic.twitter.com/R6Gi90rJB9  ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024

Canada's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison, on Tuesday, alleged that Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation, and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada. He had also told Canadian Parliament members of the national security committee that he had confirmed Shah's name to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations. Morrison, however, did not say how Canada knew of Shah's alleged involvement.

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this revelation that high Canadian government officials deliberately leaked unfounded insinuations to international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the Indian government has long held about the current Canadian government's political agenda and behavioural pattern.

ALSO READ: Top Canadian official admits she leaked 'intel on India' to US newspaper to ensure 'their side of story was heard'

Jaiswal said such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties.

"It was conveyed in the (diplomatic) note that the government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison," Jaiswal said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said a year ago that Canada had credible evidence agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.

Dismissing the allegations as absurd, India consistently denied that Canada provided evidence.
An encounter erupted between militants and security forces in Khanyar in downtown Srinagar district on Saturday morning.

The encounter started after a joint team of police and security forces initiated a cordon-and-search operation in the area, following a tip-off. As they advanced towards the suspected location, militants opened fire from their hideout, triggering the exchange.

Intermittent firing was going on till the filing of this report. No casualties have been reported so far.

VIDEO | Jammu and Kashmir: Visuals from Srinagar's Khanyar area where an encounter between security forces and terrorists broke out earlier today.



The Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Khanyar area of the city on Saturday morning following inputs pic.twitter.com/xSkY7zryUh  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 2, 2024

Search operation in Bandipora district

A search operation was launched on Saturday after the Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps spotted "suspicious movement" in Panar in north Kashmir's Bandipora.

"On being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire and escaped into the jungle," the Army said.
It's been a good week for Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) shareholders, because the company has just released its latest first-quarter results, and the shares gained 2.1% to US$635. The result was positive overall - although revenues of US$4.9b were in line with what the analysts predicted, Parker-Hannifin surprised by delivering a statutory profit of US$5.34 per share, modestly greater than expected. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. We thought readers would find it interesting to see the analysts latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year.

See our latest analysis for Parker-Hannifin

NYSE:PH Earnings and Revenue Growth November 2nd 2024

After the latest results, the 17 analysts covering Parker-Hannifin are now predicting revenues of US$20.4b in 2025. If met, this would reflect a credible 2.2% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to accumulate 2.7% to US$23.09. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of US$20.6b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$23.09 in 2025. The consensus analysts don't seem to have seen anything in these results that would have changed their view on the business, given there's been no major change to their estimates.

The analysts reconfirmed their price target of US$689, showing that the business is executing well and in line with expectations. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. The most optimistic Parker-Hannifin analyst has a price target of US$802 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$458. These price targets show that analysts do have some differing views on the business, but the estimates do not vary enough to suggest to us that some are betting on wild success or utter failure.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. We would highlight that Parker-Hannifin's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 2.9% annualised growth rate until the end of 2025 being well below the historical 9.3% p.a. growth over the last five years. Compare this to the 177 other companies in this industry with analyst coverage, which are forecast to grow their revenue at 3.0% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it looks like Parker-Hannifin is forecast to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry.
As campaign for the assembly elections gathered steam in Jharkhand, BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday warned that the states Hindu population will come down to 50 per cent in the next 20 years if infiltration is not stopped.

Accusing the JMM-led government of patronising infiltrators, the Assam chief minister, who is also BJPs Jharkhand election in-charge, urged Hindus to remain united to save the 'Santan Dharma'.

"This election is for driving out infiltrators from Jharkhand and saving Hindus. It is time to remain united to save Sanatan. If infiltration is not checked, the Hindu population in Jharkhand will decline to 50 per cent in the next 20 years," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Sarma was addressing a partys election rally at Panki in Palamu.

While claiming that the Hindu population was declining in several areas of the state, Sarma urged people to oust the JMM-led coalition from power. Infiltrators and a particular community are their vote bank," he added.

Sarma cited the demography of Santhal Pargana region to drive home his arguments. The region which comprises six districtsSahibganj, Godda, Pakur, Dumka, Deoghar and Jamtarahad a total population of 23.22 lakh in 1951, he said.

"Of the 23.22 lakh population of Santhal Paragana in 1951, 21 lakh were Hindus and Adivasis and 9 per cent were Muslim. Now the Hindu and Adivasi population has declined to 63 per cent and the Muslim population has increased to 37 per cent," he argued.

Jharkhand goes to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20. The votes will be counted on November 23.
During the 2021 election campaign when he brandished a single brick in his hand calling out the unfulfilled promise of the union government to set up an AIIMS hospital in Madurai, the sarcasm was not lost on anyone and it emerged as an election issue. Three years later, as Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin still has the single red brick with him, which he says will to return to the union government once it allows the required funds for the construction of the AIIMS in Madurai.

Udhayanidhi was speaking Manorama Hortus, the three-day art and literature festival organised by the Malayala Manorama group at Kozhikode in Kerala. The young leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) during his 15 minute speech took the audience through the struggles and efforts taken by the deeply entrenched Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu and how the struggles placed Tamil at the core of the state's identity and turned the people progressive.

READ: Udhayanidhi Stalins elevation as deputy CM reflects sense of continuity in DMK

Touching upon Periyar and his Dravidian ideologies, former chief ministers C.N. Annadurai and M.Karunanidhi and their contributions to the linguistic ideals of the state, Udhayanidhi said Tamil literature was used to propagate rationalism and promote scientific temper.

"Leaders like Anna and Kalaignar popularized Tamil literature that was rooted in human life and popular culture - like Thirukkural, Silappathikaram, Purananuru, and Tholkappiyam among the people."

Stating that the self-respect movement was the front runner of the Dravidian movement which rose to resist the cultural and linguistic domination, he said that Tamil was just not the medium of communication in the 1920s and 1960s but was the voice of a community seeking recognition, dignity, and independence from Hindi imposition.

"The push to make Hindi the official language during the 1930s and later in the 1960s stimulated the Dravidian movement, as it was perceived as an

existential threat to Tamil culture and linguistic identity," he pointed out.

The deputy chief minister said the language struggle that erupted in the 1930s and the 1960s is still on as the Union government continued with attempts at Hindi imposition.

"Even last month, Doordarshan's Tamil Nadu division organised a Hindi month celebration. Our Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi also participated in it. DMK's student wing staged a protest in front of the DD office in Chennai. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin came down heavily on the Governor because he has a history of evading Dravidian ideologies," Udhayanidhi said.

Earlier, welcoming the deputy chief minister to the Hortus festival, Malayala Manorama executive editor Jayant Mammen Mathew asked Udhayanidhi if he still has the Madurai AIIMS brick with him or if he had given it for constructing the hospital premises.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the nationwide entrance exam for medical colleges introduced by the Union government, is just like how Sanskrit was used in the 1920s to prevent students from studying medicines, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said.

"Just like NEET today prevents students from rural, backward, and marginalized backgrounds, Sanskrit was once used as a barrier to keep many from studying medicine. It was the Justice Party that eventually removed this mandatory Sanskrit requirement for medical admissions," Udhayanidhi said while speaking at Manorama Hortus, the three- day art and literary festival, organised by the Malayala Manorama at Kozhikode in Kerala.

The DMK youth wing leader said that a century ago if someone wanted to become a doctor, they had to pass the entrance exam in Sanskrit. "Is there any connection between medical exams and Sanskrit? The answer is a big no, " he said.

In the 1920s, those who spoke Sanskrit were held in high regard. A Sanskrit professor in Madras University had a monthly salary of Rs 200 while a Tamil professor got only Rs 70. You will know which community would have benefited from Sanskrit, he further said.

Addressing a huge literary crowd from across the globe at Kozhikode, the deputy chief minister in his 15-minute speech informed the audience on how literature and linguistic ethos of Dravidian politics influenced the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to be progressive and keep the fascist forces at bay.

"Tamil Nadu and Kerala have successfully kept fascist and communal forces at bay. Why do the people of the two states stand so strongly against fascism? That is because of the progressive politics firmly established here," Udhayanidhi said.

READ - Madurai AIIMS: That single brick is still with me, says Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin

Udhayanidhi spoke on the struggles and efforts taken by the Dravidian movement to place Tamil at the core of the state's identity and how language made the people progressive. Stating that the language struggle which erupted in the 1930s and later in the1960s is still alive because of the union government's attempts to impose Hindi, he said the Dravidian movement recognized the potential of literature to serve as both a cultural force and a vehicle for social change.

"Certainly, Periyars writings, manifestos and editorials condemned caste-based oppression, male dominant practices, and rigid social structures. He voiced self respect for all. Our leaders harnessed literature as a tool to connect with the masses," he said, referring to how former chief ministers C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi's speeches filled with literary references, poetry and pun made the political philosophy of the Dravidian movement easily understandable to the masses.

Mentioning about the Dravidian movements core values of equality, rationalism, and anti-religious belief, he said the impact of the literary and linguistic ethos on society in this era reflects in Tamil Nadus language policies, cultural festivals and educational curriculum that preserve the unique Tamil identity.

Udhayanidhi said the pride in Tamil language and literature fuels policies and discussions about state autonomy and cultural excellence even at this age.

Explaining why Tamil Nadu's stand of linguistic insubordination cannot be termed as "divisive", he said the nationalists of that era thought the state's opposition to Hindi-imposition would eventually lead to national disunity. "However, after many decades, history has proved otherwise that the so-called nationalists who still want to impose Hindi on all the non-Hindi speaking states are indeed divisive and a threat to national unity," the DMK leader said.

He said he was proud that the struggles carried out by the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu has in fact, saved most of the Indian state languages from falling prey to Hindi imposition. Stating that the self respect movement was the front runner of the Dravidian movement, he said language was not just a means to communicate but as a voice of a community seeking recognition, dignity and independence from the Hindi imposition.

The Dravidian movement emphasised on the 'Pure Tamil Movement' which aimed to eliminate Sanskrit influences from Tamil by consciously developing a vocabulary that avoided Sanskrit tropes, he said.

Before the 1950s, Tamil cinema was heavily Sanskritised and released with anti-scientific themes, he said. "The downtrodden people hardly understood anything." Today, the Tamil film industry is doing business in billions. Similarly, we have a thriving industry in Kerala. Telugu and Kannada film industries are also performing very well, Udhayanidhi pointed out. "But think for a moment, has any other language in north India spawned a vibrant industry like in south India? The answer is a big no. Almost all languages spoken in north Indian states have given away to Hindi. As a result, they have Hindi films," said Udhayanidhi meaning that language keeps the art and culture alive.

The Dravidian movement changed the situation. After the 1950s, cinema emerged as a dominant medium for political messaging, with socially conscious narratives and dialogues resonating with the masses, he said. "Dialogue writing became an art form through which political ideas were seamlessly woven into the narratives, achieving unprecedented reach in both urban and rural audiences," he said.

C.N. Annadurai's Velaikari (Servant Maid) of 1949 and M. Karunanidhi's Parasakthi challenged the caste hierarchies. "The dialogues made Dravidian ideology relatable, impactful, paving the way for political aspirations through the emotional power of cinema."

The Dravidian movement worked on rationalising Tamil Language, too. "Our leader Periyar questioned gender bias in the Tamil language such as 'vithavai' which means a widow, and 'vibachari' which means a prostitute. Periyar asked what equivalent words we have to refer to a man who loses his wife and a man who visits a prostitute." Periyar raised these issues when feminism did not even catch the imagination of the Western world, the deputy chief minister said.

Udhayanidhi's speech on the Dravidian movement and why the south Indian states are rooted in language politics had triggered yet another debate. As a leader ideologically inclined to the Dravidian culture and politics, Udhayanidhi had time and again emphasised on social justice and self respect and that he would never slip away from the path laid by the self-respect and Dravidian movement.

At Manorama Hortus, too, he made it a point to speak his mind and how Tamil language for him, like his predecessors, is a political weapon.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, on Saturday, called for a probe into the rise in encounters in Jammu and Kashmir to determine if any agency is working to destabilise the Omar Abdullah-led government in the Union territory.

He questioned the increase in encounters since the government was formed in Jammu and Kashmir. "I question why we didnt see a surge in gunfights before the government was formed, Abdullah told reporters at his residence in Srinagar. There should be an independent probe to find out who is behind this.

Referring to militants engaged in an encounter in Khanyar, Srinagar, he suggested they should be arrested rather than killed. They should be detained to investigate whether any agency has been tasked with destabilising Omar Abdullah's government, he said.

ALSO READ: J&K: Two militants killed in Anantnag; encounter on in Srinagar

He said tourism is flourishing and people are doing their usual business. Terrorism was at its lowest ebb, which is why I am calling for a probe, he said.

Since the government took office on October 16, there has been a noticeable rise in attacks by militants on security forces and non-local workers in Kashmir.

On Friday evening, two non-local labourers working on the Jal Jeevan Project in the Mazhama area of central Kashmirs Budgam district were shot and injured by suspected militants.

The labourers were working near the Mazhama graveyard along Nallah Sukhnag when they were attacked. One sustained a bullet wound on his arm, while the other on his leg; both are in stable condition and out of danger.

READ MORE: BMP-2 combat vehicles, NSG commandos: Inside details of the 20-hour operation in Akhnoor

This incident marks the third major attack in recent weeks. On October 23 in Gagangeer of Ganderbal, a local doctor and six labourers were killed in a targeted assault.

This was followed by an attack on an army vehicle in Gulmarg in Baramulla, in which two army porters and three soldiers lost their lives.
With Israel targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon and intensifying its attack in Gaza against Hamas, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Tel Aviv and the United States with a "crushing response".

Khamenei threatens to attack the United States. This little man thinks his dinky dictatorship can threaten the greatest military in the world 



FAFO Ali, FAFO.



pic.twitter.com/gaY7qclQAt  Emily Schrader -     (@emilykschrader) November 2, 2024

Though the supreme leader did not give the details of the time or date of the attack, Khamenei said, "The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States...will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran...and to the resistance front."

ALSO READ | Khamenei hints Iran's cautious approach, says Israels attack should neither be exaggerated nor downplayed

Khamenei's response comes as Iranian officials are increasingly threatening to launch yet another strike against Israel after its October 26 attack that targeted its military bases and killed at least five people.

With Israels attack against Irans allies increasing, Khamenei has changed his earlier tone.

A leader of the Islamic world even if you dont accept it.



Video speaks about the grace, humility and popularity.



The moment when Imam Khamenei entered the IK Hussainiyah university to meet students on Nov. 2, 2024



Palestinian keffiyeh around the neck. pic.twitter.com/AE1Fw2qpdA  Dr Tariq Tramboo (@tariqtramboo) November 2, 2024

ALSO READ | What is 'Iron Beam', Israel's new anti-missile defence system?

Earlier, Khamenei, on a cautious note, asked the Iranian military to "prepare for war" after assessing the severity of Israel's attacks.

He had said that Iran would not retaliate if Israel limited its attacks to a few military bases or warehouses storing missiles and drones. While, he maintained a stand that if Israel strikes its oil and energy infrastructure or nuclear facilities or if it assassinates senior officials, it will retaliate.

He had also said that Israel's attack should not be exaggerated nor downplayed.

ALSO READ | Who will succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Iran Supreme Leader is 'seriously ill': Report

Any further escalation from either side could deepen the Middle East tensions.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on Friday killed at least 52 people in Lebanon.

The Axis of Resistance--Iran's allies have been severely hurt by the ongoing Israeli attacks. Experts opine that the groups want Iran to 'act' more and back them militarily.

However, the newly imposed sanctions have weakened Iran's economy and the country is struggling to recover.

Gen Mohammad Ali Naini, a spokesperson for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has said that the country's response "will be wise, powerful and beyond the enemy's comprehension".
America's policy toward India will remain virtually the same regardless of who wins the US presidential election on Tuesday, but the two candidates will follow different styles in dealing with New Delhi. Former president Donald Trump will be rough and tumble, and Vice President Kamala Harris will be kinder and gentler.

Trump, the Republican nominee, will pursue a direct and no-nonsense, individualistic approach. Harris, the Democratic candidate, will continue President Joe Biden's multilateralism in which India will play a pivotal role. Overall, the businessman instincts will guide the former president, while a politician's mindset will dictate the vice president.

From Washington's perspective, India-US relations boil down to two main elements: trade and defense. Both Trump and Harris will follow the current US policy, which seeks to keep India on America's side to contain China and extract as much trade concession as possible from New Delhi.

On defense, both Trump and Harris will chant the America uber alles mantra. Harris favors a long-term strategy involving India against China. How Trump will act is anybody's guesshis blitzkrieg decision-making may tempt him to go solo and cut a deal even with a not-so-friendly party if it serves America's interest.

With India, Trump will seek quick and lofty deals to erase what he perceives to be unfair trade practices. He has been grumpy about them, even after New Delhi's concessions in recent years. Harris favors a robust, stable trade regime to ensure both nations benefit from their cooperation in trade and investment.

'India counterbalance to China'

Just before Trump left office, the Trump administration made public a secret document, 'Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific', which showed the former president attached importance to India because a strong India, in cooperation with like-minded countries, would act as a counterbalance to China.

Trump will, however, go easy on security for economic benefits. He sees no danger to America's global leadership because its mighty war machine rules the waves. Harris values India's strategic partnership more than trade. Trump stresses pragmatism, and Harris follows ideology.

One can have a glimpse into their thinking from their views on the Ukraine-Russia war. Trump wants Ukraine to start talks with Russia based on current front lines. He wants Kiev to delay its plan to join NATO for at least 10 years, and he will ease sanctions on Russia if Moscow guarantees Ukraine's security.

In contrast, Harris pushes Kiev to keep fighting until taking back its Russian-held land. She thinks Ukraine's neutrality and delay of NATO membership mean surrender to Russia. She opposes direct Washington-Moscow talks to end the war. In a nutshell, Harris appears more hawkish than Trump, and a Harris administration will see India's ties with China and Russia from this mindset.

India's closeness to Russia will be a thorny issue for Washington, more so under Harris than Trump. India's recent gesture toward Ukraine indicates its flexibility with its Cold War ally, but Washington's view that India solidly backs Russia has not changed. Biden wants Russian President Vladimir Putin gone, a view Harris shares. Trump is all right with Putin in the Kremlin.

Trump's policies on trade will clash with those of nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite Trump's ideological affinity with Modi, the former president will press on with his 'America First' policy on trade. However, both sides have exercised caution and shown willingness to work together, mainly because they have set their eyes on the prizeto tame China's global ambitions.

Trump's India trade war

Trump is flexible and loves to make deals, traits that suit Modi very well. Yet, Trump has signaled his trade policy with India will be harsh. He called India an abuser of import taxes in September. In 2020, he named India Tariff King, and vowed to retaliate, if re-elected.

In 2019, Trump ended Indias favorable trade status that had given Indian products duty-free access to the US market. He railed against Delhi, saying India had not given US goods equitable and reasonable access to its market.

Tariffs are the greatest thing ever invented, Trump said, describing himself as a Tariff Man.

Harris dismisses Trump's tariff threats as campaign rhetoric. His tariffs will cost a typical American family $4,000 a year.

On defense, Trump seems a bit dovish. When Delhi bought Russian SAM missiles in 2018, Washington threatened sanctions, but he ultimately avoided them, considering India's importance as a counterweight to China. He will also look more kindly to India's closeness to Russia because the former president, too, has a soft corner for Putin.

Harris differs from Trump on India-Russia coziness. After India refused to condemn Russia's war on Ukraine, the Biden administration revived Trump's sanction threat, prompting India to charge America as untrustworthy. Washington questioned India's reliability after Delhi backed Putin in the Ukraine war.

In April 2022, the Biden administration changed its tune, promising the two countries would continue their close consultations on Russia and never mentioned its previous threat to punish Delhi. Biden termed the US ties with India as one of the defining relationships of the 21st Century.

Early in 2023, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, led a bipartisan delegation of nine senators to New Delhi. Upon his return, he made it clear the United States should deepen our relationship with India if we want to out-compete the Chinese Communist Party in this century.

Expect to hear the same from Harris.

Indo-US defense spat

Even as India and America continued to deepen ties, a diplomatic spat brewed in 2021 after the US Navy destroyer, USS John Paul Jones, passed through India's economic zone without Delhi's consent. Washington cited freedom of navigation to justify its action.

US-India cooperation has progressed fast on several fronts, but it still faces obstacles. Even if the Ukraine-Russia fight ends, Washington will closely watch the recent India-China pact to ease border tensions.

America will monitor if India relaxes its anti-China posture. Of course, a lot depends on how this engagement blooms. Yet, there is fear in Washington that India might be less cozy with Uncle Sam if it gets closer to Beijing. The trust factor soured Indo-US relations, even when Britain ruled India.

During World War II, when many Indians expected Japan to occupy India, the United States sent a mission to gauge India's defense production capabilities at Delhi's request. India's news media blasted the mission.

Infuriated, the State Department demanded an explanation from G.S. Bajpai, India's agent-general in Washington (India had no ambassador then because it was not sovereign.) Bajpai blamed India's industrialists, who saw Yankee imperialism coming.

Today, India's industrialists will react based on the success or failure of India and China to restore normal ties. Even if the two Asian giants succeed in reviving their Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai kinship of the 1950s, Indians will prefer to be in both Beijing and Washington. They will remain suspicious of China for quite some time.

India-China amity will be all right with Trump, as long as he gets from Beijing what he loses in India. He will count his pennies to see if he comes out a winner in the aggregate. However, Trump's thinking is not Washington's thinking. Harris is more in line with Washington. Her ideology puts global hegemony over economic nationalism. She will seek to align Uncle Sam with India to ensure America continues to rule the waves.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
Hours after a barrage of rockets from Lebanon struck northern Israel killing seven people, the Israeli forces responded with a barrage of airstrikes on Lebanon and Gaza.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, the strikes across Lebanon's northeastern farming villages killed at least 52 people and left several injured.

In central Gaza, AP quoted hospital officials as saying that around 25 bodies have been recovered so far.

In Beirut suburb Dahiyeh, Israeli forces claimed they hit Hezbollah weapons manufacturing sites and command centres. The had warned residents of at least nine places in Dahiyeh to evacuate. There were no immediate reports of casualties yet.

1 month recap of limited, localized & targeted IDF operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon: pic.twitter.com/TIV0GPKFnW  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 1, 2024

ALSO READ: Gaza ceasefire remains elusive as Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates

Post the rocket strikes on Israel from Lebanon, the US was pushing for ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon to scale down tensions in the Middle East ahead of the US presidential elections.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the deadly strikes.

ALSO READ: Who is Naim Qassem? After Hassan Nasrallah deputy named Hezbollah chief, Israel says 'not for long'

Hezbollah has been launching strikes on Israel in solidarity with Hamas soon after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. On October 1 this year, Israeli forces launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006.

Everyone at 'imminent risk' of death, warns UN

Top United Nations officials warned that the situation in the north Gaza Strip is "apocalyptic".

In a statement signed by acting UN aid chief Joyce Msuya, heads of UNICEF and the World Food Programme, they said that the "entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence", in the backdrop of Israel's military strikes in the region.

ALSO READ: Is Iran set for a strong retaliation against Israel? Militarys cryptic tweets spark debate

Calling on Israel to cease its assault on Gaza and on the humanitarians trying to help", they urged all parties fighting in Gaza to protect civilians.

Israel's UN mission in New York did not comment on the statement.

UN agencies say that in Lebanon, Israel's ground invasion and bombardment has displaced 1.4 million people. According to Lebanese health ministry, more than 2,897 people have been killed and 13,150 injured since the war between Israel and Hezbollah began.
Amid intensifying Israels ground offensive in Lebanon, IDF has apprehended Hezbollah navy commander, Imad Fadel Amhaz in a raid conducted in Batroun, northern Lebanon.

Reportedly, the operation took place late at night on Friday, with the cooperation of German naval forces under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Abduction

Imad Fadel Amhaz, a civil shipping captain was abducted by Israeli SFs in Christian Batroun, Lebanon with help from the German UN contingent stationed there. Unclear why Imad was taken but claims put him as a top Hezbollah commander, but there is no proof for this. pic.twitter.com/5MdoCku1WN  PAOTZEB.O.STRATEGY (@PAOTZEPG) November 2, 2024

Citing an Israeli official, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said, "Israeli Navy SEALs captured last night Imad Amhaz- a senior member of Hezbollah's naval force in an operation in Northern Lebanon. Amhaz was detained in order to interrogate him and learn more about Hezbollah's naval operations."

ALSO READ | Amid attacks on allies, Iran's Khamenei changes tone, warns Israel, US of crushing response

Imad Fadel Amhaz is a senior Hezbollah leader who also serves in the Lebanese Navy.

The Israeli troops entered a beachside cabin and apprehended Amhaz, who was alone at the time, said reports.

Amhazs arrest would be a setback for Hezbollah amid the ongoing attacks. Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday warned Israel and the United States of crushing response amid attacks on its allies.

ALSO READ | Israel bombs Lebanon, Gaza; more than 70 dead; north Gaza 'apocalyptic', says UN

By capturing Amhaz, Israel hopes to learn Hezbollah's naval operations.

UNIFILs alleged role in the Israeli raid has raised several questions. However, UNIFIL denied any involvement in the alleged capture of a Hezbollah naval commander by Israeli troops.

"UNIFIL has no involvement in facilitating any kidnapping or any other violation of Lebanese sovereignty," a UN spokesperson was quoted by Saudi channel Asharq News.

The spokesperson also said, "The dissemination of misleading information and unfounded rumours is irresponsible and puts peacekeeping forces at risk."

Earlier it was reported that the navy commander was caught during an Israeli raid in northern Lebanon, which was carried out in coordination with the German Navy operating within the UNIFIL forces.

Meanwhile, sirens were sounded in northern Israel for over half an hour after a Hezbollah drone entered Israeli airspace from Lebanon. Sirens were sounded in regions including Nahariya and Haifa along the coast.
Amid concerns about North Korea joining Russia's war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged its allies to stop watching and take necessary steps before the troops reach the front.

Raising the prospect of a preemptive strike on camps where the North Korean troops are trained, Ukraine's president said that Kyiv knows their location.

Zelenskyy also expressed his helplessness as he cannot strike deep into Russia without permission from allies to use Western-made long-range weapons.

In a post on Telegram, Zelenskyy said, "America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians as well."

Around 8,000 North Koreans equipped with Russian gear and weapons had been transported to areas near Ukraine, said the Biden administration.

Reportedly, North Korean troops were being trained at five locations in Russia's Far East.

Meanwhile, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart in Moscow on Friday.

Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly sought permission from the Western allies to use their weapons to strike arms depots, airfields and military bases far from the border to motivate Russia to seek peace.

The US has argued that missiles are limited in number and Ukraine is already using its own long-range drones to hit targets farther into Russia.

However, Russia has also consistently signalled that it would view any such strikes as a major escalation. In September, President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would be at war with the US and NATO states if they approve them.
It's easy to match the overall market return by buying an index fund. While individual stocks can be big winners, plenty more fail to generate satisfactory returns. That downside risk was realized by GP Industries Limited (SGX:G20) shareholders over the last year, as the share price declined 23%. That falls noticeably short of the market return of around 18%. However, the longer term returns haven't been so bad, with the stock down 16% in the last three years.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

View our latest analysis for GP Industries

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During the last year GP Industries saw its earnings per share drop below zero. Some investors no doubt dumped the stock as a result. However, there may be an opportunity for investors if the company can recover.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

SGX:G20 Earnings Per Share Growth November 2nd 2024

This free interactive report on GP Industries' earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, GP Industries' TSR for the last 1 year was -20%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

Investors in GP Industries had a tough year, with a total loss of 20% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 18%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 0.3% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for GP Industries that you should be aware of before investing here.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

Broken promises: Cauta Capital's owner William Abundes

Ms Y.G. writes: We invested savings into Cauta Capital loan bonds.

We have been in regular contact with the company's owner, William Abundes, for a couple of years, since interest payments stopped.

He promised dates for repayment of the bonds but these have passed without the return of our money.

Tony Hetherington replies: Cauta Capital made lots of promises. It would invest your money in property projects only where the developers had pledged their own assets as a safeguard.

It would put your money into a property scheme only if the scheme's assets were far greater than the amount injected by Cauta.

And it would give an independent accountant a legal charge over more than 28 million of its own assets as a safety net. Yet every one of these promises was broken.

When complaints started to arrive from investors, who told me that Cauta had failed to pay interest that was due and then failed to repay loan bonds when they matured, I contacted the company's boss, William Abundes.

He is a 70-year-old American who lives in Luxembourg, and he is a major figure in campaigning for Donald Trump among US voters who live in Europe.

I reported last April that he told me his company had made unsuccessful investments in property, so had used the remaining money to buy uncut emeralds  something never mentioned when he was offering his loan bonds with the sales pitch that funds would be invested in safe property developments.

He described this as 'a strategic decision made in response to unexpected losses the company incurred'. And when I pressed him to explain what allowed him to make such a dramatic shift in how your money was used, he pointed me towards a vague section of the investment terms allowing for 'secured joint ventures'.

You and every other investor may have taken this to refer to property deals secured against land and buildings. Clearly though, Abundes saw this as permitting investment in virtually anything he liked.

Cauta Capital has twice come close to being compulsorily struck off for failing to file accounts with Companies House.

Its 2023 accounts  filed late, in May this year  were nothing more than an absurd cut-and-paste copy of its 2022 figures.

They valued the company's assets at 19.4 million, but failed to include interest owed to investors.

Worse has followed. In July, Cauta Capital fell into administration. The administrators have moved with impressive speed to investigate what went wrong.

They found that Cauta first invested in an apartment development on the site of Copenhagen's historic Tuborg Brewery.

The developer went bankrupt in 2019. Abundes then backed a second Danish development, but this also collapsed.

In 2020 Cauta put your money into uncut emeralds. The accountant who was appointed to safeguard investors' interests has told me that he was not even informed of this.

And late last year  again without any announcement  Cauta swapped its emeralds for an investment in a Luxembourg fund that will not mature until at least next August.

There is major uncertainty around this, but the administrators say the investment had a 'nominal value' of around $3 million (about 2.3 million).

This contrasts sharply with Cauta's most recent accounts showing it to be worth 19 million. The uncertainty is not helped by difficulties the administrators have faced in obtaining company records.

Apparently Cauta did not even operate its own bank account.

The bottom line is that bondholders are owed more than 11 million plus interest of around 1.5 million.

It is impossible to predict the Luxembourg fund's value when it matures, but administrators say the likely outcome is that Cauta Capital will have to be put into liquidation, with a possible return to unsecured creditors of just over 12p in the 1.

This whole affair has reinforced the lack of investor protection that surrounds loan bonds. They are just IOUs, but they are often marketed like shares with shaky claims that they are guaranteed or secured.

The last government did nothing to change this, and I do not hold out hope for the current bunch.

All too often in this country, investors are on their own. Investor protection is the abandoned child of successive ministers and regulators.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
The junior market breathed a sigh of relief this week after Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that an inheritance tax (IHT) exemption on AIM stocks is here to stay.

Well partially anyway. Reeves slashed the IHT exemption, which is currently worth 40 per cent, down to 20 per cent.

There were fears leading up to her debut Budget that the exemption would be removed entirely, so the softer touch taken by the Chancellor was a sweet enough pill for the market to swallow.

The AIM All-Share index surged from 718 to 744 immediately following the Wednesday Budget announcement and closed the week 2 per cent higher.

Beneficiary: Analysts highlighted that the government's commitment to social housing development aligns with Galliford Try's portfolio of public and regulated-sector projects

According to analysts at brokerage Panmure Liberum, Galliford Try Holdings plc is a likely beneficiary of Reeves' Big-State Budget, which included a substantial 24.6billion boost in capital investment.

Analysts highlighted that the government's commitment to social housing development aligns with Galliford Try's portfolio of public and regulated-sector projects.

The government also earmarked 6.6billion for education investment for 2026, with 1.4billion set aside for rebuilding over 500 schools, which Panmure Liberum also expects Galliford Try to benefit from.

Gaillford Try's shares closed the week 6 per cent higher at 390p per share.

For green fertiliser producer Atome plc, it was far from the worst Budget for the junior market.

Olivier Mussat, chief executive of Atome, stated: 'Even with the reduction to inheritance tax exemption, AIM will still offer a unique way for investors to support homegrown, early-stage UK companies such as Atome - the only UK-listed green fertiliser producer.

'The recent speculation on tax changes has impacted share prices but now the market has certainty, I expect we will soon see a recovery.'

North Sea windfall tax hikes announced in the Budget did nought to dissuade investors in North Sea oil exploration company Jersey Oil and Gas plc, whose shares rolled up 38 per cent this week.

Numerous other energy companies made handsome gains too, including United Oil & Gas plc, which added 33 per cent, and Orcadian Energy plc, which added 30 per cent.

In the alternatives space, hydrogen storage investor EnergyPathways plc rallied more than 20 per cent, reflecting Reeves' announcement that the UK's clean energy sector will benefit from 3.9billion of funding in 202526.

This briefly spurred shares in green hydrogen electrochemical specialist Ceres Power Holdings plc into action too. Ceres immediately bounced 8 per cent higher following the announcement, although a sharp retracement followed suit.

Not all energy companies had decent week though.

Tlou Energy Ltd shares fell 45 per cent following a quarterly activities report. Its cash position of A$944,000 (480,000) likely spooked investors.

Tlou's mentioned that its largest shareholder is willing to provide a loan facility to the Company up to A$5million to support its gas-production operations.

Mosman Oil & Gas, which published its full-year results this week, fell 23 per cent. Chief executive Andy Carroll hailed a 'significant year' for Mosman as it aims to start drilling at its helium projects before the end of 2024.

Other energy fallers included Empyrean Energy plc, which fell 17 per cent and Europa Oil & Gas, which was off 12 per cent.

AIM-listed translation and localisation services provider RWS Holdings tumbled 15 per cent on Tuesday as it cautioned sales would be flat in the current twelve months marking two years of static revenues.

RWS managed to stage a recovery later in the week, but shares failed to escape the red zone come Friday.

In the tech space, shares in semiconductor wafer specialist IQE plc slumped 20 per cent after announcing that chief executive Americo Lemos had left the company with immediate effect.

IQE has been trading lower in recent weeks following a warning that trading performance will be worse than expected this year.

Touchstar plc also warned on profits. The mobile data solutions provider's shares dropped 12 per cent after the company announced that its 2024 revenue is likely to fall below previous forecasts due to delayed orders and slower conversion times.

Finally, the AIM delisting of the week was brought to you by Eckoh plc. The board agreed to a takeover by private equity suitor Bridgepoint for a total value of 169.3million.

The AIM-listed payment solutions provider, which has been looking for a deal since last year, has been mulling the offer since August.

Shares surged 24 per cent following the announcement.
Charlie Fields family has run CPJ Field and Co, the countrys oldest independent funeral director, for over 300 years, but now faces a vast bill - Christopher Pledger for The Telegraph

The Budgets inheritance tax raid risks the closure of decades-old family firms, businesses have warned.

Changes to the tax  announced by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, last week  have rocked the farming community following a scrapping of relief that will mean families inheriting family farms must pay tax on land worth more than 1 million.

Ms Reeves also slashed another form of tax relief crucial to family businesses. Business relief  introduced by a Labour government almost 50 years ago  allows company shareholders to leave shares in a business to loved ones without inheritance tax being paid on them.

But in a sweeping change that takes effect in April 2026, full business relief will only apply to the first 1 million of a businesss shares upon a shareholders death, with everything above this subject to tax of 20 per cent.

According to the Family Business Research Foundation, business relief is crucial for family businesses, which form around 86 per cent of the private sector.

It allows for smooth succession from one generation to the next without the need to pull large sums of money from the coffers or sell key business assets to cover an eye-watering tax bill.

The changes will force medium-sized and large family businesses in the UK to plan for an enormous and unexpected tax bill in the event of their owners deaths.

Charlie Fields family has run CPJ Field and Co, the countrys oldest independent funeral director, for over 300 years, but now faces a vast bill.

He said: We could be facing a 700,000 tax bill [when his father dies]. How are we going to find that capital? There have been challenges before, such as Covid, but no government policy has ever had an impact as this will on us.

This feels seismic. Its a cumulative effect of headwinds that could prove too much for the average medium-sized family business to withstand.

Mr Field, who has managed his family business since 2008, added: Selling the business is not something that we want to do  there is an enormous amount of responsibility that comes with being a 10th-generation business owner.

But its starting to look like succession to another generation is an unnecessarily expensive luxury compared to just realising the value of a business. This policy is unintentionally favouring short-termism rather than a long-term patient capital approach that is in our national interest.

Stuart Paver runs Pavers, a shoe shop chain with 190 stores that employs over 2,000 staff. Seven years ago, he inherited the business from his mother, who founded it in 1971.
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. In light of that, when we looked at Celebrus Technologies (LON:CLBS) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Celebrus Technologies is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.16 = UK5.0m  (UK59m - UK28m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

Thus, Celebrus Technologies has an ROCE of 16%. That's a relatively normal return on capital, and it's around the 17% generated by the IT industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Celebrus Technologies

AIM:CLBS Return on Capital Employed November 2nd 2024

In the above chart we have measured Celebrus Technologies' prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free analyst report for Celebrus Technologies .

What Can We Tell From Celebrus Technologies' ROCE Trend?

In terms of Celebrus Technologies' historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 25% over the last five years. Although, given both revenue and the amount of assets employed in the business have increased, it could suggest the company is investing in growth, and the extra capital has led to a short-term reduction in ROCE. If these investments prove successful, this can bode very well for long term stock performance.

On a side note, Celebrus Technologies' current liabilities have increased over the last five years to 47% of total assets, effectively distorting the ROCE to some degree. If current liabilities hadn't increased as much as they did, the ROCE could actually be even lower. What this means is that in reality, a rather large portion of the business is being funded by the likes of the company's suppliers or short-term creditors, which can bring some risks of its own.

In Conclusion...

While returns have fallen for Celebrus Technologies in recent times, we're encouraged to see that sales are growing and that the business is reinvesting in its operations. In light of this, the stock has only gained 31% over the last five years. Therefore we'd recommend looking further into this stock to confirm if it has the makings of a good investment.
Tragedy in an otherwise peaceful Kansas suburb dominates local headlines.

So far police have shared info regarding gunfire and drugs involved in the fatalities following a standoff that lasted hours and ended in the early morning.

Suspect is 53 years-old and victims were related to him according to police.



Here are the basics in a story that seems to have rocked the community . . .



"As police cleared the home, they discovered the bodies of an adult male and an adult female. The victims appeared to have been shot.



"The suspect was transported to an area hospital with a suspected overdose."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Lenexa man charged in connection to double-homicide following standoff One man is in custody after police found two dead bodies inside his home following a two-hour standoff Friday night in Lenexa, Kansas.

Suspect identified, charged in connection to death of 2 inside Lenexa home A suspect has been identified and charged in connection to the death of two people inside a Lenexa home Friday night.

Suspect is being held on a $2,000,000 bond. Negotiators continue to attempt to resolve a disturbance with an armed individual in a Lenexa neighborhood as peacefully as possible.

Charges filed against Lenexa man after two people found dead in standoff Police discovered two bodies after a suspect may have overdosed during a standoff.

Developing . . .
At this point, local election news is kind of a bad joke and so, very much like any march toward the exit. It's not worth sweating it.

Accordingly, we share a few of the standout news items that only serve to provide context and savor the last moments before the big vote drops.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

50K Kansas City ballots cast in advance of Election Day More than 50,000 ballots have already been cast in Kansas City as advance voting sites prepare to close ahead of Election Day.

Voters take advantage of last weekend of early voting in Kansas, Missouri With just days left before Election Day, voters across Kansas and Missouri flocked to polling sites for the final weekend of early voting.

Kansas Republicans welcome surge in advance voting after adopting Democratic Party tactic * Kansas Reflector Kansas Republican Party officials revel in their success convincing GOP voters to take part in advance voting in a bid to broaden turnout.

UG commission backs groups pushing for Spanish language voting materials in Wyandotte County The WyCo/KCK UG passed a resolution asking the county's Election Commissioner and Secretary of State to make Spanish-language election materials available to voters starting with elections in 2025.

Tiny focus group of Kansas voters raises big questions in advance of Tuesday's election A thoughtful trio of Kansas voters discussed how our political system is falling short in this election, and who owns what part of the mess.

Stressed about the election like everyone else, KC? Take break, eat, pray, cuddle KC mental health experts say people feeling anxious about what will happen on Election Day need a healthy dose of self-care right now.

The ballot is mailed but you die before Election Day. Now what? Some states allow it, some states ban it. But 26 states have no laws or rulings on what happens when a voter casts an absentee or early ballot, but dies before Election Day.

Developing . . .


The VW logo on the wheel of a Golf. Boris Roessler/dpa

Anniversary bonus payments to long-time Volkswagen employees are among the many pay perks company bosses want to slash as part of deep cuts at the German automaker, a VW spokeswoman confirmed to dpa on Saturday.

VW has threatened to close plants in Germany, while labour leaders have warned of mass layoffs of tens of thousands of workers in the country as the automaker contends with falling profits and stiff competition.

VW executives and trade union leaders are currently negotiating a collective bargaining deal for the company's workers in Germany. According to the union, VW has demanded 10% across-the-board wage cuts in the talks.

Management contends that the car manufacturer's competitiveness is at risk due to high costs at its German plants.

According to the VW Works Council, thousands of VW employees are set to soon receive anniversary bonuses, which management now wants to cut.

Under the current collective agreement, workers receive one-off bonuses of 1.45 times their monthly salary after 25 years of service and 2.90 times the monthly salary for 35 years of service.

Sources close to the works council said that nearly 6,000 employees at VW were approaching the relevant anniversaries as of March 2024. Some of them have already reached the mark and received the payments.

VW employs around 120,000 people in Germany, around half of whom work in the car brand's headquarters and main plants in Wolfsburg.

The VW brand operates a total of 10 plants across Germany.
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Gaza war major issue for American Muslims in 2024 U.S. Election: Final Survey

The final survey of Muslim voters conducted less than a week before the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections said Gaza war remains major issue influencing American Muslims when they go to vote Tuesday November 05

Sunday November 3, 2024 1:13 AM , ummid.com News Network

[AI image for representation]

Washington: The final survey of Muslim voters conducted less than a week before the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections said Gaza war remains major issue influencing American Muslims when they go to vote Tuesday November 05.

The poll confirms that opposition to U.S. support for the war on Gaza continues to play a major role in influencing Muslim voter preferences, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Saturday.

While releasing the results of its latest and final poll of Muslim voter preferences in the 2024 presidential election, CAIR also urged Muslims to vote in a large number irrespective of their choice.

Our message for American Muslims is simple: regardless of who you plan to support, it is essential that you turn out to vote. Do not sit on the sidelines. Make your voices heard and show the strength of our community in states across our nation, CAIR said.

CAIR conducted the final survey from October 30 to 31, 2024 using a national voter file participated by 1,449 verified Muslim voters.

The most interesting outcome of the latest and final survey of the American Muslims show 42% now favor Green Party nominee Jill Stein for President while 41% favor Vice President Kamala Harris whereas only 9.8% think they should vote for Republican Party candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The result of CAIR Poll were conducted four days after Trump during his Michigan rally invited some Muslim community leaders and clerics on stage.

Addressing the rally, some American Muslim community leaders endorsed Trump and asked Muslims to vote for him as he has promised peace and end war.

The result of the CAIR poll result is any indication, this endorsement has failed to impress the American Muslims.

Meanwhile, a coalition of European Greens have urged Green Party candidate Jill Stein to pull out of next weeks election and endorse Kamala Harris to stop Donald Trump from becoming president.

As per the latest survey of 2024 US President Election, Harris and Trump have been tied in a neck and neck battle with the former having a slight edge - 49%-48%, over the latter, according to a new HarrisX/Forbes poll released Thursday.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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"Despite repeated condemnation...": Israel faces ire of Journalists from around the world

Hundreds of journalists from around the world have asked Israel to stop killing their fellow Palestinian colleagues and those in Lebanon, immediately and without further delay

Saturday November 2, 2024 8:01 PM , ummid.com News Network

Hundreds of journalists from around the world have asked Israel to stop killing their fellow Palestinian colleagues and those in Lebanon, immediately and without further delay.

Despite repeated condemnation by internationally-recognized human rights and media organizations, Israel has continued to kill and maim Palestinian journalists in Gaza. It has also escalated attacks against journalists in Lebanon, the Journalists from around the world wrote in an online petition .

The petition so far signed by 789 Journalists, and counting, said:

The targeting of journalists is an attack on press freedom and a violation of international law. This must stop.

The petition further said that Palestinian journalists are "eyes and ears" of the world "documenting Israel's deliberate killing of civilians" despite facing immense pressure and threats to their own life.

Palestinian journalists in Gaza have served as the worlds eyes and ears, documenting Israeli attacks such as the deliberate killing of civilians carrying white flags and torture of Palestinians in detention. These journalists have received death threats, been maimed, or killed by Israeli forces  even while not on assignment. Their families have also been killed by Israeli forces.

Journalists have continued reporting despite surveillance by Israel, grieving the loss of their families, friends and homes, and surviving Israels severe restrictions on food that have led to famine across the Gaza Strip, according to the United Nation, the petition said.

Notably, 63 journalists were killed in 20 years of American war in Vietnam and 67 journalists in 7 years of World War II. On the other hand, the government media office in Gaza on October 28, 2024 published a list of 182 Palestinian Journalists killed by the Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza. That's a rate of one journalist being killed every other day for a year.

The government media office in Gaza has published a list of names of 182 Palestinian journalists killed by the Israeli military in Gaza. That's a rate of one journalist being killed every other day for a year. pic.twitter.com/h6keiYqyHD  Sharif Kouddous    (@sharifkouddous) October 28, 2024

"We affirm that no one is more qualified to report and deliver the news from Gaza than local journalists, and it is the professional and personal duty of all journalists and media institutions to ensure their protection.

"The Israeli government does not allow international media access into Gaza, except through carefully curated and controlled military embeds. Most of what we know and can report on from the U.S. about the reality on the ground in Gaza is made possible only through the tireless and dangerous work of local Palestinian journalists", the petition said.

The petition also urged the media publication to support protection of journalists the way ther are doing for those in Ukraine and Russia.

"In addition, the targeting of media teams, the arrests of journalists on assignment, the destruction of media infrastructure as well as the suppression of journalists in the West Bank and the killing of journalists in south Lebanon must stop", the petition said.

"We call on newsrooms to advocate for the protection and safety of our Palestinian colleagues with the same fervor and tenacity as they have done for our colleagues reporting from Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere in the world", it said.

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UNGA must suspend Israel's membership: Top UN official

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) must consider suspending Israels membership due to its repeated violations of international law and its ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestinian Territories, said

Saturday November 2, 2024 9:51 PM , ummid.com News Network

United Nations: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) must consider suspending Israels membership due to its repeated violations of international law and its ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestinian Territories, said.

It is time to consider suspending the credentials of Israel as a member state of the United Nations, she said.

I understand the sensitivity because none of you have clean hands when it comes to human rights", she added.

She said no other country had defied so many UN resolutions for so long as Israel.

Francesca Albanese Report



Speaking to a UN committee on the inalienable rights of the Palestinians, Albanese stressed that Israels impunity has enabled it to become a serial violator of international law".

Albaneses recommendations include suspending Israels credentials at the UN until it halts these violations and withdraws its occupation, which clearly are unlawful.

"Creation of Israel came at a huge price for the Palestinians, a cost that remains unaddressed", she stressed.

Since the 1967 occupation, Palestinians have faced systematic segregation and repression, Albanese added, noting that Israels Greater Israel policies aim to diminish Palestinian identity in the region.

She highlighted that 75% of Gazas population consists of refugees originally from what is now called Israel, symbolizing what she termed Israels original sin since its creation.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese (Italy) calls for Israel to be removed from the UN for serial violations of international law. pic.twitter.com/OmzxxyR6mB  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) November 2, 2024

Francesca Albanese was speaking to the UN committee on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in New York the day after she published her latest report alleging that Israel was not just committing war crimes or crimes against humanity in Gaza, but a genocide.

"The current genocide is part of a century-long project of eliminatory settler-colonialism in Palestine, a stain on the international system and humanity, which must be ended, investigated and prosecuted", Francesca Albanese said in her report submitted at the UN on October 31, 2024.

"Formally recognize Israel as an apartheid State and persistent violator of international law, reactivating the Special Committee Against Apartheid to comprehensively address the situation in Palestine, and warn Israel of possible suspension of its membership under Article 6 of the Charter of the United Nations", she further recommended.

In her report to the UN General Assembly, Albanese also described a pattern of forced displacement, destruction, and actions amounting to genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

Her report points to long-term, intentional, state-organized forced displacement and replacement of Palestinians, especially in light of the Israeli attacks escalation since October 7, 2023.

"As the world watches the first live-streamed settler-colonial genocide, only justice can heal the wounds that political expedience has allowed to fester. The devastation of so many lives is an outrage to humanity and all that international law stands for", she said in her report.



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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan has departed for Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to lead the Pakistani delegation at the 9th Session of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation and participate in the 4th Uzbekistan-Pakistan Business Forum.

The session, set to be co-chaired by Jam Kamal Khan and Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistans Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, will take place on November 4, 2024, said a press release issued here on Saturday.

This high-level commission seeks to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen trade, economic, and technical ties between the two nations.

As part of his comprehensive itinerary, Minister Jam Kamal Khan will engage in strategic bilateral meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Jamshed Khujaev, Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade (MIIT) Mr. Laziz Kudratov, and Minister of Road Transport Mr. Ilkhom Makhkamov. These discussions will be pivotal for advancing dialogue on key projects in trade, investment, and transport logistics.

The ministers visit will also include participation as a keynote speaker at the 4th Uzbekistan-Pakistan Business Forum, which will take place on November 4, 2024, at the Intercontinental hotel Tashkent.

Mr. Jam Kamal Khan and Mr. Laziz Kudratov will address the forum, where experts from both countries will discuss strategies to enhance trade and investment relations.

A significant element of this event is the Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings, where 33 Pakistani businessmen representing 25 companies in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, food, engineering, and logistics will meet their Uzbek counterparts. This engagement is aimed at fostering long-term partnerships and boosting bilateral trade.

The Pakistan-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), signed on March 3, 2022, and operational since March 2023, has already catalyzed significant growth in bilateral trade. Similarly, the Agreement on Transit Trade (AUPTT), effective from March 2022, has facilitated a notable rise in transit trade.

The Business Forum is expected to further build on these advancements, enhancing the trade and transit volume between the two nations.

Beyond business, Minister Jam Kamal Khans itinerary includes visits to Samarkands historic sites and a tour of Tashkents Technopark LLC, showcasing Uzbekistans strides in technological development.

The outcomes of the 9th IGC session are anticipated to reinforce economic partnerships, support Uzbekistans WTO accession, and lay the groundwork for future collaborative growth.

This meeting exemplifies Pakistan and Uzbekistans shared vision for sustainable and strategic progress, with follow-up developments set for the next session in Islamabad.
Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, led a performance review meeting at PNSC Building on Saturday to evaluate the progress of key maritime organizations, including the Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Karachi Port Trust (KPT), and Pakistan Marine Academy (PMA)

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, led a performance review meeting at PNSC Building on Saturday to evaluate the progress of key maritime organizations, including the Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Karachi Port Trust (KPT), and Pakistan Marine academy (PMA).

The meeting highlighted monthly performance metrics, while addressing challenges and identifying areas for improvement. Key topics included strategies to enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall service delivery within the maritime sector.The meeting concluded with a pledge to implement the recommendations and action plans aimed at fostering growth and development within the maritime sector.

After the Performance Review meeting, the minister chaired a KHULI KACHEHRI session to hear complaints and grievances from employees of maritime organizations including other maritime industry stakeholders. This open forum allowed employees and stakeholders to engage directly with the Minister, sharing their concerns, suggestions, and ideas for enhancing the sector.

The Minister assured stakeholders that their concerns would be acknowledged and their issues addressed in a timely manner. The KHULI KACHEHRI was attended by representatives from various organizations working under Ministry of Maritime Affairs, including Chairman Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Executive Directors of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), and Commandant of the Pakistan Marine Academy including team members from other maritime organizations. Directives were issued to resolve the issues on a priority basis.

While talking to the media, the Minster for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark will come on November 12, during his visit there will be agreements with Maersk . He further said that there is a need to promote technical education for job vacancies and advancement of the country, for which the present Federal government is working. The Economy is improving, coming days will prove better.
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Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday paid tribute to the security forces for carrying out successful operation against Khawarij in South Waziristan

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday paid tribute to the security forces for carrying out successful operation against Khawarij in South Waziristan.

The acting president lauded the bravery of the security forces for sending four Khawarij terrorists to hell during the operation, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.

The security forces targeted terrorist hideouts with utmost bravery and professionalism, he said and expressed the national resolve to continue operations till complete elimination of Fitna-tul-Khawarij.

The prime minister also praised the officers and personnel of the security forces for their successful operation against Khawarij in Sarwakai, South Waziristan by killing of four Khawarij.

We will continue the fight against terrorism till it is completely eradicated from the country, PM Office Media Wing, quoted the prime minister, in a press release.

He said the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with their security forces in the fight against terrorism.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Prime Minister's Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan on Saturday highlighted the government's commitment to create meaningful opportunities for young Pakistanis, strengthening the country's economic foundations and preparing youth to excel in an increasingly digital and globalized world.

He said this while while addressing a visionary dialogue on "Youth Empowerment and Economic Growth" at an International Conference on Management & Research at a local hotel.

He also outlined essential initiatives under the Prime Ministers Youth Programme designed to catalyze entrepreneurship, improve digital literacy and foster economic independence for Pakistans youth.

Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan unveiled a comprehensive vision for youth-driven socio-economic development in Pakistan. With this year's theme, "Globalization and Digitalization," the conference served as a strategic platform for students, academicians, educators, researchers, and industry professionals committed to fostering sustainable development and navigating digital transformation challenges.

The address received an enthusiastic response, with attendees recognizing the importance of aligning national youth initiatives with the demands of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The PM's Youth Programme chairman emphasized the governments goal to establish a $25 billion industry, aiming to empower Pakistans emerging sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and services. He said, "This vision targets creating business opportunities, jobs and a resilient economic infrastructure to support the aspirations of future generations, particularly young Pakistanis."

He further said that to empower youth entrepreneurship, an additional Rs 300 billion would be invested in the Prime Ministers Youth Business Loan Scheme. Rana said that this significant financial commitment aimed to provide aspiring young entrepreneurs with the capital to innovate, establish startups and expand their ventures.

He further said that the government envisioned an entrepreneurial ecosystem that lowers youth unemployment, enhances productivity and drives economic diversification.

Rana Mashhood said, "To meet the demands of a globalized job market, the government plans to increase the Prime Ministers Youth Skills Development Programme training capacity from 400,000 to 1 million annually.

"

Through this programme, young Pakistanis would gain practical skills in high-demand fields like IT, engineering, healthcare, and vocational trades, equipping them for competitive careers and productive contributions to the national economy, he said.

Acknowledging the role of technology in shaping future opportunities, Rana Mashhood highlighted the Prime Ministers IT initiatives, particularly the laptop scheme. He said that the initiative aimed to provide young people with access to essential digital tools, helping them to enter the freelance sector and thrive in e-commerce.

Chairman said that the government anticipated that this digital enablement would strengthen Pakistans freelance industry, contributing to a self-sustaining digital economy and positioning the country as a global competitor in online commerce and services.

Mashhood Ahmad Khan said that for the first time in Pakistan, a Digital Youth Hub had been created to centralize resources for young people seeking digital opportunities adding that this hub would serve as a one-stop platform where youth could connect with potential employers, access career guidance and explore programmes in entrepreneurship, digital skills development and youth leadership.

Rana Mashhood asserted the governments resolve to reduce Pakistans dependency on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), through policies promoting, economic empowerment, local industries, and youth-led growth.

He said that Pakistan was striving toward financial self-reliance, aimed to create a resilient economy capable of generating sustained growth and prosperity, driven by empowered youth.

Special Representative to the Prime Ministers Youth Programme Rizwan Anwar extended heartfelt thanks to the distinguished guests, dignitaries, and participants for their engagement and insights.

He underscored the importance of collaboration among policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to ensure the success of these initiatives and to cultivate a culture of innovation and economic participation within the youth sector.

The conference was further enriched by valuable insights from prominent figures in academia and industry.
Like other parts of the world the country Hindo and Sikh Community celebrated "Dewali" here on Saturday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Like other parts of the world the country Hindo and Sikh Community celebrated "Dewali" here on Saturday.

Despite its deep religious significance, Diwali today is also a cultural festival observed by people regardless of faith.

According to information, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists around the world are celeberating Diwali, the festival of lights.

Diwali, also called Deepavali, is one of the biggest festivals in India. Its also widely celebrated in Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji and other countries with large South Asian diasporas. Homes, businesses and public spaces are lit up with diyas, or oil lamps made from clay, and fireworks displays abound.

People gather with their families, eat sweets and exchange gifts.

The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that's also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well.
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Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Dr. Saif has extended his heartfelt felicitations to Unity Democratic Alliance Panel (UDAP) and their newly elected cabinet on their victory in elections of Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ)

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Dr. Saif has extended his heartfelt felicitations to Unity Democratic Alliance Panel (UDAP) and their newly elected cabinet on their victory in elections of Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ).

In a statement issued here Saturday, Barrister Dr.

Saif commended the new leadership acknowledging their dedication and trust reposed in them by journalistic community.

He highlighted the role of journalists in fostering democracy, promoting transparency and promoting voice of the public.

I am confident that under your guidance, the journalistic community would continue to uphold highest standards of integrity and professionalism and advancing the cause of free and responsible journalism, he said.

CM aide expressed his best wishes to new cabinet and hoped for their success in leading KhUJ to new heights.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Ambreen Jan and Principal Information Officer Mubasher Hassan on Saturday expressed their profound grief over the passing of Abdul Jabbar Zakria's mother, Director urdu News Service at the Associated Press of Pakistan.

Ambreen Jan extended her heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the family of the deceased. She conveyed her deep sorrow upon hearing the news, stating, "The void left by the loss of Abdul Jabbar Zakria's mother will never be filled."

Mubasher Hassan echoed her sentiments, expressing his shared sorrow with the bereaved family.

Both officials prayed for grant of eternal peace to the departed soul and strength for the family to endure this significant loss.

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Alfafar, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Nov, 2024) Four days after terrifying floods razed towns in eastern Spain, frustration at the state's response is growing among some despairing residents.

"They've abandoned us," said Charo de la Rosa as she joined dozens of people queueing outside the only surviving pharmacy in Alfafar, a devastated suburb of Spain's third city Valencia.

"I know of dead and missing people... they are neighbours, people you love, you grew up with them... and their cruel death could have been avoided," the hospitality employee told AFP.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez vowed on Wednesday that his government would not "abandon" the victims as the enormity of the catastrophe became clear. At least 211 people have been killed and dozens are still missing, according to the latest toll.

And on Saturday Sanchez conceded the response has been insufficient and had to "improve" as he announced the deployment of 10,000 extra soldiers and police officers.

A return to normality seemed a pipe dream in Alfafar and the neighbouring town of Sedavi, where the disaster has left deep scars.

Pyramids of mud-covered cars block entire streets and pavements have becoming dumping grounds for mountains of unusable furniture.

As residents resumed the thankless task of clearing the mud, a woman burst into the middle of the street, wailing: she had learned that the floods destroyed her business.

- 'We're dying' -

"Thank you to the people who have come to help us, to all of them, because from the authorities, nothing," said a furious Estrella Caceres, 66.

Friends and relatives tried desperately to save what they could from the destroyed ground floor of the house where she has lived for 40 years.

At the back of the home, her husband Manuel cleaned where the water rose to 1.5 metres (5 feet). A former firefighter, he was now a victim of disasters he helped fight for 33 years.

"This will take months because we can't get the car out, and until the military unit comes to remove everything, we can't take out anything," he said.

Around 35 kilometres (22 miles) to the west of Valencia in the ruined town of Chiva, Oscar Hernandez had a scathing assessment of the official response.

"I'm angry... I don't understand why there isn't a way to shoot the administration in the head," he told AFP.

Hernandez's house lay in tatters and he only received a telephone alert two days after the floods struck.

"We're dying here," the 75-year-old added, reserving his sharpest criticism for Valencia region chief Carlos Mazon who "hasn't moved".

Hernandez hopes an investigation will establish responsibility for what he believes was the state's inadequate preparation.

- 'Every day we cry' -

Maria Jose, 54, sat listlessly on a plastic chair as young volunteers cleared her house which the water and mud have left unrecognisable.

On Tuesday, she received no warning and sent her daughter to school as usual. It was only in the late evening that the authorities alerted her to the overflowing river.

"Every day we cry even more because we realise the scale of the destruction," she said.

The national and regional governments have pledged a major reconstruction effort.

But a sceptical Mario Silvestre has seen plenty of promises in his 84 years and will only believe it when he sees it.

"They talk about 300 million Euros ($326 million)... promises which, ultimately, are forgotten. I don't want to speak badly about Spain, but it's a fact," he told AFP.

Back in Sedavi, a fire engine drained water from a two-storey garage holding an unknown number of bodies -- a scene being repeated across the Valencia region.

Hope was ebbing. Firefighter Javier Lopez, his hands spattered with mud, told AFP all the basements were flooded and "quite a few" bodies would be found once the water was pumped out.
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UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Nov, 2024) The long-awaited final phase of a UN-supported polio vaccine campaign began early Saturday in Israeli bombarded and besieged northern Gaza, with the goal of inoculating more than 100,000 children against the paralyzing virus, according to UN agencies on the ground.

To overcome challenges posed by the volatile security situation and constant population movement, robust micro plans have been developed to ensure the campaign is responsive to the significant population shifts and displacement in the north following the first round in September, the UN agencies for health, WHO, and for children, UNICEF, said in a joint statement.

UN organizations and partners began phase one in September and have had more than 200 teams on stand-by since 23 October to unroll the campaign's final round, which had been delayed by constant Israeli airstrikes, clashes on the ground and no assurances of the required humanitarian pauses to stop the fighting during the delivery of the vaccines.

Polio had been eradicated in the Gaza Strip 25 years ago, but the ongoing war triggered multiple health crises, with a 10-month-old being diagnosed with the virus earlier this year, prompting health officials to organize a campaign in the war-torn Israeli-occupied territory.

The campaign will be delivered by 216 teams across 106 fixed sites, 22 of which have been added to ensure increased availability of vaccination in areas where recently displaced people are seeking refuge, according to UN agencies. There will also be 209 social mobilizers deployed to engage communities and raise awareness around vaccination efforts, they explained.

However, the agencies warned that health workers will not be able to reach all of the children who require a final dose of the vaccine.

The final phase of the campaign had aimed to reach an estimated 119,000 children under 10 years old in northern Gaza with a second dose of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), however, achieving this target is now unlikely due to access constraints, the agencies warned.

Despite the lack of access to all eligible children in northern Gaza, the Polio Technical Committee for Gaza, which includes the Palestinian Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA and partners, decided to resume the campaign.

The plan aims to mitigate the risk of a long delay in reaching as many children as possible with polio vaccines and the opportunity to vaccinate those recently evacuated to Gaza City from other parts of the northern Strip.

The time period for the humanitarian pauses has been extended by two hours and is expected to run from 6am to 4pm daily, WHO and UNICEF said. As in the first two phases, vitamin A will also be co-administered to children between age two and 10 in the north to help boost overall immunity.

The campaign in northern Gaza follows the successful implementation of the first two phases of the second round in central and southern Gaza, which reached 451,216 children  96 per cent of the target in these areas.

A total of 364,306 children aged between 2 and 10 years have received vitamin A so far in this round.

To interrupt poliovirus transmission, at least 90 per cent of all children in every community and neighbourhood must be vaccinated, which will be challenging to achieve given the situation, the agencies said.

A delay in administering a second dose of nOPV2 within six weeks reduces the impact of two closely spaced rounds, decreasing immunity, according to the UN health agency.

WHO has also cautioned that having a significant number of children miss out on their second vaccine dose seriously jeopardises efforts to stop the transmission of the virus and could also lead to further cases in the Gaza Strip and neighbouring countries.

APP/ift
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Thousands of citizens gathered for a night vigil Saturday in northern Serbia to mourn the 14 people killed when the roof of a train station collapsed

Novi Sad, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Thousands of citizens gathered for a night vigil Saturday in northern Serbia to mourn the 14 people killed when the roof of a train station collapsed.

The incident happened early on Friday at the main train station in the northern city of Novi Sad.

At the makeshift memorial on the boulevard near the station residents silently lit candles and laid flowers while some held white papers with the Names of the victims.

Vigils were also held in towns across Serbia as residents expressed their anger and disbelief, demanding accountability for the tragedy.

"I am very sad and I am very sorry... I do not want to think about whose fault it was and who was responsible, for now, I think we have to grieve first," student Anja Gvozdenovic, 23, told AFP.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on Saturday that "determining responsibility started today".

Dacic told tv Prva that the prosecutor's office would be questioning 20 people, "starting from the top, people from the ministries, the public company (Serbia) Railways".

He said that police were seizing documents related to the railway station from the Ministry of construction, transport and infrastructure.

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad said in a statement that it had ordered among others the "minister for construction, transport and infrastructure to be questioned".

The central railway station in Novi Sad underwent three years of renovation that was completed in July.

Serbia Railways said in a statement that the collapsed roof had not been part of the renovations.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed his condolences and support for the victims' relatives and vowed to take action.

"Those responsible, I assure you, will be punished," the president said on Friday.

Three people who were injured in the incident remain in a serious condition, the University Clinic Center of Vojvodina said.

Several heads of states have sent condolences, among them those of Croatia, Russia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Greece.

"I ask you to convey my heartfelt sympathy and support to the families and loved ones of the victims", Russian president Vladimir Putin wrote to his Serbian counterpart Vucic.

Serbia said Saturday would be a day of mourning for the victims, while the city of Novi Sad and the surrounding region of Vojvodina were to hold three days of mourning.
Shelling by Sudanese paramilitary forces on Saturday killed at least 12 people in the north of the vast Darfur region that is almost completely under their control, activists said

Port Sudan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2024) Shelling by Sudanese paramilitary forces on Saturday killed at least 12 people in the north of the vast Darfur region that is almost completely under their control, activists said.

Five people were also wounded in the bombardment by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting the regular army since April last year, according to the local resistance committee, one of hundreds of volunteer groups coordinating aid across the country.

RSF fighters took three people captive after the bombardment north of the town of Kutum, the committee added.

The region's governor, former rebel leader Mini Minawi, who is close to the regular army, said the paramilitaries had torched some 20 villages in the area.

The army has largely been confined to the North Darfur state capital of El-Fasher since the paramilitaries swept through the rest of the region last year.

RSF fighters have laid siege to the city of some two million people since May and and famine has already been declared in the Zamzam camp for the displaced to its south.

UN officials have voiced mounting concern about the dire conditions in Darfur and across Sudan.

"The people of Sudan are living through a nightmare of violence -- with thousands of civilians killed, and countless others facing unspeakable atrocities, including widespread rape and sexual assaults," UN chief Antonio Guterres told the Security Council late last month.
Rescuers in northeastern Lebanon searched for survivors Friday after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 52 people, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Israel airstrikes pounded Lebanon's Bekaa Valley early Friday, sending families fleeing from their homes. Video from the scene showed some buildings in rubble as smoke rose above the skyline.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said 72 people were injured in the bombardment.

Israeli warplanes also destroyed dozens of buildings Friday in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, but there were no reports of causalities.

The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, reported that seven people were killed in northern Israel by cross-border rocket attacks from Hezbollah.

In statement posted to its X social media account, the IDF said during the night Thursday into Friday, its fighter jets "attacked with precise intelligence" sites for weapons production, as well as what it said were Hezbollah central headquarters and other "military infrastructures" in the Beirut area.

The IDF said its fighter jets also attacked overnight what it described as Hezbollah's "southern front" headquarters throughout Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon. They said advance warnings were given to the population in the area to mitigate the risk to civilians.

Lebanon's state National News Agency, or NNA, reported Lebanon's acting prime minister, Najib Mikati, said Friday the overnight strikes and the "expansion of Israeli aggression" in Lebanon show that Israel "rejects all efforts" to reach a cease-fire. Earlier this week he had expressed hope for the possibility of such an agreement.

In Gaza, doctors and local sources reported more than 30 people killed in Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza overnight Thursday into Friday. Officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah told The Washington Post that 26 bodies arrived at the hospital, including 21 from Nuseirat refugee camp.

The leaders of 15 U.N. agencies and humanitarian organizations said Friday, "the situation unfolding in northern Gaza is apocalyptic."

The officials, which included the heads of the World Health Organization, World Food Program and children's agency UNICEF said, "The entire region is on the edge of a precipice" and said Palestinians have been denied basic humanitarian aid and lifesaving supplies.

The IDF said in a statement its troops had identified and eliminated "several armed terrorists" in central Gaza and had eliminated "dozens of terrorists" in targeted raids in northern Gaza's Jabalia area. They also told the AP they had hit a Hamas infrastructure site and had targeted a militant who was operating in the Nuseirat area.

The violence comes as U.S. diplomats, including U.S. CIA Director William Burns, left the region this week after a series of meetings to push for a cease-fire.

A senior Hamas leader, Taher al-Nunu, told news outlets Friday that the militant group has rejected the latest short term cease-fire proposal presented by mediators from Egypt and Qatar because it did not include a lasting cease-fire.

At a news conference Friday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he remains optimistic regarding peace and cease-fire efforts on both fronts.

Regarding Lebanon, Blinken said once again, the basis of a diplomatic resolution to the crisis would be the effective implementation of the 2006 U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for Hezbollah to withdraw its armed presence from an area south of the Litani River and for Israeli forces to get out of Lebanon.

Blinken made the comments at a joint briefing with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The two held talks Friday with their South Korean counterparts in Washington.

Blinken was asked about a letter he and Austin sent to Israel, calling on Tel Aviv to take steps to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza or face possible restrictions on U.S. military aid.

The secretary of state said their teams are tracking "very carefully" Israel's response and efforts regarding humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Blinken said there has been "progress" but added it has been insufficient.

"We're working on a daily basis to make sure that Israel does what it must do to ensure that this assistance gets to people who need it inside of Gaza," Blinken said. "It's not enough to get trucks to Gaza; it's vital that what they bring with them can get distributed effectively inside of Gaza."

Blinken also mentioned the World Health Organization's successful initial polio vaccination campaign for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza. He said for that campaign to be concluded, there must be a second round of vaccinations completed quickly, and he called on Israel to facilitate that effort.

The WHO said Friday the next phase of the polio vaccination campaign will begin Saturday after being postponed from October 23 due to a lack of access and a lack of humanitarian pauses in the fighting in Gaza.

The war in Lebanon erupted late last month, nearly a year after Hezbollah began low-intensity cross-border fire into Israel in support of Hamas.

Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, the U.K. and other Western countries.

The conflict in the region began when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages in their October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 the military says are dead.

Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed at least 43,259 Palestinians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, with Israel saying the death toll includes thousands of militants. The Israeli campaign has devastated much of the Gaza Strip, where the fighting and Israeli evacuation orders have displaced about 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Bolivian President Luis Arce accused followers of his former mentor-turned-rival, Evo Morales, of being behind an armed takeover of military posts and holding soldiers hostage on Friday, ramping up tensions in the already restive Andean nation.

Arce said the groups had forced their way into three military posts outside the central Bolivian city of Cochabamba, home to many supporters of ex-President Morales, after shooting at and launching dynamite at police.

The groups have also broken into each post's armory, Arce said, calling the act "criminal" and accusing the attackers of treason.

Bolivia's military urged those responsible for the takeover to "immediately and peacefully" abandon each post.

Morales, in a press conference later on Friday, called for a dialogue with the government. Without taking responsibility for the assault on the military posts, Morales said he would launch a hunger strike until talks between the two sides began.

"The lives of my instructors and soldiers are in danger," warned an unnamed military official in a recording broadcast on local media.

Televised images showed a row of uniformed soldiers with their hands behind their backs, possibly tied, surrounded by members of the armed group.

Arce urged solidarity, saying that many of the soldiers were working class and Indigenous, much like their captors.

Earlier this week, police and military had attempted to clear a weeks-long highway blockade by Morales' supporters strangling traffic between Cochabamba and Oruro.

Protesters retaliated by launching dynamite at them from nearby hills, with police then launching tear gas.

Morales' followers set up road blockades in mid-October in support of him, pressuring for a criminal investigation into the former president for alleged abuse of a minor to be dropped. Morales has argued the investigation is politically motivated.

Since then, the disruptions in transport have cost the impoverished South American economy more than $1.7 billion, Arce said on Wednesday.

The two leftist leaders, both with roots in Bolivia's ruling socialist party, have gone from close allies to bitter rivals in recent months as they jockey for position ahead of next year's presidential election.
Police in Mozambique fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday as they dispersed protests in several cities over a disputed presidential election, according to local sources and AFP reporters.

Unrest has rocked the southern African nation since an October 9 election, which was won by the ruling Frelimo party, in power since 1975, but denounced as fraudulent by opposition parties.

Election observers, including some from the European Union, have noted irregularities and denounced violence before, during and after the vote.

The leading opposition candidate, Venancio Mondlane, has called for nationwide protests until November 7, with a final rally planned in Maputo.

On Saturday, hundreds of people who had gathered to protest the election results in Maputo were dispersed by police with tear gas and rubber bullets, according to AFP reporters on the scene.

Police were seen patrolling the city Saturday to try to dissuade residents from other parts of the country from coming to next week's protest.

In the northern province of Nampula, almost 2,000 kilometers (more than 1,200 miles) from the capital, clashes broke out in several areas Saturday between protesters and police, a witness and a local group told AFP.

In the city of Nampula, "at approximately 9 a.m. almost 500 people took to the street on Trabalho Avenue to contest election results," said Constantino Jose, a taxi driver in the city.

"Protesters also gathered in Arresta [the largest market in Nampula] and blocked some roads," said Jose.

"Police shot tear gas and real bullets to disperse the crowd," he said, without giving further details.

A local civil society group, Plataforma Decide, told AFP that "Nampula province is in chaos" and that "in Nampula City ... the police fired tear gas."

Police did not respond to AFP's request for comment on the reports.

In the town of Namialo, some 95 kilometers (60 miles) from Nampula, "over 100 demonstrators burnt tires on the street," a local journalist said, adding that "a strong police contingent" had been deployed to the area.

He asked to remain anonymous as he feared for his safety.

Another source said that at least nine people had been shot, but it wasn't immediately clear if it was by tear gas or bullets.

A local official, Melchior Focas, an administrator in Meconta-Namialo, confirmed to AFP there had been "clashes" in the area.

Mozambique has imposed internet restrictions since post-electoral violence broke out, including blocking access to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Mondlane has widely used social media platforms to communicate with his supporters and rally them to protest.

The spiral of unrest started shortly after the election, turning violent on October 24 when the electoral commission declared Frelimo's Daniel Chapo, 47, winner with almost 71% of votes.

Mondlane, 50, of the small Podemos party, came in second with 20% but said the results were "false."

Police have said that 20 people have been injured in post-electoral violence and that two people have died, without giving details.

An investigation was opened into Mondlane following the unrest and his calls for "25 days of terror."
A regional public health department in Idaho is no longer providing COVID-19 vaccinations to residents in six counties after a narrow decision by its board.

Southwest District Health appears to be the first in the nation to be restricted from giving COVID-19 shots. Vaccinations are an essential function of a public health department.

While policymakers in Texas banned health departments from promoting COVID-19 vaccines and Florida's surgeon general bucked medical consensus to recommend against the vaccine, governmental bodies across the country haven't blocked the vaccines outright.

"I'm not aware of anything else like this," said Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs for the National Association of County and City Health Officials. She said health departments have stopped offering the vaccine because of cost or low demand, but not based on "a judgment of the medical product itself."

The six-county district along the Idaho-Oregon border includes three counties in the Boise metropolitan area. Demand for COVID-19 vaccines in the health district has declined  with 1,601 given in 2021 to 64 so far in 2024. The same is true for other vaccines: Idaho has the highest childhood vaccination exemption rate in the nation, and last year, the Southwest District Health Department rushed to contain a rare measles outbreak that sickened 10.

On Oct. 22, the health department's board voted 4-3 in favor of the ban  despite Southwest's medical director testifying to the vaccine's necessity.

"Our request of the board is that we would be able to carry and offer those [vaccines], recognizing that we always have these discussions of risks and benefits," Dr. Perry Jansen said at the meeting. "This is not a blind, everybody-gets-a-shot approach. This is a thoughtful approach."

Opposite Jansen's plea were more than 290 public comments, many of which called for an end to vaccine mandates or taxpayer funding of the vaccines, neither of which are happening in the district. At the meeting, many people who spoke are nationally known for making the rounds to testify against COVID-19 vaccines, including Dr. Peter McCullough, a Texas cardiologist who sells "contagion emergency kits" that include ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine  drugs that have not been approved to treat COVID-19 and can have dangerous side effects.

Board Chairman Kelly Aberasturi was familiar with many of the voices who wanted the ban, especially from earlier local protests of pandemic measures.

Aberasturi, who told The Associated Press that he's skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines and national public health leaders, said in the meeting and in an interview with the AP that he was supportive of but "disappointed" in the board's decision.

He said the board had overstepped the relationship between patients and their doctors  and possibly opened a door to blocking other vaccines or treatments.

Board members in favor of the decision argued people can get vaccinated elsewhere, and that providing the shots was equivalent to signing off on their safety. (Some people may be reluctant to get vaccinated or boosted because of misinformation about the shots despite evidence that they're safe and have saved millions of lives.)

The people getting vaccinated at the health department  including people without housing, people who are homebound and those in long-term care facilities or in the immigration process  had no other options, Jansen and Aberasturi said.

"I've been homeless in my lifetime, so I understand how difficult it can be when you're ... trying to get by and get ahead," Aberasturi said. "This is where we should be stepping in and helping.

"But we have some board members who have never been there, so they don't understand what it's like."

State health officials have said that they "recommend that people consider the COVID-19 vaccine." Idaho health department spokesperson AJ McWhorter declined to comment on "public health district business," but noted that COVID-19 vaccines are still available at community health centers for people who are uninsured.

Aberasturi said he plans to ask at the next board meeting if the health department can at least be allowed to vaccinate older patients and residents of long-term care facilities, adding that the board is supposed to be caring for the "health and well-being" of the district's residents. "But I believe the way we went about this thing is we didn't do that due diligence."
As election day approaches, U.S. officials issue warnings about potential violence from domestic extremists. The concerns go beyond election day into January and the inauguration. Also, as America continues to become more ethnically diverse as divisions over immigration and the nations division deepen. Its become a major theme in the presidential campaign.
Greek anti-terror investigators have arrested a man in connection with a deadly explosion in Athens, police said Saturday, warning of "a new generation of terrorists" at work.

Thursday's blast in an apartment in the capital, which killed a man and seriously injured a woman, is suspected to have been caused by the accidental detonation of a homemade bomb.

Police sources told AFP they had identified the dead man from his dismembered remains as a 36-year-old from the port city of Piraeus who had been previously arrested in Germany.

His fingerprints were in the international database of Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency, the sources said.

Investigators have also opened a case for alleged participation in a terrorist organization and committing terrorist acts against the injured woman, 33, who was hospitalized under police supervision, and a 30-year-old woman who remains at large.

In their statement, police said Saturday that the arrested man was detained after turning himself in Friday.

He is believed to have a connection with one of the two women wanted in the case but has denied having anything to do with the explosion, police said.

Police said that a search of the apartment produced two handguns, wigs and face masks among other materials.

Greek police sources told AFP that investigations were ongoing and that the deceased and those charged were probably members of "a new generation of terrorists."

The country has a decades-old history of far-left extremism involving small urban groups.

The shadow November 17 group, named after an anti-junta student uprising, was behind the 1975 killing of the CIAs Athens station Chief Richard Welch and claimed responsibility for assassinating 23 people in scores of attacks on U.S., British, Turkish and Greek targets between the 1970s and 1990s.

In the past decade, scores of arson and bomb attacks in Greece have hit financial, diplomatic and political targets, with police blaming radical anarchists.
Tens of thousands of minority Hindus rallied Friday to demand that the interim government in Muslim-majority Bangladesh protect them from a wave of attacks and harassment and drop sedition cases against Hindu community leaders.

About 30,000 Hindus demonstrated at a major intersection in the southeastern city of Chattogram, demanding their rights while police and soldiers guarded the area. Other protests were reported elsewhere in the country.

Hindu groups say thousands of attacks against Hindus have happened since early August, when the secular government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown and Hasina fled the country following a student-led uprising. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel peace laureate named to lead an interim government after Hasina's downfall, says those figures have been exaggerated.

Hindus make up about 8% of the country's nearly 170 million people, while Muslims constitute about 91%.

The influential Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has said that there have been more than 2,000 attacks on Hindus since August 4, as the interim government has struggled to restore order.

U.N. human rights officials and other rights groups have expressed concern about human rights in the country under Yunus.

Hindus and other minority communities say the interim government hasn't adequately protected them and that hard-line Islamists have become increasingly influential since Hasina's ouster.

Concern from Modi

The issue has reached beyond Bangladesh, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi voicing concern about reports of attacks.

While the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden says it has been monitoring Bangladeshs human rights issues since Hasinas ouster, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has condemned what he described as barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians and other minorities in Bangladesh.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos.

Hindu activists have been staging protest rallies in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere since August to press a set of eight demands, including a law to protect minorities, a ministry for minorities and a tribunal to prosecute acts of oppression against minorities. They also seek a five-day holiday for their largest festival, the Durga Puja.

Friday's protest in Chattogram was hastily organized after sedition charges were filed Wednesday against 19 Hindu leaders, including prominent priest Chandan Kumar Dhar, over an October 25 rally in that city. Police arrested two of the leaders, angering Hindus.

The charges stem from an incident in which a group of rallygoers allegedly placed a saffron flag above the Bangladesh flag on a pillar, which was considered disrespectful to the national flag.

Hindu community leaders say the cases are politically motivated and demanded Thursday that they be withdrawn within 72 hours. Another Hindu rally has been planned for Saturday in Dhaka.

Separately, supporters of Hasina's Awami League party and its allied Jatiya Party have said they also have been targeted since Hasina's ouster. Jatiya's headquarters was vandalized and set on fire late Thursday.

On Friday, Jatiya Party Chairman G.M. Quader said his supporters would continue to hold rallies to demand their rights despite risking their lives. He said they would hold a rally Saturday at the party headquarters in Dhaka to protest price hikes of commodities, and what they call false charges against their leaders and activists.

Later Friday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police announced it was banning any rallies near the Jatiya headquarters. There was no immediate response from the party about whether it would press ahead with its attempts to hold the rally or change the venue.

The police decision came after a student group strongly criticized the police administration for initially granting permission for the rally and then threatened to block it.
Iran was quick to downplay the impact of Israel's attack on key military sites on its territory on October 26.

But satellite images suggest Israel has degraded Tehran's air defense and missile-production capabilities, analysts say.

Fabian Hinz of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said Israel had dealt a "significant blow" to Iran's ability to produce long-range ballistic missiles.

Ability to sustain long-range attacks

On October 1, Iran launched its largest direct attack on Israel, firing nearly 200 ballistic missiles at its archenemy. Dozens of the missiles, aimed mostly at military sites, penetrated Israel's formidable air defenses.

Israel's retaliatory strikes on October 26 were aimed at hindering Iran's production of solid-propellant ballistic missiles that were used by Tehran in its assault, the "weapons that are of most concern to Israel," Hinz said.

Solid-propellant missiles require fewer personnel and little time to prepare for launch compared to liquid-propellant missiles, Hinz explained, making them ideal for launching volleys in quick succession.

Israel struck missile-production sites around Tehran, including the Parchin military complex, the Khojir military base, the Shahrud missile site and a factory in the Shamsabad Industrial Zone.

Jeremy Binnie, a Middle East defense specialist at the global intelligence company Janes, said the full extent of the damage caused to the facilities is still unclear.

But he added that Israel likely wanted to prevent Iran from being able to sustain long-range missile exchanges, especially given the numbers it needs to penetrate Israel's air defenses.

"The Israelis probably don't know precisely how many ballistic missiles [Iran] has with the requisite range but have tried to reduce its ability to replenish is stockpile," Binnie said.

Blinded offensively and defensively?

Israel's attack was also aimed at weakening Iran's ability to fend off aerial attacks by targeting its radars and Russian-made S-300 air-defense systems.

There have been unconfirmed reports quoting U.S. and Israeli officials claiming that three S-300 systems were taken out in the Israeli attack.

"The S-300s are Iran's most capable air-defense capabilities, so targeting them again emphasizes Iran's inability to defend itself and gives the Israeli Air Force more freedom of operation in the future," Binnie said.

Satellite images also showed that at least two radar systems  one in the western Ilam Province and another in the southwestern Khuzestan Province  were hit.

The radars are an essential part of Iran's early warning system, Hinz told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. Taking them out, he said, would mean Israel had "degraded Iran's ability to resist any air attack even further, making it more vulnerable."

Fox News quoted a U.S. defense official as saying that the radars also had an offensive purpose and have been used by Iran to track ballistic missiles after launch to assess their trajectories and course-correct if necessary.

Binnie said that "would be unusual but might explain how [Iran] has achieved a fairly high level of accuracy with its ballistic missiles  though not good enough to do really significant damage."

Impact on Iranian retaliation

There are growing numbers of reports that Tehran is considering retaliating against Israel as the extent of the damage caused by the October 26 attack becomes clearer.

Given that Iran has suffered damage to its offensive and defensive capabilities, it is unclear if it can launch another large-scale attack on Israel, experts say.

Binnie said the United States' deployment to Israel of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, an advanced anti-missile system, will further "swing the balance in [Israel's] favor."

Media reports citing Israeli sources say that Iran is preparing to launch an aerial attack on Israel using Tehran-backed Shiite militant groups in Iraq. That would suggest the Islamic republic hopes its proxies will absorb the brunt of a potential Israeli response.

Hannah Kaviani of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Radio Farda contributed to this report.
Rental property had a history of too many people, say neighbors. No arrests have been made, police said.
A federal jury on Friday convicted a former Kentucky police detective of using excessive force on Breonna Taylor during a botched 2020 drug raid that left her dead.

The 12-member jury returned the late-night verdict after clearing Brett Hankison earlier in the evening on a charge that he used excessive force on Taylor's neighbors.

It was the first conviction of a Louisville police officer who was involved in the deadly raid.

Some members of the jury were in tears as the verdict was read around 9:30 p.m. They had earlier indicated to the judge in two separate messages that they were deadlocked on the charge of using excessive force on Taylor but chose to continue deliberating. The six-man, six-woman jury deliberated for more than 20 hours over three days.

Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, celebrated the verdict with friends outside the federal courthouse, saying: "It took a lot of time. It took a lot of patience. It was hard. The jurors took their time to really understand that Breonna deserved justice."

Hankison fired 10 shots into Taylor's glass door and windows during the raid but didn't hit anyone. Some shots flew into a next-door neighbor's adjoining apartment.

The death of the 26-year-old Black woman, along with the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked racial injustice protests nationwide.

Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., called the verdict "a long-awaited moment of accountability."

"While it cannot restore Breonna to her family, it represents a crucial step in the pursuit of justice and a reminder that no one should be above the law," King said in a social media post Friday night.

A separate jury deadlocked on federal charges against Hankison last year, and he was acquitted on state charges of wanton endangerment in 2022.

The conviction against Hankison carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He will be sentenced on March 12 by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings.

Hankison, 48, argued throughout the trial that he was acting to protect his fellow officers after Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired on them when they broke down Taylor's door with a battering ram.

This jury sent a note on Thursday to the judge asking whether they needed to know if Taylor was alive as Hankison fired his shots.

That was a point of contention during closing arguments, when Hankison attorney Don Malarcik told the jury that prosecutors must "prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Taylor was alive" when Hankison fired.

After the jury sent the question, Jennings urged them to keep deliberating.

Walker shot and wounded one of the officers. Hankison testified that when Walker fired, he moved away, rounded the corner of the apartment unit and fired into Taylor's glass door and a window.

Meanwhile, officers at the door returned Walker's fire, hitting and killing Taylor, who was in a hallway.

Hankison's lawyers argued during closing statements Wednesday that Hankison was acting properly "in a very tense, very chaotic environment" that lasted about 12 seconds. They emphasized that Hankison's shots didn't hit anyone.

Hankison was one of four officers charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 with violating Taylor's civil rights. Hankison's verdict is the second conviction from those cases. The first was a plea deal from a former officer who was not at the raid and became a cooperating witness in another case.

Malarcik, Hankison's attorney, spoke at length during closing arguments about the role of Taylor's boyfriend, who fired the shot that hit former Sergeant John Mattingly at the door. He said Walker never tried to come to the door or turn the lights on as police were knocking and instead armed himself and hid in the dark.

"Brett Hankison was 12 inches away from being shot by Kenneth Walker," Malarcik said.

Prosecutors said Hankison acted recklessly, firing 10 shots into doors and a window where he couldn't see a target.

They said in closing arguments that Hankison "violated one of the most fundamental rules of deadly force: If they cannot see the person they're shooting at, they cannot pull the trigger."

Neither of the officers who shot Taylor  Mattingly and former Detective Myles Cosgrove  were charged in Taylor's death. Federal and state prosecutors have said those officers were justified in returning fire, since Taylor's boyfriend shot at them first.
Iran's supreme leader on Saturday vowed a punishing response to Israel's attack last week as Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza and Lebanon.

Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Israel and the U.S. with a punishing response over attacks on Iran and its allies following Israel's October 26 airstrikes that targeted Iran's military bases and other locations.

"The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front," Khamenei said in a video released by Iranian state media.

A further attack by Iran, which has launched two direct attacks against Israel this year, could push the wider Middle East closer to a broader conflict. Israel is already battling the Iran-backed militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hezbollah and Hamas are both U.S.-designated terror groups.

Airstrikes on Israel, Beirut

Eleven people were injured in a predawn attack Saturday on the central Israeli town of Tira. The attack was one of several barrages fired from Lebanon. Many of the projectiles were intercepted by Israeli air defenses as air raid sirens sounded in parts of Israel throughout the day.

The Magen David Adom emergency service said 11 people were hurt by shrapnel and glass shards in a direct strike on a building in Tira, a predominantly Israeli Arab town. Footage showed significant damage to the roof and top floor of the three-story building and cars below.

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group said Saturday that it had used missiles and explosive drones to target military and intelligence facilities in northern and central Israel.

It claimed responsibility for firing missiles toward the Israeli military's Unit 8200 base in Glilot, on the edge of Tel Aviv, and for firing rockets toward military facilities in Zvulun. Hezbollah also said it had targeted central Israel's Palmachim Air Base with explosive drones, saying they "scored precise hits on targets."

Israel's military did not confirm whether any of the three Hezbollah targets had been hit, and said it had no comment on the group's claims.

Tamar Abdel Hai, a resident of Tira, said that the attack was frightening.

"I call upon all the leaders in the Arab world and the leaders in Israel and to everyone who can help to end this war. It's enough," he said.

Hezbollah also said that its fighters fired salvos of rockets into northern Israeli towns. The Israeli army said several drones crossed from Lebanon into Israel, one was intercepted but "fallen targets were identified in the area."

Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Saturday afternoon killed one person and wounded 15 others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Israeli planes resumed strikes on the southern suburb of Dahiyeh overnight Friday, following a four-day lull in the capital.

Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in 2023, more than 2,897 people have been killed and 13,150 wounded in Lebanon, according to a Health Ministry update early Friday. United Nations agencies estimate that Israel's ground invasion and bombardment of Lebanon has displaced 1.4 million people.

Residents of Israel's northern communities near Lebanon, roughly 60,000 people, also have been displaced for more than a year.

Israeli strikes in Gaza

In recent weeks, Israel has also stepped up its offensive against Hamas' remaining fighters in Gaza, raising concerns about humanitarian conditions for civilians still there.

A series of Israeli strikes on Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza, killed at least 42 people, more than half of them women and children, in 24 hours, Dr. Marwan Abu Naser, director of Al-Awda Hospital that received the casualties, told The Associated Press. A further 150 were wounded, he said.

Later Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a street in the nearby Bureij refugee camp killed at least six people, medical officials said. The dead were taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah and counted by AP journalists there.

Separately, the Israeli military said that two of its soldiers were killed in southern Gaza.

Egypt's state-owned Al-Qahera News TV reported Saturday that Hamas has rejected a partial cease-fire deal in Gaza fearing that Israel will resume its operations in the enclave even after hostages are released. The TV channel has close ties to the Egyptian intelligence service and Egypt has been a key mediator throughout the yearlong conflict.

Separately, the Israeli military said that two of its soldiers were killed in southern Gaza.

Egypt's state-owned Al-Qahera News TV reported Saturday that Hamas has rejected a partial cease-fire deal in Gaza fearing that Israel will resume its operations in the enclave even after hostages are released. The TV channel has close ties to the Egyptian intelligence service and Egypt has been a key mediator throughout the yearlong conflict.

Finally, The World Health Organization restarted a scaled-down polio vaccination campaign Saturday, giving second doses to at-risk children only in Gaza City after providing first doses in multiple parts of northern Gaza, which has seen intense Israeli bombardment.

Israel's war in Gaza began after Hamas militants invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, killed roughly 1,200 people in Israel and took some 250 hostages back to Gaza. Israel's counteroffensive has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Health officials inside Gaza do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but say more than half of the dead in the enclave are women and children.
More than 300,000 people in the state of Georgia cast their ballots for U.S. president on the first day of voting in the battleground state. These people were among the millions of Americans who are eligible to vote before Election Day, November 5.
A New York prosecutor told jurors on Friday that the way veteran Daniel Penny defused an uncomfortable situation on the subway by using a chokehold "went way too far."

Prosecutor Dafna Yoran said Penny, a white Marine veteran, continued to hold his arm around the neck of Jordan Neely, a homeless Black man who had been acting erratically, after Neely's body went limp.

When the train stopped at a station, one rider told Penny, "If you don't let him go now, you're going to kill him," Yoran told the jury in her opening statement Friday. Penny has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. He has pleaded not guilty, saying he was acting in self-defense.

"Deadly physical force is permitted only when it's absolutely necessary and only for as long as it's absolutely necessary," Yoran said. Penny "went quite literally for the jugular," she added.

The deadly encounter happened more than one year ago and received wide news coverage at the time, with some people casting Penny as a hero and others casting Neely as a victim of a vigilante.

Neely, whom Yoran said was homeless and suffering with mental illness, entered the subway train on May 1, 2023, threw his coat to the ground and told the riders he was hungry, thirsty and wanted to return to jail. His erratic behavior is something that New Yorkers can witness daily.

"His voice was loud and his words were threatening," Yoran said, but Neely was also unarmed and did not physically threaten any of the riders.

Thirty seconds after Neely entered the train, the prosecutor said, Penny placed Neely in a chokehold. Yoran said Penny held Neely in the chokehold for about six minutes.

Video of the incident, Yoran said, would show "how unnecessary this deadly chokehold was." There is cellphone video of the incident, recorded from the subway platform.

The prosecutor also said that Penny, who has first aid training, did not try to revive Neeley.

Penny later told police, "I put him out" and said that he was trying to "de-escalate" the scene on the subway.

According to The Associated Press, Neeley was a Michael Jackson impersonator who sometimes performed his act for subway riders. His mental illness and drug abuse, AP said, was likely triggered by his mother's murder when he was a teenager.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters.
Perched on two fingers on the roof of an art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand, the giant sculpture of a hand has loomed over the city for five years.

Named Quasi, the 16-foot  almost 5-meter  creation of Australia-based sculptor Ronnie van Hout bears an unsmiling human face  because why not?

Some found it disturbing, and now, after five years of provoking controversy and myriad emotions  from horror and revulsion to delight  among residents of New Zealand's capital, Quasi was set to be removed from the roof of City Gallery this week.

It will be taken to a new home, the gallery said Wednesday.

"This is either a great day for Wellington or a terrible day for Wellington and there's not much view in between," said Ben McNulty, a Wellington city council member.

McNulty told The Associated Press he felt "devastated" by the sculpture's departure.

Quasi is made of steel, polystyrene and resin, and was based on scans of van Hout's hand and face. It was named in part for Quasimodo, the bellringer in Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

Hence, the male gender some have attributed to Quasi.

Quasi first graced  or haunted  an art gallery in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2016 but proved polarizing. It was the subject of an op-ed in the local newspaper listing reasons the sculpture "must go," including claims that one of its outstretched fingers "appears to be inappropriately and belligerently pointing at pedestrians and office workers."

"Perhaps the monster just wants to be loved?" van Hout responded at the time.

In 2019, Quasi was installed in Wellington, where he grew over time on its residents.

"He arrived and I won't say the city unanimously hated him but I reckon 80% were like, 'What is this monster? What have we done?' " McNulty said.

"But I think that over time there's been a bit of a softening, there's sort of a pro-Quasi group, which I consider myself part of," he added.

On Wednesday, many at Wellington's Civic Square, where the gallery with Quasi is located, said they had warmed to him, too.

"It's really disturbing but it's a staple of Wellington now," said Anja Porthouse, who had brought friends and family to see Quasi and was "gutted" it was leaving.

Quasi is to be lifted from the roof by helicopter on Saturday, when the giant hand will travel to an undisclosed location in Australia, the gallery said.

"Everything comes to an end eventually," van Hout told the AP. "I am sure it will be missed, but even Lovecraftian nightmares have to return to where they came from, and now you only have an absence to reflect on."

Dozens responded to the news on social media with dismay, glee and jokes about the curse that local lore has attributed to Quasi being lifted.

The sculpture has adorned the Wellington skyline during "some of its most difficult times," McNulty said. The city has struggled with earthquake-prone buildings, widespread plumbing problems and political division in recent years.

Other comments took guesses about where Quasi might end up.

"He's going to The Hague," wrote one New Zealander on X.

"He will be missed," said Jane Black, who heads the Wellington Sculpture Trust.

"I'll personally be pleased to see it head somewhere else for a change," the city's mayor, Tory Whanau, told the AP. "I think there's a strong feeling of relief."
Niger's military junta is disputing a decision by French nuclear fuel firm Orano to halt uranium production, according to a document from a state partner in the venture seen Friday by Agence France-Presse.

Orano announced last month that it was stopping production as of Thursday, owing to what it termed increasingly difficult operating conditions in the country and financial issues.

Nigerien state company Sopamin is a shareholder with Orano, which holds a majority stake in Somair, the last site that the French group was still operating in the country prior to Thursday.

The French lamented the withdrawal by the junta in June of a permit for one of the largest uranium deposits in the world, Imouraren, and the impossibility of exporting the raw material with Niger's border with Benin closed for what Niamey says are security reasons.

"Despite its status as a co-shareholder, Sopamin was not consulted on this serious decision" to halt production, the company, which has operated for half a century in the country's north, said in a document dated Thursday.

The Nigerien firm complained that the decision "lacks transparency" and "violates a number of principles and practices essential to governance and commitments between stakeholders."

Orano said it had proposed an alternative to the Nigerien authorities, namely exporting the uranium to France or Namibia, and expressed regret that there was no reaction to the suggestion.

Niger states in the document seen Friday a wish to "purchase 210 tons of uranium through the natural channel of Sopamin," which it said would "allow Somair to continue its activities."

Currently, 1,050 tons of uranium concentrate from stocks from 2023 and 2024, or around half of the site's average annual production worth an estimated 300 million euros ($360 million), are currently blocked, Orano estimates.

The ruling junta, which took power last year in a July coup, says it will revamp rules regulating the mining of raw materials by foreign companies in what is the world's seventh-largest uranium producer.

It has also downgraded links with former colonial power France and strengthened ties with new partners including Russia and Iran.

In September, Niger's Council of Ministers adopted a draft decree creating a state entity, "Timersoi National Uranium Company," abbreviated to TNUC.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is sending additional bomber aircraft and Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster the U.S. presence in the region as an aircraft carrier and its warships are preparing to leave, U.S. officials said Friday.

Austin ordered several B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft, tanker aircraft and Navy destroyers to deploy to the Middle East, according to four U.S. and military officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements.

The military moves come as Israel's wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon rage, including a retaliatory strike on Iran a week ago that likely damaged a base that builds ballistic missiles and launches rockets as part of Tehran's space program.

The U.S. is pressing for cease-fires, while repeatedly saying it will defend Israel and continue to protect the American and allied presence in the region, including from Yemen-based Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea.

The long-range nuclear-capable B-52 bomber has been repeatedly deployed to the Middle East in pointed warnings to Iran and it is the second time this month that strategic U.S. bombers will be used to bolster U.S. defenses in the region.

In October, B-2 stealth bombers were used to strike underground Houthi targets in Yemen.

Officials did not provide the number of aircraft and ships that will move into the region. The shifts are likely to result in an overall decrease in the total number of U.S. service members in the region, largely because an aircraft carrier contains as many as 5,000 sailors.

But the addition of bomber aircraft beefs up U.S. combat strength. There have been as many as 43,000 U.S. forces in the region recently.

According to a U.S. official, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and the three Navy destroyers in its strike group are scheduled to leave the Middle East by midmonth and return to their home port in San Diego.

When it departs, there will be no aircraft carrier in the Middle East for a period of time, the official said. Officials declined to say how long that gap would last.

Military commanders have long argued that the presence of an aircraft carrier strike group, with its array of fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and heavily armed warships, is a significant deterrent, including against Iran.

To make up for that gap, Austin is ordering the deployment of other Navy destroyers to the region. Those destroyers, which are capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, would come either from the Indo-Pacific region or Europe, the official said.

Eventually, it is expected that the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and its three warships will move to the Mediterranean Sea, but they won't get there before the Lincoln departs. The Truman strike group has been in the North Sea, participating in a NATO military exercise.

The Lincoln and two of its destroyers are now in the Gulf of Oman, and its third destroyer is with two other warships in the Red Sea.

There are also two destroyers and the Marine amphibious ready group  which includes three ships  in the Mediterranean Sea.
A 22-year-old Russian man considered a political prisoner by activists has died in a penal colony in Belarus, human rights group Viasna said Friday.

The rights group said it confirmed the death of Dmitry Shletgauer, who was recently transferred to a penal colony in Mogilev in eastern Belarus.

Viasna said Shletgauer had been at the penal colony for a short time before his death.

"Provisionally, this happened on October 11," the rights group said. "He spent less than a month in the penal colony. The exact cause of death is unknown."

Shletgauer received a 12-year sentence after being convicted of espionage and facilitating extremist activities.

He was arrested in the crackdown in Belarus that occurred after the disputed 2020 presidential election of Alexander Lukashenko that gave the strongman a sixth term.

In September, Shletgauer joined Viasna's list of recognized political prisoners in Belarus.

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, is reported to have approximately 1,300 political prisoners, according to Viasna.

Radio Free Europe reports Shletgauer was born in Slavgorod, Russia, and acquired residency in Belarus in 2018.

Some information for this story came from Agence France-Presse.
South Carolina is preparing to put up its first individual statue for an African American on its Statehouse lawn, honoring a man who put on Confederate clothes in order to steal a slaveholder's ship and sail his family and a dozen others to freedom during the Civil War.

But Robert Smalls isn't just being honored for his audacious escape. He spent a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives, helped rewrite South Carolina's constitution to allow Black men equality after the Civil War and then put up a valiant but doomed fight when racists returned to power and eliminated nearly all of the gains Smalls fought for.

U.S. Representative Jermaine Johnson can't wait to bring his children to the Statehouse to finally see someone who is Black like them being honored.

The man has done so many great things, it's just a travesty he has not been honored until now. Heck, it's also a travesty there isnt some big Hollywood movie out there about his life, said Johnson, a Democrat from a district just a few miles from the Statehouse.

The idea for a statue to Smalls has been percolating for years. But there was always quiet opposition preventing a bill from getting a hearing. That changed in 2024 as the proposal made it unanimously through the state House and Senate on the back of Republican Representative Brandon Cox of Goose Creek.

South Carolina is a great state. Weve got a lot of history, good and bad. This is our good history, Cox said.

What will the Robert Smalls memorial look like?

The bill created a special committee that has until January 15 to come up with a design, a location on the Statehouse lawn and the money to pay for whatever memorial they choose.

But supporters face a challenging question: What best honors Smalls?

If it's just one statue, is it best to honor the steel-nerved ship pilot who waited for all the white crew to leave, then mimicked hand signals and whistle toots to get through Confederate checkpoints, while hoping Confederate soldiers didn't notice a Black man under the hat in the pale moonlight in May 1862?

Or would a more fitting tribute to Smalls be to recognize the statesman who served in the South Carolina House and Senate and the U.S. House after the Civil War? Smalls bought his master's house in Beaufort in part with money made for turning the Confederate ship over to Union forces, then allowed the man's penniless wife to live there when she was widowed.

Or is the elder Smalls who fought for education for all and to keep the gains African Americans made during the Civil War the man most worth publicly memorializing? Smalls would see a new constitution in 1895 wipe out African Americans' right to vote. He was fired from his federal customs collector job in 1913 when then President Woodrow Wilson purged many Black men out of government jobs.

Or would it be best to combine them all in some way? That's how Republican Representative Chip Campsen, an occasional ship pilot himself, sees honoring one of his favorite South Carolinians.

The best way to sum up Robert Smalls' life is it was a fight for freedom as a slave, as a pilot and as a statesman," Campsen said.

Location, location, location

Then there is the matter of location. While South Carolina has a monument with multiple panels honoring the struggle of African Americans from their journey on slave ships through today, it doesn't honor an individual Black man or woman among the two dozen monuments scattered around the Statehouse.

At least six different monuments honor people such as Dr. J. Marion Sims, who some consider the father of modern gynecology but who underpinned his research operating without anesthesia on enslaved women and girls. There are several honoring Confederates who fought to protect slavery in the state that started the Civil War and hangs a marble copy of the Articles of Secession in the lobby between its House and Senate chambers.

The dubious list includes Pitchfork Ben Tillman, a governor and U.S. senator who bragged about how he led groups of whites who killed Black men trying to vote during the election of 1876 which led to the end of Reconstruction, the return of all-white rule and the collapse of everything for which Smalls had worked. None of that is on the plaque for Tillman's statue.

Some supporters have suggested Smalls' statue could stand nearby and be taller and more prominent than Tillman's to give Smalls a triumph some 130 years in the making.

Once design and location are determined, organizers hope raising the money gets easier with a concept in mind.

We have to get the narrative right, Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said. This is going to tell a story. I think it is important that we tell that the right way to honor him and to honor South Carolina. I think its really cool.

Robert Smalls' monumental life

Robert Smalls was born in 1839 in Beaufort and died in 1915 in his hometown a free, but somewhat forgotten man who lived a life unimaginable to a woman holding her son born into slavery. Supporters now have a chance to make sure he never fades into obscurity.

Robert Smalls writes a new future for this county that in the moment no one can see is happening, said Chris Barr, the Chief of Interpretation for the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park in Beaufort as he stood beside a bust of Smalls near his grave in his hometown.

Driving a Confederate boat to freedom is what captures the most attention in that remarkable life, Barr said.

If youre an enslaved person working on one of these boats around the Charleston Harbor like Robert Smalls, youve got the tools, youve got the talent, youve got the boat and you know how to drive it," Barr said "And you can literally see freedom floating in the form of the United States Navy just a few miles offshore. All you need is an opportunity."
Taiwan is expected to receive several weapons that have been battle tested in Ukraine from the United States over the next few years. Analysts say those weapons can help bolster Taiwans defense and strike capabilities amid growing military pressure from China.

In the latest round of arms sales to Taiwan, worth about $2 billion, the United States plans to deliver three medium-range National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, also known as NASAMS. The weapons include advanced AMRAAM Extended Range surface-to-air missiles.

The proposed sales will help improve Taiwans security and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region, the Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement released October 26.

NASAMS has been battle-tested in Ukraine and is viewed by experts as a significant elevation of Taiwans air defense capabilities. Australia and Indonesia are the other countries in the Indo-Pacific region that have received the system from the U.S.

Experts say that NASAMS has a high interoperation capability, and that the medium-range air defense system provides needed coverage in Taiwans existing air defense capabilities.

Currently, Taiwan relies on Stinger missiles for short-range air defense while using the Patriot missile system or Taiwans indigenous Tien Kung for long-range air defense, so NASAMS can help fill the gap of Taiwans medium-range air defense, said Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

He told VOA by phone that when NASAMS is incorporated into Taiwans air defense system, it can improve the islands capabilities to deal with the increasingly frequent patrols the Chinese military is conducting around Taiwan.

As Chinese naval vessels and military aircraft increase the frequency of their combat-readiness patrols near Taiwan, the risk of abrupt missile attacks launched by Chinese vessels is also increasing, so acquiring NASAMS can further enhance Taiwans capabilities to deal with these potential threats, Su said.

In addition to the surface-to-air missile system, Taiwans National Defense Ministry said the island is expected to receive 29 sets of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, from the United States between the end of 2024 and 2026.

The rocket system has been credited with helping Ukraine destroy Russian weapons or equipment in the ongoing conflict. Apart from receiving HIMARS from Washington, at least 17 Taiwanese soldiers were trained to use the rocket system at a military base in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, this past August.

After a post on the military bases official Facebook page showed Taiwanese soldiers participating in HIMARS training with counterparts from Romania and Estonia, which has since been removed, Taiwanese Defense Minister Wellington Koo said Friday that Taiwan had planned to send at least 30 soldiers to receive HIMARS training in the U.S. between February and October this year.

Since Ukraine has used HIMARS to strike Russian military bases and weaken the Russian militarys momentum, some Taiwanese experts say the systems potentially can be used to target Chinese military facilities in coastal areas.

The Taiwanese military can use HIMARS to hit some Chinese military facilities along the southeastern coast or target invading troops in different parts of Taiwan, said Chieh Chung, a research fellow at the Association of Strategic Foresight in Taiwan.

Overall, Chieh told VOA by phone, the acquisition of NASAMS and HIMARS can enhance Taiwans capabilities in conducting network-centric warfare and deter China from easily launching an attack against Taiwan.

Other analysts say the series of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan reflects Washingtons commitment to supporting Taiwans self-defense capabilities, but China will interpret the latest developments as a provocation from Taiwan and the U.S.

Beijing will interpret this as changing the status quo [across the Taiwan Strait] nevertheless, Stephen Nagy, a regional security expert at the International Christian University in Japan, told VOA in a written response.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory and repeatedly has vowed to reunify with the island, by force, if necessary. In response to the latest U.S. arms sales to Taiwan last week, Beijing condemned it and urged Washington to stop what it called dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

China showcases its naval capability

The arms sales and training come as Chinas two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, conducted a dual formation exercise for the first time in the disputed South China Sea from late September to October.

Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping told the state-run China Daily newspaper that the exercise will allow the two Chinese aircraft carriers to integrate and magnify the power and enable the fleet to better organize strikes and handle threats from air and sea.

Chieh in Taiwan said China is showing the U.S. it could assert maritime claims in disputed waters in the Indo-Pacific region at a time when U.S. aircraft carriers are deployed to the Middle East.

Since the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has forced the U.S. to deploy its aircraft carrier groups to the region, China is trying to remind Washington that it can impose control over certain parts of the Indo-Pacific region amid an American absence, he said.

Nagy in Japan said that while China can demonstrate its capability to operate aerial and naval assets near areas of potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region  such as the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait  such a formation also exposes the Chinese aircraft carriers as obvious targets for more experienced fighting forces.

Losing one or two of Chinas few aircraft carriers would have a very serious reputational cost for the Chinese Communist Party, and the U.S. and its partners understand this, so they are preparing for their scenarios, he said.
As Colorado Springs voters were approving opposing ballot questions on retail marijuana sales, pro-campaign representatives and city officials seemed to offer competing interpretations of which new law, if unofficial results hold, could take effect.
The U.N. secretary-general on Friday strongly condemned recent attacks in Sudan's Al Jazirah state by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and reiterated his call for the war to end.

"The secretary-general is appalled by large numbers of civilians being killed, being detained or being displaced, as well as acts of sexual violence against women and girls, the looting of homes and the looting of markets and the burning of farms," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

"Such acts may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Perpetrators of such serious violations must be held to account."

From October 20 to 30, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out major attacks in villages across eastern Al Jazirah state, reportedly killing more than 120 civilians.

The International Organization for Migration said Friday that more than 135,000 people have fled the area in the past week, with most going to Gedaref and Kassala states.

The U.N. office for humanitarian affairs says it and its partners, especially local organizations and volunteers, are supporting thousands of the new arrivals with humanitarian aid, mental health support, family reunification services and other assistance.

The RSF has been locked in battle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for nearly 19 months, since their leaders turned against one another and engaged in a power struggle that has tipped the nation into catastrophe.

Dujarric said the U.N. chief is alarmed that the humanitarian situation continues to worsen and "demands" that all parties to the conflict facilitate "safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need in Sudan."

Eleven million people have been displaced and half of Sudan's population, an estimated 25 million people, are struggling with crisis levels of food insecurity. Famine was confirmed in August in parts of Sudan's Darfur region. At least 14 other areas of Sudan are considered at risk of famine in the coming months. Meanwhile, diseases, including cholera, are spreading.

"The secretary-general renews his call for a cease-fire to spare Sudanese civilians from further harm," Dujarric said.

Security Council action

Assistance has been slow to reach the Sudanese because of the fighting and lack of access to parts of the country.

In August, the government reopened a critical border crossing from Chad that it had closed because it feared the RSF was using it to smuggle in arms and other war materiel. The Adre crossing reopened for an initial three-month period, which will expire on November 16. Humanitarians and diplomats have urged that it be permanently reopened.

Britain assumed the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council on Friday, and Ambassador Barbara Woodward told reporters that scaling up the humanitarian response is a priority for the U.K.

"Even since the Adre border opened in August, fewer than 30 trucks of aid are getting in per week, and that is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of 9 million people suffering in Darfur," she said.

She said use of the border crossing must be renewed and "all possible routes" for aid  whether across borders or conflict front lines  must be maximized.

"If they're not, countless lives will be lost," Woodward said.

On Monday, Sudan's U.N. ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, told Security Council members that his government had opened nine crossings in addition to Adre and seven airports for humanitarians. But he cautioned that his government needed to review every three months and consider the security risks of keeping Adre open.

"The border crossing at Adre is really a threat to national security," Mohamed said.

Britain's Woodward said her delegation would convene a meeting on Sudan on November 12 to be chaired by the U.K.'s minister for the United Nations and Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury, to focus on the protection of civilians and the scaling up of aid.

She said Britain, which leads the negotiating and drafting of resolutions on Sudan, would soon circulate a draft resolution to Security Council members.

"The draft resolution will be based on the secretary-general's recommendations and will focus on developing a compliance mechanism for the warring parties' commitments they made on the protection of civilians in Jeddah over a year ago, in 2023, and ways to support mediation efforts to deliver a cease-fire, even if we start with local cease-fires before moving to a national one," she said.

Just weeks after the fighting erupted, the SAF and RSF signed a declaration in Saudi Arabia reaffirming their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid for them, including precautions to avoid and minimize civilian harm, which both sides have failed to do.
Tuesdays US presidential election is shaping up to be unlike any the country has seen before. Security and intelligence officials warn that voters are facing a heightened and dynamic threat environment, with dangers coming from both home and abroad. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin has more.
Achieving justice in the targeted killings of journalists is a difficult task made even more complicated in cases that take place in wartime, experts say.

On a global scale, 85% of journalist killings around the world since 2006 remain unsolved, according to a report released by UNESCO on Saturday. In 2013, the United Nations declared November 2 the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

Impunity in journalist killings has long been the norm, and active conflict exacerbates the problem, according to Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ.

You have fewer resources to devote to investigations, Ginsberg told VOA. Courts are often overwhelmed. The ability to do investigations is hampered because theres a live conflict going on.

That has been the case in the Israel-Hamas war, Russias invasion of Ukraine, civil war in Myanmar and gang violence in Haiti.

The war in Gaza

With the Israel-Hamas war, as of October 31, at least 134 journalists and media workers  primarily Palestinians  have been killed since the conflict began last year, according to CPJ.

CPJ has determined that the Israeli military targeted five of them in direct connection to their work as journalists. Israel ranks second worst in the world in terms of impunity in journalist killings, according to CPJs index, which was published Wednesday.

In one incident on October 13, 2023, the Israeli military fired two tank shells 37 seconds apart in southern Lebanon in the direction of media crews. The journalists were about one mile from the closest hostilities, wore vests marked PRESS and stood next to a car marked TV, according to reports. The attack killed Lebanese Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six other reporters.

CPJ and news outlets have determined the case was a deliberate attack.

At the time, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations said Israeli forces would never want to kill or shoot any journalist who is working, but that in a state of war, things might happen. We regret them, we feel sorry. The ambassador said that Israel would investigate.

Im dismayed that there has been no accountability since the attack on October 13, but not surprised, Ginsberg told VOA in September in New York. Impunity in journalist killings has been a problem in Israel for decades, she added.

CPJ is investigating the possible targeted killings of 10 more journalists in the Israel-Hamas war. Determining what happened is difficult because of the conflict and restrictions on access for foreign media to Gaza.

Anyone responsible for the killing of a journalist, of a civilian, should be prosecuted and held accountable. Journalists are civilians. Theyre not targets, Ginsberg said.

Israels military did not reply to VOAs email requesting comment for this story. Israel has previously denied targeting journalists.

The civil war in Myanmar

Accountability is also difficult in Myanmars civil war.

Since the military launched a coup in 2021, more than 5,000 civilians have been killed, more than 27,000 people have been arrested, and more than 3.3 million people have been displaced, according to the U.N. human rights office.

At least seven journalists have been killed over their work since the coup, according to CPJ. Three of those killings took place this year, including two who were killed by security forces in a raid on their house and another who was killed in military custody.

Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, told VOA: The assault on the media, the assault on journalism, the assault on the principle of the freedom of the press, is all part of their stock-in-trade to hide their systematic assaults on the people of Myanmar.

Myanmar ranks 10th in the world in terms of impunity in journalist killings, according to CPJ.

Myanmars military did not reply to VOAs request for comment.

Russias invasion of Ukraine

Russias war in Ukraine has also led to calls for accountability. While Russia does not appear on the 2024 Impunity Index  which looks at targeted killings only  at least 15 journalists and media workers have been killed covering the war, according to CPJ.

Without accountability, were essentially giving a green light for further attacks on journalists not only in Ukraine but potentially in future conflicts worldwide, National Union of Journalists of Ukraine President Sergiy Tomilenko told VOA in an email.

Protecting journalists isnt just about individual cases  its about defending democracy and the right to truth. Each unpunished attack on a journalist emboldens those who want to silence independent media, Tomilenko said.

Russias Washington embassy and Foreign Ministry did not reply to VOAs email requesting comment.

Among the cases of journalists killed is that of Viktoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who died in Russian custody in September.

The circumstances surrounding Roshchynas death remain unclear because the Russian government has refused to return her body to Ukraine.

Without a body, it will be difficult to determine how she died, according to Karol Luczka, who monitors Eastern Europe at the International Press Institute in Vienna.

This is a particularly appalling case of impunity, he said.

Based on UNESCO data, a journalist was killed every four days for doing their job in 2022 and 2023. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay called on member states to do more to hold perpetrators of these crimes accountable.

Prosecuting and convicting the perpetrators is a major lever to prevent future attacks on journalists, she said in a statement.
By Mqondisi Dube

GABORONE, Botswana  Botswana will have a new ruling party for the first time in 58 years after an opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change, secured a landslide victory in a general election held Wednesday.

Outgoing president Mokgweetsi Masisi expressed shock at the loss, but accepted defeat. In a televised address Friday he conceded defeat, which denied him a second and final term in office.

Masisi, 63, was elected Botswanas president in 2019.

I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election. I am proud of our democratic processes, and I respect the will of the people, Masisi said. I wish to assure all of you, as I have already assured the president elect, Advocate Duma Boko, that although I wished to continue serving you as president for a second term, the final term, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process ahead of inauguration.

As he vacates office, Masisi said he does not have concerns he might be prosecuted over actions while in office.

Look at my hands. They look clean. I feel they are clean, I know theyre clean, he said. If anyone finds any evidence, take me to court. Now will be the time because its in the constitution. The protection of the president is only temporary.

President-elect Duma Boko pledged a people-centered approach to his incoming administration.

I am truly, truly humbled, and I can only pledge to them that I will do the very best and as I told them, where I fail and falter, I will look to them to guide and assist, thats all one can do with humility, he said. Thank you very much to the nation.

Boko, a 54-year-old human rights lawyer, praised Masisi for the smooth transfer of power, which he says maintains Botswanas place among peaceful and democratic nations in Africa.

What has happened today takes our democracy to a higher level, Boko said. It now means we have seen a successful, peaceful, orderly democratic transition from one regime to the next, and this happened in full view of the citizens of this country, with their full participation and endorsement.

The Botswana Congress Party, which pulled out of the Umbrella for Democratic Change alliance in 2022 over differences, will now become the main opposition in parliament.

Its leader, Dumelang Saleshando, said his party will keep the new government in check in line with the role of the opposition.

The voter has said the UDC must form a government, and the voter has said they want the BCP as the biggest opposition block, he said. We are going to get ready as BCP to perform that function."

Former Botswana President Ian Khamas party, the Botswana Patriotic Front, came in third in the vote count, while Masisis Botswana Democratic Party was last. Boko will be officially sworn in by the countrys chief justice later this month.
A U.S. judge on Friday denied Elon Musk's bid to move a Pennsylvania lawsuit over his $1 million voter prizes to federal court, moving the case back to state court.

It was not immediately clear if the decision would affect the billionaire's plan to keep awarding money until the U.S. presidential election Tuesday.

The decision was issued by U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert in Philadelphia federal court.

Musk has been giving $1 million checks to randomly selected registered voters who sign a petition supporting free speech and gun rights.

Musk's America PAC had awarded $1 million prizes to 14 people as of Friday and said the final prize will be given out Tuesday.

Democratic Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner sued Musk and his political action committee, which backs Republican former President Donald Trump, on Monday in a state court to try to block the giveaway. Krasner called the program an illegal lottery.

Two days later, Tesla CEO Musk and his America PAC sought to move the case to federal court, arguing Krasner's lawsuit raised questions about free-speech rights and election interference that belong in federal court. That prompted the state judge who had been overseeing the case to put it on hold.

In arguing that the case belonged in state court, Krasner called Musk's maneuver an attempt to "run the clock until Election Day." Krasner did not allege the giveaway violates federal law.

Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania, one of seven battleground states likely to determine the outcome of the race between Trump and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Musk's offer is limited to registered voters in the seven states expected to decide the election  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Musk gave away the first $1 million at an October 19 America PAC rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital.

The giveaway falls in a gray area of election law, and legal experts are divided on whether Musk could be violating federal laws against paying people to register to vote.

The U.S. Department of Justice warned America PAC the giveaway could violate federal law, according to media reports, but federal prosecutors have not taken any public action.

Musk has so far given nearly $120 million to America PAC, according to federal disclosures.
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Incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi has conceded to defeat to opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change leader Duma Boko, an attorney and human rights activist. (Video: Shingi Madondo/VOA)
By Kate Bartlett

JOHANNESBURG 

Whoever U.S. voters choose as their next president  former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris  the election has global implications, with the probability it will affect other economies, foreign conflicts and personal freedoms, analysts told VOA.

South African independent political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng said the winner could usher in policies that affect ordinary people in Africa.

I hope that as Americans vote, theyre aware that whatever decision they make, its going to determine the future of not only America but the rest of the world, she said.

How we engage with issues of termination of pregnancy, how we engage with issues of LGBT rights, how we engage with issues of race and racism will be determined by this election, not just for America but for everyone else and everywhere else in the world, Ngoasheng continued.

The abortion issue is a particularly divisive topic for U.S. Republicans and Democrats.

While the United States is the largest funder of global reproductive health programs, Trump slashed that funding during his presidency by extending a policy that barred U.S. aid from going to any organization that supported abortion.

Experts said they believe that a second Trump presidency would likely do that again and could negatively affect PEPFAR, the U.S.s key HIV/AIDS program.

Trade is another key area in which analysts think Harris and Trump would differ, given Trumps America first policy.

African governments hope that next year the U.S. will renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a Clinton-era policy that gives countries duty-free access to the U.S. market.

Ray Hartley, research director of South African Brenthurst Foundation think tank, does not have high hopes for a second Trump presidency.

I think that a Trump presidency would reinforce Americas isolationist approach in international affairs, and that might not be good for trade, he said.

Other analysts said they believe general U.S. policy toward Africa wont differ radically regardless of who wins.

They said that while Africa was often neglected in terms of U.S. foreign policy, that has shifted in recent years amid renewed competition with Russia and China on the resource-rich continent.

Moscow has strengthened military ties with many African governments, while U.S. troops have been kicked out of Niger and Chad. Beijing, meanwhile, is Africas largest trade partner and has been building infrastructure throughout the continent.

Ebenezer Obadare, senior fellow for Africa studies at U.S. research organization Council on Foreign Relations, said, Insofar as the United States is intent on competing with those powers in Africa, keeping its old alliances and building new ones, I dont think one administration is likely to differ much from another, strictly in terms of their Africa policy.

As vice president, Harris traveled to the continent, where she pushed President Joe Bidens line that the U.S. was all in on Africa. The Biden administration also started holding an annual U.S.-African leaders summit.

And, as it increases competition with China, the current administration has also undertaken funding the biggest U.S. infrastructure project in Africa in generations: the Lobito corridor, a railway connecting Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo that will be used to transport critical minerals.

Biden was forced to reschedule a promised visit to Africa and is now expected in Angola in December. The choice of country has been criticized by some for what they say is Angola's shoddy human rights record.

Trump's signature initiative involving the continent was creating Prosper Africa, a U.S. agency designed to assist American companies doing business in Africa.

However, he also offended many Africans during his first term, using a derogatory term to refer to countries on the continent and mispronouncing Namibias name. More recently he raised ire by comparing himself to South African icon Nelson Mandela.

Analysts said that while Harris and Trump have generally ignored Africa over the course of their campaigns, whoever becomes America's next president would do well to keep up engagement with the continent, which boasts the world's youngest population.
Photo: Kimberley French/A24/Everett Collection

A week before the wide release of Heretic, audiences in select theaters did more than just watch and listen to the new A24 horror flick. They also smelled it, thanks to a stab at a gimmick that movie theaters have tried to make happen several times with limited success. Viewers who didnt sniff out these blueberry-scented screenings wont be missing anything essential when Heretic opens, odorless, on November 8. But the films brief deployment of modern-day Smell-O-Vision didnt stink, for once  it was actually a surprisingly effective marriage of screen and smell.

The smell in Heretic (theres only one) came courtesy of Joya, a company thats previously partnered with A24 for branded candles. Anybody who has ever given themselves a headache sniffing absurdly specific scented candles at a store knows that theres invariably some artificiality to these concocted scents. Yankee Candle can make something smell eerily like pumpkin-banana scones, but youre not going to be fooled into actually thinking theres fresh-baked goods in the oven. Scents in a movie theater face this problem, too. Rather than being immersive, smelling a mysteriously piped-in fragrance that might linger well after the accompanying onscreen moment has passed threatens to take audiences out of the moment.

Heretics multisensory experience worked because of how it weaponized this falseness and made it complement an onscreen twist. When Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton (played by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, respectively) first enter the house of their would-be convert, Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), they do so only because he says his wife is in the kitchen baking a fresh blueberry pie. (To go into a mans house without another woman present would be against their missionary rules.) Mr. Reed returns from the kitchen claiming his wife is being shy, but hes brought soda and a candle to his living room for Barnes and Paxton to enjoy while they try to tell him about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Its at this time, with the supposed pie baking in the other room, that the unmistakable, uncanny scent of gooey, sugary blueberry pie began to waft into the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema where Heretic was being screened. (Alamo already has a fairly distinct scent because of all the food, so for the theater to smell like blueberries meant those scented molecules had to be really working.) On the screen, Barnes and Paxton are beginning to grow uncomfortable at Mr. Reeds questions and his unseen wifes continued shyness. Their suspicions grow until he leaves the room, at which point Barnes turns the candle on the table around to see its  blueberry-pie scented. No one is baking in the other room, Mr. Reeds wife doesnt exist, and Barnes and Paxton are in trouble thats only going to get worse.

With that reveal, the nagging artificiality of the blueberries scent in the theater clicked into place. It was fake in the movie, too. (Alamo kind of undermined this moment minutes later when it served everybody an actual piece of blueberry pie, but its hard to get too mad at a free dessert.)

Heretic directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods explained via email that the scented screening was A24s pitch, not theirs, but they approved it because the idea of Smell-O-Vision felt tonally comical in a similar way to their film.

Movies have been dabbling with smell since the silent era, with theaters experimenting with scented oils and flowery perfumes. A 1940 issue of Variety has an item about a theater in New York that was built with the ability to pump in scents in 1916; it was used once, for a short film called Story of the Flowers. That quick abandonment is a running theme in the history of movie smells, but by far the most famous (or infamous) stab at bringing a third sense to the screen was Smell-O-Vision. Developed from technology that made no impact when it bowed at the 1939 New York Worlds Fair, Smell-O-Visions grand debut was with the 1960 film Scent of Mystery, which was written expressly to bust out more than a dozen scent cues. A competing stink technology, AromaRama, rushed to market to rival Smell-O-Vision and debuted with a 1959 movie called Behind the Great Wall.

Both gimmicks were reviled. Scents lingered or came out at the wrong times or not at all, and different parts of theaters got hit with waves of odor at different times. Smell-O-Vision died, and scented cinema was from then on regarded as a foolish joke. John Waters, champion of kitsch and trash, evoked it by offering scratch-and-sniff cards to audiences of his 1981 film, Polyester. The fourth Spy Kids movie did the same, and a Vulture report from the time suggested it left a lot to be desired.

Heretics one-night-only scented screening is a promotional event rather than a proper release strategy, let alone a bold new vision for the future of cinema, but it makes sense that movies are revisiting the idea of heightened theatrical experiences. As theaters compete with streaming, theyre looking to enhance what they offer into something you cant get on your couch watching Netflix. Regals 4DX, which helped launch Twisters to box-office success, does include some smells, though theyre secondary to the roller-coaster aspects of that experience.

That a multisensory experience works for Heretic suggests a very narrow set of circumstances for when smell truly works at the movies. Its only because the blueberry-pie scent doesnt quite pass the sniff test that it, well, passes the sniff test. Still, even Beck and Woods admit its not essential.

Are these tactics necessary for movies as a whole? Maybe not, the pair wrote. But if you can couple a movie with occasional event gimmicks, we think it can be unique and special to draw people into the wonderful communal experience of seeing a film in a theater.
A Colorado man with a history of DUI convictions will serve 20 years behind bars after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

On Oct. 21, the 3rd Judicial District in Huerfano County, Colorado announced an agreement with Michael Estrada in which he will be convicted of second-degree murder for causing the death of Brendon Beach while driving under the influence.

On March 9 at 2:50 p.m., the Colorado State Patrol was dispatched to a "serious injury crash" on Colorado 12 at mile marker 13. The crash involved a 2013 GMC Sierra driven by Estrada and a 1999 Jeep Wrangler driven by Beach.

Estrada was traveling between 89 mph and 93 mph in a 45 mph zone and hit Beach head-on at approximately 66 mph. When troopers arrived, Beach was dead from various injuries related to the crash.

During the investigation into the incident, law enforcement suspected Estrada to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Upon his arrest, he has a blood-alcohol level of .134% and small amount of marijuana.

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Estrada is set to be sentenced on Dec. 19 to serve 20 years in state prison, followed by five years of mandatory parole after a minimum of 15 years served, according to a press release by Colorado State Patrol.

Estrada had two other DUI convictions in cases from Texas, and will now be convicted of two more DUIs in Colorado, the other stemming from an arrest in January.

The crash that took this mans life and forever changed an entire family wasnt just a high-speed drunk-driving crash; it was murder, stated Trooper Yoder of the Colorado State Patrol in a press release. Changing attitudes and thoughts is the communitys best hope for reducing drunk driving. If more people regarded drunk driving as a deliberate and dangerous act, fewer families would grieve these senseless losses.

On behalf of the victims family, we are grateful to have secured a murder conviction for what is now a four-time convicted DUI offender, stated Deputy District Attorney Nick Dale, who prosecuted the case.

He added, The District Attorneys Office thanks the tireless effort of the Colorado State Patrol in this case and truly appreciates the support of the victims family in reaching this agreement as they grieve the loss of their loved one due to this senseless murderous act.
Photo: Jason Getz/TNS via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

The emotional roller coaster of State of Georgia v. Jeffrey Williams, et al  the RICO case that sought to tie rapper Young Thugs Young Stoner Life label and crew to a sprawling web of shootings and drug deals through lyrics, affiliations, and public and private correspondence  took an uplifting turn yesterday when the YSL founder was set free. The state had sought to put Thug away for 20 years but made a sloppy case, mind-palacing connections between rap lyrics he may or may not have written and real-life crimes that, as Thugs lawyer Brian Steel noted in a rousing rebuttal to the states closing remarks, didnt make sense chronologically.

The trial, the longest in the history of Georgia, was at times a circus, accentuating flaws in the RICO Act and its applications. Prosecutors took liberties in interpreting defendants literary work to imply a criminality bleeding into every aspect of their lives. It felt like rap itself was on trial. The state thought it was sending a message that brazen lawlessness in the genre had racked up a ghastly body count and must be reined in at all costs. But what it actually communicated was a feeling that if you, as a homespun rap-success story, regularly associate with, provide for, or try to get through to people with spotty legal histories, you can expect wiretaps and accusations.

You wonder why prosecutors struggle to pin cases on their marks if rappers are the careless criminals the courts paint them to be.

There is a truth to the complaint inherent in discussions about the enthusiastic ultraviolence in and around trap and drill in the past decade. Rap is a commercial and creative outlet not unshackled from the overarching jingoist predilections binding its place of origin. We like a rapper to be rough and authentic but recoil from the prickly points when the universe tosses us a real one. Fans revere work that is pridefully unscrewed from stuffy mainstream society and highlights moral gray areas, from N.W.As Fuck tha Police to Jay-Zs Izzo (H.O.V.A.) to Rich Gangs Lifestyle. But increasingly, we gorge on rumors of strife between camps, feigning shock when lit fuses collide with powder kegs. In a brighter timeline, charges implicating Chicagos Lil Durk in a chilling revenge-murder plot against rapper Quando Rondo would inspire fierce soul-searching in fan circles about years of irresponsible plays, like the memeification of calls for Durks Only the Family label to retaliate and slide for Von, the OTF signee who was killed during a 2020 skirmish with Rondo associates. Instead, the refrain pivots to a crestfallen Free Durk. When conflict boosted by spectators and fueled by posturing in music reaches law enforcement and judiciary radars, theres no guarantee the understanding of intent and tradition that tells listeners how much of a rappers grit is kayfabe will hold.

The week in July when GA v. Williams, et al. shuffled judges twice expresses how much of a dice roll it can be to get a fair shake in a trial like this. The states inability to present an airtight case for Thug as kingpin says a RICO charge can demonize defendants by implicating them in bigger crimes than prosecutors are able to immediately prove, jamming up livelihoods and breaking up families. YSLs first arbiter, Fulton County Superior Court judge Ural Glanville, ruled that lyrics could be used as evidence and took an icily literal approach to the music, which culminated in a melodramatic recitation of the chorus from Slime Season 3s Slime Shit. As in Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazzs 2010 first-degree-murder trial, the portrayal of Thug lyrics as timely confessions and statements of intent fell apart after ferocious retort, protecting the rhetorical agency of art and artist under great duress. You wonder how these bumbling, bombastic proceedings serve their actual victims and why prosecutors struggle to pin these cases on their marks if rappers are the careless, hardened criminals who tell on themselves that the courts paint them to be.

It was a joyful shock to the system watching Young Thug abruptly get his life back after facing these aspersions. But this isnt the end of his journey. His sentence  five years in prison, commuted to time already served  includes 15 years probation. Probationary stipulations are intricate. Thug must avoid metro Atlanta, and most of his co-defendants  barring Gunna and his brother Quantavious Unfoonk Grier, the latter of whom is now serving nine years  and host four presentations a year denouncing gang violence, all the while making sure not to push it in his own music. The penalty for breaching the terms of the nonnegotiated plea deal he took to be done with deliberations is 20 years in prison.

The growing Minority Report vibes and the evidence that Feds are neck-deep in hip-hop media and culture, connecting the wrong dots, arouse a numbing resignation about future overreach. But its important to remember that we have a measure of influence in the choice of voices we amplify in criminal cases and the ability to vote for judges. Rap fans who hate the hail of uncertainty and confusion a high-profile trial brings nowadays must be wise to content creators who thrive on misinformation and get too many kicks from internecine strife in hip-hop and the communities sourcing it (especially with conspiracies swarming the Diddy case on the docket for 2025). We must also get granular about the local officials holding sway in these stories to curb their tendencies toward seeking extreme punishments through tacking on dubious charges and toward litigation of rap music using lurid assumptions of intent. We cant just gather to nudge the U.S. presidency out of the grip of accelerationists every four years and disperse. Fulton County DA Fani Willis indicting YSL in Georgia is a reminder that angling for exorbitant punishments through overbroad indictments crosses party lines. We have seen analogues all over the country, like the 2016 Bronx raid the U.S. Department of Justice touted as one of the largest gang takedowns in New York history, until reporting revealed that some half of its alleged 120 rival crew members and associates had no legitimate affiliation. The dozens indicted last September in Georgia on RICO and domestic-terrorism charges for protesting plans for a lavish Atlanta police-training facility face the same time-buying, life-destroying, carceral-state pressure. As we celebrate Thug evading his worst-case scenario, lets also consider the political machinery that put it on the table in the first place.
Gardai have arrested a man after cocaine worth 210,000 was seized at Dublin Airport.

The drugs were discovered when Revenue officers searched luggage belonging to a passenger on a flight from Lisbon, Portugal, on Friday night.

A man in his 20s was arrested and is currently being held at a Garda station in Dublin.

Investigations are ongoing, gardai said.
A science experiment by a group of local college students could lead to out-of-this-world applications.

This week, the experiment designed by three current University of Colorado Colorado Springs students and one Pikes Peak State College alum will be sent to the International Space Station as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.

"Getting the opportunity to work on actual flight hardware has been incredible," UCCS student and experiment designer Luke Davis said. "And just the opportunity to be able to do this has been special."

Davis and two other students' experiment, titled Calcium Sulfate Crystal Growth, was among 37 programs selected across the world to be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Dragon rocket in Florida on Monday, Nov. 4.

It will mark the first time for both campuses that a student project has been launched into space.

It also marks the first time that either school has participated in the program. The partnership began when UCCS was invited to participate last year and contacted PPSC to assist with funding the $17,000 approximately needed.

UCCS associate professor of teaching Lynnane George said the collaboration made sense given the two schools' history of partnerships and pathway students.

"We work closely with Pikes Peak, because a lot of students go there and end up transferring here, so I've known McKenna Lovejoy for a long time," she said.

Lovejoy is PPSC's director of engineering and said she and her campus provided instructional guidance and resources, in addition to the funding assistance, while UCCS provided the students with the labs and equipment needed for testing.

The experiment was developed by three current UCCS students and one PPSC alum and will specifically monitor the formation of calcium sulphate crystals in microgravity. The chemicals and water that create the crystals will be taken to the space station, orbiting 250 miles above Earths surface and traveling at 4.5 miles per second and monitored by astronauts for two to four weeks.

Meanwhile, the students back on Earth will be monitoring their own ground-controlled crystal growth to measure the differences microgravity has on their formation.

Davis, an aerospace major, explained that numerous variables, like Earth's gravity, affect the pressurization and crystallization of the chemical.

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"So, what we're looking to see [is], 'Let's take gravity away from this equation.'" he said. "How is it going to form that chain? What's it going to look like?"

Calcium phosphate is commonly used in products ranging from construction materials like drywall and plaster to fertilizer. Although simple in its design, the experiment could potentially yield breakthroughs in the process of food production in space.

Lovejoy explained that, since human exploration in space and on other planets is anticipated to increase, experiments such as this could lead to solutions for growing food beyond Earth.

"If we're going to start sending humans to space, they're going to need to know how to grow food and they're going to have to be efficient," she said. "So, finding out ways to maximize the growth potential ... that's kind of where it fits in that realm. Because we can't just be shipping everything everywhere once we're up there."

The experiment was one of three selected from 10 local teams drawn from the two schools and later selected as one of the final 37 by the program, which is under the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education Internationally.

The program also provided local K-12 students to design a mission patch for the flight. The patch will be sent into orbit along with the experiment.

Following multiple delays, the launch is slated for Monday from NASA's famed Kennedy Space Center where the students and campus faculty involved in its development will be in attendance to view.

The two schools are already planning to participate in next year's experiment cycle, with experiment proposals due by Nov. 10, and will be joined by other schools across the state including Colorado School of Mines.

The collaboration and coordination between all the parties was repeatedly mentioned as being integral to literally getting this year's project off the ground.

"I don't think either of us (schools) could have pulled this off alone," Lovejoy said. "And we have such a good partnership with our engineering degrees ... and even getting younger kids involved with the art contest just brings awareness that this stuff is possible here in Colorado Springs."

The launch is scheduled will be livestreamed on both NASA and SpaceX sites.
South East Technological University (SETU) has experienced a cybersecurity incident which targeted their IT systems in Waterford.

The incident was identified at the earliest possible stage and SETU's IT team moved swiftly to safeguard their IT systems.

Relevant Government departments and authorities have been informed of the situation.

An official statement from SETU issued this evening says:

"Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that any data or information has been compromised. However, we continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations are ongoing.

"Our internal IT team is liaising with external cyber security experts to resolve the issue and minimise any potential impact. However, staff and students may experience some disruption as we continue to work to resolve the issue."

SETU Student's Union President, Mark Dunne said this evening that Monday's classes at Waterford have been cancelled as a result of the attack.

"There will be more clarity on the situation on Monday, but as of now they are cancelled" he said, "there is no point being in the college on Monday so I'm told and I can say that with authority from the university. Take it that things are back to normal on Tuesday but we don't know at the moment."

Carlow and Wexford campuses have not been impacted and will operate as normal.
The Zelensky Story 

Tuesday, SBS, 8.30pm There are few, if any, major world leaders of whom it can be said that high-quality publicly available footage exists of them sitting on a toilet. But such is the shot that opens episode one of The Zelensky Story, a documentary tracing the strange and unlikely rise of Volodymyr Zelensky, comedian turned Ukrainian president. Volodymyr Zelensky in The Zelensky Story: His popularity had been growing for years. Credit: SBS The toilet scene is taken from the Ukrainian TV comedy Servant of the People, in which Zelensky played an ordinary man who finds himself unexpectedly elevated to the position of president. The parallels are quite clear, and some might even call them eerie, except for the fact that Zelenskys real-life presidency, while not what anyone would have predicted early in his career, was by no means accidental: as the show illustrates, his election in 2019 was the culmination of a groundswell of popularity that had been growing for years, from even before Servant of the People gave the Ukrainian public a taste of how statesmanlike Zelensky could be when he got in front of the camera and spoke heartfelt lines about freedom and democracy. It is indeed a weird and wonderful saga that unfolds in this program, with footage of Zelensky as a young man performing comedy with friends and colleagues, whose reminiscences of their time working with him form a key part of the talking-heads sections of the show. Admittedly, the performances we see lose a little in the translation, but the Russian and Ukrainian audiences lap it up  including Vladimir Putin himself, who back in the day attended recordings of the popular Russian comedy competition show KVN, on which Zelenskys gang were top dogs. (There is, incidentally, a minor point to be made out of Putins ostentatious attendance at the shows, about how politicians appear on comedy programs to burnish their image  a point that numerous shows here and now could but wont learn from.)

From the early KVN days, Zelensky went on to become a major movie star in Ukraine and Russia and one of the most popular personalities in both countries. Showbiz started to lean towards politics after 2010, when Putins crony Viktor Yanukovych rose to power and turned Ukraine into a kleptocracy, looting the country for the benefit of himself and his pals. After a popular uprising, Yanukovych fled and, coincidentally, Zelensky took on a role as an activist that got a lot of people thinking, including himself. Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena in The Zelensky Story: Exploring the complexities of the man. Credit: SBS Zelensky is the main focus of course, but there is another story being told here, running parallel to the Ukrainian presidents: the story of the man seen laughing and clapping at his future enemys jokes a few decades back. The collapse of the Soviet Union occurred when Zelensky was just a boy, but Putin was a KGB agent devastated by the dissolution of the USSR, an event that set him on course to devote himself to restoring the pride  and if he could have his way, the former territories  of Mother Russia. Its that determination that led him to lock horns with Zelensky. Loading The documentary will be revelatory for many Westerners who know of the war in Ukraine and of Zelenskys former career but have little detail about the background of either war or man. The fact that Zelensky was elected as the anti-war candidate, the one arguing against his opponents rhetoric of defiance against Russia, is a fine example of how the program, while taking a consistently pro-Zelensky line, is thorough in exploring the complexities and contradictions of the man.
The November 2 Edition

Jockeys tend to be male, which is odd when you think about it, given the importance of weight to the sport, and the fact that women tend to weigh less than men. That can perhaps be chalked up to historical sexism, something captured brilliantly in the title of the biopic about trailblazing Aussie jockey Michelle Payne, Ride Like a Girl. But one of the most interesting snippets in Melissa Fyfes profile of another ground-breaking jockey, Jamie Kah, is how thats changing at the grassroots. In NSW, women made up 14 of the 20 apprentice jockeys employed in the past year, while Victoria welcomed 10 female and one male apprentice jockeys this year. The dangers inherent in the sport have perhaps also played a part in its male bias. Its sobering to read that, at only 28, Kah has already had two close friends die on the job. As Fyfe writes, shes also been penalised for not pushing into what she saw as a dangerous gap between horses in a race in August. Kah is the best female jockey in the world right now. All power to her for speaking up for the safety of riders  without whom, as with horses, there would be no racing. Editor, Katrina Strickland.
The supply of tradespeople, architects and other building professionals will fail to meet projected demand well into the 2030s, a major building report has found, as Labor faces a federal election battle over the housing crisis.

Build Skills Australia  a jobs and skills council established by Labor to address workforce planning and training needs  has released its workforce plan, which warns that the governments ambitious housing target of 1.2 million new homes over five years will face supply constraints.

The building industry faces a chronic shortage of workers in coming years. Credit: Louie Douvis

The report estimates that next years building-sector labour demand will be more than 2 million workers, but there will be supply shortfall of almost 200,000.

By 2030, the report predicts, the sector will need 2.44 million workers to satisfy demand, but fall short by 370,000 workers. By 2035, the gap will still be significant, at 267,000 workers.
Typically, when an airline or online travel agent spots its mistake, it is entitled to cancel the tickets and offer a refund to customers. However, some airlines appear to see the mistake as an opportunity to get good PR. Honouring the tickets is costly, but cancelling them can come with a swath of negative press. Flight deals site Jacks Flight Club estimates about 70 per cent of error fares are honoured, while Going.com says between 80 and 90 per cent of error fare tickets go ahead without cancellation. Cathay Pacific honoured its tickets after accidentally selling first- and business-class fares for economy prices in 2019. Credit: How to find and secure an error fare There are a number of websites and newsletters that comb the internet for error fares, though most are focused on US routes. Jacks Flight Club publishes a premium newsletter ($8 a month) alerting subscribers to these fares as soon as they are detected. Drew Stewart, head of marketing at Jacks Flight Club, says: We find them like we do every other deal: scouring the internet for price drops on routes. If that price drop is so much cheaper than anything weve ever seen before, nearing half the price or more than wed usually expect a good price on that route to be, wed consider that an error fare.

Jacks Flight Club advises that, after detecting an error fare, customers should try to book it directly via the airlines website. They say there have been instances where the airline has honoured direct bookings but asked OTAs to cancel the tickets. They also advise that more reasonable error fares are more likely to be honoured. For example, a $20 first-class ticket is less likely to be honoured than one costing $600. Other websites, such as Secret Flying, also log error fares, including hotel deals. Going.com (previously Scotts Cheap Flights) is another helpful resource, but it is primarily for US routes. All suggest the key to securing error fares is to act fast. Loading If you call or email the airline, or otherwise alert them about the error fare, there is a very high chance that they will correct the mistake, and/or cancel some or all of the bookings, advises US firm TravelPirates. Another way to detect error fares is to set up customised alerts on specific routes on price comparison sites such as Kayak. When an airfare drops below a certain price, you will receive an email alert. Other sites, such as Hopper, offer price alerts through an app, meaning you will receive a notification when one of your followed routes drops below a certain benchmark. Alternatively, go on Skyscanner or Google Flights, select the destination everywhere over flexible dates and see if you can find any tickets at unusually low rates. What are the risks?

You are not breaking any laws by booking an error fare, although it will almost certainly be spotted by the airline before too long. Loading As outlined above, many error fares will be honoured, but it is advisable that you leave it a while before booking other elements of your trip such as car hire and accommodation. If theyre going to cancel tickets sold at a mistaken rate, airlines will likely do so soon after they have detected the error, though it is not unheard of that these tickets are cancelled weeks or months later. The chance that you could be left with non-refundable elements of a holiday, but no flights, is something to be taken seriously, and a scenario that your travel insurance provider will likely view with little sympathy. If you do decide to snaffle an error fare, it would be wise to book your ticket using a credit card, as they will be able to offer more support in getting a refund if the airline cancels your ticket.
Beirut: Israel launched waves of deadly airstrikes across Lebanons north-east that killed at least 45 people on Friday, authorities said, and transformed once-bustling neighbourhood blocks in Beiruts southern suburbs into smouldering ruins.

Meanwhile in central Gaza, Palestinians recovered the bodies of 25 people killed in a barrage of Israeli aerial attacks that began Thursday, hospital officials said. Israel said it targeted Hamas infrastructure near the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in Tyre, Lebanon on Friday. Credit: Getty Images

The latest violence comes against the backdrop of the Biden administrations renewed diplomatic push, days before the US election, to reach temporary ceasefire deals. Israel has stepped up its offensive against Hamas remaining fighters in Gaza, pulverising areas in the north and raising fears of worsening humanitarian conditions for civilians still there.

In recent weeks Israel has broadened its strikes in Lebanon to bigger urban hubs, like Baalbek, after initially targeting smaller border villages in the south, where Hezbollah draws deep support. Iran-backed Hezbollah doubles as a major political party and provider of social services in Lebanon.
As the deadline looms for the 2024 general election, local voter turnout is down from 2020 rates but remains high heading into the weekend.

There have been 1.73 million votes cast across Colorado as of the end of Thursday, the Secretary of State's Office reported. Return rates across the board are roughly 75% of the votes cast at this point in the 2020 election.

The biggest volume of early vote returns come from El Paso County and Jefferson County, both of which have received more than 200,000 ballots as of Friday. El Paso has seen 206,729 voters, or 42% of all active voters, return their ballots as of Thursday night.

The largest share of votes cast in the county so far have come from unaffiliated voters, who have returned 85,800 ballots as of Thursday. Registered Republicans follow their turnout with 75,000 returned ballots and registered Democrat voters have returned around 42,200 ballots.

County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker said last week that his office expected turnout to eventually approach 90%. Schleiker said the intensity of the presidential race and the sheer number of issues on the local ballot may be causing voters to wait until closer to Election Day to return their ballots.

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Teller County reported 9,877 votes cast as of Thursday and a 51% return rate for the current election. The county's largest share of votes so far has been from registered Republicans.

Teller County Clerk Stephanie Kees said the turnout from voters was on track to match the last two presidential elections. The average daily returns this year were in between the 1,000 ballots per day rate in the 2016 election and the 1,200 ballots per day rate in the 2020 election.

People can continue to register to vote or update their voter information through Election Day. Voters are advised to visit one of the Voter Service and Polling Centers across El Paso County to register, change their registration or receive a replacement ballot. The county elections office brought an additional 18 VSPC locations online Friday and will have 38 centers open Monday and Tuesday.

Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday in order to be counted. Voters can return their ballots in a drop box or at one of the Voter Service and Polling Centers. Ballots returned by mail will likely not arrive before the Tuesday night deadline.

Voters can look up ballot return locations in El Paso County at http://clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/elections/ballot-drop-boxes-vspc-locations. They can look up return options in Teller County at https://tellercounty.gov/Elections
Three people were killed and three others injured after a Halloween house party in a quiet Northglenn neighborhood turned deadly.

Shortly after midnight, police officers responded to reports of shots fired at a residence in the 200 block of Belford Drive.

When officers arrived, they discovered a large gathering with multiple people wounded by gunfire. A large Halloween house party had been taking place, witnesses said.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and five additional victims were transported to area hospitals, where two later died, according to James Burlison, spokesperson for the Northglenn Police Department.

Three others remain hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries.

No arrests were made Friday, police said.

Neighbors said the home is a rental property and describe it as a situation in which multiple tenants were crammed into the 1964 split-level home.

Kimberly Mopar, who lives across the street from the home, had just settled in Thursday night after taking her children trick or treating.

Then I heard what I thought was fireworks about midnight, she said. And I thought, Whos setting off fireworks for Halloween? Then I heard the gunshots and people screaming.

Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order, and Mopar said that, within minutes, the once-quiet street was flooded with police and emergency vehicles.

Mopar said the newest tenants moved in just a month ago.

Neighbors said its hard to know exactly how many people actually live in the house at any given time and that in the past month, there have been at least four police calls to the home.

Sara Vonfelt, who lives next door to the house, also heard the gunshots and estimated that somewhere between 15 and 20 rounds were fired.

Sharing her neighbors concerns about safety and domestic violence, Vonfelt said, in the past, shed witnessed a man who was known to live in the home beating his girlfriend in the street.

Its just scary watching everything last night and then see the coroner here this morning, just makes your heart sink because, you know, it was kids, she said.

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Vonfelt speculated the age of the victims to be teenagers, as she saw one of them being loaded onto a stretcher.

I think he was either deceased, or very close to it, because one of his friends or relatives dropped to their knees in front of the ambulance, she said.

Vonfelt said she and many neighbors believe the incident was gang-related, as her children said they heard gang chirps or whistles that gang members are known to use to announce their presence.

Vonfelts daughter, who she asked not to be identified by name, said a few hours prior to the shooting, a man approached her and her brother asking for an address.

So, like 9:30 last night, we came home from trick or treating, and we were walking in on the porch, and a guy was standing in front of the house on the sidewalk, and he was asking where a certain address was, she said.

The family is planning to move, Vonfeldt said.

Law enforcement officials said at a brief press conference on Friday there are no suspects in custody and that there are no known active threats to the community.

Burlison reiterated that it's an active inquiry and certain details couldn't be shared as they may jeopardize that investigation."

However, he said, we are pursuing leads in Northglenn and surrounding cities.

Police said they believe there were multiple shooters involved and they are trying to identify the suspects.

The identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of family members and autopsies. The information will be released by the Adams County Coroners Office.

Investigators ask anyone with information to contact police detectives at 303-450-8857.

Denver Gazette digital editor Jonathan Ingraham contributed to this report.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Cloudy, breezy, and warm with occasional showers developing, especially in the afternoon; a gusty downpour or strong thunderstorm possible in the afternoon and evening. .

Tonight

Cloudy, breezy, and mild with showers and a few gusty storms or downpours in the evening; drying out late at night.
The winner of the 2024 Governors Cup for best wine is actually a well-known Colorado craft beer brewery.

Well, a division of it at least.

The OBC Wine Project in Fort Collins, with winemaker Travis Green and assistant Genevieve Swartz, took the cup with its 2023 Colorado Red. Its a division of Odell Brewing, and the wine bar is right next to the brewery.

We started making wine at Odell five years ago, Green said Friday during the Colorado Uncorked event at History Colorado. When we first started, people were like what the hell does this brewery know about making wine?' And when I came on as a winemaker, I asked the same question. But five years later, its been super and such an honor to be accepted into this community.

Hundreds of wine lovers got to sniff, swirl and sip Colorados best wines from 14 double gold winners of the 2024 Governors Cup Collection. More than 300 entries were judged by sommeliers, winemakers and wine writers.

Fourteen winners is an all-time high, said Kyle Schlachter, executive director of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board. Usually we try to keep it to 12, but the quality of the wines in the competition was so high that the judges couldnt decide on those last two.

Theres 160 wineries in Colorado and several of the participants Friday commented on the overall quality of the wines making great strides in the past 20 years.

When Colorados industry first started, it was the cabernet sauvignons and the chardonnay, the typical varieties, said Schlachter, whos also the mayor of Littleton. But now our grape growers are blending new varieties, and our winemakers are really making the grapes expressive wines that really showcase the diversity that we have here in Colorado.

The 14 double gold winners included: Alfred Eames Cellars, Carboy Winery, Fox Fire Farms, OBC Wine Project, Sauvage Spectrum, Snowy Peaks Winery, Restoration Vineyards, Whitewater Hill Vineyards, Storm Cellar, Peachfork, St. Kathryn Cellars.

Paige Dadmun, assistant winemaker and enologist at Carboy Winery, with Tyzok Wharton, director of winemaking, passed out samples of its 2021 Chambourcin to eager drinkers.

There are so many cool things about Colorado Uncorked. We get to taste all the different top wineries in the state, see how others are making wines with the same grapes we are, but its different, Dadmun said. So its different, but fun to see all the techniques that make great wines so unique for each winery.

The obvious challenge to making wine in Colorado are the vastly different regions to grow grapes at altitude, or with shorter seasons, our outside The Valley surrounding Palisade.

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You get rougher conditions here with wild cold, early frost, snow storms and thats rough around the grapes. But the wines will usually turn out pretty well, she said. Then youve got your lower-altitude vineyards and it gives such a variety to the wines youre making.  The science here is just way different than any other state.

Carboy is the biggest Colorado Winery, with locations in Denver, Breckenridge, the flagship winery in Littleton, Palisade (where all the grapes are grown at its Mt. Garfield Estate).

Fox Fire Farms Owner Richard Parry, who was joined by his daughter-in-law and Assistant Winemaker Emily Parry and wife Linda  a level-one sommelier, know all about growing in rough conditions.

Im basically a sheep rancher that got into growing grape vines and becoming a wine maker, Parry said. Its my second occupation.

It was the second year Fox Fire Farms, near Durango, nabbed a double gold with its Fox Fire Red.

The first challenge we had was growing grapes because were at 6,500 feet, he said. Most dont grow at our elevation because its too cold. So we discovered the cold-climate hybrids and now thats all we grow. Theyve been really successful.

The Whitewater Hill Vineyards 2023 Moscato drew lines of wine enthusiasts.

We make Colorado wine with Colorado grapes, said Chloe Nicoson, winemaker for the Grand Junction vineyard. Everything we make comes from grapes within a 10-mile radius of our winery. ... We really like to show off what Colorado has to offer. We do everything from dry whites, dry reds, semi-sweets, desserts  you name it.

Whitewater has been around for 20 years and watched the Colorado industry grow with it.

Its just one of the most welcoming communities Ive ever been a part of, she said. Some of my best friends are wine makers and tasting managers and staff and owners and we all really coordinate well together. We all love what we do and I think that really shows in all of what we put out.

Colorados Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg summed it up well.

We are privileged to be able to celebrate Colorado wine and the incredible growth we are seeing in our wine industry across the state, she said. Wine is part of agriculture. So if you are drinking wine tonight, if you are eating the food we have prepared by our amazing chefs  that all started in the soil from across Colorado. Whether it's west slope, east slope, southern Colorado, northern Colorado, you are drinking what comes out of the Earth. So we are always thinking about the farmers, ranchers, the workers out in the field.
Allentown, PA (18103)

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Mainly cloudy, mild, and mainly dry after some morning fog and drizzle taper off. .

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, a bit breezy, and mild; perhaps a spotty shower.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Cloudy, breezy, and warm with occasional showers developing, especially in the afternoon; a gusty downpour or strong thunderstorm possible in the afternoon and evening. .

Tonight

Cloudy, breezy, and mild with showers and a few gusty storms or downpours in the evening; drying out late at night.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. [Xinhua/Rao Aimin]

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Slovakia, Xi said that after three-quarters of a century of development, the traditional friendship between the two countries is full of vitality, and the cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

"We have decided to elevate China-Slovakia relations to a strategic partnership, which meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and powerful momentum into bilateral cooperation," Xi said, adding that China is willing to work together with Slovakia to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and lift their ties to a higher level.

Xi said the two countries need to deepen political mutual trust, calling on both sides to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, adhere to mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns.

In order to expand pragmatic cooperation, Xi said the two countries should make good use of the newly established inter-governmental cooperation committee to strengthen synergy in new energy, transportation and logistics, infrastructure construction and water resources management. China encourages its enterprises to invest in Slovakia and welcomes Slovak enterprises to explore the market in China, he said.

Xi said the two countries should promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He called on both sides to carry out communication and dialogue among political parties, local governments, youth, think tanks, and the media, and make good use of platforms such as the Confucius Institutes to consolidate the foundation of public opinion for China-Slovakia friendship across generations.

China has decided to grant 15-day visa-free entry to Slovak citizens, Xi added.

Xi noted that the two countries need to strengthen international cooperation. In a complex and rapidly changing world, Xi said, both sides should uphold true multilateralism, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, embrace a vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

China attaches great importance to China-EU relations, Xi said, adding that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and China-EU relations should demonstrate due maturity and stability.

Xi expressed the hope that the new EU institutions will adhere to the orientation of the China-EU partnership, adopt a positive and pragmatic approach, properly manage differences, and refrain from politicizing economic and trade issues.

Fico said Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government representing all of China. Slovakia opposes any interference in other countries' internal affairs and advocates for respecting each country's choice of development path.

Slovakia appreciates China's decision to grant Slovak citizens the 15-day visa-free treatment, Fico said. Slovakia supports facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy and infrastructure, he added.

Slovakia appreciates the three major global initiatives put forward by President Xi, and is willing to strengthen exchanges with China on state governance experience and actively promote the EU's commitment to handling differences through dialogue and consultations, Fico said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi expounded on China's consistent principle and position, commending Slovakia for adopting an objective, rational and impartial stance. He welcomed Slovakia, as well as more like-minded countries, to play a positive role in promoting peace talks.

Fico stated that China's position on the Ukraine crisis is fair, objective and constructive. Slovakia is willing to join the group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis and work with China to contribute to the political settlement of the crisis.

Following the meeting, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. [Xinhua/Liu Bin]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Ye Shan
President Xi Jinping meets with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and recently appointed by China's central government, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua)  President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and recently appointed by China's central government.

The meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Witnessed by Xi, Premier Li Qiang presented Sam with a decree of the State Council appointing the latter as the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR.

Xi congratulated Sam on his appointment, and commended him for holding a firm stance of loving the country and Macao, conscientiously fulfilling his duties, and making contributions to Macao's prosperity and stability during his long tenure as the president of Macao's Court of Final Appeal.

"In the election, you were nominated and elected by an overwhelming majority, which demonstrates the broad recognition and support from the society of Macao. The central authorities fully acknowledge this and have full trust in you," Xi said.

Over the past 25 years since Macao's return to the motherland, the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics has achieved remarkable success, Xi said.

He said that the central authorities will stay committed to fully and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" principle under which the people of Macao administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy.

Xi told Sam that assuming the chief executive office comes with significant responsibilities, and urged him to fulfill his mission by leading the new SAR government in uniting various sectors of the Macao society and continuously breaking new ground in the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics.

Sam said he felt deeply honored for the appointment and pledged to, under the leadership of President Xi and the central government, implement the "one country, two systems" principle fully, faithfully and unswervingly and lead Macao toward comprehensive progress.

Senior officials including Li Qiang, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang attended the meeting.

Witnessed by President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang presents Sam Hou Fai with a decree of the State Council appointing the latter as the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. Xi on Friday met with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao SAR and recently appointed by China's central government. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

President Xi Jinping meets with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and recently appointed by China's central government, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

President Xi Jinping meets with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and recently appointed by China's central government, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Ye Shan
A Graves County Sheriff's Office cruiser was parked at the Water Valley Dollar General store on Friday, Nov. 1, to kick off Cram the Cruiser.
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Vauxhall workers at the companys two sites in Ellesmere Port and Luton are facing a direct threat to their jobs and possible closure of both plants by parent company Stellantis, with chief executive Carlos Tavares stating on October 14: We are now reaching a point where we have to make a decision, and that will happen in the next few weeks.

Tavares added the company would make a correction to its UK business, claiming the governments zero-emissions vehicle policy was damaging profitability.

In describing the potential shuttering of its UK operations as merely a correction Stellantis is parading its corporate contempt for 2,500 livelihoods that would be wiped out directly. Thousands more jobs in Vauxhalls supply chain would also be lost, with social devastation wrought in towns historically linked to the auto industry.

Stellantis is renewing threats over the future of its UK production sites first made prior to the UK general election held July 5. The company demanded a loosening of electric vehicle (EV) production targets and further subsidies to stimulate market growth.

Maria Grazia Davino, the companys top UK executive, had stated: If this market becomes hostile for us, then we will enter an evaluation of producing elsewhere.

Stellantis doubled down on these demands following discussions with UK government officials over several months on how the government could help to stimulate demand, according to Bloomberg news. The transnational auto producer, formed through a merger between Groupe PSA and Fiat Chrysler in 2021, employs a global workforce of hundreds of thousands across 30 countries. It is exerting its massive economic leverage with the Labour government to extract concessions.

Significantly, Tavares raised the sword of Damocles over the heads of Vauxhall workers again on October 14, just as the Labour government hosted its inaugural International Investment Summit with the heads of global corporations, banks and equity firms. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised the gathering a piling up of wealth through a shock and awe of investment, pledging to tear up regulations.

Vauxhalls plants have both recently been overhauled for EV production. The Ellesmere Port site started electric-only production in 2023, producing a range of electric passenger vehicles including the Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, Peugeot e-Rifter and Citroen e-Berlingo muti-purpose vehicles. The Luton plant makes larger diesel and petrol vans and is scheduled for production of medium sized electric vans from the first half of 2025 alongside ICE [internal combustion engine] vans.

In the face of Stellantiss economic blackmail, and with Vauxhall workers jobs and conditions used as bargaining chips in talks with the most pro-business Labour government in history, the Unite trade union has maintained a guilty silence.

Unite General secretary Sharon Graham is not normally one to shun the media spotlight. In recent years her token criticisms of Labour were stock-in-trade, combined with her appeal that Labour should act as the party of the working class. But she electioneered for Starmer and has defended Unites funnelling of members dues into Labours coffers. At Tata Steel, Unite has assisted the Labour government with the closure of the Port Talbot blast furnaces and their transition to an electric arc furnace with the loss of 2,800 jobs, vetoing along with Community and the GMB union their members overwhelming vote to strike.

Unite leader Sharon Graham speaking at the Trades Union Congress rally in London on June 18, 2022

In June, Unite national officer Des Quinn responded to threats by Stellantis to end production in Britain by calling on the government to relax Zero Emission Vehicle targets on companies investing in the UK. He stated: Theres got to be a balance I would give a bit to take something back in terms of automotive sector and industrial strategy.

What Unite means by giving something back is bending over for Stellantis to support the companys predatory drive for profit. Unite officials are encouraging a line-up with the company so that job losses across its global operations fall on workers outside of Britain. The flip side of this economic nationalism will be Unites deepening partnership with the company, demanding the sacrifice of terms and conditions and increased productivity on the pretext of preventing the threat of closure and stopping the transfer of production abroad.

Unite presided over the orderly closure of the Honda plant in Swindon in 2021 on this same basis, with the direct loss of 3,500 jobs. In the years prior, Unite officials enforced pay cuts and mass redundancies, claiming these would secure the future of car workers at the site. This divisive nationalist approach, arguing only that plant closures take place in another country, must be rejected in favour of a unified fight across national borders with auto workers who are facing the same corporate enemy.

In August, workers at the Luton plant responded positively to a statement produced by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committee (IWA-RFC) to establish an internationally co-ordinated fight by Stellantis workers in Britain, across Europe and the US against its global jobs massacre. They explained that union officials had provided no response to the threat of plant closures, had kept them in the dark about attacks on Stellantis workers worldwide and were in the back pocket of management.

A Vauxhall worker at Luton explained that setting workers in car plants in one country against another country does not work. Factories just close.

WSWS team distributing leaflets at the Stellantis Vauxhall plant in Luton, England, August 2024

No section of auto workers is being spared in the companys race-to-the-bottom being policed by the trade union bureaucracy. Volkswagen in Germany has confirmed the closure of at least three plants at the expense of tens of thousands of jobs. In Belgium, Audi plans to slash 3,000 jobs, while in Italy Ford and Stellantis are threatening to eliminate 12,000 jobs and a further 13,000 in the supply chain. A major downsizing operation is being rolled out in the US with 2,450 jobs cut at Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly Plant on top of thousands of supplemental workers being made redundant. GM is laying off a further 1,700 workers at its Fairfax, Missouri site.

Any concessions wrung by Stellantis from the Labour government over EV quotas and subsidies would only constitute a stay of execution. The transnational auto makers are responding to an unprecedented crisis of global capitalism, dominated by cut-throat competition and rising protectionism, with a global war for markets and profits. Automation and the transition to electric vehicles creates the basis to eliminate back-breaking work and provide secure and well-paid employment, while reducing environmental destruction. But the corporate oligarchy uses improved technology to maximise their profits, decimating jobs and lowering labour costs in a brutal restructuring of the global auto industry that is without precedent.

The only viable strategy to take forward the interests of auto workers is one based on the common interests of the international working class, challenging the domination of capitalist exploitation and its destructive grip over every aspect of society. Rank-and-file committees must be built to take power back into the hands of workers on the shop floor against the unaccountable pro-company union apparatus and to prepare the ground for a genuine fight.

We encourage Vauxhall workers to read and share the latest statement by the IWA-RFC on the wave of job losses in the auto industry and to get in touch to discuss the steps which can be taken to develop a powerful class movement on a worldwide basis against this dictates of Stellantis and the corporate oligarchy.
In this video, Des Beach, a Royal Mail delivery worker from County Durham, England with 31-years service, speaks about his unfair dismissal with Tony Robson from the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS).

An earlier interview with Des, published by WSWS on October 17, received a large readership among Royal Mail workers, with many posting messages of solidarity on social media. Postal workers who contacted WSWS emphasised this was not an isolated case. Many shared similar experiences of management bullying to enforce unachievable workloads, and the refusal of Communication Workers Union (CWU) officials to take up their defence.

In his latest interview outside the Chester-Le-Street delivery office where he worked, Des exposes the anatomy of a frame-up by Royal Mail managers, based on manufactured charges of intentional delay of mail. The CWU refused to defend him.

Des says the current wave of victimisations are the result of last years sellout national agreement co-authored by the Postal Executive led by Dave Ward. This has produced a two-tier workforce, providing the company an incentive to drive out long-serving postal workers and replace them with new entrants on inferior pay and conditions.

The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) is calling for a campaign against management intimidation. Postal workers must not be scapegoated for the companys deliberate run-down of the mail service! Rank-and-file committees should be established at every workplace to ensure the collective defence of all those being bullied, victimised and framed-up by management.

The CWU has backed Royal Mails drive to offload the Universal Service Obligation and speed up the transition to an Amazon-style parcel courier service. It is working hand-in-glove with the Labour government to facilitate the takeover by Daniel Kretinskys private equity group, in return for pledges that Kretinsky will work with officials at the boardroom table. Ward describes this as a new ownership model.

A greenlight for the companys hostile regime against Royal Mail workers was given by the union-backed Falconer Review. Of 400 reps and workers sacked or suspended in connection with the 2022-3 national dispute, only around half were deemed eligible for Falconers rigged process. In return for reinstatement, they had to accept a reduced disciplinary charge remaining on their employment records and waive their right to the Employment Tribunal. Royal Mail was thereby exonerated for the largest mass frame-ups in an industrial dispute since the miners strike of 1984-5.

We appeal to our fellow postal workers to share this video interview with Des, and contact us about similar cases. Help break the wall of silence erected by Royal Mails business partners in the CWU bureaucracy.
New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health data released last month under freedom of information laws reveal that 6,007 patients contracted COVID in the states public hospitals in 2023. This contributed to the death of 297 people, meaning that 14 percent of fatal COVID infections in the state were acquired in hospital.

Liverpool Hospital in Sydney, New South Wales [Photo: Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Media]

The data, which also cover the first four months of this year, show that similar infection and death rates have continued, with 1,729 patients catching COVID in NSW hospitals and 86 dying, between the start of January and the end of April.

The NSW figures are in line with previously uncovered Victorian data, which showed that 6,212 patients contracted COVID in the states public hospitals and 586 died in 2022 and 2023.

This is a direct product of the conscious and planned abolition of virtually all public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID, including the removal of mask mandates in hospitals. These pro-business forever COVID policies, adopted by all governments worldwide, have in Australia been spearheaded by Labor at the state and federal level.

The NSW hospital infection figures were unearthed through a persistent 18-month campaign by lawyer Peter Vogel. His first Government Information Public Access application to the Ministry of Health was made in February 2023. This was rebuffed, with the Ministry claiming, according to Vogel, It would take 140 hours to produce a report showing [the] number of hospital acquired COVID cases.

After Vogel requested an internal review, the Ministry replied in July 2023 that it does not hold complete and accurate records regarding nosocomial [hospital-acquired] infections.

Only in June 2024, after multiple additional freedom of information requests to other agencies and repeated denials that any part of the NSW government or health bureaucracy had records of hospital-acquired infection, did the Ministry of Health admit that it held the information the lawyer sought. Even then, it claimed it would take 31 hours to produce a report, and Vogel would have to pay $930 for it. The data were finally provided to Vogel on September 17.

This is just one example of the extent to which serious illness and death from the ongoing COVID pandemic is being consciously covered up by the state and federal Labor governments. With the aid of the corporate media, virtually all reporting of the deadly virus has been suppressed, to provide phoney justification for the profit-driven and unscientific abolition of basic infection control measures.

The entire testing and reporting infrastructure has been eviscerated. Only two states, NSW and Western Australia (WA), continue to test wastewater samples for COVID, while hospitalisation figures in most jurisdictions are only reported intermittently.

Most strikingly, COVID deaths are no longer reported in NSW, Queensland, WA or the Northern Territory, except as part of overall mortality statistics, released months after the fact. The presentation of these national mortality figures, produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), has been modified to obfuscate the substantial increase in annual deaths, which is ongoing.

According to the outdated and incomplete official figures, COVID contributed significantly or was the main cause of more than 23,500 deaths between January 2022 and September 2024, around one-quarter of which occurred in residential aged care facilities.

In a grim refutation of the lie that the pandemic is over, COVID-contributed fatalities this year have occurred at a rate of 497.5 per month, barely lower than the 512 per month recorded in 2023.

The fact that so many fatal COVID infections have been contracted in health and aged care settings underscores that, in line with capitalist governments worldwide, Australias state and federal Labor governments are committing social murder, targeted at the most vulnerable people in society.

Dr Stephane Bouchoucha [Photo: Deakin University]

Dr Stephane Bouchoucha, president of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control, told the ABC the NSW hospital infection data was concerning and tragic.

He said: This is the core business of infection prevention and control The premise that we can allow some deaths, to me, is wrong.

We know how COVID is transmitted and we know how to prevent healthcare associated infections, Bouchoucha stated, referring to the need to ensure good ventilation and air filtration, testing and contact tracing, isolating infected patients and requiring healthcare workers to wear masks.

Many of these measures were introduced in the early stages of the pandemic and had a significant impact in reducing the spread of infection within health facilities, but have since been abandoned.

This flies in the face of decades of medical advances and longstanding infection control measures in hospitals. For example, there are long-established protocols for identifying and preventing the spread of infections with golden staphylococcus, a hospital-acquired bacteria that can be resistant to antibiotics.

In NSW, the tearing down of COVID public health measures began under the Perrottet Liberal-National government, but has been completed under the Labor government led by Premier Chris Minns. This could not have been carried out without the assistance of the health unions, which have enforced every reckless and unscientific step of the process.

In 2022, Health Services Union (HSU) national president and NSW state secretary Gerard Hayes was at the forefront of demands for the scrapping of COVID isolation requirements for health staff, because of the supposed impact of such measures on the economy.

In August 2023, the HSU hailed the NSW Labor governments scrapping of public hospital mask mandates as a milestone in health.

The HSU, along with the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, promote the lie that COVID is a thing of the past, entirely separate from workers disputes over pay and conditions in recent years. These struggles have included multiple mass strikes by more than 10,000 nurses and midwives, but year after year, the union leaders have pushed through sell-out deals, slashing real wages in line with government demands.

The reality is that the fight for decent working conditions in health is inseparable from the fight to end the COVID pandemic, which has massively exacerbated the dire state of the public hospital system, which faces a chronic shortage of staff and resources after decades of union-enforced government cuts.

To take this forward, health workers will have to take matters into their own hands. Rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions, must be established in hospitals and health facilities and the fight for patient and staff safety linked with the struggle for real improvements to workers pay and conditions.

In the first instance, this must include the re-implementation of infection control measures, including masks and isolation, in all health workplaces. But as long as the virus is allowed to circulate unchecked among the broader population, protecting hospital patients and staff will be a constant battle.

A fight must be taken up, by health workers and the working class as a whole, for the elimination of COVID worldwide. This is possible, but not under the framework of the capitalist system, which rejects public health measures as unprofitable, and not within the borders of a single country.

Workers in Australia and worldwide confront the existential necessity of a struggle for a political alternative to the ruling class program of endless infection, illness and death. Only through the fight for a workers government to implement socialist policies, can societys plentiful resources be stripped from the banks and corporations and turned towards ridding the world of COVID and making high-quality public healthcare freely available to all.
Hundreds of journalists from all over the world have signed an online petition condemning the Israeli government for deliberately killing Palestinian journalists in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon over the past year.

Al Jazeera journalist Wael Dahdouh holds the hand of his son Hamza, who also worked for Al Jazeera and who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Dahdouh lost his wife, two other children and a grandson earlier in the war and was nearly killed himself. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

As of this writing 790 individualswriters, reporters, editors, producers, photographers and photojournalists, artists, videographers, educators and studentshave signed the online petition with the headline, Israel Must Stop Killing Journalists.

The petition states, in part:

Despite repeated condemnation by internationally-recognized human rights and media organizations, Israel has continued to kill and maim Palestinian journalists in Gaza. It has also escalated attacks against journalists in Lebanon.

The targeting of journalists is an attack on press freedom and a violation of international law.

This must stop.

Among the journalists endorsing the letter are Sakhr Al-Makhadhi, executive producer at AJ+, Al Jazeera; Anne Barnard, freelancer and former New York Times Beirut Bureau Chief; Samaa Khullar, investigative journalist at the Nation; and Khalil AlHajal, deputy opinion editor at the Detroit Free Press.

Palestinian journalists in Gaza have served as the worlds eyes and ears, documenting Israeli attacks such as the deliberate killing of civilians carrying white flags and torture of Palestinians in detention. These journalists have received death threats, been maimed or killed by Israeli forceseven while not on assignment. Their families have also been killed by Israeli forces.

The petition circulators point out that the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported that Israeli attacks have killed at least 123 Palestinian journalists and media workers, which makes it the deadliest period for journalists since the organization began collecting data in 1992. The Government Media Office in Gaza puts the death toll of Palestinian journalists at 182 since October 2023.

Most recently, an airstrike in Lebanon on October 25 killed three journalists as they slept in a guest house in an area that has been used by media as a base for covering the war. A report by the Associated Press said:

The 3 a.m. airstrike turned the sitea series of chalets nestled among trees that had been rented by various media outlets covering the warinto rubble. Cars marked PRESS were overturned and covered in dust and debris, and at least one satellite dish for live broadcasting was totally destroyed.

The Israeli army did not issue a warning prior to the strike, which it said targeted Hezbollah militant infrastructure. The military later said the strike was being reviewed.

Mohammad Farhat, a reporter for Lebanons Al Jadeed TV in the south, said everyone rushed out in their sleeping clothes. The first question we asked each other: Are you alive?

The three journalists killed in the air strike were camera operator Ghassan Najjar and broadcast technician Mohammed Rida of the Beirut-based pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV, and camera operator Wissam Qassim, who worked for Al-Manar TV of Lebanons Hezbollah group.

While the Israeli military maintained that the buildings were targeted because they were a base of Hezbollah operations, human rights groups reported that the journalists were deliberately targeted.

The CPJs organizational director, Carlos Martinez de la Serna, said the organization was deeply outraged by yet another deadly Israeli airstrike on journalists, this time hitting a compound hosting 18 members of the press in south Lebanon.

In another case, 19-year-old journalist Hassan Hamad was killed by an Israeli artillery shell at his home in Jabaliya on October 6 after he received death threats. Hamad received threatening phone calls and text messages via WhatsApp from an Israeli officer ordering him to stop filming evidence of the genocide. Hamad, 19, had been sharing video reports on the Israeli incursion into the Jabalia refugee camp when he was killed.

One threatening text message received by Hassan, shared on X by human rights activist and journalist Maha Hussaini, said, Listen, if you continue spreading lies about Israel, well come for you next and turn your family into [] This is your last warning.

One of the demands on the petition is that Israel allow injured journalists in Gaza to be immediately evacuated so they can receive urgently needed medical attention.

The petition states:

As the Israeli military escalated its attacks on central and northern Gaza in October 2024, they killed two Palestinian journalists and seriously injured three others. On Oct. 7, Al Jazeera cameraman Ali Al-Attar was severely injured due to shrapnel from an airstrike while he was covering the conditions of displaced Palestinians. Al-Attar is now in critical condition, with medical scans showing severe bleeding and shrapnel lodged in his brain. Two days later, Israeli forces shot Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi Al-Wahidi in the neck while he was reporting. Doctors say his injury has left him paralyzed for life and he is now in a coma.

A report in Al Jazeera said al-Wahidi was shot by an Israeli sniper in the Gaza Strip and has not been allowed by Israel to leave the enclave for urgent medical treatment. The Palestinian journalist was shot as he reported on the Israeli ground invasion of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, and he was wearing gear that clearly identified him as a member of the press.

Despite appeals from three media freedom organizations as well as medical officials, the Israeli government has not allowed al-Wahidi and Ali al-Attar to leave Gaza for lifesaving medical treatment.

Al Jazeera issued a statement calling on the international community to take immediate action to ensure the safety of journalists and civilians in Gaza and hold the Israeli Occupation Forces accountable for their repeated crimes against journalists.

The CPJ issued an appeal to the governments of the US, France and Germany as well as the United Nations seeking assistance to have al-Wahidi and al-Attar transferred out of Gaza. However, a CPJ statement says, Despite these endeavors, the possibility of evacuating these journalists is currently blocked due to a lack of Israeli authorization for their safe passage.

The petition campaign states that the targeting of journalists is an attack on press freedom and a violation of international law. A United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in May 2015 states that the Council [c]ondemns all violations and abuses committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict and calls upon all parties to armed conflict to bring an end to such practices.
No Other Land, directed by the Palestinian-Israeli collective of Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, is playing for one week in New York City, November 1-7. Despite winning awards, as Deadline points out, at film festivals around the world, from Berlin to CPH:DOX, Sheffield DocFest, Millennium Docs Against Gravity, Visions du Reel and more, the film, shamefully, does not have a US distributor. There are political reasons for this, the pressure of the pro-Zionist lobby determined to suppress the truth about the genocide in Gaza and the ongoing war of terror by the IDF and settlers on the West Bank. The film is opening this week in France and next week in the UK.

The following review was posted in our coverage of the Berlin film festival earlier this year.

No Other Land and its filmmakers and supporters came under ferocious attack from the German officialdom and media after the films success at the Berlinale. The WSWS reported on the campaign against the documentary and its implications.

In February, the world premiere of the documentary No Other Land took place at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) to sustained applause from the audience and shouts of Free Palestine. The film, by the Palestinian-Israeli collective of Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor recounts the brutal expulsion of Palestinian villagers from Masafer Yatta, a settlement of 19 villages south of Hebron in the West Bank.

Adra, a young Palestinian law student who grew up and lives in the area, and Abraham, an Israeli journalist from Tel Aviv, convey the harrowing events intimately and in real time. They film everything they experience, exchange material with each other, try to spread it via social media and gain attention in the international media. They are compelled to protect themselves from the aggressive actions of the Israeli army and the fascistic settler militias allied with it. Friends and relatives help repeatedly to hide them and their footage.

No Other Land - the West Bank

Anyone opposing the evictions is mercilessly attacked. Adras cousin is one of those. He initially survives but is paralyzed. In a cave, he lies on a mattress on the ground, guarded day and night by his desperate mother. His fate triggers significant protests by his friends and the villagers. They demand medical help, but there is no place in a healthcare facility, and the familys house and beds are destroyed. He ultimately dies, as the film reveals at the end.

After the eviction of the Palestinian inhabitants, the bulldozers come and demolish everything people need to livetheir houses, their furniture, lamps, electrical equipment, sheep and chicken sheds, the power supply, roads. Shocking footage shows the destruction of a modern, well-kept bathroom by a bulldozer, followed by two or three Israeli soldiers cutting the water pipe with a saw.

The refugees find refuge in nearby caves, which date back to ancient times, with the few belongings and blankets they are able to salvage. Without water and electricity, they try to manage in the most primitive conditions, collecting wood for heating and cooking.

Finally, the Israeli occupiers also destroy the school that the villagers built themselves after their school buses were repeatedly attacked and stopped on the way to the next town.

Friends of Adra demonstrate for a peaceful coexistence of Palestinians and Jews: From both sides of the wall, they sing. They refer to the high concrete wall that the Israeli regime built in the West Bank between the settler areas and the Palestinian villages and which they are not permitted to call a wall, but only a security fence.

Abraham is allowed to move freely as an Israeli and drive his car through this military border, but the Palestinians can only do so with special permits. One group has yellow license plates, the other green. Abraham is not the only Israeli who repeatedly seeks contact with the Palestinians, as Adra later explains in an interview. But going to the area as a journalist with a camera is forbidden, and Abraham is denounced as a traitor by the Israeli authorities.

Abraham and Adra want to shake up the world with their filmin Israel as well as in Germany, the US and the other Western countries that support the Netanyahu government with weapons and money. Abraham uses his social media contacts. I only had about 170 clicks today, he tells his friend, disappointed. Adra encourages him: The expulsions have been happening for decades, and you expect changes in a day.

Later, Abraham asks his friend, Dont you want to leave here? He may have opportunities elsewhere with his legal studies. Shaking his head, Adra explains that he has lost hope in the law. If he wants to work in Israel, as a Palestinian, he can only get a job on a construction site anyway. He doesnt want to go away, he has to help his people. If they give up their land, they are lost.

And what will you do? Build a new house, start a family? Abraham asks further. Adra is skeptical, commenting, Actually, just a little stability, even democracy, in order to be able to live at all.

No Other Land (2024)

Adra and Abrahams ideathat by distributing the material on the Internet, they could exert pressure on the US and other Western governments that might call Israel to orderturns out to be an illusion. Their hopes for help from international media outlets are also shattered, although some reports make it onto television, and a media team is driven through the village.

One day, Tony Blair, former Labour Party leader and British prime minister, pays a visit to the affected area and the school amid great media hype. The brief film comment: His visit lasts a full seven (!) minutes. And the school and the associated village are spared from army attacks for only three daysafter which they continue. Heavily armed personnel take the children out of the classrooms in the middle of class, scream at them to get them into the street and destroy the building.

At the end, in the summer of 2023shortly before the beginning of the Gaza warAdras family home is also destroyed. Since October 7, the right-wing radical settler militias, with the support of the army, have been intensifying their crackdown on the remaining Palestinian residents.

In No Other Land, we experience a veritable battle of armed gangs beating up Palestinian residents, including many women and children, drowning out their cries of We are human beings, we also have rights, we do not want another country, with cries of This is our country. Army soldiers stand by and join in the coarse bellows of the far-right thugs.

The film ends on October 23, 2023, when the genocide in Gaza has already claimed thousands of civilian victims. In conclusion, the film informs us about the disclosure of a secret evacuation order by the Israeli government from 2022, Demolition Order 1455, codenamed Ilan after the name of the responsible commander. It is a license for the army to expel people by force and to destroy everyones livelihoods to create a training ground for soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces.

A fact sheet from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), dated June 6, 2022, confirms that Israeli policy and army leadership have specifically prepared this operation.

Portions of the Masafer Yatta area were already declared a military restricted area, Fire Zone 91, in the early 1980s, but the attacks on the population after that were considered illegal, leading to international protests by UN representatives and courts in Israel itself. However, on May 4, 2022, the Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) declared forced evictions and demolitions of the homes legal, to create a training ground for the military.

No Other Land

A year later, the Israeli army, trained and brutalized in action against the residents of Masafer Yatta, launches its ground invasion of Gaza and unleashes the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian population.

In an interview in the Berlinale Talk by radio eins, Adra and Abraham accuse the German government of supporting this genocide. When RBB reporter Knut Elstermann addresses the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7, which leaves little hope for a peaceful solution, Abraham, who himself lost friends on October 7, replies that hope for peace has declined further, especially in the 135 days since then. Israels bombing war has now killed more than 13,000 children in Gaza, destroyed 70 percent of the homes, turned nearly 2 million people into refugees. And I know that Germany fully supports this war, Abraham emphasizes, even after 135 days ... after this total destruction!

When Elstermann protests and points out that the German government has provided money for the civilian population from the outset and the Foreign Minister has very often called for respect for human rights, Abraham furiously interrupts him. This only means feeding people first and then bombarding them. As an Israeli journalist, he has spoken to over a dozen contacts in the Israeli security forces, who are well informed about the targets of the bombing in Gaza.

This war is the most brutal war in modern human history, he says, and totally immoral. It is high time to enforce a ceasefire, but Germany does not!

No Other Land is a courageous and unsparing indictment of the German, American and other Western governments, whose support for Israeli crimes expresses an abysmal and fatal moral decline.

At the same time, the film collective deserves great credit for not limiting themselves to the cinematic documentation of the terrible acts of violence. They let the local people speakthe Palestinian workers, farmers, their families and also Israelis, whose disgust at the crimes of the Netanyahu government and army is increasing. As Abraham says, he feels responsible, we pay the taxes that stabilize this apartheid system. We are allied with the Palestinians, but they are under military law, cannot move freely, unlike me. They want to fight for a vision of full equality and justice for Palestinians and Israelis.

The film deserves a wide audience among workers and young people, who are also facing the destruction of their livelihoods, growing social inequality and war in other countries.
The Federation interprofessionnelle de la sante du Quebec (FIQ) has announced that its 80,000 membersmainly nurses and nursing assistants, but also respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionistshave grudgingly approved a contract proposal made by a provincial government-appointed mediator.

The now ratified five-year contract is concessions-filled. Its imposition marks the final act in the unions suppression and betrayal of the contract struggle of the 600,000 Quebec public sector workers. At its height last December, more than a half-million workers were off the job in the largest strike movement in Canada in decades. But the unions short-circuited the strike movement out of fear that would it spark a broader working class challenge to the Quebec and Canadian capitalist elites agenda of austerity and war.

Nurses and other FIQ members demonstrating outside the Quebec National Assembly on March 16, 2024. [Photo: FIQ Sante/Facebook]

Seventy-five percent of FIQ members participated in the vote on the mediators proposal, which the union leadership in an act of cowardice presented to the membership without recommendation. Of these, 66.3 percent voted to accept it.

Coming more than 18 months after the previous contract expired, this result is more a vote of non-confidence in the FIQ leadership than a vote in favour of the concessions-laden contract.

In April, rank-and-file nurses had strongly repudiated a similar contract proposal endorsed by the FIQ leadership.

If a half-year later the nurses approved an offer that was little different, it was because they had no faith that the FIQ leadership would mount a struggle against the provinces avowedly right-wing Quebec First Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government.

The FIQ underscored its opposition to leading any serious struggle, when it immediately bowed to a blatantly anti-democratic Administrative Labour Court order outlawing an overtime boycott that had been scheduled to start on September 19. Almost immediately thereafter, it presented the conciliators offer to the membership for a ratification vote without recommendation. This was clearly designed to demoralize and disorient members, while avoiding too directly associating the union bureaucracy with the imposition of a sellout contract.

Effectively admitting the unions complicity, FIQ President Julie Bouchard told a post-ratification press conference that FIQ members decided to accept [the mediators proposal], even though it did not address all their concerns. Bouchard also acknowledged that the thousands of nurses who forsook public sector jobs to work at private sector agencies, so they could have less onerous workloads and better work-life balance, would continue to enjoy better working conditions than their colleagues in the public system.

In a sign of the extent of FIQs surrender, Treasury Board President Sonia Lebel declared her delight at the increased flexibility in the agreement and greater availability of professionals. In other words, the FIQ has fulfilled the wishes of Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who stated bluntly a few months ago that the government wants the power to order nurses to go where they are needed.

The government-appointed mediators proposal contained no major differences from the rotten April agreement and maintained the employers key regressive demands. These include opening the door to staff mobility and maintaining managements unfettered power to use compulsory overtime (TSO) to deal with chronic staffing shortages.

After the rejection of the April offer, FIQ spent months in closed door negotiations with the government trying to find a way of sugar coating the concessionary pill to coax nurses into swallowing it. At general meetings prior to the ratification vote, union leaders told a series of lies and half-truths, including that mobility was already enshrined in the previous local agreements, and that there will be contractually stipulated limits on managements power to transfer nurses from one job or institution to another.

This is all a sham. Under the new contract, healthcare managers will be able to systematically move staff as they please from one facility to another and from one region to another, within a radius that varies from region to region but can be as much as 40 km (25 miles) or more. Among other things, mobility will be facilitated by the merging of activity centers (health care institutions).

As with the systematic use of compulsory overtime and the forced conversion of part-time positions into full-time ones, nursing staff mobility is designed to make workers bear the full brunt of the healthcare crisis and workforce shortages caused by chronic underfunding and poor working conditions. There is no doubt that these changes will have a significant impact on the stability of work environments and, therefore, on the quality of patient care.

A political struggle

Throughout the Quebec public sector workers struggle, which began with the expiry of their collective agreements in March 2023, the World Socialist Web Site warned that if workers were to prevent the union bureaucracy from sabotaging their fight to win improved working conditions and defend public services, they had to organize on an independent basis and turn to the rest of the working class.

The WSWS and the rank-and-file Public Sector Workers Coordinating Committee, which it helped found, explained that the struggle went far beyond a simple negotiation for a new labor contract. It was fundamentally a political struggle in which workers were in conflict with the entire capitalist ruling elite and its program of austerity and war.

In a September statement calling on the nurses to reject the conciliators proposal, the WSWS wrote:

Nurses must start with the recognition that they are embroiled in a class struggle. Across Canada, North America and beyond, the ruling elite is demanding that the working classmen and women and in every economic sector, public and privatebear the full brunt of the capitalist crisis through the destruction of jobs, working conditions, and public services.

The statement went on to explain that Premier Francois Legault and his CAQ government are intensifying this agenda after decades of social cuts imposed by Liberal and Parti Quebecois governments at the provincial level and Liberal and Conservative ones federally. Like its provincial and federal counterparts across Canada, the big business CAQ government is now moving to implement, with the full collaboration of the corporatist trade union apparatuses, an even more savage program of austerity and privatization against the working class.

By pushing through the governments proposals dressed up in the form of the mediators offer, the FIQ leadership has put the final nail in the coffin of the struggle by 600,000 workers in education, health and social services. However, it would be illusory to believe that these 5-year contracts will preserve social peace, as the union leaders piously claim and hope. On the contrary, they amount to placing a lid on a boiling cauldron.

Under conditions of profound global capitalist crisis, marked by rising social inequality and an accelerating march towards a Third World War, explosive workers struggles can erupt at any moment in Quebec, as in Canada and internationally,. This will be the case in healthcare, where the signing of new contracts clears the way for the government to proceed as planned, and hand over the reins of managing the provinces entire public health care network to Sante Quebec. This new government agency, run by a handful of top guns from big business, to use the expression of the health minister, is tasked with increasing productivity through greater control of the workforce and the wholesale privatization of care.

The lessons of the public sector struggle and the way forward

The crucial and urgent question for the working class is to prepare for the struggles ahead by learning the lessons of recent and past experiences.

Throughout the conflict, the leaders of the inter-union Common Front (CSN, CSQ, FTQ, APTS), like those of the Federation autonome de lenseignement (FAE) and the FIQ, had one objective in mind: to prevent the public sector workers struggle from spreading throughout the working class and becoming an explicit challenge to the profit system.

The unions first refused to implement the unlimited general strike mandate voted for by 95 percent of their members then channeled workers anger into a few days of limited strike action, while promoting the fraudulent idea that the government would back down. At the time, CSN Vice President Francois Enault declared that workers are ready to strike tomorrow morning, but we [union leaders] dont want that.

The day after the agreements were ratified by the Common Front leaders, CSQ President Eric Gingras described the negotiation process as having been a psychodrama to be avoided at all costs in the future. He thereby gave voice to the union bureaucrats mortal fear of the eruption of an all-out confrontation between the right-wing government and the public sector workers.

The union leaders were keenly aware of the fact that working people overwhelmingly supported the public sector workersbecause they recognized that in fighting for better working conditions and increased funding for public services they were fighting for the entire working classand that conditions were ripe to mobilize this support in mass protests and strikes.

It was precisely to preserve social peace, i.e., the capitalist order, that they systematically refused to mobilize this support. Instead, they bogged workers down in an interminable process of negotiations whose financial parameters were decided in advance by the government.

The struggle was confined within Quebecs borders, with the unions refusing to issue any calls for workers in the rest of Canada to support it. Similarly, the unions in English Canada lifted not a finger to mobilize their members in support of the Quebec public sector workers, even if many of them, like those in CUPE, are members of the same union.

Reprising its role during the 2012 student strike in Quebec, the New Democratic Party (NDP) entirely ignored the swelling strike movement in Quebec. The unions, it should be recalled, were a pillar of the Liberal-NDP deal that kept the federal Liberals in power to implement their pro-big-business, pro-war agenda over the past two-and-a-half years.

With their support, Justin Trudeaus Liberals were able to bolster Canadian imperialisms involvement in the NATO-instigated war against Russia and give full-throated support to Israels genocidal assault on the Gaza Palestinians and its aggression against Iran.

Union leaders paraded Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and prominent Quebec Liberal legislator Marwa Rizqyrepresentatives of big business parties that have imposed drastic cuts on the public sector, notably through emergency anti-strike legislationbefore a Nov. 23, 2023 rally of striking public sector workers outside the National Assembly. In this picture, St-Pierre Plamondon is second from the left in the back row, and Rizqy is in the front on the extreme right. [Photo: Conseil Central de Quebec Chaudiere-Appalaches (CSN)/Facebook]

At a demonstration in November 2023, again with the aim of subordinating workers to the capitalist establishment, union leaders paraded representatives of the Parti Quebecois and the Quebec Liberal Party in front of striking workers, even though it is precisely these parties that have been trashing public services for the past 40 years. Representatives of Quebec Solidaire (QS) were also promoted at the event. While urging Legault to listen to workers, this party of the privileged middle class declared its solidarity with the union bureaucrats and insisted workers must respect the reactionary laws that severely limit their right to strike.

Through months of negotiations, Legault stuck to his guns and the unions predictably caved. The union bureaucrats then dangled the threat of the government resorting to a strikebreaking law and imposing new contracts by decree to bully workers into accepting the rotten, concessionary tentative agreements they had negotiated, as the lesser evil.

The signing of the Common Front agreements last February, without any of workers basic demands being met (massive re-investment in public services, wage catch-up for all, lower class sizes, end to TSP, etc.), further isolated the workers represented or rather misrepresented by the FIQ.

For its part, the FIQ pursued the same disastrous strategy that it has pursued for decades, based on the claim that nurses are a special case and must fight separately. This strategy, which went hand in hand with FIQs refusal to make any broader appeal for working class support in fighting to defend pubic healthcare, only served to isolate and weaken nurses in the face of state repression and intimidation and thus paved the way for the Legault government to impose the mobility it sought.

These union betrayals are not the fruit of a few rotten apples atop the union apparatuses but of the nationalist, pro-capitalist perspective shared by, and embodied in, the union bureaucracy as a whole. The unions and the privileged bureaucrats who run them, in Quebec and Canada as around the world, function today as instruments of big business and the state and have developed class interests hostile to the workers they claim to represent.

Immense social struggles will emerge in the coming period. In opposition to the unions attempt to subordinate the working class to the capitalist elite, its parties and reactionary nationalist ideology, workers must mobilize to defend their social and democratic rights on the basis of a socialist and internationalist perspective.

As a critical first step in this fight, workers must build independent organs of class struggle: rank-and-file committees in all workplaces, unified in the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), a global network to unite all workers struggles and prepare a working class offensive against the profit system, which is at the root of war, social inequality and the ruling elites turn towards fascism.

We call on all those interested in fighting for such a perspective to fill out the form below.
No matter which of the two big-business candidates for US president takes office, Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, the frontal assault on the social right to high-quality public education will escalate.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris gets ready to board Air Force Two, Sunday, September 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill]

Alongside the termination of thousands of jobs and the reorganization of US industries, including mass layoffs of auto, tech and logistics workers, the education system is being upended and thousands of school workers are losing their jobs. Schools are being put on rations in both red and blue states.

The goals of education are themselves being degraded through this bipartisan policy. In numerous ways, young people are being discouraged from pursuing their interests and intellect, and instead being groomed to enter the workforce or military, and the sooner the better. Discipline and obedience are promoted, with growing numbers of police in the schools, endless shooting drills, cell phone bans, library and book bans. Military recruiters are being invited onto campuses and the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) is being promoted in middle and high schools. Brutality is becoming routine.

For their part, Trump and the Republicans make no pretense of improving working class schools, instead pushing for a vast expansion of vouchers and other forms of taxpayer funding for private schools. Project 2025, written by Trump supporters and former aides, calls for an end to the US Department of Education and the transformation of Title I (federal assistance for public schools) and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) into block grants in order to cut their budgets. The fascist Republicans are using their anti-DEI campaigns to demonize educators and students, censor educational materials, and demand the promotion of religion, the military and patriotism in schools.

The Democratsalso fully serving Wall Streetseek the same ends, just by slightly different means. Under the Democratic administration of Biden/Harris, COVID-19 ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds have been terminated, and districts across the country are shutting schools, ending tutoring, and laying off teachers, nurses, counselors and support staff. The job outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. puts 2024 cuts to education jobs at 25,396, up 222 percent from last year. This is just the beginning, with as many as 384,000 education jobs to be cut, according to industry consultant Chad Ferguson.

These cuts are devastating districts from coast to coast. To give a sense of the widespread assault, one can point to over 100 schools at risk for closure or consolidation in Chicago, up to 13 schools to be closed or merged in Milwaukee, 14 schools slated for closure or consolidation as well as the closure of three alternative or special education programs in Pittsburgh, and more. This week, teachers in Ann Arbor, Michigan told the media that they face a possible doubling of their healthcare costs. Albany, Oregon teachers voted by 92 percent to strike in opposition to low pay, overcrowded classrooms and lack of resources for students.

For decades, the Democrats have boasted of supporting school reform privatization schemes and, together with the Republicans, systematically cutting budgets. The priority of the Democratic Party is the corporate-financial oligarchys demand for expanding US wars of aggression. Discussion in ruling circles is that the US is heading for total war, requiring a whole society effort and a wartime economy.

The ruling class sees funding for public education as an overall deduction from the surplus value created by the working class, and, as such, a diversion from profits. Any social resources that once went into schools and social programs are being diverted to war.

The Biden/Harris administration has allocated over $1 trillion in the current budget for military spending, an all-time record. These vast sums are supplemented by many hundreds of millions of special appropriations to the fascist Netanyahu regime, which is carrying out genocide in Gaza and now raining down death on Lebanon. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been allocated for the proxy war in Ukraine being conducted by the US and NATO against nuclear-armed Russia.

The demands of total war mean not just budget cuts, but also more munitions and more enlistments. To that end, millions in new dollars are being made available to promote technical training for semiconductor production and other necessary war-time goods.

Kamala Harris toured Michigans Hemlock Semiconductor Plant this past Monday to emphasize her support for expanding semiconductor manufacturing in the US, which has been a major aspect of the Biden administrations preparations for war. Harris tour coincided with the announcement of hiring at a nearby new facility that is set to become the nations largest silicon wafer production plant, a key component in semiconductor manufacturing.

At the plant, she said, I believe that as we think of industries of the future and the future of Americas workforce, we need to get beyond this idea that the only high skilled jobs require a college degree. She proceeded to declare that one of her first actions as president would be to reassess federal jobs and identify which ones did not require a college degree.

Harris comments are nearly identical to those which the Biden administration has been emphasizing to youth as part of a strategy to shift semiconductor production to the United States. Last year, President Bidens wife, Dr. Jill Biden, was featured in Teen Vogue magazine with stories of her visiting community colleges and telling young people, You dont need a four-year degree to get a good-paying job. Labor Secretary Julie Su traveled with her to promote the US Department of Labors Youth Employment Works strategy, which is directed at expanding employment for young people 14 to 24 years of age.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and its president, Randi Weingarten, have been active in facilitating this school-to-factory pipeline. Starting this school year, New York state schools began a program with Micron Technology to funnel high school students into the high-tech semiconductor industry. The project is currently expanding to encompass over 1,500 high school students in New York, Michigan and Minnesota. Funding for the project was provided by the CHIPS and Science Act, signed by Biden in 2022, which authorized over $280 billion for semiconductor production and research.

The trade union bureaucracy is assisting with the school-to-military technology pipeline and attempting to whip up pro-war sentiment. Weingarten plays a critical role in the capitalist state as an ambassador for war against Russia. She has visited Ukraine on numerous occasions. She has also been vocal in her support for Israels right to defend itself, promoting the lying claim that anti-genocide protesters are antisemitic, as Israel, with Washingtons backing, carries out a campaign to starve out and kill the last 100,000 people in Northern Gaza.

In schools, and even in colleges across the US, the arts, humanities, history and culture are being stripped from curricula while technical education is promoted. Working class youth are being actively discouraged from pursuing college, and high schools are increasingly promoting job ready skills and providing course credit for outside jobs.

Over a dozen states across the US have introduced legislation in recent years seeking to significantly loosen child labor laws. One example is an Iowa bill enacted last year that allows minors to work at more jobs, for longer hours, and later at night. The US Department of Labor reported an 88 percent increase in child labor violations between 2019 and 2023.

One such violation involves a 16-year-old named Derrick who lost both legs in a trenching accident while working for a construction company in Washington state last year. He was part of a school-sponsored work-based learning program, earning class credit for on-the-job hours. The tragedy occurred due to inadequate supervision and a failure by both the school district and the company to maintain proper safety monitoring.

Meanwhile, chronic absenteeism is being used by school administrators to punish students and go after parents. Kamala Harris, who as San Francisco district attorney fined and jailed parents when their children missed too much school, has pledged to make the assault on chronic absenteeism a cornerstone of her education platform.

Harris promises to provide universal Pre-K education and fight absenteeism are part of the plan to increase the workforce population, with the aim of funneling youth into producing for a wartime economy. This was acutely demonstrated during the early years of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With pressure from both parties, school districts played a major role in attacking parents who did not want to send their children to COVID-infested classrooms, threatening them with fines and visits from Child Protective Services if their children had too many sick days. The aim was to ensure that parents reported to work, sending their children to school regardless of the toll on public health.

Opposition to austerity and school closures is already mounting. In Chicago, educators and parents are protesting the threat of closures and the firing of over 270 educators, what one teacher referred to as an act of social arson. Earlier this month, hundreds of educators in East Orange, New Jersey staged a two-day sickout after the school board decided to cut 93 jobs. In Canada, some 3,200 Edmonton public school support staff walked off the job last week to protest low wages.

Educators expressing opposition to austerity are part of a broader global upsurge in the class struggle. The strike by 33,000 Boeing engineers is in its seventh week, with Labor Secretary Julie Su being brought in to force through a contract and end the strike, as was done to East Coast dockworkers last month and railroad workers in 2022. The powerful strike at Boeing is threatening the war plans of US imperialism against Iran, Russia and China.

Furthermore, the development of the class struggle is beginning to take on political dimensions, including the critical strike back in May of graduate student instructors at the University of California, who struck against the repression of students for protesting the Gaza genocide.

The prime obstacle facing the working class is the trade union apparatus. In the realm of public education, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) are both directly involved in the Harris campaign, stumping around the country for her, leading various get-out-the-vote campaigns, and suppressing opposition from rank-and-file teachers and staff who refuse to support Harris.

The trade union bureaucracies are raising no warnings of the threat from Harris policy, shared by Trump, of refashioning education, the economy and all production to align more directly with US imperialist interests. The growing opposition to austerity, budget cuts, school closures and mass layoffs must take on a conscious political character. The working class must establish new rank-and-file organizations to overthrow the labor bureaucrats and take control of its own struggles, uniting with workers across the country and internationally, and build a new, socialist leadership to establish its political independence from both capitalist parties.
Germanys Scholz government is in the process of building a police state against the working class. This is demonstrated by the new security package from Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (Social Democrat, SPD). The package further undermines the right of asylum, tightens gun laws and gives the federal police and the domestic intelligence service more powers.

Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and her Polish counterpart Tomasz Siemoniak at the heavily guarded Polish border with Belarus [Photo by gov.pl / CC BY 3.0

The package, which consists of two new lawsImproving Internal Security and the Asylum System and Improving the Fight against Terrorismwas adopted in the Bundestag (parliament) on October 18 with the votes of the coalition parties, the SPD, Liberal Democrats (FDP) and Greens. Minister Faeser commented that it was the right answer to the current threats from Islamist terrorism, from antisemitism, from right- and left-wing extremism.

However, the package was partially blocked on the same day by the Bundesrat (Upper Chamber), which objected to not providing biometric data matching for the security authorities. At the same time, the Christian Democrat (CDU/CSU) state premiers made it clear that the package did not go far enough for them, and the CDU interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, called on Deutschlandfunk radio for even more leeway for the police and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as Germanys domestic intelligence agency is called.

Meanwhile, large parts of the package concerning the right of asylum and the law on firearms had already come into force at the end of October.

Attacks on refugees

The attacks on the right to asylum in particular are aimed at dividing and intimidating the working class. They expand the major repatriation package that the Scholz cabinet passed in June. The door is being opened to arbitrary actions, because in the future, the grounds for deportation will also include crimes with a xenophobic or inhumane motive, including antisemitism, racism, sexism or queer hostility.

The number of deportations, which has already increased significantly, is set to rise sharply again. Almost 10,000 people were deported in the first half of 2024. The government is now also in negotiations with Turkey about weekly mass deportation flights. Since August, deportations have also been taking place to Afghanistan, and Minister Faeser promises: We are currently working on Syria.

The asylum and residence laws are being increasingly restricted. For example, the aim is to withdraw all benefits from so-called Dublin cases, i.e., people who are already registered in another EU country, within two weeks. In addition, the double punishment of convicted criminals through deportation is to be enforced even more rigorously. In future, anyone entitled to asylum who briefly visits their home country will lose all protections.

The aggressive political agitation has led to a wave of protest letters and many people leaving the Green Party. According to Pro Asyl, the provisions are obviously contrary to the German constitution and European law. However, it cannot be ruled out that some authorities will begin to try to implement the will of the legislature 1:1 and that those affected will not have sufficient support for legal action. As a result, homelessness of people seeking protection, which has so far been unknown in Germany, could actually occur, warns Pro Asyl.

A declaration against the new laws has thousands of signatures, including organisations such as Amnesty International, Pro Asyl, various charities including Der Paritatische, Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, Internationaler Bund (IB), IPPNW, Kindernothilfe, Save the Children, Terre des Hommes, etc. The declaration states:

People who have fled to Germany are part of our society: they work and get involved here, raise their children here and belong here. The misconduct of individuals must never lead to the blanket stigmatisation, racialisation and labelling of certain groups of people as not belonging. We will not be divided.

Gun control and the police

In order to strengthen internal security, gun laws are also being tightened. Not only should the trustworthiness of gun owners be better checked in the future, the ban on knives is being extended and will in future apply to public festivals and other public events, as well as to public transport, train stations and all crime hotspots.

Clubs for hunters and marksmen are already opposing this, arguing that people who are about to commit terrorist acts like those in Mannheim or Solingen are hardly likely to care about such administrative offences.

Enforcing knife bans requires significantly more police officers, who must also be given more powers. For example, they must then be allowed to carry out checks without prior suspicion. This is exactly what the government intends to do, as it increasingly tramples on fundamental democratic rights such as freedom of expression and assembly.

In recent months, the police have been deployed with increasing frequency to suppress peaceful rallies, for example by environmental activists of the Last Generation or by people protesting against the Israeli massacre of Palestinians.

The consequences of this can be seen in a statistic recently published by the dpa news agency. It has evaluated police reports this year and concludes that police officers have already shot 17 people in 2024. This is significantly more than in the same period in all the years before. Police have very often shot and killed people who were in an exceptional psychological situation or were already being treated for mental illness.

Heated atmosphere

In public, almost all the voices to be heard from the media and political parties are those that support the government or call on it to enact even tougher laws.

For example, Sahra Wagenknecht criticises the Interior Minister from the right. The BSW chairwoman writes: For years, Interior Minister Faeser has slowed down the fight against uncontrolled migration  Her failures are being paid for by citizens, local authorities and the police every day. According to Wagenknecht, in the evenings, train stations have become no-go areas, especially for women.

The mainstream media (not only the tabloid Bild) carry reports almost daily on foreign criminals, integration refuseniks and the failure of the asylum system, etc.

In this heated atmosphere, observers from charities Diakonie and Caritas at Frankfurt Airport have reported an increasing number of truly brutal deportations. People are taken to the flights without the barest of necessities, in slippers and flip-flops, and often handcuffed. In most cases, those affected have had no opportunity to pack or withdraw money from their accounts beforehand.

One terrible example is the deportation of 18-year-old Aysu on September 12 from Hesse, where she could have started training as a nursing assistant. She was deported to Azerbaijan, where she has no family or friends. This happened completely unexpectedly for her foster family.

While the daily life of the population is becoming increasingly insecure in terms of work, family and finances, the coalition governments security package is playing into the hands of growing fascism and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), whose programme of remigration it is effectively adopting.

This can only be understood in the context of the current attacks on wages and jobs. The railways, public services and car industry (most recently at VW) are cutting jobs, closing plants, privatising and cutting wages, while the costs of the pro-war policy are exacerbating the situation. This is provoking explosive class struggles. That is why the government is striving for more security in an almost panicked mannernot for working people, but for the ruling class and the capitalist state.

The foreign policy of the bourgeois politicians shows what they are capable of. All the establishment parties, from the coalition government and the opposition, support Israels genocide in Gaza. In Ukraine, they are arming the Zelensky regime, which openly relies on fascists.

Faesers idea of security was demonstrated this week in Poland: she visited the border with Belarus, which is guarded by metres-high border fences, barbed wire, an electronic surveillance system and heavily armed security guards, where she suggested that EU Frontex forces should also be deployed in the future.
At its meeting this week, the Western Sydney University (WSU) Rank-and-File Committee voted to send a message of support and solidarity to the Boeing Workers Rank-and-File Committee. As the message explains, university workers and students in Australia, like the Boeing workers, face the need to organise independent rank-and-file committees to fight the trade union apparatuses enforcement of corporate-government job destruction and the underlying agenda of war and austerity.

To join the WSU Rank-and-File Committee or discuss establishing rank-and-file committees at other universities, contact the committee at: rfc.wsu@gmail.com.

Western Sydney University

We are workers and students at Western Sydney University (WSU) who formed a rank-and-file committee earlier this year, initially to fight the pro-business restructuring and destruction of jobs and conditions at our universitys preparatory college.

As we have warned, the purge of staff at the WSU College has now become a template for the restructuring and elimination of thousands of jobs at universities across Australia as a direct result of funding cuts by the Labor government.

Having read about your struggle on the World Socialist Web Site, we decided to send a message of solidarity with the determined stand you and the 33,000 Boeing machinists are taking against the years of attacks on wages and working conditions.

Like you, we have formed a rank-and-file committee, totally independent of the trade unions, which are complicit in the corporate-government agenda.

We support your powerful seven-week strike and your 64 percent rejection last week of the second sellout contract proposed by the International Association of Machinists (IAM) leadership.

As the WSWS reported, the IAMs latest contract proposal amounted to an endorsement of a corporate dictatorship. It not only did not make up for a decade of wage freezes, it failed to restore pensions stolen from you in 2014, and would have given the company the go-ahead for 17,000 announced layoffs.

Your vote is a real blow to the IAM and the Biden administration, which is relying upon the union officials to end the strike because it cuts across its support for, and arming of, the war against Russia, the Israeli genocide in Gaza and its plans for wider wars against Iran and China.

The IAM leadership never wanted your strike to go ahead and refuses to use the unions $300 million assets to aid you. The miserable $250 weekly strike pay is intended to starve you back to work.

Boeing management, which has jettisoned basic safety standards in passenger airplane manufacturing, wants you to pay for its crimes and profits.

Your stand demonstrates the potential strength of the global working class and is a real blow against this giant corporations war profits and the US war machine. The shut-down of a major military contractor shows how the working class can halt the plunge into war.

Your October 3 statementBoeing machinists must unite with East Coast dockworkers to defend jobs and stop world war! points the way forward for class-conscious workers everywhere.

Our struggles can only succeed if workers organise independently of the union bureaucracies and fight for a world where human need, not profit, is the priority.

While you face ruthless enemies in management, the IAM machine and the Biden administration, you have even more powerful friendsthe American and international working class.

Like Boeing workers, we confront unions that are responsible for imposing previous government cuts and that are implementing the agenda of war and austerity, including by restructuring universities to serve the needs of war economies.

We endorse the call made by the World Socialist Web Site in its October 24 Perspective: After rejection of sellout deal, working class must mobilize behind the Boeing strike. The tremendous social power of the working class must be organised through building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) as a global rebellion of the rank-and-file.

As that Perspective states: Workers can only fulfill their aspirations if they take political power in their own hands and marshal societys resources to greatly improve the living standards of the worlds population and end social inequality, war and the threat of dictatorship.
Staff prepare to collect samples at a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. [AP Photo/Mark Baker]

The report of a government commissioned inquiry into Australias response to the COVID-19 pandemic was released on Tuesday.

The inquiry spanned a year. The report runs to 892 pages. It is, however, completely worthless from an analytical or scientific standpoint, adding nothing to an understanding of pandemics and public health in general, or the experience of COVID-19 in particular.

Instead, the report is a crude promotion of the profit-driven let it rip policies that persist to this day. It is noteworthy only as yet another marker of the assault on public health and the rights of the population that this homicidal program has entailed.

That conclusion was preordained. When the Labor government initiated the inquiry in September last year, they instigated a public discussion that focussed solely on the adversity associated with public health measures, such as social distancing, lockdowns and school closures. In one interview, for instance, Labors Health Minister Mark Butler referred to these measures, declaring: We dont want to do that next time. We dont want to do that in the next pandemic.

The government selected a three-person panel that was always going to arrive at the conclusion Butler had already outlined. Robyn Kruk, who has been in the upper echelons of the public sector bureaucracy, working with pro-business governments for decades, was its chair. Economist Dr Angela Jackson was on the panel. The only individual of the three with medical expertise was Professor Catherine Bennett, Deakin University chair of epidemiology.

Throughout the pandemic, Bennett was one of the epidemiologists who most aggressively supported the lifting of public health measures and insisted that the population would have to live with the virus. Under conditions where many principled epidemiologists and doctors sharply denounced this policy, the selection of Bennett as the sole public health expert on the panel made a mockery of its purported independence.

Professor Catherine Bennett [Photo: Department of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet]

Most fundamentally, the report presents the COVID-19 crisis entirely as a thing of the past. In a document supposedly about official preparedness for pandemics, the pandemic that continues is all but ignored.

With the dismantling of official testing and reporting across the country, case numbers and other metrics are almost impossible to track. But it is clear that the virus continues to spread. In fact, COVID-contributed fatalities this year have occurred at a rate of 497.5 per month, barely lower than the 512 per month recorded in 2023.

Other basic elements of the pandemic are simply ignored. The fact that COVID deaths resulted in the first decline in Australian life expectancy in at least 50 years does not rate a mention. To the extent that the mass deaths are referenced, more than 25,000 official COVID fatalities, it is in the coldest and most unsympathetic manner.

In a report of such length, there is inevitably substantial padding. The authors attempt at times to adopt a pretence of even-handedness to bolster the credibility of their findings. But the overall thrust is a denunciation of the successful public health measures that limited COVID deaths in the first two years of the pandemic to 2,239, and an insistence that they never be implemented again.

The authors boldly declare: There was no ongoing monitoring of proportionality of responses Interventions such as lockdowns should only be used as a last resort, not as a frontline disease control measure. In regards to lockdowns and other measures such as mask mandates, they complain: Effectiveness was inferred from overall reported case numbers, but this is a very limited approach to evaluation and did not reveal which [restrictions] were effective and whether the stringency settings were right.

Those unqualified assertions, denouncing measures that saved lives, are all the more striking, given that the report notes, Australia would have had between 15 and 46 times the number of deaths if it had experienced the same COVID-related death rates as comparable countries like Canada and Sweden. That is, but for the measures that the report denounces, hundreds of thousands, or even more than a million people would have perished out of a population of 25 million.

The report asserts that lockdowns and school closures damaged mental health and caused other negative impacts, such as an erosion of trust in public health authorities. The real concern is made evident by its dozens of references to the economic impact of such measures, which it states means they should have been ended sooner. The economy, in this case, is a reference to the profit-making demands of the largest corporations and banks, which dictated the adoption of a let it rip program.

To justify its claims, the report presents an entirely false narrative of the pandemic. It essentially asserts that the public health measures were imposed by force on a population that was skeptical and then increasingly hostile to them.

To the extent that credit is given for the life-saving public health measures of the first two years of the pandemic, it is to the governments and official institutions. And to the extent that responsibility is assigned for the reopening of the economy which led to mass death, it is to the population, which was supposedly braying against lockdown measures.

This turns reality on its head. When the pandemic began in early 2020, Australian governments, no less than their counterparts internationally, were intent on prioritising profit over lives. They implemented limited public health measures for several interrelated reasons. Going into the pandemic, Australia had one of the lowest rates of staffed hospital beds per capita. Governments knew that if the virus spread, the system would completely collapse.

This intersected with fears of mass opposition from the population. The first public health measures were implemented under the direct pressure of the working class, including health workers, teachers and others. The report is compelled to acknowledge that official directives for school closures in early 2020 were preempted by parents withdrawing their children and schools themselves shifting to online learning. But the implications of this, in terms of mass popular sentiment, are simply ignored.

The report is able to point to elements of the official response during the first two years of the pandemic that produced public anger. That included the extensive use of police and the military, above all targeting working-class areas of the major cities.

But the use of repressive state forces was not intrinsic to the public health measures. They had far more to do with the half-hearted character of the public health policies, which always included sweeping exemptions for business, particularly impacting low-paid and vulnerable sections of the working class, and fears of social upheaval, bound up with the growth of social inequality during the pandemic.

Notwithstanding this, the public health measures retained overwhelming support. In Queensland, Labor won a major victory in the 2020 state election, and in Western Australia it received a similar overwhelming response in March, 2021. In both instances, those results, bucking the trend of sharp swings against incumbents, were because the Labor governments were identified with the public health response. In Victoria, where lockdowns were the longest, a fact that was sharply denounced in the report, all contemporaneous polling indicated overwhelming support for the measures.

The real dynamic, covered up in the report, was a continuous campaign against this popular sentiment by the corporate press and the ruling elite. Everything was done to sow confusion, while the governments themselves were continuously looking for an opportunity to follow their counterparts in Europe and the US and adopt an open let it rip program.

One aspect of this was the ever greater promotion, by sections of the corporate and financial elite, of a virulent anti-lockdown movement. Demonstrations involving a tiny fraction of the population were given extensive airtime and their views were depicted as being representative of popular sentiment. The rallies were also centrally bound up with anti-vaccine misinformation, and in many instances were led by far-right and even fascist organisations.

With the arrival in Australia of Omicron in December, 2021, they found their excuse. The report simply lies, when it states, Unfortunately Australias reopening coincided with the arrival of the even more transmissible Omicron variant in December 2021. In New South Wales and Victoria, test, trace and isolate measures were pulled back because they could not sufficiently control the spread of this new variant.

In reality, governments deliberately allowed Omicron to spread, and then invoked the increased transmission to justify a reopening of the economy. That was exemplified by the infamous statement of Paul Kelly, Australias Chief Medical Officer, who declared that Omicron was a Christmas present because it would justify the end of public health measures.

This statement, and the outright medical misinformation that was promoted at the time, including claims that Omicron was mild and that its spread would increase population immunity, are simply not mentioned in the report. In other words, the real crimes of governments, which resulted in the vast majority of Australias more than 25,000 deaths and counting, are excused. For a report detailing the pandemic response, the fact that masses of people died in early 2022 and all the way through to 2023 as a consequence is given extraordinarily short shrift. The other result of this program, in deliberately spreading mass confusion and promoting a popular indifference to public health, is similarly buried.

There are a host of recommendations. But none of them address the obvious issues needed to address the current pandemic and future ones. There is no call for an expansion of the public healthcare system, which is in its greatest crisis in decades, even worse than during the most acute phase of the COVID crisis. There is no reference to hospital-acquired COVID infections, which account for a substantial proportion of the ongoing deaths. There is no recommendation for air filtration measures to be rolled out, under conditions where principled epidemiologists insist that this is essential to addressing the dangers posed by airborne viruses such as COVID.

Instead, many of the recommendations focus on communication, i.e., government public relations and the need for greater consultation with business and other sections of the corporate elite.

A bogus methodology and lying assertions

The report has, predictably, been welcomed in the official press, with its independence and the esteem of its authors lauded and their conclusions denouncing the COVID restrictions cited uncritically. The report, however, would not survive a rigorous academic peer-review process.

We heard that lockdowns have lost credibility with the Australian public, one of the most quoted passages of the report declares. That may or may not be the case, but for so sweeping an assertion, one would expect a citation referencing serious research.

The inquisitive reader, who checks the footnote accompanying that declaration, will find 956: Meeting 157; Meeting 29; Meeting 67. There is nothing in the report or anywhere else in the public domain about those meetings, including who participated in them.

That is a theme throughout the report. The authors state that across more than 250 meetings they had consulted stakeholders on a no attribution basis, which allowed frank and fearless discussions on a wide range of sensitive topics. The stakeholders included government representatives, community groups, industry, business and unions, and experts from a range of fields.

In other words, many of the assertions in the report are the claims of anonymous individuals, likely politicians and business leaders directly responsible for the mass COVID deaths, who would not even put their names to their self-justifying statements.

This method, already dubious, is used by the authors to place completely false and unscientific statements in the report. For instance: A stakeholder suggested decision-making did not adequately consider international evidence that pointed to low rates of transmission in schools and reduced health risks to children and young people. There is simply no such evidence. Every school reopening was followed by mass outbreaks.

Elsewhere, the authors themselves make claims that they do not even attempt to substantiate. For instance, they declare: The risk of developing long COVID reduced with the latest variants. There is no footnote, no explanation and no proof for that assertion.

When they do reference academic studies and official figures, the authors on occasion present the data misleadingly.

In the section about the impact of public health measures on young people, which particularly condemns the school closures, they write The rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisations for females aged 15 to 19 years spiked in 2020 to 2021. But if one checks the actual data, an almost identical spike occurred in 201718. If one were to attribute the tragic 202021 spike to COVID and public health measures, one would have to also explain why a major spike occurred prior to the pandemic.

Other examples could be cited.

Another source prominently featured in the report are the results of focus groups and interviews which supposedly provide an insight into popular opinion. Just 176 people participated. And again, the methodology is highly suspect. The inquiry decided to focus on the experiences of certain cohorts, including Indigenous people and those with disabilities, meaning that aside from the minuscule sample size, the survey results are non-representative.

More troublingly, among the eleven vulnerable cohorts selected were anti-vaxxers. Their anti-scientific views are uncritically relayed in the report, despite the fact that they are a tiny minority. While over 95 percent of Australian adults have had at least two COVID shots, opponents of vaccination constituted up to 13 percent of the survey respondents.

Yet the report lends credibility to the anti-vax argument. The Inquiry heard many personal stories from the pandemic, including on the use of COVID-19 vaccines, it states. Some of these were profoundly tragic. These may not stand out against whole of population safety figures, but we are thankful for the time and bravery of those who came forward to share their stories of injury following vaccination.

There is simply no basis for the comparisons between the toll of the virus and the impact of adverse vaccine events. Official figures indicate that 14 people have potentially died as a result of adverse reactions to vaccines, under conditions where an estimated 71,054,100 doses have been administered. The mass vaccination has undoubtedly contributed to saving tens if not hundreds of thousands of lives.

The genuflection of the authors to the anti-vaccine layers points to the assault on public health entailed in the adoption of the let it rip COVID policies. While they waffle on about the need to rebuild trust in public health and vaccination, the authors themselves seek to undermine it as they fulfill their mandate of producing a tendentious report that will be used to prevent any public health response to future pandemics.

The authors claim that elimination of the virus was impossible. But that is refuted by the experiences in Australia and globally. Australian governments rejected an elimination strategy on the grounds that it would be too costly. But the public health measures they were compelled to implement in the first two years of the pandemic repeatedly eliminated transmission in major population centres. In New Zealand and China, whose governments did initially adopt elimination, the same basic truth was established.

What was also made clear is that elimination could not be maintained in a single country or region. It required a unified global effort, and one that rejected the subordination of health and lives to the profit interests of the ruling elite. But that is impossible under capitalism. The real lesson of the pandemic is that the fight for the social rights of the population, including the elimination of COVID and the prevention of future disasters, requires a movement of the working class aimed at establishing an international socialist society.
Are you a PepsiCo worker? Tell us what you think about the closures by filling out the form below. All submissions will remain anonymous.

Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on November 15, 2023. [AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey]

PepsiCo, the worlds second-largest food and beverage business with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion, announced early Monday morning the layoff of roughly 200 employees and the closing of its only Chicago area plant, effective immediately.

Just three days later, the company announced it was ending production at plants in Cincinnati, Ohio, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Atlanta, Georgia at the end of December, taking an additional 300 jobs from those locations and leaving warehouse operations in place. A PepsiCo plant near Carlisle, Pennsylvania will lose transport operations as well, but the number of jobs affected there has not yet been made public.



Last April, the company shuttered a Danville, Illinois Quaker Oats plant, destroying 510 jobs in that small town, after a salmonella contamination incident that required a product recall. The Danville plant also would have required investment to modernize the facility.

PepsiCos layoffs are part of a massive wave of job cuts over the last two years that has spread across industries. Thousands of workers have been laid off this year as companies look to increase profits by restructuring their labor force to cut costs and extract as much wealth per worker as possible.



While the companys statements point to changing consumer behavior, i.e. lower demand for its products, as a main cause of cuts, analysts also point to PepsiCos raising prices on its commodities over many years.

The company reported gross profits of $50.2 billion for the year ending September 30, 2024, a 1.71 percent increase over 2023. The year before, PepsiCo annual gross profit was $49.6 billion, a more than 8 percent increase from 2022.



Workers at the plant on the south side of Chicago last Monday reported arriving to locked gates as well as delivery drivers unaware the plant was shut down permanently. The only indication was the increased security.

Adding insult to injury, PepsiCo had police escort workers off the Chicago plant property. The company said in a statement workers would receive 60 days of severance pay.

PepsiCo also said the plant is in a 60-year-old building that had physical limitations.[A] lot of work that needs to be done to it.

In interviews with WGN9 news, PepsiCo workers described the situation as gut-wrenching.

Another worker, Daniel Walker, explained the confusion and abruptness of the layoff to WGN9 news. They made it seem like they woke up yesterday and were going to shut [the plant]. They couldnt answer no questions.

In response to PepsiCos action, Teamsters Local 727 officials claimed that the decision to close the plant was in retaliation for a new contract with PepsiCo this summer.

A Teamsters official also stated PepsiCo was in violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, a US labor law that requires employers of more than 75 full time workers to provide 60 days advance notice of plant closings and mass layoffs.

But PepsiCos closure of the plant is an exposure not only of PepsiCos view of the workforce as expendable, but also Teamsters Local 727 bureaucracy. The Secretary-Treasurer of 727, John T. Coli, has only hinted at some vague legal action the union may attempt, rather than mobilizing the unions nationwide membership in defense of jobs.

The current contract language contains no concrete protection against layoffs or plant closures. The union bureaucracys public comments indicated that, as far as it is concerned, these actions would have been fine if the company had told the workers and the union 60 days before Monday that they would all be losing their jobs.

If the company is preparing to eliminate more jobs, workers must be made aware and organized to fight against corporate assault on jobs. The Teamsters bureaucracy resists this, avoiding strike action at any cost.



In April this year, during contract negotiation, 95 percent of Teamsters Local 727 members at Pepsi voted to authorize a strike.

Similarly, the Teamsters called off strike action against Anheuser-Busch at the last minute earlier this year, abandoning hundreds of striking Molson Coors brewery workers into accepting a sellout contract after three months on strike, or the Teamsters abandoning 22,000 workers at Yellow Freight who were laid off in 2023.

The way forward against the cuts requires a fight not just against management, but their enablers in the Teamsters officialdom. Workers should organize rank-and-file committees to discuss and coordinate a common strategy and joint actions across the country and turn out into the wider working class for support.
One of China's most well-known art troupes spiced up celebrations of the 60th anniversary of China-Zambia diplomatic relations with a thrilling performance.

On Thursday night, the Zambia Chinese Association in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Zambia presented a cultural event as part of celebrations for the bilateral ties by showcasing Chinese dramas and musical compositions.

Presented by east China's Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Center, the Wu Opera dazzled the audience, comprised of Chinese nationals and Zambian locals, who kept ululating and clapping for an encore.

They couldn't help but take videos and photos of the intriguing performance.

The event saw the group providing various performances which included "9-Pieced Segment Dragon," Suona Solo "Picking Dates," Wu Opera "the goddess of heaven scatters flowers."

Leonard Milomo, a resident of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, was left mesmerized by the performance. Milomo said he was overwhelmed by the performance because it was something he had never seen.

"I am overwhelmed by the performance of our visitors from China. I have never seen such, it's a very overwhelming feeling to be part of this partnership between Zambia and China, and it's something that we also learn from culture and tradition," he said in an interview.

Milomo said he would not hesitate to watch the performances anytime and that he was planning to visit during one of the holidays in order to have a feel of what China offers.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing said the frequent cultural exchanges and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have brought the people of the two countries closer. And the cultural exchanges between the two countries have been happening frequently with art groups paying exchange visits.

Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, has a history of more than 500 years and is the second major regional operatic genre in Zhejiang Province. It first grew in popularity in Jinhua and its surrounding areas and was named after Wuzhou, the name of Jinhua in ancient China.
Gov. Jared Polis and Secretary of State Jena Griswold on Friday said voting machine passwords, which were posted online, have been updated and the security of the equipment has been verified.
Former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the latest celebs to endorse Kamala Harris.

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Nancy Sinatra says she cast her vote for Kamala.

Yes. I voted for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. https://t.co/2jle4uhHQ7  Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) October 31, 2024

Twitter: @NancySinatra

And Jen Aniston did too.

On the other side of things, let's look at every celebrity who endorsed Trump this week and also the one person who rescinded their endorsement.

1. First off, Jake Paul

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Paul released an 18-minute long video on YouTube saying he was "nervous" and "scared" to make the endorsement video before discussing everything from the economy, abortion rights, and trans people in women's sports.

Who Im supporting for president and why you should too pic.twitter.com/OBd5uWrXTV  Jake Paul (@jakepaul) October 31, 2024

Twitter: @jakepaul

2. Buzz Aldrin

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The 94-year-old former astronaut released this statement on X:

https://t.co/oZekfkFKVZ A half-Century ago, it was an honor to serve my country in the effort to put a human being on the Moon. I am proud of what we accomplished then and I have dedicated my life to the pursuit of an enduring human presence in space  it is a calling that runs  Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) October 30, 2024

Twitter: @TheRealBuzz

In the statement, Aldrin praises Trump on his space policy: "Over the years, I have seen our government's approach to space wax and wane, a fluctuating dynamic that has disappointed me from time to time. But under the first Trump Administration, I was impressed to see how human space exploration was elevated, made a policy of high importance again."

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3. Mel Gibson

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Gibson told TMZ that Kamala "had the IQ of a fence post." When asked if he was going to support Trump, he said, "I think thats a pretty good guess."

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4. Brett Favre

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He spoke at a Trump rally and assured the crowd they are "not garbage."

Favre: I can assure you, we are not garbage. pic.twitter.com/JWTOpj8KbA  Acyn (@Acyn) October 30, 2024

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Twitter: @Acyn

5. And lastly, the McCloskeys:

The McCloskeys endorse Trump: Back during the George Floyd riots we held off an Antifa/BLM mob through the grace of God  and we saw the hand of God moving in the saving of Donald Trumps life. pic.twitter.com/PhjlOXLvUI  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 30, 2024

Twitter: @RonFilipkowski

Yes, these people:

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And now for the person who took back their endorsement...

1. That would be reggaeton star Nicky Jam.

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If you remember, Nicky Jam's Trump endorsement was off to a rocky start when Trump said "she" was "so hot."

Trump says Nicky Jam is hot, and refers to him as she. pic.twitter.com/9UEcf27HMO  Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) September 14, 2024

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Twitter: @EdKrassen

Well, since the Puerto Rico joke fiasco, Nicky went on IG and revoked his endorsement.

NEWS: In Instagram video @NickyJamPR RENOUNCES his support for Trump after rally comment about Puerto Rico being a floating island of garbage. Says he supported him because he thought he was better for the economy but never thought something like this would happen weeks later. pic.twitter.com/oqQ6s93kvy  Adrian Carrasquillo (@Carrasquillo) October 30, 2024

Twitter: @Carrasquillo

The AP reports Nicky said in Spanish, "The reason why I supported Donald Trump was because I thought he was the best for the economy in the United States, where many Latinos live, many of us Latinos live, myself included, many immigrants who are suffering because of the economy and him, being a businessman, I thought it was the best move."

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"Never in my life did I think that a month later a comedian was going to come to criticize my country and speak badly of my country and therefore, I renounce any support for Donald Trump, and I sidestep any political situation. Respect Puerto Rico, Nicky Jam."
ET Wasnt Heidi Klums First Alien Halloween CostumeSee All Her Iconic Party Outfits Here

Hail the Pumpkin Queen. Heidi Klums Halloween costumes through the years prove that she wins Halloween every damn time. For the past 20 years, Klum has been the queen of Halloween for over-the-top costumes, such as Fiona from Shrek, Jessica Rabbit and the werewolf from Michael Jacksons 1982 music video for Thriller.

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Armed with hours worth of prosthetics, makeup and one-of-a-kind costumes, Klum never ceases to amaze us. (We mean, the woman hosts an annual star-studded Halloween party, so you know she loves the holiday.) In a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Klum explained that her love of Halloween stems from her childhood in Cologne, Germany, where she attended the countrys annual Karneval, a famous celebration filled with candy and wild costumes.

Related: Heidi Klum Said Fans Will Never Guess What Her 2024 Halloween Costume IsBut We Think We Cracked the Code

I embrace that title! And I always want to live up to it, year after year, Klum said at the time of her Halloween Queen title. When I moved to America, I immediately fell in love with Halloween and the spookiness of it. All that was missing was a fantastic party. It felt like a real opportunity for me.

So how does she pull off her Halloween costumes each year? Well, Klum told THR that she starts thinking of next years costume the day after Halloween. I start thinking about it on Nov. 1! I usually have two or three ideas that Im playing with and then I decide on one thing. You have to decide at one point because pieces have to be built and all of that, she said. So right when the party is over, the morning of Nov. 1, I start thinking, Maybe next year, Im going to do that one that I didnt do this year. And then, obviously, throughout the year new things come into my mind because maybe Ive seen a movie, or I went to a country and was inspired by something I saw there. Look back on Heidi Klums Halloween costumes through the years ahead.

2001: Lady Godiva

2001: Lady Godiva

For Heidi Klums 2001 Halloween costume, the model rode into a Halloween party on a horse as Lady Godiva. Her look was complete with a down-to-the-floor-long wig and an ethereal headpiece.

2002: Betty Boop

2002: Betty Boop

Heidi Klums 2002 Halloween costume as Betty Boop will go down in Halloween history. From the eyelashes to the curls, she nailed this look. Of course, she had to add her own Halloween flair with vampire fangs.

2004: Witch

2004: Witch

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Heidi Klums 2004 costume wasnt your average witch. The model accompanied her outfit with bones, a bright red wigs and a broomstick.

2005: Vampire

2005: Vampire

Sure, vampires are common around Halloween, but Heidi Klums 2005 Halloween costume was one of the better bloodsuckers weve seen.

2006: Forbidden Fruit

2006: Forbidden Fruit

For Heidi Klums 2006 Halloween costume, the model channeled the Bible story about Eve and the Forbidden Fruit. She dressed as both the fruit and the snake. Her husband at the time, Seal, was Eve.

2007: Cat

2007: Cat

Heidi Klums 2007 Halloween costume was anything but basic. The model looked straight out of the Cats Broadway musical in this authentic furry costume.

2008: Kali

2008: Kali

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One of her problematic costumes, Heidi Klums 2008 Halloween costume was Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and time (or at least her interpretation of the goddess). The look consisted of a blue multi-armed costume and swords.

2009: Crow

2009: Crow

The model is known for her legs, so it came as no surprise that Heidi Klums 2009 Halloween costume was a sexy crow. On top, Klum was a crow, complete with black wings and a beak. On the bottom, the model showed off her best assets: her legs in knee-high boots.

2010: Robot

2010: Robot

For Heidi Klums 2010 Halloween costume, the model wore stilts and dressed as a sky-high red and purple robot. Next to her was her husband, Seal, who dressed as a much-shorter silver bot.

2011: Ape

2011: Ape

Also for Heidi Klums 2011 Halloween costume, the model and her husband at the time, Seal, dressed as apes. The costumes were almost identical except Klums had obvious nipples showing.

2011: Human Body

2011: Human Body

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Heidi Klums 2011 Halloween costume was a human bodybut not just any human body. Klum dressed as a human body without hair or any skin. On the red carpet at her Halloween party, Klum also laid down on an operating table as fake doctors assessed her.

2012: Cleopatra

2012: Cleopatra

Heidi Klums 2012 Halloween costume was Cleopatra. The model walked down the red carpet of her Halloween party dressed head to toe in goldincluding a royal headpiece.

2014: Butterfly

Image: Newscom/Mega Agency.

For Heidi Klums 2014 Halloween costume, the model dressed as a butterfly with massive wings. She also painted her body in shades of blue and white to mimic the dazzling colors of a butterfly.

2015: Jessica Rabbit

2015: Jessica Rabbit

Heidi Klums 2015 Halloween costume as Jessica Rabbit is one of her best. Klum looked almost identical to the cartoon character from 1988s Who Framed Roger Rabbit in a red curves-hugging dress, blue latex gloves and tons of prosthetics to mimic Jessica Rabbits unnatural proportions.

2016: Clones

2016: Clones

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On her own, Heidi Klums 2016 Halloween costume isnt that impressive. But with five clones of herself, the model won the holiday. For 2016, Kluim recruited five models that looked like her for a trippy Halloween costume. Each model, wore the same knee-high boots and leotards. Klums clones, of course, also had prosthetics to look even more identical to the model.

2017: The Werewolf in Thriller

2017: The Werewolf in Thriller

Heidi Klums 2017 Halloween costume was the werewolf in the music video from Michael Jacksons 1982 song Thriller. The look consisted of a red-and-yellow letterman jacket, blue jeans and, of course, a werewolf mask and prosthetics that look identical to the monster in Jacksons video. Klum accompanied her costume with a mini-performance of Jacksons choreography in New York City.

2018: Fiona From Shrek

2018: Fiona From Shrek

For Heidi Klums 2018 Halloween costume, she and her husband, Tom Kaulitz, dressed as the main couple from the 2001 movie Shrek. Kaulitz was the titular character, while Klum dressed as Princess Fiona. Their looks, of course, were complete with green prosthetics for an authentic ogre look.

2019: Flesh eating Alien

2019: Flesh eating Alien

For Heidi Klums 2019 Halloween costume, she and her husband, Tom Kaulitz, dressed as an out-of-this-world duo. Klum dressed as a near-naked, flesh-eating alien, while her husband was the bloody astronaut who had just been feasted on. Klums costume took 10 hours of prosthetics and makeup. She live-streamed the process of her Halloween costume on Amazon.

2020: Her Own Horror Film Character

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Because Halloween was cancelled in 2020, Klum directed her own #HeidiHalloween2020 film, in which she was haunted by monsters in her house played by herself. Halloween is different this year, but that shouldnt stop us from getting creative at home  Be safe, be spooky, and spend time with family.  #HeidiHalloween2020, she captioned the five-minute movie on her Instagram.

2021: Her Own Horror Film Character Part 2

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For Heidi Klums Halloween costume in 2021, she forwent her annual Halloween party again and filmed an original horror short film, where she paid tribute to several iconic horror films, including Psycho. The short film also saw her play several monsters, including a dead version of herself the emerges from her grave and a flesh-eating cannibal.

2022: A Worm

2022: A Worm

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Heidi Klums 2022 Halloween costume was a life-sized worm. The head-to-toe costume was complete with ridges, a curved head and a long tail. Klums husband, Tom Kaulitz, dressed as a fisherman with a bloody eye and had the hook of his fishing rod attached to Klums costume. Klums whole body was covered except for her eyes and mouth, and her tan sneakers, which peaked through the bottom of her costume. Klum debuted her costume at her annual Halloween Partyat at Sake No Hana at the Moxy in New York City. Absolutely hooked on last nights looks , Klum captioned an Instagram photo of her costume.

2023: A Peacock

2023: A Peacock

Heidi Klums Halloween costume for 2023 was an eye-catching, multi-person peacock. I was like, How the heck do I top this rain worm? Klum said during a dress rehearsal the day before the big reveal, per the New York Times. Dressed in prosthetics and a blue velvet leotard, Heidi was the birds body and 10 Cirque du Soleil performers made up the fanned peacock tailno real feathers were used.

2024: ET

2024: ET

Heidi Klum dressed up as the beloved 80s alien E.T. from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial alongside her hubby Tom Kaulitz. As a 9-year-old in Germany, E.T. introduced me to the idea that theres life outside planet earth. So for the last year, we all put our heads together to figure out how to put my own stamp on such an iconic character, she wrote on Instagram.

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Its been months, and theres still no word on a release date for Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussexs brand, American Riviera Orchard. In fact, the brand just hit another major hurdle, and it may delay the brand even further, or call for a complete makeover.

Okay, so before we get into the latest hurdle, you need to know about how Meghan has been dealing with a lot of back and forth from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In Aug 2024, the USPTO denied her application for American Riviera Orchard (ARO) because businesses cannot trademark geographical locations, even despite the inclusion of Orchard in the brand title.

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And now, The New York Post confirmed that theyve hit another major snag, specifically from a rival lifestyle brand called Harry & David. The brand filed a protest against Meghans brand, noting how its too similar to their Royal Riviera product line.

The brand claimed there would be a likelihood of confusion, and now, the trademark issues have been escalated to bring in to Marco Wright, the Trademark Offices examining attorney.

Meghan Markle

These issues, coupled with the fact that nothing else has happened since she made that Instagram account at the beginning of 2024, may mean that ARO may not see the light of day for quite some time. Along with that, even if it does, Carla Horvath, a public relations expert, exclusively told SheKnows earlier this year that Meghan may have waited too long.

She said, This is just another example of her failure to launch and lack of creativity, in which there will be diminishing interest as time goes on.

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Click here to see a complete timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markles feud with the royal family.



Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle

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Credit: Michael Campanella/Getty Images/Instagram/Princess Madeleine of Sweden

Princess Madeleine of Sweden celebrated Halloween 2024 by sharing a truly spooky photo of her two daughters in costume.

Princess Adrienne and Princess Leonore posed for the terrifying snap, which Princess Madeleine captioned on Instagram, "It's a spooky Halloween this year!"

Both of Princess Madeleine's daughters wore ghostly white makeup, which featured blood dripping from their eyes and hollowed out eye sockets. Princess Adrienne channeled Red Riding Hood in a red and black dress with silver accents, and she wore a red bow in her hair. Princess Leonore wore a long white robe reminiscent of a ghost, and she was ready with her best haunting pose.

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Needless to say, royal fans were charmed by the royal Halloween costumes. One commenter wrote, "Adorably spooky! Happy Halloween!"

Although the British Royal Family didn't share photos of their children's Halloween costumes, they apparently celebrate the tradition. It was recently reported that Princess Kate was preparing for a Halloween break with her kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. It's also been revealed that Kate Middleton takes her children trick-or-treating each year.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden is often referred to as one of the world's most glamorous royals. Madeleine and her family recently returned home to Sweden, having resided in the United States since 2018.

The Swedish Royal Court announced the news in June, writing on Instagram, "Today, H.K.H. Princess Madeleine turns 42 years old." The caption continued, "Princess Madeleine and family are now moving home to Sweden. After several years as foreigners, Princess and Mr. Christopher O'Neill have decided that the family should for now reside in Stockholm."

Princess Madeleine's parents, Swedens King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, have three children. Madeleine's sister, Crown Princess Victoria, was born in 1977, and will inherit the Swedish throne. Meanwhile, Madeleine's brother, the gorgeous Prince Carl Philip, was born in 1979, and is currently fourth in line to the throne. Princess Madeleine is the youngest child in the family, having been born in 1982.
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The "Boo Deng" baby hippo entry in the JPL Pumpkin Carving Contest. | Credit: JPL

Who says NASA scientists and engineers dont know how to have fun?!

Every year the fiendishly clever folks at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California hold their annual pumpkin carving contest where brilliant brains concoct all manner of strange and interesting artworks using a fresh supply of seasonal orange squash to deliver some truly fantastic fabrications.

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The special judged event is meant to not only celebrate the Halloween holiday, but also the anniversary of the founding of the Jet Propulsion Lab, which was first opened on Oct. 31, 1936 by researchers at the California Institute of Technology.

"What do you get when mechanical engineers accustomed to building one-of-a-kind spacecraft turn that focus to pumpkins? JPL's annual pumpkin carving contest!," the lab wrote on its Instagram account.

a pumpkin carved to resemble a cheeseburger

Witness the crazy creativity of these unique pumpkins in the gallery below, featuring an eerie floating pumpkin teapot pouring liquid into a pumpkin cup, a cute baby hippo pumpkin named "Boo Deng," dedicated engineers concentrating on wiring some sophisticated circuit board component, a giant cheeseburger and fries entry crafted from ripe pumpkins, and even Tweety Bird in a silver-gilded pumpkin cage.

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JPL Pumpkin Carving Contest

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JPL Pumpkin Carving Contest

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An entry at JPL's annual pumpkin carving contest for Halloween 2024.

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JPL Pumpkin Carving Contest

An entry at JPL's annual pumpkin carving contest for Halloween 2024.

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JPL Pumpkin Carving Contest

An entry at JPL's annual pumpkin carving contest for Halloween 2024.

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JPL Pumpkin Carving Contest

An entry at JPL's annual pumpkin carving contest for Halloween 2024.

Each participant or team is given only one hour to saw, drill, carve, slice, dice, paint, scoop, and scrape their pumpkins into characters, dioramas, and spacecraft on the JPL patio using their orange-hued vegetables as a starting point. Mechanical and electronics add-ons are allowed to be put together ahead of time.

a pumpkin carved to resemble a teapot

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This is a fun activity we look forward to seeing each year as it offers a chance for JPL's finest to let their imaginations loose.

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Once completed, the incredible pumpkin creations are put on display for scientists, engineers, and technicians to admire the ingenuity and inspiration put into each entry. No final winners were posted at this time but we'll update readers once they're announced.

Any favorite pumpkins in the posted images?
Already on the lookout for 'the man with the bag'?

With the spooky season coming to a close, the holiday season is picking up. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks out and Christmas is on the horizon.

A study by Bankrate found that 48% of respondents planned to begin their Christmas shopping before Halloween, and 37% planned to get going during November.

How many days are there until Christmas?

There are 53 days remaining until Christmas Day.

When do people start listening to Christmas music?

Some of the earliest Christmas music fans begin their seasonal listening come Nov. 1, but things likely start to take off closer to the second week of November.

When do people put up their Christmas lights?

A study from Architectural Digest found that 1 in 10 Americans set up their Christmas lights before Thanksgiving. Roughly 34% of respondents put up their Christmas lights in November and 35% reported beginning in early December.

This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will be on Dec. 4.

When will the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree be lit?

This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree won't come from the Big Apple, as the tree will travel from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The tree will be cut on Nov. 7 and arrive on Nov. 9, according to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree's website. The lighting ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 4.

When do Hallmark Christmas movies start?

Hallmark's Christmas season has already begun, as the channel has been streaming Christmas movies since Oct. 18.

When do Santa trackers start?

NORAD's annual tracker will begin on Dec. 1, but in the meantime, Google has launched a Christmas-themed site full of minigames and interactives.

What if you want a Christmas vacation instead?

Ohio may be a fair option for a Christmas vacation that's easier on the wallet, at least according to a new list from the travel website HomeToGo. It listed Cincinnati sixth in terms of affordability for Christmas festivities. The average nightly cost for the city was observed to be $273.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Holiday fever rising with Christmas music, lights and Santa trackers
Japanese whisky is a light, smooth liquor made with malted barley and other various ingredients. Unlike other types of whiskey, it has a delicate, floral taste that oozes refinement. As such, it has become a favorite of whisky connoisseurs. It is also a great way for new drinkers to start exploring the beloved world of whisky.

Understanding all the nuanced details of Japanese whisky may be somewhat challenging for most of us, but ask a whisky expert and they have a way of explaining so anyone can learn (and love) it. That's why I checked in with a few Japanese whisky experts to help me create this ultimate guide.

Our first expert is Chris Walster, a whisky expert at The Cask Connoisseur with more than 30 years of experience in the field. I also got excellent feedback from Casey Small, consultancy director at drinks agency Wilde Toast (they regularly work with leading whiskey brands like The Macallan, Laphroaig, and Suntory). Last but certainly not least, a team of Japanese whisky experts at Izakaya Den, directed by master chef and owner Toshi Kizaki provided me with tons of amazing details and insights. As the team behind a collection of highly-revered Japanese restaurants in Denver, Colorado, I can tell you they really know their stuff too. Once you hear what all these experts had to say, I wouldn't blame you if you went straight to the closest Japanese restaurant to give the delectable spirit a try.

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Read more: How To Make 30 Classic Cocktails: An Illustrated Guide

What Is Japanese Whisky?

Crystal glass and decanter full of whisky with nearby bamboo - Mattias Westphal/Shutterstock

As the name tells us, Japanese whisky is a type of whisky from Japan, but that description just barely scratches the surface. This unique spirit has a lot to offer and it does it in its own unique way. According to the team of experts at the Izakaya Den, "Japanese whisky is known for its delicate nature, with a strong focus on quality and finesse. The use of mizunara casks further enhances its uniqueness, imparting a distinctive floral spiciness to the final product." They also noted that Japanese whisky has specific distillation limits which demand "the final product contains at least 40% ABV," but no more than 95% ABV.

When asked to describe Japanese whisky briefly, one of our other experts, Chris Walster, The Cask Connoisseur, says, "I often think of Japanese whisky as a smooth, delicate, and balanced whisky, which can either be floral or fruity. There are other flavours depending on the distillery, which may come to the fore. However, these flavours can also be associated with Scotch whisky or Irish whiskey. Because of its delicate and complex nature, it's often thought of as the perfect combination for newcomers and connoisseurs alike."

For anyone looking to explore the world of brown spirits, Japanese whisky may be a fantastic place to start (or finish for that matter), but you should know it also comes at a premium price. Even so, the spirit has become quite popular among whisky/whiskey lovers.

History Of Japanese Whisky

Japanese whisky barrels lining the wall of a distillery - ArtNat/Shutterstock

While you'd think it's safe to assume Japanese whisky got its start in Japan, the actual origin of the spirit has roots in Scotland. Surprise! Whisky connoisseur Chris Walster, The Cask Connoisseur, has this to say: "One of my favorite stories about Japanese whisky is that the first Japanese distillery was set up by a man who learned to distill in Scotland. This was in 1918, and the man was called Masataka Taketsuru. He was given the chance to go to Scotland, and he became the first Japanese ever to master how to make whisky. Showing quite clearly that the roots of all whisky are based in Scotland!" So, while Japanese whisky is indeed distilled and bottled in Japan, the knowledge used to do such originally came from Scotland. Pretty cool, right?

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Walster elaborates by saying: "On the flip side, Scottish distilleries are taking note of the Japanese distilling process though, by trialing, for example, Mizunara oak for their whisky barrels." As you can see, the knowledge used to distill whisky is somewhat fluid and experts are more than willing to take tips from other producers and implement them in ways that benefit everyone.

What Does Japanese Whisky Taste Like?

Hand pouring Japanese whisky into a glass for tasting - olgakimphoto/Shutterstock

Japanese whisky may taste similar to other types of whisky, like Scotch, Irish, and American, but it features unique tasting notes and traits that undeniably make it a spirit all its own. According to Casey Small, consultancy director at drinks agency Wilde Toast, "Japanese whisky has all the hallmarks of its nation, it is delicate, light, and full of refined character. The Japanese are known for their focus on detail when creating products and their approach to whisky is no different -- you can literally taste the attention to detail and delicacy of the liquid."

Small adds that it's challenging to describe what Japanese whisky tastes like, because there are so many different styles. However, our experts at Izakaya Den summed it up quite nicely: "Japanese whisky is generally lighter, partly due to the higher-altitude locations of many distilleries, which allow for slower maturation and more refined flavors. They are known for delicate floral notes and subtle fruitiness, with each brand offering unique characteristics." For example, they describe Yamazaki 12 as being floral, light, and fruity. While Hakushu 12 is fruity with a little peat, and notes of wood. On the other hand, Nikka Coffey Grain is grain-forward, which you might expect, but with a sweetness they say will appeal to lovers of bourbon. Izakaya Den says, "Komagatake is distilled at high altitude, resulting in a complex, refined spirit through slower aging" and "Akkeshi Single Malt is a heavily peated whisky aged in ex-bourbon barrels, delivering bold, rich, and clean flavors."

How Is Japanese Whisky Made?

Inside a Japanese whisky distillery full of production equipment - Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

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Japanese whisky production isn't uniform across all brands, but there are some distinct traits. The team at Izakaya Den reports that, "Japanese whisky is crafted in a manner similar to Scotch whisky, with some distinct nuances. The base ingredients are typically made from malted barley, though other elements like cherry blossom may also be included. The distillation is primarily done in pot stills to retain complex flavors, though some distilleries use column stills. The maturation involves aging in wooden barrels, often repurposed from bourbon, sherry, wine, sake, or Japanese plum liqueur." Plus, blending occurs with help from various distilleries, ages, and casks. An example of this can be found with the Chichibu Distillery. It blends Ichiro's Malt & Grain with a range of whiskies, including Scotch, Irish whiskey, Canadian rye, and American whiskey. Each specific type of whisky is aged in its respective country, some for as few as three years and others up to 20 years. After that, Chichibu ages them again for between two and three years, which results in more character.

That seems like a lot of variables, but the experts at Izakaya Den went on to explain the concrete regulations Governing Japanese Whisky. The base material "must include malted grain, though other grains may be used." And the water source has to be from Japan. In addition, the entirety of production "from mashing, fermentation, and distillation to barrel storage must take place within a Japanese distillery." This also includes the bottling process. To top it off, the folks at Izakaya Den say Japanese "whisky must be aged for at least three years in wooden casks with a maximum capacity of 700 liters."

How To Drink Japanese Whisky

Japanese whisky highball with Suntory logo on glass - maodoltee/Shutterstock

How you drink Japanese whisky is up to you, but our experts have several suggestions. The expert team at Izakaya Den told me, "Japanese whisky can be enjoyed in various ways, depending on personal preference. Adding a few drops of water can enhance its aroma and flavor. Many work exceptionally well in cocktails. In Japan, it is common to dilute whisky with water to create 'Mizuwari,' which is often enjoyed with meals, or to prepare refreshing highballs with soda."

Japanese whisky expert Chris Walster, The Cask Connoisseur, says, "I would always recommend people drink it to their taste, so they should never be influenced by others. Having said that, my preference is always neat and then if you want to, you can add a few drops of water." He also notes that while ice is popular, it lessens the whisky flavor overall. So, if you prefer a chilled drink he recommends investing in whisky stones to avoid a reduction in flavor.

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Casey Small, consultancy director at drinks agency Wilde Toast, summed it all up by saying, "I guess the key for anyone drinking whisky is what gives your palate the most enjoyment. Is it neat, with a little water or stirred into an Old Fashioned cocktail?" He went on to explain that, while there are no actual rules when it comes to drinking Japanese whisky, some drinkers prefer it neat -- because they can really taste the refined flavor and deep characteristics. As you can see, the experts agree that less is more.

Why Is Japanese Whisky So Expensive?

Store display of various Japanese whisky bottles - TY Lim/Shutterstock

Compared to other types of whisky, Japanese whisky is pretty pricey. According to the team of experts at Izakaya Den, "The premium pricing of Japanese whisky is driven by several factors, including high demand, the lengthy aging process, international acclaim, rarity, distillery locations, and the cost of raw materials."

Japanese whisky expert Casey Small, Wilde Toast, says, "There are a few reasons why Japanese whisky is more expensive than its counterparts." He mentions that supply just can't keep up with demand. "The global appeal of Japanese whisky has been exponential in the last 10 to 15 years and this has pushed prices up due to relative scarcity." He explains that dedication to making Japanese whisky elevates the price. "Couple that with the importing of ingredients (such as Scotch barleys) and the widespread use of the pricy Mizurana barrels, and you have yourself some pretty expensive liquids," says Small. He also feels that Japanese whisky's iconic status contributes to its elevated price: "It scooped so many awards and is put on a pedestal by whisky experts and aficionados globally -- it's very much seen as world-class." But Small adds that he believes the price is justified in many cases.

Even so, Chris Walster, The Cask Connoisseur, reports that the price seems to be declining with some bottles: "For example, many 18 year old Japanese malts have decreased by $150 per bottle (around 19%)."

Japanese Whisky Vs American Bourbon

Two glasses of whiskey with a single ice cube - Krit Of Studio Omg/Getty Images

Japanese whisky and American bourbon have a lot in common, but they also vary greatly. One of the main differences is flavor. Casey Small, Wilde Toast, says that "bourbon is typically sweeter and chock full of vanillas, big oaks, and toffee flavour," whereas Japanese whisky is more floral and delicate overall.

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The Cask Connoisseur's Chris Walster also had some things to say about how American bourbon and Japanese whisky differ: "Whilst bourbon is similar (but also dissimilar) to Scotch, in my mind Bourbon is sweeter and more heavy. This is due to the various mashbills, which can use corn and other grains." In addition, the regulations matter: "It can be sold at two years of age, instead of the more usual three years. Additional changes are that the bourbon barrels cannot be reused, which possibly does not help when blending batches together."

Of course, another glaringly obvious difference between whisky and bourbon is that bourbon is made in the United States, and Japanese whisky is produced in Japan. All that being said, they are more alike than other spirits such as gin or tequila.

Japanese Whisky Vs Scotch Whisky

Glass of Scotch whisky on the rocks with a bottle - Evgeny Karandaev/Shutterstock

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While the differences between Scotch whisky and Japanese whisky are more subtle, the details really matter. When asked about how the spirits compare, Chris Walster, The Cask Connoisseur, says, "Japanese whisky is often claimed to have a greater emphasis on balance and harmony, whereas Scotch whisky is more robust." He also notes that "Japanese whisky is heavily influenced by Scotch, in fact in the past, Scotch whisky was often shipped to Japan, and was then called Japanese whisky." Surprising yes, but he explained that new regulations from the past year or so should have put an end to this somewhat misleading practice.

Wilde Toast's Casey Small confirmed the close-knit relationship between the two spirits: "In general terms, Japanese whisky's closest cousin is Scotch (as it's made in a similar way) so it showcases a drier and smokier flavour" compared to other types of whiskey. He went on to say that refinement "is a hallmark of Japanese whisky." As opposed to Scotch distillers who aim to keep the flavor profile 100% consistent, Japanese "distillers are always trying to refine the liquid," which he notes, "is unsurprising given the Japanese philosophy of kaizen -- to continuously improve."

Japanese Whisky Vs Irish Whiskey

two glasses of whiskey with ice - Steve Lupton/Getty Images

As you probably guessed, Irish whiskey comes from Ireland so that's one main difference between it and its Japanese whisky cousin. Aside from that and the variation of spelling (one is spelled whisky and the other whiskey), what sets them apart?

Whisky expert Chris Walster, The Cask Connoisseur, weighed in on the matter with some interesting insights: "Although perhaps a misapprehension, Irish whiskey is three times distilled rather than the common twice distilled. This tends to make Irish whiskey smoother and lighter." But Walster also points out that Japanese whisky has a smooth and lightness to it as well -- and he adds that it "tends to have greater depth and complexity of flavour." When you consider what we know about Japanese whisky being light and delicate, this is a tad bit surprising, but I'll take Walster's word for it. After all, he has more than 30 years of experience exploring the brown spirit in its various forms.

Whisky Is A Prestigious Gift In Japan

Bottle of whisky wrapped to give as a gift - Dodoromeo/Shutterstock

The whisky experts at Izakaya Den brought me a fun fact about Japanese whisky: "In Japan, whisky is often given as a prestigious gift, especially to individuals in senior positions, reflecting its status as a high-end offering." As we know, Japanese whisky typically comes at a premium price. As such, it serves as a wonderful gift, especially when the Japanese want to convey the importance of a particular relationship. Unlike here in the United States, giving gifts is much more symbolic so using Japanese whisky to express respect is quite the accolade, and it speaks to the reverence held for the spirit.

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Bringing a gift is considered proper manners in the United States if you are coming to a person's home for the first time. However, in Japan, this tradition is taken much more seriously and the custom is woven into the fabric of the culture. It is a prominent part of creating and sustaining relationships, both socially and in the business world. When gifts are given it symbolizes respect and gratitude, and as it turns out, Japanese whisky makes an outstanding gift.

A Whisky Highball Is One Of The Most Popular Drinks In Japan

Whiskey highball in a rocks glass with bottle and jigger - Bhofack2/Getty Images

Here's something you also might not know: Japanese whisky is used in one of the country's most popular drinks: The whisky highball. As expert Casey Small, Wilde Toast, tells me, "Whisky is such a big part of Japanese culture -- the whisky highball is one of the most common drinks in the country which is globally unique."

You may be thinking, wait, isn't a whisky highball just soda water and whisky? And you'd be right. While it may seem pretty basic, its simplicity is what makes the drink. Mixing Japanese whisky with club soda and ice provides the drinker with a smooth, fizzy cocktail that more than allows the subtle tasting notes and elements of the spirit to shine through. Club soda doesn't mask the elegance of Japanese whisky as almost any other mixer would.

The exception, of course, is water. Interestingly, the team at Izakaya Den also notes that "the Mizuwari style of mixing whisky with water remains a popular way to enjoy it with food." Essentially, this is the same as the highball, just without bubbles. Of course, it's all about the details too. Using Japanese whisky certainly makes a difference compared to other types of whisky. Taking advantage of a premium one is even better.

Japanese Whisky Pairs Perfectly With Japanese Food

Woman eating Japanese noodles with chopsticks - Yacobchuk/Getty Images

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Whiskey expert Casey Small, consultancy director at drinks agency Wilde Toast, says, "Another interesting fact is that Japanese whisky actually pairs really rather well with Japanese foods such as ramens, sushi, and fish. The refined flavours and delicate nature of the liquid can enhance Japanese dishes and many top restaurants will pair whiskies with their menu." Considering Japanese whisky comes from Japan, it's not too surprising it complements the regional cuisine. In fact, it seems like the obvious choice. Still, don't underestimate how well the spirit can elevate Japanese cuisine. Small urges you to enjoy it with sushi or ramen for a pairing worthy of a connoisseur.

While all of this makes perfect sense, don't let it dissuade you from pairing Japanese whisky with other types of cuisine. The spirit's delicate flavors and unique tasting notes work well with many regional dishes. Japanese whisky complements anything from hearty cuts of steak to roasted chicken to BBQ and more. Treat it like you would other types of whiskey (and whisky) when pairing it with foods and you'll be glad you did.

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Read the original article on Food Republic.
School (in)Security is our biweekly briefing on the latest school safety news, vetted by Mark Keierleber. Subscribe here.

While fat-shaming may be among the last socially acceptable forms of discrimination, a new story in The Hechinger Report highlights the children who endure weight stigma at school  and its devastating toll on their well-being and academic performance.

Do you want a cupcake? one fifth grader recalled being asked by one of her classmates who routinely called her fatty. Teachers routinely fail to confront students who fat-shame their classmates  and play their own role in anti-obesity bias.

The 15 million U.S. children who are considered obese are more likely than other kids to have poor academic performance  a reality dubbed the obesity achievement gap. Now, new research suggests bias among teachers could be part of the problem.

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Teachers often perceive children with obesity as emotional, unmotivated, less competent and noncompliant, journalist Kavitha Cardoza wrote. That can lead to teachers giving these students fewer opportunities to participate in class, less positive feedback and lower grades.

Schools nationwide have policies that prohibit bullying on the basis of race, gender and religion. Few mention body weight.

Read Cardozas latest story (which was also published in Teen Vogue) here.

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In the news

Cant stop reading about the election. Wont stop reading about the election: Survivors of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults, are now old enough to vote. Six explain how the shooting continues to influence their lives  and their picks for president. | The Washington Post

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These are the states where youth voters have the most potential to affect the presidential election results. | CIRCLE

Donald Trump has vowed to carry out mass deportations if elected. It could separate millions of families  and leave schools to pick up the pieces. | Chalkbeat

Inside school shooting survivor David Hoggs multimillion-dollar bid to elect young progressives. | The 74

About two-thirds of teachers use tools designed to catch students who use artificial intelligence to cheat on homework, but an investigation into the leading services found error rates can quickly add up and can carry devastating consequences for students who are falsely flagged. | Bloomberg

Lawsuit alert: Parents are suing their sons Massachusetts high school in federal court, arguing he was wrongly penalized for using AI to research and write a history paper. At the time of the incident, the district lacked a policy on the acceptable uses of AI. | The 74

School security vendor faces new scrutiny: Evolv, a publicly traded security company that sells weapons detection metal detectors to schools, warned shareholders last week not to rely on its most recent financial statements as an independent investigation dissects its sales practices. | Associated Press

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For more than a year, industry insiders have scrutinized the claims Evolv makes in its sales pitches  and its detectors high rate of false alarms. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission opened an inquiry into the companys marketing practices following allegations Evolv overstates the capabilities of its technology. | The 74

A year after Virginias Prince William County Public Schools entered into a $10.7 million deal to install Evolv scanners, educators reported a decline in weapons confiscations. School safety officials found zero firearms, three knives, two box cutters and a pneumatic paintball or airsoft gun. The results, one school board member said, present a pretty good ROI [return on investment] on these Evolv scanners. | WTOP

What teachers need to know about the rise of AI-generated deepfakes  including computer-generated and nonconsensual nude images that students have created to harass their peers. | Education Week

The spy and the school board: Atlantas Cobb County school district hired a private security company purportedly led by anonymous former U.S. intelligence agents to analyze students social media accounts and identify potential online threats. The public learned about the unnamed company that is being paid an undisclosed amount during a school board meeting presentation by a man only identified as Rob. | Atlanta News First

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments Dec. 4 in a case that challenges Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which could have implications for transgender youth nationally. | Them

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Day in the life: A Minnesota-based journalist walked the halls with a school resource officer. Heres what he learned about school-based policing. | The Minnesota Star Tribune

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Emotional support

Matilda doesnt need a costume. Shes a monster every day.

(Can we see your pet costumes!?)
Thanksgiving planning and preparation often begin weeks before the big day arrives, but even the best-planned feasts can go awry. If you need an essential item or ingredient to complete your meal and don't have it at home, the only alternative is to head to your nearest grocery store. However, visiting a grocery store is easier said than done on major holidays due to closures. To this end, Mashed is here with a comprehensive guide on which grocery chains are open during Thanksgiving 2024 and which are not.

Holiday hours are a hot-button topic, and stores must carefully weigh their customers' needs against their staff's wants, most of whom would prefer spending the holidays with their loved ones instead of at work. Accordingly, many establishments keep adjusted hours when remaining open for the holidays, which ensures that consumers and hard-working employees can enjoy the day for what it is: an opportunity to relax and share in an awesome feast with the people you care about most.

Read more: Huge Mistakes Everyone Makes When Shopping At Sam's Club

Aldi Will Be Closed For The Holiday

Aldi storefront daytime - Alan Morris/Getty Images

Aldi's preference for private label brands saves shoppers money, which means you can host holiday dinners without breaking your grocery budget. However, you'll need to plan ahead if you want to take advantage of the chain's discounted groceries this Thanksgiving. Per the store's FAQ page, all Aldi locations will be closed during Thanksgiving, as well as other major holidays like Christmas, New Year's Day, and Easter.

Whole Foods Will Be Open, But With Modified Hours

Whole Foods storefront daytime - Lpettet/Getty Images

Good news for last-minute shoppers: According to the Whole Foods website, the chain will be open and serving customers on Thanksgiving. However, shoppers are encouraged to check with their preferred location to determine the specific hours of operation during the holiday, as they will be modified. You can contact the store directly or use the online store locator to learn more.

Walmart Will Be Closed On Thanksgiving

Walmart storefront daytime - Alan Schein Photography/Getty Images

According to the website, all Walmart locations will be closed on Thanksgiving so that "associates can spend the day with their families." Walmart employees have a mixed view of what it's like working at the chain, including concerns about pay and scheduling, so it's a little heartening to know that the store is taking steps to meet the needs of its workers.

Costco Also Plans On Closing For The Holiday

Costco storefront daytime - Steve Heap/Getty Images

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While it may be a bit unexpected, Costco is closed for most holidays. In addition to Thanksgiving, the warehouse retail chain is also closed for Christmas, Easter, and New Year's Day, along with other major holidays. The best days to avoid crowds at Costco are in the middle of the week, so customers should get a jump on Thanksgiving shopping if they want to minimize the hassle.

Sam's Club, Like Walmart, Will Be Closed On Thanksgiving

Sam's Club storefront daytime - Jhvephoto/Getty Images

Since Sam's Club is actually a division of Walmart Inc., it makes sense that the warehouse retail chain will also be closed on Thanksgiving. The store also modifies its hours during the holiday season, which runs from November 22 to December 23. During this time period, customers can shop at the chain until 8 p.m. from Monday through Sunday.

H-E-B Will Be Open, But With Shorter Hours

H-E-B storefront daytime - Trongnguyen/Getty Images

While the H-E-B website states the Texas-based chain will be open and available to customers on Thanksgiving, it has modified its hours. H-E-B will open at 6 a.m. and close at noon, while curbside pick-up will be available from 7-11 a.m. Customers can also schedule home delivery from 7-10 a.m. on the holiday. H-E-B's pharmacy will be closed on Thanksgiving, so shoppers are encouraged to get their prescriptions on the days before.

Wegmans Will Likely Be Open (But Check With Your Store)

Wegmans storefront daytime - Jhvephoto/Getty Images

Wegmans is one of the regional grocery chains that we'd like to see everywhere (along with stores like Publix and Piggly Wiggly). For those lucky enough to have a Wegmans nearby, the chain will be open on Thanksgiving, according to its website. Because the exact hours can depend on the specific location, Wegmans encourages customers to check with the store before visiting during the holiday.

No Target Runs On Turkey Day, As The Store Will Be Closed

Target storefront daytime - JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock

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Target shoppers are out of luck this Thanksgiving, as all locations will be closed during the holiday -- per its website. This is one of two days the retail chain closes all stores (the other is Christmas). According to Target's CEO, the Thanksgiving closure first occurred during the pandemic and has since become a permanent fixture in order to give staff members a chance to spend time with their families.

Trader Joe's Will Be Closed For The Holiday

Trader Joe's storefront daytime - Patty_c/Getty Images

Trader Joe's does not list holiday hours on its website, so we reached out to the Pittsburgh location to check if the chain would be open on Thanksgiving. According to the store associate we spoke with, all Trader Joe's locations will be closed in honor of the holiday. If you plan on including Trader Joe's best cookies (as ranked by Mashed) in your Thanksgiving spread, be sure to visit the store before November 28.

Kroger Will Close Early On Thanksgiving

Kroger storefront daytime - The Toidi/Shutterstock

Kroger shoppers can rest easy knowing that the store will remain open on Thanksgiving. However, locations will close early at 4 p.m., and it's not entirely clear if stores will open at the usual time. In this case, be sure to check with your local Kroger prior to visiting the store on the holiday.

Read the original article on Mashed.
You can take a girl out of the city, but

With my car paused at a stop sign, my wide eyes silently followed a young family of four crossing the street in an old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon.

I had a feeling the city of Pendleton was about to take the city ALL the way out of me.

I was in the area for the annual Pendleton Round-Up, for the first time. As a Portland/Oregon resident, I had of course heard of the Pendleton Round-Up. Its one of the biggest annual events in the state, and one of the biggest and oldest running rodeos in the country. But as someone who is adverse to both dust and putting gas in my car, attending the Pendleton Round-Up had always been on the backburner for me despite the great reviews Ive heard.

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However, after attending my first ever rodeo (Eight Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo) and with cowboy culture and western aesthetics inching into mainstream, it was only fitting that this year would also bring me to the Pendleton Round-Up.

With my brand-spankin new boots and a belt buckle that weighed more than my wallet, I was expecting to be smacked in the face with the horse hoof of COWBOY-NESS, or maybe even a literal horse hoof. Looking back, I realize I had imagined something akin to Frontierland at Disney. And yes, I did see lots of cowboy hats, spurs, and chaps as I walked down the street to a local bar, but another detail held my attention longer.

Nearly every establishment in town proudly flaunted a Pendleton Whisky flag, window decal, or in the case of one individual I ended up meeting later, a tattoo.

Which led me to question: what makes Pendleton Whisky so special that the entire town plasters itself, no pun intended, with the brand? With my very limited experience of exactly one rodeo, I had seen advertising of various companies investing and sponsoring rodeos but thisthis felt different. It was something deeper. Pendleton Whisky didnt feel like an advertising stamp. Pendleton Whisky felt integral to the actual Pendleton Round-Up.

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So okay actually, it led to two questions: why is whiskey even a thing at the rodeo?

Its not a rodeo, a man seated at the bar stool next to me corrected when I spoke the question aloud.

Okay, why is whiskey even a thing at a Round-Up. Or, I suppose, western culture in general? While the origins of whiskey are debated, with both Ireland and Scotland vying for the title, whiskey arrived to the shores of America in the 1700s with European immigrants and their distillation experience.

Since there wasnt Tik Tok in those days, whiskey quickly became a favorite pastime for American settlers, which of course meant it was also a favorite for the federal revenue bureau. To avoid the high taxes, whiskey making was largely kept to the outskirts of the new budding country. At the time, that meant Kentucky and Tennessee, but as settlers continued farther west, so did their whiskey.

From saloons to the ol dusty trail, whiskey was cemented as the drink of choice in the west, including at rodeos. Like the terrain, whiskey was rough, raw, and most importantly real. Also like other aspects of cowboy life, depending on where they went and who they got it from, whiskey mightve come with a lingering burn. I winced, expecting that same burn to coat my own throat as I ordered my first drink in Pendleton, featuring Pendleton Whisky of course. Exceptno burn came.

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I soon learned the burn, or lack thereof, boils down to the finish. Tia Bledsoe, the Brand Heritage Director of Pendleton Whisky, explains that the water component makes all the difference. While legislation like the Pure Food and Drug Act and Yelp reviews have taken the quality of American whiskey eons beyond its bootlegged past, Pendleton Whisky has access to a certain water that is found nowhere else - majestic Mt. Hood glacier water.

Theres a reason Oregon holds the crown for best tap water in the country.

Bledsoe describes the flavor of Pendleton Whisky as the perfect compliment to people who also enjoy full body products traditionally made with bourbon and scotch, and due to its unique finish, it can also be used for clear spirit drinks. As someone who doesnt often drink, the versatility of Pendleton Whisky appeals to me on an economic level, but also, again, I could tell it was something deeper. The brand is dedicated to staying true to western heritage, but does so in a way that makes it (both the whisky and the lifestyle) accessible and welcoming to newcomers.

Alright, so whisky is a staple at rodeos, and Pendleton Whisky is good great amazing quality, so its presence at the Pendleton Round-Up is not surprising. That answered one question. But for Pendleton Whisky to have SUCH a presence at one of the biggest rodeos

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not a rodeo, my bar neighbor reminded me with a light-hearted chuckle.

Round-Up. I meant Round-Up. That guy had impeccable hearing. How did Pendleton Whisky elevate itself beyond being a really good drink at a Round-Up and into the very core of the community? For that answer, I had to start at the beginning; I went to the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, the only Native American heritage center along the Oregon Trail.

Everything that we now call the United States of America is, always has been, and always will be Native land. While the histories, traditions, and cultures of the the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and other Indigenous peoples of the area date back time immemorial, the introduction of horses to the region via Northern Mexico in the mid 1700s was pivotal in modern Plateau Tribal history and the Round-Up.

Not even a century later, with waves of settlers and the various epidemics that followed them, federal treaties were broken, land was stolen, horrific boarding schools were erected, and hundreds of thousands of voices were silenced - or at least, they tried to silence them.

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September 1910.

For the new agricultural town of Pendleton, Oregon, harvest season had just wrapped up and farmers and ranchers had a few weeks to spare before reseeding. It was also one of the first years that tribes in the area were allowed to gather together, and for some it was the first time they were able to reconnect with their friends and family from other reservations. Following a previous celebration that featured bronc riding, horse races, tribal war dances, and fireworks, Pendleton community leaders collaborated with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to bring to life the Pendleton Round-Up.

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The Round-Up started and still operates as a largely volunteer based organization. Pat Beard, head of the Pendleton Convention Center, confirms that while the sport of rodeo has evolved, the Pendleton Round-Up is still completely community driven. As a volunteer with the Round-Up himself, Beard emphasizes that partnerships with local businesses, like Pendleton Whisky, are huge for keeping the Round-Up community led. Blue Mountain Community College helps in the building and infrastructure [of the Pendleton Round-Up]. Service groups and community groups use the Round-Up for their big fundraiser for the year. The community coming together is the success of the roundup.

In turn, the Round-Up ensures their brand partners embody the same values with sponsored funding initiatives such as Tough Enough To Wear Pink to raise awareness and money for breast cancer support programs in the local community. In addition to the numerous organizations Pendleton Whisky supports through the Round-Up, they also have a portion of their proceeds supporting specific causes such as their Military Edition that supports veteran families and their Champions Edition to honor the champions of the Round-Up and the 1,200 volunteers - only sold in Oregon!

When I asked other Round-Up attendees what they liked most about the event, and what kept them coming back, I initially expected the responses to center on the excitement of the bucking broncos, or the agility of the relay racers, or the ferocity of the bull riders. I expected a few nods to the parties, or the variety of vendors, or even the comforting foods. However, most of the stories I heard were just that.

Stories.

Stories of families reuniting at the Round-Up, catching up in their own languages - its been that way from the beginning. For one week in September, a town of only 17,000 people supports a crowd of 80,000. It sounds almost unbelievable, but for Pendleton, its as simple as standing hand in hand with each other. The core of the western lifestyle is community, and for Pendleton, that community manifests as ...the Pendleton Round-Up? I quirked my brow up to my neighbor at the bar.

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My neighbor smiled and raised his glass to me, Now youre getting it.

The Round-Up itself is the story of reconnecting and reimagining what life in the west (and beyond) can look like if we work together - and that includes companies. Invest in the community and the community will invest in you. Thats the secret ingredient, both in life and in my drink.

The spirit of the town is the Pendleton Round-Up, and the spirit of the Round-Up is Pendleton Whisky.
Editors Note: This story has been updated to add the arrest made in the case.

UPDATE: The Polk County Sheriffs Office has made an arrest in the shooting that resulted in the death of an adult female and critically injured an adult male.

On Friday night the sheriffs office announced that it has charged 24-year-old Hamza Smajlovic with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and intimidation with a dangerous weapon in connection to the shooting. The sheriffs office said the shooting took place at Smajlovics residence.

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No additional information has been released.

ORIGINAL STORY:

POLK COUNTY, Iowa  One person was killed and another critically injured in a shooting on the north side of Des Moines Friday evening.

The Polk County Sheriffs Office at around 5:20 p.m. responded to a shooting in the 200 block of NW 51st Place. When first responders arrived on scene they found two people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Road rage shooting leaves one injured in Polk County

Both victims, identified as one adult female and one adult male, were transported to a nearby hospital. According to the sheriffs office, the female victim died from her injuries at the hospital. The male victim remains hospitalized in critical condition.

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A person of interest has been taken into custody. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

The sheriffs office said this shooting is not connected to the shooting that occurred at the intersection of NE 14th Street and NE Broadway Avenue.

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.
Voters in 10 states, including the battleground states of Arizona and Nevada, will be weighing proposed abortion amendments on their ballots this year, deciding whether or not to protect the right to an abortion in their state constitutions.

The U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs ruling in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade and exacerbated the countrys hodgepodge of abortion laws. But in the years since, voters in multiple states have broadly approved ballot measures to expand and secure abortion rights while striking down proposals to restrict abortion access. Political candidates have also found abortion rights to be a winning topic with constituents.

This year, with 10 states set to vote on abortion ballot measures and a slew of high-stakes races, Democrats are hoping that the popularity of abortion rights will translate into wins for the policy  and their party. Meanwhile, Republicans in several states have tried hard to strike down the proposals before voters can get to the polls.

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Heres where voters will decide on abortion rights on Election Day.

Arizona

A citizen-initiated ballot measure in Arizona would protect the right to abortion and prevent the state from restricting access to the procedure until around 24 weeks, or when a fetus can survive outside the womb. The proposal is likely to pass; a New York Times/Siena College poll from September found that 58% of likely voters said they support the amendment. The measures passage would undo a current state ban on abortions after 15 weeks, with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Colorado

In Colorado, one of a handful of states that does not restrict abortion for adults, voters will vote on a measure to enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution. The measure would also lift a ban on using public funds for abortion services, potentially allowing Medicaid or government employee health insurance plans to pay for the procedure.

Montana

Voters in Montana will decide on whether to affirm a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling that protected the right to abortion up until fetal viability. State courts have blocked several anti-abortion bills in the past, citing the 1999 ruling, and abortion rights advocates are hoping to enshrine that right in the state constitution.

Nevada

Abortion in Nevada is already legal until six months, but voters in the battleground state will vote on whether to enshrine that standard in the state constitution. If passed, Nevadans will have to approve the ballot question again in 2026 to formally amend the constitution.

Florida

In spite of a raft of challenges from Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state Republican officials, Florida Amendment 4 is set to appear on the ballot in the Sunshine State. Residents will vote on whether to protect abortion access up until fetal viability, or around 24 weeks. If passed, the amendment effectively undoes the states six-week ban. DeSantis has warned that the passage of Amendment 4 would represent the end of the pro-life movement.

Nebraska

Nebraska is the only state with competing abortion amendment proposals on the ballot this year. One measure would protect abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient. The other would essentially codify the states current ban in its constitution, barring the procedure after the first trimester with exceptions for medical emergencies, rape or incest.

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If voters approve both measures, whichever of the two gets more votes will be the one that makes it into the state constitution, according to The Associated Press.

Maryland

Maryland, like Colorado, does not impose any restrictions on abortion throughout the duration of a pregnancy. With an abortion rights measure on the ballot this year, voters will decide whether to enshrine the right to reproductive freedom in their state constitution.

Missouri

An amendment to allow the state of Missouri to regulate abortion only after fetal viability, except to protect the life or health of the woman, will be on the ballot. The measures passage would effectively repeal the states near-total ban on abortion.

New York

New Yorkers will vote on a measure to expand the states Equal Rights Amendment to add protected classes to include pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, effectively preserving the right to an abortion in the state.

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Despite Democrats dominance in New York and the states historically liberal reputation, the measure is not certain to pass. The ballot proposal does not include plain language to explain that it would protect abortion and LGBTQ rights. Democrats pushed to include such language, but a judge declined to compel the state Board of Elections to do so. New York Republicans, who have gained ground in recent elections, have used the measures technical language to inaccurately frame it as dismantling parental rights and expanding trans rights for minors.

South Dakota

South Dakotans are set to vote on a proposal that would allow abortion throughout the first trimester, would permit regulation by the state that is reasonably related to a pregnant persons health in the second trimester, and would allow regulation or prohibition in the third trimester, with exceptions.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  November is National Veterans and Military Families Month and 100-year-old William Toombs is recounting a special trip that he and other veterans took for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Toombs said the visit was one of the greatest trips I ever made.

Arkansas WWII veteran headed back to Normandy for 80th anniversary of D-Day

Toombs enlisted on Oct. 31, 1942, and served as a flight engineer gunner on both B17s and B24s with the 493rd Bomb Group of the Army Air Corp also known as the Mighty 8th. His first mission was D-Day.

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We were to bomb a railyard, Toombs said. We didnt see the target that day. We had to bring our bombs back.

But that wasnt the only thing Toombs says that didnt go as planned.

We lost two airplanes that day not by combat, but they had a collision in mid-air and we lost 20 men, Toombs said.

He said a highlight was being able to share stories and have conversations with other veterans who fought that day.

Every man had a story, we talked many hours to one another, Toombs said.

French children hail D-Day veterans as heroes as they arrive in Normandy for anniversary events

Toombs said they were able to visit schools, cathedrals and historical sites and he had a wonderful time with everyone.

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The people that turned out by the thousand, we had a parade every day, Toombs said.

After D-Day he served in 28 missions, he says the one that stands out is when his group was shot down and they made a landing in Brussels.

Although he doesnt consider himself a hero, many others do, and he has numerous medals for his service.

I didnt do anything that we didnt have to do. I wasnt in the war because I wanted to be there. I was in the war because my country asked me to be there, Toombs said.

Vet who helped liberate Jewish prisoners returns to Normandy for D-Day 80th

Toombs said he hopes the younger generation will recognize veterans service and not take it for granted.

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Of the 13 schools that could be closed in Milwaukee Public Schools, six are in one ZIP code: 53206.

The remaining seven are just miles down the street in ZIP codes 53205, 53210 and 53212. They form a square in the northwest-central part of Milwaukee's most segregated, primarily Black neighborhoods that have been subjected to poverty-driving inequities for decades.

Of the 13 schools that could expand, 10 are in the southern half of the city.

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MPS' consulting firm that made the recommendations, Perkins Eastman, has advised changes like those would give all Milwaukee kids a better education. In an interview, consultants also said they are well aware of Milwaukee's past and present racial segregation.

"We understand that these are difficult conversations, and that we're not dealing with just today. We're dealing with histories of disinvestment in communities," consultant Patrick Davis said in an Oct. 31 interview. "We need to be able to understand that."

The firm argues that decades of change in Milwaukee's population mean that today, many northwest-central schools have more space than needed to enroll every eligible child living nearby. That's the case even as many families choose to bus their students to schools that are farther away in search of better academics, often filling seats in already-crowded southside schools.

Meanwhile, MPS is facing dire budget shortfalls and criticism of financial mismanagement. And its overall enrollment has fallen by 30,000 students in less than 20 years, dragging down per-student funding.

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Those facts have been in front of the public for weeks.

In response, teachers, parents and others have demanded justification  or alternative options  to closing schools that act as community anchors and resource hubs for some of Milwaukee's most underserved families.

"As you can see from that list, closures are overwhelmingly in Black communities," said Ingrid Walker-Henry, president of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, in an interview on Oct. 29. "What we know is that these are communities that have seen historical disinvestment. And what the families, the students, the staff of Milwaukee Public Schools deserve is investment, and not abandonment."

More: Future of MPS could include school closures, improved programming under long-range facilities plan

How did Perkins Eastman decide which schools to recommend for potential closure or upgrades?

Consulting firm Perkins Eastman, hired by Milwaukee Public Schools to create a long-range facilities master plan, created a "preliminary sorting tree" to show how schools in the district could be sorted into categories that determine whether they will be closed, upgraded or see other changes.

The 13 schools that could close or merge are clustered in a roughly 3-mile square in northwest-central Milwaukee, including neighborhoods like Arlington Heights, Franklin Heights, North Division and Sherman Park.

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Across those schools, 92% of students are Black, compared to 50% overall across MPS.

Those schools have all seen declining enrollment over the past five years, and as a result, Perkins Eastman data shows at least half of each building is unused. They are also each within 1 mile of another school that is at least half-empty.

It's the opposite reality for the 13 schools that could get expansions, which are already at or above capacity and projected to stay that way. Of those, 10 are south of Interstate-94. Those schools' more-than-6,000 students are more white and Latino than MPS overall.

But most of the district's 144 schools won't see closures or expansions at all. The majority are candidates for new academic programs and building renovations, or are still being evaluated.

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The goal is to invest in schools broadly across the district, said consultant Nate Morris  especially in neighborhoods that could also see closures, to offset harms he acknowledged come with them.

"We don't want any investments to be overwhelmingly in one part of the city," Morris said.

Why not just invest in all schools?

MPS students in the northern part of the city have fewer academic programs to choose from, like those in bilingual education or college-level classes. That inequity is a factor in driving students to enroll in schools farther south, according to consultants.

Those enrollment patterns drive questions from the community: Why not just invest more in all schools?

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In an interview, Davis said even if every potential student living in the northern part of the district attended school closest to home, MPS would still have far too much space.

"There's just not enough student population to support all the schools," he said.

Consultants cited not only the district's long-term enrollment declines, but changes in Milwaukee's population. Eight of 13 schools that could potentially close or merge were constructed around the year 1900, the oldest being Brown Street Academy in 1882.

"Based on the age of those buildings, it's fairly safe to say there was a large number of residents who used to live in that central core, and the city sort of expanded out," Davis said. "It's a fairly typical pattern we see across cities."

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The MPS long-range facilities plan created by Perkins Eastman is intended to roll out over several years. If investment helps revitalize schools' enrollment, the district could change plans for closures, consultants said.

Are closures the only way to solve the district's problems?

At an Oct. 29 school board meeting, MPS board member Megan O'Halloran described why her own child does not attend the school closest to home: That would have meant sending her to a middle school with 43 kids to a single classroom.

"I drive her to a different school that is further away," O'Halloran said at the meeting.

O'Halloran asked whether MPS could address the district's uneven enrollment with policy changes  like requiring students attend the school closest to home or a citywide school option. Perkins Eastman has already suggested similar options.

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"I think whatever decisions come out of this will be very unpopular," O'Halloran said. "But, if we have exhausted all of our analyses, and had public input around which is the least unpopular, I think that would be more fair."

Schools are 'good eligible candidates' for closure or upgrades, but need more sorting

Perkins Eastman consultants said it's easy for the public to see the recently released list of potential school closures and assume decisions have been made. But they said that list was just intended to signal which schools are "good eligible candidates" for closure, expansion or otherwise.

MPS and its consultant say they will get more community feedback before any decisions are made. That might include forming "steering committees" comprising parents, teachers and students.

"We just want people to show up. If they're upset, or if they have questions they don't feel like we've answered, that just means we have more work to do," Morris said. "What is disappointing is when we can't get the people there."

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Still, many affected by district-level decisions have been clear about their distrust about the process.

Walker-Henry, of the teachers union, said she's skeptical about relying too much on building "utilization rates" used by the consulting firm, or the number of students enrolled in a school versus its capacity. Teachers need space to do their job, she said  and schools are community centers, not just classrooms.

She knows first-hand, having worked at Auer Avenue Elementary, one of the schools that could close in ZIP code 53206.

She remembers meeting a worried mother who had just gotten evicted, who came to her kids' school and relied on its social worker for help. Connecting families to critical resources like those, she said, is much easier when school is right down the road.

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"It's not just school that happens in school," she said.

More: As anger rises over school closure talks, MPS to consider committees to get more feedback

Which specific schools could close, expand or see other changes?

The schools that are marked for potential closure or merger are: Brown Street Academy (elementary), Clarke Street Elementary, Siefert Elementary, Starms Discovery Learning Center (K-8), Auer Avenue Elementary, Hopkins Lloyd Community School (elementary), Jackson Elementary School, Dr. George Washington Carver Academy (K-8), Oliver Wendell Holmes School (elementary), Andrew S. Douglas Middle School, Keefe Avenue School (elementary) Robert M. LaFollette School (elementary) and William T. Sherman School (elementary).

The schools that could get capacity expansions are: Academy of Accelerated Learning (elementary), Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School (K-8), Eighty-First Street School (elementary), Escuela Vieau (K-8), Greenfield Bilingual School (K-8), Honey Creek Elementary School, Humboldt Park School (K-8), James Fenimore Cooper School (K-8), Jeremiah Curtin Leadership Academy (K-8), Mary McLeod Bethune Academy (K-8) Morgandale School (K-8), Ninety-Fifth Street Elementary and Whittier Elementary.

The full list of schools is available at: tinyurl.com/munc8mwu.

Cleo Krejci covers education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit jsonline.com/rfa.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Map shows potential school closures in Milwaukee Public Schools
Thirteen North Texas police officers are facing disciplinary action relating to an investigation into allegations of prostitution.

The Lewisville Police Department released the details of the internal affairs investigation in an announcement Friday. The statement by Police Chief Brook Rollins explained that the case involving the department's street crimes unit was opened in June.

In October 2022, the unit had been assigned to look into allegations of prostitution at nine of Lewisville's massage parlors and another in Flower Mound. The operation led to 32 criminal charges against 28 suspects across 23 cases.

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"LPD obtained the list of cases from the DA, and we immediately began an administrative review of the declined cases," Rollins said in the statement. "During the review of these cases, it was apparent that possible misconduct was occurring."

The Denton County district attorney's office dropped the charges after it was found that the undercover officers had "inappropriate contact" with the suspected prostitutes. The department's internal investigation also confirmed that 13 of its members had "violated one or more Department directives or protocols."

Though the police chief stated there was no evidence of sex between the officers and prostitution suspects, the extent of the "inappropriate contact" was unclear. Rollins also noted that after probable cause for arrest has been established, any continuing physical contact "is deemed inappropriate."

Not all of the 13 members involved were accused of inappropriate contact. Some of those facing disciplinary action are accused of allowing inappropriate contact via "ineffective supervision or communication."

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As the police chief, Rollins was responsible for disciplining the involved officers. In Friday's statement, he confirmed that three officers were fired, one was demoted and seven were suspended without pay.

"To the residents of Lewisville, this entire incident is embarrassing and disappointing," Rollins stated. "As the Chief of Police for the Lewisville Police Department, it is my job to ensure the department operates with the utmost professionalism, integrity, and honor. I am sorry that we fell short of that."

The results of the department's internal investigation were passed on to the Texas Rangers and the Texas Department of Public Safety for a criminal investigation. As of Friday, no criminal charges had been filed against any of the officers involved.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 13 Texas officers disciplined for misconduct in prostitution sting
Editors Note: Two videos previously published with this article have been removed because of a concern for safety.

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Wichita Police Department is still looking for who is responsible for shooting and killing a 13-year-old Wichita boy and sending another 15-year-old boy to the hospital.

The shooting happened just after 10:30 on Halloween night outside a QuikTrip near Central and Oliver.

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There was a lot of emotion, kids coming up to the scene in tears, realizing someone they said they had been enjoying Halloween night was dead.

City Council member Brandon Johnson said the loss of a 13-year-old child should never be normal.

This stuff is senseless. This young man had his whole life ahead of him, but now, he doesnt, said Johnson.

Johnson said his kids, like many other parents kids, were out to enjoy the holiday. He said more intense talks with young people must happen to educate them that taking someones life is not the answer.

Show the value of life to our young people, that these temporary disagreements or problems, we dont have to make permanent decisions to end somebodys life. Until we have those conversations more intently, more seriously, and call out friends and family that dont agree with that, well keep seeing that, said Johnson.

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Cure Violence, an initiative started in Wichita roughly six months ago, aims to provide youth with this education. Their members spent the day grieving with the boys loved ones and said that this brutality needs to end.

Violence on any level is heartbreaking, no matter the age, to lose anybody in this community, it takes away the opportunity for people to build this community, said A.J. Bohannon, Curve Violence member.

He said they are meeting kids in their neighborhoods, classrooms, and other places of comfort to learn how to best reach Wichitas youth.

Continue to integrate ourselves in this community, let these kids know they do have a different outlet, continue to show up, continue to have those conversations, continue to be in those difficult places, and the more we show up, the greater the impact, hopefully, itll make some of these things go away, said Bohannon.

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Wichita police said they are actively pursuing all leads but have yet to make any arrests in connection to the shooting death.

You can find details on how to get involved with Cure Violence here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  On Friday, Nov. 1, Inspire NOLA gathered 2,000 local students to celebrate its third NOLALove rally.

Renaissance Festival 2024 opens Nov. 2 in Hammond

Rappers Juvenile and Mannie Fresh joined the students, along with Congressman Troy Carter, to celebrate their academic achievement and unity.

The rally ran from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans. The goal of the rally was reportedly to end the youth crisis in New Orleans.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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CHICAGO  Two Chicago police officers were injured early Saturday morning in Englewood after a suspect reportedly sprayed them with a fire extinguisher.

Police said just after 5 a.m. in the 5900 block of South Ashland Avenue, two on-duty police officers were sitting in a marked patrol car when the suspect drove up and sprayed a fire extinguisher into their vehicle, causing them to inhale the fumes.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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The officers were treated and released on scene.

No arrests have been made and Area One Detectives are investigating.

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Two people were hospitalized after a driver ran over them during a chaotic street takeover in Anaheim early Friday morning.

The victims were only identified as a man from Lancaster and a man from Orange.

Video of the takeover showed hundreds of bystanders gathered at the intersection of Orangewood Avenue and State College Boulevard at around 2 a.m.

Many were seen still wearing their Halloween costumes and enthusiastically gathering around while recording the chaos on their phones.

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A driver in a black Dodge Charger was seen revving the engines and performing a series of donuts and burnouts at high speeds, narrowly missing bystanders on the sidelines.

Fireworks were ignited in the crowd as the area filled with burnout smoke and the roaring sounds of spectators cheering.

Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News) The suspects black Dodge Charger narrowly misses bystanders as he looped around at high-speeds in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (@05irvin) The moment the suspect plowed into a crowd of bystanders, trapping two people underneath the car on Nov. 1, 2024. (@05irvin) Bystanders lifted the vehicle to rescue the two young men trapped underneath the car during an Anaheim street takeover on Nov. 1, 2024. Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News) Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News) The suspects black Dodge Charger narrowly misses bystanders as he looped around at high-speeds in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (@05irvin) Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News) The suspects black Dodge Charger narrowly misses bystanders as he looped around at high-speeds in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (@05irvin) Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News)

Dave Downs, a Chapman University student, recalled the confusion he felt when he heard the frenzy and commotion outside his apartment.

It was late and it was a bit of, Is this actually happening or am I asleep? he said in disbelief.

Downs and his roommate, Julian Romano, live in an off-campus housing unit which was located just feet away from the chaotic takeover.

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As the driver continued spinning out, at one point, he lost control and struck several bystanders at the center of the intersection, trapping two people underneath the car. The vehicle moved forward and the rear passenger side could be seen lifting up as the wheel rolled over one of the victims.

Videos on social media showed people trying to lift the Dodge Charger to rescue the young men, one of whom looked bloodied and barely conscious.

The injured teens were rushed to the hospital with major injuries, but authorities confirmed they remained in stable condition on Friday night.

As the crowd attacked the Dodger Charger, the suspect driver was able to flee the scene amid the mayhem before police could arrive. Most of the spectators also left the area before arrests were made.

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Social media is one of the main driving forces of how these events are publicized and so thats how a lot of participants receive their information, explained Sgt. Jacob Gallacher with the Anaheim Police Department. People come from all over the Southland to participate in these and, within a moments notice, youll have several hundred people in an intersection participating in this very unsafe, reckless behavior.

Back in 2021, the City of Anaheim passed a law allowing its police department to cite spectators at street takeovers.

Jack Wyluda, a witness, said Fridays dangerous takeover lasted a while  at least an hour  if not longer.

Wyluda said he was also not surprised the gathering ended with serious injuries.

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We saw some people get hit, but they didnt go under the car, they were just hit by the side of it, he recalled. We saw it from the balcony [of my apartment], and we were like, Why are people participating in this?

Police are still searching for the suspect driver. He faces possible felony hit-and-run charges.

Detectives are studying videos of the event that were posted on social media to aid in the search. They also believe there were more people who were injured in the event that have not come forward.

Anyone with information on the incident can call Anaheim Police at 714-765-1900.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Two people died following a crash involving two vehicles in the North Las Vegas valley.

It happened on Friday at about 1 p.m. in the area of Centennial Parkway and Donna Street.

When North Las Vegas Police officers arrived at the scene they found that a Toyota Avalon and a Toyota Corolla were involved in the crash.

The driver and the passenger of the Avalon had minor injuries and the driver and passenger of the Corolla who were in their 70s appeared to have serious injuries, police said.

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All four people were then taken to a nearby hospital however, the driver and the passenger of the Corolla were later pronounced dead.

The preliminary investigation by police officers determined that the Corolla was on Donna Street, south of Centennial Parkway, and stopped at a stop sign. The Avalon was traveling eastbound on Centennial Parkway, approaching Donna Street, and had the right of way. The driver Corolla failed to yield and attempted to cross Centennial Parkway, where the Avalon collided with the Corolla.

Traffic officers continue to investigate the crash, however, they do not believe impairment is a factor.

The identification of the deceased, along with the cause and manner of death, will be released by the Clark County Coroners Office.

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Anyone who may have information about this collision is urged to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department by phone at 702-633-9111. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Nevada by phone at 702-385-5555.

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A suspect has been taken into custody following a shooting that left two police officers injured in South L.A., according to authorities.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to reports of a robbery near 92nd Street and Central Avenue just after 9 p.m. Friday.

When law enforcement arrived on the scene and encountered a suspect, an officer-involved shooting took place. Police did not disclose what specifically led to the shooting.

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Sky5 was overhead at 10 p.m. and reported seeing ambulances called for two officers.

LAPD said one officer was transported for a possible gunshot wound somewhere on the right side of their body. The second officer was transported for a possible gunshot wound or graze wound to the hand.

KTLAs Gil Leyvas reported seeing the officer with the hand wound taken out on his own power, and the other officer was taken out on a gurney  but both officers were conscious and speaking to paramedics.

Two Los Angeles police officers were hospitalized after shots were fired during a robbery in South Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2024. (KTLA) An ambulance rushes an injured LAPD officer to the hospital after shots were fired during a robbery in South Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2024. (KTLA) An ambulance rushes an injured LAPD officer to the hospital after shots were fired during a robbery in South Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2024. (KTLA) Two Los Angeles police officers were hospitalized after shots were fired during a robbery in South Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2024. (KTLA)

In an update issued at 1:15 a.m. Saturday, the LAPD confirmed that officers determined the male suspect had fled westbound on 92nd and was eventually found hiding in a parked vehicle with the assistance of K9 officers.

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The suspect was found to have suffered an injury to his leg, LAPD stated. While he was not identified by name, police told KTLA 5s Carlos Herrera that the suspect is known to law enforcement.

Officials added that both officers were treated for their wounds at a nearby hospital and are in stable condition.

No further details were immediately released and the scene remained active as of 6 a.m. Saturday.

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Barbara Mackle's 1968 kidnapping led an FBI search party to frantically dig to find her in a wooded area north of Atlanta

Getty Barbara Jane Mackle Barbara Jane Mackle

Its most peoples worst nightmare: being buried alive and left for dead. And on Dec. 17, 1968, that nightmare came true for Barbara Jane Mackle, a 20-year-old college student and heiress to her familys Florida housing development company.

Against all odds, the Emory University student survived the kidnapping and was back home with her family by the time Christmas came eight days later. Meanwhile, her kidnappers  an escaped ex-convict and a graduate student studying marine biology  nearly got away with the crime and a $500,000 ransom paid by Barbaras father, Robert Mackle.

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More than 50 years after Time first detailed the frantic FBI search that uncovered the tomb Barbara was trapped inside in a rural part of Georgia, PEOPLE is looking back at the harrowing kidnapping and the hunt for an heiress gone missing.

Getty Gary Steven Krist Gary Steven Krist

The Kidnapping

A week before Christmas, Barbara felt ill in class and called her mother to come pick her up early for the universitys upcoming holiday break, Time reported. Barbara and her mother, Jane Mackle, booked a room at a nearby motel, where they planned to stay before making the trip home, according to the Coastal Breeze News. But a knock at the door at 4 a.m. changed everything.

Outside their door were two people, one of whom identified himself as a detective. They said they were there because Barbaras boyfriend, Stewart Woodward, had been in a car accident. According to Coastal Breeze News, when Jane opened the door, a masked man with a shotgun and a smaller woman in a ski mask burst through, knocked her out with chloroform and then bound her by her hands and feet. Her daughter, Barbara, meanwhile, was grabbed by the strangers and put into their car.

Jane was able to free herself and call the police not long after, but by that time, Barbara was already being transported 30 miles north of Atlanta by her kidnappers: the escaped convict Gary Steven Krist and his accomplice, Ruth Eisemann-Schier.

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They were taking Barbara to bury her alive.

A Hefty Ransom

In an interview with UPI 20 years after the kidnapping, Krists former parole officer, Tommy Morris, suggested that the prison escapee kidnapped Barbara and buried her alive not for the $500,000 ransom he and Eisemann-Schier demanded from the Mackle family, but for the challenge of keeping their victim alive underground.

Nevertheless, Krist and Eisemann-Schier demanded half a million dollars from Mackles family, who were heads of the Deltona Corp., a Florida-based development company that was reportedly worth $65 million at the time Barbara was taken in 1968.

In a remote area in Gwinnett County, Ga., Barbaras kidnappers placed her inside a coffin-like box with two flexible air tubes, an allotment of food, water and sedatives, among other things she needed to survive. Krist and Eisemann-Schier buried the heiress a foot-and-a-half under the soil, according to Time, where she remained for three and a half days until an FBI search team found her.

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He was looking for a rich, tough-minded female, Morris told UPI. Someone who could stand up to the trauma of being buried alive. Barbara Jane Mackle fit that profile.

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Barbara remained thick-skinned, she recounted in her 1971 book, 83 Hours Till Dawn. I screamed and screamed, Barbara recalled, according to UPI and ABC News. The sound of the dirt got farther and farther away. Finally, I couldn't hear anything above. I screamed for a long time after that.

The 20-year-old was said to have replayed visions of the upcoming Christmas morning with her family to remain focused on surviving.

Getty Ruth Eisemann-Schier Ruth Eisemann-Schier

Barbara's Rescue

Barbaras location was discovered after Krist and Eisemann-Schief successfully received the $500,000 ransom from Barbaras family and telephoned the FBI, giving them rough coordinates for where to find her.

Using clues from an initial botched ransom handoff when Krist and Eisemann-Schief fled the scene and abandoned their car, police were able to discover an alias Krist had been using, George D. Deacon, and began putting the pieces together, according to Time.

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Krist was captured of the coast of Florida in a speed boat he purchased with some of the ransom money, according to UPI, while Eisemann-Schief was arrested months later after giving her fingerprints for a background check at a hospital in Oklahoma, where she applied for a job, according to ABC news affiliate KOCO.

Eisemann-Schief was deported back to Honduras, where she was from, while Krist was sentenced to life in prison, according to UPI. But 10 years later, Krist was released on parole and decades later landed a job as a licensed general practitioner in Indiana, according to ABC News.

The Mackle family maintained that Barbara remained relatively unfazed by the trying ordeal, though she rarely made public appearances in the decades after, according to UPI. Barbara later married and became a mother, living in Atlanta.


SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The annual Siouxland Sleep Out event, which works to brings awareness, is celebrating its 20th year.

Agencies and live bands involved set up for another successful year where people raise awareness for the homeless community here in Siouxland. The gates opened at 3 p.m.

Goodwill of the Great Plains helping veterans get free clothes with Boots to Suits

We do it to raise awareness and funds for the homeless in our community, Cindy Wood with Siouxland Sleep Out said. We support five agencies that support the homeless here in Siouxland and we just try to give people an idea what its gonna be like coming up here to be out in the street at night.

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Registration for the event goes until 9 p.m. Camping spots are on a first-come, first-served basis.

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In a move that could revolutionize how the world harvests energy and reduce dependence on non-renewable sources, Iceland could become the first country to harness solar power from space. The country's sustainability initiative Transition Labs is collaborating with UK-based Space Solar and Icelandic energy company Reykjavik Energy to develop a solar power plant located outside the Earth's atmosphere.

Space Solars first plant is designed with an initial capacity of 30MW, providing reliable power continuously, unaffected by weather or time of day. The project aims to deliver cost-effective energy around the clock, setting a new standard for renewable power. Each 30MW solar farm will be transported to orbit in a single launch using SpaceX's Starship megarocket.

Starting in 2030, the system could generate enough energy to power 1,500 to 3,000 homes. Solar panels in space will capture sunlight and transmit it as radio waves to a ground station, where it will be converted into electricity for the grid.

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Developing and manufacturing the pilot plant will cost $800 million. The system is expected to provide electricity at approximately one-quarter the cost of nuclear power, at $2.25 billion per gigawatt, making it competitive with Earth-based renewable energy sources, Space.com reported.

Space Solar's power plants are built from modular core building blocks that can be assembled into solar power harvesters of various sizes. They can operate at different altitudes and supply power to multiple countries simultaneously.

Potential cost savings

An independent analysis by Imperial College London suggests that adding 8GW of space-based solar energy to the UK's energy mix could result in annual savings of over $5.2 billion (4 billion) in system costs.

For Transition Labs, the partnership between Reykjavik Energy and Space Solar is an important step as the later moves towards full-scale deployment.

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"Reykjavik Energy's focus on climate technology, along with its experience in carbon storage through Carbfix and partnership with Climeworks, makes it a suitable partner for the initial phase of Space Solar's project," said Kjartan Orn Olafsson, CEO of Transition Labs.

"Space-based solar power offers unparalleled benefits with competitive energy costs and 24/7 availability. Reykjavik Energys recognition of the potential for space-based solar to drive the energy transition is exciting, and were thrilled to be working together in partnership toward a sustainable future," outlined Martin Soltau, co-CEO of Space Solar.

According to the British company, the first launch is just the start, as Space Solar intends to increase production to address global energy needs. Their power transmission technology, developed with $6.4 million (5 million) in engineering research, aims to provide a secure, scalable, and affordable option for global baseload energy.

Aim to scale up by 2036

Currently, energy transmission from orbit does not come close to that level of power. This year, the Caltech demonstrator demonstrated that the technology is feasible, but it only beamed milliwatts of power to Earth. The proposal for Iceland will need to deliver billions of times more power.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMdeEpMCalk

As the constellation of power stations expands, Iceland, Canada, and northern Japan have been identified as potential locations for additional receiving stations, with Space Solar aiming to scale up to gigawatt capacity by 2036.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  While Halloween may have just ended, the holiday season is quickly approaching. A group of motorcyclists is working to spread joy to children in need through an annual toy drive.

This is a three-day drive aimed at providing Hope for the Holidays. And lots of people already came out for the first day of the drive, ready to brighten kids holidays with some toys.

4th Annual Springfield Ballers Ball held to support youth sports and programs

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Motorcyclists are making sure kids all across western Massachusetts have their Christmas wishes fulfilled. This is done through Trinity Health of New England 38th annual Hope for the Holidays toy drive and motorcycle run.

That feeling that you get in your heart when your helping someone else out, you cant buy that and you know that just fulfills us with what we do, said organizer, Melvyn Hook.

On Friday, the drive kicked off outside of Walmart in Chicopee on Memorial Drive. This cause has been met with overwhelming support so far as many stop by to donate toys and fill up carts.

Its going to be hard for a lot of people for Christmas, and its just nice to give a little something, doesnt have to be a ton, just something and that could make some kid very happy, said Rachel Decaro of Springfield.

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They are asking for any newly unwrapped toys, gift cards, or monetary donations to be distributed to Brightside for Families and Children. They focus on supporting families through stabilization and outreach among other things. Some of the toys will also go to children in need through Lorraines Soup Kitchen and Pantry in Chicopee and the Center for Human Development.

Theyre there for a reason, theyre there because they need help and you know when it comes to Christmas, there shouldnt be any children that shouldnt have a Christmas, added organizer, Bruce Rivest.

The drive continued on Saturday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m where more people came out to donate.

The drive then wrapped up on Sunday with their Hope for the Holidays motorcycle toy run, and participants brought with them more new, unwrapped toys. Those toys serving as their entry ticket for the ride.

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Every year were able to bring joy, and laughter, and smiles to many families, expressed Edna Rodriguez, the Director of Behavioral Health, Brightside for Families and Children.

Event Organizer and President of Hope for the Holidays, Bruce Rivest, started the program to give back to low income agencies who help communities in need. And, and Brightside holds a special place in his heart.

Being adopted from them in 1970, I thought it was important to give them a call and see if we could do something for them, expressed Rivest. And, weve had a relationship with them for the last 12 years.

His team brought in hundreds of bikers, each with a toy, and some with generous monetary donations, to grant a community childs holiday wish. This effort helps Brightside continue to make a difference in families lives.

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Brightside has been operating for over 150 year and events like this give life to the work that we do every day, said Rodriguez. We help them navigate the educational system, the behavioral health system, and we help them be together and form a bond that is forever.

That work is centered around Brightsides in-home therapy program, aimed at helping families recover in whatever way they need so they can thrive.

They are still collecting unwrapped toys, gift cards, or monetary donations! Rivest said you can visit their Facebook page, message them, and they will come pick up donations themselves, so that Brightside can bring each child hope for the holidays.

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.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  With Election Day just four days away, a sense of unease remains across the District.

Scared, Im feeling scared. Im nervous about the way the rest of the country is going to go. And more so I am nervous that we cant mend this rift that has taken our country over, said Patrick Burritt.

Burritt voted early on Friday and said there are several issues he cares about in this election.

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Early voting has begun in DC

Number one would be the president. That would be the prime motivation. But, the initiative for ranked choice is also really important to me, he said.

As voters continue to cast their ballots, agencies and businesses across D.C. are preparing for Election Day and the inauguration.

Security fencing is up around the White House, as crews work to prepare the inauguration parade watch area. Added levels of fencing are also being installed around several federal buildings, including the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Businesses in the downtown area are boarding up glass doors and windows in anticipation of any protests that could occur.

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Burritt understands the precautions.

Businesses around White House board up ahead of Election Day

I think D.C. is especially vulnerable being a seat of power and I think our nation is in an extremely vulnerable time, especially in this time between the election and January 6, he said. Weve seen things go down before. Hopefully, we dont see any shenanigans again, but Im praying.

Hes hoping things remain peaceful.

However, already this week a man was arrested for vandalizing a political piece of artwork installed at Freedom Plaza.

According to court documents, the man used a skateboard to destroy a statue of a tiki torch, which was intended to mock former President Donald Trump and his comments about a white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Va. back in 2017.

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Im a little nervous. Im worried about the fate of our country and Im worried about the immediate repercussion of our votes, said Nicole Vikan, who voted early this election.

She said the presidential race was the top reason she came out to vote.

Other voters, like Sara Bronin, are trying to remain optimistic over the next few days.

You wish the political process would not result in some of the things we have seen when it comes to elections in recent years. For me, Im hoping we see a lot of joy after this election, she said.

Bronin said this is an important election with many consequential issues at stake.

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We have housing on the ballot, we have fair elections and democracy on the ballot, we have womens rights on the ballot, she said. Were making decisions now for the next generation.

The Metropolitan Police Department is increasing its presence through Election Day and working in partnership with the Board of Elections 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
After 18 days of advanced voting, Georgia officials said the state had already cast more than four million ballots ahead of Election Day 2024.

From Oct. 15 to Nov. 1, 4,003,434 votes hit the polls in person or voted by absentee ballot.

According to data from the Secretary of States Office, 55.3% of Georgias active voters had already made their choices for president as well as local races and ballot measures.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

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So far, 3.76 million ballots have been accepted from in-person votes, while 241,905 absentee ballots were accepted.

With less than four days until the presidential election for 2024, only about 45% of Georgias 7.24 million voters have yet to hit the polls or send in their ballots.

Gabriel Sterling, the Georgia Secretary of State Offices COO, said online that as of 9:07 p.m., 289,327 votes had been cast on just Friday, though some data was still trickling in and added that the turnout showed incredible numbers and on track for overall record for pre-election voting.

Congratulations Georgia Voters! As of 9:07pm we made it to 4,000,009 total votes cast. Some data is still trickling in but we had 289,327 votes cast early today. That is 3,757,958 early votes so far. Incredible numbers and on track for overall record for pre-election voting. pic.twitter.com/kLcuiaIK56  Gabriel Sterling (@GabrielSterling) November 2, 2024

Even from the start of early voting in Georgia, the states participation levels have been record-breaking, repeatedly being described as shattering records by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff.

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This was the most successful Early Voting period in Georgia history because voters trust the process, Raffensperger said Saturday. Four years of progress brought us here. Were battle-tested and ready, regardless of what the critics say. And were going to hold those who interfere in our elections accountable.

In response to questions on the post on X, Sterling said a total of about 5.02 million Georgians had voted in the 2020 presidential election, meaning the state was already just about one million votes away from the last cycles cap.

Total - 5,026,684



A bunch of voters skipped the presidential race in 2020.  Gabriel Sterling (@GabrielSterling) November 2, 2024

Come Tuesday, up to 3.24 million more voters will still be able to cast their ballots, helping choose which way Georgia leans when it comes to its choice for president.

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Five young men from the South Carolina Upstate have been charged with murder after a homecoming after-party in Georgia turned fatal last month.

Bryshun Treviyus OBrien Jordan, 15, died after a shooting at the party at a nightclub on Oct. 12 in Elbert County, Georgia, according to local reports, not far from Athens. Seven other people were injured, four by gunfire.

This week, four additional men from Anderson were arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in connection to the killing.

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Destanne Mathis, 20, and Desmond Latimer, 18, were charged with murder, party to a crime and violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Aanidras Parks, 18, and Jerimiyah Hughes, 19, were charged with murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Jarquavious Demetriun Scott, 18, of Anderson had already been charged with murder, four counts of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Those charged are being held at the Elbert County Jail, officials said. An investigation is ongoing.
Pascos new $6 million Tri-Cities Animal Shelter will open more than a year later than initially expected.

At one point, the long-awaited shelter was expected to open as far back as December 2023, but contractor delays have meant the city just got the keys to the building in the last two weeks.

One of the biggest sources of the delays was settling on which indoor kennels to use. The city finally has a decision, but they still need to be installed.

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The new shelter isnt significantly larger, but modern improvements are aimed at increasing the quality of life for animals.

But the planned improvements havent satisfied everyone. A vocal group of community members continue to question the Animal Control Authoritys choices for the shelter. They also wonder why they dont have the opportunity to have a say in how the shelter is run, after years of turmoil involving previous contractors.

The anticipated January opening also comes about a year after some former staff members of the shelters contractor were charged with animal cruelty.

The nonprofit Neos Nation operated the shelter and animal control services for Pasco, Richland and Kennewick for less than a year before volunteers began suspecting something was amiss with the way the nonprofits leadership was moving animals out of public view.

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Dozens of dogs were found to have been severely neglected and authorities believe hundreds of cats may have been moved into an outbuilding.

Many of the animals required serious veterinarian attention. The Benton-Franklin Humane Society stepped into to take over the shelter on a temporary basis after the animal abuse was discovered.

In the end, Pasco took over managing animal services in cooperation with the other cities and each chipped in $2 million to build a new shelter to replace the aging, cramped facility.

The new 9,600-square-foot Tri-Cities Animal Shelter building is on 2.5 acres adjacent to the existing facility off South 18th Avenue in Pasco. The new $4.1 million facility replaces three aging structures, one of them dating back to the 1950s. Its a partnership project between the cities of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland.

Features of the new facility

The Tri-Cities Animal Shelter is a joint effort of the cities of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland working together as the Animal Control Authority, the public agency whose primary job is to implement and provide animal control and services at the shelter. The city of Pasco leads the authority.

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The interlocal agreement between Pasco, Kennewick and Richland was signed in 2016 for design and construction of the new shelter.

Crews started construction for the shelter in late 2022 on a spot overlooking the Columbia River.

City officials told the Herald that the cost of construction is on track for the budgeted amount of $5.8 million.

The new 9,600-square-foot building will be on 2.5 acres next to the existing facility off South 18th Avenue in Pasco. It will replace three structures, one of them dating back to the 1950s.

Animal shelter manager Ben Zigan wrote in a statement to the Herald that the new facility will have improved ventilation, lighting and noise control.

Ben Zigan, Tri-Cities Animal Shelter manager, stands next to new commercial washers and dryers that are readly for installaion into the new shelter building in Pasco.

Shelters built in the 1950s were generally focused on basic housing and containment, often with minimal regard for animal comfort, mental stimulation or disease control, Zigan said. They typically had smaller, crowded kennels with poor ventilation and lighting, making them noisy and stressful environments for animals.

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The new shelter will be nearly 1,000 square feet larger than the current complex and will reduce the number of animals housed together in shared spaces.

The existing shelter has 70 dog kennels and 65 cat cages.

The new site will hold slightly more animals with 77 dog kennels and 26 cat condos. There can be two cats per condo, for a total of 52 cats.

Andrea Moreno told the Herald that the new capacity for dogs is insufficient. She is the director of operations at Mikeys Chance, a Tri-Cities-based nonprofit that matches foster dogs with new homes.

Its a kick in the teeth, Moreno said. Its not enough to keep up with three growing cities.

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City officials told the Herald that cat capacity will likely be more, since the new shelter will have two cat adoption rooms where ready-to-adopt cats would be housed.

Zigan said that there isnt a need for more staff members because the number of animals under care in the new facility will not significantly increase.

Currently, the facility has five distinct sections for dogs and the new shelter will expand that to eight sections.

The new facility will also have four fenced outdoor areas for dogs. The location will allow volunteers to continue to take advantage of the existing trail system when they walk the animals.

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It is expected to have a separate area for visitors to be able to meet and spend time with their prospective pets, an exam room for sick and injured animals and improved access from the street.

The old building of the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter is visisble behind the fenced dog exercise area adjacent to the agencys newly constructed facility.

Modern shelters prioritize the animals quality of life, incorporating natural light and sound-dampening materials. Todays shelters also emphasize enrichment spaces, better disease prevention measures and more humane kennel designs, improving the animals physical and emotional health.

City officials told the Herald in a separate statement that plans for the old facility are yet to be determined.

Delays with kennels

In August, Pasco city council accepted a quote for new dog and cat kennels from Idaho-based MWI Veterinary Supply, costing $420,000.

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The bid was accepted after the city had to go out a second time with a request for quotes.

Quotes for the kennels from the first round were overbudget. The city council rejected all of the quotes at its June 17 meeting because the lowest responsive quote was nearly $570,000, exceeding the engineers estimate of just above $420,000.

Ben Zigan, Tri-Cities Animal Shelter manager, stands in one of the new rooms that will be set up with kennels for dogs in the new shelter building in Pasco.

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The second request was different because material types changed and two new overflow kennels were added.

City officials told the Herald that the veterinary supply company started to measure the kennel area inside the building more than two weeks ago. The kennels should be completed by the end of December.

In the current facility, there are indoor-outdoor kennels that allow all animals to look outside while staying in their kennels.

But there will not be any kennels with outdoor access at the new shelter.

Judi Nelson is an animal activist who lives in West Richland. She told the Herald that the lack of indoor-outdoor kennels is inhumane.

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Personally, I dont see anything getting better with the new shelter, she said.

Aggressive dogs are currently kept in a separate building. At the new facility, aggressive dogs will be housed in secure kennels within the shelter.

Nelson explained that when dealing with dogs with aggression, staff may decide that they must stop being walked due to safety concerns.

She worries that without an outdoor kennel option at the new facility, those aggressive animals will not have have a change in their environment.

By definition, a shelter is supposed to care for these animals, comfort them, give them a place to rest and help them get revitalized and receive compassion, Nelson said.

They now are literally going to be prisoners of the kennels that made them aggressive to begin with.

Zigan said that he and city officials understand the publics concern regarding indoor-outdoor access in the dog kennels.

The new shelter design has prioritized the animals well-being by incorporating a flexible and enriched environment, he said.

While the kennels may not have direct outdoor access, the dogs will have outdoor time in exercise yards to meet their physical and mental needs.

The Tri-Cities Animal Shelter and Control Services facility is currently at 1312 S. 18th Ave. in Pasco.

Community pushes for advisory board

A passionate group of animal advocates has been asking for a community board since April 2023 to be able to weigh in on issues.

Nelson is one of the proponents for a board.

We need an advisory board because that will be the bridge that can finally get the public and the city working together, Nelson said.

But an advisory board is not legally allowed under the current structure of the Animal Control Authority.

Pasco city attorney Eric Ferguson said at the city council meeting on Sept. 9 that the authority is a function of the city managers, not a separate legal entity.

If Pasco city council were to appoint an advisory board, it would violate separation of powers. He explained that a subcommittee of the city council, as the legislative branch, could not give direction to the shelters management committee, the executive branch.

The management committee includes the city manager or their designee from each city. The committees responsibilities include creating policies, approving contracts and setting the annual budget.

That committee itself could appoint a board, however.

If there can be amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America, there can be an advisory board created in a little town in Eastern Washington, Nelson told the Herald.

She said that city officials have not separately communicated with her or proposed other ways that she and other citizens could be involved in the shelters operation.

Moreno said that after years of attending Kennewick, Pasco and Richland city council meetings to advocate for an advisory board, she is now looking into other avenues to be heard.

She told the Herald that she has had small group meetings with Pasco director of parks and recreation Jesse Rice and city manager Adam Lincoln to try to develop a new volunteer program and address other concerns.

Rice is Pascos representative on the Animal Control Authoritys management committee, working with two other representatives from Kennewick and Richland, BJ Moos and Christopher Mason.

During a discussion of the animal shelters proposed 2025-2026 budget at the Oct. 28 Pasco City Council meeting, Rice said that he is uncertain if an advisory board would be helpful.

An advisory board set up at my level isnt going to resolve the communitys needs, Rice said. If the cities are interested, an advisory board would better be done at the interlocal agreement level so that there is a city council representative on the board...It is complex because we have to get three city councils and three cities to agree we want to do that.

The new 9,600-square-foot Tri-Cities Animal Shelter building is on 2.5 acres adjacent to the existing facility off South 18th Avenue in Pasco. The new $5.8 million facility replaces three aging structures, one of them dating back to the 1950s. Its a partnership project between the cities of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland.

Trial dates for Neos Nation staff

The former staff of Neos Nation are awaiting trial after being charged with dozens of counts of animal cruelty.

Trial for the former director Rebecca Howard and former office manager Justin Hernandez is set to begin in December, related to 48 counts of animal cruelty.

Separately, the nonprofits finance officer, Julie Chambers, is scheduled to go to trial in late October on first-degree theft and money laundering charges.

The next Animal Control Authority meeting is on December 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Pasco City Hall.
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  An 83-year-old Crockett man was charged with promoting child pornography into Henderson County and arrest documents allege he was in the process of downloading the material when an investigator stopped by.

We were blindsided: Cumberland Academy lays off more than 50 staff members

According to an affidavit, an investigation began on Oct. 2 when a device successfully downloaded files that contained child porn and later the IP address was traced back to a Crockett home.

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On Oct. 24 an investigator stopped by the home and made contact with Bert Franklin Burris, 83 of Crockett, who was sitting at his computer in the living room, documents said.

The suspect stated that he does download and watch child pornography on a regular basis and the youngest child that he remembers seeing in child pornography is approximately 5 years of age, the affidavit said.

Burris then told the investigator that he was downloading the material onto his computer when he made contact with him and that he had been viewing child pornography since he was about 50-years-old, the arrest documents said.

Third charged for cartel-related kidnapping of Tyler man

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The affidavit said Burris understood that on the network he was downloading the material as well as sharing it. A computer, several flash drives and hard drives were also taken from Burriss home, according to the affidavit.

Two days after the investigation at Burris residence, he was booked into the Henderson County Jail where he was issued a $50,000 bond. Burris bonded out on Wednesday.

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With an amendment aiming to enshrine abortion rights in Florida on the Nov. 5 ballot, advocacy groups on both side of the measure are seeking to cut through the noise in trying to persuade Latino voters.

Using messaging tailored to religion, language and cultural context, groups are trying to equip Hispanic voters with the necessary information on the reproductive rights initiative.

Floridas Amendment 4, if passed, would reverse Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R-Fla.) six-week abortion ban and protect abortions before fetal viability or in instances to save the life and health of a patient. Florida is one of the 10 states with an abortion rights question on the ballot this November.

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But, if passed, Florida would be one of the only states in the Southeast to provide abortions until fetal viability after the landmark decision Dobbs v. Jackson overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The amendment requires a 60 percent supermajority to pass, and recent polls show that, although a majority of voters support the measure, it might not be enough to push it across the finish line.

Floridas 3.3 million eligible Hispanic or Latino voters have the power to swing the outcome on Nov. 5. A New York Times/Siena College poll from October shows that half of Hispanic voters are planning to vote in favor of protecting abortion access, while another 18 percent are still undecided.

The amendment is what state Rep. Vicki Lopez (R) calls a ticket splitter. Lopez, who represents areas of Miami-Dade County and is a proponent of the states initial 15-week ban, was one of six Republicans in the state House to stray from her party and vote against the six-week ban.

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She described the shorter ban as convoluted and very flawed, stating it was untenable for her constituents.

Lopezs district, which is roughly three-quarters Hispanic, is politically split  in line with the larger Miami-Dade area. She told The Hill that her district is roughly 30 percent Republican, 30 percent Democrat and 40 percent politically unaffiliated.

Specifically, she said that many Catholic and evangelical Latinos face a crossroads with the amendment as advocacy groups from both sides try to sway the community.

A lot of women dont want to be vocal about [their vote] because theyre fearful of retribution in their community, Lopez said. I can see that theres a struggle inside the Hispanic community between religion, morals, ethics and feeling like, This is my decision and I should be able to make it without interference.

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According to a report from The Miami Herald, Catholic churches have poured nearly $834,000 into the Florida Voters Against Extremism PAC that backs Vote No on 4, the official campaign against the amendment.

That movement is run by five committees, including Florida Freedom Fund, which Gov. DeSantis created to oppose the abortion initiative. South and Central Florida Field Director Debbie Feris said the groups work in Latino communities largely circles around common spaces such as church.

We talk about the sanctity of life and that [abortion] is not within our values, she told The Hill.

More broadly, DeSantis has taken part in a variety of campaigns against the measure, leveraging his gubernatorial power to threaten television stations for airing campaign advertisements in support of the initiative and even launching launch a website with the state health agency blasting the abortion rights cause.

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DeSantiss office did not respond to The Hills request for comment.

The official Yes on 4 campaign, sponsored by Floridians Protecting Freedom, has built a coalition with a variety of groups, including Catholics for Choice (CFC), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Mi Vecino and more.

Stephanie Hansen-Quintana, director of organization and movement building at CFC, told The Hill that the groups work in Latino communities is focused on deep conversations to build a narrative that Catholics can be both pro-choice and faithful.

People dont unlearn something that theyve been learning all their lives from one day to the next, she said. But being able to at least engage in conversation to be able to clarify facts, to be able to provide context, to be able to speak their language when it comes to Catholicism and faith most definitely allows for them to either give them the permission to vote yes, or at least to provide information to persuade them in that direction.

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Groups in support of and against the measure have also focused on the language barrier in the state, employing ad campaigns in both English and Spanish. The 2022 American Community Survey reported that, of Spanish speakers in Florida, roughly 43 percent speak English less than very well.

Natasha Sutherland, senior adviser to the Yes on 4 movement, said they consider a variety of factors in their surgical approach to the diverse Latino electorate, including linguistic patterns, country of origin, generational differences and individuals recency of immigration.

Folks want to hear from people like them, people that they know and trust, that are part of their network and already in their communities, Sutherland said. Its really just about arming those organizations and those individuals and those community leaders with the information they need so they can really talk about the amendment in a way that really connects with folks.

Charo Valero, Florida state manager for the Latina Institute, said methods to effectively engage the Latino community in political conversations expand beyond direct translation and instead strive to appeal to unique Latino experiences.

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In English, we talk about [the amendment] as government interference, but in Spanish we talk about anti-abortion political extremists, she told The Hill. Its not about a mistrust of government; its about extreme politicians.

Valero said the Latina Institute has found more success with this message given the state of many immigrants homelands. Lopez added that many Latinos in her district have come from countries where communism has taken hold, like Venezuela, Cuba and other countries in central America.

Even if youre comfortable in your own belief system, sometimes you may not know how to talk to your neighbor or your abuelita about it, Valero said.

The Latina Institute focuses on Miami-Dade County, which is nearly 70 percent Hispanic or Latino, in its Florida work. Valero said the ir canvassing and education work focuses on a long-term culture shift and deeper understanding of reproductive justice in the United States.

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It has outfitted 50 bus shelters across Miami-Dade County with the message Aborto si, aborto no, eso lo decido yo! which translates to Abortion yes, abortion no, that is for me to decide. This is also a popular rallying cry among La Marea Verde, or The Green Wave, in Latin America, which is a larger movement to protect abortion access.

Valera said the Latina Institute also is aiming to fill in any gaps for Spanish-speaking residents who have no choice but to consume English media.

The information theyre hearing from all communication avenues is not balanced. Its not accurate, Lopez said.

Lopez pointed to a lack of clarity in the amendment with certain terms, like viability, emphasizing how Spanish-speaking voters are at a disadvantage when it comes to understanding the amendments intricacies.

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People have a right to understand the amendment, Lopez said. What is getting lost in this is the politics, unfortunately, and I think it does a disservice to Hispanic voters, particularly those that do not have a good command of the English language.

Florida statute defines viability as the stage of fetal development when the life of a fetus is sustainable outside the womb through standard medical measures, but does not give specific ranges for weeks of pregnancy. Neither the statute nor the amendment defines health care provider, which Feris, who backs Vote No on 4, said is another point of concern.

The way the amendment is written, it sounds very reasonable, truly, Feris said. Unfortunately, most citizens, including the Hispanic community, are not attorneys, so we dont interpret things the way the law or attorney would interpret it.

While Lopez doesnt agree with Amendment 4 wholeheartedly, she said that abortion access is ultimately everyones issue.

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Still, some proponents of enshrining abortion rights remain cautiously optimistic about the outcome on Nov. 5.

Folks are positive and very receptive and want to learn more about it, Sutherland from Yes on 4 said. I think that the narrative around abortion and the conversation publicly about it has really changed in a really positive way.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl will join former President Donald J. Trump for an Election Night watch party in Florida.

Trump and his team will host the party at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Tuesday.

It is an incredible honor to be invited to attend President Trumps Election Night Watch Party in Palm Beach, Wahl said in a statement. This is one of the most important elections in the history of our country, and I believe that the Republican Partys message of fiscal responsibility, rebuilding the economy, securing the boarder, protecting children from woke policies, and defending every individuals constitutional rights will be victorious on election night.

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Voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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ELMORE COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  A Wetumpka man who was being pursued by an Autauga County Sheriffs Office deputy was killed in a crash Friday evening, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reports.

Mark Patterson, 45, was fatally injured around 6:16 p.m. when the Ford F-150 he was operating departed a road and traveled on private property near the I-65 Service Road and Real Life Church in Millbrook before overturning in a ravine.

Patterson, who was reportedly not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. A deputy was pursuing Patterson before the crash happened.

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What to know before going to vote in the 2024 election in Alabama

Troopers with the ALEAs Highway Patrol Division are investigating the crash.

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The FBI is reviewing the case of a Black man found hanging in an abandoned house in Alabama.

Deputies found the body of Dennoriss Richardson, 39, in September in a rural part of the Deep South state with a history of lynchings.

The Colbert County Sheriffs Office initially ruled the mans death a suicide. But the case has brought widespread skepticism from community members and Richardsons wife, Leigh, who says she thinks her husbands death stemmed from a lawsuit he filed against the local police department in February.

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While in jail, the man claimed he was assaulted, denied medical attention, sprayed with tear gas and shocked with a Taser, according to ABC News.

Additionally, her husband did not have a connection to the home where he was found and a suicide note was never discovered.

Sheriff Eric Balentine told the outlet he feels confident in the findings but feels that a federal investigation would give the family more peace of mind.

He said that the department has exhausted all resources in its probe of the case.

The Independent has reached out to the sheriffs office seeking more information. In a written statement, the FBI said it is aware of the tragic death of Dennoriss Richardson and takes allegations of federal law violations seriously. The FBI reviews allegations of criminal conduct for their merit and conducts further investigation if there is evidence of a potential violation of federal law.

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Richardsons wife described her late husband as a warm father to their five children. In the months after filing the lawsuit, she said police in the area routinely stopped her husband and he had been trying to stay out of the way.

Her husband went so far as to report the officers behavior to the Sheffield Mayors Office. Mayor Steve Stanley said he told Richardson that any officers reported through official channels would be investigated.

Richardson was charged with trafficking meth the week that he filed his lawsuit against the department. Police arrested him in a house where drugs were found. He was out on bond when he died.

I have preached and believe that the majority of officers, at least, recognize that everybody deserves respect, the mayor told the outlet.

According to the Equal Justice Initiative, at least 11 people were lynched in Colbert County between 1877 and 1943.
A law firm hired by MrBeast LLC, owned by YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson, has found no basis for the sexual misconduct allegations that have been made against a prominent member of the MrBeast team.

The investigation did, however, find several isolated instances of workplace harassment and misconduct, which the law firm said is being remedied by a personnel shake-up.

The law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan began its investigation after Donaldson had been scrutinized for months over allegations that former MrBeast channel collaborator Ava Kris Tyson had been grooming a minor by sending inappropriate messages.

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The firm said it conducted 39 interviews of current and former employees. It also reviewed millions of documents.

The allegations were soundly rejected, including by alleged victims, Quinn Emanuel wrote.

The subject of the grooming claims, who is now 20 but was 13 at the time of the alleged relationship, rejected the claims of grooming.

I was not groomed, these were false allegations made up by other people with my name thrown in them, LavaGS wrote on X.

Donaldson on Friday posted about the matter, along with screenshots of the firms findings, as part of a thread that began in July, when allegations against Tyson became public. He did not write much beyond what was contained in letter to the MrBeast board of directors.

A three-month investigation into allegations regarding my company has concluded. The lawfirm/investigators reviewed millions of documents/messages and conducted 39 interviews. I was asked to refrain from making public statements to enable a detailed and unbiased investigation. pic.twitter.com/lcWb93r9D0  MrBeast (@MrBeast) November 1, 2024

I was asked to refrain from making public statements to enable a detailed and unbiased investigation, he wrote.

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The probe did still find that harassment and misconduct took place at MrBeast.

Several isolated instances of workplace harassment and misconduct were identified during the investigation, the law firm wrote, though details werent mentioned. The Company was informed of such conduct and took swift and appropriate actions to address the incidents, including, where necessary, disciplining or letting go of implicated individuals.

Further changes, according to the firm, include bringing on a new CEO, chief people officer and general counsel. Additionally, new corporate training and policies will be instituted, as well as an anonymous reporting mechanism/hotline for employees.
At least 71 people were killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon on Friday, authorities said Saturday, which brings the total number of fatalities to almost 3,000 since fighting broke out between Israel and the Hezbollah militia more than a year ago.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said another 169 people were injured across Lebanon on Friday.

The highest number of victims were reportedly killed in attacks in the north-east of the country, with at least 52 dead.

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The Health Ministry usually does not release the total number of victims until the evening of the following day.

At least 2,968 people, including 183 minors, have been killed and 13,319 injured since fighting broke out between the Israeli military and pro-Iranian Hezbollah in Lebanon following the October 7 attacks on Israel.

The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and Hezbollah fighters.
Recreational marijuana and abortion access will become legal in Florida if a new survey of Florida voters conducted by Stetson University proves accurate.

Stetson announced late Friday that Amendments 3 (marijuana) and Amendment 4 (abortion) have 64% support among those polled, although the survey also has a +/- 5% margin of error.

The school's Center for Public Opinion Research surveyed 452 likely voters between Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. Results were weighted by age, ethnicity, race, gender, education, party affiliation, and geography to reflect the state's historical voting patterns.

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The survey also shows former President Donald Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris by 7 points, 53% to 46% in the Sunshine State, with its 30 Electoral College votes.

Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 1.2 percentage points in 2016 in Florida, while Trump bested Joe Biden by 3.3 points in 2020. In the years since Republicans have overtaken Democrats in statewide voter registration and have a 7.8 percentage point lead going into the election.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is ahead in his race for reelection against former congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell by 8 points, the Stetson survey showed.

The school announced Amendments 1 and 2 also have "majority support," although it did not release the margins. Amendment 1 would make school board elections partisan, while Amendment 2 proposes to make hunting and fishing a constitutional right.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Stetson poll shows Donald Trump, marijuana, abortion ahead in Florida
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  A team of 75 volunteers with the American Red Cross traveled around Monongalia County on Saturday installing free smoke alarms in nearly 250 homes.

The annual Sound the Alarm event involves volunteers installing brand-new smoke alarms in homes that may not have them, or need the old ones replaced. The volunteers worked under the guidance of the Star City Fire Department for instructions on how to properly install the alarms and give fire safety advice to families.

Garrett Oursler, a WVU Student, was one volunteer who was happy to help make a difference in the community.

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I think its very crazy that a simple act of installing one fire alarm could possibly save a life of somebody here in Morgantown and this county, Oursler said.  So, Its kind of like Oh, this is really easy but its also like, wow, I actually have an impact.'

WVU Medicine Childrens hosts Level-Up party for patients

Jason Keeling, Executive Director of the Allegheny Highlands American Red Cross, discussed the importance of the event.

Unfortunately a lot of homes dont have working smoke alarms and home fires are the number one disaster collectively that happens, Keeling said. So the Red Cross a decade ago started this Sound the Alarm Program to make sure homes are as safe as they possibly can be.

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The free alarms are provided across the state with no financial need required. If you are in need of a smoke alarm, you can request an appointment here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Millions of Americans will wake up feeling more refreshed on Sunday thanks to an extra hour of sleep gained from the ending of daylight saving time.

But the twice-annual time change observance, which begins in March and ends in November, is not observed in all U.S. states and territories.

The time change is meant to allow for more daylight in the mornings during the fall and winter and more daylight in the evenings during the spring and summer, as the Northern Hemisphere tilts either toward or farther away from the sun.

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Here's what to know about the U.S. states and territories that do not observe daylight saving time.

Video: Watch the top astronomy events for November 2024

Does every state observe daylight saving time?

Not all states and U.S. territories participate in the time change.

If a state chooses to observe daylight saving time, it must begin and end on federally mandated dates, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under the Uniform Time Act, which was established in 1966, states can exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time.

Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. Because of its desert climate, Arizona doesn't follow daylight saving time (with the exception of the Navajo Nation). After most of the U.S. adopted the Uniform Time Act, the state figured that there wasn't a good reason to adjust clocks to make sunset occur an hour later during the hottest months of the year.

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There are also five other U.S. territories that do not participate:

American Samoa

Guam

Northern Mariana Islands

Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

The Navajo Nation, located in parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, does follow daylight saving time.

Hawaii is the other state that does not observe daylight saving time. Because of the state's proximity to the equator, there is not a lot of variance between hours of daylight during the year.

When does daylight saving time end in 2024?

Daylight saving time will end for the year at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 3, when we "fall back" and gain an extra hour of sleep.

Next year, it will begin again on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

What is daylight saving time?

Daylight saving time is the time between March and November when most Americans adjust their clocks ahead by one hour.

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We gain an hour in November (as opposed to losing an hour in the spring) to make for more daylight in the winter mornings. When we "spring forward" in March, it's to add more daylight in the evenings. In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox is Sunday, Sept. 22, marking the start of the fall season.

Is daylight saving time ending?

The push to stop changing clocks was put before Congress in the last couple of years, when the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, a bill to make daylight saving time permanent.

Although the Sunshine Protection Act was passed unanimously by the Senate in 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives did not pass it and President Joe Biden did not sign it.

A 2023 version of the act remained idle in Congress, as well.

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In a news release Monday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio made another push in support of making daylight saving time permanent.

The senator suggested the nation "stop enduring the ridiculous and antiquated practice of switching our clocks back and forth. Lets finally pass my Sunshine Protection Act and end the need to fall back and spring forward for good."

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does every state observe daylight saving time? Here's what to know.
AMES, Iowa  A 67-year-old man was killed in a wrong-way, head-on crash in Ames late Thursday night.

West Des Moines man charged in crash that killed pedestrian in parking lot

According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, at around 11:57 p.m. 67-year-old John Husted Berg was driving a 2003 Buick Rendezvous eastbound in the westbound lanes of 13th Street, just east of Hyland Avenue, when he struck another vehicle head-on.

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Berg was not wearing a seatbelt and died from his injuries at the scene, the crash report states. The driver of the second vehicle, identified as 28-year-old Kari Rachelle Storjohann, was injured and transported to a nearby hospital.

No additional information has been released.

Latest Iowa News:

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  44-year-old Angie Scholl leaves behind three kids and a life full of memories. Her southwest Sioux Falls home was decorated for Halloween, but instead of celebrating on October 31st, her family was mourning her loss and her husband was arrested for her murder.

Friday, Jimmie Ledbetter Jr. entered a not-guilty plea. A judge set his bond at 1 million dollars cash only.

He was arrested without incident and he will remain at the Minnehaha County Jail until his preliminary hearing, Lincoln County States Attorney Tom Wollman said.

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According to court documents, Angie filed for divorce alleging extreme cruelty, and Ledbetter told detectives he was angry about it.

The day before she was killed, she changed her garage door code and the locks to her home. But security camera video shows Ledbetter entering the house through the front door.

An autopsy was completed and the Lincoln County coroner ruled the manner of death as a homicide caused by manual strangulation. During the investigation, detectives were able to establish probable cause that led to the arrest of Jimmie David Ledbetter Jr., Lt. Aaron Nyberg with the Sioux Falls Police Department said.

44-year-old woman killed in Monday homicide

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Family members have set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral costs. But Ledbetter also set one up claiming he needed assistance with his wifes unfortunate passing. Family members want people to be careful to make sure donations end up in the right account.

Use caution when theyre going to be donating any money to somebody online and maybe know as much as you can about the situation before you send money to somebody, Nyberg said.

As Ledbetter waits for his next court hearing, family members are remembering Angie for her bright smile and contagious laugh. KELOLAND News received the following statement from the family:

Angie was everyones favorite person. She was the most selfless and loyal person Id ever met. She made sacrifices for her family and friends over and over again, constantly prioritizing others needs before her own. Her smile was bright and her laugh was so contagious. She leaves behind three children who will all have a huge void in their hearts from her loss. She boasted about her kids accomplishments any time you talked to her, she absolutely loved them and will surely continue to be proud of them from up above. She touched the lives of many, her passing is incomprehensible, she will be deeply missed.

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Ledbetter Jr. is scheduled to appear in court again on November 15th at 8:30 am.

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Scientists are working on turning back the clock on human hearts, allowing patients to grow new heart muscle even after cardiac injury.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, these treatments could represent new hope for patients with heart disease, even after suffering a heart attack.

However, scientists still have a lot to prove, and clinical trials of such treatments in humans are still many years out. Whether any of them turn out into viable ways to treat heart disease, the leading cause of death in the US, remains to be seen.

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However, early animal trials are proving to be promising, offering a glimpse of a future in which we could undo heart damage that's currently seen as irreversible.

One approach involves using microRNA to force cardiac cells to start to multiply again. Early experiments by researchers at King's College London involving pigs showed that such a therapy could improve the heart's pumping function, but researchers are still investigating a more effective delivery method.

Other scientists at Scripps Research are using drugs that target proteins that are responsible for cell growth, with the goal of inducing patients' hearts to physically grow larger, as the WSJ notes. Early trials involving mice and pics saw the animals' heart-pumping capacity almost go back to normal after suffering a heart attack.

Some researchers are also working on stem cell therapies that can grow new heart cells, which can then be grafted onto a damaged heart, encouraging it to "remuscularize." University of Southern California stem cell researcher Chuck Murry and his colleagues recently found that their stem cell treatment allowed macaques' hearts to regain full pumping function.

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But as the WSJ reports, Murry and his team found that the new cells caused arrhythmias because they were beating to their own rhythms.

Nonetheless, he's hoping to kick off human clinical trials as soon as 2026.

"Society has become OK with the notion of dying from heart disease," he told the WSJ. "It does not have to be this way, because we can do something about this now."

A more experimental approach involves growing entire "personalized" hearts in a lab using cultured human stem cells. Doris Taylor, the CEO of a biotech company called Organamet Bio, told the newspaper that she's hoping to kick off human clinical trials in about five years.

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It's possible that none of these treatments will pan out. But it's a promising new avenue of research  and one that just might make a dent in the leading cause of hospitalizations in the US in the not-so-distant future.

More on hearts: Scientists Puzzled to Find Plastic Fragments Inside Human Hearts
Patchett and Bush Hager discussed the issue on on the Oct. 31 episode of the podcast Open Book with Jenna

Shutterstock; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Ann Patchett and Jenna Bush Hager Ann Patchett and Jenna Bush Hager

Jenna Bush Hager and Ann Patchett are opening up about book bans, which PEN America recently reported have risen over 200% during the 2023-2024 school year.



On the Oct. 31 episode of Bush Hagers podcast, Open Book with Jenna, Patchett, 60, recalled learning that two of her own books had been banned in Cook County, Fla.



What I didn't know until then, that night I went and looked, there were, like, more than 700 books banned in Cook County, Fla., from Madame Bovary and Paradise Lost to a thriller in the '70s called Coma by Robin Cook, Patchett said.



What happens is, a person who can have no connection to the school, no child in the school, can just call in and say, I want this book banned, the author said. And they put it on the list, and apparently, huge numbers of the books come from one person. And then, if you want the book taken off the list, you have to really make a case and fight and endeavor."

Jesse Dittmar for The Washington Post via Getty Ann Patchett in 2013 Ann Patchett in 2013

People are banning books they don't even read, the author added.



Bush Hager, 42, is vocal about her passion for reading, and has spoken about her children's love of books as well. In March, the Read with Jenna book club host shared a photo of her daughter, Mila, 11, reading the young adult novel The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.

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Related: Jenna Bush Hager Shares Vacation Photo of Daughter Mila Looking Grown Up with a Tween Beach Read

"My daughter loves Jenny Han, loves all of her books, and I do too," Bush Hager said. "Mila loves them and reads them, devours them."

I posted a picture and it got some uproar, Bush Hager added. And I just thought, Okay, so I can let my daughter read a book, in our home, and she can come to me with questions about what's happening.'

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!



Bush Hager also noted how books can be a way to connect with one another, as she did with her father, former President George W. Bush.

Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Jenna Bush Hager and her father George W. Bush in 2021 Jenna Bush Hager and her father George W. Bush in 2021

I think what books do is they start conversations, Bush Hager said. They start conversations between parents and children. I got a text from my dad today, where he said, I'm reading All the Colors of the Dark. It's very interesting. You know? And I love that.



That's how he reached out to me, Bush Hager added. That's how we stay connected  I think that's what we need more of, too, is talking and really listening.

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Related: Jenna Bush Hager Shares the Sweet Moment Her Daughter Mila Met Judy Blume: 'How Amazing Is That? (Exclusive)

Patchett, whose new childrens book, The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extroverts, came out in September, recalled how she was late to learn to read as a child, as her family was constantly moving.

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.



I was always showing up at a new school, not going to school as much as maybe I should have and then not being accountable, Patchett said. And so I really didn't learn to read. And when people will say to me, Why did you know that you wanted to be a writer when you were so young? Sometimes I think, Was it just that I wanted to be able to write?


While the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet accepted the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicines case against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the high court already has involved itself by temporarily blocking a federal appellate court decision that would restrict the use of the abortion pill mifepristone. (Getty Images)

When the U.S. Supreme Court destroyed Roe v. Wade and ended federal protection for abortion care, they threw our nation into a reproductive health care crisis. They galvanized Michiganders and people across the country to fight back by passing ballot initiatives to protect our reproductive freedoms.

Weve shown anti-abortion groups and politicians just how deeply unpopular their positions are  but after initially knocking them off their feet, theyve regrouped. Many are pretending theyve even turned a new leaf  but we know theyre using the same old playbook.

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Poll after poll shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans say abortion should be legal in most or all cases. When given the opportunity to use their voices, Americans have made their priorities clear by passing every pro-abortion referendum put before them since 2022. With ten more states set to consider codifying abortion rights this year, were already witnessing abortion opponents laying the land mines well be navigating the next few years.

As we continue to navigate this crisis, we must call out their tactics and traps for what they are: attempts to brazenly gaslight the American public and disguise their true intentions by shifting their language to appear moderate.

Since the Dobbs decision, nearly two dozen states have passed total or near-total bans on abortion, taking away abortion access and basic reproductive care from tens of millions of people and forcing health care providers to work under threat of criminal charges. Worse, anti-abortion politicians intentionally wrote these restrictive laws with ambiguous language, muddying the legality of care under narrow exceptions such as rape, incest, a persons life, or threats to major bodily functions  exceptions that theyve denied even to people in the most extreme circumstances.

Its very clear that the architects never intended for people to actually qualify for exceptions and included them on paper only to create an appearance of being reasonable. These dangerous laws were deliberately designed to cause confusion and have a chilling effect on patients and health care providers  and theyre doing precisely that. And as weve already seen in two Georgia cases and one in Indiana, people are dying.

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How is the anti-abortion faction shifting its language? First, they tried to trumpet their support for a national abortion ban, which they initially defined as a complete ban on all abortion care with no exceptions. But they quickly realized that the American public is overwhelmingly against them. In fact, only 8 percent of Michiganders support a ban with zero exceptions, according to the Michigan-based polling research group EPIC-MRA. So anti-abortion groups and politicians had to find a new phrase to hide behind. They are now rebranding abortion bans, insisting they are simply minimum national standards.

But we cant be fooled. A minimum national standard banning abortion after 8 or 12 or 15 weeks gestation  or any other timeline arbitrarily chosen by politicians  is still a nationwide ban, plain and simple.

Even the mere fact that theyve baited people into arguing about gestational ages and situational exceptions is a distraction. Abortion is not about when the government should take away peoples right to an abortion, and its not about what situations are valid reasons for needing an abortion.

The conversation about abortion is really about who: Who should be able to control whether people can get the abortions they need? The reality is that at no point during a pregnancy are politicians qualified to have a say in the medical decisions we make with our doctors and our families.

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Similarly, we see anti-abortion politicians refusing to answer whether they supported the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to release the floodgates and allow people to die because of state abortion bans. Theyll dodge and say they support states rights to determine the issue for themselves. We know the real reason is because the anti-abortion strategy is to divide and conquer. And remember that states rights is the same excuse Confederate politicians used to whitewash the cause of the Civil War and deny that it was about Southern states clinging to their economy built on the enslavement of Black people.

In a similar vein, anti-abortion politicians today are pretending they care about states rights and giving the issue back to the people  knowing full well they already control the levers of power in state capitals. They care nothing about direct democracy, given the lengths to which politicians across the country are going to deny people a voice by fighting to keep abortion off the ballot. Some, like Florida, are even employing intimidation tactics, where police are being sent to knock on the doors of Floridians who signed petitions to get abortion on the state ballot this year; the state health department has launched a Florida is Protecting Life website telling people dont let the fearmongers lie to you; and the state is threatening TV stations for running an ad that supports the ballot measure. States rights is merely a smokescreen to hide the fact that the anti-abortion minority is using states as incubators to test new ways to enact a nationwide abortion ban, particularly through lawsuits that will eventually make it to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The messaging war has always been central to abortion opponents strategy over the last 50 years. At every opportunity, theyve worked to control the conversation by invoking personal religious arguments, rejecting standard medical terms about procedures and inventing emotionally charged propaganda, and promoting shame, stigma, and other false narratives around people who need abortions. We often see their biased terminology and stigmatizing phrases repeated in headlines and mirrored by our leaders, even those who support reproductive freedom, which speaks to how insidious and effective messaging wars can be if we dont call them out.

So how do we fight back? By being confident in our convictions, calling opponents out for their tricks, and reminding ourselves not to adopt their framing of the issue.

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They call themselves the pro-life movement, for instance. But there is nothing pro-life about creating a culture where people needlessly die because theyre scared to seek needed medical care. And there is nothing pro-life about unapologetically passing laws that have led to skyrocketing maternal and infant death rates, killing pregnant people and newborns. The movement is anti-abortion, not pro-life.

And while weve historically referred to ourselves as the pro-choice or reproductive rights movement, you may have noticed a shift in recent years to more people simply saying abortion. By avoiding the word abortion, we perpetuate the stigma and the shame that anti-abortion groups have so forcefully promoted  and according to research from the World Health Organization, stigma doesnt just create shame and silence around abortion; it actually worsens health care quality. So I encourage you to say abortion  because abortion is health care. Abortion is safe. Abortion is common. And abortion is a foundational piece of the broader spectrum of reproductive care.

Looking to the future, when you see folks backpedaling on their anti-abortion positions and hiding behind new language, call it out. When you hear someone use stigmatizing language, call them in. And when our leaders tell us what their values are, make sure youre listening carefully  and critically.

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U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) is a fighting union, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Friday night while rallying with members in Detroit.

Speaking outside Solidarity House, the international home of the UAW, Ocasio-Cortez looked out at the crowd of a few hundred union members, thanking them for all the doors theyve knocked for Vice President Kamala Harris and for the work theyve done to protect the working class.

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UAW is going to be the union that protects womens rights in America. UAW is going to be the front line in defending our democracy in America, Ocasio-Cortez said. Im here because if theres any place that I want to be on the precipice of such an important moment, its with you all.

The UAW is raising the bar for every working American, Ocasio-Cortez said, not just for autoworkers.

Last year the union waged a historic 46-day strike against Detroits Big Three automakers  Ford, General Motors and Stellantis  and won new contracts to meet their demands. However, the union is still putting pressure on Stellantis to make good on its promises.

What can be won at the bargaining table can be taken away in the halls of justice, UAW President Shawn Fain said at Fridays rally. Thats why the UAW gets involved in politics and is fighting just as hard in the election as they did on the picket line.

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On stage overlooking the Detroit River, Fain quoted former UAW President Walter Reuther, saying, Theres a direct correlation between a ballot box and a bread box.

The billionaire and corporate class dont stop their attacks at the bargaining table, Fain said. They dont stop at the workplace. They dont stop at the border. They will take every inch that we give them. And the UAW founding leaders made it our responsibility to engage politically.

Detroit is where solidarity was built, Fain said, and America was built by solidarity, not billionaires or politicians. And on Tuesday, the UAW is betting on the fall of former President Donald Trump, who has railed against union organizing.

This summer, the UAW filed federal charges against Trump and his biggest donor, Tesla founder Elon Musk, asserting that they illegally intimidated and threatened workers, after the pair talked about labor practices during a live conversation on X.

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The same evening the UAW was hosting its event in Detroit, Trump was hurling insults 20 miles north in Warren, saying Fain is a poor, stupid fool.

Fain and the UAW have been avid supporters of Harris campaign, with Fain and union members sharing the stage during Harris first presidential campaign visit to Michigan in August. Fain also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, where he revealed the Trump is a scab T-shirt that is now worn by UAW members.

Harris running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who also was campaigning in Michigan on Friday, walked with striking UAW members on the picket line last year. Harris walked with striking UAW workers in 2019.

While President Joe Biden joined Fain and striking UAW workers in September 2023 in Michigan, Trump rallied at a non-union plant in Macomb County amid the Stand up Strike.

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Several Democratic candidates and officials spoke at the event, including Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Kimberly Ann Thomas, a Democratic-nominated Michigan Supreme Court candidate. Thomas is seeking an eight-year term and is running against state Rep. Andrew Fink (R-Adams Twp.). Justice Kyra Bolden Harris, who was nominated by Democrats, is running for a partial, four-year term against Branch County Circuit Court Judge Patrick William OGrady, who was chosen by Republicans.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) encouraged voters not to forget the nonpartisan section of the ballot where state Supreme Court candidates are listed. The two seats up for grabs that will determine the partisan majority of the states highest court.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

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Attendees get UAW t-shirts a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

UAW President Shawn Fain speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

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U.S. Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

A sign outside a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

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Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Attendees get UAW t-shirts a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

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U.S. Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

UAW President Shawn Fain speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

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U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

A sign outside a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Michigan state Supreme court candidate Kimberly Thomas speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

UAW President Shawn Fain speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) speaks at a get out the vote event at Solidarity House in Detroit on Nov. 1 2024, days before the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

And although Tlaib spoke ardently about her support for the UAW and the need to turn out the vote, she did not talk about Harris. As the only Palestinian American in Congress, Tlaib has withheld an endorsement for Harris out of disapproval for the Biden administrations Gaza policy.

As Trump and Harris scrape for votes in all corners of Michigan, Arab-American voters and those who support the pro-Palestinian movement could be a crucial in a razor-thin race. Before Harris became the Democratic nominee, more than 100,000 Michiganders voted uncommitted instead of Biden in the Democratic presidential primary in an effort to draw attention to the violence in Gaza.

Trump, Harris and Green Party nominee Jill Stein have all secured endorsements from various Muslim and Arab-American leaders and groups.

But unlike Tlaib, Ocasio-Cortez and other members of The Squad are behind Harris this election. Winning the election for Harris is going to be hard work, but hard work is nothing novel in places like Detroit or the Bronx, Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that her New York neighborhood is like the cousin of Motown.

We got the same fight and spirit out here. We got a chip on our shoulder because we know what it means to be underestimated, and we know what it means to come from a place where people want to talk down on us, but they actually dont know the first thing about us, Ocasio-Cortez said, a jab at Trumps comments last month while in Detroit saying, Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if Harris becomes president.

Theres no shame in hard work, Ocasio-Cortez said, recalling doing her homework on other peoples kitchen tables growing up while her mother cleaned other peoples houses. She would later join her mother cleaning houses and then worked as a waitress before beating a 10-term incumbent to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Hell yeah, were gonna be like Detroit, Ocasio-Cortez said. Were gonna knock on every door. Were gonna turn out the vote, and were gonna remind people what happens when you forget where you come from.  Because Detroit will not allow a scab in the White House, not if UAW has anything to do with it.

Trump is sowing seeds of division, Fain said, adding that hes no different than bosses that attempt to halt labor organization in order to hold onto flimsy power at the expense of the working class. Disinformation is one of Trumps biggest tools, along with turning members of the working class against each other.

But Michigan sees through the lies, Benson told the crowd.

Right now there is a very serious, coordinated effort rooted in lies and misinformation and discord trying to convince Michigan voters that the election doesnt matter, that the results wont be accurate, Benson said. This is Trumps repeat of his attempts in 2020 to sow chaos amid the democratic processes, saying the election was stolen and inciting the violence of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump is trying to make voters feel small, like their voices dont matter, Benson said, in an effort to roll back the advancements of democracy, advancements the UAW has also fought for.

What those bullies dont want us to do is stand up to them, Benson said. Were going to stand up to anyone, anywhere, anytime who tries to stand in the way of our rights and our freedoms. We will stand up to bullies. We will stand up to lies. We will stand up to anyone who tries to take our voices away and say Not on our watch.

As of Friday, more than 2.5 million ballots had been cast in Michigan through early in-person voting and absentee ballots ahead of Tuesdays election, Benson said.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department said it was searching for two suspects in connection with an Oct. 16 robbery.

APD said the robbery occurred at approximately 3:05 a.m. at Lucky Lounge, located at 11530 Menchaca Road in south Austin. According to police, the suspects entered the store armed.

While inside, police said one of the suspects pointed the gun at a womans face and took her purse. APD said the same suspect then robbed the cashier at gunpoint.

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According to police, the second suspect stood outside the door as a lookout.

Surveillance of suspect in south Austin robbery (APD photos) Surveillance of suspect in south Austin robbery (APD photos)

Police described the first suspect as a Black man in his mid to late 20s with a thin build. APD said he was last seen wearing black pants, white shoes and a black hoodie.

The second suspect was described as a man with a muscular build last seen wearing skinny jeans, black shoes and a gray hoodie.

APD asked anyone with information related to the robbery to contact APDs Robbery unit at 512-974-5092. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.

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A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest, APD 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.
Arizonas top prosecutor is investigating former President Donald Trump after he said Liz Cheney wouldnt be a war hawk if guns are trained on her face, during a visit to the Phoenix area Thursday.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, told a local TV station that Trumps comments may have violated state law against death threats, raising concerns among Republicans over free speech.

I have already asked my criminal division chief to start looking at that statement, analyzing it for whether it qualifies as a death threat under Arizonas laws, Mayes told 12News.

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Trumps comments came during an appearance with Tucker Carlson in Glendale on Thursday. He criticized Cheney over her stance on foreign policy, calling her a war hawk and suggested her position would change if she were the one going to war.

Theyre all war hawks when theyre sitting in Washington in a nice building saying, Oh gee, lets send 10,000 troops into the mouths of the enemies. She always wanted to go to war with people, Trump said.

Shes a radical war hawk, he continued. Lets put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, okay? Lets see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face.

After an outcry from Democrats and the media, the Trump campaign released a statement saying Trumps comments were misinterpreted. President Trump is 100% correct that warmongers like Liz Cheney are very quick to start wars and send other Americans to fight them, rather than go into combat themselves, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said.

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Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, a close Trump ally, denounced the Arizona attorney generals investigation. The culture of lawfare  largely contained to one party at this point  must stop, he wrote in a social media post. If it doesnt stop now, it never will.

Cheney, a former Republican congresswoman who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, said that Trumps comments show he is unstable. This is how dictators destroy free nations, she posted on social media. They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.

During a press gaggle Friday in Wisconsin, Harris told reporters Trumps comments should be disqualifying.

Anyone who wants to be president of the United States who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified to be president, she said.

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Trump, who has survived two attempted assassinations over the past four months, has repeatedly blamed Democrats rhetoric. Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country and they are the ones that are destroying the country  both from the inside and out, Trump said in September.

In recent weeks, Harris called Trump a fascist, former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill said Trump was more dangerous than Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and Harris and some members of the media have repeatedly argued that Trump is a threat to democracy.

When given the opportunity to walk back his comments about Cheney, Trump doubled down. If you gave Liz Cheney a gun and put her into battle, facing the other side with the guns pointing at her, she wouldnt have the courage and the strength or the stamina to even look the enemy in the eye, Trump said Friday during a rally in Michigan.
The Arizona attorney generals office said it is investigating former President Trumps comments about former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as a death threat under state laws, in a statement to The Hill.

I have already asked my criminal division chief to start looking at that statement, analyzing it for whether it qualifies as a death threat under Arizonas laws, Attorney General Kris Mayes told 12NEWS in Phoenix on Friday.

Im not prepared now to say whether it was or it wasnt, but it is not helpful as we prepare for our election and as we try to make sure that we keep the peace at our polling places and in our state, the Democrat said during a taping of Sunday Square Off.

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In Arizona, intimidating statements or threats can warrant a Class 1 misdemeanor or Class 6 felony, which can result in up to four months to two years in prison. Cheney also equated the former presidents comments to a death threat on Friday in a post on social platform X.

This is how dictators destroy free nations, she wrote. They threaten those who speak against them with death.

Trump criticized Cheneys foreign policy in a fireside chat with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Shes a radical war hawk. Lets put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK. Lets see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face, he said. You know, theyre all war hawks when theyre sitting in Washington in a nice building saying, oh, gee, well, lets send  lets send 10,000 troops right into the mouth of the enemy, the Republican nominee stated.

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Within hours, his comments gained scrutiny from leaders in both parties and his opponent Vice President Harris, who said the remarks should be disqualifying.

He has increased his violent rhetoric, Donald Trump has, about political opponents, and in great detail  suggested rifles should be trained on former Rep. Liz Cheney. This must be disqualifying, Harris said in the battleground state of Wisconsin. Anyone who wants to be president of the United States who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified to be president.

The Trump campaign tried to divert criticism by clarifying Trumps statements and labeling it another attack from the Democratic candidate.

This is just a desperate attempt to help out Kamala Harris failing campaign, Trumps national press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Hill.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas joined 19 other states in an amicus brief on Friday in the appeal of the United States of America versus Donald Trump case in Florida.

The brief calls for the ouster of Special Counsel Jack Smith. Smith has been prosecuting the case for the U.S. over the claimed mishandling of classified documents by former President Donald Trump after he left office.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin co-leads lawsuit about phone access for prisoners

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The brief maintains that Smiths appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland placed him outside presidential accountability, making it illegal. The brief maintains that he should have been appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, or at the very least, be under the supervision of somebody who had been through that appointment process.

Smiths appointment being illegal was the logic used by Judge Aileen M. Cannon in dismissing the case, leading to its current appeal.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin files lawsuit against Google, YouTube, parent company, claims deceptive trade practices

Leading in the brief are the attorneys general of Iowa and Florida. Other states participating are Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.

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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin represented the state in the filing, which he said is a constitutional matter.

This case is ultimately about the unconstitutionality of unchecked power: As the district court correctly concluded, Jack Smiths appointment was illegal, Griffin said. The Constitution doesnt give the U.S. Attorney General the power to appoint unaccountable prosecutors.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin files brief supporting return of Confederate monument to Little Rock park

The 11th Circuit Court, which is hearing the appeal, had Nov. 1 as the final day to file amicus briefs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas rapper Freddie Bankroll Freddie Gladney, III will serve more than 12 years in federal prison after a 2022 arrest.

Following a four-day trial, Gladney, 30, was convicted in April and found guilty of charges including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and using a telephone in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Arkansas rapper Bankroll Freddie arrested on drug, weapons charges

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In addition to 150 months in jail, Gladney was sentenced Friday to three years supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $242,000 money judgement as part of his conviction. There is no parole in the federal system.

The sentencing comes after an April 14, 2022, incident in which Gladney was pulled over by an Arkansas State Police trooper for speeding. During the stop, the trooper said that he smelled marijuana in the vehicle and asked Gladney to get out of the vehicle.

During the stop, troopers said that Gladney began to get out of the vehicle, but then re-entered and started reaching for something in the vehicle before being removed by troopers. While searching the vehicle, troopers said that they found multiple firearms, including one that was privately made, referred to as a ghost gun.

Troopers also said during the search they found a duffle bag containing 21.4 pounds of high-grade marijuana and $33,662, which was located in the center console along with seven ammunition magazines, five of which were extended and fully loaded.

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Arkansas rapper Bankroll Freddie jailed as part of massive federal drug, guns raids

Gladney was indicted in May 2023 by a federal grand jury in a 32-count superseding indictment that charged him with numerous offenses related to a conspiracy that was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Officials said at sentencing, Gladney received a 4-level increase for being an organizer or leader in criminal activity that involved five or more participants.

Mass arrests made in Little Rock, Pine Bluff linked to federal operations

Officials also said he received an additional 2-level increase in his guideline range for obstruction of justice stemming from a May 2021 wiretapped call in which he instructed a codefendant to remove guns and scales used for weighing illegal drugs from his home in Helena ahead of a search by law enforcement.

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Judge James M. Moody, Jr. cited the ghost gun as reason for increasing Gladneys sentence 2.5 years above the guidelines range. Moody also mentioned that Gladney was on probation from a drug and gun case in Memphis at the time he was intercepted on the wiretap in this case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansas State Police said it seized more than 300 pounds of illegal narcotics in four separate traffic stops in Crawford County over the course of two weeks.

October 23, 2024: 11 large duffel bags containing a total of 258 pounds of illegal marijuana and multiple vacuumed sealed bags of THC products (Courtesy: Arkansas State Police) Oct. 22, 2024: 8 lbs. high-grade, illegal marijuana (Courtesy: Arkansas State Police) Oct. 30, 2024: 22 lbs. illegal marijuana (Courtesy: Arkansas State Police)

On October 30, around 6:45 a.m., ASP troopers conducted a traffic stop on a rented 2024 Nissan Kicks on Interstate 40 eastbound at mile marker 5 for a traffic violation.

During a search of the vehicle, troopers found 22 one-pound packages of illegal marijuana and 170 rolled marijuana joints.

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Sebastian County Detention Center inmate dies after medical emergency

Delavontay Davis, 36, of Goodlettsville, Tenn., and Tedra Hendricks, 29, of Columbia, S.C., were taken to the Crawford County Detention Center on possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Davis told authorities they were traveling from California to Nashville, Tenn.

Later that day, troopers stopped a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek around 2:39 p.m. at mile marker 3 on I-40 eastbound for a traffic violation.

Troopers found 16 pounds of illegal marijuana and more than a pound of methamphetamine, along with various drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

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Doyle Dunn, 45, of Alexander, was arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession with a purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dunn told authorities he was returning from a vacation in California.

On October 23, around 1:18 p.m., troopers pulled over a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica at mile marker 5 on I-40 eastbound.

Fort Smith man sentenced to 20 years for sex crimes involving California teen

During a search of the vehicle, troopers found 11 large duffel bags containing a total of 258 pounds of illegal marijuana and multiple vacuum-sealed bags of THC products. Meth and other drug paraphernalia were also found in the vehicle.

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Mikie Rose, 66, of Hastings Fla., was arrested on possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rose said she was traveling from California to Florida.

On October 22, troopers stopped a rental 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee on I-40 eastbound at mile marker 4 due to a traffic violation. While searching the vehicle, eight pounds of high-grade, illegal marijuana in a suitcase were found.

David Franklin, 43, of Eden, N.C., was arrested on a possession of a controlled substance charge. Franklin said he was going from California to North Carolina.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 police marksman who shot Jean Charles de Menezes is set to tell his side of the story for the first time.

The senior firearms officer, whose identity has been kept secret for two decades, will be interviewed on camera in a two-part Channel 4 documentary due to air next week.

In July 2005, Mr de Menezes was shot dead on a London Tube train two weeks after the July 7 bombings after he was mistaken for a failed suicide bomber.

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The documentary, titled Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube, will interview but not name the marksman, one of a number of Metropolitan Police firearms officers who fired at the Brazilian electrician. No one has ever been prosecuted for the shooting.

Mr de Menezes, then 27, was shot dead by firearms officers at Stockwell Underground station in south London on July 22, 2005.

Jean Charles de Menezes (marked JC), as he is pursued by a surveillance officer (marked IVOR) - PA

It was the day after a series of failed terrorist attacks on the London transport network and two weeks after the July 7 attacks killed 52 innocent people.

Mr de Menezes lived in the same block of flats in Tulse Hill, south London, as two suspects linked with the July 21 plot.

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The next morning, he was followed to Stockwell underground station by police surveillance officers who thought he bore a likeness to one of the suspects.

Armed officers then followed him onto a Northern Line train, pinned him down and shot him seven times in the head and once in the shoulder.

Dov Freedman, the chief executive of Curious Films, which produced the documentary, said the officer gave a candid interview.

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot seven times in the head by officers in plain clothes - AP

The films capture a very specific moment in the summer of 2005 when the UK was living under the very real threat of terrorism, and the air of huge uncertainty and tension was high across the nation, he said.

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The access to the previously anonymous firearms officer is unparalleled, with his candid interview providing unique insight about that time.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report in 2006 said avoidable mistakes had contributed to the shooting and that a number of possible criminal offences may have been committed, including murder and gross negligence.

But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided that no individual should be charged.

In 2007, the Metropolitan Police was fined 175,000 after being convicted of breaching health and safety laws in connection with the shooting.

Jean Charles mother Maria Da Silva (C), father Matuzinhos Da Silva (R) and brother Giovanni (L) - LINDSAY PARNABY

The following year, an inquest jury rejected the police account of the shooting and returned an open verdict. The coroner had already ruled out a verdict of unlawful killing.

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The family of Mr de Menezes agreed an undisclosed settlement with Scotland Yard in 2009.

In 2016, the family lost a human rights challenge at the European Court of Human Rights over the decision not to bring charges against the marksmen who shot him.

Alisa Pomeroy, head of documentaries at Channel 4, said: I hope that hearing the personal testimony of the firearms officer involved in the tragic shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes will help the British public understand the complexity of the atmosphere in London that summer, and what was subsequently the events surrounding what became one of the biggest crises in British policing history.

Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Nov 10 and 11

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Sandra Day OConnor was pragmatic about the fleeting nature of her political sway when she stepped down from the nation's highest court, said her son.

She said, Ive probably got about five years of my life left before people arent going to care what I have to say,'" Scott OConnor recalled. "So Im going to use that five years to advocate for two things: merit selection for judges and helping people understand how important it is to have an independent judiciary."

When Sandra Day OConnor was a legislator in the Arizona Senate in the 1970s, she pushed to create a merit selection process for Superior Court judges, who at the time were directly elected. Arizona voters adopted the system by popular vote in 1974. And his mother believed it had generated one of the best judicial systems in the country over the past several decades, OConnor said.

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She hit the road after her retirement, traveling around the country and pitching state legislatures to adopt similar systems. Her son said she considered those years of advocacy an important part of her legacy.

Sandra Day OConnor was proud of Arizonas judicial system, and she would not be in support of a current ballot proposition that seeks to change it, her son said.

It is ironic that in Arizona, where mom led the legislative effort to put merit selection on the ballot in 1974, that the legislature is trying to reduce voter engagement and encroach onto the independence of the judiciary, OConnor said.

How would Proposition 137 change judicial retention elections?

Currently, trial court judges in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal and Coconino counties, Appeals Court judges and Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor. All appointed judges sit for retention elections after two years on the bench. After that, Appeals Court judges, including Supreme Court justices, face a retention election every six years and trial court judges face a retention vote every four years.

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Proposition 137 was referred to the ballot by the Legislature. If it passes, appointed judges who have not reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 will hold office during good behavior. They could only be kicked out of office through the existing removal and recall procedures set out in the Arizona Constitution or if they did something to trigger a retention election.

Existing constitutional removal and recall procedures require a conviction for a serious crime or a campaign to gather recall petition signatures.

Retention election triggers under Proposition 137 would be the judge's conviction on a felony offense or a crime involving fraud or dishonesty, their initiation of a personal bankruptcy proceeding in which they are a debtor, their being subject to a mortgage foreclosure, or the determination by a majority of the Commission on Judicial Performance Review that they do not meet judicial performance standards.

The commission determined that all of the judges on this year's ballot met standards.

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Statewide, there are 69 judges and justices eligible for retention this year, including two state Supreme Court justices.

The Supreme Court justices up for retention will be on all Arizona voters' ballots. Appeals Court and Superior Court judges on the ballot will depend upon the voter's county of residence.

Proposition 137, if passed, would be retroactive and invalidate any results of judicial retention votes in this election. It would also allow each chamber of the Legislature to place a member on the Commission on Judicial Performance Review, which assesses whether judges are meeting standards, and would give legislators the power to demand an investigation of a judge.

Continuing her work: After retiring from the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor became civics champion

Scott O'Connor: Legislature trying to exert control over judiciary

OConnor said his mother would not be pleased with Proposition 137.

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Prop. 137 goes against several things mom valued most, he said. It reduces voter engagement by limiting retention votes only to judges rated poorly by the Judicial Performance Review Commission.

OConnor said his mother would also be against the measure because it inserts politics into the judicial review process.

This is entirely a creature of the Legislature trying to exert political control over the judicial branch, he said. It's just bare-knuckle politics, and she would not be in favor of it.

In addition to traveling the U.S., Sandra Day OConnor also took her judicial reform advocacy abroad, which her son said caused her views to evolve.

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Mom had done a lot of international exchanges with court systems around the globe, OConnor said. The big takeaway was how poorly those systems performed where the judiciary wasnt really independent.

She realized that we are unique in the world with such independence of our judiciary and keeping the politics out of it, he said.

OConnor said his mother was met with incredulity when she suggested leaders of countries she visited that had been part of the Soviet Union should establish constitutions that provided for independent judiciaries.

She found that the elite politicians there controlled everything, he said. And that meant that they controlled the decisions the judges rendered, too.

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OConnor said his mother was against direct elections of judges because she believed it led nations and states toward corruption.

It wasn't based on their qualifications, or peer review, or investigation of how they function, he said. It was based on whether they raised enough money to beat their opponent in an election.

On the other hand, Arizona's merit selection process, which uses nonpartisan commissions to evaluate judicial applicants and assemble slates of qualified candidates for the governor to choose from, eliminates elections from the selection of appeals court judges and judges in populous counties while still letting the voters have a say with retention votes.

OConnor said he did not know his mothers specific thoughts on how frequently retention votes should be held. But he said he does think she agreed that having public participation through retention votes was important.

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Sandra Day O'Connor died Dec. 1, 2023, in Phoenix. She was 93. The cause was complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness.

Based on the many conversations he had with her over the years and her record as a legislator and judicial reform advocate, her son is certain she would be a No on Proposition 137.

I could never be as eloquent as her, but she would say that if people really understood how our judiciary could work best, they wouldn't want anything to do with this proposition, OConnor said. Its an attack on a system that works.

Have a news tip? Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com or 812-243-5582. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JimmyJenkins.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: O'Connor would not support ending judicial retention votes, son says
Voters cast their ballots inside the Silver Spring Civic Building in Montgomery County in 2022, as election workers stand by to help. File photo by Emmett Gartner/Capital News Service

The Maryland attorney generals office said Friday it will not pursue legal action against an election mailer company, just one day after it said the company had to stop sending letters that threatened Maryland voters and could violate state law.

The course reversal came after an attorney for the Voter Participation Center and the Center for Voter Information said claims in a cease-and-desist letter from the state were simply false, and after giving assurances that the centers had already stopped their mailings in Maryland.

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That was enough to settle the issue, according to a statement Friday from the attorney generals office.

The CVI/VPC has assured the OAG (Office of Attorney General) that it will not publicize information that identifies particular voters and their voting histories, including a voters participation in the 2024 Presidential election, the statement said.

The organization also indicated that it has no plans for any further mailings in Maryland; however, it did inform our office that there are letters already in the mail stream that may not have been delivered before the cease-and-desist letter was sent and could still arrive in mailboxes over the coming days, it said.

The nonprofit Voter Participation Center said the letters were meant to drive more voters to the polls, particularly unmarried women, people of color and young voters. It and its sister organization, the Center for Voter Information, said they have been sending out the get-out-the-vote letters for years.

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The letters, called the Voting Report Card, started arriving in Maryland mailboxes this week, just days before the 2024 election. The report card lists the recipients name and address, and their voting history beginning with the 2016 general election. It also shows what it claims are neighbors voting records, though names and addresses are redacted.

State election officials said such voting records are public record.

But the letters then say the Voter Participation Center will be reviewing these records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting.

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The mailers created a stir among some voters, according to state officials.

Attorney General Anthony Brown wrote in the Thursday cease-and-desist letter that the mailers left some voters feeling intimidated, threatened, shocked, and ill-at-ease, and ordered the centers to stop sending mailers that reported voting records of Marylanders, or face legal action if they continued to do so.

Scott Thomas, the outside counsel for the centers, called it troubling Browns office would call the get-out-the-vote letters intimidating, saying there was nothing in the language that violates state or federal law.

Your letter  relied on an implication that VPC and CVI are planning to publicize information that identifies particular voters and their voting history, Thomas wrote to Brown. That is simply false. That is not something that VPC or CVI has ever done, or would do in the future. To conjecture otherwise is irresponsible.

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Thomas also said that the cease-and-desist letter erroneously tied the two centers to text messages sent to voters in other states that said, Well be sharing a report after the election of those who didnt vote.

Neither VPC nor CVI has sent text messages in Maryland, or elsewhere, during this General Election season, Thomas letter said.

The attorney generals office said it was satisfied with that response.

The OAG is satisfied that the organization will not improperly contact voters following this election to report on their, or their neighbors, voting records and the OAG has no plans to take any further legal action, the Friday statement said.

The Office of the Attorney General wants to assure Maryland voters that the choice to vote is every individual voters choice to make, it said. Marylands voters should feel free to make that choice on their own, free from any undue influence.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A Las Vegas Metro police sergeant facing multiple charges in two separate criminal cases pointed out he is a 42-year-old bi-racial first-generation American, has a history of volunteerism starting at the age of 14, and had been selected by Sheriff Kevin McMahill to participate in a law enforcement program overseas, in court documents obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators.

Video shows Las Vegas police officers arrest one of their own

Attorneys for Kevin Menon argued against increasing his bail in the documents filed Friday in response to a motion filed by prosecutors to increase bail on Oct. 29.

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Albeit forgotten by the state, Kevin Menon is presumed innocent, the defense team wrote. The state dodges his demand for an expedited and public preliminary hearing of its evidence. Instead, it employed secret grand jury proceedings at which its evidence could not be tested by cross-examination and contradiction.

Im the [expletive] sergeant, Las Vegas officers testify against one of their own

A grand jury indicted Menon for 13 charges related to an alleged scheme that resulted in individuals, mostly Black men, being detained on the Las Vegas Strip. Menon posted a $27,000 bond to remain out of custody after his Aug. 30 arrest.

Police executed a search warrant at Menons home on the day of his first arrest. The defense team included photos in their response.

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Police find child pornography on Las Vegas sergeants laptops amid unrelated investigation: docs

Detectives found approximately 200 images of child sexual abuse material, including at least one image of a toddler, on two laptops, according to prosecutors.

Police arrested Menon a second time for two child pornography-related charges when he was headed to a court appearance for his first case on Oct. 23.

Police went back to Menons home with another search warrant on the same day of his second arrest.

A grand jury indicted Menon for 13 charges related to an alleged scheme that resulted in individuals, mostly Black men, being detained on the Las Vegas Strip. Menon posted a $27,000 bond to remain out of custody after his Aug. 30 arrest. Police executed a search warrant at Menons home on the day of his first arrest. The defense team included photos in their response. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) A grand jury indicted Menon for 13 charges related to an alleged scheme that resulted in individuals, mostly Black men, being detained on the Las Vegas Strip. Menon posted a $27,000 bond to remain out of custody after his Aug. 30 arrest. Police executed a search warrant at Menons home on the day of his first arrest. The defense team included photos in their response. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) A grand jury indicted Menon for 13 charges related to an alleged scheme that resulted in individuals, mostly Black men, being detained on the Las Vegas Strip. Menon posted a $27,000 bond to remain out of custody after his Aug. 30 arrest. Police executed a search warrant at Menons home on the day of his first arrest. The defense team included photos in their response. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) A grand jury indicted Menon for 13 charges related to an alleged scheme that resulted in individuals, mostly Black men, being detained on the Las Vegas Strip. Menon posted a $27,000 bond to remain out of custody after his Aug. 30 arrest. Police executed a search warrant at Menons home on the day of his first arrest. The defense team included photos in their response. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)

Videos show alleged illegal Las Vegas Strip arrests; sergeant charged

Menon was placed in protective custody at the Clark County Detention Center because he is a police officer, according to the department.

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Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Nadia Wood set Menons bail at $100,000 cash with high-level electronic monitoring on Oct. 24. Menons defense attorney Dominic Gentile told Wood he was in possession of Menons passport and weapons.

Las Vegas sergeant accused of orchestrating fake arrests faces child porn charges

Menon posted the full bail amount and was released from jail on Oct. 26, according to Gentile.

Prosecutors filed their motion to increase bail in the first case arguing that Menon may be a danger to the community or himself and the likelihood of conviction is high because of overwhelming evidence like body camera video and computer files.

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In their response, defense attorneys argued that Menon previously cooperated with police and showed up to police headquarters knowing he would likely be arrested, returned to court, and is not a flight risk or danger to the community.

It is for Clark County jury, as accurately instructed by this court, to determine whether his conduct was criminal or not, not the Clark County District Attorney, a handful of LVMPD employees, or the media, the response states.

Las Vegas judge orders suspended sergeant held on $100K bail amid child porn charges

Menon was considered one of Metros best officers, according to the motion.

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Defense attorneys also alleged police continued to question Menon after he invoked his right to remain silent and have his attorney present, and that the initial warrant signed by Judge Tierra Jones authorized the search of an address different from the one that was actually searched.

In his character statement, Menon included information about his career as a police officer. He claimed he was the only recruit in history to also teach while in the academy, he later became an instructor teaching search warrant preparation and execution classes, and a quote of his, with the will of a warrior, but the heart of a guardian, was placed on banners.

Documents reveal more about child porn allegations against Las Vegas sergeant

I served in specialized units, including the gang unit, central intelligence, and counterterrorism sections, Menon wrote. On 1 October, I was assigned the acting sergeant of my squad in the gang unit, and was awarded a medal of honor for my actions.

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Menon was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2023, is fluent in four languages and has a working knowledge of three more, and had previously converted to Judaism, he wrote.

Menon stated he has been married to his wife for 10 years and hopes to be the father of at least two kids with her.

A hearing in the first case is scheduled for Nov. 6. A preliminary hearing in the second case is scheduled for Nov. 7.

After his arrest, the department placed Menon on leave with pay and his police powers were suspended pending an investigation. The department has since stopped paying him.

To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.com.

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Australia is providing Ukraine with Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended-Range (JDAM-ER) glide bombs kits following their withdrawal from service from the Royal Australian Air Force, Australian Defense Magazine reported on Nov. 1.

JDAMs are wing kits that convert simple free-falling bombs into guided ammunition, improving accuracy thanks to a GPS helping the bomb adjust its course while approaching the target.

Once dropped, the bomb deploys wings, allowing it to glide up to 72 kilometers, tripling the range of the original weapon, according to Bloomberg.

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Earlier this year in July, Australia announced 250 million Australian dollars ($168 million) in military assistance for Ukraine, in what was the largest package of aid the country has provided since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Since then, Australia said on Oct. 16 that the country will donate 49 "soon-to-be-retired" U.S.-made Abrams tanks, Australian media outlet ABC News reported.

According to Australian Defense Magazine, an unspecified number of JDAM-ERs were delivered to Ukraine, although it was not immediately clear as to when the weapons were delivered.

The Kyiv Independent has not been able to independently verify the munitions transfer and Kyiv has not commented on their delivery.

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The delivery of the munitions falls in line the Australian government's Defences Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan, which revealed on Oct. 30 that the country withdrew its inventory of Australian-built 225-kg JDAM-ER glide bombs in 2021.

The reported delivery of JDAMs comes as Russian KAB guided aerial bombs continue to decimate Ukrainian cities on the front line. Transforming older, predominantly Soviet-era aerial bombs into 500-kg guided bombs continues to damage civilian infrastructure while causing civilian casualties.

Throughout the full-scale war, Ukraine has already used U.S.-made Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) guided kits for aerial bombs, which were first delivered in February 2023.

During a visit to Kyiv in April 2024, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles previously announced that the country was "providing critical air-to-ground precision munitions and short-range air defense systems."

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Controversy erupted earlier in 2024 when media reports emerged that the Australian military decided to quietly disassemble and bury its fleet of multi-role Taipan helicopters, even though Kyiv sent an official request for their transfer to Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Australia has provided Ukraine with more than $1 billion in aid, including $866 million in military assistance.

Read also: China was well aware of North Korean troop deployment ahead of time, expert says





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Oswald Egger has been awarded the annual Georg Buchner Prize, one of the most important literary awards in the German-speaking world.

"It is everything you could wish for," Egger said before the award ceremony Saturday at the Staatstheater in Darmstadt.

"I am very hard-working and don't see this as the end of what I do, rather as a driving force," added Egger.

"With Oswald Egger, the German Academy for Language and Literature honours a writer who has been crossing and expanding the boundaries of literary production since his first publication in 1993," the jury said when announcing the winner.

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The author, who was born in Meran in South Tyrol, studied literature and philosophy in Vienna and currently lives in North Rhine Westphalia in western Germany.

Literature radicalised again

"Oswald Egger deserves the Buchner Prize because he is radicalising a certain idea of literature again," literary critic Paul Jandl said in his laudatory speech.

"What distinguishes the work of the Buchner Prize winner from much of literature: He does not tell of a beginning towards an end," Jandl

added.

Since 1951, the Academy has awarded the prize to writers who write in German. The winner currently receives 50,000 ($56,000).

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Prizewinners must "stand out in particular for their works and achievements" and "play a significant role in shaping contemporary German cultural life."

The prize is financed by the federal government, the state of Hesse and the city of Darmstadt.

Big-name former prizewinners

Max Frisch (1958), Gunter Grass (1965) and Heinrich Boll (1967) are among previous prizewinners.

The prize is named after the playwright and revolutionary Georg Buchner, who was born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse in 1813 and died in Zurich in 1837.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  A suspect is on the loose after police say an Uber driver robbed their passengers at gunpoint.

According to police records, the alleged robbery happened around 9:15 p.m. Friday night.

Authorities say the suspect offered the victims an Uber ride from Kentucky to Indiana.

After the ride, it is said the suspect pointed a handgun at the passengers and demanded they give him money.

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One of the victims say they gave the suspect approximately $2,200 in cash before he eventually left the scene.

Officers say they were unable to locate the suspect or the vehicle that was used.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Kansas City, Kan.  Election Day is now four days away. If you live in Kansas and plan on mailing in your ballot, you may want to reconsider.

State law dictates that all advance ballots by mail must be postmarked by Election Day, November 5, and received by Friday, December 8. However, with the election less than a week away officials recommend you return your ballot in person by utilizing a ballot drop box instead. That way you dont need to worry if it will arrive before the Friday deadline.

Weve tracked down individual ballots here and there, but the [post office] has a big job with trillions of pieces of parcel and its taking up to seven business days to mail within Johnson County, said Johnson County Election Commissioner Fred Sherman.

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Independence girl still in intensive care weeks after dog attack

Thats why election officials encourage the drop box option. Johnson County has eight while Wyandotte, Leavenworth and Miami Counties have four each.

Those drop boxes are being checked every single day and the ballots are being brought back every single night by a bipartisan team. So, thats what we recommend because if you put it in the mail theres no guarantees its going to make it back on time, added Wyandotte County Election Commissioner Michael Abbot.

Each box is under 24-hour video surveillance and recorded, which can be shared with state and federal police if need be. Election officials also get alerts every time someone walks up to one.

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All the cameras on the drop boxes are owned and operated by Wyandotte County Election Office. I have all the access to my phone, added Abbott.

The drop boxes debuted during the 2020 election to help with the massive increase in mail-in ballots. Election officials kept them because theyre a convenient option.

If youre still not comfortable, there are other options. You can also bring your mail-in ballot to your local election office or any polling location up until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab also recommends this with his office.

Secretary Schwab encourages voters to return their ballot as soon as possible. As always, the better choice is to return your ballot via county-monitored drop box, in-person at your county election office, or any polling place within the county.

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Additionally, out of Johnson Countys 478,877 registered voters more than 54,000 requested mail-in ballots. As of Friday morning, more than 36,000 have been received. In Leavenworth County, nearly 3,000 mail-in ballots out of 3,816 have been received. Wyandotte County isnt as close, with more than 5,300 mail-in ballots received out of more than 7,000 requested.

To find your near ballot drop box, click the name of your county.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows bacterial pneumonia is now the leading type of pneumonia for kids between two and four.

From April to October, cases jumped from 1% to 7% in kids ages two to four and from 3.6% to 7.4% in kids ages five to 17. Its a trend also seen by pediatricians and schools here in Central Illinois.

Bacterial pneumonia is a relatively uncommon thing in most children. However, over the past couple of months, we have been seeing a lot more cases, said Dr. Aaron Traeger, pediatrician with Carle Health.

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People 50 and older should get pneumococcal vaccine, U.S. health officials recommend

Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia include chest cough, fever and difficulty breathing. After a round of antibiotics, symptoms should subside in a day or two.

Kids probably dont do the best about covering their coughing and washing their hands and staying away from each other and stuff like that, said Traeger. As soon as something doesnt feel right to me, especially if it feels like theyre laboring to breathe or sicker than you think they should be, please come in.

The Tazewell County Health Department sent parents a letter notifying them about increased reports of the illness in multiple school districts.

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JD Raucci, a communication and health education specialist with the Tazewell County Health Department, wouldnt disclose which schools, citing confidentiality. But he said all schools have a role in curbing the spread this season.

Were just recommending for school districts just to make sure that theyre doing a lot of disinfection, disinfecting high touch surfaces like lunch tables, desks, things like that, because the bacteria can spread fairly quickly, he said.

Its also a good idea for parents to follow these tips at home. And of course, dont send your kids to school if they are sick.

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(Bloomberg) -- Kemi Badenoch beat Robert Jenrick in the Conservative Partys leadership contest to become the first Black leader of a major UK political party.

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Badenoch, 44, received 53,806 votes to Jenricks 41,388 in a ballot of party members, Bob Blackman, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, which runs Tory leadership contests, said on Saturday. She takes over from former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who triggered the succession battle after leading the party to its worst ever defeat in the general election on July 4.

The former business secretary won 56.5% of valid votes, making it one of the tightest Tory leadership contests. It was a narrower victory than when former Prime Minister Liz Truss secured 57.4% of the vote in 2022 to beat Sunak.

This is not just about the Conservative Party, it is about the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party, Badenoch said in her victory speech. She added that the party has to be honest about mistakes made during its previous time in power.

Badenoch now faces the daunting task of picking Britains main opposition party up from the ruins of that catastrophic loss  the Tories dropped to 121 seats from 365 in 2019  and make it once again the electoral force that won four consecutive national ballots.

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To do so, Badenoch must play a key role by building the political consensus to tackle the issues holding back investment, such as planning reform, grid connections and more proportionate regulation, said Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry.

Her victory means the party is likely to pivot further to the right, though that shift was already baked in after the field was narrowed down to Badenoch and Jenrick, a former immigration minister who  though once a moderate  is now on the Tory right. Both ran their campaigns on a promise to slash immigration and return to conservative principles, defeating four rivals in successive votes among Tory members of parliament to make the runoff last month.

The strategy is a gamble that the Tories have more to gain from appealing to the voters they lost to Nigel Farages Reform UK party  which took just five seats in July but won more than 4 million votes  than by tacking to the center in an effort to win back those who defected to Prime Minister Keir Starmers Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.

For Rob Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, Badenoch will need to find a way to appeal to a broader array of voters in order to win office at the next general election, which Labour must hold by mid-2029. The Conservatives cannot afford to be a one-trick pony if they have serious aspirations to return to government, he said, referring to immigration.

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Badenoch becomes the fourth woman to lead the Conservatives  after former premiers Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss. Shes also the first Black person of either gender to lead what are traditionally the three main UK-wide parties: the Tories, Labour or the Liberal Democrats.

The new Tory leader was born in Britain but grew up in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16. But her background  and her recent tenure as minister for women and equalities  does not necessarily make her a standard-bearer for minority groups. As a politician, she has been vocally anti-immigration and is likely to put regulation and woke culture in the cross-hairs of Tory policy.

During the leadership race, she promised to reduce the role of the government in business and tackle the increasingly left-wing mindset of the UK. Government does not create growth  business creates growth, she has said.

At the Tory Party conference in September, she courted controversy by saying that not all cultures are equally valid, maternity pay was excessive, the minimum wage was over-burdening businesses, and that up to 10% of civil servants should be in jail.

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While that bluntness is seen as a strength by her allies, Badenoch has also been criticized as rude and abrasive by some colleagues  charges shes rejected, telling the BBCs Newscast podcast this week that I just think Im saying something that I wouldnt mind hearing back.

Badenoch has spent the campaign largely steering clear of setting detailed policy, saying her party first needs to rebuild. An engineer by training, she has repeatedly said she will take an engineers approach to government. By her definition, that means a more deliberate and methodical approach to implementing policy than that promised by Jenrick.

She shied away from matching his flagship promise of pulling the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights in a bid to be able to more easily deport migrants, saying it wouldnt be a silver bullet and could lead to unintended consequences and repercussions.

In an interview with GB News on Thursday, Badenoch said she wanted to bring back authentic conservatism. The party needed confidence in our values, and we need a leader who is brave and courageous enough to actually say what needs to be said, she added.

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Still, almost a third of Tory voters have an unfavorable view of Badenoch, according to a YouGov poll released Saturday. About 20% of Britons think she would make a better prime minister than Starmer, against 27% who think the Labour leader is the better choice.

(Adds details on voting in paragraph three, Badenoch quote in paragraph four, reaction from the CBI in paragraph six and YouGov poll in the final paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Vice President Harris made her final push for Wisconsin before Election Day, joined by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) on a three-stop swing through the key battleground state.

Wisconsin, truly, we need everyone to vote here. You, Wisconsin, are going to make the difference in this election. You will make the difference, Harris said at a Friday evening rally in Little Chute.

The crowd at the rally, holding vote and when we vote, we win signs chanted we will win.

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We are the type of people that when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for, Harris said.

The vice president, in arguing that she believes in the promise of America, called herself a child of the civil rights movement.

My parents took me to the marches when I was in a stroller. And there were people there from every walk of life who came together to fight for freedom and for opportunity, she said. The promise of America is all around us. It is in the young leaders who are voting for the very first time. Where are you? Oh, I love Gen-Z! I really do.

She also asked the crowd who had already voted early, which was met with loud cheers at the rally.

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Oh wow. Oh my goodness, thats great, thank you! Harris said. For anyone whos not yet voted, no judgement, but please take a moment now and just think about what your plan will be for when and where you will vote.

Baldwin is in a close race against Republican Eric Hovde that Democrats are looking at in order to hold onto the upper chamber. The senator has a slim lead over Hovde, polling at 48.4 percent compared to his 47.9 percent, according to a polling aggregate from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill.

Having Kamala back in the state again makes it clear that this campaign knows that the path to the presidency and control of the United States Senate runs directly through our state because we are the battleground state in this election, Baldwin said.

Harris also visited Wisconsin on Wednesday, on the first day of taking her closing message to the battleground states after her speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., the night before.

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The stakes could not be higher for our reproductive freedoms, for our health care, for our economy. We have the choice to embrace our state motto, which is forward, or let Eric Hovde take us backward. And you know what, were not going back, Baldwin said.

Harris later called on voters to send her back to the United States Senate, calling Baldwin a close friend.

Earlier in the day, Harris and Baldwin visited with workers at an IBEW union hall in Janesville. There, she promoted the idea of retooling existing factories, saying that workers in the state dont want to have to leave their towns to find a job.

We here know, Donald Trump is no friend to labor, she said. He is an existential threat to Americas labor movement.

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Later on Friday, Harris was joined by female rapper Cardi B at a rally in Milwaukee. The performer reflected on her career in the industry citing parallels with Harris as she worked to overcome stereotypes and gender discrimination.

Just like Kamala Harris, I too have been the underdog, the rapper told the crowd. Ive been underestimated. My success, belittled and discredited. Women have to work 10 times harder, perform 10 times better, and still, people question us how we got to the top.

Cardi B shared that one of her strongest ties to the Democratic nominee was Harriss empathy for caregivers, mothers and women as a whole.

I did not have faith for any candidate until she joined the race and said the things that I wanted to hear  things I want to see next in this country, Cardi said. I believe in every word that comes out of her mouth; shes passionate, shes compassionate, she shows empathy, and most of all, she is not delusional.

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Harris is doubling down on her visits to the so-called blue wall. A Marist Poll released on Friday showed Harris slightly ahead in the three states, leading Trump by 3 points in Michigan, and 2 points in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Former President Trump has a 0.4 percentage point lead in Wisconsin going into the weekend, according to Decision Desk HQ/ The Hills aggregate polling.

Ashleigh Fields contributed to this article. Updated at 11:23 p.m. EDT

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(NewsNation)  Would your vote count if you cast it in early voting and then died before Election Day? It depends on where you die.

Some states explicitly allow votes cast by people who die before Election Day to be counted. A few others specifically ban it. But most states dont address the matter.

Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, North Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia have statutes that explicitly permit counting absentee ballots cast by voters who die before Election Day, according to a chart constructed by the National Conference of State Legislatures. It adds that one state, Connecticut, only counts those votes if the person is a member of the armed services.

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Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have statutes that explicitly prohibit counting absentee ballots cast by voters who die before Election Day, the NCSL site says.

Two other states ban post-death votes but do so by opinions issued by those states attorneys general, not by law.

Five other states allow for absentee or early voting ballots to be challenged on the grounds that the voter died before Election Day.

In 26 states, the NCSL found no laws, opinions or practices that address the issue. And, in practice, its only possible to challenge a ballot if it is still in a return envelope. Once the envelope has been opened and the ballot has been removed for counting, it cant be traced to a specific voter.

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Georgia, where former President Jimmy Carter cast his absentee ballot from hospice care at his home in Plains, has no law or ruling banning or permitting the counting of a ballot cast by someone who then dies before Election Day. So, early ballots will count even if the voter dies before Nov. 5.

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Former President Barack Obama will hold a campaign rally in Milwaukee on Sunday, just two days before the election that will pit Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris against Republican former President Donald Trump.

Obama's return to Wisconsin to stump for Harris comes on the final day of in-person absentee voting in this key swing state. It's a fitting return, given that his first visit of this campaign was last week in Madison on the first day early voting.

As of Friday morning, more than 1.3 million absentee ballots had been returned by Wisconsin voters. Of those, 801,083 were via in-person absentee voting, according to Wisconsin Elections Commission data.

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The rally will take place at the Baird Center, according to a post from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

The event will end before the Green Bay Packers game begins at 3:25 p.m., according to the post.

Obama appeared last week with Harris's running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Walz and his wife, Gwen Walz, will also be returning to Wisconsin on Monday as part of a battleground state blitz, according to the campaign.

More: Vice presidential candidates JD Vance, Tim Walz to both rally Wisconsin voters on Monday

They will deliver remarks at Get Out The Vote campaign events in La Crosse and Stevens Point in the afternoon.

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Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, will also be in La Crosse on Monday, a Trump campaign official confirmed Friday evening.

In the evening, he will speak at a rally in Milwaukee.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Barack Obama to campaign for Kamala Harris in Milwaukee on Sunday
The BBC newsroom is out of control, its former director of television has said, as the corporation faces fresh accusations of bias over its reporting of the Middle East conflict.

Danny Cohen said the BBCs reporting had anti-Israeli overtones which were contributing to a sense of unsafety felt by many Jewish people in the UK.

In a report into the broadcasters recent coverage of the conflict, Mr Cohen points out that an Iranian propagandist was given airtime despite the corporation upholding complaints about a previous appearance he made.

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Mohammed Marandi, who has served in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, has appeared on the BBC twice since the broadcaster admitted a lapse in editorial standards over another interview with him a month ago in which he accused Israel of genocide and of ethnosupremacism.

The BBC also devoted 40 minutes to a live broadcast of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei giving a speech, and gave a platform to a woman who has repeatedly glorified the murder of Jewish people.

Mohammed Marandi has appeared on the BBC twice after complaints about his accusations of genocide and ethnosupremacism - NurPhoto

Mr Cohen said the BBC had done little to address its reporting despite previous criticism.

Very serious problems of bias continue in the BBCs coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, he said.

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The scale and consistency of the issues suggests that the BBC newsroom is out of control. It is very hard to otherwise understand why the corporation continues to make so many errors.

The BBC should understand that the bias in their reporting is contributing to an atmosphere in this country in which many Jewish people feel unsafe.

At the end of September, Mr Cohen produced a report on the BBCs reporting of the conflict that was endorsed by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust. The three Jewish organisations demanded an independent inquiry into what Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, described as a failure to ensure impartial coverage of the war.

Lapse in editorial standards

Now Mr Cohen has written an update to his report, in which he says the BBC has continued to portray Israel as the aggressor, to parrot Hamas lines about casualty figures without qualification and to give airtime to guests with extreme antisemitic views.

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Mr Marandi, whose father is the Supreme Leader of Irans personal doctor, appeared on the BBC twice on Oct 1  the day after Mr Cohens original report came out  when he described Israel as a genocidal regime which was responsible for a Holocaust in Gaza.

The BBC responded to complaints at the time by admitting he had not been challenged enough on his views, which amounted to a lapse in our usual editorial standards.

However, he was interviewed by Jeremy Bowen on Radio 4 on Oct 26, and the next day he appeared on the BBC News Channel where he made fresh accusations of genocide.

Mr Cohen has produced a report on the BBC coverage of the conflict which has been endorsed by three Jewish organisations

Mr Cohen said: It is hard to believe this would be happening if the interviewee had made racist remarks about any other minority community within the UK. The only explanation can be a lack of management grip or a willingness by BBC journalists to give platforms to anti-Semites.

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The BBC said in response that Mr Marandi: Was in Tehran during the Israeli attack on the city and is someone with an insight into the thinking of the Iranian leadership. The programme described him accurately and used a short clip of him to give listeners an understanding of the view from Iran.

40 minutes of airtime

Mr Cohens report also questioned why the BBC News Channel devoted 40 minutes to a live speech by the Ayatollah Khamenei in which he praised the logical and legal Oct 7 terrorist attack.

The BBC has said it was important and editorially relevant to hear from key players including the Ayatollah, but Mr Cohen said it was difficult to imagine the BBC giving 40 minutes of airtime to a speech by Vladimir Putin to give context to the war in Ukraine.

The BBC responded by saying that reporting what someone has said isnt the same as endorsing their views and were sure our audiences appreciate this.

The report questions the BBC News Channel for devoting 40 minutes to a speech by the Ayatollah Khamenei praising the Oct 7 attacks - AFP

The Cohen report also questions why the BBC failed to tell BBC News Channel viewers on Oct 1 this year that Andreas Kreig, who said Hezbollah had played it fairly rationally, previously worked for the armed forces of Qatar, a country that supports Hamas.

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The corporation called Dr Kreig an academic who was analysing the military strategies of those involved in the conflict and we would encourage people to watch the interview in its entirety.

A range of accounts

In a documentary titled Life and Death in Gaza, broadcast on Oct 15, one of the most prominent voices was Aya Ashour, who has celebrated the murder of Jews in social media posts, including in March 2022 when she responded to the murder of five Israeli civilians in a terrorist attack by saying: Glory to the weapon. Glory to the rebels.

A BBC spokesman said: The conflict arouses great passions and the way contributors have chosen to post their views on social media in the past does not of itself disqualify them from giving eye-witness testimony within the editorial control of our programme makers.

The BBC is not allowed access into Gaza, but we use a range of accounts from eyewitnesses and cross reference these against official statements and footage, including from the Israeli Defence Forces.

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WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT)  A man was arrested after law enforcement officers with the Washington Police Department investigated threats communicated near the Beaufort County Board of Elections.

They charged Ronnie Harrison Sr., of Pinetown, with communicating threats toward a legislative official.

Harrison was jailed under a $1,000 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.
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV)  The Beaufort County Sheriffs Office (BSCO) say they have located Camden Albercht safe.

He was reported as a runaway from the Ladys Island area to the Sheriffs Office around 6:30 p.m., yesterday, November 1, 2024.





He was last seen wearing a gray zip-up hoodie, black sweatpants, gray Jordan sneakers and a black bookbag. He is 63 and weighs about 180 lbs.



Anyone who sees Albercht is asked to contact us immediately by calling 9-1-1 or our non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
In 2015, Alex Pandolfo was diagnosed with Alzheimers and given a prognosis that suggested that while he could live for up to 10 or 11 more years, after the initial three to five years he would likely be totally dependent on care.

Pandolfos father, who died in 2003, had suffered from multiple system atrophy and vascular dementia. As his fathers situation had worsened, Pandolfo had given up his work as an academic to care for him.

Pandolfo says his father  who had been a kind and decent man  became abusive, violent, tearful, and was suffering torment.

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The memory that haunts me most is the two weeks before he finally died, Pandolfo says. Hed lost all his speech, hed lost movement. All I can see is those eyes staring at me, pleading do something .

He wanted to be dead. If somebody had given me a tablet, or said, put that needle right there, Id have done it, and willingly gone to prison. Because my suffering couldnt have been any worse than the horrendous suffering he went through.

When Pandolfo was given the prognosis for his Alzheimers, his mind was constantly full  both when asleep and awake, he says  of the possibilities of how his life could go, and it was horrendous.

He made a plan to do two things. The first was to apply to join Lifecircle, a Swiss organisation that offers assisted dying to sufferers of dementia. The second, if that application failed, was to take his own life in 2017, safely before the period, he hoped, when he had been told he would be totally dependent on care.

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That was set in stone. It wasnt going to be pleasant, and it would be very unpleasant for people who found me, unfortunately, but I knew I would source good quality heroin and morphine.

In the event he didnt need to.

After submitting notes of his medical history, the reasons that he wished for an assisted death, and a psychiatric report confirming that he was of sound mind and with the capacity to make that decision, he was given what he calls the green light from Lifecircle.

It would have been an error to take my life, but given the possibilities that were given to me, and if the option wasnt to have that insurance policy, then thats the way I would have gone.

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But getting the green light, to use a Biblical term, it was the road to Damascus; it was that moment of enlightenment. I can now focus on living.

I first met Pandolfo in 2018, when I last wrote about assisted dying  this was three years after he had been diagnosed with Alzheimers. The prognosis that by now he would be totally dependent on care was wrong. He lives alone in a neat bungalow in Morecambe, where he seats me in the front room while he makes coffee.

Pandolfo retired from his work as an academic at the end 2015, some six months after his diagnosis. In the expectation that he would soon no longer be needing his books, and with his ability to read fading, he long ago gave away his collection to the local charity shop. His Pink Floyd albums went to a friend. An avid fan of Manchester City, he gave the shirt signed by the first team that hung on his wall to a local charity to auction off.

Now a single abstract painting hangs there.

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Pandolfo, who is 69, was born into a working-class family in Manchester. His father had a coal round, and Pandolfo, expelled from school at 14, worked for him for two years before, as he puts it, going walking and then eventually working on the buses. Trade union activism led him to a place at Ruskin College, Oxford, sponsored by the Transport and General Workers Union and the Trade Union Congress, and a PhD in a post-structuralist perspective on inclusive education.

He is an affable man, who speaks of his condition with a disarming matter-of-factness, and who, with the academics logical and methodical mind, has taught himself to manage the effects of his declining faculties, planning his daily routine on his phone, setting alarms for everything. Lose that phone, and Ive lost my life.

He has been on three different types of medication, he says, but had an adverse reaction to them and stopped. He struggles with being in crowds, and finds things, as he puts it, increasingly difficult when things go wrong.

Pondering over a medical or psychological label for his state of mind, he says, the more simple but accurate description is Im happy. I have restrictions but nothing that says life is unbearable. But if I hadnt been accepted by Lifecircle, I would have been dead for at least five years.

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Pandolfo is no longer able to speak at public meetings as he once did, but he remains an active campaigner for assisted dying, giving interviews (one, improbably perhaps, with the website LADbible gained 220,000 views) and offering support and advice to people applying for assisted deaths in Switzerland.

Assisted dying remains illegal in the UK, but Parliament is expected to debate the new Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill, introduced by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, within the next two months.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater introduced a bill to Parliament that proposes legalising assisted dying - PA

In the last Parliamentary debate, in 2015, MPs voted overwhelmingly against the proposal by 330 to 118. But opinion appears to have been shifting in recent years as the subject has come to the forefront of public debate.

In February, a House of Commons inquiry, conducted over two years, concluded that current legislation was unsafe and inadequate, leading to the Health and Social Care Select Committee calling on the Government to engage in debate as reforms become increasingly likely across the British Isles.

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A poll conducted in March by Dignity in Dying, which campaigns for assisted death, and which canvassed the views of more than 10,000 people across the UK, showed that 75 per cent of respondents supported making it lawful for dying adults to access assisted dying in the UK, while just 14 per cent opposed it.

The private members bill tabled by Kim Leadbeater is modelled on the bill tabled in the House of Lords by Lord Falconer in July.

The bill proposed that a person who is terminally ill may request, and lawfully be provided with, assistance to end their own life if the court is satisfied they have the mental capacity to make the decision to end their life, and they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and are reasonably expected to die within six months.

That time period has not yet been confirmed in the new bill, but it has worried some doctors who point to research, obtained by The Telegraph last month, showing that half of patients who are expected to die within six months to a year outlive expectations, which could lead to people who have been given the wrong prognosis dying prematurely.

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For Pandolfo, the proposed law, not least in the stipulation of terminal disease, falls far short of what he believes should be the acceptable criteria.

In Canada, the law requires that a person must have a serious illness, disease or disability; be in an advanced state of decline that cannot be reversed; and experience unbearable physical or mental suffering from their illness, disease, disability or state of decline that cannot be reversed under conditions the person considers acceptable.

Members of Distant Voices, a Christian group, campaign against assisted dying - PA

In Switzerland, the criteria are that a person be suffering from an incurable disease, unbearable suffering or multiple disabling conditions, including incurable, permanent, and severe psychological disorders, dementia among them.

In 2013, an 83-year-old became the first known Briton to have ended his life at Dignitas following a diagnosis of dementia.

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My criteria, Pandolfo says, is basically that any person at the age of consent who has capacity and has some form of condition or illness that cannot be cured or treated, and that has permanent or detrimental impact on their quality of life, should be able to apply for assisted dying.

But many people live with conditions that have a detrimental impact on their quality of life without any suggestion they should avail themselves of an assisted death.

Of course! But thats about choice.

When I was younger I thought if I had to go in a wheelchair Id rather cut my throat. But I dont feel like that any longer. I can see how I would survive and live like that.

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Many people spend most of their life totally incontinent. I wouldnt want that. But its all about choice and autonomy; and the quality of life is for you to decide, not somebody else. Its not about having a condition that a doctor needs to validate; you can validate your quality of life for yourself.

We talk about the question of coercion, often raised in the debate; the risk of somebody old and vulnerable being steered or coerced towards an assisted death by their family.

But he says the reverse can happen. He gives the example of one case hes familiar with, of a man with a severe condition who has been given the green light by a Swiss organisation but whose family have been cajoling him not to go. Ive said to him, are you sure the time is right for you? Because if it is, youd have gone.

This is one of my arguments about the risk of being coerced into something. One of the most counter-intuitive things to do is to take your own life. Another person had a date in November because of depression, but now thats been put back indefinitely, and shes looking at setting up a little business. And thats great. We shouldnt be coercing people to go, any more than we should be coercing them not to go. It must be a question of free choice.

In 2015, MPs rejected legalising assisted dying, but the movement is believed to have gained momentum since then - Getty

In 2021 Pandolfo accompanied Dawn Voice-Cooper, a former mental health worker and an active campaigner for assisted dying, to Switzerland, where her life ended in the Lifecircle clinic.

Voice-Cooper, who was 76, had suffered from a litany of incurable health problems, including severe arthritis, repeated brain bleeds and epilepsy, describing her quality of life as at times unbearable.

I really expected her to be coming back on the plane with us, Pandolfo says. I didnt expect her to go through with it. But she did. I think theres that question in everybodys mind; is it the right time? Am I going to do it now? Its such that what you are experiencing in terms of your personal suffering overrides everything else.

So how will Pandolfo know when the time is right for him? Suffering from Alzheimers as he does, the decision as to when to end his life presents a terrible dilemma.

He would need to meet the criteria of being of sound mind in order for an assisted death to take place, when he possibly has weeks, months or even years of sustainable life in front of him.

Given the uncertainty over timing, he would like the provision in any future legislation of a living will, as exists in Dutch law, whereby someone suffering from dementia would be able to leave a directive to be euthanised when they no longer have capacity and if a physician rules they are experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement.

As it stands, there will never be the right time for him, he says, because I dont know when the right time is.

For now, he watches himself  and others  for signs.

Id never ask anybody to tell me or point out, its time for you to go. Because its not for them to do that, its for me to make the decision. But throughout my life Ive been very adept at reading body language. I can tell when Ive made a mistake because it registers on peoples faces. When I start seeing that reaction more and more, thats one of the indicators.

Being dependent on others  not having autonomy, not having that ability to make choices, decisions. Not being able to get up and go out when I want, whether that be in a wheelchair or not.

When I found I wasnt taking meals as regularly as I should do. The little errors you can start making in life  walking away from the stove and leaving it on.

He talks of one occasion getting into the shower, the water flowing, and then being at a loss as to what to do next. That routine you have, I couldnt get to it. And then I just kicked into automatic. And I remember thinking then, if that happens again So Ive got a series of things when Ill know its time.

He thinks on this  and gives one more. If Pep leaves Manchester City then Id have to give it serious thought.

The one thing he hasnt lost is his sense of humour.

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New Belgium Brewing is rallying its Northern Colorado troops in hopes of helping the hurricane-battered community its North Carolina brewery calls home.

The Fort Collins-born brewery will host a donation drive at its liquid center, 500 Linden St., from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8. Brewery goers are asked to bring donations to fill up a trailer of essential items that will then be driven to Manna Food Bank in Asheville, North Carolina, where New Belgium opened a second brewery in 2016.

People are asked to only bring the following donation items:

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Canned fruits and vegetables (pop-top preferred)

Canned protein (chicken, tuna, etc.) and nonmeat protein like beans

Protein and breakfast bars or other healthy snacks

Menstrual products

Personal hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and razors)

Disposable paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissues)

From USA TODAY: 36 hours of hell during Helene's historic floods

The brewery will also host a benefit event from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 8. It will include live music from the Sugar Britches Trio and silent auction to benefit the River Arts District Artists in Asheville. One dollar of each Mountain Time Lager sold at the event will also be donated to the NC Disaster Relief Fund via the Pouring for Neighbors campaign, according to New Belgium.

Hurricane Helene touched down on Florida's Gulf Coast on Sept. 26, flattening buildings with 140-mph winds and slowly weakening to a tropical storm as it moved northwest across the southern Appalachians  ultimately bringing "the most severe flooding ever observed" to western North Carolina, according to USA TODAY and the National Weather Service. The flooding devastated Asheville's River Arts District, which is located across the French Broad River from New Belgium's Asheville campus.

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The Asheville brewery closed due to storm damage and expects to be running again by the end of the year, New Belgium communications manager Alec Williams said Thursday.

Catching up: These 5 Northern Colorado-brewed beers took home Great American Beer Festival medals

Want more brewery news? Subscribe to The Buzz, our new weekly dive into Northern Colorado business, development, real estate, restaurant and brewery stories.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: New Belgium hosting drive to benefit North Carolina in wake of Helene
BEREA, Ky. (FOX 56)  Behind the doors of the Berea Arts Council Gallery, history lines the walls. The artifacts inside tell the story of a piece of history in the area thats often overlooked. Its called the Berea Black History and Heritage Exhibit.

The art gallerys executive director, Kiana Mahjub, said a lot of the attention gets put on Berea College. Its one of the first colleges in the South to fully integrate black and white students. But the people who shaped the community get lost in the hands of time.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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This is just highlighting family members, ancestors, heirlooms that have been passed through families for generations, Mahjub said.

It showcases more than 100 pieces loaned by Berea community members, with some of the items dating back to 1769. But its the photos on the walls that bring this exhibit to life.

A lot of the people havent seen their faces in quite some time or hadnt really thought about those folks and their family. I think seeing them highlighted in this special way made them realize how important even the little parts of history they had together were, Mahjub said.

Since the exhibit opened in September, hundreds of people have stepped back in time. Its also educating a younger generation, giving them a better understanding of our nations history.

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We had a student this morning, remarked that they didnt understand why there was ever separation between black and white communities and didnt understand the town they lived in had such an important impact on how we shaped that nationally, not just here in Kentucky, Mahjub said.

The last day to see the exhibit is Saturday.

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From the Dispatch Weekly on The Dispatch

Hello and happy Saturday. At long last, were just three days out from the 2024 election. At Dispatch HQ, we spent the last week tying up loose ends for the last bits of our election preview and planning our coverage for Tuesday and the days (weeks?) after. Our Dispatch Politics team (as I noted last week) has been racking up the frequent flyer miles covering rallies and talking to voters, and The Morning Dispatch crew has looked at Elon Musks efforts to influence the election, warned against reading too much into the polling, and reported on the candidates closing statements. Meanwhile, here is a live look at Dispatch Fact Check crew knocking down disinformation about election fraud:

So what should we expect on Tuesday and when might we find out results? Weve got you covered. Last week, Chris Stirewalt identified seven countiesone in each of the swing statesthat will tell us a great deal about the potential outcome of the contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Today we published his handy guide to election night: when the polls close in each state, what times to expect certain states to be called, and how we can understand what even partial results say about the direction of the contest.

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This week Stirewalt also pointed to signs from indicators like polling and approval ratings that explain why Trump is sure to win. But he also lays out all the signs that show why Harris is sure to win. Get your popcorn ready.

But the election is not all about Trump and Harris. Whoever wins will have to work with Congress. While the GOP is expected to gain control of the Senate, the House is up for grabs. In a preview of the House races, Philip Wallach writes that while the Republicans have a structural advantagethey hold more seats to start with and off-year redistricting should give them three seats in North Carolina but only two to Democrats (in Alabama and Louisiana)the Democrats have more cash.

What if Harris defeats Trump? We would have plenty about that historic moment were it to happen, but in the meantime, we can predict that Trump would claim fraud. After all, as TMD noted, his campaign is already laying the groundwork to do so.

We have a few more things in store. On Tuesday, we will have a primer that will tell you everything you need to know about election law and policy in the seven swing states that will decide the race, our reporters will be on the ground with both the Trump and Harris camps, and well be doing a special Dispatch Live on Tuesday night. Well kick off at 10 p.m. and stay on for three hours, a bunch of guests will stop by, andbest of allits open to everyone.

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The old saying about the light at the end of the tunnel being an oncoming train has never felt more apt. Thank you for being with us on this journey, and have a good weekend.

In a powerful Monday Essay, John Aziz makes a hopeful case for the future of Gaza. He details Yahya Sinwars rise through the ranks of Hamas and the violent acts that solidified his image as a merciless enforcer. He argues that Gazans are weary of life under Hamas and eager to coexist peacefully with their Israeli neighbors, and that Sinwars death last month provides an opportunity for that to happen. While acknowledging that Hamas has not yet been defeated, Aziz lays out a way forward to a post-Hamas Gaza. He calls on countries who want a more peaceful Middle East to support the effort. Palestinian political parties and political movements that reject Hamas ideology and instead wish for coexistence and peaceful self-determination alongside Israel need to receive substantial support, legitimization, and victories, he writes. And Palestinian moderates need to be the ones in a position of strength, able to capitalize on the disaffection with Hamas and to marginalize those professing the attendant narratives of jihadism, antisemitism, and the demonization of Israel.

The real problem with the election isnt Donald Trumpthough Kevin notes how its a little weird the man cant legally own a firearm but we might just give him the nuclear codes againbut with the presidency itself. Its just too big. He applauds the framers of the Constitution for setting the organs of government in opposition to one another so that the rivalries that would emerge would keep any one branch from assuming too much power. He writes that it worked for a timeuntil another vice, one even deadlier than ambition, took root: sloth. In short, Congressintended to be the most powerful branch of governmenthas ceded far too much power to the executive branch. He notes that presidents carry out acts of war without formal declarations and enter international agreements without calling them treaties. They use executive orders to get around the legislative and appropriations processes. He writes, The American presidency is the most dangerous job in the worldnot to the president, but to us.

The 2024 election isnt the repeat of 2020 we thought we were getting until President Biden stepped aside and Kamala Harris took over, but one thing hasnt changed: the disinformation. Most states offer some form of early voting, and that has prompted a number of claims the Dispatch Fact Check team tackles this week. We addressed claims from Pennsylvania after someone tweeted a video (6 million views and counting) questioning why a man delivered an obscene amount of ballots to a courthouse (the man was a postal worker) and shot down a story about an Indiana woman arrested for sending ballots to voters with the Democratic candidate pre-selected (the arrest happened in 2020 and was about absentee-ballot applications and not general election ballots). A voter in Kentucky posted a TikTok video allegedly showing a voting machine that highlighted Harris name while the voter was trying to select Trumpbut it was an isolated case and might have been user error. Out in Washington state, a voter claimed to be able to print a ballot off a county government website using a fake name and a real address, but county officials explained that such votes would not be counted and in fact voters who tried to do could face jail time. And we reported on a claim out of Wisconsin that a Republican official stole ballots and threw away votes for Harris (false).

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And heres the best of the rest:

Instead of a candy bar, our Halloween treat to you is this dive into the history of witches and witch trials in Colonial America. Daniel N. Gullotta explores why so many more women than men were accused of practicing witchcraft, and what kind of people were targeted most often.

Scott Lincicome has had it with economic doomerism. In Capitolism , he lists the many ways the U.S. economy is beating the pants off the competition: economic output, worker productivity, and the stock market.

Former world chess champion and Russian dissident Garry Kasparov, who has lived in the United States since 2017, explains why hes endorsing Kamala Harris. I never thought I would need to warn Americans about the dangers of dictatorship, he writes.

We havent heard a lot about cutting spending or shrinking government this election, but some electoral outcomes are better for fiscal conservatism than others. Brian Riedl looks back at the last few decades and notes that a Democratic president with a GOP-controlled Congress has offered the best chance to restrain spending.

And the pods: Having invited David Frum to The Dispatch Podcast to discuss his support for Kamala Harris, Jamie welcomed Hugh Hewitt on Monday to explain why hes voting for Donald Trump. Why is Virginia purging its voter roles? Why is RFK Jr. still on the ballot in some states? Whats going on in Pennsylvania with provisional ballots? David and Sarah have an election-law roundup on Advisory Opinions. If you know how Jonah feels about Woodrow Wilson, youll be eager to hear his Remnant conversation with Christopher Cox, author of a new Wilson biography.

Read more at The Dispatch

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A screen promoting the upcoming 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is pictured at the entrance of National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the CIIE, in east China's Shanghai, Oct. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]



The seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) highlights China's commitment to global openness and willingness to engage in trade with countries worldwide, a Zambian economic expert has said.

Bernadette Deka-Zulu, founder of Shaping Futures Zambia, a non-governmental organization supporting youth involvement in policy, described China's move to embrace opening up as a significant step toward fostering a global environment conducive to free trade among nations.

"The CIIE has offered itself as a leading example to bring about different countries and companies representing various regions, and this is offering an openness. China is saying we are ready to trade with anyone, it also shows that China is open for business," she told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday.

She noted that the CIIE not only contributes to China's economic growth but also serves as a gateway for emerging economies to access an open market, allowing them to display their products and tap into China's demand for diverse commodities.

As a former executive director of the Policy Monitoring and Research Center, Deka-Zulu emphasized that the CIIE will also offer a valuable platform for China to learn from other nations and for other countries to observe China's industrialization progress.

She further emphasized that China's commitment to globalization through events like the CIIE has set a benchmark for global economic integration, ensuring equal participation for all countries regardless of economic size -- a move critical for enhancing global livelihoods.

In an era marked by protectionist policies, China's openness creates a strategic advantage for emerging economies in global trade, she said, praising China's zero-tariff policy for all least-developed countries with diplomatic relations, calling it a tangible example of its commitment to fair trade.

She expressed optimism that this initiative would boost exports and elevate economies in these countries. Additionally, she noted that nine Zambian companies have so far registered for this year's expo, marking a notable increase from previous years and paving the way for more participation in future events.

Scheduled from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, the annual CIIE has, since 2018, supported international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchange, and cooperative partnerships.
By Jeff Mason

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -Barack Obama once said if there were no Scranton, Pennsylvania, there would be no Joe Biden.

The sitting president, whose term ends in January, returned to his childhood hometown on Saturday for a final campaign stop in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, seeking to use his sway in a critical part of an important swing state to help her beat his onetime rival, Republican Donald Trump, in Tuesday's election.

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Scranton has a storied history for Biden, and if he were still at the top of the Democratic ticket, a stop here would likely be seen as a full-circle moment for his final campaign.

Instead it was Biden's swan song of sorts for his No. 2, and a muted one at that.

The president rallied union workers, a constituency with whom he is popular, at a small hall in the town where he grew up before his family moved to Delaware, where he would launch his more than 50-year political career.

"I'm so proud to be back," Biden said, diving into familiar remarks about his and Harris' support for unions, his pride in having been the first president to walk a picket line, and their efforts to restore pensions.

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"Don't forget where you came from," he said to applause, warning of the ramifications if Trump is elected and does away with the Affordable Care Act healthcare program, which was Obama's signature achievement.

Biden used colorful language when describing what he would like to do to those who would turn back his legislative accomplishments with a reference to his younger days in Scranton.

"I'm serious. These are the kind of guys you'd like to smack in the ass," he said.

Biden told the crowd he would not have picked Harris as vice president if she didn't share his views about hard-working Americans.

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"We made a lot of progress, and Kamala will build on that progress," he said. "We need to elect Kamala as president."

Biden, who stepped aside as the Democratic Party's standard bearer in July following a disastrous debate performance against Trump, has not been a regular feature on the campaign trail for Harris since she ascended to the top of the ticket.

They held a handful of early events, both official and campaign-related, as she energized demoralized Democrats in the summer. But Biden's former campaign largely has left him in the shadows since, amid concerns about his age, penchant for gaffes, and low approval ratings with the American public.

The wisdom of that strategy was highlighted earlier this week when Biden's call with a Latino group in which he referred to a Trump supporter or supporters as "garbage" partially overshadowed Harris' well-received closing argument speech to tens of thousands of supporters in Washington. Biden later clarified his remarks, but the episode was an unwelcome one for Harris and her team in the final stretch of the race.

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It was not enough, however, for them to ask Biden to eschew his stop in Pennsylvania, where he spoke at a union get-out-the-vote meeting with Carpenters Local 445, standing in front of a wall of signs that said "Harris for President" and "Thank you, Joe."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; editing by Diane Craft and Leslie Adler)
President Joe Biden, center, gets his picture taken with supporters shortly after giving a speech at the United Steelworkers Headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

The Biden administration on Friday announced that looming cuts for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) pensions across Pennsylvania have been averted, after receiving special funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

President Joe Biden was in Philadelphia Friday to tout the $684.4 million that the UFCW Tri-State Plan, which covers more than 29,000 service industry workers, will receive from the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) program. The pension plan was projected to become insolvent in 2028, meaning reductions to the workers monthly pension benefits of 15%.

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The SFA was enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill Biden signed in 2021. As of Nov. 1, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp (PBGC) has approved $69.5 billion in SFA funds to pension plans that cover about 1.2 million workers, retirees, and beneficiaries, according to the White House.

John Dean of King of Prussia, a member of UFCW 1776 for 36 years, said Friday in Philadelphia that as shop steward for the union at the Acme market where he works he would get questions from members about the pension plan. After going to a few meetings and gathering information, I had the answers, and they werent good, Dean said.

He learned the pension plan was headed toward insolvency and saw little hope of a fix with Republicans controlling Congress and the White House. But after Biden was elected, and passed the American Rescue Plan in 2021, and it was life changing for our members and their families. Thanks to the Biden Harris administration, our pension, which was on the verge of being insolvent by 2026 is now secure into the 2050s, he said.

Biden reminded the gathering at the Sprinkler Fitters Local 692 in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday that the legislation that made the pension protection possible was named for the late Teamster Butch Lewis, who fought to protect union retirees benefits.

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Before the Butch Lewis Act became the law of the land, union workers and retirees faced cuts of up to 70% or more of the retirement benefits through no fault of their own, Biden said. He noted that no Congressional Republicans had voted for the American Rescue Plan. But now [union workers] know because of what weve done, we see the full amount of the pensions they worked hard for, and theyll receive it.

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su told the Capital-Star in an interview that many of the affected supermarket workers are part of the sandwich generation taking care of children and parents. These are, if not our own family members they are our friends and neighbors, she said. These are people that we see doing the hard work, and they make sure that we have food on our tables, and making sure they have their retirement is about ensuring they get food on theirs.



During the stop in Philadelphia, Biden called out U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) who he said had championed the Butch Lewis Act.

Workers are the backbone of our Commonwealth and thanks to the American Rescue Plan, tens of thousands of families can continue relying on their pensions without worrying that their plans may be cut, Casey said in a statement. I fought for this fix because I know how critical pensions are to the futures of thousands of Pennsylvania families, and how scary it was for those families to face the possibility of the rug being pulled out from underneath them.

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Biden said he was proud to be considered the most pro-union president in history, something he pushed during his brief reelection bid. He was the first sitting president to walk a picket line when he joined United Auto Workers in Michigan last year during their strike against the Big Three American auto companies.

According to the White House, Pennsylvania has the second-highest number of people who had their pensions saved under Biden, at 65,000. Michigan tops the list, at 80,000, and Wisconsin is third, at 33,000.

All three are key Blue Wall swing states that both presidential candidates have campaigned in relentlessly, and will continue to do so up until the eve of the election. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, will visit Allentown, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on Monday, and former President DOnald Trump, the GOP nominee, has rallies planned in Reading and Pittsburgh the same day.

Biden will campaign for the Harris-Walz ticket on Saturday in his childhood hometown of Scranton.

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Bill Maher has been a critic of Donald Trump since the earliest days of his 2016 run for president.

But on Friday, the liberal pundit defended the GOP presidential nominee for imagining how former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) would react to having guns trained at her, and argued on his show, HBOs Real Time, that Trumps remark expressed the same antiwar notion that liberals used to share.

At a campaign event with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Glendale, Arizona, on Thursday, the former president called Cheney a war hawk. Both Cheney and her father, former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, have endorsed his opponent, Kamala Harris.

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Lets put her with a rifle, standing there, with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Lets see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face, Trump said.

He went on: You know, theyre all war hawks when theyre sitting in Washington in a nice building, saying, Aw, gee, well, lets send 10,000 troops right into the mouth of the enemy.

Maher argued the former presidents fantasy about Cheney getting shot at was just a poorly worded argument for non-interventionist foreign policy.

I woke up today to the headline that Trump had called for a firing squad for Liz Cheney, he said Friday. And this is what I really dont like about the media  no, he didnt. You dont have to move me to not like Donald Trump more than I already do.

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Just to be clear, this is exactly what hippies always said, the host added. This is exactly what peaceniks always said. This is Fortunate Son, the song. Its like, you know what? Its very easy to sit in your building and send young men to die.

Maher received some pushback from one guest on his show, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who acerbically countered that Trump must know what its really like from Vietnam  in reference to the fact that Trumps bone spur diagnosis helped him avoid being drafted into the military.

Maher conceded that Trump expresses himself horribly, and Raskin argued that there has been a lot of violence following Trumps political rise  which shouldnt be ignored.

Trump made the comment in Glendale, Arizona at an event held by Tucker Carlson. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

The MAGA leader has reportedly made more than 100 threats to his perceived enemies, and has begun repeating that there is an enemy within the U.S. government that he hopes to eradicate. He has even pondered using the military to quell potential civil unrest from the radical left.

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Trumps Cheney comment sparked outrage among high-ranking Democrats, including Harris, who argued such remarks are disqualifying, as well as Cheney herself, who said this is how dictators destroy free nations.

Maher, who has long warned about the dangers of a second Trump term and predicted that he wouldnt promptly concede the 2020 presidential election, ultimately found himself in a predicament Friday  by defending the same billionaire who once sued him.

Just dont lie to me, Maher said Friday about the media. I dont like Donald Trump. Dont lie to me and tell me he wants her in front of a firing squad. He was saying something that  sounds like what hippies used to say  about not sending people to die.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Birmingham police are searching for a missing 42-year-old man who has reportedly not been seen since the late summer.

According to the Birmingham Police Department, Tyson McElroy was last observed near Grandview Medical Center. Police stated he has not been seen or heard from since.

Tyson McElroy (Photo courtesy of the Birmingham Police Department)

McElroy is 5-foot-6 and weighs around 160 pounds. Those with information on McElroys whereabouts are urged to call the BPD at 205-328-9311.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WDKX Radio in Rochester, NY never sold out on the vision of its founder, Andrew Langston. His granddaughter Andria Langston shares the story of being a third-generation Black business owner.



If youve ever looked at the call letters on a radio station, they may have seemed like just letters to you.

But at WDKX Radio in Rochester, NY the D stands for Frederick Douglass, the K for Martin Luther King Jr. and the X is for Malcolm X.

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Amid a media landscape where many Black radio stations advertising to Black listeners arent owned by Black people, WDKX exemplifies the legacy and power of independent Black media. This year, the station celebrates 50 years in business.

According to the African American Public Radio Consortium, an estimated 10,000 commercial radio stations broadcast daily in the U.S. but fewer than 1% are Black-owned. This disparity reveals more than just a gap in ownership; it highlights a systemic issue that leaves fewer Black leaders in charge of the voices and messages that claim to speak for Black people.

Anybody can play Black music or put Black programming on, but theres a different type of authenticity and relationship when it comes from Black creators, says Andria Langston, WDKXs current co-owner and national sales manager.

Langston is the daughter of Andre Langston and the granddaughter of Andrew Langston, who founded WDKX in 1974 in Rochester. While the city in northern New York is often celebrated as a destination for abolitionists like Frederick Douglass, that doesnt mean racism wasnt alive and well in the area.

Andrew Langston (right) is the founder and visionary behind WDKX Radio, which he founded in 1974. (Photo via WROC-TV)

Andria Langston poses with her father, Andre Langston, the current owner of WDKX Radio in Rochester, NY, who has ensured the station stays independently owned. (Photo courtesy The Langston Family)

My grandfather was a visionary, and interestingly enough, he moved to Rochester, New York because he was promised a job at CBS in television, Langston tells theGrio. But when he got there and they saw that he was Black, they didnt want to put him on television. And being in Rochester during the Rochester riots, my grandparents saw that there was a need for our story to be told.

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Today, WDKX is a beacon of resilience, standing as one of the last Black-owned, independently operated radio stations in the U.S. The station hosts community events and highlights issues related to health, education, and politics. Its mission is deeply rooted in the vision of Mr. Langston, who fought through regulatory and racial barriers to establish a platform dedicated to authentic Black voices. For Andria, who began learning the business of the station at five years old, its deeply meaningful.

Im a third-generation owner and watching my grandfather build this station just in my lifetime and watching my father carry it on, I think thats a testimony to just even the American dream; of the things that can be accomplished through perseverance and community and just staying focused on your goals, Langston tells theGrio.

Like many Black-owned public radio stations, WDKX attracts socially conscious, culturally aware listeners who contribute to keeping this legacy alive. Although many African-American public radio stations are licensed to universities  comprising 70% of all such stations, including NPR affiliates  WDKX is one of the few that remains independently operated.

This weekend, as WDKX celebrates its 50th anniversary, it does so as a testament to the importance of Black ownership in media. From its dedication to unfiltered storytelling to its ability to build authentic connections, WDKX remains a crucial voice in an era where community-focused, Black-owned media is needed more than ever. For listeners in Rochester and beyond, WDKX isnt just a radio station. Its a reminder of the power and resilience found in owning ones own narrative.

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My grandfather was in his 40s when he finally got the radio station up and going, Langston explains. So you can have a dream in your 20s and it takes you years to accomplish it. Dont give up on your dreams. Keep going. Because you have time and theres enough out here for everybody.

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Former President Donald Trump and his allies keep saying Republicans can win Virginia.

Virginia is in play, said Jeff Ryer, the Virginia spokesman for Trumps campaign. President Trump and Team Trump know Virginia is a battleground, which is among the reasons why President Trump will be holding a rally here on Saturday. ... Virginia is within the margin-of-error.

Its a position that raises some eyebrows in political circles. Joe Biden won Virginia by 10 percentage points in 2020. The state has voted for a Democrat in the last four presidential elections. Polling shows Kamala Harris on track to win the states 12 electoral votes by at least a five-point margin.

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But far-right personalities are spreading unfounded allegations of voter fraud in Virginia. And local election officials in at least one county are already arguing they shouldnt have to certify the election results. Meanwhile, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares, both Republicans, successfully convinced the U.S. Supreme Court to allow them to purge 1,600 suspected noncitizens from the voter rolls just days before the election.

Trumps average here with the voters is around 44%, said Neil Newhouse, who co-founded a polling firm in Virginia. He gets no higher than 46% in any poll thats been conducted and released to the public. It is a steep, steep, steep climb for President Trump to win the state.

Virginia differs from many of the states expected to go for Harris in one important way: There is significant Republican influence over the way its elections are run, because it has a Republican governor, a Republican attorney general, a Republican majority on its State Election Board, and Republican majorities on its local election boards.

Though Trump's effort to reverse his defeat in 2020 focused largely on swing states where President Joe Biden's margin of victory was slim such as Georgia and Pennsylvania, a majority-Democratic state with so much Republican power over elections could be a powerful draw for challenges to election results in 2024.

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Trump in 2020 filed a lawsuit to overturn the results in New Mexico, where Biden won by 11 points, and a Republican presidential candidate hasnt won since 2004. Republicans nonetheless sent paperwork to Congress and the National Archives saying they were the alternate electors for Trump who would cast their votes for him in the event his legal challenges were successful.

I dont think margin is going to be much of a barrier to those who oppose democracy, said David Becker, the founder of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, a nonpartisan group that works with election administrators across the country. So we could focus on just the swing states, and I think that would be a mistake.

CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 28: Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares joins Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump onstage during a rally at Greenbrier Farms on June 28, 2024 in Chesapeake, Virginia. Last night Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden took part in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Some Trump supporters say he can win Virginia if there is no cheating

As Election Day nears, the idea that Republicans can win Virginia is moving through right-wing media, even as the election forecasting website FiveThirtyEight puts Harris up by six points.

Sergio Munoz, a vice president for Media Matters, a liberal nonprofit focused on conservative misinformation, said right-wing media has been priming their audience on the idea that Trump is clearly leading, and that the Democrats are going to try to cheat.

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Munoz said he is expecting "lawsuits from the Trump campaign and his allies in the Republican Party challenging results for Harris  across the country  even in states where any objective watcher would not have expected them to win."

On conservative journalist Ann Vandersteel's podcast in October, former Trump administration official William McGinley, who is the RNCs outside counsel for election integrity, told people in battleground states to sign up to volunteer as poll watchers. He listed swing states including Arizona and North Carolina before adding, I would even put Virginia and Minnesota on there.

Elon Musk shared a post on X in October alleging that there were precincts in Henrico County, Virginia  a county just outside of Richmond where President Joe Biden in 2020 won with about 64% of the votes  where there were more votes counted in the 2020 election than there were registered voters. The county quickly debunked the rumor, but it was subsequently repeated by Seth Keshel, a prominent questioner of the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

Tennessee podcast host Shawn Farash, who also goes by Captain Deplorable, said Oct. 15 on his Rumble podcast Ungoverned that there was recent polling showing Trump could win, but did not cite any polls. He argued the Department of Justices lawsuit to block Virginias voter roll purge shows Democrats are worried they cant win the state legitimately.

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Why is the Department of Justice suing the state of Virginia if Virginia is safely in the bag for Democrats? Farash asked. The conclusion that requires the least amount of assumptions would be that they are counting on noncitizens to vote in Virginia to help tip the scales in favor of Kamala Harris. And that to me would mean, in a fair election, Virginia is in play.

Youngkin, Miyares advance efforts against noncitizen voting

While noncitizen voting is an extremely rare phenomenon, Republicans have raised alarms about it in this election, with Trump and Johnson proposing a bill to require proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Youngkin has been an enthusiastic participant in his party's effort to end alleged noncitizen voting. First, Youngkin directed the states top election official to create a process for daily removals of potential noncitizens from their voter rolls. Then, he directed the state to run an awareness campaign targeting, among other things, illegal voting.

Federal law requires people to attest to their citizenship when they sign up to vote. A 2017 study from the Brennan Center for Justice found that found 30 cases of noncitizen voting, out of more than 23 million votes cast, accounting for .0001% of the votes in those places.

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Under Virginias program, people are being sent notices that they were declared noncitizen, and are not being provided any information on how to re-register to vote, according to the Department of Justices lawsuit. The suit said local election administrators had no discretion under the program to prevent a voters cancellation, even if they have reason to believe that the voter is a United States citizen.

The suit said that in Prince William County, dozens of people who were removed earlier in the year were likely U.S. citizens.

Additionally, people who show up to vote will be greeted with signs saying noncitizens arent allowed to vote.

I made it very clear that if you are a noncitizen and you vote, that is illegal and you will be prosecuted, Youngkin said on a Sept. 5 call with the Republican Party for training poll watchers. And that is going to be well communicated and posted in every precinct.

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Judith Browne Dianis, the executive director of Advancement Project, the civil rights organization that brought the first case against Youngkins voter roll purge, told USA TODAY that voter puges often end up targeting naturalized citizens who told a motor vehicle office years ago they were not a citizen but became citizens later. That happened in Texas five years ago, leading the state to question about 100,000 registered voters. The effort was rescinded after naturalized citizens who were targeted sued.

(Noncitizen voting) is a story they want to sell in this election to delegitimize the outcome of the election wrongfully, Dianis said, adding that the signs in polling places could "intimidate people."

"Noncitizens know theyre not supposed to vote," Dianis said.

In response to lawsuits brought by the Department of Justice and civil rights groups, two federal courts blocked Virginias voter removal program for violating federal law. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, appealed those rulings to the Supreme Court and won.

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"This ruling ensures that  with less than a week before the elections  Virginians can vote with confidence knowing Virginians will be choosing our elected officials, Miyares said in a news release.

A battle over election certification in Virginia

Near Virginias western border, two Republicans who sit on the three-person Waynesboro Board of Elections are suing the state, saying that they shouldnt have to certify the upcoming election results if the results are counted using a machine. The effort is controversial even among Republicans. Voters are countersuing to force them to certify.

The lawsuit touches on two mainstays of the far-right movement that casts doubt on elections  that machines should not be used to count votes in American elections, and that local governments shouldnt have to certify the results of elections that they are skeptical of.

The lawsuit could upend the process of awarding Virginia's 12 electoral votes to Harris. Under federal law, if a state does not send its electoral votes to Congress on time, those electoral votes will be deducted from the total number of electoral votes needed to win. If Virginias votes werent sent, a candidate would need 264 votes to win, instead of 270.

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Nationwide, Republicans sitting on county boards have voted dozens of times not to certify votes of elections, rarely delaying the outcome of certification, but often sowing doubt. All of Virginias local boards of elections have Republican majorities because state law says the majority of appointees will be the same party as the governor, who in this case is a Republican.

At the event in September, Youngkin said those Republican majorities are really, really important. His office, which did not respond to USA TODAYs requests for comment, previously told USA TODAY that he is committed to signing the documents required to declare the winner of the state's electoral votes.

Edgardo Cortes, the former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections, told a court Tuesday there could be cascading effects on Virginias elections if Waynesboros board does not certify. Without the local certification, the Virginia Board of Elections would either not be able to certify state results or would have to certify without Waynesboro, leaving the states certification open to legal challenges, Cortes said.

Jennifer Lewis, a 43-year-old Democrat from Waynesboro, is one of five people who countersued the two election board members to force them to certify.

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This is not about Republican and Democrat, Lewis said. This is about election integrity."

Youngkins office did not respond to an inquiry for comment. The Virginia Department of Elections said it does not comment on pending litigation. Attorney General Jason Miyares' office told the USA TODAY Network they could not comment on ongoing litigation, but previously told Cardinal News his office expects to fight the Waynesboro board members in court.

Virginia uses hand-marked paper ballots throughout the state, counted by electronic tabulation machines, something that Youngkin has sought to clarify to election skeptics who are concerned about voting machines.

But Curtis Lilly, one of the two board members who brought the suit, said he was concerned about the possibility of tabulation machines changing votes. He said he didnt think the machines were actually changing votes and did not offer any specific evidence of machines changing ballots.

Rich Anderson, the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, said he and the party can be confident in the machine counts because there are other verifications that take place.

I urge the boards to certify to the State Board of Elections with confidence after the multiple checks and validations that take place on election night and after, Anderson told USA TODAY in an email.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Conservatives raise voter fraud fears in Virginia
Hydrogen-powered vehicles are entering the chat.

BMW announced that it will launch its first-ever fuel-cell electric vehicle in 2028, as Reuters reported.

"This is a milestone in automotive history: the first-ever series production fuel-cell vehicle to be offered by a global premium manufacturer," said BMW CEO Oliver Zipse in a press release.

"It will herald an era of significant demand for fuel-cell electric vehicles," he predicted.

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BMW isn't doing it alone, either. Fellow automaker Toyota teamed up with them to design the fuel-cell technology that enables hydrogen to be separated by a catalyst and generate power.

"BMW and Toyota share the same passion for cars and belief in 'technology openness' and a 'multipathway' approach to carbon neutrality," declared Toyota's president Koji Sato.

As Sato alludes to, hydrogen-powered vehicles are an exciting extra avenue to shift away from gas-powered vehicles that rely on dirty energy. Fossil fuel-dependent vehicles pollute the air and heat the planet with dangerous implications. Fuel-cell vehicles can charge quickly while possessing a long range. Similar to battery-powered EVs, they greatly reduce air pollution.

That's why engineers from all over the world are tackling some of its inherent challenges. BMW is at the forefront of the space, with the automaker already testing the iX5 Hydrogen and generating promising results. BMW says that the concept vehicle has a range of around 300 miles and charges in three to four minutes.

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Battery-powered EVs on the market do come with some built-in advantages for drivers looking to make the switch.

If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you?

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind

Hydrogen-powered cars don't have the same robust charging infrastructure yet, and so far, producing the cars has been costly. There are also concerns about the longevity of the cars, which researchers in Sweden are working to address.

One last issue is that 95% of hydrogen production relies on dirty energy like methane. That's why "green hydrogen" is a growing area of research and innovation in a bid to develop cleaner ways to tap into the energy source and create a hydrogen economy.

Details are scarce on the forthcoming vehicle. BMW revealed the car will be an existing model with a hydrogen option but didn't disclose the price or production volume.

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Zipse says the vehicle will "highlight how technological progress is shaping the mobility of the future."

Meanwhile, Sato said he hopes "to realize a future where hydrogen energy supports society."

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.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  A murder investigation is underway in Early County after the body of a Florida woman was found on the side of a major highway.

Early County Coroner Crystal Tolbert identified the victim as 29-year-old Carmen Correra of Orange County, Florida.

On October 29, the Orange County Sheriffs Office in Orlando, Florida, contacted the Early County Sheriffs Office, asking for assistance recovering evidence in a possible murder case that may have been dropped along Highway 84 near the Alabama-Georgia state line.

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According to the Early County Sheriffs Office, deputies found Correras body on Thursday, October 31, while searching for the evidence along Highway 84.

ECSO Major Randall English tells WDHN that investigators believe Correra was killed in Orange County, Florida, before being transported to Early County, where the body was dumped. Investigators believe the body had been next to the highway for nearly two days.

Early County, Georgia, and Orange County, Florida, are just over five hours away.

The body has been sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for an autopsy.

A joint investigation is ongoing between the Early County Sheriffs Office and the Orange County Sheriffs Office.

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WDHN has contacted the Orange County Sheriffs Office for additional information.

Stay with WDHN for updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
A Florida bail bondsman was arrested for allegedly asking incarcerated women for sex in exchange for bailing them out, Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Tuesday.

Russell Bruce Moncrief, 75, the owner of Moncrief Bail Bonds, which has locations in multiple Florida counties, is accused of human trafficking and racketeering, among other charges, according to the announcement.

Moncrief Bail Bonds via Google Maps Google Maps

According to Moody, Moncrief targeted women in county jail and others who had been arrested on prostitution and/or drug charges. After bailing the women out, Moncrief maintained his power over them by threatening to revoke their bonds.

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Moncrief also allegedly offered to bail out some women on the condition that they have sex with another person outside of the jail. The attorney general alleged that Moncrief sold women he bonded out to other buyers.

The Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation identified at least 26 possible victims and a number of potential witnesses in the course of its three-year investigation, according to an arrest report cited by ABC affiliate WFTV.

Moncriefs charges come a year after the arrest of a local defense attorney, John Gillespie, on similar allegations, TV station WKMG reports.

Victims of Gillespie alleged that they had to have sex with Bruce Moncrief ... in exchange for being bonded out of jail or in exchange for others being bonded out of jail, said a Florida law enforcement release cited by WKMG.

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According to court records Gillespie was found incompetent to proceed and remains in Orange County Jail.

An attorney representing Moncrief did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for a statement, but told WKMG that the defendant he denies any and all of these allegations.

If found guilty, Moncrief faces up to 125 years in prison. Court records show he is expected to appear in Orange County court on Nov. 8.

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday  but not for the reason youd expect.

The border crisis that drew the Democrat wasnt immigration, but sewage.

For nearly a century, billions of gallons of sewage have been pouring into Southern California from Mexico, making coastal communities near San Diego the victim of a crisis few people know about.

The problems have disrupted daily life around Americas eighth-largest city, affected military operations and exposed how generations of politicians in Mexico and the U.S. have failed to provide sanitation on both sides of the worlds busiest border. The wastewater has closed beaches, ruined a major river, fouled the air, upended the local economy, canceled Navy SEAL training, melted the boots of border patrol agents, been tied to dolphin deaths, set off diplomatic disputes and spurred a body of research examining exactly how much it's sickened people.



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A Donald Trump speech about Mexican sewage seeping over the border almost writes itself, but hes seemingly never mentioned the issue publicly. Neither have President Joe Biden or Kamala Harris since becoming vice president.

Newsoms visit follows months of growing pressure from local mayors, state lawmakers and San Diegos congressional delegation for the governor and Biden to declare states of emergency along the border.

But the problem has been going on for decades, perhaps too long to be considered an emergency, and still hasn't gotten the kind of traction that other border issues have.

The good news is were making progress, Newsom told reporters after his trip this week. The difficult news and stubborn news is its not happening fast enough.

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Politicians who have tried to elevate the sewage problem attribute its obscurity to geography and demographics  the border is far from D.C. and the communities suffering the longest are low-income and largely Hispanic.

If this was in Chesapeake Bay or even the Great Lakes, it would be the talk of the town, Rep. Scott Peters, a California Democrat who represents the region, said in a recent interview.

'Inside a port-a-potty'

Paloma Aguirre, the mayor of a California beach town near the border with Mexico, canceled an initial interview with POLITICO because she was in the emergency room.

She couldnt breathe. And the air smelled like shit.



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Aguirres town, Imperial Beach, is the epicenter of the sewage crisis.

The shores of Imperial Beach  a balmy town a few miles north of Tijuana  have been almost continuously closed for the past three years. Visitors see bright yellow signs stuck in the sand that read, KEEP OUT, SEWAGE CONTAMINATED WATER and EXPOSURE MAY CAUSE ILLNESS.

This summer, though, the crisis took a turn because of the smell. Local air officials responded to 1,000 complaints about the odor in July and August and stepped up plans to distribute air purifiers to people who live near the border.

I am being woken up by the smell, Aguirre said when we talked by phone after her late August trip to the ER. It smells like your bedroom is a Porta-Potty  like youre inside a Porta-Potty.



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Aguirre said shes a pretty healthy person, but she felt like she was having a heart attack.

"I'm a surfer. I don't smoke. I don't drink, she said. So, I don't think it'd be a far-fetched idea to think that this is related to the exposure of these gases, right? And if it's happening to me, it's happening to dozens, if not hundreds of people that are being exposed to this."

Researchers from UC San Diego, San Diego State University, local and state health departments, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control are probing whether the airborne gases from the raw sewage pose public health risks.



There is plenty of blame to go around on both sides of the border  bureaucratic ineptitude and political inattention know no country. But the direct cause is a poor sewer system in Tijuana  and a nearly-as-inadequate sewage treatment plant in San Diego.

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Even with an emerging bipartisan push in Congress to solve the problem, the fix will be years off: Infrastructure improvements will need hundreds of millions of dollars and improved cooperation between U.S. and Mexico officials

The U.S. government has to put a lot more pressure on Mexico, said Phillip Musegaas, head of San Diego Coastkeeper, one of the regions most influential environmental organizations.

Decades of neglect

For at least 90 years, officials on both sides of the border have known about wastewater from Mexico flowing into the United States through the Tijuana River, which runs north from Tijuana into San Diego and through Imperial Beach before dumping into the ocean.

Things got worse as San Diegos economy boomed during a naval buildup in World War II and Tijuana grew along with it but its sewer system did not keep pace.

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Writing about Paris in the 1800s, Victor Hugo said a sewer is a citys conscience.

Every time the city opens a new street, he said, the sewer extends an arm.



That didnt happen in Tijuana. Some homes were built without being connected to a sewer system, a practice that continues today, so sewage flows unchecked and untreated into the river or directly into the Pacific.

Forty years of California politicians have tried to solve the Tijuana problem.

Brian Bilbray, the Republican mayor of Imperial Beach who would eventually represent it for seven terms in Congress, made a name for himself in 1980 by trying to send the sewage back into Mexico: He got a bulldozer and tried to dam the Tijuana River.

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That radical approach ended in a scuffle  caught on camera by a local TV station  between some of his supporters and opponents of his plan. Among the opponents blocking Bilbrays bulldozer was Serge Dedina, a local surfer and environmental activist who wanted to protect a wetland fed by the river.

Say what you will about Bilbray's tactics, but Washington finally did something: The U.S. built a wastewater treatment plant north of the border, the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, in 1997 to take sewage from Tijuana and treat it before dumping it into the ocean off San Diego.



Dedina, a Democrat, became mayor in 2014. He spent much of his eight years in office fighting what he called a tsunami of sewage as problems continued in Mexico and the American treatment plant itself failed. Where Bilbray was famous for direct action, Dedina took to the courts. Imperial Beach and other cities' lawsuit against the federal government resulted in a settlement with the federal government promising to clean up its act.

But Aguirre, who worked for an environmental nonprofit Dedina founded, inherited the problem when she succeeded him as mayor in 2022.

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By then, the sewage had spread north, to the more-affluent town of Coronado and its adjacent naval base. Some officials from closer to the border note it took a wealthy white community like Coronado having problems before the sewage issue got attention.

If other parts of the states coastline were closed for that period of time, all hell would be breaking loose, said state Sen. Steve Padilla, whose district spans the state's entire 140-mile border with Mexico.

Peters, a mild-mannered attorney and former San Diego city councilmember who represents Coronado and coastal neighborhoods close to the border, took a page out of Bilbray's playbook: He started doing what he called a lot of stuff that's not Scott Peters-ish, including giving a floor speech in March next to a sign that read THIS S#*!S GOTTA STOP.

A crisis gone to waste

The issue isnt strictly partisan  San Diego area Democrats have tried to get Democratic presidents to care, San Diego area Republicans have tried to get Republican presidents to care.

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There was some movement during the Trump administration. A funding bill tied to a trade deal Trump negotiated with Mexico and Canada included $300 million to upgrade the sewage treatment plant at the border. (Peters and others credited then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi with the win: She asked for $400 million, while Trump countered with zero.)

Remarkably, Trump does not seem to have seized on the issue, despite attempts to get him directly involved.

In May 2019, Coronados Republican mayor, Richard Bailey, met with Rudy Giuliani at the Trump Hotel in Washington to raise the sewage issue, part of what Bailey called a leave no stone unturned strategy.



San Diegos Republican mayor, Kevin Faulconer, was photographed a month later in the Oval Office beside a grinning Trump. The photo set off a row about why the moderate Faulconer had met with Trump but the mayor said he had been there to talk about important issues, including the sewage crisis. The president said the mayor had thanked him for a border wall.

In a trip to the border in September 2019, Trump didnt seem to have gotten the message. He did talk about sewage in the ocean but he segued his remarks in a way that seemed to blame homeless people and the Los Angeless subway system rather than the country just feet away that was, in fact, responsible.



In response to specific questions about the sewage situation, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt gave a broad statement that didnt directly address the issue: "President Trump advanced conservation and environmental stewardship while promoting economic growth for families across the country.

In 2023, Peters and other bipartisan members of the regions congressional delegation urged Biden to declare a state of emergency citing severe impacts to the economy and hazards to the Navy, which has told lawmakers it canceled more than 20 SEAL training sessions off the coast of Coronado because of water quality issues in the 2022 fiscal year. In September, Democrats in the delegation urged Biden and Newsom to declare a state of emergency because of alarming levels of noxious gas emanating from the Tijuana River.

Bidens top environmental official, EPA administrator Michael Regan, has visited the region to talk about the crisis as an environmental justice issue. A high-level state department official stopped by the beleaguered wastewater treatment plant this summer. Harris has heard about the issue in meetings with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, a fellow Democrat.



Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Wisconsin Republican and former SEAL, said he had sinus infections for 15 years that he blames on swimming and diving in feces-laden water off Coronado. He blamed the State Department, which through a quirk of history is in charge of running the cross-border wastewater treatment plant in San Diego.

If the State Department would get off their ass and do something, this wouldnt be an issue, he said.

Cross-border cooperation

That "something" would be upgrading the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was built in 1997 but has become part of the problem.

The facility is run by an obscure State Department agency, the International Boundary and Water Commission, which let the plant fall into disrepair. The plant has been violating the Clean Water Act on and off for years because of breakdowns and spills.

Obviously having a federal facility operated by the federal government not meeting federal law is deeply concerning, the head of the boundary commission, Maria-Elena Giner, recently told California water quality regulators during a meeting asking for more time to fix the plant.



In recent months, her agency broke ground on repairs to the plant and awarded a contract to design a much-needed expansion. Right now, even if the plant worked as expected, its too small to handle all the wastewater that comes across the border.

If her agency and officials in Mexico can both make necessary upgrades, the boundary commission estimates 90 percent of the sewage will be taken care of. But there have been years of false hope that both countries can get a handle on things and cooperation is not easy.

In an interview, Giner recalled a meeting earlier this year where Mexican officials got a little defensive and were not clear  after all these years  where tens of millions of gallons of wastewater that filled the Tijuana River this summer came from, at a time when the river should have been running dry. American officials think sewer lines in Tijuana may have collapsed during storms last year that also walloped and overwhelmed the American plant.



She said Ken Salazar, Americas ambassador to Mexico, has been highly engaged on the issue.

But others think more can be done.

Nilmini Silva-Send, a professor who teaches a class focused on the border pollution issue at University of San Diegos law school, has suggested trying to take international legal action, like a 1930s case that successfully curbed air pollution coming into the U.S. from Canada.

The domestic approach cannot get the whole solution, she said. There are limits.

In recent years, Mexican officials have begun working on projects meant to curb the wastewater coming across the border.

Former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ordered the army to rebuild a sewage treatment plant along the Tijuana coast. Current Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum included a tour of the project in her first visit to Baja California, the state that is home to Tijuana. The states governor, Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, has also pushed for the project. After meeting with Newsom this week, she posted on social media that the new plant will be a turning point for the water future of Baja California and California!!

Construction at the plant was supposed to be finished by the end of September. Mexican officials were having trouble getting equipment but now expect it to be up and running by mid-December.

We are doing what we have to do to solve this problem because, yes, we are embarrassed that those beaches are contaminated on both sides of the border, Kurt Honold, the secretary of economy and innovation for Baja California, said in an interview in early September.

But Honolds also pushed the U.S. to act more quickly to upgrade the international treatment plant it controls.

I can send you our workers, he said.


Are we really here again? We are indeed.

It has been a week now since thousands of writers and artists, including the bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney, plus sundry Nobel, Pulitzer and Booker prize winners including Arundati Roy and Booker nominee Rachel Kushner, signed an open letter calling for a cultural boycott  the largest in history  of Israeli arts.

In response, a counter-letter signed by Simon Sebag Montefiore, Simon Schama, Booker-winner Howard Jacobson, Jack Reacher thriller writer Lee Child, Nobel Prize winner Herta Muller and Ozzy Osbourne (bless him) and hundreds of others appeared, condemning the boycotters as an illiberal travesty, a dark miscarriage of the arts.

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I doubt itll do much good. Things are too far gone. The letter targeted Israeli writers, publishers, literary agencies, festivals and events connected to them. Israeli cultural institutions, often working directly with the state, have been crucial in obfuscating, disguising and artwashing the dispossession and oppression of millions of Palestinians for decades, the signatories wrote. Wow. Just wow.

Often working directly with the state? Like how most of our writers and artists work directly with the state, seeking funding from the Arts and Research Council so that they can work and eat too?

Artwashing? As opposed to just doing art? Like everyone else in the whole world who can? Must there be a crafty, malign agenda to that too? When it comes to the Jewish state, the answer is, as history might have predicted, a no-brainer. Of course there is.

Israeli authors, dancers, DJs, visual artists: all accused here, in the most respectable light of plain day, of using their artistic calling to advance the dispossession and oppression of millions of Palestinians.

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So yes. We are really here again. Mainstream and respectable groups are, with increasing regularity, mobilising to explicitly target, isolate and ghettoise people associated with a Jewish entity. They are so eager to do it that all it takes is the word of a few loony fringe groups like Palestine Literature Festival and Fossil Fuel Books, the group that caused the writers boycott of literary festivals earlier this year for alleged connections with the Israeli arms trade.

The temptation for Jews like me  whose family was and is (will always be) indelibly marked by what happened in 1930s Europe  is to be alert to repetition of that trauma. And we dont forget the longer history in which that trauma took place: the thousands of years of persecution following a handful of clear forms, of which the pogrom  made famous in 19th and early 20th century Eastern Europe  is the most famously crazed.

I dont think it will happen in the way it did then, and I think we have to tread very carefully with those comparisons. Crucially, we still have laws that curtail some implications of such boycotts and their architects. UK Lawyers for Israel have warned that the boycott is plainly discriminatory against Israelis and contrary to section 29 (1) of the Equality Act 2010.

And yet, to fully understand the long, multi-millennia history of persecution of Jewish people  either the genteel hands-off type (refusing to condemn, quietly aiding because everyone is doing it) or the type with extreme violence and ultimately ending in genocide  one cant ignore the patterns. Or indeed The Pattern, the theory of anti-Semitism developed by the quantum physicist David Deutsch and the historian of Medieval millenarianism Richard Landes that describes the urge to legitimise the hurting of Jews.

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And for the first time ever, thanks to the growing intensity of events, of which the cultural boycott is just one of many that prompt parallels with early 20th century actions against Jewish-linked entities, I worry that there could be other policies that harm those of us who believe in the need for a secure Jewish homeland. Crowds gather near my flat, formerly a fairly Jewish area, to praise Hamas and Hezbollah, terrorist groups animated by the dream of obliterating the Jews. Young women and men stomp around wearing huge keffiyehs and Palestinian iconography.

Last week also saw an angry crowd of anti-Semites gather outside JW3, Londons largest Jewish centre, because taking place inside was an event comprised ofJews. Which was enough to sound the Zionist/ war crime/ genocide/ apartheid bells  even though the Jews in question were pro-Palestine peaceniks.

With the net closing in on people just for being either Israeli or Jewish (presumed to be Zionists), it might not be long until people find themselves out of a job unless they first denounce the Jewish state just like DEI demands we all own up to white privilege and systemic racism. We might be tainted by association. It might become acceptable to discriminate or boycott if you suspect someone has family in Israel. If belonging to an Israeli publisher is bad enough, why not this?

One of the saddest things about the cultural boycott letter is that it includes the signatures of Israelis and this will appear to legitimise it to those who rely on: but this or that Jewish person agrees with me! That some prominent arty Israelis wish to be saved from ourselves does not change the sad truth. Self-hating Jews  whose knowledge of what is right is turned in on itself by the sheer demented pressure of malicious ideas  are nothing new.

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In the end, the only hope in the current madness is robust lawfare. UK lawyers for Israel has its work cut out for it, as will a growing number of people willing to press the Rooneys of the world on the legality of their anti-Israel passion.

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After closing over the summer, the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University will reopen Monday with a security guard providing staffing and a former museum director returning as the curator, a university spokesman said.

Gregg Hertzlieb, who led the museum for several years, will return Monday in a part-time capacity, according to an email from university spokesman Michael Fenton. Hertzliebs role will be purely administrative.

The museum will be open from 1:30-5:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It will be closed on weekends, Fenton said.

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The museum will be closed on Nov. 23-Dec. 1 for Thanksgiving break, and will close for winter break on Dec. 14. The museum will reopen when classes resume in January 2025, with specific days and times to be determined, Fenton said.

The museum closed in June amidst the news that its director, Jonathan Canning, was one of the staff members whose job was cut at the time. It has garnered national attention after Jose Padilla, the universitys president, announced in February 2023 that three cornerstone pieces of artwork were being considered for sale to fund improvements for dorms for first-year students.

Richard Brauer, the museums namesake and founding director, has said he will have his name removed from the museum if the sale of the artwork, which recently was approved by a Porter County magistrate, goes forward.

He has called the move to sell the paintings by Padilla a desperate action by a desperate man.

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Padilla first announced the possible sale of the artwork in February 2023, with plans to use the proceeds from the sale of Georgia OKeeffes Rust Red Hills, Frederic E. Churchs Mountain Landscape and The Silver Vale and the Golden Gate by Childe Hassam, to fund dorm renovations for first-year students.

According to appraisals received by the university, the fair market value of the OKeeffe is estimated at $10.5 million to $15 million; the Hassam, between $1 million and $3.5 million; and the Church at $1 million to $3 million.

The announcement drew widespread criticism from students, faculty, alumni and the art world, and drew nationwide attention.

The university removed the paintings from display in September 2023 citing security concerns and they have been stored in a secure, offsite location since then.

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The university has yet to provide a timeline for the sale of the paintings, though officials have said they want the dorms for first-year students to be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2026. The dorms will include a gallery of lesser-known works from the Percy H. Sloan Trust, which directly purchased or provided funding for the three paintings being sold.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A jury found two inmates guilty of assaulting two correctional officers at the South Dakota Penitentiary in 2023.

According to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, inmates Lester M. Monroe, 49, was found guilty of Attempted First Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault of a Department of Corrections Employee. Kyle Jones, 31, was also found guilty of one count of Attempted Murder.

This was a violent assault on two of our correctional officers, including one officer who was struck more than 70 times, doing their job, said Attorney General Jackley in a press release. Violence in the prison will not be tolerated, and offenders will be held accountable.

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The two were convicted Friday by a Minnehaha Circuit Court Jury after a week-long trial. They will be sentenced at a later date.

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Britain is importing record amounts of electricity from Europe to keep the lights on, as the shutdown of coal and nuclear power plants puts more pressure on the grid.

The surge in imports follows the opening of two new links between the UK and the Continent, increasing the amount of foreign power that is theoretically available for use in Britain by one-third.

According to data published by the National Energy System Operator (Neso), net imports totalled 26.3 terawatt hours from January to September  a new record for the UK.

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That beat the previous high of 24.6 terawatt hours reached three years ago.

The biggest share of imports so far this year has come from France, where the bulk of the power is generated by the countrys large fleet of nuclear power stations.

Supporters argue that interconnectors  high voltage undersea cables which connect the electricity systems of different countries  allow Britain to take advantage of cheaper prices across the Channel, benefiting consumers.

But critics have warned that the growing dependence on imports also poses potential risks, amid concerns about interconnector outages and export restrictions that have been adopted by some countries such as Norway and Germany.

They also point to falling output from coal, gas and nuclear power stations due to closures  leaving the country more exposed to intermittent renewables such as wind and solar farms.

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Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: We shouldnt have to rely on other countries to keep the lights on, and we certainly shouldnt leave our energy future up to their decisions.

We desperately need more baseload power, so we need to get on with a full new nuclear programme.

That way, Britain gets the jobs, the energy and the investment, and not just the bill.

He called for the Government to push ahead with a final investment decision on the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk, as well as work on a proposed plant in Wylfa, Anglesey.

The only new nuclear power station currently under construction is Hinkley Point C  with all of the UKs existing sites set to come offline this decade apart from Sizewell B in Suffolk.

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Following nuclear closures and the end of coal-fired generation last month, the electricity grid now relies on gas-fired power stations, a growing share of wind and solar power, biomass and interconnectors, as well as some hydropower and pumped storage.

This winter Neso will rely on interconnectors to supply roughly 11pc of the nations available power during a cold spell when demand will be at its highest.

That is up from about 4pc in 2019.

In the past three years, interconnector capacity has grown to 10.5 gigawatts after the opening of the 1-gigawatt ElecLink with France and the 1.5-gigawatt Viking Link to Denmark.

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A third link, the 500 megawatt Greenlink cable to Ireland, is expected to open at the end of this year.

Net exporter ambition

Neso has said that it expected interconnectors with Europe to play an important role in helping maintain secure supplies of electricity to Britain, while also providing useful flexibility.

The grid operator can intervene if power is flowing in the wrong direction during a crisis.

For example, it was forced to step in earlier this month when low wind output and higher-than-expected demand left the system facing a potential shortfall on October 14.

However, Kathryn Porter, an independent energy consultant at Watt Logic, said some interconnectors had provided patchy availability in recent years and European countries may be less willing to export if their own supplies are stretched.

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From 2021 to early 2023, one of the UKs links with France was operating at reduced capacity after suffering damage from a fire.

Ofgem, the energy regulator, has recently indicated it is against further interconnectors being brought online.

The watchdog has suggested that it wanted to block the construction of new cables  which could take capacity to as much as 20 gigawatts in the next decade  because they risk benefiting power producers more than consumers.

Countries that have the ability to export their unused power tend to see prices rise due to demand from abroad, Ofgem found.

Under the Governments plans to reach a net zero power system in the 2030s, ministers want Britain to become a net exporter of power.

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Not only might the imports we want not be available in the future, but Ofgem has also declined almost all future proposed interconnector projects, Ms Porter said.

So when Neso says it expects to have more capacity in future, where is that going to come from?

On Friday, a spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: We are committed to boosting Britains energy security.

Our mission is for clean power by 2030 because this is the best way to achieve energy independence, protect bill payers and reduce imports.

We only import from international partners when energy is cheaper in Europe, so families pay lower prices for their energy.

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The UKs record 26.3 terawatt hours this year was comprised of 34.5 terawatt hours of imports and just 8.2 terawatt hours of exports.

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CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Brush Fires are on the rise across Massachusetts. This comes after weeks of dry weather conditions and people not properly disposing of hazardous waste.

Huntington Fire Department work to contain brush fire in Montgomery

Investigators say that one-hundred of the fires in the past seven days were caused by human activity. As a result of this spike in outdoor fires, the National Weather Service issued another Red Flag warning for all of Massachusetts on Friday, and again on Saturday.

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State officials reported that in Massachusetts, an average of 15 wildland fires are reported each October. This year, the total for October capped at about 200  this is an increase of about 1,200% over the average.

Now, these fires can impact the safety of those in the community. According to Jon Davine, the state fire marshal, about 45% of Massachusetts homes are in or near wooded areas at risk for brush and wildland fires.

While local fire departments join together to put out these fires, safety officials are asking residents to practice safe operation of equipment that uses fire.

Refrain from outdoor cooking and heating as the sparks and embers from chimneys, fire pits, and grills can easily ignite dry vegetation, debris, and overhanging branches.

Residents should also properly dispose of smoking materials in an ashtray with water or sand.

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Also, please remember that open burning is prohibited statewide through January, year-round.

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.

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VANCOUVER, Washington  Joe Kent is nervous, and he keeps checking the clock on his phone. A far-right candidate for the House, with connections to white nationalists, Kent is making his closing pitch to GOP voters at a town hall in Vancouver, Washington, a commuter city across the river from Portland, Oregon. And hes expecting an important call from a virtual guest  one Donald J. Trump.

This district in southern Washington state is one of the most competitive swing seats in the country. Voters here backed Trump in 2016 and 2020. But in 2022  with Kent on the ballot  centrist Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez carried the district, by highlighting Kents extremist views and affiliations, including reportedly paying a Proud Boy as a consultant.

Nationally, the 2024 campaign for president has become a referendum on MAGA extremism and Trumps inclination toward fascism. The rematch in Washingtons 3rd district is a microcosm of that national narrative  pitting a moderate Democrat, who sometimes makes progressives pull their hair out, against an unabashed far-right nationalist. The contest has the potential to determine control of the House  which explains why Speaker Mike Johnson, the Louisiana Republican, has visited the district twice in recent weeks, praising Kent as a serious person for a serious time, and why Trump is appearing by phone tonight.

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This late October town hall is staged at the Clark County GOP headquarters, housed in a strip mall between a Subway and a teriyaki grill. A pair of large, surly men, one with a black MAGA cap and hand tattoos, work security at the door, giving arrivals an intimidating stare down. Tensions are running high. Earlier in the week, an arsonist set fire to an election drop box a neighborhood over, scorching hundreds of ballots.

Kent, himself, is not menacing to look at. In his mid 40s, wearing jeans and a red-and-black flannel shirt, rolled up to expose sleeve tattoos, Kent has a boyish smile and a touch of silver to his curly, dark hair. With a strong jaw and strapping build, he looks a bit like a G.I. Joe figure brought to life. And in the abstract, he has a sterling resume for politics. Kent is a longtime former Green Beret, who served briefly in the CIA; hes also a Gold Star husband who lost his first wife to a suicide blast in Syria in 2019. He was introduced to Trump at Dover Air Base, receiving her remains.

But Kent yokes this Captain America cred to dark and strange beliefs  about abortion, guns, immigration, elections, and the environment  and keeps the kind of company that invites swing voters to view him with alarm.

Gun Laws Are Infringements

As minutes tick by, waiting for the call from Trump, Kent stands before an audience of perhaps 80 supporters in front of a sign reading, We The People. Taking questions from voters, Kent lays out an absolutist Second Amendment agenda that might make an NRA lobbyist gush. I think gun laws are infringements, he insists. I want to get rid of all the federal gun laws  like the ATF, the National Firearms Act, Kent continues  referring to the federal law enforcement agency that polices gun crimes, and the 1934 law that blocks civilian access to machine guns. (In a recent debate, Kent said the Second Amendment was designed to give the government a healthy fear of its citizens, who are entitled to defend ourselves from a tyrannical government.)

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Kent talks up an anti-immigrant agenda centered on making life for the undocumented so miserable that a lot of these guys are going to self-deport. He talks up his plans to abolish the Department of Education to give parents federal money directly so they can pull their kids out of public schools. Kent repeatedly describes his plans to punish law enforcement agencies he dislikes  including the FBI and police bureaus in liberal cities  by stripping down their budgets and steering that cash into the coffers of right-wing sheriffs. Kent even wants to take out sea lions, protected by the Endangered Species Act, that he warns are ravaging fisheries in local rivers, insisting: We need to kill predators.

For this partisan crowd, Kent plays his reputation for extremism as a laugh line, clarifying that he wants to eliminate the protected marine life, responsibly  adding: Im not saying were going to go out and kill all the sea lions. He then jokes that theres still time for another attack mailer to land in voter mail boxes. Im waiting for the ad that says, Joe Kent wants to club baby seals.

Suddenly, its go time. The Trump call comes through. With his phone to his ear, Kent grins and almost blushes as he receives a private message from the former president. Kent then taps on the speaker phone for the audience, and Trump touts him as a proud America First conservative warrior. Trump truly makes Kent blush by touting him as a good looking guy, handsome as you can be.

The former president crows to the town hall that his own victory against Kamala Harris is almost assured: Were leading in all seven swing states, and were doing good. But Trump says he needs loyalists like Kent to secure his MAGA 2.0 agenda. Decrying migrants from Congo, South America, and rough ones from the Middle East, Trump insists: Were going to get them out. Were going to deport them out We have to do it, or were not going to have a country at all. Its a nativist message that gets enthusiastic response from this virtually all-white crowd. Joe will be by my side, Trump says of Kent, before touting his plans to to crush violent crime and cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory and radical gender ideology. Trump then trashes Kents opponent as a total radical-left person, mangling the congresswomans last name as Glossencamp Perez.

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The phone call is quick  and Kent is visibly relieved after it wraps, telling the crowd, I got to introduce Trump once before at Mar-a-Lago, but adding: On the phone, I was actually more nervous than in person. Kent lays out how he was in talks to join a potential second Trump administration in 2020 in a national security role until Trump lost.

Of course, Kent doesnt see the 2020 election that way. In his conspiratorial worldview, that contest was stolen from Trump  Kent has insisted the Biden administration is not legitimate  and the non-violent criminals from Jan. 6 should be pardoned. (By comparison Kent has called on Black Lives Matter leaders involved in the unrest following the death of George Floyd to be hunted down.)

A strong part of Kents motivation to run in 2022 was to punish then-incumbent GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler for joining in the impeachment of Trump, for unleashing that mob on the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Kent continues to have conspiratorial ideas about elections. At the town hall he alleges that Democrats are hoping to take back the House to upend a Trump electoral win. The Democrats get majority. You know what that means? That means they dont certify Trumps victory, he warned. Thats a big reason why Speaker Johnsons been out to the district twice.

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A major part of Kents pitch to Washington voters is that a blue state needs a MAGA man in Washington  to keep Trump from taking revenge on them. On the campaign trail, Trump has threatened to withhold wildfire aid from states like California unless they bend a knee to his agenda. And a recent investigation found Trump, in fact, blocked FEMA assistance to Washington state at the end of his term in 2020.

Were going to need somebody who actually has a little bit of an inside track, Kent insists. Otherwise, Washingtons going to get the stiff shoulder, right?

We Cant Wait to Have Him

Remarkably, this version of Joe Kent is dialed back from the version that ran in 2022. Kent has distanced himself from his past extreme anti-abortion rhetoric, which included comparing the practice to human slavery. Im a pro-life Christian. I do not like abortion, he says at the town hall, but then misleads his audience in saying the issue is settled because of the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortion simply is not on the ballot, Kent says, falsely suggesting that Dobbs prohibits a federal abortion ban. (In reality, the Dobbs decision removed abortion from the realm of constitutional rights, placing abortion in the political sphere  subjecting it to the restrictions imposed by state legislatures, or alternatively the U.S. Congress.)

In this 2024 campaign, Kent has also been less flamboyant about his connections with pugilists, white nationalists, and antisemites.

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Previously, Kent associated with Nick Fuentes, the Holocaust denying white nationalist and Christian supremacist who once dined with Trump and Kanye West in Mar-a-Lago. Fuentes bragged in 2021 of communicating with Kent and of helping get Kents social media up off the ground by promoting him on Gab. (Gab is an infamously hate-riven Christian nationalist social media network that recently launched an AI chatbot of Hitler. Kent has a following of more than 15,000 on the site. His account is still active, though he appears to have deleted his posts.)

In April 2021, Kent grouped Fuentes in with Trump and the MAGA movement as deserving protection from censorship. He wrote on X: Many are glad that their political rivals are targeted by the state & big tech because they hate Trump, @NickJFuentes & MAGA. He then insisted: We must fight for all speech & fight the confluence of gov & big tech.

However by 2022 Kent had changed his tune, writing, I strongly condemn Nick Fuentess politics, especially in regards to our ally Israel, adding he did not want Fuentes endorsement because his focus on race/religion was not compatible with Kents inclusive populism. Reached by Rolling Stone, Fuentes says today of Kents 2024 bid: Since he did not attack us this year, we will not be actively opposing his candidacy.

In June 2022, Kent gave an interview to another infamous white nationalist and Nazi sympathizer. In that interview, Kent touted his relationship with the extremist congressman from Arizona, Rep. Paul Gosar, who has spoken at Fuentes annual political conference, as well as with Wendy Rogers, an Arizona state senator who was a member of the Proud Boys. A spokesperson later told CNN of the extremist interviewer: Joe Kent had no idea who that individual was.

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Kent has never been reticent about his affiliation with Joey Gibson, the far-right leader of a Washington group called Patriot Prayer, which often held rallies in Portland that produced street violence. During the 2022 campaign, Kent also paid a significant consulting fee to a man reported by the Associated Press to be a member of the Proud Boys fighting club. The Proud Boys are infamous for brawling with leftists in the Pacific Northwest; top leaders of the group are also serving prison time for seditious conspiracy for leading the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Kents campaign said the man was a low-level staffer and denied he had any current membership in outside organizations.

Extremism dogged Kent throughout his 2022 campaign. At one town hall, Kent was asked questions by an infamous white nationalist, and Kent appeared to endorse the mans proposal that the United States should place a 20-year cap on all immigration to promote assimilation, and slow what the questioner called demographic replacement. (A lawyer for Kent threatened legal action in 2023 over coverage of the event; the newspaper that broke the story defiantly released audio of the interaction, insisting: We have no plans to alter the story.)

This campaign cycle, the Kent campaign is unusually opaque, appearing to funnel a significant portion of expenses and payroll through a shell company called HWY 99. The controversial arrangement was documented by the Daily Beast; it has the effect of depriving the public of visibility into whos working for Kents campaign team. We dont know what hes doing with his donors money, Gluesenkamp Perez tells Rolling Stone. Its sleazy as hell, and its reflective of the kind of transparency he would bring to his governance, she says, adding: I have to assume hes got the same team behind him.

Kents extremism is not out of place in the modern MAGA movement  or even in Congress. But it is unusual to have a candidate of Kents extreme leanings competing in a purple, toss-up district. The GOPs national leadership has no issue with Kent playing footsie with white nationalists. In fact they seem to see Kent, with his sharp looks and military pedigree, as a potential star. Appearing in Washington state with Kent, Speaker Johnson insisted: This is one of the most highly qualified candidates for Congress that weve had in a long, long time. We cant wait to have him.

Place Over Politics?

It may seem confusing that a candidate like Kent has come to the fore in a district that serves the Portland suburbs. But Vancouver, Washington, is a bit like Portlands Staten Island. Its a bridge commute away, and home to many cops and other suburb-seekers who want to distance themselves from the grit of urban life.

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The Couve is the biggest city in Clark County  which gets rural, and red, quickly as you head out of town. The county is sometimes referred to as Clarkansas for its political likeness to that southern state. Once a stronghold for the KKK, the region remains a hotbed of both Christian- and white nationalism, with pugilists from the area routinely crossing the river into Portland to clash with anti-fascists.

Jaime Herrera Beutler, the regions longtime former GOP representative, neatly papered over such political divides, serving three terms as a centrist, before getting ousted in the 2022 primary by Kent; shes now a fellow at Harvards Kennedy School.

Washingtons 3rd district is currently served by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, 36, who defeated Kent by just a few thousand votes in 2022. Gluesenkamp Perez has deep family roots in Washington state. She attended school at Portlands liberal Reed College, where she studied economics, before settling in the Columbia River gorge with her husband, teaming up to run an auto shop in an industrial stretch of North Portland. Prior to running for Congress, shed never held public office, and her victory proved a stunning upset.

Far from being a liberal extremist, Gluesenkamp Perez has served as a centrist in D.C., who has tried to jumpstart the partys center-right Blue Dog caucus, while also joining the bipartisan Problem Solvers caucus. On the trail, she talks up her support for the Second Amendment. And shes infuriated some liberals in the party by, for example, opposing Bidens student loan debt relief package, insisting it needed to be matched dollar for dollar with investments in career and technical education. She also introduced a strange bill to block a mandate to equip table saws with finger-detection technology, arguing the anti-amputation advance would be too costly while the technology is still under patent.

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Gluesenkamp Perez is a staunch defender of democracy, however, and she has called out Kent to his face in their candidate debates, repeatedly demanding that he denounce his connections to far-right fight clubs and white nationalists. Kent has repeatedly deflected.

The Vote Marie headquarters are housed in an office park not far from the Vancouver Auto Mall. Gluesenkamp Perez greets this reporter on a soggy day after Halloween in black, weathered, knee-high rain boots, jeans, and a T-Shirt from motocross rally in nearby Washougal. Gluesenkamp Perez has piercing brown eyes and thinks intensely as she answers questions, seated on a couch beneath a logging truck flag. She laughs as she recalls rescuing the flag off the side of the road during an emergency potty break for her pre-school aged son.

Gluesenkamp Perez says that the national frame of Democrats running against MAGA extremists is actually obscuring the unique threat posed by a candidate like Kent. My guy actually thinks citizens should have tactical nukes, she says, telling people that we need to defend ourselves against the U.S. military. She adds that communicating the threat of Kent is a challenge  he presents well  but insists: What I know is that it is incredibly dangerous to normalize this.

The Kent campaign did not respond to repeated outreach by Rolling Stone. At his town hall, Kent said that his opponents focus on his far-right ideas is a diversion. The Democrats cant talk about law and order, they cant talk about the border, they cant talk about the economy, so all theyre doing is saying, Look at Joe Kent. Look at Donald Trump. Theyre super scary. Theyre super extreme.

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Gluesenkamp Perez insists she is rooted, as a politician, in the concerns of the voters in her district. And she argues that her brand of loyalty to place is the antidote to national extremism. She draws on metaphors from the auto shop, insisting that political problem solving requires lifting up the hood on a divisive issue to see what part of this do we agree about? Try to understand each other.

The congresswoman paints Kent as the avatar of an extremely online movement, with an alarming national agenda. Beyond Kents extremism, she casts him as a very slick outsider, who only moved to Washington this decade, and cant even pronounce the name of his adopted hometown, Yacolt, properly in his TV commercials. She accuses Kent of already looking past a position in Congress, and seeing the seat as a springboard for more power and influence.

Joe Kent is test-driving a political theory that feeding red meat to the most avid partisans can be a path to victory, even in a closely divided district. Gluesenkamp Perez insists that her centrist model can not only hold her district, but provide an example for a saner national politics. The reason that Mike Johnson and these other national figures have come here, she argues, is because what we are doing here  flexing the muscle of the middle  is a threat to gerrymandered seats all across the country.

On Nov. 5, Washington voters will decide which candidate has the right theory. And control of Congress  and the future of American democracy  may very well hang on that answer.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  As we enter November and December, Butterball knows cooking can be a bit tricky.

Until Dec. 24, individuals preparing to cook a turkey can contact Butterball with any turkey-related questions. According to Butterball, customers who utilize the Turkey Talk-Line will speak directly with a trained worker who specializes in turkey.

Adopted families make it official in court on National Adoption Day

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One of the first national, toll-free consumer help lines, the Turkey Talk-Line has helped millions of consumers since its first season in November 1981, said Butterball. Each November and December, professionally trained turkey experts assist holiday cooks through the Turkey Talk-Line, Butterball.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, live chat and emails in the United States and Canada.

The organization has teamed up with The StoryCorps Studios, an organization which preserves and shares conversations. Butterball is looking for people to tell their Thanksgiving tradition stories.

Whether its someone you love talking to or someone you only connect with at Thanksgiving, we invite you and a conversation partner to share about the Thanksgiving traditions that bring you together, no matter the divide, inspiring us all to find common ground this holiday season, said StoryCorps.

To contact Butterballs Turkey Talk-Line, click here. Tell your tradition story here.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On Halloween night, vandals spray-painted walls on Cal Poly buildings and a university entrance sign to protest Israels attacks on Gaza and the universitys connections with the U.S. military.

At about 7 p.m., the Cal Poly Police Department received reports of graffiti on two buildings in the Engineering Plaza, university spokesperson Matt Lazier said.

Patrolling officers then found graffiti in the University Union and on the sign at the Grand Avenue entrance to campus, he said.

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Graffiti on the Cal Poly sign said, from Gaza to Cal Poly let the intifada spread and divest from genocide, photos showed.

Other graffiti included message such as, F--k RTX, F--k Boeing, F--k Northrop, F-- Gen Atomics.

Anti-Israel vandals sprayed graffiti at multiple locations across Cal Poly on Oct. 31, 2024.

The university removed or painted over the graffiti immediately, Lazier said.

On Friday, local groups Abolitionist Action Central Coast and Cal Poly Students for Quality Education circulated a news release in support of the vandalism without taking credit for it.

Universities like Cal Poly are an indispensable part of the war machine, funneling fresh graduates to these companies to work on bombs and guns and drones and weapons and fighter jets, the news release said.

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The genocides around the world rely on the contributions of institutions like Cal Poly to continue. So of course actionists in the Central Coast targeted this institution. And they were right to do so, the groups said.

The student group Mustangs United For Israel, however, said the graffiti should be considered hate speech.

This targeted attack on Zionist and Jewish students cannot be ignored, the group said in a statement on Instagram. Incidents like this make Jewish and Zionist students feel alienated and unwelcome on their own campus. It is unacceptable that the statements on our campus were not addressed with a clear and public denouement by the university.

The Cal Poly Police Department was still investigating the vandalism as of Friday afternoon, Lazier said.

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Cal Poly believes in and fully supports lawful protests, demonstrations and other free speech activities, Lazier said in an email to The Tribune. However, the university will fully enforce the laws and rules governing our campus to protect our community, and anyone who partakes in unlawful activity or violations of university policy is subject to the consequences of their actions. These are not the universitys rules but the basic rules of society by which we all live.
Cal Poly agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit filed by Cal Poly student and Mustang News journalist over a complaint that the university violated the California Public Records Act.

Elizabeth Wilson was represented by the First Amendment Coalition. She was previously an intern for The Tribune.

Im so pleased Cal Poly has agreed to a settlement, but it shouldnt have required a lawsuit to assert my  and the Cal Poly communitys  right to this information, Wilson said in a news release Friday. Access to records isnt just important to journalists like myself. Its important to anyone who seeks to hold institutions accountable.

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According to the news release, Wilson filed three public records requests with the university in 2022. The requested records pertained to sexual assault and harassment on campus, as well as labor violations alleged by Cal Poly student employees.

California law requires public institutions to provide an estimated date for when a public records request will be fulfilled, which the university did not comply with, according to Wilsons claim. According to the release, Wilson received the records in July  around two months after she filed the lawsuit, and over a year after she submitted the original request.

The records released included 236 emails, according to the news release. Another 21 emails were withheld due to exemptions.

Cal Polys settlement requires the university to organize a training within the next three months for all staff who process public records requests, according to the release. It also gives Cal Polys student journalists the opportunity to meet in person with university records technicians to discuss the status of unfulfilled public records requests.

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Access to public records is the peoples constitutional right, Annie Cappetta, legal fellow at the First Amendment Coalition, said in the news release. Its not a favor that officials can facilitate when its convenient for them and ignore when its not. This settlement will remind Cal Poly staff of their duties to the public and ensure that they come to the table to improve their process with students.

Cal Poly confirmed to The Tribune that the university reached a settlement but could not offer further comment.
Every fall, Mary Bull prepares for the olive harvest at her small-scale permaculture farm, Chalice Farm, in Sonoma County, California. She expects this year to be their biggest harvest yet, with more than 50 volunteers coming to help harvest over a thousand pounds of olives to make premium olive oil.

Along with olives, Chalice Farm also grows perennial vegetables, fruit and nuts on their sunshine-drenched land surrounded by creeks and forested ridge. Its the kind of farm that many think of when Sonoma County comes to mind, along with organic wine, freshly grown produce and artisanal cheese.

But not all of the region's farms are as idyllic as Bull's, and the county has grown fiercely divided over a ballot measure that would challenge some of Sonoma's biggest agricultural interests. On Nov. 5, residents will vote on Measure J, a novel bill that would cap the number of animals allowed on-farm, forcing all facilities that exceed that number of animals to phase out over the next three years. In other words, the bill would ban factory farms. If it passes, it could be a blueprint for the rest of the country to do the same.

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Across the U.S., there are thousands of factory farms  also known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)  where thousands of animals are confined in large buildings or open feedlots, sometimes put in crates or cages without the space to move freely. Together, farms like these confine over 1.7 billion farm animals in large buildings or feedlots and produce 941 billion pounds of manure, according to a report by Food and Water Watch.

While California isnt known for the mega-farms that dominate states like Iowa, Wisconsin and North Carolina, there are still over 1,000 CAFOs across the state, according to data from the Environmental Working Group. Farms of this size not only harm the animals inside them, but they also impact the surrounding environment and waterways, and dominate the dairy, beef and poultry markets, making it difficult for small-scale farmers to compete

As we've seen over the last few decades, as we've seen elsewhere in the country, the largest farms have consolidated and started to take over the market, said Kristina Garfinkel, a Sonoma County resident and leader of Coalition to End Factory Farming. Garfinkel has spent the last year leading Yes on J, the campaign that collected 37,000 signatures to get the bill on the ballot.

Yes on Measure J compiled a list of 21 farms in Sonoma County that meet the size and definition of a CAFO, all of which would be forced to downsize or shut down entirely should Measure J pass. The countys remaining 700 animal farms would not be impacted by the measure.

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The sad reality is small farms are not protected, and we can see that as each year, more and more small farms are leaving and closing down, and the CAFOs are just getting bigger and bigger, Garfinkel said.

Like many regions across the United States, Sonoma County has seen consolidation in the agriculture industry in recent years. In the 1940s, Sonoma County had more than 4,000 egg producers. Today, there are 157, with just two farms, Sunrise Farms and Petaluma Egg Farm, dominating the market. Perdue, one of the countrys largest poultry producers, now owns Sonoma County's famous Petaluma Poultry, and Colombian agri-business Alpine Foods owns 70 percent of Clover Sonoma.

Despite this corporate consolidation, these are the farms that have defined Sonoma County for decades. Their economic dominance is in part why Measure J has faced such fierce opposition. Nearly $1.8 million has been spent lobbying against the bill through the campaign No on J," which is funded by some of the regions largest agricultural interests. An immense amount of political and financial power has been used to lobby against Measure J, including TV ads, social media campaigns and direct mail initiatives that frame the bill as an attack on family farms by an "animal extremist group." They also claim the bill will be detrimental to the region's economy and affordable food supply.

Dayna Ghirardelli, the executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, told Salon that Measure J would be detrimental to all of Sonoma County's farms and the region's food affordability. All it does is it prohibits farms based on animal numbers without any merit or understanding of how that farm works, what its standards are in terms of if they're organic or third party animal welfare certified, said Dayna Ghirardelli, which has been one of Measure Js fiercest opponents.

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The Sonoma County Democratic party has also opposed the measure, illustrating just how much political power agriculture has in the region. Good intentions may have produced Measure J, but the proposed policy was not crafted with our countys needs, problems, or benefit in mind, it said in a statement.

Both Bull and Garfinkel said these fear-mongering tactics and misinformation have scared people out of supporting, all because industrial agriculture feels threatened. Its Big Ag wanting to do business as usual, pollute, exploit and degrade human health, all for profit, she said.

Misinformation and confusion have been one of the biggest challenges in garnering support for Measure J, which actually only impacts 0.03 percent of Sonoma County's farms.

"I can't blame the small farms if what they're hearing is that a measure is going to put them out of business, and they're hearing that from people that they're supposed to trust, and that's supposed to have their best interests," she said.

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The goal of Measure J is not to punish farmers or make meat and eggs more expensive, but rather to push farming away from corporations and ultimately break down the consolidation that has led to a reliance on industrial animal agriculture, Garfinkel explained. If it passes, Sonoma County's factory farm ban will be a novel experiment in transitioning to a more sustainable food system, laying the groundwork for other parts of the country to do the same. But even if it doesn't pass, Garfinkel said the awareness alone that's come from the campaign will make a difference going forward.

"We've had conversations with hundreds of thousands of residents, many who have no idea factory farms even operated here, and the fact that we brought that to the forefront is invaluable," she said.

Throughout the campaign, Garfinkel has received thousands of emails from people across the country who want to push for a similar ballot measure in their state. She hopes to build a template for others that includes everything she's learned from the campaign, including Big Ag's lobbying tactics.

"Creating a playbook for other people to try in their own jurisdiction would be amazing," she said. "And Sonoma County residents will, of course, not stop fighting to end factory farming here."
Hospitals in the Northern San Joaquin Valley have rescheduled some surgeries and adopted conservation measures because of a national shortage of IV fluids caused by the damage of Hurricane Helene in the Southeast.

Heavy storms and flooding shut down operations at the Baxter International plant in North Carolina, a major manufacturer of the solution in IV bags often given to patients in medical emergencies and those undergoing surgery. About 60% of the national supply is made at the Baxter plant, according to NPR, which reported surgery cancellations in many states.

Baxter International said in late September that a broken levee allowed water to permeate the plant site in Marion, N.C. In addition, bridges in the area were damaged.

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The state Department of Public Health warned hospitals in California last month that significant impacts were anticipated due to the plant shutdown in North Carolina.

Sacramento-based Sutter Health, which operates Memorial Medical Center in Modesto and hospitals in Tracy and Los Banos, said Friday it is implementing conservation measures to make sure IV fluids are available for patients in urgent and emergency situations. Some nonurgent medical procedures have been rescheduled at Sutter facilities, the statement said.

We are planning for a prolonged shortage and are making daily decisions to optimize our current supplies and increase deliveries, Sutter said. Our dedicated teams are working tirelessly to ensure our patients receive safe, high quality care they need.

In a statement, Kaiser Permanente said its Central Valley medical facilities use products made by the North Carolina plant but are not experiencing impacts to care at this time. We are actively monitoring our inventories of these products and working to ensure that we can manage care delivery should there be a long-term impact from this closure, Kaiser said.

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The CDPH advised hospitals to assess their supply of IV fluid and projected needs for surgeries and other normal operations. The state recommended that facilities prioritize the use of IV fluids and identify which patients are in most urgent need of IV solution.

Health officials have been working to identify supplies under mutual aid arrangements and inviting requests from hospitals in immediate need of IV solution.

Baxter said in a Oct. 9 statement it was trying to minimize disruption of patient care while working to restore manufacturing at the North Carolina plant. The company was placing limits on orders for IV fluids based on medical necessity and projected inventory.

Baxter said it was boosting manufacturing of IV solution at other sites and increasing allocation levels.

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In the latest update Thursday, the company said the North Carolina plant had restored a high-production manufacturing line for IV solution and trucks were moving finished product to customers over a temporary bridge. Baxter plans to resume additional manufacturing at the plant in phases by years end.

The Associate Press reported the shortage of IV fluids may foul up surgery schedules for several more weeks.
Alex Wagner considers the elements in American culture and politics that kept Donald Trump, who is supremely flawed as a candidate in addition to his egregious personal defects, roughly even in polling against Kamala Harris just days before Election Day. Michelle Goldberg, columnist for the New York Times, and Melissa Murray, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, join to discuss.
CANE HILL, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed a decision by the Washington County Circuit Court, ordering that votes on a measure concerning alcohol sales in Cane Hill not be tallied.

In a split decision, Justice Shawn Womack authored the majority opinion, with Justices Bilenda Harris-Ritter and Rhonda Wood in agreement, while Justices Karen Baker and Courtney Hudson dissented. Chief Justice Dan Kemp did not participate.

While voting would proceed as usual, the Cane Hill issue will not appear in the unofficial election night results, according to the Washington County Election Commission.

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Fayetteville polling location closed for Election Day due to road construction

The group Progress for Cane Hill had gathered signatures from registered voters in the Cane Hill precincts to place a local alcohol sales measure on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Historic Cane Hills website describes the organizations mission as preserving local landmarks, including the Cane Hill College Building and Cane Hill Presbyterian Church, which serve as venues for events like weddings and meetings.

The measure would have allowed alcohol on these properties.

County officials initially rejected the petitions due to a state law requiring paid canvassers to be Arkansas residents. Progress for Cane Hill appealed, and Judge Martin ruled in their favor on August 21, directing that the petitions be certified.

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However, the Supreme Court found Judge Martins interpretation of the local option election laws incorrect, according to court documents.

Arkansas Supreme Court rules medical marijuana amendment votes will not be counted

Washington County Clerk Becky Lewallen appealed the circuit courts order to place the local-option initiative on the ballot.

The Supreme Court ruled in her favor, interpreting Arkansas Code Annotated section 7-9-103(a)(6) to mandate that paid canvassers must be residents of the state, reversing the circuit courts decision and preventing the measures votes from being counted.

In her dissent, Justice Baker argued that the majority misinterpreted the laws, asserting that the Local Option Code does not require paid canvassers for local option petitions to reside in Arkansas. She also criticized the courts decision to block this and other ballot measures.

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This case serves as yet another harsh reminder that  whether on a local or a statewide basis  the majority will take every opportunity to interpret a statute in such a way that prevents the citizens of Arkansas, the very people we were sworn to serve, from making their voices heard on matters that are headed for the ballot, Baker wrote in her dissent. It would be a mistake for this court to assume that it knows better than the people of Arkansas concerning issues that have a personal effect on them and the areas in which they live.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sacramentos cannabis industry may be the best in California, the product is legal, and potentially lucrative for our city but you would never know that from listening to members of the Sacramento City Council. Ive lived in Sacramento for six months and love it, but when I hear our council debate cannabis I feel like Im in a more conservative place than my home state Tennessee.

Am I really in California?

Councilmembers Eric Guerra, Mai Vang, and Shoun Thou are against a pilot program to bring cannabis lounges to the city. These would be places where people could purchase cannabis and smoke it, just as people drink beer in bars and smoke cigars in cigar bars.

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Like tobacco and alcohol, cannabis is available to adults for recreational use in California. When you go to cigar bars and regular bars, you accept that you will be around other people consuming the same product. In cigar bars, patrons expect to be exposed to second-hand smoke. In bars, we know that if we consume too much alcohol, we could be subject to arrest and prosecution if we abuse it and hurt ourselves or anyone else.

Opinion

Cannabis lounges would be no different. But at a recent meeting at Sacramento City Hall Guerra, Vang and Thou were all worried about second-hand smoke. Some members of the council have yet to take a position, including Mayor Darrell Steinberg. Some council members are worried about teenagers getting their hands on weed and smoking it

Its a balancing act, Vice Mayor Caity Maple said regarding the pursuit of a compromise between pro-cannabis people and anti-secondhand smoke people.

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The reality is that this is not a balancing act, protections are already in place to address these concerns.

City code already restricts a cannabis dispensary from being within 600 feet of a school. If they want to put a dispensary near a park, church, or substance abuse center, they must get approval from the planning and design commission.

So if we were to roll out the program today, it would be under a system that keeps cannabis away from schools, parks and other places where cannabis shouldnt be.

City Council struggles with cannabis

Vang is the first person from Sacramentos Hmong community to serve on the council. She said she supports the CORE program, the citys initiative to help marginalized people get started in the cannabis industry.

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I think its really important, especially the war on drugs and how its impacted communities of color. I really wanna see our minority owned businesses thrive in this industry because for far too long it hasnt really allowed for space for our communities of color.

Yet, when Black and brown cannabis business owners spoke about the positive effects of passing the pilot program allowing cannabis lounges, Vang was not supportive. She sided with the thinking that they should not be around. You cant support the concept of equity in the cannabis industry while opposing steps to grow the industry.

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Moreover, if the council votes to reject the cannabis lounge pilot, they would be moving the city backward to a time of unreasonable cannabis prohibition.

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There are already lounges in West Hollywood and San Francisco, among many others. This is not anything radical in any sense.

At the City Hall meeting, critics kept expressing fears about kids using weed even though only adults would be permitted to use cannabis at cannabis lounges.

New Flash: not passing cannabis lounges wont decrease the amount of secondhand smoke, it just says you cant smoke it in a controlled space.

This is just a pilot program. The only way to know if will work is by testing it, not leaning on fear that is not grounded in reality. If there are findings that teenagers are being allowed in cannabis lounges or if there is an uptick in secondhand smoke, then that information should inform how the lounges are regulated.

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Take the words of Governor Gavin Newsom after signing into law a bill to allow food to be sold in cannabis cafes.

I commend the author (Assemblyman Matt Haney, D-San Francisco) for incorporating additional safeguards, such as expressly protecting employees discretion to wear a mask for respiration, paid for at the expense of the employer, and requiring employees to receive additional guidance on the risks of secondhand cannabis smoke, Newsom wrote in his signing statement.

Sacramento needs to expand its cannabis industry

The cannabis industry makes $23 million a year for the city and thats not all. In 2022, voters decided to tie cannabis tax revenues to the Sacramento Childrens Fund by passing Measure L.

People need somewhere to smoke. It is illegal in Sacramento to smoke in public spaces such as parks. Sure, people caught smoking would get a fine but finding a permanent place for people to smoke benefits everyone, including those who may not want to walk into a cloud of smoke while walking around their neighborhood. For all those public health nuts, wouldnt you want people taking a drug to be in a controlled, safe space to consume?

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The council has yet to announce when itll take the pilot program up for vote.

When California voters passed Proposition 64, that was the day that we started a path of acceptance. It was a collective agreement that people who indulge in cannabis are not outcasts, criminals or weird hippies. Everyone from every walk of life smokes weed. Allowing cannabis lounges says that we not only accept someones individual choice to purchase it, but we accept that its a part of our community.
CANTON, Ohio (WJW)  Two Canton police officers who were involved in the in-custody death of Frank Tyson in April have been indicted by a grand jury. The announcement came from Stark County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle L. Stone Saturday afternoon during a press conference.

After reviewing the results from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Stark County Prosecutors Office presented the case to a grand jury this week. The grand jury who reviewed the evidence and heard witness testimony returned reckless homicide indictments against Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch.

The two appeared on the Stark County jails inmate list Friday night.

Reckless homicide is a third-degree felony with a possibility of 36 months in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

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Stone said based on the evidence, it was determined that reckless homicide was the most fitting and accurate charge.

On April 18, Tyson crashed a car into a utility pole outside of an AMVETS hall in Canton.

Armed carjacking leads to chase, crash in Westlake

Following the crash, he ran into the hall and, as heard in 911 calls, would not leave the premises when he was asked to.

Police, initially responding to the crash, encountered Tyson inside the hall where he refused to leave, was taken to the ground on his stomach, and placed in handcuffs.

Police-worn body camera shows one of them pressing their knee on Tysons back for about 30 seconds.

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His last words were I cant breathe, after which the body camera video shows several minutes passed before officers realized he was not moving.

An autopsy report ruled the 53-year-old Tysons death a homicide.

Vigil held for teens killed in Coventry Township fire

The autopsy report also concludes that there were contributing factors that include cardiovascular disease, acute intoxication by cocaine and alcohol and obesity.

Courtesy: Canton Police DepartmentRead More  Courtesy: Canton Police Department Courtesy: Canton Police DepartmentRead More 

Officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch were placed on administrative leave following the incident. Schoenegge joined the Canton Police Department in November of 2022, and Burch joined in December of the same year.

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Following Stones remarks Saturday, the attorney for Frank Tysons family, Bobby DiCello, called he indictment a win.

The indictment tells you who to focus on now. The narrative has changed, DiCello said.

He was joined by representatives from the local NAACP and Urban League, along with members of Tysons family and other members of the community.

I was always thinking there was going to be a win in this situation, said Frank Tysons brother John.

Thomas West with the Greater Stark County Urban League called for the city of Canton and its police department to enforce mandatory de-escalation policy and bias training among other policy changes.

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Cantons Mayor, William Sherer also released a statement following the indictments. Its reads:

I am aware and acknowledge the indictments of Officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch brought forth by the Stark County Prosecutor for the case surrounding the death of Frank Tyson. While I remain committed to transparency during times like these, given this is a pending case, I am limited on the information we can provide at this time.

According to the DiCello Levitt law firm, the bond hearing for Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch are set for 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Wichita Falls police said a man wrecked a stolen car the morning of November 1, 2024, after dragging a man trying to stop him, then was kept at bay for police by a man with a Rottweiler.

It all began around 10 a.m. when a resident in the 1600 block of Collins called the police because a man was in his backyard and told him he had been attacked.

Girl treated for fentanyl overdose, man charged

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Police found a man matching the description on Pearl Avenue and, while questioning him, said

bystanders began yelling that he had stolen a car. They said the man took off running and went over a fence.

Officers found him again on Marshal Street, where his flight was stopped by a man holding back a very large Rottweiler dog.

Police got him on the ground and held a Taser to his back until he was cuffed.

After interviews with victims and witnesses, police determined the suspect had told a woman to get in her car so he could take it to Oklahoma to sell it. When she refused, her grandfather tried to get him out, and he accelerated, hitting and knocking the woman to the ground and dragging her grandfather down the road.

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He then struck a stop sign, disabling the car by breaking the front axle. The victim had injuries to his legs, arms and back.

Shawn Mojica, 25, was jailed on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading, and theft. He has a previous conviction for evading arrest in 2019.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Getty Images

Cardi B made an impassioned speech against Donald Trump on Friday night while making her first appearance at a Kamala Harris rally, officially endorsing her for president.

The rapper and mother of three got emotional during her nearly 11-minute speech in front of a bustling Milwaukee crowd last night as she urged voters not to trust Trump with reproductive rights, the economy, and prioritizing working families. Cardi said she does not take lightly the call to show up" and endorse Harris. She told the crowd that she did not have faith in either candidate while Joe Biden was still running for re-election against Trump, but has since changed her mind when Harris stepped into the Democratic ticket.

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Women have to work ten times harder, perform ten times better, and still people question us on how we got to the top, she said. I can't stand a bully. But just like Kamala, I always stand up to one.

Much like Harris, Cardi said, she's also felt like the underdog throughout her career and has had her success belittled and discredited."

She's passionate, she's compassionate, she shows empathy, and most of all, she's not delusional," Cardi continued.

Kamala Harris Is Not Our Savior. But a Donald Trump Win Would Be Catastrophic.

*In this op-ed, Teen Vogue's editor in chief argues that voting Harris is our best chance of stopping the irreversible damage of another Trump presidency.*

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Cardi continually targeted Trump throughout her speech, calling him a hustler and remarked on his recent comments about protecting women whether they like it or not.

Donny Dump if his definition of protection is not the freedom of choice; if his definition of protection is making sure our daughters have fewer rights than our mothers, then I don't want it, she exclaimed.

Cardi continued: "Protection for women  especially if we're talking about maternal and mental healthcare  isn't telling them what to do with their bodies. It's supporting them and giving them the care they need for what they choose to do with their bodies.

The rapper also pointed out Trump and his conservative following's hypocrisy when it comes to reproductive healthcare and abortion rights. Cardi said that they don't believe women deserve rights" but then are nowhere to be found when a woman is experiencing difficulties with postpartum depression, or when children are in foster care or a shelter because their mother's not mentally stable or financially stable to take care of them.

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Cardi B later reiterated several of her statements on X, posting snippets from her speech: Donald Trump talks about how he has concepts of a plan but the only concept of a plan he has is a plan to hustle YOU."

Cardi also posted that she did not get paid a dollar for speaking at the rally and has been vocal about politics for years. Before I was a celebrity I was a product of poverty for 24 years so you not gonna tell me what I want to see in MY community, she wrote.

She also took time to respond to Elon Musk, who called her a puppet of the Harris campaign. Cardi quoted the post on X and wrote: Im not a puppet Elon.. Im a daughter of two immigrant parents that had to work their ass off to provide for me! Im a product of welfare, Im a product of section 8, Im a product of poverty and Im a product of what happens when the system is set up against you.But you dont know nothing about that. You dont know not one thing about the American struggle. PS fix my algorithm.

Watch Cardi B's full speech here:

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

News and Politics: Mid Hero
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The $450 million acquisition of Ascension St. Vincents Health System by the UAB Health System Authority is official. On Friday, the system began operating under the new name of UAB St. Vincents.

The sale includes the hospitals at Birmingham, Blount, Chilton, East and St. Clair, as well as the One Nineteen Campus, The Trussville Freestanding Emergency Department and imaging centers and other clinics.

CBS 42 News attended a media availability at the Birmingham campus on Friday morning to find out what the sale means for patients.

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Youre going to continue to be treated by the physicians you know and trust, that does not change for you, explained Dawn Bulgarella, the CEO of the UAB Health System.

Bulgarella said 5,200 employees made the transition to the UAB St. Vincents payroll, maintaining their pay and benefits.

And while they kept St. Vincents in the name, it is no longer a Catholic health system.

Officials said the onsite chapel is now an interfaith chapel, and all religious items were returned to the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham.

On September 27th, Most Rev. Steven J. Raica, Bishop of Birmingham, celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Bruno Conference Center on the campus of St. Vincents Birmingham to mark the transfer of Ascension St. Vincents Health System to the UAB Health System Authority.

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An excerpt from Bishop Raicas homily reads, Today, while we acknowledge the conclusion of one chapter, we also look forward with hope, trusting that the mission and indominable spirt of charity and healing born in this sacred place will live on as subsequent chapters are written.

When the planned transition was first announced to the media in June, Bishop Raica issued a statement in which he said he was deeply saddened by the news, describing it as a devastating loss for the Catholic community, particularly for those who wish to receive care in facilities that adhere to Catholic faith and moral teaching.

UAB Health System had to receive approval from Rome in order for the acquisition to proceed.

Catholics we spoke with before noon Mass on Friday in downtown Birmingham said they were disappointed about the loss of the citys only Catholic hospital.

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I wonder if theyre going to take the crosses out the patients rooms, Pam Leverett said. I just wonder, you know, what will happen to the statues of the nuns thats out front, those kinds of things.

Thats sad for me as a Catholic, said Amy Wicker. I really find it disturbing, but God has a plan and we dont know what it is.

Wicker said she called UAB St. Vincents on Friday, which is All Saints Day, to inquire if there was a Mass. After she was informed that they are no longer having Mass, she said she decided to drive to St. Pauls Cathedral where she regularly attends.

Officials with UAB St. Vincents said it remains committed to spiritual and pastoral care and has chaplains on staff, including a priest to meet the needs of Catholic patients.

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In regard to history, St. Vincents is the city of Birminghams oldest, continuously operating hospital since opening in 1898 when it was established by the Daughters of Charity.

To read Bishop Raicas Sept. 27 homily in full, just click on the following link:

Grieving a loss but not losing hope | One Voice Magazine

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The Community College of Allegheny County celebrated the opening of a new electric vehicle technician training lab.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the West Hills campus on Thursday.

The school is launching the first registered apprenticeship program for EV Technicians in the United States.

The program will be a combination of technical instruction and paid, on-the-job training.

The goal of the new lab is to help bring more jobs to the area.

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This is what the opportunity infrastructure is all about and we believe that it should be available to everybody, said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. Part of this is that we know what a good job does for a community. Its not just for the family for themselves but it really uplifts entire communities.

The program is the product of a partnership with the German American Chamber of Commerce and Partner 4 Work.

The program will be tuition-free.

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2 women facing new charges after escaping from constables car, sheriffs office says Girl, 5, hit with rock while trick-or-treating in Penn Hills; suspect released on non-monetary bond Dozens of new felony charges filed against Pittsburgh tow truck driver accused of inflating costs VIDEO: Officials working to keep everyone safe as presidential candidates plan to visit Pittsburgh Monday DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Farm laborers and growers in the Central Valley and California fear former President Donald J. Trumps aggressive plans for mass deportations and immigration crackdown would upend lives and destabilize the regions ag economy.

The uncertainty rippling across the Valleys undocumented immigrant community ahead of Tuesdays election is akin to the anxiety many of them felt when Trump won the 2016 election. This time, however, the former president says he plans to launch the largest deportation program in American history.

Trump has said he intends to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which was last used during World War II, to target criminals who are in the country illegally, if elected. He would also attempt to expand a removal process that does not require due process hearings, build giant camps to detain people awaiting deportation and end birthright citizenship, the New York Times reported.

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Nearly 1 in 3 Latinos, are either undocumented or live in a mixed-status family with an undocumented Hispanic individuals and are at risk of deportation or family separation, according to FWD.us, a bipartisan political organization.

Trumps mass deportation plans would likely have a significant impact in California, one of the states with the highest number of individuals living in mixed-status or undocumented households.

Nearly 4 million Latinos in the state would be affected by Trumps mass deportation plan, according to FWD.us.

Trumps proposals would likely face legal, financial and political challenges. The American Immigration Council, for instance, projects the cost of a one-time mass deportation operation is at least $315 billion, an estimate the council described as highly conservative.

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Mike Madrid, a Latino GOP political consultant and co-founder of the Lincoln Project, said voters should not dismiss Trumps mass deportations comments and need to take his plans seriously.

The question isnt whether or not they could deport everybody all at once, but whether theyre gonna start a culture of continually seeking out and finding those who are here undocumented and deporting them. Thats the big problem, Madrid said.

Madrid said mass deportations not only would disrupt the economy, but would cast a devastating toll on families and individuals.

We dont like to be honest about this as Americans, but the entire economy is predicated on undocumented labor. Without undocumented labor, the economy doesnt work. Thats just a reality, Madrid said.

Worry in the fields

Talks of mass deportation have spread anxiety across the fields in the Central Valley, where a majority of farmworkers are undocumented.

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Sandra Garcia, a Central Valley resident whos worked more than 40 years in the fields and is president and founder of Campesinas Unidas del Valle de San Joaquin, said Trumps campaign promises worry us a lot.

Garcia is concerned about the undocumented farmworkers in the Valley, including her sister, if Trumps wins and makes good of his promise.

Garcia said her sister has been working in the fields for many years and finally was able to get a work permit through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which provides a special pathway to lawful immigration status for victims of domestic abuse.

There are many people like my sister who are getting their documents sorted out, others already have their permits, their children also have DACA, but the majority of farm workers do not have documents, Garcia said in Spanish.

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Garcia said if Trumps mass deportation proposals become a reality, it will not only affect the farm workers who do not have documents, but also the farms, which will be left without workers.

That potential reality weighs on the mind of commercial grower Joe Del Bosque, who is particularly concerned about the impact mass deportations would have on Valley growers with hand-picked crops like melons, cherries, and tomatoes.

I dont know if he (Trump) understands that a mass deportation may include a lot of our farmworkers who are essential to our food chain, said Del Bosque, owner of Empresas Del Bosque farm in western Fresno County near Firebaugh. Farmworkers are some of the least understood people among our politicians.

Del Bosque, who politically identifies as centrist, said growers need to publicly voice their concerns about mass deportations.

Joe Del Bosque of Del Bosque Farms selects a melon from one of his fields on Shields Avenue west of I-5 Monday, July 15, 2024.

We cant plant and harvest crops like melons and cherries and tomatoes without these people, Del Bosque said.

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Del Bosque is no stranger to advocating for immigration reform. He said he worked on the stalled bipartisan bill Farm Workforce Modernization Act in 2019, which aimed to provide a path to immigration status for agricultural workers.

Del Bosque has also seen the impact of past deportation sweeps. He recalled that it took growers months to recover from a labor shortage following a wave of deportations during the Obama administration.

We have to have a stable workforce, Del Bosque said.

Worry in California

Political leaders and immigration advocates vow to fight mass deportations if Trump wins a second term.

Manuel Cunha, President of the Fresno-based Nisei Farmers League, said he plans to fight (Trump) to the bitter end if he does that to the working people that have been here for years. Cunha has a long history of lobbying for farmers and advocating for immigration reform.

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I will fight and do everything we have to do to protect these workers, and if that means a massive food strike in this country and a shut down by the farmers, the shipping companies, the trucking industry, to show that we are not going to take this anymore, then so be it, Cunha said.

Undocumented Californians contribute nearly $8.5 billion in taxes annually, playing a crucial role in supporting public services in state and local communities, according to California Budget & Policy Center, a research and analysis nonprofit.

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla condemned Trumps attacks on the Latino community and his renewed pledge to separate millions of undocumented individuals and mixed-status families.

As the son of immigrants, I know what it means to build a life, a family, and a future here in America, Padilla said in an Oct. 29 press call. Right now, 20 million Latino families and millions more friends, neighbors, and coworkers face the devastating threat of forced separation. Trumps plan to tear apart lives, families, and communities that have been rooted here for decades will devastate our country and our economy.

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U.S. Congressman John Duarte, R-Modesto, recently introduced Border Security and Immigration Reform Act, legislation that would provide a pathway to legal status for certain undocumented immigrants and calls for strengthening the border with Mexico.

When asked about how Trumps mass deportation plans would affect the Central Valley if Trump wins, Duarte said the bill he introduced would provide protections to thousands of hardworking families who follow the law, pay taxes, and work hard to achieve the American Dream.

It would protect those who have been in the country for more than five years from deportation and create a flexible guest worker program in which more recent immigrants can participate, Duarte said in an email.

Janet Murguia, president of the nonprofit UnidosUS Action Fund, said Trumps proposed expansion of his 2018 zero-tolerance policy would devastate the economy and make every American less safe and less secure.

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We must choose policies that are firm, fair, and free of cruelty and reject extremist, divisive, destructive, and draconian schemes like Zero Tolerance, Murguia said.

Garcia, the longtime farm laborer, said that while there is a lot of concern among farmworkers about Trumps mass deportation threats, many older farmworkers with legal status support Trump.

Still, Garcia takes Trumps campaign promises seriously and fears that a second term would usher a giant cloud of uncertainty for the states millions of undocumented people and their families.

People are worried because they dont know how Trumps words are going to affect them, Garcia said. They dont know what to do and are thinking, What can happen? Are they going to send me and my children to Mexico? The children have lived here all their lives.
(FORT CARSON, Colo.)  A homecoming ceremony will be held next week for 200 soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), 4th Infantry Division, who will be welcomed home after a nine-month deployment to Europe.

According to Fort Carson, the ceremony will be held on Monday, Nov. 4 at the William Bill Reed Special Events Center on post.

During their deployment, the brigade worked alongside NATO allies and partners to conduct bilateral and multinational training exercises while deterring aggression in the region, wrote Fort Carson.

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After nine months supporting U.S. European Command and our European allies and partners, our Soldiers are eager to reunite with their friends and Families, said Col. Brian Gilbert, 3rd ABCT Commander. We are truly grateful for their resilience and commitment to excellence these past few months.

According to Fort Carson, all remaining 3rd ABCT units are expected to return home in time for the holidays.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
CHAMAPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA)  Parkland College students were out harvesting on Friday to help continue the mission of Farmers Feeding Families.

This program has been going on for 10 years and helps feed people in Champaign County. Feeding Our Kids, Parkland College, United Way of Champaign County and others have all worked together to reduce hunger in the area.

Since 2014, organizations have raised more than $270,000 to provide thousands of meals for families. United Way said 44% of Champaign County families struggle to make ends meet, 20% earn less than the federal poverty level (FPL) and 24% are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

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From the Farm: Conservation practices and policies

ALICE households earn above the FPL, but not enough to afford basic household necessities.

These are our neighbors who are making ends meet, but probably just one emergency away from more a significant catastrophe, or even points where were no longer [able] to sustain the basics of the essentials of living, said Director of Strategic Partnership Anne Skuse. That of course includes access to food, access to nutritional food.

Farmers Feeding Families is always looking for people who want to donate. For more information, click here. Tonight, one student will share how this program has been working for them.

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CHESTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The Charlotte man accused of killing a 7-year-old in a car accident in South Carolina was convicted of reckless homicide and sentenced Friday.

Jason Palmer was sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison by Judge Brian Gibbons in the Chester County Circuit Court. A jury also convicted the 37-year-old of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

Man charged in Chester County wreck that killed 7-year-old heads to trial

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Court documents show on July 10, 2022, a family of four was hit on Interstate 77 by Palmers vehicle, resulting in the death of the 7-year-old passenger and permanent injuries to the father.



The Sixth Circuit Solicitors Office says Palmer was driving 98 mph when he ran into the back of the Shanks vehicle.

Since July 10, 2022, the Shanks family has waited for the defendant Jason Palmer to accept responsibility for his reckless and dangerous driving that led to the death of their 7-year-old son, the court officials said in a statement. The Sixth Circuit solicitors office is so grateful to the SCHP, Chester County first responders and everyone who was affected by the tragedy that happened on that day. It truly took a team effort to bring justice to this family.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Ramzan Kadyrov, ruler of Russia's Chechnya, has announced that he has lifted his previous order for fighters from the Akhmat, a Chechen armed formation fighting on Russias side, not to take Ukrainian soldiers prisoner. [The Chechen Republic, also known as Chechnya, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation; the Ukrainian parliament has recognised it as the temporarily Russian-occupied territory of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria  ed.]

Source: Kadyrov on Telegram

Details: Kadyrov claimed that he had received over 2,000 letters from Ukrainian residents over the past few days asking him to cancel the order not to take Ukrainian soldiers prisoner.

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According to him, such letters were written by "both women whose loved ones have been drafted and men who are on the front line not by choice."

Quote: "I am answering all the applicants here, in my official channel: the order given to the Akhmat earlier 'not to take prisoners' has been revoked."

Background:

On 30 October, Kadyrov announced that he had ordered Akhmat commanders not to take Ukrainian soldiers prisoner anymore.

On 15 September, Akhmat commander Apti Alaudinov refused to swap Chechen prisoners of war in Ukrainian captivity, advising them to "wash off their shame with blood" and be slaughtered instead.

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Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) urged former President Bush to endorse Vice President Harris during an episode of the The New Yorkers Radio Hour that aired on Friday.

I cant explain why George W. Bush hasnt spoken out but I think its time, and I wish that he would, Cheney said during the recording at The New Yorker Festival.

The GOP leader is one of the highest profile members to publicly criticize former President Trump while actively campaigning for Vice President Harris. However, in recent days, former President Bushs daughter, Barbara has also stepped out on the campaign trail to support Harris in the swing state of Pennsylvania.

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It was inspiring to join friends and meet voters with the Harris-Walz campaign in Pennsylvania this weekend, Bush told People Magazine in a statement Tuesday. Im hopeful theyll move our country forward and protect womens rights.

Former President Bush has kept to his promise of not formally endorsing a candidate in the 2024 race. In September, Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney who served under Bush endorsed Harris.

In our nations 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump, Vice President Cheney said of the Republican nominee in a 2022 ad for his daughter.

Earlier this month, she campaigned for the Democratic nominee in her home state of Wisconsin, a battleground location that will be crucial in determining the next president.

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At The New Yorker festival, Cheney also touched on The Washington Posts announcement that it would not endorse a presidential candidate earlier this week.

When you have Jeff Bezos apparently afraid to issue an endorsement for the only candidate in the race whos a stable responsible adult because he fears Donald Trump, that tells you why we have to work so hard to make sure that Donald Trump isnt elected, she said at the New Yorker Festival, adding that she cancelled her Post subscription.

After the news broke, Rep. Cheney shared that Bezos and potentially others decision to remain neutral may have been made out of fear.

And I think also, why we ought to not forget what has happened, forget whos taken brave and courageous stands, she said at the festival.

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CHICAGO  Voters at some early polling locations in the city were met with hours-long waits on Friday, four days before Election Day.



At the Chicago Public Librarys Merlo branch on West Belmont Avenue in Lakeview, the line stretched down the block and around the corner. Some voters waited three hours or more just to get into the building.



It makes me feel a little hopeful because theres a lot of people here coming out to vote and a lot of young people which is always a good thing, said voter Margaret Anderson.

The Chicago Board of Education said the Merlo branch wasnt the only site with wait times topping two or more hours. Voters at Truman College were also met with long lines.

If its at all possible, research some alternate sites that you might be able to visit if its convenient for you, closer to your work or visiting a friend or family. Because theyre probably going to see a lot less traffic, said Max Bever with the Chicago Board of Elections, explaining that some sites are more popular than others due to the surrounding population density.

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As of Thursday, Bevers office said it has received nearly 353,000 ballots. That includes more than 220,000 ballots cast at early voting sites and more than 132,000 mail-in ballots. Those numbers outpace the same point in the 2016 election, largely because of an increase in vote-by-mail, but theyre far from 2020 numbers, when more than 641,000 early votes were cast.

2020 is a very hard year to compare to because it was in the midst of the pandemic, there were emergency laws that were were passed to expand early voting to make sure that everyone was mailed a vote-by-mail application. And that resulted in over 75 percent of the citys voters voting before election day, Bever said. Those are numbers that were not likely to see again.

The voters in Lakeview who spoke to WGN said they were committed, no matter how long it takes.

Im not bothered by the inconvenience, said voter Chelsea Roberts. I still want to vote. Its not going to stop me.

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Early voting sites in all 50 wards and at the supersite downtown will be open every day through Tuesday. Chicago voters can cast ballots at any of them.

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China looks to be building a new radar system purported to have counter-stealth capabilities, analysts found.

Satellite images appear to show a SIAR system on Triton Island in the South China Sea.

China's continued investments in surveillance in the region could challenge how US forces operate.

China appears to be closing surveillance gaps in the South China Sea with the construction of a new radar said to have counter-stealth capabilities on Triton Island, new satellite images show.

This project, especially if the radar functions as advertised, could complicate US operations in the tense and contested region.

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Chatham House's John Pollock and Damien Symon reported on new satellite images of Triton Island, part of the Paracels and home to a Chinese military base, earlier this month. The report called attention to the expansion of China's military installations on the island between August 2022 and September of this year, including a new radar system.

Business Insider obtained copies of the satellite images, collected by Maxar, courtesy of Chatham House.

In the photos is what appears to be a synthetic impulse and aperture radar octagonal in structure and purportedly technology able to detect stealth aircraft. China previously built a SIAR system on Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands, further south in the South China Sea and west of the Philippines.

Triton Island has seen Chinese military upgrades in recent years, including the new radar system. Chatham House/Maxar

Chatham House noted that once the SIAR system is finished, it'll add to China's larger surveillance and reconnaissance network in the South China Sea by providing overlapping coverage stretching from Hainan Island on the northernmost edge of the strategic waterway to the Spratlys in the south.

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Along with SIAR, "China has built dozens of different types of radars across the Spratlys and Paracels over the last 10 years," Gregory Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider.

"This is an iteration on a long-term Chinese strategy to dominate the sensor space in the South China Sea," he said.

Last fall, the Pentagon documented growth in China's intelligence-gathering capabilities in the South China Sea, especially at the Spratlys.

While Beijing has stated the main goals of these projects are to improve marine research, safety of navigation efforts in the area, and conditions for personnel stationed at these outposts, the Pentagon said that the effort also "improves the PRC's ability to detect and challenge activities by rival claimants or third parties and widens the range of response options available to Beijing."

China's new SIAR system on Triton Island helps grow its reconnaissance and surveillance network in the South China Sea. Chatham House/Maxar

China says the SIAR system can track stealth aircraft by operating at a lower frequency. As J. Michael Dahm, a senior resident fellow for Aerospace and China Studies at the Mitchell Institute, wrote in a 2020 report, SIAR is a "unique, circular VHF-band radar array" that's "purposed to have significant counter-stealth capabilities."

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If true, that creates potential challenges.

Stealth aircraft are specifically designed with low-observable features to significantly reduce the size of their radar signatures, making them harder to detect and allowing them to penetrate enemy air defenses.

There's a lot unknown about how SIAR works, Dahm told BI, including its specific operating frequency, waveform characteristics, and power emitted. Similarly unclear is how SIAR would affect individual stealth aircraft and how vulnerable those platforms would be to SIAR. He said Chinese scientists who designed the SIAR system claim it can track aircraft such as the B-2 Spirit bomber and fifth-generation F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.

Similar assertions about Chinese detection capabilities have been made previously, but the claims remain unproven. That China appears to be taking steps to construct SIAR in the South China Sea is, however, indicative of the systems having at least some surveillance value.

China's expanded surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities could present challenges for US forces in the region. US Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Aaron Haro Gonzalez

China likely aims to create "these dense networks of overlapping radar coverage as a way to constrain US operations and funnel the US into operating into areas where the Chinese can array different defenses," Dahm said. Those defenses could be electronic warfare capabilities, surface-to-air missiles, and more.

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Dahm said that this is just the latest example of such efforts by China, which has long had the goal of countering and attacking enemy stealth aircraft dating back to observations of how US forces operated during the 1991 Gulf War, in which the stealth F-117 Nighthawk played an important role.

As part of China's massive military buildup and modernization efforts, it has increasingly emhasized advanced technologies for reconnaissance and information warfare.

Earlier this week, the US Air Force Secretary said that the US and China were locked in "a race for technological superiority" rather than a "classic arms race," with a focus on advanced satellites, battle management systems to effectively integrate and control combat assets, and artificial intelligence.

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Beijing was fast at claiming that it had no knowledge of Russia's deepening partnership with North Korea.

The U.S. had jumped on the opportunity, hoping to pressure China to dissuade North Korea from taking an active part in Russia's war against Ukraine.

Observers, however, are skeptical about China's signals, believing that the deal to deploy North Korean troops on Ukrainian battlefields couldn't have passed without Beijing's knowledge.

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North Korea's key ally, China, keeps the totalitarian regime of Kim Jong Un afloat. Beijing also provides billions worth of dual-use goods to Russia, having an increasingly important role in Moscow's ability to wage war on Ukraine.

"Contrary to what China says officially I don't think Pyongyang would have surprised China by sending troops without discussing it before," Mathieu Boulegue, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) think tank, told the Kyiv Independent. The expert dismissed Beijing's diplomatic messaging as a "big masquerade."

Read also: Moscow is desperate  Expert on North Korean troops in Russia

China and North Korea  close as 'lips and teeth'

Chinese dictator Mao Zedong once said that his homeland and North Korea are as close as "lips and teeth."

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North Korea presents a useful buffer zone between China and the U.S.'s allies in East Asia. The collapse of Kim Jong Un's regime would also drive millions of refugees across the Chinese border, creating a significant socioeconomic headache for Beijing.

"Without China's consent, there wouldn't be a North Korean regime," Boulegue said in comments for the Kyiv Independent. Over half a century after Mao's comments, Beijing continues to be Pyongyang's only lifeline.

"Without China's consent, there wouldn't be a North Korean regime"

Business with China represents more than 90% of North Korea's total trade turnover. When the two countries closed their border in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, North Korea's economy dropped by 4.5%.

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But the relationship hasn't always been smooth.

China began nurturing economic ties with South Korea, now Beijing's third-largest trade partner.

Beijing has also shown displeasure with the North Korean nuclear program. China has shown restraint in its nuclear rhetoric and allegedly discouraged Moscow from using nuclear arms.

Bypassing Beijing

On Oct. 31, North Korea tested an intercontinental missile in an ostentatious demonstration of its nuclear capabilities. Pyongyang declared South Korea a "hostile state," renouncing the previous official policy of "peaceful reunification."

Pyongyang has been increasingly relying on Moscow for support.

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Ukraine and the U.S. believe that in return for arms and troops, North Korea has obtained financial support for its impoverished economy, as well as technology for its nuclear program. Kim might also welcome the chance to test his fighters on a modern-day battlefield.

According to Ukraine, North Korea has dispatched 12,000 troops to Russia, with the first soldiers expected to join the fight in November.

"The Chinese side is not aware of the situation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a training base of the Korean People's Army's special operations forces in western Pyongyang, a day after South Korea's Armed Forces Day on the TV screen in Seoul, South Korea on Oct. 4, 2024. (Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers gather as they prepare to pay their respects before the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il as part of celebrations marking the birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, known as the 'Day of the Shining Star,' on Mansu hill in Pyongyang, North Korea on Feb. 16, 2019. (Ed JONES / AFP via Getty Images)

Moscow and Pyongyang indeed kept Beijing out of the loop, the Chinese leadership has reasons to be displeased.

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Jan Svec, a China researcher at the Prague-based Institute of International Relations, says that Beijing may be concerned about a "closer military cooperation of South Korea and Japan with the U.S. and NATO" as a result.

"At the same time, North Korea can become more dependent on Russia, and thus become less dependent on China, leaving China with less leverage," the expert told the Kyiv Independent.

"North Korea wants advanced military and missile technology, but the broader goal of signaling the existence of an anti-Western coalitionwhich is not going to dissipateis also important," Edward Howell, a North Korea expert at Oxford University, told the Kyiv Independent.

"Russia has provided North Korea with unwavering support at the U.N. Security Council over the past year, a maneuver that fulfills both Russian and North Korean interests."

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According to Howell, "China will not be pleased with North Korea's ongoing claims that its 'number one friend' is Russia."

Yet, Boulegue, who focuses on Russian-Chinese security relations, believes it unlikely that Pyongyang and Moscow would take such escalatory steps without Beijing's tacit approval.

"They (China) probably obtained something from Russia in terms of a trade-off," the expert said. "Another question is: what did they get in return?"

"They (China) probably obtained something from Russia in terms of a trade-off."

Boulegue underscores that despite its diplomatic posturing, China has been indirectly supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine for years.

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While not openly supplying Russia with arms, China is a key partner in Moscow's war, providing it with dual-use goods that keep the Russian arms industry running and helping it withstand Western sanctions.

From Beijing's perspective, such a "proxy war" in Ukraine creates a "cheap and efficient splinter that keeps us (the West) busy" while keeping its hands clean, Boulegue argues.

"And North Korea is definitely part of that indirect strategy."

Read also: Is NATO ready for war with Russia?

Beijing sticking with its allies

The main proponents of the idea that China is displeased with North Korea point to Beijing's economic interests in Europe and a desire for regional stability.

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China does not shy away from confronting the U.S., especially when it comes to Taiwan. At the same time, China generally avoids antagonizing the EU, enjoying the profitable trade and trying to undermine the bond between the two sides of the Atlantic.

But the West has already named China as the culprit of Russia's war, underscoring the Chinese role during the latest NATO summit. The U.S. and EU have also imposed sanctions against Chinese companies.

Yet, China doesn't seem concerned.

Chinese and North Korean artists perform during the opening ceremony of "North Korea-China Friendship Year" at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang, North Korea on April 12, 2024. (Kim Won Jin / AFP via Getty Images)

"I don't think that this (the transfer of North Korean troops) is such a decisive step that would lead to some kind of significant change of China's attitude toward North Korea or Russia," Svec believes.

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While the U.S. has reportedly appealed to China to dissuade North Korea from sending its troops to fight Ukraine, it is unlikely that this request will be any more successful than the ones made in the past two and half years of the war.

Boulegue says that the West lacks leverage to pressure North Korea through China.

At the same time, the expert argues that the poorly trained and equipped North Korean troops are not going to be any kind of "strategic game changer" on the battlefield. He expects Moscow to keep them mostly in support roles to prevent heavy losses on their part.

Throwing North Korean troops into "human wave" attacks that Russian troops face on a daily basis "is not going to look good for (Russia's) relationship with China and North Korea as well," he concludes.

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The Shenzhou 18 crew hands over control of the Tiangong space station to the newly arrived Shenzhou 19 astronauts. | Credit: CCTV

China's Shenzhou 18 crew have passed the keys to the Tiangong space station to its new occupants.

The Shenzhou 19 mission launched on a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in northwest China on Oct. 29 and arrived at the Tiangong space station 6.5 hours later.

Shortly thereafter, at 12:51 a.m. EDT (0451 GMT) on Oct. 30, the hatch between the Shenzhou 19 spacecraft and Tiangong was opened, allowing the three Shenzhou 18 mission astronauts to greet the trio of new arrivals aboard.

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The formal handover of the station happened on Friday (Nov. 1), with Shenzhou 18 commander Ye Guangfu  who recently became China's first astronaut to spend 365 days in space in total  passing a symbolic key to Shenzhou 19 commander Cai Xuzhe. Both crews then shook hands.

Related: China's space station, Tiangong: A complete guide

The Shenzhou 19 crew is China's youngest so far, with Cai, 48, and rookies Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, both of whom were born in 1990. Wang is currently China's only female spaceflight engineer.

The Shenzhou 19 trio now begin their own six-month-long stay aboard Tiangong and get to work on a planned 86 scientific projects and experiments, as well as extravehicular activities, or spacewalks .

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One notable experiment will involve sending a brick made from lunar soil simulant to Tiangong for placement outside the space station. Researchers want to study how bricks made from local moon materials hold up in extreme environments to help plan a future outpost on the surface of the moon . The brick is set to arrive at Tiangong aboard the Tianzhou 8 cargo resupply mission later in November.

Meanwhile, Ye and Shenzhou 18 crewmates Li Cong and Li Guangsu will prepare to return home. They are expected to touch down in the Dongfeng landing area near Jiuquan spaceport on Nov. 3.
Chris Hillyard, who has died of cancer aged 67, was involved in the maintenance of the Royal Train for 33 years, from 1996 to 2010 as its manager; travelling on every journey to deal with any technical hitches, he made 794 trips with Queen Elizabeth II and senior royals.

Dressed in black blazer and grey trousers, he would hold the door open for the Queen when she arrived to board the train, and lift the step and close the door once the passengers were aboard.

Beyond upkeep of the train, as foreman of its maintenance team, his duties included liaising with the Palaces Director of Royal Travel and meeting and greeting his passengers, including the occasional visiting head of state. He was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal by the Queen in 2002.

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Hillyard left school at 16 to start at British Rails Wolverton works near Bletchley, and after four years joined the team there maintaining the Royal Train. He was its manager through privatisation of the railways, but in 2010 was made redundant by the German company which by then was operating it.

Over the years, he got to see the family at their most relaxed. The train is used as downtime for the monarch a lot of the time, he explained. After theyve done their engagements they can come back, relax and then prepare for whats next. It gives a secure location.

A carriage of the Royal Train at Liverpool Lime Street station in 2011 - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

e found the Queen a charming lady with a wicked sense of humour, a very inquisitive, warm, welcoming person. Their first encounter came when, trying to deal with a radio communications fault en route from Aberdeen to London, Hillyard accidentally disturbed her nine corgis.

Assured that the Queen and Prince Philip had retired for the night, I walked across the lounge easing these little soft balls of fur out of the way, and just as I got to the corridor the door opened and Her Majesty stood there in her curlers and her nightdress. I apologised profusely and explained my presence, and she was most understanding.

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In the mid-1990s, when the train was carrying the Queen from Southampton to Slough after the launch of the P&O cruise liner Oriana, I was summoned through to her lounge, which I was told was full of smoke. He realised that a brake pad was dragging on a disc and overheating, but to fix it he had to excuse myself and climb down the side of the train.

Her Majesty followed me out of her lounge, looked down and said: Ill look out for you, as I was effecting the repairs. Thankfully they succeeded and we got back on time. The Queen had been unfazed, despite her carriage filling with smoke as she sat there. But we were a bit concerned, obviously.

The number of journeys the Queen took in the Royal Train varied each year with her schedule. But, Hillyard recalled, she was always interested in what was going on, and when I met Her Majesty away from the train side of things, the conversation was always about railways.

The Royal Train is the jewel in Wolvertons crown, having been maintained there since 1838. The current train consists of nine predominantly black carriages from the 1970s and 1980s, usually hauled by Class 67 diesel locomotive 67005, Queens Messenger, or 67006, Royal Sovereign. Its engine carries a unique four-lamp headcode.

Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Birmingham New Street Station by the Royal Train to open the refurbished rail station, 2015 - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The whole thing is very functional, Hillyard explained, with bedrooms, lounges, bathrooms, offices, dining areas and areas for the household to do their job because it is an extension of the household. Its the Royal household on the move.

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One innovation Hillyard pioneered was the occasional return of steam haulage for the Royal Train. The present King had complained as a child when a diesel engine replaced the steamer, and Hillyard set the ball rolling with the Royal household for the use of a steam locomotive. The first, in 2002, was the London, Midland & Scottish Railway Coronation class Pacific No 6233, Duchess of Sutherland.

Christopher Hillyard was born on March 4 1957 at Roade, up the West Coast main line from Wolverton. Several of the family had worked on the railway, but his father Denis worked at a factory making piano parts, and his mother Edna in the village Co-Op.

The family had lived at Roade since at least the 15th century, and in retirement Hillyard chaired the Roade Local History Society. In 2021 the society published his book Cutting Remarks, chronicling Robert Stephensons construction of the worlds first long-distance inter-city railway through Roade Cutting and the railway life of the village, which had lost its station in 1964.

Hillyard left Roade comprehensive in 1973 to work at Wolverton. Traditionally it had built carriages, but the last would be produced in 1977 as it concentrated on maintaining the existing stock with a greatly reduced workforce.

Hillyards book chronicled Robert Stephensons construction of the worlds first long-distance inter-city railway through Roade Cutting and the railway life of the village

He joined the trains dedicated maintenance team during the Silver Jubilee year of 1977, one of its busiest as the Queen made a series of trips around the country. The train stopped overnight at obscure but safe locations  notably the stub of a long-closed branch line at Market Harborough.

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With privatisation, ownership of the Royal Train passed from BR to Railtrack to Network Rail, and its operation and maintenance to RailCare, and from 2008 the freight operator DB Schenker (today DB Cargo). Two years later, Hillyard was called in and told of a reorganisation in which he was being made redundant.

The news came as a shock, but he worked out his notice period with dignity. On his final trip, the Queen and Prince Philip thanked him and presented him with a signed photograph. In retirement, he concentrated on researching his book and following the fortunes of Sheffield Wednesday.

After the Queen died at Balmoral and the decision was taken to fly her coffin from Edinburgh airport to RAF Northolt, he regretted that her train had not been given the honour. Ever since Queen Victoria first used the Royal Train, it had brought the monarch to the people, and he was disappointed it would not bring Elizabeth II to the people one last time.

He saw a promising future for the Royal Train under King Charles III. I do know that he has a great love of the train and finds it fits in with the way he and his household work. Id like to think that His Majesty and the new Prince of Wales will use its facilities around the realm to visit the populace.

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Chris Hillyard married in 1983, but his wife died soon after, leaving him with two young daughters. He went on to spend many happy years with his partner, Dawn Jackson.

Chris Hillyard, born March 4 1957, died October 19 2024

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Bill Childress Elementary School is being disinfected after higher than normal reports of students and staff getting sick, according to the Canutillo Independent School District (CISD).

CISD said students and staff were experiencing stomach flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and chills.

The district is working with the City of El Paso Health Department to determine the cause and source of the illness as well as next steps, according to CISD.

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CISD said the health department has advised the district to begin a deep cleanse of the school and to launch a hand-washing health campaign.

As a precaution, the district will disinfect all CISD campuses over the weekend.

In addition, CISD is asking parents and employees to monitor symptoms at home over the weekend. If symptoms arise, health officials encourage impacted people to remain hydrated and to contact their family physician.

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(SOUTHERN COLORADO)  The first day of November welcomes in the final month of meteorological fall. Temperatures should now start to favor 50s more than 60s.

The last couple months of the year usually include some of the most drastic temperature swings we see all year. November may start in the upper 50s but will likely end closer to the upper 40s.

Latest data from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) points to a near average November. Portions of far eastern Colorado may experience slightly warmer than average temperatures in November but for the most part, this month is setting up to be fairly standard.

As far as moisture goes, the CPC is also highlighting the potential for average moisture conditions across the region. Portions of the east central plains may favor above average moisture with spotty dry conditions possible across the east coast.

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The CPC also issues three-month outlooks while monitoring trends and patterns. The latest release from the CPC is hinting at the potential for above-average temperatures here in Southern Colorado. This pattern may also be present for much of the United States.

The three-month outlook discussing moisture potential is looking a bit more bleak. Dry conditions are likely to develop around the region for November, December and January. Remember, these are not forecasts from the CPC, but rather outlooks. Theyre a bit more general and attempt to tell a story in relation to averages.

With all of this being said, the FOX21 Storm Team is watching for a potentially active week of weather coming up for the beginning of November. Southern Colorado may experience several different systems next week, so conditions will need to be monitored closely.

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(Bloomberg) -- Activists who dispute the severity of human-caused climate change are quietly preparing to seize their moment should Donald Trump win a second term.

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Pushed to the political fringes during Joe Bidens presidency, they are now laying the groundwork to bring back coal-fired power plants, gut science at the Environmental Protection Agency and neuter the modeling used in the federal governments national climate assessment and other reports.

Everything Biden did will be looked at. The question is: Is there enough time in the the day over the next four years? said Steve Milloy, who formerly advised Trumps EPA transition team and who serves on the board of directors of the Heartland Institute, a free-market think tank that has espoused the benefits of a warming climate. How much can you get rid of?

Environmental groups say the measures would reverse US climate progress at a critical moment, as the Earth verges on 1.5C of warming and climate-charged disasters mount.

With Trump, we will go backward at a time we can least afford to, said Lena Moffitt, executive director of Evergreen Action. These guys have an agenda that would kill jobs and raise electricity rates for Americans, not to mention cost thousands of people their lives.

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A representative of the Trump campaign didnt respond to a request for comment.

Democrat Kamala Harris, meanwhile, is largely expected to stay the Biden-era course on energy issues, including policies that promote clean energy and address greenhouse gas emissions.

Trump in the past has dismissed global warming as a hoax. During his first term, members of his administration extolled fossil fuels, dismissed the scientific consensus on climate change and touted the benefits of increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (Emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases have already raised global temperatures by about 1.2C, or 2.1F, scientists say.) Although Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 Paris climate accord and managed to repeal or slow scores of environmental regulations, many of the sweeping changes sought by climate skeptics werent realized.

A former director at coal mining company Murray Energy Corp., Milloy said that he and allied groups are working on a policy road map for a potential Trump administration, similar to the Heritage Foundations Project 2025, which Heartland signed onto. (Trump and his campaign have disavowed Project 2025, which many of his former advisers helped draft.)

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The road map will challenge science that has been used by the EPA to underpin a swath of environmental rules, said Milloy. During Trumps presidency, the agency proposed limits on the use of scientific research unless methodological, technical and other information was publicly available. Critics said the move would exclude such research as public-health studies containing anonymized patient data.

It would roll back the EPAs 2009 endangerment finding, which provides some of the legal underpinning for regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, cars and other sources of the planet-warming pollution.

Among the targets Heartland is taking aim at are Biden-era restrictions on coal plants, the Biden administrations pause on the approval of permits to export liquefied natural gas and greenhouse gas reporting requirements, said James Taylor, the president of the Illinois-based organization, which has been critical of climate science.

We have folks within Heartland who may have ties or influence or contacts with an incoming Trump administration, and these are the things wed promote, Taylor said.

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Much of the wish list is in sync with Trumps pledge to drill, baby, drill for fossil fuels and with the oil, gas and coal industries desire for regulatory changes.

Other skeptics are taking aim at the scientific modeling used by federal researchers to create the National Climate Assessment and other major reports on climate change. The most recent edition of the National Climate Assessment, released last year, found that climate change was fueling a rising number of heat waves and wildfires.

Modeling is in the crosshairs, said Myron Ebell, a longtime skeptic who led Trumps EPA transition team and who said he believes by and large the impacts of modest warming have been largely beneficial. Ebell added that some groups are pushing to require that scientific modeling be verified.

The CO2 Coalition, a nonprofit whose self-proclaimed goal is to educate policymakers and others about the benefits of carbon dioxide, wants to see the creation of a presidential committee to review climate science, said Greg Wrightstone, the groups executive director. We have climate alarmists at every level of government, Wrightstone said. We need to have climate realists to have an open and fair debate. An overwhelming majority of climate scientists agree that Earths climate is warming and that human activity is the primary cause.

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Such a review was proposed during the first Trump administration by William Happer, an advisor on Trumps National Security Council. The effort faltered after pushback from moderate Republicans, who were concerned it would cost Trump votes with women, Happer said in an interview. But if re-elected, Trump wouldnt have the political considerations that come with running for another term, he added.

The level of planning by skeptics shows theyre more prepared for a possible second Trump term than they were when he won in 2016, said Kert Davies, a director at the Washington, DC-based Center for Climate Integrity. He said he feared the results given the seriousness of climate change: Killing regulations  even slowing them down  is terrible.

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In the final weeks before the Nov. 5 election, a measure that would double the countys quarter-percent homeless sales tax was closing in on the majority it needs to pass, a new poll of likely Los Angeles County voters found.

Half of those surveyed said they would vote for Measure A, or already had done so, in the poll taken by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by The Times.

That was a gain of one percentage point over the previous IGS poll in September and three percentage points above its August poll. Thirty-four percent said they would vote no, or already had, up from 33% in September but down from 36% in August. Sixteen percent remained undecided, did not vote either way on the measure or could not recall how they voted.

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"These numbers are very stable," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley IGS Poll. "It's close."

The survey, conducted Oct. 22 to 29, had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, making it impossible to say whether the 50% support means the measure is winning or losing.

But the upward trend was a good sign for the Measure A campaign, DiCamillo said. "Its not trending against them."

Another positive came from the responses of the nearly 26% of respondents who had already voted. They favored Measure A by 54% to 31%, compared with 49% to 35% for those who had not yet voted.

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"Theyre the likeliest of likely voters," DiCamillo said. "If youre on the yes side, that would be the group you would want to have in the bank."

However, DiCamillo noted those results could be skewed by the historical preference of Republicans to vote in person. Support for Measure A among Republicans was only 19% while 65% of Democrats supported it.

If it passes, Measure A will repeal Measure H, a quarter-percent sales tax approved by voters in 2017 to fund homeless services, and replace it with a half-percent sales tax expected to generate more than $1 billion annually. If not replaced, the Measure H tax would expire in 2027. The new tax, if adopted, would remain in effect unless repealed by voters.

The new measure would expand the reach of the current one by earmarking nearly 40% of the funds to homelessness prevention and affordable housing. Sixty percent would go toward comprehensive homelessness services, essentially replacing the existing revenue from Measure H. Some of that would be eaten up by increases in the reimbursement rate for interim housing proposed to go into effect next year. About $175 million, or 26% of the Measure H budget, goes to programs that would have increases of between 50% and 100% by July.

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Opponents, including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., object to the measure having no sunset date and argue that it is a new tax put on the ballot by "so-called 'experts' who have already received hundreds of millions of dollars for homeless programs while the problem got worse" and will "get the contracts to operate the same failed homelessness programs."

They also object to what they called a "court-created loophole" that makes the measure easier to pass.

A coalition of nonprofit organizations including United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the California Community Foundation qualified the measure for the ballot. Because it's a citizen initiative, under a 2020 decision by the 5th Appellate Court, it is exempt from the two-thirds majority required of government-initiated taxes and can win with a simple majority.

Backers raised about $4 million both to gather signatures and for a media campaign. The California Community Foundation, which contributed $2.1 million to the campaign, has also invested another $4 million in a community organizing drive to generate support, said the organization's president and chief executive, Miguel Santana.

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The campaign was finishing with an aggressive telephone drive to inform voters of what Measure H had accomplished, said Tommy Newman, United Way vice president for public affairs.

"Weve talked to more than 100,000 voters on the phone," Newman said. "This is the time voters make their decisions."

Newman said the campaign's polling shows an increase in support when voters learn more about the measure. The No. 1 argument is that homelessness would go up 28% if H expires, a projection made in a report by the Los Angeles County chief executive.

"Your average voter isnt quite sure what progress has or hasnt happened," Newman said. "Learning that there are tens of thousands of people who are receiving housing and services now and that money would go away is the first time many voters realize what has happened with the previous work."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools principal urged parents to talk with their children about appropriate behavior after gasoline was splashed on students during a school cafeteria fight.

Two students were fighting at Rocky River High School in Mint Hill on Wednesday when one of the students threw a flammable liquid, allegedly gasoline, but not confirmed, according to a CMS statement. Where the student acquired the liquid is unknown.

The liquid splashed on some students, and the school was placed on a modified lockdown to deescalate the situation, principal David Legrand said in a message to parents.

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Out of an abundance of caution, Medic was dispatched to examine students involved, Legrand said.

Medic evaluated 11 students after the 7 a.m. incident, Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC reported.

My daughter got the brunt, parent Diesha Hawkins told WSOC. She had to get her eyes flushed out. She is traumatized. My other daughter just got it in her hair

What if she had a lighter? Hawkins said, referring to a student involved in the fight. She couldve set them on fire. What if my daughter loses her eyesight?

CMS did not say if anyone was disciplined.

In his message, Legrand reminded parents that disruptive behavior violates the CMS Code of Student Conduct and leads to disciplinary action.

We ask that you continue to partner with us in creating a safe learning environment for all students by speaking with your child(ren) about appropriate behavior at school, Legrand said, and reminding them about the consequences of their actions.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The co-owners of Rocky Hill Pharmacy have been indicted on multiple charges amid accusations that they were part of a health care fraud conspiracy that involved altering and forging prescriptions to get money from drug plan and pharmacy benefit managers.

According to the federal indictment, which is dated October 16, 2024, Rocky Hill Pharmacy and its co-owners, Tiffany Haney and Anne Warren, conspired to commit health care fraud. Both Haney and Warren were pharmacists licensed to practice in Tennessee, the indictment states.

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Between August 2017 and July 2024, the indictment claims that Rocky Hill Pharmacy was paid $8,572,470.08 by drug plans, pharmacy benefit managers and other health care benefit programs because of the conspiracy. Haney and Warren were charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, making false statement relating to health care matters and aggravated identity theft.

The document alleges that Haney and Warren forged prescriptions using the names of medical providers, who did not authorize the prescriptions, and listed themselves and their family members as patients.

They are also accused of creating a list of prescription medications covered by a prescription drug plan or other insurance plan that included certain steroids, pain creams, and other medications based on their high reimbursement rates from health care provider programs. The indictment claims that the pharmacy then hired an individual to market the list, referred to as a drug formulary, to pain clinics and health care providers.

It continues to allege that Haney and Warren altered the formularies that were signed legitimately by providers by checking boxes next to prescribed medications and writing in additional refills. In some cases, the indictment claims Haney and Warren created forged formularies and other prescription documents by hand writing in patient names, marking boxes next to medications, writing in refills, and falsely signing the providers name. In other cases, Haney and Warren allegedly included notes that implied a forged prescription was phoned into the pharmacy or verbally authorized by a providers representative, the indictment says.

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Townsend restaurant a total loss after fire

Through this, the indictment claims that Haney and Warren submitted altered and forged formularies, as well as some falsified claims involving medications not listed on the formularies, to drug plans, pharmacy benefit managers and other health care benefit programs for reimbursement.

The indictment calls for them and Rocky Hill Pharmacy to forfeit any property that were derived from the offenses.

According to the Department of Justice, if Haney and Warren are convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, they could face up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of false statements relating to health care matters and aggravated identity theft also carry the potential for prison times and fines if Haney and Warren are convicted, the DOJ added.

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In April, 6 News reported that FBI personnel were seen at Rocky Hill Pharmacy for court-authorized law enforcement activity.

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated with new information from the Department of Justice.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  For some voters, this will be their first time casting a ballot.

20-year-old Nolan Ferri is planning to cast a ballot on Tuesday.

The Augustana student is excited to vote for the first time.

Especially this year. I dont know if its because Im the age of voting, but it just feels like everything is more intense, ramped up, and theres a lot of pressure, Ferri said.

Anna Soderborg is also looking forward to it, but the 18-year-old is a little nervous.

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I dont really know how the whole process works yet, but I know where Im going, so well figure it out, Soderborg said.

Both students say Amendment G is important to them.

It would establish a constitutional right to an abortion under a trimester framework in South Dakota.

Obviously I care about nationally too, but the whole thing with Amendment G and everything, thats really important to me, womens rights, Soderborg said.

I think for me in the past couple of years, especially coming to college, my faith has grown a lot and so my opinions on certain things has as well, Ferri said.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Schaler Starks says shes been focusing on Amendment F.

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The constitutional amendment would allow the state to impose work requirements on people eligible for expanded Medicaid benefits, with some exceptions.

I think health care needs to be accessible to people, especially in a rural community like South Dakota, Starks said.

All three students agree its important for young people to be engaged in the election.

I think its really important that we fulfill our civic duty and this is one of the ways we can do that, Starks said.

I think a lot of young people think, Oh, Im too busy or I dont have time, but were the ones who will be living in the world. Its not like were retiring soon. Its the world that well be living and working in especially, so its very important because it applies directly to us, Ferri said.

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A House Education and the Workforce Committee report found many universities have failed to adequately discipline antisemitic conduct, saying the committee's investigation exposed a wave of antisemitism occurring on college campuses after the October 7th Hamas attack prompted the war in Israel.

A summary of the more than 100-page report, released Thursday, alleges the "overwhelming majority" of students accused of antisemitic harassment or other acts of antisemitism on campuses faced minimal disciplinary action for their alleged violations.

Conducted by the Republican majority's staff, the report investigated 11 schools from Ivy League elites to California's university system, including the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA.

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MORE: The forces behind Harvard President Claudine Gay's resignation

"This is not the end," committee spokesperson AnnMarie Graham-Barnes told ABC News in a statement, adding, "As long as Jewish students are facing discrimination and harassment, the Committee will continue to demand better from universities."

Jewish students from across the country described living in a climate of hatred and fear after Hamas invaded Israel. At a congressional roundtable in February, Yasmeen Ohebsion, of Tulane University, told the committee that she had slurs like "F--- you, Jew," shouted at her since the war began on Oct. 7.

"This is the reality as a Jewish student who wears the Star of David," Ohebsion said.

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At the same roundtable, Jewish Columbia student Eden Yadegar said she was followed around her campus by protesters brandishing sticks last school year. She told ABC News she believes ignoring Jewish students is a "characteristic" of her school's administration.

A key conclusion from the wide-reaching investigation stated that the alleged chaos  including antisemitic harassment, large-scale disruptions, and pro-Palestinian demonstrations  on college campuses could set a precedent inviting future behaviors and Title VI Civil Rights Act violations.

The event that prompted the committee's months-long investigation started in December on Capitol Hill at a bombshell hearing on combating antisemitism featuring the presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT.

PHOTO: Representative Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) questions witnesses during a House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing on holding campus leaders accountable and confronting antisemitism, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2023. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP Images, FILE)

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik asked each school's president if calling for the genocide of Jews constitutes as hate speech on campus.

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The university leaders stated it was a context-dependent answer, which captured countless headlines after the once-quiet committee's Dec. 5 hearing.

PHOTO: Harvard President Claudine Gay speaks during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, Dec. 5, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP, FILE)

From there, the committee's investigations have featured several document requests  collecting more than 400,000 pages  historic subpoenas for documents and internal communications  leading to the resignations of multiple college presidents who testified publicly before Congress (Harvard's Claudine Gay, Penn's Liz Magill, and Columbia's Minouche Shafik each resigned before the start of the 2024-2025 academic year).

PHOTO: Columbia University President Nemat 'Minouche' Shafik prepares to testify before the House Education and Workforce Committee during a hearing on Columbia University's response to antisemitism on Capitol Hill, April 17, 2024. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images, FILE)

The committee's GOP chair, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, said while Jewish students have exhibited courage amid the scourge of alleged antisemitic harassment, the universities failed to protect them and should be held accountable.

"Our investigation has shown that these 'leaders' bear the responsibility for the chaos likely violating Title VI and threatening public safety," Foxx wrote in a statement. "It is time for the executive branch to enforce the laws and ensure colleges and universities restore order and guarantee that all students have a safe learning environment," she wrote.

PHOTO: House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) speaks during a press conference on antisemitism at the U.S. Capitol, April 30, 2024. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images, FILE)

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In response to the report, a Department of Education official told ABC News the department is committed to investigating complaints of antisemitism and other forms of hate to the full extent of congressionally granted authority. The universities mentioned in the report are all being investigated by the federal Office for Civil Rights.

The committee's wide-reaching investigation has four core findings:

First, it alleges university administrators showed a dereliction of leadership and capitulated to encampment leaders. The report concluded UCLA enabled a "hostile environment" for Jewish students as it was aware of and failed to remove "antisemitic checkpoints" inside of a tent encampment that "required passerby to wear a specific wristband to cross them."

Second, the committee said university leaders declined to express support for Jewish student communities and condemn antisemitic conduct. Harvard failed to condemn Hamas in its initial response to the invasion and many schools "turned its back on" Jewish communities on campus, according to the report.

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It criticized Harvard and the other universities for showing a deliberate "indifference" to antisemitic harassment while supporting other minority groups.

Third, the schools failed to meaningfully discipline pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The investigation concluded there was little to no discipline regarding encampments and building takeovers at schools including Northwestern, Berkeley, and Rutgers.

According to the report, Rutgers even punished Jewish students for revealing the antisemitism they experienced while it shoa wed "lax" handling of antisemitic misconduct.

Fourth, it said, university leaders were reluctant to participate in congressional oversight and disparaged lawmakers. The report found Harvard, Columbia, and Penn, including presidents and board chairs, condemned the committee's actions. Their findings allege that official notes from a Dec. 10 meeting of Harvard's Board of Overseers show former President Claudine Gay apparently referring to Stefanik as a "purveyor of hate" and "supporter of Proud Boys."

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MORE: As debate rages on campus, Harvard's Palestinian and Jewish students paralyzed by fear

Harvard is one of several schools listed in the investigation that has taken steps to update its policies and rules around campus use and discipline. The university's guidance prohibits demonstrations and protests in study, instructional, or private areas.

"Antisemitism has no place on our campus, and across the university we have intensified our efforts to listen to, learn from, support, and uplift our Jewish community, affirming their vital place at Harvard," Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton told ABC News.

Stefanik, a Harvard alum, said the universities included in the sweeping investigation are in for a reckoning for decades to come.

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"This report clearly shows the moral bankruptcy of university leaders to take decisive action and even confirms personal attacks against me for pursuing their accountability," Stefanik said in a statement to ABC News.

"Our once 'elite' higher education institutions conceded to hostile, antisemitic agitators and failed to condemn and properly discipline students and faculty that were guilty of antisemitic conduct violations," she said.

Last spring, the antisemitism investigation by Foxx, the Education Committee and simultaneous investigations by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson to take up the issue, making it a House-wide probe amid the pro-Palestinian demonstrations and campus takeovers.

Much of the information in the majority's wide-reaching investigation has largely been released to the public through its high-profile hearings, transcribed interviews, and subpoenas.

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Meanwhile, Democrats on the committee told ABC News that Republicans on the committee "aggressively" ignored other forms of discrimination on college campuses. "The only way you can effectively deal with antisemitism is to address all forms of hate and discrimination," the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Bobby Scott, said.

Rep. Scott added that the committee has not held any hearings on Islamophobia, saying "Muslim students have been subject to hate speech and everything, discrimination, ra,cism etc."

Colleges failed to address antisemitism, House GOP report finds originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Columbus man will spend close to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to gun and drug crimes.

Bernard Clark Philly McMillion, 32, pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to distribute and possession of a controlled substance including 40 grams or more of fentanyl and five grams or more of methamphetamine. In addition, McMillion admitted to possessing a gun used to commit drug trafficking.

McMillion was sentenced to 130 months in prison in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.

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According to court records, from the fall of 2022 through February 2023, McMillion and a co-defendant used a number of houses in central Ohio to traffic fentanyl, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine. Those houses included buildings on South Terrance, Doren, Columbian, Floral, and Springmont avenues and McCarley Drive West, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Two handguns and a 12-gauge shotgun were confiscated as part of the investigation.

McMillion was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Would you trust your vote with a friend, a candidate or even a stranger? Thats the question being asked in Clark County, as unofficial ballot boxes pop up and candidates offer to deliver votes themselves.

This is known as ballot harvesting or setting up unofficial boxes and groups to collect votes. The process is legal in Washington.

Suspect of Portland, Vancouver ballot box fires may strike again, police warn

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While there are legitimate reasons for the practice  like making voting more accessible for the elderly  election officials warn they have seen past instances where votes left in unofficial boxes didnt make it in.

Nonetheless, Washington Congressional candidate Joe Kent defended his call to have constituents leave ballots with him instead of in an official ballot box on Friday.

Ballot harvesting is completely legal in Washington state, he emphasized. So we are participating in the elections process to the fullest extent of the law and we want to make sure every single ballot makes it across the finish line.

Free Gaza messages found at Portland, Vancouver ballot box fires, New York Times says

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Kent is not alone, as Firmly Planted Family Home School Resource Center in Vancouver is also inviting people to bring ballots there. But election officials are encouraging voters to use official methods.

I really want to discourage voters from giving their ballot to anyone that they dont know, trust and have a lot of confidence that that person will return the ballot here to the elections office, said Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey.

Following a ballot box arson on Monday, Kimsey says theyve increased security and replaced 488 of the 494 ballots damaged.

Her ballot burned, Clark County teen undeterred

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Kents opponent, incumbent Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, cast her vote at the newly replaced ballot box Friday morning.

Im very confident in the work that the Clark County auditor has done and our law enforcement has done, she said. And so [my husband] and I wanted to come down and cast a literal vote of confidence in our election system and vote here today at Fishers Landing.

But later, Jennifer Whitacker, one of the newly contracted observers, witnessed more bad behavior at the ballot box.

He started banging on the ballot box, and looking on both sides cussing, yelling, and then just walked off, she recalled. It was very alarming.

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Vancouver police confirmed the report and said officers investigated, but found no damage to the ballot box.

While disappointing, Kimsey said hes glad to see the new ballot box observers in action, alerting law enforcment at the sign of potential intimidation.

Our ballot box observer did call law enforcement and thats exactly whats supposed to happen, he added.

Hours later, near the elections office, KOIN 6 News saw a woman  not with the county  posted near the ballot box and handling some votes, but she left after Kimsey spoke with her. He noted this is yet another example of legal ballot harvesting.

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Despite Mondays attack and the heightened political climate Kimsey said voters should feel confident.

When people drop their ballot in a ballot drop box, its going to be kept safe and secure, he stressed. I think the sentiment with what weve seen is were not going to let these people take our vote away.

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Another columnist left The Washington Post Friday, but this time it was not over Jeff Bezos decision to not endorse a presidential candidate. Conservative columnist Hugh Hewitt left during a live talk show early Friday, saying it was the most unfair election ad hes participated in.

Nationally syndicated radio host Hewitt quit The Washington Post after he walked off the papers online show First Look. This comes as the paper has internally been grappling with fallout when an editorial to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris was squashed.

I have in fact quit the Post, but I was only writing a column for them every six weeks or so, said Hewitt to Fox News. He reportedly told editorial page editor David Shipley on Friday morning that he quit.

Another bad day for @WashingtonPost. Upset with @CapehartJ and @RuthMarcus for inaccurate attacks on Trump, @hughhewitt rips off his headset and leaves lives #PostLive show. Im done. This is the most unfair election ad I have ever been a part of. Show falls apart, ends early. pic.twitter.com/fsGC1GhIrx  Brent Baker   (@BrentHBaker) November 1, 2024

Heres what happened.

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Columnist Jonathan Capehart brought up a lawsuit by the Trump-Vance campaign during the live talk show. The suit claimed there were some Bucks County, Pennsylvania, voters who were waiting in line before the 5 p.m. deadline to apply for a mail ballot, but they were told to go home.

A Pennsylvania judge sided Wednesday with the Trump-Vance campaign and extended the deadline through the end of the week.

Does it seem like Donald Trump is laying the groundwork for contesting the election by complaining that cheating was taking place in Pennsylvania? Capehart asked on the show. By suing Bucks County for alleged irregularities. And this is on top of his continual assertion that if he loses, its because of cheating.

Ruth Marcus, another columnist and associate editor, responded by saying Uh yeah and adding that Trump will go to every courtroom he can in America where its relevant to make whatever arguments he can no matter how far-fetched.

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When Hewitt tried to interrupt, Capehart told him to let Marcus finish.

After Marcus finished her comments, Hewitt said, Were news people, even though its the opinion section. Its got to be reported.

Bucks County was reversed by the court and instructed to open up extra days because they violated the law and told people to go home, said Hewitt, adding the lawsuit was successful. He also said the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin this week to allow the states program aimed at removing noncitizens from the voter rolls.

We are news people even though we have opinions, said Hewitt, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story.

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After Hewitt stopped speaking, there was a pause and then Marcus said she would let Capehart talk.

I dont appreciate being lectured about reporting when, Hugh. Many times youve come here saying lots of things that arent based in fact, said Capehart.

Standing up from his seat, Hewitt said, I wont come back, Jonathan. Im done. Im done. This is most unfair election ad Ive ever been a part of.

Capehart then pivoted to trying to discuss a column Marcus wrote, but the show had technical difficulties after that and eventually ended.
SYRACUSE, NY (WSYR-TV)  The calendar turned to November today so cue the clouds and cooler weather. Will things improve this weekend? Check out the details below.

November starts much cooler

Central New York is certainly living up to its November reputation on this first day of the month. Clouds have dominated through the afternoon with westerly winds gusting past 30 mph.

The wind is turning into the northwest and air continues to cool so there should be a limited amount of lake effect rain showers or drizzle coming off the southeast end of Lake Ontario overnight.

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The clouds limit how much we can dop temperature-wise tonight. It is a seasonable chilly night over the region with lots of mid to upper 30s.

Quiet weekend

High pressure is building in for the weekend so the weather for Central New York looks to be quiet.

With lighter winds to start Saturday, our clouds may be a bit stubborn so dont be surprised by a grey sky heading up to the Dome for the Syracuse-Virginia Tech game. As high pressure settles over us in the afternoon, however, there is increasing sunshine. There is a crisp, fall feel with temperatures only rising to near 50 degrees.

The weather starts Sunday sunny with increasing clouds in the afternoon. These clouds are ahead of an approaching warm front.

Warming again; any records this time?

The warm front mentioned above moves through Central New York on Monday so this is when we would expect our best chance for showers over the next seven days.

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Once the warm front moves to our north, we get another taste of warm weather for Election Day Tuesday. It may not touch 80 degrees like we have just enjoyed, but low to even mid 70s are possible and any rain chances look low. The record Tuesday is 77 set just two years ago and we may challenge that.

There is another chance for some showers Tuesday night into Wednesday as another cold front moves through. That front moving o our east means the return of more seasonable 50s for the end of the week.

Click here for the latest 7-day forecast.

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One of Kamala Harriss attack lines was to paint a picture of a bitter and twisted Donald Trump, hunched over his desk in the dead of night compiling a list of enemies.

In her closing speech at the White House Ellipse on Sunday, Ms Harris told crowds of soon-to-be voters that Trump has an enemies list of people he intends to prosecute.

She has repeated the claim several times since  and there is no doubt that Ms Harris would be near the top if such a list does exist.

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The nearest to a historical precedent was back in the 1970s, when Richard Nixon and his officials drew up plans to make life awkward for their opponents.

John Dean, Nixons White House counsel, suggested officials should examine: How we can use the available federal machinery to screw political enemies.

Trump, himself, has tangled with more than a few of his contemporaries over the years, with the outspoken former president never shy about making his views clear on social media when he feels someone has slighted him.

Here are some of the people unlucky enough to cross his path.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden has been called the most corrupt president in the history of the USA by Trump - AFP via Getty Images

Top of Trumps roll call of foes is Joe Biden.

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Shortly after being indicted for his role in the Jan 6 insurrection, Trump said he would fight back in kind.

I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the USA, Joe Biden and the entire Biden crime family, and all others involved with the destruction of our elections, borders, & country itself!, he posted to Truth Social.

Hunter Biden, the presidents son has already been convicted on firearms charges and in September pleaded guilty to tax charges.

Joe Biden and Trump have both called for each other to be put behind bars.

Hillary Clinton

Trumps 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton is a long-time foe - Reuters/Rick Wilking

During the 2016 election campaign, nothing stirred the Trump faithful more than the demand that Hillary Clinton be measured for a prison jumpsuit.

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Every time he mentioned crooked Hillary, the crowd would chant lock her up.

Even after his victory, the chants continued  and Trump suggested that his supporters lean on his then attorney general, Jeff Sessions, to make their dream come true.

He did not and the former first lady and secretary of state has yet to see the inside of a prison cell.

Liz Cheney

Liz Cheneys support for Kamala Harris sealed her position as a subject of Trumps ire - AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Not only did she sit on the congressional committee investigating Jan 6, but Ms Cheney is now campaigning for Kamala Harris.

Describing her as a radical war hawk, Trump told his audience: Lets put her with a rifle standing there, with nine barrels shooting at her, okay? Lets see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face.

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Ms Cheney took that as a death threat, the Trump campaign said she had misinterpreted his remarks, rushing out a statement accusing her of being quick to start wars and send other Americans to fight them, rather than go into combat themselves.

In May, Trump called for her to be jailed for her treasonous leadership of the Jan 6 committee.

Not only should she face a military tribunal but the event should be televised, he said.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is in Trumps sights for her work on border control - Reuters/Brian Snyder

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The Democratic presidential contender is likely to be put on the Department of Justices to-do list if Trump wins the election.

If Trump had his way, she would have been disqualified from running for president, but he will settle for her being prosecuted.

The former president has said Ms Harris should be punished for her handling of the border during her time as Joe Bidens vice-president.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama was accused by Trump of spying on his 2020 campaign - Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Trump has not spared his predecessor from calls for summary justice, repeatedly accusing him of committing crimes.

Among them, Trump said his predecessor had spied on his campaign.

Speaking to CNN in 2020, he said: Its treason. Look, when I came out a long time ago, I said theyve been spying on my campaign.

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I said theyve been taping, and that was in quotes, meaning a modern-day version of taping, its all the same thing. But a modern-day version. But theyve been spying on my campaign.

Mark Milley

Mark Milley called Trump a fascist. His merited punishment? DEATH according to Trump - Justin Lane/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who has since described Trump as a fascist, should also face execution  according to a posting the former president published on his Truth Social channel.

Gen Milley upset Trump by ringing the Chinese to reassure Beijing after the storming of the Capitol.

It was an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH, was Trumps verdict.

Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi is among the figures Trump has threatened to punish - AP Photo/Kin Cheung

Former leader of the House of Representatives Ms Pelosi  who was a thorn in Trumps side during his administration  gets off quite lightly.

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She should merely be prosecuted over her husband Paul Pelosis share trading.

In all, according to one estimate, Trump has made more than 100 threats to punish enemies as part of his retribution against the enemy from within.

Journalists who refused to disclose sources would also be put behind bars as would poll workers who Trump claims rigged the 2020 election.

The Labour Party

Britains Labour Party was denounced as a far-Left inspiration for Ms Harris, after a number of its activists lent her their support - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

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Among Trumps potential list of enemies is Britains Labour Party.

The Republican candidates campaign filed a formal complaint to the Federal Election Commission last month accusing Sir Keir Starmers governing party of making illegal foreign campaign contributions and interference in our elections.

In a release announcing the complaint, which referenced The Telegraphs own reporting, the Trump campaign accused Labour of being a far-Left party that had inspired Kamalas dangerously liberal policies and rhetoric.

The allegation came after Labour Party staff organised a trip for almost 100 activists to campaign for Kamala Harris in several critical battleground states.

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Labour has also received repeated broadsides from Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire turned Trump surrogate, who has attacked the Prime Minister over the policing of riots this summer, labelling him two-tier Keir.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A Lakin couple has been charged over some funds allegedly missing from the Deerfield Cemetery.

Dakota Williams, 38, and Samantha Williams, 34, were arrested last week and have bonded out of jail.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said the Kearny County Sheriffs Office requested assistance on May 20 to investigate crimes allegedly committed by the former cemetery treasurer.

Why is Kansas so windy?

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Complaint forms filed at the Kearny County Courthouse show that both Dakota and Samantha Williams are charged with the same seven alleged crimes:

Count 1  Misuse of public funds. The charge alleges the defendant was a custodian or person having control of public money by virtue of the defendants official position and unlawfully allowed another to use the public money.

Counts 2 through 6  Theft. One count alleges the theft of $4,000 from Cemetery District 3, Deerfield. One alleges the theft of $3,000. The other four counts allege the theft of $2,000.

Both suspects posted $25,000 bonds and are scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 26.

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Covid-19 vaccines have been banned for the first time by a US public health board over claims the risks now outweigh the benefits.

A health department in Idaho voted last week to stop administering Covid vaccines, becoming the first to do so across the US.

Idahos Southwest District health department board voted four-three to stop making the vaccines available to residents in six counties across the state. All Covid-19 vaccines have been either approved or authorised for emergency use across the US by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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The decision by the Idaho regional board will likely give ammunition to vaccine-sceptics and anti-vaxxers who pushed against the rollout of the vaccines in the US. It is likely that other public health boards could follow suit. Similar campaigns were run in Europe including the UK but received short shrift.

Texas has banned health departments from prompting Covid vaccines while Floridas surgeon general has recommended vaccines are no longer used, but the Idaho regional health board has gone further by banning its widespread administration.

Just 64 doses given this year

The health board ignored the advice of its own medical director who had given evidence on the ongoing need for the vaccine. Demand for the vaccines had dropped enormously since the peak of the virus in 2021. More than 1,600 doses were given out in 2021 but that had dropped to just 64 so far in 2024.

Vaccines are administered where the benefits outweigh the risks posed by side effects. It is widely recognised that worldwide, the rollout of Covid vaccines saved almost 20 million lives in their first year.

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At the Idaho regional board meeting at the end of October, Dr Perry Jansen, the medical director, made a direct plea to the seven-person board not to ban the Covid vaccines.

He said: Our request of the board is that we would be able to carry and offer those [vaccines], recognising that we always have these discussions of risks and benefits. This is not a blind, everybody-gets-a-shot approach. This is a thoughtful approach.

But the board voted four to three for the ban. More than 290 people and organisations submitted comments opposing the continued rollout of the vaccine in the six counties.

Chairman supportive but disappointed

Kelly Aberasturi, the board chairman, said that he was supportive of the boards decision to ban the Covid-19 vaccines but also disappointed in it.

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Those at the meeting, included Dr Peter McCullough, a Texas cardiologist who sells contagion emergency kits that include ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine  drugs that have Covid-19-outside-hospital-setting or have not been approved to treat Covid-19 and can have dangerous side effects.

Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs for the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said: Im not aware of anything else like this.

She said health departments have stopped offering the vaccine because of cost or low demand, but not based on a judgment of the medical product itself.

The six-county district along the Idaho-Oregon border includes three counties in the Boise metropolitan area.

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State health officials have said that they recommend that people consider the Covid-19 vaccine. Idaho health department spokesman AJ McWhorter declined to comment on public health district business, but noted that Covid-19 vaccines are still available at community health centres for people who are uninsured.

In the UK, the countrys own vaccine, developed by Oxford University and the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has been withdrawn from use worldwide. The vaccine is credited with saving about six million lives in the first year of the vaccine rollout. AstraZeneca has insisted the withdrawal was made for purely commercial reasons and that the vaccine is safe.

But AstraZeneca is being sued for tens of millions of pounds by grieving relatives and people made very seriously ill by the vaccine, caused by an extremely rare side effect that caused blood clots. AstraZeneca has denied liability in a case that will be keenly watched. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine never received approval for use in the US.

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FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  UPDATE: ARDOT says the accident has been cleared.

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  An accident blocks traffic on Interstate 540 in Fort Smith on Nov. 1.

According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, the accident blocks the right lane and right shoulder in the northbound lane.

ARDOT says there are no injuries.

More information on this accident and other traffic updates can be found on iDrive Arkansas.

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Potterville High School

POTTERVILLE  Potterville Public Schools is the subject of a police investigation amid a financial shortfall that will require the school district to submit additional information to the state and could potentially lead to oversight of its finances.

"There are investigations being handled by law enforcement" regarding the school district, school board President Stacy Ann Sipes confirmed in an email Saturday morning.

Sipes did not specify which police agency or agencies are investigating the district or what is being investigated.

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"I have no further comment as I do not want to impede their work," she said. "The district is cooperating fully."

Michigan State Police Lt. Rene Gonzalez said Saturday morning state police are not investigating the district but the agency is aware of an investigation by Potterville Police involving Potterville schools. It was initiated about a month ago and regarded "financial reasons," he said.

Messages left with Potterville Police Chief Richard Barry weren't immediately returned on Saturday.

Michigan law requires public school districts to maintain a general fund balance of at least 5% of unrestricted revenue.

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According to Sipes, the "district audit for the 2023-2024 school year revealed a less than 1% fund balance. This is a challenge for the district but we will continue to ensure that our students needs are met."

The district's approved 2023-2024 general fund budget lists a projected fund balance of just over $1.4 million - or about 10% of the $12 million available to appropriate.

The discrepancy between the budgeted fund balance or surplus and the lesser amount that Sipes cited was not explained in her email.

The most recent audited financial statements listed on the district's website are several years old, the most recent of which is for the 2021-2022 school year.

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School districts with general fund balances of less than 5% of unrestricted revenue "for any of the two previous years" must submit additional documentation, according to the State of Michigan's website.

"Districts that incur a general fund deficit projecting to last five years or more," are subject to treasury oversight.

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

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Criminal investigation ongoing amid financial irregularities at Potterville schools
Supporters of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) gather outside the WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids ahead of the two Senate candidate's debate on Oct. 8, 2024. | Kyle Davidson

With polls indicating that the 2024 election will be a tossup, not just for the White House, but in many other key races in Michigan, candidates are looking to avoid any disadvantage that could turn off independent voters.

One of those disadvantages may be directly identifying what party they belong to.

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That is not an issue in the presidential race, where both Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, and Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, are each strongly identified as the leaders of their respective parties. But for candidates in very tight congressional races, partisan affiliation can be something to avoid or play down.

Some of these states and districts are very close. They could go either their way. If Im a Democrat, maybe the Republicans who might be open to at least doing some research about me, if they just see my sign, they start to kind of tune me out. Maybe thats something they want to avoid, J. Miles Coleman of the University of Virginia Center for Politics told the Michigan Advance.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin sign for Senate | Susan J. Demas

Former state Sen. Curtis Hertel sign for Congress | Susan J. Demas

Former state Sen. Tom Barrett sign for Congress | Susan J. Demas

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Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers sign for Senate | Susan J. Demas

The examples of this party avoidance are many in Michigan, starting with the highly contested race for U.S. Senate featuring U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake).

Both candidates have numerous yard signs and digital ads in which the words Democrat or Republican are not present.

The same is true for hotly contested mid-Michigan congressional races.

In the 7th District, former state Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-Lansing) is going up against former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) for the seat left open with Slotkin pursuing the Senate. Both candidates have signs sans party references One Hertel digital ad has him criticizing Democrats on immigration without mentioning hes a Democrat.

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I work with Democrats and Republicans to get it done. And when Democrats got soft on the border, I called them out, said Hertel in the ad in which he portrays himself as a regular guy.

A Barrett TV ad on heavy rotation highlights that he isnt a millionaire and makes plain his status as an Army veteran helicopter pilot, but nowhere does it say that hes a Republican.

Meanwhile, Democratic state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet and former Trump administration appointee Paul Junge are both vying for the 8th District seat, and both have ads that dont mention their party affiliation.

McDonald Rivets ad, which gained notoriety for appearing to show her husband jump out of a car rather than listen to his wife talk about cutting taxes, doesnt say shes a Democrat.

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While Junges ads also dont specifically say hes a Republican, two of them released prior to the August primary, in which he faced several competitors for the GOP nomination, feature Donald Trump and label Junge as a Trump Conservative.

Coleman says thats something hes seen in other races across the country.

Ive noticed on the Republican side, some of the Republicans in the key races, instead of putting Republican on their side, theyll say Trump endorsed. A lot of them tend to prefer the term conservative over Republican, because in a state like Michigan, you may have some Democrats who are more open to a conservative than a Republican, said Coleman. Im thinking a district like the 8th or even the 7th, you may have some working class Democrats who would agree with conservatives on something, but whod be less open to a named Republican.

A Junge ad released after he won the nomination attacks McDonald Rivet, but again doesnt mention the party affiliation of either candidate.

Lansing-based PR consultant Andrea Bitely told the Advance that another factor in this trend is data overload.

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I think one thing it comes down to is peoples attention span. They can maybe get through 30 seconds of issue advertising, but they cant make it through much more than what they are already listening to, said Bitely, owner of Bitely Communications whos been a spokesperson for GOP former Attorney General Bill Schuette. Its also not necessarily winning them more votes by identifying their political party. And at the top of the ticket, everybody is so already aligned and matched with what their party affiliation is, its almost unnecessary to include it.

Bitely says it also provides no positive benefit for many candidates running in tossup districts.

It could be counterproductive if you are running in a truly purple seat. Although the reality right now, if youre looking at the Barrett-Hertel race, each of those candidates is going to get some swing from the top of their ticket, and they want to be associated with them. So I think a lot of this comes down to the American publics inability to focus on anything for more than 5 to 10 seconds, she said.

One factor that may be driving this trend away from party identification is the change in partisan balance. For many years, Democrats enjoyed an advantage in voter share, peaking at about 55% in 2008. Since then it has tightened to an essential balance between the two parties according to Pew Research.

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The partisan identification of registered voters is now evenly split between the two major parties: 49% of registered voters are Democrats or lean to the Democratic Party, and a nearly identical share  48%  are Republicans or lean to the Republican Party, said the organization.

Even more to the point are voters who adamantly will not vote for someone in the opposite party.

Theres definitely those people out there, said Bitely. A pretty good section of both sides of the aisle, it doesnt matter if the Democrat is my next door neighbor, and Ive known him for 30 years. Hes still a Democrat. Im not voting for him and vice versa. The Republican on the other side of you is running, but hes a Republican. Im not voting for him or her.

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However, Bitely says the vast majority of voters are well aware of what party particular candidates belong to, so this trend is really aimed at those who arent tuned into politics and election until a ballot shows up in their mail or voting begins in person.

The base knows their candidates. They know who theyre going out to vote for. Theyre not the ones youre trying to push in any direction. The folks youre pushing in any direction are the low propensity, unlikely to vote in every single election, she said. Right now, were looking at the folks that vote every four years and only if its a candidate they like. Were just trying to get into those peoples heads that they recognize your name.

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As Kamala Harris was walking on stage to rapturous applause at the Democratic National Convention in August, outside, protesters in keffiyehs chanted free Palestine!

They held up placards which called on her to end genocide and free Palestine. Some simply read: Abandon Harris 24.

The war in Gaza has enraged swathes of progressive voters who could normally be relied upon to support a Democratic candidate.

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Ms Harriss support for Israel has the potential to cost her dearly in Tuesdays election.

Addressing that crowd of supporters in Chicago, Ms Harris described the devastating toll that the war had taken on Palestinian civilians, and declared her support for their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.

The speech was designed to be a subtle indication that she cared more for Palestinians than Joe Biden, who is a lifelong friend of Israel and has supplied the country with munitions and diplomatic cover.

But more than two months on, it is clear that some pro-Palestinian voters have still not been won over.

Anger at Ms Harriss position on the Middle East could cost her votes - Reuters/Vincent Alban

As polling day approaches, the Harris campaign has serious concerns about two groups of voters: Arab-Americans and young liberals.

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Many in those demographics argue that Ms Harris should immediately impose an arms embargo on Israel, ending more than a year of ironclad support by the US, and call for the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state.

Some insist that without a change in Ms Harriss policy on the Middle East, they will abstain in the election or support Donald Trump.

Ms Harris has met neither of their demands, and has pledged to continue support for Israel if she wins the election, while working for a ceasefire.

On Oct 9 this year, two days after the anniversary of Hamass deadly terror attack on Israel, she further angered pro-Palestinian voters by describing that event as the most tragic story of the war.

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Many of the frustrated voters gathered at ArabCon, an event organised by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and held in Dearborn, Michigan in September.

Maryam Hassanein, who was among more than a dozen Biden administration staff to quit their jobs over the conflict, said the US should make a ceasefire in Gaza the condition of US support for Israel.

In order to really take back disillusioned voters, [Ms Harris] needs to be far, far more willing to say: Okay, this is the way weve approached the issue for the past few months. It does not necessarily seem to be working, she said.

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Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said he will continue the war until all Hamas fighters have been eliminated, with or without the support of Washington.

But he is now more reliant on the US than ever before, after a ballistic missile attack by Iran on October 1 that pierced Israels Iron Dome defences. In response, Mr Biden has sent additional air defences that will be operated by US personnel from the ground.

Some feel that Ms Harriss call for a ceasefire is insincere.

Omar Aburmishan, a 28-year-old TikTok creator, speaking from ArabCon, told The Telegraph that he believed she supported the continuation of the war.

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She might say she was working to get a ceasefire in Gaza, butwhat evidence is there of that? he said.

Theyre not doing anything

Sayed Saleh Qazwini, a Muslim faith leader in Michigan, said Ms Harris had not done enough to convince American Muslims to support her.

I see that both candidates are competing on who could support this genocide and who could support Israel more, he said.

Maybe the Democrats are speaking about it a little bit more, but theyre really not doing anything. Theyre enabling this genocide.

The inflammatory accusation that the Biden administration supports genocide in Gaza has become a common refrain on the campaign trail, and is often issued by activists who say they previously voted for Democrats.

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When Ms Harris avoided Mr Netanyahus speech to Congress in July  in what was interpreted as an attempt to distance herself from Israel  protesters took to the streets and burned an effigy of him. Hundreds were arrested, with many accused of promoting anti-Semitic chants and imagery.

Ms Harris did not attend Benjamin Netanyahus address to Congress in July - Reuters/Craig Hudson

Gaza has also become a major topic of debate on US college campuses, where students staged sit-in demonstrations before the summer break and clashed violently with police.

Frustrated Harris campaigners in swing states have implored voters to choose her over Trump, who has described himself as Israels protector and suggested he would like to see Gaza turned into a strip of luxury waterfront real estate.

But Abed Ayoub, the national director of the ADC, told The Telegraph that there wasnt much of a difference between the two candidates.

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If Donald Trump was president while the genocide was going on, youd have a lot more Democrats with a backbone willing to call Donald Trump a war criminal for allowing it to happen, he said.

Our votes have to be earned. It cant be taken for granted. We dont owe it to either party to vote for them.

In trying to find a delicate balance between continuing the US governments support for Israel and appeasing her own supporters, Ms Harris has lost a significant proportion of her vote in some areas.

Polling suggests that concern about Gaza could make a serious dent in Ms Harriss vote share in Michigan, which could go either way in the presidential race and may decide the overall balance of power between the two candidates in the Electoral College.

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Some pro-Palestine voters have set up an uncommitted campaign, which was first used against Mr Biden during the Democratic primary earlier this year.

In Michigan, the proportion of write-ins for uncommitted was equivalent to 13 per cent of the vote, which could be enough to swing the election away from Ms Harris if the numbers are replicated on Tuesday.

There is also a threat to Ms Harris from third-party candidates on the Left, including the Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Ms Stein, who has criticised Ms Harris for her stance on the war, is polling at around 1 per cent of the popular vote in Michigan, North Carolina and Arizona, according to a Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll for The Telegraph earlier this week.

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Rania Masri, a liberal organiser in North Carolina, said she had been telling Democrats to vote for Trump if they would not support Ms Stein.

[Ms Harris] really represents the Democratic Party, in the sense that this is a party that is best known for crying crocodile tears while continuing to fund and send weapons, she said.

I find her policies to be worse...in terms of what she wants to do, than the Republican Party, when it comes to domestic and foreign policy.

Ive been openly saying, if you dont want to vote for Jill, vote for Donald Trump, but do not give a vote to Kamala Harris and expect to be welcomed by my community.

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.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Sixty local Culvers restaurants will raise money to send American veterans to the nations capitol, with a fundraising effort starting Saturday, November 2nd.

Representatives from VetsRoll, the organization that takes veterans to Washington D.C., announced the annual program on Friday.

Founder Mark Finnegan spoke at Grace United Methodist Church, saying, Its important to the general public to honor our veterans. And we do a caravan of 11 buses over 4 days. And its all police and motorcycle escorted. Its truly a trip of a lifetime when veterans get in on these trips.

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Last year, the fundraiser brought in more than $55,000.

VetsRoll is in its 16th 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.
Although fall feels like it just started in the Valley, preparations for the holiday season are already in motion up north.

On Friday, Coconino National Forest announced that Christmas tree permits will be available for purchase online starting Nov. 14 at 8 a.m.

Tree permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and availability is limited, according to Coconino National Forest.

To secure a fresh tree this holiday season, make sure to set up or log in to your recreation.gov account in advance. Coconino National Forest also advises reviewing all important details ahead of time.

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Permit holders can begin cutting their trees as soon as Nov. 15 and have until Dec. 31 to find the perfect one.

The holiday season: Here's when Starbucks seasonal drinks hit Arizona in 2024

Coconino National Forest announced that out of the 1,300 available permits, 400 will be allocated for the Flagstaff Ranger District, while 900 will be designated for the Mogollon Rim Ranger District.

If youre unable to get a permit from Coconino National Forest this year, dont let it affect your holiday cheer. Numerous other national forests are also offering Christmas tree permits online for their respective districts.

You can search https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits for other Arizona forests.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Christmas tree permit availability for Coconino County this year
Sixty Czech citizens have attained official permission from Prague to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: Novinky reports that this was announced by Filip Platos, President Petr Pavel's spokesman, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The spokesman noted that so far, Petr Pavel has approved 60 applications from Czech citizens who asked to be allowed to defend Ukraine as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in agreement with the ministries of defence, interior and foreign affairs. A total of 181 such requests have been received.

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Czech citizens are prohibited from joining a foreign army without the permission of the Czech president, which is a criminal offence. However, for those who have already done so, there is an opportunity to obtain permission retroactively.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by commenting that the Czech president "clearly does not need" the citizens he released as volunteers to Ukraine.

Officially, four Czechs fighting for Ukraine as volunteers were killed in action. Among them is Karel Kucera, who was posthumously awarded the Medal for Heroism by President Petr Pavel on Czech independence day. Karel travelled to Ukraine without official permission, having not received consent from then-President Milos Zeman.

This week, it became known that two more volunteers who fought for Ukraine  one from Georgia and one from Sweden  were killed at the front.

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TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY (FOX 5/KUSI)  Immigration advocates are honoring the lives lost by migrants attempting to cross into the United States with a Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, altar.

A long list of names, candles, and marigolds fill a small trailer in the Tijuana River Valley, just feet away from the border wall.

We did not know most of the individuals, but we want to make sure that at the very least that their lives are honored, according to Pedro Rios, Director of the local nonprofit American Friends Service Committee.

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For the second year in a row, the organization is partnering with fellow nonprofit Friends of Friendship Park to put up the altar, which includes belongings found in the desert. Water bottles, shoelaces, lighters, and a backpack  all reminders of the risk involved with the journey.

An oversized rosary made of skulls stands out among the other items. It was created by Nanzi Muro, a local fronteriza artevist. Muro explained that her art is meant to evoke bigger conversations about the migrant crisis and U.S. immigration system.

We talk about how many people are coming, how many people are crossing, but we dont talk about the tactics the border patrol is using, explained Muro.

Pedro Rios said the organization hes a part of was methodical when they chose a site to place the altar.

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We have been at this location for over a year providing water and food and basic necessities to asylum seeking migrants, explained Rios.

He added that over the years, more people are dying in their attempts to cross into the U.S., and its something he wants to see change.

There needs to be broader attention by our members of Congress to ensure that the policies that theyre putting in place are centered around human rights and are not centered around companies that are profiting from enforcement measures, explained Rios.

Members of the community are invited to see the ofrenda, or altar, for themselves throughout the weekend. It will be open on Saturday from 12 p.m.- 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m.- 3 p.m. at the following location:

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Tijuana River Valley

San Diego, Ca, 92154

32 3223.7 N 117 0405.1 W

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Spooky season is upon us and the annual day of the dead, also known as Dia de los Muertos, is taking place this weekend. However, this tradition is not rooted in tricks or treats.

Celebrated in countries across Central America, Dia de los Muertos is a vibrant and spiritual tradition that brings families together to honor the lives of loved ones who have passed away, embracing death as a natural part of of life and encouraging celebration over mourning.

LEER IN ESPANOL: Como pueden celebrar Dia de los Muertos

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Dia de los Muertos takes place on Nov. 1 and 2; however, some cultures will celebrate as soon as Oct. 31 and as late as Nov. 6.

These are believed to be the days when life on Earth and the land of the dead come together. Those who have passed make a symbolic return to enjoy lifes pleasures like eating their favorite food, drinking and reuniting with their families through their dedicated altars, also known as ofrendas.

On Saturday, Rhode Island Latino Arts will host a celebration starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Southside Cultural Center at 393 Broad St.

The event will offer a variety of art-making and creative activities like face painting. There will also be a community altar in which attendees will be able to place photos and mementos that represent the loved ones whom they wish to celebrate and remember.

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As the sun sets, attendees will head over to Grace Church Cemetery for a procession to honor those buried there. Attendees will not be allowed to wander through the gravesite. However, they will be joined by a storyteller, spoken poetry artist and a singing Catrina, a Mexican symbol of a smiling skeleton with elegant clothing.

The event ends with a Catrina parade back to the community altar.

You do not have to pick up these items at the community altar after the celebration as the community ofrenda will be displayed through the weekend. Event organizers suggest participants dont leave objects of significant value at the altars to avoid any unwanted disposal of these items.

PVD House will be hosting a block party at The Dark Lady on Nov. 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. You must be 18 or older to attend. Tickets cost $25 at the door, or $20 in advance. All proceeds will go toward building queer-friendly affordable and emergency housing.

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Teatro Ecas will also have a free and public community altar for people to visit on Nov. 1 and 2 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 679 Valley St. in Providence.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In the spring of 2022, Thomas Packard found himself running to the bathroom a dozen times a day. He also noticed blood in his stool and just felt unwell. While he was bothered by this change, he thought he might have irritable bowel syndrome or something like ulcerative colitis. Still, he visited his doctor for a referral to see a gastroenterologist.

The GI doctor basically said, Yeah this could be concerning. It could be nothing. It could be just some inflammation. What we need to do is a colonoscopy, Packard, who was 36 at the time, tells TODAY.com.

After Thomas Packard learned he had six months to 1 year to live, he moved closer to his children. That move helped him find a doctor who had a treatment that they hoped to remove all his colon cancer.

Following the colonoscopy, the doctor came in and Packard knew something was amiss.

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(The doctor) had this really despondent look on his face and said, I have no good way to say this. I have terrible news for you. You very likely have advanced colon cancer, he says.

Packard was stunned.

In a moment, everything changes, he says.

Now I am a person who has cancer

When Packards symptoms first began, they were so mild that he thought little of them.

They were so subtle, he says. It took me no more than a couple of months from when I was really cognizant that I was having something wrong to get into the (primary care physician).

His doctor immediately referred him to a GI doctor, but they said something that struck Packard as odd.

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A funny thing they said to me was like, Oh, just go to the emergency room if you bleed through your underwear. Otherwise go see the GI doc, he recalls.

About three months later, he saw a GI specialist and Packard explained his symptoms to the doctor who recommended a colonoscopy. In November 2022, six months after first visiting his primary care doctor, Packard underwent a colonoscopy. Packard remembers the doctor entered the room looking completely devastated.

The doctor said based on the colonoscopy it appeared Packard had advanced stage colon cancer, but they needed to wait for the biopsy to be sure. Packard has no family history of colon cancer and he now knows hes part of the overall trend of colon cancer increasing in young people. Still, the diagnosis was overwhelming.

Its like an upside-down feeling, he says. Its the feeling of one minute ago I was a person who didnt have cancer. Now I am a person who has cancer.

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The biopsy confirmed that Packard had adenocarcinoma, which is the most common form of colon cancer, and a CT scan discovered that the cancer had spread to his liver, making his diagnosis Stage 4 or whats also known as metastatic cancer.

Even though my primary cancer is in the colon, I actually had a lot of tumors  more than a dozen  in my liver, he says. Getting that result basically was the next blow.

Packard, whose kids were 5 and 8 at the time, realized that his diagnosis suddenly got really complicated.

Things go really really downhill, he says. It was a giant shock to see that CT result, to see extensive metastatic disease in the liver, and to be confronted with your imminent mortality.

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At the time, Packard lived in Seattle and the oncologist he visited did not give him good news.

He said that they could not give any definite timelines but that many people in my position with the kind of extensive disease that I had could expect to survive six months to a year, he says. There was nothing that they could do. There was no surgery that could be done. Liver transplant was not an option. There were no curative option.

In 1 year so much has changed for Thomas Packard. He went from thinking that Stage 4 colon cancer would likely kill him in a year to being cancer free. He's now taking time to appreciate his life and increase awareness of colon cancer.

The doctor informed Packard he could be on palliative chemotherapy to try to extend his life and let him enjoy the little bit of time he had left. Packard grappled with knowing his death would leave his children without a father.

It was much more devastating and unacceptable to me to think about the fact that I wouldnt be here for my kids, he says.

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While Packard lived and worked in Seattle, his children were with their mom, his ex-wife, in Denver. Facing what he thought was a death sentence, Packard knew he needed to be closer to his children.

I was traveling every other week to go to Denver and spend time with the kids, he says. I realized if I dont have long to live, I need to be near my kids.

In Colorado, he met a new oncologist who started him on systemic chemotherapy.

He confirmed ... the extensive nature of the tumors in the liver meant we could not operate, he says. The only choice to do medically was to start chemo with the hopes that chemo would shrink the tumors and we would get to a point where we could cut them out.

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In December 2022, a month after he was diagnosed, Packard started chemotherapy. He could tell it was working because some of his symptoms improved.

I was feeling better on chemo, which I know seems ridiculous, he says. When the cancer is making you very sick, it is possible.

A CT scan confirmed what Packard suspected  the chemotherapy was working.

We saw that many of the tumors on my liver had shrunk including one of them which at the beginning was about the size of a grapefruit, he says. It was about half of the size after about three months.

While this was welcomed news for Packard, the doctors realized he needed more intensive treatment to get him to a point where he could undergo surgery to remove the remaining masses on his liver. His doctors presented his case to a multidisciplinary care clinic for a chart review and a surgical oncologist had an idea for how to treat his liver metastases.

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(She) knew that (hepatic artery infusion) technology actually is very useful for people who are in exactly my position, Packard says. Basically, people who have colorectal cancer that have liver metastases (the)  entire disease burden is in their liver and their colon.

For hepatic artery infusion (HAI), doctors insert a pump under the skin that delivers high doses of chemotherapy directly to the liver via the hepatic artery, according to an article in the Journal of Surgical Oncology. Even though the doses are higher, they cause fewer side effects than systemic chemotherapy and more effectively reduces tumors, says UChicago Medicine.

When Packard heard about this treatment, he didnt realize how transformative would be. At the time, he was estate and funeral planning and thought this was just another experimental treatment.

This cancer will kill you and that is the only message I heard, he says. Its something that I worked really hard on accepting during that time because I had no choice.

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But the surgeon who suggested it shared all the benefits with him. Still, he felt dubious.

(I said) But if Im going to be dying here in a year or two, and this thing maybe adds a month or two to my life, whats the point, Packard recalls. She looked and me and was like, Im not sitting here having a meeting with you to talk about extending your life a couple of months  Im here because I believe that we can use this therapy to get you to a place where we can completely remove your cancer.

Packard says he experienced cognitive dissonance at that moment. He had spent all this time believing hed never be cancer-free and suddenly he learned that he could be.

It was the first time I even experienced (hope) in my cancer journey, Packard says.

Treatment

Much like regular chemotherapy, Packard needed to go to an infusion center to receive his HAI chemotherapy. But thats where the differences end. Staff use a needle to insert the treatment into a reservoir directly into the Intera HAI pump and it only takes about 10 minutes.

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You dont feel anything, he says. I was getting chemo through that pump for (two-week intervals), 24 hours a day, a very slow, low amount of it coming out.

For two weeks, Thomas Packard underwent hepatic artery infusion therapy and systemic chemotherapy at the same time. It worked and he was able to undergo surgery to have his liver tumors removed and his colon cancer removed from its primary site.

He started HAI therapy in July 2023 for two week intervals along with systemic chemotherapy. Then three months later, Packard received another life changing call.

The doctor said, The surgical oncologist and I have just reviewed your latest CT scan and we want you to know that we think youre now eligible for resection, he says.

It paid off. That was the right choice, he says. I would have never believed that this would have happened to me that I would be able to go from being told that there was really no hope to a glimmer of hope  then to be told now youre eligible for resection.

In October, Packard underwent liver surgery to remove all of the tumors and in December he had colon surgery to remove the primary tumor. It was followed by several rounds of radiation.

By the end of 2023, roughly one year after starting treatment, I was declared no evidence of disease, Packard says.

A lot of gratitude

Colon cancer right now in the U.S. is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men under 50, Packard says.

A report from the American Cancer Society agrees that colon cancer is the number one cancer death of young men, past TODAY.com reporting says.

Thats why Packard feels its so important to share his story with others. He hopes it encourages people to see their doctor if they notice any bowel changes and to undergo regular colonoscopies when theyre 45.

Having cancer changed how Thomas Packard approaches life and showed him 'profound human love' during his 'brutal' experience with it.

What I feel now is a lot of gratitude for all of the people who helped me get to this point, he says. I want to use this time that I have not to just obviously hang out with my kids and enjoy everything that life has to offer, but I also want to give back and help other people who are in this position.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick publicly debunked claims that voting machines in the state are changing the selections voters make.

Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump, whose father-in-law is GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, posted on social media that Texas had looked into claims about voting machines in Tarrant County switching voters' selections and the "error has been corrected with the voting machines."

[Heres your ballot for the Nov. 5 Texas elections]

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But Patrick, who is also a Republican, quickly corrected the national party leader on social media. The lieutenant governor said fewer than 10 people out of the nearly 7 million Texans who had already cast ballots across the state claimed that their selections were changed, but officials could not confirm a single instance of that happening.

"There were actually no errors to correct once we investigated those few cases," Patrick wrote on X.

Election Day is Tuesday.

One person out of 591,885 who had already cast ballots in Tarrant County claimed that the voting machine switched his selection for president from Donald Trump to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Tarrant is Texas most populous battleground county.

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Tarrant County officials believe the man made the wrong selection while using the machine. His original ballot was canceled and he was allowed to cast a new one.

Lara Trump reposted Patrick's statement debunking claims about switched votes.

"We will keep a watchful eye on our elections," Patrick wrote in his post. "If you see anything concerning, call the Secretary of State office overseeing our elections."

The Secretary of States Office can be reached at 800-252-8683 or online.

Disclosure: Texas Secretary of State has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Erie, Pa. (WJET/WFXP)  Dave McCormick is set to host a rally on Sunday alongside Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The rally is scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 at The Honey Baked Ham Company, located at 7200 Peach Street Unit 120. Doors are expected to open at 12:30 p.m.

This visit is part of McCormicks Time for a Change rallies, with several other visits taking place through Monday, the day before the elections.

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On Sunday, McCormick starts in Harrisburg before heading up to Erie, wrapping up the day in Somerset. On Monday, he will join the Trump campaigns rally in Reading and Pittsburgh in the final push before voters head to the polls.

The visit will come one day after Former President Bill Clinton appeared in Erie to highlight Kamala Harriss Opportunity Economy plan.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  People at the Kansas statehouse celebrated Dias De Los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, on Friday.

Its a holiday of remembrance. Students and families from Wichita, Dodge City and Topeka all gathered at the Kansas Capitol to honor and educate others about this holiday.

The celebration began with students from Dodge City telling everyone about the holiday in English and Spanish. Latin dancers from Wichita followed the presentation with two performances, featuring dancers as young as four-years-old.

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A special dessert finished the holiday celebration at the capitol, Bread of the Dead.

Topeka flower shop to close after 21 years as owner retires

So its a a very special bread, said Ernesto De La Rosa, chair of Kansas Hispanic Affairs Commission. Today it has been produced by one of our local Latinos here in Topeka. Wonderful bread. So, its meaningful again to our loved ones and is a way to show our appreciation and remember them.

The holiday continues its celebration today, celebrating the spirts of the children who have passed. And then, beginning at midnight, the focus shifts to all adults.

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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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
So what are your plans for this Sunday?

Are you heading to church in the morning or meeting a friend for Sunday brunch?

If you've set a time to be somewhere on Sunday morning, you need to remember one important detail  set your clock back one hour or you're going to be really early on Sunday.

Here's what you need to know about falling back on Saturday night.

When do we fall back as daylight saving time ends?

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3.

What should you do before falling back on Nov. 3?

Before you go to bed on Saturday, Nov. 2, you need to change the clocks, moving them back one hour. It's also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

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Donate Halloween candy: Don't throw away excess candy, donate it

Will Congress end Standard Time?

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is making another move to stop us from changing the clocks with the Sunshine Protection Act.

"It's time to lock the clock," the Florida Republican congressman's office posted in a news release Monday.

Rubio released a statement in support of making daylight saving time permanent just days ahead of the twice-annual switch from daylight saving time to standard time, which happens Sunday.

The senator suggested the nation "stop enduring the ridiculous and antiquated practice of switching our clocks back and forth. Lets finally pass my Sunshine Protection Act and end the need to fall back and spring forward for good."

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In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act. However, the act wasn't a priority in the House of Representatives and there was a disagreement as to whether daylight saving time or standard time should be the law of the land, according to The Hill.

In the end, the sun set on the legislation, which never made it to President Joe Biden's desk.

What would happen if we stayed on daylight saving time?

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the idea was to use daylight better. Moving the clocks back an hour in the fall means we'll have more daylight during winter mornings.

In December this year, the sun will rise between 7:04 a.m. Dec. 1 and 7:23 a.m. Dec. 31. With daylight saving time, we wouldn't see the sun rising until after 8 a.m. Waking up early in December is hard enough; it's even worse without the sun until after 8 a.m.

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On the good side, we'd have more daylight on the back end as the sun would set between 5:37 and 5:47 p.m.

How to adjust to daylight saving time ending

The time change will impact your sleep habits. While it's not as drastic as when daylight saving time begins, it still may cause some issues. According to WebMD.com, there are several ways to adjust your habits to make the change to standard time easier. Here are some suggestions:

Gradually shift your sleep and wake times before the clocks change. Try to stay up later on Nov. 2. If you need extra help, you could change your clocks earlier.

When it's light outside, expose yourself to as much light as possible. When it's dark, cut back on the amount of bright light around you.

Try to get exercise during the day. It will help keep you alert and it will help you sleep later.

Set up a proper environment for sleeping. Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol, have a calming bedtime ritual, create a dark, quiet environment to sleep, and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When does daylight saving time end permanently? Ending might be soon
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  This Sunday ends Daylight Savings Time.

WTWOs Chief Meteorologist Jesse Walker asked his social media audience for their feedback on the topic.

Lots and lots of comments. A lot of people would like to see us stop doing it, just leave the time like it is. I do know that there has been a push to get that done, but right now that has kind of stalled. At this point, we still need to change time this weekend.

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Its not just a personal opinion for business owners. The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce says that every year at this time, the economy takes a hit.

Daylight Savings Time comes at this time of year and it ends in the fall, we see businesses struggle. Retail struggles, grocery stores struggle, everything across the board struggles because people want to go home whenever its dark at 5 oclock.

The Chamber of Commerce encourages residents to continue visiting local businesses, despite it being dark during normal leisure hours.

We would encourage people, I know its very tempting when its getting dark at 6 oclock, to just go online and do your shopping that way. Go out, visit these stores, go to these brick-and-mortar stores because these places are what make our community so special. I know it does take extra effort when its cold and dark like that, but going out and supporting these businesses this time of year goes a long way.

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The Terre Haute Chamber says that if any businesses are struggling this time of year, reach out to the chamber and they will find ways to help.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
MORAINE, Ohio (WDTN)  A Dayton-based organization held a free health and resource expo Saturday to address the high rate of diabetes in Montgomery County.

Diabetes Dayton hosted its Wellness and Diabetes Expo at the Mandalay Event Center in Moraine. The event provided free health screenings, eye exams, A1C testing and more.

We know that diabetes is a huge problem in our community, so we provide lots of health care providers to help people get their health in order and live their best life, Diabetes Dayton Executive Director Cris Peterson said.

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More than 1 million Ohioans were diagnosed with diabetes in 2020, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The health department estimates that 2.2 million Ohioans have undiagnosed pre-diabetes.

Peterson said Montgomery County has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the state, thats why prevention is critical.

Weekend events around Dayton: Nov. 1-3

If you dont control your type two diabetes, it can lead to all kinds of complications vision, loss, loss of limb, cardiac problems, kidney problems, Peterson said.

Diabetes Dayton has been serving the Dayton area for 60 years, providing free and low-cost testing supplies, educational programs and support groups for those living with diabetes.

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Victor Bailey, a volunteer with Diabetes Dayton, said he finds joy in connecting people to the health resources that they need for free.

As a Type 1 diabetic, I found myself going out there trying to find resources on my own, Bailey said. This is an opportunity to share the information that I have, especially with communities that dont have access to the information.

To find out more about Diabetes Dayton and the resources they offer, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  November marks the 29th anniversary of the Dayton Accords.

The city of Dayton played a huge role in starting the process that ended the Bosnian War.

The Dayton Peace Accords resulted from an agreement that was negotiated for more than two weeks at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Richard Holbrooke led the process.

Bosnian exchange students visit Dayton for culturally-immersive program

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In late Nov. 1995, leaders of three warring factions from Bosnia signed off on the accords including Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia. This ended the genocide in the former Yugoslavian region and outlined a General Framework Agreement for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It was finalized a month later in Paris.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man pleaded guilty on Friday for his involvement in a kidnapping and robbery that happened outside of a nightclub in Northwest D.C. in May 2022.

In the early hours of May 1, 2022, now-22-year-old David Zanders and another suspect kidnapped two men outside of Flash nightclub, which is in the 600 block of Florida Avenue NW.

According to court documents, Zanders stopped his car, pretended to be the victims Uber and got them into the car.

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Man in cowboy hat charged for destroying DC tiki torch statue with skateboard

Once they realized they were in the wrong car, they asked to be let out and Zanders locked the door.

Shortly after, he pulled over. The two suspects pointed their guns at the victims and told them to hand over their phones and money.

The victims complied.

Zanders and the co-defendant drove the men to a gas station and tried to withdraw money from an ATM using their credit cards. One of the victims got out of the car and fled, while the other stayed and did not try to flee.

They then drove to a Giant in Hyattsville, Md. and used the victims ATM card to withdraw about $1,000. They released the victim in Maryland shortly later.

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Zanders dropped off his co-defendant back at his home in D.C.

New Maryland law allows children as young as 10 to be held accountable for crimes

Later that day, at about 11 p.m., Zanders, the same suspect and a third person met up in the 900 block of Longfellow St. NW. The three suspects arranged to meet up with two victims under the pretense of selling Zanderss car.

Instead, when the two victims arrived, Zanders pulled out a gun, threatened to shoot one of them and demanded the mans phone, money and keys.

The other two suspects did the same to the second man.

The victims complied, handing over their keys, phone

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One of the suspects drove away with the car that the two victims arrived in, while Zanders and another person drove away in their own cars and fled.

Zanders pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping and one count of carjacking. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2025.

He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the kidnapping charge and 15 years on the carjacking charge.

Zanders has been detained since his arrest on Nov. 18, 2022.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Rapid City.

The officer-involved shooting occurred Friday, November 1 in Rapid City. The suspect is dead. No law enforcement officers were injured.

44-year-old woman killed in Monday homicide

The DCI is working with local and state law enforcement on the investigation.

This is a developing story. Stay with KELOLAND News and KELOLAND.com for more coverage on-air and online.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Smallpox, typhoid, and yellow fever were the most dreaded scourges of the 19th century. They seemed to come out of nowhere, and there was no known cure for typhoid or yellow fever. (Vaccination for smallpox had been around for decades.)

There was general agreement that personal hygiene and good public sanitation could stave off the diseases, if not entirely eliminate them. In the event disease struck, quarantine (pest houses) and fumigation were the accepted treatments. Beyond that, there was only prayer.

The cause of each disease was different. Smallpox is a highly contagious viral disease spread by human contact. Vaccination can prevent it but cant treat it once it has taken hold. Typhoid is a highly contagious bacterial disease contracted through contact with human excrement in food and drinking water. It is also transmitted by human carriers who may themselves show no symptoms. In 1899, the Fort Worth Record and Register declared typhoid the most dreaded of all fevers.

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Yellow fever, another viral disease, was believed to be contracted from miasma (foul air), although, like malaria, it was actually mosquito-borne. It got its name from causing jaundice  thus the yellow pallor of the victim  leading to kidney failure and ultimately death. Quacks promoted useless cures like Simmons Liver Regulator, Browns Iron Bitters, and Venos Curative Syrup with fantastical claims and sold by all druggists.

Each of these diseases was largely a puzzlement to medical science of the day. Until antibiotics were discovered in the 20th century, the best doctors could do with their little black bags was make the sufferer of a bacterial disease comfortable. And viral diseases remained untreatable even after the discovery of antibiotics.

Smallpox outbreaks hit Fort Worth

For all its healthy climate and small population, Fort Worth was just as subject to outbreaks of these diseases as any other city. Major smallpox outbreaks hit Fort Worth in 1881, 1882, 1886, 1888, 1889, and 1901. They seemed to be a summer phenomenon, but could strike in any season.

The publics response ranged from denial, to panic, to desperate measures. When identified, cases were sent to the pest house on the outskirts of town, where they lingered under horrible conditions until freed one way or another. The pest house was a virtual sentence of death. In addition, yellow warning flags were put up over houses that had smallpox. Early sufferers and those not infected rushed to get vaccinated, causing the vaccine supply to run out in 1886. Adding insult to injury, Dallas closed its borders to all travelers coming from Fort Worth that year.

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During the smallpox epidemic in 1888, the records of undertaker G.L. Gause show he was busy, burying victims on Aug. 6, 11, 16, and 21. Because all of them were poor, their burials were paid for by the city, $7.25 in all. That same month Gause also buried Mrs. Root (cause of death unknown) in grand style  a $66 funeral.

Smallpox was the most frequent epidemic, which is ironic because it was the only one that could be prevented with the medical knowledge of the day. The 1886 outbreak was the worst and came just a year after an outbreak of dengue fever (also transmitted by mosquitoes).

Epidemics were not just bad for public health; they were also bad for business. When outbreaks of contagious diseases occurred, shoppers stayed home, visitors stayed away, and other communities placed a quarantine on trains coming from an infected city. For this reason, Fort Worth authorities played down outbreaks, and the citys newspapers were slow to report cases until the numbers could no longer be ignored.

Schools were a hotbed of disease because of the close quarters and vulnerable youth. As soon as a contagious disease was recognized, the schools were closed. Jails were another problem because of the close quarters and poor hygiene. Reflecting class divisions, those sent to the pest house were the poorest of the poor. Medical treatment at the pest house consisted of an occasional doctors visit, with volunteers doing what they could the rest of the time. Upper class families kept their sick at home and treated them themselves.

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When smallpox erupted among the prisoners in the county jail in April 1906, those who were visibly suffering were moved to the pest house regardless of their crime. Those exposed but not showing symptoms were isolated in the infirmary and watched. Newly elected Sheriff Tom Wood ordered the cell blocks fumigated and announced, Nothing will be left undone to protect the other prisoners from infection.

Yellow fever scare in Texas

Yellow fever (aka, yellow jack) panicked Fort Worth just once, in 1897. It was a tropical disease usually confined to low-lying coastal areas and states bordering on the Mississippi River, but in 1897 it reached Texas, erupting in Houston and Galveston. Newspapers reported it also in north Texas. The common belief was that it was transmitted by infected clothing. (Only a few years later it was connected to mosquitoes.)

Counties around the state put quarantines in place, making travel difficult if not impossible. Fort Worth girded itself by appointing its first board of health, chaired by Dr. Bacon Saunders. The board met regularly with Mayor B.B. Paddock throughout the summer, and with no local cases being reported, members devoted themselves to squelching rumors spread by alarmists. Those included an unidentified visitor from Dallas who claimed the Dallas Times-Herald had reported eight cases of yellow fever in Fort Worth. An investigation proved the rumor to be absolutely without foundation.

On Oct. 13, the board of health issued the following statement: There is not now, nor has there been at any time in Fort Worth a case of sickness that gives rise to the faintest suspicion of yellow fever. Every county except Wharton and Jackson opened their borders to regular rail service. The yellow fever scare in north Texas had passed. There would be no pest houses and mass burials.

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Making public health a full-time job of both county and city officials coupled with medical breakthroughs gradually eased the publics mind about the most dreaded diseases. In 1908, city fathers declared Fort Worth completely free of typhoid fever, ignoring the fact that coming in contact with contaminated food or water could cause another outbreak at any time.

In 1912, with the Fat Stock Show about to open, rumor circulated that Fort Worth was in the grip of a smallpox epidemic. The Record and Register rushed to assure people around the state that there were No Epidemics in Fort Worth. The rumor was blamed on scandal mongers and gossips or perhaps a jealous rival city. The Star-Telegram chimed in, saying, It would take something far more serious than a smallpox epidemic to keep the cattlemen and other visitors away.

City fathers brought in the state health officer, Dr. Ralph Steiner, who declared emphatically that there was no smallpox epidemic in Fort Worth and no danger of any if the proper and usual precautions are taken. In the end, however, reported smallpox cases plus an outbreak of meningitis kept thousands away, hitting the Stock Show and the towns merchants heavily in the pocketbook.

A few months later, Dallas experienced a smallpox outbreak among the Black population. Alarmed, Fort Worth fathers rushed to use bond money raised in 1911 for a new public hospital (John Peter Smith), thus demonstrating Fort Worths commitment to public health. The expenditure did not come without opposition. Some citizens argued the city did not need a big, expensive hospital; all it needed was a properly isolated pest house.

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In a few years, Fort Worthers had more urgent concerns to worry about: World War I came along in 1914, followed by National Prohibition five years later. Public health also took a back seat to the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. Lurking in the shadows, however, were tuberculosis and polio, the newest scourges to grab headlines.

Author-historian Richard Selcer is a Fort Worth native and proud graduate of Paschal High and TCU.
The death toll from flash floods in Spain's southern and eastern regions has risen slightly to 207, a minister said on Saturday.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska updated the number of people killed in Spain's worst flooding in decades in comments made to broadcaster Cadena SER. The previous count was 205 dead.

Grande-Marlaska said he expected the number to rise in the coming hours as teams continue to conduct searches in the hardest hit areas.

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At least 204 people died in the Valencia region alone. Three other deaths were reported in the Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia regions.

There are fears that many more people will be found dead in cars swept away by the torrential rains that flooded towns and caused rivers to burst their banks earlier this week.

More than 1,700 soldiers are assisting in the Valencia region and thousands of volunteers have also come forward to help local emergency crews.
Around 15,000 volunteer clean-up workers are being shuttled from the Spanish city of Valencia to devastated villages hit by deadly flash floods last week, according to the Europapress news agency.

At least 211 people were killed in Tuesday's storms and floods, most of them in the Valencia region, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday after a meeting about response to the disaster.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said earlier on Saturday that he expects the number to continue rising as rescue teams continue to conduct searches in the hardest-hit areas.

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There are fears that many more people will be found dead in cars swept away by the torrential rains that flooded towns and caused rivers to burst their banks earlier this week.

The first volunteer workers left Valencia on Saturday morning in buses and will return in the afternoon, after which further groups will be taken to the flooded areas, according to Europapress.

The Valencia regional government had set up a volunteer coordination centre on Friday to oversee the efforts.

Officials, however, urged volunteers not to drive into the affected areas in their own cars in order to avoid blocking roads for rescue workers.

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Tight restrictions on driving throughout the region to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles remain in effect until Sunday.

Meanwhile, another 5,000 soldiers are being deployed to the affected areas this weekend to reinforce the 2,000 troops already there, according to broadcaster RTVE. Another 5,000 local police officers and members of the Guardia Civil national gendarmerie are also being deployed.

Sanchez said the additional 10,000 police and soldiers would help speed recovery and clean-up work in the disaster zone.

Many villages are covered in mud, with cars, furniture and other household items still piled on top of each other in the streets.

According to the authorities, most of the power supply has now been restored.
Pooja Mehta, a mental health advocate, with her younger brother, Raj, who died by suicide in March 2020. Rajs death came in the midst of decades of unsuccessful attempts to lower suicide rates nationwide. Weve done a really good job at developing solutions for a part of the problem, Mehta says. But we really dont know enough.(Photo courtesy of Portia Eastman)

When Pooja Mehtas younger brother, Raj, died by suicide at 19 in March 2020, she felt blindsided.

Rajs last text message was to his college lab partner about how to divide homework questions.

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You dont say youre going to take questions 1 through 15 if youre planning to be dead one hour later, said Mehta, 29, a mental health and suicide prevention advocate in Arlington, Virginia. She had been trained in Mental Health First Aid  a nationwide program that teaches how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness  yet she said her brother showed no signs of trouble.

Need help?

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988.

Mehta said some people blamed her for Rajs death because the two were living together during the COVID-19 pandemic while Raj was attending classes online. Others said her training should have helped her recognize he was struggling.

But, Mehta said, We act like we know everything there is to know about suicide prevention. Weve done a really good job at developing solutions for a part of the problem, but we really dont know enough.

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Rajs death came in the midst of decades of unsuccessful attempts to tamp down suicide rates nationwide.

During the past two decades federal officials have launched three national suicide prevention strategies, including one announced in April.

The first strategy, announced in 2001, focused on addressing risk factors for suicide and leaned on a few common interventions.

The next strategy called for developing and implementing standardized protocols to identify and treat people at risk for suicide with follow-up care and the support needed to continue treatment.

The latest strategy builds on previous ones and includes a federal action plan calling for implementation of 200 measures during the next three years, including prioritizing populations disproportionately affected by suicide, such as Black youth and Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

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Despite those evolving strategies, from 2001 through 2021 suicide rates increased most years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provisional data for 2022, the most recent numbers available, shows deaths by suicide grew an additional 3% over the previous year. CDC officials project the final number of suicides in 2022 will be higher.

In the past two decades, suicide rates in rural states such as Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming have been about double those in urban areas, according to the CDC.

Despite those persistently disappointing numbers, mental health experts contend the national strategies arent the problem. Instead, they argue, the policies  for many reasons simply arent being funded, adopted, and used. That slow uptake was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a broad, negative impact on mental health.

A chorus of national experts and government officials agree the strategies simply havent been embraced widely, but said even basic tracking of deaths by suicide isnt universal.

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Surveillance data is commonly used to drive health care quality improvement and has been helpful in addressing cancer and heart disease. Yet, it hasnt been used in the study of behavioral health issues such as suicide, said Michael Schoenbaum, a senior adviser for mental health services, epidemiology, and economics at the National Institute of Mental Health.

We think about treating behavioral health problems just differently than we think about physical health problems, Schoenbaum said.

Without accurate statistics, researchers cant figure out who dies most often by suicide, what prevention strategies are working, and where prevention money is needed most.

Many states and territories dont allow medical records to be linked to death certificates, Schoenbaum said, but NIMH is collaborating with a handful of other organizations to document this data for the first time in a public report and database due out by the end of the year.

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Further hobbling the strategies is the fact that federal and local funding ebbs and flows and some suicide prevention efforts dont work in some states and localities because of the challenging geography, said Jane Pearson, special adviser on suicide research to the NIMH director.

Wyoming, where a few hundred thousand residents are spread across sprawling, rugged landscape, consistently ranks among the states with the highest suicide rates.

State officials have worked for many years to address the states suicide problem, said Kim Deti, a spokesperson for the Wyoming Department of Health.

But deploying services, like mobile crisis units, a core element of the latest national strategy, is difficult in a big, sparsely populated state.

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The work is not stopping but some strategies that make sense in some geographic areas of the country may not make sense for a state with our characteristics, she said.

Lack of implementation isnt only a state and local government problem. Despite evidence that screening patients for suicidal thoughts during medical visits helps head off catastrophe, health professionals are not mandated to do so.

Many doctors find suicide screening daunting because they have limited time and insufficient training and because they arent comfortable discussing suicide, said Janet Lee, an adolescent medicine specialist and associate professor of pediatrics at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

I think it is really scary and kind of astounding to think if something is a matter of life and death how somebody cant ask about it, she said.

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The use of other measures has also been inconsistent. Crisis intervention services are core to the national strategies, yet many states havent built standardized systems.

Besides being fragmented, crisis systems, such as mobile crisis units, can vary from state to state and county to county. Some mobile crisis units use telehealth, some operate 24 hours a day and others 9 to 5, and some use local law enforcement for responses instead of mental health workers.

Similarly, the fledgling 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline faces similar, serious problems.

Only 23% of Americans are familiar with 988 and theres a significant knowledge gap about the situations people should call 988 for, according to a recent poll conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Ipsos.

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Most states, territories and tribes have also not yet permanently funded 988, which was launched nationwide in July 2022 and has received about $1.5 billion in federal funding, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Anita Everett, director of the Center for Mental Health Services within SAMHSA, said her agency is running an awareness campaign to promote the system.

Some states, including Colorado, are taking other steps. There, state officials installed financial incentives for implementing suicide prevention efforts, among other patient safety measures, through the states Hospital Quality Incentive Payment Program. The program hands out about $150 million a year to hospitals for good performance. In the last year, 66 hospitals improved their care for patients experiencing suicidality, according to Lena Heilmann, director of the Office of Suicide Prevention at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Experts hope other states will follow Colorados lead.

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And despite the slow movement, Mehta sees bright spots in the latest strategy and action plan.

Although it is too late to save Raj, addressing the social drivers of mental health and suicide and investing in spaces for people to go to get help well before a crisis gives me hope, Mehta said.

Cheryl Platzman Weinstocks reporting is supported by a grant from the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  A Decatur man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for second-degree murder after he pleaded guilty to stabbing a man to death using an ice pick earlier this year.

Donald Cross, 51, was facing three counts of first-degree murder in Macon County following the death of Lasam Currie in February. In September, he reached a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid a jury trial. He pleaded guilty to a new charge of second-degree murder and the state dropped the first-degree murder charges.

On Thursday, Judge Thomas Griffith sentenced Cross to nine years in prison.

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Urbana man acquitted of murder in 2023 shooting

In pleading guilty, Cross admitted to stabbing 34-year-old Currie on the night of Jan. 31, 2024. A sworn statement signed by a Decatur Police officer said officers were dispatched to a house at Locust and Charles Streets for a reported stabbing just after midnight on Feb. 1. The officers found Currie at the bottom of the basement staircase, unresponsive with a stab wound to his chest.

He was taken to Decatur Memorial Hospital where he was produced dead. An autopsy indicated that Currie died from his chest wound.

The officer said in the statement that multiple witnesses were interviewed, and they all indicated Cross was responsible for the stabbing. It appeared to have happened during a fight between Cross and Currie; one witness said Currie accused Cross of doing nothing around the house before the two came to blows. Curie is said to have punched Cross first and Cross threatened to kill Currie multiple times during the fight.

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Decatur man gets 18 months in 2022 animal cruelty case

The witnesses said Cross stabbed Currie and fled the home, telling responding officers he had likely gone down the street to another home. The officers met Cross there and said he made unsolicited comments like I didnt just stab someone for the hell of it, and he hit me first.

Officers also met two other people at the home where they found Cross, and they said he was excited when he arrived. Cross also said that he needed to throw something away; officers found the ice pick in the garbage after securing a search warrant.

Cross was arrested that morning and has been in custody since then.

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Judge Griffith gave Cross credit for his time in custody as part of his sentence. Once he is released from prison, he will have to spend 18 additional months on parole.

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North Carolina House Rep. Tricia Cothams political future likely rests in the hands of a few key voter blocs in her redrawn Mecklenburg County district, multiple political experts say.

Cotham is running for reelection for the first time since she switched political parties from Democrat to Republican, a move that gave the GOP a veto-proof supermajority in Raleigh and enabled the passage of new abortion restrictions.

In addition to running in a new party, shes also running in a new district. House District 105 was redrawn in 2023 to cover parts of south and east Mecklenburg County, including swaths of Mint Hill and Mathews.

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Data indicates the district leans Republican, but the controversy surrounding Cotham energized supporters of her Democratic opponent, Nicole Sidman. The election result is expected to influence whether the GOP keeps its supermajority.

Certain prize constituencies, especially unaffiliated voters and women, could make the difference for either candidate.

If they swing dramatically in either direction, the candidate who attracts them is going to be the winner, said Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at UNC Charlotte.

Who are the voters of House District 105?

The new House District 105 is 51.3% Republican to 46.5% Democrat according to the website Daves Redistricting, which uses a composite of election results from 2016 to 2022.

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As of 2020, the districts population was 85,671, according to the website. Demographically, its 73.5% white, 9.6% Black, 8% Hispanic, 7.2% Asian, 1.7% Native American and 0.1% Pacific Islander.

The redrawn district includes parts of both Matthews and Mint Hill. Matthews has a median household income of $103,405, according to census data. Mint Hill has a median household income of $92,102. Both are higher than Mecklenburg Countys and North Carolinas medians.

Political scientist Chris Cooper cautioned that while existing data provides some insights into the breakdown of the district, population growth in Mecklenburg County could have affected the dynamics in ways that havent been measured yet.

Theyre the question marks, said Cooper, a professor at Western Carolina University, of new residents.

Key voter blocs that could swing Cotham vs. Sidman

Traditionally, the demographics of the new District 105 would favor a Republican. But, Cooper noted, things are different now.

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We used to think that it was income that mattered. Now weve realized in todays post-Trump world, its education  A more educated district would tend to suggest some positives for any Democratic candidate and some negatives for any Republican candidate, he said.

Suburban, high-education areas similar to District 105 have been shifting towards the Democrats during the Trump era, Heberlig said.

About 52.4% of Matthews residents and 38.7% of Mint Hill residents have at least a Bachelors degree. Thats compared to 46.6% in Charlotte, 51.6% of all Mecklenburg County residents and 36.8% of all North Carolinians, according to Census data.

The question is whether its shifting enough, he said of Sidmans chances.

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Women in particular are likely to be a key demographic, especially because abortion, the economy and education are key issues this election cycle, Davidson College political scientist Susan Roberts said. Cotham was a key vote in the wake of her party switch for North Carolinas ban on abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Unaffiliated voters are also a key bloc in the district, Heberlig said. As of October, those voters now outpace registered Democrats and registered Republicans in Mecklenburg, according to state data.

While unaffiliated voters often lean toward one party, there may still be rare swing voters, Cooper said.

Most campaigns in North Carolina are about mobilization and not persuasion. Theyre about getting your voters out more so than about persuading somebody to come to your side, he said. But I think given what we know about the large number of in-migrants in the district, what we know about the fact that they are relatively educated, I think this may be a rare case where persuasion can matter.
Jurors wrapped up their third week of serving in the Delphi murder trial today by watching hours of footage of Richard Allen's mental deterioration in prison throughout 2023. Although the videos were mostly hidden from the public, some media reports reveal details about Allen's grave condition.

Allen, 52, is accused of killing two teens who went missing Feb. 13, 2017, and were found dead the next day. He was arrested in 2022 and faces two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping in the deaths of Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German.

On Friday morning, the defense team called the executive director of mental health services for the Indiana Department of Correction to the stand. She said Allen arrived at the Westville prison with depression and anxiety disorder, then his isolation in prison aggravated his mental condition.

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Also on Friday, Special Judge Frances Gull denied another request from the defense team to present evidence related to their theory that Odinists committed the murders as part of a sacrificial ritual.

Journalists from the Indianapolis Star and the Lafayette Journal & Courier continue to cover the case as it moves through the judicial system.

 Nov. 1, 2024: Richard Allen was seriously mentally ill while at Westville prison, IDOC psychologist says

This story will be updated throughout the day.

Jurors, but not public, see videos of Richard Allen's mental deterioration

Jurors sat through hours of silent camcorder footage of Richard Allen's mental and physical deterioration in the Westville Correctional Facility from April to June 2023. The director of the state prison's mental health services said Friday that Allen's conditioned worsened to "gravely disabled" as he stayed in solitary confinement for over a year.

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Allen's defense attorneys considered the 15 videos, four of which were said to contain nudity, so disturbing that the screen displaying the footage was turned away from the media and members of the public. More videos of Allen in his cell are to come next week, his attorneys said.

But multiple media members could see the videos playing on defense attorney Bradley Rozzi's laptop and reported that Allen appeared unresponsive in most of the videos. In two of the videos, guards physically bathed Allen and cut his hair. In another, they took him to a medical examination. Allen was often naked or nearly naked. Sometimes he was wearing a spit hood, a device used by prison guards to prevent an inmate from spitting at them.

Rozzi said he wished to hide the videos out of respect for his client's dignity, and the judge agreed. Even Allen, behind the screen, could not see the videos in court Saturday. His wife, Kathy Allen, intentionally skipped Saturday's proceedings.

"Obviously, the jury has to see this," Gull said.

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Jurors seemed visibly unsettled by the videos. Their shoulders rose and fell as they exhaled deeply and shifted in their seats. A young woman in the jury raised her eyebrows in surprise during a 34-minute video of Allen being strapped to a chair and carried into a medical examination. An alternate juror, sitting closer to the screen in front of the seven women and five men in the jury, appeared repeatedly taken aback and blinked quickly as she watched.

One juror bit her lower lip and stretched her neck during the first video said to contain nudity. Watching that same video, even Allen's defense attorney Jennifer Auger stood with her arms crossed and shook her head before quickly looking away.

Some of Libby's family members seemed visibly upset that the videos were hidden because, weeks before, jurors and the public were shown extremely graphic photos of both girls' neck wounds and their blood-spattered bodies at the crime scene.

The state objected to all 15 videos, but Gull overruled those and admitted the recordings into evidence.

Top Indiana State Police official briefly takes stand

Indiana State Police Supt. Doug Carter, who delivered an emotional message during a 2019 press conference where police released new audio and video of a yet-unknown suspect, took the stand for fewer than 10 minutes Saturday morning. Then he stepped down and was released from his subpoena, meaning he likely won't testify again.

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Allen's defense attorneys called Carter to testify, primarily to establish that the FBI investigated the Delphi murders alongside state and local law enforcement agencies from the day of the killings until August 2021. That month, Carter said, he decided the FBI would leave the case. Federal investigators turned over all the materials they had gathered.

In the defense's opening statement three weeks ago, attorney Andrew Baldwin said the investigation has been bogged down with problems from the start. A "turf war" between investigators led to more conflicts, with state officials kicking out the FBI in the middle of the years-long investigation, Baldwin said.

On Friday, local investigators admitted to losing dozens of audio recordings with witnesses and possible suspects in the months following the killings.

The fourth week of testimony will resume Monday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. The trial is set to last through Nov. 15.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Delphi murder trial jurors see hours of prison footage of Richard Allen
CALI, Colombia (AP)  After two weeks of negotiations, delegates on Saturday agreed at the United Nations conference on biodiversity to establish a subsidiary body that will include Indigenous peoples in future decisions on nature conservation, a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize the role of the descendants of some regions' original inhabitants in protecting land and combating climate change.

The delegates also agreed to oblige major corporations to share the financial benefits of research when using natural genetic resources.

Indigenous delegations erupted into cheers and tears after the historic decision to create the subidiary body was annouced. It recognizes and protects the traditional knowledge systems of Indigenous peoples and local communities for the benefit of global and national biodiversity management, said Sushil Raj, Executive Director of the Rights and Communities Global Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

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It strengthens representation, coordination, inclusive decision making, and creates a space for dialogue with parties to the COP, Raj told The Associated Press, referring to the formal name of the gathering, Conference of Parties.

Negotiators had struggled to find common ground on some key issues in the final week but came to a consensus after talks went late into Friday.

The COP16 summit, hosted in Cali, Colombia, followed the historic 2022 accord in Montreal, which included 23 measures to save Earths plant and animal life, including putting 30% of the planet and 30% of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030.

A measure to recognize the importance of the role of people of African descent in the protection of nature was also adopted in Cali.

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The Indigenous body will be formed by two co-chairs elected by COP: one nominated by U.N. parties of the regional group, and the other nominated by representatives of Indigenous peoples and local communities, according to the final document, which was reviewed by the AP.

At least one of the co-chairs will be selected from a developing country, taking into account gender balance, the document said.

With this decision, the value of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants and local communities is recognized, and a 26-year-old historical debt in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is settled, Susana Muhamad, Colombias environment minister and COP16 president, posted on social media platform X shortly after the announcement.

Who owns natures DNA was one of the most contentious and fiercely negotiated topics at the summit as tensions spiked between poorer and developed countries over digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI).

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However, negotiators consented on Saturday morning to bind big companies to share benefits when using resources from animals, plants or microorganisms in biotechnologies.

Many of the life-saving medicines we use today come from the rainforest. It is therefore right that a portion of the income companies generate from this information goes back to protect nature, said Toerris Jaeger, executive director of Rainforest Foundation Norway. This is the absolute highlight from COP16.

Delegations agreed on a genetic information fee of 0.1% of companies revenues from products derived from such information. That money will be directed into a new fund, with 50% reaching Indigenous communities.

This will enable these communities, including women and youth to finally share in the profits, said Ginette Hemley, senior vice president for wildlife at the World Wildlife Fund.

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Also adopted was an agreement to protect human health from Earths increasing biodiversity issues. Ecosystem degradation and loss of ecological integrity directly threaten human and animal health, environmental groups say.

Many argued that the overall conference fell short, in particular when it came to financial commitments.

Pledges made by countries during the two weeks were far short of the billions needed to tackle plummeting global biodiversity. Just $163 million in new pledges were made at COP16.

The pledges made ... were way off where they need to be," said Nicola Sorsby, a researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development. This is only 0.5% of the target we need to reach within the next 6 years.

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The modest pledges don't bode well for the next U.N. climate talks, COP29, to take place in Azerbaijan beginning later this month. The focus of COP29 is expected to focus on how to generate trillions of dollars needed for the world to transition to clean energies like solar, wind and geothermal. Raising that money will require major committments by nations, companies and philanthropies.

Unfortunately, too many countries and U.N. officials came to Cali without the urgency and level of ambition needed to secure outcomes at COP16 to address our species most urgent existential issue, said Brian ODonnell, director of Campaign for Nature.

In Montreal's biodiversity summit, wealthy nations pledged to raise $20 billion in annual conservation financing for developing nations by 2025, with that number rising to $30 billion annually by 2030.

Global wildlife populations have plunged on average by 73% in 50 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London biennial Living Planet report in October.

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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.
Companies like Deliveroo and UberEats could face bans on junk food promotions, under plans being considered by the Government to crack down on obesity.

Restricting advertisements for unhealthy meals by online delivery platforms is among a raft of policy proposals which have been discussed by officials at the Department for Health, aimed at halving obesity in the next five years.

The policy would see junk food adverts banned from featuring prominently on the homepages of online delivery sites as well as on favourite product promotions.

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It is one of a series of recommendations by the think-tank Nesta after a major piece of research into the effectiveness of strategies to combat obesity.

A panel of experts and academics assessed 30 different policies to see how they ranked in terms of effectiveness of obesity reduction at a population level as well as cost to the public purse.

They found that information and education campaigns as well as attempts to encourage voluntary action are particularly ineffective at reducing obesity in relation to their cost.

Meanwhile, imposing healthy food targets on large supermarkets  which would encourage them to promote vegetables rather than chocolate or crisps  would lead to millions fewer people being obese, the research said.

Other nudge measures recommended by Nesta include banning price promotions on unhealthy food by restaurants and takeaways, along with a requirement for food and drink products to contain prominent labels on packaging about their nutritional value.

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Altogether, the package of seven measures proposed would have a significant knock-on effect on obesity-related diseases, it said, adding that 157,000 cases of type-2 diabetes would be avoided over five years  a reduction of around a fifth.

The report also recommends an expansion in access to weight-loss drugs to 150,000 people each year, but says that relying solely on weight-loss drugs to halve obesity would cost 8.5 billion a year.

Instead the seven policies they recommend would come at a cost to the Government of about 520 million a year, which is about 16 times cheaper than relying on weight-loss drugs alone.

Ravi Gurumurthy, the chief executive of Nesta, said that countering obesity is often seen by ministers as something that will take ages and be politically impossible to get through.

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But he said this is a misconception and it may not require the big lifestyle changes that people often think they need.

We can do it through lots of small tweaks, said Mr Gurumurthy, who was a senior aide to David Miliband during the New Labour years. You dont need to take a puritanical approach to tackling obesity where everyone eats kale. It can be done through slight changes but on a permanent basis.

Wes Streeting says unemployed people will be offered weight loss jabs to get them into work - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

Last week it emerged that Sir Keir Starmer is plotting a nanny state latte tax on canned coffees and milkshakes.

The Government announced it is considering applying a sugar tax to milky coffee drinks and bottled milkshakes as part of a push to solve the obesity crisis.

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Last month, Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, announced that unemployed people will be given weight-loss jabs under Government plans to get them back to work.

Mr Streeting said the new class of medication could have a monumental impact on obesity and getting Britain working.

He announced a 280 million investment from Lilly, the worlds largest pharmaceutical company, in developing new medicines and ways to deliver treatment. The plans will include the first real-world trial of the drugs effect on worklessness, productivity and reliance on the NHS.

The Health Secretary said the injections should not be seen as an alternative to overhauling unhealthy lifestyles, but suggested they could have a major role in tackling the worklessness crisis.

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Overall, 9.3 million people are economically inactive, according to the latest worklessness figures.

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Before his arrest, the man charged with killing two middle school girls in Indiana repeatedly told police during a lengthy and at times testy interview that he had nothing to do with their deaths.

But after Richard Allen was charged and awaiting trial at a maximum security prison, he repeatedly confessed to the 2017 killings of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, near a well-known trail outside the small town of Delphi.

Allens contradictory statements were in the spotlight during the second week of his trial in a Carroll County courtroom. Allen, 52, was charged with two counts of murder in 2022 and has pleaded not guilty.

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Prosecutors have said Allen used "power and fear" when he forced the girls down a hill at Monon High Bridge Trail on Feb. 13, 2017, and slit their throats.

Allen's lawyers have said he appeared to have experienced serious mental health issues and they've described the killing as a possible ritual sacrifice carried out by followers of a Norse pagan religion popular among some white nationalists.

Jurors on Tuesday saw Allens denials in a video that showed an interview with a law enforcement investigator from Oct. 13, 2022. The investigator had sought Allen out after a volunteer file clerk helping organize a database in the probe flagged a mislabeled tip the previous month with Allens name on it.

The tip came from Allen himself, who told authorities in the days after the killings that he'd been on the same trail as the girls on the day they disappeared.

In the interview, Allen  then a CVS clerk  provided an account of what hed done that Feb. 13. He described the outfit hed worn that day  jeans and a blue Carhartt jacket  and said that after seeing his mother, he went for a walk at Monon High Bridge Trail around noon.

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He recalled seeing three girls, he said in the interview, and none of them were Abby or Libby, as the girls were known.

When Allen was asked if authorities could search his car and house, he told the investigator to get a warrant. When asked if they could look through his phone, he said he didnt want authorities reviewing every website Ive gone through.

I had nothing to do with it, he added. Its a horrible thing and I dont want to be more involved than I already am.

Liberty German and Abigail Williams.

At one point in the interview, an investigator referenced a Snapchat video found on Libbys phone that shows a man walking on the trail the day of the killing.

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When the investigator said the man in the video was wearing the same clothes that Allen had described, Allen replied that such an outfit is common. Hed never met the girls, Allen said.

I cant tell you what happened, he said. If that picture was taken by those girls, its not me. I never met them.

You said you were there, the investigator responded. You said you walked out to the bridge.

No, I didnt, Allen said, adding that his words were being twisted.

The investigator continued to press Allen on the video, telling him he was the man captured in the images, and Allen continued to deny the allegation.

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Arrest me or dont, Allen eventually said. Were done here.

Allen was arrested weeks later, after authorities searched his home and found a gun investigators said matched an unspent round from a .40-caliber pistol found near the girls bodies.

Once at Westville Correctional Facility, Allen told prison officials and officers  including the warden  that he killed the girls, prosecutors have said. Several testified this week.

Former prison psychologist Monica Wala, who began seeing Allen in November 2022, testified Wednesday that he confessed to the killings several months later, describing the murders during one session in a concise and chronological manner.

A memorial to Liberty German, and Abigail Williams the Monon Trail in Delphi, Ind. on Oct. 31, 2022.

Citing a May 2023 clinical report, Wala testified that Allen said he followed the pair across a bridge, ordered them down a hill and across a creek. Allen wanted to sexually assault the girls but didnt, Wala said, citing the report, so he cut their throats and covered their bodies with branches.

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A week later, Wala said, Allen told her he wanted to sign a confession, prompting the psychologist to tell him to speak with his attorneys. A day later, on May 10, Allen called his wife with the psychologist present and told her that hed killed the girls, Wala testified.

In the weeks before the confession, Wala testified that she saw a change in Allens behavior after he received documents related to his prosecution, according to NBC affiliate WTHR of Indianapolis.

Notes of Wala's that were introduced as evidence said that Allen appeared naked, ate his own feces and rolled on the ground, according to the station.

When prosecutor Stacy Diener asked if Allen could have been faking what Wala described as a possible emotional breakdown related to the documents, the psychologist said it was possible but didnt matter because of how serious his deterioration appeared to be, WTHR reported.

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The psychologist's notes from April 12 indicated that Allen had a "grave disability," according to the station.

That May, the same month as Allen's confession, Wala diagnosed him with brief psychotic disorder  an illness that suddenly appears, lasts less than a month and is characterized by several symptoms. Allen showed signs of disorganized speech and behavior, Wala said, but he was not delusional or experiencing hallucinations.The prosecution, which called 40 witnesses over two weeks, rested its case Thursday, WTHR reported. The defense began calling witnesses Thursday afternoon.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)- A pair of Democratic state lawmakers are calling on state officials to implement enhanced security measures at polling locations across the state on Election Day and for future elections.

Reps. Wendell Gilliard (D-Charleston) and Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) sent a letter to the South Carolina Election Commission Friday requesting the office coordinate with law enforcement to increase security in and around voting precincts.

As we approach future elections, it is imperative that we establish robust security measures at our polls to protect both poll workers and voters, the letter stated.

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It comes after a viral video was posted to social media earlier this week showing a verbal and physical altercation between a voter and poll workers at an early voting site in Orangeburg County.

South Carolinas early voting period ends Saturday

The confrontation began when a man wearing a Lets Go Brandon hat was told he could not vote until it was removed. South Carolina law prohibits wearing political attire inside voting locations.

By collaborating with local law enforcement and implementing robust security measures, we can protect the integrity of our elections and ensure that every voter can exercise their right without fear of intimidation, Cobb-Hunter said.

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I believe it is essential for our state to ensure a safe environment for all citizens engaging in the democratic process, Gilliard added.

More than 1.2 million voters have already cast a ballot in South Carolina for the Nov. 5 general election.

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Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff campaigned with Susie Greenberg, a Sandy Springs Democrat who is hoping to flip a suburban Atlanta legislative seat. "Abortion is on the ballot," she said. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

One of the most competitive legislative races in Georgia is turning into a referendum on access to reproductive rights.

Democrat Susie Greenberg is challenging Republican state Rep. Deborah Silcox in the suburban Atlanta district that Democrats have made one of their top targets this year. Both women are attorneys who live in Sandy Springs.

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Greenberg, who is a former board member of Planned Parenthood Southeast, received a boost for her election bid Saturday when the Harris-Walz presidential campaign held a canvassing kick-off event for her at the campaigns headquarters three days before the final day of voting.

We desperately need Susie in our state Legislature, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is a Democrat, said to a packed room.

Greenberg framed her candidacy as a campaign to restore womens rights. She wore two advocacy buttons, one that said keep abortion legal and another for the gun safety group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

The Georgia Legislature is the front line to protect our freedoms, and our freedoms are under attack, Greenberg said to supporters Saturday.

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Talking to a reporter afterwards, Greenberg said that abortion is on the ballot in her race and she said the Republican efforts to curtail access to reproductive rights were part of what motivated her to run for office.

Greenberg blasted Silcox for not doing more to stop Georgias abortion law from advancing out of committee in 2019 and for not working to restore the abortion access that was lost after the law took effect in 2022.

She has not said a word or lifted a finger to restore rights and or to protect doctors who are facing criminalization and prison time for delivering standard medical care, Greenberg said.

Sandy Springs Republican state Rep. Deborah Silcox. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder (2023 file photo)

But Silcox pushed back on the claims Saturday.

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Susie Greenberg continues to be dishonest. She continues to be untruthful. She is fully aware that I voted twice against the heartbeat bill, Silcox said in a statement. The main issue, the main difference in the campaign is Greenbergs dishonesty on this and other issues.

When the bill made it to the state House floor, Silcox voted against it and gave an emotional speech about the constituents, physicians and others who she said voiced concerns to her about the restrictions.

The bill narrowly cleared the House and was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019, and it took effect in the summer of 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal right to an abortion.

Georgias law bans most abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected, which is at about six weeks and before many women know they are pregnant.

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Silcox did not immediately respond to a follow-up question about whether she currently thought Georgias six-week ban should be repealed.

She is part of a Kemp-backed slate of GOP candidates. The governor has been out campaigning with Republican lawmakers and candidates in hopes of protecting the majorities he needs to advance his legislative priorities.

Kemp and other Republicans have shrugged off the Democrats focus on reproductive care  which is also a central plank of Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign  and are betting on Georgians thinking about their pocketbook when entering the voting booth.

But Greenberg says the eroding access to health care is a top concern when she is out knocking on doors. She is backing an effort to repeal the 2019 law.

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When you take away the rights of women and one class of people, its a slippery slope till you start taking away rights from other Georgians, she said. At the doors, its top of mind. Yesterday, women met me at the doors in tears. They are worried. They are in this fight. They are in this fight for themselves, for their friends, their sisters, their daughters and husbands. Men are in this fight too.

Greenberg cited recently surfaced examples of Georgia women who have either died while trying to have an abortion or for whom treatment was delayed. A new story came out last week about an Atlanta woman who says a hospital delayed care while trying to stay in bounds of what the law allows.

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The Democratic National Committee on Saturday is launching a new ad campaign targeted at rural voters to boost turnout in two southern battlegrounds in the final days of the presidential election.

The effort, backed by a six-figure media buy, comes as Democrats are especially concerned that early vote turnout is low among Black voters in rural areas. The effort will span 15 counties that are part of the "Black Belt" in Georgia and North Carolina.

The ads, which will run on multi-media billboards and on radio stations in the area, will feature DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison, a Black South Carolinian who has spoken extensively of his upbringing in rural Orangeburg. The effort will promote policies that Democrats say will help rural voters, including expanding rural infrastructure, making health care more affordable and ensuring rural hospitals can remain open.

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MORE: Election infrastructure has 'never been more secure,' CISA chief says

"In the final days of this election, Democrats are not taking our foot off the gas as we communicate our plan for rural America. From affordable and accessible health care, to lower costs, and economic opportunities, the Democratic Party will fight for the policies that make a tangible difference for rural Americans," Harrison said in a statement provided first to ABC News.

"Growing up in a rural town, I know how important it is to show up and truly meet rural voters where they are. The DNC's latest rural 'I Will Vote' initiative does exactly that, ensuring that the final message rural voters in the critical battlegrounds of Georgia and North Carolina receive in this election is Democrats commitment to fight for them."

PHOTO: Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, speaks during a rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Reno, Nevada, Oct. 31, 2024. (Fred Greaves/Reuters)

The ad buy comes as Democrats grow concerned that Black rural voters are not participating in early voting at the rate that the party needs.

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Democrats hope to be competitive in Georgia and North Carolina, where Black rural voters are key. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to clean up in urban areas, but she'll have to keep former President Donald Trump's rural margins down enough to stop him from offsetting her advantage in cities like Atlanta and Raleigh.

In Georgia, 41% of early voters are Republican, and 42% are Democrats, according to 538 analysis of voter data from L2, a non-partisan political data company. In 2020, early voting was 41% Republican - 46% Democrat.

It's the same story in North Carolina, where 34% of early vote ballots have been cast by Republicans, and 33% by Democrats. In 2020, early voting was 32% Republican - 35% Democrat.

Of voters who voted early in 2020, only 66% of Black voters have cast an early ballot this time around so far. That number drops to 63% of Black voters in rural areas.

PHOTO: A sign indicating the entrance for the parking lot for voting in the US Presidential election is set up in West Bloomfield, Michigan, Oct. 30, 2024. (Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The drop is likely explainable in part by this year's election not taking place in the middle of a pandemic, whereas in 2020, many voters leaned on early and absentee voting to avoid long lines and possible COVID-19 exposures.

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MORE: What are the swing state paths to 270 electoral votes for Harris, Trump

Still, both states remain highly competitive. Polling averages from 538 show Trump up 1.6 points in Georgia and 1.3 points in North Carolina.

Early voting has also had some promising signs for Democrats, including high female turnout, particularly as polls show a widening gender gap, with women leaning toward Harris and men toward Trump.

And while operatives said Democrats were not hitting their marks with Black rural voters early on, that trend has begun to be mitigated, with veteran North Carolina Democratic strategist Morgan Jackson conceding that while "they had started early vote a little low," the turnout has "picked up pretty substantially."

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"My suspicion is by Saturday's close, they'll be at parity with where they were four years ago," added Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College in North Carolina who is tracking the early vote numbers.

Democrats launch 11th-hour ads to boost turnout among Black rural voters in South originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
JAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Deputies say three people were hospitalized Saturday after a crash in Jamestown Township.

It happened around 2 p.m. at 24th Avenue and Greenly Street, according to a release from the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office.

Investigators say a 29-year-old man from Indiana was heading east on Greenly in a Hyundai Elantra. They say he stopped for the stop sign at 24th but then proceeded into the intersection, later telling deputies that he believed it was a four-way stop.

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His car was hit by a Honda CR-V that was heading south on 24th, according to the sheriffs office.

The CR-Vs driver, a 70-year-old Holland woman, was pinned inside and had to be rescued by firefighters, authorities say. The 70-year-old driver and her two passengers, a 47-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl from Hudsonville, were all taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Meanwhile, deputies say the Indiana man was treated on scene for his injuries, then released.

The at-fault driver was cited for failing to yield the right of way, according to the sheriffs office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A woman was rescued from a burning home Friday in Vista, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the 200 block of W. Bobier Drive, Lt. Matthew Carpenter with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department.

When deputies arrived on scene, they were alerted about someone still inside the burning home.

Authorities say Deputy Robert Oliveri did not hesitate to make his way through the front door and crawl through the smoke to find the person inside the home.

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Outside of the home, Deputy Craig Vanden Bossche and the Good Samaritan found an open window to communicate with the woman trapped in the home, according to law enforcement. There, Vanden Bossche and the Good Samaritan were able to pull the woman to safety through the window with the help of Oliveri.

San Diego Wave FC final season match relocated to Louisville due to safety concerns

The victim was taken to the hospital, while Oliveri was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation. Authorities say both deputies and the Good Samaritan are expected to be okay.

Every day, the men and women of the San Diego County Sheriffs Office put their lives on the line for the communities they serve, Carpenter said. Last nights event is just another example of the outstanding bravery our deputies show in protecting lives. I am incredibly proud of each deputy who responded to the call. I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to the courageous community member who risked his safety to help a stranger. His bravery and quick response played an essential role in saving a life.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Deputies say a rider was thrown from his motorcycle after hitting a deer Saturday in Grand Haven Township.

It happened around 2:35 p.m. on Lakeshore Avenue near Timber Dunes Drive, according to the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office.

Investigators say a 24-year-old Bay City man was heading north on Lakeshore on a 2006 Yamaha when a deer darted into the road.

The rider couldnt stop in time, according to deputies. They say he hit the deer and was thrown from his motorcycle.

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The man was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to the sheriffs office.

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You are here: Business

This photo shows a view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the upcoming 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai, Oct. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]



Finland's government announced on Friday that Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

"China is an important trading partner for Finland, so it is useful to support export promotion and trade in sectors that benefit Finnish businesses. This is the fourth time that Finland has a national pavilion at the CIIE," Tavio stated in a press release.

The release also noted that Shanghai hosts the largest cluster of Finnish businesses in China.

According to the release, Tavio will lead a Finnish trade delegation in China from Nov. 4 to 8. Following engagements in Shanghai, he and the delegation will travel to Shenzhen in southern China, with the visit ending in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The seventh China International Import Expo is scheduled in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10.
Since its inception has continually expanded, with both spring and autumn editions together now covering around 160,000 sqm. It plays an important role in generating new business leads in Greater China.

Why visit?

This is the worlds most important destination for sourcing fabrics and accessories!

Over 3,000 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions*

7 halls across over 190,000 sqm gross exhibition area*

Nearly 90,000 visitors from 116 countries and regions*



Grasp the latest trend for the upcoming season

Comprehensive fringe programmes

All you need at 1 place to enrich your sourcing trip

*2024 show figures
ST. MARYS COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The St. Marys County Sheriffs Office said it is investigating after a person was shot on Friday night.

According to the sheriffs office, at about 11:50 p.m., deputies responded to a reported shooting in the 45000 block of Breezy Lane in Hollywood.

When they arrived at the scene, they found a person shot.

The person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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Infant found dead in car at Florida school after relative forgot to stop at day care

After the shooting, the suspects left the area in a vehicle, and deputies started a pursuit.

The chase ended in Charles County when the vehicle was disabled near Route 301 and Mitchell Road.

Deputies arrested a person while three other suspects left on foot.

They were eventually found and arrested. The investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  A missing Knoxville woman who deputies believed may have been at-risk has been found safe, according to the Knox County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office released around 8:20 p.m. Friday that Christiana Hoover, 18, was last seen leaving the 9000 block of Grayland Drive on Friday between 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Just before 11 a.m., KCSO shared that Hoover had been found safe.

Family loses second Townsend restaurant to fire in 2024

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When she was last seen, Hoover was wearing a white T-shirt and black and white pants. KCSO added that she typically carries a pastel-colored blanket with her.

Christiana Hoover (KCSO)

Anyone who saw Hoover or knew where she was had previously been asked to call 911 or the sheriffs office at 865-215-2245.

5 missing persons cases remain unsolved in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Authorities say nearly 400 people go missing in Tennessee each year. Thats five people for every 100,000. Check this list of people missing from East Tennessee to see if you can help locate someone.

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
DES MOINES, Iowa  After celebrating Beggars Night on Halloween for the first time in decades the City of Des Moines is now asking residents if they would like to see the change made permanent.

Many metro communities like Bondurant and Windsor Heights have moved Beggars Night to the Saturday before Halloween. The change has had positive feedback as it allows for more time to prepare kids to go trick-or-treating and its not on a school night.

West Des Moines man charged in crash that killed pedestrian in parking lot

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Des Moines is just the latest city to consider moving the night of Beggars Night. Johnston and West Des Moines have also sent out surveys asking residents if theyd like to keep Beggars Night where its at or move it to a different night.

Des Moines residents are being given the option to keep Beggars Night on October 30 or move it to Halloween night or the Saturday before Halloween. The survey is now open and will close on November 15. Residents can find the survey on the citys website.

Latest Metro News:

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To defeat recreational marijuana at the ballot box, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Republican Party have aligned with companies that are already selling high-potency cannabis to Floridians over the counter and online, according to a Herald/Times investigation.

In at least eight instances, the Republican Party of Florida and a political committee run by the governors chief of staff have accepted donations this summer from hemp companies whose products tested above the 0.3% legal limit in Florida for total THC, rendering them illegal marijuana in the eyes of state regulators. Some of the products  among 41 purchased by the Herald/Times and tested by a state-certified lab  also contained unauthorized or banned pesticides.

The findings werent outliers, though they were disputed by the companies that manufactured and sold the products. Florida regulators say they regularly identify products on the market illegally, and state lawmakers worried about psychoactive hemp passed a bill this year to limit its sale.

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But the governor, who is campaigning to stop Amendment 3, which would establish a recreational marijuana market in Florida, vetoed the legislation in June  after which campaign donations from hemp companies began to roll in.

A spokesman for DeSantis office would not comment for this article, instead directing the Herald/Times to the governors explanation of his veto of Senate Bill 1698, in which he called for stronger regulations. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power, who lobbied DeSantis to veto the bill on behalf of a hemp trade association, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Hemp products have inundated Florida since the governor signed legislation establishing Floridas hemp program during his first year in office. Today, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says there are more than 9,500 hemp retailers in the state  so many that Starbucks could move half its North American locations to Florida and still be outnumbered.

Political contributions from companies whose products were tested by the Herald/Times and were found to be above the regulatory limit for potency in Florida were worth more than $500,000. Among the donations:

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 Lifted Liquids, a parent company to the Wisconsin-based Urb, gave $125,000 to the party. Urb makes a disposable vape pen that when tested contained 5.92% total THC. The CEO said the donation was unrelated to Amendment 3.

 Mood Product Group, an Oklahoma company, gave $50,000 to the party. Their Pluto flower purchased online had a total THC of 10.3%.

 Highly Concentr8ted, a Sarasota company whose canister of Phantom THCA flower had a total THC of 16%, gave $10,000.

Torch Enterprises did not respond to a request for comment. The other three companies disputed the findings, pointing to their own independent lab results as evidence that, they said, refuted the Herald/Times analysis.

RELATED CONTENT: Tests show Florida hemp products are potent, have pesticides

More broadly, companies whose products were tested by the Herald/Times disputed the labs method for testing, the timing of the testing and said they had no control over contamination after their products left their facilities.

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Touching on a point of contention over how the Florida Department of Agriculture determines and regulates hemp potency  rules that served as the basis for the findings for this article  a spokesperson for Mood Product Group argued that even the Herald/Times own results showed its flower meets the definition of lawful hemp under both federal law  and Florida state law.

Under state and federal Department of Agriculture regulations, hemp is cannabis that contains a total THC concentration of 0.3% or less of delta-9-THC, the compound widely known for producing the mind-altering effects associated with marijuana, and THCA, which converts to delta-9-THC when heated.

Anything under that threshold can be sold over the counter to customers who are at least 21, even if it contains similar, intoxicating substances like delta-8-THC, which is legal in Florida. Anything more powerful is considered marijuana, and is illegal outside Floridas medical marijuana program.

Havana Hemp flower is on display during the CHAMPS Trade Show at the Broward County Convention Center on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Matthew Curran, director of the state Department of Agricultures Division of Food Safety, reviewed the Herald/Times findings and said they appear to be consistent with what we regularly identify in our testing program. He said more than 1.1 million packages of hemp products have been pulled from shelves since June 2023 over violations of state law.

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A spokesperson said the Florida Department of Agriculture has pursued criminal charges for hemp that is in violation of Florida law but did not provide details in time for publication. According to Florida law, a person selling illegally potent hemp is only behaving criminally if they have a culpable mental state greater than negligence.

But some in the hemp industry say the Department is going beyond its authority by expressly limiting all but tiny amounts of THCA  which only becomes psychoactive when heated. They say only delta-9-THC is expressly limited in state and federal law, and that a recent Supreme Court ruling and a voter-approved change to the Florida Constitution in 2018 limit government agencies ability to interpret the law when it is vague.

Where statutes are ambiguous, agencies are far less free to interpret things the way that they see fit, said Philip Snow, general counsel for MC Nutraceuticals, a manufacturer and distributor of hemp materials headquartered in Colorado. So, I think thats probably a large source of the confusion that exists in your backyard in Florida.

Luna Bliss attends the CHAMPS Trade Show at the Broward County Convention Center on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Billions at stake

The political contributions from hemp companies reflect an alignment this election season between DeSantis, Republicans and hemp companies against Amendment 3. They say the amendment, as proposed, will push out the mostly small businesses that grow, distribute and sell hemp in Florida.

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Generally I do not comment on our companys political donations. However, I can say we agree with DeSantiss support of small businesses, Highly Concentr8ted CEO Maria Abney wrote by email.

Its a fight over billions of dollars in future profits: While a potential recreational marijuana market could be worth $7 billion over time, according to Matt Hawkins, founder of Entourage Effect Capital, one industry estimate valued the states hemp market at $10 billion in 2022.

The hemp industrys foremost concern is Trulieve, Floridas biggest medical marijuana company, which has plunged more than $140 million into the campaign to promote Amendment 3.

I dont have the tens of millions of dollars Trulieve has to fight this, said Patrick OBrien, owner of Florida-based Chronic Guru farms and dispensaries, who gave $100,000 through one of his companies to a political committee run by the governors chief of staff. I got a grass roots company with over a hundred team members currently that Im responsible for and I figured that I would partner up with the loudest voice in the room.

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A spokesman for Trulieve said theres room for everyone in a recreational marijuana marketplace.

The amendment clearly allows for new and different kinds of licenses, said spokesman Steve Vancore, adding that the measure will expand the market, give small businesses a chance to engage as well, and expand competition.

Andy Luis, a patient consultant at Trulieve, Miamis first retail medical marijuana dispensary located near Miami International Airport, exhibits a vaporizer that can be used with products sold at this store.

Public Health Concerns

DeSantis has also cast the campaign as a matter of public health, arguing that legalizing recreational marijuana will undercut Floridas quality of life.

But some of the products sold by companies that gave to the Republican Party of Florida were also found by the Herald/Times investigation to have pesticides that are unregistered for use on hemp, or are banned altogether.

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 Hidden Hills Club LLC, a Las Vegas company, makes a THCA Pinkonade Razzberry vape cartridge that contained chlordane, a pesticide with links to cancer banned by the federal government since 1988, and myclobutanil, a fungicide banned for inhalation by a Florida rule, which releases hydrogen cyanide when vaped or smoked. Jordan Marquez, a representative of the company, which gave $20,000, challenged the accuracy of Modern Cannas results, saying the companys own comprehensive testing and independent laboratory results consistently confirm the absence of pesticides.

 Uplift Health and Wellness LLC, a St. Petersburg company that makes a Kush Cake pre-rolled joint, gave $2,500. The joint had nearly 62 times the regulation limit of a pesticide that can cause shortness of breath when inhaled. High enough exposure to the chemical, chlormequat chloride, can even be fatal, according to the New Jersey Health Department. Company consultants pushed back on the testing and said there was likely external contamination.

 Qilo Company LLC, which makes a Peanut Butter Blitz pre-rolled joint, gave $2,000. Testing found the joint had myclobutanil. The company, from Sunrise, didnt comment.

DeSantis also warns that Amendment 3 will make Florida smell like weed  even though hemp looks and smells so similar to marijuana that some state attorneys announced they would largely stop prosecuting small-time possession cases after the governor signed a bill establishing Floridas hemp program in 2019.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade halted weed prosecutions, but thousands were jailed anyway. Most were Black

And while his Health Department is spending millions on commercials  including one that claims increasingly powerful marijuana products have been engineered by corporations  to rewire the human mind  some of the flower hemp products tested by the Herald/Times were comparable in potency with the marijuana sold at the states medical dispensaries.

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OBrien, who grows cannabis, trains future hemp cultivators and owns an Orlando lounge where customers can drink high-potency hemp tonics, doesnt argue about the potency of the products he sells. One hemp flower sold on his website, Venom OG, is marketed at a strength of 36.51%.

Will these THC products get me high? asks a small Q&A section. Definitely!

OBrien, whose products did not test positive for contaminants, just says that the Florida Department of Agriculture is wrong that state and federal law treat his products as illegal, because theyre jammed with THCA  not delta-9-THC.

Certificates of analysis show that some of the flower products available in Floridas medical marijuana market contain relatively low levels of delta-9-THC and high levels of THCA.

Image of a certificate of analysis for marijuana sold in Floridas medical market that shows the strain has low levels of delta-9-THC and high levels of THCA.

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The Florida bill DeSantis vetoed this year would have effectively banned psychoactive hemp products, and included language that would have explicitly prohibited all but negligible amounts of THCA in hemp. Former Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Ranch, said at the time that he and his colleagues had been duped into signing off on a hemp market they thought would be largely used for industrial purposes like making textiles.

Instead, Gregory said, theyre using hemp products to make intoxicating substances.

Gregory and Senate-sponsor Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, didnt return requests for comment.

After DeSantis vetoed the bill, hemp executives reportedly discussed needing to raise $5 million to defeat the marijuana amendment to keep our end of the veto. DeSantis office said there was no quid pro quo.

DeSantis acknowledged the need to better regulate the hemp market in June when he vetoed Senate Bill 1698. In an explanation of his veto, he encouraged the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to continue rooting out products that violate Florida law.

But he said the legislation would have created debilitating regulatory burdens for hemp retailers.

Small businesses are the cornerstone of Floridas economy, DeSantis wrote.

RELATED CONTENT: Florida cannabis tracking company linked to men in Trump Media insider trading scheme

Josh Gleason, JOLLY sales manager, hold some of his companys products while attending the CHAMPS Trade Show at the Broward County Convention Center on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

THE FUTURE OF HEMP

The fight in Florida is one part of an ongoing battle across the country, as hemp and marijuana are pitted against one another in the movement to legalize recreational marijuana.

In California, where recreational marijuana is legal, Gov. Gavin Newsom in September banned THC-containing hemp products despite industry efforts to stop him. In Missouri, Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order for a similar ban on Aug. 1 that has since been stalled by legal roadblocks. Another ban is in place in Colorado, restrictions are being debated in Ohio and federal legislation may come into play with a recent bill proposed by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

In Florida, even if Amendment 3 passes, effectively cementing recreational marijuana in the state Constitution, hemp will still be vulnerable.

At the recent Champs Trade Show at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, hemp businesses expressed concern about the future of their industry  and general agreement with DeSantis.

As a Black man from Florida, its probably the only thing Ill agree with him on, said Omari Anderson, whose Atlanta-based company, The Best Dirty Lemonade, sells delta-9-THC-infused lemonade. Anderson, who started mixing THC in family juice recipes when his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, personally supports Amendment 3 but thinks hemp businesses will suffer.

Omari Anderson, CEO of The Best Dirty Lemonade, holds some of his companys products while attending the CHAMPS Trade Show at the Broward County Convention Center on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Throughout the afternoon, a cannabis-leaf mascot walked around some of the 750 businesses gathered to display glass bowls and bongs, gummies, joints and vape pens. At a booth for MUNCHIES!, in front of a display of pre-rolled joints, J.W. Songer, national sales manager for Pack Labs, gestured to a table across the room displaying jars of hemp flower.

Its a different product, but it smokes the same as marijuana, he said, adding that customers get a similar sensation and a similar smell. But he stressed that marijuana and hemp that meets the requirements of the Farm Bill are not the same.

Songer has worked for 12 years in marijuana, hemp and vape products across the country. If Amendment 3 passes, Songer gives it maybe 18 months before Floridas hemp industry is banned. After an initial rush to dispensaries, he predicts that customers will want to return to the lower prices in the hemp industry  and then Florida will implement a ban like those in other states.

Either regulate our industry to make it truly safe so no bad actors are doing anything, or legalize everything at a federal level, to where everybodys on the same playing field, he said. Anybody whos in this industry for the right reasons would move to the right side.

He said the states that best regulate cannabis  for the economy and customer safety  have medicinal and recreational marijuana, and hemp markets, because the black market is lowest.

Theyre going to exist if you ban them or not, he said.

Tamer Altaweel, the CEO of HempWellness, holds some of his companys products while attending the CHAMPS Trade Show at the Broward County Convention Center on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

This article has been updated to clarify that none of the Chronic Guru products tested by the Herald/Times tested positive for contaminants.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Ever wondered how Arkansas got its shape?

The borders of the Natural State reflect the legacy of territorial negotiations and natural transformations that have shaped Arkansas throughout the centuries.

Eastern Boundary

The eastern border of Arkansas follows the Mississippi River, though it has changed over time due to natural shifts in the rivers course.

Originally, the 1763 Treaty of Paris used the river to divide European-controlled lands. After the U.S. gained independence, the 1795 Treaty of Friendship set the Mississippi River as the border between Spanish Louisiana and the U.S. When the Arkansas Territory was created in 1819, it was described as being on the river, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

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15+ Guinness world records set in Arkansas

Map of Reverie, TN with state border in red along the Mississippi. (Wiki Commons)

In March 1876, the Mississippi River abruptly shifted near the settlement of Reverie, Tennessee, isolating a portion of Tipton County, Tennessee, on the Arkansas side and cutting it off from the rest of Tennessee by the rivers new course.

Because this change was an avulsiona sudden shift rather than gradual erosion or sediment buildupthe state line continues to follow the rivers former channel.

Due to these shifts in the Mississippi River, Congress permitted Arkansas and Tennessee in 1909 to formally agree on their boundary. Despite this, the border continues to change, and at least nine Supreme Court rulings have resolved disputes over Arkansass eastern edge.

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Today, aside from small areas located in neighboring states, Arkansass eastern boundary follows the center of the Mississippis main channel, as originally established in 1836 when Arkansas joined the Union.

Which Arkansas county has the most historic buildings?

Southern Boundary

Arkansass southern border, set at latitude 33 N, was established after the Louisiana Purchase. This line marked the division between the District of Orleans (now Louisiana) and the District of Louisiana.

The start of the boardwalk in Louisiana Purchase State Park, Arkansas. (Wiki Commons)

In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase expanded the United States, prompting President Thomas Jefferson to send explorers William Dunbar and Dr. George Hunter to Southwest Arkansas.

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Their expedition resulted in the first English description and scientific mapping of the Ouachita River valley.

In 1815, President James Madison ordered a survey of the territory to allocate land to War of 1812 veterans. Two survey teams established key lines for future surveys.

Rediscovered in 1921, the witness trees from this survey were commemorated by a monument in 1926. The Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park near Brinkley now preserves this site, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993, with an accessible boardwalk for visitors to explore the area.

4 animals native to Arkansas that have gone extinct

Northern Boundary

Map of the states and territories of the United States as it was from May 1812 to June 1812. On May 12, 1812, the federal government assigned its annexed land of West Florida to Mississippi Territory. On June 4, 1812, to minimize confusion, Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory. (Credit: Golbez

Arkansass northern boundary was shaped in 1813 when Arkansas County was formed within the Mississippi Territory.

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When Missouri sought statehood in 1817, it set its southern border at 3630 N, which would later help define Arkansass northern boundary at latitude 36 N, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

This created the Missouri bootheel, a unique shape that kept some Missouri land south of Arkansas.

Western Boundary

Map shows the Arkansas territory, which was set up in 1819, before it was reduced in size in 1824. (CREDIT: Library of Congress

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The western boundary of Arkansas was initially unclear after the Louisiana Purchase. Treaties with Native American tribes, including the Osage and Choctaw Nations, led to shifting borders.

The 1828 treaty with the Cherokee Nation finally set Arkansass current western border, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Later, Arkansas and the Choctaw Nation disputed the boundary again, but in 1886, the U.S. Supreme Court settled it and required compensation to the Choctaw.

Texan invasion? US Census breaks down migrants into Arkansas by state

Texas Border

The Arkansas-Texas border once served as an international boundary, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. A treaty with Spain in 1819 defined this line as running north from the Sabine River to the Red Rivers south bank.

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Disputes continued for years, but an 1838 treaty with the Republic of Texas finally set the border. Today, Arkansass border with Texas starts at Louisianas northwest corner, runs north to the Red River, then west to Oklahoma.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Have you cast a ballot yet? Early voting wraps up this weekend and the polls have already been a busy spot as we inch closer to Election Day.

Officials at the Mahoning County Board of Elections say that things have been moving smoothly. If there are any issues, its with absentee ballots.

Weve received calls from voters concerned that they havent received them. Board of Elections Director Tom McCabe says theyve got a plan for anyone worried about not getting their ballot on time.

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This is my seventh presidential election and this is on par with the other six. We always learn it all works out, McCabe said.

He says theyve seen an uptick in early voter turnout compared to 2016 but a slight drop measured with 2020.

So far, about 47,000 people have voted in Mahoning County. Thats by mail and in person. So its been steady and ahead of 2016 but behind 2020, but thats an aberration because of the COVID year when we had an influx of absentee ballots in the mail, McCabe said.

He says some voters have experienced problems receiving those absentee ballots this year  something they receive calls for every day  but voters shouldnt panic if they find themselves missing a ballot.

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That person can come in and vote in person on a regular ballot. We cancel the absentee request and they vote right here at the board of elections over the next three days, McCabe said.

Lines were steady but moving on Friday. The board of elections will have extra staff available at all seven polling locations in the county to handle questions and make sure everything runs smoothly.

Were expecting about 70,000 voters on Tuesday, 70,000 to 75,000 voters on Tuesday. Because of the volume of the early vote, the absentees, the lines shouldnt be too bad. They should move quickly, McCabe said.

For anyone who wants to cast their ballots before Election Day, the Mahoning County Board of Elections is open until 7:30 p.m. Friday, as well as Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. These will be your last chances to do so before Election Day on Tuesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
(Photo illustration via Getty Images)

Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.

This week, Paul Pate tried to clean up his mess.

Iowas top election official insisted at a news conference on Wednesday it is the federal governments fault that he ordered county auditors in this state  just two weeks before Election Day  to challenge the votes of up to 2,022 potential American citizens. Hes doing this because at one point in time, perhaps years ago, these people once told the Iowa Department of Transportation they were not citizens.

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Pate freely admits he doesnt know how many of the 2,022 people on his list have become citizens since their initial declarations. But theyre being asked to cast a provisional ballot, which will require them to provide additional proof of eligibility. And since the names on the list havent been publicly released, affected citizens wont even know theyre being singled out until they go to vote.

Which means many will have to make a second trip to get their vote counted.

Late Wednesday, the League of United Latin American Citizens filed a lawsuit challenging Pates scheme, alleging violations of federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

You may have noticed Ive been writing about this a lot this past week.

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The reason is simple: The more I learn about the details, the more I think about these violations of basic fairness, the more disturbing it becomes.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the secretary of state tried at his news conference to distinguish his efforts from those in other states, like Virginia, where they are removing people from voter rolls because they too once told drivers license agencies that they were not citizens.

Its true, Pate hasnt removed people from the rolls. Not yet. But he also hasnt done many of the things Virginia did do.

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Virginia began its effort three months ago, in August.

Then, surely knowing this kind of datas unreliability for proving current citizenship status, it consulted federal immigration data.

After that, Virginia notified each of the people who were affected so, if they were falsely listed, they could provide to authorities their proof of citizenship.

Yet, Pate complains his mess is all the fault of the federal government.

Pate said this week he tried but couldnt get access to federal immigration data. But Virginia clearly accomplished this task. Other states have also been granted access to federal data, too.

Whats wrong with Iowa?

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Why, instead of acting earlier like Virginia, did Pate wait until October to even seek the DOT data?

It is no secret Donald Trump has been raging, falsely, about illegal voting.

The Des Moines Register also reports that Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said this week she asked Pate what he was doing about this issue after seeing other states were looking into it.

National Public Radio reports that Republicans in other states have filed lawsuits recently demanding the federal government check the citizenship of people on state voter rolls.

Democrats say this is all just a ploy to help Donald Trump lay the groundwork for a challenge if he loses the election. And Trumps top ally in Iowa  Attorney General Brenna Bird  falsely claimed the LULAC lawsuit is an attempt to let noncitizens illegally vote.

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Tell that to Orcun Selcuk, Alan David Gwilliam and Michael Brokloff. They are all Iowans. They all are U.S. citizens who are plaintiffs in the LULAC lawsuit. They all ought to be able to vote like any other citizen.

Tingting Zhen is a US citizen, too. She suspected she was on Pates list, so she asked her county auditor and the secretary of states office to confirm it. They refused, according to the LULAC lawsuit, so Zhen will have to wait until she tries to legally cast her ballot to find out if she is discriminated against.

Zhen says she feels intimidated.

I dont blame her. Who wants to stand in a line of people waiting to vote, only to be singled out when it is your turn?

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Immigration advocates worry other immigrants, who are citizens, will be intimidated, too.

These citizens, like every other Iowan who is registered to vote, already attested they were US citizens when they registered to vote.

The political powers in this state are so paranoid about noncitizens voting they are willing to violate the rights of people they know to be citizens, all in their quest for phantoms.

It was only in September that Pate minimized the idea of noncitizen voting in Iowa.

I dont think we see a lot of it at this time in Iowa, he said on Iowa Press.

The truth is, there is virtually none. The commonly cited Heritage Foundation database lists four cases in Iowa since 2011.

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All of this reminds me of Pates decision last year to drop out of the Electronic Registration Information Center, a longstanding data-sharing group with a bi-partisan roster of states that helped with election security.

Pate once called the organization a godsend. The next month, Trump attacked it, and Pate joined a bunch of other Republican election officials in moving to drop their membership.

The vast majority of us arent among the 2,022 potential citizens who will be subjected to these violations by the state. We wont be asked to cast a provisional ballot. We wont have to return with the proof that we are, in fact, citizens.

That doesnt mean there will be no consequence to all of us.

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In the words of John F. Kennedy, the rights of every person are diminished when the rights of even one person are threatened.

Update (Nov. 2, 10 a.m.): At a court hearing Friday, the federal government said 250 people on Pates list are noncitizens, according to news reports. Their identities have not been disclosed to the state of Iowa. But what this means is that for each noncitizen on Pates list, the state of Iowa was willing to violate the rights of nine citizens by making them take extra steps to get their vote counted.

How were these people selected?

By national origin.

As a believer in the Constitution and the rule of law, I find this offensive. American citizens shouldnt be treated unfairly just because they werent born here. I dont want to see a noncitizen vote, but I am concerned for all those citizens who might be discouraged from voting because of the extra burden.

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By the way, those 250 people represent 0.01% of the entire Iowa voter file of 2.3 million people.

The judge in the case said he expected to make a ruling in the case this weekend.

Politics podcast

This weeks edition of Iowa Down Ballot is now available. This week, I joined Laura Belin, Art Cullen, Ty Rushing, Barry Piatt, Dave Busiek, Dennis Goldford and Zachary Oren Smith to kick around a range of issues, including our predictions for Election Day.

I encourage you to give it a listen. Iowa Down Ballot is a production of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

Davenports actions sideline investigation

The Quad-City Times reported this week that State Auditor Rob Sand said his offices inquiry into Davenports controversial payment of $1.9 million to three former employees is mostly on hold.

Sand had previously announced he was investigating the payments, which included $1.6 million to former City Administrator Corri Spiegel. The city paid the money to settle allegations of harassment by elected officials.

Its been a year since this story broke, and there still are questions. Sands inquiry was a chance to learn more and provide oversight. However, the city of Davenport, even as it claims it is being transparent, has worked to undermine accountability. Earlier this year, it contested a subpoena from Sands office for recordings of closed-door city council sessions last year.

A district judge had ordered Sand be given access to the recordings, which he must keep confidential, and that the recordings be turned over to the court so irrelevant material could be excluded.

However, as I have reported previously, the city is arguing this case is an assault on attorney-client privilege, and it asked for permission to file an interlocutory appeal with the Iowa Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court granted the city permission recently, so now the case is in their hands. A previous appeal like this drug out for more than a year, so as Sand said, his investigation is largely on hold.

This is unfortunate, and it stands in the way not only of openness but the oversight of local government that the state auditors office provides.

The people of Davenport should remember this the next time our elected leaders tell us how transparent they are.

This column was originally published by Ed Tibbetts Along the Mississippi newsletter on Substack. It is republished here through the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and the authors blogs to support their work.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Catholic Diocese of El Paso will celebrate a rite of committal for cremated remains on All Souls Day on Saturday, Nov. 2.

The ceremony will take place after the All Souls Day Mass, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mount Carmel Cemetery, 401 S. Zaragoza Road.

Mt. Carmel Cemetery graciously provided burial space for the cremains that have yet to have a committal service and ensuring a dignified resting place and an opportunity for closure, the Diocese said in a news release sent out early Saturday morning.

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We recognize the spiritual importance of a final resting place as a part of our All Souls Day observance, Bishop Mark Seitz said. It is a meaningful step in allowing families to honor their loved ones memory with reverence and peace.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Silas Mayes rolled into his local McDonalds drive-through at lunchtime on Monday, October 7, and ordered his usual: a Quarter Pounder, fries and a Sprite.

By Thursday morning, he was having waves of stomach cramps so intense that he could hardly stand up to get to the bathroom.

It was extremely painful. And every time I would use the bathroom, there would be blood, said Silas, 17, who lives in Grand Junction, Colorado. It was terrifying.

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His mom, Lera Davidson, rushed him to the emergency room at St. Marys Regional Hospital when the bloody diarrhea continued. The doctors took a stool sample and sent it to a lab for analysis, and they gave him IV fluids and painkillers for the cramps. They kept him in the ER nearly all day, he said, but eventually sent him home.

He couldnt keep anything down. Even a small sip of water or one bite of a cracker would send him running for the toilet, and more blood would pour out of him.

His stool tested positive for a strain of E. coli bacteria that is especially dangerous because it produces Shiga toxin, which penetrates and kills cells, causing tissue damage. One of the worst complications of these kinds of infections can be hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure and may even be deadly, especially for young children and the elderly.

All 50 states require labs to notify their state health departments when they detect these infections, which are called STEC, for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

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A positive test result for any reportable foodborne illness off a series of routine actions by local and then state public health offices. These steps normally play out quietly, outside the public eye. Without this work, however, outbreaks of foodborne illness might never be spotted or traced back to a tainted ingredient, and more people would get sick and die.

We look at every case we get like it could be an outbreak. We investigate every case with that mindset of preventing spread of disease and stopping a source of disease, said Julie Hartshorn, a disease surveillance specialist with Mesa County Public Health in Grand Junction.

Scientists at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who worked with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to investigate the latest E. coli outbreak and nail down its cause say the fact that these cases were linked and solved so quickly makes it a noteworthy win.

As part of an outbreak investigation announced by the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration on October 22, 90 cases of STEC infection from 13 states have been linked to McDonalds Quarter Pounders. More than two dozen people have been hospitalized, and one has died.

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Only about 10% of the 6,000 E. coli infections that are genetically sequenced in the US each year are connected to an outbreak, according to Dr. Heather Carleton-Romer, chief of the Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch at the CDC in Atlanta.

I feel like Im in one of the few jobs as a scientist where I can go home and say my work saves peoples lives, because it does, she said.

Race to find the root cause

By the time they got the report about Silas case, Hartshorn and two other staffers at Mesa County Public Health had been working full-tilt, trying to figure out exactly why so many people in Grand Junction were getting STEC infections.

We see maybe one or two of these STEC cases in a month, and we had an unusually large number. So right away, we were all concerned, Hartshorn said.

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Mesa County, an early epicenter, has had 11 cases linked to the outbreak, but Hartshorn said theyve called more people than that as part of their investigation. Some wont be added to the official count until the bacteria in their stool has undergone genetic sequencing by the state lab to confirm that its DNA fingerprint matches others in the outbreak strain. That process takes time.

Even under the best of circumstances, its difficult for most people to remember important details about what they ate. So health departments try to work quickly, to catch people while their memories are fresh.

After they get a report of a foodborne illness, a specialist  typically someone who is trained to do these kinds of detailed interviews  calls the person who got sick. They ask people to recall everything they ate for the previous seven days, including all the ingredients in those dishes. People are also asked about recent travel and contact with animals, including what kinds of treats they feed their pets.

The Mesa County team started making calls to people with STEC infections the week of October 7, about three weeks before the CDC announced the investigation. Within two days, it became apparent that most people they were contacting had eaten at McDonalds. The health department dispatched its environmental health team to the local restaurant, but they didnt find any red flags.

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What we realized was that it wasnt a problem with how the food was prepared at the restaurant, Hartshorn said. Employees were washing their hands, food was being cooked to the right temperatures, and surfaces were appropriately cleaned and disinfected.

But still, people were getting sick after eating there, making them wonder whether the food might have been contaminated before it arrived to the restaurant, Hartshorn said. So we thought this may be wider of an issue.

The investigation widens

They were right.

At the state level, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was also getting a deluge of STEC reports from across the state.

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Sometimes, local health departments do their own foodborne illness interviews, as Mesa County does, and sometimes cities and rural areas depend on the state health department for that kind of help.

Alayna Younger, an epidemiologist who manages the state agencys four-member Enteric Disease Interview Team, is responsible for assigning those interviews, and she was the first to sound the alarm about an usually large number of STEC cases, according to her supervisor, Rachel Jervis, who calls herself a scientist  of diarrhea on LinkedIn.

I said, OK, can you look at past years data? I want to have the numbers,  said Jervis, who manages the Foodborne, Enteric, Waterborne and Wastewater Diseases Program at the Colorado health department.

In the early days of October, the agency had logged as many STEC cases as it would normally see in the entire month, Jervis said.

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On October 10, the same day Silas got sick, the agency emailed the CDC to say that it suspected a STEC outbreak and that many of the people who were being interviewed reported eating fast food and ground beef.

Jervis said they also reached out to neighboring states to ask if they were seeing case increases. Some had similar experiences; some didnt, she said.

On October 11, the CDC received the first genetic sequences from Colorado through its PulseNet system. The DNA fingerprint from the cases was remarkably similar, with only one gene change difference between them, Jervis said, a clear sign that the cases were related.

A public health scientist from the CDC's Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch prepares a portable sequencing instrument for whole genome sequencing, which provides detailed genetic information about pathogens that make people sick. - Courtney Wheeler/CDC

PulseNet is a system that collects and analyzes more than 60,000 genomes collected from people who get foodborne illnesses each year. Each genome contains every letter of the instructions needed to build the bacteria or virus thats causing the illness, and collectively, they represent a huge amount of information. Each month, the PulseNet system sifts through enough data to fill the Library of Congress.

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Imagine youre putting together a 5,000-piece puzzle, and then youre comparing that puzzle across multiple cases to see if theres even one part, one piece difference, because that will tell us things, Carleton-Romer said.

Traditional methods crack the case

Normally, the scientists who monitor the PulseNet system will be the first to connect cases that become an outbreak investigation.

In the case of the STEC outbreak linked to McDonalds Quarter Pounders, however, it was Younger and her team of epidemiologists manning the phones in Colorado who first linked the cases, a testament to the tried-and-true methods of epidemiology.

This type of case investigation dates to the mid-1800s, when Dr. John Snow, who is often credited as the father of modern epidemiology, stopped a cholera outbreak in London by tracing it to contaminated water from a single pump that was making people sick.

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As more E. coli sequences came into PulseNet, the team at the CDC could see genomes with the same DNA fingerprint popping up in other states, suggesting that a common food being widely distributed was making people sick.

The CDC team worked with the Colorado health department to develop a second set of questions asking specifically about certain fast-food restaurants, menu items at those restaurants and the consumption of beef or onions. The supplemental questionnaire was 13 pages long.

The best practice for these supplemental outbreak questionnaires is to have as few interviewers as possible conducting them, because it just helps people pick up on commonalities, Jervis said, and so these additional interviews are centralized at the state health department.

Davidson tried to answer the Mesa County workers questions for Silas because his condition had gotten worse, with episodes of bloody diarrhea every minute or so, and he was too sick to help much. But when she was initially interviewed, she didnt know that her son had eaten at McDonalds.

Youre really thinking about every single thing youve eaten in a weeks period, Davidson said. I kind of could piece together the meals I had cooked, but piecing together where hed been with his girlfriend, out eating and stuff like that, was where the challenge was.

When state investigators called back to do the supplemental interview on October 12, they asked her to look for receipts for ground beef that she had purchased and to check bank statements for any information that might help fill in the gaps.

It wasnt until there were reports on the news about the connection to McDonalds that Silas remembered his lunch there.

Later, they found a line on the bank statement noting a purchase at McDonalds on October 7.

Your memory is jogged when youre asked for something specific, Jervis said. We absolutely had cases who called us back and said, You know what, after I talked to you, I went back and looked at my credit card statement, and I went to McDonalds on this date.

Still, the number of official cases is an undercount. There will be people who got sick but not sick enough to go to the doctor, so they were never tested. Or perhaps they were treated without getting a stool test.

McDonalds said that in any two week period, in the region where cases had been reported, it sells over 1 million Quarter Pounders.

Because the sick people overwhelmingly reported eating Quarter Pounders, investigators were able to ask what made that particular menu item different from others. It turns out that Quarter Pounders are made with fresh beef that is cooked to order, as well as fresh slivered onions. Only one other thing on the menu  a breakfast item  used the slivered onions, McDonalds said.

McDonalds temporarily stopped selling Quarter Pounders in about one-fifth of its restaurants until testing ruled out beef patties as the E. coli source.

Taylor Farms, the supplier of the fresh onions, recalled onions sent to McDonalds and other restaurants and institutions. Testing of the onions is ongoing, and the CDC and the FDA said Thursday that they were the likely source of the E. coli bacteria that made people sick.

Because scientists were able to narrow the scope of the investigation so fast, companies were able to remove the suspect ingredients from restaurants quickly. Carleton-Romer said they dont think theyll have new illnesses going forward, but the investigation may grow as lab testing shows that historical cases are linked to the outbreak strain.

Lasting impacts

McDonalds said in a statement that the health and safety of our people and our customers is our top priority.

While McDonalds removed all slivered onions produced from this facility as of October 22, 2024, due to broad concern and our unwavering commitment to food safety we have made the decision to stop sourcing onions from Taylor Farms Colorado Springs facility indefinitely, the statement says.

At McDonalds, food safety is something we will never compromise on. Customers can count on McDonalds to do the right thing, and public health authorities can count on McDonalds continued close partnership. We thank health authorities for all they are doing.

Silas family has hired an attorney, Ron Simon, to represent them in a case against the fast-food chain.

Even though theyre sure that Silas ate at McDonalds and that he was diagnosed with E. coli, they dont know whether his case has been officially connected to the outbreak. Theyve requested his lab test results from the state health department but havent received them, Simon said.

Silas is still recovering from his infection. He says he lost 10 pounds while he was sick, which was a lot for his already-slender frame. Hes still experiencing extreme fatigue and has to take frequent breaks when he exercises or works at his job installing tile. He says its a struggle to get anything done.

Silas is off IV fluids and back at work with his dad. But he says he wont be eating McDonalds or any other kind of fast food anytime soon.

I dont trust fast food now because of how sick it made me, he said.

Jervis, of the Colorado health department, said it was professionally satisfying to crack the case.

Its always this feeling of, Wow, this is fascinating. Its so exciting. I really want to solve this, she said.

But at the same time, these are people who are getting very sick, she said.

Over the next few weeks, she expects case numbers to tick up as more test results match the outbreak strain.

Its hard to see the numbers and know that those are individuals who have been quite sick, and they and their families have been impacted, she said.

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SELMA, North Carolina Donald Trump and JD Vance are spending the final days before the election playing defense in trying to secure North Carolina, a state Trump won in 2016 and 2020.

Trump and Kamala Harris are both flying in for major rallies on Saturday night, as poll watchers elevate it to the number two tipping point state in the country after Pennsylvania.

Vance played to a thin crowd here on Friday in a field off Interstate 95. His wife, Usha Vance an accomplished D.C. lawyer and former Supreme Court clerkwatched quietly as her husband gave a confident speech to a largely empty field.

J.D. Vance claps himself on stage at his rally.

It was possible to enter late and walk within six feet of the stage where Vance spoke, an inconceivable idea at a Trump rally, where arriving three hours early is no guarantee of admission.

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A thin barrier separated Usha from a thicket of fervent Trump supporters, unaffected by the low turnout, many of whom were wearing hats and T-shirts displaying their allegiance.

Two burly men sat beside each other in Were not the GARBAGE shirts, while three young women in skirts and cowboy boots had turned a set of white big bags into tops for the day. One man had tried to enter the grounds wearing a trash can. All were responding to Joe Bidens recent errant description of Trump supporters.

Almost everyone in attendance at The Farm on I95 had already voted. What the hell are you guys doing here? Vance asked when he realized he was talking entirely to the faithful. Go get a friend and take them to the polls, he commanded, telling them to vote 10 times, once legally and nine more times by turning out so many friends.

No queue troubled rally-goers at the 2,000-capacity venue, which was mainly empty inside.

The New York Times is going to say JD Vance is encouraging voter fraud, he said mockingly, as he turned to that reliable punching bag at a Trump campaign rally: the press pen.

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Usha Vance, briefly name-checked by her husband, did not rise from her seat in a corner off stage or turn to the crowd at any point. She maintained an almost beatific smile throughout, reacting very little as Vance gave way to Don Jr. , a surprise guest who arrived with his fiancee Kimberly Guilfoylethe ex-wife of California governor Gavin Newsomas Vance wound down.

Don Jr.s color-coded entouragetwo women in bright pink Women for Trump jackets and a man wearing a Trump Air hatfiltered into the crowd as he replaced Vance on stage.

Don Jr., a surprise arrival, briefly worked the line in his monogrammed zip-up afterwards.

Don Jr., who received no special reaction from the crowd and somewhat incongruously sat down to chants of JD JD JD, reveled in Harris embrace of Dick Cheney and the Washington war machine.

The light turnout underscored the singularity of the Trump movement. It has one star. Everyone else in the MAGA cinematic universe is merely a tiny planet in orbit around the former president.

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Satellite characters are celebrated, as Vance was by rally-goers who spoke to the Daily Beast, only insofar as they are part of Trumps constellation.

The vendors selling Trump merchandise outside the rally can tell you that. They remember how Mike Pence , Trumps VP pick in 2016, was celebrated at ralliesuntil he wasnt. They liked Pence until that turned, one said, referring to Pences decision to certify the 2020 presidential election on Jan. 6, 2021.

A paid worker from Elon Musks America PAC greeted the scattered inflow of attendees on arrival, signing up local residents for the chance to win $1 million in a daily lottery Musk is running until Election Day. He has given out $15 million so far, the worker, an older and well-rounded man, told one attendee in awe.

The strange position of Usha Vance was emphasized by that man, who suggested that white people in London now get to go to school on minority scholarships, right? and ridiculed Sadiq Khan, the British capitals mayor, for having a good Anglican name.

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The comments recalled a different time: when JD Vance had rejected Trump in 2016publicly calling him noxious and a total fraud. The New Yorker reported this week that the comments had triggered some really racist attacks from Trump supporters because of Ushas race, as Vance reportedly told a friend.

Vancewearing a beautiful pair of black Oxford shoes with a trouser leg cut too high and an incongruous beltspoke fluently, mocking Harris tendency to talk about her middle class background when asked by interviewers to be specific about how she will build an opportunity economy.

An emblematic vendor poster sold being outside the rally.

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One long-time vendor, who tried to sell merchandise outside every Democratic presidential rally in 2020, was amazed the party had picked Harris as its nominee.

I regretted doing merch on her, because I threw a bunch of it in the trash, he said. Her supporters would come out flat, he said, remembering events held throughout Iowa in 2019.

Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders were the Democratic candidates off whom you could sell merchandise, he said. Vendors serve as de facto pollsters during primaries: It was clear to this vendor that Vivek Ramaswamy was outperforming and DeSantis was falling flat last year.

Now theres money to be made off Vanceso long as he stands in for Trump.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and some of you are still holding onto your ballots wondering who to vote for in some of the lower-profile races.

The Olympian asked candidates in the 22nd Legislative District races what they would like voters to tell last-minute voters, and why voters should choose them over their opponents.

District 22 Senator

Current 22nd District Rep. Jessica Bateman is facing Port of Olympia Commissioner Bob Iyall in the race for Sam Hunts state Senate seat. Hunt is retiring.

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Bateman said now that campaigning is coming to an end, the top issues shes heard about from voters are access to affordable housing, equitable access to health care and behavioral health providers, and making sure that theres a sustainable funding system for Washingtons public schools.

Those are issues that I am prepared to address when I hope to be elected to the State Senate, she said.

She said shes heard concerns about ensuring people have strong reproductive rights in the state, another issue she plans to focus on.

Bateman said its her experience that most sets her apart from Iyall.

I think that I bring the experience, having worked on these issues that people are talking to me about, priorities such as health care, reproductive rights, housing, those are all issues that Ive been working on for the last four years in the state legislature, she said. So I have experience, Ive got relationships with other legislators, so I can really hit the ground running and be effective bringing home successful policies for the voters of the 22nd and also funding that we need in capital projects and in the budget.

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She encouraged voters to look at resources such as whos supporting different candidates.

You can take a look at those, the organizations that are supporting candidates, take a look at my website and see whos supporting me, she said. You can always look at them and see if those are people that you know and recognize.

Bateman said theres a lot of voters who havent turned in their ballots, and theres still time for people to get involved. She encouraged voters to attend the Womens March on Nov. 2. There are also coordinated campaign events aimed at getting people out to vote.

She said folks can also reach out to her campaign directly with questions about the election. You can reach Bateman at her website, votejessicabateman.com, under the Connect with Jessica tab.

Legislative District 22 State Senate candidates Bob Iyall and Jessica Bateman answer questions during the Thurston County Chamber Candidates Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Saint Martins Norman Worthington Center.

Iyall said he wants to reiterate his commitment to representing the broad spectrum of voices in the community.

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After talking to so many people, there are a lot of people out there who feel unheard and unrepresented, he said. Im willing to work on solutions that find common ground and make sure that we are utilizing the voices of all people in Washington state, whether thats pertaining to affordable health care or prioritizing workforce development or advancing salmon recovery.

Iyall said his approach is all about collaboration and promoting growth and preservation at the same time.

Iyall said what sets him apart from Bateman is his proven track record in both business and community service. He said hes brought people together to create meaningful solutions, and he knows how to take practical steps in working toward actionable, steady progress.

Honestly, Im here to listen to peoples concerns and make thoughtful decisions and truly be a representative who works for all of the people in Washington state, he said. I believe I can deliver results, results that are going to be in respect to our community, our communitys needs, and our history and our future.

District 22, Position 1 Rep.

Current 22nd District Rep. Beth Doglio is being opposed by Steve Owens, who did not respond to requests for an interview.

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Doglio said the most important thing she wants people to know for this election is to vote No on all the initiatives on this years ballot.

Voting No on the initiatives protects the work that the legislature has done for the last decade to make our state cleaner, our air cleaner, our water cleaner, to make sure that were funding education at appropriate levels, especially early childhood education, to make sure that the energy transition is done in a way that really, really pays close attention to ratepayers and working to protect them, and finally, making sure were taking care of our seniors, who need long term care, Doglio said.

In terms of her race, Doglio said she appreciates the opportunity to continue to work on behalf of working families and the environment, and shes looking forward to addressing the school funding issue.

If elected, she plans to do some work on gun violence prevention as well. The other critical focus point for her campaign is housing and mental health, something shes hoping to work closely with Bateman on.

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On why voters should choose her instead of Owens, she said her record of 35 years working in advocacy and then as an elected official speaks for itself.

I have passed bills that are designed to make Washington state one of the best employers in the state, really making sure that the large number of state employees in the district have their rights protected, and were always looking for good wages and safety on the job, she said.

I just bring a lot of knowledge, and I plan to really dig in this year, she said. So those would be reasons that I would appreciate earning peoples vote.

District 22, Position 2 Rep.

Olympia City Council member Lisa Parshley is running against Syd Locke, a Senior Legislative Assistant for over 30 years, for the seat Bateman is vacating to run for the Senate. Both are Democrats.

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Parshley said she wants to stress her commitment to the state of Washington as much as to the country, and shes a little fearful for what Tuesday will bring.

Parshley said she would tell people they need to vote, no matter who they vote for, because it gives the people power. And no matter the outcome, she will stand with the other legislators to ensure Washington, the region and country does the right thing for all people.

Should the worst case scenario, in my mind, come true, which is we have a second Presidency of Trump, I will work tirelessly for Washington and our region, she said.

Parshley said people should vote for her over Locke because her experience on the Olympia City Council has given her a birds eye view of the issues people are facing right now, all issues that intersect.

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We need people who have worked on policy and actions that have worked, and learned from those that have not worked, she said.

Parshley said she believes that the pathway to a sustainable, resilient community is building back the middle class. She said a recent report states Washington has a higher share of the middle class than the rest of the country, but she challenges that notion.

I know people are struggling in our community when we have 48% of Thurston County that are housing insecure, and some of those are going to be considered middle class, she said.

Parshley, who is a small business owner, said more work needs to be done around protecting small businesses.

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She said she believes how folks vote on Tuesday is going to reverberate generations down the line.

Its our choice, as corny as this sounds, whether we choose joy and hope or going backwards, and somebody who admires Hitler, Parshley said.

Locke said he will continue working to ensure that economic and environmental necessities, such as universal health care, affordable housing, livable incomes, environmental sustainability and more, are truly considered human rights.

If everyone gets what they need to fulfill their potential, then society as a whole benefits, he said. Thats part of what it means to be a Democratic Socialist.

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Locke said hes an outspoken advocate for peace, and he believes the U.S. needs to stop funding the war on Gaza and to avoid conflicts that could lead to nuclear war. Instead, he said those billions of dollars should be spent on peoples needs.

Locke said hes different from his opponent because he has years of experience as a legislative staffer, and he believes the system isnt working for most people.

People want stability and hope for the future, but we cant achieve that with an economic system that puts short-term profits for the ultra-rich over the needs of the people and the health of the planet, he said.
HILO, Hawaii (KHON2)  If you get a phone call from the Hilo Courthouse, chances are its not from an actual government official.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

The Hawaii State Judiciary warned the public about scammers spoofing Hilo Courthouse phone numbers in an attempt to extort money from residents.

US Marshals warn residents of nationwide scam hitting the islands

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State officials said courts or law enforcement would not call or email you unless you contacted us first seeking assistance with a specific question.

According to officials, Hawaii state court staff do not call for any of the following reasons:

Dont leave that ballot box blank! Ballot measure 1 fully explained

Provide personal information such as name, birth date, Social Security number or financial information

Immediate payment of a pre-paid card or sending money to the government using online payment apps or through a wire transfer

Credit card numbers or bank routing numbers

Organizing a meet-up to make a payment

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If you find yourself on the phone with a scammer, hang up the phone immediately and do not respond to questions or press any buttons youre asked to press.

When you get to top of this hike, its spooky and eerie: Hawaii hikes

If you get an email or text message from the Hawaii State Judiciary without reaching out first, delete the message immediately.

Never respond to the email or phone number given if you suspect a scam. Instead, use the contact information on the agencys official website.

Call 911 if you are in anger or if you are threatened by a scammer.

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Donald Trump is adamant that the American people are being falsely misled to believe he called for former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney's face to be used as target practice by soldiers. The violent remarks were delivered on Thursday (Oct. 31) as he spoke with former Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson at an Arizona voter event.

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Trump called the congresswoman a radical war hawk and suggested, Let's put her with a rifle standing there, with nine barrels shooting at her, okay? Let's see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face." His comments also included him critically speaking about politicians in Washington, D.C., green lighting wars and sending 10,000 troops into the mouth of the enemy.

Amid backlash for the condemned rhetoric from Vice President Kamala Harris, Liz and others, he told Fox & Friends hosts during a call-in interview that it's the fake news, and they're trying to make something out of it, and it's so biased to start off with. The Republican 2024 presidential race nominee did not walk back his statements; instead, he doubled down on belittling the daughter of former Vice President Richard Dick Cheney.

All Im saying is she was a nutty war hawk. You know, she wants to go to war with anybody that moves and lose a lot of people, lose a lot of soldiers, put the nation in trouble, and theres nobody tougher than me when it comes to protecting our nation, the businessman claimed.

She was a nut job, just like her father. Her father got us into the Middle East, and we spent $9 trillion. We ended up killing lots of people, including we lost a lot of people ourselves We blew the place up, and we left. We got nothing Shes probably worse than her father cause shes not as smart. He would also go on to assert, On the Cheney thing, its a  I call it a media hoax. I said, 'Oh we have another media hoax.'

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As previously reported by REVOLT, Liz hit back at the flagrant commentary on Twitter. She wrote, while sharing a video of Trump calling for her face to be used as a target, This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.

His Democratic opponent in the presidential race argued, He has increased his violent rhetoric This must be disqualifying, when she spoke with media in Wisconsin. On Friday (Nov. 1), Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes confirmed that her office is investigating whether Trumps statement broke the law.

I have already asked my criminal division chief to start looking at that statement, analyzing it for whether it qualifies as a death threat under Arizonas laws, Mayes said during her appearance on the Sunday Square Off show. Im not prepared now to say whether it was or it wasnt, but it is not helpful as we prepare for our election and as we try to make sure that we keep the peace at our polling places and in our state.

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Former President Donald Trump and his running mate U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, tag-teamed Michigan on Friday making their case to voters ahead of Tuesday's election.

Trump returned to Warren to address a crowd of about 2,000 people at Macomb Community College, telling them "If we win Michigan, we win the whole bowl of wax."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was one of the warmup speakers, telling the crowd he would help Trump make America healthy again.

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Trump was on stage for about an hour and forty-five minutes, delivering a rambling speech punctuated by several videos that appeared to be extended versions of some of his campaign television commercials.

Trump repeated his calls for tariffs on foreign-made autos, calling the word tariff, "one of the most beautiful words."

He lashed out at his opponent Vice President Kamala Harris, blaming her for inflation, foreign wars and the "migrant invasion."

"The day I'm sworn in, the migrant invasion will end," Trump said to loud applause from the crowd.

Trump blasted migrants, blaming them for crime and said they are taking jobs from Black and Hispanic people in America.

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He also shouted out local leaders in attendance including mayors from Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Southgate and Garden City. Trump touted a meeting earlier in the day with Arab American leaders in Dearborn, saying he'd promised them that he would bring peace to the Middle East.

More: Trump meets Arab Americans in Dearborn, vows to bring peace in Middle East

The Harris campaign blasted Trump's assertions.

Today, Trump will try to recast himself. But lets be clear: He is not the candidate of peace, he is the candidate of divisiveness," Sami Khaldi, President of Dearborn Democratic Club, said on behalf of the Harris campaign. "Lets not forget that he has urged Benjamin Netanyahu to 'finish the job' in Gaza and told him 'do what you have to do.' 

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About 30 minutes into the speech, a trickle of people began to leave and by the hour mark it was a steady flow, prompting a campaign volunteer to urge people standing outside the seating area to come inside and take some of the vacated seats.

Trump began the speech sounding nostalgic, noting he'd been doing rallies for nine years now and there were only a few more days of the campaign left.

Some of the visitors were feeling nostalgic as well.

Jim Lialios, 76, of Shelby Township, said he was a Democrat back in the 1960s and '70s, but became a Republican in the 1980s. He has been following Trump since his first run.

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"I've never been to a rally in my life," Lialios said. "I just thought it would be a great opportunity to view history. I've heard a lot of his speeches, so I'm sure it'll be the same, but I want to see it in person."

Tracey Miller, 58, of Shelby Township, felt the same way.

"I saw Trump twice in 2016, couldn't see him in 2020," she said. "This is the last chance so wanted to check it out."

Unlike in 2020, when Trump repeatedly criticized absentee and early voting, the latter of which hadn't been implemented in Michigan yet, his campaign is now embracing voting ahead of Election Day.

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In Portage earlier in the day, Vance told several hundred supporters to cast their votes as early as possible, lauding those in attendance who already had.

We ought to take advantage of every opportunity that we have to vote, Vance said.

As the Republican presidential ticket descended on Michigan on Friday, millions of voters had already cast ballots ahead of Election Day. Nearly 2.6 million voters had either returned an absentee ballot or voted at an early voting center by Friday morning, according to data made available by the Michigan Secretary of States Office.

Vance spoke in front of supporters holding blue and red signs reading vote early. He warned supporters if they waited until Election Day, they risked ceding early votes to the Harris campaign.

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Heres the game thats being played, the Democrats are trying to bank as many votes as physically possible, so they can have as big of a lead on Election Day, he said. Its like a football game where you start the game down by three touchdowns. Lets start the game tied so we can get over the finish line and win the game.

In 2018 and 2022, voters in Michigan passed ballot measures that expanded absentee voting and established early voting, respectively.

Vance, who spoke at an airplane hangar near the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, continued to make many of the same pitches to supporters he and Trump have during their campaign. Vance told supporters Trump is a better candidate on the economy and the border, two central themes of the campaigns platform. He also derided Democrats for what he described as wanting to censor political opponents.

More: Trump meets Arab Americans in Dearborn, vows to bring peace in Middle East

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Not long into Vances remarks, which lasted around 30 minutes, a man in the audience started to yell at the senator as he was speaking, although his exact words werent audible to news media in the press pen at the venue. A Kalamazoo County sheriffs deputy said after the event the man was asked to leave the venue and departed without issue.

In Michigan and other states, both campaigns have placed much of their voter turnout efforts on getting supporters to the polls as early as they can.

A recent Free Press poll found that among respondents who voted early, Harris led Trump, 64% to 35% (in the poll, 31% of respondents had voted early or via absentee ballot). Early voting in Michigan runs through Sunday, and voters who requested an absentee ballot must return it to their local clerk by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day for it to be counted.

In Portage, when U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Township, asked the crowd who had voted early, many raised their hands and cheered.

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Rich and Donna Vegter, of Cassopolis, were among the Trump voters who cast absentee ballots. Before Vances remarks began, they said they supported and volunteered for Trumps campaign because they viewed him as a candidate that would help reduce inflation and prevent the U.S. from getting involved in foreign wars, if elected again.

Rich and Donna Vegter pose for a photo before U.S. Sen. JD Vance speaks at RAI Airways on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Portage, Mich.

Rich Vegter said he felt confident about Trumps momentum heading toward Election Day. Donna Vegter agreed, noting in their community, theyve seen more yard signs supporting Trump and American flags than ever before.

People are embracing Trump, she said. Rich Vegter maligned Harris rhetoric, particularly calling Trump a fascist. He connects to everyone; shes divisive, he said.

Democrats panned Trump and Vances visits to Michigan, holding an event with former elected Republicans before they spoke Friday. In Kalamazoo, former Republican state Rep. Dave Maturen said Trump continues to deny the outcome of the 2020 election, adding some of his allies have been laying the groundwork for another big lie and the potential for violence once again.

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(Trump is) one who not only denies the results of a fair election, but spreads out lies over four years to millions of his followers, and one who sows doubt and distrust about the very fabric of our democracy, our voting system, Maturen said.

Trump is set to return to Michigan before Election Day  he's slated to hold a Monday night rally in Grand Rapids, continuing his tradition of holding his final rally in the city. Harris will campaign in Michigan on Sunday.

Michigan is among the handful of states considered key to deciding the presidential election. Polls, conducted both nationally and in Michigan, show a narrow race between the candidates with just days until the election.

Contact John Wisely and Arpan Lobo: jwisely@freepress.com and 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: Donald Trump and JD Vance tag-team Michigan in push for votes
With Election Day bearing down, guarding against misinformation is more vital than ever.

In the coming days and weeks, election officials across the country will tally millions of ballots and declare the winners and losers. That means your social media feed likely will be filled with baseless claims of fraud  many of which we've seen before. Some common narratives:

The election was stolen due to voter fraud

Noncitizens are voting in large numbers

Votes were added/subtracted due to the "hacking" of machines

Changing vote totals prove cheating occurred

Partisan election officials skew vote tallies

There were more votes than registered voters

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USA TODAY has debunked dozens of such claims in recent election cycles. Here's a rundown of what these narratives miss, so you're prepared when they crop up again.

Claim No. 1: Voter fraud

Experts call claims of widespread voter fraud deeply exaggerated.

"By and large, fraud is largely a made-up problem," said Paul Smith, senior vice president at the Campaign Legal Center, a government watchdog organization.

There were no indications of systemic problems with voter fraud during either the 2020 election or the midterms two years later, according to state-level reviews of those elections. Still, former President Donald Trump and his allies in the Republican Party made persistent, baseless claims about it.

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Many states pushed through election-related changes to address those concerns. Some now require voters to show photo identification. Others created state-level units to look for potential problems.

Trump also raised questions about voting by mail, baselessly claiming in a Feb. 20 interview with Fox News that "if you have mail-in voting, you automatically have fraud." That's not true: Mail-in voting comes with several additional security measures to prevent fraud. Those range from verifying that the only people who can request ballots are registered voters, to a process that links every ballot to an eligible voter, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.

Trump has since reversed course and voiced his support for voting by mail, even as GOP lawyers continue fighting against it, as USA TODAY previously reported.

Prior fact checks on voter fraud:

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Claim No. 2: Large numbers of noncitizens voting

This specific type of voter fraud merits separate mention because claims about it have been so prevalent in the 2024 race, with many of those claims linked to the crisis at the southern U.S. border.

Trump, for example, baselessly asserted in January that Democrats have encouraged migrants to flow into the U.S. illegally to register them to vote. Some House Republicans then threatened to shut down the government if Democrats didn't agree to legislation saying noncitizens couldn't vote  even though they are already barred from voting in federal and state elections.

Anyone caught lying about their citizenship status when they register to vote faces punishments that include fines, incarceration and deportation. States must audit their voter rolls and remove anyone who is ineligible, which includes immigrants in the country illegally.

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That makes it remarkably rare for noncitizens to cast ballots.

"I looked it up. It's literally more likely that you'd get hit by lightning in Ohio than find a noncitizen voting there," said David Becker, the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research.

Of the 23.5 million votes in the 2016 presidential election counted across 42 jurisdictions studied, researchers at the Brennan Center for Justice found just 30 suspected cases of noncitizens voting. Other studies and analyses around the country found similarly low levels. That includes Georgia, where an audit of the state voter rolls by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger found just 20 noncitizens among the state's 8.2 million registered voters.

Despite its resurgence as an issue, in Pennsylvania it was extremely rare," said Secretary of State Al Schmidt.

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Yet it remains a key talking point and has been the subject of multiple lawsuits after Republican-led states attempted to remove suspected noncitizens from their voting rolls in the weeks before the election. For example, GOP officials in Virginia on Oct. 28 asked the Supreme Court for permission to proceed with a purge of voter registrations for those suspected to be noncitizens.

Prior fact checks on noncitizens voting:

Claim No. 3: The election is hacked

Election officials at the federal, state and local levels have safeguards in place at three stages  before, during and after Election Day  to prevent hacking from taking place, according to the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The agency was part of a joint statement in November 2020 calling that year's election the "most secure in American history."

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There are multiple layers of security there that were constantly checking, said Lawrence Norden, the senior director of elections and government at the Brennan Center for Justice.

Among them, according to CISA: States routinely test and certify their voting machines and conduct checks to make sure ballots are properly counted before election results are finalized. And the overwhelming majority of people who vote do so on paper. Becker said 97% of all ballots cast are paper ones. That creates a document trail that may be checked for accuracy.

We audit those paper votes after the election to make sure that they match what the machine is telling us the vote total is, Norden said.

To further limit the possibility of cyber interference, many states do not allow voting machines to connect to the Internet or even be equipped with modems.

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Concerns about hacking sparked false claims from conservative pundits that voting machines deleted Trump votes and changed them to President Joe Biden. That led to lawsuits from voting technology companies such as Dominion Voting Systems, which sued Fox News for defamation and ultimately settled the case for $787.5 million.

Prior fact checks on hacking allegations:

Claim No. 4: Rapidly changing vote totals

An abrupt increase in a candidate's vote count as ballots are tallied on Election Day does not mean something fraudulent happened. It's important to remember that not all votes are counted at the same time, experts say.

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Several factors can affect tabulation times, according to CISA. Those include administration policy changes at the state or local level and protocols put into place during the pandemic. The agency noted that all election night results are unofficial, having not yet completed the various reviews and doublechecks.

The pace at which votes come in for both parties also changes based on when a state is allowed to begin counting its mail-in ballots.

False claims of ballot dumps circulated in 2020 after mail-in ballots were counted late in the day in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. With few exceptions, those states do not allow workers to open mail ballots before Election Day.

"It was a natural phenomenon of different categories of votes showing up at different times, in a world in which mail voting ... was skewed very (Democratic) because the Republicans had been told not to do it," Smith said.

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While mistakes do happen at times when votes are counted, those are typically a result of simple human error, not foul play, and there are processes in place to catch and fix them, officials said. Sometimes, that happens on Election Day. Other times, mistakes arent spotted until the canvass, which is part of the certification process. Those typically take place in the days or weeks that follow the election.

Prior fact checks on vote totals:

Claim No. 5: Partisan election officials

No two states run their elections exactly the same way, and there's even plenty of variation between the setups within a state. But experts point to established checks and balances that prevent election officials from taking partisan actions.

In most states, voters choose the chief election official. That is most often the secretary of state, but in some states it's the lieutenant governor or an appointee of the governor, lawmakers or the states elections board.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have a board or commission that oversees elections. Those are constructed to keep out politics and to have both parties represented, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Election administration is  even if there is a top official  conducted in a bipartisan way, Norden said. And you have, again, multiple, multiple checks to ensure that no one person can do anything thats going to cause problems in the system.

Many states incorporate partisan balance into various stages of the process. For example, Arizona requires pairings of one Democrat and one Republican to review each absentee ballot that the tabulator can't read to determine how it should be counted.

Prior fact checks on election officials:

Claim No. 6: More votes than voters

Several versions of this claim have circulated since 2020. Theyre all baseless, and they tend to rely on numbers that are incomplete or just plain wrong.

"To suggest that there's more votes cast than registrations is absurd, and it has never happened," Smith said.

For example, Trumps false claim that the number of votes in Pennsylvania in 2020 exceeded the number of voters by more than 200,000 was based on an incomplete voter registration database that was missing the state's two largest counties  Philadelphia and Allegheny counties  The New York Times reported in 2021.

Some of these claims fail to factor in states that allow same-day voter registration, so they're comparing vote totals to outdated registries. Sometimes, a claim is both false and based on an inadequate set of data.

For example, a U.S. Senate candidate in Ohio wrongly asserted that in 2020 there were 5 million more votes cast than voters, and pinned the claim on U.S. Census Bureau data, according to a PolitiFact fact check. In reality, numbers from the bureau show 168 million registered voters and 155 million votes, a difference of about 13 million.

But there's a better source of election-related figures than the Census Bureau: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission collects data directly from the states and reported more than 209 million active registered voters that year compared to 161 million ballots cast.

Prior fact checks on voter counts:

Contributing: Sarah D. Wire, Erin Mansfield

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election misinformation is everywhere. Here's how to spot it
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Douglas D. Broderick, 67, of Austintown, passed away early Thursday morning, October 31, 2024, at Hospice House of Poland, after a long battle with cancer.

Born on November 13, 1956, in Youngstown, he was the son of the late Gary and Shirley (Reardon) Broderick.

Find obituaries from your high school

Doug graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1975 and attended Youngstown State University.

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A proud Eagle Scout, he dedicated nearly 45 years of his career as an HVAC mechanic at St. Elizabeth Hospital, retiring in January 2020. He was a former trustee and served as chief shop steward for Teamsters Local #377 at the hospital.

Doug was an active member of the St. George Croatian Club, the Youngstown Maennerchor, and the AMA Club. His commitment to community service was evident in his involvement with the Ohio Disaster Medical Assistance Team, where he served as Logistics Chief and later as Commander, coordinating teams for hurricane response efforts.

A lover of the outdoors, Doug cherished trips to Geneva-on-the-Lake and enjoyed hunting adventures with friends in Tionesta, PA. Above all, he treasured the time spent with his family.

Doug is survived by his beloved wife, Melody L. Shodeen, whom he married on February 3, 1989; their four sons, Michael (Erin) Broderick of Boardman, Christopher (Chrissie) Broderick of Poland, Andrew (Liz) Broderick of Austintown, and Alexander Broderick of Akron; and five grandchildren, Nathanial, Ella, Colton, Aliyana, and Amelia. He also leaves behind his brother, Gary (Lori) Broderick of Grafton, OH and extended family members and friends who were touched by his warmth and kindness.

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Friends may call on Tuesday, November 12, at Lane Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel, from 6:00  6:45 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 7:00 p.m.

Doug will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Douglas D. Broderick, please visit our flower store.

A television tribute will air Monday, November 4 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:21 p.m. on WYTV and 6:35 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Duke Energy will not meet North Carolina carbon emissions goals by 2030, according to a recent filing.

READ MORE: Duke Energys Bad Creek hydro plant just got 25% bigger. Now Duke wants to double it.

Due to HB 951, which passed in 2021, North Carolina requires Duke Energy to meet two emissions deadlines. By 2030, the utilities company is supposed to reduce its emissions by 70% of 2005 levels. By 2050, Duke Energys emissions are supposed to be net-zero.

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The North Carolina Utilities Commission waived that 2030 deadline requirement Friday agreeing with Duke Energys claim that it cannot meet the goals while keeping the energy system reliable. The commission is asking Duke Energy to take all reasonable steps to meet that 70% reduction by the earliest possible date.

HB 951 allows for an extension due to reliability concerns and Duke Energy to pursue long-lead-time projects like nuclear and offshore wind. The utility is pursuing those technologies and claims it can meet the emissions goals by 2035.

In the days following the decision, several environmental and climate-focused organizations expressed their disappointment, including the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, which was an intervenor in the case.

As senior regulatory counsel, Justin Somelofske said he argued for the NCUC to hold Duke as close to that 2030 deadline as possible.

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READ MORE: The U.S. wants to triple worldwide nuclear energy; what could that mean for the Carolinas?

Due to HB 951, which passed in 2021, North Carolina requires Duke Energy to meet two emissions deadlines. By 2030, the utilities company is supposed to reduce its emissions by 70% of 2005 levels. By 2050, Duke Energys emissions are supposed to be net-zero.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission waived that 2030 deadline requirement Friday agreeing with Duke Energys claim that it cannot meet the goals while keeping the energy system reliable. The commission is asking Duke Energy to take all reasonable steps to meet that 70% reduction by the earliest possible date.

HB 951 allows for an extension due to reliability concerns and Duke Energy to pursue long-lead-time projects like nuclear and offshore wind. The utility is pursuing those technologies and claims it can meet the emissions goals by 2035.

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In the days following the decision, several environmental and climate-focused organizations expressed their disappointment, including the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, which was an intervenor in the case.

As senior regulatory counsel, Justin Somelofske said he argued for the NCUC to hold Duke as close to that 2030 deadline as possible.

>>Click here for Duke Energys response to the Carolinas Resource Plan decision by North Carolina Utilities Commission

Statement from North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association which is one of the intervenors in the filing:

Theres a lot to celebrate in this order, including significant additions of solar, battery storage, and onshore wind, which reflects the value these resources bring to ratepayers across the state from a cost-savings and reliability perspective. However, on the other end, its concerning to see a movement away from the intention of House Bill 951 to achieve 70% carbon emissions reductions in the electricity sector by 2030. This order leaves the door open for Duke Energy to stall on carbon compliance in order to develop additional resources, like natural gas, that largely benefit their shareholders over ratepayers.

Channel 9 is waiting on a response from Duke Energy.
Durham County announced late Friday it has ended the Bull City United anti-gun violence program.

The decision, effective immediately, cuts 14 full-time and six contract workers jobs.

The program was based on the Cure Violence Model, treating gun violence like a disease and taking a public health approach to reducing it.

Bull City United began in 2016 in response to shootings in Durham, modeled after a similar effort in Chicago.

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The program employed former gang members and others involved in the criminal justice system to work as violence interruptors, mediating conflicts and trying to prevent retaliatory shootings.

It started out in two census tracts in the Southside and McDougald Terrace areas with seven staff members.

In 2021, after a record 318 people were shot in Durham in 2020, the city expanded the program, adding 18 staff members, bringing the total to 25 working across six census tracts.

In 2022 the county agreed to pay $6 million to buy a vacant building on Pettigrew Street to become Bull City Uniteds base of operations and house other programs.

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But in recent years a handful of its outreach workers have been arrested on drug and other charges, The News & Observer reported. In August the county announced it was reviewing the program.

In a news release at 6:01 p.m. Friday, county officials said the decision to now end Bull City United was made after careful consideration over time.

This decision is rooted in the departments commitment to continuously evaluate and adapt its efforts to ensure the most impactful and sustainable outcomes, the release stated.

Bull City United had a nearly $2.6 million budget, including roughly $1 million from the city.

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As of Oct. 19, at least 188 people had been shot in the city of Durham this year, the latest police statistics show, 26 of them fatally.

Mayor pro tem disappointed

Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton told ABC11, The N&Os media partner, he was disappointed by the decision but that didnt mean the public health approach to gun violence did not have merit.

Those worlds ... you may have folks from those worlds who get pulled back in, who get lines blurred sometimes, but that should not accrue to an indictment of the entire concept, he said.

In terms of short-term tactical interventions like ShotSpotter, like violence interruption, were going to have to have a serious conversation in our city about what we are going to do because this is Durham, Middleton said. Were not going to have stop and frisk, not going to have roving SWAT teams going through Black and brown neighborhoods throwing people against cars.

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What you have is a viable concept that we know works and has worked around the country, he told ABC11..

ShotSpotter used audio sensors to alert police to the sound of possible gunfire. The city discontinued it after a trial run after a Duke analysis found it got police to crime scenes faster but did not necessarily reduce shootings.

The Durham Report

Get headlines and updates about the Bull City in The Durham Report, a free weekly digest delivered to your inbox every Thursday, featuring stories by our local journalists. Sign up for our newsletter here. For even more Durham-focused news and conversation, join our Facebook group "The Story of my Street."












SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Early absentee voting came to a screeching halt Friday in South Dakota.

In Minnehaha County there was no voting between approximately 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The already long lines at the county administration building grew even longer.

44-year-old woman killed in Monday homicide

Poll workers were on the phone looking for guidance. They also handed out bottles of water to those waiting in line. Darren Schlechter of Sioux Falls had been in line for two hours when we talked with him.

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I think its important to everyone its your civic duty to have you voice be heard, he said.

Be informed on the seven 2024 ballot measures

Others like this couple were ready to stick it out no matter how long it took. They traveled almost 5 hours to get to Sioux Falls.

Because she is a travel nurse, so we travel all over the country and we wanted to make sure we voted in this election, said Drew Cunningham.

The statewide computer glitch also brought voting to a standstill in Canton. Amy Hofer drove the half hour from Sioux Falls.

Ive been here half an hour and in that time Ive seen several people leave and not be able to vote today you know that makes me feel bad because they made an effort to get here, said Hofer.

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Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson says they were in contact with the South Dakota Secretary of States office in Pierre and came up with a solution to get the lines moving again.

What we came up with is we saved a registration list on November 1st in Excel, we are using that registration list to try to look up voters, look up their precinct, get their voter registration number, manually fill out the envelope that we would normally put a sticker on and get them their ballot so they can vote, said Anderson.

The process is a little slower, but they got people voting again.

In Hughes County the Finance Officer-Auditor says the system crash caused some confusion at first, but they also improvised.

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Our first thought is we had no way to verify without looking up the system so we actually did end up turning some people away until the system came back up. We did figure, we did use poll pads in Hughes County so we did have the voter file available to check if people were registered so we started doing it that way, said Thomas Oliva

Oliva says the Total Vote System came back on line around 2:30 p.m.

Back in Sioux Falls, Schlechter finally made it to the front of the line and was able to vote after a 3 and a half hour wait.

Dont give up stay in line, said Schlechter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Early voting trends in Florida ahead of Election Day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  The countdown continues with four days left until Election Day on Nov. 5, and there are only a few more days left to vote early.

Nearly half of all Floridians have voted early, and some of those voters are saying early voting has been a go-to choice for many across the state in the 2024 General Election.

2024 election: How to vote early in Tampa Bay

Its so exciting to see everybody participating in the process, Todd Studley said.

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Studley casted his ballot early, along with millions of other voters statewide.

For me, its just so important because so many people have sacrificed so much to give us the right to vote, and I just wanted to come out a couple days early, make sure I exercise my civic duty and get my vote in, he said.

That message is spread not only across Florida but right at home in Tampa Bay. Supervisor of Elections in Manatee County, James Satcher shared, the county has already seen 52% of voters casting their ballots early, with a chance of hitting 60% before Election Day.

Florida 2024 voter guide: What to know for Election Day

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This is quite possibly the momentous election of our lifetime, and Im really glad that people are hearing that message and participating, Stacher said.

Up north in Citrus County, Supervisor of Elections Maureen Mo Barid added that theres a much higher number of first-time voters then in previous years.

To me, Election Day is your last opportunity to vote, and sometimes things come up, and you dont get an opportunity, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to vote in this election, Barid said.

Many local supervisors of elections are impressed with the turnout of early voters in the 2024 election, but reminded voters, whether you are voting early or on election day, to take the time to fill out your sample ballot to help have a plan going into that voting booth.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.)  On Friday, Nov. 1, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker requested Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswolds resignation after partial passwords for the states voting system were posted online.

I am writing to formally request your resignation as Colorado Secretary of State due to significant concerns over election integrity and incidents that have occurred during your tenure, Schleiker said in the letter to Griswold. Your leadership has been marked by several high-profile security breaches that have compromised public trust in our electoral process

Click here to read the full letter to Colorado Secretary of State Jena GriswoldDownload

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The letter was sent four days after Colorados Republican Party accused the Secretary of States Office of quietly removing a spreadsheet from its website containing BIOS passwords for election systems in 63 of 64 counties. The GOP said more than 600 passwords were publicly accessible without encryption. BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, enables a computers operating system to function.

RELATED STORY: Colorado Secretary of State site showed partial passwords for voting systems

After the incident, a Colorado Secretary of State spokesperson said a spreadsheet with partial passwords to certain components of Colorado voting systems was mistakenly included in a hidden website tab. The office stated the leak poses no immediate threat to elections or ballot counting, citing multiple security layers, including two unique passwords for each election system component, managed separately by different parties, and that the passwords require in-person access to voting systems.

Griswolds office confirmed that on Thursday, Oct. 31, all impacted passwords had been changed and security verified with assistance from eight Department of State staff and 22 state cybersecurity personnel.

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RELATED STORY: Colorado Secretary of State updates voting system passwords after some posted online

In the letter to Griswold, Schleiker said, Colorado election protocols mandate that clerks report and document election incidents immediately to the Secretary of States Office, as specified in Election Rules [8 CCR 1505-l]. However, your office has not consistently adhered to these standards of transparency, particularly in instances where errors originated from your office.

Schleiker said that the delayed response from Griswolds office placed clerks across the state in a position where they were unprepared to address voter and media concerns.

In addition to the partial BIOS password exposure, Schleiker referred to other critical incidents, such as the alleged issuance of voter registration cards to ineligible individuals and what Schleiker referred to as a reporting error from Griswolds office during the 2021 election night.

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These incidents have placed an unwarranted burden on clerks and recorders across the state, whose tireless efforts to uphold election integrity are compromised by recurring missteps and lapses in communication, said Schleiker.

FOX21 News reached out to Colorado Secretary of State Griswolds Office and at the time of this article has received no response. However, in a previous response, Griswold said that she will stay in office and help make sure the election is safe and secure.

RELATED STORY: Secretary of State will not resign after partial passwords for voting systems posted online

We took steps to pull the information down, immediately began investigating further, communicated with federal election security partners, and already had elections personnel in the field before we received the letter (from the Colorado Republican Party), the office stated. The Departments top priority was to investigate, fix anything that needed fixing, and then inform the public.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The race for the White House between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has demanded the most attention, the outcome of Congressional elections could determine the success of a Harris or Trump presidency.

Republicans won the U.S. Senate majority, seizing control of the chamber for the first time in four years, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for reelection this year, with Democrats looking to upend the current 220212 Republican majority.

If Trump wins, his presidential powers and Republican Party agenda could be limited by a Democratic-majority House of Representatives, while a Republican-led Senate could interfere with the policy plans of a potential Harris administration.

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Voters in 11 states also selected their next governor, who will have a more direct impact on their everyday lives on major policy issues like abortion rights, taxes and immigration.

Visit our live blog for the latest updates on the election.

Here are some of the key Congressional and down-ballot races Yahoo News was watching:

Key Senate races

Democrats, and four independents who caucus with them, currently hold a very slim majority of 5149 in the Senate and are on the defensive in this election. If Harris wins, Democrats can afford to give up only one seat and keep their majority. If Trump wins the election, Democrats must hold onto all of their current seats in order to maintain their majority. If elected vice president, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio would become the Senates tie-breaking vote.

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Arizona: Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) vs. former TV anchor Kari Lake (R) Why its important: Joe Biden flipped Arizona in the 2020 election and its considered to be a 2024 battleground state. The incumbent, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (independent), opted not to run for reelection, so her seat is up for grabs.



Florida: Sen. Rick Scott (R) vs. former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) Why its important: In a state that has consistently voted Republican in recent years, Democrats are on the offensive as Scott defends his seat in this closer-than-expected race.



Maryland: former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) vs. Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) Why its important: While Biden won the deep-blue state in 2020, its a surprisingly close race for the open Senate seat. The incumbent, Sen. Ben Cardin (D), decided not to run for reelection.



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Michigan: Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) vs. former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) Why its important: Michigan is considered a 2024 battleground state after Biden flipped it from red to blue in 2020. The race for the seat left open by Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who is retiring, is considered a toss up by Cook Political Report.



Montana: Sen. Jon Tester (D) vs. Navy SEAL veteran Tim Sheehy (R) Why its important: Three-term incumbent Tester finds himself defending his seat in a state that Trump won in 2020. Cook Political Report rates this race as leaning Republican.



Nebraska: Sen. Deb Fischer (R) vs. union leader Dan Osborn (independent) Why its important: While Trump won the state in 2020, incumbent Fischer finds herself in a tight race with Osborn.



Nevada: Sen. Jacky Rosen (D) vs. Army veteran Sam Brown (R) Why its important: In 2020, Biden won Nevada. In 2022, the governors office flipped from Democrat to Republican. Rosen is defending her seat as the incumbent.



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Ohio: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) vs. businessman Bernie Moreno (R) Why its important: Brown is defending his seat as the incumbent in a state that Trump won in 2020. Cook Political Report rates this race as a toss up.



Pennsylvania: Sen. Bob Casey (D) vs. businessman Dave McCormick (R) Why its important: Casey is defending his seat in the 2024 battleground state that Biden flipped in 2020. Cook Political Report rates this race as a toss up.



Texas: Sen. Ted Cruz (R) vs. Rep. Colin Allred (D) Why its important: The increasingly tight race is a rare instance where a Democrat is on the offensive in a deep red state that Trump won in 2020.



Wisconsin: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) vs. businessman Eric Hovde (R) Why its important: In a 2024 battleground state that Biden flipped in 2020, Cook Political Report rates this race as a toss up.



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Key House races

All 435 seats in the House are up for reelection on Nov. 5. Republicans hold a slim majority with 220 seats, while Democrats hold 212 seats. Three seats are vacant: Wisconsins 8th District is expected to remain Republican after GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher resigned from Congress. New Jerseys 9th and Texass 18th districts are expected to remain Democrat following the 2024 deaths of Democratic Reps. Bill Pascrell and Sheila Jackson Lee.

If that happens, Democrats would need to win four more seats to gain a majority in the House. Democrats have the opportunity to flip 19 Republican-held seats that Biden won in 2020. Of those 19, these are the nine listed as toss ups by the Cook Political Report.

Republican-held 'toss-ups'

Arizona 1st District: Rep. David Schweikert (R) vs. Amish Shah (D)



6th District: Juan Ciscomani (R) vs. Kirsten Engel (D)

California 13th District: John Duarte (R) vs. Adam Gray (D)



22nd District: David Valadao (R) vs. Rudy Salas (D)

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27th District: Mike Garcia (R) vs. George Whitesides (D)

45th District: Michelle Steel (R) vs. Derek Tran (D)

New York 4th District: Anthony D'Esposito (R) vs. Laura Gillen (D)



19th District: Marc Molinaro (R) vs. Josh Riley (D)

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Oregon 5th District: Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R) vs. Janelle Bynum (D)



With Republicans on the defensive in the House, there are eight Democratic-held districts that Trump won in 2020 that the GOP could flip. Out of the eight, these are the four highly competitive races listed as toss up by the Cook Political Report:

Democratic-held 'toss-ups'

Alaska At-Large District: Mary Peltola (D) vs. Eric Hafner (D) vs. Nicholas Begich (R) vs. John Howe (Alaskan Independence Party)



Maine 2nd District: Jared Golden (D) vs. Austin Theriault (R)



Pennsylvania 8th District: Matt Cartwright (D) vs. Rob Bresnahan Jr. (R)



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Washington 3rd District: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D) vs. Joe Kent (R)



Key Gubernatorial races

Eleven gubernatorial races are on the 2024 ballot. Eight of these races have open seats to fill. Of those, the Cook Political Report has Delaware voting solidly for the Democratic candidate, while Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia are likely to vote solidly Republican. The following gubernatorial races are the ones that are considered competitive.

'Toss-up'

New Hampshire: Joyce Craig (D) vs. Kelly Ayotte (R) GOP Gov. Chris Sununu is not running for reelection



'Likely' Democrat

North Carolina: Josh Stein (D) vs. Mark Robinson (R) Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper cannot run again due to term limits.



Washington: Bob Ferguson (D) vs. Dave Reichert (R) Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee is not seeking a fourth term.



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'Likely' Republican
There are three days left until Election Day. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are out making their final pitches to voters this closing weekend.

Trump was in the sunbelt, with stops in North Carolina and Virginia Saturday afternoon. He then headed back to North Carolina for a rally in the evening.

Meanwhile, Harris made stops in the South. The vice president had a rally in Atlanta this afternoon, followed by an event in Charlotte.

Live from New York, it's Kamala Harris

Harris took the stage Saturday evening: the stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

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After zigzagging between two key battleground states, Georgia and North Carolina, all day Saturday, Harris dropped in briefly at Saturday Night Live where she appeared in a fake mirror speaking with the iteration of herself portrayed by comedian Maya Rudolph. Rudolphs Harris was looking for advice, and the real-life vice president gave her a pep talk.

It is nice to see you, Kamala, and I'm just here to remind you, You got this, because you can do something your opponent cannot do. You can open doors, Harris told Rudolph, in a riff on a recent video that showed Trump struggling to open the door of a garbage truck.

The two riffed on Harris name before signing off with the signature phrase, And live from New York, its Saturday Night!

 Rebecca Morin

Kamala Harris to make surprise appearance on 'Saturday Night Live'

There may not have been an October surprise, but Harris may pull off a big one Saturday night with the election just three days away.

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Harris is set to appear on "Saturday Night Live," on the final Saturday ahead of the Nov. 5 election, according to NBC.

Harris has been appealing to undecided voters as she and Republican Donald Trump are locked in a razor-thin race to the White House, with the two candidates in a dead heat in most of the seven swing states.

The episode will be available to watch live on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT. Viewers can also stream it the next day on Peacock.

 Rebecca Morin

Trump praises Virginia GOP's high-profile battle against noncitizen voting

Trump outlined his plan for mass deportations during a speech in Salem, Virginia, and said he would end the migrant invasion.

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The day I take the oath of office, the migrant invasion ends and the restoration of our country begins because the United States is now an occupied country, Trump told the crowd.

His comments about illegal immigration came in a state where Republicans, led by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, waged a high-profile court battle to block voting by noncitizens. Lets win Virginia, Younkin told the crowd when he was called to the stage.

A 1993 federal law prohibits removing voters from registration rolls within 90 days of an election. However, a 2006 Virginia law requires election officials to compare voter rolls to motor vehicle records where people mark whether or not they are citizens. Youngkin signed an executive order on Aug. 7 calling for the state to continue removing voters recorded as noncitizens through the election.

The Justice Department joined advocacy groups in fighting that order in federal court. Studies have found a negligible number of noncitizens voting in recent elections but the issue remains potent politically. Naturalized citizens were removed from Virginias voter rolls and the states 14-day notice was too short for some of them to protest.

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A U.S. District Court overturned the policy and ordered the state to restore the registrations of more than 1,600 people who were removed in the final weeks of the campaign. But the Supreme Court blocked that order Wednesday and allowed the purge of voter rolls to continue.

Thats a big victory, Trump said. Wow.

 Bart Jansen

Trump campaigns in Virginia, where Democrats have won the presidential race for 20 years

Donald Trump campaigned in Virginia on the final weekend of the campaign despite the Old Dominion favoring Democrats for the last 20 years.

This is a lot of people, Trump said in Salem, Virginia. Were going to win Virginia. Weve got to get out and vote.

We win Virginia, we win the whole thing without question, Trump added. Wouldnt it be nice?

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Harris, his Democratic rival, leads by about six percentage points in polls heading into Election Day Tuesday. In contrast, polls in half a dozen swing states  Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina and Georgia  show the race as a tossup.

Virginia last voted for a Republican president when George W. Bush won reelection in 2004. Since then, the state has supported Democrats Barack Obama  and Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden against Trump. Bart Jansen

Trump highlights opposition to transgender athletes

Former President Donald Trump highlighted his opposition to transgender athletes by calling seven members of the Roanoke College womens swim team to the stage in Salem, Virginia.A year ago the college agreed to allow a transgender swimmer to participate on the womens team, but the student withdrew before joining.

We will of course keep men out of womens sports, Trump said to cheers. The brave members of the swim team stood up to the transgender fanatics, something new in our country.

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Seven swim team members, in pink T-shirts, who opposed the decision took the stage with Trump.

Lily Mullens, a team captain, compared Trumps position to Harris and President Joe Biden's support for transgender athletes.

Point blank, its unfair, Mullens said. We are so lucky to have a leader like Donald Trump with common sense who knows what a strong woman is and will fight for generations of women to come. Bart Jansen

Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris disembarks Air Force Two near ''Trump Force One'', as she arrives to hold a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., Nov. 2, 2024.

Air Force Two meets Trump Force One in North Carolina

As Harris climbed down the steps of Air Force Two, her opponents plane sat about 50 yards away.

Harris landed in Charlotte, N.C. on Saturday where she plans to hold a rally Saturday evening. Trump held a rally in Gastonia, N.C., near Charlotte earlier Saturday. He is then headed to Salem, Virginia and back to the Tarheel State to close the day with an event in Greensboro.

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Harris did not look back at Trumps plane, according to a pool report.

 Rebecca Morin

Jill Biden campaigns in Macon, Georgia, for Harris

First lady Jill Biden campaigned in Georgia on Saturday for Harris recalling her tie-breaking vote for the American Rescue Plan in March 2021 that provided relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jill Biden recalled her last visit to Macon in October 2020, when former President Donald Trump was still in office.We were in masks, we were seated six feet apart, Biden said. The pandemic was raging, schools were closed, and with Donald Trump creating chaos at every turn, that was four years ago.

 Bart Jansen

Biden makes case for Harris in Pennsylvania

President Joe Biden returned to his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, three days before Election Day, to participate in a get-out-the-vote event.He stopped by the Carpenters Local 445 meeting hall, a venue hed stopped by on Election Day 2020, 10 blocks from where he was born in south Scranton. He also visited the site twice as a sitting president.

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He urged union members to vote for Harris saying shed be good for the unions.A lot of people have trouble saying the word union. I am not one of them, he said. And Kamala, I wouldnt have picked her as vice president if she had that trouble.

Biden criticized the GOP for wanting to cut Affordable Care Act, the CHIPS Act, cut Social Security so as to help cut taxes for the wealthy: "These are the kinds of guys you like to smack in the ass, he said. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

Harris makes final pitch to Georgia voters: You will make the difference in this election

In her final visit to Georgia ahead of Election Day, Harris told voters in Atlanta that she would win the presidency but she urged those who have not voted to cast their ballots for her in the razor-thin close election.

Reciting her typical stump speech, Harris told voters that bringing down the cost of living for Americans will be my focus every single day, citing her plan for a federal ban on corporate price gouging on groceries.

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Harris and former Trump are in a dead heat in the state, with the Republican presidential nominee at 48% and Harris at 47% among likely voters, according to a CNN poll published Thursday.

Atlanta, we have three days to get this thing done, and no one can sit on the sidelines, Harris said. Let's spend the next three days knowing that when we look back on these three days, we will have no regrets about what we could have done.

 Rebecca Morin

Trump focuses on a must-have state: North Carolina

Trump is spending Saturday in a must-have state (North Carolina) and a longshot state (Virginia).

The former president kicked off with a rally in Gastonia, N.C., near Charlotte; he plans to close tonight in Greensboro, N.C.

Exuding confidence about carrying the Tar Heel state, Trump told the crowd in Gastonia that "this will happen on Tuesday."

Polls show a very tight race in a state that Trump carried in both 2016 and 2020; a loss next week would likely sink the former president's chances in 2024.

In between Gastonia and Greensboro, Trump holds an afternoon rally in Salem, Va.

Polls show Harris to be the favorite in Virginia.

 David Jackson

Obama heading to Milwaukee to persuade undecided voters, Harris campaign says

Former President Barack Obama is heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sunday to help persuade undecided voters in the key swing state ahead of Tuesdays election, the Harris campaign said.

Harris Campaign Chair Jen OMalley Dillon said the campaign has been looking at states where early voting remains and is getting key surrogates to those states to remind people how to vote and make sure they know they can still vote. OMalley Dillon added that surrogates, like Obama, are being used to persuade undecided voters that the campaign believes over the course of the last week, have been breaking in our direction.

We still know there's some left, and we want to make sure we are the last people that voters are hearing from before they go vote, she told reporters on a press call.

 Rebecca Morin

The 'Squad' Congresswoman Tlaib declines to endorse Harris

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. steered clear of endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris at a United Auto Workers union rally on Friday.

Tlaib is the only member of the progressive group the "Squad" that has not endorsed Harris, and as the only Palestinian American in Congress has been outspoken about her criticism of the Biden administration's support of Israel's retaliatory war on the militant group Hamas in Gaza.

She took to X Friday to call Republican presidential nominee, Trump, a "proud Islamophobe + serial liar who doesn't stand for peace."

She added: "The reality is that the Biden admins unconditional support for genocide is what got us here. This should be a wake-up call for those who continue to support genocide. This election didn't have to be close."

Michigan has the highest population of Arab Americans and the uncommitted protest vote garnered over 100,000 primary votes in February.

 Max Reinhart and Sam Woodward

Harris campaign praises Supreme Court decision to allow some provisional ballots in Pennsylvania

The Harris campaign on Saturday praised the Supreme Courts decision to decline an emergency request from the Republican Party to block Pennsylvania from counting some provisional ballots cast by voters who failed to submit an absentee ballot correctly.

Dana Remus, outside counsel for the Harris campaign, said the decision confirms that every eligible voter has the right to vote and have their vote counted. That decision, of course, makes sense. It's fair, and it demonstrates that our democracy is so much stronger than (Donald) Trump's shameful attacks, Remus said, referencing former President Donald Trumps efforts to sow doubt in the election results. The Supreme Court didn't take the bait, and that is our system working.

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the GOPs request to intervene after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said voters should be able to cast provisional ballots if they failed to encase an absentee ballot in the required secrecy sleeve.

 Rebecca Morin and Maureen Groppe

LeBron James talks postgame about endorsing Harris

Basketball legend LeBron James told reporters after his game Friday night that his support for Democratic presidential nominee Harris is, in part, influenced by the women in his life.

"I have a daughter, I have a wife, and I have a mother," he told reporters. "What (Harris) believes in when it comes to women's rights" is "where I think our country should be."

He jokingly added: "C'mon, you guys know me, I'm damn sure not going the other way."

The 39-year-old endorsed Harris in a video on X this week that highlighted accusations of racism against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

"What are we even talking about here??," the post read. "When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!"

--Sam Woodward

What will the forecast be on Election Day?

Election Day is around the corner, and so are storms and showers that could make it a little harder to get to the polls in some parts of the country.

Forecasters say the majority of the country will have mild weather on Tuesday, Nov. 5, but some places will see thunderstorms, persistent rain or even snow. That includes a rainy forecast in the key swing states of Wisconsin and Michigan.

While serious weather can have an impact on voter turnout, forecasters say the outlook for Tuesday isn't severe enough to cause big issues. And in an election year with a tight presidential contest on the ballot, most voters won't be dissuaded, said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok.

"People should be able to get out there without major weather disruptions," Pastelok told USA TODAY.

 Jeanine Santucci

Harris: Repealing Obamacare, CHIPS Act is not popular

Harris on Saturday criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for sayingTrump and Republicans will try to repeal Obamacare and the CHIPS and Science Act if they win in Nov. 5.

Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and former President Donald Trump, right.

It is just further evidence of everything that Ive actually been talking about for months now about Trumps intention to implement Project 2025, Harris told reporters in Milwaukee on Saturday. Johnson earlier this week told a crowd of supporters there will be "no Obamacare" if Trump wins and Republicans take control of Congress. On Friday, Johnson said that he expects the GOP probably will repeal the CHIPS Act while campaigning for Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y. Williams said he does not support repealing the act, and will remind Johnson night and day how important the CHIPS Act is. Johnson later said that he supports reforming the legislation.

Harris said Johnson walked back his initial comment of repealing the legislation because its not popular.

"Let's be clear why he walked it back, because it's not popular, Harris said. And their agenda is not popular."

 Rebecca Morin

Harris to spend election night at alma mater, Howard University

Harris will watch the votes come in at her alma mater, Howard University, the campaign announced this week.

Harris, who graduated from the historically Black college in Washington D.C. in 1986, was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and has mobilized fellow alumnae to campaign for her since being added top of the ticket in July.

 Sam Woodward

Women outpacing men in early voting

Women have outpaced men in early-voting turnout by nearly 10 percentage points  a trend the Harris campaign and Democrats see as reason for optimism.

But Trump's campaign insists it isn't concerned, arguing the gap is simply the result of male Democratic voters so far staying home.

Four days from Election Day, 53% of early voters nationally as of Friday have been women and 44% men, according to TargetSmart, a Democratic-aligned firm that tracks early voting data.

The margin is about the same as the 2020 election won by Biden when the gap at this same point in early voting also rounded to 53%-44%. But Democrats are bullish because women  who polls show back Harris over Trump by a sizable margin  have maintained the 9-point edge even though Republican voters have formed a larger share of the preliminary vote this year.

"The Democratic women, especially, appear to be just more fired up. Even though the Republicans' vote share is increasing, you're still seeing those gender gaps hold," said Tom Bonier, CEO of TargetSmart.

 Joey Garrison

Here's how the candidates are doing in swing states, polls

With just three days until Election Day, the race is still razor-thin in a number of key swing states that could determine the winner.

In Pennsylvania, an exclusive poll from USA TODAY/Suffolk University found that Harris and Trump are tied at 49%.

The two are also deadlocked in Michigan at 47% each, according to another exclusive poll from USA TODAY/Suffolk.

A poll by UMass Lowell/YouGov released this week shows Trump with a slim lead within the margin of error in North Carolina.

 Sam Woodward

A star-studded Saturday for Harris in North Carolina, Georgia

Harris has a packed Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina two key battleground states, where she will campaign at star-studded rallies.

In Atlanta, the vice president will be joined by director Spike Lee and singer Victoria Monet and performances from rappers 2 Chainz, Big Tigger, Monica, and Pastor Troy.

In Charlotte, actress and campaign surrogate Kerry Washington will give remarks and artists Jon Bon Jovi, Khalid, Brittney Spencer, and The War and Treaty will perform.

 Sam Woodward

Walz to canvass with actress Eva Longoria Saturday

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will campaign with actress Eva Longoria Saturday morning in Las Vegas, Nevada, a key swing state to win next week to secure a victory.

Longoria, a Democratic political player, has been present on and off the campaign trail for the Harris-Walz ticket and spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

 Sam Woodward

6 types of misinformation circulating ahead of Election Day

With Election Day bearing down, guarding against misinformation is more vital than ever.

In the coming days and weeks, election officials across the country will tally millions of ballots and declare the winners and losers. That means your social media feed likely will be filled with baseless claims of fraud  many of which we've seen before. Some common narratives:

The election was stolen due to voter fraud

Noncitizens are voting in large numbers

Votes were added/subtracted due to the "hacking" of machines

Changing vote totals prove cheating occurred

Partisan election officials skew vote tallies

There were more votes than registered voters

USA TODAY has debunked dozens of such claims in recent election cycles. Here's a rundown of what these narratives miss, so you're prepared when they crop up again. Read more here.

Pennsylvania court orders Erie County to offer new absentee ballots

A Pennsylvania court ordered the Erie County Board of Elections on Friday to offer new absentee ballots to nearly 20,000 voters who didnt receive them and stay open for longer office hours until Election Day to receive them.

Court of Common Pleas Judge David Ridge ordered the remedy after holding a hearing Thursday about problems the election office and its vendor, ElectionIQ, had in delivering ballots through the U.S. Postal Service.

The number of missing ballots in just one county of the key battleground state is potentially significant. Former President Donald Trump won the state by about 40,000 votes in 2016 and President Joe Biden won it by about 80,000 votes in 2020.

--Bart Jansen

Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and former President Donald Trump, right.

Where is Harris today?

Harris will be in Atlanta Saturday afternoon for a Get Out the Vote campaign rally. She travels next to Charlotte for a similar event in the evening.

 Savannah Kuchar

Where is Trump today?

Trump will make a stop in Gastonia, N.C., for a rally at noon. The former president heads then to Salem, Virginia, a couple hours north of the Tar Heel State border.

For Saturday evening, Trump is back in North Carolina, this time at a rally in Greensboro.

 Savannah Kuchar

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election 2024: Campaigns make frantic final push
When presidents are elected, we consider it the will of the people.

But sometimes, that isn't the case. Sometimes the person elected doesn't receive the most votes, but still wins the Electoral College.

Here's a look at times when the popular and electoral votes didn't match.

What is the Electoral College?

In the United States, the winner of the presidential race is determined by the Electoral College.

According to the National Archives, the Electoral College was a compromise between electing a president by Congress and popular vote.

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The Electoral College has 538 electors  a majority of 270 electoral votes is needed to become president. Each state has a number of electors. The number is determined by taking the number of senators a state has (2) and adding one for each member in the House of Representatives.

 Voters Guide: Get to know the candidates, where to vote early and more

To put it simply, the candidate who wins the state, except for Nebraska and Maine, wins all the electoral votes for the state. In Maine and Nebraska, they allocate two electoral votes to the state popular vote winner, and then one electoral vote to the popular vote winner in each congressional district.

The United States has held 58 presidential elections and for the most part, the results matched with the popular vote. Here's a look at the five elections that the popular vote winner didn't enter the White House.

Presidential Election of 1824

A portrait of U.S. President John Quincy Adams, who served from 1825-1829.

There were four candidates  Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William Crawford and Henry Clay  on the presidential ballot and all were in the Democratic-Republican party. Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, but he didn't win a majority of the Electoral College votes. While Jackson had a plurality of electoral votes, he fell 32 electoral votes short.

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The vote went to the House of Representatives. The top three candidates were advanced to the House, eliminating Clay, who was also speaker of the House. According to History.com, Clay allegedly used his influence as speaker to get Adams elected. Clay then became Adams' secretary of state. The results infuriated Jackson, who accused his opponents of stealing the election.

Presidential Election of 1876

A portrait of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, who served from 1877-1881.

Democratic candidate Samuel Tilden won the popular vote over Republican Rutherford B. Hayes, but Congress needed to solve a near constitutional crisis.

Tilden won 184 Electoral votes while Hayes secured 165, but Tilden was still one vote short of a majority. However, there were 20 electoral votes in dispute, according to History.com.

Republicans objected to results from Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina. Both candidates claimed victory in the states. Since the Constitution didn't have a solution for this situation, Congress created a bipartisan Federal Electoral Commission composed of House representatives, senators and Supreme Court justices.

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The commission gave the votes to Hayes, who won 185-184. According to History.com, historians believe the Democrats, whose stronghold was the South, agreed to let Hayes be president in return for ending Reconstruction.

Presidential Election of 1888

President Benjamin Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio, but is usually associated with Indiana.

In a rather nasty contest between Democratic incumbent Grover Cleveland and Republican Benjamin Harrison, the 1888 race included accusations of votes being sold to the highest bidder and Black votes being suppressed in the South. Cleveland won the popular vote by more than 90,000 votes by sweeping the Southern states. Harrison won the North and Western states to pull out a 233-168 Electoral College victory.

Presidential Election of 2000

Democratic nominee and Vice President Al Gore won the popular vote over Republican candidate George Bush by 500,000-plus votes, but Gore was stuck on 266 electoral votes with one state in play  Florida. After a recount, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified Bush as the winner by 537 votes. The Gore campaign sued claiming all the votes hadn't been counted because of issues such as pregnant chads or dimpled chads (punch votes where the punch didn't go all the way through) and hanging chads (votes that didn't read because the punch left part of the card dangling.

The Florida Supreme Court sided with Gore, but Bush took the case to the Supreme Court, which ruled in Bush's favor. Bush won the election 271-266.

Presidential Election of 2016

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a Buckeye Values PAC Rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on March 16, 2024.

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Democratic candidate and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the popular vote over celebrity real estate mogul Donald Trump by 2.8 million votes. Clinton did well in large cities and populous states like New York and California, but the Democrats' "Blue Wall" of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin collapsed on election night.

Trump swept the battleground states, claiming an Electoral College victory of 304-227.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 2024 Election: Can you win the popular vote and lost the election
Election Day is almost here. Planning to head to the polls in Naperville Tuesday? Heres everything you need to know.

When is the general election?

Election Day in the United States is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This year that day falls on Nov. 5.

When do polls open on Election Day?

Polling places across Illinois will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Anyone who is in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Where can I vote in Naperville?

There will be nearly three dozen polling places open across Naperville Tuesday where youll be able to fill out and cast your ballot in person. Locations include Jefferson Junior High School, Naperville Fort Hill Activity Center and Nichols Library. A full list of locations can be found at https://bit.ly/4fqkSus.

Can I vote before Tuesday?

Yes. In-person early voting in DuPage and Will counties started in late September and will continue up until Election Day.

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DuPage County residents can vote early at the Naperville Municipal Center, Islamic Center of Naperville or the Mall of India. Locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

Will County residents can also cast their ballots early at the Naperville Municipal Center and the 95th Street Library from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

Can I register to vote on Election Day?

Yes, you can register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. Two forms of identification are required to register. One must show your current address.

What local races are on the ballot?

Beyond the presidential election, Naperville voters have several contested races at the congressional, state and county level to decide come Tuesday. Here are a few of the races to look out for.

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In the 6th Congressional District, Democrat Sean Casten of Downers Grove is seeking a fourth term against Republican challenger Niki Conforti of Glen Ellyn.

In the 11th District, Democrat Bill Foster of Naperville is vying to keep his seat against Republican Jerry Evans of Warrenville.

For the 14th District, Napervilles Lauren Underwood is up against Republican challenger James Marter of Oswego.

For state races, Democratic incumbent Anne Stava-Murray of Naperville is facing Republican Aaron Porter for state representative in the 81st District.

In the 47th District, Wheaton Republican Amy Grant, is being challenged by Democrat Jackie Williamson, also from Wheaton. And in the 97th District, freshman Democrat Harry Benton is seeking a second term against a challenge from Republican Gabby Shanahan.

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At the county level, most races in Will and DuPage are contested.

The only unopposed race is for states attorney, with Republican incumbent Robert Berlin seeking reelection without a challenger. Meanwhile, the races for circuit court clerk, auditor, coroner and recorder are all competitive.

Democratic incumbent Candice Adams is facing Republican Jeremy Wang for circuit court clerk, while Democrat Judith Lukas is challenging three-term Republican incumbent Richard Jorgensen for coroner.

For auditor, voters will decide between Democratic incumbent William White and Republican Bob Grogan, who previously served as DuPages auditor from 2008 to 2020. The race for recorder is between Democrat Liz Chaplin, a DuPage County Board member, and Republican Nicole Prater, who is currently serving as the supervisor of Winfield Township.

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Two DuPage County Board seats representing parts of Naperville  District 3 and District 5  are also up for reelection. For the District 3 seat, Democratic incumbent and Naperville resident Lucy Chang Evans is facing Republican Baron Leacock of Hinsdale.

The District 5 race is between Republican incumbent Patty Gustin, who was elected to the board in 2022, and Democrat Saba Haider, who lives in Aurora and serves on the DuPage County Health Departments Public Health Board.

Over in Will County, all races other than for states attorney are contested. Otherwise, candidates are vying for coroner, circuit court clerk, recorder, auditor and county clerk.

Are there any local referendums to look out for?

Yes, there are two depending on where you live in Naperville.

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For DuPage voters, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has a referendum on the ballot seeking a tax increase to help bolster funding so it can maintain and expand the property that it owns.

The other is from Indian Prairie School District 204, which is asking voters to approve the sale of up to $420 million in bonds to pay for what district officials say are needed security and facility improvements. Should the referendum fail, the district may need to cut the equivalent of 50 full-time positions from its ranks, officials say.

How many registered voters are there in DuPage and Will counties?

As of Friday, there were 630,636 people registered to vote in DuPage and 441,483 in Will.

Going into Election Day, how has early turnout fared so far?

As of Friday, 154,844 people had turned out to cast early ballots in DuPage. Add in the 77,341 mail-in ballots that have been returned, the county had a total of 232,185 ballots returned four days out from Election Day.

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Some 140,815 ballots had been cast in Will County as of Thursday, including 99,620 from early voters and 41,195 mailed ballots.

Locally, how many people voted in the 2020 presidential election?

In DuPage County, 491,067 of 641,503 then-registered voters cast ballots in 2020, a 76.5% turnout. For the presidential race, 281,222 DuPage voters cast their ballots for Joe Biden and 193,611 for Donald Trump.

In Will County, 2020 saw 75.1% turnout  348,071 of 463,465 then-registered voters. Like DuPage, more Will County voters cast their ballots for Biden, with 183,915 people voting for the president and 155,116 people voting for Trump.

How does turnout for this election so far compare to turnout four years ago?

Turnout in DuPage County looks like it will be lower than it was in 2020, county Clerk Jean Kaczmarek said.

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Meanwhile, turnout in Will County is looking to be on pace with participation four years ago, county Clerk Charles Pelkie said Friday.

I can tell you right now that the pace of early voting is very robust, Pelkie said. It looks like theres a tremendous amount of interest in this election. As far as early voting is concerned, we are on pace to match or potentially exceed what happened in 2020.

What do I need to bring with me to the polls?

Unless you are registering at the same time, you do not need to bring a photo ID to vote. You are allowed to bring written or printed materials into the voting booth to assist you, according to the ACLU of Illinois. You can also request up to two hours off of work to go and vote in Illinois if your work schedule prevents you from getting to the polls while they are open, the ACLU says.

How do I know my ballot is safe from tampering?

Election officials implement ballot processing and tabulation safeguards designed to ensure each ballot cast in the election can be correctly counted, Naperville resident Becky Simon, president of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, said in a news release. These safeguards include chain of custody procedures, auditable logging requirements, and canvass processes.

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For instance, the DuPage States Attorneys Office announced Friday that it would be deploying teams of personnel to respond to reports of any suspected irregularities that may arise at county polling places on Election Day.

When will results start to come out Tuesday and how can I follow along?

Counties will start to report unofficial results Tuesday night after polls close. Results from early voting and vote by mail will be uploaded first. Results will then be updated continually as precincts begin reporting.

You track DuPage County results at https://bit.ly/4f7LiS0 and Will County results at https://bit.ly/3C8OjCR.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com
Election Day is around the corner, and so are storms and showers that could make it a little harder to get to the polls in some parts of the country.

Forecasters say the majority of the country will have mild weather on Tuesday, Nov. 5, but some places will see thunderstorms, persistent rain or even snow. That includes a rainy forecast in the key swing states of Wisconsin and Michigan.

While serious weather can have an impact on voter turnout, forecasters say the outlook for Tuesday isn't severe enough to cause big issues. And in an election year with a tight presidential contest on the ballot, most voters won't be dissuaded, said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok.

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"People should be able to get out there without major weather disruptions," Pastelok told USA TODAY.

Voters wait in line in the rain and snow to vote early at the Putnam County Board of Elections in Carmel, New York, on Oct. 30, 2020.

Rain in some swing states

Wisconsin and Michigan are expecting rain on voting day. They are two of seven swing states with tight polling between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Pastelok said rain in Wisconsin is expected mostly in the morning and will dry out later in the day, but Michigan could see rain at any time during the day.

In addition, voters in northern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota will have a better shot of staying dry if they head to the polls later in the day after early rain subsides.

Thunderstorms in central parts of the country

From southeast Texas, including Houston, stretching through the lower Mississippi Valley, including parts of Arkansas and Mississippi, showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Tuesday, Pastelok said.

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Sudden torrential downpours, localized flash flooding and lightning strikes are a risk for voters lined up at high-traffic polling locations, according to AccuWeather.

AccuWeather said severe thunderstorms are a risk starting this weekend and potentially stretching through Election Day in the corridor from eastern Texas and Louisiana through southern Illinois and Indiana to western Ohio and southern Michigan.

Chilly weather, gusty wind and possible snow in the Northwest

Across the Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains, temperatures could get chilly enough that snow even at mid-elevations could fall in parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, northeastern Nevada, northern Utah and western Wyoming.

In those states, windy conditions could also call for hats and gloves while waiting to vote, Pastelok said.

Overall, a mild Election Day in the US

The rest of the country is expected to be clear and dry on Tuesday, Pastelok said.

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It will be relatively warm on the East Coast in cities including Washington, D.C., Raleigh and New York. Temperatures should be in the low to mid-70s in the Mid-Atlantic region and in the 80s in the Southeast.

And the western Central Plains into the Southwest are expected to be dry with no freezing, he said.

Does weather impact elections?

Researchers say bad weather has a marginal impact on voter turnout, which could be much more significant in a very close race. That's because people who are on the fence about whether they'll vote at all are less likely to go out in bad weather.

Each centimeter of rainfall may reduce in-person, same-day voter turnout by as much as 0.95 points, researchers found in a 2023 analysis of turnout and rainfall studies. But the negative effects of rain can be mitigated somewhat by alternative voting methods like mail ballots and early voting, another study this year found.

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"The impact weather has on voting is not as significant or impactful as it once was because so many people are now voting early in person or by mail, said Evan Myers, senior vice president at AccuWeather and an expert on election weather. A majority of people still vote on Election Day, but there are a lot more people voting early.

Early voting update: Women outpacing men in early voting, boosting Harris campaign's optimism

Since it's a presidential election year, Pastelok said low-intensity rain won't hamper voter turnout too much. In non-presidential election years, people might be more tempted to stay home.

Though weather in recently disaster-stricken areas like western North Carolina looks clear on Election Day, some usual polling places were wiped out by Hurricane Helene, and in other cases, voting records may have been destroyed, Myers said.

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In the wake of two hurricanes, Helene and Milton, federal judges in Florida and Georgia also declined requests from civil rights groups to extend voter registration deadlines. The groups said people forced to evacuate or displaced from the hurricanes faced difficulty registering in time.

"The impacts from extreme weather that happened weeks ago will likely have a bigger impact on voting, compared to the actual weather on Election Day," Myers said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election Day 2024 weather forecast: Will it rain?
Sen. Mark Warner (DVa.), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, in front of an exhibit titled "Impersonated US Media Sites Maintained By Russian Influence Actors" during a hearing in Washington, DC on Sept. 18, 2024. Credit - Kent NishimuraBloomberg/Getty Images

On Friday afternoon, with only a few days left in the presidential race, the federal agencies that help safeguard American elections issued a warning to voters about a video that had been circulating online. It appeared to show immigrants voting illegally in Georgia, and U.S. intelligence officials had concluded that it was the latest in a series of fakes produced by Russian influence actors.

This Russian activity is part of Moscows broader effort to raise unfounded questions about the integrity of the US election and stoke divisions among Americans, read the statement from the FBI and two other federal agencies, who warned that Russia would continue creating and spreading these fakes even in the weeks and months after the elections.

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For anyone who lived through the last two presidential ballots, the statement may have seemed familiar. Eight years have passed since the 2016 U.S. election was tainted with disinformation attributed to Moscow, and the government has not found a way to deter this kind of meddling. Instead the problem has gotten messier.

China and Iran now use the same tactics in trying to influence U.S. voters, while the number of these operations linked to the Kremlin has multiplied over the past eight years from two to more than 70, says Clint Watts, the head of Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center, which tracks and often exposes foreign influence operations. They now have thousands of people working in this space, he says of the Russians.

A long list of government agencies are working to counter these threats, ranging from the FBI to more obscure bureaucracies like the USPIS, which deals with mail crime. When I reached out to three of them to talk about election interference, they all pointed me to an agency within the Department of Homeland Security known as CISA  the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which co-authored Fridays statement alongside with the FBI.

Charged with securing everything from the electric grid to the banking system from malicious cyber attacks, CISA also often takes the lead in protecting U.S. elections. Its short history says a lot about the difficulty of its mission. Organized in response to the Russian influence operation of 2016, the agencys first director, Christopher Krebs, was fired by then-President Trump for publicly defending the integrity of the election Trump lost in 2020. (Krebs learned of his dismissal via a presidential tweet.)

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Republicans in the House have since tried unsuccessfully to slash CISAs budget. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has accused the agency of trying to censor political speech, and there is growing concern among Democrats that Trump would gut the agency if he wins the presidential race.

The controversy has put CISA in an awkward spot. Alongside its mission of securing election infrastructure, it has been forced to deal with a firehose of disinformation aimed at the American public, says Cait Conley, a senior adviser at CISA working on election security. The agencys response, she says, is to flood the zone with accurate information.

CISAs director, Jen Easterly, has gone on a media tour to reassure voters that the outcome of the ballot can be trusted. Last year the agency also launched a podcast called CISA Live, whose monthly episodes offer the same message alongside discussions of Chinese cyber threats and advice on what gadgets to buy as gifts for the holidays. On YouTube, they rarely get more than a thousand views, far less than the roughly 3000 people who work at CISA.

Now consider what theyre up against. According to an analysis by the Washington Post, more than two dozen of the most popular podcasts in the country have amplified claims that the upcoming election will be rigged. The main source of that message has been Trump, who has never backed down from his claims that the 2020 elections were stolen from him. His ally in the current race is Elon Musk, the owner of a social network where much of our political discourse plays out.

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A lot of times we try to blame some of that distrust on foreign threat actors, but the reality is that particular narrative is very much home grown, says Olga Belogolova, an expert on disinformation at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. It might be amplified by foreign threat actors, Russian, Chinese, Iranian, she says. But those narratives are disseminated by U.S. officials and candidates.

Since 2016, Americans have grown more receptive to them. One survey conducted last year by Monmouth University found that two out of three Republicans believe voter fraud determined the results of the vote in 2020. Another poll, released this month by NPR, PBS News and Marist, found that a majority of Americans are worried about voter fraud in the current ballot, including 86% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats.

After the 2016 presidential election, Belogolova worked on the Trust and Safety team at Facebook, trying to identify and disrupt Russian disinformation agents on the platform. She describes it as a game of Whack-a-mole, with new accounts appearing to replace those that had been removed. The work seemed useful but also frustrating, she says, because her team took down fakes without offering anything in their place. You have to find ways to tell stories that are compelling to people, so that they have something to believe in, she says. I think thats the task right now.

In trying to meet that challenge, CISA has tried to amplify reliable sources of information. In the middle of October, it reacted to a fake video that appeared online, showing the destruction of what appeared to be mail-in ballots for Trump. State election officials took only a few hours to debunk the video, and the FBI blamed Russian actors for producing it. A few days later, with only a week to go before election day, CISA launched a one-stop-shop website to expose fake videos and other forms of disinformation.

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Watts, the threat analyst at Microsoft, says such rapid reactions help to slow the spread of these clips online, as news outlets are quickly able to identify them as fake. But they can still rack up millions of views on social media, because plenty of Americans are willing to share them. While government agencies have gotten more effective in responding to election interference since 2016, the American public has become more suspicious about the conduct of elections.

That challenge to the democratic process could prove a lot more difficult to handle. As Watts puts it: Thats all about restoring trust over time.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
PHILADELPHIA  On a recent weekday in late October, Lisa Deeley walked around a ballot processing facility in northeast Philadelphia to show  step by meticulous step  what election workers intend to do with the hundreds of thousands of ballots that are expected to arrive at the site for the Nov. 5 election: Receive, sort, review, extract, flatten, scan and store.

The hum of the vote processing machinery at times drowned out Deeleys voice  and those of the other election officials  as they gave a group of journalists a tour of the facility.

Philadelphians should just be assured of this: Voting is safe and secure, and your vote is safe and secure, said Deeley, a Philadelphia city commissioner. Every eligible vote thats cast will be counted.

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Back in 2020, Deeley and her colleagues grappled with running an election amid a global pandemic, a sitting president who sowed mistrust about alleged fraud and a new vote-by-mail law that slowed down the vote-counting process in the most populous city in Pennsylvania. Four years later, Deeley is feeling more prepared.

Everything was getting thrown at us and we could have never anticipated the level of threats, mis- and disinformation, all of that, she told The 19th. But now we know.

And yet with just days to go until a historic presidential election, Deeley and her colleagues in the election workforce are grappling with a barrage of disinformation online about widespread voter fraud  of which there is no proof.

A leading figure in spreading and amplifying election disinformation is former President Donald Trump, who has claimed in recent days that fraudulent votes are being cast in Pennsylvania.

Two Allegheny County employees return voting booths from satellite voting locations to the Allegheny County elections warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 30, 2024. (REBECCA DROKE/AFP/Getty Images)

I dont know why Pennsylvania, amongst all the swing states, has become more of an epicenter, at least to date, said David Becker, an election law expert and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research (CEIR), during a call this week with reporters. The only objective fact that I can look at is if memory serves, it has the most electoral voters of all the seven swing states. And so that would be a natural target.

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Voting experts say the disinformation campaign does not only seek to sow mistrust in the 2024 elections and the subsequent results. It also raises hard questions about the post-election sustainability of bad actors attacking a predominantly women-led workforce whose members have warned for years of concerns over their safety.

The falsehoods about the election process and about people who run elections have increased and amplified and led to increased threats, harassment and intimidation, said Carah Ong Whaley, vice president of election protection at Issue One, an organization that has advocated for more federal funding to strengthen U.S. elections. The ways in which we are seeing states and localities have to respond  with hardened security and the kinds of protections that they need, whether its panic buttons or Narcan  it does feel like were in a heightened state.

At the processing facility in Philadelphia, an election worker sat at a specialized desk with equipment that repeatedly sliced open envelopes with placeholder mail-in ballots placed in placeholder secret envelopes. (State law does not allow the pre-canvassing of actual ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day). The worker then stacked the envelopes for additional retrieval at another machine.

The speed with which the pieces of equipment sprang into action is what gives Deeley confidence that 2024 will be different from 2020.

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Back then, Deeley, her city commissioner colleagues and other election workers handled vote-counting during the primary and general elections in a process that took days. The national attention to the work was tense.

We had never voted by mail before and then suddenly we had hundreds of mail-in ballots. We didnt have any of this. We had none of this, she said, pointing to some of the equipment.

Around the country, including in battleground states like Arizona and Michigan, election officials have opened up their ballot processing sites to help dispel the narrative that nefarious activity could happen behind closed doors this election.

But the transparency efforts, some even mandated by law, can still generate tension.

Security monitors display locations throughout the Allegheny County elections warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 30, 2024. (REBECCA DROKE/AFP/Getty Images)

Ong Whaley with Issue One noted an incident last month in Indiana, where a longtime election official led accuracy testing on a county voting machine. Members of the public were encouraged to watch the testing and ask questions.

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She took them through the process, showing them how the process worked. As they were at the end of the process, they were off by two ballots. She knew exactly which two ballots were missing, Ong Whaley said. She knew the results were off, but couldnt figure out what had happened. But as this was happening, people pulled out their iPhones and started streaming online.

The narrative that emerged was that the machines cant be trusted.

It was this really harrowing experience that put her in tears, Ong Whaley said.

Later, according to Ong Whaley, officials reviewed security camera footage that showed a member of the public had taken the two ballots.

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It clearly had been a setup and this really impacted this poor clerk. So I think theres more stories this time around, she said. Its more widespread. Its not just in states that are key to the electoral outcome.

Ong Whaley said she later emailed the election official to thank her for her work. The email subject, according to Ong Whaley, read, Thank you for your service. The worker responded by emphasizing that her staff was prepared to run a secure election.

Its the confidence message, Ong Whaley said of the clerks response. Which, looking at that now, is similar to things Ive heard working with other communities. You know, dont let the trauma define you. Weve heard from election officials: talk about our resilience, show that were ready to pound sand  even though this is happening.

Kim Wyman, a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former Republican Secretary of State in Washington, has been monitoring election security issues for months. This week, some incidents sprang up: Drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, were destroyed after being set on fire. Just a handful of ballots in Oregon were damaged because of a fire suppressant inside the ballot box; hundreds were damaged in Vancouver, but officials are reaching out to potentially affected voters. Authorities believe the incidents are related.

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On the downside, were seeing the activity we were anticipating, Wyman said in a separate press briefing this week. But the good news is election officials are prepared.

Last month, a video began circulating online that purported to show someone destroying mail-in ballots in Bucks County, about 45 miles north of Philadelphia.

The video was fake, according to local election officials. Federal officials also weighed in, blaming Russian actors for manufacturing and amplifying the video. They also warned that they expected Russia to create and release additional media content that seeks to undermine trust in the integrity of the election and divide Americans.

Nina Jankowicz, co-founder and CEO of The American Sunlight Project, an advocacy group aimed at fighting disinformation, told reporters during the same briefing as Wyman that in 2020, some social media platforms took down election disinformation or added fact-checking or context to posts.

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That has now changed. Elon Musks purchase of Twitter, in particular, has made the popular site a veritable firehose, according to Jankowicz. The billionaire investor, who has endorsed Trump and has appeared with him at campaign events, is spreading disinformation and has directed people to an account deluged with rumors and conspiracy theories about the 2024 election. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and Google, which owns YouTube, have also rolled back some of their labeling and content moderation, a move that critics warn ultimately amplifies disinformation.

In general, the safeguards have fallen off when it comes to disinformation at the platforms and in some cases in the research community, Jankowicz said. Theres a lot of folks still doing this work, but its become extremely risky. Trust and safety teams have been decimated, and the folks that are still there are doing really Yeomans work but it is like putting a bandaid on a bullet hole.

A voter enters the Bucks County Administration building voting on demand and ballot drop center in Doylestown, Pennsylvania on October 31, 2024. (Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)

This week, on social media and at a campaign rally, Trump pointed to the Pennsylvania counties of Lancaster and York, where election officials had announced a review of potentially fraudulent voter registration applications. Other conspiracy theories with a Pennsylvania dateline have been shared since then.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt said county and state election officials have run through tabletop exercises to try to understand what sort of challenges they might face during the election, including disinformation about voter registrations

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Theres no shortage of preparation for all that, he said.

Schmidt, a Republican who previously served as a city commissioner for Philadelphia, is not new to addressing disinformation: In 2020, he was among the officials who responded to unfounded claims by Trump at the time that 8,000 dead people had voted in Philadelphia.

Schmidt, who is now holding frequent news briefings that include addressing purported voting issues, said officials are going into Tuesday with the benefit of having gone through 2020 to make sure that everyone is as prepared as they possibly can be. That includes more communication with law enforcement.

If there are any challenges, everyone knows what everybody elses responsibilities are. And we have open lines of communication with one another.

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And in the final days of the election, litigation could play a central role.

This week, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party filed a lawsuit against the Erie County Board of Elections, alleging that election officials have failed to send mail-in ballots to between 10,000 and 20,000 voters. County officials have acknowledged the delay, and a judge ordered them to extend hours at polling sites to help voters who might need to cancel a ballot in order to receive a new one.

Trump and the Republican National Committee also filed a lawsuit this week challenging reports that election officials at some early voting sites in Bucks County were turning voters away from long lines. A judge later extended the early voting window. The Republican National Committee cheered the decision, which spotlighted an unusual form of early voting in Pennsylvania known as on-demand voting. The process, which can take several minutes per voter, created the long lines that were shared on social media to claim disenfranchisement.

And on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal from the Republican National Committee and the state Republican Party, instead leaving in place the state Supreme Courts order that Pennsylvania voters who make errors on the return packet to their mail-in ballots can cast a provisional ballot on Election Day that will be counted.

Witold Vic Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said the organization is monitoring ongoing litigation and the potential for more ahead of Election Day. In recent days, an effort to challenge more than 200 mail-in ballot applications in Chester County, which encompasses communities just outside Philadelphia, was denied. Other challenges have been reported. The national ACLU office and the Pennsylvania affiliate sent a letter earlier this week to local officials warning that such mass challenges violate federal and state law.

Walczak said his biggest concern about the election is if the race in Pennsylvania is so close, its decided within the margin of what he called improperly disqualified ballots.

That would just be a travesty, he said. For an election to have integrity, its not just about making sure that fraudulent ballots are not counted. It also is about making sure that all eligible voters who want to cast a ballot can do so and have it counted. This should not be complicated, but unfortunately, in Pennsylvania, it has become unbelievably complicated.

Fortunately, the actual infrastructure is not impacted by rampant disinformation, according to Jankowicz.

The hardware is safe and secure, and the people who are out there making the nuts and bolts of democracy work, Im in awe of them, their commitment and their courage, Jankowicz said.

Voters should be prepared for further spikes of election-related disinformation activity, both online and possibly in person according to Wyman. But again, election officials have been planning with law enforcement to deal with these circumstances and theyre ready so lets all just keep hoping that it goes to plan and that voters get to vote, and its a safe environment for everyone.

In some cases, election officials are trying to respond to the flood of disinformation by going to the source. In Michigan, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has been publicly challenging Musk over the election disinformation he is posting.

Friends: we are in the middle of a battle over the future of our democracy, she later wrote on X. Voting ends in less than a week. Expect bad actors to take minor issues and use them to fuel baseless conspiracy theories in order to further their own agenda. Dont buy into their attempts to create chaos, confusion and fear.

Voters line up to apply for their mail-in or absentee ballots outside the Allegheny County Office Building on the last day of early voting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 29, 2024. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

In Georgia, when Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger this week released a statement debunking a video that purported to show illegal voting by ineligible immigrants, he asked Musk directly and the leadership of other social media platforms to take this down.

This is obviously fake and part of a disinformation effort, he added, claiming Russian troll farms were likely behind the effort.

Jankowicz has advice for members of the public who are seeing potentially polarizing election content across their social media platforms.

If you feel like somethings off, if you feel like something is too good to be true, if you feel yourself getting emotional, youre probably getting manipulated, she said. The most engaging content, particularly right now, in this moment, is the most enraging content online, and thats a good indication to take some space, to be a little bit more deliberate about how you consume content, to do a little bit of lateral reading. I dont want to say fact-checking, but see how others are reporting that. See if you can source that crazy video you just saw on X or whatever. And if you cant, its probably a good idea not to share it.

Deeley in Philadelphia has a busy schedule over the next few days, attending events aimed at encouraging people to vote. Her goal is to answer questions  and to correct disinformation  about the voting process.

The next few days are going to be grueling and exhausting because Im trying to get everywhere, she said with a smile. I try to keep going because its important. I have a real, true, honest-to-goodness passion for this work.

When Election Day finally does arrive, we go into the bubble. We are here and well be in here for however long we need to be.

To check your voter registration status or to get more information about registering to vote, text 19thnews to 26797.

The post Election officials lean on transparency in home stretch  while grappling with flood of disinformation appeared first on The 19th.

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From checking equipment to cybersecurity improvements, state election officials assured Congress earlier this fall that theyve been working for months to secure voting ahead of Election Day.

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The rigorous testing that we conduct allows us to eliminate problems before ballots are cast, said Cord Byrd, (R) Florida Secretary of State.

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We ask the good guys to try to hack us and tell us where there are holes in our fence so we can patch those, said Frank LaRose, (R) Ohio Secretary of State.

And election leaders say theyre ready for November 5.

Maybe Im a little biased, but I have never seen a more prepared elections community than ever before, said Carolina Lopez, executive director of PLEJ.

Lopez leads the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions also known as PLEJ. The organization connects election officials from across the country to help them exchange ideas and best practices. Lopez said shes seen more collaboration between election administrators since 2020.

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What happens if you know the election nights results page goes down for five seconds? What do you do? What if theres power grid failure, said Lopez. Like these individuals have a playbook, a really robust playbook, to make sure the show must go on, and it will.

In addition to those preparations, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission expects more than 98 percent of voters to cast a paper ballot this year.

But earlier this month, comes as federal intelligence agencies warned that Russia and Iran may try to encourage violent protests after Election Day.

Some internet security experts also warn cyberthreats are constantly evolving.

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Its both foreign and domestic actors that are responsible for these attacks, said Marci Andino, insecurity security expert.

Andino is vice president at the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EIISAC). Her team helps election officials stay a step ahead of cyber-hackers and prevent the spread of malicious activity.

We can identify trends, and in doing so, we send out alerts. We also provide them with tools so that they can become more proficient in protecting against cyber threats, she said.

Andino said some of the biggest threats are ransomware attacks, phishing attempts, and new AI technologies.

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Both deep fakes in the form of robocalls and videos being used in the election space, said Andino.

She said another concern are perceived data leaks.

This is when someone will take voter registration information or poll worker information and they post it on the dark web, and theyre alleging that this is from a new breach or a new data leak, and this impacts the publics confidence in the election, said Andino. In some states, voter registration information is available publicly. So, it may not have been from a leak at all, but it still impacts the confidence that voters have in the election system.

Unlike other events, you cant move or change Election Day and thats why election administrators say theyre prepared for whatever comes their way.

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We are going to get through this. We are going to make sure that theres voting opportunities for our voters, and were going to do this as quickly as possible to make sure they have the best voting experience, said Lopez.

The federal government has also been helping officials prepare. The nations top cybersecurity agency has conducted more than 1,000 physical security assessments and over 700 cyber assessments since the start of 2023.

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The byzantine Electoral College system has, five separate times since America began, delivered the White House to a candidate who lost the popular vote.

The Founding Fathers established the Electoral College at 1787s Constitutional Convention, lifting the concept from the Holy Roman Empire, which established the method in the year 962, to choose emperors. The move inspired a number of other countries to borrow the concept for their own presidential selection processes. Colombia was first, adopting its own electoral college in 1821, followed by Chile (1828), and Argentina (1853), Finland (1925), and France (1958).

However, each of them later cast aside the idea and returned to straightforward popular votes  France doing so after just seven years. (The Roman electoral college was dissolved, alongside the empire itself, in 1806.) When Argentina jettisoned its electoral college in 1995, the United States remained the sole democratic nation that elects a president via an electoral college.

The United States is alone among nations in having an Electoral College (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The popular vote decides every other election, federal, state, and municipal, in the United States.

How does it work?

When citizens cast their ballots for president, they are not actually voting for president but for one of 538 electors meant to represent the will of the people. The victor is the first to win a majority of electors, the so-called magic number of 270. Each states slate of electors then convene before sending off the collected votes to Congress for its January 6 counting and certification of the electoral votes.

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In its simplest form, while still not particularly simple, each state gets one electoral vote for each of their two senators, plus a fluctuating number of electoral votes based on how many congressional representatives a state has. By this formula, Delaware (one congressional district) gets three electoral votes, the fewest; California gets the most, with 55.

The January 6, 2021, pro-Trump riot at the US Capitol has led to ultra-secure security measures when Congress certifies the electoral vote (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The Electoral College ensures that even the most sparsely populated states have an effect on the final result (Wyoming, Vermont, and Alaska come in at the three least populous US states, respectively), and that the most populous states dont have an outsized say in the matter.

It also means that both contenders end up focusing a large part of their efforts on a small number of swing states, those so-called battlegrounds that could tip to either party, such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. These electoral votes are crucial, since most states are reliably red or blue, and, according to one political science professor, means 2024s presidential election will, for all intents and purposes, be decided by roughly 150,000 voters.

Of course, although the numbers even the playing field, the mismatch between population and electoral votes means it is mathematically possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but still lose the Electoral College. This happened most recently in 2016, when Hillary Clinton earned three million more overall votes than Donald Trump, who took the Electoral College, and the Oval Office, 304 to 227. In 2000, Al Gore got 543,895 more votes than George W. Bush, who ended up winning the election with 271 electoral votes.

What if...

If neither candidate gets a majority of electoral votes, or in the event of a 269-269 tie, the Electoral College hands the deciding vote over to Congress. In 1824, when four candidates ran for president, the electoral vote was diffused to the point that none received a majority. The House subsequently picked John Quincy Adams, who had in fact lost the popular vote to Andrew Jackson. In 1800, the House voted Thomas Jefferson into the presidency after he and Aaron Burr, who was installed as Jeffersons vice-president, tied in the Electoral College.

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The government has considered myriad scenarios when drawing up contingency plans, according to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which administers, on behalf of the Archivist of the United States, certain aspects and proceedings of the Electoral College. There is no established process in place if the winner of the electoral vote dies or becomes incapacitated between the general election and the meeting of electors, who gather on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December. Their votes are officially counted and certified on January 6 of the new year, in a joint session of Congress, and the president-elect is sworn in on January 20.

The Washington, D.C. memorial to Thomas Jefferson, who the House installed as president after he and Aaron Burr tied in the Electoral College vote (AFP via Getty Images)

It is also unknown what would happen were the winning presidential candidate to die between the meeting of electors and January 6, as the Constitution does not specify if the candidate, at that stage, can be formally considered the president-elect, but if so, Section 3 of the 20th Amendment would apply, elevating the vice-president-elect to the presidency, according to NARA. (The same rule would apply if the winning candidate died or became incapacitated after the election was certified in Congress but before the inauguration.)

Why it exists  but should it still?

Direct elections  that is, electing the presidential candidate who gets the most votes overall  were rejected by many state Constitutional Convention delegates who feared the uninformed masses were not wise enough to make such important decisions. And so the modern Electoral College was born out of a compromise over slavery between the Northern states and those in the South, where the practice remained legal until 1865.

Southern state delegates, specifically, were concerned they would lose power and influence because, while their populations were about equal to their northern counterparts, some one-third of those residents were enslaved people and prohibited from voting. But the conventioneers reached a deal to count three of out every five enslaved persons, the three-fifths compromise, with regard to proportional representation, giving a more significant presence in Congress to the five southern states where slavery remained in existence, and thus, more electoral votes on the backs of enslaved people who were themselves totally disenfranchised.

The Electoral College dates from the time of George Washington, leading many to say it is outdated (Getty Images)

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Today, it is considered by many to be, in the words of MSNBC commentator Hayes Brown, an arcane formula devised over 200 years ago, and one with no valid reason [to keep] such an undemocratic institution around. In short, according to Brown, the Electoral College is nothing more than a convoluted practice that adds an unnecessary layer between the people and the presidency.

The mathematical gymnastics required to determine a winner is absurd, Brown wrote recently, noting that the system serves to disenfranchise urban conservatives and rural liberals alike, substituting geography for political agency.

A world where the direct popular vote was determinant would force candidates to compete for every vote in every state, Brown wrote. It would be another much-needed step in Americas centuries-long transformation from an amalgamation of independent states into a single national unit.
Elon Musks troubled canvassing operation on behalf of Donald Trump and the Republican party is now facing a lawsuit in southern California filed by two women who say they were cheated out of wages and expenses as they knocked on doors for an embattled Republican congresswoman.

The suit accuses Musks America Pac, which has poured more than $100m into this years election campaign, of willful violations of the California labor code by paying the plaintiffs less than it promised and refusing to make up the difference.

The women, Tamiko Anderson and Patricia Kelly, say they were hired last month and promised an hourly wage  about $25, according to their lead lawyer  to help turn out votes for Michelle Steel, who represents a closely contested swing district in Orange county, south of Los Angeles.

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Related: Contested state supreme court seats are site of hidden battle for abortion access

It was only once the women started working, the suit alleges, that they found out they were being paid instead by the number of houses they visited. The suit further alleges that they were not reimbursed for work-related expenses, including the use of personal cellphones to track their movements along their designated routes.

Musks ground-game operation has come under repeated scrutiny in recent days following a report in the Guardian that canvassers may have skipped as many as a quarter of the houses they claimed to have visited in Arizona and Nevada, and a second report in Wired that revealed hired canvassers in Michigan were not told which campaign they were working for until they had already signed on.

The Orange county lawsuit, also first reported by Wired, did not specify how much less the women had earned than they were expecting, or how much they had unsuccessfully claimed in expenses. The lead plaintiffs lawyer, Larry Lee, said that they did not have a signed contract for their work, only a sheet of paper detailing the hourly wage they should expect.

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These, however, were not reasons to consider the suit some kind of political stunt days before the 5 November election, according to a prominent national labor lawyer, Ryan Hancock of Willig, Williams & Davidson in Philadelphia. He said it was common for such suits to be light on details when first filed, and amended and fleshed out later. This appears to be a legitimate lawsuit based on an employer failing to pay compensation owed under state and federal law, Hancock said.

Musks Pac is one of several named defendants in the suit, along with a hiring and payroll company, Liberty Staffing Services; a national canvassing company, the Blair Group; and Representative Michelle Steels re-election campaign.

The campaign, however, was quick to disavow any association with the canvassing operation. The Steel campaign has no knowledge of these individuals, a spokesperson said. They did not and do not work for the Steel campaign.

Pac like Musks usually operate independently of candidates campaigns, under rules that make it illegal to coordinate activities. When asked why he had named Steels campaign among the defendants, Lee, the plaintiffs lawyer, said: Im not going to comment.
Environmental and community groups in Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin are urging the EPA to step in and control nitrate contamination in drinking water. (Photo courtesy of USDA)

Groups from Iowa and several other states have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to invoke its emergency authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act and implement a national approach to prevent further nitrate contamination in the drinking water of rural communities.

Locally, Food and Water Watch, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and other groups are pointing to contamination in the Driftless region of northeast Iowa and advocating for the Clean Water for Iowa Act.

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In a letter to the EPA thats signed by more than 20 environmental and community groups from Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, the organizations say nitrate pollution from industrial-scale agriculture practices, such as manure lagoons and excess application of nitrogen to fields, has led to an imminent and substantial endangerment of communities whose ground and drinking water have been contaminated.

The letter, submitted to the EPA on Tuesday, summarizes five similar petitions that have been made to the EPA over the past 10 years. Groups in Iowa petitioned the EPA in April 2024 to act now to address this long-ignored health crisis in Iowa and ensure clean drinking water for Iowans.

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The April petition was put together by the Iowa Environmental Council, Center for Food Safety, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Food and Water Watch, Environmental Working Group, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and other local groups.

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It focused primarily on the Driftless northeastern region of Iowa which has karst formations that are particularly susceptible to contamination, because the porous geography enables rapid movement of water in and out of the ground. The petition relies on state data that shows both public drinking water and private wells in the region pull from groundwater aquifers with nitrate concentration levels that routinely exceed federal and state drinking water standards.

The petition asks the EPA to take prompt and decisive action under the emergency powers granted to the department by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Petitioners also are asking the EPA to investigate agricultural land uses that contaminate water, prohibit new or expanding livestock operations, control the source of contamination, and require the cleanup of contaminated soils.

The petition alleges state and local action has been unsuccessful in protecting Iowans from nitrate-contaminated water that petitioners said can increase the risk of birth defects, blue baby syndrome, thyroid disease, cancer and other health problems.

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A statement from the EPA said the department is reviewing the letter and the multiple petitions it has received about nitrate contamination, and plans to respond accordingly.

EPA Region VII , encompassing Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, said in a statement that the agency is committed to working with the state of Iowa.

The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes the EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water to protect against both naturally occurring and man-made contaminants that may be found in drinking water, the statement read. EPA, states, and water systems then work together to make sure that these standards are met and to identify new and emerging concerns.

The efforts include recent regulations for PFAS and lead. Additionally, EPA has provided Iowa $83 million in drinking water infrastructure funds this year.

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The statement also said private wells are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, but private well owners can benefit from the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant program.

Nitrate and Iowa cancer rates

Reports from the spring of 2024 indicate that among the states, Iowa had the second highest, and fastest-rising, rates of cancer. Some have pointed to pesticide use and other exposures from agriculture as the cause, while others have linked Iowas cancer rate to alcohol use.

Laura Beane Freeman, a senior investigator for the National Cancer Institute, spoke at the Iowa Cancer Summit, Oct. 15, about the relationship between agriculture and cancer.

Laura Beane Freeman, a senior investigator for the National Cancer Institute, spoke Oct. 15 at the Iowa Cancer Summit about the relationship between agriculture and cancer rates. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A native Iowan, Beane Freeman has been part of the Agricultural Health Study, which since 1993 has studied more than 89,000 farmers and their spouses in Iowa and North Carolina to assess the connections between agricultural exposures and cancer.

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Its not just pesticides, Beane Freeman said. Its drinking water, contaminants, its dust, its diesel engine exhaust, it is concentrated animal feeding operations and nitrate.

Beane Freeman said a lot of the research has focused on the chemicals in various pesticides, but water source and nitrate levels were among the data collected from participants. She said nitrate has been linked to colorectal cancer and researchers have observed several associations between nitrate and ovarian, thyroid and kidney cancers.

Beane Freeman said the research is ongoing in an effort to find strong association trends and to understand the exposures to the general population.

So we need to be looking at contaminations in the water, we need to be looking at emissions in the air, and we need to be looking at other cancer sites, Beane Freeman said.

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She urged people to test their water, especially if they have private wells, which typically have higher levels of nitrate.

Food and Water Watch gather locally, look at upcoming legislative season

Around 40 people gathered at the HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines on Wednesday for a forum hosted by Food and Water Watch.

Community members heard stories from rural Iowans affected by factory farming, read the organizations Factory Farm Nation report from early October, and discussed upcoming efforts.

If wanting clean water is being radical, then I guess Im a radical, Nick Schutt of Hardin County, one of the speakers at the event, said.

Food and Water Watch hosted a community forum on Oct. 30 in West Des Moines. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Michaelyn Mankel, Food and Water Watchs Iowa coordinator, said state legislators need to focus on protecting the health of Iowans and pass the Clean Water for Iowa Act.

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The Clean Water for Iowa Act, HF2354, was introduced in the 2024 legislative session, but did not advance. If passed, it would create permits and monitors for water quality on animal feeding operations.

Mankel said Food and Water Watch will also lobby against a bill that would give legal immunity to pesticide manufacturers. SF2412 passed the senate last year and is supported by Bayer, a biotechnology company known for manufacturing Roundup and genetically modified seeds.

Mankel encouraged people to show up at the Iowa Capitol and lobby for the issues that are important to them.

State Rep. Mary Madison, a Democrat incumbent running in House District 31, attended the event and told those in attendance that nothing gets the ear of legislators like a big crowd.

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When people come to the Capitol and they come in large numbers, the legislators listen, Madison said.

This article has been updated to correct the name of a community organization.

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The Environmental Protection Agency just restored a crucial rule that will protect millions of Americans from toxic air pollution, according to The Washington Post.

The "Once In, Always In" policy requires industrial facilities that emit high levels of dangerous pollutants to maintain strict pollution controls, even after they reduce their pollution below certain thresholds. This means factories, refineries, and other significant polluters can't simply dial back their safety measures once they've cleaned up their act.

This policy reversal is a big win for public health, especially in communities near industrial facilities. The rule targets harmful chemicals like benzene, which cause headaches and dizziness with short-term exposure and has been linked to increased cancer risk. When industrial facilities maintain strong pollution controls, it means cleaner air for everyone to breathe.

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The restored rule strikes a reasonable balance between environmental protection and business interests. While facilities can still be reclassified if their pollution drops, most must maintain robust controls on toxic pollutants like benzene and mercury. This approach ensures consistent air quality protection while giving businesses flexibility to adapt.

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Environmental advocates are celebrating this development as a step toward cleaner air.

"Communities living near megapolluters have long been forced to endure a toxic mix of deadly chemicals that are well known to cause cancer and other severe health issues," Patrice Simms, vice president of healthy communities at Earthjustice, told the Post.

Harold Wimmer, CEO of the American Lung Association, also praised the move: "Families and communities living near major polluting sources, as does everyone else in this country, deserve to breathe clean air that won't make them sick."

This policy restoration helps protect roughly 4,000 industrial operations from increasing their toxic pollution. That's good news for our lungs, communities, and environment, proving that smart regulations build a healthier future for everyone.

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.
EPISD to host redesign phase 3 community meetings

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) will be hosting a series of community meetings at campuses across the district as part of its Destination District Redesign (DDR) Phase 3 starting this weekend.

Community impact on El Paso ISD redesign project

The meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Clendenin Elementary School.

These meetings are designed to provide families and community members of proposed right-sizing campuses and proposed receiving campuses with essential information about the transition plans.

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EPISD said the meetings also serve as a forum to gather feedback and address questions related to the future of district facilities and educational programming.

El Paso ISD superintendent addresses redesign concerns, potential school closures

In addition, the final vote on the DDR plan is scheduled to take place on Nov. 19.

The complete schedule of meetings for proposed right-sizing campuses and proposed receiving campuses is available here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) nurse has been named 2024 Texas School Nurse of the Year.

Grace Carbajal was recognized by the Texas School Nurses Organization (TSNO) and will receive an award at the annual TSNO Conference on Nov. 2-3 in Frisco, Texas, EPISD said in a news release.

Im deeply humbled and honored to receive this award, Carbajal said. I feel blessed to represent all the great school nurses who work diligently every day. Being a school nurse is about more than just healthcare  its about supporting students in every aspect of their lives. Whether its medical care, mentorship, teaching them on how to take care of themselves, I strive to make a positive impact on each student I encounter.

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According to EPISD, Carbajal was previously selected as Region 19 School Nurse of the Year in May.

Carbajal has over 30 years of nursing experience with 17 years being a school nurse. She joined EPISD as a float nurse in 2022.

As a float nurse, that allows Carbajal to provide care and support to students across various campuses and grade levels, according to EPISD.

As school nurses, were on the front lines of student health, serving as a bridge between health care and the education system, working in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team supporting academic success, promoting health and safety, providing care, enhance student character building and being there for students when they need it most. Its a role Im proud to serve, she said.

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Beyond her career as a school nurse, Carbajal has also volunteered at muscular dystrophy camps and served as a clinical group supervisor during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to EPISD.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.)  On Friday, Nov. 1, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO) announced that Sheriff and Fire Warden Joseph Roybal recently welcomed the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Controls Firehawk helicopter and crew to the El Paso County Emergency Services facility.

I am excited to have a strong partnership with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. Having resources such as this Firehawk helicopter available to our community and communities across Colorado will be invaluable when combatting fires and conducting search and rescue operations.

The Colorado Legislature approved $24 million in funding for the states first custom firefighting helicopter in 2021, with near-unanimous support in both chambers just months after another severe fire season.

Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office

I was impressed by the technical capabilities of the aircraft and helitack, as well as the historical, hands-on knowledge of the captain and crew, said Roybal. Wildfires can quickly devastate homesteads, neighborhoods, and communities, and this resource will allow emergency services, first responders, and law enforcement to quickly and effectively reduce the threat. I thank Battalion Chief Brenda Wasielewski for our collaborative partnership to fight wildfires in the Pikes Peak region.

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The Firehawk, a retrofitted Black Hawk helicopter, is equipped for wildfire response. It features custom technology for fire crews and a 1,000-gallon water tank that can be quickly released to target hot spots.

Colorado is a beautiful place to live, work, and visit, and preventing devastating wildfires is critical to the health and welfare of all, said Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Battalion Chief Brenda Wasielewski. I wanted to bring our Firehawk to showcase another State resource, in addition to our State 10-person handcrew Tava stationed here locally in a County facility. We are ready to support our partners by ground or by air.

The Firehawk helicopter and crew are based at an airport in Broomfield, Colorado. In early 2024, the Colorado Legislature funded a second helicopter to be delivered in 2025.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
With Fridays ruling, mail-in ballots could be sent overnight but will they return in time for Election Day?

Thats the concern of a group of Erie residents currently in Florida.

This has now become a major problem for people who are not in the region and these residents are not satisfied that their voices could potentially not be heard.

They use the terms full and fair election. full is including us and we may not be included, said Rick Coleman, Erie resident in Florida.

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Judges ruling puts pressure on Board of Elections, vendor to deliver mail-in ballots

Time is ticking for Rick Coleman, Sandra Sandrick, Susan Burlingame and their spouses as the countdown to Nov. 5 enters single digits.

These Erie residents are currently living at their winter homes in Davenport, Florida and they have had struggles with their absentee ballot since day one.

On Oct. 15, we were starting our trip south and had not received our initial ballot, said Burlingame. I was told that if you havent received it by the 18th, call us back.

And by Oct. 18 there was still no sign of a ballot until nearly two weeks later, even though they were told by the elections office that it would be sent overnight.

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Unfortunately, after paying priority mail, their original ballots were canceled, and as of Thursday evening, only some of our Sunshine State friends received a second set of ballots.

I had the post office check the mail-in office that mine and his came in and it was not mailed on the dates they said it wasnt mailed until the 28th. so every time they told me they were overnighting it wasnt true, said Sandrick.

The voters brought up multiple concerns the biggest one being integrity and transparency.

Theres a post office problem, theres obviously a problem with the company they contracted with at the election iq and there is a definite communication problem, Burlingame added.

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VP nominee Tim Walz makes second Erie visit to rally Democratic support

We have never missed a chance to vote for this country and to be denied it by getting it so late is just unconscionable, Sandrick said.

While something like this has never happened to these voters they believe better measures should be in place to handle setbacks like these.

Theyve had four years to prepare for this election knowing it could be a big one and somewhere the process has failed, said Burlingame.

Will their ballots make it back in time for Tuesday?

The judges have accommodated people who have local mail-in ballots but what about us, Coleman told us.

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Coleman is afraid they will now be disenfranchised and believes something needs to be done about 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Most Europeans want Kamala Harris to win the US election next week and expect there will be violence in the US if Donald Trump loses, according to a YouGov survey.

A survey of voters in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Denmark found that Harris was preferred with a sizeable majority.

The only exception was Italy, where Harris still came out as preferred to Trump but short of a majority  with 46%.

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Harris has the most support in the Nordic country of Denmark, where 81% want the Democrat to become US president.

Support for Harris is naturally high among centrist and left-leaning voters in Europe, reaching 90% among the Greens in Germany and Venstre in Denmark.

In some cases however, Harris is the preferred candidate for far-right voters.

Although the far right in Germany, Spain, the UK and Italy chose Trump, the supporters of the nationalist-populist Sweden Democrats party said they preferred Harris.

In France, voters for the far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party said they wanted Harris to win over Trump by 46% to 31%.

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Among the far right, Germany's Alternative for Germany party and Spain's Vox party were the most in favour of Trump winning, with 50% and 54% voting for him.

Although western and southern European voters may want Harris to win, they are generally less sure of her chances.

Most said Harris would defeat Trump in the election but with smaller majorities  ranging from 43% in Italy to 61% in Germany.

What happens if Trump loses?

Western Europeans expect violence in the US if Trump is defeated by Harris.

In Denmark, those fears are widespread, with 73% thinking there "definitely" or "probably" will be violence if Trump is not elected US president.

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In other countries surveyed, 62-67% think the same, except in Italy  where only 47% believe violence is highly likely.

This still, however, outnumbers the amount of Italians (32%) who think violence is "unlikely".

Their fears are likely caused by the riots Trump called for at the US Capitol in Washington in 2021 when he claimed he had not lost the election to incumbent President Joe Biden.

Trump, who has also pushed theories of election fraud this election cycle, has since used social media to promote the idea that the Capitol rioters were patriots and political prisoners.
A former top aide has called on George W Bush to endorse Kamala Harris, becoming the latest of his circle to up the pressure on the ex-president to make a public stand and join a long list of Republicans now backing the Democratic candidate.

Nicolle Wallace, who served as the communications director in the Bush White House, called on the former president to have a change of heart and take a position against Donald Trump.

Wallace told MSNBC that Trumps threatening language about Harris-supporting Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney  the daughter of Bushs vice-president, Dick Cheney  had informed her appeal.

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These are the comments were talking about right now in the United States of America from someone running to hold the job he had, Wallace told the outlet.

Trump last week suggested that Cheney would not be a radical war hawk if she was on a battlefield with nine barrels shooting at her and had guns trained on her face.

Democrats claimed Trumps words amounted to a personal threat. The Harris campaign denounced Trumps words as violent rhetoric. This is how dictators destroy free nations, the former Wyoming congresswoman responded.

The Trump campaign rejected the criticism, calling Cheney a warmonger and that they were making a point abut her hawkish foreign policy views.

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But Bush has indicated he does not plan to take a position on the election, despite other members of his circle choosing to back Harris. Cheneys father has come out for Harris. In our nations 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump, Dick Cheney said in a statement. He can never be trusted with power again.

Bushs daughter Barbara Pierce Bush has also said she was backing Harris and, according to the Harris campaign, has been stumping for the Democrat in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a must-win area north of Philadelphia.

Wallace said she still hoped that the former president could be prevailed upon. We have a right to hope that those who have stood for freedom and celebrated those who have protected it might have a last-minute change of heart in the closing hours of this campaign.

Bush spokesperson Freddy Ford told the New York Times last month that the Republican two-term president retired from presidential politics many years ago.

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Bush  whose two terms as president in the 2000s saw the US invade Afghanistan and Iraq, triggering wars that cost hundreds of thousands of lives and lasted for years  has largely avoided the public spotlight since he left office.

He attended Trumps inauguration in 2017, sitting near Bill and Hillary Clinton as well as Barack and Michelle Obama. According to a report by New York magazine, three people at the event said they heard Bush say That was some weird shit after the ceremony concluded and Trumps time in office officially began.

 This article was amended on 5 November 2024. An earlier version said the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq cost millions of lives. This has been changed to say they cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
"Anyone engaging in this behavior should be held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent possible by law," Akron Police Chief Brian Harding said

WKBN/Youtube Geoffrey Parker Geoffrey Parker

A former Akron, Ohio, police officer pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to a child sex abuse case.

Geoffrey Parker, 34, of Mineral Ridge is facing up to 65 years in prison after pleading guilty in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to three counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, one count of gross sexual imposition and one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor, the Trumbull County Prosecutors Office said in a press release on Thursday, Oct. 31.

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When Parker appeared in court, he wore a shirt reading "DILF - Devoted, Involved, Loving Father."

Parker, who was previously placed on unpaid leave, also resigned on Thursday, WKYC and FOX 8 reported.

Related: Ga. Police Officer Arrested After Naked Body of Missing 16-Year-Old Girl Found in Woods

Before he is sentenced by Judge Ronald J. Rice, Parker will undergo a background investigation. The former police officer must also legally declare himself as a Tier 2 sexual offender  which means that following his prison release, Parker will have to register with a local sheriffs office twice per year for the next 25 years, the prosecutors office said.

Trumbull County Sheriff's Office Geoffrey Parker mugshot Geoffrey Parker mugshot

According to FOX 8, Parker was arrested on Aug. 16 around 9 p.m. local time and booked into the Summit County Jail by the Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit.

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At the time, he was placed on administrative leave with pay until charges were brought against him.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation began looking into Parker after the department traced a nude photo of a 4-year-old girl to the former police officer. He was also convicted of taking nude images of himself with young children, the press release states.

Related: Miss. Man Urinates in Holding Cell, Ex-Police Officer Orders Him to Lick It Up

The Trumbull County Prosecutors Office said Parker's conversations were tied to an online chatroom app." The crime with the 4-year-old took place in Weathersfield.

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Parker was also accused of sharing of sexually explicit videos with minors engaging in sex acts and photographing a child in a state of nudity and then sharing the picture online to receive other explicit images of children," according to a complaint, per NBC4i.

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.

I am sickened to learn of these charges against one of our employees," Akron Police Chief Brian Harding said in an August press release, per FOX 8. "I thank the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for handling this case and trust that the judicial and legal process will reveal the truth. Anyone engaging in this behavior should be held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent possible by law. Im confident that justice will be served."

Parker remains in Trumbull County jail, held on a $1 million bond. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 26.



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.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Multiple criminal investigations involving several law enforcement agencies are probing how the Potterville Public Schools general fund was drained of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

An independent audit completed this week found the districts fund balance  projected in June to be about $800,000  was less than $100,000. As a result, the district is at risk of state oversight and take over as well as additional reporting and financial actions.

The fund balance is the difference between how much money the district has and how much it has to spend. Michigan law requires districts to maintain more than 5% of unrestricted revenue in the fund balance.

(File/WLNS)

The audit puts the districts fund balance at less than 1%.

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Officials from the district confirmed there are criminal investigations into the missing tax dollars.

There are investigations being handled by law enforcement and the district is cooperating fully, Stacy Ann Sipes, president of the Potterville Public Schools Board of Educations, wrote in a statement released exclusively to 6 News Friday evening. We are not able to comment on active investigations at this time.

Michigan State Police spokesman Lt. Rene Gonzalez tells 6 News via email Monday that the top law enforcement agency is not involved in any investigation of the Potterville Public Schools and any financial irregularities.

The financial surprise was uncovered in an independent audit of the districts finances completed this week.

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Kevin Robydek, superintendent of Potterville Public Schools during the audited time period, applied for the position of Superintendent of DeWitt Public Schools in May, 2024, and left the district in June 2024 when he was offered the post.

On July 16, Potterville Public Schools hired Interim Superintendent Sam Sinicropi.

6 News asked about the employment status of Business Manager Monica Baker and Sipes declined to comment.

Heres Sipes entire statement:

Staff of Potterville Public Schools were notified today that the district audit for the 2023-2024 school year was completed. The audit revealed that the district has a less than one percent fund balance. The Board of Education will be working with Interim Superintendent Sam Sinicropi to move the district forward. There are many positives to focus on such as being a nationally recognized Capturing Kids Hearts district, increases in student enrollment, and phenomenal staff. There are investigations being handled by law enforcement and the district is cooperating fully. We are not able to comment on active investigations at this time. Stacy Ann Sipes, president Potterville Public Schools Board of Education, email statement November 1, 2024

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The Board of Education meets next on November 11.

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include information from the Michigan State.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
With the presidential election only days away, Vice President Kamala Harris has released a pair of new ads to appeal to Black men. One ad attempts to spotlight her work on criminal justice reform, while the other targets what the Harris-Walz campaign says are the dangers from a second Donald Trump presidency.

The ad, titled Second Chances, depicts a pastor and youth leader named Carl speaking to a group of young Black men in North Philadelphia about recidivism. Carl is a formerly incarcerated man, and in the ad, he speaks about Back On Track, a program that Harris implemented as District Attorney in California to help first-time nonviolent offenders rebuild their lives and avoid incarceration. The Harris-Walz campaign cites Back On Track as one of the first reentry initiatives in the country, and in the ad, Carl says that the program proves that Harris is a leader who has an ounce of humanity.

NPR Code Switch reported that Back On Track provided first-time nonviolent offenders who pleaded guilty with internships, counseling, job preparation, and other resources, and expunged the felony from the records of those who completed the program.

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Mass incarceration has been a longstanding issue that impacts Black men, and there are loads of stats to prove it. The NAACP states that one out of every three Black boys born today can expect to be sentenced to prison, compared to one of six Latino boys and one of 17 white boys. But Harris role as part of that system has led some critics to believe that shes contributed to the problem more than shes combatted it; her campaign hopes that this ad can prove her efforts to address inequities in the system.

The Harris-Walz campaigns other ad, Unthinkable, labels Trump as an unhinged president, and cites the report by The Atlantic in which Trump said, in a private conversation, that he wanted the kind of generals that [Adolf] Hitler had. It also continues to connect Trump with Project 2025  the controversial political initiative published by a conservative think tank called Heritage Foundation  and says that he would give police full immunity. Such protections, the ad says, would allow cops to harass us, harm us, or worse, with no consequences. It also targets Trumps recent promises to combat enemies from within as president. We know who hes talking about, the ad says.

Trump has denied any connection with Project 2025, but CNN reported that at least 140 people who have worked for him are involved with the initiative. His campaign website expresses plans to return to stop and frisk, a policing measure which studies show disproportionately targeted Black men in New York City before it was ruled unconstitutional in 2013. He has also said that police should have immunity from prosecution.

The two ads continue Harris effort to connect with Black male voters. The vice president has also released what she calls an Opportunity Agenda for Black Men, and has appeared on a bevy of Black media outlets over the past couple of months.

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Terrance Woodbury, a pollster for the Harris-Walz 2024 campaign, provided a statement to The Root about its plans for the two new ads.

Recent polling shows that the Harris-Walz campaign is continuing to grow its momentum among late-deciding Black voters. This ad will build on that momentum by driving home a message about the clear and present danger that a 2nd Trump term would mean to Black communities, Woodbury said. Trumps plans in Project 2025, including blanket police immunity, are disqualifying to Black men that were either undecided or considering supporting Trump. Voters in the Black community know whats at stake  and our polls and focus groups have shown that these proof points will further drive home the message for late deciding and infrequent Black voters to take action and support the Harris-Walz ticket.

Stay tuned to The Root for more updates on the 2024 presidential election.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Polls in Kansas opened at 7 a.m. Some counties, including Sedgwick, opened at 6 a.m.

Both polling locations where KSN News crews were stationed this morning had lines. KSN News talked to one voter.

An important election, incredibly important election, so Im here to vote my conscience on all the candidates and issues that are out there, Mark Nale, a voter, said.

Sedgwick County Election Commissioner reported that things were running smoothly as of late morning and that voters had been getting through the lines in about 10 minutes.

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We have had just about 35,000 Election Day voters come through the polls this morning, Rainwater said. Thats about 8,000 an hour, so were processing the voters really well and really quickly.

Rainwater adds that if you have a mail-in ballot, make sure it gets postmarked by today or returned to a ballot drop box or a polling site by 7 p.m.

Rainwater says the first election report we will receive from the county will be between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m. Those will be early in-person and mail ballot votes. Other results will be reported as they arrive at the election office.

Our election workers are the true heroes, Rainwater added. Because without them, this election would not be running so smoothly.

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Election Day 2024: What you need to know

Races Kansans are deciding on

President

Republican former President Donald Trump hopes to win Kansas and its six electoral votes for the third consecutive presidential election on Nov. 5. He is running against Vice President Kamala Harris, who faces an uphill battle in a state that hasnt backed a Democratic presidential candidate for 60 years. Trump won 56% of the vote in 2020 and 57% in 2016, sweeping nearly every county in the state.

U.S House

Republicans hold both U.S. Senate seats and three of the four U.S. House seats in the state. Neither Senate seat is on the ballot, but three incumbent representatives are up for reelection. Rep. Jake LaTurner announced his retirement earlier this year, so the 2nd Congressional District seat is open. That race features Democrat Nancy Boyda, Republican Derek Schmidt, and Libertarian John Hauer.

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Republican Rep. Ron Estes is running against Democrat Esau Freeman in the 4th Congressional District. The 1st Congressional District race features Republican Rep. Tracey Mann against Democrat Paul Buskirk. In the 3rd Congressional District, Democrat Rep. Sharice Davids is battling to keep her seat against Republican Prasanth Reddy and Libertarian Steve Roberts.

KSN Election Guide: 2024 Candidate Profiles

State Legislature

Despite the run of Republican victories for presidential candidates in Kansas, several Democrats have been elected governor in recent decades, including two-term Gov. Laura Kelly, who isnt up for election this year.

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In the state Legislature, Republicans vastly outnumber Democrats in the state Senate and state House, enough to override any vetoes by Kelly, but Democrats could break the GOP supermajority by flipping just a few seats in either chamber. All 40 state Senate seats and 125 state House seats are up for election in November.

Conservatives could win control of Kansas state school board

State Board of Education

Voters will also decide several races for the State Board of Education. In the KSN viewing area, in District 8, Democratic Melanie Haas faces Republican Fred Postlewait. Democrat Betty Arnold has Republican Jason Carmichael challenging her bid for another term in District 8. The race in District 10 features Democrat Jeffrey Jarman running against Republican Debby Potter and Independent Kent Rowe.

Heres a look at what to expect in the 2024 election in Kansas:

Poll closing time

All polls close at 7 p.m. Kansas covers two time zones, so results from western counties on Mountain time will come an hour later.

Presidential electoral votes

Six will be awarded to the statewide winner.

Key races and candidates

President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (independent).

Other races of interest

U.S. House, state Senate, state House and state Board of Education, local offices, and many local questions about sales tax hikes and bond issues.

Voter registration and turnout

Registered voters: 1,994,621 (as of Sep. 2024).

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44.8% are Republican

25.7% are Democrat

1.2% are Libertarian

0.1% are No Labels Kansas

0.007% are United Kansas

28.17% are unaffiliated

Voter turnout in 2020 presidential election: 71% of registered voters.

Pre-Election Day voting

Votes cast before Election Day 2020: about 61% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2022: about 40% of the total vote.

How long does vote counting take?

First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:07 p.m. CT.

By 11 p.m. CT, about 87% of the total votes cast were reported.

KSN News and KSN.com will bring you election results when they start coming 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 KSN-TV.
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Gray wolves are once again losing federal protections as the Biden administration starts to reinstate a rule lifting them from the Endangered Species Act.

What's happening?

In September, as reported by the Associated Press, the administration filed an appeal to bring back a Donald Trump-era law that stopped the protection of gray wolves. This law, if reinstated, would give states the ability to control their own wolf population and likely allow for more hunting.

Environmentalists are upset over this move, as they had successfully sued against it in Trump's final days. Now, with the rule being revived, their efforts could have been for naught and placed the wolves back in danger.

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"While wolves are protected, they do very well, and when they lose protections, that recovery backslides," said the Center for Biological Diversity's Collette Adkins, who also shared she was "saddened" by the news.

Why is the Endangered Species Act important?

Lifting protections from the Endangered Species Act for gray wolves could put them in serious danger again. Even though their numbers have grown in some regions like the Great Lakes, they still live in only a small portion of their original habitats. If hunting is allowed, states may not set strict enough limits, as seen in Wisconsin, where hunters nearly doubled their allowed kills. This could quickly reduce the wolf population.

Wolves play a crucial role in keeping ecosystems healthy by controlling populations of animals like deer and elk. Without enough wolves, these prey populations can grow too large, causing harm to plants and other animals that depend on a balanced environment. Taking away federal protection could lead to major disruptions in ecosystems where wolves are essential to maintaining natural balance.

What's being done about the Endangered Species Act?

Federal officials are working on a national recovery plan for gray wolves set to be released by December 2025. This plan aims to balance species recovery with the needs of those living alongside wolves. Conservation groups continue to advocate for full federal protections, citing concerns that state control would lead to overhunting and further jeopardize recovery efforts.

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Air defence systems were responding and explosions were heard in temporarily occupied Crimea on the night of 1-2 November.

Source: Krymskiy Veter (Crimean Wind), Crimean local Telegram channel; Mikhail Razvozhayev, the so-called governor of Sevastopol; Krym.Realii (Crimea.Realities, a project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Details: Razvozhayev reported that an air-raid warning was issued in Sevastopol at around 01:00 due to the threat of a ballistic missile strike.

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Russian monitoring Telegram channels wrote that there was a threat of missiles being launched for Crimea and Sevastopol.

According to local residents, sounds of explosions and air defence responding were heard in the Dzhankoi district. Additionally, bright flashes were seen near the village of Azovske in the Dzhankoi district.

Explosions were also reported in the city of Saky. An air-raid warning in Crimea was in effect for about 30 minutes.

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Air defence has been actively responding to the Russian targets in Kyiv, with shots and explosions being heard, as of the morning of 2 November.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration; correspondents of Ukrainska Pravda; Ukraine's Air Force

Details: Gunfire and explosions were reported in Kyiv at around 08:20.

Authorities wrote that there is a threat of Russian drones in the capital and urged residents to stay in shelters.

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An air-raid warning has been in effect for four hours since 05:00.

The Air Force later clarified that drones were moving toward Kyiv from the western direction.

Update: The all-clear was given after 10:00.

The Kyiv City Military Administration stressed that all the UAVs that were targeting Kyiv had been shot down.

As a result of the Russian drone attack on Kyiv, the drone wreckage fell in six districts of the capital  Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi, Pecherskyi and Dniprovskyi. There is damage to residential buildings and cars.

One person was reported to have suffered from poisoning with combustion products.

At the moment, Russian UAVs are still being detected in Kyiv Oblast.

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HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  Local officials and service providers got the chance to learn about human trafficking in Vanderburgh County.

The Vanderburgh County Prosecutors Office says this event called Faces of Change where a former victim of human trafficking, Leslie King, spoke about her journey.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Winston Lin gave an opening remark and investigator, Daren Harmon, spoke at the event as well. Harmon is the president of the Substance Abuse Council.

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Prosecutor Diana Moers thanked the Substance Abuse Council for organizing the event and opportunity to invest in endeavors that better the quality of life for citizens of the county.

The Vanderburgh County Prosecutors Office works to connect victims of crime with the abundant and much-needed resources that Vanderburgh County offers. As your Prosecutor, I employ seven victim advocates who walk with each victim and survivor every step of the way as their cases move through the courts. My victim advocates also work with community partners to make sure victims are aware of resources available to them from housing to treatment.

Courtesy: Vanderburgh County Prosecutors Office

Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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).
On Oct. 24, Phoenix police arrested a man in connection with a central Phoenix postal box fire that damaged mail-in ballots. The 35-year-old man was booked on suspicion of arson, a felony count, according to police.

Was this a politically motivated action related to the election? Authorities say no.

The drive-up collection box was at the U.S. post office on Seventh Avenue near Indian School Road, according to the Phoenix Fire Department. Police said the fire occurred at about 12:40 a.m. Oct. 24.

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Firefighters forced open the box and extinguished the fire, a spokesperson for the department said. The number of ballots damaged was not known, they said.

The incident differed from what happened Oct. 28 in Portland and nearby Vancouver, Washington, when incendiary devices were set off at two ballot drop boxes, destroying hundreds of ballots in the process, the Associated Press reported.

The election: Will Native voters support Harris or Trump? Two polls find two outcomes

The attacks on Oregon and Washington ballots disrupted the electoral process and were "a direct attack on democracy," one official said.

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The incident in Phoenix was not politically motivated or related to the election, Phoenix police said. The man ignited the fire because he wanted to be arrested, police said.

The man was initially taken into custody for an outstanding and unrelated arrest warrant, police said. He was released from prison in June after a six-month sentence for a February 2023 drug paraphernalia crime, according to records from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry.

Maricopa County braces for security issues

Concern for voter safety and for election officials counting the votes prompted Maricopa County officials to apply increased security measures as Election Day draws near.

No overt threats to voters have been reported, and Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner said he was confident that he had the staff and resources he needed to keep voters and election officials safe amid a contentious presidential cycle.

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"My resources and equipment are dialed up and ready to go," Skinner said. "This is very fluid. As the environment and conditions dictate, we will make sure that level of security is provided there.

"There is no place in politics or this process where criminal activity is allowed," Skinner said. "There is zero tolerance."

Coleby Phillips is a reporter at The Arizona Republic focusing on election misinformation. The work is made possible through a grant from the Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. Reach him at cphillips@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Authorities say Phoenix mailbox fire was not politically motivated
Outside groups have spent at least $3.4 million on political advertising ahead of the Nov. 5 vote on whether to retain three Oklahoma Supreme Court justices. The three justices, James Edmondson, Noma Gurich and Yvonne Kauger, were all previously appointed by Democratic governors. Voters get to decide whether they should stay on the Supreme Court for another six years. The Frontier used court documents and other records to fact-check claims in some of the political ads.

Claim: Ruling on immigrants was 'legislating from the bench'

Claim: The three justices up for retention ruled to make it harder to protect Oklahomans from illegal immigrants arrested for felonies.

Source: People for Opportunity made this claim in an ad accusing the justices of legislating from the bench.

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Fact check: Mostly false

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in 2011 on a state law that made it illegal to transport or provide public benefits to immigrants in the U.S. without legal permission.

While the court upheld almost all of the law, it struck down as unconstitutional one piece that would have classified people charged with felonies or DUIs as flight risks if they were in the United States without legal permission. A judge could use a flight risk classification as a reason to set a higher bail amount or deny bail.

Oklahoma Supreme Court

Edmondson, Gurich and Kauger agreed with the majority opinion, which held that bail in non-capital offenses can only be denied when the proof of guilt is evident, or the presumption great and for community safety.

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The justices wrote that the rest of the law was constitutional and it is not the place of the Supreme Court or any court to concern itself with a statutes propriety, desirability, wisdom or its practicality as a working proposition.

Judges decisions dont always align with the concerns of a community, said Dave Bond, a spokesman for People for Opportunity. He said classifying an immigrant in the U.S. illegally charged with certain crimes as a flight risk would streamline decisions on bail.

 Ari Fife

Claim: The Oklahoma Supreme Court used COVID to change state election law

Claim: Oklahoma Supreme Court justices used COVID-19 to change state election law.

Source: Supported by liberal trial lawyers, they used COVID to change Oklahomas election law, a television ad 46 Action PAC paid for claims.

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Fact check: Mostly false

The Oklahoma League of Women Voters and two Oklahoma residents sued the secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board in 2020, asking the state Supreme Court to require the state to change the instructions for submitting absentee ballots.

Oklahoma had instructed absentee voters that they must have an affidavit accompanying their ballots signed in front of a notary. But state law allowed for people to legally sign affidavits without a notary, under penalty of perjury, the lawsuit argued. The petitioners argued that voters needed to be informed that there was an alternative to having ballots notarized because of an anticipated surge in absentee voting in the 2020 election due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The court ruled 6 to 3 that existing state law allowed for ballots to be submitted without notarized affidavits. Edmondson, Gurich and Kauger sided with the majority opinion in the case.

The Frontier is a nonprofit newsroom that produces fearless journalism with impact in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Legislature quickly stepped in and passed a bill requiring notarization for absentee ballots ahead of the June 2020 primary election. The bill also allowed for voters to attach a photocopy of their photo identification card instead of a notarized signature in the event of a public health emergency. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the bill into law three days after the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued its ruling.

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The Frontierreached out to 46 Action by phone and email but did not hear back.

 Brianna Bailey

Claim: Justices are nominated by 'liberal, unelected Judicial Nominating Commission'

Claim: Oklahoma Supreme Court justices are nominated by the liberal, unelected Judicial Nominating Commission.

Source: A dark-money ad from the group People for Opportunity made this claim.

Fact check: Mixed

While its true that the people who serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission are unelected, the commission is nonpartisan and members are appointed by the governor, the Oklahoma Bar Association and state legislative leaders.

Oklahomans approved the creation of the commission in the 1960s through a state question after a bribery scandal among judges. The 15-member commission has six attorneys and nine non-attorneys who evaluate candidates to fill spots on the states high courts. The governor picks justices from three nominees the commission selects.

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In the last few years, some Republican lawmakers have tried to change or get rid of the Judicial Nominating Commission. They argue the commission is not transparent, favors Democrats and allows too many members to be appointed by the Oklahoma Bar Association. Defenders of the commission say it is able to vet candidates for judicial office based on merit rather than ideology.

 Kayla Branch

Claim: Court blocked Ryan Walters from sending money to private religious schools

Claim: The Oklahoma Supreme Court stopped Ryan Walters from sending money to private religious schools.

Source: The dark money group Protect Our Freedoms LLC said in a campaign mailer that Ryan Walters schemed to illegally send your taxpayer dollars to private religious schools. Thankfully, our Supreme Court stopped him.

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Fact check: Mostly true

The Oklahoma Supreme Court in June struck down a plan to create a Catholic charter school funded with state tax dollars. Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters supported the creation of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Charter School.

The state Supreme Court ruling held that it is unconstitutional for Oklahoma to directly fund religious schools. Justices Edmondson, Kauger and Gurich sided with the majority opinion in that decision.

Some state funding still goes to religious schools through private school vouchers.

The ruling did not affect Oklahomas voucher program, because the money is sent to parents and not directly to religious schools.

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 Brianna Bailey

How the rating system works

True: A claim that is backed up by factual evidence

Mostly true: A claim that is mostly true but also contains some inaccurate details

Mixed: A claim that contains a combination of accurate and inaccurate or unproven information

True but misleading: A claim that is factually true but omits critical details or context

Mostly false: A claim that is mostly false but also contains some accurate details

False: A claim that has no basis in fact

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Supreme Court justice retention election ad fact checks
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A metro family is distraught after their service dog was shot by police, theyre now heartbroken and hoping he survives.

Bruno, the name of Kama Madrids two-year-old pit bull, is now hospitalized and fighting for his life after an incident with Oklahoma City police.

Its been mentally exhausting for myself, and my son doesnt want to let go, he doesnt want to give up on Bruno, Madrid said.

Kama Madrids sons and Bruno at the veterinary clinic

Madrid says OKCPD knocked on her door asking if she had dogs.

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He said, well, we were chasing a fugitive and they were hopping yards and our K-9 unit hit on your yard, Madrid said.

Authorities say while looking for the fugitive, Bruno was shot in the backyard of Madrids home.

She says Bruno has a severed spine and the bullet remains in his chest.

AG Drummond announces change to LTC advocacy program

We didnt even hear him bark, I heard no gunshot, and thats why I was so surprised, said Madrid.

Madrid has two American pit bull service dogs, two-year-old Bruno and 11-year-old Peanut, who is their other service dog.

Madrid now says shes scrambling to find funds to help keep Bruno alive, and has already paid over $1,000 out of pocket.

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To keep him any longer, to give him the treatment he needed was $1,600 a day, says Madrid.

Oklahoma City Police Department sent a statement to News 4.

One of the more dangerous aspects of police work is there are times when officers must quickly enter backyards when chasing or searching for dangerous fugitives. No police officer wants to shoot a dog, especially someones beloved family pet. Oklahoma City Police Department

Madrid said police have been helpful, its just the financial side of things.

She understands the incident wasnt intentional but is overwhelmed with the process of getting reimbursed. Shes now facing paperwork and appeals to the city while hoping for Brunos full recovery.

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The surgical operation must be paid up front.

Madrid is hoping to get donations for the surgery. If youd like to help, shes asking for you to send any funds to her CashApp. Her username is $KayShay1

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Fast Eddie's Pizza in Tangletown closed its doors this week.

The restaurant had to vacate its space at 4747 Nicollet Ave. S after the building's new owner declined to renew the lease, per the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

The restaurant posted on social media in September that it was looking for a new home, but it wasn't able to find a new space before it had to leave its long-time home at the end of October.

Fast Eddie's Pizza Google Maps

The building was recently purchased for $1.6 million by Omar Sabri of Eagle Management, according to the report. Sabri could not be reached for comment.

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It left the pizza shop in a bind. Owner Michael Sloan told MSP Business Journal that he couldn't afford to renovate a new space and moving into a new neighborhood unfamiliar with the restaurant would be too difficult after he had to do it once before. Fast Eddie's had been in Longfellow prior to moving into the Nicollet Avenue location eight years ago.

The news was met with disappointment by neighborhood students. High schoolers from nearby Washburn High, who stop in regularly for pizza by the slice, started a petition to save the restaurant, Southwest Voices reports.

Sloan is putting his equipment into storage in hopes that the right building will surface in the near future. Sloan did not respond to a request for comment.

Elsewhere in the small Nicollet Ave. building, C & G's Smoking Barbecue has already closed. La Estancia at the other end of the strip mall will host its grand opening on Nov. 2 in the space formerly occupied by Prieto.

Related: Staff at Bichota Coffee, a new cafe at George Floyd Square, unionize with support from owner
Eight years after it originally became public, the Access Hollywood recording of Donald Trump bragging about grabbing women by the pussy is having a resurgence.

The recording was published a month before the 2016 election, and while in its immediate aftermath many Republicans distanced themselves from Trump and condemned his words, he went on to win the election.

In the audio Trump describes how hes automatically attracted to beautiful women and just starts kissing them. Its like a magnetI dont even wait. He stated: When youre a star, theyll let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.

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Now the former president is running again, and several young women have posted viral TikTok videos of them reacting to the audio, prompting some young people to listen to it for the first time. Democrats are also resurfacing the lewd comments in this critical week before the election as a way to emphasize the long history of sexual misconduct accusations against Trump made by women even as he claims to be their protector whether they like it or not.

Many young voters may have encountered Trumps comments for the first time this week. Newly eligible voters this year would have been 10 years old when the tape was published in 2016.

I dont think any of my friends had heard it, Kate Sullivan told The Washington Post. The 21-year-old in Ohio heard the clip for the first time on TikTok.

Sullivan posted a video of herself listening to the Trump tape on TikTok last Friday, her eyes widening when the former president says he moved onto a potential conquest like a bitch. White text across the video reads Fathers are voting for this man. It has garnered over 2.7 million views in a week. In the caption, Sullivan tagged Vice President Kamala Harris campaign.

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While Trumps remarks didnt make a notable appearance in 2020, Democrats had been planning on re-upping them even before the tape reentered the public consciousness. On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee announced a seven-figure digital ad buy across lifestyle magazines. The ad aimed at women, running in Vogue and Glamour, has Grab them by the written in cursive with a tabby cat peeking out from behind a ballot box. It urges viewers to vote Democrat, and is meant to remind women who might not be engaged in political news of how they felt when they heard Trumps comments for the first time.

Trumps rhetoric has only become more extreme and disturbing over the years, and whether its a comment from 10 years ago or yesterday, it strikes a chord with American women because its not just hot air  it reflects a real record and agenda that undermines womens right to control their own bodies, Rosemary Boeglin, DNC Communications director, wrote over email.

Tim Walz, Harris running mate, brought Trumps words up this week, tying them to the policies he has championed while in office and on the trail. Those women you are thinking about, they have fewer rights than their mothers or their grandmothers had, Walz said at a campaign rally in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Thursday. Now 20 states have the Trump abortion ban.

He referenced Trumps assertion earlier in the week that we would be a protector of women whether they like it or not.

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Thats how this guy has lived his life, Walz said. Thats why he was on the Access Hollywood tape and thats why he ended up in court.

In May 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. He was found liable for defamation against her again after the verdict, and was ordered to pay $83 million in damages on top of the $5 million already owed Carroll.

Trump originally apologized in 2016 after the tape was released, but has since cast doubt on its authenticity.

Wynton Wong contributed reporting.

The post Fathers are voting for this man: Gen Z revives the Trump Access Hollywood tape appeared first on The 19th.

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The Colbert County Sheriffs Office in Alabama is asking the FBI to investigate a case involving a Black man whose body was found hanging in an abandoned home amid claims from his wife that his death was made to look like a suicide.

The sheriffs office requested the FBI's involvement in the death of 39-year-old Dennoriss Richardson, whose body was found in September, according to The Associated Press.

The sheriff's office did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment from NBC News. The FBI said it was aware of the death, but would neither confirm nor deny they were taking part in an investigation.

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"The FBI is aware of the tragic death of Dennoriss Richardson and takes allegations of federal law violations seriously," the FBI said in a statement. "The FBI reviews allegations of criminal conduct for their merit and conducts further investigation if there is evidence of a potential violation of federal law."

Dennoriss Richardson, who was a baseball and football coach.

Richardson was found hanging by a rope on Sept. 28 at a home in Colbert County. The sheriffs office ruled his death a suicide, the AP reported.

But his wife, Leigh Ann Richardson, is not convinced he died by suicide, telling AL.com that she demands answers.

"This was made to look like a suicide. Its not a suicide," she told the news site.

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She said her husband filed a federal lawsuit in February against police in Sheffield, where they live, accusing them of taking part in abusive behavior while he was detained in the Sheffield City Jail in 2022. The latest filing in the federal case was a motion to substitute parties with Dennoriss Richardson's wife.

A lawyer for the sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine said, according to AL.com, that police spoke to other family members of Dennoriss Richardson who said he had been depressed.

"The D.A.s office ordered an autopsy. The body was sent to the Department of Forensic Science in Huntsville. The cause of death was suicide," Balentine said.

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The AP reported that Sheriff Balentine confirmed the FBI accepted his request to look into the case, saying his department exhausted all resources in its investigation.

Leigh Ann told AL.com that her husband, who was out on bail on a drug charge at the time death, had given his son some of his jewelry because he was going to return to prison to finish out a sentence.

"He was not depressed," she said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The FBI released a statement on Saturday addressing false claims about the election and reaffirming their intention to ensure voter security leading up to Election Day.

The FBI is aware of two videos falsely claiming to be from the FBI relating to election security, one stating the FBI has apprehended three linked groups committing ballot fraud and a second relating to the Second Gentleman, the agency wrote in a post on X. These videos are not authentic, are not from the FBI, and the content they depict is false.

While voters headed to precincts to cast their ballots, the FBI warned individuals to be aware of election related fraud schemes using fake images and names.

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Election integrity is among our highest priorities, and the FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to respond to election threats and protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote, the bureau said in their statement. Attempts to deceive the public with false content about FBI operations undermines our democratic process and aims to erode trust in the electoral system.

The state of Georgia reported an instance of Russian election interference on Friday falsely depicting a Haitian immigrant casting multiple ballots. The Secretary of State addressed the matter by asking Elon Musk to remove the post, labeling it disinformation.

This is false, and is an example of targeted disinformation weve seen this election. It is likely foreign interference attempting to sow discord and chaos on the eve of the election, Raffensperger said in a statement on Thursday night.

Earlier this month, the FBI and CISA also claimed China was behind former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vances (R-Ohio), phone hacks.

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The agency is encouraging voters to stay aware of potential schemes as Nov. 5 approaches.

The FBI encourages everyone to seek election and voting information from reliable sources, such as your local election office, they wrote. And if you suspect criminal activity, we ask that you report that information to state or local law enforcement or your local FBI field office.

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The FBI warned today that two videos circulating online, both having to do with election security, falsely claim to come from the agency.

Authorities said that one video stated that the FBI had apprehended three linked groups committing ballot fraud, and the other had to do with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

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These videos are not authentic, are not from the FBI, and the content they depict is false, the FBI said in a statement.

The statement underscores the extent to which federal and state authorities have concern over false information and deepfakes in advance of the election. Last month, the office of the director of national intelligence issued an assessment that a Russian propaganda unit manufactured and amplified content claiming illegal activity committed by the Democratic vice-presidential candidate during his earlier career. The claims were that Walz sexually assaulting students when he was a high school teacher.

On Friday, intelligence officials issued an assessment that Russian influence actors manufactured a recent video that falsely depicted individuals claiming to be from Haiti and voting illegally in multiple counties in Georgia. Russian sources also manufactured a video falsely accusing an individual associated with the Democratic presidential ticket of taking a bribe from a U.S. entertainer, according to the office of the director of national intelligence.

In the days leading up to the election and afterward, intelligence officials said that they expect Russia to create and release additional media content that seeks to undermine trust in the integrity of the election and divide Americans.

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MILAN, N.M. (KRQE)  More information has been released about a group of inmates accused of running drugs inside a New Mexico federal facility. The feds busted the group that was getting help from the outside.

Its true, there are many challenges that come with the Cibola Correctional Facility, said United States Marshal New Mexico David Barnett at a press conference in Albuquerque on Friday.

Barnett highlighted challenges with federal detainees being held west of Grants. The feds said theyre now cracking down on crime inside the Cibola Correctional Center.

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Bernalillo County offers sign language interpreters to voters

When folks are incarcerated and, in our care, they are truly in our care. We are responsible for their safety. We are responsible for them being housed in a way thats constitutional, that maintains their dignity, said U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Alexander Uballez.

The jail in Milan has more than 440 federal inmates. This week the FBI and U.S. Marshalls conducted search warrants in detainees cells at the facility and multiple homes across New Mexico. Its part of an effort to uncover a drug trafficking network accused of bringing meth, fentanyl, and more into the federal facility.

There are a number of ways in which contraband has entered through the correctional facility. One is staff introduction. Thats through guards or other staff there who bring it into the facility for distribution amongst inmates, Uballez.

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The feds think thats been happening at the facility for years with drugs being smuggled in peoples bodies or being flown in with drones. Some of those drugs the feds said were being thrown over the jails fence.

If you go over to the CoreCivic facility, you will see a fence thats really close to a truck stop and gas station from which people can throw objects over into the yard, said Uballez.

The FBI searched 13 homes mostly in Albuquerque on Wednesday with links to inmates families and gangs. They seized 15 guns, fentanyl, and nearly two dozen cell phones.

Man sentenced for helping cover up Albuquerque murder

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So far, two inmates, Lupe Vargas and Edward Vallez have been indicted in the case. Investigators believe theyre gang members and that one of them had their spouse use a fishing rod to throw a drug-filled package into the prison.

The spouse is among nine people now charged in the case. If convicted of smuggling a drug package into the Cibola County Correctional Center, she faces up to 20 years in prison.

The feds said theyre still investigating. In response, the U.S. Marshals Service said its working with new technology to help find on-body contraband. Theyre also putting new netting around the building to avoid gangs dropping contraband into the facility with drones.

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During a rally in North Carolina on Saturday, Donald Trump once again spread false conspiracy theories about FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene.

The former president claimed in front of a crowd in Gastonia that the federal government used funds to support immigrants instead of providing disaster relief.

FEMA has let you down because they wanted to spend the money on illegal migrants instead, Trump said.

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A FEMA fact check in October confirmed that disaster funds can not be used for other purposes, but that hasn't slowed Trump's repetition of the fabricated gripe.

Trump has repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden's response to the deadly storm by invoking debunked claims about the federal response to the storm. The Biden administration has approved more than $2 billion in assistance for Helene-impacted communities since the storm made landfall.

Youve been through a lot. Your government has not helped you too much, I can tell you, Trump said.

The unfounded conspiracy theories shared by Trump have had real-world consequences, with threats of violence against aid workers temporarily halting some operations. Trumps misinformation campaign has made relief efforts more costly and difficult, encouraging some people impacted by the storm to reject assistance.

Trump while in office frequently weighed denying disaster relief to his political adversaries and Democratic strongholds.
Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris says she firmly supports the Lumbee Tribes pursuit of the full rights, protections, and opportunities that federal recognition brings. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

On Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris voiced support for full federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe, which is comprised of more than 50,000 people in North Carolina.

Its a significant announcement, as the tribe has been pursuing federal recognition since 1888. The Lumbee Act of 1956 recognized members as an American Indian tribe, but prevented the tribe from receiving services and benefits provided to members of federally recognized tribes.

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Today, Harris announced that if Congress fails to act in granting federal recognition, she will partner with the Lumbee Tribe to explore administrative options that would give the Lumbee people the recognition they have tirelessly fought for.

The campaign said the Vice President Harris will always be a champion for Tribal Nationsupholding tribal sovereignty, supporting self-determination, and ensuring the federal government lives up to its trust and treaty responsibilities.

Her vision is one where every Native person can fully realize their aspirations, where tribal governments are empowered, and where the federal government honors its trust and treaty responsibilities to Native communities, said a campaign spokesperson.



This is not a new issue for Harris, she endorsed the Lumbee Recognition Act when then-Congressman G.K. Butterfield introduced the legislation in the 117th Congress.

While the House of Representatives passed that legislation, it was left out of a Senate spending bill, despite having the support of North Carolina Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr.

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Last year, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Resolution 499, the Support Lumbee Fairness Act, urging Congress to take up the recognition issue again.

Just last month, President Bill Clinton met with Lumbee leaders in Pembroke where he reiterated that Vice President Harris will fight for long overdue federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe as President.

Former President Donald Trump told supporters in Wilmington this fall if elected were gonna take care of it.

For her part, Harris has said she hopes to pave a new way forward for all Native Americans, where their voices are heard, respected, and reflected in national policies.

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The Lumbee people with an estimated 55,000 members make up the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River. Members of the tribe reside primarily in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland and Scotland counties.

Harris will be in North Carolina once again today. Just days after a large rally in Raleigh, the vice president will headline a celebrity-studded event in Charotte to continue her closing appeal to North Carolina voters.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  With just three days left until voters head out in droves to the polls in Tuesdays contentious presidential election, both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will be in the greater Charlotte area on Saturday making one final plea to voters.

At noon, the former president is set to hold a rally in Gastonia at the Gastonia Municipal Airport. This is his second visit this week alone to North Carolina and he will be in Kinston on Sunday and Raleigh on Monday.

Later in the evening at 5 p.m. on Saturday, the vice president will be in Charlotte for a rally at the amphitheater PNC Pavilion. She will be joined by Kerry Washington, Jon Bon Jovi, Khalid, and others.

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Both candidates appear to be in a dead heat according to the majority of the polls and it is still unclear if one or the other has any sort of lead.

Bill Clinton will attend church in Charlotte on Sunday and Barack Obama was in the Queen City for a campaign rally at the Charlotte Convention Center last week.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, early voting records are being shattered with more than half (51%) of registered voters casting their ballots already.

With early voting sites expected to be very busy today and tomorrow, this is really good news for North Carolina, said BOE Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell. For the eligible North Carolinians who havent voted yet, you still have time to make your voice heard.

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Queen City News will have full wall-to-wall coverage of local, state-level, and national elections on Tuesday night.

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A strike sign is seen on display as Boeing workers gather on a picket line near the entrance to a Boeing facility during an ongoing strike on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Seattle. Experts say a pair of major hurricanes and labor strikes influenced a weak jobs report for October, the final one U.S voters will see with only days left in the presidential campaign. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

U.S. businesses added only 12,000 jobs in October, the Labor Department announced Friday, in a weak final jobs report heading into the final days of the presidential election. But experts say a pair of major hurricanes and labor strikes in manufacturing, hotels, and cargo transport obscure the view of the economy  a key issue for voters picking who should lead the country.

The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% after falling a tenth of a percentage point the prior two months.

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Strikes in October made it challenging to meaningfully understand the abysmal jobs number, said Lauren Saidel-Baker, an economist at ITR Economics, a nonpartisan economic research and consulting firm based in New Hampshire.

Thats really where we see the difference between, say, the unemployment rate  that was steady at 4.1%  against this very disappointing jobs figure, she said. Those are two different surveys. One is from households and one is from businesses, and so with a strike, a striking worker can say, Im still employed. I havent lost my job. Im just temporarily absent from it. Whereas the employer says theyre not here, theyre not working. This isnt a job.

The number of jobs added was far below Goldman Sachs analysts forecast of 95,000 jobs this month.

Manufacturing jobs fell by 46,000 last month, with the vast majority of these numbers reflecting a massive strike. Job growth was projected to fall by at least 50,000 jobs or more in October in most estimates, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning economic think tank. The number of hours worked was also expected to change, but average weekly hours remained the same.

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Tens of thousands of machinists at Boeing have been on strike since September for increased pay and better retirement benefits in September. Hotel chain workers have also been striking over health benefits and hiring to lessen the workload after COVID-19 pandemic-related staffing cuts. The unemployment rate for leisure and hospitality was 6% compared to 5.5% a year ago. In early October, dockworkers stopped work for a few days for better wages and a ban on automation.

Hurricane Helene ripped a path from Florida to the Carolinas in late September and is blamed for more than 200 deaths. Hurricane Milton followed just weeks later in October, devastating more communities in Florida.

Economists expected to see this show up in the jobs data.

Carlos Martin, a senior fellow at Brookings Metro, said that although climate displacement of households is an issue, a lot of people stay where their job is. But if their job no longer exists because businesses have left or ended operations, that could mean a lot for the population.

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Im curious on how [the hurricanes] affects the businesses there, including the small and medium-sized businesses. Are they going to leave?, he said.If businesses arent coming back, employment is not going to be maintained or go up in these places. Thats where youre going to have major population loss..

Many of the same trends seen in past jobs reports continued in Octobers report, including the addition of jobs in healthcare, government, and construction, but professional and business services fell by 49,000 jobs.

Wages rose 0.4% in October and increased 4% over the past year. The labor force participation rate and employment-population ratio, which have been strong in past reports, did not change significantly over the past month or past year.

The category of permanent job losers, or people who did not voluntarily end their employment and who began looking for work, also increased, to 1.8 million in October. Saidel-Baker said that although this is something to watch for in future reports, she doesnt see it as something to worry about now.

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Economists are also watching the jobs report closely to see what influence it may have on the Federal Reserves decision to cut its key rate, which affects everything from credit cards to mortgage rates. The Personal Consumption Expenditures index fell to 2.1% year over year in September  low enough for economists to argue that the Fed should get ready to take deeper cuts.

Todays report shows that the two hurricanes we just experienced had sizable impacts on peoples ability to continue working. While that damage will likely be limited to this months report, job growth has been slowing in recent months and the Federal Reserve should not use it as an excuse to delay their planned rate cuts, Lindsay Owens, executive director of Groundwork Collaborative, a progressive economic think tank, told States Newsroom on Friday.

But the Fed will likely not make any big changes in their decision-making due to one jobs report, particularly one this messy, Saidel-Baker said.

I think the Fed has signaled pretty clearly that they will not be hanging on this one jobs number, she said. They know everything that went into it, the hurricanes, the Boeing strike, etc.

Millions of people have already cast their ballots through the mail or early voting, and the final day of voting in the U.S. is Tuesday.

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LANSING, N.Y. (WETM)  One firefighter was hospitalized after fighting a large brush fire in Tompkins County on Friday night.

According to the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response, about eight to 10 acres of land between the 1300 block of East Shire Drive and the 900 block of Cayuga Heights Road in the Town of Lansing were affected by a fire that was reported just before 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 1. The large fire started as separate fires that were fanned by windy and dry conditions.

First responders closed East Shore Drive from Route 13 near Stewart Park in Ithaca to Oakcrest Drive and part of Cayuga Heights Road while firefighters from across Tompkins County and neighboring counties battled the fire for more than four hours. The Department of Emergency Response says the fire was mostly under control by 11:30 p.m., but crews were still taking care of a few hotspots at that time.

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Authorities say one firefighter was taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries after battling the brush fire, and two other fire personnel were treated at the scene.

The brush fire didnt impact any of the homes in the area, and residents were not ordered to evacuate. Residents were updated about the situation by Tompkins Countys SIREN mass notification system.

The New York State Police Department is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

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JOHNSON CITY, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  A historic firehouse turned theatre in Johnson City, held a big celebration for the buildings 125th birthday.

The municipal building central fire station in J.C. was acquired by the Goodwill Theatre in 2006, and in 2007, became the Schorr Family Firehouse Stage.

On November 1st, 1899, the village celebrated the building opening, which would become space for the villages fire department, police, recreation, and government offices.

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If you build a brand-new building, in this day-and-age, itll last about forty to fifty years. So, it really makes a lot of sense to save an older building. Not just for SMART growth, not just for the environment, its also just smart economically, says Kradjian.

The CEO of the Goodwill Theatre, Naima Kradjian, says plans are underway to restore and revitalize all three floors of the building, which would add performance space.

The birthday celebration featured local politicians and ended with a question-and-answer session with Kradjian.

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In renewed Russian airstrikes, houses in six districts of the Ukrainian capital Kiev have been damaged by debris from drones shot down by air defences overnight on Friday into Saturday.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko spoke of at least two people being injured in the wave of attacks in a post on his Telegram channel.

The military administration in Kiev announced that several fires had been extinguished. One police officer had suffered smoke inhalation.

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In one house, a fire broke out on the 15th and 16th floors and 18 people were brought to safety. According to authorities, several cars were also damaged.

People in the Ukrainian capital had been on air raid alert for more than five hours overnight, lasting into the morning on Saturday.

Explosions could be heard as a result of the drones being intercepted. Air defences reportedly managed to destroy all incoming objects.

The air defence reported a total of 71 Russian drone attacks across Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the latest attacks as acts of Russian terror against the civilian population.

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He said the attacks were proof that the pressure on Russia and its accomplices was not enough.

From 4 am (0200 GMT), other regions of Ukraine, including Sumy and Kharkiv on the border with Russia, were also attacked from the air.

Zelensky thanked the air defence forces, which have been shooting down drones every night during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A woman who pleaded guilty to dressing as a clown and in 1990 murdering the wife of a man she later married was released from prison Saturday, ending a case that has been strange even by Florida standards.

Sheila Keen-Warren, 61, was released 18 months after she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the shooting of Marlene Warren, Florida Department of Corrections records show. The plea deal came shortly before her trial would have started.

Keen-Warren, who has maintained her innocence even after her plea, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. But she had been in custody for seven years since her arrest in 2017, and Florida's law in 1990 allowed significant credit for good behavior. It had been expected she would be released in about two years.

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Sheila Keen-Warren will always be an admitted convicted murderer and will wear that stain for every day for the rest of her life," Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in a statement Saturday.

Greg Rosenfeld, Keen-Warren's attorney, has said she only took the plea deal because she would be released in less than two years and had been facing a life sentence if convicted at trial.

We are absolutely thrilled that Ms. Keen-Warren has been released from prison and is returning to her family. As weve stated from the beginning, she did not commit this crime," he said Saturday in a text message.

Marlene Warrens son, Joseph Ahrens, and his friends were at home when they said a person dressed as a clown rang the door bell. He said that when his mom answered, the clown handed her some balloons. After she responded, How nice, the clown pulled a gun and shot her in the face before fleeing.

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Palm Beach County sheriff's investigators had long suspected Keen-Warren in the slaying, but she wasn't arrested until 27 years later when they said improved DNA testing tied her to evidence found in the getaway car. Rosenfeld has called that evidence weak.

At the time of the shooting, Keen-Warren was an employee of Marlene Warrens husband, Michael, at his used car lot. Since 2002, she has been his wife  they eventually moved to Abingdon, Virginia, where they ran a restaurant just across the Tennessee border.

Witnesses told investigators in 1990 that the then-Sheila Keen and Michael Warren were having an affair, though both denied it.

Over the years, detectives said, costume shop employees identified Sheila Warren as the woman who had bought a clown suit a few days before the killing.

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And one of the two balloons  a silver one that read, Youre the Greatest  was sold at only one store, a Publix supermarket near Keen-Warren's home. Employees told detectives a woman who looked like Keen-Warren had bought the balloons an hour before the shooting.

The presumed getaway car was found abandoned with orange, hair-like fibers inside. The white Chrysler convertible had been reported stolen from Michael Warrens car lot a month before the shooting. Keen-Warren and her then-husband repossessed cars for him.

Relatives told The Palm Beach Post in 2000 that Marlene Warren, who was 40 when she died, suspected her husband was having an affair and wanted to leave him. But the car lot and other properties were in her name, and she feared what might happen if she did.

She allegedly told her mother, If anything happens to me, Mike done it. He has never been charged and has denied involvement.

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But Rosenfeld said last year that the states case was falling apart. One DNA sample somehow showed both male and female genes, he said, and the other could have come from one out of every 20 women.

And even if that hair did come from Keen-Warren, it could have been deposited before the car was reported stolen. He said Marlene Warren's son and another witness also told detectives that the car deputies found wasnt the killers, though investigators insisted it was.

Aronberg last year conceded that there were holes in the case, saying they were caused by the three decades it took to get it to trial, including the death of key witnesses.

Michael Warren was convicted in 1994 of grand theft, racketeering and odometer tampering. He served almost four years in prison  a punishment his then-attorneys said was disproportionately long because of suspicions he was involved in his wifes death.

He did not respond to a phone message left for him Saturday.

___

This article corrects the spelling of the city of Abingdon, Virginia.
LAKE ST. LOUIS, Mo.  A foreign national was charged in the murder of a Lake St. Louis man found deceased in his home earlier this week.

The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has charged William T. Roberts, 46, from the country of Cyprus, with second-degree murder and tampering with a motor vehicle in the investigation.

Whats on your ballot for the November 5 Missouri general election?

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According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, police found the victim dead in his Lake St. Louis home on Wednesday after responding to a well-being check, which was requested by the victims wife while she was out of town in Florida. She contacted authorities when her husband stopped answering his phone.

When police arrived to the home, the victim was found deceased with numerous puncture wounds, swelling, bruising and partially inside of a dog cage, per court documents. Investigators noted evidence of an attempted cover-up, including a sheet placed over the victims body. A knife handle was also found in a bedroom with a missing blade.

Authorities have not disclosed the victims identity or the location of the home as of Saturday.

Prior to the police response, the victims wife informed officers that she had last spoken with him on Tuesday, the same night he went to an airport to pick up Roberts from an international flight. Police learned that Roberts was planning to stay with the victim for about a week, per court documents.

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As the investigation continued, police learned the victims truck was missing from the home. Surveillance cameras had spotted it in several locations after the victims death, including several counties in Missouri and Illinois. Eventually, Illinois State Police conducted a traffic stop that led to the arrest of Roberts near Joliet, Illinois.

My thoughts are with the victims family during this difficult time. Id like to commend the Lake St. Louis Police Department and the Illinois State Police for their swift action in apprehending a suspect and assure the public that there is no threat to the community. said St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph G. McCulloch via a news release.

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Roberts was booked into jail in St. Charles County on a $750,000 cash-only bond.

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A former Walt Disney World worker has been arrested following an investigation by the FBI alleging he hacked servers after being fired from the park and altered menus with profane and dangerous content.

According to a federal criminal complaint obtained by ABC News, the former employee was fired last June from his job as a menu production manager in what authorities say was a "contentious and not considered to be amicable" termination. Among his job duties were creating and publishing menus for all of the company's restaurants.

The complaint details how the defendant allegedly changed the menus to include language that wasn't family-friendly and altered the allergen information to wrongly declare some items as safe. Disney was able to catch the changes before they were shipped to restaurants. If successful, the act could've resulted in "potentially fatal consequences depending on the severity of the customers' allergies," the complaint said. The man became a suspect because only someone in his position at the company "would have the accesses and knowledge to carry out the attacks."

The ex-employee denied any wrongdoing after an FBI search of his house last month. His attorney, David Haas, said Oct. 31 that his client would plead not guilty after authorities file a formal indictment. He remains in jail until his bond hearing set next week.
MARYLAND (DC News Now)  A former Fairmount Heights officer was convicted for obstructing justice by writing a false police report after having sex with a young woman who had been arrested in 2019.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said that Martique Vanderpool, a former Fairmount Heights police officer, falsified a police report to disrupt an investigation into an incident involving him and another officer.

Charging documents: Former University Park mayor had over 45K child pornography files at time of FBI arrest

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A release from the DOJ said that in September of 2019, Vanderpool and former Officer Phillip Dupree arrested a 19-year-old woman for speeding. They learned that she only had a learners permit and was rushing to get to her young son, who had been injured in an accident.

The DOJ said that the officers ordered her to get out of the car, and she had a panic attack. Dupree handcuffed her, and in an apparent state of mental distress, she ran into the street and then banged her head on the side of the car she had been driving.

Vanderpool and Dupree had the car  which was registered to someone else  towed and took her to the Fairmount Heights Police station. The DOJ noted that the station had no holding cell or booking facilities, and that officers were not supposed to take prisoners to that station.

While they were there, Vanderpool and Dupree removed the womans handcuffs. Evidence presented during the trial stated that Vanderpool told the woman, We gotta make this right, before having sex with her in the station.

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The judge, in finding that the false report was intended to interfere with an investigation that was within the jurisdiction of the FBI, noted that the young woman was a teenager, was slight of build, was in a state of panic, was forced to the ground by an officer, had her car towed, said that she needed to get to her son, was taken in handcuffs to the police station and was told to make this right. Department of Justice statement

The officers then took the woman to the tow lot and returned the car to her, even though it was not registered to her.

Vanderpool falsified a report that stated that the officers and the woman never left the scene of the traffic stop and that they returned the car to the registered owner.

DC man sentenced to 7.5 years for possessing, distributing child pornography

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His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2025. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Dupree was recently convicted for using unreasonable force during an arrest in an unrelated case.

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A Warren County attorney was suspended from practicing law for two years after he assaulted two women in an alcohol-fueled violent outburst.

The Supreme Court of Ohio suspended William McClain on Friday, a former judge advocate general with the 88th Air Base Wing, for two years, with credit for the suspension he's already served.

McClain, who lives in Franklin, Ohio, according to the court, has been under interim suspension since March 2023, a month after he was convicted of aggravated assault and inducing panic, both felonies.

July 1, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Ohio Supreme Court building, 65 S. Front St., in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

McClain's night out in October 2022 with his fiancee, her daughter and two other women ended with him chasing the women through his neighborhood with a gun.

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According to the court, McClain assaulted his fiancee in the parking lot of a bar. The women left the bar without McClain, but eventually took his fiancee back to the home they shared. The women tried to remove McClain's many guns from his house, which led to an argument. The attorney assaulted his fiancee's daughter, who then stabbed him in the torso with a kitchen knife.

All four women fled the house and McClain chased after them with a gun. He held his fiancee and her daughter at gunpoint, but they were able to get away. He fired one shot into the air and went home, the court's opinion read.

Police, Warren County's Tactical Response Unit and a SWAT team had to deploy gas canisters into the home to get McClain to surrender.

He pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault and inducing panic, misdemeanor assault, domestic violence and using a weapon while intoxicated. McClain was sentenced to three years of community control, allowing him to stay out of prison while being under the control of a court. He was also required to undergo mental health and substance abuse counseling.

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According to the opinion, McClain served as a judge advocate general at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base prior to the assaults on Oct. 29, 2022. In that position, he provided legal support to officers, airmen, Air Force civilians and more. The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct said he had served honorably in the U.S. military since he was 18.

The board concluded McClain's violent outburst was caused by excessive drinking and untreated mental health issues. In their recommendation that McClain be suspended for two years, including time credited, the board also said he has been undergoing treatment for mental health and alcohol use, and has been sober since his arrest. The board said that "when sober, (McClain) is a respectful and compassionate person, a loving father, and a hardworking and talented attorney.

The court agreed with the board's recommendation that McClain be suspended for two years with credit for the time he's already been suspended, which means his suspension will be lifted March 2025. He will also have to meet five requirements to be reinstated, which include complying with the terms of his criminal sentence, mental health treatment and more.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former judge advocate general in Ohio suspended after assault
Former Louisville Metro Police Department detective Brett Hankison has been found guilty of using unjustified and unreasonable force against Breonna Taylor in 2020 when he fired into her window, which was covered with blinds and curtains through which he could not see, on the night she died.

Hankison was found not guilty on a separate charge of using excessive force against Taylors neighbors, whose apartment was also hit by the gunfire.

A federal jury in Louisville returned the verdict Friday night, after hours of deliberations. At one point, jurors told the judge they did not think they could reach a verdict, Louisville television station WHAS reported.

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It took a lot of time. It took a lot of patience. It was hard, Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, told the Associated Press. The jurors took their time to really understand that Breonna deserved justice.

Hankison is scheduled to be sentenced March 12 and could face up to life in prison, according to the AP.

Breonna Taylors life mattered, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. We hope the jurys verdict recognizing this violation of Ms. Taylors civil and constitutional rights brings some small measure of comfort to her family and loved ones who have suffered so deeply from the tragic events of March 2020. We hope that communities use this moment to say her name and to engrave on their hearts and minds Breonna Taylors life and enduring legacy. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously defend the civil rights of every person in this country to be free from unlawful police violence.

Police broke down the door to Taylors Springfield Drive apartment unannounced after midnight on March 13, 2020. Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, later said he thought the police were intruders breaking in, and he fired a shot at them with a legally-owned gun, hitting one officer in the leg.

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Hankison testified at the trial that he moved around the corner of the apartment building and fired shots into Taylors unit, according to the AP. He fired 10 rounds, but none of them hit anyone.

Two officers besides Hankison returned Walkers fire from the doorway, hitting and killing Taylor. They were not charged because prosecutors said their use of force was justified in response to the shot fired at them.

Prosecutors said Hankisons actions in firing without being able to see his target threatened the lives of citizens and other officers, WDRB reported.

It was the third time Hankison has been tried on charges related to the raid.

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A mistrial was declared when the jury could not reach a verdict in Hankisons federal case last November.

In 2022, he was acquitted in a state trial on wanton endangerment charges.

Hankison, who previously worked for the Lexington Police Department, served 17 years with the Louisville police before being fired in June 2020 for violating procedure when he fired blindly into Taylors apartment.

Two other officers, former LMPD Sgt. Kyle Meany and former LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes, are still facing charges.

One officer, former LMPD detective Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy in 2022, admitting that she helped falsify the warrant affidavit to allow officers to search Taylors apartment, then made false statements to try to cover it up.

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Her sentencing is scheduled for April 29.

The death of Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician, became a galvanizing issue in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, leading to calls for search warrant reform across the nation and months of nightly protests in Louisville.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Morgan Ortiz, a former New Mexico State Police officer, is in hot water once again. Ortiz and Dr. Keith Levitt were charged by the states Department of Justice this week after a grand jury returned several indictments for the two men.

According to the state, Ortiz and Levitt are accused of a fraud scheme that wrongfully billed the Medicaid program more than $800,000 over the course of March 2019 and April 2021.

Court documents state the defendant did the scheme through a substance abuse recovery program they ran, which has since been shut down. The defendants face a total of 16 criminal charges, and this isnt Ortizs first time getting in trouble with the law.

Story continues below

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Back in August of 2016, Ortiz was arrested for a third DWI. Ortiz and Levitt are also being charged with identity theft. The state claims that the two used the identity of a New Mexican physician without his consent. The charges also include accusations that Ortiz was practicing medicine in the state without a proper medical license.

Other charges in the indictment include forgery and falsifying documents. The case was investigated by New Mexicos Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Division.

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Four people were hospitalized after escaping a boat fire that erupted off the Long Beach coast Friday evening, authorities said.

At 7:11 p.m., Long Beach Fire Department officials received a call about the fire on a 30-foot boat about 100 feet from the shore between the Queen Mary and the Hotel Maya, said department spokesman Jake Heflin.

Units arrived at the scene by 7:15 p.m., Heflin said, and found seven people floating on a dinghy away from the main boat. The fire was extinguished, he said, and the boat was towed to an isolation dock in Alamitos Bay.

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Two individuals suffered injuries that required "immediate" attention while the other five had less significant wounds, Heflin said. He said three declined to be taken to a hospital.

Heflin said it was unclear what kind of injuries the victims sustained or what caused the fire.

The boat fire did not damage any other structures or craft in the area, he said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ST. THOMAS, Pa. (WHTM)  A Franklin County fire company is making quite the donation to a fire department in Tennessee still recovering from Hurricane Helene.

It makes me feel pretty proud that we were able to do something. Our department members are pretty excited about, said Chief Thomas Bigler with St. Thomas Fire and Rescue.

Bigler tells abc27 News, they connected with the Limestone Cove Volunteer Fire Department in Tennessee.

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Schuylkill County-based fundraiser aims to help Hurricane Helene victims

They needed some apparatus, Bigler said. We had an older truck that was here that was in service about two years ago, and we decided to donate it to them.

Bigler says the truck they are donating is a 1997 E-One Pumper, its got a 1500 pump on it, 750 [gallons] of water.

And with the truck, Bigler says they are also sending down $10,000-to-$20,000 worth of equipment.

Weve donated gear and things like that to other departments in the area that they need help with stuff, Bigler added. This is the first time weve donated something this of this magnitude.

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A Franklin County trucking company is even driving the donation to Tennessee.

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Expected delivery around noontime tomorrow, said Randy Brake, Advisor and driver with Charles E. Brake Transport LLC. Everyones starting to get into Christmas spirit. So, were just starting it over early this year.

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Several organised buses with Moldovan citizens living in Russia have arrived in Moldova over the past two days to vote in the second round of the presidential elections; according to unofficial reports, the trip was completely free of charge.

Source: Moldovan news outlet TV8, European Pravda; General Inspectorate of Police in Moldova

Details: It was stated that before the second round of elections, Moldovan citizens living in Russia were brought to Moldova on specially organised rides, and the hauliers did not have any contracts for this transportation.

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Quote from the Moldovan Police: "We note that this is an organised transportation carried out with certain interests in mind."

Despite this, these people will be allowed into Moldova anyway, as they are Moldovan citizens.

The IPN news agency, citing sources from the customs service and border police, wrote that there had been three buses with about 150 passengers.

They travelled by plane from Russia to Istanbul, where they were met by three buses with Moldovan registration numbers, taken to Bulgaria, where they switched to buses with Bulgarian registration, which eventually arrived at the Cahul-Oancea border crossing.

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These anonymous sources report that they did not pay for the flight or the bus seat and were allegedly offered a free trip to Moldova to vote in the second round of the presidential election.

It should be noted that in this year's presidential election, Moldova organised only two polling stations for its citizens in Russia. On the day of the first round, footage of huge queues outside them emerged. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry replied that this could be the result of organised transportation of voters to the polling stations.

Background:

On 3 November, Moldova will conduct the second round of presidential elections, featuring incumbent President Maia Sandu and pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo. Postal voting for this round has already concluded.

In the first round of voting, Maia Sandu secured 42.37% of the votes, while Alexandr Stoianoglo, the candidate from the pro-Russian Party of Socialists of Moldova, garnered 26.02%. However, in the second round, he has a chance to win if he collects the votes of all those voters who want to vote "against Sandu".

Read more: The EU, communism, and a "new perspective" on Ukraine: all about Stoianoglo, Moldovas potential new president

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Raymond Powell, a Gary native now living in Indianapolis, wasnt sure of his voting status after his release from prison. So when he visited the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to update his address, he was taken aback by a simple question from the clerk: Are you a registered voter?



They asked if I was a registered voter and I told them no, Powell recalled. Then they asked if I wanted to register? I told them yes, and they asked me a few questions, they gave me a voter registration card, and I was registered to vote.

Powell is one of millions of Americans to have been imprisoned and left uncertain about their voting rights. Fortunately for Powell and other Hoosiers, Indiana allows residents to register to vote as soon as they are released from prison. But in many states, former prisoners, individuals on parole, and even those with felony records from years past remain barred from voting. The impact of these restrictions is disproportionately felt in Black and Latino communities, adding another layer to racial inequities in the justice system.

In a high-stakes election year, advocates are rallying around federal voting protections that could restore rights to millions of disenfranchised Americans, a move they say is critical to addressing persistent disparities in political participation. These restrictions disproportionately affect minority groups, with advocate groups warning the stakes couldnt be higher to pass federal protections.

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Powell, now the pre-release manager at Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry (P.A.C.E.) in Indianapolis, helps recently released citizens navigate their return to society. This election cycle, he joined forces with the American Civil Liberties Union in its Yes, You Can Vote campaign, to inform formerly incarcerated Hoosiers of their restored voting rights.

As long as you are not currently in prison for a conviction, you are able to vote, said Laura Forbes of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana.

I know a lot of people are really surprised when they hear that, which makes sense, because there are so many states that disenfranchise people even after they leave prison.

There are 25 to be exact.

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Currently, 10 states bar citizens with felony convictions from voting, even after they have completed their sentences. An additional 15 states restrict voting rights for individuals on parole or probation.

The Freedom to Vote Act, introduced in 2021, would ensure every citizen has the right to vote by restoring the right to vote in federal elections for people who have served their time for felony convictions and are no longer incarcerated. The bill also makes provisions for automatic voter registration and making Election Day a public holiday. But it has not passed yet.

Greta Bedekovics, associate director of democracy policy at the Center for American Progress and author of last months report, Pass the Freedom to Vote Act: How Elections Would Look Different This Year and in the Future, described the Freedom to Vote act as monumental legislation.

There are 3.3 million Americans who would be affected by a Freedom to Vote Act who currently are not able to vote. That would include people on parole, probation, and people who completed their sentence, she said. Thats a huge part of the American electorate, especially states with heavy disenfranchisement laws like Alabama.

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In Alabama, for instance, a Center for American Progress report found that approximately 292,000 Alabamians could have regained their right to vote and become eligible to cast a ballot for the 2024 general election, including 129,000 Black Alabamians and 3,000 Hispanic/Latino Alabamians. According to the NAACPs criminal justice fact sheet, Black Americans are jailed at five times the rate of their white counterparts.

According to Bedekovics, a Freedom to Vote Act could lead to 8 million more registered voters nationwide, with 3.8 million expected to cast ballots. The measure would register an additional 1.2 million Black voters alone, resulting in an estimated 600,000 more Black Americans at the polls. In Indiana specifically, Bedekovics found that 50,000 more Black voters would be registered if automatic voter registration was enacted.

Thats 10% of the states Black population (per 2022 census data), which is very significant. And we think 24,000 would likely cast a ballot, she said.

For his part, Powell plans to continue his work spreading voting awareness and helping formerly incarcerated individuals in Indianapolis and Gary. He co-founded the nonprofit Community Change Center, which has two re-entry homes in Garys Glen Park neighborhood.

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Through fundraising and a match from NIPSCO, Powell says they have started a food truck that will allow them to hire individuals who are just returning home.

Ultimately, our goal is to turn it into a restaurant where it will be run by individuals that are coming home from incarceration, Powell said.

Theyll receive some employment, and we can also tie housing people into it. We really need Mayor Eddie [Melton] to get more involved with it. I would love to sit down with him and have a conversation.

The post How the Freedom to Vote Act Could Add 50,000 Black Voters in Indiana appeared first on Capital B Gary.
The federal agency tasked with protecting the nations elections systems has retreated from some of the key work it did to counter false and viral information about voting in the 2020 election, including dismissing or ignoring multiple internal and external policy proposals to combat disinformation, numerous sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The Department of Homeland Securitys cybersecurity agency, or CISA, is charged with protecting election infrastructure from physical and cyberattacks, a task that has grown in importance since Russian intelligence agents conducted a wide-ranging effort to influence the 2016 election.

While CISA has actively called out foreign disinformation efforts this year, it has been less active in swatting down domestic election disinformation, according to interviews with election officials, a review of public records and sources in the federal government.

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Agency officials no longer pass along to social media platforms viral online falsehoods flagged by election officials from both parties, as they did in 2020, following a lawsuit from Republican attorneys general that accused the agency of censorship.

A webpage that CISA aggressively maintained to debunk viral election rumors in 2020 has been sparsely updated. Some internal proposals to support election officials efforts to combat disinformation have made little headway. And one of the agencys top experts on election-related disinformation has been marginalized and not fully utilized by the agency, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

CISA Director Jen Easterly has emphasized in public remarks that it is not the agencys job to police speech on social media platforms.

Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in an interview in Washington, DC, on October 2, 2024. - Ben Curtis/AP

The agency has advised election officials on how to communicate clearly with voters and to prepare for security incidents. Easterly has also used her account on the social media platform X to push out facts about the voting process and has repeatedly gone on national television to discuss the security of the election process.

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But inside CISA, sources told CNN there is frustration that the agency hasnt done more to help election officials counter lies that can inspire violent threats against those officials.

A fear of appearing partisan or of infringing on free speech has shackled the agencys approach to election-related falsehoods that Americans are freely sharing, the sources said.

In late September, Sen. Mark Warner, the powerful chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sent Easterly a stern letter imploring her to do more to combat disinformation ahead of the election.

I strongly urge you to use all the tools at your disposal to support state and local election officials in the face of an unprecedented rise in targeted disinformation campaigns, the Virginia Democrat wrote.

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CNN has requested comment from CISA on its response to the letter.

Some in the election community would also like to see CISA do more to combat falsehoods.

I would like to see more a concerted effort from CISA on domestic information that affects election infrastructure, an executive at a voting equipment company, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, told CNN. Voting vendors have faced violent threats over false claims that their machines rigged the 2020 election.

The executive pointed to recent viral falsehoods that voting machines had flipped votes in multiples states. What if a group of Americans spread those lies on a national scale and created chaos?

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If that does happen, if CISA is really focused on foreign malign influence, who is going to fight back against a coordinated effort? the executive wondered.

CNN has requested comment from CISA on its response to the recent spate of baseless voting machine claims.

Social media platforms loosen guardrails

Four years after the 2020 election, when false claims of voter fraud fueled a violent effort to overturn the election, the information environment around elections has only grown more chaotic.

Disinformation remains rampant online. But since 2021, under pressure from Republican lawmakers, the social media industry has pivoted from many of the commitments, policies and tools it once embraced to help safeguard the peaceful transfer of democratic power.

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After the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, platforms including Meta, Twitter and YouTube suspended thousands of accounts that spread election lies and removed posts glorifying the attack.

Under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk, Twitter, now X, has emerged as one of the biggest sources of election conspiracy theories.

Election officials in battleground states have tried to relay accurate information to Musk in hopes that he would stop spreading conspiracy theories about voting, to little avail.

There is an acute concern among some senior US officials that the combination of false information and violent rhetoric that complicated the federal response to Hurricane Helene in September could surface in a much more potent way on or after Election Day.

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It got a lot of us worried, a US official told CNN.

Its another messenger

Easterly and her top elections security adviser, Cait Conley, have traveled the country to offer support, security advice and training to election officials from both parties. They point out that state and local election officials are the best sources for accurate information. CISA has advised states on setting up their own websites to debunk disinformation.

CISA is one of multiple federal agencies involved in election security. The FBI investigates violent threats to election officials, while the Election Assistance Commission certifies voting equipment and educates voters about the process.

Directly countering false election narratives online and more consistently and forcefully promoting accurate information about voting are well within CISAs remit, election officials and experts say. And CISA can do so without violating the First Amendment, they say.

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I think its valuable to have multiple levels of government saying, Thats false, one senior state-level election official said. Its another messenger with a different microphone that can hammer home the point to the American public, the election official said.

Not everyone agrees. Some election officials interviewed by CNN were skeptical about the federal governments ability to debunk election lies that are part of a broader rise of misinformation in America.

This is such a larger conversation than election administration, said Stephen Richer, a top Republican election official in Arizonas Maricopa County who has faced violent threats for saying the 2020 election was secure. I tend to think that election administration and democracy is just a proxy war for the larger fight on an objective truth.

In an interview with CNN, Conley touted CISAs efforts to protect election officials from disinformation-fueled violence, in part by ramping up physical security resources to those officials

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Since January 2023, weve conducted nearly 1,200 physical security assessments of election facilities, she said.

In many respects, CISA has increased its election security efforts since 2020. The agency now has a team of former election officials who provide physical and cybersecurity services to election offices around the country. CISA, the FBI and US intelligence agencies have rapidly debunked fake videos about voting spread by Russian operatives on X in the last month.

It is irresponsible when domestic actors amplify those narratives, Conley told CNN. We are literally playing into the hands of our adversaries.

But given the violent threats facing election officials across the country, many in the community are calling for a more robust response from all segments of society in combatting disinformation.

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The defenders and protectors of our democracy need to become much more aggressive, much more assertive, Adrian Fontes, Arizonas Democratic secretary of state, told CNN, referring to federal agencies and media outlets alike.

It is worth protecting and it is worth protecting vigorously, he said. And if people get their feelings hurt because youre calling them a liar, let them prove that their lie is true in court.

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Gazing out at the sea of marsh grasses on Hart-Miller Island, Joe Corcoran had his eyes peeled.

Corcoran, a longtime birder and president of the Baltimore Bird Club, was looking for a king rail, a threatened species difficult to find in Maryland.

Using his iPhone, Corcoran played the birds call aloud, hoping to draw out any rails that could be hiding amid the waving reeds.

Then, he heard it: A sharp kek, kek, kek. The sound of a king rail.

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For Corcoran, it was a highlight of Octobers birding trip to Hart-Miller, a once-eroded island chain offshore of Baltimore County that was brought back to life by sediment dredged from the Chesapeake Bay.

In all, birders on the October tour spotted (or overheard) 78 different bird species: Royal terns, buffleheads, trumpeter swans, American-Golden plovers. About 300 different species have been observed on the island, according to an online database called eBird.

Though its now a popular tourist attraction, the restoration of the island didnt come without controversy. Residents pushed their fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, though they were unsuccessful.

Since the placement of dredge material ended on Hart-Miller in 2009 due to state legislation, birding tours have become increasingly popular. Officials from the Maryland Environmental Service, which maintains the islands dredge facility, say they have conducted tours for hundreds of people over the past few years.

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So environmentalists  and bird lovers in particular  had lots to say after word came down, shortly after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, that Hart-Miller was a possible destination for material dredged from the Patapsco River to create a new berth for massive ships, which would have been reachable even with the bridge site blocked by debris.

In part because of residents vocal pushback, Tradepoint abandoned its plan for Hart-Miller. Instead, it will store about 4.2 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment elsewhere, including at an ocean storage facility, and at other dredge storage areas locally. Unanticipated speed bumps that would have slowed the placement of dredge at Hart-Miller also played a role.

The Bird Club, for its part, was concerned that Tradepoints plan would have dumped dredge material on key habitat in the north cell of the island, a popular congregating area for birds, with no plans in place to preserve sections of habitat.

The entire wildlife habitat in the north cell will be decimated by becoming covered in dredge slurry during the process, read a letter from the Bird Club regarding Tradepoints plans. This is unacceptable!

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But the club was open to a plan that would have saved certain areas in the north cell for continued use by birds, Corcoran said. They were hoping for a 100-acre tract to be undisturbed by new sediment.

Forgotten grandchild

Currently, the islands future is up in the air.

Had Tradepoint moved forward with the plan, the company had pledged $40 million in community benefit funding, to be split between Hart-Miller Island and waterfront residential communities in Baltimore County.

The wish list is long for a beloved island still developing as a wildlife hub and tourist attraction in the decade since dredge placement came to a close, said Paul Brylske, president of the Friends of Hart-Miller Island.

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Through the free birding tours, offered about twice per month during warmer months and once a month after fall begins, participants are able to board a boat operated by the Maryland Environmental Service, and use a designated dock. But otherwise, visitors must beach or anchor their boats in order to access Hart-Miller, since there are no public docks at the island.

During the tours, led by MES, participants make their way to the islands north cell. Normally, this area isnt open to the public, because it must undergo continued maintenance, Brylske said. It was the north cell that continued receiving dredge material through 2009. The south cell, which stopped receiving sediment in 1990, is now partly a state park, complete with a snowball stand, bike rental area and restrooms.

The citizens are paying for it, and they cant have access to it, Brylske said. We want to have people who arent ardent birders to be able to have access.

During the tour, participants view mudflats along the rim of the massive ponds in the north cell, where a host of gulls, plovers and cormorants hang out. But it is the wetlands in the interior of the north cell would be lost to Tradepoints plan, Corcoran said, which often host rails, gallinules, marsh wrens and ducks, Corcoran said.

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The free tours are open to the general public, but to make the cut, registrants must win a lottery on the Maryland Port Administration website.

Brylske was hopeful that Tradepoints dredge material  and its payment  could transform the north cell into an accessible state park one day, perhaps with viewing platforms for birders and other amenities. But now, another source will have to fill that void.

One of the good things that came out of this whole process with Tradepoint is the awareness of folks, especially at the state level, that we have to do something with the north cell, Brylske said. Weve been like this step-forgotten-grandchild.

Tradepoints plan attracted concern from a contingent of residents who expressed concerns about the dredge material that would be bound for the island, laced with fingerprints of Sparrows Points industrial past as Bethlehem Steel.

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Testing commissioned by Tradepoint to determine which sediments met environmental criteria for ocean placement uncovered elevated levels of metals, semi-volatile organic compounds, PCBs (or polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).

To be placed at a dredge site such as the one at Hart-Miller, certain criteria has to be met, Brylske said. But as word spread that toxic waste was bound for the island, some residents balked, Brylske said.

Theres been that type of dredge material out there for 35 years and nothing has happened, Brylske said. All that stuff they worry about dumping in there is already in there.

A natural escape

For the time being, some treasure the islands current state, its natural beauty, and perhaps even its exclusivity.

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For wildlife, the island is a little-developed oasis situated near the mouth of the Back River. And birds arent the only animals to reach it. Hart-Miller has a resident turkey, white-tailed deer and a single squirrel that seemingly hitchhiked onto the island by boat. The rest of the motley crew likely traveled by swimming, said Matias Orrego, an environmental specialist at MES.

On a sunny October day, Ela Carpenter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was visiting the island to place tiny stickers on the wings of monarchs, so that when the migrating orange and black butterflies arrive in Mexico for the winter, researchers there will be able to track them back to the island.

They have an interesting life cycle, where theres four generations that it takes them to go from Mexico to the north back to Mexico, said Carpenter, who was tagging the butterflies for a program called Monarch Watch.

Excuse me, but this is a birding trip, chirped Corcoran, as Carpenter reached her hand through a butterfly net to grasp the flitting female monarch.

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For Lt. Col. Earl Rock Williams, of Essex, the birding tour had a unique meaning. It was the first time he was returning to the island after surviving a helicopter crash onto its banks in 2014 due to a mechanical failure  and his first time actually touring the island on foot.

But being at Hart-Miller wasnt emotional for Williams. It was only natural that he attend, and take the opportunity to watch his favorite species, including herons and woodpeckers, he said.

Its just like anything, he said. Something happens, and you dont stop doing things.

Have a news tip? Contact Christine Condon at chcondon@baltsun.com, 667-256-6883 and @CChristine19 on X.
The owner of a Georgia funeral home who was arrested when 18 decomposing bodies were found while being evicted had a history of financial issues, according to local court records obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Chris Lee Johnson, 39, is the owner of Johnson Funeral and Cremation Services in Douglas, Ga. Coffee County deputies were evicting his business last weekend when bodies were found inside. Johnson was placed under arrest on 17 counts of abuse of a dead body.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has now learned that Johnson was first ordered out of the funeral home back in May because of unpaid rent. But he made $9,000 in overdue payments and was able to appeal the eviction.

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He again missed his rent payments in July and August and was given another eviction notice on October 24, according to Superior Court of Coffee County filings. That eviction was carried out two days later.

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Separately, casket supplier Thacker Caskets demanded more than $9,500 from Johnson in September 2022 for caskets that werent paid for. When Johnson didnt respond to the legal summons, Thacker Caskets filed for a default judgment. In September 2023, a judge ordered Johnson to pay Thacker what he owed them, as well as interest and attorney fees.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also found county documents on another lawsuit related to unpaid equipment, which ordered Johnson to pay more than $21,000.

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GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Gaston County gynecologist is being reprimanded by the state medical board for allegedly sharing a photo of a patient with patrons of a restaurant.

Dr. Sean Michael Lynch, M.D., has been licensed in North Carolina since May 2002. He practices obstetrics and gynecology with a specialization in minimally invasive repair of pelvic organ prolapse.

In a content order, the North Carolina Medical Board says it received two complaints against Lynch within three days of each other in December 2023. The first complaint alleges that Lynch shared detailed information as well as photographs of his patients with other patrons at a local restaurant and bar several times.

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Using his personal cellphone, he is accused of showing graphic photos of patients on the operating table to the other patrons.

Chief deputy of Mecklenburg Sheriffs Office resigns, claiming agency operates like dictatorship

The second complaint came from a woman at the same restaurant who said she did not know Lynch but that they got into a conversation where Lynch spoke in-depth about a procedure he had performed earlier in the day.

During the conversation, the order states that Lynch reportedly showed the woman graphic photos on his cellphone of the patient on the operating table who appeared to be unconscious. The photos, however, did not show the patients face or have any identifying information.

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In an interview with the medical board, officials say Lynch did admit to showing the woman stock photos of a prolapsed uterus and a photo of one of his patients with the same condition. He said the reason was to make conversation and show the severity of the condition, but Lynch reportedly stressed that the patient photos did not have any identifying information.

Lynch also submitted a written statement from one of his colleagues who was with him at the time of the incident and backed up his claims.

According to the medical board, the photo of the patient on Lynchs phone was taken without the patients consent or knowledge and was not taken for her medical record or any valid medical reason.

Following the accusations, Lynch submitted himself to be examined by the North Carolina Professionals Health Program (NCPHP) and, in May 2024, signed a five-year monitoring contract with the agency.

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The medical board says Lynch has been cooperative throughout the entire investigation and demonstrated sincere remorse. In total, the board has received 11 letters from colleagues and patients in support of Lynchs professionalism and character in the last two decades.

Lynch has waived his right to a hearing and has agreed to not contest the ruling.

The medical board has ruled that Lynchs behavior in this incident was unprofessional to the point that state law allows the board to intervene on the status of Lynchs medical license.

The board has ordered that Lynch be officially reprimanded, and his medical license is indefinitely suspended unless he completes the following:

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Maintaining his contract with NCPHP and pay any necessary fees.

Completing a 16-hour Category I continuing medical education course in the next six months and provide proof of completion to the board.

Obeying the law and follow regulations.

Lynch is also to keep in contact with the medical board for any additional meetings or information requests. The board does not have to hear any appeals in this case.

The ruling and subsequent regulations went into effect on Oct. 21.

Wendys closing 140 more restaurants as part of push to update its locations

According to CaroMount Health, Lynch was previously employed with the organization, but his employment ended in late 2023. The organization declined to comment on the details of his departure.

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A spokesperson wrote, CaroMont Health does not, under any circumstance, tolerate the behavior cited in the North Carolina Medical Boards Consent Order and the situation does not reflect the ethical standards expected of physicians and providers at our organization.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Local, regional and state partners are teaming up to aid International Paper workers who will be out of a job by early next year when the factory shuts down.

Helping these families find good jobs right here so they can continue to call this community home and thrive here is our top priority, Georgetown County Administrator Angela Christian said.

SC Works staff will be at the plant Nov. 6-8, helping employees with resume writing and other skills. Contractors affected by the shutdown are also invited to participate. In addition, a job fair is set for Nov. 21-22 at the Howard Center on Hawkins Street.

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Employers interested in participating should email mmorant@gtcounty.org or call 843-545-3161.

Tennessee-based International Paper said on Thursday it plans to wind down operations at the Georgetown County site by years end, putting its 674 employees  526 hourly and 148 salaried  out of work.

Hard hit: Georgetown mom and pop owner saddened by paper mill closing

In addition to the direct loss of jobs, Georgetown County officials say some 200 contractors and many local businesses will feel the consequences as well.

Many mill employees have worked there long-term and havent had a job to seek for years or even decades, SC Works regional manager Kimberly Burke said.

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About 160 new jobs were created in 2024 by new or expanding industries within the county.

County leaders said they developed a multi-phase support strategy shortly after news of mills closure was announced.

Initial response efforts included Georgetown County Economic Development, the state Department of Employment and Workforce, the city of Georgetown, Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments and the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.

The group met with International Paper officials to get a better understanding of shutdown plans and the benefits terminated employees will receive, county spokeswoman Jackie Broach said in a news release.

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Christian said potential employers began calling her in the wake of International Papers decision.

There are opportunities here, she said. As a community, we just have to identify them and be ready to grab them.

The Georgetown mill produces approximately 300,000 tons of fluff pulp thats used in such things as diapers and incontinence products. The mill also produces uncoated freesheet papers that it sells to Sylvamo through a contract that both companies have agreed to terminate as of Dec. 31.

Christian said the job fair is just the start of whats expected to be a long-term economic recovery.

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The impacts felt here are going to be far-reaching, she said.

* * *

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.
Two U.S. pollsters, commissioned by Georgian opposition forces, are questioning the official results of the Oct. 26 parliamentary election, which declared the ruling Georgian Dream party victorious. Opposition parties are organizing another protest next week to contest these results.

Edison Research, hired by the pro-opposition Formula TV, highlighted significant differences between its exit poll and the official count, suggesting "manipulation" of the vote. Another U.S. pollster, HarrisX, which conducted an exit poll for pro-opposition Mtavari Arkhi, described the official results as "statistically impossible," Reuters reported.

This election is critical for Georgia's future direction, with voters choosing between a pro-Western opposition advocating for European integration and the Georgian Dream party, which leans toward Moscow and faces accusations of authoritarianism.

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Election observer groups like the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported incidents of ballot-stuffing, voter intimidation, and bribery, though they stopped short of declaring the election stolen. Russia has denied any interference.

Both Edison and HarrisX had projected a parliamentary majority for Georgias four main opposition parties. However, a separate exit poll from Georgian pollster GORBI, commissioned by pro-government Imedi TV, predicted Georgian Dream would win with 56% of the vote.

Thousands protested in Tbilisi after the election, with more demonstrations planned, while Georgias pro-Western president condemned the election as fraudulent.

Edison's exit poll suggested Georgian Dream took only 41% of the vote, 13 points below the official count of 54%.

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"The 13-point difference between Edisons estimate and the official result... cannot be explained by normal variation alone and suggests local-level manipulation of the vote," Edison's Executive Vice President Rob Farbman said in a statement.

Edisons review found that the deviation from statistically expected results was widespread but most pronounced at specific polling locations in rural areas. In urban areas, Georgian Dream underperformed, while in rural areas, it reportedly achieved margins as high as 90%.

Georgian state prosecutors, under Western pressure, announced a probe into allegations of election falsification.

Read also: Opinion: Rigged elections have stolen Georgias European future

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Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger criticized Fulton County for initially not allowing poll watchers in to observe special mail-in ballot collection over the weekend. (File photo) Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Georgia Democrats and Republicans clashed over ballot collecting over the weekend in what could be a preview of post-Election Day legal battles over the vote.

With just three days to go before Election Day, Republican officials accused a group of counties run by Democrats of funny business over their decisions to extend paper ballot return hours through the weekend. There has been no evidence put forward of widespread election fraud in 2020 or 2024.

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Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley said the party has filed suit, and that Republican poll watchers were not being allowed to observe the process in populous blue counties including Fulton, DeKalb and Cobb. Whatley said the watchers were later able to observe.

Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said the practice of receiving ballots at this stage is legal.

Under state law, election officials can receive absentee ballots in person at govt facilities if the county chooses, he said in a post on X. Several counties have chosen to do this. We are working with the counties and the political parties to ensure this is done transparently and within Georgia law.

Raffensperger later added that while he is pleased that watchers were eventually allowed in, he is concerned that their presence was ever in question.

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The eyes of the world are on Fulton County, he said. Local officials must ensure that every process from now until election day and after is transparent and in accordance with Georgia law, given the history of controversy in the countys election administration.

Fulton County was at the center of conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 presidential election.

The ballots turned in before the county allowed observers likely numbered under 100, according to Georgia Secretary of State Chief Operating Officer Gabriel Sterling.

The controversy

In an X post that includes an unverified image of an email purportedly between Fulton County election staff banning poll watchers, State Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon accused Democrats of trying to steal the election.

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Democrats are panicked by the incredible Republican turnout in early voting and will do anything to try to catch up even if it means doing it under the cover of darkness and stiff arming any independent observation of whatever the hell is going on in their four special voting locations open today with no notice or approval by anyone authorized to oversee elections administration.

Josh McKoon speaks at a Protect the Vote event in Alpharetta. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

According to the Harris campaign, a Fulton county judge denied Republicans request to shut down the ballot returns Saturday morning. Democrats said the GOPs efforts are anti-voter and frivolous.

Across Georgia, the Trump campaign has been cherry-picking facts and making up problems where there are none, said campaign senior advisor and outside counsel Dana Remus. But each time, we were prepared, we responded, and we won. We are ensuring our voters can make their voices heard, and we are protecting the integrity of the election so that every legal vote will count  no matter what Trump says.

Tensions are high ahead of Tuesdays election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump. Georgias 16 electoral votes could prove critical, evidenced by the steady stream of visits to Georgia by the presidential candidates and their allies.

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After Trump lost the presidency in 2020 to current President Joe Biden, Trump spread unfounded rumors that he was cheated out of victory. He lost in Georgia by less than 12,000 votes.

Many of the partys strongest backers took the idea that Georgias elections were rigged in favor of Democrats to heart, despite two recounts and many unsuccessful court cases. In response, the GOP-led state legislature passed a series of election reforms. Trump has sought to convince his supporters to vote early, and other Republicans have stressed the message that Georgias elections are safe and reliable.

According to Fair Fight, the voting rights group started by Democrat Stacey Abrams, expanded mail ballot return hours are available in Chatham, Clarke, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

72,000 Georgians have still not returned their vote-by-mail ballots  thats a 23% unreturned rate. In Georgia, where presidential elections can be as close as 11,779 votes, every ballot could make the difference. If you have your mail ballot, we recommend hand delivering it to your county. If thats not an option, you should vote in person on Election Day  just tell a poll worker youre canceling your mail ballot, said Fair Fight CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo.

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For what is believed to be the first time in Germany, a newly legalized cannabis club in the country's north-west will distribute portions of the drug to its members on Saturday.

Members who have pre-paid can each collect up to 25 grams of marijuana at the club in the small town of Ganderkesee, near Bremen.

"Every gram we distribute now is a gram not bought on the black market," said a spokeswoman for the club.

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Since July 1, marijuana enthusiasts have been legally allowed to establish private clubs with up to 500 members to grow cannabis, distribute it among their members and consume it together.

The club in Ganderkesee says it is the first club in Germany to carry out a legal cannabis harvest.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Drug Commissioner said that no other club is known to have started harvesting earlier. But she pointed out that the authority does not gather any official information about the situation at the individual clubs.

Germany loosened rules on personal cannabis consumption in a law passed early this year.

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On April 1, in the first change to go into effect, adults are allowed to carry up to 25 grams of marijuana, while no more than 50 grams can be stored at home. Up to three plants can be cultivated at home.

The aim of the changes is to combat the black market and reduce health risks. The active ingredient content of cannabis purchased from dealers is unknown and toxic additives and impurities could be present.

The Ganderkesee club will make the drug available to members starting at 2 pm (1300 GMT).
For what is believed to be the first time in Germany, a newly legalized cannabis club in the country's north-west distributed portions of the drug to its members on Saturday.

The first person to legally pick up a few grams of different varieties of cannabis at the club in the small town of Ganderkesee, near Bremen, was Michael Jaskulewicz, who described the experience as "an absolutely awesome feeling."

Members who have pre-paid can each collect up to 25 grams of marijuana.

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"Every gram we distribute now is a gram not bought on the black market," said a spokeswoman for the club.

Since July 1, marijuana enthusiasts have been legally allowed to establish private clubs with up to 500 members to grow cannabis, distribute it among their members and consume it together.

The club in Ganderkesee says it is the first club in Germany to carry out a legal cannabis harvest.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Drug Commissioner said that no other club is known to have started harvesting earlier. But she pointed out that the authority does not gather any official information about the situation at the individual clubs.

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Germany loosened rules on personal cannabis consumption in a law passed early this year.

Since April 1, in the first change to go into effect, adults have been allowed to carry up to 25 grams of marijuana, while no more than 50 grams can be stored at home. Up to three plants can be cultivated at home.

The aim of the changes is to combat the black market and reduce health risks. The active ingredient content of cannabis purchased from dealers is unknown and toxic additives and impurities could be present.

Ganderkesee chair Daniel Keune said the club's members came "from the heart of society," with the age range extending from 18 to 70 years.

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Employees and entrepreneurs alike were among the cannabis enthusiasts, Keune said.

Partial legalisation of cannabis helps to protect consumers' health because the association guarantees that the cannabis provided is safe and free from additives, the chairman said.

Club member Jaskulewicz said he was able to pick up the very first grams of the drug grown at the club because he was one of the association's very first supporters.

He used to smoke cannabis back in the 1990s but had given up the habit after purchasing contaminated marijuana from a street dealer, he said.

"After that, I felt very dirty and thought I wouldn't do it again," Jaskulewicz added.
Germany's ruling coalition and the conservative opposition have agreed on a joint call for government crackdowns against anti-Semitism despite concerns the effort could be misused to curb criticism of Israel.

The draft motion declares that the German government should continue to "actively support the existence and legitimate security interests of the State of Israel."

The three parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left coalition announced the agreement on Saturday along with the opposition conservative CDU/CSU bloc.

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The motion, which is not legally binding, is set to be debated and voted on in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, as early as next week.

The draft calls for "loopholes in the law to be closed and repressive options to be consistently exploited" against those deemed by the German state to be anti-Semitic, particularly in criminal law and in residence, asylum and citizenship law.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism is to be used as a "guiding principle" by government agencies at all levels, according to the draft.

The IHRA definition has been criticized by scholars because it labels many types of criticism of Israel as anti-Semitism.

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In a letter to lawmakers last year, a group of leading German lawyers warned that the use of the IHRA definition would lead to "highly problematic terrain in terms of both constitutional and international law."

The motion also accuses immigrants from Muslim countries of being particularly prone to anti-Semitism, as opposed to native Germans.

"In recent months, the alarming extent of anti-Semitism based on immigration from countries in North Africa and the Middle East, in which anti-Semitism and hostility towards Israel are widespread, also due to Islamist and anti-Israeli state indoctrination, has become clear," the draft states.

The German political parties also contend in the draft that anti-Semitism has been on the rise among left-wing activists, with the draft criticizing a "relativizing approach and increasing Israel-related and left-wing anti-imperialist anti-Semitism."

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The president of the German-Israeli Society, Volker Beck, described himself as highly satisfied with the motion presented on Saturday.

"The clear and unconditional support for Israel's self-defence by the German Bundestag helps to correct irritations that have been sent from Berlin in recent months," he said.

Beck's remark about "irritations" appeared to be a reference to comments last month from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who said that armaments exports to foreign countries including Israel would be examined within the framework of humanitarian, EU and international law.

The draft unveiled on Saturday was met with sharp criticism from a number of organizations as well as several hundred activists, artists, lawyers and academics.

In an open letter, they backed a recently published alternative proposal drafted by the sociologist Armin Nassehi and former Green Party member of parliament Jerzy Montag, among others.

That proposal defines the protection of Jewish life in Germany as a task for the state and society as a whole.

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It also states that the massacre carried out by Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7, 2023 is "unreservedly" condemned, but at the same time notes the "immeasurable suffering" of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has been waging an ongoing military offensive in Gaza since the attack, in which tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.

Instead of relying on "uncertain definitions," the open letter called for concrete measures to be taken such as reforming civil rights law or making changes to education.

Supporters of the letter include Amnesty International Germany and Medico International. Other signers include Susanne Baer, a former judge on Germany's Constitutional Court, as well as climate activist Luisa Neubauer, migration researcher Naika Foroutan and well-known Austrian writer Eva Menasse.
Hromadas in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast received 100 generators from the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.].

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, reported by European Pravda

Details: Lysak said the generators would be distributed among the oblast's settlements. They are planned to be installed in educational and medical institutions, critical infrastructure facilities, and wells.

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Germany also donated two industrial manipulators to Nikopol and Chervonohryhorivka hromadas, which are under constant Russian attacks.

Background:

In early October, Germany announced the supply of six large power generators to Ukraine in preparation for a difficult winter.

The Netherlands announced a new 209.5 million package of support for Ukraine, which will be used to rebuild critical infrastructure.

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(Bloomberg) -- The German government is bracing for a crucial court ruling that could strip as much as 75 billion ($82 billion) of tax income from the public coffers and potentially put the battered coalition in jeopardy with just a year to go until elections are scheduled.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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The Federal Constitutional Court will hear arguments this month whether the so-called solidarity surcharge introduced to tackle the burden of German reunification is legal. At stake is roughly 66 billion collected since 2020 plus around another 9 billion in interest, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information.

If the court rules against the government it would be a devastating blow for Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The three-party coalition is already struggling with an economy set to contract for the second straight year as industries like cars and chemicals wrestle with disruptive transformations, and Scholz has been unable to find common ground with his vice chancellor, Robert Habeck of the Greens, and the liberal Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

The government is already embroiled in a bitter struggle over next years budget with Lindner demanding spending cuts to cover a shortfall of about 8 billion and an adverse ruling could make their differences unbridgeable.

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The issue exposes the fundamental contradictions at the heart of the administration  it stems from a case brought by Lindners deputy, Florian Toncar, before the Free Democrats entered government in 2021 after Scholzs surprise election victory.

While striking down the surcharge would be the worst-case scenario for the government, it would suit Lindner and the Free Democrats just fine, according to one senior party official. It would fulfill a longstanding political goal and could offer a boost to the economy, they said.

At the same time, such an outcome would in all likelihood force the government to lift the constitutional borrowing limits  and Lindner, a self-styled fiscal hawk, has made protecting the debt brake one of his highest priorities.

If the judges opt for a more measured approach, they might allow the federal government to keep the money it has already collected but block its use in future. Even that outcome would leave Lindner and his colleagues to find an additional 13 billion for 2025.

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If the federal government loses, I find it hard to imagine that the court will order the total amount to be repaid, said Henning Tappe, a law professor at Trier University, who considers the tax to be legal. Its more likely that the surcharge would be overturned only for the future. But with an amount of around 13 billion euros a year at stake, this would also be a serious problem.

The surcharge is also part of the governments medium-term financing plan, so that would need to be redrawn too  with 55 billion less revenue in the four years to 2028.

The Constitutional Court has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 12 and the judgment could take several months. The next federal election is due to be held on Sept. 28 next year.

A finance ministry spokesperson said the government still assumes the levy is constitutional.

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Senior officials speaking on the condition of anonymity said they dont expect the harshest outcome as the judges will consider that such a decision would create instability and that it would be irresponsible to force the government to repay such a large amount.

But they were saying similar things a year ago, just before the same court declared that a 60 billion climate fund was unconstitutional. That decision threw the government into a crisis from which it has never properly recovered.

After weeks of negotiations, Scholz, Lindner and Habeck agreed on cuts to make up the unexpected shortfall, but the compromise led to nationwide protests, hurt support for the coalition and left the relationship between its key players permanently damaged.

The solidarity surcharge was introduced in the 1990s in the aftermath of reunification but criticism of the levy has increased over the years. Critics argue that decades later the former communist bloc in the countrys East no longer needs such special provisions.

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Until 2020, almost all taxpayers had to pay extra income tax. From 2021, the government raised the threshold for the additional 5.5% levy so that 90% of contributors were exempt, leaving only the top earners and companies to pay.

Many taxpayers have filed individual suits against the levy, but so far none have prospered.

In a ruling in early 2023, Germanys top tax court upheld the levy, saying it was still needed because it takes a generation to tackle an historic disruption like the unification. That ruling seemed to indicate that at some point, that phase will be over.

In a legal analysis requested by the Constitutional Court, Germanys Bar Association wrote that the phase is by now over and the surcharge needs to be struck down. They also said its violating the principle of equality as now only 10% of taxpayers are covered.

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In the last months, Lindner has repeatedly urged his coalition partners to abolish the controversial levy gradually - instead of waiting for the judges to sort it out. He also, pointedly, didnt send a representative to defend the surcharge at last years top tax court hearing. On Friday, a policy paper by Lindner became public in which he calls for the solidarity tax to be reduced next year and abolished by 2027.

--With assistance from Jeremy Hodges.

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HARDEMAN CO. (KFDX/KJTL)  Quanah is the hotspot destination for Airstreams this weekend, with dozens of those shiny travel trailers lining downtown.

Its more than camping.

Prep plants for colder weather with Smiths Gardentown

It kind of gets in your blood, 23-year-long Airstreamer Ron Keisler said.

Fifty of those iconic silvery trailers cover the lawn of the Hardeman County Courthouse for Quanahs third Texas Country Air from October 31 through November 3.

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For organizer Bill Price, Airstreaming has been a decades-long lifestyle.

Im on my seventh one. Weve been doing this quite a while, Price said. We started in 95 and got started. Id watch these as a kid. Seeing them, I thought, I like that. I really like that. The rest is history. Were hooked.

For first-time Quanah visitors Doris and Ron Keisler, their 1956 Airstream allows them to explore the states with their dog, Maudee.

I can only imagine wed be staying at home a lot more, Doris said. Weve got a lot of activities to choose from; its like a little mini vacation every time we take off.

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The Keislers, pouring their heart into the 68-year-old trailer with extensive renovations.

We call her Bitmore, Ron said. Shes just a bit more than what she was when we first got her.

I think it was an accident, really. He was looking for a trailer for his deer lease. He called up one day and said he had found this trailer, and he was kind of describing it, Doris said. I said, Is that one of those shiny trailers? It was in bad shape, but we had to take it home.

And the four-day urban camping event, keeping Quanah in the limelight.

Different way of lifewhat we all need to be doing in a couple of years, Hardeman County Judge Ronald Ingram said. But theyve come here, and they help support all the local charities and foundations. Theyre bringing some money to our county, and not only that, they brought a lot of good folks.

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Folks who have Airstreamed for decades, and the Keislers, camping with the same people for 20 years.

Price said events like this are a boost to all. Plus, theyre always entertaining.

I have a 23-piece big band, so I brought those guys down. Theyll be here at 7 p.m., Price said.

Little Bob Wills, Ray Price and Rosemary Clooney, little Tony Bennett.

A close-knit group

Its really interesting to see all these different from different walks of life to go places all come together here for the common interest, Price said. We kind of laugh about it; we call it the Airstream cult because theyre very, very loyal.

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Streaming across the states.

Texas Country Air 2024 is completely free to attend, and Ingram said the public is eagerly invited to any of the Airstream events planned out.

For a full list of events, check out their Facebook page.

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GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN)  Two Girard police officers are now on paid leave during an internal investigation into the handling of a case from September.

The officers were put on paid administrative leave on Tuesday after a complaint was filed on Oct. 17, according to a letter from Girard Police Chief John Norman.

Norman told WKBN on Friday that the officers being on leave is standard procedure during these types of investigations and is not necessarily an indication of wrongdoing.

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The letters from Norman to the officers said preliminary results of the internal investigation found that the complaint was substantiated, however, a more detailed investigation into the matter is being conducted. Norman said the investigation would be handled by the department unless it was determined that an outside agency should be involved.

The police department did not provide further information to WKBN, however, the man who made the complaint said his issue was with police kicking open his door without a warrant.

The complaint stems from an incident on Sept. 7 in the 500 block of Powers Ave.

According to a police report from that incident, a woman told police that the man punched her, causing her to fall into bottles of urine that were in the room. She was then covered in urine, and the report noted that her clothes were wet when she arrived at the Girard Police Department to make the complaint. It also said she had an abrasion and marks on her throat and upper chest.

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The woman said the suspect had taken her phone, so she was not able to call the police at that time. The woman also told police that the suspect had a gun but she did not know if it was in the home, the police report stated.

Two Girard officers, as well as two Liberty officers, went to the home to contact the suspect and reported seeing him get up, shut off the light and walk away, according to the police report. One of the officers noted in his report that he recognized the suspect from previous incidents and that the suspect looked at him before shutting off the light in the living room he was in and walking away.

The officers reported commanding that the suspect open the door, and one of the officers kicked the door open and forced the man out at gunpoint when he didnt comply.

Officers reported finding a gun in a shoebox in the mans bedroom, and they seized it during his arrest.

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Body camera footage provided to WKBN from the police department shows one of the officers knocking at the door around 9:28 p.m. Another officer comments that he can see someone looking out the window, but no one answers the door.

Neither officer identifies themselves as police at that time.

A minute later, the officer knocks again on the door and says, Police department, but seconds later, he kicks open the door and orders the man out of the house at gunpoint.

The man who was arrested told WKBN that the officers only gave him seconds before kicking open the door. He said they did not have a warrant, and the woman who was listed as the victim in the complaint was not in the house at the time. He said officers knew that because she made the complaint at the police department.

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He said no one in the home was in any danger, which did not justify their entry into the home.

He added that he had a permit for the firearm, which was also seized during an illegal search.

The man was charged with strangulation and disrupting public services following his arrest, and according to court records, he was convicted of lesser charges of misdemeanor assault and persistent disorderly conduct in the case.

The man said he pleaded to the charges because he was worried about retaliation and that he might be found guilty during a trial. He said regardless of the outcome of the case  for which he was sentenced to probation and anger management and drug testing  he wants the officers to be held accountable for their actions.

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Chief Norman did not say how long the internal investigation would take to complete.

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Thousands of state employees are now eligible for paid bereavement leave after a new executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday.

Sparked by the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Cooper said the policy will provide state employees time to grieve without worrying about a missed paycheck, according to a news release.

We continue to mourn those who lost their lives to Hurricane Helene, and this leave will be available to help state employees who lost family or coworkers to the storm, Cooper said.

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Employees can receive up to 40 hours of paid leave for each loss of an immediate family member, which the policy defines as:

A spouse

A biological, adoptive or stepparent

A person in the place or position of a parent

In-laws (mother, father, child, sibling, grandparent or great-grandparent)

A biological, adoptive, foster or stepchild

A legal ward

A biological, adoptive, half or step-sibling

A biological, adoptive or step-grandparent

A biological, adoptive or step-grandchild

A dependent living in the employees household

Employees can also apply for up to eight hours of bereavement leave to attend the memorial, funeral service or visitation of a colleague, including former colleagues who left the agency within the past year, according to the Office of State Human Resources.

Documentation like an obituary, death certificate or funeral information must be provided, the Office of State Human Resources website states.

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The policy immediately applies to all agencies within the governors cabinet, while other state agencies and universities are encouraged to apply the policy, the release said.

Those cabinet agencies include:

Department of Administration

Department of Adult Correction

Department of Commerce

Department of Environmental Quality

Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Information Technology

Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Department of Public Safety

Department of Revenue

Department of Transportation

The policy will apply retroactively as far back as Sept. 27, when Hurricane Helene hit, the release said. Employees have until six months after the loss to take bereavement leave.

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Other state agencies will need several weeks to consider participating in the policy, the Office of State Human Resources said.

Our people are our greatest resource and were pleased to add bereavement leave to the benefits we are able to offer state employees, said Director of the Office of State Human Resources Barbara Gibson.
Gov. Jay Inslee has approved Washington states largest wind farm to be built along 24 miles of the Horse Heaven Hills just south of the Tri-Cities, the Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council announced Friday afternoon.

The approval for the project includes eased turbine restrictions for endangered ferruginous hawks and traditional cultural properties compared to those initially recommended by the council.

Inslees only regret is that it took years for the final approval of the project, he indicated, and told the council to expect him to discuss the matter with it.

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The governor sent a letter with his decision on Oct. 18 to the council, and the council gave notice of the decision Friday.

The notice starts a 30 day clock for filing any petitions for judicial review.

Inslee said in the letter that the council had carefully considered the impacts of the project on habitat, wildlife, tribal cultural resources, public safety and visual aesthetics.

The project has been controversial with many in the Tri-Cities and of concern to Yakama Nation. The issues that both raised were thoroughly and adequately responded to by the council, Inslee said.

Clouds glide past the wind turbines on the hills south of Kennewick.

However, the process to get to approval of the project took too long, he said.

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We will not meet our states urgent clean energy needs if the path to a final recommendation from the council spans multiple years and contains conditional micrositing process requirements that further prolong final siting approval for a significant portion of the primary project components, he said in the letter approving the project.

I strongly encourage the council to identify opportunities to increase its efficiency and provide for more timely decision making, he wrote. You can expect my office to engage with you on this critical issue before the end of my administration.

Inslee rejected tighter restrictions

EFSEC spent three years studying the proposed project and hearing public comment before it recommended in April that the governor approve the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center Project. But the approval would come with the elimination of about half of the turbines proposed by Scout Clean Energy, unless the Canadian-owned developer could find space for some of those elsewhere within the project boundaries.

But Inslee sent that recommendation back to the council in May, asking for a less restrictive proposal.

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I strongly encourage the council to return to me their approval of this project application that appropriately prioritizes the states pressing clean energy needs, Inslee told the council in May.

Mitigation measures should be more narrowly tailored to specific impacts, he said.

Turbines at the Nine Canyon Wind Farm near Lower Blair Road south of Kennewick spin. A larger wind farm with turbines that could be twice as tall has been approved along the Horse Heaven Hills.

The council, made of mostly of Washington state employees, complied, and on Sept. 13 again recommended approval of the project but with wind turbines allowed on more of the energy project land than it earlier recommended.

... neither the economic viability of the proposal, nor market demand for the power that would be produced are within the scope of ESFECs review, the council said in a summary of changes sent to Inslee. Instead, the council balances general statutory directive to provide for abundant clean energy at a reasonable cost with the impact to the environment and the broad interest of the public.

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The council gave deference to Inslees directive to place more weight on the abundant energy side of the scale, the summary said.

Inslee has approved the wind farm proposal with those more limited restrictions that would reduce the turbines not by half, but about 23%, if space cannot not be found elsewhere for them on the project.

While unions have supported the project as an important source of construction jobs close to home for their workers in the Tri-Cities area, opposition has come from Tri-Cities residents who object to what they call the industrialization of the southern skyline in a community that prides itself on the colorful sunsets of its desert vistas.

It also would impact traditional cultural properties and would be built in part of Washington states core nesting territory for endangered ferruginous hawks.

Scout Clean Energy plans a 60,000-acre wind farm on Benton County farm land south of the Tri-Cities along the Horse Heaven Hills ridgeline south of Badger Road. This view from the Reata Road overpass across Interstate 82 faces southwest towards Benton City.

Scout Clean Energy has objected to restrictions, including the reduced restrictions in the recommendation approved Oct. 18 by Inslee, saying they would delay the final design work for the project and could interfere with obtaining financing for the project.

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Scout Clean Energy has proposed the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center have either up to 222 turbines about 500 feet tall or 147 turbines about 670 feet tall, plus solar arrays and battery storage.

The recommendation approved by Inslee could impact 50 of the 222 shorter turbines or 34 of the 147 taller turbines, depending on which plan Scout Clean Energy chooses to pursue, according to EFSEC estimates.

Inslee wants fast committee work

Under the relaxed mitigation measures, the area in which turbines could not be allowed was reduced from a two-mile zone to a 0.6 mile zone around nests that at one time had been used by endangered ferruginous hawks.

However, turbines may only be sited within the 0.6 to 2 mile radius of nests if Scout Clean Energy can demonstrate that the nesting site is no longer viable or foraging habitat there is no longer viable.

A ferruginous hawk flies low over sagebrush.

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If they are allowed some mitigation might be required, such as establishing habitat elsewhere and not operating the turbine at certain times.

A technical advisory committee would make that determination on whether turbines would be allowed within the 0.6 to 2 mile radius, which Scout Clean Energy finds problematic.

Deferring the determinations until after state approval of the project will prevent the project design from being completed, incapacitating and further delaying construction, Scout Clean Energy said in a document.

Not only does the process threaten the viability of the project, but also sends a message that Washington isnt serious about permitting and building projects at the scale needed to achieve its climate goals, Scout Clean Energy said in a statement after EFSEC voted on the revised proposal.

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Inslee recommended in his Oct. 18 letter to the council that the technical advisory committee be convened within two weeks of the letter and that the committee complete its work within 120 days.

... it is my expectation that the council and other relevant state agencies will strive to follow these timelines and will work expeditiously with the certificate holder (Scout Clean Energy) to develop all plans and secure all necessary approvals to begin construction as soon as possible, Inslee said in the letter.

Horse Heaven cultural, wildfire restrictions

Other mitigation measures include:

 Turbines would be prohibited within one mile of Webber Canyon, southeast of Benton City, because of its importance to the Yakama Nation.

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The Yakamas told EFSEC that there were multiple traditional cultural properties within the project boundary that could be permanently impacted.

The council chose the area around the canyon to prohibit turbines after Inslee asked the council to focus on the Yakamas highest priority traditional cultural resources as it considered a recommendation that would not reduce the generation capacity of the project.

 Turbines would be prohibited within a quarter mile of land burned by wildfires since 2000.

That would allow smaller aircraft used to fight fires, but not DC-10s.

A map shows the size of the Horse Heaven wind farm to be built south of the Tri-Cities, by showing the land it would cover if based in the Seattle area.

In EFSECs initial recommendation visual impacts had been considered, but the final recommendation approved by Inslee did not consider the view of the Horse Heaven hills from the Tri-Cities to Benton City.

The summary to the governor said that the turbine limitations for ferruginous hawks, tribal cultural resources and public fire safety would reduce the visual impact for the Tri-Cities.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Gov. Mike DeWine weighed in on the race for U.S. Senate, warning that it will be a close result and giving his endorsement to Republican Bernie Moreno over the incumbent Democrat, Sherrod Brown.

DeWine was asked for his opinion on the race between Brown and Moreno. He said that the race will come down to the wire, pointing out that its one of the most expensive in the history of the United States.

I think were going to have a very close race, I dont think anyone has ever thought that this is not going to be close, DeWine said Wednesday at the Ohio Statehouse. This race will, between the two candidates, they will have spent, I think, more money than maybe any race in the history of the country, I dont know, besides presidential.

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What to know about final weekend of early voting

DeWines right in his assessment of the money surrounding this race. According to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit government transparency group tracking money in politics, the Brown-Moreno race has seen the most outside spending of any Senate race, at $258.9 million; the most total spending, at $370 million; and the second most money raised, at $117.6 million.

A Republican, DeWine made sure to declare that he would support Moreno.

Obviously, Im voting for Bernie Moreno, DeWine said. I think he will be a very fine United States senator, and I think its important that Republicans control the U.S. Senate.

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The race could determine which party controls the chamber. Democrats hold a 51-49 majority, but 34 of those seats are up for grabs. Of the 11 Republican-held seats headed to a vote, all are projected to stay with the party, but of the 23 Democrat-held seats, two are leaning toward Republican candidates and another four are considered tossups, according to The Cook Political Report.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders acted Tuesday to address the states worst-in-the-nation food insecurity.

The governor signed an executive order for state agencies to act to correct Arkansas having the highest level of food insecurity in the nation. The order gave the statistic that 567,110 Arkansans are facing hunger, with 164,430 of them being children.

Arkansas Rice Federation makes a donation to Arkansas Foodbank

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The order stated that Feeding America shows 1 in 5 Arkansans and 1 in 4 Arkansas children are facing hunger.

Its clear that our state is in critical need of comprehensive solutions to address these sobering statistics and ensure that all Arkansans have access to sufficient and nutritious food, the order states.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders launches summer program to provide groceries for families

The governor ordered government agencies to follow a multi-step process to ensure no regulatory issues block state government from responding to food insecurity.

Department secretaries are ordered to review regulations, policies and procedures that stand in the way of overcoming food insecurity. Per the order, they are expected to submit a report of their findings within 60 days.

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Pine Bluff community working to end food insecurity following new USDA report

After receiving the reports, the governors office will direct departments to develop a plan to repeal or amend affected regulations. The order states that the governors office will work to facilitate collaboration between departments in correcting any issues.

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Workers operate at an assembly line of BYD's new plant in Rayong province, Thailand on July 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]



Chinese carmaker BYD officially launched its premium brand DENZA in Thailand on Friday in a move to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country's upscale automotive market.

Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary general of the Thailand Board of Investment, emphasized in his opening speech the importance of the entry of the DENZA brand into the Thai market, which marks a milestone in the development of Thailand's electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Narit noted that the debut of the DENZA brand not only reflects the confidence of international brands in the Thai market, but will also inject new impetus into Thailand's economic development. Thailand will continue to support the development of the EV industry and provide a good investment environment for enterprises.

Thailand has long been a regional automotive manufacturing and export hub. With the government's investment promotion efforts, the nation aims to convert 30 percent of its annual auto production into EVs by 2030.

Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia Pacific auto sales division, said BYD has currently sold 56,000 EVs in the Thai market, adding that the introduction of the DENZA brand is another important strategic plan for BYD after it opened its Thailand factory this year.

As an automotive industry center in Southeast Asia, Thailand has a mature luxury car market. Liu believed that the DENZA brand which combines luxury and sustainable technology will be recognized by Thai consumers.

As a world-leading automobile manufacturer and a pioneer in China's EV industry, BYD has vigorously expanded overseas markets in recent years.

BYD's EVs are currently sold in 88 countries and regions around the world. In addition to Thailand, BYD also has production bases in Brazil, Hungary, Uzbekistan and other countries.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Dozens of Women for Harris voters attended a campaign event in Grand Rapids on Friday, featuring a star all the way from California.

Actress Jennifer Garner rallies voters for Vice President Kamala Harris at an event in Grand Rapids. (Nov. 1, 2024)

Actress Jennifer Garner, most famous for her roles in 13 Going on 30 and Elektra, rallied voters at That Early Bird in Eastown.

Garner was joined at the Women for Harris-Walz Reception by U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, and Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids.

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Four days to go: JD Vance campaigns in Portage

The event focused on the stakes of the presidential election for women, highlighting issues like abortion rights and encouraging attendees to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

We are looking at two very divergent paths for America. And my final pitch would be lean toward democracy, lean toward common sense, lean toward decency. Your vote is your own, Garner told News 8. The votes here in western Michigan, you guys have bright stars next to each of your names. They really matter. But whatever it is, get yourself out there and do your job as a citizen.

Again, Trump will make Grand Rapids last campaign stop

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Garner said she was glad to be back in West Michigan and added she believes women are going to win this election for Kamala Harris.

On top of campaigning for the Harris-Walz ticket, leaders also rallied the vote for Scholtens reelection to the House of Representatives.

Harris to rally on Michigan State University campus Sunday

Its a reminder of our responsibility, Scholten told News 8. We know that we have to get out and vote for ourselves, right. We want Kamala Harris as president, we want a representative in Congress who is going to protect our reproductive freedoms. But its also a reminder that what we are doing here is about the rest of the country as well.

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With voting already underway in key battleground state Michigan, the presidential race remains tight. An EPIC-MRA poll released Friday shows that 48% of Michigan respondents said they intended to vote for Harris in the election and 45% for former President Donald Trump. Because the margin of error is plus or minus 4%, thats a statistical tie.

With voting underway, Harris and Trump still close in Michigan

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance was also in West Michigan Friday. He held a rally in Portage, encouraging Trumps supporters to cast their ballots.

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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  While Halloween night has come and gone, the celebration for some has just begun.

The Greenville Museum of Art honors Dia De Los Muertos Friday night by having a special exhibit. The museum is filled with art from Hispanic artists across Eastern North Carolina. Museum officials said this is a great way to showcase the diversity in Greenville and honor this specific demographic.

So, doing this exhibition was a great way to kind of showcase that. We celebrate diversity, we celebrate all people in Greenville and to create a space for the black community to come in and see aspects of themselves kind of reflected on the walls of the museum, Executive Director of the Greenville Museum of Art Trista Reis-Porter said.

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The event will continue later Friday night and even feature live performances.



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(WPRI)  Elevation Foods is recalling the Hannaford Seafood Salad because it has undeclared soy, posing a risk to people with allergies.

The recall involves nearly 1,700 units of the 12 oz. containers of the salad, which have use-by dates of Nov. 13, 2024, and Nov. 14, 2024. The Universal Product Code (UPC) is 0 41268 25161 2.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the affected products were only sold in Hannaford stores in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. There are Hannaford stores in Taunton, Waltham and Middleborough, Mass.

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The recalled seafood salad has since been removed from store shelves.

ALSO READ: Wall-mounted entertainment centers recalled due to fall hazard

According to the FDA, the recall was initiated after it was discovered the printer company gave labels to Elevation Foods that did not match the products ingredient list. The labels were created in anticipation of an upcoming change to the ingredients.

There have not been any reports of illness related to the product, the FDA said.

Customers can return the recalled products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Anyone with questions can call (978) 646-8950 ext. 104.

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A Harlem man was arrested for fatally mowing down a 3-year-old girl as she crossed a Manhattan street with her mother and siblings in July, cops said.

Devon Joseph, 41, was arrested Friday morning and charged with motor vehicle fail to yield to pedestrian for the July 11 collision, cops said. He was issued a desk appearance ticket for the charge, prosecutors said.

Little Jaynelyse Valdez was headed to Harlem Hospital with her 37-year-old mother and two brothers, ages 2 and 4 months, to visit their terminally ill aunt in the ICU, with a home-cooked meal in hand for other visitors, according to an online fundraiser created by the family.

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The family was crossing the street, steps away from the hospital when Joseph, driving a Nissan Pathfinder, heading south on Lenox Ave., made a left onto W. 135th St. barrelling into them in the crosswalk at about 7:40 p.m., cops said. Both Joseph and Jaynelyses family had green lights, cops said.

The guy who hit her picked her up and brought her into the hospital, a witness said of Joseph at the time. He was with his family, but he was not going to leave her.

Despite the quick treatment she received, Jaynelyse couldnt be saved.

It was terrible, said the witness. That poor baby and her mother. She was hysterical.

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Joseph also struck the girls 2-year-old brother, Jonvier, but he only suffered a bump to the head, family said. Her mother and baby brother were not struck.

After rushing the child to the hospital, Joseph remained at the scene.

Jaynelyse was just days away from celebrating her birthday when she was killed, heartbroken relatives said.

She was gonna be 4 on the 15th, little Jaynelyses paternal grandmother Kenya previously said from their home in New Rochelle. She was so happy, so smart, so caring.

Kenya, 52, said her granddaughter was mature for her age.

Jaynelyse was an old lady in the body of a little girl, she said. She started taking at 7 months or so.

Her first word was Mama, Kenya recalled somberly.

Theres no words, the little girls dazed father said at the time. Theres no words for it.
(Bloomberg) -- Kamala Harris lambasted House Speaker Mike Johnsons call to roll back a $280 billion package to boost research and domestic manufacturing for semiconductors, heightening a clash between the vice president and her opponent Donald Trump as they seek to woo blue-collar voters in the campaigns final days.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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The flap over funding for chips manufacturing, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022, unfolded Friday when Johnson said hed support a repeal of the bill, while campaigning with a vulnerable House Republican whose upstate New York district is poised to receive as much as $100 billion in investment from Micron Technology Inc.

Johnson quickly issued a statement, saying he misheard a question and instead supports efforts to streamline and improve the bill. Trump has also panned the chips deal, saying he could entice investment with the threat of tariffs.

Lets be clear about why he walked it back: Because its not popular, and their agenda is not popular, Harris told reporters Saturday. It is my plan and intention to continue to invest in American manufacturing, the work being done by American workers upholding and lifting up good union jobs.

Its the second time this week that Johnson has found himself in the middle of a policy controversy. The House speaker said there would be no Obamacare if Trump won the White House, prompting the Trump campaign to issue a statement that repealing the Affordable Care Act isnt part of the former presidents policy position.

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Harris and Trump criss-crossed the US Southeast Saturday for a final weekend of frenetic campaigning before Election Day. Harris has been quick to pounce on Republican gaffes to try to sway undecided moderate voters, while Trump leaned into divisive rhetoric about migrants, women and people of color as he made his final argument to the electorate.

The campaigns strategies involve targeting different groups of potential supporters: Harris is looking to motivate women and disaffected Republicans, while Trump is seeking to persuade low-propensity voters, including young men, to cast ballots this year. Polls show the race is tight, with many results within the margin of error.

Despite the different target audiences, the electoral map means that the candidates can end up nearly bumping into each other as they focus on the seven battleground states. Harris mode of transport  Air Force Two  and Trumps plane  which the campaign calls Trump Force One  both began Saturday a few hundred feet apart from each other at the Milwaukee airport. The two planes were also parked near each other at the Charlotte airport later in the day.

Heres the latest from the campaign trail:

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Race, Gender

Trump pitted Black voters against migrants on Saturday, repeatedly making false claims that immigrants are stealing jobs from Black workers  an assertion economists have refuted.

Trump made the baseless argument four times on Saturday, in an interview with Fox News and at rallies in North Carolina and Virginia, saying that Black workers are being fired and their positions are being given to migrants, adding that it was also happening to a lesser extent to Latino workers.

The remarks  part of Trumps closing argument to voters in a razor-thin race  included references to Black jobs and Hispanic jobs, phrases that critics have said are racist in implying that some work is reserved for a specific racial or ethnic group. In Virginia, Trump also opined on the Latino community, calling them entrepreneurial and hardworking, adding that they can be brutal.

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Trump also defended his remarks that women should be protected whether the women like it or not, a line Harris and Democrats have said is insulting.

Women have to be protected when theyre at home in suburbia, Trump told the crowd in North Carolina.

Trump, who has been found liable for sexual abuse, said his allies have called the remarks about protecting women self-serving and inappropriate. The former president said he dismissed their advice, derogatorily referring to his aides as my geniuses backstage.

Trump at a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina called himself the father of fertilization, an awkward phrase he used to tout his support for in-vitro fertilization. Trump has recently attempted to re-brand himself as a champion for reproductive rights, a tacit acknowledgment that his previous efforts to overturn federal abortion protections  and Republican resistance to federal protection for IVF  have become an electoral liability.

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On Fox News, he touted his record with women, saying hes given women chances, too, including Kellyanne Conway, a senior official on his 2016 campaign, and Susie Wiles, his current co-campaign manager, noting that the latter has good genetics. Trump has increasingly commented on peoples genes in recent weeks, including a remark last month disparaging migrants for having bad genes.

Southern Blitz

Harris rallied crowds in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina, hitting southern urban centers to urge supporters to help get out the vote in two battleground states. Asked in a CNN interview which part of the electorate shes still trying to reach, Harris said, Well, everyone  though she specifically encouraged Gen Z and first-time voters at both rallies.

So, we have three days to get this done  and no one can sit on the sidelines, Harris said in Charlotte. Lets knock on doors, lets text, lets call. Reach out to your family, your friends, your classmates, your neighbors, your co-workers, your play cousins.

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While saying shes committed to finding common solutions and uniting the country, she called Trump increasingly unstable, divisive and obsessed with revenge.

Harris Atlanta event featured remarks from film director Spike Lee and musical performances by 2 Chainz, Big Tigger and Pastor Troy. In Charlotte, she was joined by rocker Jon Bon Jovi and singer duo The War and Treaty, Brittney Spencer and Khalid.

Palestine Protest

Harris was interrupted during a stump speech in North Carolina when a small group of protesters holding a pro-Palestine sign screamed at her. In response, she renewed her calls for an end to war in the Middle East while asking the crowd to show restraint and defend the right of people to speak their minds.

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But, right now, I am speaking, she said. We all want that war in the Middle East to end, we want the hostages home, and when I am president I will do everything in my power to make it so.

It underscores the persistent risk that the Biden administrations funding of Israels military will alienate Arab-American voters, notably in Michigan.

Packers-Lions Audience

Harris team is making an expensive play to push its closing argument: a two-minute ad, dubbed Brighter Future, that will air during Sunday afternoon National Football League games on CBS and Fox, including the game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

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The last-minute appeal will be broadcast to millions of NFL viewers and reach a large audience of voters in swing states Wisconsin and Michigan.

The ad is a montage of the vice president interacting with Americans across the country, talking about her pledges to tackle price gouging and protect health-care access. It closes with Harris making a direct-to-camera appeal asking viewers to vote for her.

We are going to do everything in our power to make sure that were reaching people in each of those places for mobilization, but also still for persuasion as weve seen these undecided voters, we believe, over the course of the last week have been breaking in our direction, Harris campaign chair Jen OMalley-Dillon said in a call with reporters on Saturday.

FBI Warning

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning that fake videos purporting to be from the agency are circulating on social media.

One video claims that the FBI apprehended groups committing ballot fraud, and another is related to second gentleman Doug Emhoff, it said in a statement Saturday.

These videos are not authentic, are not from the FBI, and the content they depict is false, the agency said. Election integrity is among our highest priorities, and the FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to respond to election threats.

Earlier: Rumors, Lies and Disinformation: A Lot of Crazy in US Election

Scranton Joe

President Joe Biden visited his birth city of Scranton in battleground Pennsylvania, leaning on local ties to stump for Harris in arguably the elections biggest prize.

Speaking at a union hall, he said Trump and his allies are the kinds of guys you like to smack and urged supporters to back Harris and stop Trump from implementing what Biden warned would be cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Its not hyperbole to suggest this is the most important election any of us have ever voted in. More is at stake in the direction of this country, Biden said.

He said while some people may have difficulty with the Harris-Walz ticket or its proposals, I wouldnt have picked her if I didnt think she had the exact view I do about hardworking people. Im serious. And so, look, folks, we need to elect Kamala as president.

--With assistance from Billy House and Josh Wingrove.

(Updates with Trump remarks on IVF, planes in Charlotte)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Kamala Harris urged Wisconsinites to turn the page on Donald Trump as she rallied voters just outside Milwaukee on Friday night  scrambling to boost turnout in a Democratic stronghold lagging the rest of the state in early voting.

Data from the Wisconsin Elections Commission shows the city of Milwaukee is trailing the rest of the state by about 7 percent both in its mail-in return rate and in overall registered voter turnout. Its a warning sign, even some Democrats privately say, for Harris as her campaign looks to run up the score with urban and suburban voters to overcome Wisconsins rural counties.

For you who have not voted yet, no judgment. Let me just be clear, no judgment at all, but do get to it if you can, Harris said with a laugh during her rally, where she was also joined by rapper Cardi B. For those of you who have not yet voted, please think about, right now, your plan for voting.

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Harris rally  held just a few miles from where Trump held a dueling event the same night  came as she and Trump returned to the swing state days before an election that polling suggests is virtually tied here, as in the other battlegrounds. And the Harris campaign will dispatch former President Barack Obama to Milwaukee on Sunday to campaign for her.



But even with the increased attention on the state this week, some Wisconsin Democrats are still most worried about Milwaukee, where we need more attention, said one operative, granted anonymity to discuss the issue candidly. They acknowledged that Milwaukee has seen the steady erosion of Black and Latino support from election to election.

Support for Democrats  and the size of turnout  has exploded in Dane County, home to the state capital and its flagship university, the operative said. But that's not the situation in the largest city. "It's covered up problems in Milwaukee in the polling," they said. "The trend looks bad buried inside these wins."

In Wisconsin, Democrats have won 14 of the last 17 statewide contests, an impressive run in a narrowly divided state. Their success comes primarily through building insurmountable margins in urban and suburban communities  a handful of heavily populated blue dots scattered across a mostly rural state. Their ability to secure those margins in the cities and the suburbs while avoiding a blowout in rural counties worked especially well for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who won reelection in 2022 by a 3-point margin.

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I worried in 2022 that the Republican voters would snap back to the Republican party, but instead, Republicans moved toward MAGA, and suburban voters felt left behind, said Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Theres a hunger for a return to reasonableness that started in 2016, then even more in 2018, when Democrats started flipping Republican-held assembly seats, and the governor's race in 2022 and [state] Supreme Court race in 2023  we see that energy now.

But 2024 presents a fresh slate of challenges for Democrats. There are eight presidential candidates on the ballot, the most of any battleground state, raising the risk of third-party candidates cutting into Harris totals. The state also hasnt drawn as much attention as Pennsylvania or Michigan, ranking fifth in TV ad spending for the Harris campaign, according to a POLITICO analysis. Before this week, Harris had visited the state seven times  more than Trump, who had visited it five times  but less than the other two Blue Wall states. That changed this week when Harris held rallies in Madison on Wednesday and hit three cities on Friday.

Before her rally on Friday night, Harris greeted voters at an electrical workers union hall in Janesville, Wisconsin, and rallied supporters at a high school gymnasium in Little Chute, Wisconsin, where she committed to eliminating college degrees for some federal jobs as a day-one executive action.

But in Milwaukee, Democrats have lost ground, a long-term challenge for the party that hasnt been able to match the voter turnout that Obama generated in 2008 and 2012, said Joe Zepecki, a Democratic consultant based in Wisconsin.

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So we may well lose ground again, but the question is  where are we doing better? he said.

Look at Dane County. Look at Republican shrinkage in the WOW counties, Zepecki said, referring to the three Republican-leaning suburban counties around Milwaukee, where Democrats have improved their numbers in the Trump era. The last example came from Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly, a Republican, who endorsed Harris last week. Yes, weve seen some diminishment of Democratic performance in Milwaukee over time. But compare that to Republican Trump-era struggles in the suburbs  One of those matters  for the statewide math  a lot more than the other.



Indeed, Democrats pointed to strong turnout in Dane County, which is outperforming the rest of the state, as a positive sign for Harris. A Democratic strategist, granted anonymity to discuss internal data, said their modeling shows that, so far, the Republicans who participated early voting are not sporadic voters. Instead, the vast majority of them voted in the 2022 midterms, putting more pressure on the former president to get out low propensity voters on Election Day.

Milwaukee, too, set a record for its strongest in-person absentee voting day on Thursday.

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Were seeing extremely strong turnout across the state, setting records each day, and part of that is because Republicans are now early voting, so suddenly, were seeing high-propensity Republican voters converting to becoming early voters versus Milwaukee, which has more low-propensity voters, said a Wisconsin Democratic strategist, granted anonymity to discuss the issue candidly. Milwaukee is about performing where it was in 2020 and in 2022, and Democrats won those years.

On Friday, a senior Harris campaign official also said that their data shows late-deciders are breaking their way by double-digits, which they believe will help them on Election Day turnout.

Mandela Barnes, the states former Democratic lieutenant governor, said hes still expecting a huge Election Day turnout in the city.

The rally shes having in Milwaukee, all the events shes had here, has demonstrated the campaigns understanding of how important this area is, said Barnes, who now leads Power to the Polls Wisconsin, a progressive turnout operation.

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Mandela said his group has 150 to 200 people knocking doors this week and theyll be expanding to 500 on Election Day. But to fix the longer-term challenge of declining Black turnout in Milwaukee, we need to do off-cycle organizing because that's what we need to do to build power.

Jessica Piper contributed to this report.
Nearly 5 million Americans living abroad are eligible to vote from overseas, representing a small but unique group that could influence the results in key swing states.

While participation among overseas voters is considered low at less than 8 percent, both Vice President Harris and former President Trump have sent out direct appeals to these voters.

We know theres a lot of enthusiasm, said Sharon Manitta, global press secretary for Democrats Abroad, an official arm of the Democratic Party for overseas voters.

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The thing is, really, until the election is settled, goodness knows when that will be, we dont really know how that enthusiasm turns into turnout, said Manitta, who is based in the United Kingdom.

In 2020, more than 27,000 overseas ballot requests were registered in the swing states of Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Trump, in an Oct. 12 video, called on Americans living abroad to make sure they are registered to vote. He also promised to end double-taxation  where, generally, Americans pay taxes in the country they live in and the U.S. There are exemptions, and policies can vary from country to country.

It was an October surprise from our side, from Republicans Overseas, Solomon Yeu, the chief executive of Republicans Overseas, a political advocacy group that worked with the Trump campaign on the video.

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It also represented an about-face for Trump, who had earlier criticized and raised doubt over the legality of Americans voting overseas. Trump attacked the 1986 law that established overseas voting as a program that emails ballots overseas without any citizenship check or verification of identity, whatsoever, in a post on Truth Social.

Requirements can vary among states but generally a Social Security number or a valid state drivers license, or passport number can be used for identification verification.

Republicans in North Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania have pursued, unsuccessfully, efforts to challenge rights for Americans overseas and people born overseas to American parents to vote in the U.S. elections.

And while the Democratic Party has an official arm dedicated to overseas voters, this group is also generally overlooked. In this presidential election, for the first time, the Democratic National Committee provided Democrats Abroad with about $300,000 to help register voters and carry out get-out-the vote campaigns.

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Ballot requests for overseas voters opens 45 days before the election, in September. But it wasnt until Oct. 24 that Harris published an open letter to Americans voting overseas in which she promised to take seriously their concerns surrounding finances, like banking and taxes, as well as access to consular services and immigration and citizenship processes.

We were pleased  that both candidates have acknowledged that something has to be done on taxation of Americans overseas, or acknowledge that theres an interest in addressing these issues and doing something, said Marylouise Serrato, executive director of American Citizens Abroad, a nonpartisan and nonprofit advocacy group.

Thats, for us, a really positive sign.

That came alongside a stepped up effort by the Biden administration earlier this year, which for the first time conducted a survey of Americans abroad on issues they are concerned about, said Martha McDevitt-Pugh, the international chair of Democrats Abroad.

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There really isnt a lot of data around us, so we were really encouraged by that survey, she said, adding that it led to the first-ever White House call with overseas stakeholders to talk about increasing awareness around government resources for Americans abroad.

An estimated 2.9 million Americans who live abroad are eligible to vote. Another 1.4 million uniformed services members and 600,000 military spouses and vote-age dependents also live abroad, according to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

Its not clear how many voters overseas come from specific states; that data wont be available until well after Election Day and will have to be checked among multiple sources. The number of Americans voting from abroad can fluctuate for a variety of reasons: the increase in people working remotely, people retiring abroad, students studying overseas, Peace Corps workers, and military voters.

Americans voting from abroad request ballots from their last address in the United States, no matter if it was a rented apartment or home or if decades had passed since they last lived there.

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And while the Federal Voting Assistance Program counted the participation rate of voters from abroad as unchanged between 2016 and 2020  at 7.8 percent  the EAC recorded a 39 percent increase in returned overseas ballots between 2016 and 2020  655,844 overseas ballots in 2016 and more than 900,000 in 2020.

Still, there are barriers to participation.

Slow postal services, access to printers, personal follow through and confusion over each states voting requirements  either the need to mail in a ballot, fax, or submit it online  can also play a role in low participation rates. Rejected ballots are rare, at about 2.1 percent according to EAC, but the most common reason is an absentee ballot received after a states deadline.

On Thursday, Military Times published a report that election officials in the state of Georgia said 13,000 ballots requested by overseas military and Americans abroad have yet to be returned.

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One of the core issues with increasing the overseas vote is education, said Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, president and CEO of Overseas Vote, a 20-year-old nonpartisan, nonprofit public charity that helps inform people of their right to vote overseas and provides resources to help people submit their ballots.

The fundamental problem we have with people voting from abroad is they dont know they have the right, she said.

Dzieduszycka-Suinat, who is based in Germany, said misinformation also plays a role in discouraging people from voting, such as a fear that theres a connection between voting and increased taxes among people who live overseas.

A myth versus fact section of the Overseas Vote website addresses the connection between voting and taxes.

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That is terrible for us in terms of voter participation, because people think, if I vote, theyll run me down for taxes, she said.

Still, she welcomes the increased attention on voters overseas as an opportunity to work to improve participation rates, even if some of that attention comes from Republican lawsuits or criticisms over the authenticity of overseas votes.

There may be a renewed opportunity after the election, depending on how it goes, to improve the program, even more with some reform, she said.

WHERE AMERICANS LIVE ABROAD

Canada  more than 600,000

United Kingdom  nearly 300,000

Europe  more than 300,000 in France, Germany and Switzerland combined

Israel  more than 147,000

Australia  more than 110,000

Japan  more than 100,000

Mexico  more than 90,000

Taiwan  more than 57,000

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Numbers from the Federal Voting Assistance 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 The Hill.
After holding dueling rallies in Milwaukee County Friday night, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump stayed overnight just a few blocks away from each other in downtown Milwaukee.

Harris stayed at the Pfister Hotel, the historic landmark on E. Wisconsin Avenue, while Trump was just three blocks away at the Westin Milwaukee on N. Van Buren Street.

With the two candidates in town, the area of downtown surrounding the hotels was a maze of barricades, police cars, DMV trucks, Secret Service SUVs and ambulances serving as barricades to block off the streets.

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By 9:30, both campaigns had left downtown, both heading to Saturday rallies in other states.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kamala Harris Donald Trump Friday night downtown Milwaukee Pfister
For help on Election Day, contact 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), Native American Rights Fund election protection volunteers will be available to assist voters in Indian Country. You can also contact NARF anytime with voter concerns by email: vote.narf.org. Access NARFs voter election guide here.

Kalle Benallie

ICT

While Election Day is imminent and polls have the presidential race too close to predict, Indigenous voters may be wondering what policies the presidential candidates have in store for them. ICT spoke to sources who gave us an idea about Kamala Harris and Tim Walzs plans for Indian Country.

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Jade Begay, the Harris-Walz campaign Native American Engagement director, said Native voters dont often necessarily align as either Democrat or Republican. They gravitate toward the candidates who support tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz have and will continue to safeguard and strengthen the bonds between our nations, uphold our trust and treaty obligations, honor tribal sovereignty and ensure tribal self-determination, said Begay, Dine and Tesuque Pueblo. I can tell you that does not exist on the other side. The other side does not care about our people.

While former President Donald Trump has not established a program to engage Native voters, he made a promise in September that he would federally recognize the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. In 2019, the Trump administration issued an executive order to establish a task force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. He has accused the Biden administration of not being helpful for Indigenous communities.

Although Harris record of Indigenous issues have been mixed, she has made strides recently for Indigenous voters. She chose Walz as her running mate, who has a strong record working with tribal nations with the help of Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, White Earth Nation. Harris recently launched the national organizing program Native Americans for Harris-Walz with Begay leading.

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Begay mentioned past examples of Harris efforts to help Native Americans such as the return of the Tribal Nations Summit at the White House that the Biden administration enacted after the Trump administration halted the event during his term.

Jade Begay, Dine and citizen of Tesuque Pueblo, serves on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. (Courtesy photo)

The Harris-Walz campaign

Jordan James Harvill, Advance Native Political Leaderships national program director, said Harris has made historic investments in Indian Country and created leadership appointments in her campaign.

Not just coming out of the tailwind of the Biden administration, but really Harris has structurally set herself up to be a leader for Indian Country, the Cherokee and Choctaw citizen said.

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Begay noted some of Harris-Walz policies that could directly impact Indigenous voters, including plans to help boost small businesses by offering $50,000 tax credits for new business owners that qualify.

Some Indigenous people partake in the small business sector like food truck owners, beadworkers or ribbon skirt makers, Begay said.

Harris-Walz plans to lower costs for families, notably reducing high grocery costs, which disproportionately affect Indigenous communities. The Harris-Walz campaign announced a plan for rural America, including tribal communities, by adding 10,000 health care professionals, expanding telemedicine and cutting the number of ambulance deserts in half.

The Trump campaign has released its own agenda called Project 2025, which has been criticized for its impact on rural communities.

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Finally, the Harris-Walz campaign hopes to address climate issues. Fox13 in Seattle reported that many Indigenous leaders in the Pacific Northwest say environmental issues are a top priority in the Nov. 5 election.

Similar to Harris, Walzs record on Indigenous issues is not perfect. Walz voted to complete the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, Politico reported. And some environmentalists pushed unsuccessfully for the governors administration to halt proposed mining development in Minnesota. Still, he was an advocate for car pollution standards.

However, tribal leaders are not deterred. The Harris-Walz campaign released a statement that more than 70 tribal and Native American leaders endorse Harris as president.

Begay said the Native Americans for Harris-Walz programs goal is to organize and uplift the work of tribal citizens, leaders and organizations that has already been done and provide support to them.

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The importance of all this work is that the Native vote is critical to a victory in November, and we need to be working hand in hand with grassroots organizers because that's who we trust. We're building relationships, building partnerships with those organizers on the grounds and making sure that they have what they need to do their work, will ensure that we continue to grow and ensure a strong voter turnout, she said.

Editors Note: Jade Begay is a climate advisor for ICT.

ICT is owned by IndiJ Public Media, a nonprofit news organization. Will you support our work? All of our content is free. There are no subscriptions or costs. And we have hired more Native journalists in the past year than any news organization  and with your help we will continue to grow and create career paths for our people. Support ICT for as little as $10. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter.
NEWTON COUNTY, Mo.  Two cars crashed head-on about six miles south of Joplin on State Hwy 43 just before 8 p.m., killing an elderly woman from Jay, Oklahoma.

Linda Johnson, 77, was traveling south on Hwy 43 when another car crossed her lane, striking her vehicle head-on. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Her 71-year-old passenger, also from Jay, sustained serious injuries.

The preliminary report says a 52-year-old Springfield woman drove the vehicle that crossed into Johnsons lane. She and her passenger, a 60-year-old man also from Springfield, received serious and minor injuries, respectively.

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Officials closed the highway between Jute Rd. and Kentucky Rd. for nearly four hours while they worked to rescue the crash victims and clean up the scene.

Witnesses who saw the crash stopped to help as one of the vehicles burst into flames. Some of those witnesses reportedly helped pull a couple of victims from the burning vehicle, sustaining injuries during the rescue.

Officers with the MSHP, the Newton County Sheriffs Department, and the Seneca Fire Department all responded to the scene.

MSHP is investigating the crash and says more information will be released as soon as it becomes available.

MSHP Crash Report Policy Change

As of Friday (11/1), the public will get less information from the MSHP. You will no longer have access to the names of vehicle/boating crash victims. The MSHP announced a change in its policy on preliminary crash report details.

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MSHP announced the new policy to the media today (11/1) around 11:30 AM, stating that it would take effect at 3 PM. There was no comment period or notice to the public.

The patrols Public Information and Education Division said in its release that the policy was changing due to scam incidents across the state targeting motor vehicle crash victims and/or individuals associated with someone who was involved in a crash.

The PIED says, The public safety benefit of the dissemination of information that identifies a traffic/boating crash victim or drowning victim no longer outweighs the risks when the names are disseminated.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Florida Department of Health has warned Riviera Beach that it may have violated state law by failing to promptly report the presence of a possible drinking water contaminant and twice submitting "falsified or misrepresented laboratory reports" to the department.

"Violations of Florida Statutes (F.S.) or administrative rules may result in liability for damages and restoration and the judicial imposition of civil penalties," the department warned Riviera Beach in a Monday, Oct. 28, letter to Mayor Ronnie Felder.

The warning letter, signed by Jorge Patino, the environmental administrator of water programs for the Department of Health, notes that it is "part of an agency investigation preliminary to agency action."

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The city was given 15 days upon receipt of the letter to contact the department and arrange a meeting to discuss issues raised.

One of the renderings of the future Riviera Beach water plant from Blue Heron Blvd. looking east.

Riviera Beach issued a public response Thursday, Oct. 31, noting that "upon discovering these issues, city administration promptly reported to the FDOH and has been actively working in partnership with them to resolve all outstanding items from 2023."

The city added: "Importantly, we want to assure our residents that our water supply continues to meet all state and federal guidelines and standards for public water systems."

Riviera Beach has already paid fines and administrative fees of roughly $81,000 for water testing reporting issues this year. The prospect of additional fees and fines appear to be tied to the same testing and reporting issues that emerged in 2023.

Riviera Beach has a recent problematic history of water issues

Water issues have dogged Riviera Beach for years, as residents have had problems with its color and taste. City officials have acknowledged that its old water treatment facility, built in 1958, urgently needs to be replaced. But they have insisted that the city's drinking water was safe.

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Fresh doubt about that pledge was raised in January, when the city's Special Utility District, which oversees the water facility, reported that well water had tested positive for a fecal contaminant in June 2023. Residents and City Council members were enraged.

Felder, who launched an investigation into the water testing operation, said in February that, despite what members of the public and the City Council were told, E. coli was found in not one but two city wells and that the fecal contaminant got into the drinking water system.

RIVIERA BEACH NEWS: Why Riviera Beach could be a gem of a place to live in the future despite past struggles

Escherichia coli  E. coli  is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals. But virulent strains passed through fecal matter can cause stomach cramping and pain, watery or bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Those impacts can, in turn, significantly worsen the condition of people whose health is already compromised.

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In an August Facebook posting, Felder said health department officials had recently reached out to him. The city, he said, could face dozens of additional violations from the health department in the weeks ahead.

RIVIERA BEACH NEWS: Council upholds suspension of Evans, raising questions about his future

"We are going to be hit  or potentially be hit  with 151 water violations," Felder said in his video. "I'm going to be transparent about that. This is nothing to hide."

Felder said there is an open investigation into the water issue and that he is determined to get to the bottom of it.

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Riviera's dilemma: $115 million in bond money can't fund much-needed water treatment facility

Already, the city's water problems have cost at least one person his job.

The City Council voted in July to relieve Utilities Director Michael Low of his day-to-day responsibilities overseeing the city's water utility. Before storming out of the meeting where that vote was taken, Low blasted council members, saying they had made the difficult job of overseeing the utility more difficult.

"This utility is a total mess," he said. "I came in to try and help you. All you have done since I've been here is made it hard to do the job. And this will continue whether I'm in the position or anybody else. I recognize the statement I'm making now suggests that you're going to just vote me out of office. That's fine. I've got plenty of life to get on with. The issue is you need a water plant. You are not going to get a water plant if you continue to carry on the way you are doing it."

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Riviera Beach is in the early stages of planning and design for a new water treatment facility that could cost at least $350 million. The city has not yet determined how it will play for the new facility.

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: More water woes for Riviera Beach after health department warning
A healthcare facility has been granted the status of a reintegration centre for military personnel released from captivity by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine for the first time.

Source: Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov on Facebook: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia

Details: Umierov said the centre is located in one of the country's central oblasts.

This is a specialised complex that provides all services in one place: medical, rehabilitation and psychological aid to the military who have returned from Russian captivity. In addition, defenders will be able to get help in obtaining certificates and restoring documents.

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Quote from Umierov: "The facility currently has 100 beds and can expand to 200 or more by adding rehabilitation beds."

The defence minister says the Ministry of Defence has also received the first suggestions and proposals from the institution's military personnel and medical staff.

Quote from Umierov: "It is our duty to take care of those who sacrifice their health and lives to defend Ukraine."

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The first 24 hours of a new campaign from United Way of Henderson were kicked off with a donation from Henderson County Schools. On Friday morning, HCS handed over a $3,000 check to the organization. Officials say they chose the school system to start the Live United, Live Local campaign because its the heartbeat of the city.

Its one of the largest employers in Henderson. We all know how much our teachers do. We all know how much our community does for our schools. So, what better way to really show what the community does?, says Kelsi Dunham, the Interim Executive Director of the organization.

Officials say school staff were able to get a little creative with their efforts to contribute and pledged time from their workload to the fund.

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Heavy police presence at Rockport gas station

So, that hourly rate goes to United Way every monththis is through payroll deductions, one-time donations, check, cash and cards. Different schools run different incentives and do different, exciting things. I know some had like a casual day for United Way. They do some rafflesparking spots, says Dunham.

Some student ambassadors from the Colonel Movement were on hand. The group ensures school spirit and community engagement go hand-in-hand.

One student says, to join as an ambassador, she remembers writing an essay about how community support through a former teacher changed her life.

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She impacted my life by being there, and showing up to all the events I was in, because unfortunately my parents had to work. They werent able to be there. She was always there, and she was always helping me. She was always just right by my side, says Elena Andres Gomez, a senior at Henderson County High School.

She says celebrating the schools efforts to further this campaign is just an extension of her drive to impact the lives of others.

Officials say every donation counts, but they hope to have around $450,000 raised by the campaign end in April.

For example, Salvation Armythey are using their funds for their fellowship kitchen and for those immediate needslooking at financial assistance, rent, utilities, things like that. Riverview Schools, another example of education, are partnering with Building Blocks out of Evansville. [They are] really empowering the students that they have there, says Dunham.

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United Way says, in June, chosen community members will interview organizations who apply for the funding.

All the funds are decided on by that community investment team. United way does not. Myself, the staff herewe dont decide where those funds go. It is the communitys money. So, the community decides where those funds go, says Dunham.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
The presidential election between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris will come to a head on Nov. 5 as final voters cast their ballots. Thats not the only thing that will be decided at the polls though, with abortion, marijuana, and local and state representative elections also set to be voted on down ballot

On election day, polling hours vary state by statesometimes even county by county. In certain states where poll closing times varyspecifically in states like North Dakota and New Hampshireyou can utilize search functions on each states respective website.

Though line-length will vary too, what matters is that if you are in line by the time the polls close, you will be able to cast your ballot. Voting does not end until the last person in line at the time the polls close gets to vote.

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Below are the times that the polls close at each hour (Eastern time and local time) in every state on election day.

Arizona

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

Arkansas

Local time: 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:30 p.m.

California

Local time: 8 p.m.

Eastern Time: 11:00 p.m.

Colorado

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

Connecticut

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Delaware

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

District of Columbia

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Florida

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 7:00 p.m.

Georgia

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 7:00 p.m.

Hawaii

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 12:00 a.m.

Idaho

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: Between 10:00 p.m and 11:00 p.m. depending on time zone of county

Illinois

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

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Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Indiana

Local time: 6:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 7:00 p.m.

Iowa

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

Kansas

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. depending on the time zone of the county

Kentucky

Local time: 6:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: Between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.depending on the time zone of the county

Louisiana

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

Maine

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Maryland

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Massachusetts

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Michigan

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. depending on time zone

Minnesota

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

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Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

Mississippi

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Missouri

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Montana

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 10:00 p.m.

Nebraska

Local time: 8:00 p.m. (Central Time Zone); 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time Zone)

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

Nevada

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 10:00 p.m.

New Hampshire

Local time: Varies by municipality

Eastern Time: Between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., depending on municipality.

New Jersey

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern time: 8:00 p.m.

New Mexico

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

New York

Local time: 9:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

North Carolina

Local time: 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Time: 7:30 p.m.

North Dakota

Local time: 7:00 p.m., but varies for areas on Mountain time

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Eastern Time: Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Ohio

Local time: 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Time: 7:30 p.m.

Oklahoma

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Oregon

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: Between 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. depending on the time zone

Pennsylvania

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Rhode Island

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

South Carolina

Local time: 7:00 p.m,

Eastern Time: 7:00 p.m.

South Dakota

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. depending on the time zone

Tennessee

Local time: 8:00 p.m. (counties in Eastern Time Zone); 7:00 p.m. (counties in Central Time Zone)

Eastern Time: 8:00 p.m.

Texas

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. depending on the time zone

Utah

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

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Eastern Time: 10:00 p.m.

Vermont

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 7:00 p.m.

Virginia

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 7:00 p.m.

Washington

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 11:00 p.m.

West Virginia

Local time: 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Time: 7:30 p.m.

Wisconsin

Local time: 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

Wyoming

Local time: 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time: 9:00 p.m.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A hit-and-run incident left two young women hospitalized with serious injuries Saturday in the College Area, authorities said.

The collision occurred around 12:30 a.m. when the women, ages 19 and 20, ran in front of a black or silver BMW vehicle while it was traveling southbound in the 5000 block of College Avenue, the San Diego Police Department explained.

According to preliminary reports, the driver of the BMW struck the two women before fleeing the scene. Emergency responders quickly transported both women to a local hospital for treatment.

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The 20-year-old sustained significant injuries, including a fractured left arm and a lacerated lung that required surgery. Her 19-year-old companion suffered a lacerated liver, also requiring surgery. Officials have since confirmed that both injuries are non-life threatening.

Authorities have indicated that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the collision, though no further specifics were given. The Traffic Division is actively investigating the incident and is urging anyone with information to come forward by calling 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.
WASHINGTON (AP)  House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that Republicans probably will try to repeal legislation that spurred U.S. production of semiconductor chips, a statement he quickly tried to walk back by saying he would like to instead streamline it.

Johnson made the initial comment while campaigning for a vulnerable New York GOP congressman in a district that is anticipating a large new Micron semiconductor manufacturing plant.

A reporter asked Johnson whether he would try to repeal the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had disparaged last week. I expect that we probably will, but we havent developed that part of the agenda yet," Johnson replied.

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Democrats quickly jumped on the Republican speakers comments, warning that it showed how Johnson and Trump are pursuing an aggressive conservative agenda bent on dismantling even popular government programs. The White House has credited the CHIPS Act for spurring hundreds of billions of dollars of investments as well as hundreds of thousands of jobs. Vice President Kamala Harris has pointed to the legislation on the campaign trail as proof that Democrats can be entrusted with the U.S. economy.

Johnson, who voted against the legislation, later said in a statement that the CHIPS Act, which poured $54 billion into the semiconductor manufacturing industry, is not on the agenda for repeal."

To the contrary, there could be legislation to further streamline and improve the primary purpose of the billto eliminate its costly regulations and Green New Deal requirements, the speaker's statement said.

It wasn't the first recent comment Johnson has had to walk back. Earlier this week he had to clean up comments he made saying he wanted to take a blow torch to the regulatory state and make massive changes to the Affordable Care Act. After facing political blowback, he said that repealing the health care law was not on the table.

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The incident was emblematic of Johnson's struggle working closely with Trump and at the same time campaigning for his House colleagues, especially those locked in tough reelection battles that are crucial to Republicans holding a narrow majority. The speaker was campaigning for Rep. Brandon Williams, a New York Republican who worked in the tech industry before running for Congress and supported the CHIPS Act.

Williams said in a statement that he spoke privately with Johnson after he suggested that the act could be repealed.

He apologized profusely, saying he misheard the question, Williams said.

Williams' district is anticipating a large new Micron semiconductor manufacturing plant. The company has said it received grants of $6.1 billion from the CHIPS Act to support its plans.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement Friday, Anyone threatening to repeal the CHIPS & Science Act is threatening more than 50,000 good-paying jobs in Upstate New York and $231 billion worth of economic growth nationwide.

Democrats are hoping that the comments give them a late boost as they try to court working class voters in regions that depend on factory jobs. Harris, during a campaign stop in Saginaw, Michigan earlier this week, toured another semiconductor factory to bring attention to the 2022 law.

In response to Johnson's comments Friday, a spokesperson for Harris' campaign, Ammar Moussa, said, "Harris is running to bring manufacturing jobs back to America and make us competitive globally. The only way to guarantee these Republicans never get a chance to repeal these laws that are creating jobs and saving Americans money is to elect her president.

As of August, the CHIPS and Science Act had provided $30 billion in support for 23 projects in 15 states that would add 115,000 manufacturing and construction jobs, according to the Commerce Department. That funding helped to draw in private capital and would enable the United States to produce 30% of the worlds most advanced computer chips, up from 0% when the Biden-Harris administration succeeded Trumps presidency.

Viet Shelton, spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said, Most politicians usually go to a community promising to create jobs in the town theyre visiting Mike Johnson, ever the trendsetter, decided to visit a town and promise to kill jobs in that town.
After a grueling, high-stakes campaign between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, Americans will soon  and finally  start getting election results from across the country.

According to the Associated Press, about 83 million Americans have voted early. Polls across the United States are now open for Election Day voting, and closing times vary in each state. The first state polls close at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET tonight, while the final state polls, in Hawaii and most of Alaska, close at midnight ET.

It's important to remember that patience is key. Social media will undoubtably be flooded with partisans on both sides declaring that this county or that one is indicative of the final vote. The reality is these things take time to assess.

Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning counties  or precincts within those counties  may report their tallies at varying speeds. Early and mail-in ballots often reflect a different partisan lean from in-person votes, and they will likely be counted at different paces as well, with each state employing its own system.

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The most important thing to watch for is race calls in the seven swing states that the Harris and Trump campaigns agree will decide a close election. They are, in the order of Electoral College votes:

Pennsylvania (19), Georgia (16), North Carolina (16), Michigan (15), Arizona (11), Wisconsin (10) and Nevada (6).

Also dont forget about Congress, where Republicans are looking to hold onto their razor-thin majority in the House and Democrats are looking to do the same with their 51-49 Senate edge. Control of Congress can enable or thwart much of a presidents political agenda. The Senate, for instance, not only passes legislation but also clears the presidents picks for judges and the Cabinet.

Heres how Election Day will unfold, hour by hour.

6 p.m. ET: The first state polls close

Indiana (Eastern time zone region)

Kentucky (Eastern time zone region)

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Indiana and Kentucky straddle two time zones, so itll take another hour for the states to close up shop. Both are expected to end up in Trumps column.

7 p.m. ET: The first race calls; Georgia takes the stage

Florida (Eastern time zone region)

Georgia

Indiana (Central time zone region)

Kentucky (Central time zone region)

South Carolina

Virginia

Vermont

New Hampshire (partial)

Now that full states have finished voting, its likely that media outlets will start feeling comfortable calling a couple of the races. In addition to Indiana and Kentucky, South Carolina is expected to be an easy win for Trump while Vermont should be the same for Harris.

Do not expect an early call in Georgia, the first marquee swing state to close its polls. Be cautious analyzing the results until theres a significant percentage of the precincts in. Whichever candidate emerges victorious there will have a significant advantage in the Electoral College.

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Florida and Virginia used to be swing states, but both have drifted from the most competitive status: Florida toward the Republicans and Virginia toward the Democrats. Although Harris isnt spending time and money in Florida, Senate Democrats are hoping to do well against Florida Sen. Rick Scott. (Note: The Florida Panhandle will have voters going to the polls for another hour in the Central time zone.)

Note that New Hampshire law requires polling places to stay open at least until 7 p.m. ET, but also allows localities to stay open later if they choose. Some close at 7:30 or 8 p.m.

7:30 p.m. ET: Enter North Carolina

North Carolina

Ohio

West Virginia

Like Georgia, North Carolina is among the largest swing states up for grabs in this election. Again, avoid jumping to any conclusions until you see almost all of the precincts in, as Harris and Trump have support from very different corners of the state. Parts of North Carolina are also still grappling with recovery from Hurricane Helene.

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North Carolina also features a high-profile governors race that was rocked by scandal after CNN reported that the Republican candidate, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, made a series of racist, sexist and otherwise offensive comments on a porn website. Robinson denied making the posts.

Trumps expected victory in Ohio adds headwinds for Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is running for reelection and will need at least some Trump voters to back him.

In West Virginia, the states strong GOP lean led national Democrats to largely cede the seat held by outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin.

8 p.m. ET: All eyes on Pennsylvania

Alabama

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida (Central time zone region)

Illinois

Kansas (Central time zone region)

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan (Eastern time zone region)

Mississippi

Missouri

New Jersey

North Dakota (Central time zone region)

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Dakota (Central time zone region)

Tennessee (Eastern and Central time zones)

Texas (Central time zone region)

Washington, D.C.

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There are a lot of incoming state results at this point in the night. And one is sure to be among the most watched: Pennsylvania, the most populous of the seven swing states.

But dont expect any quick race calls here, as Pennsylvania bars election officials from processing mail-in votes until Election Day. This could add significant delays to determining the victor if the race is close. In 2020, the Associated Press called Pennsylvania for Joe Biden four days after Election Day, giving Biden enough electoral votes to win the presidency.

Overall, votes cast by mail have tended to favor Democrats, ever since the issue of early and mail voting became highly politicized during the 2020 election, the AP noted in advance of the 2024 vote. This means the Democratic candidate in a competitive contest could take an early lead in the vote count in the initial vote reports after polls close, even though the race may tighten considerably as more votes are tabulated.

Polls are also closing in most of Michigan at 8 p.m. ET, putting the spotlight on another one of the seven marquee swing states. Both campaigns have spent an enormous amount of their time and resources here, and its another place where, if the contest is close, race callers will need to wait until most of the precincts are in in order to draw significant conclusions. Note that a few counties in the Upper Peninsula are in the Central time zone and will have their polls open another hour.

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Also keep an eye on Maine, which awards two electoral votes to the winner of its state and also an electoral vote to the winner of each of its two congressional districts. Harris is expected to win the state, but the rural 2nd District stretching across the states north is considered competitive.

There are also a number of key Senate races at stake here. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey is running for reelection. Michigan features an open seat. Republicans are hoping running a moderate former governor will help them in Democratic-leaning Maryland. And Democrats are hoping for upsets in two Republican-leaning states: Missouri, against Sen. Josh Hawley, and Texas, against Sen. Ted Cruz.

8:30 p.m. ET: One more state

Arkansas

Arkansas is friendly turf for Trump.

9 p.m. ET: Polls close in Arizona and Wisconsin

Arizona

Colorado

Iowa

Kansas (Mountain time zone region)

Louisiana

Michigan (Central time zone region)

Minnesota

Nebraska

New Mexico

New York

North Dakota (Mountain time zone region)

South Dakota (Mountain time zone region)

Texas (Mountain time zone region)

Wisconsin

Wyoming

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Polls are now closing in two more major swing states: Arizona and Wisconsin.

Along with Pennsylvania and Michigan, Wisconsin is part of Democrats blue wall strategy, in which Harris could potentially secure a narrow Electoral College majority by sweeping them. All three are Rust Belt states with strong Democratic organizations but also areas where Trump has surpassed expectations in the past.

Arizona, meanwhile, is the one border state both campaigns are vying for, in a race that has involved a lot of discussion of immigration and border policy. Pay particular attention to Maricopa County, where most of the states residents live. Also note that Arizona is among the states that pioneered mail-in voting, and historically most Arizonans cast an early ballot  either in person or through the mail.

Nebraska joins Maine in allocating its electoral votes by congressional district. Although most of the state is expected to go Republican, the Omaha-based Second District is considered competitive and could be significant if the election is close enough.

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Iowa is also worth watching, as the highly rated Des Moines Register poll, published this weekend, showed Harris surprisingly leading Trump in what is widely viewed as a solidly Republican state. But another Iowa poll showed Trump with a clear lead in the state. If Iowa is competitive, that may indicate Harris is also running strong in other parts of the Midwest.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona are also facing Republican challengers. Nebraska, meanwhile, has an interesting Senate race in which GOP Sen. Deb Fischer is being challenged by an independent candidate, labor leader Dan Osborn.

10 p.m. ET: Nevada, the final swing state

Idaho (Mountain time zone region)

Montana

Nevada

Oregon (Mountain time zone region)

Utah

The polls have now closed in Nevada, the final and least populous of the seven swing states. Trump has a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and considers the state a natural fit for his political brand. At the same time, the states diverse population and powerful union culture can boost Democrats. Almost three-quarters of the states population lives in Las Vegas-based Clark County.

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Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Sen. Jon Tester of Montana are also looking to defeat their Republican challengers.

11 p.m. ET: The West Coast

California

Idaho (Pacific time zone region)

Oregon (Pacific time zone region)

Washington

Harriss home state of California represents the largest trove of electoral votes, but is expected to be an easy win for her.

12 a.m. ET: Final states

Alaska (Alaska time zone)

Hawaii

There was some speculation that Alaska could be worth watching after a respected local poll showed Harris only a few points behind in September. Its widely expected to go for Trump, however.

Note that one sparsely populated part of Alaska is in another time zone and will see its polls close an hour later, at 1 a.m. ET: the western edge of the Aleutian Islands. See also: The last in-person vote in the U.S. will be cast on the desolate tundra of Alaska's Aleutian Islands
HONOLULU(KHON2)  The Honolulu Police Department graduated its latest class of recruits Friday at Moanalua High School. The class marking the first members of the force to receive the new signing bonus.

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Congratulations to the newest members of the Honolulu Police Department, the 213th recruit class.

Im extremely proud of the 213th recruit class, Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan said. Sixteen, strong individuals that come from all walks of life that are gonna enter our police department and be brand new officers.

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I love coming to these ceremonies. This is a great class. You got some legacy kids in here. Three of the graduates, their parents, their fathers were in HPD, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said. Its just a proud moment for the families and themselves. They made a courageous decision. Im here as Mayor, on behalf of a grateful public, to acknowledge that decision, and thank them for it.

The 16 graduates are the first to receive the citys new recruitment bonuses.

When they applied the bonuses hadnt even been announced yet.

At three-and-a-half months, when they pass the their academics portion of the police academy, they were given $2500 bonus. So this next iteration, coming up as they graduate tonight, theyll receive a $5000.

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Local pet toys for local pets at Hawaii Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Theyll receive another $7500 after the probationary period, and after four years in the force, Logan said theyll get another $10,000 for a total of $25,000.

According to HPD, the number of applicants they receive jumped about 20% since the roll out of the bonus, which is meant to help recruitment.

How does this help the vacancies, the shortage in the police department? KHON asked.

So were still at about 420 vacancies, Logan responded. It goes up-and-down depending on classes that come in. So sixteen young individuals coming in this class. In November, well be pushing probably around 30, 31 individuals to the watches so that will drop the vacancies down about 30 and so well be hovering around 400.

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Logan said the bonus is really an incentive and not the main reason people join the department.

Blangiardi said he wants to do everything he can to support HPD.

I am actually very interested in developing something to retain our senior officers as well, he explained.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Blangiardi said hes creating an incentive for senior officers to delay retiring and stay in the force longer, its something he hopes to implement in his next four years in 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 KHON2.
MARION COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT)  Marion County deputies are investigating after human remains were discovered in a wooded area.

Investigators said they received information on November 1 about a vehicle that was found in the Lampton community. They said the vehicle matched the description of the vehicle belonging to Delmar Lee Blake, Jr., who was reported missing in August 2023.

Man sentenced for shooting Lamar County deputy in back

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Authorities responded to the location and confirmed the vehicle was registered to Blake. They began to search the area and located human remains.

The remains have been sent to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for a positive identification. Investigators said the remains are believed to be those of Blake.

Deputies said there is no foul play suspected in the case, and the investigation is ongoing.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
526 more voting centers are opening across Los Angeles County Saturday as the presidential election nears.

More than 100 early voting centers countywide already opened on Oct. 26. The locations arent just for in-person voting; residents can also drop off their vote-by-mail ballots at any voting center.

One man who was voting early on Saturday at the L.A. County Registrars Office in Norwalk told KTLA that the very serious political climate is going to lead to changes.

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I think its a very serious situationthings are going to change, either for better or worse, Paul Willis said. So, Im trying to put in that positive vote.

A ballot box seen outside the L.A. County Registrars Office in Norwalk on Nov. 2, 2024. (KTLA)

Voting centers are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. They will be open for longer on Election Day (Nov. 5) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

1 dead after multi-car crash in High Desert on Halloween

Click here for more information on early voting, and click here to find a list of voting center locations in L.A. County.

On the campaign trail Friday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump held rallies within seven miles of each other in Milwaukee as they both look to make their final appeals to voters in key swing states before Election Day on Tuesday.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Veronica Bell and Brian Phelps canvass a neighborhood in North Philadelphia in late October. They two of a number of volunteer and paid canvassers allied with Democrats in a key swing state. Liz Skalka/HuffPost

PHILADELPHIA  All the trainings. All the walking. All the doors knocked on, to open just a crack or slam shut. All the campaign literature that ends up in the trash. All the hours doing this, repeating this routine, having the same conversations  it ultimately comes down to securing votes. Even a single vote. Thats the best any canvasser can hope for.

Hi, my name is Brian. Im with For Our Future Pennsylvania, and Im looking for Ms. Dionna, says 38-year-old Brian Phelps, announcing himself as a volunteer canvasser with the local chapter of the labor union-backed super PAC.

Ms. Dionna, like the vast majority of people Phelps is trying to speak with today, is not on the other side of the door. Not home or moved. Phelps makes a note in his canvassing app and moves on to the next house in this stretch of Hunting Park, a mostly lower-income neighborhood in North Philadelphia where Democratic-aligned groups are trying to turn out the vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

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Phelps has traveled here from Maryland to assist with the massive on-the-ground effort to reach what algorithms and analysts have determined are the most persuadable and lowest-propensity voters  the people who, with a nudge from a canvasser, might turn out for Harris on Tuesday.

Its Phelps first day on the doors in Philadelphia, and things arent off to a great start. His first hour was basically a bust. Even when theyre not home, were doing the work, he says, trying to stay upbeat. Were Democrats. We do the work.

There are thousands upon thousands of doors being knocked right now in Pennsylvania, neighborhoods being canvassed and re-canvassed, in a state that will determine the outcome of the election. This work is undertaken by a variety of groups, some that are able to legally coordinate with the Harris campaign and some, like For Our Future, that are not. But their objective is the same: turn voters out for Harris, vice presidential nominee Tim Walz and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who is fending off a challenge from Republican David McCormick.

The Harris campaign alone is on track to knock on 5 million doors by Election Day, according to a senior campaign official. That number represents almost 40% of the population and nearly the total number of households in the state, though its likely many of the contacts are repeats. For Our Future has also knocked on over half a million doors since September.

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For these door-knockers, a days work, in a swing state where literally every single last vote matters, often comes down to just a single conversation.

The vast, vast, vast majority of doors, nobody answers. Thats just most of the experience, says Jamie DeMarco, a state-level director with the Chesapeake Climate Network Action Fund, who was training canvassers last weekend in the Germantown headquarters of For Our Future. Youre shifting through that haystack to find that needle of that person who only an in-person conversation could move.

Veronica Bell and Brian Phelps knock doors in the Hunting Park neighborhood of Philadelphia. Liz Skalka/HuffPost

Most of the people who sign up to canvass dont need to be convinced of the stakes of this coin-flip election, but DeMarco drives them home anyway in the 30-minute training he gives to volunteers before theyre let loose: We are here today because whoever wins Pennsylvania has a greater than 90% chance of winning the White House. And the past two cycles, Pennsylvania has determined the victors. It has flip-flopped and been determined by just a few tens of thousands of votes every time.

Trump won Pennsylvania, the swing state with the most Electoral College votes, by less than a percentage point in 2016, while Biden won it by slightly more than a percentage point in 2020. Now Harris and Trump are virtually tied here, a few days out from the election.

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If somebody wins in a landslide, then what you did on the ground, knocking on doors, probably wouldnt have made the difference either way, DeMarco says. But when someone wins by less than a percentage point, you know the ground game is what made a difference.

As impossible as it might be to believe, there are still undecided voters out there, even this close to the election. A recent swing-state poll pegged the percentage of likely voters in the commonwealth who havent made up their minds at just over 2%  more than the winning margin in the last two presidential elections. These are the people that both sides, in theory, are trying to identify and get to the polls.

Veronica Bell has been a canvasser since 2016 and says she enjoys getting out into the community. Liz Skalka/HuffPost

But Democrats, by many accounts, are having more conversations like the ones Phelps was attempting to have last weekend on peoples doorsteps. Trumps campaign, unlike in past elections, doesnt seem to have an equivalent operation in swing states. It has instead outsourced in-person voter outreach to partisan groups like Turning Point Action and Elon Musks America PAC, while the campaign itself has made recruiting activist poll watchers the focus of its grassroots efforts. That reality is borne out in the data  by a wide margin, more registered voters reported being contact by the Harris campaign than the Trump campaign in recent weeks, according to the latest Gallup survey.

Why is only one side investing in trying to talk directly to swing voters? Its easier to throw money at commercials and mailers  or, with respect to Trumps campaign, mobilize volunteers with an eye toward possibly contesting the results. The doors, meanwhile, can be a slog. They require patience, precision and a good pitch that is reinforced at the top of the ticket. It often takes hours just to identify one persuadable voter. Then you have to convince that person to actually vote for your candidate. And even then, theres little guarantee that conversation will materialize into someone actually voting. There are people who will say anything to get someone off their doorstep.

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Just ask Phelps and his canvassing partner, Veronica Bell, a 63-year-old paid organizer with For Our Future. Bell has been knocking doors since 2016, and working full-time on this election since April. For a time, Bell was affiliated with the Democratic Party, but I wanted to be more in service to my neighborhood, she says, so she turned to a more local operation. And Bell is as good at this work as they come: She knows the city, is outgoing and friendly, not too pushy but pushy enough. Bell knows when to keep a conversation going and when to move on.

Yall were just at my door yesterday, and I told yall yes, a woman snaps at Bell and Phelps through a doorbell camera. Its not uncommon for homes in highly targeted neighborhoods to be canvassed multiple times.

Thank you, Bell says, already looking up her next address. We got 10 days!

Bell places literature on doorknobs when no one opens a door. Liz Skalka/HuffPost

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Bell has a few hard and fast rules for canvassing: Knock once or twice, then step back from the door and wait for someone to answer. Dont unlock a gate or enter an apartment building. Dont ask a child to open a door. Assume youre always being recorded on doorbell cameras. No lit in mailboxes.

The vast majority of addresses that pop up in MiniVAN, the mobile canvassing app, do not provide Bell and Phelps with the opportunity to make a pitch for Harris and Casey. But the outlook improves once they get through the first two dozen houses.

Will you be supporting Kamala Harris? Phelps asks a guy who looks like he was just sleeping.

I dont know.

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Were 10 days in! Who are you voting for?

I dont know.

You dont know, but youre going to vote?

Yeah.

Look up Kamala, see what she stands for. Because you know what the other guy stands for? A lot of lies. Dont believe it. You wonder how he gets to be on the ballot when hes tried for 34 felonies. I know a guy who had two felonies 30 years ago and he couldnt work for the post office.

Bell leaves him with some literature and thanks him for his time. And then its on to another block. And another.

Theyre nearly ready to break for lunch when they meet Tahir Hightower, a 39-year-old cook and entrepreneur who says he doesnt like either candidate.

Tahir Hightower says he doesn't believe that voting for either candidate will change the country for the better. Liz Skalka/HuffPost

Hightower may be the closest they come all day to a persuadable voter. Only, Hightower isnt necessarily someone who doesnt know about the candidates. He just doesnt see how voting for either one might help him or the country. Its arguably tougher to get someone to see the utility in voting than selling someone on the merits of a particular candidate.

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Ive seen Kamala, but she says the same thing that Obama said, and nothings really changed, Hightower tells Bell, who asks him if hes seen Project 2025, the widely unpopular right-wing blueprint for a second Trump term.

I did. But I dont think hes bad, Hightower says of Trump. How do we know what to believe? Im not saying Im OK with him. Im just undecided.

Bell asks him if he has daughters and sisters. Hightower says he does, and Bell tries to close the pitch with reproductive rights.

Were talking about the right to have a say-so over your own body. Government should not tell you that, she says.

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Youre right about that. So Donald Trump is against that, thats what youre saying?

Yes. You told me you read Project 2025. Read some more.

I aint letting that stuff scare me.

10 days.

I know.

Think about your daughters and your sisters.

I am, Hightower says, signaling that hes ready to end the conversation and go back inside. Im thinking about it. I just dont know.

Related...
Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage on Sept. 28 in Asheville, North Carolina. The city is home to the only abortion clinic and high-risk obstetrics center in the western part of the state. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Since Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina in late September, the full spectrum of reproductive health care in the region has been in precarity, from treatment for high-risk pregnancies to abortions.

Western North Carolinas only abortion clinic is still closed, and third-trimester, high-risk pregnant patients have been transferred out to hospitals across the state, health care workers told States Newsroom.

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Dr. Bhaskari Burra is an Asheville-based OB-GYN who works at the only high-risk obstetrics center in western North Carolina. Shes also a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health.

The clinic had to close after the storm and wasnt able to fully open back up until the middle of October, Burra said: Were already in a maternity care desert in this area and that sort of further ostracized people from accessing care on the outpatient side.

Asheville is the seat of Buncombe County. But six nearby counties  Alleghany, Clay, Graham, Madison, Mitchell and Swain  have no hospitals or birth centers that offer obstetric care, according to the March of Dimes.

On the inpatient side, folks who are high risk and already hospitalized prior to the storm were transferred to other facilities in the east, including hospitals in Chapel Hill, Charlotte and Greenville, North Carolina.

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Some patients were transferred to Greenville, South Carolina.

Mission Hospital in Asheville had no running water for four days, according to AVL Watchdog. Burra said the labor and delivery unit was open for emergencies and people who could not evacuate.

Imagine if youre postpartum, if youve had a C-section and you also have an abdominal incision to care for  and obviously a baby to care for. That is impossible to do without access to clean water, Burra said, adding that they encouraged new mothers who could to evacuate.

Even though Burras clinic is fully operating now, theyre still dealing with the effect of the storm, more than a month after landfall.

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I think well be seeing the ramifications of this from a patient standpoint for a long time, she said.

Ash Williams, a member of Mountain Area Abortion Doula Collective, echoed that sentiment.

People were really talking about the impact of the storm two weeks ago, and now some of that support and attention is dwindling, but there are still people that are really impacted and needing support, he said.

Its unclear when Planned Parenthoods Asheville Health Center will reopen, but staff hopes to resume abortion services soon, said Molly Rivera, the organizations regional spokesperson.

The clinic has been closed since the storm landed in Asheville on Friday, Sept. 27, she said.

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Patients were rescheduled to affiliate clinics in Charlotte and Winston-Salem. Telehealth appointments for birth control and gender-affirming care were not interrupted by the hurricane, Rivera said.

But telehealth appointments for medication abortion are not available. Even though a federal judge struck down several restrictions on medication abortion in June, North Carolina law still requires patients to fill out informed consent paperwork in-person.

North Carolina has been under a 12-week abortion ban since July 2023, but the state is still considered an access point in the Southeast, where most abortions are illegal. South Carolina law bans abortions past six weeks, with limited exceptions.

With the Asheville clinics closure, Tennessee patients were especially affected, Rivera said. Major parts of Interstate 40 between Tennessee and North Carolina were damaged by the storm.

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Patients from out of state seeking abortion can turn to abortion funds. But since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade more than two years ago, fund operators say donations have dwindled.

In July, the National Abortion Federation announced it would cover 30% of abortion costs, down from covering half of the costs, States Newsroom reported.

Williams said his group helps fill in the gaps in abortion access in the western part of the state, and for people in Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee who need abortions. But after the storm, the collective decided to focus on people who needed abortions in their region, he said.

A national organization called Elevated Access that flies people across the country to get abortions recently sent a plane full of supplies  emergency contraception, period products, pregnancy tests and gender-affirming care products  to Asheville to help with relief efforts, according to Williams and Mike Bonanza, the groups executive director.

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The storm made people outside of the affected area want to support abortion access with funding. We were able to raise money to support the people that were needing care, and we did see a little bit of an influx of funding during the storm, Williams said. But similar to how it goes after a ban and a restriction, people will sometimes donate a lot of money to abortion funds. And then weeks later, were seeing those things dwindle and die down. That is kind of what were noticing now.

Correction: This story was updated on Nov. 18, 2024, to correct the name of the national organization that decreased abortion funding.
The latest update on Hurricane Patty has good news and bad news. The good news is that last weeks prediction that it could form between October 30 and November 2 has been pushed back. The results for several hurricane models today, October 30, predict that a tropical storm or hurricane could develop in the Caribbean by next week, but other trackers have lowered the risk of this happening. Heres a breakdown of when Hurricane Patty might develop in the first week of November 2024.

When could Hurricane Patty develop?

It is possible for Hurricane Patty to develop in the Caribbean off the eastern coast of Nicaragua, according to the Canadian hurricane model (or CMC). Accuweather says that there is potential for tropical storm development in this region some time between November 2 and 5.

[Image Credit: AccuWeather]

As explained by meteorologist Brian Shields, more popularly known as Mr. Weatherman on YouTube, the CMC model says that a low-pressure system will be moving northwest toward Belize over the course of the week. The German hurricane model, or ICON, predicts much the same, though it believes only a tropical storm will develop. This is due to warm ocean temperatures in the Central American Gyre, which is active near the end of the tropical season, which in this case is November.

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On the other hand, both the American model (GFS) and the European model do not show much risk for tropical storm development at this time. Still, all four models show that there will be a lot of rainfall across Central America and the Caribbean, with storms hovering over Puerto Rico long enough for potential floods and mudslides.

Accuweather notes that any storms in the Caribbean in November tend to be unpredictable and that steering winds can move the trajectory of a storm toward Florida if the conditions are right. The tracking service is also monitoring a second region off the northeastern coast of Haiti as a low risk for potential tropical storm development.

The post Heres When Hurricane Patty May Form Next Week, Experts Say appeared first on Mandatory.
An illegal migrant who skipped an immigration hearing after being cut loose at the US-Mexico border has been arrested for allegedly raping a 5-year-old girl on Long Island  and cops believe he may have more victims, officials said Friday.

Honduras national Wilson Castillo Diaz, 27, is accused of attacking the girl in Westbury last month, according to Nassau County cops.

Investigators declined to release any details about the horrifying crime  including whether Diaz knew the child prior to the alleged rape, or who reported it to cops.

Wilson Castillo Diaz, 26, is accused of attacking the 5-year-old on Oct. 16 on Long Island, Nassau County cops said. Nassau County

A criminal complaint obtained by The Post says Diaz raped the girl in his bedroom on the afternoon of Oct. 16, and also showed her pornographic images on his TV.



The girl was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation in the wake of the alleged attack, police said.

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Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said investigators were still probing the case and trying to determine if Diaz had any other alleged victims.

In this case, this 27-year-old man did not wake up one day and decide Im going to rape a five-year-old girl. So we believe there may be more victims out there, Ryder told reporters.

Diaz, who was living in Westbury and has no prior criminal history, illegally crossed into the US near Rio Grande, Texas, in April 2014 when he was 16, as an unaccompanied minor, cops and federal law-enforcement sources said.

He was taken into custody by US border agents but later cut loose after being served with a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

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Diaz then failed to appear at his immigration court hearing, according to police.

Sources said he was ordered removed in absentia back in 2016 for missing his court date.

Its not clear when Diaz first came to New York, or how long hed been living there prior to the alleged attack.

I cant stress enough how disheartening this is that this crime could occur against such a young girl who had her innocence taken away from her, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, adding that the alleged perp should not have been in this country.

Diaz, who was living in Westbury, had illegally crossed into the US near Rio Grande, Texas, in April 2014, according to cops. Brigitte Stelzer

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman held a recent press conference, discussing the case against suspect Wilson Castillo Diaz. Brigitte Stelzer

Nassau County is not a sanctuary county, and for good reason, because we try to keep out illegal migrants who havent been vetted. We dont know who they are. We dont know where they came from. We dont know if they have a criminal record, Blakeman, a Republican, continued.

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But unfortunately, our state is a sanctuary state and the policies in Washington have made us a sanctuary country.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been notified of Diazs arrest and have issued a detainer for him, police said  meaning they will deport him after the criminal proceedings against him take place.

Diaz was arraigned last Wednesday on a slew of charges, including rape, attempted rape and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was being held in the Nassau County Jail on a $200,000 cash bond.

His defense attorney didnt return a request for comment Friday.

 Additional reporting by Brigitte Stelzer and Jennie Taer
MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (WTVO)  The Illinois Report Card released this week did not only focus on Rockford Public Schools.

Data involving other local schools were also reported, including the Harlem High School, which boasted an 85-percent graduation rate in 2024.

We like you. We want you here, Harlem Principal Jeremy Bois said of the central message sent to Harlem students.

Bois said that message is a big part of why the vast majority of freshmen graduate from the Machesney Park school four years later.

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I think the graduation rate is an indication of everything we do, Bois said. But what we try to do is highlight that we are not here to give you a diploma. And youre not here to earn a diploma. You are here to start your future.

Bois says that means students are prepared for a variety of potential careers, which helps keep them engaged in high school.

[We] create an education that provides employability, college and career readiness, acceptance, inclusion [and] fun, he said. [We] try to wrap all that together.

Once students enter high school, getting them across the stage to accept their diplomas requires a partnership between the student, the school and the community.

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I do think that its rigorous, Bois said. Its not easy to get a diploma. It is rigorous, and we dont want to reduce that. So, there [are] some challenges that students have to overcome to get to that diploma. It is a big accomplishment. And theres 15% of the students who dont quite make it in four years. But we are doing everything we can for them.

District officials say preparation for the day a student graduates from Harlem High School doesnt start freshman year. It begins much earlier.

We start our programming at birth and prenatal, said Jason Blume, Harlem School District assistant superintendent. So, we have parent educators who are working with families in our communitymother whos pregnant up to 3 years old. We have our preschool program. And we have kindergarten.

All of that programming is foundational to Harlems graduation rates.

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So, it really is a focus and an effort at all levels to ensure the kids have the skills and the foundational knowledge they need to move on each school year to ultimately get to the point when theyre seniors and they can graduate, Blume said.

Harlems 2023 graduation rate was 79%.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters is doubling down on demands that Vice President Kamala Harris send nearly $475 million to reimburse Oklahoma taxpayers for paying to educate children whose parents are undocumented immigrants.

In response, some state lawmakers and community advocates are criticizing his request as an attempt to vilify Latinos and immigrants and turn the spotlight away from questions about his oversight of Oklahoma schools.

In a statement alongside his letter, Walters said he requested $474.9 million from the federal government based on an analysis of how illegal immigration financially impacts Oklahoma schools. The superintendent issued guidance to public school districts in July on how to report this impact.

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However, in his letter to Harris sent Tuesday, Walters cited a different source for the $474.9 million figure: the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group dedicated to limiting immigration.

Just hours before sharing his letter sent to Vice President Kamala Harris, demanding $475 million to refund Oklahomans for paying for the education of students who come from undocumented parents, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks Oct. 29 to the press after a meeting discussing a LOFT agency draft report in at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. The report details its investigation into the spending practices of the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

The organization, which has been labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center because of ties to white supremacist groups, said the figure is based on estimates, including that 41,766 children of undocumented migrants attended Oklahoma schools in 2023. Many of those children are likely U.S. citizens, based on the group's analysis.

Yet Walters described the figure as the cost of educating "illegal immigrant children" and said Harris is responsible for covering the cost because of her oversight of U.S.-Mexico border policy. The White House did not respond to The Oklahoman's request for comment by the time of publication. It's unclear how the vice president would grant $474.9 million to the state of Oklahoma.

The letter, which was sent to The Washington Examiner and Fox News, came to light hours after an investigative report by the nonpartisan Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency criticized the way the Oklahoma State Department of Education communicated with school districts and implemented new programs.

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More: Two Oklahoma lawmakers want a bigger investigation into spending by Ryan Walters, OSDE

Walters' letter to Harris was amplified in a video posted Thursday to official state Education Department social media pages. The video features several statistics cited in Walters' letter, as well as footage of what it says are crowds at the U.S.-Mexico border. "We hereby demand reimbursement in the amount of $474,900,000.00," says one caption in the video.

The superintendent's spokesman, Dan Isett, did not answer The Oklahoman's specific questions about the video's production or Walters' stance on educating the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. However, he emailed a short statement that blamed Harris for policies that cost Oklahoma millions of dollars and said taxpayers have a right to be outraged.

"Supt. Walters is engaged in a public policy debate to protect Oklahomans and the future of our state as he was elected to do," Isett wrote.

Ryan Walters' letter contained 'several misrepresentations,' advocate says

Angelica Villalobos, the executive director for immigrant-advocacy group Immigrant Connexion based in Oklahoma City, issued a statement responding to Walters' letter, saying it contained "several misrepresentations."

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"Firstly, its surprising that as the superintendent of education, Walters does not understand how federal and state government functions, specifically regarding state tax allocations and public education funding," Villalobos said. "His request to the vice president reveals either a lack of basic governmental knowledge or a willingness to politicize childrens education based on misinformation."

People born in the country are U.S. citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, it's illegal to ask about the citizenship status of a public school student, and undocumented students are guaranteed education by the 1982 Plyler vs. Doe Supreme Court decision.

By law, students are entitled to a free public education regardless of their immigration status, said Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City, said during a recent panel discussion on Latino leadership during elections. The state schools superintendent's job is to ensure those students are being served well, he added.

"If we attack and we leave marginalized students, it's not going to make Oklahoma a better state," Alonso-Sandoval said. "It's important for us to really focus on more policy-focused conversations, because this is just another distraction."

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More: OKC's Latino community leaders gather together to address issues ahead of 2024 election: View photos now

Walters' rhetoric assumes that undocumented families are a drain on the state's education system, Villalobos said, while other data points to ways that immigrant families add to the state's economy.

A recent study from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning tax policy organization, found that in Oklahoma, about 89,000 undocumented immigrants paid more than $227 million in state and local taxes during 2022. Nationwide, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022.

"These funds directly support Oklahomas infrastructure, including education, health care and public safety services," Villalobos said. "If refunds are being discussed, then its fair to ask where the reimbursement is for the substantial tax contributions made by these community members."

Ryan Walters' history of speaking out on his opposition to undocumented immigration

Walters has been outspoken about his opposition to undocumented immigration. During the vice presidential debate on Oct. 1, Walters posted on social media in support of Donald Trump's Republican vice presidential running mate, JD Vance, and said, "In Oklahoma, we will account for illegal immigrants in our schools."

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In his letter to Harris, Walters said that educating undocumented students imposes a "significant financial burden" to the state and presents additional obstacles, such as tutoring English as a Second Language students.

Days after Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters sent a letter to the vice president demanding $475 million for funding the education of "illegal immigrant children," Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a rally at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix on Oct. 31, 2024. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Walters said more than 6,000 students in Oklahoma are designated as "Limited English Proficiency" (LEP) learners, adding that the state will need an additional 1,065 certified LEP teachers in the next five years to help educate those students.

LEP students are defined as students who don't speak English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English.

More: Lawmaker suggests legislation that could give some undocumented immigrants life sentences

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From fiscal year 2021 to 2023, Walters also said that nearly 3,000 unaccompanied immigrant children were sent to sponsors in Oklahoma, citing data from the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement. Those years correlate with President Joe Biden's administration and the last four months of Trump's presidency.

From fiscal year 2017 to 2021, a time span that covers most of Trump's time office, as well as the end of the Obama administration and the start of Biden's presidency, there were 2,160 unaccompanied immigrant children who were sent to sponsors in Oklahoma.

Young people in Oklahoma should have access to a learning environment without barriers, said Nicole McAfee, executive director of LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Freedom Oklahoma, which has been critical of Walters' policies as superintendent. McAfee described his letter to Harris as an attempt to garner national attention during a presidential election year.

"While it might be tempting to engage in a debate around the fact that undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma contributed hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes or talk about how many of our industries rely on undocumented labor, that would require a level of good faith engagement that is not present in any Walters media frenzy, and ultimately miss the point that young folks in Oklahoma aren't political pawns that must prove their merit to receive education again and again," McAfee said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters letter to Harris draws pushback in Oklahoma
NEW DELHI (AP)  India officially protested on Saturday the Canadian governments allegation that the countrys powerful home minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Sikh activists inside Canada, calling it absurd and baseless.

Relations between the two countries soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year there were credible allegations the Indian government had links to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India has vehemently rejected the accusation.

New Delhi  long anxious about Sikh separatist groups  has increasingly accused the Canadian government of giving free rein to separatists from a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan, in India.

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The diplomatic row led to the expulsion of each others top diplomats last month.

The Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesman of Indias foreign ministry told reporters Saturday.

Jaiswal also said a Canadian diplomat in New Delhi was summoned on Friday and handed out a letter to formally protest the allegation. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties, he warned.

Canadas Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison told Parliament members of the national security committee on Tuesday that he had confirmed Shahs name to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations. Morrison did not explain how Canada knew of Shahs alleged involvement.

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Canadian authorities have repeatedly said they shared evidence with India whose officials deny being provided with any proof. New Delhi calls the allegations ridiculous.

Nijjar was a local leader of the Khalistan movement, banned in India. India designated him a terrorist in 2020, and at the time of his death was seeking his arrest for alleged involvement in an attack on a Hindu priest in India. He lived in Canada, where about 2% of the population is Sikh, for nearly three decades.

Shah, who is 60 years old, is responsible for Indias internal security, as the country's home minister. He is widely considered the second most powerful politician in India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah has also been a close aide of Modi for decades.

Canada is not the only country that has accused Indian officials of plotting an assassination on foreign soil. The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges in mid-October against an Indian government employee in connection with an alleged foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.

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Vikash Yadav, who authorities say directed the New York plot from India, faces murder-for-hire charges in a planned killing that prosecutors have previously said was meant to precede a string of other politically motivated murders in the United States and Canada.

New Delhi at the time expressed concern and said India takes the allegations seriously.
SRINAGAR, India (AP)  Three suspected militants were killed Saturday in separate gunbattles in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Saturday.

Indias military in a statement said soldiers intercepted a group of militants in a forested area in southern Anantnag district on Saturday, leading to a gunbattle that killed two rebels.

In a separate incident in the disputed regions main city of Srinagar, police and paramilitary soldiers killed a militant in an exchange of gunfire after troops cordoned off a neighborhood on a tip that he was hiding in a house. Police said two soldiers and two police were injured in the fighting.

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Residents said the troops torched the home where the rebel was trapped, a common tactic employed by Indian troops in the Himalayan region. There was no independent confirmation of the incident.

India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over the territory since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhis rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  The top two candidates for Indiana Governor are visiting Evansville this weekend.

Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Republican U-S Senator Mike Braun will make their final pitches to the voters this weekend.

McCormick is first. She meets with local officials and stops by downtown businesses Friday afternoon.

She says shes here to celebrate what she calls the great work in the city.

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Were going to visit some small businesses because we know how important they are to the entire State of Indiana. Youre fortunate in this area in Evansville to have some great small businesses that are very successful and so were going to take advantage of that.

Before hitting those businesses the afternoon kicked off at the pagoda where Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry along with local officials discussed the strategic Ohio River Vision Plan.

They include supporting reproductive rights including abortion and supporting educational issues especially early childhood care.

We must prioritize education, which is early childcare in which we still have a third of our counties that do not have access to affordable childcare, but also two were one of the few states that does not have universal pre-k, says McCormick.

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Contrasting herself from her opponents, McCormick says the majority of Hoosiers dont like where republican challenger Mike Braun is going.

I know pretty much everybody in Indiana that Ive talked to in this part of the state knows that he wants the Mid-State Corridor done. And that is why he is running and beyond that its just an afterthought, and we deserve better than that, says McCormick.

Watch the Video above to learn more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  An infant was found dead Friday afternoon at a Florida middle school after a relative forgot to drop the child off at day care, according to the Sumter County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies were called to South Sumter Middle School at about 4 p.m. for a dead baby.

Mom of unidentified toddler dropped off at Florida daycare located, deputies say

A 15-month-old child was with a relative and was supposed to be dropped off at day care. The relative forgot the child was in the car and went to the school without dropping off the child, deputies said.

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The child was found dead in the parked car later in the day.

This is a tragic situation and our hearts go out to the family of the child, deputies wrote in a Facebook post.

The investigation remains ongoing. No other details were immediately 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 WFLA.
Left-wingers are delighted that private pensions will now be subject to inheritance tax. And no wonder. Inheritance tax is possibly their favourite tax of all. This is because, according to the standard Left-wing argument, inheritance is unearned wealth. In other words: your children dont deserve the money you wish to leave to them, because theyve done nothing to earn it.

Well, perhaps they havent. But then, neither have the people the Left want to give your money to.

Take, for example, graduates who decide to claim benefits because, upon leaving university, they discover that theyre too anxious to work for a living. Or men who choose to cross the Channel on a criminal gangs dinghy, having apparently decided that France isnt a safe country. Or councillors who pay drag queens to read stories to children, and who order pedestrian crossings to be painted in the colours of the LGBTQIA+ flag.

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The Left are only too delighted for the above people, and indeed many others, to receive your money, even though none of them can strictly be said to have earned it. All of which suggests that the Left are in fact eagerly supportive of unearned wealth. Provided, that is, that theyre the ones who get to dish it out.

Such a position is plainly hypocritical  or, at the very least, muddled. For the sake of coherence, therefore, the Left must choose between the following two options.

1. When arguing in favour of inheritance tax, stop using the sanctimonious and emotionally manipulative phrase unearned wealth. Just be honest, and say: We dont care what you think should happen to the money you leave behind. Were going to seize it to fund our own political projects, instead.

2. Be consistent in your opposition to unearned wealth. Which means announcing that, when each of us dies, all our wealth must be buried with us, like a pharaohs  so that no one else, including the Government, can get it.

Why calling Trump a fascist wont work

Do they teach The Boy Who Cried Wolf in American schools? Presumably not. Otherwise, Democrats would know why their efforts to paint Donald Trump as a Nazi or a fascist are doomed to fail.

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Its because theyve done exactly the same to almost every Republican nominee since 1945.

They first did it in 1948, when the Republican nominee was Thomas E Dewey, and the Democrat was President Truman. On October 26 that year, the New York Times front page blared: President Likens Dewey to Hitler as Fascists Tool.

Such a strategy was trickier to pull off during the next decade, as the Republican nominee in 1952 and 1956 was Eisenhower  who, in 1943-45, had been supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe. Not easy, painting the man who defeated Hitler as a Nazi sympathiser.

Still, it didnt stop the Democrats doing it to Barry Goldwater, who was the Republican nominee in 1964. Responding to one of his speeches, Pat Brown  the Democratic governor of California  declared that it had the stench of fascism. All we needed to hear was Heil Hitler. Goldwater had served as a Second World War pilot. And no, not on the German side.

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From then on, the tactic became a Democrat staple. Their 1968 nominee Hubert Humphrey cried: If the British had not fought in 1940, Hitler would have been in London, and if Democrats do not fight in 1968, Nixon will be in the White House. And in 1983, a Democratic representative called William Clay claimed that Ronald Reagan was secretly plotting to replace the Bill of Rights with fascist precepts lifted verbatim from Mein Kampf. If that was indeed Reagans plan, it seems he never quite got round to it. Perhaps he took an especially long nap that day, and forgot.

Democrats were undeterred. During the War on Terror they did it to George W Bush (When I hear Bush say, Youre either with us or against us, declared billionaire Democrat donor George Soros, it reminds me of the Germans). They even did it to a figure as innocuous as Mitt Romney. In 2012, a senior Romney ally felt obliged to issue a statement, wearily imploring Democrats to cease and desist from comparing those with whom they disagree to Nazis.

Evidently they didnt listen. But now they must be wishing they had. Because, as the boy who cried wolf found, its no use shrieking, And this time, I actually mean it!

China crisis

For almost 40 years, China banned parents from having more than one child. Now that the countrys population is in decline, however, it seems the powers-that-be are frantically changing tack. Because, according to reports this week, state officials have taken to phoning female citizens out of the blue, and badgering them to have more children.

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Your child is almost two now, one official sternly told a woman from the city of Chengdu. Isnt it time to start thinking about another? Another woman says an official phoned to ask her when her last period was.

This is a fascinating development. Not least because Chinas president, Xi Jinping, has only one child himself. Have officials tried phoning him yet?

Come on, Your Excellency. Your child is almost 33 now. Isnt it about time to start thinking about another? All right, so Mrs Xi turns 62 later this month, but Im sure that her sense of patriotic duty is as strong as ever...

Way of the World is a twice-weekly satirical look at the headlines aiming to mock the absurdities of the modern world. It is published at 7am every Tuesday and Saturday

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Young Thug sat silently at the defense table Thursday, flanked by his two lawyers as he contemplated the paperwork in front of him. It was the pivotal moment of the rap superstars criminal trial that had the entire courtroom craning in his direction.

Facing the potential for decades in prison for allegedly violating Georgias anti-racketeering law, Young Thug stared down at the desk when Georgia Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker asked for him to confirm that he would change his plea to guilty in his high-profile gang conspiracy case and have her decide his punishment.

Am I misinformed? she asked. Still, the rapper remained hesitant.

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Sensing Young Thugs struggle, the judge ordered a recess. In private, the Grammy-winning songwriter, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, continued to agonize with his lawyers about whether to accept a blind plea  meaning his defense and prosecutors had failed to negotiate a sentence and hed instead leave it to the judge. This option only came about after the prosecution made a costly mistake last week, opening the door to a possible mistrial.

About 25 minutes later, Young Thug returned to the courtroom and stood before Whitaker. Yes, he was ready to put his fate in her hands.

In the end, the risky strategy paid off in a stunning decision: The judge required no prison time, instead ordering that Young Thug serve 15 years of probation with several conditions  but warned he could see 20 years in custody if he fails to adhere to them.

I take full responsibility for my crimes and for my charges, Young Thug, 33, told Whitaker. He pleaded guilty to various drug-, gun- and gang-related charges, but entered no contest to other gang and racketeering conspiracy charges. (By pleading no contest he accepted the convictions, but did not admit guilt.)

Atlanta rapper Young Thug at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Aug. 12, with his lawyer Keith Adams (left).

Keith Adams, one of Young Thugs lawyers, told NBC News on Friday that his client waffled about what to do because some of the musicians supporters wanted him to fight the charges until the end.

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His family wanted him to continue on. But hes a grown man and he had the opportunity to analyze all of the options, Adams said, adding that it was not an easy decision.

And there was the open question of what Whitaker might impose as the rappers sentence.

While the defense petitioned the judge for house arrest, the prosecution wanted 45 years, with 25 years to be served in prison and 20 on probation.

It was a consideration as to whether or not we could put our fate in the hands of the judge, Adams said.

The Fulton County District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its case against Young Thug and an initial slate of 26 co-defendants was launched under District Attorney Fani Willis, putting another spotlight on her office, which had come under scrutiny earlier this year over the stalled case against former President Donald Trump on state racketeering charges related to the 2020 election.

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Young Thug was accused of leading a street gang, Young Slime Life, or YSL, with members allegedly committing illegal and violent acts, including murder, armed robbery, drug dealing and carjacking. Prosecutors said YSL began in an Atlanta neighborhood in late 2012, with members affiliated with the national Bloods gang.

Many of the co-defendants have been jailed since 2022, and while the trial began with jury selection in early 2023, proceedings were snarled after some of them took plea deals or chose to have their cases tried separately. Since opening statements began in November 2023 against Young Thug and five co-defendants, the criminal trial has become the longest in Georgias history.

But even getting to the point of a plea deal would have seemed inconceivable if not for what happened last week.

While on the stand, state witness Wunnie Lee, a rapper known as Slimelife Shawty, was asked by the prosecution to review social media posts in front of the jury. But Lee was inadvertently given an unredacted version of a post that referred to the hashtag #freequa, which may apply to co-defendants Quamarvious Nichols and Marquavius Huey.

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The post was redacted for the jury. But with Lee openly referring to Qua, prosecutors allowed the jury to presume that the co-defendants were in jail, a detail that was meant to be concealed because it is considered prejudicial.

That prosecutorial misstep was major enough that Whitaker suggested she would consider a mistrial motion.

And behind the scenes, Adams said, Whitaker suggested prosecutors take a serious look and have conversations with the co-defendants legal teams about plea agreements.

They spent days going back and forth. At first, Nichols agreed to a plea deal; then another co-defendant, Rodalius Ryan; and then a third, Huey.

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Adams said he and Young Thugs other lawyer, Brian Steel, wanted their client to stay through the trial. Adams believed the plea agreements were a way for the prosecution to save face after not only last weeks misstep, but also other issues that included the recusal of the trials previous judge in July.

Andrew Fleischman, a criminal defense lawyer in Georgia not associated with the case, said the threat of a mistrial likely put a ton of pressure on both sides to come to an agreement.

For Young Thug, the lure of potentially getting out on probation via a blind plea  as opposed to waiting until the end of a trial with only the possibility of an acquittal  was important.

During Young Thugs sentencing on Thursday, Steel explained that although he vehemently disagreed with some of the prosecutions claims about the rappers criminal dealings, the chance for his client to see his six children was too overwhelming to pass up.

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He told me, I cant wait another three months if there is any possibility I could go home, because I have children that are hurting. I have things to do, Steel told the judge.

Young Thug was released from the Fulton County Jail on Thursday evening. As part of his probation, he must perform community service, cant be in contact with affiliated gang members and cant travel in metro Atlanta.

At a news conference Thursday evening, Young Thugs father, Jeffery Williams Sr., said he was upset with the travel prohibition and blamed Willis specifically. The district attorney is running for a second term as a Democrat in Tuesdays election, but Williams said he was endorsing her Republican challenger, Courtney Kramer. Neither campaign could immediately be reached for comment.

Williams, meanwhile, said he would have liked to see his son formally clear his name in court.

I feel great that hes going home. But at the same token, I still wanted to fight, Williams said. But thats his decision.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A ballot dropbox in Olympia, Wash. on March 12, 2024. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Stadard)

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday he had activated the Washington National Guard to assist local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol as needed to quell any election-related unrest.

The purely precautionary measure comes in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys nationwide warnings of threats to election infrastructure and a deliberately set fire that damaged and destroyed hundreds of ballots in a Vancouver drop box on Monday.

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Inslee, in a letter to Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, the adjutant general, said the action was being taken to ensure we are fully prepared to respond to any potential civil unrest or violence.

Our state depends on these skilled individuals for critical support to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, to include support necessary to protect vital infrastructure related to carrying out free and fair elections and to respond to any unrest related to the 2024 general election, Inslee wrote.

Welsh, who oversees the 8,000 soldiers and airmen of the Washington National Guard, will decide how many people will be activated and serve on standby from Monday until just after midnight on Thursday, Nov. 7, according to the governors office.
Gov. Jay Inslee has activated some Washington National Guard members to be on stand-by in the event they are asked to support local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol during election week., the Governors Office announced late Friday afternoon.

The governor has sent a letter to The Adjutant General, Major General Gent Welsh, giving him the authority to determine how many members of the Guard will be activated, according to the news release.

Based upon general and specific information and concerns regarding the potential for violence or other unlawful activity related to the 2024 general election, I want to ensure we are fully prepared to respond to any potential additional civil unrest, the letter says.

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Preparation to respond to civil unrest of the type already experienced will also require state level coordination and the activation of additional support functions within Washingtons Emergency Management System, the letter also says.

This is a purely precautionary measure taken in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys nationwide warnings regarding threats to election infrastructure and other recent activities that have occurred in southwestern Washington, the news release says.

On Monday, Oct. 28, an incendiary device was set off in a drop box in Vancouver, Washington, damaging or destroying hundreds of ballots, and a similar device targeted a ballot box in Portland, Oregon.

The Guard will be on stand-by for four days, beginning Monday, Nov. 4, and ending just after midnight on Thursday, Nov. 7.
CHICAGO  An investigation is underway after a mans body was pulled from Lake Michigan early Saturday morning.

According to Chicago police, the victim, a 75-year-old man, was found unresponsive near Loyola Beach in the 1100 block of West Morse Avenue, in Rogers Park.

After he was pulled from the water, the victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

While authorities did provide the age of the victim, his name has not been released.

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Currently, it is unclear what led to the victims death and authorities said a death investigation is currently underway.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can contact 911 or leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed 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 WGN-TV.
Republicans in Iowa hope to continue their majority in the State House and State Senate after the votes are counted Tuesday night. Theyve had total control of the Iowa government since 2017. Democrats will need to flip some seats to reclaim power in one of the branches.

One seat they have their eye on is the 94th District in the House, where incumbent Republican Mike Vondran is challenged by Democrat Tracy Jones. Vondran is proud of the work he has done in the last two years, and he says he wants to continue to focus on Iowas economy.

I mean we are now going to be, as a result of this last legislative session, one of the most competitive states in the country in regards to income tax, Im thrilled about that, Vondran told Our Quad Cities News. Those outcomes are the direct result of the work that weve done in the last session. So my intent is to continue to roll up our sleeves and go back and do the same things.

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His opponent, Democrat Tracy Jones, believes he isnt representing the interests of his district.

I wasnt happy with the decisions that the current representative was making on my behalf, Jones told Our Quad Cities News. Im in staunch disagreement with the public tax dollars going to private schools. Also what has happened to womens reproductive freedoms, and workers rights in the state, are probably my main issues.

Shes also concerned about divisiveness. Theres just a lot of hatred and bills coming down that just further divide us, when the Iowans I know are very wonderful kind people.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Jamshid Sharmahd made what would be his last video call to his family in a Dubai hotel room on July 28 2020.

The 69-year-old Iranian-German software engineer with permanent US residency was just hours away from a connecting flight to India, but would never reach his destination.

He couldnt have known that the mundane details of travel  checking flight times, arranging airport transport, packing his laptop  would be his final acts of freedom.

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Iranian agents were already closing in on him, transforming a simple layover into the beginning of a fatal odyssey.

His daughter, Gazelle Sharmahd, recounts those final moments with the weight of someone who has replayed them countless times and searched for ways the story might have ended differently.

Gazelle Sharmahd says people like her father are like a diamond in the sea

We last saw him on July 28 in his hotel room, she tells The Telegraph from Los Angeles, her voice breaking. And from there, he was kidnapped.

The man the agents stalked through Dubais summer heat was not a warrior or a militant.

His weapons, as his daughter explains, were far simpler: He was fighting the Islamic Republic with words.

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The agents kidnapped him and forcefully transferred him to Iran through Oman in what they would later describe as a complex intelligence operation.

In 2006 or 2007, long before social media gave dissent its digital megaphone, Mr Sharmahd had created a website where Iranians could freely share their thoughts.

We dont have proof

The software engineer would spend his final years in Tehrans notorious prisons before being hanged right before the morning call for prayer on Monday this week.

Irans judiciary accused him of terrorism and sentenced him to death in 2023 following what Amnesty International described as forced confessions and a sham trial.

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His family, Germany, the US, the UN and international rights groups denied the allegations against him.

Gazelle Sharmahd cannot accept her fathers execution and speaks of him defiantly in the present tense.

They claim that my father is dead and we dont have proof. They havent given us proof. They havent shown us where he died, or what happened to him, she said.

My father is heroic, people like my father are like a diamond in the sea, one of the only people who are not afraid to speak the truth.

Emphasising her fathers innocence, she adds: My father had done nothing wrong.

Germany has ordered the closure of all three Iranian consulates in response to Sharmahds execution - Ardavan Safari/Avalon

Now she faces some of the attacks he bore for years.

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Im thinking right now about all of these years and the slander and what hed been through, Sharmahd said.

I just got a glimpse of what he went through right now because now the pressure is coming on me. I dont know how he survived.

He is the kind of person that you want to go to when you have a catastrophe, Gazelle adds, her voice heavy again with sorrow.

He is the kind of person that I would go to right now and ask, what can I do? What should I do?

They did nothing

She said the US and German governments had failed to protect Mr Sharmahd.

They have failed to protect my father, she declared. The moment he was kidnapped, they did nothing.

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The final betrayal, in her view, came during Irans hostage swap with the US last year.

The last one, last September by the Biden administration, did not include my father.

They excluded him without any explanation. They condemned him to death by doing that. They did not take responsibility.

When he was held hostage there for 1,500 days, they did nothing. When he was put on sham trial after sham trial, they did nothing.

Germany ordered the closure of all three Iranian consulates on Thursday in response to Mr Sharmahds execution, leaving the Islamic Republic with only its embassy in Berlin.

It has also urged German citizens to leave the Islamic Republic because Iran is taking German citizens hostage and they want to spare other German citizens from Mr Sharmahds fate.

Dissidents kidnapped

The German foreign ministry summoned Irans charge daffaires on Tuesday to protest the execution.

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Markus Potzel, German ambassador to Iran, also protested to Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, before being recalled to Berlin.

Iran rejected Germanys protests, with Araghchi saying on his X account that a German passport does not provide impunity to anyone.

Araghchi also accused Germany of being an accomplice in the ongoing Israeli genocide, referring to Berlins support for Israel.

Mr Sharmahd was one of several Iranian dissidents abroad who were either tricked or kidnapped back to Iran in recent years, following the collapse of Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Families of other detainees with dual nationality in Iran are increasingly worried about their loved ones fates after Mr Sharmahds execution.

Western governments have accused Iran of using dual and foreign nationals as a bargaining chip in international negotiations

They include Vida Mehrannia, the wife of Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-Swedish academic who has been on death row since 2017.

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Mr Djalali, a resident in Sweden, was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to death the following year on charges of espionage for Israels Mossad.

He called me a day after Mr Sharmahd was executed, and he was very worried, Mrs Mehrannia tells The Telegraph from Stockholm. He was heartbroken for Mr Sharmahd and his family.

He was very sad for Mr Sharmahds daughter, who tried for years to do everything she could for her father.

Cannot only condemn

Mrs Mehrannia fears her husband could face the same sudden fate.

My husband might be executed any moment, just like Mr Sharmahd. Its a big alarm for all death row prisoners, she said, adding that her husbands health has worsened after multiple hunger strikes.

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She urges Western governments to do everything possible to make Iran stop these inhuman executions.

They cannot only condemn them and still maintain relations with Iran, Mrs Mehrannia says.

Western governments and human rights groups have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of taking dual and foreign nationals hostage for the sole purpose of using them in prisoner swaps or as a bargaining chip in international negotiations.

Im very worried, Mrs Mehrannia says. It can happen to my husband any moment.

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(Bloomberg) -- Irans Supreme Leader escalated his rhetoric, warning of a crushing response to the countrys enemies - including the US - following Israels missile strike on the country a week ago.

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Enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States, will undoubtedly receive a crushing response for their actions against Iran and the Resistance Front, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech in Tehran on Saturday, state television reported.

Without offering more detail, Khamenei said hostile actions against the Islamic Republic wouldnt be forgotten.

It was a possible reference to Israels Oct. 26 attack on military targets across Iran that killed five people, including a civilian. Israeli defense forces struck with more than 100 fighter jets, although there was no confirmation of major damage to oil or nuclear facilities.

Saturdays remarks marked a shift from Khameneis more measured tone shortly after Israels strike, which he characterized as a miscalculation. At the time he cautioned against exaggerating or underestimating the significance of the attack, without any explicit threat of retaliation.

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Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has promised a teeth-breaking response to Israel and the United States after Israel targeted Iranian military sites in retaliatory strikes late last month.

The enemies, both the US and the Zionist regime (Israel), should know that they will definitely receive a teeth-breaking response for what they are doing against Iran and the resistance front, said Khamenei, referring to Iran-allied militant groups including Hamas and Hezbollah.

He was speaking during a meeting with students on Saturday, ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran, Irans state-run Press TV reported.

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We are certainly doing everything necessary to prepare the Iranian nation to stand against arrogance, whether in terms of military readiness, armaments, or political actions, and thank God, our officials are currently engaged in this, he added.

Iran and Israel have long been enemies, a rivalry that deepened following Hamas attacks of October 7 last year and the subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza. Israel has been battling Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and overnight at least 19 people were injured in the central Israeli city of Tira after projectiles were launched over the border.

Khameneis remarks come a week after Israels latest round of strikes on Iran in response to the Islamic Republics October 1 missile attack on the Jewish state, which itself was a response to the Israeli killing of leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah.

For the first time, Israeli officials admitted hitting targets on Iranian soil in a significant escalation of tensions, although Israel stopped short of hitting Iranian energy or nuclear facilities.

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Iran has been mulling its response to Israels strikes, with a high-ranking source telling CNN on Wednesday that they will be met with a definitive and painful retaliation that will likely come before the US presidential vote.

Khameneis remarks on Saturday signal a departure from Irans initial attempts to downplay the severity of the strikes carried out by Israel on October 25.

Following the strikes, Khamenei took a more measured tone, saying the attacks should neither be exaggerated nor downplayed.

An Israeli military source on Thursday said the country is at a high level of readiness for a response from Iran. But the source told CNN that they are still assessing the decision-making process in Iran to determine if and when a retaliation will take place.

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White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday said Iran should not respond to Israels strikes on its territory, adding that if Iran does choose to respond, however, the US will be standing by to assist Israel in its defense.

Also this week, Iran said it could increase the range of its missiles, according to a report in state-run media. If the Islamic Republic of Iran faces an existential threat, we will inevitably change the policy of our military doctrine, the head of Irans Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Kamal Kharrazi, told Lebanons al-Mayadeen TV on Friday, per Press TV.

He also said Iran is capable of producing nuclear weapons but remains curbed by a mandate by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against weapons of mass destruction, Press TV reported.

CNNs Jennifer Hauser, Matthew Chance and Kayla Tausche contributed to this report.

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The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued renewed threats to Iranian arch-enemies Israel and the United States on Saturday, following the recent military confrontations.

"The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or America, will certainly receive a devastating response to what they are doing to Iran and the resistance front," the 85-year-old Khamenei said at an event in Tehran.

Whether there would be a military response to the Israeli retaliatory attack a week ago initially remained open.

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The danger of a major, open war between Iran and Israel recently increased. A week ago, Israel hit Iran with airstrikes in what the country described as retaliation for an Iranian missile attack at the beginning of October.

Afterwards, there were contradictory statements and reports as to whether Iran's military would respond.

Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance, an informal alliance of Islamist militant groups backed by Tehran, includes the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza fighting intensifies

Israeli ground troops are intensifying the fight around the city of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, with combat units joining the fight, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday.

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According to witnesses, the situation for residents remaining in Jabalia has become increasingly catastrophic, and tens of thousands of civilians have already fled the area.

Local Palestinians and Hamas-run authorities have repeatedly reported that numerous civilians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the city.

The IDF, meanwhile, claimed that "hundreds of terrorists" in the Jabalia area had been "eliminated" or arrested in the military operations.

Israeli military continues bombings

The Israeli military said on Saturday that airstrikes hit more than 120 militant targets in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon over the past 40 hours.

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The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that dozens had been killed in the Israeli strikes on Beirut and eastern Lebanon, while residents of the Lebanese capital described the fallout from repeated Israeli airstrikes as "apocalyptic."

The IDF said weapons depots and rocket launchers belonging to Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon were struck.

"Soldiers continue to carry out limited, locally concentrated, targeted attacks against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

The military said separately that two Hezbollah commanders in the area of the Lebanese city of Tyre were killed. They were allegedly responsible for firing more than 400 missiles at Israel in October.

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The military's information could not be independently verified.

Missile injures 11 in Israel

A missile fired from Lebanon left 11 people injured in Israel when the missile struck a building in the central town of Tira, north-east of Tel Aviv, the Magen David Adom rescue service said.

The Israeli military said that three rockets were fired from Lebanon towards central Israel on Saturday morning.

"Some were intercepted," IDF said in a Telegram post, adding that "a fallen projectile was most likely identified in the area. Details are under examination."

Air raid sirens had previously sounded in the area.

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Videos supposedly showing the impact of a rocket were circulating on social media.

The military later said that it had attacked the rocket launcher used in the attack in Lebanon. By the afternoon, the armed forces had recorded around 80 projectiles fired from Lebanon towards Israel, it said.

On Thursday, seven people were killed after rockets launched from Lebanon hit northern Israel.

The Iranian-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah has continued to strike northern Israel almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war more than a year ago. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and now a ground offensive.

Israel is fighting on several fronts, from Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iran's supreme leader on Saturday threatened Israel and the U.S. with a crushing response over attacks on Iran and its allies.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke as Iranian officials are increasingly threatening to launch yet another strike against Israel after its Oct. 26 attack on the Islamic Republic that targeted military bases and other locations and killed at least five people.

Any further attacks from either side could engulf the wider Middle East, already teetering over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Israels ground invasion of Lebanon, into a wider regional conflict just ahead of the U.S. presidential election this Tuesday.

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The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front," Khamenei said in video released by Iranian state media.

The supreme leader did not elaborate on the timing of the threatened attack, nor the scope. The U.S. military operates on bases throughout the Middle East, with some troops now manning a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, battery in Israel.

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier likely is in the Arabian Sea, while Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Friday that more destroyers, fighter squadrons, tankers and B-52 long-range bombers would be coming to the region to deter Iran and its militant allies. Early Sunday, the U.S. military's Central Command said B-52s from Minot Air Force Bases 5th Bomb Wing arrived in the Middle East, without elaborating.

The 85-year-old Khamenei had struck a more cautious approach in earlier remarks, saying officials would weigh Irans response and that Israels attack should not be exaggerated nor downplayed. Iran has launched two major direct attacks on Israel, in April and October.

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But efforts by Iran to downplay the Israeli attack faltered as satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed damage to military bases near Tehran linked to the country's ballistic missile program, as well as at a Revolutionary Guard base used in satellite launches.

Iran's allies, called the Axis of Resistance by Tehran, also have been severely hurt by ongoing Israeli attacks, particularly Lebanon's Hezbollah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran long has used those groups as both an asymmetrical way to attack Israel and as a shield against a direct assault. Some analysts believe those groups want Iran to do more to back them militarily.

Iran, however, has been dealing with its own problems at home, as its economy struggles under the weight of international sanctions and it has faced years of widespread, multiple protests. After Khamenei's speech, the Iranian rial fell to 691,500 against the dollar, near an all-time low. It had been 32,000 rials to the dollar when Tehran reached its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Gen. Mohammad Ali Naini, a spokesman for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard which controls the ballistic missiles needed to target Israel, gave an interview published by the semiofficial Fars news agency just before Khamenei's remarks were released. In it, he warned Iran's response "will be wise, powerful and beyond the enemys comprehension.

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The leaders of the Zionist regime should look out from the windows of their bedrooms and protect their criminal pilots within their small territory, he warned. Israeli air force pilots appear to have used air-launched ballistic missiles in the Oct. 26 attack.

Khamenei on Saturday met with university students to mark Students Day, which commemorates a Nov. 4, 1978, incident in which Iranian soldiers opened fire on students protesting the rule of the shah at Tehran University. The shooting killed and wounded several students and further escalated the tensions consuming Iran at the time that eventually led to the shah fleeing the country and the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The crowd offered a raucous welcome to Khamenei, chanting: The blood in our veins is a gift to our leader! Some also made a hand gesture  similar to a timeout signal  given by the slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2020 in a speech in which he threatened that American troops who arrived in the Mideast standing up would return in coffins horizontally.

Iran will mark the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis this Sunday, following the Persian calendar. The Nov. 4, 1979, storming of the embassy by Islamist students led to the 444-day crisis, which cemented the decades-long enmity between Tehran and Washington that persists today.
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It took 25 days to act, said Arash Azizi in The Atlantic, but last Saturday Israel finally responded to the salvo of missiles fired at it by Iran. The operation  named "Days of Repentance"  involved more than 100 Israeli fighter jets, and targeted air-defence systems, radars, military bases and missile production factories across Iran, including on the outskirts of Tehran.

It was the "most significant attack on Iran by any country since the 1980s", but fell a long way short of the apocalyptic strike some had feared. Israel didn't target Iran's nuclear or energy infrastructure, nor did it assassinate any political or military leaders. According to insiders, Israel even used intermediaries to give Tehran a day's warning, to avoid mass casualties (Iran said four soldiers died in the strikes). Given the limited nature of the attack, Iran has an opportunity to de-escalate the conflict by calling it quits.

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What this strike shows, said Yossi Melman in Haaretz, is that, for all his bluster, Israel's PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, is "well aware of the limitation of Israel's power and its dependence on the US". He knew better than to push his luck days before America's election. Still, the attacks were a devastating display of Israel's aerial and intelligence superiority, showing it has the capacity to attack any Iranian site it wishes. The strikes were far from cosmetic, said Arieh Kovler in The Spectator. According to the Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, Israel targeted all of Iran's rocket-fuel mixers. Destroying them could cripple Iran's missile production "for months or years". That's bad for Tehran, and for Russia, which wants to use some of those missiles in Ukraine.

The question now is how Iran's humiliated leaders will respond, said The Economist. Israel's attack signals the failure of Tehran's national-security doctrine, which was based on outsourcing the job of fighting Israel to local proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran's options are now limited. To regain a measure of deterrence, it could try to rebuild those militias, but that would mean "doubling down on a failed strategy". It could seek to boost its own military capabilities, but it lacks money. As for racing to create a nuclear bomb, that would invite further Israeli attacks that Iran, following the destruction of several of its air-defence batteries, is in no position to fend off. Another option, of course, would be to "pursue a less ideological foreign policy". But while most Iranians would welcome that, their 85-year-old supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, would never countenance it. We'll have to wait to see if his successor is more "pragmatic".
The Israeli military said Friday it had killed a senior Hamas official it described as one of the last surviving senior officials in the Gaza militant group.

In a statement posted to social media, the Israeli military said Izz al-Din Kassab, the head of national relations in Hamass political bureau, was killed in an airstrike in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.

The Israeli military said Kassab was responsible for national relations within the organization, overseeing the coordination and connection between Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza.

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The military also claims he held the authority to direct terrorist attacks be carried out against Israel.

Hamas confirmed Kassabs death in its own statement and said he was killed along with another Hamas official in an Israeli attack on their car, as reported by Reuters.

But the militant group pushed back on assertions he was as high-ranking as Israel claimed, telling Reuters that Kassab was a local group official in the enclave but not a member of its decisionmaking political office.

Israel has continued to hammer Gaza with airstrikes, which medics in the territory say killed about 64 people and injured dozens overnight and into Friday morning.

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The heads of United Nations humanitarian agencies on Friday called the situation in north Gaza apocalyptic and that the entire Palestinian population there is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence.

Two White House officials, Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk, were in Israel on Thursday to attempt to bring together a cease-fire in Gaza as well as in Israels other conflict in Lebanon, but they returned stateside on Friday having made little progress.

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(Reuters) - Israel's military announced updates to its Home Front Command's defensive guidelines on Saturday, raising the alert level in the Lower Galilee and southern Golan regions from "partial" to "full".

It also eased restrictions in its precautionary guidelines to the public by permitting gatherings of up to 2,000 people in some communities.

The changes follow ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which shares its southern border with Israel and has exchanged fire with Israeli forces since October 2023.

(Reporting by Cairo Newsroom, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Israeli airstrikes killed 52 people on Friday in eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said, while aerial attacks on Beirut were described as "apocalyptic" by local residents.

In eastern Lebanon, 72 others were injured in the strikes that targeted 14 different areas in the province of Baalbek-Hermel, the ministry added.

The highest toll was in the province's town of Amhaz where 12 people were killed, according to the ministry's statement.

'ApocalypseNow': Beirut residents reel from impact

Earlier, the Israeli military carried out strikes on targets in southern Beirut for the first time in nearly a week on Friday, with residents describing the fallout as "apocalyptic."

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At least 11 airstrikes hit the district of Dahiyeh from about 2 am (0000 GMT), according to Lebanese security sources and eyewitnesses. Police in Beirut said they registered at least 20 strikes.

A dpa reporter saw plumes of black smoke rising over the area. Explosions could be heard across large areas of the Lebanese capital.

Israel's military said the air force's attacks had targeted weapons manufacturing facilities and Hezbollah command centres in the Beirut area, accusing the Lebanese militia of deliberately storing weapons used for attacks on Israel in civilian areas.

An Israeli drone also hit an apartment in Qumatiya, in the Aley district, some 20 kilometres south-east of the capital, killing at least two people including a member of the Hezbollah militia, security sources said. The Lebanese Health Ministry said later that three people were killed and five wounded in the drone strike.

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A few hours earlier, the Israeli military had announced it would attack Hezbollah facilities in southern Beirut, a stronghold of the Iranian-backed militia. The armed forces published two maps with the targets and called on residents to keep at least 500 metres away from the buildings.

'Reminds me of "Apocalypse Now"'

Locals talking to dpa following the strikes likened the destruction to scenes in a well-known war film.

"Look it reminds me of 'Apocalypse Now,'" said one man who was standing on the rubble of his neighbours' house on the old road to Beirut's airport.

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"If the Israelis hadn't given us one hour, you would have seen a massacre here today," he said.

The man, who identified himself as Ali, said "the scenes are the same as Gaza, the same tactics, destruction and displacements."

Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continue

The Israeli Air Force on Friday also reported strikes on more than 200 targets in both the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon over the previous 24 hours, targeting command centres and rocket launchers operated by Hamas and Hezbollah.

Palestinian and Lebanese reports spoke of civilian deaths.

A dpa photographer could only reach bombed areas on a motorbike as rubble was covering the roads. People were seen wearing masks due to the smoke coming from destroyed houses. Black fog was covering the capital following the strikes.

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Israel has massively expanded its airstrikes in Lebanon since September and has targeted Hezbollah's leadership several times.

In addition, Israeli troops marched into southern Lebanon last month.

Hezbollah has continued to strike northern Israel almost daily for over a year, including with rockets.

Israel is fighting on several fronts, from Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Iranian adviser to supreme leader says Tehran to respond

There have also been direct exchanges between Israel and Iran, prompting fears among the international community that the Middle East could slip into all-out war.

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Iran will respond to the latest Israeli attacks, said a close adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"The Israeli attacks will not go unanswered," Kamal Kharrazi, Khamenei's foreign policy adviser, told Arabic news channel Al Mayadeen, according to Iran's IRNA state news agency.

Kharrazi's comments referred to Israeli attacks on Iran's military installations and anti-aircraft defence system, which caused little damage, according to Tehran.

Israel's strikes on Iranian targets are seen as retaliation for Iran's October 1 attack on Israel, in which it launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles against the Jewish state.

US sending more military capabilities to Middle East

The US has announced the deployment to the Middle East of additional military capabilities amid the escalation.

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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several U.S. Air Force B-52 long-range strike bombers to the region," Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said on Friday.

Combined with the decision to deploy an advanced air defence battery to Israel and reinforcement of US forces to the eastern Mediterranean, the measures are intended to strengthen security in the region and deter a further escalation.

"The reinforcement is to take place in the coming months, while the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and its escort ships are being prepared for withdrawal from the region," Ryder added.
Israeli airstrikes killed 52 people on Friday in eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said, while aerial attacks on Beirut were described as "apocalyptic" by local residents.

In eastern Lebanon, 72 others were injured in the strikes that targeted 14 different areas in the province of Baalbek-Hermel, the ministry added.

The highest toll was in the province's town of Amhaz where 12 people were killed, according to the ministry's statement.

'ApocalypseNow': Beirut residents reel from impact

Earlier, the Israeli military carried out strikes on targets in southern Beirut for the first time in nearly a week on Friday, with residents describing the fallout as "apocalyptic."

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At least 11 airstrikes hit the district of Dahiyeh from about 2 am (0000 GMT), according to Lebanese security sources and eyewitnesses. Police in Beirut said they registered at least 20 strikes.

A dpa reporter saw plumes of black smoke rising over the area. Explosions could be heard across large areas of the Lebanese capital.

Israel's military said the air force's attacks had targeted weapons manufacturing facilities and Hezbollah command centres in the Beirut area, accusing the Lebanese militia of deliberately storing weapons used for attacks on Israel in civilian areas.

An Israeli drone also hit an apartment in Qumatiya, in the Aley district, some 20 kilometres south-east of the capital, killing at least two people including a member of the Hezbollah militia, security sources said. The Lebanese Health Ministry said later that three people were killed and five wounded in the drone strike.

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A few hours earlier, the Israeli military had announced it would attack Hezbollah facilities in southern Beirut, a stronghold of the Iranian-backed militia. The armed forces published two maps with the targets and called on residents to keep at least 500 metres away from the buildings.

'Reminds me of "Apocalypse Now"'

Locals talking to dpa following the strikes likened the destruction to scenes in a well-known war film.

"Look it reminds me of 'Apocalypse Now,'" said one man who was standing on the rubble of his neighbours' house on the old road to Beirut's airport.

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"If the Israelis hadn't given us one hour, you would have seen a massacre here today," he said.

The man, who identified himself as Ali, said "the scenes are the same as Gaza, the same tactics, destruction and displacements."

Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continue

The Israeli Air Force on Friday also reported strikes on more than 200 targets in both the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon over the previous 24 hours, targeting command centres and rocket launchers operated by Hamas and Hezbollah.

Palestinian and Lebanese reports spoke of civilian deaths.

A dpa photographer could only reach bombed areas on a motorbike as rubble was covering the roads. People were seen wearing masks due to the smoke coming from destroyed houses. Black fog was covering the capital following the strikes.

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Israel has massively expanded its airstrikes in Lebanon since September and has targeted Hezbollah's leadership several times.

In addition, Israeli troops marched into southern Lebanon last month.

Hezbollah has continued to strike northern Israel almost daily for over a year, including with rockets.

Israel is fighting on several fronts, from Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Iranian adviser to supreme leader says Tehran to respond

There have also been direct exchanges between Israel and Iran, prompting fears among the international community that the Middle East could slip into all-out war.

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Iran will respond to the latest Israeli attacks, said a close adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"The Israeli attacks will not go unanswered," Kamal Kharrazi, Khamenei's foreign policy adviser, told Arabic news channel Al Mayadeen, according to Iran's IRNA state news agency.

Kharrazi's comments referred to Israeli attacks on Iran's military installations and anti-aircraft defence system, which caused little damage, according to Tehran.

Israel's strikes on Iranian targets are seen as retaliation for Iran's October 1 attack on Israel, in which it launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles against the Jewish state.
The ground shook, windows shattered, and the cries of patients filled the air. An Israeli bomb had just struck Beiruts southern suburbs in yet another near-nightly attack  this time hitting a building across the street from Lebanons biggest public hospital.

I was treating a patient when the bomb went off. I fell over him from the shock of it, said Mohammad Fouani, an emergency room nurse at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, recalling the aftermath of the October 21 attack. The smoke was so thick; I could barely see my fellow colleagues.

Since the start of the war, every night has been difficult, Fouani told CNN. But this was the worst by far. It was the most painful.

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Israel said the strike hit a Hezbollah target, though the area was not covered in Israeli military evacuation orders for locations with alleged links to the Iran-backed group in the south of Beirut. At least 18 people, including four children, were killed and 60 injured in the residential building some 70 meters away from the hospital, Lebanons health ministry said.

Lebanons health sector has been in the thick of a ferocious Israeli air assault as Israel and Hezbollah trade fire in an ongoing war, with the countrys south and Beiruts southern suburbs hardest hit. In the first month of its all-out air offensive in Lebanon, which began on September 23, Israeli strikes damaged 34 hospitals, killed 111 emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and hit 107 ambulances, according to data compiled by the Lebanese health ministry.

Emergency workers and locals stand at the site of a demolished building after an Israeli strike near the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 22, 2024. - Yara Nardi/Reuters

Around 20% of all hospitals registered with the health ministry in Lebanon have been damaged in a month of attacks, with most strikes landing in their vicinity, according to data compiled by medical authorities.

The Lebanese health ministry data and CNNs analysis of airstrikes show that the Israeli military has dropped bombs within dangerous proximity of hospitals, which are protected under international law.

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Responding to CNNs request for comment, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it operates in strict accordance with international law and accused Hezbollah of being deeply embedded in civilian areas. Hezbollah strategically places its military assets in close proximity to medical facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, as part of its human shield strategy, it said.

For a country that has been embroiled in many cycles of war and crises, the Lebanese healthcare sector has rarely been so vulnerable to firepower, the countrys health minister, Dr. Firass Abiad, told CNN. Abiad accused Israel of weaponizing access to healthcare and drew parallels to Gaza, where Israel has openly attacked hospitals, accusing them of links to Hamas.

Health institutions are supposed to be sanctuaries, said Abiad. Its clear that this is premeditated, that this is a state policy that Israel is following, whether in Gaza or in Lebanon.

Lebanon's health minister, Dr. Firas Abiad, has accused Israel of "weaponizing" access to healthcare. - CNN

CNN has reviewed over 240 airstrikes in Lebanon and found that at least 24 hospitals were within a 500-meter danger zone  used by the Israeli military as its parameter for evacuation areas  of the bombs. Israel dropped munitions within what is known as a lethal range  340 meters  of at least 19 hospitals, the analysis, which covered the first month of the war, showed.

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CNNs analysis only looked at airstrikes verified in publicly available imagery or declared in Israeli military evacuation orders between September 23 and October 23. That sample is smaller than the more than one thousand Israeli strikes estimated by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a crisis monitoring organization, to have hit Lebanon over the course of the month and so has likely produced a conservative estimate of hospitals within a dangerous or lethal range.

Even a hospital that is not directly targeted can be damaged from the blast wave or fragmentation caused by a nearby strike, Trevor Ball, a former senior explosive ordnance technician for the US military, told CNN. Fragments can injure or kill people hundreds of meters away, meaning a strike hundreds of meters away could still injure or kill people that are not behind adequate protection.

CNN shared with the IDF a list of coordinates for all 24 hospitals it assessed as having been within dangerous proximity of Israeli strikes, 16 of which were damaged according to data compiled by the Lebanese health ministry and medics. The IDF did not comment on CNNs specific findings, but said it was only operating against Hezbollah, not the Lebanese population or medical facilities and took measures to mitigate harm to civilians.

Abiad, who is a veteran doctor and former hospital director, said the nearby strikes have had a devastating affect on healthcare. Once you target so close to the area, it means that people are now afraid to come to the hospital, Abiad told CNN. Some people in the hospital would rather go home than receive treatment because they are worried that they will be targeted in hospitals.

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The UN special coordinator for Lebanon said on October 25 that first responders heeding the call to help, including healthcare personnel and paramedics, have also been hard hit, and called the number of attacks impacting healthcare facilities and personnel alarming.

The attacks on the first responders, said Abiad, has sent a very chilling message: if youre injured, youre going to die.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of using ambulances to transport weapons, though it has not provided evidence. Many of the ambulances hit and first-responders killed in Israeli strikes were affiliated with Hezbollahs civilian infrastructure. At least 12 Lebanese Civil Defense first responders and 16 Lebanese Red Cross paramedics have been killed in strikes. The IDF did not respond to CNNs request for comment on attacks that have killed paramedics and emergency workers.

Since September 23, Israeli strikes have killed eight people inside the premises of four hospitals, and eight facilities have been forced to close, according to the health ministry.

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Hospitals and other medical establishments are protected civilian objects under international humanitarian law. It is illegal, with few exceptions, to attack hospitals, ambulances or other health facilities, or to otherwise prevent them from providing care. In a report released on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch referred to Israeli attacks on healthcare workers in Lebanon as apparent war crimes.

The threat to Lebanons healthcare sector was felt most acutely on the night of October 21. As well as the strike that hit the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Israel also claimed that another major hospital in the south of Beirut, Al Sahel General Hospital, was located above a Hezbollah bunker. Hours later, hospital staff and patients evacuated the facility for fear it would be hit. The next day, journalists toured the premises and said they found no evidence to support the claim.

Israel published a 3D graphic to show what they claimed was a Hezbollah underground facility storing cash and gold beneath the hospital. Officials at Sahel General Hospital vehemently denied the accusation, and Israel has not struck the hospital.

For the Lebanese, the graphic was reminiscent of imagery released by the Israeli military last year alleging the presence of a Hamas command-and-control center under Gaza Citys al-Shifa hospital. The hospital was later attacked by Israeli forces.

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For me, whats really concerning is that the rhetoric from the Israelis is the same, especially when they talk about infrastructure beneath healthcare, said Dr. Thaer Ahmad, an American physician who volunteered at Gazas Al Nasser hospital in Khan Younis earlier this year and is now working in Lebanon.

Ahmad said all healthcare workers hes interacted with are pessimistic, and fear the health system will suffer the same fate as it has in Gaza.

There are no red lines. There is no respect for international humanitarian law. We saw that in Gaza for the past 13 months and were seeing it in Lebanon, Ahmad told CNN. Are we heading in that same direction, are we actually going to see this repeat itself?

Fragmentation zones

Israels air, ground and naval assault on Hezbollah in Lebanon has decimated the Iran-backed groups military leadership and dealt harsh blows to its rank-and-file, as well as to its arsenal of weaponry. It has also killed hundreds of civilians, according to health authorities, and destroyed large swathes of civilian infrastructure.

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Israel has regularly dropped 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound bombs on Lebanon, according to analysis of aftermath imagery by weapons experts, inflicting catastrophic damage to neighborhoods and towns. The Israeli military has argued that it has deployed these bombs as bunker busters to destroy Hezbollahs underground infrastructure.

The weapons experts told CNN that Israel has also used the GBU-39, or small-diameter bomb, to take out single floors of multistorey buildings. The attacks have been concentrated in, though not restricted to, areas of Hezbollah dominance  namely the south and east of the country as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The lethal fragmentation radius of these bombs puts nearby people and civilian structures, such as hospitals, at serious risk. When they are dropped, white-hot metal fragments can fly out in all directions, tearing through their surroundings. Known by experts as a kill zone, the area of exposure to injury or death around a target can range from 340 meters for small-diameter bombs, to 365 meters for 1,000 and 2,000 bombs, weapons experts say.

All eight hospitals in the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, fell within the lethal fragmentation zones of verified airstrikes. According to the health ministry, all of these healthcare facilities were damaged in the first month of Israels offensive since late September. Three hospitals on the edges of the area were also damaged, according to the ministrys data.

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Almost all of Hezbollahs leadership were killed in Israeli strikes in Dahiyeh, the groups seat of power. Several videos of attacks there have shown signs of secondary explosions  evidence that at least some of the targets were weapons depots.

Beiruts southern suburbs, previously home to around a million people, were also a major flashpoint of Israeli attacks in the countrys last all-out war with Lebanon in 2006. Airstrikes there transformed large parts of the area into a seemingly endless stretch of rubble and detritus. Yet back then, the bombing campaign left hospitals in the south of Beirut comparatively unscathed.

Under international law, a hospital can lose its special protected status only if it is being used for military purposes. But the wounded and sick inside are still protected by the principle of proportionality, and time must be given for evacuation before an attack.

On October 1, an Israeli strike near al-Zahra University Hospital in Dahiyeh killed one person and injured two more inside the facilitys premises, according to the health ministry. Video of the attack analyzed by CNN found that the strike hit a building adjacent to the perimeter of the hospital, less than 50 meters away from the main building.

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The analysis found that the weapon was likely a GBU-39.

The hardest-hit health facilities have been in the southernmost part of Lebanon, where the Israeli air assault has been the most intense and ground forces have been met with fierce resistance from Hezbollah fighters. It was in that region that the first of the countrys hospitals shuttered after the start of the all-out offensive.

In the town of Bint Jbeil, Israel struck a mosque which it described as a command center within the compound of the Salah Ghandour hospital on October 4. Ten people inside the hospital were injured, according to the health ministry, forcing it to close.

That day, an Israeli airstrike hit the premises of Marjayoun governmental hospital in a southern Christian town of the same name.

Two people were killed outside of the hospitals emergency room, according to health minister Abiad. CNN spoke to the director of the hospital hours after it was evacuated.

We held on for as long as we could, Dr. Mones Kalakish told CNN as he was departing the Marjayoun area, which had been surrounded by intensive bombardment for weeks. But this morning, we came under fire, and we had to evacuate. We were panicked and we were terrified.

The night that a nearby strike rocked Beiruts Rafik Hariri University Hospital there was panicked discussion among the staff about whether to evacuate. Because of Gaza and what happened to the hospitals in the south and the rest of the country, our initial thought was that the hospital itself was hit, said Rafik Hariri University Hospital director Jihad Saadeh. But when we saw that it wasnt a direct hit, we were reassured. We continued our work.

For Nurse Foany, merely considering the evacuation was a terrifying thought. Can you imagine what that was like? Imagine evacuating Lebanons largest public hospital, not just its staff but its sick and its injured in a single night, he said. It was a horrific thought.

CNNs Rachel Wilson, Abeer Salman and Mohammad Tawfeeq contributed to this report. This story has been updated.

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The Israeli military said on Saturday that airstrikes hit more than 120 militant targets in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon over the past 40 hours.

Weapons depots and rocket launchers belonging to Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon were struck.

"Soldiers continue to carry out limited, locally concentrated, targeted attacks against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

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The military said separately that two Hezbollah commanders in the area of the Lebanese city of Tyre were killed. They were allegedly responsible for firing more than 400 missiles at Israel in October.

The military's information could not be independently verified.

Civilians are also frequently killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)Dr. Mike Godard was installed as the 13th President of Indiana State University in a formal ceremony Friday afternoon.

The ceremony was a public affirmation as Godard official took the helm. It featured an academic procession and presidential medallion presentation, symbolizing institutional authority and control.

Those in attendance heard from several guest speakers, including Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Senator Todd Young offered their support through a virtual message.

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New Vice President for Enrollment Management at ISU

Several speakers spoke about the positive impression Godard has been making on campus since taking office on June 1.

We couldnt go more than two feet without him being engaged by someone or engaging with someone, Robert Casey, Chair for the ISU Board of Trustees, said. It was smiles, it was pats on the shoulders, it was handshakes.

During the ceremony, Dr. Godard gave his inaugural address. He presented his vision for the university during his term in office, focusing on increasing student enrollment, expanding workforce development initiatives, and strengthening community partnerships.

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He was met with a standing ovation.

During an interview with WTWO, Godard said he wanted his address to be more about the university and less about him.

It was more of a chance just to be able to express my gratitude to being able to serve in this role as the 13th president and really just what our future is as an institution, Godard said.

On a personal level, Godard says hes humbled as he reflects on where he once was as a first-generation college student.

This was never the trajectory that I ever imagined, Godard said. But remaining on a college campus for decades now, I do it because I care about the students and being able to be in a leadership position where hopefully I can have a positive impact on that next generation, he added.

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An all-Republican coalition of attorneys general, South Dakota's Marty Jackley included, are joining lawyers for Donald Trump in asking a federal appeals court to uphold the dismissal of the indictment in the former president's classified documents case.

In a Friday amicus brief submitted by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the Republican bloc requested the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to deny an appeal by U.S. Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith in a halted classified documents case against Trump. Jackley and 17 other attorneys general are named as additional counsel in the brief.

Prior to being formally named the Republican presidential nominee, Trump was indicted on dozens of felony counts for allegedly hoarding sensitive government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

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Smith was directly appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to investigate the former president's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, as well as the alleged illegal retention of government records.

But the Mar-a-Lago case hit a snag in July after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon  a Trump appointee  dismissed it, concluding that Smiths appointment to the job was unlawful. Smith's legal team appealed the decision in August.

Trump's lawyers have pressed a technical legal challenge that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional, in part, because it was not confirmed by Congress, an argument in which Cannon agreed.

Much of what the Republican presidential candidate's legal team presented in its arguments against Smith were echoed by the attorneys general in the amicus brief. They argue Smith "wields core executive power" without the usual accountability a federal government employee has to the president.

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"Smith is currently pursuing arguably the most politically sensitive criminal prosecution in American historythe first prosecution of a former president and current presidential candidate running against the current administration," the attorneys general wrote. "Amici States have a profound interest in ensuring that those responsible remain democratically accountable to the States citizens and in checking unprecedented abuses of executive power."

According to The Associated Press, other special counsels, including Robert Mueller during the Trump administration and Robert Hur during the Biden administration, have been appointed in the same manner as Smith.

"The Special Counsel has exceeded his limited authority in his investigation of former President Trump," Jackley echoed in a Friday press release. "The Special Counsel must have some level of accountability for his actions."

A challenge to Mueller's appointment was rejected in February 2019.

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Smith's federal election interference case, which charges Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, was also delayed in July after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Jackley joins Trump lawyers in effort to dismiss classified documents case
Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville is slamming mainstream media outlets for being unnecessarily fair to Donald Trump, whose recent comments about how former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) would handle being shot at caused outrage from high-ranking Democrats.

The people that I find most loathsome, and the wormiest, slimiest people in this, is what I call the truth-teller caucus, Carville said Friday in a video for Politicon. Theyre the people  burdened with the obligation to the truth  and you see these asswipes everywhere.

Carville was referring to journalists who talk about polling averages and interview Pennsylvanian diners to get some wisdom about the presidential election  while equivocating Trumps violent comments with minor gaffes or policy quibbles from his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

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Carville slammed this centrist approach, before delivering an extremely sarcastic hypothetical to argue his point.

Lets say Donald Trump wants a nine-person firing squad to execute Liz Cheney, he said. OK, is the middle position a four-person firing squad or a five-person firing squad? Now, its a very important question, because we got to take ideas from both parties and meld them together.

Carvilles nine-person firing squad example was a reference to comments Trump made about Cheney during a Glendale, Arizona tour stop Thursday held by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

At the event, Trump denounced Cheney as a war hawk and suggested that she wouldnt endorse using the U.S. military for foreign interventions if she had to face that danger herself.

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Lets put her with a rifle, standing there, with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Lets see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face, Trump said.

Trump made the comment at a Glendale, Arizona event Thursday held by Tucker Carlson. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

Harris called the comment disqualifying on Friday, while Cheney herself  who has joined Harris on the campaign trail in an effort to quell bipartisan strife in order to defeat Trump at the polls  said such remarks are precisely how dictators destroy free nations.

Carville, who accurately predicted President Joe Biden would exit the race to make way for a new Democratic nominee, previously confessed hes scared to death about the presidential election  and warned that Trump will make good on his threats to arrest his political opponents.

Just days ahead of Tuesdays election, Carville spoke directly to the media.

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I do hope the people supposedly telling us whats going on in this country develop the intestinal fortitude, the background, the historical knowledge  [and] sense to know that everything is not fucking equal in this country, he said, and everybodys opinion is not fucking equal.

Some people have better, more informed, more humane opinions than other people do, he continued. What he hell dont you go out and fucking report that?

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SPRINGFIELD, MO  A major road project has wrapped up on the south side of town. But, drivers will only get a short break before a similar job begins across the north side.

Back in September, OzarksFirst checked in on the freeway construction. MoDOT said it was hoping to have it completed by November 1st. In recent days, approaching that date, viewers have seen a lot of construction activity still taking place along the roadway. That has led some to wonder if the project would make the deadline.

OzarksFirst again went to the site on Friday to check on how things were coming along. We discovered, along with drivers passing through the area, that contractors have indeed completed the project on time.

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In recent weeks, it has been an around-the-clock process with crews finishing paving for the new six lanes, completing the median wall, and installing multiple overhead signs on this stretch between National Ave. and Kansas Expressway.

The completion markets the end of a two-phase project that has been going on since 2020. First, the freeway was widened between Glenstone Avenue and National Avenue. The latest phase has resulted in improvements between National and Kansas Expressway.

With work done, MoDOT says the speed limits through the stretch are now back to normal. However, drivers are still urged to use caution in the coming days as crews put final touch-ups on some striping in spots. They will also pick up all the construction signs and cones lining the work zone.

The James River Freeway improvements are the latest in a string of freeway projects in the metro area. The agency says we can expect to see even more of these upgrades going forward as the city expands.

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Brad Gripka, MoDOT Resident Engineer, stated Were doing the widening and expansion. we see the needs of it to help with that traffic capacity. Youll start seeing the widening as well. You can see it on I-44 on north side, and on south side. We see that increased traffic every day. He added, Its been a long time comingbut I think in the end its going to be a great, huge improvement for the city of Springfield and the surrounding area.

Gripka said the goal, far into the future, will be to extend the freeway improvements west all the way to Interstate 44. However, there is no funding or timeline for that right now.

Traffic may be back to normal with the completion of the latest James River Fwy upgrades. But, drivers will only getting a short break before the next big highway project begins.

In December, MoDOT says it will start the contractor bidding process for rebuilding the 5 miles of Interstate 44 across north Springfield between U.S. 65 and Route 13/Kansas Expressway. Major work on that is set to begin in the spring of 2025. When completed, I-44 will have six lanes, a median wall, sound walls, and a rebuilt interchange at Kansas Expy. The two-phase project is set to run through 2028. Missouri lawmakers have also discussed plans to eventually widen I-44 across the state between suburban Saint Louis, Springfield, and the Missouri-Oklahoma state line west of Joplin.

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Visiting Arizona just days before Election Day, Sen. JD Vance revved up a crowd in Scottsdale by arguing that Vice President Kamala Harris has prioritized illegal immigrants over American citizens.

Vance, a senator from Ohio and the Republican nominee for vice president, ticked through a list of economic woes facing Americans and, using at times exaggerated or unclear claims, tied each problem to President Joe Biden and Harris' record on illegal immigration.

Compassion, for the American president, has to start with the American people, and the people who have the legal right to be here, Vance told hundreds of supporters at Dillon Precision, a guns and ammunition storefront in Scottsdale.

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Former President Donald Trump and Harris are locked in fierce competition in Arizona, one of the few swing states in this year's presidential election on Nov. 5. Polls show Trump slightly ahead in Arizona though the race is expected to be close.

Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance kiss each other as they attend the rally in Scottsdale on Nov. 2, 2024.

Both campaigns have sent surrogates through Arizona as the race stretches into its final days. On Thursday, both Harris and Trump held rallies in Arizona, drawing thousands of supporters each.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, also came to Arizona on Saturday to campaign in Flagstaff and Tucson. He questioned Trump's ability to deliver for working people.

"What in the hell does a billionaire know about hardship?" Walz said Saturday in Flagstaff.

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The trip marks Vances second week in a row campaigning in Arizona. Vance was most recently in the state last month for a rally in Peoria.

Vance blames economic woes on immigration

Much of Vances half-hour-long speech in Scottsdale focused on tying Americans economic woes to illegal immigration.

The costs of this border crisis to the state of Arizona are unbelievable, Vance said.

When it comes to housing, Vance said, No matter how many homes we build, if we have a president like Kamala Harris, who gives American homes to illegal aliens instead of American citizens, we are never going to make the American Dream of homeownership affordable.

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It's unclear what program exactly Vance was referring to. Harris has announced a plan to provide $25,000 for first-generation homebuyers, which Vance has in the past misleadingly portrayed as a handout to illegal immigrants. A press aide for the Trump campaign didnt immediately respond to a request for clarification.

As hes done before in Arizona, Vance painted a picture of school systems overwhelmed by an influx of non-English speaking students.

What does it do to the education of an American child when you drop thousands of kids into their school system that dont speak English?

The mounting toll of the countrys fentanyl crisis, and the cost of immigration enforcement, add to the economic toll, he said.

Speakers swat down 'fascist' allegations against Trump

Donald Trump Jr., the former presidents son, helped introduce Vance.

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He defended a remark his father made in Phoenix earlier this week that evoked a threatening image of former Rep. Liz Cheney.

Speaking of the Republican former member of Congress from Wyoming, who is a frequent critic, Trump said, She's a radical war hawk. Let's put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. OK? Lets see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face.

Donald Trump Jr. speaks during the rally held by Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance in Scottsdale on Nov. 2, 2024.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said Friday she was investigating the comments as a potentially prosecutable threat.

Trump Jr. pointed to the investigation as a sign that Democrats and the media have misinterpreted or overreacted to his fathers remarks.

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Its, at this point, full-on propaganda, he said. You have the power to change all of that.

Vance also pushed back on Harris description of Trump as a fascist.

We are not bad people for loving this country enough to think that Kamala Harris ought to do a better job, he said.

Lake echoes Trumps promise to punish news outlets

Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake was one of the warmup speakers. She accused the mainstream media of peddling fake news  a common campaign trail theme for Lake  and echoed Trumps calls to punish certain broadcast networks through the Federal Communications Commission, an independent regulatory agency.

Were gonna take a long, hard look at the FCC licenses that these people have, she said. We give them those licenses and they lie to us.

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Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of the group Turning Point USA, promoted his organizations get-out-the-vote effort and touted the Republican Partys growing voter registration advantage in Arizona. He encouraged people to rally their friends and neighbors behind Trump.

He took a bullet for you. Now go get ballots in the box for him, Kirk said.

Arizona Republic reporter Stephanie Murray contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: JD Vance ties economic woes to illegal immigration in Arizona
JD Vance tried to strike a chord of unity in remarks at a rally in Selma  though struggled to overcome his running mates violent rhetoric. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar)

In a rally in Selma Friday, vice presidential nominee JD Vance closed with a pledge that would be ordinary in any other election: Donald Trump would be the president for all of us, not just his supporters.

But the message was overshadowed by the former presidents own words from the prior evening, when he told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that hed like to see his political opponent Liz Cheney with nine barrels shooting at her  a violent remark that dominated the headlines Friday.

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Vance, the junior senator from Ohio, tried to paint Democrats as divisive and his own ticket as unifying  condemning President Joe Biden for calling Trump supporters garbage while countering that he and Trump had never attacked Vice President Kamala Harriss voters. Trump, though, has repeatedly referred to Democratic voters as lunatics and an enemy from within.

The former presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., joined the rally in Selma unannounced. He condemned Harris for accepting the support of the Cheney family  provoking raucous boos when he named Dick and Liz Cheney  before mounting a defense of his fathers remarks.

My father says: Its strange, if Liz Cheney wants to be in all of the wars, she should pick up arms, but it seems like the people that get us into these wars never seem to be the people fighting them, Trump Jr. told the crowd of several hundred. The media says: Donald Trump thinks Liz Cheney should be shot!

Trumps remarks, which did center on the Cheney familys support of wars in the Middle East, went further than his son suggested. Lets see how she feels about it when the guns are trained on her face, Trump said Thursday.

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Former Rep. Cheney (R-Wyo.) said the remarks by Trump are exactly how dictators destroy free nations.

They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant, she wrote on the social media platform X.

Garbage remark looms large as Vance calls for unity

From supporters clad in orange reflector vests and trash bags to a large white truck from Patriot Sanitation Management, reminders of Bidens garbage comment were strewn all throughout the event in Selma Friday.

I am a proud piece of garbage, said state auditor candidate Dave Boliek, warming up the crowd ahead of Vances arrival. Im a businessman and a leader who has made decisions in the face of liberal opposition.

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Vance used the comment  which Trump seized on during a rally in Rocky Mount earlier this week  to stake his claim that he and Trump would build a prosperous economy that leaves no one behind.

If youre struggling with the price of groceries, youre not garbage. If youre pissed off about Kamala Harriss open border, youre not a bad person, Vance said. I do think that in four days, we oughta take out the trash in Washington, D.C.

Despite Trumps caustic rhetoric toward his opponents, Vance insisted that the former president would work to better the lives of all Americans if elected.

Whether you vote for Donald J. Trump and make the right decision or whether you vote for Kamala Harris and make the wrong decision, we are going to usher a golden age of American prosperity whoever you voted for, Vance said. Not just the people who agree with him politically.

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Trump, though, has a history of wielding the powers of the presidency to inflict hardship on his political detractors  on multiple occasions withholding disaster aid to states overseen by his opponents  and has repeatedly vowed to exact retribution on his enemies if reelected.

On Friday, though, Vance called to end the strife and division of contemporary American politics.

Im sick of Americans losing friends and losing family members over politics, Vance said. Im sick of Americans following Joe Biden and Kamala Harris into thinking that the people who disagree with them politically are bad people  theyre not bad people.

Johnston Democrats condemn Trumps violent rhetoric

Ahead of the Vance rally, Johnston County Democrats condemned the GOP ticket for spreading violent rhetoric and misinformation.

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Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) zeroed in on Trumps violent remarks about Cheney  linking it to a litany of other inflammatory statements by the candidate, including his past vows to be a dictator on day one and to purge the federal bureaucracy of officials deemed disloyal.

That is a death threat against a political opponent, Nickel said. This is Trump  as we know, a fascist, a clear and present danger to the United States of America.

Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) condemned violent rhetoric and misinformation from Republicans Friday. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar)

Nickel also called out false claims by Trump that the Biden administration had abandoned North Carolinians in the wake of Hurricane Helene, calling it par for the course for GOP misinformation.

The only people who are spreading those lies are Donald Trump and JD Vance, he said, praising officials for undertaking an unprecedented federal, state, and local response to provide aid to disaster victims.

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Anderson Clayton, the chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, said a second Trump administration would severely undercut future disaster preparation efforts, noting that Project 2025  a conservative policy platform developed in part by former Trump administration officials  would see the National Weather Service shut down.

Anybody thats politicizing a natural disaster like that does not belong in the White House, she said.

Clayton projected confidence about early vote returns despite ballots by registered Republicans outpacing those from Democrats by a slim margin. She said she believes those votes are subtracting from Republicans Election Day total and do not represent new Republicans that are turning out to vote.

She pointed to Trumps decision to hold rallies across North Carolina on Sunday and Monday as a sign of weakness.

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Republicans dont win the White House unless they win North Carolina, so Id say hes pretty fing scared, Clayton said.

Vance pledges to solve border crisis and affordability woes

If his calls for unity were a diversion from the campaigns ordinary tone, Vance centered the rest of his pitch on familiar terrain  immigration and the economy.

Pack your bags, illegal immigrants, because in three months, youre going back home, Vance said. Kamala Harris refuses to do her job as border czar  thats a disgrace, and we can do so much better.

Donald Trump Jr. defended his father at a rally in Selma, denying that the former president called for violence. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar)

He blamed undocumented immigrants for a lack of affordable housing in the U.S. and said that under a second Trump administration, he would make sure that American homes go to American citizens. Vance added that if elected, they would slash housing regulations to ensure many more new homes were built.

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Economists have disputed Vances claim about immigrants and housing costs.

Trump Jr. said that under Biden, America had gone from a time of prosperity to a time of poverty  a state of affairs that would only change if Trump won in 2024.

The vice presidential nominee is set to appear with Trump Jr. in Nevada and Arizona on Saturday. The pair will return to North Carolina for an appearance in Raleigh Sunday.

Vice President Kamala Harris returns to Charlotte on Saturday. It will be her second visit to the battleground state this week.
With days to go before the election, the push is on from both parties to get out the vote in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The Democrats and White House hopeful Kamala Harris got a boost in Nevada from two-time Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, who landed in Las Vegas on Friday for a day of campaign activities that included door-knocking outreach and meetings with local officials.

Per intel confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrences itinerary kicked off with a canvass launch at the campaign field office, where she met up with Nevada Democratic regional organizing director Craig Bakerjian and a group of volunteers. Up next, the team hit voter-rich areas in the city to do door-knocking in an attempt to spread the campaigns messaging.

The day continued at Mothership Coffee Roasters for lunch with Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen and Juanny Romero, CEO of Mothership, the latter of whom took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to share her story of entrepreneurship and how the administration helped her achieve her goals. Lawrence sat for what is described as an intimate roundtable of seven guests, including first-time voters, small business owners and local activists. The conversation is said to have focused on the importance of voter turnout, meaningful dialogue on pressing local issues and bipartisan cooperation.

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Lawrences appearance in Nevada comes more than a month after she revealed in an exclusive with People that she was endorsing the Harris-Tim Walz ticket for president. Im voting for Kamala Harris because I think shes an amazing candidate and I know that she will do whatever she can to protect reproductive rights, she said. Thats the most important thing, is to not let somebody into the White House who is going to ban abortion.

Lawrence, who is pregnant with her second child, is a producer of the Hillary and Chelsea Clinton-backed Zurwarski v Texas, a documentary about a group of women who sued the state of Texas in 2023 after they were denied abortions when their health was at risk. The film was directed by Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault. Lawrence and Justine Ciarrocchi also produced Bread and Roses, an Apple Original film from director Sahra Mani about the experiences of Afghanistan women living under the Taliban since they took control of Kabul.

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In what may be his final swing through Wisconsin ahead of Tuesday's election, former President Donald Trump returned to the Milwaukee arena where he formally accepted the Republican Party's presidential nomination just a few months ago.

Trump told his supporters at Fiserv Forum on Friday night that if he is elected, "America will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer and stronger than ever before."

It was just in July that Trump took the stage at Fiserv Forum during the Republican National Convention to formally accept the party's nomination during the four-day event.

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Vice President Kamala Harris subsequently took over the RNC venue for a rally of her own during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

And on Friday, Harris held a competing rally and concert just six miles away at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center.

Trump and Harris are each hoping to win this battleground state as they vie for the White House.

Here are some takeaways from Trump's rally in Milwaukee:

Trump slams economy, jobs report

Trump slammed the latest jobs report as "pitiful" and said the economy "stinks."

The jobs report showed hiring slowed significantly as employers added just 12,000 jobs in October. Two Southeast hurricanes and several worker strikes were expected to lower the total, but it was still much lower than anticipated, USA TODAY reported.

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The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1%, the Labor Department said Friday.

He also promoted tariffs  taxes imposed by the government when foreign goods enter the U.S.  saying it was "the most beautiful word in the entire dictionary."

Youre gonna become so rich with the word tariff, he told the crowd.

Economists say tariffs would result in increased prices for consumers.

Mic issue irks Trump: 'I'm working my ass off with this stupid mic'

Donald Trumps shows his frustration from a malfunctioning mic while speaking while having microphone issues during his political rally at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Friday.

Trump relatively early in his speech pulled the mic off the stand when people in the audience said they couldnt hear.

He ended up holding the mic and after a while started complaining that it was heavy.

Do you want to see me knock the hell out of people backstage?  I am up here seething. Im working my ass off with this stupid mic, Trump said. "I'm blowing out my left arm, now I'm blowing out my right arm and I'm blowing out my damn throat, too, because these stupid people."

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His discussion of the mic issue continued for a while, including his miming of the mic stand being too low. At one point he appeared to get tired of holding it.

RFK Jr. tells Trump supporters when they cast their ballots, 'Don't vote for me'

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during Donald Trumps political rally at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Friday.

Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Trump supporters to cast their votes for Trump and not for him.

Kennedy, who dropped out of the presidential race in August and endorsed Trump, is still on the ballot in Wisconsin and Michigan.

He sued to remove himself from the Wisconsin ballot in early September, but Wisconsin law holds that anyone who files nomination papers and qualifies to appear on the ballot  which Kennedy did  cannot decline the nomination.

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Republicans worry he could draw votes from Trump in Wisconsin and Michigan  two key battleground states.

When you go to the voting booth on Tuesday, youre going to see my name on the ballot, he said. I do not want your vote. I want you to vote for Donald Trump.

Trump claims, falsely, that he won Wisconsin twice

Trump claimed he won Wisconsin twice when, in fact, he only won the battleground state in the 2016 presidential election but not in 2020.

"I did win it, despite your difficulty," he said of 2016. "I actually won it twice, but these are minor details."

In 2020, voters delivered President Joe Biden a victory by about 21,000 votes after electing Trump by a similar margin just four years earlier. The state's 2020 election outcome has been confirmed by recounts Trump paid for, court rulings, a nonpartisan state audit and a study by a prominent conservative group.

Like during the RNC, the crowd mimics Trump's look

At the RNC, supporters donned ear patches of gauze, cotton or napkins that mimicked the one Trump wore at the convention after surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania just days earlier.

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Trump on Friday recalled the patch he wore.

"We had a little event here, you know. ... That was the convention," he said of Fiserv Forum, adding that he was a "little embarrassed walking out with a patch."

On Friday, in addition to their distinct red hats, some supporters added yellow or orange safety vests in an imitation of the reflective vest Trump wore throughout a rally near Green Bay on Wednesday.

The vest was meant to highlight President Joe Biden's apparent reference to Trump supporters as garbage in response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage" at a Trump rally on Sunday in New York.

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Biden and the White House quickly sought to clarify that Biden was referencing Hinchcliffe specifically. Harris also distanced herself from Biden's remark.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson slams Trump ahead of Fiserv Forum rally

In a statement from Harris's campaign, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson recalled Trump's comments ahead of the RNC in which he called Milwaukee a "horrible city."

"Donald Trump calls us a horrible city and spends every visit here complaining about his own problems instead of proposing any solutions to make our lives better," Johnson said. "Thats not what Milwaukee and Wisconsin are about."

Johnson, a Democrat and vocal supporter of the vice president, said Harris would "fight for all of us and chart a hopeful, more optimistic vision for the future."

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Lawrence Andrea of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Takeaways from Donald Trump's return to Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum
John Bolton has warned that he doesnt believe Donald Trump will accept the election results if he loses and we should be ready for him to reject them if Kamala Harris wins.

The former national security adviser, who has turned on Trump, was asked whether he believed the former president would accept the results if they are not in his favor on Tuesday. No, I dont think so, Bolton told CNNs Kaitlin Collins. And I think we should be ready for it.

I think everybody ought to be ready because Trump never loses. And if he loses, its because its stolen so it will be difficult, Bolton added.

John Bolton speaks to CNNs Kaitlin Collins (CNN/YouTube)

Bolton also weighed in on Trumps inflammatory remarks about Liz Cheney being shot in the face during a campaign appearance. The former president joined conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson on stage at an event in Glendale, Arizona, on Thursday night where he branded the former Republican representative a radical war hawk.

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I do think, in Liz Cheneys case, though, theres more to this that people are not catching, Bolton said. And that is, his criticism of her is not based on her being a war hawk or anything else.

The fact is, she voted to impeach him, after January the 6th, and he cannot get it out of his head.

Trump has been sowing doubts on the outcome of the election for months. He claimed hes already winning in the three key swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania while speaking at a rally last month with Turning Point Action, an organization founded by far-right political activist Charlie Kirk.

Donald Trump is already raising questions over the legitimacy of the election result (AP)

A recent poll also found the majority of American voters believe Trump will not accept the election results if he loses to Harris.

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The CNN poll, conducted by SSRS, found that, if the former president loses next week, only 30 percent of all registered voters believe he will concede to his opponent. By contrast, 73 percent believe Harris will accept the election result if she loses.

Zeroing in on sentiment from Harris and Trump supporters, the poll found that 95 percent of Harris supporters do not believe Trump will concede if he loses. A majority (57 percent) of Trump supporters, however, believe he will concede and accept the result if he loses.
Election Day is almost here. But in the months and days leading up to the final ballots being cast and results counted, USA TODAY reporters fanned out across the country  road tripping to key counties like Erie in Pennsylvania and shadowing election workers in Georgia and North Carolina.

We visited 6 communities that bear the name Hope, from Hope, Maine to Hope, Alaska, to see if voters were feeling any sense of optimization amid an intensely polarized election cycle. And as Red states have gotten redder and Blue states bluer, we analyzed why that's happening and what voters on the ground are feeling in those key states.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are statistically tied in nationwide polling for the presidential election  and are in a dead heat in nearly every single swing state. But USA TODAY went beyond the numbers, focusing on the priorities of Americans in the increasingly intense election.

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Heres what we found.

7 Counties in 7 Days: A cross-country road trip to battleground states

The road to the White House passes through seven key swing states: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona.

Within those states, the USA TODAY Network team traveled to seven counties whose voters will play a pivotal role in determining whether Trump or Harris wins their state  and, ultimately, the presidency.

In Washoe County, Nevada, voters across the political spectrum outlined what is getting them to the polls  from the economy to crime to border security to health care and the preservation of America's democratic institutions. Erie County, Pennsylvania, the ultimate bellwether, saw renewed excitement after Harris catapulted to the top of the Democratic ticket.

Hope in America: Yes, hope is still alive and well in this nation

Hope. The city in Maine. Or the one in Alaska. Bill Clinton sure put Arkansas' Hope on the map. Maybe, its hope, the feeling.

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USA TODAY sent reporters to six of the 19 U.S. cities named Hope. Residents of Hope, Alaska, a town 15 miles from Anchorage, try to steer clear of national politics. In Hope, New Mexico, which has a population of 105, resilience keeps the town alive.

But one other thing reporters found in their journey to hope: a sense of alarm.

The dangerous job of counting: How it feels for frontline, swing-state workers

Counting votes was a once-monotonous job. Now, its become dangerous.

After losing the 2020 election, Trump spread false rumors there was fraud in the election. That message was amplified by conspiracy theorists who have peddled claims that the use of machines to count ballots allows results to be rigged. Election workers have been intimidated and threatened.

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In Atlanta, Georgia, its one womans job to help voters who may have problems or questions with voting. One election coordinator in a suburb of Detroit no longer speaks about his job.

And heres how officials are preparing for protests and possible violence ahead of Election Day.

Got election questions? Sign up for USA TODAY's On Politics newsletter for breaking news and exclusive analysis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Hope to election security: USA TODAYs journey on the campaign trail
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (FOX 44)  The campus of Texas A&M University was filled with laughter, tears and excitement as students celebrated Aggie Ring Day, a cherished tradition that connects generations of Aggies.

The iconic Aggie Ring is a symbol of achievement and pride bestowed upon students by a family member or loved one, making the moment even more special. For many, the day was a blend of emotion and celebration.

This is the first time Ive seen my mom in a while, and it was a surprise. So it made it all the better, said Justus Rees, reflecting on the days significance.

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Scot Walker, a Texas A&M alumnus and Vice President of the Association of Former Students, highlighted the Aggie Rings deep-rooted tradition, Were very proud of our past. Were also committed to the future. But we remember where we came from. The Aggie ring is probably as strong a tradition as any that we have. Aggies are never strangers. Theyre just old friends who havent met yet.

The design of the Aggie Ring has remained unchanged since approximately 1932, allowing Aggies to recognize one another across the globe easily. This shared symbol of unity fosters connections among alumni and current students alike.

Students celebrated for various reasons  continuing family legacies, starting new traditions or simply honoring friendships.

We met in 1993 here at Texas A&M, and were both alumni. Class of 1997. And its wonderful. Im actually from the Bradford Valley. Im here. I grew up in Texas, and to see my daughter graduate from Texas A&M is just absolutely wonderful, shared a member of the Bonner family, encapsulating the spirit of the day.

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As families parted ways, many students expressed a renewed sense of pride in their identity as Aggies. The rings, which represent significant academic achievements, are earned and not given lightly.

On this special day, families adorned with flowers, posters and sweet treats came together to celebrate  embodying the vibrant spirit of Aggieland.

The Aggie Ring, more than just a piece of jewelry, symbolizes a lifelong connection to the Texas A&M community and its enduring traditions.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OZARK, Mo-In a Christian County courtroom Friday afternoon, Steven Calverley listened as a judge announced he was guilty of second-degree murder, assault, robbery, kidnapping and four counts of armed criminal action.

Back in August 2020, 27-year-old Sarah Pasco was one of two women forced to get into a well near Miller before being shot. Pasco was killed, while the other woman was able to play dead and managed to survive.

The eight other defendants in the case have already been sentenced to prison, with terms ranging from 15 to 40 years.

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Circuit court judge Laura Johnson cited the credibility of the witness testimonies on both sides as a factor that helped lead her to Fridays guilty verdict.

After the verdict was read, defense attorneys requested that Calverley serve his sentence in an inpatient facility in Kentucky, but the request was denied.

Prosecutors said after the verdict, they are glad justice is being served for the victims. Calverley is also set to be sentenced in January.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A Kentucky Court of Appeals judge has declined a request from Lexington Fayette-Urban County Councilwoman Brenda Monarrez for emergency relief from a protective order that prohibits her from going to city hall.

The three-year restraining order, filed Oct. 16 by Fayette Circuit Judge Traci Brislin, is in response to accusations that Monarrez sexually assaulted fellow Councilwoman Denise Gray on multiple occasions, including most recently in August.

In addition to banning her from the government center, the order bars Monarrez from contacting Gray or going within 500 feet of Grays home.

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On Tuesday, Monarrez asked the appeals court to vacate Brislins order, saying she is suffering irreparable harm because shes being impeded from doing her council work, and the situation is being used against her during the final days before the Nov. 5 election.

An attorney for Monarrez also argued that Brislin should recuse herself from the case.

The request was made in the form of a petition for a writ of prohibition.

However, appeals Judge Kelly Mark Easton wrote in an order Friday that he will not grant emergency relief where it appears this Courts jurisdiction to do so may be lacking.

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He wrote that Monarrez should have filed a separate motion for an emergency order, and he noted that she had not filed an appeal.

He also said she could have asked the chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court to disqualify Brislin back in August, but she didnt.

Easton noted that the hearing on the protective order was unusually long ... for such cases.

Gray has said Monarrez tried to kiss her and grabbed her crotch after the two went out to dinner Aug. 1. She also says that in October 2021, she invited Monarrez to her birthday party, and that Monarrez gave her multiple drinks, then offered to drive her home. Instead, Gray said, she lost consciousness and woke up at Monarrezs home, as Monarrez was performing a sex act on her.

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The parties were heard on the petition for an IPO several times, and the family court made the required findings of fact, including the risk of another assault in the future, Easton wrote. Evidence was presented about another event well before the current allegation. With the evidence presented to the family court, the IPO does not appear so obviously wrong that this Court should grant extraordinary interim relief.

Easton also said Monarrez is not prevented from doing her job as an LFUCG councilperson because she can still work remotely.

Monarrez has been attending council meetings virtually since a temporary protective order was issued against her in August.

Though he declined to grant emergency relief, Easton said the case would be assigned to a three-judge panel after the time for a response from Brislin and Gray has elapsed.

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No criminal charges have been filed against Monarrez, but a detective for the Lexington Police Department has said it is investigating.

Monarrez is running for re-election in Lexingtons 4th District. Her opponent, Emma Curtis, has called for her to resign, saying she is no longer legally allowed to fulfill even the most basic responsibilities that come with being a council member.

In a statement Saturday, Curtis said in part, every day she chooses to remain in office is another day she chooses to deny the people of our district representation in City Hall.

Its telling that in the final days of this race, Ms. Monarrez isnt out in the community talking to voters about fixing Nicholasville Road, lowering the cost of housing, or any of the other issues impacting the 4th District, Curtis wrote. Shes attacking our justice system, wasting taxpayer money to pull last-minute campaign stunts, and yelling on social media about her legal issues.

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In a statement Thursday, Monarrez denied any sexual abuse or misconduct and reiterated her commitment to serving the community.

During the recent hearing, I testified and denied each allegation made against me. It was also brought to public light that my accuser had continued to spend time with me numerous times over the past three years. I ask the residents in my District to consider whether, as a matter of common sense, such actions truly align with the nature of the allegations against me.

While the court has issued a protective order, I want the public to know that this decision is being legally challenged. I am fully committed to challenging this ruling and believe that, through the legal process, truth and justice will ultimately emerge. History has shown us that judgments can sometimes be incorrect. Please be mindful that initial rulings dont always reflect the truth. I am confident in my innocence, and I am dedicated to pursuing justice based upon truth.
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  The lawsuit against a Decatur doctor alleging sexual misconduct has been formally dismissed after a settlement was reached with victims earlier this year.

Court records show that Judge Jennifer Howell formally dismissed the lawsuit against Dr. Michael Dick. According to court records, the parties involved in the lawsuit reached a settlement with a mediator in May 2024.

Decatur chiropractor accused of poisoning wife enters plea ahead of trial

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Dr. Michael Dick was acquitted of criminal charges of harassment in February 2024. Dick was originally found guilty of harassment in Decatur Municipal Court but appealed that verdict to Morgan County Circuit Court and was retried and found not guilty.

That verdict came a couple of years after Dick was also found not guilty in another case where he was charged with first-degree sex abuse.

The dismissed lawsuit claimed, in some explicit detail, that Dr. Dick engaged in inappropriate contact with patients on multiple occasions, arguing he: Rubbed the Plaintiffs legs, breasts, buttocks and genitals; Made inappropriate comments on their looks; Kissed them on the forehead, mouth and even on their bare buttocks; Pulled off their clothes or pulled them down and exposed breasts, buttocks and genital areas unnecessarily; and rubbed himself against them on different parts of their body.

Recently, Dick asked the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners to reinstate his medical license but a decision has not yet been made on whether it will be. Dicks medical license was temporarily suspended in October 2018.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks declared day two a "good day for the state" after a recess in a hearing into prosecutorial misconduct allegations.

"I think it was a good day for the state," Hicks said after the hearing. "I think it went well."

Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Tarango, El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks, State prosecutor John Davis, and Patrick Crusius's attorneys Mark Stevens and Joe Spencer, stand during the second day of a court hearing regarding misconduct allegations in the Walmart shooting case on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in El Paso, Texas.

Hicks, who is seeking to retain the seat in the Nov. 5 general election, then encouraged El Pasoans to vote. Hicks did not ask El Pasoans to vote for him, he just asked for them to vote.

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Hicks' comments come after two contentious days of testimony that accused Hicks of ignoring concerns that his office had illegally obtained and listened to private jailhouse conversations between the gunman, 26-year-old Patrick Crucius, and his defense attorneys. The defense team has argued those conversations are protected by client-attorney privilege laws.

El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks addresses the media after the second day of a hearing over allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. pic.twitter.com/4th3P0OWDm  Aaron Martinez (@AMartinezEPT) November 2, 2024

Lead defense attorney Joe Spencer declined to comment, citing a gag order issued in the case that prevents defense attorneys, prosecutors and witnesses from speaking publicly about the case.

We are under a gag order, we cant give a comment, Spencer said. And since we arent politicking, I cant comment.

The second day of the hearing was marked by a strong defense by DA staff who testified they did nothing illegal with jailhouse conversation recordings or visitor logs involving the gunman who is being held at the El Paso County Jail Downtown.

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Judge Sam Medrano issued no ruling Friday, Nov. 1, after more than eight hours of testimony heard over two days regarding allegations that district attorney's office staff illegally listened to phone calls and failed to turn over key evidence to the defense attorneys.

More: Day 2 begins in El Paso Walmart shooting hearing over alleged misconduct: Live updates

Hicks has repeatedly denied that his office committed any misconduct in the case.

The hearing was held Thursday, Oct. 31, and Friday, Nov. 1, in the 409th District Court at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in Downtown El Paso.

Six witnesses took the stand during the hearing, but more than five more witnesses subpoenaed by defense attorneys are still expected to testify. Medrano scheduled the hearing to resume Dec. 11.

Joe Spencer, attorney for the El Paso Walmart mass shooter, addresses the media after a two-day hearing over allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. pic.twitter.com/8o4FSKwOeg  Aaron Martinez (@AMartinezEPT) November 2, 2024

While testimony focused on the district attorney's office's handling of evidence, it remains unknown if the prosecutors' actions violated the gunman's constitutional rights and if the death penalty will remain on the table as a possible punishment.

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The gunman is charged with one count of capital murder of multiple persons and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the Aug. 3, 2019, racially motived mass shooting that resulted in 23 people dead and dozens more injured. Hicks is seeking the death penalty.

Legality of prosecutors listening to jailhouse phone calls

Prominent prosecutor John Briggs, who has played a key role under three different El Paso district attorneys, challenged defense attorneys' claims that jailhouse phone calls were legally protected under client-attorney privilege laws.

Briggs was questioned by Spencer with the exchange between the two El Paso legal heavyweights being adversarial at times as the men continued to challenge each other's opinions throughout Briggs' testimony.

Joe Spencer, Patrick Crusius's attorney, shows assistant District Attorney John Briggs evidence files during the second day of a court hearing regarding misconduct allegations in the Walmart shooting case on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in El Paso, Texas.

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Spencer asked Briggs if he believed it was not a violation of his client's rights for prosecutors to listen to the conversations.

"With someone in the custody of the jail, the case law is very clear," Briggs argued. "Their rights to privacy basically don't exist and phone calls coming out of the jail are recorded and everybody knows that. In fact, at the beginning of the phone call, it says, 'this phone call is being recorded.'

"It's being recorded, which means that the way I see that, first of all, I don't know why any attorney would speak to a client on a phone call that's being recorded and expect that they have any right to privacy in that conversation."

Briggs argued prosecutors had every legal right to listen to the conversations of the gunman and his attorneys.

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"I understand the attorney-client privilege and all that stuff, but the point that you had that conversation in front of a third person, you're waiving that attorney-client privilege," Briggs said. "If that phone call is being recorded, that means I can listen to it and you should not expect that you have any privacy in that phone call... So do I have a right to listen to that? Yes."

More: Key hearing over prosecutorial misconduct begins in Walmart shooting case: live updates

Briggs said it is "extremely rare" for him to have to listen to jailhouse calls, and for the most part he doesn't listen to them.

"It might be constitutional, but it's not Christian," Briggs said of listening to jailhouse phone calls.

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Spencer answered back that the defendant and his attorneys have no discretion or ability to waive the privacy.

"Thank you for the way you answered, I'm sure you got everything you wanted out, but you are aware that those phone calls that are recorded, neither of the lawyer or the client has any discretion or ability to eliminate that disclosure, that waiver."

Briggs quickly responded, "which is why these discussions shouldn't be taking place on those phone calls."

Former prosecutor testifies about concerns over mishandling evidence

The biggest testimony was from former Assistant District Attorney Lorette Hewitt, who made accusations that Hicks ignored her concerns about legal and ethical issues related to the Walmart case.

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Hewitt found out about the jailhouse calls as she and other prosecutors were going through evidence. She attempted to notify Hicks, but was unsuccessful. She then immediately alerted defense attorneys to the phone call recordings in the possession of prosecutors.

Mark Stevens, Patrick Crusius's attorney, talks to Patrick Crusius before the second day of a court hearing regarding misconduct allegations in the Walmart shooting case on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in El Paso, Texas.

She claimed Hicks got upset over her actions of notifying the defense team, despite it being the obligation of prosecutors to share that information with the gunman's attorneys, Hewitt said.

"It is about following the law," Hewitt said in her testimony. "This is about not hiding anything."

The lack of concern allegedly shown by Hicks played a role in why Hewitt, who was hired by Hicks to lead the Walmart case, resigned from her position.

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More: Prosecutor testifies DA's office mishandled evidence in Walmart mass shooting case

Hewitt also testified about evidence she and prosecutors obtained from interviewing former neighbors of the gunman. The neighbors claimed the gunman suffered from serious mental health issues and was "not right in the brain," Hewitt testified.

Hewitt felt the evidence should have been turned over because it could help defense attorneys fight against their client getting the death penalty. The notes she took of the interviews were never turned over by prosecutors to defense attorneys after she quit, she claimed.

Hicks and his prosecutors told Medrano they found no notes regarding the interviews from Hewitt in the evidence collected in the case.

Gunman to spend life at supermax prison in federal case

The gunman has already been convicted for the mass shooting in federal court. He pleaded guilty Feb. 9, 2023 to 90 federal charges in the shooting after the U.S. Attorney's Office elected not to seek the death penalty.

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He was sentenced on July 7, 2023, to 90 consecutive life sentences. A federal judge ordered the prison sentences be served at ADX Florence supermax federal prison near Florence, Colorado. Federal prosecutors said the mass shooting was racially-motived as the gunman admitted he was targeting Hispanics, who he claimed were invading the U.S.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Judge Medrano to resume hearing on DA office misconduct allegations
The Erie County Courthouse (Capital-Star photo by Hannah McDonald)

A judge has ordered the Erie County Board of Elections to extend its operating hours and take other steps to ensure that thousands of voters who requested mail ballots but did not receive them can still get mail ballots and return them by the Election Day deadline.

The judges order comes after the Democratic Party of Pennsylvania sued the county in an attempt to get officials to remedy the problems.

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So this week, we headed to court to make sure that those voters have a chance to vote; and we won, a senior Harris campaign official said on a call with reporters Friday. Erie is now extending hours through the weekend for local voters, and they are overnighting ballots to voters who may be out of state. We certainly wish that these errors didnt happen, but in a country with elections administered at the local level, with almost 200,000 precincts, isolated incidents are inevitable.

The Democratic Party filed the suit on Wednesday, with the support of Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign, and the Republican Party of Pennsylvania was added as an intervenor on Thursday.

Erie Court of Common Pleas Judge David Ridge ordered the elections board to remain open over the weekend Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The issues in Erie began with an Ohio-based third-party vendor, ElectionIQ, a contractor that prints and mails the countys mail ballots.

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A software failure caused ElectionIQ to send duplicate ballots that went into incorrect envelopes, with some voters receiving other voters envelopes. The U.S. Postal Service said it had been unable to account for, another 1,800 mail ballots, according to the lawsuit, which the county says were never mailed by ElectionIQ.

The lawsuit claimed that mail ballot return rates in Erie were below the statewide average, with only about 52% of voters who requested mail ballots receiving them by Oct. 28. Statewide, the return number is at 67%.

In a hearing in Erie on Friday, it was determined that at minimum, 365 duplicate ballots were sent to voters which contained a mail-in ballot that had a barcode corresponding to a different voter. Between 13,000 and 17,000 Erie County voters who had requested a mail ballot have still not received one, and some 1,200 voters who temporarily live out of state, such as college students, had not received their ballots, either.

In addition to the extended hours, the judge ordered the elections board to add another printer at its office, and allow voters who had applied for a mail ballot to cancel their request, be issued a new mail-in ballot immediately, and cast that mail-in ballot at one of two drop boxes at the Erie County Courthouse.

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The elections board has to ensure that enough ballots and provisional ballots are available at all Erie County polling locations, and must release the names and email addresses of the out-of-state voters still waiting on mail ballots to the parties, and, in some cases, use overnight delivery services to send replacement ballots to the out-of-state voters.

The board of elections also was ordered to contact all voters who received a duplicate ballot and all voters whose name appeared on a duplicate ballot intended for another voter, so they might cancel their previous ballot, and submit a new ballot. All of those votes are to be segregated so that officials have time to ensure that the ballots are accurate.

Erie is considered a key bellwether county in battleground Pennsylvania, which has 19 electoral votes that either party needs to clinch the presidency. Former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee for president, beat Hillary Clinton in Erie County in 2016 by just over 1,900 votes. But Democrats appeared to learn from their 2016 defeat; Joe Biden beat Trump in Erie in the 2020 election by a margin of just over 1,400 votes, or 1.03%, as Pennsylvania flipped blue again.

The candidates at the top of both parties tickets  Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Trump have all campaigned in Erie during the current election cycle.
Attorneys Anne Mackin, right, and Andrew La Grone listen to testimony on the first day of the civil trial to determine the validity of the medical marijuana ballot measures at the Lancaster County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Lincoln. (Kenneth Ferriera-Pool/Lincoln Journal Star)

LINCOLN  The votes cast for or against Nebraskas two medical cannabis ballot measures Tuesday will be counted and made public, after a district court judge rebuffed a request to prevent both actions.

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong said she agreed with attorney Daniel Gutman, who is defending the ballot sponsors, that the status quo is to count votes on Election Day. She noted that it was Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen who certified the measures for the ballot and that Nebraskans are already voting.

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Strong also ruled Friday against a request to delay the trial.

Lawyers for each party take turns questioning a witness on the first day of a civil trial into two medical marijuana ballot measures at the Lancaster County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Lincoln. At center is Austin-based attorney Anne Mackin. (Kenneth Ferriera-Pool/Lincoln Journal Star)

Austin-based attorney Anne Mackin, on behalf of John Kuehn, who filed a lawsuit against the ballot measures, asked Strong to prevent the counting and tabulating of votes because the ongoing trial could invalidate the measures. Mackin said state law requires that only valid votes be counted. The measures would regulate and legalize medical cannabis.

Without a TRO [temporary restraining order] or other injunctive relief before 8 a.m. on Monday, the horse is out of the barn, so to speak, Mackin said.

Beginning Monday morning, 24 hours before polls open Tuesday, county officials may begin counting early or mail-in votes.

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Looking at the merits of the motion and the merits of the case, at this time I cannot find that the evidence is so overwhelming that I know right now, without looking at the exhibits and the rest of the witnesses and everything else, that the plaintiff [Kuehn] is likely to prevail on the merits, Strong said Friday, adding that shes not saying Kuehn cant, or wont, prevail as the trial continues.

Feasibility of the request

Attorneys from the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, arguing on Evnens behalf, outlined challenges to nearly 80,000 petition signatures this week in a trial before Strong. Kuehns attorneys used their efforts this week largely to support the efforts of Evnens attorneys.

Deputy Solicitor General Zach Viglianco told Strong that he agrees with Mackin that the evidence could invalidate the measures but said that Evnen opposes not counting votes because of possible election integrity concerns.

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Ballot-counting machines have already been programmed to count all ballot items, Viglianco said, and reprogramming the machines, days before the election, could be difficult.

Viglianco said it is technically feasible not to publicly release votes, though Evnens directions to county officials would be considered guidance, not a legal requirement, because the states 93 county officials are not part of the case. Strong said she wasnt sure whether she even had the authority, as a judge in Lancaster County, to issue a statewide ruling.

Statewide election questions are usually directed to Lancaster County, particularly when they involve the secretary of state.

A travesty of democracy

Among the states witnesses are Jennifer Henning and Michael Egbert, two paid circulator petitioners who said on the stand Thursday and Friday that they didnt follow the law while gathering signatures. Both alleged that the notaries they worked with might also have broken the law.

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Egbert has been criminally charged with a felony for using a phone book to forge signatures.

On Thursday, attorneys noted that Henning is on probation on two counts of felony insurance fraud and has in the past submitted fraudulent documents to courts. She has not been charged in the current case.

I think it would be a travesty of democracy to halt an election off of the testimony of Michael Egbert or Jennifer Henning, and thats essentially what the request is, attorney Daniel Gutman, on behalf of the ballot sponsors, told Strong.

A notary takes the stand

Assistant Attorney General Justin Hall on Friday questioned another witness for Evnen: 22-year-old campaign worker Garrett Connely. On advice from his attorney, Molly Burton, Connely pleaded the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination to nearly every question from Hall, including those questioning possible criminal wrongdoing.

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Among those questions were Connelys process as a top campaign volunteer, whether he followed the law in notarizing or circulating petitions and whether he had destroyed any communications.

Hall showed the court some of Connelys texts to and from Henning and some between Connely and ballot sponsor Crista Eggers, campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana and a prospective witness. Eggers has not yet taken the stand.

Deputy Solicitor General Zach Viglianco, left, confers with Assistant Attorney General Justin Hall on the first day of the civil trial to determine the validity of the medical marijuana ballot measures at the Lancaster County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Lincoln. (Kenneth Ferriera-Pool/Lincoln Journal Star)

A separate criminal case from the AGs Office is under way. Connely and Eggers have not been charged. But Egbert and Jacy Todd, a notary from York, have been.

Among the Connely-Henning texts was a string in May when Henning asked how she could find a notary to sign off on petition sheets she had circulated. Henning asked if she could give her petitions to another notary.

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Sure, whatever works best for you! Connely responded. Otherwise, you can sign them and everything and I can swing by and grab them if you leave them in your screen door or something?

They are already signed and filled out, Henning responded.

The Fifth Amendment

Much of the case revolves around alleged fraud and malfeasance on the ballot measures, with the attorneys for Kuehn and Evnen seeking to impute, or extend, any instances of wrongdoing to any and all petitions that those individuals touched.

For example, notarizations must be done in front of the person who signed the petition oath, and the notary must know the circulator.

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The Attorney Generals Office has indicated at least 1,110 total instances of wrongdoing on petitions. Approximately 3,500 signatures on both measures would need to be tossed out to invalidate the election results.

In another exchange Connely had with Eggers, she detailed her panic in ensuring the campaign was successful in its third straight election cycle and said, There is no more nice campaign. We dont follow the rules anymore. And we just pay the consequences and hope its OK.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana celebrate turn-in day for 114,000 signatures the group gathered across two petitions to legalize and regulate medical marijuana. July 3, 2024. (Courtesy of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign)

In another exchange, Eggers and Connely discussed a campaign worker who they suspected might be a plant to invalidate the measures.

We should probably be very careful, Eggers told Connely. Not lead him to question that we ever notarize things that arent in person and such. Just stay very clean.

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Because Connely pleaded the Fifth, the ballot sponsors attorneys and Mackin did not question him. But while addressing Mackins motion to prevent counting votes, Gutman said he had reviewed all of Connelys texts and said they didnt show what the AGs Office was suggesting.

I will say that, no offense, Mr. Connelly, but his text messages are profoundly boring, Gutman said. They pick two or three text messages, construe it out of context and then come up here and say, Lets halt an election.

Another circulator testifies

Earlier in the day, Egbert testified that he joined the 2024 medical cannabis campaign through a Facebook ad and spent about 45 minutes to an hour shadowing another circulator as part of his training. He testified that he would sign his petitions at home before dropping them off at Todds business in Grand Island.

Egbert said he had met Todd once. Egbert said he also never signed his sheets in front of a notary and never witnessed a notary notarize his sheets.

Attorney Daniel Gutman, center, representing the medical marijuana ballot sponsors, confers with his co-counsel, Sydney Hayes at right, on the first day of the civil trial to determine the validity of the medical marijuana ballot measures at the Lancaster County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Lincoln. (Courtesy of Kenneth Ferriera-Pool/Lincoln Journal Star)

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Gutman said Todd vigorously disputed those accusations during his deposition and said he talked with Egbert regularly, including about his neurological medical condition that Egbert said impairs his memory. A recent injury will prevent Todd from testifying in court.

I would say hes a lying man because, no, I did never sign anything in front of the man, Egbert said about Todd.

Among other witnesses Friday were Dee Anne Nice, the Saunders County clerk, who oversees elections; Ronnie Golyar, an independent contractor for the state as a medication aide who helps Henning with her son; and Mark Sangor, a full-time forensic document examiner who reviewed about 150 signatures for the trial.

After Strong concluded that Kuehns attorneys hadnt presented the overwhelming evidence needed to prevent votes from being counted Tuesday, Mackin asked to delay the trial until criminal investigations had finished.

Gutman objected, noting that Mackin and Viglianco earlier opposed delaying the trial when requested by the ballot sponsors.

Strong decided against Mackins motion after Fridays hearing. Monday could be the final day in the trial. Election Day is Tuesday.

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The court has issued a ruling in the case of the Pennsylvania Democratic and Republican parties against the Erie County Board of Elections.

A court order has been issued to try to quickly get thousands of missing mail-in ballots into voters hands.

Judge David Ridges eleventh-hour ruling puts the pressure on all parties involved to deliver on an increasingly tight timeline.

Erie County Judge David Ridge has heard enough ruling that between 13,000 and 17,000 Erie County voters have been impacted by late or missing mail-in ballots.

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Erie County mail-in ballot debacle continues with Thursday hearing

Judge Ridge issued a court order to help get new ballots in their hands in time for their votes to be counted.

I think that everybody worked together and did the best we could to enable people to vote despite the failings of the countys contractor which was just horrendous, said Timothy McNair, PA Democratic Party attorney.

The judges ruling placed responsibility on Election IQ, the county vendor that botched the mailing.

The court ordered Election IQ to hand deliver the missing ballots here by the end of the day.

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Some of those ballots are missing because Election IQ improperly bar-coded them so the post office cant even track them.

So these votes might be lying in Pittsburgh post office, but no one is doing anything with them or in Akron, said Thomas Talarico, Solicitor, Erie County Board of Elections

The judge also gave the board of elections the right to use a private company to overnight mail-in ballots to the 1,200 voters who temporarily reside out of state.

The state department rejected the Pennsylvania Democratic Partys request to allow voters who dont get their mail-in ballots in time the right to traditionally vote at the polls. Instead, they will have to use a provisional ballot come election day.

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Former President Bill Clinton plans Saturday visit to Erie

I think Judge Ridge did the best he could to try to come up with a solution and through the whole process everybody seemed to come up with a final agreement that were doing the best we can to deal with a very unfortunate situation, said Tom Eddy, Erie County Republican Party chair.

Erie County Clerk Karen Chillcott just confirmed that Election IQ did deliver those missing ballots by the 5:30 deadline. The board of elections has also extended its hours to 8 to 4 on weekends and 8 to 6 on weekdays through Monday.

Have a ballot issue? Heres what to do:

If you received a duplicate ballot, youre urged to notify the board of elections.

If you havent received your mail-in ballot, you can get a new one at the board of elections headquarters. They now have extended hours including weekends from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can fill it out right there and place it in a drop box.

If you are homebound, you can designate someone to get a new ballot for you.

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Click here to learn more about voting in this years election.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
NEW YORK  New York Mayor Eric Adams historic corruption trial will start in late April 2025  just over two months before hes set to face off against multiple challengers in next summers Democratic mayoral primary.

The mayor, who is also gunning to get the bribery count on his indictment tossed, is now scheduled to begin his trial on April 21, Manhattan Federal Court Judge Dale Ho ruled Friday.

Thats the earliest date I think we can realistically shoot for, Ho said at an afternoon hearing.

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Adams attorneys had initially asked for the trial to start in March. Alex Spiro, the mayors lead trial lawyer, said a date set too close to the June 24 mayoral primary wont give him a realistic chance at reelection, adding that you cant lead as an indicted man.

If he still has this hanging over his head, thatll impact the election. Period, Spiro said.

Adams sat still during the nearly two-hour hearing as his lawyers argued the judge should dismiss the bribery count on his indictment.

John Bash, an attorney for Adams, argued the bribery charge was simply too general and vague to satisfy the law, especially in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision redefining how bribery is charged.

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Prosecutors allege Adams accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from associates of the Turkish government who later allegedly cashed in on the transactional relationship by asking the then-up-and-coming politician to carry out political favors. The lawyers must prove Adams abused his official office by accepting the lavish vacation perks and flight upgrades.

Those alleged bribes dont meet that legal requirement because they were made before Adams became mayor and had nothing to do with his previous official position as Brooklyn borough president, Bash said.

The lawyer also slammed the prosecutions bribery charge as vague and amorphous, saying the government hadnt identified what specific act Adams had agreed to carry out by accepting the bribes. In the indictment, prosecutors wrote that Adams agreed to help with the regulation and operation of the Turkish Consulate in Manhattan.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten countered that Adams role as Brooklyn borough president at the time gets him in the room with the Fire Department commissioner, adding that he was voted the Democratic nominee in June 2021  making him a shoo-in for the mayoral position.

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Ho said he aimed to rule shortly on Spiros request to dismiss the count.

Prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office, which brought the case against Adams, had initially asked for a May trial start, saying they needed time to filter out classified national security material that has come up in the case before the jury hears it.

Adams, whose approval rating has plunged to historic lows amid his indictment, is running in Junes mayoral primary against Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. All of Adams challengers have called on him to resign since he became the first sitting New York City mayor in modern history to face criminal charges.

New Yorkers deserve a mayor who is focused on the work of city government, not mounting a legal defense with what he has said will be every ounce of his strength and spirit, Mamdani said in a statement following the court proceeding. We know where that leaves the rest of us. Adams should prepare for trial as a private citizen and let us all move on.

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The mayor is facing five criminal counts alleging he sought and accepted bribes and illegal campaign donations from the Turkish government and others in exchange for helping fast-track a Turkish Consulate in Manhattan, among other political favors.

Adams has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which also include counts of conspiracy, fraud and soliciting political donations from foreign nationals.

His legal team moved to dismiss the bribery count just days after the indictment was unsealed in late September. Spiro argued in court papers that the allegations against the mayor were extraordinarily vague and based largely on the word of a disgruntled Adams staffer  a reference to Rana Abbasova, who is expected to be a star witness for the government.

Abbasova was fired from her City Hall post in October after prosecutors turned over evidence that Adams team said could be used to discredit her.

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On Thursday, in a separate ruling, Ho rejected Adams request to look into the mayors claim that authorities leaked confidential information to the press about his prosecution. Adams team had previously asked for sanctions and an evidentiary hearing to examine possible leaks.

______
WORCESTER  Jurors hearing the quadruple homicide trial of Mathew Locke Friday saw nude images saved to his phone prosecutors argue are relevant to the case, along with video they allege shows him driving to and from the West Brookfield home the night of the murders.

The evidence capped the second of whats expected to be a four-week trial in the murders of Sara Bermudez, 38, and her three young children  8-year-old Madison, 6-year-old James and 2-year-old Michael.

Prosecutors allege Locke, a cousin of Bermudezs husband, Moses, killed the family while high on cocaine the night of Feb. 28, 2018 while Moses was working in California.

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They allege Locke slipped out out his Ware home  where his cousins were having paid sex in a deal he allegedly brokered  around 11:30 p.m., drove the approximately 6 miles to 10 Old Warren Road in West Brookfield and returned around 1 a.m. after committing a crime of unspeakable violence.

Nude photos shown

Prosecutors Friday showed jurors several nude photos they argued in pretrial proceedings tended to incriminate Locke.

Prosecutors displayed three photographs of adult naked women they said were found on Lockes phone, and then compared those photographs to crime scene photos.

The disturbing crime scene photos show Sara and Madison Bermudez were found naked from the waist down, with their legs spread apart and brutal violence inflicted upon their genitals.

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All three women in the downloaded photographs appeared to be in sexual poses in which one knee was bent at an angle. Two of the three were exposed from the waist down.

Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Matthew Prescott noted that Sara Bermudez was found with one leg flexed, and her joint elevated. The positioning of her leg appeared similar to those of the nude women who had flashed on the screen moments before.

Prosecutors and Lockes lawyer had argued in pretrial motions about the admissibility of the photos.

Prosecutors had sought to introduce both the naked photos of adult women, as well as child pornography they said they found on Locke's phone they argued was relevant to the manner in which young Madison was found.

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Worcester Superior Court Judge Daniel M. Wrenn ruled the photos of the adult women were relevant enough to admit, but that the possible prejudicial impacts of the child pornography outweighed the evidentiary value. Jurors were accordingly not shown the latter images, nor was their discovery referenced Friday.

Video of car presented

Jurors Friday also saw a video montage prosecutors have argued captured the vehicle Locke was driving at several points on its way to and from 10 Old Warren Road Feb. 28 into March 1.

Lockes cousin, Alexandrea Chadwick, testified this week that Locke had been using her car that day, and that she did not know where he was during those hours.

On Friday, Prescott showed a video he and other police put together showing what they argue is Chadwicks distinctive 1993 blue Honda Civic hatchback traveling to and from Eddy Street, Lockes residence, to 10 Old Warren Road.

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The video was shown in the courtroom once, and jurors will have a chance to examine it during deliberations.

Authorities testified throughout the week about the homes and businesses they canvassed in the days following the crime, and homeowners and business owners testified to the authenticity of the videos.

On Thursday and Friday, Prescott took jurors through still images from the videos at length, showing them alongside a map of the route they allege Locke took.

Prescott noted that a number of facets to the vehicle made it easier to identify: its hatchback design, wraparound tail lights, brake light position, bright interior lighting and, most notably, a drivers side front panel covered in stickers that made it noticeably lighter than the rest of the car.

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He alleged Locke drove the hatchback about six miles  10 minutes  between Eddy Street in Ware around 11:30 p.m. and came back a different route around 1 a.m. March 1.

After being showed photos of the vehicle while parked, jurors were shown the sequence of videos they allege to be the same vehicle the night of the murders.

In the footage, a vehicle can be seen leaving Eddy Street, a short street near downtown Ware, and going toward the downtown area around 11:30 p.m.

The vehicle was captured multiple times on surveillance video traveling downtown; in at least one of the videos, a distinctive light quarter panel was visible.

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Jurors were then shown videos police said were headlights approaching the area of 10 Old Warren Road around 10 minutes later.

That video, from a neighbors house at considerable distance from 10 Old Warren Road across the street, was then sped up for about an hour: the time in which, prosecutors allege, Locke was committing the murders.

Only darkness could be seen on the screen in the area of the faraway home; at about 12:50 a.m., lights prosecutors argue are taillights backing out of the driveway could be seen.

Prosecutors then showed clips of what they allege to be the hatchback traversing downtown Ware around 1 a.m.; again, the distinctive light front panel appeared visible in at least one of the videos.

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A final clip showed the vehicle they allege to be the hatchback going back on to Eddy Street around 1 a.m

Lockes lawyer, Jeffrey S. Brown, pressed Prescott heavily on the videos, insinuating through questioning that they were cast to be more conclusive than they truly are, and questioning the police work that went into them.

He argued the videos at 10 Old Warren Road didnt allow one to draw firm conclusions, and noted that police didnt have videos where the hatchback could be seen in detail for much of the alleged journey.

Prescott agreed with Brown that the cars distinctive features only appeared on the video that was within about a mile of Eddy Street.

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Brown noted its about five more miles to 10 Old Warren Road. Prescott acknowledged he cant be sure the car seen on the video near 10 Old Warren Road is the same vehicle observed in Ware.

Brown noted multiple other vehicles were traveling on Old Warren Road around the same time, and Prescott acknowledged police werent able to track each vehicle.

Text message discussed

Brown also pressed Prescott about a text message Moses Bermudez testified he received the evening of Feb. 28 that he deemed odd.

Bermudez last week testified he received a text while working from his wifes phone that indicated it was Madison asking for his father's phone number on her mother's behalf.

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Bermudez said the text struck him as odd; his daughter did not generally text him, uncharacteristically used the word grandpa rather than abuelo, and, he said, appeared to be using language that sounded too sophisticated.

He did not immediately reply to the texts, and several follow-ups, as he was operating heavy machinery at the time for work.

The text, as well as the follow-ups, was sent at around 8:30 p.m. Eastern standard time  a time in which, Brown noted through Prescott, police have no evidence Locke was present in West Brookfield.

Prescott acknowledged that if Madison did not send the message, police do not know who did, and that, if someone other than Madison had sent it, that would raise important question marks.

Senior First Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Travers, during his time to requestion Prescott, had him read the texts aloud for the jury.

Travers noted that the messages contained several misspellings and grammatical issues, and were missing punctuation.

He also had Prescott confirm that Moses Bermudez had told police that his wife had lost the contacts in her phone.

Inmates testify

Fridays testimony capped a long week of evidence in the case that included many witnesses, including lengthy testimony about Locke's drug use and money woes from his cousin. Prosecutors Thursday and Friday also called to the stand two inmates who had previously done time with Locke, who claimed Locke had detailed his crimes to them.

One inmate gave testimony that at a number points differed from evidence entered so far in the case. The second testified Locke admitted to the murders  giving him multiple rationales - and that Locke recently tried to put a hit out on an inmate slated to testify against him.

Lockes lawyer assailed both men as unreliable, noting their lengthy criminal histories and suggesting they were seeking leniency from authorities.

Wrenn read jurors legal instructions about the testimony of so-called incarcerated informants stating that prosecutors, while presenting what inmates said, dont know if it is true, among other caveats.

Jurors Friday also heard of text messages between Locke and friends or family members around the time of the murders.

Locke expressed dismay over the murders in a text with one woman he appeared interested in seeing, asking her to pick him up and bring him to the strip club she was at so he could get out of his house.

He told the woman in the messages he was a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club; Lockes estranged father testified last week hed never heard of his son being involved with the group.

One of the inmates Friday also testified that Locke had alleged being associated with the club. The inmate, at one point asked whether he believed the stories Locke told him, was not permitted to answer following an objection.

Lockes trial resumes Monday. Prosecutors have yet to detail what could be their strongest evidence: DNA they say ties Locke to the bodies of both Sara and Madison Bermudez.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Nude images, video shown in quadruple-murder trial of Mathew Locke
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  A federal jury on Friday cleared a former Kentucky police detective of violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylors neighbors by using excessive force during a botched 2020 drug raid that left Taylor dead.

The 12-member jury remained deadlocked on a second charge, which involves Brett Hankison using excessive force on Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot by other officers. The jury elected to continue to deliberate on that charge Friday night, but they have indicated to the judge in two separate messages that they are deadlocked on that count.

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Hankison, a former Louisville police detective, didnt react in the courtroom Friday night after the jury returned the partial verdict of not guilty. By that point, the 6 man, 6 woman jury had been deliberating for about 20 hours over three days.

Hankison fired 10 shots into Taylors glass door and windows during the raid, but didnt hit anyone. Some shots flew into a next-door neighbors adjoining apartment.

Taylors death, along with the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked racial injustice protests nationwide.

A separate jury deadlocked on both charges last year, while in 2022, a jury acquitted Hankison on state charges of wanton endangerment. A conviction on the federal charges carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

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This jury sent a note on Thursday to U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings asking whether they needed to know if Taylor was alive as Hankison fired his shots.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

That was a point of contention during closing arguments, when Hankisons attorney Don Malarcik told the jury that prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Taylor was alive when Hankison fired.

After the jury sent the question, Jennings urged them to keep deliberating.

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Hankison, 48, argued throughout the trial that he was acting to protect his fellow officers after Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired on them when they broke down Taylors door with a battering ram. Walker shot and wounded one of the officers.

Hankison testified that when Walker fired, he moved away, rounded the corner of the apartment unit and fired into Taylors glass door and a window.

Meanwhile, officers at the door returned Walkers fire, hitting and killing Taylor, who was in a hallway.

Hankisons lawyers argued during closing statements Wednesday that Hankison was acting properly in a very tense, very chaotic environment that lasted about 12 seconds. They emphasized that Hankisons shots didnt hit anyone.

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Hankison was one of four officers charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 with violating Taylors civil rights. Thus far, those charges have yielded just one conviction: a plea deal from a former officer who was not at the raid and became a cooperating witness in another case.

Malarcik, Hankisons attorney, spoke at length during closing arguments about the role of Taylors boyfriend, who fired the shot that hit former Sgt. John Mattingly at the door. He said Walker never tried to come to the door or turn the lights on as police were knocking and instead armed himself and hid in the dark.

Brett Hankison was 12 inches away from being shot by Kenneth Walker, Malarcik said.

Prosecutors said Hankison acted recklessly, firing 10 shots into doors and a window where he couldnt see a target.

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They said in closing arguments that Hankison violated one of the most fundamental rules of deadly force: If they cannot see the person theyre shooting at, they cannot pull the trigger.

Neither of the officers who shot Taylor  Mattingly and former Detective Myles Cosgrove  were charged in Taylors death. Federal and state prosecutors have said those officers were justified in returning fire, since Taylors boyfriend shot at them first.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  A federal jury on Friday convicted a former Kentucky police detective of using excessive force on Breonna Taylor during a botched 2020 drug raid that left her dead.

The 12-member jury returned the late-night verdict after clearing Brett Hankison earlier in the evening on a charge that he used excessive force on Taylor's neighbors.

It was the first conviction of a Louisville police officer who was involved in the deadly raid.

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Some members of the jury were in tears as the verdict was read around 9:30 p.m. They had earlier indicated to the judge in two separate messages that they were deadlocked on the charge of using excessive force on Taylor, but chose to continue deliberating. The six-man, six-woman jury deliberated for more than 20 hours over three days.

Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, celebrated the verdict with friends outside the federal courthouse, saying: It took a lot of time. It took a lot of patience. It was hard. The jurors took their time to really understand that Breonna deserved justice.

In a statement posted to social media Saturday, the Louisville Metro Police Department said that it respects the jury's verdict and that since 2020, it has improved training, practices and policies and implemented reforms emphasizing accountability and thorough investigations.

It is not lost on us that this event forever altered the fabric of our community, and we acknowledge the pain caused by the death of Breonna Taylor, the department said. Our officers are sworn to protect and serve the community, upholding the law with integrity and fairness. We condemn any behavior that runs afoul of the mission to help and protect our citizens.

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Breonna Taylors life mattered," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. We hope the jurys verdict recognizing this violation of Ms. Taylors civil and constitutional rights brings some small measure of comfort to her family and loved ones who have suffered so deeply from the tragic events of March 2020.

Hankison fired 10 shots into Taylor's glass door and windows during the raid, but didn't hit anyone. Some shots flew into a next-door neighbor's adjoining apartment.

The death of the 26-year-old Black woman, along with the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked racial injustice protests nationwide.

Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., called the verdict "a long-awaited moment of accountability."

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While it cannot restore Breonna to her family, it represents a crucial step in the pursuit of justice and a reminder that no one should be above the law, King said in a social media post Friday night.

A separate jury deadlocked on federal charges against Hankison last year, and he was acquitted on state charges of wanton endangerment in 2022.

The conviction against Hankison carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He will be sentenced on March 12 by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings.

Hankison, 48, argued throughout the trial that he was acting to protect his fellow officers after Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired on them when they broke down Taylors door with a battering ram.

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This jury sent a note on Thursday to the judge asking whether they needed to know if Taylor was alive as Hankison fired his shots.

That was a point of contention during closing arguments, when Hankisons attorney Don Malarcik told the jury that prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Taylor was alive when Hankison fired.

After the jury sent the question, Jennings urged them to keep deliberating.

Walker shot and wounded one of the officers. Hankison testified that when Walker fired, he moved away, rounded the corner of the apartment unit and fired into Taylors glass door and a window.

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Meanwhile, officers at the door returned Walkers fire, hitting and killing Taylor, who was in a hallway.

Hankisons lawyers argued during closing statements Wednesday that Hankison was acting properly in a very tense, very chaotic environment that lasted about 12 seconds. They emphasized that Hankisons shots didnt hit anyone.

Hankison was one of four officers charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 with violating Taylors civil rights. Hankison's verdict is the second conviction from those cases. The first was a plea deal from a former officer who was not at the raid and became a cooperating witness in another case.

Malarcik, Hankisons attorney, spoke at length during closing arguments about the role of Taylors boyfriend, who fired the shot that hit former Sgt. John Mattingly at the door. He said Walker never tried to come to the door or turn the lights on as police were knocking and instead armed himself and hid in the dark.

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Brett Hankison was 12 inches away from being shot by Kenneth Walker, Malarcik said.

Prosecutors said Hankison acted recklessly, firing 10 shots into doors and a window where he couldnt see a target.

They said in closing arguments that Hankison violated one of the most fundamental rules of deadly force: If they cannot see the person theyre shooting at, they cannot pull the trigger.

Neither of the officers who shot Taylor  Mattingly and former Detective Myles Cosgrove  were charged in Taylors death. Federal and state prosecutors have said those officers were justified in returning fire, since Taylors boyfriend shot at them first.
A federal jury cleared a former Kentucky police officer on Friday of violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor's neighbors in a deadly raid in 2020, but remained deadlocked on a second federal charge against Brett Hankison.

The jury elected to continue to deliberate the charge on Friday night, the Associated Press reported, which alleges Hankison violated the civil rights of Taylor. The jury has indicated to the judge in two separate messages that they are deadlocked on that count, according to the Associated Press.

This is the second attempt to convict Hankison on two charges alleging the shots he fired during the raid violated the civil rights of 26-year-old Taylor and her neighbors. Last year, a federal judge declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a decision on the charges against the former Louisville police detective.

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During the retrial, prosecutors narrowed the scope; in the indictment, Hankison faced two civil rights charges alleging the former officer willfully used unconstitutionally excessive force while acting in his official capacity. The first count said the officer deprived Taylor and her boyfriend of their constitutional rights by firing shots through a bedroom window that was covered with blinds and a blackout curtain. In the retrial, Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend, was removed from the indictment, and not called to the stand, reported the Louisville Courier.

The second count, which remained the same, said Hankison deprived three of Taylor's neighbors of their constitutional rights by shooting through a sliding glass door covered by blinds and a curtain.

Both charges alleged Hankison used a dangerous weapon and his conduct indicated an intent to kill that night.

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison is questioned by his defense attorney during his state trial March 2, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky. / Credit: AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, Pool

Seven officers entered Taylor's apartment after midnight on March 13, 2020, using a "no-knock" warrant as part of a drug investigation. She was asleep with Walker, who heard the noise and fired one shot from a gun at what he thought were intruders. Police opened fire and Taylor, an EMT, was shot and killed. Police did not find any narcotics at the apartment.

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Hankison fired 10 rounds which investigators said didn't hit anyone through a window and sliding glass door into Taylor's apartment. Hankison said he thought he was doing the right thing protecting his fellow officers.

On Monday he testified that he believed there was a back-and-forth gun battle happening and his fellow officers were in danger, the Associated Press reported, quoting Hankison as saying it "sounded like a semiautomatic rifle making its way down the hallway and executing everybody in my (group)."

Hankison and his attorneys used this defense through his first federal trial and a 2022 state trial, for which he was acquitted of all charges after a jury deliberated for three hours.

"This case is about Brett Hankison's 10 shots that never hit anyone," his attorney, Don Malarcik, said during his closing arguments, the Associated Press reported. "Brett Hankison is charged with violating the constitutional rights of people he never met and never knew existed."

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The Justice Department filed charges of civil rights violations against four former Louisville police officers, including Hankison. Charges against three of the other officers stemmed from alleged falsification of the affidavit used to obtain the search warrant that authorized the early morning raid on Taylor's apartment, prosecutors said. Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment weeks after a federal judge threw out major felony charges against two of the former officers, Louisville Police Detective Joshua Jaynes and former Sgt. Kyle Meany.

If convicted of the federal charges, Hankison would face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

In response to the Taylor case, Kentucky enacted a law in 2021 that limits when police can use no-knock warrants.

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A jury on Friday found former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison guilty of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights during a fatal botched police raid, in a retrial of the federal case against him.

The guilty verdict came hours after the jury acquitted Hankison of a second count of violating the civil rights of three of Taylor's neighbors, who lived in an adjacent apartment that was also struck by gunfire during the raid. After the partial verdict was delivered, jurors, who remained deadlocked on the count specifically related to Taylor, were instructed by the judge to continue deliberating.

The jury returned a guilty verdict on that count shortly before 9:30 p.m., according to Louisville ABC affiliate WHAS.

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Family and friends of Taylor hugged each other and cheered after leaving court late Friday night.

Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, thanked prosecutors and jurors. "They stayed the course," Palmer said of prosecutors, who retried the case after Hankison's first federal trial ended in a mistrial last year when the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision after deliberating for several days.

As deliberations this time around stretched late into the evening Friday, Palmer said she began to feel defeated. "The later it got, the harder it got, and I'm just glad to be on the other side," she said.

"Now, I just want people to continue to say Breonna Taylor's name," her mother said.

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Taylor was fatally shot during the March 2020 raid. The three officers fired dozens of rounds after her boyfriend fired one round at them, striking one of the officers.

Hankison fired 10 rounds through Taylor's sliding glass door and window, which were covered with blinds and curtains, prosecutors said. Several of the rounds traveled into Taylor's neighbor's apartment, where three people were at the time. None of the 10 rounds hit anyone.

MORE: Mistrial declared in federal case against former Louisville cop over Breonna Taylor raid

Prosecutors argued Hankison's use of force was unjustified, put people in danger and violated the civil rights of Taylor and her three neighbors. The indictment alleged Hankison deprived Taylor of the right to be free from unreasonable seizures and deprived her neighbors of the right to be free from the deprivation of liberty without due process of law.

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Several witnesses, including Louisville's current police chief, testified during the trial that the former officer violated Louisville police policy requiring officers to identify a target before firing, according to The Associated Press.

The defense argued during the trial that Hankison had joined a poorly planned raid and that he fired his weapon after believing someone was advancing toward the other officers, the AP reported.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

PHOTO: In this March 2, 2022, file photo, former Louisville Police officer Brett Hankison examines a document as he answers questions from the prosecution in Louisville, Ky. (Timothy D. Easley, Pool via AP, FILE)

The plainclothes officers were serving a warrant searching for Taylor's ex-boyfriend, who they alleged was dealing drugs, when they broke down the door to her apartment. He was not at the residence, but her current boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, thought someone was breaking into the home and fired one shot with a handgun, striking one of the officers in the leg. The three officers returned fire, shooting 32 bullets into the apartment.

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The original indictment alleged Hankison had also violated Walker's civil rights, though Walker was removed from the charge at the beginning of the retrial.

The retrial marked the third trial for Hankison, following the initial mistrial as well as a state trial in 2022, in which he was acquitted of multiple wanton endangerment charges.

MORE: Jury finds ex-officer Brett Hankison not guilty on all counts in shooting during Breonna Taylor raid

Like in his previous trials, Hankison took the stand during the retrial, getting emotional at times over two days of testimony, according to WHAS, the ABC affiliate in Louisville covering the case in the courtroom.

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Hankison told the jurors he was "trying to stay alive, [and] trying to keep my partners alive," according to WHAS.

Hankison insisted "the only person my bullet could have struck was the shooter," saying there was "zero risk" of hitting anyone outside the threat, according to WHAS.

PHOTO: In this Sept. 24, 2020, file photo, a photo Breonna Taylor is seen inside a broken picture frame at a makeshift memorial for her in Louisville, Kentucky. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images, FILE)

He said that night was the first time he fired his gun in nearly 20 years of policing, according to the AP.

Hankison was fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department for violating department procedure when he "wantonly and blindly" fired into the apartment.

The two other officers involved in the raid were not charged. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron called Taylor's death a "tragedy" but said the two officers were justified in their use of force after having been fired upon by Walker.

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"Today, Brett Hankison was found guilty by a jury of his peers for willfully depriving Breonna Taylor of her constitutional rights," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "His use of deadly force was unlawful and put Ms. Taylor in harm's way. This verdict is an important step toward accountability for the violation of Breonna Taylor's civil rights, but justice for the loss of Ms. Taylor is a task that exceeds human capacity."

"This defendant is being held accountable for his willful and heinous use of deadly force that endangered the life of Breonna Taylor," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "Breonna Taylor's life mattered. We hope the jury's verdict recognizing this violation of Ms. Taylor's civil and constitutional rights brings some small measure of comfort to her family and loved ones who have suffered so deeply from the tragic events of March 2020. We hope that communities use this moment to say her name and to engrave on their hearts and minds Breonna Taylor's life and enduring legacy. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously defend the civil rights of every person in this country to be free from unlawful police violence."

Ex-Louisville officer guilty of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A jury found former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison guilty of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights resulting in her death after deliberating for three days in the federal trial.

The jury rendered its verdict Friday evening at the U.S. District Court for Western Kentucky in Louisville.

Jurors initially could not reach a verdict, but the trial judge at 1 p.m. CDT Friday read the instructions for a hung jury, told them to try harder in their deliberations and said they had as much time as it would take.

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The conviction is the first for any of the four Louisville police officers charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for violating Taylor's civil rights.

Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, addressed media on the courthouse steps following the verdict.

"The jurors took their time to really understand that Breonna deserved justice," Palmer told media. "Now, I just want people to keep saying Breonna Taylor's name."

Hankison has a sentencing hearing scheduled on March 12 and faces up to life in prison. He remains free until the sentencing.

Taylor, 26, was an emergency room technician and inside her apartment in southern Louisville when plainclothes officers conducting a narcotics investigation forcibly entered her apartment at 12:40 a.m. on March 13, 2020.

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Three of the four officers returned fire after Walker fired one round from a handgun and shot Sgt. John Mattingly in the leg. Walker said he thought the officers were intruders.

The police officers said they announced themselves several times before they forcibly entered Taylor's apartment, but neighbors said they did not hear the officers announce they were the police.

Hankison was a 17-year-veteran of the Louisville Metro Police Department at the time of the raid and fired 10 rounds through a glass door and window into Taylor's apartment.

Three of the bullets passed through Taylor's apartment and entered an adjacent apartment containing a man, a pregnant woman and a 5-year-old were.

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Taylor was shot and died from her wounds after the police officers opened fire.

None of the bullets Hankison fired struck Taylor, Walker or the people in the adjacent apartment.

The officers were serving a warrant related to a narcotics case, but neither Taylor nor Walker were subject to the search warrant.

The police searched the apartment and did not find any drugs.

Federal prosecutors charged Hankison with violating Taylor's civil rights and those of her three neighbors in the adjacent apartment.

The jury found Hankison innocent on the charge of violating Taylor's neighbors' civil rights.

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An initial trial ended in a mistrial in 2023, and a state trial ended in Hankison's acquittal.

The second trial lasted for two weeks and included testimony from more than a dozen witnesses.

The other three police officers also are charged with violating Taylor's rights and await trial.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)  The US Justice Department will monitor polls in 27 states, including South Carolina, for the Nov. 5 general election, the agency said Friday.

The department will monitor polls in 86 jurisdictions, including Charleston County, to ensure compliance with federal voting rights law coordinated by the DOJs Civil Rights Division.

Poll workers are expected to maintain contact with state and local election officials throughout the day on Nov. 5.

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Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911, the department explained. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.

You can also file complaints with the Civil Rights Division at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov claimed on Nov. 2 that he had revoked the order to his troops not to capture Ukrainian soldiers.

After the first drone strike against Russia's North Caucasus republic that targeted the Russian Special Forces University of Vladimir Putin in the Chechen city of Gudermes on Oct. 29, Kadyrov said he ordered all of his commanders fighting against Ukraine "not to take prisoners," and instead kill all surrendering Ukrainian soldiers as retribution.

In his recent Telegram post, Kadyrov claimed that received "more than 2,000 letters from Ukrainians" asking to cancel his order. He did not provide any proof to back his allegations.

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Kadyrov had earlier claimed there were casualties among the captives after a drone strike on Chechnya that Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) were killed as a result of the drone strike on the military university.

Kyiv did not claim responsibility for the attack, also declining to comment on Kadyrov's claims.

A Ukrainian intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 29 that the drone strike was possibly launched from the neighboring republics of Dagestan or Ingushetia and may have been connected to a feud between Kadyrov and officials from the two regions.

Ukraine has documented over 100 cases of Russia summarily executing Ukrainian POWs since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets clarified that the actual number is likely much higher since it is difficult to document Russian war crimes without supporting evidence, such as videos of the executions.

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Read also: Who is Sergei Kiriyenko, Russian hawk reportedly in touch with Elon Musk?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Election Day is finally here.

Vice President Kamala Harris will go head-to-head with Donald Trump on Tuesday as Americans cast their votes in the 2024 election.

With more than 80 million votes already cast, polls will close at the end of Tuesday, November 5, and votes will be counted to decide the next president.

The final national polls are still showing the two candidates neck-and-neck; some with a small Harris lead, and others with a small Trump lead. A surprise result in Iowa suggests that Harris may have a chance at flipping the Trump-favoring state, while the last swing state polls show mixed outcomes.

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Nearly 100 electoral votes are too close to call; so how will Harris and Trump fare today?

The latest average of national polls, collated by FiveThirtyEight, shows Harris with a .9-point lead over Trump. On average, Harris was marginally ahead of Trump, but this gap has closed significantly over the last month. As a result, Tuesdays results will likely be very tight and difficult to predict in advance.

An unexpected new poll from the Des Moines Register and Mediacom in Iowa suggests that Harris is leading Trump in the state, at 47 percent to 44 percent.

Trump has fared well in Iowa during both of his campaigns, and this would be a surprising loss. Iowa, which was considered a likely Republican win, has six electoral college votes.

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In response to the poll, Trump lashed out during a Sunday rally, calling it suppression. They suppress, and it actually should be illegal, he insisted.

It should be noted that the 3-point lead is just about within the polls margin of error.

Swing states

In the swing states, the final polls from The New York Times/Siena College show a mixed bag.

In five states, both candidates are less than two points apart among likely voters, with no predictable win at this late stage.

In Nevada, Harris has a 3-point lead, just within the margin of error.

Meanwhile, Trump has eked out a 4-point lead in Arizona, outside of the margin of error.

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The Grand Canyon state has voted Republican in all elections this century, except in 2020, when Biden won by just 0.3 percent.

While its not unexpected that the state could go back to red, GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake is performing poorly in the polls by comparison.

Between the seven battleground states, 93 electoral college votes are on the table.

The Independents analysis of the Electoral College confirms that neither candidate can get over the line to 270 votes without the swing states.

Pennsylvania, which has 19 electoral college votes, has been a major focus for both the Trump and Harris campaign in this election. The candidates have made multiple stops there each month, and billionaire Elon Musks dubious giveaway was designed to mobilize Pennsylvania voters.

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Pennsylvania flipped to Trump in 2016, but President Biden regained his hometown state in 2020. Both wins were by just a few percent points, meaning that all eyes are on the state this year.

National deadlock

Polls published last week have mixed results, with Harris ahead in some, Trump taking the lead in others, and some showing a tie.

However, no polls are showing margins beyond a few points, outside of the margin of error, meaning that the candidates are in an effective deadlock.

This could spell bad news for the Democrats, who have won the popular vote in the last eight elections (excluding 2004, when George W Bush was re-elected).

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Since the Republican Party enjoys an advantage in the Electoral College, such close national numbers may alarm the Harris campaign.

Demographics

Unlike previous polls, which indicated a double-digit lead for Harris among younger generations, a HarrisX poll from late October suggests that young voters are divided among both candidates.

Women and Americans from non-white backgrounds show the strongest support for Harris, while white and male voters make up Trumps key base.

The gender gap between both candidates, with more men supporting Trump and women supporting Harris, does not appear as drastic in this poll.

Black voters

Despite little to no movement in the polls overall, one key group has shifted in the past month: black men under 50.

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A fresh poll from the NAACP found that Black men have solidified their support for Harris, after a previous poll suggested nearly 3 in 10 would be voting for Trump.

According to the poll of 1,000 Black voters, support for Harris among men under 50 years old jumped from 51 percent last month to 59 percent now.

Support for Trump dropped from 27 percent to 21 percent in the same period.

Though there have been some suggestions that Black men are leaning towards Trump, this does not appear to be the case on a large scale; and moreover, this group represents only 6 to 7 percent of eligible voters, according to Pew Research.

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However, the NAACP poll also shows that 73 percent of all Black voters support Harris; a far cry from 90 percent supporting Biden in 2020, and 93 percent for Obama in 2008.

This is up 10 percent from the NAACPs same poll last month, but represents a degree of hesitation among a key demographic for the Democrats.

Key issues for swing voters

The economy has consistently topped the list of key issues for voters in this election.

The Washington Post poll of swing state voters also found that healthcare and threats to democracy topped the list of factors for deciding the next president.

Though Trump has advocated for overhauling Obamacare, with unsuccessful attempts during his presidency, he was unable to outline an alternative healthcare policy at the September presidential debate.

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Immigration ranks highly as a deciding factor in this election, and exclusive polling for The Independent shows that the candidates immigration policies are of high importance to Latino voters.

Interestingly, climate change ranks lowest on the list of priorities for swing state voters this year.

Climate change has scarcely been on the agenda in this election, with Harris and Walz largely silent on the matter, and Trump-Vance actively perpetrating climate denial.

With the recent devastating hurricanes, climate change was once again brought to the forefront; though Trump incorrectly stated in a speech on October 1 that the planet has actually gotten a little bit cooler recently.

Red states

Last months polls from Emerson College confirm that Trump is leading in the red states of Texas and Florida.

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Trumps 7- and 8-point leads (respectively) are weaker than forecasts earlier this year; yet the poll shows that women are backing Trump (49 percent) more than Harris (47 percent) in Florida, a success for the Republican campaign, which has been hemorrhaging votes from women across the country.

Though it appears very likely that both states will remain red, the Senate races are a different question.

In Texas, where former presidential hopeful Ted Cruz is defending his Senate seat, Democrat Colin Allred is just 1 point behind, leading to a virtual tiebreak.

This has been a point of concern for the GOP, according to an internal memo discussed below.

Texas independent voters favor Allred (47 percent) over Cruz (42 percent). In the presidential race, theyre leaning towards Trump over Harris, with a 2-point margin.

In Florida, incumbent GOP Senator Rick Scott is just 4 points ahead of Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, with 8 percent of voters still undecided.

GOP troubles in the Senate race

Republicans are now concerned about Senate elections, according to an internal polling memo obtained by Politico .

The memo reveals that, by the Republicans own polling, their candidates are trailing behind Democrats in seven out of nine key Senate seats, data thats largely been confirmed by public polls. Those seats are in Arizona, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

We still have a lot of work to do to maximize our gains in this critical Senate election [...] We also have to guard our flanks , writes the memos author Steven Law, head of the Senate Leadership Fund.

The memo also warns that strongholds like Nebraska and Texas could be at risk from independent and Democratic candidates.

We are putting everything we have into this fight  so there is no looking back with regret, the memo ends.

Who will vote?

A YouGov/Economist poll has Harris with a three-point lead among registered voters, at 47 percent, and Trump at 44 percent. The poll shows a wide 25-point margin for Harris among young voters, aged 29 and under.

However, according to the same poll, the younger generations are also the least committed to voting, with 13 percent of the 18-29-year-olds surveyed saying they will maybe vote, while 3 percent will not vote or are still unsure.

This amounts to 16 percent who are on the fence or not voting, higher than any other age group, and higher than the average of 9 percent. Just 65 percent of the 18 to 29-year-olds polled said they would definitely vote in November.

This is in comparison to 77 percent of 30 to 44-year-olds, 85 percent of 45 to 64-year-olds, and 94 percent of the 65+ age group.

Though the numbers may seem dismal, and represent a degree of hesitancy among younger voters, the overall picture is significantly more engaged than in 2020.

The same YouGov/Economist poll at this stage in the 2020 presidential election showed that nearly a third of young people (27 percent) were not committed to voting, with 10 percent maybe voting and 17 percent definitely/probably not voting.
Since replacing her boss atop the 2024 Democratic ticket, Kamala Harris has cast herself as an agent of generational change who would open "a new way forward" for the American people. But even if a younger and undeniably more sprightly figure is now bearing the party's message, political observers and voters may feel that message is oddly familiar, reviving an old conception that's been stored in the political attic for the last eight years.

In Joe Biden's acceptance speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, he uttered the phrase "middle class" just once. When it was Harris' turn to accept the nomination this August, she used it nine times.

"We are charting a new way forward. Forward  to a future with a strong and growing middle class," she declared halfway through her address, later promising that expanding that vaguely-defined group in the socioeconomic center ground would be the "defining goal" of her presidency.

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Harris has continued to use that refrain on the campaign trail: The middle class is "one of America's greatest strengths," she says. As president, she will be "laser-focused on creating opportunities for the middle class." According to her own autobiographical narrative, she knows what she's talking about: "I come from the middle class." (It's debatable whether other Americans would define the child of two Berkeley academics that way, but never mind.)

It's as if her speeches were pulled from the days of flip-phones and jeans under dresses and Chuck Schumer's 2006 book "Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time." In his dissertation about how to position Democrats for long-lasting majority rule, the current Senate majority leader urged the adoption of policies that would purportedly strengthen the middle class, and in so doing cement a bond between them and the Democratic Party. At the time, Schumer cautioned that he was not proposing a "focus on the middle class exclusively," but rather a winning coalition that already included union labor, college-educated liberals and minorities of all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Barack Obama took the middle-class approach to heart, using the term "middle-class economics" to define his domestic agenda. But by 2016, many public intellectuals were criticizing the Democratic Party for abandoning its traditional coalition for the single-minded pursuit of middle-class voters, thereby giving Donald Trump an opening to seize the White House with a surge of white working-class support. Worse yet, some observers accused leading Democrats of cynically using the "middle class" as a palatable cover for neoliberal, corporate-friendly politics that worsened inequality and aimed to preserve the status quo rather than challenge it.

"The Democratic Party once represented the working class," wrote former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, one of the more progressive figures of Bill Clinton's administration, in a Guardian op-ed. "But over the last three decades the party has been taken over by Washington-based fundraisers, bundlers, analysts, and pollsters who have focused instead on raising campaign money from corporate and Wall Street executives and getting votes from upper middle-class households in 'swing' suburbs."

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The "upper middle-class" label invoked by Reich is an effort to crawl out of the conceptual and terminological morass: Who or what is the middle class, exactly, and how useful is it to split that up into the "upper" or "lower" or "Black" or "suburban" middle classes to suit a particular point? One common definition is based on wealth, especially income. The Social Services Administration does not provide an official definition, but a 2014 analysis on its website suggested that the middle class encompasses the three middle quintiles of national income distribution. In 2022, the Pew Research Center released a calculator that allowed users to determine whether they were part of the middle class, based on income and local cost of living. According to the center's analysis, middle-income households encompassed half of U.S. adults and had incomes ranging from $56,600 to $169,800.

But income is not the only possible entrance exam for middle-class status. The Brookings Institution compiled an exhaustive list of ways in which studies have defined that group, including direct wealth indicators such as distance from poverty and purchasing power, as well as other markers like education level and occupation. Experts generally agree that the occupations held by middle-class earners center on salaried office professions like K-12 teachers and human resources specialists or high-skill technical labor. At the same time, they're not quite sure how to account for such complications as households with two different wage earners or jobs that may have high prestige value relative to their compensation (or the other way around).

Furthermore, the wealth-centric model fails to account for a given occupation's power over workers, or for possession of capital. While high incomes often correspond to power in a workplace, that's not universally true: A small business owner might earn less than a data engineer, but the engineer's salary and working conditions are in the hands of his supervisors, while the business owner, like a mini-CEO, controls the fates of his workers. In this sense, the engineer has more in common with employees at the small business, who are selling their labor for a wage.

A mid-level manager, the kind of job often considered emblematic of a middle-class career, stands between those two roles, answering to a CEO but also holding delegated authority over who to promote, fire, praise or abuse.

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"By looking only at income or lifestyle, we see the results of class, but not the origins of class," writes economist Michael Zweig in his 2011 book "The Working Class Majority." "We see how we are different in our possessions, but not how we are related and connected, and made different, in the process of making what we possess." In other words, the power to create wealth and impose poverty determines class, not those values themselves. By that definition, Zweig says, more than 63% of Americans can be considered working class while only 35% are middle class.

Other analyses point to the nature of compensation, differentiating middle-class salary earners who receive regular paychecks from working-class laborers who are paid by the hour and may experience long stretches of unemployment. To further complicate matters, a report issued by the Department of Commerce in 2010 for then-Vice President Joe Biden's "Middle Class Taskforce," defined the middle class by its collective "aspirations" above all else:

Middle class families and those who wish to be middle class have certain common aspirations for themselves and their children. They strive for economic stability and therefore desire to own a home and to save for retirement. They want economic opportunities for their children and therefore want to provide them with a college education. Middle class families want to protect their own and their childrens health. And they want enough income for each adult to have a car and for a family vacation each year. Middle class families are forward-looking, and they know that to achieve these goals, they must work hard, plan ahead and save for the future. Indeed, being middle class may be as much about setting goals and working to achieve them as it is about their attainment.

Taken together, all these attitudes, numbers and contexts offer a blurry explanation as to why the middle class is an ideal to which politicians believe most Americans aspire. Middle-class status is associated with material stability, an especially appealing prospect when medical bills, groceries, gas and other necessities are not affordable for many working-class Americans. It can clearly be gratifying for a successful earner to achieve economic security, knowing or believing that it was the result of their ambition and work ethic. In modern capitalist societies, an occupation associated with high income and the symbols that money can buy, like a suburban single-family home or an annual summer vacation, creates an aura of respectability and even virtue. In the slightly outdated parlance of our country, that's the American Dream.

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Indeed, the middle class as a concept has become deeply ingrained into what it means to be American. The revolution of 1776 emerged in part from a rejection of the feudal class divisions that existed in Europe, and European thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville, seeing a place where such divisions had vanished, wrote that people in America were "seen to be more equal in fortune and intelligence  more equally strong, in other words  than they were in any other country, or were at any other time in recorded history."

Although a middle class already existed throughout most of Europe by that time, in the form of urban bourgeoisie or yeoman-farmers or some other grouping, the concept gained special significance in a new country whose Constitution eliminated the aristocratic privileges enjoyed by European nobility. In America, the middle class, not the aristocracy, exemplified the national spirit, though the phrase "middle class" was not widely used until the later 19th century. That attitude is still carried today by politicians like Bill Clinton, who described middle-class Americans as people who "work hard and play by the rules," and Harris, who bestowed them with a flattering honorific: "the engine of America's prosperity."

But if most legal distinctions between classes in America were officially banished in 1789  among white people, that is  considerable inequality of wealth and capital not only remained, but increased and hardened in place. Class consciousness has largely remained dormant in America, in large part because most people consider themselves to belong to the same amorphous socioeconomic class. The powerful desire of most Americans to claim membership in the "respectable" class  and the corresponding desire among the rich Americans to underestimate their wealth and privilege  has meant that the boundaries of middle-class-ness have been stretched ever further in both directions. In recent decades, experts have sought to define the "lower-middle" and "upper-middle" class, underscoring the reality of socioeconomic divisions while maintaining the illusion that the American middle class can somehow be considered a coherent group.

In a 2013 Atlantic article, communications expert Anat Shenker-Osorio explains "middle class" as a sort of universal negative category: "Not finding popular depictions of wealth and poverty similar to our own lived experiences, we determine we must be whatevers left over."

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This lack of precision or definition makes for a great muddle of a category, but also an opportunity for politicians to appeal to a group of voters that may include somewhere between one-half to three-quarters of all Americans. Rhetoric and policies supposedly targeting the middle class tends to crowd out discussions about poverty, wealth redistribution, racism or the exploitation of workers  issues that risk exposing schisms or fractures within the middle class itself and are often dismissed as risky and divisive. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns were so notable  and so threatening to the Democratic Party establishment  precisely because he spoke directly to those issues. (To be fair to both Biden and Obama, they have also done so, although less consistently.)

When Gallup first asked Americans to identify their social class in a 2000 survey, 63 percent identified as upper-middle or middle class ("lower-middle" was not included). Then came the economic crisis of the late 2000s and its aftermath, when experts raised alarms about worsening inequality and the disappearance of the middle class. Home ownership, the traditional emblem of middle-class prosperity, collapsed on a grand scale, and some Americans began to realize that maybe they weren't middle class after all. In a 2024 Gallup poll, just over half of respondents identified themselves as such.

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"These readings are generally in line with those since the Great Recession," read the Gallup analysis. "Before then, Americans were typically more likely to self-identify as members of the middle or upper-middle class and less likely to say they belonged to the working or lower class."

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Class issues that reached beyond this nebulous framework began to seep into political discourse. When Obama proposed increasing taxes on the richest Americans, Republicans decried his plans as "class warfare" against virtuous high-earners, although that argument didn't seem to pay off and was soon abandoned. Then came a surge of Occupy Wall Street protests denouncing corporate greed and inequality from the left, while on the right, the Tea Party movement held the "welfare state" and "big government" responsible for the country's economic woes.

Out of this angry ferment came two very different expressions of anti-establishment politics. On the left, Sanders' out-of-nowhere 2016 campaign spoke directly for the emancipation of working-class Americans from corporate exploitation. On the right came a wealthy real estate baron who blamed immigrants, the "deep state" and other insidious actors for America's decline.

Donald Trump promised to improve the lives of working-class Americans while rarely, if ever, using the term. Unsurprisingly, that didn't happen; he appointed union-busters to the National Labor Relations Board and signed a tax cut that primarily benefited the country's wealthiest earners. Sanders never became president but urged Biden, with some success, to assemble one of the more pro-worker administrations in modern American history. Working-class voters have, without question, rallied to the GOP in increasing numbers over the last decade-plus, but Democrats hold out eternal hope that the trend can be reversed.

Harris and Biden are highly similar in their political messaging about Trump, characterizing the GOP nominee as a dangerous and unhinged fascist. But while Biden often seems to draw from economic populism and pro-union rhetoric as well as more "moderate" Democratic talking points at the same time, Harris has pivoted firmly back toward middle-class politics, framing her policy plans as prescriptions to control the cost of living, improve health care access and enable first-time homebuyers. Her goal, she has repeatedly declared, is not just to stabilize the middle class but expand it, giving Americans who are living on the margins the opportunity to share in the prosperity.

Harris has sometimes echoed the Biden administration's more aggressive (and highly popular) attacks on corporate power, but a certain calculus seems involved: She has criticized price gouging and other practices that affect consumers directly, but has shied away, for instance, from broader antitrust actions that don't fit as easily within her middle-of-the-road message. With the presidential campaign in its last days and Harris locked in a dead heat with Trump, progressives may wonder whether she is dramatically misreading which voters she needs to win, and what they really want.
Vice President Kamala Harris returned to Atlanta on Saturday (Nov. 2) in one of her final campaign stops ahead of Election Day. Georgia is among the battleground states the Democratic nominee has paid multiple trips to in the weeks leading up to Nov. 5, when the next president of the United States will be determined.

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Early voting in the state surpassed 4 million ballots cast on Friday (Nov. 1), according to the Georgia Secretary of State. The record-breaking turnout represents almost half of the 7,243,221 registered voters. The race has been coined one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, with the next leader potentially being able to appoint three new justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.

During his tenure in office, Donald Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barret. Of the nine sitting justices, three were appointed by Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The now-conservative swaying court had the final say in the hot-button case of abortion bans when it overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized the procedure and gave women autonomy over decisions about their reproductive health.

From the onset of the race between Harris and Trump, several polls have shown them neck to neck in support. But while speaking with Georgians, she reassured voters, Make no mistake, we will win. We will win. And we will win because when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for. That state has historically voted Republican, but in 2020, President Joe Biden caused a major upset when he defeated Trumps first reelection bid.

Harris says this election is an opportunity to finally turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump, who spends full-time trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other. Were done. Were done with that. We are exhausted with that. Enough of that. Enough. And were not going back. She added, It is time for a new generation of leadership in America, and I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America. And Georgia, you know me, Im not afraid of tough fights, evidently... There is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.

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Moreover, the former California senator warned, We know who Donald Trump is this is someone who is increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and the man is out for unchecked power. And in less than 90 days, its either gonna be me or him in the Oval Office.

Watch the fully rally, which includes guest speakers Pastor Troy, 2 Chainz, Monica and Victoria Monet below.

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WASHINGTON  If Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is elected president, she would soon be trying to broker deals with her former Capitol Hill colleagues.

Harris spent four years in the U.S. Senate representing California, the most populated state in the country. Former Senate colleagues and new House supporters told USA TODAY that while her time serving in Congress was short, she has strong relationships there that would be crucial to push her legislative agenda in a political environment where she'd just defeated Donald Trump but still can expect to face hard-line Republican opposition.

Harris star rose in the Senate as a lawmaker willing to flaunt her prosecutorial skills: She went viral in 2018 when she interrogated now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.

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Then-President Trump said she was extraordinarily nasty at the time. And a soundbite of that exchange has become an often-cited piece of campaign fodder for Democrats running on abortion rights this cycle: Harris asking Kavanaugh whether he can name "any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body."

Harris returned to the Senate relatively frequently in the first two years of the Biden administration, when the chamber was evenly divided, casting the tie-breaking vote more often than any other vice president in American history.

Since launching her presidential campaign this summer, shes drafted a legion of House members as surrogates, drawing lawmakers into the fold who felt they were kept at an arm's length by the Biden campaign and who hadnt found Harris as easy to reach when she was a senator.

Harris has years of experience working with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and also a longstanding relationship with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries formed first through the Congressional Black Caucus. Jeffries, also a New Yorker, is well positioned to become House speaker if Democrats retake control of the chamber next year and remain as minority leader should the GOP come out victorious.

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (R) greets US Representative Susie Lee (L) and US Representative Steven Horsford (2nd L) upon arrival at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 10, 2024. Harris and Walz are in Las Vegas for a campaign rally.

Even if Democrats win both chambers, Harris would still have some obstacles to accomplishing big things. Legislation would need to overcome the 60-vote threshold posed by opponents who threaten to use the Senate filibuster  though Harris has also said while on the campaign trail that she would support a historic change to the procedure that allow exceptions for key issues like abortion rights. If Republicans win either chamber, as they are expected to do in the Senate, she'll have to broker deals to get substantive legislation passed and would likely face aggressive oversight from conservative lawmakers  as well as roadblocks in getting her appointees confirmed for Cabinet roles and to fill judicial vacancies.

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Harris' current boss, President Joe Biden, can be described as a creature of the Senate  and he certainly leveraged his decades-long career in the upper chamber while living in the White House. Harris' allies say she would bring new perspectives and a fresh approach to dealing with Congress.

Senate allies

Some of Harris most reliable Democratic partners joined the Senate in 2017, the same year she did: Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire.

Cortez Masto and Harris had an old friendship forged when they were both attorneys general. The pair sued the big banks in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and won a $20 billion settlement.

Then we just came to know one another, trust one another, like one another, said Cortez Masto, who has been a regular surrogate for Harris on the campaign trail and who helped vet her potential vice presidential candidates.

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Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who Harris served with on the Judiciary Committee, is often cited as one of her closest allies on the Hill, as is Senate President Pro Tempore and Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., listen as Christine Blasey Ford testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Thursday, Sept, 27, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Tom Williams/Pool Image via AP) ORG XMIT: WX339

Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, who was California secretary of state while Harris was in the Senate and who replaced her when she became vice president, remains a good friend, as does Sen. Laphonza Butler, who was a policy adviser to Harris 2019 campaign but who will leave the chamber in November after declining to run for a full Senate term.

And if she wins her closely-contested race for a Senate seat representing Maryland against former Gov. Larry Hogan, Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks would bring a friendship with Harris to the chamber that started 14 years ago when Harris was the district attorney in San Francisco. Harris called Alsobrooks to congratulate her for winning her underdog race for state's attorney in Maryland's Prince George's County.

Harris continues to have a good relationship with Schumer, who made an exception to help her land a spot on a choice committee, Judiciary, despite another California senator, the late Dianne Feinstein, also serving on the panel. It allowed Harris to capitalize on her prosecutorial background during fights over Trump's eventual first-term Supreme Court nominees.

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) (2nd L) shares a moment with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) (R) as Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) (L) looks on during a news conference on immigration in front of the U.S. Capitol May 23, 2018 in Washington, DC.

As vice president, Harris has also stayed in touch with Sen. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who was the top Democrat on the panel when Harris served on it.

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I think shell come with an appreciation that youve got to work with Congress, the Virginia Democrat said. Shell come with relationships, but also with a willingness to roll up her sleeves.

Warner said she built positive relationships with Republicans on the committee as well, but said he didnt want to put them in a difficult position by naming them: They might have to say otherwise right now.

Harris has organized a group of GOP campaign surrogates and pledged to appoint a Republican to her Cabinet. She might find Republican allies in the Senate among the moderates who have not endorsed Trump: Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who she served with on the Intelligence Committee, as well as Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Todd Young, R-Ind., and Bill Cassidy, R-La.

Former Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who now serves as the Biden-appointed U.S. ambassador to Turkey, recalled working with Harris on efforts to extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which temporarily protects young people from deportation who were illegally brought to the U.S. as children.

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Congress still hasnt found a solution to improve the countrys immigration system, but Flake said of Harris: She understands that that can only happen in a bipartisan way.

House allies

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (R) greets US Representative Susie Lee (L) and US Representative Steven Horsford (2nd L) upon arrival at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 10, 2024. Harris and Walz are in Las Vegas for a campaign rally.

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Harris roster of congressional friends favors the Senate, but she still has close relationships that she could lean on in the lower chamber.

She has ties to Jeffries through her time as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and if Democrats take the House and the White House they would be a historic pairing as the first Black House Speaker and the first woman president. Harris also has kept in touch with several members of the group, including current Chair Rep. Steven Horsford, D-N.V.

Harris has also built a good relationship with the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., and was a leader of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus during her time in Congress. She invited Horsford, Barragan and Rep. Judy Chu, a California Democrat and the caucus' chair, to sit in her box during her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Democratic rising stars Reps. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, Nikema Williams, D-Ga., all count Harris as a mentor.

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Crockett said during a speech at the Democratic National Convention that she wasnt sure she made the right choice in running for the House when she arrived in Washington in January 2023. The first time she met Harris as vice president, she said, she saw right through me. She saw the distress. I immediately began crying. And the most powerful woman in the world wiped my tears and listened.

Harris has also been a longtime mentor to organizer Lateefah Simon, who is all but guaranteed to win her Bay Area congressional race and head to the House next year.

And shes chosen staff with deep connections to the House: Her director of legislative affairs as vice president is Andy Flick, who was the executive director of the centrist New Democrat Coalition, a crucial bloc of the Democratic caucus.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: If Harris wins, she'll lean heavily on these Democrats in Congress
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Vice President Kamala Harris won a mock election staged Friday by future voters at Keith Country Day School.

Students cast their votes for real candidates, but Pre-K students voted for their favorite animal, elephant or donkey. Eighth graders served as election judges.

Emily Bonilla and her 8th-grade classmates put on a presentation to educate students on the candidates before serving as election officials.

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This is a whole, like, really fun experience, she said. Ive never done anything like this before. Like my old school, for example. So personally, this is really fun for me.

Teacher Kristin Burns has organized the mock election for the last 16 years.

I always said, the best way for people to learn is to teach. So, (were) having our eighth graders learning while teaching and having that leadership opportunity, and sharing what theyve learned with others and getting them very excited about the process, she said.

18-year-old Joseph Anthon is the only Keith student eligible to vote in the U.S. General Election this year. Hes also serving as an election judge on November 5.

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I feel not enough young people vote. I believe its like one-third of the young people eligible to vote, like 18 to 25 vote. And I think recently theres been this uptick of people voting. I think were seeing greater spikes because of social media and issues that actually affect people in my generation coming on and also just younger people on the ballot as well, Anthon said.

Burns said she believes that having students participate in elections at a young age fosters lifetime voters.

As a teacher. Thats all you could ever hope for. You know, you plant those seeds when theyre young and you hope that, as they grow into adults, that they take their role as citizens very seriously and get out and get involved, she said.

Burns said one of the best ways shes found to teach children the importance of voting is for parents to take them along to polling places.

The Results

In the Presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris (D) won 119 votes; former President Donald Trump (R) garnered 61.

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Rep. Eric Sorenson (D) won 76 votes over his challenger, former Judge Joe McGraw (R), who got 35.

Sen. Steve Stadelman (D) took in 75 votes, besting Crystal Villarreal Soltow (R), with 37.

Rep. Maurice West (D) won 82 votes, beating Glen Oland (R) who won 30 votes.

In the Pre-K races, the Donkey beat the Elephant, 27 to 21.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Kemi Badenochs victory in the Conservative leadership contest is a landmark moment for Britain. The Conservatives now have a leader willing to step outside the boundaries of the technocratic Left-wing consensus and view the challenges facing this country with a fresh eye.

Ms Badenoch will need to use these skills to their fullest as she sets about her greatest challenge yet. Having won over the party membership with her forthright, no-nonsense approach and her emphasis on principles, she must now apply this same energy to persuading the wider public that she is the right choice to lead this country.

As she begins this work, Ms Badenoch can take heart from recent polling which has shown the Conservative party with its first lead over Labour in three years. Sir Keir Starmers parliamentary majority may be considerable, but it is built on sand, and his personal popularity is already deep underwater. The next election is clearly there for the taking.

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If it is to be won, however, the Conservatives will need to rally around their new leader. All factions of the party must accept that the leadership contest is over, that the membership has spoken, and that there is no more room for the blue on blue attacks and petty infighting that came to define the final years of the last Conservative government.

Ms Badenoch, meanwhile, must make the most of those talents available to her. Robert Jenrick, who finished second in the contest, ran a remarkable campaign as an outsider. His work on developing policy proposals for controlling immigration, in particular, struck a chord with a chunk of the electorate, and it would surely be in the best interest of the party to put his skills to full use.

The machinery of party selection and campaigning must also be fixed. Too often, the support offered to candidates is wanting, and the calibre of those candidates themselves in doubt. The last election was a low-ebb that must not be repeated.

Alongside rebuilding her party, Ms Badenoch must set about winning back former Conservatives who felt let down by the party after 14 years in office. While this will be challenging, it is less so than it might first appear. The Conservative partys meritocratic nature makes it a natural home for the aspirational classes, as demonstrated by the fact that Ms Badenoch  raised in Nigeria  is the latest in a series of leaders to shatter various glass ceilings. What it now needs are the correct policies and execution.

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Despite the myth that has taken hold on parts of the Right, it is not impossible to both eat Reforms lunch and appeal to those who voted for the Liberal Democrats or Labour.

Polling shows, however, that these groups  and indeed those who didnt vote at all  are more similar than they are different. Each lists reducing immigration as a top priority, and a majority back a strong agenda on combating crime, cutting taxation and fixing public services.

There is a coherent offering in that combination that can appeal to those who voted Conservative, and those who did not: securing our borders, cracking down on rampant criminality, supporting the private sector growth that makes it possible to fund our public services, reforming the broken elements of the state that swallow taxpayer funds with little sign of improvement.

It would be foolish to pretend that developing or implementing such a plan will be easy. In its last period in office, the Conservative party was defeated as much by the structures of the state as by its own internal divisions. It is to Ms Badenochs credit that she has demonstrated repeatedly her understanding of the obstructive nature of the modern civil service, human rights industry and quangocracy. This understanding must become the basis for implementing a genuinely conservative policy agenda.

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Here, Ms Badenoch can take inspiration from history. In 1974, Margaret Thatcher faced a similar crisis: a Labour government hostile to private enterprise, attempting to spend its way out of trouble, and a conservative movement in dire need of a guiding philosophy and a plan to change the country for the better. The party today needs its version of the Stepping Stones report; an agenda for addressing the social and economic ailments afflicting Britain, giving the party its intellectual footing as it develops its manifesto.

For the moment, however, the task at hand is to hold this Labour Government to account. Sir Keirs newfound unpopularity is richly deserved; his early days in office have been marked by a blatant class war approach that singles out traditional enemies of his party such as farmers and private schools for punishment, and lavishes rewards upon striking unions and the public sector. Ms Badenoch must stand against this, acting as a voice for conservative Britain and for the private sector, emphasising the virtues of growth over redistribution, and offering a vision of the good that appeals to the country as a whole in contrast to Labours divide and rule politics.

If she can succeed in this  appealing to middle class couples in leafy suburbs and young people who feel as if they will never be able to own their own home, to pensioners who fear for their financial security and to taxpayers who see an ever larger share of their incomes fuelling a failing public sector  then the rewards will be immense.

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LONDON (AP)  The first Black woman to lead a major U.K. political party, Kemi Badenoch is an upbeat and outspoken libertarian who thinks the British state is broken  and that she's the one to fix it with smaller government and radical new ideas.

The new leader of Britains right-of-center Conservative Party was born Olukemi Adegoke in London in 1980 to well-off Nigerian parents  a doctor and an academic  and spent much of her childhood in the West African country.

She has said that the experience of Nigerias economic and social upheavals shaped her political outlook.

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I grew up somewhere where the lights didnt come on, where we ran out of fuel frequently despite being an oil-producing country, Badenoch told the BBC last week.

I dont take what we have in this country for granted, she said. I meet a lot of people who assume that things are good here because things are good here and they always will be. They dont realize just how much work and sacrifice was required in order to get that.

Returning to the U.K. aged 16 during a period of turmoil in Nigeria, she worked part-time at McDonalds while completing school, then studied computer systems engineering at the University of Sussex. She later got a law degree and worked in financial services.

In 2012, she married banker Hamish Badenoch, with whom she has three children.

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She was elected to the London Assembly in 2015 and to Parliament in 2017. She held a series of government posts in the 2019-22 government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, before becoming part of a mass ministerial exodus in July 2022 over a series of ethics scandals that triggered Johnsons downfall.

Badenoch ran unsuccessfully to succeed Johnson, boosting her profile in the process. She was appointed trade secretary in the 49-day government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and business secretary under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

She held onto her seat in Parliament in July's national election, which saw the Labour Party win a huge majority and the Conservatives reduced to 121 lawmakers in the 650-seat House of Commons.

Like many Conservatives, Badenoch idolizes Margaret Thatcher, the partys first female leader, who transformed Britain with her free-market policies in the 1980s. Citing her engineering background as evidence shes a problem-solver, she depicts herself as a disruptor, arguing for a low-tax, free-market economy and pledging to rewire, reboot and reprogram the British state.

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A critic of multiculturalism and self-proclaimed enemy of wokeness, Badenoch is an opponent of identity politics, gender-neutral bathrooms and government plans to reduce U.K. carbon emissions.

Supporters think her charismatic, outspoken style is just what the Conservative Party needs to come back from its worst-ever election defeat. During her leadership campaign, her backers wore T-shirts urging: Be more Kemi.

Critics say Badenoch has clashed with colleagues and civil servants and has a tendency to make rash statements and provoke unnecessary fights. During the leadership campaign she drew criticism for saying that not all cultures are equally valid, and for suggesting that maternity pay was excessive  though she later backtracked on that claim.

I do speak my mind, she told the BBC. And I tell the truth.
Britains humbled Conservative Party elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader on Saturday, turning to a right-wing favorite who has railed against identity politics, transgender rights and state spending to rebuild its reputation after a devastating election defeat.

Badenoch defeated Robert Jenrick in a vote of party members by 53,806 votes to 41,000, after a months-long contest to replace Rishi Sunak as leader. Shes the first Black woman to lead a major British political party.

Her selection all but ensures a rightward shift to Britains political discourse over the next several years, and creates a jarring stylistic clash between the new opposition leader and Keir Starmer, Labours serious and straightlaced prime minister.

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Taking the podium, Badenoch said it was the most enormous honor to be elected as leader for the party that has given me so much.

She outlined the tasks ahead to the Tory faithful: Hold the Labour government to account and prepare for government with a clear plan. She added that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan.

Badenoch continued that the party needed to be honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.

Concluding her remarks, the new Tory leader said: The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve. It is time to get down to business. It is time to renew.

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Badenoch, who relishes confrontation and has received muted support from her own lawmakers in her various moves for the leadership, has leant into US-style cultural clashes on a swathe of topics, inspiring grassroots members on the Conservatives right-wing in the process.

Her task now is to revive a party still coming to terms with its worst ever election result. The Tories were dumped from government in a July general election, going from 372 to 121 seats in the process, reflecting public anger over their management of the economy, crime, immigration and standards in public life.

Both candidates had insisted that the Tories can return to power at the next election, which will take place in 2029 or earlier. But it will be a tall order for a bloc still tainted by an era that ended in catastrophe, and Badenochs own involvement in the failed governments of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak may prove an impediment.

And while Saturdays result finally ends an extended period of limbo at the head of the party, it will do nothing to quiet a cacophony of competing voices about where the Conservatives should plant their flag.

A contentious campaign

Two Conservatives contested this election, but many in the Labour party feel like they won it.

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The leadership contest was billed as a referendum on the partys future, and whether it throws its energy towards winning back voters lost to the center or to the right.

But the answer was settled when two sparsely tested right-wingers progressed to the final members-only vote, after a divided party exiled every moderate and self-styled unifier from the race. Badenoch, who has been described as difficult to work with by some in the party, won the backing of only 42 Conservative MPs before the vote went to members.

Badenoch and Jenrick made dueling, populist appeals to members during their campaigns, with the latter more robustly promising to focus his attention on regaining right-leaning voters primarily concerned about rising migration to Britain.

Neither are particularly well-known to most Britons, though Badenoch achieved greater prominence while a minister, frequently getting dragged into contentious debates with journalists.

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Badenoch, a Nigerian-raised former banker, served as minister in the equalities, business, housing and trade departments while the Conservatives were in office. She becomes the fourth female leader of the Conservatives, a dividing line with Labour, which has only been led by men.

Kemi Badenoch is congratulated by her husband Hamish, Robert Jenrick and wife Michal Berkner after winning the Conservative Party leadership contest on Saturday. - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Badenoch has defended the actions of the British empire and opposed critical race theory, which she has claimed is becoming commonplace in British institutions like schools and hospital trusts. She sought to change Britains equality law to define sex as biological, prompting criticism from trans rights groups.

And during her campaign, she received unwelcome headlines after claiming statutory maternity pay is excessive and joking that up to 10% of Britains 500,000 civil servants should be in prison.

Badenoch was born in Britain and returned to the country as a teenager after stints in Nigeria and the US, briefly working in McDonalds as a teenager and later training in computer engineering. In an interview with the Spectator in 2022, she said her conservatism developed while at university, as a reaction to very spoilt, entitled, privileged, the metropolitan elites-in-training she says she encountered there.

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Her compelling background and unapologetic language make her well-placed to work to rebuild the partys right flank, which collapsed in the wake of failed promises to lower both legal and illegal migration to Britain. The populist Reform UK party, led by career rabble-rouser Nigel Farage, tore into the Conservative vote share in the July election, appealing to lifelong Tory voters who were concerned about arrivals to the country.

But the Tories were decimated on two fronts, and Badenoch has made fewer appeals to the traditional, more affluent and more pro-European Britons who abandoned the party for Labour and the Liberal Democrats, another party circling the Tories in parliament.

A divided party

Badenoch, who has been described as abrasive by some of those who have worked alongside her, admitted to the BBC this week that she may temper her approach if elected, telling the corporation: I have to be mindful that I have a higher tolerance for things than others, and I think part of being a leader is being able to calibrate so that you can help manage other people.

Though an avowed early Brexit supporter, Badenoch has softened her rhetoric towards Europe, drawing a contrast with Jenrick by pledging to collaborate with the European Union. She has not ruled out nor committed to leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, the entente that became a bogeyman among some Conservatives after it prevented government attempts to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

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That has for years been a Rubicon between mainstream Conservatives and their more radical colleagues; a public referendum on the issue would be painful and heated, much as the Brexit vote in 2016 was, and the move would further isolate Britain from Europe at a time when even leading Brexiteers have struggled to articulate the successes of the project.

On policy, however, Badenoch is sure to drag the opposition party to the right. She has championed moves to remove regulation and reduce the size of the state, and she has proudly described her hard-nosed view on immigration, writing in the Telegraph in September that not all cultures are equally valid.

Labour has been relaxed, both publicly and privately, over the outcome of the race. One Labour lawmaker told CNN this week that neither will last two years  but that Badenoch was marginally more of a threat than Jenrick because she can think outside the box on issues.

Starmers first months in power have not been seamless, but Labours first Budget, revealed on Wednesday, allowed it to define its economic priorities and further strike a contrast with a Conservative group that most voters still associate with chaos and in-fighting.

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Still, Badenoch will take heart from Labours tepid support among the public; the party won just a third of voters, but nearly-two thirds of seats, at the election, and Starmers approval ratings have quickly dropped since he took power.

Badenochs first priority will be to define herself before Labour does. An awkwardly timed leadership contest will be immediately overshadowed by the US presidential election on Tuesday; Badenoch will face off against Starmer in Prime Ministers Questions for the first time on Wednesday.

CNNs Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed reporting.

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The King fears building bridges with Prince Harry in case he is dragged into his sons court case against the Home Office, it has been claimed.

The monarch is understood to fear that any attempt to repair his relationship with the Duke of Sussex would place him in legal jeopardy, according to a constitutional expert.

Prince Harry is fighting a long-running case against the Government over a decision to downgrade his security following his departure from the UK.

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Constitutional experts are said to fear that the Princes tendency to repeat private conversations between family members, most recently in his memoir, Spare, often allegedly misremembering specific incidents, could put the King in an embarrassing position if aired in court.

Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex, with their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor - SHUTTERSTOCK

One senior constitutional expert and adviser to the Royal Family told royal biographer Robert Hardman: Here you have the infelicitous situation where the Kings son is suing the Kings ministers in the Kings courts. That is pulling the King in three directions.

You also have the situation where the Kings son publishes accounts of private conversations, some of which have been, shall we say, wrong.

So imagine the situation if the prince were to talk to his father about his court case and then later to describe that conversation  or, worse, a conversation which was not entirely accurate. There would be serious legal jeopardy. Harry would only have to say, My father said this and a court case could collapse.

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Royal advisers are understood to have discussed the case of former butler Paul Burrell, who was charged with theft after police discovered hundreds of items belonging to Princess Diana at his home.

His 2002 trial was abandoned at the 11th hour after Queen Elizabeth II suddenly recalled that Burrell had told her he was looking after Dianas things for safekeeping.

King is not opposed to some sort of rapprochement with the Sussexes - HANNAH MCKAY

The collapse of the trial caused embarrassment to the Royal Family over claims of inappropriate involvement and palace officials will be keen to avoid the risk of renewed claims that the monarchy is meddling in legal affairs.

According to Mr Hardmans updated book on Charles, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail, palace officials say the King is not opposed to some sort of rapprochement with the Sussexes.

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But they point out that the situation is complicated by the fact that several Palace staff who have had dealings with Harry and Meghan are resentful of the way he has portrayed them.

They insist that staff and officials did everything in their power to help the Duchess, but that it was she who refused to cooperate.

Palace sources said they would not comment on speculation or books.



In June, Prince Harry was given permission to appeal against the rejection of his legal challenge to the Governments decision to take away his police protection when in Britain.

Harry launched the action after the Home Office ruled in February 2020 that he would not automatically receive personal police security while visiting the UK.

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The retired high court judge Sir Peter Lane rejected the Dukes case in February this year, ruling that the decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) had not been irrational or procedurally unfair.

The Prince lost an initial attempt to appeal but will be able to ask the court of appeal directly for permission to challenge Lanes decision.

His legal spokesman said: The Duke of Sussex hopes he will obtain justice from the court of appeal. The Duke is not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of Ravecs own rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others in accordance with Ravecs own written policy.

Sources close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex maintain that the King could intervene in the matter and help broker an arrangement that would ensure their security needs are met when visiting Britain.

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Four years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans had to wait days to find out the results of the presidential race. For the first time in decades, voters woke up on Wednesday morning still in limbo, unsure which way the country would turn. Now, with just days until the 2024 election, its on many minds  will that happen again?

Whether the election outcome is known on election night or a few days later will be determined by the combination of two things: how close the margin is and what the rules are for opening, processing and counting mail and early ballots in the key swing states.

The biggest factor in the 2020 delay was the dramatic increase in mail voting, as people tried to protect themselves and their communities from illness. But the increase  65 million mail ballots were cast  ran up against laws in certain states that restricted, and delayed, when those ballots could be opened, processed and counted. It was obvious from the outset of the pandemic that, absent a landslide win, the winner of the 2020 presidential election would not be known on election night.

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This was, and is still, totally normal. Election results have never actually been finalized on election night. But the public is accustomed to television (and now online) news sources projecting winners based on incomplete results on election night, leading to the perception that the results are conclusive.

While the official 2020 result remained in limbo, it was possible to predict which way the election would tilt based on partisan voting behaviors. Since Democrats took pandemic precautions more seriously and then-President Donald Trump spent months discouraging and demonizing mail voting, the outstanding ballots were known to tilt heavily in favor of Joe Biden. This dynamic created a red mirage on election night, where the in-person votes cast and counted on Election Day quickly skewed heavily in favor of Trump, while the mail ballots, which were counted later, would cause a blue shift in the vote total in favor of Biden.

In predictable fashion, Trump exploited this situation in 2020 with a torrent of lies. He declared at 2 a.m. after election night that a fraud on the American public had taken place by election workers counting the pro-Biden mail ballots after counting the more pro-Trump in-person votes.

Frankly, we did win this election, he added. It was the first step in what would become the Big Lie of his attempt to deny, and overturn, the election. He first sought to block the counting of the mail ballots and, when that failed, to prevent states he lost from being counted in the Electoral College vote, which culminated in the attack on the Capitol he fomented on Jan. 6, 2021.

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Today, those same dynamics remain in effect in many of the key swing states, although there have been some changes.

Former President Barack Obama holds hands with Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris during a campaign rally in Clarkston, Georgia. DREW ANGERER via Getty Images

The biggest change is obvious: Far fewer voters in key states are casting mail ballots than in 2020. This could make reporting results quicker in some of these states. On the other hand, some states  specifically Republicans in those states  continue to disallow mail ballots to be processed and counted prior to Election Day. That makes the count slower and helps produce the conditions for the red mirage and blue shift.

This is how and when (eastern time) polls in each of the seven swing states close  and what factors will determine when we learn which ones ultimately tilted for either Vice President Kamala Harris or Trump.

7 p.m.: Georgia

The swing state with the earliest poll closing time was also one of the last to be decided in 2020. Georgia officials declared Biden the winner of the state on Nov. 19  two weeks after the election. After multiple audits, state officials determined Biden beat Trump by just 11,779 votes.

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The long wait for a final result back then was driven by the pandemic-induced deluge of mail ballots and the razor-thin margin.

Georgians cast a record 1.3 million ballots by mail in 2020. So far this year, that number is way down, with slightly more than 300,000 mail ballots requested. These ballots can be processed prior to Election Day and counted beginning at 7 a.m. on Election Day. This could speed up the reporting and projection of a final result, but, if that result is as close as it was in 2020, that speed will depend on how many mail ballots are returned on or just before Election Day. With days left before the election, less than 45% of mail ballots have been returned, according to the University of Floridas Election Lab.

Another sign for who will win an Electoral College majority may come from a state not currently seen as a decisive swing state. Florida also reports its results at 7 p.m. and, because it allows mail ballots to be processed and counted before Election Day, it is highly efficient in reporting full results. If Florida  which swung for Trump in 2016 and 2020  is too close to call at this point, its almost a given that Harris is having a good night.

7:30 p.m.: North Carolina

Like Georgia, the winner of the North Carolina presidential race in 2020 was not called for a week after election day. Trump won it narrowly by about 74,000 votes. What delayed the final tally back then was, like in Georgia, the large number of mail ballots and the narrow margin between the candidates.

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But mail voting is down significantly from four years ago, with around 413,000 ballots requested this year compared to a little more than 977,000 returned and accepted in 2020.

However, North Carolina Republicans have also heavily restricted the ability of election workers to process and count not only mail ballots, but in-person early votes via new laws passed in 2023. Where election workers could previously process and count both mail ballots and in-person early votes before Election Day, they now must wait to do both until the polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. This is significant, as a huge chunk of the states vote count comes from early in-person voting. So far, nearly 1.9 million North Carolinians have voted early in-person  or around one-third of the states total turnout in 2020.

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dances as he leaves the stage after a campaign rally in State College, Pennsylvania. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU via Getty Images

Those who watch election results in North Carolina have come to expect a large chunk of results very soon after polls close, Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said in a statement in February. That will not happen this year.

One other change made in North Carolina that will affect when a winner will be declared is to the mail ballot receipt deadline. In 2020, mail ballots in the state could be counted if they were postmarked on or before Election Day and received within the next nine days. Republicans in the state legislature, however, required that mail ballots only be counted if they are received prior to the close of polls on Election Day.

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The possibility of outstanding ballots stuck in the mail for nine days after the election is one reason why Trump was not declared the winner until 10 days after Election Day. That cant happen this time.

8 p.m.: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania delivered the necessary electoral votes for Biden to officially clinch the race in 2020 when it was finally called four days after the election. Like many other states, it took time to project a winner in the state due to heavy mail voting during the pandemic, and because Republicans refused to change the law to allow election officials process and count ballots before Election Day.

Republicans in the state legislature have maintained that stance. State Senate Republicans refused to consider a bill to allow pre-Election Day ballot processing that had passed the Democratic-controlled House on a party line vote in May, meaning officials can only start counting ballots after polls close on Election Day.

So far, Pennsylvania voters have requested more than 2 million mail ballots. Thats down from 3 million in 2020, but is still a lot for election officials to process beginning on Election Day. This means that vote-counting could take time in the state many view as the keystone for the electoral college winner. Unless Harris or Trump runs away with the state, dont expect a call on election night.

9 p.m.: Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin

In 2020, Michigan was called for Biden in the evening of the Wednesday after Election Day. Among the swing states that year, Michigan counted its crush of mail ballots somewhat faster because poll workers in some cities could process those ballots beginning the day before the election. Poll workers in Michigan should be able to count ballots even faster this time after voters and Democratic Party legislators enacted sweeping constitutional amendments and laws reforming the states election code in response to Trumps effort to undo the states election.

Kamala Harris arrives to speak during a tour of the Corning, Inc. Hemlock Semiconductor headquarters in Hemlock, Michigan. JEFF KOWALSKY via Getty Images

The most crucial change among them is that large jurisdictions can now begin processing and tabulating mail ballots up to eight days before the election. This means that Wayne County, home to Detroit, can pre-process ballots early to allow them to be quickly counted on election night after the polls close, which is at 8 p.m. for most of the state, but 9 p.m. for a small part of the upper western portion.

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Election workers already did this in Wayne County during a primary election in August. The county was able to report up to 80% of its mail ballots by 10:30 p.m. on election night thanks to this change, according to VoteBeat.

This should allow the states reporting to avoid the optics of an extremely lopsided overnight Blue Shift (not that theres actually anything wrong with that) that Trump and Republicans used for their false claims of fraud.

Another change that should speed things along in Michigan is the expansion of in-person early voting. Although voters could vote early in person in 2020, they had to do so with an absentee ballot that would be subject to the same limitations on processing and tabulating as mailed ballots. Now, early in-person votes can be immediately scanned into the system on Election Day and reported as soon as the polls close.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, made no such changes. Thats largely due to the fact that Wisconsins legislature remains firmly in the hands of Republicans, who, for whatever reason, do not want to speed up the counting of ballots on Election Day.

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In 2020, Wisconsin was called for Biden in the afternoon of the day after Election Day  a few hours before Michigan. The number of mail ballots should be lower this year than in 2020, but the counting process will be the same. That could delay the reporting of a winner until the next day if the election is as close as it was in 2020 or 2016, both years in which the state was decided by under a point and a half.

Determining a winner in Arizona, however, may take longer. In 2020, Biden was projected to win the state in the afternoon on the day after the election, but other calls in recent close races in the state have not been so quick. The Senate race between then-Democrat Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Martha McSally in 2018 took a week to resolve. It took six days after the 2022 gubernatorial election before Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, was declared the winner over Republican Kari Lake.

The main reason why election calls can be drawn out in Arizona is because a very large portion of the states voters hand-deliver their absentee ballots  which they call early ballots  on Election Day. These late early ballots accounted for nearly 20% of all votes cast in Maricopa County, the states most populous county, in 2022. Arizona law requires election workers to wait to open and process these ballots until the polls close and all voters have left the polling location. This can delay this process from beginning for an hour or more.

People vote on the first day of in-person early voting at Desert Breeze Community Center on Oct. 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller via Getty Images

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Arizona Republicans added an additional step in February that will likely draw out this process even further. County election officials now must count and report the number of ballots at the voting location before those ballots are then transported to a central processing location.

For these reasons, Maricopa County supervisors warned that achieving a full count of the likely 2 million-plus votes counted there will take between 10 and 13 days. That doesnt mean it wont be possible for the press to project a winner before then, but dont hold your breath.

10 p.m.: Nevada

Nevada is the final swing state to see its polls close on election night. The race there is expected to be extremely close, and a call for a winner is highly unlikely for a few days after the election.

The state adopted all-mail voting with in-person options following the pandemic, which means that, like Arizona, ballots received on or after Election Day will take time to process and count. Nevada also allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to count if they are received within four days of the election. So, while election officials can open and process ballots prior to Election Day, these late ballots could push any call in a tight race off for days.

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That is what has happened in many of the top-billed statewide elections. In 2020, Biden was declared winner of the state a few hours after Pennsylvania delivered him the Electoral College win four days following the election. The 2022 gubernatorial race between Democrat Steve Sisolak and Republican Joe Lombardo was similarly not decided in Lombardos favor for four days. Meanwhile, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) was not declared the winner of her race against Republican Adam Laxalt until five days after Election Day in 2022.

If the race is as close as polls say, do not expect a call until at least the weekend.
PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (WMBD)  Press a button and theyll tell you all about themselves.

At St. Thomas Catholic School, 6th graders dressed up as different saints and recited their chosen saints autobiography to anyone who attended, including parents and faculty, who pressed the red button on them.

Halloween celebrations around central Illinois

Donald Genzel, a 5th grader who was principal for the day, shared what makes the event fun.

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It can build up crowds and everybody comes together and sometimes you got like a lot of people in front of you, which is kind of nerve-wracking, he said. But once you get used to it, its pretty fun.

Genzel hasnt done the project yet but said he is excited to participate in the event next year.

The project is in part to honor the Day of the Dead, a time for remembrance of loved ones who have died.

A table was set up where students could place a picture of a deceased family member.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Vice President Kamala Harris said former President Donald Trump will roll back health care protections if he wins the presidential election.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday in Madison, Wisconsin, Harris said Trump unsuccessfully tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the landmark law signed by then-President Barack Obama in 2010, while he was president.

"Insurance companies could go back to a time where they would deny you coverage for health insurance based on pre-existing conditions, such being a survivor of breast cancer, asthma, diabetes," Harris said. "The American people, regardless of who they are voting for, know the importance of Obamacare in terms of expanding coverage to health care, based on the fundamental principle I hold deeply: access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege for those who can afford it."

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"Health care for all Americans is on the line in this election," Harris continued.

MORE: Trump said he has 'concepts' of a health care plan. What we know about his policies

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump falsely claimed not wanting to end the ACA, even though he repeatedly tried to do so while president.

Here is what we know about Trump's health care agenda if he is elected to a second term:

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump pauses during a campaign rally at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nev., Oct. 31, 2024. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

'Concepts' of a heath care plan

During the ABC News presidential debate in September, Trump said he was interested in replacing the ACA -- also known as "Obamacare" -- but implied that he didn't have any specific plans in place.

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"Obamacare was lousy health care. Always was," Trump said. "It's not very good today and, what I said, that if we come up with something, we are working on things, we're going to do it and we're going to replace it."

When asked to clarify if he had a health care plan, the former president said he had "concepts of a plan" to replace the ACA but provided no details.

"If we can come up with a plan that's going to cost our people, our population, less money and be better health care than Obamacare, then I would absolutely do it," Trump said.

After Harris' press conference on Thursday, Trump took to Truth Social to deny wanting to end the ACA.

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"Lyin' Kamala is giving a News Conference now, saying that I want to end the Affordable Care Act. I never mentioned doing that, never even thought about such a thing," he wrote Thursday morning.

Trump made several attempts to repeal the ACA during his presidency but failed to do so.

MORE: RFK Jr. recommends fellow vaccine skeptic, Florida's surgeon general, to Trump for HHS secretary

He attempted to partially repeal the ACA by passing the American Health Care Act (ACHA). The plan would have repealed the individual mandate and the employer mandate, amended Medicaid eligibility and weakened protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.

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The ACHA passed the House in May 2017 but failed to pass in the Senate. Perhaps mostly infamously, the Senate attempted to pass a so-called "skinny repeal" in late July 2017 but it was rejected, with Republican Sens. John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski siding with Senate Democrats to kill the bill.

During a closed-door campaign event for a fellow Republican House candidate earlier this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that there will be "no Obamacare."

"We want to take a blowtorch to the regulatory state," Johnson said in footage first reported by NBC News. "Health care is one of the sectors, but we need this across the board."

"No Obamacare?" an attendee of the event asked Johnson.

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"No Obamacare," Johnson replied. "The ACA is so deeply ingrained, we need massive reform to make this work, and we got a lot of ideas on how to do that."

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump welcomes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the stage at a Turning Point Action campaign rally in Duluth, Ga., Oct. 23, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Trump's campaign has worked to separate itself from the speaker's comments with Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, telling ABC News in a statement that repealing the ACA is "not President Trumps policy position."

"As President Trump has said, he will make our health care system better by increasing transparency, promoting choice and competition, and expanding access to new affordable health care and insurance options. Kamala Harris broke our health care system, President Trump will fix it," the statement continued.

The 2024 GOP platform currently calls for expanding access to "new" affordable health care and prescription drug access as well as protecting Medicare and increasing transparency in the health care sector.

Trump enlists Kennedy to oversee health care policy

Trump has also suggested that he intends to tap Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. -- who dropped out of the presidential race in August and endorsed Trump -- to help shape health care policies if he wins a second term.

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During the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner -- an annual white-tie dinner to raise money for Catholic charities -- earlier this month, Trump said Kennedy will "make us a healthier place."

"We're gonna let him go wild for a little while, then I'm gonna have to maybe reign him back, because he's got some pretty wild ideas, but most of them are really good," Trump said at the dinner. "I think he's a -- he's a good man, and he believes, he believes the environment, the healthy people. He wants healthy people, he wants healthy food. And he's going to do it. He's going to have a big chance to do it, because we do need that."

Kennedy said Trump has "promised" him "control of the public health agencies," but Trump's team said no decisions have been made yet on who will be leading these agencies if he wins the election.

However, Trump implied during a rally in Henderson, Nevada, on Thursday that Kennedy would play a role in shaping women's health care policies.

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MORE: What we know about Trump and Harris' medical records after VP releases doctor's report

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr., we have," Trump said. "And he's gonna work on health, and women's health, and all of the different reasons 'cause we're not really a wealthy or a healthy country. We're not."

There are currently no women's health care issues listed in the 2024 GOP platform aside from keeping "men out of women's sports."

The only thing President Trump and his campaign team are focused on is winning on November 5th. Everything after that is after that, and President Trump has made clear that Bobby Kennedy will play an important role," Jason Miller, senior adviser to the Trump campaign told ABC News in a statement.

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In response to Trump saying Kennedy will oversee women's health, Harris reposted a clip of Trump's comments on X with the caption "No" followed by a heart emoji.

The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment.

ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim, Will McDuffie, Lauren Peller and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.

What we know about Trump's health care plans after Harris says he'll roll back protections originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear traveled north of his stomping grounds on Saturday, just days before the 2024 General Election, to a rally in southern Indiana to offer his support to the Democratic nominee in the Indiana gubernatorial race.

Beshear's choice to take the stump in support of Democratic candidate Jennifer McCormick in a state that hasn't had a Democratic governor since 2005 was an unorthodox one, especially in the crucial final days of the party's presidential campaign.

But the cadre of Democratic candidates in attendance at the Jeffersonville rally  including McCormick, Democratic nominee for Indiana Lt. Gov. Terry Goodin, U.S. Rep. candidate Tim Peck, among others  couched Beshear's story as an example of how a Democratic candidate can beat the odds in a consistently Republican state.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear voiced his support for Jennifer McCormick, the Democratic candidate for Indiana governor, at a rally Saturday, Nov. 12, 2024.

The rally was one of McCormick's final chances to win over voters in a three-way race against Republican nominee Mike Braun and Libertarian Donald Rainwater that has intensified in the final stretch.

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While analysts initially forecast Braun in a runaway win, polling in recent weeks has shown his support among Indiana voters lagging compared to other Republican candidates on the ballot, leading some national analysts to shift their ratings of the race from a "safe" to a "likely" Republican outcome. Significant donations from the Democratic and Republican Governors Associations, which have given more than $1 million each to their respective candidate, have energized the race.

Beshear and McCormick drew many parallels between their states at the Jeffersonville rally, with McCormick saying Indiana deserves a governor who will serve its people in style similar to that of Beshear.

Democrat Jennifer McCormick is running for governor in Indiana against Republican candidate Mike Braun. McCormick, along with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and a group of other Indiana Democrats, encouraged people to vote a rally Saturday, Nov. 12, 2024.

"Gov. Beshear has shown us in a red state what it's like to have a governor who will stand up for women, who will stand up for kids, who will stand up for unions and is proud to say that economic development is stronger when we are diverse" McCormick said. "We deserve that here in Indiana."

Beshear, who was reelected to serve a second term as Governor of Kentucky in 2023, preceded McCormick on stage, touting his accomplishments in office, including drug-overdose deaths dropping in Kentucky for two years straight, increased membership in labor unions and new economic investment. He said he was optimistic that McCormick could usher in similar successes if elected.

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"I'm a proud pro-union governor, I'm a proud pro-choice governor, I'm a proud pro-diversity governor and I'm a proud pro-Jennifer McCormick-for-governor governor," Beshear said.

Republicans in both states are launching an "attack on public education," Beshear said, referring to the voucher program in Indiana and Amendment 2 in Kentucky, which would revise the state constitution to allow the legislature to allocate public funds to non-public schools if passed. McCormick, a former teacher who was elected state superintendent in 2016, said she'll fight for the public education system.

McCormick and her running mate, Goodin, also noted they hope to improve wages and create new job opportunities in Indiana  part of an effort to keep residents from migrating to other states.

At the center of the politicians' speeches was an appeal for citizens to cast a ballot and to mobilize others to do the same.

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"This is our commitment, not just to us, but all the generations coming behind us. Someone did it for us. We have to do it for our kids and those behind them," McCormick said.

Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or at @bkillian72 on X. Reporter Kayla Dwyer contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Andy Beshear at rally for Democratic governor candidate Jennifer McCormick
Russian forces use ultra-low altitude tactics and seek to reconnoitre the location of Ukrainian air defence units when targeting Kyiv with attack drones.

Source: Mykhailo Shamanov, spokesperson for Kyiv City Military Administration, on the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "UAVs approached the city in groups [on Saturday], then dispersed into single targets before reaching Kyiv, flying at very low altitudes to make air defence operations more challenging.

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They're using precisely the same tactics when Shahed [loitering munitions] are targeting the city at low altitudes, with attacks coming in waves. They try to circle in certain areas, attracting the attention of mobile groups. The main goal is to confuse air defence units as much as possible. They try to make the mobile groups move, thus creating corridors for the subsequent waves to pass through."

Details: Shamanov added that Russian drones are constantly trying to identify weaknesses and air defence locations so that the next waves of UAVs can bypass these locations.

Background: The fall of UAV wreckage was recorded in six districts of Kyiv during a Russian drone attack on Saturday.

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A Labour MP has been criticised after appearing to accuse Kemi Badenoch of representing white supremacy in blackface.

Brent MP Dawn Butler reshared a post appearing to condone comments which referred to Mrs Badenochs election as a victory for racism.

Ms Badenoch won the race to be Tory leader on Saturday after beating Robert Jenrick, making her the first black woman to lead a major British political party.

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A now-deleted repost on X shared by Ms Butler suggested Ms Badenoch was a prominent member of white supremacys black collaborator class, The Telegraph reported.

In a so-called tips for surviving a Kemi Badenoch victory, the post stated that Badenochism was white supremacy in blackface, and that a victory for the Tory party leader was a once inconceivable victory for racism.

The post reshared by Ms Butler was posted by Nels Abbey, a London-based writer.

The remarks were a marked contrast to Labour Party leader Sir Keir Stamers congratulations towards Ms Badenoch upon her victory in the Tory Party leadership.

Kami Badenoch has become the first black woman to lead a major European political party (PA Wire)

Sir Keir called it a proud moment for Britain, writing on X: Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch on becoming the Conservative Party's new leader.

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"The first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.

"I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people."

Conservative Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-JectyIt said: It never takes much for Labours mask to slip.

Dawn Butler is not alone on the Government benches in holding this view of Kemi.

This will be a test to see whether Keir Starmer removes the whip, or effectively condones Butlers abhorrent approval of this smear?

Ms Badenoch becomes the fourth female Tory leader, following in the footsteps of her political heroine Margaret Thatcher, as well as the more recent leaders Theresa May and Liz Truss.

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While 1922 Committee chairman Bob Blackman hailed her election as "another glass ceiling shattered", she made no mention of her race or gender in her victory speech, instead focusing on her task of charting a path back to power for her party.

While the Conservatives have had four female leaders, including three of their last five, the Labour Party has so far had no permanent female leaders.

Ms Badenoch paid tribute to Mr Jenrick in her victory speech and acknowledged that her party had a "huge job" ahead of it, and needed to be "honest" about where it had "made mistakes".

She said: "The task that stands before us is tough but simple.

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"Our first responsibility as His Majesty's loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account.

"Our second is no less important.

It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works."
The Ministry of the Interior of Latvia has commented on the pace of infrastructure construction on the Latvian border with Russia and Belarus.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Delfi

Details: Delfi noted that the construction of a 145-kilometre-long border fence on the Latvian-Belarusian border had been fully completed.

Patrol tracks for the movement of vehicles, with a length of 63.85 kilometres, have also been built. The decked patrol tracks have been constructed for 18.53 kilometres and pontoon tracks for 1.75 kilometre. Their construction will continue until the end of the year along the entire 173 kilometres of the border.

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The installation of six metal communication towers, access roads and a patrol track is underway at the Daugava River section of the Latvian-Belarusian border.

Construction work has begun on five communication towers and access roads to them, which are also expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Construction of these towers and roads will allow security forces to monitor the country's external land border in the area near the Daugava River.

As for the security fence on the border with Russia, 128.2 kilometres of the planned 178.85 kilometres have already been built, some of which were constructed with the support of the National Armed Forces.

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The fence is expected to be completed along the entire planned section by the end of the year, with the exception of a little less than 29 kilometres, which is expected to be completed next year.

Background:

Recently, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that construction of the Eastern Shield fortification system on the borders with Russia and Belarus had begun.

It became known earlier that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland would apply to the European Union to finance the construction of a network of bunkers, barriers, distribution lines and military storage points along the borders with Russia and Belarus.

Back in January, the three Baltic states announced a plan to create a Baltic Defence Line.

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A file photo taken on July 1, 2021 shows the scene at the iconic Golden Lotus Square of Macao where a flag-raising ceremony is held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. [Photo/Xinhua]



President Xi Jinping's meeting with Sam Hou Fai, the incoming chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), fully demonstrates the central authorities' wholehearted support for Macao's development, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council said on Friday.

The Friday meeting also reflects the central authorities' earnest expectation for Macao to continuously advance the successful practice of "one country, two systems," said the spokesperson.

The sound environment of Macao today is a vivid testament to the great vitality and strength of the "one country, two systems" principle, the spokesperson said.

During the meeting, President Xi reiterated that the central authorities will stay committed to fully and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" principle under which the people of Macao administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy, noted the spokesperson, adding that this constitutes the greatest source of confidence for securing steady and continued success of "one country, two systems" in Macao.

The spokesperson also expressed the belief that the new chief executive and government of the Macao SAR will unite all sectors of the Macao society and continuously break new ground in the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics.
The Fall My previous posts have set the scene in the part of West Sussex where the Sussex muralist worked and taught. By now you should have...
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to Malta for a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in early December, Russian state-controlled outlet Vedomosti said Friday.

If confirmed, it would be the first time Lavrov has visited an EU country since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, "the country hosting the event should ensure that all (OSCE) member states have the opportunity to work."

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The OSCE told Euronews that the invitations have been sent to all members and the delegations are being kept updated on preparations, but did not specify if Russian Foreign Minister will attend.

As the world's largest regional security organisation, the OSCE is an important forum for inclusive political dialogue on all aspects of security, where decision-making at all levels is based on the principle of consensus, the organisation said.

The last time Lavrov visited any EU country was in December 2021  two months before Russias all-out war against its western neighbour  also for an OSCE ministerial council meeting in Stockholm.

In December 2022, almost a year into Russias war, the OSCE met in odz in Poland. Warsaw refused Lavrov entry to the country.

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Last year, the meeting took place outside of the EU, in the Western Balkan country of North Macedonia. Lavrov attended the session in person.

His 2023 trip sparked vocal criticism from Kyiv amid last-minute exceptions to existing sanctions against the Kremlin.

Bulgaria  an EU member  granted permission for a plane carrying Lavrov to fly through the countrys airspace en route to the North Macedonian capital Skopje.

The permission was temporary and valid only for three hours before and 72 hours after the scheduled date and time of overflight. North Macedonia, an EU candidate country, also issued a similar permit.

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Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania all boycotted the meeting.

Related

Almost all European countries have closed their airspace to Russian aircraft due to EU sanctions against Russia.

Additionally, the EU imposed sanctions against Lavrov, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, and others involved in Moscow's war of aggression in February 2022. However, Brussels has not issued a travel ban against Russia's top diplomat.

If confirmed by Malta, Lavrovs trip to this year's meeting is set to raise serious questions at the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.

All EU member states are participating members of the OSCE, a regional security-oriented organisation comprising 57 countries in Europe, North America and Asia.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Friday marks the start of November, which means hundreds of laws go into effect. Here is a look at a few that made headlines during the 2024 legislative session.

With the stroke of Governor Kevin Stitts pen, more than 200 laws go into effect November 1st.

One of those laws is the Womens Bill of Rights.

Were taking a stand against this out-of-control gender ideology, said Governor Stitt.

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In 2023, the governor signed an executive order enforcing the mandate.

Oklahoma Governor signs Womens Bill of Rights by executive order

Then, during the 2024 legislative session, the newly passed bill House Bill 1449, essentially codifying the order into law, which made it harder to be changed.

HB1449-FinalDownload

The law defined the word sex as the natural persons biological sex at birth. Females can naturally produce, transport, or utilize eggs for fertilization. Males use sperm for fertilization.

Supporters said these definitions are necessary to protect people in sports, restrooms, and prisons.

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Those opposed said its an attack on the transgender community.

There would have been protections in it, but it was a bill to create a separate and unequal Oklahoma for trans women and girls, said Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater.

Friday, a law requiring age verification on pornographic website also goes into effect.

OK bill requiring age verification on pornographic websites advances in House

According to Senate Bill 1959, users have to prove theyre at least 18-years-old by an ID, or a third party, like mortgage, education, or employment records.

SB1959Download

The goal is protection. Though, those against it said this is a serious privacy issue.

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The primary thing is to protect our kids, said Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufala.

Im having a hard time figuring out is who are we targeting with this? said Rep. Judd Strom, R-Bartlesville.

Another Senate Bill increased the penalty for strangulation. SB 1211 ups the maximum punishment from three years to ten. It passed overwhelmingly in both the house and the senate.

Bill would increase criminal punishment for strangulation

SB1211Download

however, a more controversial bill was also signed into law and goes into effect Friday. It criminalizes the unhoused sleeping on state-owned land.

Local Unsafe behavior: OK bill criminalizing homeless people sleeping on state-owned land pass both chambers

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According to SB 1854, violators could receive a fine or jail time. Supporters said it combats a safety risk. Those opposed said it doesnt fight against the underlying issue of homelessness.

SB1854Download

Youve got someone that is in a position of unsafe behavior for not only them but also the travelers around these highways and underpasses, said Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore.

Where would these people be allowed to go if this is where theyre sleeping? Where are they supposed to go when law enforcement makes them leave? said Sen. Julia Kirt, D-OKC.

The Oklahoma Office of Economic Development Growth and Expansion, also known as OkEDGE, also goes into effect.

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Lawmaker proposes new agency to oversee economic development

It creates an entirely new agency to help bring new businesses to the state, by pulling form the current Department of Commerce and making one point of contact for all economic development in Oklahoma.

SB1447Download

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BATROUN, Lebanon (AP)  Israeli naval forces captured a senior Hezbollah operative in north Lebanon, an Israeli military official said Saturday, as the conflict between the Iran-backed group and Israel showed few signs of easing.

Earlier on Saturday, Lebanese authorities said it was investigating whether Israel was behind the capture of a Lebanese sea captain who was taken away by a group of armed men who had landed on the coast near the northern town of Batroun on Friday.

The operative has been transferred to Israeli territory and is currently being investigated, the military official said, without providing the name of the person in detention.

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The operation marks the first time Israel has announced it deployed troops deep into northern Lebanon to take a senior Hezbollah operative captive since the conflict between the two sides escalated in late September. Since then, Israeli forces began a ground invasion of southern Lebanon and intensified its airstrikes across the country, including southern Beirut and the eastern Bekaa valley, killing most of Hezbollah's senior commanders.

Hezbollah issued a statement describing what happened as a Zionist aggression in the Batroun area. The statement did not give details or confirm whether a Hezbollah member was captured by Israel.

Two Lebanese military officials confirmed to The Associated Press that a naval force landed in Batroun, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Beirut, and abducted a Lebanese citizen. Neither gave the mans identity or said whether he was thought to have links to Lebanons Hezbollah group. They did not confirm whether the armed men were an Israeli force.

Three Lebanese judicial officials told AP the operation took place at dawn Friday, adding that the captain might have links with Hezbollah. The officials said an investigation is looking into whether the man is linked to Hezbollah or working for an Israeli spy agency and an Israeli force came to rescue him.

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Both the military and judicial officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were unauthorized to share details about the incident or the ongoing investigation.

Soon after Israel went public about the operation, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on Lebanons foreign minister to file a complaint against Israel at the U.N. Security Council.

Israel has carried out in the past commando operations deep inside Lebanon to kidnap or kill Hezbollah and Palestinian officials.

Recounting the event, Lebanese residents from the apartment building where the man was seized said the armed group introduced themselves as state security.

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We were terrified. They were breaking into the apartment next to ours, Hussein Delbani told The Associated Press near where the man was captured. I thought a state agency was doing a security operation, said Delbani, who was displaced from south Lebanon a month ago when the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted.

He said he saw from his balcony people down on the coast and they screamed again for him to go inside.

Hamie told Al-Jadeed the man was a captain of civilian ships. He graduated in 2022 and in late September joined the Batroun's Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute for additional courses. Hamie said that the man lived some 300 meters (980 feet) from the institute.

Hamie's remarks came shortly after two Lebanese journalists posted a video on social media showing what appeared to be about 20 armed men taking away a man from in front a house, his face covered with his shirt.

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Kandice Ardiel, a spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force deployed in south Lebanon, denied allegations by some local journalists who said that the peacekeepers helped the landing force in the operation. The U.N. mission, known as UNIFIL, has a maritime force that monitors the coast.

"Disinformation and false rumors are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk, Ardiel said.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles from Lebanon into Israel in solidarity with Hamas immediately after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza. The yearlong cross-border fighting boiled over to full-blown war on Oct. 1, when Israeli forces launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006.

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Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Sally Abou Aljoud in Beirut and Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.

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Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A man has been charged with first-degree murder after investigators say he killed his wife and son Friday night following a standoff with police in Lenexa, Kansas.

According to the Johnson County District Attorneys Office, 53-year-old Todd Michael Donovan has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after he allegedly shot and killed his wife, 52-year-old Sheila Donovan, and son, 22-year-old Tyler Donovan, on Friday, Nov. 1.

Donovan is also facing one count of cruelty to animals after investigators say he shot and killed his neighbors dog on the same night.

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Lenexa man charged in connection to double-homicide following standoff

Initial reports from Lenexa police said that at about 8:20 p.m. on the night of the shooting, officers were dispatched to a home near Hallet Street and Mullen Road on reports of sounds of gunfire.

Police said that, as officers arrived at the scene, multiple gunshots were heard coming from the home.

Officers called the individual suspected of firing the gun, allegedly Todd, and learned that he was still inside the home. Police attempted to get him to exit the residence peacefully, however, he refused the officers request.

The Lenexa Tactical Team and crisis negotiators responded to the scene and began their barricade operations. Police said negotiators allegedly spoke with Todd for nearly two hours before he hung up, leading the tactical team to enter the home and place him in custody.

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However, Todd was believed to have overdosed, leading emergency responders to take him to a hospital for treatment.

After Todd was out of the home, officers found the bodies of two victims, a man and a woman now known to be Sheila and Tyler Donovan, who had been shot.

Police also learned that a neighbors dog had been shot and killed at the same time they responded to the initial call.

(Donovan) has since been charged by the Johnson County District Attorneys office with two counts of first-degree murder, said Officer Danny Chavez with Lenexa Police.

Dealing with homicides is not something we have to do very often. Thats always very unfortunate. An armed disturbance always gets your attention. But in this case, officers were still within a couple of blocks when they heard gunfire. As far as the why, thats something were looking into right now. Nothing at this point that stands out as an obvious reason for what happened inside.

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FOX4 spoke with neighbors on Saturday who said they heard the shots ring out.

We were home yesterday and probably 9:00 at night. My wife heard some gunshots. So did the neighbors, said Chris Zien.

They were trying to convince the guy to come out saying, you know, please come out. We dont want anyone hurt. And then basically there were three drones up and up and there, the whole neighborhood blocked off. So even people that were trying to get into their houses, they wouldnt let them in.

Religious university without students on campus raises questions in Missouri city

Zien went on to explain that this is out of the norm for the area.

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This is a quiet neighborhood. This is not, we dont have this around here, he continued

Ive seen more squad cars on the street than the whole time Ive been living here. Just today, everyone kind of knows. Everyone kind of watches out for everybody. So its kind of its really shocking to have this happen.

Zien also said that the incident was shocking for the community, but he was rather unfamiliar with the family.

I didnt know this family very well at all. They would be sitting out to say, hey, we walk, you take walks and stuff like that, and wed say hi to him. But other than that, I really dont know much about, about the couple, he explained.

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Everyones fine. I mean, you know, its something that were all kind of in shock. You move on. Theres nothing else you can do.

The case is currently under investigation with Lenexa detectives and members of the Johnson County Crime Lab.

Todd Donovan is being held on a $2 million bond.

This is a developing story. The Johnson County District Attorneys Office says that Todd should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Leonard Slatkin, Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director laureate, returns to Detroit this weekend for a musical joyride with the orchestra. Hell be joined by Russian pianist Olga Kern during two performances featuring works by Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff.

Slatkin, a six-time Grammy winner and 35-time nominee, served as DSO music director for a decade starting with the 2008-09 season before being named music director laureate. As part of his 80th birthday celebration, hes touring and guest conducting with orchestras near and far, and his Motor City stop marks a celebratory homecoming.

This program is also a bit of a family affair for Slatkin. It includes a piece by his son, Daniel, a film and video game composer who used DSO musicians to play his score for the 2022 documentary Gradually, Then Suddenly: The Bankruptcy of Detroit.

"Theres much more community engagement in the orchestra," Leonard Slatkin says of the changes he has observed during his career. "The orchestra plays a very different role. We cant even say its just classical music anymore. An orchestra has to serve the entire community."

I thought that this season, rather than making it totally self-serving, I would incorporate other members of my family as part of the celebration, Slatkin said, both those who are with us and those who are not. So that meant, of the living ones, I could either do a piece by me, I could do a piece by my wife, or I could do a piece by my son. For Detroit, it turned out the more interesting one would be one by my son, who actually had his very first orchestral work played by the DSO.

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This piece  is about the Voyager spacecraft up there billions of miles away, still sending a signal, and its very moving; its very cinematic. It has electronic sounds that are generated throughout the auditorium. You hear parts with people speaking, sending greetings from Earth, and also the sound of a Beethoven quartet, which is up there with it on a golden disc. I thought that would be a nice opener for the audience.

Turning his thoughts to Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff, Slatkin said a priority was drawing pianist Kern back to Detroit after having worked with her several times during his DSO tenure.

It felt right to bring work by Rachmaninoff, he said, noting that shes played a couple of Rachmaninoff pieces, but not this one. Its the least played of his five works for piano and orchestra  the fourth piano concerto  but its a marvelous piece.

The Prokofiev symphony ... has an interesting connection. In 2007, I think, I was just a guest conductor in Detroit. I didnt even know there was a job vacancy. I hadnt thought about it. This piece was on that program for me as a guest, and it was maybe this piece in particular that made people want to take a good look at me as a possible candidate for musical director. And, indeed, a few months later, they set up another set of concerts for me at Meadow Brook, and lo and behold, I became the music director. So each piece has a nice, personal connection to myself and the relationship with the Detroit Symphony.

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Detroit Sumphony Orchestra: For DSO, 'Nightmare Before Christmas' and other films have become a musical bonanza

Slatkin also shared his thoughts on how classical music has evolved (and yes  for those unfamiliar with the genre, it does continue to evolve) and about the DSOs place in carving out that evolution.

Its very different than it was when I started in the profession, he said. That was 1968. Weve had more than 50 years of music thats been added, of course, so that automatically changes things, and orchestras are required to do so much more in the way of the repertoire. Its not just the classic music, but the new music thats being created, (including) for films, pops concerts  theres much more community engagement in the orchestra. The orchestra plays a very different role. We cant even say its just classical music anymore. An orchestra has to serve the entire community.

In Detroit, the turning point was clearly the (2010-11 DSO strike), theres no question about that. It was a horrendous time  six months, nobody working. But out of that came innovations. Detroit can proudly claim it was a leader in the industry, and among the achievements were the live streaming of its concerts. No orchestra was doing that in the States  none. And that was something only permissible now in the new settlement of the contract, and they remain the only orchestra in the United States that offers all of its concerts up for live streaming for free for its audiences.

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Slatkin called the effort remarkable.

The level and the quality of the video and the sound now is so extraordinary, he said. It rivals anything in the world. Its great. And then, after the strike, anybody who was a student could come to any performance at Orchestra Hall for $25  but it was $25 for the whole year! Therefore, we increased not only the number of people in the audience, but it helped to give more of a balance to the generational gap, shall we say. So you see more young faces in the audiences in Detroit than you used to.

Slatkin also pointed to efforts by the DSO to push outward into Detroits community.

The orchestra themselves, during the strike, he said, set up and did concerts in various venues in the suburban areas. When the strike ended, it was decided that we would continue to do those concerts. It could take 35, 45 minutes to get down to the Hall for some, so this way theyre playing in their neighborhood, (creating) more of a connection between the orchestra and those audience members.

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Another aspect that I think is changing is the Detroit Symphonys role in education. They mentor and work with over 500 young people who are, in some cases, just starting out. Im very happy that these elements  the younger audience coming in, the suburban crowd, the education activites and the internet broadcast  these are all things that changed from the time I started to how it is now.

And there are, he said, even more changes.

The way auditions are held has changed, he pointed out. The striving for diversity, of course  and that was, in many cases, due to the wonderful work that Sphinx Organization did and how they partner up with the orchestra. But there are other communities to reach, and all of us have to broaden our idea of what an audience means here as were about to enter the second quarter of the 21st century.

Leonard Slatkin will conduct the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Both performances will take place at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at dso.org.

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Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Leonard Slatkin hails DSO innovations as he returns to lead orchestra
Choose character for a better America

I have children and grandchildren. My deepest desire is for them to be healthy and be able to lead happy, meaningful lives. Frankly, though, I worry about whether that is possible in an America where the value we place on qualities like civility, honesty and integrity has been diminished.

Lying has been normalized to the extent that it is making truth harder to discern, sometimes even negotiable. Verbally attacking and demeaning others because they hold differing views is OK, too, even when it might lead to physical violence. Has disrespecting, misleading and mistreating people become an acceptable part of everyday life now?

I cant tell if our politics is driving our beliefs or if what we believe is being reflected in our politics. One thing is for sure. If our politics are laying bare what is in our hearts, it isnt pretty.

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But it doesnt have to be this way. I mean, the choices that have led us here, personal and political, have been just that ... choices. And better choices would give us a better America.

So, in one of the most consequential elections in our nations history, why not prioritize the quality of a candidates character? Elect those who offer openness instead of deceit, civility instead of hostility, cooperation instead of division, and integrity instead of corruption.

The choices we make in November will determine the character of this nations leadership. The character of our leaders will determine the quality of life for us all ... and very soon.

Ron Williams, Pennsylvania Furnace

Taking credit for the Trump tax

When the U.S. government sent stimulus checks to American families during the COVID pandemic, former President Donald Trump took the unprecedented step of putting his signature on the checks.

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If Trump wins a second term, he says he will impose large tariffs on importers of foreign goods. Economists almost universally agree that most of the cost of the tariffs wouldnt be absorbed by foreign companies, they would be paid by American consumers. Estimates for the cost that will be paid by average family range from $1,700 to $3,900 a year.

So, heres an idea  in the same way that Donald Trump took credit for the stimulus checks, he should also take credit for the Trump tax that will hit your wallet if he becomes president. Heres how it would work. Whenever you look at a product at Walmart or any other store, the price tag on the item would show the original price, the Trump tariff added to the item, and the total price.

When you check out at the register, the receipt you get would add up all the Trump tariffs for your current purchase. Walmart and other big retailers could even do us all a favor by tallying up the total amount you paid due to Trump tariffs at the end of the year. The final receipt, like the stimulus checks in 2020, would bear Trumps signature.

American consumers want truth in advertising. Why not give Donald Trump the credit for his tariffs that he deserves?

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Catherine Grigor, Boalsburg

Trumps juvenile insults

In a recent speech in Erie, former President Donald Trump called his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, mentally impaired.

Its a curious criticism of a candidate who had defeated Trump in a nationally televised debate. Independent polling done in the days following the debate showed most voters thought Harris won  and it wasnt especially close. ABC News, for example, found that 58% percent of voters believed Harris won, compared to 36% for Trump.

Since then, Trump seems shaken. Lacking a coherent critique of his opponent or her policies, he results to calling her a dumb person. It is not the smartest or most creative insult on record  and it does nothing to demonstrate that he has the vision or maturity to lead our country.

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After being out-witted by Harris in the first debate, Trump called for a rematch on Trump-friendly Fox News. Harris agreed. However, Trump lost his nerve and backed out, refusing to debate his dumb opponent  even on friendly turf.

Sadly, this isnt the first time Trump claimed that a highly qualified female candidate was stupid. Last year, he called his own former U.N. Ambassador and Republican primary challenger, Nikki Haley, a birdbrain, sending her a bird cage to illustrate his childish insult.

Its disturbing to see Donald Trump repeatedly hurl juvenile, grade-school insults at women, especially at the Vice President of the United States. Trumps ugly and immature behavior says far more about his character than about hers.

Heather Rickert-Gilbert, State College

The Florida fiasco

Lets not be like Florida. Apart from hurricanes, Florida has fallen on hard economic times. Its agriculture is suffering significantly. According to The Florida Policy Institute, the states immigration law has cost $12.6 billion this year alone.

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Why has this happened? Very simply, when unauthorized immigrants left Florida because they were afraid of rigid new enforcement of immigration laws, there was no one left to pick the crops. Farmers are now wondering whether they can keep their farms if the situation continues. Towns that were economically vibrant because they provided lodging and goods to immigrants became ghost towns. The result is that produce has become more expensive, so Florida cannot compete with states that do not have such immigration enforcement.

Florida is an example of what might happen to the U.S. if Trump is elected president and starts deporting every suspected unauthorized immigrant he can find.

Throughout the country, there would be no one to pick the crops. There would be less produce at the supermarket, and that produce would be more expensive. According to FarmProgress.com, agriculture accounts for 30% of U.S. jobs. Can we afford this risk?

Claudia Wilson, Bellefonte

Casey represents interests of Pennsylvanians

At the time of the Hamas massacre in Israel, Republicans in the Senate had blocked the confirmation of four crucial Ambassadors  Israel, Egypt, Oman and Kuwait. The State Departments top counterterrorism envoy position had been sitting empty for more than two years; the top human rights envoy position had been been unfilled for the entirety of the Biden administration, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had not had a top Middle East official in nearly three years. Nominees for all of these positions were held up by Republicans in the Senate. Moreover, Republicans had allowed one of their own to block the promotion of 422 senior military officers.

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Why should Pennsylvania send another Republican like Connecticut carpetbagger Dave McCormick to the Senate to contribute further to the problem?

Im voting for Bob Casey who has always represented the interests of Pennsylvanians.

Amos Goodall, State College

Think of your future when you vote

Could the election of Donald Trump cause you to lose your farm or your business?

If you dont believe it, ask Florida farmers. Floridas punishing 2023 anti-immigration law dealt a blow, not just to the workers but to the owners of the farms whose bottom lines were crushed by the loss of labor. The effect of the law was immediate.

The fact is that without unauthorized immigrants, there are very few farm workers left ... [B]erries are going to become an item thats going to be a luxury, not something people buy every time they go to the grocery store like they do now, Fidel Sanchez, owner of Sanchez Farm in Central Florida said in an NPR story. The government doesnt seem to care. Maybe they think the crops are gonna pick themselves.

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If Trump wins and starts his crackdown on immigrants, who will harvest your crops? The U. S. Department of Agriculture estimates that nationwide 40% of farmworkers are unauthorized, and there are even more in Pennsylvania. Will you see your produce rotting on the field? Can you survive the economic blow? Or will you be forced to sell your farm?

Not a farmer? Unfortunately, the shortage of workers is not just impacting agriculture. According to the newamericaneconomy.org, foreign-born workers comprise more than 50% of labor in construction, personal care, housekeeping, hospitality, and textile businesses. Crippling national immigration policies will flatten your bottom line.

Think about it. Think of your future. Protect yourself this election.

Marie Hornbein, Spring Mills

Takac delivers for constituents

A while ago one of Paul Takacs staff members stopped by our house and asked if we needed anything. When I mentioned that I needed to mail my mothers request for a handicap placard, the staff person volunteered to take care of it for me and then made sure the placard was delivered to my then 97-year-old mother a few weeks later. That kind of constituent service impressed me and thats why I, a registered independent, endorse state Rep. Paul Takac for re-election in House District 82.

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Paulette L. Berner, Benner Township

Casting a vote on character

Last month, retired 76-year-old Judge John M. Cleland of McKean County, Pennsylvania broke his decadeslong practice of not taking sides in politics. His intelligence and evenhandedness had helped him win three elections to 10-year terms in a ruby red part of the state.

Cleland is an expert judge not only of legal matters, but of character. His belief in the critical importance of character inspired him to deliver an eloquent and stirring speech that broke with his long tradition of neutrality. He told a bipartisan audience that the 2024 election is not about policy disputes; this election is about character.

The judge said that Americas greatest leaders have displayed traits such as honesty, civility, empathy, courage, generosity and trustworthiness. Donald Trump has none of those traits.

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Judge Cleland said that Donald Trumps factual misstatements are so frequent, so inaccurate, so exaggerated, and so easily fact-checked that he is either lying or he is incompetent. He reminded listeners that Trump was found liable of sexual assault and has bragged about similar acts; he is on trial for allegedly taking highly classified national security documents; and he was convicted of tax fraud with the trial judge noting he showed a complete lack of contrition and remorse.

I was moved not only by Judge Clelands eloquent speech, but for his courage.

Would you tell your children to model themselves after Donald Trump? I along with many Republicans, Democrats and Independents will be casting my vote on character  for Kamala Harris.

Connie Schulz, State College

Trumps agenda would cut Social Security benefits

A new independent report released recently concluded that Donald Trumps proposals to eliminate taxation of Social Security benefits, end taxes on tips and overtime, impose tariffs, and expand deportations would result in a 33% benefit cut in 2035.

This conclusion isnt surprising. As president, Trump tried to cut Social Security and Medicare programs by billions of dollars every single year he was in office. Trump called Social Security a Ponzi scheme and has dismissed Social Security and Medicare as bribes for the American people.

As a senior who paid taxes for decades to earn my Medicare and Social Security benefits, I am beyond outraged!

Even worse, just this year, Trump said theres a lot you can do ... in terms of cutting Americans hard-earned benefits. Trump has called for privatizing Social Security and supported raising the retirement age. Trump wants to let Big Pharma charge whatever they want, making drug companies richer, while raising costs for seniors.

Its a stark contrast with Vice President Harris, who will always make sure that seniors who have paid into Social Security and Medicare can always count on getting the benefits they worked for.

Kamala Harris is the only logical choice for president.

Diane Ebken, Port Matilda

Takac has earned a second term

Im writing in support of one of Pennsylvanias most outstanding Representatives, Paul Takac. Paul is committed to serving every resident of the 82nd District.

He has shown us that we are his priority. His door is open, phones are answered, and he meets with all who ask. Hes opened satellite offices in underrepresented parts of the district. He has helped deliver millions in grants to our region: Conservation and environmental grants, Rails to Trails, consumer protections, EMS funding, and for housing. Paul helped to secure 7 million new educational dollars for our local schools, and 10 million dollars for farmers through a first-of-its-kind grant for farming innovation. He has supported consumer and veterans protections, and economic development projects.

While his opponent spouts rhetoric designed to stoke fear and mistrust, Paul does the work, talks the talk, and walks the walk. He has been awarded seats on both the Education and Agriculture Committees. These seats are normally unavailable to freshman legislators like Paul because of their inherent importance to our state. Yet because of Pauls character, work ethic, leadership, and his reputation as the real deal he earned them in his first legislative term.

His opposition focuses on open borders and protection from illegal immigrants as some of the biggest challenges facing our district. But Paul knows better. Every day he works on solutions to real challenges that face our farmers, first responders, home owners, health care workers, businesses, educators, students, and everyday citizens. His priorities are our priorities. He has earned a second term.

Eric J Spielvogel, Bellefonte

Principles matter

Attack, attack, attack. Deny, deny, deny. Never admit defeat.

Imagine framing these slogans, and hanging them on your childs bedroom wall. Not exactly the principles most parents want their children to follow, but theyre exactly the principles that guide Donald Trump  learned first from his father Fred (who was detained in Queens in 1927 while attending a KKK march), and later from his mentor, Roy Cohen, who taught him to attack, counterattack and never apologize.

We see Trump practice those principles every day of his political life.

He uses them to justify calling his political opponent lazy, dumb as a rock, and mentally unfit. He uses them to belittle and silence anyone who disagrees with him.

He attacks prosecutors and judges to delegitimize and discredit the charges brought against him  and to rally his supporters.

He uses them to justify the violence he encouraged in 2020, and hints hell do again if he loses this November.

As you consider your vote for president, imagine how these values will play out if Trump wins. Hes already told us that hell prosecute his enemies, dismantle international treaties and alliances, and roll back climate initiatives necessary to mitigate weather disasters like hurricanes Helene and Milton. Most horrifying of all, he suggested to a group of Christian supporters that there would be no need to vote in four more years.

Are these the values you want for our country  or to pass onto your children?

If your answer is no, you must vote for Kamala Harris.

Dorie Evensen, State College

PSU wrestling and Trump

I am outraged and ashamed that Penn State wrestling team members appeared with Donald Trump.

His rhetoric and views are 180-degree opposite of the views that I hold as a proud Penn State alum.

Penn State stands for ideals that are to be admired and should not be lowered by association with a man who spews hate, racism and lies every time his lips move.

James Reilly, Columbus, Georgia

Commit to peace, justice as you make your voice heard

Our peace church tradition at University Mennonite Church reminds us of the importance of being a good neighbor. We believe that civic engagement provides us with a pathway to live a life of love, peacemaking, and service to all, especially those who are most marginalized. Our congregation is dedicated to addressing systems of injustice, and we know that civic participation is essential to our work.

Our sacred scriptures remind us of Jesus call to care for those in need, to offer love in a world of hatred, and work toward a broader welcome for those on the margins of society, reminding us that we must work for change in our local community and beyond. It is through the guidance of our faith that we are committed to work for peace, love our enemies, and strive for the healing of our earth and all of creation.

This year, amid increasing polarization and division, we are called more than ever to be engaged civically, to actively participate in the betterment of our community. We recognize this as a commitment we have as people of faith, and as members of our greater community.

We encourage all people of faith and conscience to consider the different ways in which we engage our community. As we vote and engage, our voices are committed to peace, justice, creation care, equality, and should be heard  not just on Nov. 5, but each and every day.

The Rev. Kate Heinzel and the Rev. Ben Wideman, State College
My great grandparents were immigrants from Ireland  just escaping to America was a triumph, even if that meant only survival, since remaining in Ireland meant a very real chance of starvation and death.

Past generations of our relatives were all immigrants at one point in our brief history. Historically, America was built by immigrants, people who had nothing and needed to work hard to survive. They built economies and families. They contributed to America.

Thank goodness for immigrants. They are the engine that keeps our economy humming. They are often taking necessary jobs that most of us will not take or do not want to do. The majority of immigrants want to work their way into our system. And it has been proven repeatedly that immigrants have lower crime rates than Americans do and are extremely hard working and family oriented.

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Opinion: Were evangelical pastors in Wisconsin. Heres what our faith says about immigration.

Opinion: Trump thinks he can count on Christian voters. Not if he contradicts Bible.

Opinion: I'm a veteran. We need to defend election system from lies that would destroy it.

We should be treasuring immigrants. Immigration is beneficial for long run economic growth and will be increasingly important as the U.S. continues to face an aging population, declining birth rates and insolvency of the Social Security and Medicare systems.

Everyone agrees that we have a broken immigration system. We need an immigration system that provides lawful immigration pathways to meet labor demand and adequate resources to judge asylum claims in a timely fashion with strong enforcement mechanisms.

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Secure the border, increase the number of immigration administrative law judges, have merit-based immigration laws to fill jobs with worker shortages, including transportation to areas with shortages. Increase the legal seasonal worker program, track all immigrants and require periodic reporting.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan said, I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though some time back they may have entered illegally. Reagan understood that the country was fundamentally open to those who wanted to join us here. A few months into his presidency, he issued a Statement on United States Immigration and Refugee Policy in which he outlined goals to continue Americas tradition of welcoming people from other countries, especially those fleeing oppression.

Terrence Rice, Milwaukee

Tips for getting your letter to the editor published

Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state:

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Please include your name, street address and daytime phone.

Generally, we limit letters to 200 words.

Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter.

Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing.

Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person.

We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions.

We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters.

Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months.

All letters are subject to editing.

Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Letters: America needs lawful immigration to meet labor demands
Victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election may come down to LGBTQ+ voters.



Polling data shows that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are running in a near-dead heat in four states  Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. And as a scholar of LGBTQ+ politics, I suspect that LGBTQ+ voters could play an outsize role in these states and the race.

So, how might LGBTQ+ voters swing these states?

LGBTQ+ voting behavior, explained

In the most comprehensive political survey of LGBTQ+ Americans ever conducted, the Pew Research Center found in 2013 that the vast majority of respondents  85%  always or nearly always voted, compared with roughly a third of the general population. Turnout in the most recent presidential election validated that finding. A 2020 post-election survey by the advocacy group GLAAD found that 81% of LGBTQ+ voters cast a ballot.

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For context, 64% of all eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, which was unusually high voter participation. Historically, turnout hovers around 55% for presidential elections and 35% for midterm elections.

The National Center for Transgender Equality, an advocacy organization, finds that voter turnout is particularly high among transgender people.

Even in the historically low-turnout 2014 midterm election, the groups data indicated that roughly half of transgender respondents had voted, compared with only one-third of the general population. In the 2022 midterm election, transgender voter turnout increased to nearly 75%, according to the 2024 U.S. Trans Survey.

LGBTQ+ voters and partisanship

LGBTQ+ voters strongly lean Democratic. Pews 2013 survey found that nearly 60% of all LGBTQ+ respondents were Democrats, and less than 10% were Republicans. Transgender voters are even more partisan, and nearly 80% identified as Democratic or Democratic-leaning in the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey.

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Exit poll data from the 2016 presidential election supports this conclusion. Nearly 80% of LGBTQ+ voters told researchers outside polling stations that theyd cast their ballot for Hillary Clinton. Just 14% reported that theyd backed Trump.

Initial exit poll data from the 2020 presidential election indicated that Trump had doubled his share of LGBTQ+ voters to 28%. Later analyses contradicted that finding, however, showing that LGBTQ+ voters were actually essential to Joe Bidens victory.

The surprising miscalculation was likely due to COVID-19-related polling errors. Exit poll data from the 2022 midterm election put LGBTQ+ support for Republican congressional candidates back at 14%.

LGBTQ+ voters in tipping-point states

Taken together, past polling data indicates that the LGBTQ+ community will likely back Harris over Trump by strong margins in four of the most likely tipping-point states  that is, the swing states with enough electoral votes to tip the entire election for one candidate.

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Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania all have populations of LGBTQ+ adults that are significantly larger than the margin of victory by which the winning candidate took the state in 2020.

For instance, Biden won Georgia and its 15 electoral votes by 11,779 votes in 2020, and there are over 400,000 LGBTQ+ adults in the state. Trumps apparent current lead in Georgia is within the margin of error, and even a slight increase in Democratic-leaning LGBTQ+ voters, compared with 2020, could hand Harris the state.

Georgia now has 16 electoral votes following a population increase.





The gap between the two candidates in all four tipping-point states is similarly narrow  2% or less. Thats well within state polls margin of error. Together, these states have a combined 66 electoral votes. Thats nearly double Bidens Electoral College margin of victory in 2020 and Trumps margin in 2016.



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If higher turnout among LGBTQ+ voters in these four likely tipping-point states could deliver the 2024 race for Harris, then lower LGBTQ+ turnout could pave Trumps path to victory.

Trump is well within striking distance in the Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania and Michigan, where polling puts him in a statistical dead heat with Harris. With those slim margins that are well within the margin of error, even a moderate decrease in turnout among the states many thousands of LGBTQ+ voters could cause serious problems for Harris.

For context, Biden won Pennsylvania and Michigan by 80,555 and 154,188 votes, respectively, in 2020.

Possible X factors

Of course, the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections are not carbon copies of each other.

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The LGBTQ+ electorate grows each year, and by 2030 1 in 7 voters are expected to identify as LGBTQ+.

Republicans have also ramped up legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ rights since 2020, and GOP campaign ads with anti-transgender messages dominate this election cycle. Both of these factors will play a role in 2024, as will a shake-up in the North Carolina governors race.

In September, CNN reported that the Republican nominee for governor of North Carolina, Mark Robinson, had posted controversial comments on a pornographic website between 2008 and 2012. In addition to referring to himself as a black Nazi, Robinson said that he enjoyed watching transgender pornography.

For a candidate whose anti-trans rhetoric includes saying transgender women should be arrested for using womens restrooms, this was shocking news. Robinson has denied the allegation, which has severely damaged his campaign. Two weeks ahead of the election, polling gave Robinsons Democratic opponent, Josh Stein, a clear lead over Robinson.

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Robinsons troubled past and embattled campaign could mobilize multiple pockets of progressive North Carolinians, including LGBTQ+ voters, against him. Boosted turnout would almost certainly eat into Trumps vote share in North Carolina  a state he won by 1.3% in 2020.

What to expect on election night

Historical trends, demographic data and current affairs all point toward LGBTQ+ voters playing an important  and potentially decisive  role in tipping swing states to Harris.

Yet, there are also signs that Harris may underperform with LGBTQ+ voters.

A September 2024 survey by the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, reported that about 20% of LGBTQ+ respondents were undecided, planning to stay home or backing a third party. Less than 8% of LGBTQ+ respondents were leaning toward Trump, but disaffected LGBTQ+ Democrats could cause problems for Harris.

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Ultimately, theres no way to know what LGBTQ+ voters will actually do at the ballot box. This race is in flux, and plenty can happen before election day. Other voting blocs have grown or changed since 2024, too.

The answers will come on election night or  in a race with such narrow margins of victory  in the days and weeks of counting and recounting to follow.

Dorian Rhea Debussy, Lecturer of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Former First Lady and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is making a campaign stop in Tampa.

On Saturday, Clinton will join supporters to encourage early voting for the Democratic party Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.

Florida 2024 voter guide: What to know for Election Day

Harris and Walz are gunning for votes, as former President Donald Trump and his Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance look to pull ahead.

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On Friday night, Harris and Trump rallied in the Milwaukee area in their final push to win Wisconsin.

In Florida, there are six statewide amendments on the ballot. Click here for a full breakdown of those amendments.

Whats driving Tampa Bay-area voters to cast ballots early?

Voters have three days left to vote in the 2024 election, as Election Day approaches on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

WFLA.com compiled a Florida 2024 Voter Guide, including everything you need to know for Election 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 WFLA.
While inspecting traffic logs for my website in redirection.io recently, I noticed several requests logged on the lacot.org. domain name. Did you see the final trailing dot in the hostname? I first thought it was a bug in the logging platform, but I was surprised to learn that it is perfectly possible to add a dot at the end of a domain name. To be more precise, I already knew about trailing dots in domain names, but never thought about checking how it was handled in web browers and in HTTP traffic.

Wait, what? I can put a dot at the end of my domain names?

Short anwser: Yes, you can. The domain name system ( DNS ) allows you to put a dot at the end of a domain name. This is not a common practice (at least in the "Web browsing" world), but it is possible. Adding a dot at the end of a domain name turns it into a specific notation that is called the "Fully Qualified Domain Name" ( FQDN ). A FQDN is a domain name that specifies its exact location in the tree hierarchy of the Domain Name System (DNS). It specifies all domain levels, including the top-level domain and the root zone.

A website domain, eg. www.example.com , is made of several parts:

the "subdomain": www in this case;

in this case; the "domain": example ;

; the "top-level domain": com .

The syntax www.example.com is the most commonly used on the Web, and it relies on the fact that your local DNS resolver will resolve com as the top level domain. If you need or want to be more explicit, you can add a trailing dot, eg. www.example.com. . In this case, the dot at the end of the domain name represents the root of the DNS hierarchy, ie. the top-level DNS zone in the hierarchical tree that is served by the root name servers. Therefore, using the FQDN syntax disambiguishes the fact that the request is for www.example.com. , not for an other address. For this request, the IP address will be resolved as the one configured in the A record by the owner of the example.com. domain name, and it will not use any other configuration that could have been setup in any other local network DNS server.

To summarize:

the syntax example.com. will always resolve example.com as a fully qualified domain name. In a web browser, sending a request to http://example.com. will get you on a web page sevred by the IP address defined in the A record of the domain name "example.com".

will always resolve as a fully qualified domain name. In a web browser, sending a request to will get you on a web page sevred by the IP address defined in the record of the domain name "example.com". the syntax example.com is a bit less precise - it will resolve the name "example.com" relatively to the DNS servers chain. In other words, a DNS server queried for "example.com" can search for a local definition of example.com and may decide to forward this request to a more authoritative DNS node.

What happens when there's no trainling dot at the end of a domain name?

With the syntax example.com , the domain name is not in its Fully Qualified form. Imagine a company local network area - say, acme.com - in which several web services are hosted, with different hostnames. It is perfectly possible to omit the LAN domain when adressing such services: ssh audio will work the same way like ssh audio.acme.com .

And you get it: setting up a machine with the hostname admin.finance.example.com will make its service locally reachable at both the adresses http://admin.finance.example.com or http://admin.finance . In the meantime, dmin.finance also exists as a fully qualified domain name (ie. dmin.finance. , not an alias for admin.finance.example.com. ).

In other words, a customer on this local network who would type "http://admin.finance" in their web browser would be redirected to the service hosted on the machine with the hostname admin.finance.example.com . This is because the local DNS resolver will append the local domain name to the hostname, and will resolve the IP address of the machine. This is a common practice in local networks, and it is called "search domain".

So, there's a possible confusion here: example.com and example.com. are not the same thing. The first one is a domain name, the second one is a fully qualified domain name.

Most of the time however, a domain name holder will not make a difference between the two. Also network administrators usually take care not to setup machines with names that could be confused with a domain name. But it is possible to have a machine with a name that is the same as a domain name, and in this case, the trailing dot will make the difference.

So, how to handle trailing dots in domain names?

We are left in a sort of dilema here:

for SEO and user experience reasons, we do not want to have both example.com and example.com. be indexed by search engines. This would be considered as duplicate content, and it could be bad for the website's ranking.

and be indexed by search engines. This would be considered as duplicate content, and it could be bad for the website's ranking. for technical reasons, we want to make sure that the website is reachable on both example.com and example.com. .

The usual way to handle this would be to setup a redirect from one to the other. But which way?

from example.com to example.com. : this would be technically the best way to handle this, as it would make sure that the website is always reached by its fully qualified domain name. But this would be confusing for users, as they are not used to type a dot at the end of a domain name.

to : this would be technically the best way to handle this, as it would make sure that the website is always reached by its fully qualified domain name. But this would be confusing for users, as they are not used to type a dot at the end of a domain name. from example.com. to example.com : this would be the best way to handle this for users, as they are not used to type a dot at the end of a domain name. The rare requests which would arrive on the FQDN would be redirected to the usual domain name, without the trailing dot. But this might be technically incorrect, and would left users that are on a local network with a search domain setup unable to reach the real website (with the example above, a request to http://admin.finance. would be redirected to http://admin.finance , that the local network DNS resolver would resolve to the local-network admin.finance machine, and not the real public website).

to : this would be the best way to handle this for users, as they are not used to type a dot at the end of a domain name. The rare requests which would arrive on the FQDN would be redirected to the usual domain name, without the trailing dot. But this might be technically incorrect, and would left users that are on a local network with a search domain setup unable to reach the real website (with the example above, a request to would be redirected to , that the local network DNS resolver would resolve to the local-network machine, and not the real public website). we could serve the website on both addresses, but this would lead to duplicate content issues. Oh, we could redirect search engines and still serve the website on both addresses for requests that do not come with a search engine User-Agent, but: this would be a bit tricky to setup; this could lead to unexpected consequences, be interpreted as cloaking or Spamdexing by search engines, and in the end be bad for the website's ranking; the rule of thumb says "you should never do user agent sniffing".



Actually, a good solution might be to serve a static page on the FQDN, that would perform a client-side fetch request to the non-FQDN domain name, check if the response originates from the real website, and then redirect the user to the non-FQDN domain name if it is the case. If it is not the case, it could load the content to display from the FQDN domain name (with a cookie or some other way to avoid duplicate content issues). This would however be a bit tricky to setup, and would require some JavaScript code to be executed on the client side.

Architectural choices are always a tradoff, and sometimes you are left to choose the least bad solution. For this reason and for simplicity sake, I chose to setup a redirect from the FQDN to the non-FQDN domain name. In my opinion, it is the most common and user-friendly way to handle this case. Yet it will let some users unable to reach my real website, if:

they connect from a local network with a search domain configured and a machine name that is identical to my domain name ( lacot.org )

This is a rare case, and I think it is acceptable in this context, though it could lead to some confusion for users (or even make the way easier for phishing attacks!). I may not go with the same advice for a banking website, for example :-)

However, the "redirect everything" solution has also major advantages (see the "Browsers behavior" chapter below).

How do Web servers handle trailing dots in domain names?

There's no easy answer to this question, as it depends on the web server or reverse-proxy you are using.

nginx will not make a specific difference between example.com and example.com. . In both cases, the server will serve the same content. Provided you have configured a VirtualHost for the domain name example.com , the server will serve the content of this VirtualHost for both syntaxes. Without any specific configuration, you are at risk of having duplicate content issues.

will not make a specific difference between and . In both cases, the server will serve the same content. Provided you have configured a VirtualHost for the domain name , the server will serve the content of this VirtualHost for both syntaxes. Without any specific configuration, you are at risk of having duplicate content issues. Apache does not allow to configure separate VirtualHosts for example.com and example.com. . If you have a VirtualHost for example.com , the server will serve the content of this VirtualHost for both syntaxes. Without any specific configuration, you are at risk of having duplicate content issues.

does not allow to configure separate VirtualHosts for and . If you have a VirtualHost for , the server will serve the content of this VirtualHost for both syntaxes. Without any specific configuration, you are at risk of having duplicate content issues. HAProxy behaves differently. If you simply configured the example.com domain name, the server will not serve the content for the example.com. FQDN. You will have to add a specific configuration for the FQDN domain name (for example, to redirect requests to the non-FQDN domain name). This is a good practice, as it will avoid duplicate content issues.

Browsers behavior

Browser do consider that the domain name example.com and example.com. are different. They will not share the same cache, and they will not share the same memory spaces within the browser. This is a normal behavior, as they're different hostnames, but it can also lead to some unexpected behaviors. For example, the user may not expect to be logged out when switching from one domain name to the other. Here are the impacts of serving a content on both a domain name and its FQDN version:

The cache : the cache will not be shared between the two domain names. On the client side, it is not a big deal, as the cache is usually not shared between different domain names. But on the server side, it can lead to some unexpected behaviors. For example, you will have to check that there's no duplication in the cache: this could lead to a waste of resources (double storage required for cached ressources), and it could also lead to some security issues (for example, if the cache is not properly invalidated on all the domains, you could end up serving outdated ressources on the main domain or on the FQDN one). Invalidation issues could even open the door to some security issues, as an attacker could try to exploit the cache to serve outdated content to users - this is called "cache poisonning".

: the cache will not be shared between the two domain names. On the client side, it is not a big deal, as the cache is usually not shared between different domain names. But on the server side, it can lead to some unexpected behaviors. For example, you will have to check that there's no duplication in the cache: this could lead to a waste of resources (double storage required for cached ressources), and it could also lead to some security issues (for example, if the cache is not properly invalidated on all the domains, you could end up serving outdated ressources on the main domain or on the FQDN one). Invalidation issues could even open the door to some security issues, as an attacker could try to exploit the cache to serve outdated content to users - this is called "cache poisonning". Duplicate content: in a world were SEO optimization is key, serving the same content on two different domain names is not a good practice. There are chances that search engines will not consider this as duplicate content, but do you really want to take the risk?

So, to summarize the risks associated with an improper handling of trailing dots in domain names, you could face potential costs, security, SEO, and user experience issues.

How do large websites handle things?

Here is a summary of how several large websites handle trailing dots in domain names. It is based on a quick test I made with Symfony's HttpCLient, and it may not be perfectly exhaustive.

Domain http https http + www https + www Remarks amazon.com. 301 400 301 200  The root domain is not reachable in https . The www version in https serves content, but with a separate session from https://www.amazon.com , which means that you can be connected on both with separate accounts at the same time. apple.com. 404 404 301 200  The root domain is not reachable in both http and https . The www version in https serves content, but no asset is loaded as their URL violates the Content-Security-Policy of the website. bbc.com. 301 301 302 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.bbc.com . bing.com. 400 400 200 or 307 SSL error and 200  The root domain returns an HTTP error. The www version in https does not have a valid certificate. For clients that do not check the certificate, a response is served with a 200 status code instead of redirecting to https://www.bing.com . cloudflare.com. 301 301 301 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.cloudflare.com . developer.mozilla.org. 301 or 307 SSL error N/A N/A  The www. version does not exist. The root domain in http redirects to the non-FQDN domain name or to the https version of the FQDN, depending on whether the client supports HSTS or not. The root domain in https does not have a valid certificate. duckduckgo.com. 301 200 301 301  The root domain in https serves content, but no asset is loaded as their URL violates the Content-Security-Policy of the website. ebay.com. 301 301 301 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.ebay.com . free.fr. 301 301 301 302  github.com. 301 301 301 301  gitlab.com. 301 302 301 302  gnu.org. 301 301 200 or 307 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.gnu.org , or it redirects to the https version of the FQDN if the client supports HSTS . The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.gnu.org . google.com. 301 301 301 301  instagram.com. 301 400 301 400  The http versions are redirected to the https versions, but these return a 400 error (with, strangely, an HTML content that states "5xx Server Error" ). jolicode.com. 301 301 301 301  lacot.org. 301 301 301 301  lemonde.fr. 301 301 301 200  https://www.lemonde.fr./ servers content instead of redirecting to https://www.lemonde.fr/ . linkedin.com. 400 or 307 400 404 or 307 404  The root domain returns a 400 error. The www version in https returns a 404 error. medium.com. 301 404 301 301  The root domain in https returns a 404 error, while all other configurations redirect to https://medium.com . microsoft.com. 404 or 307 SSL error 302 302  The root domain returns a 404 error. The SSL certificate is invalid for the https version of the root domain. mozilla.org. 302 SSL error 301 200  The root domain in https does not have a valid certificate. The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.mozilla.org . netflix.com. 301 301 301 301  nytimes.com. 301 301 301 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.nytimes.com . ovhcloud.com. 301 SSL error and 503 400 400  The SSL certificate is invalid for the https version of the root and the www domains. Additionally, the http version of the www domain returns a 400 error. php.net. 301 301 301 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.php.net . reddit.com. 301 301 301 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.reddit.com . stackoverflow.com. 301 400 301 400  The https versions return a 400 error. symfony.com. 301 or 307 502 301 or 307 502  The https versions return a 502 error. twitter.com. 404 404 404 404  Twitter (and X) does not work with a Fully Qualified Domain Name. ubuntu.com. 302 SSL error and 200 302 SSL error and 200  The https versions do not have a valid SSL certificate. For clients that do not check the certificate, a response is served with a 200 status code instead of redirecting to https://ubuntu.com vercel.com. 308 SSL error and 200 308 SSL error and 308  The https versions do not have a valid SSL certificate. For clients that do not check the certificate, a response is served with a 200 status code instead of redirecting to https://vercel.com . w3.org. 301 301 301 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.w3.org . wikipedia.org. 301 301 301 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.wikipedia.org . wordpress.com. 301 301 301 301  xkcd.com. 301 200 301 200  The https versions serve content instead of redirecting to https://xkcd.com . youtube.com. 301 301 301 301  zend.com. 301 301 301 200  The www version in https serves content instead of redirecting to https://www.zend.com .

This table gives some insights on how trailing dots in domain names are supported. Basically, there are often mistakes:

SSL certificates issues : many websites do not have a valid SSL certificate configured for the FQDN domain name;

: many websites do not have a valid SSL certificate configured for the FQDN domain name; Content issues : some websites do not serve the same content on the FQDN domain name and on the non-FQDN domain name. This can be disturbing for users, as they may not expect to see different content on the two domain names;

: some websites do not serve the same content on the FQDN domain name and on the non-FQDN domain name. This can be disturbing for users, as they may not expect to see different content on the two domain names; Technical issues : some websites return errors when a request is made to the FQDN domain name (even though the FQDN is technically the most precise way to address a website's address!).

: some websites return errors when a request is made to the FQDN domain name (even though the FQDN is technically the most precise way to address a website's address!). Missing redirections: some websites do not redirect the FQDN domain name to the non-FQDN domain name, which can lead to duplicate content issues.

Recommendations

As a conclusion, even if it is not a silver-bullet solution for all cases, here are some recommendations on how to handle trailing dots in domain names:

Redirect to the non-FQDN domain name : this is the most common and user-friendly way to handle this situation. Directly redirect requests to the https version of your non-FQDN domain name;

: this is the most common and user-friendly way to handle this situation. Directly redirect requests to the version of your non-FQDN domain name; Make sure that a valid SSL certificate is configured for the FQDN domain name (for both the root domain and the www version) : this is important, as it will avoid SSL errors for clients that check the certificate;

: this is important, as it will avoid SSL errors for clients that check the certificate; Do not serve 2xx responses on the FQDN domain name: it could generate cache issues (and even security issues), increase costs, etc.

I implemented the trailing-dot domain name redirection using the "Redirect a Fully Qualified Domain" redirection.io recipe, but you're free to go your way :-)
Former President Donald Trump is spending much of the last Saturday before Election Day appealing to voters in the key battleground state of North Carolina.

The Republican presidential nominee first held a rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport and took the stage about an hour after his scheduled start. He left Gastonia around 2:35 p.m.

After a quick stop in Virginia for another campaign event, Trump returned to the Tar Heel State for an evening rally in Greensboro.

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His Democratic challenger is focused on North Carolina, too. Vice President Kamala Harris is holding her own rally in Charlotte Saturday night, featuring an appearance by actress Kerry Washington and musical performances from Jon Bon Jovi and Khalid.

Saturday was the final day of early voting in North Carolina, expected to be a critical state in the Electoral College. More than 3.8 million have already voted statewide, and the latest polls show a tied race.

The candidates and their surrogates will continue to campaign across the state right up to Election Day.

Trump will hold a rally in Kinston on Sunday and another in Raleigh on Monday. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and son Donald Trump Jr. are set to rally voters in Sanford on Sunday.

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Harris running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will appear at an event in Charlotte Sunday. First lady Jill Biden will barnstorm the state on Monday, making stops in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

Here are updates from Trumps rallies on Saturday.

Hundreds of people fill in spots near the stage to watch Donald Trump rally Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at the Gastonia Municipal Airport in Gastonia, N.C.

Supporters gather in Greensboro

5:35 p.m. Supporters were steadily filling into Trumps second North Carolina rally of the day at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, formerly the Greensboro Coliseum, after doors opened a little after 4 p.m.

Several rally attendees wore trash bags over their clothes, apparent nods to President Joe Bidens remark to Latino activists earlier in the week in which he appeared to refer to Trump supporters as garbage. Bidens comment followed comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referring to Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean at Trumps rally last Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

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At least two attendees wore garbage bags with a message printed on them: Biden calls us garbage. Trump calls us Americans.

Angie Rhodes, of Oak Ridge, wore a trash bag and a fluorescent safety vest, an allusion to the vests some sanitation workers wear  and the one Trump wore Wednesday aboard a garbage truck in Wisconsin.

Rhodes, a school bus driver, said she had not heard the full comment from Hinchcliffe, but took Bidens remark to heart.

That was not a good comment to make, Rhodes said.

Rhodes, who was attending her first Trump rally, said she preferred Trump mostly for his economic policies, including his proposals to cut taxes for lower- and middle-class workers and to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits.

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I want to see people prosper in life, Rhodes said. I want people to have money in their pockets.

Rhodes had already cast her ballot for Trump during the early-voting period, a change from previous years when she has voted on Election Day. Republican turnout during the early voting period in North Carolina is noticeably higher so far than it was in 2020, which follows Trump encouraging party voters to do so. Rhodes said Trump probably wouldnt pick up any additional voters Saturday night, but the event would be just a fun night for everybody.

Like Rhodes, Sarah and Greg Tuttle of Yadkin County also voted early for Trump.

Sarah Tuttle said she likes Trumps economic policies, among his other proposals. She believes Trump will get the prices down where its affordable for regular people, secure the border and bring America back.

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Greg Tuttle said there wasnt anything Trump could say Saturday evening that I dont already know, and he was looking forward to the event.

I just want to come out and support him, Greg Tuttle said. Thats all I want to do.

Songs like 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton, Mr. Brightside by the Killers and Africa by Toto played over the loudspeaker as the arena filled in. The upper-level section of the arena was blocked off with black tarps, and attendees were being permitted to sit in roughly three-fourths of the lower bowl. The arena has a capacity of 22,000.

Trump ends speech in Charlotte

2:35 p.m. Trump said 50% of phone calls from Western North Carolina to federal agencies in the wake of Helene went unanswered  news reported Friday by Politico. The news outlet cited call data published by FEMA in saying the agencys hurricane response encountered problems.

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Trump also said desecrating the American flag should be punishable by one year in prison. And he concluded his remarks after more than an hour with his frequent campaign messages: that he will cut taxes, address illegal immigration and avoid World War III.

Trump left the stage at 2:35 p.m.

Donald Trump stands behind a barrier Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at a rally in Gastonia, N.C.

Jocelyn Nungaray case

2:02 p.m. Trump played a video of the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old who was murdered in Texas, criticizing Harriss handling of immigration and endorsing him. Two undocumented immigrants from Venezuela have been arrested in the case, CNN reported.

Trump has repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail the South American country is sending people with criminal records to the U.S.

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She failed my daughter, the mother said of Harris.

The crowd is beginning to thin out as Trump hits the one-hour mark on his speech.

Trump on Harris, women

1:52 p.m. Trump predicted he will overperform expectations with women voters and said Harris was named the Democratic nominee because of political correctness.

Trump said he cant make comments about womens physical appearance because it would hurt his campaign.

If I said they were beautiful, its the end of your political career, he said.

Donald Trump speaks to thousands of rally-goers in Gastonia Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Assassination attempt, economy

1:28 p.m. Speaking about the assassination attempts hes faced, Trump said he wasnt aware when he entered politics it was a dangerous profession but that assassins tend to target consequential presidents.

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Nobody told me this ... But I wouldnt have changed my mind, he said.

After weaving through different topics, Trump predicted the latest jobs report would help his campaign, comparing President Joe Biden to former President Herbert Hoover.

The U.S. economy added 12,000 jobs in October, the smallest gain since December 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.

We cannot take four more years of this calamity, he said. ... These are Depression-like numbers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics attributed the numbers in part to strikes and the impacts of hurricanes Helene and Milton, CNBC reported.

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Trump said hes proposing a new tax credit for family caregivers.

Theyre angels, he said of caregivers.

Harris previously announced a policy proposal for Medicare to cover in-home aid for seniors.

Trump takes the stage

Trump took the stage at 1:03 p.m. after a video aired that included clips of the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania and the former president saying he chose to run again in 2024 because the U.S. has gone to hell.

Oh, this is a big crowd, Trump said to begin his remarks as those in attendance chanted his name followed by USA.

Trump claimed there are 20,000 people at the event. His campaign staff told The Charlotte Observer earlier in the day there were 5,000 people expected.

Trump reiterated his frequent comments about illegal immigration, criticism of the Biden-Harris administration and false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

He touted his recent endorsement from former NFL quarterback Brett Favre.

90-minute break, WWE videos

12:55 p.m. After about a 90 minute break in speeches, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi took the stage followed by RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.

Bondi criticized businessman Mark Cuban for his comment that Trump doesnt surround himself with strong intelligent women. Cuban has since apologized for the remark.

Whatley criticized Harris for her handling of immigration and the economy  frequent Republican talking points on the campaign trail.

Trump was scheduled to speak at noon but had not taken the stage as of 12:50 p.m. During the break in speeches, music played and a clip from a WWE event featuring Trump shaving the head of Vince McMahon aired on the two screens on site.

Dan Bishop speaks

11:17 a.m. U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, Republican nominee for attorney general, told the Gastonia crowd Trumps political career has reignited a love for America.

Every one of us has our part to play in this movement, he said.

Bishop said if elected, he will support law enforcement and push for state and local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials.

Im going to be the attorney general to restore law and order in North Carolina, he said.

Bishop repeated his claims about his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, having ties to Chad Turner, the president of the LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce who was convicted of a sex offense in 1998. Jackson previously told The Charlotte Observer he didnt know about Turners past when he accepted an award from Turner in 2022.

Bishop also criticized Jackson for his endorsement from the editorial board of The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer, which said the Democrat is a solid progressive but one who is willing to think and work across the aisle. The endorsement said that Bishop speaks partisan instead of policy.

Congressional candidates Pat Harrigan, Tim Moore speak

11:11 a.m. Republican U.S. House candidate Pat Harrigan was the first speaker at Trumps rally, saying Harris broke the U.S. economy as vice president. Harrigan, whos running for the 10th Congressional District, also criticized the Biden-Harris administrations handling of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan and immigration.

The world burns today before our very eyes, he said.

Harrigan claimed Harris wants to turn every city into a sanctuary city and spoke about people who are transgender having access to bathrooms and sports.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, whos also running for the U.S. House, spoke next and predicted Trump will carry North Carolina.

We are going to turn this country around, he said.

Moore said Democrats are bankrupting the country with their spending measures, including on undocumented immigrants.

Moore said President Biden didnt visit North Carolina after Helene and just flew over the state in his 747.

Biden did a flyover in a helicopter in Western North Carolina after the storm. He also met on the ground in Raleigh with emergency management officials and state and local representatives.

Trump rally attendees there for the camaraderie

Supporters gather at Gastonia Municipal Airport for a Donald Trump rally on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024

10:54 a.m. In general, attendees tell The Charlotte Observer they already know what Trump is going to say. Theyre more excited to be here for the atmosphere and meeting other supporters.

I think he really speaks for middle America, you know, the worker. I think his message resonates with people, said Angela Weyenberg, a Davidson resident who said this is her first Trump rally. Its just more about being out here with like minds and getting into the spirit.

A large number of people in North Carolina have already voted, including people like Weyenberg, who dont typically vote early. thats due in part to the Trump campaign making a concerted effort to get voters to the polls early this time around, even as Trump has advocated for single-day elections and paper ballots in future elections.

Screens next to the stage at the rally in Gastonia said, Vote Early!

One attendee, Waxhaw resident Eva Gagan, said she voted early for the first time this year and previously thought only voters above the age of 65 were eligible to do so.

Shes glad more Republicans are turning out to vote early than prior years.

You know, its about time. People need to vote, Gagan said. They think their vote doesnt count, but it does.

Crowd filing in for Trumps Gastonia rally

10:15 a.m. The seating area for Trumps rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport was filling up by 10 a.m., about two hours before the former president is scheduled to speak.

By 10:15 a.m., some were being directed to standing room only areas.

Rally goers applauded when a pre-taped video of Trump ran on two video boards. Trump said in the video he wants to limit voting to paper ballots and accused Democrats of cheating in elections. He encouraged supporters to vote early.

A press aide told reporters the campaign is expecting about 5,000 attendees at the Gastonia event.

Harris campaign: Trump scrambling to win NC

In a statement ahead of Trumps Gastonia rally, the Harris campaign claimed the Republican nominee is scrambling to keep North Carolina in his win column. Republicans havent lost the state since former President Barack Obama turned it blue in 2008.

Trump wants to rip away our fundamental freedoms and raise costs on North Carolina families  but voters are turning out in droves because were ready for a new way forward with Vice President Harris, who will make it easier for hardworking people to get by and thrive, spokesman Michael Zhadanovsky said.

Trump won North Carolina in 2016 and 2020, but he posted his slimmest margin of victory of any state here in 2020.

The former president will hold four events in North Carolina before Election Day. Harris will rally in Charlotte Saturday night.
Former President Donald Trump spent much of the last Saturday before Election Day appealing to voters in the key battleground state of North Carolina.

The Republican presidential nominee first held a rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport and took the stage about an hour after his scheduled start. He left Gastonia around 2:35 p.m.

After a quick stop in Virginia for another campaign event, Trump returned to the Tar Heel State for an evening rally in Greensboro.

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His Democratic challenger is focused on North Carolina, too. Vice President Kamala Harris held her own rally in Charlotte Saturday night, featuring an appearance by actress Kerry Washington and musical performances from Jon Bon Jovi and Khalid.

Saturday was the final day of early voting in North Carolina, expected to be a critical state in the Electoral College. More than 3.8 million have already voted statewide, and the latest polls show a tied race.

The candidates and their surrogates will continue to campaign across the state right up to Election Day.

Trump will hold a rally in Kinston on Sunday and another in Raleigh on Monday. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and son Donald Trump Jr. are set to rally voters in Sanford on Sunday.

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Harris running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will appear at an event in Charlotte Sunday. First lady Jill Biden will barnstorm the state on Monday, making stops in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Harris husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, will speak at an event in Greenville on Monday.

Here are updates from Trumps rallies on Saturday.

Hundreds of people fill in spots near the stage to watch Donald Trump rally Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at the Gastonia Municipal Airport in Gastonia, N.C.

Trump wraps up in Greensboro

10:39 p.m. Trump concluded his remarks shortly before 10:40 p.m. He spoke for about 80 minutes.

Before leaving the stage, he told his supporters: Nov. 5 will be the most important day in the history of our country.

As the event concluded, Trump and rally attendees danced to Y.M.C.A. as it played over the loudspeaker.

Trump promotes false claims about FEMA, touts tax plans

10 p.m. About 15 minutes into his remarks, Trump said: I want to send our prayers to everyone here in North Carolina still recovering from Hurricane Helene.

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Trump then spent roughly four minutes talking about the federal governments response to the storm, largely spreading misinformation that has previously been debunked. For instance, Trump said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was doing a terrible job handling recovery efforts in Western North Carolina because theyve spent all the money on illegal aliens coming into our country.

As NPR reported in a fact-check about FEMA last month, the money used in the aftermath of Helene and other major disasters is not part of FEMAs operating budget, but instead comes from the Disaster Relief Fund, which is appropriated by Congress.

Regarding the recent national jobs report, which showed that the country added 12,000 jobs last month, Trump said that immigrants were taking jobs from African Americans and Hispanic Americans, and especially the African Americans. In a report published last month, PBS debunked that claim.

Trump also promoted his plans to stop taxing tips, overtime and Social Security benefits, which garnered loud cheers from the crowd.

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Around 10:15 p.m., as Trump was still speaking, some in the crowd had started to leave.

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Trump arrives at Greensboro at the end of a long day

9:14 p.m. Trump took the stage, about an hour and 45 minutes later than scheduled.

He was preceded by Michael Whatley, the former chair of the North Carolina Republican Party who now chairs the Republican National Committee. Whatley said the U.S. would be weak under Harris, but strong under Trump.

The election will be an inflection point for North Carolina and the country, he said.

Elected officials speak ahead of Trumps arrival

7:45 p.m. Several elected officials spoke ahead of Trumps arrival in Greensboro, which was running behind schedule. He concluded his remarks in Virginia at 7:40 p.m., The New York Times reported, 10 minutes after he was originally scheduled to take the stage in Greensboro.

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The event kicked off with Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late Rev. Billy Graham, giving the invocation. Graham, an evangelist who has supported Trump for more than a decade, said the former president needs God to win this election.

Other speakers included Addison McDowell, the Republican nominee for North Carolinas 6th Congressional district, Dan Bishop, the Republican nominee for state attorney general, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Budd and U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

McDowell proclaimed that he would be the next congressman from the 6th district, while Bishop proclaimed that, in three days, Im going to become the first Republican attorney general of North Carolina in 128 years. A poll released by Elon University this week showed Bishops Democratic opponent, Jeff Jackson, ahead among North Carolina voters, 43% to Bishops 38%. The remaining voters were unsure of their choice (13%) or had not heard of either candidate (6%).

Budd encouraged rally-goers to vote the whole Republican ballot because Donald Trump is going to need a lot of help.

A supporter holds a sign as former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a campaign rally in support of former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Supporters gather in Greensboro

5:35 p.m. Supporters were steadily filing into Trumps second North Carolina rally of the day at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, formerly the Greensboro Coliseum, after doors opened a little after 4 p.m.

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Several rally attendees wore trash bags over their clothes, apparent nods to President Joe Bidens remark to Latino activists earlier in the week in which he appeared to refer to Trump supporters as garbage. Bidens comment followed comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referring to Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean at Trumps rally last Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

At least two attendees wore garbage bags with a message printed on them: Biden calls us garbage. Trump calls us Americans.

Angie Rhodes, of Oak Ridge, wore a trash bag and a fluorescent safety vest, an allusion to the vests some sanitation workers wear  and the one Trump wore Wednesday aboard a garbage truck in Wisconsin.

Rhodes, a school bus driver, said she had not heard the full comment from Hinchcliffe, but took Bidens remark to heart.

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That was not a good comment to make, Rhodes said.

Supporters of former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gather outside First Horizon Coliseum prior to a campaign rally in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

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Rhodes, who was attending her first Trump rally, said she preferred Trump mostly for his economic policies, including his proposals to cut taxes for lower- and middle-class workers and to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits.

I want to see people prosper in life, Rhodes said. I want people to have money in their pockets.

Rhodes had already cast her ballot for Trump during the early-voting period, a change from previous years when she has voted on Election Day. Republican turnout during the early voting period in North Carolina is noticeably higher so far than it was in 2020, which follows Trump encouraging party voters to do so. Rhodes said Trump probably wouldnt pick up any additional voters Saturday night, but the event would be just a fun night for everybody.

Like Rhodes, Sarah and Greg Tuttle of Yadkin County also voted early for Trump.

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Sarah Tuttle said she likes Trumps economic policies, among his other proposals. She believes Trump will get the prices down where its affordable for regular people, secure the border and bring America back.

Greg Tuttle said there wasnt anything Trump could say Saturday evening that I dont already know, and he was looking forward to the event.

I just want to come out and support him, Greg Tuttle said. Thats all I want to do.

Songs like 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton, Mr. Brightside by the Killers and Africa by Toto played over the loudspeaker as the arena filled in. The upper-level section of the arena was blocked off with black tarps, and attendees were being permitted to sit in roughly three-fourths of the lower bowl. The arena has a capacity of 22,000.

Jacob Sisk and Tony Allen wear flags draped over their shoulders while waiting in line prior to a campaign rally held by former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Trump ends speech in Charlotte

2:35 p.m. Trump said 50% of phone calls from Western North Carolina to federal agencies in the wake of Helene went unanswered  news reported Friday by Politico. The news outlet cited call data published by FEMA in saying the agencys hurricane response encountered problems.

Trump also said desecrating the American flag should be punishable by one year in prison. And he concluded his remarks after more than an hour with his frequent campaign messages: that he will cut taxes, address illegal immigration and avoid World War III.

Trump left the stage at 2:35 p.m.

Donald Trump stands behind a barrier Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at a rally in Gastonia, N.C.

Jocelyn Nungaray case

2:02 p.m. Trump played a video of the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old who was murdered in Texas, criticizing Harriss handling of immigration and endorsing him. Two undocumented immigrants from Venezuela have been arrested in the case, CNN reported.

Trump has repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail the South American country is sending people with criminal records to the U.S.

She failed my daughter, the mother said of Harris.

The crowd is beginning to thin out as Trump hits the one-hour mark on his speech.

Trump on Harris, women

1:52 p.m. Trump predicted he will overperform expectations with women voters and said Harris was named the Democratic nominee because of political correctness.

Trump said he cant make comments about womens physical appearance because it would hurt his campaign.

If I said they were beautiful, its the end of your political career, he said.

Donald Trump speaks to thousands of rally-goers in Gastonia Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Assassination attempt, economy

1:28 p.m. Speaking about the assassination attempts hes faced, Trump said he wasnt aware when he entered politics it was a dangerous profession but that assassins tend to target consequential presidents.

Nobody told me this ... But I wouldnt have changed my mind, he said.

After weaving through different topics, Trump predicted the latest jobs report would help his campaign, comparing President Joe Biden to former President Herbert Hoover.

The U.S. economy added 12,000 jobs in October, the smallest gain since December 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.

We cannot take four more years of this calamity, he said. ... These are Depression-like numbers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics attributed the numbers in part to strikes and the impacts of hurricanes Helene and Milton, CNBC reported.

Trump said hes proposing a new tax credit for family caregivers.

Theyre angels, he said of caregivers.

Harris previously announced a policy proposal for Medicare to cover in-home aid for seniors.

Trump takes the stage

Trump took the stage at 1:03 p.m. after a video aired that included clips of the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania and the former president saying he chose to run again in 2024 because the U.S. has gone to hell.

Oh, this is a big crowd, Trump said to begin his remarks as those in attendance chanted his name followed by USA.

Trump claimed there are 20,000 people at the event. His campaign staff told The Charlotte Observer earlier in the day there were 5,000 people expected.

Trump reiterated his frequent comments about illegal immigration, criticism of the Biden-Harris administration and false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

He touted his recent endorsement from former NFL quarterback Brett Favre.

90-minute break, WWE videos

12:55 p.m. After about a 90 minute break in speeches, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi took the stage followed by RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.

Bondi criticized businessman Mark Cuban for his comment that Trump doesnt surround himself with strong intelligent women. Cuban has since apologized for the remark.

Whatley criticized Harris for her handling of immigration and the economy  frequent Republican talking points on the campaign trail.

Trump was scheduled to speak at noon but had not taken the stage as of 12:50 p.m. During the break in speeches, music played and a clip from a WWE event featuring Trump shaving the head of Vince McMahon aired on the two screens on site.

Dan Bishop speaks

11:17 a.m. U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, Republican nominee for attorney general, told the Gastonia crowd Trumps political career has reignited a love for America.

Every one of us has our part to play in this movement, he said.

Bishop said if elected, he will support law enforcement and push for state and local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials.

Im going to be the attorney general to restore law and order in North Carolina, he said.

Bishop repeated his claims about his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, having ties to Chad Turner, the president of the LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce who was convicted of a sex offense in 1998. Jackson previously told The Charlotte Observer he didnt know about Turners past when he accepted an award from Turner in 2022.

Bishop also criticized Jackson for his endorsement from the editorial board of The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer, which said the Democrat is a solid progressive but one who is willing to think and work across the aisle. The endorsement said that Bishop speaks partisan instead of policy.

Congressional candidates Pat Harrigan, Tim Moore speak

11:11 a.m. Republican U.S. House candidate Pat Harrigan was the first speaker at Trumps rally, saying Harris broke the U.S. economy as vice president. Harrigan, whos running for the 10th Congressional District, also criticized the Biden-Harris administrations handling of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan and immigration.

The world burns today before our very eyes, he said.

Harrigan claimed Harris wants to turn every city into a sanctuary city and spoke about people who are transgender having access to bathrooms and sports.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, whos also running for the U.S. House, spoke next and predicted Trump will carry North Carolina.

We are going to turn this country around, he said.

Moore said Democrats are bankrupting the country with their spending measures, including on undocumented immigrants.

Moore said President Biden didnt visit North Carolina after Helene and just flew over the state in his 747.

Biden did a flyover in a helicopter in Western North Carolina after the storm. He also met on the ground in Raleigh with emergency management officials and state and local representatives.

Trump rally attendees there for the camaraderie

Supporters gather at Gastonia Municipal Airport for a Donald Trump rally on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024

10:54 a.m. In general, attendees tell The Charlotte Observer they already know what Trump is going to say. Theyre more excited to be here for the atmosphere and meeting other supporters.

I think he really speaks for middle America, you know, the worker. I think his message resonates with people, said Angela Weyenberg, a Davidson resident who said this is her first Trump rally. Its just more about being out here with like minds and getting into the spirit.

A large number of people in North Carolina have already voted, including people like Weyenberg, who dont typically vote early. thats due in part to the Trump campaign making a concerted effort to get voters to the polls early this time around, even as Trump has advocated for single-day elections and paper ballots in future elections.

Screens next to the stage at the rally in Gastonia said, Vote Early!

One attendee, Waxhaw resident Eva Gagan, said she voted early for the first time this year and previously thought only voters above the age of 65 were eligible to do so.

Shes glad more Republicans are turning out to vote early than prior years.

You know, its about time. People need to vote, Gagan said. They think their vote doesnt count, but it does.

Crowd filing in for Trumps Gastonia rally

10:15 a.m. The seating area for Trumps rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport was filling up by 10 a.m., about two hours before the former president is scheduled to speak.

By 10:15 a.m., some were being directed to standing room only areas.

Rally goers applauded when a pre-taped video of Trump ran on two video boards. Trump said in the video he wants to limit voting to paper ballots and accused Democrats of cheating in elections. He encouraged supporters to vote early.

A press aide told reporters the campaign is expecting about 5,000 attendees at the Gastonia event.

Harris campaign: Trump scrambling to win NC

In a statement ahead of Trumps Gastonia rally, the Harris campaign claimed the Republican nominee is scrambling to keep North Carolina in his win column. Republicans havent lost the state since former President Barack Obama turned it blue in 2008.

Trump wants to rip away our fundamental freedoms and raise costs on North Carolina families  but voters are turning out in droves because were ready for a new way forward with Vice President Harris, who will make it easier for hardworking people to get by and thrive, spokesman Michael Zhadanovsky said.

Trump won North Carolina in 2016 and 2020, but he posted his slimmest margin of victory of any state here in 2020.

The former president will hold four events in North Carolina before Election Day. Harris will rally in Charlotte Saturday night.
Vice President Kamala Harris held a rally in Charlotte Saturday evening ahead of Election Day, bringing with her Kerry Washington, Jon Bon Jovi, Brittney Spencer, Khalid and The War And Treaty.

The Democratic nominee for president appealed to voters on the last day of early voting in North Carolina. More than 3.8 million have already voted statewide, and the latest polls show a tied race. She spoke for about 30 minutes.

In addition to musical guests, Harris was joined by Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein, US Rep. Alma Adams, other Democratic candidates on the ballot this year and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles.

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Harris wasnt the only presidential candidate in North Carolina this weekend. Former President Donald Trump is holding events in Gastonia and Greensboro on Saturday.

Below are live updates from the Harris rally.

Harris speech ends

5:14 p.m. Harris said she will support tax cuts for the middle class, pass a ban on corporate price gouging on groceries, work to make sure Americans can afford to buy homes, help small businesses and fight for reproductive rights.

Harris referenced Project 2025 when she said Trump would force states to monitor womens pregnancies. Project 2025 is a conservative platform Trump has repeatedly tried to distance himself from.

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Here is my pledge to you: As president I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face, Harris said. I am looking to make progress.

Harris said the county has much to be optimistic about and asked voters in the next three days to knock on doors, vote, make texts and calls and encourage others to vote for her.

Your vote is your voice, she said. And your voice is your power.

Harris left the stage at 5:15 p.m. to Freedom, by Beyonce. Her speech lasted about 30 minutes.

Protesters interrupt

4:50 p.m. Harris speech was interrupted by multiple small groups of protesters, some of which had pro-Palestine banners. They were escorted out by security and drowned out by the crowd who chanted back.

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The first outburst appeared to be pro-Trump, and Harris addressed them by saying that this is what democracy looks like.

She responded more specifically to the pro-Palestine group.

We all want that war in the Middle East to end. We want the hostages home, and when I am president I will do everything in my power to make it so, Harris said.

Prior to the rally, a collection of pro-Palestine groups, including UNC Charlottes Students for Justice in Palestine and Charlotte United for Palestine, asked people to sign up for tickets to rally to let Harris know she is not welcome in Charlotte.

Harris starts with a question

4:42 p.m. Harris took the stage with a question for attendees.

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Are we ready to win? she asked.

With three days left before the election, Harris said there is still hard work to do.

We have an opportunity in this election to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other. Were done with that, Harris said. We know who he is. He tells us everyday.

Harris called Trump increasingly unstable, and obsessed with revenge, before the crowd erupted into the now-familiar chant: were not going back.

Trump will be sitting in that office stewing over his enemies list, Harris said. When Im elected I will walk in on your behalf working on my to-do list.

Johnson C Smith student introduces Kamala Harris

4:38 p.m. Tyson Bates, a student-athlete at Johnson C. Smith University, said he voted in his first presidential race Friday for Harris.

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He said Harris is the best president for young voters because she will protect reproductive rights, decrease gun violence, lower costs and protect democracy.

Its up to us to fight for the future we deserve. Its up to us to vote for the future we deserve. he said. As president, young voters can trust her to vote for us. I want to own a home one day and shes going to make it more affordable.

Bates then introduced Harris.

Jon Bon Jovi

4:13 p.m. Jon Bon Jovi took the stage accompanied by band The War and Treaty to play The Peoples House.

Attendees danced, cheered and clapped along to the performance. Bon Jovi said he wrote the song after the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Bon Jovi also played Livin on a Prayer.

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I have one simple question for you, Bon Jovi asked . Who can we count on to unite us?

He encouraged attendees to vote for Harris, saying shes a leader who will help unite people and create positive change for future generations.

The American dream is very much alive and well, Bon Jovi said. Because we the people hold the power to change our futures.

Gov. Roy Cooper

4:00 p.m. Even mother nature doesnt stop this election from moving onward, Gov. Roy Cooper said after talking about the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

He said that Trump has an enemies list and would seek revenge against people. Harris has a to-do list shell use to help people, Cooper said.

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Donald Trump is too focused on his own power and grievances to care about your life, your cost of living, your family, your freedoms, you futures, he said.

Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Actress Kerry Washington

3:49 p.m. Actress Kerry Washington took the stage and recalled a conversation with a woman she met en route to Charlotte for the Harris rally. Washington played the character Olivia Pope in the popular political TV show Scandal. In the series, Pope works as a crisis manager.

Olivia Pope, are you going to fix this? Olivia Pope, are you going to save the day? Washington recalled the woman asking.

But the soul of this democracy is not in Popes hands, Washington told the crowd. Its in yours.

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She encouraged people to vote for Harris, talk to their family members, babysit family members kids so they can vote and give people a ride to the polls.

Josh Stein speaks

3:40 p.m. Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee for governor, pledged to veto any further restrictions on womens reproductive freedoms if elected.

Governing is not that complicated. Put the people first and then fight for them. That the job of the attorney general, Stein said before touting Harris work as California attorney general and his own in North Carolina.

Stein called the vision of Trump and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor, division, violence and hate. Then, Stein reminded the crowd about Robinsons controversial statements about women, teachers, LGBTQ+ people and the Holocaust.

Trump, Harris planes back-to-back at CLT airport

Planes for both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump sit on the tarmac of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport as both rally in Charlotte Saturday. pic.twitter.com/WdEi8AjMjE  Nora O'Neill (@noroneill) November 2, 2024

Mayor Vi Lyles, Rep. Alma Adams

3:20 p.m. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles told a story about her father, who built roads during World War II and dug graves for soldiers. That was at a time in American history when Black Americans faced major barriers to purchasing a home or going to college, Lyles said.

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But my dad came back with a skill and he made it impossible for us to ignore that things could be better and different. That is what Kamala Harris embodies, that things will be better and different for working families  cutting taxes for the working class, lowering these grocery prices and capping the price of insulin and other drugs that are necessary for us to be successfully healthy.

Lyles was followed by U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Charlotte Democrat. Adams claimed that, if elected, Trump would try to ban abortion nationwide and threaten access to reproductive health care, including birth control.

This election is all about freedom and all about power, she said. And, you know, power is what makes the difference in lives and communities, but the first thing you have to understand about power and how to get it is that you dont ask somebody how to get it ... you take it. And once youve taken it, you use it.

Adams said that voters can use their power to send Harris and Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president, to the White House.

We are the down-ballot races

3 p.m. Dont you let your friends skip Mo Green on that ballot, said Jeff Jackson, a Democratic congressman whos running for attorney general. Friends dont let friends skip Mo.

Green is the Democratic nominee for superintendent of public education  one of several statewide races on the ballot this year. Green faces Republican nominee Michele Morrow.

Jackson was joined on stage by a collection of the Democratic nominees for those council of state races  Elaine Marshall for secretary of state, Braxton Winston for labor commissioner, Natasha Marcus for insurance commissioner and Wesley Harris for state treasurer.

Youve heard a lot about down-ballot races. We are the down-ballot races, Jackson said.

Kamala Harris gets off her plane at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport at 3:36 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. In the background is former President Donald Trumps airplane. The two both held rallies in the Charlotte area Saturday.

Jon Bon Jovi and the band The War and Treaty perform at PNC Music Pavilion prior to Vice President Kamala Harris speech on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Vice President Kamala Harris supporters hold up signs at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris smiles as she speaks to supporters during a rally at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

A supporter listens to Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Jon Bon Jovi, left, performs during a rally for presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Supporters listen and show support for Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Supporters reach out to Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with supporters during a rally at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Vice President Kamala Harris smiles at supporters during a rally at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Supporters for Vice President Kamala Harris cheer during a rally at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to supporters during a rally at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

A man, center, takes away a banner that protesters held up during a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
(Bloomberg) -- As the US presidential election hits its home stretch, companies that advise Americans on how to move abroad are busier than ever.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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After the debate with Biden and Trump, our traffic shot up 900%, says Jen Barnett, founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans figure out how they can realistically leave the country. In the past couple of weeks, as poll numbers flip-flop, demand has absolutely exploded.

She says Americans are starting to seriously consider an exit strategy instead of just talking about moving somewhere else. Shes one of them, having moved from Alabama to Merida, Mexico, earlier this year.

In an October survey of 7,000 Americans interested in emigrating, Barnetts company found that political division was among the top reasons for wanting to leave, second only to adventure and personal growth.

Henley & Partners, one of the biggest firms specializing in residency- and citizenship-by-investment, says the total number of inquires from the US has risen by 500% since 2020 and that the first ten months of 2024 have already seen more demand than all of 2023.

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The primary driver for US citizens looking outside the country is political uncertainty, says Basil Mohr-Elzeki, managing director at Henley & Partners. He says clients generally wont spend more than 10% of their net worth on residency and citizenship programs, which can vary in cost from around $100,000 to $8 million. More than 40 countries have these type of residency-by-investment programs, what are known as golden visas, including the US itself. (It costs a minimum of $800,000 to buy US residency.)

Global Citizen Solutions, which helps facilitate citizenship and residency, is seeing similar upticks in demand.

Were speaking to a lot of Americans at the moment, says Artur Saraiva, the companys co-founder. He says the election has played a big role, and hes seen demand from both registered Democrats and Republicans.

Saraiva says the majority of his clients are looking into residency-by-investment programs.

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Portugal has been very attractive, Saraiva says, citing the countrys high quality of life and pathways to getting European passports, which enable freedom of movement within the European Union. He adds that Greece is also a top choice because of the laid-back, sun-filled lifestyle.

Experts advise those who are interested in becoming expats to spend some time in their potential home before packing all their bags. Before landing in Mexico, for instance, Expatsis Barnett thought she might want to live in Vancouver. Then she came to terms with the cost of living there, which she realized during a trial stint was higher than shed initially anticipated. There were also logistical difficulties in terms of securing work permits in Canada. Its all much more complex than just booking a flight and renting a home, and there are different rules for retirees and students than there are for people who intend to work.

If next weeks presidential election doesnt go your way, here are four strategies that experts say will help you as an American get out of Dodge, and where a path might take you.

Digital Nomad Programs

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Many countries offer programs where remote workers, aka digital nomads, can live and work abroad for a fixed period of time, generally subject to minimum income requirements. In Spainthe best country to be a digital nomad according to Global Citizen Solutionsthat income amount is 2,400 ($2,600) per month for a single adult. Global Citizen Solutions highlights Spains affordability, high-speed internet, startup laws based on boosting the countrys economy and, crucially, zero taxation on foreign earned income.

In a bid to compete for foreign talent and investment, popular destinations such as Greece, Italy, Japan and Thailand have all added digital nomad programs.

Expatsis Barnett also says the DAFT visa (Dutch American Friendship Treaty) that lets American entrepreneurs to work in the Netherlands is another great optionit allows for an initial residency of up to two years. Many digital nomad programs allow people to stay for a year on a visa, with the option to renew it.

Residence by Investment

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Some countries give out golden visas to those who invest large amounts of money in the country. These are becoming increasingly controversial, with worries of corruption and increasing real estate prices for locals. However, there are still viable paths to move abroad if an individual has the funds available.

Portugal, for instance, has changed the terms of its golden visa program, making it harder to get approval by simply buying property in the country. But it remains an attractive destination for residence by investment. Now prospective residents must invest a minimum of 500,000 in companies or funds not connected to real estateSaraiva says hes advised clients to spend this sum on things like green energy solutions and art foundations.

Citizenship by Descent

If Americans can prove tangible evidence of their heritage in a foreign country, they can explore gaining citizenship there. For example, anyone who can prove direct descent from an Italian ancestor born after March 1861when the modern Italian state was formedis eligible to apply for Italian citizenship. (The right documentation is required.)

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Italian attorney Marco Permunian says over the past few years, hes noticed a continuous growth in applications from foreigners (especially US citizens), who wish to apply for Italian citizenship by descent. He had around 480 monthly inquiries last year, and in May, as the election kicked into full gear, he registered just shy of 1,000.

Permunian isnt surprised. Overall, the general feeling of instability throughout the US, both politically and socially, in recent years has been a driver for many US citizens to pursue a path to dual citizenship, he says. Particularly in Europe.

Skilled Worker Visas Or Employee Transfers

For some lucky people, theres always the option of moving to a foreign office affiliated with your current company, if your employer is an international organization that can sponsor you to live and work abroad. Not a possibility for you? Then apply for a visa in a country looking for workers in a specific trade.

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This route is the most challenging, but thats what most people under 60 need, says Expatsis Barnett. Finding remote work that will let you move abroad is really hard, so we try to encourage people to re-skill or upskill into nursing, construction trades or software, as they are the fields most in demand, she explains.

The Top Five Most Popular Countries for Americans to Move to in 2024

According to data shared with Bloomberg from Henley & Partners, these are the countries and programs that were most in-demand with American clients so far in 2024, a year thats shaping to break records for the firm.

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship: minimum nonrefundable donations of $230,000. Portugal residence: 500,000 investment in companies or funds not connected to real estate. Malta citizenship: 600,000 minimum investment, excluding real estate. Greece residence: ranges from a 250,000 to 800,000 minimum investment in real estate, depending on the type of investment and location within the country. Spain residence: 500,000 minimum investment in real estate or 1 million in investment funds or shares.

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Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A Lake Norman-area movie theater has gone dark, and Davidson has just lost the towns only movie theater.

Our Town Cinemas Cafe & Taphouses stated that its last day of operation was Thursday.

We have reached the end of a true era. Yesterday was our final day of operation here at Our Town Cinemas while the renovations begin at Sadler Square, Our Town Cinemas said Friday afternoon on its Facebook page.

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The theater thanked customers for their support over the years and added, I will leave you with this final thought: We prefer to say see you later, rather than goodbye. That comment was above the classic Warner Brothers Bugs Bunny cartoon sign-off: Thats all Folks!

The privately-owned, four-screen theater and all of the other businesses at Sadler Square shopping center on Griffith Street in Davidson were given 30-day notice to leave by Oct. 31 to make way for renovations, business owners there told The Charlotte Observer. The complex is within walking distance to Davidson College.

Our Town Cinemas Cafe & Taphouse in Davidson announced Friday that it was closing in the wake of renovations at Sadler Square by the shopping centers new owners. Davidson is losing its only movie theater.

The nearly 38,000-square-foot Sadler Square at 201 Griffith St. in Davidson was purchased in February by Piedmont Capital, a Charlotte real estate investment firm.

Piedmont Capital paid $6.1 million for the nearly 4-acre site, Mecklenburg County property records show. The sale also included four small connecting parcels of Watson and Depot streets that are less than an acre combined.

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Its unclear what will happen to the other businesses at the shopping center. Piedmont Capital officials did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

Movie theater officials declined requests for comment. The cinema had operated there for 15 years showing first-run films.

Our Town Cinemas final four movie showings listed in October included animated films The Wild Robot and Transformers One. The other films were Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice with Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega, and Joker: Folie a Deux, with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.

Lilly Randall, spoke with a customer after checking a ticket at Our Town Cinemas in Davidson in this 2022 file photo.

Other movie theaters that closed, and opened,

Our Towns closing is another blow to the Charlotte regions movie scene, which has had a bumpy few years since the COVID pandemic.

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Since 2020, Knoxville-based chain Regal closed three movie theaters in the Charlotte region. Regal Cinebarre Arboretum closed in 2022, Regal Ballantyne closed in January 2020, and Charlottes only cinema art house at the time Regal Manor Twin closed in May 2020.

Studio Movie Grill, based in Texas, did not reopen its University City movie and dine-in theater after filing for bankruptcy. The theater had opened in December 2019. In March 2020, the chain also closed its first Charlotte theater at Epicentre in uptown.

But two theaters have opened. In March 2022, Texas chain Cinergy Dine-in Cinemas opened in the former Studio Movie Grill site at 5336 Docia Crossing Road.

Independent Picture House opened in June 2022 at 4237 Raleigh St. in NoDa with three auditoriums. Charlottes only art house movie theater announced in May that it is expanding and adding a fourth auditorium.

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Charlotte Film Society, a more than 40-year-old nonprofit dedicated to bringing foreign, classic and independent films to Charlotte, owns the theater.

This place was so special

The demise of the theater led to an outpouring of support from patrons on its Facebook page, who spoke of how it was a special part of the fabric of the town.

So sadthis was one of the best things to happen to Davidson. This place was so special, one person wrote.

Many people made pleas for the theater to reopen elsewhere and lamented the communitys loss. They also shared thanks for creating memories.

So sad to see this era come to a close. Our family was able to enjoy one last movie, The Wild Robot, on your final night and it was special. So many memories here, from independent film screenings to date nights. I will really miss your special hometown theater, another person said.

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This sentiment that one person wrote was also a common refrain: We have lost a true gem in Davidson.

Our Town Cinemas opened 15 years ago in Sadler Square within walking distance of Davidson College.

We have no idea whats going on

On Friday, James Nguyen, co-owner of Davidson Nail Spa with his wife Jen, was moving out of Sadler Square. The Nguyens rented a U-Haul and plan to store their salons equipment in their garage and home.

The Nguyens hope to return to the shopping center in March when renovations are expected to finish, but James Nguyen is uncertain that will happen. He said they were offered a new lease but havent seen it.

We have no idea whats going on, a frustrated Nguyen said. I want to stay here.

Fading optimism under new ownership

Business owners were optimistic the new owner would make improvements, News of Davidson reported in April. But by September, the shopping center businesses learned they would need to close temporarily or move for major renovations, the nonprofit online publication reported.

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Now, windows are covered with moving signs and spaces are empty. All of the tenants were given a 30-day notice to vacate by Oct. 31, WSOC-TV reported.

Some of the businesses, like the nail spa and BK Custom Dry Cleaners had been there for 20 and 30 years, respectively.

But the center also has seen businesses come and go like Earth Fare. In June 2021, the Asheville-based specialty grocer opened the 18,000-square-foot store at the former Healthy Home Market site. It closed in November 2022.

Business moves

Some businesses have found new locations, at least temporarily.

The Egg Cafe closed its Sadler Square restaurant Oct. 6, CharlotteFive reported. Owners Robert and Eileen McCrary merged the breakfast-based restaurant with their barbecue joint The Crazy Pig, a half-mile away on South Main Street.

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Its a little hectic combining the two restaurants, Robert McCrary told The Charlotte Observer on Friday.

The McCrarys received a letter of intent for a lease back at Sadler Square, Robert McCrary said. But the rent has more than doubled, he said.

The Egg Cafe opened 18 years ago. Its unclear if the restaurant will return to Sadler Square. The one-story strip center was built in 1979, Mecklenburg County property records show.

Its an old building and can use some love, McCrary said of the shopping center. For right now this is what were doing.

Business left scrambling

Other business owners are trying to figure out what to do and where to go.

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Brian Tarle, owner of International Kitchen and Bath, said Friday he was packing up the showroom before construction fencing is expected to wrap around Sadler Square by next week.

He found out by a late September phone call from Piedmont Capital officials that changes were coming. Two days later, on Sept. 30, he received the official notice to vacate the property.

Were currently hustling to try and find something but its not easy, Tarle said. Its just a mess.

The 18-year-old cabinet and furniture shop will be replaced by a restaurant, Tarle said. Like other tenants, Tarle found out he was losing his space only 30 days ago.

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They (Piedmont Capital) could have made it a whole lot easier, Tarle said. Its really hurting a lot of businesses.

After the Nguyens said on Davidson Nail Salons Facebook page that the salon would close Oct. 31, along with all of the other tenants at Sadler Square, customers offered support and encouragement.

Cant wait to see you when you return to your salon. Im so sorry youre having to go through this, Allyson Ray said.

Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.
BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  High ranking Democrats rallied in Binghamton to show their support for the partys local candidate for Congress.

Democrats hosted a Get-Out-The-Vote Rally at the American Legion Post 80 in Binghamton, featuring New Yorks Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and the House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries.

Yesterdays rally was meant to motivate Democrats to get to the polls and vote for Josh Riley, in the race for the 19th Congressional District, and for Lea Webb to win the 52nd Senate District.

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Early voting finishes at the end of the day on Tuesday.

There are five early voting sites, and they include the Broome County Public Library, the George F Johnson Memorial Library, the Oakdale Commons, the Taste New York building, and the Vestal Public Library.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA)  A fraudulent number calling from Barry, Illinois in Pike County has been reported as a scam.

Macon County residents have reported receiving calls from Barry where the caller tells the call taker that they have missed court in Macon County, and that they have a warrant.

Decatur man gets 9 years in prison for stabbing man with ice pick

The Macon County Sheriffs Office warns anyone who gets this call to hang up immediately and take no further action. The Sheriffs Office said they will never call residents in this way, and they do not accept payments over the phone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on nations to restrict or ban advertising from dirty energy companies over the summer  comparing the proposal to precautions taken for tobacco campaigns due to the public health risk.

However, when the Guardian reached out in June to 11 major news organizations and tech firms that run such ads for comment, most of them declined to respond, including the Washington Post, the New York Times, NPR, CNN, Reuters, Axios, Bloomberg, and MSNBC.

Moreover, according to the report, a recent investigation from Drilled and the Nation found that Politico, Reuters, the New York Times, Bloomberg, and the Washington Post all have oil majors as clients of their in-house production studios, events, and branded-content arms.

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This is despite the fact that more than a century of evidence indicates that human activities are causing Earth to overheat, according to NASA, with dirty fuels responsible for most of the planet-warming pollution leading to more intense extreme weather events, among other things, including the increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

Politico, which later came under scrutiny this fall after publishing a climate-focused article sponsored by Chevron, was the only publication issuing a statement to the newspaper over the summer.

For its part, Politico said at the time that it has "hosted a diverse array of advertisements." The spokesperson added, "Advertisers are prominently identified, and a clear distinction between news and ads, including sponsored content, is maintained across Politico's platforms."

"No advertiser or advertisement sways editorial decisions or news judgment," the spokesperson continued in their statement to the Guardian.

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Nonetheless, Harvard University climate disinformation expert and professor Naomi Oreskes suggested to the newspaper that dirty fuel ads could still be misleading readers.

"No one is saying this is easy. But we need to face the hard stuff," said Oreskes, who previously called out Exxon in a co-authored paper examining the oil major's deceptive public-facing tactics. Like Guterres, Oreskes compared the rhetoric to that of the tobacco industry. A leading trade body for the coal industry also has come under fire for greenwashing following a rebrand.

Oreskes pointed out to the Guardian that the United States has banned television and radio ads for cigarettes since the 1970s, while 60 countries have outlawed such ads altogether. Like cigarettes (including secondhand smoke), dirty fuels are connected to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths in the U.S. annually, according to the CDC and Harvard University.

"It is well past time that we imposed similar restrictions on fossil-fuel ads," Oreskes said.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad to carry out an internal audit to investigate issues related to a loss-making investment in a local online fashion retailer.

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The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission also said Saturday it had opened an investigation paper on the matter of investment losses of 43.9 million ringgit ($10 million) by Khazanah and state-owned asset manager Permodalan Nasional Bhd. in the retailer that it later identified as Fashion Valet Sdn.

The probes come days after the Finance Ministry said the two entities invested a total of 47 million ringgit in Fashion Valet in 2018, and eventually sold it for 3.1 million ringgit. Fashion Valets co-founders, Fadzarudin Shah Anuar and Vivy Yusof, said Friday that they took full responsibility for the failure of the investment and would resign.

Fadzarudin said on Sunday that they will fully cooperate with the MACC investigation. Khazanah and PNB did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment outside of regular business hours.

A spokesperson from the Prime Ministers Office confirmed Anwars post was in response to the MACC investigation.

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The audit is to ensure all government-linked companies fulfill the demands of their respective responsibilities and functions, Anwar said in a post on X on Saturday. It doesnt exclude PNB and other parties involved, he said in a follow-up post several hours later.

Khazanah and PNBs investment in Fashion Valet was aimed at supporting local tech entrepreneurs and digital retail firms, the Finance Ministry said in a written reply to parliamentary questions on Monday. The total loss from the sale is very small compared to the total income Khazanah and PNB generated that year, it added.

Khazanah in a statement Friday said Fashion Valet faced challenges exacerbated by Covid-19, and its divestment represented a responsible exit to transfer ownership to a party that could help guide the troubled company. NXBT Partners, which is led by a seasoned Malaysian entrepreneur, offered in late 2023 to buy existing shareholders stakes and inject capital into the firm, it said.

Fashion Valets co-founders said poor decisions led to the investment failure.

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We attempted to expand the business too aggressively, and did not sufficiently plan for a rainy day, they said in a post on Instagram.

(Updates with Fashion Valet co-founders comment in fourth paragraph)

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office says a man has been charged with multiple felonies including sexual contact with an animal and possession of child porn after an investigation in October 2024.

The sheriff said that on October 18, a warrant was served at a home in the Fairview Church area belonging to Michael James Talkington of Christiansburg after allegations of sexual exploitation of a minor.

West Virginia man awaiting extradition to Alleghany jail for allegedly contacting minor

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During the search, multiple items were seized including electronics and alleged narcotics. After the search, an analysis of the seized items was done.

Talkington has been arrested and charged with the following:

Sexual Contact with Animal

Use of Computer to Solicit a Minor

Possession of Child Pornography

Contribute to the Delinquency of a Minor

Use of Computer to Commit Certain Sexual Offenses

Manufacture Marijuana

Marijuana: Possession with the Intent to Sell

Drugs: Possession of Schedule I or II

Talkington is currently being held at the Western Virginia Regional Jail without bond.

The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information regarding the incident(s), please call the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office at 540-382-6915. The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Christiansburg Police Department as well as Federal Agents.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
A man is accused of trespassing at West Hempfield Elementary School in Hempfield Township.

Court documents say Zachery Leonard, 30, was on school property and refusing to leave on Thursday morning.

School officials told police that he entered the building while students were being dropped off. The school police told him to leave, but he allegedly refused.

Police paperwork says that school police found a plastic bag of suspected crystal meth that Leonard discarded on the property.

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Leonard was arrested and taken to Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters in Greensburg.

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A court in the United Kingdom has sentenced a man who claimed to belong to the Wagner Group that fought in Ukraine to two and a half years in prison.

Source: European Pravda with reference to a statement by the UK Crown Prosecution Service

Details: Prosecutor's office said that on 28 October 2023, Piotr Kucharski, 49, attended a Viking battle reenactment event wearing combat clothing with Wagner Group patches.

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During the event, Kucharski began to behave aggressively, waving a knife at other participants and making a gesture that demonstrated throat slitting.

Witnesses described him telling them that he had joined the Wagner Group and was fighting for this terrorist organisation in Ukraine, a claim he repeated in various Facebook posts and messages.

During interrogation, he stated that he had bought the patches and his claims to have been fighting for the Wagner Group were to "provoke a reaction" from a group of battle reenactors due to differences in views on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kucharski attended a hearing on 16 August 2024 at the Central Criminal Court, where he pleaded guilty to wearing various symbols associated with extreme right-wing ideology and white supremacy.

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Quote from Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division: "Piotr Kucharski claimed to be fighting for the Wagner Group as part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and aggressively threatened people with a knife, acting upon his extremist views and the reputation of a terrorist organisation to cause fear in others."

More details: Ferguson noted that the prosecutor's office would always prosecute those who support terrorism in any form.

Background:

Recently, in the UK, one of the defendants in the case of arson of a business linked to Ukraine in London partially pleaded guilty in court.

European intelligence services have previously warned that Russia has stepped up its sabotage operations.

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A man was taken to a hospital as a precaution after a vehicle crashed into a Glendale pool, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

At about 2 a.m. Thursday, Phoenix police responded to a collision near North 35th Avenue. According to authorities, the vehicle had struck an apartment fence and ended up in a pool.

The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle and has not yet been publicly identified, was extracted and taken to a hospital for "precautionary reasons," according to police.

Authorities have not yet determined if impairment played a role in the crash.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vehicle crashes into Glendale pool on Halloween
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A man and his teen stepson were both arrested Thursday night after the man fought with deputies who were trying to arrest the teen for a string of car burglaries, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies began investigating car burglaries in mid-September from the Hamlet Circle area. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle overnight, and then a month later, two guns were stolen from a car in the same area, according to the sheriffs office.

Wisconsin man groomed Florida child with fast food, other gifts

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The second burglary was caught on video.

On Thursday afternoon, deputies responded to a person who matched the description of the person seen in the video trying to break into cars in the same area. A resident confronted the suspect, later identified as a 17-year-old, deputies said.

Deputies saw the teen walking between Porch Court and Hamlet Circle, who started running when deputies called out to him, according to the sheriffs office.

The deputies caught up to the teen, who lives with his mother and stepfather on Porch Court. The sheriffs office said the family recently moved to the area from North Carolina.

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The teens parents were cooperative with the deputies  who were securing the home for a search warrant  until a woman walked up and said her car keys, office keys and work ID badge were missing, and had video showing the teen, deputies said.

Video shows costumed trio fatally drive over man sitting on curb with Jeep

Thats when deputies said the stepfather, 37-year-old Anthony Pettiford, got in a fighting stance and approached a sergeant. Pettiford allegedly grabbed another deputy who was trying to intervene and threw him aside.

Deputies had to use a taser after Pettiford after taking him to the ground because he kept trying to fight the deputies, according to the sheriffs office.

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During a search of the teens room, deputies said they found:

The victims keys reported missing while interviewing the subject

A debit card stolen in mid-September

A Glock 23 illegally modified into an automatic machine gun, loaded with a round in the chamber

A Smith & Wesson 38 special, loaded with a round in the cylinder, stolen in mid-October

A 9mm handgun, loaded with a round in the chamber, stolen from Hamlet Circle in mid-October

Venlafaxine and Clonazepam pills

Three large containers of nitrous oxide

Ski mask, gloves, and backpack that were seen in videos, along with a window punch

This family learned the hard way that we dont play around here in Polk County when it comes to keeping our residents safe, Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. I cannot even fathom why this juvenile had so many loaded and dangerous firearms in his room. And what a great example his stepdad is setting. They both fooled around, and found out.

The teen was charged with:

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Armed burglary

Unarmed burglary

possession of machine gun

Grand theft of a firearm (2 counts)

Attempted burglary (3 counts)

Possession of controlled substance

Petit theft

Possession of inhalent

Possession of prescription drug without prescription

Simple assault

Resisting arrest

Unlawful possession of personal ID

Possession of firearm by person under 18 years old

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Anthony Pettiford (Courtesy: Polk County Sheriffs Office)

Pettiford was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and resisting arrest without violence, according to deputies. Pettiford allegedly has a criminal history in four other states, including armed robbery, kidnapping, and possession of a firearm as a minor.

Oh and, you cant make this up  this family has a doormat at their front door that says come back with a warrant,' Judd said. They might want to think about redecorating now that theyve gotten our attention, and everyone elses.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Boise police are investigating after a pedestrian was found dead in a road Friday night, according to a news release.

Officers responded to a call from a driver who reported they had run over a dead body, the release said. Police found a man with severe fatal injuries in the area of West Overland Road and South Atlantic Street, according to the Boise Police Department release.

Upon further investigation, officers learned that several drivers saw what they believed to be an object in the roadway and were able to swerve out of the way, the release said. But some drivers were not able to, and evidence indicates the victim had been run over several times.

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Overland Road was shut down between Latah and Owyhee streets for several hours, police said.

The mans identity is unknown, police said, and they ask any witnesses who havent spoken with law enforcement yet to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.

Last year, Idaho had 226 pedestrian crashes. Of those, there were 31 deaths, according to Idaho Transportation Department data  almost double the number from the year before.

And 98% of pedestrians involved in crashes last year had some level of injury, according to the data.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police in D.C. are looking for suspects involved in a fatal shooting that happened in the early hours of Friday morning.

Shortly before 4 a.m., officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the 100 block of 44th Street NE. There, they found 28-year-old Dwaun Simpson of Southeast D.C. suffering from a gunshot wound.

He was not conscious or breathing and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Prince Georges County woman found guilty for murdering, dismembering, grilling her own mother

Anyone with information is asked to contact MPD by calling (202) 727-9099 or by texting the departments tip line at 50411.

A reward of up to $25,000 is offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Travis Branson, sentenced and ordered to pay restitution for killing eagles and selling their feathers, walks out of the Russell Smith Federal Courthouse in Missoula in October 2024 with his coat over his head. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

A Washington man who shot and sold eagles for the price of a bullet and bragged about going on a killing spree was sentenced Thursday to 46 months in federal prison for his role in leading a trafficking scheme on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Travis John Branson, 49, who may have killed at least 3,600 birds in the course of 12 years, also was ordered to pay $777,250 in restitution for the eagles and hawks the U.S. government could prove he killed through text messages and other evidence.

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In U.S. District Court of Montana in Missoula, Branson apologized to his family and told them he loved them. He thanked everyone that put time into this.

I know what I did was wrong, Branson said.

However, in his text messages read in court by a special investigator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Branson was full of braggadocio about the shootings, which he said he had done since as early as the 1980s.

Out hear (sic) committing felonies, he said in one text message read in court.

He used high powered optics, including expensive spotting scopes, and he killed birds at night, according to the evidence provided in court.

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I hit one of them babies bad in the wing flew off and if he lands he going to crash lol bad bad ugly, said part of one text message from Branson read in court.

Said another: I was nailing em w/ night vision down south  lol.

The photograph presented as evidence in the case shows nine sets of feathers. (Provided by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Montana.)

In March, Branson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate sale of poached wildlife. He will self report to prison, and he will serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

In pronouncing the sentence, federal Judge Dana Christensen said he was profoundly concerned with Bransons criminal behavior that led to the deaths of golden and bald eagles, immature birds and hawks.

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I think if you had not been caught, youd still be doing it today, Christensen said.

The judge said the crimes were calculated. Branson knew he was violating federal law, as revealed in his text messages, and yet he continued to set baits, build blinds, direct others and shoot birds, Christensen said.

The judge said Branson did so for the money: You were acting out of greed over and over and over again.

From 2009 until 2021, Branson made from $180,000 to $360,000 by selling eagles feathers and parts for profit on the black market, the government estimated.

The restitution amount the judge ordered accounts for $5,000 for each of 118 eagles killed and $1,750 for each of 107 hawks killed. Thats the number of birds the U.S. government could prove Branson killed from 2015 through 2021, the period of six years for which he was charged.

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(Determining market value for black market birds is difficult, the judge said. One 2017 study estimated essentially twice the amounts granted in the judgment, but the amounts ordered align with an affidavit used in another federal case and the values sought by the government.)

However, an alleged conspirator estimated Bransons crew killed 300 to 400 birds a year and had done so for at least 12 years, according to testimony from the special agent  resulting in an indictment that calculated some 3,600 birds killed.

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On the witness stand, Special Agent Mona Iannelli said Branson was the coordinator of the kills and the sales. She said others who worked with him would send Branson pictures, and he would communicate with purchasers.

In some cases, she said, Branson would ask for their help finding other buyers, and in other cases, he would alert them to more kills ahead  we gonna go hard in the next few days, he said in a text she read.

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She said the crew was particularly interested in immature golden eagles, whose feathers are black and white and highly sought after for many buyers.

In one case, she explained a photo captured with a surveillance camera of Branson sitting in the passenger seat of a truck with a firearm pointed ahead. She said the clarity of the picture indicates Branson was driving slowly toward a nearby bait site.

She said after eagles eat or overeat on a carcass, they often perch because theyre full, and she believes Branson was waiting to shoot an eagle that would feed and then rest on a large snagged tree nearby.

Iannelli, who explained to the court the process investigators used to trace the 118 eagles and 107 hawks directly to Branson, also said those numbers appear to represent a fraction of the actual killings, which took place in and outside Montana: I believe that this is just a small glimpse of the killing that was happening.

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After the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said eagles are not only birds of biological interest, they are a national symbol of freedom and liberty, and laws have been passed to protect bald and golden eagles.

Ignoring these laws, Travis Branson and others hunted and slaughtered thousands of eagles on the Flathead Indian Reservation for over 30 years, then sold them on the black market across the United States and elsewhere, Laslovich said.

Even after he knew the authorities were onto him, Branson continued to kill and butcher the birds to sell their feathers, he said.

Laslovich said Branson was brazen in the conspiracy, untangled through collaboration among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes fish and game department, and the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Montana.

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However, Laslovich said the most offensive thing to him in the case is how numb (Branson) was when he killed these protected species.

He thought this was funny, but hes not laughing today, and nor are we, Laslovich said. He was enthusiastic, even giddy, about slaying these protective groups, which makes his conduct all the more unconscionable and grotesque.

Laslovich said many people joined forces to resurrect the bald eagle when it was on the verge of extinction, culminating in the passage of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and he said hes proud to contribute to the success story.

However, Laslovich also said the case cant bring back the birds Branson killed.

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But we can, and we will, hold accountable those who are doing so, just as weve done with Mr. Branson today, Laslovich said.

Co-defendant in the case Simon Paul also has been indicted in the conspiracy. The government said he remains a fugitive.

In a statement provided by the U.S. Attorneys Office, CSKT Chairman Mike Dolson said the Flathead Indian Reservation will feel the effects of the loss of the raptors Branson killed for years.

We hope this helps put a stop to illegal poaching on our homelands and gives these birds a chance to recover, Dolson said. Eagles are not only a treasured and important part of the Reservations ecosystem, but they also have a profound place in CSKT cultural and spiritual practices.

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Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and X.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A man who was found dead following a disturbance on the north side of Colorado Springs has been identified.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), officers originally responded shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27 to a report of a disturbance in the 11100 block of Cedar Glen View, northwest of the intersection of Interquest and Voyager Parkways. When officers arrived, they found 27-year-old Dominic Godinez dead on scene.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man found dead after disturbance, homicide unit responds

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While the El Paso County Coroners Office will determine the official cause and manner of death, Godinezs death is being investigated as a homicide.

Everyone involved in this investigation is accounted for, however no arrests have been made, CSPD said. The investigation is ongoing, and CSPD asked anyone with information or who may have been a witness to contact police at (719) 444-4000. To remain anonymous, you can contact the Crime Stoppers tip line at (719) 634-STOP (7867).

This was the 37th homicide of 2024 in Colorado Springs. At the same time in 2023, there had been 27 homicides.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ST. LOUIS  A man convicted of shooting two St. Louis police faced a judge Friday in a downtown courtroom to learn his fate.

Cortez Darrell Sipes, 38, pleaded guilty to shooting St Louis officers Sean Miskovic and Lucas Roethlisberger, in addition to charges of resisting arrest and drug trafficking. The charges date back to a Feb. 2, 2023 incident in St. Louis Soulard neighborhood.

On Friday, Sipes told the judge he was sorry for committing the crimes and then the judge handed down his sentence. He was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

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St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, speaking after the sentencing hearing, emphasized that justice was served.

Check early voting wait times for St. Louis County polling places here

When people harm police officers, or attempt to harm police officers in the line of duty, thats something that we obviously are going to treat very seriously, said Gore. We are going to prosecute those cases aggressively, and we are going to hold them accountable and thats what you saw today.

The incident was captured on police dashcam and bodycam footage.

Investigators say the officers tried to stop Sipes late in the evening of Feb. 2 before he led them on a high-speed chase. That ended in a crash into Soulard Farmers Market.

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Sipes then jumped out of his car and opened fire. Both officers were seriously wounded, but managed to arrest Sipes. The weapon Sipes fired was an untraceable ghost gun with an extended magazine.

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Its every chiefs nightmare to hear that two officers had been shot, and thank God both pulled through on this, said St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy.

During court proceedings, one of the officers handed Sipes a bible and told Sipes that he is praying for him and he forgives him.

It also shows that these officers put their lives on the line everyday, and they are risking their lives to keep this city safe, said Tracy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was shot in Northwest D.C. early Saturday morning.

Deputies: Person shot in St. Marys County, four people arrested

Police said that at about 4:40 a.m., they responded to the report of a shooting in the 1800 block of M Street.

A man was found shot outside of the location.

He was transported to be treated for his injuries. There is no word on his condition.

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4S RANCH, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman inside her home in 4S Ranch was arrested Thursday, authorities said.

Tony Choi, 52, faces charges of sex assault and elder abuse, Sgt. Marcello Orsini with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department said in a news release Friday. He was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility.

The incident occurred Thursday around 10:45 a.m. in the 7000 block of Carmel Valley Road, according to law enforcement.

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Authorities say the suspect made unsolicited contact with the woman at her home and asked the woman if her dogs needed to be washed.

Two suspects in custody after person shot at SDSU trolley stop

The two began talking, and the man was eventually invited into the home. After the man entered the home, he sexually assaulted the woman, Orsini said.

The suspect left the home in a car when the victims caretaker interrupted the incident.

Later in the evening, Choi, who was driving the same car which he was reportedly driving away from the scene, was arrested at his home in the 100 block of Manzanillo Court in Solana Beach, the sheriffs department said.

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More than 600,000 people voted early, in person in Tarrant County ahead Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In person early voting ran from Oct. 21 through Nov. 1. During the 12 day period, Tarrant County saw 635,162 in person early voters, according to unofficial daily tallies from Tarrant Countys election department. Another 24,649 people voted by mail between Sept. 25 and Nov. 1.

In person early voting turnout accounts for about 48% of all registered voters in Tarrant County. When you add in mail-in ballots, about 50% of Tarrant countys registered voters had cast ballots as of Nov. 1.

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The final day of in person early voting on Friday, Nov. 1 drew the most in person early voters: 64,170 people.

Voters across the state are heading to the polls to make their picks for president and U.S. Senate.

An average of recent polls from 538 puts former President Donald Trump, a Republican, ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, by about 7 points.

The polling average shows a tight race for U.S. Senate between incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, ahead of U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a Democrat, by about 3 points. Both were recently in Fort Worth as they make their final appeals to voters.

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Locally, Tarrant County residents will also vote on U.S. House representatives, who theyd like to see in the Texas Legislature and county officials, like county commissioner and sheriff.

Who voted early?

An analysis of early voting turnout by Republican political consultant Derek Ryan continues to suggest a Republican advantage in Texas.

Looking at voter history over the past four election cycles, 31% of Texans who voted in the first 11 days of early voting had participated in only GOP primaries, and 21% had participated in only Democratic primaries.

Thirty five percent had only voted in a general election and 11 percent had no voting history.

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Tarrant County largely mirrors the state. According to Ryans analysis, 29% of Tarrant County residents who voted in the first 11 days of early voting had participated in only GOP primaries, and 21% had participated in only Democratic primaries.

Thirty seven percent had only voted in a general election and 10 percent had no voting history.

How does early voting turnout compare to 2020? 2016?

Its difficult to directly compare early voter turnout during the 2020 and 2024 elections because the early voting period was longer in 2020, as voters navigated casting their ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Trump and President Joe Biden, a Democrat, at the top of the ticket

With that caveat: In person early voting turnout in 2020 accounted for roughly 55% of all voters, according to figures from Tarrant Countys elections department. Roughly 65,000 additional mail-in ballots were returned between Sept. 21 and Oct. 30, the last day of in person early voting that year, according to an unofficial daily tally from Tarrant Countys elections department.

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In 2016 when Trump was running against Democratic nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in person early voters made up about 44% of all Tarrant County registered voters. An additional about 34,000 mail-in ballots were returned between Oct. 3 and Nov. 4, when in person early voting ended.

Tarrant County has about 243,000 more registered voters than in 2016 and about 112,000 more than 2020.

Tarrant County early voting locations with the highest turnout

The following voting locations had the highest turnout:

Keller Town Hall (1100 Bear Creek Parkway, Keller)- 25,291



Summerglen Branch Library (4205 Basswood Boulevard, Fort Worth)- 22,985



Golden Triangle Branch Library (4264 Golden Triangle Boulevard, Fort Worth)- 22,917



Dionne Phillips Bagsby Southwest Subcourthouse (6551 Granbury Road, Fort Worth)- 22,671



Grapevine Public Library (1201 Municipal Way, Grapevine)- 21,410





Tarrant County early voting locations with the lowest turnout

The following voting locations had the lowest turnout:





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Southwestern Baptist Theological (4521 Frazier Avenue, Fort Worth)- 2,136



Worth Heights Community Center (3551 New York Avenue, Fort Worth)- 2,246



Tarrant County College South Campus (5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth)- 3,066



Northside Community Center (1100 NW 18th Street, Fort Worth)- 3,713



Tarrant County Elections Center (2700 Premier Street, Fort Worth)- 3,902

Election Day in Tarrant County

Didnt vote early? Polls are open on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tarrant County voters can go to any polling place in the county thats convenient for them.
BOSTON (WPRI)  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is once again asking students around the state to name its snowplows.

This is the agencys third year running the contest.

With the winter soon approaching, we are excited to announce that the third annual Name a Snowplow Contest is now accepting submissions from elementary school students statewide, Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said.

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Each year, this is a fun opportunity for students to show off their creativity, and we look forward to seeing which names will end up on our snowplows this winter season, she continued.

MassDOT: Name a Snowplow Contest

Last years winners included The Mayplower, Snow B Wan Kenobi, Sleetwood Mac, Edward Blizzardhands and Snow-hemian Rhapsody.

Students are asked to send their entries no later than 5 p.m. on Dec. 6. There is no limit to how many names can be submitted.

A dozen MassDOT snowplows that will be in service this winter will be named.

Entries will be judged by a panel of MassDOT employees and evaluated in two groups: kindergarten through fourth grade and fifth through eighth grade.

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The winners will be announced on Dec. 23.

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On Friday morning, 61-year-old Maui surfer, who's been identified as a local named Kenji Nonaka, was surfing at Sandpiles, near Waiehu Beach Park on central Maui, when he was struck by a shark. Crying out for help and attempting to get himself back to shore, other surfers in the water were able to quickly get him to shore, where emergency responders were able to apply a tourniquet to try and control the bleeding.

I heard this yell and I looked, and all of a sudden I just seen him splash, and I dont know what was happening, witness David Basques told Hawaii News Now. He swam himself back maybe more than half the way and then I seen somebody jump in and they went bring him inside.

Our personnel arrived to find the patient already onshore, said Maui Fire Assistant Chief, Jeffrey Giessa, in a statement. Reports were that he had gotten himself onshore by his own power. He was alert. Maui Police Department personnel had applied two combat application tourniquets to stop the bleeding. Our personnel accompanied medics on the way to the hospital where the patient remained alert all along that transport. We are not aware of the current condition of the patient; of course, we hope the best for always.

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Reportedly suffering a massive wound to his leg, the surfer was then transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center by medics, where he underwent further emergency medical treatment, ultimately losing part of his leg.

When asked about the severity of the victims injuries, Giessa responded:

What I can confirm is that the patients right leg was bitten off below the knee. I am unsure if his surfboard was also damaged. Something bit him, wrenched his leg off, and was on its way. He could not give any information as to the type of shark or the size.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover medical expenses. The goal for the campaign is set at $100,000, and less than 24 hours after the incident, it had raised over $36,000.

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"Kenji was attacked by a shark just below his knee. His good friends and regular morning crew helped him in, and he is currently recovering well in the ICU, but we all want to support Kenji as he continues to heal," reads the campaign description. "In true Kenji style, immediately out of surgery, he sagely said, I still love the ocean! and we want to support him in getting back to what he loves."

This news comes on the heels of a shark incident in Florida in which a surfer was attacked for the second time at the same beach. Both emergencies are a start reminder to all surfers to be aware of their surroundings in the water, as well as to pursue some type of basic emergency medical training to be able to assist in situations like these. In both cases the surfers were provided life-saving treatment by their fellow surfers before emergency personnel could administer further assistance.

Related: Surfer Suffers Second Shark Attack At Same Florida Beach
(Bloomberg) -- Mauritius lifted restrictions on social media access imposed less than 48 hours prior due to what the government called cyber-terrorism risks.

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Mauritius Telecom said on Saturday all social media platforms were once again fully accessible, while Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said an inquiry was underway and arrests had been made, though he did not provide details. The government was also in discussions with social media companies, he added, according to a broadcast on Facebook by Wazaa FM radio.

Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation going to polls on Nov. 11, ordered telecommunications companies including Emtel Ltd. and Mauritius Telecom on Friday to suspend access to social media until after election day due to national security concerns.

Jugnauth said at the time there were reasons to believe that our country has been a victim of a cyber-terrorist attack at the local level and that the restrictions were temporary.

Leader of opposition Alliance du Changement, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, who is contesting the election against Jugnauth, said the decision to block social media amounted to a violation of the freedom of expression, while the islands main private sector lobby group, Business Mauritius, said the decision greatly weakens the countrys reputation and international position.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Mayor Tom McNamara said hes concerned over data that says nearly half of Rockford Public School students are chronically absent from class.

The Illinois State Board of Education released its annual School Report Card on Thursday, showing 46% of District 205 students have missed attendance for 10% or more of the school year.

I think, we as a community need to understand, all of us need to do better, McNamara said. If thats parents, if thats the District, if thats us at the City. But, we also need to understand were all in it together. We have to improve and love on these kids together. I think were seeing that with some increases in some stats, but a long way to go.

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The Rockford Public School Districts graduation rate rose to 74%, up from just 66% in 2019, but below the state average, which sits at 88%.

However, in math, Rockford students are only 12% proficient, down from the previous years score of 15%. The state average of math proficiency is 28%.

One Rockford school rated a grade of Exemplary on the Report Card, and that was STEAM Academy at Haskell Elementary.

The full results of the 2024 Illinois School Report Card can be found here.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  News 3 is taking a closer look at the lives and service of the men named the 2024 Chatham County Veterans Day Parade grand marshal and Veteran of the Year.

Edward Gizara was shocked but honored to be named Veteran of the Year. The same goes for Grand Marshal Mike Brady.

Both were honored at Fridays Chatham County Commission meeting with proclamations.

Gizara spent 16 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

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I love God. I love my country, and then I love my Corps. So I will stick with those until the day I die, Gizara said.

Veterans Council of Chatham County announces 2024 Veterans Week events

He was dedicated to serve for life, so much so that he went back to finish basic training in 1985 after a knee injury two years before.

I was going for life. I loved being in the Marine Corps. I love the camaraderie. I love the people. And thats why Im still in the Marine Corps League today to keep that camaraderie going, Gizara said.

He spent much of his time overseas in Okinawa, Japan, and in the 2nd Marine Division with combat engineers.

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At one point, Gizara was paralyzed from the chest down. The injury ended his military service, but his community service continued. And, he never gave up hope that he would walk again.

It took me nine months to take my first step, and I beat all the doctors odds. And I promised, God, if you get me through this, and you allow me to walk, I will give myself to you in helping others,' he said.

Now, he spends his time giving back to others, particularly the homeless population.

Letter reveals what soldier who inspired Saving Private Ryan left at Normandy

Brady is also a servant in the community. He served as adjutant for 13 years, performing many of the behind-the-scenes duties for the Veterans Day parade.

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I think to be a veteran and to be honored this way is really something really special to me, Brady said.

A Vietnam veteran, Brady also shared his appreciation for the camaraderie he had in the U.S. Air Force.

I remember those people very well, even the people that I wasnt around that much. Just the people itself, thats what I enjoyed, Brady said.

He still carries the training and the discipline he gained from his time serving.

You just learn how to be disciplined about everything and respect everything. You respect your peers, and you respect the people under you, he said.

Veterans Council Chairman Joe Higgins talked about how important it is to recognize these two vets.

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Its awesome to be able to do that for those guys, because theyll never look for that recognition, he said. They just want to do go about their thing, and I want them to come out and be seen, because as many people leading the organizations, youve got to have twice as many behind the scenes getting all the stuff done.

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Donald Trump is getting the band back together  at least the part of the band thats still in his good graces.

The former president is leaning on many of the people who served in top positions in his first administration to help prepare an aggressive set of policies he plans to pursue right out of the gate, if elected. The result, insiders say, is an administration that would be better prepared than in 2016 to implement Trumps priorities soon after the inauguration  especially on core agenda items like trade and tariffs.

The transition team is far more politically coherent this time around, said Mauricio J. Claver-Carone, who served on Trumps 2016 transition and in the Trump administration, since those around the former president know what he wants and how he works. Now, Trump staffers can no longer make their own centers of power, and the upcoming cabinet members will realize this time around that theyre serving a president, not the other way around, he added.

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The transition this year is an extension of the key players in the Trump orbit, agreed a Republican lobbyist in contact with the transition team, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive dynamics. As a result, the likelihood of a disruptive reset is much less likely this time than it was in 2016. That year, Trump demoted former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as head of this transition shortly after the election, creating a power vacuum that delayed transition planning by several weeks.

The Trump transition is formally being led by former Trump Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon, who is handling the policy side, and billionaire financier Howard Lutnick, who is overseeing the personnel vetting. Lutnick, one of the few members of the team who did not work for Trumps White House, has been the public face of the operation thus far, while drawing scrutiny for his potential conflicts of interest and combative appearances on cable news.



The policy preparations have been far lower profile  by design, given the backlash the conservative Heritage Foundation attracted for its Project 2025 blueprint for a second Trump administration. But behind the scenes, the Trump transition is leaning on a diffuse roster of former Trump administration officials, according to conversations with 16 people familiar with Trump transition planning, who were granted anonymity to discuss confidential discussions.

A small sample include:



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U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who is crafting trade and economic plans, along with Jamieson Greer, Lighthizers former chief of staff.

Special envoy for Iran Brian Hook, who is involved with preparing a Trump State Department.

Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, who is involved with national security personnel and policy planning.

Office of Management and Budget general counsel Mark Paoletta, who is helping craft the policy playbook for the Justice Department.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is joining the transition planning process, according to two people aware of his plans.

Throughout the process, Trump officials are taking care to keep their activities under wraps, wary of both media scrutiny and cooperation with the Biden administration, and keen not to unnerve their boss.

Trump, who is known for being superstitious, doesnt like planning until things are concrete, and doesnt want to be presumptuous, said one former senior administration official.

Another former Trump administration official with knowledge of the discussions said transition officials are mindful of the lessons from the 2016 transition, and are keen to avoid the same turmoil. Theyre being more confidential about it. ... They dont want distractions and personnel stories popping up.

The Trump transition did not respond to requests for comment.

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But a person familiar with transition policy planning confirmed Lighthizer is crafting economic policy for the Treasury Department, the National Economic Council, the U.S. Trade Representatives office, as is former Trump speechwriter Vince Haley, who is also working for the Trump campaign. Those figures are preparing an aggressive trade agenda for the first 100 days, which will likely include some executive action on tariffs, though the details are still being debated.

Lighthizer has recently spoken to Trump himself about economic policy planning, said the person. A second person familiar with the transition planning, also granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations, said Lighthizer would be a lead contender for any of the top economic policy positions.

Theres one policy area thats going to be defining for the second Trump administration, and thats tariffs, said the person with direct knowledge of policy planning. And theres a very small group of people working on that and its the most important part of the policy planning for the second administration.

That planning is part of the operation being loosely overseen by McMahon. The people familiar with the transitions policy work depicted an informal web of Trump advisers and MAGA loyalists who each are working on preparing action plans for the first 100 days, sometimes at the direction of campaign or transition officials, but also outside the formal bounds of those organizations.

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Many of those supporting the transition are affiliated with America First Policy Institute, a think tank formed after Trumps 2020 defeat that has become a home for Trump loyalists. AFPI has been developing its own plans for the next administration over the last several years. Lighthizer chairs the nonprofit groups Center for American Trade, and Bernhardt chairs the Center For American Freedom.

Doug Hoelscher, who led AFPIs America First Transition Project, has been officially working for the transition, as well, according to someone familiar with his hiring. Rob Law, another AFPI staffer and former chief of policy at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is helping vet personnel for the Department of Homeland Security.

Two people not affiliated with AFPI or Trumps first term are also advising Trump on energy policy  North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and oil tycoon Harold Hamm are playing leading roles, according to a person with knowledge of the planning. Kevin Warsh, a former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, is also involved with the economic portfolio.

The policy preparations are operating on a separate track from the transitions primary job  vetting candidates for the thousands of federal job openings Trump will have to fill if he wins, a task being overseen by Lutnick.

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The personnel effort is the overwhelming focus of the transition, said another person with knowledge of the efforts, who said they started several weeks ago and that interviews are occurring for prospective staffers.

Another person familiar with the transition described it as highly compartmentalized. No one involved has visibility outside of their narrow window and only a small group of people close to Lutnick have any visibility into who makes it onto a list, even if there are people collecting names and suggestions.

Those personnel matters are delineated between finding people to work on the agency-specific landing teams  which are tasked with working with the federal agencies to facilitate the handoff before the next president is inaugurated  and the more permanent staff members and Cabinet officials who will run the agencies after Jan. 20. There may be overlap between some of the so-called landing teams and the permanent staff, said three people familiar with planning, who stressed that no final decisions have been made about Cabinet officials or the broader makeup of the administration.

And as it stands now, Trumps landing teams may not be able to access the agencies they are designated to work with, since his transition team has refused to sign agreements with the Biden administration on use of federal resources and information-sharing, in a break with modern precedent. The refusal to sign those agreements allows Trumps transition team to raise unlimited funds without disclosing their donors while avoiding oversight from federal bureaucrats, whom Trump and his advisers distrust. But if the former president wins the election and continues to drag his feet, he may face strict limits on the information he and his team can obtain.

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Lutnick recently expressed openness to signing the agreements in the coming days.

Some on Trumps transition believe that there are ways to work around the federal governments transition agreement. Advisers to Trump have circulated a memo, first reported by The New York Times, recommending Trump refuse to allow background checks of his top aides, which traditionally are conducted by the F.B.I., an agency viewed with suspicion by people in Trumps orbit. After he enters office, they argue, Trump could simply grant security clearances to the appointees himself.

Ben Lefebvre and Sam Sutton contributed to this report.

CLARIFICATION: The story has been updated to clarify that Kevin Warsh did not serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors when Trump was in the White House.
ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  A longtime employee at the Rockford Meijer store who died earlier this year was honored Friday with a $10,000 donation made in her name.

The store director presented a check to representatives of Faith Hospice in honor of Pat Julien.

Meijer presents Faith Hospice with a check for $10,000 in honor of Pat Julien. (Nov. 1, 2024)

Julien, the mother of WOOD TV8 engineer Michael Julien, died in July following a battle with breast cancer. She worked at the Rockford Meijer for 15 years. The impact she made inspired the employees to select a charity for the store to support in her memory.

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Very kind, caring, would help somebody if they needed it, Michael Julien recalled his mother. She worked here for so long and knew so many of the different team members and touched so many of the different team members lives.

Hudsonville teacher hopes to inspire students through NYC Marathon

He said the family is grateful for the donation and the support from her coworkers after she was diagnosed.

We had flowers, cards, people coming to visit. There were times were we would have people coming to visit every day, every other day, up till she passed, Michael Julien said.

The store selects a charity to donate to every year through the Meijer Team Gives program. This year, the employees wanted to do something in Pat Juliens memory. The store originally planned to donate $5,000, but decided to donate the full $10,000 amount on behalf of the company, assistant store director Kurt Guarisco said.

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We voted on that as a team within the store and what happened is we chose Faith Hospice, Guarisco said.

Pat Julien. (Courtesy)

Pat Juliens coworkers say she loved to tell them about her trips and times she spent camping with her family. Guarisco, who worked with her for more than a decade, said her energy will always be missed.

She had the engine, the motor, she had the drive. She kept everybody going. Really, really awesome to see. She was just that spirit that just didnt stop, Guarisco said.

American Legion Post asking community for help with repairs

Faith Hospice said the donation will have a positive impact around West Michigan.

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We serve about eight counties in West Michigan and so many people need support in their final days, and so this money will be able to provide compassionate care for those families that wouldnt be able to support it, Gina Schulz, the organizations director of philanthropy, said.

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  Passwords used to change the settings on voting machines around the state were leaked on a public website by the Colorado Secretary of States office.

After the leak, actions were taken Thursday evening by Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Gov. Jared Polis to update the passwords and verify security.

Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Bobbie Gross explained what the leaked passwords had access to.

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The BIOS passwords are passwords that the secretary of state have to get into the settings to do what they call like a trusted build or any updates that they need to do, any software updates that they need to do with our system.

Gross expresses her confidence in our election system here in Mesa County.

I could with 100% confidence tell you that nobody has accessed our equipment and their votes are going to be counted accurately.

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Prosecutors in the battleground state of Pennsylvania were investigating questionable voter registration applications involving a firm owned by a Mesa City Council member.

Prosecutors in two Pennsylvania counties confirmed they were looking into irregular voter registration signatures tied to Field+Media Corps, which also had been the subject of a 2023 complaint in Arizona.

The Arizona Attorney General's Office confirmed it had deferred two separate complaints from Mohave and Navajo counties to Maricopa County prosecutors.

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Mesa City Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia, a registered Democrat, runs the company, which conducts voter outreach efforts and registers voters.

Heredia did not immediately respond to The Arizona Republics request for comment. The Republic could not reach Eduardo Sainz, who was listed as a member of Field+Media Corps on the Arizona Corporation Commission documents.

Prosecutors in Monroe and York counties in Pennsylvania announced this week they were investigating thousands of last-minute voter registration applications submitted by Heredias company.

Irregularities included voters registering the names of dead people and potentially hundreds of duplicate registrations.

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The deadline to register to vote in the swing state was Oct. 21. Pennsylvania was considered a must-win state in the 2024 presidential race.

Monroe County District Attorney Mike Mancusco wrote in a Facebook post the Monroe County Board of Elections "identified approximately 30 irregular forms.

Several had been found to be fraudulent because they were not authorized by the people named on the applications. In one case, an application named a dead person, he wrote.

In a news release on Wednesday, York County officials said the election office there received a batch of 3,087 voter registration applications last week.

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After some applications were identified as questionable, the York County elections office referred the matter to the York County district attorney's office for review.

The review found:

About 47% of applications were verified as legitimate and approved.

About 29% of applications were found to have incomplete information. Approval of those applications was pending additional information from the applicants.

About 24% of applications were declined and were undergoing further review by the York County District Attorney's Office.

Of the declined applications, 85% are duplicate registration requests, according to the news release.

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Those referrals were under criminal investigation by the chief county detective, according to a news release on Thursday from the York County District Attorney's Office.

Greg Monskie, the chief clerk of York County, confirmed to The Arizona Republic that Field+Media Corps was the firm submitting the forms that are under review.

A third county in Pennsylvania is also reeling with the allegations of fraudulent voter registration forms.

Lancaster County announced on Oct. 25 elections staff had identified incidents of suspected voter registration fraud. That county received about 2,500 voter registration forms that were separated and contained, county officials wrote.

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It was not immediately clear if Heredias business had submitted forms to Lancaster County.

However, Mancusco wrote in a post on Facebook that Field+Media Corps was working out of Lancaster County as well as his own Monroe County.

Field+Media Corps was working with the Everybody Votes Campaign to register voters in Pennsylvania. That organization is a national group that focuses on registering people of color.

In a statement to The Republic, the Everybody Votes Campaign said it had not been contacted by officials in Lancaster, York or Monroe counties about an ongoing investigation and had no information about the forms in question.

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"If contacted, we intend to work with our partners and the election officials to quickly resolve any discrepancies and ensure that all eligible registrants have an opportunity to vote next week," the campaign wrote in the statement.

Field+Media Corps also subject of Arizona-based investigation

In Arizona, third-party voter registration drives are common. Arizona voters can register online through ServiceArizona, but third-party private voter organizations can do drives aimed at registering eligible people and submit applications on their behalf.

Heredias business is also under investigation in Arizona by the Maricopa County Attorneys Office, a spokesperson with the office confirmed.

Mohave and Navajo counties flagged 10 and 14 voter registration forms, respectively, and referred them to the Attorney Generals Office in 2023.

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However, the Attorney Generals Office deferred to the Maricopa County Attorneys Office to investigate as the forms had initially been submitted to Maricopa County before being forwarded to Mohave and Navajo Counties, Richie Taylor, a spokesperson with the office, told The Republic in an email.

A spokesperson with Maricopa County Attorneys Office confirmed the office had opened an investigation, but it had no additional information to share.

The Maricopa County Recorders Office told The Republic in a statement that it receives voter registration forms from a myriad of third-party voter registration groups.

The Recorders Office confirmed it had found Field+Media Corps had submitted several inaccurate or incomplete voter registration forms.

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The website for Field+Media Corps, as well as the site for Heredias re-election campaign, has been taken down.

The announcements of voter fraud probes in two pivotal swing states days before Election Day will further heighten tensions and scrutiny of the voting process.

In recent election cycles, Republican candidates, including Donald Trump and Kari Lake, have repeatedly complained about unproven widespread voter fraud and have falsely claimed their elections in 2020 and 2022, respectively, were stolen.

Who is Francisco Heredia?

Heredia was re-elected to a second term on the Mesa City Council in July and is currently the vice mayor.

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He owns a second business that specializes in sign printing called The Union Print Shop.

Before Heredia was appointed to the council in 2017, he worked for both the Maricopa County Recorders Office and the United States Census Bureau. He also was the national field director of Mi Familia Vota and One Arizona, the KidsCare outreach coordinator for the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System and as a prevention specialist for Chicanos Por la Causa.

Sainz also worked as the national field director of Mi Familia Vota.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.

More PA problems: Pennsylvania court orders Erie County remedies for nearly 20,000 missing absentee ballots

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ vice mayor investigated over Pennsylvania voter registration forms
Approximately 50 homeless people were relocated from the Camillus House shelter in Miami to a hostel in South Beach on Friday, catching Miami Beach officials by surprise and raising questions about whether politics played a role after Miami Beach rescinded a ballot question on a tax for homeless services earlier this week.

After receiving word Friday night that city of Miami employees had transported people to the Bikini Hostel in South Beach, Miami Beach elected officials and city employees rushed over to the hostel to see what was going on.

In a post on social media Saturday morning, Miami Beach Vice Mayor Alex Fernandez said the people arrived unfed, disoriented, and with no desire to be here. Fernandez told the Miami Herald that Camillus House staff had informed people on Friday afternoon that they were being relocated and had an hour to gather their belongings.

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Using vulnerable individuals as pawns to attempt sending a message runs counter to the human dignity they deserve and stands in stark contrast to our principles of housing, family reunification, and job placement, Fernandez said.

Late last night, approximately 50 homeless individuals were transported by the City of Miami from Camillus House to the Bikini Hostel on West Avenue in Miami Beach. These individuals arrived in Miami Beach unfed, disoriented, and with no desire to be here.



As Vice Mayor, I pic.twitter.com/6kvkFH4UHO  Commissioner Alex Fernandez (@alexjfernandez) November 2, 2024

City of Miami spokeswoman Kenia Fallat confirmed that the city transported about 50 homeless individuals from Camillus House to the hostel at 1247 West Ave. She said the move wasnt political but rather a logistical decision as the city scrambled to relocate people quickly.

Fallat said an email this week from Camillus House  which had been in negotiations with the city over the price of shelter beds  prompted the transfer.

READ MORE: No room at the inn: Dispute over shelter bed costs displaces homeless in Miami

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On Thursday, Camillus House CEO Eddie Gloria had emailed an assistant city manager saying that it would shut down its shelter operations for the City effective tomorrow, November 1st as discussed. This will affect 53 people.

We can ramp up services again once we have a contract in place, Gloria added.

That meant the city of Miami had until Friday to relocate more than four dozen individuals, Fallat said. The city then got into contact with the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, which provided a list of locations in the county offering shelter beds.

Bikini Hostel, via the Trusts hotel/motel program, was able to provide beds for the 53 individuals, Fallat said.

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Our primary concern was to provide a safe transition from one roof to another, Fallat said. We didnt want these people displaced on the street.

Gloria told the Herald that he and Camillus House staff were unaware that the city of Miami planned to relocate people from Camillus shelter beds to the hostel in Miami Beach. Gloria said Camillus staff were told on Friday afternoon that Miami outreach workers were en route to the shelter and that, when the workers arrived, they said they did not yet know where the people would be taken.

We werent told, and we werent involved in the plan, Gloria said. We had no idea what was going on.

A contract between the city of Miami and Camillus House for shelter beds expired at the end of September, but Gloria said an extension was granted through the end of October.

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Gloria said that, after he emailed the city on Thursday saying the shelter would shut down its operations for the city the following day, he didnt receive any more communication from the city. He said that Camillus planned to relocate people carefully and would have ensured that no one ended up on the street after the Nov. 1 deadline.

We would have done it in a careful, compassionate way, Gloria said. No shelter operator would take 50 people and put them on the street overnight.

READ MORE: They just sprung it on us: Homeless Miamians face repercussions of shelter displacement

Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Chairman Ron Book told the Herald on Saturday that the Homeless Trust was similarly unaware of the plan. He acknowledged that the Homeless Trust had scoped out the Bikini Hostel in recent months as an option to comply with a new state law that bans outdoor sleeping and that the hostel was one of several locations included in a list that the Homeless Trust shared with the city of Miami on Thursday.

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I had no idea that someone had decided to place people there yesterday, Book said. It was complete news to me.

Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Chairman Ron Book, center, participates in a count of the unsheltered population of Miami Beach on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Steven Crist, 50, had been a resident at Camillus House for eight months when on Friday, with a few hours notice, he learned that he and about 50 other residents were being moved to Bikini Hostel in South Beach that night.

Sitting at the hostels patio Saturday morning, he told the Miami Herald he was not exactly sure why they were moved but said Camillus House and the city of Miami have been slowly moving residents to other locations.

Crist said he welcomed the change, appreciating the hostels relaxed environment and friendly staff.

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Here there is no curfew  we can basically do what we want as long as you dont act like idiots, he said.

Unlike Crist, who has had a permanent spot at Camillus House since April, 35-year-old Yadier Montoya has spent months living on the streets, struggling to secure a bed there.

Originally from Cuba, Montoya has lived in Miami for nearly three years and has been without a permanent home since losing his job eight months ago.

What I want is to be able to work, he said in Spanish. Ive always been independent.

He often prefers to sleep in a tent under a bridge in downtown Miami but has repeatedly been told by police that he cant stay there. Fearing arrest, he has sought shelter at Camillus House, but getting a bed has become increasingly difficult.

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Some days they give you a bed, and some days they dont. It is no way to live, he said.

On Tuesday, Montoya was granted a seven-day stay at Camillus House after being told by police he could no longer remain on the street. However, on Friday night, he learned he would be moved to Bikini Hostel a decision he was unhappy with but felt he had no choice but to accept. Montoya is uncertain how long he will be able to stay at Bikini Hostel.

Miami Beach officials said a number of others who were relocated from Camillus House had no desire to live in Miami Beach and didnt know how they would get to work on Saturday.

They were left with no bus passes or any way to get to their work, Fernandez said.

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Miami Beach Commissioner Joseph Magazine said that, when he visited the hostel on Friday night, city officials were focused on the humanitarian effort rather than any political aspects of the situation.

Last night we mobilized city leadership at the drop of a dime and we mobilized to come together to help these people that had just arrived in our city unbeknownst to us, Magazine said.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner speaks during a press conference about homelessness on Monday, July 29, 2024, at Miami Beach City Hall.

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Miami City Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela, whose District 1 includes Camillus House, said Saturday morning that he was not aware of the city sending dozens of homeless people to Miami Beach.

But he said that, if homeless individuals were sent across the causeway, it would be a double standard for Miami Beach to take issue with it.

They can ship to us year in and year out, and when it happens to them, they dont like it? Gabela said, referring to Miami Beach utilizing shelter beds in Miami. They have to do something about their homeless situation, not just export them to a different municipality.

The Miami Beach City Commission voted Wednesday to rescind a ballot question on whether to authorize a 1% food-and-beverage tax to fund the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust and local domestic violence shelters.

That move prompted a lawsuit by Miami Beach voters who said it was improper to take away their voice just days before the Nov. 5 election. But a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge sided with the city on Friday afternoon, meaning the results of the ballot question wont count and the 1% tax wont be imposed.

READ MORE: Court rules in favor of Miami Beach, says votes on homeless tax wont be counted

Miami Beach is one of just three cities in Miami-Dade County, along with Bal Harbour and Surfside, that do not impose the tax.

In recent months, Miami Beach has ramped up arrests for violations of a municipal camping ban aimed at getting homeless people off the street. The citys approach has drawn criticism from Book and other homeless advocates.
Michael Keaton has issued a withering attack on Donald Trump in a stark message to voters days before polling day.

The actor famous for his roles in Beetlejuice and Batman made it very clear who he doesnt think Americans should be supporting when they go to the polls on Tuesday in an Instagram clip he posted this week.

The Republican candidate for the presidency is someone who lies and cheats, treats women horribly, mocks handicapped people calls war veterans who gave their lives suckers and losers, Keaton says, adding he was raised by two really great parents in Western Pennsylvania.

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His mother suffered a stroke that left her disabled when he was 18.

He continued: When you go into that booth, before you check that box or punch that ballot, I want you to ask yourselves, is that how I would want my son or daughter to live?

Is that how your mother and father raised you? I dont think so. He's not one of you, and I don't think you're like him.

The actor made it very clear who he thinks voters should not support (Getty)

In a video posted the day prior, Keaton discussed how Trump called late US Senator and Prisoner of War John McCain a loser after he lost to Former President Barack Obama in 2008.

While speaking at a campaign event in 2015, Trump said: Hes not a war hero. Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people that werent captured.

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Keaton reminded his Instagram followers of the remarks.

Donald Trump calls him and women and men who gave their lives for Democracy, which we and myself included, take for granted. And if its gone, it aint coming back in my lifetime, trust me, Keaton said.

He calls them losers. He wont visit the graveyards of these people who gave their lives. Im sorry, this is no patriot. This is anything but a patriot. Im grateful to all those people.
A Michigan Catholic churchs decision to fire longtime music director Fred Szczepanski after learning of his same-sex marriage has sparked outrage among parishioners.

Szczepanski, affectionately known as Mr. Fred, was dismissed by St. Francis Catholic Church in Traverse City after an anonymous letter alerted church officials to his 2020 marriage in Nevada . Traverse City news site The Ticker reports that Rev. Michael Lingaur, who recently assumed leadership at St. Francis, confirmed Szczepanskis dismissal on October 18, three months before his planned retirement in January.

For 34 years, Szczepanski was a fixture in the community, playing a pivotal role in music ministry and church life. Parishioners say he organized services, planned music for holidays, and reached out to grieving community members. Hes extremely talented, hes perfect on the piano, he has perfect pitch, and because of him, I look forward to going to church every week, longtime choir member Bob Holden told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Im divorced. Do I get thrown out next?

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The firing led to demonstrations outside the church on Sunday, where supporters carried signs reading Love Not Hate and Fired Not Retired. According to reports, choir members staged a silent protest the Sunday before, leaving their seats empty and refusing to sing.

Szczepanski's husband, Bill Thompson, wrote on Facebook following his husband's firing: Those who know Fred Szczepanski and I know that we have been together for 32 years. This last week after 35 years service to the church, he was terminated with no severance, Thompson wrote. This is because we legally married 4 years ago. We did this as it was covid and we wanted to protect our rights legally. Never flaunted it. Never had a celebration, according to The Ticker.

The Diocese of Gaylord, which oversees St. Francis, acknowledged that individual parishes handle personnel decisions but added it takes employee privacy very seriously. Diocese spokesperson Renee Shimmel said the bishop supported the pastors decision but declined further comment.

Meanwhile, Szczepanskis supporters have raised over $22,000 through a GoFundMe to assist with his legal and insurance expenses. Fred does more than just play the piano, said choir member Liz Yarch. He steps in with people that dont have family, making sure theres a support network.
By Nathan Layne

WARREN, Michigan (Reuters) -Officials in the U.S. battleground state of Michigan said they worry that the Democratic-leaning city of Warren could lag behind the rest of the state in reporting the results of Tuesday's presidential election, raising early doubts about the state's vote count.

Warren, unlike Detroit and most other cities in Michigan, opted not to take advantage of changes enacted in a 2022 state law allowing for up to eight days of preprocessing of absentee ballots. Instead, the city of 135,000 people will wait until Election Day to verify and tabulate more than 20,000 mail-in ballots.

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The potential delay from Warren has worried some Democratic leaders that it could leave the results appearing artificially high for Republican Donald Trump on Tuesday evening, and that the former president would seek to exploit the situation by falsely declaring victory in the state before all votes were in.

"If the state is close at all and we don't have returns from Warren, which is our third-largest city, it's going to create all kinds of concerns," said Mark Brewer, an attorney and the former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. "It's very, very worrisome."

The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee did not directly address questions about Warren or Trump's plans to challenge the results. In a statement, Victoria LaCivita, the Trump campaign's Michigan spokesperson, criticized Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' record and expressed confidence that Trump would defeat her in the state.

Opinion polls show a tight race between Harris and Trump in Michigan and other battleground states.

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The decision not to preprocess absentee ballots was made by Warren City Clerk Sonja Buffa, a nonpartisan elected official. She said in a press release that she believed stretching out the process over several days was inefficient and raised the risk of information on the election being leaked.

State and local officials lobbied Buffa to opt for preprocessing, which was established as an option for clerks but not mandated by the new law. Buffa, who has more than two decades of experience overseeing elections, did not bend.

Last week Buffa asked the Warren City Council to approve $140,000 to purchase a fifth high-speed tabulator to help speed up ballot processing, a sign she wanted to deliver results quickly. She later rescinded that request and said she wanted to instead rent one for $40,000.

Buffa did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters could not establish whether she had been able to rent the tabulator or would have to make do with the four already in the city's possession.

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As of Friday, 27,480 absentee ballots had been requested in Warren and 20,437 returned, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's website. In 2020 Democratic President Joe Biden beat Trump in Warren with about 55% of the vote.

In Michigan elections are administered by city and town clerks who report their results to the county. For Buffa, that means delivering the records from all her precincts via memory sticks to Anthony Forlini, Macomb County's clerk.

Forlini, who is a Republican, said in an interview that he was confident Buffa could process her absentee ballots in a timely manner, but was worried she would hold on to her memory sticks until the morning after Election Day, as she did during the August primary. Unlike the other clerks in Macomb, Buffa prefers to turn them in when all her election paperwork is finished, a process that takes hours, Forlini said.

Buffa has not told Forlini or Warren city council members that she will prioritize delivery of the sticks on Tuesday.

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"We understand that she, the clerk, is not planning on releasing those sticks until she has all her paperwork done," said Warren City Council Secretary Mindy Moore, another nonpartisan elected official. "They could be waiting for us - the whole world."

Detroit, in contrast, started preprocessing its absentee ballots on Monday at a convention hall downtown. Each day hundreds of election workers have been working through about 11,000 ballots, with a goal of leaving only 10,000 mail-in ballots for the city to process on Election Day.

If all goes according to plan, Detroit hopes to avert the kind of delay that led to chaos in 2020, when Trump supporters descended on the convention hall and pounded on windows demanding that the absentee ballot counting be stopped.

Chris Thomas, a former Michigan elections director who is working as an adviser to Detroit's clerk, said he was worried about how quickly Warren could deliver its results.

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"The track record of large jurisdictions counting large volumes of absentee ballots in a compressed, highly stressed environment is not good," Thomas said. "It's possible (Warren) will be one of the later, one of the last ones in."

(Reporting by Nathan Layne; Editing by Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien and Daniel Wallis)
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler and Democrat Mondaire Jones, the two major candidates running to represent New Yorks 17th Congressional District, faced off in a heated debate on PIX11 Friday night.

The live 60-minute debate  the candidates final one before Election Day  took place at 7 p.m. It aired across multiple platforms, including WPIX 11.1, PIX11+, and PIX11.com.

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New Yorks 17th Congressional District includes northern Westchester County, Rockland and Putnam counties, as well as a small portion of southern Dutchess County.

The contentious Hudson Valley race is among the most closely watched in the nation. The outcome could impact the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lawler is leading Jones 49% to 44% in the race, according to a recent poll from PIX11, The Hill and Emerson College.

Lawler, a first-term congressman, has represented New Yorks 17th Congressional District since 2023. He previously served in the New York State Assembly and has worked in political communications.

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Election 2024: How the New York Seven could decide the U.S. House

Jones, a lawyer who represented the 17th Congressional District from 2021 to 2023, is looking to return to Congress after he briefly moved to New York City to run for the states 10th Congressional District but lost the Democratic primary.

Lawler has tried to cast Jones as a chameleon who will say and do what he needs to get elected. Jones has tried to cast doubt on Lawlers moderate self-representations, pointing to his unwillingness to compromise when it counts and his staunch support for other, more conservative Republicans.

Old pictures showing Lawler in blackface while portraying Michael Jackson at a college Halloween party in 2006 also surfaced a month before Election Day. Lawler said he was paying homage to his musical hero and meant no offense.

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The race also features a third-party candidate who might play a spoiler to Jones. Anthony Frascone, a 70-year-old contractor, is running under the Working Families Party.

Frascone has been accused of being an undercover Republican plant trying to spoil the chances for Democrats to flip an important U.S. House seat.

The Working Families Party said Frascone is a fake candidate  calling him a former Republican who was slipped into the low-turnout open primary to spoil Jones chances. Frascone has denied the accusations.

This live blog has been archived.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sarah Massengale, a 36-year old undecided voter in rural South Carolina, felt empowered when she first reached out to Vice President Kamala Harris campaign to tell her story.

Their website was accessible, Massengale, who is blind because of a congenital condition. It was easy for me to find a place to write to her. And I felt really empowered, and I shed some tears over it.

She said she waited and waited, and when she didnt get a response from a staffer, chalked it up to societal dismissiveness of people with disabilities. But she said the experience stung because she thinks very highly of Harris, whom she calls very powerful and very badass.

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Disability advocates say candidates often ignore their community, although the Census Bureau says more than 13% of people in the United States has a disability, and a 2021 study from Rutgers University found that 17.7 million people with disabilities voted in the 2020 election. (Another 11 million disabled adults didnt vote that year.)

Two major national disability advocacy groups  the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability Belongs  say they were unable to get the campaigns for Harris, Donald Trump, and earlier, for Joe Biden to complete questionnaires describing their positions on disability issues.

A third group, the National Disability Rights Network, said it asked primary candidates to do interviews with presidential candidates in advance of the presidential primaries in New Hampshire, South Carolina, or Washington, D.C. When no candidate participated, they pivoted and made a video interviewing voters.

Its very difficult to get candidates for public office to share responses and tell us what they think about particular issues, said Ariel Simms, the president and CEO of Disability Belongs, an advocacy organization where most of the staff are disabled.

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Disability issues are pretty much the same as everybody else's issues, said Simms, who goes by "they." We have a saying in the disability world that every issue is a disability issue, or every policy issue is a disability policy issue, because no matter what were looking at, theres always going to be a unique impact on the disability community, they said.

Simms pointed to the ongoing conversation around the cost of living. People with disabilities spend more on health care services, mobility devices, and household services. Its just built into our daily life on top of paying for food and absolute essential health care, they said.

The Harris campaign did not provide a comment for this story.

Harris told a voter at a town hall in October, "All people regardless of disability should have equal access to housing to job opportunities, to education, and again, to dignity."

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The Trump campaign disputed the idea that Trump ignores people with disabilities.

"President Trump will be a president for ALL Americans, including Americans with disabilities, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trumps campaign, said in a statement to USA TODAY.

LaQuanda Clark of South Carolina appears in the 2024 film "Accessing Democracy" by the National Disability Rights Network.

LaQuanda Clark, a 41-year-old who lives in Lexington, South Carolina, criticized Trump for mocking a reporter with a disability at a campaign event in 2015. The reporter had a chronic condition affecting arm movement, and Trump flailed his arms around while criticizing the reporters article.

That was a big no for us, said Clark, a burn survivor who had both her hands amputated.

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Clark said Harris does a good job with inclusion at her events, but shed like to see the vice president tackle disability issues head-on. Clark wants more funding for independent living agencies that help people with disabilities learn life skills and get jobs, such as the one where she works.

As a person with a disability and also as a Black woman, Im in a lot of minority groups, and when it comes to whos running right now, its a hard decision because disabilities are not being brought to the forefront, Clark said.

Matt Bellina, a 41-year-old from Holland, Pennsylvania, said he was a Gary Johnson libertarian before supporting Trump in his first run for president. Bellina lives with the fatal neurodegenerative disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease after the famous New York Yankee who died of the condition.

U.S. President Donald Trump shows off the signed "Right to Try Act," which gives terminally ill patients the right to use experimental medications not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 30, 2018. Matthew Belina, left of Trump, attended the event.

Trump signed a bill Bellina personally asked him to support that makes it easier for terminal patients to get into clinical trials for experimental drug treatments.

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I dont like or dislike political figures, Bellina said. They are just supposed to be tools that citizens use to shape policy. Trump is a more useful tool than Harris.

Harris has proposed having Medicare pay for home health care, a move that is widely seen to benefit people in the disability community, who often need to get institutional care through nursing homes in order for insurance to pay for it. Others have to rely on Medicaid, which has an asset limit to qualify, so people with disabilities have to spend down their savings.

The issue with home health care is a shortage of quality candidates, Bellina said. Medicare coverage doesnt address the root cause.

Massengale called Harris home health care proposal a great start, but also said it wouldnt benefit her. As a pre-diabetic, what she wants is a law that makes certain medical devices more accessible to people who are blind.

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Speaking to USA TODAY just days before the election, she remained undecided about who to support. She said she expects to go to the polls planning to vote for one presidential candidate and to choose another when she gets into the booth.

I dont feel seen, she said. I feel seen as a woman. I feel seen as a member of the LGBTQ community. But I dont feel seen as a blind person.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disabled voters say the 2024 presidential candidates ignore them
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Former President Donald Trump faced new backlash Friday following comments he made about Liz Cheney.

Thursday night, Trump told a crowd that Cheney was a war hawk, that she should be put with a rifle standing there at nine barrels shooting her. Democrats argued Trump was threatening to have the former Wyoming congressman shot, while the Trump Campaign says he was criticizing her support for war.

Harris, Trump to visit NC again this weekend just days before General Election

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Trump was at an interview with Tucker Carlson when he brought up Cheney, Shes a radical war hawk. Lets put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. Okay, lets see how she feels about it. You know when the guns are trained on her face. You know, theyre all war hawks when theyre sitting in Washington and a nice building saying oh gee, welllets send 10,000 troops right into the mouth of the enemy.

The Harris-Walz Campaign argued Trump was making a threat. Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the remarks while campaigning in Wisconsin, This must be disqualifying, anyone who wants to be president of the United States who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified to be president.

Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of Trump and has endorsed Harris, took to X, writing in part, This is how dictators destroy free nations, they threaten those who speak against them with death.

But during an event with early voters in Mooresville, RNC Co-Chair Lara Trump said her father-in-laws remarks were about Cheneys policies on war, and that no threat was made whatsoever.

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I think obviously, this is being taken out of context and misconstrued. And I think his point was, look, were sending our young men and women overseas to fight these battles. We dont want to see that sort of thing happen. And I think that if Liz Cheney had guns pointed her way, she might feel a little bit differently, 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 Queen City News.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A missing woman, who was last seen in Tularosa, New Mexico, has been found, according to the New Mexico State Police (NMSP)

Aurelia Gutierrez, 26, was found Saturday afternoon, Nov. 2, State Police said.

NMSP sent out an alert to media that they were looking for Gutierrez, and then 20 minutes later sent out another media alert, saying she had been found. They did not release any other details.

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Gutierrez is described as 5-feet, 5-inches tall, weighs 164 pounds with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark blue sweater and gray sweatpants and has a Layla tattoo on her neck.

According to the Otero County Sheriffs Office, deputies had reason to believe that Gutierrez may be in danger if she is not located.

A Brittany Alert was sent out for Gutierrez. A Brittany alert is sent out when an individual with physical, mental or developmental disabilities is reported missing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Mississippi has three contested U.S. House elections and one incumbent who will win another term with no opposition in the general election.

HOUSE DISTRICT 1

FILE  U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss., speaks at a rally on Nov. 1, 2019, in Tupelo, Miss. Kelly is unopposed in the Mississippi Republican Party primary for the 1st Congressional District seat, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. However, in the Mississippi Democratic Primary, Bronco Williams, a theater and Spanish teacher, and Dianne Black, a business owner who ran unsuccessfully in 2022 against Kelly as the Democratic Party nominee, both seek the partys nomination. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) Dianne Black

Republican Rep. Trent Kelly faces Democratic challenger Dianne Dodson Black in north Mississippis 1st Congressional District. This is a rematch of the 2022 race, when Kelly defeated Black.

Kelly is a former district attorney and has been in the House since winning a 2015 special election. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

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Black, a business owner, says she wants to support President Joe Bidens economic policies, restore abortion rights and limit access to semiautomatic rifles.

Kellys campaign raised nearly $1.2 million and spent about $893,000 through mid-October, while Blacks campaign raised about $9,400 and spent about $7,400.

Does Mississippi allow same-day voter registration?

HOUSE DISTRICT 2

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) talks during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Jan. 10, 2024, in Washington. In this photo provided by the Ron Eller for Congress Campaign, Republican candidate Eller poses for a photo. Eller, who was one of the top two vote-getters in the March 12, 2024, primary, did not received the vote majority needed to avoid a runoff election on Tuesday, April 2. (Eric Eller/Ron Eller for Congress Campaign via AP)

Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson faces Republican challenger Ron Eller in the 2nd District, which encompasses most of the city of Jackson, plus rural areas in the Delta and along the Mississippi River.

Thompson is a former Bolton mayor and former Hinds County supervisor. He the longest-serving member of Mississippis current congressional delegation, first winning a special election in 1993. He is the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee and chaired the committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

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Eller, a military veteran and physician assistant, ran unsuccessfully for the 2nd District Republican nomination in 2022. He supports U.S.-Mexico border wall construction and the expansion of domestic energy production.

Thompsons campaign raised and spent just over $1 million through mid-October, while Ellers campaign raised nearly $48,000 and spent about $17,800.

HOUSE DISTRICT 3

FILE  U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., speaks in Jackson, Miss., Jan. 2, 2024. Guest is unopposed in the Mississippi Republican Party primary for the 3rd Congressional District seat. In the Mississippi Democratic Party primary, Jarvis Gordon is unopposed, as well. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Republican Rep. Michael Guest was unopposed in the primary and the general election for central Mississippis 3rd District. Guest is a former district attorney who was first elected to the House in 2018. He is chairman of the House Ethics Committee and vice chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

What to know about Mississippis 2024 General Election

HOUSE DISTRICT 4

FILE  Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell greets people after winning Mississippis 4th Congressional District race, Nov. 8, 2022, in Pascagoula, Miss. (Hannah Ruhoff/The Sun Herald via AP, File)

Republican Rep. Mike Ezell faces Democratic challenger Craig Elliot Raybon in south Mississippis 4th District.

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Ezell had a 42-year law enforcement career, including eight years as Jackson County sheriff, before being elected to the House in 2022. He has voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and to end military assistance to Ukraine.

Raybon, a first-time candidate, has said he wants to increase the minimum wage, expand vocational training programs and lower prescription drug prices.

Ezells campaign raised and spent about $1 million through mid-October. Federal Election Commission records show no campaign finance information for Raybon.

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ST. LOUIS  Its an argument that many are making regarding the phrasing Missouris Amendment 3 uses of whether reproductive rights for all persons may be used as an umbrella term for treatments such as gender-affirming care for minors without parental consent.

FOX 2 reached out to legal experts on both sides of the argument to determine whether the phrasing could be interpreted for the use of legalizing gender transition treatment for minors.

Kelley Gillespie a professor of law and health ethics at Saint Louis University and Mary Catherine Martin, senior counsel attorney for the Thomas More Society, a Roman Catholic public-interest law firm shares their sides of the issue.

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Gillespie explains this argument is used as a scare tactic in order to sway people from voting to pass the amendment.

There is no credible argument to say it will legalize it, Gillespie said.

Gillespie mentioned Missouris current ban on gender-affirming care for minors and said any amendment that passes needs to be challenged according to current statutes before any other laws are struck down.

Where you can vote before election day in the St. Louis area

She mentioned some laws that, if they deal directly with a total ban on abortion, may be struck down if the amendment is passed.

She furthered her argument, stating for reproductive rights to be directly tied to gender affirming care for minors would be an unnatural conclusion in interpretation.

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Gillespie stated these arguments made to tie the two are othering and stigmatizing for the transgender community.

The language of the amendment uses examples, all of which have to do with decisions made directly for the purpose of reproduction, such as contraception, care during pregnancy, and delivery.

Gillespie noted the phrasing included, but not limited to used in the amendment.

That doesnt mean every other thing you might want to put on the list is included, Gillespie noted. She said according to legal standards, words are known by the company they keep.

Gillespie gave an example if Amendment 3 were to pass and if the state were to propose a law to ban vasectomies, because they are done for the purpose of preventing contraception, this could be considered a reproductive decision.

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There a lot of things in healthcare that may have an impact on a reproductive organ, but not done for the purpose of reproductive decisions, she said.

I think the gender affirming care ban for minors has actually done more harm to people than helped, Gillespie said. But I wouldnt stand up in court and suggest Amendment 3 would somehow make those procedures available again; its not a credible argument.

Martin explains her side of the issue and said the amendments use of all matters relating to reproductive healthcare is broad and leaves room for a judge to freely define what matters relate to reproductive healthcare.

Our Supreme Court has interpreted that exact language to mean that this definition is both open-ended and unconstrained by the examples, Martin said.

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You first have to note that many of the other provisions being considered by other states to define reproductive healthcare in terms of a womans pregnancy, [Missouris] defines it with no constraints whatsoever.

Martin explained there is nothing in the amendment that would define reproductive healthcare for a judge to determine whether a matter is protected by the amendment.

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What is reproductive healthcare now? Thats what everyone is arguing about right now. Martin said. All matters relating to and including but not limited to are both unique to Missouri and express to judges that this category is supposed to be unlimited.

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Martin explained Amendment 3 would give healthcare providers the ability to label gender affirming care under the category of reproductive healthcare.

We are being called crazy and engaging in scare tactics and being political for saying the same people who are currently arguing that the Missouri Constitution provides a constitutional right to childrens gender transition in five different places.

Martin compared Missouris abortion amendment to Floridas current ballot measure which she says is very clear on the issue.

Ill tell you what is true about Florida that is not true about us, theyre actually voting on abortion, Martin said. They are very clear about it with very clear existing legal standards.

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In regard to minors going without parental consent, Martin said because the amendment uses the word persons would include men, women and children changing the legal standards applicable to the rights this amendment would grant.

No limitation on this right can limit the automatous decision making of the person seeking care, Martin said. This makes it impossible for anyone to enforce current laws requiring parental consent or for legislature to pass new ones as constitution would trump statue.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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By Tom Balmforth and Yuliia Dysa

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova has told several EU nations that it believes Russia will try to disrupt voting by Moldovan expatriates at polling stations abroad in Sunday's presidential election, a Moldovan government source said.

Pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu faces former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, who is backed by the traditionally pro-Russian Socialist Party, in a tense second-round standoff.

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The Moldovan source, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that polling stations in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Romania, the U.S. and Britain might be targeted by Moscow for disruption including by bomb hoaxes.

The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Saturday. Moscow denies interfering in Moldova's affairs.

"The goal is to interrupt the voting process during the (bomb threat) evacuation and check by the police. We kindly ask to apply procedures and protocols that do not interrupt the voting process," a Moldovan message to a European official said, according to a screenshot reviewed by Reuters.

A former Soviet state, Moldova became independent during the 1991 Soviet breakup. It has alternated between pro-Western and pro-Russian periods since and has accelerated its westward push since Moscow's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.

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Law enforcement agencies have alleged Russian-backed fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor is responsible for meddling in Moldova's election. He denies wrongdoing.

Moldovan voters living in the West are seen as largely pro-European and therefore more likely to support Sandu, who has championed Moldova's effort to join the 27-nation European Union by 2030.

The diaspora vote proved crucial to Sandu's team winning an Oct. 20 referendum affirming the country's EU aspirations. The referendum was held alongside the first round of the election.

The source said Moscow was transporting Moldovan citizens by flight and bus to Azerbaijan, Belarus, Turkey and Moldova to vote in a bid to maximise Stoianoglo's chances.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Yuliia Dysa; editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Moldovan police have conducted further searches tied to the Sor party and the Victorie electoral bloc in an investigation into suspected voter bribery funded by Russia.

Source: Moldovan news outlet Newsmaker, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Moldova's General Inspectorate of Police reported that police and prosecutors had carried out searches in Chisinau and Riscani as part of multiple criminal investigations into vote-buying and unlawful party financing.

The police stated that the searches once again revealed that members of pro-Russian politician Ilan Shor's network and the Victorie bloc were recruiting Moldovan citizens, offering money in exchange for votes "against one of the candidates".

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During the searches, police confiscated various items, including smartphones belonging to the suspects. These devices contained the application of Russian Promsvyazbank, used by participants in the scheme to receive funds, as well as labour contracts with the Russian organisation Eurasia and substantial amounts of money.

Earlier, the Moldovan police noted that over US$24 million had been transferred from Russia to Moldova before the presidential election and the EU referendum and that fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor was behind it.

Background:

On 3 November, Moldova will conduct the second round of presidential elections, featuring incumbent President Maia Sandu and pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo. Postal voting for this round has already concluded.

In the first round of voting, Maia Sandu secured 42.37% of the votes, while Alexandr Stoianoglo, the candidate from the pro-Russian Party of Socialists of Moldova, garnered 26.02%.

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The distraught mom of the five-year-old girl allegedly raped by an illegal migrant on Long Island tearfully said shes losing confidence in the world  as she recounted the horrifying moments her daughter spent with the suspect under their roof.

I am sad. I am scared, and Im losing confidence in the world, the girls mother, Petronila, 46, told The Post in Spanish on Friday, days after Honduras national Wilson Castillo Diaz was arrested for the sickening sexual assault.

Diaz, 27, who skipped an immigration hearing after being cut loose at the US-Mexico border, was collared last week for the sickening attack that occurred inside their shared Westbury home.

I am scared, and Im losing confidence in the world, the victims mother, Petronila, told The Post. Brigitte Stelzer

A criminal complaint obtained by The Post alleges he raped the girl in his bedroom on the afternoon of Oct. 16, and also showed her pornographic images on his TV.

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Ma, I dont want him to be here, the little girl told her mom hours after the alleged rape, according to Petronila.

A few days later, she bravely opened up.

Ma, he dragged me into his room. I was super, super scared. I told him to stop. I will tell my mother and my brother, the shaken mom recounted through a translator.

The 5-year-old girl was allegedly raped inside Wilson Castillo Diazs basement bedroom. Brigitte Stelzer

The family began having issues with Wilson Castillo Diaz soon after he moved in. Brigitte Stelzer

The girl was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation after Petronila reported the attack to police.

Their issues with Diaz began when he moved into the basement of their Long Island home two years ago, the family said.

Diaz, who worked as a decorator for parties, would invite the then-toddler into his bedroom two months after settling in.

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The sicko allegedly kissed her on the mouth several times in his bedroom, prompting the mom and girls two older brothers to tell her to stay clear of the renter, the family recounted.

We told her not to comply with his orders, her older brother said outside their home.

She may not be the only victim, according to Nassau County officials.

In this case, this 27-year-old man did not wake up one day an decide Im going to rape a five-year-old girl, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said at a press conference on Friday.

Wilson Castillo Diaz, who skipped an immigration hearing, was charged with raping a 5-year-old girl. Nassau County

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So we believe there may be more victims out there.

Diaz illegally crossed into the US near Rio Grande, Texas in April 2014 when he was 16 as an unaccompanied minor, according to cops and federal law-enforcement sources.

He was initially taken into custody by US border agents but later released after being served with a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

Police said Diaz then failed to show up for his immigration court hearing.

Sources told The Post he was ordered removed in absentia back in 2016 for missing the court date.

Diaz was arraigned last Wednesday on rape, attempted rape and endangering the welfare of a child charges.

Wilson Castillo Diaz allegedly slept inside the basement. Brigitte Stelzer

He was being held in the Nassau County Jail on a $200,000 cash bond.

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Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman railed that Diaz should have never been in this country.

I cant stress enough how disheartening this is that this crime could occur against such a young girl who had her innocence taken away from her, he said.

Additional reporting by Jennie Taer
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Friday night, Easterseals of Central Illinois held its 33rd annual tribute dinner at the Peoria Civic Center.

This year, Mark and Jodi Scott were honored for their outstanding service and commitment to the nonprofit organization.

If you opened up the dictionary and wanted a definition of a volunteer, thered be a picture of Mark and Jodi, said John Bearce, an Easterseals volunteer himself.

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Marks ties with Easterseals of Central Illinois span more than 40 years, including chairing the board of directors. The pair work tirelessly to help Easterseals fulfill its mission of ensuring every child with developmental disabilities and delays can reach their full potential.

Theres many, many people within the community that are worthy of this, said tribute honoree Mark Scott. And were just a piece of the team, but were just here and happy to support the kids.

Easterseals 33rd Tribute Dinner honoring Scott family

One project the Scott family supports is the fundraising efforts of Limestone High School.

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In the last 48 years, theyve raised $1,387,123.47, Scott beamed.

Over $1.2 million was raised at tonights event alone. All proceeds stay within Easterseals, who serve over 5,000 children with disabilities in central Illinois.

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More than 100 BBC employees have put their name to a letter accusing the corporation of bias in its coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The Independent newspaper reports that, in a letter sent to director-general Tim Davie, more than 230 members of the media industry, including 100 BBC staff members and several public figures, accuse the BBC of favouring Israel in its news broadcasts and lacking consistently fair and accurate evidence-based journalism in its coverage of Gaza.

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The letter seen by the newspaper asks the BBC to report without fear or favour and to recommit to the highest editorial standards  with emphasis on fairness, accuracy and due impartiality with commitments to include:

Reiterating that Israel does not give external journalists access to to Gaza

Highlighting insufficient evidence to back up Israeli claims

Making clear where Israel is the perpetrator in headlines

Including regular historical context

Challenging Israeli state representatives in interviews

The Independent newspaper adds that the BBC has denied these claims, insisting it strives to live up to our responsibility to deliver the most trusted and impartial news.

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ATLANTA  Kamala Harris put the young, diverse battleground states in the South and West in play. If she wins them, she may have white suburbanites to thank.

As Harris touched down in Atlanta on Saturday, the race in these four swing states  Georgia and North Carolina in the South, and Arizona and Nevada in the West  remains essentially tied. Its a phenomenon that was unthinkable with the candidacy of President Joe Biden, who had all but ruled the states out as he set his sights instead on the Blue Wall.

But now, three days before Election Day, even some Republicans acknowledge the vice presidents additional paths to victory.

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Harris has spent two full days this week amping up supporters across the Sun Belt, including here at the Atlanta Civic Center in downtown Atlanta on Saturday afternoon. She heads next to North Carolina, where she will speak to supporters in Charlotte on Saturday night; and she spent all day Thursday in the West, with rallies in Phoenix, Reno and Las Vegas.

She definitely is in a more competitive crouch than Biden was, said Brian Robinson, a GOP strategist in Georgia. The numbers for Biden in Georgia were atrocious. I mean, there were some, like the New York Times polling back in the summer or spring, it had Trump up more than 10 points  you never see that in Georgia.

The scene in downtown Georgia Saturday afternoon  Harris, rallying thousands of supporters against the backdrop of the citys skyline, flanked by signs that said freedom  showed just how far Democrats have come in the state.

Georgia, you know me. Im not afraid of tough fights  evidently, she said. I pledge to you if you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.



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Harris standing with younger voters and voters of color has significantly improved from where Biden was earlier this summer and has helped put these states in play. And while her campaign maintains it is optimistic about these demographics, winning them is still far from certain. Polling, early voting data and uncertainties around changes in vote methods make it hard to tell whether the vice president will be able to match Bidens 2020 performance, which notched him victories in three of these states.

But if she cant, strategists on both sides of the aisle here in the Sun Belt say white, college-educated suburbanites, and particularly women, could save her.

Harris pivot to the center, coupled with an emphasis on abortion rights and threats to democracy, has her doing far better with many of these voters, who have been flocking to the South and West seeking a lower cost of living, than Democrats have in the past.

The thing that gives me optimism about the Sun Belt is our percentage of college-educated voters, and what you see in states that are rapidly growing, like North Carolina and Georgia, is that it is the in-migration of college-educated voters to places like Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta where we see an explosion of growth  every single day, every single week, every single year, said Morgan Jackson, a Democratic strategist in North Carolina. Its all about college-educated voters  college-educated white voters.

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Its not that Harris isn't winning the majority of voters of color and younger voters  she appears to be. Its just not clear whether she will win enough of them, with polls all over the map. According to CNNs 2020 exit poll, Biden won 87 percent of Black voters, 65 percent of Latino voters and 60 percent of voters under 30. The final New York Times-Siena College poll released last weekend found Harris several points shy of all of those numbers, at 81 percent with Black voters, 52 percent with Latino voters and 55 percent with voters under 30; a recent ABC-Ipsos poll, meanwhile, found Harris at 90 percent with Black voters, 64 percent with Latino voters and 56 percent with voters under 30.

At the same time, she appears to be overperforming Bidens 2020 numbers with white, college-educated voters. CNNs exit poll had Biden at 51 percent for this group, while Harris numbers are at 56 percent in the Times-Siena poll.

Democrats have also historically performed better in the Rust Belt states, which they have won every year since 1992  except when Hillary Clinton failed to hold them in 2016. In that same time period, North Carolina has only voted for a Democrat once, for Barack Obama in 2008; Arizona and Georgia have gone blue twice; and Nevada, which has had the most recent success electing Democratic candidates of the four, has voted for the Democratic presidential nominee all but twice.

Harris campaign schedule appears to reflect these electoral realities. While the vice president spent two full days campaigning in the four Sun Belt states, she is spending one full day each in the final stretch of the campaign in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

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Every single state is within the margin of error. Having said that, I think for Democrats, the truest and strongest path to 270 has been, traditionally, and is for Harris the Blue Wall: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, said Patti Solis Doyle, a Democratic strategist and a former campaign manager for Hillary Clinton in 2008. I think you see that reflected in where Harris and Walz have been spending their time and where they're spending their money, but theyre not taking the Sun Belt for granted.

Campaign aides argue that, in the final days of the campaign, the investment of the vice presidents time in the Sun Belt states shows how serious she is about them  and how close they believe the races are.

Often at this late stage in a campaign, you are making choices about where youre moving resources because the states you thought would be in play, or the pathways you thought would be in play arent fully there. That is not what were facing, a senior campaign official, granted anonymity to speak candidly about the race, told reporters earlier this week. Every single one of our seven battleground states are absolutely in play.

In Georgia, Democrats are seeing signs for optimism. Black voters now make up 27 percent of all early votes cast in the state, matching the in-person voting share from 2020, and there was a surge of Black and youth voters in the final days of early voting, with Black voters making up a large share of early voters during the last two days, compared to the same two days in 2020, according to a Democratic strategist, who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record. And Thursday was the biggest day of the early voting period for voters under 30, the strategist added.

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And despite reports of lagging Black turnout in North Carolina earlier in the week, the campaign is seeing signs of hope in the Tar Heel State  in part because Trump has four planned stops there leading up to Election Day. The senior campaign official said that the former president spending so much time in North Carolina suggests that theyre pretty worried, adding that would align with the strength we're seeing in early vote.



I think that it's hard to look at these moves from the Trump campaign without feeling like they must be worried and they're seeing what we're seeing there too, the official said.

A Trump campaign official, granted anonymity to speak candidly about the state of the race, said Democrats optimism about the Sun Belt is bizarre and argued the momentum is on Republicans side, particularly with recent GOP gains in voter registration and Republican gains during the early voting period. The official also rebuffed the notion that the campaign is worried about North Carolina, noting that Republicans continue to lead in early voting there.

Danielle Alvarez, a Trump campaign spokesperson, argued that Trump is surging and continuing to build momentum heading into Election Day.

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But we are not taking anything for granted and will be making multiple visits to battleground states in the final days of the campaign because nothing short of the future of our nation is at stake, she said.

The Harris campaign official also added that their internal data suggests that they have increased their support in the last couple of weeks of the campaign among Black voters, including Black men, and young Latino voters. And Democrats broadly are optimistic, based on what theyre seeing in polling and early voting data, that many voters of color and younger people have yet to turn out. For instance, a recent Marist Poll out of North Carolina found that 38 percent of Black voters said they intend to vote on Election Day, compared to 26 percent of white voters.

That's a big shift from 2020, said Tom Bonier, a Democratic strategist and a senior adviser at the data firm TargetSmart, on a briefing call. And so when you look at that, you can just do some simple math based on the early vote that has been cast already in North Carolina  it actually projects Black voters increasing their share of the electorate over 2020, narrowly, but still an increase.

Out West, the campaign still has significant hurdles with its younger and heavily Latino electorate. The Democratic strategist noted that youth voters have increased their vote share every day since last Friday, and that returns for those voters are increasing in Arizona, while Latino turnout in Arizona has increased over the last week.

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But strategists on both sides of the aisle say they have no idea whats going to happen in Nevada  where a massive number of independent voters is complicating projections  while in Arizona, the state is looking slightly more favorable for Trump. Harris could, however, notch a victory in Arizona if shes winning over John McCain-type Republicans and independent voters in the state, and strategists say they wouldnt be surprised if the contest went either way.

My instinct is they have more faith in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, and maybe even Georgia, or North Carolina, than they do out here, said Chuck Coughlin, a longtime GOP strategist in Arizona who left the party under Trump. It's remarkable what Harris has done in the three months that she's had this reign. She's really positioned herself actually as a competitive candidate, where she's a credible candidate.
A person shops at a home improvement store in New York City in January. Many states have enacted laws this year to restrict the use of PFAS  often called forever chemicals  in a wide array of consumer goods or firefighting foam. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished unless you have a Getty subscription.)

Legislative momentum against PFAS has surged this year, as at least 11 states enacted laws to restrict the use of forever chemicals in everyday consumer products or professional firefighting foam.

The legislation includes bans on PFAS in apparel, cleaning products, cookware, and cosmetic and menstrual products. Meanwhile, lawmakers in some states also passed measures that require industries to pay for testing or cleanup; order companies to disclose the use of PFAS in their products; and mandate or encourage the development of PFAS alternatives, according to Safer States, an alliance of environmental health groups focused on toxic chemicals.

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In total this year, at least 16 states adopted 22 PFAS-related measures, according to the group. Since 2007, 30 states have approved 155 PFAS policies, the vast majority of them in the past five years.

The thousands of chemicals categorized as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, do not naturally break down and are found in the blood of 97% of Americans. Some PFAS compounds can harm the immune system, increase cancer risks and decrease fertility.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released new standards limiting PFAS in drinking water. Water systems have five years to comply with the rules. Even before the EPA action, 11 states had set their own limits on PFAS in drinking water, starting with New Jersey in 2018.

PFASAt least 11 states enacted PFAS bans on some products this year:

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Alaska

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New Jersey

Rhode Island

Vermont

Water utilities and chemical manufacturers are challenging the new EPA standards. But states also are heading to the courthouse: So far, 30 states have sued PFAS manufacturers or key users for contaminating water supplies and other natural resources, according to Safer States.

Over the past two decades, the knowledge of PFAS health effects has really exploded, Jamie DeWitt, a professor of environmental molecular toxicology at Oregon State University, told Stateline.

We now know that theyre linked with different types of cancer, suppression of the vaccine antibody response, liver damage, elevated cholesterol and developmental effects, said DeWitt, who is also director of the universitys Environmental Health Sciences Center.

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But the chemical industry and some companies that use PFAS in their products argue that states are going too far. PFAS compounds have properties that make them nonstick, stain-repellent, waterproof or fire-resistant. In addition to being used in everyday consumer goods, they are critical to renewable energy, health care and electronics, defenders say.

PFAS are a diverse universe of chemistries. They have differing health and environmental profiles. It is not scientifically accurate or appropriate to treat all PFAS the same, Tom Flanagin, a spokesperson from the American Chemistry Council, told Stateline in an email.

Consumers should also know that PFAS chemistries in commerce today have been reviewed by regulators before introduction, are subject to ongoing review, and are supported by a robust body of health and safety data.

In California, which has enacted 19 PFAS-related laws since 2007, the state Chamber of Commerce opposes any blanket ban on all commercial products containing PFAS, according to Adam Regele, vice president of advocacy and strategic partnerships. There are more than 15,000 chemicals in the PFAS category, Regele said, and there arent viable alternatives for all of them.

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Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of AdvaMed, a trade association representing medical technology companies, told a congressional committee last year that it is hard to imagine the medical industry without the many important products that contain fluoropolymers, a type of PFAS. Whitaker noted that CPAP machines, prosthetics, IV bags, surgical instruments and many other medical products contain PFAS.

The semiconductor industry also has expressed concern about far-reaching bans on PFAS, which it uses to manufacture computer chips. It wants exceptions to the new rules as well as time to develop alternatives.

But Sarah Doll, national director of Safer States, said one reason states have been so successful in enacting PFAS limits is that more companies are willing to stop using the chemicals.

When California restricted PFAS in textiles, all of a sudden you saw companies like REI saying, We can, were going to do that. Were going to move to alternatives, Doll said.

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In Vermont, state lawmakers in April unanimously approved a measure banning the manufacture and sale of PFAS in cosmetics, menstrual products, incontinence products, artificial turf, textiles and cookware.

The same as everyone else, like Democrats, we want to make sure that we remove PFAS and get it out of products as soon as we can, said Vermont Republican state Rep. Michael Marcotte, who said his district includes cosmetics manufacturer Rozelle Cosmetics, in Westfield.

Democratic state Sen. Virginia Lyons, the chief sponsor of the Vermont bill, said it is particularly important to get PFAS out of products that are essential to consumers.

There are some consumer products where you can say, I dont need to buy that, because I dont want PFAS, Lyons said. But its really tough to say that [about] a menstrual product.

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Californias latest PFAS measure, which Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last month, specifically bans the use of PFAS in menstrual products. Democratic Assemblymember Diane Papan, the author of the bill, said it was particularly strong because it covers both intentional and unintentional uses of PFAS, so manufacturers will have to really be careful about what comes in their supply chain.

While more states enact laws focused on specific products, Maine is preparing to implement the worlds first PFAS ban covering all consumer goods. The Maine law, which is scheduled to take effect in 2030, will include exceptions for essential products for which PFAS-free alternatives do not exist. Washington state has also taken a sweeping approach by giving regulators strict timelines to ban PFAS in many product categories.

Stateline staff writer Alex Brown contributed to this report.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police say a man accused of assaulting two women in their beds months apart was arrested Thursday after one of the victims was able to track her stolen cell phone.

Investigators said they found Justin Fulton, 33, sleeping inside a maroon Kia UItima in the 4000 block of Baskel Drive about a mile from the womans apartment.

Justin Fulton (SCSO)

Officers said they found the womans phone, ID and numerous IDs and bank cards belonging to other women inside the car. Police said they also found a backpack containing a crowbar and pry bar.

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According to police, on May 9, Fulton broke into a Parkway Village house and tried to rape a woman. The victim said she was sleeping and felt someone touch her foot. She said Fulton identified himself as a neighbor, demanded sex, and threatened to slit her throat if she said anything.

The victim said she began screaming and fighting Fulton, and he punched her and ran out her back door. She later picked Fulton out of a photo line-up.

Police said early Halloween morning, Fulton broke into a Whitehaven apartment and attacked a woman.

The victim said she woke up and saw a man standing by her bed, exposing himself. She said the man jumped on top of her, told her to stay quiet, and began choking her.

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The woman said she briefly lost consciousness but was able to yell for her mother, and the man ran out of her room with her cell phone, license, and bank card.

Police said Fulton was found sleeping in a car in the 4000 block of Baskel Dr. in Whitehaven

Fulton was parked near a family members home when he was taken into custody. Fultons mother, who was at the house on Friday, said she didnt believe her son attacked anyone.

The first woman was my former neighbor, and we had an ongoing feud, said Fultons mother. I cant speak what happened with the other woman.

Fulton was also wanted for allegedly pushing his ex-girlfriend to the ground last month and stealing her cell phone.

He is facing charges of aggravated assault, aggravated rape, attempted rape, aggravated burglary, theft of property and possession of burglary tools.

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Fulton is being held on a $260,000 bond. His mother said she had talked to her son but wont be bailing him out.

He has to take responsibility, she said.

Fulton is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.



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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man was shot in Northeast D.C. on Saturday afternoon, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

MPD told DC News Now that at around 2:45 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting that occurred in the 5300 block of East Capitol St., near the Maryland state line.

Police investigating after man shot in Northeast DC

Officers then found a man suffering from a gunshot wound in the unit block of 49th Street.

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Responders took the man to the hospital for treatment.

As of Saturday afternoon, police were searching for the suspect.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Within hours of being released from federal prison, Steve Bannon returned to his rightwing show War Room to declare Kamala Harris a fascist, repeat election fraud claims, and label himself a political prisoner  perhaps an omen of the potential damage he could cause in the few days remaining before the 2024 election.

On Tuesday, Bannon became a free man  and immediately renewed his support for Donald Trump  after a four-month stint at FCI Danbury following a contempt of Congress conviction for not complying with a House panel investigating the January 6 insurrection.

The 70-year-old with a shaggy gray mop and ever-present scruff may appear unassuming, but the damage he can do in the final stretch of the election could be consequential, given his track record and his constant proximity to a microphone.

Steve Bannon, former advisor to former President Donald Trump, holds a press conference in New York City following his release from U.S. Federal jail on October 29 (REUTERS)

Steve Bannon is the intellectual leader and general of the MAGA movement, Mike Davis, a frequent contributor on War Room, told the New York Times.

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Ex-Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro predicted to the outlet that Bannon would drive voters to the polls: Hell do that broadcasting the show, and he will reach a lot of people with the message of how important this election is.

The federal prison stint not only didnt break me, but it empowered me, Bannon told his War Room listeners on Tuesday upon his return to the airwaves.

If theres one thing Bannon has long had, its power. He may no longer be within a few feet of Trump, but his influence on the former presidents supporters could still be significant.

Bannon has lived many lives. He was an officer in the Navy, went to Harvard Business School and was a Goldman Sachs investment banker. Then in the 1990s, he started working in the film industry as an executive producer.

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In 2012, Bannon took on the position that launched him into the spotlight: executive chairman of the conservative news site Breitbart. While there, he wiggled his way into Trumps favor as Breitbart published fawning stories about the then-presidential candidate. His work there prompted Bloomberg to dub him in 2015 as the most dangerous political operative in America.

By August 2016, he successfully attracted the attention of Trump, who tapped Bannon to serve as the chief executive of his campaign, a role that later segued into him becoming Trumps chief strategist in the White House.

Bannon appears in court in New York in January 2023 (AP)

Many former employees of Breitbart News are afraid of Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro, then an editor-at-large at the outlet, wrote when Bannon was hired by the Trump campaign. He is a vindictive, nasty figure, infamous for verbally abusing supposed friends and threatening enemies.

When Bannon was tapped to serve in Trumps White House, 170 Democrats signed a letter oppoising the appointment, citing his divisiveness.

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Millions of Americans have expressed fear and concern about how they will be treated by the Trump Administration and your appointment of Mr Bannon only exacerbates and validates their concerns, the Congress members wrote in 2016. As the Executive Chairman of BreitbartNews, Mr Bannon repeatedly and aggressively pushed stories that promote anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and racism.

But his stint in the White House was cut short in 2017. Bannon reportedly said disparaging remarks about Trumps children, including calling daughter Ivanka dumb as a brick, leading the livid then-president to fire his chief strategist, saying he had lost his mind.

Bannon with Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the White House at an event in 2017 (AFP via Getty Images)

While watching Trumps State of the Union address in 2018, Bannon provided a Bloomberg reporter with a crucial insight into his strategy: The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with s**t.

In other words, throwing so much disinformation into the ether that it becomes impossible to separate fact from fiction. As journalists try to sift for the truth, Trump and his allies became a disinformation machine, churning out an incredibly daunting list of claims to fact-check while simultaneously blaming the mainstream media as broadcasting fake news.

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Perhaps that effort is best exhibited by War Room, which Bannon started in 2019 to counteract the master class in political warfare seen in the first impeachment of Donald Trump, he told Yahoo News at the time.

Ever since, Bannon, via the show, has served as Trumps mouthpiece. He has laid bare his feelings about controversy du jour: Covid-19 mandates, the Biden family, and election fraud claims.

In fact, War Room was found to be the biggest offender of spreading election misinformation, leading the other top 20 political podcasts tracked from the date that Biden accepted the Democratic nomination through January 6, 2021, according to a 2022 Brookings Institution analysis.

Trump and his allies are still promoting rigged 2020 election allegations  despite courts across the country finding no evidence to support them  and are already questioning the 2024 election before its happened.

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Perhaps its no surprise, then, that Bannon is already flooding the zone with more baseless claims in the final stretch before Election Day.

Bannon returns to his War Room podcast hours after his release from federal prison (Real Americas Voice / screengrab)

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On his return to War Room on Tuesday, he promoted 2020 stolen election conspiracies. He suggested Democrats will do anything to try to nullify and delegitimize the election if Trump wins  which he dubbed a third victory.

But perhaps most terrifyingly, he warned: If youre not prepared to be sent to a federal prison as a political prisoner, then youre not worthy to be in this movement, and to step forward and try to save your country.

You have to understand: they want to put you in prison and they will put you in prison. If you cant accept that, then you dont know what they represent.

He is speaking as a self-described political prisoner. Even behind bars, Bannon has been putting in the work for the former president, not taking a break from spewing Trumpian rhetoric.

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He taught a weekly civics class for fellow inmates at Danbury every Tuesday afternoon this fall, Rolling Stone reported, where he echoed some of Trumps defenses. He told the group that Taylor Swift was a cult leader, repeated Trumps concerns about the 60 Minutes interview, and suggested he wouldnt deter Trump from deploying the US military against US citizens  a move that the GOP nominee has reportedly threatened numerous times.

Bannon told the class that the constitution prohibits this action, prompting a student to quip: You might need to remind Trump that he cant do it.

Why would I want to do that? Bannon asked.

The MAGA fixture has a few more days to exact his influence once again before November 5.

To the ruling class in this country, theyre right, I am dangerous, Bannon warned inThe Wall Street Journal in July before turning himself in. And guess what? Im gonna be a lot more dangerous. So theyre right.
UPDATE 11-02-2024 AT AROUND 1:30 P.M. In an update from the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response, they said as of 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, that fire personnel were able to get the fire under control. Crews remained at the scene for a while after to take care of a few remaining hotspots.

Emergency Response said the area affected was eight to ten acres between the 1300 block of East Shore Drive and the 900 block of Cayuga Heights Road. Homes in the area were not impacted.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Two other people were treated at the scene.

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State Police are leading the investigation into the cause of the brush fire.

Courtesy of the Dryden Fire Department via Facebook.

ITHACA N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Fire departments in Tompkins County are battling a big brush fire just outside Ithaca. A viewer sent us this drone footage, from along the east side of Cayuga Lake near East Shore Drive.

Courtesy of Joe Scaglione Photography.

911 dispatchers told NewsChannel 9 that the call first went out around 7:30 p.m. on Friday. At least seven area departments are battling the fire.

911 dispatchers also said Route 34 between James L Gibbs Drive and Cayuga Heights Road along with Route 13 is closed due to all the activity.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

City lights in northern Mexico streak by in this long-exposure photograph taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit from the International Space Station on Oct. 24, 2024. | Credit: NASA/Don Pettit

The whirling Earth shines brightly in fresh imagery taken from the space station.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his long-exposure photographs from the International Space Station (ISS), recently captured views above Mexico and the United States showing city lights streaking by 250 miles (400 kilometers) beneath him.

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Pettit also managed to glimpse the aurora, or northern lights, on the horizon. These glowing hues appear when energetic particles from the sun interact with Earth's upper atmosphere.

Related: 'Spaceborne': Astronaut Don Pettit's amazing space photos (gallery)

Pettit, on his fourth mission to the space station, is well known for his orbital photography, which he performs during his spare time.

a long-exposure photo of earth with streaks of white and a green aurora on the horizon

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 NASA's oldest active astronaut Don Pettit to make 4th trip to ISS on Sept. 11

In recent days, he created a Jupiter-like ball of water, using food coloring to create incredible hues that evoked a gas giant planet.

Pettit also caught the conclusion of the independently funded Polaris Dawn mission that returned to Earth on Sept. 15.

The image chronicled the fiery reentry of the four-person mission, funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, along with a view of the cone shape of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that ferried them to orbit for about a week.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station plan to find a new docking port for a SpaceX Dragon in order to make way for an uncrewed NASA vehicle on a resupply mission.

The Dragon spacecraft reached the station Sept. 29 with two spacefarers who are part of a commercial mission known as Crew-9. While the SpaceX missions commissioned by NASA have become routine in recent years, this particular venture garnered attention since it involved the vehicle that in February will bring home the Boeing Starliner astronauts.

The capsule, which docked at the space station's Harmony module's forward-facing port, is now set to be relocated Sunday to the module's space-facing port. Such maneuvers have become common at the space station since NASA began its commercial crew program in 2021.

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Here's what to know about the re-docking and how to watch it unfold:

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov approaches the International Space Station as it orbits 259 miles above Oregon.

SpaceX Crew-8: Four astronauts of SpaceX Crew-8 return to Earth after months of delays

How to watch the Dragon be undocked, redocked at ISS

Both the Starliner astronauts  Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore  and the Crew-9 team of Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will help to move the Dragon, NASA said in a news release.

The Harmony node was added in 2007 as part of an expansion of the International Space Station.

The maneuver will begin at 6:35 a.m. EDT with undocking the spacecraft from the Harmony module's forward-facing port. The Dragon is expected to be redocked by 7:18 a.m. at the module's space-facing port, according to NASA.

The module provides international docking adapters on its space-facing and forward ports for commercial crew vehicles like the Dragon. Additionally, the Harmony module both serves as a hub providing air, power and water to the space station, and also acts as an internal connecting port and passageway to science labs and cargo spacecraft.

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NASA will provide live coverage of the relocation beginning at 6:15 a.m. EST on NASA+, which will end shortly after docking.

Redocking of SpaceX Dragon will make room for resupply mission

The relocation, which will be assisted by flight controllers at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston and the Mission Control team at SpaceX in California, is necessary to free the forward-facing port for an uncrewed resupply mission.

A SpaceX Dragon bearing the cargo is set to launch no earlier than Monday, according to NASA. The U.S. space agency will also provide coverage of both the Monday night launch and Tuesday morning docking of SpaceX's 31st resupply mission on NASA+.

NASA and SpaceX have overseen four previous undocking and redocking maneuvers of Dragon spacecraft, according to the agency. The first came with the inaugural Crew-1 mission in 2021, while the most recent was in April on the previous Crew-8 mission whose spacefarers only recently returned to Earth.

Dragon spacecraft will return Starliner astronauts

The Dragon spacecraft is famous as the vehicle selected by NASA to bring home Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore after the agency determined that the Boeing Starliner was unsafe for its crew.

A Falcon 9 lifts off Sept. 28 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying the astronauts of NASA/SpaceX Crew-9 to the International Space Station.

When the Dragon docked late last month, the Crew-9 team of Hague and Gorbunov joined Williams and Wilmore as part of Expedition 72. The four spacefarers will then all return to Earth together in February following the completion of the Crew-9 rotation.

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Wilmore and Williams arrived at the station in June aboard the troubled Starliner for what was supposed to be a 10-day stay. But the slew of issues the Starliner encountered after its trip through space prompted NASA to instead send the vehicle back to Earth empty in late September.

NASA and Boeing still hope the Starliner can one day join the Dragon as the space agency's second operational vehicle for crewed missions to the station. For NASA, the regular SpaceX missions have become an integral part of its operations under the commercial crew program, for which the agency has paid out billions of dollars to private companies for missions it once would carry out itself.

Hague and Gorbunov, along with Starliner astronauts Wilmore and Williams, are spending their orbital stay conducting science experiments and performing station maintenance. Much of it will be to prepare for human exploration deep into the cosmos as NASA eyes future lunar missions under its Artemis program.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NASA to move SpaceX Dragon to new port at space station: How to watch
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) apprehended two suspects wanted out of Memphis on Friday.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

In a press release, the MNPD said that after several hours of surveillance on Friday evening, detectives were able to confirm that the two men were in Nashville. Authorities surrounded a short-term rental on Fitzgerald Drive in Donelson and made announcements as to their presence.

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Kaimon Carwell, 23, came out of the short-term rental. Carwell is wanted on charges including:

Attempted first-degree murder

Gun possession with intent to commit a felony

Reckless endangerment

Aggravated assault

Aggravated burglary

Theft

Felony drug possession

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Twenty-year-old Marvin Roper was found hiding in the attic of the short-term rental. Roper is wanted on charges including:

Evading arrest

Possession of a prohibited weapon

Felony theft

Vehicle burglary

Gun theft

Reckless driving

Reckless endangerment

Vandalism

Burglary

Intent to evade with risk of death

Extortion

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media after arriving for a meeting at the Pentagon, on January 18, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia. Also pictured are Vice President Mike Pence (C), and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (L). Credit - Mark WilsonGetty Images

After serving in the U.S. Senate for four terms, people often ask me about how I think about this coming Presidential election. My answer: in a troubled world with lots of moving parts including multiple major wars and danger zones from the Middle East to Ukraine to Sudan to North Korea as well as nine nuclear weapon states, I will cast my vote primarily on national security concerns. While there are critical domestic policy decisions ahead, there are many checks and balances on these issues, including Congress and the courts. In foreign policy, the Executive Branch shapes our engagement in the world and the power of the Presidency is enormous, including the singular capacity to use nuclear weapons.

Effective national security leadership requires a president with a steady temperament, alongside wise and experienced advisors. Those selected for key positions like the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, CIA Director, Attorney General, Secretary of State, to name a few, will determine the quality of American leadership in the world for the next four years with long enduring implications.

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During my quarter of a century in the Senate, I have seen some top-notch key cabinet officials  top-notch military leaders and top-notch chiefs of staff  and some that did not have those capabilities. The difference in policy outcomes for our nation is often based upon who advises the president. Candid advice is essential, and the quality of that advice is crucial. The key is experience, good judgment, and the courage to speak truth to power.

We now have a choice between two candidates, one of whom will help shape the worlds destiny in the coming years. Lets take a look at former President Trumps record in this regard. He appointed several well-qualified people in his first term who spoke with candor. Lets see what he has said about them publicly:

He called Vice President Pence delusional, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, the worlds most overrated general, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, "weak and totally ineffective, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley, a Woke train wreck, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, dumb as a rock, and Chief of Staff John Kelly, by far the dumbest of my military people.

A president can fire whom he chooses, but our nation paid a price when President Trump sought to publicly humiliate outstanding people whose main sin was telling him what he did not want to hear. So, we as voters face an important question  what kind of person will be willing to work for Donald Trump if he is re-elected?

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First, he is not likely to appoint people to top national security positions who will disagree with him or offer competing points of view. But then, these quality, top policy advisors are not likely to take the job, even if offered.

There are a number of experienced Republican national security leaders, but I am afraid that the bottom line is that none of them are likely to be appointed or be willing to serve a re-elected President Trump. I am concerned that if Trump is returned to office, we will more likely get people who advise the president with flattery rather than facts. Can we afford to have a leader who intimidates, humiliates, and dismisses his team, sowing chaos in his own ranks?

I have watched Vice President Harris as she listened, learned, and acted in the Senate with diligence, calmness, and maturity. She then spent four years as Vice President where she has led with thoughtfulness and civility. I am confident that Vice President Harris knows the importance of experienced advisors who will give her their honest advice and  who will speak truth to power. I have seen the quality of the people she and President Biden have brought on to serve and work with them  leaders like Bill Burns, Avril Haines, Jake Sullivan, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Tony Blinken, and Philip Gordon. I have seen the performance of a leader who inspires and shows respect, while ensuring accountability, for the team that she and President Biden have built. Vice President Harris is well equipped to appoint and lead a national security team in facing our enormous global challenges.

In both public service and in the private sector, I have learned that expertise, integrity, and a strong team who face facts are essential to every enterprise. Leadership is about choosing your team, listening to them, and inspiring them to work effectively together. We all know the world is dangerous and complex and strong American leadership is essential. There is no more important team in the world than the one the next president will assemble to help her or him take the helm to manage Americas foreign and security policy. The stakes are very high.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A multi-parish proclamation was made Friday to signify the upcoming Veterans Day weekend.

The Caddo Parish Veterans Celebrations Committee signed a joint proclamation with Bossier and Desoto Parishes, along with the Cities of Shreveport and Bossier, declaring November 8 through 11 as a time to honor local service members.

Two annual ceremonies will recognize eleven veterans from Arklatex, including World War Two veteran Sam Archie Mattox, who is now 105 years old. Mattox was stationed in Japan when the country surrendered in 1945 and even witnessed the president of Japan holding up the white flag.

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More Veterans Voices

That was on the battlefield the last time I was fighting and when the Japs surrendered we all start shouting and shooting up in the air, saying we made it, we made it, we made it, Cpl. Mattox said.

Caddo Commissioner Ken Epperson, who served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, spearheaded the award ceremonies. He spoke about what to expect during the upcoming veterans parade and why his group works to educate young people.

Its going to be car clubs, marching groups, bands, JROTCs, military vehicles, so come on out. Its a family affair. Enjoy yourself and honor our veterans. Make sure that we educate our young people. A lot of our young people dont understand the sacrifices that were made on behalf of this nation by our veterans. I speak to kids sometimes and they dont know what Vietnam is, they dont know about World War Two. But we want everyone to realize that the United States of America, as grand and gracious as it is today, it would not be here if it were not for our nations military, Epperson said.

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The Caddo Parish Veterans Award ceremony will occur on November 9 at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium at 5 p.m. Fox 33s/KTALs Alexandra Meachum will serve as emcee. On Sunday, the Veterans Parade will roll through the Louisiana State Fairgrounds starting at 2 p.m. Dan and Jacque Jovic will emcee this special event. So, join the news team that weekend as we honor local military members.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Native Vote 2024. The nations leading Native advocacy group, Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) partner to Native Organizers Alliance, endorsed Jon Tester for Senate. The following statement from Judith LeBlanc (Caddo), executive director of Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund:

Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund is proud to endorse Jon Tester for Senate. He has proven to be a solid and hard-working partner with Tribal nations. His dedication and commitment to all the people of Montana is clear.

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.

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He is respected in Indian Country for his deep understanding of Tribal sovereignty and the rights of our Tribal nations and Native peoples. It has been incredibly disconcerting to see his opponent reiterate stereotypes and disrespect our Native relatives. The choice in this Senate race couldnt be clearer. Montanans deserve someone who respects all residents and who will work on behalf of all citizens.

Senator Testers track record reflects his commitment to our sovereignty and the well-being of all who live, work, and enjoy Montana. When Tribal communities thrive, the whole region benefits. Since joining the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in 2007, he has championed legislation that fosters sustainable, regenerative economic development and strengthens federal-Tribal collaboration. He passed Savannas Act to help address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. And he helped secure $350 million to combat the MMIP problem and provide law enforcement with the resources to address it. He was instrumental in securing $1.5 billion in critical infrastructure funding for Tribes. He has also been a solid partner, consistently meeting with Montana Tribes to fortify the federal-Tribal relationship.

Indian Country has benefitted from Jon Testers commitment and leadership to the issues we care about most. The choice for Indian Country couldnt be more stark in this race.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  As November marks Native American Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples impact is as big as the states name.

Mississippi comes from the Anishinaabe name for Great River: Misi-ziibi. Forced land cessions and federal policy resulted in their drastically smaller presence throughout the state. Still, their long history in the state remains, even if only a fraction of their historical population does.

Presence in Mississippi

Mississippi was once home to a greater variety of Indigenous tribes than any other southeastern state. Fourteen federally recognized present-day Native American Nations have historical interests in Mississippi. Until the 1700s, local tribes included the Acolapissa, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Bayougoula, Choctaw, Houma, Natchez, Chakchiuma, lbitoupa, Koroa, Ofogoula, Taposa, Tiou, Tunica, Yazoo and Chickasaw.

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As Mississippi and the United States developed, their presence was often seen as a relic of the past that needed to be discarded of. Largely due to forced land cessions, federal policy and intimidation, Mississippi is currently the permanent home to one federally recognized tribe: the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

The Chickasaw Nations homeland in Northeast Mississippi is preserved through the Inkana Foundation. The Chickasaw and other tribes return to the state often to share and preserve their traditions.

History of Mississippis tallest mountain

Religion in Mississippi

Native American mound sites exist in various parts of the state. Ancestors of the Chickasaws and Choctaw tribes first began building the Winterville Mounds in Greenville over 900 years ago. The Indigenous peoples also built and used Emerald Mound near Natchez for over 500 years. Archeologists believe the mounds were the setting for elaborate civic processions, ceremonial dances and intricate yet solemn religious rituals.

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Religious beliefs among indigenous Americans were not uniform before or since the United States became a country. Though some are now Christians, Christendom and native peoples free expression of religious beliefs is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Role in Mississippi

America and Mississippis history toward Indigenous Peoples is largely considered a dark chapter in their pasts. Both state and federal institutions still seek to make amends to a group still negatively affected by governmental policies dating back centuries. However, native peoples are visible throughout the state through their own forms of self-governance, economic industry and individuality.

The Mississippi Development Authority encourages visitors to immerse themselves in Choctaw culture by stopping by the Choctaw Heritage Museum or attending the annual Choctaw Indian Fair. The Two Mississippi Museums hold extensive exhibits detailing the histories of the Chickasaw, the Choctaw and other Indigenous groups.

On the federal level, the National Park Service and other governmental agencies encourage Americans to learn more about Native American History. To better do so, click here.

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Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, of the Tulalip Tribes in Wash., disappeared in 2020. Her family is still waiting for answers.

FBI;FilmRise Mary Johnson Davis (left); and a scene from Missing From the Fire Trail Road. Mary Johnson Davis (left); and a scene from Missing From the Fire Trail Road.

Days before Thanksgiving in 2020, family members of Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis received a call from her husband: She had gone missing.

The husband asked the family members to report her disappearance to police, but according to family members, he left the state and changed his telephone number.

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Johnson-Davis, 39, a member of the Tulalip Tribe near Seattle, Wash., was last seen on Firetrail Road on the Tulalip Reservation in Washington State on Nov. 25, 2020, according to the FBI. Nearly four years on, there is little information on her whereabouts.

Frustrated at the progress of the investigation, her sisters Gerry Davis and Nona Blouin set out to investigate her disappearance on their own. Their efforts are captured in Missing From Fire Trail Road, a documentary released on Friday, Nov. 1.

I do have dreams about her every once in a while but I don't think shes gone, Davis tells producers as she chokes up about her sister. And I do wish shed come home.

Chris Sutter, Tulalip Tribal Chief of Police, tells producers investigators are treating Johnson-Davis' disappearance as an abduction-homicide case.

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I know she's been stolen, says Deborah Parker, former vice chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribe and an executive producer of the documentary. There's just something terribly wrong. She deserves for people to fight for her.

FilmRise Lynette (left), Nona Blouin (center), and Gerry Davis. Lynette (left), Nona Blouin (center), and Gerry Davis.

Johnson-Davis is one of thousands of missing Native women whose disappearance remains unsolved. Four out of every five Native women are victims of violence, according to statistics from the United States Department of Justice. More than 50% of Native women are victims of sexual violence.

Native women are also more susceptible to violence from non-Native men, per the 2023 DoJ report.

"We've learned through doing research that some of the men in jail would say: 'You can go rape an Indian woman and you won't get caught,'" says Parker, whose native name is Cicayalca.

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Related: Native American Woman Vanished from Reservation in 2020, FBI Offers $10,000 Reward for Information

FilmRise Scene from Missing From the Fire Trail Road Scene from Missing From the Fire Trail Road

As a child, Johnson-Davis was removed from her familys home and put in the foster home of a non-native family, her sister Blouin says.

Blouin and Johnson-Davis were put in the same home, where she alleges the sisters were sexually abused.

"Poor Mary...she did unspeakable things for that man, Blouin says of her sister.

Johnson-Davis fell into a path of addiction, she says. But the sisters won a lawsuit against child protective services and the state of Washington, each receiving $400,000 for the psychological damage they endured.

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"Her husband stole her money, her settlement that we had received from the state," Blouin alleges. "He put it into an account ... [and] didn't leave her nothing. And then he moved to California."

Johnson-Davis' husband is not named in the documentary and PEOPLE was unable to reach him. Tulalip Tribal Police Det. David Sallee previously told PEOPLE that he was a person of interest in her disappearance. Chief Sutter tells producers that he is aware of allegations of abuse against the husband, but says authorities do not have enough to detain him.



Johnson-Davis' sisters and cousin also consider the possibility that she was killed by someone who was providing her with drugs. They suspect she may have been targeted because of the settlement she won, but without sufficient evidence pointing to either of these theories, her family remains without answers.

FilmRise Deborah Parker, whose native name is Cicayalca (left); and aunt Deborah Parker, whose native name is Cicayalca (left); and aunt

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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 documentary explores how Johnson-Davis' story that hits home for every Native woman: Either they are victims themselves, or they are sisters, mothers, aunts and nieces of the victims.



In the search for answers for Johnson-Davis' family, Parker also speaks of her own aunt, who was raped and beaten beyond recognition by a group of men.

In the film, Parker stops her car where her aunt's alleged assault took place.



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Every time I drive by, I just think of how afraid she must've been," Parker says. "And although she lived another day, she never lived again.

Missing From Fire Trail Road, directed by Sabrina Van Tassel, will be available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video, GooglePlay, AppleTV and Microsoft Movies starting Friday, Nov.1.

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.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Nearly five months pregnant, Vanessa is just beginning to show. But a time of excitement and celebration has instead become one of rage, sadness and anxiety for the 39-year-old from Miami, who fears her healthcare could be affected by the outcome of Floridas abortion amendment and the presidential election.

My life is literally in their hands, and that makes me so angry, she said. Because never has any other persons life been in their hands like that, not at this level, when were talking about healthcare.

Vanessa asked that her last name not be used as she has not announced her pregnancy.

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As election day approaches, South Floridians are praying for their preferred outcome, struggling to eat and sleep, consumed with dread, and even fearful of violence. Regardless of their political persuasions, many feel more is on the line than ever before, including their health, livelihoods, safety and the future of democracy.

Their anxiety over the presidential election is compounded by the constitutional amendments over major issues such as the legalization of recreational marijuana and, in particular, abortion access.

Bethany Sharp says she prays more often as her stress level rises.

The Jupiter mother of two says she fears a world war could be in the nations future, depending on the outcome of the presidential election. On election night, she plans to go without sleep to watch the voting results, hoping for a Trump victory.

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Im feeling anxious because people are voting a certain way because their feelings are hurt, or they dont like the way people talk, she said. They have lost the idea that we are voting for a national leader who will be discussing foreign matters with other countries.

Sharp says her anxiety is compounded by the election results being out of her control. Im truly trying to pray about it. I have a strong relationship with God, so I find peace at the end of the day.

A new Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Association shows that Democrats and Republicans are equally stressed about the nations future as election day nears. Many Americans report escalating sentiments, including worry, frustration, fear, and skepticism. Although some feel hopeful, a majority believe the election could lead to violence and be the end of democracy.

Melanie, a 47-year-old Harris supporter who asked that her last name not be used out of fear of retaliation over her political beliefs, thinks that the country is on the brink of widespread violence or even a civil war, regardless of the election results.

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I firmly believe that theres going to be violence after the election no matter who wins, she said.

She lives in Key Largo, where nearly all of her neighbors are Trump supporters. She stifles her opinions in public, afraid that a Harris bumper sticker or lawn sign could incite someones anger. And she doesnt see an end in sight to her worries.

I do not feel that a break is coming, she said. I do not feel that Im going to get to relax on November 6th. Certainly not November 6th. Im not going to be able to relax until at least next year, on January 21st. And thats only if the person I support wins.

Divisiveness had been deepening before the election, and many fear the election itself will only serve to make it worse. Multiple people who spoke to the South Florida Sun Sentinel described alienation from neighbors, friends, and family members that began after 2016.

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Michelle, a Broward County fitness instructor, said she has grown distant from Trump-supporting clients and feels her entire body tensing up with the election just days away.

My anxiety level is elevated as I think about all the chaos, the firings that went on when Trump was president. I dont think he is fit to run the country. But I cant talk about it at work because some people support him and wont talk to me.

Many are scrolling social media feeds where divisive rhetoric is rampant. Melanie said that she has seen posts from Facebook friends about arming themselves or echoing Trumps comments about the enemy from within.

The election anxiety has triggered her existing diagnosis of PTSD. Often nauseous, she struggles to eat, and has nightmares. She is currently reading It Cant Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis, a 1935 dystopian novel about the rise of Americas first dictator, and dwelling on the prospect of fascism. To take breaks, she watches Netflix or takes her dog to the park.

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The thoughts, the thoughts in your head, they kind of go off on their own tangent and they bring about the anxiety, Melanie said. They cause the physical symptoms. But the thoughts can get overwhelming.

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Some voters feel disillusioned by both candidates, yet the anxiety persists.

Robert Gross, 31, of Lake Worth Beach says he has suffered from insomnia since he found out Trump was running again.

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My generation is concerned with the job market and housing costs, he said. We want to see leaders who address these issues. We cant afford to rent, let alone buy a home.

Gross said he doesnt feel confident either candidate will help, but hes apprehensive about Donald Trump. I dont think he is going to address those issues.

JP Errico, a South Florida-based stress expert and inventor of stress-relief devices, said the emotions people struggle with can manifest physically and psychologically.

Some people have a genuine feeling of lack of control over something they feel is going to have a major impact on their lives, Errico says. Anytime you lose control it is stressful.

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One Fort Lauderdale womens book club member said at a recent meeting that the entire group described itself as having a collective nervous breakdown due to election stress.

Errico said anyone prone to anxiety or panic may see their condition exacerbated by the collective angst about the upcoming election. He recommends taking breaks to move and walk around.

Dont just sit there obsessing or arguing about the election, he said.

For some, the angst stems from the fact that the election outcome could affect their livelihood.

The real estate market is at a standstill, said Ian VanSack, a West Palm Beach real estate agent. Theres just a lot of trepidation about the future.

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VanSack said although he is a member of the LGBTQ community, his overarching concern is the nations security, which is why he supports Trump and fears what will happen if he doesnt win.

If we dont secure our country, we wont have a country to have equal rights, he said. So, to me, that is paramount. I feel that this is the first election of my life where I feel like it is impacting my basic sense of safety and security.

On election night, VanSack said hes going to say a prayer before he goes to bed.

Amendment 4

For some Florida residents, election stress is exacerbated by the fact that an abortion access amendment is on the statewide ballot. The amendment will need 60% approval from voters to pass, and polling shows the outcome could be a close call.

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Ever since Ive been able to vote, Ive voted in every single general election, said Daniel Montenegro of Pembroke Pines. Primaries as well. But I think this is the first election where it became extremely personal.

Montenegro, whose wifes pregnancy ended suddenly in a fatal fetal abnormality, has personally felt the effects of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which opened the door to Floridas abortion restrictions.

At a 20-week checkup in March, a doctor had told the couple that the baby had multicystic kidney disease, meaning its vital organs were not forming. Its chances of survival at birth were a fraction of a percent  practically zero. But instead of figuring out a plan to safely end the pregnancy, the doctor told them they would probably have to go out of state because of Floridas laws.

Imagine youre dealing with easily the worst moment of everyones life, Montenegro said. Now youve got to figure out what, legally, are your avenues here.

They started looking at flights when a family member who happens to be an OB-GYN connected them with someone willing to do the procedure in northern Florida. They packed everything and drove 5 hours north.

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Now, Montenegro fears Amendment 4 might not meet the 60% vote threshold. He struggles when talking to family members who support what he and his wife had to do, but do not plan to vote yes on the amendment.

Its kind of like, at this point, having a wound, Montenegro said. Whenever that wound is pressed on, the hurt goes deep. Having conversations with family members not fully on board on Amendment 4 pushes down on the wound a bit more.

Sharp, the mother of two daughters, feels anxious about the proposed amendment because she wants to see it defeated.

It would give minors the right to medical procedures without parental consent, and that causes me a lot of angst, she said. I am truly trying to pray about it.

Meanwhile, Vanessa is plagued by thoughts about abortion access and what she perceives, more broadly, as a new wave of sexism  a sense that the election is not just about right versus left, but about misogynists versus non-misogynists.

Vanessa, who is Cuban American, has distanced herself from her conservative Republican family members in Miami and doesnt engage in political arguments in real life.

But scrolling the internet has gotten progressively harder, she said. She often finds herself reading articles and posts about women suffering under abortion bans. Her pregnancy hormones have made her emotions even stronger.

There have been some times Ive seen some rhetoric regarding this, Vanessa said, and Ive just straight up cried.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Nearly five months pregnant, Vanessa is just beginning to show. But a time of excitement and celebration has instead become one of rage, sadness and anxiety for the 39-year-old from Miami, who fears her health care could be affected by the outcome of Floridas abortion amendment and the presidential election.

My life is literally in their hands, and that makes me so angry, she said. Because never has any other persons life been in their hands like that, not at this level, when were talking about health care.

Vanessa asked that her last name not be used as she has not announced her pregnancy.

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As Election Day approaches, South Floridians are praying for their preferred outcome, struggling to eat and sleep, consumed with dread, and even fearful of violence. Regardless of their political persuasions, many feel more is on the line than ever before, including their health, livelihoods, safety and the future of democracy.

Their anxiety over the presidential election is compounded by the constitutional amendments over major issues such as the legalization of recreational marijuana and, in particular, abortion access.

Bethany Sharp says she prays more often as her stress level rises.

The Jupiter mother of two says she fears a world war could be in the nations future, depending on the outcome of the presidential election. On election night, she plans to go without sleep to watch the voting results, hoping for a Trump victory.

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Im feeling anxious because people are voting a certain way because their feelings are hurt, or they dont like the way people talk, she said. They have lost the idea that we are voting for a national leader who will be discussing foreign matters with other countries.

Sharp says her anxiety is compounded by the election results being out of her control. Im truly trying to pray about it. I have a strong relationship with God, so I find peace at the end of the day.

A new Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Association shows that Democrats and Republicans are equally stressed about the nations future as election day nears. Many Americans report escalating sentiments, including worry, frustration, fear, and skepticism. Although some feel hopeful, a majority believe the election could lead to violence and be the end of democracy.

Melanie, a 47-year-old Harris supporter who asked that her last name not be used out of fear of retaliation over her political beliefs, thinks that the country is on the brink of widespread violence or even a civil war, regardless of the election results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I firmly believe that theres going to be violence after the election no matter who wins, she said.

She lives in Key Largo, where nearly all of her neighbors are Trump supporters. She stifles her opinions in public, afraid that a Harris bumper sticker or lawn sign could incite someones anger. And she doesnt see an end in sight to her worries.

I do not feel that a break is coming, she said. I do not feel that Im going to get to relax on November 6th. Certainly not November 6th. Im not going to be able to relax until at least next year, on January 21st. And thats only if the person I support wins.

Divisiveness had been deepening before the election, and many fear the election itself will only serve to make it worse. Multiple people who spoke to the South Florida Sun Sentinel described alienation from neighbors, friends, and family members that began after 2016.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michelle, a Broward County fitness instructor, said she has grown distant from Trump-supporting clients and feels her entire body tensing up with the election just days away.

My anxiety level is elevated as I think about all the chaos, the firings that went on when Trump was president. I dont think he is fit to run the country. But I cant talk about it at work because some people support him and wont talk to me.

Many are scrolling social media feeds where divisive rhetoric is rampant. Melanie said that she has seen posts from Facebook friends about arming themselves or echoing Trumps comments about the enemy from within.

The election anxiety has triggered her existing diagnosis of PTSD. Often nauseous, she struggles to eat, and has nightmares. She is currently reading It Cant Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis, a 1935 dystopian novel about the rise of Americas first dictator, and dwelling on the prospect of fascism. To take breaks, she watches Netflix or takes her dog to the park.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The thoughts, the thoughts in your head, they kind of go off on their own tangent and they bring about the anxiety, Melanie said. They cause the physical symptoms. But the thoughts can get overwhelming.

Some voters feel disillusioned by both candidates, yet the anxiety persists.

Robert Gross, 31, of Lake Worth Beach says he has suffered from insomnia since he found out Trump was running again.

My generation is concerned with the job market and housing costs, he said. We want to see leaders who address these issues. We cant afford to rent, let alone buy a home.

Gross said he doesnt feel confident either candidate will help, but hes apprehensive about Donald Trump. I dont think he is going to address those issues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

JP Errico, a South Florida-based stress expert and inventor of stress-relief devices, said the emotions people struggle with can manifest physically and psychologically.

Some people have a genuine feeling of lack of control over something they feel is going to have a major impact on their lives, Errico says. Anytime you lose control it is stressful.

One Fort Lauderdale womens book club member said at a recent meeting that the entire group described itself as having a collective nervous breakdown due to election stress.

Errico said anyone prone to anxiety or panic may see their condition exacerbated by the collective angst about the upcoming election. He recommends taking breaks to move and walk around.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dont just sit there obsessing or arguing about the election, he said.

For some, the angst stems from the fact that the election outcome could affect their livelihood.

The real estate market is at a standstill, said Ian VanSack, a West Palm Beach real estate agent. Theres just a lot of trepidation about the future.

VanSack said although he is a member of the LGBTQ community, his overarching concern is the nations security, which is why he supports Trump and fears what will happen if he doesnt win.

If we dont secure our country, we wont have a country to have equal rights, he said. So, to me, that is paramount. I feel that this is the first election of my life where I feel like it is impacting my basic sense of safety and security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On election night, VanSack said hes going to say a prayer before he goes to bed.

Amendment 4

For some Florida residents, election stress is exacerbated by the fact that an abortion access amendment is on the statewide ballot. The amendment will need 60% approval from voters to pass, and polling shows the outcome could be a close call.

Ever since Ive been able to vote, Ive voted in every single general election, said Daniel Montenegro of Pembroke Pines. Primaries as well. But I think this is the first election where it became extremely personal.

Montenegro, whose wifes pregnancy ended suddenly in a fatal fetal abnormality, has personally felt the effects of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which opened the door to Floridas abortion restrictions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At a 20-week checkup in March, a doctor had told the couple that the baby had multicystic kidney disease, meaning its vital organs were not forming. Its chances of survival at birth were a fraction of a percent  practically zero. But instead of figuring out a plan to safely end the pregnancy, the doctor told them they would probably have to go out of state because of Floridas laws.

Imagine youre dealing with easily the worst moment of everyones life, Montenegro said. Now youve got to figure out what, legally, are your avenues here.

They started looking at flights when a family member who happens to be an OB-GYN connected them with someone willing to do the procedure in northern Florida. They packed everything and drove five-and-a-half hours north.

Now, Montenegro fears Amendment 4 might not meet the 60% vote threshold. He struggles when talking to family members who support what he and his wife had to do, but do not plan to vote yes on the amendment.

Its kind of like, at this point, having a wound, Montenegro said. Whenever that wound is pressed on, the hurt goes deep. Having conversations with family members not fully on board on Amendment 4 pushes down on the wound a bit more.

Sharp, the mother of two daughters, feels anxious about the proposed amendment because she wants to see it defeated.

It would give minors the right to medical procedures without parental consent, and that causes me a lot of angst, she said. I am truly trying to pray about it.

Meanwhile, Vanessa is plagued by thoughts about abortion access and what she perceives, more broadly, as a new wave of sexism  a sense that the election is not just about right versus left, but about misogynists versus non-misogynists.

Vanessa, who is Cuban America, has distanced herself from her conservative Republican family members in Miami and doesnt engage in political arguments in real life.

But scrolling the internet has gotten progressively harder, she said. She often finds herself reading articles and posts about women suffering under abortion bans. Her pregnancy hormones have made her emotions even stronger.

There have been some times Ive seen some rhetoric regarding this, Vanessa said, and Ive just straight up cried.
All eyes have been on North Carolina this election cycle, but not because of its congressional races.

Last October, the Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly created a new map for its 14 congressional districts that ensured the state would be represented by 10 Republicans in Congress, instead of seven.

That dropped Democrats assurance for representation down to just three districts .

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Legislators are able to do this by looking at the past habits of the electorate and placing people of similar voting tendencies into the same districts.

But when they created the 1st Congressional District, they put together a group of voters who have in the past voted for candidates from both major parties, leaving either able to win.

And that could have a huge impact on which party controls the lower chamber of Congress.

All 435 members are up for reelection in 2024. This happens every two years.

But like in North Carolina, 366 of the races are already presumed to be going to one of the two major parties: 191 to Republicans and 175 to Democrats, according to The Cook Political Report.

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But what about the other 69 seats?

That same report shows that Democrats are likely to win 17 other races, and that 13 districts lean toward their party. As for Republicans, another nine races will likely go to their party, and another eight lean right.

That leaves just 22 seats as clear tossups, with a voter base that could choose a candidate from either party.

Thats less than one per state, and North Carolinas 1st Congressional District is one of them, said Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. It is certainly possible that whoever wins NC-1 could decide control of the United States House.

District 1

Rep. Don Davis, a Democrat from Snow Hill, currently represents that area of North Carolina, which encompasses 18 counties in the far northeast, and a portion of Pitt County.

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Since 1883, District 1 has been a Democratic stronghold, known for being rural with high levels of poverty.

But under the new map, the district loses Pitt and Franklin counties, and gains Camden, Currituck, Lenoir, Wayne and portions of Granville, creating a new electorate.

The district will also include Bertie, Chowan, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Nash, Northampton, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington and Wilson.

During the 2020 election, voters in this area of North Carolina chose the Democratic presidential candidate, but they selected the Republican Senate candidate in 2022.

Flipping District 1

Republicans noted early in the campaign cycle that it was an area they were targeting to flip red. The National Republican Congressional Committee is chaired by Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from Southern Pines, who added Davis seat to his target list.

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Despite his efforts, the University of Virginias Crystal Ball recently moved District 1 from its list of tossup districts to leans Democratic.

On Wednesday, Hudson appeared in Edgecombe County at a rally for former President Donald Trump, encouraging voters to choose Davis opponent, retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout, whom he called, an American badass.

My job is to grow our House majority, Hudson said on stage, and folks, the road to growing the House majority is paved right through North Carolina. Were going to flip four seats right here in North Carolina.

Maintaining the majority

Republicans are currently holding the majority by just eight seats.

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And that slim majority has proven to be problematic for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his successor, House Speaker Mike Johnson. Both have had to deal with extreme factions of their party exploiting the majoritys numbers to bend leadership to their will. When McCarthy called their bluff over avoiding a government shutdown, Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, led Democrats and a handful of Republicans to oust McCarthy from his leadership position.

Republicans in North Carolina did their part in trying to help Hudson preserve the majority, and possibly advance its numbers by making it next to impossible for Democratic Reps. Wiley Nickel, Jeff Jackson and Kathy Manning to maintain their seats.

All three chose not to run for reelection, understanding the low probability of success.

Gerrymandering and District 1

Just three years earlier, lawmakers had gone after Davis seat as well, then occupied by Rep. G.K. Butterfield, a Black congressman who represented the district for 18 years. But he retired in December 2021, just before the end of his term, angered with state lawmakers for gerrymandering his district.

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The courts agreed the map had been politically gerrymandered, and had a special mapmaker redraw the districts to get the state through the midterm elections, which allowed Davis to win his seat. But the panel of judges also allowed state lawmakers to redraw the districts again for 2024.

And that put Davis, who is also Black, at risk.

Who is Don Davis?

Davis has proven to be a moderate Democrat in Congress, who isnt afraid to go against his party.

He is a retired Air Force veteran who returned to Eastern North Carolina and taught aerospace studies at East Carolina University.

At 29, he became the youngest mayor of Snow Hill, and went on to serve six terms in the state Senate, before running for Congress. He also works as a minister.

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Davis appeared at an October rally at ECU for his partys nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.

East North Carolina trusts Don Davis to continue delivering results, fighting to secure the border, supporting our veterans and working to lower costs, Lauryn Fanguen, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a text message.

Who is Laurie Buckhout?

Buckhout, after serving in the military for 26 years, retired and founded Corvus Consulting, a strategic consulting and services group focused on electronic warfare and cyberspace operations.

She grew Corvus Consulting into a $43 million business within seven years and then sold her company.

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Shes campaigning with a focus on the economy, securing the border, Second Amendment rights, supporting the military and supporting veterans.

She, too, appeared with Trump on Wednesday afternoon in Rocky Mount, where he offered on stage, his complete and total endorsement.

Hudson told McClatchy he was feeling really good about Tuesdays election.

Were going to hold the House, Hudson said. No qualms about that. The question is, whats the number?

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.
RALEIGH - When Tropical Storm Helene swept through Western North Carolina Sept. 27, it devastated the region, washing away homes and towns with its floodwaters and killing more than 100 people The damage included several prisons, causing inmates to be transferred to other facilities. Those transfers led to overcrowding and inhumane conditions, several North Carolina human rights organizations say.

Those groups are now calling on the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction to release hundreds of inmates to reduce overcrowding and improve conditions.

The ACLU of North Carolina, Emancipate NC, Disability Rights North Carolina, among others delivered a joint letter Oct. 31 to the department asking for the release of at least 400 women and 1,500 men.

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In total, 2,190 inmates from five prisons in WNC were evacuated to other facilities temporarily due to damages caused by the storm, the department said in a news release. Ken Acree, spokesperson for the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, said via email that "staff are now making plans for transfers to other available non-affected prison housing areas in western North Carolina, as soon as it is feasible to do so."

Investigator with Emancipate NC, Margaux Lander, visited one of the institutions and received reports from inmates about the conditions.

More: Buncombe jail's 'dire' state met with lack of urgency by court officials, attorneys say

'Confined in close quarters with their waste'

"While people sought refuge from the storm, the incarcerated people were confined in cells without lights or running water for nearly a week," the joint letter states.

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"They had limited food rations, no clean drinking water for days, flooded cells, and were confined in close quarters with their waste. Incarcerated people were unable to communicate with their loved ones, and eventually over 2,000 of them were evacuated and relocated to other prisons across the state."

Dawn Blagrove, Emancipate NC executive director, speaks as human and disability rights advocates gather in front of the North Carolina Institution for Women in Raleigh, calling on the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction to release almost 2,000 inmates from what they say are overcrowded and inhumane prisons due to facilities being harmed after Hurricane Helene.

Acree called many of their claims "misinformed or grossly exaggerated."

The department's website states that "Offender phone service is operational at all occupied facilities. NCDAC staff worked to make tablets operational for relocated offenders as quickly as possible. Traditional wall phones are also available for outgoing offender calls."

Such conditions violate the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires those with disabilities to have access to accommodations, advocates say.

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The evacuations, which the department of correction says have been completed, affected inmates from Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution in Spruce Pine, Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center for Women in Black Mountain, Craggy Correctional Center in Asheville, Mountain View Correctional Center in Spruce Pine and Western Correctional Center for Women in Swannanoa.

The department said the transferred inmates are "safe" and that a longer-term plan is being worked on, according to an early October press release.

"(Tropical Storm) Helene did not flood the facilities, but repairs to electrical and water utilities serving the prisons are expected to take several weeks or longer," the October news release said.

It's unclear when water and sewer services will be restored in the affected facilities, according to Acree.

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"While it may be possible to reoccupy Craggy CI in Asheville in the coming weeks, the timeline for return to facilities in Spruce Pine and Swannanoa appears to be longer," Acree said.

Calls to release inmates who are pregnant, release dates soon

Advocates are calling for inmates "not serving a sentence for a crime against a person," as well as those who have release dates in 2024 and 2025, pregnant women and those who came from the Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center to be released.

Releasing inmates has been done before during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has proved successful, Dawn Blagrove, Emancipate NC executive director said at the press conference.

"The same coalition of folks during COVID asked for very similar relief and received it," Blagrove said. "Thousands of people were released early to help create more healthy and humane conditions during COVID. And guess what? The sky didn't fall. The streets weren't run amok with crime."

The Buncombe County Detention Center, October 22, 2024.

More: Helene death toll in NC rises over 100: How many are missing or worse in Buncombe County?

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Blagrove said the Department of Adult Correction has "shown us over and over again that it feels OK dehumanizing incarcerated people," and that she hopes they do the right thing without being pushed by litigation.

The advocacy groups have been in contact with the department's general council, Jodi Harrison, and Acree said the department intends to send a detailed response "in the near future."

Elizabeth Simpson, strategic director and attorney at Emancipate NC, said they "always want to avoid litigation, if possible," but they may pursue legal action if the crisis persists and they can't reach an agreement in about three weeks.

Prisons are often the last place people think to help in general, and in a time of crisis, Luke Woollard, Disability Rights North Carolina staff attorney said at the press conference.

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"We ask that people in prison not be forgotten as North Carolina recovers and rebuilds," Woollard said.

More: Buncombe County jail detainees moved amid city's damaged water system; must notify family

More: Buncombe County Courthouse to resume most operations next week

Sarah Gleason is the North Carolina Election Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. Email her at SGleason@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC prisoner advocates call for release amid Helene storm overcrowding
Update: The missing 11-year-old has been found safe, according to the Needham Police Departments Facebook page.

=====================

Police are asking for the publics help in finding a missing 11-year-old in Needham.

They were last seen in the area of the High Rock School.

They are described as around 410 tall, thin, and were last seen wearing black shorts and a yellow Pokemon shirt.

Any information, please call our Public Safety Center at 781-455-7570! the department posted on Facebook.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
(NewsNation)  A new documentary dives into a story of alien abduction and has sparked controversy, with the lead subject suing Netflix over the film.

Linda Napolitano says the docuseries, The Manhattan Alien Abduction, defames her by including interviews and content from Carol Rainey, a skeptic of her story and the ex-wife of the UFO investigator who first publicized the case.

Heres what you need to know about the documentary and the case behind it.

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Diddy court witness says he saw 8 sex tapes with at least 2 celeb minors

The story of the Manhattan Alien Abduction

The documentary tells the story of Linda Napolitano, a New York housewife who said aliens abducted her from her 12th-floor apartment in Manhattan in 1989.

Napolitanos story was investigated by UFO researcher Budd Hopkins, published as a book in 1997 and now has become the focus of a film that also shines a skeptical light on her account.

Napolitano had previously contacted Hopkins regarding an alien encounter she said she had in the Catskills years prior. During the 1989 abduction, Napolitano said she was experimented on by extraterrestrials and reportedly had X-rays taken showing an object that had been implanted in her nose.

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Hopkins, who died in 2011 and was not a part of the film, believed the case to be important due to a number of witnesses coming forward to say they had witnessed the abduction.

Napolitano would then go on to recount encounters with mysterious individuals claiming to be security agents and another encounter with extraterrestrials that included her sons.

Who are the key characters in the case?

Linda Napolitano: Napolitano says she was abducted by extraterrestrials in Manhattan in 1989. She appears in interviews on the series as well as in archival footage that was taken while her case was being investigated.

DNA on beer can led to suspect in Montana campsite killing

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Carol Rainey: Rainey was married to the UFO researcher investigating Napolitanos case and who filmed multiple interviews with her and other subjects. Rainey is openly skeptical of Napolitanos story and was interviewed for the film before she died in 2023 and also appears in archival footage.

Budd Hopkins: A noted UFO investigator, Hopkins published a book on Napolitanos story and brought it to the attention of the media. Hopkins is seen in archival footage but died in 2011 and is not otherwise a part of the film.

Richard and Dan: Two security agents who played a key role in Napolitanos story, Richard and Dan, were never identified, and Hopkins never met them. Their identities remain a mystery, and they were not part of the film, although they are a key element of the case.

What is controversial about the documentary and case?

Napolitanos case attracted a lot of attention in the media and, at one point, was being considered for a Hollywood film.

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However, in the documentary, Rainey alleges that Napolitano is making up the entire experience. She cites evidence, including the fact that many of the witnesses were never identified, and some of the accounts do not definitely describe an alien encounter. She also suggests Napolitano wrote letters claiming to be from Richard and Dan, whom nobody else ever met or even spoke to on the phone.

One hypothesis is that Richard and Dan were security for U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and Rainey believes that Napolitano forged a signature from Cuellar about the incident. He later issued a statement to PBS denying any knowledge of the events.

5 missing persons cases remain unsolved in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Rainey also believes Napolitanos X-rays could have been faked and pointed to the fact that later surgery found the supposed implant was missing. She also believes Hopkins may have led Napolitano while she was under hypnosis, resulting in a story that included elements he expected to hear.

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Napolitano has maintained that she is telling the truth about her experience. In her lawsuit, she accuses Rainey of being a bitter ex-wife who is attempting to ruin her former husbands reputation.

She is suing Netflix because she said producers misled her and that the film undermines her name and character. Napolitano is joined in the suit by a friend of Hopkins who appeared in the film and Hopkins estate.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEOSHO, Mo.  With a little more than four days left before the election, several Republican candidates make a stop in Neosho to stump for office.

The annual Newton County Republican Party bean feed saw Missouri gubernatorial candidate Mike Kehoe, and others make that last-minute pitch.

A couple of hundred people packed the cafeteria at Neosho High School for their presentation.

Be sure to tune in Saturday and Sunday, well hear from candidates for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
The following report is provided by NH State Police.

STRAFFORD  Two people are in custody following a multi-town pursuit in which the suspects threw items at police.

Just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, an officer with the Raymond Police Department attempted to stop the driver of a 2019 Toyota RAV4 for an equipment violation. A State Trooper in the area stopped to assist the Raymond officer and activated their emergency lights. A pursuit was initiated as the driver of the RAV4 proceeded onto Route 101 and began to drive faster.

New Hampshire State Police arrested two Rochester men.

During the pursuit, items from inside the RAV4 were thrown at police cruisers, including a hammer. A powder substance, later determined to be fentanyl through initial testing, was also emanating from the vehicle throughout the pursuit.

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The pursuit continued through multiple communities before officers in Strafford were able to successfully deploy tire deflation devices. While the driver of the RAV4 proceeded at a low rate of speed, a passenger got out of the vehicle and ran into nearby woods. The driver of RAV4, later identified as a 35-year-old Rochester man, stopped shortly after and was arrested without incident just after midnight.

In the hours that followed, Troopers worked with local police officers and coordinated a search for the passenger. Members of the State Polices K-9 Unit and Special Enforcement Unit also responded to assist. At 8:37 a.m. on Friday, November 1, 2024, a Trooper in the State Police helicopter located the passenger hiding in a swamp. He was taken into custody and identified as a 36-year-old Rochester man.

The 35-year-old has been charged with felony reckless conduct, falsifying physical evidence and drug possession, as well as a misdemeanor count of aggravated driving while intoxicated. He was also cited with a reckless operation violation. The 36-year-old has been charged with felony falsifying physical evidence, drug possession and reckless conduct, as well as a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. Police determined the suspects were also each wanted on outstanding arrest warrants from other jurisdictions.

Both suspects are being held in preventative detention and are scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Rochester District Court.

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The New Hampshire State was assisted by members of the Strafford Police Department, Raymond Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Anyone with additional information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Jacob Benjamin at Jacob.A.Benjamin@dos.nh.gov.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: NH police: Two Rochester men arrested after multi-town pursuit
Someone following the 2024 presidential election could have seen the following two videos on social media. One shows a man holding a bin full of mail-in ballots entering a building. The other, from before Joe Biden withdrew from the race and labeled Migrants talk about 2024 election, shows a man interviewing several people in Spanish, all of whom answer that they plan to vote for Biden.

These videos purport to show different types of illegal election activity: ballot harvesting and noncitizen voting. Both videos are real, not AI-generated, and both show real people behaving authentically, not acting. They also do not show the events they claim to represent.

The first shows a postal worker delivering mailed-in ballots to an election center; the second is deceptively edited to falsely imply that the interviewees were stating their intentions to vote rather than whom they would vote for if they were eligible to vote.

Cheap but effective fakes

Recent headlines warn of sophisticated, AI-driven deepfakes. But it is low-tech cheap fakes like these that fuel the latest round of disinformation. Cheap fakes are the Swiss army knife in the propagandists tool belt. Changing a date, altering a location or even repurposing a clip from a video game and passing it off as battlefield combat require little know-how yet effectively sow confusion.

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The good news is that you can avoid being taken in by these ruses  not by examining the evidence closely, which is liable to mislead you, but by waiting until trusted sources verify what youre looking at. This is often hard to do, however.

Most people are ill-equipped to detect this kind of trickery. Research that we review in our book, Verified: How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online, shows that almost everyone falls for it.

In the largest survey of its kind, 3,446 high school students evaluated a video on social media that purported to show election fraud in the 2016 Democratic primary. Students could view the whole video, part of it or leave the footage to search the internet for information about it. Typing a few keywords into their browsers would have led students to articles from Snopes and the BBC debunking the video. Only three students  less than one-tenth of 1%  located the true source of the video, which had, in fact, been shot in Russia.

Your lying eyes

Why were students so consistently duped? The problem, weve found, is that many people, young and old alike, think they can look at something online and tell what it is. You dont realize how easily your eyes can be deceived  especially by footage that triggers your emotions.

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When an incendiary video dodges your prefrontal cortex and lands in your solar plexus, the first impulse is to share your outrage with others. Whats a better course of action? You might assume that it is to ask whether the clip is true or false. But a different question  rather, a set of related questions  is a better starting place.

Do you really know what youre looking at?

Can you really tell whether the footage is from atrocities committed by Russian forces in the Donbas just because the headline blares it and youre sympathetic to the Ukrainian cause?

Is the person who posted the footage an established reporter, someone who risks their status and prestige if it turns out to be fake, or some random person?

Is there a link to a longer video  the shorter the clip, the more wary you should be  or does it claim to speak for itself, even though the headline and caption leave little room for how to connect the dots?

These questions require no advanced knowledge of video forensics. They require you only to be honest with yourself. Your inability to answer these questions should be enough to make you realize that, no, you dont really know what youre looking at.

Patience is a powerful tool

Social media reports of late-breaking news are not likely to be reporting at all, but they are often pushed by rage merchants wrapping an interpretation around a YouTube video accompanied by lightning bolt emojis and strings of exclamation points. Reliable reporters need time to establish what happened. Rage merchants dont. The con artist and the propagandist feed on the impatient. Your greatest information-literacy superpower is learning to wait.

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If there are legs to the video, rest assured youre not the only one viewing it. There are many people, some of whom have mastered advanced techniques of video analysis, who are likely already analyzing it and trying to get to the bottom of it.

You wont have to wait long to learn what theyve found.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Nov. 16, 2023.

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: Sam Wineburg, Stanford University and Michael Caulfield, University of Washington

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Read more:



The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
FERRYSBURG, Mich. (WOOD)  No one was hurt in an early Saturday morning house fire in Ferrysburg.

Around 2 a.m., fire crews with the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety were sent to a home on N. Shore Drive near Maryland Drive for a fire.

Responding crews quickly worked to extinguish the fire. The department of public safety said that the house appears to be a total loss.

Dispatch said that no one was inside the home.

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Its unclear what caused the fire.

The fire remains under investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD)  The Normal Police Department is asking the public for suggestions on how to improve the quality of its policing.

According to a news release, the department is asking residents to take a survey as part of its accreditation process through the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies.

We value input from the people in our community, Normal Police Chief Steve Petrilli said. Their voices are essential in our efforts of continual improvement. Ongoing engagement with the community is one of our core values. We want to know whats on the minds of the people we serve.

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Grant funding allowing Normal PD to hire new officers

The survey will ask questions related to the agencys performance and professionalism. Community members can also share their concerns and recommendations to improve the police department.

Those interested can take the survey here. They can also request a paper copy be sent to them by reaching out to Jessica Ryan at (309) 454-9532.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Both presidential candidates will be in the Charlotte area on Saturday for the last day of early voting.

Former President Donald Trump is holding a rally at noon at the Gastonia airport while Vice President Kamala Harris will speak at night at PNC Pavilion in Charlotte.

>> Channel 9 is your home for election coverage ahead of Nov. 5. We reached out to all the candidates in local races. See how they want to represent you in their own words

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Gaston Countys elections director said the rallies impact voters.

They go to these rallies and then they come back and they are enthused to vote regardless who the candidate they are voting for, said Adam Ragan, the elections director at the Gaston County Board of Elections.

A record 3.8 million people voted early in person across North Carolina, surpassing the 2020 total.

Voters, including Loretta Barber, helped North Carolina set the new state record with more than half of registered voters casting their ballots early this year.

Mostly, its just the crowds, Barber said. I didnt want to be stuck in that crowd so I said I must be going out there today instead of Election Day.

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Although there are more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state, data from the North Carolina Board of Elections shows about 50,000 more Republicans have cast their ballots.

Even the ones that think I dont have to go. Its not going to do me any good. Thats not true, Barber said. Itll do you some good, your family, everybody some good.

Voter Michael Moody said its important to go to the polls.

Its to stand up for those relatives you may not know, your ancestors, he told Channel 9. Its important to do what they could not. They went through a lot for us to have this right.

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Moody was at the Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library on Friday to vote.

I got in and out fairly quickly, but I see the line is starting to kind of creep to the road toward Beatties Ford Road and around the block, Moody said.

Moody said hes proud of his vote and wants others to do their homework before heading to the polls.

Its not worth sitting around and listening to your friends, listening to TikTok. Make a decision for yourself, Moody said.

In North Carolina, you can vote early from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

In South Carolina, you can vote from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

After that, youll have to wait to vote on Election Day at your specific polling place.

VIDEO: Action 9 explains whos behind all those political texts
North Korea said it tested a new long-range intercontinental ballistic missile this week.

State media called the "Hwasongpho-19" the "world's most powerful strategic missile."

Experts say its size would likely affect its mobility in a conflict.

North Korea said it tested the "world's most powerful strategic missile" earlier this week, but experts say its size may limit its effectiveness in a conflict.

The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched on Thursday and flew more than 1,000 km (around 620 miles) in around 86 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan, the country's KCNA state news agency reported on Friday. It said it achieved a maximum altitude of close to 7,700 km (around 4,780 miles). Japan's defense ministry has supported these figures.

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KCNA said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of the missile, which it identified as the "Hwasongpho-19."

Video footage from North Korean state media reshared by NK News on X appears to show the missile's launch.

VIDEO: North Korean state media published footage of the launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) model called the Hwasong-19 on Thursday. Read more here: https://t.co/kA8m36NARX pic.twitter.com/CXXlBJX7O5  NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) November 1, 2024

Perhaps the most striking feature of the new missile is its size. It has been estimated to be at least 92 feet long  more than 30 feet longer than the US's LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM.

Photos released by KCNA show the missile being carried by a huge transporter erector launcher (TEL).

Kim Jong Un next to the Hwasongpho-19 TEL. KCNA

Virginie Grzelczyk, a specialist on North Korea and the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Aston University, told Business Insider that solid-fuel missiles like the Hwasongpho-19 offer a "potentially greater payload capacity, including the possibility of carrying nuclear warheads."

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"However, the Hwasong-19, being notably large, may face operational challenges regarding mobility in a conflict," Grzelczyk said.

Edward Howell, a Korea Foundation fellow at Chatham House's Asia-Pacific Program, told BI that "as missiles get bigger and bigger, questions of effectiveness will always be raised."

"The Hwasong-19 missile may be able to support a heavy warhead, but as the size of a missile increases, its mobility decreases," he said.

Prior to this latest test, North Korea had last launched an ICBM test in December 2023, according to the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies North Korea Missile Test Database.

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Japan's defense ministry said at the time that that launch lasted for around 73 minutes, traveling around 620 miles and reaching an altitude of around 3,730 miles.

Howell said the latest test's reportedly longer flight time would suggest North Korea was "improving the sophistication of its delivery systems."

But the North likely still faces issues readying such weapons for atmospheric reentry.

Lee Sangmin, an expert at South Korea's Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, told the Associated press that "acquiring reentry technology is currently the most important goal in North Korea's missile development, specifically for ICBMs."

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"But they just keep increasing the ranges instead. This possibly suggests they still lack confidence in their reentry technology," Sangmin added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to news of the Hwasongpho-19 test on X, saying the "world merely watches" as North Korea's threat grows.

"Through Moscow's assistance, North Korea has advanced its artillery and missile capabilities," Zelenskyy wrote. "Now, they are learning the tactics of modern warfare. Thousands of North Korean soldiers are already near Ukraine's borders, preparing to fight. And the world is still watching."

It comes as the US and South Korea held joint drone strike drills for the first time, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Friday.

A military source told the outlet that the two countries decided to make the drills public as a warning to North Korea following the ICBM test launch.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russia has armed North Korean troops deployed near the border with Ukraine with infantry weapons, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on Nov. 2.

According to HUR, North Korean soldiers received 60-mm mortars, AK-12 rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, Feniks anti-tank guided missiles, and hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers.

They also reportedly received some night vision devices, thermal imagers, collimator sights, and binoculars.

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According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian intelligence officials are skeptical regarding the combat effectiveness of the North Korean troops, citing communication issues with their Russian counterparts as the main hurdle Moscow and Pyongyang will have to bridge.

Russia deployed more than 7,000 North Korean troops from Russia's Primorsky Krai to the Ukrainian border, the agency said.

These numbers almost coincide with those of Washington's announced earlier this week. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that some 8,000 North Korean troops are amassed in Russia's Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine began a cross-border incursion in August and still holds significant swathes of territory.

North Korea has sent nearly 12,000 troops to Russia, including 500 officers and three generals, HUR reported. Soldiers are reportedly currently undergoing training at five military camps in the Russian Far East.

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North Korea's entry into the war comes when Russia's long and grinding campaign in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast has dramatically gained pace in recent days. Analysts say Russian forces are advancing at a pace not seen since the early months of the war.

Read also: This is how North Korean troops could be used in Russias war in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean state media released a white paper on Sunday accusing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol of exposing his country to the danger of nuclear war through his policies toward the North.

The document, compiled by North Koreas Institute of Enemy State Studies and released by state news agency KCNA, criticised Yoons reckless remarks about war, abandoning elements of an inter-Korean agreement, engaging in nuclear war planning with the United States, and seeking closer ties with Japan and NATO.

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Its ever-worsening military moves resulted only in the paradoxical consequences of pushing (North Korea) to stockpile its nuclear weapons at an exponential rate and further develop its nuclear attack capability, the paper said.

Yoon, a conservative, has taken a hard line on North Korea, which has forged ahead with developing its arsenal of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

His administration blames North Korea for raising tensions with weapons tests and providing military aid and troops to aid Russias war in Ukraine.

Pyongyang has been taking steps to sever inter-Korean ties,

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redefining the South as a separate, hostile enemy state, since Kim Jong Un declared it a "primary foe" early this year and said unification was no longer possible.

North Korea blew up sections of inter-Korean roads and rail lines on its side of the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas last month, and satellite imagery shows it has since built large trenches across the former crossings.

The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

The two Koreas have also clashed over balloons of trash floated since May from North Korea. Pyongyang has said the launches are a response to balloons sent by anti-regime activists in the South.

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Sundays white paper also listed Yoons domestic political woes, including scandals involving his wife, which have driven his approval ratings to record lows.

Meanwhile, the United States on Sunday deployed B-1B bombers for joint aerial drills with South Korea and Japan, in response to North Korea's recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The military exercise showed the three countries' strong commitment to responding to the North's nuclear and missile threats through cooperation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

This is the second time this year that the three countries conducted joint air drills and the fourth time in 2024 that the United States deployed its strategic bombers on the Korean peninsula, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

(Reporting by Josh Smith in Seoul, Additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in Seoul; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
North Korean troops are unlikely to be able to offer Russia a long-term solution to its manpower problems in the war against Ukraine.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that Russian troops were suffering more than 1,200 casualties per day (or about 36,000 per month). According to the latest US estimates, Russian recruitment is between 25,000 and 30,000 new soldiers per month. This means that Russia cannot replace its current losses on the front line in a 1:1 ratio.

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Quote: "The 8,000 North Korean soldiers reportedly preparing to enter combat in Kursk Oblast thus represent about one week's worth of casualties across the entire front line. North Korea has committed an estimated total of 12,000 troops to Russia."

More details: The ISW stressed that it remained unclear how Russia would use North Korean manpower, but that the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia's high attrition offensive operations would likely result in high North Korean casualties.

The ISW recently assessed that North Korea likely chose to fight on Russia's side to gain valuable combat experience in modern warfare. However, the ISW noted that how Russian commanders use North Korean forces in combat will affect their ability to meaningfully absorb and disseminate this experience. If North Korean troops suffer the same losses as Russian troops, the lessons Pyongyang hopes to learn on the battlefield will be undermined, and Kim Jong Un is unlikely to force his troops to suffer such battlefield losses for long.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 1 November:

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate (ROC MP), highlighted ongoing social and ideological divides within Russian society while reiterating boilerplate justifications for the war in Ukraine during a speech on 31 October.

Kirill also highlighted the growing trend of brutality and cruelty in the Russian military and attempted to excuse this trend as the emergence of a "neo-pagan" cult.

Russian authorities also continue to identify conflict between ethnic Russians and minority groups as a critical issue.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui in Moscow on 1 November, securing strong affirmations of North Korea's support for Russia amid updated Western reports on the number of North Korean troops deployed to Russia.

North Korean troops are unlikely to present Russia with a long-term solution to its manpower concerns, despite Choe's comments about Pyongyang's indefinite commitment to Russia's war effort.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new tranche of military assistance valued at US$425 million to Ukraine on 1 November.

Russian federal censor Roskomnadzor failed to enforce its plan to deanonymise Russian social media accounts by its stated 1 November deadline.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced north of Sudzha.

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces recently advanced within central Vovchansk. Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Kupiansk and northwest of Kreminna.

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) introduced a new system on 1 November allowing Russian veterans and their families to confirm their veteran statuses digitally.

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This article was originally published in Kentucky Lantern.

After receiving what she called numerous complaints about foster children in Kentucky sleeping in office buildings without supervision by trained staff, state Auditor Allison Ball said Tuesday the Office of the Ombudsman will investigate.

Calling it an ongoing crisis that is years in the making, Ball said the ombudsman will investigate the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to get at the root causes.

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Terry Brooks, the executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, said the problem isnt new  and solving it wont be simple or cheap.

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It involves a niche population of high-needs youth who likely need specialized care, he told the Lantern.

Its not typically 5-year-old kids who look like they fell off a TV commercial, Brooks said. Youre talking about older kids, teenagers, high levels of acuity, probably some special needs, probably with a history of aggressive behavior. Im painting a portrait of a young person who we definitely need to care for, but we know its going to take creativity and resources to be able to do that.

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A spokesperson for the auditor said the office thinks the practice has been going on for two years and has affected about 300 children, but well know exactly once we dig in.

The cabinet said in a statement that it has taken action to address the challenges that come with placing youth with severe mental and behavioral problems or a history of violence or sexual aggression with foster families or facilities.

Weve publicly addressed this many times with lawmakers and have offered more funding to secure additional safe, short-term care options for youth, a cabinet spokesman said. When one of these placements are necessary, we work to make sure each youth has a safe place to stay until a placement can be made. We urge those interested in becoming a foster parent to help us meet the needs of all our youth, please visit KyFaces.ky.gov.

In 2023, The Courier Journal reported that a shortage of available and willing foster families was a factor in the states decision to house some youth in a Louisville office building. WDRB reported earlier this year that the practice has continued, despite concerns raised by a Louisville judge.

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My office has continued to receive numerous complaints of foster children and teenagers sleeping on cots and air mattresses in office buildings, often not supervised by trained staff, Ball said in a statement. I have instructed the Ombudsmans Office to investigate this issue to uncover the problems associated with this ongoing crisis.

The vulnerable children of Kentucky deserve to be placed in nurturing environments where they are provided with the resources, stability, and care they need, Ball said.

Staff are still trying to confirm how many office buildings are involved, a spokesperson for Ball said, though we can confirm that this is not exclusively a Jefferson County issue.

Sleeping in an office building can compound trauma youth already have experienced, Brooks said. It certainly is not going to create a positive childhood experience, he said. Its going to create more adversity to kids who have already experienced too much adversity.

Kentucky cant do this on the cheap

Kentucky needs more families to foster, but it also needs a better system to support children who cant be placed, Brooks said. Kentucky must incentivize  through higher wages and reimbursements  a willingness to take on tough cases..

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Lawmakers can look to Tennessee, he said, which has faced similar problems and responded by increasing payments to foster parents and wages to state staff working with higher-needs children.

They have just owned the fact that,if Im getting paid $15 an hour, Im probably not going to be volunteering to get bitten, spit on and other issues with tough kids, Brooks said.

Another solution Kentucky should consider, Brooks said, would be to create triage centers  safe, secure, designated spaces  to temporarily house children who cant immediately be placed.

If the General Assembly cares about those kids sleeping in offices as much as (CHFS Secretary Eric Friedlander) and Auditor Ball, then theyve got to take action, Brooks said. And it cant be rhetorical. It has to be resources. So I dont know if that is looking at existing resources, I dont know if thats taking the big swing (and) reopening the budget, but you cant do this on the cheap.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com. Follow Kentucky Lantern on Facebook and X.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  The 2024 elections are underway. Early voting is happening across the tri-state area and the country, surpassing records set in 2020.

The outcomes of several races in New York and New Jersey could help shape the balance of power in Washington.

PIX11 political reporter Henry Rosoff, Politico reporter Emily Ngo, and PIX11 New Jersey reporter Jim Vasil discussed some of the key races to watch in New York and New Jersey.

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Watch the video player for the full PIX Panel discussion.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Asian students in the Big Apples public schools are being forced to disclose their countries of origin when signing up for after-school activities  a controversial policy pushed by a Gov. Hochul aide now accused of being a Chinese spy.

Only Asian students are asked for such detail on where they came from, and critics say forcing them to list their homeland could endanger the families of dissidents and others.

I bet the CCP would love to get their hands on a list like this, said one parent, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

Now disgraced former Hochul aide, Linda Sun was supposed to restrict the data collection on city DOE forms to a few, specific territories. Paul Martinka

A 2021 law signed by Hochul  and promoted by her now disgraced former aide, Linda Sun  was supposed to restrict the data collection on city Department of Education forms to just a few, specific territories.

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Instead, a DOE form this fall required applicants to check off which of 20 Asian countries the students families originated from.

The form includes politically sensitive countries such as Taiwan, Tibet and North and South Korea.

Sun was in meetings with parent activists who fought the overstepping legislation, and she was seen in photos leading sessions with them when the governor couldnt make it. Asian activists who pushed back against the 2021 bill remember Sun advocating hard for the legislation.

Supporters of the bill claimed the data was needed for everything from combating anti-Asian hate crimes to community service organizations applying for funding.

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Sun and her husband were arrested Sept. 3 on Long Island and charged with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy  a host of accusations that together depict them as Chinese foreign agents, critics charged. They have pleaded not guilty.

A My School account questionnaire that asked very psychic country of origins for Asians only. Obtained by The New York Post

A Free Tibet protest makes its way across midtown. Gabriella Bass

Tibet and Taiwan have long fought for independence from China, and immigrants in New York from those countries could be at risk if their data makes it into the wrong hands, advocates said.

We are outraged that electeds and officials, especially those representing Asian neighborhoods, did little to no outreach to their constituency for input and feedback, Yiatin Chu, president of the Asian Wave Alliance, told The Post when the DOE form surfaced in September.

Legislation that forces minorities to disclose countries of origin perpetuates the myth of us as forever foreigners when in fact, many Asian New Yorkers are multigenerational Americans, Chu added.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The disturbing killing of eight cats at Keehi Boat Harbor is prompting concern in the animal rescue community  and not just for humans.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

State officials are investigating the decapitation and possible poisoning of several feral cats.

The carcass of a headless cat was found floating in the water on Thursday, Oct. 17 near a Keehi Boat Harbor pier, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Then on Tuesday, Oct. 29, the bodies of seven other cats were found with suspicious injuries in the parking lot and many were found near piles of cat food that were believed to be poisoned.

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Rescue advocates said that the brutality is not surprising.

Poisonings, shootings, all types of, you name it, sort of cruelty to these cats. And you hear about it all over the island. Its been kind of quiet for a while, and now its obviously popped up again. It just seems to be these patterns where it just goes in a cycle, said Rescue Kitties of Hawaii vice president Bret Thompsett.

Cat shot in both legs reunites with Makaha owner

The Hawaiian Humane Society said there is a strong correlation between violence against animals as a warning sign for violence against people.

So regardless of your feeling on, about free roaming cats, you know, this should be a wake up call for our community that someone is out there willing to, you know, basically torture an kill innocent creature, said HHS Community Engagement director Steph Kenrdick said.

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There are some who feed the ferals at Keehi, despite the warning signs against doing so.

Its like basically her her, her pets, Fan said of the woman who feeds the ferals, and so she just comes at night, feeds the cat, pets em and whatever. And she leaves, you know what I mean, so I dont think shes the culprit, of course, you know what I mean?

Cats shot, laws soft: Calls for stricter Hawaii cruelty penalties

Harbor users told KHON2 that while feeding feral cats is technically illegal, it is not something that they usually call the authorities over. They said finding a cat floating in the water without a head is a different story, however.

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Were just not gonna let somebody just kill a cat or skin them or cut their, you know, decapitate their heads or anything, nah, Fan said. Imagine what they would do to a human, you know what Im saying?

Theres no excuse for this kind of behavior. Youre not protecting monk seals by decapitating cats. Youre not protecting birds. Youre not protecting our community, Kendrick said.

Stolen jewels, boa constrictors killing owners, check out Weird News here

Feeding feral cats at harbors in Hawaii is a misdemeanor that can cost perpetrators a $1,000 fine or 30 days in jail. First Degree Animal Cruelty is a felony that carries up to $10,000 in fines and up to five years in prison.

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ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Odessa College has been awarded the 2024 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Star Award, marking the third Star Award in school history, according to a release from the college on Friday.

The award celebrates outstanding institutional contributions, highlighting institutions that demonstrate exemplary support for students who are pursuing postsecondary pathways.

This year, OC said it received recognition for its approach to supporting students financially and academically. Collectively called Odessa College Cares, the approach looks to remove barriers to education. OC said the various programs involved have saved students more than eight million dollars in the 2023-2024 academic year.

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This award is a reflection of Odessa Colleges commitment to removing barriers and ensuring our students succeed, said Odessa College President Gregory D. Williams. We are proud to be recognized for these efforts and will continue to innovate and expand our support services to build a talent-strong Texas.

OC 2024 Honors Luncheon honors locals who promote higher education

OC added that its achievements include a 61 percent increase in student enrollment over the past decade and a 128 percent increase in degrees and certificates awarded since 2014. The college attributed much of this success to the OC Cares initiative by addressing students needs beyond the classroom.

You can learn more about Odessa College and its ongoing initiatives on the colleges website here.

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After more than a decade of service to the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, Police Chief Ross Buzzuro has announced his retirement, with Capt. Michael Colbert assuming the role as Interim Chief effective Nov. 1, 2024.

Chief Buzzuro has overseen the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) for 11 years. The department includes nearly 100 full-time officers, upwards of 100 seasonal officers and public safety aides, and approximately 20 civilian employees, said the Town of Ocean City in an Oct. 31 news release.

As Chief of Police, Buzzuro developed and implemented law enforcement initiatives and crime prevention strategies, created organizational and community partnerships, oversaw operational commands, and managed the department's multi-million-dollar budget, the release stated.

Ocean City Special Event Zones among innovations during chief's tenure

Ocean City Police Department Chief Ross Buzzuro speaks to a crowd during the 9/11 Parade of Brothers ceremony. The ceremony honors those who were affected by the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

GUIDE TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME: In need of an extra hour of sleep? Everything to know about end of daylight saving time

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Furthermore, among his notable contributions, Chief Buzzuro led the charge against unsanctioned motor events, working diligently with city leaders to advance legislation for a Special Event Zone that enhances safety and enforces stricter regulations during high-traffic periods.

"It has been an honor to serve the residents and visitors of Ocean City and to work alongside the dedicated men and women of the Ocean City Police Department," Chief Buzzuro said. "As a longtime visitor and homeowner in the community, it has been a privilege to serve as the Police Chief."

"While bittersweet, it is the right time for me to step away to allow the transition to occur prior to the summer season. I am grateful to close this chapter in my career and look forward to a new chapter in my life," Buzzuro said of his retirement.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS: Pretzel shop opens in Berlin, two new coffee shops across Lower Shore | What's Going There

Mayor Meehan: Buzzuro 'right chief at right right time for Ocean City'

Ross Buzzuro, Ocean City Police Departments Chief of Police, gives a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony held for the OCPD Downtown Substation Monday, July 8, 2024, at Somerset and Baltimore Streets in Ocean City, Maryland. The new facility will feature state-of-the-art offices, meeting spaces, interview rooms, a bicycle repair garage, storage for the bicycle unit, and a public lobby. The third floor will provide housing for municipal employees.

According to the release, Chief Buzzuros law enforcement career spans nearly 40 years, beginning in 1985 as a police cadet in Baltimore City. Over the years, he rose through the ranks. A graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy and the University of Maryland's Fire & Rescue Institute, Chief Buzzuro led Baltimore City's Special Enforcement, Patrol, Criminal Investigation and Internal Investigations divisions.

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"Chief Buzzuro was the right chief at the right time for Ocean City," Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan said. "I hold the chief in the highest regard and want to thank him for his dedication to the department and our community."

The Town of Ocean City will conduct a national search for the vacant police chief position, the release stated.

The interim chief, Michael Colbert, has been a long-standing captain in the department, overseeing every division within it. During this transition period, the department will maintain its focus on public safety, proactive policing, and strong partnerships with the community, the town stated in its release.

CHEF ROBERT IRVINE VISITS OCEAN CITY: 'It's just a great vibe.' Celebrity chef Robert Irvine on why he loves Ocean City and more

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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Ocean City police chief to retire after decade-plus serving town
Fewer than half of New York City subway riders feel safe or satisfied, according to an MTA survey.

This spring, just 45% of straphangers said they felt safe aboard trains, according to the results of the MTAs Customers Count spring 2024 survey.

Thats down from the 54% who felt safe inside subway cars in the fall of 2023.

Additionally, just 44% said they felt safe inside train stations this spring, a drop from 51% in fall 2023, according to the bi-annual poll conducted April 18 through May 12.

Fewer than half of NYC straphangers feel safe or satisfied with the system, according to the MTAs latest poll.

Only 47% of straphangers said they were satisfied with the transit system  down from 52% in the fall 2023, and the lowest percentage since the spring 2022 survey, when it was 48%, the stats show.

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Simmone Leslie wasnt surprised by the decline, telling the Post she avoids riding the subway by any means necessary due to safety concerns.

Leslie, 35, recalled a particularly harrowing moment during a ride to a Liberty game this summer, when the train she was riding stopped en route to Atlantic-Barclays subway station in Brooklyn  and a disturbed man started screaming at straphangers and banging on the cars doors.

It was nerve-racking, Leslie said. I dont know if [someone] has got a weapon on them, if theyll randomly attack someone.

Leslie added that she now relies mostly on ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft to get around, and always carries a taser whenever she takes the subway.

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In one of the latest random transit attacks, a rock-wielding menace bashed a straphanger on the head inside a Chelsea subway station on Wednesday afternoon.

The latest subway satisfaction rate was the lowest since the spring 2022 survey. Michael Nagle

Murders in the transit system are up 60% so far this year compared to last. Helayne Seidman

On Tuesday night, a 54-year-old man was fatally stabbed during a dispute on a Coney Island subway platform.

So far this year, nine people were murdered systemwide  up 80% from the five recorded at this point last year, according to NYPDs latest transit crime data through Oct. 27, which did not take into account the Tuesday murder.

There were five rapes in the system so far this year, compared to four at this point in 2023.

The number of shootings doubled so far this year, with six compared to three at this point in 2023, and there were 11 victims of gunfire in transit hubs  up 175% from four at this point last year.

If someone gets on that does not look right to me, I wait until the next stop and I get off and switch cars to feel more safe, one straphanger told The Post. Helayne Seidman

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Sex crimes also increased over 3% this year, with 550 incidents compared with 532 at this point last year, the transit crime data show.

Last month, a fiend with a rap sheet that includes 51 past arrests was busted for attempted rape inside the Columbia University station.

The latest data available shows major felonies in the transit system were down 6% between January and Oct. 27.

If someone gets on that does not look right to me, I wait until the next stop and I get off and switch cars to feel more safe. Its almost every time, said straphanger Shirley Joseph, 65, as she waited to board a Manhattan-bound 2 train at the Church Avenue station in Flatbush.

Half of the survey respondents were dissatisfied with the level of cleanliness underground. Helayne Seidman

She also lamented the general untidiness underground.

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Her concerns were echoed by half of the 40,000 spring survey respondents, who said they were dissatisfied with the level of cleanliness.

In the fall of 2023, 57% said that the subways were sanitary.

Of the 50% of riders who said trains werent clean enough this year, 77% blamed homeless individuals, 74% cited unpleasant smells, and 65% pointed to trash.

One in five blamed rodents, bugs  and even birds  for the grimy conditions.

Bronx residents were the unhappiest underground, with an overall 40% satisfaction score.

Staten Islanders were most satisfied with the train system.

Of the 50% of riders who said trains werent clean enough this year, 77% blamed homeless individuals. REUTERS

The subway lines with the lowest approval scores this year were the D and J/Z lines, both with 48%.

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MTA Chief John J. McCarthy said that the latest numbers show that crime inside the system is down, while subway service and ridership is up.

[We are] hitting record totals this month with the most subway riders in almost 5 years showing increasing satisfaction with their OMNY cards, McCarthy wrote in a statement.

Additional reporting by Matthew Sedacca
Pedestrians are seen in the rain in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 1, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]



With one powerful autumn typhoon having affected a Chinese province and another one bearing down on the mainland, concerns have mounted over the potential disasters from heavy rainfall that such storms can bring to vulnerable areas on the southern and southeastern coasts.

Authorities have been ramping up preparations to address the heightened risk of flooding and other weather-related hazards in such areas.

The remnants of Typhoon Trami, coupled with a cold front, have triggered extensive flooding in Qionghai, Hainan province. All 13 towns in the city have been inundated to varying degrees, with the Wanquan River basin submerging 183 villages.

Responding to the crisis, Qionghai has mobilized a fleet of 43 motorboats, 30 inflatable boats and over 200 vehicles, and has requested helicopter assistance for supply transport and rescue operations. By Wednesday evening, authorities had evacuated 17,198 residents.

Rainfall had decreased by Wednesday night, and water levels in the Wanquan River are gradually receding. The Hainan disaster reduction commission terminated its flood and wind emergency response on Thursday at 5 pm.

However, forecasts predict another deluge from Sunday to Tuesday as southeasterly airflow collides with a cold front.

Elsewhere, in anticipation of Typhoon Kong-rey's approach, China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has initiated a Level-IV emergency response in Zhejiang province.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe.

Kong-rey, the 21st typhoon of the year, made landfall in Taiwan's Taitung at around 1:40 pm on Thursday, leading to the closure of schools and offices in 22 counties and cities across the island. By Thursday morning, 527 flights were suspended, eight were delayed and 139 ferries operating on 11 routes were canceled.

Taiwan authorities said Kong-rey was the strongest typhoon to make landfall on the island in nearly a decade. The storm is forecast to track north-northeast, with winds expected to peak at 184 kilometers per hour.

Heavy rainfall is anticipated in Shanghai and the provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, with Zhejiang preparing for a significant impact.

As the typhoon nears eastern China, railway authorities in the Yangtze River Delta Region have suspended multiple train services, particularly affecting high-speed rail lines such as the Hangzhou-Shenzhen, Shanghai-Kunming, Hangzhou-Changsha, and Hefei-Fuzhou routes.

Zhejiang escalated its emergency response to Level II for typhoon preparedness, with maritime safety measures heightened to Level III.

As of 8 am on Thursday, 45 of Zhejiang's 152 water passenger ferry routes have been suspended. Additionally, 62 out of its 136 water-related construction projects under development have been halted, with 593 workers safely evacuated from the vessels.

Jia Yan, deputy chief forecaster at the Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory, issued a warning about the impending impact of Kong-rey on the province on Thursday morning. She highlighted the period from Thursday night to Friday as critical, anticipating widespread heavy rainfall that significantly heightens the risk of flood disasters.

"Precautions need to be taken to prevent urban and rural water-logging, as well as secondary disasters such as localized flash floods, mudslides and landslides. Additionally, there will be prolonged periods of strong winds at sea, necessitating enhanced safety measures for maritime traffic and operations," she said.

Fujian province also raised its emergency response level in response to Kong-rey's impact. Railway and maritime services have suspended several train services and halted 71 coastal passenger ferry routes affecting 190 vessels. Meanwhile, 115 coastal construction projects have been stopped until further notice.

Specialized rescue forces, including rescue ships, helicopters and patrol boats, have been deployed on standby to respond to potential emergencies, as confirmed by Fujian maritime authorities.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Two large fights at a bar in Salt Lake City  involving up to 40 people  led to the arrests of six individuals, as well as two police officers getting injured, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Police said the fight prompted a citywide response from officers, and the investigation began just before 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. Officers learned that a suspect had reportedly assaulted three people but left the scene in a car.

Police initially responded to a fight in progress at a bar near 1700 South Main Street. Officers attempted to break up the fight, but while they were addressing the first incident, SLCPD said another fight broke out outside the bar around 12:07 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2.

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Wife, mother-in-law arrested in connection to July 2024 death of man in American Fork

Police said two groups started arguing with each other after the initial investigation into the first fight was almost done.

It is estimated that 30-40 people began fighting with each other and officers, SLCPD said in a press release on Saturday.

Officers used oleoresin capsicum spray (pepper spray) in their attempts to contain the incident and restore public safety, police said. Neither of the injured officers were taken to the hospital after the incident.

Even after officers separated the groups, several splinter fights continued, police said.

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The six people who were taken into custody in connection to the fights were arrested for charges including public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and interfering with an arresting officer.

The following people were arrested:

Carnation Foni, 23

Chelzie Atoa, 32

Telphi Asiata, 32

Anastasia Asiata, 36

Edwina Atoa, 36

Lagi Fuiava, 38

Police said the circumstances of the two fights are not yet known.

SLCPD also said the preliminary information provided on Saturday may change as the investigation continues. There is no further information at this time.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Honolulu Fire Department alerted the public of a surfer rescue on Oahu Friday evening.

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According to HFD, a 24-year-old surfer was reported missing by his girlfriend around 7 p.m.

Honolulu Police Department was called in to investigate.

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At around 8 p.m. officials located the surfer at home and labeled the incident as no emergency.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond told Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday that Drummond would terminate a contract he said Stitt entered into this week with attorneys that would represent two state officials in a lawsuit involving the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

The federal lawsuit, known as Briggs v. Friesen, alleges the state agency violated the due process rights of several people currently charged with a crime by failing to provide timely court-ordered competency restoration services to those considered not competent to stand trial.

Drummond said in August he had negotiated a consent decree with the plaintiffs attorneys that would establish a 21-day maximum wait time for the state to provide restoration services to a county jail detainee deemed incompetent by a court. A federal judge gave preliminary approval to the deal in September.

Gov. Kevin Stitt, left, and ODMHSAS commissioner Allie Friesen, across the table from Stitt, during a contingency review board at the state Capitol in August.

The states Contingency Review Board met to consider the settlement Oct. 8, although Drummond called the meeting premature, noting that U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell had set a Jan. 15 hearing to consider final approval of the consent decree.

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The day of the meeting, Allie Friesen, the commissioner of the mental health agency, released a statement saying she had terminated Drummond as her attorney in the case because he wasnt prioritizing her or her agency. During the meeting, Stitt and House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, voted 2-0 to reject the settlement, with Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, abstaining from the vote.

Drummond has represented Friesen and Debbie Moran, Oklahoma Forensic Center interim executive director, in the lawsuit. Friesen has publicly opposed the consent decree and said during the Contingency Review Board meeting she would resign before signing an agreement like this.

In a statement that day announcing her decision to dismiss Drummond from the case, Friesen said the boards rejection of the consent decree negotiated by Drummond is the best step to ensure justice for all Oklahomans. The consent decree, as currently written and approved by the attorney general, would cease competency treatment in 75 of 77 counties, stopping essential treatment for people already receiving care as well as delaying justice for victims in these criminal cases. This is simply unacceptable.

When Oklahomans are unable to receive timely treatment, their conditions can worsen. Drummonds demands would deny care to countless individuals who rely on us. The longer we delay, the harder it becomes for them to recover.

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Drummond has said his client in the case is the state of Oklahoma, and because Friesen did not hire him, she could not fire him as the attorney on the case.

Stitt subsequently hired William Bill OConnor of the Hall Estill law firm to represent Friesen. OConnor entered his appearance in the case in the Northern District of Oklahoma on Oct. 14, along with three other Hall Estill attorneys. Drummond said Friday he was invoking his constitutional power as the states chief law enforcement officer to take and assume control of litigation involving the State. He filed a motion asking Frizzell to strike the appearances of OConnor, Brian Inbody, John Ricker and Kristen Evans as attorneys in the case.

Based on our many previous disagreements, you are undoubtedly aware by now that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has squarely held: The Attorney General, by statute  is the Chief Law Officer of the State, Drummond wrote in his letter to Stitt. In the absence of explicit legislative or constitutional expression to the contrary, he possesses complete dominion over every litigation in which he properly appears in the interest of the state, whether or not there is a relator or some other nominal party.

Further, my client in this case is the state of Oklahoma, not Commissioner Friesen and Executive Director Moran in their individual capacities. I will continue to represent the state of Oklahoma, including Commissioner Friesen and Executive Director Moran in their official capacities, to the best of my abilities.

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A spokeswoman for Stitt didnt immediately return a message Friday seeking comment about Drummonds letter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma AG, governor are feuding again over legal representation
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  One of Salt Lake Citys most iconic buildings is now a bit more visible to the public after renovations on the Salt Lake Temple took a big step forward.

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the load of the Salt Lake Temples foundation was recently transferred to its new seismically enhanced foundation. In October, the scaffolding that was around the six spires of the temple was removed. The Church Newsroom said Friday that work on the temples spires is completed.

What are Latter-day Saint Temples?

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The temples spires have been strengthened for seismic resistance, with steel plates installed within each spire. Each stone was meticulously reinstalled and securely anchored to a new steel framework designed to fortify the historic structure, the Church said.

The two entry pavilions are still under construction and will reflect the temples Victorian-era design.

In addition to the temple, there are other ongoing renovations on Temple Square. The Assembly Hall  located on the southwest side of Temple Square  is under construction, and renovations on the Beehive House and the Lion House are also underway.

Both the Lion House and Beehive House were built by Brigham Young and date back to the 1850s when LDS pioneers moved into the Salt Lake Valley.

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Inside the Salt Lake City Temple  a look at the ongoing interior renovations

Earlier this year, the angel Moroni was placed atop the Salt Lake Temple again. In August, the load-bearing operation was completed.

Temple Square remains open to the public, and the Conference Center (just north of the temple) serves as the main arrival center for Temple Square visitors, the Church said.

Visitors can see the new foundation of the temple as it is still exposed. The Church Office building plaza and Main Street Plazas were completed earlier 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 ABC4 Utah.
With their bladed paws, wielded by a rippling mass of pure muscle, sharp eyes, agile reflexes, and crushing fanged jaws, lions are certainly not a predator most animals have any interest in messing with. Especially seeing as they also have the smarts to hunt in packs.

"Lions are the biggest group-hunting land predator on the planet, and thus ought to be the scariest," conservation biologist Michael Clinchy from Western University in Canada said in 2023.

But in over 10,000 recordings of wildlife on the African savannah, 95 percent of the species observed responded with far more terror to the sound of an entirely different beast. This animal isn't even technically an apex predator. It's us: humans.

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We're the monsters lurking under other mammals' beds.

"The fear of humans is ingrained and pervasive," said Clinchy. "There's this idea that the animals are going to habituate to humans if they're not hunted. But we've shown that this isn't the case."

In research published last year, Western University ecologist Liana Zanette and colleagues played a series of vocalizations and sounds to animals at waterholes in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park and recorded their response.

This protected area is home to the world's largest remaining lion (Panthera leo) population, so the other mammals are well aware of the danger these carnivores represent.

The researchers broadcast the sounds of human conversations in local languages, including Tsonga, Northern Sotho, English, and Afrikaans, as well as the sounds of human hunting, including barking dogs and gunshots. They also played the sounds of lions communicating with each other.

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"The key thing is that the lion vocalizations are of them snarling and growling, in 'conversation' as it were, not roaring at each other," said Clinchy. "That way the lion vocalizations are directly comparable to those of the humans speaking conversationally."

Not all of the experimental subjects appreciated the researchers' efforts though.

"One night, the lion recording made this elephant so angry that it charged and just smashed the whole thing," Zanette said, referring to the camera setup.

Seems like a fair response!

Almost all 19 of the mammal species observed in experiments were twice as likely to abandon the waterholes when hearing humans talking compared to lions or even hunting sounds. The mammals include rhinos, elephants, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, zebras, and warthogs, some of which can pose dangers in their own right.

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But fear of these creatures rarely stops us from deciding their fate. From taking down massive mammoths to tending the most dangerous modern dinosaur we'll take on any challenge.

As the most lethal animal on the planet by far and a major driver of evolution, humans have sadly earned every heart-racing beat of terror we instill in others.

"It was specifically hearing human vocalizations which inspired the greatest fear," the team explain in their paper, "suggesting that wildlife recognize humans as the real danger, whereas related disturbances such as barking dogs are merely lesser proxies."

Given how ubiquitous humans now are, escaping from us is only ever going to be a temporary situation, meaning that these mammals will unfortunately keep having their fears triggered.

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This is not great for the already dwindling populations of many savannah species, including giraffes. As the team's previous research suggests, continued fear alone can reduce prey animal populations over generations.

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But conservation biologists may be able to harness this knowledge to help these species, too. By playing human conversations in areas with known poaching in South Africa, they hope to keep the endangered Southern white rhino safely away.

"I think the pervasiveness of the fear throughout the savannah mammal community is a real testament to the environmental impact that humans have," said Zanette.

"Not just through habitat loss and climate change and species extinction, which is all important stuff. But just having us out there on that landscape is enough of a danger signal that they respond really strongly. They are scared to death of humans, way more than any other predator."

This research was published in Current Biology.

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An earlier version of this article was published in October 2023.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN)  This holiday season, the Springfield Police Division is assisting selected families in Clark County with Thanksgiving meal kits.

Applications for Operation Thanksgiving are open through Nov. 15 for Clark County residents. Families will be notified by Nov. 18 if they were selected for a meal kit. Food deliveries will take place on Nov. 26.

Springfield PD organizes Operation Thanksgiving to help families in need of assistance enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Included in the meal kits are fully prepared, heat-and-serve dinners that feed up to eight people.

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Dayton organization provides free screenings, resources to those with diabetes

All Thanksgiving meal kits include one 10-12 lb. pre-cooked Butterball turkey, home-style stuffing, roasted turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry relish and a dozen Kings Hawaiian dinner rolls.

Additionally, a food box will be offered with the following items: one gallon of 2% milk, one dozen eggs, one loaf of bread, one, 8 oz. block of Colby cheese, one box of saltine crackers, one jar of peanut butter, one jar of jelly, one box of macaroni and cheese, one bag of apples, cans of soup, cans of tuna, one can of mixed nuts and one pumpkin pie.

Please note, that a completed application is not a guarantee a meal kit will be delivered. Applications can be submitted online.

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The expansion of absentee voting access in Michigan has brought about a new tradition for my family  before every election, we gather after Sunday dinner, pull up various endorsements and voter guides, debate the races and each cast our votes.

With knots of anxiety in our stomachs, members of my family from three different households sat down with their ballots last weekend to deliberate best choices, saving the presidential race for last.

Even with similar political leanings and bellies full of salmon and tabbouli, we knew this one was going to be a contentious debate.

A T-shirt encouraging Arab Americans to vote on display during a rally at the University of Michigan Dearborn in a Free Press file photo from 2006. The Arabic word "yalla" is used to mean "hurry up" or "let's go."

Why so indecisive

Under normal circumstances, it would not be this difficult to choose a candidate for president.

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These are far from normal circumstances.

For many Arab Americans, the presidential race represents a torturous decision, made increasingly impossible by an expanding, U.S.-funded war in Gaza and Lebanon that keeps getting bloodier, keeps expanding in scope and carnage and continues to play out live on social media streams in traumatic detail  and it keeps creeping closer and closer to the Syrian villages from which my family emigrated in the 1970s.

Our options:

A Republican campaign that keeps getting bolder in its rhetoric of blatant, unveiled bigotry and xenophobia.

A Democratic campaign that keeps thumbing its nose at Arab and Muslim voters begging for a sign of anti-war intentions.

A pair of third-party candidates whove fully embraced Arab American voters, often literally, showing up to community functions and telling them everything they want to hear  except that they can actually win.

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Theres a bitterness, a resentment that has been steadily burning and building for more than a year in Arab American communities. With every glance at the screens in the palms of their hands comes vivid reminders of the horrors of an absurdly lopsided war, bankrolled by their own tax dollars.

Hospitals, universities and residential buildings reduced to dust, frantic searches for survivors in the rubble, children rummaging through garbage dumps for food, refugees burned alive, decapitated infants, entire villages and ancient landmarks of historic and religious significance wiped off the map.

Cold and contradictory reactions from the Biden Administration persisted throughout the year as the number of civilian deaths skyrocketed, and eventually plateaued only because counting the dead became impossible.

There were many moments of hope  thousands of American college students taking over their campuses in protest. High-ranking federal officials resigning over U.S. support for the war. The president himself cast aside for a younger, more compassionate candidate  with two immigrant parents.

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But the students would eventually be silenced. Dissenting voices in powerful places would be quietly replaced. And the presidents replacement on the ballot has so far failed to chart a path forward that looks different from the devastating status quo.

The resulting exhaustion, dejection and fury leaves many Arab Americans, and their friends and neighbors, unable to confidently fill in a circle on the presidential ballot.

The case for Trump

No one at the Sunday dinner table made a case for former President Donald Trump.

But some prominent Arab Americans have taken that extraordinary leap, most notably the mayors of Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights.

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Both said Trump would bring about peace.

They must have forgotten that nine days into his presidency, Trump authorized a botched counterterrorism raid in Yemen that killed 25 civilians. At least 86 Yemeni civilians would be killed in airstrikes and raids during Trumps presidency, according to independent monitoring groups.

Its hard to imagine the mayors have forgotten that in 2017 Trump banned immigrants from Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Iraq and Iran.

Or that he used Palestinian as a slur on the debate stage. Or that he called on Biden to let Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finish the job in Gaza. Or that he promised to somehow deport those student protesters calling for a free Palestine.

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They surely cannot have forgotten Trumps policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border, or the ultimate disgrace  his debate stage claim that immigrants were eating the pets of their neighbors in Ohio.

When the Dearborn Heights mayor joined Trump onstage in Novi last month, an image that the campaign had been circulating appeared on large screens, showing a group of Pakistani men in traditional garb burning an American flag with text that read, Meet your new neighbors if Kamala wins.

I know that many Arab Americans will vote for Trump, but not without earning the ire of their friends and relatives who value logic and self-respect.

Still, Trump seems to view those supporters as valuable, rather than liabilities, which is how it's felt at times for Arab American Democrats looking to get behind Harris.

The case for Harris

So many innocent lives lost, desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking. President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.

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That's Harris on Gaza at this summers Democratic National Convention.

The specific acknowledgement of Palestinian suffering and the promise of self-determination might have been a breakthrough moment, a sign of recognition that Arabs under assault in the Middle East, the relatives, friends and others in whom we see ourselves, are worthy of human rights and equal treatment.

Then news spread that party leaders refused a Palestinian American speaker at the convention, despite tireless efforts from Michigan delegates to promise an uncontroversial speech.

And to many Arab Americans, that seemed to be the end of any meaningful efforts to bridge the gap between the campaign and advocates for Palestine.

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The campaign appeared to move on to other potential voting blocs, most notably longtime conservatives who oppose Trump and could be swayed by Dick and Liz Cheney.

Meanwhile, the war in Gaza expanded to Lebanon, where thousands of Michiganders have close family ties, vacation homes and business interests.

More Michiganders were losing family members. More turned to Trump out of pure anger and a desire to punish the Democratic Party, rational or not.

Still, as my sister argued at that dinner table, Harris, in stark contrast to Trump, has never been accused of rape; has never fought to revoke abortion rights; has never referred to other countries as sh**holes;" has never called for the arrest of journalists or the deportation of protesters; shes not known for habitual deception and she came to the defense of Detroit after Trump plainly insulted the city during a visit last month.

The case for the protest vote

Green Party candidate Jill Stein and independent Cornel West have each made warm, repeated and well-informed overtures to Arab Americans in Michigan.

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Theyve worked to earn the votes of Arab Americans, in person and with great detail, rather than insisting on their support as a matter of national security.

Still, they simply cannot win, and are unlikely even to gain the independent candidates true goal  winning 5% of votes, nationally, which would make federal election funds available to that party in the next election cycle.

Even Ralph Nader, an Arab American icon, never pulled more than 3% in Michigan as a third-party presidential candidate in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Coming around

For most of this year, my parents had no intention of voting in this election. They were too angry. Too jaded and exhausted by the pain and fear brought on by a year of unchecked violence in the Middle East and the relentless onslaught of presidential campaign news, advertising and robocalls.

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They only requested ballots at my insistence.

Arab American organizers have worked too hard for too long to build voter participation in Michigan for our family to sit this one out.

Thats what I expected them to do  abstain from the presidential race as a quiet protest.

Instead, with his 11-year-old granddaughter playing in the background, my father changed course, convinced by my sisters passionate pleas to vote for protecting democracy and the bodily autonomy of women.

Neither major candidate, he said, appears willing to wield the power of the White House to bring about peace in the Middle East. But for Americans, he surmised, one candidate is clearly the responsible choice over the other. And he filled in the circle next to Kamala Harris name.

My mother, not typically one to fall in line behind anyone, followed suit, decisively, if unenthusiastically.

I was stunned.

For months, Id been telling people my family was being forced into an impossible choice between self-respect with a third-party vote, or wisdom, with a vote for Harris.

My parents found a way to make that choice with honor and conviction, and I felt immensely proud.

Ive yet to fill out the presidential portion of my ballot.

Im not quite as pragmatic and clear-headed as my parents. But Im working on it.

Khalil AlHajal is deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: kalhajal@freepress.com. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters and we may publish it online and in print.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Opinion: My Arab American family's debate over vote for Kamala Harris
Unless the presidential election is a landslide, which is very unlikely, expect the losing party to use the courts in ways that will end up before the Supreme Court. And given the history of the Roberts Court, we should expect the justices to resolve these cases with a focus on the partisan implications of their decisions.

Political scientists who study the court are largely in agreement with this legal realist view. Only lawyers, legal scholars and judges might argue to the contrary. Liberal justices would likely act the same way if they controlled the court.

As I have previously documented, last term the Roberts Court decided five landmark cases  two abortion controversies, one gun case and monumental legal disputes about former President Donald Trumps disqualification and presidential immunity  all in ways that seemed aimed at helping Trump and the GOP win the election.

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Both abortion cases and the gun case were resolved in a manner few people on the left would object to  a dramatic change after the court ended affirmative action, sent abortion back to the states and issued the broadest ruling on Second Amendment rights in history in just the prior two terms. Who could have possibly expected the Roberts Court to issue liberal decisions about abortion and guns, were it not a presidential election year?

The court also fast-tracked Trumps disqualification case and slow-walked his immunity case so that the disqualification issue would vanish quickly, which it did. The delay of the immunity case guaranteed that Trump would not have to face his remaining criminal trials before the election, if ever. Neither decision pays careful attention to text, tradition or history.

This partisan situation is especially troubling given that the Roberts Court has been consistently lecturing the American people about the importance of originalism  defined as a heavy emphasis on text, tradition and history  to constitutional interpretation. Last term, the court issued numerous important decisions that contained little or no serious analysis of those legal materials but were full of value judgments and contestable conclusions that text, history and tradition do not support.

As Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has documented since the Roberts Court began in 2006, it has almost always ruled for the GOP in cases with electoral implications. And before that, the court had decided Bush v. Gore, which quite obviously helped Republicans, but the legal analysis in that case (to the extent there was some) has never been used again by the justices. Three of todays conservative justices (Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barret) were lawyers for Bush in that case.

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The Roberts Court shut down the most important part of the Voting Rights Act in the Shelby County decision, obviously helping the GOP. In another decision, the conservative justices interpreted the language of that act unreasonably narrowly, also boosting the Republican Party. All the liberals dissented in these cases.

There are far too many examples of this behavior to summarize here. In most of them, the justices ignored or distorted originalist materials.

Some may argue that the Supreme Court in 2020 turned away appeals of lower court decisions brought by the Trump team trying to show that the election was stolen. But importantly, the court did not issue written decisions in those cases and let the lower courts do most of the work, which involved completely frivolous and indefensible lawsuits. The justices would not risk their personal reputations by affirming the absolute nonsense those lawsuits presented.

But this time around, according to the New York Times, the Republican lawyers are better and more organized, preparing in ways they did not in 2020. If the election is close, those cases could well be the deciding factor, as Bush v. Gore was in 2000.

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No one wants to hear that the Supreme Court is a partisan body making political decisions. But that is the nature of the institution, as the once-famous satirical character Mr. Dooley observed over a century ago: The Supreme Court follows the election returns. The courts behavior since then supports Mr. Dooleys hypothesis.

It would be foolish to expect anything different in 2024  other than the possibility that the election returns this time, as in 2000, will end up following the court, not the other way around.

Eric J. Segall is the Ashe Family Chair Professor of Law at Georgia State University College of Law.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The next president of the United States may, again, be the candidate with the fewest popular votes. This has happened only six times in U.S. history (1800, 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016), but twice in the last six elections. What were Americas founding fathers thinking when they created the Electoral College to select the president? Should we replace the Electoral College with a more democratic system for electing the president?

In selecting the president, the founders wanted to make the presidency broadly representative of the nation, keep it independent of the legislative and judicial branches of government and moderate the dangers of democracy. Their solution, the Electoral College, is republican, while its structure is fundamentally federal. As a result, presidential campaigns to this day create and follow strategies that are federal in nature.

Delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention agreed on a republican form of government, meaning that all government authority rests on the consent of the people. They also agreed that the purpose of government is to protect peoples rights and promote the public good, and generally favored the principle of majority rule.

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Their experience following the Revolutionary War, however, taught them that democratic, majority rule can result in a tyranny of the majority if it is not anchored in properly constructed institutions. Hence, they rejected a popular vote for president, which would allow the more populous regions to outvote less populous areas or allowed popular, national interest groups to dominate a presidential election.

The framers hoped the Electoral College would make the president more representative of the countrys broad and diverse interests by moderating the power of population and powerful factions. Rather than selecting the president by who wins the most votes, their system selects the presidential candidate by who receives the most state-by-state electoral votes. That requires the winning presidential candidate to assemble a geographically broad coalition of support and give due attention to minority groups within a state who may swing that state.

For example, in the 2000 election, Tennessees native son, Vice President Al Gore, lost Tennessee and thus the presidency because he took positions favored by urban areas but opposed by many, largely rural, Tennesseans. Similarly, Black leaders opposed a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College in 2001 because it would dilute Black voters influence in presidential elections.

This federal nature of the Electoral College creates a disproportionate distribution of electoral votes that diminishes the influence of the most populous states. The Electoral College, consequently, violates the modern, democratic principle of one person, one vote, and, thereby, rule by 50% plus one.

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This federal Electoral College combined with winner-takes-all laws in 48 states may also discourage some people from voting. For example, how many Democratic voters in Texas or Republican voters in California do not vote for a presidential candidate because they believe their party will not win that state?

Would a popular, democratic election system foster more moderate candidates and campaigns that appeal to a broad cross-section of America, or would it favor narrower and more extreme but populous factions of groups and interests?

The federal nature of the Electoral College shapes presidential candidates campaign strategies and voter turnout strategies. Presidential campaigns concentrate their resources on the competitive states and give less attention to the states their party will easily win or will almost surely lose. Partisan voter turnout strategies usually share a similar federal focus. But, as the Tennessee example above demonstrates, presidential candidates cannot neglect their safe states as they court voters in the swing states.

Direct popular presidential elections would create very different presidential and voter turnout strategies and campaigns, voting behaviors and, consequently, voting results. Such a system would favor populous areas and powerful interests. Consequently, it is wrong to claim that the winning candidate in a national popular-vote system would be the same as the one who received the most popular votes in a federal electoral system, because candidates, parties and voters will behave differently under a national popular-vote system.

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The Electoral College is based on the republican principle that government legitimacy resides on the consent of the people, and it uses federalism structures to correct for known democratic failures. Consequently, the Electoral College method for selecting the U.S. president requires successful presidential candidates to create a geographically diverse coalition and win minority groups within the states. This makes the president more broadly representative of the nation rather than the choice of a populous majority or powerful interest.

Because the winner of the Electoral College is the person with a majority of votes in multiple elections, it is democratic, but because voting is based on the states, it is federal. Whether Americas founders got the balance between federal and democratic correct is a question for our day.

Troy E. Smith is a professor and the director of the Master of Arts in Constitutional Government, Civics & Law at Utah Valley University, a fellow at the Center for the Study of Federalism and editor of the online Federalism in America: An Encyclopedia.
Something wicked this way comes. Those words from William Shakespeares Macbeth capture a certain dread that takes hold of some of us tasked with covering the legal elements of the presidential election.

Just as Halloween ended, things in the days leading into Election Day have begun to getwell, spooky. Call it election jitters, but some of us have been here before.

More than 200 cases have been filed around the country before the election this year. In the last week, worrisome elements have begun to pop up in various swing states.

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Over the last couple of decades, I have covered presidential elections for three networks (as I will do for Fox News in this election). The lead-up to elections always includes a flurry of lawsuits. As the voting margin shrinks between the parties, the number of lawyers increases.

Some lawsuits are important efforts to make changes to remove barriers for voters or the counting of early balloting. For example, on Friday an emergency lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union secured an order for election officials in Cobb County, Ga., to overnight mail ballots to roughly 3,000 citizens and to guarantee that they be counted after a snafu by election officials. Other lawsuits are what I call placeholders, where campaigns establish areas of concern to be able to reference later in any specific challenges on or after Election Day.

The Supreme Court has already intervened to stop an effort by the Biden-Harris administration to force Virginia to put people back on the voting rolls who had identified themselves as non-citizens. It is a crime for non-citizens to vote. Although Virginia allows any mistaken information to be corrected (and also allows for challenged voters to file provisional ballots), lower courts ordered Virginia to enable people to vote who had said they were not citizens.

Critics charge that the case is the continuation of the administrations unrelenting attacks on voter identification and proof of citizenship laws, even though 84 percent of Americans support such laws. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislators actually made it a crime for any poll worker to ask voters for identification.

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Some of these early challenges are welcomed, in the sense that we still have time to work out problems. Courts are notoriously reluctant to intervene after an election with the limited time before the certification of votes. They often refuse challengers access to vital election board information or bar cases as speculative or litigants as lacking in standing. This fuels the publics distrust of the integrity of the election.

Some challenges potentially involve a high number of votes in swing states. For example, in North Carolina, the Republican National Committee is suing the North Carolina State Board of Elections over 225,000 people who may not have been appropriately registered because that state failed to require a drivers license or partial Social Security number.

In Arizona, a judge had to order Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to release the names of roughly 218,000 voters who may have been allowed to register without the proof of citizenship required by state law.

There is also a growing concern over possible systemic voting registration violations in multiple districts in Pennsylvania. Initially, 2,500 forms were marked as suspicious for possible false names, duplicative handwriting or unverifiable or incorrect identifying information. Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams and her team found that about 60 percent of the 2,500 forms were potentially illegitimate. Monroe County District Attorney Mike Mancuso linked the registrations to Field and Media Corps, a subsidiary of Fieldcorps, an Arizona-based organization.

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Field and Media Corps appears to have taken down its website, but it previously identified itself as a subsidiary of FieldCorps. It described itself as connecting campaigns and projects with communities of color across the state. Our clients benefit from our social activism and coalition leadership experience gained through decades of leading campaigns, highlighting social inequalities, and developing BIPOC coalition building.

FieldCorps has reportedly been working for the Harris-Walz campaign, the Mark Kelly campaign in Arizona and other Democratic campaigns. Efforts to reach FieldCorps for comment have been unsuccessful.

The concern is that companies like FieldCorps could be replicating errors across districts and states in the rush to register new voters. If these are knowing falsifications, it could constitute a federal crime.

We also have the same controversies arising in this election about changes to voting laws just before the election. In 2020, many voters were opposed to courts in states like Pennsylvania issuing last-minute changes. Many assumed that these laws had been finally worked out to guarantee the criteria for consideration of mail-in ballots and other forms of voting.

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However, with less than two weeks to go, a divided Pennsylvania Supreme Court voted 4-3 to order a significant change in election rules. The Election Code in the state is a model of clarity  it says that a provisional ballot shall not be counted if the electors [mail] ballot is received in a timely manner by a county board of elections. However, the court ruled that provisional ballots must be counted even if an individual has already sent in a mail ballot rejected for violating a mandatory rule, such as failure to place the ballot in a secrecy envelope or to date or sign the envelope. Late Friday night, the Supreme Court declined to block the counting of the provisional ballots.

However, on Friday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court did hold the line on another major change of the state election laws ordered by a lower court. The court stayed a decision that it is unconstitutional to reject mail ballots without handwritten dates on the return envelopes. The stay means that the law will remain in effect for the election. Justice Kevin Doughtery (joined by Chief Justice Debra Todd) wrote a reassuring concurrence for many of us having to follow these cases: This Court will neither impose nor countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election. We said those carefully chosen words only weeks ago. Yet they apparently were not heard in the Commonwealth Court, the very court where the bulk of election litigation unfolds.

In what may be the closest election in history, late changes to election laws are inflammatory for an already suspicious electorate. According to the Gallup polling, only 63 percent are very (34 percent) or somewhat confident (29 percent) that votes in the upcoming midterm elections will be accurately cast and counted. That is near a record low, and there is a 45 percentage point gap separating Republicans (40 percent) and Democrats (85 percent) in their confidence in election integrity.

To my astonishment, voting officials are still committing basic errors. In Bucks County, Pa., voters were turned away in their attempt to apply in person for mail-in ballots. Some were told that there were computer or staffing problems. A court then ordered additional days to request ballots, so that matter at least is resolved. Yet such glitches are concerning. This is not rocket science. Rocket science is Elon Musk catching a massive booster rocket on what looked like a giant barbeque fork. Getting the staff and computers in place in a historic election should not be a great challenge.

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Given the emotions and closeness of this election, any such irregularities will only confirm the worst expectations of some voters. They are often neither sinister nor particularly suspicious. With tens of millions voting, there are going to be problems. Election officials can help reduce the suspicions by being more forthcoming in sharing information. In past years, officials have acted reflectively to oppose any disclosures while seeking the dismissal of cases. That largely succeeded legally but proved costly politically. It left many allegations (including ill-supported theories) unresolved in the minds of many citizens.

It would be far better for the nation to resolve questions before the elections and strive for greater transparency in post-election challenges. That is why, if something wicked this way comes, we can more easily send it along its way.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Israels long-awaited retaliation against Iran has highlighted the clerical regimes conventional military weakness and sense of strategic vulnerability. Designed to make Iran pay for its Oct. 1 missile barrage  which marked the largest single-day ballistic missile operation in history  Israel struck more than 20 military targets in three essentially uncontested waves of attack. It remains unclear, however, if these strikes will be sufficient to elicit a change in the right direction from Tehran.

In the wee hours of Oct. 26, Iranian authorities watched as Israel gutted two of their traditional pillars of deterrence  the ability to deny an adversary the chance to land a blow, and their ability to punish an aggressor.

Iranian radars, as well as air and missile defenses such as Russian-provided S-300 platforms, were reportedly taken offline or destroyed. So too, were several ballistic missile facilities tied to solid-propellant missile production, such as those at Parchin, Khojir, and Shahroud, as well as other sites believed to support Irans domestic missile supply chain.

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While Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles  assessed by the U.S. intelligence community to be the largest in the Middle East  numbers around 3,000, it appears to have been untouched by the recent strike. Instead, Israel targeted Tehrans ability to produce over time more medium-range systems capable of reaching the Jewish State from Iranian territory.

This puts Tehran in a bind. Retaining an ability to fire but not produce these projectiles significantly devalues their utility. This could help prevent or limit any response by a regime already willing and able launch missiles. On the other hand, it could spur risk-taking and escalation, including in unconventional ways, to prevent what it may assume are merely opening moves in a larger campaign.

Back in April, Iran responded to Israels bombing of what it alleged was a diplomatic facility in Damascus, which had killed several high-ranking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders. The response involved the launch of Irans first-ever direct and overt attack against Israel. In addition to intercepting most of that barrage  which featured ballistic missiles as well as low and slow flying drones and land-attack cruise missiles  Israel responded by targeting a radar platform tied to the S-300. Despite witnessing Israels ability to cripple one battery of the regimes most prized defenses, Tehran was not deterred.

On Oct. 1, the Islamic Republic responded to a string of more recent Israeli attacks killing Hamas and Hezbollah leaders by doubling the number of high and fast-flying ballistic missiles it fired in April. In so doing, it disproved the assessment of American generals that its April attack was a maximum effort and that the regime did not have more munitions to strike Israel directly. Despite also being largely intercepted, 30 missiles reportedly hit an Israeli airbase.

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In the aftermath of Israels retaliation, Irans choices of how to respond grow starker.

Initially, Iranian outlets downplayed the attacks, trying to enable a face-saving line of retreat that would prevent the strike from generating domestic unrest in Iran. But those denials soon morphed into calls for revenge that continue to be amplified by military elites. Last Sunday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei threaded the needle by calling for the strike to be neither exaggerated nor minimized, while also publicly shifting to officials the burden of deciding how best to reply.

But in a critically overlooked portion of his address, Khamenei mocked those calling for restraint, or as he termed it, weakness, and for not pursuing sensitive tools of power. While the example Khamenei gave pertained to missiles, his vagueness allows for inferences about pursuit of the ultimate tool of power: a nuclear weapon.

Although its too soon to tell if this constitutes a pale-green light to Irans scientific community and defense-industrial base to further their already reported hedging activities  which have led to changed assessments within the U.S. intelligence community pertaining to Iranian weapons-related activities  it is a dangerous indication of where Tehran may go with its back up against the wall.

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Importantly, Khameneis comments do not come in isolation. There have been numerous official statements in Iran brandishing the countrys threshold status and calling for a revision of its nuclear policy. Such statements have been an increasingly important element of Iranian deterrence in the face of Israeli military successes against the Axis of Resistance.

Indeed, on the same day as Khameneis address, an Iranian parliamentarian called for altering the Islamic Republics nuclear doctrine. That followed calls in hardline newspapers tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and even from members of the organization to change Iranian nuclear doctrine. Some politicians have even overtly declared that Tehran would have been able to safeguard the leadership of its Axis had it possessed a nuclear weapon already.

Faced with the handicapping of its long-range strike production and an inability to effect a new equation for deterrence against Israel through overt missile attacks, the attractiveness of nuclear saber rattling and perhaps even an atomic fait-accompli is growing for decision-makers in Tehran. This raises the imperative of closer political, intelligence and military cooperation and coordination between the U.S. and Israel as Iran thinks through its array of responses, which may not be limited to the conventional military space.

Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Growing up in a conservative Catholic family, voting Republican was never a question. For most of my life, I supported the GOP, believing its policies aligned with my views of limited government and personal responsibility. However, the Wisconsin Republican Party, which I once proudly helped lead, has become completely unrecognizable over the past few years.

I started my journey with the Wisconsin Republican Party volunteering tirelessly on campaigns. I quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Vice Chair and eventually Chair of the Brown County Republicans from 2013 to 2015. I ran for the Brown County Board of Supervisors as a fiscal conservative, deeply committed to improving my community in northeast Wisconsin.

But the ascension of Donald Trump in 2016 brought out the worst in the Republican Party, with his divisive rhetoric and disregard for democratic norms. Each day of Trumps presidency, he seemed to set a new low, ending with his refusal to accept the 2020 election results and encouraging his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

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Opinion: Former WTMJ radio host calls Trump threat to democracy. Conservative endorses VP.

Trumps election denialism and embrace of fringe conspiracy theories is incredibly troubling. He consistently cozies up to believers of QAnon and racist neo-Nazis. He has called for the punishment of his political opponents. And he promised to be a dictator on day one, even calling for the termination of the Constitution.

Not only is this behavior wrong  it is outright dangerous.

Republicans continue to gloss over Trump's bad behavior

And while this has always been in Trumps playbook, Republicans continue to gloss over his behavior, which is deeply unbecoming of a President and a threat to our democracy. Weve seen this in Trumps running mate JD Vance, who said he is willing to do what Mike Pence wasnt on Jan. 6, even if it means breaking the law. Some people who call themselves Republicans will do anything for Donald Trump  no matter the harm to the American people.

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In 2024, the contrast between Republicans and Democrats could not be more stark. President Joe Biden, recognizing the need to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership, willingly gave up power in a decision that showcased his patriotism and love for his country. Meanwhile, Trump desperately tries to cling to power for personal gain, knowing that winning the presidency is the only way he can stay out of prison.

Harris is the only candidate in this election with a vision for the future  one that upholds democracy, equality, and justice for all. Trump only cares about himself, obsessed with revenge and retribution against his political enemies.

Wisconsinites are tired of Trump's petty, partisan politics

So let me say this as a lifelong conservative: if you find yourself uncomfortable voting for Trump, lean into that feeling and dont vote for him. The stakes have never been higher.

Kristin Brey: Wisconsin will vote on a referendum question Nov. 5. Like others, it's confusing.

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Wisconsin must reject Trumps dangerous path and choose Harris, who will fight for all Americans  not just the ones who voted for her.

Ive spoken to so many Wisconsinites who are tired of the petty, partisan politics of Trump and who believe in a better future. Now, more than ever, we must unite behind candidates who believe in democracy and the rule of law. The choice is clear: Harris offers the leadership we need and will move our country forward. Lets ensure our voices are heard this November and that democracy is preserved for generations to come.

Mark Becker is the host of Rational Revolution on Civic Media.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Opinion: Trump wants to win presidency to stay out of prison
You might not know it from the ads on television and online, but abortion is currently legal in Arizona.

In fact, physicians are free to treat miscarriages and other late-pregnancy health crises however they and their patients deem best.

Yet, according to the Proposition 139 sales pitch, our state looks like something out of The Handmaids Tale, and the only way out of this dystopia is to change our constitution.

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The Arizona Legislature already enacted a clear, commonsense system to handle the controversial issue. It charts a moderate course, avoiding the extremes of partisans on either side.

Arizona abortion law is reasonable

Supporter listen during a It Goes Too Far news conference on July 3, 2024, at the Arizona State Capitol.

Current state law allows abortion up to the 15th week of pregnancy, and longer in the case of medical emergencies.

It also offers important safety precautions to protect girls and women from other health complications. A surgical abortion or abortion pill prescription must be provided by a qualified medical doctor.

The doctor performs an ultrasound to ensure the pregnancy is not further along than is safe for a chemical abortion, and to rule out a dangerous ectopic pregnancy.

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Lastly, a minor must get the consent of a parent or legal guardian before having an abortion. None of this is dystopian.

Its firmly in line with the majority view that, as Bill Clinton famously put it, abortion should be safe, legal and rare.

If Kamala Harris dared use this phrase today, shed be chased out of the Democratic Party for heresy.

It mirrors where most of us stand

If you believe abortion should be illegal in every circumstance or that abortion should have no limits whatsoever, you wont like Arizonas current law. But neither of those positions reflect the view of most voters.

Proposition 139 seeks to upend our states commonsense compromise with vague and overbroad legalese that guarantees court challenges well into the future.

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It would enshrine the following language in our state constitution: the state shall not enact, adopt or enforce any law, regulation, policy or practice that  denies, restricts, or interferes with that right before viability  [or] after viability that, in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional, is necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the [woman].

Opinion: Proposition 139 goes too far on abortion

It forbids anything that penalizes any individual or entity for aiding and assisting in a girl or woman getting an abortion.

This prevents any effective option to enact commonsense safety protections for women or to enforce long-standing safety standards on physicians.

Proposition 139 would upend common sense

If Proposition 139 passes, the state will be unable to require a licensed physician perform to the procedure or explain potential risks. Instead, only a health care professional is required.

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Under the states legal definition, that term could include everyone from massage therapists to acupuncturists, and chiropractors to veterinarians.

A different Arizona law mandates that a minor seeking a tattoo or piercing must have a parent present for the procedure.

Under Proposition 139, a minor seeking an abortion doesnt even need parental consent. The new fundamental right to abortion to any individual applies to a high school sophomore as much as to a fully grown adult.

Holding a higher standard for a teenager getting her ears pierced at the mall than for a medical procedure as invasive as abortion is the opposite of common sense.

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The most odious ads pushing Proposition 139 imply that somehow, current state law prevents full-spectrum health care to pregnant women, especially those who have suffered a miscarriage.

Even Attorney General Kris Mayes shut down this perception, stating in June that Nothing in the statutory language requires the treating physician to delay providing an abortion as necessary medical care until, for instance, the patient is in sepsis, hemorrhaging, or otherwise at deaths door.

Common sense is on the ballot. Proposition 139 will end it.

Jon Gabriel, a Mesa resident, is editor-in-chief of Ricochet.com and a contributor to The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @exjon.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Opinion: Arizona abortion law has fair safeguards. Don't end them
People who feel forgotten forget foreign policy. U.S. adversaries bank upon it. Across party lines, 52% of Americans oppose additional Ukraine aid. Another 55% opposed increases in defense spending last fiscal year, even to meet articulated threats.

This follows a generalized slump in favor of American engagement in the world, disdained by over a third of the country. Parsed along partisan and socioeconomic lines, the gulf of antipathy only grows.

When authorizing the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, 93 House Republicans (or 42% of the conference) voted to discontinue aid to Ukraine. Over a quarter of House Republicans have never once voted for aid to Ukraine, including half of Tennessees congressional delegation.

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Of these, 93% represent rural districts. Another 53% represent economically distressed or at risk districts, where opportunities for employment are sparse, employment rates are low, and poverty rates are high. Save for Rep. Tim Burchetts Knox County, Tennessee representatives who vote against aid to Ukraine come from districts that mirror this trend.

Their core constituency? Forgotten Americans. They make up 38% of the population, are poorer, reside mostly in rural America, and often care little for global affairs. After all, theirs are concerns of community decay and economic drought on par with that of the Great Depression.

Drastic economic shifts have decimated American communities

The Rust Belt alone lost approximately 1.6 million manufacturing jobs, a decline of 35% from 2000 to 2010. The Appalachian story is similar  and getting worse. Already flagging communities in East Tennessee, North Carolina, and North Georgia, now face billions in damage from Hurricane Helene, with employers ravaged and schools indefinitely shuttered.

China's President Xi Jinping leaves the podium following his speech during the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 18, 2023. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP) (Photo by PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)

The same locales saw median household incomes decline more than anywhere else in the nation. That Chinese President Xi Jinping helms the supply chains which sustain them is but a stale factoid.

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A valiant Ukrainian defense, supported by their tax dollars, is only momentarily inspiring. Genocide, crimes against humanity, unjust wars, abandoned allies  each becomes a trite reality of an international anarchy in which the U.S. should play no major part.

These districts have experienced dramatic economic shifts. In 1940, the leading industry in each district was manufacturing or mining. By 2000, this was only true for over a third of the same districts.

Through a mixture of automation and offshoring, the United States witnessed a decline of between 3.5 million and 5 million manufacturing jobs in the last two decades, alongside 70,000 shuttered manufacturing plants. Such losses were most acutely felt in districts which had been reliant on manufacturing  and in which no new industry filled its void.

Middle class wants its local issues addressed by their government

Their voting patterns are illuminating. Opposition for aid to Ukraine is already geographically and demographically clustered. Districts which vote against Ukraine aid are disproportionately rural and poor. Put differently, forgotten Americans are voting against Ukraine aid.

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This need not be the case. Most dollars appropriated to provision military aid to Ukraine flow to U.S. coffers.

Dollars purchase arms and materiel manufactured across 65 (mostly urban) congressional districts, including two in Tennessee. Yet only five stridently anti-Ukraine districts also host factories in this beneficent supply chain. The other 52 anti-Ukraine districts play little part  and see little benefit  in the arsenal of democracy.

Despite White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivans well-intended bravado, the United States still lacks a Foreign Policy for the Middle Class, much less one for its working class.

Zacarias Negron

In an age where hot production lines are the difference between victory and defeat, the American military industrial base and its allies would do well to actually Build Back Better by marrying cash-strapped, unemployment-rich regions with essential defense production sites. We can no longer afford to divorce guns and butter. Too much is at stake.

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Zacarias Negron, a Knoxville native, is a chancellor's scholar and research assistant at Vanderbilt University, where he also serves as President of the Alexander Hamilton Society. He is a former Hamilton fellow and RRI-AHS National Defense Fellow.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: Middle Class Americans aren't as interested in foreign policy
An underestimated factor in 2024 is that, while former President Donald Trump and his closest allies have learned from their failed 2020 coup attempt, everyone else learned, too.

On the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, I wrote out ways to protect American democracy in anticipation of another attempt in 2024. Im pleased to say most of them happened.

Voters around the country rejected the election denier conspiracy theorists who ran for election administration positions. Congress reformed the Electoral Count Act, addressing loopholes Trump and congressional Republicans tried to exploit on Jan. 6. Big defamation payments for Dominion voting systems, as well as Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, give right-wing media a financial disincentive against pushing blatant lies.

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The legal system didnt prevent Trump from getting this chance to put himself above the law, but the Justice Department did successfully prosecute hundreds of Jan. 6 attackers. Some of the most dangerous, such as militia members convicted of seditious conspiracy, are in prison. They cant attack this time, and they offer an example for others: Trump can pardon insurrectionists if he becomes president, but youre in trouble if he doesnt.

The Republican Party has purged officials who wont at least go along with Trumps big lie and primed its supporters to deny election results, hammering lies about fraud. And this time theyll have Elon Musks X pumping out conspiracy theories and trying to stoke political violence, as he recently did in the U.K.

In the event Trump loses, some degree of violence is likely as Trump and MAGA media whip their followers into a frenzy, but law enforcement will be more prepared. And he isnt president, so he probably cant summon a crowd to the National Mall in Washington and facilitate violence by ordering metal detectors removed.

President Donald Trump arrives at the "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

There are bigger concerns at the state level. Some MAGA election administration officials will reject votes they dont like or otherwise try to manipulate the process. We could see another fake electors scheme or state legislatures claiming they can overrule their voters.

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But 2020 fake electors failed and got indicted, with the first conviction coming this August. To succeed this time, theyd need their states governors and a majority in Congress, both of which are unlikely. Even this Trump-authoritarianism-sympathetic Supreme Court rejected claims of state legislative supremacy.

A more vulnerable point is vote counting, especially in swing states where it could take days. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin cant start processing mail-in ballots until Election Day, and Republican-led state legislatures rejected requests for reform. Trump could try to exploit any delays, declaring victory based on partial counts.

But 2020 was a better environment for that scam. Mail-in ballots had a heavy Democratic lean because Democrats took Covid more seriously than Republicans, and Trump was lying about mail-ins as a pretext to challenge the vote. This year, Republicans are encouraging early and mail-in voting. And whatever happens, an army of lawyers is ready to fight it out in court.

Theres a risk of violent demonstrations at vote-counting centers. But areas that experienced threatening crowds last time are more prepared. For example, Maricopa County  which includes Phoenix and over half of Arizonas population  will protect counting centers with drone surveillance and police snipers. Election workers, The Wall Street Journal reports, have gone through active-shooter drills and learned to barricade themselves or wield fire hoses to repel armed mobs.

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Other swing states should increase security at vote-counting centers, if they havent already. Especially in populous areas that will take longer to count, such as in and around Philadelphia.

The biggest risk is if the election comes down to a single state, which limits the changes Trump would need, increasing incentives to attempt disruption. But it would draw immense national attention from all sides, with lawyers, political operatives, protesters and media descending on the state.

Election administration is diffuse and multilayered, and a lot is on camera. More judges and election officials want to uphold the law than overthrow it. We may not know the winner on Election Night, but well almost certainly get an accurate count and a certified winner in time.

Trumps lying about election results and trying to overthrow democracy with the backing of the institutional Republican Party is the positive scenario. That would sound shockingly bad to an American in 2015, but in 2024 its much better than the alternative.

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If he wins, all bets are off. But if he loses, we can take some solace in that itll be harder for him and his team to try to steal the election this time around.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Since before former President Donald Trump announced Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate, conventional wisdom has held that this wasnt a great pick. Vance is historically unpopular, Democrats have charged, and even some Republicans have been unenthusiastic.

Yet theres a group of voters for whom Vance, not Trump, is the GOP tickets attraction  its sole attraction. These never-Trump maybe-Vance voters arent numerous, and they may not yet know how theyll vote. But in a close race, their decisions could make a difference.

I stumbled upon this group by chance: I happen to know a few people thinking this way in real life. When I sketched the voter profile on Substack, the response was swift and surprising, both for me and for voters who didnt realize there were others like them. This is a small sampling and not a scientific poll, mind you, but the cumulative nature of the collected testimonials reveals a certain type. Dang, you described me perfectly here, commented Thomas, an evangelical dad from Georgia.

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Like Thomas, typical never-Trump maybe-Vance voters are men. Theyre millennials, or perhaps younger Gen X or older Gen Z. Theyre married fathers (or want to be) who went to college and have white-collar jobs. And theyre churchgoing, but probably not in the charismatic stream of Protestantism where Trump is the subject of devotion and prophecy.

Crucially, these voters have all the moral objections and gut aversion to Trump that conservative Christians were expected to have in 2016. They likely dont call themselves never-Trumpers and arent preoccupied with criticizing the former president as self-identified never-Trumpers tend to be. But theyve never voted for Trump, didnt like him in office and dont want him re-elected.

Vance, however, is intriguing for them, and not only on policy. With some issues, mostly around trade and labor, Vances policies may actually be a drawback. Other positions, like his skepticism of U.S. military intervention abroad, might be pluses. But the big draw is Vances orientation around fatherhood and family, the way he links children and the American dream and his clear interest in pronatalist family policy and fertility rates.

Vances views on the value of family resonate strongly with me, said Eddie Becker, who attends a nondenominational church and expressed dismay over ongoing Trump support among fellow Christians and Republicans. Aside from snarky childless cat ladies-type remarks, Becker said of Vance, I believe he does care about families and values children.

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For Christina in Boise, Idaho, who told me she fits this voter profile except for her sex, Vances disparagement of childless cat ladies merely signaled his seriousness about family. I admire his love of his wife, children, Mamaw and his faith, she said. I see people balk at the mere idea of children, and this scares me. In comparison, for her, Vance is spot on.

How Vance talks about family is also part of why these voters identify with him, which is a significant element of his appeal. Rob Spangler, a Maryland Presbyterian and father of four, highlighted that sense of identification when explaining to me his interest in Vance. Thomas added that watching Vance is the first time Ive seen someone in politics and thought, That could be me.

Beyond the family vibes, some of this alignment is as simple as commonalities of age and stage: Vance is a young father and the first millennial on a major-party ticket after decades of boomer dominance. But that level of resonance couldve happened with any peer-aged candidate, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or Vivek Ramaswamy. These voters affinity for Vance goes deeper.

Like them, Vance is bookish and speaks seriously about his Christian faith. Hes the first viable contender for high office with whom theyd like to have a beer. In Vance, they see someone  in starkest contrast to Trump  who could be a friend under other circumstances. Several told me that when Vance is attacked as weird, they bristle a bit. If hes weird, theyre weird, too.

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Its hard to say how many never-Trump maybe-Vance voters there are. Maybe the most useful data comes from a Cygnal survey last month of 1,500 likely voters. In most demographics, including unmarried men and men who didnt go to college, Trumps favorability ratings were statistically identical to or higher than Vances.

Among married men and men who went to college, however, Vance had a more favorable rating by a 4- to 5-percentage-point margin. Cygnal also isolated answers from double haters, the small (and shrinking) subset of voters who reject both major-party candidates. For them, Trumps favorability sits at zero, but Vances is as high as 33%.

These arent large numbers. I dont think this group numbers in the millions, not even at the national scale. But that polling suggests there could be enough never-Trump maybe-Vance voters for their decisions to matter in the five states, as of this writing, with less than 1-point gaps in the presidential polls.

The question, then, is whether never loses to maybe  whether they stick to an eight-year aversion or decide that voting for Trump is a price worth paying to vote for Vance. The choice may well turn on how they expect a Trump-Vance administration to run. Would Vance wield real power, perhaps becoming president himself? Or would he be relegated to frippery and dirty work for a lame duck?

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The voters I spoke with were mostly undecided. Luis, a millennial in Virginia, expects to cast a write-in vote. Though he likes how Vance recognizes the way modern life makes various social ties harder to form, particularly regarding the birth rate, the candidates election denial and vitriol are obstacles to earning his vote this year.

Thomas is leaning third-party for president but favoring the GOP farther down the ballot. Christina wont commit until shes in the voting booth, but she said shell probably vote Trump-Vance and then go to confession and pray some more for our country. Becker is still mulling options, but hes disappointed Vance failed to counter the Trump cult in the GOP. All I can say for sure, he concluded, is that I wont be voting for Donald Trump.

Spangler, too, remains undecided. On the debate stage, Vance struck him as reasonable and diplomatic, a sharp contrast to his running mate. Im still incredibly conflicted about it, Spangler told me. My mail-in ballot stares at me almost every day.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon launched a new program on Friday that connects eligible Oregon Health Plan members with rent assistance and other housing benefits  aiming to help Oregonians with certain health conditions keep their housing.

The housing benefits include rent assistance for up to six months, utility set-up and payments for six months, home modifications and other upgrades for health and safety reasons such as ramp installation, and pest control.

Though other states have similar benefits, Oregon is the first state to roll out assistance as a statewide Medicaid benefit  and under Oregons program  OHP members can request housing benefits before receiving an eviction notice.

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PHOTOS: Nine sunken boats removed from Columbia River in St. Helens

Oregons health inequities are inextricably linked to our states housing crisis. Individuals and families who become homeless face a significantly higher risk of mortality and higher rates of behavioral and physical health conditions  even as they report poorer access to care. These Medicaid benefits can help stop that cycle and, in a model for the rest of the country, make it possible for Oregonians to maintain their current housing, connect with providers and access additional resources that support their well-being, OHA Director Dr. Sejal Hathi said.

Eligible OHP members include people with a complex physical or behavioral health condition, a developmental or intellectual disability, difficulty with self-care and people with experience of abuse or neglect. The program is also open to Oregonians who are pregnant or recently gave birth within the last year, along with people who are 65 years old and older, or people under six years old.

Portland City commissioners file to end joint homelessness efforts with Multnomah County

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Housing plays a pivotal role in our physical and mental wellbeing. And yet, so many of our neighbors are living paycheck to paycheck, where an unexpected issue can lead to a loss of income and loss of a home, said Emma Sandoe, Medicaid director at Oregon Health Authority. These benefits are one more tool to keep Oregonians housed during short-term disruptions and prevent negative health outcomes of homelessness.

According to OHA, 22% of Oregon renters have extremely low income, with $30,560 being the average income limit for a four-person household.

Officials said evictions and loss of housing can lead to negative health effects including increased risk for physical and mental health conditions, worsening existing health conditions, and creating obstacles to health care and food access.

Housing is a critical driver of health outcomes, significantly impacting social mobility and economic opportunity, said Oregon Housing and Community Services Executive Director, Andrea Bell. Stable housing serves as a catalyst for expanding access to preventive care, while reducing the monumental costs associated with emergency care. This is what transformative, integrated care looks like.

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OHA said the benefits will help the state meet its goal of eliminating health inequities by 2030.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PINE CITY, N.Y. (AP)  An orphaned squirrel that became a social media star called Peanut was euthanized after state authorities seized the beloved pet during a raid on his caretaker's home, authorities said Friday.

After anonymous complaints, officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation took the squirrel and a raccoon named Fred from Mark Longo's home near the Pennsylvania border in rural Pine City on Wednesday, Longo said.

On Friday, the DEC and Chemung County Department of Health confirmed both animals' fate.

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On Oct. 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized, the agencies said in a statement, CBS News in New York reported. The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has been in contact with these animals is strongly encouraged to consult their physician.

Neither agency responded to The Associated Press's requests for comment.

Peanut amassed tens of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms during the seven years since Longo, who runs an animal sanctuary, said he took him in after seeing his mother get hit by a car in New York City.

Peanut's Instagram account shows the squirrel leaping on to Longos shoulder, jumping through a hoop, holding and eating waffles and wearing miniature hats.

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It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news: on October 30th, the DEC made the devastating decision to euthanize our beloved Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon. Despite our passionate outcry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief, an Instagram post said Friday, accompanied by a video montage of the animals interacting with their smiling caretakers.

Longo and his wife, Daniela, opened PNuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in April 2023. It now houses about 300 animals including horses, goats and alpacas, Longo said. He said he was in the process of filing paperwork to get Peanut certified as an educational animal when he was seized.
The hug between the two women lasted a long time.

An 85-year-old woman put her arms around a younger woman she had not seen for months. She asked her a series of questions in a song-like way.

How are you? How is your husband? How are the kids? How are your cows? Are you on good terms with your neighbors?

Prudencienne Namukobwa stopped the song to permit the younger woman to answer. The pattern is familiar to her because she has been doing it for many years.

"Ego," Emelyne Nzeyimana answered over and over in the local Kirundi language. "Yes."

The two women were performing a greeting of their ancestors.

A group of neighbors watched with surprise. Many were seeing their first performance of the traditional form of musical greeting, known to Burundians as akazehe. It is performed only by women.

Akazehe is becoming less common. But cultural officials, teachers and others say the greeting is worth keeping.

During disease outbreaks, public health officials urged people to limit close contact. Such recommendations affected the greeting.

Among young people in Burundi, it is hard to find those who know what akazehe means. It is even harder to find someone who can perform it.

Sandrine Kitonze is a culture advisor in the office of the governor of Ngozi province. She said people stopped doing the greeting, even though akazehe "made you feel that the person who greets you loves you."

Some experts have noted akazehe could help lead to a feeling of unity in Burundi. The country is now largely peaceful following a period of deadly civil war and political unrest.

Annonciate Baragahorana is a teacher in the province of Bujumbura. She told the Associated Press that when she visited the central plateau area as a young girl, she was surprised and a little uneasy when women hugged and greeted her in this song-like way. "I wanted her to finish quickly, even if it was sweet words to hear."

Baragahorana said she feared akazehe may disappear because of the fear of spreading diseases. Now, she said, "people greet each other from a distance.

Namukobwa lives in Ngozi a hilly province in Burundi's north. On a recent morning, she was sitting on a mat outside when she saw Nzeyimana, the visiting daughter of a former neighbor. She rose and welcomed the woman as if she were her own daughter.

"I felt that the first love she had when I was just a girl is kept until now," said Nzeyimana, a broadcaster in Ngozi. "This means that I am still her daughter."

Isaac Nikobiba is an anthropologist in Bujumbura. He said a custom such as akazehe should be kept at all costs because of its role in protecting families. Among communities that practice it, women could tell elder women about any problems at home. That could bring support from the extended family, he said.

Nikobiba said the threat to akazehe is part of other effects of modernization.

He explained how the custom worked to help younger women. "Normally, before starting a home in traditional Burundi, the girl would first receive advice from her fathers sister. She would tell the girl, 'I will come to greet you after a certain time.

Nikobiba added that during that greeting, the young woman could report any problems. Support from elders would help them develop better mental health for the young family, he said.

Floride Ntakirutimana was among the small group of women who gathered to watch Namukobwa greeting Nzeyimana. She said she grew up in a farming community where no mother could perform akazehe. She only heard of it through radio programs.

After watching, she wanted to learn akazehe herself. "I feel better, Ntakirutimana said, and I saw that it was good.

Im Jill Robbins.

Rodney Muhumuza and Gaspard Maheburwa reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

hug  n. the act of putting your arms around someone or something as a way of showing love or friendship

greeting  n. something that is said or done to show people that you are happy to meet or see them

plateau  n. a large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it

anthropologist  n. a person who studies human races, origins, societies, and cultures

What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  In a series of coordinated efforts, the San Diego Sector Border Patrol and the Air and Marine Branch apprehended over 40 individuals involved in maritime human smuggling incidents last week, the agency announced in a press release.

First incident

The first event unfolded last Sunday morning around 9:30 a.m. when agents from the Air and Marine Branch observed a 23-foot fishing vessel dropping off four individuals at Dana Landing in Mission Bay. Upon approach, agents conducted immigration inspections and determined that the four were illegally present in the U.S. They were arrested along with the vessels captain and a crew member. Additionally, a suspected human smuggler waiting in a nearby sedan was apprehended. All individuals were taken to a local Border Patrol station for processing, with cases to be prosecuted under 8 USC 1324. The vessel and sedan were subsequently seized by Air and Marine Operations.

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Sharp HealthCare workers vote to approve strike

Second incident

Later that same morning, agents from the San Clemente Border Patrol Station responded to reports of another maritime smuggling event near Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. Witnesses observed a group of 16 individuals fleeing a beached pleasure craft. After deploying a helicopter for aerial support, agents located and arrested the 16 individuals, who were also found to be illegally present in the U.S. The vessel was seized by Air and Marine Operations.

Third incident

A third operation occurred around 3 a.m. on Monday, when agents spotted a suspicious panga boat three miles off the coast of Solana Beach. They witnessed the vessel dropping off a group of individuals near Beacons Beach in Leucadia. Agents searched the area and encountered 15 individuals illegally in the U.S. The captain of the panga managed to escape and return to Mexican waters, according to Border Patrol.

Report suspicious activity

Smugglers consistently put migrants at risk, with disregard for their safety, stated Brandon J. Tucker, director of Air and Marine Operations for the San Diego Air and Marine Branch. The ocean is one of the most dangerous routes for illegal entry into the U.S. Our agents employ advanced technology and teamwork to protect our coastal regions.

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Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel cautioned against the dangers of maritime smuggling, especially with winter approaching. These extremely dangerous smuggling routes may lead to injury or even fatal situations, she stated. Our message remains clear: do not place your life in the hands of smugglers who prioritize their profits over your safety.

The San Diego Border Patrol Sector oversees more than 931 coastal miles along Californias coast. Individuals with information about suspicious activity are encouraged to contact the San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Election Day is drawing near, but according to state figures, more than a third of eligible South Carolina voters have already cast their ballots.

According to scvotes.gov as of Friday morning, 1,216,968 voters cast their ballots early out of the 3,444,370 registered South Carolina voters.

Greenville County alone accounts for about 10% of the total number of ballots cast in the state every presidential election, according to County Registration and Elections Director, Conway Belangia.

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Belangia said there were already more than 120,000 early ballots cast as of 4 p.m. Friday and he usually sees around 270,000 ballots cast from Greenville County voters, out of the more than 300,000 eligible county voters.

That means were knocking down almost half the voters of this early-voting process, said Belangia.

This is the first time South Carolina has allowed no-excuse early voting during a Presidential Election cycle. The first time no-excuse, early-voting was allowed was during the 2022 Midterm Elections cycle.

High turnout also means long lines of voters hoping to cast their ballots without having to wait in election day lines.

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Macy Fitzgerald, a Greenville County resident, went back to her car just minutes after getting out to vote early at McAlister Square.

The line was too long, said Fitzgerald. She said she plans to comeback on Tuesday, hoping the lines are shorter.

Definitely dont be scared to vote. Its important to have a say in the government, Fitzgerald said.

Belangia said the standing-line wait times averaged between 40 to 60 minutes in McAlister Square, Greenville Countys most visited precinct. The wait times are even longer when it comes to curbside voting, which he said averaged about 2 hours.

Some voters said they didnt let the lines scare them.

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I was in line for an hour-and-a-half, said Karen Cooley, an Anderson County voter. Your vote counts. Everybodys vote counts. Its the biggest privilege we have.

Honestly, for me, its the only time I had off, but the line was worth it though, said Erica Stroud, a Greenville County voter who said she is unable to vote during Election Day. The wait was worth it.

Even first-time voter Angely Rodriguez-Brand, 18, of Greenville County, said she waited in the lines because getting her voice heard was important to her.

It felt great to be able to exercise that right for sure. Its been something thats been a longtime coming, said Rodriguez-Brand.

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Angelys father, Bryan Rodriguez, said he stood by with his daughter because it just feels like were a part of something and were a part of something bigger than us.

Precincts open on Saturday for the last day of early-voting beginning at 8:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

Belangia said as long as youre in line at a precincts by 5:59 p.m., you will be allowed to cast a 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
A new Polish restaurant may be opening in South Milwaukee this coming spring.

The owners of Wiolettas Polish Market, 3955 S. Howell Ave. in Milwaukee, are planning to open a restaurant along Milwaukee Avenue in South Milwaukee called Wiolettas Polish Kitchen.

Adam Bartoszek, his wife, Wioletta Bartoszek, along with their children Samantha and Oliver, opened the grocery store about three years ago. Adam took three weeks off from his job as operations director for National Plating to help get the business off the ground.

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After three weeks there was no way I could go back, I had to quit, Adam Bartoszek said. We just got swamped so badly (my wife) wouldnt have been able to do it alone.

Wioletta, who operated a commercial cleaning company before opening the market, was going to run the business herself, he said.

A restaurant had been discussed for a while

Customers have often asked the couple to expand their offerings and theyd been discussing a restaurant for a while. The Bartoszeks became aware of a location in South Milwaukee that has been empty for years.

We get a lot of customers asking for it here, and here were so limited on space and parking is a struggle, Bartoszek said. "Eventually we said we have to do it somewhere. South Milwaukee right now is kind of doing a reboot on their downtown.

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He said the building kind of came about and we started moving forward.

The owners of Wioletta's Polish Market, 3955 S. Howell Ave. in Milwaukee, are looking to open a Polish restaurant in South Milwaukee.

As for the exact address, the couple is keeping that to themselves for now because they are still going through the permitting process. Bartoszek said keeping it secret also keeps a little excitement to it.

He did confirm it is along Milwaukee Avenue in South Milwaukees downtown area. He also said the building had some kind of makeshift stage in the front and its close to a flower shop.

Maybe some South Milwaukee sleuths can figure it out.

The area has been without a Polish restaurant since Polonez closed in September 2022 and Bartoszek said hes looking forward to bringing authentic Polish food back to the public.

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Just from a demand point everyone wants it, he said.

The building will require 'not just a little remodel' to house the restaurant

Bartoszek also made it clear the building needs a lot of work.

Its not just a little remodel, its major, he said. The place is completely gutted now.

The couple plan to change the storefront to all glass but hope to restore the upper portion of the facade to maintain the old world feel of the building, Bartoszek said.

Bringing back the old storefronts is a good thing since malls are dying, so you have no selection of anything, he said.

To help fund the work, Bartoszek said he is working to take advantage of some of the business grant money South Milwaukee offers via the Bucyrus Foundation, such as applying for the facade improvement grant.

What food will be offered at Wiolettas Polish Kitchen?

The owners of Wioletta's Polish Market, 3955 S. Howell Ave. in Milwaukee, are looking to open a Polish restaurant in South Milwaukee.

The couple plan to offer a Polish plate, which is basically a sampler of classics like Polish sausage and perogies. The restaurant will also have various soups and Bartoszek said they are looking to offer something quirky for a fish fry.

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Were just playing around with the menu now, he said. Itll be some new and old things.

The inside will seat up to about 50 people for dine-in with no current outdoor seating options. There will also be counter service for fast takeout. Bartoszek said he is looking into possibly linking up with popular delivery apps like Grubhub or DoorDash.

The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner and will also offer catering.

Bartoszek said he already has a chef for the restaurant but will be hiring more staff closer to opening.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wioletta's Polish Market looks to open a restaurant in South Milwaukee
HERMITAGE, Pa. (WKBN)  One recreational gem in Western Pennsylvania celebrated its 109th anniversary festival on Saturday.

Buhl Park, located at 715 Hazen Road, was founded in 1915 with a year of work beforehand. The park hosted vendors, live music and a self-guided history walk to celebrate.

The goal has always been to provide an area where anyone in the community can enjoy the outdoors. The park still has its original layout but has gained new additions for community interests.

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People come to do so many wonderful things. If youre a kid, you learn to swim here or play gold here. Youll walk your dog for the first time. If youre a grandparent, you enjoy those same moments with your grandkids. So, its wonderful to see people come out and enjoy the park, said executive director Tom Roskos.

Roskos said the park is already looking ahead to plan next years 110th anniversary festival.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
King Charles IIIs visit to Australia and Samoa was modified in light of his cancer diagnosis but still saw him pack in multiple engagements across 10 days in the two countries. And as the trip came to an end, Buckingham Palace made it known that he is ready for more next year, with plans for a normal-looking schedule of overseas tours for 2025.

Were now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour program for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms, a palace official was quoted as saying in a report from the U.K.s press association.

Usually, members of the royal family would carry out two major overseas tours each year: one in the spring and one in the autumn. It is not yet known where Charles plans to travel in 2025; however, Canada seems a likely destination, after it was reported that a trip there this spring was postponed.

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There was no specific information about the kings health or his treatment in this latest update from the palace, which is in line with its ongoing position. Aside from the initial announcement in February that the king had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, any information about his illness or recovery has been given only in the context of how it is relevant to his working schedule. However, an update such as this onethat he will be returning to normal travelingis clearly a positive indicator as far as his health goes.

Indeed, reports suggest the king, who will be 76 in November, thrived on the tours schedule. He has genuinely loved this tour. He has genuinely thrived on the program. Its lifted his spirits, his mood, and his recovery. In that sense, the tourdespite its demandshas been the perfect tonic, the BBC quoted a palace official as saying.

Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by cheering crowds at points during the visit, but they also faced protests and controversy. Indigenous Australian senator Lidia Thorpe attracted much attention with her confrontation with the king at Canberras Parliament House, and there were other reminders elsewhere that many Australians want to move on from having the British monarch as head of state. The king did not react to Senator Thorpes condemnation and was said to have been unruffled by the indecent.

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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court reiterated its order Friday that prevents county election officials from counting absentee ballots with missing or incorrect dates, overturning a lower-court decision in Philadelphia that would have allowed the ballots to be counted.

The unsigned decision said courts shouldnt change election rules so close to the Nov. 5 election. Litigants could continue to fight the case later.

The stakes were potentially significant in the key swing state because 2.1 million requests for absentee ballots were approved and nearly 1.5 million had been returned through Wednesday. But the portion with date mistakes wont be known until ballots are processed on Election Day on Tuesday.

An election worker processes voter registration forms inside the Allegheny County Elections Warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 30, 2024.

The decision was one of several in Pennsylvania dealing with how absentee ballots are processed in the key battleground state. Republicans have said they are fighting to enforce election laws while Democrats have argued they were trying to suppress votes.

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Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley called the decision another big win for election integrity.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the law, and the dated ballot requirement will be in effect for this election, Whatley said. Democrats have repeatedly tried to eliminate this important ballot safeguard, and we have stopped them each time.

State law prohibits counting ballots with missing or mistaken dates. The state Supreme Court upheld the law in September and October.

The lawsuit was a fight over whether to count 69 such ballots in a special election in September in Philadelphia.

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Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler wrote for the 3-2 majority Wednesday the ballots should be counted despite meaningless dating provisions in state law.

But Republicans appealed her decision. The timing of the case was contentious because votes were already being cast. The decision threatened to confuse voters, according to judges who dissented from the decision.

Justice Kevin Dougherty agreed with the high courts decision and said it sends a loud message to all courts not to substantially alter laws and procedures during an ongoing election.

Justice Christine Donohue also agreed with the decision and said the lower courts decision was ill timed but that she understood why courts were trying to resolve disputes between elections that run about every six months. Chief Justice Debra Todd joined that decision.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pennsylvania Supreme Court blocks counting undated absentee ballots
(Bloomberg) -- Pennsylvanias highest court blocked the counting of mail-in ballots without a hand-written date on the envelope for next Tuesdays presidential election, a victory for Republicans that could benefit Donald Trump.

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An intermediate appeals court had said Wednesday that the state constitution requires the counting of those ballots. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said Friday that ruling is stayed and shall not be applied to the November 5, 2024 general election.

The Republican National Committee had asked the high court to review the case, arguing the lower courts ruling effectively changed voting rules too soon before Election Day and undermined election integrity.

This is another big win for election integrity and Pennsylvania voters, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement. We are committed to protecting critical ballot safeguards to ensure every ballot is cast and counted properly and will continue to fight across Pennsylvania to Protect the Vote.

Pennsylvania has been at the center of the race for the White House between Trump and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. The lawsuit mirrors legal battles from 2020, when Trumps allies repeatedly sued over rules for mail-in ballots that were seen to favor Democrats.

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Democrat Joe Biden received 76% of the mail vote four years ago, with Trump getting just 23%. Biden won the state by about 80,000 votes.

Of the 1.7 million Pennsylvanians who have already cast ballots through early voting, 56% are Democrats, and 33% are Republicans, according to state figures.

RNC Appeal

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said in a recent ruling that it would neither impose nor countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures when the election is ongoing. The RNC said the lower appeals court violated that standard by blocking the date requirement.

Democratic challengers argued that thousands of votes in Pennsylvania are at risk of not being counted based on a rule unrelated to whether a ballot arrives on time or a voter is eligible, citing invalidated ballots in past elections. The intermediate appeals court agreed.

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Enforcement of the dating provisions has resulted in the arbitrary and baseless rejection of thousands of timely ballots, resulting in disenfranchisement in violation of the free and equal elections clause, the lower court said in its earlier opinion that is now on hold.

The RNC argued in its Oct. 31 request to put the ruling on hold that the judges were wrong to find that the handwritten date requirement passed by state lawmakers restricts the fundamental right to vote.

The General Assemblys longstanding and commonsense date requirement no more implicates the fundamental right to vote than does requiring voters to show up to the polling station on a Tuesday, the RNC said in the request.

--With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron.

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(Updates with statement from RNC chairman.)

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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday accepted Republicans request to again declare that mail ballots returned with a missing or incorrect date cannot be counted this election.



The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed an emergency appeal to ensure that election officials do not leverage a lower courts ruling handed down Wednesday finding such disqualification violates the state constitution.



That 3-2 ruling concerned 69 misdated and undated ballots in a September special election, where the outcome was not in doubt either way.



But Republicans raised concerns the decision injects new uncertainty in the days leading to the presidential election, where potentially thousands of ballots are at stake in the battleground that both campaigns see as a must-win.



The courts unsigned order states the lower ruling shall not be applied to the November 5, 2024 General Election.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Kevin Dougherty condemned lower courts for intervening too close to an election in recent cases, saying they repeatedly have taken the bait despite past warnings.



To reiterate the point once more: we said what we meant, and we meant what we said. Moving forward, lower courts should think twice  maybe even three times  before granting relief that could arguably be construed as imposing substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election, Dougherty wrote.

Justice Christine Donohue, joined by Chief Justice Debra Todd, critiqued their colleague, saying there was no need to berate lower courts.



In my view, chastising both interested parties for bringing challenges to the application of the Election Code in a completed election and the courts of common pleas and intermediate appellate court for deciding such cases is unwarranted and blind to the recurring nature of election cycles in our Commonwealth, Donohue wrote in a concurring opinion.

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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is a majority Democratic panel.



Republicans have fought to prevent undated and misdated ballots from being counted in Pennsylvania, contending a correct date is required under state law.



The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has argued the requirement is meaningless because mail ballots are time stamped upon their receipt by election officials, a position backed by Pennsylvanias Republican secretary of state.



The Pennsylvania Supreme Courts ruling marks no change in the status quo. The court previously rejected on procedural grounds another bid to count such ballots.

But the DNC and the two voters who filed the latest lawsuit warned the issue could still return to the court in post-election litigation. They asked the court use the latest vehicle to conclusively decide ahead of Election Day whether the ballot disqualification is constitutional, but the justices declined to do so.

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered more warplanes and Navy ships to the Middle East to maintain U.S. presence in the region as an aircraft carrier strike group is preparing to leave, the Pentagon announced Friday.

Austin ordered additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, a fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several Air Force B-52 long-range strike bombers to the region, press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

These forces will begin to arrive in coming months as the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group prepares to depart, he added.

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Ryder did not say how many American forces will be in the region with the changes, but as many as 43,000 U.S. troops have been there recently.

The bulked-up U.S. military stance comes as Israel has shown no sign of relenting in its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and a separate conflict against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel also launched a retaliatory strike on Iran last week targeting military bases and weapons production. That followed Tehrans strike on Israel exactly one month ago when it fired a barrage of about 180 missiles at the country.

Washington, while pressing for a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon, has made little progress on that front ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Two White House officials, Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk, were in Israel on Thursday to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but they returned home on Friday with little to show.

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In the meantime, U.S. officials have repeatedly said it will defend Israel and U.S. personnel and interests in the region, with the Pentagon last month sending roughly 100 American troops to Israel to operate a provided Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.

The additional B-52 bombers are notable as it is the second time within a month that the U.S. has ordered the warplanes to the Middle East, where it uses the aircraft to send a warning to Iran and its proxies.

Secretary Austin continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people, Ryder said.

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and the three Navy destroyers in its strike group are set to leave the waters of the Middle East by mid-November, returning to their home port in San Diego, The Associated Press reported.

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Its departure will leave a gap where there will be no aircraft carrier in the Middle East for an unknown amount of time, though the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier is expected to move to the Mediterranean Sea.

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BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  It may be the last day of early voting in the Mountain State but that hasnt stopped hundreds of people from coming out to cast their ballot.

At least 600 people had already voted one hour into the polls being open on Tuesday and Harrison County Clerk John Spires told 12 News that there have been nearly 11,000 early voters this year, with the possibility of this years numbers being higher than the 2016 election.

I would just guess that the national presidential candidates have done a really great job of motivating their bases or whomever supports them, so people are really making sure they get out to vote early, and they dont want to leave anything to chance, Spires said.

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American Red Cross volunteers installing free smoke alarms across West Virginia

Spires went on to say that despite the long lines, the longest wait times were only around 30 minutes.

At the Meadowbrook Mall, voters told 12 News that they came out to vote early to get it done with one voter in particular describing it as one of the most important elections of my lifetime.

While the time to request an absentee ballot has passed and early voting is nearing its end, if you find yourself in an emergency and are unable to vote on Tuesday, you can call the election office at 304-624-8613 for an emergency ballot.

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Early voting in Harrison County will end at 5 p.m. Tuesday. You can find out where to vote early in your county here. To find out where to vote on Election Day, Nov. 5, visit the Secretary of State website and fill out the required information.

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The handful of Americans who have won $1 million checks from tech billionaire Elon Musks super PAC have a few things in common.

Per the giveaways stated rules, they are all registered voters, according to public records. They all live in presidential battleground states, according to the same records. And presumably they have all signed Musks petition in Favor of Free Speech and the Right to Bear Arms  a requirement to win the lottery-style contest, although their signatures on the petition arent public.

And an analysis of the winners shows at least one other similarity: Almost all of them are registered Republicans or appear to be Republican-leaning.

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Nine of the 14 winners so far are registered Republicans, according to state voter rolls. A 10th winner lives in a state that doesnt allow the public to view party affiliation, but she posts regularly on social media in support of former President Donald Trump. And four others reside in states where voters dont register to vote with a party affiliation, but one of them posts pro-Trump messages on social media and another describes himself in a video from Musks super PAC, America PAC, as a former Democrat. Another of those four said in an interview that he supports Trump and has already voted.

Musk has said that party affiliation doesnt affect who wins.

All you need to do is sign the @America petition in support of the Constitutional rights to free speech & bear arms to have a daily chance of winning $1,000,000! Musk said Oct. 20 in a post on X.

You can be from any or no political party and you dont even have to vote, he said.

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None of the 14 winners, though, appears to be a registered Democrat or visible supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris.

The winners list appears to give insight into who has been signing Musks petition, which has faced criticism for having the appearance of offering payment in exchange for Republican-leaning voter registration. Federal law bars paying people to register to vote.

Its possible that no registered Democrats have won the giveaway because few of them have entered compared to the number of Republicans entering. Musk has promoted the contest to his followers on X, which has a conservative slant, and through other channels where its likely to be seen by Republicans. Plus, Democrats who have seen Musks petition may not want to sign it, even if it comes with a chance at winning the prize, either because it endorses the right to bear arms or for some other reason.

Additionally, the super PAC has faced an accusation from Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner that its contest appears not to be random, as Musk has advertised it.

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Musk said on Oct. 19, when he announced the giveaway, that his America PAC would choose $1 million winners randomly each day through Nov. 5. He has also said that the contest pool is open to any registered voter regardless of party who lives in one of seven swing states and agrees to sign his petition. Krasner, whos suing Musk and America PAC over what he calls an illegal lottery, has alleged that the selection of winners appears not to be random. In his lawsuit, he noted that the first two winners, on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, were present with Musk at rallies when their names were announced.

Both just happened to live near the locations of Musks pro-Trump rallies and both were in attendance at those rallies, the lawsuit says.

Those winners appeared to be surprised when they came to the stage to be handed an oversized check. NBC News contacted all the winners, and all but one declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.

Ron Conwell of Michigan, the 14th winner, said in a phone interview Friday that he found out he won when American PAC came to his home Thursday and delivered an oversized check just as he was getting ready to hand out Halloween candy. He said he didnt know the process the super PAC used to pick his name and didnt ask.

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Told that no registered Democrats had won the contest, Conwell said that didnt surprise him. He said he believes Democrats are not ideologically predisposed to sign Musks petition in support of the First and Second Amendments.

If youre following your ideology and youre an informed voter and you say that youre a Democrat, youre most likely not a supporter of the Constitution, he said.

Conwell, a teacher of computer science, said hes already cast his ballot for Trump.

When it comes to party affiliation, I dont think theres a possibility that you can disaggregate American from Republican, he said. If you cant see that the Republican Party is doing all it can to make sure that this country thrives, I just think that youre uninformed.

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How Musks super PAC chooses the winners  the exact process  has been a mystery for weeks. NBC News asked the super PAC to share the process Oct. 22 and did not receive a response. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the super PAC declined to comment on the process. Asked if he wanted to offer a response to Krasners allegation that it appears not to be random, or a comment on the partisan makeup of the winners, the spokesperson again declined.

The word random does not appear on America PACs website for the contest or in any of the organizations posts on X, although Musk did describe it that way when he announced the giveaway. On Friday, the super PACs pinned post on X said that winners are selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAC.

Ronald of Clarkston, Michigan received $1M for signing our petition to support the Constitution.



Every day until Election Day, a person who signs will be selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAC.



SIGN: https://t.co/TMeyWUhbrH pic.twitter.com/akSJEd3IQz  America (@america) November 1, 2024

Krasners lawsuit added that if their scheme actually did not involve a chance or random selection of winners, then they would be admitting to acting deceptively and in violation of the Commonwealths consumer protection law. The suit also alleges that Musks super PAC is leaving some parts of the contest unspoken: They have not published a complete set of lottery rules, the suit says.

Krasners lawsuit is pending in state court in Philadelphia.

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Musk, the worlds richest person, has been one of Trumps most energetic supporters during the final stretch of this years presidential campaign. His super PAC has spent more than $140 million to support the Republican nominee, and Musk has made several in-person appearances across Pennsylvania to try to drive turnout for Trump. While it wont be clear how much of that super PAC spending is from Musks personal wealth until after the election, the most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission show hes given the group more than $118 million through mid-October.

Democrats, though, have urged people on their side to sign the petition and enter the contest.

Every Democrat I know supports the U.S. Constitution including the First and Second Amendments, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said during an appearance on comedian Bill Mahers talk show last week.

Go ahead and sign up, Polis said, urging them to take Elon Musks money.

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But Musk has also said that each winner is required to be a spokesperson for the petition in exchange for the $1 million prize. All 14 winners have either recorded videos for Musks super PAC, been photographed for the super PAC or both.

Of the 14 winners so far, four live in Pennsylvania, three in North Carolina, three in Michigan and one each in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Wisconsin. For the first several days of the contest, only Pennsylvania residents were eligible to win.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Voting secretly is a cornerstone of democracy. The secret ballot dates back to the late 1800s and when votes are counted, no one should be able to connect the way you voted back to you. Its one of the reasons behind the current controversy swirling around Utah County clerk Aaron Davidson, who has tracked how elected officials returned their ballots. Current Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner, herself a former county clerk, said people are worried that if he is isolating ballots, he may also be looking at ballots, a worry that Davidson calls ridiculous.

Its that right to a private ballot that is at the center of a controversial ad released this week by Vote Common Good. Narrated by Julia Roberts, the ad tells women that their vote is private and encourages them to vote for Kamala Harris. Some were outraged at the ad. There was outrage on the left that such an attitude still exists, and mixed outrage on the right, with some saying the ad was condescending and patronizing to women, some saying that the ad encourages women to lie to their spouse and some espousing the idea that of course women would vote the way their husbands told them to.

In the voting booth, women still have the right to choose. New and important ad from @VoteCommon featuring Julia Roberts reminds women that no one will know who they voted for. Pass it on. pic.twitter.com/XALnryVPNm  Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 28, 2024

First, lets be clear. When women are afraid of what their husbands will do because of who they vote for, they are not in a safe, supportive relationship. Help is available.

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Next: for the Republicans who scoffed that such an attitude exists, well, social media makes it obvious that the attitude of requiring womens obedience and subservience is alive and well. One social post by a pastor with 113,000 followers on X proclaimed, In a Christian marriage, a wife should vote according to her husbands direction. He is the head and they are one. Unity extends to politics. This is not controversial, he concludes.

In a follow-up tweet, he clarifies that women are only to be submissive to their husband when he is not sinning  and then equates voting for Democrats with sin.

Jesse Waters, a Fox News host, said on his show earlier this week that if he found out that his wife secretly voted for Harris, Thats the same thing as having an affair.

That violates the sanctity of our marriage, he said, adding that it would be D-day. The utter irony, of course, is that he is married to his second wife, after beginning an affair with her while he was still married to his first wife.

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Rightwing commentator and activist Charlie Kirk said the ad is the embodiment of the downfall of the American family for a wife to undermine her husband in the voting booth. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich called the ad an example of the depth of their corruption and demonstrates an astonishing level of decay.

Heres the thing. Its not just women who choose to keep their vote private. Polling from YouGov released this week found that while 1 in 8 women said they had voted differently from their partners in the past without telling them, 1 in 10 men also said they secretly voted differently than their partner.

There are also plenty of online reactions to the ad that are supportive of One voter, one vote. Former Utah House Representative Adam Gardiner said, I have been involved in politics my entire life. I have been a Christian my entire life. My wife has been a Christian her entire life. If I told her how to vote and demanded it as a Christian duty to her husband she would, very lovingly, kill me. (Just kidding about the killing, of course.)

The bottom line for me is this: voting is a sacred right. I do not take it for granted, nor do I give up my decision-making abilities to someone else. Nor should you. My husband and I usually know who the other is voting for, but not always. Sometimes we cancel each other out. Often, we agree.

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Ronald Reagan said, The right to vote is the crown jewel of American liberties, and we will not see its luster diminished.

That right extends to all eligible voters. Im not telling you who to vote for. What I am saying is that you can and you should vote for who you think is the better candidate. Its your right.
A Phoenix man was sentenced this week for his involvement in the shootings of two members of the West Los Angeles Jewish community last year, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Judge sentenced Eric Celaya on Monday to eight months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.

According to a news release, Celaya bought two guns in Tempe on Jan. 19, 2023, and illegally transferred them to Jamie Tran.

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It was reported that Celaya intended to purchase the firearms for Tran but falsified paperwork, claiming himself to be the "actual purchaser."

The release states that on Feb. 15 and 16, 2023, Tran used the firearms Celaya had obtained for him to shoot two Jewish men in California.

Although both victims survived, Tran's intent was to kill them, the release said. The offenses were charged as hate crimes, according to the release. Tran was sentenced in September to 35 years in prison for the shootings.

According to the release, there was no evidence to show that Celaya was aware of Tran's intentions or beliefs. Sources have alleged that Tran was not legally allowed to own firearms because of mental health conditions.

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Celaya pleaded guilty to "making a material false statement during the purchase of a firearm," according to the release, in May 2024.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona man gets prison for supplying guns in LA hate crime
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  The balance of power could be impacted by the District 13 congressional race in Pinellas County.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna partly blames her opponent, Democrat Whitney Fox, for a heated race.

I didnt feel the need to have to dox anyone, or frankly use negative tactics to get elected, Paulina Luna said. I have a one-year-old son at home. She failed to condemn her supporters posting our personal addresses.

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During a recording of WFLAs Sunday morning political show Battleground Florida, Fox addressed the claims.

Anna Paulina Luna will say anything that she can to not address the actual issues we need to be focusing on, Fox said.

Then, Fox outlined some of those issues.

My campaign is focused on affordable housing, home insurance crisis, what are we going to do after these two horrible hurricanes devastated our regions, Fox said.

Luna has a different viewpoint.

Our positions have been focused on federal issues. Shes campaigning on local. I think she should probably run for local office, if she has a passion about them, Luna said.

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Luna mentioned she recently filed a bipartisan bill to cap student loan interest at 3%.

St. Pete College Political Expert Tara Newsom said the race is close because some moderate Republicans are upset.

She has really made her entire career on divisiveness. She was a part of the Freedom Caucus that unseat the former speaker. She has really aligned with Donald Trump, Newsom said.

Newsom also said Foxs campaign messaging is helping her goal of flipping this Republican-leaning district.

Shes really leveraging the voter enthusiasm that Harris has brought to the state of Florida, focusing on things like reproductive rights, social equality, and most importantly unity, Newsom said.

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Fox is also challenging Rep. Lunas voting record when it comes to FEMA funding.

She has repeatedly voted against funding, for things like FEMA disaster relief. Things that our constituents desperately need, Fox said.

Before Congress recessed, Rep. Luna voted against the spending plan that funded several federal programs into December and it included billions for disaster relief.

That bill had massive funding for all the things that we promised we were not going to do, Luna said.

Days later, the congresswoman proposed her own plan to replenish funds.

Weve co-sponsored legislation to introduce an additional $15 billion in FEMA funding, Luna said.

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Fox questions the move.

Im curious to know if she plans to vote against it because that is historically what she continues to do when it comes to FEMA funding, Fox said.

Newsom said the House votes involving FEMA funding could help Fox and hurt Luna.

Although she has had some good feedback on some of her constituent work, very controversial votes right before the last two hurricanes that are making her very vulnerable, Newsom said.

Battleground Florida airs Sunday mornings at 9:30am on WFLA.

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The Polish government proposed to support Ukraine in the form of a "defense loan," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview with Polsat News published on Nov. 1.

Speaking about aid for Kyiv, Sikorski said that Ukraine could buy weapons from Polish factories on credit. The loan could be paid after the country's reconstruction, he added.

According to Sikorski, such a step could have been taken at the beginning of Russia's full-scale war.

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Responding to President Volodymyr Zelensky's criticism over the slow supply of MiG-29 fighter jets, the Polish minister said that his country has done more for Kyiv "than any other nation."

Poland has been one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine since the start of all-out war in February 2022, providing billions of dollars in military, economic, and humanitarian aid and hosting millions of Ukrainian refugees.

The country has also been a vocal supporter of Ukraine on the world stage, campaigning for Ukraine to receive all the required weaponry to win the war that Russia had begun.

Yet, bilateral relations are far from perfect, with the two countries sharing long-standing grievances on historical memory policy that are far from being resolved.

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Read also: Poland-Ukraine relations deteriorate as historical grievances resurface, threatening to stall Kyivs EU accession

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Round Rock Police Department assisted the U.S. Marshals Office at a McDonalds in Round Rock for a scene Friday night, which has not yet been disclosed to KXAN.

The agency said on social media the scene was near the McDonalds at East Palm Valley Boulevard and A.W. Grimes Boulevard. As of 4:30 a.m. Saturday, RRPD said the scene had been cleared.

A KXAN photojournalist on the scene said there appeared to be a body on the ground. We are working to get more information.

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The U.S. Marshals Office said it could not comment on the incident at the time of this report.

The Round Rock Police Department is assisting the U.S. Marshals Office at a McDonalds in Round Rock for a scene on Friday night. (Morganne Bailey/KXAN News)

This story came from a ReportIt story tip. Send your own story ideas to reportit@kxan.com or through KXANs contact page.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  On Friday, November 1 at around 6:15 p.m., Syracuse Police Officers say a car was stolen on Danforth Street, by Destiny USA.

Syracuse Police told NewsChannel 9 that the Onondaga County Sheriffs began to chase the SUV.

Sheriffs followed the car for a short time when the car crashed into another car by Park Street and Harborside Drive.

The two people in the stolen car suffered minor injuries. They were both taken into custody. The occupant of the other car was not hurt.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police said officers are investigating after a man was shot in Northeast D.C. on Saturday afternoon.

Details are limited; however, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told DC News Now that just after 3 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting in the 1800 block of Maryland Ave.

Man shot in Northwest DC

There, they found a man shot. He was conscious and breathing.

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Responders took the man to the hospital.

The investigation is ongoing.

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On a rainy night on a street in an Oklahoma City neighborhood, Brandon Lena died in a hail of bullets after again pointing a pistol at police officers, video recordings show.

"He's trying suicide by cop for sure, dude," one officer said.

An Oklahoma County grand jury this week took no action against three Oklahoma City police officers after reviewing bodycam video, dashcam video and recordings of their interviews about the Aug. 2 shooting.

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Grand jurors also took no action against Edmond police officers over two use-of-force incidents, one of them fatal.

In the Oklahoma City incident, officers responded to a report of a suicidal man in the street at 3:11 a.m. Aug. 2. Officers tried for close to an hour to deescalate the situation, authorities said. The shooting took place about 4:10 a.m. after Lena had been knocked down by a less-than-lethal projectile.

"Lena immediately sat up and pointed his firearm at the officers," Capt. Valerie Littlejohn said in a community incident briefing video posted on YouTube. "Three officers discharged their firearms at Lena, striking and killing him."

Lena was 47. The officers involved in the shooting were identified as James Doran, Joshua Geerdes and Jimmy Hatfield.

What happened in Edmond?

Billy Ray Factor, 25, was shot and killed after police spotted him crouching on a balcony outside his ex-girlfriend's apartment in Edmond about 10:50 p.m. Aug. 23. Officers had been investigating a report of an intruder at a neighboring apartment.

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The officers were identified as Garrett Hill and Ismael Fiorina, Authorities said Factor stood up on the second-floor balcony and fired a gun after being confronted by officers. "I saw a muzzle flash," one officer can be heard saying in bodycam video released in September.

Shot late Sept. 3 was Ross Norwood, of Edmond. He was treated at a hospital and has been in the Oklahoma County jail since Sept. 8.

Police reported Sgt. Nathan Fountain shot Norwood during a confrontation after he set fire to a carpet on his porch.

Norwood, now 66, was charged Sept. 16 with three felonies  first-degree arson and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. He is accused in the assault counts of slashing with a rigid object at a neighbor who had called 911 and of aggressively walking toward the police sergeant with the weapon.

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He was charged Sept. 26 with another felony, stalking. He is accused of harassing an Edmond woman by coming to her home over and over. His attorney has told a judge he is currently mentally incompetent and can't be prosecuted at this time.

The Oklahoma County district attorney's office on Wednesday announced the results of the grand jury investigation of the three shootings.

The grand jury has been making decisions on police shootings for the past year. It has not indicted any officers so far.

The new district attorney, Vicki Behenna, requested the grand jury "to investigate and potentially issue indictments on officer-involved shootings that occur within Oklahoma County." The previous district attorney, David Prater, made decisions on most police shootings himself.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County grand jury finds no wrongdoing in police shootings
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  One person has been taken into custody following a standoff in Wyoming, police say.

Just before noon, the Wyoming Police Department told News 8 that officers were on Flamingo Avenue SW near 33rd Street SW for a barricaded subject.

A News 8 crew at the scene saw one person being taken into custody. Its unclear if anyone else was inside the home.

Around 2:30 p.m., Wyoming police said that the standoff was over.

The case remains under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One man has been charged after investigators reported two dead bodies inside his home following a multi-hour standoff Friday night in Lenexa, Kansas.

According to the Lenexa Police Department, 53-year-old Todd Michael Donovan has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after allegedly killing two people related to him.

Investigators said that at about 8:20 p.m., officers were dispatched to a home near Hallet Street and Mullen Road after sounds of gunfire were reported.

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Two pedestrians hit in overnight crash in Kansas City

Police said as officers arrived at the scene, they heard multiple gunshots coming from near the home.

Lenexa police said officers spoke on the phone with the man suspected of firing the shots and learned that he was still inside the home. He then refused to come out peacefully, per the officers request, leading the Lenexa Tactical Team and crisis negotiators to respond.

Crews barricaded operations as negotiators spoke on the phone with the man for nearly two hours before he hung up.

According to officers, at about 1:50 a.m., the tactical team entered the home to take the man into custody. However, when officers found the suspect, he appeared to have overdosed. He was then brought to a hospital.

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After the man was taken into custody and to the hospital, officers found the bodies of a man and a woman who had been shot.

Police also learned that a neighbors dog had been shot and killed at the same time they responded to the initial call.

Three-car crash leaves one dead, one seriously injured in Clay County

The case is currently under investigation with Lenexa detectives and members of the Johnson County Crime Lab.

Police have not released any details regarding the condition of the male suspect.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has rejected complaints from Ukraine over failing to deliver promised fighter jets for the country's defence against the Russian invasion.

"We have our own defence needs," the liberal-conservative politician told the Polsat News channel on Saturday.

Ukraine must understand, Sikorski said, that Poland, as a "frontline state," must also deter Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had accused Poland of once again coming up with a reason not to send additional MiG-29 fighter jets to his country.

According to Sikorski, the Polish Cabinet has put forward a proposal for a defence loan for Ukraine, which would allow Kiev to purchase military equipment from Polish arms makers on loan and pay back the money during reconstruction.

According to media reports, such a proposal is unlikely to garner positive feedback from Kiev, however.

Zelensky also recently criticized Poland for declining to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine.

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Warsaw argues that such a move would require joint approval from NATO.

Poland, an EU and NATO member state, shares a common border with Ukraine and Moscow's ally Belarus, which also serves as the EU's external border.

The country has been among the most committed political and military supporters of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, taking in hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski says the government has "made a proposal for a defence loan" to Ukraine.

Source: Sikorski in an interview with Polish news channel Polsat News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The minister also responded to criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said that Warsaw had "found another reason" to withhold the transfer of MiG fighter jets to Ukraine. The minister claimed that "Poland is a frontline country in this war".

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Sikorski emphasised that "we've got our own defence needs" and "we have to keep this war as far away from our borders as possible".

At the same time, he suggested that Ukraine could buy weapons from Poland on credit.

"This could've been done from the very beginning: go ahead, buy from Polish factories on credit, and repay once you're back on your feet," Sikorski said.

Background:

Earlier, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine still hoped to obtain MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland, but Warsaw has not yet provided the aircraft.

On 24 October, Piotr ukasiewicz, the temporary charge d'affaires of Poland in Ukraine, said that the country would transfer the remaining MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine once it "filled the gaps" created by the transfer of these aircraft to Kyiv.

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This story is reported by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. Find more in-depth reporting at www.sdnewswatch.org.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (SDNW)  The runup to a major election can be a hectic time for election officials, whose tasks include training poll workers, testing tabulators, processing absentee ballots and providing voter information.

This year, in the final days before South Dakotans head to the polls Nov. 5, the stress level is higher than usual.

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Your Local Election Headquarters

Things are more contentious, said Pennington County Auditor Cindy Mohler, who supervises elections in the states second-largest county in Rapid City. I feel like at every turn we dont know whats going to be thrown at us, and so youre a little apprehensive to let your guard down.

Recent trends in South Dakota election law have broadened access for poll watchers and observers  who are allowed to monitor voting and counting activity  without increasing protections for poll workers and election officials, raising concerns about potential harassment, intimidation or interference.

Nationally, the U.S. Department of Justices Election Threats Task Force has arrested and prosecuted about 20 individuals for threatening election workers since its inception in 2021, a small fraction of cases reported by local officials.

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There are several reasons for election angst in South Dakota, starting with the political climate. The state has seen a rise in electoral activism sparked by unfounded claims of voting irregularities in the last presidential election, predominantly from populist Republicans lamenting Donald Trumps 2020 defeat.

Seeds of doubt from Trump and his followers spawned activist organizations such as South Dakota Canvassing Group, whose founders were inspired by My Pillow founder and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindells 2021 Cyber Symposium in Sioux Falls.

The grassroots appeal of these efforts had enough sway in South Dakota to motivate state legislators to pass election security measures such as mandatory post-election audits and the banning of unmonitored drop boxes.

Theres a lot to celebrate in South Dakota, said Rick Weible, a computer analyst and Canvassing Group adviser who is among the states most influential electoral activists. Transparency is the inoculation to all conspiracy theories, and having more public and bipartisan oversight of elections is always a good thing.

Poll shows confidence in local elections

Though national rhetoric about election integrity has impacted South Dakota politically, it has not eroded confidence in the accuracy of local elections, according to a poll of 500 registered voters co-sponsored by News Watch.

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The statewide survey, also sponsored by the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota, was conducted Oct. 12-16 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy.

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It showed that 71% of respondents were very confident that votes will be counted accurately in the 2024 election in South Dakota, while 23% said they were somewhat confident, for a total of 94%.

Weible, who testifies frequently in Pierre and has guest-hosted Lindells podcast, called the results encouraging but stressed the need for more testing and transparency of vote tabulation systems in the public realm.

We should be looking for continuous improvement, and we need county auditors and state election officials to be open to that, he said.

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When the same group of registered voters were polled about the 2024 presidential election, just 41% said they were very confident that the results would be accurate, while 25% said they were somewhat confident, for a total of 66%.

Broken down by party registration, just 21% of Republicans said they were very confident that the race between Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris will be counted accurately, compared to 75% of Democrats.

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Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a division of U.S. Department of Homeland Security that oversees election security, told News Watch that the poll results did not surprise her.

There is an unfortunate issue around confidence in national elections because of the fire hose of disinformation that Americans have been subjected to over the last four years, said Easterly, an Army veteran who also served in the National Security Agency. This disinformation has been amplified by foreign adversaries. When they see that Americans lack confidence in the integrity of our most important democratic institution, our elections, thats exactly what they want.

Human error causes voter roll issues

The reputability of South Dakota voter rolls has been undermined at times by instances of miscommunication and human error involving the South Dakota Secretary of States office and the Department of Public Safety in Pierre.

In January, DPS confirmed to News Watch that more than 10,000 registrations werent properly transferred to voter rolls due to a computer coding error dating back to 2022. Voters affected received a letter informing them that the problem was fixed and their ability to cast a ballot in an election was not impacted by this error.

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More recently, the Secretary of States office announced the removal of 273 noncitizens from voter rolls on Oct. 7, the result of human error by DPS employees where the citizenship status was incorrectly marked, according to Division of Elections Director Rachel Soulek.

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota accused the state of violating the National Voting Rights Act, which prohibits mass voter roll purges within 90 days of an election, known as the quiet period.

A similar controversy occurred in Virginia, where 1,600 noncitizens were removed from the voter rolls due to a systematic review ordered by the states Republican governor that fell within the 90-day period before the election.

A federal judge on Oct. 25 ordered that the voters be restored to the Virginia rolls, a decision that was reversed by the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 30, six days before the election.

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Tom Deadrick, South Dakotas deputy secretary of state, said the states purge of noncitizen voters was legal because it came as a result of the DPS being made aware of a noncitizen being inadvertently registered, which led to a review of voter registration records through driver licensing applications.

Our careful approach underscores our commitment to maintaining the integrity of the voter rolls while ensuring that eligible citizens are not inadvertently removed, Deadrick wrote in a letter to the ACLU. Each step taken in this process reflects our dedication to conducting individualized assessments rather than relying on systematic removals.

Contacted for this story by News Watch, Secretary of State Monae Johnson requested that questions be sent via email, which she received on Oct. 25 and said she would get back to you as soon as I can. As of publication on Oct. 31, no responses had been received.

Minnehaha County auditor stirs controversy

Some of the most brazen challenges to the status quo of South Dakota election systems have come from the states largest county, Minnehaha.

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Republican Leah Anderson, the county auditor elected in 2022, has spoken at South Dakota Canvassing events and embraced some of the groups core initiatives while raising doubts about the accuracy of past election results.

Anderson directed that Minnehaha County conduct a full post-election audit of more than 13,000 ballots from the June 25 primary by hand count, despite state law only requiring 5% percent of precincts be audited.

The process took about 11 hours, more than double what Anderson had estimated. Most races were within a single vote difference between the tabulation count and hand recount.

In the aftermath of that primary, Anderson appeared in a video with Canvassing Group president Jessica Pollema and third-place District 11 House finisher John Kunnari, in which Pollema said they had proof that 132 ballots had been cast fraudulently due to shared addresses from Sioux Falls post office boxes.

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The South Dakota Supreme Court in August denied a request to invalidate the votes, siding with the Secretary of States office and Minnehaha County States Attorney Daniel Haggar that the challenge fell outside of the state law governing election disputes.

Anderson also said in a press release and on Lindells podcast that roughly 24,500 ballots were potentially unaccounted for from the 2020 election in Minnehaha County. She later conceded that the number was closer to 283 and that she was comfortable with the number of ballots cast based on boxes of records she found.

At a June 10 public meeting, Minnehaha County Commissioner Joe Kippley, a Republican, cited the importance of the upcoming 2024 election and criticized Anderson for providing useful idiocy for election conspiracy grifters with her claims, which included open questions about CIA involvement.

You are the auditor who cried wolf, so you have no credibility, and I, as one commissioner, would ask you to resign, Kippley said at the meeting, to which Anderson responded that she had no intention of stepping down.

Debate over wearing political apparel to polls

For the Nov. 5 election, Anderson has amended Minnehaha County regulations to allow political campaign apparel to be worn to the polls, a position that runs counter to South Dakota Secretary of State election policy.

Supporters of the move point to a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the court struck down a Minnesota law that prohibited voters from wearing politically themed apparel such as T-shirts, buttons or hats to the polls. The case stemmed from 2010, when a man was temporarily prevented from voting because he was wearing a T-shirt with a Tea Party logo and a Please I.D. Me button.

The courts 7-2 ruling stated that Minnesotas law violated the First Amendment because it was overly broad, recommending that the state put forth a more discernible approach to what is forbidden and what is not.

Poll workers wait for the next South Dakota primary voter at the Instructional Planning Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Photo: Stu Whitney / South Dakota News Watch)

The Minnesota Secretary of States policy, based on the new law, is more detailed in disallowing campaign T-shirts, buttons or literature which relate to specific candidates, official political parties, or ballot questions on the ballot that day.

Asked by News Watch if Minnehaha Countys policy will allow political apparel connected to 2024 candidates or ballot measures, Anderson deferred to Haggar, the states attorney, who indicated that such items would be allowed under the revised rules.

As long as individuals are not actively campaigning or actively attempting to solicit votes for or against a candidate or ballot measure, our priority is to protect every registered voters right to vote, Haggar told News Watch via email. Any person who is actively campaigning or disrupting the polling place will be asked to cease or to leave.

Minnehaha Countys directive runs counter to state election officials interpretation of South Dakota Codified Law 12-18-3, which prohibits a person from displaying campaign posters, signs, or other campaign materials at a polling place or within 100 feet of the entrance to the site.

In an email to county auditors addressing Minnehaha Countys decision, Christine Lehrkamp, deputy elections director, said that this office has advised for many, many years that there may be no campaign material within 100 feet of any entrance to a polling location and also no voter may wear campaign material into the polling location. The Secretary of States office will continue to follow state law and continue to advise you all to follow state law unless we have a court opinion specific to South Dakota that our law is unconstitutional.

Asked by News Watch about the conflict, Kippley said that reasonable people could disagree on whether wearing political apparel to a polling site violates the law.

Regardless, we should be doing what we can to lower the temperature of civil discourse while also respecting the First Amendment, he said. I wouldnt want people to think that non-enforcement of apparel restrictions gives complete license to actively campaign in a polling place or worse yet lead to physical confrontations while trying to vote. This is a topic that needs tactful messaging that (Anderson) is unlikely to be capable of.

SD law expands access for poll watchers

Several of South Dakotas election-based legislative efforts have been in response to calls for more citizen oversight and observation of the vote counting process.

One of those measures was House Bill 1182, passed in 2024 to mandate that polling places be arranged in such a manner that permits each poll watcher and observer to be positioned in a location where (they) may plainly see and hear what is done within the polling place.

State guidelines allow for at least one poll watcher for each political party or independent candidate, and at least one for each slate of presidential electors and any ballot measure to be voted on.

In addition, the new law ensures access for citizen observers who do not fit any of the poll watcher categories, provided that they dont interfere with the duties of election officials.

Violations of the law, which could be transgressions by poll watchers/observers or election workers, are a Class 2 misdemeanor.

The Brennan Center of Justice, a progressive public policy institute focused on democracy and voting rights issues, included HB 1182 in its roundup of 2024 legislation that impose criminal or civil penalties on election workers for routine election administration or inadvertent errors.

Another bill, proposed by the South Dakota Secretary of States office, would have made it a Class 1 misdemeanor for someone to directly or indirectly intimidate or threaten a poll worker with the intent to improperly influence an election.

That bill passed the Senate but was rejected in the House, despite several county auditors stating that its difficult to find people to serve as poll workers in the current political environment.

We need to remember that election officials across the country are not faceless bureaucrats, said Easterling, the CISA director. Theyre our friends, theyre our neighbors, theyre our family members. We see them in our community. Theyre not doing this for pay or for glory. Theyre doing this because they believe in our democracy, and they deserve to be safe.

In Pennington County, Mohler has told election workers to call her immediately if someone disregards the rules or disrupts the process and to call 911 if the situation becomes threatening or dangerous.

Its all part of the current era in election administration, where routine stress levels have been ramped up and become more of an around-the-clock sensation.

It used to be that we had a little bit of downtime between the primary and general elections where you felt like you could breathe a little bit, Mohler said. I dont feel that way anymore.

The Associated Press contributed to this story that was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization. Read more in-depth stories at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email every few days to get stories as soon as theyre published. Contact Stu Whitney at stu.whitney@sdnewswatch.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 KELOLAND.com.
Oklahoma legislative candidates raised nearly $3 million leading up to the Nov. 5 election, with much of the money flowing to races in suburban Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Meanwhile, dark money organizations are spending big to sway Oklahoma voters on two legislatively referred state questions and three judicial retention candidates.

Monday was the deadline for candidates to file a pre-election campaign finance report covering contributions and expenditures from Aug. 13 to Oct. 21. The filings are the last information required of candidates ahead of Election Day unless they accept a contribution or in-kind donation at or exceeding $1,000.

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Election 2024: Voter guide for Tuesday's election

Here are five campaign finance takeaways ahead of Election Day:

Suburban races attract millions

Legislative races in suburban districts, where populations are rising and registered independent and Democratic voters rival Republicans, are attracting the most money this election cycle.

The Senate District 47 election in northwest Oklahoma City and Edmond, where Republican Kelly Hines and Democrat Erin Brewer are running to succeed term-limited Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, has attracted the most money of any legislative race. The candidates raised $235,000 during the reporting period, with Hines holding a slight advantage.

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Treat secured reelection by a double-digit margin in 2020, but Democrats and independents combined now outnumber Republicans in the district, voter registration data shows. Education has been a top issue in the race, with Hines and Brewer sparring over support for Ryan Walters, state schools superintendent and a Senate District 47 resident.

State Senate races in districts 45 and 47 in the Tulsa metropolitan area and district 21, which covers the Stillwater area, also attracted more than $100,000 in contributions.

More: PAC spent $633,180 attacking Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson, supporting his foe

Fundraising competitive in several districts

Republicans had the fundraising edge over Democrats in legislative races during the reporting period, but the supermajority party lags in some districts.

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Democrat Chauntee Gilmore, challenging incumbent Rep. Marilyn Stark in House District 100, raised $61,425 over the reporting period, nearly double the $35,140 that Stark received.

Registered Democrats have increased slightly in the district over the past two years, bucking the statewide trend of declining Democratic registration.

In House District 70, incumbent Rep. Suzanne Schreiber raised $139,686 over 10 weeks, the most of any state House candidate. More than $100,000 of the contributions came from individuals.

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

Independent expenditures top $5M over 2 months

Spending by politically involved nonprofits with lax donor disclosure requirements has ramped up since early September, with most of the money going toward a typically mundane nonpartisan retention vote.

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People for Opportunity, a political action committee with ties to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, spent more than $1.2 million on direct mailers, digital advertisements and texting services since late September opposing the retention of Oklahoma Supreme Court justices Yvonne Kauger, James Edmondson and Noma Gurich. All three were appointed by Democratic governors: Kauger by George Nigh, Edmondson and Gurich by Brad Henry.

46 Action, a dark money group with reported ties to Gov. Kevin Stitt, spent $447,507 on television advertisements opposing Kauger, Edmondson and Gurich. One of the commercials claims the justices are activists supported by liberal trial lawyers.

Two groups in favor of keeping the justices, Protect Our Freedoms LLC and Hands Off Our Courts, spent a combined $1.58 million on mailers, television commercials and digital advertisements, records show. One of the pro-retention mailers references the courts 6-2 decision to block the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School from opening.

Outside spending is also prevalent in several legislative races, though at a lower rate than the single-party June primary and August runoff elections.

Group reports spending on state question

Backers of the state question to authorize municipal public infrastructure districts are making a late push to secure a majority of yes votes.

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The Yes on 833 PAC reported spending $534,605 on television and digital ads beginning on Oct. 17. The PAC has also launched a campaign website, which makes the case that rejecting the question will cause the state to lose development to large urban areas like Dallas and Kansas City.

No entity has reported spending on State Question 834, which seeks to forbid noncitizens from voting in state and municipal elections.

Incumbents chip in to help party members

Several incumbent legislators, many of whom won their seats outright when no candidate filed to run against them, are chipping in to help party members in competitive races.

An Oklahoma Watch review of Ethics Commission records showed that candidates transferred $225,000 from their campaign accounts from Aug. 29 to Oct. 29. The candidate-to-candidate contributions are capped at $3,300 per election cycle.

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Speaker-designate Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, contributed $42,200 to Republican House candidates over the two months. Hilbert, elected in 2016, hasnt faced a general election opponent since 2020.

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, pitched in $26,100 to 10 Democratic House candidates. She faces Republican David Hooten on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Candidates, dark money groups spending millions ahead of election
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Its possible certain consumer fireworks might be legal on Oahu once again, if the Honolulu City Council overrides the Mayors veto of Bill 22.

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The Mayor, in a letter to the council last week, said his veto was because he stood in support of our firefighters and first responders and cannot in good conscience allow Bill 22 to become law.

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Bill 22 would lift the citys 14 year ban on consumer fireworks, specifically fountains, sparklers, and morning glories. Discussion on the bill was placed on next weeks agenda, indicating its possible the full council could vote to override the Mayors veto. A two-thirds majority vote is needed to override the bill. It passed third reading on an 8 to 1 vote, so support for the measure is there.

Maui surfers leg completely severed in shark attack



We had a ban on fireworks 14 years now and I think its time we find some balance so our kids can enjoy sparklers and fountains like we did when we were growing up. Having a total ban hasnt worked. if anything has fueled the black market, said Councilmember Augie Tulba in support of the Bill during the October 9 council hearing.

I do feel its important for HFD to have the position they have. We always want them protecting our communities, but at the same time, we know the ban currently isnt working, said Councilmember Andria Tupola during the October 9 council hearing. I mean, Waipahu has one of the most beautiful fireworks show we see every year from Waikele so I think we have to get to a point where were able to legalize portions of it that are safe, that are responsible.

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The Honolulu Fire Department and Emergency Management Services have been strong opponents to the bill from the start, testifying that Oahu will see an inevitable increase in building and wildland fires and medical emergencies.



We believe by prioritizing safety over consumer fireworks is crucial in protecting our community, testified Craig Uchimura, HFD Assistant Chief at the October 9 city council hearing.

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This is only the second bill the Mayor has vetoed during his term. If the city council does vote to override the veto, it would be the first for this council.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Election Day is just three days away and presidential election polls continue to suggest a tight race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

National polls provide a snapshot of national voters and some recent ones have suggested Trump may have pulled ahead. Meanwhile, an exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk poll out Friday showed Harris and Trump tied in Pennsylvania, the swing state with the most electoral votes. But the Electoral College system means that the race is likely to be decided by seven battleground states.

Both Harris and Trump will appear Saturday at events in North Carolina  one of those swing states. Trump has planned appearances in Charlotte and Greensboro, as well as Salem, Virginia. Before an event in Charlotte, Harris will appear at an afternoon rally in Atlanta  Georgia is a swing state, too.

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Here are the latest polls suggesting where the race stands.

Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and former President Donald Trump, right.

Election 2024 recap: Dems pile on Trump's 'violent rhetoric'

Latest Washington Post poll: Harris, Trump neck-and-neck in Pennsylvania

Harris leads Trump by one percentage point in a new The Washington Post poll of likely voters and registered voters in Pennsylvania, another swing state. Harris is at 48% among both likely and registered voters, while Trump is at 47%  statistically a dead heat with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points  in the poll, released Friday.

The poll of 1,204 registered voters, taken Oct. 26-30, gave respondents the choice of a third-party candidate, as well.

The new poll also found high voter enthusiasm among both parties in the state, which is crucial to each candidate's path to victory. Twenty percent of respondents said they had already voted, while another 73% said they were certain to vote, "adding up to 94 percent of the electorate, after rounding percentages," the Post said.

Harris leads Trump nationwide and in swing states, finds Forbes/HarrisX poll

Harris leads Trump 49% to 48% among likely voters nationwide and has the same slim margin in the seven battleground states, according to a HarrisX/Forbes poll released Thursday.

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The survey of 4,523 registered voters and 3,718 likely voters  910 in battleground states  was conducted Oct. 27-29 (margin of error:  1.5 percentage points).

Harris' lead in the battleground states has slimmed from a HarrisX/Forbes poll released a week earlier; at that point Harris had a 50%-to-46% advantage. Some voters remain undecided, the latest poll found, with 10% of likely voters and 16% of all registered voters still weighing their choices.

Election Day 2024 is days away. Sign up for USA TODAY's On Politics newsletter for breaking news and exclusive analysis.

Detroit Free Press poll: Harris up in Michigan

Harris is leading Trump in Michigan in a new Detroit Free Press poll released Friday. The poll of 600 likely voters surveyed Oct. 24-28 showed Harris leading 48% to 45%, with a margin of error of  4 points. The Detroit Free Press is part of the USA TODAY Network.

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An interesting finding in the poll: The number of respondents who were undecided amounted to less than 1%, something pollster Bernie Porn, of EPIC-MRA, the Lansing, Michigan research firm that conducted the poll, said he's not sure he has seen before. "It's an unusual election," he said.

Election Day: Join Your Vote, our messaging group, and text us your questions

Trump leads in Florida, latest Stetson poll finds

Trump is leading Harris in Florida in a new Stetson University Center for Public Opinion Research poll, released Friday. The poll of 452 likely voters, surveyed Oct. 25.-Nov. 1, found Trump leading 53% to 46% for Harris, with a margin of error of 5%.

That's a margin higher than the 51.2% of the state's vote Trump got in the 2020 presidential election and 49% of the vote in 2016 election.

MassINC poll: Harris up big in Massachusetts

In the blue state of Massachusetts, Harris appears to be getting the same support President Joe Biden and candidate Hillary Clinton received from voters in the 2020 and 2016 elections, suggests the MassINC Polling Group's final poll of Massachusetts voters, released Friday.

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Harris leads Trump 61% to 31% in the poll, based on an Oct. 29-Nov. 1 survey of 582 likely voters in Massachusetts (margin of error of 4.9 percentage points. In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden got 65.9% of the state's votes, compared to Trump's 32.1%. In the 2016 election, Clinton won 61% to Trump's 33.3%.

A note about polling

The margin of error measurement describes how accurately we can count on the survey results being representative of the entire population.

When a candidate's lead is "inside" the margin of error, it is considered a "statistical tie," according to Pew Research Center.

Pew has also found the majority of pollsters have changed their methods since the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, where Trump's performance was significantly underestimated.

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Contributing: Kinsey Crowley, Savannah Kuchar and Sam Woodward, USA TODAY; and Reuters.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Presidential election polls today: Latest surveys on Harris vs. Trump
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  OzarksFirst is continuing its coverage of previewing elections ahead of November 5.

Today, were taking a look at State House District 130.

Republican incumbent Bishop Davidson is looking to be elected to a third consecutive term.

Ive had the honor of representing those folks for four years now, and Im seeking reelection by the fine people of Republic and Western Springfield and looking forward and hoping to serve in a third term, Davidson said.

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Hes challenged by Democratic nominee Leslie Jones, a newcomer who owns a music therapy business and part-time teacher on the collegiate level, who says she is not a politician, but felt her party needed to be represented.

I know what regular Missourians go through. I empathize with it and I want to help us. Ive lived it. Im tired of it. I know that a lot of other people are tired of it. Im a person that is going to fight and work for every single person, no matter what your views are. Im here for compromise, cooperation and using compassion to get things done, Jones said.

Utilizing the data available from the Missouri Secretary of States Office, the 130 seat has been Republican since at least 1996.

Thats not swaying either candidates approach.

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I think its important that I never take anything for granted. I think its important that our campaign team doesnt take anything for granted. Weve really enjoyed getting back out there on the campaign trail, you know, being out at the festivals, knocking on doors, talking with folks, getting our assigned locations out, we have a town hall, Davidson said. I have a town hall on Sunday actually at the rec center in Republic. Its always a meaningful time, I think, talking with constituents, but especially around campaign season. Weve taken that seriously.

We need people running on all of the tickets in order to have a functioning democracy, Jones said. Though my district is historically red, it has been redrawn. It was redrawn in 2022, and no Democrat ran for the state rep that year. So we dont really know how many people would have voted for a Democrat in 2022. This year, by me running, Im putting it out there to where we can see how many people are going that way. We dont have any past election data since its been redrawn to really show us that. So by me running, Im going to help us see what it really looks like, and Im also giving people a voice who otherwise did not have one in the past.

We asked both candidates about issues impacting voters in their districts.

I think Ive been hired by my district to generally promote conservative values. I think economically, those values would help us a lot right now. I think looking at public safety, those values would help us right now. I think looking at education, those values would help us right now. And it seems to me that people are concerned about all of the above, Davidson said. Theres no shortage of concerns about where we are as a state or as a country, and so its about sending up lawmakers who can help improve a situation that has felt very bleak for a lot of us, obviously.

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For my particular district, I really think that funding our public schools is something that we need to be doing. Thats a big concern of mine being a parent and educators, Jones said. The housing crisis is also another area that I would really like to see Jefferson City focus more attention on and help with, especially with Republic, the way that it has grown over the past. I think we need to focus on our lack of gun laws, and I think we also need to be focusing on better funding resources for our police, our firefighters, EMTs, all of that stuff as well.

OzarksFirst asked Davidson about what hed work on in office, compared to years past.

Over the last three years, Ive played an instrumental role in getting $50 million invested into our wastewater systems in Republic, which is a majority of the district. The first bill I had carried revolved around the Second Amendment. Ive done education legislation. One of my very, very favorite bills actually was brought to me by a constituent years ago and we were able to make it into law. It was a simple fix, just a simple little loophole closure, but made a tremendous impact, especially for foster parents, because it changed the definition of a missing child from under 17 to under 18, Davidson said. The priority that Ill be working on this year is finding a way and creating a path to passing a responsible phase out of our income tax, which is going to put more dollars in more peoples pockets, more control over their wallets, more control over their lives.

Jones says she has two primary focuses if elected; Education and addressing gun violence.

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Those are two of the main reasons why I wanted to have somebody run against [Davidson], because as a mom, as a teacher, as somebody whos pushing to improve public safety, he is not doing those things. I wanted [voters] in our district to have better options, and somebody who would be the opposite side of that, Jones said.

Lastly, OzarksFirst asked candidates why voters should pick them.

I think people should vote for me because I hope that they think Ive served them well these last four years. Ive put a tremendous amount of effort into the what is technically a part time job. I feel like Ive probably put two full time jobs into it, whether thats offering an attentive and listening ear to my constituents or advocating for positions that are going to improve their lives economically, improve their lives educationally, improve their lives across the board, Davidson said.

People should vote for me because I genuinely care about other people and I am not running for office to be a politician. Ive had a job for 16 years. I own a business. Im a therapist. Ive worked with people, Ive worked with hospice care, Ive worked with developmental disabilities, Ive worked with the unhoused. My career is helping people, Jones said.

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The election is November 5.

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A metro Atlanta woman says she stopped an off-duty Lithonia police officer for help, and instead of helping her, he sexually assaulted her.

Now the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into what happened.

The woman says Lithonia Reserve Police Officer Brandon Simpson violated her in the worst way. She said it really bothers her because she has officers in her family and thinks highly of them.

I know cops just dont arrest people. They help people, she told Channel 2s Tom Jones.

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The woman said Simpson was in a black Tahoe with what she thought were government tags on Interstate-75 near Stockbridge. She later learned he was in his personal vehicle .

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

She was very upset after she had threatened her childs father with a weapon and he said he was calling the police. She left and thats when she says she was so upset she asked Simpson for help getting home.

Im crying. Im distraught., she says.

She says Simpson agreed to follow her home to Locust Grove. Once there she said he asked her for a hug to calm her down.

So were hugging and his hands go down. And like grab my butt. And picks me up, she says.

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She says he then forced her to perform oral sex and then pleasured himself on her. She reported it to Locust Grove police.

Her attorney, Dexter Wimbish, says they met with Locust Grove and the GBI and they said Officer Simpson said the sex was consensual.

And under the law it cant be consensual because he is an authority figure. He was there to help her, not hurt her, Wimbush said.

The woman insists it wasnt consensual.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Jones reached Officer Simpson by phone.

Did you sexually assault her? he asked.

Simpson said he couldnt comment and asked Jones to get all the facts before presenting the story.

The woman says Simpson doesnt deserve to walk the streets.

I believe someone like that needs to be in jail. Hes a predator. He preyed on me.

The GBI says its investigation continues.

Lithonia police have placed Simpson on administrative leave.

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PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A woman accused of killing her mother and burning her body on a barbecue grill was found guilty of murder on Friday.

The Prince Georges County States Attorneys Office (PGSAO) said in a post that Candace Craig was found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and disposing of a body in an unauthorized place.

States Attorney Aisha Braveboy said that the case rocked this entire region.

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Words cannot express how devastated I was when I heard about this case, how angry I was, how committed my office was to getting justice, Braveboy said in a press conference Friday evening after the ruling was announced.

Daughter testifies in murder trial of mother accused of dismembering, grilling grandmother

Craig was accused of killing her mother, 71-year-old Margaret Craig, in May of 2023 over a dispute about fraudulent credit card charges. Officials said that Candace Craig then cut up her mothers body with a chainsaw and grilled it.

It was insulting for this 71-year-old woman who was a hard-working woman, Braveboy said.

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Prosecutors said that Candace Craig tried blaming two of her daughters  one of whom was severely disabled, the other of whom was only 19 years old at the time.

On Wednesday, one of those daughters  now-21-year-old granddaughter, Salia Hardy  gave graphic testimony before a jury describing how she found her grandmother dead in a blue storage bin. She testified as part of a deal with prosecutors where she pleaded guilty to one charge of accessory to murder after the fact.

Candace Craig told Hardy that they had to hide the DNA by using acid, burning the body or chopping it up.

Its disgusting. Its horrible. We look forward to the sentencing. We look forward to asking for the appropriate punishment at sentencing, and we hope that justice will continue to be in the favor of Miss Margaret Craig and her surviving family members who were innocent in all of this, Braveboy said Friday.

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A pro-Trump columnist quit his position at The Washington Post after dramatically storming out of an interview live on air.

Hugh Hewitt, a veteran conservative pundit, slammed fellow columnists Jonathan Capehart and Ruth Marcus for running the most unfair election ad and said that he would not be returning.

The outburst came during a discussion on The Posts First Look show, live on Friday, on a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania. The suit, filed in Bucks County, claimed voters submitting mail-in ballots in person have been turned away.

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During the interview Marcus stated that Trump was attempting to go to every courtroom he can in America where its relevant to make whatever arguments he can, no matter how far-fetched.

She was interrupted by Hewitt, who has been a regular contributor of opinion pieces for the Post, who berated her for not reporting the whole story.

Conservative commentator High Hewitt (top right) stormed out of a Washington Post live interview on Friday after being challenged by Jonathan Capehart (left) (The Washington Post)

We are news people, even though we have opinions, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story, he said. So yes, [Trump] is upset about Bucks County, but he was right, and he won in court. Thats the story.

After an awkward pause, Capehart told Hewitt: I dont appreciate being lectured about reporting Hugh when many times you come here saying lots of things that arent based in fact.

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I wont come back Jonathan, Im done, Hewitt shot back furiously, tearing out his in-ear headset. This is the most unfair election ad Ive ever been a part of. He then stood up from his chair and left the room.

A spokesperson for The Post declined to comment on Hewitts departure, though Fox News reported his decision to leave his role at the outlet earlier on Friday.

The Post has faced turmoil for the past week, after the papers owner, Jeff Bezos, decided not to endorse a candidate in the presidential race. Multiple people have resigned from the paper, and some 250,000 readers reportedly canceled their subscriptions.

Hewitt, who has been a regular contributor of opinion pieces for the Post, berated a fellow pundit for not reporting the whole story (Getty)

Hewitts outburst comes following a growing amount of litigation surrounding the 2024 election emerging in Pennsylvania  the largest of the swing states, with 19 electoral votes going to the victor.

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Following the lawsuit from Trumps campaign and GOP senate candidate David McCormicks campaign, a state judge agreed that voters can have more time to apply for and return mail-in ballots in Bucks County.

Long lines of voters previously drew complaints that the state was suppressing votes. The state does not have in-person early voting options, so voters were queuing for mail-in ballots to be collected and returned in person.

Voters in Bucks County were given an extended deadline to apply for those ballots until the end of the day on Friday.

Due to its value as a prominent swing state, Pennsylvania has drawn a flurry of Republican litigation alleging wrongdoing  just as Trumps campaign and his allies did in 2020.

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Election law experts claim that with the new lawsuits, Trump and his allies are trying to lay the groundwork to challenge the results, if the former president loses.

Additional reporting by Alex Woodward
AURORA  A jury has found an Aurora man guilty of sexual assault after prosecutors say he provided drugs to a victim before assaulting them in 2022.

On Thursday of last week, a jury found 42-year-old Ricardo Lemos, an Aurora resident, guilty of criminal sexual assault, according to Kane Countys States Attorney Jamie Mosser.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

In court, prosecutors argued that on July 2, 2022, Lemos provided cocaine to the victim, who was someone he knew at the time, before sexually assaulting them. Because of the drugs, the victim was not able to consent to sexual activity.

Ajury found 42-year-old Ricardo Lemos, an Aurora resident, guilty of criminal sexual assault, according to Kane County's State's Attorney Jamie Mosser.

The defendant exploited his relationship with this victim to sexually assault her. He did not count on her strength in coming forward and reporting this offense. My thanks to the victim and to ASA Bridget Carlson, victim advocate Sheila Gray and Detective Benjamin Grabowski of the Aurora Police Department, Assistant States Attorney Matthew Rodgers said.

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LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Lemos, who remains in custody at the Kane Couty jail, will return to court on Dec. 20, for post-trial motions. He could face between 4 and 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and is not eligible for probation.

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Protesters in Falmouth surreptitiously mounted a brass plaque beneath a memorial in a church rebuking a 17th-century parishioner for his role in the slave trade.

Anonymous activists installed the plaque in King Charles the Martyr Church under a memorial to local-born Thomas Corker, who worked for the Royal African Company in the late 1600s.

The group hoped their unsanctioned handiwork would provide visitors with context and act as a protest.

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The plaque reads: Thomas Corker was Englands chief agent for the Royal African Company on York Island.

He oversaw and profited from the kidnap, enslavement and sale of slaves. The Royal African Company shipped more enslaved men, women and children to the Americas than any other trading company in the world.

Rev Canon Bill Stuart-White stands with the Thomas Corker memorial at King Charles the Martyr Church - Diocese Of Truro/SWNS

Born in the late 16th century, Corker moved to the Guinea coast aged 14 and joined the English trading company, later becoming a chief agent on York Island, Sherbro, now Sierra Leone.

The slave trader married an African chieftains daughter, with whom he had two sons, but died on a business trip to Falmouth in 1700 aged 30.

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The memorial was erected in the Grade II listed church by his elder brother Robert, who also donated to the church in 1708.

Following a consultation in 2023 on the memorials future, the Parochial Church Council (PCC) said the tribute would remain, to the dismay of some activists.

The plaque erected by protesters - CornwallLive/BPM

In an email to Cornwall Live signed sincerely, the people of Falmouth, the anonymous activists claiming responsibility for the plaque said: This is to give context to the memorial, which fails to acknowledge any of this history, and instead glorifies his life.

It added: Although done as an act of protest, its intention is as a donation to the church, to give them the opportunity to acknowledge harms and inform the public, in the assumption that this is what they would wish to do.

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One of the campaigners said: It appears that the church feels no duty to understand the role that they are playing in upholding white supremacy, and would rather bury their heads in the sand and dodge any accountability of the pain that the memorial causes.

The group identified the Churchs 9 billion endowment fund as having been significantly financed by the transatlantic slave trade.

Detracts from good and inclusive work we do

Pip Horton, lay vice chair and PCC secretary at King Charles Church, and member of the sub-committee involved with the Thomas Corker work, said an individual had erected the plaque without permission.

She said: Quite frankly, we dont feel this is helpful at all and detracts from the very good and inclusive work we are doing in partnership with others, including Black Voices Cornwall.

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We understand that some people may have concerns about what they see as a delay, but this is not helpful to our efforts and has caused unnecessary distress.

The diocese said it was investigating what action could be taken, as owing to its Grade II listed status, the church is protected by law.

The diocese is investigating what action can be taken after the plaque was installed as the church is legally protected by its Grade II listed status - Alamy

The Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, acting Bishop of Truro, revealed the church had considered installing a trigger warning.

He said: The presence of a memorial to a man who benefited from trading human beings in a building that points to the God of justice and freedom is deeply troubling.

Part of the discussion around what is displayed in relation to this memorial includes a trigger warning because of the sensitive nature of the topic and we have a duty of care to all visitors.

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A spokesperson for the Diocese of Truro said it was working closely with the community to find an honest description of Corkers involvement in slavery.

In a statement, they said: We also hope to tell the story of Joseph Emidy, a black musician and composer, who was a freed slave who settled in Cornwall and already has a smaller memorial in the church, and to describe and challenge the evils of modern slavery.

This has not been a quick process, but there has been a lot of energy and resources given to it, and we want to thank all those who are working with us through the proper channels to achieve a positive and enriching outcome.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Purple Alert was issued Friday night for a missing Tampa man.

Stephen Johnson, 53, was last seen Friday morning in the 300 block of Channelside Walk Way on Harbour Island, police said.

Johnson is 511 and 200 pounds and was last seen in a blue shirt with yellow stripes and brown shorts, according to police. He was driving a silver 2016 Lexus 4-door sedan with Florida license plate NMNI82.

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Johnsons family is concerned for his well-being.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has not achieved a single one of his strategic objectives after nearly 1,000 days of full-scale war against Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in his op-ed published by Foreign Affairs on Nov. 1.

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didnt flee. Kyiv didnt fall. And Ukraine didnt fold," the Pentagon chief said.

Putin's original goals in his full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in early 2022 were to liberate the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, "demilitarize and denazify" the country which in the Kremlin's eyes, envisioned the removal of its Jewish president, and the occupation of its capital city Kyiv.

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After swiftly failing to achieve these goals, with the exception of Russian forces occupying all of Luhansk Oblast, Putin was forced to lower his ambitions and said Russia's "main goal" was to capture all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas area that also includes the adjacent Donetsk Oblast.

According to Austin, Russia has paid "a staggering price for Putins imperial folly," with more than $200 billion squandered. Russia has lost almost 700,000 troops killed and injured since Feb. 2022, Ukraine's General Staff reported.

Austin's article was published days ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump questioned future U.S. military assistance for Ukraine while insisting he can broker a swift peace agreement.

In the meantime, Ukraine is facing one of Russia's "most powerful offensives" since the beginning of the all-out war, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 2.

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Moscow's forces continue to press forward on its offensives across the eastern front, primarily on the Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Pokrovsk axes in Donetsk Oblast, where outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian soldiers are forced to withdraw little by little.

Austin called Putin's invasion a warning, describing it as a sneak preview of "a world built by tyrants and thugs."

"So we face a hinge in history," the U.S. Defense Secretary said. "If Ukraine falls under Putins boot, all of Europe will fall under Putins shadow."

Read also: Ukrainians in the US weigh in on upcoming Trump vs Harris election

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Native Vote 2024. Election Day is now only days away, and the presidential race is tight. New York Times polls show that the Vice President Harris and former President Trump are essentially tied in states like Nevada, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, In states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona, there is even movement towards Trump.

Right now, the Native vote matters more than ever.

Founder and Director of Protect the Sacred, Allie Young (Dine) has been working diligently this election to activate voters, inspire youth, and engage her Native community. Young estimates around new 100 voters registered to vote at their events, and over 600 others have engaged with their online presence to check registration status, and tune-up their voting plan.

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In 2020, Young started Ride to the Polls as a way to get those living in Navajo Nation territory to the polls, combating the barrier of limited polling stations in the area.

What do you want Native voters to consider as we head into election day?

I want Native people to remember our history and the fight of our ancestors. I want us to remember that and think about how we contribute to the legacy of survival and resilience that comes from our ancestors. I want us to ground ourselves.

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That's why we do the Election Day trail ride. It's more than horseback riding. It's more than Natives on horseback. It's more than a trail ride. It's meant to ground our people and those who are riding with us before we get to that polling location. It's about tapping into what we call horse medicine that reconnects us to Mother Earth and restores the spiritual balance for us.

I've had conversations with some of our riders along the trail, and you know they talk about how the ride impacted the way that they showed up at the polling location, because riding in our ancestral homelands, in our sacred homelands, was a great reminder for them about what they're fighting for.

I want our Native people to connect to whatever that is for them, and to be reminded of this legacy that we come from, and to continue to fight for that.

How do you think the energy compares to that of 2020?

I would say the engagement and the excitement this year was at a historic high. In 2020, when the polling results came out, the Native vote was really what made the difference in the state of Arizona and other battleground states. This momentum has been building, and I think it made people really realize our power and our influence.

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Our people are reclaiming our space and our place in the voting context, in democracy, and really calling on the rest of the world to give us our flowers. Democracy is Indigenous. Arizona has Indigenous DNA. This country has Indigenous DNA, and our people are proud of that and what we've been able to accomplish since 2020.

Even our young people are really excited about being engaged. Some of the high school students that we've been working with, several of them have come out and volunteered. They're in high school. They're like, 14 years old, 15 years old, and they came out and volunteered at our bull riding event at the walk to the polls. Our young people are wanting to get involved at a much younger age.

How are you feeling going into Election Day?

I feel confident that the Native voter turnout is going to shatter records. I think we're going to see just an incredible Native voter turnout, and especially because this year, there are more Native politicians, Native leaders, running for office than ever before. Its really exciting for us to see our own people, and we want to see them elected.

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I think that's a reason that folks will be coming out, getting out the vote. There's a lot at stake in this election. I've been saying that our tribal sovereignty is at stake, and I know that our people will fight to protect our tribal sovereignty and to ensure that it is respected. It's a scary election, but I'm confident that the world will see our power as a Native community.

What issues do you think Native people are taking to the polls with them?

I think tribal sovereignty is at the top of the list. Climate change too, especially for our young people, abortion access, and I think for Indigenous women that matters a lot. Reproductive justice has been a fight for us as Indigenous women, from the slow pace and chronic underfunding of Indian Health Service (IHS), to reproductive access for Native women in this country.

I think it comes down to considering who will bring Native people to the table, hear us out, and invite us to be a part of these critical conversations and decisions that impact Native communities.

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We think about Secretary Haaland at the Department of the Interior, it's been historic to have her in that position. We just saw the President apologize to the Native American community for the Indian boarding schools, and that wouldn't have ever happened without a Native woman pushing for and advocating for that.

About the Author: "Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian) is a staff reporter for Native News Online. Bardwell is also a student at Michigan State University where she is majoring in policy and minoring in Native American studies. "

Contact: neely@nativenewsonline.net
"Blended wing" aircraft could be the future of commercial aviation.

Airbus and the startups JetZero and Natilus are leading development of these efficient flying wings.

The jets would burn dramatically less fuel and feature distinctly shaped passenger cabins.

Aircraft manufacturers are racing to build the jet of the future as airlines demand more efficient planes.

Among the most likely concepts is a blended-wing-body aircraft, which combines the fuselage and wing into one. This deviates from the traditional tube-and-wing design that has been the norm for commercial aviation.

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The US Air Force, which has used the technology in some of its aircraft for decades, says the all-in-one wing can reduce drag by up to 30%. Last year it announced plans to work with the startup JetZero to more broadly roll out the design for military and commercial use.

A handful of companies have announced plans to build these distinctive vessels by the 2030s, including the startups JetZero and Natilus and the long-standing planemaker Airbus. Boeing has dabbled in blended-wing research but doesn't currently have plans to build a full-scale prototype.

Natilus and JetZero are starting from scratch and targeting different markets, but they have the same overarching goal: puncture the Airbus-Boeing duopoly.

Natilus is developing a 200-passenger narrow-body jet called Horizon, while JetZero plans to build a giant 250-capacity wide body called Pathfinder that would directly seek to replace aging Boeing 767s.

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Airbus could defend its market share with its 200-passenger "ZEROe" blended-wing concept. The company has decades of experience designing commercial airplanes  leading the industry with its best-selling Airbus A320 family of similar capacity.

All three companies have found what they think is the secret sauce in the giant flying wing. It is poised to greatly reduce fuel burn, open up a wider cabin, and offer airlines better overall economics while still meeting route and infrastructure needs.

Blended-wing planes are essentially one giant wing.

A scale model of the Airbus blended-wing concept aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2022. Richard Baker/In Pictures via Getty Images

Natilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev told Business Insider that banking on the airframe to reduce emissions was a better strategy than relying on sustainable aviation fuel. Analysts have previously told BI that such fuel is expensive and won't be available in the quantities needed to meet the industry's 2050 net-zero goal.

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A lighter airframe is key to blended-wing efficiency.

A rendering of JetZero's USAF blended-wing prototype. US Air Force

Matyushev said a lighter airframe and engines, combined with the more fuel-friendly wing that maintains standard capacity, would allow Natilus' Horizon jet to be up to 50% more efficient per passenger.

JetZero also expects its Pathfinder to burn 50% less fuel and has already partnered with the US Air Force to develop a blended-wing prototype. Airbus' announced ZEROe concept would run on hydrogen with zero emissions.

The University of Illinois aerospace professor Michael Bragg previously told BI that the development of lighter yet still strong composite materials was key to reducing fuel burn on blended-wing aircraft designs.

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The engines sit in the rear of the airplane.

Airbus' 6-foot-long blended-wing demonstrator was unveiled in 2020 as a test-bed for these delta-wing ideas. Airbus

The JetZero, Natilus, and Airbus blended-wing concepts have two engines attached to the back instead of under the wings, like most modern jetliners. Airbus said the engine location would reduce noise for passengers.

JetZero initially plans to use similar engines to those currently in use on planes like the Boeing 737. Matyushev said Natilus was in talks with manufacturers to develop its own blended-wing-capable engine, integrating proven technologies used in today's Boeing and Airbus planes.

He said building a new engine from scratch would be too risky. Airbus', and eventually JetZero's, blended-wing concept would build engines for hydrogen-powered commercial flight.

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The cabin would be as distinctive as the airframe.

A rendering of an Airbus blended-wing cabin. Airbus

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A blended-wing plane would have a much wider cabin than a traditional tube-and-wing design, meaning the rows could be more than a dozen people long.

JetZero said the cabin would allow for more efficient boarding and deplaning, and more carry-on baggage space would eliminate the need for pesky gate checks.

Natilus said its wider cabin, which is uniquely planned with two levels, could be a nuisance for people stuck in the middle of the jet far away from windows. Still, its design provides more legroom and opens up space for things like a kids play area or a lounge.

The planes should work with existing airport infrastructure.

It's easier to launch a new plane type if it can fit into existing airport infrastructure. Pictured is a rendering of Pathfinder. JetZero

Aircraft manufacturers don't want airlines or airports to have to spend a lot of money to accommodate a new jet type. The blended-wing plans are designed to fit into existing airport infrastructure.

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JetZero, for example, said Pathfinder could fit into existing Airbus A330 gates, while Natilus said Horizon could fit into narrow-body ones.

Small blended-wing demonstrators exist  but no full-scale prototypes are flying just yet.

A subscale prototype of Natilus' Kona aircraft. Natilus

As of now, all of the full-scale commercial blended-wing concepts remain renderings, but demonstrators have been built to test and validate the technical specifications and performance of blended-wing designs.

Natilus' prototype is not for Horizon but for its cargo version called Kona, on which Horizon is based. Airbus and JetZero have also built demonstrators.

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Airbus had a 6-foot-long demonstrator called Maveric. It debuted in 2020 and was used to evaluate concepts like airport compatibility, maintenance, and safety, which would help with the development of ZEROe.

JetZero and Natilus hope to break the Airbus-Boeing duopoly.

Airbus is the top seller for narrow-body jetliners, surpassing Boeing. John Keeble/Getty Images

Airbus and Boeing have been the world's two major commercial aircraft manufacturers for generations. But supply-chain issues at both, plus Boeing's ongoing quality and production problems, may have opened the door for JetZero and Natilus.

"We decided to move into the narrow-body market because it's the biggest opportunity over the next 20 years," Matyushev said. "Forty thousand new narrow-body airplanes need to be built in that time, but Airbus' and Boeing's capacity outlook shows they can only produce 15,000 each, so we want to fill that capacity."

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JetZero said Pathfinder could replace Boeing 767s or similar traditional wide bodies. The company has carrier attention, with Alaska Airlines announcing an investment in August.

There are still obstacles to overcome.

An interior rendering of JetZero's Pathfinder. JetZero

JetZero, Natilus, and Airbus are shooting for entry to service in the 2030s, meaning the reality of blended-wing commercial travel is still years away at best. And there are plenty of challenges.

One is ensuring the jet can withstand the expected load bearings. Another is persuading people to sit far from windows, but Matyushev said people would adapt to that if they had more space.

Airbus and JetZero face the complications of developing a hydrogen-powered engine type. Certifying a new plane type will also be long and tedious, with its own set of obstacles, including pilot training.

Larger blended-wing designs like JetZero's also have to consider evacuations, which could take longer with fewer exit rows.

Blended-wing planes have already been flying for years in the military.

The B-21 Raider is among the blended-in wing planes bought by the USAF. US Air Force via AP

While a blended-wing passenger plane is a relatively new concept, the aircraft type has been flying for the US military for decades.

Northrop Grumman's latest version is the long-range B-21 Raider stealth bomber, with which the US Air Force is conducting flight tests.

Its shape is similar to that of the B-2 bomber predecessor, which was first delivered to the USAF in 1993.

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ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Randolph County Office of Emergency Management provided more information about the current investigation into air quality concerns at Elkins Middle School.

The release, posted on the Elkins City Hall Facebook page, states that initial results from air quality testing at the school have shown no elevated levels of carbon monoxide and that additional monitoring and analyses are ongoing.

Randolph County Emergency Management is receiving active assistance from the West Virginia Department of Health (WVDH), Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Region (EPA), West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), West Virginia Center for Threat Preparedness, local health departments, and surrounding hospitals, the release said. These agencies are coordinating resources through an incident command structure led by Randolph County Emergency Management to ensure a comprehensive response.

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The release also provides information on what exactly the agencies listed are doing to further the investigation.

The EPA Emergency Response Team arrived on Thursday and has deployed lab-grade equipment to assess potential exposure sources. The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) and the Center for Threat Preparedness are evaluating factors contributing to the reported symptoms. The WVBPH is conducting syndromic surveillanceor the condition of health-related datain collaboration with local health departments and hospitals.

The release ends by urging residents to report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare providers, and that announcement that Elkins Middle School is closed until further notice as a precaution.

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Elkins Middle School originally closed on Friday, Oct. 25 due to air and water concerns after students were treated for carbon monoxide symptoms the day before. Students returned to the school on Monday and were then told they would remain online for the rest of the week. The school district announced Friday that remote learning will continue on Monday, Nov. 4.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
With less than one week remaining until Election Day, Reese Witherspoon joined the wave of celebrities weighing in on the U.S. presidential election by sending a strong political message to her fans.

As the Legally Blonde star revealed in her Friday, Nov. 1, post on Instagram, she cast her ballot early instead of waiting to go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5. I voted today. , she wrote as she shared a photo of herself standing outside a light blue building while wearing a white sweater T-shirt, on which she placed an I voted sticker. She smiled as she looked directly into the camera for the snapshot, beside which she explained why she picked her candidate of choice for the 2024 presidential election.

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Top of my mind, as I considered all candidates, is protecting womens rights to medical privacy and reproductive choice, The Morning Show actress wrote. This is a critical time in our shared history to vote for the candidate that represents the future we want to see.

With that in mind, the 48-year-old mother of three revealed that she cast her ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Partys presidential nominee. Harris, 60, is running with vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz against former President Donald Trump, who is this years Republican presidential nominee. Trump is sharing the Republican ticket with Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

Witherspoon continued her Instagram caption by explaining that she voted for Harris for my daughter and for the millions of hard-working American women who value our freedoms.

The Big Little Lies actress added that she wants to protect democracy at all costs.

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I love my country and no matter what happens in this election, Im here to move our great nation forward in a unified way. , her post concluded.

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(Bloomberg) -- Amid the selloff in UK bonds this week triggered by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves budget plan to ramp up taxes, borrowing and spending, there were jitters in Labours cabinet  but for a different reason.

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They feared her numbers werent large enough to meaningfully improve public services in time for the next general election due in 2029.

While traders reacted to 142 billion ($184 billion) of extra borrowing over the course of the parliament to fund investment projects, as well as a 40 billion tax rise and underwhelming economic growth projections, Labour ministers and aides were looking past the governments initial splurge in day-to-day spending to what happens in the years before Britons next go to the polls.

Public spending is due to rise by an average 2% in real terms starting this year, but it is front-loaded before tailing off significantly from 2026. Departments with unprotected budgets, such as transport or justice, are heading for real-terms cuts later in the parliament, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank. That is tantamount to austerity, one party official said privately.

Such complaints underscore the tightrope Reeves was walking as she tried to navigate markets  still primed from the memory of the meltdown under Liz Truss two years ago  and a governing Labour Party determined to rebuild Britains ailing public services which still bear the scars of the austerity years that defined the Conservative administration after the financial crisis.

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Reeves budget, one party official said, would mean spending constraints in areas of importance to voters, from bus and rail services to flood defenses and even Home Office efforts to cut crime. Having been elected on a change platform and Prime Minister Keir Starmers promise of a decade of national renewal, some Labour politicians wondered about winning a second term.

Speaking to Bloomberg on Thursday, Reeves defended her budget and said her priority is economic and fiscal stability. She denied that her spending plans would mean a return to austerity, and said her aim was to wipe the slate clean after inheriting what she called a fiscal black hole from the Tories.

By Friday, the sharp bond selloff  which never approached the scale of the Truss-era turmoil  had abated, leaving the yield on benchmark 10-year gilts about 20 basis points higher than five days ago. Still, the market reaction was far from ideal given Starmer and Reeves sold Labour as a force for stability after years of political and economic turmoil under the Conservatives.

Seeking to dispel concerns over further tax raises and borrowing, Starmer on Saturday reiterated his governments pledge to carry out tough reforms to the UKs creaking state and its economy.

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Just as we cannot tax and spend our way to prosperity, nor can we simply spend our way to better public services, the prime minister wrote in the Financial Times. That is why reform is an essential pillar of this governments agenda.

Yet the reaction from some Labour politicians, albeit mostly in private, suggest pressure on Reeves is unlikely to dissipate especially with the next spending review to set departmental budgets looming in first half of next year.

It remains to be seen whether the short-term cash injection will be enough to get services back on their feet and make that degree of future spending restraint realistic, said IFS economist Ben Zaranko. The problem for Rachel Reeves is that decisions over departmental allocations in those future years have to be made in the spring  before those improvements have had chance to materialize  and her cabinet colleagues will be lobbying hard for top-ups.

One minister said the Treasury had to work creatively and collaboratively with departments to deal with budget pressures at the next review, rather than pretending they dont exist. Colleagues want Reeves to take personal charge, the person said, rather than leaving them to deputy Darren Jones, whose uncompromising approach they said had caused upset across cabinet.

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Ministers who protested to Starmer in recent weeks about the cuts they were being asked to make would not back down at the next spending review, another lawmaker said. That signaled the next flash-point between the Treasury and the cabinet could be one of the defining moments of this administration.

A potential crunch could come even sooner. Some Labour MPs are worried about how far 1.3 billion granted to local government services will stretch across councils, after the Local Government Association said last month a funding deficit of more than 2 billion had left a quarter of town halls in England likely to need emergency bailouts in the coming years. Local authorities will find out what proportion of the grant they receive in December.

The issue really boils down to the fact that having spent 14 years in opposition, many in Starmers party want to talk about and deliver on core Labour issues, whether its public services and especially the National Health Service, reforming social care or tackling poverty. But coming into power, theyve been faced with Reeves warning about a 22 billion black hole that needs fixing even before the government gets to improvements.

Former Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls described Reeves budget as big and bold and historic but that the spending uplift was painfully tight.

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When you start thinking as the years go on about what this actually means for teachers pay, housebuilding, local government services, policing, theres going to an ongoing debate about whether this is really the end of austerity as felt by the delivery of public services, he said on his Political Currency podcast.

Still, the message from markets for any Labour lawmakers demanding higher spending appeared clear this week: youll need to have a plan to pay for it.

Having raised taxes by the most in at least three decades on Wednesday, Reeves will be reluctant to do so again on anything like the same scale  though she predictably declined to rule out further tax rises in the current parliament in her Bloomberg interview.

No chancellor is going to be able to tie their hands in that way, she said.

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The governments preference would be to find additional spending capacity through economic growth, and the message from Downing Street this week was that the Office for Budget Responsibilitys disappointing forecasts didnt take into account the impact of Labour policies such as planning reform.

Yet some Labour people in the so-called Blairite faction  considered to be on the right of the party and followers of former premier Tony Blair  said Reeves budget lacked growth-enhancing measures, according to one lawmaker, suggesting the chancellors approach was more left-wing than they would like.

The growth forecasts arent the summit of my ambition, Reeves told Bloomberg. We are doing planning reform, pensions reform, skills reform, to get our country growing again. Were unlocking long-term patient capital to help small businesses and start-up and scale-up businesses to grow. All of that could have a big impact on growth.

Along with the easing market jitters, there was some respite for Reeves via a poll from Arden Strategies by JL Partners. Just under half of Britons support her decision to raise taxes by 40 billion, with 36% saying it was unnecessary. Reeves plan to borrow more to invest was backed by 54% of respondents.

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The budget sets a different direction for the country, with a more open approach about the need for more investment in the National Health Service and infrastructure, said Jim Murphy, CEO of Arden and a former Labour MP. This poll suggests that the public are open to Labours argument.

--With assistance from Joe Mayes.

(Updates with Starmers comments starting in the ninth paragraph.)

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LEXINGTON, Mo.  From the Los Angeles Times, to Newsweek, even Christianity Today is writing about a Christian college system embroiled in controversy from coast to coast.

And now that system is expanding in the Show Me State, raising concerns among some who live nearby.

FACT CHECK: Does Missouris Amendment 3 include transgender procedures?

In Lexington, Missouri, a sprawling campus once home to Wentworth Military Academy has been taken over by Jubilee University, a Christian music college.

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The school opened four years ago, but if you take a walk on its campus, its eerily quiet. There are no students.

Thats something that Chloe Heisler, who lives nearby, cant help but notice.

Its very odd, she said.

Thats not all thats odd about Jubilee University. Its part of a larger network of schools connected to World Olivet Assembly  a church started by controversial South Korean Pastor David Jang, who was once a follower of Sun Myung Moons Unification Church.

So far, the state of New York has shut down another of Jangs schools, Olivet University. The state rescinded the universitys certification after some of its executives were convicted in a money laundering investigation by the New York District Attorneys office regarding a $35 million scheme.

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Staffers left wondering about payment after KC-area Applebees locations close

And in California, two Olivet universities there are fighting expulsion by the state agency that oversees religious colleges. Plus, four former students filed suit against one of the campuses, claiming they were held hostage, required to work for free and didnt get the education they were promised.

Multiple news reports claim Homeland Security is investigating the California schools over allegations of money laundering, visa fraud and labor trafficking.

The President of Olivet University would not talk to FOX4 on camera, but in a lengthy email repeatedly denied all wrong doing. He said former students who have spoken out against the school are lying.

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Back in Missouri, whats going on at Jubilee University? To find out, we paid a surprise visit and met university President Marcus Lundin. Hes a follower of the Olivet religion and a graduate of the Olivet University system. He defended the schools.

As far as I know there are no felonies, they are misdemeanors, said Lundin, referring to the convictions in New York.

Although the Homeland Security investigation is still ongoing, Lundin claimed, they didnt find any human trafficking. Its kind of ridiculous.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

Lundin said Jubilees Lexington campus has been operating online for three years with about 30 foreign students, none of whom are charged tuition.

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He told FOX4 the school will eventually have dozens of foreign students on campus once it gains accreditation  though that could still be years away.

We are in it for the long haul, said Lundin. We are not planning to go anywhere. We are not going to abandon the place. We are making improvements and our long-term goal is to have hundreds of students on campus.

Since no one pays tuition, where does the money come from to maintain the sprawling campus, which the school purchased for about $1 million.

Lundin said the majority of the money comes from church members around the United States who own businesses. He would not provide specifics about who the business owners are, but a Texas lawsuit provides a clue.

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A Texas E-commerce loan company, 8fig, sued Olivet, Jubilee and other affiliates for racketeering. The lawsuit claimed Olivet World Assembly and its affiliates defrauded the company out of millions of dollars by taking out loans for multiple online businesses it operates with no intention of ever paying the loans back.

The lawsuit claims the businesses are operated by people who work for Olivet University, including Jonathan Park, the president of Olivet University. Park denied all the allegations. The lawsuit also claims that Jubilee University was a direct beneficiary of the scheme.

The lawsuit goes on to claim that the universities are part of a facade used by the church to enrich its members, eliminate criticism and provide ever expanding reach into the American populate.

Olivet University also denied those claims. The case was settled out of court this summer. The terms were not disclosed.

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Missouri news: Headlines from St. Louis, Jefferson City and across the Show-Me State

Back in Missouri, Lundin insisted nothing about Jubilee University is fake. He gave us a campus tour, showing us where students will one day live and go to class.

Constantly trailing us was a Korean woman who was introduced to us as a violin teacher at the school who had just moved to Missouri from California. She told us she was disturbed by us being there because the media doesnt like Christians and cant be trusted.

Not long after speaking to Lundin at Jubilee University, he left the school because his contract was not renewed. Weve not been able to reach him since.

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Although California and New York have either shut down or are taking steps to shut down the universities, Missouri has taken no action, even though St. Louis is listed as the religions world headquarters.

The church owns at least five buildings in St. Louis, including the historic Orpheum Theater, which appears to be empty. Another building houses Jubilee World, which Lundin said is the parent organization for the church and its schools.

Nearby, is another branch of Olivet University, which also sits empty. We learned that most of the mail is going to a church a few miles away called Immanuel Community.

The few people we met there, would not talk to us. Even the head pastor, Anthony Chiu, declined to go on camera. He, however, told us in an email that Immanuel Community is, like Olivet World Assembly, all part of the same evangelical Presbyterian denomination with 105 churches across the United States.

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Thats a claim Reverend Douglas Douma, a veteran Presbyterian minister, doubted. Douma was so curious about the denomination when New York first began investigating it in 2018 that he started doing his own research.

He wrote a blog post, calling it a Phantom Denomination that doesnt even list the addresses of its churches.

The more I looked into it the more ridiculous it got, Douma said.

FOX4 Problem Solvers also tried to find out the addresses of the churches and were rebuffed.

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ST. LOUIS  The remains of a U.S. soldier from Missouri killed on D-Day during World War II will be interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery next week, military officials announced Friday.

Army Private William A. Smith, from Syracuse, Missouri, was killed on June 6, 1944 at the age of 22.

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Smith died when the landing craft carrying his unit was destroyed during the assault on Omaha Beach, in Normandy, France.

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Smith was accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in August 2023 after his remains were exhumed in 2021 from the Normandy American Cemetery for identification and laboratory analysis.

Smiths remains will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 8. Hoffmeister South County Chapel will perform graveside services prior to the interment.

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SEATTLE (AP)  The remains of two aviators who died when their jet crashed during a training flight in Washington state last month will return home from Dover Air Force base in the coming days, the Navy said.

The remains of Lt. Serena Wileman, a California native, were due to return on Monday, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station said. Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans' remains will return later during the week in a private affair in accordance with her family's wishes.

The two died when their EA-18G Growler jet from the Electronic Attack Squadron, known as Zappers, crashed east of Mount Rainier on Oct. 15.

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The crash occurred at about 6,000 feet (1,828 meters) in a remote, steep and heavily wooded area. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Evans, a naval flight officer from Palmdale, California, made history as part of a team of female pilots who conducted the first-ever all-female flyover of Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, to celebrate 50 years of women flying in the Navy.

The first female candidates entered the U.S. Navy flight school in 1973.

Wileman, a naval aviator, was commissioned in 2018 and joined the Zapper squadron on Washington states Whidbey Island in 2021. She earned the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.

The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet and provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to U.S. forces and allies, according to Boeing, its manufacturer. The first Growler was delivered to Whidbey Island in 2008.
The remains of two aviators who died when their jet crashed during a training flight in Washington state last month will return home from Dover Air Force base in the coming days, the Navy said.

The remains of Lt. Serena Wileman, a California native, were due to return on Monday, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station said. Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans remains will return later during the week in a private affair in accordance with her familys wishes.

The two died when their EA-18G Growler jet from the Electronic Attack Squadron, known as Zappers, crashed east of Mount Rainier on Oct. 15.

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The crash occurred at about 6,000 feet (1,828 meters) in a remote, steep and heavily wooded area. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Evans, a naval flight officer from Palmdale, California, made history as part of a team of female pilots who conducted the first-ever all-female flyover of Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, to celebrate 50 years of women flying in the Navy.

The first female candidates entered the U.S. Navy flight school in 1973.

Wileman, a naval aviator, was commissioned in 2018 and joined the Zapper squadron on Washington states Whidbey Island in 2021. She earned the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.

The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet and provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to U.S. forces and allies, according to Boeing, its manufacturer. The first Growler was delivered to Whidbey Island in 2008.
35,725 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?

35,725 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
Nov. 1 (UPI) -- More than 10,000 books were banned in public schools nationwide during the 2023-2024 school year, marking a "dramatic" 200% increase over the previous year, PEN America said Friday.

Some 43% of the book ban cases, or 4,295 bans, were instances in which books were completely prohibited from access, ineligible for either a review or for availability with newly imposed restrictions, the freedom of expression group found in its new report, Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves.

The instances of complete bans as a percentage of all school book bans rose 16 percentage points in 2023-24 (43%) compared to prior years (27%), the report found.

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Since 2021, PEN America says it has counted close to 16,000 instances of book bans in public schools.

"This crisis is tragic for young people hungry to understand the world they live in and see their identities and experiences reflected in books," the group's Freedom to Read program director Kasey Meehan said in a statement.

"The passage of time when you're in 6th grade or 11th grade is very fast -- with much to learn about," he added "What students can read in schools provides the foundation for their lives, whether critical thinking, empathy across difference, personal well-being, or long-term success.

"The defense of the core principles of public education and the freedom to read, learn, and think is as necessary now as ever."

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Blaming what it called "individuals and groups espousing extreme conservative viewpoints," PEN America said the most-targeted titles were those dealing with themes of race, sexuality and gender identity -- similar to previous years.

A new, emerging category of banned books are those that "depict topics young people confront in the real world," such as substance abuse, suicide, depression, mental health concerns and sexual violence, the group found.

Florida and Iowa led the nation in the number of school book bans. Florida prohibited more than 4,500 titles while Iowa banned more than 3,600. Across the country, 29 states and 220 public school districts issued documented bans during the 2023-2024 school year, according to the report.

The most frequently banned books were Nineteen Minutes by best-selling author Jodi Picoult, Looking for Alaska by John Green, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Sold by Patricia McCormick and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

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Nineteen Minutes is a 2007 bestseller about a school shooting. Its author, Jodi Picoult, said the quickly rising number of book bans is "a call for alarm."

"Nineteen Minutes is banned not because it's about a school shooting, but because of a single page that depicts a date rape and uses anatomically correct words for the human body," she said. "It is not gratuitous or salacious, and it is not -- as the book banners claim -- porn.

"In fact, hundreds of kids have told me that reading Nineteen Minutes stopped them from committing a school shooting, or showed them they were not alone in feeling isolated. My book, and the ten thousand others that have been pulled off school library shelves this year, give kids a tool to deal with an increasingly divided and difficult world. These book banners aren't helping children. They are harming them," Picoult added.
Photos by Jim Small | Arizona Mirror

The winners of a north Phoenix district could determine which party takes control of the legislature next year, and a slate of newcomers from across the political spectrum are competing to fill two seats in the Arizona House of Representatives.

Legislative District 2 is one of a handful of swing districts that have become focal points in the battle between Republicans and Democrats to secure a majority in the Arizona legislature. Thats because, unlike in nearly every other district, where one party dominates the voting population, the political makeup of LD2 isnt so clear cut. The number of voters registered as unaffiliated is almost equal to the number of registered Republicans  46,830 to 48,211  and Democrats number 36,779, marking the district as one of the most competitive in the entire state.

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While the district leans conservative, and the area has a long tradition of electing Republicans, GOP wins havent been assured in recent elections, which have seen close races, and, since 2020, split representation. The districts elected Democratic representative, Judy Schwiebert, is now running for the districts Senate seat, while Republican incumbent Rep. Justin Wilmeth is seeking reelection.

This year, Democrats are hoping to capture a legislative majority and topple the nearly 60-year-long Republican hold on the Arizona House of Representatives. Political newcomer Stephanie Simacek hopes to preserve control of one of the seats in the district.

Simacek moved to the Grand Canyon State 10 years ago and became an elementary school teacher, where she had a front row view of the funding struggles Arizonas public schools endure. Later, she won a seat on Deer Valley Unified School Districts Governing Board after an unpleasant interaction with a member who she viewed as placing culture war issues above student welfare.

Simacek told the Arizona Mirror that she has little patience with a recent GOP focus on villainizing teachers, and is hoping to work on legislation that supports public schools instead of burdening them with politically motivated rules and unfunded mandates.

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They put their students first every single day, and to put our teachers down and not support them, and take to social media to attack teachers online  its unacceptable, she said.

Top education priorities for the Portland native are full-day kindergarten and tighter regulation of private school vouchers. Simacek said she would be in favor of an income-based cap on the program, which has funneled more than $700 million in funding from public to private schools just this year. In 2022, Republican lawmakers passed a universal eligibility expansion that opened the program up to anyone, even students who have never attended public schools.

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobb has called for enacting oversight over the program, but those efforts have been non-starters with Republicans. A change in who controls the legislature  and thus sets the policy agenda  could lead to reforms.

While this is Simaceks first run as a partisan candidate, she said her experience as a school board member has prepared her to navigate complex negotiations. Passing a budget and approving curriculum in an era when every topic is a political landmine requires knowing how to find common ground, she said. And, she added, the most important part of representing Arizonans in the state legislature is championing the concerns of voters.

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Ive learned, through this whole process, that you just need to be a loud voice for those who need to be heard, and to make sure that were putting the money in the right places, instead of spending it on things that are not important, she said.

With such a heightened focus on swing state races in Arizona, campaign funding has exploded, and Democrats have taken the lead financially as progressive organizations have donated millions. In LD2, Simaceks campaign has outraised her opponents, pulling in more than $384,000, according to the most recent campaign finance report.

The second best funded candidate in the race is conservative activist Ari Bradshaw, whose campaign reported just under $206,000 as of late October. Bradshaw, too, is seeking a legislative seat for the first time. He is the founder of Young Conservatives of Arizona, a local political group focused on mobilizing conservative voters aged 13 through 40. The fourth-generation Arizonan did not respond to interview requests.

Bradshaw has sought to establish himself as moderate, despite a history of relationships with far-right politicians. In 2022, he worked on Kari Lakes gubernatorial campaign, and last year he joined Sen. Justine Wadsacks failed reelection bid. He isnt a stranger to culture war issues, either, showing up to support anti-drag bills being debated at the state legislature last year, one of which was authored by Wadsack.

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Bradshaw has also criticized far-right politicians, sparring with Flagstaff Sen. Wendy Rogers over her support of Steve Slaton, a legislative candidate who faced stolen valor allegations after falsely claiming he served as a Vietnam war combat pilot. And in September, Bradshaw denounced the Arizona Republican Partys decision to run digital billboards spreading the baseless lie promoted by GOP vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance and former president Donald Trump that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are killing and eating local pets.

Bradshaw is a strong proponent of school choice and an opponent of book banning and the state government dictating the minutiae of curriculum, though his campaign website states that he would be interested in working with lawmakers like Wadsack and Rep. David Marshall, who have authored and supported legislation that would do just that.

The competition for the second seat is likely to be between Bradshaw and Simacek, who head the most well-funded campaigns in the House race but dont benefit from the incumbent status Wilmeth does.

Simacek has sought to highlight Bradshaws links to far-right politicians and cast him as too extreme for the district. An attempt by Bradshaw to call into question Simaceks honesty and candidacy, meanwhile, backfired.

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On Sept. 25, Bradshaw made an uninvited early morning visit to Simaceks north Phoenix home, where he spoke with her husband, who told him theyd separated and she no longer lived there. Bradshaw took to social media to accuse her of lying about her marriage and her residency in the district, which is required to run for office. He later called the tweets a mistake and claimed he was simply in the neighborhood distributing campaign literature when he noticed her name on the voters list.

Widely considered a shoe-in for one of the two House seats, Wilmeth has represented the north Phoenix district since he was first elected in 2020. According to the latest campaign finance report, hes raised a little over $158,000 for his reelection. Wilmeth did not respond to interview requests.

A native of Texas who previously worked as a spokesperson for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, he has sought to bill himself as a pro-business candidate, backing legislation to lower burdens for local entrepreneurs, including one that made it easier for cosmetologists to practice in Arizona if they have a year of experience in another state, and another that eased the financial and legal requirements for Arizonans under 19 to run a business.

But not all his proposals have won approval from everyday Arizonans. This year, Wilmeth sponsored Proposition 138 at the request of the Arizona Restaurants Association, which voters will decide the fate of on Tuesday. The ballot measure drew criticism from restaurant employees, who lambasted it for exploiting tipped workers and subjecting them to less than minimum wage pay. While it purports to help tipped workers  its titled the Tipped Workers Protection Act  it actually allows employers to pay them 25% less than minimum wage as long as they make at least $2 per hour more than minimum wage, counting tips.

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In education policy, Wilmeth is a proponent of parental rights and curriculum transparency. On his campaign website, he accuses public schools of advancing leftist ideology and promises to advance legislation to address that.

As your Representative, I will ensure you have a say in your childs education, reads a statement on the website. I will pass legislation that demands accountability from our school boards, require curriculum transparency, expand high-quality education options, and ending the teaching of Critical Race Theory and other woke ideologies. The classroom is a place for learning, not indoctrination.

Earlier this year, Wilmeth made headlines as one of just a handful of Republican lawmakers who bucked their party to join Democrats in repealing a near-total abortion ban that became law during the Civil War, when Arizona was still a territory, that was revived by the Arizona Supreme Court.

Wilmeth didnt give an explanation for his vote at the time or release a statement reconciling his commitment to his pro-life stance with the repeal, as other Republicans who voted to strike down the law did. Nor has he sought to capitalize on that action in the election to appeal to moderate voters. There is no mention of the vote on his website.

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In 2022, Wilmeth voted for the 15-week gestational ban that led to the reinstatement of the 1864 law.

Voters in LD2 can also choose to cast their ballots in favor of a registered Independent  though Democrats have warned that doing so would only serve to detract from Simacek and bolster the Republican candidates.

Tom Simes, a local businessman who moved to the state 17 years ago, has run a nearly entirely self-funded campaign. According to the latest campaign finance report, Simes has raised roughly $24,000 in total funding. While he acknowledged that hes unlikely to win a seat, he told the Mirror that hes hopeful, and that, in the end, winning wasnt his only goal.

He said he launched his bid, in part, to bring more awareness to Independent candidates.

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Im not under any illusions, Simes said. Theres never been an Independent elected to the Arizona state legislature. But unless more of us start doing it, were never going to break through that.

Simes added that this year and political climate made for the best environment to run for office as an independent. People are tired of partisanship, he said, and the LD2 voting population are the likeliest to support an Independent candidate, given how many voters identify as unaffiliated. If he doesnt win, he said he hopes to at least do well enough to cause the other candidates to reevaluate how they approach lawmaking.

Among Simes top policy concerns are protecting abortion rights, supporting comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship  action that can only be taken by Congress, not the Arizona Legislature  and investing in public schools and career-readiness programs for students looking to enter the workforce.

While some have accused Simes of being a spoiler for Simacek, he waved away that concern. If that happens, he said, then the fault lies with the candidate Democrats chose. Independents deserve to have candidates of their own to root for, he added.

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Ive been a registered independent for a long time, and I never have any options, he said. Its always this party or that party. Either way I look at it, my election gets spoiled every year. They can use whatever term they want. Run better candidates.

Simes said hes not planning to run again if he loses, saying the process for independent candidates is costly and difficult. But Proposition 140, a ballot measure that seeks to open up primary elections to all candidates regardless of party, aims to reduce the barriers to entry for Independent candidates. If voters decide to approve that proposal, Simes said he would consider launching a new campaign in a changed electoral landscape.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  North Carolina voters have cast a record over 4 million ballots during early voting. While the number of ballots cast is higher than years past, so is the turnout by Republicans during early voting.

The states latest numbers showed 10% more women voted than men. Female voters made up a little more than half of voters as of Friday morning. Among the over 2 million women who voted early was Alexandra Lyon, who waited in a long line in Wake County as the end to early voting approached Friday.

Lyon is also among the more than 1.3 million Republicans whove cast an early vote, the largest voting group in the state so far. Its a change from previous years when Democrats have shown out to early voting in larger numbers.

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Just trying and get past anything that could go wrong on Election Day, Lyon said. You never know with all the lines. I have my grandmother here and grandfather here.

Im a single mom, she continued. With trying to buy a house and just the way the economys gone the last four years, Im really hoping Trump gets reelected.

Democrats currently sit at about 50,000 fewer ballots, but they could be helped with more Hispanic voters, who could play a crucial part this election. Nearly 100,000 Hispanic voters have cast their ballot in this election. Among them is Freddy Roman, who said he has been hurt by some political rhetoric.

Im very upset about whats going on, he said. Theyve been using me for political reasons. Im probably voting Democrat. I can wait [to vote] for hours if I have to.

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But it is unaffiliated voters, the largest voting block in the state, could be the deciders of an election already expected to have narrow margins. Unaffiliated voters have the second-largest turnout behind Republicans, so far. There is also a younger voting group, another demographic critical to win the election.

Early voting ends Saturday at 3 p.m.

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (AP)  Hundreds of people lit candles and left flowers and toys on Saturday to commemorate 14 people who were killed when a concrete canopy crashed at the entrance of a railway station in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad.

Holding signs with names of the victims - the youngest of whom was a 6-year-old girl - residents of Novi Sad stood quietly in grief across the street from the station building where the roof fell on people on Friday.

Many were quietly crying and those who came said they were unable to comprehend how such a tragedy was possible and demanded answers from the authorities. Three people were also injured and remained in a life-threatening condition on Saturday.

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My first feeling was anger because we allow amateurs to run this country, said Natasa Beljic. "And because I am aware of the fact that no one will be held accountable and that responsibility will fall on completely irrelevant people.

The long, concrete canopy collapsed suddenly around noon on Friday as people were sitting on benches or coming in and out. Surveillance camera footage on Friday showed the canopy crashing down in seconds.

Serbias government declared Saturday a day of mourning, as officials promised a thorough investigation into Friday's collapse. Prosecutors said they are questioning all the people involved, including government ministers.

The train station has been renovated twice in recent years, and critics of Serbias populist government attributed the disaster to corruption and sloppy renovations. Opposition politician Marinika Tepic said on Saturday, this is not an accident, this is murder!

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In the Serbian capital of Belgrade, liberal opposition Green-Left Front threw red paint outside the Serbian government headquarters, to send a message that your hands are bloody.

Officials have insisted that the canopy had not been part of the renovation work. Goran Vesic, the government minister for construction and infrastructure, told the state RTS television the tragedy would not have happened had the canopy been renovated as well.

Authorities deployed heavy machinery and some 80 rescuers who struggled for hours to remove large parts of concrete. The rescue effort lasted until late Friday evening with bulldozers rummaging through tons of rubble outside the building.

Mira Stankovic, a Novi Sad resident who also came to the vigil said she now feels unsafe: I feel terrible, I feel anxious, I have some fear inside me. She said she no longer trusts the railways, tunnels or bridges.

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The railway station, including the canopy, was built in 1964. The renovation work was carried out by Chinese companies.

The renovated station was inaugurated by President Aleksandar Vucic and his populist ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, over two years ago as a major stopover for a planned fast train line between Belgrade and Budapest.
Jenny Kozak, a master's student at South Dakota Mines, pours Big Sioux River water into a collection bottle on Sept. 26 near Egan. The sample will be tested for PFAS compounds. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

The murky brown Big Sioux River consistently receives poor marks for its water quality, but eastern South Dakota water systems near the river dont know if that pollution includes forever chemicals.

To find out, researchers from South Dakota Mines are testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the behest of the East Dakota Water Development District.

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The study will cost the district at least $100,000 to test 11 sites from northeast South Dakota to the Iowa border past Sioux Falls, including four more sample runs throughout 2025.

Ideally, well find nothing, and well have spent a lot of money to do that, said Jay Gilbertson, district manager. But right now, we dont know if there is PFAS in the river. Its hard to be proactive and plan if you dont have information.

A separate, federally funded project through the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources was announced earlier this year to assess and clean up contaminated sites in South Dakota. Falls Park, quarry lake and a former rubble site just south of the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls are being tested for PFAS and other contaminants that pose risks to the Big Sioux River. The project is in the planning phase, and testing has not started yet.

The chemicals have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s and dont break down easily in the environment or in the human body. Research indicates PFAS exposure may be linked to negative developmental and reproductive effects, and an increased risk of some cancers.

Jenny Kozak, a masters student at South Dakota Mines, pours Big Sioux River water into a collection bottle held by South Dakota Mines Associate Professor Lisa Kunza on Sept. 26 at Falls Park in Sioux Falls. The sample will be tested for PFAS compounds. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

The federal government established new limits on some types of PFAS in drinking water earlier this year. Those limits apply specifically to treated drinking water. The limits do not apply to chemicals found in waterways.

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Water treatment plants along the Big Sioux River can pull directly from the river or pull from underground wells near the river. Sioux Falls is the only water system that pulls water from the Big Sioux River, but the city rarely uses the river as a water source.

An ongoing study indicates that, under the right conditions, Big Sioux River water can infiltrate wells near the river.

Gilbertson saw water treatment plants in southeastern South Dakota along the Big Sioux River several years ago experience an influx of hard water in their systems. He said the culprit was Lake Poinsett, near Watertown, which began discharging water into the Big Sioux that seeped into underground wells used by some treatment plants downstream.

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Thats why its better to go looking for it, Gilbertson said, so water treatment plants can prepare solutions before contamination becomes a crisis.

If PFAS is found in the Big Sioux River, the water district can inform public water suppliers, Gilbertson added.

Maybe we tell them, if they can, not to use the well thats so close to the river; reactivate one a little farther away, Gilbertson said. As a result, they might not technically have a problem and have to stop serving customers because they stopped using the water before it became a problem.

The Big Sioux River flows under a Highway 34 bridge near Egan in southeastern South Dakota. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

PFAS has been detected in wells near Ellsworth Air Force Base at Box Elder, as well as Sioux Falls Regional Airport and its co-located Air National Guard base, where the chemicals were used in firefighting foam. The forever chemical has also been detected in wells at National Guard facilities near Custer and in Rapid City, and in three private wells in South Dakota.

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Sioux Falls suspended 21 of its wells suspected of PFAS contamination after the detection. Since then, all raw water samples  which can include the Big Sioux River at times  have been tested for PFAS compounds, said Sioux Falls Water Superintendent Chris Myers in an emailed statement. The city has not detected PFAS in those sources.

But even if Sioux Falls doesnt find PFAS in river tests, that doesnt mean there isnt PFAS in the river: It just means its not immediately upstream, Gilbertson said.

It doesnt necessarily preclude it from the upper basin or below the city, he added.

Most recently, a preliminary sample of Mount Rushmore National Memorials drinking water had levels of PFAS more than two times higher than the new federal limit.

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The South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems is testing 40 rural water systems throughout the state for PFAS chemicals in cooperation with the EPA. Cities are also testing their water and submitting it to the EPA.

Lisa Kunza, associate professor in chemistry, biology and health sciences and director of the Center for Sustainable Solutions at South Dakota Mines in Rapid City, helped collect the initial Big Sioux River samples in September.

Kunza and her team research PFAS contamination impacts on water resources, agriculture and human health. Theyre looking for 40 PFAS compounds in the water. She said the initial test results could take a month to several months to get back from the lab.

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Gavin Naples, ESQ., Vice President Homeless Veterans Program, tells us what the Tunnel To Towers Foundation is doing to address the problem of homelessness for our local veterans.

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Rachel Reeves and her husband are making 74,000 a year in rental income alone, The Telegraph understands.

The Chancellor, who this week hit second home buyers and landlords with a surge in stamp duty costs, is thought to be receiving rent from two properties that adds up to more than 6,000 a month.

It comes after Ms Reeves delivered her first Budget on Wednesday, in which she condemned millions of workers to be poorer by raising National Insurance for their employers.

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Landlords and second home owners reacted angrily to Ms Reevess maiden Budget, claiming she had put the final nail in the coffin for the struggling buy-to-let sector.

Property investors also said she would drive out decent landlords and leave tenants facing higher rents as a result.

The Chancellor, who now lives in Downing Street with her family, lets her former family home  a four-bedroom property in south London  for around 3,200 a month.

While her husband Nicholas Joicey, a senior civil servant, is believed to have let his central London two-bed flat since 2011. It now has a market rental value of nearly 3,000 a month, according to property website Bricks&Logic.

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It means the pair, who both have six-figure salaries, make more than four times the average landlord income of 16,500. Their rental income is also twice the average salary of nearly 37,000.

Ms Reeves has faced criticism this week after investing heavily in the public sector, while hitting the private sector with billions of pounds worth of tax rises on wage bills, pensions and family businesses.

She raised capital gains tax on investment shares but did not increase it on the sale of second homes. She increased the stamp duty surcharge for those with more than one home from 3pc to 5pc  meaning those buying additional property have to pay thousands of pounds more.

Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty said: Having just announced a deeply unpopular Budget that has caused mortgages to rise, how does the Chancellor justify the 74,000 rental income of her and her husbands London properties whilst living rent-free in Downing Street as their mortgages are paid for? Its no wonder she abstained from the most recent vote on the Renters Rights Bill.

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Her Budget snatched the 300 winter fuel payment from some of our poorest pensioners, robbed farmers of their ability to pass on their farms and will lead to lower wages for working people. This is yet another slap in the face for British people.

Tory MP Greg Smith said: Classic Labour party do as I say, not as I do. Im all right Jack, now Im going to pull the drawbridge up. Yet another Labour action that doesnt pass the sniff test.

Labour had promised in the election not to increase taxes for working people. Ahead of the Budget, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had suggested landlords were not working people in his eyes.

Lewis Cocking, a Conservative MP on the housing committee, said: By disincentivising good landlords entering the market, the Chancellors Budget will just make renting more difficult and more expensive. This is yet another way that the Government is failing working people.

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Ms Reeves earns around 160,000 for her roles as Chancellor and an MP. It means her household income, combined with her husbands salary of up to 174,999, is more than 400,000.

Earlier this year, as shadow chancellor, Ms Reeves told GB News that checking her bank statement made her wince after she found the money coming in was increasingly short of the money going out.

The Chancellor bought her family home in 2012 with her husband for 599,950. The two co-own the property, according to the Land Registry. The couples detached property  which was bought with a mortgage  consists of four bedrooms and two bathrooms, according to Rightmove.

Since Ms Reeves bought it, property listing websites estimate it has gained around 349,000 in value  putting its value today at nearly 950,000.

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Ms Reeves has declared the rental income from her old home because it exceeds 10,000 annually. She made the declaration on September 27, after becoming a landlord on September 9.

The energy performance certificate rating is currently a D, which is at odds with Labours plans for all rental homes to have C ratings by 2030. Landlords who do not upgrade their homes will be banned from letting them out under Ed Milibands rules.

Nine years ago, Ms Reeves had her parliamentary credit card suspended because she owed more than 4,000 in unauthorised payments. The bill was eventually recouped by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Between 2014 and 2022, she also claimed 1,225 on the taxpayer to pay someone else to help file her tax return.

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A Labour Party spokesman said: The rental incomes have been declared in the usual way in accordance with the rules.

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DAVIS COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  Its approaching two weeks since a corrections K-9 went missing in Davis County, and officials announced an increase in the reward money Friday thanks to a local residents donation.

Kash, a 1-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, went missing at 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, after he ran off during a bathroom break, authorities said. Officers with the Farmington Police Department actively searched the area on the ground and with drones for a week before calling off the physical search efforts.

On Wednesday, authorities announced a $1,000 reward to anyone who returns the police dog to the department. They upped that reward Friday after a generous Davis County resident donated another grand to the efforts.

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Our office has received several tips and possible sightings regarding the whereabouts of K9 Kash. Unfortunately, Kash is still missing, the offices latest update read.

A corrections K-9 named Kash is missing after he suddenly took off outside the Daivs County Jail Monday night. (Credit: Davis County Sheriffs Office)

Are LDS missionaries safe? Horror movie Heretic raises question in church community

Officers previously said they believed Kash may have been picked up by someone who did not know he was a K-9.

Davis County authorities said Kash was donated to the department in September and was in a training program with his new handler. He was not microchipped and police said there was nothing on him that would identify him as a police dog.

If you have Kash or know his whereabouts, please contact us. You can message us on Facebook or call Davis Dispatch at 801-451-4150. You can also take Kash to Animal Care of Davis County, the update read.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Two women who may have witnessed the shooting at the Vancouver Mall that killed one person and wounded two others have been identified, cooperated and are not considered suspects or persons of interest.

Earlier Saturday, Crime Stoppers of Oregon offered a reward for the identification of the women.

VIDEO: Twisted Escape Room employee helps family escape shooting at Vancouver Mall

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Officials say that, while they believe the two women captured on mall surveillance footage arent involved in the shooting, they may have important information related to it.

Vancouver Police and Crime Stoppers of Oregon are offering a reward for identifying two women who may have information about the shooting at the Vancouver Mall on Oct. 21, 2024. (Courtesy: Vancouver Police Dept.)

The shooting happened at around 7:30 p.m. in the middle of a family trick-or-treating event at the mall. At that time, someone in the food court opened fire, killing one person and sending two others to the hospital, according to police.

Authorities say the suspect was wearing a Halloween-type mask at the time of the shooting and it is believed to have been a targeted attack.

2 suspects, 1 armed, taken into custody in Damascus, shelter in place lifted

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Investigators with Vancouver police and Crime Stoppers of Oregon are teaming up to offer cash rewards of up to $2,500 for any information about this person or the shooting.

Tips can be submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers website or their mobile app called P3 tips.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina put Richard Moore to death by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk, despite a broad appeal for mercy by parties that included three jurors and the judge from his trial, a former prison director, pastors and his family.

Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Moore was convicted of killing the Spartanburg convenience store clerk in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later. Moore went into the store unarmed, took a gun from the victim when it was pointed at him and fatally shot him in the chest as the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm.

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Moores lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole because of his spotless prison record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates.

They also said it would be unjust to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and unfair that Moore, who is Black, was the only inmate on the states death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans.

McMaster refused to grant clemency. No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence, and 45 executions have now been carried out since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to restart executions nearly 50 years ago.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina put Richard Moore to death by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk, despite a broad appeal for mercy by parties that included three jurors and the judge from his trial, a former prison director, pastors and the his family.

Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Moore was convicted of killing the Spartanburg convivence store clerk in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later. Moore went into the store unarmed, took a gun from the victim when it was pointed at him and fatally shot him in the chest as the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm.

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Moores lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole because of his spotless prison record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates. They also said it would be unjust to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and unfair that Moore, who is Black, was the only inmate on the states death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans.

But McMaster refused to grant clemency. No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence, and 45 executions have now been carried out since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to restart executions nearly 50 years ago.

Unlike in previous executions, the curtain to the death chamber was open when media witnesses arrived. Moores last words had already been read by Lindsey Vann, his lawyer of 10 years.

Moore had his eyes closed and his head was pointed toward the ceiling. A prison employee announced the execution could begin at 6:01 p.m. Moore took several deep breaths that sounded like snores over the next minute. Then he took some shallow breaths until about 6:04, when his breathing stopped.

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Vann cried as the employee announced the execution could start. She clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross. Sitting beside her was a spiritual advisor, his hands on his knees palms up. Vann clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross.

Two members of the victims family were also present, along with solicitor Barry Barnette, who was on the prosecution team that convicted Moore. They all watched stoically.

Three jurors who condemned Moore to death in 2001, including one who wrote Friday, sent letters asking McMaster to change his sentence to life without parole. They were joined by a former state prison director, Moores trial judge, his son and daughter, a half-dozen childhood friends and several pastors.

They all said Moore, 59, was a changed man who loved God, doted on his new grandchildren the best he could, helped guards keep the peace and mentored other prisoners after his addiction to drugs clouded his judgment and led to the shootout in which James Mahoney was killed, according to the clemency petition.

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Moore previously had two execution dates postponed as the state sorted through issues that created a 13-year pause in the death penalty, including companies refusal to sell the state lethal injection drugs, a hurdle that was solved by passing a secrecy law.

Moore is the second inmate executed in South Carolina since it resumed executions. Four more are out of appeals and the state appears ready to put them to death in five-week intervals through the spring. There are now 30 people on death row.

The governor said before the execution that he would carefully reviewing everything sent by Moores lawyers and, as is customary, would wait until minutes before the execution starts to announce his decision once he hears by phone that all appeals are finished.

Clemency is a matter of grace, a matter of mercy. There is no standard. There is no real law on it, McMaster told reporters Thursday.

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In an interview for a video that accompanied his clemency petition, Moore expressed remorse for the killing of Mahoney.

This is definitely part of my life I wish I could change. I took a life. I took someones life. I broke the family of the deceased, Moore said. I pray for the forgiveness of that particular family.

Prosecutors and Mahoneys relatives have not spoken publicly in the weeks leading up to the execution. In the past, family members have said they suffered deeply and want justice to be served.

Moores lawyers said his original attorneys did not analyze the crime scene carefully and left unchallenged prosecutors contention that Moore, who came into the store unarmed, fired at a customer and that his intention from the start was a robbery.

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According to their account, the clerk pulled a gun on Moore after the two argued because he was 12 cents short for what he wanted to buy.

Moore said he wrestled the gun from Mahoneys hand and the clerk pulled a second weapon. Moore was shot in the arm and fired back, hitting Mahoney in the chest. Moore then went behind the counter and stole about $1,400.

No one else on South Carolinas death row started their crime unarmed and with no intention to kill, Moores current attorneys say.

Jon Ozmint, a former prosecutor who was director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections from 2003 to 2011 and who added his voice to those seeking clemency, said Moores case was not the worst-of-the-worst kind of crime that would usually prompt a death penalty case.

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There are plenty of people who were not sentenced to death but committed much more heinous crimes, Ozmint said, citing the example of Todd Kohlhepp, who was given a life sentence after pleading guilty to killing seven people including a woman he raped and tortured for days.

Lawyers for Moore, who is Black, also said his trial was not fair. There were no African Americans on the jury even though 20% of Spartanburg County residents were Black.

Moores son and daughter said he remained engaged in their lives. He once asked them about schoolwork and gave advice in letters. He now has grandchildren whom he sees on video calls. Several letter writers mentioned the harm to them if Moore is removed from their lives.

Even though my father has been away, that still has not stopped him from making a big impact on my life, a positive impact, said Alexandria Moore, who joined the Air Force at her fathers encouragement.

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ITHACA, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  Democrat Josh Riley also took advantage of early voting this morning by casting his ballot at Ithaca Town Hall.

He brought his wife and two young sons with him.

This is the Endicott natives second try for New Yorks 19th Congressional District.

Hes run a campaign focused largely on strengthening Americas manufacturing base, securing the border and protecting a womans right to choose.

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Riley plans to spend Election Night at a restaurant near his home in Ithaca.

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POLK COUNTY, Iowa  A road rage incident in Polk County resulted in a shooting Friday evening.

Victim testifies during trial for lawsuit against Urbandale Schools

At around 5:30 p.m. the Polk County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a gunshot victim at the intersection of NE 14th Street and NE Broadway Avenue. When first responders arrived on scene they found one victim suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the arm.

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According to the sheriffs office, the shooting was the result of a road rage incident. Both parties involved in the shooting have been taken into custody.

No additional information has been released.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  After over two years inside a Las Vegas jail, the disgraced Clark County politician convicted of murdering an investigative newspaper reporter now occupies a cell inside a state prison, public records show.

Robert Telles, 48, was recently moved from the Clark County Detention Center to High Desert State Prison not long after his conviction for first-degree murder in August. A jury and judge sentenced Telles to 28 years to life.

Jurors found that Telles premeditated the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal Jeff German on Labor Day weekend in 2022. Clark County District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt later added enhancements to the sentence because German was over 60 years old and Telles used a deadly weapon.

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German wrote a series of investigative articles that exposed dysfunction in the Clark County Public Administrators office, to which Telles was elected in 20189 and helmed starting in 2019. His term ended on January 2, 2023. But he was arrested in September 2022 for Germans murder.

German, 69, was found stabbed to death on Sept. 3, 2022, outside his home in the northwest valley near Tenaya Way and Vegas Drive. Detectives said they found Telles DNA under Germans fingernails, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported shortly after Telles arrest.

Prosecutors said his motive  among other things  was to silence an article that would have exposed an affair with an underling in the administrators office. That employee, Roberta Lee-Kennett, reported to Telles. On the fifth day of the murder trial, she described some of the changes Telles made in the public administrators office as divisive.

Telles told Lee-Kennett that German had been working on stories that would mention her, Lee-Kennett said. She recalled an interview that Telles had done, about which Lee-Kennett said she was upset, embarrassed, and relieved. She said that Telles hated German and had told her as much. The 8 News Now Investigators attempted to question Lee-Kennett after her testimony, but she ignored all questions and walked out of the courthouse without saying a word.

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The jury found Telles guilty after three days of deliberations. One juror told the 8 News Now Investigators, who conducted the first public interview of any of Telles deliberating jurors, that Telles mother  who told the jury and packed courtroom that she accepted the jurys verdict but wanted her son to one day be free  helped sway them not to sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Telles has denied any involvement in Germans murder, instead testifying for the several hours that he was framed by police and prosecutors. To that end, his defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, showed evidence that police were surveilling Telles and tracking his cell phone in the weeks leading up to his arrest.

In one of two jailhouse interviews with 8 News Now Investigator Vanessa Murphy, Telles  on the day after his conviction  said he was concerned about going to prison.

Murphy, who also bombarded Telles with questions as he was entering his garage after being released from police custody in the days leading up to his arrest, speculated about where he might end up serving his sentence. Regardless of his destination, he expressed concern while still at Clark County Detention Center.

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I am concerned that, you know, if for some reason Im released into the general population, that an accident may happen and I may not, you know, I may not make it, Telles said. So Im really concerned about that, you know. But Im also concerned about being put in, you know, a protective custody situation in one of the other prisons where Im not allowed out of my cell and Im not allowed to work.

Public records indicate Telles release could come in September 2050.

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TOKYO (AP)  A remote-controlled robot has safely returned with a tiny piece of melted fuel it collected from inside one of three damaged reactors at the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant for the first time since the 2011 meltdown.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which manages the plant, said Saturday that the extendable fishing rod-like robot successfully clipped a piece of gravel of about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches), the size of a tiny bit of granola, from the top surface of a mound of molten fuel debris that sits on the bottom of the No. 2 reactors primary containment vessel.

The telesco robot, with its frontal tongs still holding the melted fuel bit, returned to the enclosed container for safe storage after workers in full hazmat gear pulled it out of the containment vessel earlier Saturday.

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The sample return marks the first time the melted fuel is retrieved out of the containment vessel. But the mission is not over until it's certain that the sample's radioactivity is below a set standard and safely placed into a container.

If the radioactivity exceeds the limit, the robot must go back inside the reactor to find another piece. TEPCO officials said they expect the piece is small enough to meet the requirement.

The mission initially started in August for what was supposed to be a two-week round trip but had been suspended twice due to mishaps.

First one was the procedural mistake at the beginning that held up the work for nearly three weeks, then the robots two cameras designed to transmit views of the target areas for its operators in the remote control room failed. The camera problem required the robot to be pulled out all the way for replacement before the mission resumed Monday.

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Fukushima Daiichi lost its key cooling systems during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, causing meltdowns in its three reactors. An estimated 880 tons of fatally radioactive molten fuel remains in them, and TEPCO has carried out a number of robotic probes to figure out how to decommission the plant.

Telesco on Wednesday successfully clipped a piece presumably measuring less than 3 grams (0.1 ounce) from the planned area right underneath the Unit 2 reactor core, from which large amounts of melted fuel fell during the meltdown 13 years ago, TEPCO said.

Plant chief Akira Ono said only the tiny spec can provide key data to plan decommissioning strategy, develop necessary technology and robots and retroactively learn how the accident had developed.

The government and TEPCO have set a 30-to-40-year target for the cleanup, which experts say is overly optimistic and should be updated.

No specific plans for the full removal of the fuel debris or its final disposal have been decided.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A 42-year-old Rochester man is expected to spend the next 16 years in prison after he was found guilty of having and selling cocaine.

(Ontario County District Attorneys Office)

Friday, the Ontario County District Attorneys Office announced David Fallon was sentenced after he was stopped by New York State Police during a traffic stop and found with .5 ounces of cocaine. Comparing it to the size of a lacrosse ball, the Assistant District Attorney explained that Fallon attempted to hide the packaged cocaine by putting it inside of his body.

Deputies: Illegal guns, stolen motorcycles found at Hilton home

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Today, David Fallon, Jr. faced the reality that a life of crime will result in a long prison sentence, stated Peter Van Dellon, the ADA.

Through the investigation it was further learned that Fallon, also known as True, was selling the drug too. He has a lengthy criminal history, with two prior felony convictions and 12 misdemeanor convictions.

Fallon has proven over and over that he is incapable of remaining in society as a law-abiding citizen, said Assistant District Attorney Steven Farnholz.

After his 16 years in prison are up, Fallon is expected to go through three years of post-release supervision.

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Anne Applebaums 2020 book Twilight of Democracy includes tales of how her once-normie conservative friends jumped into the deep end of the populist, conspiracist pool. It was a dismaying read then, but four years laterfollowing massive reversals, stunning hypocrisies, bewildering flip-flopping, a newfound penchant for well-done steak with ketchupit also has an uncanny quality.

That vague feeling of reading a week-old newspaper is actually a testament to Applebaums perceptiveness. The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and staff writer for the Atlantic described the alternate realitythe big or sometimes just medium-sized lieat the heart of the populist movements around the globe and even in the United States. She did so more than a year before the Big Lie about the 2020 election drove acolytes of former President Donald Trump to beat cops with flag poles. In just months, Twilight of Democracy came to feel so undeniably true that it made Applebaums conclusions look almost simplistic.

Something similar can be said about her latest offering, Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World. In a few short chapters, Applebaum captures an international order where the worlds dictators are helping each other outwith brutal consequences in democracies across the globe and for their own dissidents.

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Its not yet clear whether the dictator-laden international order Applebaum describes is a flash in the pan or an enduring playbook that will define an era. Its not even entirely clear how we should talk about this moment in global history. Recent national security strategy documents have tried to reorient U.S. defense policy from the Global War on Terror toward the return of great power competition. In this view, the U.S. is staring down China and even Russia (though it feels overly generous to Russian President Vladimir Putins hobbled and revanchist regime).

But to others, that narrow view of head-to-head conflict between two states fails to capture the complexity of a moment when North Korean troops are on the ground in Russia, Iranian drones are flying over Kyiv, and Chinese oil purchases are keeping the regimes in Moscow and Tehran afloat. Instead some, like former Trump National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, have leaned on the language of an axis, calling the regimes in Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China an axis of aggressorsa contemporary spinoff of President George W. Bushs famous description of rogue regimes as composing an axis of evil.

Regardless of what these U.S. adversaries are called, a deeper question remains: What unites them?

Applebaum offers a way to think about why those authoritarians might work together beyond hatred qua hatred for the U.S. or the West, an arrangement she aptly calls Autocracy, Inc. The conflict between the West and these regimes is not Cold War 2.0. After all, the countries in question are neither ideologically uniform nor geographically distinct, plotting, as they mostly did in the original version, from behind an Iron Curtain. Instead, Applebaum argues that the autocrats who lead regimes in dozens of countriesthe usual suspects, but also the under-the-radar strongmen in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Belarus, and Azerbaijan, among othersoperate not like a bloc but rather like an agglomeration of companies, bound not by ideology but rather by a ruthless, single-minded determination to preserve their personal wealth and power.

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Why, if theyre so self-interested, should they turn their collective fire on the West? Autocrats hate [democratic] principles because they threaten their power, Applebaum writes. Their opposition  has its roots in the very nature of the democratic political system, in words like accountability, transparency, and democracy. They hear that language coming from the democratic world, they hear the same language coming from their own dissidents, and they seek to destroy them both.

Over the course of five chapters, Applebaum breaks down five autocratic behaviors. She describes kleptocracy enabled by decades of free trade between the West and autocracies; a well-integrated and opaque global financial system that lets autocrats and their lackeys launder money through property in democracies; sophisticated, state-backed disinformation campaigns that aim to make the truth feel unknowable and encourage cynicism both at home and in democracies around the world; revisionist efforts by China, Russia, and others to hollow out the language of the U.S-led, rules-based international system in order to remake it in their image; and elaborate smear campaigns that target any dissident that dares stand up to the regime, generating distrust and warning off any who would follow in their footsteps. The despots who rule the worlds autocracies learn from each other to build on and improve those behaviors.

That these things are happening is undeniable, based on evidence Applebaum ably deploys. In one particularly compelling illustration, she describes the spreadin the aftermath of Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraineof a bogus story about U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine allegedly conducting research on bat viruses first promulgated by Russian officials.

The tale got some play on Twitter, then Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson boosted it. Then Chinese state media got a hold of it, pushing it as a way to deflect from the possibility that one of their biolabs had been the source of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outlets around the world with content-sharing agreements with Chinese media republished the verifiably false story, as did several information laundromats, as Applebaum calls them. Sites based in Moscow, Damascus, and elsewhere spread and legitimized Russian propaganda across the world and in various languages. The Justice Department just last month announced it had disrupted some such Russian operations, called Doppelganger, including RT employees who helped set up a U.S. company to pay right-wing American influencers in an effort to sow division and spread Russian propaganda.

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The ultimate goal of such joint operationseven if theyre decentralizedis to create chaos, Applebaum argues. They hope to encourage people to question the state, to doubt authority, and eventually to question democracy itself. For if democracy is chaotic and messy, authoritarians have an orderly solution: them.

The unanswered question about this collaboration between the worlds autocratic regimes is its durability. Applebaum wants the U.S. and the West to take steps to cut off the means of their cooperation, these autocratic behaviorsfrom making financial institutions more transparent to limiting overdependent trade relationships with Chinato curtail their cooperation that way.

But perhaps the more important question is one of will: If the U.S. gets in a shooting war with China over Taiwan, how helpful will Iran or North Korea or Russia be to Beijing? If you believe Applebaum, their help may come in the form of arson elsewhere. The autocracies keep track of one anothers defeats and victories, timing their own moves to create maximum chaos, she writes, pointing to the multiple conflagrations across the globe in 2023 as a prime example. This multifaceted, interconnected, self-reinforcing polycrisis was not coordinated by a single mastermind, and it is not evidence of a secret conspiracy. Rather, theyre to some degree crimes of opportunity against democracies and democratic values.

The search for the foreign policy metanarrativeCold War 2.0, or Great Power Competition, or the West vs. an Axis of Evil, or, indeed, Autocracy, Inc.isnt just a navel-gazing exercise for ivory tower types. Its ultimately a discussion, both for the people who make the national security decisions in the U.S. and elsewhere in the West, about priorities. And the ship of state turns slowly, so it had better be headed in the right direction.

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For example, there are policymakers who believe (wrongly, in my view) that the rise of China should be the only concern of U.S. national security policy. In that view, aid for Ukraine, then, is at best a distraction and at worst an active risk to U.S. national security. Vice President Kamala Harris said last month that Iran is Americas greatest adversary. Agree or disagree with the sentiment, that distinction, at least notionally, implies prioritization.

As apt as Applebaums analysis surely feels now, perhaps it, like the other pithy ways weve described the world as it is and has been, will become outmoded. For now, though, her thesis presents a challenge: If every crisis can easilyand may necessarilycascade into another elsewhere, how should democracies plan or prioritize? Projecting American strength, in collaboration with allies, is probably a good place to start.

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(Bloomberg) -- Disinformation is permeating the 2024 US presidential election on an unprecedented scale, with online instigators escalating doubts about the integrity of the electoral process as millions of Americans cast their ballots.

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Heading into Election Day, conspiracy theorists and foreign actors are amplifying unverified allegations of fraud that echo Donald Trumps claims that the result cant be trusted if he loses to Vice President Kamala Harris. Theyre using Elon Musks X and other social media platforms to sow skepticism among voters by circulating fake images of destroyed ballots and bogus reports about blocked polling places.

Operatives linked to American adversaries including Russia are behind some of the latest election-related hoaxes, according to US officials and misinformation researchers. On Friday, US intelligence agencies blamed Russian influence actors for manufacturing a video that falsely depicted Haitian migrants voting in the closely contested state of Georgia as part of a broader effort by Moscow to stoke divisions in US.

Voting rights groups have warned that intentionally spreading rumors and falsehoods can result in Americans deciding not to cast a ballot or trust the integrity of the election. Doubts being spread by Trump and his allies  including Musk, the worlds richest man  open the door for the former president to contest the outcome just as he did after his loss in 2020.

Theres a lot of crazy going on, said Carah Ong Whaley, director of election protection at Issue One, a nonpartisan think tank focused on electoral policy.

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Weve always had false information in elections, she said. But in 2024, the sheer volume of different sets and facts and beliefs about election integrity is at a scale that I dont think weve witnessed in our lifetimes.

Spokespeople for X and for the Trump and Harris campaigns had no immediate comment.

While the effect of such narratives on voter behavior is difficult to quantify, polling numbers show that faith in electoral results has diminished significantly since the last two US elections. Twenty-eight percent of Republicans say they have faith in the accuracy of results nationwide, down from 44% in 2020 and 55% in 2016, according to a Gallup poll released in September. Of Democrats, 84% said they were confident in election results, up from 76% in 2020 but down slightly from 85% in 2016, according to the Gallup results.

Seventy percent of Republicans say they have confidence in the integrity of the vote at their local polling place, according to Gallups findings. The extent to which GOP voters trust their own election offices suggests that relative lack of faith in the nationwide results is at least in part fueled by online conspiracies, researchers say.

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Some of these conspiracies dont make any damn sense, but theyre still propagating and influencing peoples faith in the electoral process, said William Pelfrey Jr., a professor focused on domestic terrorism at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Social media users seized on a fake video that purportedly showed people in Pennsylvania tearing up ballots, footage that the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence quickly said was the work of Russian operatives. Bogus videos on that theme, though, have bolstered doubts about election integrity that prominent Republicans have aired.

Vice presidential candidate JD Vance on Thursday reposted a video suggesting that Democrats had stopped people from voting in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Bucks County officials said on X that people in line to apply for a mail-in ballot were briefly told they couldnt be accommodated due to a miscommunication. The county said voters will still have the opportunity to pick up a ballot in person or have it mailed to them.

Even with that explanation, misleading videos about the episode have continued to spread, with some users accusing Pennsylvanias Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, of election interference. Musk boosted those claims to his more than 200 million followers on X, and Trump has also claimed in posts on his Truth Social network there was widespread fraud in the state without offering any evidence.

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Rumors about non-citizens illegally voting also have been a theme of online conspiracies, according to anti-misinformation specialists. A network of phony X accounts has masqueraded in recent weeks as foreign nationals openly stating that they planned to vote in the election, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a nonprofit that advocates for policies to fight extremism.

Im going to illegally vote for Donald Trump as a European national, said one X account. The posts, including one that X promoted with a push notification, received more than 11.7 million views on the platform, and a sample of 50 accounts in the networks had more than 14 million views, according to ISD.

Propaganda groups outside the US have promoted similar messaging. A Russian disinformation network known as Doppelganger sought to flood social media with websites meant to resemble American media outlets such as the Washington Post and Fox News, according to the Justice Department. Those fake websites would then post content disparaging Harris and President Joe Biden while faulting Western support for Ukraine.

Major social media companies are taking a hands-off approach in handling false or misleading information in the 2024 race compared to past election cycles. The Justice Department said in September it wont ask platforms to remove potentially harmful posts that are traced to foreign instigators.

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In 2020, Twitter said it would hide messages from prominent political figures containing false information and promised to warn users about misleading content. Now known as X, the site under Musks ownership has become a haven for anti-immigrant conspiracies and accusations that Democrats are working to steal the election.

Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook has stopped labeling posts involving election information and directing users to its voting information center, as it did in 2020. Meta also has stopped recommending posts about politics to most users on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.

Outside organizations that previously flagged falsehoods have been largely sidelined, limiting the extent to which independent watchdogs can examine political narratives that go viral. The Stanford Internet Observatory, which tracked misinformation, ceased operations this year after Republican lawmakers and conservative groups accused researchers of censoring free speech online.

As disinformation efforts intensify, intelligence agencies in Washington have increased the tempo at which they disclose foreign attempts to sway US political opinions. The Justice Department, FBI, ODNI and state officials in recent weeks have revealed details about such efforts. The approach represents a stark difference from the way the Obama administration largely kept quiet about Russian meddling ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

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The government has to position itself to control the narrative, so that means operationalizing intelligence, said George Barnes, former deputy director of the National Security Agency. You need to act on intelligence. Yes, in the classified domain but also in the public domain. You have to have the trust of the population.

--With assistance from Chris Strohm, Natalia Drozdiak and Kurt Wagner.

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In the last week of October, Russia deployed more than 7,000 North Korean soldiers to areas bordering Ukraine.

Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

Details: Ukrainian intelligence noted that the North Korean troops were moved using at least 28 military transport aircraft.

It is known that Moscow armed the DPRK troops with, among other things, 60mm mortars, AK-12 assault rifles, PK machine guns, Dragunov and Chukavin sniper rifles, Feniks anti-tank missile systems and anti-tank grenade launchers.

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They also received a number of night vision devices, thermal imagers, collimator sights and binoculars.

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reiterated that the DPRK troops, which Russia decided to engage in the war against Ukraine, are being trained on five training grounds in Russias Far East.

Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would launch a preventive strike on thousands of North Korean troops, but it needs long-range weapons for that purpose.

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A Russian court on Nov. 1 sentenced Robert Shonov, a former employee of the U.S. consulate in Vladivostok, to four years and 10 months in prison for "secret collaboration with a foreign state."

Shonov, a Russian national who worked at the consulate for over 25 years until 2021, became a private contractor after Moscow restricted local staff from working at foreign missions, gathering public Russian media reports for the U.S., according to the U.S. State Department.

Shonov was detained in 2023, accused of passing information on Russias war in Ukraine to the U.S. in exchange for payment. Primoryes regional court disclosed that 400,000 roubles ($4,100) and an electronic device were confiscated as part of the investigation.

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In September, Russia expelled two U.S. diplomats, alleging they served as intermediaries for Shonov.

The U.S. State Department defended Shonovs activities as lawful, saying he "worked as a private contractor compiling press accounts from publicly accessible Russian media, in strict compliance with Russias laws and regulations." Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the allegations against Mr. Shonov "are wholly without merit."

This incident adds to a series of U.S. nationals arrested in Russia, with several now serving lengthy sentences or awaiting trial. Washington, a key backer of Ukraine against Russian forces, accuses Moscow of seeking prisoner swaps for Russians held in the U.S.

Though the U.S. and Russia executed a notable prisoner swap in August that included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, several American and dual-national detainees remain in Russian custody.

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Read also: US imposes sanctions on nearly 400 individuals, legal entities, including Putins relative

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It was confirmed on the morning of 2 November that air defence assets and personnel had downed 39 Russian UAVs in Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Sumy and Poltava oblasts as a result of night combat efforts.

Source: Ukraines Air Force

Details: Another 21 drones disappeared from radar, and 5 UAVs flew back to Russia.

In total, the Russians fired a Kh-31P missile launched from the airspace of Russias Belgorod Oblast and 71 attack UAVs launched from the directions of Russias Oryl and Kursk.

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Currently, there are about five attack UAVs in the air. Combat efforts are ongoing.

Early reports indicate that as a result of the Russian attack, apartment buildings and private houses in Sumy, Poltava, Kyiv and Odesa oblasts were damaged by falling drone wreckage.

Background:

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported damage in Kharkiv Oblast.

Wreckage from Russian drones fell in six out of ten Kyivs districts.

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A Russian drone strike on Kyiv on Nov. 2, which caused a fire in a 16-story residential building and an office building, left an 82-year-old woman with shrapnel injuries to the head, local authorities reported.

Ukrainian forces downed 39 out of 71 Shahed-type drones and other identified drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Twenty-one other drones were "lost," and five more flew back towards Russia, it added.

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"All drones that threatened the city were neutralized," Kyiv City Military Administration said, without specifying the number of drones shot down over the capital.

The injured woman was transported to hospital and is described as being in stable condition, the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration reported.

During the attack, another elderly woman suffered from shock and a policeman was poisoned with burning products.

The air raid alert in Ukraines capital lasted more than 5 hours, with explosions reported in Kyiv and surrounding areas.

The blaze, which broke out on the upper floors of the residential building in the city's Sviatoshynskyi district, spread across an area of roughly 50 square meters, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported. The fire has been extinguished.

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The attack damaged several apartments on the buildings 15th and 16th floors, with the top floor suffering the most severe destruction.

First responders evacuated 18 residents, according to local authorities.

The aftermath of a Russian drone attack on the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 2, 2024. (Kyiv City Military Administration)

Debris from downed drones hit the office building in Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district, causing a fire on one of the floors, the mayor reported.

Debris was also found in the city's Solomianskyi, Dniprovskyi, Pecherskyi and Holosiivskyi districts.

The attack damaged energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, briefly leaving some residents without electricity, said DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company.

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The Nov. 2 attack is the latest in a series of drone strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraines capital. Russia attacked Kyiv with drones on Oct. 29, injuring six people in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district, authorities reported.

Russia launched over 2,000 attack drones targeting both civilian and military sites across Ukraine last month, Kyivs military reported on Nov. 1, as Kremlin forces continue their offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Read also: As drone strikes surge, Russias next mass missile attack on Kyiv likely imminent, experts and weary residents say

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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian forces attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Nov. 2, injuring eight people, including two children, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

An explosion was reported near the city of Dnipro soon after an air raid alert went off in the region.

Lysak said that two children were hospitalized in moderate condition as a result of the attack.

An 8-year-old girl sustained shrapnel injuries to her face, while a 15-year-old boy suffered injuries to both his lower legs, Lysak said.

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A 83-year-old woman was also hospitalized in serious condition with a leg injury.

The Russian attack damaged the infrastructure, according to Lysak. No further details, including regarding the weapon used, were disclosed.

Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city with a pre-war population of about one million, has served as a key logistics and humanitarian hub during the full-scale war. It is located approximately 395 kilometers (245 miles) from Kyiv.

Read also: Mass Russian drone attack on Kyiv leaves residential buildings, office damaged

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Russian attacks against Ukraine killed five people and injured 68 others over the past day, regional authorities said on Nov. 2.

Ukrainian forces downed 39 out of 71 Shahed-type drones and other unidentified drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Twenty-one other drones were "lost," and five more flew back towards Russia, it added.

Debris from downed drones damaged residential buildings and an office building in Kyiv during an hours-long attack, local authorities said.

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Russian forces also reportedly fired a Kh-31P cruise missile against Ukraine overnight.

Two S-400 missiles hit a police station in Kharkiv, killing police officer Andrii Matvienko. Thirty-six police officers, nine civilians, and one rescuer were injured in the attack, according to the Interior Ministry.

The strikes damaged 20 residential buildings, as well as heating and water supply networks, and 19 vehicles, local authorities said.

Russian forces also attacked a five-story residential building in the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring a 44-year-old man and two women aged 68 and 75, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

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A Russian drone also hit a residential building in the city of Sumy. At least eight people suffered injuries, local authorities reported.

Four people were killed in the settlements of Sukhi Yaly, Yuriivka and Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Four more people were injured in the region over the past day.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 15 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. Seven people were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Read also: As drone strikes surge, Russias next mass missile attack on Kyiv likely imminent, experts and weary residents say

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Drone wreckage has caused fires in residential buildings in the Sviatoshynskyi and Dniprovskyi districts of Kyiv on the night of 1-2 November. Two persons have sustained injuries.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration on Telegram

Details: The wreckage of a Shahed drone also fell in a residential area in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv.

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kyiv.

Photo: Kyiv City Military Administration

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kyiv.

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Photo: Kyiv City Military Administration

It was reported that windows were smashed in several buildings. There was no information on casualties or other damage.

Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, posted that at least five parked cars were damaged.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a drone fragment hit a residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district, causing a fire. An ambulance brigade was called to the scene.

:  

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kyiv.

Photo: State Emergency Service

Popko also said that a fire broke out in a 16-storey residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district. Emergency services are on their way to the scene.

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Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kyiv.

Photo: State Emergency Service

At 06:49, the State Emergency Service in Kyiv reported that the UAV attack caused a fire covering an area of 50 square metres and partial destruction of apartments on the 14th and 15th floors of a 16-storey residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district of the city.

Rescue workers are evacuating the residents of the building.

A rescue worker dealing with the aftermath of the Russian attack on Kyiv

Photo: State Emergency Service

Information about the casualties is being confirmed.

At 07:03, Klitschko reported that one person sustained injuries in the residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district. The man was treated by medics on the spot.

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At 07:24, the Kyiv Patrol Police reported that traffic on Yakuba Kolasa Street was blocked due to ongoing efforts to mitigate the aftermath of the Shahed drone attack. Relevant services are working at the scene.

At 07:26, the head of Kyiv City Military Administration announced that drone wreckage had fallen in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv. A fire broke out on the balcony in a nine-storey residential building, covering an area of two square metres.

No information about casualties was reported.

Later, Klitschko reported that the smoke on the balcony in the Dniprovskyi district was due to domestic causes. The firefighters promptly extinguished it.

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At 07:26, firefighters had extinguished the fire resulting from the Russian attack in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv.

Eighteen residents were evacuated from the building and two persons were injured.

A total of 9 units of equipment and 40 personnel from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are working at the scene.

Since early morning air combat efforts have been reported in Kyiv, with gunfire and explosions heard in various districts of the city.

Background:

On the evening of 1 November, the Russians launched groups of attack drones from several directions.

Around 05:00 on the night of 1-2 November, explosions were heard in Kyiv, and an air-raid warning was issued.

At 05:55, explosions were heard again in Kyiv. Popko wrote that air defence units were shooting down Russian targets.

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A total of two civilians have been injured as a result of a Russian drone hitting a car in Kharkiv Oblast on Saturday afternoon.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Around 14:00, the occupiers attacked Chuhuiv district.

An enemy UAV hit a civilian car in the village of Bilyi Kolodiaz.

Two civilians were injured. Civilian men, 33 and 61, suffered blast injuries; both were hospitalised".

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A Russian combatant who fought in Ukraine in 2014 has been charged with alleged war crimes by prosecutors in Finland.

Yan Petrovsky, who is also known as Voislav Toden, will stand trial in Helsinki for five suspected war crimes, said Finland's National Prosecution Authority.

The suspect  who has been in custody in Finland since entering the Nordic country in July 2023  denies involvement in the crimes.

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Petrovsky has been under EU and US sanctions since 2022 for allegedly being a founding member of the far-right neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich, which is suspected of terrorism crimes in Ukraine and is connected with the Kremlin's mercenary Wagner Group.

"The charges are related to the suspects activities in a unit called Rusich, which has fought on the side of the Russian-backed Luhansk separatist region against Ukraine," Finnish prosecutors said in a statement.

In 2014, Russia went on its first invasion of Ukraine when Moscow sent its forces to Crimea and illegally annexed the peninsula within weeks. At the same time, Moscow-backed forces launched an attack on eastern Ukraine, starting a long-running armed conflict, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes and leaving thousands dead.

The two self-proclaimed so-called "people's republics" in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk declared unilateral independence in the same year, which hasnt been recognised by Ukraine and the West. The Kremlin has also claimed to have annexed the temporary-occupied territories after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

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Petrovsky is accused of being Rusich's deputy commander and participating in acts that violate the laws of war, according to the prosecutors. He and the unit's soldiers are accused of killing a total of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and seriously wounding four.

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Petrovsky, 37, was detained at Helsinki Airport in July 2023 as he headed for Nice in southern France with his family. He had managed to enter Finland despite a EU-wide entry ban with the help of a new identity, local media reported.

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Finlands Supreme Court in December 2023 ruled that Petrovsky cannot be extradited to Ukraine  where he faces an arrest warrant on suspicion of participating in a terrorist organisation  citing the risk of inhumane prison conditions there.

Finnish prosecutors said on Thursday that the country has an obligation to try Petrovsky.

The trial is expected to start on 5 December and last until the end of January 2025.
On Saturday, a Russian UAV attack on Kyiv Oblast resulted in injuries to an 82-year-old woman and caused damage to eight houses across four districts, as well as an apartment in a high-rise building.

Source: Kyiv Oblast Military Administration

  ,  

Damage caused by Russian UAV wreckage in Kyiv.

Photo: Ukraine's National Police

Details: Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, reported that an 82-year-old woman had been injured in the attack, sustaining shrapnel wounds from the fall of UAV wreckage. The woman was taken to hospital with head wounds and a hypertensive crisis. Her condition is satisfactory.

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The attack caused minor damage, shattering windows and doors and affecting facades and roofs. Eight houses in four districts, an apartment in a high-rise building, and two outbuildings were impacted.

In addition, power lines were damaged. A total of 1,860 subscribers in one of the region's settlements were left without electricity as of 12:00.

Damage caused by Russian UAV wreckage in Kyiv.

Photo: Ukraine's National Police

A combine harvester burned out in a private household due to the fall of wreckage from the downed targets.

Damage caused by Russian UAV wreckage in Kyiv.

Photo: Ukraine's National Police

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Previously: Russian forces targeted Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast on the night of 1-2 November and the morning and afternoon of 2 November. In particular, a fire broke out in a residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv due to the fall of UAV wreckage, leaving two people injured.

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Two civilians were killed in the shelling of Ivanopillia in Donetsk Oblasts Kostiantynivka hromada on Saturday. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Filashkin: "Two people were killed as a result of the shelling of Ivanopillia of Kostiantynivka hromada. Tonight the village came under fire from Russian artillery. A man, 60, and a woman, 54, were killed."

Details: The shelling damaged four houses, a power line and a gas pipeline in the village.

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On the evening of Friday 1 November, Russian forces targeted a police deployment point in the city of Kharkiv, leaving one officer dead and 46 people, including police officers, injured.

Source: Ivan Vyhivskyi, the head of the National Police of Ukraine, on Telegram; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Details: According to law enforcement, the Russians fired two missiles.

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv. Photo: National Police of Ukraine

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv. Photo: National Police of Ukraine

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According to preliminary information, they used S-300 missiles.

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv. Photo: National Police of Ukraine

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Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv. Photo: National Police of Ukraine

Police Colonel Andrii Matviienko was killed in the strike.

Updated: Later, Syniehubov released a photo of the deceased.

Quote from Syniehubov: "Police Colonel Andrii Matviienko was tragically killed in an enemy bombardment of Kharkiv.

The law enforcement officer was 40 years old. He served society and the state with dedication, ensuring law and order near the line of contact."

Andrii Matviienko. Photo: Syniehubov on social media

As of 22:00, it was reported that 30 police officers, a rescue worker and 9 civilians were injured in the strike.

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It has been confirmed that the Russians attacked the police with S-400 missiles.

The State Emergency Service in Kharkiv Oblast reported on the morning of 2 November that rescue workers completed a search and rescue operation and cleared the rubble at midnight.

As a result of the Russian attack, one person was killed and 46 more sustained injuries.

Previously: On Friday, the Russian forces struck the city of Kharkiv. Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration reported that a residential building was hit, and dozens of houses and apartment buildings were damaged.

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This article was originally published by The 19th.

When the Uncommitted Movement, formed to register Democratic voters objections to U.S. support for Israel in the war in Gaza, wanted to put forward a speaker for the summers Democratic National Convention (DNC), they suggested Ruwa Romman.

Romman made history in 2022 as the first Palestinian American elected in the state of Georgia. Even before the convention, she had been going viral on TikTok for her nuanced opinions on political organizing and on what a revolution really looks like.

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Romman and Uncommitted did not get a speaking slot at the DNC. Romman read her short speech outside the venue on the last night of the convention, calling for a ceasefire and expressing support for Vice President Kamala Harris.

In September, the Uncommitted Movement announced it would not endorse Harris, but urged people concerned about Palestine to vote  just not for Trump or a third party.

Romman, 31, has found her stride talking to young people. If young people voted more than boomers, our entire electoral system would completely change on its head, she said. There is a reason that Vice President Harris calls Gen Z out directly from her campaign rallies.

This week, Romman wrote an editorial for Rolling Stone about why she voted for Harris. She spoke with The 19th about her background in political organizing, what young people disillusioned by a two-party system can do and life after the election.

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Jasmine Mithani: Youve been talking a lot about November 6, or life post election. Why are you encouraging people to think about that?

Ruwa Romman: We exist in a society where not everybody agrees with us, and that can be difficult for movement building. Sometimes its easier to argue with people that mostly agree with you than it is to try to persuade people who are way further than you on any issue.

What I tell people is that the opposition doesnt even have to outwork you anymore; these days, they just have to convince you that the people you work with are not good enough, and suddenly you see movements completely split open and split apart and fall apart.

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A really good example of this for me personally is seeing the responses to Uncommitted because I was never a delegate. I was just the name they put forward. But I would get bombarded with comments, and I would be surprised how almost vicious some of these comments would get, even though Im Palestinian, even though Im somebody who has very actively opposed the current policies as relates to Gaza, have actively tried to end the genocide in Gaza by creating pressure campaigns  you name it. But what I found super interesting about it is how much time and energy was being spent on those of us who agree and are trying to work on fixing this, versus those who are the opposition. And if I wanted to take down a movement, to me, that is exactly how I would do it.

Uncommitted Democratic delegates from several states hold a press conference near the United Center where the DNC is held.

Read Next: Harris walked a delicate line on Gaza. Was it enough to appeal to activists?

I remember when we spoke in 2022 you said your opponent used Islamophobic and racist rhetoric against you, but your community stepped up in your defense. This has been a completely wild first term in office for you. How has your real-life district that youre representing reacted?

I have a Republican opponent. Again, this person is leaning heavily into trying to get right-wing platforms to amplify him. And its the same thing, but its from a different perspective, like shes a member of Hamas, she is a terrorist sympathizer. I think a lot about what that means for voters as they try to move in this information-driven world. It makes people furious. It makes people angry.

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Weve knocked almost 10,000 doors in two months. The majority of people have been incredibly supportive, incredibly positive. And its funny because as a state representative, people are not supposed to know your name. But the thing that has been new is, Oh, I saw her on TV, and shes fighting the good fight.

I try to explain this to my colleagues all the time. I think sometimes were so scared of messing up, but people really want to see somebody fighting on their behalf.

Its not necessarily that Im perfect or uniquely different as an elected official. Im willing to bet that a lot of those constituents that have been really positive at the doors couldnt name you every bill Ive worked on, couldnt name you specific policy discussions that Ive led, but they can name you when they saw me fighting and to me, thats the part that matters most. I want to put public service back into politics. Thats why Im in politics. Thats why I agreed to run, and thats been genuinely the best part of this.

What sort of lessons do you feel like young people need to learn about political organizing, as something youve been doing for a decade?

First and foremost, what Ive learned about politics is that its a thing of attrition. Whoever lasts the longest gets what they want. And if theres anything I could tell people, if they remember nothing that I told them, please be tenacious.

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History is full of examples of leaders saying no until they said yes. People are waiting for you to give up. That is the reality of the situation. Your opposition is waiting for you to go away.

The second thing is that when it comes to voting and politics and elected officials, yes, we are people. Yes, you absolutely should try to engage with us and have conversations with us, because you will get way further having conversations with us than if you create a strictly adversarial relationship. However, there are also moments where, no matter what you do, the persons not going to listen. Thats where even though you didnt succeed in whatever endeavor youre trying to do, you now have 1,000 people with you, right? You are now 1,000 people that can door knock and phone bank and support a campaign and really, really change the dynamic of things.

Politics is going to be imperfect, because it is people. And people are imperfect. If you are looking for the perfect politician to fix and save everything, thats never going to happen. But if you view politics as sort of a board where youve got all these pieces and youre trying to move them in the best direction possible as you do other work, I think we can really, really change things, and thats why I wanted to get to a point where we stop arguing about whether or not we should vote. The right doesnt argue about whether or not they should vote. They just vote.

Many young people in particular have been disillusioned with the Democratic Party because of the Biden administrations support of Israel. What message do you have for people who are conflicted about voting in the presidential election this year, less than a week out from Election Day?

Im talking about voting in general. Im not even talking about party. Im not even talking about a specific person right now. Im literally just talking about the act of voting. The reality is that Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush lost their seats because only 19 and 23 percent of people voted, respectively, literally almost half of how many people voted in the primary last cycle.

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This has been the most difficult election cycle of my entire life, and Ive been doing this for 10 years easily. I have agonized over what to do this cycle, genuinely and sincerely, like Ive asked anybody who knows me, knows it is the only thing Ive been talking about, of what should I do? How should I do this? What is the best path forward? And Ive prayed on it. Ive talked to mentors, and Ive talked to people, and Ive talked to friends and neighbors and family.

I need people to understand that it is soul-crushing. I have never, ever experienced anything like this before  and that we are here. The election is here, and as much as I wish it were different, as much as I wish, for example, the Harris campaign would have approached this election very differently, as much as I wish that people could give me the things that I want and need to turn voters out, I cant control anybody else but myself. And thats why I ultimately decided to vote for Harris on Sunday. But in exchange, I swapped my vote. [Editors note: Agreeing to vote for a party candidate in a swing state if another person in a non-swing state will cast a protest or third-party vote, also know as vote pairing.]

I am now in a place where I approach voting as a strategic conversation more than a moral one. It is simply a moment in time, and I know that come November 6, the day after elections, the work doesnt stop.

My ask of people after November 5 is that we learn to merge our efforts. We learn to start walking hand in hand, even when we fundamentally disagree on things like the system. Instead of being so focused on how good or bad somebody in office is, start analyzing the records and start finding openings, because you will be surprised how many people are willing to listen, especially those in elected office.

One thing that Ive been struck by while listening to many people who are campaigning for Harris, and I see this particularly when people are speaking to Muslim voters and Arab voters, is theyre citing the activism of the civil rights movement. You talked about the legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer. What lessons are you encouraging activists to draw from the Civil Rights Movement and apply today?

I always feel the need to make this disclaimer, we are not comparing ourselves to those incredible leaders. We are giving credit where its due when it comes to strategy. You can protest all day, every day, and if you dont have sympathetic people on the inside its very, very difficult to get things to change. You need to be working every avenue and for us, you know, honestly kudos to the Uncommitted Movement, because I really do appreciate them teaching me about these figures, whether it was Fannie Lou Hamer and others who did things like integrate their respective parties, who refused to take platitudes. With Uncommitted  and this is the part that people miss  there were times where we did put the bar very low. But the idea was that if we make it easy and they say no, at bare minimum, were exposing the structural racism that exists.

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I think people sometimes forget that again, even in failure, there are successes to build on. And in this case, we went from people not understanding why anybody would even question who to vote for this election cycle to the very awful reality that systemic racism still exists in our party, particularly as it relates to Palestinians. And am I happy about it? Of course not. But I look back on those before me who recognized those things, and instead of saying Im going to disenfranchise myself and give up, they said, No, Im demanding the party change.

I think we forget that movements have to start with persuasion and education and that these wins, the March on Washington that everybody talks about  that was first talked about 20 years prior. This work is long-term.

With the DNC, youve been in the spotlight so much on this national scale. And youve gone viral on Tiktok a couple times. What parts of your message, despite having this platform, do you feel like people are not paying enough attention to?

I think theyre forgetting the part where the reason I share the things that I do isnt to absolve those in power of responsibility. Theyre missing the part where Im saying, I want us to be so powerful, people have no choice but to listen. I dont want to keep relying on the goodwill of somebody in a position to do what I need them to do. And I think sometimes people mistake that for blind support, and they forget that when you make strategic decisions, its not a permanent approval of somebody.

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There is benefit to outrage, but what Ive noticed is that if all you do is tell people how things are bad, they give up, they disengage, they dont want to do it anymore. But if you tell them this is bad, and heres what we can do about it, to try to fix it, it changes the dynamic. It gives them hope. It gives them a way out.

What have your conversations with the Arab and Muslim voters been like, and what do you think about the strategy of voting third party to send a message to the Democratic Party?

What I remind people is that I wish we had the privilege of saying consequences be damned. I wish that I could say that we survived four years of Trump, well survive another four years, but I cant do that because the Supreme Court has completely changed the landscape of what is and is not legal for a president to do. And so I try to explain these things to them, but first and foremost, I listen. I do a lot of listening and sometimes arguing, because Im very stubborn.

Im not one of those people that believes that a vote for a third party is a vote for Trump. The way I explain to people is that its one less vote to stop Trump. Its one less thing that solidifies that barrier to a Trump presidency.

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I want to be very clear, as Palestinians in particular, and Lebanese people in particular, shame on anybody who blames us for any decision we make this cycle. I sincerely mean that. Leave us alone. Because the ask thats being made of us is we know were doing these terrible things to your family members, including displacing and killing them, by the way, but can you please save me? And to me, the audacity of that is just mind-boggling.

Talking to my community has really felt like talking about politics during a funeral, its so inappropriate and its so awful, and it really sucks that the only way that this issue has continued to get attention is through the lens of electoral politics. Thats why were seeing people use their vote the way they have, because they think this is the only microphone they have. People who have lost loved ones should be spending time in mourning, should be spending time with family, should be spending time not doing this.

And I really need politics to come to a much more empathetic place. I really need us to understand because the thing is, if we enforce this perspective of empathy, it also makes right-wing fascism that much easier to destroy, because youre setting that boundary, youre setting that baseline. And fair or not, no matter what we chose to do this election cycle, we have a responsibility still.

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY)  As the Christmas season approaches, the Salvation Army is encouraging folks to extend helping hands into its communities.

On Friday the Salvation Army of Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties launched its Angel Tree for this years holiday season. The organization held an event at WVU Medicines Fairmont Medical Center where the first Angel Tree of many throughout the region was arranged.

Salvation Army and WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center staff in front of the regions first Angel Tree (WBOY image).

Within the four counties it serves, the Salvation Army has 1,000 angels that need to be fulfilled for children from the ages of newborn to 12. Stockings are also available to be filled with donations this year with basic essentials like personal hygiene products and school supplies.

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Ways to support the Salvation Army in West Virginia this holiday season

Angel Tree donations will be accepted December 10 through the 12.

12 News spoke with Salvation Army Morgantown Corps captains, Dennis and Jane Smith on the importance of offering this program.

Christmas is a time of community, its not a time of self and we see that because of communities like this, Dennis said. The way that people come together to help others.

Jane went on to thank those who helped make the Angel Tree possible.

We would also like to say thank you to this community, communities across the United States, to our boards that help us put this together because this is not a one-person or two-person job, Jane said. This is a community effort and so we often times dont get an opportunity to say thank you at the end of the Christmas season.

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You can find angel trees at all Walmarts throughout Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties or you can call the Salvation Army Morgantown Corps at 304-296-3525.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Salvation Army officially kicked off the 2024 Red Kettle Christmas Campaign at Wichitas Naftzger Park Friday afternoon.

Those who attended the event enjoyed live reindeer, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate, coffee, sweet treats, and live Christmas music from local school bands.

The Salvation Army says the campaign is important to meet the increasing needs of community families. The campaign provides Christmas gifts, food, utility assistance, and more.

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Teen dead, another critically injured after shooting in east Wichita

Red buckets will be placed across retailers in the city to collect donations.



Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SAN JUAN COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that they will be monitoring San Juan County for federal voting rights laws.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, San Juan County is one of 86 jurisdictions in 27 states that will be monitored. San Juan is the only county in Utah that will be monitored. In Nevada, Clark County will monitored. No jurisdictions in Idaho or Wyoming will be monitored.

Heres how it works: The Justice Department is tasked with oversight of civil rights statutes and how those laws are set to be administered amongst Native American nations, like the Navajo. San Juan County is home to two Native American nations: The Navajo Nation and the White Mesa Utes.

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Single men aged 40 and up can now serve as senior missionaries, LDS Church announces

The county is required by settlement agreements to provide certain provisional accommodations that pertain to language assistance to the Navajo and the Utes.

It has happened in the county before, we are prepared for this election to welcome all of the poll watchers at all of our locations, Lyman Duncan, San Juan County Clerk told ABC4.com. He confirmed that this ties back to a settlement agreement that is in place between Native American nations and the U.S. government.

San Juan County will offer both written and spoken translation services for Navajo-speaking and Ute-speaking Native Americans to those who need the services.

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We feel really good about our election efforts, Duncan said.

San Juan County Clerks office has Navajo translators. When the translation looks good, the countys work is sent to the Navajo Nations Human Rights Commission for approval. The spoken translation is used in radio ads on two separate radio stations.

The county does the same for the White Mesa Utes.

Duncan says that the U.S. government just wants to make sure the county complies during the election.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
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A side-by-side set of Landsat satellite images of Spain, showing the country before and after devastating flooding in October 2024. | Credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Satellite images captured deadly flooding in eastern Spain caused by torrential rainfall on Tuesday (Oct. 29).

Landsat and Maxar satellites imaged the damage, which came after the region experienced more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain, according to Spains meteorological agency, AEMET.

Landsat 8's operational land imager scrutinized the area on Wednesday (Oct. 30), tracking "sediment-laden waters" in the coastal city of Valencia, NASA officials stated. (Landsat is jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey.)

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Related: How satellite data has proven climate change is a climate crisis

"Sediment-laden floodwaters also filled the channel of the Turia river, which empties into the Balearic Sea  part of the Mediterranean  and the L'Albufera coastal wetlands south of the city," the NASA statement added.

an overhead view of a roundabout surrounded by flooded buildings

Anthropogenic climate change may be partially responsible for the severity of the flood. In 2023, human activity was responsible for a whopping 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming, according to the Global Climate Change report led by the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.

a dirt-filled canal flooding into nearby buildings, as captured by an overhead view

Activities such as the burning of fossil fuels create greenhouse gases like methane or carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere.

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These gases reduce the ability of heat to escape from our planet, which in turn is causing more extreme weather events such as flooding and hurricanes.

a waterway with a lot of dirt in it, with a bridge overhead. buildings surround the banks

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Roadways in Valencia are choked with mud and silt. This debris is causing "extensive traffic backups," which "are visible on many of the major roads in the area," Maxar representatives said in a statement.

"Transportation routes across the area," they added, "have been significantly impacted by the flood damage as many roads, bridges and highways remain obstructed or impassable; moreover, hundreds of cars and vehicles are scattered across the flooded areas of the city and suburbs."
Neighbors Terry Graham and Kristi Peterman show off Halloween decorations at Liberty Landing Cooperative in Liberty, Mo. Residents collectively purchased the mobile home community in 2021 from its longtime owner  a model more state lawmakers hope to emulate to preserve affordable housing. (Kevin Hardy/Stateline)

Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the country are trying to create more affordable housing.

LIBERTY, Mo.  Over her 25 years living in a quiet suburban mobile home park, Kristi Peterman got to know the neighbors directly next door and a few across the street.

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But since she and her neighbors collectively purchased the sprawling park outside of Kansas City from its longtime owner in 2021, shes gotten to know just about every resident.

Its a community, and not just a neighborhood, she said. A neighborhood is a group of houses or homes that are in proximity of each other. A community is something entirely different.

Housing prices are soaring across the country, and the shortage of affordable housing is a primary concern for many voters. As the crisis continues, an increasing number of policymakers are championing laws that promote the type of collective ownership at Liberty Landing Cooperative. Manufactured homes, long known as mobile homes, are widely viewed as the last bastion of affordable housing.

Millions of Americans own mobile homes but rent the ground beneath them. And despite the mobile moniker, these factory-built homes are difficult and costly to relocate. That makes owners of such homes particularly susceptible to rent hikes  especially as longtime communities get bought up by big investors.

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Residents at Liberty Landing were phenomenally lucky, Peterman said. The parks longtime owner was looking to get out of the business and suggested the resident-owned model. Working with a nonprofit organization, residents bought the park by securing a $9.5 million loan  debt that is being repaid by monthly lot rents.

Though they hired a property management firm, co-op board members, including Peterman, are now responsible for the finances and upkeep of the park. Like a homeowners association, they ensure residents are maintaining their lawns and homes. And the board evicts those who neglect their property or dont make rent payments.

The co-op requires more work from residents, Peterman said, but assures they will control their own destiny.

We really try hard not to have people come in with a renters mentality, because its a lot different than just going in somewhere and paying your rent, she said. Youre an owner here.

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Earlier this year, the federal government made available $225 million in grants for improvements at mobile home communities, including those owned by residents, and announced plans to allow resident-owned parks to access federally insured financing to keep rents low or make improvements.

But park owners and a leading trade organization for manufactured homes and park owners question the actual benefits of resident ownership and have expressed concern over governments tipping the scales in favor of the model over private ownership.

States embrace resident ownership

Because they dont own the land beneath their homes, mobile home residents are at the mercy of the parks owners, who could raise their rents or even shut down the park altogether as the land is redeveloped.

Currently, 12 private equity funds own more than 1,300 American mobile home communities, home to more than 250,000 lots, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit watchdog group that tracks the impact of private equity investors.

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It can cost thousands of dollars to move a manufactured home, and some older models are essentially considered immobile. Without long-term land leases, that leaves many residents vulnerable, said Carolyn Carter, deputy director of the National Consumer Law Center.

Residents in manufactured home communities, while theyre subject to a lot of the same abuses as apartment renters, they need even more protection, she said.

Currently, 22 states have laws requiring or encouraging owners of manufactured home parks to give homeowners the opportunity to purchase their land collectively. Those laws can vary wildly, with some requiring that the residents be given the right of first refusal, while others simply require park owners to provide notice of their intent to sell.

Theres lots of interest in the states, Carter said. More than Ive ever seen.

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Last year, six states enacted or strengthened laws encouraging resident ownership, Carter said. This year, Illinois passed legislation requiring community owners to give residents advanced notice of potential sales and an opportunity to purchase the park collectively.

Last week, New Jersey Democratic Assemblyman David Bailey Jr. introduced a bill to strengthen the states resident ownership law after visiting several mobile home communities.

This model works. It has worked. Its extremely successful, Bailey said.

A bill passed in Maine last year requires park owners to give residents and the state 60 days notice of a potential sale. The owner also must disclose the sale price and give residents the option to make their own offer and negotiate in good faith.

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For me, it was a matter of fairness and providing an option for people in that situation, so they dont lose their home, said Maine Democratic state Rep. Traci Gere, who sponsored the bill.

Residents in Brunswick, Maine, were the first to benefit from the new law. They paid $26.3 million, raised through loans and grant money, to purchase the Linnhaven Mobile Home Center, which has nearly 300 homes.

Its an example to others  not only in Maine, but across the country  that you can do this and you can take control of your own futures, Gere said. And its such an empowering feeling for everybody.

But park owners have pushed back on some of these laws, which they argue can complicate sales. Another mobile home community owner in Maine, for example, told The New York Times that the notification and negotiation process can drag out the sale, creating a horrible, horrible experience.

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And the industry doesnt necessarily agree that resident ownership is good for homeowners.

In some cases, it could be beneficial to the residents, and there are other cases where a lot of problems can come from that, said Lesli Gooch, the chief executive officer of the Manufactured Housing Institute, a trade group that includes manufacturers, retailers and community owners.

She said cooperatively owned communities may not have the same resources available to private owners to invest in long-term maintenance and infrastructure needs. And many residents just dont want to be in the business of property management.

There are various structures of resident-owned communities involving assistance from nonprofits or government groups. And homeowners may never see a financial return on the purchase of land.

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The residents need to make sure that they understand what theyre getting into, Gooch said. And so, if theres legislation that puts the finger on the scale toward one form of ownership over another, we are concerned about that.

The stigma is changing

Manufactured homes face unique financing and land use challenges  not to mention growing concerns over their ability to withstand disasters in the face of climate change. But many site-built homes face the same issues as those built in factories, said Arica Young, an associate director at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a research organization that studies the issue and advocates for the use of manufactured homes.

Given how critical our housing issue is, we need everything on the table, she said.

On a square-foot basis, manufactured homes cost 45% less to build than site-built homes, according to Freddie Mac.

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But many communities have resisted their use, either with outright bans or with more subtle regulations on design features such as roof pitch or windows that effectively keep out factory-built homes, Young said.

A lot of the regulations, a lot of the unease around it, comes from stigma, she said. That is the underlying problem that I think not a lot of people are willing to talk about.

Local opposition has pushed some legislatures to step in.

This year, Maine and Maryland enacted laws allowing manufactured housing in any location that allows single-family homes. And in New Hampshire, a bill was signed into law that requires municipalities to provide reasonable and realistic opportunities for new manufactured housing parks and blocked zoning codes that effectively bar housing parks.

I think the stigma is changing, but slowly, said Republican state Rep. Joe Alexander Jr., who sponsored the New Hampshire legislation.

Alexander views manufactured homes as a viable option for many young people, who simply cant afford to purchase a site-built home in a high-cost state such as New Hampshire.

Aside from their affordability, he said, manufactured homes are more energy efficient than many other homes. He hopes to bring a manufactured home to the statehouse lawn in Concord next year to show off their benefits.

These units are a lot nicer than some of the old trailer park ideas from the past, he said.

Whats the goal?

In Massachusetts, mobile home park owner Tom Lennon came under fire for raising mobile home lot rent by nearly 150%. In February, the monthly rent at his West Street Village Mobile Home Community in Ludlow rose from $207 to $503.06.

That move was sanctioned by the towns mobile home rent review board  a decision being challenged in court.

Lennon, who owns eight mobile home communities, said that increase was needed because the previous owner was charging too little for too long  the park has only seen two rent hikes over the last five decades, he said. That left the park poorly maintained, he said, with a backlog of costly upgrades needed. Since his purchase, Lennon has paved roads, added fencing and installed new mailboxes, among other improvements.

Lennon, who also sells mobile homes, noted they offer big cost savings compared with other types of housing.

But residents in co-ops are not building long-term wealth on their investment in the land because theyre still paying rent on their lot, he said.

Whats the goal for these people? he said. There isnt one.

Mike Bullard, vice president of communications at ROC USA, an organization that works with mobile-home owners across the country, acknowledged that owners generally dont buy their parks with hopes of a big financial return. They do it to keep their rents affordable and ensure stability over the long term, he said.

The mobile home park in Missouri, for example, doesnt expect residents to ever fully pay off its debt. Rather, the co-op plans to refinance over time and draw on equity to fund needed infrastructure improvements.

ROC USA has helped create more than 330 resident-owned parks across the country. Bullard said the organization generally helps communities secure a 10-year loan with a balloon payment toward the end. The idea is that communities build a financial track record within a few years of conversion and can refinance in traditional lending markets.

They have the equity, so they can pull some equity out and repave their roads or replace their, you know, septic systems, he said. Thats a sound and smart approach.

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.
Wisconsin legislative races to watch on Election Day In a close election, legislative control could be decided by a handful of districts where partisan advantages are narrow and political spending is high.

Wisconsins new legislative district maps will get their first major test in Tuesdays election, with Democrats likely to cut into the majorities Republicans have enjoyed for years.

But even if they flip the Assembly, Democrats are unlikely to win back a majority in the Senate, ensuring split government despite still having a Democrat in the governors seat.

Democrats have long yearned to take back the majority in the Legislature, which they havent held since 2010. But the stars would need to align for Democrats to flip 15 seats in the Assembly in one election cycle, which would land them with a one-seat majority.

Thats a tall order, even for the fundraising machine that is the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, and experts say theyd be doing well if their wins this November reach into the double digits.

Republicans currently hold a 64-35 majority in the Assembly and a 22-11 lead in the Senate.

UW-Madison Elections Research Center Director Barry Burden said there are about seven to 10 true toss-ups in the Assembly. Even under the best estimates, he said, Democrats end up somewhere in the mid-40s, meaning Republicans will likely hold onto the majority, but a diminished one.

Marquette Law School Lubar Center Research Fellow John Johnson agreed that Democrats would almost have to run the table in the seats where they have a chance to win a majority, arguing the party would need another year like they had in 2018 to get to 50 seats this election.

Its an even taller order in the state Senate. Only half of the districts are up for election this year, and it seems very unlikely Democrats would get close to a majority for the Senate to flip, Burden said.

It probably takes at least two cycles, both in 2024 and 2026, with Democrats having good years in both for the party to win back that house, he said.

With divided government, lawmaking is still likely to be contentious, Burden said, although there were moments of bipartisanship in the last legislative session. Those included raising the rates by which the state returns sales taxes and other revenue to local governments, known as shared revenue; a deal to fund the Milwaukee Brewers stadium; and overhauling the states three-tier alcohol regulations.

Ironically, those also included agreement on the new maps themselves, although Republicans said their hand was forced. In February, the Republican-controlled Legislature approved Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed legislative maps in what members characterized as the lesser of two evils: Either accept the governors maps, which are likely to shrink the GOPs majority, or risk having the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court imposing maps even more favorable to Democrats after finding the previous Republican maps were partisan gerrymanders.

It was a matter of choosing to be stabbed, shot, poisoned or led to the guillotine, said Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said at the time. We chose to be stabbed, so we can live to fight another day.

At a political event in Elkhorn last month, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, acknowledged that the new maps eliminated a baked-in GOP advantage.

For the first time in a generation, we actually have maps that were forced on us by the new liberal state Supreme Court, which do not kind of have a natural way of guaranteeing that Republicans win, he said, adding that the Legislature is at peril in November.

Governing with a slim majority

Vos own leadership position could be imperiled, even if Republicans keep their majority in the Assembly. In the last legislative session, four members of his caucus objected to his bid to be renamed speaker, a rare split in the party.

A narrower majority could also present challenges for pushing through the GOP agenda, as only a few defectors could sink legislation.

In that way, Burden said, the Assembly could end up looking like the U.S. House of Representatives, where members had a hard time coalescing behind Louisiana U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson as speaker.

So Vos could end up in a situation like that, where it just becomes more of a challenge to manage the caucus and keep everyone together, Burden said.

If hes reelected and able to keep control of the Assembly, Vos told WISN 1130 radio, his top priorities are using the states roughly $4 billion surplus to exempt from state taxes retirement income for anyone earning under $100,000 a year, keep property taxes in check to help curb rising housing costs, and invest more in public and private schools.

He also said he wants to make sure we dont have a bunch of crazy regulations that drive the cost of housing higher than it is.

Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer did not respond to an interview request. But if Democrats gain a majority in the Assembly, voters can expect the party to push floor votes on Medicaid expansion, election law changes, more shared revenue increases, increased funding for the Universities of Wisconsin, gun regulations and reproductive rights, to name a few, Burden said.

GOP unlikely to lose control of Senate

While Democrats have a slim chance of taking control of the Assembly, the odds are worse in the Senate, where only half of the 33 seats are up for election this year.

The 14th Senate District just north of Madison is one that Democrats could flip and have been eager to do so this campaign season. Democrats have been outspending Sen. Joan Ballweg, R-Pardeeville, by over a million dollars and are hoping the new district boundaries gives them an edge.

Republicans under the old map had a roughly 18% advantage over Democrats, according to Daves Redistricting, which collects and analyzes the impact of proposed legislative and congressional maps. Now, Democrats have a 7-point advantage over Republicans.

Ballweg has held the seat since 2020, but shes no stranger to voters in the area. She represented part of the area while serving in the Assembly from 2004 to 2018 and was Markesans mayor for eight years before that, as well as a city council member four years before that.

Mental health counselor Sarah Keyeski, of Lodi, is the Democratic candidate running against Ballweg.

Like Ballweg, shes not a new face to the area, but she hasnt been involved in local politics as long as her opponent.

Keyeski is the founder of Sauk Prairie Healthcare Foundation, a Lift Lodi member, a Lodi Chamber of Commerce member and on the Lodi Community Action Team.

So far, the State Senate Democratic Committee has given nearly $2.2 million to Keyeskis campaign while the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate on the other side has given nearly $800,000 to Ballweg.
Hurricane Helene took the lives of more than 200 people, making it the deadliest hurricane to make landfall on the U.S. mainland since Katrina. The type of historic, extreme flooding that Helene caused is becoming more frequent.

What's happening?

Helene maintained an amazing amount of strength by the time it struck the southern Appalachians. The winds in Mount Mitchell State Park in western North Carolina reached 106 mph. The historic amount of rain the storm squeezed out was responsible for most of the damage. Busick, North Carolina, received over 30 inches of rain. The Swannanoa River at Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina, crested at 26.1 feet, shattering the old record of 20.7 feet set in 1916.

Albert Kettner, associate director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) and director of the DFO Flood Observatory, has collected and analyzed data that reveals extreme floods are becoming more common.

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"It's not the case that the world is getting wetter," Gabe Allen, senior communications specialist with INSTAAR, reported in Phys.org. "In fact, many places are becoming more arid. Rather, really big floods, which were previously rare, are happening more often."

Why is an increase in extreme floods important?

Dr. Kettner says it is difficult to separate all the factors involved, but the two basic causes of catastrophic flooding are the changing climate and changes people have made to Earth's landscape. Our overheating planet is changing the water cycle, speeding it up as our world warms, increasing the rate of evaporation worldwide. That increased evaporation is causing higher precipitation rates.

Warmer air can hold more water vapor, so more water is available to be harnessed in the atmosphere, which can produce more intense rainfall and extreme flooding events. On the other end of the spectrum, places that tend to be more arid and susceptible to drought are projected to become even drier.

What's being done about really big floods?

Dr. Kettner has created information maps for the United Nations World Food Program. This is part of his effort to encourage more collaboration with the DFO Flood Observatory and organizations that provide aid to those enduring the consequences of a warming climate.

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Advances like AI-powered flooding forecast tools and quantum computing technology can help prepare for flooding events.

Cutting carbon pollution from dirty energy sources and transitioning to renewable options is crucial. Some steps we can take to modernize our homes, such as unplugging "energy vampires," installing solar panels, and upgrading to a tankless water heater, can help.

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.
Scientists are testing a drone fitted with its own nervous system, which they claim can keep it operating in the sky for longer.

A team of experts at the University of Southampton developed the innovative system.

It uses advanced optical fibers designed to enhance operational efficiency in various applications.

One key benefit of this system is its ability to significantly decrease the frequency of inspections required for maintenance.

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This reduction in inspection needs not only saves time and resources but also increases safety and reliability in its operational environment.

Cargo-carrying drones are required to make regular pitstops for manual safety checks, which limits their use and can increase operating costs.

Nervous system

The optical fiber system created at Southampton makes drones work better by constantly checking their structure, similar to how nerves function in the body.

The leading researchers, Dr. Chris Holmes and Dr. Martynas Beresna from the Optoelectronics Research Centre, explained this.

This is a kind of nervous system for drones, said Dr Holmes. It sends back real-time information using light  rather than electricity  which avoids problems that electronic systems have with interference from radio frequencies.

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Dr Beresna added: This system not only reduces the burden on ground crews but also ensures that drones can operate more safely and efficiently.

The system employs an optical speckle technique that produces specific images influenced by the optical fiber nervous system signals, effectively translating emotional responses into visual representations.

Dr. Holmes said that AI algorithms can be used to check the health of the drone.

He added: This speckle system keeps track of the stresses and strains on the drone, helping ground crews spot issues early without needing to land the drone as often for inspections.

Making drones reliable

Recent tests have demonstrated the potential of the optical fiber system, particularly when utilized in a drone developed by undergraduate students at the University.

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This project was part of their degree work under Dr. Bob Entwistle, the director of Soton UAV.

Toby King-Cline, a 23-year-old graduate in aerospace engineering, led a student team working on new drone technology.

He believes this technology could change how many industries use drones.

He added: The drone was first developed to deliver life-saving equipment like defibrillators in emergencies, but its served as an excellent test platform for the optical fiber nervous system.

What has really excited us is seeing the live data from the fibre system. It showed that the technology could keep drones operational longer without the need for extensive ground crews.

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The University of Southampton team said they hope the technology will make future drones more reliable and cost-effective.

The drone industry is expected to contribute up to 45billion across various sectors by 2030, according to PwC, with 2.8billion from transportation and logistics alone.

Theres lots of commercial potential for this technology, added Dr Holmes. Were aiming for commercialisation by 2025.

Academics behind the technology were supported by the University's startup accelerator program, Future Worlds.
The U.S. Supreme Court. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that voters in Pennsylvania will be able to submit provisional ballots if their mail ballots have been found defective, rejecting requests from the Republican National Committee and Republican Party of Pennsylvania to issue a stay against a state Supreme Court decision.

The lower courts judgment concerns just two votes in the long-completed Pennsylvania primary, Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the decision. Staying that judgment would not impose any binding obligation on any of the Pennsylvania officials who are responsible for the conduct of this years election. And because the only state election officials who are parties in this case are the members of the board of elections in one small county, we cannot order other election boards to sequester affected ballots. For these reasons, I agree with the order denying the application.

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The RNC and RPP had asked Alito to issue a stay that would have prevented county election officials from being required to count provisional ballots from voters whose mail ballots were fatally flawed. They also sought to have any such provisional ballots that were cast to be segregated until the court could decide on the issue.

The RNC and RPP filed a similar request last week in the state Supreme Court.

The case at issue, Faith Genser et al vs. the Butler County Board of Elections, involves Butler County voters who discovered their mail-in ballots might not be counted, and tried to vote in person using provisional ballots on Election Day. They had failed to put their ballots in the required secrecy envelope, and elections officials told them their ballots would be canceled.

When the voters tried to cast the provisional ballots, the board of elections refused to count them, on the grounds that the Pennsylvania Election Code says provisional ballots from voters whose mail-in ballots are timely received cant be counted even if the voters mail-in ballots are rejected.

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The state Supreme Court ruled Oct. 23 in a 4-3 decision that the Butler County Board of Elections should have counted the provisional ballots. The state Election Code requires county elections officials to count provisional ballots if no other ballot is attributable to the voter, and as long as there are no other issues that would disqualify their provisional ballot, Justice Christine Donohue wrote in the majority opinion.

In their petition, the RNC and RPP argued the Pennsylvania Supreme Court majoritys ruling usurps the Pennsylvania Legislatures authority to direct the appointment of presidential electors and to set the times, places and manner for congressional elections, leaning on a premise known as the independent state legislature theory. That theory asserts that the U.S. Constitution reserves the authority to set the times, places and manner of elections exclusively for state legislatures.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, which brought the case on behalf of the voters, celebrated the decision on Friday.

A petty error that is irrelevant to a persons eligibility to vote should never interfere with the counting of ballots, and provisional ballots are a decades-old failsafe, a back up, for voters, Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. Were grateful that the RNCs argument has failed and that voters can count on provisional ballots as a way to make sure that their vote counts.

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Still pending before the state Supreme Court is a case from Washington County in which the board of elections adopted a policy of not informing voters if their mail ballots had been rejected. That deprived more than 200 voters of the opportunity to challenge the rejections, request new ballots or cast provisional ballots.

The Commonwealth Court ruled in favor of the voters saying the current Policy emasculates the Election Codes guarantees by depriving voters  like Electors herein  the opportunity to contest their disqualification or to avail themselves of the statutory failsafe of casting a provisional ballot.

The RNC did not immediately reply to a request for comment Friday evening.

The state Supreme Court has twice in the last month declined to decide whether a requirement for voters to write date on the return envelope of their mail ballots infringes on the fundamental rights of voters whose ballots are rejected.

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Ben Geffen, senior attorney with the Public Interest Law Center which also represented the voters, said Friday The U.S. Supreme Courts denial of the stay supports the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts decision that all qualified voters deserve a chance to vote, even if they have made a technical error on their mail ballot. This is a step toward a more inclusive election process that respects the rights of all Pennsylvanians.

Peter Hall of the Capital-Star staff contributed
NEW YORK  Sean Diddy Combs, who is currently sitting in lockup at Brooklyn MDC on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, has been stripped of his Key to the City of Miami  months after losing the same honor in his native New York.

The 54-year-old embattled Harlem-born moguls key to Magic City was rescinded this week, following his federal arrest in mid-September and mounting sexual assault lawsuits, TMZ reports.

Nearly a decade after the honorary key was bestowed on Combs, insiders said a hearing was held Wednesday, and Mayor Steven Meiner and the city commission cast a unanimous vote to revoke it.

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Though Meiner is expected to sign off the resolution shortly, hes not yet done so, sources told TMZ.

The move is Miamis latest attempt to distance itself from Combs, whose home there  and in Los Angeles  was raided by Homeland Security agents in March as part of the federal sex trafficking investigation. He was awarded the key in 2015.

In June, Miami Beachs honorary Sean Diddy Combs Day was revoked amid the lawsuits, which kicked off with that of Combs ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, filed last November.

Earlier in June, Combs returned his Key to New York City at the request of Mayor Eric Adams  who is now awaiting his trial for corruption.

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The cities outrage followed CNNs May publication of 2016 surveillance footage that showed Combs beating Ventura in a hotel hallway.

Combs legal issues really kicked off when Ventura, 38, filed a blockbuster lawsuit accusing him of rape, sex trafficking and longstanding abuse during their nearly decade-long relationship.

The former couple settled the following day, only for other accusers with similarly sordid allegations to come forward in the weeks and months that followed. Many were filed on behalf of victims who were minors at the time of the alleged assaults.
Bruce Springsteen - Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Bruce Springsteens recent appearance at a Philadelphia rally for Kamala Harris features in a new campaign ad that the rocker shared on social media just days before the election.

In the ad dubbed Hopes and Dreams  a nod to his song Land of Hope and Dreams, which he performed at the Temple University rally on Oct. 28  Springsteen denounces Donald Trump and offers his compelling case why Americans should vote Harris-Walz on Election Day.

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This election is about a group of folks who want to fundamentally undermine our American way of life. Donald Trump does not understand this country, its history, or what it means to be deeply American, Springsteen says.

I want a president who reveres the Constitution, who wants to protect and guide our great democracy, who believes in the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power, who will fight for womens rights and a womans right to choose, and who wants to create a middle class economy that serves all our citizens.

The E Street rocker adds, Theres only one candidate who holds those principles dear, thats Kamala Harris. At thats why on Nov. 5, Im casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz  and I urge all of you who believe in the American way to join me.

Springsteens Temple University mini-set also featured acoustic renditions of The Promised Land and Dancing in the Dark. Springsteens campaign-season shows have become a tradition in Philadelphia. In October 2008, he rallied 50,000 for Barack Obama at Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the night before Election Day 2016, he sang Thunder Road, Long Walk Home, and Dancing in the Dark at Independence Hall in support of Hillary Clinton. In 2020 he gave his support to Joe Biden, narrating and soundtracking a campaign ad for the future president.

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This election season, Springsteen also took the stage at a Harris-Walz event in Clarkson, Georgia.

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Do you think Lefties ever glance at the Conservative Party and ask themselves whether positive discrimination is everything its cracked up to be? Kemi Badenoch is the partys second non-white and fourth female leader. And you know what? Its no big deal.

For Labour, which has only ever been led by white men, identity is everything. Rachel Reeves never misses an opportunity to say that she is the first woman Chancellor and that she should be a role model to little girls. David Lammy, miffed that he was not the first black Foreign Secretary, issued a statement about how proud he was to be the first working-class black foreign secretary from Tottenham (which, obviously, he is).

Most Tories are nonplussed by the suggestion that you should vote on the basis of someones X-chromosomes or melanin levels. I mention this only because more than one Labour-supporting friend, including some clever and well-informed people, took it for granted that Kemi would suffer from what they assumed to be a measure of racism and sexism among the party membership.

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Its a reminder that political polarisation rests largely on a lack of curiosity about what the other side believes; and perhaps a reminder, too, that, as Jonathan Haidts meticulous research shows, Leftists are much worse at understanding how Rightists think than the reverse.

Now that the leadership election is out of the way, the work begins. During the campaign, Kemi made a point of not issuing any policy commitments. This made sense both tactically (she was ahead, so why take risks?) and strategically (who knows what the situation will be by the next election?) But some decisions cannot be postponed.

The next election will ultimately be determined by the economy, traditionally a Tory strong suit. When we voted three months ago, the issue had lost its salience, largely because of a belief that there was little difference between the main parties. But, this week, Labour showed the country how large the gap truly is.

The hope for Kemi must be that, by the next election, there will be an urgent desire to get rid of Labour, and that voters will turn to the most plausible alternative government, denying themselves the indulgence of voting for a smaller party. But unless the Tories are seen as a credible and responsible government-in-waiting, a chunk of the electorate might feel that both main parties have had their chance, and that it is time for something different.

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How, then, can Kemi position her party as the beneficiary of the anti-Labour swing which is already underway and which will surely become stronger now with each passing month?

Here we come to the central difficulty for anyone who favours limited government. Voters absolutely buy the diagnosis. They accept that they are paying higher and higher taxes without any improvement in public services. They resent the fact that nothing seems to work. But they shy away from the only possible cure, namely a radical reduction in the size of the state.

The lockdown left Britain in an authoritarian mood. It changed the relationship between state and citizen. By the time it ended, a lot of people expected regular government handouts. By 64 to 26 per cent, voters prefer the statement The government should prioritise spending on schools and hospitals to The government should prioritise cutting income tax.

The reason Labour got away with its budget is that  on economics, not on culture  Britain has drifted to the Left. Sixty-five per cent of us want to nationalise buses, 67 per cent trains, and 69 per cent water companies. Fifty-eight per cent want to nationalise Ticketmaster, for heavens sake.

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How do the Conservatives sell their policies to people who start from such statist assumptions? How do they articulate what will, by the next election, be a fierce dislike of Labours economic legacy without opening themselves to the charge that they want some kind of Dickensian sweatshop economy?

The challenge is especially tough because voters anchor to the status quo. At the last election, Labour was asked what taxes it intended to raise. At the next, the Tories will be asked what spending they mean to cut. Because people are loss-averse, taking away a benefit, even a recent one, is much harder than refusing to offer it in the first place.

It can be done, though. Every one of Margaret Thatchers privatisations and deregulations was unpopular when it happened, but that did not stop her winning three handsome victories. Then again, Thatcher did not have to contend with the shrunken attention-spans, the desire for instant gratification, that characterise our TikTok age. Nor did she have to contend with a challenger party on the Right. On the contrary, she benefited from a split on the other side.

In the end, the issue that is likeliest to tip 2024 Reform voters into backing the Tories is the desire to get rid of a Labour government that is making them palpably poorer. But, before we get to that stage, the Tories need to remove the chief obstacle in the path of those Reform defectors, namely their own record on immigration.

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They will have to set about the task almost immediately if they want to win themselves a hearing before the next election. After years of broken promises, solemn assurances no longer work.

One of the reasons that I voted for Robert Jenrick, despite knowing he was almost certain to lose, is that he had the greater credibility among Reform voters. He had resigned in protest at the last governments immigration policies, and had obviously done a great deal of thinking, then and since, about how to control our borders. He ended up concluding that it could not be done without quitting the European Convention on Human Rights  a policy that alienated the more Establishment wing of his party.

I suspect that he is correct about the ECHR, though we should not underestimate the difficulty of implementation. A policy of withdrawal would be resisted every bit as furiously as Brexit was, and by the same groups. It would consume the governments energies for most of its first term.

And what if, after all that, it failed? What if we left the ECHR only to find that, whether in the name of the UN Refugee Convention, or simply through domestic judicial activism, our courts still overturned as many deportation orders as possible?

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Perhaps Kemi has an alternative plan. Perhaps Britain could derogate from parts of the ECHR, or get a group of countries together and threaten to leave unless fundamental changes are made. Or perhaps the answer is to reform our domestic legal system, reducing the scope for judicial review, reversing the Blair reforms that created the supreme court and replacing the Human Rights Act.

What is certain is that the issue cannot be deferred. Voters will not be satisfied, as they were when Margaret Thatcher was leader, with an unspecific promise to be firm on immigration.

Should Kemi appoint her defeated rival as Shadow Home Secretary? He would presumably still want to quit the ECHR. But he might also be very effective vis-a-vis Reform.

If Reform voters can be won back, many Lib Dem seats will automatically turn Tory again. Ed Daveys party made no significant advance at the last election. The Lib Dem vote rose proportionately only from 11.6 per cent to 12.2 per cent and, numerically, it actually fell. But, because many Tories stayed at home or switched to Reform, the yellows went from 15 MPs to 72.

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Kemi must reunite the Right while looking statesmanlike. I have always felt that the policy differences between the Tories and Reform are relatively minor. But the tonal differences are significant.

How does Kemi win over voters who are attracted by an angrier and more accusatory style while still looking like a prime minister in waiting? Its a hell of a tightrope to walk. And if she stumbles, it wont just be the Tories who go plummeting down; it will be the country.

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In an intriguing new study, the active ingredient in Ozempic was found to be so effective at treating arthritis that participants no longer needed treatment by the end of the experiment.

In writeups of the new research in the journal Nature and the New York Times, experts waxed prolific about the landmark new semaglutide study that saw marked improvements to knee osteoarthritis in trials conducted in 11 countries.

Dr. Bob Carter, the deputy director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases who was not involved in the new study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, said that the improvements in knee pain in the overweight arthritic trial patents were incredible.

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"The magnitude of the improvement is of a scope we havent seen before with a drug," Carter told the NYT. "They had an almost 50 percent reduction in their knee pain. Thats huge."

Danish rheumatologist and lead trial director Henning Bliddal told Nature that by the end of the trial, many patients experienced such improvement in their knee arthritis that they were no longer eligible for the study.

"They got a therapy that was so effective that they more or less were treated out of the study," said Bliddal, who works at the Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark's capital.

While it's well-established that losing weight can help improve knee arthritis by essentially taking some of the load off the affected area, the findings are particularly promising due in part to the difficulty exercising people with intense knee pain experience.

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In the study  which it's worth noting was sponsored by Ozempic and Wegovy manufacturer Novo Nordisk  400 patients on five continents were given weekly injections of either a placebo or semaglutide. All of those patients, Nature explains, were considered obese and had an average score of 71 on a pain scale from one to 100, which made it hurt for them to walk.

Unsurprisingly, the patients taking the active semaglutide lost way more weight than their placebo counterparts  but they also experienced dramatic reductions in their pain scales, with an average drop of 42 points as compared to the placebo group's 28. They also experienced more ease of everyday mobility too, such as in climbing stairs.

While the paper's authors note that many of those improvements were due to taking weight off the affected knees, they also postulate that semaglutide's known anti-inflammatory effects played a role as well.

Despite these auspicious findings, the study's lead trial director is worried that once people go off semaglutide-based drugs, the weight regain may also bring back some of the associated arthritis pain.

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"Do these guys go on with semaglutide forever?" Bliddal asked when speaking to Nature.

Right now, it's hard to say  but if nothing else, this is another feather in the cap of these seemingly world-changing drugs.

More on off-label semaglutide uses: Ozempic Could Be Used to Treat Alcohol and Drug Addiction, Study Finds
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  In a final push to rally voters before Election Day, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) visited his hometown Friday, where he received a warm welcome from dozens of Savannahians.

Ive been everywhere. Ive been all over this state, but theres nothing so special to me as standing on this very ground, literally, this very corner in my hood, Warnock said.

The senator and Savannah Mayor Van Johnson addressed voters in a casual block party setting, but their plea was serious.

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Im asking for you to join us. If you have not voted yet, you can go to the polls, Johnson said to the crowd.

Warnock touched on keeping tax rates down, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and building sustainable infrastructure.

Chatham County Voter Registration Office to accept absentee ballots on Saturday

I dont think that working-class people, ordinary people, should have to choose between buying prescription drugs and buying food. These are the everyday concerns, he said. Kamala Harris has a to-do list to respond to the concerns of ordinary folks. Donald Trump has an enemies list.

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Some voters took it one step further.

Hes a criminal. I think he should be locked up to tell you the truth. I dont think he should get another chance to be president of the United States, Dartanya Bentley, a Harris supporter, said.

We dont want to vote for anybody that leaves out any particular race, and, as we can see, that is being done, Felicia Vereen, co-founder of Savannah Black Women Win, said.

When we asked people the number one reason theyre going to the polls this year, there was one issue that came up again and again.

One of the main ones is being able to control what happens to our own bodies, Vereen said.

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Warnock drove the point home by bringing up Amber Thurman, a Georgia woman who died because of delayed abortion care.

Freedom is on the line. A womans right to choose is on the line, he said.

There they were while they were anguishing over this political dilemma that was manufactured, she was languishing in a hospital bed, he continued.

Savannah has been a focus of the Harris-Walz campaign. On Saturday, first lady Dr. Jill Biden is expected to visit to stump for Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NOVI SAD, Serbia (Reuters) -Serbia wound up a rescue operation and opened an investigation on Saturday into a roof collapse at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad that killed 14 people and injured three others.

The disaster happened on Friday when a length of roofing along the entrance to the station collapsed.

Rescuers using heavy construction machinery worked through the night to free the dead and wounded from under the rubble.

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Authorities declared Saturday a national day of mourning.

Thousands of people attended a vigil and protest in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city.

The crowds, including children, blocked the intersection near the train station as people silently lit candles and placed flowers, wreaths and toys on the ground.

A group of mourners stood motionless holding white papers with names of the 14 dead.

"It must be demonstrated that not everything is as (good as) portrayed, that ... many things must be changed."

"In the countries with real democracy, the first who resigns is the minister. There was no talks here about any minister, any oversight official who should resign," said Dragomir Panic, 78, from Novi Sad.

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The station in the city about 70 km (40 miles) northwest of Belgrade was renovated in 2021 and 2022. Other minor works continued until July this year when the Transport Ministry said a total of 16 million euros ($17.33 million) had been invested in the renovation.

Transport Minister Goran Vesic, state Serbian Railways company, the state Traffic Institute and a Chinese consortium - comprising China Railway International Co. Ltd and China Communications Construction Company (CRIC-CCCC) - that renovated the building, all said on Friday that the part of the building that collapsed was not a part of the works.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said 20 people would be interviewed by authorities on Saturday in connection with the disaster, including people from the ministry in charge and the state railways operator.

"The documentation about the building will (also) be obtained ... about who made the decisions," Dacic added.

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The state prosecutor's office in Novi Sad said Vesic would also be among those to be interviewed.

The University Clinical Center in Novi Sad said in a statement that the three injured people remained in intensive care.

Serbia's opposition politicians and activists, who accuse authorities loyal to President Aleksandar Vucic of rampant corruption, nepotism and excessive red tape, staged a protest in front of the government building in Belgrade, leaving red paint marks of their hands at the tarmac to commemorate victims.

"People are being hurt and die for your profits, scams and frauds," the Green-Left Front party said in a statement.

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Vucic, a populist, and his allies deny such allegations. In a televised address late on Friday the president promised justice and demanded harsh punishment for those responsible.

(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic, Renee Maltezou and Branko FilipovicEditing by Frances Kerry and Mike Harrison)
A storm will deliver much-needed rain to the Plains and Midwest through the early week. Unfortunately, flooding and gusty thunderstorms are also expected.

With some areas receiving multiple rounds of storms, a growing concern will become flooding. Despite widespread drought, too much rain is likely to fall too quickly. In addition, the ground is often less able to absorb rainfall during a drought. This is because of the ground hardening due to a lack of moisture.

Thunderstorms this past weekend and during the start of the work week brought a variety of severe weather from hail and damaging wind gusts to flash flooding and even tornadoes.

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There will be a much lower risk of severe weather as millions head to the polls to cast their votes on Election Day. That said, it will not be a dry day nationwide.

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"Those in lines outdoors waiting to vote on Tuesday will need to be prepared for the threat of lightning and heavy downpours which could extend from portions of Louisiana and Arkansas northeastward through the middle Mississippi River Valley and into the Midwest," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.

Thunderstorms are in the forecast for some swing states like Wisconsin, thunder is unlikely farther to the east, but a chilly, rainy day is in store for those in Michigan.

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"Some localized downpours could lead to ponding on roadways across parts of Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern lower Michigan," said Pydynowski.

By the time the rain is all said and done on Tuesday, many areas will have several inches of rain. Flash flooding will be concern with a large area of 4-8 inches of rain. Some locations in a swath from southeastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri through northeastern and central Oklahoma are expected to receive 8-12 inches of rain. The AccuWeather Local StormMax is 18 inches.

The Plains and Midwest are expected to dry out by midweek, as rain moves eastward into the Ohio Valley and Southeast. In those locations, there is little concern for severe weather or flooding at this time.

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.
A newly formed political group was sending out racist text messages to influence one of Arizonas most hotly contested congressional races, but it was unclear who was behind the political attacks.

The group, called Save Western Culture, sent mass text messages referring to incumbent Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., as Mexican-born and claiming he had voted against U.S. interests.

It also sent out mailers calling Ciscomani a "RINO"  or "Republican In Name Only"  who "failed to stop the flow of illegal immigration into Arizona."

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Ciscomani moved to Arizona from Mexico when he was a young child and made history as the first naturalized American to represent Arizona in Congress.

His campaign immediately decried the text messages as racist and said they were an attempt at voter suppression. He alleged the texts were sent by allies of his Democratic opponent, Kirsten Engel, a former state lawmaker.

These calls and messages are illegal and racist, Ciscomani said in a written statement posted to social media. They dont disclose who is paying for the message. And they attack me for being an immigrant. I am a proud immigrant who is fighting every day to preserve the American Dream.

In a statement to The Arizona Republic, Engel condemned the text messages and said she has no connection to the group and hadnt heard of them before.

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I strongly condemn the racist attacks against my opponent. Vile language like this doesnt belong in our politics, Engel wrote. I urge them to stop this campaign immediately.

The group has spent around $60,000 against Ciscomani in Arizona's 6th Congressional District, according to campaign finance records.

It also has spent around $10,000 against Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., the state's other vulnerable incumbent U.S. House member. Schweikert is locked in a tight race with Democrat Amish Shah in the Scottsdale-area 1st Congressional District.

Schweikert's campaign sent out a written statement in response to anonymous voicemails and text messages, accusing "Shah and the Democrats" of engaging in "voter suppression." Shah, through a spokesperson, told The Republic: "These allegations appear to be baseless, as they do not provide any specific examples or incidents related to Congressional District One.

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Save Western Culture is spending money in more than two dozen competitive congressional races across the country, according to its campaign finance reports.

Republicans say the eleventh-hour activity is an attempt to siphon conservative voters away from vulnerable GOP incumbents.

6th District: Here's who's running for the seat in the US House in Arizona

Finance reports offer few clues about Save Western Culture

Little is publicly known about Save Western Culture, the group slinging the allegations against Ciscomani.

The group was formed in mid-October and hasnt yet reported its donors.

Its finance reports offer sparse clues. The group paid a company called Apex Growth Strategies for advertising work across the country. That company is owned by Phoenix-based lobbyist Gibson McKay.

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According to his social media, McKay is a seasoned lobbyist who has worked with some of Arizonas well-respected political consulting firms and institutions. He worked for the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, a Republican, and he has spent several decades working on lobbying and campaign strategy.

Daniel Scarpinato, an aide to Ciscomani, told The Arizona Republic that he spoke with McKay on the phone after learning about his link to Save Western Culture.

According to Scarpinato's account of the conversation, McKay said a Democrat-aligned group was behind the text messages, and he seemed surprised to learn that they had racist content.

McKay did not return The Arizona Republic's multiple requests for comment.

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McKay previously was censured by Republicans in Arizonas Legislative District 5 after party leaders said he participated in a fundraiser for Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat now running for the Senate.

Immigration: It's an uncomfortable topic in this border congressional district

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Little-known Save Western Culture sends racist messages vs. Ciscomani
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Nearly 5,000 Sharp HealthCare workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of a five-day strike against Sharp Healthcare on Friday.

With 92% voting yes, employees at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp HospiceCare, Chula Vista Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Mesa Vista Hospital, and Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns agreed to protest what they believe are unfair labor practices.

The workers, represented by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West union (SEIU-UHW), are responding to what they characterize as Sharp executives refusal to engage in good faith negotiations aimed at resolving what they deem a severe staffing and patient care crisis.

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Leave your MAGA hats and Harris apparel at home on Election Day: this is why

Its heartbreaking to see what we have to fight with, said Cheryl Okuboye, a licensed vocational nurse at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. I have worked at Sharp for more than 24 years and given my heart and soul to caring for our patients. To see management break the law and refuse to bargain in good faith with me and my coworkers when all we want is to care for our patients and families is unacceptable  and it hurts. We are a family at Sharp and we are united. We wont stop fighting for our rights, patients, and one high standard of care and working conditions.

Many workers report being overwhelmed by the demands of their jobs. Tony Napoli, a respiratory therapist at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, pointed to the strain of his daily 97-mile commute, which adds significant hours and expenses to his workweek. Its pushing us to the brink, he stated, highlighting the challenges of balancing low pay and high living costs in San Diego.

Fridays strike authorization vote follows similar calls from workers back in August. During that time, the employees demanded better pay and more staffing.

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Despite Sharp Healthcares status as a non-profit organization  reporting over $654 million in profits since the pandemic began  the workers contend that their compensation does not reflect the organizations financial success.

Meet the candidates vying to represent San Diego County in the State Assembly

FOX 5/KUSI reached out to Sharp HealthCare regarding the workers allegations and the potential strike. The following statement was provided Saturday:

Its critical for San Diegans to know that staffing levels at Sharp hospitals are among the highest in the state. There is no patient care crisis at Sharp. SEIU-UHW is making these and other false claims in an attempt to put pressure on Sharp at the bargaining table to meet their unrealistic wage demands that are simply not economically feasible for a not-for-profit hospital system. Sharp has offered the union an enviable 21% wage increase, on average, over a three-year contract. We have also offered a zero-premium health plan for union members and their families, while also agreeing to work over the next year to enhance our retirement program. Sharp has also offered additional dates for negotiation sessions to arrive at a final agreement, but the union has rejected those in favor of these kinds of delay tactics. Since June 2023, we have been bargaining in good faith with the union for contracts with the Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp HospiceCare bargaining units, and a strike is not in the best interest of our team members, our patients and our communities. Sharp stands ready with resources and personnel to meet the health care needs of our patients in the event of a strike. We are also ready and willing to finalize an agreement that respects and values our employees and enables Sharp to maintain its mission to meet the full health care needs of San Diegans.  Sharp HealthCare spokesperson

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The strike authorization impacts a wide range of job classes, including certified nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians and surgical technologists, among others. The looming strike, if it proceeds, could have significant implications for patient care and hospital operations in the San Diego 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Tempted by the false promise of $9 million by a man she met online, Denali Dakota Skye Brehmer lured her so-called best friend into the Alaskan wilderness where the teenager was bound with duct tape and shot in the head as part of a brutal murder plot.

What began with a bizarre online catfishing scheme, ended in the death of Cynthia CeeCee  Hoffman, 19, who was developmentally disabled.

A man from Indiana, Darin Schilmiller, then 21, posed as a millionaire from Kansas called Tyler on Snapchat. He struck up a relationship with Brehmer, who was 18 years old at the time, and offered to send her millions of dollars via PayPal for the rape and murder of someone in Alaska.

Denali Dakota Skye Brehmer is serving 99 years behind bars for the murder of Cynthia Hoffman (Court TV)

Brehmer agreed. She enlisted other friends into the plot and then on June 2, 2019, they carried out the murder of CeeCee near Thunderbird Falls, a popular trail area just north of Anchorage. Her death was captured in photos and video that were sent back to Tyler on Snapchat as proof.

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In February 2023, Brehmer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Her friends were also charged in the murder: 16-year-old Kayden McIntosh pulled the trigger, and 19-year-old Caleb Leyland, who provided the vehicle to carry out the plot.

Now, for the first time, Brehmer is speaking publicly about the murder in the third episode Catfishing for Murder of Court TVs new limited series Interview With a Killer.

Ive already admitted guilt so now Im ready to fully take responsibility for what Ive done, Brehmer says in the interview at the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center.

But as shes confronted about what happened that fateful day, her story begins to change.

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Brehmer acknowledges that the murder was somewhat premeditated, but then blames it on panic when a bound and gagged CeeCee began freaking out about going to the cops which led to McIntosh grabbing the gun.

I just went along with it, Brehmer says calmly in the interview. Because problem solved, right?

A catfish murder

On June 2, 2019, CeeCee  who thought of Brehmer as a best friend  was invited to Thunderbird Falls for what was supposed to be a hike. Brehmer later said in the interview that a hike meant they were going off to get high.

Brehmer and McIntosh, who were the last two people to ever see CeeCee alive, were hanging out with her in the woods when the three of them agreed to duct tape each other and take photographs, McIntosh told detectives, according to the criminal complaint. Its unclear why they decided to do this.

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But then CeeCee, whose wrists and feet were bound with duct tape, which also covered her mouth, started panicking, according to the complaint.

Hoffman, known as CeeCee, thought of Brehmer as her best friend, family members say (alaskacremation.com)

When they removed the duct tape from CeeCees mouth, she told them she was going to call the police and tell them that they had kidnapped her and sexually assaulted her, according to the complaint.

McIntosh then grabbed the 9mm gun that Brehmer had in her hand and shot CeeCee in the back of the head, he told police.

Brehmer told police at the time that she saw CeeCee twitching before McIntosh pushed her body into the river, according to the complaint.

But in the new interview with Court TV, Brehmer said the shooting happened very suddenly because they had panicked when CeeCee threatened to call the police, despite not having her phone with her because McIntosh had already taken it.

In a new interview with Court TV, Brehmer speaks publicly for the first time about the murder (Court TV)

Brehmer and McIntosh then tried to cover up CeeCees death by burning her clothing, purse and cell phone, along with the gun, according to the complaint.

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McIntosh then instructed Brehmer to text CeeCees sister and tell them they had dropped her off at a local park. Brehmer told police that she did as she was told because she was scared of McIntosh.

CeeCees bound body was found in the river on June 4, a day after she was reported missing.

The fake millionaire who supposedly encouraged murder

Three weeks before CeeCee was killed, Brehmer and Tyler, who met on Snapchat, began talking on the app about their plans to rape and murder someone in Alaska.

The Anchorage Police Department later learned that Tyler was actually Darin Schilmiller of Indiana who had posed as the millionaire online with fake pictures as part of the catfishing scheme in which he offered to pay Brehmer $9 million or more to commit the murder and send him videos and/or photographs of the murder, according to a statement released at the time.

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Brehmer asked some of her friends to help and offered them an unknown amount of the so-called prize money for their part in the planning of the murder, according to police.

Brehmer tells Court TV host David Scott about what happened that led up to the murder (Court TV)

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Police said Schilmiller later admitted to targeting CeeCee after he learned that she and Brehmer had gotten into a fight over a boy.

Initially, when we all came up with it, I agreed and said yeah because I was mad at her and she was mad at me and I was just over her s***, Brehmer says in the interview about the fight they had over a boy named Zack. I wanted to make amends, I did want to make amends but she needed payback for what she did with Zack.

When asked in the documentary if she deserved payback with her life, a defeated Brehmer sighs and says, no, adding thats on me.

Brehmer was eventually arrested, and once she realized she had been catfished or tricked by Schilmiller, otherwise known as Tyler, she told authorities that she had been solicited by him.

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She was given the maximum sentence for her role in the killing, according to the Alaska Department of Law.

Denali Brehmer at her arraignment in the Anchorage Correctional Center on June 9, 2019 (AP)

She may not have pulled the trigger, but this never would have happened it if it werent for [her] Patrick McKay, Anchorage assistant district attorney, said of Brehmer during sentencing.

She executed Cynthia Hoffman in a murder-for-hire plot. She conspired with numerous other individuals in and outside of Alaska, including juveniles, forever altering everybodys life.

Schilmiller, who posed as Tyler online, was also sentenced to 99 years in prison for his role in the murder.

He admitted to federal agents and the Indiana State Police he chose CeeCee as the victim after he heard about the fight and told Brehmer to kill her, court documents said.

Schilmiller was sentenced to 99 years in prison (Alaska Department of Law)

He said Brehmer communicated with him throughout the killing and sent Snapchat photos and videos of CeeCee while bound and after she was killed.

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Prosecutors said that Schilmiller had also solicited Brehmer to try to obtain child pornography, which led to federal charges against Brehmer.

Leyland pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November 2023 and in August 2024, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

McIntosh, who was 16 at the time, was charged with murder for shooting CeeCee in the head. His sentencing is set for November 14.

Another tragic death

In 2019, Timothy Hoffman, right, sits next to a picture of his daughter Cynthia Hoffman, during Darin Schilmiller's arraignment for murder charges (AP)

Every year on the anniversary of CeeCees death, her father had organized a celebration motorcycle ride.

Timothy Hoffman, 58, was one of the participants on the 2 June event this year as friends and family gathered to remember CeeCee. However, he lost control of his motorcycle and was killed in the crash.

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That ride was the first time his wife, CeeCees mother Barbara Jeanie Hoffman, had gone with him to the memotial event.

Timothy Hoffman died during memorial motorcycle ride commemorating the fifth anniversary of his daughters death. (GoFundMe)

She survived the crash but has endured several surgeries after suffering a fractured skull, broken back, and broken bones, a family member told the Anchorage Daily News.

The Hoffman family has seen their share of tragedies, but Hoffmans brother Donald Hoffman Jr has vowed to continue to search for justice for CeeCee.

In an interview with Court TV, he says that Brehmer does not deserve to ever get out of prison.

As much as you guide your children, there are a lot of unsavory people in the world. We see the end result. My niece is not here no more. Shes dead, shot in the back of the head, he said. And for what? She was led there, she went willingly, thinking this was all a game. Its just like the wolf leading the lamb to the slaughter.

I think she has no conscience, he added about Brehmer. Shes evil. She murdered my niece without blinking an eye. And if she couldve gotten away with it, she wouldve.

Interview With a Killer airs Sunday nights at 8 pm ET on Court TV.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Sheila Keen Warren, the shooter in Palm Beach Countys infamous 1990 killer clown case, was released from prison Saturday after spending about 17 months in a facility near Tallahassee.

Keen Warren, 61, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to being the person who dressed up in a head-to-toe clown costume on the morning of May 26, 1990, and shot Marlene Warren, a Wellington mother and wife, in the face. Since her arrest in 2017, Keen Warren consistently contended she was innocent and continued to do so even after pleading guilty.

The killing in broad daylight and in front of multiple witnesses at Marlene Warrens home was a crime of passion, State Attorney Dave Aronberg previously told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

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Marlene Warren was married to Michael Warren at the time of the murder  a man Keen Warren worked for and was rumored to be having an affair with in 1990. Both Michael Warren and Keen Warren denied the rumors. They got married in 2002 and started a new life together in Virginia.

Defense attorney Greg Rosenfelds position was that prosecutors latched onto Keen Warren as a suspect after hearing of an affair and focused only on evidence that could suggest she was the killer, despite discrepancies including that some witnesses said the clown was a 6-foot-tall man.

He maintained her innocence in response to her release Saturday.

We are absolutely thrilled that Ms. Keen Warren has been released from prison and is returning to her family, he said in a text. As weve stated from the beginning, she did not commit this crime.

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Meanwhile, prosecutors maintained Keen Warrens guilt.

Sheila Keen-Warren will always be an admitted convicted murderer and will wear that stain for every day for the rest of her life, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in a statement.

Where Keen Warren will go next remains unclear. Rosenfeld declined to comment when asked Saturday. The Florida Department of Corrections website listed her current facility as Tennessee, but Rosenfeld did not know exactly why. The FDOC did not immediately respond to questions about the listing.

Concerns over whether a judge would allow what prosecutors considered their strongest pieces of evidence at trial largely led to the plea agreement, only two weeks before the trial was set to begin.

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After the last-minute plea agreement in 2023, Rosenfeld told the Sun Sentinel that Keen Warren could be free within 16 months, while prosecutors said she would be in prison for another two years at least. Keen Warren had already served five-and-a-half years in solitary confinement at Palm Beach County Jail prior to her time in prison.

Asked why she was released from prison sooner than prosecutors anticipated, the State Attorneys Office said Saturday that The Department of Corrections determines inmate gain time and release dates.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer sentenced Keen Warren to 12 years for one count of second-degree murder, with credit for more than five years of time served in Palm Beach County jail since her arrest. She served her sentence at Gadsden Correctional Facility in Quincy, the seat of Gadsden County in the Panhandle.
The two head houses serving the old Farmers Grain Cooperative grain elevator in west Ogden have been reduced to rubble, closing the chapter on the facilitys history serving northern Utahs agricultural community.

It took two blasts of explosives to down the 185-foot-high structures Saturday morning. The rubble will eventually be carted off so the 20-acre site that served as home to the grain elevator, built in 1941, can be redeveloped.

"The shock was amazing. I'm still shaking from it," said Maya Rushton, who traveled from her home in Syracuse to witness the detonation. "It was great."

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Marta Galindo and her family were sleeping in their nearby home when the first blast went off around 8 a.m., waking them. The house shook and they wondered what was going on, eventually making their way to the grain elevator site to watch the second blast, which took place around 9:10 a.m.

"We thought we were getting bombed by the Russians already," joked her son, Nathan Galindo.

The second of two head houses at the old Farmers Grain Cooperative grain elevator in Ogden fell after it was detonated with explosives on Saturday. | Tim Vandenack, KSL.com

The 20-acre parcel is owned by Jacksonville, Florida-based Patriot Rail and operated as Utah Central Railway Co. The firm hired Grant Mackay Demolition to down the head houses while Ogden police and firefighters helped with security. "The city's role in this was public safety," said Mike McBride, spokesman for the city of Ogden, stressing that the city has had no other hand in the land plans.

The grain elevator, abutting a rail line near the I-15 and 24th Street interchange, had served the many farms of Weber County and beyond when agriculture was more of a pillar of the local economy. Farmland has given way to development, however, and the structure had halted operations, paving the way for plans to redevelop the site, perhaps as a transloading or warehousing site. The area where it sits is now largely industrial.

The old Farmers Grain Cooperative grain elevator in west Ogden, photographed March 5, is now demolished. Built in 1941, its demise underscores the changing local economy and shift from agriculture. | Tim Vandenack, KSL.com

The transition away from agriculture in Weber County, exemplified by the demolition of the grain elevators, has prompted nostalgia among some. "It's kind of sad to see them disappear," said Rushton, who said the grain elevator served as a visual "landmark" from I-15 when coming to Ogden.

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Ernie Hill remembers the grain elevator from his youth. "I grew up in Sunset. I've seen that there my whole life," he said.

On the flip side, Rushton said, things evolve. "Things got to grow. Things got to change," she said.

Spectators await demolition of the second of two head houses at the old Farmers Grain Cooperative grain elevator in Ogden that was blasted with explosives on Saturday. | Tim Vandenack, KSL.com

The two head houses rose up to 185 feet, according to articles from the Ogden Standard-Examiner from 1941, when the facility was finished, towering above the grain bins. Demolition work started last February and the bins were downed with heavy equipment starting last February, ultimately leaving just the head houses.

The two head houses were to have been downed in the same blast on Saturday instead of two, McBride said, but the detonation didnt go as planned. The structures tipped after the respective blasts, tipping and falling to the ground, creating large dust clouds. Crews doused the dust with water.
Camouflage hats are common in rural northern Michigan, but the one that Willow Al-Shamma of Leelanau County put on when she left home on Halloween bore two names that folks in her deep red community would not likely weareven as a costume.

Harris-Walz

The hat had been a gift from a friend and also featured the name of adjoining county Grand Traverse and two innocuous cherries, for which that part of the state is famous.

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Al-Shamma runs the TikTok account for the Grand Traverse County Democratic Party. Grand Traverse split nearly evenly between Democrats and Republicans in 2020.

The same is true of her home county, Leelanau, but she says the Democrats there tend to be wealthier and live on waterfront properties. She resides with her husbandalso a Democratin the rural, working-class center of the county, which is overwhelmingly pro-Trump. And the names of the Democratic candidates for president and vice president make wearing it there a test of courage in historically fractious times.

I was nervous going in the hat because it is a very conservative area, Al-Shamma told the Daily Beast. But I really feel like this election theres a moral imperative.

For the 49-year-old bookkeeper, womens right and reproductive health care are key issues. Her 24-year-old daughter lives in Arizona, where she could be denied potentially life-saving measures if she became pregnant.

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It just feels like every single one of us needs to do our part, Al-Shamma said. And maybe that means just being brave and putting on your Harris-Walz hat and going in.

When she strode into a local grocery store it seemed at first that some folks failed to notice her hat at all.

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. president Donald Trump raise MAGA hats, on the day Trump returns for a rally at the site of the July assassination attempt against him, in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., Oct. 5, 2024.

Im sure some people just thought it was your normal country camouflage hat, she said. Deer season is about to start here.

She had paused in the meat department beside another woman when a small, but revelatory miracle occurred.

We were just kind of both looking at like the meat, Al-Shamma recalled And, she looked right at me and she gave the thumbs up.

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Al-Shamma confirmed that she had not misunderstood the unexpected reaction. I kind of pointed at the hat and she was thumbs-upping, Al-Shamma recalled. And it, it felt really good.

Al-Shamma finished her shopping and proceeded to the check-out. She got another surprise from the woman at the register. The cashier said, I like your hat, Al-Shamma recalled.

She then went to pick up some take-out burgers at a tavern. She was waiting for the food when the woman handling the order did a double take.

Like, Theres a camo hat, like Ive seen a million times... Oh wait, has Harris Walz on it, the woman seemed to be thinking.

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The woman nodded and smiled, and gave Al-Shamma the OK sign.

So that was good, Al-Shamma said.

Al-Shamma proceeded to a gas station and encountered a woman who in the past had covered her home, barn and yard with Trump and MAGA signs. Those had all vanished, but Al-Shamma did not know the woman well and was not sure what to make of it. What happened next was still unexpected.

She saw my hat and she gave me a thumbs up and I was pretty shocked, Al-Shamma recalled. I pointed to Harris-Walz and she nodded her head and I almost immediately got teary.

The two did not exchange so much as a word, and that only added to Al-Shammas feeling that a kind of sisterhood was forming far beyond her immediate community of fewer than 100. She stopped in her driveway and briefly postponed bringing in the burgers. She still wore the hat as she made a quick TikTok video.

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Guys, theres something happening, she began. I think that the women of Michigan know that we need to protect our basic reproductive health and rights for us and our daughters and their daughters. And I think were gonna see that in the poll results, in the voting results here in Michigan.

She added, It feels different.

Her TikTok post prompted hundreds of comments.

A supporter of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a MAGA hat during a rally at Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, U.S., Oct. 11, 2024.

Im in a swing state and wear my gear daily, wrote another Harris-Walz supporter. I get waves from women in cars driving past, thumbs up at the market, winks from waiters All gas, no brakes, ladies.

Back on Jan. 21, 2017, the day after the inaugural ceremony that marked the peaceful transfer of power from President Barack Obama to President Donald Trump, Al-Shamma joined The Womens March in Washington, D.C..

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We were standing there before the march started and they had some speakers and they were a great distance away, but I heard this womans voice and I turned to my mom. I said, Who is that? Al-Shamma recalled.

Nobody knew who the voice was, but I could just tell that this was a woman of integrity, of intelligence and that she was a leader.

Al-Shamma, who had voted for Hillary Clinton over Trump, then made a prediction. I just said right there when I heard that voice, She is going to be the first woman president of the United States, Al-Shamma recalled. We learned later that it was Kamala Harris.

This year, Al-Shammas daughter, mother and grandmother will all be voting for Harris.

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Four generations, Al-Shamma noted.

As the election nears, Al-Shammass TikTok keeps drawing comments from other women who feel something happening. One response summed up what could be a deciding factor in the race said to be too close to call.

The silent consensus. Women supporting women.

Meanwhile, when she pulled out of her driveway to head out for a Walz rally in a bluer zone in Traverse City in the next county, she saw an eight-foot sign at the end of her street.

TRUMP, it read

Pro-Trump sign in rural Leelanau County in Michigan.

Further on, there was a Trump rally with figures in red MAGA hats lining both sides of the road.

When I first saw it, I thought, Oh my God, they saw my TikTok, she said. Then I said, This has nothing to do with you, and I just kept driving.
After every school shooting, a painful and familiar cycle repeats itself. Just last month, it was Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The month before, Irondequoit, New York. In the aftermath, students and staff go back to school and try to reestablish some semblance of normalcy  attending classes, focusing on their studies, and hanging out with their friends. But beneath the surface, the reality is that life will never be normal again. Grief, survivor's guilt, PTSD, anxiety and depression will follow them from their classrooms to their homes and everywhere in between.

Gun violence significantly affects the mental health of survivors, while also affecting the nation as a whole. We grieve with the devastated neighbors and people of our community whenever we learn of another gun-related tragedy, but too often, we fail to acknowledge the trauma that comes with it.

In ways we do not yet fully comprehend, this public health crisis is affecting a whole generation of students who are growing up in the wake of lockdown drills and school shootings. Since Columbine, over 383,000 students have experienced gun violence in school, and that number is only growing. My entire generation is traumatized. What will the consequences be?

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I and so many other young people like me have suffered the toll, and weve taken to the streets to demand action. But Im left wondering: at what point will we say enough is enough, and mean it? Its a trite question, but a deadly one. Until our lawmakers pass bold, meaningful action, more children will cower behind desks, texting their family I love you as shots ring out just beyond the classroom door. And even more children will come home from school, haunted by the memory of crouching in silence, pressed against the corner of a dimly lit room during active-shooter drills.

Research shows that lockdown drills are now a common practice in schools across the U.S., with many institutions conducting them regularly to prepare for potential threats. However, studies indicate that these drills can adversely affect student mental health, leading to increased anxiety and fear, and there is little evidence that they actually improve safety in real crisis situations. Why do we jeopardize the mental health of our children to gain speculative, but unproven, advantages from active-shooter drills?

Perhaps even more painfully, teachers and students now discuss  if not openly then amongst themselves  who would risk their lives to try to defend their class from a shooter. Its a thought that has crossed far too many childrens minds, and its a striking indictment of our failure as the only wealthy country where firearms are the leading cause of death for children.

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In short, we are raising a generation of children who will carry the weight of fear throughout their lives, their innocence slowly eroded by the constant threat of violence. That is if they survive into adulthood. Unfortunately, it seems that some of us have already become numb to it.

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While the students and staff at Apalachee High School are mourning and beginning the long road to healing, other students of our generation are left to grapple with their own silent wounds. Some of us may be wondering if well be next. Some of us will be next. We have to do everything in our power to provide our youth and families with the resources they need to process their fears and traumas before we harden the scars that will last a lifetime.

There is ample evidence to support the effectiveness of strategies such as providing more mental health resources and social support. Look carefully at the politicians who offer empty platitudes talking about mental health, but who fail to support increased funding for it. And we know for a fact that tighter gun laws save lives.

In times like these, we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and wait for change to happen; we must be the catalyst for that change. The heartbreaking reality of children fearing for their lives in schoolsthe very places meant to inspire dreams and foster growthshould be more than enough to spur us into action.

On November 5th, let your voice be a force for those who can no longer speak, for the communities shattered by gun violence, and for the children who deserve to feel safe in their classrooms. Vote for leaders who prioritize the safety and mental health of our youth. Together, we can create a future where children grow up with hope, not fear, and where schools are once again sanctuaries of learning, not places of dread. Your vote is their lifelineuse it wisely, because tragically, far too many no longer have that chance.
SILVER SPRING, Md. (DC News Now)  The Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery

County Division said authorities arrested a 76-year-old man for indecent exposure and possession of child pornography on Thursday.

Police said Steven Eisen, 76, from Silver Spring, Md., was arrested after an intensive investigation.

Deputies: Person shot in St. Marys County, four people arrested

He is being held without bond.

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Police encourage anyone who had any contact with Eisen to contact the Maryland-National Capital Park Police Criminal Investigations Units Tip Line at 301-929-2748 or CrimeTips@mncparkpolice.org.



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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Monongalia County Health Departments Smile Express program celebrated the newest addition to its program on Friday; a state-of-the-art, custom-made dental office on wheels.

Smile Express has treated thousands of people across north central West Virginia since 2018. Aetna Better Health provided the $500,000 funding for the mobile unit, which is wheelchair accessible, equipped with a panoramic x-ray machine, its own sterilizing station and two dental chairs.

(WBOY image)

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The goal for the bus is to visit areas where dental care may be harder to access and provide preventative care by the two dental hygienists who are supervised by a dentist either at a location and remotely from Mon Countys Health Department Dentistry.

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Tiffany Summerlin is a hygienist at MCHD and the Smile Express Coordinator who has been with the program since the beginning and is also the driver of the mobile office.

The need is intense for dental care for some individuals in West Virginia who dont have traditional access and thats our goal with Smile Express, to provide care where is needed and where people have a really hard time getting to an office, maybe they cant afford it, maybe they dont have transportation, and so we are there to kind of bridge that gap, Summerlin said.

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Summerlin added this is not a replacement for the brick-and-mortar dentist offices, but perhaps a bridge for people to get those frequent cleanings or more advanced dental work from those offices.

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Schools, nursing homes, and recovery centers are the main locations where the unit will be found across Monongalia, Harrison, Marion and Wetzel Counties. People within these facilities or programs are the only ones eligible as of now, and must fill out an enrollment form ahead of time. The forms are also available in Spanish.

According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Oral Health Program, During the 2017-2018 school year, a statewide survey found that 48% of third grade children had experienced tooth decay sometime during their lifetime.

Although services are not free and insurance is accepted, Summerlin said there is funding available to help cover payment when theres financial need.

To learn more about the program, you can go here.

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SNYDER, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Snyder Fire Marshals Office was updated that Daniel Allen Jr, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a arson incidents that happened in December 2019 through April 2024.

Nine fires occurred during these incidents and caused extensive damage to properties in the area and lives were threatened.

The sentencing took place on October 17, 2024, at the 132nd District Court. According to the Snyder Fire Marshal, these were not minor incidents but serious crimes that impact the Snyder community.

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After the evidence of the arson crimes were presented, Allen pleaded guilty.

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Alice Ford, an outdoor content creator and show host, has spent a decade centering conservationist education on her YouTube channel. She said the glut of nature photos and short videos on social media is resulting in just people wanting to see a place more than they have respect for the place. (Photo courtesy of Alice Ford)

Dont pet the fluffy cows.

Thats the Instagram bio tagline for the National Park Services popular account, which showcases stunning photos of the diverse terrains of the United States 431 national parks.

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The cheeky statement, followed by a buffalo emoji, is meant to make its 6 million followers laugh, NPS social media specialist Matthew Turner says, but its also a very real warning.

We want you to be really prepared to stay this distance, and be aware of your surroundings at all times, Turner said. And to know that if you dont, there are consequences where you can get hurt.

Technology and the rise of social media has driven new people to visit public parks and lands, as the platforms make it easier to showcase the great outdoors. But outdoor enthusiasts and environmental conservationists say social media has also contributed to selfie tourism or the influx of visitation to specific landmarks that go viral on social media.

It also can describe the behavior of those who crowd a landmark or ignore safety protocol to get the perfect shot.

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Every year, there are incidents of people having such dangerous interactions with wildlife, or getting lost in the parks, or even losing their lives. Its hard to quantify how exactly social media influences the decision making or behavior of park visitors, but several nearly fatal and fatal incidents have been connected to attempting to capture content.

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In 2018, a 29- and 30-year-old couple fell to their deaths in Yosemite National Park in California while attempting to take a photo at Taft Point. Several people have been attacked by bison in Yellowstone National Park over the last three years  at least one was a tourist trying to touch a bison while recording with her phone.

A selfie in and of itself can inspire others. Maybe you see a friend post from a great trip, and it inspires you to go, Phillip Kilbridge, CEO of NatureBridge said. But you better do it thoughtfully. You better realize that when theres a fence, its because theres loose rock on the other side, or theres a steep fall, or so many other unintended consequences.

Loving our parks to death

Kilbridge runs NatureBridge, an organization that teaches young people how to explore the outdoors without technology. The organization was initially founded with the intention of exploring parks in their off-peak seasons, and teaching kids to learn more about themselves and the environment with low barriers to entry on cost and prior education.

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The parks have seen a surge in visitors in the last few years, crossing more than 300 million visitors nearly each year since their centennial celebration in 2016.

NatureBridge has brought more than 1 million kids through the program over its tenure and operates in Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California, Olympic National Park in Washington, Prince William Forest National Park in Virginia and Yosemite. It makes a conscious effort to explore areas and trails that are outside the most popular ones, but high visitorship is putting strain on the hotels and areas surrounding the parks, and as a result, its more expensive to operate the program.

Attendees of NatureBridges outdoor environmental education program explore Olympic National Park. (Photo courtesy of NatureBridge)

The social media effect on certain areas of the parks might be evident in some data from Yosemite National Park. Many drive in, take pictures at the iconic Half Dome and El Capitan rock formations, and then they head out, Kilbridge said. The focus is on documenting the visit and putting it on their checklist or bucket list, to prove that theyve done it.

Youve probably heard the phrase, were loving our parks to death, Kilbridge said. But the truth is, were loving certain parts of certain parks to death.

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Cynthia Hernandez, the National Parks Systems public affairs specialist, said the agency uses social media to show examples of good environmental stewardship. Staff love and encourage new visitors to the parks, but they want them to be educated on preserving the trails, picking up trash, and learning the history and culture of where theyre visiting.

We ask visitors to be adaptable and to listen to the park rangers, Hernandez said. You know, if the parking lot is full, dont drive wherever. We like to say, what is your plan B?

New Hampshires public and private lands are feeling the impact from some not-so respectful visitors this year, as its peak fall foliage season  a few-week stretch in late September and October  is bringing an estimated 3.7 million visitors this fall, the Washington Post reported. New Hampshire residents, and their neighbors in Vermont, are dealing with clogged roads, crowded hiking trails, trespassing on private property and trash left behind by their visitors, many of whom are doing so in the pursuit of the perfect fall photo.

Some towns have closed roads to non-local traffic, while others have had to pay for extra patrols on routes leading to lookouts or popular spots. One group of neighbors in Pomfret, Vermont, has raised $22,500 in a GoFundMe to save their road from the surge of influencers, with the funds planned to go toward temporary closures and increased signage, the Post reported.

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Wesley Littlefield is a Salt Lake City-based marketing manager and outdoor content creator, and the effects Kilbridge described and New Englanders are experiencing are some of the many reasons hes become mindful of not overexposing certain locations. Littlefield has been posting on social media and making YouTube videos about fishing, kayaking and other outdoor adventures for a few years, and focuses on educating people on leave no trace principles.

He loves exploring the Southwest, but some of his favorite trails and natural wonders have become overpopulated after gaining attention on social media. Horseshoe Bend in Arizona is a prime example, he said, as is Antelope Canyon, which sits on Navajo land.

What was once a peaceful overlook is now packed with people looking to snap that perfect shot, often at the expense of the environment around them, he said of Horseshoe Bend. Youll notice things like litter, soil erosion and even permanent damage to local ecosystems. In extreme cases, wildlife habitats can be disrupted or destroyed, which takes away from the natural beauty and balance of these areas.

Responsible exploration

Littlefield said he loves that technology has allowed people to discover new places and share experiences. But carelessness in certain areas has made him more conservative with geotagging certain areas or fragile locations. Its his way of protecting them while still sharing his love for the outdoors, he said.

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We want these places to remain as beautiful and untouched as possible for future visitors, Littlefield said.

Alice Ford is another content creator who is sharing her outdoor adventures online as a way to educate others about conservation. She hosts a show on PBS called Alices Adventures on Earth, has a masters degree in environmental management and has been making Youtube videos showcasing outdoor traveling, hiking and sustainable living for about a decade.

Her bread and butter is in longer-form content where she gets to place the focus on education.

I think theres an issue with these three-to-10 second videos showcasing a place, Ford said. Where youre just seeing the most beautiful part, and youre not learning anything about it, and youre then not doing any research. And youre just showing up because you want to get the exact same shot.

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When Ford travels, shes looking for those less-busy places, not just to discover somewhere new to her, but also to not contribute to the demand of places that dont have infrastructure to support an onslaught of visitors. Pulling off the side of a road inundated with visitors may not just cause traffic chaos, but also could damage wildlife and road infrastructure, she said.

I think also another thing that Ive seen globally is just people wanting to see a place more than they have respect for the place, Ford said.

There are very real physical dangers to jumping head-first into a hike or a trip without proper preparation, Ford said. Shes seen a rise in visitors to national parks and other places around the world attempting grueling hikes or exploring dangerous areas in extreme heat without the right footwear, food or water.

Two people died during this summers brutal heat waves in Death Valley National Park in California, including a 57-year-old man who attempted a short hike on a day when temperatures reached nearly 120 degrees, which can quickly cause serious dehydration and heat stroke.

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In Michigan, The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore  a state park featuring miles of sand and bluffs  has a dune climb thats been well-documented on social media. The hike includes 3.5 miles of sandy, steep terrain and can take three or four hours.

The Lakeshore gets an average of 1.5 to 1.7 million visitors a year, and reached its peak visitorship in 2020 and 2021, Emily Sunblade, the parks lead education ranger, said. The climb has long been a rite of passage, but the park rangers said visitors have been recognizing the location because of social media posts of the famous sign outlining the $3,000 fee incurred for being rescued if you get stuck.

The park instituted a preventative search and rescue program where volunteers stand at the top of the dune and check in with visitors before they attempt the hike in order to quell the strain on local rescue resources, which are performed by township emergency services. The volunteers ask visitors if they have enough water, and if theyre prepared for it to take two or more hours. It dramatically lowered the number of rescues needed, Sunblade said.

The social media posts we are seeing are having a positive impact as people share their experience of what the hike was like, and what they wish they knew before starting, Sunblade said.

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As much as social media has the ability to overexpose and overwhelm one area with visitors, it remains an essential tool for the Parks Service and for content creators who aim to educate others on responsible visitorship.

Its an important component of the digital toolbox for the Parks Service, Turner told States Newsroom. Their online profiles allow them to engage in real time with visitors and connect with people around the world. They use it as a forum to ask and answer questions, respond to outreach and share resources. And they do lean on memes and humor to get peoples attention and have people learn without maybe realizing theyre learning, Turner said.

There are ways to add a photo-worthy spot to your travels, if you do so responsibly, Ford said. She suggests trying to research whats nearby those locations, and if the local community has been negatively impacted by visitors. If theres not enough restaurants, stores and accommodations, tourism may hurt the community or put a strain on its resources.

Her hope is that folks are making informed decisions about their travel plans and considering the impact that social media may have on driving them to visit.

I wish people would have more respect, not only for each other, but for the places that we visit, Ford said. And to just think a little bit more before we act in general, like whether thats the time youre taking to take a selfie at a popular destination, or the place in which were walking.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina put Richard Moore to death by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk, despite a broad appeal for mercy by parties that included three jurors and the judge from his trial, a former prison director, pastors and the his family.

Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Moore was convicted of killing the Spartanburg convivence store clerk in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later. Moore went into the store unarmed, took a gun from the victim when it was pointed at him and fatally shot him in the chest as the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm.

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Moores lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole because of his spotless prison record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates. They also said it would be unjust to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and unfair that Moore, who is Black, was the only inmate on the states death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans.

But McMaster refused to grant clemency. No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence, and 45 executions have now been carried out since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to restart executions nearly 50 years ago.

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South Korea has imposed sanctions on North Korean officials following Pyongyang's latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch amid concerns about the North receiving weapons technology from Russia.

South Koreas foreign ministry on Friday said the government has imposed sanctions on 11 North Korean individuals and four entities in retaliation against Pyongyangs first missile launch in almost a year.

Pyongyang confirmed the launch monitored by leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday after its neighbours detected the firing of a suspected new, more agile weapon capable of targeting mainland US.

The North on Friday claimed the missile that higher than any previous missile launched by the Kim government was Hwasong-19.

The launch was seen as a bid to grab American attention ahead of next weeks presidential election amid mounting Western criticism against the North allegedly sending thousands of soldiers to Russia to fight Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine.

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The Norths state news agency KCNA lauded the launch as the worlds strongest strategic missile.

A spokesperson for South Koreas unification ministry said the launch could have been for several purposes, including demonstrating military technology, pressuring Washington, and diverting attention from the Norths deployment of troops to Moscow.

North Korean foreign minister Choe Son Hui, during her Moscow visit, accused Washington and Seoul of plotting a nuclear strike against her country.

She did not provide evidence to back her assertion, but spoke of regular consultations between Washington and Seoul at which she alleged such plotting took place.

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Ms Choe said the situation on the Korean Peninsula could become explosive any moment as she told her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Pyongyang needed to strengthen its nuclear arsenal.

She said the North needed to perfect its readiness to deliver a retaliatory nuclear strike if necessary.

North Korea was sanctioned by the UN security council in 2006 and the measures were steadily strengthened to halt its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

The West believes by sending troops to Russia, the North could be rewarded with technology that could advance the threat posed by Pyongyangs nuclear weapons and missile programme.

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Thursdays launch drew swift condemnation from Washington and its allies in South Korea, Japan and Europe, as well as the United Nations secretary-general.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the test fire is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of informing the rivals.

He added: I affirm that the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] will never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces.

South Korea said it was the longest ballistic missile test by the North with a flight time of 87 minutes. The missile took off on a sharply lofted trajectory from near Pyongyang and splashed down about 200km west of Japans Okushiri island, off Hokkaido.

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Japan said the missile climbed high into the atmosphere and flew a distance of 1,000km, reportedly setting new records of the countrys missile capabilities.

The test was conducted just as the US said that North Korea had sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia to be deployed on the frontline.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Thursday claimed that about 8,000 of the Korean soldiers are positioned in Kursk, the border region where Russian forces have been fighting off a Ukrainian incursion since August.

South Korea and allies have urged the North to withdraw its forces from Russia.

The missile continues to underwrite the growing credibility of North Koreas strategic deterrent capabilities, Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the Associated Press.

He added that Mr Kim appeared specifically interested in communicating that message to the US.
An 87-year-old woman was rescued after three days trapped with the body of her dead sister-in-law after the Valencia floods.

Firefighters carried the pensioner to safety after her niece sounded the alarm about her disappearance.

Initial Spanish media reports suggested the flood victim had been rescued from a car, but it later emerged she had been trapped in her home in Massanassa, near Valencia, with the body of her relative.

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Another woman was discovered alive in a car in nearby Benetusser after her cries for help were heard, but she was alone and the rescue was a separate incident.

On Sunday, volunteers were ordered to stay away from nearly a dozen towns near Valencia that have been most impacted by flooding after a new weather warning was given for the area.

Volunteers helping with the clean-up were ordered to stay away from nearly a dozen towns near Valencia on Sunday after a new weather warning was given - Hugo Torres/AP

A woman shows her sorrow in a flood-damaged area of Chiva - Alberto Saiz/AP

An orange alert is in place for Valencia and the neighbouring province of Castellon, further north, with more storms expected. Heavy rain was reported in Alberic, south-east of Valencia, from early on Sunday morning.

Rescue teams are searching for more victims who were trapped in flooded garages and cars in Valencia during the storm, which has led to more than 200 deaths and left 2,000 people missing.

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On Saturday, Spains government ordered the deployment of 10,000 soldiers and police officers to the Valencia flash flood disaster zone amid a row over control of the rescue effort.

Pedro Sanchez, the Socialist prime minister, called it the biggest peacetime deployment of military personnel in Spains history after admitting the response so far was not enough.

By Sunday, a total of 7,500 troops and more than 9,000 officers will be aiding in the efforts to locate bodies and survivors, as well as restoring order to destroyed towns and villages, some of which have been cut off from food, water and power for days.

Spains government has been frustrated by what it believes is the slow response to the disaster by Carlos Mazon, Valencias regional president, from the conservative Peoples Party.

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Despite the extent of the destruction and the loss of life in the region, Mr Mazons administration has kept its official emergency level at two on a scale of three.

If emergency level three was triggered, control over the relief and rescue effort would automatically fall to the Spanish government in Madrid.

Sources from Mr Sanchezs government told The Telegraph that there was frustration at having to wait for Mr Mazon to request each increment in resources deployed.

We dont expect a leader from the PP to hand control over to our administration, said a central government source.

Rescuers are searching cars for survivors and retrieving the bodies of flood victims - Biel Alino/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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Spanish soldiers clear debris left by flash floods in Benetusser - Manaure Quintero/AFP

In a televised address on Saturday morning, Mr Sanchez said he was aware the response was not enough. There are problems and severe shortages... towns buried by mud, desperate people searching for their relatives, he said.

He thanked Mr Mazon for asking for the boost in troop deployment before adding that there would be time to review negligence [and] determine who was responsible for any errors in the management of the crisis.

Now is the time to forget our differences, to put ideological and regional sensibilities to one side and unite in our response, he added.

Mr Mazons regional government has been criticised for the late issue of an emergency flood alert. It finally came after 8pm on Tuesday, when fast-moving flood waters had already swept through settlements.

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Anger amongst residents has been palpable. Trade unions called on Mr Mazon to resign on Friday as Valencia opened a temporary morgue to deal with the dead.

Emergency workers search the wreckage of cars in Alfafar, Valencia - Belinda Jiao

Aid arrives by dirt bike in Manasa - Kai Forsterling/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Valencias government has included officials from the national interior and territorial affairs ministries in its rescue coordination committee  but Mr Mazon retains ultimate control over what resources are requested and how they are managed.

The central government is ready to help. Let them ask for more resources and they will be delivered, said Mr Sanchez.

The prime minister also said his government would create a fund to finance the reconstruction of the disaster zones in Valencia and other areas affected by heavy rain and flooding in Castilla-La Mancha and other regions.

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Spain has approached the European Commission to seek financial assistance with the reconstruction effort, he said.

Several European countries have offered to help Spain with the emergency, but the government has so far refused all external help.

Frances interior ministry offered to send 250 firefighters to help in the search for survivors, and the Portuguese government said it would send whatever is needed in the rescue and clean-up effort.

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Credit: Guardia Civil

On Saturday, army commanders led the search for bodies in flooded tunnels and underground garages.

Over three days, weve been in several garages with five or six bodies in each. It takes a toll on young soldiers, of course it does, a non-commissioned officer in Spains UME emergency military said.

The officer, who could not give his name because of military guidelines, told The Telegraph: What I try to do is rotate them and their roles so the same person doesnt find the next one.

We know were going to find bodies because when we get to a building with a garage, there is someone there saying my husband or my wife went to move the car and I didnt see them again. They want answers, and thats natural.

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Unknown numbers remain missing, with the local authorities denying reports that the figure could be as high as 2,000.

Emergency workers search a flooded area by an underpass in Alfafar, Valencia - Belinda Jiao

Speaking over the screeching sound of a car being towed clear of an underpass, UME soldier Mario Villena shrugged off the impact of the bodies he had seen over recent days, saying: Its our job, full stop. Theres no way around it in a catastrophe such as this were seeing here.

Private Villena was joined by several soldiers who are currently off-duty but turned up to help out with the clearance operation, wearing civilian clothing with military motifs to differentiate themselves from UME personnel on duty.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Valencian volunteers continued to assist with the clean-up, taking emergency supplies to stricken towns and neighbourhoods.

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Valencias regional government has banned private individuals cars from passing checkpoints on the edge of the flood zone and told volunteers to assemble at the citys Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias complex, from where they will be taken by bus to hard-hit locations.

More than 200 people have died in Valencia and neighbouring provinces - Biel Alino/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Some motorways have reopened, but local and regional roads resembled Swiss cheese, meaning certain places would probably remain inaccessible by land for weeks, Oscar Puente, the transport minister, told El Pais daily.

On Saturday, Diego Simeone, the manager of Atletico Madrid football club, criticised La Liga for going ahead with weekend fixtures.

Its clear that it makes no sense, what is happening is something thats so hard, Simeone told reporters before Atletico faced Las Palmas on Sunday. Its emotional to see all the people going out into the streets to help ... with whatever they can.

There are people who are having a terrible time. Its very sad, and we are in a place where they tell us to continue, and here we are, continuing.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Congressman Brandon Williams says Speaker of the House Mike Johnson apologized profusely for comments threatening the landmark legislation credited with attracting Micron to Central New York.

When asked if he, President Donald Trump and a Republican majority in Congress would repeal the CHIPS and Science Act, Johnson said: I expect that we probably will.

Standing next to the speaker, Congressman Brandon Williams shared a different position, saying he would not vote in favor of repealing the law.

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Williams said: Obviously, the CHIPS Act is hugely impactful here and my job is to keep lobbying on my side.

Putting his hand on Johnsons back, Williams said, I will remind him night and day how important the CHIPS Act is and that we break ground on Micron.

People listen to Brandon Williams, said Speaker Johnson. If thats an important thing for your district, you need this guy there to make that case.

Johnsons comments were made when he took questions from reporters after speaking alongside Congressman Williams at a rally of about 200 supporters at the CNY Regional Market.

Within an hour, the Williams campaign was working to clarify the Speakers comments.

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Congressman Brandon Williams said, I spoke privately with the Speaker immediately after the event. He apologized profusely, saying he misheard the question. He clarified his comments on the spot and I trust local media to play his full comments on supporting repatriation of chips manufacturing to America.

At the event, Johnson said, It is so important for national security, and onshoring chips manufacturing here, this district being central to that  we want to do that. Youll have 100% agreement by President Trump and all the Republicans in Congress. What we were opposed to in that bill was that it had too much crammed into it.

In a written statement after, forwarded by the Williams Campaign, Speaker Mike Johnson said, As I have further explained and clarified, I fully support Micron coming to Central NY, and the CHIPS Act is not on the agenda for repeal. To the contrary, there could be legislation to further streamline and improve the primary purpose of the bill-to eliminate its costly regulations and Green New Deal requirements.

Knowing former President Donald Trump also trashed the CHIPS legislation on a podcast last week, Governor Kathy Hochul said shed defend the project regardless of what happens on Election Day.

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Every other state wanted Micron, said the governor, we secured what is now the largest private sector investment in American history, going on right now and he dare say that its a bad program. So is he basically saying hed rather semiconductor chips be manufactured in China?

Hochul said: If he becomes the president, which I do not foresee at all, thats my prediction, do not foresee that, I will work with anyone to make sure he does not stop this critical project.

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) quickly backtracked after saying at a campaign event on Friday that he would probably move to try to repeal the CHIPS and Science Act, marking the second time in a week that the Speaker had to clean up a campaign trail comment.

Syracuse University student journalist Luke Radel asked Johnson at a campaign event with Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) if he would move to repeal the CHIPS Act  a $280 billion measure intended to boost domestic CHIPS manufacturing and fund scientific research  if Republicans win total control of Washington, noting that Johnson voted against the bill himself.

I expect that we probably will. But we havent developed that part of the agenda yet. We got to get over the election first, Johnson said.

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Williams, one of the House GOPs most vulnerable incumbent members this cycle, awkwardly contradicted the Speaker when asked if he would vote to repeal the CHIPS Act.

No. Obviously, the CHIPS Act is hugely impactful here, Williams said. My job is to keep lobbying on my side. Thats why I crossed the aisle and supported many things against leadership. But thats our partnership, thats how were going to get through it.

The CHIPS Act is important in the central New York congressional district, with funding from the legislation flowing to a $100 billion Micron Technology project to build a chipmaking facility in the suburbs of Syracuse.

Johnson went on to say that different states have different perspectives on these things and that if the legislation is important to Williams district, then the voters need him in Washington to make that case  praising him as a work horse.

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And Johnson said that while former President Trump and all the Republicans in Congress support money for domestic chip manufacturing, it had too much crammed into it and some Green New Deal measures that Republicans want to eliminate.

Williams and Johnson swiftly sent out a clarification press release cleaning up Johnsons comments.

I spoke privately with the Speaker immediately after the event. He apologized profusely, saying he misheard the question. He clarified his comments on the spot and I trust local media to play his full comments on supporting repatriation of chips manufacturing to America, Williams said in a statement.

Johnson also said he is not planning on repealing the CHIPS law.

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As I have further explained and clarified, I fully support Micron coming to Central NY, and the CHIPS Act is not on the agenda for repeal. To the contrary, there could be legislation to further streamline and improve the primary purpose of the billto eliminate its costly regulations and Green New Deal requirements, Johnson said in a statement.

But Democrats swiftly incorporated the clip into their campaign messaging.

Most politicians usually go to a community promising to create jobs in the town theyre visiting Mike Johnson, ever the trendsetter, decided to visit a town and promise to kill jobs in that town. This is what losing the majority looks like, DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement.

The question came up in part because Trump criticized the CHIPS Act on Joe Rogans podcast last week, saying: That chip deal is so bad.

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We put up billions of dollars for rich companies, Trump said.

It marks the second time this week that Johnson had to clarify remarks he made on the campaign trail that became fuel for Democrats.

At a campaign stop in Pennsylvania on Monday when Johnson was asked about health care, he said health care reform would be a part of the agenda and that Trump is going to go big with regulatory reform.

When a person in the crowd asked, No ObamaCare? Johnson repeated, No ObamaCare, as he rolled his eyes and tilted his head, continuing: The ACA is so deeply ingrained. We need massive reform to make this work, and weve got a lot of ideas on how to do that.

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Harris campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika blasted out an NBC News report of the exchange, saying: Speaker Mike Johnson is making it clear  if Donald Trump wins, he and his Project 2025 allies in Congress will make sure there is no Obamacare.

Johnson, in a statement to The Hill, said that was a dishonest characterization from the Harris campaign.

The audio and transcript make clear that I offered no such promise to end ObamaCare, and in fact acknowledged that the policy is deeply ingrained in our health care system, Johnson said in the statement. 

Still, House Republicans will always seek to reduce the costs and improve the quality and availability of health care for all Americans, he added. Anyone who has been a patient or known a loved one who has struggled with health issues understands why this is so important.

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TOWN OF MAINE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Greater Binghamton today on behalf of Republican Congressman Marc Molinaro as Johnson seeks to stay in the top job.

Johnson, Molinaro and former Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin held a joint news conference at Gagne Incorporated.

Molinaro is in a tight race with Democrat Josh Riley in what Politico says is the most expensive contest in the country.

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Johnson says a handful of swing districts in New York and California could be key in deciding who controls the House, where Republicans currently hold a slim eight seat majority.

The Speaker says thats why both sides have been pouring money into the 19th Congressional District.

I actually believe this seat is the most important battleground seat right now in the final weeks of this campaign. So much attention is being placed on it and the Democrats are threatened by Marc because hes so effective. So, theyre spending millions and millions and millions of dollars to pepper the airwaves with negative ads that are false. Theyre lying about him. Theyre trying to tear down the record of a great man, said Johnson.

To illustrate the importance of these races to Johnsons prospects of being re-elected Speaker, hes been on a barnstorming tour of Upstate New York today and yesterday, attending rallies with other Republican candidates and even attending a Pasta and Politics fundraiser for Molinaro this evening in his hometown of Catskill.

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Todays news conference is seen as counterprogramming to a get out the vote rally for Riley taking place this evening in Binghamton featuring Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

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The California Legislature is poised to welcome one of its largest freshman classes in more than a decade, and special interest groups are spending millions on Democrat-versus-Democrat races in the November election to help decide which newcomer voters will send to Sacramento.

The independent campaigns bankrolled by giant tech companies, labor unions, law enforcement organizations and other major players at the state Capitol may sway the struggle between liberal and moderate lawmakers within the Legislature's Democratic supermajority. The outcome could have a major effect on future laws on climate change and the environment, funding for schools and healthcare, criminal justice reform and worker and employer rights.

The stakes are high in four Democrat-on-Democrat races around Los Angeles, where more than $20 million has been funneled in from various political action committees seeking to boost their preferred candidates, according to Nov. 1 campaign finance records. Here's who is running in those districts:



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Jessica Caloza, a former political staffer, and Franky Carrillo, a criminal justice reform advocate, are vying to represent Assembly District 52 , which includes a swath of northeastern Los Angeles County and some or all of Glendale and East Los Angeles.



John Yi, a former nonprofit leader, and Mark Gonzalez, the current district director for Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), are head to head in the Assembly District 54 race, which includes Westlake, Chinatown, Koreatown and Boyle Heights.



Sade Elhawary, a career organizer, and Efren Martinez, a small-business owner, are vying for the Assembly District 57 seat in South Los Angeles.



Laura Richardson, a former member of Congress, and Michelle Chambers, a community justice advocate and former Compton City Council member, are running for Senate District 35 in south Los Angeles County. With more than $7 million spent by independent expenditure committees, the contest between Chambers and Richardson is the costliest election for state Senate, according to California Target Book, a comprehensive political database.

Here's a look at how a few big spenders are trying to influence who L.A. voters send to Sacramento:

Big Oil

Who spent: Chevron, Phillips 66 and Valero Services Inc. were among the biggest financial backers of the Coalition to Restore California's Middle Class, Including Energy, Manufacturing and Technology Companies who Produce Gas, Oil, Jobs and Pay Taxes. In total, the committee accumulated more than $11 million in contributions.

Whom they helped: The PAC spent about $700,000 in support of Laura Richardson, with most money going toward mailers. Richardsons campaign said in a statement that she has not had any contact or connection with the independent committee. The PAC spent more than $50,000 against Richardsons opponent, Michelle Chambers.

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They know Im the only candidate in this race who will stand for a clean environment, affordable housing and workers rights, and they are doing everything in their power to stop that  including misleading voters with malicious lies, Chambers said in a statement.

The PAC also spent more than $275,000 to support Efren Martinez and an additional $129,000 in opposition to Martinezs opponent, Sade Elhawary.

"Big Oil opposes Sade because she fights for environmental justice," a spokesperson for Elhawary wrote to The Times.

What they want: Support for the oil industry and its ongoing fights over policies to combat climate change and limit the increase of gas prices, a cause championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. California policymakers have outlined a plan for the state to be carbon neutral by 2045 and ban the sale of new, gas-powered cars by 2035. As steps have been taken to regulate drilling and place new regulations on gas prices, fossil fuel corporations have rallied against the measures and even vowed to take their case to court.

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A Chevron spokesperson wrote in a statement that the company supported candidates of both parties who share our belief in the importance of free enterprise, a strong economy, a reasonable regulatory regime and responsible energy development.

Representatives from Phillips 66 declined to comment. Valero did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Read more: Your guide to California's Assembly District 57 race: Elhawary vs. Martinez

Labor unions

Who spent: Healthcare workers and teachers unions have poured millions of dollars into their preferred candidates' campaigns.

Whom they helped: The unions have given more than $1 million to support Michelle Chambers, who received endorsements from SEIU California State Council and the California Teachers Assn. Their independent expenditure committees have been the biggest spenders in her race against Laura Richardson.

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As someone who was raised in a working-class family, Im deeply proud to have earned the support of these organizations and I look forward to creating more well-paying jobs and advocating for workers here in this community as our next State Senator, Chambers said in a statement.

The unions have also played a key role in opposing her opponent, spending about $2 million against Richardson.

The big spending by groups opposing Lauras candidacy is fueled by their desire to maintain the status quo and resist meaningful change, Richardsons campaign said in a statement.

The groups also spent about $500,000 in support of Sade Elhawary and more than $1 million against her opponent Efren Martinez.

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Opportunity PAC, sponsored by teachers and nurses, and Families & Teachers United also collectively gave close to $200,000 to Mark Gonzalez. Opportunity PAC spent an additional $91,000 to oppose his rival, John Yi.

What they want: Unions have landed big wins in recent years, including better protections for fast-food workers and setting a minimum wage for medical employees at $25 an hour.

Tia Orr, the executive director of SEIU California, said in a statement that they wanted to support pro-worker legislators who would further their goals of raising wages, making healthcare and housing affordable for families and supporting the right to form a union.

Working people are looking for more than a D by a candidates name; we are looking for candidates like Sade Elhawary and Michelle Chambers who will put the needs of working people and our communities ahead of billionaires and corporate profits, Orr said.

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Read more: Your guide to California's state Senate District 35 race: Chambers vs. Richardson

Uber

Who spent: Uber made a splash this year by dumping $30 million into its state committee in California called the Uber Innovation PAC.

Whom they helped: Uber spent $306,000 in support of Sade Elhawary.

Uber spent an additional $278,000 to support Laura Richardson and $278,000 in opposition to Richardsons opponent, Michelle Chambers.

What they want: Uber has lobbied on a handful of tech bills this year that deal with autonomous vehicles and food delivery platforms, among other issues. Ramona Prieto, Ubers head of public policy and communications of the west region, said in a statement that Uber "amplifies thoughtful candidates and campaigns that it thinks are willing to take on the tough challenges the state will face going forward including electrification, supporting small businesses, and repairing the states insurance markets."

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Read more: Your guide to Californias Assembly District 52 race: Caloza vs. Carrillo

Prison guards and law enforcement

Who spent: Independent expenditure committees funded by correctional officers and law enforcement spent big in these races. Those interests have contributed to various PACs including Tomorrow California PAC, Asian Pacific Islander PAC, We Are One LA, Keep California Golden and Integrity California, which all received portions of their funding from the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., the state's largest union, and Peace Officers Research Assn. of California, which represents law enforcement officers.

Whom they helped: Integrity California spent $225,000 on mailers and digital ads for Efren Martinez. Martinez favors Proposition 36, the anti-crime ballot initiative widely supported by law enforcement. A campaign spokesperson for Martinez said that he is aligned with most of his district voters who also support that measure. We Are One LA, funded by correctional officers, spent $113,000 on consulting and mailers to support Martinez.

Integrity California PAC spent just under $220,000 to oppose Martinezs opponent Sade Elhawary. Elhawary opposes Proposition 36 and, like many who do, aspires for California to shift away from a reliance on stiffer penalties for low-level crimes. PORAC, the police group, endorsed Martinez's candidacy.

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Integrity California and Keep California Golden spent more than $700,000 to oppose Michelle Chambers candidacy and Keep California Golden spent just under $500,000 in support of Laura Richardson in their state Senate race. PORAC, the police group, endorsed Richardson's candidacy.

The Tomorrow California PAC, sponsored by correctional officers, spent just over $1.1 million supporting Jessica Caloza, making up half of the expenditures spent on her campaign. Her opponent, Franky Carrillo, is a criminal justice reform advocate who was exonerated on a wrongful murder conviction. His campaign is largely self-funded from a settlement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The Tomorrow California PAC also gave $110,000 to a PAC for Mark Gonzalez, titled Communities United to Elect Mark Gonzalez.

What they want: Prison guards routinely lobby the Legislature over big budget decisions that affect their pay and benefits. They have also lobbied against legislation to limit the use of solitary confinement and grant inmates more visiting rights.

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Nathan Ballard, a CCPOA spokesperson, said they want to improve the day-to-day lives of correctional officers. Candidates earn our support based on whether they tend to support our goals, he said. Those goals include a laser focus on "wages, safety, workplace conditions, health care, benefits, and professional development for those officers."

The same goes for law enforcement, which has a major lobbying role in key policy decisions also dealing with prisons and criminal justice reform. Brian Marvel, the president of PORAC, said that it thoroughly evaluated each candidate to ensure they aligned with the union's goals.

Read more: Your guide to Californias Assembly District 54 race: Gonzalez vs. Yi

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The 450-million-year-old fossilized corpse of a new spider species has been discovered preserved by fools gold. A research team from the University of Oxford discovered the fossil at Beecher's Trilobite Bed in New York, a layer of rock which is famously home to many well-preserved fossils.

Scientists determined that the new species is a distant relation to other arachnids such as horseshoe crabs and scorpions, per the BBC. They belong to a group of arthropods called megacheirans, which have a large leg at the front of their bodies used to capture prey.

Scientists say the new species illuminates previously unknown facts about the evolutionary progression of arthropods and how the animals evolved parts on their heads.

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The specimen has antennae that resemble crustaceans, as well as pincers and fangs commonly found in spiders and scorpions. The discovery of sharp hairs also suggests to scientists that they used their front legs to explore their environment, rather than ensnare prey.

NEW: @OxUniEarthSci researchers have unveiled a spectacular new 450-million-year-old fossil arthropod (the group that contains spiders, centipedes & insects).



Besides being an extraordinary-looking new scientific species, the specimens are entirely preserved by fools gold. pic.twitter.com/QFiHMuiBPo  University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) October 31, 2024

Due to the low-oxygen environment in which the species lived, the fools gold, otherwise known as iron pyrite, was able to fill in the arachnid's body parts after having been interred. Luke Parry, an associate professor in Oxfords Department of Earth Sciences, called the fossil "spectacularly preserved.

"Part of the key to this success is their highly adaptable head and its appendages, that has adapted to various challenges like a biological Swiss army knife, Parry explained. "As well as having their beautiful and striking golden color, these fossils are spectacularly preserved."

The new species has been named lomankus edgecombei in honor of arthropod expert Greg Edgecombe, who works at the Natural History Museum in London.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Springfield city officials will commemorate Puerto Rican Heritage Month with an annual flag-raising ceremony on Monday.

Cultural Connections held their annual celebration of Black and Brown Literature in Springfield

The event will take place at noon on the front steps of Springfield City Hall, located at 36 Court Street. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move indoors to Room 220.

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Mayor Sarno expressed pride in Springfields diverse community, particularly its Puerto Rican residents, who have made significant contributions to the citys development over the years. We have marked Puerto Rican Heritage Month here in Springfield for over 30 years. We are proud to continue to honor and recognize our citys Puerto Rican heritage and the positive contributions and impact from our Puerto Rican community to Springfield, the Commonwealth, and the nation, Sarno stated.

He reflected on the communitys resilience in the wake of natural disasters, such as Hurricane Maria, highlighting Springfields collective efforts to support displaced residents. When the island of Puerto Rico was hit with natural disasters, we here in Springfield collectively rallied together to provide relief and to welcome our fellow Americans that were displaced, who we now proudly call neighbor, friend, colleague, family.

The mayor also noted that the city plans to honor Puerto Rican contributions throughout the year, including a flag raising on National Borrinqueneers Day in April. He emphasized the ongoing commitment to celebrating the culture, history, and achievements of the Puerto Rican community, culminating in the annual Springfield Puerto Rican Parade in September.

The City of Springfield takes great pride in flying the Puerto Rican flag to celebrate the culture, history, and achievements of the Puerto Rican community  Viva Puerto Rico! Sarno concluded.

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The community is encouraged to attend the ceremony and join in the celebration of Puerto Rican heritage and culture.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A St. Louis County woman faces a felony charge after she allegedly shook an infant in her care, resulting in severe injuries.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office formally charged Mary Williams, 19, with one count of abuse or neglect of a child (causing serious injury) on Friday.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, the victim was a two-month-old infant. The victim suffered a spinal fracture, a brain bleed and severe bruising in the buttocks.

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Check early voting wait times for St. Louis County polling places here

Police responded to a home in St. John, Missouri, after reports related to the infant. Upon arrival, officers say the victim was found unresponsive and barely breathing.

Williams confessed to officers that, at some point, she became overwhelmed and shook the baby, per court documents.

Williams was booked into jail in St. Louis County on a $350,000, according to online Missouri court records.

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St. Paul elected officials, including city council president Mitra Jalali and state pepresentative Maria Isa Perez-Vega, assembled a coalition of community advocates on Friday to urge Saint Paul residents to vote No on city questions one and two on the 2024 election ballot.

According to these officials, if passed, the proposed measures would "set back" Saint Pauls schools, families, and democracy.

Minnesotans and Saint Paul residents deserve real solutions to the childcare crisis that builds on the historic work underway at the Legislature  not diversion of precious public funds to private companies in a lottery system with no accountability, Perez-Vega said.

Child care stock image via Unsplash.

City question 1 would use city taxpayer dollars to build an early childcare and education voucher program, which leaders claim would divert local resources from urgent government needs.

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The initiative, known as the St. Paul Early Care and Learning Referendum, would provide additional funding for families with children under five who seek childcare and education services in St. Paul.

It has the support of city councilors Nelsie Yang and Rebecca Noecker, but not that of Council President Jalali and the St. Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) Local 28, which says it would create a new voucher program to funnel public dollars to private companies.

State lawmakers who helped fund investments in childcare these past two sessions pointed to the actual work underway at the state to expand the childcare tax credit and address workforce issues that hurt families ability to access childcare.

"Saint Paul voters deserve a local government that is focused and effective on the issues impacting them most," Jalali said. "Taking precious resources away from city programs and services to fund a state and federal government need will hurt our families. Local elections should not have to compete with national spending and attention for local issues to matter."

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According to the city's website, by voting yes to this question, residents would be voting on a property tax increase, with the maximum rising by .006% in year one and is estimated to increase to .060% by year 10.

Mayor Melvin Carter has already signaled his opposition to the proposal, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also voting against it.

City question 2 would end Saint Pauls odd-year election cycle and put local races into even-numbered national election cycle years.

Supporters say that making the move would help boost turnout for city elections, but opponents including Jalali believe moving the election would dilute focus on regional issues and hurt the ability to have direct conversations between candidates and residents.

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In Minnesota, weve built a culture and tradition of voting through having elections every year in races big and small," Voting rights advocate and organizer Wintana Melekin said. "Not only is the election proposal not currently possible under state law, but it also stands to undermine our local campaigns and elections by drowning out the issues that matter most every day to residents."

Related: St. Paul voters to decide: Hike property taxes to subsidize childcare?
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso will be lighting green as part of the Operation Green Light to support local veterans.

El Paso County and the El Paso Chamber will participate in Operation Green Light, a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of the challenges faced by veterans and the resources available to them and their families.

According to El Paso County, County buildings, bridges and other meaningful landmarks will be lighting green from Nov. 4 through Nov. 11.

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The El Paso Chamber said they will be shining the Star on the Mountain green from Nov. 1 through Nov. 12.

The El Paso Chamber is always honored to light the Star on the Mountain in partnership with the City of El Paso, Claudia Rosales, the El Paso Chambers director of Programs and Community Outreach said. Lighting the Star green is a powerful reminder of our communitys shared appreciation for the men and women who have dedicated their lives to defending our freedom.

El Paso is celebrated as the Veterans Captial of the U.S. and a Great American Defense Community, according to the El Paso Chamber.

In addition to iconic El Paso landmarks, both organizations are inviting the community to join the effort in showing support and respect to our local veterans.

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According to the County, Operation Green Light is in its third year and was started by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers in 2021.

In 2023, over 300 counties participated in Operation Green Light.

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Legendary actor Harrison Ford has made his stance in the 2024 presidential election clear, casting his vote in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

In a series of videos released in partnership with the Harris-Walz campaign, the "Star Wars" actor laid out his reasons for supporting the ticket over former President Donald Trump, stressing the importance of character and the rule of law.

In a series of campaign videos released in partnership with the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket, Harrison Ford explained his choice to support Harris over former President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need for a leader who values unity and the rule of law.

Harrison Ford Endorses Kamala Harris Ahead Of Election Day

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In one of the three videos, Ford acknowledged that for many voters, supporting a Democratic candidate may feel unprecedented.

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For a lot of people, this might be the first time theyre voting for someone who doesnt have an R next to their name, he noted, per The Hollywood Reporter, because they know this really matters.

The truth is this, Kamala Harris will protect your right to disagree with her about policies or ideas, and then, as we have done for centuries, well debate them. Well work on them together, and well move forward, he added.

Harrison Ford Makes Rare Presidential Endorsement

Harrison Ford endorses Kamala Harris in new video. pic.twitter.com/XQUIvm9R7w  Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 2, 2024

The actor's endorsement marks a rare public political statement from Ford, who tends to keep his personal views out of the spotlight.

When dozens of former members of the Trump administration are sounding alarms, saying, For Gods sake, dont do this again, you have to pay attention, Ford said in another video. Theyre telling us something important. These arent soft people. Theyre governors, generals, standing up against the leader of the party they spent their lives advocating for.

Harrison Ford Says He Is Voting For Kamala Harris

MEGA

In another video, the "Indiana Jones" star spoke candidly about his own political philosophy. While he doesnt agree with Harris and Walz on every issue, he emphasizes his respect for their integrity and commitment to upholding democratic values.

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These two people believe in the rule of law, he said, underscoring that his support is based not on perfection, but on principles. They believe in science. They believe that when you govern, you do so for all Americans. They believe that we are in this together. These are ideas I believe in. These are people I can get behind.

The other guy, he demands unquestioning loyalty, says he wants revenge," he later added. "Im Harrison Ford. Ive got one vote  same as anyone else  and Im going to use it to move forward. Im going to vote for Kamala Harris.

Harrison Ford Expresses Frustrations With The State Of America

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In a powerful moment, Ford expressed his own frustrations with the state of the country, saying he is frustrated about a lot of things in this country, like hes sure others are too.

He continued, But the other guy, he spent four years turning us against each other while embracing dictators and tyrants around the world. Thats not who we are. We dont need to make America great again. Come on, we are great, but what we need is to work together again. What we need is a president who works for all of us again.

The 'Star Wars' Actor Speaks To Those Who May 'Still Be On The Fence'

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In the third video, Ford addressed voters who are still undecided as the November 5 presidential election approaches.

If youre still on the fence, heres a good thing to look at: Whos trying to scare you into voting for them? Whos trying to make you look at your neighbors with anger, suspicion, hatred, and who is encouraging you to build something with the people around you? the "Star Wars" actor said. It would be really nice to move forward.

Fords endorsement comes after many other celebrities endorsed the current Vice President, including Taylor Swift, Octavia Spencer, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Keaton, Kelly Rowland, Beyonce, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more.
With Election Day rapidly approaching, citizens of states across the U.S. are casting votes not only in a tight presidential race, but also on contentious issues, like marijuana and abortion.

This year, 10 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and South Dakota have abortion measures on their ballots, with Nebraska taking on the unusual distinction of having two dueling propositions for voters to decide between.

Other states, who already have a range of laws concerning abortion, have constitutional amendments up for votes that would enact a variety of abortion and reproductive-care-related protections.

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After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which federally guaranteed the right to an abortion, in June 2022, states have enacted a range of laws. At least 14 have implemented near-total abortion bans, while others have enshrined the right to abortion access in state law or passed shield laws protecting patients from other states who travel to get the procedure.

Now, states on both sides of the coin have measures on the ballot to strengthen protections, implement tighter restrictions, or overturn current legislation.

Here's what to know about proposed abortion legislation in the 2024 election and what each state is voting on.

Election 2024 live updates: Trump, Harris make final pitch before Election Day; new polls

Abortion is on the ballots in 10 states this election season.

Arizona: Proposition 139

The Arizona Abortion Access Act, appearing on ballots as Proposition 139, would amend the Arizona Constitution to add a fundamental right to abortion.

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Currently, most abortions are banned in the state after 15 weeks. The law has some exceptions for life-threatening conditions or "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function," but does not include exceptions for rape or incest.

As reported by the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, the act would:

Prevent any state government entity from restricting abortion before the fetus is viable outside the uterus as determined by a treating healthcare professional (this usually occurs around 24 weeks).

Allow abortions after viability when necessary to protect the life, physical or mental health of the pregnant person.

Prohibit laws that penalize individuals for aiding or assisting a person exercising the right to an abortion.

Colorado: Amendment 79

Colorado's Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative will be on ballots as Amendment 79. It seeks to amend the state's constitution to enshrine the right to abortion. It would also allow the use of public funds for abortion, overturning a 1984 amendment to the state constitution that prohibited the use of public funds for abortion care except in some cases of saving the mother's life.

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Colorado is currently one of nine states that allow abortion at any point in pregnancy. The Reproductive Health Equity Act signed into law in November 2022 also placed many rights related to reproductive health care in Colorado statutes, including creating a statutory right to have an abortion," according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan, part of the USA TODAY Network.

If passed, Amendment 79 would:

Prohibit state and local governments from denying, impeding, or discriminating against abortion access.

Allow abortions to be covered under health insurance plans for Colorado state and local government employees and for enrollees in state and local governmental insurance programs.

Florida: Amendment 4

"Yes On 4!" campaign materials on ending Florida's strict abortion ban are seen as volunteers prepare to hand them out in Orlando, Florida, on October 6, 2024.

Florida's Right to Abortion Initiative will appear on ballots as Amendment 4. It would amend the Florida Constitution's Declaration of Rights to prohibit the restrictions of abortion before viability or when determined necessary by a medical professional to protect a patient's health.

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Currently, Florida has a six-week abortion ban, one of the strictest in the country post-Dobbs. Its "Heartbeat Protection Act" starts that six-week clock on the first day of a persons last menstrual period.

Limited exceptions exist for the life and health of the mother, cases of fetal abnormality, or rape and incest, but only when meeting certain requirements such as multiple doctor signatures, a gestation earlier than 15 weeks, a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record or other documentation providing evidence that the baby is a product of rape or incest.

As reported by the Pensacola News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, Amendment 4 would:

Add the following language to the Florida Constitutions Declaration of Rights:  no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider."

Leave in place the current constitutional provision that permits a law requiring parents to be notified before a minor can receive an abortion.

Maryland: Question 1

Maryland's Question 1, or Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment, would enshrine the right to "reproductive freedom" in the state's constitution.

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Maryland's current laws allow abortion up to viability and after viability in the case of danger to the mother's life and health or fetal anomaly. The state also has a shield law in place for reproductive and gender-affirming care that protects medical providers from out-of-state investigations and prosecution.

If passed, Maryland's Question 1 would:

Amend the Maryland Constitution's Declaration of Rights to ensure "reproductive freedom," defined to include "the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one's own pregnancy."

Prohibit the constitutional right to abortion from being denied or infringed unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

Missouri: Amendment 3

Missouri's Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative will be on ballots as Amendment 3. It would add a fundamental right to "reproductive freedom" to the state's constitution.

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Missouri currently has a total abortion ban, with a few exceptions for cases of medical emergencies. There is no exception for cases of rape or incest and those who perform or induce an abortion may face felony charges and can face a prison sentence between five and 15 years.

As reported by the Springfield News-Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network, the amendment would:

Establish a right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid.

Remove Missouris ban on abortion.

Allow regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient.

Require the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care.

Allow abortion to be restricted or banned after fetal viability except to protect the life or health of the woman. Fetal viability is to be determined by a treating medical professional "in good faith" and means the fetus would have a "significant likelihood" of "sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures."

Montana: CI-128

Montana's Right to Abortion Initiative, or CI-128, would amend the state constitution to guarantee the right to "make and carry out decisions about ones own pregnancy, including the right to abortion."

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In Montana, it is currently legal to get an abortion until fetal viability. The law also allows for the use of state funds in abortion and protects against harassment and physical harm for individuals entering abortion clinics.

The initiative would:

Provide a state constitutional "right to make and carry out decisions about ones own pregnancy, including the right to abortion."

Allow the state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, except when "medically indicated to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient."

Prohibit the government from penalizing, prosecuting, or taking any adverse action against a person based on their pregnancy outcomes nor against any person who aids or assists another person in obtaining an abortion.

Prohibit the constitutional right to abortion from being denied or burdened unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

Nebraska: Initiative 434 and Initiative 439

Nebraska will have two dueling abortion initiatives up for a vote on November's ballot.

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Initiative 434, or the Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment, would amend the state constitution to prohibit abortions after the first trimester except in cases of medical emergency, sexual assault or incest.

Currently, abortion is allowed in Nebraska up to 12 weeks. There are exceptions past 12 weeks for the life of the mother, preventing serious risk to the physical health of the mother, and in cases of rape and incest.

If passed, Initiative 434 would:

Amend Article I of the Nebraska Constitution to add a section saying "unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters" except in cases of medical emergencies or pregnancies resulting from sexual assault or incest.

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Adversely, Nebraska's Initiative 439, the Right to Abortion Initiative, would amend the state constitution to ensure the right to an abortion until fetal viability.

If passed, Initiative 439 would:

Amend Article I of the Nebraska Constitution to add the right to abortion until fetal viability, defined as "the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient's treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus's sustained survival outside of the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures."

Nevada: Question 6

Nevada's Right to Abortion Initiative, on ballots as Question 6, would amend the state constitution to add the right to abortion up to viability but allow the government to regulate abortion after that point.

Abortion is currently legal in Nevada up to 24 weeks, around the time a fetus is often considered "viable."

Nevada's Question 6 would:

Establish in the state constitution the right to abortion until fetal viability, defined as a "significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures," as determined by the treating health practitioner.

Enshrine the right to abortion to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.

Prohibit the state from denying, burdening or infringing the right to abortion unless justified by "compelling state interest," defined as "an interest which is limited exclusively to the states interest in protecting, maintaining, or improving the health of an individual who is seeking abortion care that is consistent with accepted clinical standards of practice."

New York: Proposal 1

An anti abortion rights activist holds a sign and an American flag during the annual anti-abortion demonstration in New York City, on March 23, 2024.

New York's Equal Protection of Law Amendment will appear on ballots as Proposal 1. It would amend the New York Bill of Rights to dictate that no person's rights can be denied on a variety of specified basis, including "pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy."

Currently, abortion is legal in New York up to and including 24 weeks. After 24 weeks, exceptions exist for the absence of fetal viability or to protect the patients life or health. Abortions performed outside of these constraints are not criminally prosecutable.

If passed, New York Proposal 1 would:

Amend the Equal Protection Clause of the New York Constitution to prohibit discrimination or infringement of a person's civil rights by any other person, firm, corporation, institution or state entity based on "ethnicity, national origin, age, disability," as well as the person's "sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy." Currently, the clause only specifies protections based on "race, color, creed, or religion."

South Dakota: Constitutional Amendment G

South Dakota's Right to Abortion Initiative, appearing on the ballot as Constitutional Amendment G, would add the right to abortion to the state's constitution.

In South Dakota, abortion is currently banned except to save the life of the mother with no further exceptions for fetal health, rape or incest. The state does have a law in place preventing women who receive abortions from being held criminally liable.

If passed, the amendment would:

Prohibit the state from regulating access to abortion during the first trimester.

Allow the state to regulate abortion in the second trimester but "only in ways that are reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman."

Allow the state to regulate or prohibit abortion in the third trimester with expectations for "when abortion is necessary, in the medical judgment of the woman's physician, to preserve the life and health of the pregnant woman."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion is on the ballot in 10 states this election: See proposals
RALEIGH, N.C.  On a Wednesday in late October, canvassers wearing hot-pink T-shirts with messages like abortion rights voter and abortion is on the ballot fanned out across neighborhoods in Wake County and knocked on door after door.

Each had grabbed a stack of door hangers with the message Vote for your reproductive freedom champions above the names of candidates.

Technically, abortion is not on the ballot here. North Carolina is one of more than a dozen states that have banned or heavily restricted abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned and also dont allow residents to bypass their state legislature to put the issue directly before voters on a statewide ballot. Ten other states currently have it on the ballot, eight through citizen-led initiatives.

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But that hasnt stopped abortion rights supporters from pushing for votes up and down the ballot. From the presidential race  where Donald Trump and Kamala Harris offer two distinct visions on the issue  to the local level, where Democrats hope to break a Republican supermajority in the state legislature.

Nobodys really waiting around for a ballot measure, said Emma Horst-Martz, 28, an organizer with Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic. We think there is a real opportunity to change the legislative makeup so it actually represents the desires and needs of North Carolinians.

Abortion rights groups have mobilized in North Carolina in the hope of breaking up state Republicans' veto-proof supermajority.

Similar efforts are unfolding in some of the other states with new abortion bans, even without a question about reproductive freedom on the ballot. Across the South, supporters of abortion rights are using the issue to motivate voters.

In Georgia, that means trying to elect Harris and state legislators opposed to the states six-week ban. In Texas, it means trying to oust conservative judges and helping Rep. Colin Allred, a Democrat who said he would support a federal law protecting abortion, defeat Sen. Ted Cruz.

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Activists have spent these final weeks making signs, hosting parties, knocking doors and mailing postcards.

Although Texas does not have a statewide referendum on abortion, Rep. Colin Allred's Senate campaign has galvanized abortion rights supporters.

Abortion played a decisive role in the 2022 midterms despite predictions that swing voters would be more motivated by economic concerns, explained Diana Mutz, director of the Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics at the University of Pennsylvania, who has studied voter attitudes.

She expects it could drive votes again this year. Its easier for Democrats to campaign on the issue, she said, because their party is more united in favor of abortion rights than Republicans are in opposition.

Though the impact of abortion will become clearer after Election Day, she said, losing an existing right can motivate voters. It was the law of the land for a long time, she said. Its very hard to take that away from people.

North Carolina is one of only two states in the South where abortions can occur after the sixth week of pregnancy, but the state did enact a 12-week ban last year. At least some public polling indicates the ban is unpopular with North Carolina voters.

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A 2023 poll from Elon University found about 45% of respondents were either strongly or somewhat opposed to the states ban compared to 23% who were strongly or somewhat supportive.

Lauren Gonzalez, a 32-year-old graduate student keeping a watchful eye on her toddler in a Raleigh park playground, said she wished her state could vote on a ballot measure to protect abortion.

If anything, I think having a child made me more pro-choice, she said, after noting that her son was born the same day Roe v. Wade was overturned. I feel like there has to be choice for the health and safety of families.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein is expected to win this years gubernatorial election as his Republican challenger, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, remains dogged by controversy, including over comments hes made on abortion. Steins influence could be tempered, however, if the Republicans retain their veto-proof supermajority, achieved in 2023 when a single state representative switched parties. That switch proved pivotal in passing the states abortion ban.

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Republicans are fighting to keep it. At the North Carolina State Fair last week, amid the rides and concession stands, volunteers at the Wake County GOP booth reminded fairgoers about early voting.

When asked about abortion, Brett Dearing, a Lexington resident who stopped by the booth, said hed rather the federal government stay out of it. In my opinion, its the states job to make up their own rules about those kinds of things.

Around the corner, brochures and donation jars were on display alongside a basket of rubber fetus dolls at the booth for North Carolina Right to Life.

But Dr. Bill Pincus, the groups president, said many voters he encountered seemed more focused on immigration or the economy than abortion. I'm not sure it's the top issue on peoples minds Pincus told NBC News this week. I wish it was and that everybody would vote pro-life.

Political booths were among the attractions at this year's North Carolina State Fair.

In Texas, Trump is favored to win, but the states U.S. Senate race has been more competitive. Allreds supporters are hoping to oust Cruz, though its likely to be an uphill climb.

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On the campaign trail, Allred has said he would vote for a federal law protecting abortion rights in all 50 states.

Down-ballot, Texas organizers are also hoping to tap into the backlash against the states abortion ban.

I wouldnt in any way underestimate the anger of Texas women, said Gina Ortiz Jones, who launched the Find Out PAC with the goal of ousting three Republican state Supreme Court judges who denied a Texas woman's request for an exception under the states abortion law.

The group is running digital ads in some of the states most populous cities featuring firsthand accounts from women who were forced to leave the state for treatment during their pregnancies, or grew sicker while waiting for care.

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In Amarillo, abortion rights advocates are fighting a ballot initiative that would make it the latest Texas community to try to bar its highways and roads from being used to travel out of state for abortion care. The proposed ban, which legal experts have challenged as unconstitutional, would rely on civil lawsuits for enforcement.

Rachel O'Leary Carmona, executive director of the Womens March, who is based in Amarillo, said her group, alongside local organizers, was actively campaigning against it.

There is a real pushback in the community, she said, to the way that this ordinance would turn neighbor against neighbor inside of our community.

Some abortion rights supporters in states without initiatives see a Harris win, combined with state legislative action, as the clearest avenue for change.

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In Georgia, which President Joe Biden carried by less than 1 percentage point in 2020, organizers have been canvassing for state candidates who support increased abortion access and might reintroduce legislation to repeal the states abortion ban.

The deaths of at least two women  Candi Miller and Amber Nicole Thurman  have been tied to the states lack of legal abortion care and an environment of uncertainty around exceptions.

A vigil in Atlanta on Sept. 28 in response to the deaths of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, who died of complications during pregnancy.

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OB-GYNs in the state countered a Trump visit last week with a mobile billboard on the side of a truck announcing that women cant afford to wait and see whether he would sign a national abortion ban if re-elected.

Dr. Mimi Zieman, an Atlanta-based OB-GYN who helped organize the billboard, said one of her patients had struggled to find a provider willing to end her molar pregnancy, which in some cases can cause uterine cancer.

Theyre not getting the results, she said of the anti-abortion movement. What they are getting is women suffering along the way. As a practicing physician, I feel like its my duty to help remedy that.

Canvassers with a political arm of Planned Parenthood gather before dispersing to knock on doors in North Carolina.

In late October, Horst-Martz drove south from Raleigh, North Carolina, to a Wake County suburb called Fuquay-Varina.

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She walked up to a home in a quiet subdivision, the first of 34 she would stop at that afternoon. She knocked, waited a few seconds and left a door hanger with the groups endorsements.

At the third home, a man answered.

Do you have a plan to vote? Horst-Martz asked.

Thats my own personal business, he responded.

But others were more welcoming. After speaking to Horst-Martz, Matthew Morman, 33, told NBC News that he was voting for Stein, in part because of his support for abortion rights. Morman said he would also support a direct vote on the issue.

I do wish it would go to a vote so that the people could talk and put forth their voice, he said. Because most of the people weve talked to, theyre outraged.

Matthew Morman at his home in Fuquay-Varina, N.C.

Safiyah Jackson, one of the state House candidates endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic, has also been knocking on doors. She said its been gratifying to meet men, in particular, who consider abortion a top issue.

It is a growing movement in North Carolina, she said. I think it has been and will be a winning issue.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The survival rates of the German wolf population are among the highest in the world, according to a new study that helps explain their rapid expansion in the country.

In the nearly quarter-century since the canines returned to Germany the annual survival probability for young wolves averaged 75% and 88% for adults, said Stephanie Kramer-Schadt of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin.

The figures, presented this week in the journal Wildlife Biology, were evaluated using long-term data compiled by the Federal Documentation and Consultation Centre on Wolves.

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According to previous analyses, the highest recorded survival rates for adult wolves in other non-hunted populations were 78% in the United States and 82% in alpine regions of Europe.

The research team attributed the high rates in Germany to the abundance of well-suited habitats and strict legal protection.

However, once the carrying capacity of an area is reached, a decline in survival rates is expected. Kramer-Schadt noted the population in Germany is still expanding, but growth will slow once optimal habitats are occupied.

Researchers highlighted road traffic as a major threat, with young, inexperienced wolves often being hit by cars.

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Recent findings indicate that the average age of wolves in Germany is about three years, with the highest documented age nearly 13 years. The average number of offspring per litter is four.

The Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus lupus) was wiped out in Western Europe by the mid-19th century due to extermination efforts and habitat destruction. In Germany, it was considered extinct for over 100 years before wolves began migrating again from Poland at the turn of the century.

In the 2022-23 monitoring year there were 184 wolf packs, 47 wolf pairs and 22 resident lone wolves in Germany, according to government data.
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  A Summerville man has been sentenced to twenty years in prison for the repeated sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl.

Solicitor David Pascoe announces that Christian Vanderhoof, 26, has been convicted of two counts of criminal sexual conduct third degree.

We must continue to believe our children, said Chief Deputy Solicitor Kelly Amell LaPlante, prosecutor of the case. The only reason we were able to prosecute this case is because of a brave little girl and her parents who fully believed her when she told them what had happened. Were so grateful for this familys support of their child, each other, and our offices efforts to bring Mr. Vanderhoof to justice.

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According to Pascoe, Vanderhoof avoided trial by pleading guilty before the Honorable Maite Murphy.

The Solicitors Office thanks Sergeant Detective Leta Boehler and the Dorchester County Sheriffs Office for their work on this case.

He is currently being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The Summit will host an event Saturday to promote composting and prevent unnecessary waste.

The Pumpkin Smash will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Summits Nordstrom Rack parking lot. Participants are encouraged to bring their Halloween pumpkins and smash them, preparing them for composting. Pumpkins with non-biodegradable items like paint, glitter, googly eyes, stickers or candles are not permitted, as items like these would contaminate the compost.

According to the Summits website, composting helps reduce waste sent to landfills, greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of water in landfills, where it must be monitored to avoid groundwater contamination.

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A map of the Summit 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.
QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

Today: Mostly sunny, high 63

Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 37

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, high 67 (56)

Monday: Mostly cloudy, high 74 (61)

Tuesday: Rain chances late, high 77 (55)

Wednesday: AM showers, high 68 (47)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

The weekend will see slightly warmer temperatures, but overall everything will stay calm. Temperatures are going to reach the low 60s on Saturday. Skies will also stay mainly clear for the majority of the day. Winds are expected to stay fairly light.

A few clouds are going to move into Central Ohio as the night goes on becoming partly cloudy by the morning. Low temperatures will be slightly warmer, but will still fall in to the upper 30s.

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The warming trend continues as highs will reach the upper 60s on Sunday. This is running close to 10 degrees above average for this time of year. Clouds increase throughout the day on Sunday, but most of us will stay dry. Any chances for rain showers will be well north of us closer to Lake Erie.

Well above average temperatures stay through the start of the new work week. By Election Day Tuesday there will be increasing chances of rain showers as the day goes on. Highs Tuesday will return to the upper 70s, which is almost 20 degrees above average for this time of 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.
As has been the case ever since he was shot in the head in July, former president Donald Trump spoke behind a glass barrier that ensconced him from another would-be gunman.

But Trump touched down in Gastonia, North Carolina as a means to create another protective barrier: a firewall to stave off a rising Kamala Harris in the Tar Heel State.

The crowd was just as rapturous and raucous as any Trump rally in the past nine years since he debuted. There was a sense of finality to the weekend, knowing that if he won, this would be Trumps final campaign week.

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Still, a sense of anxiety hovered over the rally. The final weekend of the campaign is ostensibly about showing strength. It should be about campaigning in states to play on offense when it has certain states locked up. North Carolina was the only swing state in 2020 that broke for him.

A Trump support in the Gastonia crowd sported a painted orange face (Getty Images)

One of his first stops after his second indictment last year was at the state GOP convention, a show of strength that showed he would muscle out his-would be challengers Ron DeSantis and his former vice president Mike Pence.

He made the chairman of that state party Michael Whatley the co-chair of the RNC. His campaign has repeatedly dispatched his running mate JD Vance to North Carolina.

We win this state. We're going to win the whole ball game., Trump said at the airport, to applause.

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Some of Trumps supporters dressed in garbage bags and trash cans, a reference to them being angry at President Joe Biden for supposedly calling them garbage. The White House has claimed that Biden was specifically referring to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage.

A supporter of the former president Donald Trumps dressed in a garbage can following Joe Bidens comments this week (Eric Garcia)

Polling shows Harris and Trump about dead-even. And moreover, Harris is now making a last-minute push by visiting Charlotte later on Saturday evening at the nearby PNC Music Pavilion. After a brief stop in Virginia, Trump will head to Greensboro. On Sunday, he will campaign in Kinston and on Monday, he will hold a rally in Raleigh.

But at the Gastonia Municipal Airport, there was a sense of disbelief that North Carolina, or the election nationally could be close. Two volunteers conversing talked about how surprised they were how close it was, talking about how some states were purple.

I can't believe that it's close, Donna Speed from Gastonia told The Independent, adding that she thinks that Trump would win North Carolina.

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I don't think that the polls are doing justice, Donnas husband James Speed added, claiming that pollsters have just stated their bias as either left-wing or right-wing.

Indeed, the sense of disbelief seemed to pervade the entire rally. Before he took the stage, Representative Dan Bishop of North Carolina bragged about Republican prospects.

Trump stood behind a glass barrier at the rally (Getty Images)

In three days, I'll be elected the first Republican elected Attorney General of North Carolina in 128 years, Bishop said. But polling shows Bishop trailing Democratic candidate and fellow congressman Jeff Jackson.

At the same time, Bishop highlighted one advantage Republicans have against their opponents.

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Republicans lead early voting for the first time in history, he said.  But here's the best news of all, there are plenty of Republicans who haven't voted yet.

But just before he took the stage, Bishop spoke with a supporter about how Mark Robinson, the beleaguered Republican nominee for governor, would have a tough time. It was a tacit admission that Republicans will likely not win back the governorship even if Trump picks up the state.

As the crowd waited for Trumps arrival, the former president seemed keen to portray himself as a wrestling babyface (or good guy), playing footage of him shaving former WWE executive Vince McMahons head during a Wrestlemania. McMahons wife Linda worked in the Trump administration.

After familiar hits including Van Morrisons Brown-Eyed Girl and Guns N Roses, the rally even played the entrance music of The Undertaker, the retired WWE legend who recently had Trump on his podcast.

A member of law enforcement takes position before Trump speaks (AP)

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When Trump eventually came on, he bragged about the size of his crowd, saying that about 20,000 people attended the rally.

We were just going to stop over real quick a little group of people, he told the crowd to hollers. And this is not a little group.

But a few minutes into Trumps speech, the Speeds left. Indeed, plenty of people said that they were leaving either because they were tired from standing or wanted to beat traffic.

Karen Pratt said she had crossed the border from Spartanburg, South Carolina. She had first gone to see Trump in South Carolina back in 2015 when he first ran.

We got here early, so we've been standing quite a while, Pratt, who wore socks with Trumps likeness, told The Independent.

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Trump continues to have the support of the diehards though and many stayed. In the same vein, numerous houses in the neighborhood bore massive Trump-Vance banners.

What remains to be seen is whether all those people could help Trump Force One get off the ground in the state where the Wright Brothers flew their first plane.
The Supreme Court on Friday said it wont block Pennsylvanians whose mail votes are voided for technical reasons from voting provisionally at their polling place on Election Day, rejecting a challenge from the Republican National Committee.

The emergency order keeps in place a 4-3 ruling from Pennsylvanias top court giving voters the additional option to still participate when they return their mail ballot without an inner, secrecy envelope or other issues.

The Supreme Courts ruling enables an in-person do-over for those impacted voters, even if they live in a Pennsylvania county that doesnt permit curing of mail ballots when cancelled for technical issues.

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Republicans contended the practice violates state law and potentially affects tens of thousands of people, a sizable margin in a key battleground state that could decide the outcome of the presidential election.

The RNC unsuccessfully asked the justices to halt the Pennsylvania courts ruling or at least separate the challenged ballots until fully resolving the appeal.

Whether that crucial election will be conducted under the rules set by the General Assembly or under the whims of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is an important constitutional question meriting this Courts immediate attention, the RNC wrote in its emergency application.

The Supreme Courts order had no noted dissents. Three of the courts leading conservatives  Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch  in a brief statement said they agreed with denying the RNCs request.

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The application of the State Supreme Courts interpretation in the upcoming election is a matter of considerable importance, but even if we agreed with the applicants federal constitutional argument (a question on which I express no view at this time), we could not prevent the consequences they fear, Alito wrote.

The lower courts judgment concerns just two votes in the long-completed Pennsylvania primary, he continued. Staying that judgment would not impose any binding obligation on any of the Pennsylvania officials who are responsible for the conduct of this years election. And because the only state election officials who are parties in this case are the members of the board of elections in one small county, we cannot order other election boards to sequester affected ballots.

Nearly 2.2 million Pennsylvanians have requested mail ballots for the upcoming election, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of State. The MIT Election Data and Science Lab estimates roughly 1.1 percent of mail votes in 2020 were rejected as naked ballots.

The dispute is part of a broader barrage of election lawsuits filed in the key swing state ahead of Tuesdays contest. Other challenges implicate overseas ballots, mail ballots with missing dates and long voting lines.

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Republicans have increasingly pulled the Supreme Court into the pre-election litigation, and many court watchers expect challenges to the election results will ultimately reach the justices.

The case at hand in Pennsylvania arose after two Butler County residents returned mail ballots without the required secrecy envelope in the states Democratic primary in April. The countys election board then rejected the voters provisional ballots they cast in person on Election Day.

This is a win for democracy and the rule of law, Ari Savitzky, senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Unions Voting Rights Project, which represented the voters, said in a statement.

The court rightly rejected this eleventh-hour attempt to discount the votes of Pennsylvanians and interfere in the states electoral process. The bottom line is that voters deserve to have their voices heard, Savitzky added.

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The Pennsylvania Democratic Party, which is backing the voters challenge, told the Supreme Court to deny Republicans application, as did Pennsylvanias Democratic attorney general.

For this Court to grant certiorari here, it must conclude that the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts routine application of statutorily defined interpretive principles was something other than ordinary judicial review. Should this Court go down that uncharted path, federal courts will be asked to do so every time a state court interprets any part of its statutory election law, the state wrote in court filings.

In Pennsylvania and across the country, Trump and his allies are trying to make it harder for your vote to count, but our institutions are stronger than his shameful attacks. Todays decision confirms that, for every eligible voter, the right to vote means the right to have your vote counted, Harris-Walz Campaign Communications Director Michael Tyler and Democratic National Committee Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin said in a statement.

While we are disappointed in the Supreme Courts ruling, we have secured three major victories for election integrity in Pennsylvania just this week: we won extended early voting in Bucks County; we won signature verification and observer access in Erie County; and we won  for the fifth time  the dated ballot case in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, RNC spokesperson Claire Zunk said in a statement.

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The ruling from the nations highest court came moments after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted an RNC request in a separate case implicating ballots in the key swing state. The state court reaffirmed that mail ballots must be voided if they dont have a proper date on the outer envelope.

Updated 9:56 p.m. EDT

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(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court rejected a Republican Party bid to stop potentially tens of thousands of votes from being counted in next weeks presidential election in the pivotal state of Pennsylvania.

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The rebuff leaves in force a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that said voters are entitled to a second chance if their mail-in ballots are invalidated because they lack the required secrecy envelope. Republicans had sought to block the ruling, which will let voters file provisional ballots on Election Day.

Blocking the decision would have been a boost to Donald Trumps campaign  and a blow to Vice President Kamala Harris  given that far more Democrats vote by mail than Republicans.

The court as a whole gave no explanation, and no justice publicly dissented. But three conservative justices said they agreed with the decision for procedural reasons, noting that the case grew out of a now-completed Democratic primary in western Pennsylvania and didnt directly involve next weeks election.

Blocking the state court ruling would not impose any binding obligation on any of the Pennsylvania officials who are responsible for the conduct of this years election, Justice Samuel Alito wrote for himself and Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch.

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In seeking to block the ruling, Republicans pointed to the precedent it will set for the upcoming election. In addition to ballots lacking the inner secrecy envelope  known colloquially as naked ballots  the 4-3 Pennsylvania ruling is likely to apply to people who failed to put the required date on their mail ballot.

The order came minutes after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a separate case blocked the counting of undated and misdated mail-in ballots, siding with the Republican National Committee. An intermediate appeals court had said the state constitution required the counting of those ballots.

The RNC then turned to the states highest court, arguing that the lower court had changed voting rules too close to Election Day and undermined election integrity.

As the law stands now, those voters will also be able to cast provisional ballots in Tuesdays election. The two court actions Friday dont preclude the US Supreme Court from considering after the election whether the disputed votes are valid.

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Democratic Ballots

Of the 1.7 million Pennsylvanians who have already cast ballots through early voting, 56% are Democrats, and 33% are Republicans, according to state figures. Democrat Joe Biden received 76% of the mail vote in 2020, with Trump getting just 23%. Biden won the state by about 80,000 votes four years ago.

The RNC and state Republican Party organization said the Pennsylvania naked ballot decision was such an egregious misinterpretation of state law that it violated the constitutional provisions governing federal elections.

The case raised what could be a pivotal issue in the upcoming election, testing how the justices will apply their 2023 decision on the so-called independent state legislature theory. The decision carved out an exception to the general rule that state courts determine what their own laws mean, saying the Supreme Court can overturn state judges who transgress the ordinary bounds of judicial review in federal election cases.

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The 2023 ruling rejected the most sweeping version of the independent state legislature theory  Republican-backed arguments that the US Constitution gives state lawmakers near-exclusive power to set rules for congressional and presidential votes.

The Constitutions elections clause says the rules for congressional races shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof unless overridden by Congress. A similar provision governs the appointment of presidential electors.

Provisional ballots are cast in person when theres a question about a voters eligibility. After polls close, county election boards go through provisional ballots to check if those voters are, in fact, eligible. But Pennsylvania law says that if a voters absentee or mail-in ballot is timely received by a county election board, officials shouldnt count that persons subsequent provisional ballot.

Laws Purpose

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The state court said the goal of the law was to prevent double voting, which isnt possible when a mail-in ballot is tossed out as defective.

The RNC told the Supreme Court that an on-time mail ballot is timely received  making the person ineligible to also vote provisionally  even if it turns out to be invalid. The Pennsylvania ruling departed from the plain terms of the election code to dramatically change the rules governing mail voting, the Republicans argued.

The RNC said the issue had implications for tens of thousands of votes. The Associated Press reported that in the 2022 midterm election, 8,250 mail-in ballots were rejected for missing the secrecy envelope.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party urged the US Supreme Court not to intervene, saying the ruling was miles away from the type of extreme departure from the norms of judicial decision-making that could implicate electors or elections clause concerns.

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Democrats also said Republicans lacked legal standing to press arguments about next weeks election in the context of an already completed Democratic primary.

The case is Republican National Committee v. Genser, 24A408.

--With assistance from Zoe Tillman and Erik Larson.

(Updates with background on case starting in 12th paragraph.)

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The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a Republican-backed lawsuit that could have disenfranchised thousands of Pennsylvanians who have chosen to vote by mail in the tightly contested state.

In Republican National Committee v. Genser, the court affirmed an Oct. 23 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling regarding procedures for mail-in ballots that are not sealed properly.

At issue is a state law saying that a mailed ballot is void if it is only put in the outer declaration envelope but not the inner secrecy envelop as well. According to the law, a missing secrecy envelope means the ballot is deemed naked, at which point a voter is informed that they must go to the polls on Election Day to cast a provisional ballot.

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The case was originally brought by two Democratic voters who cast mail-in ballots in the Pennsylvania primary earlier this year. After being told that those ballots werent accepted because they were missing the secrecy envelope, they voted in person. Yet their provisional ballots werent counted, either.

The RNC had argued in favor of putting on hold the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts ruling that those provisional ballots be counted until they could file a petition for review. The Supreme Court rejected that claim in a brief unsigned order.

In a press release, the American Civil Liberties Union praised the Supreme Courts decision.

A petty error that is irrelevant to a persons eligibility to vote should never interfere with the counting of ballots, and provisional ballots are a decades-old failsafe, a back up, for voters, said Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

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Were grateful that the RNCs argument has failed and that voters can count on provisional ballots as a way to make sure that their vote counts.

More than 1.6 million Pennsylvanians have already voted by mail, with more registered Democrats than Republicans doing so. According an Associated Press review of state records, about 9,000 such ballots were missing either a secrecy envelope, a signature, or a handwritten date.

In a separate ruling Friday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied voting rights advocates plea to ensure that mail-in ballots with an inaccurate or missing handwritten date on the declaration envelope be counted.
Gov. Wes Moore and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, backed by Maryland health officials and the state's U.S. senators, sign an agreement Friday for Maryland to enter the federal AHEAD model. Photo by Danielle J. Brown.

Its been in place in one form or another in Maryland for the better part of a decade and it wont fully kick in for another 14 months, but state and federal officials were still touting Fridays signing of a formal agreement as a win for patients, providers and the state.

Many of the elements of the agreement that we will sign today have been directly inspired by how Maryland has approached health for decades, said Gov. Wes Moore, surrounded by the states senators, state and federal officials. He said the agreement with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will set a new gold standard for how states approach public health.

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In other words this is a big, big deal, Moore said.

Maryland was one of the first states, with Vermont, selected by CMS in July to implement the new States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development  or AHEAD  Model. More states are expected to join the program later.

The federal AHEAD program is modeled on existing programs in Maryland, Vermont and Pennsylvania that are known as total cost of care. Under those programs, states set annual hospital payments in advance, but include patient outcome goals  reducing readmissions, for example  as incentives.

The federal program will require the state to annually meet certain metrics that indicate it has reduced per capita hospital expenditures while ensuring that patients receive quality health care services. States under the AHEAD model will implement a global budget for hospitals, which is the total amount of revenue each hospital can earn in a year.

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The agreement signed Friday maintains the states flexibility in managing hospital budgets, community health and health equity, while also establishing certain metrics that the state must meet in order to comply with the AHEAD program.

Maryland is already a couple steps ahead: It has had global budgets on hospitals since 2014, and began using total cost of care several years later, both of which are regulated by the states Health Services Cost Review Commission.

Maryland has blazed a trail in tackling health care expenditures, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said at the signing. Youre already ahead with a current global budget, budget methodology for acute care hospitals and an existing primary care program.

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For Marylanders, the AHEAD model will mean stronger primary care, stronger connections to resources and more coordinated care that supports all of their health-related needs, she said. It will mean not getting shuffled around and treated as a diagnosis  but instead be supported and cared for as a person.

Implementation of the AHEAD Model is not scheduled to kick in until Jan. 1, 2026. The state is currently in a pre-implementation period when state officials work with CMS to layout a roadmap for the new plans.

In Fridays agreement, the state promises to hit certain accountability targets to improve population health and increase primary care investments, among other metrics.

Melony Griffith, former state senator and current president of the Maryland Hospital Association, said after the agreement signing that moving into the AHEAD model will build on work that Maryland has been doing for decades.

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Its an opportunity for us to refine the work that we have been doing, enveloping other partners in the health care continuum  to do this important work to provide equitable, high quality health care moving forward, she said.

Gene Ransom, CEO of MedChi, the states medical society, said MedChis members appreciate the investment into primary care under the AHEAD Program, but there is a long road ahead.

We need additional investment in primary care. Primary care is woefully underpaid. So with this dedication and directed resources towards improving that, it could make a big difference for the state, Ransom said. But again, we have a lot of other issues that need to be worked out. This is a step in the process.
Erie police have taken a suspect into custody on homicide charges on Friday after a man was found on the sidewalk in the 1000 block of East 26th Street late Wednesday night.

That man later died at the hospital.

Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook has ruled the death a homicide, and while police have one suspect in custody, theyre looking for more.

Ledomperign Eady, 31, was found by police around 11 p.m. on Oct. 30 on the sidewalk along the 1000 block of East 26th Street, and investigators believe he was beaten to death.

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Death ruled homicide after man found on sidewalk in Eries east side

We immediately dispatched our major crimes unit to the area and started talking to witnesses in the area. We also grabbed a large amount of surveillance in the area to take a look at, said Deputy Chief Rick Lorah, City of Erie Police Department.

Police were able to take one person into custody, who is facing homicide charges.

Investigators were also able to identify several other people who were seen engaging with the victim.

We were able to see an interaction between the victim and some suspects. It appears targeted at this time. Were not looking for a group of people randomly brutalizing people in the city, Lorah added.

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Coroner rules Erie womans death a homicide after a week in a coma

After conducting an autopsy on Thursday, Cook said the cause of death was due to blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

We cant tell whether the injuries were due to a punch or a kick, but we didnt see any evidence of superficial trauma that would indicate a weapon of some sort, but thats not to say that it didnt happen, Cook said.

Cook reiterated that Eadys death wasnt brought on by any sort of medical condition but assault.

We were rather surprised. There was no frank trauma, even on the skull. No fractured skull, no brain injury or anything else. So whatever happened happened very quickly, he explained.

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Its an active and ongoing investigation. Its very fluid, and is going on at this time, said Lorah.

If you have any information on this case that may be useful to police, youre advised to call Detective Sgt. Ira Bush at 814-870-1128 or Detective Benjamin Gadsby at 814-870-1338.

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CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI)  The suspect accused in a fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl in Central Falls told police a gun he was handling accidentally went off when it struck the victim and later killed her, Target 12 has learned.

According to an affidavit obtained by Target 12, 18-year-old Moises Maldonado told investigators he woke up in the bedroom of the victims boyfriend home on Earle Street, and received a text from the victim asking to purchase marijuana pods.

Maldonado told investigators he sometimes stayed at the Earle Street home as he is not allowed at his home due to issues with his parents.

Booking photo of Moises Maldonado.

He said he and the victim met up and he laid out different flavors of the pods on the bed, where the victim sat.

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Documents show Maldonado admitted to investigators that on the morning of the incident he was also handling a Glock he claimed belonged to a friend. He said he picked it up and began to clear the gun of ammunition when it accidentally discharged, striking the victim.

Panicking, Moises informed others in the house, who advised him to leave, court documents said.

Police said video footage revealed significant events before investigators arrived at the Earle Street home.

According to an affidavit, the footage showed two men, including Maldonado, leave the scene hastily. Investigators said the video showed a female in the video raising her arms in a panicked manner.

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Later that morning, police were dispatched to another home on Cowden Street in response to a report of an unwanted person. When officers got there, a man told them his son, who turned out to be Maldonado, had been at the residence where the shooting occurred and he no longer wanted him at his home.

Investigators said Maldonado willingly went with officers back to police headquarters for further questioning. Shortly after, the other man also voluntarily arrived, and told officers he was also at the residence during the incident.

Maldonado appeared to change his clothing after the incident, according to investigators. Officers noted he was not wearing the same outfit seen in the video footage from earlier that day, and said they suspected Maldonado discarded his clothes at his familys home and changed into a fresh set.

Investigators later tested Maldanados clothes for gunshot residue.

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Police said they also identified several individuals who were home at the time of the incident. They told investigators they were all in their basement bedrooms when they heard a loud noise and found the victim unresponsive on her boyfriends bed.

The victims boyfriend was not home at the time, according to the affidavit, but police later detained and transported him to police headquarters for questioning. The witnesses inside the home were also transported to police headquarters.

When officers searched the home, they found a spent shell casing on the floor next to the dresser and bed, and said an empty 15-round magazine was observed in plain view on a shelf in the bedroom.

Police also found a live round in the bed, plus two empty 10 round magazines on a bureau. They also found district court paperwork for Maldonado, according to a search warrant obtained by Target 12.

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At the time of the shooting, Maldonado was on personal recognizance for possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy charges out of Pawtucket from just two days prior.

Maldonado was charged with manslaughter and other gun-related violations. He was held without bail last week for violating the terms of his release in the Pawtucket case, and has a status conference for both cases scheduled for Monday.

Maldonados court-appointed attorney, Donna Uhlmann, told Target 12 she had no comment.

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.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Arkansas State Police have released photos of a man accused of running down and killing a construction worker during a high-speed chase out of West Memphis last month.

Calvion Dayshun Thomas, 23, of Memphis, was identified by police as the suspect Friday.

Original Story: 1 worker dead, 1 hurt on I-55 in West Memphis; Corvette driver still at large

Calvion Dayshun Thomas

Thomas is wanted by state police and the U.S. Marshals for the Sept. 18 death of Justin Delgado, 36, of Lola, Texas, who was working in a construction zone near the I-55 bridge to Memphis.

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He faces felony charges of First-Degree Murder, First-Degree Battery, Theft by Receiving and Fleeing.

On Sept. 18, West Memphis Police stopped a maroon Corvette for a traffic violation on East Broadway. The driver sped off at high speed, and police pursued him onto I-55 south.

Thats where the Corvette struck Delgado and another worker who were in a construction zone around the 3-mile mark.

Delgado was killed; the other worker remains in serious condition, ASP said.

The Corvette, which was stolen from a house in Memphis, was later found by police in the 200 block of West McKellar Avenue in South Memphis, fully engulfed in flames.

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Stolen Corvettes owner shares grief over fatal I-55 crash

The driver has remained at large ever since.

 If you have information on Thomas, state police ask you to call 1-877-Wanted-2 (1-877-926-8332). Your call can remain anonymous.

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Two Los Angeles police officers were wounded and a suspect was taken into custody Friday night after a shootout that erupted in South L.A. while officers were investigating a possible robbery, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Friday when the two officers from LAPD's Southeast Division responded to a report of a robbery in the 9200 block of Central Avenue, according to police.

At some point during the ensuing encounter, the officers exchanged fire with an armed suspect, who then fled the area, police said. It wasn't immediately clear whether the suspect was struck.

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A radio call for help brought a massive police response  including officers from neighboring divisions to the scene  which sits on the border of Florence-Firestone, an unincorporated neighborhood north of Watts. Officers with police K9s searched the area late into the night; the suspect was found and arrested after several hours, police said.

The two unnamed officers were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police did not disclose where they were hit, but a law enforcement source told The Times that preliminary information suggests that one of the officers suffered a graze wound to the leg, while the other was struck in the hand by shrapnel.

Both officers were conscious and talking when they arrived at the hospital, a law enforcement source told The Times on Friday. They were released from the hospital Saturday morning.

L.A. police records show that LAPD officers have opened fire 24 times so far this year, compared with 32 in the same time period in 2023.

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According to a recent crime briefing by LAPD interim Chief Dominic Choi, the Southeast area is one of several police divisions in the city to see an increase in robberies.

A Southeast officer was wounded in another police shootout in the division area in July, during which a man allegedly opened fire on a police squad with a machine gun. The man was later taken into custody and faces an attempted murder charge.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Boulder County Sheriffs Office is asking for community help after residents in Boulder County have experienced a string of burglaries, according to a press release.

Police search for suspects after reported menacing during altercation in Boulder

The sheriffs office reports that the suspects usually enter the master bedroom of the targeted home through the exterior of the house. The suspects then ransack the room and closets and have been targeting jewelry, cash and designer purses.

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The Boulder County Sheriffs Office has been in contact with the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office as the suspects are believed to be connected to similar crimes along the Front Range.

The Boulder County Sheriffs Office is asking for community help after residents in Boulder County have experienced a string of burglaries. Suspect three is pictured. The Boulder County Sheriffs Office is asking for community help after residents in Boulder County have experienced a string of burglaries. Suspect two is pictured. The Boulder County Sheriffs Office is asking for community help after residents in Boulder County have experienced a string of burglaries. Suspect one is pictured.

The Boulder County Sheriffs Office is asking anyone who can help identify the individuals pictured or who has information about the suspects or burglaries to contact Detective Harrison at 303-441-3627. Tipsters are encouraged to reference the address or area as they have multiple cases with this modus operandi.

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SWANNANOA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  There are plenty of items to sift through at Generation Church. Its leaders designated it as a relief hub for those in Swannanoa still recovering from deadly hurricane Helene.

The community has come around and in so many ways weve seen people from all over delivering supplies, coming to volunteer. Weve had people drive from Washington state just to bring us supplies, to be able to serve the community, said site manager Jeremy Fine.

He says neighbors also donated money as well.

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On Thursday, Charlotte Motor Speedway delivered several pallets of donations for those in the area looking for clothes, food, and essentials like toilet paper and feminine hygiene products.

Fine says theyve served over 30,000 hot meals so far. Theyre open Mondays through Thursdays from 3-6 pm and closed on Fridays. Saturdays are their busiest days.

This Saturday, Fine says relief hub volunteers expect at least 800 families and plan to plate 2,500 hot meals.

Buncombe County woman receiving tiny home after neighborhood destroyed by Helene

Fine says theyve been able to heavily impact the community with the hub.

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We also have a search and rescue team there making about 50 to 60 missions a day where theyre going out and searching in the community where we have saved over 30 individuals from critical care, almost life-threatening situations, he said.

At least 900 generators have been handed out to the community as well. Generation Church Pastor Sam Fine says the rescue team also plans to restore parts of the area as much as they can.

We want to restore the homes; were wanting to rebuild their lives where their homes have been destroyed. And were coming in and mucking and out, putting up sheetrock and just helping out to get the homes back in place so that they can live in them, Pastor Fine said. Its just exciting seeing that people will leave in this place with a smile on their face and they feel like you know what? somebody really cares.'

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(NewsNation)  With just one day to go, the 2024 election is wide open and voters in seven battleground states will ultimately decide the next president.

Polls show a dead heat between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

NewsNation and Nexstar affiliates across the country have been following the campaigns, highlighting the most important voter trends in the Swing State Spotlight series.

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The current odds in every battleground state

Heres what to know about the race in the seven swing states: Arizona, Georgian, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Heres which counties will decide the 2024 election

Arizona

Arizona went blue in 2020 for the first time since Bill Clinton in 1996. Once considered a Republican stronghold, Arizona moderates have drifted away from the GOP and the Phoenix suburbs have swung left.

With that said, more registered voters identify as Republicans (36%) than Democrats (29%) in Arizona, which means the 35% of people who identify as something else could ultimately decide the election.

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At this point, I think Arizona is going to be solidly purple. I think we are going to go back and forth, Sarama Klar, a political scientist at the University of Arizona, told NewsNation in a recent interview.

How Arizonas purple-shaded electorate factors into 2024 election

All eyes will be on Maricopa County on Election Night. Its one of the largest voting jurisdictions in the nation and accounts for over 60% of Arizonas registered voters.

Georgia

As recently as 2016, Georiga was not considered a key battleground state. That changed in 2020. After defeating Clinton by more than five points, Trump lost to Joe Biden by less than half a point in the Peach State.

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Democrats were able to turn Georgia blue thanks to a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse population in the suburbs around metro Atlanta.

Swing State Spotlight: Trump, Georgia Gov. Kemp join forces for Helene

Trump has recently tried to improve his relationship with the states popular Republican Governor Brian Kemp. Earlier this month, Trump praised Kemps response to Hurricane Helene and said the governor was doing a fantastic job.

Georgia will also provide insight into which way Black voters are leaning. Harris is expected to carry that group but recent polling suggests the margin could be closer than in recent elections.

Michigan

Part of the so-called blue wall, Democrats won Michigan in every election from 1992 to 2012. Trump broke that streak in 2016 after Clinton failed to fully mobilize her partys base.

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Biden flipped the state blue back in 2020 thanks to improved turnout in heavily Democratic cities like Detroit and Ann Arbor  voters that will be key if Harris is to repeat in Michigan.

The states 200,000 Muslim registered voters could also play a key role in deciding the outcome. Over the past year, Muslims support for the Democratic Party has dropped, in part, due to the Biden administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war

In Michigans Democratic primary, more than 100,000 people voted uncommitted  a potential warning sign for Democrats in November.

Nevada

Republicans havent won Nevada since George W. Bush in 2004 but it has become closer in recent elections, particularly in Clark County, the main population center.

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Barack Obama carried the state by more than six points in 2012. Four years later, Hillary Clinton won by just over two points. Biden maintained that margin in 2020 but Trump shrank the gap in Clark County (metro Las Vegas), home to nearly three-quarters of the population.

Are Nevada voters swayed by promises of no tax on tips?

Both candidates have tried to appeal to the states leisure and hospitality workers, promising to eliminate taxes on tips. According to recent polling, 71% of Nevada voters support that idea.

Hispanic voters will also play a major role. They make up a third of the population in Clark County and polling suggests Trump has been gaining ground, particularly with Hispanic men.

North Carolina

North Carolina is the only swing state that Trump won in 2020 and polling shows him favored this time around. In fact, Democrats have only won the Tar Heel State once since 1980  Obama in 2008.

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But population gains in blue areas like Mecklenburg and Wake Counties have changed the math in the state, giving Democrats their best chance in years.

North Carolina election officials grapple with storms impact

To put the shift in perspective: Obama won Mecklenburg County by roughly 100,000 votes in 2012. Eight years later, Biden won that same county by about 200,000 votes.

The state is also reeling from Hurricane Helene, which hit western North Carolina especially hard. It remains to be seen what impact, if any, that will have on Election Day.

Pennsylvania

The outcome in Pennsylvania tends to predict the eventual winner. In 10 of the last 12 elections, the winner of Pennsylvania has gone on to the presidency.

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Why fracking in Pennsylvania is a major campaign issue

Part of that is because the state is a microcosm of the country as a whole  home to two major cities, dozens of rural counties and education levels that generally mirror the American electorate.

Fracking  the process of extracting oil and natural gas from underground rock formations  has become a popular debate topic in the Keystone State as voters weigh the economic trade-offs versus the environmental concerns.

Pennsylvania is the second-largest natural gas producer behind Texas. The state has become a central location for discussions about the nations energy future.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is another blue wall state that Trump was able to flip in 2016. Before that, no Republican had won there since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

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Wisconsin voters with higher education tend to vote Democrat: Poll director

Biden flipped it back in 2020 and was able to improve on Clintons performance in the red-leaning Milwaukee suburbs, known as the WOW counties (Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington).

Harris will try to run up the score in urban areas like Dane and Milwaukee counties, while Trump will try to do better with suburban moderates and maintain his advantage in rural parts of the state.

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TAIPEI  Taiwan is bracing for the results of the U.S. election, with some officials worried about what a new Trump administration could mean given the former presidents isolationist views.

On the presidential trail, Taiwan has not been a major campaign question, though a key foreign policy topic has centered on how to take on China.

The concerns about former President Trump center on his calls for Taiwan to pay for any defense from the U.S., and his resistance to defending Ukraine against Russia. Taiwan is worried about a potential Chinese invasion in 2027.

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Taiwan says an invasion is a serious possibility, including in 2027, but whether China will stage such an attack remains unclear. The year is the date Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his forces to be read for a potential attack, but does not mean it will happen then.

Taiwan officials are stressing that there is bipartisan support for their country in Washington but remain on edge.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Francois Chihchung Wu told The Hill that Taiwan is concerned about the election.

We are certainly very, very [interested in] the result of the U.S. presidential election. But having said that, I need to say that now the support of Taiwan is becoming a general consensus, he added.

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If Trump [were to] abandon Taiwan, I wonder how he can make America Great Again, because he would lose the support, the credibility of the U.S. in the Asian Pacific, he said. My feeling is that we are just worried for the uncertainty.

A person in a high level of Taiwans government stressed there was bipartisan unity and Taiwan was not that worried.

Bipartisan support for Taiwan is actually quite strong, the person said, adding, however, that China would test the new government and that it was crucial for Washington to continue working with Taipei to build up defenses.

Trumps comments on Taiwan have been unusually harsh for China policy in Washington, where there is a general bipartisan consensus to be tough on Beijing and Xi, who has pledged to reunify with Taipei, by force if necessary.

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In July, Trump said in an interview that Taiwan should pay for the U.S. to defend the island because they were wealthy enough through the dominance of manufacturing semiconductor chips, prompting Taiwanese officials to respond that they are paying 2.5 percent of economic output for defense. That amount of GDP is higher than many European allies in NATO.

Trump also said that Taiwan stole the U.S. ability to manufacture semiconductor chips of its own.

The comments appear to have had an effect in Beijing. When asked about a second Trump administration, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said Wednesday that Taiwan at any time could be discarded because the U.S. aims to prioritize itself.

Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Wen-Chieh Liang, who manages relations with China, said Chinese power has been growing in terms of military and economics and that while joint U.S. and Taiwanese deterrence is working, it will continue to be tested.

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Whether or not this kind of deterrence will continue to be effective, will have to depend on the determination and the strength of Taiwanese people, and, of course, the determination and the power of the U.S., he said.

I believe the Chinese leaders and Xi Jinping has been assessing the determination and the power of the U.S., he added, and I think the key to this is the U.S. leader shall not be considered by the Beijing government to be someone who will back down.

Trump has also raised questions about his support for dictators and whether he would be tough on autocrats across the world, recently praising Chinas Xi as a brilliant guy in an interview last week on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

The former president has also made favorable comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin and reportedly has called him at least seven times since leaving the White House in 2021.

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I-Chung Lai, president of the influential Taiwanese foreign policy think tank the Prospect Foundation said that Taiwan takes candidates comments seriously.

They are not entirely correct, but we will try to communicate with the [candidate] as much as possible, he said, adding that relations remain healthy with Washington. Im confident about the Taiwan-U.S. [relationship] because we not only share the same value, we have very extensive trade between Taiwan and the United States.

A second Trump administration is also threatening to upend trade in Asia, as the former president has promised to enact 60 percent tariffs on Chinese goods, which is likely to have a ripple effect in Asian markets.

Trump has also insisted that tariffs could deter Beijing from an attack despite experts cautioning that strategy would not work.

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At Taiwans National Development Council, which focuses on economic development, however, a hike in tariffs is not a big threat, according to the government agencys minister, Chin-Ching Liu, who said Taipei has decreased exports to China from 40 percent to 20 percent.

Even if U.S. tariffs for Chinese merchandises spike in the future, I think it will only accelerate this supply chain shifting across the world, she said. If there is an increase in Chinese products from U.S. in tariffs, then the supply chain restructuring will only accelerate.

It will, of course, have some impact on Taiwan, but I dont think its going to be a huge impact, because so far, we have seen a great dwindling of Taiwans exports to China.

Trump and Vice President Harris are in a neck-and-neck race in the key battleground states, and the world is holding its breath for how the election will shake out, with huge ramifications for U.S. foreign policy at stake.

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Taiwanese officials acknowledge that the threat from China has risen since 2022, when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited the island nation, setting off massive Chinese drills.

Since Taiwans pro-U.S. president, William Lai Ching-te, took office in May, China has repeatedly launched large-scale drills in response to what it views as escalatory rhetoric from the Taiwanese leader.

Wen-Chieh, from the Mainland Affairs Council, said Xis next term is up in 2027, and if he wants to extend his term again he might need progress on unification.

We are less worried about direct use of force, he added. We are more concerned about  economic coercion, and a maritime blockade around Taiwan. We are worried he will use these kind of habits to force Taiwan to give in.

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A naval blockade of Taiwan, which experts are increasingly stressing is the likely scenario, could push the U.S. and Taiwan to respond militarily, forcing the allies to take the first shots.

Until then, Taiwan and the U.S. are trying to deter China from an attack by building up defenses on the island.

American forces are also increasing strength and posture across the Indo-Pacific through allies like Australia, the Philippines and Japan.

Catherine Hsu, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of International Information Services, said the goal is to prevent a war, which she said is not unavoidable.

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Our goal is not to have that situation happen, she said, adding that Taiwan also wants to ensure they can defend themselves. We dont want to tell everybody that we expect [you] to come to our aid.  We need to be able to self-defend ourselves before we can ask for any support from outside.

But Taiwan is resolved to defend its island if it comes to it, said Norah Huang, director of international relations and research fellow at The Prospect Foundation, pointing to a research that shows 70 percent of the Taiwanese are willing to take up arms if China invades.

Outside of this island [people] have been concerned  there is an image that is clouding, that creates the sense that the Taiwanese are not ready to defend ourselves, she said. But when it comes to the willingness to defend ourselves, 70 percent is quite reassuring.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 drive to defeat Floridas proposed constitutional amendments to legalize recreational marijuana and to protect abortion rights has received a huge infusion of cash  courtesy of taxpayers, whether they like it or not.

In some countries, we would describe the use of state resources by Gov. Ron DeSantis administration to sway the outcome of the November election as propaganda. In Florida, officials describe the millions of tax dollars spent on ads and material against the amendments as public service announcements, even though theres a big question mark on whether thats legal.

Floridians shouldnt be fooled by this euphemism.

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This is another example of DeSantis weaponizing state government to promote or oppose his political causes and to tamp down speech he doesnt like. The Florida Department of Health went as far as threatening legal action against TV stations that aired ads in support of Amendment 4, which would enshrine the right to an abortion up to viability in the state constitution.

The agency claimed the ads were false, even though they merely featured a woman named Caroline who said Floridas six-week abortion ban would have prevented her from receiving a life-saving abortion when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Stories like hers have become more common because, although the state ban makes exceptions to save the life of the mother, the law is vague and doctors and hospitals are often hesitant to terminate pregnancies out of fear they will be prosecuted.

A federal judge ruled that the state was trampling on free speech rights and exercising viewpoint discrimination and blocked the DOH from continuing to intimidate broadcasters.

To keep it simple for the State of Florida: its the First Amendment, stupid, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in his ruling.

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DeSantis has often pushed the boundaries of whats constitutional with the laws he has proposed over the years, such as the ones prohibiting social media platforms from removing political candidates and banning certain types of diversity training at private companies. With a compliant Republican-led Legislature, the courts have become the only real check on the governors power, which DeSantis continues to try to expand with his use of our tax money as an election-year fund.

If Amendment 4 is approved by at least 60% of voters, that will be a blow to DeSantis legacy. Back when he was still planning a run for president, he promoted and signed the extreme six-week abortion ban that the amendment would overturn. Its no coincidence that another agency that reports to him  the Agency for Health Care Administration  launched a website opposing Amendment 4. State officials have been actively campaigning against Amendment 4 in state-sponsored news conferences and on social media.

On Amendment 3 to legalize adult marijuana use, DeSantis has been throwing around his political weight in an attempt to convince voters to reject it, saying Florida would smell of weed, even though lawmakers can regulate and prohibit its use in public spaces. Certainly, the governor has the right to use his bully pulpit to support or oppose ballot issues. But using the heft of the state agencies that he controls crosses an ethical and, potentially, legal line.

Last month, the state paid $4 million in settlement money from opioid manufacturers  dollars that could be better used to aid Floridians  to a marketing agency to run ads against marijuana use, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

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This week, Democrats filed a criminal complaint with the Leon County State Attorneys Office accusing DeSantis officials of breaking a law against state workers using their positions to influence elections. State Attorney Jack Campbell, a Democrat, has remained silent on what he plans to do, the Tampa Bay Times reported on Wednesday. And he would have political reasons to refrain from looking into the case: DeSantis has removed two Democratic state attorneys from office in Central Florida and in the Tampa Bay area.

DeSantis use of the state government raises serious questions about his anti-democratic tendencies. But Floridians shouldnt allow his government-funded efforts to succeed, and the opposition should not be intimidated.

Click here to send the letter.
MAURY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Maury County grand jury returned an indictment for a Nashville woman charged with abuse of an elderly or vulnerable adult, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

A great differentiator: High-end residential golf community planned for Middle TN

A Friday press release from the TBI said that agents opened an investigation into Janice Marie Garrett, 66, after a January referral from adult protective services. Garrett had reportedly worked as a caregiver at a residential treatment facility in Mount Pleasant.

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That investigation revealed that Garrett physically abused an adult in her care, according to the TBI.

On June 11, a Maury County grand jury returned an indictment and charged Garrett with one count of abuse of an elderly or vulnerable adult. The TBI said that Garrett surrendered to authorities at the Maury County jail on Monday.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Garrett was booked into the jail on a $20,000 bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
After 14-and-a half-weeks of intense campaigning, Kemi Badenoch has officially won the Conservative Party leadership race.

It is time to get down to business and renew the Conservatives and Britain, Mrs Badenoch said in her acceptance speech.

She told party supporters: The task that stands before us is tough but simple. Our first responsibility as His Majestys Loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account.

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Our second is no less important, it is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them.

Mrs Badenochs campaign centred on first principles, including family, freedom and personal responsibility, instead of policies, claiming it is too early to put forward a detailed offering.

On July 5, former prime minister Rishi Sunak announced he would be stepping down as leader of the Conservatives.

Six candidates entered the race to become the next party leader: Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch. On Saturday, Mrs Badenoch has been chosen as the face of the partys future.

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Mrs Badenoch now confronts the dual task of uniting a party that has been marred by in-fighting over the past three years and reviving the Toriess electoral fortunes after they slumped to a historic defeat at the general election in July.

In light of the announcement, Telegraph readers have, in turn, been weighing in on Mrs Badenochs victory. From a resurgence of hope for change to concerns about her stance on immigration, heres what you have had to say on the Tory leadership race result.

A little bit of Thatcher about her

Many readers expressed enthusiasm for the result, voicing high expectations for her ability to take on Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister.

Reader Richard Schrader said: Kemi will eviscerate Starmer. She is the right person to lead the opposition. There is no need to come up with policies until nearer the next election. The job right now is to oppose and it needs to be someone who can bring some aggression to the job.

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CP added: She will give Starmer a headache. She is more of a realist in terms of policy and does not promise what she knows would be undeliverable.

Chris Green was equally impressed: Watched the speech  she hit all the right notes. Measured, balanced and to the point, with a presence that holds attention. She has a little bit of star quality, and a little bit of Thatcher about her. If she keeps this up, shell be a success.

A few Reform voters shared how Mrs Badenochs fighting spirit could convert them back to being Conservative supporters.

John Dawkins said: She has the fighting spirit and intelligence to tackle this enormous task. Im a Reform voter at present, but look forward to the next couple of years in the battle to rebuild the Right.

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Jo Hunn echoed a similar sentiment: Seems like a good choice to me  common sense, no-nonsense and she will wipe the floor with Starmer at PMQs. I voted Reform at the last election, but I will watch this with interest.

Last nail in the coffin of Conservatives

Some readers voiced deep disappointment, predicting that her leadership will push the Tories closer to extinction and affirming their loyalty to Reform.

Mike Noel argued: Kemi is not radical enough to get the Tories back on track. The Conservatives betrayed the British people with their unConservative policies and she was party to this core group: all the more reason to vote Reform.

Peter Marsh felt that Mrs Badenoch was the last nail in the coffin of the Conservative party.

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He added: A very sad day indeed. Farage must be in stitches. I bet he cant believe his luck.

Charles Swan congratulated Mrs Badenoch but continued: I wont be voting Tories next time. It is no longer the party it was.

Jim Bale also weighed in: I like her and shes their best shot but the party is still dominated by people who arent what I would class as Conservative and Im afraid Ive already gone to Reform.

The Tories are toast

Mrs Badenochs commitment to remaining in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is a key reason many are choosing to stay with Reform UK.

JP Jones expressed disappointment: Bad news for the country. Another globalist at the helm of a main party. This will not bring Reform voters back into the fold given her pro-immigration stance. This will make it harder to get rid of Starmer.

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Richard Russell agreed, saying: Well, thats it, folks, the Tories are toast. Theyve crowned another leader whos all-in on mass migration and hard net zero, so why not just cut the charade and merge with Labour? Honestly, they havent been Right-wing for decades now. The only true Right-wing option left is Reform UK.

Paul Jones argued: The one nation Tories will now be out of government for at least a decade. Already Kemis mentor, Gove in the Spectator, is pushing to stay in the ECHR.

Leaving the ECHR and towing the boats back to France, minimising legal migration, scrapping net zero, protecting free speech, etc, will only come from Reform. Let us see what happens in the local elections next year.

The figures themselves speak of failure

Several Telegraph readers saw the low voter turnout as a clear sign of dwindling Conservative support.

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Joe Pendlebury said: The figures themselves speak of failure  less than ten per cent of the membership of earlier years. Conservatives have moved to Reform.

Ivan Milatovic added: You had 141,000 people voting two years ago. That is now down to 95,000. Mr Sunak won more votes when he lost than Mrs Badenoch did. If that is not a sign of a party in huge trouble, I dont know what is.

P Lamb shared a similar sentiment: Two years ago, Truss got 81,000 votes and Sunak 60,000 votes. Now Badenoch wins with 53,000 votes. The figures suggest that the Conservatives are a declining force, possibly terminally.

Mr Melchett didnt think the figures were exactly sparkling. He argued: Only a 72 per cent turnout and a far closer winning margin than you might have expected given the press. The party is potentially still divided quite heavily and appealing to both sides is her first and probably hardest job.

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Texas man accused of trying to rob Abbeville bank with bomb threat, police say

ABBEVILLE, La. (KLFY)  A 48-year-old Texas man was arrested Friday in connection with an attempted armed robbery of a Capitol One Bank, according to the Abbeville Police Department.

Kevin Gran Abbott, of Denton, Texas, faces one count of attempted armed robbery, police said.

According to a news release, Abbeville police were notified just before 10 a.m. Friday of a bomb threat at a Capitol One Bank on Highway 14 By-pass in Abbeville.

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Iberia Parish sheriff: Arrest made in Thursday home invasions, stabbings

The caller stated that there was a male inside the bank asking to withdraw a large amount of cash, then passed a note advising that there are bombs all around the building, the news release read.

The caller described the suspect and what he was wearing. When officers arrived, the suspect was still standing at the bank tellers window, police said.

After being medically cleared, he was booked into the Vermilion Parish Corrections Center, police said.

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Texas has withdrawn its request to have a federal judge block the U.S. Justice Department from monitoring the states election.

The move follows an agreement reached late Monday between the federal agency and the Texas attorney generals office. The DOJ agreed their monitors in eight Texas counties will remain outside and at least 100 feet away from polling and central count locations. It also agreed to refrain from interfering with any voters attempting to cast ballots, following its usual practice.

The Justice Department regularly sends monitors across the country to keep an eye out for potential voting rights violations during major elections. The agency said on Friday that monitors would be on the ground in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states. The Texas counties are Atascosa, Bexar, Dallas, Frio, Harris, Hays, Palo Pinto and Waller counties.

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[Questions on Texas voting rules? Ask our AI voting assistant.]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued in a lawsuit filed Monday that the Justice Department did not have any authority to dispatch election monitors, and that federal election monitors are not among those allowed inside Texas polling places or in central locations where ballots are counted under state law. Paxton asked a federal court to block the federal agency from monitoring voting in Texas this election and beyond. Texas lawsuit against the DOJ will remain pending until after the election to ensure DOJs compliance, Paxton's office said Tuesday.

For decades, the Justice Department has dispersed election monitors across the country to observe procedures in polling sites and at places where ballots are counted. That was a power granted to the federal government under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices and sought to equalize voting access. After the U.S. Supreme Court gutted parts of the law years ago, the agency now must get permission from state and local jurisdictions to be present or get a court order.

Reference

Texas' 2024 lawsuit seeking to end federal monitoring of elections in the state.

(180.2 KB)

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson told the federal agency late Friday evening that its election monitors are not permitted inside Texas voting places and central count stations. A spokesperson from her office said that there is nothing Nelson can do to change who is allowed in a polling place, and that the office is merely following the law.

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The Texas Election Code lists who is authorized to be inside a polling place, and does not include federal election monitors. Election monitors are still allowed outside polling places.

Rest assured that Texas has robust processes and procedures in place to ensure that eligible voters may participate in a free and fair election, Nelson wrote in a letter to a DOJ official Friday evening.

The Justice Department declined to comment on Nelson's letter Friday.

Nelson's statement came shortly after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick debunked social media claims about voting machines in Texas flipping votes from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to Vice President Kamala Harris.

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"There has NOT BEEN A SINGLE confirmation that it actually happened," Patrick wrote.

[Heres your ballot for the Nov. 5 Texas elections]

Officials in Florida and Missouri barred federal election monitors in 2022  and this year, Arkansas officials told ABC News they wouldnt be allowed there.

The Justice Department didnt say Friday why it picked those eight Texas counties  though it will send monitors to as many jurisdictions in Massachusetts. The Justice Department has regularly dispatched monitors to Texas  including in 2022, when those monitors were sent to Dallas, Harris and Waller counties. A group of Texas Democrats at the local, state and federal level had called on the federal agency in September to send election monitors to the states five most populous counties  though it ultimately planned to send monitors to three of them.

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A spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of States office told ABC News this week that state election inspectors would be sent to various locations throughout Texas.

Xiomara Moore contributed to this story.

Disclosure: Texas Secretary of State has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
With only a few days left until Election Day, candidates  and their surrogates  are doing everything they can to get out the vote with mail, email, calls and text messages.

To some, however, the unsolicited messages are not just annoying, but somewhat alarming because, in some cases, the senders  strangers  seem to know an awful lot of what seems like personal information.

The tactics are on the minds of voters and have garnered the attention of state and federal officials who both make and enforce the law.

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"Im not exactly sure how they get it," Grace Gleason, 81, of Clinton Township, said of her voting information, adding that she's received a variety of unsettling election texts. "That is a bit disturbing. I just delete the messages. Theres nothing else we can really do about it."

Who you vote for is private. No one will know unless you reveal it.

But registration, absentee ballot and donation information often isnt confidential. As a result, campaigns, political action committees and nonprofit groups can tap into the public data to try to influence and predict your vote.

People prepare to cast their ballots while voting in the Michigan Primary elections at the Royal Oak Farmers Market in Royal Oak on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024.

Now, in addition to thinking about voting, the get-out-the-vote messages are prompting the Michiganders to ask: Who is contacting me? Who knows my personal information? If I decide not to vote, will someone try to embarrass or harm me?

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And will there be even more messages like this in future elections?

"I havent thought about it," Gleason said. "But maybe I should be concerned."

Your vote is private, but not that you voted

Digital technology has made it easier to track whether you've voted and your absentee ballot has been received, and since 2018, law changes have made absentee and early voting more accessible.

At the same time, in a polarized political environment, where many Americans can't seem to agree on a variety of issues and political protestors have resorted to violence, voters like Gleason are much more concerned about how much people can find out about them.

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On social media, some even calling the messages creepy.

They don't want to be targets or have their information exposed.

More: Phone ringing off the hook? Election season has Michiganders getting oodles of calls

Cheri Hardmon, a senior spokeswoman for the Secretary of States office, told the Free Press there have been several complaints from Michigan voters concerned about text messages urging them to return their absentee ballots.

"These did not come from our office," she clarified.

But, she added, it is common for what she called "third-party groups" to send messages to voters by mail, email, and text with links to the secretary of state website and urge people "to return absentee ballot applications to their clerks office."

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If voters are in doubt about the information or who is sending the message, Hardmon said, they should remember "that state and local election officials are the go-to source for voting information or questions about the process."

And, she said, if voters believe they have received election misinformation, they can report it, and the secretary of states office, in some cases, will refer complaints to the state attorney general for investigation.

Messages go from clever to badgering

Concerns about voter information have become a big issue in close presidential elections.

In 2020, ProPublica, a nonprofit journalism organization, for instance, reported that the Center for Voter Information, a Washington D.C.-based group, and its affiliated organization, the Voter Participation Center, tried to promote mail-in voting.

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The news report said the groups described themselves as nonpartisan, but "they were founded by a former Democratic operative." They also spent money to promote Democratic candidates.

The report said the mailings annoyed and confused some voters.

The groups, the ProPublica report also found, had sent inaccurate information to voters that election officials in other states said "buried their offices in unnecessary paperwork and swamped them with calls."

This year, messages that have been sent by groups have ranged from clever to downright badgering.

There was a text sent on Halloween that some might have thought was cute, playing with the theme of the holiday: "Boo! We didnt mean to scare you, but were spooked you havent voted yet."

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But, other texts, which keep coming from different phone numbers using the name "We Wont Stop Calling, We Wont Stop Texting," declared: "We still have 901,998 ballots that need to be returned for the general election and yours is one of them."

A personal touch, handwritten notes

Groups and individuals are using other techniques, too.

The Voter Participation Center mailed paper award certificates declaring the recipient to be a "great citizen."

The Progressive Turnout Project, which is aimed at mobilizing Democrats, sent scratch-off sweepstakes with a voting grade for the recipient and community, voting history and a bonus, "$50,000 in prizes."

As Election Day approaches groups are targeting voters with personal messages urging them to vote.

Billionaire Elon Musk, a supporter of Republican Donald Trump, also is offering money. His pitch: a $1 million daily lottery giveaway to swing-state voters, which some argue is tantamount to trying to buy votes and is being challenged in court in Philadelphia.

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And others are opting for a simple, low-tech approach: Handwritten postcards, including iconic Michigan imagery, like a lighthouse, with the date to vote and personalized messages.

Some of the handwritten postcard notes are encouraging, saying thank you for "being a voter," while some are more ominous, noting: "Who you vote for is private, but whether you vote is public record."

Proposed privacy laws, artificial intelligence

Nicole Mathew, an associate professor of political science at Oakland University, said that over the years, she and her spouse have received mail urging them to vote with references to which elections they voted, and even whether their neighbors voted.

Political science studies confirm the tactic works.

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"It's been shown to be effective," Mathew said, citing an experiment.

The researchers tested different messages.

One message said voting was your civic duty, which was the least effective. Another showed when you voted. The message that was most effective, the professor said, revealed whether your neighbors voted. The implied threat: If you don't vote, you could be publicly shamed.

This tactic, Mathew said, tends to be a campaign strategy that groups use by targeting voters based on other information that narrows down whether that voter is likely to vote for a particular candidate.

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The group might use, in some states, party registration, or in Michigan public data about which party ballot a voter requested in a primary. Other data points might include magazine subscription lists or hobbies.

Whether this tactic is good for society, Mathew said, is subjective.

The tactic works, but is it invasive?

Different states have varied approaches and requirements for who and how voter information is accessed, what is included and how the information may be used, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan group.

In Michigan, anyone, with a little information, can look up some of your voter information online through the secretary of states office. The intention, municipal clerks have said, is for you to be able to look up your own information.

Enter a name, birth month and year and zip code and the data pops up.

In Maryland, the state attorney general issued a cease and desist letter to the Center for Voter Information, which news accounts said was threatening to publicly expose registered Maryland voters who do not vote in the upcoming election.

The group, according to CBS News, argued whether a vote is cast is a public record. Maryland's attorney general countered the nonprofit was using intimidation.

At the same time, some argue that voter intimidation implies that someone is trying to suppress voting, not encourage it. In 2020, Michigan's attorney general used that reasoning to arraign two political operatives on felony charges connected to robo calls.

Federal lawmakers are considering other approaches to protecting privacy, including various proposals, such as the American Privacy Rights Act, to try to clarify and standardize rules about personal information.

Mathew said it's difficult to predict whether voters can expect to see more of these get-out-the-vote messages, especially as more personal information becomes more accessible and cheaper to analyze.

The messages could become even more prevalent. Or, the professor added, the public just might be so fed up with them they tune them out entirely.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Some Michigan voters concerned about personal messages targeting them
We were very embarrassed, the website owner told 'The New York Times'

Guven Ozdemire/Getty/Stock Image Aerial view of the O'Connell Monument on O'Connell Street at night Aerial view of the O'Connell Monument on O'Connell Street at night

Thousands of people in Dublin received a rude awakening when they showed up to the city expecting a Halloween parade that never happened.

Those who were gathered on the streets of Ireland's capital on Thursday, Oct. 31, had apparently been misinformed by MySpiritHalloween.com.

The website contained listings for Halloween events in Ireland, the U.K., the U.S. and Mexico. Among the events mentioned on the site was a parade in Dublin.

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Related: Mom's Halloween Displays Brought Her Son Joy. After He Died, She Decided to Continue the Tradition 'in His Honor'

According to images shared on social media, people were seen lining up in the city center waiting for the parade to start, BBC News reported. No police were present.



People waiting for a halloween parade. #Dublin



No Gardai around, no official announcement, people waiting on the wrong side of the road...



Someone did pull a big #hoax #Prank pic.twitter.com/zTQUShZrya  Artur Martins (@arturmartins) October 31, 2024

A witness, Peter Farrelly, recorded video of the crowds congregating on OConnell Street from his window. It was funny, he told the Independent. "We are still smiling now."

Related: See the Adorable Dogs in Costumes Who Attended the New York City Halloween Dog Parade

Farrelly added: The Gardai [Irish police] were trying to clear the street. It was also the festival of Divali last night, so a lot of people were out on the street [for that] as well.

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Bertie Brosnan told BBC News that he initially thought the event was legitimate based on what he saw online. Upon arrival, he realized something was amiss because parades usually have barricades, security, police and some sort of organization, and he didn't see any of those  just attendees.



Guven Ozdemire/Getty/Stock Image O'Connel street in Dublin, Ireland. O'Connel street in Dublin, Ireland.

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In an X post on Thursday, Irish police further clarified what happened, writing: Please be advised that contrary to information being circulated online, no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin City Centre this evening or tonight.

All those gathered on OConnell Street in expectation of such a parade are asked to disperse safely, police added.

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Related: 5-Year-Old's Wish Granted with Early Halloween Parade in Canadian Neighborhood

In an interview with The New York Times published on Friday, Nov. 1, Nazir Ali, the owner of the My Spirit Halloween website, said there was no intention on his part to deceive people and maintained it was not a scam. He also said that artificial intelligence (AI) was used to create the websites content.

MySpiritHalloween.com plugged the parade as being organized by Macnas, an Irish theater company, CBS News reported. Macnas had previously staged a yearly Halloween parade in Dublin beginning in 2013, but there was none planned for this year, according to the Independent.

Ali told the Times that he took the listing off the site after learning of the error and further added: We were very embarrassed.

PEOPLE contacted Ali through MySpiritHalloween.com and Macnas for comment on Friday.


OREM, Utah (ABC4)  Three people were arrested by Orem police earlier this week and are currently facing charges of using counterfeit money after police reportedly saw the suspects buying items with the counterfeit bills.

Michael Gianfranco Canari Ramos, 22, is facing the charges of criminal conspiracy, a class C misdemeanor; forgery, a third-degree felony; pattern of unlawful activity, a second-degree felony; retail theft of a value greater than $5,000, a second-degree felony and theft by receiving items valued at or greater than $5,000, a second-degree felony.

60K fentanyl pills seized by local, federal authorities, man arrested on drug charges

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Two others have also been arrested in connection to the thefts. Fernando Granados Veliz, 24, and Jennifer Quespe, 22, are also facing the same charges.

Police worked in conjunction with the Utah Attorney Generals office to locate the suspects. On Oct. 28, Canari Ramos, Veliz, and Quespe were located in Riverdale. Thats when police initiated a traffic stop.

The statement of probable cause says that police found over $1,400 worth of merchandise from Target during a traffic stop. Kohls merchandise found totaled around $500.

Target Loss Prevention estimates [its] aggregate loss at approximately $4300 and Kohls estimates their aggregate loss at approximately $4100, the probable cause statement from Utah County said.

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The suspects are alleged to have hit multiple retail locations in Utah, Salt Lake, and Davis counties.

According to Orem Police, the three suspects do not have any ties to Utah and are considered foreign nationals.

Police arrested Canari Ramos, Veliz, and Quespe and booked them in Utah County Jail on the aforementioned charges.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
With Election Day drawing near, the candidates for Thurston County Commissioner are making their last pitch to voters.

The Olympian asked the candidates in two competitive races to share their final appeals to undecided voters who are still holding onto their ballots a week before the election.

The winners in Districts 2 and 4 will take a seat on the five-member commission that serves over 300,000 residents with an operating budget of about $474.2 million in 2025, according to the countys budget book.

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Votes for each race were restricted to those from their respective geographical districts during the primary,. but in the general election, all county voters get the chance to decide a winner in both races.

Commissioner Carolina Mejia is also up for re-election, but she is running unopposed.

District 2

In the District 2 race, Independent candidate JW Foster said voters should look at the difference in experience between him and his Democratic opponent, Rachel Dreon. They are running to replace Gary Edwards, who is retiring.

My experience has been pretty diverse and concentrated in the South Sound region, Thurston County in particular, Foster said. Ive made a lot of contacts and relationships over the past two decades of public service, which really puts me in a position to hit the ground running and get to work right away for the people of the county.

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Foster, an independent, became interim mayor of Yelm in 2016 and then won a four-year term in the 2017 election. Prior to that, he served on the Yelm City Council from 2011 to 2016.

He advises any undecided voter to watch the League of Women Voters of Thurston County candidate forum that featured county commissioner candidates. He said that forum, now available on YouTube, covers a range of issues that are important for the county.

Its so important that everybody take the time to vote, Foster said. Theres a lot on the ballot and some of the issues are confusing, but really, if you want to get things done locally, where you have the most influence, then you want to elect somebody who knows the job, has the energy for the job and is ready to go to work right away.

Dreon describes herself as a progressive Democrat and proud 2004 graduate of Thurston County Drug Court with a professional background in behavioral health.

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She previously worked as a budget chief for the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services and as a Business Operations Administrator for the DSHS Office of Forensic Mental Health.

She currently works for the King County Department of Community and Human Services as a Behavioral Health Workforce Investments Manager.

Im no stranger to hard work, first to turn my own life around, then to secure funding and solutions for our state and my (current) work, Dreon said. Now, Im ready to work even harder for you as your Thurston County Commissioner.

She too stressed the importance of voting, especially for local elections which she said, shape the core of our daily lives.

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They impact everything from the quality of our roads, schools, parks, mental health, housing, property taxes and environment and the support systems that keep us safe, Dreon said. In local government, every vote truly matters, and every voice is closer to being heard. Weve got to vote for someone who has real solutions.

Foster led in the August primary with 58% of the vote (7,638 votes) while Dreon secured 41% of the vote (5,387 votes), according to the final results. However, those votes were limited to voters in District 2.

With the race opened to voters in the entire county, theres potential for a markedly different result in the general election.

Dreon has outspent Foster this election year. Dreon raised over $52,500 and spent more than $46,350 as of Wednesday, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Meanwhile, Foster raised over $32,200 and spent more than $19,900.

District 4

In the District 4 race, current Commissioner Wayne Fournier, a Democrat, is facing Rob Laymon, who stated no party preference.

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In the last year Ive shown that I can be an effective county commissioner, Fournier said. I have the experience and the local knowledge thats required to be effective in office and Im just hoping that the citizens will continue to support me and re-elect me.

Laymon has not responded to multiple requests for comment this year and did not participate in the Thurston County League of Women Voters candidate forum.

Fournier led Laymon with 51% of the vote (8,724 votes) in the August primary. Meanwhile, Laymon got 48% of the vote (8,206 votes).
In the 2022 November election, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won reelection and Democrats flipped the state House and Senate from GOP control for the first time in 40 years. This fall's election will decide the fate of the Democrats' trifecta.

With their newfound power in Lansing, Democrats repealed Michigan's right-to-work law and abortion restrictions. They overhauled Michigan's tax system to provide relief for retirees and low-income earners. They passed gun safety measures and protections for LGBTQ+ Michiganders. They set a clean energy target and passed school budgets that include free meals for students.

Republicans have campaigned against corporate subsidies approved by Democrats to lure new electric vehicle-related jobs to the state. They've also railed against Democratic opposition to making a temporary income tax cut permanent. They've blasted the most recent school budget that included no per-pupil funding increase and new energy laws that give state regulators the power to supersede local zoning laws to install green energy projects.

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"It's going to be super close," said Adrian Hemond, CEO of Lansing-based consulting firm Grassroots Midwest, of the race to control the state House. The possibility of a tie in the chamber isn't off the table, Hemond said: "I actually think it's a reasonably likely outcome."

Michigan is a battleground state in the presidential election. But the outcome of state legislative races can have a big impact on Michiganders' lives, too. State lawmakers craft the state budget. They help set the policy agenda in Lansing, from housing to criminal justice. They provide oversight of state government. And their offices are often residents' direct pipeline to state government, said Hemond.

But the top of the ticket often has an impact on down ballot races. In 2022, Democrats running for the state House benefited from Whitmer's strong performance. Whitmer won by a nearly 11-percentage point margin that year. An abortion rights measure was also on the ballot two years ago and received nearly 57% of the vote. This time, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, appears to face a tighter race than Whitmer did for governor and there are no statewide proposals.

A number of competitive districts in play

Democrats have a razor-thin majority in the Michigan House of Representatives. There are 110 seats in the state House. Democrats hold 56 of those seats and Republicans hold 54 of them. In one of the tightest races of 2022, for example, had just 331 votes gone to Republican House candidate Bob Howey instead of state Rep. Jaime Churches, D-Wyandotte, it would have prevented a Democratic majority in the House.

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The Democratic Party currently holds a two-seat majority but it can't afford to lose a single vote in the face of united GOP opposition because a bill requires the support of a majority of members elected and serving. So in order to win back control of the state House, Republicans need to flip two seats from blue to red.

About a dozen districts  maybe more  appear to be in play. From metro Detroit to Marquette, districts home to tight House races dot the state and could decide which party wins control. All but one seat in the state House is up for grabs: State Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, who represents a safely Democratic district, doesn't have an opponent.

With their legacies on the line, governors hit the trail

Republican former Gov. Rick Snyder has hit the road to campaign for GOP state House candidates. This election cycle, he has been supporting GOP fundraising efforts.

"It's great to be back in action helping House Republicans win a majority this election cycle," Snyder told a roomful of GOP state lawmakers and their supporters during an Oct. 24 stop in Rochester, Republican state Rep. Mark Tisdel's district. "This is about bringing Michigan back again." Tisdel, of Rochester, faces Democrat Trevis Harrold in the competitive Oakland County district.

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Whitmer  who succeeded Snyder  was just down the block that day holding her own event to boost Democratic candidates for the state House. "We are here because we know that the average person, the average small business owner, that people are always looking for more opportunities to find their path to prosperity and take care of their families and their employees," she said at a stop in Rochester, according to a story on the event from Gongwer. "We've done a lot of good work, but there's always more work to do."

Whitmer has reversed several Snyder-era policies. "I don't take it personally," Snyder told reporters at the Oct. 24 Rochester event. But he said he's generally worried about the direction the state is heading in, which he said prompted him to step into House Republicans' campaign.

Michigan 2024 Election: Still have an absentee ballot? It's too late to mail it, but you can still have your vote counted

Top of the ticket dynamics

But unlike Whitmer  who's a national co-chair of Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign  Snyder doesn't want to talk about the presidential race. Snyder supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. But he won't say publicly who he's voting for this time.

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"Because it would distract from my work for the Michigan House," Snyder said.

Whitmer's event in Rochester was just wrapping up as the prominent former GOP politician got ready to head to the next campaign stop. At the Whitmer event, a souvenir was left behind: A foam hand in the shape of Michigan bearing Harris' name and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

Looking for more on Michigans elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan has a number of competitive state House races
Unless the polls are catastrophically off, either Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or GOP former President Donald Trump will occupy the White House next year. But, in Michigan, votes for the other candidates on the ballot could impact the outcome in a tight race between the two in the critical battleground state.

With six third-party candidates on the ballot for president, Michigan is matched only by Wisconsin for having the most options among swing states for protest voters unhappy with the choices the two major parties have given them. Is it possible any of these third-party candidates will be spoilers that affect the race in Michigan, helping Harris or Trump win?

"A lot of the threats for spoiler effects are overblown," said Valdosta State University political science professor Bernard Tamas. But this year, he said he sees potential for Michigan's election to see third-party votes to have an impact. "If there is a state where the spoiler effect will happen, it's most likely in Michigan. I think it's actually probably pretty low in most states unless the votes are extremely close. But Michigan is a little bit of an outlier."

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In addition to Harris and Trump, Michigan's ballot for the presidential race includes Natural Law candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., independent candidate Joseph Kishore, Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver, Green Party candidate Jill Stein, U.S. Taxpayers candidate Randall Terry and independent candidate Cornel West. By comparison, there were four third-party candidates in Michigan on both the 2016 and 2020 general election ballots.

This year, the hundreds of thousands of Arab American and Muslim voters could provide enough support to Stein, for example, to make a difference, Tamas said. Arab American and Muslim voters in Michigan, appalled by Israel's military assaults in Gaza and elsewhere, have tried to use the ballot box to push for a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East. A national Arab American conference in Dearborn earlier this year featured Stein and West.

The Uncommitted National Movement that called on Democrats to vote "uncommitted" in the presidential primary to protest President Joe Biden's Gaza policies has declined to endorse Harris. But leaders of the group said they oppose Trump and see third-party votes as potentially helping the GOP nominee win.

Democrats are worried about votes for third-party candidates. The Democratic National Committee announced a new advertisement campaign in Michigan and other swing states Tuesday saying a vote for Stein or West amounts to a vote for Trump. New digital ads feature Trump's comment from a Philadelphia rally in June in which he praised Stein and West. "He's one of my favorite candidates, Cornel West," Trump said. "I like her also, Jill Stein. I like her very much. You know why? She takes 100% from them. He takes 100%," Trump said. In that same speech, Trump said Kennedy's impact is "probably 50-50," suggesting that the independent candidate takes the same number of votes away from both the Democratic and GOP presidential nominees.

Cornel West, a U.S. presidential candidate, hugs members of the audience after speaking at a pro-Palestinian interfaith event called "Gaza Endures" at Greenfield Manor in Dearborn, Mich. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.

The Harris campaign declined to comment and referred the Free Press to the DNC. "A vote for Stein or West is a vote for Trump. The only way to avoid a repeat of 2016 is to cast your vote for Vice President Harris," DNC senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill said in a statement Tuesday.

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Stein pushed back against the attacks. "In a democracy, no one owns your vote, candidates need to earn your vote and the only 'spoilers' are the political elites who work overtime to deny a meaningful democratic choice to voters who are hungry for a real choice," she said in a statement emailed by her campaign Wednesday. West's campaign did not respond to an email from the Free Press seeking comment.

On the Republican side, Kennedy said he specifically ended his presidential campaign because he didn't want to take votes away from Trump. He launched a legal bid to have his name removed from the Michigan ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his request Tuesday.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks in Walker at Donald Trumps rally on Friday, Sept. 27 at the FALK Production.

Asked whether the Trump campaign fears votes for a third-party candidate will hurt Trump in Michigan, the campaign's National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an emailed statement last Wednesday: "President Trump is building the largest, most diverse political movement in history with support from conservatives, independents, and even Democrats like RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard."

In Michigan's last two presidential elections, the Libertarian candidate received the most votes of any other third-party candidate. In fact, in 2020 and 2016, the Libertarian candidate amassed 2.5 times the number of votes for all other third-party candidates combined. Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen won 60,381 votes in 2020 while Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson won 172,136 votes in 2016.

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But for votes for third-party candidates to make a difference, the election has to take a certain shape: close, according to political scientists. And a large number of third-party votes don't necessarily mean they have an impact on the final outcome, because it's not clear whether those third-party voters would have ever voted for a major party candidate in that race or even showed up to vote at all.

A close election could see third-party votes have an impact

The U.S. has "the least successful third parties in the rich world," said Michigan State University political science professor Matt Grossmann. "A lot of people who would be third-party voters elsewhere are not here," he said. Still, in a tight race, a small number of votes could make a difference, according to Grossmann.

Since 1980, votes for third-party and write-in candidates in Michigan have exceeded the margin of victory for the winning presidential candidate three times: in 1980, 1992 and 2016.

In 1980, then-Republican U.S. Rep. John B. Anderson of Illinois ran as an independent and won over 275,000 votes in Michigan, where former California Gov. Ronald Reagan beat then-President Jimmy Carter by over 253,000 votes in the state. In 1992, independent candidate Ross Perot spent millions to self-fund his presidential bid and received more than 824,000 votes in Michigan. Democrat Bill Clinton defeated GOP incumbent President George H.W. Bush in Michigan that year by a more than 316,000 votes. In 2016, Trump beat Hillary Clinton by a little more than 10,000 votes  or 0.23 percentage points. It was the closest margin of victory in any state that year. Johnson received more than 172,000 votes and Stein more than 51,000 votes in 2016.

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But just because the third-party vote exceeded the margin of victory, does not mean third-party candidates were spoilers.

Democrats continue to blame Clinton's loss in Michigan and other key battlegrounds on votes for third-party candidates. But the argument that third-party votes cost Clinton the state assumes those voters would have still showed up to vote, and that they would have backed Clinton. One in-depth review of the 2016 election by political scientists pours cold water on the theory that third-party candidates enabled Trump's Electoral College victory.

For a third-party candidate to be a spoiler, it takes a situation like the incredibly close 2000 presidential election in Florida, said Tamas. There, George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by 537 votes  a 0.009 percentage point margin  and Green Party candidate Ralph Nader won 97,488 votes  1.6% of the votes cast.

How do third-party candidates in Michigan poll?

An October poll commissioned by the Free Press conducted by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA shows 3% of voters support Stein and Kennedy, respectively, and 1% back West. The poll surveyed 600 likely Michigan voters. It was conducted Oct. 24-28 and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points. Kennedy was polling higher in the summer. When Biden was still in the race, a June survey showed 10% support for Kennedy and 2% support for Stein and West, respectively.

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Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

Looking for more on Michigans elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: In Michigan, third-party presidential candidate votes could play role
TUCSON - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said women are going to send a loud and clear message to Donald Trump" on Tuesday during his final visit to Arizona, focusing on a key voter bloc that Vice President Kamala Harris is relying on to win the White House.

We simply trust women, Walz said Saturday evening in Tucson. All across this country, every age, every background, every political party, that those women are going to send a loud and clear message to Donald Trump on Nov. 5. Whether he likes it or not.

Walz appeared in Arizona for the last time before Election Day as the 2024 presidential race entered its final hours. Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a contentious battle for the White House in battleground Arizona, where 11 Electoral College votes are up for grabs on Tuesday.

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Public Arizona polls give Trump a slight advantage in the state, which he narrowly lost four years ago to President Joe Biden. But those surveys also show a wide gender gap, with Harris leading among women and Trump receiving more support from men in Arizona.

Donald said if youre a woman hell be your protector. He cant even open the door of a garbage truck, Walz said, referencing Trumps recent claim that whether the women like it or not, I'm going to protect them.

More than 1.2 million Arizonans already have cast their ballots in the historic election between Trump and Harris, including many who saw Walz speak outside Tucson High Magnet School.

It may be hard for a group of you who came here today to believe it, but there's still some folks who aren't quite sure what they're going to do in this election, Walz said, imploring supporters to knock doors and make phone calls over the next three days.

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The Harris campaign in Arizona has turned its focus to areas where the early vote has lagged, such as South Tucson and South Phoenix, to turn out voters on Tuesday. Volunteers and campaign staff had knocked on 53,000 doors across Arizona by midday Saturday.

Walz noted that Arizona, a battleground with 11 electoral votes, could have a significant influence on the outcome of the race. President Joe Biden won here by fewer than 11,000 votes four years ago and turned the state blue for the first time since 1996.

Were winning. Now, notice I didnt say we won, Walz said. We know in Arizona, a vote or two per precinct could be what it takes to win the whole damn race for the country.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra struck a similar tone when he spoke to the crowd ahead of Walz, calling the race a nail biter.

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The visit marked the second Saturday in a row that Walz stumped for Harris in Arizona. He visited Flagstaff in the early afternoon before coming to Tucson to deliver his closing argument for the Democratic presidential ticket.

Walz focused on corporate price-gouging, protecting health care, abortion rights and gun violence prevention during his 25-minute speech.

Walz also took aim at Trumps policy proposals and his character, saying that Trumps phone screen background is a picture of himself and that oughta tell you where hes at.

You would have thought, in his nearly 80 years on earth, and being this genius, what he calls a stable genius, and he went to the Wharton School, which, from what he tells us, you would have thought he would have learned what a damn tariff was by now. Because Donald Trump is out there saying, Oh, we'll put a tariff on all this stuff, and the Chinese will pay for it, Walz said. No one buys that.

Sen. Mark Kelly and his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, spoke at a Harris-Walz rally in Tucson on Nov. 2, 2024.

Arizona Democrats Sen. Mark Kelly and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords also appeared on stage in their home city. Kelly took aim at House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., for saying this week that the GOP might try to repeal the CHIPS and Science Act. Johnson later walked back the comment.

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Given the chance, they are going after the CHIPS and Science Act that is bringing, get this, folks, this is bringing billions of dollars of investments and tens of thousands of jobs to our state, Kelly said.

Some 120 miles north of Tucson, Trump running mate JD Vance appeared in Arizona on Saturday for a rally in Scottsdale, where he tied immigration to the states economic woes.

Gov. Tim Walz delivers remarks about womens rights, gun violence and more at a campaign event at Tucson High Magnet School on Nov. 2, 2024.

Despite Walzs upbeat attitude on the stump, many voters who attended his rally said they are nervous about the upcoming election.

That was the case for Sara Jacobs, 46, who lives in Tucson and had the 2020 election on her mind.

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I was really concerned about the last election when we didn't we had the former sitting president trying to block the peaceful transfer of power, Jacobs said. So that's probably the thing that I'm really most concerned about with this particular election.

Our democracy is at stake. And it sounds so dramatic, but it really is, said Linda Becerril, 59, who attended the rally with Claudia Becerril. Both said they felt energized and hopeful after hearing Walz on the stump.

Claudia Becerril interned in the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCains office when she was younger and remembers, as a teenager, discussing issues with people across party lines. She lamented that it is no longer possible.

It's very concerning having my own daughters, myself, that we're now starting at a point where you can't have a conversation with someone, Claudia Becerril said.

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Tucson resident Ajani de Roock, 19, already cast his ballot for Harris and persuaded two of his friends to register to vote. He supports the vice president because she's not Donald Trump and she represents a way forward.

Shes not a do-nothing Democrat, he said.

Still, de Roock is on edge as Tuesday looms.

I saw polls last night, I couldn't sleep because of them, he said. That were showing Trump way ahead in Arizona. I don't know if that's true or not, but it really worries me a lot.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Women will send 'clear message' to Donald Trump, Tim Walz says in final Arizona pitch
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Tom Truman was sworn in as prosecuting attorney on Friday, November 1, 2024, after former prosecuting attorney Ben Hatfield resigned last month in the midst of multiple allegations of improper conduct, some made by members of Hatfields staff.

Truman had retired but returned as an assistant prosecutor to cover the high-profile case of accused murderer Natalie Cochran in September, weeks after members of Hatfields staff and others had made public allegations of wrongdoing and improper conduct against Hatfield.

Raleigh County Commission President Greg Duckworth said county officials hope to restore the publics trust in the office, with the appointment of Truman, who worked more than 30 years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Raleigh County.

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As a young trooper, I worked with hand in hand, side by side, in court cases, so I know his capability, President Duckworth, a retired West Virginia State Police trooper, said on Friday. I know the man that he is, and were very fortunate to have someone with that experience to just come in and keep looking forward.

Tips to keep in mind when turning the clocks back as Daylight Saving Time ends

Truman said on Friday that he had answered a call to duty when he decided to take the prosecuting attorneys role, working with a team of assistant prosecutors, many hired by Hatfield and some of whom blew the whistle on what they described as a harassing work environment.

The people that are here do a good job, and theyre all pretty young, and I hope to make some suggestions, said Truman. They will find their own path to success, but maybe provide some guidance, some structure, to say heres how you might want to go about this.

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He said he doesnt believe the attorneys on staff, or the public, have a lack of faith in the judicial system in Raleigh County, despite the allegations made against Hatfield.

I think that the office had some issues, and again, Ive been through a lot of time when the office has issues, and well fix those and well move on, said Truman.

Study shows West Virginians pay most for utility bills

Hatfield is the only candidate for prosecuting attorney printed on the Raleigh County ballot, but he said he will not accept the position, if elected.

A write-in candidate, Jordan Atkins, is running for the position.

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If Hatfield is elected, Truman will serve as prosecuting attorney until the next election.

Truman said he has no intentions of running for the office 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 WVNS.
A Richland massage therapist faces a criminal charge in Benton County Superior Court and a charge by the Washington state Department of Health after accusations of sexually touching a client.

In addition, the Department of Health has cases or orders filed against various health professionals in Benton and Franklin counties in recent months due to theft accusations, allegedly practicing without licenses and an animal abuse conviction.

A patient of Joseph Taylor Moraniec, a massage therapist, told police on Nov. 6, 2023, that he had sexually touched her and not followed procedures to keep her body appropriately draped with a sheet during a massage at Elements Therapeutic Massage in Richland.

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She also reported Moraniec to the state Department of Health.

She said that after a massage, Moraniec had said Sorry for getting my wires crossed, which she took as an apology for turning a massage into a sex act, according to a court document.

When police obtained records from his previous employer in Seattle, they found complaints that resulted in him being fired in December 2022. One client allegedly was touched sexually and the other allegedly was not kept appropriately covered during the massage, according to a court document.

Moraniec faces a felony charge of health care provider indecent liberties in Benton County Superior Court.

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The Department of Health has charged him with unprofessional conduct and given him a chance to respond. His license to work as a massage therapist in Washington state, which was issued in 2016, expired in July.

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In other Department of Health actions:

 Bradley Leroy Akridge has been ordered by the Washington state Department of Health to stop his alleged unlicensed practice of chiropractic care in Benton County, according to state records.

Akridges license, originally issued in 1983, was suspended in June 2009.

His troubles started in 1993 with convictions of felony possession of cocaine in Benton County Superior Court, according to the Department of Health

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In May 2005 he was convicted of theft in the third degree, a gross misdemeanor, and in 2007 he was convicted of driving under the influence in Benton County, a gross misdemeanor.

He had a practice in Connell in 2003 but said his records had been destroyed when the Department of Health requested them less than five years later in 2007, according to the agency. Washington state law requires the retention of records.

His license was indefinitely suspended in 2009, unless he completed conditions he agreed to with the Department of Health.

They included undergoing a chemical dependency evaluation and passing a National Board of Chiropractic Examiners ethics and boundaries exam.

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 Tiffani Michelle Nelson has been ordered to stop alleged unlicensed practice of massage therapy in Franklin County.

From November 2022 to March 2023 she charged clients for massage therapy services despite not having a massage therapy credential, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

 Tyler Waite, a former registered nurse in Benton County, has agreed to a license suspension in Washington.

In 2023 Waite was convicted of first-degree animal abuse in Oregons Washington County Circuit Court. According to the Washington state Department of Health, he killed a dog.

Waites Washington license expired before the suspension. If he wants to petition for a reinstatement, he must undergo a mental health evaluation.

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 Tuesdae Arizona Hunter has had her credential as a registered nursing assistant indefinitely suspended by the Department of Health.

A fellow staff member said she saw her take food and household items from Creekstone Senior Living during July 2023, and the owner of the center said that household supplies had been disappearing without explanation in recent months, according to Department of Health allegations.

 Kayla Lynn Benson, a registered nursing assistant in Benton County, also has been charged with unprofessional conduct by the Department of Health and has had her credential suspended.

She was fired from Creekstone Senior Living in Kennewick in July 2023 after another staff member allegedly saw her multiple times removing food and household supplies that were meant for the homes residents, according to the Department of Health.

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 The certified nursing assistant license of Aylin Guadalupe Aispuro Moreno of Benton County has been suspended pending further legal action.

In May 2023 she was placed on the Washington state Department of Social and Health Services long-term care abuse and neglect registry after financially exploiting a client, according to the Department of Health. She may not be employed caring for vulnerable adults or have unsupervised access to them.

A client of Addus Home Care in Kennewick who was physically unable to care for herself gave Moreno her credit card to purchase the medications the client needed, according to the Department of Health.

Moreno is accused of using the credit card to purchase food for herself in July 2021.

From March to October 2022 Moreno charged $762 to the clients credit card for her personal use, according to Department of Health allegations.
In the final, frenetic days of the 2024 campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump are crisscrossing the country, keeping up a dizzying schedule of rallies, public appearances and media interviews as they make their final pitch to voters in critical swing states.

Trump is campaigning aggressively in North Carolina, with three weekend rallies in the state, where elections officials have scrambled to ensure voters are able to cast their ballots in counties devastated by Hurricane Helene in September.

Harris, after rallies in Atlanta and in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, is set to spend Sunday in Michigan, a "blue wall" state where Trump eked out a victory in 2016 before narrowly losing to Joe Biden four years later.

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Harris is scheduled to appear in and around Detroit on Sunday before an evening rally at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Controversial remarks by Trump  who said in Wisconsin last week that, "whether the women like it or not," he would protect them  reverberated throughout the weekend, as did a bizarre moment during a Friday night rally in Milwaukee in which the former president ranted about microphone problems.

"Did you hear what Donny Trump said the other day?" the rapper Cardi B said onstage at a Friday rally for Harris, who also was in Milwaukee.

"He said he's gonna protect women whether they like it or not," Cardi B said, adding that "protection for women, especially if were talking about maternal and mental health care, isnt telling them what to do with their bodies. Its supporting them and giving them the care they need for what they choose to do with their bodies.

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Read more: 'Wild and crazy ride': The stunning, exhausting presidential race we all just witnessed

During that event at the Wisconsin State Fair Expo Center, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson told attendees that "our community, we are literally, quite literally, the crossroads of this election," underscoring the campaigns' focus on the Badger State and its 10 electoral votes.

"You know what's going on across town right now," he added in reference to Trump's rally seven miles away at Fiserv Forum, home of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.

A few minutes into Trump's speech there, the crowd began chanting, "Fix the mic!"

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Trump, irritated, pulled the microphone from its stand and held it close to his face. He grew angrier when the crowd again shouted that they could not hear him.

"Do you wanna see me knock the hell out of the people backstage?" Trump asked the crowd, which cheered in approval.

As he complained about the low height of microphone stands at some of his events, Trump stooped over the stand, rubbing his hand up and down it, and bobbing his head with his mouth agape as the audience laughed.

"Way too low," he said, pushing the microphone stand away.

The moment was widely mocked on social media by users who said Trump was pantomiming oral sex.

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Harris' campaign tweeted a video of the moment along with a single question mark.

Kamala Harris arrives Saturday at North Carolina's Charlotte Douglas International Airport for a rally. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)

During the Milwaukee rally, Trump also highlighted October's jobs report.

The Labor Department reported Friday that U.S. employers added 12,000 jobs in October, hampered by a pair of hurricanes  Milton and Helene  and a strike at Boeing. The unemployment rate of 4.1% reflects an overall healthier economy.

Trump told his supporters he did not believe the storms were a factor.

"This is like a depression," he said. "And theres nothing, no event  I think theyre trying to blame it on the hurricane. No, that was, you know, a little, a relatively small area. No, not the hurricane. Not the hurricane. Theyre the hurricane.

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On Saturday morning, Trump called in to "Fox & Friends," where he called the jobs report "a gift" to his campaign."

Normally, politicians refrain from gloating over economic numbers perceived to be poor, and instead express sympathy for Americans who are struggling financially.

Trump, though, said: "I finally got a gift."

I'm running against two people that just put out the worst job numbers, which is a big deal, the biggest deal economically, the biggest thing that happened," he said.

During a rally Saturday in Gastonia, N.C., Trump repeated his false claims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency shortchanged hurricane victims by using money meant for disaster relief on undocumented immigrants.

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And he repeated his comments about protecting women.

"I'm gonna protect our women," he said. "I got into so much trouble, you saw that."

"I think the women love me because they know, you know what, if they don't have me, they got millions of people pouring through and coming up through the suburbs."

He painted a dark, damsel-in-distress picture of women being attacked in their homes by criminal migrants.

"I believe that women have to be protected, men have to be, children, everybody  but women have to be protected when they're at home in suburbia," he said.

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Read more: Trump is using election lies to lay the groundwork for challenging 2024 results if he loses

The former president also promised a prominent role for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine crusader who has advanced conspiracy theories. In recent appearances supporting Trump, Kennedy has said he wants to get rid of "the toxins" in Americans' food.

"We will make America healthy again," Trump said. "RFK Jr.'s gonna be in charge of that."

North Carolina's 16 electoral votes are a coveted prize in the tight presidential race. Republicans have carried the state in 12 of the last 14 presidential elections, with Democrats Jimmy Carter winning there in 1976 and Barack Obama winning in 2008 before losing to Republican Mitt Romney four years later.

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In 2020, Trump beat Biden there by just over 1% of the vote.

He told supporters there Saturday: "We win this state, we're gonna win the whole ballgame."

Harris, speaking in Atlanta on Saturday, highlighted her economic plans, saying that her priority in the White House would be bringing down the cost of living.

Trump, she said, would enter office "stewing over an enemies list," and she said she would walk in "with my to-do list," including implementing a federal ban on price gouging on groceries.

Harris said Trump is "increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and the man is out for unchecked power."

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"In less than 90 days," she said, "is it gonna be him or me in the Oval Office?"

The crowd responded: "You!"

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Two artworks by Andy Warhol including one of Queen Elizabeth II have been stolen during an amateurish overnight break-in at a gallery in the Netherlands.

Thieves blew open doors at the MPV Gallery in Oisterwijk, a town in the North Brabant province, and made off with two silkscreens from the iconic American pop artists Reigning Queens series.

Another two prints were left badly damaged in the street when criminals discovered they wouldnt fit in a getaway car, owner Mark Peet Visser said.

Mr Visser told Dutch broadcaster NOS the works taken were of the late Elizabeth II and Margrethe II, who was Queen of Denmark until her abdication earlier this year.

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The burglary was captured on security cameras, Mr Visser said, describing the whole thing as amateurish, adding: The bomb attack was so violent that my entire building was destroyed.

Police confirmed there appeared to have been some form of explosion and a lot of damage to the gallery plus nearby stores.

Mr Visser said: So they did that part of it well, too well actually.

Screen prints depicting Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (AP)

And then they ran to the car with the prints and it turns out that they wont fit in the car.

At that moment the works are ripped out of the frames and you also know that they are damaged beyond repair, because it is impossible to get them out undamaged.

According to NOS, the two abandoned prints in Warhols 1985 series depicted Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland.

All were being kept at the gallery ahead of the PAN Amsterdam art fair later this month, where they were due to be put up for sale as a set.
(Bloomberg) -- Viktor Orban made his loyalties clear when he landed in Georgia this week. As protesters disputed an election victory for its pro-Russian leadership, Hungarys prime minister congratulated the country for choosing not to become the next Ukraine.

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The trip to Tbilisi was a bold move, even for a leader who has made no secret of his coziness with Russia and disregard for the European Union. But with all eyes now on voting in the US, the timing was as important as the optics.

A win for his ally Donald Trump on Tuesday could make Orban the go-to person in Europe for the next US president, according to a person familiar with the thinking in Budapest. And with Russias war in Ukraine, Europes security and trade relations with China all in flux, Orban is relishing that prospect.

The pair forged a transatlantic camaraderie going back to Orbans early endorsement of Trump in 2016. More recently, Orban lauded the Republican nominee as the only person who can bring a quick end to the war in Ukraine. Over the summer, Orban said his aides were deeply involved with the team working on Trumps policy program for the next four years.

For his part, Trump has praised the Hungarians leadership. Orban diluted sanctions against Russia, opposed aid for Ukraine and vetoed critical statements on China. Within days of Hungary assuming the EUs rotating presidency in July, Orban travelled to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin, blindsiding European and NATO allies and even his own cabinet.

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Hungarian foreign policy is about regime survival, said Zsuzsanna Vegh, an analyst at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. If Trump returns to the White House, Orban might feel vindicated, seeing a leader with a similar political profile leading the most powerful country on the globe, she said.

The boost would be timely for Orban, who until recently governed with little hindrance since returning to power in 2010. At home, he faces a new, more credible rival ahead of Hungarys 2026 election. The economy, meantime, has taken a beating. A report this week showed its now back in recession.

Abroad, hes been playing up his status as the EUs chief disruptor. Over the summer, he resumed attacks on Brussels over LGBTQ rights and immigration while lauding Putins rational, strongly led Russia. At Hungarys annual commemoration of the 1956 uprising on Oct. 23, he said the nation should stand up to the EU like it did to the Soviets.

In Georgia, he hailed the win for pro-Kremlin billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvilis party as fair, dismissing his EU counterparts for duplicity. European politics has its handbook, Orban said on Tuesday. When liberal parties win, there is democracy. When conservatives win, there is not.

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How Orban, 61, cemented his role as the ringleader for the continents nationalists goes back to the refugee crisis of 2015 when he built a fence along Hungarys southern border and cast himself as the defender of Christian Europe.

The following 18 months saw populists take power in Poland, Britain vote to leave the EU and Trump win the American presidency, events that played into Orbans central belief that liberal democracy was dying and that he was ahead of the curve. Now the return of Trump would mean the US will improve ideologically, giving up on the export of democracy, Orban said in the summer.

Its a narrative hes been keen to export, and fund. Hungarian entities have provided money for nationalists in France, Spain and, most recently, North Macedonia.

The day before he cast a lone figure at a summit of European leaders in Brussels last month, he convened his new far-right political group, Patriots for Europe. At Maison de Hongrie, a 19th century villa in the city that Orbans government bought last year, he hosted the likes of French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen and Andrej Babis, the Czech billionaire eying a return to power.

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But what he has most in common with Trump is that he reckons the world is  and should be  run by leaders doing backroom deals rather than institutions with accountability and transparency, according to observers who have followed him over the years.

For all its democratic processes, that also reflects his experience with the EU, said Andras Toth-Czifra, a political analyst at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in New York. One example is Orbans close ties to German industry, giving him influence in the biggest European economy while he clashed with Brussels, he said.

Another is the revolving door of US conservative figures in Budapest for the annual CPAC satellite conference hosted by a government-funded Hungarian organization. That isnt necessarily because of deeply shared beliefs, but more a vehicle for Orbans Fidesz party to network internationally, Toth-Czifra said.

Hes survived this long because so far he has known which battles to pick in the EU and NATO, he said. But with Hungary's economic situation and his rising opposition, this is not a risk-free adventure any more. He is banking on a lot of ifs with his long bet with Trump  but it may still pay off.

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That adventure already came with a cost. The EU is still withholding about 20 billion ($22 billion) of funding earmarked for Hungary because of concerns over graft and rule-of-law after Orban named loyalists to the heads of state institutions and the highest levels of the judiciary. Under Orban, the country slid to bottom among EU members in the annual Transparency International corruption index.

Indeed, shielding Hungary from US criticism over the rollback of democracy and his affinity with Russia would be one of the biggest boons for Orban from a Trump presidency.

A Make America Great Again focus under Trump would mean less attention on Hungary and Europe, said Balazs Orban, the political director charged with building links to Trumps camp and think-tanks like the Heritage Foundation and media personalities like Tucker Carlson.

A Trump presidency would be great for everybody, Balazs Orban, who is no relation of the premier, said in an interview on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels last month. The essence of his foreign policy is an American interest-based policy, which is good, because then Europe can also pursue a policy based on European interests.

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What those interests are is where Orban diverges from his counterparts in Berlin and Paris.

The prime ministers aides have sought to portray his transformation from a liberal, anti-communist student firebrand in the late 1980s to a center-right leader in the late 1990s and then a far-right icon as someone who anticipated generational shifts in the global political landscape.

But critics like opposition leader Peter Magyar, a former Orban supporter whose party has overtaken Fidesz in some recent polls, say hes driven more by power and money. Last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen excoriated Orban for supporting Russia and for economic policies that discriminate against foreign companies while awarding contracts to a small group.

Orbans isolation of Hungary from the political mainstream in Europe while making friends elsewhere will now be tested. For all his reputation as the Trump whisperer, his importance as a middleman is overblown, according to Vegh at the German Marshall Fund.

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Theres also the issue of China, which Orban has courted for billions of euros of investment. Given Trumps stance on the country, Orban may not be as free as he thinks to pursue those ties, Vegh said. Trump wants to ratchet up tariffs against China, while Orban opposed EU barriers on Chinese-made electric vehicles, an industry thats increasingly vital to the Hungarian economy.

Still, no leader can boast such cordial access to Moscow and Beijing while also wielding a veto within the EU.

Orbans freewheeling diplomacy in July was case in point. His self-style peace mission to Moscow following a visit to Kyiv was such a closely guarded secret that even EU Affairs Minister Janos Boka, the point-person to manage the Hungarian EU presidency, was in the dark, according to two people familiar with the situation.

They asked not to be named citing political sensitivities, while Boka declined to confirm or deny whether he had known about the trip in an interview in Brussels.

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The visit prompted many EU nations to downgrade their representation at events in Budapest. But for Orban, it was a success by raising his visibility as he met with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and China in quick succession, according to one of the people.

In retrospect, the most important audience may have been the one at the end of the itinerary  in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Orban met Trump at his resort after a stopover at a NATO summit in Washington.

The pair posted a picture showing them giving a thumbs up and Orban saying hes going to solve it  a reference to the war in Ukraine.

@realDonaldTrump at Mar-a-Lago today. We discussed ways to make #peace. The good news of the day: hes going to solve it! pic.twitter.com/AiTRsdexM5

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 Orban Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) July 12, 2024

For now, its a coin-toss election before Orban hosts back-to-back European summits in Budapest next week. A win for Democrat Kamala Harris could help Europe turn up the pressure on Orban. Should Trump win, some EU diplomats are worried Orban might invite him to dial into one of the meetings.

As one person familiar with the thinking put it: the meetings will either be opportunities for Orban to shine at the vanguard of Europes nationalist movement or a chance for EU leaders to take a dig at the Hungarian leader on his home turf.

Just got off the phone with President @realDonaldTrump, Orban wrote on social media platform X on Oct. 31. I wished him the best of luck for next Tuesday. Only five days to go. Fingers crossed.

--With assistance from Veronika Gulyas, Marton Kasnyik and Max Ramsay.

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Donald Trump met with Arab American supporters Friday afternoon at a halal cafe in Dearborn, vowing to bring peace to the Middle East if he's elected, and repeatedly criticizing Liz Cheney.

"You're going to have peace in the Middle East" when I'm president, "not with the clowns that you have running the U.S. right now," Trump declared while inside The Great Commoner, a halal cafe run by a Lebanese-American family concerned about Israel's attacks in Lebanon and Gaza. "They should have peace in the Middle East, but not with the clowns you have. You have people in the Middle East who aren't doing their job. You have people in the U.S. who aren't doing their job."

Trump's visit is the latest example of a historic election year for Michigan's Arab American and Muslim communities, who have been more visible at Republican events than ever before. Trump appeared on stage in Novi on Oct. 26 with a row of Muslim leaders behind him and also rallied in Hamtramck on Oct. 18 with Muslim elected officials and community leaders.

Donald Trump visiting The Great Commoner, a halal cafe in Dearborn, on Nov. 1, 2024. On Trump's right is Albert Abbas, a brother of the cafe's owner and on his left is Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of Tiffany Trump.

As Trump's motorcade rolled down Michigan Avenue, the street was lined with both supporters and opponents. A couple of people displayed their middle finger and a woman could be heard crying out "Free Palestine."

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After entering the cafe at 3:10 pm, Trump shook hands with supporters as others filmed his appearance on their phones. He then spoke to reporters, criticizing Cheney, whose recent town hall in Royal Oak with Kamala Harris has been criticized by Arab Americans upset with her support for foreign wars. Dearborn has the highest percentage of Arab Americans among all cities in the United States and more than 80 protests have been held in the Detroit suburb over the past year in support of Palestinians, Lebanon and Yemen.

More: Trump, Harris vie for Arab American, Muslim votes in Michigan as Yemenis gain spotlight

Albert Abbas, a brother of cafe owner Sam Abbas gave a speech standing next to Trump, attacking the administration of President Joe Biden for "failing miserably." Standing on the other side of Trump was Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany Trump and a native of Lebanon who has done extensive outreach to Michigan's Arab American communities this year.

"Let me share a couple words for our president, for our future president and former president," Abbas said, praising the former president. "As Arab Americans, we unite against the betrayal of those in power. Our families back home suffer, their cries for help echoing across borders while the world remains silent. It is time to prioritize our nation's best interest and foster lasting peace for all. This current administration has failed miserably in all aspects of humanity. It is imperative that the Republican Party recognizes the contributions of Arab Americans. No longer will we tolerate the narrative of fake news that seeks to demonize our people. We are proud Americans, enriching this nation with our hospitality, education and hard work."

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Trump then walked over to the kitchen area, which has signs that read: Lets end the war and Stand for peace in Lebanon and Gaza." He met with Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib and Dearborn Heights Bill Bazzi, both of whom have endorsed Trump and lead cities with the second (Hamtramck) and third (Dearborn Heights) highest percentage of Arab Americans in the U.S.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, whose district includes Dearborn, posted statements Friday on X blasting Trump ahead of his visit, but also slamming Democrats for policies they said have allowed Trump to become popular among Arab Americans frustrated by war.

"The architect of the Muslim Ban is making a campaign stop in Dearborn," Hammoud wrote, referring to a travel ban under Trump that banned visitors from some Muslim-majority nations. But Hammoud added that the Democrats' "unwillingness to stop funding & enabling a genocide created the space for Trump to infiltrate our communities."

Hammoud also revealed for the first time the Trump campaign has been asking him to sit down with Trump, but he refused. Hammoud had a sit-down meeting with Kamala Harris in August. The mayor has not endorsed anyone for president.

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"Ive refused a sit down with him although the requests keep pouring in," Hammoud said. "Trump will never be my president."

Donald Trump signing plaques at The Great Commoner, a halal cafe in Dearborn, on Nov. 1, 2024. Next to him is Albert Abbas, a brother of the cafe's owner and Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of Tiffany Trump, a daughter of Trump.

Tlaib said "Trump is a proud Islamophobe + serial liar who doesn't stand for peace," but the only Palestinian American member of Congress added, "the reality is that the Biden admins unconditional support for genocide is what got us here. This should be a wake-up call for those who continue to support genocide. This election didn't have to be close."

Trump's visit to Dearborn came just four days before an election in which Michigan, which has the highest percentage of Middle Eastern residents among all 50 states, is seen as a swing state. Biden won in Dearborn and Hamtramck in 2020.

Trump's 20-minute visit was the first in 24 years by a Republican nominee for president to Dearborn's Arab American community, since George W. Bush, the governor of Texas at the time, came to Dearborn in October 2000. Bush met with dozens of Arab American and Muslim leaders, who later endorsed him. The following week, Bush expressed concerns about the racial profiling of Arab Americans during a debate with Al Gore, the Democratic nominee.

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While signing plaques for the cafe, Trump spoke to reporters, attacking Liz Cheney, a former U.S. Rep. whose father was one of the architects of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"Liz Cheney is a disaster," Trump said. In a war "she wouldn't fight, she would chicken out so fast."

Referring to security hawks, Trump said "they don't mind killing people. but if they had to do it themselves, she wouldn't fight. She's a coward."

Donald Trump enters The Great Commoner, a halal cafe in Dearborn, at about 3:10 pm on Nov. 1, 2024.

A man in the crowd cried out at one point: "Mr. President, we love you."

In Dearborn, there is frustration with the administration of President Joe Biden over the killing of Arabs in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen over the past year. Social issues are another factor, with some Muslims upset in Dearborn over some LGBTQ+ books in public schools.

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A woman in the crowd shouted out Trump is "fighting for our children."

Also attending Trump's appearance in Dearborn was Robert Kennedy Jr., who posed for selfies and got into a verbal exchange about genocide in Gaza with Dearborn activist Hassan Chami. Kennedy has been a staunch supporter of Israel.

Trump was asked by a reporter if he has talked with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ways to end the conflict.

"I always talk about things like that," Trump replied.

Before visiting Hamtramck last month for a rally with Arab Americans who generally oppose Israel's leadership, Trump told reporters that Netanyahu is "doing a good job. Biden is trying to hold him back  and he probably should be doing the opposite."

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Also accompanying Trump in Dearborn were campaign aides Jason Miller and Stephen Miller, who helped design the Muslim travel ban.

Trump spoke later Friday in Warren.

Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Donald Trump meets with Arab Americans in Dearborn, promises peace
MILWAUKEE  Donald Trump was at the pinnacle of his third presidential bid when he walked into Fiserv Forum less than four months ago, his ear bandaged after surviving an assassination attempt and his poll numbers surging against a weakened opponent.

This time, the rendition of his God Bless the USA walkup song wasnt a live performance. The iconic bandage was gone. And Trump, on a final sprint through the battleground states, is fighting to win a race that Kamala Harris has made a virtual tie.

You remember, just five months ago, everybody was saying she couldn't run, shes grossly incompetent, she was the worst vice president in history, Trump said from the arena where the Republican National Convention was held in July, at a time when his victory, to many, seemed inevitable.

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He made his usual exaggerated claims about his standing in the polls  but told his supporters to just pretend hes in a tight race so they go and vote.

We're doing great. We're leading, just about, I think, all seven swing states, Trump continued. But don't listen to me now. Don't listen. Just pretend were one down. We're one point down. Please.



The energy of his supporters Friday night in Milwaukee was still palpable months later. Neon yellow and orange visibility vests dotted the crowd, a tribute to Trump having donned one earlier this week when he hopped into the passenger seat of a garbage truck in Green Bay  a stunt seizing on President Joe Bidens controversial garbage remarks.

Trump railed against the audio team in charge of the nights events after the crowd in the back of the arena repeatedly shouted that they couldnt hear him. After removing the microphone from its holster to hold it closer  giving the majority of his speech in the onstage position of a standup comic  Trump confessed he was seething about the stupid people who set up the sound equipment.

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Do you want to see me knock the hell out of people backstage? Trump said, prompting some cheers from the crowd.



Several miles away, Harris was holding her own get-out-the-vote event to energize supporters in the state. Recent public polling here, as in the other battlegrounds, shows the race tied. And just two days ago, the candidates held another set of dueling rallies in the state, which had the closest margins of the three Blue Wall states in 2020.

As with her rally in Madison on Wednesday, Harris event Friday was scheduled to feature a number of celebrity entertainers, in contrast with Trumps signature winding speeches addressed to his base.

On stage at Fiserv, Brian Schimming, the chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party, reminded the crowd of what all had changed since July. He noted the history the party made in that very same room, when they nominated Trump a third time during the summer convention.

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Just 48 hours after that, Schimming said, the Democratic Party dumped their four-year president and made Kamala Harris their nominee.

The audience erupted in booing.



Trump is trying to recreate the heavily working-class coalition here that fueled his win in 2016, the first time a Republican won the state since 1984.

Underscoring how close both sides see the race here, former Gov. Scott Walker asked people in the crowd to each contact at least 47 more voters in Wisconsin  a reference to Trump becoming the 47th president if he is elected  to urge them to vote for Trump.

Tell them this, Walker said. No matter what they think about the posts or the tweets or the comments, this is the truth. Life was better when Donald Trump was president.

Walker was one of two former Wisconsin governors the Trump campaign had stumping for him before the rally. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson, the states longest serving governor, who left office in 2001 after being elected four times, loudly declared that Republicans are not garbage people! and said that two of his former staffers had come up with the idea for Trump to ride in the truck on Wednesday in Green Bay.
Former President Donald Trump used apparent technical issues during a Friday rally to toy with the idea of attacking people working the event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Youve got to be kidding. Do you want to see me knock the hell out of people backstage? asked the GOP presidential nominee, who called it a pretty stupid situation after rallygoers chanted fix the mic during his speech.

He later added: I get so angry. Im up here seething. Im seething. Im working my ass off with this stupid mic. Im blowing out my left arm. Now Im going to blow out my right arm and Im blowing out my damn throat, too, because these stupid people.

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He went on to rant about retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, his former chief of staff, before continuing to fume over the apparent microphone issues.

Trump also complained about the low height of microphone stands at his events and showed how he would work around such issues, bobbing his head up and down in what many observerssuggested was an imitation of oral sex.

Trump's closing argument to Wisconsin: four straight minutes complaining about his microphone pic.twitter.com/SieYxQgFhY  Ben Wikler (@benwikler) November 2, 2024

Trumps Milwaukee remarks came just one day after he suggested at an Arizona event that former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) would be less of a radical war hawk if she experienced guns being trained on her face.

Cheney  who has endorsed Trumps 2024 rival, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris  condemned his imagined scenario, saying: This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death.

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Harris slammed Trumps remarks about Cheney as disqualifying, adding that anyone who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified to be president.

Trump has a history of using such rhetoric at his rallies. He suggested that a protester could get the hell knocked out of her at an event in California last month.

In 2016, he told supporters in Iowa to knock the crap out of hecklers. Trump separately told a crowd in Nevada that year that hed like to punch a protester in the face.

You know what they used to do to a guy like that in a place like this? he said. Theyd be carried out on a stretcher, folks.

Related...
In Donald Trump's first term as president, he wielded his broad constitutional authority over the military in unprecedented ways.

He mobilized thousands of National Guard troops to repel Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, D.C., suspended long-running military exercises with U.S. ally South Korea to placate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, and he banned transgender recruits from serving  issuing the policy in a tweet.

Given a second term, Trump says he would go much further.

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Now, just days before a historically tight election, former defense officials and lawmakers say the results could be apocalyptic.

Trump has warned he could deploy U.S. troops to combat the enemy within, saying that radical left lunatics could be handled by American soldiers.

In June, Trump amplified a social media post calling for former Rep. Liz Cheney  the Republican co-chair of the special House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters  to be put on trial for treason by a military tribunal. Treason is punishable by the death penalty.

Trump could, some current and former defense officials say, invoke the Insurrection Act and order U.S. troops to participate in the mass deportation of people living in the country without legal permission, arrest citizens involved in civil disobedience  and persecute his political opponents.

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He would use the military to go after these people," said Chuck Hagel, a Republican and former Defense Secretary under President Barack Obama. "Its pretty clear this is an authoritarian speaking.

Sen. Jack Reed, the Rhode Island Democrat who leads the Armed Services Committee, said: He will destroy the Department of Defense, frankly.

Not unlike a lot of Americans, Im very concerned about a Trump second term  not based on conjecture, Hagel said. But based on his own words.

A look back at history: Is ugly chapter in US history going to repeat? Actor George Takei worries it will.

Defense leaders raise concerns

This story is based on interviews with two former Defense secretaries who served in the Obama administration, Reed, and several current and former Defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Representatives for John Kelly, Trump's former Homeland Security secretary, and retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Trump, said both officials declined to comment, as did Christopher Miller, Trump's final acting Defense secretary.

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Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the highest-ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Mike Rogers, of Alabama, did not respond to requests for comment.

On the campaign trail, Trump has floated deploying U.S. forces domestically to aid in the mass deportations of immigrants who lack permanent legal status.

In an interview with TIME earlier this year, Trump said he would deploy the National Guard alongside local law enforcement to carry out the deportations. If I thought things were getting out of control, I would have no problem using the military, he said.

More: Trump's deportation plan: A cost to taxpayers, billions for big business

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Asked if he would deploy the military inside U.S. borders, he said, I don't think I'd have to do that. I think the National Guard would be able to do that. If they weren't able to, then Id use the military.

The Trump campaigns national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, amplified that pledge in a statement.

President Trump will restore his effective immigration policies, implement brand new crackdowns that will send shockwaves to all the worlds criminal smugglers, and marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history, she said.

Troops were used on U.S. soil during Rodney King aftermath in 1992

Federal law generally prevents the use of active-duty troops on U.S. soil for law enforcement. But the Insurrection Act of 1807 gives the president authority in emergencies. It was last invoked in 1992 during riots in Los Angeles after police officers were acquitted for the beating of Rodney King.

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If Trump did invoke the Insurrection Act to order the military to arrest and deport immigrants, troops would be put in a bind over whether those actions are legal, according to one current and one former senior Defense official who addressed the issue on condition of anonymity.

If military lawyers interpret the deportation orders - which could involve millions of people - as legal, troops would be mandated to carry them out.

Trump will likely appoint cabinet members fully invested in his agenda who , unlike in his first term, wont push back as former Defense Secretaries Jim Mattis and Mark Esper did.

He never really understood the role of the military and never understood that their primary oath is to the Constitution and not to the president, said Leon Panetta, who served as Defense Secretary and CIA director under Obama.

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What he clearly will do is try to appoint civilians in key positions at the Pentagon, which will give him at least some capability to try to influence what happens with the military, Panetta said.

If those civilian officials issue orders that run counter to their interpretations of the Constitution, such as mass deportation, Panetta expects widespread resignations among uniformed leaders.

Refusing to obey

The military leaders that I know will refuse to obey an order that they believe violates their oath to the Constitution, said Panetta, who still consults with officials at the Pentagon. So, it may well be that we wind up losing a lot of members of the top military leadership if he continues to order them to do things that violate their oath.

Trump flirted with invoking the Insurrection Act in 2020, when protests swept the nation in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. As protesters converged in Washington, D.C., units from the 82nd Airborne moved towards the outskirts of the nation's capital to await orders to move in, according to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.

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In June 2020, Trump considered deploying troops to American cities to quash the demonstrations.

"If a city or a state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them, he said.

Trump hasnt given up the idea. And now, he says he wouldn't wait for permission from state and local leaders.

In cities where theres been a complete breakdown of public safety, I will send in federal assets, including the National Guard, until law and order is restored, he said in an address to the Conservative Political Action Conference last year, adding: Were not supposed to do that.

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And at a rally in Davenport, Iowa, in March of last year, Trump said he would intervene to get crime out of our cities, like New York and Chicago, which he branded crime dens. Data shows violent crime in urban areas nationwide has dropped from a Pandemic-era peak.

He conceded that youre supposed to not be involved in that, you just have to be asked by the governor or the mayor to come in.

The next time," he said, "Im not waiting.

Following through on threats

Hagel believes Trump will follow through on threats, including a military trial for critics like Cheney and using troops to persecute the enemy within, a shifting category that has included Democratic lawmakers including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff, who led Trump's first impeachment trial in 2020.

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Its a threat to democracy, said Hagel, a former GOP senator from Nebraska. It really strikes at the heart of a nation thats ruled by a Constitution, thats a nation of laws, when you start using the military for your own personal agendas."

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung defended Trump's description of internal threats.

"President Trump is 100% correct," Cheung said in a statement. "Those who seek to undermine democracy by sowing chaos in our elections are a direct threat."

Asked if he agreed with Trumps former chief of staff, John Kelly, a retired four-star Marine general, that Trump fit the definition of a fascist, Reed demurred only slightly. Kelly, in an interview with the New York Times, also said that Trump had spoken admiringly of Hitlers generals.

Im very concerned that he would, regardless of the definition of fascist, act like one, Reed said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How defense leaders expect Trump to use military
GASTONIA, N.C. (AP)  Donald Trump will rally supporters in North Carolina every day until Tuesday's election, a flurry of late activity in the only swing state that he won in both his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.

Even as Trump looks to expand the electoral map and project strength with trips to New Mexico and Virginia, two Democratic states not widely viewed as competitive, he is putting considerable time into North Carolina, which last backed a Democrat for president in 2008.

The former president's path to the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the presidency gets significantly more complicated if he loses North Carolina. The fast-growing Southern state gave Trump his smallest margin of victory  1.3 percentage points  over Democrat Joe Biden four years ago.

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Trump campaigned in Gastonia, west of Charlotte, and Greensboro on Saturday, with a stop in Salem, Virginia, in between. He will be in the eastern city of Kinston on Sunday and in Raleigh on Monday. Those four rallies will bring his total events in North Carolina since Oct. 1 to nine. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has been in the state six times during the same period, most recently on Friday.

Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's Democratic rival, also was in North Carolina on Saturday for a concert and rally in Charlotte. Her campaign has not announced any other travel to the state before Election Day, though she's sending her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, to Greenville on Monday.

The extensive damage from Hurricane Helene across western North Carolina has created a dose of uncertainty about the state of play here. Flooding destroyed homes and displaced residents in several counties, including the liberal city of Asheville and the conservative rural areas surrounding it.

Trump's team has said it is confident about his chances in North Carolina. Democrats see Trump's attention on the state as a signal of optimism for Harris.

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The repeat appearances may signal Trumps campaign is in trouble, said Democratic state Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham. If Trump continues with his dangerous, violent rhetoric these last few days, it may backfire. A campaign of personal retribution does not win votes from people.

Trump adviser Jason Miller said Trump's late-campaign travels are not a signal of alarm.

I'm not worried about anything," Miller told reporters Friday. "We have a smart strategy that's going to get President Trump across 270, maybe even a couple of states that surprise you, that slide in there. But were going to follow our strategy. Our strategy comes from our data and our targeting.

As he does at most of his events in North Carolina, Trump said in Gastonia that his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, whom he installed as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, is from the state, and that Lara and Eric Trump named their daughter Carolina.

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Its an amazing place. Youve been through a lot, Trump said, alluding to the hurricane before repeating a debunked claim that the Federal Emergency Management Agency prioritized people living in the country illegally over hurricane victims. Your government has not helped you too much, I can tell you. Your government, FEMA, has let you down because they wanted to spend the money on illegal migrants instead.

Later in Greensboro, only about half of the seats were filled in a massive 22,000-seat arena when Trump started speaking after 9 p.m. Trump spoke at another arena thats part of the same complex just 11 days earlier, though Harris filled the larger venue when she spoke there recently.

Roughly half of North Carolina's 7.8 million registered voters had already voted as of Friday, buoyed by early in-person voting, which ended on Saturday afternoon.

North Carolina Republicans have been encouraged by early voter turnout among their supporters after national and state GOP leaders switched this year to a bank your vote strategy, rather than focusing on Election Day turnout.

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Entering the final days of the campaign, over 50,000 more GOP registered voters than Democrats had voted early or by absentee ballot, even though there are over 100,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans statewide, according to state elections data. It is unclear whether the Republicans' early vote surge will result in a higher overall turnout for Trump supporters.

Independent voters now make up the largest group of registered voters in North Carolina. Trump lost ground with independents between 2016 and 2020.

Harris took the stage in Charlotte after rocker Jon Bon Jovi warmed up the crowd, sticking closely to the speech she's been delivering in her final tour of the battleground states.

Harris supporter Gwen Garnett, 66, said Trump barnstorming North Carolina is just part of the process. It does not worry me at all. She gave Harris candidacy a spiritual dimension.

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This is an anointed time for her to be in this role, Garnett said. I just believe its Gods timing.

The states voters have shown a propensity to split their ticket over the years. That's why while Republicans have controlled the state legislature since 2011, Democrats have held the governors mansion for all but four years since 1993.

The GOP's hopes to break that hold on Tuesday appeared to dwindle in recent weeks after the partys nominee for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, received unwanted publicity from a CNN report that alleged he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography websites message board more than a decade ago.

While Robinson denied writing the messages and sued CNN for defamation last month, his campaign nearly imploded, raising fears that a large victory by Democrat Josh Stein, the state's attorney general, could harm GOP candidates in other races.

___

Robertson reported from Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina. Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Detroit and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  After Donald Trump claimed victory in the early-morning hours after election night in 2020, his campaign and supporters turned to the courts to make that claim a reality. The Trump campaign and surrogates began filing lawsuits the very same day, challenging the results on a variety of grounds well before the final votes were counted.

The legal process and tactics may provide insight into how Trump or his allies could launch similar efforts should he lose again this time.

Over the remainder of November and into December, Trump and his Republican allies filed dozens of lawsuits in key swing states that, if successful, would have given Trump the Electoral College votes needed to remain in the White House. Their efforts stretched from local county courts all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and were supported by solo practitioners and state attorneys general alike.

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Of the more than 60 lawsuits filed in the post-election period, Trump obtained a favorable ruling in only one case  the remainder were eventually either dismissed, settled or voluntarily withdrawn.

Approximately 12 hours after Trump declared victory in a 2 a.m. speech from the White House, the campaign filed lawsuits seeking to stop the counts in Michigan and Georgia. Later that day, a third lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania seeking to prevent voters from curing mail-in ballots that lacked proof of identification.

More lawsuits from the campaign and Republican allies swiftly followed in those states and other heated battlegrounds. In Arizona, voters and the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit alleging thousands of people in Maricopa County had their ballots disqualified because of ink-bleed caused by Sharpies. In Nevada, Trump electors sued alleging that faulty signature matching machines cast doubt on over 100,000 Clark County mail-in votes. In Wisconsin, Trump filed a lawsuit alleging widespread voter fraud and demanding a recount, which ultimately reaffirmed Joe Bidens victory in the state.

Over the following days and weeks, all these lawsuits ended in losses for Trump, with the exception of his initial lawsuit in Pennsylvania. That resulted in an order finding that the Pennsylvania secretary of state overstepped by extending the deadline for voters to provide missing proof of identification for mail-in ballots received after Election Day and enjoining counties from counting any ballots cured during that time. Even with that ruling, Biden still won Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes.

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On Nov. 19, 2020, nearly two weeks after all major media outlets had called the election for Biden, Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis held a press conference in Washington, D.C., to present evidence they claimed showed widespread fraud and election interference by foreign countries.

The number of voter fraud cases in Philadelphia could fill a library, Giuliani said.

What we are really dealing with here, and uncovering more by the day, is the massive influence of communist money through Venezuela, Cuba and likely China in the interference with our elections here in the United States, Powell said.

Powells claims at that press conference went too far even for Trump, who behind the scenes dismissed her as crazy and unhinged, according to filings in special counsel Jack Smiths criminal election interference case against Trump.

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The rate of new lawsuits slowed significantly in December, but Trump and his allies hadnt given up. One week into the month, Texas sought leave at the U.S. Supreme Court to file a lawsuit against Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin arguing that officials in those states had made illegal changes to election laws and again raising allegations of fraud. Seventeen Republican attorneys general would go on to add their support to Texas case. The justices ultimately declined to hear the case, stating that Texas had not shown a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections.

The Supreme Court, with the exception of justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, never showed any real appetite for taking up other election cases that rose to their level. The justices disposed of a handful of post-election challenges from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin with no further explanation in an order a month after Biden was inaugurated.

These cases provide us with an ideal opportunity to address just what authority nonlegislative officials have to set election rules, and to do so well before the next election cycle, Thomas wrote in a dissent. The refusal to do so is inexplicable.

The legal efforts to keep Trump in power had failed, but the ramifications of these challenges would continue to unfold for their participants over the following years. The federal indictment against Trump mentions these baseless lawsuits as proof of his corrupt intent to remain in power despite knowing he lost the election. Giuliani has been disbarred in New York and D.C., indicted in Georgia and Arizona and has been ordered to turn over his Manhattan apartment and other property to two Georgia election workers he defamed.

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Powell and Ellis were indicted in Georgia and have both pleaded guilty. Ellis was also indicted in Arizona and has since agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for her charges being dropped. And dozens of ethics complaints against local attorneys who filed election challenges are still pending nationwide.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT)  Cannice Tynch is using her brothers arrest to bring attention to what she and an attorney are saying is a larger issue.

On Monday, Cededric Leon Tinker was arrested on attempted murder charges and taken to the Tuscaloosa County Jail. Tinker is being held without bond according to Tuscaloosas Violent Crimes Unit.

What transpired with my brother is not my brother, that was him in a mental health crisis, Tynch said.

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Tynch explained that, prior to TPD Mental Health officers responding to a call made by the Tinker family on Monday, Tinker was already experiencing a manic episode.

My brother was lost all night, Tynch said. He walked from my moms house all the way to Hargrove road.

Their older brother found Tinker hours before his encounter with law enforcement, Tynch said.

At 10:45 a.m., officers arrived at the Tinker residence to help transport him to a mental health facility for an evaluation, VCU Captain Jack Kennedy said.

He chose to resist the officers physically, fight them [and] threaten them with harm, Kennedy said.

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The confrontation escalated.

As the responding MHOs tried to subdue Tinker  Tinker grabbed one of the officers gun and a shot was fired accidently. No one was hit by the bullet.

It is a miracle him and no one else was injured, Kennedy said. [The MHOs] did an incredible job of using less than lethal results to disarm an individual who had armed himself.

I just have to give all praise to God, because the story could have gone a much different way, Tynch said.

Tuscaloosa Attorney Scott Hickman has represented juvenile and adult offenders who need mental health treatment for 25 years, but such legal remedies can be a challenge.

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We have a real problem in the state with regards to mental health treatment for citizens, Hickman said.

Similarly to Tinker, there are thousands of people, with a mental illness, who have found themselves behind bars.

Findings published by The Alabama Psychiatric Physicians Association show that in 2019 there were 3,400 prisoners within the Alabama Department of Corrections with a diagnosed mental illness.

The Treatment Advocacy Center reported an estimated 7,800 Alabama prisoners had a severe mental illness in 2021. Schizophrenia, Bipolar I disorder and major depression with psychotic features are among the illnesses that fall under the SMI category, according to TAC.

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Our jails end up being a place where a lot of mentally ill people are held, Hickman said.

Tinker was diagnosed with a form of manic bipolar two years ago, his sister said. Medicine helped his mania, however, she says he was not taking his medicine as prescribed when the events on Monday unfolded.

Until they get stabilized on their medication, they dont know what theyre doing, Tynch said.

Despite Tinkers medical history  he broke the law.

Theres no reason to believe that in this situation  from anyone who has looked at it  that [Tinker] didnt know the difference from right and wrong, Kennedy said But all of this will be evaluated by the courts  that is not the role of law enforcement to do.

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While Tinker awaits the steps of the legal process to move forward, mental health care will be administered in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, his sister said.

They have a psychiatrist on staff, and to me that speaks volumes, because they are doing something, Tynch said.

Physicians assured Tynch her brother would be taken care of inside the jail. However, Hickman said thats not always the case for every inmate needing mental health intervention.

I would say its a struggle for [inmates] to receive the appropriate treatment and things that they need to get better because of the lack of resources and the way things are set up, Hickman said.

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As of 2023, there were 408 psychiatric inpatient beds for Alabamas incarcerated people according to TAC. Assuming that was the same amount of beds in 2021, there would be 19 inmates with SMI per psychiatric inpatient bed.

Bed availability is far more scarce for minors Hickman said.

There are nine beds available in this state for acute treatment for juveniles, Hickman said. We could fill those from this county, much less the whole state.

Tynch hopes her brothers story prevents someone else from having to receive mental treatment in a jail, as opposed to one in the general population.

I want to make sure that other families know that we are standing with them because change starts with one person  one situation, Tynch said.

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Tynch believes her brothers situation could have been different if mental health resources were more readily available.

What they saw, that was not him. Tynch said. He is loving, he is comical, never meets a stranger, loves to talk, loves to play cards, absolutely adores his kids. It did not have to be this way.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
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China will collaborate with other Global South countries at an upcoming conference to push for a new, ambitious climate financing goal from developed nations that can adequately support climate actions in developing countries.

Formerly known as the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP29 is slated to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov 11 to 22.

Xia Yingxian, director of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment's Department of Climate Change, made the remarks at a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office in Beijing on Friday.

Emphasizing the critical need to adhere to the objectives and principles outlined in the Convention and the Paris Agreement, Xia expressed China's aspirations for COP29 to send a resoundingly positive message that the global climate multilateral process is irreversible and that international cooperation is absolutely essential.

He highlighted that the UN assembly must enhance the efficacy of global endeavors in combating the climate crisis, offer sustained momentum for worldwide green, low-carbon transitions and innovations, and buttress climate resilience.

Xia especially underscored the pivotal importance of a specific climate financing target from developed countries for developing nations to achieve a successful COP29.

A key task for the UN climate gathering is to establish a New Collective Quantified Goal on climate financing, which represents a post-2025 climate financing commitment from developed economies to developing nations.

In 2009, developed countries pledged to deliver $100 billion per year in international climate funding by 2020. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change extended the target, requiring contributing nations to maintain the annual contribution through 2025. But the promise has not yet been fully materialized.

Xia said parties should adhere to the authorization of Article 9 of the Paris Agreement. This means that developed countries must fulfill their funding obligations and continue to lead in mobilizing funds, rather than renegotiate or rewrite relevant arrangements, he said.

Article 9 stipulates that "developed country parties shall provide financial resources to assist developing country parties with respect to both mitigation and adaptation in continuation of their existing obligations under the Convention".

The official stressed a specific target number from developed nations as "golden key" and "master switch" to ensure fruitful outcomes from COP29. He stated that the conference must ensure that the level of support from developed countries aligns with the level of action taken by developing countries.

Continuously aligning with fellow developing nations, China will press developed countries to meet their financial commitments and devise innovative and substantial financial assistance to adequately support climate initiatives in developing countries, he said.

"China is willing to work together with all parties to make efforts for the success of COP29," Xia said.
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:

In this Oct. 30, 2008, file photo, an Electric Time Company employee adjusts the color on a clock at the plant in Medfield, Mass., days before the switch to standard time. Credit: AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File

The good news: You will get a glorious extra hour of sleep. The bad: It'll be dark as a pocket by late afternoon for the next few months in the U.S.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time Sunday, which means you should set your clock back an hour before you go to bed. Standard time will last until March 9 when we will again "spring forward" with the return of daylight saving time.

That spring time change can be tougher on your body. Darker mornings and lighter evenings can knock your internal body clock out of whack, making it harder to fall asleep on time for weeks or longer. Studies have even found an uptick in heart attacks and strokes right after the March time change.

"Fall back" should be easier. But it still may take a while to adjust your sleep habits, not to mention the downsides of leaving work in the dark or trying to exercise while there's still enough light. Some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less sunlight of fall and winter, may struggle, too.

Some health groups, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said it's time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sunand human biology.

Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those that domostly in Europe and North Americathe date that clocks are changed varies.

Two statesArizona and Hawaiidon't change and stay on standard time.

Here's what to know about the twice yearly ritual.

How the body reacts to light

The brain has a master clock that is set by exposure to sunlight and darkness. This circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle that determines when we become sleepy and when we're more alert. The patterns change with age, one reason that early-to-rise youngsters evolve into hard-to-wake teens.

Morning light resets the rhythm. By evening, levels of a hormone called melatonin begin to surge, triggering drowsiness. Too much light in the eveningthat extra hour from daylight saving timedelays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.

And that circadian clock affects more than sleep, also influencing things like heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and metabolism.

Clockmaker Jim Gongoleski works on restoring the Eastman monument clock, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Medfield, Mass. Credit: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

How do time changes affect sleep?

Even an hour change on the clock can throw off sleep schedulesbecause even though the clocks change, work and school start times stay the same.

That's a problem because so many people are already sleep deprived. About 1 in 3 U.S. adults sleep less than the recommended seven-plus hours nightly, and more than half of U.S. teens don't get the recommended eight-plus hours on weeknights.

Sleep deprivation is linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity and numerous other problems.

How to prepare for the time change

Some people try to prepare for a time change jolt by changing their bed times little by little in the days before the change. There are ways to ease the adjustment, including getting more sunshine to help reset your circadian rhythm for healthful sleep.

Will the U.S. ever get rid of the time change?

Lawmakers occasionally propose getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act, proposes making daylight saving time permanent. Health experts say the lawmakers have it backwardstandard time should be made permanent.

Dairy farmer Aubrey Jarrell in Kentwood, Louisiana, isn't a fan of the time change. He said it interferes with his cows' strict milking routine and causes them stress "and stress on a dairy cow is not good." There's a dip in milk production until they adjust, he said.

"Keep the time the samewhatever it may bebut keep it the same," he said.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
ROLAND, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Roland Police Department says two people have been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into recent bomb threats made against Roland Public Schools.

Roland Public School officials end school early due to threat

Roland police say the two arrested are juveniles and students at Roland Schools.

According to a press release, the police department anticipates further arrests may follow as it continues its investigation.

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Police urge the community to report any relevant information.

UPDATE: Oklahoma Highway Patrol clears Roland Public Schools from lockdown

The release says police will not be releasing any names to protect the integrity of the investigation and the safety of all involved.

The police department says it will release further updates as the situation 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 KNWA FOX24.
KYIV (Reuters) -Russia unleashed its latest overnight drone strike on Ukraine, targeting the capital Kyiv in an attack that lasted into midday and wounded at least one person, city officials said on Saturday.

Debris from downed drones struck six city districts, wounding a police officer, damaging residential buildings and starting fires, according to city military administrator Serhiy Popko.

"Another night. Another air-raid alert. Another drone attack. The armed forces of the Russian Federation attacked Kyiv again according to their old and familiar tactics," Popko wrote on social media.

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All the drones aimed at Kyiv had been shot down, he said.

Ukrainian energy provider DTEK said a high-voltage line powering the capital and two distribution networks in the Kyiv region had been damaged.

DTEK said in a statement that electricity had mostly been restored and that repairs were underway.

Reuters correspondents reported hearing explosions in and around the city during an air-raid alert that lasted more than five hours. One drone was seen flying low over the city amid the din of automatic-weapons fire.

Ukraine's military reported on Saturday that air defences had destroyed 39 out of 71 Russian drones that had been launched, and that another 21 had been "locationally lost".

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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said strikes were also reported in the central Poltava and northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

"This year, we have faced the threat of 'Shahed' drones almost every night  sometimes in the morning, and even during the day," he wrote on social media, referring to the Iranian-made attack drones used by Russia.

Russian forces have carried out regular airstrikes on Ukrainian towns and cities behind the front lines of the war which began when Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022.

Kyiv's military said on Friday that Moscow's forces had launched more than 2,000 drones at civilian and military targets across Ukraine in October alone.

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Russia has denied aiming at civilians and said power facilities are legitimate targets when they are part of Ukrainian military infrastructure.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Additional reporting by Gleb Garanich and Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
UPDATE @ 9:10 P.M.

Oklahoma City police tell News 4 that two adult male victims were shot, one in the arm and one in the leg. Both victims are said to be in stable condition.

Authorities say two suspects have been placed into custody.

ORIGINAL STORY

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma City police responded to a shooting in southwest Oklahoma City Friday night that left two people injured.

According to authorities, the shooting happened near SW 44th Street and S Douglas Avenue.

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Police say the two victims drove to a local hospital with gunshot wounds after the shooting happened.

There is no information about the suspect at this time.

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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Scientists arent fishing on this one.

New research has given a plausible scientific basis for two of Jesus Christs most iconic and biblically recorded miracles  along with a timeline for one of them  that occurred in the Sea of Galilee, known today as Israels Lake Kinneret.

The study shows a precedent of mass fish-killing  due to a lack of oxygen in the water  potentially allowing the historic figure Christ to conduct two separate acts: his Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes and later the Miraculous Catch of Fish.

Two of Jesus Christs most significant miracles may have scientific backing, a report suggests. Print Collector/Getty Images

Current understanding of the physical limnology [ecosystem] of Lake Kinneret could provide a plausible scientific basis to those miracles, study authors wrote.

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Both Gospel-based events  on the northwestern shore area of the sea around Tabgha  involved the holy figure creating a surplus of fish for his disciples when they had run out of food.

The later incident  depicted in the Gospel of John after Christs resurrection  saw the followers nets full of 153 large fish, but even with so many the net was not torn.

Fish behavior like similar to when Christ was alive is still reported in the Sea of Galilee, a new study shows. AFP via Getty Images

A strange natural phenomenon in the Sea of Galilee may have bolstered evidence for two of Christs miracles. AFP via Getty Images

The team suggests heavy winds churned lower levels of the water, leading to an anoxic  or oxygen-deprived  state that eventually suffocated the fish, making them rise to the surface, remarkably easy to net  and literally dead in the water.

The Sea of Galilee is a stratified lake. The upper layer is warm and oxygenated, while the lower layer is cold and lacks oxygen, researcher Yael Amitai told The Times of Israel.

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Comparable modern fish kill events have happened since the 1990s  and as recently as last year in the seas Tzalmon estuary  per the research, which used 3D modeling to scan the lake.

The natural but still rare phenomenon may explain the appearance of large numbers of easy-to-collect fish close to the shore described in the biblical narratives, the report added.

Similar happenings were observed in Lake Erie and North Carolinas Neuse River Estuary as well.

Regarding the tale of Loaves and Fishes, researchers believe this revelation on fish kills offers a more precise timing for the event, in which Christ converted five bread loaves and two fish into enough food for about 5,000 followers, according to the Gospel of Matthew.

Other mass fish kills have been observed in the Sea of Galilee in modern times. Seen is one event in the waters Tzalmon estuary. Firas Talhami/Water Authority

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That miracle  the only one recorded in all four canonized Gospels  most likely occurred during the late spring or early summer because rapid temperature changes as the water deepens at that time would bring more dead fish to the surface.

The report comes after unrelated research that the Shroud of Turin was likely not used to wrap Christs mortal corpse.
Two Southern California brothers were sentenced to prison for defrauding the U.S. Postal Service out of millions of dollars.

Anwer Fareed Alam, 36, and Yousofzay Fahim Alam, 34, both from Riverside County, carried out the yearslong scheme through an insurance fraud operation, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

From October 2016 to May 2019, the brothers purchased Priority Mail packages and postages that included $100 in insurance for lost or damaged parcel contents.

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Anwer wrapped either empty packages or packages that contained items of little to no value before mailing them to fake recipients at fake addresses, prosecutors said.

Anwers brother, Yousofzay, then submitted fraudulent insurance claims on USPS website claiming their packages were damaged or lost. Court documents stated he lied and said the packages contained expensive or valuable items.

To bolster their claims, fake invoices and photographs of items that were not actually inside the packages were also sent to USPS.

The brothers used aliases and fake business names to hide the number of false insurance claims they submitted throughout the years.

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USPS accepted the fake claims and agreed to cover each package loss up to $100 plus the cost of shipping. Checks were sent by mail to multiple addresses in Temecula that were provided by the brothers which included their homes, businesses and around 15 different post office boxes at two different post offices.

Through this scheme, the brothers stole around $2,135,739 from the USPS, federal officials said.

On Feb. 16, both men pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. On Nov. 1, they were sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to jointly pay $2,135,739 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohios race for U.S. Senate is expensive, pivotal and razor-thin.

The race is between incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican businessman Bernie Moreno. This is the most expensive non-presidential race in the country right now, with nearly half-a-billion dollars spent on TV ads. Its drawing so much attention because whoever wins will play a key role in determining whether Republicans or Democrats hold control of the U.S. Senate.

Videos show Senate candidate Bernie Moreno using audio jammer at campaign events

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On Friday, Moreno rallied alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in central Ohio.

I think this is one of, if not the most important, Senate races in the country, DeSantis said.

Were up in the polls right now, I dont even want to say the number because its a lot, Moreno said.

Moreno did not take questions from the media on Friday, but talked to an enthused crowd about what he says is at stake.

Sherrod Brown is just too liberal for Ohio. Thats the whole race, Moreno said. This is an election that were going to talk to our kids and grandkids about in the future. This is the election where we decide who are we really as a country.

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Moreno also brought up remarks that President Joe Biden made about supporters of former President Donald Trump.

The other day, did you watch Joe Biden? He actually finally said the quiet part out loud. Right? That he thinks that most of us are garbage, Moreno said. But actually, if you think about it, it makes sense because they kind of treat us like garbage.

Brown also responded to a question about the remarks from Biden.

I dont know what that means, Brown said. What presidents do, its not my concern, what they do in campaigns. And youre going to hear all kinds of rhetoric from presidents and from their supporters. And my job is to continue to represent Ohio.

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Brown has also been campaigning across the state and said he feels a good momentum coming from his side.

I just see lots of excitement, Brown said. Ive been very impressed by the size of the crowds and by the enthusiasm.

Brown said he stands for Ohioans but that the same cant be said about his opponent.

Hes clearly looking out for himself and his rich friends, Brown said. Its about whose side are you on? And Ive been on the side of workers. Theres no question about that. In terms of wages and pensions and fighting against bad trade agreements, standing up to presidents of both parties.

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What the jury did not hear in the murder trial of former Columbus police officer Adam Coy

Most of Morenos crowd on Friday had already cast their ballot, but voters like Lad Dilgard said events like this are still critical.

I think its a good reminder to [attendees] to say, Hey make sure your grandmothers voted, make sure your college-aged son or daughter has voted, things like that, Dilgard said. Control of the Senate matters and its on the line right now.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A woman in California is recovering in the hospital after a stranger and two deputies saved her from her burning home.

One of her heroes, Nas Mohamed, was working as an Uber Eats driver when he rushed to her rescue at her home in Vista, a city in San Diego County. Early morning drives for Mohamed are normally peaceful, but in the early hours on Friday, he smelled smoke and followed his nose to the fire.

Soon as I arrived there, I started knocking on the door, knocking on the side, Mohamed told NBC 7. And then I looked behind me. I saw a man, and he told me, I live here, I live here. I said, Is there anyone inside of the home? He said, Yeah, my wifes inside and the two cats. 

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Nas said he heard the mans wife yelling inside the mobile home.

She was, like, literally next to the fire, Mohamed said. The fire was surrounding her. And I went inside. I started looking for her, and I kept saying, Talk to me! Talk to me! That was the worst part, because I was breathing, you know, while Im talking to her."

Mohamed said he eventually found her and tried to pull her to safety. But the women let go of his hands after she yelled out that her cats were still trapped.

"And that was a nightmare because I wasnt able to find the window because of the smoke and my phone light wasnt enough, he said.

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First responders arrived just in time to find them and help Mohamed lift her out the window and even save one of her cats.





Without protective gear, Mohamed suffered injuries of his own. Watching video on Friday afternoon of a sheriffs deputy pulling him to safety and then him gently placing him on the ground, gasping for air, he said the only feeling that surpassed his pain was his relief at hearing the womans voice.

The first thing, I start hearing her talking, and I felt like, Shes OK," Mohamed said. At the same time, you know, my eyes burn from the smoke, I cant breathe. I cant breathe. I felt that it was a relief, you know, more than a pain. I know, like, Im going to be fine soon.

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Mohamed said the woman expressed her gratitude and wanted to know his name.

Shes like, What is your name? What is your name?" Mohamed said. Three, four times, you know, and I cant breathe. I cant talk. Every time I talk, I started having some coughing and black things coming out of my mouth. So finally I told her my name, and she hold my hand, and shes like, You saved me. You saved my life. I told her, God saved us. 

Mohamed has no medical background that trained him for that moment.

As a man, you hear a woman  an old woman  screaming, burning, you know? Mohamed said. I cant stay outside.

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First responders airlifted the woman to the hospital but have yet to provide an update on her condition. Mohamed spent the night in the hospital, too, recovering from burns and smoke inhalation.

Looking back on the morning he had, he said he was grateful to have been in the right place at the right time to save a life.

You dont need to hurt yourself or sacrifice yourself if you think its a losing game, but go for it if youre going to help someone, a person, someone with blood like you, just go for it, Mohamed said. Why not break a window or break a door to help people?

Mohamed, who is an interior painter and makes Uber Eats deliveries on the side, spoke with NBC 7 on Friday after being awake for 25 hours. When asked his plans for the rest of the day, he said he would nap, then take the rest of the day off.

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San Diego Sheriffs Lt. Matt Carpenter said the fires cause is still under investigation but he suspects the woman may have forgotten food on the stove. He said that with the holidays and plenty of cooking coming up, its especially important to stay alert.

The sheriffs department released a statement commending Mohamed as well as their deputies roles in the rescue.

I am incredibly proud of each deputy who responded to the call, Carpenter is quoted as saying in the statement. "I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to the courageous community member who risked his safety to help a stranger. His bravery and quick response played an essential role in saving a life.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ukrainian troops are holding back one of Russia's "most powerful" offensives since the start of Moscow's full-scale war, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 2.

Throughout 2024, Ukraine has faced a challenging situation in its defense of the front line, particularly in Donetsk Oblast, where Russia has consistently concentrated its offensive potential.

After a meeting with a delegation of the Czech Armed Forces, Syrskyi described the situation on the battlefield as difficult.

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"Active hostilities that continue in certain areas require constant renewal of the resources of Ukrainian units," he said.

Since the beginning of the day, 126 clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces have taken place along the front line, Ukraine's General Staff said in its latest update on Nov. 2.

Russia continues to press forward on its offensives across the eastern front, primarily on the Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Pokrovsk axes in Donetsk Oblast, where outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian soldiers are forced to withdraw little by little.

In recent weeks, the Ukrainian military warned that Russia is escalating its operations in southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

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In Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian forces liberated and "cleared out" in mid-October the village of Kruhliakivka, which Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) described as important for the defense of Kupiansk.

In the meantime, Russian troops are reportedly attempting to establish crossings near the Oskil River to advance toward the city of Kupiansk.

The reports came as Russia is planning to involve North Korean troops to aid its war effort, with more than 7,000 soldiers deployed near the Ukrainian border.

In a recent interview, President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted Ukraine's partners "zero" response to deployment of North Korean troops for the war in Ukraine. He said that if Kyiv had permission to use Western long-range weapons on Russian territory, it could preemptively target "every camp" where North Korean troops are gathering.

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Read also: Ukraine facing grim situation in Donetsk Oblast, as Russia claims capture of Selydove

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine is intensifying an information and psychological operation targeted at North Korean soldiers.

Source: Voice of America with reference to an unnamed senior Ukrainian official

Details: The Ukrainian military intelligence project I Want to Live published a video address in Korean on YouTube social media platforms and posted messages in Korean on Telegram.

The messages urge North Korean soldiers to surrender, emphasising that they should not "die senselessly on foreign soil". They are promised food, shelter and medical services.

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Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defence Council, noted that "additional videos featuring North Koreans will be published in the future".

Background:

US officials recently reported that around 8,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast. They may soon be involved in active combat.

House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner believes that the United States and NATO allies should be prepared to "attack directly North Korean troops" if they become involved in combat operations in Ukraine on Russia's side.

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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

When people check in for their annual mammogram these days, some may face a surprising question: In addition to reviewing the mammogram for breast cancer, would the patient like the radiologist to examine the images for heart disease risk?

That's what happened recently when a woman visited Washington Radiology, a practice with more than a dozen locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

For $119, she was told, the practice would use artificial intelligence software to analyze her mammogram for calcification in the arteries of her breasts, which could indicate she's at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Washington Radiology is one of a number of practices nationwide offering this type of screening.

Although breast X-rays are typically used to detect and diagnose breast cancer, the pictures also indicate whether the arteries in the breast have calcifications, which show up as parallel white lines on the film.

Calcifications, which are considered "incidental" findings unrelated to breast cancer, may be associated with someone's heart disease risk. They've been visible on images for decades, and some radiologists have routinely noted them in their reports. But the information hasn't typically been passed on to patients.

Now some practices make the results available to patientssometimes for a fee.

Washington Radiology didn't respond to interview requests, but in a video on its website describing the practice's "Mammo+Heart" AI screening, Islamiat Ego-Osuala, a breast imaging radiologist there, said, "If the past few decades has taught us anything about the field of radiology, it is that the sky's the limit. The possibilities are endless."

Some imaging experts question that rosy assessment as it relates to screening for breast arterial calcification to gauge heart disease risk.

"What we're seeing on the mammogram is calcification in the breast artery, but that's not the same as the calcification in the coronary artery," said Greg Sorensen, chief science officer at RadNet, which has nearly 400 imaging centers in eight states. RadNet doesn't offer breast arterial calcification screening and has no plans to. "It doesn't feel like it's delivering value today," Sorensen said.

(RadNet does offer patients an AI analysis of their mammograms to improve breast cancer detection. KFF Health News reported on that earlier this year.)

Coronary artery calcification is recognized as a strong marker of heart disease risk. But while studies have shown an association between breast arterial calcification and the risk of cardiovascular disease, questions remain.

For one thing, even women who don't have breast arterial calcification might still be at risk of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. In a study of postmenopausal women, 26% had breast arterial calcification, and over a 6-year study period it was associated with a 23% increased risk of heart disease of any kind and a 51% increase in risk of heart attack or stroke. However, most cardiovascular events happened to women who did not have breast arterial calcification.

"I wouldn't feel comfortable telling people they have a higher or lower risk of heart disease based on their breast arterial calcification," said Sadiya Khan, a preventive cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago who co-authored a medical journal editorial commenting on the study. "I think this is an exciting area, but we need to move cautiously."

It's understandable that women's health clinicians would be eager to embrace the idea of using the annual breast cancer screening that millions of women get every year to screen for heart disease risk as well.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States. It was responsible for more than 300,000or roughly one in fivewomen's deaths in 2021.

Many women don't recognize their heart disease risk or the many factors that increase it, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and being overweight.

Online calculators can help people assess their risk of cardiovascular disease. For those whose 10-year risk is 7.5% or higher, clinicians may recommend lifestyle changes and/or prescribe a statin to lower blood cholesterol.

Laura Heacock, a radiologist who specializes in breast imaging at NYU Langone Health in New York City, pointed out that patients can already get much of the information resulting from breast arterial calcification scoring from their physicians and use of those risk calculators. The key is that breast arterial calcification screening provides another chance to talk about heart disease risk.

One study found that 57% of women who were informed that they had breast arterial calcification after a mammogram reported they had discussed their results with their primary care physician or a cardiologist.

Heacock said she'd like to see more studies showing that reporting breast arterial calcification leads to changes in patient care and fewer heart attacks and strokes.

Every woman who visits the Lynn Women's Health and Wellness Institute in Boca Raton, Florida, for a mammogram is screened for breast arterial calcification. It's been a standard service since 2020, said Heather Johnson, a preventive cardiologist at the center. If calcification is found, the woman is referred to a cardiologist or other health care practitioner at the center to discuss the findings and get more information about heart disease risk.

Johnson acknowledged that more studies are needed to understand the connection between calcification in breast arteries and heart disease. Still, she said, the screening "allows a communication pathway."

Patients at the Boca Raton institute aren't charged for the screening.

2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Thales Belgium manufacturer agreed with the Ukrainian defense industry on a joint production of missiles to counter drones, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin said on Nov. 2.

"This cooperation will strengthen the Ukrainian defense industry and the protection of critical infrastructure from enemy drones," Smetanin said.

In recent months, Russia has ramped up drone strikes, while reducing its use of more powerful and harder-to-intercept cruise and ballistic missiles.

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More than 2,000 strike drones were launched against Ukraine during October, the General Staff reported on Nov. 1, which breaks the previous record set in September by nearly 700.

The two companies signed a memorandum of cooperation. The work between Kyiv and Brussels is expected to expand to technology transfer and production of missile components in the future, the minister added.

Thales is reportedly the only company worldwide developing, manufacturing and supplying a complete rocket system, including fire control systems, weapons and ammunition. It is specialized in the field of air-to-ground 70mm rocket systems.

Read also: Ukraine facing one of Russias most powerful offensives since start of all-out war, Syrskyi says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that the defence forces have been holding back one of Russian troops' most powerful offensives since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Source: Syrskyi on Telegram following a meeting with a delegation of the Czech Armed Forces led by General Staff Chief Karel Rehka

Quote from Syrskyi: "I informed my Czech counterparts about the situation on the frontline, which continues to be difficult. Active hostilities that continue in certain areas require a constant supply of resources for Ukrainian units. Currently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding back one of the most powerful Russian offensives since the beginning of the full-scale invasion."

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Details: Syrskyi noted that Czechia is a staunch ally of Ukraine and has initiated a number of critical initiatives, including the coalition to develop artillery, armoured vehicles, aviation and integrated air and missile defence capabilities. He also expressed hope for the continued practical implementation of existing initiatives.

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has once again urged Western partners to remove restrictions on strikes deep into Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons. He also called for the involvement of air defence units from neighbouring countries to intercept Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine.

Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sybiha pointed out that Russian forces had attacked Ukraine with 1,331 UAVs in September, i.e. an average of 44 drones per day.

Russia ramps up terror.



71 Shahed drones on Kyiv and other cities today.



1331 in September. ~44/day.



1908 in October. ~62/day.



Let us strike their bases and storages in Russia. Allow partners to intercept them in our sky.



Lift all restrictions on protecting life from terror.  Andrii Sybiha  (@andrii_sybiha) November 2, 2024

Russia launched a total of 1,908 UAVs in October, raising the average daily usage to 62 drones.

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"Russia ramps up terror... Let us strike their bases and storages in Russia. Allow partners to intercept them in our sky. Lift all restrictions on protecting life from terror," Sybiha emphasised.

Background:

Last month, US President Joe Biden hinted at the possibility of lifting the relevant restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons, saying that his administration was "working on this issue".

At the same time, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin insisted that Ukraine could defeat Russia even without such a capability.

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(Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Ukraine's allies to stop "watching" and take action to tackle the presence of North Korean troops in Russia before they start confronting his country in combat.

Zelenskiy, in a video posted on Telegram, said North Korea had made progress in its military capability, missile deployment and weapons production and "now unfortunately they will learn modern warfare".

"The first thousands of soldiers from North Korea are near the Ukrainian border. Ukrainians will be forced to defend themselves against them," he said. "And the world will watch again."

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Zelenskiy said Ukraine had pinpointed every location where North Korean soldiers were posted in Russia. But Kyiv's Western allies, he said, had not supplied the long-range weapons needed to strike them.

"But instead of such necessary long-range capability, America watches, Britain watches, Germany watches...," he said.

"Everyone in the world who truly wants the Russian war against Ukraine not to expand....must not just watch. They must act. Words about the inadmissibility of escalation and expansion of war must be matched with actions."

The slick three-minute video interspersed his comments with images of North Korea's soldiers and missile launches as well as images of the war and the United Nations.

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The video follows an interview with South Korea's KBS television on Thursday in which Zelenskiy blasted what he described as his allies' "zero" response to Russia's deployment of North Korean troops.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday there were 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia, including as many as 8,000 in the southern Kursk region where Ukrainian forces launched an incursion in August.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Friday that his country would back Russia until it achieved victory in the Ukraine war.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleskandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged its allies to stop watching and take steps before North Korean troops deployed in Russia reach the battlefield, and the country's army chief warned that his troops are facing one of the most powerful offensives by Moscow since the all-out war started more than two years ago.

Zelenskyy raised the prospect of a preemptive Ukrainian strike on camps where the North Korean troops are being trained and said Kyiv knows their location. But he said Ukraine cant do it without permission from allies to use Western-made long-range weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia.

But instead  America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians as well, Zelenskyy said in a post late Friday on the Telegram messaging app.

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The Biden administration said Thursday that some 8,000 North Korean soldiers are now in Russias Kursk region near Ukraines border and are preparing to help the Kremlin fight against Ukrainian troops in the coming days.

On Saturday, Ukraine's military intelligence said that more than 7,000 North Koreans equipped with Russian gear and weapons had been transported to areas near Ukraine. The agency, known by its acronym GUR, said that North Korean troops were being trained at five locations in Russia's Far East. It did not specify its source of information.

Western leaders have described the North Korean troop deployment as a significant escalation that could also jolt relations in the Indo-Pacific region, and open the door to technology transfers from Moscow to Pyongyang that could advance the threat posed by North Koreas nuclear weapons and missile program.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart in Moscow on Friday.

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Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly said they need permission to use Western weapons to strike arms depots, airfields and military bases far from the border to motivate Russia to seek peace. In response, U.S. defense officials have argued that the missiles are limited in number, and that Ukraine is already using its own long-range drones to hit targets farther into Russia.

Moscow has also consistently signaled that it would view any such strikes as a major escalation. President Vladimir Putin warned on Sept. 12 that Russia would be at war with the U.S. and NATO states if they approve them.

Ukraine facing one of most powerful Russian offensives since war began

Zelenskyy's call came shortly before Ukraine's top commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskiy, said on Saturday that his troops are struggling to stem one of the most powerful offensives by Russia since its all-out invasion of its southern neighbor in February 2022.

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Writing on Telegram following a call with a top Czech military official, Syrskyi hinted that Ukrainian units are taking heavy losses in the fighting, which he said require constant renewal of resources.

While Syrskyi did not specify where the heavy fighting took place, Russia has for months been conducting a ferocious campaign along the eastern front in Ukraine, gradually compelling Kyiv to surrender ground. But Moscow has struggled to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk border region following an incursion almost three months ago.

Dozens injured in Russian strikes on Ukraine

Russian missiles hit Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv overnight into Saturday, killing a policeman and injuring dozens, local Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported. According to Syniehubov and Ukraines national police force, one missile slammed into a spot where a large group of police were gathered, killing a 40-year-old serviceman and injuring 36 more.

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In Ukraines southern Kherson province, Russian shelling on Saturday killed a 40-year-old woman and wounded three others, including two children, local Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Another Kherson resident was wounded in a drone attack later that day, according to local Ukrainian authorities.

Five more civilians, including two children, were injured after Russia struck Ukraines central Dnipropetrovsk region, Gov. Serhii Lysak said.

In Kyiv, air raid sirens wailed for over five hours early Saturday morning as Russian drones rained on the capital, sparking a fire in an office block downtown and injuring two people, according to the citys military administration.

Overall, Russian forces overnight attacked Ukraine with over 70 Iranian-made Shahed drones, the Ukrainian air force reported Saturday. It said most were shot down or sent off-course using GPS jamming. Falling debris damaged power networks and residential buildings in multiple provinces and injured an elderly woman near Kyiv, officials said.

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Ukraines Foreign Ministry hinted that Russias drone campaign was slowing down, saying Moscow launched just over half as many in October as the month before.

Meanwhile, Russias defense ministry reported that its forces overnight shot down 24 Ukrainian drones over four Russian regions and occupied Crimea. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

In a separate development, four civilians were injured following a Ukrainian strike in Russias southern Kursk region, its Gov. Aleksei Smirnov said, without specifying what weapon was used. Moscow is still trying to dislodge Ukrainian forces from the province, months after they staged a bold assault that rattled the Kremlin and constituted the largest attack on Russia since World War II.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
One journalist was killed every four days over the past two years, according to a new report by UNESCO released on Saturday, coinciding with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

Of the 162 killings of journalists in 2022 and 2023 verified by the Paris-based scientific and cultural organization, more than half took place in a country affected by armed conflict. Most media professionals died in their home country, according to the report.

Those who died in countries not affected by a conflict were killed because of their work on organized crime or corruption or while reporting on protests, according to the biannual report, which analyses the state of journalists' safety worldwide.

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The report said the 162 verified killings of journalists in 2022-23 represented "a 38% increase from the previous biennium, in which UNESCO recorded 117 cases of killings. This biennium also represents the highest number of killings since the 2016-2017 biennium."

The country with the highest number of killings in 2022 was Mexico with 19 cases, while in 2023 the highest number of journalist deaths, 24, was recorded in the Palestinian territories, UNESCO said.

According to the report, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Arab countries, are the areas where the highest number of journalists were killed.

The report also found that, in the majority of cases, no one was held accountable for these killings. UNESCO said the global impunity rate so far in 2024 has been 85%, a slight decrease compared to 89% in 2018 and to 95% in 2012.

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"These crimes must not and cannot go unpunished. Yet this is still the case for almost 85% of them," UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement.

"On this International Day, let us remember the importance of [journalists'] security, independence and protection in carrying out their mission, which is so crucial to peace and social progress," Azoulay said.
A microquasar

Scientists have long thought that the highest-energy gamma rays in space are forged in the intense furnaces of very active supermassive black holes, far, far away. But a new study has traced some of these high-energy photons to an object much closer to us.

V4641 Sagittarii is a system about 20,000 light-years from Earth, in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius. There, a black hole with the mass of about six Suns is slurping material off a giant star of about three solar masses  and producing intense radiation like a cosmic particle accelerator.

Astronomers have now detected photons from V4641 Sagittarii carrying energies of up to a staggering 200 teraelectronvolts (TeV). For reference, that's 200 trillion times more energy than visible light, and among the highest-energy photons you'll find out in space.

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Gamma rays around this energy level are known to zip around the cosmos, but scientists thought they mostly originated in quasars  bright galactic cores, in which supermassive black holes release huge amounts of energy as they messily chow down on in-falling gas.

V4641 Sagittarii is what's known as a microquasar, and as the name suggests, it kind of functions like a mini version of a regular quasar. The black hole is smaller, the matter source is smaller, and the radiation they emit is smaller. Or at least, that's what conventional thinking told us.

"Photons detected from microquasars have usually much lower energies than those from quasars," says Sabrina Casanova, of the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN).

"Usually, we are talking about values of the order of tens of gigaelectronvolts. Meanwhile, we have observed something quite incredible in the data recorded by the detectors of the [High-Altitude Water Cherenkov] observatory: photons coming from a microquasar lying in our galaxy, and yet carrying energies tens of thousands of times higher than typical."

An illustration of the microquasar V4641 Sagittarii above the HAWC observatory. ( HAWC Collaboration

Located on the side of the extinct Sierra Negra volcano in Mexico, the HAWC gamma-ray observatory is designed to pick up particularly high-energy particles streaming in from space. To do so, it's made up of 300 big steel tanks, full of purified water.

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The idea is, when these high-energy particles enter a tank, they set off a cascade of other particles that travel through the water faster than light does. This creates a flash of light called Cherenkov radiation, which is essentially the electromagnetic version of a sonic boom.

Sensitive detectors lining the inside of the tanks pick up these flashes, and allow scientists to work backwards to figure out what type of charged particle set it off, and which direction it came from.

HAWC can see 15 percent of the sky at any given time, and will scan two-thirds of the whole sky every 24 hours, building up a kind of cosmic map. It was in one of these maps that V4641 Sagittarii appeared as an unexpected bright spot of gamma rays.

"While reviewing the sky maps in search of my next project, I noticed a region five degrees away from our galactic plane with bright emissions that had not been visible in previous datasets," says physicist Xiaojie Wang.

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"No gamma-ray source has been identified nor analyzed in this region  so I seized the opportunity and led the analysis."

On closer inspection, V4641 Sagittarii was found to be the source of these ultra high-energy gamma rays. Other microquasars, like SS 433, have previously been detected throwing off photons at energies of over 25 TeV, but V4641 Sagittarii is next-level: it was producing radiation on par with regular quasars, a feat previously thought impossible.

The new discovery gives astronomers a better understanding of not just cosmic radiation, but quasars themselves. The physics around those huge objects plays out in slow motion, over millions of years  but microquasars do similar processes on timescales of days. They're like natural simulators.

The research was published in the journal Nature.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  United Regional announced on Facebook that it has instituted a new policy to comply with an Executive Order issued by Governor Greg Abbott on August 8, 2024.

The policy went into effect on November 1 and stems from Gov. Abbotts order requiring the Texas Department of Health and Human Services to collect data on the number of undocumented immigrants using hospitals and emergency care in Texas.

30-year-old Rider trophy gifted to missing mans family

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Due to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris open border policies, Texas has had to foot the bill for medical costs for individuals illegally in the state, said Gov. Abbott.

The new rules were implemented to learn how much money the state spends on providing medical care to undocumented immigrants so the Texas government could seek reimbursement from the federal government.

Gov. Abbott added that Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants.

To comply with the new order, United Regional will begin asking patients if they are citizens of, or lawfully present in, the United States. The hospital emphasized that patients do not have to answer this question, and not doing so will not affect the care they receive.

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Gov. Abbott said the policy was implemented because of President Biden and Vice President Harris open border policies.

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Like millions of others who lived behind the Iron Curtain, I grew up in the Soviet Union viewing America as a beacon of hope. The difference between free and unfree was readily apparent to me as a young player on the international chess scene, and I began to use my platform to protest repressive practices back home. When I retired from professional chess in 2005, I channeled all of my energy into preventing Russia from sliding back into the hands of the KGB, the Soviet Unions secret police and most sinister spy agency. Unfortunately, those efforts were unsuccessful: Vladimir Putin consolidated power and rebuilt an authoritarian state in the image of the Soviet regime under which I was born. Facing imminent arrest, I was forced into exile and have lived in New York since 2013. I never thought I would need to warn Americans about the dangers of dictatorship.

Donald Trump has been breaking down the guardrails of American democracy for nearly a decade now. Generations to come will reap the consequences. His presidencyand his three campaigns for the officehave demonstrated that the institutions so many of us took for granted are, in large part, based on custom and tradition, not written law. As Ronald Reagan famously said, freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. The political system we hold dear is deeply fragile, and depends on our constant commitment to uphold it.

Trump hasnt even won the election yetand his victory is far from assuredbut we are already seeing signs of preemptive obedience that should look familiar to many refugees from repressive regimes like me. Both the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times canceled endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris earlier this month at the behest of their owners, a de facto silencing of two major national newspapers. It should come as no surprise that business owners are careful to avoid upsetting someone who has frequently called for his detractors to be locked up, or in the case of Liz Cheney, have guns trained on her face.

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Given my experience, I am not willing to stand idly by and watch the beacon of hope that I am grateful to now call home slide into the authoritarianism of my childhood. This election is a choice between a candidate who has vowed to fight for Americas institutions, and one who is deeply dangerousa candidate who I believe will bring total mayhem and destruction to this country.

I want to speak, now, more specifically about Kamala Harris.

I have never been shy about criticizing administrations, regardless of party. I harshly condemned Barack Obamas foreign policyfrom his fecklessness in Syria to his dangerous Iran dealas well as George W. Bushs naivete when he claimed to have seen Putins soul after peering into his eyes. My criticism of both Trump and Joe Biden has been far from quiet. Only 28 percent of Americans today believe the country is moving in the right direction, and I understand their frustrations. While the situation at home certainly raises concerns, the geopolitical landscape is disastrous; the worst I have seen in my living memory. Americas prestige abroad is disintegrating. No wonder, then, that Trumps hate-filled rhetoric is finding purchase.

But the role of the president and the vice president is not the same. With the notable exception of Dick Cheney (and perhaps Mike Pence when it counted the most), no vice president in recent memory played any meaningful role in setting policy. They do not hold the same responsibility as their boss for the direction the country takes. Biden essentially functioned as Barack Obamas messenger, because his main task as vice president for eight years was to carry out and effectively communicate Obamas visionnot his own. The same has been true of Kamala Harris for the last four years; her job has been to further Bidens agenda, not her own. Consequently, J.D. Vances constant refrainas vice president for nearly four years, Harris owns Bidens policiesdoesnt make sense. It wasnt Harris job to put her ideas into practice. And while she initially hewed closer to the administrations stance, she has since stepped out from her bosss shadow, making clear in interviews and on the campaign trail that she will not just follow in Bidens footsteps. The policy proposals she is offering, whether you agree with them or not, are her own.

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In an area particularly close to my heartforeign policyHarris agenda would represent an improvement from the status quo. Biden has spent many of his 40 years in government during a time when the threat of nuclear war was high, and that experience has undoubtedly informed his approach to foreign policy as president. Harris, on the other hand, doesnt carry the same Cold War baggage, and has said that she would not allow Ukraine to succumb to Russian aggression. I dont believe her administration would continue the Biden administrations policies of betrayal when it comes to Ukraineand Trump and Vance have obviously made no secret of their plans to essentially give in to Putins desire to swallow Ukraine.

Because Harris hasnt been on the foreign policy scene for decades, my prediction is that she will hew closely to public opinion, which is currently oriented around a consensus that America should stand up to dictators. And on the domestic front, as a new president interested in being reelectedand likely constrained by a divided Congress and conservative Supreme Court majorityHarris would be unlikely to make waves and institute radical progressive policies.

Were Harris up against a Republican other than Trump, disagreements over her limited price controls, tax policy, or stance on social issues might constitute strong arguments against electing her. In this race, however, these arguments are moot. If you disagree with her policies, start challenging her the day after the election. I certainly will.

This election is bigger than policy, as the long list of prominent Republicans who are willing to stand up and support Harris demonstrates. Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, Liz; former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger; former Sen. Jeff Flake; several members of Trumps own administration, including some of the most senior. Many still align with Republicans on policy issuessome, in the case of Reps. Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, even voted for Trump in 2020. Unlike sycophantic outcasts like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who made the reverse journey from the Democratic Party to endorse Trump, these are true, dyed-in-the-wool Republicans.

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Legally, we have a choice in this election, but morally, the answer is clear: If we want to preserve Americas institutions and its standing on the world stage, we must elect Kamala Harris on November 5.

Ultimately, I am cautiously optimistic about a Harris presidency. She has the opportunity to normalize a deeply fractured political climate, to bring together the center-left and center-right under a banner of creating real opportunity for all Americans. I look forward to challenging her when we disagree, which I imagine will be often. But if her opponent is elected, the very institutions and traditions that guarantee our right to freely disagree would be under threat. Anyone who has lived in the Soviet Union or in Putins Russia will tell you what its like to fear publicly condemning the government. In Trump, I hear echoes of Soviet leaders past and Russian leaders present. Kamala Harris election is the only way to preserve democracy, at home and abroad. She may not be the best choice. But on November 5, she is the only one.

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.
MCBEE, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Before the ink dried on our Oct. 21 report detailing ethics charges filed against McBees mayor and vice mayor, someone sent us an audio recording of a town council meeting.

The meeting is likely long forgotten about. It happened nearly four years ago.

During that Feb. 2, 2021, council meeting, then-mayor John Campolong and council members Bea Bolton, Kemp McLeod, and Charlie Sutton considered passing a new ordinance, mandating the city operate its own water system since the town was indebted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on a loan to repair its water system.

Was a joke. SC reporter arrested after taping sign to front of town hall

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The Town of McBee, having its own water system for the provision of water to its customers, and under a loan agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, requires its customers of the syatem to use the water system provided by the town until 2040. Any provision of water for the Town of McBee or its customers must be billed through the Town of McBee. Any future provision to sale [sic], assign or contract out the Town of McBee water system shall only be allowed upon approval through a referendum where the citizens of the Town of McBee provide their approval. McBee Proposed Ordinance 17.202.5, Jan. 5, 2021

McBee town council met on Feb. 2, 2021, to pass this ordinance to protect the towns water system from being sold, reassigned, or contracted out to a third party because of a federal government loan the town used to reinstate its own water system. Town Attorney Martin Driggers, Jr. claimed the vote to pass the ordinance failed after the discussion to pass the law was not completed. (Source: Gregory Rogers/McBee resident)

We received the audio recording from a source after McBee Mayor Glenn Odom and town attorney Martin Driggers, Jr., a Hartsville attorney, claimed the 2021 utility ordinance was never passed.

And Martin concurs with me, there was no proper motion, no proper second and no discussion. Never a vote was taken on it, Mayor Odom told Queen City News Chief Investigative Reporter Jody Barr in an Oct. 18 interview.

UNREAL DEAL: State ethics investigators looking into SC mayors first vote on first day in office

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The ordinance had never been enacted, Odom said.

However, the 2021 audio recording of the meeting held over a telephone conference appears to show a second, then a vote to pass the ordinance. Heres the transcript from that section of the recording:

MAYOR JOHN CAMPOLONG: I think were ready to make a motion to approve the addition at the second hearing of Chapter 17 Article II, and I make that motion, Im looking for a second.

COUNCILWOMAN BEA BOLTON: I thought we did that already.

COUNCILMAN KEMP MCLEOD: Ill second. (inaudible)

MAYOR JOHN CAMPOLONG: Well, we didnt have Kemp aboard (inaudible)

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COUNCILMAN KEMP MCLEOD: Ill second it.

MAYOR JOHN CAMPOLONG: Maam?

COUNCILWOMAN BEA BOLTON: It was passed. I mean, why do we have to do it again?

MAYOR JOHN CAMPOLONG: Maam? I dont think we passed it, Bea. (inaudible)

COUNCILMAN CHARLIE SUTTON: First reading on it.

MAYOR JOHN CAMPOLONG: Yeah, we just did the reading. So, anyway, we will, um, so right now then we do have aI know that Glenn wants to be left out of it; do we have approval of Kemp and Bea and Charlie and myself?

COUNCILWOMAN BEA BOLTON: Yep.

MAYOR JOHN CAMPOLONG: Anyone opposed? If not, we have all those that are voting in favor of it.

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The meeting minutes from that meeting do not contain any record of McLeods two attempts to second the motion.

On Feb. 11, 2023, 24 hours after new Mayor Glenn Odom took office, the council met in emergency session to vote on an agenda item that would hand the towns water system over to Alligator Rural Water and Sewer, a private water company Mayor Odom earns $10,000 a month from for consulting work.

SC mayor, councilman hit with ethics charges in Unreal Deal city water investigation

Councilman James Linton is also employed by the water company.

McBee Mayor Glenn Odom and Vice Mayor James Linton both have financial ties to Alligator Rural Water and Sewer Company. Both face ethics charges from the S.C. State Ethics Commission after the commission accused the pair of participating in a discussion and a vote related to Alligator Water in Feb. 2023. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr)

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The Feb. 11, 2023, emergency meeting had a single agenda item, an item that would do exactly what the 2021 ordinance banned the council from doing without allowing the public to decide the matter. The meeting minutes from the emergency meeting show Odom and Linton, along with Councilman Robbie Liles, who rents his home from Mayor Odom, all cast votes to hire Alligator Water to temporarily operate and manage the towns water system.

That vote would later bring ethics charges against Odom and Linton. The State Ethics Commission charged each politician with participating in the discussion of the Feb. 11, 2023, matter involving Alligator Water and then voting on the matter. The charge alleges both hold an economic interest in the matter, a violation of the S.C. Ethics Act.

After obtaining the audio recording of the 2021 meeting, we investigated whether Odom and Driggers claims about the procedural errors truly killed the proposed utility ordinance.

The lack of a second is immaterial, Professional Registered Parliamentarian Tim Wynn told Barr. Wynn is the president of Perfect Rules, Inc., and is the current Head Parliamentarian for the United States Conference of Mayors, according to the National Association of Counties website.

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We asked Wynn for his opinion about the scenario of that 2021 McBee town council vote. Wynn is considered an expert in Roberts Rules of Order, a rulebook of standards for holding legislative meetings and passing agenda items.

McBee town ordinance 2.205 shows all proceedings of Council shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order.

This excerpt comes from the Town of McBees administrative ordinance showing Roberts Rules of Order is how the town conducts its governmental meetings. (Source: Town of McBee)

If the assembly (town council) has already started consideration of it, if a member has started to speak and debate on it, and especially if theyre, you know, well into considering this motion, its too late for a second. Meaning that its too late to give us any indication if the assembly wants to allow it to be considered, because the Assembly has already expressed that they want it to be allowed to be considered by not objecting to its consideration without the second, Wynn told QCN.

Once youve moved past that part and started to consider it, the lack of a second is immaterial, Wynn said. The lack of a second in no way interferes with the validity of the consideration or the adoption of the motion.

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Former electric co-op CEO holds town hall in Lancaster County, kicks reporter out

We asked town attorney Martin Driggers, Jr. for an interview about Wynns analysis. Driggers did not return a call for him at his law office and ignored our email messages seeking clarification on the legal advice he provided to Mayor Odom and QCN.

Mayor Odom was also copied on the communications and never responded to our request for the towns attorney to clarify the points raised in our emails to Driggers.

The towns administrative ordinance also shows Driggers is the towns lone parliamentarian, which indicates Driggers is expected to attend council meetings.

READ: Complete email chain between Jody Barr and Martin S. Driggers, Jr.:

BARR-AND-DRIGGERS-EMAIL-CHAINDownload

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We emailed Driggers the section of the rulebook Wynn said that governs how to second a motion. We also asked Driggers why he didnt intervene during the 2021 council meeting if he believed the discussion over the water ordinance was incomplete.

The audio recording shows Driggers was present at the meeting. Driggers never responded to our questions.

Still, Wynn said if the council proceeded to discuss and vote on the 2021 ordinance, it would make no difference whether the motion was ever seconded.

Parliamentary law is not going to hem up their efforts by saying, well, you forgot a parliamentary step along the way, so that invalidates your decision. The ultimate and important factor in an assembly deciding to adopt a motion is the will of the assembly. If theyve decided by their vote that they wish to adopt a certain action, then its perfectly valid, regardless of whether or not some minor procedural step along the way was properly taken up or not, Wynn told QCN.

McBee town attorney Martin S. Driggers, Jr. argues before the S.C. Supreme Court in this oral argument hearing from the 2019 case titled, Mark Mosley v. Christine Alston (DaVita). Driggers has worked as McBees attorney for more than a decade.

Water Systems, Inc., submitted a $180,000 bid but could not come anywhere close to Alligator Waters $80,000 bid. McBee council voted 3-1 to hire Alligator Water, with Councilman Robbie Liles and Margie Hammond voting to hire Alligator Water.

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In November 2023, McBee town council again voted to hire Alligator Water to take over the towns water system. The town received bids for a permanent operator from Alligator Water and Water Systems, Inc., a company based in Lexington, S.C.

Councilman Charlie Sutton voted against hiring Alligator Water. Council minutes show Mayor Odom did not show up to the meeting and unlike the February 2023 meeting, Councilman James Linton filed an official recusal and did not participate in the vote.

For a second time in November 2023, McBee town council voted to materially change the management of the towns water system, despite the 2021 ordinance that would require public approval of any changes. Tim Wynn said there are avenues for legislative bodies to undo cases like this.

McBee Mayor Glenn Odom presides over a McBee Town Council meeting in June 2023 as the State Ethics Commission worked on a citizen complaint filed against Odom following a vote he took on his first day in office. Odom was charged with two ethics violations in Jan. 2024 and faces a hearing before the commission in 2025. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr)

McBee Mayor Pro Tem James Linton was charged with two ethics violations in January 2025 and faces a hearing before the S.C. Ethics Commission in April 2025. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr)

In situations where a body has taken action beyond its authority, oftentimes in those cases, the action taken itself is null and void just by nature, because the body didnt have the authority to do it, Wynn told Barr, Thats something that the body should itself address in a meeting. If the body finds that they have adopted a motion, and Im not saying they have or havent in this particular case, but just in general, if an organization has adopted a motion that conflicts with a bylaw that is still in force, theres a continuing breach there.

A member of a governing body could raise the issue when a continuing breach occurs and the body could vote to determine the adopted ordinance is null and void, according to Wynn.

If its something that has a continuing nature and is currently in violation with the bylaws, Wynn told QCN, So your choice then is to either amend the bylaws to allow you to do what it is that you want to do, or do that action in a way that conforms with the bylaws. And when I say bylaws, I mean whatever governing document you know, governs that organization.

Gregory Rogers, who filed the ethics complaints against Mayor Odom and Vice Mayor James Linton, said thats something he plans to tackle if he wins a seat on McBee town council in next weeks election.

McBee Councilman Robbie Liles (left), Mayor Glenn Odom (center), and Councilman James Linton (right) all cast votes during the Feb. 11, 2023, council meeting to hire Alligator Rural Water and Sewer Company to take over McBees water system. Odom and Linton have financial ties to the water company, both men have acknowledged publicly. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr)

Im stepping forward because I want to see things done right. We have ordinances on the book that should be across the board applied to everyone. Glenn and James are not special, Rogers told Barr.

Rogers said part of his motivation to run was to provide the public an inside look at city spending records and to bring what he believes will be transparency to the council, With the current election, if things go Glenn Odoms way, he can sew it up. His council will be all Glenn Odom agents. They can just do pretty much what they want, unilaterally across the board. You have one councilman, Charlie Sutton, thats not affiliated or tied to Glenn, and they have one open seat. So, I want to get in to be a voice to help Charlie, again for transparency, Rogers said.

McBee has a strong council, weak mayor system. So, with the right people in place, we could be a check and balance for the town, Rogers said.

Queen City News

Investigations

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Just days before the US presidential election, intelligence agencies in Washington are warning of targeted disinformation from Russia.

The agencies blamed Russia for a video that "falsely depicted individuals claiming to be from Haiti and voting illegally in multiple counties in Georgia."

Another fabricated video falsely accused "an individual associated with the Democratic presidential ticket of taking a bribe from a US entertainer."

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The agencies did not elaborate in their statement. But US media said the video that began circulating late this week suggested Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband received a $500,000 bribe from the performer Sean "Diddy" Combs.

In the joint statement, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency blamed "Russian influence actors" for the videos.

These instances were part of a "broader effort" by Moscow "to raise unfounded questions about the integrity of the US election and stoke divisions among Americans," the agencies said.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who is responsible for elections in the swing state, said the video about Georgia "is false and is an example of targeted disinformation we've seen in this and other elections. It is likely foreign interference attempting to sow discord and chaos on the eve of the 2024 presidential election."

Raffensperger called on X owner Elon Musk and the leaders of other social media platforms to remove the video. The clip was originally posted by an anonymous account that had previously been reported to have spread disinformation of suspected Russian origin. The video has since been deleted.
Los Angeles County health officials are warning residents to take precautions following the unusual transmission of the mosquito-borne disease dengue in the region.

What's happening?

In late September, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced it had identified the fourth case of locally acquired dengue in the area this year. Most previously reported cases of dengue in L.A. County occurred after the infected person traveled to a country where its spread is more common.

"We are seeing the local transmission of dengue, which is unprecedented in Los Angeles County," said L.A. County health officer Muntu Davis, MD, MPH.

Why is this important?

Spread by an infected Aedes mosquito, dengue can lead to health complications ranging from uncomfortable to severe, including nausea, rash, and organ damage, though most people are able to recover on their own within a week, according to the release.

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However, large numbers of infections have the potential to overwhelm healthcare systems. As global temperatures rise, mosquitoes like the Aedes are able to reproduce more quickly and thrive in regions previously too cold for their extended survival  increasing the likelihood of disease transmission.

"Dengue cases are on the rise around the world," Los Angeles County Department of Public Health told USA Today in an email, citing the warmer climate as one of the factors.

The Americas were one such region impacted by record dengue cases in 2024. In October, the Pan American Health Organization reported a 394% increase in suspected dengue cases compared to the last five years after its members grappled with surging infection numbers early in the year. Europe has also reported an increase in local dengue transmission.

What can be done about dengue?

Mitigation measures can help you protect yourself and your community from dengue. In L.A. County's public health release, Davis recommended using insect repellent, eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed, and installing screens on doors and windows to prevent entry.

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"[These] are simple steps everyone can take to significantly reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for both you and your neighbors," Davis explained.

Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites?

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind

Meanwhile, bringing the Earth's climate back into balance by reducing pollution from dirty fuels can limit warming-related disease risks in the long term. Small actions that make a positive difference include switching to LED light bulbs or taking public transportation when possible.

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.
In 1939, a 15-year-old Jewish Berliner, Peter Frohlich, and his family fled their homeland, fearing the virulent antisemitism taking over their country. After a brief stay in Cuba, he safely arrived in the United States in 1941. Upon becoming an American citizen and changing his name, Peter Gay dedicated his life to understanding the violent aggression that forced him to leave his home.

In his magnum opus, The Cultivation of Hatred, Gay writes about how seemingly innocuous Victorian cultural activities, such as the German tradition of mensur (competitive fencing), normalize violence by crafting "alibis" that divert "free-floating pugilistic impulses into socially profitable energies."

One such alibi is the "Convenient Other." As "an immensely serviceable alibi for aggression," the Convenient Other grants "permission to think angry thoughts and commit hostile acts." These seemingly harmless alibis, Gay argues, systematized the bellicosity that inspired World War I and World War II. He continues:

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The animus was always the same: whether nation, province, or city, whether religion, class, or culturethe more one loved one's own, the more one was entitled to hate the Other.

As it did in 20th century Europe, this lethal combination of diametrically opposed emotionslove of us and hatred of themfuels today's culture war.

As I wrote recently, opportunistic politicians often abuse plural pronouns for political purposes. But while some politicians abuse first-person plural pronouns (we and us) to insincerely build a collective identity, others use their third-person counterparts (they and them) to divide and conquer.

Few political trends leverage this love of us and hatred of them more than populism.

The Populist They/Them

Populism is, at best, a loosely defined termmore impulsive than principled. Its practitioners find solace in both the political left (Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) and right (Donald Trump). For better or worse, populism is on the rise internationally, achieving significant electoral success in dozens of countries.

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Populism thrives in an us-versus-them dichotomy. The us is typically "the people"the disempowered everyday folk with whom the populist seeks solidarity.

However, the antecedent to them isn't always clearand this ambiguity is a feature, not a bug.

A vague third person is a convenient strawman for the deceitful. In The Secret Life of Pronouns, James Pennebaker shares findings from a study comparing the court transcripts of convicted felons and those later exonerated of their crimes. The exonerated used more first-person singular pronouns (I and me). Meanwhile, the "truly guilty," Pennebaker notes, used third-person pronouns (they, them, he, she, etc.) more than the exonerated, "trying to shift the blame away from themselves onto others."

The imprecision of the populist they/them enables its flexibility, making it malleable and applicable to an ever-changing array of targets. Researchers from Germany's Friedrich Schiller University Jena closely examined pronoun usage in populist rhetoric. According to their study, populists favor impersonal pronouns, such as they, to avoid specificity, absolve responsibility, and reduce complexity.

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Traditionally, this reductionist worldview rails against a wealthy and powerful "elite"greedy corporations exploiting the poor on the left and a globalist cabal undermining cultural homogeneity and national sovereignty on the right.

However, populism also sets its sights on other groupsand few are better at hitting these moving targets than Donald Trump.

"They Will Never Make America Great Again"

On June 16, 2015, Trump iconicly descended his tower's escalators to announce his presidential ambitions. For nearly an hour, then-candidate Trump did what he does best: scapegoat. With weaponized nostalgia, he lamented how we were once a great nation, but now the "American Dream is dead."

Who killed the American Dream? As always, Trump had a few suspects.

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According to Trump, foreigners, especially those from Mexico, were a likely culprit (emphasis added):

When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.

"They will never make America great again," Trump concluded.

During this 45-minute address, Trump used the word they 158 times. Comparatively, Trump's next most-used pronouns were you (73 times), it (57), and I (55).

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Trump's repeated tirades against immigrants infamously reappeared during the most recent debate. Citing the now-debunked story of Haitian immigrants eating household pets in Ohio, Trump shouted:

They're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets.

Trump's audacious claim about pet-eating Haitians was demonstrably false, but that didn't stop him from fanning the flames of moral outrage toward other marginalized groups.

Trump's campaign has dumped millions into attack ads with not-so-subtle transphobia. One ad proclaimed, "Kamala's agenda is they/them, not you"an obvious wag of his moralistic finger at the transgender and nonbinary communities.

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In the closing days of the election, Trump has leaned into this divisive rhetoric by setting his crosshairs on another amorphous target: the "deep state." "These are bad people," the former president said when referring to his political opponents. "We have a lot of bad peopleThey are, to me, the enemy from within."

Trump's ambiguous they/them can aptly scapegoat and dehumanize multiple targetsthe "deep state," the LGBTQ community, immigrants, etc. Despite this ambiguity, Trump sends a clear message: They are who's destroying our country, and we must stop them at all costs. Trump's pronoun usage is, at best, an electioneering tactic and, at worst, a virulent dog whistle.

But Trump didn't invent this us-versus-them mentality. (Though, if given the opportunity, he'd probably take credit for it.) Instead, populist pronouns tap into humanity's worst tribalistic impulses and nativist instincts.

They are Us

If populism is so dangerous, why is it so appealing? This question doesn't have an easy answer. However, research suggests that human beings come about the us-versus-them dichotomy quite naturally.

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The us-versus-them worldview once served a vital evolutionary purpose. Skepticism of the unknown is a natural defense mechanism. If premodern humans continuously paused and pondered whether that thing over there giving them the stink eye was a predator, humanity would have been extinct long ago.

Our body's natural chemistry also compels this binary thinking. Oxytocinalso known as the "love hormone"is a natural human hormone that simulates uterine contractions during childbirth, enhancing our feelings of human bonding. However, oxytocin also intensifies our suspicions of others. This hormonal cocktail of antithetical emotionsagain, the love for us and hatred of themliterally courses through our veins.

Moreover, the human brain rewards this contradictory behavior, too. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University studied the brain activity of college students competing against other students from rival schools. They found that students demonstrating aggression against their rivals exhibited significant activity in their nucleus accumbens and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the brain's core reward circuitry. This research suggests that this neural pathwaywhich anticipates, seeks, and evaluates incentivesplays a "significant role in motivating aggression" toward out-group members.

Though social animals, humans are tragically hardwired for the anti-social binaries propelling today's toxic political culture.

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So, before we condemn a convenient whipping boy (neither a Haitian nor Trump), a little bit of self-reflection will go a long way. Understanding the driving forces behind the us-versus-them paradoxbe it manipulative pronouns or human biologystarts with looking in a mirror to find the true enemy within.

Though Adolph Hitler drove his family to flee Germany, Peter Gay also recognized that an aggressive populaceor, in the words of Daniel Goldhagen, "Hitler's willing executioners"enabled and empowered the tyrant. "Hysteria defied self-control," Gay writes. "Obsessional neurosis mimicked it."

In this us-versus-them world, we have met the enemyand they are us.

The post Us-Versus-Them: The Pronouns of Populism appeared first on Reason.com.
Here are some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of Oct. 27, supported by your subscriptions.

Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com:

A before shot of the North Kingstown property that HGTV dubbed "Hansel and Gretel's Frightening Fixer-Upper."

NORTH KINGSTOWN  A house on Shermantown Road was  at least briefly  the "Scariest House in America," according to HGTV.

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The house at 780 Shermantown Road, owned by Jeremy King, was entered into a Halloween-themed contest on a spinoff of HGTV's "Ugliest House in America," hosted by actor and comedian Retta.

As a prize for winning the contest, which was decided in the summer, King received a $150,000 home makeover by designer Alison Victoria. Read the full story to find out how the house won, and see what it looks like now after its makeover.

Television: North Kingstown cottage named HGTV's 'Scariest House in America.' What winning means.

A sign painted on Narragansetts seawall warns of sharp objects in the sand.

Visitors to Narragansett Town Beach may have noticed a sign warning of sharp objects in the sand, only to look around and see no such hazard in the vicinity.

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That led to a What & Why RI reader asking why "Warning Sharp Objects in Sand" warnings are painted at various spots on the wall along the beach.

The sign is neither a prank nor a forgotten admonition. The sharp objects are real  they just might not be visible, depending on the time of day you visit.

Read on for the explanation, and the connection to one of Rhode Island's greatest natural disasters.

What and Why RI: Why are there sharp objects warnings on the Narragansett Town Beach seawall? What we found

Attorney General Peter Neronha speaks about his concluded ILO investigation at a Wednesday news conference.

Gov. Dan McKee's long-running "ILO" saga came to an end Tuesday with a pointed rebuke from Attorney General Peter Neronha but no criminal charges filed in connection with the aborted $5.2 million education consulting contract awarded to a McKee ally during the governor's first months in office.

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The takeaway: There is "little doubt that Governor McKee and members of his senior staff, in their official capacities, steered the award" to the ILO group. But in the report prepared by his office, Neronha writes that there is "insufficient evidence" supporting the criminal prosecution of McKee or anyone else.

"I think I was a little surprised [by] some of the ham-handedness here," Neronha said in a news conference on Wednesday. "I don't think it's difficult to spot where, at least the perception of what you're doing ... would cause the public to lose confidence in you."

McKee was combative in a WPRO radio interview on Thursday morning, in which he offered his first public explanation of why he refused to be interviewed by the Rhode Island State Police about his role in awarding the contract, and his belief that the investigation was part of an effort by the attorney general "to take me out of office in '26."

Politics: AG's office releases results of ILO investigation. What does it mean for McKee?

Freyja Phothitay runs past the voting booths to catch up with her parents, who were voting in Rhode Island's Sept. 10 primary at the Monsignor Gadoury School polling place in Woonsocket.

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In many ways, the presidential election of 2024 looks a lot like the one in 2016:

Donald Trump is the Republican nominee. The Democratic nominee has executive branch experience and is seeking to be the nation's first female commander in chief.

But the electorate that will decide who gets Rhode Island's four Electoral College votes shows some marked differences over the one that chose Hillary Clinton over Trump in her bid for the White House.

The Providence Journal examined Rhode Island's list of registered voters as well as U.S. Census records to draw a sketch of who's casting ballots that will be counted in the Ocean State on Election Day. Read the full story to see what's changed.

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Political Scene: RI's demographics are changing. Here's what it means for the election.

The Independent Man remains on display in the main entrance lobby of the Rhode Island State House while repairs to its marble base continue.

There's still time to take your photo with the Independent Man statue  in fact more time than most people expected.

The 125-year-old statue was taken down from its place atop the State House dome last December for refurbishment and for workers to replace the cracked marble plinth the statue stands on with a new, structurally-sound platform.

Last April, when the statue returned to the State House with a fresh layer of gold leaf (technically electroplating), Gov. Dan McKee's administration expected to hoist it back onto the top of the dome by "fall."

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Now, with the leaves falling and Election Day approaching, there is still no statue return date set. But read on for the latest estimate of when he'll ascend once again to his rightful home, and how Hurricane Helene has figured into the delay.

Local news: Why is the Independent Man still on the ground? Blame Hurricane Helene.

To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI has 'Scariest House in America'; sharp objects on beach; ILO report
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Election Day is fast approaching, and hundreds of thousands of Utahns have voted early, both by mail and in person. But how do you know what happens after youve dropped your ballot off in a ballot box before Nov. 5?

If youre curious to know the status of your ballot, you can track your mail-in or provisional ballot on Vote.Utah.gov  however, if you vote in person or use a voting machine at a polling location, information about your ballot will not be shown on the website.

Who is Lucifer Justin Case Everylove? Meet the presidential candidate who is only on Utahs ballots

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The website asks for your personal information: First and last name, birthdate, address, city, and zip code. Once you provide those details, you will be able to see your name, the type of ballot (for example, Mail Ballot), your ballots status (such as whether it has been delivered to election officials), and your mailing address.

After you have submitted your ballot it may take the county clerk a few days to process your ballot and update your status, the tracking website says. If there is any issue with your ballot, your county clerk will reach out to you.

According to recent figures from Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson, a total of 683,346 ballots had been processed by the morning of Nov. 1  of those ballots, 659,627 were cast by mail and 23,719 were in person.

That means 38.1% of registered voters across the Beehive State had voted by Nov. 1, according to Henderson. In 2020, 54.1% of Utahns had voted by the time Election Day was four days out.

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If you havent registered to vote yet, dont worry  you can register up until Election Day.

Who is running for office in Utah for the Nov. 5, 2024 general election?

How to register to vote in Utah

While the deadline has passed to register online and by mail, you can still register to vote in person  even on Election Day.

If registering to vote in person, the deadline is Nov. 5, 2024. If you wish to register in person, you can do so at an early voting location (before Election Day) or a voting location on Election Day.

If you wish to register on Nov. 5, you must still present two valid forms of identification.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
We learned new information on Friday as Election IQ, the company hired to print the ballots, missed the judges deadline to hand deliver all the missing ballots to the Erie County Board of Elections.

JET 24/FOX 66 reporter Briaunna Malone spoke with Erie County Clerk Karen Chillcott who said all of the ballots were not received, and that they are still missing 7,450 from Election IQ.

Judges ruling puts pressure on Board of Elections, vendor to deliver mail-in ballots

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Voters lined up outside of the election office at the Erie County Courthouse to cancel their mail-in ballots and receive a replacement ballot.

A court hearing took place Friday where Erie County Judge David Ridge sided with the county board of elections and demanded that Election IQ have the missing ballots at the election office by 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

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That lawsuit pitted the Pennsylvania Democratic and Republican parties against the Erie County Board of Elections.

Chillcott said the Ohio-based vendor failed to uphold that court order.

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WATCH: Former President Bill Clinton speaks in Erie, Pennsylvania

We want to do everything possible to get those ballots in the right hands so whether its extending our hours, canceling and replacing the ballots, whatever we can do. At this point, we have collaboration from both parties and the state agencies, so we have a lot of support for whatever we can do to help assist with that, she explained.

Chillcott told us the election office could not afford to be short on ballots.

She went on to say an order was placed with another printer earlier on Friday when the remaining ballots from Election IQ had still not been received.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  As the fall season shifts into high gear, a local school community came together for a harvest fest Friday night!

The annual event at Veritas Prep Charter School brought together students and staff, and included a trunk or treat. Those who attended also got the chance to check out the haunted hallway, the spooky area inside the school that was put together by all the students.

Founder and Executive Director for Veritas Prep Charter Rachel Romano told 22New,s We have been doing this every year for our own students and this year since our middle school students have become high school students they really want to put it on for our younger students as a way to put on some say and fun Halloween festivities.

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Veritas Prep Charter will be holding a networking night on November 6th and anyone is welcome to attend It will take place at their high school location on Coronado Drive in Springfield.

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.
Brooke Richardson walked out of an early voting site in Rocky Mount on Wednesday evening excited at the prospect of making history.

The chance to help elect the first female president was emotional, she said, but she wasnt confident the rest of her county will vote the same way.

Richardson, 36, is a resident of Nash County, the only North Carolina county to elect the winning president three times in a row: Barack Obama in 2012, Donald Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. Richardson and the many Nash County residents, politicians and political volunteers who spoke to The Charlotte Observer have no idea which way the county will swing this year.

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We have some rural areas that I think are going to be more Republican, and then I think more inner-city areas are going to be more Democratic, she said. But I really think its like 50-50. I couldnt pick one if I had to.

Nash is the exact shade of purple political scientists are thinking about when they describe a swing state, according to Jarrod Kelly, a politics professor at North Carolina Wesleyan University in Nash County. Both Trump and Biden won the county by around 100 votes in 2016 and 2020, respectively. The county is largely rural, Republican communities with most Democratic voting power situated in just one city, Rocky Mount, Kelly said.

Its just extraordinarily close. When it comes down to a couple hundred, there could be a car accident and traffic near a polling place and that might be enough to swing the election, he said. Any one little thing could kind of move it the other direction.

The skin of his teeth

Biden won Nash County in 2020 by the skin of his teeth, Mary Helen Pelt, the vice chair of the Nash County Republican Party said at a Trump rally held Wednesday in Rocky Mount, which straddles Nash and Edgecombe counties. This year, she expects Trumps policies on immigration and the economy to resonate with voters in the county.

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The environment and the energy right now is absolutely special, Pelt said. Everything has skyrocketed. We need a change, and well get that with Trump.

Former president Donald Trump holds a rally in Rocky Mount, NC on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

Pelt expects unaffiliated voters to play a large role in the way the election goes. And there are 22,766 of them in Nash County, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Nash County currently has 27,345 registered Democrats and 19,994 registered Republicans.

Jacquelyn Griffin, 27-year-old Trump supporter, said she hopes Trump wins Nash County, but it could go either way. Although people may dislike Trumps personality, she said many Nash County residents can reach common ground when it comes to his economic policies.

This is a very mixed area to be in, but I have found that if you can get people down, and break people down to the point where theyre just willing to have a conversation, we agree on a lot of things, Griffin said. Just getting people to realize that and coming to that common ground is so big for us.

Faith leads NC voters to candidates

Political signs stand in front of a rural home in Nash County on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.

Deborah Battle, a volunteer for the Nash County Democratic Party, said theres a church on almost every corner in Rocky Mount.

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If you havent figured it out by now, youre right in the heart of the Bible belt, rural, eastern North Carolina, Battle said outside of an early voting site in Rocky Mount.

Religion is a main factor influencing peoples political beliefs in Nash County, Battle said. Her mission alongside her Baptist preacher husband is to get disenfranchised groups to the polls.

Voting is biblical and so is being involved with civic activities, Battle said. Were trying to get it locked into our constituents heads, especially with our young people, this is your civic duty and you need to do this.

She said the enthusiasm behind Harris this election reminds her of when Obama first ran for president and became the first and  so far  only Democrat to win North Carolina since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

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I see a momentum equivalent to what we had with President Barack Obama. That momentum is here and people are excited, Battle said. It feels like 2008 again.

Jackie Phillips, 72, cast her Nash County ballot for Harris because of her faith, she said. Though she doesnt personally support abortion, she said it should be allowed in some cases. More importantly, she said, a candidate needs to have good values and character.

With this election, what is it about? Is it about the person or is it about the people? Its really important. Like the Bible says, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, Phillips said, quoting Matthew 12:34. I got to weigh all the issues and then I make my vote

Inez Dudley, a 74-year-old Rocky Mount resident, said she supports Trump because of her Christian faith. Its important to her to have a president that endorses Jesus.

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Every last policy that hes ever put out there, I support them, but especially the policies where he stands with Christians and Christian values, Dudley said. The values of a Christian is what this nation is lacking, and because he really believes that God is the source of our nations stability.

Getting along in a divided county

We never argue. Rarely do we vote along party lines. Its more about the issue at hand, said Robbie Davis, the Republican chair of the Nash County Commission. When you have a county as divided as Nash County is, its not a yes or no, its some needs for some classes of people, other needs for other classes of people. But yet, at the end of the day, you got to serve all your people.

The main political divide between people, he said, is between rural, agricultural communities and the more populated city communities. But despite the battleground nature of the county, Davis said its his top priority to work with people across the aisle.

Fred Jordan, a 52-year-old volunteer for the Nash County Democratic Party said its important to him people respect each other, regardless of their political ideologies or other social and cultural factors including race.

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How are you going to make America great if you dont come together? he said at an early voting site in Rocky Mount. We all bleed the same way.

Across the parking lot from Jordan, Caroline Lewis handed out sample ballots for the Nash County Republican Party. Its important Nash County residents and North Carolinians get along with each other regardless of political beliefs, she said. Seeing people band together after Hurricane Helene was an example of people across the political spectrum coming together, she said.

He gave me his phone number so I can go get some sweet potato jacks from him, Lewis said, gesturing to Jordan. Im looking forward to those things so hard, oh my goodness.
LITTLE CHUTE - On the last Friday before Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to a crowd packed in the Little Chute High School gymnasium, where she encouraged supporters to vote and persuade others to support her over Donald Trump for president.

The Harris campaign is barnstorming through Wisconsin ahead of Tuesday. Harris met with members of an electrical workers' union Friday afternoon in Janesville. After speaking at 6 p.m. in Little Chute, her campaign was set to hold a star-studded event at 9 p.m. in West Allis.

Both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees were in Wisconsin Friday as they are looking to capture this swing state.

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Here are some takeaways from her Little Chute speech, which took place in a county that has historically leaned Republican  but not always.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a Get Out The Vote campaign rally Friday at Little Chute High School.

Tammy Baldwin speaks before Harris, makes her case to Fox Cities voters

At about 5:45 p.m. Friday, Democrat U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, took the stage in Little Chute to loud cheers from the crowd.She opened her five-minute speech by highlighting Wisconsin's importance: This campaign knows that the path to the presidency and to control of the United States Senate runs directly through our state."Baldwin also spoke about her opponent, Eric Hovde, and his ties to California over Wisconsin  including that the business executive was named three times as a winner of Orange County, Californias Most Influential.We have a Green County, we have a Brown County  we do not have an Orange County in Wisconsin," she said, eliciting a laugh from the crowd.Baldwin also spoke about her dedication to work on reinstating Roe v. Wade and support and uphold the Affordable Care Act.

Vice President Kamala Harris rallied supporters Friday during a campaign stop in Little Chute.

Many in the audience already cast their ballots

Harris took the stage at 6 p.m. before a crowd packed wall-to-wall in the gymnasium, cheering loudly and holding signs. While there were "Steelworkers for Harris," "Harris/Walz," and "Kamala" signs, many others held signs that simply said, "Vote."

Harris spoke in Little Chute for about 20 minutes, repeating many of the themes of her campaign: ensuring abortion rights throughout the country, delivering a tax cut to the middle class and lowering the cost of health care.

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She also took the opportunity to make one more appeal to voters.

When Harris asked the crowd who had already voted, many cheered.

Supporters cheer for Vice President Kamala Harris as she speaks Friday during a rally in Little Chute.

Harris asked them to talk to coworkers, friends, and loved ones to "share their perspective" on the importance of the 2024 election, which she called "the most significant of our lifetimes."

And to those who have yet to vote  she told them, "no judgment"  she encouraged them to make a plan for Election Day.

"Wisconsin will make a difference in this election," she said, closing with, "When we fight, we win."

Baldwin, Harris riff on Wisconsin state motto

Both Baldwin and Harris stated they wanted to move the country and Wisconsin forward, observing that "Forward" is Wisconsin's motto.

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Both times, the crowd started chanting, "We're not going back!"

Supporters packed the Little Chute High School gymnasium to hear Vice President Kamala Harris speak on Friday.

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Harris said she wanted "to turn the page on nearly 10 years of Donald Trump" and that "it was time for a new generation of leadership."

She also addressed younger, first-time voters: "You are all rightly impatient for change," she said, observing that they wish to live free of gun violence and take on the climate crisis. "These are not political issues [for them]," she added.

"You are going to shape the world you inherit," she said. "And I see you and I see your power."

Outagamie County has favored both Republicans and Democrats before

The counties surrounding the Fox Cities  which include Appleton, Little Chute, Neenah, Menasha, Kaukauna, and other nearby cities and towns  have swung between Democrats and Republicans in recent races.

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Until last spring, U.S. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, represented the region in the 8th Congressional District. Democrat Kristin Lyerly and Republican Tony Wied are vying for his empty House seat.

Outagamie County, where Little Chute is located, favored the Trump-Pence ticket in 2020 and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson over his challenger, Democrat Mandela Barnes, in 2022  both by 10 points or more.

However, a Republican win here is by no means guaranteed. In 2023, Outagamie County favored Democrat-endorsed state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz.

Both Trump and Harris tour battleground states as 2024 campaigns come to a close

Both the Harris and Trump campaigns have toured Wisconsin to capture the state's ten electoral votes. Besides visiting Milwaukee, both campaigns have visited Green Bay multiple times.

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Harris and Trump are tied in Wisconsin, according to a poll from Marquette University released Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Trump visited Green Bay and will hold a rally at Fiserv Forum tonight.

More: Harris, Trump in Milwaukee tonight after Harris holds events in Little Chute, Janesville

Contributing: Kelli Arseneau, Peter Frank.

Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns in Little Chute
Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and their running mates have made it clear over the past weeks that the State of Georgia is a priority for them.

Channel 2s Richard Elliot was at the Atlanta Civic Center on Saturday as Harris made what could be her last visit to the Peach State before Election Day next week.

Channel 2 Action News was the only TV station there as Harris got off of Air Force Two at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and was greeted by Georgia dignitaries. Elliot and our photojournalist were able to ride in Harris motorcade to the rally.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

At the rally, she made her final argument to thousands of Georgians on why they should elect her and not her opponent.

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Alright, Atlanta! Are we ready to do this? Are we ready to vote? Are we ready to win? she said to the crowd.

The vice president hit on her usual campaign themes like tax cuts for the middle class, a federal ban on corporate price gouging on groceries and protections for reproductive rights.

Georgia is one of a handful of battleground states that many pollsters consider a toss-up between Harris and Trump.

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More than half of registered Georgia voters cast their ballots during the early voting period, but Harris wants those who havent yet voted to head to the polls on Tuesday.

As president, I pledge to seek common ground and common sense solutions to the challenges that you face. I am not looking to score political points. I am looking to make progress, she told supporters.

Polls show Trump with a razor-thin lead over Harris in Georgia, but it is well within the margin of error.

After her speech in Atlanta, the vice president made her way to North Carolina, another battleground state.

Former President Trump will make a campaign stop in Atlanta on Sunday.

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Both vice presidential candidates will return to Wisconsin on Monday to rally their supporters the day before the election.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz will swing through La Crosse, Stevens Point and Milwaukee on Monday, according to the Harris-Walz campaign. The same day, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance will speak in La Crosse, a campaign official told the Journal Sentinel.

The stops come on the eve of the Nov. 5 election and as both campaigns seek to get their supporters to the polls in a swing state critical to victory. Polls show a toss-up race in Wisconsin. A Marquette University Law School poll released on Wednesday showed Vice President Kamala Harris with a 1-point edge over former President Donald Trump among likely voters.

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More: Barack Obama to campaign for Kamala Harris in Milwaukee on Sunday

Both campaigns have barnstormed the state since Republicans held their nominating convention in Milwaukee and Harris launched her campaign for president within days of each other in July.

On Wednesday, Trump rallied voters near Green Bay as Harris appeared alongside top music artists in Madison. The two candidates held dueling rallies in Milwaukee Friday night.

Walz, the governor of Minnesota, will be joined by his wife, Gwen Walz at all three afternoon stops on Monday. The Harris campaign billed the stops in La Crosse and Stevens Points as get-out-the-vote events. The Milwaukee stop, the campaign said, will be a rally.

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Vance is due to speak at the La Crosse Center at 9:30 a.m. local time, the Trump campaign said. He is scheduled to be in Michigan, Georgia and Pennsylvania later Monday.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: JD Vance, Tim Walz to both rally Wisconsin voters on Monday
DES MOINES, Iowa  As the trial of the Safris vs. Urbandale Schools lawsuit continued on Friday, the victim and her desk mates took the stand.

The Safris family filed a lawsuit against Urbandale Schools claiming failure to follow school policy led to their daughter being assault and harassed, and eventually becoming suicidal. The assaults are alleged to have happened during a middle school English class.

According to the lawsuit, the victim sent explicit photos to a male classmate, who then asked her out. After she refused, he began assaulting her and shared the photos with others in the school.

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First to take the stand was Susin Bredice, a clinical social worker and therapist who provided group therapy for the Safris family. Bredice worked with the family hoping to help recreate and strengthen communication between the family. These sessions often became distressing for the victim, as she could no longer function or control her mind and body.

At times (the victim) would visibly disassociate during sessions. Ive seen her shake; Ive seen her have psycho-motor agitation within her body when something became intolerable for her. She was often outside of what we would describe as the window of tolerance, which is an area in which we are functioning in our prefrontal cortex or our thinking brain, said Bredice.

Two former classmates of the victim and the male classmate each took to the stand. These students both sat with the victim and the classmate. One of the classmates remembered seeing the male classmate place his hand on the victims thigh and remembers the explicit photos being shown during a different class. The other classmate remembers seeing the photos but says they never saw the male classmate touching the victim inappropriately.

The victim also provided her testimony. She told the jury that the photos were taken because she felt guilty about cancelling plans to go out with the male classmate and was convinced to take the photos to maintain the relationship. It was after she learned of his behavior with other female classmates that she decided she didnt want to go out with him, and then the photos were spread around the school.

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She says that she didnt want to tell people because she felt as though she would be blamed as she took and sent the photos herself. She then told the jury about the male classmates anger towards her and later the assaults that reportedly took place in English class. After this she said she began to act out in small ways like vaping and shoplifting, saying it distracted her.

Ames man killed in wrong-way, head-on crash

Next, she recounted her mental health journey and the path that was taken so that she could get help with her trauma and graduate school. This included short-term stays in the hospital, several long-term care facilities, a variety of medical interventions, and leaving her family and the state for a time. Finally, she talked about her life now and the ways the incident in eighth grade has permanently affected her.

The defense asked the victim about her life since graduating high school and what she was doing now. She said she was not able to be back in a classroom setting and eventually stopped attempting college classes. The victim was able to maintain a job in the service industry but was not able to handle a job in management. She now works as a bank teller and is working towards building a social life.

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Jessica Brase, the victims current therapist, was the final person to take the stand Friday. Brase took over the victims care after she returned from her long-term care facility out of state. Brase and the victim have worked towards moving her into the future and what steps she needs to take to live a more normal life.

I believe this is going to be something for [the victim] that is going to be a lifelong challenge. She has a diagnosis of bipolar II, that is a lifelong disorder, that will not go away, she needs to be treated for that. Secondly, the trauma, trauma is present throughout the course of a lifetime, said Brase.

Brase also noted that the victim sometimes closes off and is not able to maintain regular conversations or regular tasks. In one instance, her family had asked her to load the dishwasher, but the victim doesnt recollect being told to do so. Brase stated this is part of the family and therapists concerns about the victims future.

The end of this week marks the halfway point in the trial, with the court hopefully wrapping up at the end of next week. The court dismissed for the weekend and will resume on Monday, November 4.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
VIDALIA, Ga. (WSAV)  A Walmart in Vidalia was evacuated earlier today due to a possible bomb threat.

At approximately 1:43 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, the Vidalia Police Department (VPD) investigated a reported bomb threat at 3109 E First Street, Vidalia (Walmart). Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene to secure the area and ensure public safety. The business was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

The Vidalia Police Department, Toombs County Sheriffs Office and Walmart staff conducted a thorough search of the premises. During the search, an item of concern was located within the store.

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Due to the discovery, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation  Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) was requested. A certified bomb technician was able to deem the item and location safe. The store was turned back over to the employees without further incident.

If you have any information on this incident call the Vidalia Police Department-Investigative Services Division at (912) 537-4123.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
COVENTRY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  Students in the Coventry School District gathered behind the Community Church of Portage Lakes on Friday night to remember the lives of Abigayle and Adrian Mates.

We rally around one another. We are a small community, said middle school Principal Tina Norris.

Officer arrested in parking lot shooting suspended by Cleveland police

The community encouraged one another and lit up candles in their memory.

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The siblings died in a fire at their Cove Avenue home earlier this week.

Abigayle  her friends would describe her as someone who was adventurous, had a great smile, was a really great friend, said Norris.

Norris said Abi was a junior at Coventry High School and only 17 years old.

Her brother Adrian was 15 years old and in ninth grade.

Adrian was ornery but hilarious. He could change the mood of a room just by walking through it, said Norris.

WATCH: Accused cop killers outrageous claims months before shooting

Norris said the loss has deeply affected the entire school district and Coventry Local Schools is providing mental health support now and in the future.

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To learn how to navigate life without their friend, to learn how to deal with an empty seat in the classroom, to deal with the milestones. Adrian got to go to his first high school dance. But he wont get to go to any more, said Norris.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
During her nearly three decades roaming the snowy wilderness of the Teton Range, Grizzly No. 399 became a beloved mama bear with millions of parkgoers following her yearly adventures and her ever-growing family tree.

Nature lovers are mourning the matriarch of the world-famous bear family after she was fatally struck by a vehicle Oct. 22 on a highway in western Wyoming. Dozens braved frigid weather in the picturesque ski town of Jackson on Saturday night to attend a candlelight vigil watched by some 1,300 others online.

Wildlife guide Bo Weldon told the gathering the community was going to pingpong through the stages of grief but that was what they needed to do despite the difficulty.

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"We are terrible and crushed by this, but were here together," Weldon said as attendees huddled close in the wet, cold rain.

A PBS documentary crowned the 28-year-old grizzly Queen of the Tetons and an Instagram account dedicated to her has amassed more than 60,000 followers. She was known for frequenting tourist-heavy spots and roadsides in Grand Teton National Park and became an ambassador for her species and a symbol for people working to conserve American public lands.

Named for the tag affixed by researchers to her ear, No. 399 was the oldest-known reproducing female grizzly in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. She has been credited for helping the regions grizzly population rebound from just over 100 in the 1970s to around 1,000 today.

She had 18 known cubs in eight litters over the years, and some have been spotted with cubs of their own.

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Her ashes were spread this week in the Pilgrim Creek area of Grand Teton National Park, where she spent much of her life, park officials said.

Jacob Krank, the master of ceremonies, shared how he encountered No. 399 the first time he drove into the park to explore it 13 years ago. Suddenly he saw this beautiful grizzly bear in the road with her two cubs. She was so near he could hear her breathing and paws scratching the ground.

She looked right at me, just right in the eye. It was just such a profound experience, he said. It was as though she was saying, Welcome home. Where have you been all this time?

Krank said the ceremony came together in response to popular demand. When No. 399 died, people began posting social media inquires and asking at The Mangelsen Images of Nature Gallery in Jackson, where Krank works, which features photos by Thomas Mangelsen, one of the best-known photographers of the bear.

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Attendees observed a moment of silence and listened to a rendition of What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong while trying to keep the wind and rain from extinguishing their candles.

399 will always be part of this special place, Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said in a statement. However, there is still work to do to ensure her descendants and all grizzly bears continue to thrive in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Its up to all of us to make sure they do.

Grizzlies have teetered on and off the endangered species list. They remain federally protected, but some state officials in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have sought to remove federal protections as their population has replenished. The states want to regain management of grizzlies and allow limited hunting.

Conservationists argue the species still requires protection as food scarcity caused by climate change has driven grizzlies further from their habitats in search of food.

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On his tours of the Tetons, wildlife guide Jack Bayles said he often draws attention to barren huckleberry bushes affected by rising temperatures, which he said might help explain why No. 399 was about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of her habitat in the park when she was fatally struck. Grizzlies need to eat nearly nonstop in the fall to store enough fat to sustain their winter hibernation.

A male yearling cub, known informally as Rowdy or Spirit, was with No. 399 when she was killed and has not been located in the nearly two weeks since.

There is no indication it was struck in the collision, Joe Szuszwalak of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said. Given the bears age and the time of year, the yearling has a strong chance of surviving independently, and there are no current plans to capture it.

On average, about three grizzlies are killed in vehicle collisions in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem each year, according to data collected by researchers and released by the park. No. 399 was the second grizzly killed in the region by a vehicle this year.

Law enforcement officers have declared the bear's death an accident. The driver was not speeding and was not hurt.
ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM)  A man who was wanted in Virginia was arrested in Ithaca on Friday afternoon.

John C. Tolley, 32, of Staten Island, was arrested on Nov. 1 after police investigated a tip from the community. According to the Ithaca Police Department, officers found Tolley at an apartment complex on the 100 block of East Green Street.

Tioga County, Pa fugitive from justice arrested in Baldwin

Police say Tolley was wanted by the Norfolk, Virginia, Police Department for violating his probation. Tolley is on probation for numerous crimes, including grand larceny, credit card fraud, and credit card larceny.

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Tolley was charged with being a fugitive from justice and arraigned in the Ithaca City Court. He was then taken to the Tompkins County Jail to await extradition to Virginia.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Registered voters in Missouri have likely received hundreds of texts, emails and letters in their mailbox from campaigns related to the 2024 election.

But one mailer from the Voter Participation Center has raised some additional questions. Voters in Missouri and states like Maryland and New Mexico have reported receiving voter report cards purporting to contain information about the last time you and your neighbors voted in elections.

Were sending this mailing to you and your neighbors to share who does and does not vote in an effort to promote election participation, the report card says. While we have hidden the name and street number of your neighbors to protect their privacy, these are their true voting records.

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We will be reviewing these records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting, the report card says.

A letter reaching the mailbox of Missouri residents includes a voter report card from Voter Participation Center. The letter has information containing the last time you and your neighbors voted in an election.

While it doesnt share who you and your neighbors voted for, you might be wondering how they got your information and how they know the last time you voted.

If you live in Kansas, voter information (address, party affiliation, etc.) is all public and accessible. Anyone can easily view someones voter information, as long as they know first and last names and date of birth.

But is voter information as easily accessible in Missouri? Is that how campaigns found your phone number and email? Heres what state law says.

How do campaigns get your contact information?

Its not as accessible in Missouri to get voter information as it is in Kansas, but campaigns and regular citizens can still receive that data. They just have to request it, according to a Missouri statute.

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Anyone can do this by filing a records request and all requests are subject to fees, the statute says. All candidates and political committees are also entitled to receive the list in even-numbered years if they request the information.

The information people can receive from these requests includes:

Names

Dates of birth

Voter identification numbers

Addresses

Townships or wards

Precincts

Voting history. This only includes the years you voted, not who you voted for or your party affiliation

Undercover law enforcement and people in witness protection programs can have their information excluded, the law says.

How can I opt out of political texts and calls?

So can you stop receiving political texts, calls and letters altogether?

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When it comes to texts, just deleting the text thread isnt enough to guarantee you wont get a message from that campaign again. All campaigns should quit texting if you text back STOP, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

But if the numbers are still texting you, you can forward them to 7726 (or SPAM).

Its also good to know the requirements for campaign robotexts, which can all be found online on the FCCs website. Robocalls must include the callers identity at the beginning of the message. They also have to include the phone number stated in the message.

The commission says that robotexts sent using an autodialer must have had prior consent, while texts sent manually do not need consent from the owner of the number.

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If you have a complaint about the robocalls or texts, you can report them to the commission by either calling 1-888-225-5322, reporting online at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or submitting your complaint via mail.

Its trickier to get off mailing lists you receive letters in your mailbox. The Federal Trade Commission says you can choose what kind of mail you would like to receive from marketers by registering with the Direct Marketing Association. But the FTC and DMA say that it does not apply to mail from political organizations.

The Wichita Eagles Lindsay Smith contributed to this report.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Polls are closed, and counting is underway for the 2024 Presidential General and Open Congressional Primary.

Louisianas Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced that this year saw record-breaking early voter turnout and once the votes are certified voters will have a clear picture of how that turnout will affect the state moving forward.

Election Day tips

Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry reminds Election Day voters of the following:

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The deadline to return absentee ballots is Monday, November 4, by 4:30 p.m. (non-military and overseas voters). If you havent already returned your absentee ballot by mail, it is best to deliver it personally.

On Election Day, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., and anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Polling locations and sample ballots can be found on the GeauxVote Mobile App, which you can download on your Android or Apple device. You can also visit www.geauxvote.com and log into the Voter Portal.

Voters are encouraged to sign up for electronic notifications via GeauxVote Mobile.

Bring an ID to vote this includes Louisiana Drivers License, Louisiana Special ID Card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport, or use your digital ID via LA Wallet.

View election results in real-time via GeauxVote Mobile or at sos.la.gov.

For more information, call the Elections Hotline at 800-883-2805, TDD/TTY access dial 711, or email the Elections Division at elections@sos.la.gov.

To report potential polling place accessibility issues, email the Elections ADA Compliance Officer at ADA@sos.la.gov. Complaints involving possible election code violations should be reported to the Secretary of States Division of Election Integrity at 800-722-5305.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Vice President Kamala Harris left Milwaukee Saturday with a message to voters here who feel prices are too high to make ends meet.

"My highest priority as president will be to bring down the costs because to that point, look, I know the cost of groceries is too high still," Harris said. "Everyone knows it."

Harris's comments at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee came the morning after she and former President Donald Trump held dueling rallies in the Milwaukee area, just days before Tuesday's election.

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Harris held a rally-concert at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center while just miles away former President Donald Trump returned to the Fiserv Forum for a rally of his own.

Harris and Trump are locked in a tight battle for the White House, and both are making their final appeals to voters in this key battleground state, where they're in a dead heat.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to media Saturday morning at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee after holding a rally-concert nearby the night before.

Harris Saturday morning said if she wins, she would take steps including banning price gouging on groceries, giving first-time homebuyers $25,000 downpayment assistance, expanding the child tax credit and increasing tax breaks for small businesses.

She also said one of her top priorities for her first day in office would be to submit a package of proposals focused on bringing down costs.

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Harris was also asked what her faith tells her about who God wants to win the election and lead the country.

"My faith and my belief in God tells me that we all must think about our lives through our ability to do good works and through those works to lift people up, to help the needy, to help the poor, to help the elderly," she said. "And my plan for my presidency is informed with that spirit and that approach."

She said a real leader is defined not by who they beat down but by who they lift up.

Mary Spicuzza can be reached at mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: VP Kamala Harris says bringing costs down would be 'highest priority'
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IPhone 13 kan fa nya funktioner. | Credit: dole777 / Unsplash

People in Mauritius have been turning en masse to the best VPN apps as authorities have enforced a wide social media shutdown ahead of the general elections.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok all went dark on Friday, November 1, 2024  internet watchdog NetBlocks could confirm (see tweet below). The blockage is expected to remain until November 11, the day after the voting. This forces users to find a workaround to keep accessing these services.

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"People have rushed to download Proton VPN since early this morning when the social media ban came into force, and we expect them to continue to use VPNs heavily until at least 11th November, when the ban is due to lift," David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, told me.

Peterson said the provider recorded a spike in usage of 16000% above normal levels so far  and it's "quickly growing." Other data shows VPN demand across the country is 16,107% higher than the daily average over the 28 days prior.

Authorities ordered the blockage to halt the spread of illegal content that may "threaten national security and public safety."

The country has recently been rocked by a wiretapping scandal, in fact, during which sensitive conversations involving politicians, police, lawyers, journalists, and members of civil society have been leaked on social media  Reuters reported.

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Digital rights strongly condemn the move and urge the Mauritius government, a first-time offender of internet shutdowns, to end the ongoing crackdown on social media.

"This shutdown is a gross violation of national and international human rights frameworks and must not be allowed to continue," wrote the #KeepItOn coalition, a global network of over 334 human rights organizations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns, in an open letter.

How a VPN can help

A VPN, short for virtual private network, is security software whose primary goal is to keep you anonymous when browsing the web by encrypting all your internet connections to prevent third-party snooping.

At the same time, though, VPNs also mask your real IP address location. IP spoofing is not just advantageous from a privacy perspective, but it also enables you to access otherwise geo-restricted content.

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People in Mauritius can then connect to a VPN server located outside the country to bypass the current block and keep using social media platforms as usual.

As Peterson explains, the provider has enabled some free election servers in Mauritius as part of its election support initiative. "We will continue to operate these servers as long as they are needed by citizens to circumvent internet censorship," he said.

As I'm writing, people living in another African country are battling against a similar block. The likes of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp all went dark in Mozambique only a day before following mobile data disruptions that occurred the week before. These incidents coincide with a wave of violent protests contesting the election results.

"There, we recorded a spike in sign-ups of 8790% on 30 October, and currently nine of the top ten apps on the Mozambique Google Play store are VPNs," said Peterson.

If you are in need of a means to access the open web and evade internet restrictions, I suggest looking into our best free VPN guide to get the most secure freebie app right now.
Jose Portillo, longtime owner of El Coliman in Othello, Wash., looks at a framed page of an article a local reporter did for his business. He had opened up his business five months before this article was published. (Monica Carrillo-Casas/The Spokesman)

OTHELLO, Wash.  Jose Portillo looks up at a picture of former President Barack Obama near his desk.

Hopefully, youll see a picture of Kamala Harris up here soon, he said.

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Portillo, longtime owner of El Coliman, provides services for many people who were brought to the United States under the H-2A temporary worker program, as well as undocumented families and farmworkers. He helps the workers send money to their families in their home country.

With the election just two weeks away, however, hes concerned about the future of his business and the community of Othello.

This is a town of immigrants, Portillo said in Spanish. As business owners, that affects us.

Washington states undocumented population stands at 246,000, many filling essential positions across the state, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

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Since beginning his run for another term in the White House, former President Donald Trump has promised to undertake the largest deportation in the history of our country, assembling a deportation force that would include federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

While Trump has been vague about how such an operation would work, many people in his orbit have signaled that a second Trump administration would be even more aggressive in deporting people, potentially affecting farm owners and businesses in communities such as Othello, home to a population that is nearly 77% Hispanic, and others across Washington state.

Jake Mendez Jr., a local activist in Othello and member of ACLU Washington, has been advocating for the Hispanic community since the early 2000s.

He has also voiced his thoughts regarding a potential mass deportations impact on the small rural town, although doesnt want to think too far ahead on the matter since Trump hasnt been re-elected.

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With no jobs, theres no economy; with no economy, theres no business  then whos going to take over those jobs? You got to look at it. The Hispanic/Latino community is the majority, he said.

About 30 minutes away from Othello, Royal City has a population of 2,060  94% Hispanic and 35% who work in the farm fields.

Silverio Hernandez, foreman for Washington Fruit & Produce in Royal City and a former resident of Othello, said both towns have a diverse mix of people, including undocumented workers, H-2A laborers and U.S. citizens.

Weve already had issues because of the overtime law, which has decreased the economy, so imagine that and then a mass deportation happens? Everybody would go out of business, Hernandez said. Ive always said this is a land built by immigrants.

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Although many of the companys workers are part of the H-2A program, if local undocumented workers go to them for work, that isnt something they would know.

We dont know if they are or not, we arent law enforcement, Hernandez said. Thats not our job, and its prohibited to ask them.

Washington State Patrol spokesman Chris Loftis has said the agencys policy and state law updated by the Legislature in 2019 dictate that because its troopers dont have primary jurisdiction over federal immigration law. Because being in the country without authorization is a civil matter, a persons immigration status alone isnt subject to state law enforcement.

Washington state law also prohibits sharing information on someones immigration status unless it is directly connected to an investigation of a crime under state or local law.

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The Washington State Patrol enforces the laws of our state in a respectful, dignified and diligent manner, Loftis said in a statement. Our policies on enforcement of immigration law, clear and unambiguous, are based on state law intended to ensure the rights and dignities of all are protected. In 2019, state lawmakers reasoned that it is not the purpose of Washington law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration laws and took action that restricts law enforcement from taking any enforcement action based solely upon a persons immigration status or employment.

Jose Ramirez, owner of El Paraiso Orchard in Royal City, has also been paying close attention to the presidential election.

Although he believes Trumps mass deportation plan is all talk and he doesnt think he would go through with it, he said that if Trump did, it would affect more than the people who are deported.

If we dont have agricultural people that come to do their work and we depend on them, then we have to hire people that really dont want to work in the field, and we have to pay a lot more, Ramirez said. Then we have to sell our product for a higher price. Otherwise, were not going to be growing here.

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He said that it would create bigger issues as well, like jobs being cut in schools and the possibility of separations of mixed-status families.

Paulina, an undocumented farmworker in Royal City, has been working in the fields of Washington state since she was 15 years old.

Now 30 and with five children, her oldest being 15, shes afraid of what the deportation would do to her family.

Im not scared for myself, but I am scared that Ill get separated from my kids, she said, her words translated from Spanish.

She declined to share her last name for fear she could be sought by authorities or become a target for deportation.

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An hour south of Royal City, Gloria, who for similar reasons declined to share her last name, is an undocumented farmworker who also has been living in fear.

Several years ago, one of her co-workers overheard that ICE was planning a raid and warned undocumented workers to go home.

Immediately, and without saying a word, Gloria left  and so did everybody else on that farm.

We need someone who will do good for the undocumented population, for the Hispanic community and for farmworkers most importantly, she said in Spanish. We cant continue to be scared.

For months, she would only go to work and limited how much time she spent outside of her home, fearing she would be deported.

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The largest mass deportation in history, called Operation Wetback, dates back to the 1950s under the Eisenhower administration, an initiative about which Trump has often spoken highly.

Last year at a rally in Iowa, Trump said by following the Eisenhower model, we will carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.

As many as 1.3 million people were deported in an effort to remove undocumented Hispanics from the United States, despite many being invited to work in the fields through the Bracero Program.

One justification for the program was that some believed it would benefit the well-being of the U.S. economy. But it was ultimately deemed a failure, as it failed to stem the tide of illegal immigration, drew public outcry and lost funding.

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Despite this history, not everyone is convinced that a mass deportation plan would affect their community.

Paula McKay, manager of Mar-Jon Labor, LLC, said because many workers in Othello are part of the H-2A program or have been here for several years, it wouldnt affect them, since she doesnt see the likelihood of it happening.

I know that its been taken out of context  I dont think thats whats going to happen because I dont think theyre going to do that to those people that have been here 10, 20, 30 years undocumented, McKay said. I think they will give them a chance to become, probably at least, a permanent resident or citizenship.

Her colleague and founder of Mar-Jon, Jon Warling, also doubts it will happen.

He said if any regulations are introduced during a potential second term under Trump, however, those who have worked hard and have been here for decades should have a pathway to citizenship.

The ones that have a history of being here should be left alone, Warling said.

Other community members remain uncertain.

Jose Garza, executive director of the Othello Food Bank, expressed doubt about whether Trump would proceed with a mass deportation, and he remains unsure about how it would impact the community.

He emphasized that with Othellos farming industry being well-established, he suggested that it might withstand such challenges. He also said he would like to believe that the community would come together if a mass deportation happened.

I think were mostly affected through the state laws  especially because this election were getting a new governor, and were getting a lot of new officials, and so its going to be a change, Garza said.

But if even state laws can cause challenges, federal laws can pose much larger issues.

In his first week in office, Trump signed an executive order directing ICE to arrest and deport anyone in the country who didnt have authorization.

Trump said in April 2017 that people who entered the country illegally as children, known colloquially as dreamers and protected under a program called DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, should rest easy because his administration was not after the dreamers, we are after the criminals.

Yet two months earlier, ICE detained a 23-year-old man in the Seattle area despite him being protected by DACA.

In response to that incident and Trumps efforts to speed up deportations, Gov. Jay Inslee signed his own executive order in February 2017 making it clear, as the Democrat said at the time, that Washington will not be a willing participant in promoting or carrying out mean-spirited policies that break up families and compromise our national security and community safety.

Under that order, state agencies and their funding cant be used to aid federal deportation operations.

Antonio De Loera-Brust, communications director for United Farm Workers, noted that Trump tried to cut farmworker wages during his first presidency, including the pay of those who were U.S. citizens.

Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization, also noted that another Trump administration would likely see a return of the broad restrictions on legal immigration of his first term, including dramatic cuts to the refugee program and existing visa programs intended to reunite families and help foreign students attend U.S. universities.

Such policies only add to the concerns of business owners such as Portillo.

Ive had my business for 15 years, you know, my wife also does DACA renewal applications and helps people fill out applications for citizenship, Portillo said.

If Trump becomes president, it wouldnt be good.

Hernandez echoed these worries, and said that cutting these programs and deporting individuals obscures a larger issue.

Like I said, you can say that there are Hispanics that are criminals, but there are many Americans who are criminals as well, Hernandez said in Spanish.

Everybody only wants to focus on immigration.

This article was first published by The Spokesman-Review through the Murrow News Fellow program, managed by Washington State University.

Reporter Orion Donovan Smith contributed to this story. His work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspapers managing editor.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will visit Michigan on his last-minute tour of the battleground states for the presidential electionspeaking at a rally in Detroit on Monday.

Gwen Walz, his wife, will also attend the event.

Jon Bon Jovi, the Detroit Youth Choir and The War and Treaty will perform at the event

Further information on where the event will take place, what time it will start, and what will be discussed was not immediately available.

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Over the weekend, Walz will visit Nevada and Arizona on Saturday and Georgia and North Carolina on Sunday. On Monday, he will be in Wisconsin and Michigan, and on Tuesday morning, he will visit Pennsylvania before joining the rest of the Harris-Walz campaign at Howard University for Election Night.

This visit comes after Harris and Walz held their first event together since August, when they rallied in Savannah, GA.

According to a news release from her campaign, Harris will campaign in every battleground state to mobilize voters in the last few days of the election.

Harris will travel to Arizona and Nevada on Thursday to campaign in Phoenix, Reno, and Las Vegas. Friday and Saturday Harris will travel to Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina to host a Get Out The Vote rally. After visiting Michigan on Sunday, Harris plans to visit Pennsylvania on Monday, November 4.

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Former President Donald Trump will be back in Michigan on Friday, and he will speak at a rally in Macomb County.

This campaign trip comes after Trumps visit to Traverse City and Novi this past Friday and Saturday. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) was recently in Holland, Auburn Hills and Marne.

Michigan is one of several battleground states for the presidential electionand the Democratic and Republican tickets remain at a statistical dead heat.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) condemned former President Trumps remarks describing former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as having guns trained on her face, saying the comments were sickening and un-American, but not surprising.

Well, its sickening but not surprising. This is exactly what he does And so when I hear it, yeah, its sickening, its un-American, but it also just inspires me, and I hope it does a whole bunch of your listeners. This is why they need to go vote, Walz told Zerlina Maxwell in an interview Friday on SiriusXM.

This is why we need to put an end to this. This is why we need to get that new way forward that the vice president keeps talking about that is truly American. So it just inspires me to go work more, Walz added, calling it unacceptable behavior.

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Walzs response comes after Trump made the comments about Cheney during a fireside chat with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Arizona on Thursday. Trump had also criticized her foreign policy and her and former Vice President Dick Cheneys endorsement of Vice President Harris.

Trump has spurred backlash from his rifle comments, as Arizonas attorney generals office said it is investigating Trumps remarks as a death threat under state laws, in a statement to The Hill.

Liz Cheney responded to Trumps remarks in a post on social platform X in which she compared the comments to a death threat.

This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death, she said.

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During the interview, Walz also said he doesnt think Trump will accept defeat if he loses the presidential election.

We have the safeguards in place, as a governor working with the other governors, Democrats and Republicans, Walz said in the interview.

Theres protections in place  And when he does hopefully thatll be about the end of Donald Trumps time on the national stage, and we can all breathe a sigh of relief to not have to be part of his drama again, he added.

The Minnesota governor also called on male voters as they decide which candidate to support.

Think about the women in your lives you love  their lives are truly at stake, Walz said.

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A recent CBS News/YouGov survey revealed that support for Harris and Trump is split by gender, with Harris garnering 55 percent of her support from women, while Trump earns 54 percent of his from men.

Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the backlash, stating that Trumps words were taken out of context, The Hill reported.

President Trump is 100% correct that warmongers like Liz Cheney are very quick to start wars and send other Americans to fight them, rather than go into combat themselves. This is the continuation of the latest fake media outrage days before the election in a blatant attempt to interfere on behalf of Kamala Harris, Leavitt said.

In response to a request for comment, the Trump campaigned referred The Hill to a post made Friday by Trump on Truth Social in which the former president attacked the former lawmaker and her father on foreign policy.

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Its easy for her to talk, sitting far from where the death scenes take place, but put a gun in her hand, and let her go fight, and shell say, No thanks!' he wrote in the post. Her father decimated the Middle East, and other places, and got rich by doing so. Hes caused plenty of DEATH, and probably never even gave it a thought. Thats not what we want running our Country!

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sirens sounded in central and northern Israel Saturday and the Israeli military continued to pummel Lebanon and Gaza, as cease-fire talks held this week yielded little hope of ending hostilities on the ground.

Northern Gaza, already the most heavily destroyed and isolated part of the strip, has been subjected to a renewed weekslong offensive by the Israel Defense Forces, driving the area to a situation the United Nations calls apocalyptic.

On Saturday, Israel said its air force had struck more than 120 terror targets belonging to both Hamas and Hezbollah, in Gaza and Lebanon over the past day. The Israeli military bombed targets in Beirut's densely-populated southern suburbs overnight after warning residents to evacuate. It was the first time in several days that the area, a Hezbollah stronghold, had been hit.

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The Lebanese Health Ministry said 52 people were killed by the Israeli strikes, and 72 injured across the country on Friday. On Saturday Gaza's health ministry said 55 people were killed and 192 injured by Israel over the previous 24 hours.

At the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza's Deir al-Balah on Friday, an NBC News crew filmed bodies  including children  being brought to the morgue.

Jehad Muhsin was at the hospital, sitting next to a body draped in a sheet, What was her guilt? I want to understand, what was her guilt?

They bombed the house while we were staying in, my kids were eating and they bombed the house, they killed us all, Muhsin said, adding that his two sons and wife had been killed.

A man prepares meals in Gaza City Saturday.

Meanwhile, Irans Supreme Leader threatened Israel and the United States on Saturday, saying that they would definitely receive a tooth-breaking response for what they are doing against Iran and its proxies.

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In Israel, a rocket fired from Lebanon hit a residential building in the city of Tira, about 15 miles northeast of Tel Aviv, on Saturday, injuring 11 people, according to Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency services.

Video shot by news agency Reuters at the scene of the strike shows a low-rise building with much of the wall missing from the top floor and cars damaged by falling debris.

A female in her 30s and a 17-year-old male suffered multiple injuries from shrapnel; they were fully conscious. We also evacuated further casualties all suffering from shrapnel wounds and cuts from glass shards, Lior Silberberg, an MDA paramedic, said in a statement.

Warning sirens sounded in multiple locations in Israel on Saturday morning as the Israeli military said it was tracking several suspicious aerial targets from Lebanon, as Hezbollah confirmed firing several missile barrages at targets in Israel.

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Israel also said it had successfully intercepted three drones over the Red Sea.

Diplomatic blame game

U.S. officials had been criss-crossing the Middle East this week trying to push for cease-fire deals that might bring some relief to the region.

CIA Director Bill Burns was in Cairo on Thursday where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad. An Egyptian readout of the meeting said they discussed "ways to advance negotiations towards a ceasefire and the exchange of captives."

Separately, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, two senior American officials, traveled to Lebanon and Israel to try and hammer out a cease-fire that would calm tensions between the two neighbors.

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On Wednesday, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope that a deal could be announced soon, but by Friday Reuters reported that Mikati was blaming "Israeli stubbornness" for standing in the way of an agreement.

Following his meeting with McGurk and Hochstein on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a summary of the meeting that said that the main focus for Israel was its "ability and determination to enforce the agreement and thwart any threat to its security from Lebanon, in a way that will return our residents safely to their homes."

For months, all sides have repeatedly blamed each other for standing in the way of progress on the negotiations.

Adding to the regional tensions, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in televised remarks on Saturday, that Israel and the United States will receive a tooth-breaking response for what they are doing against Iran and the Resistance Front, referring to Iranian proxies in the Middle East.

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Its the latest sign that Iran may retaliate following Israels strikes on the country last Saturday.

General Mohammad Naeini, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, promised a decisive and strong response, adding The response will be beyond the enemys comprehension, strategic, and powerful, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

In a joint letter released on Friday, 15 heads of U.N. and humanitarian organizations called for aid access to northern Gaza, describing the situation there as apocalyptic and saying, the entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
What Were Tracking

Rainy weekend

Showers to start the week

Drying out mid-week

Temperatures this morning not quite as cold as last, we are falling into the middle 40s. Winds are light and from the southeast. Clouds continue to increase through out the morning.

Scattered showers and storms are expected over the next four days. Rain will arrive in southwest counties on Saturday, starting as early as 8 AM to 10 AM. By noon, widespread showers will move into northeast Kansas. Expect on-and-off rain throughout the weekend, bringing beneficial rainfall across the region.

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Showers and storms will continue into the start of the work week. Scattered showers pushing through Tuesday with temperatures near seasonable. Some areas locally could see an additional 3-5 of rainfall by the end of it.

KSNT Storm Track Meteorologist Ely Millard

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  A FOX 8 I-Team investigation has found a man accused of killing a Cleveland police officer had slipped through cracks in the court system.

Message from Officer Ritters family

Delawnte Hardy

In April, Delawnte Hardy walked out of a Cleveland Municipal Courtroom a free man. Hed been found incompetent to stand trial on two misdemeanor charges of trespassing and resisting arrest.

Then about 10 weeks later, police say he killed his own grandmother and Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter.

Jamieson Ritter (Cleveland Division of Police)

The I-Team filed numerous public record requests and reviewed the case file, transcripts and video of court proceedings.

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We learned that months before the murders, Hardy made outrageous claims in front of a judge.

Watch alleged cop killers violent jail incident

I said Im Mister Impossible, Hardy told a judge in December 2023. I own Ohio. Thats a lot. It was from the case with Donald Trump.

He also said at another hearing that he is two ages at once.

Im 14 and 24, Hardy said. Since Im not to die, I was cut in half down. I could see at eight I was put together. It will be unbelievable since a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes is not normal. Its declassified.

After Hardy made the comments, the judge ordered him to be seen by court psych clinic. The court psych clinic noted he had illogical thoughts.

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Hardy was declared incompetent to stand trial.

Hardy had no previous criminal record and even told the judge he worked as a security guard. His grandmother also came to court with him, the same grandmother, police say, he later killed. The grandmother told the court she had seen no signs of mental illness before this.

Court records also show the judge dismissed that case even without getting an updated mental health report on Delawnte Hardy.

New video shows police encounter alleged cop killer

According to transcripts, Hardy was in court on April 15. At that time, he didnt seem to know he was scheduled to go back once more to see a doctor.

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The judge asked him if he knew he had an appointment the next day. His response was, An appointment for what?

According to court records, its not clear if he ever showed up at the doctors appointment.

We requested to talk to the city prosecutor about the case, but our request was declined.

The prosecutor released the following statement through a spokesperson for the City of Cleveland:

The case was actually dismissed without prejudice based on the adjudication of the court, which ruled that the defendant was not competent to stand trial and ordered outpatient restoration in the community. It is our understanding that this was based on Ohio Revised Code Sections, 2945.38 (B)(1)(a)(iv) // (C)(3) // and (II), which read: (iv) If the defendant has not been charged with a felony offense or a misdemeanor offense of violence, but has been charged with a misdemeanor offense that is not a misdemeanor offense of violence and if, after taking into consideration all relevant reports, information, and other evidence, the court finds that the defendant is incompetent to stand trial, but the court is unable at that time to determine whether there is a substantial probability that the defendant will become competent to stand trial within the time frame permitted under division (C)(1) of this section, the court shall dismiss the charges and follow the process outlined in division (B)(1)(a)(v)(I) of this section. (C) No defendant shall be required to undergo treatment, including any continuing evaluation and treatment, under division (B)(1) of this section for longer than whichever of the following periods is applicable: (3) Sixty days, if the most serious offense with which the defendant is charged is a misdemeanor of the first or second degree; (II) Order the defendant to undergo outpatient competency restoration treatment at a facility operated or certified by the department of mental health and addiction services as being qualified to treat mental illness, at a public or community mental health facility, at a jail that employs or contracts with an individual or entity listed in division (B)(1)(b)(i) of this section to provide treatment or continuing evaluation and treatment at a jail, or in the care of a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. If a defendant who has been released on bail or recognizance refuses to comply with court-ordered outpatient treatment under this division, the court may dismiss the charges pending against the defendant and proceed under division (B)(1)(a)(v)(I) of this section or may amend the conditions of bail or recognizance and order the sheriff to take the defendant into custody and deliver the defendant to a center or facility operated or certified by the department of mental health and addiction services for treatment. In short, this was a decision by the court who must follow the laws outlined in the ORC. Any changes to that would have to come from the State Legislature.

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We also reached out to Judge Lauren Moore. We asked to review the competency report and to talk to her. Our requests were denied.

Officer Ritter was shot and killed July 4, when he was trying to arrest Hardy.

Somebody chose to disrespect my son run from authority and kill my son, Ritters mother, Karen told the I-Team. He was murdered.

I-Team: Untold story behind murder of Cleveland Officer Jamieson Ritter

Hardy is now facing aggravated murder charges. However, he was once again found incompetent to stand trial. He has now been sent to get treatment at a mental health clinic.

His family is holding on to memories and watching to find out what happens in court.

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Our lives have been changed forever, said Jon Ritter, Jamiesons father. We want justice is public safety. Number one. We want the court to hold people accountable.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Cardi B arrives during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center on November 1, 2024 in West Allis, Wisconsin - Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Cardi B delivered an impassioned speech in support of Kamala Harris and condemning Donald Trumps stance on womens rights at a Milwaukee rally Friday.

Ive been waiting for this moment my whole life, Cardi B told the crowd at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center. I do not take lightly the call to show up, the call to speak up, the call to deliver a message thats been on my heart a hot minute now.

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Just like Kamala Harris, I too have been the underdog, Ive been underestimated, my success belittled and discredited. Let me tell you something: Women have to work ten times harder, perform ten times better, and still people question us, how we got to the top. I cant stand a bully, but just like Kamala, I always stand up to one.

The rapper first admitted  just as she told Rolling Stone in May  that she wasnt going to back Donald Trump or Joe Biden in the 2024 election. In fact, I wasnt going to vote this year  I wasnt, she said. But Kamala Harris joining the race, she changed my mind completely.

I did not have faith on any candidates until she joined the race and said the things that I wanted to hear, that I want to see next in this country, she added. I believe every word that comes out of her mouth. Shes passionate, shes compassionate, she shows empathy, and most of all, shes not delusional. Kamala recognizes that this country is at risk. That the economy needs to get stronger, that the cost of food and the cost of living is too high.

Cardi then detailed some of Harris policies that she supports, before turning her attention to the vice presidents opponent.

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Did you hear what Donny Trump said the other day?  He says hes going to protect women whether they like it or not, Cardi B said.

Protection for women, especially if were talking about maternal and mental health care, isnt telling them what to do with their bodies. Its supporting them and giving them the care that they need for what they choose to do with their bodies. People like Donald Trump dont believe women deserve rights. And when those rights are taken away, they are nowhere to be found.

She continued, Well, if his definition of protection is not the freedom of choice, if his definition of protection is making sure our daughters have fewer rights than our mothers, then I dont want it!

Cardi then called Trump a hustler, but hustling women out of their rights to their bodies is nasty work. Hustling Americans out of their hard-working money by selling Trump watches, Trump sneakers, Trump Bibles do we really trust this man with our economy? A man who only cares only about making himself rich and cutting taxes for his billionaire friends. I dont even get a tax cut!

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Hours after her Milwaukee speech, Cardi B continued stumping for Harris and slamming Trump on social media: Donald Trump talks about how he has concepts of a plan but the only concept of a plan he has is a plan to hustle YOU.

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View the full speech in the video player above.

(WJET/WFXP)  The 42nd president of the United States visited Erie, Pennsylvania, on Saturday rallying more Democratic support as Election Day is just days away.

Former President Bill Clinton was in the Flagship City highlighting Kamala Harris Opportunity Economy plan at Lavery Brewery Company, 135 West 11th St.

Clinton originally planned to visit the Flagship City earlier this week but that trip was later canceled.

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Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz made a stop in Erie on Thursday at Vilmas Kitchen talking about Puerto Rican rights and the importance of getting out to vote.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Vice President Harris is in Georgia Saturday afternoon, making her last pitch to voters in Atlanta as Election Day inches closer.

Harris held a star-studded rally in the states capital city late last month, headlined by former President Obama and Bruce Springsteen and focused on appealing to young voters. The vice president has racked up a long list of celebrity endorsements, most recently rallying with artists such as Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B.

Saturdays rally will feature award-winning director Spike Lee and musical guests Victoria Monet, 2 Chainz and Monica, according to the campaign. It comes a day after early voting, which brought in record turnout this year, ended in the battleground state.

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The Hill/Decision Desk HQs polling index shows former President Trump with a slight advantage over the vice president in the Peach State  49.3 percent to 47.4 percent. President Biden won Georgia by a razor-thin margin in 2020  less than half a percentage point.

The event is scheduled to begin at 1:25 p.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is ending his final blitz through battleground Michigan Friday evening, rallying voters with the election just days away.

The Democratic vice presidential candidate made several stops in the Great Lakes State Friday, offering closing remarks as early voting is set to conclude in the state. Vice President Harris, his partys presidential nominee, urged supporters in the state earlier this week to cast their ballots early to provide a boost ahead of Election Day.

Walz also gave remarks in Detroit and Flint earlier Friday.

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The Hill/Decision Desk HQs polling index shows Harris ahead of former President Trump in the crucial swing state  48.6 percent to 48.1 percent.

The event in Traverse City is scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
HOUSTON, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  The Houston Zoo recently welcomed a four-and-a-half-year-old male pygmy hippopotamus to its exhibits, while jokingly throwing shade at a certain popular baby pygmy hippo. In a blog post, the zoo introduced its newest addition by saying, Moo Deng, who?

The adorable hippos, named Akobi, weighs 477 pounds and was moved to the Houston Zoo from San Francisco as part of a breeding recommendation, the zoo said in a release on Friday, November 1.

WATCH: NJ Surfers rush to rescue fallen fisherman

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The zoo said it has Moo Deng, Thailands famous baby pygmy hippo, to thank for visitors familiarity with the species. Akobi was born in a San Diego zoo.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
The gender divide this election cycle can perhaps best be summarized by a TikTok trend.

Videos across social media show women who are voting for Vice President Kamala Harris on their way to the polls to cancel out votes from their husband, father or other men in their lives who are supporting former President Donald Trump. The majority center on women who feel a vote for Trump, who appointed the justices that helped overturn Roe v. Wade, is an affront to their bodily autonomy.

Its a trend that has inspired campaign ads on the left and sparked ire on the right, all while giving a glimpse into just how split men and women are about the man and the woman at the top of the presidential ticket. And while its unclear just how much itll reflect the actual gender gap this election cycle, its certainly turning the conversation in the last days of the campaigns toward an often-unspoken reality: Men have long intimidated women in an effort to ensure they vote the same, though women and men have long been split in their politics.

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So far, early voting data shows a 10-point divide in voter participation between men and women in battleground states, according to a Politico analysis. Women are more likely to vote Democrat.

But its still not clear how significantly different the gender gap is this election compared with past elections, and it wont be clear until all votes are in. About 20 percent of people are in marriages where their party is different from their spouses and theres evidence that number has actually been declining over time.

Assuming the trend of mixed-party partnerships is downward, Im not sure that we should expect the existence of [the videos] to be significant enough to alter the aggregate gender gap in any large way, said Kelly Dittmar, an associate professor of political science at Rutgers University and the director of research for its Center for Women and Politics.

And the decisions behind votes are often multifactorial, going beyond one identity. For example, White women are far less likely than Latinas or Black women to overwhelmingly vote Democrat.

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So far, there are some signs that Harris has been widening her lead with some groups of women, including a 19 percentage point lead with suburban women, according to a late October ABC/Ipsos poll. Men, meanwhile, and especially young men, have been swinging toward Trump by as much as 14 points compared with 2020, according to a recent Harvard Youth Poll.

If the rift between men and women widens, abortion could be part of the reason. Data shows that Democratic and Republican women are more likely than men in those parties to be influenced by a candidates stance on abortion, which is often one of the top election issues among women  though not usually the top issue, Dittmar said. During the midterm elections in 2022, which came just months after Roe v. Wade was overturned, womens stance on abortion was a powerful motivator that led Democrats to a stronger-than-expected showing.

Trump has acknowledged that abortion may be keeping some women from supporting him. Without abortion, women love me, he said on Fox earlier this month.

A story in The Cut this week details the stories of four women who are married to men who support Trump. Three of them cite reproductive access as one of the big issues dividing them, including one woman who struggled to get care after a miscarriage in Texas.

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I was at home by myself with my 3-year-old daughter and I thought I was going to die, she said. The fact that he didnt seem to care about that is heartbreaking.

But in a presidential election where turnout is higher, it remains to be seen if this issue will yield a markedly different turnout overall or by gender, and if we can attribute it to gender, Dittmar added.

Nevertheless, campaign ads are seizing on any possible political momentum behind the cancel out his vote message.

In one ad out this week, by Vote Common Good, a nonprofit that targets religiously motivated voters, a woman enters the ballot box after her husband, whose bald eagle emblazoned cap and Southern accent seems to be a nod toward him being a Trump supporter. She looks around and locks eyes with another woman before casting her vote for Harris.

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In the one place in America where women still have a right to choose, you can vote any way you want and no one will ever know, Julia Roberts narrates. Remember, what happens in the booth stays in the booth. Vote Harris-Walz.

In another ad, by the Lincoln Project, a political action committee formed by Republicans to defeat Trump, two men chat outside a polling location about how their wives are going to vote for Trump, even though they dont like the former president. But inside their polling booths, the women exchange a glance and one mouths, Kamala before they both  along with other women in the same location  fill the bubble next to the vice presidents name. Your vote is your secret, the ad reminds voters. Hell never know.

The ads indicate that keeping opposing votes a secret spares women from their husbands anger. Conservative news commentators seemed to confirm this hunch this week as the ads and TikTok trend went mainstream.

Fox News host Jesse Watters said this week that if he found out Emma was going in the voting booth and pulling the lever for Harris, thats the same thing as having an affair, a topic with which he has personal familiarity given that Emma DiGiovini, his second wife, is the person with whom he cheated on his first wife.

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also said Thursday night that the ads are an example of Democrats dishonesty.

For them to tell people to lie is just one further example of the depth of their corruption. How do you run a country where youre walking around saying, Wives should lie to their husbands, husbands should lie to their wives? Gingrich said on Fox. Gingrich also had an affair during his second marriage to the woman who would become his third wife.

The backlash from certain men who are horrified to think their wives might disagree with them actually proves our point, said Vote Common Goods Executive Director Doug Pagitt in a statement. We know the MAGA movement is putting increased pressure on people, but we also know the strong will of Americans when they stand in the voting booth.

The trend online has drawn emphatic reactions from women who say those at odds with their husbands should divorce them. But as some of the women who have told their stories explain, those decisions are complicated.

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I totally get why some people feel it is a massive deal-breaker. However, not everybody can instantly leave a relationship, said the woman in The Cut who had a miscarriage. If I could leave him, I would. But you need two workers to raise a family. I am in this. I have the option to stay and try to change his mind, or I can leave and potentially be homeless with my children. So Im gonna stick it out and try to get him to come around.

With days left until Election Day, the trend is now turning to show men who are joining in their wives support for Harris. How much that bears out remains to be seen. Men have generally supported the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 2000 save 2008, when they were evenly split on John McCain and Barack Obama.

The newer videos start with the same text, On my way to cancel out my husbands vote, before a jump cut.

Just kidding, one says. This is my husband, it says over a video of a husband wearing a Little Mermaid costume and a red wig as their daughter passes by in a matching costume. He would never vote against someone who wants to take away my rights/our daughters rights.

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The post Theyre on their way to cancel their husbands vote. Will it make a difference come Election Day? appeared first on The 19th.

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A West Des Moines man was charged with involuntary manslaughter for a crash in a Hy-Vee parking lot that left a 67-year-old woman dead.

At around 2:47 p.m. on Oct. 21, Des Moines Police Department patrol officers and Des Moines Fire Department rescue personnel responded to the parking lot at Hy-Vee at 2540 E. Euclid Ave. to investigate a report of a crash with injury, Sgt. Paul Parizek said in a news release.

Sheila Kay Albert, 67, of Des Moines, was found in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle, Parizek said. She was transported to UnityPoint-Methodist Medical Center, where she remained hospitalized until her death on Oct. 25, he said.

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This was the 15th traffic-related fatality of 2024 and the fourth involving a pedestrian, Parizek said.

The departments traffic unit completed their investigation and presented their findings to the Polk County Attorneys Office for review and charging guidance, Parizek said.

Evidence showed that the crash could have been avoided, Parizek said.

Jordan Allen, 35, of West Des Moines was subsequently arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, an aggravated misdemeanor, Parizek said.

Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: West Des Moines man charged for fatal crash in Hy-Vee parking lot
Chais Medal was 15 years old when Canton police officers killed her father in 2008 during a search warrant as part of a drug investigation.

She and her siblings asked the city for a formal apology. They never got one, just a court settlement check for roughly $40,000. She doesn't even know whether the county prosecutor even asked a grand jury to consider charges against the officers, who were never publicly named.

She's relived her father's death each time she's learned of another person killed by Canton police, including Jimmy James (2011), Hayden Stutz (2017), James Williams (2022), Jeff Neff (2023), Zachary Fornash (2023) and Frank Tyson (2024).

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Medal and her aunt, Veronica Earley, stood in the audience Saturday as Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone announced that a Stark County grand jury has indicted Canton police officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch on a charge of reckless homicide for the death of Tyson.

Tyson, 53, died following a struggle with officers inside the AMVETS on Sherrick Road SE.

If convicted of the third-degree felony, the officers could face as many as three years in prison.

"Today shows that we've come a long way, but we have a long way to go," said Earley, who has been a vocal activist against police brutality since her brother's death.

Veronica Earley, whose brother was killed by Canton police in 2008, ask questions of Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone Saturday during a press conference at the Stark County office building in Canton.

Activists: A 'small win' to build on

Other activists, Black community leaders and even Tyson's family reiterated Saturday that while they celebrate the announcement of the officers' criminal charges, their fight for accountability and to end excessive police use of force isn't over.

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"It's not the win we wanted," said John Tyson, the younger brother of Frank Tyson, "... (but) we're going to take this small win and build upon it and go to the next stage and phase."

The Tyson family's attorney, Bobby DiCello, said supporters shouldn't act as though the indictment is the end.

We also want to not act like Browns fans today, DiCello said. "You know what I mean by that? We won a game. And we dont want to get mad about it. This is not the time to criticize and condemn. This is the time to celebrate and uplift the name of Frank Tyson. This is the time to acknowledge that some step of justice has been taken in a long and painful journey."

Cassandra White, the mother of Zachary Fornash who was killed by police last year, said news of the charges against the officers involved in Tyson's death was bittersweet as she is happy for Tyson's family but reminded that the officer involved in her son's death was not charged and the news of it was announced on social media.

Cassandra White, whose son Zachary Fornash was fatally shot in December by a Canton police officer, speaks about police violence during a press conference Saturday about two officers being indicted for the death of Frank Tyson.

"It's a small win, but it's a win," said White, who has been attending Canton City Council meetings this year to call for police reform. "Maybe it's a sign that Canton recognizes that it has a problem."

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Vix Prunty of Orrville, who has been active with the Canton protests against police use of force since 2020, drove to the press conference Saturday in her blue four-door car that is covered with more than 1,200 names of Ohioans who have been killed by police officers since 2000.

The names include a dozen people killed in Canton by officers. Tyson's name is on the back driver's side door. Her hood displays the words "No More Names."

"It's hard because there's no justice for the dead," said Prunty, as she thought about the charges filed against the Canton police officers. "There's literally nothing you can do to right that wrong."

She favors restorative justice, where family members of the killed are included in the solution, rather than the punitive system in place now.

Local NAACP, Urban League and activists call for police reform

Thomas West, president of the Greater Stark County Urban League, said Tyson's death highlights a "troubling trend" that he said suggests that some law enforcement officers believe they are above the law.

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He called on the city of Canton to adopt a comprehensive de-escalation policy, mandatory implicit bias training from experts and a resolution supporting U.S. Rep Emilia Sykes' proposed Safety and De-escalation Act of 2024, which would require the U.S. Department of Justice to create a realistic, scenario-based training curriculum for law enforcement personnel based on issues they encounter daily.

West and Stark County NAACP President Hector McDaniel also urged the city to establish a new Community Policing Advisory Council, which would provide community oversight over the police department and would have more powers than the present Community Relations Commission that reviews police use-of-force cases after the internal investigation are done. The framework for the advisory council has not yet been presented to city officials.

West said the civic leaders met with city officials several months ago about potential changes, and now, with the arrest of the officers, that a new meeting should be held soon.

Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II said in a statement Saturday that he is limited on the information the city can provide due to the pending case against the officers.

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Reach Canton Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.

Family members of Frank Tyson along with community activists gathered together chanting phrases such as No justice, no peace," in support of Tyson at the conclusion of a press conference where Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone announced that a Stark County grand jury has indicted the two Canton police officers involved in Tyson's death.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton community reacts to charges filed in Frank Tyson death
The buzz of mosquitoes may be drowned out by the roar of airplanes starting Saturday night as low-flying planes begin aerial spraying for the blood-sucking insects in Flagler County, according to a press release.

Flagler County Emergency Management, the East Flagler Mosquito Control District and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have joined forces for the aerial attack on the stinging bugs due to a significant increase in mosquitos following Hurricane Milton, according to Flagler County Communications Coordinator Julie Murphy.

The spraying will likely begin Saturday evening and continue each night until Wednesday at dawn. The planes will fly from dusk to dawn.

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The planes will be flying at low altitude and will generate considerable noise, Murphy wrote.

The spraying will cover nearly the entire county, although no spraying will take place over organic farms and larger unpopulated natural areas, Murphy wrote.

The pesticide will be applied at ultra-low volume at less than an ounce per acre, Murphy wrote.

While mosquitoes are most active at night, beneficial insects, like pollinators, are less active, avoiding exposure to the spray, she wrote.

The active ingredients break down quickly and do not have any residual effects, Murphy wrote.

Beekeepers are being notified of the spraying, although no negative impact on bees is anticipated.

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The aerial assault on mosquitoes is contingent on the weather and the availability of the airplanes.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Low-flying planes in Flagler County spraying for mosquitoes
AMES, Iowa  Turning another page on the calendar means spooky season is in the rear view and the Great Pumpkin Disposal project has officially started in Story County.

The city of Ames is asking residents to place pumpkins inside drop-off bins near their Resource Recover Plant, instead of tossing them in the trash.

Ames has a waste energy disposal system, where they process garbage and use it in combination with natural gas to fuel the Ames Power Plant. Most food waste makes for terrible fuel because it has high moisture content and doesnt burn well. Therefore, for the last seven years, city officials have collected pumpkins in bins instead.

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Why are so many people voting early in Iowa?

Susan Gwiasda is the communications manager for the city of Ames. She said farmers looking to feed their animals are welcome to stop by and take pumpkins from the bin. Otherwise, all of the pumpkins will be composted.

Last year, 23,300 pounds of pumpkin was collected and over the course of the seven years that the city held this project, close to 100,000 pounds of pumpkin was collected.

Gwiasda said residents should remove any non-compostable decorations from the pumpkin before dropping it off in the bin.

The bins will be outside the Resource Recover Plant on the north side of the plant along East Second Street.

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Decaying pumpkins, gourds, corn, and harvest vegetables will be accepted in these bins through Sunday, December 1st.

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Campaign signs for former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the respective GOP and Democratic presidential nominees, appear Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, on Mount Desert Island in Maine. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  As the last weekend before Tuesdays presidential election approaches, voters who want more insight on where the candidates stand on major policy issues can get up to speed through a States Newsroom Washington Bureau series.

In these 10 articles, States Newsroom reported on the policy positions taken by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, ranging from education to taxes to Social Security and Medicare.

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They are:

Reproductive Rights

After the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 struck down the constitutional right to abortion, Democrats made restoring access to reproductive care a core campaign issue.

The story is here.

U.S. Supreme Court reform

The U.S. Supreme Court has been mired in controversy, from several ethics scandals to calls from Democrats to expand the number of justices on the court.

The story is here.

Immigration

One policy issue that Trump has made central to his campaign is immigration. At his campaign rallies across the country hes promised mass deportations of millions of immigrants living in the country without authorization.

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Harris has mainly stated that she would revive a bipartisan congressional agreement when it comes to addressing U.S. immigration policy.

The story is here.

Social Security and Medicare

Addressing the Social Security and Medicare trust funds will become an increasingly important job for the incoming president and Congress for the next decade.

The story is here.

Climate and Energy

As several states like North Carolina and Tennessee recover from Category 4 Hurricane Helene, climate change has taken up little attention in the 2024 presidential race, despite its wide-ranging effects.

The story is here

Housing

While housing is typically handled at the local level, both presidential candidates want to tackle the housing crisis at the federal level.

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The story is here.

Education

On the campaign trail, education policies have rarely been in the spotlight, though the candidates policies on K-12 and higher education widely differ.

The story is here.

Taxes

A 2017 tax law crafted under the Trump administration is set to expire next year, meaning whichever candidate wins the White House will either overhaul the previous law or extend it.

The story is here.

Guns

Both candidates agree that gun violence is a problem, but thats the end of where Harris and Trump are in concurrence.

The story is here.

Foreign Policy

Regardless of who wins the White House, the next president will have several international crises to address. That includes the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putins refusal to retreat from Ukraine and U.S-China trade relations.

The story is here.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump have widely differing positions on many policy issues. (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  As the last weekend before Tuesdays presidential election approaches, voters who want more insight on where the candidates stand on major policy issues can get up to speed through a States Newsroom Washington Bureau series.

In these 10 articles, States Newsroom reported on the policy positions taken by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, ranging from education to taxes to Social Security and Medicare.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They are:

Reproductive Rights

After the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 struck down the constitutional right to abortion, Democrats made restoring access to reproductive care a core campaign issue.

The story is here.

U.S. Supreme Court reform

The U.S. Supreme Court has been mired in controversy, from several ethics scandals to calls from Democrats to expand the number of justices on the court.

The story is here.

Immigration

One policy issue that Trump has made central to his campaign is immigration. At his campaign rallies across the country, hes promised mass deportations of millions of immigrants living in the country without authorization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Harris has mainly stated that she would revive a bipartisan congressional agreement when it comes to addressing U.S. immigration policy.

The story is here.

Social Security and Medicare

Addressing the Social Security and Medicare trust funds will become an increasingly important job for the incoming president and Congress for the next decade.

The story is here.

Climate and Energy

As several states like Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee recover from Category 4 Hurricane Helene, climate change has taken up little attention in the 2024 presidential race, despite its wide-ranging effects.

The story is here.

Housing

While housing is typically handled at the local level, both presidential candidates want to tackle the housing crisis at the federal level.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The story is here.

Education

On the campaign trail, education policies have rarely been in the spotlight, although the candidates policies on K-12 and higher education widely differ.

The story is here.

Taxes

A 2017 tax law crafted under the Trump administration is set to expire next year, meaning whichever candidate wins the White House will either overhaul the previous law or extend it.

The story is here.

Guns

Both candidates agree that gun violence is a problem, but thats the end of where Harris and Trump are in concurrence.

The story is here.

Foreign Policy

Regardless of who wins the White House, the next president will have several international crises to address. That includes the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putins refusal to retreat from Ukraine, and U.S-China trade relations.

The story is here.
The News

Looking at the international political situation, we see news report after news report about the rise of nationalism and right-wing populism.

Even in Latin America, which was considered the epicenter of a left-wing revival just a few years ago, momentum across the region appears to lie with the right, headlined by economic conservative Javier Mileis victory in Argentina. In short, a second Trump term could bring him a lot more friends around the world.

But dont count out left-wing populism just yet. While the tides are clearly moving toward more nationalist and anti-immigrant candidates now, there may be a ray of sunlight indicating a future for the left, albeit in some unexpected places.

Know More

While conversations around the left typically center Europe, the Anglosphere, and Latin America, its actually Asia that might hold some of their best opportunities.

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In South Korea, the conservative government has become deeply unpopular, providing an opening for political opposition. Right now, last elections runner-up and former Gyeonggi governor Lee Jae Myung is the frontrunner in polls. Lee has been labeled South Koreas Bernie Sanders, and has broadened his signature pledge for a universal basic income to include elements of what he calls a universal basic society, that includes housing as a right.

Neighboring Japan just held an election that saw the LDP lose its majority in shocking fashion. While Japans major opposition party, the Constitutional Democrats, arent exactly left-wing, there is new activity within the Japanese left.

The Reiwa Shinsengumi party, led by the actor Taro Yamamoto, positions themselves as progressive populists and has campaigned vigorously for the rights of immigrants and the disabled. After expanding their seat share in the election, the party has carved out a significant base of support in some polls.

Jump to Thailand, and victory for progressives almost feels inevitable someday, despite staggering political harassment from an authoritarian government. In 2023, the Move Forward Party surged on a wave of youth support to place first in legislative elections. Move Forward was blocked from taking office, its leader temporarily suspended from parliament, and the party has since been dissolved  but they still place first in surveys.

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And while the most recent tide of success for the left in South America may have crested, its still possible a half-decade of impending right-wing governments could send the pendulum in the other direction. Already, there are signs of life for bruised progressives on the continent. A recent poll of Chile saw the left-wing mayor of Maipu, Tomas Vodanovic, charging ahead into second place. Vodanovic may not run in 2025, but stands out as a name to watch.

Given the nature of modern politics, where popularity is nearly impossible for politicians to maintain, theres reason to believe the Latin American left would be capable of staging a comeback even if right-wingers take power.

The same holds true in the US. Victory for Donald Trump could create an opening for progressives in the next Democratic primary. Following a lauded DNC speech, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez might have a shot at consolidating a core of support within the party, especially with the backing of close ally Bernie Sanders.

In Europe, firmly left-wing parties have remained mostly stagnant for around a decade. France, though, poses a major exception, and the France Unbowed movement of firebrand leader Jean-luc Melenchon still holds a pole position within the left, even if his approval polling is poor. The movement is likely to make a serious run in 2027.

Brads View

A renewed left across the world could have different priorities. The war in Gaza has provoked an outcry against what campaigners decry as Israeli atrocities, and strong support for Palestine may become a litmus test for many progressive voters. Nowhere would this have greater consequence than in America, where support for Israel is a long-held position of both major parties.

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In many cases, victory for the left could mean its respective countrys most left-wing government ever. Japan, South Korea, Thailand, France and the US have never seen outright left-wing governments in their history. The stakes would be potentially massive changes to domestic and foreign policy.

While serious challenges remain in the way of these movements getting elected, the opportunities are real. An overzealous right could one day find itself faced with a world of opposite reactions, and maybe sooner than it thinks.

Notable
In a few days time we will know who is to be the next president of the United States. Or maybe not. The plausible outcomes supposedly include a Donald Trump landslide, a Kamala Harris win in the popular vote but with an electoral college majority for Trump, and an outright dead heat. But none of the possible results are expected to produce contentment and conciliation amongst the population. Indeed, there are serious suggestions that something like civil war could follow the announcement of what any irreconcilable army of supporters sees as an unacceptable ending.

It is notable that the Trump campaign is ramping up its confident predictions that he will win by a landslide presumably in order to lay the ground for an immediate accusation of foul play if he loses. If he is beaten by Kamala Harris narrowly or even (as seems unlikely) decisively, you can bet that there will be orchestrated civic unrest that will put the 6th of January siege of the Capitol into the shade, as well as a deluge of litigious disputes on every possible point of contention.

In short, it is almost impossible now to imagine any result that could bring general confidence in a just settlement to the American democratic process. But even if Trump wins convincingly both the popular vote and an electoral college majority, I can confidently predict that he will not instantly become a benign, conciliatory figure determined to heal the terrible divisions within the nations political life.

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On the contrary, he will do what he has explicitly promised to do: seek out his enemies and tormentors and wreak terrible vengeance. He will effectively weaponise the presidency for personal revenge. His return to the White House might avoid the immediate catastrophe of armed insurrection but it will prolong the bitterness of Americas internal battle indefinitely. So whether he wins or loses, he will continue to subvert the social contract on which American democracy was constructed.

This is not just a tragedy for the country that was the incarnation of one of the greatest dreams that human reason has devised  a nation created from nothing that could offer freedom and justice to diverse peoples in return for their acceptance of its rules. Much more, it is a catastrophe for that large portion of the world which had placed a bet on the chances of government of the people, by the people and for the people winning out over the ancient forces of totalitarianism.

It is easy for blase Europeans to miss the point of all this: what I have just described  the idea of America as a moral mission offering a vision of what human social organisation could be at its most enlightened  can seem naively optimistic or absurdly vainglorious to peoples whose conception of politics has endured generations of corruption and betrayal, where the idea of nationhood itself has led directly to dictatorship and catastrophic war.

Even the rituals of American civic life  pledging allegiance to the flag and referring in reverential tones to the Constitution  appear ridiculous, or sinister, to populations which have solemnly vowed that they would never again worship nationhood and its symbols. Indeed, one of the driving motivations of the European Union was precisely to subsume those dangerously divisive loyalties into a supra-national body which would, by design, not be elected: benign oligarchy was much safer than relying on the judgment of people who had once elected Adolf Hitler.

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If much of the Old World has repudiated the ideas of nationhood as sacred and patriotism as a virtue, how can they possibly appreciate just how bizarre and unnatural the Trump phenomenon is in Americas own terms? Of course, Trump himself seems to be playing precisely those cards  national pride and love of country. But he seems to know nothing  quite literally nothing  about what those principles meant to the Founders who drafted the sacred documents which state so clearly its existential purpose. The United States was created as a conscious act to prove that it was possible for men (sorry, but in the eighteenth century it had to be men) of differing origins and beliefs to live together in harmony and tolerance, and to choose their leaders by orderly election and legal agreement.

This was unique in world history because it was a deliberate invention. Unlike other eighteenth century revolutionary republics, such as France, the United States did not emerge from an existing historic culture. It was a brand new experimental thing. The peoples who came to settle in it were leaving their roots  with all their familiar comforts and limitations  behind them, to sign up for something completely untested. The only thing that bound them together was the idea of America and what it represented: equality, opportunity and the hope of a shared humanity. That is why Americans are taught to see their political institutions as sacred and the documents which designed them as holy texts.

So how on earth is it possible for a man like Trump, who demeans these ideals in every absurd performance and travesties the values to which this new land was dedicated, to be seen as a saviour of the nations pride?

I often hear British commentators imposing their characteristic ironic detachment on this situation: Trump is a clown at best, a malignant narcissist at worst but what of it? Politics is just a game and occasionally the Joker wins.

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No, you dont understand  in America it is not a game. Democracy is a sanctified rite. Politicians themselves may be ridiculed but the process of electing your government is an act of devotion not to be mocked, because it delivered you  or your forebears  from persecution or tyranny in return for an acceptance of this common purpose. That is what made the storming of the Capitol on January 6th and Trumps attempted coup so devastatingly shocking: an event from which no American politician should ever have recovered.

And yet he did. He has come roaring back, still crying out for vengeance. And nothing  not even shamelessly hateful remarks by his supporters, or Elon Musk turning the election into a game show  seems to matter.

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A good friend of mine worked on one of the Conservative leadership campaigns over the last few weeks. Whilst the media were busy focusing on the personal rivalry between Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch, the real problem for the Conservative Party is not personal, but ideological. My friend says that, as hes been travelling around the country, hes clearly seen that there are two Conservative Parties.

One group tends towards Reform, like me, and very much wants the Conservative Party to adopt our policies. The rest he describes as the Liberal Democrats. In the old days, we might have called them the One Nation wing. But these are the Remainers. These are the status quo Conservatives, and these are the people who havent even begun to recognise why the general election went as badly as it did.

The Jenrick campaign has been very interesting to watch. The Remainer centrist, who in the past stood up for nothing in particular and used to be known as Robert Generic, has undergone a Damascene conversion. His resignation as Immigration Minister and his focus on reducing the numbers coming into Britain have led many to say he is now the leader of the Faragist wing in the Conservative Party.

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Whether this is a serious conversion or simply posturing for political gain is very difficult to judge at this stage. But let us, for a moment, assume that he is genuine, and consider what his positioning really means. There is no doubt that the cross-Channel illegal immigration crisis hurt the Conservative Party in an enormous way.

Jenrick has now followed the Reform line: we will never sort this out if we remain subject to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Furthermore, he understands that the incorporation of the European Convention into EU law means our judges too often reject deportation orders. He has rightly said that we should leave the court and amend the Human Rights Act 1998 to remove the convention.

To counter this position, the grandees and their centrist media friends did everything they can to ensure that Badenoch won. It is like the Brexit referendum debate all over again and shows that the centrist One Nation group is still very much in charge of the Conservative Party. The policy divide between the Conservative Party and Reform remains intact with this result.

The Badenoch campaign has also been backed and supported by the very same apparatchiks who have held sway for the last 40 years. From Michael Gove downwards, a Badenoch win represents an unchanged, unreformed Conservative Party. She will, of course, pose as tough as ever, but her record  if you compare what she has said with what she has done over the last few years  makes for dismal reading.

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Very often, Badenoch has been seen as tough on immigration, yet she campaigned hard for foreign students coming into Britain to be allowed to bring dependants. On the European Union, once again, she talks about being a Brexiteer, yet, as a minister, she ran away from the chance to repeal thousands of EU laws.

In the country as a whole, the problem for the Conservative Party is far bigger than they realise. Whilst Labour has had an awful start and is falling rapidly in the polls, that is not enough for the Conservatives to win the next election, as many current MPs believe. The sense of betrayal felt by millions of 2019 voters will not be undone by a fresh set of promises now. The fundamental problem is that the brand is broken and will not recover for many years to come, if ever. The gap in the common-sense ground of British politics is still enormous, and Reform intends to fill it.

People talk to me about a deal, but remember that in 2019, I got Reform to stand aside in 300 seats only to be horribly let down. Why would I ever trust the Tories again? Their brand is broken and they have lost the trust of the British people.

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NEVADA, Iowa  Across Iowa the voting lines have been long. An unofficial survey shows that somewhere around 20-25% of votes in the state have been cast.

I did poll some of my auditor friends and just asked where they were kind of at with numbers, and a lot of them are between 20 to 25% already voted absentee, said Rebecca Bissell, President of the Iowa County Auditors Association. The time crunch going down to 20 days to vote via mail, a lot of people are not, theyre not trusting the mail process or the mail that they had to get their ballots in and out so then theyre coming up and voting in person.

Bissell is the Adams County Auditor, in Corning. She said that the change from a 29-day period to mail out and send back absentee voter ballots by mail has people worried. Those who were mailing are now, to be safe, coming to vote in-person at the county auditors office.

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Story County Auditor Lucy Martin has also noticed more people coming in to her office. This voting cycle there have been 500 people a day coming into the auditors office to vote early absentee. That is double the total four years ago, when the mail in period was 29 days.

1 dead, 1 critically injured in shooting on north side of Des Moines

Its like putting your thumb on a hose, right, so that those absentee ballots used to be like this and then they took time off both ends and now its like this, said Martin. People that used to get a mail ballot maybe decided to come in person.

Martin said all county auditors offices will be open on Saturday November 2. Story County will also have absentee voting at the Ames Public Library on Saturday, and also the auditors office will be open. She said in Ames four years ago, the college students had left, due to the pandemic. This year, she wonders if they will vote here, or back home. She also believes Election Day will be busy as well, in terms of lines at the polls.

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A lot of people just really want to have their vote counted, which is exactly what auditors are wanting and so if theyre busy on Tuesday, said Bissell. A lot of people are going be out of town for business or just maybe back in the field after we got some rain here, so just to make sure that they can get it done, and so were seeing a lot and come in to our office.

Latest Iowa News:

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Nearly three years into Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war has brought no shortage of complicated twists and turns. But one bizarre new element particularly stands out: North Korean troops in the battlefield mix.

South Korean intelligence first raised the alarm last month about their presence inside Russia, and since then, mounting evidence of that claim has been aired at NATO headquarters in Brussels, at the United Nations and in Washington.

For an already beleaguered Ukraine , the development is yet another flashing danger sign. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told South Korean television on Thursday that he expected North Korean troops to take part in combat against Ukrainian forces within days, not months.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, standing alongside senior South Korean officials at the State Department  and speaking hours after North Korea conducted its longest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile test  made a similar prediction Thursday, saying Russia could use North Korean forces in front-line operations in coming days.

A TV screen in Seoul shows an image of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile launch on Oct. 31. (Lee Jin-man / Associated Press)

Here is some background on how they came to stand at the doorstep of a fray 5,000 miles from home  and what the ramifications might be for the region and the wider world.

How big a deal is this?

Some analysts have framed it as a watershed moment.

The arrival of North Korean soldiers on the battlefields of Europe is a historically unprecedented event that represents a major escalation in the largest European invasion since World War II, wrote Peter Dickinson, editor of the Atlantic Council think tanks publication UkraineAlert.

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Others, however, suggested that a contingent of some 10,000 North Korean forces  the figure cited by Blinken and the Pentagon  would do little to alter broad battlefield dynamics in a war in which estimates of Russian and Ukrainian military casualties already exceed half a million.

Read more: U.S. confirms North Korean troops in Russia amid fears they'll be sent to fight in Ukraine

Why now?

Even if not numerically significant, any infusion of manpower can count at a time when both sides are suffering attrition and scrambling to find recruits.

The North Korean troops are thought to include some members of its special forces, and Ukrainian intelligence has said the contingent includes at least three high-ranking generals. North Korea for some time has been providing Russia with artillery and ballistic missiles to use against Ukraine, and its forces could help make more effective use of such weaponry.

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Some analysts have said the move to seek outside help should be read as a sign of weakness on Moscows part.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, with Vladimir Putin in 2019. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / Associated Press)

It is because Russia is failing to achieve significant results on the battlefield that it resorts to drawing more manpower and drawing more materiel and kit from its allies, Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine forum at the British think tank Chatham House, said in a webinar put on by the organization.

Zelensky, though, framed it as a Russian test of the will of Ukraines allies.

Putin is checking the reaction of the West, he said in his interview with South Korean television. And I believe that after all these reactions, Putin will decide and increase the contingent.

Will this lead to escalation?

Kremlin officials say NATOs long-standing aid to Ukraine is really no different than a friendly nation moving to help Russias war effort.

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But throughout the war, both sides have taken care to avoid turning the conflict into a direct battle between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, whose 32 member nations, including the U.S., have a mutual-defense pact.

North Korea turned up the rhetorical heat in a visit to Moscow on Friday by its foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, who met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. She said her government will stand by Russia until it prevails in Ukraine, calling it a holy war, and accused South Korea and the United States of planning a nuclear attack on North Korea.

South Korea, meanwhile, has already said it is weighing moving to help Ukraine militarily in response to North Koreas move.

Ukrainian soldiers plant landmines and other obstacles along the front line near Chasiv Yar in Ukraine's Donetsk region on Oct. 30. (Oleg Petrasiuk / Associated Press)

What about China?

All this has left Beijing in an awkward position.

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China has been supportive of Russia in the course of the Ukraine war  though stopping short of providing it with offensive weaponry  but has reason to be wary of a warming between Moscow and Pyongyang.

China does not like Russia to have so much influence over the North, wrote Victor Cha, the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. In addition, if the longer-term ramifications of this cooperation lead to greater [North Korean] capabilities that invite even more U.S. military presence and allied capabilities in Chinas region, that does not benefit China.

Read more: The rest of the world, too, anxiously awaits U.S. election results

How does North Korea benefit?

North Korea and Russia signed a strategic partnership accord in June, and analysts said there could be a quick quid pro quo for the troop deployment.

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That could involve food assistance and financial support, said Chatham House Korea analyst Edward Howell, but what Kim Jong Un wants the most is advanced missile technology.

We know North Korea wants to improve its satellite technology capability, conventional weapons capability and missile delivery systems, he said at Fridays webinar.

South Korea has amplified its own warnings, telling the Pentagon this week that North Korea is very likely to seek technology relating to tactical nuclear weapons, reconnaissance satellites and nuclear submarines.

How does the U.S. election play into this?

Transitions between U.S. administrations can be a tense time, particularly since the last one. Traditionally, Washington conveys stern but quiet warnings to adversaries against attempting to try to gain any military advantage from a perceived period of uncertainty, stressing that a changeover does not alter U.S. readiness.

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If Kamala Harris were to win Tuesdays vote, there would probably be a greater continuity between the Biden administration and her own. If Donald Trump prevails, or contests the result, it could add a significant element of volatility.

Gen. Mark A. Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described a sense of necessity for "deconfliction" measures during the final days of the last Trump administration.

In testimony last year, Milley told the Senate Armed Services Committee about his phone conversations with a Chinese general in 2021, including one that came days after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Milley said the calls with Gen. Li Zuocheng were intended to reassure China that the United States had no intention of staging an attack.

That testimony came after publication of the book "Peril"  by reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa  which said that Milley was worried at the time about the potential for erratic behavior by the departing president.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The NYPDs Superman would be sick to his stomach at the thought of Vice President Harris winning the White House, his widow told The Post.

Bronx Warrant Squad Detective Joe Lemm was just 45 when he was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2015 four days before Christmas. It was the heros third deployment overseas with the Air National Guard while a member of the NYPD.

He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star for placing himself between the killer and his team members, absorbing the brunt of the explosion and shielding other airmen from potentially fatal wounds, according to the award citation. Five other airmen were killed in the attack outside Bagram Air Field.

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The married father of two  who earned his nickname for chiseled good looks and guts while repeatedly serving abroad and working in the tough-as-nails NYPD squad charged with hunting outlaws  would have rejected the Harris-Biden administrations lack of support for our our military and police departments across the country, Christine Lemm said.

NYPD widow Christine Lemm and her children, Brooke and Ryan, hold a street dedication sign in her husbands memory. Helayne Seidman

Joe wanted Trump in office, she said. He saw too many things overseas and was confident Trump could handle our enemies.

A lot of lost lives would be in vain if this administration continues, overseas and locally, added Lemm, a staunch Trump supporter who pointed to the Biden administrations disastrous pullout from Afghanistan.

The 51-year-old met President Trump and got a hug from him at a wreath laying for her husband in Midtown Manhattan in 2019.

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She now avoids the Big Apple because of the violent fallout of criminal justice reforms, she said.

Criminals are being locked up and slapped on the hands and theyre being let out with no bail, and once again, that is a policy of, for the most part, our Democratic officials in office, the Westchester County resident said.

Facebook photo of Joseph Lemm pictured with his kids Ryan and Brooke.

Lemm faulted local liberals who have passed criminal justice reforms that have handcuffed cops and made people less safe. Bail reform, onerous discovery rules, and Raise the Age laws reforms have made it difficult to arrest bad guys and keep them in jail.

Theyre put back out on the streets, not once, not twice, multiple times over and over again, she said. So I just I cant understand how were allowing this to happen, how the current administrations, from the presidency down to local agencies, are allowing this to happen.

New York Post cover honoring Lemm after he was killed. NEW YORK POST

Print edition of the New York Post story covering Joe Lemms death. NEW YORK POST

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Im really scared for my children, for their safety and for their future, said Lemm, whose daughter is a 25-year-old Arlington, Va., police officer, and son is a 13-year-old middle-schooler.

Detective Joseph Lemm, who was known as Superman, was killed by a suicide bomber while serving in Afghanistan.

While the Democratic Party points to FBI reports that crime was down nationally in 2023  and NYC touts drops in most major crimes  detractors note that the the FBIs national data is incomplete because many cities dont share theirs, and that heinous crimes are being committed by migrants amid a surge of illegal immigration. In New York City, where hundreds of migrant arrests were reported this year, felonious assaults and rapes have increased by 5% and 16% respectively.

NYPD Detective Joe Lemm with his family.

Christine Lemm, widow of Det. Joseph Lemm, (center) with her children Ryan, 13, and Brooke, 25, who is a corporal with the Arlington, Va., Police Department. Courtesy of Christine Lemm

Lemm is upset about illegal immigration and actually hears the migrant flights from border states landing in the middle of the night at the airport near her home.

I live close to Westchester County Airport, she said. I know theyre flying migrants in across the country, and you know theyre coming through the borders, and theyre ending up all over the country, not just in the border states.

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Lemm, who voted early and for Trump, believes the U.S. should support its allies internationally  especially Israel  but focus on home.

We need to focus on the USA, said the mom. We do more for other countries than we do for America.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Even though we havent made it to Thanksgiving quite yet, its time for Oahu residents to start turning their creative wheels for the 2024 Holiday Wreath Contest.

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Artists must create wreaths inspired by the theme Christmas for the Keiki. Officials said the contest is part of the Honolulu City Lights celebration.

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Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Hawaii Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

The contest is divided into three categories:

Adult: Individual or group of participants 18 years of age or older

Youth: Individuals 17 years of age or younger

Theme: Wreaths that depict the Christmas for the Keiki theme

The wreaths will be judged on workmanship, creativity, use of materials and how well participants incorporated the theme.

Dont leave that ballot box blank! Ballot measure 1 fully explained

Cash prizes and a ribbon will be given to the winners in each division. Judges will award the following prizes to winners:

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First Place: $150

Second Place: $100

Third Place: $75

Judges Choice Awards (6): $25

Additionally, a Best in Show wreath will receive the Mayors Holly Award of $200.

When you get to top of this hike, its spooky and eerie: Hawaii hikes

Once participants are ready to submit their wreaths, they should drop them off at Lane Gallery of Honolulu Hale on Monday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a contest entry form.

Officials said early or late entries will not be accepted. Winners will then be selected and notified by Friday, Dec. 6.

The wreaths will be on display at Lane Gallery of Honolulu Hale from Dec. 7, 2024 to Jan. 2, 2025.

Check out whats going on around the nation on our National News page

Secure your entry form today by heading to a Satellite City Hall near you or downloading this file.

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If you have any questions or need more information, contact the Mayors Office of Cultura and Arts at (808) 768-6622.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A third group of wineries filed a lawsuit against PacifiCorp in Multnomah County on Thursday over the utility companys role in the Labor Fires of 2020.

The lawsuit seeks over $4 million and was filed by six wineries, including lead plaintiff Lumos Wine Company, Flaneur Wines LLC., Flanerie Vineyard LLC., Kings Grade Vineyards LLC., West Hills Stable & Vineyard LLC., and Pudding River Wine Cellars LLC.

This marks the latest lawsuit local wineries have brought against PacifiCorp, with attorneys from Baker Hostetler law firm representing 91 wineries in lawsuits against the utility company  including three cases in Multnomah County, and one in Yamhill, Marion, and Washington counties.

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PHOTOS: Nine sunken boats removed from Columbia River in St. Helens

The lawsuit alleges that PacifiCorp was negligent for not shutting off powerlines despite red flag weather warnings from the National Weather Service and warnings from state officials  leading their powerlines to ignite and wildfire smoke damaging the plaintiffs grapes and wine.

Robert Julian, an attorney representing the wineries, told KOIN 6 News on Friday that the Labor Day Fires brought devastation for small wineries, adding, they live pretty much year to year, and losing the 2020 vintage took a big chunk out of their 2021-22 profits.

Its in our interest that PacifiCorp stays in business, Julian explained. Im very sensitive to a lot of the issues that PacifiCorp has raised about helping them come up with a good fire protection plan and help from the legislature so that they can stay in business and pay off these verdicts as they come down, and they will keep coming down.

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Portland City commissioners file to end joint homelessness efforts with Multnomah County

The first trial in Yamhill County is scheduled for April, followed by a trial set for August in Marion County for the Willamette Valley Vineyards case.

The plaintiffs attorneys with Baker Hostetler are also holding town halls Nov. 19 and Dec. 10, 2024, in McMinnville for potential new clients to learn about the case, Julian said, noting they estimate another 800 wineries are eligible to join the wildfire litigation.

When reached for comment by KOIN 6 News, PacifiCorp released the following statement:

The 2020 wildfires were undeniably tragic. To date, PacifiCorp has settled more than 2,000 claims related to the 2020 wildfires. PacifiCorp has resolved and will continue to resolve all reasonable claims. In total, more than 2,000 wildfires burned across Oregon in 2020, 12 of which started on Labor Day. The reality is that the entire state was engulfed in smoke from fires not started by PacifiCorps equipment, including the lightning-caused Beachie Creek fire that tore through the Santiam Canyon.

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PacifiCorp has a robust wildfire mitigation plan that has been in place since 2019. This plan was approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. PacifiCorp has added in-house meteorologists, installed hundreds of weather stations that monitor fire conditions in real time, and continues to improve its ability to provide safe, reliable power to Oregon customers.

PacifiCorp has provided affordable, essential utility services to Oregonians for over 100 years. The companys ability to provide these essential services is being threatened by spurious lawsuits like these and excessive wildfire damages pursued by out of state plaintiff attorneys who have a substantial financial stake in these outcomes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Historian Allan Lichtman, who has accurately predicted nine of the last 10 presidential elections, said he still thinks Kamala Harris will beat Donald Trump but that he feels particularly nervous this year.

"I've been doing this for 42 years and every four years I have butterflies in my stomach," he said. "This year, I think I have a flock of crows in my stomach."

Lichtman said the candidates' neck-and-neck polling in key swing states does not make him nervous. He trusts his "13 Keys to the White House" system and still believes Harris will become the country's next president. However, in a live video interview with his son Sam on his YouTube channel, the presidential forecaster explained that he is worried about the fragility of democracy, noting that the political system has not actually been around for all that long.

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"For the vast sweep of human history, there has been almost no democracy. Peoples were governed by the divine right of kings, by right of birth, or by the sword and blood," he said. "Democracy is a very recent development."

 Allan Lichtman: Historian who accurately predicted 9 of last 10 presidential elections makes his 2024 pick

Both presidential campaigns have cast their rival as a "threat to democracy" during the 2024 cycle. Trump has called Harris a "communist" and Harris has called Trump a "fascist." A Washington Post poll released in June showed more than 70% of Democrat and Republican voters saw threats to democracy in the U.S. as "extremely important."

Who is Allan Lichtman?

Before receiving the title of "Distinguished Professor" from the American University in Washington, D.C., Lichtman, 77, earned a Ph.D. specializing in modern American history and quantitative methods at Harvard.

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He is best known for helping establish the presidential prediction system that uses thirteen true-or-false statements. When five or less are false, the incumbent party candidate is expected to win. When six or more are false, the challenging party is expected to win.

This year, Lichtman said at least eight of the keys favor Harris.

Using this system, he correctly predicted the outcome of every election since 1984, except for the famously close race in 2000, in which Republican George W. Bush defeated Democrat Al Gore.

What are the 13 keys?

The keys and Lichtman's assessment of each include:

 After the midterm elections, the incumbent party holds more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives than it did after the previous midterm elections. (False)

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 There is no serious contest for the incumbent-party nomination. (True)

The incumbent-party candidate is the sitting president. (False)

 There is no significant third-party challenger. (True)

 The short-term economy is strong. (True)

 The long-term economic growth has been as good as the last two terms. (True)

 The White House party has made major changes to national policy. (True)

 There is not sustained social unrest during the term. (True)

 The White House administration and party is untainted by scandal (True)

 The incumbent administration suffers no major failure in foreign or military affairs. (Leans False)

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 The incumbent administration achieves a major success in foreign or military affairs. (Leans True)

 The incumbent-party candidate is charismatic or a national hero. (False)

 The challenging-party candidate is not charismatic or a national hero. (True)

Reach Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com and follow her on X @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who is winning election 2024? Allan Lichtman next president prediction
Voting carrels set up at Madison's Hawthorne Library on Election Day 2022. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) approved communication to election clerks Friday to help prepare them for a potential recount of presidential election results in Wisconsin. Commissioners also approved guidance for clerks about how to handle prospective voters who present photo IDs marked as Limited Term and NonDomiciled, which could indicate they werent citizens when it was issued.

Wisconsin received petitions for a full or partial recount of the presidential elections in 2020 and 2016. In both years, the results in Wisconsin were decided by about 20,000 votes. Under state law, a recount is permitted if the margin is 1% or less between the top two vote-getters.

Meagan Wolfe | Wisconsin Elections Commission

WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe said the materials were being considered to make sure that the commission can communicate to local election officials the timeline and process for a recount, so everybodys prepared and they can staff appropriately.

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In 2020, the Commission considered making some changes after the election to clean up things  and that was met with a lot of resistance because people didnt want the commission to be changing things once we already knew who the parties to a recount might be, Wolfe said. Todays memorandum and the draft communication are really meant to make sure that everybodys on the same page.

Commissioners unanimously approved the communication, which includes information about recount deadlines, information needed to determine recount fees, minor revisions to the recount manual and about how commission staff plans to compile unofficial county results to track recount margins.

A recount must be requested within one business day of the elections commission receiving all the completed county canvasses. The deadline for a recount would be Nov. 30.

Weve presented a timeline that shows exactly when the various aspects of a recount would take place, so that again our local election officials and any potential parties to a recount would be able to prepare for that possibility and understand when that recount could potentially occur, Wolfe said.

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The communication will also include information to help clerks make preliminary estimates of the cost of a recount. Wolfe said election officials should plan ahead so that if a candidate is within the recall margin and asks for a recount, officials can produce a cost estimate quickly, which the candidate must pay for. In 2020, former President Donald Trump paid $3 million for recounts in Milwaukee and Dane Counties, which confirmed President Joe Bidens victory.

We dont want to be thinking about it for the first time when there is some type of recount pending, Wolfe said. We want to think about it ahead of time and make sure that everybodys prepared to provide that information in a very expedited way.

Wisconsin has a decentralized election system with 1,850 Municipal clerks and 72 County clerks  a total of 1,922 local election officials. On election night, municipal clerks will report unofficial results to their county clerks. The Commission plans to go to each countys website, see the unofficial results that have been posted, and enter the data in a spreadsheet for the federal contest and for any other state-level contest where the margin may be close and post it publicly.

Usually we do this sort of behind the scenes because we have to know, is there a contest or candidate where were within the recount margin if theyre eligible, Wolfe said, but I think this is a more transparent way to do it, so that everybody knows where that data comes from and where to turn to to find whether or not a contest is eligible to request a recount.

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Clerks will receive communication about one substantive change to the recount guide: the removal of guidance that clerks can conduct administrative review of recount materials before the Board of Canvassers meets. The change was for transparency and statutory compliance purposes, according to the draft communication. Other changes were not substantive and added statutory citations, provided additional detail or clarity or reorganized information to resolve ambiguities.

The commission also approved guidance for clerks about IDs issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with limited term and NonDomiciled labels, which are issued to temporary visitors. The DMV has been able to issue these types of ID since 2016.

Wolfe said during a press call that there have been some questions about noncitizens in voting, and that theres been a lot of really inaccurate information on the issue. She emphasized that noncitizens are not allowed to vote in elections. Republicans have focused on the issue of noncitizen voting in recent years, and placed a referendum on ballots this November to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to change one word to prevent non-U.S. citizens from voting in any local, state or federal elections.

We understand that some non-citizens that are in the country legally may have a photo ID issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles that shows the word limited term or non-domicile. Its also important to understand that, in many circumstances, an individual who may have that type of ID could in fact be a U.S citizen, if they have since been naturalized after receiving that limited-term license, Wolfe said during a press call ahead of the meeting. This is why the guidance our commission is considering today emphasizes to poll workers that they would need to follow proper challenge procedures that would allow the voter to respond to any such allegations.

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The guidance explains that IDs marked Limited Term indicate that the ID holder is a non-immigrant (Temporary Visitor) with legal status in the United States and IDs marked Non-Domiciled indicate a commercial drivers license holder is a non-immigrant (Temporary Visitor) with legal status in the United States. It says that, in accordance with statutes, the licenses must be accepted as a proper form of voter identification, but that possessing a valid identification does not necessarily mean the holder of the identification is eligible to vote.

The draft guidance states that if an election inspector notices that a photo ID contains an indication that the individual may not be eligible to vote, state law directs that the inspector examine whether the persons qualifications to vote should be challenged. It also provides a script clerks can use.

This is not a change in procedure or law, Wolfe continued. The challenge process has always been an avenue for election inspectors to ensure that only eligible voters can participate. For instance, if a poll worker were to see that based on someones photo ID, theyre only 16 years old, they would initiate the same challenge process to that voters eligibility.

Commissioner Bob Spindell, a Republican, cast the only vote against the guidance.

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Commissioner Mark Thomsen, a Democrat, said its unfortunate the issue came up.

We used this law in 2016 when Donald Trump won, and weve used it in every election since that. This hasnt been an issue, Thomsen said. I voted for years without even ever giving my poll worker an ID. We used to actually just trust each other and our neighbors to run the elections, and I really believe we have to get back there. I trust the people in my neighborhood to run the election, and we know we run clean elections in Wisconsin, and we should stop the talk about all this nonsense that we cant trust our neighbors.

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A 52-year-old woman accused of killing her boyfriend in Greene County then traveling to Nebraska has been formally charged.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Janel Nelson, of Wisconsin, was indicted on one count of murder and one count of felonious assault on Oct. 25.

TRENDING STORIES:

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She is accused of killing her on-again, off-again boyfriend Michael Corrigan, 55, in his Beavercreek home in August.

According to a previous News Center 7 report, Beavercreek police say they found the handgun they think Nelson used in her car.

She was arrested in Omaha, Nebraska on Aug. 27, extradited to Ohio, and immediately booked into the Greene County Jail.

Nelson made her first court appearance nearly 12 hours after police flew her back from Nebraska, as previously reported by News Center 7.

She is being held on a $1 million bond and remains booked in the Greene County Jail.

Court documents indicate her jury trial is set to start Nov. 18.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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CHICAGO (WGN)  A 47-year-old woman is accused of smuggling drug-soaked paper into Cook County Jail, the Sheriffs Office announced Friday.

According to authorities, Nakeisha Andrews faces a felony charge of bringing a controlled substance into a penal institution after visiting the jail on Aug. 29.

Nakeisha Andrews (Photo courtesy of Cook County Sheriffs Office)

Deputies said they learned that Andrews might attempt to bring in the drug-soaked paper while visiting the jail. When Andrews arrived, officers searched her and discovered an 8 x 10 piece of paper wrapped in plastic from inside her shirt.

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The drug-soaked paper came back positive for heroin and fentanyl.

Andrews was taken into custody on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and was released one day later pending trial.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

This year alone, the Sheriffs Office said it has secured 59 charges in connection with possessing or smuggling drug-soaked paper into 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 WGN-TV.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Odessa Police Department has arrested another person in connection with a hit-and-run drunk driving crash that left 25-year-old Alex Bingham dead. 24-year-old Nadia Trevino has been charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor, a state jail felony.

Bingham died Wednesday morning but was struck by a hit-and-run driver outside his home early Sunday. Heres what we know of the crash:

Around 1:35 a.m. on October 27, officers with the Odessa Police Department were called to the 3700 block of Everglade to investigate a hit and run crash. At the scene, officers found a seriously injured Bingham lying face down in the road. Bingham was taken to Medical Center Hospital where he underwent surgery and was placed on life support; he died several days later.

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Binghams wife said that her husband went outside after he heard a loud noise and was struck by a dark colored Dodge Challenger that left the scene without stopping.

Investigators followed a trail of skid marks away from the crash site and found the Challenger abandoned down the street from where Bingham was struck. OPD said the Dodge had extensive body damage and was missing its right front wheel; inside the car, officers found a cell phone and wallet belonging to Jose Contreras.

A short time later, officers received a call that the driver could be found at a home on East Century; when officers arrived at the home, the driver was gone, but investigators did speak with two women who said they were in the vehicle when it crashed into Bingham and they confirmed that Contreras was behind the wheel.

While speaking with those witnesses, officers received another call from dispatch advising that Contreras was at a Kent Kwik gas station on N Grandview and that hed called 911 to report that his car had been stolen.

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When investigators arrived at the gas station, they met with Contreras and said he smelled strongly of alcohol and was extremely emotional. During an interview with investigators, Contreras reportedly admitted that hed been drinking and that he knew hed hit something on Everglade but had thought at the time that hed struck a fence.

Previous Coverage: DWI hit-and-run victim dies, suspect facing manslaughter charges

Previous Coverage: Affidavit reveals news details in deadly DWI crash

Contreras was arrested and booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on one count of Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle Causing Serious Bodily Injury and one count of Collision Causing Serious Bodily Injury, both third-degree felonies. He was released from custody on a combined $30,000 bond the day after the crash but was arrested again on October 30. Hes now facing an additional charge of Intoxication Manslaughter, a second-degree felony.

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Now, investigators said they arrested Trevino after learning that she allegedly supplied Contreras with alcohol prior to the crash. OPD said the investigation is ongoing.

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DIXMOOR, Ill.  A woman who was part of a funeral procession was shot and killed in Dixmoor Saturday afternoon.

Dixmoor police said the shooting happened just after noon at the intersection of 147th and Seeley Street.

When officers arrived, they found a white Jaguar SUV that had crashed into a home. Inside the vehicle was a woman, 34-year-old Rhomesha Turner, who appeared to have been shot multiple times.

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Police said Turner was part of a funeral procession that had just left St. Marks Church in Harvey.

2 CPD officers injured after being sprayed by fire extinguisher in Englewood

Turner was taken to Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey where she died, according to investigators.

Police added the incident appears to be isolated.

The Dixmoor Police Department, with assistance from the Illinois State Police, is conducting an ongoing investigation.

No other information was released.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Emergency forces in Spain were able to rescue a woman trapped inside a car alongside the dead body of her sister-in-law for three days following the deadly flash floods in Spain, where the death toll has now climbed slightly to 211.

Police in the municipality of Moncada shared a video on social media platform X on Saturday showing the president of Valencia's civil defence, Martin Perez, delivering the news of the woman's rescue to employees amid applause.

The woman is said to have been trapped in the vehicle in the municipality of Benetusser, south of the city of Valencia, for three days alongside the body of her sister-in-law, news agency Europapress reported citing the local Las Provincias newspaper.

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Rescue workers heard her screaming as they towed away cars stuck in a tunnel. The woman was taken for a medical examination, but no further details about her state were initially known.

At least 211 people were killed in Tuesday's storms and floods in Spain's southern and eastern regions, most of them in the Valencia region, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday after a meeting about response to the disaster.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said earlier on Saturday that he expects the number to continue rising as rescue teams continue to conduct searches in the hardest-hit areas.

There are fears that many more people will be found dead in cars swept away by the torrential rains that flooded towns and caused rivers to burst their banks earlier this week.

Thousands of volunteers heading to worst-hit villages

Around 15,000 volunteer clean-up workers are being shuttled from the city of Valencia to devastated villages nearby, according to Europapress.

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The first volunteer workers left Valencia on Saturday morning in buses and were due to return in the afternoon, after which further groups will be taken to the flooded areas, according to Europapress.

The Valencia regional government had set up a volunteer coordination centre on Friday to oversee the efforts.

Officials, however, urged volunteers not to drive into the affected areas in their own cars in order to avoid blocking roads for rescue workers.

Tight restrictions on driving throughout the region to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles remain in effect until Sunday.

Meanwhile, another 5,000 soldiers are being deployed to the affected areas this weekend to reinforce the 2,000 troops already there, according to broadcaster RTVE. Another 5,000 local police officers and members of the Guardia Civil national gendarmerie are also being deployed.

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Sanchez said the additional 10,000 police and soldiers would help speed recovery and clean-up work in the disaster zone.

Many villages are covered in mud, with cars, furniture and other household items still piled on top of each other in the streets.

According to the authorities, most of the power supply has now been restored.
BLOUNT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  A Blount County woman was killed and an Arab man was injured in a head-on collision Friday.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said around 7:33 p.m. Friday, 31-year-old Kali M. Heaton was killed in a head-on collision.

ALEA said Heaton was driving her car when she collided head-on with 44-year-old Joshua Cory Dean Carr from Arab.

The agency said Carr was injured in the accident and airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for treatment.

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ALEA said the crash happened on Alabama 79 near the 26-mile marker in Blount County.

Troopers with ALEAs Highway Patrol Division will continue to investigate this 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 WHNT.com.
Three days after the deadly flash floods in Spain, emergency forces in the badly-hit Valencia region were able to rescue a woman trapped inside a car alongside the dead body of her sister-in-law.

Police in the municipality of Moncada shared a video on social media platform X showing the president of Valencia's civil defence, Martin Perez, delivering the news of the woman's rescue to employees amid applause.

The woman is said to have been trapped in the vehicle in the municipality of Benetusser, south of the city of Valencia, for three days alongside the body of her sister-in-law, news agency Europapress reported citing the local Las Provincias newspaper.

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Rescue workers heard her screaming as they towed away cars stuck in a tunnel. The woman was taken for a medical examination, but no further details about her state were initially known.

According to the latest figures from the Spanish government, 211 people lost their lives in the severe storms on Tuesday, most of them in the Valencia region.
A Kansas City, Kansas, woman incarcerated in a state prison alleges the Department of Corrections ignored her medical problems, leading to a hospitalization and surgery in September, as well as lifelong kidney failure.

Regena Robinson and her mother Carol Robinson filed a federal lawsuit in mid-October. Carol Robinson said she and her attorney have also had problems getting information about her daughters whereabouts and condition.

Its been very stressful, Carol Robinson said in a phone interview on Wednesday. Ive been praying a lot.

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David Thompson, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The department contracts with Centurion Health, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Regena Robinson, 44, of KCK, has been serving time for a parole violation at the state prison for women, Topeka Correctional Facility, since February 2023.

About seven months later, she began having trouble breathing. She went to the prisons medical facility multiple times for the breathing problem, high blood pressure and dizziness. Her symptoms worsened.

Carol Robinson said during phone calls, her daughter would relay the health issues she was experiencing. Sometimes she would get an aspirin.

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It was getting frustrating, Carol Robinson said.

Regena Robinson has three sons, two are adults and one is a teen. Carol Robinson said her daughter is a funny girl who makes her family laugh doing impressions.

Everybody loves Regena, she said.

According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 25, Regena Robinson was having so much trouble breathing that she told her roommate that if she did not make it, she could keep her belongings. Her roommate took her down to a medical facility in a wheelchair where she passed out.

She was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery that day. Medical staff found fluid in her lungs and diagnosed her with a rare autoimmune disease. They also told her she had kidney failure and would need dialysis for the rest of her life.

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Carol Robinson, of Wichita, said she was not informed her daughter had been taken to the hospital or was undergoing surgery. For a time, she was not told which hospital her daughter was at and had limited information about what was happening. Corrections staff, she said, gave her the run around or did not return her phone messages.

The Robinsons hired Kansas City attorney Madison McBratney, who said one of their biggest concerns was the Department of Corrections lack of urgency. Kidney failure doesnt happen overnight, she said.

McBratney filed the lawsuit seeking a stop to Regina Robinsons release back to the prison and alleging neglect that violated her constitutional rights.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren issued an order stipulating Robinson not be released against medical advice.

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McBratney said she was surprised to learn on Tuesday that her client had been sent back to prison. She said Regena Robinson will still need outpatient dialysis three times per week, and theres no plan for a plasma treatment she was receiving, which is not available on an outpatient basis.

Thats a pretty major concern, McBratney said.

She said their main priority now is Regena Robinsons quality of life, given her severe kidney problems.

Carol Robinson said she understands that people in prison have made bad choices.

But, she said, You still have rights, she said.

Theyre still people.
After she finished her overnight shift at the Kansas City Ford Assembly Plant, Natisha Johnson, 45, put on her yellow vest and headed to the River Market Saturday morning.

Running on an hour of sleep, Johnson and several other members of the United Auto Workers Local 249 union joined forces with hundreds of people in a march advocating for womens rights ahead of the 2024 General Election.

I made sure I woke up for this, this morning, because its important that we highlight the important factors of the election, Johnson said.

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Voters will decide Tuesday whether to overturn Missouris near-total ban on abortion or keep the laws currently in place.

Missouri has effectively banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, except in cases of medical emergency. The State legislature had passed a trigger law and implemented the ban minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 with its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization.

Missouri is one of 10 states voting on abortion rights in November. About half of those could overturn current bans or restrictions, including Missouri, South Dakota, Florida, Nebraska and Arizona.

Among other topics of discussion at the march Saturday, various speakers and advocates focused their efforts on promoting a yes vote for Amendment 3.

People carrying picket signs gather in Kansas Citys River Market neighborhood for a march advocating for reproductive rights on Nov. 2, 2024.

A yes vote would restrict the state from prohibiting abortion access or limiting state funding to organizations because they provide abortion or contraceptives. These rights and changes would be enshrined in the state constitution and would be more difficult to overturn through legislation than the states previous restrictive abortion rights were.

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A no vote on Amendment 3 would support Missouris abortion rights and laws remaining the same, keeping the current ban on abortion in place. People needing abortions could still legally go to another state, like Illinois or Kansas, to access the procedure.

Johnson, who is on the womens committee of Local 249, said she gets frustrated when politicians distract voters from the issues that are important to most people. By participating in Saturdays march ahead of the vote, and other advocacy efforts, she can highlight what she fears is actually happening  womens rights being taken away.

Its important that we all, not just women, but everybody, get out and make sure our voices are heard, Johnson said. And make sure to get out and vote.

Natisha Johnson, 45, poses with a group of people in the United Auto Workers Local 249 union before a march in Kansas City on Nov. 2, 2024 advocating for reproductive rights in Missouri.

Hundreds of abortion rights advocates march in KC

Event organizers shared personal stories Saturday morning of how limited reproductive healthcare access has impacted Missourians lives.

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A crowd of a few hundred carried picket signs and chanted rhymes as they walked from the middle of Kansas Citys River Market neighborhood, and then up and down streets across northern Kansas City.

Barbara Lanning, 71, and her lifetime best friend Stephanie Myers, 71, both made the drive from Lawson, Missouri to take part in the march.

Barbara Lanning, 71, and Stephanie Myers, 71, of Lawson, Missouri, participated in a march for reproductive rights on Nov. 2, 2024.

We were teenagers before Roe v. Wade, and we saw what happened with women who could not get safe abortions, Lanning said.

Myers said she has worked to encourage and inform younger women in her family about Roe v. Wade and state laws that have come out of it being overturned.

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I have a granddaughter and great granddaughters that Im marching for, Myers said. To try to not lose any more rights.

Lanning and Myers both said womens rights and voting for candidates who would support Amendment 3 are the most important issues to them in next weeks election.

In the wake of everything that has happened when it comes to reproductive freedom, this election is very important, said Seania Crowley, 30, an organizer with the march. Amendment 3 is this ray of hope that we can finally restore womens reproductive rights.

A crowd of a couple hundred people gathered in the Kansas Citys River Market neighborhood on Nov. 2, 2024 to march and advocate for abortion access. Organizers promoted a Yes vote on Amendment 3 in Missouri ahead of the 2024 General Election.

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Fight back with joy

Across town, starting at noon and lasting into the middle afternoon Saturday, the Reale Justice Network held a rally for Missouris Amendment 3 vote at Mill Creek Park.

Music played over loudspeakers as those in attendance were encouraged to dance and spread an emotion that can be hard to come by in the election season: joy.

One of the most revolutionary things you can have is joy, said MVyonne Payne, 35, and a leader of the Reale Justice Network. So instead of being so angry like we can feel, and is valid in times like this, were going to fight back with our joy.

MVyonne Payne, leader with Reale Justice Network, at a rally for Missouris Amendment 3 vote at Mill Street Park in Kansas City on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Payne said the goal of the event was to promote unity and help inform voters of key issues.

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We are really about stopping election misinformation, Payne said. Its something that we have been going to Jefferson City and talking to our representatives (about).

People have the right to be informed on the issues, Payne said, and that her organization strives to help make that happen.

The goal of this event today and the hope is that we allow people to see that we are so much more stronger together than we are separated, Payne said. Were gonna give them joy.
Wooden City, which quickly became one of Tacomas most popular restaurants when it opened in 2018, will move to a bigger downtown location at 1102 Broadway, likely next year.

Its welcome news for anyone who has tried to pop by, even for a stool at the bar, seemingly any day of the week. And it gets better: Owners Jon Green, Abe Fox and Eddie Gulberg are planning a new, yet-to-be-revealed concept at the original address, 714 Pacific Ave.

On Wednesday, they showed their management team around the 7,000-square-foot empty shell, which has high ceilings, steel structural beams and a mezzanine that will be able to host private parties. Like the first, it will also have an open kitchen, but the wood-fired pizza oven will be more front-and-center.

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Green, the chef of the ownership trio, is eager to expand the menu just a touch, potentially to include a third homemade pasta and a full-time steak main.

People are excited, said Fox in an earlier October phone call with The News Tribune. Employees are getting tons of questions and concerns  theyre worried that its not gonna be the same and all that.

The foundation of Wooden City, they said, wont change: thoughtful hospitality, a great atmosphere that suits both special occasions and casual hangs, top-notch cocktails with a focus on the classics, familiar foods executed at a high level. (See: the now-classic lamb bolognese on homemade rigatoni, the juicy double-patty burger, the messy but unduly satisfying peel-and-eat shrimp, the blistered wax peppers with cheese and chive oil.) But the move is something of an upgrade, noted Fox, and there are some elements that weve been wanting to test.

Put simply, the kitchen at their Pac Ave restaurant  their first as owners  is not wholly equipped for what they do now.

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Were actually busier than weve ever been, said Fox.

Wooden City will move into a much bigger, 7,000-square-foot space on Broadway, likely in 2025. The original location on Pac Ave, which is just 2,500 square feet, will welcome a new concept from the same team.

A NEW HOME FOR WOODEN CITY

Theres still carpet on the floors, and some engineering work to be done, continued Fox, but much of the floor plan and overall design is fleshed out. They also have far more experience building out a restaurant than they did in 2018.

Indeed, there are soon-to-be five Wooden City restaurants in three states.

In 2020, they landed on the other side of the Cascades, renovating the historic Genesee Block building in downtown Spokane. In 2022, they debuted in another salvaged downtown space with around 100 seats in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Last year, they took over Greenlake Tavern in Seattle and this year have been busy in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Tacoma, the flagship, is actually the smallest at just 2,500 square feet and around 50 seats.

Amid all that activity, they were exploring an expansion in the mid-sized city  still their home base, personally and professionally  that started it all.

The developer of the Broadway building, J Squared, approached them more than a year ago. (The News Tribune leases office space from J Squared). Managing partner Jeff Mincheff said he and his colleagues were thrilled when they engaged [and] were ecstatic now that they have actually signed the agreement.

They knew we werent in a hurry, said Fox. Then the gossip started rolling, and they decided to share the news in an Instagram post in late September that was shared nearly 500 times, which was insane.

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Mincheff described their new tenant as a gamechanger for the building, which originally was Fishers Department Store and until the early 2000s offices for Columbia Bank  and this particular nook of downtown.

As it stands, said Mincheff, the Theater District feels like just an office community, where most activity stops around 5 p.m. J Squared and MJR Development, which owns Tacoma Centre nearer to the convention center, recently began collaborating on a retail-and-restaurant initiative theyre calling Best of Broadway.

Presuming people fill the thousands of new apartments coming online, They need places to go and things to do, said Mincheff.

Wooden City, along with established nightlife in the corridor that includes line-dancing destination Steel Creek and nearly four-decade sushi stalwart Fujiya, will create an important anchor point for an 18-hour district.

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It was in part this vision that convinced the Wooden City team to say yes.

That section in particular is my favorite street in Tacoma, said Fox. Were not starting that growth  were gonna be a part of it.

The team, many of whom have worked at the original outpost for five or so years, is hopeful for a smooth transition with no pause in service when move-in date arrives.

At 714 Pacific Ave., they will still hold a lease of several years.

We have the name, we have the concept, we know what its gonna be, teased Fox. Well announce that really soon.

Lets just say it will be very Wooden City-esque, oriented around the bar, and still really casual, but easier on the kitchen.

Back row from left: co-owners Jon Green and Abe Fox, bar manager Alex King, FOH lead Michael Reid; front row: assistant general manager Brookelynn Hiatt, executive chef Lili Mancini, general manager Erin Conners Bergfield at the new location of Wooden City in Tacoma, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

WOODEN CITY TACOMA

 Current Address: 714 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, woodencitytacoma.com

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 Daily 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; reservations recommended, bar walk-ins only

 Details: moving to 1102 Broadway  target late 2025, new concept to replace current location; follow instagram.com/woodencitytacoma for updates
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Phildelia Marc was thrilled with the opportunity to help clean up storm debris, working for a private contractor hired by the City of St. Petersburg through its Hometown Recovery Haulers program.

I needed the money, Marc said. I mean who dont need the money. $200 a load if you can get as many as you can. Thats good money. Thats why a lot of were lined up, hauling this junk.

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8 on Your Side

She spent one long day loading up her white van with debris and taking it to a city dump,

but nearly two weeks later, she hasnt seen a dime.

Marc said she unloaded five hauls and is owed $1,000. At least 25 people worked as subcontractors for man-assigned placard #83.

Some people did 10, Marc said. Some people did 12.

Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken went to city hall for answers and was told theyd look into this.

She reached to the contractor, Ronald Gibson.

With no set return date, Pinellas seniors left in limbo after hurricane damages community

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He said none of his 25 workers have been paid yet because he was waiting on his check from the city to clear. He explained that he is paid $300 per load and will pass long $200 of that to workers.

However, he said Marcs group didnt upload their photos correctly, and he hasnt been paid for their hauls yet.

Marc said she is hopeful that the city, the contractor, and the workers can get extra time to clear this up. Meanwhile, though, she said she felt used.

Weve been waiting 72 hours after 72 hours, and today is the third 72 hours were going to have to wait, she said.

Gibson, the contractor, said hes meeting most workers tomorrow morning with checks.

he said hes trying to clear up confusion for other workers so he can get paid and pass along money to them.

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A spokesperson for the city said they worked with 100 contractors and have issued 189 checks totaling $1.3 million.

She said they have six contractors that have deficiencies in their submissions, and they are working to correct that and pay them.

As far as Marc is concerned, the city said they can pay only the contractor, and its his responsibility to pay his workers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Wichita police are looking for a person wanted in connection to a homicide investigation on Halloween that left a 13-year-old boy dead.

A police spokesperson tells KSN they have issued a felony pickup for Jermall Campbell, 19, of Wichita.

Based on the nature of this crime and the potential for retaliatory violence, we believed it was necessary to provide additional information to the public seeking assistance to locate him and make an arrest, said Officer Kristopher Gupilan, a public information officer for the WPD, in an email to KSN.

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The shooting happened at Central and Oliver and also injured a 15-year-old boy. If you have any information, police are asking you to call 316-268-4407 or call 911.

KSN typically does not name individuals believed to be connected to a crime unless charges are filed. However, because Wichita police are requesting the publics help and their concern for additional violence, KSN is releasing the 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 KSN-TV.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  WVU Medicine Childrens Hospital hosted a Level Up party on Friday as a pre-game kickoff in partnership with the West Virginia chapter of Extra Life Guild.

The national charity aims to give back to Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals by using the power of gaming and board games to host events and fundraisers for hospitals.

Salvation Army kicks off 2024 Angel Tree program

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During the event kids at the hospital got to play different games and were even joined by the hospitals therapy dog, Atlas, to play some games and give some cuddles.

Brian Moats, President of WV Extra Life Guild, discussed how important it was to host the event.

Been doing this since 2012 and it was sort of just this fun thing to do with some friends and getting to see and work with the kids, its just made it a lot of fun so I like to see the impacts we have on kids lives.

Since they began fundraising, the West Virginia chapter has raised nearly $400,000 for WVU Medicine Childrens.

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Rapper YNW Melly  who has been behind bars in Broward County since 2019  is suing the Broward Sheriffs Office in a bid to be immediately released from jail, citing egregious violations of his constitutional rights.

The 12-page lawsuit, filed by attorney Michael Pizzi on Saturday in Miami federal court, says the rapper has been kept in total isolation with no way to contact the outside world and has also been barred from meeting with his legal team on several occasions. The conditions Melly is living in, the document alleges, shock the conscience and could not even be imagined ... even in a third-world country that has no guard rails protecting human decency and dignity.

It is utterly disgraceful that in this day and age, a young Black male has been placed in debilitating isolation and deprived of seeing his own mother for years, Pizzi told the Miami Herald.

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READ MORE: Nearly a year after hung jury, YNW Mellys retrial still looms. Where does case stand?

Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, is accused of gunning down his childhood friends Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. in an alleged drive-by cover-up after spending the early morning hours of Oct. 26, 2018, at a Fort Lauderdale recording studio. Williams and Thomas, both aspiring rappers with the YNW collective, were known as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy, respectively.

The Broward Sheriffs Office didnt immediately respond to the Heralds request for comment.

Debilitating isolation

For three years, Melly hasnt been allowed to make phone calls or have visits with his family, including his mother Jamie King, according to the filing.

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[Melly] has and continues to be subjected to the type of debilitating isolation that renders his conditions of incarceration cruel, unusual and beyond belief in a civilized society governed by Constitutional safeguards, the lawsuit says.

The Broward Sheriffs Office, the filing alleges, placed unreasonable restrictions on visits with his attorneys. The rappers legal team has had to wait hours to see him at the jail  and was once also forced into a room where anyone standing outside could overhear them, the lawsuit says.

Defense attorney Raven Liberty told the Herald shes shown up to the jail and has been left waiting for substantial periods of time on several occasions.

Conditions there have restricted her ability to prepare her defense with Melly, she said. The current setup is Plexiglas with a phone connection, and shes concerned about having to talk about privileged information over it rather than face to face.

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When Melly was transferred to the Paul Rein Detention Facility earlier this year, He was being treated like Hannibal Lecter, like in that movie [Silence of the Lambs], she said. [All were seeking is] fair treatment of my client and his defense team.

The circumstances of Mellys detention stem from a 2022 grievance report a fellow inmate filed against the rapper, in which the inmate claimed that Melly was planning an escape by having one of his attorneys bring in handcuff keys, according to the lawsuit. Detention officers, in response to the complaint, searched Mellys cell, seizing commissary items and jail-issued clothes.

A further investigation, the lawsuit says, concluded no wrongdoing. The rappers attorneys raised the issue to lawyers for the Broward Sheriffs Office, but Melly was still moved into solitary confinement, where he has remained for years.

Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, speaks to someone in the courtroom gallery during a hearing in his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

At one point, the rapper was transferred to a unit where he was only allowed outside his cell for an hour and had no contact with other inmates, according to the filing. While at another Broward jail earlier this year, Melly was housed on a floor by himself, in a cell without a door. A member of the sheriffs office emergency response team guarded him around the clock, and jail staff was instructed not to speak to him, the lawsuit says.

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This isolation has inflicted enormous emotional impact on him and is designed to deteriorate his mental health and his ability to prepare for a trial that is now scheduled in September 2025, the filing read.

In July 2023, a deadlocked jury caused a mistrial, setting off a whirlwind that ended with a prosecutor ousted, key evidence thrown out and new charges being filed. Since then, the case has remained at a standstill due to an ongoing appeal over the evidence excluded from the trial.

The rapper is facing the death penalty. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death by an 8-4 jury vote, the lowest threshold in the country for a death sentence. His retrial is set to begin in early 2025.

Mr. Demons cruel and punitive treatment and the interference in his legal defense by government officials is a throwback to the worst of the chain-gang days where inmates who are presumed innocent were given no rights and no protections, Pizzi told the Herald. This is even worse in a case where he was not convicted at trial and where the assigned prosecutor was disqualified by the judge.

Miami Herald reporter Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (PIX11)  State trooper Thomas Mascia was given a heros welcome as he was released from Nassau University Medical Center on Long Island on Friday.

He was released less than 48 hours after he was shot by what he thought was a stranded driver on the Southern State Parkway on Wednesday night.

Search widens for suspect who shot State Trooper known for kindness

The shooting happened near Exit 17 in West Hempstead around 11:45 p.m. when Mascia approached a Dodge Charger parked on the left side of the road, according to officials.

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As he approached the rear of the suspects vehicle, he heard several pops and realized he was wounded in his right leg, New York State Police Superintendent Steven James said during a briefing Thursday morning.

More Long Island News

Anyone with information is urged to call New York State Police Troop L at (631) 756-3300. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Watch the video player for the full interview.

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.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, left, speaks with his attorney Brian Steel at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. He was indicted in a RICO case earlier this year. - Credit: Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP

When Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug stepped up to a courtroom podium Thursday to give a non-negotiated plea in his gang and racketeering conspiracy case in Atlanta, it was a gamble that paid off.

Without any safety net in the form of a signed deal with prosecutors, the artist born Jeffery Williams pleaded no contest to his two top charges alleging he was the fearsome kingpin of a criminal street gang called Young Slime Life. He then pleaded guilty to all six of his remaining charges, including one count admitting participation in a street gang. He was immediately sentenced to time served and released on 15 years of probation in a stunning turn of events after spending the last two and a half years languishing in jail amid the longest trial in Georgia state history.

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Three of Williams five RICO trial co-defendants already had pleaded out over the prior week with negotiated deals prompted by an evidence mishap last week. But Williams entered his plea amid ongoing conflict with Fulton County prosecutors. Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love read aloud more than a dozen lines of lyrics attributed to Williams that she said claimed were overt acts in furtherance of a criminal enterprise. She accused Williams of helping orchestrate a murder and recommended he spend 25 years in prison.

Williams longtime defense lawyer, Brian Steel, spent more than 35 minutes methodically attacking the states theory of the case. Steel called Loves recitation of lyrics offensive, blasted the states alleged misrepresentation of evidence and said he believed Williams was winning and should continue fighting for an acquittal. Mr. Williams is actually innocent, he said.

It was certainly aggressive, Joshua Schiffer, a criminal defense lawyer in Atlanta whos been following the case, tells Rolling Stone. Its a humongous gamble to place an entire sentence in the hands of a judge, especially one who was a former prosecutor and who sends people to prison all the time. And its a giant risk to talk too much during a plea. You can talk a judge out of doing what you want. Brian Steel obviously had a lot of confidence the judge would be receptive to the defense argument that the state had overstated their case.

After Steel finished his address Thursday, Fulton County Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Williams to a punishment that didnt even include Williams offer to spend three years on house arrest with an ankle monitor. She said it wasnt lost on her that shortly before plea negotiations broke down, prosecutors had been willing to entirely dismiss Williams RICO conspiracy count, one of his two gang counts and a count for possession of a machine gun. (According to Steel, the talks reached an impasse over the conditions prosecutors wanted, including his admission he was the leader of a criminal street gang.)

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Here are five times Steel accused prosecutors of distorting evidence and misunderstanding the music industry during his final address to the court before sentencing Thursday:

Music Lyrics

During her opening statement in the case last November, Love made it clear lyrics would be evidence in the case. We didnt chase the lyrics to solve the murder, we chased the murder and found the lyrics, she said. On Thursday, she recited line after line listed in the indictment, including several from Young Thugs 2020 song Take It to Trial with fellow rappers Gunna and Yak Gotti. From Young Thugs 2018 song Anybody featuring Nicki Minaj, Love recited the lines, I never killed anybody, but I got something to do with that body, and I told them to shoot a hundred rounds.

The fact that the state has put in Mr. Williams lyrics is offensive. Mr. Williams has tens of thousands of recordings, Steel told the court Thursday. Some of the lyrics you just heard are not even uttered by Mr. Williams. The state has no idea when these lyrics were made. Indeed, one of the lines recited by Love on Thursday  Watch me whack that bitch, pop em like a cyst, Glock with the assist  was rapped by Gunna in Take It To Trial. Another line in the same song, For slimes you know I kill, is rapped by Yak Gotti.

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Thats not even said by Mr. Williams, but they dont care to find out. They are on tunnel vision to try to convict a man who should not be convicted, Steel said. The statement about, I never killed nobody, but I got something to do with that body. If the state just bothered to talk to anybody, that is a Nicki Minaj song  written by Nicki Minaj.

2. The 2015 Shooting of Lil Waynes Tour Bus

Love told the court Thursday that prosecutors believed they could prove Williams was in a legitimately violent feud with Lil Wayne at the time of the May 2015 bus shooting after Williams said he planned to name his next album Carter VI while Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Carter Jr., was still working on Tha Carter V. Love told the court that Williams was threatened with litigation over the name and said derogatory things about the persons threatening him with the lawsuit. She also said that Jimmy Winfrey, the man ultimately convicted of shooting the bus, was captured on at least one jail call with an alleged member of YSL talking about his need for a lawyer.

Steel told the court that prosecutors were mistaken. Mr. Wiliams had no conflict with [Lil] Wayne. They are friends, he said, adding that Williams comments at the time were designed to drum up popularity and interest. He said had the trial continued, he would have brought in members of Williams team to testify that they encouraged Williams to start a rap battle, it will be better for your career. Steel said that Lil Wayne has subsequently confirmed in interviews that he considers Williams a friend who idolizes him. They did an album together. In 2014, theyre in the studio together, making music together. It is all made up that Mr. Williams is involved [in the shooting], he said. He said Williams even gave a voluntary statement to police calling the tour bus shooting outrageous.

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What the state of Georgia has presented to this jury in this courtroom the past year has been full of untruths and they know it, Steel told the judge. He added that authorities had zero evidence Williams gave any assistance to Winfrey.

3. Lil Uzi Verts Pink Diamond on His Head

In the states indictment, Williams is accused of engaging in a Feb. 2021 conversation with two other alleged YSL gang members in which he stated, YSL rule the world kid. 24m on a n- head. Steel attacked this accusation in his statement to the court even though Love didnt bring it up. He said the state appeared to abandon the allegation after learning from the defense that it was a reference to fellow hip-hop artist Lil Uzi Vert.

The state put that in the indictment, [that Williams] put out a call for murder  put a $24 million murder for hire [contact] on a persons head. That is a lot of money. And that is awful. If they would have read the chat, the Instagram chat, right above it, theres a picture of a very well-known, very accomplished musical artist [Lil Uzi Vert] who actually had surgically implanted in his forehead a pink diamond worth $24 million that day, Steel said. Thats what Mr. Williams was talking about. Thats the type of evidence coming from the state of Georgia in this case. It is wrong. This is all wrong. I know were pleading guilty, and I know were pleading no contest  but this is the type of evidence there is. It is holding this man hostage.

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4. His Relationship With Rich Homie Quan

Love told the court Thursday that prosecutors believe Williams rented the gray Infinity that allegedly was used in the Jan. 10, 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas, the crime at the center of the indictment that purportedly set off a full-blown war between YSL and Thomas alleged gang, Inglewood Family. She alleged that phone evidence suggested Williams spoke with alleged YSL members just minutes after Donovan was gunned down outside a barbershop and that he gave money to alleged YSL members to lay low in Miami afterward.

Williams grimaced in protest Thursday when Love made the allegations related to Thomas.

Mr. Williams has nothing but empathy, sympathy, and sorrow. They were friends. It is a lie. What the prosecution has put before this jury is a lie, Steel said, referring to the states theory Williams played a role in the murder. What happens here is that the prosecution comes up with a theory because they need a motive, he said.

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Steel said prosecutors tried to portray Williams as an enemy of Rich Homie Quan, a fellow rapper who died last month, without realizing the men were close friends. The state tried to make it in this case that Mr. Williams and Rich Homie Quan are enemies because Rich Homie Quan will not sign with a record label that has nothing to do with Mr. Williams. The state wants it to be that Donovan Thomas interceded and would not let Rich Homie Quan sign to Bryan Birdman Williams, and that is the reason Jeffery Williams had a feud and killed Donovan Thomas.

Steel said if the trial continued, he would have shown evidence that Williams and Rich Homie Quan were friends who hung out and traveled together in December 2014. He said other evidence would show Williams was friends with Thomas as well and grieved his death. He said just days before Thomas was gunned down, he was hanging out with Williams on Birdmans tour bus in Atlanta. They were very close, he said.

5. His Alleged Rivalry With YFN Lucci

Love told the court Thursday that prosecutors believe Williams proved his animosity for Inglewood Family members when he posted an image on social media, tagged fellow rapper and alleged IF Gang member YFN Lucci and wrote, yfn if ain like what u do for your mother and kids I WOULDVE BEEN KILLED U. In the indictment, this Aug. 2019 post was described as an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy. Speaking Thursday, Love said it was shared online not long after a shooting in the alleged gang war between YSL and IF Gang.

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In his follow-up address to the court, Steel said Williams only shared the Instagram post in question after YFN Lucci, born Rayshawn Bennett, started taunting him in a purported attempt to generate publicity. Mr. Williams is a much more high-profile artist than Mr. Bennet at that time, and Mr. Bennet is saying that he slept with Mr. Williams fiance while Mr. Williams and she are a significant couple  and that Mr. Wiliams music is awful, that nobody should listen to his music ever.

Mr. Williams responds by saying, We can do an album together if you want. Stop this. The man continues, [claiming] hes sleeping with Mr. Williams significant other, and then Mr. Williams responds, Steel said. That is the context that they dont tell you about. Mr. Williams did nothing to Mr. Bennett. In fact, the evidence would have shown if we had time or it would have gone forward that Mr. Bennett and Mr. Williams are on a red carpet, receiving awards in California, sitting right next to each other, and taking photographs.

After Love and Steel presented their dueling versions of the facts, Williams, 33, addressed the court. Ive learned from my mistakes. I come from nothing, and Ive made something, and I didnt take full advantage of it. Im sorry, he said. I hope you will find it in your heart to allow me to go home and be with my family and just do better as a person. I know what I bring to the table. I know what I am. I know the heights Ive reached. I know the impact I got on people in the community.

Judge Whitaker then sentenced him to time served, 15 years of probation, and a backloaded consecutive sentence of 20 years that only kicks in if he violates probation.

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I appreciate that you do realize how much of an impact you do have on people, Whitaker told Williams after he addressed the court. Having come up from where you came up from, and living in and around that, you know that gangs are damaging to our community.

She then said the rap industry sounds like a modern-day version of WWE Wrestling that used to be on television, where people would get up and posture and act like they hated each other. But whether its fake or not, it has tremendous impact on kids and young people who think this is cool: This is what I want to do. Look at him, hes a millionaire. I can do that by being a gangster in the streets. And thats not true. What youre likely to have happen to you if youre a gangster in the streets is, you get shot, you get killed, or you get thrown in prison. And those are by far the most likely outcomes.

She said if Williams continued in his rap career, You need to try to use your influence to let kids know that that is not the way to go, and there are ways out of poverty besides hooking up with the powerful guy at the end of the street selling drugs. I know that happens for protection sometimes, but a much better way would be getting an education and hanging around with people who sets a good example. And you be one of those people who sets a good example.

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Russia launched over 2,000 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine in October, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 2, while urging Western allies to apply more sanctions against the providers of components used in Russian drones.

Russia continues to avoid sanctions through the use of sanctions evasion networks and shell companies. Russia is also aided in sanctions evasion through its allies, including China, Iran, and North Korea.

"This volume of 'Shahed' drones means over 170,000 components that should have been blocked from reaching Russia," Zelensky said in his evening address. "Microchips, microcontrollers, processors, and many other parts are essential for enabling this terror."

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"All of these are supplied to Russia from abroad, unfortunately, from companies in China, Europe, and Americaa multitude of small but significant contributions to Russias ongoing terror," Zelensky added.

Zelensky's comments come as Russia launched a mass drone attack on Kyiv on Nov. 2, which caused a fire in a 16-story residential building and an office building, and left an 82-year-old woman with shrapnel injuries to the head.

During his evening address, Zelensky called for sanctions against companies that deliver components to Russia to be made more expansive and effective.

"Such schemes also allow Russia to help strengthen the regimes in Iran and North Korea. This is a global threat, and it can only be overcome through global, coordinated pressure."

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Zelensky's comments come a few days after the United States imposed sanctions on Oct. 30 against nearly 400 entities and individuals directly or indirectly involved in supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The limitations applied to companies involved in sanctions evasion networks in 17 jurisdictions, including China, India, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand, and Turkey, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

On Nov. 1, the U.S. imposed a $500,000 against GlobalFoundries for shipping chips without authorization to an affiliate of sanctioned Chinese chipmaker SMIC, Reuters reported.

Russia has launched tens of thousands of cheap but effective Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones against Ukraine since the fall of 2022.

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On Oct. 20, Zelensky said that a total of 6,130 Shahed-type drones since the start of 2024  although that number does not account for the hundreds of drones launched in the past two weeks.

In recent months, Russia has stepped up its drone attacks targeting cities and towns across Ukraine on a near daily basis since the start of September.

Read also: Mass Russian drone attack on Kyiv injures 1, leaves residential buildings, office damaged













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Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants Western nations to support Ukraine preemptively striking North Korean troops in Russia instead of waiting for those troops to attack Ukraine.

Western nations have banned Ukraine from making long-range missile strikes inside Russia, but Zelensky on Saturday said attacks against North Korean troops inside Russia should be permitted.

"Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians," Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.

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"We see every site where Russia is accumulating these soldiers from North Korea on its territory," Zelensky said in a translation of his post. "We could strike preemptively if we had this opportunity."

He said because the North Korean troops are foreign troops inside Russia, they are a legitimate military target and subject to a preemptive strike.

U.S. and South Korean officials on Thursday said North Korea has 8,000 troops deployed in the Kursk-Oblast area of Russia, where Ukraine in August captured territory and maintains its hold.

North Korea has sent about 10,000 soldiers to Russia, which is training them in artillery, UAV and ground operations, including trench-clearing, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Thursday.

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"Russia intends to use these troops against Ukraine," Austin said. "That would make them legitimate military targets."

Austin said Russia is average a loss of 1,200 troops every day, so 10,000 North Korean troops shouldn't make a significant impact on Russia's military operations.

More important are the estimated 9 million artillery shells and other munitions North Korea has sent to Russia, which is about half of all the shells Russia has fired so far this year, Western analysts say.

Austin said it's also important to learn what North Korea might gain from its support of Russia.

So far, there is no indication that Russia has helped North Korea with its development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, but that might change, Austin said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his pleas for the use of long-range weapons in Russia.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine could strike North Korean troops there "'preemptively" with such permission.

"Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start striking at Ukrainians," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the West to lift restrictions on long-range weapons so Ukraine can strike North Korean troops in Russian "preemptively."

In a post on Telegram on Friday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine could see "every site" where Russia was gathering North Korean troops on its territory.

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"We could strike preemptively, if we had the ability to do so, with a long-range strike," he wrote. "It depends on our partners."

"But instead of the long-range strike that is so necessary, America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching," he continued. "Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start striking at Ukrainians."

Zelenskyy has long been pleading with Western allies to permit the use of deep-strike weapons on Russian territory.

While the UK and France have reportedly pushed to allow such strikes, the US and Germany have remained reluctant, fearing provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Around 8,000 North Korean troops are in the Russian frontline region of Kursk and are expected to enter the war within days, US offcials said at a press conference on Thursday.

"We've not yet seen these troops deploy into combat against Ukraine's forces, but we expect that these North Korean soldiers will join the fight against Ukraine in the coming days," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the conference, adding that the US believed Russian forces had trained the North's soldiers on artillery, drone, and basic infantry operations.

Austin added that North Korean troops would become "legitimate military targets" if they were to "engage in combat or combat support operations against Ukraine."

North Korea recently tested a new ballistic missile, with record flight time and altitude. The world merely watches as this threat grows.Through Moscows assistance, North Korea has advanced its artillery and missile capabilities. Now, they are learning the tactics of modern pic.twitter.com/LwAv51LwdX  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 1, 2024

It comes as North Korea announced that it had tested what it called the "world's most powerful strategic missile."

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The new intercontinential ballistic missile (ICBM), identified by North Korea's KCNA state media agency as the "Hwasongpho-19," launched on Thurdsay and flew more than 1,000 km (around 620 miles) in around 86 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan.

Experts told Business Insider that the size of the missile  which has been estimated to be around 92 feet long  would likely affect its mobility in a conflict.

Responding to the news of the test on X, Zelenskyy said that the "world merely watches" as North Korea's threat grows.

"Thousands of North Korean soldiers are already near Ukraine's borders, preparing to fight. And the world is still watching," he wrote.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the Russian drone attack on the night of 1-2 November had caused damage in various districts of Kyiv, as well as in Poltava, Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.

Source: Zelenskyy on social media

Quote: "I am grateful to our defenders of the skies who shoot down Shahed drones every night. This year, there is a threat of Shahed drones almost every night, sometimes in the morning and afternoon.

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The attack drones given to Russia by Iran have become one of the main instruments of Russian terror against Ukraine. We need to put more pressure on Russia's ability to produce such weapons.

We need to be able to destroy the storage points of Shahed drones and the entire infrastructure for their production and logistics. Terrorists, unfortunately, know how to use the time given to them by the indecision of the free world."

Background: As of the morning of 2 November, wreckage from Russian drones has fallen in six out of ten Kyivs districts.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasises that Russians are still using components from companies in China, Europe and the United States for Shaheds and missiles used to attack Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyys evening address

Quote from Zelenskyy: "In October, more than 2,000 Shaheds were used against Ukraine, against our people. Literally every day. This number of Shaheds means more than 170,000 components that should have been blocked from being supplied to Russia. Microchips, microcontrollers, processors, and many parts, without which this terror would simply be impossible. All this is supplied to Russia from abroad. Unfortunately, it comes from companies in China, Europe, and America  a lot of micro-contributions to Russia's constant terror. This brings the world back to the need to work much harder to control the export of specialised parts and resources to prevent Russia from avoiding the sanctions that have long been imposed on Russia for this war. Just like with the Shaheds, with Russian missiles. They all contain components from other countries."

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Details: The president called for tougher sanctions against Russia.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Every scheme to avoid sanctions is a crime against people and the world. And it is precisely these schemes that allow Russia to help build muscle for the regimes in Iran and North Korea. This is a global threat. And only global, special pressure can overcome it."

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PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Indonesia has banned the sale of Google Pixel smartphones, from being sold legally in the country.

Government rules require all smartphones sold inside Indonesia to have 40% of their parts manufactured domestically. Or their manufacturers need to make significant investments in the local economy. Febri Hendri Antoni Arief, Indonesia's industry ministry spokesperson, says the rules are to ensure "fairness for all investors in Indonesia," Reuters reports.

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Unlike rival smartphone manufacturers Samsung and Xiaomi, Google doesn't have any manufacturing facilities in the Southeast Asian nation. "Google's products have not adhered to the scheme we set, so they can't be sold here," Arief says.

Indonesians can still buy an iPhone 16 or Pixel abroad, but they may have to pay additional taxes, according to the minister. He added that local authorities may deactivate phones that are imported and sold unofficially.

Regardless of the recent clampdown, Indonesian consumers have long favored Asian brands over Western ones, with neither Google nor Apple being the most favored brands. Chinese brand Oppo is by far the country's most popular smartphone manufacturer, with a market share of around 17%, followed by Samsung at 16.4%.

Indonesia is the worlds fourth most populous country after China, India, and the US with a median age of just over 30 and over 100 million people under 30. It was estimated that 68.1% of Indonesians had a smartphone in 2022, according to data from Statista.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to Spanish King Felipe VI on Saturday over heavy rainstorms and floods in Spain.

Xi said he was shocked to learn that severe rainstorms and floods have hit many parts in Spain, causing heavy casualties and property losses.

The Chinese president, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured.

Xi also said it is believed that under the leadership of the king and the Spanish government, the people in the flood-hit areas will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.
A floating offshore wind energy startup called Aikido is preparing to launch its innovative new platform this fall.

The company, which is being funded by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy for its pilot project, recently added another $4 million from an investment round, as Windpower Monthly reported.

A recent company news release said the initial funding put the company on track this fall to launch its Aikido One platform, which aims to solve a variety of issues, including assembly and transport, that are common stumbling blocks in the industry.

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The company will use the new funding "to advance its technology for offshore deployment, build its team, and develop a commercial pipeline," per the release.

"Floating wind must become commercialized by the end of the decade so that we can meet decarbonization targets set by pioneering offshore wind countries," said Sam Kanner, CEO of Aikido Technologies, per the release.

"We believe that our technology suite represents a step change in reducing costs, simplifying logistics, and increasing throughput of floating wind systems."

There are three major components to Aikido's new wind technology: the controller, platform, and turbine. However, for the pilot run, the controller and platform sections will be used with a standard 2-megawatt turbine.

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The semisubmersible platform is the core of the unique design. The company is able to assemble both the platform and turbine in a horizontal position without welding in the final stages, streamlining the assembly process, according to a video posted by the company.

Its laydown footprint is also 75% smaller than for other turbines and conforms to shipping industry standards, according to the Aikido website, which means the company can utilize more of the existing infrastructure in port areas shared by the shipping and oil and gas industries.

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Given its reclined position, the Aikido One can be deployed from 80% of U.S. ports, even ones blocked by bridges or with shallow water. Once floated into position, the platform simply needs water ballast to unfold and deploy.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, new commercial wind turbines produce an average of 843,000 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity each month, which is enough to power around 1,000 homes, as the Natural Resources Defense Council reported.

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However, around 80% of wind energy potential exists in deep water areas that require floating turbines, as Aikido explained. According to the International Energy Agency, offshore wind could provide over 420,000 terawatt-hours, which is 18 times the global demand today.

Simplifying transport, deployment, and maintenance is key to speeding growth in the wind power sector, and Aikido's process focuses on those goals. It joins a variety of companies that are making similar progress, with several self-erecting systems and improved offshore repair tools.

"We believe that our technology suite represents a step change in reducing costs, simplifying logistics, and increasing throughput of floating wind systems," Kanner shared 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.
Stellantis (STLA), the company behind brands including Jeep and Chrysler, on Thursday reported a major revenue decline as it moves to slash inventories and boost flagging sales.

The automaker said its net revenue dropped 27% for the July to September quarter to 33.0 billion euros ($35.8 billion), largely due to poor sales in Europe and North America, its biggest markets. Third-quarter shipments fell by 20% compared to a year earlier because of Stellantis attempts to slash U.S. inventory and production gaps in several models.

But the company said its on track to launch some 20 new models this year across the world, such as the Alfa Romeo Junior and the Citroen Basalt. In the U.S., electric vehicles such as the Jeep Wagoneer S and Ram 1500 REV are planned.

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U.S. dealer inventory was reduced by 80,000 units over the last four months, with plans to cut another 20,000 units by the end of November. Stellantis also aims to offer more generous incentives on vehicles made for the 2024 model year as its dealerships complain that high prices have hurt sales.

Revenue in North America fell by 42% last quarter. RBC Capital Markets (RY) analyst Tom Narayan said Thursday that revenue per car in the region declined to 41,555 euros ($45,118) from 44,227 euros ($48,067) a quarter earlier, which suggests that prices are falling sharply.

Sales in the U.S. dropped 20% last quarter to 205,294 deliveries, which followed a similar 21% year-over-year decline in the second quarter. The last time Stellantis had a quarterly sales increase was in the second quarter of 2023.

While Q3 2024 performance is below our potential, Im pleased with our progress addressing operational issues, in particular U.S. inventories, which have been reduced meaningfully and are on track for year-end targets, as well as stabilization of U.S. market share, CFO Doug Ostermann said in a statement.

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Stellantis performance in North America has been rough in recent months, plagued by big recalls, plummeting profits, quality issues, and executive departures.

Ostermann has been Stellantis chief financial officer for just a few weeks after the company announced a major executive shakeup that saw its old financial chief leave. The European automaker is also looking for a new CEO as Carlos Tavares plans to retire after his contract ends in 2026.

In recent weeks, Tavares leadership has been criticized by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union  which represents 43,000 Stellantis workers  and the U.S. Stellantis National Dealer Council, which warned disaster has arrived at Stellantis. An heir to the Chrysler family declared his intent to buy the brand back from Stellantis and lambasted Tavares and other executives.

The automaker recently slashed its full-year guidance for adjusted operating income to between 5.5% and 7% for fiscal 2024, down from its prior double-digit target, and cut its forecast for industrial free cash flow.

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Today

Sunshine and a few clouds. High 79F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Cloudy. High 83F. N winds shifting to W at 10 to 20 mph.
Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut Puja, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated to commemorate Lord Krishna's divine intervention in saving the people of Gokul from torrential rains. This festival is part of the grand Diwali celebrations and occurs on the day following Diwali, during Pratipada Tithi in the Hindu month of Kartik.

Date of Govardhan Puja 2024

In 2024, Govardhan Puja falls on Friday, November 1. This day holds special spiritual significance, as it marks the victory of Lord Krishna's wisdom over the arrogance of Indra, the King of Heaven.

Shubh Muhurat for Govardhan Puja 2024

The exact timings for the Puja Muhurat are essential for performing the rituals correctly and seeking the divine blessings of Lord Krishna. The auspicious timing for Govardhan Puja in 2024 is as follows:

Pratipada Tithi Begins - 08:46 AM on November 01, 2024

Pratipada Tithi Ends - 10:51 AM on November 02, 2024

Puja Vidhi (Rituals) for Govardhan Puja

The traditional way of celebrating Govardhan Puja involves various steps that highlight devotion, gratitude, and community spirit. Here is how devotees typically perform the puja:

Preparation of the Annakut: The main ritual involves preparing a vast array of food items, collectively known as Annakut, which means "mountain of food." Devotees offer sweets, rice, curries, and other delicacies to form a symbolic representation of Mount Govardhan.

Creating the Govardhan Hill: Some devotees create a small representation of the Govardhan Hill using cow dung or soil and decorate it with flowers and diya (oil lamps). This symbolizes the mountain that Krishna lifted to protect the villagers.

Puja Ceremony

Invocation: Begin by invoking Lord Krishna and seeking his blessings.

Offering Food: The Annakut is placed before the deity, and devotees chant prayers and sing bhajans praising Krishna's benevolence and valor.

Aarti: The puja concludes with the Govardhan Aarti, where lamps are waved in front of the deity while chanting and clapping to spread positivity and joy.

Circumambulation (Parikrama): Devotees walk around the symbolic hill and the deity, representing the traditional Parikrama of Govardhan Hill done in Vrindavan.

Feast and Distribution: The food items offered during the puja are later distributed as prasad among family members, neighbors, and visitors to spread the blessings of the festival.

Significance of Govardhan Puja

Govardhan Puja is deeply rooted in the teachings of humility and divine intervention. According to Hindu mythology, the festival commemorates the incident when Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on his little finger for seven days to provide shelter to the villagers of Gokul from the wrath of Lord Indra, who had sent relentless rain to punish them. This act not only showcased Krishna's supreme power but also underscored the importance of respecting nature and the divine over arrogance and pride.

The puja symbolizes community togetherness, gratitude for nature's bounties, and protection from adversities. It reminds devotees of the power of devotion, faith, and the divine's role in safeguarding humanity against challenges.

Celebrations Across India

Govardhan Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm, especially in the Braj region (Vrindavan and Mathura), where it holds special cultural and spiritual importance. Temples across India, particularly those dedicated to Lord Krishna, conduct grand ceremonies. Large Annakut offerings are made in temples like the ISKCON temples, attracting thousands of devotees who gather to participate in the prayers and festivities.

The festival is also marked by performing charitable acts and feeding the needy, reinforcing the message of kindness and shared prosperity.

May the occasion of Govardhan Puja 2024 bring blessings, prosperity, and harmony to all!

(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
New Delhi: Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in October achieved a new milestone. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) reported an incredible 16.58 billion transactions totaling Rs 23.50 lakh crore. This marks a 45 percent jump compared to the same month last year.It was largely fueled by increased spending during the festival season.

In the UPI ecosystem, the top banks for sending and receiving funds are State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and YES Bank. In September, UPI recorded 15.04 billion transactions, totaling Rs 20.64 lakh crore while August saw nearly the same activity with 14.96 billion transactions worth Rs 20.61 lakh crore. October maintained this upward trend, averaging 535 million transactions per day, with the average daily transaction amount reaching Rs 75,801 crore.

In October, FASTag, the toll payment solution from NPCI saw a busy month with 345 transactions which marked an 8 per cent increase from the previous year. However, the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) faced a small setback, reporting 467 million transactions, which is a 5 percent drop compared to last year, even though it was up from 430 million in September.

On a brighter note, the Aadhar-enabled payment system (AePS) experienced a strong boost, with monthly transactions jumping 26 percent year-on-year to hit 126 million.
New Delhi: In todays digital age where most job applications are submitted online, one candidate has taken a unique approach that has garnered attention. Saptarshi Prakash, an Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Design at Swiggy recently shared his surprise and admiration for a job applicant who opted for an unconventional method to apply for a position. This creative approach not only stood out but also sparked interest across social media.

Saptarshi Prakash, the Assistant Vice President of Design at Swiggy expressed his surprise when he received a physical letter from an aspiring designer. Based in Bengaluru, Prakash took to LinkedIn to share this unusual experience. He also shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the candidate's unique approach paid off. Received a physical letter from a designer wanting to join Swiggy with a concept, Prakash posted, along with images of the letter. "In a digital age, this old-school approach stood out," he added.

Received a physical letter from a designer wanting to join @Swiggy with a concept. In a digital age, this old-school approach stood out

To the sender: We may not have a role now, but please email meId love to see your idea!

If anyone knows of design openings, please share! pic.twitter.com/WSGDaX0fsP  Saptarshi Prakash (@saptarshipr) October 30, 2024

In the letter sent through India Post, the applicant conveyed how Swiggy's integration of user experience with functional design has greatly impacted their own design philosophy. Ive developed a concept that I feel could be beneficial to the companys ongoing efforts to enhance user experience," the applicant shared.

The candidate mentioned, When I started my career in UI/UX, I always had one dream  to begin my professional journey with a company as dynamic and visionary as Swiggy, under the guidance of someone like you."

While Prakash clarified that Swiggy does not have any current openings for UX/UI design positions, he encouraged the candidate to send him the concept via email. While we may not have a relevant role at Swiggy for you at the moment, Ive definitely taken note of your initiative Id also love to review the concept you have developed. Would you mind dropping me an email? Im sure youll find my email addressyou found my physical one! he shared on LinkedIn.

Social Media Response: Celebrating Creativity

Prakash's post rapidly captured attention online, amassing over 40,000 views on X. Social media users praised the jobseeker's creativity and determination. One user commented, In this age, anyone using a paper of any form and a physical medium itself is refreshing. Bookmark it. Another user expressed their admiration for the charm of physical letters. A third user noted, Would have been much better if handwritten. If not, would have chosen serif typeface.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant issued an apology on Saturday after a lot of criticism over a remark perceived as sexist toward Shaina NC, a leader of the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde.

Sawant expressed regret for any hurt his comments may have caused, stating that his words were "tweaked" and misconstrued. "If someone was hurt by my statement, I apologise to them. I have never insulted women in my 55 years of political career," he said.

Sawant emphasized that he had not specifically named anyone in his comments, and said that the backlash was politically motivated. "I had no such intentions, I didn't even take anyone's name," he added.

Sanjay Raut Defends Sawant

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut came to Sawants defense, stating that no harm was intended and advising that sensitive topics should not be amplified unnecessarily. He said, There is no insult in referring to Shaina NC, the BJP candidate from Mumbadevi, as imported maal since she is not a local. If she is from outside, then it's a mere fact." Rauts comments, however, sparked additional controversy, with Shaina NC questioning his position on the matter.

Controversial Remarks Spark Outrage

The controversy arose after a video surfaced on Friday in which Sawant appeared to refer to Shaina NC as 'imported maal,' a term many found derogatory. Shaina NC, who recently joined the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) after leaving the BJP, is contesting the upcoming Assembly election from Mumbadevi on November 20.

In response, Shaina NC criticized Sawants choice of words, questioning his respect for women. "Does he see every woman in Mumbadevi as 'maal'? He shows no respect for women... Whether I take action or not, the public will make him 'behaal'," she remarked.

Calls for Accountability

The incident, along with Sawants delayed apology following an FIR filed against him, has drawn considerable criticism from various quarters. Shaina NC pointed out the timing of Sawants apology, which came nearly 30 hours after the FIR.

She said, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC says, "...I want to ask Shiv Sena (UBT) about the statement of Sanjay Raut, who said that he (Arvind Sawant) doesn't need to apologise as she (Shaina NC) is "imported"... I want to say to Sanjay Raut that if you have no objection to the word "maal", it shows you mentality... What is the official stand of "MahaVinashAghadi"?... You (Arvind Sawant) apologised, 30 hours after an FIR has been lodged and then Sanjay Raut says that there is no need for an apology..."
PM Modi vs Kharge: The war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge continued on Friday after PM Modi took a swipe at the grand old party over its poll guarantees.

On Friday, the Congress launched a multi-pronged attack on the Prime Minister, with Kharge saying before pointing fingers, PM Modi should note that the "Modi Ki Guarantee" is a "cruel joke" on 140 crore Indians.

The Congress national president took to X and launched a scathing attack on the saffron party. He stated that the 'B' in BJP stands for 'betrayal' while 'J' stands for 'jumla'. In a post on X, Kharge said, "Narendra Modi ji, Lies, Deceit, Fakery, Loot and Publicity are the 5 adjectives which best describe your government! Your drum beating regarding a 100-day plan was a cheap PR stunt!"

Besides Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal also slammed PM Modi, citing Congress' track record in fulfilling its promises.

"On May 16, 2024, you claimed that you took inputs from more than 20 lakh people for the roadmap for 2047. RTI filed in PMO declined to put forth details, exposing your LIES!" the Congress chief said in the post.

Claiming to set the record straight, the senior Congress leader also highlighted the issue of the promise of "two crore jobs per year".

"Why is India's unemployment rate at a 45-year high and why are stampedes witnessed wherever there are vacancies for a handful of jobs," Kharge questioned.

"Who is responsible for 70 paper leaks in 7 years and who snatched 5 lakh government jobs by selling stake in PSUs," he further asked.

Stating that 'Bahut Hui Mehangai Ki Maar', the grand old party chief asked, "Why have household savings plunged to a 50-year low? Why has the cost of a common thali increased by 52 per cent in just last year? TOP -- Tomato prices have increased by 247 per cent, Potato by 180 per cent and Onion by 60 per cent."

"Who levied GST on essential food items such as Milk, Curd, Aata, Dal? Who is penalising the middle class through Long Term Capital Gains Tax by indulging in tax terrorism," Kharge asked.

Continuing his attack at the BJP, Kharge took a jibe at the saffron party over its promise of "Acche Din"

"Rupee is at an all-time low. Is it in ICU or in Margdarshak Mandal? Your Govt has borrowed Rs 150 lakh+ crores in past 10 years, amounting to a debt of Rs 1.5 lakh on every Indian. MSMEs have been destroyed through DeMO + Flawed GST," he said.

"Clean chit to China post-Galwan, red carpet for Chinese investments and ruining relations with every neighbouring country," Karge said in the post.

Going all out against the PM Modi-led central government, he accused it of "snatching government jobs from SC, ST, OBC, and EWS communities by a 91 per cent increase in Casual/Contract hiring".

"JUMLA of doubling Income of Farmers by 2022. Refusing Legal Guarantee for MSP. GST on 35 Farm articles. Turning permanent recruitment to Armed Forces to a temporary one through Agnipath! Modi ji, before finger-pointing, please note that MODI KI GUARANTEE is a cruel joke on 140 crore Indians!," the Congress chief said.

Kharge's remarks came after Modi on Friday said the Congress stands "badly exposed" in front of people for promising to them what the party knows it will never be able to deliver. Modi launched a fierce attack on the opposition party as he seized on Kharge's comments that the Congress' state units should make promises that are properly budgeted. He also said the developmental trajectory and fiscal health in the Congress-ruled states of Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana are going from bad to worse.

(With PTI Inputs)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa in the national capital on Saturday. The two leaders held a meeting in which they discussed bilateral ties, multilateral cooperation, and regional developments.

Jaishankar took to social media platform X and briefed about the meeting. Sangiampongsa's visit for the Royal Kathina ceremony "exemplifies the longstanding historical and cultural relations" between the two countries, the EAM said in the post. The Thai minister is scheduled to depart India on Sunday. The EAM also shared pictures of the meeting at the South Block.

"Delighted to meet FM @AmbPoohMaris of Thailand today in Delhi. His visit for the Royal Kathina ceremony exemplifies the longstanding historical and cultural relations between our two countries. We discussed India-Thailand ties, multilateral cooperation, and regional developments," he said.

Delighted to meet FM @AmbPoohMaris of Thailand today in Delhi.



His visit for the Royal Kathina ceremony exemplifies the longstanding historical and cultural relations between our two countries.



We discussed ties, multilateral cooperation and regional developments. pic.twitter.com/Txc17sOpss  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 2, 2024

Royal Kathina is a traditional Buddhist ceremony. Sangiampongsa's first official visit to India was during July 1113 for the second BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat. It was hosted by the external affairs minister in New Delhi.

On July 12, Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Sangiampongsa and hosted a lunch in his honour. During that meeting, the two ministers reviewed progress across various areas of partnership. The two ministers also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and reiterated their commitment to closer cooperation in sub-regional, regional, and multilateral fora, the MEA had said.

In accordance with the vision of the two prime ministers, the ministers reaffirmed the mutual desire for a stronger India-Thailand partnership, it had said. Thailand is a key partner for India in ASEAN. India's 'Act East' policy, which is in its tenth year, finds convergence with Thailand's 'Act West' policy. Interactions between Jaishankar and the Thai foreign minister have contributed to further strengthening of bilateral ties, it had further stated.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Australia and Singapore from November 3 to 8 during which he will meet leaders of the two countries and address the 8th Roundtable of ASEAN, an official statement said on Saturday.

Jaishankar will co-chair the 15th Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue (FMFD) with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra, the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

"EAM will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the 2nd Raisina Down Under to be held in the Australian Parliament House. EAM is also scheduled to have interactions with Australian leadership, parliamentarians, members of the Indian diaspora, business community, media and think tanks," it said.

During the visit, Jaishankar will travel to Brisbane and inaugurate India's fourth consulate in Australia, it added.

At the second India-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue held in Delhi in November last year, both sides had welcomed the positive and increased momentum of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) that helps support the security and prosperity of the region.

On the second leg of the visit, Jaishankar will travel to Singapore on November 8, the statement said.

During his visit, the minister will address the 8th Roundtable of ASEAN - India Network of Think Tanks. He will also meet the leadership of Singapore to review the close partnership between the two countries and explore avenues to further enhance the bilateral relationship, it said. Jaishankar last visited Singapore in March.
India accused Canada on Saturday of harassment and intimidation of its consular staff, alleging that they were placed under audio and video surveillance. The Indian government described this action as a flagrant violation of diplomatic conventions. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was responding to a question during the media briefing in New Delhi when he said that India has lodged strong protest over Canadas behavioural pattern.

When inquired about reports suggesting that numerous Indian diplomats in Canada were purportedly under surveillance during the diplomatic standoff.

"Yes, some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continued to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government, as we deem these actions to be in flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions" Jaiswal told reporters.

Highlighting that India's diplomatic and consular personnel operate in an environment of "extremism and violence," Jaiswal added, "By citing technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation."

During the briefing, the spokesperson also revealed that India summoned a representative from the Canadian High Commission to voice its strong objections to the allegations made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah by Ottawa.

Relations between the two countries have significantly worsened since Prime Minister Trudeau's allegations last September that Indian agents may have been involved in the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India argues that the core issue in the conflict is Canada's tolerance of pro-Khalistan groups operating freely on Canadian soil.
The Security forces have neutralized three terrorists in two separate encounters in Kashmir Valley today, marking a major success in ongoing anti-terror operations. These encounters took place in Srinagar and Anantnag districts, where a substantial cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered.

The first encounter began earlier today in the Khanyar area of central Kashmirs Srinagar district. This marked the first major encounter in this densely populated downtown area in over two years.

The slain terrorist, identified as LeT commander Usman of the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, was responsible for multiple attacks, including the killing of Inspector Masroor.

"Today, we eliminated him," said IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi in an exclusive conversation with Zee News. "The Jammu and Kashmir police received credible intelligence on his location, and after a cordon and search operation, a prolonged gunfight ensued, ending in Usmans death. A significant quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered, though the area is still under search."

The operation faced challenges due to the densely populated surroundings, leading to a lengthy standoff. After nearly 10 hours, a controlled blast helped track Usmans movements within the building, where he was ultimately neutralized.

Meanwhile, the second encounter took place in the Kokernag Larnoo forest area of South Kashmirs Anantnag district, where two additional terrorists were killed. Among them was Zahid, a local terrorist; the other terrorists identity is being verified. "This group was involved in the killing of a non-local vendor and a Territorial Army soldier, Hilal Ahmed, in South Kashmir," IGP Birdi noted. "The operation was based on intelligence of terrorist activity in the area, and forces responded swiftly."

Security forces are continuing searches in Kokernag to ensure no other terrorists remain in the area. Reinforcements have been deployed to prevent any potential escapes.

IGP Birdi also commented on an ongoing anti-terror operation in Bandipora, North Kashmir, where terrorists fired on security forces on Friday evening. Searches are still underway, with two bags believed to be linked to terrorist activities recovered from the area.

These recent operations follow a surge in terrorist attacks across Kashmir, including incidents in Shopian, Tral, Gagengair, Gulmarg, and Budgam. On Friday evening, two non-local laborers were shot and injured in Budgams Mazhama area. With security forces on high alert, these latest actions demonstrate their commitment to ensuring peace and safety across the region.
On Saturday, Pulwama Police and 55 RR arrested a hardcore Over Ground Worker (OGW) from Tahab, Pulwama, recovering arms and ammunition from his possession.

This arrest followed information obtained during the interrogation of 18-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) member Danish Bashir Ahenger, also known as Maulvi. Danish was detained on Tuesday during an intelligence-based operation at a Naka in Pulwama, where he was found carrying ten grenades and five batteries.

It is believed that Sajad Ahmed Dar, considered a seasoned OGW with a long-standing association with HM, was Danish's handler and had influenced him to begin working as an OGW. Police also recovered two grenades and one pistol from Sajad Ahmed Dars shop.

According to sources, the arrests and recoveries were triggered by credible inputs from Military Intelligence. Further details regarding the duo are expected to emerge in due course.
Kerala Lottery Results Saturday 02-11-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "KARUNYA KR-678" Lucky Draw Result today Karunya Kr-678, November 02, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Karunya KR-678" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KR-678 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 80 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Karunya KR-678 results today.

Kerala Lottery Result 02-11-2024 Nov: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA KR-678 Draw

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The Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police has initiated an extradition process to bring back the younger brother of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Anmol Bishnoi. He is wanted in several cases, including the one pertaining to the firing incident outside actor Salman Khan's house. According to media reports, a red-corner notice has also been issued for Anmol's search abroad.

Reportedly, a special court handling cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has issued a non-bailable warrant calling for Anmol Bishnoi's arrest. They noted that they are awaiting specific court documents to finalize the formalities. Once the formalities are completed, a formal proposal will be submitted to the central government for further action.

Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi, who is suspected to be living in Canada as of now. He has been linked to various criminal activities and is regarded as a key figure in organized crime. Authorities believe that his arrest could yield important insights into wider networks involved in criminal operations.
National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Saturday sparked a political uproar with his remarks urging security forces to capture, rather than kill, terrorists. Abdullah claimed that the recent surge of attacks across Jammu and Kashmir could be curbed by interrogating these terrorists and help expose the broader networks masterminds behind the violence.

Farooq Abdullah also called for an investigation into the recent Budgam terror attack, expressing suspicion that it might have been orchestrated by those attempting to destabilise the Jammu and Kashmir government.

"It should be investigated. How is it that the government has come and this is happening? I have a doubt that is it done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government...If they (terrorists) are caught then we will get to know who is doing this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them...We should check if there is an agency who is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah," ANI quoted the NC leader as saying.

Reacting to the National Conference presidents remark, NCP-SCP Chief Sharad Pawar called on the Central government and Home ministry to consider the former J&K CMs statement carefully.

"Farooq Abdullah is the tallest personality of the Jammu and Kashmir...He spent his life serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I have no doubt about his integrity and honesty. If such a leader is making any statement then the central government especially the Home Ministry should take it seriously and try to work out on how that situation can be resolved," Pawar said.

Abdullah claimed that the recent surge of attacks across Jammu and Kashmir could be curbed by interrogating these terrorists and help expose the broader networks masterminds behind the violence.

When questioned about whether Pakistan should always be blamed for terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including the recent Budgam incident, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah responded, There is no question of this. I would say that there should be an investigation into this.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina rejected Farooqs suggestion for investigation saying, what is there to investigate.

Farooq Abdullah knows that this terrorism is coming from Pakistan... This is a well-known fact. What is there to investigate in this? He knows that the terrorist attacks that are taking place in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and terrorist organizations are involved in this... We all should support our army, police and security forces. Raina told ANI.
Days ahead of the upcoming assembly polls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused Uddhav Thackeray of being the reason behind the split in Shiv Sena and said that the Mahavikas Aghadi government was against Balasaheb Thackeray's ideals while the Shiv Sena and BJP's alliance was the right way forward.

Justifying the split in the party, Shinde said that Uddhav formed an alliance with Congress against the will of Balasaheb Thackeray just to serve his "personal interests" and hence, following the party's discipline and to bring change, he formed a coalition with the BJP.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, speaking in the split in the party, CM Shinde said, "I was part of the Mahavikas Aghadi government, but the government that was formed, it was against Balasaheb Thackeray's ideals. Shiv Sena and BJP's alliance was the right way forward. However, Uddhav Thackeray's personal interests led to an alliance with Congress, which Balasaheb never wanted."

"As Shiv Sena workers, we followed party discipline and realized the need for change. We attempted to form a Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government but we failed and unfortunately, the loss our party and workers were bearing, we decided to listen to Maharashtra's people, who wanted a Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. Our MLAs were also tired as no work was done in their respective constituencies, hence, we changed the government and formed a new government with the coalition of BJP and Shivsena," he added.

Lauding the Mahayuti government, CM Shinde expressed pride that this government prioritised people's interests over personal gains. He said that the Mahayuti government restarted the projects that were stalled by the MVA regime.

Highlighting Mahayuti's achievement, CM Shinde said that Maharashtra topped in several spheres, whether GDP, FDI, GST, or cleanliness during their regime. He added that the state attracted investments of more than Rs 5 lakh crore during their regime only.

CM Shinde said, "I'm proud and happy that we prioritized the people's interests over personal gains. In the past two years, our government has received praise for its work.... From the very first day, we focused on farmers, workers, youth, and development projects. We restarted stalled projects like metro, bullet trains, and highways, making Maharashtra investment-friendly. Today, I proudly say we've attracted over Rs 5 lakh crore investments, with 72-80 per cent execution in the last two and half years. During the MVA regime, Maharashtra was in third spot, but when we came, Maharashtra topped in GDP, FDI, GST, and cleanliness. Our welfare schemes, like Ladli Bahna Yojana, etc provide stipends and free higher education to girls. We've achieved a lot in two years, and I'm grateful."

When asked about opposition dubbing his government a puppet of the central government, CM Shinde said that ever since the double-engine government came to power in Maharashtra, the state has received several benefits from the centre. He said that the 'hard work' of the Mahayuti government has been appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shinde said, "I'm happy that our government's hard work in the past two years, is appreciated by PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah... Modi Ji is happy with our work and whenever he comes, he gives something to the state. Our double-engine government, with the centre and state on the same page, has benefited Maharashtra... I'm committed to serving the common man, directly interacting with people, and helping those in need."

In a veiled attack on the previous MVA regime, CM Shinde said that being a CM means serving the people and not just running the government through FaceBook Live. He emphasised that their government listens and acts and is not deaf or dumb.

"Our government prioritizes farmers, providing aid and support. We've allocated Rs 15,000 crores for farmers and implemented various schemes. This is the farmers' government. I'm proud of our responsive government, listening to people's concerns. We're not deaf to their needs. The opposition's allegations are unexpected, as they underestimated our capabilities. For me, being CM means serving the people, not just sitting in an office or doing Facebook Live. We're a government that listens and acts, our government is not deaf or dumb," he said.

The Maharashtra Assembly election is set to take place on November 20, with vote counting for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23.
Mumbai: As Shah Rukh Khan marks his 59th birthday on Saturday, The Academy took a moment to honour the beloved actor by sharing a memorable scene from the iconic film 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'.

The post captures the festive spirit and emotional depth of Khan's character, Rahul Raichand, evoking nostalgia among fans.

The scene showcased a grand Diwali celebration at the Raichand mansion, where Shah Rukh makes a dramatic entrance via a helicopter, instantly electrifying the atmosphere.

His mother, Nandini Raichand, portrayed by Jaya Bachchan, feels his presence even before she sees him. Clad in an elegant white sari designed by Manish Malhotra, she shifts her focus from performing aarti for her husband, Yash Raichand, played by Amitabh Bachchan, to welcoming her son.

As Jaya approaches the entrance, doubt flickers in her eyes until Shah Rukh appears, flashing his signature dimpled smile and playfully asking, "Hey Mom, how do you sense my presence every time before I arrive?" This heartfelt moment culminates with Jaya's emotional smile as she applies a tilak on his forehead, a moment The Academy beautifully captioned: "A mother's intuition is always right."

The Academy further wrote, "Is this SRK's best entry scene?"

This post sparked lively discussions among fans reflecting on the significance of this cherished entry.

Social media lit up with reactions, with one user stating, "@theacademy This is one of the most ICONIC moments in Indian cinema ever!."

Another wrote, "The biggest superstar in the world."

Karan Johar, the film's director, also shared the post, commenting, "This post made me smile wide."

Released in 2001, 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' is a star-studded classic featuring talents like Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, and Rani Mukerji.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for his role in the upcoming crime drama 'King' which reportedly stars his daughter Suhana Khan as well.

Fondly referred to as the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan's ascent to fame began in New Delhi, where he first gained attention in 1989 with the TV series 'Fauji'.

His film career skyrocketed with hits like 'Deewana', 'Darr', and 'Baazigar', but it was 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' that truly cemented his status as a superstar. After a long break, Khan has made a powerful comeback with blockbusters like 'Pathaan', 'Jawan' and 'Dunki', reaffirming his title as the King of Bollywood.
New Delhi: The Central Government has recently provided clarification on the General Provident Fund (GPF) disbursement process. It is to ensure government employees receive a smoother experience upon retirement. In a set of new instructions issued by the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) on October 25, 2024, officials addressed the common concerns about delayed GPF payments and the interest eligibility on such delays.

The updated instructions emphasize the need for prompt action at every step, from preparing retirement lists to issuing the Pension Payment Order (PPO). They also clarify that interest will be paid on delayed General Provident Fund (GPF) final payments, outlining the responsibilities of the authorities involved and the impact of any delays on disbursements for retiring government employees.

The memorandum explains that there have been recent inquiries about whether interest applies to delayed GPF payments after a government employee's retirement, prompting the need for clarification, , Recently, a few references regarding interest on delayed payment of GPF to the retired government have been received to clarify whether interest is payable on GPF after retirement."

Key Takeaways from the Centres Update on GPF Disbursement for Retired Employees

- Timely Payment Requirement: According to Rule 34 of the General Provident Fund (Central Service) Rules, 1960, it is the duty of the Accounts Officer to ensure that the GPF amount is disbursed promptly when an employee retires.

- Unrestricted Disbursement: The GPF balance belongs solely to the retired employee, and its release cannot be delayed due to any ongoing disciplinary actions.

- Interest on Delayed Payments: Rule 11(4) specifies that if the GPF balance isnt paid out upon retirement, interest must be applied for the time beyond the retirement date.

- Interest Approval Process: The Pay and Accounts Office (PAO) can approve interest for delays of up to six months post-retirement. For delays over six months, approval from the Head of the Accounts Office is required, while delays exceeding a year need authorization from the Controller of Accounts or Financial Adviser. Any significant delay cases will be escalated to the Secretary of the relevant Ministry or Department to prevent further financial impact due to prolonged disbursement.

- Ensuring Accountability: The Secretary will assign clear responsibilities throughout the GPF payment process to prevent delays, minimize interest costs, and ensure timely disbursement.
LAHORE: Law enforcement agencies have arrested 12 suspected terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from different parts of Pakistan's Punjab province, police said on Saturday. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police said in a statement that it foiled a major terror plan in Punjab by arresting the 12 suspected TTP terrorists.

The CTD said it conducted 140 intelligence-based operations in various districts of the province in the last few days in which 12 suspected terrorists were arrested from Bhakkar, Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib and Jhang.

The CTD said the terrorists had planned sabotage in the province and wanted to target important installations. They have been shifted to an undisclosed location for further investigation, it said. Last week, the CTD had shot dead 10 suspected TTP terrorists in Mianwali district, over 300 km from Lahore.
New Delhi: In a concerning security incident, an ammunition cartridge was discovered on board an Air India flight after it landed in New Delhi from Dubai. The airline confirmed the finding in an official statement, noting that the cartridge was located in the pocket of a seat on flight AI916 following its arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on October 27. All passengers had safely disembarked before the cartridge was found.

According to an Air India spokesperson, a complaint was promptly filed with the Airport Police, with the airline strictly adhering to established security protocols. One ammunition cartridge was found in the pocket of a seat of our flight AI916 after it had landed from Dubai at Delhi on 27 October 2024 and all passengers had safely disembarked, the spokesperson said. A complaint was immediately lodged with the Airport Police by Air India, strictly adhering to the laid down security protocols. We understand the matter is under investigation by the appropriate authorities.

The airline emphasized that passenger and crew safety is its top priority and assured the public that it is working closely with airport security and law enforcement to ensure all protocols are observed and the matter is thoroughly investigated.

Following standard security procedures, officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport have reportedly tightened security checks, while the Delhi Police and other security agencies are investigating how the ammunition might have made it onto the flight undetected. The incident raises questions about potential lapses in security measures either at the Dubai departure airport or during the screening process, and investigators are expected to examine surveillance footage and passenger records as part of their probe.

Air India reiterated its commitment to passenger safety, stressing that it maintains strict adherence to security guidelines in collaboration with regulatory authorities.
India summoned a representative from the Canadian High Commission on Saturday, expressing strong objections to allegations made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah by Ottawa. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir jaiswal said that India has strongly rejected the absurd and baseless references made to Shah by Canadian Deputy Minister David Morrison during a committee session.

We had summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday, a diplomatic note was handed over in reference to the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on October 29, 2024, Jaiswal said.

Reiterating Indian governments view of Canadas behavioural pattern motivated by the 'political agenda', Jaiswal said, The revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the government of India has long held about the current Canadian government's political agenda and behavioural pattern.

Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties, the MEA spokesperson said adding that the Government of India protests such allegations in the 'strongest terms.'

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Regarding the latest Canadian target, we summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday... It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless pic.twitter.com/8rJhp9uS9G November 2, 2024

As reported by Reuters, Canada claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was involved in "plots to target Sikh separatists on Canadian soil."

In a statement to a parliamentary panel, Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Morrison alleged that he told the Washington Post that Shah was behind the plots.

Meanwhile, the United States responded to Canada's allegations against Amit Shah on Wednesday, describing them as 'concerning.' State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, The allegations made by the government of Canada are concerning, and we will continue to consult with the Canadian government about those allegations.
Russia-Ukraine War: Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the United States Defense Department has announced additional security assistance for Kyiv worth an estimated USD 425 million. In a statement on Friday, the Pentagon said that the aid under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package is meant to meet Ukraine's critical security and defence needs.

The tranche of equipment to be provided under the aid includes munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Stinger missiles; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) equipment and munitions; Air-to-ground munitions; Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition; Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armour systems; Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers; Small arms and ammunition; Medical equipment; and Demolitions equipment and munitions.

It is the 69th tranche of equipment to be provided from the US Defense Department inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. "The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated Capability Coalitions to meet Ukraine's urgently needed battlefield requirements and defend against Russian aggression," the Pentagon statement read.
As the people in India and across the globe celebrated the festival of Diwali with fervour and gaiety, the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai, lit up on Thursday to mark the festival of lights.

The central landmark of Dubai's skyline was adorned with intricate patterns and a heartfelt message. "Celebrating the festival of light, wishing you joy, health, and prosperity. Happy Diwali," read the message on the world's tallest building.

Emaar, the company that constructed the iconic skyscraper, posted the video on its Instagram account. "Celebrating the Festival of Lights at the #BurjKhalifa! May this Diwali bring joy, prosperity, and peace to all," the company wrote in the post.

The worlds tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai tonight wishes a very happy Diwali to all celebrating.



Happy Diwali to all from your lovely Dubai



via Emaar (Oct 31, 2024) pic.twitter.com/SRr0Iq5Qjc  Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) October 31, 2024

The video garnered lakhs of views and comments, with many users hailing the thoughtful gesture.

"Tallest building in the world wishing Happy Diwali? That's pretty cool. Dubai's got it going on," a user wrote. "Happy Diwali. The UAE always shows the best cultures across the world," wrote another user.

A third commented, "Thank you for the festive wishes! Happy Diwali to all celebrating. The Burj Khalifa looks stunning as it lights up for this special occasion!" It is pertinent to mention that this is not the first occasion when Burj Khalifa has paid tribute to Indian festivals. Last year, the iconic skyscraper displayed the Indian flag to commemorate the country's 77th Independence Day.

Over the years, the two countries have forged a closer relationship under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In September, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited New Delhi as India and the UAE gave a boost to their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a stern warning to both Israel and the United States. According to a report by AP, Iran has pledged to give a 'crushing response' to recent attacks on Iranian military facilities.

This statement comes as the United States boosts its military presence in the region.

Khameneis Warning to Israel and US

In a video message released through Iranian state media, the 85-year-old Khamenei cautioned that the enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response for actions targeting Iran and its regional allies. Although he did not specify when or how the response would be delivered.

Earlier, Khamenei had taken a more measured stance, urging that recent Israeli attacks should neither be exaggerated nor downplayed. However, reports from The New York Time, suggest that Khamenei has now authorized a harsh and regretful response to Israels actions.

Recent Israeli Strikes on Iranian Military Sites

On October 26, Israel reportedly carried out an attack on sensitive military sites within Iran. This assault is said to have targeted key Iranian missile production centers, air defense systems, energy infrastructure, and a southern port.

The strike, which reportedly killed at least five individuals, avoided nuclear facilities and oil production sites, reportedly due to specific U.S. advisories.

This is the latest in a series of confrontations between the two countries. Earlier in 2024, in response to an Israeli-linked strike on Irans consulate in Damascus, Tehran launched

retaliatory attacks against Israeli targets. Another Iranian response in October followed the assassination of regional leaders aligned with Iran.

Increased U.S. Military Presence in the Region

Amid the rising tensions, the United States announced on Friday the deployment of additional military assets to the Middle East. These include B-52 bomber aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers, as well as a THAAD missile defense systemcomplementing previous deployments in the region.

The heightened military presence reflects Washington's concerns over possible Iranian retaliation, underscoring the high stakes in the increasingly volatile relationship between Iran, Israel, and the U.S.
Incentivizing affordable housing developments could stimulate the real estate sector, which employs over 80 per cent of the labor force within construction. This would provide a significant boost to job creation across various skill levels.

Establishing IT hubs to tier-2 and tier-3 cities and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in smaller cities would reduce pressure on Tier-1 urban centers and increase job opportunities in underserved areas.

Shifting fiscal incentives toward labor-intensive manufacturing sectors, such as textiles, food processing, and furniture, could support job creation for low- to middle-skill workers.

While the government's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have primarily benefited capital-intensive industries, Goldman Sachs notes an encouraging shift towards more labor-intensive sectors, including textiles, footwear, toys, and leather goods.

This approach aims to align India's manufacturing sector with broader employment goals, as about 67 per cent of manufacturing jobs reside in labor-intensive fields.

Over the past two decades, India added approximately 196 million jobs, with two-thirds of these positions created in the last decade. Significant shifts have occurred as more workers have transitioned from agricultural to construction and service roles.

Construction remains a primary driver for employment in India, accounting for roughly 13 per cent of total jobs. Investment in real estate and infrastructure has not only created jobs but has also positively impacted income levels across low- to medium-income households.

Similarly, the services sector, which contributes about 34 per cent of total employment, has expanded significantly. Notably, the retail trade segment has benefited from digital transformation, as retailers shift to online platforms, generating new roles in areas like inventory management, packaging, and delivery services.

An increase in India's Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) from 50 per cent in FY18 to 60 per cent in FY24 has been driven largely by female participation, particularly in rural areas.

Factors contributing to this rise include improved measurement practices, greater financial inclusion through credit schemes targeting women, and expanded opportunities in small and micro-enterprises.

India's demographic transition offers a unique 20-year window to capitalize on a low dependency ratio, with a sizable working-age population set to enter the labor market. (ANI)
The Minister for Information Technology (IT) and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, has said that the progressive Government under the leadership of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, has introduced the ecosystem needed for setting up industries and also providing special incentives to provide employment to the youth on a large scale. On the last day of his week-long visit to the United States, Lokesh had a fruitful meeting with industrialists at a star hotel in New York City and explained in detail the facilities available in Andhra Pradesh for establishing their units. Observing that the Economic Development Board is working so actively that permissions will be issued without any delay for the industries that come with a blueprint, Lokesh told the industrialists that Andhra Pradesh has the most favorable atmosphere for setting up their units which no other State has in the country. The State has the largest road connectivity with a wide coastal network extending to 974 km along with air connectivity, the IT Minister said. Informing them that an international airport will come into operation at Bhogapuram in just another 18 months, Lokesh said that this will totally change the complete profile of North Andhra. Also, four more new ports will also be available at Mulapet, Kakinada Gateway, Machilipatnam, and Ramayapatnam as the works are going on at a fast pace, he said. For providing human resources needed for various industries, the State Government for the first time in the country has taken up a skill census to make available the necessary manpower, the IT Minister informed the industrialists. Necessary changes are being brought in the curriculum of various universities and in different colleges to train the youth in different skills to meet the needs of the industries, Lokesh said and expressed the hope that the proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) university that is going to the established in the capital city of Amaravathi will certainly produce AI experts with global standards. The State is marching past on a progressive path, Lokesh said, and asked the industrialists to invest in the State to become partners in the growth of Andhra Pradesh. The senior advisor of CD&R, Tom Franco, the CEO of Rupert International, Tod Rupert, and several other top industrialists were present at the meeting. Earlier the US-India Business Council USIBC hosted an industry roundtable with the AP Minister in Palo Alto. Minister Lokesh pitched Andhra Pradesh as a leading destination for #investment for U.S. Companies in India, with adequate human resources, skilled talent and cosmopolitan culture. USIBC said it was thrilled to engage with the Andhra Pradesh government in advancing U.S.-India partnerships that drive innovation, traditional IT/ITES, AI, fintech, pharma, manufacturing, bio-fuels, and other critical sectors. (ANI)
NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 2: TVS Motor Company recorded monthly sales of 489,015 units in October 2024 with a growth of 13% as against 434,714 units in the month of October 2023. Two-Wheeler Total two-wheelers registered a growth of 14% with sales increasing from 420,610 units in October 2023 to 478,159 units in October 2024. Domestic two-wheeler registered growth of 13% with sales increasing from 344,957 units in October 2023 to 390,489 units in October 2024. Motorcycle registered a growth of 14% with sales increasing from 201,965 units in October 2023 to 230,822 units in October 2024. Scooter registered a growth of 17% with sales increasing from 165,135 units in October 2023 to 193,439 units in October 2024. Electric Vehicle EV sales registered a growth of 45% with sales increasing from 20,153 units in October 2023 to 29,308 units in October 2024. International Business The Company's total exports registered a growth of 9% with sales increasing from 87,952 units in October 2023 to 95,708 units in October 2024. Two-wheeler exports registered a growth of 16% with sales increasing from 75,653 units in October 2023 to 87,670 units in October 2024. Three-Wheeler Three-wheeler registered sales of 10,856 units in October 2024 as against 14,104 units in October 2023. TVS Motor Company (BSE:532343 and NSE: TVSMOTOR) is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer globally, championing progress through sustainable mobility with four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in India and Indonesia. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of trust, value, and passion for customers, it takes pride in making internationally accepted products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. TVS Motor is the only two-wheeler company to have won the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL surveys. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in the J.D. Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for four consecutive years. Our group company Norton Motorcycles, based in the United Kingdom, is one of the most emotive motorcycle brands in the world. Our subsidiaries in the personal e-mobility space, Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) and EGO Movement have a leading position in the e-bike market in Switzerland. TVS Motor Company endeavours to deliver the most superior customer experience across 80 countries in which we operate. For more information, please visit www.tvsmotor.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 2: Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, one of India's leading producers of industrial & mining chemicals and fertilisers ("DFPCL" or the "Company"), announced its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The company reported a remarkable 237% year-on-year surge in net profits. *Q2FY24 includes the impact of NBS subsidy on channel inventories of Rs 106 Cr and Rs 87 Cr on account of stabilization of Ammonia Plant Key Highlights for Q2FY25 * EBITDA Margin Growth: Improved to 18% compared to 12% year-over-year. * Record Sales Volume in Bulk Fertilizer: Achieved an 83% year-over-year increase in sales volume of manufactured bulk fertilizer, marking the highest sales in a quarter. * Anti-Dumping Duty Implementation: USD 217 per metric ton Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD) on IPA for a period of 5 years. * In-House Capture of Ammonia Price Hikes: Increases in global ammonia prices are now fully captured internally. * Capacity enhancement of approximately 10% resulting from debottlenecking of the TAN plants, delivering an additional 50 KTPA and bringing the total TAN capacity volumes to 587 KTPA to support the growing needs of India's Mining sector. * Debt Reduction: Prepaid Rs. 200 crores in debt, improving the Net Debt to EBITDA ratio from 2.66x to 1.64x. * Change in key RM Prices in Q2FY25: Ammonia: ~11% YoY; MOP: ~40% YoY; Gas: ~9% YoY Commenting on the performance, Sailesh C. Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director said, DFPCL has shown impressive performance in Q2 FY25, achieving a 13% growth in revenue. This growth was primarily driven by the Crop Nutrition business, which experienced an 18% YoY increase in revenue, while the Chemical business grew by 8% YoY despite a lean quarter for the chemical sectors. Fertilizer and Chemical businesses acted as a natural hedge, enabling the company to deliver consistent and improved performance. There has been a consistent increase in the proportion of revenue from specialty products, along with an overall rise in revenue, driven by the strategic move of transitioning from commodity to specialty. - Crop Nutrition Business (CNB) achieved a remarkable 83% YoY increase in sales volume of manufactured bulk fertilizer, which is highest ever sales. - Mining Chemical: Monsoon is a lean period due to slowdown in mining activities. Accordingly, we had taken a planned shutdown of Technical Ammonium Nitrate (TAN) plant for maintenance and capacity enhancement of 50 KTPA, taking total capacity to 587 KTPA. - The Industrial Chemicals business experienced a healthy revenue growth of 9%, despite marginal decrease in volumes. This performance underscores our strategic shift from commodities to specialty chemicals, which has effectively mitigated price volatility. - The ammonia plant has enabled all our businesses to reap substantial benefits from backward integration, effectively mitigating supply chain risks and price volatility. As a result, we are now able to capture the increases in global ammonia prices within the group. As India continues to grow, the chemical and fertilizer sectors are poised to thrive. The demand outlook for the Crop Nutrition, Mining Chemicals, and Industrial Chemicals Business is well aligned with India's growth story, providing strong and positive tailwinds. We are actively working on the execution of the TAN Project and the Nitric Acid Project in Gopalpur and Dahej, respectively, to capitalize on future growth. Chemicals Review * Mining Chemicals (Technical Ammonium Nitrate): - In Q2 FY25, our premium product LDAN's sales volume soared by 16% YoY and rose by an impressive 20% in H1 FY25 compared to H1 FY24 - Overall sales volume was down by 21% YoY in Q2 due to a planned shutdown and lean seasons due to monsoon. The volumes were down by 1% in H1 FY25 compared to H1 FY24. - Business Outlook: The mining and infrastructure is expected to pick up post monsoon as demand for Power (Coal), Cement & Steel is expected to increase thereby providing robust support for TAN demand. * Industrial Chemicals: - Nitric acid volumes was marginally down by 1% on YoY basis and up by 13% on QoQ basis. - The specialty stainless steel grade nitric acid has received positive feedback from customers. - IPA volumes experienced a 10% YoY decline due to process constraints and a plant shutdown. However, the recent implementation of an ADD at USD 217 per metric ton for a period of five years is anticipated to enhance both demand and pricing moving forward. - Business Outlook: For Nitric Acid, the demand and margins are expected to be stable over the next few quarters. Propylene-based IPA demand and margins are expected to be stable and improve following the implementation of the ADD on Chinese suppliers over few quarters. Crop Nutrition Business (Fertilisers) Review * In Q2 FY25, manufactured bulk fertilizer has achieved highest ever sales volume of 268 KMT, an 83% YoY increase, driven by improved demand from above-average rains, which led to 102% Kharif crop sowing and positive market sentiment across all regions. * Sales volume of Croptek surged to 37 KMT, reflecting a 70% YoY growth, with continued focus on providing crop-specific solutions for targeted crops, including cotton, soybean, sugarcane, corn, grapes, pomegranate, and banana. * The company has recently launched premium water-soluble fertilizer grades. * Sale of specialty fertilizer Bensulf was 9 KMT, up 7% YoY. * Business Outlook: Above-normal monsoon rainfall in our core states has significantly enhanced groundwater table as well as water reservoirs for irrigation, which will help promising rabi season ahead. * We expect the acreages under rabi cash crops to go up especially for Sugarcane, Onion, Potato etc. Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. (DFPCL) is among the India's leading manufacturers of industrial chemicals and fertilisers. With a strong presence in Technical Ammonium Nitrate (mining chemicals), Industrial Chemicals and Crop Nutrition (fertilisers), the Company supports critical sectors of the economy such as infrastructure, mining, chemicals, pharmaceutical and agriculture. DFPCL is a publicly listed, multi-product Indian conglomerate and has plants located in four states, namely Maharashtra (Taloja), Gujarat (Daher), Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam) and Haryana (Panipat). DFPCL is Leading manufacturer and marketer of Iso Propyl Alcohol (IPA) in India and Largest Manufacturer of Nitric Acid in Southeast Asia. The Company is developing specialised grades of Nitric acid and IPA to meet specific requirements to cater needs of the industry/consumer. DFPCL is one of the leading manufacturers of Technical Ammonium Nitrate in the world, it is the only producer of pilled Technical Grade Ammonium Nitrate solids and medical grade Ammonium Nitrate in India. The Company has commenced best in-class Technical Services to drive downstream productivity benefits for the mining end consumers. CNB Segment (fertilisers) offers a basket of 48 products which include bulk fertilisers, Crop nutrient solutions, specialty fertilisers, water-soluble fertilisers, bio-stimulants, micro-nutrients, and secondary nutrients, catering to every crop's nutrient requirement. Enhanced-efficiency speciality fertilisers are developed basis rigorous R&D efforts and product trials at over 50,000 farmer demo plots. The R&D efforts have shown distinct yield and quality improvements for crops across segments such as cotton, sugarcane, onion, fruits and vegetables. Over last three years, value-added nutrition products have benefitted 6 million farmers. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Legendary fashion designer Rohit Bal was cremated in Delhi on Saturday evening. Several members from the fashion and film industry gathered together at Lodhi Road Crematorium to bid goodbye to their beloved "Gudda". Actor Arjun Rampal also came along with his girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades and prayed for the departed soul. Rohit Bal's funeral was also attended by Sunil Sethi, the president of Fashion Design Council of India , designers JJ Valaya and Nitin Bal Chauhan among many others. Speaking with ANI, Sunil Sethi paid his heartfelt condolences. " Rohit Bal was India's one of the most talented and popular fashion designers. He was everyone's favourite. We will miss him a lot. He was a National treasure and we have lost someone very important..." he said. Designer Nitin Bal Chauhan also spoke highly of Rohit Bal. "Rohit Bal was an inspiration to many. He was extremely passionate about his shows...he surprised everyone with his brilliance. Fashion industry is incomplete without him," Nitin said. Rohit Bal had been battling a heart ailment for a while. On Friday, he was rushed to the hospital but didn't make it. He left for his heavenly abode at the age of 63. Many celebs also took to their social media handles to pay tributes to Rohit Bal. Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen honoured the late designer, sharing a nostalgic photo from one of their collaborative fashion shows. She reflected, "An indomitable spirit and what a pioneer. Rest in peace #RohitBal." Actor Anil Kapoor expressed his heartbreak over the loss, stating, "Heartbroken to hear about Rohit Bal's passing. A true artist and visionary, he crafted iconic costumes for a song in Nayak and brought unmatched creativity to Indian fashion always. His legacy will live on. Rest in peace." Veteran actor Anupam Kher also shared a touching message on his Instagram, highlighting Bal's vibrant personality and legacy. He wrote, "FASHION ICON ROHIT BAL: He was vibrant, colourful, funny, genius, compassionate, larger than life, kind, and many more things! Above all, a great human being. Bodily may not be there, but he will be eternal. I lost a friend today. alvidaa mere dost #RohitBal! #Fashion #Icon." The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) also honoured Rohit Bal, acknowledging him as a founding member who brought a unique fusion of traditional and modern aesthetics to Indian fashion. Their tribute emphasised the lasting impact of his artistry. "We mourn the passing of Legendary designer Rohit Bal. A founding member of the FDCI, Bal was known for his unique blend of traditional patterns with modern sensibilities. His legacy of artistry and innovation will live on in the fashion world. Rest in peace, GUDDA," the post read. Rohit Bal had recently returned to the runway, showcasing his collection "Kaaynaat: A Bloom in the Universe" at Lakme Fashion Week in October 2024, following a year marked by health challenges. In 2023, he was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Delhi due to heart ailments, and later expressed gratitude to his supporters for their love during his recovery, saying, "Your support has been a beacon of hope and strength." At 63, Bal's passing has undeniably left a significant void in the Indian fashion landscape. (ANI)
In a counter attack to the controversies surrounding Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's age, his wife and JMM MLA Kalpana Soren questioned whether age has become such a major factor. She further took a jibe at the BJP, saying that they are scared of Hemant Soren and are not getting enough topics, hence, they are bringing this 'age controversy' to the limelight. "Has age become such a major factor?... I think if you (BJP) are so scared of Hemant Soren, you are not getting any topic...You have seen your future and your fear says that you have been so scared of Hemant Soren ever since you sent him to jail and he came out...Today, the people of Jharkhand trust Hemant Soren...," Kalpana Soren said on Friday. Earlier on Friday, reacting to the controversies, Assam CM and BJP co-in-charge for Jharkhand Assembly elections Himanta Biswa Sarma called the entire system of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) "fake." "The entire system of JMM is fake. If you look at the details of their property in the affidavit, their age has also increased... This is a government of infiltrators. If the state government comes to power again, no one will be safe... It is the responsibility of the people of Jharkhand to remove them from power," CM Sarma told reporters. Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth criticised Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for inconsistencies in his stated age on nomination papers, claiming that even the gods are astounded to see Soren age seven years within a span of five. Addressing a press conference in Ranchi, MoS Seth remarked, "We guarantee that the information we provide on nomination papers is accurate. In 2019, Hemant Soren declared his date of birth on his nomination papers, yet in 2024, he appears to have aged by seven years in just five. What magic is this? Aisa jaadu ki Devta bhi hairaan hai (such magic, even gods astonished)."He further alleged that this discrepancy amounts to fraud and deceit against the Election Commission." Since the beginning, whenever the INDI alliance loses elections, they question the Election Commission of India and EVMs. Now, they have even attempted to deceive the ECI. They have not only misled everyone but have also attempted to deceive the ECI this time. Declarations in nomination papers become public property, accessible to the public online," Seth added. The MoS for Defence urged the ECI to thoroughly investigate whether the discrepancy occurred in 2019 or 2024. "The ECI should take strict action. This is not a simple mistake but a deliberate fraud. The BJP believes in the ECI, the Constitution, and the public, while others do not," he said. (ANI)
The police officials of Ambassa Police have seized 80,000 YABA tablets worth Rs 2 crore after intercepting a vehicle.

According to CM Saha, the Ambassa Police received secret information about the movement of the vehicle transporting the drugs. Acting on the information, the Ambassa Police detained a vehicle and arrested the driver, resulting in the seizure of the YABA tablets.

He further said that a case has been registered under the NDPS Act and congratulated the police officials for their efforts.

"Great job by Ambassa Police for seizing 80,000 YABA tablets worth Rs 2 CRORE. Acting on secret info, Ambassa PS detained a vehicle & arrested a driver. From where the recovery is made. Case under NDPS Act has been registered. Congratulations to Ambassa Police for their constant efforts against #DrugMenace," Manik Saha said in a post on X.

https://x.com/DrManikSaha2/status/1852354588151799881

Earlier on October 30, in a mega operation on the eve of Diwali, Assam Rifles seized 90,000 Yaba tablets and arrested two persons from the general area of Narangbari in West Tripura district.

As per an official release, acting on specific intelligence, Assam Rifles conducted a well-executed operation that led to the recovery of a huge amount of Yaba tablets, which are estimated to be priced at a whopping Rs 18 crores in the international market.

The latest drug bust also resulted in the seizure of a vehicle. The apprehended individuals, along with seized drugs, were handed over to the DRI, Agartala for further proceedings. (ANI)
Days ahead of the upcoming assembly polls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused Uddhav Thackeray of being the reason behind the split in Shiv Sena and said that the Mahavikas Aghadi government was against Balasaheb Thackeray's ideals while the Shiv Sena and BJP's alliance was the right way forward. Justifying the split in the party, Shinde said that Uddhav formed an alliance with Congress against the will of Balasaheb Thackeray just to serve his "personal interests" and hence, following the party's discipline and to bring change, he formed a coalition with the BJP. In an exclusive interview with ANI, speaking in the split in the party, CM Shinde said, "I was part of the Mahavikas Aghadi government, but the government that was formed, it was against Balasaheb Thackeray's ideals. Shiv Sena and BJP's alliance was the right way forward. However, Uddhav Thackeray's personal interests led to an alliance with Congress, which Balasaheb never wanted." "As Shiv Sena workers, we followed party discipline and realized the need for change. We attempted to form a Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government but we failed and unfortunately, the loss our party and workers were bearing, we decided to listen to Maharashtra's people, who wanted a Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. Our MLAs were also tired as no work was done in their respective constituencies, hence, we changed the government and formed a new government with the coalition of BJP and Shivsena," he added. Lauding the Mahayuti government, CM Shinde expressed pride that this government prioritised people's interests over personal gains. He said that the Mahayuti government restarted the projects that were stalled by the MVA regime. Highlighting Mahayuti's achievement, CM Shinde said that Maharashtra topped in several spheres, whether GDP, FDI, GST, or cleanliness during their regime. He added that the state attracted investments of more than Rs 5 lakh crore during their regime only. CM Shinde said, "I'm proud and happy that we prioritized the people's interests over personal gains. In the past two years, our government has received praise for its work.... From the very first day, we focused on farmers, workers, youth, and development projects. We restarted stalled projects like metro, bullet trains, and highways, making Maharashtra investment-friendly. Today, I proudly say we've attracted over Rs 5 lakh crore investments, with 72-80 per cent execution in the last two and half years. During the MVA regime, Maharashtra was in third spot, but when we came, Maharashtra topped in GDP, FDI, GST, and cleanliness. Our welfare schemes, like Ladli Bahna Yojana, etc provide stipends and free higher education to girls. We've achieved a lot in two years, and I'm grateful." When asked about opposition dubbing his government a puppet of the central government, CM Shinde said that ever since the double-engine government came to power in Maharashtra, the state has received several benefits from the centre. He said that the 'hard work' of the Mahayuti government has been appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Shinde said, "I'm happy that our government's hard work in the past two years, is appreciated by PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah... Modi Ji is happy with our work and whenever he comes, he gives something to the state. Our double-engine government, with the centre and state on the same page, has benefited Maharashtra... I'm committed to serving the common man, directly interacting with people, and helping those in need." In a veiled attack on the previous MVA regime, CM Shinde said that being a CM means serving the people and not just running the government through FaceBook Live. He emphasised that their government listens and acts and is not deaf or dumb. "Our government prioritizes farmers, providing aid and support. We've allocated Rs 15,000 crores for farmers and implemented various schemes. This is the farmers' government. I'm proud of our responsive government, listening to people's concerns. We're not deaf to their needs. The opposition's allegations are unexpected, as they underestimated our capabilities. For me, being CM means serving the people, not just sitting in an office or doing Facebook Live. We're a government that listens and acts, our government is not deaf or dumb," he said. The Maharashtra Assembly election is set to take place on November 20, with vote counting for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
In the wake of the shocking rape and murder case at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, junior doctors, haved called for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take strict action and ensure capital punishment for those responsible. Speaking to ANI, Dr. Rajdeep, a junior doctor, emphasized the need for severe consequences, "We want the CBI to take strict action against those involved "We want the CBI to take action against all those involved in this rape and murder. Capital punishment should be given to all the accused," he stated, underscoring the widespread anger and demands for justice within the medical community. Dr. Rajdeep also urged the CBI to compile a comprehensive chargesheet, noting the importance of including names that may not have been mentioned initially." "A strong chargesheet should be made against those whose names have not been included in the chargesheet," he added. As November 9 marks 90 days since the incident, Dr. Rajdeep affirmed that the protests will continue until justice is served. "On November 9, we will exhibit all the major events that have taken place so far in this case. I want to say that we will not stop; the protest will continue," he asserted. Earlier on October 22, the junior doctors protesting over the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case in Kolkata ended their hunger strike after a two-hour-long meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat Nabanna. The tragedy unfolded on August 9, when the second-year medical student was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident has ignited protests across West Bengal, with doctors nationwide expressing their solidarity with the junior doctors in Kolkata. The second-year medical student was found dead at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The victim was found dead in the seminar hall of the college. (ANI)
Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Saturday, speaking to ANI, hit out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks on BJP and PM Modi. Manoj Tiwari rclaimed that the Congress president is not appreciated within the party and that the party had turned its back on him during Priyanka Gandhi's nomination process. Additionally, he stated that Mallikarjun Kharge is frustrated and has begun to question his own leader Rahul Gandhi's khata khat statement. "This is Kharge ji's definition... when Priyanka Gandhi's nomination was being done, he was kept out by the Congress people. So does the Congress consider Kharge ji as their president? If they don't respect him, why should we listen to him? Kharge ji keeps saying anything. He says we have 20 lakh people, but we have made 10 crore members support...and you see How the Haryana was won? It was won because of Modi ji's commitment and dedication towards his work. Kharge ji is frustrated because his own party does not respect him. Today he is even speaking ill of Rahul Gandhi. He has questioned Rahul Gandhi's khata khat remark. First, they should sort out their own differences." he said. Earlier, Kharge criticised the BJP on the social networking platform X, calling it a party that engages in betrayal, lies, deceit, fakery, loot, and publicity. He highlighted that the 'B' in BJP stands for betrayal, while the 'J' stands for JUMLA! With the phrase "Badatoge to Katoge," the BJP MP further highlighted the need of national unity, stating that only if we remain together will we be able to achieve development by 2047. He cited the example of the partition and british's divide and rule policy. "This slogan is not for the benefit of the election, but for the benefit of the country. We have been hearing 'divide and rule' for a long time. The British did it, and whenever we are divided, we are killed. We were divided into Pakistan, and our country was partitioned... Bangladesh was also separated.... From Mohammad Ghori and till now, we have been divided and ruled. We don't want to be divided anymore. This is a mantra, and it's not just for the election, but for the progress of our country and our culture. We want people to come together, and only then will we become a developed India by 2047. Elections are just a small part of it. Some people try to divide us for their own benefit, but we won't let that happen. If we are divided, we will be cut into pieces, and that's the only translation," he said. (ANI)
BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan slammed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks on BJP and the central government and dubbed it the party's "desperate panic mode." Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Kesavan said, "The Congress party is staring at a massive defeat in the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections which is why the Congress Party has gone into a desperate panic mode." "Mallikarjun Kharge's nervous tweets yesterday are a clear-cut concession and admission of this upcoming Congress defeat in the elections. The people of our country very clearly know and understand the defining difference between the Congress party's trickery and Modi's guarantee," he said. He further said that the Congress party in Rahul Gandhi's 'tughlaqnomics' has failed miserably, and deceived people with false promises. "The Congress Party's trickery based on Rahul Gandhi's irrational 'tughlaqnomics' of bogus and false promises and pledges has repeatedly deceived and failed the people. On the other hand, Modi Ki guarantee has ushered in tectonic development in people's lives and transformed our nation," he said. Earlier on Friday, Kharge criticised the BJP and said that lies, deceit, fraud, loot and publicity are the five adjectives that best define the BJP government at the centre. He highlighted that the 'B' in BJP stands for betrayal, while the 'J' stands for JUMLA! BJP MP Manoj Tiwari earlier hit out at the Congress chief over his remarks and alleged that Kharge is frustrated and has begun to question his leader Rahul Gandhi's khata khat statement. Tiwari further claimed that the Congress president is not appreciated within the party and that the party had turned its back on him during Priyanka Gandhi's nomination process. "This is Kharge ji's definition. When Priyanka Gandhi's nomination was being done, he was kept out by the Congress people. So does the Congress consider Kharge ji as their president? If they don't respect him, why should we listen to him? Kharge ji keeps saying anything. He says we have 20 lakh people, but we have made 10 crore members support and you see How the Haryana was won?," he said. "It was won because of Modi ji's commitment and dedication towards his work. Kharge ji is frustrated because his own party does not respect him. Today he is even speaking ill of Rahul Gandhi. He has questioned Rahul Gandhi's khata khat remark. First, they should sort out their own differences," he added. (ANI)
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar on Saturday said that only Diwali Padwa is being celebrated separately, rest all the traditions will be celebrated together, adding that they will celebrate Bhai Dooj together. "This is the tradition of Pawar family...we are celebrating Diwali Padwa here after 20+ years. We kept separate Padwa because people wanted that because after our split, we did not attend Padwa. Our party members and leaders wanted a separate Padwa...only Padwa is being celebrated separately, rest all the traditions will be celebrated together only but not this year because of the election campaign, everyone will be busy. Next year we will celebrate Bhai Dooj together," Parth Pawar told ANI. Amid rising political tensions ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Pawar family divided its Padwa festivities. The Baramati constituency in Maharashtra is again going to witness a family battle as NCP leader Ajit Pawar will face his nephew Yugendra Pawar. He is the son of Ajit Pawar's younger brother Shrinivas Pawar. Baramati also witnessed a high-profile battle in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when Sunetra Pawar contested against NCP (SCP) candidate Supriya Sule. The latter won the contest by 1.5 lakh votes. Both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress -- have intensified their preparations for the upcoming elections to 288 Assembly seats in the State. The BJP is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance alongside the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Saturday reiterated the right to statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and said that they don't want to accept the Union territory status, adding that it should be finished now. "We don't want to accept the Union territory status.The time has come, it should be finished now. Statehood is a promise in Parliament and before Supreme Court also," Farooq Abdullah told ANI. The National Conference President further said that Panchayat elections in the Union Territory will conducted soon. "Preparations are being done for the Panchayat elections. It will be conducted," Farooq Abdullah added. The state was bifurcated into two Union Territories following abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Political parties in the state have been demanding early restoration of statehood. Omar Abdullah had earlier served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 and 2014. Omar Abdullah took oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir last month. The NC-Congress alliance won the assembly polls in J-K held after a gap of ten years. JKNC won 42 seats while the Congress managed to win six. The BJP put up an impressive performance, bagging 29 seats. The People's Democratic Party won three seats and one each by the People's Conference, CPI-M and AAP. Seven seats were also won by the Independents. The results of the three-phased elections in Jammu and Kashmir were declared on October 8. This was the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)
Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Kavinder Gupta on Saturday slammed National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah over his statement. BJP leader said he NC Chief should not make such irresponsible statements While speaking to ANI, BJP leader Kavinder Gupta criticised Farooq Abdullah over his statement and said no one is saying that Omar Abdullah's government is being destabilized. He should not make such irresponsible statements. "A responsible person should not make such statements. Peace is maintained in Jammu and Kashmir due to the work of agencies. No one said that Omar Abdullah's government is being destabilized. Many times such attempts are made by external forces. It is because of the security forces that the policy of zero tolerance is being implemented. This is absolutely wrong statement. He (Farooq Abdullah) should not make such irresponsible statements", he said. Earlier today, NC President Farooq Abdullah demanded an investigation in the Budgam terror attack and said that he has a doubt that is it done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government in Jammu and Kashmir. "It should be investigated. How is it that the government has come and this is happening? I have a doubt that is it done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government...If they (terrorists) are caught then we will get to know who is doing this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them...We should check if there is an agency who is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah," Farooq Abdullah told ANI. On Friday, terrorists fired upon two non-locals in Mazhama, in the Magam area of Budgam district. After the incident security forces cordoned off the whole area to nab the attackers. "Terrorists fired upon two non-locals in Mazhama, in the Magam area of Budgam district. The injured were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, where their condition is said to be stable. The whole area was cordoned off by the security forces to nab the attackers," Official sources said. Earlier today, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Srinagar's Khanyar area of Jammu and Kashmir. "A cordon and search operation in Khanyar area of district Srinagar has resulted in an exchange of fire. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police posted on X. (ANI)
The BJP has criticised National Conference patron Farooq Abullah for demanding an investigation into the Budgam terror attack. The BJP on Saturday said that when Farooq Abdullah knows that terrorism is coming from Pakistan then what is the need of investigation. Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina said that everyone should support the Army, police and security forces. "Farooq Abdullah knows that this terrorism is coming from Pakistan... This is a well-known fact. What is there to investigate in this? He knows that the terrorist attacks that are taking place in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and terrorist organizations are involved in this... We all should support our army, police and security forces... We have to fight unitedly against those who are the enemies of humanity," Raina told ANI. BJP leader Kavinder Gupta said that a responsible person should not make such statements "Peace is maintained in Jammu and Kashmir due to the work of agencies...No one said that Omar Abdullah's government is being destabilized... many times such attempts are made by external forces... it is because of the security forces that the policy of zero tolerance is being implemented... this is absolutely wrong statement. He (Farooq Abdullah) should not make such irresponsible statements," Gupta said. Earlier today, the National Conference President Farooq Abdullah demanded inquiry amid continuous terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir and also expressed his suspicion saying that there has been attempts to destabilize Omar Abdullah-led government. "It should be investigated. How is it that the government has come and this is happening? I have a doubt that is it done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government...If they (terrorists) are caught then we will get to know who is doing this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them...We should check if there is an agency who is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah," Farooq Abdullah said. On being asked if Pakistan should be blamed every time for terrorist attacks in J-K including the recent Budgam terror attack, Abdullah said, "There is no question of this, I would say that there should be an investigation into this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them...We should check if there is an agency that is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah." On Friday, terrorists fired upon two non-locals in Mazhama, in the Magam area of Budgam district. After the incident security forces cordoned off the whole area to nab the attackers. (ANI)
AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday criticised the Modi government's proposed Waqf ammendment bill, questioning the mandatory inclusion of two non-Muslim members in the central Waqf Council. Owaisi questioned that if Muslims cannot be trustees of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) then how can a non-Muslim be in the Waqf board? Addressing a press conference AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Not even a single member of the 24 members of TTD Board (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) is a non-Hindu...The new Chairman of TTD says that the people working there should be Hindu...We are not against this, we just have an objection to the fact that Narendra Modi's government is saying in the proposed bill of Waqf that in the central Waqf Council, it has been made mandatory that 2 non-Muslim members should be there...Why are you bringing this provision in the Waqf bill? TTD is a board of the Hindu religion and Waqf Board is for the Muslim religion. There should be parity...When the trustees of TTD cannot be Muslims, how will a non-Muslim member be on the Waqf Board?" His comments came after newly appointed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Chairman BR Naidu on Thursday said he would prioritise discussions with the government about employees of other religions working at Tirumala, considering whether they should be transferred to other departments or given voluntary retirement. "We used to frequently go to Tirumala. I thank Chandrababu Naidu and NDA leaders for appointing me. I consider this a turning point in my life. The previous government made a lot of mistakes there. I did not go to Tirumala even once in 5 years because I felt that it did not have its sanctity. I intend to just work there not with the intention of gaining anything. I will talk to govt about the people from other religions, working in Tirumala on first priority whether to shift them to other departments or give them VRS," he said. The Waqf Act, 1995, which was created to regulate waqf properties, has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha this August, seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The Lok Sabha Secretariat announced on Thursday that the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will conduct a study tour across five Indian cities. The committee will visit Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow from November 9 to November 14, as part of its examination of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday for engaging in "cheap politics," alleging that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is obstructing Purvanchalis from celebrating Chhath Puja by keeping the gates closed.Notably, DDA is a statutory body that comes under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.Atishi claimed that the Delhi development authority was banning entry of people into the Chhath Ghaat in Greater Kailash.In a video shared by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, a member of the Purvanchal community alleges that the Delhi Development Authority is preventing their access to the Ghat by keeping the gates closed. The individual called on community members to unite and pressure the government to open the gates so Chhath Puja can be performed at the Ghaat. He complained that despite the permission of the DM to perform Chhath Puja, the people of the community were not allowed to enter the Ghaat. "BJP hates people from Purvanchal. The level of their politics has fallen so much that they are banning Chhath Ghat in Greater Kailash through DDA. Such cheap politics will not be tolerated regarding Chhath, the great festival of faith, BJP will have to bear the consequences of this," Delhi Chief Minister Atishi wrote in a post on X.Expressing his concern on the issue, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that he plans to visit Satpula Ground in Chirag Delhi to address the matter."Long live Purvanchal's self-respect Chirag, BJP ruled DDA is stopping the Chhath Ghat of Purvanchal brothers of Delhi and nearby areas. For the respect of Purvanchal, raise your voice for the rights of the brothers of Purvanchal I will go to Satpula Ground, Chirag Delhi today at 5 pm," Saurabh Bharadwaj wrote on X.Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday declared a public holiday on November 7 for Chhath Puja, calling it an "important festival" for the residents of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.In an official announcement, Chief Minister Atishi stated that the Delhi government has decided to observe a holiday on 7 November for Chhath Puja, enabling the Purvanchal community to celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm.In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Delhi, Atishi wrote, "Chhath Puja is an important festival for the people of the NCT of Delhi. Accordingly, the Government of NCT of Delhi has decided to declare 7th November 2024 as a Public Holiday on account of 'Chhath Puja'."The announcement follows a requeast from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, who had urged the Chief Minister to declare a full public holiday on the third day of Chhath."In just a few days, we will be celebrating Chhath, a grand festival observed over four days, with the third day being particularly significant as offerings are made to the setting sun. This year, this important day falls on November 7, which has already been declared a restricted holiday. I urge the government to declare November 7, 2024 (Thursday) as a full holiday and to expedite the necessary process," LG Saxena wrote in his letter to Atishi. (ANI)
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday accused the Congress Party of reverting to its alleged "shoot and scoot" social media policy, which relies on spreading lies, fabricated figures, and fake data. Coming down heavily on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his allegations that the central government has failed to fulfill their poll promises, Puri claimed that even senior leaders of the party don't verify facts before sharing their misguided opinions publicly. "Congress Party's classic shoot and scoot brand of social media policy based on lies, fabricated figures and fake data is back in action. Even their senior most leaders do not check facts before going public with their delusional opinions," the Union Minister posted on X. Dismissing Kharge's claim about the rising unemployment, Puri said that India has witnessed significant employment growth over the years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Under the leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji, India has witnessed significant employment growth over the years. Employment has increased by nearly 36 per cent, adding around 170 million jobs between 2016-17 and 2022-23. Let me also remind them that India's economic trajectory demonstrates sustained job creation across key sectors. We are on our way to becoming the world's 3rd largest economy very soon from the 11th spot their famed economists and policies left us in 2014," he posted on X. Puri in his post highlighted India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased at an average rate of over 6.5 per cent during this period. "While providing direct and indirect employment opportunities to our youth India's GDP grew at an average rate of over 6.5% during the same period. Indian labour market indicators show that the unemployment rate has declined to 3.2% in 2022-23. Agriculture remains dominant, employing over 45 per cent of the workforce, with a gradual shift toward manufacturing and services," he said. "According to PLFS, youth (age 15-29 years) unemployment rate has declined from 17.8 per cent in 2017-18 to 10 per cent in 2022-23. EPFO has reached 131.5 lakh in 2024 while the Gig Economy workforce is expected to grow to 2.35 crore by 2029-30," the Union Minister added. Pur criticized Kharge for his remarks on unemployment, saying the Congress chief seems to be relying on false data or is distracted by his party's internal issues. "While Mr Kharge sees 'stampedes', he seems unaware that the Worker Population Ratio has increased by almost 26% between 2017-2023. He is clearly looking at all the wrong places & getting fake data, or maybe is just too preoccupied with trying to hold his imploding party together and buying whatever lies his advisors sell to him, or he is just too fixated with the 'unemployment' of his party's travelling Shehzada," he said. The tussle began when PM Modi Modi in his recent thread of tweets, accused Congress of making empty promises during election campaigns. In his tweet, PM Modi claimed, "The Congress Party is realizing the hard way that making unreal promises is easy, but implementing them properly is tough or impossible. Campaign after campaign, they promise things to the people, which they also know they will never be able to deliver." Modi cited issues in Congress-ruled states, mentioning that the "developmental trajectory and fiscal health is turning from bad to worse" in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana. He alleged that Congress's unfulfilled promises were misleading the poor, youth, farmers, and women and that existing welfare schemes were being neglected. Modi urged the public to be vigilant against what he termed the "Congress-sponsored culture of fake promises" and cited Haryana's recent election results as evidence of people rejecting Congress. Responding to this, Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said that lies, deceit, fraud, loot and publicity are the five adjectives that best define the BJP government at the centre. "Lies, Deceit, Fakery, Loot & Publicity are the 5 adjectives which best describe your Govt! Your drumbeating regarding a 100-day plan was a cheap PR stunt! On May 16, 2024, you also claimed that you took inputs from more than 20 lakh people for the road map for 2047. RTI filed in PMO declined to put forth details, exposing your LIES!" Kharge posted on X. Launching a scathing attack on the central government, the Congress chief said, " The 'B' in BJP stands for Betrayal, while the 'J' stands for 'Jhumla'.Setting the record straight." He further highlighted several areas where the central government has allegedly failed, and said, "Why is India's Unemployment Rate at a 45-year high? Why are stampedes witnessed wherever there are vacancies for a handful of jobs? Who is responsible for 70 paper leaks in 7 years? Who snatched 5 Lakh Govt jobs by selling stake in PSUs? Why have the household savings plunged to a 50-year low? Why has the cost of a common thali increased by 52% in just last year? TOP -- Tomato Prices increased by 247%, Potato by 180% and Onion by 60%? Who levied GST on essential food items such as Milk, Curd, Atta, Dal? Who is penalising Middle Class through LTCG by indulging in Tax Terrorism?" (ANI)
BJP National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday hit out at National Conference-Congress alliance in Jammu and Kashmir hours after Farooq Abdullah demanded an investigation in the Budgam terror attack. He also termed the statement of former J&K Chief Minister very "unfortunate" and said that some people are doing poltics and blame the Indian forces. "It is very unfortunate that on an issue as sensitive as this, rather than put nation first, some people are doing politics first, family first and votebank first. It doesnot befit Farooq Abdullah inorder to shift his responsibility or inorder to give a cover fire to the sponsors of terrorism, that they blame the Indian forces and Indian agencies, "Poonawalla told ANI. The BJP leader also alleged that Congress gave clean chit to Pakistan and sponsors of terrorism in the Mumbai terror attacks. "But it seems to become a habit for the Congress and the ecosystem which is in power in Jammu and Kashmir because we have seen that the Congress gave a clean chit to Pakistan and the sponsors of terrorism in the 26/11 case. Now the same modus operandi has been used...," he added. Earlier today, NC President Farooq Abdullah demanded an investigation in the Budgam terror attack and said that he has a doubt that is it done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government in Jammu and Kashmir. "It should be investigated. How is it that the government has come and this is happening? I have a doubt that is it done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government...If they (terrorists) are caught then we will get to know who is doing this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them...We should check if there is an agency who is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah," Farooq Abdullah told ANI. Two terrorists were killed by security forces during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Saturday, officials said. The encounter broke out after security forces initiated an anti-terrorist operation in the Halkan Gali area. "Based on specific input, a Joint Operation was launched by Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Srinagar Sector CRPF in gen area Halkan Gali, Anantnag. On 02 Nov 2024, suspicious movement near Halkan Gali was observed and challenged by vigilant troops, as a result, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on own column. Own troops effectively retaliated, resulting in elimination of two terrorists. Operation is in progress," Chinar Corps, Indian Army posted on X. (ANI)
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, both hosted Diwali Padwa and greeted people at their respective residences in Baramati on Saturday. Hosting Diwali Padwa and meeting the locals is a long-standing tradition in the Pawar family but amid rising political tensions due to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, now Pawar family has also divided its Padwa festivities. For the first time, Ajit Pawar along with his wife Sunetra Pawar and son Parth Pawar hosted the Diwali Padwa at his residence in Katewadi whereas Sharad Pawar along with Supriya Sule hosted the Diwali Padwa at their residence Govind Bagh. The NCP (SCP) chief Pawar addressed the public separately and said, "It's a tradition of many years that on Diwali Padwa we celebrate it together here. If this old tradition could have been continued I would have felt happy about it. It's ok but I am upset that people had to go to two different places which troubled them." When questioned about celebrating Diwali Padwa separately and not with the entire family at Govind Bagh, DCM Ajit Pawar said, "What Sharad Pawar ji is saying, it is his right to say so. I would not like to comment on it. We celebrated it separately to avoid inconveniencing people at Govind Bagh. I wanted to ensure that those visiting me and my relatives didn't have to wait in line." He further added, "People who come to meet me won't disturb their relatives and their line will also function smoothly." Supriya Sule defined the auspicious occasions of Padwa by saying that there is Padwa in every home when questioned about separate celebrations in the family. She said, "For the last 57 years since Sharad Pawar got elected in 1967 for the first time, this is an open house tradition that takes place. I have no idea, there are many Padwa (Diwali Padwa) happening here. In Baramati, there is Padwa in every home." While speaking to ANI, Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar affirmed that this is a family tradition but how political demands made it necessary to celebrate Padwa separately. He affirmed that next year bhai dooj will be celebrated together with the entire family. He said, "This is the tradition of Pawar family. We are celebrating Diwali Padwa here after 20+ years. We kept separate Padwa because people wanted that because after our split, we did not attend Padwa. Our party members and leaders wanted a separate Padwa. Only Padwa is being celebrated separately, the rest all the traditions will be celebrated together only but not this year because of the election campaign, everyone will be busy. Next year we will celebrate Bhai Dooj together" Baramati is again facing a Pawar Vs Pawar battle after facing it previously during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In assembly elections, the uncle, Ajit pawar, and nephew, Yugendra Pawar will be up against each other. The preparations for upcoming elections have been intensified in Baramati. Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23. (ANI)
In a shocking incident, unknown people put shoes on the statue of former Prime Minister late Lal Bahadur Shastri located at an intersection near the Police Commissioner's Office in the state capital Bhopal on Saturday. Upon getting information about it, the Congress workers reached the spot and cleaned the statue with milk. They also raised slogans that they would not tolerate the insult of former PM late Shastri and demanded strict action against whoever was found guilty in the matter. Congress leaders also questioned the working of the police and district administration. They said that if such an incident could happen near the Police Commissioner's Office, then no one was safe in the city. Meanwhile, upon receiving the information, the police rushed to the spot and began the investigation into the matter. Arera Hills Police Station in charge, Manoj Patwa said, "We received information that someone has placed shoes on the shoulder of former PM Shastri's statue here. Acting on it, we reached the spot and tried to gather information about the incident. We are checking the CCTV cameras installed nearby the spot and made the informers active to get leads in the matter." He further added that the police were investigating the matter and would soon arrest the accused who did the act. Additionally, Former Union Minister and Congress leader Arun Yadav condemned the act and demanded the state government to take strict action against whoever was found guilty. "Putting shoes garland on the statue of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, situated near Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium (Minto Hall) in the capital Bhopal, is highly condemnable and insulting. I demand from the government that strict action should be taken against the culprits," Yadav posted on X. (ANI)
He expressed hope that this New Year brings prosperity to Gujarat and propels the state to new heights of progress in the nation. CM also conveyed hopes for every Gujarati to embrace the vision of "Sauno Saath Sauno Vikas" and to actively contribute to the state's progress.

Starting his day at Panchdev temple in Gandhinagar where CM performed darshan and Puja. He then visited Bhadrakali Temple at Lal Darwaja in Ahmedabad, offering prayers for Gujarat's well-being on the New Year.

During his visits, CM extends greetings to citizens at Annexe Circuit House, Shahibaug. On this occasion, State Minister Jagdishbhai Vishwakarma, Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain, esteemed MLAs, Principal Secretary of Gujarat's Urban Housing and Urban Development Department Ashwini Kumar, along with councillors, officials, dignitaries, and BJP leaders and office-bearers, warmly welcomed the Chief Minister and extended their New Year greetings.

Following this, the Chief Minister visited the Police Officers' Mess at Shahibaug Dafnala, where he extended warm New Year wishes to senior police officers and their families. The occasion was graced by the presence of Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, Chief Secretary Raj Kumar, State DGP Vikas Sahay, and other senior police officials. (ANI)
The Union Environment Ministry on Saturday said that it constituted a team to investigate the recent deaths of ten elephants in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) situated in Madhya Pradesh. Ten elephants were killed in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh earlier this week, with poisoning suspected as a possible cause. "The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has constituted a team to inquire into the death of ten elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh. The team is conducting an independent inquiry in the matter," the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in a statement. The ministry further informed that the State Government of Madhya Pradesh has also constituted a five-member State level committee, to inquire into the matter and submit a report to the government. "The five-member committee is headed by APCCF (Wildlife). The committee has members from civil society, scientists, and veterinarians. The matter is also being enquired into by the Head of State Tiger Strike Force (STSF). The STSF has combed the forests and the adjoining villages and is conducting an in-depth enquiry about the incident," the ministry said. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden, Madhya Pradesh is camping in Bandhavgarh and supervising the inquiry and actions being taken in the matter. Additional Director General of Forests (Project Tiger & Elephant) & Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, along with AIG NTCA, Nagpur, have also visited the sites and held discussions with the State officials on the various related issues and probable cause of the deaths of elephants. The incident came to the fore after patrolling staff of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve detected the death of four elephants in the Salkhania beats of Pataur and Khiatuli range of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh on October 29. On further combing of the adjoining areas, six more elephants were found sick or unconscious in the vicinity. The sick elephants undergoing treatment lost their lives over the next two days. Out of those 10 dead 10 elephants, one was male and nine were female. Further, amongst the ten dead elephants, 6 were juveniles/subadults and 4 were adults. The information revealed that the herd of 13 elephants had raided the Kodo millet crop in the vicinity of the forest. According to the preliminary information shared by the concerned officers from the State of Madhya Pradesh, the death of the elephants may be because of poisoning, the ministry informed. "The final cause of death shall only be ascertained after through enquiry, detailed Postmortem reports, results of histopathological and toxicological reports and other corroborative evidences. Further, preventive measures are being taken to avoid possibilities of such incidents by the State officials and monitoring of other elephant herds in and around Bandhavgarh reserve has been enhanced as informed by the officials," the statement further mentioned. According to the ministry, the patrolling staff of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve detected the death of 4 elephants in the Salkhania beats of Pataur and Khiatuli range of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh on October 29. Six more elephants were found sick or unconscious in the vicinity. The field staff and local veterinary officers started medication of the sick elephants, which was supported by a team of veterinarians from the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health (SWFH). Nonetheless, 4 sick elephants succumbed to death on October 30. Further, even after continuous medication and treatment, the remaining two sick and unconscious elephants lost their lives on October 31. Out of those dead ten elephants, one was male and nine were female. Further, amongst the ten dead elephants, six were juvenile/subadults and four were adults. The information revealed that the herd of thirteen elephants had raided the Kodo millet crop in the vicinity of the forest. India lost 528 elephants in the last five years due to unnatural causes, including poaching, poisoning, electrocution, and train accidents, the government informed Parliament in July. (ANI)
The farmers' suicides have been a substantial issue ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls with farmers expressing discontent over the lack of help from government authorities. Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde's home district Beed witnessed 30 farmer's suicides since March of this year, as per the data of district administration. The family members of deceased farmers told ANI that the administration, government or any public representative did not reach out to them for help. Speaking to ANI, Murali Gunwant Haka, son of the deceased farmer Gunwant Haka said that he lives with his mother and grandmother in Chichkhandi village of Ambejogai taluka. About four months ago, his father committed suicide by consuming pesticide. He had a loan of about Rs 5 lakh from the bank and private moneylenders, but due to drought, the crop got spoiled and there was nothing left to eat. After being troubled for many days, he finally committed suicide. "No one came to ask for votes and neither came to ask our condition," he added. Murali told that his fields are mortgaged with the bank and the moneylenders come to his house every day to ask for money. Another deceased farmer's wife, Ranjana, who lives in Kej Taluka, said that her husband committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the field in September. Now she lives with her two children and their responsibility is on her. Her husband had not taken any loan from any bank, but he owed money to private moneylenders. Although he never told the amount, he was worried due to the loan amount. She said that even during the elections, if someone came to meet her, then she could tell him her pain. Leave alone financial help, no officer or public representative even came to her house and met her. She has not even received compensation till now. Her son also expressed his grief and shared the crunching financial condition of the family. "If politicians come, I will ask for help. I study in 11th standard and have to pay college fees," he said. Both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress -- have intensified their preparations for the upcoming elections to 288 Assembly seats in the State. The BJP is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance alongside the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23.In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
As Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray is making his political debut from Dadar Mahim constituency, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Saturday reiterated support for their candidate Sada Sarvankar. During the Lok Sabha elections, MNS had offered unconditional support to the Mahayuti; however, for the current Assembly election, the MNS has fielded candidates in over 100 seats, positioning them against both the ruling BJP and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in an exclusive interview with ANI talked about his relationship with Raj Thackeray and his son Amit Thackeray. On Raj Thackeray fielding his son from Mahim, Eknath Shinde, when asked will he bless Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray who will make his debut in this polls? "He (Raj Thackeray) was with us in the Lok Sabha elections. I had a conversation with him as to what is his strategy, and he said to let Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP decide first. But they directly fielded their candidates. We also have an MLA there." Emphasising the need to boost the morale of party workers during elections, Eknath Shinde said, "The workers should also be looked after while contesting elections. We should not let the morale of the workers down." Shinde exudes confidence in Mahayuti's victory in the Assembly election "Certainly, today we have an alliance of Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP Ajit Pawar. We are contesting the elections under the same alliance, we have RPI's Athavale. We will contest the elections and will win with a majority," Sindhe said Mahim seat candidates are Amit Thackeray (MNS), Sada Sarvankar (Shiv Sena)and Mahesh Sawant Shiv Sena (UBT)Mahim assembly constituency total voters are 2,24,700 .. Marathi 1,23,400, North Indians are 21,200, Gujarati and Rajasthani 20,800, South Indians 13,600, Christian 11800, and Parasi 8500. Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said that BJP and its alliance partners will win Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls and Congress has been reduced from being a major national party to becoming a junior partner in various states. He alleged that Congress is losing strength because of its "ill-conceived and badly thought-through policies" and that its leaders are "getting frustrated". "I think after the collapse of the Jalebi factory in Haryana, now we see the writing on the wall in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, hence these outlandish claims about PDA or whatever he was talking about... Congress has been reduced from being a major national party to becoming a junior partner in all the states. I think that is because of their ill-conceived and badly thought-through policies. We'll win handsomely in Jharkhand and Maharashtra. That is why they're getting more frustrated," Puri, who is Minister for Oil and Natural Gas, told ANI. He also targeted Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and said the party gets into trouble over its "outlandish promises". "He's showing deep-seated frustration, and that frustration is also understandable. Why is it understandable? When Priyanka went to file her nomination, he was not even allowed to sit inside the room. Then when he goes to Karnataka, he sees the mess there, then with the camera on, he's telling the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister that if you make promises and you say that you're reviewing a scheme, which means you're not going to be able to implement the promises, you lack credibility and you will get into trouble. That's a reality," he said. "The fundamental difference between the BJP and the Congress is, I'll not bring AAP here, they are not worth mentioning, when the BJP makes a statement and says we will deliver on an election promise, it has invariably delivered. The opposition, on the other hand, without making a detailed analysis of what the resources available are, without deciding whether they will have the money to implement a scheme, they go and make an outlandish promise, as a result of which they get into trouble," he added. PM Modi Modi targeted Congress on Friday and said it makes "unreal promises". "The Congress Party is realizing the hard way that making unreal promises is easy, but implementing them properly is tough or impossible. Campaign after campaign, they promise things to the people, which they also know they will never be able to deliver." PM Modi cited issues in Congress-ruled states, mentioning that the "developmental trajectory and fiscal health is turning from bad to worse" in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana. He alleged that Congress's unfulfilled promises were misleading the poor, youth, farmers, and women and that existing welfare schemes were being neglected. He also urged people to be vigilant against what he termed the "Congress-sponsored culture of fake promises" and cited Haryana's recent election results as evidence of people rejecting Congress. Responding to this, Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said that lies, deceit, fraud, loot and publicity are the five adjectives that best define the BJP government at the centre. "Lies, Deceit, Fakery, Loot & Publicity are the 5 adjectives which best describe your Govt! Your drumbeating regarding a 100-day plan was a cheap PR stunt! On May 16, 2024, you also claimed that you took inputs from more than 20 lakh people for the road map for 2047. RTI filed in PMO declined to put forth details, exposing your LIES!" Kharge posted on X. Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20 while the elections in the Jharkhand Assembly will be conducted in two phases on November 13 and November 20, The counting of votes in both the states will take place on November 23. (ANI)
Upon receiving a specific information at around 2.30 pm on Saturday, the BSF troops of BOP (Border Out Post) Kamla Sagar in the Sepahijela district, apprehended four Bangladeshi nationals while they were trying to enter into Indian territory by negotiating the IBB Fence.

According to the press release, three apprehended Bangladeshi nationals are resident of Gopalganj district of Bangladesh whereas another listed Bangladeshi was facilitating illegal crossing of those three Bangladeshi nationals and is a resident of Kasba, Bangladesh.

While in an another operation, a Bangladeshi national was apprehended by the BSF troops of BOP Samrupara in the Unakoti district. He was a resident of Netrakona district of Bangladesh.

Additionally, the BSF troops in different operation foiled various attempts of trans-border smuggling along the Indo Bangladesh border. They rescued 12 cattle and seized 900 kgs sugar and other contraband worth Rs 3 lakhs, the release said.

Earlier, the Border Security Force arrested two Rohingya migrants at the Karbook bus stand in the Gomati District of Tripura, while they were planning to exfiltrate into Bangladesh, an official release stated on Friday.

Both the apprehended Rohingya illegal migrants are residents of the Rohingya Refugee Camp located in Cox Bazar, Bangladesh. Indian currency, mobile and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) card were recovered from their possession, the release stated. (ANI)
The United States is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East to safeguard its citizens, protect Israel, and promote de-escalation through diplomacy and deterrence. As part of this effort, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defence destroyers, fighter squadrons, tanker aircraft, and B-52 long-range strike bombers to the region. In a statement, the Department of Defence (DoD) said, "In keeping with our commitments to the protection of US citizens and forces in the Middle East, the defence of Israel, and de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy, the Secretary of Defence ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defence destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several US Air Force B-52 long-range strike bombers to the region. These forces will begin to arrive in the coming months as the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group prepares to depart." It added, "These deployments build on the recent decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system to Israel as well as DoD's sustained Amphibious Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) posture in the Eastern Mediterranean. These movements demonstrate the flexible nature of the US global defence posture and the US capability to deploy worldwide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats." The Pentagon statement further said that the Defence Secretary has reiterated his commitment that the United States will take all the necessary measures to defend its people. "Secretary Austin continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people," the statement said. The move comes after Austin on Thursday spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to explore opportunities for de-escalation amidst rising Middle East tensions. Their conversation highlighted the US' support for Israel's security, particularly in the face of threats from Iran and Iranian proxies. Sharing a post on X, Austin wrote, "I spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to discuss opportunities for regional de-escalation. I reaffirmed that the United States remains fully prepared to defend US personnel, Israel, and partners across the region against threats from Iran and Iran-backed proxies." (ANI)
Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], November 2 (ANI/WAM): The United Arab Emirates participated in a High-Level meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution, which was hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ninety-four countries and international organisations joined the two-day conference in Riyadh from 30-31 October, which opened with keynote addresses by Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The UAE delegation was headed by Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the conference, Nusseibeh expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia's role in facilitating international efforts to achieve the two-state solution, adding that the Kingdom's historic leadership was needed now more than ever. She underlined the UAE's unwavering commitment to a future where the two states of Palestine and Israel live side by side, in peace with each other and with their neighbours. She rejected all attempts to create facts on the ground that obstruct this goal. In light of the appalling number of people who have been killed and wounded since the start of the conflict, Nusseibeh renewed the call for the unconditional protection of civilians and aid workers. She reflected on the UAE's leading role in providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and urged rapid, full and unimpeded humanitarian access at scale. She warned against the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, including in the north where 4,00,000 people are cut off from aid provision, and she cited the recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification alerts that more than 1.8 million people across Gaza are living through high levels of acute food insecurity. In this context, she reiterated the UAE's condemnation of laws targeting the essential work of UNRWA, and stressed that UNRWA staff and premises are protected under international law, including international humanitarian law, and must be respected. In her engagements in Riyadh, Lana Nusseibeh highlighted the dangers of rising tensions and the escalation of military conflict throughout the region. She renewed the UAE's call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all hostages and detainees. Moreover, Nusseibeh expressed the UAE's deep concern with the ongoing developments in Lebanon, the repercussions of the dangerous escalation, and its impact on regional stability. In this regard, Nusseibeh affirmed the UAE's unwavering commitment to Lebanon's unity, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and underscored the country's support to the Lebanese people in the current circumstances. At the conference, the UAE also highlighted the dangers posed by the spread of incitement and hate speech on both sides of the conflict, and stressed the devastating toll this is taking in the West Bank, where settler violence is targeting Palestinians with impunity. In this context, the UAE pointed to existing frameworks for dealing with this challenge, in particular, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2686 (2023) on "Tolerance and International Peace and Security", which identifies hate speech, extremism and intolerance as drivers of conflict, and outlines ways in which states and societies work together in countering this threat. (ANI/WAM)
In a move that could reshape Pakistan's aviation landscape, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has signalled its intent to join the bidding process for the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), aiming to submit a strong offer, ARY News reported. Acting on directives from Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Investment Board addressed Federal Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan, expressing the province's intention to place a bid. In the letter, the Board emphasised PIA's national significance, describing it as a "national asset of immense importance." The letter further stated, "The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is willing to offer a better deal than the Blue World City." On Thursday, the Privatisation Ministry revealed that only one bid had been received during the final phase of the PIA sale, totalling PKR 10 billion for a 60 per cent stake. The single bid came from Blue World City, a real estate firm, which fell below the government's minimum price requirement of PKR 85 billion. While six companies had been pre-qualified by the government in June, only Blue World City submitted an official bid, reported ARY News. To align with the minimum pricing set by the government, the Privatisation Commission urged the bidder to increase their offer. However, Blue World City's chairman, Saad Nazir, held firm on the original amount, stating, "We wish the government all the best if they don't want to accept our bid." The sale of PIA aligns with Pakistan's broader goal to generate funds through privatisation, an effort bolstered by a USD 7 billion program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As part of the initiative, Pakistan is offering between 51 per cent and 100 per cent ownership of the financially troubled national airline. During a recent Senate Privatisation Committee meeting, chaired by Senator Talal Chaudhry, it was disclosed that several companies interested in acquiring PIA are pushing for additional terms. Among these is a request for the government to lay off all current employees and to cover tax liabilities while transferring 76 per cent of PIA shares to the new owner, ARY News reported. The prospective sale of PIA and the bidding dynamics underscore the challenges of balancing fiscal recovery efforts with workforce and stakeholder interests as Pakistan navigates the complexities of privatisation. (ANI)
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) held demonstrations against the ongoing enforced disappearances by the Pakistan armed forces under the banner, "Breaking the Silence: Standing Against Enforced Disappearances" in the Nasirabad district of Balochistan on Friday. The BYC Nasirabad zone began the protest from Baldia Ground and marched towards Allah Wala Chowk. In a post on X, the BYC stated," As part of BYC's ongoing campaign, "Breaking the Silence: Standing Against Enforced Disappearances," a protest rally was organised today by BYC Naseerabad Zone. The protest, aimed at raising voices against the oppression, genocide, and enforced disappearances faced by the Baloch people, started at Baldia Ground and continued to Allah Wala Chowk." BYC organised a peaceful protest rally to raise their voices against the oppression but they were blocked by the Pakistan armed forces before reaching the Press Club. The protesters highlighted that police threatened them, harassed and finally assaulted them to make the crowd disperse. However, participants shouted slogans against authorities and called to bring back allegedly abducted people. The BYC further added," Despite intimidation by local police, who attempted to halt the protest and used force to disperse participants before reaching the Press Club, the demonstrators continued the march, chanting slogans against police actions and demanding the release of all Baloch enforced disappeared persons." On Thursday, a similar protest took place at Nokundi, Balochistan where the protesters demonstrated photographs of the victims, demanding their immediate release. The residents joined the protest to support their families and loved ones. Despite continued oppression by the armed forces, the protestors were standing in solidarity. BYC has organised protests in Karachi, Hub Chowki, Khuzdar, Turbat, Panjgur, Kharan, Quetta, Nushki, Dalbandin, and Chagai till now. The Pakistan armed forces have used violent measures to stop the protest but the Baloch people are continuously raising their voices against the enforced disappearances by the Pakistan police force. (ANI)
Purdue University has deepened its educational ties with India, launching two significant initiatives: the Purdue-India Centre for Education and Engagement and a US-India Centre of Excellence in Semiconductors. Announced on November 1 during a fireside chat attended by Indiana Sen. Todd Young and US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, these ventures aim to foster joint degrees, industry relations, and alumni engagement, with support from both governments, an official press release by the University stated. The initiatives are the latest chapter in Purdue's long relationship with India, which dates back 125 years to the university's first Indian students. As part of the announcement, Purdue President Mung Chiang shared that the Purdue-India centres would enhance Purdue's presence in India and create new pathways for collaborative education in fields like artificial intelligence, data science, and business through partnerships with Indian institutions. The Purdue-India Centre for Education and Engagement will serve as a central hub in India to strengthen Purdue's network. This includes offering joint degrees in high-demand fields, in partnership with strategic Indian institutions. The centre also aims to enhance Purdue's government and industry connections, establish partnerships with local universities, engage alumni, and boost student recruitment. "Purdue is excited to grow our long-standing partnership with Indian institutions and companies across a broad range of disciplines," said Chiang. "Both our new Centre for Education and Engagement in Delhi and the new US-India Centre of Excellence in Semiconductors, joint with IIT Hyderabad and supported by our Indian and US governments, are milestone steps toward the expansion of this strategic partnership, with many opportunities for our students and faculty and a continued elevation of Purdue's global impact." Purdue's Indian student community is the university's largest international student population, with over 3,000 students from India, and more than 300 Purdue faculty, researchers, and staff are of Indian origin, stated the press release. The announcement comes on the heels of Purdue's recent meetings in three Indian cities. In September, a Purdue delegation engaged with Indian government officials, leading academic institutions, and industry leaders in discussions on educational collaboration, expanded research, and other initiatives. "Purdue's expanding connections provide the US and India with the tools for ongoing global success," said Young. "Forward-focused thinking like this can lay the foundation encouraging two-way trade and investment in the tech sector, particularly in high-impact areas like semiconductors and AI." During his September visit, Garcetti met with Purdue's delegation in New Delhi, where he and other Indian government officials explored ways for Purdue to deepen its support of mutual goals in AI, quantum computing, and critical technologies. "Purdue has strong support in India and has demonstrated its support for Indian industry and academia as well," Garcetti said. "Establishing a presence like this in India empowers students in both nations and strengthens workforce and educational ties. I applaud Purdue's leadership and the institutional partnerships which are contributing so much to the US-India relationship." Part of Purdue's new US-India Centre for Excellence in Semiconductors involves engaging with leaders from the semiconductor industry to advance joint research and develop a skilled workforce, in alignment with Purdue's land-grant mission in research, learning, and engagement, the press release stated. Purdue's announcement is the latest in a series of collaborative moves. Earlier in May, the university became the flagship academic partner for semiconductors with the Indian government, focusing on joint research and development and training talent for the field. During the visit, Young and Garcetti also toured Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Centre, which houses the university's semiconductor research facilities, including the 25,000-square-foot Scifres Nanofabrication Laboratory, one of the largest cleanrooms in an academic setting in the US. (ANI)
The Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, Paank, has condemned the recent bomb blast in Mastung, Balochistan, which tragically claimed the lives of at least eight people, including five schoolchildren. Paank called on the Pakistani government to halt its support for religious extremist groups in the region, Dawn reported. The devastating attack occurred in the town of Mastung, where an improvised explosive device (IED) killed eight individuals, with victims including two sets of siblings on their way to school in a van. According to officials, "Dead children included two brothers and a girl and her younger brother who were going to school in the school van." In a post on X, Paank stated, "We strongly condemn the recent terrorist attack in Mastung, Balochistan, where at least nine individuals, including five school students, lost their lives, and 37 others were severely injured. We stand in solidarity with the victims, call for justice, and an end to extremism, and urge Pakistan to cease all support for religious extremist groups and stop weaponising them against the people of Balochistan." https://x.com/paank_bnm/status/1852412728239075694 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also voiced concern, urging immediate action to address the rising militancy in the province. Sharing a post on X, HRCP wrote, "The sharp rise in militancy in the province must be taken extremely seriously by the federal and provincial governments and the perpetrators traced and brought to book. A long-term political solution is the only way forward." https://x.com/HRCP87/status/1852370908088025137 SSP Mastung Rehmatullah confirmed to The Dawn that the IED was planted on a motorcycle parked at School-Hospital Chowk. The blast, intended to target a police vehicle en route to escort a polio vaccination team, underscores the increasing threat of terrorism in the area, reported Dawn. The Mastung bombing highlights the tragic loss of innocent lives and underscores the urgent need for action against extremism. Community leaders are calling for prompt and decisive measures to restore security and stability in Balochistan. (ANI)
The US Department of Homeland Security(DHS) added textile companies of the People's Republic of China(PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, adding 78 entities to the list to ensure the eradication of forced labour against Uyghurs in Xinjiang region on Thursday. The US Customs and Border Protection will not allow the entry of the products produced by Esquel Group, Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., and Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. The Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said "Through today's expansion of the Entity List, we enable American businesses to better assess their supply chains and ensure they do not profit, directly or indirectly, from the use of forced labour," In addition to this, Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. will be removed from section one of the UFLPA list. The products produced by this company will be prohibited from entering the US. The Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers, who serves as chair of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force said, "We are uncompromising in removing forced labour from U.S. supply chains. Our enforcement efforts are yielding results. Our Administration is committed to advancing this momentum and strengthening accountability across global supply chains." This list signifies US support for the Uyghurs against forced labour and oppression in the East Turkistan region. The DHS has now added 78 entities to the UFLPA entry list since its formation in December 2021. The list includes companies based on agriculture, chemicals, textiles, plastics, batteries, household appliances and electronics. This list is compiled by the US to eliminate forced labour and holds the PRC responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity against the Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). These goods are not allowed to enter the US as the forced labour used behind these goods is against the human rights of Uyghurs. (ANI)
In a pivotal legislative move, the Pakistani government introduced a bill on Friday that seeks to authorise military and civil armed forces to detain individuals charged with terrorism for up to three months under a system of "preventive detention." This bill, which amends the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997, was tabled by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in a session of the National Assembly that saw limited attendance and was quickly referred to the relevant committee for further consideration, Dawn reported. The proposed legislation includes measures for forming Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) made up of various law enforcement and intelligence agency members to conduct inquiries into terrorism-related cases. These amendments to Clause 11EEEE of the ATA were initially enacted following the tragic Army Public School attack in Peshawar but lapsed a decade ago due to a sunset clause. As outlined in the bill's Statement of Objects and Reasons, the "erstwhile amendments of Section 11EEEE of the Act are required to be re-inserted to empower the government, armed forces and civil armed forces with the necessary authority to detain individuals who pose a significant threat to national security." The new provisions would allow preventive detention based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, enabling authorities to intervene before potential terrorist acts can be carried out, reported Dawn. Furthermore, the bill aims to strengthen the legal framework for law enforcement agencies to conduct more effective operations against terrorism. It will facilitate the formation of JITs to conduct thorough inquiries and gather actionable intelligence. According to the bill, Section 11EEEE was amended in 2014 to allow the government and authorised military and civil forces to detain individuals suspected of terrorism-related activities, but its validity expired in 2016 due to a sunset clause. The proposed amendment states: "The government or, where the provisions of Section 4 have been invoked, the armed forces or civil armed forces, as the case may be, subject to the specific or general order of the government in this regard, for a period not exceeding three months and after recording reasons thereof, issue order for the preventive detention of any person who has been concerned in any offence under this Act relating to the security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, or public order relating to target killing, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion, bhatta or the maintenance of supplies or services, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been so concerned, for purpose of inquiry." Additionally, the amendment specifies that the detention of such persons, including any extensions beyond three months, will adhere to Article 10 of the Constitution. A new provision mandates that if an armed forces-issued detention order is made, the inquiry will involve a JIT, including a police officer of at least superintendent rank and members from various intelligence agencies. These new provisions will remain valid for two years following the commencement of the ATA (Amendment) Act, 2024. In related parliamentary discussions, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq warned he would summon meetings of seven standing committees to elect chairpersons if the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party does not provide nominations by next week. The issue was raised after criticism of government ministers' absence during a question hour, Dawn reported. Law Minister Tarar also addressed concerns regarding the placement of several opposition lawmakers on the Exit Control List (ECL), indicating that names are added due to absconding in criminal cases. He encouraged opposition members to formally submit requests for review, stating that 65 to 70 per cent of ECL removal requests are typically accepted. The National Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Monday evening. (ANI)
On Friday, the Japanese government and the European Union finalized a partnership agreement focused on security and defence, responding to rising tensions with China and concerns over its support for Russia's war in Ukraine. This partnership was announced during EU's foreign policy Chief, Josep Borrell's visit to Tokyo for the inaugural Japan-EU Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue, alongside Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya, as reported by the Voice of America. Borrell emphasized the dangerous global climate, referring to the top security concerns for both Japan and the EU without specifically naming China, Russia, or North Korea. He described the agreement as "historical and very timely," noting it is "the first agreement of this nature" that the EU has made with a country in the Asia-Pacific region. According to the report, the text of the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership, reviewed by Agence France-Presse, outlines plans for enhanced "concrete naval cooperation" through activities such as joint exercises and port visits, potentially involving "mutually designated third countries." It also mentions discussions on advancing their respective defence initiatives, including information exchanges related to the defence industry. Katsuya Yamamoto, program director and senior research fellow in security studies at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, stated, "Through regular joint training, cruising, port visits, and cross-boarding during peacetime, like-minded nations can consistently convey to China and neighboring countries that the European and Indo-Pacific fronts are united." He added that this agreement would demonstrate to China that the issue is not merely regional but a global security challenge. Following the West's severance of ties with Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Beijing and Moscow have been strengthening their relationship, including military cooperation. In September, the two nations conducted joint military exercises near Japan. During an August visit to Taipei, Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed concerns that China might invade Taiwan similar to Russia's actions in Ukraine. Taiwan, a self-governing and democratic island, is viewed by Beijing as a breakaway province that should reunite with the mainland, potentially by force. Russia has consistently supported China's stance on Taiwan, with its defence minister recently visiting Beijing to strengthen their defence ties. The report further stated that on Thursday, China announced its inaugural naval exercises involving two aircraft carriers in the South China Sea, an area where Beijing's territorial claims conflict with the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Additionally, China and Japan have overlapping claims to islands in the East China Sea. Stephen Nagy, a professor in the Department of Politics and International Studies at International Christian University in Japan, noted that the EU-Japan agreement aims to address threats to stability in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, where China has conducted aggressive military exercises. He indicated that this may include sharing information and technology related to maritime domain awareness, as well as countering hybrid warfare, including cyber threats and disinformation. Nagy anticipates increased joint transits through the Taiwan Strait as part of this cooperation. Wei-Hsiu Huang, a project researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia at the University of Tokyo, observed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with China's actions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, has bolstered cooperation between Japan and the EU. He believes that the future of security collaboration will be broad, extending beyond the immediate concerns of the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, North Korea, and Russia. Analysts suggest that Europe's role in East Asian security may become more significant if former US President Donald Trump is re-elected, given his advocacy for Taiwan and Japan to take greater responsibility for their defence, which could signal a potential reduction in US military involvement in the region. In contrast, his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, is expected to maintain the Biden administration's current policies in the region. Nagy cautioned that if the US were to completely withdraw, Japan and the EU might struggle to provide adequate deterrence against China altering the region's security framework, though he considered such a scenario unlikely. Yamamoto added that regardless of whether Trump or Harris is elected, both the US government and society will expect increased contributions from Japan and Europe. Huang concurred, noting that Japan's ties with Europe will likely remain unaffected by the US presidential election, as enhanced security cooperation between Japan and Europe benefits the US as well. On Thursday, North Korea launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching nearly any location in the United States, drawing condemnation from the US, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the United Nations Secretary-General. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar set to visit Australia and Singapore from November 3 to November 8, 2024. The Australian leg of Jaishankar's visit will last from November 3 to November 7, 2024. During his visit, Jaishankar will travel to Brisbane and inaugurate India's 4th consulate in Australia.The India-Australia relationship has seen transformational growth in recent times. Bilateral cooperation has seen exponential growth in existing frameworks of cooperation and further expanded across a wide spectrum of new areas opening up new possibilities, both at bilateral as well as global level. Jaishankar will also co-chair the 15th Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue (FMFD) with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra. Jaishankar will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the 2nd Raisina Down Under to be held in the Australian Parliament House. He is also scheduled to have interactions with Australian leadership, parliamentarians, members of the Indian diaspora, business community, media and think tanks.The Indian community in Australia continues to grow and importance, with the population more than 9 lacs as per the census of 2021. Indians make up the second largest migrant group inAustralia. For the second leg of the visit, the External Affairs Minister will travel to Singapore for an official visit on November 8, 2024, during which he will address the 8th Roundtable of ASEAN - India Network of Think Tanks. The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises of Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. India has a strengthened and multi-faceted relationship with ASEAN which is expressed through the Act East Policy. Jaishankar will also meet the leadership of Singapore to review the close partnership between the two countries and explore avenues to further enhance the bilateral relationship. India and Singapore have a close bilateral relationship. Singapore has played an important role in reconnecting India to the countries of Southeast Asia since the inception of the Look East Policy in the early 1990s. The Indian community has a significant presence in Singapore and constitutes about 9.2 per cent of the total population of the country.EAM Jaishankar's visit to the two countries is set boost the already existing warm and friendly ties India has with Australia and Singapore. (ANI)
On Friday, the United States and South Korea voiced their concerns regarding China's recent "provocative actions," which included extensive military exercises around Taiwan, heightening tensions in the Taiwan Strait. In a joint statement following the 2024 2+2 ministerial meeting, the U.S. and South Korean governments highlighted the significance of maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait Focus Taiwan reported. On October 31, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a joint foreign and defence ministerial meeting with South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. The statement said "They (the four U.S. and South Korea officials) expressed concern over provocative actions, particularly the recent military drills around Taiwan that escalate tension and concurred that no further actions should be taken that could undermine peace and stability across Taiwan Strait," "Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community," the statement added. According to the statement noted the U.S. and South Korea maintained their fundamental stance on Taiwan, expressing their desire for "the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues." On October 14, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) initiated military exercises dubbed "Joint Sword-2024B," engaging the army, navy, air force, and rocket force in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding regions to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, intended as a "stern warning against the separatist actions of Taiwan independence forces." The Chinese military drills came only days after President Lai Ching-te said in his Oct. 10 National Day address that China has "no right to represent Taiwan." Lai of the pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) reiterated in the speech that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other. Political parties in Taiwan criticized China's military maneuvers, with the DPP expressing strong condemnation of Beijing for its "irrational" and "provocative" exercises. The 2+2 talks are bilateral meetings that Washington conducts with its key regional allies, including South Korea, Japan, and Australia. In their joint statement, the two U.S. secretaries and South Korean ministers also denounced the "deepening military cooperation" between North Korea and Russia, which involves ongoing illegal arms transfers and the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to assist in the conflict in Ukraine. The report further indicates that sources from the U.S. and Japan indicate that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and may collaborate with Russian forces in actions against Ukraine. The statement, referencing American and South Korean officials from the joint meeting, noted that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia not only breaches several United Nations Security Council resolutions but also extends the suffering of the Ukrainian people and poses a threat to stability in both the Indo-Pacific region and Europe. The statement referenced American and South Korean officials from the joint meeting, who remarked that the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea not only contravenes several United Nations Security Council resolutions but also exacerbates the suffering of the Ukrainian people and jeopardizes stability in both the Indo-Pacific region and Europe. The statement indicated that Washington and Seoul condemned Russia's military actions against Ukraine as "brutal, unprovoked, and unjustifiable," acknowledging that such behaviour violates the U.N. Charter. The statement said ""Both sides committed to enforce the current autonomous sanctions regime and actively pursue necessary measures together with the international community to deter further unlawful, reckless, and destabilizing behaviour," The statement noted that Washington and Seoul expressed strong opposition to any unilateral efforts to alter the status quo in the Indo-Pacific waters, while also acknowledging the significance of countering illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea. In the statement, the U.S. and South Korea emphasized the importance of maritime safety and security, highlighting the need to uphold international law as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They stressed that freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea, along with the peaceful resolution of disputes, are crucial for regional stability and prosperity. (ANI)
The Baloch Student Action Committee held a protest in Quetta on Friday, demanding the release of Suhail Baloch and Faseeh Baloch, two students who have been forcibly disappeared for three years. Two students of Balochistan University, Sohail and Faseeh Baloch, who have been missing for the past three years, were forcibly disappeared from Jamia Balochistan Quetta on the night of November 1 and 2, 2021.. The protest began at the university and proceeded to the Quetta Press Club, where a large number of participants joined to voice their concerns over the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances. The student committee condemned the abduction of not only students but also farmers and teachers, emphasising that victims are taken directly from their homes and educational institutions. Protesters labelled Balochistan as a "gumshuda-istan," translating to "land of the disappeared," reflecting the alarming increase in enforced disappearance cases in the region. Suhail and Faseeh Baloch were abducted from their university hostel three years ago and have not been seen since, reported the Balochistan Post. According to reports, more than 70 cases of enforced disappearances have been documented in October alone, with a significant number of victims being students. The protesters called on international human rights organisations and the global community to support the victims and raise awareness about the ongoing violations in Balochistan. Additionally, recent reports indicate that ten students from the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) were also forcibly disappeared by the Pakistan armed forces during a raid at their residence in Rawalpindi. The Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department has identified the missing students as Salim Arif, Balach Fida, Khuda Dad, Khalil Ahmed, Hammal Hassani, Babar Atta, Noor Muheem, Iftikhar Azum, and Ahssam. These incidents underscore the systemic oppression and discrimination faced by Baloch students in educational institutions, creating an atmosphere of fear in the region, the Balochistan Post reported. The Baloch community continues to face severe human rights violations at the hands of Pakistani forces, prompting urgent calls for action and intervention. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday strongly protested against recent allegations made by the Canadian government against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's purported involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The MEA described these allegations as "absurd and baseless" and lodged a formal protest against Canada. During a press briefing on Saturday, MEA Spokesperson Randir Jaiswal stated that a "diplomatic note" was handed to a representative of the Canadian High Commission on Friday, conveying India's strong objections. "Regarding the latest Canadian target, we summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday... It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison," he said. Jaiswal further said that high-ranking Canadian officials have orchestrated a deliberate strategy to leak unfounded claims to international media, aimed at discrediting India on the global stage. He noted that this pattern aligns with India's longstanding concerns about the current Canadian administration's political agenda and behaviour. He reiterated that such "irresponsible actions" could have serious consequences for bilateral relations. "In fact, the revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view that the government of India has long held about the current Canadian government's political agenda and behavioural pattern. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties," Jaiswal added. Earlier in the week, reports emerged indicating that top Canadian officials had admitted to leaking details about India's alleged foreign interference to The Washington Post. According to these reports, Canada's national security and intelligence adviser, Nathalie Drouin, confirmed she had leaked sensitive information regarding India's purported involvement in murder, extortion, and coercion--details that had not been shared with the Canadian public. Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in Parliament last year that there were "credible allegations" of India's involvement in the killing of Nijjar. India has firmly denied all such allegations, labeling them as "absurd" and "motivated," while accusing Canada of providing a haven for extremist and anti-India elements. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said that verification patrolling has commenced in Demchok and Depsang, paving the way for coordinated patrolling to begin once the disengagement is fully finalized. This development follows an agreement reached on October 21, 2024, between India and China on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, bringing an end to the over four-year military standoff. Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, ""On October 21, 2024, the last phase of disengagement was agreed upon between India and China. As a result, verification patrolling has commenced on mutually agreed terms in Demchok and Depsang. We will keep you updated." Notably, in a significant diplomatic development, India and China held their first bilateral talks in five years on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, marking a crucial step towards mending the strained relations between the two neighbouring countries, which have been marred by a prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Jaiswal said, "The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place in Kazan. It was bilaterally arranged." Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri while addressing the media in Kazan, stated that "this agreement is the outcome of extensive discussions over the past several weeks with Chinese interlocutors at both diplomatic and military levels." He noted that military commanders have been involved in negotiations aimed at addressing the tensions that have persisted since 2020. Misri explained that the agreement signifies a path toward disengagement and a potential resolution of the issues that arose during the significant confrontations in 2020. He recalled the clashes that occurred between the People's Liberation Army of China and the Indian Army, particularly highlighting the violent encounters in June 2020, which resulted in casualties on both sides. "On several areas along the Line of Actual Control, we held discussions with Chinese interlocutors both on diplomatic as well as the military levels through meeting with military commanders at various levels. These discussions had in the past resulted in the resolution of standoffs at various locations. There are some locations and areas where stand-offs had not been resolved," said Misri. The disengagement is seen as a first concrete step towards restoring the pre-2020 status quo ante. Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, resulting in casualties on both sides, was the most severe conflict between the two nations in decades. Additionally, agreements have been reached in other sectors along the LAC. India and China emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity at the border, underscoring that mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity should form the foundation of their relationship. PM Modi highlighted that the restoration of peace in the border areas is essential for the normalisation of bilateral relations.(ANI)
In Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, opposition politicians are raising concerns over a controversial land reform bill that is threatening the ownership rights of residents. According to WTV reports, the bill was recently presented in the Provincial Assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), sparking serious concerns among opposition leaders. The opposition leader stated, "Today, the land reform bill was introduced in the assembly. As members of the opposition, we request that this bill not be presented until our serious concerns are addressed." He emphasized that the core of the bill aims to transfer land rights to the PoGB government, yet he criticized the lack of thorough examination, claiming, "Those who signed the bill clearly did not read it properly." He further explained that the bill encompasses a vast area, 96 per cent of which includes glaciers, rivers, and mountains, that is considered non-transferable. If the bill is passed, he warned, these lands would fall under the control of the Pakistani government, a move he called unacceptable. "These lands should rightfully belong to the people of PoGB," he asserted. The opposition leader also highlighted that the bill includes provisions affecting mineral-rich mountains, where he claims 80 per cent of resources are already under lease. "If this bill is approved, it will allow the Pakistani government to take control of these resources, which is a crime," he stated, condemning the actions of corrupt officials who he believes are attempting to appease select individuals. He concluded by warning that the bill would exacerbate existing issues for the people of PoGB, as it would disproportionately benefit those who already own land. "We are the ones who have worked hard to improve this region, and we will not accept measures that undermine our rights and resources," he declared. The protests reflect deep-seated frustrations regarding land ownership and governance in PoGB as local leaders continue to advocate for the rights of their constituents. The ongoing issues in PoGB underscore broader concerns regarding infrastructure and basic services, reflecting the region's longstanding challenges since its disputed occupation by Pakistan. (ANI)
Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch human rights activist, expressed her deep concern and outrage over an explosion near a school in Matsung. Mahrang also stated that ten Baloch students were forcibly disappeared from Islamabad. She said that the two incidents that happened on Friday underscore the hardships faced by Baloch community. In a post on X, she said, "Today's tragic incident in Mastung has deeply saddened me, and my heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the children and others who lost their lives. In this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with them. This morning's explosion near a school in Mastung, which claimed the lives of innocent school children and others, has shaken us to the core. The state and its death squads have mercilessly turned Balochistan into a slaughterhouse." "Meanwhile, last night, ten Baloch students were forcibly disappeared from Islamabad. The alarming surge in enforced disappearances of Baloch students continues unabated, with dozens falling victim to this brutal practice in just the past month. The two dangerous incidents in a single day vividly underscore the ongoing pain, suffering, and hardship endured by Baloch society. The systematic policy of the Baloch genocide has placed the community in extremely perilous conditions. These two incidents reflect grave human rights violations and the broader context of the ongoing Baloch genocide, highlighting the severe oppression and brutality under which the Baloch community is forced to live," she added. At least five people, including three schoolchildren and a police officer, lost their lives in a targeted explosion in Balochistan's Mastung district on Friday morning. The blast, which was reportedly aimed at a police mobile van near Civil Hospital Chowk, also injured more than a dozen people, many of whom were children, Dawn reported. The tragic event took place close to the Girls High School in Mastung, with the explosion causing extensive damage to vehicles in the vicinity. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Miandad Umrani, "Five people, including a policeman and three schoolchildren, were martyred in the blast." DPO Umrani further confirmed that 12 people, including four police officers, were injured in the explosion. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that India has lodged a formal protest with the Canadian government after revelations that its consular officials in Canada were subjected to audio and video surveillance. The MEA condemned these actions as "flagrant violations" of diplomatic and consular conventions. During a press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that some Indian consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government about the ongoing surveillance. He criticized Canada for attempting to justify its actions by citing technicalities, arguing that such justifications cannot excuse what he described as harassment and intimidation of Indian diplomatic personnel. Jaiswal emphasised the extremist and violent environment in which the diplomatic and consular personnel were operating, noting that these actions by the Canadian government exacerbate the situation and are incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices. "Some of our Consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian Government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian Government, as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions," the MEA Spokesperson said. "By citing technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian Government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices," he added. Jaiswal further pointed to the recent Canadian classification of India as a "cyber adversary," alongside Russia, China, and North Korea, as another example to "attack" India. "This appears to be another example of a Canadian strategy to attack India. As I mentioned earlier, their senior officials have openly confessed that they are seeking to manipulate global opinion against India. As on other occasions, imputations are made without any evidence," he stated. Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in Parliament last year that there were "credible allegations" of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has firmly denied all such allegations, labeling them as "absurd" and "motivated," while accusing Canada of providing a haven for extremist and anti-India elements. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs has expressed its disappointment, highlighting a concerning trend of intolerance and extremism in Canada following Canada's opposition leader Pierre Poilievre cancelling the Diwali celebrations at Parliament Hill. During a weekly press briefing on Saturday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have seen some reports in this regard. It is unfortunate that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism." Earlier, Canada's opposition leader Pierre Poilievre cancelled the Diwali celebrations, scheduled to take place at Parliament Hill, amid the ongoing diplomatic row with India. The Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), the event's organiser, received no explanation for the cancellation of the Diwali celebration. This comes amid strained ties between India and Canada, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. The situation has led to diplomatic tensions and the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats from the country in mid-October. OFIC president Shiv Bhasker wrote a letter to Pierre Poilievre, expressing dismay over the decision. In a letter to Pierre Poilievre, Bhasker wrote, "It is with extreme disappointment and in sadness that I am writing this letter to you to voice our dismay at the Office of the Leader of Opposition cancelling the 24th Diwali celebration on Parliament Hill." Additionally, Jaiswal addressed the recent reduction in the number of visas issued by the Canadian government to India and said that the Indian government is closely monitoring the well-being of its students and professionals residing in Canada. "We are monitoring the well-being of our students and professionals who are working in Canada. Our concern for their safety and security remains strong," the MEA spokesperson said. (ANI)
The MND stated that there were several types of Chinese aircrafts that were detected, including Su-30, KJ-500, etc.

In a post on X, the MND stated, "Overall 20 PLA aircraft in various types (including Su-30, KJ-500, etc.) were detected from 1820hr today. Out of which, 11 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central and southwestern ADIZ in conducting air-sea joint training along with other PLAN vessels. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1852697822694682764

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1852697825496461755

From 6 am on Thursday to 6 am on Saturday, 5 PLA aircraft and 2 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected. The MND stated that five of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, the MND said, "5 PLA aircraft and 2 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1852515971224719607

On Friday, no PLA activity was detected.

"No PLA aircraft and PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. Today's illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operation around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe," Taiwanese MND stated.

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1852153589348605974

On Friday, the United States and South Korea voiced their concerns regarding China's recent "provocative actions," which included extensive military exercises around Taiwan, heightening tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

In a joint statement following the 2024 2+2 ministerial meeting, the U.S. and South Korean governments highlighted the significance of maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait Focus Taiwan reported.

Taiwan has been an independent state since 1949. However, China claims Taiwan as its territory and uses military force to reunify the region. (ANI)
The Pakistan Punjab government has decided to purchase bombproof vehicles to boost the security of Chinese nationals working on various projects, Ary News reported. As per details, the directives were issued by the Punjab government, stating that Pakistano Rupees 500 million have been allocated for the bomb proof vehicles on the recommendation of the IG of Pakistan's Punjab. The Inspector General of Police Punjab also ordered foolproof security for Chinese nationals working on all sensitive projects, including CPEC and non-CPEC projects, as per Ary News. The development comes after the all-weather strategic cooperative partners and ironclad friends, China and Pakistan seem to be drifting away after Beijing's ambassador to Islamabad raised concern over the security of its nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. Ary News had reported that recently, a powerful suicide bomb blast in Pakistan's port city of Karachi targeted a convoy transporting Chinese nationals late on Sunday, killing at least three people and wounding 10 others. As per the initial investigation, the suicide bomber was waiting for the Chinese convoy near Jinnah airport to approach before executing the attack. "The terrorist rammed the explosive-laden vehicle directly into the foreign nationals' car that caused massive destruction and damage to several nearby cars," say investigators. Soon after the blast, rescue teams quickly reached the scene, managing to safely retrieve one of the foreigners' vehicles. Authorities are currently working to obtain the car's number plate and engine chassis number to aid in the investigation, as per Ary News. Investigators are now working to gather details about the damaged vehicles. The powerful explosion, heard miles away, occurred outside the airport. Authorities assured that all airport installations were safe and that flight operations were not affected. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad condemned the "terrorist attack," confirming the deaths of two Chinese citizens and noting that another was injured. Speaking at the event, 'China at 75: A Journey of Progress, Transformation and Global Leadership' on Tuesday, Jiang Zaidong expressed frustration over the attacks, stating it was "unacceptable" and urged Islamabad to strengthen security measures for Chinese nationals and crack down on the anti-China elements." The security of Chinese citizens is paramount for President Xi," he noted, adding that this priority has been reiterated in Xi's discussions with Pakistani leaders. It was noted that Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang's recent visit was conducted under what Jiang termed "unique circumstances," because of the two attacks on Chinese workers. (ANI)
The Conservative Party of the UK elected Kemi Badenoch as the new leader of the party on Saturday (local time), Euro News reported. It was a historic moment in the political scene of the UK as she became the first Black woman to lead a major political party there. Badenoch succeeds former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose leadership saw the Conservatives experience their worst electoral performance since 1832 in the recently held General Elections, where Keir Starmer won from the Labour Party. Under Sunak, the party lost over 200 seats, leaving it with just 121 in the House of Commons. She won against Robert Jenrick in a vote that included nearly 100,000 party members, taking charge as the Conservatives sought to recover from a significant election defeat that ended their 14 years in power, Euro News reported. The new leader faces the daunting challenge of restoring the party's reputation amid ongoing division, scandal, and economic instability. Badenoch will need to effectively critique the policies of Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, particularly on issues like the economy and immigration, as she aims to return the Conservatives to power by the next election, anticipated in 2029, as reported by Euro News. During her victory speech in London, Badenoch stated, "The task that stands before us is tough but simple," outlining her two primary goals for the party: holding the Labour government accountable and preparing for the next election by formulating appealing Conservative policies along with a clear implementation strategy, as reported by Euro News. Earlier, Badenoch served as a business secretary in the former Conservative government. Born in London to Nigerian parents, she spent much of her childhood in Nigeria. At 44, the former software engineer presents herself as a disruptor, advocating for a low-tax, free-market economy and pledging to "rewire, reboot, and reprogram" the British state. Badenoch has been a critic of cultural diversity and has faced backlash for her statements suggesting that "not all cultures are equally valid" and that maternity pay is excessive. The Conservative leadership contest extended over three months, with lawmakers narrowing the field from six candidates to two finalists presented to the party's wider membership. Both finalists align with the right of the party, seeking to reclaim support from Reform UK, a hard-right party led by Nigel Farage that has been drawing voters away from the Conservatives. However, the Conservatives have also seen a loss of voters to Labour and the centrist Liberal Democrats, leading some party members to express concern that a shift further to the right could alienate a broader electorate. (ANI)
Cairo [Egypt], November 2 (ANI/WAM): Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates will continue to support all efforts aimed at spreading peace and rejecting hatred, guided by the values instilled by the late founding father, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in establishing a spirit of tolerance and coexistence. This statement was made during his meeting on Saturday with Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, at the Al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo. He conveyed the greetings of President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, emphasising his commitment to supporting Al-Azhar's efforts in promoting values of tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity, as well as strengthening the close ties between the UAE and Egypt in scientific, religious, and cultural fields. During the meeting, attended by Mariam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Egypt, Sheikh Nahyan expressed his deep appreciation for the Grand Imam's efforts in enhancing the culture of fraternity, tolerance, and coexistence, and for promoting an Islamic approach that encourages mutual understanding and positive openness to others. He emphasised that the Grand Imam is a symbol of global tolerance, and that his efforts have played a significant role in correcting misconceptions about Islam, wishing for his endeavours to bring goodness to all. Sheikh Nahyan reiterated the UAE's commitment to bolstering cooperation with Al-Azhar as a global Islamic reference that contributes to fostering a spirit of peace and coexistence among the world's peoples. He stressed the necessity of continued collaboration among religious institutions in the Arab and Islamic world to achieve a global message of peace and to enhance cultural communication among nations and peoples. The Grand Imam welcomed Sheikh Nahyan, expressing pride in the scientific, religious, and cultural relations that unite Al-Azhar and the UAE. He also praised the efforts made by the UAE leadership, led by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in promoting values of tolerance, coexistence, and human brotherhood, and in supporting the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations. He emphasised the importance of coordinating efforts in interfaith dialogue, which contributes to spreading values of tolerance and shared living among peoples, yielding positive results day by day. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen mutual cooperation between Al-Azhar and the UAE in promoting values of tolerance, coexistence, human brotherhood, and global peace, as well as enhancing dialogue among different religions and cultures. (ANI/WAM)
Jerusalem [Israel], November 2 (ANI/TPS): The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reported that on Friday in the area of Tyre in Lebanon its forces killed the terrorist Mein Musa Ezz al-Din, the commander of Hezbollah's coastal sector, and the terrorist Hassan Majed Diab, the commander of the artillery formation of the organization's coastal sector. The two promoted and carried out many acts of terror towards the Israeli home front and towards IDF forces and are responsible, among other things, for more than 400 rocket launches carried out towards the territory of the State of Israel during the last month. Also, during the last day, the Israel Air Force (IAF) attacked more than 120 terrorist targets of the terrorist organizations Hezbollah and Hamas. In Lebanon, anti-tank positions, terrorists, military buildings, military depots and Hezbollah military headquarters were attacked in deep and southern Lebanon. The forces of 91st Division - the Galilee Formation - continue their activities in southern Lebanon. They raided Hezbollah military buildings and confiscated many weapons. Observers and collection fighters identified during the operation a number of terrorist squads operating in military buildings in the area. In cooperation with the IAF, an aircraft attacked and eliminated the terrorists. The forces of the IDF's 146th Reserve Division identified Hezbollah terrorists who intended to shoot at the Galilee settlements. In cooperation with the IAF, aircraft attacked and eliminated the terrorists in southern Lebanon. The IDF also said its 36th "Ga'ash (Rage)" Division continues its activates, attacking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructures in the area. Meanwhile the 162nd "Steel" Division continues to operate in the Jabalia area in Gaza. In the past day, dozens of terrorists were killed in a closed circuit from the air and the ground and several military buildings in the area were attacked. The fighters of the Nahal Infantry Brigade's combat team, under the command of the Gaza Division, continue fighting in the Rafah area, at the same time as the forces of the 252nd "Sinai" Division (res.) continue fighting in the center of the Gaza Strip. In the last day, the forces eliminated terrorists, destroyed terrorist infrastructures and located many weapons. (ANI/TPS)
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A small 4,400-year-old town in the Khaybar Oasis of Saudi Arabia hints that Bronze Age people in this region were slow to urbanize, unlike their contemporaries in Egypt and Mesopotamia, a new study finds.

Archaeologists discovered the site near the city of Al-'Ula in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia and called it "al-Natah." The settlement covered about 3.7 acres (1.5 hectares), "including a central district and nearby residential district surrounded by protective ramparts," the researchers said in a statement. But the town, which was occupied starting around 2400 B.C., was small, with a population of only around 500 people, the team noted in a study, published Wednesday (Oct. 30) in the journal PLOS One .

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The residential area had a large amount of pottery and grinding stones, as well as the remains of at least 50 dwellings that may have been made of earthen materials. The central area had two buildings that may have been used as administrative areas, the team wrote in the paper. In the western part of the central area, a necropolis was found. It has large and high circular tombs that archaeologists call "stepped tower tombs."

No examples of writing have been found so far at the site, study lead author Guillaume Charloux , an archaeologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), told Live Science in an email. Researchers have unearthed only a few traces of cereals, but based on finds at other sites it's likely that al-Natah's people grew crops near the site, Charloux said.

The town and its nearby areas were surrounded by a 9-mile-long (14.5 kilometers) wall, which would have provided defense from raids carried out by nomads, the team wrote in an earlier paper published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports .

Related: Remains of hundreds of 7,000-year-old 'standing stone circles' discovered in Saudi Arabia

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The town was abandoned sometime between 1500 and 1300 B.C., but researchers aren't sure why this happened. "It's a pertinent question that I can't really answer at the moment," Charloux said, noting that "we have very few clues about the last phase of occupation."

Slow urbanization

At the time the town was inhabited, cities were flourishing in Mesopotamia , Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean. Research from al-Natah and other sites indicates that urbanization on the Arabian Peninsula moved at a slower pace.

"Settlements in northern Arabia were in a transitional stage of urbanization during the third to second millennium [B.C.]," the researchers said in the statement. They called this phase "low urbanization," describing it as a transitional stage between pastoralism, in which nomadic people follow grazing lands for livestock, and complex urban settlements.

"While urbanization began in Mesopotamia and Egypt in the 4th millennium

B.C., our study tends to show that social complexity increased late in north-western Arabia," Charloux said, noting that urbanization didn't begin on the peninsula until the second half of the third millennium B.C., when some groups on the Arabian peninsula adopted a sedentary lifestyle and started using agriculture on larger scales. People in Egypt and Mesopotamia adopted sedentary lifestyles in earlier times.

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Compared to the large Bronze Age cities in Mesopotamia and Egypt, settlements in Saudi Arabia tended to be smaller. "These were small towns connected to networks of monumental ramparts surrounding the large local oases," Charloux said.

Juan Manuel Tebes , the director of the Center of Studies of Ancient Near Eastern History at the Catholic University of Argentina, praised the research.

"The archaeological project at Khaybar is a most significant study that follows and expands the conclusions of excavations and surveys that have been carried out in north-west Saudi Arabia during the last 20 years," Tebes, who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email.

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He noted that other projects in the region, such as the Saudi-German expedition at the city of Tayma and the Saudi-Austrian expedition at Qurayyah, have also provided valuable information about the region's archaeology. For instance, excavations at Tayma have revealed thousands of years of occupation and include remains that date to when a Babylonian king named Nabonidus (reigned 556 to 539 B.C.) lived in the area.
Rocket barrages fired by Hezbollah have killed three Israelis and four Thai workers, the deadliest strike from Lebanon since Israel invaded last month, as Israeli strikes pounded the Lebanese capital of Beirut and the Gaza Strip.

Projectiles crashed into an agricultural area in Metula, Israels northernmost town, killing four Thai workers and an Israeli farmer, officials said.

Hours later, the Israeli military said Hezbollah fired more than two dozen rockets at an olive grove in a suburb of the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, killing a 30-year-old man and 60-year-old woman while wounding two others.

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Thailands foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa announced the deaths of the four workers, saying that another was injured.

He added: Thailand continues to strongly urge all parties to return to the path of peace, in the name of the innocent civilians gravely impacted by this prolonged and deepening conflict.

The residents of Metula evacuated in October 2023. Only security officials and agricultural workers remain in what are now closed military zones.

The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, an Israeli organisation that advocates for foreign workers, said authorities had put the Thai workers in danger by allowing them to work along the border without proper protection.

Palestinians search through the rubble following Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 2,800 people in Lebanon in the past year, the majority of whom have died in the past two months, when Israels air force stepped up its assault on Hezbollah ahead of their ground invasion.

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Lebanons health ministry, however, says a significant proportion of those deaths have been civilians.

Early on Friday morning, the latest series of powerful airstrikes struck the southern suburbs of Beirut, suspected to be home to Hezbollah officials.

The health ministry added that an Israeli airstrike on the mountain town of Qamatiyeh overlooking Beirut had killed three people and wounded five.

On Thursday, the ministry said that Israeli strikes had killed 24 people, among them 13 people in the countrys eastern Bekaa Valley, a day after the Israels military warned residents there to evacuate.

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Meanwhile, in Gaza, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that forty seven people had been killed and dozens injured in an overnight Israeli bombardment of the centre of the enclave.

The attacks occurred in the city of Deir Al-Balah, the Nuseirat camp and the town of Al-Zawayda, it said.

The Israeli military said its troops had identified and eliminated several armed terrorists in central Gaza and had eliminated dozens of terrorists in targeted raids in northern Gazas Jabalia area.

Municipal workers check the debris in the aftermath of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs (AFP via Getty Images)

The Gaza war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on 7 October last year, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

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Israels subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and reduced most of the enclave to rubble, Palestinian authorities say.

The exchange of strikes followed a renewed but as yet of fruitless bout of US-led diplomacy aimed at getting a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon to stop over a year of fighting between Israel and Iran-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon were moving toward understandings on what is required for implementing a long-violated United Nations resolution, 1701, that would be the basis for ending the current conflict.

But time is running thin to get a resolution before US elections on 5 November and Lebanese officials and analysts were pessimistic after reports US envoy Amos Hochstein would not be heading to Beirut from Israel, where he was on Thursday.
Ohio Republican Bernie Moreno is taking aim at another group of migrants arriving in his home state weeks after perpetuating baseless claims about Haitian migrants in Springfield.

The Senate hopeful is now taking aim at residents migrating from Mauritania in West Africa who have come to Lockland, Ohio, a 3,500-person village north of Cincinnati. Lockland Mayor Mark Mason Sr has said that the population has nearly doubled as a result of the influx of migrants in the last year, putting a strain on village resources and economy.

Fox News host Maria Bartiromo asked Moreno on Wednesday: What can you tell us about this small town that is being overrun by illegal migrants?

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You gotta understand how they got there, Moreno begins. So they all fly to Mexico. They get smuggled across our border by the cartels. Theyre explained exactly what they have to do, which is raise their hand and claim asylum. And then the United States government flies them wherever they want.

The GOP candidate seemed to be referring to a story in the Cincinnati Enquirer about one Mauritanian migrant and applied it to the entire group.

The story described one man who had worked in a gold mine for more than a decade in the West African country to afford to pay a network of smugglers to get him and his family out of Africa, then to Turkey, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico, where they crossed the border into the United States, the publication wrote. This route has become popular, thanks to social media, the Associated Press reported.

Bernie Moreno appears at a campaign rally alongside Donald Trump in March 2024. He is now targeting Mauritanian migrants who have arrived in Lockland, Ohio (AFP via Getty Images)

Its not clear how many Mauritanian asylum seekers are being smuggled in by cartels and traveling to Ohio.

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Since many of the migrants are unable to work and therefore pay taxes as it takes roughly six months after applying for asylum to get a work permit  Mason noted the economic strain that the village has faced. Were looking right now at probably close to a $200,000 shortfall in our earnings income tax revenue, he told WCPO.

Many of these migrants are seeking asylum in the US. Mauritania ranks third on the Global Slavery Indexs list of countries estimated to have the highest prevalence of modern slavery, estimating that nearly 150,000 are enslaved. Hundreds from the embattled West African nation have been granted asylum from 2014 through 2023, DHS data shows.

So far this year, from January through June, more than 6,000 Mauritanians have arrived in the US, data from the Customs and Border Protection shows. That figure seems to have slowed slightly compared to 2023, when more than 15,000 Mauritanians arrived in the US, a massive surge compared to 2022, when just 330 came.

Many are flocking to Ohio. More than 8,500 arrived in Ohio between March and June 2023, the Associated Press reported.

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Morenos latest claims come a month after Donald Trump, JD Vance and other Republicans claimed, without evidence, that Haitian migrants in Springfield eat cats and dogs. The bizarre claim stemmed from a Facebook post, where a cat owner allegedly found her dead pet hanging from a tree ready to be skinned, butchered and eaten at a house said to be occupied by Haitian immigrants.

Local officials and law enforcement swiftly debunked the allegations  but that didnt stop prominent Republicans from repeating it. At the September debate against Kamala Harris, Trump told millions of viewers: Theyre eating the dogs, theyre eating the cats, theyre eating the pets of the people that live there its a shame.

Moreno is vying for Democratic incumbent Senator Sherrod Browns seat on November 5.
North Korea has boasted that its new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile it test-launched on Thursday was the worlds strongest.

The Hwasong-19, which flew higher and for longer than any other weapon Pyongyang had previously tested, stayed in the air for 86 minutes and hit altitudes of 7,000 kilometres (4,349 miles), according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

The new-type ICBM proved before the world that the hegemonic position we have secured in the development and manufacture of nuclear delivery means, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said while overseeing the launch on Thursday.

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Its defence ministry released a rare video of the launch, showing the giant missile as it was fired towards space before later slashing down between Japan and Russia.

The launch came less than a week before the US presidential election and received condemnation from Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.

On Friday, South Korea imposed new sanctions on 11 North Korean officials and four entities in retaliation for Thursdays missile test.

Seoul accused Pyongyang of trying to flex its military muscles in a means to divert the worlds attention from the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers in Russia.

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Despite North Koreas boast that the Hwasong-19 was the perfected weapon system, experts say that images show the missile and its launch vehicle are both oversized, which creates doubt over its wartime mobility and survivability on the battlefield.

When missiles get bigger, what happens? The vehicles get larger, too. As the transporter-erector launchers get bigger, their mobility decreases, Lee Sangmin, an expert at South Koreas Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, told the Associated Press.

Shin Seung-ki, head of research on North Koreas military at the Institute for Defense Analyses, said the launch was likely a test to improve performance of its existing ICBM, possibly built with Russias help.

North Korea will want to keep getting help like this, because it saves time and costs, he said, before adding that it could also be Pyongyangs response to pressure over its engagement with Russia.

Kim Jong-un oversees the a test-fire of the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile - GETTY

The intention may be to show that it will not bow to pressure, that it will respond to strength with strength, and also to seek some influence on the US presidential election.

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Kim Dong-yup, an expert at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said that while existing missiles are already capable of potentially targeting anywhere in the US, the Hwasong-19 is probably aimed at carrying heavier nuclear warheads.

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North Korea may continue testing to see if, during the final re-entry phase, the warheads can separate and each head toward individual targets, he said.

Thursdays missile test came as Washington warned that 8,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia on the border of Ukraine and that Moscow is preparing to deploy the troops into combat in the coming days.

The US and South Korea called on China, which has remained largely silent on the news of the military deployment, to use its influence over Pyongyang and Moscow to prevent further escalation of the war in Ukraine.

Kim Jong-un is joined by his daughter as they observe the missile test - GETTY

However, the Chinese government said the development is not its concern.

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North Korea and Russia are two independent sovereign states. How they develop bilateral relations is their own matter, Lin Jian, spokesman for Chinas foreign ministry, said on Friday.

There is also ongoing speculation about what North Korea might get from the Kremlin for sending soldiers to fight alongside the Russian military.

John Sullivan, a former US envoy to Russia, told Japanese broadcaster NHK that Moscow could provide North Korea with nuclear and missile technologies.

The Hwasong-19 is capable of reaching a height of 7,000 km, some 6,500 km above the international space station - GETTY

I think [Putin] is less concerned about the reactions in Seoul, Tokyo, or Washington and more concerned about the reaction in Beijing, which I dont think would like to see the North Koreans enhance particularly their ballistic missile and nuclear weapons program, Mr Sullivan said.

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However, analysts say Moscow is unlikely to share sensitive technology with Pyongyang.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, on Friday, and said that Pyongyang will stand by Russia until its victory in Ukraine.

The UN Security Council is expected to meet on Nov 4 to discuss Pyongyangs latest missile launch.

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The United States announced Friday the deployment of additional military assets to the Middle East, including ballistic missile defense destroyers and long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, serving as a warning to Iran as it and Israel trade tit-for-tat strikes.

Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement.

The additional resources build on previous US defense deployments to the Middle East in support of Israel, including a THAAD missile defense system deployed to the country late last month, operated by American troops on the ground.

The new forces will begin to arrive in coming months, Ryder said.

Israel launched significant strikes against Iran on October 26, devastating military infrastructure to the Islamic republic while steering clear of critical nuclear and oil sites.

Iran has carried out two major attacks against Israel in 2024  one in April after a strike on its consulate in Damascus that was blamed on Israel, and another in October that Tehran said was in response to the assassination of leaders of armed groups it backs in the Middle East.

Observers warn the continued military operations between the regional rivals could escalate further.
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Algeria tried in vain to omit itself from being mentioned in the latest UN Security Council resolution on the Sahara that called on it to resume roundtables as a main party to the Sahara conflict.

The resolution renewing the mandate of the UN mission in the Sahara, considered 2007- the year Morocco submitted its autonomy plan- as the reference year.

Algerias representative ranted at the UN Security Council after Algerias two amendments were rejected as the final text stresses Algerias responsibility and calls on it to engage in good faith and without pre-conditions in a round table process to reach a political, feasible, and realistic solution based on compromise.

Algeria also failed to introduce an amendment to give the UN mission in the Sahara, MINURSO, a human rights mandate.

Even Russia, often described by Algerian officials as an ally, rejected Algerias amendments.

The resolution was adopted with 12 votes in favorand two abstentions while Algeria rejected to take part in the vote.

The speech by Algerias representative is reflective of the state of isolation Algeria suffers in international organizations as a result of its pursuit of a separatist chimera in Moroccos Sahara.

The Algerian representative bemoaned that his countrys proposals were deliberately ignored, while ranting at the resolution penholder, the United States, to no avail.

The new resolution like its predecessors since 2007 makes no reference to the referendum option that Algeria defends and calls instead for a solution based on compromise while considering Moroccos autonomy plan as serious and credible.
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When Polls Close in Georgia: 7 p.m. ET

Vote-Counting Process: Georgia was the closest state in 2020; Joe Biden carried it by just 0.23 percent. Thats why it took the normally efficient state election machinery so long to tally enough votes to be certain that Biden had won. The state has had heavy in-person early voting this year, but since Georgia has no registration of voters by party, its not easy to tell which side that will benefit. Its mail ballot system is not as permissive as it was in 2020, when every registered voter was sent a mail ballot. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has promised that all but a handful of ballots will be counted on Election Night.

There had been a lot of talk about Georgias vote count being delayed on Election Night due to the state election boards highly partisan decisions to require hand counting of all ballots and to enable open-ended inquiries about the authenticity of ballots. But the courts, with Raffenspergers support, struck these provisions down. So there should be a relatively straightforward count.

When Georgia Will Be Called: If the state isnt extremely close, we could see a call late on Election Night. But if it is a virtual tie again, theres no telling when well know who won Georgias 16 electoral votes. As of November 2, Trump leads Harris in the FiveThirtyEight polling averages for Georgia by 1.5 percent, well within the standard margin of error.

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When Polls Close in North Carolina: 7:30 p.m. ET

Vote-Counting Process: Like Georgia, North Carolina has a history of relatively efficient vote counting. However, the entire electoral machinery is in the hands of a state Republican Party thats more systematically MAGA than its Georgia counterparts. Republicans have instituted a rule that could slow down and skew the results: Mail ballots received before Election Day are the only ones that can be tabulated before polls close, which means in-person early votes will be counted later in some jurisdictions. Whether that matters depends on how close the results are, as WTVD reports:

The State Board anticipates that the unofficial results reported by the end of election night will include about 98% of all ballots cast in the election. On election night, after all ballots available to count at that point have been tabulated, the county boards will stop uploading votes to the Dashboard. Over the 10-day canvass period after Election Day, as the counties meet to consider additional eligible absentee ballots and provisional ballots, the counties will upload those additional votes to the Dashboard.

While there were concerns that damage from Hurricane Helene could harm election infrastructure, the Brennan Center reports the state seems to be coping with these voting issues pretty well.

When North Carolina Will Be Called: We could have a call in North Carolina on Election Night or one that drags on, mostly depending on the margin by which one of the candidates leads. As of November 2, Trump leads Harris in the FiveThirtyEight polling averages of North Carolina by 1.4 percent.

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When Polls Close in Pennsylvania: 8 p.m. ET

Vote-Counting Process: Pennsylvania implemented no-excuse voting by mail for the first time in 2020 due to the pandemic. A lot of Pennsylvanians (2.6 million) voted by mail, which flummoxed inexperienced election officials and slowed down the count. This year, similar numbers may vote by mail (in-person early voting is not available). Now, as in 2020, election officials are laboring under a Republican legislative restriction that prohibits preprocessing of mail ballots until the polls are closed (in most states, mail ballots are at least opened and preprocessed, though not counted, earlier).

When Pennsylvania Will Be Called: The prohibition on early handling of mail ballots will significantly slow down the count, though to what degree depends, as elsewhere, on how close the race winds up being. The odds are pretty high that the Keystone State will be one of the later battlegrounds to be called. The FiveThirtyEight polling averages as of November 2 show Trump leading Harris by 0.1 percent.

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When Polls Close in Michigan: Polls mostly close at 8 p.m. ET, but in some parts of the Upper Peninsula, voting goes until 9 p.m. ET. The Associated Press wont call the state until polls have closed everywhere.

Vote-Counting Process: Unlike its Blue Wall neighbors, Michigan has made some changes to accelerate vote counting since 2020. This year, Michigan will allow the preprocessing of mail ballots before Election Day, which should eliminate an artificial Republican lead based on Election Day votes coming in first, as PBS recently reported:

The law change may result in a speedier release of mail voting totals and may mitigate the so-called red mirage that Trump falsely claimed was evidence of voter fraud in Michigan and in a handful of other key states.

But three major urban counties may still have some issues in efficiently counting and reporting votes, as the Michigan Bridge observed:

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said earlier this week that Michigan is likely to have results within 24 hours of the polls closing. Even so, there are several factors that could disrupt that timeline, and there is a significant chance that delays will happen again during next weeks election.

Thats not very speedy, and the count could get slower:

In Warren, the third-largest city in Michigan and the largest in Macomb County, City Clerk Sonja Buffa has opted not to pre-process ballots, going against the guidance of county and state officials. Pre-processing is not the law, Buffa told Votebeat. We do everything that is mandated.

When Michigan Will Be Called: As elsewhere, the call in Michigan will be affected by how close the race is. According to the polling averages at FiveThirtyEight as of November 2, Harris leads in Michigan by 1.1 percent, which is closer than the 2020 results.

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When Polls Close in Wisconsin: 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. local time).

Vote-Counting Process: The Badger State was decided by less than one percent in four of the past six presidential elections. Like Michigan, Wisconsin (governed by a Republican legislature) doesnt allow preprocessing of mail ballots until Election Day but does allow counting them that morning. As PBS notes, ballots get mixed together after that:

In Wisconsin, the first vote results reported on election night tend to be a mix of ballots cast on Election Day and in advance. In the April presidential primaries, more than a third of counties reported most or all of their vote results in their first vote report of the night  including in-person Election Day votes as well as mail-in and early votes.

But larger counties, including the Democratic strongholds of Milwaukee and Dane, took much longer. Their first vote update of the night included only a small share of the total votes cast. In a close race, that likely means waiting for final results in both places to know who has won the state.

In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton lost to Trump despite winning Milwaukee County with 66% of the vote; Dane County, the home of Madison, with 70%; and LaCrosse County with 51%. Four years later, Biden won Milwaukee with 69 percent of the vote, Dane with 76 percent and LaCrosse with 56 percent, eking out a narrow statewide victory.

When Wisconsin Will Be Called: According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, we should not expect a call on Election Night:

Given the 2016 and 2020 timelines, its unlikely Wisconsin will be called for either Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris before midnight on Election Day. Election officials seem to agree well likely have to wait until very late on Election Day or the early morning hours of Nov. 6 for unofficial results.

As of November 2, Harris is leading Trump in the FiveThirtyEight polling averages for Wisconsin by 0.8 percent. But the polls grossly underestimated Trumps Wisconsin vote in both 2016 and 2020.

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When Polls Close in Arizona: 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time).

Vote-Counting Process: Arizona has been a pioneer in early voting, particularly among Republicans. But it counts its votes slowly, in part because a lot of so-called early voters drop off ballots on Election Day (20 percent of them in Phoenixs Maricopa County in 2022). In addition, the state does not count votes until the polls close, and sometimes a lot later, as NBC News reports:

Officials in the state say ballot counting could take 10 days, although mail votes can start being counted upon receipt, according to the Arizona secretary of state  Provisional ballots, which require additional research by officials or documents from voters, can be counted up to 10 days after the election, according to state law.

Theres also a two-page ballot this year for a majority of Arizona voters, which could significantly slow down processing.

When Arizona Will Be Called: The speed of the count in Arizona will depend on whether Trump maintains his lead. According to FiveThirtyEight averages as of November 2, Trump leads in Arizona by 2.1 percent.

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When Polls Close in Nevada: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time).

Vote-Counting Process: Since 2020, Nevada has gone to a system of mostly voting by mail. The Republican Partys recent abandonment of hostility to mail ballots is helping Trump in the state. Nevada went Democratic in the past four presidential elections, in part because that party embraced early voting. Nevada political wizard Jon Ralston notes that Republicans have made voter-registration gains in the past four years and have benefited a lot from a rocky economy in the state:

Our unemployment rate was astronomical  [I]ts still either the highest or one of the highest in the country, even though its still relatively low  its around 5 percent right now. But you have an economy that is based on service workers, many of whom lost their jobs and some of whom didnt get them back, and the Republicans have taken advantage of that.

When Nevada Will Be Called: Trump has a lead of 0.4 percent in Nevada as of November 2, per FiveThirtyEight. Nevada should have a pretty brisk count, but there is one catch: Its one of 19 states (and the only battleground state) that allows mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to count if they arrive by a date certain (5 p.m. on November 9). If its extremely close, that could be the day we find out who won. In 2020, Nevada wasnt called for 88 hours after polls closed.
A year ago, European politicians declared the gas crisis from the near-complete halt of Russian supplies was over. The EU had turned to alternative natural gas suppliers, assuring there would be enough to prevent shortages and steep prices. These assurances now appear premature.

Last week, European benchmark gas prices hit the highest in a year on the news of a production outage in Norway. On Friday, the Dutch Title Transfer Facility hit 43.68 euros per MWh, which was the highest since December 2023. It seems the future holds more price spikesbecause that spike occurred despite full European gas storage caverns ahead of peak demand season.

It all started innocently enough. On Tuesday, Norways state major Equinor suspended production at one of its platforms due to a smoke alert. Norway is the European Unions largest natural gas supplier at the moment. It supplies some 30% of the EUs gas. When it reported the incident, Equinor noted it would not interfere with its export commitments. Yet gas prices spiked.

Its all about supply security, of course. It was supply security that drove European gas buyers to rush to build a reserve early on in the year and make sure there was enough in storage before winter season began. Right now, gas in storage in the EU is at 95%, which is exemplary workonly it wont save the bloc from shortages if the winter turns out to be colder than the last two.

Related: Slovakia State Firm Denies EU Gas Deal With Azerbaijan Is Imminent

Early forecasts suggest this is exactly what could happen, yet again highlighting the fact that the only reason the EU made it through winter 2022-23 was luck, which brought the continent a milder-than-usual winter. Luck is not something to lean on when it comes to the security of energy supplywhich is why Russia is the EUs second-largest supplier of natural gas, sanctions and all.

The EU admitted as much itself in its State of the Energy Union Report, released in September. The share of Russian gas in EU imports dropped from 45% in 2021 to 18% by June 2024, while imports from trusted partners like Norway and the US have increased, the EU wrote, but no matter how much it tries to highlight the shift to Norwegian and U.S. gas, the fact is that Russia supplies more gas to Europe than the United Statesregardless of how much EU politicians are trying to stifle these supplies.

The fact this continues is simple proof that Europe still needs a lot of gas despite its voluntary demand destruction since 2022. That demand destruction, per the State of the Energy Union Report, stood at 138 billion cu m between August 2022 and May 2024. It is not something to be proud ofnot when businesses are shutting down because of prohibitive energy prices. Yet the EU has done its best to put a positive spin on the demand destruction story, presenting it as a success in reducing the blocs dependence on Russian natural gas.

Focusing on that, however, those doing the spin seem to have forgotten that alternative supply is far from guaranteed. The recent price spikes are a rough reminder of that. The Biden pause on new LNG export terminal approvals was struck down in court, but it will still be a while before all the planned new capacity gets built. In fact, it will be years. And Europe needs the gas nowbecause Ukraine said it would not renew its gas transit deal with Russia, and the Ukrainian pipe is the only one still carrying Russian gas, besides LNG, into the EU.

Bloomberg reported this week that the EU was discussing alternative supplies with Azerbaijan that would replace Russian gas flowing along Ukraines pipeline network to Europebut only partially. The contract would need to involve a so-called swap agreement between Azerbaijan and Russia because Azerbaijan doesnt have enough export capacity to replace the existing supplies, Bloomberg explained.

The news, when it broke, pushed TTF prices down understandably. Yet the decline did not last long, and prices rebounded soon enough. Because demand for natural gas is growing internationally, winter is coming, and the deal with Azerbaijan is not yet finalized.

All these factors have raised risks that the gas supply outlook for Europe may not be any better in 2025 compared to 2024, but, in fact, could be worse, HSBCs head of European oil and gas research, Kim Fustier, told Bloomberg.

Unless the EU finds a complete replacement for Russian gas, it could end the winter with gas storage just 30% full and even higher prices. For context, last winter, the EU emerged from heating season with storage full at 58%, which was quite a comfy level that led to comfy prices. In a worst-case scenario, Europe might even empty its storage caverns to keep the lights on and the heating onAsia likes LNG, too, and the winter is not normally the optimal season for wind and solar. Europes gas problems are far from over.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The fallout from the ruling has led to a surge in complaints, a pause in new loans by several lenders, and concerns about the future of the car finance market.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is likely to implement a redress scheme, and banks like Lloyds, Close Brothers, and Santander have been significantly impacted.

A court ruling on secret commissions in car loans has triggered a crisis in the motor finance industry, with major lenders facing potential billions in compensation.

As lenders face an avalanche of compensation claims over a brewing motor finance scandal, Lars Mucklejohn asks whether the industry is headed for a PPI-scale disaster.

Motor finance providers are scrambling to avoid a full-blown market meltdown after a London court ruling on secret car loan commissions sparked chaos across the sector this week.

A Court of Appeal ruling last Friday has forced some major lenders to pause new business, shake-up their systems and push for urgent talks with government.

Judges ruled that a broker could not lawfully receive a commission from the lender without obtaining the customers fully informed consent to the payment.

The decision has made it more likely that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will implement a redress scheme for lenders as part of its review into the so-called discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs), potentially exposing banks to billions in extra compensation costs.

Lloyds Banking Group has abolished commission payments for new loans at its motor finance arm Black Horse, the UKs biggest auto lender.

William Chalmers, the groups chief financial officer, held an urgent call with analysts and investors on Tuesday to explain its reaction to the court ruling, City AM understands.

He provided no details on whether Lloyds would make further provisions beyond the 450m it set aside in February to cover potential costs.

However, Chalmers did say the variables that will go into the banks provisioning model are now wider than when it was just trying to estimate the impact of the FCAs review.

Lloyds share price has tumbled 14 per cent since the ruling. RBC Capital Markets estimates that Lloyds could take a 3.9bn hit to its profits in a worst-case scenario.

Close Brothers, considered the most exposed bank to the FCAs probe in relative terms, made plans to bolster its finances by 400m earlier this year and has since sold its wealth arm for 200m.

But the situation has gone from bad to worse for the 146-year-old merchant bank.

Close Brothers, which was involved in last weeks test case, has paused new car loans since the ruling. Its share price, which had already been hammered earlier this year, has cratered 37 per cent since last Friday and is now trading at a three-decade low.

RBC has modelled a worst-case scenario where Close Brothers takes a 387m hit from compensation, interest and administration costs. That figure is greater than the companys current market capitalisation of 343m.

Elsewhere, Santander UK has delayed the publication of its full third-quarter results to digest the ruling. RBC estimates a downside impact of 1.8bn.

Exits loom

A slew of smaller auto lenders also paused loans, including Zopa, Secure Trust Bank, MotoNovo, Mann Island, V12 and Northridge.

Analysts have warned the fallout could push some firms out of the sector entirely, given judges have effectively overruled previous guidance from the FCA.

Banks will quickly adapt their contracts and processes to comply with the new rules, Benjamin Toms, an analyst at RBC, told City AM.

However, in the medium term, some lenders will decide that lending in this sector is no longer for them.

Several of the firms which have paused lending, like Secure Trust, had said in the months before the ruling that they were not significantly exposed to the FCAs probe.

An executive at one auto lender told City AM they had previously doubted analysts estimates that banks could be on the hook for billions in compensation, given that the FCA has estimated DCAs passed on 165m in extra charges to consumers per year.

The FCAs probe is focused on DCAs between 2007 and 2021, when they were banned. The agreements were industry standard and included in some three-quarters of car loans during the period.

The wider banking sector has been inundated with historic complaints as consumers look for compensation and claims management firms take advantage of the situation.

Within just four months of the FCA announcing its probe, the Financial Ombudsman Service  which resolves disputes between consumers and financial services companies  received 20,000 complaints over car finance.

An executive at one motor finance provider told City AM that when MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis listed their bank on television earlier this year as one that had never used DCAs, the firm still received more than 2,000 complaints.

Ministers scramble

On Tuesday, Treasury ministers held urgent talks with FCA officials and representatives from the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA), which represents auto lenders, to discuss the ruling.

The FLA is now urging the regulator to extend its pause on the eight-week deadline firms have to respond to DCA complaints, currently in place until December 2025. FCA boss Nikhil Rathi said in a speech on Tuesday that the regulator would consider taking this step.

A Treasury spokesperson told City AM: The Treasury is working closely with the regulators and industry to understand the impact of this judgement.

Judges ruled that lenders must inform customers about all payments to dealers  meaning not just bonuses but flat fees as well. The precedent set by the decision could even go beyond car loans and apply to a range of consumer finance commissions, lawyers have argued.

Toms said: Three examples of the many questions which have been left outstanding include: Does this decision extend beyond motor finance? Which years are now in scope? And do all commissions paid need to be returned to customers?

The FCA was originally due to set out its next steps on the review in September, before delaying to May 2025 in July. But given last weeks ruling, analysts now expect it to take even longer.

That is partly because Close Brothers and South African bank First Rand have both said they will appeal last weeks judgement at the Supreme Court.

The court is expected to expedite the appeal given its commercial sensitivity but it is considered unlikely that a conclusion will come soon enough for the FCA to incorporate it into its update in May. Banks are also unlikely to be able to fully measure the potential impacts before announcing annual results in February.

Instead, RBC expects the regulator to push back its announcement to the summer. The FCA did not respond to a request for comment.

Big business

A freezing of the motor finance industry could rattle the UK economy by clogging up the car market and dragging on sales.

Lenders issued 16.9bn in car loans last year, with an estimated 80 per cent to 90 per cent of new vehicles being purchased with finance.

Ultimately this will lead to lower supply of motor finance products, which will inevitably result in a higher cost of motor finance for the customer, Toms said.

A redress scheme could become the UK banking sectors biggest since the infamous payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal, which saw banks hand back more than 38bn between 2011 and 2019 over missold insurance policies.

Analysts estimates for banks combined exposure have topped out at around 16bn so far. This figure does not include the finance divisions of motor companies themselves, which perform the majority of auto lending in the UK.

Honda and BMW paused sales to customers after the ruling and have since resumed deliveries.

By City AM

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The Moldovan government actively tackled the influence of oligarchs and engaged the diaspora, while Georgia's ruling party faced challenges related to its founder's ties to Russia and limited diaspora engagement.

Both countries highlighted the importance of electoral integrity, with Moldova focusing on early prevention and Georgia demonstrating strong civil society involvement in monitoring and reporting.

The election outcomes in Moldova and Georgia highlight the starkly differing ways their respective governments and civil society pushed back to resist Russian meddling and other nefarious elements at crucial junctures for both countries.

The votes -- a presidential election and an EU constitutional referendum in Moldova and parliamentary elections in Georgia -- packed the potential to dramatically realign both former Soviet republics' geopolitical orientation or harden their current courses, with mounting challenges to both countries' strong public preferences for further EU integration.

So the winners and losers matter. But some of the early lessons lie beyond their initial winners and suggest those votes can contribute to the playbook for other embattled societies -- including among more mature democracies as well as other countries on Russia's periphery.

Counter Russian Influence Early

Moldovan officials had warned for months of threats from Russia that included disinformation and facilitating millions in illicit payments for an informal network of anti-EU organizers. An analyst who spoke with Moldovan officials in the run-up to the voting quoted them to RFE/RL as saying, "We can follow the money." And while they couldn't stop the flow of cash from Russia, they saw it and publicly identified it for what it was.

Georgia provided a lesson of a different sort. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze insisted as recently as last week that "Russia has no influence in Georgia." Caught up in a balancing act to avoid appearing overtly pro-Russian to a Russia-wary public, Georgian Dream simply ignored the problem and cast the choice as one between "war" and "peace."

As a result, even with President Salome Zurabishvili warning of Russian interference, it fell to the public to counter Moscow's economic leverage and the mobilization of pro-Russian influencers and media.

Georgians and civil society groups were freshly energized by peaceful battles against the "foreign-agent" law, popularly known as the "Russian law," and new curbs on the LGBT community, but experts told RFE/RL that preparations in the form of "raising the alarm" and "coalition building" actually began many months earlier.

Integrity And Transparency Are Key

Moldovan officials went on the offensive to protect the integrity of the country's elections, strengthening institutions and seeking to shut down illegal sources of potentially violent unrest. They also fended off cyberattacks and deepfakes, and publicly confronted what they regarded as false narratives. "You name it, they did a good job defending against it," Shelby Magid of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center told RFE/RL.

SEE ALSO:

Georgian ruling-party officials appeared less preoccupied with the potential for accusations of a flawed vote. Georgian public groups and civil society were left to pick up the slack. A dozen years into Georgian Dream's political dominance, such independent (and opposition) groups suggested before the vote that they were better prepared than in the past. That showed up in things like long-term observation of procedures, international cooperation, and hotlines for reporting violations. "You name it, they were doing it," Magid said.

Cope With The Oligarchs

In Moldova, officials spent the better part of two years battling the influence of Ilan Shor, a fugitive former oligarch convicted of massive fraud who is seemingly determined to steer the country's course toward Russia. Since banning his party last year, the government has kept up its pressure with public warnings and called out an alleged multimillion-dollar Shor network to organize opposition to the EU path, among other things. "It's not just a single issue, it's more like a game of whack-a-mole -- you don't just get rid of Shor," Magid said.

In Georgia, the elephant in the room is Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire Georgian Dream founder who made his fortune in Russia. That challenge was far less black-and-white. Ivanishvili seems to be "looking out for himself and has his own anti-democratic mind-set that aligns more with Russia," said Magid, adding that those goals "sometimes go hand-in-hand and other times they don't."

Don't Forget The Diaspora

The tiny margin in the EU constitutional referendum and the disparity in perspectives to Chisinau's east and its west underscore the significance of the diaspora in the Moldovan votes. Moldovan officials used a variety of channels to encourage a sense of urgency and consequence to mobilize Moldovan voters abroad, particularly in the West, including through social media, cultural outreach, and increased voting sites. "You've got to have a fire under you that your vote matters, and that information has to get to you," Magid said.

In Georgia, whose eligible expatriates are heavily concentrated in the West, governing officials appeared less keen on getting out the diaspora vote. It's easy to see why: Georgian Dream garnered just 15 percent support among emigre voters. With the opposition hopelessly fractured and myriad alternatives to Georgian Dream on the ballot, however, that did not translate into a clear mandate elsewhere.

By RFE/RL

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Gokada

Lagos-based motorcycle-hailing startup, Gokada has laid off most of its workforce.

The move is as a result of Lagos state governments decision to ban okada and tricycles in the state from operating on major roads.

Launched in January 2018, the startup was founded by Fahim Saleh to solve Nigerias largest city traffic problems. Since then, Gokada has gone on to raise a total of $5.6 million from two rounds and claims to have completed more than a million rides.

According to Techpoint, a source claims that Gokada laid off most of its staff two days after the announcement of the ban.

Just a week ago, on the 27th of January, the Lagos state government announced the ban of all forms of motorcycles and tricycles in major parts of Lagos. Motorcycle-hailing startups like Gokada and MAX Okada were not exempt.

This caused the startups to engage in a protest against the new regulation. Also, CEO, Saleh released a video addressing the ban, so it comes as a surprise if the green-branded motorcycle-hailing service has taken this course of action.

Gokada CEO, Fahim Saleh confirmed the layoffs, via a tweet to Techpoint reporter, Tage Kene-Okafor.

While much of your report is accurate, the tweet reads, we still have money in the bank and are pivoting towards deliveries while this transport ban gets sorted. We were due to make a profit in January before the ban was announced.
HEYWORTH  A number of voters in Illinois  including Piatt, McLean, Douglas and Moultrie counties in Central Illinois  are being asked how candidates for their local school board districts should be elected.

As early voting continues through Monday until Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters will be deciding if their school board districts should elected at-large instead of from congressional townships.

Kara Kienzler, associate executive director of communications at the Illinois Association of School Boards, said the main difference between school board members elected at-large versus by congressional townships comes down to who the board member is elected to represent  the entire district, or a portion of it, similar to wards.

Some school districts prefer congressional townships, as they may see better representation from the various communities within the district, while others see value in at-large elections, allowing for a larger pool of candidates  it just depends on what the district needs, Kienzler said.

According to state law, if a school board does not have enough candidates running for election in a district with congressional townships and needs to appoint individuals to the vacant seats, then the school board must submit a referendum asking voters if they should switch to an at-large system in the next general election.

Voters in the following 11 school districts will be deciding whether they should elect school board members at-large:

Annawan Community Unit School District 226

Arcola Community Unit School District 306

Cambridge Community Unit School District 227

DeLand-Weldon Community Unit School District 57

Elverado Community Unit School District 196

Heyworth Community Unit School District 4

Patoka Community Unit School District 100

Rossville-Alvin Community Unit School District 7

Sullivan Community Unit School District 300

Sycamore Community Unit School District 427

Tuscola Community Unit School District 301

"Schools are very important to residents. (Residents) want good, strong schools, and I think it's important for them to vote in a way that they think best represents the needs of the school district," said DeLand-Weldon Superintendent Michael Tresnak. "We cherish the voice of our residents."

Tresnak said two seats were not filled in his district's last school board election due to a lack of candidates, and this required the district to place the referendum question on the ballot to see whether residents would approve electing candidates at-large instead of from townships.

If approved, the function of the school board would not change, Tresnak said, but every school board member would be up for immediate reelection, with members being split four and three, so they would be reelected either in two years or four years.

Tresnak said there are a lot of questions for voters to consider in regards to how they want to see their school board members elected, and what the best way is to represent the district.

"There are advantage and disadvantage of both," said Sullivan Superintendent Ted Walk. "It's important for the voters to express their opinion and whether they feel it will be better served by having the ability to choose from all seven seats from anywhere in the entire school district ... or have a system in place that guarantees some representation from multiple different townships."

Walk said deciding by townships does allow for more diverse members to come from across the district, but it also limits others who may want to be board members in a township where there are already incumbent candidates and would likely retain that position in a reelection.

At-large elections allow for more individuals to participate in the election, Walk said, but could lead to multiple people from the same area of a district winning, because it would be based on the number of votes candidates receive.

In Sullivan's last school board election, the district only had one position unaccounted for that had to be filled through an appointment. But if elections were done at-large, Walk said, that position could have been filled by another candidate.

"Normally, I feel like there's an easy answer," Walk said. "What it comes down to is what do you feel like is going to make for a better operation of the school board  having more regions represented, or having the ability to take just the highest vote-getters?"

Heyworth Board of Education President Kelli Rewerts said in an email that in the last election, the district had a seat go unfilled because some townships did not have candidates file petitions  but in her opinion, it is very important to have representation from all areas of a district.

"I have an appreciation for having a diverse board from across the congressional townships in our district rather than having seven board members from the same area of town," Rewerts said in the email. "At times there is much value in having residents from the rural areas of our district, as many times there is a different perspective from those that live outside the village of Heyworth."

Rewerts added that people often think of voting in the presidential election and other congressional elections, because that is what they hear most about, but it is important to vote in all elections.

"These less-heard-of seats to be filled are the ones that can impact our local residents in a more direct way," she said.

Residents have until Monday, Nov. 4, to vote early, and polls for the general election will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. The law says voters who are in line when the polls close can still cast ballots.
The recent Lausanne Congress 4 in Incheon, South Korea, provided a significant platform to address contemporary challenges to Christian mission, including the pressing issue of persecution. However, as a convert from a Muslim-majority country where persecution is a lived reality, my participation in the Congress revealed the theological and missiological limitations in how the Lausanne movement, and much of the evangelical world, understands and engages with persecution. This reflection critiques the Congresss approach to persecution and offers an alternative theological vision that emphasizes the sacred and communal dimensions of suffering within the Church.

Lausanne and persecution: a narrow focus

One of the more concerning aspects of Lausanne 4 was its reduction of persecution to an emotional appeal, primarily linked to evangelism and/or the victimization of Christians. While the Congress certainly aimed to address persecution, the discussions often fell into a familiar frameworkportraying persecuted Christians as either victims or tools for evangelism and church growth. This framing not only risks commodifying persecution but also neglects the sacred, communal nature of suffering in Christian theology.

I have observed a disturbing tendency to commercialize the suffering of Christians.

Having lived through persecution myself, I have observed a disturbing tendency to commercialize the suffering of Christians, particularly converts, by turning their experiences into narratives designed to garner support, promoting church growth or demonize Muslim-majority countries. This was evident in some of the stories shared at Lausanne, where persecution became a platform for boosting evangelism or church growth, mobilizing sympathy through evangelistic narratives that portrayed the enemy as being defeated by making "them" one of us. The problem with this approach is that it reduces persecution to an evangelistic marketing tool, encouraging converts or persecuted individuals to frame their stories in such terms, rather than recognizing it as a sacred participation in the suffering of Christ.

Persecution, in its essence, is sacred because it links directly to Christs own suffering on the Cross. It is through the Cross that Christians are called to bear witness to the world. As St. Gregory the Great highlighted, martyrdom is not simply about individual suffering but a communal act of witness involving the entire body of believers. The sacredness of persecution is also rooted in its connection to the Eucharistthe body and blood of Christwhere the suffering of the faithful is united with the suffering of Christ for the redemption of the world.

The Church as the heart of persecution

It was the Church, not just I, who suffered.

This is one of the key theological insights that was overlooked at Lausanne 4, that persecution is not an individual experience, even though it may be experienced individually. When I reflect on my own story of persecution, I cannot see it as my story. I see it as the story of the Church. It was the Church, not just I, who suffered. When I was imprisoned and mistreated, it was the Church that sustained me and paid the ultimate price. Many of her members were arrested, and eventually, our church was shut down, losing many of its members to migration or to the world. As I see it then, the pain of the Church was much greater than my own. This communal dimension, which also involves the Holy Spirit, is central to understanding the true nature of persecution.

Whenever people ask me to share my story, they want to hear about my individual experience, as though persecution were an isolated event in my life. Now, I live a fairly comfortable life in the West, yet my church is still struggling. With persecution being a communal experience any theological reflection on the subject must acknowledge this. The Church, like Christ, bears the Cross together. It is in this solidarity that the Holy Spirit moves, binding the persecuted individual and their faith community in a sacred unity that empowers the Church to give birth to new lights that shine with the resurrected Christ.

The missiological crisis: from witness to commodity

Another theological concern with Lausannes (and the Evangelical church in general's) approach to persecution was its failure to engage with the broader missiological implications of suffering. Because the Congress largely viewed persecution through the lens of evangelism, treating it as a means to an endthe conversion of the other, it missed the sacred nature of persecution as a witness to the faith and to the call of let there be light. This is more than just an opportunity for evangelism. A great example of such enduring witness is the Coptic Church in Egypt.

In regions like Iran, where Christianity is growing, often in response to political disillusionment, the Church faces complex challenges. How will the Church sustain and support these converts once their faith is no longer defined by opposition to a hostile regime, but by the need for community-building and theological formation? Lausanne missed the opportunity to address such critical missiological questions, focusing instead on persecution as a story to be told, rather than a reality to be lived and responded to holistically.

It is imperative that persecution is understood as a sacred witness.

It is imperative that persecution is understood as a sacred witness, not merely a tool for evangelism or a narrative for raising support. The Churchs response to persecution should not be driven by emotional appeals or abstract theological concepts, but by a deep, incarnational solidarity with those who suffer. Again, this solidarity is not just with individuals but with the Churchthe body of Christthat endures persecution as a collective witness to the world.

Theological failure and the need for a holistic response

Lausannes failure to engage with the deeper theological dimensions of persecution reflects a broader crisis in evangelical theology, which often prioritizes evangelism over deeper theological reflection. This was evident in the organizational and theological tensions that surfaced during the Congress, including the apology issued after Ruth Padillas talk. The Lausanne movement, once a platform for theological engagement and evangelical unity, seems to have shifted toward becoming an organization with its own preferred theology, one that struggles to engage meaningfully with the lived realities of persecuted Christians in non-Western contexts.

The experiences of persecuted Christians was reduced to binary dynamics of persecuted versus persecutor.

The Congress also revealed a troubling Western-centric bias in its approach to persecution. The experiences of persecuted Christians in the Majority World were often simplified, reduced to binary dynamics of persecuted versus persecutor. This narrow focus overlooks the broader, systemic factors that shape the experiences of marginalized Christians and the Church in these regions. It reduces persecution to an emotional appeal rather than a call to a transformative, missional response that integrates the lived realities of those facing persecution daily and the future of the Church.

A call for a sacred, communal vision of persecution

To move beyond this theological and missiological impasse, the Church must begin to see persecution as a sacred witness, not just as a problem to be solved or a story to be told. It is a participation in the suffering of Christ, which unites the Church across time and space, calling for a deeper response within the context. The Holy Spirit stands with the persecuted, not just as a Comforter, but as the one who empowers the Church to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel in the face of systemic oppression and violence, and to find solutions to ease the pain within the context.

The persecuted are not isolated individuals but active agents in the Churchs mission.

When we see persecution as not an individual experience but a communal reality that binds the Church together, we see a reflection of the Trinity uniting Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect communion. In this sense, the persecuted are not isolated individuals but active agents in the Churchs mission, bearing witness to the saving power of Christ through their sufferinglet there be light (Genesis 1:3).

The Churchs response to persecution must be rooted in this sacred, communal vision. It must move beyond emotional appeals and the commodification of suffering toward a holistic, missional approach that recognizes the profound spiritual transformation persecution can bring. Only then will the Church be equipped to support and sustain persecuted Christians in regions like Iran and beyond, offering not just sympathy, but a deep solidarity and theological engagement with the realities of suffering, resilience, and hope.

In conclusion, persecution is sacred because it is a participation in the suffering of Christ. It is communal because it is the Church, not individuals, who bear this cross together. As the Church faces the challenges of persecution in the modern world, it must reclaim this sacred, communal vision, standing in solidarity with the persecuted and bearing witness to the hope of the Gospel.

Originally published on LinkedIn. Republished with permission.

Dr Sara Afshari is originally from Iran. She is a Research Tutor at Oxford Centre for Mission Studies and the current Admissions Tutor. She received her PhD from Edinburgh University in Media Religion and Culture. She is co-founder and former Executive Director of SAT-7 PARS, a Christian television channel in Farsi/Persian language. She has MTh in World Christianity from Edinburgh University and an MA in Media Communication from Wales University. Her recent book is titled: "Religion, Media and Conversion in Iran: mediated Christianity in an Islamic Context". Sara also service on the Lausanne Global Analysis Advisory Board.
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: Yan Krukau from Pexels

When it comes to education policy, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris not only have mostly distinct visions but also distinct track records.

Harris is calling for a wider role for the federal government and larger investment to improve educational opportunities. Trump is focused on reducing the federal role in education and relying upon states, localities and parents to make educational decisions and investments.

At the same time, there are some commonalities, including the growing importance of career and technical education. What follows is a review of what the two candidates have done in the world of education while in office.

On higher education

The candidates share a concern about the high cost of higher education. But they have different visions for how to address those costs. As California's attorney general, Harris secured a US$1.1 billion judgment against Corinthian Colleges for false advertising. The judgment provides refunds for students who were misled by claims about job placement rates, program offerings and military affiliations.

Whereas Harris has pursued for-profit colleges for fraud, Trump has focused on promoting innovation by reducing regulation and expanding alternatives to traditional higher education. This includes making it easier for online, faith-based and for-profit institutions to be accredited.

As part of the Biden administration, Harris has pursued student loan debt forgiveness. She has also strongly signaled her support for expanding access to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. This follows her having co-sponsored legislation for debt-free college as a United States senator.

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The administration has faced challenges to the constitutionality of the loan forgiveness initiative on the grounds that the president does not have the authority under present law to unilaterally cancel debt. Opponents have also said any debt forgiveness would have to be authorized by Congress.

Critics say further that loan forgiveness does not address the root causes of rising costs of higher education. Loan forgiveness could cause further price increases if institutions thought that students would care less about the cost of college in anticipation of having their debt forgiven.

Trump created two entities to advise the federal government on workforce development and training needs: a council of federal officials and an advisory board of business leaders.

In 2019, Trump signed a bipartisan bill to make permanent $250 million in annual federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, that was previously subject to annual renewal.

Harris has called for reducing degree requirements for federal jobs. She also promoted job training programs as an alternative to incarceration in her Back on Track initiative as attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017.

As attorney general and then a U.S. senator from California, she called for greater oversight of advertising by for-profit colleges and debt forgiveness for former students of for-profit colleges. She also supported expanding federal aid to public and nonprofit colleges, including free community colleges and large grants to HBCUs.

On K-12 education

The 2024 Trump campaign platform calls for sweeping changes to K-12 education policy. This includes universal school choice and more parental control over schools, which would entail allowing parents across the country to use educational funds to pay for private school through vouchers or tax credits if they chose. It also features a drastically reduced federal role in education.

In fact, Trump wants to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Many of these plans, such as direct election of school principals by parents, are unlikely to come to fruition due to the fact that schools in the United States are mainly under state and local control.

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Trump expanded college savings 529 plans to allow parents to save up to $10,000 per year tax-free for K-12 private school tuition.

While president, Trump made several other proposals that could foreshadow his future plans. These proposals include creating a $5 billion federal tax credit for private school tuition, cutting the budget for the U.S. Department of Education in annual budget requests and turning the Title I allocation for supplemental services for students in poverty, such as smaller classes or tutoring, into a block grant to states.

The Biden administration has sought to expand federal funding for full-service community schools. Full-service community schools are public schools that receive additional funding and staffing to help address the academic needs of students as well as factors outside of school, such as access to health care and healthy food, that affect learning.

The Biden administration also expanded Title IX gender discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

As a candidate for the presidential nomination in 2019, Vice President Harris also called for federal funding to provide teachers with an average of a $13,500 raise, though she has not made a similar call in this campaign.

As California attorney general, Harris made reducing chronic absenteeism a signature issue when she led the In School and On Track anti-truancy initiative. This initiative included additional funding to districts and schools to use data to better understand and monitor absenteeism and to communicate with parents about the importance of school attendance.

The data and communication-focused approach was an evolution from her initial approach as San Francisco district attorney, which placed more emphasis on prosecuting parents for truancy.

On early childhood learning

Neither Trump nor Harris has a significant record of tangible actions when it comes to early childhood education. Project 2025, which Trump has disavowed but was written by close allies of the former president, calls for eliminating Head Start, a federally funded, locally run, early childhood learning program to support low-income families.

Although Trump made several similar proposals to cut funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant by about 5%, they were not passed into law by Congress.

Harris has made calls for free, universal prekindergarten for all 4-year-olds, but the Biden administration was not able to get its early childhood proposals through Congress.

More recent studies of some universal pre-K programs have raised questions about how long the academic gains from early childhood programs persist.

On net, however, the evidence from the highest-quality studies for high-quality early childhood programs in general, and the Head Start program in particular, suggests that they improve cognitive skills among children.

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If you've ever gone to look up a quick fact and just kept browsing from one article (or page, or video), to another, to anotherthen you know the feeling of "going down a rabbit hole." This experience of curiosity-led online wandering has become synonymous with the free, user-created encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Founded in 2001, Wikipedia is today one of the world's most popular websites. With more users than Amazon, Netflix, TikTok or ChatGPT, the site is a go-to source for people to learn about and discover new interests.

In new research involving more than 480,000 Wikipedia users in 14 languages across 50 countries, US researchers led by Dale Zhou at the University of Pennsylvania studied three distinctly different ways of going down the Wikipedia rabbit hole. These "curiosity styles" have been studied before, but not in such a large, diverse group of people using Wikipedia "naturalistically," in daily life.

The research may help us better understand the nature and importance of curiosity, its connections to well-being, and strategies for preventing the spread of false information.

Wikipedia: First controversial, now mature, always popular

When Wikipedia was new in the early 2000s, it sparked controversies. People such as librarians and lecturers voiced concerns about Wikipedia's potential for platforming untrue or incomplete information.

Today, the factuality of Wikipedia's existing contents is less concerning than questions of bias, such as which topics the site's volunteer editors deem noteworthy enough to include. There are global efforts to fill gaps in Wikipedia's coverage, such as "edit-a-thons" to add entries on historically overlooked scientists and artists.

Part of what made Wikipedia groundbreaking was how it satisfies people's intrinsic learning needs by inviting navigation from page to page, luring readers into rabbit holes. This, combined with the site's participatory approach to creating and verifying pages, sparked its rapid growth. These qualities have also sustained Wikipedia as a predominant everyday information source, globally.

Research about Wikipedia has also evolved from early studies comparing it to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

This new study examines data about Wikipedia readers' activities. It looks at the different "architectural styles of curiosity" people embody when they navigate.

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Busybodys, hunters and dancers

The new study explores the "knowledge networks" associated with the three main styles of curiosity: busybody, hunter and dancer. A knowledge network is a visual representation of how readers "weave a thread" across Wikipedia articles.

As the researchers explain, "The busybody scouts for loose threads of novelty, the hunter pursues specific answers in a projectile path, and the dancer leaps in creative breaks with tradition across typically siloed areas of knowledge."

Earlier research had shown evidence of busybodies and hunters, and speculated about the existence of dancers. The new study confirms that busybodies and hunters exist in multiple countries and languages. It also details the dancer style, which has been more elusive to document.

The researchers also identified geographical differences between curiosity styles.

In all 14 languages studied, busybodies tend to read more about culture, media, food, art, philosophy and religion. Hunters in 12 out of 14 languages tend to read more about science, technology, engineering and math.

In German and English, hunters were more drawn to pages about history and society than busybodies. The opposite was true in Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, Dutch and Chinese.

Dancers were identified by their forward leaps between disparate topics, as well as the diversity of their interests.

The research team points out we still have much to learn about how curiosity is shaped by local norms. Relating these results to gender, ethnicity, access to education, and other elements will paint a fuller picture.

Curiosity is beneficial, generally  and we have more to learn

Overall, this study supports the benefits of freer, broader browsing and reading. Following our curiosity can help us become better informed and expand our worldviews, creativity and relationships.

At the same time, people sometimes need closure more than they need exploration. This is not a bad thing or a sign of narrow-mindedness. In many situations there are benefits to moving on from information-seeking, and deciding we've learned enough for now.

Endless curiosity can have downsides. This is especially true when it's motivated not by the joy of learning, but by the discomfort of uncertainty and exclusion. As other research has found, for some people, curiosity can lead toward false information and conspiracy theories. When information has a sense of novelty, or a hint of being hidden by powerful elites, this can make it more appealing, even when it's not true.

The new study emphasizes that different curiosity styles do not lead simply or universally to creativity or well-being. People's contexts and circumstances vary.

Each of us, like Goldilocks, can follow our curiosity to find not too much, not too little, but the information that is "just right." The researchers also hint at evidence for a spectrum of new curiosity styles beyond the main three, which will surely spark more research in future.

Stay curious and enjoy the rabbit hole

This study also suggests ways Wikipedia (and sites like it) could better support curiosity-driven exploration. For example, rather than suggesting pages based on their popularity or similarity to other pages, Wikipedia could try showing readers their own dynamic knowledge network.

As a Wikipedian would say, this new study is noteworthy. It shows how smaller-scale, exploratory research into people's reading and browsing can be translated to a much larger scale across languages and cultures.

As AI becomes more influential and the problems of misinformation grow, understanding technologies that shape our access to informationand how we use themis more important than ever. We know YouTube recommendations can be a radicalizing pipeline to extremist content, for example, and ChatGPT is largely indifferent to the truth.

Studying Wikipedia readers reveals a rich picture of people's freely expressed, diverse online curiosities. It shows an alternative to technologies built on narrower assumptions about what people value, how we learn, and how we want to explore online.

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The ongoing war in Sudan has often been overlooked amid higher-profile conflicts raging across multiple continents. Yet the lack of media and geopolitical attention to this 18-month-long conflict has not made its devastation in terms of human lives any less stark.

Since fighting broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, both of which had been part of a power-sharing military government, the country has seen the displacement of more than 14 million people and the carving up of the country by geography and ideology.

And while we may never know the exact death toll, the conflict in Sudan is certainly among the deadliest in the world today.

As scholars of public health, conflict and human rights and Sudanese-American health workers, we are keenly aware of how fraught it can be to estimate mortality in war for a slew of practical and political reasons. But such estimates are of critical importance: They allow us to understand and compare conflicts, target humanitarian aid for those still at risk, trigger investigations of war crimes, bear witness to conflict and compel states and armed groups to intervene or change.

The difficult work of counting the dead

A profound humanitarian crisis is occurring in Sudan, characterized by ethnic cleansing, mass displacement, food scarcity and the spread of disease, complicated further by flooding in the northern states.

Considering a death toll in such a conflict includes counting not only those who are killed as a direct result of violenceitself a difficult thing to determine in real timebut also those who have died by conflict-exacerbated factors, such as the absence of emergency care, the breakdown of vaccination programs and a lack of essential food and medicine. Estimating this latter death toll, called indirect mortality, presents its own challenge, as the definition itself varies among researchers.

In congressional testimony, U.S. special envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello recognized the estimation challenges when noting there had been anywhere between 15,000 and 150,000 deaths in Sudanan exceedingly wide range that was attributable, in part, to the complexity of determining indirect mortality.

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Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), a nonprofit specializing in conflict-related data collection, has recorded an average of more than 1,200 direct conflict deaths per month in Sudan, with nearly 19,000 deaths in the first 15 months of the conflict. This figure is similar to the 20,000 deaths estimated by the Sudan Doctors Union and the 19,000 figure used by the Sudan Protection Cluster, a centralized group of U.N. agencies and NGOs that used World Health Organization data.

ACLED sources its estimates of deaths from traditional media, reports from international NGOs and local observers, supplemented by new media such as verified Telegram and WhatsApp accounts. The Sudan Doctors Union, on the other hand, gives on-the-ground estimates of conflict deaths.

When available, distinct data sources such as surveys, civil registers and official body counts can make an estimation more accurate. However, this data is often available only in retrospect, after the cessation of conflict. It is therefore critical to use both the available data and precedents from previous conflicts to capture a reasonable estimate of the human costs of an ongoing conflict.

A 2010 article in The Lancet estimated that there are 2.3 indirect deaths for every direct conflict death, based on data from 24 small-scale surveys conducted in Darfur from 2003 to 2005. As such, using ACLED's data of 18,916 direct deaths, we estimate that in the current Sudan conflict, there are an additional 43,507 indirect deathsor more than 62,000 total deaths.

We believe our estimate is very conservative. When estimating mortality in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a different group of scholars, also writing in The Lancet, used a multiplier of four indirect deaths for every direct death to estimate the overall mortality there.

Meanwhile, a report from the Geneva Declaration Secretariat showed an average of 5.8 indirect deaths for every direct death across 13 armed conflicts from 1974 to 2007.

Using that latter multiplier, the number of indirect deaths in Sudan would jump to nearly 110,000meaning the total deaths in the region amount to 130,000double our estimate.

This range is wide, but it acknowledges how difficult it can be to estimate indirect deaths and how they can vary significantly with the shape of a conflict.

The Sudanese conflict in context

For all the tremendous loss of life these numbers reflect, they surely underestimate the true human costs of the conflict.

Sudan already had a fragile and underfunded health system before the fighting started. And compared with other ongoing conflicts such as in Gaza and Ukraine, there was already a more precarious baseline, with higher child mortality and lower life expectancy.

Since the war in Sudan began, there have been consistent reports of mass killings, forced disappearances, sexual violence, deliberate blocking of food and medicine, and other forms of violence against civilians.

Much of the violence is ethnically targeted, and the Darfur regionwhere a full-scale famine has been declaredhas suffered disproportionately.

The destruction of civilian infrastructure and interrupted aid mechanisms are preventing medicine, food, clean water and vaccinations from getting to in-need populations.

Health care workers and facilities, not only in at-risk Darfur but also throughout the country, have been the target of attacks. Nearly 80% of medical facilities have been rendered inoperable. And at least 58 physicians have been killed, in addition to the many that were targeted in previous crises.

Given the persistent targeting of health care systems and restricted access to humanitarian corridors, indirect deaths in Sudan are likely to grow as hospitals shut down, even in the capital Khartoum, due to bombardments, ground attacks and a lack of critical supplies.

The costs for Sudanese children are especially alarming. Thirteen children die per day in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, according to Doctors Without Borders, mostly due to undernutrition and food scarcity.

And nearly 800,000 Sudanese children will face severe, acute malnutrition through 2024, a condition that requires intensive care and supplemental nutrition merely to prevent death. Even before the conflict, children were severely threatened by a lack of access to care, including basic preventive care such as early immunization.

Finally, the transmission of communicable diseases thrives in conflicts like the one in Sudan, where there has been widespread population displacement, malnutrition, limited water and sanitation, and lack of appropriate sheltering.

In August, a cholera outbreak led to a spiking death rate of more than 31 deaths per 1,000 cholera cases. And instances of such disease effects are likely to be underestimates in a country lacking health care penetration and monitoring.

The limitations of estimations

The massive internal displacement of more than 14 million people in Sudan complicates the estimation of death tolls, as shifting populations make establishing baselines nearly impossible.

Moreover, there is typically a dearth of official information collected and released during conflicts.

So establishing a concrete estimate of the true impact of armed conflict often comes after the cessation of hostilities, when expert teams are able to conduct field studies.

Even then, estimates will require assumptions about direct deaths, indirect-to-direct death ratio and the quality of existing data.

But as scholars working at the intersection of public health and human rights, we believe such work, however imperfect, is necessary for the documentation of conflictand its future prevention. And while there are many current global conflicts that require our urgent attention, the conflict in Sudan must not be lost in the mix.

Israa Hassan, a physical medicine and rehabilitation resident at Texas Rehabilitation Hospital-Fort Worth and advocacy director at the Sudanese American Physicians Association, contributed to this article.

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A Christian falsely charged with blasphemy in three cases was released on bail this week after prosecutors failed to produce evidence against him, his attorney said.

Zimran Asim, 35, was released on Wednesday (Oct. 30) after he won bail from the Lahore High Court on Sept. 24 in the third blasphemy case registered against him, attorney Aneeqa Maria said. The high court had granted him bail in the other two cases on July 29 and April 24.

She said Sargodha police had arrested the Catholic on Aug. 27, 2023, in the three cases registered under Sections 295-A, 295-B, 295-C and 298-A of the blasphemy statutes for incidents that took place on July 16, Aug. 20 and Aug. 25 last year. Violations under 295-C, blaspheming Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, carries a mandatory death sentence.

All three judges who granted bail to Asim had noted that there was no direct evidence against him.

Asim was implicated only because he was seen once with the primary accused, Akash Masih, Maria said. During investigation, Masih told police he had committed the crimes because he was angry at the Muslims for persecuting Christians and burning churches in Jaranwala. He had categorically absolved Asim, his long-time neighbor, of involvement, but the police still named him as an accessory in the three cases.

Asim, father of a 4-year-old girl, was charged with blasphemy even though Masih had admitted that the Catholic was not involved in the acts of Quran desecration and writing of blasphemous content at three locations, Maria said.

Asim has been moved to a safe location after his release due to security fears, she said.

His family is already in hiding after Asim was arrested and branded as a spy and blasphemer, Maria said. Their house and all belongings have been grabbed by local Muslims, and the family has nothing left to return to their village.

Asims brother Zeeshan Asim previously told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that a vicious campaign was launched against his family on social media after the Punjab police chief claimed in a press conference that the blasphemy incidents in Sargodha were carried out at the behest of a foreign country.

Our photographs were downloaded from Facebook and made viral in social media groups and pages, putting the security of the entire family at serious risk, Zeeshan said previously. My elderly parents and siblings had no other option but to relocate from the village.

Highlighting the risks faced by lawyers defending people accused of blasphemy, Maria said she and her team were subjected to threats and intimidation by Islamist groups.

I believe the blatant misuse of the laws has made the situation equally dangerous for blasphemy accused, their defense counsels as well as rights defenders, she said. The government must take this issue seriously in order to protect innocent lives and break this environment of fear.

His release follows that of another Christian jailed on blasphemy charges on Oct. 23 after a high court noted glaring loopholes in the police case against him. Chand Shamaun was arrested on June 23 and charged with insulting Islam under Section 295-A of Pakistans blasphemy laws and Section 9 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. He was accused of inciting religious tensions Okara, Punjab Province, by threatening to desecrate the Quran, said attorney Javed Sahotra.

Maria emphasized the need in Pakistan for ensuring fair trials in blasphemy cases, including objective assessment of evidence and scrutinizing intent behind alleged blasphemous acts.

Zimran Asims case is a fitting example of how innocent people are implicated in false cases by individuals as well as the police, she said. This poor man was forced to suffer in prison, away from his family for over one year. They also lost their home and cant even think of going back to their village.

The situation has deteriorated to the extent that police officials are now involved in extrajudicial murders of blasphemy accused, she said.

The government needs to act now to stop this trend of false accusations and to restore the writ of the law.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Oct. 17 observed that Pakistani authorities have failed to curb a range of human rights violations, including a sharp increase in blasphemy-related violence. Expressing serious concern over frequent attacks against religious minorities, including accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, lynchings, mob violence, forced conversions, and desecration of places of worship, the committee stated that Pakistani society has become increasingly intolerant of religious diversity.

Religious minorities are facing a constant threat of persecution and discrimination amid the rise of religious radicalism, the committee stated.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
The runup to a major election can be a hectic time for election officials, whose tasks include training poll workers, testing tabulators, processing absentee ballots and providing voter information.

This year, in the final days before South Dakotans head to the polls Nov. 5, the stress level is higher than usual.

Things are more contentious, said Pennington County Auditor Cindy Mohler, who supervises elections in the states second-largest county in Rapid City. I feel like at every turn we don't know what's going to be thrown at us, and so you're a little apprehensive to let your guard down.

Recent trends in South Dakota election law have broadened access for poll watchers and observers  who are allowed to monitor voting and counting activity  without increasing protections for poll workers and election officials, raising concerns about potential harassment, intimidation or interference.

Nationally, the U.S. Department of Justices Election Threats Task Force has arrested and prosecuted about 20 individuals for threatening election workers since its inception in 2021, a small fraction of cases reported by local officials.

There are several reasons for election angst in South Dakota, starting with the political climate. The state has seen a rise in electoral activism sparked by unfounded claims of voting irregularities in the last presidential election, predominantly from populist Republicans lamenting Donald Trump's 2020 defeat.

Seeds of doubt from Trump and his followers spawned activist organizations such as South Dakota Canvassing Group, whose founders were inspired by My Pillow founder and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindells 2021 Cyber Symposium in Sioux Falls.

The grassroots appeal of these efforts had enough sway in South Dakota to motivate state legislators to pass election security measures such as mandatory post-election audits and the banning of unmonitored drop boxes.

"There's a lot to celebrate in South Dakota," said Rick Weible, a computer analyst and Canvassing Group adviser who is among the state's most influential electoral activists. "Transparency is the inoculation to all conspiracy theories, and having more public and bipartisan oversight of elections is always a good thing."

Poll shows confidence in local elections

Though national rhetoric about election integrity has impacted South Dakota politically, it has not eroded confidence in the accuracy of local elections, according to a poll of 500 registered voters co-sponsored by News Watch.

The statewide survey, also sponsored by the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota, was conducted Oct. 12-16 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy.

It showed that 71% of respondents were very confident that votes will be counted accurately in the 2024 election in South Dakota, while 23% said they were somewhat confident, for a total of 94%.

Weible, who testifies frequently in Pierre and has guest-hosted Lindell's podcast, called the results encouraging but stressed the need for more testing and transparency of vote tabulation systems in the public realm.

"We should be looking for continuous improvement, and we need county auditors and state election officials to be open to that," he said.

When the same group of registered voters were polled about the 2024 presidential election, just 41% said they were very confident that the results would be accurate, while 25% said they were somewhat confident, for a total of 66%.

Broken down by party registration, just 21% of Republicans said they were very confident that the race between Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris will be counted accurately, compared to 75% of Democrats.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a division of U.S. Department of Homeland Security that oversees election security, told News Watch that the poll results did not surprise her.

There is an unfortunate issue around confidence in national elections because of the fire hose of disinformation that Americans have been subjected to over the last four years, said Easterly, an Army veteran who also served in the National Security Agency. This disinformation has been amplified by foreign adversaries. When they see that Americans lack confidence in the integrity of our most important democratic institution, our elections, thats exactly what they want.

'Human error' causes voter roll issues

The reputability of South Dakota voter rolls has been undermined at times by instances of miscommunication and human error involving the South Dakota Secretary of State's office and the Department of Public Safety in Pierre.

In January, DPS confirmed to News Watch that more than 10,000 registrations weren't properly transferred to voter rolls due to a computer coding error dating back to 2022. Voters affected received a letter informing them that the problem was fixed and their ability to cast a ballot in an election "was not impacted by this error.

More recently, the Secretary of State's office announced the removal of 273 noncitizens from voter rolls on Oct. 7, the result of "human error by DPS employees where the citizenship status was incorrectly marked," according to Division of Elections Director Rachel Soulek.

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota accused the state of violating the National Voting Rights Act, which prohibits mass voter roll purges within 90 days of an election, known as the "quiet period."

A similar controversy occurred in Virginia, where 1,600 noncitizens were removed from the voter rolls due to a systematic review ordered by the states Republican governor that fell within the 90-day period before the election.

A federal judge on Oct. 25 ordered that the voters be restored to the Virginia rolls, a decision that was reversed by the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 30, six days before the election.

Tom Deadrick, South Dakota's deputy secretary of state, said the state's purge of noncitizen voters was legal because it came as a result of the DPS being made aware of a noncitizen being inadvertently registered, which led to a review of voter registration records through driver licensing applications.

"Our careful approach underscores our commitment to maintaining the integrity of the voter rolls while ensuring that eligible citizens are not inadvertently removed," Deadrick wrote in a letter to the ACLU. "Each step taken in this process reflects our dedication to conducting individualized assessments rather than relying on systematic removals."

Contacted for this story by News Watch, Secretary of State Monae Johnson requested that questions be sent via email, which she received on Oct. 25 and said she would "get back to you as soon as I can." As of publication on Oct. 31, no responses had been received.

Minnehaha County auditor stirs controversy

Some of the most brazen challenges to the status quo of South Dakota election systems have come from the states largest county, Minnehaha.

Republican Leah Anderson, the county auditor elected in 2022, has spoken at South Dakota Canvassing events and embraced some of the groups core initiatives while raising doubts about the accuracy of past election results.

Anderson directed that Minnehaha County conduct a full post-election audit of more than 13,000 ballots from the June 25 primary by hand count, despite state law only requiring 5% percent of precincts be audited.

The process took about 11 hours, more than double what Anderson had estimated. Most races were within a single vote difference between the tabulation count and hand recount.

In the aftermath of that primary, Anderson appeared in a video with Canvassing Group president Jessica Pollema and third-place District 11 House finisher John Kunnari, in which Pollema said they had proof that 132 ballots had been cast fraudulently due to shared addresses from Sioux Falls post office boxes.

The South Dakota Supreme Court in August denied a request to invalidate the votes, siding with the Secretary of State's office and Minnehaha County State's Attorney Daniel Haggar that the challenge fell outside of the state law governing election disputes.

Anderson also said in a press release and on Lindell's podcast that roughly 24,500 ballots were potentially unaccounted for from the 2020 election in Minnehaha County. She later conceded that the number was closer to 283 and that she was "comfortable with the number of ballots cast" based on boxes of records she found.

At a June 10 public meeting, Minnehaha County Commissioner Joe Kippley, a Republican, cited the importance of the upcoming 2024 election and criticized Anderson for providing useful idiocy for election conspiracy grifters" with her claims, which included open questions about CIA involvement.

You are the auditor who cried wolf, so you have no credibility, and I, as one commissioner, would ask you to resign, Kippley said at the meeting, to which Anderson responded that she had no intention of stepping down.

Debate over wearing political apparel to polls

For the Nov. 5 election, Anderson has amended Minnehaha County regulations to allow political campaign apparel to be worn to the polls, a position that runs counter to South Dakota Secretary of State election policy.

Supporters of the move point to a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the court struck down a Minnesota law that prohibited voters from wearing politically themed apparel such as T-shirts, buttons or hats to the polls. The case stemmed from 2010, when a man was temporarily prevented from voting because he was wearing a T-shirt with a Tea Party logo and a "Please I.D. Me" button.

The court's 7-2 ruling stated that Minnesota's law violated the First Amendment because it was overly broad, recommending that the state put forth a more discernible approach to what is forbidden and what is not.

The Minnesota Secretary of State's policy, based on the new law, is more detailed in disallowing campaign T-shirts, buttons or literature which relate to specific candidates, official political parties, or ballot questions on the ballot that day.

Asked by News Watch if Minnehaha Countys policy will allow political apparel connected to 2024 candidates or ballot measures, Anderson deferred to Haggar, the state's attorney, who indicated that such items would be allowed under the revised rules.

"As long as individuals are not actively campaigning or actively attempting to solicit votes for or against a candidate or ballot measure, our priority is to protect every registered voters right to vote," Haggar told News Watch via email. "Any person who is actively campaigning or disrupting the polling place will be asked to cease or to leave.

Minnehaha County's directive runs counter to state election officials' interpretation of South Dakota Codified Law 12-18-3, which prohibits a person from displaying "campaign posters, signs, or other campaign materials" at a polling place or within 100 feet of the entrance to the site.

In an email to county auditors addressing Minnehaha County's decision, Christine Lehrkamp, deputy elections director, said that this office has advised for many, many years that there may be no campaign material within 100 feet of any entrance to a polling location and also no voter may wear campaign material into the polling location. The Secretary of States office will continue to follow state law and continue to advise you all to follow state law unless we have a court opinion specific to South Dakota that our law is unconstitutional.

Asked by News Watch about the conflict, Kippley said that reasonable people could disagree on whether wearing political apparel to a polling site violates the law.

"Regardless, we should be doing what we can to lower the temperature of civil discourse while also respecting the First Amendment," he said. "I wouldnt want people to think that non-enforcement of apparel restrictions gives complete license to actively campaign in a polling place or worse yet lead to physical confrontations while trying to vote. This is a topic that needs tactful messaging that (Anderson) is unlikely to be capable of."

SD law expands access for poll watchers

Several of South Dakotas election-based legislative efforts have been in response to calls for more citizen oversight and observation of the vote counting process.

One of those measures was House Bill 1182, passed in 2024 to mandate that polling places be arranged "in such a manner that permits each poll watcher and observer to be positioned in a location where (they) may plainly see and hear what is done within the polling place."

State guidelines allow for at least one poll watcher for each political party or independent candidate, and at least one for each slate of presidential electors and any ballot measure to be voted on.

In addition, the new law ensures access for citizen observers who do not fit any of the poll watcher categories, provided that they don't interfere with the duties of election officials.

Violations of the law, which could be transgressions by poll watchers/observers or election workers, are a Class 2 misdemeanor.

The Brennan Center of Justice, a progressive public policy institute focused on democracy and voting rights issues, included HB 1182 in its roundup of 2024 legislation that impose criminal or civil penalties on election workers for routine election administration or inadvertent errors.

Another bill, proposed by the South Dakota Secretary of States office, would have made it a Class 1 misdemeanor for someone to directly or indirectly intimidate or threaten a poll worker with the intent to improperly influence an election.

That bill passed the Senate but was rejected in the House, despite several county auditors stating that its difficult to find people to serve as poll workers in the current political environment.

"We need to remember that election officials across the country are not faceless bureaucrats," said Easterling, the CISA director. "They're our friends, they're our neighbors, they're our family members. We see them in our community. They're not doing this for pay or for glory. They're doing this because they believe in our democracy, and they deserve to be safe."

In Pennington County, Mohler has told election workers to call her immediately if someone disregards the rules or disrupts the process and to call 911 if the situation becomes threatening or dangerous.

It's all part of the current era in election administration, where routine stress levels have been ramped up and become more of an around-the-clock sensation.

Our best Rapid City staff photos and video of October 2024 Scenes from the Wednesday, Oct. 2 Freshman Impact simulated drunk driving car crash. Rapid City Stevens eighth grader Ella Potvin, left, and junior Sylvie Mortimer high five during their doubles match against St. Thomas More, h Scenes from Wednesday Oct. 2 Freshman Impact simulated drunk driving car crash. Rapid City Central junior running back Brayden Jackson (24) fights past defenders for a chunk of yardage during the first half of the Friday,  BHSU redshirt senior Doodle Quinones (26) celebrates after recovering a muffed punt during the fourth quarter of the 139th Black Hills Brawl b Philip senior quarterback Talan Haynes (12) prepares to chuck the football deep during the first half of a Friday, Oct. 4 contest between the  President Gerald Ford, with golden retriever Liberty, dons a Walk for Warmth scarf on Saturday, Oct. 19 in downtown Rapid City. Youngsters wait for manna from Heaven - candy - to be thrown from the Wine Cellar deck during Downtown Trick or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 26 in  Trivia Afraid of Lightning-Craddock said she is fighting to ensure justice for her son, Reuben Randle, who was injured in an attack on Sept. 26. Tracii Horned Eagle and chihuahua Nina came from Pierre for the annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat. Left to right: Barb Schuch, Michele Freed, Kimmy Hayes, Dianne Ellwein, Caran Smith, Apryl Ghents, Lisa Ficek, Ruth Patterson, Stephanie Schon Scenes from the 2024 Black Hills Powwow/He Sapa Wacipi in Rapid City. An oil slick shows the path a Dodge Charger took before hitting a Rapid City building on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The driver was arrested for impai Rapid City Christian junior Joaquin Petrik (5) attempts to block a kick from Belle Fourche freshman defender Brahnson Brink (2) during the fir The aurora borealis is visible behind a trestle bridge across the Cheyenne River in Wasta on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Pennington County Search and Rescue's Jeremy Stauffacher climbs Old Baldy Mountain in Keystone during a rescue on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Sturgis senior Ty Petrocco charges ahead during the boys' side of the Best of the West Cross Country Meet, held on Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Ha Philip junior running back Tyce Gropper (2) collects a pass during the first half of the Friday, Oct. 4 matchup between the Scotties and Hill  Louie the Lightning Bug leads the way at the start of the 13th annual Walk for Warmth on Saturday, Oct. 19 in downtown Rapid City. With sunny  Scenes from NDN Collective's second annual Indigenous People's Day Celebration at Main Street Square in Rapid City. Spearfish junior Adelyn Bouman (3) throws down the hammer past St. Thomas More senior Alexa Scherr during Tuesday's contest between the Sparta Spearfish junior goalkeeper Ryder Allbright stops a Rapid City Stevens shot on goal during a matchup between the Spartans and Raiders, held th Scenes from the 2024 Black Hills Powwow/He Sapa Wacipi in Rapid City. Joe Guttierez of Pennington County Juvenile Services poses with his white BHSU helmet, a memento of his time as a Yellow Jacket. Throngs of people came out for candy and fun (and great weather) at Downtown Trick or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 26 in Rapid City. A strip of blue sky is visible on the horizon looking out from Custer Peak on Sunday, Oct. 27. Bennett County eighth grader Peyson O'Neill goes up for a kill during the Lakota Nation Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Summit Arena at Th St. Thomas More freshman outside hitter Lauren Poeppel (12) and Philip sophomore Kale Peterson (10) battle at the net during the first set of  Scenes from the 2024 Black Hills Powwow/He Sapa Wacipi in Rapid City. South Dakota Mines fifth-year quarterback Jake Martinelli (12) fires a pass down the field during the first half of the 139th Black Hills Braw Scenes from the 2024 Black Hills Powwow/He Sapa Wacipi in Rapid City. Scenes from NDN Collective's second annual Indigenous People's Day Celebration at Main Street Square in Rapid City. Douglas sophomore Wyatt Balliew makes one final push toward the finish line during the boys' side of the Best of the West Cross Country Meet,  The Oyate Health Center Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 26 featured Beetlejuice, Care Bears and candy. Philip junior Jack Peterson barrels down the straightaway during the boys' side of the SDHSAA Class B State Cross Country Meet, held on Saturd Rapid City Rush captain Ryan Wagner (13) smashes Utah's Cole Gallant (25) against the boards during an ECHL contest between the Rush and Grizz The aurora borealis is visible behind a trestle bridge across the Cheyenne River in Wasta on Thursday, Oct. 10. The aurora borealis is visible behind a trestle bridge across the Cheyenne River in Wasta on Thursday, Oct. 10. Scenes from Saturday afternoons Grand Entry at the 2024 He Sapa Wacipi/Black Hills Powwow A local climber tackles a route at Wrinkled Rock near Keystone. Scenes from NDN Collective's second annual Indigenous People's Day Celebration at Main Street Square in Rapid City. The aurora borealis is visible in Wasta on Thursday, Oct. 10. Bennett County freshman Reagan O'Neill goes airborne before hammering down a kill during the Lakota Nation Invitational, held on Saturday, Oct Rapid City Christian senior quarterback Simon Kieffer dials up wideout Justus Beautiful Bald Eagle for the Comets' opening touchdown, which to Spearfish's Peyton VanDeest keeps churning down the trail during the girls' side of the SDHSAA Class AA State Cross Country Meet. Hill City junior Tate Grabow, center right, keeps ahead of Dakota Valley's Jack Brown, center, and Custer senior Sean Shipp, center left, duri A local climber tackles a route at Wrinkled Rock near Keystone. Jeremy Stauffacher and Phillip Clemen with Pennington County Search and Rescue double-check routes during a rescue at Old Baldy Mountain on Mo The Rapid City Christian football team sings "happy birthday" to sophomore Sully Kieffer following last Friday's game between the Comets and C

"It used to be that we had a little bit of downtime between the primary and general elections where you felt like you could breathe a little bit," Mohler said. "I don't feel that way anymore.
Cancun police shoot suspect during arrest after attacking officer

Cancun, Q.R.  Two men are under investigation for armed robbery and one, the attempted murder of a city police officer. Eliseo N and Lazaro N, are both being investigated for robbing 11 passengers on a public transport unit in Cancun Friday.

Lazaro N is being investigated separetly for the attempted murder of a female police officer as well as damages and resisting arrest. The charges stem from an incident that happened Friday afternoon in Cancun.

Cancun police say Lazaro N boarded the public transport unit at the intersection of Tulum and Lopez Portillo Avenues and later asked the bus to stop at Arco de Piedra along the highway where Eliseo N was waiting.

Once on board, Eliseo N threatened the driver with a firearm while Lazaro N robbed the passengers. After the robbery, the pair ordered the driver to let them off where they had a motorcycle waiting.

They were seen fleeing on the bike toward Cancun. After being made aware of the robbery through 9-1-1 by passengers, police followed their trail on city surveillance cameras.

Upon establishing their location at the intersection of Nichupte and Lopez Portillo Avenues in the El Pedregal neighborhood, municipal police officers stopped them, however, in an attempt to evade the officers, Lazaro N grabbed a female police officer by the neck and threatened to kill her.

In this situation, the other police officer shot him, resulting in gunshot wounds to the right femur and left ankle. He was taken to hospital where he remains in custody, while Eliseo N was taken into custody. During the arrest police seized two gun, six cell phones and the motorcycle.

The female police officer was also hospitalized and is reported as stable.
Thousands turn out in Cancun and Riviera Maya for first official night of Dia de Muertos

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Thousands turned out in their respective municipalities on the first official night of Dia de Muertos. The Day of the Day festivities are celebrated across Mexico November 1 and 2, however, public festivities start October 31 and run until November 3.

Catrinas arrive by boat in Cancun on the night of November 1, 2024.

In Cancun, thousands arrived to watch the procession of catrinas at the pier on 45th Street after a nautical procession in waters off Puerto Juarez. Surrounded by catrinas and catrines (male and female) that landed at the dock on 45th Street in Puerto Juarez, Janal Pixan (the Mayan Dia de Muertos) officially started Friday night.

Governor Mara Lezama participated in what she said was the fourth festival in Cancun. While it is true that Janal Pixan is a treasure of our cultural heritage that we want to preserve, it is also true that we want to recapture the importance of venerating those who live in our hearts, in the memories that give meaning to our lives, and we will never forget.

Dia de Muertos in Cancun November 1, 2024.

During this years Janal Pixan, officials are anticipating 70,000 people over the four days. On October 31, 17,000 Cancun residents took in the 32 Janal Pixan alters, 200 artists, 120 merchants, 70 artisans and 50 food stands. There are participants from neighboring states such as Yucatan, Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca and Veracruz.

Hanal Pixan in Tulum November 1, 2024.

In Playa del Carmen, more than 5,000 gathered at Plaza 28 de Julio in the citys center where the lighting of the great Janal Pixan alter took place on the first night. In Playa del Carmen, people also celebrated Pixanoob Saacil ool (Deceased, beings of light).

A Catrina is set up inside a public cemetery in Cancun for Dia de Muertos 2024.

Mayor Estefania Mercado said the artistic and cultural activities will take place from October 31 to November 3 in different venues, where the objective is to honor those who went before us on the path and, at the same time, strengthen the identity of the people and the traditions of Mexico and Solidaridad.

Hanal Pixan (Day of the Dead) alter in Isla Mujeres November 1, 2024.

During this time, we gather around altars filled with colors, aromas and offerings where every detail symbolizes our connection with the past and our hope for the future.

Hanal Pixan in central Playa del Carmen November 1 , 2024.

This is the moment when we feel part of them, our loved ones return to share with us to savor what we prepare for them and to feel the love that never fades, said Estefania Mercado.

Dia de Muertos in Cancun November 1, 2024.

The Mayor made a commitment to rescue and promote traditions, because we know that our identity is what makes us strong. We want this celebration not only to be for those who visit us, but for our families, our children, our grandmothers and grandfathers and every person who day after day builds this municipality with their effort and dedication to live and enjoy it.

Elaborately dressed Catrinas are part of the festivities November 1, 2024.

In Playa del Carmen, 23 altars were set up in the Plaza 28 de Julio, recreating the festivity in states such as Baja California, Tabasco, Coahuila, Sinaloa, Zacatecas, Durango, Guerrero, Michoacan, Hidalgo, Puebla, Tamaulipas, Oaxaca and Campeche.
Trajectory has Cancun and Riviera Maya in path of new Atlantic disturbance

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  A new disturbance brewing in the southern Caribbean could soak the region in coming days. As the Atlantic enters its last month of the 2024 hurricane season, three disturbances have popped up.

One of them quickly developed into Tropical Storm Patty Friday, a storm that will not affect Mexico. However, the larger of the current disturbances continues to become organized and has an 80 percent change of further development.

According to the National Hurricane Centre, Disturbance 1 will likely develop into a tropical storm early next week. With wind shear, dry air and cooling Gulf waters, it is unlikely that the disturbance will enter the Gulf and affect the U.S.

However, a current trajectory has it heading toward the coast of Quintana Roo. From the Southwestern Caribbean Sea, the National Hurricane Centre reports disorganized showers and thunderstorms associated with a broad area of low pressure.

Gradual development of this system is expected, and a tropical depression is likely to form within the next few days while the system moves generally northward to northwestward over the central and western Caribbean Sea.

Regardless of development, locally heavy rains are possible over portions of the adjacent land areas of the western Caribbean, including Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Cuba. Interests in the western Caribbean Sea should monitor the progress of this system.

According to The Weather Channel, the last month of hurricane season generates a storm every one to two years, on average. In the past 10 years, the Atlantic seasons last storm fizzled as late as December 7.
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Four years ago, as pundits and politicians predicted the end of the city, an unlikely symbol of resilience emerged: a hastily built wooden platform, in the curb lane outside a restaurant, where people could eat and drink without fear of infection.

The message seemed to be: Not only are we alive and not moving to the suburbswere having a blast.

Outdoor dining was one of the true silver linings of the pandemic, said Lincoln Restler, a New York City Council member who represents north Brooklyn. On a dime, we reimagined large swaths of our streetscape, kept restaurants and bars afloat, protected and preserved the hospitality industry while making New York City so much more dynamic.

Four years later, however, New Yorks streetery scene is one of many that has been greatly diminished. Just under 3,000 restaurants have applied for sidewalk or curbside dining permits under the new, permanent program, down from more than 13,000 participants at the peak. Under the citys new seasonal rules, by the end of the month, New York will have no streeteries for the first time since 2020. There were more than 8,000 of them in the curb lane at the programs peak. The real estate will be returned to parked cars.

New York City isnt alone. Boston counted 135 restaurants with outdoor seating in public space this summer, down from more than 400 in 2021. Philadelphia had more than 750 outdoor dining licenses in 2022; by August, the city was down to 26 streeteries.

What once looked like a generational change to public space in the American city has instead returned to a bunch of curb parking. What went wrong?

Some of this decline was to be expected. After all, indoor dining was not permitted in many states for much of 2020 and was subject to restrictions for months thereafter. Remember 6 feet? Remember plexiglass?

Even afterward, though, surveys showed that the public was very supportive of the programs: In Seattle, for example, 90 percent of respondents to a city survey were in favor of restaurant seating in curb parking spaces in 2022. In Toronto, diners spent $143 million in summer 2022, in parking spaces that would otherwise have generated just a few million in meter revenue. But without the pandemics trifecta of urgencykeeping people healthy, saving the restaurant industry, and letting people socializecities have found it hard to effectively revise and maintain the programs they quickly put in place in 2020.

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In New York, for example, it took more than three years for City Hall to turn then-Mayor Bill de Blasios emergency order of 2020 into a permanent program. Part of the reason for that delay was the need to get input from the alphabet soup of city departments that have control over the street. And outdoor dining did pose challenges to the citys management of trash, stormwater, snow, and repaving, to name a few.

For Restler, Mayor Eric Adams should have taken the lead on that coordination. The bureaucracy lends itself to inertia, he said. This is where you need a strong mayor who understands how government works and can push back on agencies and their resistance to change. You need adept leadership at City Hall that can push back and deliver solutions, and we didnt get that here.

New Yorks delay had consequences for outdoor dinings success in other ways too. The longer the emergency program went on, the longer folks had to complain about unresolved rat, noise, trash issuesthe litany of things you hear, noted Jackson Chabot, director of advocacy at the planning nonprofit Open Plans. Those were valid concerns, and the citys failure to more substantively address them by 2023 had supercharged a NIMBY coalition that had always been upset about the loss of parking. (Though, as Chabot was quick to point out, outdoor dining had only ever used a few thousand of the citys estimated 3 million parking spaces.)

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Those gripes were compounded by a lack of investment on the restaurant side that stemmed from the same issue. No one expected these outdoor dining setups to be there for multiple years, said Andrew Rigie, of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, a trade group. Without a new permanent program to give confidence to restaurants to invest in the future, a lot of the outdoor dining fell apart. Sometimes literally. No restaurant wanted to put thousands of dollars into upgrades only to be told the city was changing its design rules the next month.

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As a result, the once-proud dining shed had deteriorated into what New York magazine critic Justin Davidson called the decrepit streetery era. Though people still loved eating in the structures, even in the colder months, the city has ordered them to be torn down each fall and reassembled each spring. The cost of disassembly, storage, and reassembly was a major deterrent behind the huge drop in applicants for the permanent program, according to a survey of restaurants undertaken by the alliance.

Other cities moved more quickly to formalize new rules but delivered restaurants with a laundry list of new requirements. In Boston, like everywhere else, outdoor dining began as the Wild West. The instructions from City Hall were: You could draw a plan on a napkin and well say yes to it, recalled Ginger Brown, the head of a business group in the citys Jamaica Plain neighborhood.

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Over time, though, Boston tightened the requirements as controversy raged in the citys North End neighborhood, where outdoor patios were so ubiquitous it was hard to cross the street. In the end, restaurants had to adopt what Diti Kohli, in a Boston Globe investigation, called a list of ever-changing and often expensive requirements. Those included new restrictions on the height of barriers, car-proof materials, Fire Department access, and disability access, as well as onerous insurance requirements, engineer-approved plans, and city fees. As in New York, the paper found that the new regime had caused outdoor dining to retreat to the citys more prosperous neighborhoods.

It was expensive to do this, and everything we put into it the year beforelovely patios, some decorated by artistsall that investment was lost, said Brown.

Related From Slate The Gut Punch New York Is About to Give Restaurants Read More

In Philadelphia, where the curbside structures have all but vanished, an August report by the city comptroller found that the city had made the application too complex, confusing, and expensive, with unnecessary regulatory requirements.

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Generally speaking, smaller cities seemed to have fared better. In Cincinnati, the economic development corporation 3CDC spearheaded the streetery program in the citys downtown and Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods. With American Rescue Plan funding from the city, 3CDC built out a network of wooden parklets for some 85 businesses, along with street closures and other pedestrian improvements. We feel like the program has been successful, said Joe Rudemiller, the groups vice president of marketing. It has not only added vibrancy and vitality to the streets, but theres a nice aesthetic element as well.

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Something similar has happened in many small towns and suburbs, where concentrated zones of local restaurantsoften under the umbrella of business-improvement districtshave pushed to establish open streets or preserve 2020-style outdoor dining.

In many big cities, though, keeping those initiatives alive and well has been less of a priority and more of a challenge. Maybe those rules just need a few years of fine-tuning before restaurants decide to jump back into the outdoor dining game. Thats what happened in Toronto, where outdoor dining leaped back to 2022 levels this summer, after a 40 percent decline last year. We kept hearing story after story that it takes forever to get a license  an approval, to get the ramps. There was, almost every week, yet another problem, Mayor Olivia Chow said at a triumphant press conference in October. This summer, that process was streamlined, with the results on every corner.

In New York, though, a winter with no parklets feels like a setback, said Chabot, of Open Plans. Especially as climate change delivers ever-warmer winter months. We may be rebounding from rock bottom. But why do we need to hit rock bottom with a new program, when we had a decent thing going?
A tight presidential race. Concern about unrest and upheaval. Gnawing uncertainty about what the next four years will bring, and what sort of country America will become. The nervy, half-mad state of American politics is enough to drive any person to drink. The trick is to do it well, but not excessively, and to make it worthwhileideally with a well-crafted cocktail or two.

Thats especially true on election night, during the hours upon hours youll spend waiting for results that will either be a huge relief, or a huge downerif they even come in at all. Election night is a high-variance event: Something is going to happen, but you wont have much control over what that something is.

Thats where your drink comes in. Your election night tipple of choice should be something you enjoy, something special, something that gives you a small guarantee of liquid pleasure no matter what else happens.

Election-night drinking, in other words, is about hedging risk. And to do that, you need a strategy, a plan, a theory of the case. Some rock-solid cocktail recipes will help too.

I speak from experience. For the past four years, Ive been writing a Substack newsletter about making craft cocktails at home. In general, I try to avoid politics in the newsletter, since good cocktails should bring people together, and politics tends to tear them apart. But in my day job, I work as a writer and editor at Reason, a libertarian political magazine. And I got my start making serious cocktails as a way to bring friends together while mitigating frustration and exasperation with high-stakes political events. And what I can tell you is that making well-crafted, quality drinks for yourself and your friends can be a fun and even funny way to take the edge off of a rough political nightor to celebrate a good one.

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Theres some history here, too. Cocktails have long been part of Americas political discourse: As far back as the 1800s, cocktail bartenders gave drinks politically charged names, like the Moral Suasion, a response to the eras temperance advocates, and the Fiscal Agent, a jab at Americas early tax collectors. The 1900s brought drinks like the Remember the Maine, a sort of cherry-forward Manhattan that referred to a sunken U.S. battleship. Today, the tradition continues every time a bartender makes a coconut drink as a nod to Kamala Harris. Cocktails have long been part of our political discourse.

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On election night, you can take this idea and runor at least imbibewith it at home, making your drinks and serving them to friends with whatever name you want. Rebrand a French 75 as a Swing-State Sparkler or call your smoky mezcal Negroni the Firewall. Youll have cocktails. Youll have commentary. The point is youll have something pleasant no matter what the rest of the night brings.

Of course, you do need to figure out what drinks to make, and thats where the aforementioned strategy comes in.

Election night is long, so you need to pace yourself. And different drinks have different use cases, depending on how many people you plan to serve. So here are three ways to think about an election night drinking.

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For a Group

If youre responsible for making drinks for a large group of people, you will want to make a batched drink in advance. Yes, you can make a menu and whip up individual drinks all nightfrom time to time, I do this myselfbut this is a lot of work. Instead, make a punch. Specifically, make Philadelphia Fish House Punch, a bowl-sized mix of rum, brandy, peach brandy, lemon, and black tea (or water) that can easily accord a dozen or so friends.

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The recipe, which includes more than a full bottle of Jamaican rum, might sound too aggressively boozy, but its actually quite watered down, and if you serve it over large hunks of ice, it becomes more dilutedand thus lower in alcohol by volumeover the course of the evening.

Its also a classically American drink, the house concoction of a Pennsylvania fishing club that dates all the way back to the 1700s. Americas Founding Fathers drank various punches in this stylesometimes more than Id really recommendand if it was good enough for them in our nations heyday, its good enough for the rest of us now. The Pennsylvania connection suggests any number of potential names, given the states status as the likely decider of the presidential election, but if I were serving this, Id call it: Pennsylvania Exit Poll.

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Go Big

For those who do want something more potent, a single strong cocktail or two is the way to go. Here you can go with something simple and classic like an old fashioned or a martini, but I want to nudge you in the direction of something in the Manhattan family.

The Manhattan skyline is one of the nations great wonders, and the best versions of the drink are made with rye whiskey, which was the default American whiskey before Prohibition. With just three ingredients plus garnish, its an easy drink to make, and an easy drink to spruce up via any number of excellent variations, from the Little Italy to the Bushwick to the Brooklyn.

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Save this drink for later in the night, when something big happensor, as fate may have it, when nothing big happens. Either way, you can name this one after what youll likely be looking at when you have your first sip: Cable News Chyron.

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Related From Slate In Search of the Platonic Tonic Read More

Slow and Steady

What if you want to have something to sip on all night long? Well, youll probably want a drink thats considerably lower proof. There are any number of excellent cocktails that dont hit too hard, and most of them involve some combination of fortified wines like sherry and/or vermouth, which have much lower alcohol content than spirits like whiskey, gin, rum, or tequila. Sherry, in particular, can be used to swap for higher-proof spirits in some drinks, like the margarita. If youre craving something like a Manhattan but with a little less kick, just reverse the proportionsso two ounces of sweet vermouth and a single ounce of whiskey.

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But for election night, my recommendation for a low-ABV drink is actually a bubbly, effervescent, low-proof spin on the Negroni. Its an easy-to-make mix of vermouth, bitter-orange Campari, and soda waterbut unlike a typical Negroni, no gin.

Like most elections, its a little bit bitter, a little bit sweet, and slightly unexpected. And while you can call it whatever you want, this one doesnt need a name change: Its the Americano, a long drink for what promises to be a very long night.

Election night is, by nature, a night of uncertainty, of unpredictability, of unknowns and unforeseen events. But you can give yourself and your friends a little bit of certainty with a great drink and an amusing name. No matter what happens to the country, at least the cocktail will be good.
In a world of limitless options and limited resources, its a familiar bind: whether to spend your hard-earned cash on the fun thing that promises instant gratification, or the sensible one that may pay off in the future.

For 38-year-old Crystal, who is living in Los Angeles, the choice came down to taking a certification course, which would level her up in her career, versus finally finishing her sleeve of tattoos, which would make me happy now, she says.

She could only afford one, but turning over the pros and cons wasnt getting her anywhereso Crystal put it to a Facebook vote.

A Group That Makes Small Decisions For You brings together nearly 185,000 people from around the world to resolve the sorts of low-stakes questions and choices we all dither over, multiple times a dayfrom what to eat to what to watch to how to spend a few bucks. Members vote on each others quandaries from a handful of given options, and give their reasoning in the comments.

The group stands out within the increasingly desolate Facebook newsfeed, not just for the volume of its posts but also the intensity of engagement, warranting a 30-person-strong moderation team. Cindy Baker, 49, an admin based in Canada, says the group averages around 1,000 posts a week; some members post daily. In some peoples lives, I know it plays a huge role.

Most dilemmas are minor, true to the groups name, such as picking between potential outfits, professional headshots, or shades of nail polish. Others seek help with navigating social etiquette, such as how to interpret dress codes or respond to a difficult colleague. On a regular (at least monthly) basis, someone will ask the group if they should get bangsor, alternatively, grow their bangs out.

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When Crystal sought help early last year, the response was overwhelmingly in favor of taking the six-to-12-month course over getting the tattoo. I did initially want to ignore it, she admits. But the vote, and the groups given reasons, helped sway her.

Some of the advice went beyond picking A or B, Crystal says. One member pointed out that while the tattoo might get less exciting, the course would continue paying off.

Another suggested that Crystal ask her employer to help with the cost.

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Crystal set aside her strong bias towards instant gratification and signed up for the course.

It was absolutely the right choice, she says. Not only did her employer agree to contribute, Crystal got her certification, got a raise, and used the extra money to finish her sleeve.

Having a neutral outsiders perspective helped a lot, Crystal says. Shes also used the group to choose what to order at a new restaurant, what book to read next, and what to wear. Its really nice getting input from a lot of unbiased people when my brain is feeling like mush.

The group and its constant stream of posts reflect not only the endless options we all must navigate daily, but the fatigue many people feel at doing so alone. The American adult is estimated to make an average of 35,000 decisions every day; in 2007, researchers at Cornell University found more than 221 pertaining just to food.

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Not all of these decisions are significant or consequential, or even made consciouslybut an emerging body of science supports the suggestion, widely known as decision fatigue, that the more we make, the harder we find it to control our behavior or even know our own minds.

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In 2004, psychologist Barry Schwartz published The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, arguing that the explosion in consumer choice had made it harder to make satisfying decisions of any kind. That bind has only been exacerbated by the rise of e-commerce and digital services, Schwartz says, prompting him to begin work on a substantial revision of his book: The problem as I described it 20 years ago is a tiny fraction of the problem that we face now.

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Not only do we have many more options available nowof products to buy, food to eat, content to watchthey are spread across different platforms, adding another layer to the process. With so much possibility at our fingertips, making a straightforward decisionto order food delivery, or relax in front of a filmimmediately presents more. Pizza or Thai? Uber Eats or DoorDash? Disney+ or AppleTV?

Its no wonder thatafter scrolling for a whilemany of us simply give up.

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Were all indoctrinated into thinking that theres nothing more important than autonomy, but its a very mixed blessing, says Schwartz. Sometimes the relief of doing what youre told is quite substantial.

A Group That Makes Small Decisions For You recognizes both the predicament of an abundance of choice and the desire for guidance. It was created in 2019 by a group of friends whod met through another Facebook group, Give Me Your Money, which facilitates peer-to-peer mutual aid (usually of small amounts).

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Helping people with their small decisions seemed similarly civic-minded, says Baker: It just seemed like there was a need that wasnt being met. She, too, has benefited from the online hivemind.

Among the 70-odd total decisions Baker has taken to the group are whether to repair her broken fridge or buy a new one (the group said the latter, she did the former); go for a swim or get stuck into her workday (the vote said swim, and she did); and which of two toys to buy, a Peealot versus a Poopalot. (She got the Poopalot.)

Baker is an artist and a professor, and in much of her life, I have to be really self-motivated, she says. It feels like if I can have help with the small decisions, then the big decisions are a little bit easier.

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The group offers clear direction and an impartial judgment, reached at scale. It attracts the overthinkers, says Hayley Bennett, a 37-year-old admin based in Perth, Australia, who is neurodivergent. Everywhere wants your money, and theres more and more options coming out all the timeyou really do need help sometimes.

The rise in people living alone, or without close relationships, also means more are missing a casual sounding board, Bennett suggests. Its not just being single; a lot more people are isolated in general now.

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She recalls one member, who has since died, who would regularly poll the group about which Band-Aid should cover their cannula tube. They didnt have a lot of contact with other people, and they just got to have this fun little thing. Everyone got in on it.

Jasper, 28, from upstate New York, has sought help from the group for everything from picking a Halloween-themed display name on Discord to a particular flavor of prescription cat food. (Jaz-o-lantern and duck, respectively, won out.)

He appreciates it as a source of connection as much as advice, going out of his way to vote on others dilemmas and perhaps make a difference to someones life, Jasper says. Whether its advising someone on a phone upgrade or a gift for a friend, the little things do change trajectoriesits cool to be part of the butterfly effect.

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The discussion also opens him up to other perspectives, Jasper says. After sharing a meme he made, for instance, he received feedback that it could be seen as sexist: I didnt think of it that way at all.

Just the act of posting can itself be clarifying. Sometimes people picking the thing that I think I want can make me go, OK, noit makes me more decisive, says 26-year-old Rylie Lynn, another admin, who is based in South Carolina and has ADHD. She posts less to the group now than she used to, reflecting steps shes taken to reduce her number of daily decisions overall. For instance, having found a particular work shirt at Target, Lynn now owns literally 40 of them in different sleeve-lengths and colors.

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Though the group exists to help people narrow their choices, it can end up expanding them. Lynn had recently been looking to buy a planner, and landed on a handful of possible purchases. But before she could put them to a vote, someone else posted with the same dilemmabut a different array of planners. Now Im looking at planners again, like, You know, this one does really sound good,  she says.

For Schwartz, A Group That Makes Small Decisions For You perfectly illustrates the worsening paradox of choice, and the difficulty of responding to it. On the one hand, he says, it tallies with his original advice to seek informed opinions and decide when to decide, so as to preserve your own time and resources.

Related From Slate Mark Zuckerberg Is Cozying Up to the Right. The Reason Why Is Gross. Read More

But Schwartz says that the group may indirectly be compounding the issue of decision fatigue by giving weight to minor matters, and stoking anxiety about the wrong choice.

After all, you cant ever know for sure that youve got the best possible pair of jeans or the perfect planner. I think the most important thing is to convince yourself that good enough is good enough, says Schwartz.

Admins will step in when someone seems to be becoming overly reliant on the group and posting too frequently. They also work hard to maintain the stated boundary of small and medium decisions only against a tide of members soliciting input on house purchases, career changes, and even relationships. While major financial decisions are left to mods discretion, polls on whether to adopt a pet or what to name a baby are no longer allowed.

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But even minor dilemmas can generate heated debate. Youd be surprised how many people want help with their hygiene, Baker says. Washcloths are particularly controversial: People get really riled up, like, Washcloths are harbingers of bacteria, and If you dont use a washcloth, youre dirty. 

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Its exactly the kind of low-stakes debate that keeps social media turningbut the more decisions you register, the more fatigued you feel, says Schwartz. Is it a decision to brush your teeth in the morning when you get up? To put on your two socks, then your two shoes?

In fact, what registers as a decision is very much culture-dependent, says Schwartz, reflecting not only the number of options available but individual freedom to choose. In rich, Western societies that drive us to believe that more options are better, and theres always one thats best, its down to us to impose limits.

Older people tend to suffer less from decision fatigue, Schwartz adds, having learned over time to settle for good enough. It takes discipline to resist the bounty on offer and relax our ridiculously high standards. But once you do, he says, youll discover that there are two more hours in the day.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/armed-supporters-of-former-bolivian-president-morales-seize-3-military-units-1120751524.html

Armed Supporters of Former Bolivian President Morales Seize 3 Military Units

Armed Supporters of Former Bolivian President Morales Seize 3 Military Units

Sputnik International

Armed supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales have seized three military units in the Cochabamba Department, President Luis Arce said.

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"We inform the Bolivian people and the international community that armed groups linked to Evo Morales have seized three military units in the tropical part of Cochabamba, taking military personnel and their families hostage, threatening their lives," the president wrote on Telegram. In addition, the protesters seized the military's weapons, which is a crime, Arce said. Law enforcement officers, backed by the military, began a large-scale operation to unblock roads in Bolivia occupied by Morales supporters early Friday morning. The road blockade, which has been going on for 19 days, has cost Bolivia $1.7 billion. At least 70 people, including nine civilians and 61 police officers, have been injured during the entire road blockade and clashes between protesters and police. According to President Luis Arce, the road blockade has disrupted the work of small and large businesses, and has damaged the tourism sector and the country's prestige. The protesters are unhappy with rising food prices and fuel shortages in the country. In addition, they want to stop the investigation against Morales, who is suspected of human trafficking and the corruption of a minor. Bolivia will hold presidential elections in 2025. Arce and Morales want to run for president. Both represent the country's largest left-wing Movement for Socialism. Within it, there are groups that support Morales, and there are organizations that support the current president. Morales, whose supporters have been blocking major roads in the country and clashing with police for 19 days, has declared a hunger strike and called for dialogue. After seven hours of clashes with protesters, police have unblocked one of the difficult sections of the road connecting Cochabamba with western Bolivia, El Deber newspaper reported.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/questions-remain-over-role-of-military-after-bolivia-coup-attempt-1119160771.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/fire-at-uks-bae-systems-facility-damages-16bln-nuclear-submarine---reports-1120754737.html

Fire at UK's BAE Systems Facility Damages $1.6Bln Nuclear Submarine - Reports

Fire at UK's BAE Systems Facility Damages $1.6Bln Nuclear Submarine - Reports

Sputnik International

The UK nuclear submarine HMS Agincourt worth 1.3 bln pounds has been badly damaged in a that fire broke out at the site of the largest UK defense contractor BAE Systems on October 31, The Sun reported.

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The fire that broke out at the dock of the northwestern English port town of Barrow-in-Furness was caused by a sand-blaster explosion that ignited foam-like polymer paneling tiles of the submarine, the report said. The fire sparked fears of potential Russian sabotage, but multiple official sources have since then confirmed that the situation was purely an industrial accident, The Sun reported. The police in the UK county of Cumbria said on Wednesday that two people had been taken to hospital for suspected smoke inhalation. The fire was put out only after 12 hours. Residents of Barrow-in-Furness were instructed to close windows and doors to avoid toxic smoke.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/kiev-loses-over-250-soldiers-in-kursk-region-in-past-day-russian-defense-ministry-1120755352.html

Ukraine Loses Over 250 Soldiers in Kursk Region in Past Day - Russian Defense Ministry

Ukraine Loses Over 250 Soldiers in Kursk Region in Past Day - Russian Defense Ministry

Sputnik International

The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 250 soldiers in the western Russian region of Kursk over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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"Over the past day, the Ukrainian armed forces lost over 250 servicepeople, an armored vehicle, an artillery piece, a mortar and three vehicles. Seven soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces surrendered," the ministry said in a statement.In total, Ukraine has lost more than 29,100 servicepeople and 180 tanks during the Kursk offensive, the ministry added.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/russia-expresses-condolences-to-spanish-people-over-deadly-floods-in-valencia-1120755227.html

Russia Expresses Condolences to Spanish People Over Deadly Floods in Valencia

Russia Expresses Condolences to Spanish People Over Deadly Floods in Valencia

Sputnik International

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed condolences on Saturday to the Spanish people following deadly flash flooding that hit the Spanish autonomous community of Valencia this week.

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"In connection with the natural disaster that claimed numerous lives in Spain, we express our sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the relatives of those killed and injured, as well as to the entire people of Spain," the ministry said in a statement. King Charles III of the United Kingdom sent his condolences to King Felipe VI and the people of Spain, in a message posted online by the royal family. The British monarch said he and his wife, Camilla, were "utterly heartbroken" to learn of the destruction caused by what has been described as some of the worst flood-related disaster in Europe's modern history. Death Toll From Heavy Rains, Flooding in Spain Rises to 207The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Spain has risen to 207 people and will continue to increase, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Saturday.At the same time, about 500 people could have died in Spain as a result of flooding, the Espanol newspaper reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the matter.There are still many places where the emergency services have not yet conducted searches, such as flooded car parks, the newspaper reported.On Friday, the death toll in Valencia rose to 202, the regional authorities said. Madrid deployed an additional 250 military personnel to assist those affected by the flooding, thus raising the number of soldiers helping in wreckage removal to 2,000, the Spanish Defense Ministry said.The Pais newspaper reported on Saturday that the Spanish armed forces would deploy another 1,000 military personnel to Valencia. A total of 3,000 soldiers will be deployed to the crisis zone to help the population, clear the rubble, distribute humanitarian aid, and pump water from flooded areas.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/russian-troops-free-kurakhovka-in-donbas--defense-ministry-1120755803.html

Russian Troops Free Kurakhovka in Donbas  Defense Ministry

Russian Troops Free Kurakhovka in Donbas  Defense Ministry

Sputnik International

Russian troops freed the settlements of Kurakhovka, in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, and Pershotravnevoye in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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The Ukrainian forces lost up to 2,045 troops in battles with the Russian forces over the past day, including up to 800 in the area of responsibility of Russias Yug battlegroup. The group improved its tactical position after repelling a counterattack by a Ukrainian air mobile brigade.Battlegroup Tsentr of the Russian forces repelled five counterattacks by Ukrainian troops, with Ukraine losing up to 535 military personnel. Ukrainian forces also lost a Grad multiple rocket launcher and an armored personnel carrier, among other pieces of military hardware

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/kiev-loses-over-250-soldiers-in-kursk-region-in-past-day-russian-defense-ministry-1120755352.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/ukraine-sabotaging-pow-exchange-with-russia-for-political-reasons---moscow-1120754845.html

Ukraine Sabotaging POW Exchange With Russia for Political Reasons - Moscow

Ukraine Sabotaging POW Exchange With Russia for Political Reasons - Moscow

Sputnik International

Ukraine is sabotaging the exchange of prisoners of war with Russia by making a "political performance" out of it, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.

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"This [prisoner exchange] is a political process for the Kiev regime. Moreover, they consider it as a tool to promote their interests in the media," Zakharova told an online briefing. Moscow, however, has always stressed the humanitarian nature of this process and never tried to draw any political benefits from it, the spokeswoman added. The spokeswoman accused Kiev of maintaining a semblance of international efforts aimed at bringing Ukrainian prisoners of war back home in order to put pressure on Russia. Zakharova rejected as "blatant lies" claims made by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha who accused Moscow of denying international humanitarian organizations and doctors access to Ukrainian prisoners. The spokeswoman added that Moscow was not aware of any third countries offering to "take patronage" over Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. "We have read about that in Sybiha's social media, that is all," she said. Sybiha wrote on X on Friday that a certain country was ready to "become a protecting power under the Geneva Conventions" and assist "thousands of Ukrainian POWs, civilian hostages, and forcibly deported children" allegedly held in Russia. He did not specify what country that would be.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241102/wests-goal-in-ukrainian-conflict-to-weaken-russia-as-much-as-possible-russias-medvedev-1120754989.html

West's Goal in Ukrainian Conflict to Weaken Russia as Much as Possible - Russia's Medvedev

West's Goal in Ukrainian Conflict to Weaken Russia as Much as Possible - Russia's Medvedev

Sputnik International

The goal pursued by Western countries in the Ukrainian conflict is to weaken Russia to the greatest extent possible, so that it could not "raise its head," Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.

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"Its goal is simple for the Western world, for the United States, for NATO. It is to weaken Russia as much as possible, so that we could not even raise our head, so that we knew our place and understood who is in charge in its 'earthly home,'" Medvedev said in an interview to RT broadcaster. Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. President Vladimir Putin has said that the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime" for years. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that NATO member states are directly involved in the conflict not only by providing weapons to Ukraine, but also by training Ukrainian troops on their soil.

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The 174th Erin Fair was the backdrop for this years Erin Agricultural Society Horse Heritage Awards. The 2024 Horse Heritage Awards Hall of Fame included two inductees and a nod to the Standardbred horse.

The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to the McLean family and the Industry Development award went to Earl Lennox. Both recipients worked with Standardbred horses and were builders in the equine sector.

The Equine Tent was filled with family and friends attending the presentation, with special words of recognition being delivered to the McLean family by Eileen Brown, and by Brenda Lothmann to her father, Earl Lennox (pictured above).

The McLean familys extensive involvement with horses included Standardbred roadsters, commercial horses, hackneys and heavy horses, and has spanned over five generations. The family was inducted into the Canadian Road Horse Association Hall of Fame in 2014. Today, brothers Steve and Scott McLean and sister Sherri Archdekin compete at the Royal Winter Fair  as they have since 1977  and at local fairs.

The McLeans' beautifully restored 1920's antique carriage, still used for competition, was on display at the Erin Fair Equine Tent, along with photos and racing jackets.

Earl Lennox has a long and interesting history with the Standardbred horse as a breeder, race announcer and judge. His career began at the age of seven when he visited the Barrie Fair afternoon races. Lennox bought his first horse in 1964 and became a notable breeder of many successful Standardbreds. Lennox has been recognized by both the Ontario Harness Horse Association and the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society. Brian Tropea, General Manager of the Ontario Harness Horse Association, spoke about Lennox's extensive accomplishments at the October Erin Fair award ceremony.

The EAS Horses Heritage Committee also produced a limited edition 2025 calendar to support next years 175th Anniversary of the Erin Fair. Calendars are available at Sharpes in Erin. The next EAS Horse Heritage event will be the 2025 Movie Night at Erin Centre 2000 Theatre on March 26, 2025.

In 2018, the Erin Agricultural Society established the Horse Heritage Hall of Fame. Its purpose is to celebrate Erins rich equine history and to recognize leaders within Erins horse community. Since the early 1800's, horses have played a vital role in Erin, and they continue to contribute in a meaningful way to the local equine economic sector, recreation and country lifestyle. The Hall of Fame Awards is now an annual event, with winners being announced at the Erin Fair.

(Erin Agricultural Society)
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Miso Robotics' lab in downtown Pasadena, California, is filled with robots of the past and present.

There's Sippy, Chippy and Drippy. The star of the lab: an updated robot named Flippy that can fry French fries and chicken nuggets much faster than humans.

Miso Robotics has a lot riding on its ability to convince fast-food chains to incorporate Flippya robotic arm that drops fryer baskets into sizzling oilinto their kitchens. With the restaurant industry buffeted by higher costs driven in part by rising minimum wages in California and other states, Miso is one of several tech startups betting more businesses will be searching for new ways to save money, reduce employee turnover and fill more orders.

"You're never going to get rid of humans in restaurants, nor would you want to," Miso Robotics Chief Executive Rich Hull said. "What you're trying to do is automate the tasks that the humans don't enjoy doing."

Flippy can process more than 100 fry baskets an hour, notably faster than the 70 or so baskets the company estimates employees can handle during the same time period. The robot also spares workers from the risk of burns from hot oil or slips on grease.

Restaurant chains have been experimenting with robots in the kitchen for years. But, while several companies, including White Castle, Sweetgreen and Chipotle are currently testing out ways to automate food prep, circuits and software haven't yet taken over.

"We are at the very, very early stage. The return on investment has not been proven," said John Gordon, a restaurant industry analyst who founded Pacific Management Consulting Group. "There's no doubt an opportunity in some restaurants because of the  repetitive work that is done" out of view of diners.

For some businesses, early results are promising. Los Angeles-based fast-casual restaurant Sweetgreen has been testing what the company calls its "Infinite Kitchen" that uses machines to dispense and mix salad ingredients that humans then put the finishing touches on. Two locations that piloted the technology, including one in Huntington Beach, saw improvements in order accuracy and staff turnover, while average sales were 10% higher, executives said during a recent earnings call.

Miso Robotics, founded in 2016, has tested earlier versions of Flippy in roughly 20 restaurants, including White Castle, CaliBurger and Jack in the Box. White Castle, a burger chain with locations primarily in the Midwest and the region around New York City, said it expects to follow through on plans announced last year to roll out Flippy in nearly one-third of its approximately 350 restaurants.

The field of fast-food robotics is littered with companies that failed in their attempts to disrupt the restaurant industry. Last year, Silicon Valley pizza-making startup Zume shuttered after raising $450 million from SoftBank's Vision Fund and other investors.

Among other problems, the company, which was founded in 2015, reportedly had trouble getting its robots to keep melted cheese from falling off pizzas that were being baked in a moving truck en route to customers. And in 2022, food delivery company DoorDash shut down Chowboticsthe company behind a robotic salad-making vending machineroughly 18 months after it purchased the startup because it didn't live up to expectations.

Miso Robotics appears to be at a make or break point, analysts said. As of June 2024, the startup had an accumulated deficit of $122.8 million and meager cash reserves of just under $4 million. The company's negative operating cash flows have raised concerns about its ability to survive, a report filed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says.

Hull and other executives started just last year, and former CEO Michael Bell was terminated in May 2023, another filing shows.

As of March, the company has raised $126.5 million from investors and was in the process of raising additional funds, according to data from Pitchbook. Gordon and other analysts said they believe the company's immediate future rests largely on its ability to raise more cash as it tries to ramp up sales.

Hull, an early investor in Miso Robotics, is a Hollywood film producer and executive who also founded a Spanish-language streaming company, Vix Inc., which was acquired in 2021 by TelevisaUnivision. He said Miso's board and Ecolab, which invested $15 million in the company, brought him in to grow the startup much like he's done for the streaming business.

"Innovation is not easy. It's really hard. Now we have a seven-year head start on everybody else, but it's messy," Hull said. "I love messy. That's always been my thing."

The company plans to significantly ratchet up its production capabilities next year, making it able to fill whatever orders it receives, Hull said, adding that Miso is aiming to be profitable by the end of 2026.

Some labor analysts question whether automation will help workers. Brian Justie, a senior research analyst at the UCLA Labor Center, visited a restaurant that used Flippy during the summer.

"Whether or not it's faster or cheaper than a ... traditional restaurant, I think what it very clearly was, it was fewer people doing pretty much the same amount of work or more work with a limited menu," he said.

During a demonstration at Miso Robotics' lab, Hull highlighted improvements the company has made to Flippy, including making it smaller so it can fit under the exhaust hood and above the fryers in a compact kitchen. And he said the integration of artificial intelligence technology has cut down on food waste and improved durability with the machine able to fix problems with its operating system or alert a customer service representative if it's about to break down.

Miso Robotics has tested out other robots, which were meant to pour drinks at the drive-through (Sippy) or cook and season tortilla chips (Chippy), but Hull said its engineers are focused for now on the frying robot. Miso initially designed Flippy to flip burgers when the startup unveiled the robot in 2017, but the company changed course when it saw a bigger revenue opportunity with fried foods, he said.

Miso executives believe the frying technology could be a huge boon for the company, claiming in a government filing that "Flippy's automation of the fry station represents a potentially massive $3.5 billion revenue opportunity for Miso alone in a market that, importantly, still remains fragmented, underdeveloped, undercapitalized, and ripe with growth opportunities for a company with Miso's first-mover advantage."

Restaurants can buy or lease the robot, and the company makes money as well from maintenance, software upgrades and tech support. Most customers lease Flippy for $5,000 to $6,000 per month, but various factors can influence pricing, including the number of fryers in a restaurant.

Several chains, including Panera, Jack in the Box, Chipotle and Buffalo Wild Wings, have been testing Miso's technology since 2021, SEC filings show. Many of the companies declined to detail whether the robots led to cost savings, but they pointed to other benefits.

At White Castle, for example, Flippy robots have allowed employees to better focus on other aspects that improve a customer's experiences, such as order accuracy and hospitality, said Jamie Richardson, the chain's vice president of marketing and public relations.

The burger chain turned to Miso after realizing workers assigned to the drive-through and fry station had to juggle multiple responsibilities and orders. White Castle also partnered with SoundHound to test an AI voice assistant named Julia (named after a beloved White Castle host named Julia Joyce from the 1930s) to help take drive-through orders.

In June, McDonald's announced it was ending a similar pilot program with IBM amid reports the technology had struggled with people's accents.

With many variables at play, White Castle hasn't measured whether Flippy has improved employee retention, Richardson said. So far, it has gotten positive feedback about the robot from employees.

"People who come to us want hot and tasty, affordable food," he said. "If you can take the pain points out of that, if you can reduce the friction, everybody wins."

Curt Garner, chief customer and technology officer at Chipotle, said the restaurant chain tested out Miso's tortilla chip-making robot in one Orange County location from 2021 to 2023. Even though the pilot ended last year, Garner said the restaurant incorporated what it learned into other products.

Chipotle, which has a $100-million venture fund, has invested in other startups including Vebu Labs, which was founded and is run by Miso Robotics' former president and board chair, James Jordan. The partnership produced Autocado, which cuts, cores and peels avocados before workers hand-mash them to create guacamole.

It has also invested in San Jose-based Hyphen to create what the company calls an "augmented makeline" that uses automated technology to build bowls and salads while Chipotle employees make burritos, tacos, quesadillas and kids' meals.

Jot Condie, president and chief executive of the California Restaurant Assn., said the COVID-19 pandemic fueled more interest in the use of automation and technology in restaurants.

A lot of the adoption, he anticipates, will happen in fast-casual restaurants where convenience and efficiency are key, rather than in full-service restaurants where interaction with friendly servers is a more important part of the experience.

"Quick service restaurants like Chipotle that have the ability and the resources to invest and adopt technologies will sort of lead the way," he said.

2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Machinist AJ Nelson, who has worked for Boeing for six years, works the picket line Oct. 23 after union members voted to reject a contract offer from the company. The union will vote on a new offer Monday. Lindsey Wasson/AP

The union representing striking Boeing factory workers says members will vote Monday on a new contract offer from the company that provides slightly bigger wage increases than an offer that was rejected last week.

Boeings latest offer would raise wages 38% over four years, or a compounded increase of about 43%, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said.

Boeing said in a statement that the company also was offering a $12,000 contract ratification bonus, up from $7,000 offered previously. Additionally, the company said it would increase its contribution to employee 401(k) plans.

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About 33,000 IAM members have been on strike for seven weeks, shutting down production of most Boeing airline jets including the companys bestseller, the 737 Max.

Boeings employees in San Antonio are not represented by the union and not on strike, but the furloughs and other cuts announced in September affected them.

In mid-October, Boeing announced that it was planning to lay off 10% of its workforce  or about 17,000 people  in the coming months if the strike didn't end. It also said it would cut production in response to the financial crisis facing the planemaker amid the strike.

The job reductions included executives, managers and employees, CEO Kelly Ortberg said when announcing the layoffs. Further information about the layoffs, including which facilities would be affected, was not provided. Boeing ended 2023 with 171,000 employees, including about 3,000 in San Antonio.

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The strike began Sept. 13 when more than 94% of workers voting rejected an offer of 25% over four years. Last week, 64% shot down a proposal that would have raised general wages 35% over four years.

The union originally demanded 40% in raises over three years and restoration of traditional pensions, which were frozen for then-current workers and not extended to those hired after January 2014. Workers on picket lines in the Seattle area have stressed pensions, but the company based in Arlington, Va., is unwilling to bend on the issue.

Boeing has said that average annual pay for machinists is currently $75,608.

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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:

Horses graze in a field on the outskirts of Abbots Langley, England, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Plans to build a data center at the site has pitted the national government's priorities against the interests of local villagers. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Morgan

Originally built to store crops from peasant farmers, the Tithe Barn on the edge of the English village of Abbots Langley was converted into homes that preserve its centuries of history. Now, its residents are fighting to stop a development next door that represents the future.

A proposal to build a data center on a field across the road was rejected by local authorities amid fierce opposition from villagers. But it's getting a second chance from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, which is pursuing reforms to boost economic growth following his Labour party's election victory in July.

Residents of Abbots Langley, 18 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of London, worry the facility will strain local resources and create noise and traffic that damages the character of the quiet village, which is home to just over 20,000 people. Off the main street there's a church with a stone tower built in the 12th century and, further down the road, a picturesque circular courtyard of rustic thatched-roof cottages that used to be a farm modeled on one built for French Queen Marie Antoinette.

"It's just hideously inappropriate," said Stewart Lewis, 70, who lives in one of the converted houses in the 600-year-old Tithe Barn. "I think any reasonable person anywhere would say, 'Hang on, they want a data center? This isn't the place for it.'"

As the artificial intelligence boom fuels demand for cloud-based computing from server farms around the world, such projects are pitting business considerations, national priorities and local interests against each other.

Stewart Lewis poses near his home in Abbots Langley, England, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Plans to build a data center in a field on Abbots Langley's outskirts has pitted the national government's priorities against the interests of local villagers. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Morgan

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has stepped in to review the appeals filed by developers of three data center projects after they were rejected by local authorities, taking the decision out of the hands of town planners. Those proposals include Abbots Langley and two projects in Buckinghamshire, which sits west of London. The first decision is expected by January.

The projects are controversial because the data centers would be built on "greenbelt" land, which has been set aside to prevent urbanization. Rayner wants to tap the greenbelt for development, saying much of it is low quality. One proposed Buckinghamshire project, for example, involves redeveloping an industrial park next to a busy highway.

"Whilst it's officially greenbelt designated land, there isn't anything 'green' about the site today," said Stephen Beard, global head of data centers at Knight Frank, a property consultancy that's working on the project.

"It's actually an eyesore which is very prominent from the M25 highway, he said.

Greystoke, the company behind the Abbots Langley center and a second Buckinghamshire project to be built on a former landfill, didn't respond to requests for comment. In an online video for Abbots Langley, a company representative says, "We have carried out a comprehensive search for sites, and this one is the very best." It doesn't specify which companies would possibly use the center.

Horses graze in a field on the outskirts of Abbots Langley, England, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Plans to build a data center at the site has pitted the national government's priorities against the interests of local villagers. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Morgan

The British government is making data centers a core element of its economic growth plans, deeming them "critical national infrastructure" to give businesses confidence to invest in them. Starmer has announced deals for new centers, including a 10 billion pound ($13 billion) investment from private equity firm Blackstone to build what will be Europe's biggest AI data center in northeast England.

The land for the Abbots Langley data center is currently used to graze horses. It's bordered on two other sides by a cluster of affordable housing and a highway.

Greystoke's plans to construct two large buildings totaling 84,000 square meters (904,00 square feet) and standing up to 20 meters (66 feet) tall have alarmed Lewis and other villagers, who worry that it will dwarf everything else nearby.

They also doubt Greystoke's promise that it will create up to 260 jobs.

"Everything will be automated, so they wouldn't need people," said tech consultant Jennifer Stirrup, 51, who lives in the area.

The main road in Abbots Langley, England, is shown on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Plans to build a data center in a field on Abbots Langley's outskirts has pitted the national government's priorities against the interests of local villagers. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Morgan

Not everyone in the village is opposed.

Retiree Bryan Power says he would welcome the data center, believing it would benefit the area in a similar way as another big project on the other side of the village, the Warner Bros.' Studio Tour featuring a Harry Potter exhibition.

"It'll bring some jobs, whatever. It'll be good. Yeah. No problem. Because if it doesn't come, it'll go somewhere else," said Power, 56.

One of the biggest concerns about data centers is their environmental impact, especially the huge amounts of electricity they need. Greystoke says the facility will draw 96 megawatts of "IT load." But James Felstead, director of a renewable energy company and Lewis' neighbor, said the area's power grid wouldn't be able to handle so much extra demand.

It's a problem reflected across Europe, where data center power demand is expected to triple by the end of the decade, according to consulting firm McKinsey. While the AI-fueled data boom has prompted Google, Amazon and Microsoft to look to nuclear power as a source of clean energy, worries about their ecological footprint have already sparked tensions over data centers elsewhere.

James Felstead poses near his home in Abbots Langley, England, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Plans to build a data center in a field on Abbots Langley's outskirts has pitted the national government's priorities against the interests of local villagers. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Morgan

Google was forced to halt plans in September for a $200 million data center in Chile's capital, Santiago, after community complaints about its potential water and energy usage.

In Ireland, where many Silicon Valley companies have European headquarters, the grid operator has temporarily halted new data centers around Dublin until 2028 over worries they're guzzling too much electricity.

A massive data center project in northern Virginia narrowly won county approval last year, amid heavy opposition from residents concerned about its environmental impact. Other places like Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Singapore have imposed various restrictions on data centers.

Public knowledge about the industry is still low but "people are realizing more that these data centers are quite problematic," said Sebastian Lehuede, a lecturer in ethics, AI and society at King's College London who studied the Google case in Chile.

As awareness grows about their environmental impact, Lehuede said, "I'm sure we will have more opposition from different communities."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A device to remove debris from a reactor at the damaged Fukushima Nuclear power plant demonstrates to pinch a stone, as revealed in Kobe, western Japan, May 28, 2024. Credit: Kyodo News via AP, File

A remote-controlled robot has safely returned with a tiny piece of melted fuel it collected from inside one of three damaged reactors at the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant for the first time since the 2011 meltdown.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which manages the plant, said Saturday that the extendable fishing rod-like robot successfully clipped a piece of gravel of about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches), the size of a tiny bit of granola, from the top surface of a mound of molten fuel debris that sits on the bottom of the No. 2 reactor's primary containment vessel.

The "telesco" robot, with its frontal tongs still holding the melted fuel bit, returned to the enclosed container for safe storage after workers in full hazmat gear pulled it out of the containment vessel earlier Saturday.

The sample return marks the first time the melted fuel is retrieved out of the containment vessel. But the mission is not over until it's certain that the sample's radioactivity is below a set standard and safely placed into a container.

If the radioactivity exceeds the limit, the robot must go back inside the reactor to find another piece. TEPCO officials said they expect the piece is small enough to meet the requirement.

The mission initially started in August for what was supposed to be a two-week round trip but had been suspended twice due to mishaps.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, also known as TEPCO, the operator of Japan's wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, reveals a robot to be used to retrieve debris at the power plant in Kobe, western Japan, May 28, 2024. Credit: Kyodo News via AP, File

First one was the procedural mistake at the beginning that held up the work for nearly three weeks, then the robot's two cameras designed to transmit views of the target areas for its operators in the remote control room failed. The camera problem required the robot to be pulled out all the way for replacement before the mission resumed Monday.

Fukushima Daiichi lost its key cooling systems during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, causing meltdowns in its three reactors. An estimated 880 tons of fatally radioactive molten fuel remains in them, and TEPCO has carried out a number of robotic probes to figure out how to decommission the plant.

Telesco on Wednesday successfully clipped a piece presumably measuring less than 3 grams (0.1 ounce) from the planned area right underneath the Unit 2 reactor core, from which large amounts of melted fuel fell during the meltdown 13 years ago, TEPCO said.

Plant chief Akira Ono said only the tiny spec can provide key data to plan decommissioning strategy, develop necessary technology and robots and retroactively learn how the accident had developed.

The government and TEPCO have set a 30-to-40-year target for the cleanup, which experts say is overly optimistic and should be updated.

No specific plans for the full removal of the fuel debris or its final disposal have been decided.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A nurse prepares an IV bag. Surgery schedules around the country may be washed out for several more weeks while a crucial IV and sterile fluids factory remains closed after a hurricane-related shutdown. Dirk Waem/TNS An IV bag is seen hanging on an IV pole. The Texas Medical Association has urged the states doctors and medical facilities to conserve their supplies. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle Baxters North Cove, N.C., location makes about 60% of the intravenous solutions used in the U.S. every day, according to the American Hospital Association. It also makes fluids used by patients on home dialysis and sterile water used to clean patient surgery sites during operations. But flooding triggered by Hurricane Helene washed out bridges nearby and water came into the factory, forcing it to shut down. George LeClaire/AP

Surgery schedules around the country may be washed out for several more weeks while a crucial IV and sterile fluids factory remains shut down for hurricane-related damage.

People often plan nonemergency surgeries in the fall and early winter months when their insurance coverage will pick up more of the bill, but they may have to wait while health systems preserve supplies for emergencies.

Its not great for patients, but its kind of doing the most good with what you have, said Erin Fox, associate chief pharmacy officer at University of Utah Health.

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The Texas Medical Association also has urged the states doctors and medical facilities to conserve their supplies.

Its better to be saving now and not jeopardizing care if you need it later. Even with all these measures, it may still be months before we reach full production of these fluids, Dr. G. Ray Callas, president of the TMA, said in an Oct. 22 article on its website.

He added that he is in talks with the Texas Division of Emergency Management about what (Texas is) doing for fluid allocation, and were looking at everything that we can get our hands on, because the state of Texas always is involved.

The federal government and medical suppliers have taken several steps to help ease the supply crunch created by Hurricane Helene, which forced Baxter International to close its North Carolina plant late last month.

But experts say supplies are still choppy, and improvements will take time. Heres a closer look the situation.

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What did Hurricane Helene do?

Baxters North Cove, N.C., location makes about 60% of the intravenous solutions used in the U.S. every day, according to the American Hospital Association. It also makes fluids used by patients on home dialysis and sterile water used to clean patient surgery sites during operations.

But flooding triggered by the storm washed out bridges nearby and water came into the factory, forcing the shutdown. Baxter says the site sustained no structural damage.

How has this affected patient care?

Health systems started conserving fluids shortly after the plant shut down. Some switched patients who can drink fluids to Gatorade or water instead of giving them an IV.

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Hospitals also have started postponing planned procedures that can wait, like some orthopedic surgeries or heart procedures, said Dr. Chris DeRienzo, chief physician executive for the American Hospital Association.

Baxter has limited the fluids supplies it sends to distributors and health systems. The effect on a patient will depend partly on how heavily a hospital or health system relies on Baxter, said Nancy Foster, a vice president with the hospital association.

Whats being done to improve supplies?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved temporarily importing fluids from Baxter plants in several countries.

The company also has already started easing some of the limits it had placed on supplies.

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Baxter rival B. Braun Medical has increased production at its Daytona Beach, Fla., site, which escaped damage from another hurricane, and at a location in California.

The FDA also issued new temporary guidelines designed to make it easier for compounding pharmacies to produce certain IV drugs that are in short supply.

Will this help the IV fluids shortage?

Supply experts are optimistic that the situation will improve, but they cant say whether these moves will fill the void left by the plant shutdown.

Fox said her health system is still dealing with uncertainty because the amount Baxter has allocated to them isnt always available through their distributor.

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Foster said hospitals like to have extra supply sitting on their shelves so they can handle both planned surgeries and the unexpected, but were not going to be there for a while.

Another complication: Hospitals and surgery centers are heading into a busy time of year. Cold and flu season fills hospital beds. Plus patients also tend to schedule more procedures toward the end of the year before their deductibles renew in January, exposing them to thousands of dollars in costs.

When will Baxters factory reopen?

Power and water are back on at the North Carolina plant. Employees have completed a deep cleaning in production rooms and are testing and repairing equipment.

Baxter says it wants to restart production in phases by the end of the year, and also expects to ease limits it has placed on some customer orders by then.

But the company has no timeline for production to return to pre-hurricane levels.
The small green channel of the Rio Grande between El Paso County and Juarez, Mexico. The river was channelized in the 20th century to prevent flooding and define the international border. Omar Ornelas

FAR WEST TEXAS  The year was 1897. Floodwaters from the Rio Grande submerged entire blocks of downtown El Paso.

The New York Times described the crash of crumbling houses and the cries of frightened women and children on its May 26 front page. The raging river displaced hundreds of people and destroyed scores of adobe homes.

In Mexico, the Rio Grande is known as the Rio Bravo  the rough, or wild, river  signifying the force that caused several devastating floods in El Paso and neighboring Ciudad Juarez.

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Today, these historic floods are hard to imagine. The river channel in El Paso-Juarez now only fills during the irrigation season. Farther downstream, the river is frequently dry in a 200-mile section known as the Forgotten Reach.

Inside Climate News documented this remote stretch of the river in July on a flight with the nonprofit Light Hawk. Other than limited flows from springs and creeks, known locally as arroyos, this section of the Rio Grande barely has water.

Thats because reservoirs now harness the flows of snowmelt and monsoon rains that once defined the river and deliver that water to thirsty cities and sprawling farms. Making matters worse, climate change is increasing temperatures and aridification in the desert Southwest.

Competition over dwindling water is growing. All that leaves little water to support fish, birds and wetland ecosystems that once thrived along the Rio Grande.

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Cotton plants are watered with flood irrigation water pumped from the Rio Grande in June in Hidalgo County. The Rio Grande Compact  signed in 1938 by Colorado, New Mexico and Texas  ensured that farmers in all three states would get their share of water. But there was no obligation to guarantee water flowed beyond the last irrigation district southeast of El Paso. Sam Owens/Staff photographer

But environmental scientists and local conservation advocates say there are opportunities to restore environmental flows  the currents of water needed to maintain a healthy river ecology  on the Rio Grande and its West Texas tributaries. Proponents of environmental flows are restoring tributaries and documenting little-known springs that feed the river. They are working with counterparts in Mexico to overcome institutional barriers.

Samuel Sandoval Solis, a professor of water resource management at the University of California Davis and an expert on the Rio Grande, compared this restoration model to a string of pearls.

Ultimately, we start connecting these pearls, he said. And we start putting it back together.

But to replicate and expand these local initiatives will require more funding and political support on the embattled binational waterway.

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Water for agriculture, but not for nature

For millions of years, the flow of the Rio Grande in present-day New Mexico and West Texas was dictated by two natural cycles. Spring snowmelt in Colorado sent water rushing downstream, triggering floods throughout the watershed. In the summer, the monsoon dumped rain on the desert and swelled the river.

The Rio Grande winds through the Chihuahuan Desert in far West Texas. Diversions for agriculture and cities have reduced the flow by at least 70% compared with historical flow levels. Omar Ornelas

These annual pulses of water sustained biodiverse ecosystems in the arid Chihuahuan Desert.

Karen Chapman, coordinator of the Rio Grande Joint Venture, a public-private migratory bird conservation partnership, said the Big Bend segment of the Rio Grande in West Texas is an emblematic, important wetland for migratory birds in the middle of a big desert region.

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Floods spread the seeds of cottonwoods and tornillos, a native mesquite shrub. Thriving wetlands attracted the southwestern willow flycatcher. Flood plains provided spawning habitat for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout and silvery minnow. Indigenous people harnessed the water for subsistence agriculture.

These cycles came to an end in the early 20th century. In 1916, the Bureau of Reclamation completed Elephant Butte Dam outside Truth or Consequences, N.M. Its 301-foot retaining wall captured the crush of water coming out of the mountains. The dam released water on a precise schedule for farmers farther down the river. The three cities immediately downstream  El Paso, Las Cruces and Ciudad Juarez  continued to grow.

Low water levels in July 2021 at Elephant Butte Reservoir near Truth or Consequences, N.M. In 1916, the Bureau of Reclamation completed Elephant Butte Dam. Its 301-foot retaining wall captured the crush of water coming out of the mountains. Water is released for farmers farther down the river. Susan Montoya Bryan/Associated Press file photo

The Rio Grande Compact  signed in 1938 by Colorado, New Mexico and Texas  sealed the rivers fate. The compact ensured that farmers in all three states would get their share of water. But there was no obligation to guarantee water flowed beyond the last irrigation district southeast of El Paso, at a point called Fort Quitman. The once-mighty Rio Grande began to dry up downstream of that now abandoned ghost town.

When seasonal flooding ceased in the Forgotten Reach, salt cedars and arundo river cane invaded the flood plain and crowded out native cottonwoods and tornillos. With meager volumes of water in the river, sediment has built up and further hampered the flow. Wetlands shriveled and migratory birds lost stopover points.

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The river transforms from a natural flashy system to a straight ditch, explains Kevin Urbanczyk, director of the Rio Grande Research Center at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. You lose the aquatic habitat when that happens.

The Forgotten Reach ends where the Rio Conchos flows from Chihuahua into the Rio Grande at Presidio. Before the construction of Elephant Butte, over 500,000 acre feet of water reached Presidio each year. After construction of the dam, the flow fell by 77%, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

In West Texas, the Rio Grande Joint Venture works with landowners to restore grassland and riparian habitats near Rio Grande tributaries like the Terlingua Creek and Alamito Creek. These projects reduce the amount of sediment reaching the Rio Grande, a key intervention to improve the rivers flow.

The Rio Grande bends around a rocky outcrop in the Chihuahuan Desert. Invasive plants have filled in what was once a wide flood plain. Omar Ornelas

In recent years, flows also have declined downstream of Presidio. Mexico is obligated under the 1944 water treaty to send water from tributaries, including the Conchos, to the United States on a five-year cycle. But since the 1990s, Mexico has consistently fallen behind, diminishing water levels in the Rio Grande downstream of Presidio.

The river ran dry through the iconic Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park in 2022. Rafting expeditions, a bedrock of the Big Bend tourism economy, rely on a river that is less and less dependable.

What water Mexico does deliver is stored at the Amistad and Falcon reservoirs in South Texas. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality then distributes water from the reservoirs to irrigation districts and cities in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

This section of the Rio Grande is considered over appropriated, which means there are more assigned water rights than there is water normally available. In other words, every drop of water already has an assigned end-user. There is no water left over for dedicated environmental flows in South Texas.

Cotton plants are watered with flood irrigation in early June in Hidalgo County. Water is diverted from the Rio Grande for crops in the area. Sam Owens/Staff photographer

The problem was abundantly clear in 2001, when for the first time in decades the Rio Grande failed to reach the Gulf of Mexico.

Advocating for environmental flows across borders

Conservation advocates and scientists working on the Rio Grande face formidable challenges: a binational treaty dispute, climate change, an overappropriated river. But UC Davis Sandoval Solis is convinced environmental flows are possible if water is managed differently.

Sandoval Solis would like to see Mexico release water from its Rio Conchos reservoirs to the Rio Grande to mimic the cycles of spring floods and the summer monsoon. He said better timing of releases can help native species without infringing on farmers water rights.

He acknowledged that environmental flows are not a priority in ongoing diplomatic talks as the U.S. works to compel Mexico to release any water. But he said pulses of water at opportune times could go a long way.

The idea already has been implemented on the Colorado River, another binational river governed by the 1944 water treaty. In 2014, water was released from the Morelos Dam to create a pulse flow that connected the Colorado River to the Gulf of California for the first time in 16 years. In 2017, the U.S. and Mexican governments agreed to ongoing water deliveries for restoration of the Colorado River delta in Mexico.

The Rio Grande cuts through a mountain range on the border of the United States and Mexico. Omar Ornelas

U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission spokesperson Frank Fisher said nature-based solutions have been part of the agencys discussions with Mexican counterparts, but did not indicate whether there is interest in a pulse flow on the Rio Grande/Rio Conchos.

In February, the U.S. IBWC and its Mexican counterpart, known as CILA, created the Rio Grande Environment Work Group. The group has met several times this year to identify and implement binational environmental projects on the Rio Grande.

Karen Chapman of the Rio Grande Joint Venture advocated for the creation of the working group and is now a member. There are folks on both sides of the river in both countries that are concerned about the health of the river and want to work towards some solutions, she said.

There have been some successes in restoring flows to the Rio Grande. In a 2022 paper in Ecology & Society, Sandoval Solis and colleagues at UC Davis and the University of Oklahoma compiled examples of environmental flows throughout the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo watershed. They point to in-stream flows on Rio Grande tributaries in New Mexico and the first environmental water right in Mexico at the Cuatro Cienegas wetlands as models to replicate.

A 2023 paper published in the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, by lead author Brian Richter of Sustainable Waters, with Sandoval Solis as a co-author, expanded on these ideas. The authors model how converting farmland to less water-intensive crops and leaving some acreage fallow could decrease consumption in agriculture, which currently uses 83% of the water rights in the watershed. This would make more water available for environmental flows, without reducing agricultural revenue.

Sandoval Solis said politics is getting in the way of expanding on these models to restore flows to the river.

The problem of environmental flows on the Rio Grande is not about science, he said. We know that the river is drying, and we know that its about willingness, political willingness.

Protecting groundwater that feeds the Rio

Sul Ross Kevin Urbanczyk studies the Lower Canyons on the Rio Grande, downstream of Big Bend. At least once a year, he loads up a canoe to reach the canyons, which are not accessible by road, where he measures the flow from aquifer-fed springs into the river.

Urbanczyk said that when Mexico does not send water from the Rio Conchos, all the water in this section of the Rio Grande comes from the springs. He said more research is needed to understand how groundwater contributes to the Rio Grande.

The Rio Grande rises out of the agricultural valley and into the mountains of West Texas. This is the beginning of the Forgotten Reach, a 200-mile stretch of the river with little water flow. Omar Ornelas

Texas has two separate systems to regulate surface water in a river and groundwater in aquifers. But Urbanczyk said regulations need to account for how these sources are interconnected. He worries that an increase in groundwater pumping near the river could deplete the springs contributions to the Rio Grande.

Were talking  as if theyre two different things, he said. But theyre not. Its the same water, so the connection needs to be understood.

The IBWC spokesperson said historic water gauge data and field studies indicate that groundwater amounts to a discharge of about 200 cubic feet per second in the Big Bend region to the Amistad Reservoir.

(IBWC) understands the importance of these groundwater contributions to providing reliable and predictable water supply to downstream users as well as sustaining environmental processes in the region, said the spokesperson.

Environmental flows legislation in Texas

Largely absent from the discussion of environmental flows on the Rio Grande is the Texas legislation meant to achieve that very objective. In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 3, which provides protections for environmental flows in Texas rivers and into bays and estuaries.

However, TCEQ excluded the Forgotten Reach from the environmental flows program for the Rio Grande from the outset. The Forgotten Reach would stay forgotten  there would be no environmental flow protections in this 200-mile-long stretch of the river.

But in a 2008 study with the Army Corps of Engineers, TCEQ expressed interest in restoring the Forgotten Reach. The study explored restoration options and stated that The Forgotten Rio Grande might have great value as a laboratory for the art and science of rehabilitating perturbed rivers.

The TCEQ declined a request for an interview about the environmental flows program. In an emailed statement, TCEQ spokesperson Victoria Cann did not respond to questions about why the agency excluded the Forgotten Reach from the program.

Balloons drift above the Rio Grande during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October. Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal The dry Rio Grande riverbed is seen in late July 2022 from the air over Albuquerque, N.M. Brittany Peterson/Associated Press file photo Clouds pass over the Rio Grande and the World Trade Bridge in Laredo in June. Jason Mack/Staff photographer South Laredo students kayak on the Rio Grande last month. Jose De La Rosa/Staff photographer

The TCEQ formed a scientific working group, including academics and civil society representatives, that recommended environmental flow regimes for the Rio Grande basin. TCEQ then formalized flow standards for the Rio Grande that were adopted into the state administrative code. However, a brief from the Texas Living Water Project points out that the standards TCEQ adopted were a far cry from what the scientific working group recommended.

Myron Hess, a water lawyer and consultant with the Texas Living Waters Project, authored a 2021 report on the unrealized potential of SB3. The report states that efforts to revive environmental flows have stalled in most river basins. Hess said the models to calculate environmental flow standards do not account for climate change, which is expected to diminish water resources in Central and West Texas.

As droughts get more severe there is going to be less and less water available to protect the environment, he said. Its going to be a world of hurt.

The TCEQ spokesperson did not respond to multiple requests for comment about the exclusion of climate change from the models. She said the adopted standards can be revised if new information and data becomes available.

UC Davis Sandoval Solis characterized the Texas legislation as a check box for regulators to complete. He said the studies commissioned by the Legislature have not been acted on.

In the end, you use those studies to do nothing, he said. You dont have any teeth to enforce and to put some water in (the river).

Despite the setbacks, Sandoval Solis still believes that flows can be restored to the drying Rio Grande. Human intervention over the past 130 years has dramatically transformed the river and stymied its natural flow. But even in the face of climate change, he said its not too late to reverse some of these changes.
Swimmers jump from an old mill building into the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels on July 19. New Braunfels officials are moving to limit access to the area, citing safety concerns. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

The New Braunfels City Council has approved constructing a fence to limit public access to a section of the Guadalupe River below the Faust Street Bridge, a popular free swimming and gathering spot.

City staff began considering plans to limit access to the area this summer, citing an increase in crowds, trash and safety issues in the area. The riverbank is state property, but the city owns the right-of-way below the pedestrian bridge that is used to access the water.

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The property allows access to an old textile mill, which a developer plans to convert into a mixed-use project. But the building is being used as a makeshift diving platform, city officials have said, which has raised safety concerns.

New Braunfels expects to spend almost $24,000 on the fence for the property. Plans call for a gate to allow law enforcement and emergency medical services to access the area. The area will still be accessible by entering the river upstream or downstream at the nearby public boat ramp below Interstate 35, but wont be reachable on foot without trespassing through the fence or private property.

The council voted 5-2 in favor of the closure, with council members April Ryan and Mary Ann Labowski voted against it.

 Liz Teitz

Case of 'zombie deer' disease found in Kerr County

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission says it has confirmed a case of chronic wasting disease at a Kerr County deer breeding facility.

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The diagnosis was confirmed in postmortem testing on a three-year-old female white-tailed deer, according to the state agency.

Chronic wasting disease  often referred to as zombie deer disease  is a fatal neurological disease affecting certain animals in the deer family like deer, elk and moose. It spreads between animals via fluids or feces, according to the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

If not managed (chronic wasting disease) can have devastating, long-term impacts on Texas beloved white-tailed and mule deer, TPWD said on its website.

It can incubate in an animal for years, with some symptoms not appearing until just before death, according to TPWD. Animals can experience progressive weight loss, stumbling and random tremors.

 Ricardo Delgado

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Nature preserve opens in Comal County

A new wildlife sanctuary in Comal County has opened to the public.

The Morton Preserve, which is southeast of Canyon Lake off River Road, is vital habitat for the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, the county said in a news release. The small songbirds are endangered, and nest only in the Texas Hill Country,

Comal County purchased the 288-acre property in 2008, using funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation project.

The preserve is now open from September through February. It's closed during the birds mating season to protect the species. The warblers arrive in Texas in March to nest and raise their young, then leave in July to spend the rest of the year in Mexico and Central America, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

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Reservations are required to enter in order to limit access and protect the habitat. They can be made at https://cceo.org/parks/morton-preserve.

 Liz Teitz

Economic group says new name reflects regional focus

The Greater San Marcos Partnership, an organization that for nearly 14 years has focused on spurring growth in the San Marcos area, has changed its name to the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership to reflect its broadened geographical ambition.

The organization is taking the new name to reflect its deep commitment to the broader region, with an inclusive focus on both Hays and Caldwell counties, according to a news release.

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"The rebranding isn't just a name change. Its a reflection of who weve become as an organization," Mike Kamerlander, the organizations president, said in a written statement. "We wanted a name that spoke more clearly to the communities we serve and the partnerships weve built."

The organization is positioning itself as a regional economic development leader, said its chairman of the board, Mick Hawton.

The new name reflects our shared future and how were embracing the challenges and opportunities that come with it, he said.
A Bexar County Elections worker carries an early voting poll site sign outside Memorial Library on the first day of early voting Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Friday was the last day to cast your vote early ahead of the 2024 general election on Tuesday.

For those who hit the polls in advance or sent in their mail-in ballot, voters can confirm their ballot has been counted on the Texas Secretary of States website.

The Texas Secretary of State updates the total number of votes starting Oct. 21 when early voting opened through Election Day. Where and when you voted is public information, but not who you voted for.

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If you chose to mail-in your vote, all you need to do to confirm your ballot is to visit this page on the Texas Secretary of State website, and type in the last four digits of your social security number and drivers license number.

ALSO READ: Bexar County breaks voter turnout record on first day of early voting

For in-person early voters, visit this page on the Secretary of State website, and select the 2024 November 5th General Election option in the Election dropdown menu.

Next, choose the date your vote was cast under the Early Voting Turnout by Date section, and youll be redirected to a list of the counties. Once youve found yours, click on the Voter Details Report, and download the file, which contains a spreadsheet of names. For a shortcut, hit the Command-F function to quickly find your name and confirm your ballot.

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Chinese and Russian scholars and students highlight the countries' deep bonds and friendship

16:08, November 01, 2024 By Chu Mengqi, Kou Jie, Zhang Wenjie ( People's Daily Online

China and Russia are neighbors connected by shared mountains and rivers, and they have a solid foundation for cultural exchange.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Language learning and classic literature serve as bridges that foster exchanges and cooperation across various fields between the two nations.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chengliang)
Eric Pait Jr. 38, was shot and killed in his garage on Halloween night, according to ABC 13. mbbirdy/Getty Images

Halloween night in Harris County took a frightening turn after a father was shot in front of his home, possibly by someone wearing a Michael Myers-style mask, police told ABC 13.

The shooting occurred Friday night around 11:15 p.m. in the Northwest Side of the county. Authorities received several calls about gunshots being fired, including from the victims daughter.

According to ABC 13, the family identified the dead man as Eric Pait Jr., 38.

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Investigators said Pait was outside in the garage when someone shot him several times, the report states. Two of his children were inside the home at the time of the shooting and were not hurt.

Neighbors reported seeing a suspicious man in a Michael Myers Halloween mask, according to ABC 13.

Authorities are looking into whether the masked man might be the shooter.

A sergeant with the Harris County Sheriffs Office told ABC 13 that Paits estranged wife, who is also the mother of his children, was killed at her apartment in August.

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Pait was a person of interest in her death, the report states. The sheriffs office said they are working to see if theres a connection between the two cases.

Paits mother told ABC 13 that she is taking care of the couples three children, two girls, ages 10 and 12, and a 2-year-old boy.
A group of students at Texas A&M International University in Laredo called on Webb County officials to reinstate the university as a polling site during early voting, accusing them of suppressing the student vote for only having a polling location there on Election Day (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay/Associated Press

.McALLEN  Rodolfo Rendon De Hoyos was frustrated his South Texas college campus was not selected to host an early voting site.

Now, the student organizer at Texas A&M International University in Laredo is demanding answers from Webb County officials.

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On Tuesday, De Hoyos and a group of students called on Webb County officials to reinstate the university as a polling site during early voting, accusing them of suppressing the student vote for only having a polling location there on Election Day.

Webb County officials have said the decision to not host an early vote center at the university was agreed upon by both political parties and multiple county officials and was influenced by data and logistical concerns. Early voting ended Friday, making the students demand moot for the 2024 election. However, county officials signaled an openness to reconsider the campus as an early voting site in upcoming elections.

Nevertheless, the clash is the latest squirmish in Texas over voting access, especially on college campuses. Earlier this year, Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth, debated removing early voting sites for some of its college campuses. The plan  which Republican party leaders said was an effort to help conservatives win  was ultimately rejected. More broadly, state lawmakers spent considerable time in 2023 rewriting state laws that govern when and how early vote centers operate.

De Hoyos, 20, is a permanent resident and therefore cannot legally vote. His ineligibility motivates him to encourage those who are eligible to vote.

The Laredo college students coordinated with MOVE Texas, a nonprofit that works to encourage civic engagement among youth communities, to provide free shuttle rides from the university to a polling site about 5 miles away as part of Vote Early Day, a movement started by MTV, the pop culture television network.

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About half a dozen students participated  a fraction of the total student population, which is about 8,500.

This, to me, is quite frankly absurd and its very counterproductive to the concept of democracy, said Alexis Esparza, a TAMIU student. Why is it that us, a student organization, have to go out and organize buses so people can go and vote?

Esparza pointed to a Texas Tribune analysis that showed that only 50% of the states 36 public universities had an on-campus early voting location in 2022. Just two of Texas nine historically Black colleges and universities had an early voting site.

More than 95% of the population in Webb County identifies as Hispanic, a voting block that both Republicans and Democrats have identified as significant to winning seats in South Texas.

The TAMIU students argued having a location on their campus was essential for students with busy class schedules, who have to work long hours, or who live on campus.

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To essentially remove the closest polling location that they could possibly have, just put that much more of an obstacle into their everyday routines, De Hoyos said.

Webb County Judge Tano E. Tijerina, a Democrat, said the county previously had a mobile voting site at TAMIU during early voting but state lawmakers outlawed such temporary voting locations in 2019.

Tijerina added the campus lacks sufficient guest parking and saw low turnout. For Election Day, the county worked with the university to have 15 designated parking spots for voters.

Im trying to make it more accessible, Tijerina said. Why would we try to oppress?

The students had accused the county officials of not addressing their concerns about the polling sites during earlier meetings. The judge, who acts as the countys chief executive, said the polling sites had been discussed at two public meetings twice but that the students didnt show up for either.

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Conversely, voting centers were not discussed at the meeting students did attend. And because the item was not on the publicly posted agenda, county commissioners could not discuss that matter.

Selecting polling sites throughout the county is not decided by a single person, said Elections Administrator Jose Luis Castillo. He said his office meets with the countys party chairs and base their decision on historic turnout data. The selections are then approved by the commissioners court.

Webb County Democratic Party Chair Sylvia Bruni said she was not consulted on the location of the early voting sites and had only spoken with Castillo after the decision had been made to not include the university as a polling location.

If I had been involved, I would have unequivocally protested the decision to remove the early voting polling place from TAMIU, Bruni said.

Castillo later clarified he had met with the party chairs regarding the March Primary voting locations, not the general election sites.

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So while the university wasnt chosen this year, Castillo said they will consider the location for future elections.

I went to go visit the site already  its adequate, we will have reserved parking, Castillo said.
Three fairgoers are requesting up to $1 million in damages and to allow guns at the State Fair. Kevin Brown/State Fair of Texas

Three fairgoers have joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in suing the State Fair of Texas and the city of Dallas over the fairs policy banning all firearms from its properties.

Mondays filing is the latest maneuver from Paxton in an ongoing battle surrounding the State Fair and its gun ban. In September, a day before the event kicked off, the Texas Supreme Court denied Paxtons request to overturn the policy  stating it has no role to decide whether the State Fair made a wise decision  after a Dallas district court judge allowed the gun ban to stand.

Paxton filed the update naming the newest plaintiffs in his ongoing case before the Dallas district court, which is expected to have another hearing next year.

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In it, Paxton accuses State Fair and city officials of violating state law that bars most government bodies from prohibiting weapons on their properties. Paxton also says officials violated the constitutional rights to bear arms of fairgoers Maxx Juusola, Tracy Martin, and Alan Crider. They ask for up to $1 million in civil damages and to allow people to carry guns on the fairground.

After the Supreme Court ruling, Paxton said in a news release that he would continue to press the issue on the merits to uphold Texans ability to defend themselves.

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.

Paxton continues to argue that since Dallas owns Fair Park, 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.

In his letter to the interim city manager over the summer, 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.

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However, the entirety, or vast majority of the 277-acre Fair Park of Dallas is not a place where weapons are prohibited, Paxton wrote.

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 maintain they could enforce a gun ban as a private nonprofit.
Tubacex Group, a global leader in advanced industrial solutions for the energy and mobility sectors based in Spain, has announced the closing of a strategic partnership with Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), an Abu Dhabi sovereign Investor, in its oil country tubular goods (OCTG) business for $200 million.

Mubadalas strategic investment aligns with the UAEs national programme 'Make it in the Emirates', which invites investors and innovators to contribute to the countrys industry and advanced technology strategy.

This partnership significantly bolsters local manufacturing capabilities, aligning seamlessly with Tubacex's contract with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc). This hub of innovation is designed to set new standards in the OCTG sector, said the Spanish group in a statement.

It also positions Mubadala as a pivotal player in securing the supply of CRA OCTG (corrosion-resistant alloy tubular solutions) tubular solutions for gas E&P, a key transitional fuel in the global energy transition, it stated.

Through long-term agreements with its strategic customers, Tubacex said it has become a global leader in the CRA OCTG segment for exploration and production activities.

This leadership will be further strengthened with the launch of its new CRA OCTG finishing and threading plant in Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in the region, it added.

Dr Alyazia Al Kuwaiti, the Executive Director of UAE Industries at Mubadala's Investment Platform, said: "We are pleased to partner with Tubacex, a company with unparalleled expertise and an innovative position in the OCTG sector. Our investment philosophy is deeply rooted in partnerships and a strong commitment to our sustainable investment principles."

"This collaboration aligns seamlessly with our efforts to support the UAEs industrial vision which aims to accelerate the nations development of non-oil based growth," stated Al Kuwaiti.-TradeArabia News Service
Petrofac, a leading provider of services to the global energy industry, said it has secured a multi-million-dollar contract from Bapco Upstream (formerly Tatweer Petroleum  Bahrain Field Development Company), to further enhance its production in the kingdom.

Petrofac will support Bapco Upstreams production plans, to meet gas demands for the Kingdom, through the delivery of well hook-ups, associated pipelines, and tie-ins for several new wells within the Bahrain Field. The entire work will be completed within two years.

On the contract win, Group CEO Tareq Kawash said: "Having delivered multiple projects for Bapco Upstream over the past decade, this award recognises our engineering and project execution capability."

"Our strong relationships with the local supply chain have ensured the safe and timely delivery of scopes, maintaining the highest standards of quality. We look forward to continuing these partnerships to deliver this critical infrastructure, which underpins the supply of energy to Bahrain," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is set to establish a culinary arts college within the ancient Saudi mega city in partnership with Ferrandi Paris College.

The partnership between RCU and Ferrandi Paris, announced at the recently held 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII8) Conference, aligns with AlUla's broader vision of sustainable and human capital development.

As per the deal, the Campus Alula will be offering three-year diploma programmes in culinary arts, tourism and hospitality to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers in these fields, said the statment from RCU.

The college aims to enroll 100 students in its inaugural year and will offer comprehensive training in traditional and modern French cuisine, confectionery, bakery, and hospitality and tourism services, it stated.

This move aims to develop human capital in the fields of culinary arts, hospitality, and tourism, positioning AlUla as a global education hub for these sectors, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
A West Texas town is poised to pass what LGBTQ+ rights activists are calling a hate-based law that targets trans Texans, but city leaders say it would protect children in the restroom.

In a 5-2 vote last week, Odessa City Council signaled its intention to prohibit trans people from using bathrooms on city-owned property that don't match the sex listed on their birth certificate. A 1989 ordinance prohibited individuals from using public facilities designated for the "opposite sex." If council passes the update to the ordinance during a final reading Nov. 12, it will go into effect five days later.

Jon Taylor, chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the "bathroom ban"  which empowers citizens to sue a violator of the ordinance for no less than $10,000 in damages for each violation  is part of a larger effort to incite "moral panic" among conservative voters in the state.

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That's not so, say the ban's supporters on Odessa City Council.

Mayor Javier Joven said only a small percentage of folks identify as trans, and while it's crucial to weigh the interests of everyone, including the LGBTQ community, "it became clear that supporting the majority in this decision was the most prudent course of action."

"I believe that by ensuring privacy and safety in our city-owned bathrooms, we are not only protecting our citizens but also creating a more inclusive and respectful community," Joven said Monday.

ALSO READ: What we know about the inmate in a wheelchair who escaped the Bexar County Courthouse on Halloween

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Council members voted Oct. 22 in support of restricting the use of public restrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms within city-owned buildings "based on an individual's birth sex," effectively keeping trans people from using facilities that align with their gender identity.

Council Member Greg Connell said Sunday that the amendment hopefully will "help safeguard transgender individuals from potentially challenging situations that could otherwise arise from the reactions of parents or others."

Council Member Chris Hanie, speaking at the Oct. 22 council meeting, said that if he happens to encounter "a man being in the bathroom with my grandkids," he doesn't want to have to "drag the guy out."

"I don't care who you are, and what you do in the privacy of your home is your business, but I don't need to see it in public," Hanie said.

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During public comment at that council meeting, Alexander Ermels, a trans man and president of the Midland and Odessa chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said the ordinance wouldn't address problems the community faces  instead, it would create one.

"At the end of the day, this ordinance is about fear," Ermels said. "It's about distracting people from the real issues by making them feel afraid of something that they don't understand."

Echoing that sentiment, Taylor later told the Express-News that politicians "have decided trans people are an easy target." Along those lines, he said, the Texas Department of Public Safety stopped allowing individuals to update the sex listed on their driver's license in August.

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Taylor said Odessa's bathroom ban would open the door for local cases against trans people to be heard in state and federal courts  setting the stage for nationwide anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

If a civil case under Odessa's updated ordinance arises, "a conservative-friendly court in Amarillo may rule that Odessa's ordinance is constitutional," Taylor said. "If they get an appeal from there, they could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court, which is very conservative-friendly right now."
The director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Francesco La Camera says transitioning to renewable energy is critical globally, adding that the circumstances of small island developing states (SIDS), such as those in the Caribbean, make it especially urgent.

First of all, it is critical for all the world. But here, the conditions are even more critical because the small islands are mainly coastal zones; they are all in the middle of the ocean and here, there is also the confluence of the Gulf where the water is becoming warmer. So, we have the capacity to enhance the power of every storm that is coming to this area when we talk about the Caribbean, La Camera told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
A cocoa farmer and co-owner of his familys estate was shot dead inside his vehicle in Paria on Friday night.

He was one of four men murdered between Friday evening and yesterday.

The murder toll for the year so far stood at 82 up to last night.

Police said Javed Omardeen, 33, of Upper Gomes Trace, Brasso Seco, Paria, was meeting with someone while sitting in his vehicle around 6.15 p.m. when he was shot.
Election Day is less than a week away, and many Houstonians have already decided who they will vote for in the presidential election.

That includes some of Houston's most famous citizens and former residents.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump both spent time in Houston in October at events featuring some of these notable names.

Here are who some famous Houstonians and people with Houston roots have publicly backed in the presidential election.

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Houston native Beyonce Knowles speaks during Vice President Kamala Harris rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Beyonce - Kamala Harris

Beyonce introduced Kamala Harris during her Houston rally last Friday at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

"Im not here as a celebrity, Im not here as a politician, Im here as a mother," Beyonce said. "We must vote, it's time to sing a new song."

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Tina Knowles - Kamala Harris

Tina Knowles, the mother of Beyonce, also spoke at the Harris rally last week. Her speech was about reproductive rights.

"We cannot accept a country where our daughters and future granddaughters will no longer have the basic freedom that I have lived with for most of my life," she continued.

Buzz Aldrin - Donald Trump

The 94-year-old Buzz Aldrin, the last remaining Apollo 11 crew member sill alive, endorsed Trump in a statement Wednesday. He highlighted an increased focus on space during his presidency in his statement.

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"The Trump Administration also reinstituted the National Space Council, so leading voices could advocate for the importance of space to America," Aldrin said. "Finally, under President Trump, the Nation's defense was enhanced with the creation of the U.S. Space Force increasingly important as space becomes a contested domain."

Slim Thug shows his social media live audience a special edition gift box at a special 4/20 celebration hosted by Slim Thug and LE$ featuring a collection of exotic cars and SLABs on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Bayou City Event Center in Houston . Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Slim Thug - Kamala Harris

Slim Thug has publically supported Harris since July.

TEXAS VOTER GUIDE: A comprehensive guide to the local and national races that your vote will decide on November 5

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Lizzo - Kamala Harris

Lizzo recently appeared with Harris at a campaign spot in Detroit for the start of in-person voting.

Mrs. Commander-in-Chief has a nice ring to it," Lizzo said, according to PBS.

Jim McIngvale is seen during a rally he hosted at Gallery Furniture in support of former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Mattress Mack - Donald Trump

Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale held a rally for Trump last week at the Gallery Furniture flagship store on the same day as the Harris rally in Houston.

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Donald Trump wants to bring jobs back to America. I say, hell yeah, lets do it! McIngvale said.

Teamsters Local 988 - Kamala Harris

"She cast the deciding vote to save our pensions, and she supports bringing manufacturing from overseas to the United States. She supports making it easier for warehouse and trucking employees in nonunion companies, like Amazon and FedEx, to unionize. Under her leadership, every job could be a union job someday," union president Robert Mele wrote in a letter.

ELMONT, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Megan Thee Stallion hosts the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV

Megan Thee Stallion - Kamala Harris

Megan Thee Stallion performed during a Harris rally in late July, days after Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Harris officially started running.
The currently-suspended American International School Vietnam (AISVN), located in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, unexpectedly notified parents on Friday of its plans to reopen in January 2025, despite not yet receiving approval from the municipal Department of Education and Training.

The school has been subjected to a 12-month suspension since July 1 as a result of its failure to comply with educational regulations.

In an email to parents on Friday afternoon, Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, who claimed to be the acting chairwoman of the AISVN school board, stated that the school board, parents, teachers, and staff have collaborated over the past two months to resolve the schools difficulties and ensure it will reopen in January 2025."

The email outlined that the school has rebuilt its teaching staff and restructured its curriculum for the new school year despite challenges with local authorities and managing significant debts.

The updated curriculum has been submitted to the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee and the Department of Education and Training for approval.

This plan aims to allow students to continue their education without interruption.

Thu noted that renovations and upgrades to facilities and IT systems would begin next week, along with surveys to gather parental feedback on student transportation and facilities.

Ho Tan Minh, chief of the Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, confirmed later on the same day that AISVN recently informed the department of its renovation plans.

Renovating the school is the responsibility of the investors, but any reopening requires permission from local authorities, Minh explained, adding that the department has yet to receive a formal application for such reopening.

The school has neither provided evidence of its financial recovery nor its ability to resume stable educational operations.

In August, Nguyen Van Hieu, director of the Department of Education and Training, said that Thus appointment to the school board was not official.

For a new chairperson to be recognized, an application must be submitted to the department.

The school had to address the financial issues that led to its suspension, including over VND100 billion (US$3.95 million) in tax arrears, Hieu said.

In the same month, tax authorities in District 7 and Nha Be District proposed the municipal Peoples Committee revoke AISVN's establishment license.

Nguyen Bao Quoc, deputy director of the municipal Department of Education and Training, previously stated that the school could not meet educational standards and advised against running any educational programs during its suspension.

Despite these issues, the school has repeatedly assured parents that it is improving its operational conditions and plans to reopen soon.

Classes for all students had been halted in March due to teacher absences out of unpaid salaries, forcing up to 1,000 students to seek transfers to other schools to avoid disruption to their education.

Its number of teachers dropped from 400 to just 28 in August, and there was no principal.

Previously, over half of the parents had invested in education investment packages, lending the school VND3-5 billion (US$118,600-197,630) each without interest, with the promise of reimbursement after graduation.

AISVN, established in 2006, serves students from three years old to grade 12, according to its website.

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CALI, Colombia -- Countries at the U.N. COP16 summit on nature on Friday approved a measure to create a permanent body for Indigenous peoples to consult on United Nations decisions about nature conservation.

The consultative body is considered a breakthrough in recognizing the role that Indigenous peoples play in conserving nature globally, including some of the most biodiverse areas of the planet, according to Indigenous and environmental advocates.

Nearly 200 countries convened in the Columbian city of Cali aiming to implement the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement, which aims to halt the rapid decline of nature by 2030.

The consultative body, which will also extend to local communities, will help to incorporate traditional knowledge and practices into conservation efforts.

An indigenous man records with his cell phone a press conference at the 16th United Nations Biodiversity Summit (COP16), in Yumbo, Colombia October 31, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Countries also adopted a measure that recognizes the role of people of African descent in caring for nature, which COP16 host Colombia said would grant such communities easier access to resources to fund their biodiversity projects and participate in global environmental discussions.

The measure's adoption was met with chants and singing by campaigners, as well as words of thanks from Colombia Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo, who said the breakthrough was particularly important for Latin America and the Caribbean.

"Our territories, which cover much of the natural wealth of the planet, have also been home to people of African descent and Indigenous peoples whose sustainable practices are needed to face the environmental challenges that we all share today," Murillo said.

Deisy Brigitte Escobar Piaguaje, Zio Bain indigenous woman from the Buenavista reservation, Ecuador, speaks during a press conference at the 16th United Nations Biodiversity Summit (COP16), in Yumbo, Colombia October 31, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visits to three Middle Eastern nations -- the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Qatar -- were expected to open a wider door for Vietnam to engage more deeply in Halal food supply.

PM Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation arrived at Doha International Airport on Wednesday evening, beginning a three-day official visit to Qatar at the invitation of his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jasim Al-Thani.

Before his trip, the Vietnamese government leader visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

A representative from the Asia-Africa Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that Vietnam is exporting agricultural products, fishery items, and food to Qatar to meet the country's growing demand for Halal products.

Halal refers to food and services prepared according to Muslim law.

Cooperative activities accompanying the prime ministers visit were centered around boosting Vietnamese exports, with a particular emphasis on Halal food.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung, a member of the high-ranking delegation, said that most talks between the prime minister and leaders of these nations focused on promoting the Halal food industry and spotlighted Vietnams ability to supply farm produce to the Middle East.

Vietnamese livestock products, animal feed, and agricultural products possess huge potential to meet the demands of these partners.

The prime minister mentioned the potential for cooperation in the Halal industry and presented multiple cooperative methods and models, Deputy Minister Trung said.

We offered a host of solutions for enhancing partnerships between Vietnamese and Middle Eastern enterprises in ensuring food security, including sending Vietnamese experts to the region to support the partners in farming seafood, he elaborated.

The transition to Halal standards is feasible as many types of Vietnamese farm produce have been exported overseas and met food safety standards such as VietGap, GlobalGap, and HACCP, as well as several standards similar to the Halal practices.

He believed that the prime minister's visits would create more cooperation opportunities, prompting Vietnamese firms to adhere to the Halal benchmarks.

The prevalence of Halal-standard products will facilitate Vietnam tapping the global Halal market worth US$2.7 trillion, including Middle Eastern nations.

A representative from a Vietnamese dairy firm stated that expanding access to the Halal market will boost Vietnams food and agricultural sectors, supporting the countrys long-term export growth.

World Halal Council president Zafer Gedikli noted that there are approximately two billion Muslims globally, and the communitys growth is expected to positively impact the Islamic economy.

To effectively enter the Halal industry, Gedikli advised that Vietnam should invest in upskilling its workforce, strengthening partnerships with international firms, and increasing awareness of Halal food standards.

Vietnam, Qatar aim to elevate ties

PM Chinh and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held talks in Doha on Thursday, agreeing that their bilateral relations would be elevated to a new height in the future.

The two leaders emphasized that the two nations would continue to exchange all-level delegations and deepen cooperation in economic, trade, and investment fields.

The Vietnamese leader suggested Qatar assist Vietnam to develop the Halal industry, especially through sharing experience and transferring technology.

PM Chinh expressed his hope that Qatari investment funds would increase their investments in Vietnam, particularly in strategic infrastructure, as well as agricultural and aquatic product production.

Vietnam is dedicated to supporting and creating favorable conditions for Qatari enterprises to conduct business effectively in the Southeast Asian country.

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Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has issued a resolution earmarking 11 sites for transit-oriented development along metro lines and beltways.

-- From Sunday to Tuesday, the central region -- particularly the area from Ha Tinh Province to Da Nang City -- is expected to experience heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, with totals ranging from 200 to 400mm. In some areas, the precipitation may exceed 500mm and this pattern is likely to continue for several days.

-- Authorities are urgently evacuating 13 households, comprising 60 people, from the foot of a mountain in Le Thuy District, Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam after a long crack was discovered there following heavy rains and floods.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security announced on Friday that police in District 1 had initiated legal proceedings against a hotel housekeeper for stealing 2,000 (US$2,176) from a French tourist.

-- According to the International Diabetes Federation, 7.1 percent of adults in Vietnam had diabetes in 2021.

-- Da Nang City plans to improve the appeal of public toilets by adding commercial services at facilities along tourist routes. This idea was discussed at a Friday meeting between the municipal Peoples Council and local voters.

Business

-- Siam Cement Group, Thailands largest cement maker and industrial conglomerate, has suspended operations at its Long Son Petrochemicals complex in Vietnam in order to cope with high production costs and the impact of a downturn in the global petrochemical market.

-- According to the Ministry of Finance, state budget revenue is estimated at VND1.654 quadrillion ($65.38 billion) for January to October, accounting for 97.2 percent of the 2024 target.

Education

-- The American International School Vietnam, located in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, unexpectedly notified parents on Friday of its plans to reopen in January 2025, despite not yet receiving approval from the municipal Department of Education and Training. The school has been suspended for 12 months since July 1 due to its failure to demonstrate compliance with educational regulations.

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Da Nang City is considering adding commercial services to public toilet facilities along tourist routes to increase their appeal.

The proposal was discussed during a Friday meeting between the municipal Peoples Council and local voters.

The voters said that maintaining clean public toilets significantly enhances the tourist experience in a tourism hub like Da Nang.

Luu Thi Ngoc Lan, a voter from An Hai Bac Ward in Son Tra District, aired concerns about the hygiene of many public toilets in the coastal city in central Vietnam.

It is necessary to invest more in these facilities, particularly those in high-traffic tourist areas and popular coastal routes like Bach Dang and Tran Phu Streets, Lan said.

Addressing these concerns, Pham Nam Son, director of the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment, underlined the city's focus on investing in public toilets.

We have currently assigned 47 public toilets to five districts and the management boards of Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nangs tourist beaches for management and operation, Son noted.

He added that while they currently run these public toilets for their basic purpose, local authorities are exploring the possibility of adding commercial services to these venues.

Son identified locations like the public toilet at the corner of Hung Vuong and Yen Bai Streets in Hai Chau District as having the potential for such additions.

According to national radio station Voice of Vietnam, Da Nangs accommodation establishments hosted approximately 8.67 million visitors in January-September.

This marks a 33-percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, exceeding the target by three percent.

Of these visitors, more than 3.17 million were international travelers, a 30-percent hike from 2023, while domestic visitors topped 5.49 million, marking a 34-percent rise from the previous year.

As of October, Da Nang is serviced by 22 flight routes, including six domestic and 16 international connections.

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A former vault manager of Hanoi-based Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank) has been indicted for stealing of 246 taels (nearly 300 troy ounces) of gold from the bank to finance his stock and cryptocurrency investments.

The Hanoi Peoples Procuracy prosecuted Nguyen Van Linh, 38, on Friday for embezzlement.

TPBank has been operating a central vault since June 2020, consolidating the vaults of its branches to store various assets, including gold, cash, valuable documents, and collateral, according to the indictment.

The bank specifically categorizes its gold holdings into three types for management purposes: trading gold, custodial gold, and collateralized gold.

In early June 2020, Linh was appointed manager of the central vault, responsible for preserving, supervising, and inventorying assets in the vault.

Around mid-2017, Linh observed that the amount of collateralized gold in the vault experienced minimal fluctuations and noted that this type of gold was typically inventoried semiannually with advance notice.

In contrast, the gold in the trading and custodial safes was checked daily.

This observation led him to devise a plan to appropriate some of the pledged gold to invest in stocks and cryptocurrencies.

He then turned his attention to a sealed plastic bag containing 246 taels of SJC-branded gold, which had been pledged by a TPBank client, D.T.C., in 2016.

On July 5, 2017, he discreetly removed an equivalent amount of SJC gold from the trading gold safe, placed it in a box, and concealed it outside the vault.

The next morning, he successfully smuggled the box of 246 taels of gold out of the bank and later sold it for VND8.8 billion (US$347,920).

He then transferred the entire amount into his securities account.

To cover up the theft and avoid detection during inventory checks, Linh moved the bag of 246 taels of gold from the collateral safe to the trading safe.

In March 2019, he returned the bag to the collateral safe, knowing that C. was about to repay his loan under a contract and would be reclaiming his pledged gold.

To cover the shortage in the trading gold safe, he replaced the stolen gold with an equivalent amount of SJC gold from another pledger.

By employing this tactic  using gold from the collateral safe to replace the gold he had stolen from the trading safe  he was able to conceal his theft and avoid detection.

Similarly, in January 2021, after a female client pledged 561 taels of gold to the bank for a loan, Linh transferred 246 taels from her pledge to the trading gold safe to replace the gold he had appropriated.

When the client returned to repay her loan and reclaim her pledged gold, Linh could not find a suitable source to return to her.

Unable to repay the stolen gold and realizing he had no way to cover up his theft, Linh turned himself in to police on September 16, 2023, confessing to the embezzlement of 246 taels of gold, equivalent to 298.95 troy ounces.

On August 29, 2024, the bank announced it had received insurance payments totaling $468,319 and over VND5.3 billion ($209,550) following the theft.

The lender has opted not to pursue civil claims against Linh and has appealed to the investigating police agency for a reduction in his criminal responsibility.

Currently, police have frozen 9,393 shares belonging to the defendant, according to national broadcaster Vietnam Television.

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Ho Chi Minh City is now home to more than 21,000 houses along its canals, with many being temporary, makeshift, and downright tiny.

Down Alley 263 on Nguyen Duy Street in District 8, a row of run-down houses lines the Doi Canal.

Among them is a 25-square-meter house owned by Ngo Van Son, a father who has lived in District 8 for over 20 years.

Ngo Van Son and his family share a 25-square-meter living space along the Doi Canal in Ho Chi Minh City.

Water from the Doi Canal often creeps into Ngo Van Sons house in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City.

Sons house is made out of small wooden dowels covered in old metal roofing, with his children sharing a small, narrow space and sleeping in shifts.

His daughter works in the morning while his son sleeps until night-time. Once Sons son goes to work, his daughter sleeps.

During particularly heavy storms, Son and his family stay in their relatives homes to avoid the dangers of high tides.

When it is not rainy, the canal emits a foul smell, attracting flies during the day and mosquitoes at night.

High tides are a cause for concern at Ngo Van Son's house in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City.

The narrow flooded entrance leading to Ngo Van Sons house in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City.

Down the road from Sons house is a 20-square-meter home owned by Huynh Van Duc, which is shared by 10 other family members.

Tiny, crowded houses once lined the Doi Canal, but many families have since moved.

The inconvenience of such small living spaces and the dangers of living near the waterway have forced them to relocate.

The whole family lives in Ngo Van Sons tiny house in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City.

Huynh Van Duc's 20-square-meter makeshift house along the Doi Canal in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City.

Aside from Duc and Son, Chau Kim Anh and her two siblings have decided to stay. Combined, their three houses span 100 square meters and accommodate 11 people.

Everything is inconvenient, [we] have to work around each other to take care of daily chores and our attics are used for both storage and sleeping, Anh said.

Just getting into their homes requires threading through a one-meter-wide alleyway with metal roofing jutting out into the footpath.

Kim Anh, a resident of District 8, Ho Chi Minh City, takes advantage of each corner in the house.

Families living along other canals face similar hardships.

Duong Thi My Chi and her family, for example, reside in a cramped, 20-square-meter makeshift house along the Xuyen Tam Canal, which she rents for just VND3 million (US$118) per month.

The Xuyen Tam Canal stretches about 8.2km in total, starting from the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal in Binh Thanh District and flowing to the Vam Thuat River in Go Vap District.

Nonetheless, she will soon be forced to relocate, as local authorities have ordered the property owner to dismantle the structure to allow for canal dredging.

Duong Thi My Chi and her grandchild watch TV in a narrow rented house along the Xuyen Tam Canal in Ho Chi Minh City.

For many residents living along the canals in the southern metropolis, the hope of moving to safer, better housing feels like a distant dream, which is especially true for people like Chung Thi Kim Thuy, who lives down Alley 411 on Nguyen Duy Street in District 8.

Thuy shares her cramped 15-square-meter home along the Doi Canal with her three children.

Given limited space, the family hangs their belongings on the walls to keep the floor clear for sleeping.

Despite the homes disrepair and deteriorating condition, Thuy has no other options.

If the house collapses, she has nowhere else to go.

The 15-square-meter house of Chung Thi Kim Thuy on Alley 411 on Nguyen Duy Street in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City

Inside Chung Thi Kim Thuys home along the Doi Canal in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City

Chung Thi Kim Thuy and her family are forced to hang their belongings along the walls so that they can have space to sleep at night.

Down Alley 43/35A on Bui Dinh Tuy Street in Binh Thanh District, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Le and her husband have spent the last 20 years living in a 40-square-meter house, 28 square meters of which encroach on the Xuyen Tam Canal.

They often close their doors and windows in an attempt to keep out the foul odor rising from the canal.

Though they now have plans to move, they are sentimentally attached to the home  a place where they cared for their son during his fight with leukemia, which tragically ended when he was just 16.

Still, they have no choice but to relocate if they want to provide a better life for their children and grandchildren.

The house of Nguyen Thi Ngoc Le and her husband in Alley 43/35A on Bui Dinh Tuy Street in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City

The narrow staircase inside Nguyen Thi Ngoc Les house in Alley 43/35A on Bui Dinh Tuy Street in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Thousands of households line the canals of Ho Chi Minh City.

Temporary houses along the Doi Canal in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City

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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks during a bus tour campaign rally at the Shiner Park venue on October 18, 2024 in College Station, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Border crossing numbers are down to their lowest point in four years, but that isnt stopping U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz from hammering away at the issue in his closing message to voters as he crisscrosses the state.

While most of his ads have attacked his Democratic rival, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, over transgender issues, Cruz is making clear he is still betting big on the border driving voters to reelect him to the Senate for another six years.

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"Ive spent a lot of time at our southern border, Cruz told dozens of supporters at a warehouse in Georgetown earlier this week. If you have not been there recently, I promise you, as bad as you think it is, its worse.

While border crossing numbers are down now, Cruz reminded the crowd that U.S. Customs and Border Protection still reported millions of encounters with migrants since President Joe Biden took office (a single migrant may have multiple encounters with border agents)  and that doesn't factor in migrants who slipped through undetected.

Its the worst illegal immigration in our nations history, Cruz said during an earlier stop this month in Waco.

To fire up his crowds, hes focused heavily on crimes allegedly committed by migrants. Most notably Cruz has featured the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray of Houston in ads and has talked about her death at nearly every stop of his 50-city bus tour of Texas in October. Two men, both of them Venezuelan nationals, have been arrested and are awaiting trial for capital murder in connection to Jocelyn's death in June.

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Studies have repeatedly shown that immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than U.S.-born citizens, and the latest federal statistics show crime is declining overall.

Cruz said if hes sent back to the Senate he will again support building the border wall in South Texas, which he insists Allred is against despite the Democrat's campaign statements. Cruz points to votes Allred made during his first term for legislation that would have blocked Trump from diverting funding from the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security to fund border wall construction.

Allred has said he supports using physical barriers as part of the strategy for securing the border. While other Democrats nationally have largely avoided talking about border issues, Allred has tried to be more on offense on the issue. In a new 30-second ad hitting this weekend, Allreds campaign blasts the incumbent for opposing a bipartisan border bill in the U.S. Senate earlier this year that would have freed up money to hire more border agents and immigration judges to handle asylum cases faster.

We're tired of the talk, Culberson County Sheriff Oscar Carrillo says in Allreds ad. We need action on border security.

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Earlier this year, Allred praised the Biden administration for restarting construction of about 20 miles of border wall, mostly around Starr County east of Laredo, even as Biden himself said he was only doing it because Republicans forced his hand. During Allred's first term in the U.S. House he voted for legislation that would have blocked Trump from diverting funding from the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security to fund the construction of a border wall.

Monthly border crossings have steadily declined since March, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. In September, the agency reported that just 26,000 migrants had been encountered in the five Texas sectors of the border with Mexico. That is lower than the final months of the Trump presidency, when they were encountering 44,000 people per month in Texas.

Public polling shows why Cruz is returning to the issue of border security to turn out voters. Even as numbers have come down, voters continue to say it is a top issues driving them to get to the polls. A Texas Politics Project poll from the University of Texas at Austin in October asked 1,200 likely voters to identify the most important problem facing Texas. Nearly a third said immigration or the border, more than double that of any other issue.

At the same time, Cruz has tried to walk a fine line on former President Donald Trump's vow to support a mass deportation plan if he wins back the White House.

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Immediately after taking the oath of office, I will launch the largest mass deportation program in American history," Trump said at a rally in Austin.

Speaking to reporters in Georgetown, Cruz said the overwhelming majority of Americans agree with deporting undocumented people in the country.
A French tourist has successfully reclaimed 2,000 (US$2,176) after police in Ho Chi Minh City arrested a hotel housekeeper for allegedly stealing the cash from his room.

The municipal Department of Public Security announced on Friday the arrest and prosecution of Nguyen Anh Phong, a 37-year-old hotel housekeeper from Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, on charges of property theft.

The incident occurred on October 22, when Aurellien Raphael, a 42-year-old French national, rented a room alone at a hotel on Thu Khoa Huan Street in Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

The next morning, he left about 4,000 in his backpack in the corner of the room while he traveled to Cu Chi District in the same city.

Upon returning around 3:30 pm that same day, Raphael noticed signs of his backpack being searched and discovered that the cash was missing.

In a panic, he did not report the incident to the hotel receptionist.

On October 24, Raphael continued his trip to the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang.

Later that day, after returning to the hotel, he reported the theft to the Ben Thanh Ward police in District 1.

Following his report, police launched an urgent investigation.

A police officer questions Nguyen Anh Phong (R), a 37-year-old hotel housekeeper from the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, at the police station in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Supplied

Within a day, on October 25, Phong was invited to the police station for questioning.

Faced with undeniable evidence, he confessed to stealing the money.

Phong explained that he had been a probationary employee at the hotel since October 19.

On October 23 morning, while cleaning Raphaels room, he opened his backpack and stole the 2,000 before fleeing.

He then exchanged the stolen money at three gold shops in District 4, District 7, and Thu Duc City for over VND54 million ($2,134), which he spent on personal expenses.

During the exchange, Phong did not disclose the origin of the foreign currency, but the gold shop owners conducted the transactions as usual.

Upon discovering the truth, they voluntarily returned the foreign currency to police officers.

On Friday, the District 1 police returned the full amount of 2,000 to Raphael.

The French tourist, after receiving his money back, expressed his gratitude to the police for swiftly resolving the case and recovering his property.

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L to R: Clare Sladden, Alexander Doering, Rebecca OBrien.

Screenworks is calling for applications to its Career Pathway Programs for regional screenwriters, directors and producers.

Each of the Programs are designed to advance the careers of regional practitioners by connecting them with industry professionals and opportunities. Through Screenworks existing partnerships with organisations and production companies, the selected participants will be provided with invaluable support and guidance from some of Australias most respected writers, directors and producers.

Lisa OMeara, CEO of Screenworks said, Screenworks Career Pathway Programs are our flagship programs. We have been supporting regional practitioners through these programs since 2016 and consistently see impressive results. Clare Sladden was selected for Inside the Writers Room in 2018 and her credits now include NCIS: Sydney, Eden and Wentworth. Rebecca OBrien was selected for the Director Pathway Program in 2020 and has gone on to direct numerous episodes of Bump. Alexander Doering was selected for the Regional Producer Elevator program in 2022 and went on to produce the second series of Last King of the Cross.

We greatly value the support we receive from our industry partners to deliver this program and we look forward to seeing the participants we will bring through to connect with them in 2025.

Screenworks 2025 Regional Producer Elevator program will provide two selected regional NSW producers with $3,500 each to support their bespoke career development plans. They will be supported to secure a mentor and provided with introductions to key players in the Australian screen industry as well as to attend Screenworks 2025 Regional To Global forum.

Two regional NSW directors will also each be granted $3,500 to implement their bespoke career plans and will be supported to find mentors and attend Screenworks 2025 Regional to Global.

Finally, three regional NSW screenwriters will be selected to participate in the Inside The Writers Room program. This will see the participants observe a professional writing team working on a television drama at one of the following production companies; Matchbox, BBC Studios, and Easy Tiger. Screenworks will also engage the Australian Writers Guild to seek mentors who can spend time with each of the three selected screenwriters to advise them on career and project development.

Screenworks acknowledges the support from the following guilds and organisations who help make this program possible; Screen NSW, Screen Producers Australia, Australian Writers Guild and the Australian Directors Guild. Each of these will assist in assessing applications and industry introductions, sourcing mentors and providing career advice for the selected participants.

Full details on how to apply, visit:

Deadline for all three programs is 5pm AEDT Friday November 22nd.
Actor John Cena will host Discovery Channels Shark Week in 1 December.

I usually do Shark Week from my couch  with lots of snacks, but this year Im beyond excited to host the week dedicated to the endlessly fascinating, action heroes of the Ocean, said Cena. Its a wild week of shocking new footage, new discoveries, and lots and lots of teeth.

The annual week-long celebration of sharks will include the next chapter of Belly of the Beast, that offers a terrifying and fascinating real look at a Great White shark feeding frenzy; Monster Hammerheads: Species X, that follows a potential new hammerhead species; and Great White Serial Killer: Sea of Blood, that investigates a massive shark who decapitates its victim and terrorises a local village.

The 2024 edition of Shark Week will once again feature documentaries filmed in Australia and New Zealand  and include Australian and New Zealander shark experts and conservationists including shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder, scientist Dr. Riley Elliott and underwater cinematographer Kina Scollay.

From Sunday 1 December at 7:30pm on Discovery available on Foxtel, Fetch and Binge.
HCM CITY  Sacombank has been named Vietnams Best FX Bank by Euromoney magazine at the Awards for Excellence 2024 ceremony.

This marks the second year in a row that Sacombank has received this award, recognising its significant contributions to the foreign exchange market and breakthroughs in enhancing customer experiences throughout 2023.

According to the awards jury, Sacombanks FX division played a crucial role in the bank's strategy, contributing more than 10 per cent of its pre-tax profit in 2023.

Amid domestic and global economic challenges, Sacombank leveraged its strengths in foreign currency liquidity and advanced systems to offer optimal FX and derivatives solutions, enabling clients to manage exchange rate risks effectively and reduce costs.

Sacombank also enhanced its services with professional, multi-format forecasts covering exchange rates and commodity prices. Additionally, a system was implemented to assist clients in monitoring exchange rates and managing cash flows.

Euromoney praised Sacombank for developing and offering additional digital foreign exchange solutions tailored to customer needs built on the success of its core-treasury system upgrade project. All FX transaction information is updated in real-time, available 24/7, and remains accessible during holidays to ensure swift and convenient customer payments.

Euromoney Awards for Excellence are highly regarded as among the most prestigious and sought-after recognition in the global financial and banking industry for over 30 years, honouring over 600 banks and financial institutions for their outstanding achievements, growth, high adaptability to market changes and customer needs, especially demonstrating their pioneering and differentiation in business practices.

The awards criteria remains the industry benchmark globally today.

This year, Sacombank also won the Best in Treasury and Working Capital SMEs Vietnam 2024 award at the 2024 The Asset Triple A Award given by Hong Kong magazine The Asset.

For a third year in a row Sacombank has won this award by meeting all criteria in terms of business performance, solutions to support small and medium-sized customers and positive customer reviews.
HA NOI  Vietnamese agriculture corporation Hung Nhon Group and Frances Olmix Group on Saturday in Ha Noi signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a co-operation programme that aims to develop a production and supply chain for livestock and poultry products that meet Halal standards.

The collaboration is focused on developing and connecting the production chain to supply agricultural products that meet Halal standards for export, in which Hung Nhon Group and its member companies will invest in and develop high-tech, high-value projects.

Under the agreement, Olmix will provide poultry vaccine products and veterinary technical services to control diseases in livestock farms, ensuring high economic efficiency and comprehensive health care for livestock and pets.

One of the products Olmix will provide to Hung Nhon is the poultry vaccine manufactured by Germanys Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), who has manufacturers in the US, Italy, and France.

The poultry vaccine is an effective solution in preventing poultry diseases, minimising the use of antibiotics in livestock farming and helping reduce antibiotic resistance as well as limiting antibiotic residues in chicken meat and eggs, and ensuring food safety.

Furthermore, Olmix will provide Hung Nhon with advanced veterinary technical services, including diagnostic testing by Vipha.Lab, health monitoring, and testing of poultry flocks, as well as VTS vaccination equipment to enhance vaccination productivity and quality while reducing livestock stress.

The collaboration also includes the training of skilled workers and professional veterinarians.

Viet Nam is currently Olmixs second largest market globally and we are proud to have chosen Viet Nam as our headquarters for the Asian market. We believe that the partnership with Hung Nhon will further strengthen our presence in the Vietnamese market, said Robert Clapham, CEO of Olmix Group.

Talking about the decision to choose a partner for this long-term strategy, Vu Manh Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Digital Agriculture Association (VIDA) cum Chairman of the Board of Hung Nhon Group, said that Olmix is a business that specialises in the production and exclusive distribution of veterinary medicine, aquatic products, and animal feed additives of many famous global brands of leading corporations such as: Olmix, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dopharma and Biopharm.

"The products distributed by Olmix are optimal solutions, such as high-tech vaccines, disinfectants, antiseptics, supplements, vet medicines to prevent and treat internal and external parasites and vaccination services. These products are capable of effectively controlling diseases in livestock farms, enhancing economic efficiency while providing comprehensive health protection for livestock," said Hung.

Present at the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung uc Tien appreciated Hung Nhon's strategic direction through co-operation with Olmix.

"The use of quality vaccines provided by Olmix also contributes to the creation of products that meet food hygiene and safety standards, export standards, and especially Halal standards," said Tien.

With more than 15 years of experience in the livestock industry in Viet Nam, Gabor Fluit, Group CEO of Royal De Heus  a world's leading agricultural groups with over 130 years of experience in the Netherlands, believes that the main challenge that farmers face is controlling diseases on the farm.

Livestock must be protected from all possible variations of disease. Therefore, using vaccines is considered an effective measure to limit damage to farms. In fact, vaccines play an important role in increasing survival rates, reducing the use of antibiotics in livestock farming and lowering production costs, he said.

In recent years, we have witnessed epidemics causing heavy damage to the livestock industry. Therefore, we are investing in establishing disease-free zones to ensure a stable supply of breeding stock, and we have chosen very suitable locations, he said.

From a small-scale chicken farm, Hung Nhon has now become a multi-industry corporation operating in many fields. The group has strengths in the field of large-scale livestock farming, applying advanced technology with a closed process from breeding and feeding to slaughtering, according to ISO and Global GAP standards.

Hung Nhon is currently one of the leading agricultural corporations in Viet Nam with 17 member companies and a joint venture between DHN and De Heus. The DHN joint venture includes a series of high-tech agricultural investment projects in Central Highlands provinces and a series of huge projects in Tay Ninh.

Olmix specialises in animal and plant care, with a commercial presence in 100 countries and factories located in Europe, America and Asia. In 2023, Olmix achieved a turnover of 200 million euros with more than 900 employees. Olmix has been operating for more than 20 years in Viet Nam with a team of 200 employees, spread over 50 provinces and cities.
HA NOI  Experts urged Vietnamese producers and exporters to develop comprehensive market strategies to take advantages of the UK  Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).

That was the message for exporters if they want to expand further into this market, an online conference held on Wednesday was told.

The conference, organised by the Cong Thuong (Industry and Trade) magazine, heard from Vu Viet Thanh from the European  American Market Department, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, who said that the UKVFA has become an important impetus to leverage the bilateral economic, trade and investment to new highs since the trade deal took effect in May 2021.

Viet Nams exports to the UK benefitted significantly from the trade deal, he said, adding that the UK was the ninth largest export market of Viet Nam in the world and fourth in the EU in 2023.

Notably, the bilateral trade between Viet Nam and the UK is a spotlight in the context that Viet Nams exports to major markets in the UK saw unprecedented drops, even double digits, due to the impacts of geo-political tensions and global slowdown.

He cited statistics that showed bilateral trade increased 8.9 per cent per year on average during the past three years, in which Viet Nams exports to the UK rose by 9.4 per cent, much higher than the growth rate of Viet Nams export to the EU-27.

With radical tariff elimination, the UKVFTA has contributed to boost exports of Vietnamese products to the UK, including in garments, footwear, agricultural and fisheries products.

Thanh pointed out that the UKs exports to Viet Nam have also increased significantly, especially in terms of high-tech products and high-quality raw materials such as machineries, automobile, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, contributing to Viet Nams industrialisation and modernisation.

Regarding investment, the trade deal has promoted the capital flow from the UK and Viet Nam in recent years, with the number of UK-invested projects reaching 584 as of the end of September, worth $4.5 billion, from 380 projects as of the end of 2020.

The UKVFTA also promotes institutional reform in a number of sectors including trade, investment, services, public procurement and sustainable development in Viet Nam, which creates space and a solid legal foundation for the development of two countries in the future, Thanh stressed.

Vietnamese enterprises are also taking advantage of the UKVFTAs tariff preferences for expansion, he said, adding that a large number have been successfully expanding exports to the UK and met increasingly high requirements in terms of green consumption, sustainable development and producer responsibility for sustainable export to this market, he said.

The UKs accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will also create new space for the bilateral relation between Viet Nam and the UK, Thanh stressed.

Enhance market study

However, according to the Viet Nam Trade Office in the UK, Viet Nam accounts for a very modest share in the UKs total imports every year, estimated at just around one per cent. One of the reasons is that Viet Nam has not yet built its own brands in the UK market. in addition, producers and exporters have not focused on developing comprehensive and effective strategy for expansion into this market.

The UK is very interested in sustainable development, labour issues, environmental protection and social responsibility. Therefore, when exporting to the UK, enterprises should be competitive not only in terms of price and quality, but also in meeting requirements related to sustainable development, Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.

According to Nguyen Canh Cuong, former Trade Counselor of Viet Nam to the UK, besides UKVFTA, Brexit also provided significant opportunities for Vietnamese firms.

After Brexit, trade between the UK and the EU dropped, up to 50 per cent for some industries, he said, adding that these gaps in the supply chains could bring new opportunities for Viet Nam. Its time Vietnamese firms develop strategies and enhance competitiveness to expand further in the UK market.

"With the rapid development of digital technology and new marketing methods, enterprises should be more attentive in searching for market information and studying the markets requirements carefully for good preparations," he said.

There are various sources to search for and verify market information such as trade offices, industries associations, the Government of UKs e-portals and export support centres.

He pointed out three factors of the UK market that Vietnamese firms must attach special attention to:

First, Vietnamese firms need to study the market requirements carefully, especially those developed by British Standards Institution (BSI), to make preparations and better take the opportunities arising from the trade pact.

The second factor is the trend of sustainable and environmentally - friendly consumption, emission reduction and climate change. These are already integrated into the UKs trade policy, engraved in the awareness of importers and consumers.

The third factor is to ensure the transparency in the supply chain and origin traceability.

Agreeing with Cuong, Thanh said that companies need to study and verify the market information carefully via various official sources, including two e-portals of the Ministry of Industry and Trade at the addresses: https://goglobal.moit.gov.vn/ and http://connectviet.moit.gov.vn/.

Vietnamese producers and exporters must focus on enhancing the competitiveness, establishing value chains to ensue origin traceability, food hygiene and safety.

Increasing the application of science and technology is also important to create competitive advantage for Vietnamese products in the market, he said.

A radical strategy for market expansion should be developed based on market studies to be able to take advantages of the trade deal, expand exports and increase added value, he stressed. Enterprises also need to closely upgrade new regulations of the UK market to avoid problems and make appropriate preparations.

The ministry will continue to strengthen cooperation mechanisms to remove market barriers and reduce cost burdens on enterprises, as well as clarify regulations to help Vietnamese firms develop an appropriate strategy and roadmap for market expansion, Thanh said.  VNS
by Bao Hoa

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is set to return this weekend from an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

His visit, the first by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to the UAE and Qatar in 15 years, and the first by a Vietnamese leader to Saudi Arabia since establishing diplomatic relations 25 years ago, signals Viet Nams heightened interest in strengthening ties with these pivotal Middle Eastern nations.

These deepened connections are expected to unlock various opportunities for Viet Nam, particularly in economic cooperation and cultural exchange. One promising area is the development of a domestic halal industry catering to Muslim consumersa sector the Vietnamese Government has actively promoted in recent years.

Efforts have been made to bring Vietnamese food products up to halal standards to facilitate exports to Islamic countries, while halal tourism is emerging as a new market with substantial growth potential.

Halal, an Arabic term meaning permissible or lawful, defines practices and products that align with Islamic law.

According to Ihsan Ovut, Secretary General of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries, halal standards represent a significant opportunity for Viet Nam, especially within the tourism sector.

As Viet Nam continues to grow as one of Asia's most dynamic economies, the need for tourism to reflect the diverse expectations of international visitors has become increasingly clear, he said.

The halal industry offers a considerable avenue for Viet Nam to broaden its tourist base, particularly from Muslim-majority countries, presenting itself as a welcoming destination that respects cultural and religious needs.

The Global Muslim Travel Index highlights the halal tourism market as vibrant, with a rising demand from nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, representing about one-fourth of the global population. With the global Muslim population projected to reach 2.2 billion by 2030, spending from this tourism market is expected to increase, potentially reaching US$341.1 billion per year.

Recognising this trend, Viet Nam has hosted multiple conferences and seminars over the past two years to promote tourism investment between the Middle East and South Asia, and to explore ways to enhance halal tourism in promising locations such as Quang Ninh, a Nang, Quang Nam, and Kien Giang.

Statistics from the Viet Nam National Administration for Tourism (VNAT) indicate that tourist numbers from Muslim-majority nationsparticularly from Indiahave grown in recent years. The trend is also evident among visitors from Southeast Asian countries with large Muslim populations, such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

VNAT Deputy Director Ha Van Sieu believes that the halal market holds great promise for Viet Nams tourism industry, referring to it as a gold mine with the potential to create breakthroughs.

The market for Halal-certified tourism services could represent a new chapter in Viet Nams tourism, he told Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi ) newspaper.

Increasing halal awareness

Despite the progress made, experts say that Viet Nams halal tourism market requires further development to reach its potential.

Zafer Gedikli, president of the World Halal Council, believes Viet Nam could become a highly attractive destination for Muslim tourists if halal awareness is raised among service providers. Gedikli noted that enhancing knowledge about halal standards in hotels and restaurants would make Viet Nam more appealing to Muslim travellers.

The primary barrier to Viet Nams halal market growth is the widespread lack of awareness among entrepreneurs about halal requirements, Gedikli explained.

Many business owners and small enterprises are not well-acquainted with halal compliance, particularly in areas such as ingredient sourcing, processing, and packaging, which prevents them from meeting the rigorous standards necessary for certification.

Gedikli pointed out that simple ingredients can often pose challenges. For instance, adding a few drops of wine to a sauce may seem normal in Viet Nam, but it renders the dish unsuitable for Muslims, he said.

"Similarly, while Muslims consume meat like beef, chicken, and lamb, these must be slaughtered according to Islamic rites. Without this, they are not permissible."

In Ha Nois bustling Old Quarter, Vu Thi Khanh Chi has made strides in halal-friendly offerings. She operates three food stations that serve Vietnamese cuisine prepared in halal style, which have gained popularity among Muslim tourists and local residents alike.

Learning about halal standards helped me understand why theyre so important for Muslim customers, who strictly follow these rules, Chi said.

She described how customers transiting through Noi Bai Airport frequently visit her outlets, paying high cab fares just to find a halal-certified bowl of pho or banh mi.

For business owners wanting to enter the halal market, there are courses and certification centres in Viet Nam that can provide halal certification, she said, expressing confidence in the markets growth prospects for both Muslim and non-Muslim clientele.

Fostering tourism initiatives

National Halal Vietnam (VNH), a company that helps businesses establish halal practices and obtain certification from the International Halal Accreditation (IHA) organisation, has taken steps to assist Vietnamese businesses, including tourism enterprises, restaurants and hotels, in catering to Muslim guests.

A recent success story is the Sapa Charm Hotel in Lao Cai Province, which began collaborating with VNH in September 2023 to provide halal services.

To create a halal-compliant environment, VNH worked with Sapa Charm to train hotel staff and managers in essential service protocols for Muslim guests, including the specifics of halal food and appropriate guest interaction.

The hotel adapted 25 rooms, added a communal prayer room available 24/7, and designated a dining area and kitchen exclusively for halal meals. Other tailored amenities included dedicated walkways, lifts, and bilingual signs in English and Arabic to enhance accessibility and comfort for Muslim guests.

Tran Van Tan Cuong, director of VNH, underscored the importance of cultural understanding for the growth of halal tourism. Attracting Muslim tourists requires an awareness of and respect for their unique cultural and religious requirements, he said.

Restaurants and tourist sites in Viet Nam must focus on educating their staff about these differences while providing packages that adhere to halal principles, including sustainability and environmental friendliness. An inclusive and respectful environment can go a long way in making Viet Nam a preferred destination.

Partnerships and halal tourism potential

Through his recent visits, Prime Minister Chinh elevated the Viet Nam-UAE relationship to a comprehensive partnership while deepening ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which opens up more collaborative opportunities in various fields, including halal industry development.

This elevated partnership is expected to encourage tourism and economic exchange, enabling Viet Nam to expand its halal industry to welcome more tourists from the Gulf.

Viet Nams coordinated effortsfrom government support to business adaptations and certification processessignal a promising future for halal tourism in the country.

As a safe destination, Viet Nam holds significant potential to welcome an expanding Muslim tourist base with tailored services and halal-certified amenities that cater to both Muslims and non-Muslims interested in cultural experiences.

A thriving halal tourism ecosystem could emerge, driven by collaborative efforts from the government, private businesses, accreditation agencies, and the Vietnamese people, fostering a welcoming environment that meets the unique needs of Muslim visitors. VNS
Viet Nam and the Middle East have enjoyed a longstanding cooperative relationship, marked by mutual respect and economic exchange. This foundation has not only supported consistent trade but also holds substantial potential for expansion.

With Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs recent visit to the Middle East, a fresh momentum has been established, setting the stage for enhanced trade relations, deeper economic ties, and new areas of cooperation.

Complementary relationship

Experts point out that the Middle East and Viet Nam have highly complementary economies, which can lead to beneficial partnerships across various sectors. Saudi Arabia, the largest economy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, is a key economic partner of Viet Nam.

Because of vast desert areas and a challenging agricultural climate, Saudi Arabia looks to imports for its food security, making Viet Nams agricultural and seafood products highly attractive. This includes staples like rice, coffee, cashew nuts, tea, and frozen fish, which align well with Saudi Arabias growing demand for diversified food sources.

Saudi investors are also exploring potential in Viet Nams agriculture, food processing, and textile sectors.

As of 2022, Viet Nams trade with Saudi Arabia had grown to nearly US$2.7 billion, with Viet Nam exporting products like mobile phones, textiles, wood products, and machinery, while importing raw materials such as plastics, chemicals and animal feed from Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia currently has eight investment projects in Viet Nam, valued at US$8.57 million, and the Saudi Fund for Development has extended preferential loans to 12 projects totalling over $164 million. These initiatives reflect the Middle Eastern nations interest in expanding its economic footprint in Viet Nam.

The UAE is another prominent economic partner, serving as Viet Nams largest export market in the Middle East and Africa. In the first nine months of this year, trade between the two countries reached $4.96 billion, already surpassing the $4.7 billion recorded for the whole of 2023.

The two nations have an ambitious target of reaching $10 billion in bilateral trade, with Viet Nams exports comprising mobile phones, electronics, footwear, textiles, and agricultural products such as pepper, cashew nuts, and rice. Imports from the UAE include plastic materials, liquefied natural gas, and petroleum products, underscoring the mutual benefits of these trade flows.

Meanwhile, Qatar, with its strong focus on energy and finance, presents lucrative opportunities for Viet Nam.

In 2023, Viet Nam-Qatar trade reached $497 million, marking a 32 per cent increase from the previous year. Viet Nam primarily exports seafood, electrical equipment, wood products, and electronics to Qatar, while importing LPG, raw plastics, and chemicals.

With Qatars focus on diversifying its investment portfolio, sectors such as real estate, industry, and education show promise for future collaboration.

Unlocking potential

At a recent business-to-business (B2B) event in Ha Noi, Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director general of the Agency for Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, underscored the complementary economic relationship between Viet Nam and the Middle East, highlighting Viet Nams strong positions in agriculture, industry, and manufacturing, which align well with the needs of the Middle East.

While Viet Nams primary exports to the region have included rice, coffee, pepper, and seafood, there remains significant room to expand into additional categories such as electronics, apparel, and household goods, particularly in countries with young populations and growing middle classes, according to Hai.

Viet Nam has strengths in key export areas that are well-suited to the demands of Middle Eastern markets, Hai said.

He noted the high demand for halal-certified goods, especially processed foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals in Middle Eastern and North African countries, particularly in the GCC, given their significant Muslim populations.

Despite the opportunities, Viet Nam currently faces some challenges in penetrating the Middle Eastern market more deeply, according to Hai. Investment from the Arab region represents less than 1 per cent of total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Viet Nam, with capital from these countries accounting for only 0.21 per cent of the total.

These figures remain modest and do not fully reflect the cooperation potential between Viet Nam and the Middle East.

With a strategic location in Southeast Asia, Viet Nam has the potential to develop as a transit hub for goods between Asia and the Middle East. Collaboration with leading logistics companies in the region, such as DP World in Dubai, could enhance connectivity, improve supply chain efficiency, and strengthen trade links between Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Leading Middle Eastern corporations, including BW Group, are investing in Viet Nams logistics and maritime sectors, which Hai sees as critical for advancing Viet Nams position as a trade and logistics hub.

These efforts align with Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to establish Saudi Arabia as a premier logistics hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa.

For Vietnamese logistics firms, Vision 2030 represents a valuable opportunity for partnerships that could elevate Viet Nams logistical capabilities and trade potential with the Middle East and beyond.  VNS

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UAE Nguyen Thanh Diep:

High shipping costs and fierce competition from India and Pakistan are big challenges for Vietnamese enterprises to enter the UAE market.

The establishment of a Vietnamese business association in the UAE will provide information and consultations for enterprises to minimise trade disputes and fraud.

A joint working group should be set up to share information and connect potential projects and partners between the two sides as well as promote UAE investment in areas of Viet Nams strengths like renewable energy, oil and gas, logistics, real estate, energy and industrial infrastructure, and industrial waste treatment.

Following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the ties between Viet Nam and the UAE across all areas will continue thriving in the future. Elaborating the agreement, the first free trade pact that Viet Nam has ever negotiated with an Arabic nation in the Middle East, will open up great prospects and a new period of strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Qatar Nguyen Huy Hiep:

Energy and renewable energy is a key area of cooperation between Viet Nam and Qatar. With abundant oil and gas resources as financial and technological potential, Qatar can join hands with Viet Nam in technology transfer and energy projects, especially in renewables.

Viet Nam has recently approved a plan on strengthening international cooperation to build and develop its halal industry by 2030 -- the first setting out a major national direction to open up the potential halal market with Islamic countries, while Qatar has introduced the Halal Livelihoods programme aiming to establish itself as a global hub for halal products in the near future.

In education and research, the potential for exchange programmes for students and lecturers, as well as joint scientific research, could enhance the competitiveness and capabilities of both countries.

The two nations should hold cultural exchanges and tourism promotion events to raise mutual understanding and collaboration.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia ang Xuan Dung:

Viet Nam and Saudi Arabia have established fundamental cooperation mechanisms to enhance bilateral relations, including the Joint Committee on Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation and political consultations between their foreign ministries.

In addition to the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, both countries are actively working to improve and solidify cooperation mechanisms, agreements, and memorandums of understanding at the government, ministerial, and sectoral levels. This effort aims to enhance the legal framework for bilateral relations, facilitating economic and trade cooperation for localities and businesses with Saudi Arabia.

The two parties, however, should consider establishing additional cooperation mechanisms, such as the Viet Nam-Saudi Arabia Business Council, to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations. This council would allow businesses from both parties operating in similar fields to connect directly and explore investment and collaboration opportunities.
The Climate Prediction Centers outlook shows that above-average temperatures are expected across Texas this November. Climate Prediction Center

October didnt really feel like October this year across South Texas. Instead, we basically experienced a long extension of summer as temperatures regularly made it into the 90s  and rain was extremely hard to come by.

Through 139 years of record-keeping, this October was the hottest weve ever endured in San Antonio, with an average daily high temperature of 90.3 degrees. This past month was the citys first October ever with an average high temperature of at least 90 degrees. That record-setting average was 8.1 degrees above Octobers climate-normal average high temp.

San Antonio also tied or broke daily record-high temperatures six times during the month. The highest temperature recorded in October was 98 degrees on Oct. 14.

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Daily low temperatures in the morning were also much warmer than they typically are in October. San Antonio averaged a low temperature of 66.5 degrees, which was 6.1 degrees above the climate-normal and the fifth-warmest average ever recorded for the month. The lowest temperature we saw was 54 degrees on Oct. 17.

If you put the average high and low temps together, San Antonios overall average October temperature was 78.4 degrees. That is the warmest October ever recorded in the city, topping the previous record of 78 degrees from 1931.

What does a typical November look like?

Whether November will bring above-average or below-average temperatures this year, you can still bet the weather will be much cooler than what we experienced in October. One big reason is that well receive much less direct sunlight in November, when the length of daylight will decrease by 35 minutes from the start to the end of the month.

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Over the past 30 years in San Antonio, Novembers average daily high temperature has been 71.7 degrees, and the average daily low is 49.8 degrees. Stronger cold fronts typically arrive by the middle and end of the month. San Antonios average date of the first freeze is Nov. 30.

Those are just the averages, and as we all know, Texas weather loves to live outside of the average. So will this November continue Octobers trend and stay warm? Or will the colder weather finally arrive? Heres a look at what you can expect.

November outlook

Shown are the GEFS and ECMWF ensemble weather forecast models, which show that above-average temperatures are favored across Texas during November. WeatherBell

Ensemble models are typically a good guide for long-range weather forecasting because they do not rely on a single weather model run, which can have a wide array of solutions. Instead, ensembles take into account dozens of different model simulations and average the results together. This allows for a best guess for how the weather could look like several weeks in advance.

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For November, ensembles agree that we can expect weather thats warmer than normal. Both the European ECMWF ensemble, as well as the American GEFS ensemble, are depicting temperatures 3 to 6 degrees above average for the month as a whole.

Does it mean November is guaranteed to be warm? Absolutely not. But it gives us a good idea of whats most likely to occur.

The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center agrees. Their official November outlook gives San Antonio a 46% chance of above-average temperatures, a 33% chance of near-average temperatures and only a 21% chance of below-average temps.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's recent visit to the UAE culminated in a historic milestone: the signing of the Viet Nam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on October 28.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien described the agreement as a breakthrough, one that will significantly enhance economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two nations, creating substantial new market access for Viet Nam in the Middle East and Africa.

The CEPA is considered one of two historic milestones during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit. Could you briefly outline the negotiation process and summarise its key provisions?

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien: Since 2022, Viet Nams Ministry of Industry and Trade and the UAEs Ministry of Economy have explored the feasibility of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), recognising the substantial benefits it could generate for both countries. This study and impact assessment conducted in 2022 confirmed the FTAs viability and mutual advantages, leading to an official endorsement of the name Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in April 2023. This name selection coincided with a working session where both sides signed a Ministerial Statement to initiate negotiations, establishing the Terms of Reference (TOR) for CEPA.

On June 20, 2023, Viet Nams government approved the launch of CEPA negotiations, underscoring the increasingly robust relations between Viet Nam and the UAE, especially in economic and trade cooperation.

Negotiations since June 2023 have covered an expansive range of topics: trade in goods and services, investment facilitation, digital trade, rules of origin, intellectual property, trade defence, sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), technical barriers to trade (TBT), customs and trade facilitation, government procurement, legal and institutional issues, and support for small and medium enterprises. This extensive agenda ensures balanced interests for both countries, tailored to each ones key sectors and market demands.

The signing of the CEPA during Prime Minister Chinhs UAE visit reflected both nations strong determination and collaborative efforts. Remarkably, the negotiation process was completed in just over a yearsignificantly faster than other FTAs and indeed a historic milestone.

The CEPA comprises 18 chapters, 15 annexes, and two bilateral letters. Notably, it includes a strong commitment to trade liberalisation, with the UAE agreeing to eliminate tariffs on 99 per cent of Viet Nams exports, while Viet Nam will phase out tariffs on 98.5 per cent of UAE exports. The agreement incorporates provisions that align with global trends in digital transformation and green development, underscoring a forward-looking approach to FTA design.

Given the tariff incentives outlined in the CEPA, which industries and sectors in Viet Nam do you think are likely to gain the most from this agreement?

Minister Dien: The UAEs commitment to eliminate tariffs on numerous key Vietnamese export sectors will provide better conditions for boosting exports to the UAE and other Middle Eastern markets. The UAE is opening nearly all of its market to products with export potential from Viet Nam.

Agricultural products such as cashew nuts, pepper and honey are expected to see considerable growth, as demand for premium, clean, organic, and halal-certified agricultural products is strong in the UAE and neighbouring countries.

Vietnamese consumer goodstextiles, garments, footwear, and electronicswill also benefit from CEPAs tariff reductions. This agreement enhances these products ability to compete on price and increase market share in the UAE, which has high demand for stylish, high-quality consumer goods.

Seafood, especially premium items like shrimp and fish, will also find greater opportunities. CEPA incentives will help expand exports and enhance product value in the UAE, a market known for its high standards for seafood.

Additionally, wood products are expected to benefit due to the UAEs rapid urbanisation and high-end real estate developments, which drive demand for quality furniture and construction materials. The CEPA also includes commitments to open the services market and enhance transparency in government procurement, facilitating further investment exchanges between the two countries.

How will the CEPA strengthen economic and trade cooperation between Viet Nam and the UAE, and help Vietnamese goods gain broader access to the Middle East and Africa?

Minister Dien: As Viet Nams first FTA with an Arab country, the CEPA is a major milestone in strengthening relations with the UAE and the broader Middle Eastern and African regions. It not only facilitates economic and trade cooperation between the two countries but also attracts significant UAE investment into Viet Nam, especially in energy, industry, high technology, and supply chain development.

Viet Nam is committed to opening its market to the UAE at a level higher than those in WTO and other existing FTAs in areas like hotel and restaurant services, ship rental with operator, ship maintenance, repair, and shipping agency services. These sectors align with UAE strengths and pave the way for major investments in Viet Nam after the agreements implementation.

The CEPA includes a dedicated chapter on Economic Cooperation, where both sides commit to collaborative efforts in tourism, transportation, manufacturing, financial services, and energy.

Cooperation in these areas will be facilitated through conferences, seminars, delegation exchanges, and private-sector dialogues. These activities will enable Vietnamese businesses and experts to learn from the UAEs expertise and access its advanced technologies.

The agreement offers Viet Nam a valuable opportunity to attract investment from the UAE, which is recognised for its significant financial resources. This includes sectors like processing, manufacturing, high-tech agriculture, and infrastructure. Before the CEPA signing, two delegations of major UAE enterprises had already visited Viet Nam to explore investment opportunities in energy, infrastructure, and logistics. Given the UAEs position as a leading global logistics centre, the CEPA will strengthen transportation cooperation and supply chains, facilitating the efficient movement of Vietnamese goods.

How do you view the significance of the CEPA in helping Viet Nam access the Middle East market, which has an estimated value of US$2 trillion?

Minister Dien: Signing the CEPA with the UAE is a pivotal move for Viet Nam to seize trade and investment opportunities in the Middle East, a region with dynamic economies and significant economic potential that has been underexplored by Vietnamese businesses.

With the anticipated boost in the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods, businesses now have the opportunity to compete with or even surpass other partners in this key market.

The UAE is a major trade gateway in the Middle East, linking to many countries in the region, which will make it easier for Vietnamese products to penetrate large markets like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, as well as some North African and West Asian nations.

Through tariff reductions and expanded cooperation, the CEPA will be instrumental in unlocking the Middle East markets potential. It represents the first step in Viet Nams government strategy to diversify and strengthen relations, placing priority on developing new partnerships alongside traditional markets, particularly with countries that have not been fully engaged in the past.

What specific challenges are Viet Namese exporters likely to face with CEPA implementation, and what actions will the Ministry of Industry and Trade take to help businesses leverage CEPA opportunities?

Minister Dien: To fully benefit from CEPA, businesses need to actively engage with the agreements commitments and understand UAE and Middle Eastern market practices, especially regarding halal certification. This certification is essential for entering Arab markets, and given that its a new area for many businesses, we must intensify efforts to remain competitive against countries that have long adhered to these import standards.

The governments strong commitment will enable close collaboration between ministries, agencies, and the business community to tackle these challenges.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has developed a CEPA Implementation Plan with three main goals. First, it will raise awareness of the agreements contents and impacts to ensure relevant parties understand the commitments and actions required to maximise opportunities.

Second, the ministry will work with other relevant ministries and agencies to develop or amend necessary legal documents, submitting these to competent authorities as per the CEPAs roadmap. This includes a government decree on the special preferential import tariff schedule for UAE products and a circular on CEPAs rules of origin.

Finally, the ministry will work with relevant bodies to establish programmes to support various industries and enhance competitiveness, with a particular focus on small, medium, and micro-enterprises. These efforts will assist businesses in meeting import requirements and exploring new export markets in the region, including achieving halal certification. VNS
Autumn is in full swing, giving art lovers a good chance to enjoy a new collection of 30 paintings by teacher and painter Nguyen Thi Thuy Huong at an exhibition called 'A Journey of Life and Love' that is being shown on Sunday, November 3 in the heart of the capital.
HA NOI  President of the National Assembly of Peoples Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez arrived in Ha Noi on November 2 morning, beginning his two-day working visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Welcoming the top Cuban legislator at Noi Bai International Airport were Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Vu Hai Ha, and Cuban Ambassador to Viet Nam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen.

The working visit by the top legislator of Cuba aims to continue implementing the cooperation commitments of the two parliaments, helping enhance parliamentary ties as well as the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.  VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man held talks with visiting President of the National Assembly of Peoples Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Ha Noi on Saturday.

The talks took place right after a welcome ceremony chaired by the NA Chairman for the top legislator of Cuba.

Man highlighted the significance of regular mutual visits by the two countries senior officials in continuing to consolidate and develop the special solidarity between Viet Nam and Cuba.

He expressed gratitude to the Party, State, National Assembly and people of Cuba for their deep sentiments to late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and thanked Esteban Lazo for leading a high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Cuba to attend the national funeral of the late Party chief in July.

Man affirmed that after 64 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the solidarity and close relationship between Viet Nam and Cuba, nurtured by late President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro, has continuously developed, becoming a model in international relations.

The Party, State and people of Viet Nam treasure and are determined to further deepen the special, exemplary and faithful relationship between Viet Nam and Cuba on channels and across all fields, while working together with Cuban people to maintain, develop, and pass on to next generations.

Esteban Lazo, for his part, expressed his joy to return to visit Viet Nam and meet Chairman Man again, saying that the special traditional friendship between the two countries has been constantly consolidated and strengthened on all channels of Party, State, as well in parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

The top legislator of Cuba thanked the Party, State and people of Viet Nam for presenting 10,000 tonnes of rice to Cuba, emphasising this is the timely sharing in the context that Cuba is facing a food and energy crisis.

He stated that the two countries special relationship has seen many positive developments after the state visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in September. During this visit, the two sides issued a Joint Statement between Viet Nam and Cuba with the determination to continue strongly developing bilateral ties to a new height that is more comprehensive, substantive, effective and sustainable, in the spirit of cooperation, development for the cause of socialism development and building, for the benefit of the two countries people, and for peace, cooperation and development in each region and the world.

He also expressed his joy to see that Viet Nam continues to be a major investor in Cuba in the fields of energy and tourism. He said hopes that the Southeast Asian nation supports Cuba in developing renewable energy; and suggested that Viet Nam share its law-making experiences, especially in the context that Cuba is building an enterprise law.

The guest said the two sides should promote exchanges and cooperation between localities and friendly parliamentarians groups, coordinate to prepare for the organisation of the second session of the Viet Nam - Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in order to share experiences in building and fine-tuning policies and laws, and promote bilateral cooperation in various fields such as economy, finance, investment, energy, science and technology.

Both top legislators showed their delight at the development of the two countries parliaments with high-level visits and important cooperative activities, deepening the relationship between the two legislatures, and contributing to consolidating and strengthening the special, exemplary and faithful relationship between Viet Nam and Cuba.

To realise the cooperation protocol signed between the two legislative bodies in April last year, the first session of the Viet Nam - Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, co-chaired by President Esteban Lazo Hernandez and Vice NA Chairman Nguyen uc Hai, took place in September, with results recognised by both countries' senior leaders and included in the Viet Nam-Cuba Joint Statement. This reaffirmed the two legislatures determination in further deepening relations between the two countries through parliamentary cooperation channels.

To continue promoting the good results of the first session of the Viet Nam - Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in the spirit of the signed cooperation protocol, Man stated that the Vietnamese NA wishes to continue strengthening cooperation with the Cuban NA with new and more extensive cooperation contents and mechanisms.

Specifically, the two NAs continue to exchange their all-level delegations, committees and deputies, and friendly parliamentarians groups to share professional experiences in law-making, supervision and decision-making on important matters of the country, while enhancing information exchange and experience sharing in direct or online forms on holding parliament activities, building and perfecting institutions and legal systems in areas of mutual interest.

The two NA leaders agreed that it is necessary to continue promoting the role of the two legislatures through studying the possibility of coordination to supervise to effectively implement high-level cooperation documents and agreements agreement between the two countries.

Man proposed the two sides coordinate at multilateral international forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other multilateral parliamentary organisations of which the two sides are members; support each other's stances on regional and international issues of shared concern.

They also agreed to hold the second session of the Viet Nam - Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in Viet Nam next year. VNS
HA NOI  State President Luong Cuong met with Politburo member, President of the National Assembly of Peoples Power, and President of the Council of State of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Ha Noi on Saturday.

The host welcomed his guests working trip to Viet Nam on Saturday and Sunday, which takes place just two months after the state visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and then State President To Lam.

He hailed the significance of the visit as well as the outcomes of the talks between the Cuban leader and Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man earlier the same day, saying that he believes the visit will help reinforce the fraternal solidarity, special friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and trust between the two countries.

At the meeting, the two leaders affirmed the determination to further intensify the exemplary relationship between Viet Nam and Cuba, founded by late President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro Ruz and nurtured by generations of the two countries leaders and people.

He offered his sympathy to the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba along with other leaders of the country on the consequences of Hurricane Osca on October 20 and the recent blackouts.

He expressed his confidence that Cuba will stay steadfast to surmount many difficulties and challenges and obtain new achievements in the safeguarding, construction, and development of a socialist country.

The Vietnamese President also congratulated the Caribbean nation on its significant success that the United Nations General Assembly on October 30 overwhelmingly adopted a resolution demanding the US end the embargo against Cuba.

Viet Nam wishes to further enhance and promote the cooperation with Cuba in all spheres, thus maximising both sides strengths as they are about to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025 (December 2, 1960 and 2025), which was designated as the Viet Nam-Cuba Friendship Year by the countries leaders.

For his part, Esteban Lazo stated that Cuba always keeps in mind and appreciates the solidarity, sincere support, and practical assistance from the Vietnamese Party, State, National Assembly, and people, especially in terms of rice trading, food security, agricultural development, investment as well as at regional and international organisations and multilateral forums.

He stressed that his country is highly interested in learning from Viet Nams diverse experiences in the settlement of problems in the economy along with current difficulties and challenges.

At the meeting, both host and guest agreed to actively and effectively carry out the high-level commitments and agreements reached during the state visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and then State President To Lam in September 2024, along with the outcomes of the recent first inter-parliamentary session between the two countries.

They also concurred in maintaining the countries close coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums.  VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam To Lam hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Saturday for Politburo member of the Communist Party, President of the Council of State, and President of the National Assembly of Peoples Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez.

The Party chief welcomed the ongoing visit to Viet Nam by the top legislator of Cuba and spoke highly of the results of the meeting and talks between the Cuban leader and State President Luong Cuong and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, respectively, earlier the same day.

Lam expressed his belief that the visit will contribute to promoting substantive and effective cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.

The Party, State and people of Viet Nam always treasure the Viet Nam-Cuba close bond and exemplary, rare brotherly comradeship in international relations, nurtured by late President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro and generations of leaders of the two countries, Lam said.

Viet Nam is determined to strongly strengthen and improve the effectiveness of comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two countries and two peoples, for the benefit of their people, for peace, stability and development in the world, he added.

Sharing with the difficulties that the Party, State and people of Cuba are trying to overcome due to the blockade, embargo and incidents and natural disasters, the Party chief affirmed that Viet Nam stands in solidarity with Cuba, calling for lifting the embargo against Cuba and removing it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Lam also expressed his joy with the sound development of the Viet Nam-Cuba relations in recent times, including efforts and initial outcomes to carry out agreements reached during his recent visit to Cuba. He praised the attention and direction of the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel and other Cuban leaders in realising the visits outcomes with specific solutions.

He agreed with cooperation proposals of the Cuban NA leader in the fields of both sides strengths and needs, suggesting the two countries continue maintaining the exchange of all-level visits, strengthening collaboration between the two parliaments and governments, and increasing people-to-people exchanges and locality-to-locality and sector-to-sector cooperation.

Top Cuban legislator Esteban Lazo Hernandez expressed his honour and gratitude to Lam for receiving the delegation, and conveyed the greetings of General Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel and other Cuban leaders to him.

Esteban Lazo highly valued Viet Nam's international position and role, expressing his impression of Viet Nam's strong development as he has seen through his visits to Viet Nam and believed that Viet Nam will continue to achieve its set goals.

He reaffirmed that Lam's visit to Cuba is a great source of encouragement for Cuba in its period of difficulty while affirming the solidarity and special affection of the Party, Government and people of Cuba towards Viet Nam. He thanked Viet Nam for supporting the Cuban people in the past time.

Esteban Lazo expressed his wish that the two countries continue to strengthen and promote cooperation in all fields, with political and diplomatic relations at the core, while increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels, as well as the exchange of experiences and cooperation between the governments, NAs and localities of the two countries in the coming time  VNS.
HA NOI  The 48th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) will take place from November 4 to December 11.

One hundred and sixty eight delegates from all ASEAN member countries and Japan will participate, with East Timor delegates joining as observers.

Launched in 1974 as a joint project between Japan and ASEAN member countries, SSEAYP is an annual international youth exchange programme organised collaboratively by the Government of Japan and the 10 ASEAN member countries.

The programme aims to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youths of Japan and Southeast Asian countries, broaden their perspectives on the world and strengthen their spirit of international cooperation and practical skills for international cooperation.

The programme offers young people from ASEAN and Japan opportunities to join discussion programmes and engage in cultural exchange activities together on board the ship named Nippon Maru, as well as courtesy calls, homestays and field study in some ASEAN countries.

Over the past 50 years, SSEAYP has become a symbol of international unity and connection, linking youth from Japan and Southeast Asia.

Under the programme theme 'Youth Participation,' delegates join six discussions, including Soft Power and Youth People to People Diplomacy, Economic Growth and Sustainable Community, Global Environment and Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery, Good Health and Well-being and Digital Society.

Viet Nam officially joined SSEAYP in 1996, after becoming a member of ASEAN in July 1995.

Since then, the Vietnamese contingent has left a profound and special mark on the programme.

In 2024, Viet Nam celebrates its 25th year of participation in the programme. The National Committee on Youth of Viet Nam has hosted the SSEAYP ship in HCM City 18 times.

In response to an invitation from Japan's Cabinet Office, the Central Youth Union of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the National Committee on the Youth of Viet Nam have dispatched 17 outstanding youth representatives from diverse age groups and professions, showcasing the vibrant, progressive and committed spirit of young Vietnamese.

This year, SSEAYP 48th will dock in three countries, including Japan, Viet Nam and Indonesia.

The Vietnamese delegation participating in SSEAYP 48 has chosen the theme 'Shining Viet Nam' to share with fellow participants from other countries and the community.

The logo combines traditional textile patterns, the imagery of the sun and vibrant colours that represent Viet Nam's aspirations for sustainable development while maintaining its rich cultural identity and national spirit

They aim not only to showcase the beauty of the country and its people but also to embody the youthful and dynamic spirit of Vietnamese youth on this international exchange journey. VNS
HA NOI  Police in Ha Noi have arrested a man accused of using a fake cell tower to send scam messages to hundreds of thousands of mobile phone users.

Tran Van Ut, 34, was caught red-handed on Wednesday at the Van Phu Intersection in Ha ong District.

Authorities seized a Toyota Inova containing sophisticated equipment, including a makeshift base transceiver station (BTS) assembled from a black box, a laptop, a power supply unit, and a Samsung phone.

This equipment allowed Ut to impersonate legitimate cell towers and send fraudulent SMS messages to Viettel and Mobiphone subscribers.

The messages warned recipients that their accounts had been flagged as 'unusual' and would be locked within 12 hours, prompting them to click a link to a fake Telegram website.

This phishing scheme was likely designed to steal personal information and potentially gain access to victims' accounts.

He confessed to operating the fake BTS after being contacted by an individual claiming to be Chinese via Telegram. He was promised a monthly salary of VN50 million (approximately US$2,000) to carry out the operation.

Police believe Ut may have sent messages to as many as 389,494 mobile devices between October 20 and his arrest.  VNS
LAYA  The Laya Gewog administration is launching an ambitious project to boost connectivity and attract more tourists by refurbishing its network of traditional horse trails.

The existing trails, which connect Laya with vital destinations like Lunana, Gazatshachhu, and Lingzhiusing Masagang as the base campare integral to both local travel and tourism.

Over time, they have fallen into disrepair due to a lack of upkeep, making journeys arduous for locals and visitors alike.

If the initiative succeeds, these restored paths promise a more accessible and enjoyable experience through some of Bhutans most scenic landscapes.

The Laya Gewog Administration is moving forward with plans to improve the challenging Taktsemakha to Laya horse trail, a route that currently takes travellers over two hours to traverse on foot.

Aimed at making travel more comfortable and efficient for locals and tourists, this project will also safeguard the areas cultural and natural heritage.

Scheduled for implementation in the second year of the 13th Plan, the initiative is expected to enhance accessibility and tourism in the region.

While Gup Tshewang, the Thrizin of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu, did not provide specific funding details, he highlighted the anticipated economic benefits.

By investing in these trails, Laya Gewog hopes to stimulate local livelihoods and foster tourism, creating substantial gains for the community.

The trail from Laya to Lunana is frequented not only by Lunaps, Layaps, and civil servants but also by both local and international tourists. Proper maintenance and reconstruction of this trail would benefit these travellers and support the wider community.

Likewise, the Lingzhi to Laya trek remains one of the most popular routes among tourists.

With improved redevelopment, the number of visitorsboth local and internationalis expected to increase.

We are already seeing more tourists trekking this route, but with a better-maintained trail, we can attract even more, Tshewang said.

Many people also trek to Gazatshachu each year to enjoy the hot springs, and with better connectivity, the number of visitors could potentially double.

Improving these trails will not only attract more tourists but also create income opportunities for Layaps through porter and pony services, according to the locals.

Horses are a vital source of income for the Layaps, making the development of these trails crucial for their livelihoods.

A 43-year-old resident of Laya shared that, aside from cordyceps collection, horses are the main source of income for most families in the area.

Sometimes, our horses are used for transport, but tourists are often hesitant to ride them due to the rough, uneven trails. If these trails were repaired and improved, riders would feel safer and be more inclined to use the horses, allowing us to earn a better income, he said.

Laya Gewog has approximately 1,700 horses, serving a population of around 1,200.

On average, each household owns eight to twelve horses. Besides cordyceps, horses play a central role in Layas economy.

With road access extending to Taktsemakha, pony porter services from Taktsemakha to Laya during the Royal Highland Festival cost Nu 300 per horse for loads up to 50 kilograms, while riding fees is Nu 1,000.

At other times, the rate is Nu 600 per horse for carrying loads.

Laya, the second-largest gewog among the four in Gasa with a population of 1,108, is one of Bhutans most remote villages, with about 286 households.

The gewog, situated at 3,800 metres above sea level, borders Tibet to the north. Kuensel/ANN
Dr. Yap Kwong Weng, CEO of Vietnam SuperPort was a paneslit at the Vietnam Logistics Summit 2024 took place in Ho Chi Minh City on October 31

How do you see the challenges faced by Vietnam's logistics industry, such as weak infrastructure, legal barriers, and shortage of skilled labour, impact supply chain investment?

Once multiple hurdles arise, both from the legal side and in policy implementation, waiting times will increase, this in turn, will affect the execution process.

The opportunity cost lies in other countries stepping in and to establish their own supply hubs and integrated logistics hubs. During its period of growth, Vietnam risks losing its competitive edge in this area. Vietnams logistics costs are notably high, estimated at around 16.8-18 per cent of its GDP. This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 10.7 per cent. Singapore also faces high costs. Singapore stands to gain because they are much more efficient.

Second, Thailand also has a strong logistics space, which is quite competitive now.

Speed to market falls primarily within the realm of business operations rather than government oversights. However, if government agencies can effectively support businesses in increasing their speed to market, then their objectives will be significantly achieved.

Revenues earned, development and foreign direct investment will come in when businesses grow. Businesses from different parts of the world are waiting to see how Vietnam develops in terms of their policy implementation, political transition, and potential for economic development.

What is your assessment of how the logistics industry has developed here over the past few years?

Compared to the past years, logistic hubs in Vietnam still need a lot of improvement in critical infrastructure, such as the railway system, airports, and cargo terminals.

Vietnam needs to see logistic hubs as a whole, not as compartmentalised sections in each group. This calls for inter-agency support. The government has to lead this effort to bring the different companies together, including the industry partners, including the tech companies because this is an ecosystem.

In addition, narrowing the gap of capacity is of utmost importance. Then, it is crucial to identify solutions that bridge this gap and facilitate rapid acceleration, enabling Vietnam to enhance its competitiveness and move up the industry positioning curve.

Vietnam faces challenges in logistics infrastructure development, ranking 43rd in the World Banks Logistics Performance Index for 2023, indicating that there is considerable room for improvement.

But having said that, it would be useful to have some case studies done of developed economies to understand the initial phases of the logistics sector and how to progress.

One of the key issues is to study market forces and understand how these interact with the industry. We need a formidable approach to effectively engage private sector dynamics, as private sector forces do not respond solely to government intervention.

Private sector forces operate based on their own business models, depending on certain economic conditions and also geopolitical conditions. Therefore, when studying these dynamics from a market force perspective to develop a long-term outlook, we cannot focus solely on the next three to five years, we must consider the next 15 to 20 years.

Establishing industrial parks in urban areas, making bold decisions to expand airport and cargo capacities, developing super ports, incorporating new technologies and enhancing the skills and training of the workforce are crucial steps. It is imperative to entice high-value skill sets, not only in engineering but also in precision manufacturing and technology management. These are significant issues that need to be addressed to effectively support industry development

Can you explain more about the 'Park within a Park' model you are developing in Vinh Phuc province?

We believe it will be effective due to its practical approach. We aim to prioritise sustainability across these areas by utilising solar energy, promoting water circularity, and integrating new battery technologies, among other initiatives.

First, we look at baseline emissions. We reduce baseline emissions based on our calculation of CO 2 emissions within that given space.

We focus on sustainable solutions and clean energy, and also incorporating green energy initiatives. In addition, we are bringing in new technologies from abroad that explore hydrogen power applications. We are also considering advanced solar panels, potentially utilising innovative silicon materials, to enhance energy capture and improve transmission efficiency from sunlight.

After that, we are considering the use of fast charging stations that will significantly reduce charging time, enhancing overall efficiency, allowing trucks to travel up to 250 miles after a single charge.

Additionally, it is important to focus on increasing investor confidence by developing new green spaces that align with the broader sustainability agenda.

Companies increasingly prefer to collaborate with sustainable partners, as reflected in their policies, however challenges remain and companies must consider the costs associated with implementing sustainable practices.

Vietnam SuperPort views this as an investment rather than a cost, and we hope for increased government support in this regard, as sustainability does involve expenses. To achieve greater inclusivity, such support is essential. We have carefully studied the opportunity costs and believe that taking a long-term view is the best approach.

What is your cooperative approach to ensure you and your partners achieve your sustainable development goals?

We work with like-minded partners who share a commitment to sustainability. In this partnership, there will be areas where we manage operations and others where they contribute their expertise.

But before that, at the planning stage, our first focus lies in sustainability solutions from an energy efficiency perspective. We aim to maximise energy efficiency by incorporating the Internet of Things technologies and exploring new avenues. As both developers and asset operators, we provide guidance, instead of telling companies what to do. We collaborate with companies to develop these plans together.

Dr. Yap Kwong Weng, CEO of Vietnam SuperPort was the keynote speaker themed "The future of Vietnams logistics industry: Adapting and thriving in the global context"

Vietnam SuperPort unveils digital transformation plan to boost connectivity The ICD Vinh Phuc (Vietnam SuperPort), jointly developed by a T&T Group - YCH (Singapore) joint venture, announced plans to drive efficiency and sustainability in the logistics sector at the Vietnam Innovation Day 2024 on October 1.

Vietnam SuperPort lives up to name with sustainability drive Vietnam SuperPort, a joint venture between YCH Group of Singapore and Vietnams T&T Group, is at the forefront of sustainability and digital changes to build the first net-zero multi-modal logistics hub in Southeast Asia.
Northwest 99 Business Park is being developed on 172 acres at the intersection of the Grand Parkway and Mueschke Road. Clay Development & Construction Clay Development & Construction has started construction of Northwest 99 Business Park on the Grand Parkway at Mueschke Road. Clay Development & Construction

Houston-based Clay Development and Construction has broken ground on a 172-acre industrial park in northwest Houston that could eventually total 14 buildings and 2.3 million square feet.

Company president Robert Clay said he envisions the project south of the Grand Parkway at Mueschke Road as a hub for manufacturing and distribution businesses. The Northwest 99 Business Park, the company's 22nd industrial park, represents Clay's largest current project and first spec manufacturing building to be built in eight years.

The initial two buildings consist of the 425,360-square-foot Northwest 99 Distribution I and the 70,000-square-foot Northwest 99 Spec I targeting oil and gas services tenants. Site work for the park is under way and the buildings are expected to break ground by the end of the year.

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"We've seen an increase in the need for larger manufacturing buildings," Clay said. "A 40,000-square-foot building was a big building just 15 years ago. Today, a 150,000-square-foot manufacturing building is not a crazy request anymore."

The project, 35 miles from downtown, is in a region with a relatively low vacancy rate of 5.4%, according to Clay. Houston's overall vacancy rate is 6.2%.

Potential tenants at the distribution building include logistics firms and companies seeking space to distribute goods near homes and businesses. The building has space for up to four tenants, 36-foot clear-height ceilings, and up to 220 employee parking spots. The single-tenant manufacturing building has parking for up to 45 employees and areas for outside storage.

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The site, in a growing region of the Cypress/Tomball area, could ultimately contain 14 buildings and take five years to complete. Plans could be adjusted to accommodate the market.
On October 28, the delegation joined efforts with the Embassy of Vietnam in Germany, the Federation of Vietnamese Associations in Germany, and the Vietnamese Business Association in Germany to organise a conference on investment promotion and trade cooperation between Hung Yen province and German partners.

Vietnamese Business Association in Germany presented flowers to the delegation from Hung Yen. Photo: Hung Yen

The conference, held at Dong Xuan Trade Centre in Berlin, featured the participation of nearly 100 German businesses and Vietnamese counterparts based in the country.

At the meeting, Chairman Tran Quoc Van gave an overview of Hung Yens socioeconomic development and potential strengths, emphasising that the trip was to invite European investors, especially German businesses, to invest in Hung Yen.

"The Hung Yen delegation has identified Germany as a new and key location from which to attract investment, especially in mechanical engineering and machine manufacturing, and so we organised our first investment promotion trip to the country," said Van.

On behalf of the Vietnamese community and Vietnamese businesses in Germany, Nguyen Van Hien, chairman of the Federation of Vietnamese Associations in Germany and general director of Dong Xuan Berlin Trade Centre, said that there are currently about 20,000 Vietnamese-owned businesses in Germany, and they are most successful in restaurants, fresh flowers, import-export, and real estate.

During the meeting, he called on Vietnamese businesses to pay attention to investment opportunities in Hung Yen.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh said the relationship between Vietnam and Germany has been developing rapidly and becoming more substantial, especially in the field of trade and economy.

"Exchange activities between the two countries from the central to local levels have been increasing. The Embassy of Vietnam in Germany, the Federation of Vietnamese Associations in Germany, and the Vietnamese Business Association in Germany will always support Hung Yen's investment attraction and trade cooperation activities," said Minh.

Hung Yen delegation visited and worked with high-tech flower and ornamental plant production enterprises in the Netherlands. Photo: Hung Yen

During a trip to the Netherlands from October 22-25, the delegation visited and worked with the high-tech flower and plant production business Onings Holland Flowerbulb.

At the meeting, Hung Yens chairman outlined the provinces strengths, policies, and mechanisms in attracting investment, developing the services industry, and trade, especially the development of ornamental plants and flowers in Van Giang district with Dutch high-tech enterprises.

Chairman Van suggested that the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands should introduce businesses to Hung Yens potential fields for investment, and affirmed it would create a conducive business environment for Dutch businesses to invest in the province.

In 2023, Hung Yen posted a budget revenue of $1.65 billion, ranking seventh in the country, with an average per-person income amounting to $5,000 per year, higher than the countrys average.

Hung Yen has experienced a breakthrough development with an average growth rate approximating 10 per cent, per year, from 2020 onwards.

Hung Yen hosts vocational training schools capable of meeting the high-skill needs in diverse fields such as electrical engineering, electronics, semiconductors, mechanical engineering and machine manufacturing from foreign businesses investing in the province.

The province is currently home to 10 industrial parks (IPs), powered with synchronous and modern technical infrastructure, with nearly 1,000 hectares of clean land ready to hail investors.

As of now, Hung Yen hosts more than 2,200 ventures from domestic and foreign businesses, including nearly 600 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects.

The FDI capital flow, however, mainly comes from Japanese and South Korean investors. So far, Hung Yen has only enticed a few European enterprises and only three German enterprises, with an investment of a modest $16 million.

Home to 18 planned IPs with a total area surpassing 9,500ha, offering convenient transportation infrastructure near Haiphong port and Hanois Noi Bai International Airport, Hung Yen has great potential, advantages, and space to attract foreign investors.

According to Hung Yens master plan for 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, there will be 35 IPs planned for development in the province, with a total area surpassing 12,040 hectares. In particular, by 2030, 30 new IPs will be planned for development, covering a total area approximating 9,200ha; four IPs will eye expansion, with a total area of 405ha. The total planned area for IP development will come to around 9,600ha. After 2030, the province aims to develop five more IPs, with a total area reaching 2,460ha.

Binh Dinh seeks investment opportunities from Germany, France A delegation from the south central province of Binh Dinh led by Permanent Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Kim Toan paid a working trip to Germany and France to explore investment opportunities from July 17-22, reported the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.

Hung Yen bags upbeat outcomes in socioeconomic development In the first seven months of 2024, the northern province of Hung Yen bagged upbeat results in socioeconomic development, with the regional GDP surging 6.81 per cent on-year.
"Connecting with Love" scholarships

Dao Thi Hoa from Minh Thanh commune, Dau Tieng district, woke up early to take her son to Thuan An city to receive the scholarship. They were present very early at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Activity Centre.

Hoa shared that her son was in grade 6. He has some difficulty walking due to an accident when he was young.

Tan Hiep Phat cooperated with Binh Duong Youth Union to award 200 scholarships to disadvantaged students. Photo: Tran Khanh

I am a rubber latex farmer, while my husband is a bricklayer with a low income. Sometimes, we cant cover living expenses and school fees for the children. We are grateful that our son has received this scholarship to pursue his education, she said.

Meanwhile, Huynh Thi Hoa, a mother of a 6-grade student at Thuan Giao Secondary School, was touched when her daughter received the scholarship.

200 scholarship recipients are typical students in the locality who have overcome difficulties to achieve good academic results. Photo: Tran Khanh

Hoa said she has five children. Every day, she stays at home to take care of them and her mother-in-law, who is seriously ill. Living expenses depend entirely on her husband's meagre income.

Teachers allow them to pay tuition fees in several instalments because the amount is too much for the family. All of the family members are living together in a motel room in Ho Chi Minh City. Despite being disadvantaged, Hoas daughter has been an excellent student for many years.

"The scholarship offers both material and spiritual support for our daughter to overcome obstacles in education and life," Hoa shared.

Nguyen Van Tu, executive director of manufacturing at Tan Hiep Phat, awarded a symbolic board of 200 scholarships worth $7,894. Photo: Tran Khanh

Another 7th grade student at Tran Dai Nghia Secondary School in Thuan An city said that his father is a motorcycle taxi driver with an unstable income and his mother is an office worker. Education and living costs are higher than their incomes, so the family faces many difficulties.

I am still luckier than many other friends because I have parents. I am very happy to be 1 of 200 students receiving the scholarship "Connecting with Love - Raising Steps to School, she said.

The scholarship helps alleviate some difficulties for students and their families. "We will try our best to study well and become useful people so as not to disappoint the expectations of teachers, local leaders, and sponsors," she added.

Tran Thi Diem Trinh, secretary of Binh Duong Youth Union, presented gifts and scholarships to students. Photo: Tran Khanh

Steps to school

Tran Thi Diem Trinh, secretary of Binh Duong Youth Union, confided that people should make efforts to help children, especially those in difficult circumstances, to rise above adversity.

"This activity, in collaboration with Tan Hiep Phat, will encourage students to achieve higher academic performances. The scholarships also limit students from dropping out of school due to difficult family circumstances," Trinh said.

Nguyen Van Tu, executive director of manufacturing at Tan Hiep Phat awarded scholarships to the students

Photo: Tran Khanh

Nguyen Van Tu, executive director of manufacturing at Tan Hiep Phat, shared that corporate social responsibility has been one of the company's seven core values during the past 30 years. In particular, children are a special target for the goal of 100 years of cultivating people.

In addition, Tan Hiep Phat awards hundreds of scholarships and thousands of gifts to students on holidays and Tet every year. The company is also accompanying and sponsoring dozens of shelters, which are nurturing many people in disadvantaged circumstances.

Through this activity, Tan Hiep Phat wishes to accompany Binh Duong to take care of people, especially children.

The scholarships provide both spiritual and material support to students, giving them more confidence in life and the spirit of nothing is impossible.

"Over the past 30 years, Tan Hiep Phat has received attention, companionship, and support from all levels of government in Binh Duong province, from the provincial level to Thuan An city. This is the foundation for Tan Hiep Phat to become a beloved beverage brand for millions of consumers, Tu said.

Tan Hiep Phat would like to express its sincere gratitude to the people of Binh Duong province and all levels of government for their unwavering trust, support, and assistance since the company established its headquarters there. This effort is meant to accompany community events in Binh Duong. Moving forward, the company will continue to work towards its mission of "Creating Value, Trust, and Love" in order to serve society in a sustainable manner.

The representative of Tan Hiep Phat also encouraged the students in the scholarship programme. The company will make maximum efforts to raise their steps to school and step steadily in life.

The programme "Connecting Love  Raising Steps to School" is an annual scholarship programme of Tan Hiep Phat for disadvantaged but strong-willed students who overcome difficulties in study and life across the four provinces of Binh Duong, Hau Giang, Quang Nam, and Ha Nam. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary in 2024, Tan Hiep Phat Company awards 800 scholarships in these four localities, with each scholarship worth VND1 million ($39.53), and Number 1 Soya Calcium Soy Milk. The ceremony in Binh Duong is the second scholarship award event. On October 4, Tan Hiep Phat Company awarded 200 scholarships to students from grade 1 to high school in Hau Giang province. In mid-November, Tan Hiep Phat Company will continue to award 200 scholarships to disadvantaged students in Quang Nam province. Tan Hiep Phat will complete the scholarship programme by awarding the remaining 200 scholarships to disadvantaged students in Ha Nam province.

Tan Hiep Phat joins efforts to care for children In the course of its business, southern beverage major Tan Hiep Phat is also diligently caring for children, striving to be always of good service to society.

Soft drinks sales hit 4.6 billion litres in 2023 The sales volume of soft drinks in Vietnam reached 4.658 billion litres in 2023, an increase of 4.8 per cent on-year, according to a report by Research and Markets.
New technology delivering care closer to home for North Wales patients

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 2nd, 2024

New technology which aims to deliver care closer to home for patients is being trialled in North Wales.

The Luscii app captures a patients vital signs, including heart rate and blood oxygen levels, and data is sent in real-time to the ambulance control room, where remote care clinicians determine the appropriate next steps in care planning.

This could be via a referral to the patients GP, self-care advice or dispatching an ambulance resource, if necessary.

It is hoped the technology will help fulfil the Welsh Ambulance Service ambition of providing the right care or advice, in the right place, every time.

Liam Williams, Executive Director of Quality and Nursing at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: At a time of unprecedented demand on the urgent and emergency care system, we need to think differently about the way we deliver ambulance services.

Patients are waiting far longer than they should for an ambulance, and once at hospital, can spend a considerable amount of time in the ambulance before handover to the emergency department.

We want to transform the way emergency care is delivered by caring for more patients in their own home where its possible to do so, in turn safely reducing the number of patients we take to emergency department.

To enable our people to deliver the right care or advice, in the right place, every time, we need to equip them with the right tools.

This technology puts us firmly on that path.

The Trust is working with the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Centre of Excellence and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to pilot the Luscii technology in a small number of care homes across the region

Over the next few months the Trust will expand the pilot to other parts of Wales and seek to train its volunteer Community Welfare Responders to support patients and service users in using the app when responding to calls in their community.

Chris Lynes, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Boards Deputy Executive Director of Nursing, added: Luscii fits in with the future of healthcare and we are excited to be involved.

We believe this app and the support from Community Welfare Responders will lead to better outcomes and fewer people needing to go to hospital. Its about us working together, smarter.

The majority of healthcare is already delivered within communities, and we know being at home, or near to home is where people want to be.

The Trust partnered with the Welsh Government-funded SBRI Centre of Excellence to invite industry and academic partners to develop a remote patient monitoring solution.

Welsh Governments Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy MS, who has responsibility for innovation, technology and digital transformation, said: I am pleased to see the progress being made by this innovative project that uses cutting-edge technology to help deliver care for patients closer to home.

By reducing the need for hospital visits, we are alleviating the strain on our healthcare services and staff and minimising the stress and inconvenience for patients and their families, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and a more sustainable healthcare system for all.

Jonny Sammut, Director of Digital at the Welsh Ambulance Service, added: Digital systems are the backbone of healthcare delivery, and as technology develops apace, here lies an exciting opportunity to harness the power of data to enhance the service we provide to the people of Wales.

Our digital capability as an ambulance service is pivotal if we want to realise our ambition of providing the right care or advice, in the right place, every time.

Through data, we can identify trends, predict needs and allocate resources more efficiently.

By doing so, we ensure that our services are not only more efficient but also more closely aligned with the specific needs of the communities we serve.

This data-driven approach, as set out in our new Digital Plan, allows us to continuously improve our services and deliver higher quality care to all patients.
Top Wrexham numberplate set for five figure auction by DVLA

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 2nd, 2024

The streets of Wrexham could see the most exclusive numberplate ever released soon.

The DVLA are auctioning off 1 WXM, arguably the second best plate for Wrexham next month, with plate purists seeing WXM 1 as the ultimate  however that has not been released.

Insiders have told us that back in the day Wrexham Council would have been in prime position to have such a plate for the Mayors car however due to the wider economic climate they would be looking to sell it rather than buying.

Elsewhere councils have sold off early allocated or even donated numberplates with Leeds flogging off U 1, East Renfrewshire Council selling HS 0, whereas despite debating the sale Glasgow sold their Rolls Royce but retained the G 0 plate.

Wrexham though has been through a civic numberplate debate in the early 90s when two numberplates were purchased by the then Wrexham Maelor Borough Council, H1 WMB and H2 WMB.

Due to a council cock up the second plate was not usable due to date rules around vehicles at the time.

The plates were alleged to have cost 700 each (1,500 in todays cash)  and at the time a council spokesperson said it was a small price to pay for something that will travel thousands of miles around Britain and Europe flying the flag for Wrexham Maelor.

Now, 1 WXM opens with a starting price of 2600 however experts expect the end price to be in the low five figure range, possibly reaching 20k+ plus VAT and fees.

Numberplates have been sold since the late 1980s by the DVLA who hold regular auctions on new releases. Several businesses also resell numberplates, with an active market from private individuals as well.

For those interested in numberplates check out the excellent Registration Numbers Club website here.

(Top pic: What we expect in Wrexham soon)
The recommended process for moving date from an old to a new iPhone is to restore from an iCloud backup. But if a phone call comes in, you may find this process starts over again from scratch. Dwight Silverman photo

I usually look forward to visiting an Apple Store, but a recent experience turned into serious frustration  all because of an apparent flaw in the way users set up a new iPhone.

My lovely wife decided she needed to replace her iPhone 12 Pro Max; its battery wasn't holding a charge like it used to. It's also possible there was a little hardware envy at play regarding my 16 Pro Max. So off we went to the Highland Village store on a Saturday, where she picked out an iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium, same as mine.



After the purchase was complete and her trade-in accepted, she began the in-store process of restoring from an iCloud backup. A staff member urged her not to wipe the old phone in case there was something on it that didn't come over on the backup. We were resigned to spending a little time in the store.

Turns out "little" was the wrong adjective.

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Before I continue, let me outline a couple of the options that iPhone users have for moving their data, apps and settings from an old to a new handset.

When both the old and new devices are in hand, iPhone users have a choice. They can begin by having the two phones talk to each other, which transfers the most basic information, such as login and WiFi credentials. Then they can have the phones transfer the remaining data wirelessly from the old to new handset, or if the owner has backed up to iCloud  Apples online storage service  the new phone can download the old phones data from there.

There are other options, but Apple says downloading from an iCloud backup is the fastest, and although I prefer working from a Mac-based backup, Ill concede that Apple is correct.

But not this time.



My wife chose to do an iCloud restore. It began and the representative went off to help others. After about 30 minutes, the process appeared to be almost complete. Then a call came in on her phone and she answered it. When she finished, the restore process started over.



That attempt appeared to be about half complete when another call came in. She declined it, but the process again restarted from scratch.



A store lead, who said this happens "a lot," told us we could take the new phone home to complete the restore process. We have gigabit internet and a matching WiFi connection at home, so we hoped the restore process would be faster there.



Sure enough, at home the process was noticeably zippier  and no calls came in to interrupt it. But the whole thing left us disappointed  if it indeed is a common occurrence, why hasnt Apple fixed this flaw? Its not a great experience when you're trying to buy and set up the company's flagship product in one of their own stores.

Fortunately, there is something you can do to prevent incoming calls from scuttling the transfer: Delay transferring your phone number to the new phone.

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In the setup process, you have the option to skip moving the eSIM, which contains your phone number and carrier information, to the new phone, depending on your carrier. If you choose to set it up later, you can do it at any time by going to Settings > Cellular, tap Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM, then tap Transfer From Nearby iPhone or choose a phone number. Restoration does not require that cell service is present so long as youre on WiFi and Bluetooth is on.

This column began as a post on Facebook, and a few days later I got a comment from Tammi Wallace, 53, who said it had happened to her while she attempted to use the iCloud process at home with a new iPhone. As with my wifes phone, an incoming call caused the iCloud restore to restart halfway through. She didnt answer the call, but still the process restarted from scratch  and took even longer the second time.

It was frustrating, Wallace said. It really made me nervous because I was afraid Id end up in an hourlong conversation on the phone with Apple.

She said she always uses the iCloud restore option with new iPhones, and that this has not happened in the past.

Ive never seen this before in past years, Wallace said, and I think I would have. Because of what I do, I get a lot of phone calls.

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20mph social media posts by Welsh Conservatives leader brought Senedd into disrepute

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 2nd, 2024

The leader of the Conservative opposition broke Senedd rules by incorrectly describing 20mph as a blanket policy, a committee concluded.

Andrew RT Davies was found to have brought the Welsh Parliament into disrepute after calling the default speed limit a blanket policy on social media.

The tweet, posted just days after a ruling that the phrase was imprecise and inaccurate, read: Another bus route cut thanks to Labour and Plaids blanket 20mph speed limits.

An investigation by Douglas Bain, the Senedds standards commissioner, concluded Mr Davies breached the code of conduct by continuing to use the term.

But the Conservative was cleared of breaking rules around honesty, with Mr Bain saying: I am satisfied that it was not his intention to deceive anyone.

False

He explained that untruthfulness requires an element of deceit, fraud or moral turpitude.

Mr Davies, who has led the Welsh Tories in two stints since 2011, will be formally censured, which amounts to a slap on the wrists, in the Senedd on October 6.

The politician admitted he was aware of the standards committees conclusion that depicting the default speed limit as a blanket policy was imprecise and inaccurate.

Mr Davies argued he was entitled to use the phrase under Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

But Mr Bain ruled: When he posted the tweet the member knew  or ought to have known that  although it was not untruthful or dishonest, it was false.

It was not protected by the enhanced protection afforded to politicians.

Failed

Mr Davies, who undertook not to use the term blanket until the complaint had been dealt with, asserted the descriptor should, at worst, be tolerated as an inaccurate exaggeration.

In February, Shaun Haggerty complained to the commissioner, criticising Mr Davies for continuing to falsely use the term, prompting the investigation.

And, in a report that followed on October 30, the commissioner found Mr Davies breached rules one (leadership principle) and two (bringing the Senedd into disrepute) of the code.

Mr Bain, who was appointed in 2021 after serving as acting commissioner, said it was incumbent on the leader of the opposition to set a good example.

He wrote: I am satisfied that when he posted the tweet the member knew or ought to have known that it was imprecise and inaccurate and so false.

By ignoring the committees admonition and the guidance given  he failed to give the leadership required of him.

Birthing people

Mr Davies was also investigated following a separate complaint, submitted by Anthony Jones in April, similarly centred on social media posts.

The tweet stated: Vaughan Gethings Labour government is embracing the same extreme ideology as its predecessor. Nothing has changed.

Below was a picture, from the Guido Fawkes political blog, of the ex-first minister and a pregnant woman, captioned: Welsh Government press release celebrates birthing people.

The complainant described the post as a blatant lie, warning that it was misleading and dangerous, with the Welsh Government confirming no such press release was issued.

Mr Davies pointed out that a ministerial statement on April 26 referred to birthing people as he again argued he was exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Interviewed under oath, Mr Davies told the commissioner Mr Jones had serially complained about his conduct, with four other complaints since 2023.

Irrelevant

But Mr Bain did not consider any of the four complaints vexatious and was not satisfied with an explanation that the text had been copied from Guido Fawkes.

I am clear that is irrelevant, he wrote in his report.

Members are fully responsible for any quotation they choose to include in a tweet  that has been made clear to members repeatedly.

Mr Bain pointed out that guidance on the code of conduct states Senedd members are expected to reasonably fact check and verify their assertions.

He said: As a former member of the standards of conduct committee, I consider it inconceivable that he was not aware of that.

The commissioner asked whether Mr Davies accepted that a politician knowingly making a false or misleading statement would be likely to bring the Senedd into disrepute.

Misleading

He replied: If someone deliberately did that, of course, that would be a case of bringing the Senedd into disrepute. But I dont accept that in this case one iota.

Mr Davies described press releases and ministerial statements as synonymous but Mr Bain did not accept this, saying there is a clear distinction.

He wrote: Whilst I have no doubt the members tweet  was incorrect and potentially misleading, I am not satisfied on the evidence it can be found to have been untruthful.

However, Mr Davies was again found to have brought the Senedd into disrepute.

The commissioner said: I am satisfied that the member made no attempt to check the accuracy of the text from Guido Fawkes that he copied into his tweet.

Mr Davies was offered an opportunity to comment.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Wrexham Young Professionals helping inspire workforce of the future

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 2nd, 2024

Local talent and business leaders have come together to inspire the next generation with their careers.

Held by the Young Professionals group, at Moneypennys offices in Wrexham, the breakfast morning provided a opportunity for young people from the area to come together, share experiences, explore collaborations and build confidence to grow and develop both as individuals and professionals.

During the session Rhys Williams and Chris Nelson, from Phoenix Counselling Group, delivered a compelling talk on mental health challenges in the workplace

Moneypennys Working Life Manager Hannah Williams Skinner joined both Rhys and Chris to deliver this session from a real world experience and was able to share how the group have helped Moneypenny promote and drive changes to continue to provide wellbeing support to the team.

They also discussed the range of support services available to help young professionals overcome, and feel comfortable, to share their challenges to allow them to grow and thrive in their career journeys.

Commenting on the event, Josh Williams at WYP and WR Partners said: We are a relatively new group, but events like this continue to reiterate the reason why this group was formed and demonstrates the need for a platform in the Wrexham community to support the next generation to connect, collaborate and grow, both as individuals and professionals.

On behalf of WYP, wed like to thank Moneypenny for continuing to support us and the team at Phoenix Counselling for sharing their experiences.

Both companies align with our mission and we look forward to future collaborations.

Wendy Swash, Chief Operating Officer at Moneypenny added: Events like this are crucial for fostering the growth of the next generation and by providing a space for young talent to connect, learn, and gain confidence, were not only supporting their individual career journeys but also strengthening the future of business in Wrexham and beyond.

For more information on upcoming Wrexham Young Professionals events, please contact Josh Williams at wrexhamyoungprofessionals@gmail.com.
Information for voters with disabilities

Voters with disabilities

Those with visual disabilities who still wish to vote privately and independently have the option of requesting use of accessible voting equipment.

The Accessible Voting Session allows you to do the following:

View the ballot paper and large LCD screen.

Change screen color scheme, contrast and font size.

Use headphones to allow the system to read the ballot to you, using the tactile interface.

Use an integrated ballot marking device that does not require the voter to manipulate the ballot and has low force buttons for voter interface.

Those with a visual disability also have the option of bringing someone to assist with voting. This person cannot be an employer, an agent of an employer, an agent or officer of a union, or a candidate on the ballot. Designated election workers can also assist anybody voting.
Shakari Briggs is a Quality of Life reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She focuses on issues in the rapidly growing suburbs and surrounding counties.

Before joining the Chronicle in November 2023, Shakari worked for Spectrum News as a digital journalist based in her hometown. She has experience in broadcast reporting and producing as a former multimedia journalist and associate producer. The Dallas native has also worked at small to medium-sized newspapers throughout her career.

Her reporting on the rise and fall of a shopping mall won an Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Contest award. She also earned an Arkansas Press Association award for freelance reporting.
Educators and scholars convene for collaborative advancement in global education

People's Daily Online) 17:53, November 01, 2024

The plenary session of the 25th China Annual Conference & Expo for International Education (CACIE) is held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing on Oct. 31, 2024. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online)

Held under the theme "Education for all, the unknown and the future", the plenary session of the 25th China Annual Conference & Expo for International Education (CACIE) was held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing on Oct. 31, 2024.

The event brought together educators, scholars, and representatives from universities, institutions, and academia together to discuss the present state and future direction of global education.

Ding Zhongli, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of China Democratic League, President of Western Returned Scholars Association, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered the opening speech, emphasizing the significance of educational exchanges and cooperation. He highlighted that China will further advance high-level educational opening-up, adhering to the combination of "bringing in" and "going out."

"China will encourage students to study abroad, attract outstanding overseas talents to China for study and exchange, further expand academic exchanges and scientific research cooperation, promote international collaborative innovation, deepen cooperation with international organizations and multilateral mechanisms, and contribute more Chinese strength to the development of global education," he said.

Huai Jinpeng, China's Minister of Education, addressed the conference via video, underscoring the critical role of education in fostering global development. "Promoting sustainable development and adapting to global changes requires empowering individuals, reshaping society, and guiding the future through education," he said.

He further highlighted the importance of international cooperation and exchange, reaffirming China's commitment to educational openness and its active role in sharing high-quality educational resources with the world. Huai advocated for broader and more inclusive access to educational resources, higher standards in academic research, strengthened international collaboration, and deeper people-to-people connections.

"We encourage all participants to fully leverage CACIE as a platform for in-depth exchanges of insights and experiences, to explore innovative pathways for advancing educational reform, and to cultivate a unified global consensus on education reform," he said.

In a video speech, Patrick Hetzel, French minister for Higher Education and Research, praised the close educational exchange and cooperation between France and China, emphasizing that people-to-people exchanges, particularly in education, are foundational to France-China cooperation.

"France will actively work to attract more Chinese students to pursue studies across diverse fields in France, while also encouraging a greater number of French students to study in China, fostering a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and society," he said.

Noting that the exchange between France and China has a long-standing and profound history, Bertrand Lortholary, French ambassador to China, emphasized the role of youth in furthering mutual understanding.

"France values educational exchanges with China, especially between universities, as a key component in fostering understanding between our two countries," he said.

The plenary session of the 25th China Annual Conference & Expo for International Education (CACIE) is held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing on Oct. 31, 2024. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online)

Allan E. Goodman, chief executive officer of the US Institute of International Education, commended Chinese President Xi Jinping's announcement to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for study and exchange over the next five years. He highlighted the potential for deepened cooperation between China and the United States, home to the world's two largest higher education systems, and called for further collaboration in education.

During the plenary session, representatives worldwide provided insights into global education, encouraging further international people-to-people and educational exchanges.

Hosted by the China Education Association for International Exchange, CACIE 2024 encompasses over a hundred multilateral events, including plenary sessions, parallel forums, collaborative discussions, and an educational exhibition, which has drawn over 5000 participants, including foreign and domestic education professionals, as well as embassy officials and corporate representatives from more than 60 countries and regions around the world.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Du Mingming)
Robert Dean, Houston honor guard and veterans of foreign wars, walks in the Houston Salutes American Heroes Veterans Day Celebration Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at City Hall in Houston. This year's City of Houston Veterans Day Parade is at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 11 in downtown Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Each year Veterans Day is observed on Nov. 11 to honor military veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Here's what to know about Veterans Day and how to mark the holiday in the Houston area:

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Johnny Rubio with the VFW Post 9187 carries flags to hand out along the parade route at the 24th annual Houston Salutes American Heroes Veterans Day Celebration Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 in Houston. This year's City of Houston Veterans Day Parade is at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 11 in downtown Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer

What is Veterans Day?

According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated and to underscore the fact that all those who served  not only those who died  have sacrificed and done their duty.

What is the history of Veterans Day?

World War I  known at the time as The Great War  officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of the war to end all wars.

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In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the countrys service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.

Members of the Montgomery County Sheriffs Offices honor guard present the colors during a ceremony in honor of Veterans Day at the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Conroe. This year's Veterans Day ceremony is at 9 a.m. Nov. 11. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

When is Veterans Day?

Veterans Day is always observed officially on Nov. 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The day is a federal holiday and this year falls on the second Monday in November.

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Government offices, banks, the post office and some local government offices close on Veterans Day. Generally, when a holiday falls on a non-workday  Saturday or Sunday  the federal government is closed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday).

What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?

According to information from Veterans Affairs, many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military  in wartime or peacetime.

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The Woodlands Fire Chief Palmer Buck takes in a moment of silence during a Veterans Day ceremony at Town Green Park, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in The Woodlands. This year's Veterans Day celebration in The Woodlands is from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Central Fire Station. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Where is Veterans Day being observed in the Houston area?

Here is a list of some of the Veterans Day celebrations in the Houston region:

Houston: Houston hosts the Houston Salutes American Heroes Veterans Day Celebration" Nov. 11. A traditional Veterans Day Ceremony is at 10 a.m. at City Hall. The American Heroes Parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Dallas and Bagby, and proceeds east on Dallas, north on Louisiana, west on Walker, south on Smith, west on Lamar, ending on Lamar at Bagby. The parade grand marshal is Vice Admiral James W. Crawford III (Retired) who is the 14th President of Texas Southern University.

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Pearland: The 26th annual Veterans Day Parade of Brazoria County is hosted by VFW Post 7109. It's at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 starting at 3005 Pearland Parkway.

Houston: The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum offers free museum admission and special events to honor veterans Nov. 11. This program is open to the public; however, registration is required. The museum is at 3816 Caroline Street, Houston.

Conroe: The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission hosts a Veterans Day observance at 9 a.m. Nov. 11 at the park at 1776 Freedom Blvd. in Conroe. There will be musical presentations, guest speakers and the dedication of "The Line" monument that includes the names of veterans from across the country.
CavinKare, the FMCG conglomerate has recently launched its new social media campaign Shared Happiness on the occasion of Diwali. It encourages consumers across the country to embrace the Diwali spirit by sharing joy in even the smallest of gestures. It comprises of a social media film showcasing happy families coming together to mark the occasion and sharing a moment of happiness with family and friends.

Curated entirely with the support of the latest AI technologies, the Shared Happiness campaign video encapsulates the beauty of happiness in its most genuine forms - a smile, a helping hand, or a moment of laughter shared. The companys initiative encourages people to make meaningful connections and brighten lives around them, reflecting CavinKares own mission of Making Lives Happier.

Commenting on the occasion, CavinKare spokesperson said Festivals are a time when we connect with our families and friends. There are so many moments of joy and happiness in these shared times during festivities. With our motto of Making Lives Happier, we at CavinKare have unveiled our latest campaign that brings to light and celebrates these beautiful moments of joy. With this campaign, we wanted to reinforce our commitment to fostering well-being and positivity that aligns with our vision of Making lives Happier.
T.P.G. Nambiar, the founder and chairman emeritus of British Physical Laboratories (BPL) Group, passed away on Thursday at the age of nearly 95.

He leaves behind his wife Thankam, son Ajit, daughter Anju, daughter-in-law Meena, son-in-law Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and grandchildren Shreya, Devika, and Ved.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X, noting Nambiar's legacy as an industrial pioneer dedicated to strengthening Indias economy. "Shri TPG Nambiar Ji was a pioneering innovator and industrialist, who was a strong votary of making India economically strong. Pained by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers," Modi posted.

Nambiar established BPL in 1963 in Palakkad, Kerala, during the Licence Raj era. The company's early products included precision instruments like hermetic sealed panel meters for Bharat Electronics, supplied to the Indian Army. A family associate shared that Nambiar was an early advocate of the "Make in India" initiative, setting up advanced manufacturing facilities in the 1980s that rivaled those in Japan. BPL even exported its products to the West, marking it as a visionary Indian brand in consumer and medical electronics.

The 1982 Asian Games inspired Nambiar to expand BPL from medical equipment into consumer electronics, making it a household name. Karnataka's Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M.B. Patil, also posted on X, paying tribute to Nambiar's lasting impact on India's electronics sector and expressing his condolences to the family.

Nambiars son-in-law, former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced the news on X, stating that he would be pausing his election campaign to return to Bengaluru and be with his family during this difficult time.
The incense stick (agarbatti) industry plays a vital role during Diwali, as many families incorporate incense into their rituals and celebrations. This tradition creates a unique opportunity for brands to resonate with consumers spiritual practices while offering products that elevate the festive atmosphere.

In conversation with Adgully, Gaurav Tayal, Chief Executive of the Matches & Agarbatti Business (MAB) at ITC, speaks about the companys strategic initiatives for Diwali, the evolving significance of incense in contemporary celebrations, and how the company aims to enhance consumers festive experiences.

Mangaldeep has a rich heritage in the incense stick market. How has the brand evolved over the years to stay relevant in a rapidly changing consumer landscape?

Mangaldeep, a well-established brand in the Indian incense stick market, has evolved significantly over the years to maintain its relevance in an increasingly dynamic consumer landscape. Diversifying of product range, coupled with the premiumization strategy, has catered to evolving preferences of consumers seeking a variety of scents. This move aligns with consumers who are willing to pay more for superior quality and an enhanced sensory experience during prayers. Mangaldeep has strategically positioned itself as more than just a product for fragrance. Through collaborations with major temples like Ayodhya and various religious bodies, the brand emphasizes its deep connection with tradition, making it a part of daily devotional practices. Their use of the Mangaldeep 6th Sense Panel, which involves members who cannot see, but have heightened senses of smell, ensures exceptional fragrance quality. Simultaneously, Mangaldeep connects with the spiritual core of consumers through its latest campaign, Dil Se Karo Baat Bhagwan Ke Saath campaign, blending tradition with new-age spirituality. Lastly, Mangaldeep has tailored its products to cater to regional preferences. Different regions in India have distinct cultural practices, and Mangaldeep has created specific products and fragrances to meet these localized needs, further deepening its connection with diverse consumer groups. Through these strategies, Mangaldeep has managed to maintain its stronghold in the market while appealing to both traditional and modern consumers, ensuring that the brand remains relevant amid shifting consumer behaviours and preferences.

What inspired Mangaldeep to venture into the luxury gifting segment, and how does this new line differentiate itself from your traditional offerings?

The FMCG market has seen a strong shift toward premiumization, with consumers seeking more than just products  they want enriched experiences. This trend extends to the incense market, where devotees now desire more sophisticated, multi-sensory experiences during prayers and rituals. Mangaldeep being the enabler of devotion ventured into the luxury gifting segment as the opportunity within the incense gifting category is rapidly growing, driven by consumer demand for spiritual wellness. By offering premium products specifically crafted for occasions such as morning rituals, special pujas, and housewarming rituals, we provide meaningful, elevated gifting options that align with modern devotional practices. Mangaldeep recognizes this opportunity to enhance consumers spiritual experiences through premium offerings.

As devotion becomes more personalized and intimate, we aim to provide fragrances that resonate on a deeper level. We believe that incense is more than just a product  it is a bridge between the devotee and their faith. Our premium range focuses on using the finest natural ingredients and essential oils to create complex, long-lasting fragrances that elevate every ritual. Through this approach, Mangaldeep aspires to not just meet, but exceed consumer expectations, offering them the finest incense products that transform everyday moments of devotion into something extraordinary.

Could you provide an overview of Mangaldeeps new product lineup? How do these offerings reflect the brands commitment to purity and tradition?

Mangal Morning Giftbox  Discover the Mangal Mornings Giftbox, thoughtfully curated inspired by the serenity of morning rituals. This box features calming incense with wooden stands, nourishing nuts, soothing tea, and uplifting affirmation cards. Whether for yourself or as a thoughtful gift, it invites you to start your day with positivity and clarity. Perfect for anyone looking to begin their day with intention and joy.

Temple treasures Giftbox  Experience our Temple Treasures Giftbox, a unique offering that captures the sacred essence of Kedarnath and Badrinath Temples. This special collection features incense crafted from blessed flowers used in the ceremonies of Kedarnath and Badrinath. Each incense stick carries the spiritual aroma of these holy sites. Perfect for anyone seeking to enrich their spiritual practice or as a meaningful gift to share the essence of devotion.

Diwali Giftbox  Celebrate the spirit of Diwali with our Mangaldeep Diwali Giftbox, a comprehensive collection designed to elevate your rituals. This all-in-one set includes everything you need for traditional celebrations, from Plantable toran, aromatic Dhoop cones to auspicious Shubh Labh decorations, this giftbox has it all. Perfect for bringing brightness and dazzle to your celebrations while making your festivities both joyful and meaningful.

Durga Pujo Box  The box is specially curated to celebrate the spirit of Durga Puja with a collection of premium fragrances. This box is perfect for those bringing an elevated sense of celebrations to their Pujo celebrations.

Temple Dhoop Sticks & Cones  Experience the divine purity of temple rituals with Mangaldeep Temple Dhoop Cones & Sticks. This dhoop cones pack combines two distinct fragrances  each capturing the essence of Sandalwood and Patchouli. While Javadu Dhoop sticks give you pleasant atmosphere. They bring home the sacred aura of temples creating a soothing, long-lasting fragrance that purifies the air and elevates your spiritual atmosphere.

Scent Dhoop Sticks & Cones  House of Mangaldeep brings you a new variant of Scent Dhoop cones with infused fragrances of Lavender and Amber. Scent Dhoop Sticks infused of rich black oudh fragrance. They bring a touch of modern luxury to your prayers.

How does Mangaldeep define affordable luxury, and what strategies do you have in place to ensure that your new luxury gifting products remain accessible to a broader consumer demographic?

At Mangaldeep, we define affordable luxury as offering premium fragrances that elevate devotional experiences while remaining accessible to a broad consumer base. Our strategy focuses on delivering high-quality products using natural, superior ingredients, without compromising on affordability. Ensure our new luxury gifting products are within reach for a wider demographic, we have optimized production by leveraging efficient manufacturing processes and sourcing to manage costs. This allows us to offer enriched, long-lasting fragrances at competitive prices. Additionally, we are expanding our distribution through both online and offline channels, ensuring that these premium offerings are easily available to all. Our aim is to make luxury feel attainable, allowing more consumers to experience elevated devotion through our affordable, yet high-quality products.

With the growing trend of luxury gifting, particularly during festive seasons, what consumer insights have you observed that influenced this strategic decision?

The growing trend of luxury gifting has been shaped by several key consumer insights that have influenced our strategic decision at Mangaldeep. Firstly, consumers are increasingly seeking gifts that offer a sense of exclusivity and thoughtfulness. In todays market, luxury gifts are seen to express care and appreciation through products that stand out in terms of quality and experience. We have also observed that consumers now prefer gifts that have a deeper, more personal meaning  especially in the devotional space. With rituals and spirituality becoming more intimate, there is a rising demand for products that not only serve a functional purpose but also enhance the emotional and sensory experience during prayers.

Furthermore, consumers are gravitating toward products that combine aesthetics with purpose, making beautifully crafted, premium incense and dhoop a perfect gifting option for special occasions. By tapping into these insights, we have developed our luxury gifting range to meet the desire for meaningful, high-quality gifts that enrich devotional practices, while still being accessible to a wide audience.

What challenges do you face in terms of government regulations regarding product safety and quality in the incense stick industry, and how are you addressing these?

In the incense stick industry, adhering to government regulations on product safety and quality is a priority. These regulations focus on ensuring that products are made using safe, approved ingredients and that they meet specific emission standards to protect consumer health and the environment. Mangaldeep is fully committed to complying with all relevant regulations. We ensure that our products are manufactured with high-quality, safe ingredients and undergo rigorous testing to meet both safety and quality standards. We conduct regular audits to ensure we are complying all regulations and have always been a responsible player in this industry.

In light of recent market trends, how has your advertising spend evolved over the past few years, particularly in the luxury segment?

In response to recent market trends, Mangaldeep has significantly shifted its advertising spend towards digital mediums to align with evolving consumer behaviour. Recognizing the growing influence of online platforms, the has increased focus on digital campaigns. We now run targeted online campaigns, product-focused films, and comprehensive media plans to highlight our premium offerings. Our social media handles play a crucial role in promoting these products through influencer collaborations, static posts, and engaging GIFs. This shift ensures that the brand remains relevant and top-of-mind in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Additionally, in-store visibility ensures our Premium products are prominently displayed for offline consumers, creating a balanced approach that integrates both online and offline marketing strategies to effectively connect with our audience. This balanced approach enables us to effectively promote our premium range while adapting to the evolving retail landscape.

What role does media coverage play in your marketing strategy for the luxury gifting products? How do you plan to engage with the media to generate buzz around this launch?

Media coverage is crucial to Mangaldeeps strategy for promoting our gifting and premium range, as it helps create visibility and build excitement. To generate buzz around the launch, we plan to engage the media through targeted press releases, and exclusive product previews. We have capitalized on the rising trend of quick commerce to collaborate with platforms to run exclusive promotions. Additionally, we will schedule interviews with key publications to highlight the story behind our premium range. These efforts along with running targeted digital campaigns will further amplify awareness, ensuring broad coverage and position our products as premium gifting options. By integrating media buzz with digital and quick commerce platforms, Mangaldeep maintains a string, adaptive presence in the modern marketplace.

How do you measure the return on investment (ROI) for your advertising campaigns, particularly in the context of launching a new premium product range?

To measure the effectiveness of our advertising spends for launching a new premium product range, we evaluate several key aspects. For digital campaigns, we track brand awareness through impressions, reach, and engagement, while also measuring consumer sentiment via social media interactions, feedback, and product reviews. For media campaigns, we assess the media coverage, earned media value, and visibility generated from PR efforts, influencer collaborations, and product placements. We also monitor sales performance across General Trade, e-commerce, and key account channels to measure direct impact. Return on advertising spend (ROAS) is a critical metric, ensuring that all our campaigns, whether digital, media, or in-store visibility, translate into measurable results and drive both brand growth and sales. This comprehensive approach helps optimize our advertising strategy for maximum impact.

Are there any upcoming innovations or product lines that you are excited about that align with Mangaldeeps vision for the future?

Yes, Mangaldeep is excited about several upcoming innovations that align with our vision for the future. We are focusing on expanding into category adjacencies that complement our core incense offerings, as seen in the recent launch of camphor products. These new lines tap into the growing consumer demand for products that enhance devotional rituals, offering purity and tradition in different forms. Mangaldeep is always excited about innovations that align with our future vision, including expanding into category adjacencies like camphor, which we have recently launched. These innovations reflect our commitment to enhancing both the devotional and sensory experiences of our consumers.
Blaine Sholmire, dressed as Michael Myers from the movie series Halloween, carries a Michael Myers action figure he bought while shopping Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Comicpalooza at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

A father died Halloween night after someone, possibly wearing a Michael Myers mask from the movie Halloween, shot him several times, authorities said.

Deputies from the Harris County Sheriffs Office responded to a reported shooting in the 1300 block of Hawkes Drive late Thursday. The victim was not identified, but a homicide investigator said the man was in the garage of his home where his two children lived when an unidentified shooter opened fire.

LAWYER CASE DISMISSED: Galveston attorney who pulled Michael Myers stunt before Tropical Storm Nicholas gets case dismissed

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We did hear that some of the neighbors saw the suspect possibly wearing a Halloween mask. We were told it was possibly a Michael Myers mask from the Halloween movie, said Sgt. M. Ritchiy in an interview with OnScene TV Thursday night. Now, is that the same person that did the shooting? We're not sure at this time, but someone of that description was seen in the area.

The two juveniles were unharmed, and have since have since been released into the custody of their grandmother, according to a news release from the Harris County Sheriffs Office.

The childrens mother, who was the estranged wife of the man killed Halloween night, was killed in what police believe was a murder in late August, according to the release. The Harris County Sheriffs Office did not specify whether investigators believe the two alleged homicides were connected.

Deputies are still working to identify the shooter, a sheriffs office spokesperson told the Chronicle Friday. Investigators are currently reviewing nearby camera footage and speaking with witnesses.
LOreal Paris is proud to announce an exciting new initiative in collaboration with &TV, designed to emphasize the significance of a daily haircare routine during Indian festivals when everyone desires beautiful hair. In todays challenging environment, prioritizing hair health amidst stress and fluctuating weather conditions has never been more essential. Since its launch last year, LOreal Paris has garnered significant appreciation and is now deepening its connection with the Uttar Pradesh market. To cultivate a loyal consumer base, LOreal has selected Angoori Bhabhi from &TVs cult comedy Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai as its brand ambassador. This unique partnership will showcase a remarkable twist, as Angoori Bhabhi unveils her veil for the first time, revealing her long, shiny haira well-kept secret shared exclusively with viewers.

The campaign features Angoori Bhabhi, celebrated for her relatable charm, confidently flaunting her beautifully hydrated hair, and sharing the benefits of the L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Moisturise Shampoo, Conditioner, and Night Cream, with a focus on raising awareness about the importance of hair hydration, especially during the festive season. With her light-hearted appeal, she emphasizes the importance of regularly using this product trio to maintain soft, shiny, and vibrant hair. To amplify the campaigns cultural relevance, L'Oreal Paris and &TV have woven this haircare routine into the storyline of the popular show Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by AndTV Official (@andtvofficial)

Following this you will see, Anita and Angoori Bhabhi exchange hair care secrets in a special Karva Chauth episode, emphasizing L'Oreal's Hyaluronic Moisturise haircare range as essential components of their festive self-care rituals while showcasing how hydrated, beautiful hair elevates their overall festive look.

This integrated campaign will be promoted across Zees Channels. L'Oreal Paris reinforces its message of achieving healthy, hydrated hair while encouraging Indian women to embrace a daily haircare routine. The campaign empowers women to unveil their true beauty with effortlessly natural, beautiful hair with LOreal Paris, underscoring the power of content-driven marketing to connect brands with their audiences.

Commenting on the partnership, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer - Digital & Broadcast Revenue, ZEEL, said, Every character on Zee possesses a unique charm and narrative that fosters a loyal following over time. Among them, &TVs Angoori Bhabhi stands out as one of our most beloved figures, wielding undeniable influence over millions across the HSM belt. Our collaboration with L'Oreal, featuring Angoori Bhabhi, allows us to weave a compelling story that resonates deeply with our audience, seamlessly integrating the brands message into the cultural landscape. With the strength of the Zee Network and our character-driven marketing approach, we aim to inspire millions of women to embrace hydration and consistency in their haircare routines with L'Oreal Paris. This initiative not only drives brand affinity and consumer engagement but also highlights the significance of self-care during festive celebrations.

Dario Zizzi, General Manager, L'Oreal Paris India, added, At L'Oreal Paris, we believe that everyone deserves to have beautiful, healthy hair and flaunt it especially during festive occasions. This exciting partnership with &TV and Angoori Bhabhi allows us to connect with our consumers in Hindi Speaking markets on a deeper level, sharing the importance of a daily haircare routine with LOreal Paris Hyaluron Moisture range. Angoori Bhabhis unveiling of her ghunghat is a symbolic gesture, made in the spirit of empowering women through beauty backed by science, a cause that LOreal Paris has always been deeply committed to. We're thrilled to be a part of this cultural moment, empowering women to be their best and celebrate their beauty with confidence.

Shekhar Banerjee, Chief Client Officer & Office Head, West, North & East, Wavemaker, said, Through this collaboration, L'Oreal Paris continues to empower women reminding them that self-care is not just a ritual but a celebration of beauty, especially during special occasions and encouraging them to embrace their natural beauty. This execution beautifully embeds L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Moisturise range part of Angoori Bhabhis charm, we are not only connecting with viewers emotionally but also educating them about the benefits of consistent hair hydration.
Uniting hearts and homes this Diwali, Meera the iconic haircare brand from the house of CavinKare, brings the country's cherished traditions to life with its "One Diya, One Tradition" campaign. Paying homage to India's deep-rooted practice of lighting Diyas, this campaign brings an endearing celebration of unity and heritage making the timeless lamp an emblem of hope, purity, and togetherness. Although Diwali celebrations may vary in customs, the Diya remains an eternal element uniting household across India in shared warmth and spirit. Through this unique campaign, Meera underscores the Diyas role as a humble yet powerful icon that has bridged generations and cultures across the nation.

The campaign launched with festive cheer, saw hundreds of people come together for a grand event to curate an extraordinary and massive display of the India map illuminated with thousands of diyas in celebration of Diwali. Beyond its striking beauty, this shimmering installation honored the timeless tradition of lamp lighting with each diya representing the diverse yet connected spirit of the nation.

In the wake of the monumental gathering, the brand also rolled out a social media film as part of the campaign, celebrating the richness of Diwali and showcasing Meeras unique vision of creating a vast India map composed of thousands of diyas. The film journeyed into homes across the nation, showcasing how the diya, central to Diwali celebrations, is cherished in countless unique traditions. This narrative culminated in a breathtaking visual of a radiant India map, representing the unity and diversity of the nation through shared celebrations and cherished traditions.

Speaking on the campaign, Mr. Rajat Nanda, Business Head - Personal Care, CavinKare said, At Meera, we firmly believe in the goodness of tradition and its ability to bind us together. Lighting diyas is a cherished practice that transcends boundaries, and this simple yet profound act connects us all, serving as a reminder of our shared heritage.Recognizing the vital role of tradition in our lives, and its value in being passed down through generations, we strive to incorporate the same wisdom into our hair care and personal care products through our ingredients. With our One Diya, One Tradition campaign, this year, we aim to highlight the importance of honoring our traditions and creating bonds among diverse communities, thereby lighting up our lives and contributing to the festive glow of the entire nation.

The "One Diya, One Tradition" campaign exemplifies Meera's dedication to preserving India's heritage and creating meaningful celebrations that bring communities together. The campaign is now live across Meera's social media pages, with the inspiring social media film available on YouTube.
Get Ready to Feel the Roar! Sennheiser, the renowned German audio giant and a pioneer in audio technology, has joined the forces with the Bengal Warriorz, as their official audio partner for the 11th season of Pro Kabaddi League. Sennheiser will provide cutting-edge audio equipment, including high-quality headsets to Bengal Warriorz.

We're thrilled to partner with the Bengal Warriorz, one of the toughest teams in the Pro Kabaddi League. Sennheiser, a brand that represents a harmonious mix of legacy and premium quality, aligns perfectly with the Bengal Warriorz, who exemplify strength, tenacity, agility, and endurance. We cant wait for an action-packed Kabaddi season!" said Vijay Sharma, General Manager - Sennheiser Consumer Business in India.

This collaboration brings Sennheisers commitment to audio excellence to the world of kabaddi, with a focus on enhancing team performance and delivering an exceptional audio experience for fans. With over 75 years of innovation in high-fidelity audio solutions, Sennheiser has consistently set the industry standard in quality, producing world-class headphones for audio enthusiasts alike. Through this partnership, Bengal Warriors players will be equipped with Sennheiser headphones, allowing them to enjoy their favourite beats and stay pumped for the action ahead. Fans can look forward to exclusive content, and branded fan interactions, all designed to create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Diwali festival is that time of the year when everyone loves to take a pause and spend time with their loved ones. It is also considered an auspicious period to start something new or buy something new. Adgully spoke to some popular television celebrities to know what have been their most expensive or memorable purchases for Diwali, and how they celebrated the festival this year.

Aditi Gowitrikar

Diwali generally has been a memorable festival every year for me because the family gets together. When I was a child, my mother used to make sweets and all the Faral, as it is called in Marathi, at home and we used to help her. There were eight families that lived together, and we used to exchange the sweetmeats in a big thali. So, we got to eat all those amazing foods.

I think the most expensive thing that I have bought was a gold jewellery set for myself. I still have it.

This year I decided to celebrate Diwali in a very different fashion, because I just finished Marvelous Mrs. India Season 2. It being a very hectic schedule, I needed a break. In order to de-stress and detox from the external world, I have come to Kairali Ayurvedic village, which is in Palakkad district in Kerala. So, I am just having a very different kind of peaceful and quiet Diwali this year.

Sreejita De Blohm-Pape

We buy gold or silver on Dhanteras time. It need not necessarily be a huge chunk of jewellery. Its just for good luck and good wishes that we buy any kind of metal, especially gold. Its not a culture in West Bengal to buy very expensive products or gifts during Diwali. We like to meet our relatives and have good food together. We give each other diyas and sweets. It's more about family bonding and sharing love.

This year, however, there was a heart-breaking incident in our family. I lost my grandmother on October 28. So, I want to be with myself and my husband, stay at home and pray for her soul. Im sure shes in a better place.

Because it is a Bengali tradition to go to Kali Mandir on Diwali, Ill go to the Kali Mandir at night and just be home with my husband and feel my grandmas presence.

Romiit Raj

My most expensive purchase has been my home in Mumbai, which I bought during Diwali a few years back. It was possible only because of my mother and father, who advised me to buy a house first before considering a luxury car or international holidays. My mother is my everything, she always encouraged me and reassured me, especially when I felt anxious about paying the EMIs, given that an actors income is very uncertain. Yes, I still live in the same house. Unfortunately, my parents have passed away, but I truly believe it is their blessings that made it possible to own a house in Mumbai. I feel this is the most special Diwali as I am part of the biggest show on Indian television, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.

Shivangi Verma

My most memorable purchase was a beautiful gold chain that I bought for myself during Diwali a few years ago. It was a bit on the pricier side, but the design really caught my eye. I felt it was a special treat to celebrate the festival. I still have it. I wear it on special occasions, especially during festivals and family gatherings. It holds a lot of sentimental value for me and reminds me of that wonderful Diwali. This year, I plan to celebrate Diwali by decorating my home with lights and diyas, preparing some traditional sweets, and spending quality time with family and friends. I also want to take some time for self-reflection and gratitude, embracing the spirit of the festival. Plus, Im looking forward to enjoying the festive meals together.

Anupama Solanki

The most expensive thing that I have bought for Diwali with my own money is the iPhone 14 Pro Max 1 TB. Before that, my family used to give me phones and I was totally dependent on them. I now understand the value of hard earned money.

I am very excited and happy to celebrate Diwali because everything is going well around me. There are back-to-back celebrations lined up  Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Goverdhan Puja and then my birthday on November 2.

Manish Naggdev

I bought the first AC of the house in our entire family on Diwali 17 years back. Today, I dont have that AC, of course, as we shifted from that house a long time back. This year, I am enjoying the best Diwali ever, as this year has given me the No. 1 show on television  Anupama  and my entire family is on cloud nine. Everyone is in their best mood ever. We will do everything possible to make this Diwali the most memorable one.
U.W. Clemon, Alabamas first Black federal judge and former state senator, is urging voters to go to the polls in this upcoming election.

The city of Birmingham honored Clemon with its Putting People First award during the AWAKEN 2024 ceremony at the Birmingham Museum of Art on Oct. 25. Held annually during the week of the Magic City Classic, AWAKEN celebrates the legacy of community leaders and activists who have shaped the city of Birmingham.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed Clemon the first Black federal judge in the history of the state. Clemon was also one of the first two Black people elected to the Alabama Senate after Reconstruction.

Standing behind the podium in the Birmingham Museum of Art auditorium, Clemon addressed the audience with words of ministry. He started his acceptance speech by quoting the gospel song Woke Up This Morning, adapting a verse to address a statement made by former President Donald Trump.

(from left) Randall Woodfin presents U.W. Clemon with the city of Birmingham's "Putting People First" award. (Reginald Allen)Reginald Allen

My brothers and sisters, I woke up this morning with a mind stayed on voting. Because I heard a convict who aspires to be president of this great nation declared that ours is a garbage can, said Clemon. The statement was a response to Trumps rhetoric at a campaign rally in Arizona the day before. During the rally, the former president called the United States a garbage can for the world, as he criticized the Biden-Harris administration for its approach to policy at the border.

While Clemon expressed his staunch disapproval of Trump, his words were hopeful.

Ive seen in these 81 years. Ive seen the power of the vote. My senior year in Columbia Law School, I did a paper called Reapportionment in Alabama: The Unfulfilled Duty. Well, that duty is still unfulfilled. But in the meantime, Ive seen the power of the vote, said Clemon, addressing the tenacity of lawyers, activists, and politicians fighting to restore and protect voting rights.

Related:

I have absolutely no faith Alabama lawmakers will be fair to Black voters, former judge says

Guest opinion from retired federal judge U.W. Clemon: Time to expand the Supreme Court

Ive seen the power of the vote when it resulted in the election of the first Black mayor of Birmingham. And when Jimmy Carter was uncertain about whether he wanted to appoint me to the federal judgeship. My client Richard Arrington contacted the White House and said he wouldnt make up his mind about whom to support for the presidency between Ted Kennedy and Jimmy Carter until Jimmy Carter decided which person he would appoint to the first Black federal judgeship of Alabama. In a matter of days, the president made up his mind, and I became Alabamas first Black federal judge.

The AWAKEN ceremony began with a panel about voter access and civic engagement with Clemon, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and JaNise Gentry, the Alabama director for Woke Vote. CBS 42 news anchor Sherri Jackson moderated the conversation.

(from left) Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, CBS 42 news anchor Sherri Jackson, Judge U.W.Clemon, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, and JaNise Gentry, the State of Alabama Director for Woke Vote, pose for a photo during AWAKEN on October 25, 2024. (Credit: Reginald Allen)Reginald Allen

As the discussion drew to a close, Jackson posed a final question to the group: What do you do to get people to vote?

I would say the best thing that I would do when Im in the streets is getting (people) to see the connection about why they vote. Most people will say Thats the presidential election, thats not really going to effect me. But I dont think most people have even looked at the sample ballots that are out right now, said Gentry. There are Congress people that are out right now and senators on that ballot. And school board amendments that are on that ballot that affect them locally.

What I tell people all the time is that democracy is a participatory sport, said Woodfin. It was never designed for your mayor and your council to just do all the work. You have to have citizens doing your part. Part of that is voting.

(from left) U.W. Clemon and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell speak during a panel at the AWAKEN 2024 event at the Birmingham Museum of Art on October 25, 2024 (Reginald Allen)Reginald Allen

[Election 2024: Alabama voter guide to the Nov. 5 general election]

Sewell, the only Democrat in Alabamas congressional delegation, also weighed in. She is seeking her eighth term and faces Republican Robin Litaker, the 1997 Alabama Teacher of the Year, in the Nov. 5 election.

Its frightening, said Sewell. The reality is that modern-day voter suppression is alive and well. It may not be the poll tax or the literacy test, but its no less pernicious. And we have to fight against that by doing what we can to vote. That means coming up with a voting plan.
A lawsuit against the City of Birmingham involving the 2020 death of a Birmingham 5-year-old who was killed in a hit-and-run as the driver fled police can move forward, according to a ruling Friday by the Alabama Supreme Court.

Justices, without issuing an opinion, denied Birminghams request to reverse a lower court ruling denying police officers immunity from being sued in the case.

But one of the justices took issue with the Birmingham Police Departments chase policy, saying in a special writing that he legally had no choice but to rule with the majority against the citys request for immunity from prosecution because of the criteria of the citys pursuit policy.

In my opinion, this absolute policy of not pursuing fleeing drivers is badly misguided, Justice Greg Cook wrote, and I am deeply concerned with the degree to which it limits BPD police officers abilities to apprehend lawbreakers and protect public safety.

City of Birmingham officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kamerynn Young, 5, died April 1, 2020 when she was in a vehicle that was struck by Dustin Cody Martin, who police say was driving erratically on I-59/20 and fled as police pursued him in Birmingham.

Martin evaded officers when his Ford F-150 pickup truck struck another vehicle Kamerynn was riding in with her family at Springville Road and Roebuck Parkway, police have said.

Martin then left the scene and was taken into custody hours later in north Birmingham.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2022 and was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Kamerynns family filed the wrongful death lawsuit four years ago against Martin, his employer Georgia-based Procomm Advanced Quality Solutions, which owns the pickup truck Martin was driving, and the City of Birmingham and the two officers who are no longer on the force.

On July 26, 2023, the city and police officers filed a motion for summary judgment to dismiss the claims against them in the case - asserting, among other things, that they were immune from liability under statute and on Sept. 28, 2023, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Javan Patton denied the citys motion.

On Nov. 8, 2023, the city filed a petition for writ of mandamus with the Alabama Supreme Court asking the high court to issue an order directing the trial court judge  Patton- to dismiss all claims against the city and to grant summary judgment.

On Friday, the Supreme Court in a 7-2 ruling denied Birminghams request without an opinion.

Shortly after the ruling was made public, Patton set a scheduling conference for Nov. 14 to proceed with the case and said she wants a firm trial date set.

Justice Cook, though he concurred with the majority, did issue a written opinion questioning the police departments pursuit policy.

The BPD has a written policy that bars its police officers from pursuing traffic offenders, including drivers fleeing from the police.

Specifically, the relevant portions of the policy state that will not initiate or participate in a vehicle pursuit when the decision to pursue is based only on a traffic violation or misdemeanor evading (including failure to yield or reckless driving in response to an enforcement action taken by Department personnel).

Despite his extraordinary concerns about having a no-chase policy that hamstrings officers, Justice Cook wrote, We have no authority to rewrite this policy. Any changes to this policy lie with the City of Birmingham and the BPD. And, any changes to state law regarding police-pursuit policies (or immunity law) lie with our Legislature. At this stage, our Courts only role is to apply the procedural limitations of mandamus review to the invocation of the well-settled doctrine of peace-officer immunity.

The plaintiffs have argued that the city and officers were not entitled to immunity because, they contend, the officers had violated BPDs policy.

Cook wrote specially to express my view that denying the petition given the circumstances in this case may be inconsistent with the underlying purpose of our peace-officer-immunity doctrine. Here, Officers Smith and Richardson contend that they observed a threat to public safety and made efforts to discharge their duty to protect the public from that threat. In my view, that is precisely the kind of conduct peace-officer immunity is designed to shield.

Cook also believes the court has ruled differently in similar cases.

In cases in which other Alabama municipalities have enacted guidelines - not absolute prohibitions - on when an officer may engage in such pursuits, Justice Cook wrote, our Court has reached the opposite result on the immunity analysis than the one we reach in this case today.

However, because of the absolute nature of the pursuit policy enacted by the BPD, I am constrained to concur in denying the petition for a writ of mandamus based on the evidence indicating that (the officers) violated the provisions of this policy, he wrote.

Although I believe that this policy is misguided and the outcome it has produced may be inconsistent with the purpose of our peace-officer-immunity doctrine, I must reluctantly concur with our Courts decision today.
As the 2024 election draws near, a false narrative spreading on conservative websites is stoking fear that people in the country illegally are attempting to vote in Alabama and nationwide.

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong filed legislation on Friday to criminalize any noncitizen who might try to vote, making the offense a felony. Strong referenced a Guatemalan woman in the U.S. illegally who pleaded guilty in September to using fake documentation to vote in at least four elections in Alabama.

Anyone who is not an American citizen and casts a ballot in this election should be first in line to be deported. We must secure our elections, he said on X.

His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Despite the growing number of claims from conservative media and public officials, there is little evidence that elections in Alabama, or elsewhere, are under any widespread threat from noncitizens attempting to vote.

A 1996 federal law makes it illegal for noncitizens to vote in elections for president or members of Congress. Violators can be fined and imprisoned for up to a year. They can also be deported.

Noncitizens are not allowed to vote in Alabama, Laney Rawls, a spokesperson for the Alabama Secretary of States Office told AL.com on Friday.

Under state law, Alabama immigrants with legal status who obtain drivers licenses have FN for Foreign National clearly printed on their ID. Alabama election workers will check for drivers licenses to make sure voters are eligible as citizens.

Alabama license for non-citizens clearly states "FN" for "foreign national" and "Not for federal identification" under the word Alabama. This image of the license of a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient says "limited term" as well.HICA Alabama

If anybody presented a drivers license with an FN, which meant foreign national, that would not allow them as identification to vote, said Sandy Smith, Registrar for Limestone County.

Smith said state election officials have instructed poll workers to look for the words Foreign National on drivers licenses.

The same day Strong announced his bill, an 1819 News post stated that nothing stops these migrants from registering to vote or casting a ballot. 1819 News is a website that was once owned by the Alabama Policy Institute.

Concerned citizens may be the only reliable stay against possible election interference and fraud, the article warned.

The article reported that a staffer at the Limestone County Board of Registrars Office stated that the registrar does not vet the citizenship of voters and that if they have a valid drivers license, theyll be able to register to vote. The name of the staffer was not reported.

Smith said the information shared in the article about her office was false.

Nobody said that in this office, Smith said. Nobody said you could lie about anything. Efforts to reach 1819 News for a response were not immediately successful Saturday.

Smith said voters are asked to declare that what they have reported is true when they register to vote, including their citizenship status.

(Immigrant identification) numbers are not acceptable identification numbers for the purpose of voter registration and would never verify in our voter registration system, Smith said.

A day earlier in Georgia  a key swing state for former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris  Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger urged Elon Musk pull from X an obviounsly fake video that showed a Haitian immigrant with fake identification voting multiple times. Georgia has found that 20 of the 8.2 million people registered to vote in the state are not U.S. citizens.

Raffenspergers statement came a day after The Daily Wire, a national right wing media site, reported that several Alabama cities are overrun by Haitian migrants and that residents fear the towns will become the next Springfield, Ohio.

Springfield was thrust into the national spotlight when Trump falsely claimed in the presidential debate that Haitian migrants there were eating cats and dogs.

Haitian immigrants have legally moved to Alabama after being granted Temporary Protected Status due to gang violence in Haiti.

There is no exact data on how many Haitians are currently living in Alabama. In 2023, there were 2,370 Haitians living in the state.

This past summer, the Haitian community in Albertville faced hateful rhetoric after a photo of Haitians taking a bus to work at a local poultry factory was shared online with the false claim that they were being secretly bused into the country.

Similar rhetoric has sprung up in other Alabama cities, including Sylacauga, Enterprise and Athens.

(The Haitian community has) been excellent to work with. Theyve been gracious for any help thats been offered to them, said Emmett Moore, director of the Athens-Limestone Family Resource Center.

The center helps Haitian immigrant families with employment, food and other basic needs. They seem like perfect people that youd want to have as your neighbors, Moore said.

Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones said he has received no complaints about immigrants trying to register to vote or about any crimes involving Haitians.

I havent had a single criminal case come in yet, in the county system, where the Haitian has been the defendant.

It is rare for immigrants to attempt to vote in the United States, said Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst at the non-profit Migration Policy Institute based in Washington, D.C.

Bush-Joseph said legal immigrants are not incentivized to vote because any illegal activity could lose them their right to remain in the country.

Local election officials have consistently said that noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare. One called it a fake problem, Bush-Joseph added.

Carlos Aleman, the director of the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama, said legal immigrants do not think about voting because they are not citizens and neither political party has succeeded in resolving immigration policy, giving them little incentive.

This is just irresponsible and reckless speculation that anyone would do this, he said about illegal voting. I think its disappointing as to how easily they can just say things without having any evidence of these things having occurred.

In October, a group of voters sued Alabama for the states attempt to remove voters it claimed were noncitizens. The Department of Justice also filed suit against the state.

The program purged more than 3,000 people from voter rolls and referred them to the Alabama Attorney Generals Office for possible prosecution. Of those, more than 2,074 were later deemed eligible to vote.

On Oct. 16, U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco issued a preliminary injunction instructing Secretary of State Wes Allen to restore the affected voters to active status and notify them of their eligibility.
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, on Friday said Donald Trump critic and Kamala Harris campaign surrogate Mark Cubans committed a major error when he claimed the former president is never seen with strong, intelligent women because hes intimidated by them.

I think the Harris campaign and her acolytes keep screwing up, the Alabama congressman said during an appearance Friday on the Jeff Poor Show on FM Talk 1065 in Mobile.

Palmer then took a swipe at Cuban and Democrats, referencing a hot culture war topic.

I mean, Biden calling Trump supporters garbage and then Mark Cuban going on television and saying that Trump doesnt have strong woman around him, and maybe the definition of a strong woman in Mark Cubans mind, the Democrats mind, is a transgendered man.

Cubans comments on The View were seized on by conservatives who say the remark will backfire with women voters.

Donald Trump, you never see him around strong, intelligent women. Ever. Its just that simple. Theyre intimidating to him, said the billionaire entrepreneur who is among the heads of Business Leaders for Harris. He doesnt like to be challenged by them and, you know, Nikki Haley will call him on his nonsense with reproductive rights and how he sees and treats and talks about women. I mean, he just cant have her around. It wouldnt work.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said she was offended by Cubans remarks but that women will not be undeterred in voting for Trump.

Deplorable. Garbage. Weak and dumb.



Its what out-of-touch liberal elites really think about everyday Americans who dont share their political perspectives. This week, Democrats said the quiet part out loud again. pic.twitter.com/JaElZOVbnQ  Katie Britt (@KatieBrittforAL) November 1, 2024

These disparaging comments do not hurt our cause they embolden people to speak up and to speak loudly and to say, we know whats at stake for our nation and were willing to fight for it, she said during an appearance on Fox News on Friday. I think thats what youre going to see on Election Day coming soon.

Despite Mark Cubans offensive bullying, she said, I know that women understand whats at stake.
Property taxes are probably one of the least exciting responsibilities to look forward to after purchasing a home.

The amount of property tax you pay will depend on the value of your home, its location and if youre lucky  the tax breaks your state or city levies on the bill. Some households can expect to pay just hundreds of dollars, while others may be forced to pay thousands each year.

According to ATTOM Data Solutions, the average property tax bill increased 4% nationwide to $4,062 last year.

How we found the lowest-ranking property tax cities:

The rankings for the cities with the lowest property tax were provided by ATTOM Data Solutions, which surveyed property tax rate data from 84.9 million U.S. single-family homes in the United States.

The effective property tax rates, home values, and corresponding tax bills reflect the most recent figures available from 2023.

Some 225 popular metropolitan areas were evaluated, and here are the five cities with the lowest property tax rates in the country.

1. Daphne-Fairhope, Alabama

Effective property tax rate: 0.27%

Average property tax bill: $1,293

Located in Baldwin County, and the eastern coast of Mobile Bay, the city of Daphne-Fairhope ranks as the metropolitan area with the lowest property tax rate out of the 225 most popular cities ranked by ATTOM. Homeowners with a typical home worth $478,109 can expect a property tax bill of $1,293.

Overall, Alabama is also ranked as one of the 10 states with the lowest property taxes in the country. Residents carry an effective property tax rate of 0.42%, at the median home value of $265,811 the average tax paid per year is $1,101.

Alabama also offers a Regular Homestead Exemption for property owners under age 65, and who are not disabled. Qualifying residents can deduct up to $4,000 in state tax and $2,000 in county tax from the assessed value of their home.

The state also has homestead exemptions for folks over 65, blind, or permanently disabled.

2. Salisbury, Maryland

Effective property tax rate: 0.30%

Average property tax bill: $1,591

Salisbury is the biggest metropolitan area in Maryland and has the second lowest property taxes out of any city ranked in our list. For homeowners with a property worth a median of $524,086, the average property tax bill is $1,591.

The state of Maryland also offers a credit for property tax bills available to homeowners of all ages based on their household income. To qualify for the credit, you must meet the following requirements:

Your combined household income must not exceed $60,000.

Your net worth, including the value of the property for which the credit application is made and the cash value of IRAs or qualified retirement plans must not surpass $200,000.

The applicant must be the legal owner of the property.

3. Honolulu, Hawaii

Effective property tax rate: 0.31%

Average property tax bill: $3,939

Honolulu ranks as the city with the third lowest property tax rate in the United States, however, real estate isnt as affordable. The average estimated home value was $1.2 million last year, according to ATTOM. That means homeowners in Hawaii paid an average property tax bill of $3,939, nearly $4,000.

Luckily, there are some new property tax breaks rolling out tax year 2024 for Honolulu homeowners:

Resident homeowners under age 65 will be eligible for a $120,000 home exemption.

For those 65 and older, the home exemption amount climbs to $160,000. To qualify for the 2024 exemption, you must be 65 or older before June 30 of the preceding tax year.

4. Knoxville, Tennessee

Effective property tax rate: 0.32%

Average property tax bill: $1,349

Knoxville, which is home to just under 900,000 residents in the eastern region of Tennessee has one of the lowest property tax rates in the country. The average home is valued at $426,216, and with a property tax rate of 0.32%, most homeowners can expect an average bill of $1,349.

Knox County also offers up to $89 in property relief for older adults aged 65 and above or disabled homeowners. But your total household income cannot exceed $36,370.

Other ways to lower your property tax bill even further include:

Property tax relief for disabled veterans and widowers, up to $487 (at no income limit)

Property tax freeze for seniors. The State of Tennessee passed legislation allowing counties to freeze property tax amounts for homeowners who are 65 or older on or before December 31, 2024, with a combined household income under $60,000. Homes and up to 5 acres can qualify for the tax break.

5. Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Effective property tax rate: 0.32%

Average property tax bill: $860

Alabama is one of the states with the lowest property tax rates, but its western city of Tuscaloosa is even more affordable. The average estimated home price is $266,044, and homeowners there could expect a property tax bill of $860.

As mentioned earlier, the state has a Regular Homestead Exemption for property owners under the age of 65 and exemptions for persons with disabilities.

All contents copyright 2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Jefferson County has contested races in Bessemer for circuit clerk, deputy treasurer, and assistant tax collector on Tuesday.

Find more information about Alabama ballots and voting information on Nov. 5 here.

There are also two probate judge races contested in the county.

Here are the candidates in each race:

Circuit Clerk, Jefferson County Bessemer Division

Karen Dunn Burks (D) was elected deputy circuit clerk, Bessemer division, in 2012. Dunn Burks previously served as assistant in the Jefferson County Tax Assessors office. Her mother was the late Alabama Rep. Priscilla Dunn, while her father, Grover Dunn, is the assistant Jefferson County tax collector over the Bessemer division.

Camilo Fuller (R) previously served as the assistant to the Bessemer mayor, 2006 to 2010. He has been transportation supervisor with Bessemer City Schools. He currently serves as senior pastor with Love Conquers All Assembly of Christ.

Jefferson County Deputy Treasurer, Bessemer

Sherry McClain (D) has been the Jefferson County deputy treasurer since 2013. She previously served as director of community affairs, Jefferson County Commission, and worked with the city of Brighton. McClain said her main focus in office has been transparency, efficiency, effective use of technology and taking care of the taxpayers money.

Delor Baumann (R) served as the mayor of Hueytown from 2004 through 2016. He was a former president of the Jefferson County Mayors Association. He managed Baumann Coatings in Bessemer and is a school bus driver for the Jefferson County Board of Education. He also served on the Regional Planning Commission of Jefferson County and the Hueytown and Bessemer chambers of commerce. Baumann said his purpose in running is to fulfill a promise to his late wife not to ever quit. I love serving the people. Whatever Im running for, its trying to help somebody else in some kind of fashion.

Jefferson County Assistant Tax Collector, Bessemer

Ron Marshall (D) is serving in his fourth term on the Bessemer City Council. He is self-employed in the broadcast industry after spending more than 30 years in banking and telecommunications. He is the co-owner of Myriad Communications Network, Inc. and ABC Concessions.

Johnny Curry (R) was appointed assistant tax collector for the Bessemer Division of Jefferson County in September 2023. He served four terms in the Alabama House of Representatives, from 1986 through 2002, and eight years on the state Ways and Means Committee. He is a former chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party and a member of the Alabama Republican Partys executive committee. He also was special projects director at The American Village in Montevallo.

Jefferson County Probate Judge Place 1

Yashiba Red Blanchard (D) practices law with Glenn Blanchard and Associates. Blanchard served as a special circuit court judge and special district court judge in Jefferson County. She previously worked for Jefferson County Commission and the county Personnel Board.

John Amari (R) is the chair of the Jefferson County Republican Partys election integrity committee. He is an attorney with Amari & Gray. He served as president of the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce and president of the Trussville City Schools Foundation.

Jefferson County, Probate Judge Place 2

Jameria Johnson Moore (D) is an attorney and partner with Sperling & Moore. She serves as a municipal judge for Birmingham, and a special district court judge in family court. She is a registered mediator with the State of Alabama.

Joel Blankenship (R) is an attorney with the Blankenship Law Firm. He was adopted at birth in the Jefferson County Probate Court. Blankenship is running on maintaining free and fair elections, as well as managing probate office in the most efficient and professional way possible, according to his website.
Houston Chronicle

A 21-year-old Houston mother has been accused of trying to sell her baby on Facebook, according to documents filed with the Harris County District Clerks Office.

Court documents allege Juniper Bryson courted at least six prospective buyers in the lead-up to her delivery. The child, which according to charging documents tested positive for unspecified drugs Bryson consumed while pregnant, was offered for sale to one individual from Louisiana for $150.

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Excerpts of Facebook messages included in court documents show Bryson allegedly believed taking compensation for her child was not illegal and was instead a different kind of adoption.

Yes, thats why theyre thinking its a scam because there is an agreement. Half up front and half later, but Im not asking for anything until they have the baby, Bryson allegedly said in a Facebook message to a woman she referred to as Aunt Jenna. Its not even like that its just enough to move into an apartment so I can work a job ...

The woman she exchanged Facebook messages with eventually reported her to police, according to court documents. Despite being repeatedly advised by others on Facebook that her plan was illegal, Bryson allegedly claimed they were crazy and what she was doing was no different than paying for a surrogate.

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Bryson was charged with sale or purchase of a child, a third-degree felony. Bryson was previously charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, assault of a family member and criminal mischief, but all three cases have since been dismissed. Court documents cite her participation in an ongoing federal case as reason for the dismissal.










English News China builds first EV charging, battery-swapping demonstration zone

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 30 Octobre 2024



The report indicated that the coulombic efficiency of the battery of Liu's vehicle was at a relatively poor level of approximately 92.62 percent, while the energy efficiency was about 88.77 percent, which barely met standard. Liu was advised to visit a dealer for battery maintenance.

By Yin Xiaoyu, People's Daily China's first smart electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery-swapping demonstration zone was completed in east China's Jiangsu province. The zone covers nearly 500 square kilometers in the cities of Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou. With about 1,300 charging piles, it serves over 500,000 new energy vehicle (NEV) drivers.



Through efficient interaction among NEVs, charging and battery-swapping stations, and urban power grids, smart EV charging and battery-swapping improves the utilization efficiency of charging piles and reduces the waiting time for drivers.



While providing a convenient and efficient charging experience to users, it promotes the healthy development of the NEV market and contributes to the green and smart development of the transportation sector.



"This app can guide me to the nearest charging station that saves me the most waiting time. It also tells me the number of vacant charging piles at the station and the period when the charging fee is at the lowest," a tourist surnamed Li told People's Daily at a public charging station in Binhu district, Wuxi.



According to Li, she drove all the way to Wuxi from Jiangsu's Changshu. When she arrived in Wuxi, she found her vehicle had only 30 percent of electricity left, and then she was guided to the charging station with the mobile application echargenet.



"It's around 10 a.m., and the charging price is 1.17 yuan ($0.16) per kWh, with a service fee of 0.51 yuan per kWh. Using a 50 percent discount coupon provided by the platform for the service fee, it saves me over 10 yuan on a full charge," Li said.



In the past, she always chose the charging station nearest to her when the battery ran low, so she had no way to know whether there were vacant charging piles. When there were many vehicles waiting to be charged, she had to look for other stations.



Yuan Xiaodong, senior technical director of the electric power research institute of State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd., said that smart charging for EVs integrates and regulates distributed resources within the broader power grid. This includes data aggregation analysis for "vehicle-station-grid," collaborative planning of network layouts, and an AI platform for operational decision-making.



Specifically, the echargenet app utilizes various algorithm models to provide optimal recommendations based on factors such as driving habits, traffic conditions, and power load on the grid. It can predict when a vehicle's battery will drop to the charging threshold, offering users with plans that are most time-saving and economical.



If there are long lines of vehicles waiting at a charging station during a specific time period, the platform will issue discount coupons to users based on their preferences, thus guiding parts of them to nearby stations with more vacant piles and reducing the electricity load at one single station.



In Xinwu district, Wuxi, there is a vehicle to grid (V2G) interactive verification base, whose first phase functions as a solar farm, power storage station, charging station and reverse charging station. It has established a multi-energy management system to uniformly monitor and manage the operation of these systems.



Some other bases of this type are also capable of performing battery testing while the vehicles are being charged.



Liu, who has an NEV, noticed a significant decline in his car's range. Recently, while charging his car at a charging station on Sheng'an Road in Wuxi, he was informed that battery testing could be conducted during the charging process without needing to remove the battery. Therefore, Liu opted for a quick test. About 20 minutes later, he received a report on his vehicle's power battery.



The report indicated that the coulombic efficiency of the battery of Liu's vehicle was at a relatively poor level of approximately 92.62 percent, while the energy efficiency was about 88.77 percent, which barely met standard. Liu was advised to visit a dealer for battery maintenance.



In long-distance driving, there is an increasingly evident need for battery swapping. As each NEV model has a different battery type, comprehensive battery swapping stations are particularly necessary.



The second phase of the V2G interactive verification base in Wuxi is currently under construction, which includes a dedicated battery swapping area. This area will feature battery storage that supports battery swapping for mainstream NEVs. When an NEV enters the swapping area, the battery storage will automatically call up the appropriate battery based on its model, and the entire swapping process will be carried out by robots, taking only about three minutes.



Furthermore, the second phase of the base is expected to include facilities such as mobile charging and testing piles, comprehensive energy stations, and 1,000 kW supercharging stations. This will create an innovative base for intelligent microgrid systems and a demonstration area for collaborative micro-energy solutions with diverse elements and scenarios.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China's economic resilience: overcoming challenges, advancing with confidence High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth China's new chapter in global innovation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Science and technology backyard projects contribute to China's rural vitalization

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 30 Octobre 2024



Each science and technology backyard serves its local community by improving production efficiency and stimulating regional industrial development. Through the continued expansion of this model across rural areas, China is creating broader pathways to rural prosperity while strengthening its position as an agricultural powerhouse.

By Lyu Xiaoxun, People's Daily "We reached 10 cooperation intentions, covering agricultural technology promotion, scientific research innovation, and agricultural product sales," said Ye Youliang, a professor with the School of Resources and Environment at Henan Agricultural University, at the exhibition hall of the university's science and technology backyard on the Longzihu campus.



According to the professor, the science and technology backyard received over 20 major growers and heads of cooperatives across Henan province during the seven-day National Day Holiday.



Science and technology backyard is an initiative that "moves classrooms into the fields." It is conducive to exploring new models of agricultural technology promotion and talent cultivation according to local conditions.



Since setting up Henan's first science and technology backyard in 2012, Henan Agricultural University has built 24 such facilities at the national level, bringing over 100 faculty members and more than 1,000 students to the fields to help improve people's livelihood while advancing their studies.



Science and technology backyards provide farmers with technical support. Take the science and technology backyard in Henan's Yuzhou as an example. By providing agricultural technology training courses, introducing new varieties, and promoting techniques such as soil testing and formulated fertilization, as well as efficient farming, the science and technology backyard has continuously improved the per unit yield of wheat and corn for local farmers.



Despite heavy rains last year, the yield of three technology demonstration households exceeded 500 kilograms per mu, or about 667 square meters. The purchase price stood at around 2.5 yuan ($0.35) per kilogram, about 0.4 yuan higher than that of the average rain-affected wheat.



Rooted in rural areas and offering assistance for farmers, science and technology backyards streamline the entire process of agricultural production from planting to harvesting through its technological services.



Science and technology backyards drive the reform of talent cultivation models. At the science and technology backyards, students are required to not only provide guidance to farmers in the fields and give lectures to them, but also engage in research and paper writing.



Sampling, weighing, and preparing reagents are the most frequently cited words in the work logs of the science and technology backyards of Henan Agricultural University. With their intelligence and efforts, faculty members and students provide strong support for local agricultural production.



Over the past decade, faculty members and students working for the science and technology backyards run by Henan Agricultural University have authored more than 10 popular science books, published over 100 academic papers in domestic and international journals, and compiled 15 technical specifications.



Moving classrooms to the fields and making innovative explorations, science and technology backyards allow faculty members and students to use what they learn, thus better helping them grow into qualified scientific personnel who know how to develop agriculture.



Science and technology backyards are an important platform promoting innovation in agricultural technology. In response to issues such as unreasonable fertilization and heavy land re-cropping, the science and technology backyard in Qixian county, Henan collected more than 1,000 soil samples and launched specialized fertilizers and seed dressing agents for garlic. It also developed integrated simplified high-yield and efficient green cultivation techniques for garlic. This has resulted in a reduction of costs by over 30 percent and a 15 percent increase in yield.



In the northern part of China, the soil is often alkaline and lacks zinc. The science and technology backyard in Henan's Lankao county, through variety selection and the development of zinc fertilizer products and relevant application techniques, has increased the zinc content in wheat and corn grains by over 15 percent.



By harnessing the power of technology and promoting the integration of production, education, research, and application, it is possible to expand the boundaries of agricultural production and promote the comprehensive upgrading of the entire agricultural industrial chain.



With science and technology backyard projects serving as a fulcrum and industrial alliances as a key driver, more new models of agricultural development could be explored.



Henan Agricultural University and Henan Xinlianxin Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd have jointly established science and technology backyards in Qixian and Xinxiang, focusing on soil improvement in low-yield fields affected by soil desertification and salinization, and jointly formulating high-yield, efficient, and green planting plans for crops.



Yongfeng county in east China's Jiangxi province and Jiangxi Agricultural University have co-established a vegetable science and technology backyard, deepening the cooperation among leading enterprises, demonstration bases, science and technology backyard and professional vegetable farmers. This project has trained over 40,000 new professional vegetable farmers.



The exploration of new models of cooperation among enterprises, universities and research institutions, coupled with science and technology backyard projects as a bridge of innovation, will foster a stronger virtuous cycle between agricultural development and technological progress.



Each science and technology backyard serves its local community by improving production efficiency and stimulating regional industrial development. Through the continued expansion of this model across rural areas, China is creating broader pathways to rural prosperity while strengthening its position as an agricultural powerhouse.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China's economic resilience: overcoming challenges, advancing with confidence High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth China's new chapter in global innovation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Consider that politicians are actors performing to obtain votes from their audience. Kamala Harris has inadvertently presented her campaign in three acts:

Act I: Honeymoon

Act II: Run Out the Clock

Act III: Panic Ensues

Along the way she made some unforced errors which have proved informative about her candidacy.

Act I, The Honeymoon

After her selection, Harris began cutting into the lead Trump enjoyed against Biden. Democrats were overjoyed with the new candidate. She was young, energetic, and could lead the party into the future. She had been Attorney General of California, a federal senator, vice-president, and now candidate for president. Despite her credentials, the pretense developed that she was a blank slate. Blank seemed to agree with her.

Her strategists understood the country was in no mood to elect an archetypical San Francisco liberal. She had to shed her anti-fracking, open border, Medicare for all policies to attract moderate voters. When a reporter asked a question, she smiled politely, waved and removed herself from the questioner as quickly as possible.

During the honeymoon, she made an unforced error. To placate her base, she refused to attend a joint session of Congress in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation. The Democrats liberal base had joined Hamas in antisemitic protests. Harris deserted her post to appease the protestors and her radical base. This was a bad decision. She could have had a photo-op beside the Speaker of the House on the Congressional dais with Netanyahu in the foreground. She passed on an opportunity to appear as a stateswoman.

The honeymoon continued as an adoring press and several Democrat politicians desiring the running-mate position pursued Harris. The suitors courted Ms. Harris until she selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Weird was Walzs operative word, but he contended Trump and his running mate J. D. Vance were the weird ones. Harris and the media had great fun laughing at weird Republicans. The girl was having fun. She was on a honeymoon after all.

Voters soon wondered at Walzs wild-eyed weirdness. The common thread between Harris and Walz was their commitment to advance liberal movements. Harris could have selected Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. He was a more moderate, clear-eyed choice who is the popular governor of the largest swing state. A win in Pennsylvania would likely assure a Harris victory. She decided that advancing liberal movements was more important than winning an election. Choosing Walz was a lapse in judgment.

The Democratic National Convention was a well-orchestrated consummation of Harriss candidacy. She possessed the progressive bona fides the elite faction demanded and the good sense to pretend she had moderated her views. She was acceptable to everyone in the hall. They cheered joyously for her candidacy. Sadly, the honeymoon was over. The campaign began in earnest on Labor Day.

Act II, Run Out the Clock

As September started Harris had a lead in the polls, money in the bank, and momentum on her side. The Harris campaign decided to repeat the Biden basement strategy. If she read a prepared speech from a teleprompter while smiling joyously, she would win. Her campaign paraphrased the three wise monkeyssee nothing relevant, do nothing relevant, say nothing relevant.

Harris was also counting on Trump to make errors. Trump had a very different style and strategy. The removal of Biden put him a little off his game. His strategy had focused on the incompetence of Biden juxtaposed with the successful policies he pursued as president. The people viewed Harris differently than Biden. She didnt exhibit symptoms of dementia.

Trumps task was to connect Harris with the Biden administration. The open border clearly demonstrated this connection. She was the Border Czar. As Attorney General of California, Harris didnt classify illegal immigration as a crime. Trump took shots at Harriss political record and explained why she was unfit for the office she sought. Many people didnt feel comfortable voting for a candidate that smiled sweetly and said nothing. Instead of making errors, Trump was making points.

In a debate on September 10th, Trump pushed Harris on her record while she danced around it. Harris pushed back on abortion and insisted he was a threat to democracy. Trump took some of the bait and appeared angry at times. The debate had no clear winner.

As September ended, Harriss strategy to run out the clock was failing. The RealClearPolitics average of national polls showed that Trump had closed the gap and was gaining momentum. He was doing even better in the swing states.

Act III, Panic Ensues

To combat her drop in the polls, Harris began a series of interviews but continued to say nothing relevant. She maintained her moderate views but was unconvincing. Her pat answer about the economy was, I grew up in a middle-class family. Many Americans grow up in middle-class families. This doesnt qualify them to be economic experts or president. Her biggest mistake occurred on the progressive coffee klatch, The View. When asked what she would do differently than President Biden she could think of nothing. This completed Trumps task of connecting Harris with the poor performance of Biden.

Kamalas third unforced error was her refusal to attend the Al Smith Dinner on October 17th. Al Smith was a four-term Democrat Governor of New York and the partys candidate for president in 1928. He was also a Catholic. His memory is honored by the Archdiocese of New York with a fundraising dinner during every presidential campaign. Harris snubbed Catholic charities and the memory of a famous Democrat. A few days before the dinner, Gretchen Whitmer mimicked giving Holy Communion by feeding a kneeling woman a Dorito. Snubbing the Al Smith Dinner was a bad decision. Whitmers sacrilegious musing was unclever.

The Obamas were called on to realign black male voters since polling indicated many of these voters were considering voting for Trump. Barack told black men they were tempted by Trump because they are misogynists. Michelle told similar audiences that voting for Trump put females in grave danger. The Obamas might consider that people of all races are free to think for themselves and vote accordingly.

Harris recently asked Americans to visualize Trump wearing a brown shirt while sporting a tooth-brush mustache and goose-stepping wildly around Mar-a-Lago. Democrats have portrayed Trump as Hitler, a Russian spy, and criminal mastermind. They are the child that cries wolf. Presenting disturbing images of Donald Trump has become a Democrat parlor game. Attempting to change peoples minds with wild accusations about Trump signals ensuing panic.

The outcome of the election is uncertain. Trump currently has a lead in the national polls and the swing states. Democrats will likely lose Senate seats in West Virginia and Montana. Seats are in play in at least four other states. Republicans are up a point in generic congressional vote polling. Of course, on election day all the polls can be thrown out the window. Hang onto your hat, the evening of November 5th should be interesting.

Image: YouTube video screen grab, edited.
The mainstream media mangle the truth in their collective effort to push America toward a communist-styled government. Imagine the reporting if todays one-sided leftist media had been around in April 1865.

The Civil War, with approximately 600,000 casualties, ended on April 9 with a decisive Union victory. On April 15, a war-weary President and Mrs. Lincoln, along with some guests, went to the Ford Theater to see My American Cousin and then

Announcer: This is Counterfeit News Network. We interrupt our regular programming with a bulletin. We go to our CNN studio in Washington, D.C.

Anderson Blooper: Ladies and gentlemen, we have just learned that President Lincoln was shot. We take you outside Ford Theater, where the Secret Service is holding a news conference.

Secret Service Spokesman: the hallway leading to the presidential box at Ford Theater was sloped, which is why we didnt have anyone standing guard outside

Anderson Blooper: Weve been informed that the injured president, and we do not yet know how serious his injuries are, was transported across the street to the Petersen boarding house. Lets first go to Dana Rash inside the theater.

Image made using a YouTube screen grab.

Dana Rash: Its mayhem as attendees wonder if they should wait for the show to continue or go home. Let me speak to some theatergoers. Sir, can you tell us what happened?

Attendee #1: The show was on, and then, suddenly, there was some activity up in the presidents box. We didnt know if it was part of the show, but I kind of figured it wasnt when Mrs. Lincoln started screaming, and there was blood on her dress.

Attendee #2: This guy jumped from the box to the stage and yelled, Hands up! Dont shoot! and then ran off. But he was limping, so maybe he hurt himself in the fall.

Al Sharpton: No show, no peace! If you feel discriminated against because you paid to see My American Cousin and the show was stopped after President Lincoln was shot, please contact me.

Dana Rash: Back to you, Anderson.

Anderson Blooper: Thank you, Dana. The crowd is growing in front of the Petersen boarding house, where were awaiting word on President Lincolns condition. But first, lets go to John Queen for an analysis of what this means for the 1868 presidential election.

John Queen: Thank you, Anderson. If President Lincoln survives, this could give him an edge should he decide to seek a third term. However, if he dies, the edge goes to his vice president, Andrew Johnson, who would quickly be sworn in as president.

Anderson Blooper: Good analysis. Thank you, John. Its been less than 30 minutes since President Lincoln was shot, and we have some polling data to report.

Harry Beaten: We polled 760 likely voters. Seventy-two percent said that if Lincoln survives the shooting, they will probably support him in 1868. Another 19% are Never Lincolns. The remaining 9% are undecided.

Anderson Blooper: We are going back to the Petersen boarding house for an update.

Fake Tapper: The press secretary came out and said that President Lincoln was shot in the left back side of his head, about an inch to the left of the medial line of the skull, and at the level of his ear. She will circle back later with more details. Anderson, it sounds serious, but we are waiting for confirmation.

Anderson Blooper: On the phone, we have former General George McClellan, who was the Democrat partys nominee in the November 8, 1864, presidential election. Thank you for joining us.

Gen. McClellan: Youre welcome, Anderson.

Anderson Blooper: President Lincoln won the election in an electoral landslide of 212-21 and 55 percent of the popular vote. What are your thoughts as your opponent lies seriously wounded from a gunshot to his brain?

Gen. McClellan: I was born into a middle-class family

Anderson Blooper: sorry to interrupt, General, but our Chief International Anchor, Christiane Awomanpour, just sent this wire. It reads: Ukraine needs more money. Do you want to comment?

Gen. McClellan: I was born into a middle-class family

Anderson Blooper: We are having technical difficulties and will try the general later. The Apprehensible Press (AP) is reporting that the lone gunman was the actor John Wilkes Booth. According to the AP, the military has several good leads and plans to shoot Booth dead before he can be held for trial and share details about what happened. There is a $100,000 bounty on Booths head.

In related news, Congresswoman Amanda O. Courtez of New Yorks 14th District, which includes parts of Queens and the Bronx, has called for stricter gun laws. She told The New York Herald that the Second Amendment needs to be replaced with a green energy bill. AOC also said that climate change is the reason Lincoln was shot.

Lets quickly go back to the boarding house.

Fake Tapper: The sorrowful crowd has grown since we last spoke to you, Anderson. They just issued a statement that the shot was fatal and President Lincoln will not survive.

Anderson Blooper: This is heartbreaking news as we seek to reunite the north and south of our nation and rebuild following the devastating Civil War. Lets go to our panel to discuss the pros and cons of Lincoln being assassinated.

David Wheelrod: The next election is several years away, which gives Andrew Johnson ample time to forge his own post-war agenda.

Rosemary Temple: It will be interesting to hear what Never Lincolns say.

Coyote Blitzer: Once sworn in, President Johnson must get news of the Union victory to the Texas slaves. This will avoid adding a future federal holiday to the calendar.

Car Jones: Is there a conspiracy? Of the people in the Ford Theater tonight watching the play, how many have ever stayed at the Petersen boarding house?

Fareed Irving: Oy vey, this will affect corporations with Lincoln in their name.

Stock Jennings: History will show that Republican President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves.

Everyone: Boo!!!

Rich Wallace: I wish I never left Fox News.

Anderson Blooper: Thank you all for your observations. (Removes his eyeglasses, battling to hold his emotions in check, and looks up at the clock). I am going to read a wire service report. President Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

When we return, well discuss with Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles what an Andrew Johnson administration might look like. Also, John Queen has another poll following Lincolns assassination. Coming soon, a contest guessing how many U.S. cities will be named Lincoln.

Keep it here for all the news and updates. We will take a short break. This is CNN.

Robin M. Itzler is a regular contributor to American Thinker. She is the founder and editor of Patriot Neighbors, a free weekly national newsletter. Robin can be reached at PatriotNeighbors@yahoo.com.
Joe Biden's declaring Kamala Harris as his running mate in August 2020 baffled many observers.



Two months before, the same Harris had launched a humilating diatribe against Biden in front of a national audience, effectively calling him a racist. This wasn't an argument over policy or record, Harris was calling Biden a bigot.





So why was Harris still chosen?

We dig deeper.

As senator and vice president, Biden was never renowned for his grey cells. But he could construct sentences and could wear his cardigan without assistance. He was gaffe-prone, but that was the result of his carelessness.



But this was an obvious mental and cognitive decline that even his fellow Democrats realized.







The establishment knew that any regular running mate would exploit Biden's decline to conquer the presidency using the 25th Amendment.



They required a running mate who would be no threat to Joe but would appear to be ideal to the base.



They needed someone not only talentless but one who presented evidence of talent deficiency in their utterances and actions.

These were tough criteria to be satisfied.

However, someone in the Democrat leadership knew of Kamala Harris's myriad shortcomings and realized she was the dream choice.

Firstly she satisfied Biden's pledge to pick a woman as his running mate.

In addition, she is a person of color born to Indian and Jamaican immigrants, hence she seemingly fits DEI criteria.



Harris was celebrated when Biden announced her as his running mate.



There were magazine covers, profiles, and interviews, these were obviously from a script by the establishment.



When she became vice president, the blandishments continued.

A big deal was made since Harris was the first among four major demographic groups.



There were rumors that she would replace Biden. It didn't help that the non-compos mentis Biden frequently referred to her as President Harris.



Perhaps Harris began to believe the myth that she was Biden's replacement and began



Back then the establishment Perhaps Harris began to believe the myth that she was Biden's replacement and began making overtures that it was time to replace Biden.Back then the establishment supported their puppet Biden completely.

They desperately needed to put Harris in her place.



Hence they assigned her an important and complex task of resolving the border crisis.



This was a trap.



If Harris attempted to resolve the crisis, her open-border fanatic colleague would be irked; if she failed, she would suffer ridicule.

If Harris was smart, she would have realized she didn't have to do much just pretend.



She could have traveled to the border with the media and held pressers with few pre-approved questions.



She would have held a few meetings with officials and allowed the media to make videos of the meetings with the volume muted.



It would have enabled her to hog the limelight and create a perception of capability.





Instead, she did nothing for so long that it defined her as vice president. Even liberal outlets began to question her inertia.



When she did visit the border it was too late. Her trip to Latin America to attempt to



Eventually, she was allowed to slip away into the night without any acceptance of this monumental failure.



The media never hold Democrats accountable. It would have made a case that she was worthy of being Biden's replacement.Instead, she did nothing for so long that it defined her as vice president. Even liberal outlets began to question her inertia.When she did visit the border it was too late. Her trip to Latin America to attempt to resolve the crisis was a catastrophe.Eventually, she was allowed to slip away into the night without any acceptance of this monumental failure.The media never hold Democrats accountable.

Perhaps internal surveys revealed a significant number of voters, or at least Democrat big-money donors still approved of Harris and thought she could be President Biden's replacement.

To destroy that remaining perception, she was assigned responsibilities of attending world events and making a few remarks.



This should have been easy. All she had to do was read the words, sound smart, look confident and shake hands.



Instead, she floundered. It was one word salad after another and then there were her poorly timed titters.

She often got elementary facts wrong.



She made the U.S. look unserious, untrustworthy, incompetent, uncaring and unreliable.



Hence she was demoted to national events.



But instead of learning her lesson, Harris continued with incoherent babbling.



Kamala's reputation was blown to smithereens.



Harris's constant struggles despite her functioning cognitive abilities and mental faculties, made Biden, despite advancing dementia, appear the brighter individual.



Harris has made Biden appear unimpeachable, much like Biden made Obama unimpeachable.

Harris had served her purpose.

The decline in standards was abominable.

If Biden had chosen a wily political operator such as Stacey Abrams, Abrams would have unseated him in months after his inauguration. Being a rabble-rouser, she would have made Biden's decline public and would have claimed that she wasn't being given the presidency due to her gender and race.

But Harris was so overwhelmed by her incapabilities that she couldn't even imagine attempting such a coup.



Harris had a historically low approval rating as vice president, causing her to have phases where she disappeared from the public eye.



When Democrat mouthpieces carried pieces about Bidens unpopularity, they always referred to Harriss unpopularity which is a euphemism for her incapability, just to make it clear that she isnt suited for the top post.



To sum it up, while most people are selected for a job due to their abilities and record, Harris was chosen for the lack of it.



Biden too was chosen for this reason, the establishment knew he could be 'managed' and compelled to do as told.

But Biden's decline was so obvious that it became obvious even to the casual observer.





It was time to replace Biden.



If they didn't want a complete puppet, they would have held a proper primary where all Democrats would have been invited.



Instead, they prematurely subjected Biden to a national debate where he crashed on the runway before taking off. It was time to replace Biden.If they didn't want a complete puppet, they would have held a proper primary where all Democrats would have been invited.Instead, they prematurely subjected Biden to a national debate where he crashed on the runway before taking off.

Biden was threatened and coerced to step aside.

The humiliating, ruthless, and cold-blooded manner in which Biden was dethroned also served as a warning to everyone, especially Harris -- that no matter who they are and which office they held, the establishment runs the show.



This is how Kamala Harris got here.

This is a plot device employed in pastiche mystery novels. The lord of the manor who is the murderer influences the police to assign the investigation to a bumbling detective to protect himself.





It is well known that the establishment via the CIA rigs elections in



This is the first time this has been done in the U.S. with such blatancy. It was an effective but cynical ploy by the establishment to implement their agenda - to accumulate power and enrich cronies.It is well known that the establishment via the CIA rigs elections in third-world countries and installs their puppets that do their bidding.This is the first time this has been done in the U.S. with such blatancy.





The people have an opportunity to puncture this cynical and sinister agenda on 5th November



P.S.: About Harris's journey to D.C., the less said the better.



To put it euphemistically she rose through the hierarchy from San Francisco to D.C. despite her poor record and violations and largely due to the right contacts.



For a terse summary watch the following







For a detailed version watch the following:

Should Harris win by unfair means, much like Biden, she will not have any say in key decisions. Perhaps she won't even be allowed in the room where decisions are made. She will merely be paraded out to read from the teleprompter about the decisions taken by the unseen group of people.The people have an opportunity to puncture this cynical and sinister agenda on 5th NovemberP.S.: About Harris's journey to D.C., the less said the better.To put it euphemistically she rose through the hierarchy from San Francisco to D.C. despite her poor record and violations and largely due to the right contacts.For a terse summary watch the followingFor a detailed version watch the following:

Image: Screen shot from NBC News/The Guardian video, via YouTube
When a candidate who is effectively the incumbent has only a one-point lead, but voters distrust her, think her opponent is more competent, and are unhappy with the status quo, that looks like a very shaky lead, indeedand thats all Kamala has got in Michigan. If enough voters disliked having her partys nominal head (that would be Joe Biden) call them garbage or conclude that Harris really is responsible for the sad state of things, Trump might well win Michigan.

According to the poll, Michigans likely voters (LVs) have Harris at 49% and Trump at 48%. However, the ranking is reversed when it comes to competency, with likely voters giving Trump a one-point advantage (48-47%). Meanwhile, theyre pretty darn sure that Harris poses the greater threat to democracy (49-44%). In the upcoming contest for U.S. Senate, the Republican, Mike Rogers, is also ahead of the Democrat, Elissa Slotkin, by one point (46-45%).

Michigans lukewarm attitude toward the Democrats may be because theyre miserable. A full 63% of LVs say that they are not better off now than they were four years ago, and 53% worry about their childrens futures.

Image by AI.

When asked to rank their most important issues, voters ranked the economy first (34%), followed by border security (20%), with abortion as a distant third (14%). The same ranking occurred when they were asked to list what they thought should be the incoming presidents priority: Rising prices (32%), illegal immigration (30%), and abortion rights (19%).

When it comes to immigration, Michigans LVs have had enough. When asked about the current rate of legal immigration, 36% want it to decrease, and 23% want a moratorium. Meanwhile, 60% of them think that the word invasion very or somewhat accurately describes the influx of illegal aliens across the Southern border. Moreover, when contemplating the illegal aliens already in America, 64% of Michiganders would like to see the military stop them. The largest number of respondents (28%) blame Biden for the situation.

As in all states, Michigans LVs are concerned about election integrity (94%). Fifty-three percent of them think that mail-in voting increases the risk of cheating, and the same number want votes counted on election day. Even more than that61%think that paper ballots are the safest option. Like many voters, theyre ambivalent about voting machines. As of now, 33% of Michiganders have already voted, while 53% plan to vote in person on election day.

You can find more results at Rasmussen Reports.
We are nearing the end of our AT/Rasmussen Reports polling cycle, and our latest is from Wisconsin. Although Wisconsins official motto may be Forward, a motto that dates to 1851 before the socialists made it their own, likely voters (LVs) in Wisconson are not behind Kamala, who keeps hollering that she and her party are moving forward (quite definitely in a socialist way). Instead, the poll shows Trump leading in Wisconsin by three points. This may be because theyre worried about the economy, consider whats happening at the border to be an invasion that requires deportation, and view Trump as more competent than Kamala.

As noted, Trump has a three-point lead over Kamala in Wisconsin (50-47%). Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate candidatesDemocrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Eric Hovdeare tied at 47%.

Image by AI.

Thirty percent of Wisconsins LVs see the economy as their greatest concern, with 21% worried about the border and, in third place, 13% worried about abortion. However, when they look at what they want the incoming administration to do, theyre equally divided by a desire to have the new president fix the border and address the economy (29% for each).

That concern about the border is very real. When asked about legal immigration, 30% of likely voters want the numbers decreased, and 26% want a temporary cessation. Fifty-seven percent of them say that its very or somewhat accurate to call whats happening at the Southern border as an invasion, and a full 63% strongly or somewhat having the military stop more from entering. Thirty percent also blame Biden for whats happening with immigration.

Wisconsin voters are mostly wedded to election-day voting. Only 31% have already voted, and 53% say theyre planning to vote in person on election day. They prefer paper ballots (59%) and want votes counted on election day (56%).

For more on the Wisconsin poll, check out Rasmussen Reports.
The political landscape of America has grown more divisive and tense in the last couple of decades. Polarizing views on governmental policies, social issues, and the interpretation of the Constitution have led many citizens to question the path that the nation is taking. This period of political discord illustrates quite poignantly the critical need for healthy civic engagement in its many forms, includingbut not limited tovoting, education, and active community involvement. Democratically, civic engagement enables citizens to steer government activities toward policy, social, and economic fairness through the integrity of the democratic process.

In periods when political situations become turbulent, being a citizen means much more than casting votes every few years; rather, it is time for active, informed involvement in public life. Such engagement helps keep the government accountable and ensures democracy serves the will of all the people, not just a select few. It is only when a citizen understands how an overreaching government, along with shifting values and political ideologies, can affect freedom and national identity that they are prepared to make informed decisions, advocate for change, and thereby sustain democracy both in spirit and practice.

Government tyranny, historically defined, is the oppressive or unjust use of power by those in authority.

The very roots of the American founding are based on an innate resistance to tyranny derived from the experiences colonials had under British rule. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution intended to offer these citizens protection against increasing power, which would have been a suicidal ingredient in eroding individual freedoms. History reminds us that when the government forgets constitutional rights, resistance against such trends is requisite for preserving liberty.

The last couple of decades have brought glaring instances of governmental overreach against democratic administrations. Examples include expanded surveillance policies under the Patriot Act, the very controversial expansions of executive authority, and healthcare mandates perceived as intrusive to personal choice. Such extended government reach into citizens private lives, at the expense of individual freedoms, under the pretext of protecting or benefiting the public, can sometimes result in a perceived trespass on civil liberties.

Active citizen monitoring of government policies and practices is more important today than ever, especially in large settings. This vigilance requires people to be more aware and to take action by informing themselves about policies, raising their concerns, and engaging in discussions about government behavior. Freedom can be further secured through civic engagement tools such as public forums, online petitions, and peaceful protests by keeping things open and accountable. The more people are informed and involved, the more democratic their country will be, and this will serve as a damper on the tendency of government power to trespass on the rights of its citizenry.

Sketched within this divide over the last couple of yearsespecially under administrations such as those of Obama and Bidenlies a noticeable shift in policy approaches and priorities, placing greater emphasis on a larger and more expansive governmental role in areas traditionally managed at the state or local levels, according to many critics. Federal power has been extended, among other issues, to healthcare reform, economic stimulus packages, and environmental regulationsall of which have sparked debate about their consistency with the principles of limited government and personal responsibility.

The destruction of traditional American values that persist in the principles enshrined in the Constitution has led to the erosion of long-held cultural beliefs about family, religion, and freedom of speech. These cultural shifts encourage fears about what this could mean for the future of American identity. It is open discourse and a commitment to sustaining constitutional rights, as society continues to evolve, that will allow these values to endure.

Civic engagement plays a vital role; citizens must advocate for the re-election of these principles in government actions and policies.

The policy debates feed the necessity of citizens in weighing and engaging with the ideologies informing national policy.

To this, the Republican Party adopts a more moderate outlook: limiting government intervention to a minimum, reducing taxes, and promoting individual rights. Republicans advocate for a free-market economy and personal responsibility. Unlike the Democrats emphasis on state-driven approaches, the Republican perspective clings to beliefs in the power of individuals and their communities to effect change. The party attracted those wary of centralized authority during a time of political turmoil through its defense of traditional American values and limited government. This ideological gap presents a clear choice to the electorate. It also underlines the role of civic involvement in the party platform and policy articulation: through civic engagement, the people ensure that both parties remain true to American values and ideals by pressing for answers that effectively balance freedom and progress.

The political tension America is experiencing today clearly indicates that mere passive observation will no longer suffice.

By actively participating in democratic processes, citizens ensure that government activities reflect their values and that power is a privilege granted by the people, not an authority imposed upon them.

Each citizen has responsibilities to embrace, including voting, being well-informed, voicing opinions for policy change, and holding leaders accountable. Democracy works best when the public participates, as history has proven time and again.

During political unrest, participation serves as a duty and a shield for freedom and democracy, perpetuating the nations founding principles for generations.

Image generated by AI.
Imagine you manufacture a product, an expensive product, a product Americans need. You have plenty of domestic competition, but listening to your customers youre making a good profit producing an affordable product and employing hundreds of thousands of Americans. Then, government decides your product isnt good for the environment and mandates not only that you change its nature while maintaining its outward appearance. Then, government mandates all Americans buy what they dont want and cant afford.

Worse, foreign competitors, using actual slave labor, can make this revised product much more cheaply, and theyre prepared to flood the market. Americans, who dont want and cant afford your new product, wont save your business, your employees or your suppliers and their employees. Left with no alternative, theyll buy the lesser, and far less expensive, of two evils.

I speak of course, of Harris/Biden electric vehicle (EV) mandates, that through thinly veiled subterfuge, will force American manufacturers to make little but EVs. Who are those foreign competitors? China, which already has a lock on most of the rare earths necessary to make EV batteries, and who already make most of those batteries.

Absent protective tariffs, the Chinese can flood the US market with batteries and EVs, and American makers cant compete.

How can China do that, apart from their monopoly on rare earths and batteries? The average public yearly wage in China circa 2024 is only $9,279 dollars. Not only that, China can mandate as much slave labor as it wants. When the Party calls, Chinese say yes comrade! The alternative is a bullet or becoming slave labor for the same jobs.

In America, the EV bubble has burst. EVs are much more expensive than comparable internal combustion engine powered (ICE) vehicles. The 1000-pound+ weight of their batteries wears out tires at incredible rates, their government quoted range is a lie, and they have little or no resale value. Buying and installing a home charger routinely costs more than $10,000 dollars if the electric infrastructure will allow it, and for apartment dwellers charging is a nightmare. Cold and heat so dramatically diminish range and increase charging time, EVs are ridiculously impractical in cold and hot portions of the country.

Graphic: CBS FaceTheNation Screenshot

Pete Buttigieg, given $7.5 billion dollars in 2021 to build 500,000 public EV charging stations by 2030 has managed to build eight. He explained its hard to build those things, even with essentially unlimited government money.

EVs currently sit on dealer lots, collecting dust. Many dealers refuse to stock them, and some have gone out of business rather than dealing with them. Citing a mysterious cooling EV sentiment, which isnt at all mysterious to Americans who cant afford and dont want EVs, Ford is trying to entice dealers to buy its F-150 Lightning pickup by paying them as much as $22,500 a month. Ford has plenty gathering dust on its lots, but wants them to gather dust on dealer lots in the hopes they can sell a few.

Ford is even offering 0% financing for 60 months and 1.9% for 72 months, which when other lenders are in the 8%+ range is proof of how desperate Ford is to move Lightnings.

Should Kamala Harris be elected, that desperation is only going to worsen.

Amazingly, Fords CEO, Jim Farley, is praising a Chinese EV, which hes been driving for at least six months:

Graphic: Fully Charged Podcast Screenshot

Ford CEO Jim Farley loves Chinese electric vehicles, particularly the one he flew in from Shanghai that hes been driving daily for half a year. I dont like talking about the competition so much, but I drive the Xiaomi, Farley told Robert Llewellyn, host of the Fully Charged podcast, in a recent interview. We flew one from Shanghai to Chicago, and Ive been driving it for six months now, and I dont want to give it up. Its fantastic, he said. They sell 10,000, 20,000 a month. Theyre sold out for six months.

What?! The CEO of Ford is all in for a Chinese EV?

Farleys praise for the SU7 comes as Chinese automakers are taking over the global EV market, prompting panic in Michigan and elsewhere about the foreign competition decimating domestic automakers.

Is Farley hoping the most China-subservient administration in history is suddenly going to get worried and scale back their EV mandates? Or is he expecting Trump to win and encouraging him to put enormous tariffs on Chinese EVs, the better to protect Ford?

Doesnt he care what Ford stockholders think, or is he just nuts?

Considering Ford lost $132,000 dollars each--$1.3 billion total--on EVs the first three quarters of 2024, China is probably betting on the latter.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
...and she has helpers.

When asked the first thing she would do should she become president, she said she would lower prices. Really? How? Im guessing a magic wand might be the answer. Or maybe an army of authoritative price tagchangers going through all the stores. Now then, who would be the fascist?

Higher prices for much of the stuff we consume are not arbitrary. Price-gouging cant happen when the consumer has multiple options for what he buys and from whom. There is, however, an occasional practice known as opportunity pricing when something is in great demand but with limited sources. Airlines have peak demand fares and ticket-scalpers take advantage of sold out events.

Ignorance of basic economics seems to be a requirement for membership in the progressive left  or how else could such nonsense be taken seriously? Prices go up for two reasons. First is the devaluation of government-issued money. The other is caused by either increased demand or decreased supply of a commodity, or both. Devaluation of money is cumulative and can be reversed only under dire circumstances, such as what happened during the Great Depression. Supply and demand are constantly in flux.

Studs Terkel, in The Good War, included a statement by John Kenneth Galbraith in which he extolled the virtue of wage and price controls. According to Galbraith, they worked perfectly well and were a major factor in winning World War 2. Right after that, Terkel included a statement from an ordinary guy who just happened to own a neighborhood grocery store. He used a can of pork and beans to demonstrate the ridiculous nature of price controls. The price-controlled can conformed to the government edict  and it did contain pork and beans, but it also contained a lot more water. His store was officially closed on Sundays  but black marketeers would then use it to sell otherwise strictly rationed meat. Was that a big deal? The line went around the block.

Transportation is often a major cost in bringing goods to a retail outlet. Cutting back on the production of vehicle fuel can only add to what consumers have to pay for what they buy. Food is particularly subject to transportation costs, especially perishable foods such as meat, dairy, and vegetables. As I write, asparagus is hovering around six dollars a pound. Someone who works for Whole Foods recently told me that theyre considering dropping asparagus because it is so often shoplifted. Retail theft also has a major role to play in the rising price of consumer goods and the reduction in the number of places where people can shop. This is primarily a local problem, but it is indicative of the pathology of the woke progressivism that is the real issue on this years ballot.

What is often unappreciated when kvetching about price-gouging is that retailers are at the tail end of the value-added supply chain. First, you have the producers of the necessary raw materials. Then the processors and distributors add their value. Finally, the retailer is stuck with the most added value for items in inventory, until the ultimate consumer makes his purchase.

Tom Knighton wonderfully illustrates the reasons for the woke lefties being full of it in a recent Townhall posting. Is this the real turning point in American political trends? Since FDRs New Deal, the all-powerful state has pushed its way deep into the private lives of ordinary citizens. And it has been done for grotesquely exaggerated reasons. Todays global warming pops up first, but poverty and racism fall in soon afterward.

Kamala may actually be the epitome of the willfully ignorant political person. Censorship and ridiculously false characterizations are the usual weapons at her disposal, when reality is the actual problem. In his first term, because of his extensive real-world business experience, Trump was quite effective at improving the standard of living of the lower echelons of American society. Though ridiculously characterized as benefiting the uber-rich capitalistic fat cats, this blatantly showcased the truly harmful ignorance of his opponents  that is, until a man-made pathogen escaped a Chinese laboratory.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Lee Mongerson Gilley is shown in the 497th District Court at the Harris County Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. He is charged with capital murder in death of his wife, Christa Gilley. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Defense attorney Ed McClees speaks to the media after an appearance with his client, Lee Mongerson Gilley, in the 497th District Court at the Harris County Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. He is charged with capital murder in death of his wife, Christa Gilley. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer The Gilley home is photographed in the 800 block of Allston St. on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 in Houston. Jill Karnicki/Staff photographer

A man accused of killing his pregnant wife at their Heights home contemplated fleeing with their two young children soon after police interviewed him about her death, according to testimony in child custody proceedings.

Lee Mongerson Gilley told at least two relatives  his brother and father-in-law  he was considering leaving with the kids soon after the Oct. 7 death of his wife, Christa Gilley, who was pregnant with their third child. The relatives recalled their conversations with Gilley this week in the 245th District Court for a judge to decide which family members, Gilley's brother in North Carolina or in-laws in South Carolina, will have conservatorship over their children, ages 2 and 3.

Christa Gilley, 38, is shown in an undated photo. She died Oct. 7, 2024. Police arrested her husband, Lee Mongerson Gilley, days later on a capital murder charge. He reported she had committed suicide at their Houston Heights residence. courtesy

A judge in Gilleys criminal case earlier prohibited him from having contact with the children, who were home at the time of their 38-year-old mothers death, and ordered his passport to be surrendered. Passports for the children were given to the maternal grandparents.

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Ed McClees, Gilleys defense attorney, denied assertions from court that the 38-year-old software consultant considered leaving the Houston area.

Under no circumstance was Lee Gilley ever planning on fleeing the jurisdiction, McClees said. He will continue to comply with all bond conditions with the court.

Gilley, meanwhile, is free after posting $1 million bail with a court-ordered curfew. He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 20.

An attorney for Gilleys brother urged Judge Angela Lancelin to weigh the needs of the children over Gilleys pending murder case in her decision.

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If Lee Gilley did this  his day of reckoning is going to come, the attorney, Dennis Slate, said in court.

The judge ultimately granted a temporary joint conservatorship over the children to the maternal grandparents and Gilleys sister-in-law, not the brother. She ordered the children to remain primarily in Texas and away from their father pending the outcome of his criminal case.

Lee Mongerson Gilley is shown in the 497th District Court at the Harris County Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. He is charged with capital murder in death of his wife, Christa Gilley. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

They havent fully absorbed what has happened and they cant fully appreciate how their world has blown up, the judge said.

A spokesperson for Christa Gilley's family expressed respect for the judge's decision but noted their wish was for the children to remain primarily in their care.

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"Christas family continues to want what is best for Christas children and believes that the ideal place for the children is with Christas family," attorney Tim Ballengee wrote in a statement.

Angela Stout, lawyer for the maternal grandparents, said in closing arguments that Gilley told varying stories from suicide and drug overdose to explain his wifes death. Court records show Gilley initially characterized her death either as a suicide or drug overdose, but an autopsy showed she had face and neck injuries consistent with strangulation. He was arrested Oct. 11 on a capital murder charge.

Prosecutors have alleged the couple fought hours before Christa Gilley's death over a car purchase.

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Stout asked Gilleys brother and his wife whether they believed Gilley to be a danger to the children. Both answered no.

He was around them Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after the event, the brother said. Hes one of the best fathers I know.
Chuck Schumer, the Democrat United States Senator from New York, has for years proclaimed that he is the leader, guardian, and protector of the Jewish people.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Schumer has been the Majority Leader of the Senate since 2021, and has served as a U.S. Senator since 1999.

As such, he could have been a vocal advocate for Judaism, but he hasnt.



Democrats have falsely described Schumer as a 'shomer,' perhaps due to the similarity of the words.

'Shomer' is a Hebrew word for guardian or keeper, in that one guards the synagogue or the Jewish people as a whole.



'Schmuck' is a Yiddish word that has lost most of its bad word connotation. Initially, and some decades ago, it was used to describe a mans genitals. It was forbidden for a female to utter the word lest she be branded as loose and immoral. But over time, the word has more commonly been used to define a major jerk. Schumer is all that and more.

Here's why:



The GOP-led Education and Workforce Committee issued a 325-page report regarding what went wrong in higher education during the recent anti-Israel protests on campus, preceded by years of antisemitic indoctrination and activity.

Following the horrific crimes perpetrated on Israeli soil on Oct. 7, 2023, these protests exploded. But rather than condemn them as the result of years of flourishing antisemitism on campuses, Schumer said it was not a big deal.

He went to the heads of Columbia University, not as a guardian to excoriate them for the evil they were allowing on their campuses, but to tell them not to worry -- the incubating antisemitism and the Jew-hating protests would all blow over. More infuriatingly, he told them that the Democrats didnt care and that it was only the Republicans who did.



Actually, that is an accusation that we Republican Jews have been muttering for some time. And we have mused for decades why and how any Jew could vote Democrat. With notable exceptions such as John Fetterman and Richard Torres, the Democrat party has not been best friends with American Jews.



Dov Hikind, a former Democrat Brooklyn state Assemblyman, who is now a Republican heading the advocacy group, Americans Against Antisemitism, calls Schumer a kapo traitor.

"He is a traitor to America. He is a traitor to the Jewish people. Shame on him! This is what the Democratic Party has become."



It is impossible to disagree with Hikind. The Hamas attack on Israel was the worst catastrophe to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The anti-Israel/anti-Jewish protests in the United States were a systemic shock to American Jews. Antisemitism or Jew-hatred as it is also now defined, hadnt reared its ugly head in decades.



But what did the Jewish politicians in the Democrat party do to protect American Jews? Absolutely nothing. Schumers absence was more egregious because he has in the past referred to himself as the Shomer. His arrogance is only rivaled by his hypocrisy.



Our protectors in the Republican Party are too numerous to individually name. But two come immediately to mind. We all saw and heard U.S. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik bravely skewer three arrogant ivy league presidents. Her cross examination of the three dunces, revealing their moral equivalancies, was epic.



Donald Trump is a true Shomer. During his first presidential term he moved the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem -- something many of his predecessors had promised to do, but didnt. Trump proclaimed that Jews born in Jerusalem were Israeli -- thereby reversing Obamas odious ruling that they were not. And he brokered the far-reaching and super successful Abraham Accords which brought peace between Israel and four Arab countries -- a peace that has held to this day and through the terrible war.



If Schumer had one ounce of shame he would resign and attempt to atone for the harm he has caused. But he doesnt, and he won't.

Image: Center for American Progress Action Fund, via Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0
With the election only days away, it may be helpful to revisit one of the primary issues separating Democrats/socialist/communists (D/s/cs) and Normal Americans, which term encompasses not only Republicans but all Americans who revere the Constitution and the rule of law. There may yet be a few Democrats in that category.

D/s/cs almost exclusively refer to our political system as our democracy. Not democracy but our democracy. They virtually never use the correct term: representative republic. Thats in part because when they do, they begin to smoke and hiss like vampires exposed to sunlight. They hate the Constitution, America and most Americans, and want to do away with all three. Heres Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution:



The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence. [emphasis mine]

Note the three guarantees: a republicannot as in Republican Partyform of government, collective protection against invasion, and when asked by the states protection against domestic violence. Think constitutional, representative government with free, honest elections, secure borders and keeping D/s/c militants like Antifa, BLM and criminals in general from doing things like the Summer of Love, or shoplifting and looting America into societal breakdown. Notice too D/s/cs are absolutely determined to ensure Americans cant depend on those constitutional guarantees (Article IV, Section 4 is commonly known as the guarantee clause).

Graphic: Twitter Screenshot

The Harris/Biden Administration has thrown open our borders. Kamala Harris said violent Antia and BLM rioters shouldnt stop, and supported a bail fund to get the few arrested out of jail. Despite claiming to be a super prosecutor, she has done all she can to allow criminals, and particularly illegal alien criminals, to run rampant and face no consequences for their crimes, including rape and murder. Worse, theyre advocating for our democracy. As I explained in June of 2024, thats a tyranny of the majority.

Thats why theyre desperate to enshrine election fraud in practice and law. In our democracy 50.00001% of the electorate rules and may deprive Americans of liberty, property, even life.

Our constitutional, representative republic guarantees individual liberty, property rights, due process, domestic tranquility and national security and sovereignty. Americans have unalienable, individual rights which no majority can revoke. Thats the purpose of the Bill of Rights. Its little known many of the Founders opposed a written Bill of Rights, fearing future politicians would argue those were the onlyrights Americans had, but others prevailed, and the Constitution was ratified in 1788 with the understanding a bill of rights, ratified in 1790, would soon follow.

Fortunately, our democracy remains unrealized. Thats why D/s/cs are so desperate to keep our elections as open to fraud as possible, why theyre determined to nullify the First Amendment, and particularly the Second Amendment, which is the greatest danger to them, because it secures the rest of the Bill of Rights and the entire Constitution. You cant have our democracy if Deplorables are able to resist with force, particularly if they know how to apply it.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Our democracy also allows a POTUS to be senile, in fact, its a virtual requirement. That way unelected, faceless bureaucrats, billionaires and even foreign enemies can run the country through a meat puppet. A republican form of government doesnt allow that. Like the Marxist dictatorship of the proletariat, our democracy is necessary in fact only until D/s/c, through an invincible one-party state, render elections utterly meaningless. Just like communist tyrannies, theyll still have elections and still claim to be a democracy. Theyll probably even keep referring to their tyranny of the majority as our democracy, but whichever maximum leader is pretending to campaign will garner 99% or more of the vote for as many terms as they please.

The Constitution will still exist as fading ink on yellowing parchment, but its provisions, particularly the Bill of Rights, will be mere guidelines and riddled with unwritten exceptions. The First Amendment will not protect hate speechopposition to tyranny-- and there will be a plethora of other exceptions convenient to D/s/cs. The Second Amendment will be immediately ruled, by the entirely leftist and packed Supreme Court, to allow arms only for government, and the rest will similarly fall when convenient.

On November 5, or however many days and weeks beyond that are conjured up, well decide whether our constitutional, representative republic will prevail, or whether it will be replaced with our democracy. If its the latter, America, and our sacred, God-given liberties, will exist in name only.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Google may upgrade the Now Playing feature by adding the much-needed album art to the history page. Now Playing has been able to identify songs with a high degree of accuracy, but the list only included the name of the song and the artist.

Now Playing is constantly operating in the background, but only for music

Introduced way back in 2017 along with the Pixel 2, the Now Playing feature has remained exclusive to the Google Pixel phones. It essentially identifies songs that are playing nearby and works well even on the latest Pixel 9 devices.

Apps like Shazam have been recognizing music and songs for quite some time. However, Now Playing has some tricks for the Pixel phones. Now Playing works entirely in the background. Pixel users dont even need to pull out their phones.

While working in the background, Now Playing relies on the low-power efficiency cores to continuously analyze audio through the microphone. If it picks up audio that seems like music or a song, Now Playing requests the performance cores to record a few seconds of the audio.

Now Playing then matches the recorded audio on a database containing tens of thousands of fingerprints of the most popular songs in a particular region. After processing and matching, Now Playing displays the name and artist of the song on the lock screen as well as in a notification.

Needless to say, Now Playing is fairly accurate. However, the list of songs it recognizes contains only the name of the song, the artist, and a timestamp.

Googles Now Playing feature for Pixel devices may get album art

The songs that Now Playing recognized are visible under Settings > Sound & vibration > Now Playing. The page lists the history of identified songs in reverse chronological order.

Although theres an icon next to each song, Google has refused to append any album art to the songs Now Playing recognizes. According to Android Authority, this might change in the future.

The hidden system app that downloads the Now Playing database may soon also grab album art. The code change is titled #AlbumArt Add Now Playing album art downloads to the network usage log.

Google has yet to assign a dedicated online repository from where Now Playing will download album art for the songs it recognizes. However, Ambient Music Mod, an open-source port of Now Playing by developer Kieron Quinn, already has the feature. The reverse-engineered version essentially replaces the generic music note icon with album art.
Marketing is one of the most important aspects of a tech products success. Samsung Mobile knows this and typically employs an aggressive advertising strategy, particularly targeting Apple, its primary rival. The South Korean giant takes advantage of every opportunity to make fun of new launches and devices from the brand. Now, Samsung has shared an ad in the form of a documentary with former Apple Geniuses who made the switch.

There are companies whose marketing toward their direct rival uses a conciliatory and even friendly tone, such as Google Pixels Best Phones Forever ads. However, Samsung employs a radically different approach, which has not always yielded the best results. Many people mocked the company for adopting decisions made by Apple, which they had previously criticized in previous ads, for instance.

Former Apple Geniuses tell why they switched to Samsung in this documentary

Anyway, Samsungs new documentary features former Apple Geniuses who share firsthand accounts of their experiences and the reasons behind their switch to Galaxy devices. The three-minute spot has three chapters, starting with Becoming a Genius. During this section, former Apple Geniuses tell why they joined the Apple ecosystem. Some say they joined to help people, while others did so to feel part of something bigger than them, among other motivations.

However, after a while, Apple Geniuses became aware of the competitions products and started to question their own position. This is where Chapter II, Questioning Our Own Genius, begins, as the now doubtful Apple fans discover that Samsung devices offer advanced features unavailable on iPhones. They also questioned Apples decision-making process.

In Chapter III: Sweet Taste of Freedom, the former Apple fans finally make the switch to Galaxy devices. Here, former Apple Geniuses describe how parting ways with Apple brought a breath of freedom into their lives. Plus, they now enjoy the AI-powered features of the Galaxy AI suite on a daily basis. They mention some favorites like the sketch-to-art generator, Live Translate, and AI filters. The Night Mode of the Galaxy Z Flip 6s camera impresses another ex-Apple fan.

A short and funny ad that you can watch right now

Despite the ads serious documentary-style filming, its humor is evident. Samsung even makes this clear with a line at the end of the video. Their former employers didnt comment on geniuses claims, probably because we didnt reach out, the ad shows. You can watch it below.
According to leaks, the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip will power the entire Galaxy S25 series. It seems that Samsung couldnt fix the low yield rates of its 3nm wafers in time, so it had to scrap the Exynos 2500 chip. This is great news for fans of the lineup, as the new Qualcomm SoC sees major improvements in power. That said, it seems that the Galaxy S25 series chip presents a potential heating issue during graphical stress benchmarks.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite shows a potential heating issue during GPU tests

The leaked benchmarks of the Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered devices have shown impressive results. The new Oryon custom cores inherited from the Snapdragon X chips are the main highlight. However, it seems that one particular situation causes special stress on the SoC.

Android Authority and Digital Trends ran GPU-focused benchmarks on the Realme GT7 Pro, an upcoming Android flagship phone. The device boasts of using Qualcomms most powerful chip. During GPU benchmarks, sources claimed that the phone got noticeably hot. The heating levels even triggered warnings about the temperature of the device. At that point, the Realme flagship disabled all functions except for calls for a few minutes.

The high temperatures during the GPU benchmark even prevented the Realme GT7 Pro from completing the 3DMark stress test. This test pushes the capabilities of the devices GPU to the max, so its normal for the temperature to rise. However, its not so normal for the app to crash before returning results. Regarding temperatures, the Realme GT7 Pro reached 46C at its highest point.

The chip performs well outside of GPU benchmarks, even in heavy gaming

Its quite possible that the problems described above are more related to the stress tests than to an actual heating problem on the chip. According to the same sources who ran the stress tests, the Realme GT7 Pro performed much better in every other situation. The device ran normally even during heavy gameplay, with no crashes or high temperature notifications.

The Xiaomi 15 Pro, another Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered device, was also put through heavy gaming tests under demanding conditions. The device ran titles like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Honor of Kings at maximum graphical settings. The result was high performance with controlled temperatures in all cases. So, it doesnt seem like Qualcomms latest SoC has a problem handling demanding tasks. If anything, it might not perform at its best in the 3DMark stress tests.

Basically, if youre worried about a potential heating issue with the Galaxy S25 lineups Snapdragon chip, you can rest easy.
British actor Bill Nighy said he stole the complete works of Shakespeare from a library to prepare for his drama school audition.

The Oscar-nominated star said he applied for the Guildford School of Acting to impress a girl but had to prepare two pieces for the audition  one from a modern playwright and the other from William Shakespeare.

Along with his older friend, they stole the complete works of Shakespeare, and we stole the complete works of George Bernard Shaw which we thought was sort of modern, Nighy told BBC Radio 4s This Cultural Life.

Bill Nighy said he applied for drama school to impress a girl (Yui Mok/PA)

We could have borrowed it like everybody else, but for some reason, we were sort of developing a criminal mentality, the 74-year-old said.

Nighy inadvertently learnt two female parts for the audition while down the pub with his friend.

He performed the role of Eliza Doolittle from Shaws play Pygmalion, and the part of Cesario in Twelfth Night  not realising the part was female character Viola disguised in male clothing.

Despite the panel looking a bit confused by his interpretation of the brief, Nighy said he was invited back with more suitable material and he was later accepted into the drama school.

Nighy said the girl he was trying to impress had originally written the letter to the drama school to gain an audition.

She could have said astronaut and I would have given it a shot, he admitted.

Bill Nighy was nominated for an Oscar last year (Ian West/PA)

During his esteemed career, which saw him nominated for an Oscar last year for his role in Living, Nighy has performed two Shakespeare plays professionally.

The first was The Taming Of The Shrew at the Gateway Theatre in Chester, and the second was King Lear with Sir Anthony Hopkins at the National Theatre in London.

He told BBC Radio 4: I retired from Shakespeare sometime after that in the bathroom I remember, nobody took a blind bit of notice, but I just thought, I cant go through this anymore because I dont have any particular interest in the delivery of Shakespeare.

I understand hes the greatest poet the world has ever known, but the performance of it, I will leave to other people.
Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, is photographed on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A piece by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed in the backyard of The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A collection of decades worth of graffiti culture artifacts archived by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The studio of Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed within The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A collection of decades worth of graffiti culture artifacts archived by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A collection of decades worth of graffiti culture artifacts archived by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed in front of The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A collection of decades worth of graffiti culture artifacts archived by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A collection of decades worth of graffiti culture artifacts archived by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 shows a magazine that is part of an archive he is building at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Original bookshelves from The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, are photographed on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The studio of Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed within The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A collection of decades worth of graffiti culture artifacts archived by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The studio of Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed within The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed in front of The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The studio of Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 is photographed within The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The heights of Children that used to live in the building are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A collection of decades worth of graffiti culture artifacts archived by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A collection of decades worth of graffiti culture artifacts archived by Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 are photographed at The Luckie School, a 100-year-old East End schoolhouse that was the first school named after a Black educator in Houston, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

The first time Mario Figueroa Jr. went to The Luckie School, he came face-to-face with a gun.

Now, the famed Houston graffiti artist  best known as Gonzo247  will merge the 106-year-old campus' history with Houston's graffiti scene in a new arts hub.

"I always thought that one day, when I die, I would just donate all my archives to a museum, because there's so many stories to tell," Figueroa said. "And after telling that story so many times, my wife said, 'Why are you waiting until you die?'"

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'The Wall of Fame'

Figueroa first met former Luckie School owner Mickey Phoenix one night in 1992 while looking for abandoned buildings to practice on. In the 1990s, graffiti art was still underground, Figueroa said, and many Houstonians were either unfamiliar or wary of the practice.

Phoenix had just purchased the property to turn an old maintenance building into a warehouse for her T-shirt screenprinting business, and she protected it fiercely.

She met the young artists with a gun in tow, but they eventually convinced her to show them what they could do. Guns were lowered, spray cans were raised, and Houston's first-ever legal graffiti wall was born, Figueroa said.

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"This wall alone has a lot of cultural history for the city of Houston, because back when we were doing this, if you just had a spray can in your hand, you could get arrested," Figueroa said. "In those days, we were the renegades, we were the oddballs, we were misunderstood. It used to be feared and unknown, and now it's accepted and embraced."

Phoenix and Figueroa formed a decades-long partnership as the site became "The Wall of Fame," a popular spot for aerosol artists to practice and host now-infamous parties and competitions, Figueroa said. The former school now serves as Gonzo's art studio and became the site of Aerosol Warfare, an art studio and exhibition space that specialized in street art.

"(Phoenix) is almost like a focal point, because there was Luckie's legacy, and then Mickey saved the building just by buying it and saying, 'I love this building. I'm not going to knock it down,'" Figueroa said. "And because of that, this building stood another 30 years."

The Luckie School

The Luckie School opened in 1909 as one of the first schools for Black children in Harrisburg, which is now part of Houston. It was named after Charles W. Luckie, a prominent Black educator who died that year after serving on the Huntsville ISD school board and then working as a professor at what is now Prairie View A&M University.

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The Luckie School opened as the first school honoring a Black educator in Houston, according to Phoenix's website. The two-story purple structure that stands today was built after a fire destroyed the original schoolhouse in 1918, and it later became a part of Houston ISD before closing in the 1940s.

When Phoenix bought the school, it had fallen into disrepair. The building was "full to the ceiling with crap" and had 6 inches of water in it, she said in a 2007 Houston Chronicle article, and it took 17 "big garbage dumptruck loads" to clear it out.

As she opened her warehouse and, later, began remodeling the schoolhouse into her own home, she learned more about the school's history. And as she watched historic buildings in the surrounding East End neighborhood get replaced with stadiums and townhomes, she became more determined to preserve it.

Ive just sat back here and watched em tear down building after building after building.  I guess its a lot of money to restore all this. I know its taken every penny I have," Phoenix said in the 2007 article.

HOUSTON EXPLAINED: How a global pop star quit music and came home to Houston to change lives in a surprising second act

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'Luckie's pocket'

For Figueroa, history constantly influences the present.

The Luckie School still hosts its original library bookshelves and some chalkboards, although they're now filled with paint cans and notes rather than books and formulas. Its second floor, which still hosts home accents and scribbles of Phoenix's relatives' heights on its walls, now serves as an archive of Houston's graffiti history.

Figueroa has been collecting spray paint cans, graffiti magazines and newspaper articles since the 1980s, and he's watched the practice grow from a crime to a celebrated art form. He's always wanted to showcase that history, and he's found a home for it in "Luckie's Pocket," a name he's given the space to honor its roots.

"This pocket is like a creative vortex. There's a lot of great energy here," Figueroa said. "There's a lot that's going to happen at Luckie's Pocket."

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The next chapter

After a chance encounter reunited both Figueroa and his client and business partner, Garrett Clayton, in 2015, the duo began looking for a space to showcase Houston's art history. After years of searching, they bought The Luckie School from Phoenix in 2021, Clayton said.

Figueroa approached Clayton, an avid art collector, to begin the next chapter of its history. The team hasn't revealed specific details about the project, but Clayton described it as part art gallery, part Gonzo247's studio, and a greenspace and event space to bring together Houston's arts and East End communities.

"It's going to be kind of self-defining...I love the city so much, and I think we have so much to offer, not only Houstonians, but also visitors," Clayton said. "This is going to be a great kind of hub for anything art-related."

The building has already hosted some workshops and events as Figueroa's wife, Carolyn Casey-Figueroa, conducts community outreach on the future space. The team has partnered with Urbano Architects, a Houston-based architecture and historic preservation studio, to restore the space while maintaining as many original elements as possible.

The trio said they hope to continue the school's original mission to educate and honor past and present Houstonians.

"It was a school. People were supposed to come here to learn something," Figueroa said. "It's always been a creative environment, and we want to make sure that we don't lose that part of it."
Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will be crowned as the new Conservative Party leader on Saturday, as the four-month-long race to replace Rishi Sunak reaches the finish line.

The result of the leadership ballot is expected to be announced late in the morning, with the members ballot having closed on Thursday.

The winner will be at the helm as the party looks to recover from the July election result which saw it return just 121 MPs.

A huge thank you to all the amazing @Conservatives members, supporters, and campaigners who joined my campaign and supported my vision for the future of the Conservative Party. Together we can put an end to the excuses, move past the drama, and unite our party. pic.twitter.com/gByhhHe26h  Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) October 31, 2024

After the close of polls on Thursday, both candidates thanked their backers for their support through the contest.

Ms Badenoch described the party as a family and said that it is much more to me than a membership organisation.

Mr Jenrick also called for the party to move past the drama of recent years and unite.

Together we can put an end to the excuses, move past the drama, and unite our party, he wrote on X.

Immigration, the economy, and how the Conservatives can rebuild trust with the electorate and win back voters they lost at the election have all been discussed at length through the campaign.

The party lost seats to Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK in the July poll.

Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly spent the summer campaigning alongside Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch after they put their names forward in the nominations at the end of July.

Dame Priti and Mr Stride were the first two contenders to be eliminated in September, leaving four by the time the party gathered in Birmingham for its autumn conference at the end of the month.

Polls have closed for the Conservative Party leadership contest. I want to thank all our party members who have taken the time to listen to pitches from all of the candidates, turned up to our hustings and hosted us in your associations and in your homes. The Conservative Party  Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) October 31, 2024

While the candidates spent four days vying to secure votes, both Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick found themselves embroiled in rows during the conference.

Ms Badenoch ended up asserting her support for maternity pay after comments caused a controversy.

Meanwhile, Mr Jenrick faced heat from other leadership rivals over claims he made about UK special forces.

Shadow home secretary Mr Cleverly appeared to take the lead after the conference, coming top of the third ballot of MPs with 39 votes, while Mr Tugendhat got knocked out after securing only 20.

There was some surprise when Mr Cleverly then did not make the final two names to be put to members the following day, securing only 37 votes compared with Mr Jenricks 41 and Ms Badenochs 42.

In the weeks since the final MP ballot, Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch have been travelling up and down the country in their attempts to secure member support.

At the start of the campaign, Ms Badenoch wrote in The Telegraph that the party need to get back to first principles and has been light on the details of specific policies she would enact.

Amid the events and speeches, Mr Jenrick criticised his opponent for offering up what he called a promise of a plan rather than more concrete policies.

Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick , James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat together on stage after delivering their speeches during the Conservative Party conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He told the BBCs Westminster Hour in October that I think its disrespectful to the members and the public to ask for their votes without saying where you stand on the big issues facing our country today.

Mr Jenrick added: A plan today is what I offer. A promise of a plan at some point in the future is what my opponent offers, and I dont think thats the way to rebuild the publics trust and confidence in us.

The contest was triggered after Mr Sunak announced he would step aside in the wake of the partys election defeat in the summer.

Earlier this week the former prime minister played down suggestions that he would be leaving Westminster for California, and told MPs that he would be spending more time in the greatest place on earth.

If anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire, he told Prime Ministers Questions.

There was speculation earlier this year that the Richmond and Northallerton MP  who previously worked at a hedge fund in California  could be in line for a job in Silicon Valley.

Today is my last appearance at PMQs and Im happy to confirm reports that I will now be spending more time in the greatest place on earth where the scenery is indeed worthy of a movie set, and everyone is a character, he said.

Thats right, if anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire.

Outgoing Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak gives a speech in Downing Street following his partys landslide defeat to the Labour Party in the general election (James Manning/PA)

The Conservatives returned MPs in 121 seats at the July poll, down hundreds on their 2019 result, having secured less than 25% of the vote nationally.

Speaking on Downing Street the morning after the election, Mr Sunak apologised to the country and his party.

To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry, he said.

I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change.

And yours is the only judgment that matters.

I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.

Speaking ahead of Saturdays result, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the contest has shown the Conservatives are refusing to take responsibility for the damage they did to the country.

She said: Whoever wins the Conservative Party leadership contest will have to carry the can for years of failure that tanked the economy and left the NHS on its knees.
Prosecutors are considering whether to bring charges against actor and comedian Russell Brand over allegations of historical sexual abuse.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that detectives from the Metropolitan Police had passed on an evidence file regarding sex offence allegations against the 49-year-old.

It comes after a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches revealed last year that four women had accused Brand of sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013.

The actor denies the accusations, and previously stated that all his sexual relationships were absolutely always consensual.

Russell Brand stated that all his relationships were consensual (James Manning/PA)

A spokesperson for the CPS said on Saturday: We can confirm we have been passed a file by the police to consider a charging decision in this case.

Any decision to charge is made independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test.

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: Our investigation continues and a file has now been passed to the CPS.

We have a team of dedicated officers providing specialist support to the women who have come forward.

We are committed to investigating sexual offences, no matter how long ago they are alleged to have taken place.

At the time of the alleged offences, Brand was at the height of his fame, working for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4 as well as starring in Hollywood films.

On Saturday, a spokesperson for the Met said: Following an investigation by Channel 4s Dispatches and The Sunday Times in September 2023, the Met received a number of reports of sexual offences from women in London and elsewhere in the country.

A file of evidence has now been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for their consideration.

As part of the investigation, a man in his 40s has been interviewed by officers under caution on three separate occasions.

These interviews related to a number of non-recent sexual offences which are alleged to have taken place both in and outside of London.

Officers continue to support the CPS as part of their investigation.

The force added: This is a complex and sensitive matter and our absolute priority is to maintain the integrity of our investigation and support and retain the confidence of potential victims.

We will continue to issue updates to media proactively at significant moments in our investigation.

Brand vehemently denies the allegations brought against him and stated in a video posted online that all of his relationships have been consensual.

The comedian claimed he was facing a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks.

Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute, he said.

These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies and as I have written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous.

He continued: Now during that time of promiscuity the relationships I had were absolutely, always consensual.

I was always transparent about that then, almost too transparent, and I am being transparent about it now as well.

To see that transparency metastasised into something criminal, that I absolutely deny, makes me question: is there another agenda at play?

The CPS did not indicate when they received the file, or when they will make their decision whether to bring charges against Brand.
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone was baffled by the decision for Sundays LaLiga match with Las Palmas to go forward in the aftermath of devastating floods in Spain.

Authorities have recovered 211 bodies after heavy downpours triggered flash floods in the eastern part of the country, while the search for an unknown number of missing people is ongoing.

Two LaLiga matches, Villarreal against Rayo Vallecano and Valencia against Real Madrid, have already been postponed, but Simeone suggested decision-makers had not gone far enough.

Authorities have recovered 211 bodies after heavy downpours triggered flash floods in eastern Spain (Manu Fernandez/AP)

Speaking at a press conference, the Atletico boss told Spanish media when asked about playing the match: It doesnt make any sense.

What is happening is very hard. The people who went out into the street to help, who with a shovel and their tools try to collaborate, that speaks very well of the country, of the people, and we want to help where we can.

There are people having a very bad time, it is very sad and they tell us to carry on and here we are, carrying on.

Simeones side have a long history of success at home against the Canary Islanders having suffered just two defeats in 31 home league meetings, winning 16 times of their last 20 and drawing four.

They defeated 10-man UE Vic in Thursday nights Copa del Ray first-round clash, bouncing back from last Sundays 1-0 La Liga defeat to Real Betis.

Ultima sesion antes de medirnos a la UD Las Palmas! pic.twitter.com/0kH6yo4wY5  Atletico de Madrid (@Atleti) November 2, 2024

The visitors travel to the Spanish capital in good form, however, collecting maximum points from their last two league contests.

A number of injuries have resulted in the Atletico boss leaning on less tested starters but Simeone was confident the likes of Javi Galan, Clement Lenglet and his own son Giuliano Simeone are eager to make a contribution.

He added: We have a few injured players. We compensate with these lads who are enthusiastic and eager to show why they are at Atletico de Madrid and we hope that tomorrow we will focus on the importance of the match and that they will lead us to what we want.
Lando Norris took another two points out of Max Verstappens championship lead after he won Saturdays sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Pole-sitter Oscar Piastri obeyed a team order from McLaren to move aside for Norris on lap 22 of 24 at Interlagos, with Verstappen finishing third.

Norris victory takes him 45 points behind Verstappen with 132 points still available.

ITS A PAPAYA 1-2 IN SAO PAULO!  Fantastic teamwork from our duo. #BrazilGP  pic.twitter.com/hT5TNlBqB7  McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 2, 2024

Norris enjoyed a strong getaway, with Piastri moving to his left to keep his McLaren team-mate behind. Verstappen started from fourth and locked up under braking for the opening corner but he managed to get his Red Bull to stop in time.

Piastri led with Norris tucked in behind and Charles Leclerc was forced to defend to his left to stop Verstappen from coming through at the first corner. Verstappen had another bite at Turn 4 but Leclerc remained ahead.

On lap five, Norris was on the radio in a reminder to McLaren to usher Piastri out of his way. I am close, he said. We understand, came his race engineer Will Josephs response.

Norris continued to trail Piastri with no sign of the Australian budging. Norris was back on the intercom again.

I am not sure what we are doing here, mate, he said. I thought we spoke about this.

Still, there was no sign of Piastri making way. By lap eight, Piastri was out of DRS range, and suddenly Norris had Leclerc occupying his McLaren mirrors with Verstappen on the Ferraris gearbox.

Oscar Piastri, bottom, led McLaren team-mate Lando Norris for much of the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race (Ettore Chiereguini)

Piastri was then urged to give Lando DRS in order to help his team-mate fend off Leclerc and Verstappen.

Piastri duly obliged and Norris was able to move out of Leclercs clutches. All eyes were on the McLaren pit wall. When would they move Piastri aside?

Suggest Red A 4, Norris was told, with the Englishman replying: Yes, I will overtake.

Norris was then informed that the trade of positions would take place on the concluding lap, with Piastri urged to not make it difficult if Lando attacks.

With six laps to go, Verstappen then swept Leclerc aside for third, and with Norris 1.6 sec up the road the triple world champion was urge to chase the McLaren duo.

On lap 22, Piastri moved out of Norris way on the run down to the fourth corner before the Virtual Safety Car was deployed after Nico Hulkenberg parked up his Haas.

The VSC period ended on the final lap with Verstappen aiming a lunge on Piastri at Turn 4 but the Australian held firm as McLaren completed a one-two finish.

I am not proud about it, but we worked well as a team so thanks to Oscar, said Norris.

Oscar deserved it (the win) but we did what we had to do so I thank him and the team.

Verstappen crossed the line in third but the Dutchman faces an investigation for an infringement under the VSC.

Qualifying for Sundays main event takes place at 3pm local time (6pm GMT).
The Metropolitan Police are preparing for a busy weekend ahead with protests, sports events and fireworks displays across the capital.

A Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march will start at Whitehall from midday on Saturday and proceed across Vauxhall Bridge before ending with a rally near the US Embassy, the force said.

There will also be a counter-protest organised by Stop The Hate UK taking place on the corner of Millbank and Vauxhall Bridge.

Elsewhere, officers will be attending a large ticketed fireworks event in Battersea Park in the early evening, an international rugby union match between England and New Zealand in Twickenham, as well as football fixtures.

People during a pro-Palestine and pro-Lebanon protest on Whitehall in central London (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Police have called on participants in the PSC march to consider their travel plans carefully and urged them to head away from Battersea and towards Vauxhall as the area will be extremely busy.

The PSC is a UK advocacy group which has been at the forefront of organising pro-Palestine marches across the country since October 14 2023, following Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 of last year.

Commander Adam Slonecki, who is leading this weekends policing operation, said: Ahead of the weekend we have been in regular discussions with the PSC as well as residents, partners, community groups and businesses.

Its a busy weekend of events across London and we have worked with organisers to seek to minimise disruption and balance the right to protest.

Officers will be highly visible along the protest route and wider area to ensure the events take place safely and deal with any offences.
David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, with Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state. While the US pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal under Donald Trump, the UK and other allies remain signatories - Neil Hall/EPA/Bloomberg

Britain is prepared to trigger snapback sanctions against Iran over nuclear deal breaches, the Sunday Telegraph has learned.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, is ready to trigger a new round of sanctions against the Islamic Republic to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

The UK remains a participant of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, and can therefore unilaterally force a return to sanctions if it considers that Iran has violated the terms of the deal.

The nuclear deal was significantly weakened by the US withdrawal in 2018 under the Trump administration, although major signatories, including the UK, France and Germany, remain committed in theory.

On Friday, a senior adviser to the supreme leader of Iran claimed the country is capable of making nuclear weapons and will change its doctrine to allow their production if it faces an existential threat.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, could authorise a change in his countrys doctrine to allow production of nuclear weapons, an aide has said - Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Kamal Kharrazi, the head of the Islamic Republics strategic council of foreign relations, also said the country was ready for war amid speculation it was planning to launch a fresh attack on Israel.

We are ready for war but we do not want to escalate because we have currently proven our ability to deter from doing so, he told Al Mayadeen, the Lebanon-based pro-Iran broadcaster.

The matter is up to the Israelis, if they really want to continue, we will respond to them. Our missile capabilities are clear to everyone and everyone believes in them, and we have proven that during our operations.

Intelligence officials have suggested Iran could attack within days, possibly through a drone offensive launched by one of its proxy groups in Iraq.

It is unclear whether Iran plans to attack Israel before or after next weeks US election, but Mr Kharrazi claimed Israel was to blame for increasing instability in the region.

Tehran was left reeling after Israel used dozens of aircraft, including F35 stealth jets, refuellers and drones, in a retaliatory attack in the early hours of Oct 26.

Iran has previously asserted its right to cancel parts of the nuclear deal since the US withdrawal.

Under the pact, Iran agreed to tight limits that ensured it could not stockpile enough enriched uranium to produce a single bomb.

Enriched uranium numbers are still significantly below levels in 2015, the year the JCPOA was signed, when they hit 7,953kg, but are increasing at a similar rate to that seen in the early 2010s.

UN inspectors have not been able to access some crucial facilities in the nuclear programme, including centrifuge production workshops, since February 2021.

At the same time, Iran has been ramping up its production of highly enriched uranium, just short of the weapons grade needed for an atomic bomb, at the underground Fordow fuel enrichment plant.

Since 2019, Iran has increased its stock of enriched uranium from 997kg to 5,525kg, the amount recorded in February.

This includes an increase in uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, or near weapons grade, from 88kg to 123kg in the past year, a 38 per cent increase.

UN inspectors noted this in a February report, which warned of new equipment and expansion at Fordow, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base 20 miles north-east of the city of Qom.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: Irans nuclear programme has never been more advanced than it is today. Their nuclear escalation threatens international security and undermines the global non-proliferation system.

We remain committed to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons using every diplomatic tool available, including the snapback mechanism if necessary.
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots during the last day of early voting in Gwinnett county, Georgia, on Friday. Photograph: Nathan Posner/REX/Shutterstock

Almost 70 million Americans have already voted in the historic US election which comes to a head on Tuesday, prompting furious arguments over what early voting trends might mean as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris prepare for their final showdown.

As both candidates and their top surrogates crisscrossed the country in a furious bout of last-minute campaigning, the race remains in a virtual dead heat  both in the head-to-head national polls and in the crucial seven battleground states that will actually decide the race for the White House.

But as Trump and Harris made their pitches for what must now be a vanishingly small number of still undecided voters, tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots in the election through the various processes in the US that allow early voting.

Related: 2024 US presidential polls tracker: Trump v Harris latest national averages

With so much at stake in the election, that huge number has triggered intense speculation as to what it might that mean with both Republicans and Democrats attempting to glean information that shows their side might already have the edge as voting day nears.

Harriss campaign is latching on to some key information from the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. The giant state  which stretches from New Jersey in the east to Ohio in the west  is a part of the rust belt dominated by former manufacturing cities that is seen as probably the most crucial region in the election.

Nearly all the most likely paths to victory for both candidates involve picking up rust belt states with Pennsylvania as the biggest prize.

In that state, voters over the age of 65 have cast nearly half of the early ballots and registered Democrats account for about 58% of votes cast by seniors, compared with 35% for Republicans. That is a big lead in a demographic that usually trends towards Trump.

At the same time, women have a 10-point gap over men when it comes to the early vote in Pennsylvania, according to analysis by the Politico website, using data from the University of Floridas United States Election Project. Another analysis, by NBC, showed an even larger gap in favor of women in the state of 13 points.

Harris and her team are hoping for a large showing of women in the election as they have made the loss of reproductive rights central to their campaign after the supreme court overturned federal abortion rights. Women have trended strongly Democratic in the election, while men have leaned more Republican and thus any signs of a strong turnout by women is potentially good news for the vice-president.

The gender gap is a key reason for hope among Democrats and concern among Republicans, especially when many states have abortion rights amendments on their ballots in the 2024 election, Thomas Miller, a data scientist at Northwestern University, told Newsweek.

But Republicans too are seeing signs of hope in the early voting trends  a sign that Americas divisive election is still proving impossible to predict even after almost two years of furious campaigning by both parties.

In Arizona, a crucial swing state in the so-called sun belt on electoral battlegrounds, male voters have been turning out in increased numbers  a sign that Republican strategies of turning out men who have not voted before might be working. In Arizona last week, the number of new voters in Arizona was 86,000  far more than the tiny margin by which Joe Biden beat Trump in the state in 2020  and the biggest share of those new voters were male Republicans.

Overall, Republicans have traditionally been outnumbered in early voting with more Democrats choosing to go to the polls. In part, that has been because Trump and some of his allies have assailed early voting with baseless claims of fraud and conspiracy, despite Republican professional campaigners exhorting their supporters to get to the polls before election day.

In 2024, there are signs that Republicans are indeed heading to the polls early in large numbers.

In Georgia  another key sun belt battleground in the deep south  there are strong signs of a significant early Republican turnout. More than 700,000 people who voted already in 2024 did not vote at all in 2020, according to Georgia Votes, and that is seen as a sign that many of them might be Republicans as the campaign has focused on that demographic. At the same time, the top three counties for voter turnout rates in Georgia are rural areas won easily by Trump in 2020.

Weve got a lot of voters that voted in 2016 but didnt vote in 2020  What makes me believe that they are Trump voters is that most of them are  from parts of the state that are pretty strong Republican strongholds, Georgias lieutenant governor, Burt Jones, told Fox News.

Of course, as voting patterns shift for both sides, it could also be that an advantage in early voting for either Democrats or Republicans is quickly overwhelmed on election day itself when tens of millions of voters go to the polls in person.

In the end, the 2024 race remains entirely unpredictable. The Guardians 10-day polling average tracker has shown little change over the past week, after a slight erosion in Harris support over October, Harris retains a one-point advantage in national polls of 48% to Trumps 47%, virtually identical to last week and well with the margin of error of most polls.

The battleground states, too, remain in a dead heat. The candidates are evenly tied at 48% in Pennsylvania while Harris has single-point leads in the two other rust belt states of Michigan and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Trump is marginally ahead in the sun belt, where he is up by 1% in North Carolina, 2% in Georgia and Arizona, and ahead in Nevada by less than a percentage point.

But one wildcard for both campaigns is the Muslim vote, angered by US support for Israel in its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. A poll released on Friday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations showed that 42% of the countrys 2.5 million Muslim voters favor Green party nominee Jill Stein for president while 41% favor Harris. Trump registered 10% support.

In theory, those margins of support for Stein, as in 2016, could swing some key swing states, such as Michigan, to Trump if the contest there is very close.
Kamala Harris in Chandler, Arizona; Donald Trump in Evans, Georgia. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

The US presidential election campaign enters its final weekend with polls showing Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in seemingly permanent deadlock and few clues as to which of them will prevail on Tuesday.

At the end of another unruly week that began with Trumps racially charged rally in New Yorks Madison Square Garden and was punctuated by celebrity endorsements, misogynistic comments and insults about garbage being levelled left and right, the Guardians 10-day polling average tracker showed little change from seven days earlier, with voter loyalty to their chosen candidate appearing relatively impervious to campaign events, however seismic.

Nationally, Harris, the Democratic nominee, has a one-point advantage, 48% to 47%, over her Republican opponent, virtually identical to last week. Such an advantage is well with the margin of error of most polls.

The battleground states, too, remain in a dead heat. The candidates are evenly tied at 48% in Pennsylvania, often seen as the most important swing state because it has the most electoral votes (19). Harris has single-point leads in the two other blue-wall states, Michigan and Wisconsin, while Trump is marginally ahead in the Sun belt: up by 1% in North Carolina and 2% in Georgia and Arizona. In Nevada, his average advantage in the polls is less than a percentage point.

The latest polling has come against a backdrop of unprecedented levels of early voting in multiple states which, as of Friday, had seen about 65 million Americans already casting their ballots.

It is notoriously difficult to predict anything about future results from early voting, though some 58% of early voters in Pennsylvania aged 65 or over were registered Democrats, Politico reported, compared with 35% from the same cohort who were registered Republicans; the two main parties have roughly equal numbers of registered voters in the state among older adults. About 53% of the demographic voted for Trump in Pennsylvania in 2020, even while he lost the state to Joe Biden.

Trump, in contrast with four years ago, has encouraged his supporters to cast early ballots. That Democrats are turning out in greater numbers may be a positive indicator for them in a bellwether state where commentators have predicted turnout is key to the result. Democratic strategists have claimed they have a 10%-20% lead in senior voter turnout across the three blue-wall states.

But in a fractured political landscape that has featured threats of retribution from Trump, accusations of fascism and racism from Harris, and warnings that democracy itself is on the ballot, the bigger picture  that uniformity, over a prolonged period  has seasoned observers scratching their heads.

The polling-analysis site FiveThirtyEights simulator  based on a collection of national and state data - on Friday morning forecast that Trump would win 53 times out of 100 compared with 47 times for Harris was, again, similar to a week before.

In one late burst of positive news for Harris, a Marist poll on Friday held out the possibility that she could break the deadlock: it showed her leading Trump by 3% in Michigan and Wisconsin and 2% in Pennsylvania. Winning all three states probably represents Harriss clearest path to the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the White House. But the results remained within the surveys margins of error.

This near-monolithic picture, emerging from multiple polls, has triggered suspicions among some analysts of herding around state poll averages by pollsters cautious of being proved wrong for the third time running after significantly underestimating Trumps support in 2016 and 2020.

Writing on NBCs website, Josh Clinton, a politics professor at Vanderbilt University, and John Lapinski, the networks director of elections, pondered whether the tied race reflected not the sentiments of the voters, but rather risk-averse decision-making by pollsters. Some, they suggested, may be wary of findings indicating unusually large leads for one candidate and introduce corrective weighting.

Of the last 321 polls in the battlegrounds, 124 - nearly 40% - showed margins of a single point or less, the pair wrote. Pennsylvania was the most troubling case, with 20 out of 59 polls showing an exact tie, while another 26 showed margins of less than 1%.

This indicated not just an astonishingly tight race, but also an improbably tight race, according to Clinton and Lapinski.

Large numbers of surveys would be expected to show a wider variety of opinion, even in a close election, due to the randomness inherent in polling. The absence of such variation suggests that either pollsters are adjusting weird margins of 5% or more, Clinton and Lapinski argued  or the following second possibility, which they deemed more likely.

Some of the tools pollsters are using in 2024 to address the polling problems of 2020, such as weighting by partisanship, past vote or other factors, may be flattening out the differences and reducing the variation in reported poll results, they write.

Either explanation raises the possibility that the results of the election could be unexpectedly different than the razor-close narrative the cluster of state polls and the polling averages suggest, they added.

Amid the uncertainty, one thing is certain: however close pollsters have depicted the contest for the past several weeks, as Harris and Trump go head to head in the final days of the most consequential US election in decades, something has to give.
Kemi Badenoch is the new Conservative leader, and for many voters she will be something of an unknown quantity, despite having been an MP for several years and a former cabinet minister. Here are five things you might not yet know about her.

Shes an engineer  but not the kind that builds bridges

During the campaign, Badenoch made much of her engineering background, arguing that it allowed her to view problems in an analytical way, unburdened by ideology. She is not wrong to call herself an engineer, but her undergraduate degree and masters, from the University of Sussex, were in computer systems engineering.

She went on to work as a software engineer, before branching out into consultancy and financial services. Badenoch could also call herself a lawyer, having also completed a bachelor of law degree part-time at Birkbeck, University of London  but tends to be quieter about this.

Shes a fan of Ron DeSantis, and its mutual

While Badenoch managed to style herself as the more moderate of the final two candidates, she is an enthusiastic, US-style culture warrior, and has won the admiration of Ron DeSantis, the hardline Republican governor of Florida, who has waged his own battles against the apparent scourge of woke thinking, including a ban on many books from school libraries.

Endorsing Badenoch to be Tory leader, DeSantis said she flies the flag of bold colours of conservatism. The pair got to know each other when Badenoch was trade secretary, with DeSantis telling a UK newspaper that she told him she backed his policies, which have also included a series of policies targeting LGBTQ+ communities.

She complimented what we are doing in Florida, DeSantis said. She committed that it is what they are trying to do in Britain.

Some of the fights she picks are curious, and minor

One of the things about Badenoch perhaps best-known among voters is her willingness to wade into a fight and some enjoy her pugilistic approach. But among some Tory MPs, there is a worry that she can be too haphazard over this.

Perhaps the most striking example came in 2021 when the then-relatively little known equalities minister took to Twitter to lambast a journalist for being creepy and bizarre by asking what seemed to be some fairly routine questions. Boris Johnsons No 10 defended Badenoch, but in private, a number of officials and MPs were baffled.

Sometimes she can also take on the Tory right

While Badenoch is, by most definitions, from the populist-leaning side of her party, and always supported leaving the EU  unlike Robert Jenrick  she is not universally popular with the Brexiter right wing of the Conservatives.

Some of this dates back to 2023 when, as business secretary, Badenoch pushed through a U-turn over a promise to ditch thousands of EU laws retained on the UKs statute books by the end of the year. Badenoch presented this as pragmatism, but was faced by open fury from Tory Brexiters such as Mark Francois.

Some of the anger was simply a result of the decision, but part of it came from Badenochs own approach, responding to a Commons urgent question on the matter with, as one observer put it, astonishing rudeness at times.

She hacked Harriet Harmans website  and admitted it

Normally when politicians are asked in interviews to name the naughtiest thing they have ever done, they concoct a charming and self-effacing anecdote about mild boisterousness. When Badenoch was asked, she admitted a potential breach of the Computer Misuse Act, an offence carrying a jail term of up to five years.

This was 2018, when a video in which Badenoch replied to the question emerged, in which the then new MP said: About 10 years ago, I hacked into a Labour MPs website and I changed stuff in there to say nice things about Tories.

It turned out that she had put up a fake post on Harriet Harmans website in 2008, saying Harman backed Boris Johnson in the London mayoral elections, having guessed the website password. Luckily, Harman accepted her apology.
The fertility rate in the UK is the lowest since records began. Photograph: moodboard/Getty Images/Image Source

According to one leading demographer the most consequential announcement last week relating to future tax revenues and demands on the NHS was not to be found in the budget. It was instead a statistic released by the Office for National Statistics: the average fertility rate is now 1.44 children per woman  the lowest figure since records began.

For Paul Morland, author of No One Left: Why the World Needs More Children, its just the latest milestone in a long term and worrying trend. Weve had a below replacement level fertility rate now for 50 years, he says. We now have more deaths than births, and we are not alone.

Most countries in the world have below replacement fertility  which in the UK is about 2.1 children per woman, and slightly higher in countries where infant mortality is a greater threat. The exception is sub-Saharan Africa, where high fertility rates are still common, though dropping.

The pattern is well established. As societies grow wealthier and more secular, and woman gain greater agency, birthrates come down.

Morland believes the world is teetering on the edge of a population collapse. But to those concerned about overpopulation, increasing human consumption and climate change, pro-natalism is alarmist, nostalgic for womens domestication, and indifferent to the effect ever-expanding humanity has wrought on the planet.

The World Wildlife Fund says that weve lost 73% of our wildlife population in the last 50 years, says Amy Jankiewicz, chief executive of Population Matters, a campaign group in favour of sustainable human population. The plunging fertility rate, she says, is cause for celebration. As she points out, the current UK population is about 68.3 million and is expected to reach 78 million by 2050. Its not sustainable, she says.

But behind those headline figures, another picture emerges. The demographic makeup of the UK and the rest of Europe, not to mention North America and most of Asia, is radically changing. And its this factor that is central to matters of fiscal revenue and public expenditure. Not only is the fertility rate going down, but longevity is going up. We are getting older as a nation and a global society.

This ageing can be seen in what is known as the old age dependency ratio (OADR), which is the number of people of retirement age versus the number of people of working age. Or to put it another way, the number of people paying tax versus the number of people receiving pension support, as well as a disproportionate amount of NHS and care services.

In the UK the OADR was below 20% in the 1950s  there were more than five workers for every retiree  whereas it is more than 30% today (or just three workers for every retiree). Morland notes that by the end of the century it will be approaching 60%, which would be 1.7 workers for every retiree. That, too, is likely to be unsustainable.

Just look at the NHS. When it was established, writes Morland, there were around a quarter of a million people in Britain in their late 80s or older. Members of this cohort require six to seven times as much health spending as those in the prime of their lives. Today, he says, there aremore than 1.5 million in that age group and by the end of the century the figure is predicted to be almost 6 million. Heres another statistic to conjure with: in Italy in 1950 there were 17 under-10s for every one person over the age of 80. Today, writes Morland, the two groups are matched roughly one-to-one. Its no coincidence, he says, that the countries with the most ageing populations, such as Greece, Italy and Japan, have the worst levels of government debt to GDP.

Europes solution to this growing shortfall in the labour force is immigration. The UKs population would now be in decline if it wasnt for the massive number of immigrants that keep service, health and care industries going. But to sustain this policy, argues Morland, almost half the population of the UK would have to be foreign-born by the end of the 21st century.

Jankiewicz counters that the good thing about immigrants is that they dont add to the worlds population, but merely shift its distribution. Large-scale immigration, however, has been cited for the rise of right-wing parties in Europe, Brexit in the UK, and the popularity of Donald Trump in the US.

Moreover, says Morland, the developed world routinely strips the developing world of its brightest and most dynamic people in what amounts to a post-colonial raid on those economies. In any case, it wont be long before sub-Saharan Africa moves, like India and China, to similarly low fertility rates, adds Morland.

So whats the answer? There is no doubting the effects of the Anthropocene epoch, and it stands to reason that the worlds population cant keep growing indefinitely. But unlike with almost every other vital aspect of the economy, democratic governments have almost no involvement in the fertility rate, either in its move up or down.

The decision to have a child is rightly a private one, usually made between two people. Its extremely doubtful that any couple has ever set about trying to have a baby to solve a future labour shortage  that really would be a passion killer. Thus any governmental attempt to influence the parenthood decision could appear intrusive, and has in the past been draconian.

Women in the UK and the US have about three-quarters of a child less than they say they want Paul Morland, demographer

China famously implemented a one child policy between 1979 and 2015 to halt the countrys population growth. It was a flagrant curtailment of its citizens human rights, and yet now that all restrictions are lifted, economic development has left China with a fertility rate of 1.0. Recently its government has been accused of pressuring women into having more children.

When the fertility rate drops, the number of girls born obviously drops (even more so in countries like China, where female foetuses are more often aborted than male). That means that there will be fewer women of child-bearing age, which in turn means that the fertility rate required to maintain the population goes up even higher. Rapid depopulation is the inevitable outcome..

For Jankiewicz, this can only be a good thing. The fewer people the better is what we stand for, she says. Even a pro-natalist like Morland, who describes himself as unapologetically rightwing, accepts that humanity must have a population limit. But he argues that its decline needs to be better managed and should be delayed until AI and robotics can replace labour.

He calls for a cultural revolution in which the idea of having larger families is seen as desirable or even cool. After all, he notes, women in the UK and the US have about three-quarters of a child less than they say they want. He emphasises that any cultural change would have to entail an equitable sharing of childcare duties between parents.

But while a man with many children might be viewed as a potent paterfamilias figure or someone, like Elon Musk, with many willing partners, there arent many have-it-all role models for women  mother-of-six investment banker Nicola Horlick with her nanny-back-ups, or perhaps the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen, with her nine children? The point is theyre well known because they are such striking exceptions.

The paradox of fertility is that it is highest in poor countries, but in the developed countries people cite high costs as one of the main reasons for limiting or not having children. Some governments have attempted to alleviate the problem by subsidising childcare, offering extended parental leave and various tax breaks for families.

Yet while there are signs such measures may have small effects, they are not of the kind that will reverse current trends. Hungary, for example, is estimated to spend 5% of its GDP on pro-natal policies.

As a result the fertility rate has climbed from 1.25 to 1.5, yet that is a long way from replacement level. And given that the Hungarian government is right-wing, populist and anti-immigrant, it has helped foster the belief that pro-natalism is really just another form of pro-nationalism.

There arent any easy answers to this problem, and even the questions are complex. But some kind of public debate is required because the implications of population decline (or indeed increase) are too great to be left to just happen.

The British government is right to avoid advising citizens on their procreative choices. But it should be clear about what the consequences are for the generations to come.
On Valentines morning, a woman carried a single long-stemmed red rose to eviction court. To enter through the courtroom doors, which read Maximum Occupancy 92, she had to first pass through the crowds of people in the lobby who could not fit in the courtroom. And to reach the lobby, she had to weave her way through even more people who were waiting outside.

Once before the judge, she said she had a plan to pay her rent and asked for options. An eviction ruling against her came down within seconds.

Valentines Day this year served as the occasion for one of Harris Countys biggest eviction dockets since the pandemic began  444 cases were to be decided by Judge Israel Garcia in one day, a sum which has only been topped by the day the same judge scheduled 477 cases to be heard two weeks ago, according to the data firm January Advisors.

L:Dozens of people wait outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court. R:A couple holds hands on Valentines Day as they wait for their names to be called for an eviction case. Annie Mulligan/Contributor L:Dozens of people wait outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court. R:A couple holds hands on Valentines Day as they wait for their names to be called for an eviction case.

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Such large dockets mean that cases have to be heard at a breakneck speed. Between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, Garcia spent an average of 90 seconds on each case  and still hadn't called 60 percent of the cases scheduled for the day. For some of the lawyers and a court observer from the nonprofit Texas Housers, the giant dockets raised the question of whether justice could be served by way of such lightning-fast proceedings.

Every case impacts at least two people  often more, if multiple people are named on a lease. I dont know how you can mete out justice to a thousand litigants in an eight-hour day, said Dana Karni, litigation director at the nonprofit Lone Star Legal Aid.

Karni's take is not an outlier. As Nathan Hecht, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, put it in a 2022 op-ed for the New York Times, While not every eviction can or should be avoided, each eviction case must be given the attention it deserves.

Some landlords have pushed back, saying that cases shouldn't be stretched out once they reach eviction courts. They argue they've already spent time trying to work things out before filing an eviction, and that going for months without rent can put them in a financial bind.

People meet with attorneys from Lone Star Legal Aid to receive free legal council outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court 5-1 on Chimney Rock Rd. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Lone Star Legal Aid was present to offer help to hundreds of people whose eviction cases were on the docket Tuesday. Annie Mulligan/Contributor

Before the 8 a.m. docket, people clutching folders and binders filled with rental documents began streaming into the utilitarian one-story building. Lone Star Legal Aid set up a table to start signing up eligible tenants for representation  they had half a dozen lawyers on hand to provide last-minute services.

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At 7:55 a.m. doors to the courtroom closed  it was already at capacity.

They quickly swore in all attendees, and, without further adieu, the court began its race against time.

The proceedings had a rhythm: The plaintiff and defendants names were announced, and a staff member positioned at the courtroom doors would call out the tenants name three times for the crowd assembled outside. A woman even further away would echo the call another three times.

Once the parties were in place, the judge commenced a rapid-fire series of questions, so quick they were difficult to follow until repetition made them intelligible:

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Are you a representative of (the landlord)?

Is the defendant still in possession (of the unit)?

What is the past due rent?

Is it government housing?

Did you issue a notice to vacate?

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Judgment will be issued today in favor of the plaintiff.

Sometimes, the litany paused. Often it was so that court staff and a constable could track down a phone among the waiting throngs that had made an offending ping.

On Tuesday morning, court staff and a constable confiscated six phones, which people would not be allowed to retrieve until the following day.

When one tinny alarm went off, a staff member walked up and down the center aisle demanding to know whose phone had sounded, despite many protesting that it had sounded more like a watch.

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Next time a phone goes off, were taking everyones phone on that side, Garcia declared. When phones go off, it really disrupts things like its doing right now. I couldve done four cases right now. If you want to be here until 4, we can.

Other times, the rhythm was disrupted by tenants arguing they had receipts proving theyd paid their rent, or by a tenants lawyer arguing a client had not been given proper notice.

Dozens of people wait for their names to be called outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court 5-1 on Chimney Rock Rd. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Annie Mulligan/Contributor A family waits for their name to be called regarding their eviction case outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court 5-1 on Chimney Rock Rd. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Attorney Jasmine Simmons of Lone Star Legal Aid looks through dozens of eviction cases outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court 5-1 on Chimney Rock Rd. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Dozens of people wait for their names to be called outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court 5-1 on Chimney Rock Rd. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Annie Mulligan/Contributor

But the majority of the cases were closed with little comment  usually the tenants hadn't come to court, resulting in a default judgment against them. Even so, it was impossible to get through so many cases. People started arriving for cases scheduled at 11 a.m., then cases scheduled for 1 p.m., before cases set for 8 a.m. had concluded.

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The court first called all cases by prominent eviction attorneys, who sometimes represented over a dozen cases for multiple properties. So tenants and smaller landlords and property managers ended up waiting the longest.

The size of Harris Countys largest eviction dockets have been ramping up since December  all five of the largest eviction dockets since January Advisors began collecting data in 2020 have taken place since December. Those five were all in Garcias courtroom, although Judge Lincoln Goodwins dockets have sometimes neared 300 cases. Garcias courtroom did not respond to requests for comment about the eviction proceedings.

The megadockets are, in part, tied to Harris Countys growing number of weekly eviction filings. But another reason the Valentines Day docket was so large was because the court chose to schedule an entire weeks worth of eviction proceedings on a single day. On Tuesday, some tenants had their cases dismissed because no one appeared to represent the landlord. A smaller number had cases dismissed or rescheduled because they had an attorney making arguments on their behalf.

Most tenants who got a respite usually did so because of an accommodating landlord. For example a woman who explained, through court translators, that she couldnt pay rent because her husband had disappeared  she wasnt sure if he had been picked up by police or by immigration officers  and said she was hoping to receive aid from Texas Rent Relief (which has nearly exhausted its funds) was given 60 days to try to come up with the money.

Attorney Kimberly Dike offers free legal council to a woman facing eviction outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court 5-1 on Chimney Rock Rd. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Dike and several other members from Lone Star Legal Aid were present to help hundreds of people who were on the docket to be heard on Tuesday. Annie Mulligan/Contributor

But usually, when tenants asked for help, representatives for the property asked to move forward with the eviction.

After waiting hours for her turn to speak, a woman explained through a translator that she didnt have the means to pay. I have young children, and I havent left because I have nowhere to go, she said in Spanish. I have no work. Ive had five months where I havent had anything  not even food.

Seconds later, the translator explained an eviction judgment had been issued against her. She stood for a moment, looking dazed.

Es todo? she asked.
Lebanese soldiers inspect the beach at the reported landing site in the northern coastal town of Batroun. Photograph: Ibrahim Chalhoub/AFP/Getty Images

The Israeli military abducted who it said was a senior Hezbollah official in an unprecedented operation on Saturday morning during which Israeli commandos landed on the shores of Batroun, northern Lebanon, captured the alleged official and escaped via speedboat.

In a statement, an Israeli military official said its forces captured a senior operative of Hezbollah and transferred him to its territory to be investigated by military intelligence. The media outlet Axios cited Israeli sources as saying the captured man  Imad Amhaz  was responsible for Hezbollahs naval operations.

Lebanons caretaker minister of transport, Ali Hamie, said that Amhaz was a civilian boat captain, while Hezbollah did not comment on allegations that he belonged to the organisation. Lebanons caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, said Lebanon would be submitting a complaint to the UN security council, and that he had asked Lebanons military and the UNs peacekeeping mission to investigate the incident.

Related: Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and Gaza kill dozens as rockets are fired into Israel

The Israeli naval raid was a first of its kind, with Israeli soldiers landing in north Lebanon  an area unaffiliated with Hezbollah and almost 100 miles from the Lebanon-Israel border.

An unidentified military force carried out a landing operation on the beach of Batroun, and moved  to a chalet near the beach, where it kidnapped the citizen Imad Amhaz and  left by speedboats to the open sea, Lebanons National News Agency reported.

Surveillance footage of the incident showed a man with his hands pinned behind his back being led by a column of soldiers.

The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] will continue to act wherever necessary to protect the state of Israel and its citizens, an Israeli military official said in a statement.

The Lebanese transport minister, Ali Hamieh, said that the abduction of the Amhaz could be a violation of UN resolution 1701, which is supposed to govern security dynamics between Israel and Lebanon after the 2006 war.

The kidnapping of Amhaz took place 100 metres from his place of residence. If it is proven that the kidnapping took place via a naval landing, where is the implementation of resolution 1701? Hamieh said.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which started on 8 October 2023 after the militant group launched rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamass attack a day prior, has generally spared north Lebanon.

Israeli troops have been conducting ground raids into south Lebanon since 30 September, but within a few kilometres of the border. Previous Israeli operations against Hezbollah in non-border areas have been conducted via aerial bombing.

Israeli warplanes continued their aerial campaign across the country on Saturday afternoon, killing one and injuring 15 others in a rare daytime bombing of Beiruts southern suburbs, which occurred without warning. Israel also struck Lebanons Bekaa valley, the focal point of much of its bombing over the past week.

Hezbollah fired rockets and drones on Saturday, with a rocket injuring 19 people in Tayibe in central Israel.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has killed 2,968 people and wounded more than 13,300 over the past year, the vast majority of whom were killed and injured during the past five weeks.
JK Rowling wrote: Im delighted a woman wholl stand up for sex-based rights is now leading the opposition - Debra Hurford Brown

JK Rowling has praised Kemi Badenochs brains and bravery in standing up for womens rights after Mrs Badenoch was unveiled as the new Conservative leader.

The Harry Potter author and Mrs Badenoch have both vocally opposed gender ideology, with the latter saying during her leadership campaign that a child cannot be trans.

Rowling has voted Labour in the past but is a staunch critic of Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him and the party of abandoning gender-critical women such as herself.

Responding to a suggestion that she would be mad about the result, Rowling posted on X, formerly Twitter: On the contrary, Im delighted a woman wholl stand up for sex-based rights is now leading the opposition.

And while there are definitely things we disagree about politically, I admire her brains and her bravery.

In a separate post, she said of Mrs Badenochs victory: My thoughts and prayers are with David Tennant at this very difficult time.

Mr Tennant, the Doctor Who star, said in June that he wished Mrs Badenoch did not exist any more and should shut up because of her views on womens rights.

Mrs Badenoch criticised Tennant for his controversial remarks, made as he was honoured for his support for the transgender community at the British LGBT Awards.

A staunch advocate of single-sex spaces, Mrs Badenoch claimed during her time as equalities minister that she had strong evidence of gay and autistic young people being told they were trans instead.

She was also in the process of rewriting the Equality Act in order to clarify that sex referred to biological sex when the snap election was called in May.

In an interview with Mumsnet last week, she claimed gender identity had escalated to the point where people say theyre 24 different genders and its about how you feel.

Rowling has always staunchly denied accusations of transphobia after becoming one of the most prominent celebrities to speak out publicly over gender identity issues.

In an essay earlier this year, she said she was witnessing the greatest assault of my lifetime on womens rights and that she would have felt ashamed to stay silent.

She has described the trans rights activist movement, which holds that transgender women are women, as profoundly misogynistic, regressive, dangerous in some of its objectives and nakedly authoritarian in its tactics.

Last month, Mrs Badenoch promised to give Rowling a peerage should she become prime minister. But the writer revealed that she had refused honours in the past from both Labour and Conservative governments, saying she would continue to do so.
Kemi Badenoch

Huge congratulations to Kemi Badenoch. It is good news for the Conservative Party that we finally have a leader chosen by the membership once again, one who can begin the long task of rebuilding the Party and its appeal.

It perhaps hasnt mattered as much as many thought that we have filled much of the autumn with a leadership campaign: Labour have been more shambolic, more incompetent, more dangerously leftist than anyone could have hoped for, and, to judge by the collapse in Starmers approval ratings, voters are perfectly well aware of it.

Still, it is hard to believe that Labour will be quite this bad all the way through to the next election. This morning we read that the increases in public spending in this weeks Budget have apparently landed well with the public even though they doubt it will do anything for growth. The mood of politics is still highly collectivist. So the Right has to win the argument at the level of ideas, and have a well-understood and popular alternative set of policies, if we are to get back into power next time round.

That is going to require more than putting the Labour Party on the back foot in Parliament. I have no doubt Kemi can do that and very effectively too. But lets not forget that William Hague outplayed Tony Blair at the despatch box week after week too. It made no difference when the election came. You have to win the political arguments to win elections.

Thats the challenge now before Kemi. Shes got to be able to explain that the country is on the wrong track and needs to get onto a different one. She has to be able to turn the Party into a machine that can articulate Conservative ideas and vision at the level of principle, and show how these feed into specific policies that make voters lives better, maybe not immediately, but eventually. She has to show how she can bring Reform voters back, for, uncomfortable though it is for many in the Party to hear, theres no winning any election if the Right is divided. So all this has to be based on a proper understanding of what went wrong and what has to change if we are to re-energise the Conservative Party in the country and bring back the activists who gave up on us.

That is a formidable task and its right that we all get behind Kemi in doing it. At the same time it must be said that we dont really know how she is going to go about it. The major weakness of this leadership election is that there was no head-to-head debate in which the protagonists ideas could be really tested. That leaves us somewhat in the dark about what some of Kemis ideas really are. I doubt Labour and the media will let her get away quite so easily as in the campaign without setting out a clear direction of travel on the core elements of politics: tax and spend, public services, immigration as well as integration of those already here, housing, crime and justice. So the task has to begin now and show results quickly.

One last point. There will be, indeed already is, a temptation for Conservatives to crow about the fact that once again we have a leader from a minority background and to mock Labours failure in this regard. Please dont. We wont ever win an identity politics battle with Labour and we shouldnt try to fight one.

I dont care about the ethnic, gender, sexuality, whatever, background of the Labour front bench, of ours, or anyone elses. I care about competence. In politics or in any other area, our Party should stand for non-discrimination on any basis other than on excellence and talent. Thats the basis on which we ran this leadership election and we should stick to it.
Kemi Badenoch smiles with her husband Hamish after she was announced as the new Tory leader - Eddie Mulholland

Kemi Badenoch said it was time to get down to business and restore public trust in the Conservative Party after she was elected as its leader on Saturday morning.

Mrs Badenoch became the first black leader of a Westminster political party and the Tories fourth female leader as she beat Robert Jenrick to become the Leader of the Opposition.

The former business secretary won 53,806 votes from Tory members  56.5 per cent  as Mr Jenrick achieved 41,388 (43.5 per cent) in the most closely-fought leadership contest of the modern era.

In her acceptance speech, Mrs Badenoch said it was time for the Tories to tell the truth, reflect on their decline and get down to business by turning around the fortunes of the party.

This is not just about the Conservative Party  it is about the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party. It is about the people we need to bring into the Conservative Party, she said.

It is about what the Conservative Party needs to be in the next five, 10 and 20 years. Our party is critical to the success of our country, but to be heard we have to be honest. Honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.

The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve. It is time to get down to business, it is time to renew. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Saying Mr Jenrick had fought a great campaign, Mrs Badenoch added: We have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we dont actually disagree on very much and I have no doubt that you have a key part to play in our party for many years to come.

An ally of Mr Jenrick said this week he would be ready to serve in the shadow Cabinet, although appointments to the new Tory front bench are not expected to be announced until next week.

Boris Johnson, from whose Cabinet Mrs Badenoch resigned in 2022 during the Chris Pincher affair, said she would bring a much-needed zing and zap to the Tories as he pledged to give her his full support.

Congratulations to Kemi on her outstanding victory, the ex-prime minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter. She brings a much needed zing and zap to the Conservative Party.

This sleaze-ridden Labour Government has no ideas or agenda beyond the old tax and spend socialism. They are far more vulnerable than the parliamentary maths might suggest. Kemi has exactly the right courage and clarity to expose Starmers failings.

She is now ideally placed to flip them over and take the Tories to victory at the next election. I will be giving her my full support and call on all Conservatives to do the same.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said his new opposite number becoming the first black leader at Westminster was a proud moment for Britain.

The Prime Minister wrote on X: Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch, on becoming the Conservative Partys new leader. The first black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country. I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, wrote: Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch. Your election as the first black leader of a Westminster party is an important moment not only for Brits from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but for our whole country.

02:16 PM GMT

Thanks for joining

Thank you for joining our coverage of todays Conservative leadership announcement as Kemi Badenoch made history by becoming Rishi Sunaks successor.

Kemi Badenoch was all smiles as her tenure as leader of the Conservative Party began on Saturday - Eddie Mulholland

You can follow The Telegraphs day-to-day political coverage here, and sign up to our Politics Newsletter for updates from the corridors of power every weekday.

02:10 PM GMT

Badenoch-backing MP: A historic moment... Go Kemi!

Honoured to have been part of Team Badenoch and @renewal2030. A historic moment for the Conservative Party, and for the country. Go Kemi! pic.twitter.com/vFbHA5g3gL  Jesse Norman (@Jesse_Norman) November 2, 2024

02:05 PM GMT

Kemi Badenoch: Leading the Tories is an honour and a privilege

It is an honour and a privilege to have been elected to lead our great Conservative Party. A party that I love, that has given me so much.



I'd also like to pay tribute to @RobertJenrick who fought a great campaign. I have no doubt he will have a key role to play in our party pic.twitter.com/BKs9YI6Oe7  Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) November 2, 2024

02:04 PM GMT

Kemi Badenoch will save the Tories  and save Britain

She did it. And as she settles into a post previously held by Sir Robert Peel, Sir Winston Churchill and Lady Thatcher, Kemi Badenoch has been burdened with two responsibilities, writes Mark Dolan.

These are to save the Conservative Party  the most successful political machine in the history of Western democracy  and to ultimately remove this spiteful and incompetent Labour government, which is proving more radically left-wing than anyone might have feared.

The parallels between Margaret Thatcher and Kemi Badenoch are hard to ignore. A fearless, maverick woman, with a calm, rational, analytic brain, Badenoch is an engineer to Thatchers chemist. Thatcher was the Iron Lady, Kemi has balls of steel.

And as in 1975, with the election of Mrs T, this is another mic drop from the Conservatives in choosing Britains first black woman leader, making a mockery of Labours divisive identity politics. The Tories are the true progressives, LOL.

Mark Dolan: This compelling new leader will take no prisoners

01:45 PM GMT

The Daily T: Kemi Badenoch is the new Conservative leader

Kemi Badenoch has secured a resounding victory in the Conservative leadership election, defeating Robert Jenrick with 57 per cent of the membership vote.

The Daily Ts Camilla Tominey and Kamal Ahmed were in the room when the former business secretary called on Tories to get down to business and win the next election.

They react to the result and hear from MPs who backed both Mrs Badenoch and Mr Jenrick about the partys need to unite:

01:38 PM GMT

Farage: Badenoch will make no difference as Tory leader

Nigel Farage said Kemi Badenoch will make no difference as Conservative leader.

In a video on X, the Reform UK leader said: As projected and indeed delivered, Kemi Badenoch is the leader of His Majestys Loyal Opposition, which means the Conservatives have turned their backs on the idea of leaving the ECHR because thats what Jenrick stood for.

What youre going to get with Kemi Badenoch is more of the same, pretty much exactly the same as the last 14 years. Ive got to tell you one thing they dont understand, it isnt about individuals, the Conservative brand is broken.

He wrote alongside the clip: Kemi Badenoch will make no difference as leader of the Conservative Party. They have broken the trust of the British people and the brand is broken.

Kemi Badenoch will make no difference as leader of the Conservative Party.



They have broken the trust of the British people and the brand is broken. pic.twitter.com/lg9UWmYcZ4  Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) November 2, 2024

01:14 PM GMT

Andrew Bowie: Badenoch forceful but brings the team with her

Andrew Bowie, the shadow energy minister, said Kemi Badenoch can be forceful and if youre going to pick a fight with her, be sure of your arguments before you walk into the room.

Mr Bowie told Sky News: But I think it also speaks to me and her credit that every single junior minister or MP or peer that has returned to Parliament that has worked with her in any of the departments that she served ended up supporting her candidacy for leadership.

Now that speaks to someone who yes knows her mind, yes is forceful and takes decisions, but also brings the team with her and I think we will see that more and more as she pulls the party together following the leadership election.

On Mrs Badenoch not putting forward a specific policy programme, Mr Bowie said: Theres no point in setting out policies to fight the battle of 2024 when were be fighting the battles of 2028, 2029. Better now to set out a broad brush approach to the ideology of where the party is and then put meat on the bones in terms of actual policy.

01:02 PM GMT

Lammy: Badenoch win important moment for black Britons

Kemi Badenoch becoming the first black leader of a Westminster party is an important moment for both black Britons and the country as a whole, David Lammy has said.

The Foreign Secretary said in a post on X: Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch.

Your election as the first Black leader of a Westminster party is an important moment not only for Brits from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but for our whole country.

Congratulations, @KemiBadenoch.



Your election as the first Black leader of a Westminster party is an important moment not only for Brits from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but for our whole country. https://t.co/s7Qa42f0Lj  David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 2, 2024

12:57 PM GMT

From one British Nigerian MP to another British Nigerian MP, congratulations

This from Labour MP Florence Eshalomi:

From one British Nigerian MP to another British Nigerian MP, congratulations @KemiBadenoch on your election as Leader of the Conservative Party.

Eku ori ire. Your dad would be proud.  Florence Eshalomi MP (@FloEshalomi) November 2, 2024

12:36 PM GMT

Badenoch is the leader with strength to fight both Labour and Reform

Being leader of the opposition is known as the worst job in politics, and Kemi Badenoch might find that is putting it mildly as she contemplates the scale of the task she now faces, writes Gordon Rayner.

After emerging bloodied but victorious from a gruelling slugfest with Robert Jenrick, the hard work really begins for Mrs Badenoch, who has just seven months to reinvigorate her demoralised party before it faces its next big moment of peril in Mays local elections.

The Tories should rightly use this moment to celebrate the fact that they have elected the first black leader of a major political party, not to mention their fourth female leader, in a week when Labour has laughably claimed Rachel Reeves is the person who has broken the glass ceiling in politics. Once again, the Conservatives have made history as the true party of diversity and equality.

But once the applause has died down, Mrs Badenoch must turn her attention to how she can stop the rot before her first big test in May. She claims that the six leadership candidates came through this campaign more united and if she can truly unite the party behind her, she stands a chance of making the sort of gains in the local elections that will prompt soothing talk of green shoots of recovery.

Gordon Rayner: Badenoch can neutralise both Starmer and Farage

12:21 PM GMT

The rise of Kemi Badenoch: From childhood in Nigeria to leader of the Conservative Party

Kemi Badenochs victory in the Conservative Party leadership contest marks a number of milestones in British political history.

She is the first black woman to lead a major political party, and only the second woman to serve as permanent Leader of the Opposition after Margaret Thatcher.

Most strikingly, perhaps, Mrs Badenoch is the first major party leader to identify as a first generation immigrant.

Ethan Croft, our Political Correspondent, has the full story here

12:16 PM GMT

Jenrick backer: Everyone is willing Kemi on now

Victoria Atkins, the shadow health secretary who backed Robert Jenrick, said everyone is willing Kemi on going forward.

Ms Atkins said: I know how hard Rob and the whole team worked on this. I think he did a fantastic job, for months now hes been racing around the country speaking to members and the media, really holding himself out to be tested by everyone.

So of course I feel very disappointed for him and for his family and his team. But what I do know is that we as a Conservative family now really want this to work.

And so huge congratulations to Kemi, shes got an amazing privilege to lead our party and I know all of us will want to be supporting her in that effort. Because not only do we as a Conservative family want our party to get back on track, we also have an important job to do.

12:13 PM GMT

Wikipedia takes a while to crack Badenochs code

The dash to update Kemi Badenoch's Wikipedia page hasn't gone very well pic.twitter.com/b8VlwZzzjx  Ethan Croft (@EthanCroft98) November 2, 2024

12:05 PM GMT

Have your say: Have the Tories got it right?

Kemi Badenoch has succeeded Rishi Sunak following a close contest in which she staved off Robert Jenrick.

Has the Tory membership made the right decision on the new leader of the opposition? Have your say below:

12:02 PM GMT

Reform UK: Badenoch says one thing and does another

Kemi Badenoch is amongst Tory politicians who say one thing and do another, the Reform deputy leader has claimed.

Richard Tice said Mrs Badenoch, a former business secretary was front and centre of a Government that failed Britain.

Kemi Badenoch is another in a long line of Tory politicians who say one thing and do another... She said nothing while Rishi Sunak hit hard working people with record immigration, the small boats crisis, the highest taxes for seventy years, record NHS waiting lists and sky high crime, Mr Tice said.

Instead of standing up for Britain whilst in Government, she stood up for her own career prospects and chauffeur-driven cars.

She has failed the British public before and she will fail them again as leader of the Conservative Party.

11:58 AM GMT

Badenoch to appear on Laura Kuenssberg tomorrow

Kemi Badenoch will appear on the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg tomorrow for her first big television interview as Conservative leader.

The national broadcaster announced that Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, will also appear on Ms Kuenssbergs show in the wake of the Budget on Wednesday.

11:55 AM GMT

Jenrick was joined by his wife for Tory leadership announcement

Michal Berkner, Robert Jenricks wife, joined the former immigration minister for the results of todays contest - Dan Kitwood

11:49 AM GMT

Result a clear sign of falling Tory membership

The number of eligible electors this time round was 131,680, writes Ollie Corfe.

This is 23.6 per cent lower than the 172,437 back in the summer 2022 contest.

This is slightly different to Tory party membership figures, due to the requirement that people be a member for over 90 days before being able to vote. However, it is a clear sign of falling membership.

11:38 AM GMT

Davey: Lib Dems will still offer best opposition

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: Id like to congratulate Kemi Badenoch on being elected leader of the Conservative Party. The election of the first black leader of a major UK political party is a historic moment for the country.

Voters across the country believe her party is too divided, out-of-touch and unable to accept Conservative failures over the past years.

The Liberal Democrats will continue to offer the best opposition to the Government and fight for a fair deal for Britain.

11:34 AM GMT

Starmer: First Black British leader a proud moment

Kemi Badenoch becoming the first black leader at Westminster is a proud moment for Britain, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The Prime Minister said on X: Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch, on becoming the Conservative Partys new leader.

The first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country. I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people.

Congratulations, @KemiBadenoch, on becoming the Conservative Party's new leader.



The first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.



I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people.  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 2, 2024

11:30 AM GMT

Boris Johnson: Kemi will bring much needed zing and zap

Boris Johnson said Kemi Badenoch will bring a much needed zing and zap to the Tories as he pledged to give her his full support.

Congratulations to Kemi on her outstanding victory, the former prime minister wrote on X.

She brings a much needed zing and zap to the Conservative Party. This sleaze-ridden Labour government has no ideas or agenda beyond the old tax and spend socialism.

They are far more vulnerable than the parliamentary maths might suggest Kemi has exactly the right courage and clarity to expose Starmers failings.

She is now ideally placed to flip them over and take the Tories to victory at the next election. I will be giving her my full support and call on all Conservatives to do the same.



11:29 AM GMT

Kemi must reunite the Right - or we are doomed

Do you think Lefties ever glance at the Conservative Party and ask themselves whether positive discrimination is everything its cracked up to be? asks Daniel Hannan.

Kemi Badenoch is the partys second non-white and fourth female leader. And you know what? Its no big deal.

For Labour, which has only ever been led by white men, identity is everything. Rachel Reeves never misses an opportunity to say that she is the first woman Chancellor and that she should be a role model to little girls.

David Lammy, miffed that he was not the first black Foreign Secretary, issued a statement about how proud he was to be the first working-class black foreign secretary from Tottenham (which, obviously, he is).

Most Tories are nonplussed by the suggestion that you should vote on the basis of someones X-chromosomes or melanin levels. I mention this only because more than one Labour-supporting friend, including some clever and well-informed people, took it for granted that Kemi would suffer from what they assumed to be a measure of racism and sexism among the party membership.

Daniel Hannan: Todays result is a seismic moment

11:27 AM GMT

Lowest Tory turnout under modern system

Just under three in four Tory members voted in what our data guru Ollie Corfe notes is the is the lowest turnout in contested Conservative leadership election since the modern system was introduced.

The total turnout of 72.8 per cent is the lowest since the system was changed in 1998.

The turnout last time around in the contest between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak in summer 2022 was 82.2 per cent.

At 56.6 per cent, this is also the lowest vote share for a Tory leadership winner (Ms Truss received 57.4% per cent and therefore the tightest race on record.

11:24 AM GMT

Labour: Badenoch win shows Tories have learned nothing

Ellie Reeves, the Labour chairman, claimed Kemi Badenochs election showed that the Tories had learned nothing.

Ms Reeves said: Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected Leader of the Conservative Party.

Its been a long leadership election but sadly one thing is clear  the Conservatives have learned nothing since the British people resoundingly rejected them in July. Its been a summer of yet more Conservative chaos and division.

They could have spent the past four months listening to the public, taking responsibility for the mess they made and changing their party.

Instead, Kemi Badenochs election as leader shows theyre incapable of change. Meanwhile the Labour government is getting on with fixing the foundations of our economy and cleaning up the mess the Tories left behind.

11:19 AM GMT

Kemi Badenoch: The time has come to tell the truth

It is time to get down to business and renew the Conservatives and Britain, Kemi Badenoch said in her acceptance speech.

The task that stands before us is tough but simple. Our first responsibility as His Majestys Loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account. Our second is no less important, it is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the election we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them.

A clear plan to change this country by changing the way that this government works. The Prime Minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan. That huge job begins today.

It will seek to involve all of our colleagues in Parliament, in the Scottish Parliament, the Sennedd, our friends in Northern Ireland, as well as councillors and party members. But this is not just about the Conservative Party. It is about the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party. It is about the people we need to bring into the Conservative Party.

It is about what the Conservative Party needs to be in the next five, 10 and 20 years. Our party is critical to the success of our country but to be heard we have to be honest. Honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip. The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve. It is time to get down to business, it is time to renew. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

11:15 AM GMT

Badenoch pays tribute to Jenrick

Id also like to pay a special tribute to Robert Jenrick who has fought a great campaign. Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we dont actually disagree on very much and I have no doubt that you have a key part to play in our party for many years to come. Thank you.

Mrs Badenoch went on to thank the other candidates, saying: We have come through this campaign more united and the party needs you now more than ever.

11:14 AM GMT

Badenoch thanks Sunak and wishes him the best

I want to start by thanking Richard Fuller for his work as our party chairman since July... I also want to pay tribute to everyone in the Conservative Party who has been involved in this very long campaign.

It has been an experience none of us candidates will ever forget. Thank you for hosting us in your communities, in your village halls, in your pubs and in your homes.

It is the most enormous honour to be elected to this role, to lead the party that I love. The party that has given me so much. I hope that I will be able to repay that debt.

There are so many people to thank. Firstly my family, especially my husband Hamish. Hamish, I couldnt have done this without you, thank you for being with me every step of the way. I also want to thank Rishi. No one could have worked harder in such difficult times, Rishi, thank you for everything you did. We all wish you and your wonderful family the very best for the future.

11:11 AM GMT

Another glass ceiling shattered

Bob Blackman said Kemi Badenoch becoming the first black party leader is another glass ceiling shattered.

11:10 AM GMT

Kemi Badenoch beats Robert Jenrick

Kemi Badenoch has become the new Conservative leader, beating Robert Jenrick in the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak.

11:09 AM GMT

Breaking: Badenoch becomes Tory leader

Total number of eligible electors: 131,680

Turnout: 72.8 per cent

Kemi Badenoch: 53,806 (56.5 per cent)

Robert Jenrick: 41,388 (43.5 per cent)

11:05 AM GMT

Bob Blackman to announce leader

Bob Blackman, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, is about to announce the new leader.

He said party conference was a really exciting conference for members to attend as a result of the parliamentary process.

Mr Blackman hailed Rishi Sunak for eviscerating that rotten Budget on Wednesday at the Despatch Box.

11:04 AM GMT

Interim Tory chairman thanks all six hopefuls

Richard Fuller, the interim Tory chairman, is addressing those present in central London.

Thank you to the thousands of Conservative Party members who have helped make this leadership election so engaging and for the crucial role that our members played putting all our candidates through their paces at event right across the United Kingdom, he said.

And a special word of thanks to all six candidates, to Tom, to Rob, to Priti, to Mel, to Kemi and to James, who put themselves forward, took the scrutiny of their parliamentary colleagues, the media and most importantly of members like you.

Whoever is announced as our new leader needs our full support.

10:56 AM GMT

Setting the scene

The winner will be announced from a Conservative Party lectern against a Union flag backdrop in central London.

You are able to tune into the big reveal in the stream at the top of this live blog.

10:47 AM GMT

Not long now

There are about 15 minutes until proceedings start at a central London location and the new Tory leader is announced.

10:41 AM GMT

Quiz: Who should I support for Tory leader?

As the MPs have delivered their final verdict on who should be the next Conservative Party leader, it is now up to the members to decide who out of the final two should succeed Rishi Sunak, writes Genevieve Holl-Allen.

After the historic Tory wipeout in July, six MPs from all parts of the party threw their hats into the ring to sell their vision for the future of the party.

Among the issues that have dominated the debate include the partys relationship with the insurgent Reform UK and whether the UK should leave the European Convention of Human Rights.

The Conservative Party Conference, designed to be a beauty parade for remaining hopefuls Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick shook up the race. But between the final two it remains all to play for, as the ultimate deciders are the party members.

So which of the final two candidates best aligns with your views? Take The Telegraphs quiz to find out.

10:38 AM GMT

Theyre leaving home

Robert Jenrick and his wife Michael Berkner on the way to the announcement - Christopher Pledger

Kemi Badenoch was also seen departing her residence with Hamish, her husband - David Rose

10:22 AM GMT

Badenoch and Jenrick vow to serve in each others shadow cabinet

Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick have both said they would serve in the others shadow cabinet if they lost the Conservative leadership race, writes our Political Editor Ben Riley-Smith.

The four-month contest to succeed Rishi Sunak finally comes to an end when the winner, selected by Tory members, is announced in Westminster.

Bookmakers have Mrs Badenoch as the favourite to be the victor, with Tory membership surveys showing her in the lead, but both camps have insisted it is too close to call.

The low turnout  insiders in the two camps suggest fewer Tory members have cast a vote than in previous leadership contests  has added to the unpredictability.

You can read the full story here

10:11 AM GMT

Tories irrelevant to politics right now, say half of all voters

Half of all voters do not believe the Conservatives are currently relevant to British politics, in a sign of the mountain that the new leader will have to climb.

Fifty-one per cent said the Tories are not very relevant or not relevant at all, while 35 per cent said they were very or fairly relevant, YouGov polling shows.

Meanwhile only 19 per cent said they cared about the current contest to replace Rishi Sunak, while 71 per cent said they did not care very much or did not care at all.

Only one in six Britons thought Kemi Badenoch (16 per cent) or Robert Jenrick (17 per cent) would make a good Tory leader. Thirty-five per cent said Mrs Badenoch would make a bad leader, while 31 per cent said the same of Mr Jenrick.

10:00 AM GMT

Reform voters would prefer Jenrick to Badenoch, poll suggests

Reform UK voters would prefer Robert Jenrick as prime minister to Kemi Badenoch, a poll has suggested.

Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of those who voted for Nigel Farages party in July chose the former immigration minister, while 15 per cent opted for the shadow housing secretary.

Those who voted Tory in 2024 also narrowly preferred Mrs Badenoch (21 per cent to 19 per cent).

Polling by YouGov also showed the public narrowly think Sir Keir Starmer would be better than Mr Jenrick (29 per cent to 21 per cent) or Mrs Badenoch (27 per cent to 20 per cent).

09:48 AM GMT

Shadow energy secretary pays tribute to Rishi Sunak

Claire Coutinho, who served as Rishi Sunaks energy secretary, has paid tribute to the outgoing Tory leader.

Ms Coutinho said that as the Covid chancellor, Mr Sunak was forced into decisions beyond those normally faced by politicians, saying he fought an entire system to argue against another lockdown in response to the omicron variant.

She went on to hail him as a man of great decency, intelligence and dedication who steered us through some of our most difficult times.

As the Covid Chancellor Rishi had to make decisions that no normal politician has to face.



I saw the extent of his political courage when he fought an entire system against an unnecessary third lockdown that would have caused huge damage to people. He warned against the threat pic.twitter.com/iPjxAVJvaa  Claire Coutinho (@ClaireCoutinho) November 2, 2024

09:31 AM GMT

When can we expect the result?

The result will be announced just after 11am at a location in central London.

Richard Fuller, who has served as interim Tory chairman, is expected to say a few words before Bob Blackman, the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of backbenchers, does the honours by announcing Rishi Sunaks successor.

All Tory MPs have been encouraged to attend what will be a significant moment for one of the worlds oldest and most successful political parties.

We will then hear from the victor, whether that be Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick, at around 11.30am.

09:22 AM GMT

Who is Kemi Badenoch?

A former business secretary and equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch has long been regarded as a key figure on the Tory Right.

The 44-year-old MP for North West Essex has been an outspoken defender of sex-based rights as well as a staunch backer of Brexit. She was among the first Westminster politicians to vehemently oppose identity politics and wokeism.

Kemi Badenoch

This is Mrs Badenochs second tilt at the Tory leadership after she came fourth in the race to replace Boris Johnson, whose government she quit in the wake of the Chris Pincher affair, in July 2022.

During the Tory leadership campaign she has focused on first principles such as personal responsibility, freedom and family instead of policies, claiming it is too early to put forward a detailed offering.

09:15 AM GMT

Who is Robert Jenrick?

A former housing secretary and immigration minister, Robert Jenrick has been on a political journey in recent years.

Mr Jenrick was once regarded as on the centrist wing of the Tory Party. In 2022 he became deputy to Suella Braverman, the then home secretary, and the appointment was regarded as one that would balance out Mrs Braverman ideologically.

Robert Jenrick

But the 42-year-old has said his time at the broken Home Office changed his thinking on immigration and he resigned from Rishi Sunaks frontbench last year over the Rwanda migrant deportation plan, which he claimed was too weak.

During the Tory leadership campaign he has made pledges including taking Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and capping net migration to the tens of thousands or lower.

09:09 AM GMT

Good morning

Dominic Penna here, The Telegraphs Political Correspondent, guiding you through the Tory leadership result.

In just a couple of hours we will know whether Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick has done enough to succeed Rishi Sunak as the leader of the opposition.

I will be bringing you all the latest news, analysis and reaction on a historic day for the Conservative Party.
Tracy Blackwell won the 2024 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot.

Tracy Blackwell, boss of the multi-billion pound firm Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), cant remember how many times shes watched her favourite movie Gone with the Wind, yet the blockbuster's Scarlett O'Hara character remains at the forefront.

Growing up as a female there werent many strong role models, so to see a movie like that and a woman who takes her life into her own hands is really powerful, says Blackwell.

Born to a teenage single mother in the US state of Illinois, Blackwell has lived in the UK for well over 30 years. In June, she was recognised for co-founding and growing PIC into a FTSE 100-sized business, one that takes on unwanted final-salary obligations from firms and secures retirement incomes for 350,000 people.

Read More: How Jeff Dewing went from bankruptcy to 70m fortune

The Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman judges also noted PIC's asset portfolio of 50bn  with more than 13bn invested to revitalise Britains infrastructure, including the largest urban regeneration project in the Wirral.

This follows her ascent into asset management and a male-dominated environment, via a spell living in Malaysia, part-time jobs including as a magicians assistant, and business school before a decade with Goldman Sachs. She left the industry entirely in the early 2000s due to a negative culture and spent a few years at home in Norfolk, where she lives with her husband and son.

One of her former Goldman colleagues, the late Danny Truell, who later fronted the investment division of the Wellcome Trust, then called her to say he was looking at starting a business with his brother. I said No, Im not working in London, full-time or for you two, smiles Blackwell, a keen sailor.

New Vic, pictured right, is PICs first Build to Rent project to complete, repurposing a key area adjacent to Manchester Victoria train station. Photo: Getty (Mark Waugh)

If you had told me in 2006 that, 18 years later, we would have a 50bn balance sheet and employ 600 people  it is a bit surreal where we have got to.

So, what persuaded her to enter the pensions business? I saw the maths of it and it was so obvious and compelling, says Blackwell, who took over as CEO in 2015 from her chief investment officer role.

The UK has the second largest savings sector in the world. Of that, defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, which are mostly closed [over 70%], are 1.5tn. When people talk about why pension funds dont invest in equities it is because they are all closed and shouldnt be investing it.

Read More: 'If you want to progress into senior roles, leave your education at the door'

If we have 1.5tn moving from DB into insurance and we are using that money to invest in the real economy, it will become a much bigger driver of the economy.

Today, PIC invests in infrastructure-like projects such as social housing, universities and urban regeneration. Yet Blackwell has her work cut out. There is plenty of capital to invest, there is very little to invest in, she says. It is a huge part of the problem in the UK.

PIC set up the Purposeful Finance Commission (PFC) to tackle the ongoing issue, the independent body looking at barriers to investment and channeling money on the correct path. It doesnt matter what government is in charge, it will be a very hard thing to fix, adds Blackwell.

The crux of the issue is that most investment is done at local government and authority level. HS2 was driven from the top but almost everything else is driven from the bottom up, says Blackwell. Local authorities are hit by any number of things: planning, regulatories, lack of planning officers.

It takes years for these investments to come to fruition. And when capital is international, it will go somewhere where it is easier to invest.

Tracy Blackwell has said the pensions industry flies beneath the radar most of the time.

One such example is the 750m Marlow Film Studios development that would have created 4,000 jobs, but was turned down by Buckinghamshire council in May due to green belt objections. If that is the attitude then nothing will be built, is Blackwells response to the rejected planning application.

A report by the PFC earlier this year argued for a private sector backed and independently administered pipeline fund to help councils clear planning backlogs.

However, Blackwell has overseen notable success with PIC's 130m investment in the Wirral Waters One project, which has delivered affordable housing and created over 20,000 jobs. Last October, PIC also completed its first build to rent investment project, repurposing a key area adjacent to Manchester Victoria train station.

Going to see the building, I burst into tears, admits Blackwell.

Most of our investments are financial with bonds, but to see the opinions rating of people who live there was powerful to see. Its great to see how we can transform local communities. Our industry is starting to make a mark with competitor Legal & General working with Oxford University to regenerate the city centre.

Blackwell says it took PIC two years before the pensions outfit was able to make its own mark in the 2000s. We sat on our hands as markets were overvalued and it didnt make any sense, she says.

Read More: Meet the 'jokers from London' who sold 100,000 blocks of butter in first 10 weeks

The pensions industry is filled with vested interest and people who are reluctant to move. And when it does its like a super tanker going in one direction. Now its the goal for a majority of pension schemes and sometimes these things take time.

All the while, the penguin has been the brands mascot. They are all about looking after the egg long-term and everyone working together, says Blackwell.

When you are starting up a business, you have to come up with whichever logo you can. It worked and developed and the penguins are incredibly popular.

CEO Secrets: Tracy Blackwell

Speaking up

When you are in this position I believe more leaders should stand up and talk about what they think is important. Too many keep their head below the parapet. Thats wrong. There is a risk appetite in Britain and slowly over the years we have become a risk averse society.

Being a leader

Running an organisation, you always need to understand who the next layer is. Being a very regulated financial services firm, the regulators are all over this.

Julie Nollet, Naga Munchetty, Tracy Blackwell, Francesca Brady and Rachel Bright attend the Veuve Clicquot BOLD Woman Award Ceremony in June. (Dave Benett via Getty Images)

If something happens to our management, who takes over and how do you plan? Making sure we have robust succession plans in place and nurturing talent is important.

Female growth

The Bold Awards database has a platform of more than 450 of us around the world. There are all these businesses and I would love to invest in these amazing female founder-led companies. That is one of the problems, finding growth capital and especially for women.

Watch: Martin Lewis issues pension credit plea to nation as he hits out at Rachel Reeves
Bags of flour being distributed by Unrwa staff to Palestinians in Khan Younis in Gaza. Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA

Bin bags were piling up at one end of the chaotic main thoroughfare in Shuafat refugee camp on Friday morning as shoppers walked by, stepping over a stream of wastewater trickling from a nearby drainpipe. Poor sanitation is just one of the UN-administered Palestinian camps problems  but things will get much worse.

Despite huge international pressure not to jeopardise the work of Unrwa, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the Israeli parliament voted this week to ban the organisation from operating on its soil. It also declared it a terror group, in effect severing all cooperation and communication between the UN agency and the Jewish state.

At present it is unclear how the new laws, which are supposed to come into effect in 90 days, will affect aid in Gaza, where UN officials say humanitarian efforts for 2.3 million people are completely dependent on Unrwa staff, facilities and logistical capabilities. Another 900,000 Palestinians in the West Bank rely on the organisation for basic services, which the semi-autonomous Palestinian Authority does not have the capacity to take over, leading to fears it could collapse altogether.

I have studied Unrwa for many years; I can emphatically say there is no alternative. It is not like other UN agencies in terms of the scope and scale of what the international community and Israel has asked it to provide while there is no solution to the conflict, said Dr Maya Rosenfeld, a sociologist and anthropologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Emergency providers can step in for a short time, but they cannot replace what Unrwa does long-term. It is too big to fail, she added.

The new bills could yet be vetoed by the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, if he can be persuaded to by western allies who support Unrwas activities. The legislation will also be challenged in petitions made by human rights groups to Israels supreme court.

At stake are 96 schools in the West Bank serving 45,000 students, as well as 43 health centres, food distribution services for refugee families, and psychological support services, according to the agencys website. Before the war in Gaza, Unrwa operated 278 schools for 290,000 students, ran 22 medical centres, and distributed food packages to 1.1 million people. It now serves as a crucial emergency lifeline.

The anti-Unrwa legislation, passed by a 92-10 vote in the Knesset late on Monday evening, marks an all-time low in Israels relationship with the UN, which it has long accused of bias.

Decades of friction came to a head in the aftermath of Hamass 7 October attack last year, in which Israel alleged 12 Unrwa employees took part. The agency fired several staff members as a result of an independent inquiry but says that Israels wider accusations that as many as 10% of its 13,000 staff in Gaza support the Palestinian militant group are unfounded.

If the ban is operationalised, Israel would stop issuing entry and work permits to foreign Unrwa staff, and would end coordination with the Israeli military to permit aid shipments into Gaza, in effect blocking aid delivery into the beleaguered territory.

Hundreds of thousands of people will slip from acute food insecurity into mass starvation, said Chris Gunness, who was an Unrwa spokesperson from 2007 to 2020.

In besieged northern Gaza, where Israel last month renewed a ferocious aerial and ground offensive critics say is designed to force the estimated 400,000 remaining people to leave for the relative safety of the south, conditions are already the worst of the war to date. On Friday, the heads of UN agencies described the situation as apocalyptic. Banning Unrwa would mean the humanitarian response everywhere else in the strip would also fail, Gunness added.

There will be no one to receive them, put shelter over their heads, provide food, water, medicine and sanitation products for women and girls. In the longer term, the children Unrwa educates in Gaza  already deep in trauma after the most brutal civilian bombardment since the second world war  will become a lost generation  This will seriously undermine the prospects of peace in the Middle East for many years, he said.

Israel has said it will work with international partners  who have heavily criticised the anti-Unrwa move  to facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not threaten Israels security, but is yet to propose an alternative aid structure.

In Jerusalem, if the ban went ahead, Unrwa would have to shutter its headquarters in the half of the city annexed by Israel, effectively ending its presence there. In Shuafat, the only one of 27 refugee camps across the Palestinian territories on the annexed Jerusalem side of Israels West Bank separation wall, 16,500 people would immediately be cut off from health and education services.

You see how things are here, said Samer al-Qam, 47, gesturing around Shuafats chaotic main street. Unrwa runs the camps schools, and the health clinic. Its a major employer. Are the Israelis going to come and do it? This is not just about Unrwa  I think its about getting rid of Palestinians completely.

Aida Saleh, 67, said: I am diabetic and I need the Unrwa clinic for my insulin. Yes, it would be better if we didnt have to rely on it, but if Israel will not give us rights there is no other choice.

Unrwas mandate is to provide life-giving services to anyone who has lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict, a mission widened after the 1967 war, when the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories began. The agency is also charged with caring for descendants of refugees; the population it serves now numbers more than 5.6 million across Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

From an initial focus on relief, as the decades passed Unrwa channelled its resources into education, healthcare and social services. The total regional budget in 2023 was about $1.6bn, funded almost entirely by voluntary national contributions, with the biggest donor being the US ($422m).

Dependence on the US and the voluntary nature of the funding has made Unrwa vulnerable in the past. The Trump administration cut funding in 2018, claiming other countries were not paying enough and that the agency was a hurdle to peace. Much of the funding gap was made up by other countries until the Biden administration ordered it resumed in 2021.

Several western donors suspended funding for the agency after the 7 October allegations, although all but one  the US  have now restored financial support.

In Israel, the wisdom of the ban has been questioned, given the Biden administrations latest insistence that Israel take immediate action to let more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Potential punishments could include a halt to US weapons transfers.

The measure is populist and political, according to Shira Efron, a senior director at the Israeli Policy Forum thinktank, speaking to the Times of Israel.

The country is fighting in Gaza, fighting in Lebanon; its finished round two in Iran, which could develop into round three; there are threats from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen; Israel is trying to keep a lid on the West Bank, she said. To have this legislation now misses the strategic point.
Police have been investigating accusations against Russell Brand for 13 months, although no arrests have been made - James Manning/PA

Police investigating sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand have asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider bringing charges against the comedian.

Scotland Yard launched a criminal investigation last year following a complaint from a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by Brand in central London 20 years ago.

It later emerged Brand had also been questioned by police in connection with six further alleged historic sex offences. The 49-year-old vehemently denies any wrongdoing.

The Telegraph understands that the CPS has now been passed a file by the Met to consider a charging decision in Brands case.

It is also understood that Brand has been interviewed by police on three separate occasions.

Det Supt Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the enquiry at the Metropolitan Police, said: Our investigation continues and a file has now been passed to the CPS.

We have a team of dedicated officers providing specialist support to the women who have come forward. We are committed to investigating sexual offences, no matter how long ago they are alleged to have taken place.

Police have been investigating accusations against Brand for 13 months, although no arrests have been made.

Brand has denied any wrongdoing, saying the allegations are a serious and concerted agenda to silence him

The new development, which was first reported by The Sunday Times, came after it emerged Brand had been questioned by police under caution on three different occasions.

In a separate statement, the Metropolitan Police said: Following an investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4s Dispatches in 2023, the Met received a number of reports of sexual offences from women in London and elsewhere in the country.

As part of the investigation, a man in his forties has been interviewed by officers under caution on three separate occasions.

The initial investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and The Sunday Times included accusations of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse in a period spanning seven years.

It is not known how many alleged victims have come forward to the police in total, or when the information about the six allegations that were made last December first came to light.

The boss of Channel 4 apologised to a former employee earlier this year after an internal investigation found it did not investigate a serious complaint made against Brand in 2009.

A separate probe by Banijay UK, a production company, found informal concerns flagged about Brand during his time at Channel 4 were not properly escalated.

An investigation said managers had been alerted to allegations he asked staff to get the phone numbers of audience members, although no formal complaints were made.

There were also claims his behaviour had made female crew members feel intimidated and uncomfortable.

The BBC is investigating complaints about Brands alleged behaviour during his time working for the corporation.

Bosses at the broadcaster ordered a thorough review to establish what was known about his alleged actions amid claims that at least one senior executive brushed complaints under the carpet.

It was claimed last year that Brand exposed himself to a woman before going on air before laughing about it during his BBC radio show.

The alleged victim said that she was stunned after the encounter in Los Angeles in June 2008 and that shortly after on Radio 2 he laughed with his co-presenter who said Brand showed his w---- to a lady.

Brand has since been axed by a number of agents and publishers as well as having his YouTube channel demonetised.

He has continued to post to Rumble, which emphatically refused demands from MPs to suspend his ability to make money.

Brand, who has insisted that all of his sexual relationships have been consensual, was contacted for comment.

Responding to the accusations made against him in September 2023, he said they were astonishing, rather baroque and part of a serious and concerted agenda to silence him.
Victoria police in North Melbourne after a man was killed on Langford Street. A manhunt is currently under way. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

A large-scale homicide investigation is under way after a man was fatally shot, triggering horribly emotional scenes in a busy nightlife area in inner Melbourne on Saturday morning.

Victoria police said emergency services were called to Langford Street in North Melbourne at about 3.15am after a man was found with a gunshot wound.

The man, who is yet to be formally identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective acting inspector Alan Rumble said the scene was horrible and, in the aftermath of the alleged shooting, emotions were high as friends and family gathered in the area.

It would be a horrible incident to come across  There were a number of people in the area and emotions were high, he told reporters. Anyone confronted with this, whether youre a friend or family or just a passerby, I can understand itd be a horribly emotional scene to be confronted with.

He said it was too early to tell whether the victim and perpetrator were at a nearby venue in the semi-industrial area before the incident and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

We know there were a lot of people in the area at the time. It was early hours of Saturday morning. There were venues open, or had been recently open in the area, so people were likely on their way home.

No arrests have been made. Rumble said a lot of resources had been dedicated to the incident, including specialist homicide resources and additional police patrols in the area.

He said the investigation was in its infancy and there was nothing to suggest there was an ongoing or immediate risk to the public, despite the perpetrator being on the run.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information about the circumstances of the mans death to contact Crime Stoppers.

Its a horrific incident. Its something that none of what us want to experience, the police or the local community, Rumble said.

Our real goal here today is to identify all avenues of inquiry and ensure that the family of the victim are supported at this horrible time.
One in seven of the 500 Duchy residential rentals have low Energy Performance Certificate ratings

The Prince of Waless Duchy has been accused of allowing homes on royal land to grow mouldy, according to a new investigation.

People living in rented homes on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall have claimed there is a lack of insulation and black mould growing in some instances.

The Duchy of Cornwall estate is owned by Prince William after it was passed down from his father the King upon his ascension to the throne in 2022.

The business empire the heir to the throne inherited has more than 600 rental properties and generated profits of 23.6 million in the last financial year. William is understood to pay income tax on the full amount.

The surplus is used to fund the private lives of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children as well as their official and charitable work.

Prince William inherited the Duchy of Cornwall following the Kings ascension to the throne in 2022 - Getty Images Europe

In a 15-month Channel 4 (C4) Dispatches investigation with the Mirror newspaper, rentals on the royal land have complained about instances of mould and damp.

Some also complained about the lack of eco-upgrades to their homes and the investigation claims to have found that a number of the properties being rented out failed to comply with minimum energy efficiency requirements for landlords.

They found that one in seven of the 500 Duchy residential rental properties they identified have low Energy Performance Certificate ratings.

Miserably cold

The Duchy was established in 1337 and many of the buildings in the property portfolio are more than 100 years old.

The Telegraph understands that the Duchy is committed to continuous improvement of its properties and works closely with its tenants to actively address energy efficiency of properties across the portfolio.

One tenant told the C4 Dispatches programme: It gets miserably cold in winter, I can only heat two rooms in my home. The Duchy does not understand.

Another said: The house is cold, and it is a struggle but there is nowhere else to live here When the wind blows the curtains start swinging. Theres no heating upstairs at all.

Some tenants complain that their rentals fail to comply with the minimum energy efficiency standard for landlords

Claire Williams, 53, allowed The Mirror to take pictures of her former home in the Duchy. The newspaper reported that she was evicted last week over rent arrears, which she disputes.

The former farmhouse tenant in Exeter, who lived there for more than 20 years, said that black mould started growing below ground level many years ago.

Ive complained about it for 21 years, she said, adding: The repaint was done about a week before I moved in so you couldnt see it.

The programme also conducted a five-month investigation alongside The Sunday Times to assess the thousands of properties and their business contracts owned by the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall  the King and Williams private estates.

Last year, the Duchy of Lancaster raised 27.4 million for the King while Williams Duchy of Cornwall raised 23.6 million.

The Duchy was established in 1337 to fund the private life of the heir to the throne - Alamy

The investigation found that the Duchies make millions each year through rents charging councils, government departments, businesses and even the Ministry of Defence.

For example, Williams Duchy was found to have signed a 37 million deal to lease Dartmoor Prison to the Ministry of Justice, charged the navy more than 1 million to build and use jetties and moor warships on its land and charged the Army to train on Dartmoor.

The Telegraph understands that the Duchy rents are set by reference to comparable market evidence and tenants are able to obtain external advice before reaching an agreement.

The Duchy also has a long-standing relationship with the Army, which includes the MoD using the Dartmoor land for training purposes under licensing agreements that date back to the 1800s.

The Duchy of Lancaster raised 27.4 million while the Duchy of Cornwall raised 23.6 million last year - Julian Simmonds

The Telegraph understands that Ms Williams has been in arrears since 2005 and that the Duchy worked closely with her to develop a repayment plan, which she did not follow.

An independent surveyor is understood to have visited the residence in May this year, and found that it had not been heated or ventilated properly and was therefore causing mould. The former tenant is said to have not formally reported damage to the property and has not allowed access for contractors on numerous occasions.

Expansive transformation

A Duchy spokesman said: The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate with a commercial imperative which we achieve alongside our commitment to restoring the natural environment and generating positive social impact for our communities.

Prince William became Duke of Cornwall in September 2022 and since then has committed to an expansive transformation of the Duchy.

This includes a significant investment to make the estate net-zero by the end of 2032, as well as establishing targeted mental health support for our tenants and working with local partners to help tackle homelessness in Cornwall.
The Prince believes that if we come together with ambition and urgency, we can reshape the future of our planet - Chris Jackson Collection

The Prince of Wales has spoken of the special place Africa holds in his heart as he prepares to host the fourth Earthshot Prize award ceremony in Cape Town.

The four-day visit, which begins on Monday, will be the Princes first to the continent in six years and his first to South Africa since 2010, when he undertook an official tour with his brother, the Duke of Sussex.

His love for Africa is born of a deep-seated passion for conservation combined with a powerful emotional attachment formed in the wake of his mothers death.

For both Princes William and Harry, the African wilderness offered precious respite in those dark months and years and a freedom that could not be found at home.

Ahead of his trip, the Prince said: Africa has always held a special place in my heart  as somewhere I found comfort as a teenager, where I proposed to my wife and most recently as the founding inspiration behind the Earthshot Prize.

It was in Namibia in 2018 that I realised the power of how innovative, positive solutions to environmental problems could drive transformative change for humans and nature.

For Princes William and Harry, the African wilderness offered a freedom that could not be found at home - Chris Jackson Collection

The Prince said that by the end of the week, he hoped to have shone a spotlight on all who are trying to change their communities and encouraged potential investors to invest in the expansion of African environmental solutions.

He added: I firmly believe that if we come together with collective ambition and urgency, we can reshape the future of our planet.

As well as unveiling the latest five winners of the 1m Earthshot Prize, the Prince will seek to celebrate innovators from across Africa who are helping to protect the planet.

Among the finalists are a Kenyan company that makes solar energy systems for homes not connected to the energy grid, a Ghanaian organisation that teaches people how to recycle and reuse waste instead of burning it, and a Kenyan firm that makes small solar-powered refrigeration units to help farmers and fishermen get fresh goods to market.

Among the Earthshot finalists are a Kenyan company that makes solar energy systems for homes not connected to the energy grid - Peter Ndungu/Earthshot

The fourth annual award ceremony, which takes place on Wednesday, will be held for the first time in a purpose-built, reusable eco dome, the length of two rugby pitches, designed and engineered in South Africa.

The dome will play host to a 2,000-strong crowd and is powered by renewable energy from a local wind farm.

The show will open with an exclusive performance of Circle of Life from The Lion King by South African musician Lebo M, pre-recorded at the top of Table Mountain.

It is the first time that such a performance has been recorded at Cape Towns iconic site.

The ceremony will be broadcast live across the entire continent and in the UK on BBC iPlayer.

It will be preceded by the worlds longest green carpet event, showcasing sustainable fashion and celebrating African design.

The Earthshot Prize ceremony will be held in a purpose-built, reusable eco dome, which was designed and engineered in South Africa

The Prince said: I am proud that since its inception, the Earthshot Prize has travelled to Europe, North America and Asia, spotlighting and scaling 45 groundbreaking solutions, all of which are having a tangible impact as we work as a global collective to secure the future of our planet.

By the end of the week, I want the Earthshot Prize to have provided a platform to all those innovators bringing about change for their communities, encouraged potential investors to speed African solutions to scale and inspired young people across Africa who are engaged in climate issues. I firmly believe that if we come together with collective ambition and urgency, we can reshape the future of our planet.

The Prince is so fond of Africa that he once described it as his second home, saying: When I step off the plane Im like, Yes, Im back.

His 21st birthday was African-themed and he decorated a young Prince Georges nursery with elephants and rhinos.

The Prince is so fond of Africa that he once described it as his second home

The last time the Prince made an official visit to South Africa was in 2010, when he and his brother undertook their first and as it turned out, last, joint tour.

In many ways, that six-day, three-country jaunt offers a snapshot of a different age; the brothers united before marriage, children and deep-seated resentments got in the way.

But in many others, it shows what little has changed, as both continue to champion their interests in Africa, conservation and wildlife.

A month after that tour, Prince William would propose to the then Kate Middleton during a safari in Kenya, later explaining he could think of no more fitting place.
Neil Fernandez, owner of Neil's Bahr, plays a video game. His bar, east of the George R. Brown Convention Center, is a self-described hangout for geeks.  Gary Fountain/For the Chronicle

After one of Houston's most respected hospitality groups announced the closure of three of its concepts in East Downtown in September  a response to the massive Interstate 45 expansion project  another "Bahr" is relocating down the street from its original location, which has been part of the community for more than 10 years.

Neil's Bahr's original location off 2006 Walker Street was founded by owner Neil Fernandez in 2014. Inspired by the 20th century physicist, Neil Bohr, the bar had welcomed nerds from all around the Houston area  whether they want to challenge their friend to a game of Mario Kart or enjoy a cocktail inspired by the Legend of Zelda.

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On Oct. 24, Fernandez had announced that the bar would relocate to 3409 McKinney, less than a mile from the Walker location. The relocation is in response to the Texas Department of Transportation's $10 billion project to modernize and expand the freeway and other transportation options around it.

"We've known about the TXDOT 45 expansion project for nearly a decade now," Fernandez wrote in an Instagram post. "And we've enjoyed the delays that have blessed us with a magical 10+ years at the 2006 Walker location. That grace period has come to an end and I was informed earlier in the summer that we'd be moving this year."

Buildout for the McKinney location is underway with plans to open as early this winter, Fernandez said. Last days of the original location would be determined by the opening of the new location, he said.

The recent news comes as other establishments had closed their doors due to the expansion project.

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In September, Agricole Hospitality had announced that pizzeria Vinnys, cocktail bar Lightnins Good Times and new Tex-Mex spot HiWay Cantina would be permanently closed  all within the same block from each other.

Plans to modernize and expand transportation

Transportation officials had been planning in some form to modernize and expand the freeway for 20 years. Extending Metropolitan Transit Authority's Red Line north to Loop 610, which opened in 2013, and plans to bring the Hardy Toll Road to downtown Houston, which is in the planning stages, are both linked to the two-decade discussion of I-45.

The first project is to be an estimated $152.2 million drainage project to ready EaDo for the freeway work to come, which would install culverts and other elements along I-69 from where it crosses I-45 south of downtown to Buffalo Bayou. The first road work would come along I-69 tentatively planned for late 2025 when TxDot begins the widening of I-69 at Texas 288 to I-45.

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Overall, the expansion project is expected to take 15 to 20 years to complete.

Excited and terrified for the new chapter

Fernandez called it a "grueling search trying to find the next Neil's" as EaDo and East End are not what they were when the bar had first opened.

"However, I felt that the McKinney location was our best shot at maintaining our staff and regulars going forward," he said in his Instagram post.

In a previous article from 2015, Fernandez said he wanted to create a bar where "I'd like to hang out." He knew what it would take to run a bar and he wanted something that would be "geek-centric." And the term "nerd" is something that patrons wear as a badge of honor, he said previously.

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The idea of the bar came to him when he was in high school. And while pursuing earning an master's of business administration degree from the University of St. Thomas, he pursued this dream.
Students line up to vote early at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, this week. Photograph: Caleb Alvarado/The Guardian

On a warm October morning in Madison, Wisconsin, Ty Schanhofer found a unicorn: an undecided voter.

Schanhofer, an organizer with the University of Wisconsin student Democratic party, had unfolded a plastic table on campus and was trying to encourage people to register in the key swing state.

When Arin Mahapatra, a 21-year-old student from Illinois, stopped by, Schanhofer  who takes an English class with Mahapatra  jumped into action, peppering him with questions and offering reasons to support Harris.

Im not necessarily [leaning] in a certain direction, Im just trying to find out who exactly falls in the same line with what I value most, said Mahapatra, who cited economic issues like the price of gas and cost of student housing as his top concerns.

Related: Will young voters in swing states decide this election?  podcast

Truly undecided voters are rare in Wisconsin, where presidential elections hinge on the narrowest of margins.

I feel like its probably 2% of the voters who are undecided, said Schanhofer. Its not many at all.

Winning the support of young voters like Mahapatra will be crucial for Harris or Trump to pull off a victory in Wisconsin, where students and voters under 30 have turned out in record numbers in recent elections. In 2023, students on college campuses across the state rallied to elect a liberal judge to the Wisconsin supreme court, helping shift the ideological leaning of the bench in hopes that the court would help establish abortion rights in the state.

People like Schanhofer hope that by generating this kind of turnout among young voters, theyll be able to turn the Wisconsin electorate in Harriss favor.

The Badger state is considered to be part of the blue wall  the states Democrats consistently won in the 1990s and early 2000s.

But vanishingly narrow margins in the state decided the 2016 and 2020 elections, and today Wisconsin is a virtual toss-up in the polls, as are many of the other six swing states.

Trade unions historically helped drive voter turnout for Democrats, but a series of anti-labor laws passed under the Republican-controlled state government in 2011 dealt them a blow. Rural areas have increasingly turned to Republican candidates, leaving cities like Milwaukee  Wisconsins most racially diverse  and the liberal stronghold of Madison as Democratic bastions.

This election will probably come down to turnout, with the Trump and Harris campaigns attempting to shear away voters from each others respective bases. For Trump, that means drawing in young men, who have increasingly drifted to the right.

On 26 October, some of those voters could be found queueing up around the corner for an event at the Kollege Klub, a bar just blocks from where the campus Democrats have been tabling for Harris.

For hours, the bar was only admitting ticketed attendees, who had spent $150 to see the rightwing Nelk Boys, YouTube pranksters whose podcast has featured the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate and Trump himself. The Nelk Boys promised to feature Charlie Kirk, the founder of the Maga organizing hub Turning Point USA (TPUSA), as a special guest.

Eric Davis, a 29-year-old who lives and works in Madison, waited in line with his friends for more than two hours in front of the bar. Davis voted for Joe Biden in 2020, but said hes reversing course this year.

I switched over to Trump because I just think, honestly, our economy right now is not going the way that it should, said Davis. I dont believe in everything he says, but a majority of the stuff he goes with  Im with it.

Davis, who is Black, doesnt always like how Trump talks about immigrants, thinks the ex-president can be crass and understands why he rubs people the wrong way. But the way Davis sees it, thats just Trump being Trump.

I dont think hes racist at all, said Davis.

My whole family, theyre all liberals, added Davis, who has not yet told his family how he planned to vote.

Despite the nights political theme, the actual gathering featured little by way of political mobilization. The Nelk Boys stood on a raised platform in the venue, throwing Trump merchandise into the crowd, but Kirk was nowhere to be seen. A stack of cards with voter registration information sat forgotten on a table crowded with beer bottles.

But for Brandon Maly, the chair of the Republican party of Dane county, the night was a success.

Ive never seen a bar in Madison packed with Maga hats, it was just incredible. I love to see it  its part of that psychology in Dane county, that people need to be given a permission structure, said Maly. You may not think it translates to votes, but it does in the sense that theyre given permission to support Trump.

Maly has no illusions about turning Dane county red.

But given its status as the second most populous county in the state, he sees the area as a rich source of Republican voters  no matter how marginal their political views may be locally.

His goal, of chipping away at Democratic party margins in liberal hubs, is mirrored in Democrats push to fight back Republican party majorities in rural and suburban parts of the state that have historically leaned red.

One of those Democratic party organizers is Deb Dassow, the chair of the Ozaukee county Democratic party, who says she feels she has the shifting political winds at her back. In Ozaukee county, which stretches north of Milwaukee along Lake Michigan, Democrats have begun to make gains in the last several election cycles. In 2012, Barack Obama claimed 34% of the vote. In 2016, Hillary Clinton took 37%, and in 2020 Biden pulled 43% of the vote there.

Related:In Michigan, these US veterans call Trump the devil  and phone-bank for Harris

Since 2019, when the Ozaukee county Democrats opened a permanent office in the county, the local party chapter has poured resources into organizing local Democrats.

Since April, weve knocked 25,000 doors  we knocked 5,000 just last weekend, said Dassow on 25 October. The local Democrats have facilitated food drives, held parties and hosted beading parties, crafting red, white and blue bracelets emblazoned with the letters K-A-M-A-L-A.

Since jumping into the race in July, the vice-president and her allies have raised more than $1bn to fuel her campaign; much of those funds have poured into a broad campaign to knock on thousands of doors across the country.

And not least, they are trying to turn out young people: according to a source familiar with the Harris-Walz campaign in Wisconsin, the Democratic coordinating campaign hired seven full-time campus organizers across the state and a youth-organizing coordinator before the election.

The Republican party, meanwhile, has farmed off most of its ground game to outside groups  including TPUSA and the tech billionaire Elon Musks America Pac. Those groups allied with the Trump campaign have sought to turn out low-propensity voters for Trump, in particular, targeting rural would-be Trump voters who might otherwise neglect to cast a ballot at all.

The Trump campaign touts the strategy as innovative, but neither TPUSA nor America PAC boast the kinds of detailed voter lists that parties traditionally maintain to target supporters.

Theres suspicion as to whether or not this is an actual ground game, said Brandon Scholz, a former Republican party operative who left the GOP on 7 January 2021  the day after Trump supporters contesting the 2020 election results stormed the US Capitol. Even as an independent, Scholz maintains close relationships in the party and has followed the 2024 campaigns with keen interest.

Are these folks really here? said Scholz. Are they really beating the hell out of the doors? Are they really identifying and getting ready to turn out voters, or getting them out to vote early, or getting them absentee ballots?

The answers to these questions  is Trumps ground strategy as haphazard as it seems in Wisconsin, and is the Harris turnout machine as effective as Democrats claim?  could very well determine the outcome of the election.
Callum Parslow in custody after stabbing an asylum seeker at a hotel in Worcestershire in April. Photograph: West Midlands Police

A neo-Nazi terrorist who was found guilty last month of the attempted murder of an asylum seeker is a prolific online stalker who had previously been jailed and referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism scheme, the Observer can reveal.

Callum Parslow was convicted on 25 October of attempted murder after stabbing an asylum seeker at a hotel in April. It can now be revealed he was jailed in 2018 for targeting 10 women and girls with messages describing sexually motivated murder, torture and rape, and then changed his name after his release.

Callum Blake-OBrien, as he was formerly known, was referred to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme in 2019 but no further action was taken. He was then arrested again last year for targeting another woman with sexual and racist messages.

Two of Parslows victims said they asked police whether he posed a physical threat, but were assured he was a loner and a saddo who was only a risk online. They feel their concerns were not taken seriously enough by police.

On 2 April, Parslow launched a stabbing attack on an asylum seeker at the Pear Tree Inn, near Worcester, and police found multiple weapons including knives and an axe at his home.

At the time, the 32-year-old was on bail and awaiting trial for his most recent offences against women, which followed a similar pattern to the abuse he was jailed for in 2018.

Parslow was targeting Mercy Muroki, a policy researcher and former GB News presenter, from multiple accounts under fake names on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Among the messages sent in July and August 2023 were videos of himself performing sexual acts and footage of a black woman being flogged.

The message he sent was about him fantasising that this would happen to me, said Muroki, who has chosen to waive her anonymity.

Related: How an English extremist with a Hitler tattoo hid in plain sight  and plotted to kill

As well as reporting the direct messages from Parslow to police, she sent investigators screengrabs of his wider violent and white supremacist posts on social media.

Muroki, 29, said she raised concerns about whether Parslow could pose a physical threat to her, but was told that it was unlikely, partly because he lived in a different county and did not have a car.

Officers said that in interviews he had admitted his online activity reflected his true beliefs but said he had only messaged Muroki because he found it difficult to speak to women he fancies.

Speaking to the Observer, Muroki said: I said to the police: This is clearly a very deranged person who is fixated on the far-right stuff and on me  do I need to be worried that he might escalate it to something in person?

They were kind of like: Oh no, dont worry. They said he seems like a bit of a loner, a bit of a saddo. Thats how they characterised him  just a sad person on a computer  whereas actually I feel that the content he had posted demonstrated it was way past some keyboard warrior stuff.

When police searched Parslows flat in Worcester on 13 December 2023, they found a stockpile of Nazi memorabilia, two copies of Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf and numerous other far-right books, and seized Parslows phone and laptop.

But he was only charged with offences related to his messages to Muroki, and evidence presented to Leicester crown court suggested he started preparations in earnest for a terror attack soon after being released on bail.

Muroki said the material at Parslows flat demonstrated he was a far-right lunatic but, had he not then gone on to stab somebody, I dont know the extent to which they would have taken any of that stuff seriously.

She added: I didnt feel like the fact he was clearly a far-right risk was something they would have followed up on.

Parslow was arrested shortly after fleeing the scene of the hotel stabbing on 2 April, having been found by police while trying to post a terrorist manifesto on X.

As well as focusing on his white supremacist beliefs and calls for further attacks, the document was peppered with misogynist references.

He called white women alcoholic sluts who have as many abortions as possible and claimed there was a conspiracy to demonise masculinity.

Research commissioned by counter-terrorism policing in 2021 showed a striking prevalence of domestic abuse in the lives of people referred to the Prevent programme.

Muroki said: I felt like the police were a bit dismissive about my concerns that he might actually do something after I reported him.

When I saw [news of the attack], I felt [like] my concerns were well founded  he was someone willing to do something like that. I think they should have taken the fact he was a risk a lot more seriously.

Muroki said she was shocked that Parslow had been able to legally change his name after his release from prison in 2020.

As Blake-OBrien, he had been given a 30-month prison sentence in February 2018 for stalking and harassing 10 women and girls online.

Parslow was initially released from jail in 2019 but was recalled for breaching his licence conditions and served his full term in custody, which meant he was freed without a period of probation supervision and the only restrictions remaining were restraining orders issued to protect his victims.

One of the women who brought the original case against Parslow, who was just 17 years old when his crimes against her began, said that her initial attempts to report him to police were rebuffed.

They said he wasnt a real threat, she recalled. I was turned down by the police multiple times before being taken seriously. He never stopped harassing women  this is just the proof of it now.

The woman said that finding out that Parslow had been able to commit further offences against Muroki and then a terror attack made her feel as if fighting for justice against him was a waste of my time.

She added: It took me a long time to trust people and heal from everything he said. I thought I would never have to hear his name again in my life, but hearing about him committing these types of crimes, and new violent crimes, makes me feel sick.

Parslow, originally from Hereford, studied physics at Swansea University but dropped out without completing his degree.

At the time he committed the terror attack in April, he was living in Worcester and working as a computer programmer for a local manufacturer.

Parslows attempted murder trial was subject to reporting restrictions after he denied three offences against Muroki, because he was due to face a separate trial later this month and his defence team argued the jury would be prejudiced by media coverage.

But after being found guilty of attempted murder, he immediately pleaded guilty to two counts of malicious communications and one of online exposure. Parslow will be sentenced for both cases at Woolwich crown court in London in January.

A spokesperson for West Mercia police said that Parslow was identified for offences against Muroki after his social media accounts were linked to an IP address at his Worcester home.

He was released on bail, with bail conditions appropriate to the nature of the offences, a statement added. The investigation progressed at pace and remained ongoing at the time he carried out the attack at the Pear Tree Inn.
Robert F Kennedy Jr in Brooklyn, New York, on 1 May 2024. Photograph: Lev Radin/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Robert F Kennedy Jr could assume some control over US health and food safety in a second Trump administration, according to reports on Saturday, alarming Democrats who believe the former environmental lawyer and independent presidential candidate could be empowered to act on his vaccine-sceptical views.

According to the Washington Post, Kennedy has met with Trump transition officials to help draw up an agenda for a new administration and could take a broad health tsar position that would not require confirmation by the Senate.

Kennedy, who ended his White House bid and endorsed Trump, and his advisers have also been drafting 30-, 60- and 90-day plans for a second Trump term, the outlet reported, citing a source familiar with the planning process.

Kamala Harris slammed the idea, saying Friday that Kennedy is the exact last person in America who should be setting healthcare policy for Americas families and children.

The Democratic candidate further described Kennedy as someone who has routinely promoted junk science and crazy conspiracy theories.

Last week, Kennedy warned in a post on X that the FDAs war on public health is about to end. This includes its aggressive suppression of psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins, clean foods, sunshine, exercise, nutraceuticals and anything else that advances human health and cant be patented by Pharma.

He added: If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1 Preserve your records, and 2 Pack your bags.

Ted Kennedy Jr, a cousin of RFK Jr and a healthcare lawyer, said he was deeply concerned about Trumps choice.

We cant put anyone in charge of healthcare who doesnt understand how doctors and scientists develop best practices and keep us safe, and has no medical background and no knowledge about how health care is organized, delivered and paid for, he told Stat.

But Trump seems determined. He told rightwing figure Tucker Carlson last week that Kennedy was going to work on health and womens health.

He really wants to with the pesticides and the, you know, all the different things. I said, he can do it, Trump said. He can do anything he wants. He wants to look at the vaccines. He wants  everything. I think its great. I think its great.

Hes a great guy. Ive known him a long time. And all he wants to do  its very simple  he wants to make people healthy, Trump told NBC News on Friday. Campaign officials previously told the outlet that Kennedy might spearhead an Operation Warp Speed for childhood chronic disease, a reference to the Trump administrations $20bn Covid vaccine development program.

But the discussion over a potential role for Kennedy in a new Trump administration has also raised the topic of the response to the 2020-21 Covid-19 pandemic that has been largely absent from the campaign trail.

JD Vance, Trumps vice-presidential pick, expressed scepticism about the Covid vaccine during a sit-down with podcaster Joe Rogan released on Thursday.

I took the vax, and you know, I havent been boosted or anything, but the moment where I really started to get red-pilled on the whole vax thing was the sickest that I have been in the last 15 years by far was when I took the vaccine, the Ohio senator told Rogan.

Kennedy, who has also expressed doubts about Covid vaccines, told a rally last week that Trump had promised him control of public health agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture.

Howard Lutnick, the Trump transition team co-chair, confirmed to CNN this week that hed spent two-and-a-half hours with Kennedy and it was the most extraordinary thing.

I said: So, tell me. Hows it going to go? And he said: Why dont you just listen to me explain things, Lutnick said. He did not deny that Kennedy was correct to say he would lead public health agencies in a Trump administration.

I think itll be pretty cool to give him the data. Lets see what he comes up with, Lutnick added.

In a statement, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said there were no formal decisions about potential Trump administration appointments. But she added that the former president has said he will work alongside passionate voices like RFK Jr to make America healthy again by providing families with safe food and ending the chronic disease epidemic plaguing our children, referring to type 2 diabetes.
Under the current system, there is nothing to stop the most sought-after schools from admitting as many middle-class pupils as possible - E+

Schools face being marked down for taking on too many middle-class pupils under plans being considered by the education watchdog.

As part of Ofsteds new rating system, schools would have to take their fair share of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as those with special education needs, according to proposals seen by The Telegraph.

The plans, which have been discussed with senior Ofsted officials, were drawn up by Prof Lee Elliot Major, an expert in social mobility at Exeter University.

He explained under the current system, there is nothing to stop the most sought-after schools from admitting as many middle-class pupils as possible.

What we want is excellent schools serving all our children and to be measured on that, he said. Too often what happens is the schools we penalise are the ones serving the most challenging communities. We are trying to equalise the unlevel playing field.

This isnt about dumbing down  this is very much about improving standards for all. If you improve the learning for children from the most under-resourced background, you improve learning for all children.

Prof Major is an advisor to Ofsted and has been involved in designing many key education policies. These include setting up the national tutoring programme in the wake of the pandemic and moving away from long, essay-style personal statements in university applications to make them more inclusive.

The Government announced in September one-word school ratings which are currently given by Ofsted would be scrapped and replaced with a new regime.

The move followed the death of Ruth Perry, the headteacher who took her own life after an inspection downgraded her school from outstanding to inadequate.

Ruth Perry was a headteacher who took her own life after an inspection downgraded her school

The single-word rating will be replaced by a school report card containing ten separate grades based on key areas.

Prof Majors proposals, which will be piloted by secondary schools in the South West later this year, would see schools marked on a range of measures aimed at disadvantaged children.

These include incentives for schools to ensure they are treating pupils from troubled homes fairly when it comes to suspensions and expulsions, as well as incentives to boost their attendance and grades in GCSE English and maths.

For children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, the school system hasnt been working, Prof Major said. We know this because in the post-pandemic gap between children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and the rest have got bigger  they are the starkest we have seen in a generation.

Earlier this month, Sir Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector of schools in England, said that inclusion will be one of the criteria for the new report card system because we want to make sure schools are accessible to everyone.

Sir Martyn says inclusion must never become an excuse for lowering expectations - Ofsted/PA

In a speech earlier this month, he said: I am clear that inclusion means expecting the highest standards for all children, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable  because if you get it right for them, you get it right for everyone.

So, inclusion must never become an excuse for lowering expectations. We know that it is harder for schools working with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children, but we must ensure behavioural and academic expectations remain sky high.

Pupil attendance will be among 10 new performance ratings upon which schools will be judged under plans to be unveiled by Ofsted and Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, in January.

From next year, schools will also be rated according to how well they instil British values and how they prepare children with the life skills needed for the outside world.

Other ratings will cover the quality of a schools curriculum, the teaching provided and the educational attainment of the children.

Ofsted said it does not currently consider admissions as part of school inspections and has no plans to do so in the future. The focus of our inspections is the quality of education provided for pupils, a spokesman said.
The Whyalla community is growing sceptical the steelworks will be transformed as promised by British businessman Sanjeev Gupta. Photograph: Lincoln Fowler/Alamy

The British industrialist Sanjeev Gupta was dubbed the saviour of steel for his plans to rescue ailing plants around the world and decarbonise their operations.

But seven years after Guptas GFG Alliance bought the struggling Whyalla steelworks, jobs are being lost and promises to invest in the operations remain unfulfilled, eroding hopes of a green steel manufacturing future for the regional South Australian city.

Just how bad is it?

Ageing operations

Whyallas mining and steel operations represent the economic foundation of a city relied on by numerous workers along with other businesses, from contractors to cafes.

The plant has been beset by problems due to a series of shutdowns of its coal-fired blast furnace, which lies at the heart of the steelmaking process.

Observers point out the level of disruptions to the crucial smelting process  the furnace has been out of action for about six months this year  is unusual among steelmakers, raising concerns about its operations.

When it is online, the plant produces finished steel used in construction and rail.

While Gupta has pledged to have the furnace restarted promptly, timelines for upgrades, including installation plans for an electric arc furnace to replace the coal-based system, have blown out.

Eddie Hughes, the South Australian Labor MP whose seat covers the Whyalla region, says the community is increasingly sceptical that the plant will be transformed as promised.

They overpromised and theyve underdelivered, and they have not delivered at this stage on their promises, says Hughes, referring to the Gupta-owned operations.

They created expectations that have to a significant degree been dashed. A lot of the community no longer have confidence in the company to deliver what is essentially a race between an ageing steel plant and the need for a technology transition.

GFG-owned Liberty Steel recently cut about 50 jobs from the Whyalla operations, reminding locals of the plants troubled past. The former owner, Arrium, collapsed in 2016, weighed down by billions of dollars of debt.

The planned decarbonisation of the plant will ultimately require an investment of about $1.5bn to $2bn, according to industry estimates, with renewable energy-produced hydrogen ultimately required for the manufacturing process to make green steel.

Many plants in similar situations around the world are looking to gas as a transition fuel.

Hughes says that while there is public money on the table to assist with the technology transition, it would be provided on a milestone basis after the work is done to avoid any risk the funds are used by other parts of the GFG business.

That is subject to rigorous criteria, as it should be, because its about the technology transition here in Whyalla, its not about just propping up GFG, Hughes says.

I think it will require a private sector, public sector partnership of some form or the other.

Dire situation

Pressure at GFGs Liberty Steel business unit is not confined to Whyalla.

IndustriAll European Trade Union, a Swiss-based global federation of unions, says thousands of workers at Liberty sites are facing an uncertain future with the announced bankruptcy of steelworks in Czestochowa, Poland, which is being appealed.

There are also liquidation proceedings under way at Dunaujvaros, Hungary.

The trade union federation says the jobs of Liberty workers in Luxembourg, Belgium and Italy are in doubt because the sites are up for sale.

Judith Kirton-Darling, the industriAll general secretary, says in times of crisis, the global union expects all employers to commit to good industrial relations, with the health and safety and the timely payment of full wages a priority.

Currently, workers at several Liberty Steel sites are unsure if they will definitely be paid at the end of each month, with some workers receiving salaries days late and some suffering pay cuts of 30%, Kirton-Darling says.

We cant stress enough just how dire the situation is.

The global union, which has affiliates in 140 countries, says it is working with unions and policymakers to tackle urgent issues including the unfair dumping of steel on the open EU market, an issue cited by steelmakers for some of their financial stress.

Economists have also raised concerns over the impact of a prolonged downturn in Chinas property market on steel consumption and prices.

But there are specific challenges to Guptas steel empire, such as its prolonged debt restructure sparked by the 2021 collapse of primary financier Greensill Capital.

The UK business register agency is prosecuting more than 70 Gupta-linked companies, including those tied to Liberty Steel operations, for failing to lodge accounts. GFG is also subject to a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into suspected fraud linked to the collapse of Greensill.

A spokesperson for GFGs Liberty Steel says the company is working constructively with its suppliers to manage through the market downturn.

Our operations in Europe are not impacting our Australian business which continues to operate well despite the short-term challenges in Whyalla, the spokesperson says.

We remain resolute in our commitment to the green steel transformation which will take time but remains a multigenerational opportunity for Australia to lead the world.

Green steel

The GFG-owned Whyalla operation is one of two major integrated steel projects in Australia, alongside the larger BlueScope operations in Port Kembla, south of Sydney.

Geoffrey Brooks, the joint Swinburne/CSIRO chair in sustainable mineral processing, says its in Australias strategic interests to have a thriving and advanced sector and warns that it would be a technological and economic disaster for the west to stop making steel.

Steel production is [historically] an expression of power, Brooks says.

Its strategically important, but it also has to be the sort of steel industry that is prosperous so that we can provide long-term stability of jobs and technological innovation.

But the global race to upgrade coal-based steel operations is proving difficult.

Related: Its heartbreaking: gloom in Port Talbot as steel towns last blast furnace closes

After years of heavy losses, the Indian owner of a steel plant in the Welsh town of Port Talbot recently shut its last furnace, leading to about 1,900 job losses.

The company, Tata, is planning to build an electric arc furnace on the site, although the transition away from coal is anything but smooth, prompting widespread disruptions to the community.

Part of the upgrade difficulties have been linked to the current high costs of clean hydrogen, prompting governments around the world to partner with private industry to help transform the sector.

Governments realise theyre going to have to help the industry go green, its not going to just happen through private means. Having said that, its entirely appropriate to scrutinise how any public money is being spent, Brooks says.

The steel industry does well at providing long-term employment. But when it goes wrong, it is a big setback for the local community, theres no doubt about that.
Richard Moore in an undated photo. Photograph: Courtesy of Richard Moore's legal team

South Carolina has executed a man on death row, despite widespread calls for his life to be spared, including from the judge who originally condemned him to death.

Richard Moore, 59, was killed by lethal injection on Friday evening, minutes after the states Republican governor, Henry McMaster, announced he would not be granting him clemency.

Moore was put to death after an extraordinary push to save his life, which included advocacy letters from the states former corrections department director, three trial jurors, the judge who presided over the case and a former state supreme court justice. Supporters argued that he had become a role model behind bars. His two children, who remained close to him during his incarceration, also pleaded for mercy.

The execution began at 6.01pm, the Associated Press reported. Moores breathing became shallow and stopped around 6.04pm, and he was pronounced dead at 6.24pm. Moores longtime lawyer, who was in the room, could not fight back tears.

A prison spokesperson shared Moores final words, which included a message to the relatives of the man he killed: To the family of Mr James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I caused you all. To my children and granddaughters, I love you and am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. To all of my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.

Justice 360, the non-profit that represented Moore, condemned the execution in a statement, saying it underscores the flaws in South Carolinas death penalty system: Who is executed versus who is allowed to live out their lives in prison appears to be based on no more than chance, race, or status. It is intolerable that our State metes out the ultimate punishment in such a haphazard way  By killing Richard, the State also created more victims. Richards children are now fatherless, and his grandchildren will have to grow up without their Pa Pa.

Moore was the second person put to death this year in South Carolina, which recently revived executions and is pursuing a rapid spree of killings.

The case drew widespread scrutiny over racial bias and doubts about the validity of Moores sentence.

An all-white jury convicted Moore, who is Black, of an armed robbery and the murder of Mahoney, a white convenience store clerk, 25 years ago. Moore has said the killing was in self-defense.

On 16 September 1999, Moore was unarmed when he entered the store where Mahoney was working the counter. There was no footage, so the exact circumstances of the incident are unclear. Moore has said they got into an argument because he was short on change, prompting Mahoney to pull a gun on him.

In their scuffle, both men were shot  Moore in the arm and Mahoney fatally in the chest. Moore took cash from the store.

There is no dispute that Moore was unarmed when he arrived. Mahoney carried a gun, and there were two weapons behind the counter. A store witness said he overheard an argument, and then saw Moore with his hands on the clerks hands and that Moore fired in his direction. The witness wasnt hit and said he played dead and didnt see the rest of the encounter.

A forensic investigator hired by Moores lawyers reviewed crime scene evidence in 2017 and concluded the first shot had been fired while the two men were fighting over the gun.

Moores lawyers argued that, regardless of the details of the shootout, he shouldnt be eligible for capital punishment, reserved for the worst of the worst murders, since he entered unarmed and had no premeditated plans for an armed robbery or homicide. In 2022, Kaye Hearn, a state supreme court justice, agreed, writing in a dissenting opinion that the death sentence was invalid, disproportionate and a relic of a bygone era.

Hearn said it was stunning prosecutors couldnt identify a comparable death penalty case involving a robbery that began unarmed and noted that Spartanburg county, where Moore was prosecuted, had a history of alarming racial disparities in the death penalty; all but one of 21 cases from 1985 to 2001 involved white victims.

Moores team had also made a final appeal to the US supreme court, arguing that prosecutors had unlawfully removed two qualified Black jurors, but the court declined to stop the execution on Thursday.

In a clemency video submitted with Moores application this week, Jon Ozmint, former head of South Carolinas corrections department, said he hoped the governor would give Richard the rest of his life to continue to pour into the lives of others. In an earlier letter, Ozmint said he was a proponent of capital punishment and had never recommended reversing a death sentence, but said staff trusted Moore as a reliable and respected man on death row.

Commutation would have a positive influence on hundreds of offenders who would be impacted by Richards story of redemption and his positive example, Ozmint wrote.

Gary Clary, the former circuit judge who imposed Moores death sentence, wrote to McMaster on Wednesday, saying hed studied the case of each person who resides on death row in South Carolina and that Moores case was unique: After years of thought and reflection, I humbly ask that you grant executive clemency to Mr Moore as an act of grace and mercy.

Three jurors wrote that they supported commutation based on Moores rehabilitation. Thousands signed petitions to halt the execution.

Lindsey Vann, Moores attorney of 10 years, said she wasnt aware of any other South Carolina case under the modern death penalty in which a judge who imposed the sentence backed clemency. She said on Thursday that Moore had tried to remain optimistic: Hes grateful for all of the support, so that brings him some hope  but there are obviously difficult conversations, talking to people for what might be the last time.

Moore had remained close to his two children, who had been visiting him behind glass since they were young. His daughter, Alexandria Moore, 31, recalled him teaching Spanish and creating puzzles through letters when she was a kid and said hed become a beloved grandfather to her two daughters, telling the Guardian last week: I will always be a daddys girl  Even with the physical distance, he is very much here and a part of my girls lives and my life.

During his incarceration, Moore had leaned into faith, focused on painting and become friends with penpals, his lawyers said. His clemency video included a clip of an earlier interview, in which Moore expressed remorse: This is definitely a part of my life I wish I could change, because I took a life  I broke the family of the deceased. I pray for the forgiveness of that particular family.

Protesters gathered outside the Broad River prison in Columbia, leading prayers and holding Save Richard Moore and Execute justice not people signs.

South Carolinas elected officials do not care about the racism in the death penalty. They are more interested in using the system to win elections, the Rev Hillary Taylor, director of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, told the crowd after his execution.

South Carolina recently resumed executions after a 13-year pause due to a lack of lethal injection supplies and challenges to its other proposed methods: electrocution and firing squads. The state restocked pentobarbital, a sedative, after it passed a law to shield the identities of companies supplying the drug, which had feared public backlash.

The state supreme court has authorized the scheduling of executions roughly every five weeks, an extraordinary pace that lawyers have argued would strain attorneys representing multiple defendants and risk botched executions due to the rushed process.

The first defendant executed last month was Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah, 46, who was put to death days after a central witness came forward to say he had lied at trial and that Allah was innocent.

Its like an assembly line. The state is motivated to kill condemned people as quickly as possible, and they do that despite evidence that might change their minds, said Paul Bowers of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina.
Mohammad Dahlan, who teaches design and technology, has been suspended from Burlington House School in south west London

A teacher at a specialist school has been suspended after describing the mastermind of the Oct 7 attacks as a martyr.

Mohammad Dahlan, who teaches design and technology, made the remarks about Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar following his death last month.

Mr Dahlan was also reported to the police after posting online that killing Zionists is an act of worship.

In a string of social media posts, Mr Dahlan, who works at Burlington House School, an independent school in south west London which teaches pupils with specific learning difficulties, expressed his support for the terrorist group Hamas.

In November 2021, the Government announced that Hamas had become a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK  meaning that its members or those who invite support for the group could be jailed for up to 14 years.

After it was alerted to the posts on Friday, Burlington House School immediately suspended Mr Dahlan and notified the Metropolitan Police.

A spokesman for the school said it had a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of racism, anti-Semitism, or discriminatory behaviour, whether on or off school grounds.

It comes as a report found that hate speech targeting Jewish people on social media surged by more than a third in the year following Israels military response to the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas.

The report by CyberWell, an independent non-profit organisation fighting the spread of anti-Semitism online, found calls justifying violence against Jews rose from 5.1 per cent to 13.3 per cent.

Burlington House School says it had a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of racism, anti-Semitism, or discriminatory behaviour - X

In one post on the social media platform X, Mr Dahlan posted a photo of Imad Akel, a former commander of the military wing of Hamas, who was killed by the Israel Defense Forces in 1993.

Akel is suspected of taking part in the killing of 11 Israeli soldiers, an Israeli civilian and four Palestinian informants in a series of attacks.

In the posts caption, Mr Dahlan wrote a quote which he attributed to Akel, which read: Killing Zionists is an act of worship through which we draw closer to God.

In another post, responding to the death of Sinwar, the former chairman and leader of Hamas, he said: May God have mercy on him and on all the martyrs.

The Telegraph has seen other posts by Mr Dahlan in which he asks how to contact pro Palestinians (sic) hackers and seemingly refers to the Oct 7 attack as the flood.

His account, which has now been deleted, included a link to a GoFundMe page, which featured Mr Dahlans picture and name, which was asking for funds for his aunt in Gaza.

In a social media post responding to the death of Sinwar, Mr Dahlan said: May God have mercy on him and on all the martyrs - Mohammed Huwais/Getty Images

Burlington House School, which was alerted to the posts by The Telegraph, said: As soon as we were informed of this matter, the individual was immediately suspended pending a comprehensive disciplinary investigation into potential violations of our code of conduct and social media policy.

We have notified all relevant authorities, including the police, to ensure the matter is addressed with the seriousness it warrants.

Our school is firmly committed to being a secular, non-discriminatory organisation that upholds the values of respect, inclusivity, and unity.

We strive to create a safe, welcoming environment where children, young people, and adults of all backgrounds can learn and thrive together in harmony.

This incident did not occur on school premises, and we maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of racism, anti-Semitism, or discriminatory behaviour, whether on or off school grounds.

A spokesman for the Community Security Trust, a charity which aims to protect and defend British Jews, said: It is horrifying to think that a person with views such as this would be teaching children, and it is entirely right that he has been suspended.

The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.
Donald Trump in Warren, Michigan, today. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris battled to woo voters in the key swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin on Friday, as the presidential campaign enters its final stretch.

Harris made several appearances in Wisconsin on Friday, including one that featured the musician Cardi B, while Trump visited both Michigan and Wisconsin.

At his rally in Warren, Michigan, on Friday afternoon, Trump tried to energize his voters, delivering an address replete with his characteristic fear-mongering about immigrants and tangents including musings about his hair.

He repeated his aggressive attack on Liz Cheney, one day after he first said the former Republican US representative should be under fire with rifles shooting at her.

Harris meanwhile sought to draw a contrast, emphasizing at a rally in Wisconsin in the afternoon that she is looking to be a political consensus builder.

Related: Threats, racism, misogyny: Trumps disturbing final week of campaigning

Here is my pledge to you. Here is my pledge to you as president. I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face, Harris said. I pledge to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make. I will listen to experts. I will listen to the people who disagree with me. Because, you see, unlike Donald Trump, I dont believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.

He wants to put them in jail, Harris said, repeating a line shes has frequently invoked of late. Ill give them a seat at the table.

During his appearance in Warren in the afternoon and in Milwaukee in the evening, Trump repeatedly stoked fears about immigrants. In Warren, he said: every state is a border state and falsely claimed immigrants were being flown into the south-west.

He repeated some of his most racist tropes, saying: All of our jobs are are being taken by the migrants that come into our country illegally and many of those migrants happen to be criminals, and some of them happen to be murderers.

The former president tried to tie Harris to the most recent jobs report, which showed the US added just 12,000 jobs in October.

And he again attacked Cheney, one day after he called her a radical war hawk in a conversation with Tucker Carlson and said she should face being under fire with rifles shooting at her.

Lets put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. Lets see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face, he said.

On Friday, Trumps comments were similar.

Shes tough one. But if you gave Liz Cheney a gun, put her into battle facing the other side with guns pointing at her. she wouldnt have the courage or the strength or the stamina to even look the enemy in the eye, Trump said.

Thats why I broke up with her, Trump commented, prompting some laughs.

There was time for reflection, too. Were gonna miss these rallies, arent we? Trump asked the crowd at one juncture.

At another point, he remarked: Im studying my hair. It looks not so good today  not a good hair day for me, ay ay ay.

At a rally for Harris in the evening, Cardi B said the vice-president had inspired her to vote. Ive been waiting for this moment my whole life, the artist said.

Im not giving Donald Trump a second chance, Cardi B said. I am not taking any chances with my future, and I damn sure aint taking no chances with the future of my children.

Im with Kamala.

Harris praised Wisconsins motto, forward, and addressed young voters at the rally: Heres what I love about you guys. You are rightly impatient for change. You are determined to live free from gun violence. You are going to take on the climate crisis. You are going to shape the world you inherit. I know that. I know that, she said.

Related: Blow for Republicans as supreme court rejects appeal over Pennsylvania ballots

She added: And heres the thing about our young leaders. None of this is theoretical for them. None of this is political for them. Its their lived experience. Its your lived experience, and I see your power, I see your power, and I am so proud of you.

Trump and Harris are neck-and-neck in swing state polling, and in Michigan, a Detroit Free Press survey shows her having a three-point lead.

Republicans and Democrats, as well as their unofficial boosters, have pounced on the tight split. Harriss camp is pushing hard to convince young voters, who overwhelmingly support the Democrats, to go out and vote.

With mere days to go before the 5 November election, some Democrats in Michigan described being freaked out by the prospect of another Trump victory in this state. Biden won Michigan in 2020, but Trump defeated Hillary Clinton here in 2016. Relying on polls showing her far ahead, the Clinton campaign had prioritized campaigning in other states, neglecting key Democratic segments such as Black communities and auto workers in the state.

Harris has spent more time on the ground in Michigan than in any other state with the exception of Pennsylvania. Harris and her running-mate, Tim Walz, have bounced around the state in an effort to attract Black voters, white suburban women, college students and factory workers.

Last week, Barack Obama rapped with hip-hop legend Eminem at a rally in Detroit. Bernie Sanders, beloved by the Democratic left, tried to reassure young voters in the state that Harris is not just another corporate-minded Democrat.

Trump, too, has upped his efforts to woo Michigan voters. On Friday, the former president stopped in Dearborn to court Arab-American voters, many of whom have been left deeply disappointed by Joe Bidens handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Many of the citys Muslim leaders declined to meet with Trump, including Dearborns mayor, Abdullah H Hammoud.

The architect of the Muslim Ban is making a campaign stop in Dearborn. People in this community know what Trump stands for  we suffered through it for years, Hammoud, a Democrat, said on X. Ive refused a sit down with him although the requests keep pouring in. Trump will never be my president.

Hammoud, who is neither supporting Harris nor Trump in the race for president, also called fellow members of his party. To the Dems  your unwillingness to stop funding & enabling a genocide created the space for Trump to infiltrate our communities. Remember that.

Meanwhile, Michigan residents have for months been bombarded by campaign ads, many of which feature exaggerated or blatantly false claims. With the state seeing $759m in political ad spending, Michigan ranks among the top for such disbursements in this election, per NPR.
A second Donald Trump presidency will have an impact across the globe - Jeffrey Phelps/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

When America elects a president, the whole world watches  not just for the spectacle and the drama, but because such is the United Statess global influence that billions of people without a vote stand to be affected by the outcome.

From the blasted tree lines of eastern Ukraine to the ruins of Gaza and the typhoon-blown waves of the Taiwan Strait; in the crowded buses running down Tehrans Ali Vasr Avenue, the high rises of Beijing and the overheated, parquet-floored rooms of the presidential administration in Moscow, the same question is being asked: Who will win on Tuesday night?

Ukraine

Nowhere are the stakes higher than for Ukraine where everyone understands that the countrys survival is dependent on the US.

Soldiers in the east do not rely solely on American weapons, vehicles, ammunition.

But Ukraines British, European, and other allies are in no position to provide anything like the same level of support if the US contribution were to shrink or vanish, said Ed Arnold of the Royal United Services Institute.

The outcome of the election is thus literally an existential question.

But the candidates have been so vague about their plans, theres little consensus about who would be better  or least bad.

They are like four competing opinions and I cant tell which is most popular, Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former defence minister, said from Kyiv.

With Harris, the most pessimistic view, which is quite widespread, is that if she wins she will just more or less continue Bidens policy  and well be a long, long time in this war.

Of course, some people say no, no it will be different. Some optimists think it will be much more effective and end the war.

Trump has said if he wins he will get on the phone to Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to force a peace deal - Evan Vucci/AP

On Trump, its the same difference: Some are definitely very afraid that he will cut the deal with Putin, we will lose the occupied territories, and he will say if you guys disagree, I am not going to send anything at all, said Mr Zagorodnyuk.

Alternatively, an equal amount of people think that because he has no escalation anxiety, because he is very transactional and bold, he may be exactly what we need to win the war.

Because the only way to get out of the situation were now in is radical, out-of-the-box thinking. There are some very, very smart people who think that, he added.

Trump is on record saying that if he wins on Thursday he will get on the phone to Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to force a peace deal before his inauguration in January.

He has been vague about exactly how he would do this.

But his running mate JD Vance has said Russia should keep the territory it has occupied and the surviving rump of Ukraine should not be allowed to join Nato or another foreign alliance.

That, critics say, sounds a lot like a Russian victory.

Both Harris and Trump have been so vague about their plans, theres little consensus about who would be better for Ukraine - ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images

But Ukrainian officials are also deeply frustrated with Joe Bidens handling of the war  in particular a fear of escalation that they believe has deterred the White House from supplying sufficient weapons quickly enough to actually win the war.

That strategy may have kept Ukraine in the fight so far. But it has not stopped grinding Russian advances over the past year.

The view from the Kremlin is opaque.

Before Mr Biden pulled out of the presidential race, Putin went on record saying the incumbent was the better option for Russia.

He was more predictable, more traditional in his grasp of statecraft. Altogether just an easier person to work with, the Russian president implied.

But Russias disinformation operations this year appear to be focused on hurting Kamala Harris and helping Trump.

Researchers have identified fake videos purporting to show Trump voters ballots being destroyed and Haitian illegal immigrants voting for Ms Harris to a St Petersburg troll farm.

The Middle East

Many people in the Middle East will be tuning into the US election.

In the past I dont think there was even a broadcast because it was in the middle of the night for us. This year, were going to broadcast it from 11pm till morning, said Amit Segal, the chief political commentator for Israels Channel 12.

It is not that Israelis know the details of this impossible Electoral College system, but theyre fully aware it is down to the wire and theyre fully aware of the consequences.

Unlike in Ukraine, there is not much ambiguity here: If Israel were Americas 51st state, it would be firmly Red for the Republicans.

A recent poll put it at 66-17 in favour of Trump. It is because of the war and, moreover, it is because of a development of a view in Israel that the Democratic Party specifically and the world Left in general is not a friend of Israel, but rather a foe, said Mr Segal.

Smoke rises after an Israeli bombardment in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday - AFP via Getty

The very fact of the election has already affected the course of events in the Middle East.

Two controversial operations  the invasion of Lebanon on Oct 1 and the attack on Jabalia in northern Gaza that began five days later  would probably not have gone ahead so easily if the election had not been looming, said Mr Segal.

He said Benjamin Netanyahu had ruthlessly exploited Mr Bidens fear that a row with the Israeli government could alienate pro-Israeli voters.

Many Israelis believe a Harris victory would give Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah reason to hope for a US-Israeli split, and thus an incentive to fight on. A Trump victory would extinguish that hope and force them to end the multi-front war.

That may well be unfair on Mr Biden who, despite tensions with Mr Netanyahu, has spent huge political capital backing Israel since Oct 7.

Tehran

Its fair to say that Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei probably has a different preference for president.

On the whole, the regime seems to want Harris to win, said Arash Azizi, author of What Iranians Want.

Throughout the last year the fear of Trumps return has been all over the Iranian media. They basically have PTSD from the last Trump presidency: his unpredictability, his maximum pressure policy, his closeness to Netanyahu.

Mr Azizi said Irans relatively small and ineffective disinformation campaigns had been focused on hurting Trump and helping Ms Harris  setting it aside from its ally Russia.

That view is not universal.

There is a faction in Tehran who believe Trump the transactional businessman will play a much straighter bat than the mercurial Democrats, who dangle the prospect of compromise but always end up backing Israel anyway.

A billboard in Tehran glorifying Irans attack on Israel in October - Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

During the recent presidential election, some hardliners accused their opponents of pedalling Trump-o-phobia  trying to scare voters into backing the moderate candidate out of fear how Trump would react to a conservative.

But things are not so clear-cut. Yes, Trump is close to the Israeli Right and might buy into its idea of an all-out bombing raid on its nuclear and oil infrastructure in the hope of bringing down the regime.

Then again, he might not. Both he and Ms Harris have swung wildly between calling for tougher policies and demanding a return to talks, said Dr Sanam Vakil, an Iran watcher at Chatham House.

I would frame it more that Iran doesnt want to start on an even worse footing than it already is with the next US president  whoever it is, said Dr Vakil. Over the past few days even the supreme leaders security advisor indicated there would be pragmatism in future relations with Washington. That is a very interesting development out of the current crisis.

Economic prospects are quite bleak. Sanctions relief is an objective of the new president. Those are the priorities.

China

In China, as elsewhere, coverage and discussion of the US election is saturating both the tightly controlled state-controlled media and social networks.

Much of the reporting has recently focused on the potential instability inside the US around the election, citing domestic American reporting about the potential for political violence.

And yet there is little in the way of a discernable preference for one candidate over the other. And thats because in material terms, Beijing has not seen much difference.

Trump in his last term ignited a trade war, blamed China for Covid-19, and launched a controversial FBI-led crackdown on Chinese economic espionage. Hes promised to wildly expand anti-Chinese tariffs if he gets back in White House.

But while Mr Biden has cooled the rhetoric, he has not really changed course: he has maintained and, in some cases tightened, some of Trumps tariffs (in September he slapped 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, and this month his administration reduced the types of semiconductors that American companies can sell to China). Most significantly, he has explicitly pledged to go to war to defend Taiwan if it is attacked.

Speaking to Joe Rogan last week, Trump accused Taiwan of stealing Americas chip industry and implied it should pay for protection  themes he has raised in previous interviews.

Zhu Fenglian, the spokesman for Chinas Taiwan affairs office, this week said such remarks cast doubt on Trumps commitment to the island.

Whether the United States is trying to protect or harm Taiwan, I believe most of our Taiwan compatriots have already made a rational judgment and know very clearly that what the United States pursues is always America First, she said at a news briefing. Taiwans people know that Taiwan at any time may turn from a pawn to a discarded child, Ms Zhu added, without directly referring to Trump.

Mexico

Its not just in the worlds war zones that Tuesdays election will be watched nervously.

Mexico, Americas southern neighbour, is also its second largest trading partner (bettered only by Canada), the biggest source of its imports, and within the top four trade partners of 45 of the 50 states.

It is also the object of much of Trumps fiery rhetoric about border security, immigration, and drug cartels.

Earlier this year it was reported that he had mused about sending special forces hit squads across the border to assassinate cartel leaders. Some hot-headed Republicans have talked about an Iraq-style invasion.

I was deputy minister of finance last time Trump was a candidate and president, said Vanessa Rubio-Marquez, a long-serving Mexican politician and diplomat now teaching at LSE.

At the beginning like in any other electoral cycle, we had to wait for things to calm down from narrative to policy. Once things were settled, we engaged in a very open frank dialogue including on trade, migration, organised crime.

Despite the tariff talk, Mexico, Canada and the US are bound by a free-trade deal that Trump himself negotiated in his last term, Ms Rubio-Marquez pointed out.

Loose talk about cross-border hit squads is unhelpful, she said. But theres always a distinction between rhetoric and reality.

Elsewhere

There are dozens of other areas and regions that could be affected by the election.

The Heritage Foundations Project 2025, which pitches itself as a plan for the next Republican administration but which Trump has tried to distance himself from, calls for a radical overhaul of the United States Agency for International Development that would have significant consequences for United Nations and NGO-led aid and assistance programmes around the world.

The European Council of Foreign Relations warned in a paper published on Thursday that Trumps policy preferences could destabilise the Western Balkans  potentially sparking new wars in Bosnia and between Serbia and Kosovo.

But both Trump and Ms Harris have been vague about the specifics of their foreign policy.

That is deliberate, said Dr Vakil  it gives them latitude on the knotty questions in the Middle East and elsewhere.

But it also makes it difficult for both friends and foes to plan ahead.

Ms Rubio Marquez, who helped the Mexican government deal with the first Trump presidency, is relatively sanguine.

I think in general I would say the first thing you have to do after a very heated election is to wait until the general environment of intensity and polarisation calms down a bit, and it passes from campaign to policy, she said when asked how she would advise other governments to deal with the uncertainty.

Understand the difference between noise in a campaign and actual policy. You need to be ready for many scenarios.
The 2024 US election is shaping up to be one of the closest races in living memory, with much of the world, including Australia, watching with great anticipation. In fact, since the emergence of Donald Trump as a presidential force, it can sometimes feel as though US politics gets as much media coverage in Australia as our own leaders.

This means the 2024 election is easy to follow, with live TV and rolling online news coverage. There will also be in-person election watch parties across Australia.

Related: The Guardian view on the US presidential election 2024: a Democratic government is the one we need

Heres everything you need to know about the election if youre in Australia.

When is the US election in Australian time?

The presidential election will be held on Tuesday 5 November in the US, which means most of the action will occur on Wednesday 6 November in Australia.

What time and date will it be in Australia when polls close?

Polls begin to close in eastern states from 6pm US Eastern Time on Tuesday, 5 November. In Australia, this will be on Wednesday  from 10am Australian Eastern Daylight Time, 9am in Queensland, 9.30am in South Australia and 7am in Western Australia.

By 8pm US ET, polls will have fully closed in more than 20 states, including the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. In Australia it will be Wednesday noon AEDT, 11am in Queensland, 11.30am in SA and 9am in WA.

Polls will close in Michigan and Wisconsin  two other crucial states  by 9pm US ET, which in Australia will be Wednesday 1pm AEDT, 12pm in Queensland, 12.30pm in SA and 10am in WA.

Hawaii and Alaska, the western-most states, will close their polls at 12am US ET, which in Australia will be Wednesday 4pm AEDT, 3pm in Queensland, 3.30pm in SA and 1pm in WA.

When will the election results be announced?

We should have a good sense of who will probably be president by the time polls close in Hawaii and Alaska, which is several hours after vote counting in some key eastern states will have begun.

The world may have to wait a bit longer to hear a final call, especially given how tightly contested some polling has indicated the vote will be.

In 2020 the Associated Press did not declare Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election until 7 November at 11.26am US ET  four days after the first polls closed. And in 2016 it took until 2.29am US ET the morning after election day to declare Trump the winner.

If a winner is to be declared in a similar timeframe to 2016, that would fall around Wednesday evening in Australia, about 7PM AEDT, 6pm in Queensland, 6.30pm in SA and 4pm in WA.

What TV channels in Australia will have live coverage?

All free-to-air TV stations will have rolling coverage. The ABC, Channel 10, Nine and SBSs coverage all begins at or shortly after 10am AEDT on Wednesday. Channel Sevens coverage will begin at 11.30am.

The SBS broadcast will include coverage from the US outlet PBS.

Coverage will continue throughout the day, with Australian channels breaking for local news bulletins and evening programs at different points.

What about online news coverage?

The Guardian has you sorted, with our extensive bureaux across the US as well as newsrooms around the world.

We will be running a live blog covering the election throughout the day, in addition to our continued extensive US election coverage, which will include a live results tracker.

Where are US election watch parties being held in my city?

Adelaide

The University of Adelaides Politics and International Relations Association will be holding its party at the Crown and Sceptre hotel from 11am (local time) on Wednesday.

Brisbane

Democrats Abroad, an official arm of the Democratic party, is holding its party at the Pig N Whistle from 10am on Wednesday.

Canberra

Democrats Abroad is holding its party at PJs in the City from 10am on Wednesday 6 November.

Melbourne

AmCham, the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, is holding a watch party at Hawthorn hotel from 2pm on Wednesday. The party will feature a live broadcast of NBCs election coverage. This is a paid, ticketed event.

Democrats Abroad is holding its party at Belgrave hotel from 10am on Wednesday.

Perth

Perth USAsia Centre will be holding its party at the IQX building at the University of Western Australia from 7.30am on Wednesday.

Sydney

Democrats Abroad is holding its party at Kent Street hotel from 9.30am on Wednesday.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage:
Laura Higley, former mayor of West University Place and longtime justice on the First District Court of Appeals, died Tuesday following a five-year struggle with Alzheimers disease. McElvy Communications

Laura Higley, former mayor of West University Place and longtime justice on the First District Court of Appeals, died Tuesday following a five-year struggle with Alzheimers disease, her family announced Thursday. She was 77.

Higley served as the mayor of West University for a single term from 1989 to 1991. During that time, she earned a law degree from the University of Houston and received her license from the Texas State Bar in 1990. Her husband, Bob Higley, also served as the mayor of West University from 2019 to 2021. He said his wife was a bold woman who decided to strike her own path during a time when women were generally expected to devote their lives to their families.

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"Laura, upon reflection, had committed herself to a test, Bob Higley said. Could a woman have a career and devote herself to her family and perform rewarding work in her community?"

It was a challenge Higley was more than willing to face, according to a news release from the family. She began working at Baker Botts LLP in 1989, the same year she became mayor of West University. Higley declined to pursue a partnership at the firm, which the Chronicle recently ranked as the third-largest law firm in the Houston area, and instead negotiated to work a three-quarter schedule that allowed her to make time for her family, according to the release.

The hours she missed to spend time with her family didn't hold her back. In 2002, after 13 years at Baker Botts, Higley pursued an open seat on Texas' First District Court of Appeals. She ran unopposed as a Republican and joined the nine-member panel in 2003. She ran again in 2008, this time against Democrat Leslie Taylor, whom she defeated by a margin of around 3% in the general election. She would hold the seat until her resignation in 2019.

Higley was also known for her philanthropy and volunteer work. Throughout her life, she held board positions for various Houston-area organizations like the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Junior League of Houston, Childrens Assessment Center and Bos Place. Former West University city council member and longtime friend, George Boehme, said in the release that she left an impact on the lives of everyone she met.

"Laura Higley was a remarkable woman whose kindness and dedication to justice left a lasting impact on everyone she encountered, Boehme said. "Her warmth and integrity will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her."

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She also became the subject of controversy in 2019 after it was revealed that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's while still serving as a sitting justice. That led to a much-publicized struggle on behalf of her sons, who began a legal push to get guardianship over the then-sitting justice. A dispute sparked between her sons, Garret and Carter Higley, and their father, which culminated in public mud-slinging from both sides. At issue was a more than $8 million estate, which the boys father accused the pair of trying to take before their parents had died.

Higley resigned later that year, and the legal dispute between her sons and husband was later resolved, according to documents filed with the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

She is survived by her husband, two sons and four grandchildren. A memorial service has been scheduled for Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Houston, where the Higleys were members for more than 50 years, according to the release. She will be buried at the Texas State Cemetery.
Robert Shonov, a Russian national, is escorted by officers in Moscow - Lefortovo District Court

Russia has jailed a former US embassy worker for five years, accusing him of illegally and covertly co-operating with the American government to harm national security.

Russias FSB security service detained Robert Shonov, a Russian national, in Vladivostok in May 2023 and accused him of taking money in exchange for covertly supplying US diplomats with information that was potentially harmful to Russia.

The US on Saturday condemned the conviction, calling it an egregious injustice.

The allegations against Mr Shonov are entirely fictitious and without merit, Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman, said in a statement.

A court in the Primorsky region in Russias far east confirmed in a statement on Friday that it had found Shonov guilty and had sentenced him to four years and 10 months in a penal colony.

Video of the verdict being read, released by the court, showed Shonov listening inside a courtroom cage as the judge sentenced him.

The FSB published a video in August 2023 showing a purported confession by Shonov in which he said two senior US diplomats based in Moscow whom Russia later expelled had asked him to collect information about Russias war effort in Ukraine, its annexation of new territories, its military mobilisation and the 2024 Russian presidential election.

In the video, Shonov said he was told to gather negative information on these topics, to look for signs of popular protest, and to reflect these in his reports.

It was not clear whether he was speaking under duress.

Shonov was employed by the US Consulate General in Vladivostok for more than 25 years until Russia in 2021 ordered the dismissal of the US missions local staff.

Relations between Moscow and Washington have plunged to their lowest level for decades over Russias war in Ukraine.
The group claims the Balfour Declaration was the British pledge that started the ethnic cleansing of Palestine

Credit: X / @Pal_action

Pro-Palestinian protesters launched a spate of anti-Israel vandalism attacks on buildings around the UK to mark the 107th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.

Palestine Action stole two busts of Israels first president from Manchester University and daubed campus buildings, along with a research centre and a Jewish charity office elsewhere, with red paint. Police are treating at least one of the attacks as a hate crime.

In London, Palestine Action sprayed the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre, on Hampstead High Street, with red paint, claiming it was funded by wealth made from manufacturing Israeli weapons and therefore fitted the groups wider ambition to dismantle Zionism.

The building is also home to The British Friends of the Jaffa Institute, a registered charity working to advance education and alleviate poverty and sickness in Jaffa, Israel.

Meanwhile in Cambridge, Palestine Action collaborated with students to spray the universitys Institute of Manufacturing and Senate House with red paint.

Senate House, in Cambridge, was sprayed with red paint - Jane Woodward/PA

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign organised a die-in at Downing Street, where demonstrators lay on the ground to commemorate Palestinians killed in the conflict with Israel, before marching to the US embassy to demand an immediate arms embargo.

Labour Against Anti-Semitism, a group of predominantly Jewish party members, has written to Sir Keir Starmer to voice concerns that Labour policies have ushered anti-Semitism onto British streets, making Jews feel unsafe and unwelcome.

The group criticised the Prime Minister for setting the tone by permitting regular hateful marches and the anti-Semitic hate-filled demonstration outside a Jewish community centre in Finchley, north London, on Oct 27.

It said: Once again, you need to put actions to your words and reassure the Jewish community that contemporary anti-Semitism, under the guise of humanitarian anti-Zionism, will not be tolerated.

It is not good enough to promise that schoolchildren will learn about the Holocaust when you are allowing Jewish children to be bullied on our streets.

A pro-Palestinian activist waves a Palestinian flag outside the University of Manchester - Paul Ellis/AFP

Palestine Action protesters seized the two busts of Chaim Weizmann, Israels first president, from a glass cabinet at the University of Manchester on Saturday, the 107th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.

Arthur Balfour, then the foreign secretary, outlined plans to form a national home for the Jewish people in a letter to Lord Rothschild, which was endorsed and published by the government on Nov 2 1917.

The group claimed Weizmann had lobbied Balfour into assisting the Zionist colonisation of Palestine when they both lived in Manchester at the start of the 20th century.

In a video it published, a pair of masked and hooded individuals attacked the glass cabinet housing the busts with mallets before loading the sculptures into their bags. A caption accuses Weizmann of securing the Balfour Declaration, which the group called a British pledge that set in motion the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

In a video published by the group, a pair of masked and hooded individuals attacked the glass cabinet housing the busts with mallets - x.com/Pal_action

In a statement, the group said: From the Balfour Declaration to today, the UK remains an active participant in the colonisation, genocide and occupation of Palestine.

On behalf of Britain, Balfour promised away the land of Palestine  which he never had the right to do. After the declaration until the Nakba in 1948, British soldiers killed, arrested and raped Palestinians.

During their colonial mandate, the British introduced home demolitions as collective punishment to repress Palestinian resistance and burnt down many indigenous villages. During this time, Weizmann was president of the World Zionist Organisation.

In London, the Metropolitan Police said it was treating the attack in Hampstead High Street as a hate crime.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley said: I know that incidents like this cause significant concern in the community. I want to offer my full reassurance that this incident will be robustly investigated. We have been clear that we have zero tolerance for hate crime.

Palestine Action also took responsibility for targeting a Jewish charitys office in Hendon, north-west London, spraying the Jewish National Fund building with red paint overnight.

The Jewish National Fund is described by the UKs Charity Commission as an organisation raising funds for environmental and humanitarian causes in Israel, spending 16.43 million on charitable activities last year.

The Jewish National Fund building was targeted overnight - x.com/nicolelampert/x.com

In Cambridge, Palestine Action objected to Balfours Cambridge University education and a portrait of the former foreign secretary, which had hung in Trinity College until recently.

In a statement, it said: Our universitys complicity in the genocide of the Palestinians runs deep. The criminology department at Cambridge University helps train Israeli police and military; the Department of Material Science partners with Israeli arms companies to produce armoured vehicles; Rolls-Royce operates out of the Institute for Manufacturing (IFM).

We must challenge complicity wherever we see it, so today we showed the world the true colours of these institutes of death  blood on the institutions walls for blood on the institutions hands.

The pride they take in perpetrating genocide, boasting about their links to manufacturers of death, cannot continue. Shame on the IFM, shame on the Department of Material Science, shame on Cambridge University.

On Saturday, the group called on its followers to smash, paint and occupy Rolls-Royce buildings.

In response to attacks Phil Rosenberg, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: All thinking people should condemn the thuggery and vandalism in London, Manchester and Cambridge this Shabbat by the Palestine Action group.

The defacement of buildings housing British Jewish charities and university property is intended to harass and intimidate. The environment it creates serves to make many Jews feel targeted and unsafe in this country, and ruins the public realm for the law-abiding public.

These actions must be punished with the full force of the law and we will be working with Government, police and university authorities to ensure that a firm line is drawn between legitimate protest and violent extremism.
Democracy in the US has been around for about 100 years longer than Australia but it has picked up some habits along the way that might seem strange (if youre Australian). Composite: Getty/AAP

You dont get the day off, but it is on a weekday in winter; theres no sausage sizzle; and, well, the loser might not accept the result. Elections in America are hard yakka.

Here is how they compare with Australias.

Timing

US presidential elections are held every four years and always in November  winter in the northern hemisphere. Specifically, theyre held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In Australia, elections must be held on a Saturday, and they can be called any time within three years, on a date determined by the governor general, upon request by the government.

Any why Tuesday? In the early days of US elections, most Americans were farmers and Tuesday gave them enough time (one day each way) to travel to the polling stations and back. Saturdays and Sundays were excluded for religious reasons and Wednesdays were often market days.

Compulsory voting  and suppression

Voting in Australia is compulsory, and failing to vote is punishable with fines. In the US, as in most of the world, voting is not compulsory. In 2020, about two-thirds of eligible voters turned out for the presidential elections.

In Australia, in order to vote you must have registered. At the polling station, you are asked your name and address, your name is crossed off a list, and you are given a ballot paper. Polls open at 8am and close at 6pm. People can also vote early by postal vote.

In the US, you must also have registered and most states require voters to present ID when voters. There are often long queues, and some states have laws about these queues.

In 2021, Georgia Republicans enacted SB202, a bill with sweeping voting restrictions, including a ban on giving out food or water within 150ft of a polling place or within 25ft of any voter standing in a line  which could extend well beyond the 150ft radius. Violating it is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

It can take hours to get to the front of the line in Georgia  some people waited 11 hours in the state in 2020  and the measures were widely seen as an obvious attempt to make it harder for Black voters to cast a ballot.

Counting and results

Both Australians and Americans mostly vote on paper ballots, though there are some electronic voting machines in the US.

In Australia, the Australian Electoral Commission usually provides an indication of the count on election night. There isnt an official result on the night, and indications of results  called by analysts and media, for example  depend on how close the count is.

In the US, unusually, the Associated Press news agency tallies votes and declares the winner, weeks before the official result. It has been done this way since 1848 because, the AP says: Basically, no one wanted to wait for weeks to find out who won elections.

They do this using more than 4,000 vote count reporters who report on the results, AP writes, from inside the locations where ballots are actually counted, phoning in raw vote totals as soon as they are available. In all, theres an AP vote count reporter at nearly every county election office in America on Election Day.

Changing hands

In the US, the new president is inaugurated more than two months after the elections, on 20 January, or 21 January if 20 January falls on a Sunday.

In Australia it happens within days. In 2022, the Australian PM, Anthony Albanese, was sworn in on the Monday following the election on Saturday.

Seats in parliament vs electoral college votes

In Australia, voters vote for members of parliament  from a given party  and the party that wins the majority of seats in the House of Representatives, which has 151 seats, chooses who they want to be their leader and therefore the prime minister.

In the US, voters vote for a president and running mate, or a ticket  for example, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz or Donald Trump and JD Vance.

But they are actually voting for a group of people called electors, who cast the electoral college votes. The candidate who receives the most votes from the people in a state is, in most cases, the candidate who receives all of the electoral votes of that state.

The presidential nominee with more than half of the electoral college votes becomes the president of the United States. Different states have different numbers of electoral college votes, with the number decided based on the census.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage:
Paris Fury has revealed she chose to shield her husband Tyson from the news of her miscarriage ahead of his world heavyweight fight in Saudi Arabia, citing high blood pressure as the reason she could not travel overseas.

The 34-year-old was six months pregnant with the couples eighth child when she was told their unborn son had no heartbeat during a routine gender scan.

The news came days before Tyson Fury lost his WBC world heavyweight boxing title to Oleksandr Usyk in May.

I had to make the decision, do I tell him? And I came to the conclusion that whatever was happening with me, I couldnt change it. But I could change dramatically what was happening in his life, Paris told the Mirror newspaper.

I made up a lie that I had high blood pressure. It was the only thing I could think of that would stop me from flying without having to give him the terrible news.

Tyson offered to send a private jet to fly Paris to Saudi Arabia, and later suggested he knew something was wrong when she declined but he didnt want to believe it.

Mother-of-seven Paris said she knew there was a problem during the gender scan when she could not see a heartbeat flickering on the screen.

The sonographer said to me, Im really sorry, Paris, theres no heartbeat. I jumped up, started to cry, and said, No, hold on, hold on. No, no, wait, and went all frantic, she told the newspaper.

Tyson Fury with his wife Paris in 2022 (Nick Potts/PA)

Paris praised the exceptional hospital staff who helped her give birth to her unborn son without being put to sleep.

She broke the news to Tyson when he arrived home after losing the fight against Usyk  who he will fight again on December 21.

At the time it feels like your world is ripped to pieces, Paris told the Mirror.

But I know everyone can get through it. And what is so traumatic one day, becomes a memory. You know, you had that little piece of life, even if its such a short time.

Mentally Im at ease with what went on. Physically, Im OK, she added.
A new tartan has been created for an international policing organisation in advance of its next general assembly, scheduled to take place in Scotland this month.

Interpol (the International Criminal Police Organisation) has had the new patterned cloth designed by one of the worlds leading tartan designers.

The cloth was commissioned by the Home Office ahead of Interpols 92nd general assembly, which is due to take place in Glasgow from November 4-7.

The general assembly is the forces supreme governing body, consisting of representatives from each of its 196 member countries.

Colin Brown of Ingles Buchan examines the freshly made Interpol tartan (Interpol/PA)

The Interpol tartan is loosely based on Scotlands Black Watch Regiment tartan, which was created in the 18th century.

The bespoke tartan features Interpols signature blue colour branding, interwoven with colours of the UK flag.

A wide, navy-blue band also features in the design. It is comprised of 92 threads, symbolising the 92 general assemblies.

On either side of the navy band, are threads signifying September 7 1923, the precise date of the 1923 Congress which marked the foundation of Interpol.

The Interpol tartan has now been added to the official Scottish Register of Tartans in Edinburgh.

Colin Brown, managing director of Ingles Buchan which produced the tartan, said: Tartan is woven into the fabric of our nation. It is part of Scotlands history.

It is lovely to see tartan being used for an organisation like Interpol, and this will be very unique for the delegates to have and to take back to their country as something with meaning to them.
A family reunion is set to shake up the lives of the Miligan family on ITV soap Emmerdale.

Ruby Fox-Miligan (Beth Cordingly), the estranged wife of businessman Caleb Miligan (William Ash), has been causing trouble in the fictional Yorkshire village since her arrival earlier this year and her family are set to cause further repercussions.

Her family, daughter Stephanie, played by Giri/Haji actress Georgia Jay, and father Anthony, played by Minder and The Crown actor Nicholas Day, will see Ruby forced to complete the unwelcome family reunion, the soap said.

Anthony (Nicholas Day), Stephanie (Georgia Jay), Ruby Fox-Miligan (Beth Cordingly) and Caleb Miligan (William Ash) (ITV/PA)

Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper said: Were delighted to be welcoming Nicholas and Georgia to Emmerdale as part of the Miligan family.

With so much yet to discover about Ruby, the arrival of her father and daughter will unlock her past and see Ruby and Caleb tested in ways weve never seen before.

With two actors of such great calibre, theyre certainly set to make their mark on the Dales.

Anthony is described as charismatic and someone who has mellowed in his old age, and seems like delightful company to the outside world, that has been missing from his daughter Rubys life for more than three decades.

Day said: Ive been made so welcome in the Emmerdale family. And my screen family is great to work with, the scenes just fly. No kidding  I feel blessed.

Stephanie will arrive in the village (ITV/PA)

Stephanie is confident and completely reckless, and has got the narcissistic need to win at all costs from her parents Ruby and Caleb, who she has not seen for more than 10 years.

Jay said: I am thrilled to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. The cast and crew have all been so welcoming, and Im very excited to see what lies ahead for Steph, given her intriguing backstory.

The casting follows Rubys mother Helen Fox, played by former Holby City actress Sharon Maughan, who famously starred in a string of coffee adverts, dying in recent episodes, along with Calebs increasingly strange business practices.

During an episode last month, Caleb got into an argument with Helen, when she was dying, about Stephanie, who had not been yet seen on screen.

Day and Jay will appear on screen later this month.

Emmerdale is on Monday to Friday on ITV, ITVX and STV.
Amsterdam  Two works by artist Andy Warhol were stolen during the night of Thursday to Friday from a gallery in the south of the Netherlands, while two other screenprints were abandoned nearby. The thieves used heavy explosives to break into the MPV Gallery in Oisterwijk in North Brabant province and took off with two screenprints showing former queens Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Margrethe II of Denmark, Dutch media NOS reported.

Gallery owner Mark Peet Visser told The Associated Press that the thieves attempted to make off with all four works from Warhol's 1985 series called "Reigning Queens," which also features portraits of the then-queens of the Netherlands and the small African kingdom of Swaziland, which is now known as Eswatini.

Four artworks depicting Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, part of a series titled Reigning Queens by Andy Warhol, (1985), are seen on exhibit at the former Royal Palace turned museum Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, in an Oct. 9, 2024 file photo. / Credit: Peter Dejong/AP

Visser told the AP in a phone interview that the heist was captured on security cameras, and he called it "amateurish" for the brutish methods used to steal the prints.



"The bomb attack was so violent that my entire building was destroyed," he told the news agency. "So, they did that part of it well, too well, actually, and then they ran to the car with the artworks and it turns out that they won't fit in the car... At that moment the works are ripped out of the frames and you also know that they are damaged beyond repair, because it is impossible to get them out undamaged."

The works depicting former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Swaziland were found abandoned on the street.

"The entrance of the gallery was blown out and there was glass all around the building," broadcaster NOS said.



Well-known Dutch art detective Arthur Brand said "it is strange that explosives were used."



"That's not common for art thefts," said Brand, who has made headlines for recovering artworks including a missing Picasso and a stolen Van Gogh.



The "Reigning Queens" series by Pop Art pioneer Warhol was on display in the gallery before going on sale at the PAN Amsterdam art fair, which runs from November 24 to December 1.

"The works are worth a considerable sum," the owner of the gallery Mark Peet Visser told local media Omroep Brabant.



Brand, however, told AFP the stolen artworks were "not unique and most likely tens of them were made."



"This makes it easier to sell than unique works, but not that much easier," he said.



La MPV Gallery did not instantly respond to a request for comment by AFP.



The "Reigning Queens" series was created in 1985, two years before the American artist's death, when all four queens were in power.

Trump says of Liz Cheney, "Put her with a rifle standing there with 9 barrels shooting at her"

Trump uses garbage truck to needle Biden, Harris

Sneak peek: Fatal First Date
Cecily Strong attends the Ad Council's 69th Annual Public Service Award Dinner at The Glasshouse on Nov. 30, 2023, in New York City.

Cecily Strong is preparing to welcome a new member to her family.

The "Saturday Night Live" alum announced in a Friday Instagram post that she is "very happily pregnant from IVF at 40" and "really hopeful" to meet her "little miss thing" next spring. In the first photo, she is wearing a "pregnant, pro-choice and proud" shirt.

In a lengthy caption, Strong revealed it felt "insane and scary to disclose all of this" and took the opportunity to encourage Americans to vote in Tuesday's general elections.

"A couple years ago I did a piece on SNL as Goober the Clown who had an abortion the day before her 23rd birthday. Im happy to report that same clown is now very happily pregnant from IVF at 40," she wrote. "Its kind of insane and scary to disclose all of this. But for me- its much scarier to think about what could happen after Tuesdays election."

"I currently live in a state where I will be able to receive all the healthcare I may possibly need. But we wont be safe anywhere in the US if there is (a) national ban like the one promised by Project 2025," she added. "The Supreme Court has already decided its ok to let some of us die depending on our geography and the current Republican nominee brags about being responsible for that Supreme Court decision."

Trump has attempted to distance himself from Project 2025, a nearly 1,000-page political playbook from conservative advocacy groups including the Heritage Foundation that lays out a road map for the first six months of a potential second Trump administration. Many of his allies and former administration officials were involved in drafting the blueprint, which proposes banning drugs used in medication abortions,

Strong reflected on the waiting rooms she has found herself in while seeking various reproductive health services.

"Ive seen so many women in these waiting rooms going through their own struggles and journeys with their reproductive health and family planning and bodily autonomy. Some look relieved. Some look excited. Some look fearful. Some look like they are carrying the deep sadness of prior losses and the even deeper hope of some good news finally," she wrote.

"Some look as simply dumbstruck happy to be there as me as Forrest Gump on my transfer day. But the one thing nobody in those rooms has ever looked is unable to make her own decisions," she continued. "Lets all please vote to protect and uplift and support all of us that share or have shared those waiting rooms together. And for the future ones like the little miss thing Im really really hopeful Ill get to meet next spring."

Strong  who was part of "SNL's" cast from 2012 to 2022, with a brief stint as a "Weekend Update" co-anchor  performed in her final episode in December 2022. She also starred in 2016's "Ghostbusters" and was a voice actor in "The Garfield Movie." Earlier this year, she had a lead role in the New York theater production of the romcom "Brooklyn Laundry."

Contributing: George Fabe Russell, USA TODAY Network

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL' alum Cecily Strong is pregnant, expecting her first child
The post-Brian Niccol era is underway at Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG), and it's off to an inauspicious start.

Shares of the burrito chain are down about 8% since the company missed top-line estimates and reported its slowest earnings growth in more than two years.

Chipotle posted same-store sales growth of 6%, which contributed to revenue's 13% rise to $2.79 billion, though that fell short of the analyst consensus at $2.82 billion.

Further down the income statement, its restaurant-level operating margin fell from 26.3% to 25.5% as food costs rose due to higher prices for avocados and dairy. Management also said it used more ingredients due to efforts to ensure "consistent and generous portions."

However, the company saved money in stock-based compensation expense due to Niccol's departure, and operating margin increased from 16.0% to 16.9%, leading earnings per share up 17% to $0.28. That topped the consensus estimate at $0.25, but it was also the company's slowest earnings growth in the last two years.

With Niccol now at Starbucks, Chipotle is at a pivotal moment. Let's take a look at three questions management needs to answer for investors.

A Chipotle restaurant in Arizona.

Image source: Chipotle.

1. Will Scott Boatwright be the permanent CEO?

Niccol announced his departure more than two months ago and officially left for Starbucks in September.

Chipotle and its investors were clearly surprised by the move, and the company promoted Chief Operating Officer Scott Boatwright to interim CEO.

The future of Chipotle's leadership is still unclear, but investors deserve some clarity on the situation, at the very least by the next earnings report.

Keeping Boatwright on as the permanent CEO would seem to make sense based on the company's success under Niccol, as he's likely the best prepared to carry on that legacy.

The company previously said, "Boatwright played a critical role as part of the leadership team that created and executed the turnaround strategy," and he "will continue to execute the company's strategic plan without interruption."

While there's a clear blueprint for Chipotle's growth, whoever the next CEO is will have to put their own imprint on the company as well, and Chipotle's board should make that decision sooner rather than later.

2. How high can restaurant-level operating margin go?

Chipotle is a straightforward business, and there are only a few key drivers to its performance. The company has to open new restaurants, grow same-store sales, and, ideally, expand its margins.

Of all its margins, restaurant-level operating margin, which subtracts food, labor, rent, and other direct operating costs from revenue, is the most important.

Chipotle had been steadily growing restaurant-level operating margin, but that hit a wall in the third quarter as it fell from 26.3% to 25.5%. The company has never given a target for restaurant-level operating margin, but investors seemed to have assumed it can continue pushing higher, especially as the company grows same-store sales.

As a restaurant business, there's a ceiling on the metric as Chipotle cannot scale the same way a tech company can. But with the stock trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of nearly 55, investors seem to be counting on continued margin expansion, and they could use some clarity from management on what the long-term expectations are.

3. Are there better options for its capital?

Chipotle is now spending most of its profits on share buybacks, but that seems like a questionable strategy with the valuation as high as it is.

Past efforts to launch new brands, including ShopHouse, Pizzeria Locale, Tasty Burger, and Farmesa have all failed. But there are other options for Chipotle, such as investing in existing restaurant chains or new technology that could transform the industry.

Chipotle also seems like a mature enough company to pay a dividend, but it hasn't initiated one yet. Paying a dividend would complement the share repurchases program.

Overall, the company's capital deployment strategy should be a focus for the incoming CEO.

Is Chipotle a buy?

Chipotle is still a wonderful business, but with its premium valuation, uncertainty around its leadership, and slowing growth on the bottom line, there are reasons to hit the brakes.

The company aims to open 7,000 restaurants in North America, but that's less than double what it has today. In other words, it will need to deliver strong comparable sales growth for the stock to pay off from here.

Given its undisputed leadership in the fast casual industry, Chipotle is still a solid pick for long-term investors. But I'd like to see more clarity from management on the questions raised above -- and possibly a lower share price -- before calling the stock a buy.

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Images of the solar power plant, renewable electric power at Flix near Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain in 2020 Credit - Albert Llop/NurPhotoGetty Images

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Kamala Harris and Donald Trump couldn't be further apart when it comes to climate change, and the election will have profound impacts for how the countryand the worldaddresses the issue going forward. But no matter the election results, companies should think about new ways to talk about climate change.

In the years following the emergence of climate change as a global issue, companies often portrayed their environmental initiatives as efforts to do the right thing. Since then, the business case for acting on climate change has become stronger, from regulatory pressure to cut emissions to the effects of extreme weather on supply chains. Yet, rather than pivoting to talk about the business case, for many companies the do the right thing messaging approach persists. Other businesses have simply tried to avoid talking about the topic publicly, fearing political backlash.

Businesses are often facing a damned if you do, damned if you dont situation on climate action, says Maria Mendiluce, CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition. This has to change.

Potential Energy Coalition, a non-profit marketing firm that works on climate change, collaborated with We Mean Business on some research into this topic, and their findings suggest a different way forward. The non-profit convened a series of surveys and focus groups with consumers and retail investors to interrogate their views on how companies talk about climate change. The research found that the vast majority of consumers believe companies have a responsibility to act on climate, but that many are turned off by suggestions that its a moral imperative. On the other hand, talking about the costs and benefits of actingin other words, the materiality of actingfaces limited opposition.

The data is really clear. If you position it as a morality issue or political issue, you're going to impress a lot of people, and you're going to upset a lot of people, says Potential Energy CEO John Marshall. That doesn't work very well for a business.

The solution, according to the research, is fairly simple. Talk about the risks extreme weather poses to infrastructure, about participating in growth markets, and about the real financial impacts. Indeed, the research found that consumers and retail investors across the political spectrum expect that firms should evaluate the implications of climate and clean energy on the business. At the same time, the research says businesses should avoid talking about right and wrong," and skip loaded, amorphous words and phrases like sustainability and ESG, short for environment, social, and governance.

Anchoring business discussions of climate in their financial materiality would be a crucial move in the event of a Trump victory next week. In recent years, Trump and Republicans in Congress have targeted ESG initiatives and claimed that companies engaged in them are wasting money in the interest of so-called virtue signaling. Explaining climate efforts in financial terms could help, at least to some extent, avoid some of those critiques. It would also give companies language to fight back against potential Trump-led environmental rollbacks.

But, even if Harris wins, it will be useful for companies to rethink their language. A materiality lens appeals to a broader consumer audiencewhile minimizing risk of a backlash. And it could help make political headway as policymakers increasingly worry about spending money on anything that could raise costs.

Its also just true that climate change is having material impacts for companies, consumers, and investors. To my mind, its more useful for society if companies tell us about those impacts than explain right and wrong.

Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com.
Many Korean actors and actresses have transformed themselves in 2024 to make a point that they could play a variety of challenging roles. Among them is Kim Tae Ri, along with Kim Ji Won and Lim Ji Yeon. They are attracting an audience with their different appearances and complex layers of characters.

Kim Tae Ri

Kim Tae Ri has gained acclaim for her unforgettable performance in "The Handmaiden. " This year, she portrayed a complex character in "Jeong Nyeon: the Star is Born."

Her performance in the role has been praised by critics and fans, with many noting the complexity she brought to the character marking a departure from her past roles.

Kim Ji Won

Kim Ji Won is making a dramatic splash in "Queen of Tears" as a glamorous but divided woman who equally despises the husband she can't be without.

The drama depicts her as a titan cum maelstrom of human misery, navigating personal chaos while twisting in the winds of her public image  and it's already winning her awards.

Lim Ji Yeon

Lim Ji Yeon is another star who stepped up this year as she took on double roles, starring in the film Revolver and in the series The Life of Mrs. Ock.

One of the best on-screen performances, according to fans, shows Lim's versatility and commitment to the role  earning her an inclusive casting credit known for her intensity.

Kim Seo Hyung

Kim Seo Hyung is back on screen after a brief break in "Hide," where she takes on a much more sinister tone.

Her performance in such a psychologically ambitious role will come as exhilarating news for the new drama, especially as she's known for playing lighter types.

Go Yoon Jung

Go Yoon Jung is gaining fame for her portrayal in the movie "Moving." Recently, she played the role of a doctor in the drama "A Life of a Resident That Will Be Wise Someday."

Fans are drawn to her character's growth as a young doctor who is ready to make sacrifices during her training.

Her standout performance in "Hospital Playlist" further solidified her reputation as a talent to keep an eye on in the industry.

The remarkable performances in 2024 highlighted aspects of each star's talent and made it a year to remember for groundbreaking roles in Korea.

What can you say about the story? Share your comments below:

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Rovelyn Barba
The strong year for Crocs (NASDAQ: CROX) suddenly came to a screeching halt after the company issued disappointing guidance. Even after the big pullback, shares of the casual footwear company are still up nearly 20% on the year. Let's look at Croc's most recent report and guidance to see if this is a buying opportunity.

HeyDude remains an issue

It has been a tale of two brands with Crocs the past couple of years, with its namesake brand flourishing, while its HeyDude brand, which it acquired in 2022, has floundered.

HeyDude once again was the main issue for the company when it reduced its guidance, because it said it was taking longer than planned to help turn the brand around.

For the third quarter, HeyDude revenue sank 17.4% to $204 million. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue fell by 9.3% to $91 million, while comparable DTC sales sank 22.2%.

Wholesale revenue plunged 22.9% to $113 million. The company projected the brand's sales to be down 4% to 6% in the fourth quarter and 14.5% for the year, which was worse than the 8% to 10% drop it was previously expecting.

The company will look to build upon the core of its Wendy and Wally shoes, while adding models. It is still looking to stabilize North America by focusing on its core, younger female audience.

Crocs shoes.

Image source: Getty Images

The Crocs brand, meanwhile, continued to show strength, with revenue climbing 7.4% to $858 million. Crocs DTC revenue rose 7.7%, with comparable DTC revenue up 4.8%. Wholesale revenue increased 7.1%. International growth led the way, with sales surging 15.5% to $367 million, while North America revenue edged up 2.1% to $491 million.

While China has been a difficult market for many brands recently given the country's economy, the Crocs brand saw more than 20% growth in the country. It also called out strength in Australia, France, and Germany. Looking toward next year, the company expects China and India to be nice growth drivers.

Overall, revenue at Crocs rose 1.6% to $1.06 billion. DTC sales increased 4.4%, while wholesale revenue fell 1.4%. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) jumped 10.8% to $3.60. This was helped by the company buying back 1.1 million shares in the quarter.

Adjusted gross margins were solid, rising 220 basis points to 59.6%. However, it did see a spike in operating expenses with selling, general, and administrative costs up 19.4%. On the balance sheet, inventory was down to $367 million from $490 million a year earlier. The company reduced its net debt to $1.24 billion from $1.81 billion a year ago.

Crocs guided for fourth-quarter sales to be flat to slightly up, which would be just over $960 million in revenue, and for adjusted EPS of between $2.20 to $2.28. Those numbers were well below the consensus calling for EPS of $2.72 on revenue of $1 billion.

Can Crocs stock rebound?

Trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of only 8 times next year's analyst estimates, Crocs stock is cheap. At this point, nearly all of the company's profits are coming from its main brand, with little contribution from HeyDude.

CROX PE Ratio (Forward 1y) Chart

CROX PE ratio (forward 1y), data by YCharts.

The HeyDude acquisition was clearly a mistake by Crocs. The brand has greatly underperformed expectations. The company must fix it or jettison it at this point. That said, the core Crocs brand has been performing very well. It's done a nice job expanding internationally, while also introducing new silhouettes, and innovating with its Echo and InMotion franchises.

If not dragged down by HeyDude, the stock would likely command a higher multiple given the Crocs brand solid revenue growth and margins. As such, I'd be a buyer of the stock at current levels, as I believe the Crocs brand business alone is worth more than the current valuation of the stock.

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Climate activists march over Brooklyn Bridge to protest fossil fuels on Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. Credit - Selcuk AcarGetty Images

Gathering at a rooftop venue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in late October, a group of Gen Z influencers and activists hosted ZCON, a two-day meeting that aims to channel Gen Z values into action and reinvent the conference experience. The idea is to bring together like-minded individuals, connecting nonprofit and private sector businesses with Gen Z activists, influencers, and thought leaders. Following its debut in Los Angeles in 2023, ZCONs goal is to highlight the ways that Gen Z is particularly affected by issues impacting the younger generation, and how they are working towards solutions.

I see ZCON as a creative classroom where different people come together to express their forms of art, whether that's through lifestyle, education, or activism, Isaias Hernandez, a climate activist who spoke at ZCON in 2023, tells TIME. And to me, it also does not just bring all these young people together, it brings brands, philanthropists, different people from the private sector, to understand the ways in which stories can be molded.

ZCON attendees are well-versed in the ways that Gen Z and younger activists are utilizing social media and influencer culture to tell their stories and call for change.

Within panels and breakout groups, ZCON creates space for young activists to commiserate and come together For the 2024 session, the ongoing climate crisis was understandably at the center of the impact discussions, which also held a particular focus on social impact work, such as climate education and communication, as well as fundraising tactics for nonprofits. The Gen Z climate activists are aware that they do not speak for the entire climate activist spaceand admit that they may not agree on everything. Yet, they still see ZCON as a space to imagine what comes next for their community, and what might be achieved in the future.

Here is what Gen Z climate activists are prioritizing in the coming year:

Environmental justice policy

Environmental justice looks at addressing the ways that the climate crisis can and has disproportionately impacted certain vulnerable groups. For Alexia Leclercq, a speaker at ZCON, environmental justice is personal to her, as shes watched the climate crisis affect her indigenous community and other communities of color.

Though they see Justice 40the federal governments initiative to flow 40% of the overall benefits of certain climate and energy initiatives to marginalized communitiesas a good step, Leclercq believes there's more work to do.

Now that it's kind of like rolled out for a couple years, we've seen gaps in it, and how communities of color are still not getting funding the support necessary, she says. Okay, this was step one. How do we move forward from there?

Hernandez also emphasizes the need for focusing on communities of colorparticularly through federal policy and accountability. He sees Gen Z as the generation who will not take the status quo and will keep pushing for policy that cuts against things like animal agriculture subsidies and pushes for policies examining the environmental footprints of the private sector and equitable access to clean water and sustainable transportation.

I still think that there's a lot of climate policies that can be pushed within the environmental justice lens, and that looks into making sure that Americans, for example, have access to clean water, Hernandez says. And the second thing is transportation. We are increasing our population size each year as a society, and we need to be able to work with the public sector and governmental agencies to expand our public infrastructure.

Alexia Leclercq (third from the left) and Jorge Alvarez (right) speak on a panel about technologys role in connecting people at ZCON 2024. Nick Dybel, Ari ElgharsiUTA Next Gen

Education and job access

Another undercurrent of conversations happening among Gen Z activists centers on the need for education and access to green jobs for young people entering the workforce and wanting to combat the climate crisis.

Leclercq points to her home state of Texaswhere consistent battles have been fought at the local and state levels over how climate change messaging is delivered in school classrooms.

Project 2025 didn't come out of nowhere, she says. I think it's really important for the environmental movement to be in the classroom with a narrative that goes beyond science and merges messaging with a social and political understanding of our current state.

Sage Lenier, executive director of Gen Z focused Sustainable & Just Future, attended ZCON with a goal in mind: How to equip her fellow Gen Z-ers with accurate and solution-oriented climate education. For Lenier, who was named one of TIMEs Next Generation Leaders in 2023, part of that education includes sharing how individuals can make an impact with their everyday choices, and making sure that the climate crisis is everybodys problem.

It is our consumption habits; it is our society. The world's global supply chain is built on serving us, she says, sharing her thoughts on Western societies. I think we need to shift towards more people understanding that this [the climate crisis] needs an economic resolution.

Jorge Alvarez, a mental health advocate who recently has been working more towards addressing climate anxiety, also focused on how hard it is for Gen Z to enter into the working force right now. Hes hearing from his peers that they need more opportunities for green jobs specifically.

We need to fund pipeline programs, specifically for young people when it comes to green jobs, and also more people of color engagement workperiod, Alvarez says.

Read More: 7 Ways to Deal With Climate Despair

Balancing optimism and urgency

For activists like Alvarez, mental health is a core focus. Climate change anxiety is a serious issue for young people. About two-thirds of Americans (65%) report being worried about global warming, according to a January 2024 report from the Yale Program for Climate Communication.

Hernandez is also focused on climate anxiety, and says that in 2025, hes hoping to have more conversations about how as a community young people can come together to have conversations that drive action forward, all while looking towards a brighter future.

Yet, Lenier says that this optimism must be balanced with the urgency and realities of how climate change will actually affect Gen Z in the future. We need to start doing that work to prepare for the worst, she says. I think, right now, there needs to be work around, like lean, dialing in on the essentials, like food, energy, you know, infrastructure, those kinds of things, right? That's the bare, bare, bare minimum.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Four years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans had to wait days to find out the results of the presidential race. For the first time in decades, voters woke up on Wednesday morning still in limbo, unsure which way the country would turn. Now, with just days until the 2024 election, its on many minds  will that happen again?

Whether the election outcome is known on election night or a few days later will be determined by the combination of two things: how close the margin is and what the rules are for opening, processing and counting mail and early ballots in the key swing states.

The biggest factor in the 2020 delay was the dramatic increase in mail voting, as people tried to protect themselves and their communities from illness. But the increase  65 million mail ballots were cast  ran up against laws in certain states that restricted, and delayed, when those ballots could be opened, processed and counted. It was obvious from the outset of the pandemic that, absent a landslide win, the winner of the 2020 presidential election would not be known on election night.

This was, and is still, totally normal. Election results have never actually been finalized on election night. But the public is accustomed to television (and now online) news sources projecting winners based on incomplete results on election night, leading to the perception that the results are conclusive.

While the official 2020 result remained in limbo, it was possible to predict which way the election would tilt based on partisan voting behaviors. Since Democrats took pandemic precautions more seriously and then-President Donald Trump spent months discouraging and demonizing mail voting, the outstanding ballots were known to tilt heavily in favor of Joe Biden. This dynamic created a red mirage on election night, where the in-person votes cast and counted on Election Day quickly skewed heavily in favor of Trump, while the mail ballots, which were counted later, would cause a blue shift in the vote total in favor of Biden.

In predictable fashion, Trump exploited this situation in 2020 with a torrent of lies. He declared at 2 a.m. after election night that a fraud on the American public had taken place by election workers counting the pro-Biden mail ballots after counting the more pro-Trump in-person votes.

Frankly, we did win this election, he added. It was the first step in what would become the Big Lie of his attempt to deny, and overturn, the election. He first sought to block the counting of the mail ballots and, when that failed, to prevent states he lost from being counted in the Electoral College vote, which culminated in the attack on the Capitol he fomented on Jan. 6, 2021.

Today, those same dynamics remain in effect in many of the key swing states, although there have been some changes.

Former President Barack Obama holds hands with Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris during a campaign rally in Clarkston, Georgia. DREW ANGERER via Getty Images

The biggest change is obvious: Far fewer voters in key states are casting mail ballots than in 2020. This could make reporting results quicker in some of these states. On the other hand, some states  specifically Republicans in those states  continue to disallow mail ballots to be processed and counted prior to Election Day. That makes the count slower and helps produce the conditions for the red mirage and blue shift.

This is how and when (eastern time) polls in each of the seven swing states close  and what factors will determine when we learn which ones ultimately tilted for either Vice President Kamala Harris or Trump.

7 p.m.: Georgia

The swing state with the earliest poll closing time was also one of the last to be decided in 2020. Georgia officials declared Biden the winner of the state on Nov. 19  two weeks after the election. After multiple audits, state officials determined Biden beat Trump by just 11,779 votes.

The long wait for a final result back then was driven by the pandemic-induced deluge of mail ballots and the razor-thin margin.

Georgians cast a record 1.3 million ballots by mail in 2020. So far this year, that number is way down, with slightly more than 300,000 mail ballots requested. These ballots can be processed prior to Election Day and counted beginning at 7 a.m. on Election Day. This could speed up the reporting and projection of a final result, but, if that result is as close as it was in 2020, that speed will depend on how many mail ballots are returned on or just before Election Day. With days left before the election, less than 45% of mail ballots have been returned, according to the University of Floridas Election Lab.

Another sign for who will win an Electoral College majority may come from a state not currently seen as a decisive swing state. Florida also reports its results at 7 p.m. and, because it allows mail ballots to be processed and counted before Election Day, it is highly efficient in reporting full results. If Florida  which swung for Trump in 2016 and 2020  is too close to call at this point, its almost a given that Harris is having a good night.

7:30 p.m.: North Carolina

Like Georgia, the winner of the North Carolina presidential race in 2020 was not called for a week after election day. Trump won it narrowly by about 74,000 votes. What delayed the final tally back then was, like in Georgia, the large number of mail ballots and the narrow margin between the candidates.

But mail voting is down significantly from four years ago, with around 413,000 ballots requested this year compared to a little more than 977,000 returned and accepted in 2020.

However, North Carolina Republicans have also heavily restricted the ability of election workers to process and count not only mail ballots, but in-person early votes via new laws passed in 2023. Where election workers could previously process and count both mail ballots and in-person early votes before Election Day, they now must wait to do both until the polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. This is significant, as a huge chunk of the states vote count comes from early in-person voting. So far, nearly 1.9 million North Carolinians have voted early in-person  or around one-third of the states total turnout in 2020.

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dances as he leaves the stage after a campaign rally in State College, Pennsylvania. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU via Getty Images

Those who watch election results in North Carolina have come to expect a large chunk of results very soon after polls close, Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said in a statement in February. That will not happen this year.

One other change made in North Carolina that will affect when a winner will be declared is to the mail ballot receipt deadline. In 2020, mail ballots in the state could be counted if they were postmarked on or before Election Day and received within the next nine days. Republicans in the state legislature, however, required that mail ballots only be counted if they are received prior to the close of polls on Election Day.

The possibility of outstanding ballots stuck in the mail for nine days after the election is one reason why Trump was not declared the winner until 10 days after Election Day. That cant happen this time.

8 p.m.: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania delivered the necessary electoral votes for Biden to officially clinch the race in 2020 when it was finally called four days after the election. Like many other states, it took time to project a winner in the state due to heavy mail voting during the pandemic, and because Republicans refused to change the law to allow election officials process and count ballots before Election Day.

Republicans in the state legislature have maintained that stance. State Senate Republicans refused to consider a bill to allow pre-Election Day ballot processing that had passed the Democratic-controlled House on a party line vote in May, meaning officials can only start counting ballots after polls close on Election Day.

So far, Pennsylvania voters have requested more than 2 million mail ballots. Thats down from 3 million in 2020, but is still a lot for election officials to process beginning on Election Day. This means that vote-counting could take time in the state many view as the keystone for the electoral college winner. Unless Harris or Trump runs away with the state, dont expect a call on election night.

9 p.m.: Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin

In 2020, Michigan was called for Biden in the evening of the Wednesday after Election Day. Among the swing states that year, Michigan counted its crush of mail ballots somewhat faster because poll workers in some cities could process those ballots beginning the day before the election. Poll workers in Michigan should be able to count ballots even faster this time after voters and Democratic Party legislators enacted sweeping constitutional amendments and laws reforming the states election code in response to Trumps effort to undo the states election.

Kamala Harris arrives to speak during a tour of the Corning, Inc. Hemlock Semiconductor headquarters in Hemlock, Michigan. JEFF KOWALSKY via Getty Images

The most crucial change among them is that large jurisdictions can now begin processing and tabulating mail ballots up to eight days before the election. This means that Wayne County, home to Detroit, can pre-process ballots early to allow them to be quickly counted on election night after the polls close, which is at 8 p.m. for most of the state, but 9 p.m. for a small part of the upper western portion.

Election workers already did this in Wayne County during a primary election in August. The county was able to report up to 80% of its mail ballots by 10:30 p.m. on election night thanks to this change, according to VoteBeat.

This should allow the states reporting to avoid the optics of an extremely lopsided overnight Blue Shift (not that theres actually anything wrong with that) that Trump and Republicans used for their false claims of fraud.

Another change that should speed things along in Michigan is the expansion of in-person early voting. Although voters could vote early in person in 2020, they had to do so with an absentee ballot that would be subject to the same limitations on processing and tabulating as mailed ballots. Now, early in-person votes can be immediately scanned into the system on Election Day and reported as soon as the polls close.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, made no such changes. Thats largely due to the fact that Wisconsins legislature remains firmly in the hands of Republicans, who, for whatever reason, do not want to speed up the counting of ballots on Election Day.

In 2020, Wisconsin was called for Biden in the afternoon of the day after Election Day  a few hours before Michigan. The number of mail ballots should be lower this year than in 2020, but the counting process will be the same. That could delay the reporting of a winner until the next day if the election is as close as it was in 2020 or 2016, both years in which the state was decided by under a point and a half.

Determining a winner in Arizona, however, may take longer. In 2020, Biden was projected to win the state in the afternoon on the day after the election, but other calls in recent close races in the state have not been so quick. The Senate race between then-Democrat Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Martha McSally in 2018 took a week to resolve. It took six days after the 2022 gubernatorial election before Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, was declared the winner over Republican Kari Lake.

The main reason why election calls can be drawn out in Arizona is because a very large portion of the states voters hand-deliver their absentee ballots  which they call early ballots  on Election Day. These late early ballots accounted for nearly 20% of all votes cast in Maricopa County, the states most populous county, in 2022. Arizona law requires election workers to wait to open and process these ballots until the polls close and all voters have left the polling location. This can delay this process from beginning for an hour or more.

People vote on the first day of in-person early voting at Desert Breeze Community Center on Oct. 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller via Getty Images

Arizona Republicans added an additional step in February that will likely draw out this process even further. County election officials now must count and report the number of ballots at the voting location before those ballots are then transported to a central processing location.

For these reasons, Maricopa County supervisors warned that achieving a full count of the likely 2 million-plus votes counted there will take between 10 and 13 days. That doesnt mean it wont be possible for the press to project a winner before then, but dont hold your breath.

10 p.m.: Nevada

Nevada is the final swing state to see its polls close on election night. The race there is expected to be extremely close, and a call for a winner is highly unlikely for a few days after the election.

The state adopted all-mail voting with in-person options following the pandemic, which means that, like Arizona, ballots received on or after Election Day will take time to process and count. Nevada also allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to count if they are received within four days of the election. So, while election officials can open and process ballots prior to Election Day, these late ballots could push any call in a tight race off for days.

That is what has happened in many of the top-billed statewide elections. In 2020, Biden was declared winner of the state a few hours after Pennsylvania delivered him the Electoral College win four days following the election. The 2022 gubernatorial race between Democrat Steve Sisolak and Republican Joe Lombardo was similarly not decided in Lombardos favor for four days. Meanwhile, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) was not declared the winner of her race against Republican Adam Laxalt until five days after Election Day in 2022.

If the race is as close as polls say, do not expect a call until at least the weekend.
Singing has saved me and I hope it will save others too, writes Daniella Gonzalez Weil

It was Christmas in December 2006. One moment I was packing my suitcase to see my partners family in Warwickshire and the next thing I knew, I was being stretchered down the stairs of my London apartment to an ambulance. Later, my partner Chris told me that he had found me collapsed on the floor of our bedroom. We dont know how long for, but it was probably around five minutes. When I woke in the night in Charing Cross hospital, I tried to tell someone I needed the loo but the word wouldnt come out. It was terrifying.

I was only 34, but after about 72 hours of tests, the doctors said I had had a stroke.

Chris says that although I was almost unconscious during those first three days, it was clear that my body was paralysed down the right-hand side. I had facial disfigurement and I could only grunt and gesticulate. I spent three months on the ward, where I worked with speech, occupational and physical therapists. They gave me a chalkboard and, with my left hand, I managed to scratch out the odd word like drink.

After a few weeks, I was able to walk on a frame but I still couldnt talk or move my right arm, although I understood what people said. Someone explained that I had aphasia, which is usually caused by a stroke (about 38 per cent of stroke survivors are affected) and that if I did manage to talk again, it might not be for months or even years. I felt very helpless and depressed. I couldnt imagine life without speaking, so I was determined to fight.

Speech therapy

It was the speech therapist who suggested that I try to sing because the part of my brain that is responsible for singing wasnt affected. I liked this idea because I come from a musical family. We were always singing around the house, usually songs from the 70s.

I could just about manage a few words from kids songs but couldnt progress much beyond that. Although I am fluent in English (having been at school here as a child and then returning in my twenties), my speech therapist suggested that stimulating my mother tongue back in Spain might help develop my language capabilities.

I ended up in residential care for over six months at the Institute for Stroke Recovery in Madrid. My niece had just been born so I naturally started singing Spanish baby songs to her even though I couldnt talk. Then I tried another favourite: Doe a Deer, a Female Deer from The Sound of Music. It felt like such a breakthrough. I found that I could sing snatches of The Carpenters too. Then I discovered that after about a year of singing and physio, I was able to start piecing words together and speaking simple sentences again, even if they werent always that clear. It was such a relief but I knew I still had some way to go.

Unable to work

My partner commuted back and forth from London but we missed being together. I moved back to the UK in 2008, three years after my stroke. But I was physically unable to work (Id been in marketing).

My good friends kept up with me but it was frustrating that we couldnt have the conversations wed had before. I kept having speech therapy but four years after my stroke, I had a heart attack followed by an autoimmune disorder called lupus. The doctors said this was caused by antiphospholipid syndrome (also known as sticky blood), which had caused my stroke in the first place.

I wondered what else life was going to throw at me.

I was told that pregnancy is dangerous because of my sticky blood syndrome. So Chris and I decided to get two pointer dogs, who are our babies, writes Weil

By then, Id found London too busy to deal with after everything Id been through, so we moved to Bath. There I discovered the local branch of The Stroke Association and went on to assist a support group with one of the wonderful organisers, Liz Jeggo. Now, every fortnight, we meet up with young stroke survivors. One is a writer called Rebecca Paulinyi, who had a stroke in her twenties and has since written a chick-lit novel called At The Stroke of Thirty, which is about a woman who rebuilds her life after a stroke just before her thirtieth birthday.

When Liz told me that they were setting up an independent Bath Aphasia choir, I burst into tears of joy. At rehearsals, we had pictures and words on a screen to help us as we sang songs such as Bring Me Sunshine. It was really inspiring. I also found that there was a crossover of vocabulary, which helped my talking.

During the coronavirus pandemic, we went on Zoom and people from all over the country joined us. It was wonderful to see everyones faces light up when the world  and our own health  was so uncertain. We created a song in which each member wrote about their own anxiety of not speaking.

Now we meet regularly in person. There are about 30 of us. Everyone is able to take part in their own way: we love the solidarity and companionship. One member was a guitarist before his stroke and now he is playing again. Carers and families also sing with us because it gives them release. I hardly ever miss a session and if I do, I try to join in on Zoom. Singing also gives me confidence in everyday speech.

Theres no magic cure. Just hope and therapy. Im one of the lucky ones who can talk in sentences now. But its hard to find the right words at times. Speaking after a stroke can be so exhausting for us survivors and many of us find conversation tiring. I know my vocabulary is still limited and that Im not as articulate as I was. If strangers talk to me, they can tell after a few minutes that something isnt quite right.

Weil loves singing the Queen song I Want To Ride My Bicycle

My personality has changed a bit too: Chris jokes that I used to be quite feisty before the stroke but that I am now gentler.

I try to be very positive about the future, especially as my balance has improved enough for me to do a sponsored cycle to raise money for our choir. I love singing the Queen song I Want To Ride My Bicycle at the same time. I am still trying to improve my right hand through Stroke Association art classes.

However, there are some things I cannot change. I was told that pregnancy is dangerous because of my sticky blood syndrome. So Chris and I decided to get two pointer dogs, who are our babies.

I often sing Top Of The World by The Carpenters while were out walking. Thats exactly how I feel. Singing has saved me and I hope it will save others too.

As told to Jane Corry, who wrote her latest Penguin novel I Died on a Tuesday after meeting a young stroke survivor while teaching a writing class 10 years ago. Sign up to #Sing4Stroke for the Stroke Association digital fundraising pack with ideas and tips on how to sing solo, together, at home, the office, school and elsewhere. For more information, visit Stroke Association.

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A Mississippi mother was arrested this week when her 10-year-old daughter overdosed on prescription drugs as part of a suicide pact the duo had made.

Brittney Leigh Hensleys bond was set at $500,000 following her arrest in Alabama, the Ocean Springs Weekly Record reported.

Investigators said the mother and daughter made the pact on July 6, while they were staying at a Studio 6 Motel in Ocean Springs.

Brittney Leigh Hensley was arrested last month in Alabama. Jackson County Sheriff's Department

Cops were called to the hotel just before 6:30 p.m. responding to reports of an overdose.

Police said Hensleys daughter had already ingested a bunch of pills by the time she started having second thoughts about ending her own life.

The pills had reportedly been prescribed to Hensley.

The little girl was unconscious when cops arrived. Police have not released her name.

Cops were called to this Studio 6 motel in July, after Hensleys daughter overdosed. Google Maps

Hensley fled Mississippi soon after her daughter was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Knowing she has family there, detectives tracked Hensley to Huntsville, Alabama, where she was detained on Oct. 14.

She was extradited back to Mississippi several days ago. Cops charged her with felony child abuse causing serious bodily harm.

Hensley is charged with felony child abuse causing serious bodily harm. Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers

Police said Hensley told them shed also taken pills on July 6, but didnt specify how many, or over how long a time period she took them, the Weekly Record reported.

Doctors said they expect Hensleys daughter will fully recover from the overdose.
A dog is sprinkled with flower petals during Kukur Puja in Lalitpur, Nepal, on Thursday.

It was the annual Kukur Puja festival in Nepal on Thursday, and dogs across the nation were draped in marigold garlands, marked with celebratory vermillion pigment and presented with overflowing platters of treats.

Like Diwali in India, the five-day Hindu festival of Tihar, being celebrated this week in Nepal, is a festival of lights. Unlike Diwali, Tihar includes the worship of creatures, and Kukur Puja, on its second day, is dedicated to dogs.

According to Hindu mythology, dogs are the messengers of Yamaraj, the god of death. His two four-eyed dogs are said to track down the dying and guard their path into his realm. Celebrating dogs is believed to please Yamaraj.

All dogs, including pets, strays and working dogs, are worshipped.

With marigold garlands around their necks, dogs took centre-stage in Nepal on October 31, on a day dedicated to humankind's loyal friend as part of a Hindu festival. (Prakesh Mathema / AFP - Getty Images)

Nepa Dog Worship Armed Forces (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

At the Armed Police Force canine center in Kathmandu, Nepals capital, service dogs lined up with their handlers. One by one, police officers marked their foreheads with vermillion, draped them in flowers and presented them with snacks in a ritual appreciation of their role in providing security.

Nepal's Armed Police Force get ready with their dog to worship at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. E (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

Every year, dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

Today, we honor these dogs for their invaluable contributions as they determinedly assist in keeping us safe, from detecting explosives to rescuing those in need during disaster events, said Ram Narayan KC, deputy branch chief of the canine division.

Dogs are not just loyal friends of humans but also messengers of Yamaraj, he told The Associated Press. And to make Yamaraj happy, we all do the Kukur Puja (dog worship) on this special day of the year.

With marigold garlands around their necks, dogs took centre-stage in Nepal on October 31, on a day dedicated to humankind's loyal friend as part of a Hindu festival. (Prakash Mathema / AFP - Getty Images)

After the ceremony, the service dogs exhibited their discipline and skills, jumping through rings of fire, standing on their hind legs and fetching balls.

Every year, dogs are worshiped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

Tihar is marked by five days of lighting oil lamps, as well as the celebration of creatures associated with the god of death, including humans.

The festivals first day is dedicated to crows, with offerings of grain, seeds and sweets scattered on rooftops and streets.

On the third day, Nepali Hindus honor cows, also with treats, vermillion and flower garlands. The fourth day is dedicated to oxen.

The fifth and last day celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, who give each other gifts and express love, respect and devotion in remembrance of the story of the goddess Yamuna.

When her brother died, Yamuna pleaded with the god of death not to take him away until the vermillion on his forehead had faded and the flower garlands had wilted, performing an elaborate ritual to extend her last moments with her sibling.
Getty Images; iStock; Natalie Ammari/BI

Nevada is facing skyrocketing housing costs.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve says city leaders should cut regulations that stymie construction.

Federal funding for affordable housing and an emphasis on reducing homelessness is also key.

The mayor of Reno, Nevada, argues that the single best thing city leaders can do to help solve one of the country's worst housing shortages is to loosen regulations on housing construction.

In recent years, Mayor Hillary Schieve has launched a multi-pronged approach to do just that.

"Sometimes government needs to get out of the way," she told Business Insider in a recent interview. There's no quick solution, said Schieve, who isn't a member of either major party and has made housing and homelessness a top priority.

With the election approaching, Nevada voters cite the economy as among their top concerns. Rising home prices and rents, which have hit the Sunbelt state particularly hard, are a big part of that. Since January 2017, home prices have risen 90% and rents are up 53% in Nevada, far outstripping national growth rates, Alex Horowitz, the director of Pew's housing-policy project, told Business Insider.

Greasing the wheels for housing

Nevada had one of the highest rates of home foreclosures in the country after the 2008 financial crisis slammed its tourism-reliant economy and burst its severe housing bubble. In the years since, the state has leveraged low taxes and other business-friendly policies to attract major employers like Amazon, Apple, and Tesla. The new jobs have helped attract hundreds of thousands of new residents.

The pandemic and the rise of remote work supercharged that trend. With an influx of new residents, demand for housing  and subsequently its cost  has soared. In Reno, the median price of a single-family home has increased more than 40% since 2019.

As mayor, Schieve has celebrated the new jobs and the growth of arts and culture in Reno and its surroundings. But she's also concerned with the housing shortage and rising homelessness. When it comes to boosting affordable housing, she pointed to cutting red tape and making building easier, including by loosening zoning laws and burdensome environmental regulations.

Under Schieve, Reno has loosened some of its regulations by allowing for more density, reducing parking requirements, and cutting fees. Since 2019, the city says it has waived $11 million in sewer hookup fees and $700,00 in building permit fees to help bring more than 2,000 units of affordable housing to the market.

Through a program called "1,000 homes in 120 days," the city deferred sewer and permit fees for five years for market-rate housing construction, which the city says helped create more than 500 new homes between its implementation in late 2019 and earlier this year.

Schieve, the former chairwoman of the US Conference of Mayors, said Reno's rules regarding affordable housing construction are relatively lenient. However, she argued that some county and state regulations slow down home building, inflating costs and deterring new construction.

She took particular issue with county health department regulations that impose lengthy review processes. "Most developers are borrowing money," she said. "So time is money." Schieve's chief of staff noted that swimming pool construction, including in housing developments and hotels, "takes an incredible amount of time and an incredible amount of money" to get approved by the department.

Reno has also made some progress on emergency and transitional housing. Schieve received national attention for reducing the number of unhoused people living on Reno's streets by nearly 60% between 2022 and 2023. The reduction was largely due to the construction of a Nevada Cares Campus, an emergency shelter that can house up to 600 people in sleeping pods and a large tent.

Nevada's housing issues take center stage in the presidential election

President Joe Biden has visited Nevada multiple times to talk about housing, and his administration's policies have helped bolster the state's housing efforts.

Schieve called the housing funding Reno received through the 2021 American Rescue Plan a "godsend." And she praised the Biden administration for being accessible and responsive to her city's housing needs. "We can pick up the phone and I can call my HUD secretary, I can call someone at the White House," Schieve said. The acting HUD secretary, Adrianne Todman, has visited Reno twice in the last year.

Former President Donald Trump's campaign has also emphasized housing issues in Nevada, focusing largely on its proposal to deport millions of immigrants to free up housing. "We've got to build more houses and we've got to deport the illegal aliens so that American homes go to American citizens," vice presidential candidate JD Vance told a crowd in Las Vegas in October.

Schieve dismissed this proposal. "We've got to be realistic about how we approach housing," she said. "That's not going to solve anything."

There are aspects of housing policy that Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris appear to agree on, including opening up federal land for additional homes. Nevada has become a focus of this particular solution as 85% of the state's land area is owned by the federal government.

Schieve says the issue of opening up government-owned land is complex. It depends on factors like the cost of new infrastructure, including roads and water hookups, the expansion of services like law enforcement, and environmental concerns. She supports restricting home construction in environmentally fragile areas, including wetlands and flood-prone regions.

In general, she wants to see cities like Reno invest in rebuilding their urban cores and boosting density rather than sprawl.

"There's still a lot of blight," she said. "There's still a lot of work for cities to build up and not out."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The 17-year-old suspect in deadly shootings at Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando early Friday morning was charged as an adult Monday, prosecutors announced.

Jaylen Dwayne Edgar was arrested at the scene where police body camera video showed a large crowd running from the shots which killed two people and injured six others.

To shoot into a massive crowd like that shows a true disregard for life, and the only recourse is to charge this defendant as an adult because it fits the egregious nature of the crime, State Attorney Andrew Bain said in a news conference Monday.

Bain said two counts of second-degree murder were filed against Edgar, with more charges expected. He added a grand jury could elevate those charges to first-degree murder. The video was clear that he shot somebody in the eye, point-blank range, said Bain.

The men killed were identified as Tyrek Hill, 25, and Timothy Schmidt Jr., 19, the Orlando Police Department told CNN in an email Saturday. The injured victims ranged in age from 18 to 39, police said.

Jaylen Dwayne Edgar - Orlando Police Department

Two were admitted to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition and listed as stable later Friday morning, hospital spokesperson Marlei Martinez told CNN. Additionally, a 26-year-old woman was hospitalized after being trampled as bystanders fled. A 10th victim was in stable condition after taking herself to a hospital Friday morning, Orlando police said.

It was not immediately clear if Edgar had legal representation for the charges filed against him as an adult.

The gunfire was the 27th mass shooting in Florida this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, and is among more than 400 nationwide. CNN defines a mass shooting as an incident where at least four people were shot, excluding the shooter.

The suspect opened fire in one location before running away with the crowd, Police Chief Eric Smith said, citing video footage. The suspect opened fire again at a second location and police took him down moments later, according to the chief.

About 100 officers were working a detail in the area, which allowed for a quick response but did not appear to deter the shooter, Smith said. Whatever his mindset was, he was going to shoot no matter what, Smith said. He walked by multiple officers. He didnt really care.

Authorities are confident the shooter acted alone, Smith said Friday afternoon, adding the suspect was not cooperating or speaking with authorities. The suspect was previously arrested on a grand theft charge in 2023, Smith said.

Police are investigating whether the victims were random or known to the suspect. Video captures the moment police say the suspect passes a victim and then turns around and fires. Did he know him? Did he just happen to stumble across somebody who is one of his enemies for whatever reason? Thats all part of the case, Smith said.

The suspect was interviewed Friday morning as police sought a motive, Smith said. This person right here threw away his life. For what? Smith said.

The broader issue is keeping guns and access to them out of the hands of people that shouldnt have them, especially our youth, Bain said Monday.

The attack was another example of gunfire interrupting ordinary American life, from parade routes to campus homecomings to a night out on the town.

The gunfire broke out just blocks from the site of the deadly Pulse nightclub mass shooting that occurred on June 12, 2016, when a 29-year-old shooter killed 49 people. At least 53 others were injured, and police shot and killed the shooter at the scene.

Heres what we know about how Fridays shooting unfolded:

Everyone started running as shots rang out

Large crowds gathered for Halloween festivities scattered as shots were fired just after 1 a.m. Friday, surveillance videos from the scene show. Sofia Alcala, who works downtown, told CNN affiliate WKMG she heard the gunshots before everyone started freaking out.

Everyone started running, she said. I saw a group of people, you know, enjoying Halloween  and then shots fired, and everybody just dispersed. I heard so many girls calling and crying.

Within minutes, shots were fired at a second location about a block away. Shortly after reported shots fired, a shooting suspect was located and taken into custody at Washington and Orange, Chief Smith said. A handgun was recovered at the scene, police said.

Between 50,000 to 100,000 people were in the area celebrating Halloween, which is one of our busiest nights of the year, Smith said.

But this year, measures used in previous years to screen people for weapons during the downtown Halloween celebration  including checkpoints and gun-sniffing dogs  were not possible because a 2023 state law allows most people to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, Smith said.

Police tape marks the scene at Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue where a shooting happened during Halloween festivities in Orlando, Florida. - Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

When the law changed, basically you can carry on a public street as long as you meet certain criteria, he said.

The change has made it even easier for people to carry guns and bring guns downtown, Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

Dyer implemented a state of emergency for businesses within Orlandos downtown entertainment area. Police said a curfew from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. will be in place until November 8.

We want a downtown that is fun and vibrant, but we have experienced lately that brazen criminals are willing to come downtown and shoot and kill innocent victims right in front of our police officers, Dyer said.

Police said they were looking into what resources to add to secure downtown through the weekend, which is usually a popular hangout spot the Saturday after Halloween, they said.

Some city officials were considering whether to close a large section of downtown, allowing access from only one point during weekends and special events, Orlando District 5 Commissioner Shan Rose told WKMG.

We have been working with the businesses and some of the residents downtown to look at options of going to a full, coordinated entry access point, Rose said.

Bloodstains mark the sidewalk along Orange Avenue. - Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

First thing I did was thank God Im still here

One of the two men killed was a University of Central Florida student, the Orlando-based college confirmed to students in an email on Friday shared with CNN.

Timothy Schmidt Jr. was a freshman at the university with hopes of following in his fathers footsteps as a businessman, according to a GoFundMe set up in his memory.

He was an extraordinary person, loving son, caring friend, talented soccer player, astounding teammate, kind soul, hardworking student and individual with an extremely warm heart and a witty sense of humor, the GoFundMe states.

Our hearts are heavy with grief as we mourn this tragic, senseless violence, which also resulted in the injury of at least one other student and may have impacted many students who were out celebrating Halloween and in the vicinity of this incident, the university  the largest in Florida  said in the email.

Anthony Berry, 20, was grazed by a bullet along his upper scalp  an injury that couldve been more serious if it had been located a centimeter lower, Orlando Health trauma surgeon Joseph Ibrahim said at a Friday news conference.

After it happened, the first thing I did was thank God Im still here, said Berry, who plans to get into nursing. Berry was walking with a friend when the shooting began.

He recalled seeing the suspected shooter make a quick motion with his hand, so Berry said he ducked before seeing a flash of white light.

His head felt warm and he realized he was injured, Berry said.

Im in EMT school, so I just went over trauma assessment. So I had my shirt  held the wound, I knew it was bleeding profusely, he said. He was later taken to a hospital.

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The "Reigning Queens" prints, featuring four famous queens, were stolen just weeks before they were to be put on the market

MPV Gallery Andy Warhol's "Reigning Queens" (1985).

About two weeks after the art gallery advertised the unique showing of Andy Warhols complete series of Reigning Queens, the Netherland's MPV Gallery was robbed in an art heist in which thieves made off with two of the pop artists 1985 prints and ruined the rest of the four-piece set.

Mark Peet Visser, the gallery owner, confirmed the costly caper in an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, Nov. 1, saying that in the early hours that day, burglars had bombed the gallery in an attack so violent that my entire building was destroyed in an attempt to steal all four queen prints.

Citing security camera footage of the theft, Visser told the AP the burglary was amateurish, noting that with the four queens in tow they ran to the car with the artworks and it turns out that they wont fit in the car.

AP Photo/Peter Dejong Andy Warhol's screen prints of Queen Elizabeth II were displayed at Paleis Het Loo, a palace museum in Apeldoorn, Netherlands in October 2024.

Related: How the FBI Tracked Down a Valuable Warhol Print that Thief Allegedly Sold to a Pawn Shop

He said the thieves ripped the prints from the frames, damaging them beyond repair, because it is impossible to get them out undamaged.

Police have called for witnesses to come forward in the case, per the AP.

Visser had planned to sell the four screen prints  which Warhol had signed and numbered in pencil  together at the art fair PAN Amsterdam 2024 later in November, per the advertisement, which noted that interested buyers could offer up purchases upon request.

He declined to release to the AP the total value of the prints, which, per his advertisement, depict the worlds four reigning queens at the time: Elizabeth II of the U.K, Beatrix of the Netherlands, Margrethe II of Denmark and Ntombi Twala of Swaziland.

AP Photo/Peter Dejong Andy Warhol's screen prints of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands were displayed at Paleis Het Loo, a palace museum in Apeldoorn, Netherlands in October 2024.

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According to the advertisement, each of the queens were made aware that Warhol planned to reimagine their likenesses in bold colors and shapes. George Mulder, an Amsterdam gallery owner who commissioned the works in 1983, reportedly claimed, per the advertisement, that the reigning royals had all reacted differently to the project: Elizabeth was positive about the rendering of her likeness, Margrethe griped about the King of Pop Arts bad influence on youth, Beatrix was enthusiastic and Ntombi Twala said she had never heard of the artist.

Warhol based his silkscreens off of existing photographs of the queens, creating four portraits of each for a combined 16 works, making up his largest screen print portfolio, per the advertisement.

The queens  most sold separately  were soon scattered across the globe, and Visser claimed in the release that: It is unknown how many Reigning Queens series have been broken up and how many remain intact.

The reunion of the four queens to be displayed and sold together at the art fair later this month was one offered only sporadically on the art market, the gallery owner said in the release, adding: This makes the Reigning Queens series one of the most sought-after series for art collectors, bringing record amounts time and again.



Early Friday, the thieves ultimately fled with queens Elizabeth and Margrethe. Unable to get the other royals inside the vehicle, the gallery owner told the AP that Beatrix and Ntombi Tfwala had been discarded on the street.


A winning margin of just a couple percentage points in the popular vote could translate into an Electoral College victory for Vice President Harris, a significant shift from the last two cycles where Democrats faced a significant disadvantage in the count.

The reason is shifts in the electorate that may allow Republicans to gain on Democrats when it comes to the popular vote, but that might not translate into more electoral votes for former President Trump and the GOP.

Because of Republican gains in states like California, New York, Florida, it helps with the popular vote, and it even helps in the House, but its not efficient from an Electoral College standpoint, said Zachary Donnini, a data scientist for Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

You can win some states that you win by a big margin, and they dont help you anymore, said Jason Roberts, a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Winning a state 80 to 20 doesnt help any more than winning at 55 to 45.

Democrats have mostly been the victim of this effect. Since 2000, Democrats have won the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections. But theyve won the Electoral College in just three of those cycles.

In 2016, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes but fell short of victory. She ran up the score on Trump when it came to the popular vote in states such as California and New York, but that was little solace when she won just 232 electoral votes.

To win the Electoral College, a candidate must secure at least 270 electoral votes.

Sixteen years earlier, Vice President Al Gore lost the Electoral College to Republican George W. Bush, even though Gore won the popular vote.

In 2020, President Biden won both, but his advantage in the popular vote and Electoral College obscured how close the election was. Biden won the popular vote by 7 million and earned 306 electoral votes, but he only won in the key states that put him over the top by a few tens of thousands of votes at most.

Donnini said circumstances of the 2020 race allowed Trump to still have a chance in the electoral vote even if he lost the popular vote by as much as 3.5 points. Biden won the popular vote by about 4.5 points.

This election cycle looks a little different.

If Harris wins the popular vote by 3.5 points, she would have an 80 percent chance or higher of winning the presidency, Donnini said. This is because polls show her performing better in the blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin relative to nationally.

As a result, Harriss margin in the popular vote likely wont have to be as large as past Democratic candidates margins.

Theres a lot of random variation here based on this, but our DDHQs modeling, in our forecast right now, pegs that number in between 1.5 and 2.5 percent compared to the 3.7 percent it was in 2020, Donnini said. So we think its going to narrow, but we cant be completely sure.

Polls suggesting demographic shifts in each candidates support could explain some of the shift.

Chris Jackson, the senior vice president of public affairs for Ipsos, said Harris has not performed as well as Biden with minority voters but has seemed to improve somewhat with white voters.

This could mean she loses some ground in Democratic strongholds like California and New York, while still comfortably winning them, but gains ground in the key states needed for her to reach 270 electoral votes.

Given the swing states, particularly the Midwestern swing states, are much whiter than the country as a whole, that stronger performance in white voters means that shes got a little bit more space in those states to offset any potential losses with minority voters, Jackson said.

He said Clinton was just a coin flip away from winning the Electoral College in 2016, only losing by a fraction of a percentage point in the key states. A 2-point Harris win in the popular vote, the same as Clinton, could deliver her the White House this year.

But just a 1-point win could fall short.

I think anything less than 2 points, thats a real, real troubling warning sign, Jackson said.

And the possibility remains, although unlikely, that the opposite effect could happen with Trump winning the popular vote and losing the Electoral College.

John Cluverius, the assistant director of the Center for Public Opinion at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, said he could see either scenario occurring, with Trump barely winning the popular vote and Harris barely winning the electoral vote if the former president can cut into the traditional Democratic lead in California and New York enough.

Another possibly viable path could be Trump runs up the score among Latinos in states like Texas and Florida. Polls and recent elections have shown Republicans making gains with Latinos, though a majority of the group still favored Democrats.

Cluverius said a traditional situation of Harris winning the popular vote but not the electoral vote seems more likely, but some may underestimate how much certain key districts in blue states are talking about issues like immigration, which voters widely favor Republicans on.

I think people going in with a lot of assumptions about the electorate that are based on that historical data, he said. Now thats not a bad thing, but it also means that people are going to assume that whats going to happen is traditional Democratic strength in the popular vote and traditional Republican strength in the electoral vote.

Cluverius added that the amount of split-ticket voting could be critical in determining the margins. Polling has regularly shown Democratic Senate candidates performing relatively strong compared to the top of the ticket, though in recent history split-ticket voting has not occurred in significant numbers.

Because there is so much uncertainty in the race, because the race is so close, we have to have a broad mindset in terms of what could possibly happen, he said.

Jackson noted that more people ultimately support Harris and Trump than will vote for them in the election, meaning the side better able to mobilize their supporters may be the victor. He said polling can sometimes struggle to adequately measure this, as it can measure how likely someone is to vote but not guarantee their behavior.

We should all be prepared for a very close race to something that seems more of a blowout, which in a survey context, is still only a few percentage points, he said.

Caroline Vakil contributed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Brilea Southard has spent almost a year in hospital after she was involved in a car crash in December 2023

Riley Children's Foundation; Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty (L) Brilea Southard (R) Taylor Swift.

Brilea Southard has been in the hospital for 325 days, recovering from severe injuries after another car crashed head-on into her family's mini-van.

She wasn't supposed to be released for another month but after a surprise announcement, the 15-year-old will take her first steps outside the hospital in a very memorable way: she'll be heading to Taylor Swift's third Eras Tour show in Indianapolis on Sunday, Nov. 3, the final Swift concert in the Indiana captial.

Southard is not the only one who will get to enjoy 34-year-old Swift's sold-out tour. The teen will be joined by 15 fellow patients at the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis who are all undergoing treatment for a range of health concerns.

The 16 pediatric patients found out the news this week at the hospital, where they thought they were just attending a Swift-inspired event to make friendship bracelets and play "Taylor Trivia."

The last trivia question revealed the big surprise. "Who will be at Taylor's final show on the last leg of her U.S. tour in Indianapolis?," the hospital staffer asked.

"Um  Travis Kelce?" guessed a patient.

Riley Children's Foundation Brilea Southard on the day she received news she would be attending Taylor Swift's Nov. 3 Eras Tour show in Indianapolis.

Related: New Orleans' NICU Babies Get 'in Swiftie Style' with Taylor Swift-Themed Costumes for Halloween

"Good guess but no," they were told. "You all will be going!"

One girl jumped out of her chair with excitement and others gasped and began crying with joy.

The news of their concert tickets might be the best update some of the children have had in a while. For Southard, the exciting trip comes after she and her family were involved in a crash in December 2023, where she sustained a torn aorta and legs so badly crushed that doctors said they would need to be amputated.

Riley Children's Foundation Brilea Southard on the day she was told she is heading to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.

"I only had a four percent chance of surviving," Southard tells PEOPLE. She's since undergone more than 20 surgeries, but her intestines and other organs remain shredded and "she has wound management and dressing changes twice a week under sedation," her mother, Paula Allen, explains to PEOPLE.

Thankfully, doctors were able to save her legs.

A long-time Swiftie who has dressed up like the superstar for Halloween, Southard says the pop superstar's music relaxes her during painful procedures, so the chance to see her perform live is "just very mind-blowing."

"It's going to mean so much," Southard adds. The teen plans to wear black flare leggings and a sequined fringed jacket and will be accompanied by two nurses and a doctor and then return immediately afterwards.

"I feel very blessed," she tells PEOPLE.

Riley Children's Foundation An excited Brilea Southard reacts to being told she has tickets to see Taylor Swift.

Related: Ohio NICU Nurses Leave Swiftie Mom Speechless After Creating Tiny Eras Tour Costume for Premature Daughter (Exclusive)

Another patient who was surprised with free suite tickets during the event is Emma Sully, 12, who received a heart transplant at Riley in December 2022.

"I literally can't stop crying right now!," Sully says. "I cant right now  I just can't. I can't hold back my emotions anymore."

Ja'isaibella (Izzy) Boyd, 7, will also be heading to the show. She has sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that leads to life-limiting complications.

Boyd's mother, DeAndria Powell, explains that Swift's music has helped her daughter deal with her difficult diagnosis.

"One of her songs, 'Shake It Off,' is one of the songs we use when a pain crisis starts," she said. "We always try to shake it off before we take any medications, we see if we can shake it off."

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Another concert-goer will be Charily Carty, 11, who, at 2 years old, was diagnosed with Beals Syndrome, which caused her to develop severe early onset scoliosis. She's undergone bracing and casting of her spine, corrective surgery and will require more surgery in the future.

Hearing the concert news was a welcome bright spot for the young girl, who was wearing pink heart-shaped sunglasses. "I felt like I was going to cry with how happy I was," Carty, who plans to hand out friendship bracelets to other kids at the show, says.

The tickets were donated by Riley Childrens Foundation and Denney Excavating, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Swift will continue her Eras Tour at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, Nov. 2 and Sunday, Nov. 3.


Juniper Bryson, 21, has been charged with trying to sell her baby on Facebook (Harris County Jail)

A Texas mom has been arrested after police say she tried to sell her baby on Facebook.

Juniper Bryson, 21, is being held in Harris County Jail on a felony charged with trying to sell a child.

On September 22 she posted on a Facebook group called Birth Mothers Looking for Adoptive Parent(s), searching for someone who would be willing to adopt her unborn baby boy, court records say.

She had previously reached out to a relative out of state, inquiring about whether they knew anyone wanting to adopt a child. She indicated in the conversation that the child would test positive for drugs, according to ABC 13.

The family member then posted in the group stating that Bryson was looking for prospective adoptive parents. Bryson later told the relative she was seeking payment for the child, the outlet reported.

Just enough to move into an apartment so I can work a job and get (my daughter) back, or a cheap down payment, or any car to get to different places to DoorDash. Nothing crazy at all, Bryson wrote.

Police said that Bryson went on to speak to seven different people about adopting her baby, including one woman who was with her in the hospital.

A couple from Louisiana drove overnight to be with Bryson and the baby in Houston. Three hours into the couples journey, Bryson asked them to send her $150, writing If the baby wasnt worth $200 to them, then screw all. The couple then headed back to Louisiana.

Wendy Williams was in the hospital with Bryson when she went into labor in Houston and was there when the baby boy was born on September 24.

Williams told ABC: I felt a connection as if he were biologically mine. She said she watched Bryson suffer from withdrawals while in the hospital.

I just thought this was someone who was in a really bad position, Williams said. The drugs had overtaken, and she just wanted to get better.

Bryson reportedly let Williams and her husband name the baby and had signed over the right to make legal decisions for the child. The documents were also notarized. While still in the hospital, Bryson posted on Facebook saying she found parents for the baby and tagged Williams.

People then started sending Williams screenshots with messages claiming that Bryson had been trying to sell the baby, ABC said. Williams said Bryson never tried discussing payment with her, the outlet added. When Williams confronted her, Bryson told a nurse to escort Williams out of the room. She left with presents her family members had dropped off.

Byson revoked her custody of the child, Williams said, adding she later notified Child Protective Services about what happened. Bryson was arrested for open warrants days later.
Yahoo Finance is spending the final days of the 2024 campaign examining key economic decisions that, like it or not, will confront the next president. For an even deeper look at all of the financial issues that matter most to your pocketbook, please see Yahoo Finances interactive guide to the 2024 election.

Whichever candidate prevails this November will immediately become the loudest voice in a fierce tax debate set to consume Washington in 2025.

Policymakers will have to decide what to do about cuts signed into law in 2017 that expire at the end of the first year of the next president's term.

There is one area of significant agreement within the sprawling debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump: They both think taxpayers who make under $400,000 a year should see their tax cuts extended.

But that's about it. The two nominees disagree on how to pay the tab, and both want to push other far-reaching  not to mention expensive  priorities into any final bill.

Yahoo Finance photo illustration (Images: Getty Images)

What Trump is promising is a complete extension of the cuts for individuals of all income levels, included in his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, alongside a dizzying array of additional promises from no taxes on tips and overtime to lowering taxes for big business.

All told, a complete Trump tax agenda comes with a price tag in the neighborhood of $9 trillion over the coming decade, according to the Center for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB). And he laid out nary a concrete way to pay for it all.

Harris, meanwhile, has signaled a different tax approach  only pushing to extend cuts for those making less than $400,000 a year alongside a new expansion of things like the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit.

But it's still a hefty price tag, likely above $4 trillion, with the vice president laying out tax increases elsewhere to try and balance out the costs.

"The composition of Congress is critical," said Charles Myers, the chairman and founder of Signum Global Advisors and former adviser to figures like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Read more: Trump vs. Harris: 4 ways the next president could impact your bank accounts

He noted that a scenario in which either president faces at least one chamber of Congress controlled by the opposition, which he sees as the most likely scenario, will quickly force a massive lowering of expectations.

"As long as we have divided Congress," he said in a recent interview "literally almost every tax proposal, whether it's Trump promising to cut taxes for everyone [to] Harris's corporate tax cap gain tax, taxing unrealized cap gains, none of that happens."

The federal corporate tax rate of 21% is also set to be central in the coming debate. Trump is pushing for a lower rate of 15%. Harris supports pushing it up to 28%.

The debate will also have a big effect on the $35 trillion national debt. The question is perhaps about how much different approaches would add to it rather than any realistic chances of debt reduction.

According to the CRFB, Trump's full agenda could result in anywhere from $1.65 trillion to $15.55 trillion in new red ink over the next decade. Harris, meanwhile, could add somewhere between $0.3 trillion to $8.3 trillion with her promises.

For Donald Trump, a presidency-defining issue

Tax cuts are an absolutely central issue for Trump.

The 2017 law was Trump's signature legislative accomplishment in office, with additional cuts being an issue that he nonstop talks about in public and private settings.

"In all of my years, I have never seen anybody running for office saying we will raise your taxes," Trump told a recent crowd in North Carolina of Harris.

He has also made taxes central to his closing argument, offering at least 11 new cut promises in the final weeks of the campaign in addition to extending that 2017 bill.

He has even flirted with ideas that would reshape the tax code entirely, repeatedly expressing support for eliminating income taxes.

In a recent podcast appearance with Joe Rogan, Trump doubled down on an idea he has toyed with in recent months to eliminate income taxes entirely because, in his view, tariffs will bring in so much.

A sign for former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promotes a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images)

"Did you just float out the idea of getting rid of income taxes and replacing it with tariffs? Are we serious about that?" the podcast host asked Trump at one point.

"Yeah, sure," Trump responded. "Why not?"

Its part of a fascination Trump has expressed for the 1890s and the era of William McKinley  one of the last times in US history, and before income taxes were instituted, when tariffs were at the center of government policy and the US budget.

Economists said Trumps 2024 math doesnt add up, with tariffs currently contributing less than 2% of federal revenue.

Its a plan Congress would also have to sign on for and is seen as unlikely to gain traction outside of the right side of the Republican caucus on Capitol Hill. As it stands, many Republicans have been wary of even Trump's less disruptive tax proposals with concerns about how they could explode the budget deficit.

But potentially on the table if Republicans sweep are Trumps promises ranging from eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits to new tax incentives for homebuyers to even a reversal of taxes he instituted when he was in office.

In one notable shift, Trump is now pledging to reverse the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions that he himself signed into law.

And he could have bipartisan support for at least some of his plans if he is in the Oval Office next year negotiating with lawmakers.

At a recent appearance in New York at the Al Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, Trump was greeted for nearly his entire remarks by a scowling Sen. Chuck Schumer, who leads Democrats in the upper chamber and will be at the table for any 2025 negotiations.

The only exception that night? When Trump reiterated his SALT pledge. Schumer offered tepid applause for that one.

"We're going to get that thing going, Chuck," Trump said.

For Kamala Harris, an opportunity to create distance with Biden

As for Harris, the question about her approach to any tax debate in 2025 will be what other provisions she might want to include.

She has run focused on tax ideas in her "Opportunity Economy" agenda that are not directly related to expiring tax provisions but a potential Harris administration is sure to try to include them in any omnibus tax deal.

Harris is promising ideas like expanding the child tax credit to $6,000 for the first year of a child's life, a new first-time homebuyer credit of $25,000, and a $50,000 tax credit for small businesses looking to get off the ground.

Charles Myers said that in a divided government scenario, there is a chance something like the child tax credit could be included, noting it has bipartisan backing. But he said it will still be an uphill climb given the challenge of fitting that complicated provision into what will be a crowded agenda that could be made more challenging by government gridlock.

"I just worry it might be a victim of the fact that it's going to be negotiated around the same time as the debt ceiling and the budget," he noted.

Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris waves as she arrives for a campaign event in Clarkston, Ga., on Oct. 24. (CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images) (CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA via Getty Images)

Harris would continue many of Joe Biden's approaches to taxes, but the issue has also proven to be an opportunity to draw some distinctions with the current president.

"What we will do together ... is about investing in working people, in middle-class people, in our children," she told a recent rally crowd in Detroit.

Harris recently announced a change in her plan to pay for her agenda by endorsing a long-term capital gains rate for the ultra-rich of 28%. That's about 10 percentage points lower than what Biden has proposed and would apply to Americans making over $1 million a year.

Harris has also signaled her support for a Biden plan to tax unrealized capital gains on holdings not yet sold.

It's a plan that would also only apply to America's richest households (even many of the literal 1% wouldn't be impacted) but has nonetheless seen fierce business-world pushback.

But Harris is downplaying that for the moment, and prominent supporter Mark Cuban claimed in a recent Yahoo Finance appearance that the idea "isnt being discussed at all."

Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Every Friday, Yahoo Finance's Rachelle Akuffo, Rick Newman, and Ben Werschkul bring you a unique look at how US policy and government affect your bottom line on Capitol Gains. Watch or listen to Capitol Gains on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
The New York Times building in New York City on July 16.

The clock is ticking on the New York Times iconic election needle.

The New York Times Tech Guild announced that its members will go on strike ahead of one of the most critical elections in the nations history if an agreement isnt reached on a contract as soon as possible.

The NYT Tech Guild comprises about 700 tech workers, including software engineers, designers, product managers and data analysts who build the newspapers most profitable products  like its website, podcasts and games.

In a letter shared Friday on X, the guild said that the Times representatives have demonstrated an unwillingness at the table to be reasonable on key contract demands. Contract negotiations have entered their third year and a strike was authorized by guild members on Sept. 10, the guild said.

We want to reach an agreement and believe it is possible with a good faith management partner, the guild said in the letter. We have made it clear that we need to reach an agreement before the election in order to avert a strike. Election Day is on Tuesday.

The guild says it has been fighting for a contract to secure better wages, hours, benefits and job security, as well as foster diversity, equity and inclusion among the organizations workforce.

The guild has accused Times management of not bargaining in good faith and making inflammatory decisions, like firing employees without just cause and limiting bargaining time in an effort to delay an agreement.

In a statement, the Times said tech guild members "are already among the highest paid individual contributors" within the company, and that a fair contract should reflect that, adding that they believe their proposals for just cause and remote work align with modern NewsGuild contacts.

The NYT also said it has "robust plans in place" to ensure it can take on election coverage, calling the guild's deadline for a fair contract "arbitrary."

"While we respect the unions right to engage in protected actions, threatening a strike at this time, feels both unnecessary and at odds with our mission," NYT spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha told NBC News.

Its unclear exactly what the impact on the Times website might be if members of the guild go on strike ahead of Tuesday's election, which pits Vice President Kamala Harris against former President Donald Trump in a tight race. The Times has over 10.8 million digital subscribers, 10.2 million of whom are digital-only subscribers.

Much of the New York Times homepage on election night is dominated by graphics and other visual components, including the famous Needle, a data visualization that resembles a cars speedometer. The Needle shares the papers race forecasts, based on a statistical analysis of votes that are counted and estimates of votes to come. An interactive map of the country with states appearing as red or blue also dominates the page as votes are tallied.
Sightings and attacks on people are on the rise: already 56 incidents this year, with two people killed. To curb the phenomenon, several municipalities are adopting systems based on video cameras "trained" to automatically detect if the moving figure is a bear and raise the alarm.

Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The number of bears pushing into urban areas in search of food is also on the rise in Japan. Kyodo news agency reports that in an effort to reduce the danger posed to humans, several Japanese municipalities have begun using an artificial intelligence-assisted surveillance system.

Cameras have been installed along riverbanks, on mountain roads, and in residential areas with the cooperation of private companies. Images captured by these devices are analyzed around the clock to notify authorities and residents of bear sightings, helping to ensure public safety.

Preliminary figures from the Ministry of Environment speak of 10,704 bear sightings from April through July, far exceeding the 8,536 cases from the same period last year, which already saw the highest number of human casualties ever recorded in Japan. By July, 2,471 bears had been killed or captured, while from April to August there were 56 human fatality incidents involving 58 people, including two deaths.

Brown bears in Hokkaido and black bears in Honshu and Shikoku are the two species that populate Japan and live in at least 34 prefectures, according to the ministry. In recent months, national and local headlines have reported incidents of people encountering bears, including one spotted playing in a river at a popular tourist resort.

The surveillance system works through cameras that detect moving objects. The data is then sent to artificial intelligence, which has been trained on about 50 thousand images of bears and sends an alert only if it identifies the moving figure as such.

Adoption of the system in the city of Komatsu has apparently reduced the heavy reliance on local hunters, traditionally the main resource for dealing with threats posed by bears and other animals. The Ministry of Environment also began trials in Toyama Prefecture to determine whether the artificial intelligence-based reporting system could detect bears using images from existing surveillance cameras.

Hiroshi Saito, a professor at Aizu University in Fukushima Prefecture, points out that bears tend to frequent residential areas, regardless of the number of times they are sent away. However, Saito is not opposed to a more aggressive approach, having developed a system that emits strong lights and sirens to drive the animal away once detected by an artificial intelligence-based camera. Twenty such cameras have been installed at six locations in Fukushima Prefecture to determine the effectiveness of the system.
by Stefano Caprio

Nostalgia for the Soviet simplification of the world, even shared by the opposition, is pervasive while making America great again resonates in the Caucasus or Siberia as much as the infantilized world of Massachusetts.

After the elections in Georgia, Moldova and Uzbekistan in recent days, the outcome of the American grand finale of the electoral process is awaited, which this year has touched almost all regions and major nations, against a backdrop of war tensions that make citizens' choices contributions in one sense or another to the great global electoral war, side by side in hybrid mode with the soldiers on the ground or the victims under the rubble, along with the drones and missiles that swoop down from the sky on cities and also devastate homes, schools and hospitals.

The choice of the US president is particularly significant for the possible prospects of war or peace in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and many other regions of the world. It remains to be understood how the countries concerned will react, especially those in the Russian world dramatically split between East and West.

In the past few days, a debate has been held between the two candidates in the run-off for the presidency of Moldova, who answered ten agreed questions without a moderator, failing to find one that could be considered acceptable and neutral for both contenders, the outgoing president Maia Sandu and the pro-Russian Aleksandr Stoianoglo, the latter from Gagauzia who would like to reunite with Moscow before even Chisinau, or even Bucharest and Brussels.

The outcome of the confrontation seems to have given a slight preference to Sandu, who tried to illustrate the results of the efforts made in the past five years to improve the lives of Moldovan citizens. Stoianoglo, however, replied rather generically that Moldova needs more, and both avoided explicitly stating their international references, in order to show themselves concerned only with the good of their citizens.

However, one revealing element clearly indicated the substantial difference between the two: the Romanian language with which they discussed, the country's official language, which Sandu masters to perfection, while Stoianoglo expresses himself with a clear Russian pronunciation in the background.

This detail immediately provoked a reaction in all the Moldovan citizens watching the debate, recalling times gone by. Stoianoglo, a 57-year-old politician, magistrate and former attorney-general of Moldova from 2019 to 2021, is actually a character resurfacing from the last century, a typical sovok, as the so-called homo sovieticus is defined, according to the abbreviation of the Russian term sovetskij.

And this is the reality that is shaping up today, the effect of wars and elections: a return to Soviet times and the universal cold war, beyond victories or defeats in the field or at the ballot box.

According to a definition in the 1993 London New Statesman magazine, the sovok is a man who loves birch trees, and believes they only grow in Russia, likes to forbid anything, says no to everything, and works in offices with leatherette-clad doors.

This sounds like a description of what is happening between Moscow, Tbilisi, Chisinau and Tashkent, beyond the individual personalities of the protagonists of the political disputes.

One would have thought that thirty years after the end of the Soviet Union, these attitudes of closure and estrangement from the rest of the world would no longer exist, but instead we are still tied to those times, when there were no smartphones or even computers, not to mention internet connections, and the world was fixed in the traditional values of the populations arrayed against each other.

From Putin to Stoianoglo, via the Georgian Ivanisvili, the Uzbek Mirziyoyev and many others, today those who prefer to conceive of the world as a confrontation between us and them predominate, and this also applies to a large extent to the highly civilised Western countries from Europe to America.

In Russia, sovok actually means the dustpan for collecting sand or rubbish, and is therefore a derogatory term in use since the 1950s after the death of Stalin, when the sovki (plural of sovok) were contrasted with the stiljagi, those who assumed the Western style, wore jeans and loved rock music and jazz, unlike the Soviets who were framed in the bleak ways of life imposed by Stalin's totalitarianism.

It is no coincidence that some Russian politicians today claim that the collapse of the Soviet Union began with the fashion for jeans, which squeeze the legs and make men unattractive to women, as Duma Speaker Vjaceslav Volodin puts it. Hence the definition of homo sovieticus among sociologists, which corresponds negatively to the Western boomer.

The Soviet anthropological type was in fact an explicit project from the time of the Bolshevik revolution, when the People's Commissar for enlightenment (prosvescenie, actually Minister of Culture) Anatolij Lunacarskij proposed to mould young children, bend adolescents and tear apart young people to obtain reliable new generations, as seems to be one of the main concerns of Russian educational policy today, which dresses kindergarten children in military uniforms, complete with fake grenades on their belts.

Soviet ideologue Nikolai Bukharin proposed to turn people into living machines, and the idea of social engineering was propagated through literature, film and mass demonstrations, such as those in Russia over the next few days for the great holiday of 4 November, People's Unity Day, which commemorates the victory over the Poles and the West at the beginning of the 17th century, and also recalls the feast of the October Revolution on 7 November, the beginning of the winter period.

The Soviet new man truly appeared in the 20th century, and it seems that he has never disappeared, not only in the personalities of the over-70s such as President Putin and Patriarch Kirill, but also in later generations and neighbouring countries, despite the radical changes in society in recent decades at all latitudes.

There is nostalgia for the Soviet simplification of the world, which was welcome even in the opposing camp, and make America great again resonates as much as a reminder of the infantile world of Massachusetts as that of the Caucasus or Siberia.

The twentieth-century man, endlessly re-proposed in digital algorithms, is not an intrepid fighter for the happiness of all mankind as he is described, but a hypocritical opportunist and liar, who is incapable of living independently and entrenches himself behind stale ideological and pseudo-religious proclamations, who is afraid of responsibility and contamination with the different; this is the sovok.

In Russia, this regression back to Stalinist times is accentuated by the crisis in social services and the distribution of basic necessities, which are increasingly lacking and increasingly expensive, to the point of the almost complete disappearance of butter from shops and supermarkets, where it is kept under lock and key to prevent theft.

In Soviet Russia, butter and olive oil were replaced by shoddy and foul-smelling peanut or seed oils, which gave the cuisine an unmistakable character that could only be assimilated with copious flows of vodka, also of poor quality.

The crudeness of the forms of communication of that time is reproduced quite blatantly today by the style of President Vladimir Putin, the classic Soviet gopnik (street boy) who solves world problems by covering all opponents with insults, and using his hands instead of opening any kind of dialogue, which is after all the typical form of communication of modern social networks.

One of the most prominent sociologists of the USSR and post-Soviet Russia, Jurij Levada, supported the permanence of Soviet-style social anthropology even after the end of the totalitarian regime, and in 2004, shortly before his death, he founded the Levada-Centr, the most important analytical and population survey centre in Russia.

In 2016, its members had published research showing that young people who had lived during the last periods of the Soviet regime, the 50-year-olds of today, are not very different from the previous generations of parents and grandparents.

The Soviet Union has disappeared, but the Soviet man has remained, taking his revenge today in the East and the West, in the universal war of empires old and new, looking to the past rather than the future.

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by Nirmala Carvalho

The complaint of judges who would like the establishment of a body on the model of the Muslim Waqf to curb clashes within the councils that manage schools, hospitals and church funds that increasingly land in the courts with wasted resources. Jesuit Fr. Santhanam to AsiaNews: "Realities not equal, but the problem exists. An examination of conscience is needed to protect the future of these assets."

Chennai (AsiaNews) - The Madras High Court has sought the views of the federal government of India and the local government of Tamil Nadu on the possibility of the creation of a statutory board for Christian institutions into which their assets, funds and welfare facilities, such as hospitals and schools, would be channelled, on the model of what happens for Muslim realities with the Waqf Board.

"While the charitable endowments of Hindus and Muslims are subject to statutory regulations," argued Justice N Sathish Kumar in an article in the Times of India, "there is no comprehensive regulation for the endowments of Christians. Therefore, the only control over the affairs of these institutions is through a suit under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure."

The lack of ad hoc regulation is felt to be a problem because of the increase in internal disputes especially related to the management of educational institutions, which increasingly land in ordinary Indian courts with legal battles that end up being a waste of resources. "To alleviate this problem," Judge Kumar therefore argues, "it is regular practice to appoint administrators from time to time as a temporary measure. But instead, church administrations should be made more accountable by finding a permanent solution because these institutions perform and fulfill various public functions, such as running educational institutions, hospitals, and their property and funds require protection and must be safeguarded."

Jesuit Fr. A. Santhanam, a lawyer practicing at the Madurai branch of the Madras High Court, commenting on the matter to AsiaNews, acknowledges the existence of the problem: "Numerous cases are presented to the High Court concerning the administration of educational institutions by Christian managements," he explains. "In most cases the basis of these disputes are internal disputes.

"I appreciate the concern raised," Fr. Santhanam continues. The time has come for an examination of conscience. Although Waqf property cannot be equated with church property, the Court was forced to find a remedy and adopted the models already available for resolving disputes within religious realities. When it comes to funds and property, church bodies should remember that they are only 'custodians' of them and preserve them for future generations."
Xi meets Macao's incoming chief executive Sam Hou Fai

Xinhua) 09:41, November 02, 2024

President Xi Jinping meets with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and recently appointed by China's central government, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and recently appointed by China's central government.

The meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Witnessed by Xi, Premier Li Qiang presented Sam with a decree of the State Council appointing the latter as the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR.

Xi congratulated Sam on his appointment, and commended him for holding a firm stance of loving the country and Macao, conscientiously fulfilling his duties, and making contributions to Macao's prosperity and stability during his long tenure as the president of Macao's Court of Final Appeal.

"In the election, you were nominated and elected by an overwhelming majority, which demonstrates the broad recognition and support from the society of Macao. The central authorities fully acknowledge this and have full trust in you," Xi said.

Over the past 25 years since Macao's return to the motherland, the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics has achieved remarkable success, Xi said.

He said that the central authorities will stay committed to fully and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" principle under which the people of Macao administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy.

Xi told Sam that assuming the chief executive office comes with significant responsibilities, and urged him to fulfill his mission by leading the new SAR government in uniting various sectors of the Macao society and continuously breaking new ground in the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics.

Sam said he felt deeply honored for the appointment and pledged to, under the leadership of President Xi and the central government, implement the "one country, two systems" principle fully, faithfully and unswervingly and lead Macao toward comprehensive progress.

Senior officials including Li Qiang, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang attended the meeting.

Witnessed by President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang presents Sam Hou Fai with a decree of the State Council appointing the latter as the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. Xi on Friday met with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao SAR and recently appointed by China's central government. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

President Xi Jinping meets with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and recently appointed by China's central government, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

President Xi Jinping meets with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and recently appointed by China's central government, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
1 November 2024 16:52 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Although Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories lasted 30 years, the smear campaign since 2020 has only lasted 4 years. This is the fact that Garabagh is Azerbaijani territory and its liberation from Armenian occupation was actually welcomed unequivocally by the world community, however, the issue was still subject to various distortions due to the influence of Armenia, especially revanchist forces inside and outside the country.

The so-called "Artsakh" and its supporters have always tried to create an artificial scene in the eyes of the world community by attracting international institutions to themselves based on financial interests. Perhaps such campaigns are still underway - but is anyone left to believe it?

About two months ago, a number of politicians who became famous for their pro-Armenianism in the European Union and the United States of America were making false statements against a country they did not know well. The situation had even reached the point that some of them could not even determine the exact location of the South Caucasus region on a map. However, since money is sweet, it was commonplace for them to play any role, even act as clowns in the US Congress or the EU Parliament.

Luis Moreno Ocampo is one of the pro-Armenian and corrupt officials who stands out with his most harsh statements against Azerbaijan. He is one of the most active participants in the smear campaigns initiated by the Armenian lobby after 2023. Ocampo, who made false statements every month, spoke on behalf of the so-called republic, dragged Armenians into provocations, and organized fake actions, accusing Azerbaijan of a policy of "ethnic cleansing". Today, as geopolitics in the region changes, Ocampo is also changing the situation - Ocampo has expressed the exact opposite of what he has said so far.

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In an interview with an Armenian blogger, Ocampo admits that Armenia occupied the Azerbaijani territories, repeating the same as what the Armenian speaker, Alen Simonyan had told in the parliament. So, it means all the biased anti-Azerbaijan statements by such people so far have been under the dictate of the Armenian lobby.

We remember very well that just two months ago, Ocampo, in his address to a group of separatist forces in Yerevan, stated that it was important to "continue the struggle". He stated that the "difficult days" were short and that Garabagh would be occupied again. Although Ocampo was biased towards Azerbaijan, he was right about one thing - those difficult days he mentioned were, indeed, very short. The Armenian people began to understand that a group of revanchists were simply mocking the people. The Armenian government is also trying to understand the truth and, by taking steps in this direction, is forcing a group of corrupt people to retreat from their biased positions.

The truth about Garabagh is no longer a secret to anyone. As the murky waters calm down, the black PR players are also exposing themselves along with the change in geopolitics in the region. Ocampo refutes his lies and shamelessly admits the truth about Garabagh. This is the inside of real Armenian lobbying. Thirty years of occupation and 4 years of black campaigns. In the end, Azerbaijan is still strong and will remain the winner against all Armenian tricks. Today, Baku, which hosts COP29, is the target of some corrupt politicians like Ocampo, Anne Petel, Frank Sweibe, and Adam Schiff. For them, truth doesn't matter, what matters is bribes that bulge in their pockets.
2 November 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The issue of climate change is a global challenge that affects every nation and individual. It is a crisis that cannot be addressed in isolation; only through collective action can we effectively combat its impacts. In this context, climate activists and representatives from around the world will convene in Baku from November 11 to 22 for the COP29 conference, which aims to tackle this pressing global issue.

In anticipation of this significant event, it is projected that between 70,000 to 80,000 attendees will come to Azerbaijan. This influx necessitates comprehensive readiness across various sectors, including transportation, hospitality, food safety, and healthcare, to ensure a successful COP29.

To facilitate preparations, the COP29 Organizing Committee convened for its eighth meeting on October 31. At this meeting, Samir Nuriyev, head of the Presidential Administration and chairman of the Organizing Committee, emphasized that, in line with President Ilham Aliyev's directives, the preparations for COP29 have accelerated and are nearing completion since the last gathering.

On October 17, President Ilham Aliyev reviewed the extensive preparatory works at the Baku Olympic Stadium and provided further instructions. The Chairman of the Organizing Committee announced that over 100 heads of state, government officials, and vice presidents are expected to participate in the COP29 Leaders' Summit, reflecting strong international respect for Azerbaijan and President Aliyev. This summit is scheduled for November 12-13 as part of COP29.

During the event, speakers emphasized the critical issue of climate financing, which will be the central theme of COP29. In his address at the Pre-COP29 event in Baku on October 10-11, President Aliyev highlighted the importance of reaching an agreement on a new climate finance target at COP29, with the anticipated "Baku Agreement" being a key initiative.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee noted that the "Baku Agreement" will be recognized as a significant achievement for the international community. Samir Nuriyev remarked that discussions with foreign partners indicate an increased likelihood of successful outcomes at COP29.

The head of the Presidential Administration underscored the importance of implementing the Transportation Plan developed for the efficient organization of transportation in Baku during COP29. Given the influx of thousands of visitors from around the world, the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company, the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency, and the Baku City State Traffic Police are collaborating to optimize transportation strategies.

To manage the expected high volume of visitors and ensure smooth transit for both guests and local residents, special COP29 traffic lanes are being established on several central streets of Baku. Marked with the COP29 logo, these lanes will be reserved for event-related traffic, facilitating rapid and uninterrupted movement. During the conference, these lanes will be accessible exclusively to public transportation and vehicles with special permits.

Additionally, 14 transport hubs will be set up across key areas of the city to enhance connectivity. These hubs have been strategically planned, considering the proximity to Baku Stadium, metro stations, hotels, and residential complexes, thereby providing efficient transport options.

This network will enable both guests and residents to access various modes of transportation conveniently, significantly reducing travel times. To support the events transportation needs, operations will include hundreds of taxis and approximately 400 buses, including express public buses and special conference shuttles. A robust passenger transportation service will be implemented to minimize the reliance on private vehicles during the event.

Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and President Designate of COP29, provided an update on the overall progress regarding COP29. He highlighted the relevance of the ongoing annual sessions of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, as well as the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity currently taking place in Colombia.

Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs, discussed the media and communication initiatives undertaken and the significant contributions of civil society to COP29.

Anar Alakbarov, another Assistant to the President, addressed the developments at the Baku Olympic Stadium, traffic management in the capital, and other organizational and logistical aspects related to the summit.

Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the important documents to be adopted during COP29, particularly the current status of the new climate finance target.

Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov reported on Azerbaijans initiatives in the field of green energy and outlined the events planned under the Ministry of Energy during COP29.

Nigar Arpadarai, Deputy of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan and COP29's high-level champion on climate change, provided insights into the Baku Climate Week and related events.

Vusal Huseynov, Head of the State Migration Service, discussed migration management in the context of organizing COP29. Ilgar Musayev, Head of the Special Communication and Information Security State Service, informed the group about efforts to ensure information security during the event.

As COP29 approaches, Azerbaijan is mobilizing extensive resources to ensure a successful conference, with significant participation from global leaders and climate activists. The focus on climate financing and collaborative initiatives underscores the urgency of addressing climate change as a collective challenge. With comprehensive plans in place for transportation, hospitality, and logistics, Azerbaijan is poised to demonstrate its commitment to international climate efforts and facilitate meaningful dialogue at this pivotal event. Under the guidance of President Ilham Aliyev, the preparations reflect a strong determination to achieve significant outcomes, including the anticipated "Baku Agreement." As the world converges in Baku from November 11 to 22, the collaborative spirit of COP29 will be instrumental in shaping the future of global climate action.
2 November 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The opening ceremony of the "Equilibrium in Nature" exhibition by the famous Italian monumental sculptor Lorenzo Quinn was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center, Azernews reports.

The exhibitions scheduling ahead of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) isnt coincidental.

The "Equilibrium in Nature" exposition will once again draw public attention to environmental issues. The concept of the Baku exhibition is based on an understanding of the environment and a sense of respectful attitude toward nature.

Prior the opening ceremony, Italian sculptor Lorenzo Quinn told reporters that he was very happy and honored to be in Baku. "I am actually very excited that this amazing exhibition is organized in this incredible space. Of course, for many years I have been seeing this space and I was always hoping one day to exhibit in it. So, dreams come true. I am also very happy that this exhibition coincides with COP29, because a lot of my artwork, actually all of my artwork has a universal message. Most of them, of course, is about love, peace and sustainability," the Italian sculptor added.

The event was graced with the presence of Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture, official guests, diplomats, well-known artists and others.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov expressed gratitude to Lorenzo Quinn for his support for arranging his exhibition in Azerbaijan in a short period of time. He said that the Heydar Aliyev Center has hosted presentations of several Italian sculptors and artists this year, adding that striking sculptures were showcased at the current exhibition. Anar Alakbarov mentioned that Quinn's works were brought to Azerbaijan within the framework of the COP29 conference, expressing his hope that guests coming to the COP29 conference, set to take place in Baku, will fell in love with these works of art.

Olga Daniele, founder of "365 Art" company, curator of the exhibition, expressed her appreciation to the Heydar Aliyev Center for the excellent organization of the event. The focus of Quinns work is on love, affection, and concern for our planet. In this regard, the ideas of the author, which reflect his extraordinary skills, are felt in his works of art.

Describing Baku as a very beautiful city, Lorenzo Quinn said that there is very little time left for COP29, set to take place in the capital of Baku. He noted that his works embody the power of nature.

Then, the guests familiarized themselves with magnificent sculptures showcased in the exhibition in front of the Heydar Aliyev Center and in the foyer.

First, the visitors reviewed the "United States of Love," the composition which is a call for loving one another, in support of each other, and in perfect harmony creating an everlasting loving relationship.

The visitors will have the opportunity to also view sculptures such as "Balanced World", "The Force of Nature", "Hand of God", "Give and Take" and "Together" by the Italian sculptor, as well as "Eros", "Parallel Universe", "Love Yourself" and other works of the author.

The sculptural piece "Hand of God" is considered one of the artist's masterpieces. In this work, a hunched, naked man sits wearily with his hands down, supported by a giant hand that cradles him. Lorenzo dedicated this piece to his son. "Hand of God" draws the viewer's attention to the vulnerability children face against the dangers of real life. This hand later became a central element in Quinn's other monumental works, symbolizing love, hate, the feeling of creation and the power of destruction.

Another work by the Italian sculptor to be featured in Baku is called "Together". This composition was notably the first contemporary art piece allowed to be displayed next to the pyramids in Giza. The monumental piece was showcased to art lovers in Cannes in 2021 and in Dubai in 2023. Now it will be displayed for six months at the Heydar Aliyev Center park in Baku. The piece depicts hands as tools through which humans can both create and destroy, emphasizing that everything is in our hands.

Another work adorning the exhibition in Baku will be "The Force of Nature", which embodies the image of a fragile yet very strong woman, representing Mother Nature herself.

Visitors of the Heydar Aliyev Center park will also be able to see Quinn's "Give and Take" work, which has captivated art lovers worldwide. This piece highlights the importance of balance in life, including in nature.

The sculptor was born to the Oscar Award winning Mexican American actor Anthony Quinn and costume designer and actress Iolanda Addolori. Quinn studied at the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York, planning to be a Surrealist painter. However, then he decided that his future lay in sculpture, which could better accommodate his energy and originality. He also enjoyed a brief acting career, including playing alongside his father in Stradivari (1989), and also giving an acclaimed performance as Salvador Dali. However, he did not enjoy working in the acting profession and decided to concentrate purely on sculpture. appeared in films.

Known as the "Creator of Feelings" and the "Artist of Emotions", Lorenzo is one of the most sought-after sculptors of recent times. His works convey messages of peace, harmony, and the idea that "to create or destroy is solely our choice". His pieces demonstrate the balance of the positive and negative aspects of human nature.

The Italian sculptors works will be on display in the park and foyer of the Heydar Aliyev Center until May 11, 2025.
2 November 2024 11:45 (UTC+04:00)

A meeting was held at the Office of the Ombudsman with renowned Turkish historian and professor Ilber Ortayl, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva welcomed the guest and expressed her pleasure at the opportunity to meet. She praised Professor Ortayl for his valuable contributions to the field of history and his international reputation, noting that his works are cherished by Turkic peoples, including Azerbaijani readers, and wished him continued success in his endeavors.

The Ombudsman spoke about the liberation of Azerbaijani territories as a result of the victory achieved during the Second Garabagh War. She mentioned that Victory Day would soon be celebrated, emphasizing that this victory marked a new chapter in Azerbaijan's history and fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The Ombudsman discussed the fact-finding missions conducted during and after the Second Garabagh War, noting that reports were prepared based on the results of these missions. These reports detailed human rights violations and hate crimes committed by Armenia during the thirty years of occupation and were sent to international organizations and the ombudsmen and national human rights institutions of foreign countries.

In turn, Professor Ilber Ortayl expressed his gratitude to Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva for the sincere meeting. He spoke about the historical ties between the two brotherly countries and emphasized the significant importance of Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Garabagh War.

During the meeting, Ilber Ortayl was awarded the "20th Anniversary of the Ombudsman Institution of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2002-2022)" jubilee medal by Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva.
2 November 2024 14:10 (UTC+04:00)

We are deeply saddened by a devastating tragedy that occured in Novi Sad, #Serbia , resulting in tragic loss of lives and a large number of injured. We express heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones, to the friendly people and Government of Serbia, and wish a

"We express heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones, to the friendly people and Government of Serbia, and wish a swift recovery to those injured," post reads.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed condolences to Serbia following the tragic incident in Novi Sad that resulted in the deaths of 14 people, Azernews reports.

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2 November 2024 14:45 (UTC+04:00)

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The price of a barrel of Azerbaijani oil branded "Azeri Light" has increased by approximately $1, or 1.3%, reaching $74.80 in the global market, Azernews reports.

Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.

Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.

By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.

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1 November 2024 22:48 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The gas trading center as part of the international gas hub project, involving Bota and Gazprom, is set to be established in 2025, Azernews reports.

"During 2025, we will create a robust infrastructure that, in partnership with Bota and Gazprom, will manage the trading platform in the Istanbul Financial Center. We have sent a memorandum of understanding to the involved parties," Bayraktar told Milliyet newspaper.

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin has confirmed to our president [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] that he will give instructions to Gazprom in this direction. The Istanbul Gas Index will operate here, meaning the price of gas will be determined in Istanbul," the Turkish minister explained. "Now, when Russia sells its gas, it will state: 'I sell this gas according to the formula with the Istanbul Gas Index,'" Bayraktar added.

This initiative reflects Turkish ambitions to become a regional energy hub and highlights its strategic importance in the global energy market. As countries increasingly seek alternatives to traditional energy sources, the establishment of the Istanbul Gas Index could provide a new benchmark for gas pricing, potentially influencing energy trade dynamics in Europe and beyond. Furthermore, the project aligns with Turkish broader goals to diversify energy routes and enhance energy security in the region.
1 November 2024 23:21 (UTC+04:00)

The United States is concerned about China's rapid expansion of its military capabilities in space, Azernews reports.

"The number of Chinese space weapons and the speed of their development pose a significant threat," a US military official stated during a visit to Europe. He emphasized that the United States established its Space Force in 2019 in response to the advancements made by China and Russia in this area, highlighting their demonstrated capabilities to conduct warfare in space.

On October 28, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian remarked that Beijing opposes US activities aimed at the militarization of outer space and called on Washington to refrain from actions that threaten global security. The Chinese diplomat also stated that China does not intend to engage in a space race with any country to gain an advantage in this realm.

This ongoing tension underscores the strategic importance of space in global security. As nations increasingly recognize the potential for conflict beyond Earth's atmosphere, investments in space technology are becoming a priority.

The US Space Force aims to protect American interests and maintain a competitive edge, while China continues to develop its capabilities, including potential anti-satellite weapons. This rivalry may lead to an arms race in space, prompting discussions about international regulations to prevent conflict in this new frontier.
1 November 2024 23:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The European Union and Japan have signed an agreement on strategic partnership, as well as collaboration in the field of security and defense. The documents were exchanged during a ceremony in Tokyo by Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Azernews reports.

According to Iwaya, "We exchanged documents on the strategic partnership agreement, which will come into force on January 1, 2025." He also noted that they have agreed on a partnership in security and defense, highlighting that Japan is the first country in the Indo-Pacific region to conclude such an agreement with the EU.

Borrell remarked that this is "the first such cooperation program in history concluded by the European Union" with a country in the region. He believes this partnership will "strengthen security" in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific region and will focus on building "a future based on democracy and respect for human rights, as well as maintaining a rules-based world order."

"Cooperation and dialogue will develop in all areas of defense and security," Iwaya added. He mentioned that the parties will hold the first meeting of the strategic dialogue to discuss not only cooperation but also regional issues. "Japan-EU relations are stronger than ever. We will work together on a wide range of issues, including security," Iwaya stated.

Earlier, Borrell met with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo, where both parties affirmed the indivisibility of security in Europe and Asia. Japan has been increasingly focusing on developing relations with Europe, particularly in security, amid concerns over China's growing maritime activity.

After his visit to Tokyo, Borrell will travel to the Republic of Korea, where he will meet with the heads of the foreign and defense ministries and visit the demilitarized zone on the border with North Korea. This trip underscores the EU's commitment to strengthening security ties in the region, as global geopolitical dynamics continue to shift.
2 November 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

The 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will occur on 6 November 2024 in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, Azernews reports, citing Azertag.

The summit, hosted by Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, will gather the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan. In addition, the heads of state and government from OTS Observers and the Secretary General of the OTS will be in attendance.

The summit, under the motto "Empowering the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All," will provide a vital platform for high-level discussions on the Organization's comprehensive agenda. Leaders will make decisions on key issues, finalize agreements, and endorse official documents related to OTS projects in the areas of economy, trade, digital transformation, transport and security.

The agenda will also include discussions on political and economic developments within the region and beyond, focusing on multilateral cooperation among Member States and Observers in various fields. Leaders will exchange views on how to address shared challenges and seize opportunities to further strengthen the unity and progress of the Turkic World.

As the Summit concludes, the Chairmanship-in-Office will pass from Kazakhstan to the Kyrgyz Republic. During the closing ceremony, Heads of State will sign the Bishkek Declaration and several key resolutions.

Prior to the Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OTS will convene in Bishkek to finalize agenda items and the documents to be signed by the Heads of State.
2 November 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Donald Trump has accused the Washington Post of endorsing Kamala Harris by stealth in a formal complaint to the countrys top election watchdog, according to the News Zealand Herald.

The filing to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleged the newspaper had paid to promote positive articles about Kamala Harris and negative Trump stories.

The mainstream media has become nothing more than pro-Kamala propaganda, the Trump campaign said in a statement.

The filing cited an article by the website Semafor that reported the paper was allegedly paying to boost its articles that were critical of the 78-year-old former President.

According to the six-page complaint to the FEC, the Washington Post, which for the first time in more than three decades declined to endorse a presidential candidate, had made illegal in-kind contributions to the Democrats campaign through its online advertising efforts.

The apparent backing was brought about through a co-ordinated communications strategy, the filing claims.

Trumps filing is the latest in a string of FEC complaints made by his campaign that experts suggested were intended to garner media attention rather than secure formal penalties.
2 November 2024 18:45 (UTC+04:00)

Iran is reportedly preparing for a new attack against Israel in the coming days, Azernews reports, citing The Washington Post.

Intelligence has indicated that Iran is planning to launch an assault on Israel soon.

Previously, the Axios portal reported, based on sources, that Israeli intelligence agencies have information suggesting that Iran plans to carry out a large-scale attack on Israel from Iraq in the near future.
2 November 2024 19:20 (UTC+04:00)

The Swedish government is strengthening its efforts to combat illegal migrants, referred to as a "shadow society," who are living without legal status, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

It is estimated that there are between 107,000 and 185,000 illegal immigrants in the country.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell stated, I believe there are grounds to think that more than 100,000 people are living without permission in Sweden. To gather information about illegal migrants, a special group has been established within the government office, tasked with collecting data from various state agencies.

This approach has sparked significant criticism in society, with many even labeling the initiative as a snitch law. Forssell, in turn, emphasized that those living in the shadow society, including children, are in vulnerable situations and may face various threats and exploitation. On the other hand, some of them may pose a risk to national security.

In a few weeks, a report on the duty to report issue is expected to be presented to the government.
With unhinged Democrats calling Republicans fascists, nazis, Hitler, etc. it seems to bring out the violent dark side of their supporters. We saw it when a Democreat political contributor took a shot with a rifle at President Trump in Pennsylvania and another was set up to do it in Georgia. Now Democrat threats of political violence have hit right here in Beaufort County.

First, there was a key campaign staff member of ultra-liberal Democrat County Commission candidate Johnny Rodman got upset about a political mailing and posted on Facebook that if she had a gun she would have shot some Republicans over it. Rodman kept her on his team in spite of that threat.

Then when Republcian school board candidate Melissa Polk was greeting voters at the polls in early voting, a campaign worker from the Democrat tent approached her and threated to physically assault her right there in the Board of Elections parking lot. While a fellow Dmeocrat poll worker pulled him away, he remained working at their tent.

The worst incident, however, came yesterday, when an unhinged Democrat supporter threatened Rep. Keith Kidwell repeatedly to his face to shoot him. as Kidwell was campaigning in front of the Board of Elections for early voting. The Washington Police Department took out a felony warrant on the threat maker and he has been arrested.

In recent memory, there has never been an election cycle like this one so full of threats of violence by Democrat supporters. It is all because of the atmosphere being created by over the top false accusations by the Democrats and their media allies.
Here are the five lawsuits:

1. Siouxland Surgery Center, operating as Dunes Surgical Hospital in Dakota Dunes, S.D., alongside ASC giant United Surgical Partners International and USP Siouxland, has agreed to pay approximately $12.76 million to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act.

The claims stem from actions between 2014 and 2019, when Dunes Surgical Hospital allegedly made substantial financial contributions to a nonprofit associated with a physician group that referred patients to the hospital. Additionally, the settlement addresses claims that the hospital provided another physician group with clinic space, staff, and supplies at little to no cost during the same period.

2. A jury awarded more than $400 million to a New Orleans-based surgical center following a prolonged seven-year legal battle against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. The case centered on St. Charles Surgical Hospital and the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, which accused BCBS Louisiana of underpaying for thousands of breast reconstruction surgeries.

The jury found BCBS Louisiana liable for fraud, ruling that while the insurer had authorized around 7,800 surgeries between 2015 and 2023, it only paid about 9% of the associated claims. St. Charles Surgical Hospital had ended its contract with BCBS in 2007 due to low reimbursement rates but continued treating BCBS patients for authorized surgeries. The insurer contended that authorization does not guarantee payment, but the $421 million award is among the largest in a state known for significant jury verdicts.

3. In Portland, Ore., a jury awarded over $24.6 million in August to the family of Erric Gilbert, who died during a colonoscopy in 2018. The case highlights the trend of escalating nuclear verdicts impacting ASCs. The lawsuit against the Portland Clinic and its medical staff sought $57.7 million, alleging that the ASC failed to provide timely emergency resuscitation when Mr. Gilberts vital signs deteriorated. The jury assigned 40% of the responsibility to the clinics medical team, with the rest attributed to an anesthesiologist who had previously settled out of court.

4. Also in August, an anesthesia provider and its malpractice insurer paid a $4.2 million settlement to the family of Michelle Crisafulli, who passed away after a procedure at RWJBarnabas Healths Gregori Surgery Center. This is another example of the rising mega-verdicts facing ASCs.

Ms. Crisafulli underwent general anesthesia for the removal of an intrauterine device on July 24, 2018. During the operation, her oxygen and blood pressure levels dropped, but anesthesiologist Dr. Peter Scala did not stop the procedure. She died nearly a month later, on August 16, 2018. The settlement amount exceeded insurance coverage, with $2 million paid by MedPro and $2.2 million from Pediatrix.

5. A California Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of an ASC upholding the involuntary buyout of a members ownership interest after alleged misconduct. The case was centered around West Lake, Calif.-based Specialty Surgical Center of Thousand Oaks, who implemented an operating agreement which included a provision that allowed the removal of members to protect the business from internal threats.

The decision reinforces the ability of ASCs to enforce operating agreements that safeguard against internal risks. This ruling emphasizes the protection provided by Californias business judgment rule, allowing ASCs to maintain governance practices that prioritize the stability of their operations. The outcome sets a precedent for ASCs managing internal disputes and protecting their business interests.
The practice, Northwest Permanente, is the largest medical group in Oregon and southwest Washington and strongly disputes the allegations, according to the report.

David Tarbox, MD, filed a complaint Oct. 20 alleging fraudulent conduct by Joe Shen, MD, and Dorothy Pao, MD, a married couple employed by the practice until November 2022.

According to the suit, Dr. Tarbox discovered Dr. Shen purportedly was reading exams and taking shifts for Dr. Pao, causing fraudulent claims and medical records. When Dr. Tarbox raised concerns, his superiors allegedly responded with retaliation and cover-up.

Dr. Shen now faces discipline by the Oregon Medical Board and, in April, Dr. Pao agreed to surrender her license and pay a $10,000 fine. The pair resigned in November 2022 after Dr. Tarbox took his concerns to an executive committee.

Dr. Tarbox is seeking economic damages at up to $750,000 and other noneconomic retribution not to exceed $7.5 million.

We highly value our employees and physicians, and we are committed to keeping them safe in the workplace, Northwest Permanente said in a statement shared with Beckers. This includes protecting them from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We strongly dispute the claims in this case and will vigorously defend ourselves.

Read more about the lawsuit here.
1. Nationally, there are 15,190 cardiologists working with a mean annual wage of $423,250, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. New York and California have the most employed cardiologists at 1,890 and 1,260 respectively.

3. The median compensation for cardiologists increased 7.9% from 2023 to 2024, going from $552,056 to $595,827, according to the American Medical Group Association.

4. Cardiologists are largely employees  88% were employed or leased by a hospital or health system, according to American College of Cardiologys consulting firm, MedAxiom.

5. MedAxiom also found that invasive cardiologists were the top earners in both private and integrated ownership cohorts for the first time in over a decade. The median total compensation for electrophysiology, invasive and interventional cardiologists exceeded $700,000 per full-time physician.

6. A majority (53%) of cardiologists have said they would take less pay for a better work-life balance.

7. Idaho is the highest-paying state for cardiologists at a mean annual wage of $521,690.

8. Medicare reimbursements have dropped 29% for cardiology between from 2005 to 2021, with even greater declines for cardiac surgery (-57.6%) and thoracic surgery (-41.5%), according to a recent study.

9. Burnout among cardiologists has increased by 2% since last year, with 66% reporting they have felt burned out for at least 13 months, compared to 64% in 2023.

10. Cardiologists said that workplace measures that would help most with their burnout included adding support staff (49%), increasing physician control/autonomy (49%) and making work schedules more flexible (47%).
Five states currently have programs that directly or indirectly regulates private equity in healthcare, according to an Oct. 18 blog post by The Commonwealth Fund:

1. California has established an Office of Health Care Affordability, which aims to analyze mergers and acquisitions that are likely to significantly impact market competition, according to the offices website. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently vetoed a bill that would have further expanded private equity scrutiny in the state.

2. Indiana is considering a bill that requires health care entities to provide notice of certain mergers and acquisitions to the state attorney general.

3. Minnesota is considering a bill that establishes transaction requirements for healthcare mergers and acquisitions that includes data-reporting requirements and other regulatory statutes.

4. New Mexico recently passed the Health Care Consolidation Oversight Act, which requires a review of proposed hospital acquisitions and other healthcare transactions.

5. Oregon established the Health Care Market Oversight program, by which the Oregon Health Authority reviews proposed transactions for possible anti-competitive activity.

According to The Commonwealth Fund, there is potentially viable private equity legislation under consideration in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
Oakland, Calif.-based Alameda Health System will assume governance of St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, Calif., amid financial pressures.

Here are six things to know:

1. The hospital was at risk of closure, according to a Nov. 1 news release from the safety-net health system.

2. In 2023, the two organizations began discussing how a partnership or affiliation could allow St. Rose to continue caring for patients.

3. On Nov. 1, the system's board and the hospital's board executed a membership issuance agreement that established Alameda as St. Rose's sole statutory member, the release said.

4. "Alameda Health System has extended a lifeline to our hospital, made a significant investment in the health and wellbeing of our patients, and secured stability for our highly skilled staff," Garrett Contreras, chair of the board of directors at St. Rose, said in the release. "St. Rose Hospital and Alameda Health System share a fundamental value: that high-quality health care should be available to all, not a privileged few."

5. St. Rose will continue operating as an independent nonprofit hospital and will become an affiliate of Alameda Health System, which includes three other acute care hospitals and a psychiatric hospital.

6. The hospital's board of directors will now be appointed by Alameda Health.
Watsonville (Calif.) Community Hospital's property has been returned to the Pajaro Valley Health Care District.

Residents of Pajaro Valley Health Care District passed Measure N in a March 2024 election, enabling the hospital property transaction to occur. Measure N bonds helped make the property payment possible, according to a Nov. 1 news release shared with Becker's.

Halsen Healthcare, who had owned the hospital from 2019 to 2021, sold the 27-acre property for $40 million to Birmingham, Ala.-based Medical Properties Trust, a healthcare real estate company. Halsen Healthcare sought Chapter 11 protection in December 2021, which nearly closed the hospital.

However, Santa Cruz and Pajaro Valley residents raised funds to cover legal fees, hospital debt and hospital operations, according to the release. The campaign also provided some working capital to relaunch the facility as a community-owned, nonprofit operation.

The funding and emergency legislation, CA Senate Bill 418, prevented the closure of the 106-bed acute care hospital and established public ownership and oversight of the now nonprofit hospital through the district.

In 2022, Pajaro Valley Health Care District purchased the hospital's operations but lacked resources to purchase the land and associated buildings.

Now that the district has purchased the property from Medical Properties Trust, Watsonville Community Hospital will save more than $3 million annually in insurance and lease payments, which will be invested back into healthcare services for the community.






Connecticut's Office of Health Strategy has raised concerns with Vernon, Conn.-based Rockville General Hospital's service cuts that "may be in violation" of state law, according to an Oct. 17 letter.

Nine notes:

1. Craig Sullivan, an attorney with the regulatory agency, wrote in a letter to the hospital that it may have violated the law by allegedly discontinuing services that can be waived only through a certificate of need.

2. In March 2020, a waiver was granted and allowed the hospital to close its operating rooms and other services, Mr. Sullivan wrote.

3. Mr. Sullivan wrote that the hospital stopped providing "all medical/surgical" services at that time. Rockville General has not restored the services and did not seek a waiver to discontinue them, according to Mr. Sullivan.

4. He also claimed the hospital appears to have stopped providing inpatient psychiatric services around June 2020.

5. The letter includes questions regarding whether the services have been stopped and which ones, to determine if state laws were violated. It gave Deborah Weymouth, CEO of Eastern Connecticut Health Network, until the end of October to respond.

The hospital is operated by Manchester-based Eastern Connecticut Health Network and owned by Prospect Medical Holdings.

6. An Oct. 30 email written on behalf of Prospect requested additional time to respond and a lawyer meeting. It states that Rockville General is compiling information to be fully responsive and will do so by Nov. 22.

7. The Office of Health Strategy denied the request and instead extended the deadline to Nov. 8, according to an Oct. 31 letter.

8. Rockville General Hospital is part of the stalled deal between Prospect and Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health. The latter filed a lawsuit in May against Prospect to exit the deal, which also includes Waterbury (Conn.) Hospital and Manchester Memorial Hospital.

9. Eastern Connecticut Health Network was not immediately available for comment. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
CMS releases a new rule for hospitals, healthcare organizations criticize the decision, the rule goes into effect anyway, and the cycle continues. Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, wants to see this story be rewritten.

For example, the CMS will require hospitals to adopt its severe sepsis/septic shock management bundle, known as SEP-1, by 2026. Several organizations have pushed back on the rule, including the American Hospital Association, the Infectious Disease Society of America, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Society of Hospital Medicine and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists.

Opponents say some of the SEP-1 measures are outdated, adding that early adopters experienced "increased broad-spectrum antibiotic use, lactate measurements and aggressive fluid resuscitation for patients with suspected sepsis but [did not have] decreased mortality rates."

Hospitals that do not comply could lose thousands of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Dr. Pronovost, chief quality and clinical transformation officer of Cleveland-based University Hospitals, told Becker's the sparring between healthcare organizations undermines quality care.

"That is a tension I think that we need to avoid because, besides not being good for patients, it really hurts the whole credibility of all quality improvement as something to gain or it's just a box to check," he said.

"What I would love to see is for measures where that tension exists, having CMS have a process to resolve," Dr. Pronovost added. "Right now, docs or AHA will raise these issues, CMS will explain why they think their logic is right and [they are] typically talking past each other."

Before finalizing any rule, CMS calls for feedback on a proposed draft. In response to the SEP-1 draft, commenters said the measure's documentation expectations would burden hospitals and potentially create incentives for the overuse of antibiotics.

In its final draft, CMS stated, "We respectfully disagree with commenters who believe the burden of the severe sepsis and septic shock: management bundle measure outweighs the benefits."

Instead of organizations speaking into their own microphones and ignoring one another, Dr. Pronovost recommends that CMS organizes expert panel discussions, pilots new measures and sets up a process for continuous feedback.

"Are we going to respect each other's wisdom and bring people together to stop the problem? When you do that, you solve problems better, faster, cheaper," Dr. Pronovost said. "I'd love to see a more dynamic approach to quality measurement where we shorten the cycle time for all the approvals  I get that CMS is large, but the consequences are also very large."
The producer of Paddington In Peru has said the late Queen Elizabeth II will feature in the new film.

Rosie Alison, the producer of the third film to feature Michael Bonds beloved bear, told US outlet Variety that the royal family were very happy for a photograph of the late Queen taking tea with Paddington, which was part of a sketch for her platinum jubilee celebrations, to be used in the film.
WW2 letter found by Eddie Graham which he found at bottom of an auction lot. Picture by Peter Morrison

Eddie Graham with his WW2 letters which he found at bottom of an auction lot. Picture by Peter Morrison

A Co Antrim man who collects military memorabilia is seeking to solve the mystery behind two wartime letters found at the bottom of a box of toys his son bought online.

Eddie Graham wants to trace the relatives of the young soldier referred to in the correspondence.

He explained how the two letters, from 1940 and 1943 and still in pristine condition, concern a young man called Alfie Hesketh, his mother Margaret and his fiancee Pam.

Ive always had an interest in collecting anything to do with the Army and the war, said Eddie, who lives in Killead, near Aldergrove.

My son Stuart spotted a collection of vintage toy Army trucks and vehicles for sale on an online site and thought it might be something Id like to add to my collection, so he bought it for me.

But when I opened the box when it arrived, these two letters, still in their envelopes, were sitting there in the bottom.

My grandfather Bill Johnston was at the Somme and my father John Graham was involved in the Second World War so Ive always had an interest in military history.

It was amazing to read the letters and it looks like theyve hardly been touched in more than 80 years. Id love to return them to a family member if that was possible. One of the letters appears to have been passed around since it was written  a previous appeal was made in England to find the soldier and his family.

Now the letter, and a second piece of correspondence, has ended up in Northern Ireland.

Eddie said that while he has reached out to an address on one of the letters, his search has so far drawn a blank.

I just think these might mean something to a family out there who might like to have them back, he said.

I did manage to get in touch with one of the addresses on the letters, but they said they dont know anyone mentioned in the letters.

Ill keep them safe for now in case I can track down any family members who might like to see them.

The first letter, dated October 1940, was written by a girl called Pam, in Clerkenwell, London. The letter was addressed to Alfie Hesketh and details how we spent all night down in the shelter after the worst day of air raids yet.

Twice the whole shelter shook as though the whole thing was going to collapse and the noise was terrific, Pam wrote.

WW2 letter found by Eddie Graham which he found at bottom of an auction lot. Picture by Peter Morrison

It refers to damage to airfields in Kent, where Alfie appears to be stationed, and adds: Please, please write and tell me youre alright.

The letter also mentions Alfies sister Alice, with her long scarlet nails who has just joined the Womens Land Army, like many young women did in the countryside during wartime.

While that letter shines some light on what young people were going through in wartime Britain, the second letter, written three years later, shows the sacrifices made.

It is dated January 1943, and this time it was written by Alfies mother, Margaret Hesketh, and is addressed to Pam Browning, now on a farm in Coldstream, Scotland, who it turns out was to be married to Alfie.

Im afraid I have to tell you the most dreadful news, writes Margaret.

I had a letter from the War Department yesterday telling me that Alfies been posted as missing in action. His plane was seen being hit by anti-aircraft fire and spiralling out of control. No parachutes were seen by the crew of the bomber who reported this.

My dear, even as his mother I already knew that you were the most important thing to have happened to him in his life and how much he was looking forward to marrying you.

I know we can still hope, but the gentleman who wrote to me from the Ministry seemed to think we shouldnt be too confident. I always hated this idea of Alfie transferring from ground crew to flying the Lancaster bombers. At least at Biggin Hill I knew where he was. Call me a silly old woman, but as you know hes my only son and the centre of my life.

The letter would have been one of hundreds of thousands sent around Britain during the war as mothers received the news they dreaded.

I just think this might mean a lot to a family out there if we can trace who the people were and find their relatives now, explained Eddie.

Failing that, Ill leave the letters with the British Legion and allow other people to read them and look at them.

They might make people realise just how tough things were during the Second World War, how many families suffered a similar loss and how many letters had to be written to mothers about their sons, and from mothers to the others who loved them.
Ards and North Down Mayor Alistair Cathcart joined Paddington Bear for a marmalade sandwich last month. Pic: Kirsten Elder

Staff at Del Piero Urban in Newtownards took Paddington in after he was unseated from his bench in Conway Square

A Paddington Bear statue has been targeted in Newtownards just weeks after being unveiled in the town ahead of the beloved characters return to the big screen.

Its one of over 20 meticulously crafted statues which have been installed on benches across the UK as part of a Paddington Visits trail ahead of Paddington in Peru hitting cinemas next Friday, November 8.

Staff at Del Piero Urban in Newtownards took Paddington in after he was unseated from his bench in Conway Square

Watch: Paddington bear visits Newtownards on special Paddington Visits tour

His arrival in Conway Square generated much excitement on October 11 with many locals posing for pics alongside the figurine of the fan favourite, which features his signature red hat, blue duffle coat, and, of course, a marmalade sandwich in paw.

But Carla Coleman, the store manager of Del Pieros Urban which is located just a few yards away, noticed the iconic bear had been unseated when locking up the popular eatery on Thursday night.

At around 10pm she noticed Paddington lying on the grass bank, one worker told the Belfast Telegraph.

Paddington Bear statue targeted in Newtownards

She tried to stick him back on his bench but the bolts we're missing so she brought him in for the night.

He was handed over to the council this morning and returned to his seat.

All is well.

However, staff did notice an anomaly after waving off the special guest.

"On further inspection of the cafe it was discovered that the marmalade was missing, the employee joked.

The business has shared photos of its famous customer on its Facebook page and highlighted a tag on his coat which reads please look after this bear, thank you.

Paddington seemed to be having a great time in Newtownards and then we found him lying in the square, the caption said.

He definitely needs looked after!

Ards and North Down Mayor Alistair Cathcart joined Paddington Bear for a marmalade sandwich last month. Pic: Kirsten Elder

Actor Hugh Bonneville, who plays Mr Brown in the new film Paddington in Peru, previously said he was thrilled to see our beloved bear popping up in towns and cities across the UK from Liverpool to Lands End and Birmingham to Bury St Edmunds  and of course, London Paddington.

Ahead of the new film, fans, families and friends can sit down and have a chat with the marmalade loving bear, so watch this space for more information about Paddington, he said.

"Coming to a bench near you!

Ards and North Down Mayor Alistair Cathcart was one of the first to join Paddington for a marmalade sandwich with many parents taking their kids to the location in recent weeks.

Many social media users have expressed anger and disgust online.

"I would like to catch the people who took Paddington off his seat, one person commented.

Another wrote Omg, this is why we cant have nice things alongside an angry face emoji while a third person asked why are we surprised?

Others expressed gratitude to the business for keeping Paddington safe as some speculated it was the smell of your gorgeous chicken and bacon garlic junk fries that lured him inside.

You'd better go buy a jar of marmalade if he's staying there, one commentator advised.

Why couldn't they just leave the poor bear alone.
See if there is anyone else you recognise from the famed festival in our photo gallery below

A Co Meath fashionista was the first past the post in the annual best dressed competition at Down Royal Ladies Day on Saturday.

Fashion enthusiasts from across the island of Ireland showcased their autumn chic at the highly anticipated racing event, but Lisa Walsh was crowned Best Dressed Lady by a judging panel made up of Cool FM presenter Rebecca McKinney, Courtney Cameron, National Account Manager at bottlegreen Drinks, and Hannah Johns, Miss Northern Ireland 2024, alongside her twin sister Megan Johns.

Lisas stunning ensemble, hired from Envious Style in Meath, paired beautifully with her sophisticated headpiece and bag by Fiona Rafter.

As this year's winner, Lisa has been awarded a Shop, Stay and Spa weekend experience, sponsored by bottlegreen Drinks, including an overnight stay for two at the Culloden Estate & Spa, and a shopping spree at Victoria Square.

After her triumph, Lisa said: "Im over the moon and completely taken aback to be named this years Best Dressed Lady. Fashion and beauty have always been my passion, and being chosen as the winner from such a stylish group of women is an incredible honour. My heartfelt thanks to the judges for this unforgettable recognition."

This years style stakes were exceptionally high, prompting the judges to introduce an exclusive bottlegreen Style Award.

The honour went to Charlotte Elliott from Ballymoney, whose chic outfit and gloves were from H&M, complemented by a striking hat from Fee McToal.

Pictured left to right: Hannah Johns, Lisa Walsh, Courtney Cameron, Charlotte Elliott and Megan Johns. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Courtney Cameron, representing bottlegreen, said: "This marks the second year bottlegreen has proudly sponsored the Best Dressed competition, and once again, the level of style on display was extraordinary. Selecting the winner was no easy task, but Lisa Walsh's elegance and creativity stood out, making her a clear choice. Congratulations to her on this amazing achievement, and we hope she enjoys the well-deserved 'Shop, Stay and Spa' experience."

Alice Quinn, Commercial Executive at Down Royal, added: "The Ladbrokes Festival of Racing is a must-attend event for both horse racing and fashion lovers from across Ireland. Over the past two days, weve witnessed incredible style alongside thrilling races. This years Best Dressed competition, in partnership with bottlegreen, highlighted some of the most stunning outfits weve ever seen. Huge congratulations to Lisa Walsh for impressing the judges with her impeccable look, and we wish her all the best with her fabulous prize!"
The DUP and Sinn Fein have clashed over the use of Ulster Scots signage at a Belfast beauty spot.

The row flared at the city council over signs at Springfield Dam.

Both parties were at loggerheads during a discussion at a committee meeting aimed at making a final decision on language signage across the length of the new Forth Meadow Greenway.

The matter came to a head specifically over the use of bilingual or trilingual signage at the Springfield Dam section.

Sinn Fein argued that a council committee had already agreed to English and Irish signage at this spot, while the DUP proposed English, Ulster Scots and Irish there.

The Alliance Party argued that English, Irish and Ulster Scots should be used on each piece of signage along the full length of the greenway, with the Greens in support.

In the end, a Sinn Fein proposal to follow officer recommendations and have only English and Irish at Springfield Dam was voted for, by a tight margin.

This decision will have to go to the full council on Monday for ratification, but is likely to pass if it follows the party numbers from committee level.

The Forth Meadow Community Greenway is a 5.1million EU Peace IV funded project connecting existing open spaces in north and west Belfast along a 12 km route from Clarendon Playing Fields to Weavers Cross, to the new Grand Central Station in the city centre.

The breakdown of the vote at the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on Friday shows Alliance support for all proposals, and a Green no-vote on the DUP proposal.

On the Alliance proposal for trilingual signage on the full length of the greenway, five were in support from Alliance and the Greens, while 15 were against, from Sinn Fein, the DUP and the SDLP.

On the DUP proposal for trilingual signage at Springfield Dam, nine were in favour from the DUP and Alliance, 10 were against, from Sinn Fein and the SDLP, while one Green party councillor abstained.

On the Sinn Fein proposal for just English and Irish at Springfield Dam, 15 were in favour from Sinn Fein, Alliance, the SDLP and the Greens, while five were against, from the DUP.

Alliance councillor Michael Long said: This is a Peace IV funded project and is meant to bring areas of the city together, so we would prefer to avoid demarcating territory, and have a single policy right along. We would be keen to broaden it just beyond English, because there are obviously place names right along there that are from a Scottish background, or from Irish, and indeed English.

Sinn Fein councillor Ciaran Beattie said: If you look at recent consultations, and the responses from the Ulster Scots Agency, there are no requests for trilingual there, and that didnt show up in the consultation either. It didnt show up in the recent consultation for the Olympia Leisure Centre either, where there was no demand for trilingual.

This piece of land at the Springfield Dam sits in the Black Mountain District Electoral Area, where there are six Sinn Fein councillors, and one SDLP councillor, who all support the bilingual signage on this site. The two entrances, Millennium Way and Springfield Road, are already dual language.

DUP Alderman Frank McCoubrey said: I brought this up about a year ago, and my concern has been that work within our communities, along with our council officers, to get to where we were with Springfield Dam (is affected).

There was big buy-in from both communities for that, from local schools, from youth clubs, no matter who it was. When this came up last year I was concerned that people from the unionist community would see if it was only the Irish language, that (they would think) one community was dominant over this project. One that was funded by the EU, in a peace and reconciliation project. I am still concerned.

Mr Beattie said: For us, Springfield Dam is in the Gaeltacht Quarter, which was agreed by this council in 2011, after Deloitte were employed to identify what the Gaeltacht Quarter would be. That has been the policy of this council since then.

Green councillor Aine Groogan said: Having a greenway with multiple different sections with multiple different languages, some have Irish, some have Ulster Scots  it is messy for a start.

It strays into very dangerous territory, that languages are for certain areas, and certain parts of the community. When that is exactly the opposite way we should be going. A language is not a threat to anyone, no matter what people might think.
Kemi Badenoch is congratulated by her husband Hamish after she was announced as the new Conservative Party leader.

The husband of new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch once stood for election in Northern Ireland - winning just 132 votes.

Hamish Badenoch is a former NI Conservatives candidate.

He stood for the party in the 2015 General Election in the Foyle constituency, finishing last with just 0.4% of the vote.

Ms Badenoch was elected Tory leader on Saturday.

The former Business Secretary defeated rival Robert Jenrick by 53,806 votes to 41,388.

She becomes the first black woman elected to lead a major British political party, and the fourth woman to lead the Conservative Party after Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss.

In a speech following her victory, Ms Badenoch acknowledged that her party's task was "tough but simple", saying the Tories had to hold the Government to account and develop a "clear plan" for government.

She also paid tribute to her husband.

Addressing him directly, she said: I couldnt have done this without you, thank you for being with me every step of the way.

Mr Badenoch, who works for Deutsche Bank, served as a Conservative councillor from 2014 to 2018 on Merton Borough Council in London.

Born into an upper middle-class Scottish-Irish family, Mr Badenoch studied at Cambridge.

According to The Times, Kemi and Hamish met in 2009 at the Dulwich and West Norwood Conservative Club during a campaign.

Speaking to The Times, Kemi Badenoch said: "It wasn't love at first sight.

"When I had tough times, he was always there, so we became friends," she said.

The couple married in 2012.

She added: "We actually share a lot: we both grew up in big, close families. So our values are the same."

The Badenochs are parents to three children - two daughters and a son.
Paul Burke is standing down from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC).

Mr Burke was elected to the chamber at the last local election in 2023 when Sinn Fein doubled its representation from two to four seats.

Mr Burke gave official notice to the council of his intention to step down from October 31.

The healthcare worker became the first elected Sinn Fein councillor to the Lisburn North district electoral area by topping the poll.

The council has already taken action by removing the former councillors photograph and details from its website.

Sinn Fein has now selected a new councillor, Declan Lynch, who currently works for South Belfast MLA Deirdre Hargey, to replace outgoing member.

The Electoral Office NI confirmed Mr Lynchs appointment yesterday.

Mr Lynch said: Its a great privilege to be selected by Sinn Fein to represent people across the Lisburn North area on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

The Lisburn resident is a well known and popular sportsman, representing his club Lamh Dhearg for almost 15 years.

He added: I want to wish outgoing representative Paul Burke the best as he steps back from his role due to personal reasons. I know Paul will continue to work hard for communities as a Sinn Fein activist.

As an incoming councillor, I am determined to work hard with the local community to deliver first-class council services and positive change for workers and families in Lisburn North.

Mr Burke and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council were contacted for comment.
Three people have been arrested on suspicion of offences including brothel keeping and controlling prostitution in south Belfast.

The arrests followed a search at a property in the Annadale Embankment area on Friday night (November 1).

The three suspects  two men aged 42 and 41, and a 39-year-old woman  were detained as officers rescued two women, believed to have been victims of human trafficking.

A sum of cash was also seized.

During a follow-up search of a property in the Newtownards Road area in the east of the city, three suspected firearms were recovered.

The suspects remain in custody this afternoon and police continue to offer specialist support to the rescued women.
Manufacturing businesses in Northern Ireland have said they are anxiously awaiting the outcome of next weeks US presidential election, with warnings that the result could play out practically on production lines here.

With just days to go before Americans hit the polls on November 5, Darragh Cullen, head of Edge Innovate in Dungannon, explained that the uncertainty around the race to be the 47th US president is already impacting his business.
Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will be crowned as the new Conservative Party leader on Saturday, as the four-month-long race to replace Rishi Sunak reaches the finish line.

The result of the leadership ballot is expected to be announced late in the morning, with the members ballot having closed on Thursday.

The winner will be at the helm as the party looks to recover from the July election result which saw it return just 121 MPs.

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After the close of polls on Thursday, both candidates thanked their backers for their support through the contest.

Ms Badenoch described the party as a family and said that it is much more to me than a membership organisation.

Mr Jenrick also called for the party to move past the drama of recent years and unite.

Together we can put an end to the excuses, move past the drama, and unite our party, he wrote on X.

Immigration, the economy, and how the Conservatives can rebuild trust with the electorate and win back voters they lost at the election have all been discussed at length through the campaign.

The party lost seats to Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK in the July poll.

Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly spent the summer campaigning alongside Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch after they put their names forward in the nominations at the end of July.

Dame Priti and Mr Stride were the first two contenders to be eliminated in September, leaving four by the time the party gathered in Birmingham for its autumn conference at the end of the month.

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While the candidates spent four days vying to secure votes, both Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick found themselves embroiled in rows during the conference.

Ms Badenoch ended up asserting her support for maternity pay after comments caused a controversy.

Meanwhile, Mr Jenrick faced heat from other leadership rivals over claims he made about UK special forces.

Shadow home secretary Mr Cleverly appeared to take the lead after the conference, coming top of the third ballot of MPs with 39 votes, while Mr Tugendhat got knocked out after securing only 20.

There was some surprise when Mr Cleverly then did not make the final two names to be put to members the following day, securing only 37 votes compared with Mr Jenricks 41 and Ms Badenochs 42.

In the weeks since the final MP ballot, Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch have been travelling up and down the country in their attempts to secure member support.

At the start of the campaign, Ms Badenoch wrote in The Telegraph that the party need to get back to first principles and has been light on the details of specific policies she would enact.

Amid the events and speeches, Mr Jenrick criticised his opponent for offering up what he called a promise of a plan rather than more concrete policies.

Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick , James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat together on stage after delivering their speeches during the Conservative Party conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He told the BBCs Westminster Hour in October that I think its disrespectful to the members and the public to ask for their votes without saying where you stand on the big issues facing our country today.

Mr Jenrick added: A plan today is what I offer. A promise of a plan at some point in the future is what my opponent offers, and I dont think thats the way to rebuild the publics trust and confidence in us.

The contest was triggered after Mr Sunak announced he would step aside in the wake of the partys election defeat in the summer.

Earlier this week the former prime minister played down suggestions that he would be leaving Westminster for California, and told MPs that he would be spending more time in the greatest place on earth.

If anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire, he told Prime Ministers Questions.

There was speculation earlier this year that the Richmond and Northallerton MP  who previously worked at a hedge fund in California  could be in line for a job in Silicon Valley.

Today is my last appearance at PMQs and Im happy to confirm reports that I will now be spending more time in the greatest place on earth where the scenery is indeed worthy of a movie set, and everyone is a character, he said.

Thats right, if anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire.

Outgoing Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak gives a speech in Downing Street following his partys landslide defeat to the Labour Party in the general election (James Manning/PA)

The Conservatives returned MPs in 121 seats at the July poll, down hundreds on their 2019 result, having secured less than 25% of the vote nationally.

Speaking on Downing Street the morning after the election, Mr Sunak apologised to the country and his party.

To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry, he said.

I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change.

And yours is the only judgment that matters.

I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.

Speaking ahead of Saturdays result, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the contest has shown the Conservatives are refusing to take responsibility for the damage they did to the country.

She said: Whoever wins the Conservative Party leadership contest will have to carry the can for years of failure that tanked the economy and left the NHS on its knees.
Kemi Badenoch is congratulated by Robert Jenrick after being announced as the new Conservative Party leader (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has given his warmest congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected leader of the UK opposition party.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay says he looks forward to working with the North West Essex Conservative MP  who will replace former prime minister Rishi Sunak as leader of the Opposition and seek to chart a path back to power for the Tories after their disastrous election defeat in July.

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Welcoming the news of her election on Saturday, Mr Findlay said: My warmest congratulations to Kemi on her election as the new UK Conservative leader.

I look forward to us working constructively together to hold the high-tax SNP and Labour governments to account. Kemi and I share common-sense conservative values.

Were determined to deliver opportunities for people to get ahead and to reduce taxes for aspirational workers and business owners.

We will continue to proudly champion our union and stand up for womens rights from the threat of dangerous gender ideology. We are both committed to winning back public trust by focusing on the issues that impact on peoples lives.

Ms Badenoch, the former business secretary, was declared the winner at an event in central London on Saturday, defeating rival Robert Jenrick by 53,806 votes to 41,388.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay congratulated Kemi Badenoch on becoming the new UK Conservative Party leader (Jane Barlow/PA)

The Welsh Conservatives also welcomed the news of her election.

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh opposition and Welsh Conservatives, said: On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, Id like to congratulate Kemi on becoming leader of our party and wish her well in leading HM Opposition.

Both candidates brought forward a positive vision for our country and now that the contest is finished, its time to come together and get behind Kemi in holding this dreadful Labour Government to account who have already caused so much damage to Wales in their short time in power in London.

For Wales, and for the United Kingdom, its vital that we put an end to Labours rule at both ends of the M4, and I look forward to working with Kemi to make that happen.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) depute leader Keith Brown, however, said her election has finalised the Tories lurch to the far right.

He added: Whether its rolling back maternity pay or targeting the rights of minorities, Badenochs win demonstrates how out of touch the Tories are with people across Scotland.

The Tory party is now firmly dancing to the dangerous tune of Nigel Farage  it is essential that in Scotland, Russell Findlay doesnt dance along and instead stands up for Scotlands inclusive and progressive values.

With the Labour government punishing the most vulnerable in our society with cuts to pensioners winter fuel support and the Tories now being puppeted by Nigel Farage, it has never been more essential that Scotland escapes the Westminster chaos and charts a better future as an independent nation.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Kemi Badenoch must apologise to the people of Scotland for putting the party before the country (Jane Barlow/PA)

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar offered his support for her landmark election as the first black woman to take the helm for her party but said she should apologise to the Scottish people, as any Tory leader should.

He said: I congratulate Kemi Badenoch on her historic achievement as the first Black female leader of the Conservative Party.

The first thing any new Tory leader should do is apologise to Scots for gambling with families savings, crashing the economy and sending bills soaring while putting party before country.

Yet with Badenoch already talking about cutting the maternity pay that is vital to young working families, it seems unlikely that the Tories have learned their lesson.

The 2024 election result made it clear that voters want change not a return to a rotten Tory government.

He added: The UK Labour Budget ended austerity and delivered the largest Budget settlement for the Scottish Government since devolution while also increasing support for working families.

Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie said Kemi Badenoch has based her campaign on a nasty culture war agenda (Jane Barlow/PA)

Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, said her election means moderate, centre-right Conservatism is now utterly marginalised in the modern Conservative Party and seem determined to emulate the gutter politics of Farages far-right Reform.

He also said it is truly depressing to see the Tory Party now led by someone as unashamedly divisive as Kemi Badenoch.

He added: She has based her campaign on a nasty culture war agenda, fuelling division and pitting communities against one another. LGBTQ+ people in particular will be deeply worried that a major party is now in the hands of someone so hostile to our human rights.

Her scaremongering on net zero targets, at a time when extreme weather events and climate impact on the worlds food system are wreaking havoc, underlines why the Tories cannot be trusted with our climate.

She takes credit for Rishi Sunaks decision to push back banning petrol and diesel cars to 2035. Most voters know that we dont have time to spare, and they want Governments to show leadership and make the transition to Net Zero fair and fast.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 45 people and destroyed entire neighbourhoods, authorities say (Hussein Malla/AP)

By Sally Abou Aljoud and Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press

By Sally Abou Aljoud and Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press

Israel launched waves of deadly airstrikes across Lebanons north east that killed at least 45 people on Friday and transformed once-bustling neighbourhood blocks in Beiruts southern suburbs into smouldering ruins.

The latest violence comes against the backdrop of the Biden administrations renewed diplomatic push, days before the US election, to reach temporary ceasefire deals.

Israel has broadened its strikes in Lebanon to bigger urban hubs, like Baalbek, in recent weeks after initially targeting smaller border villages in the south, where Hezbollah draws deep support.

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Iran-backed Hezbollah doubles as a major political party and provider of social services in Lebanon.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles from Lebanon into Israel in solidarity with Hamas immediately after the Hamas-led October 7 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.

The year-long cross-border fighting boiled over to full-blown war on October 1, when Israeli forces launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006.

In Lebanons north east  where small farming villages nestled between the countrys mountain ranges had largely been spared the worst of Israeli bombardment until last month  Israel conducted a series of heavy airstrikes Friday, killing at least 45 people, driving more families to flee with whatever they could carry and sending thick plumes of smoke over the horizon.

Intensified Israeli airstrikes on and around the north-eastern city of Baalbek this week have prompted 60,000 people to flee their homes and have emptied many small villages in the area, said Hussein Haj Hassan, a Lebanese official representing the region.

Rescuers searched for survivors after airstrikes killed seven people in Younine, a town in the Bekaa Valley, said Governor Bachir Khodr.

Smoke rises from a destroyed building hit by an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh (Hussein Malla/AP)

The strikes brought down a building believed to be housing 20 people.

Further Israeli strikes in the north east killed 11 people in the village of Amhaz, five people in the town of Nahleh and 14 others across the Bekaa Valley, Mr Khodr added.

Lebanons state-run National News Agency also reported that four others were killed in the small village of Ollak, bringing the total death toll from Fridays attacks on the Bekaa Valley to 45.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the deadly strikes.

In Lebanons capital of Beirut, Israeli planes pounded the southern suburb of Dahiyeh overnight and early on Friday for the first time in four days, spreading panic after a rare lull.

The Israeli military, which warned residents to evacuate at least nine locations in Dahiyeh, said it hit Hezbollah weapons manufacturing sites and command centres.

There were no reports of casualties from Dahiyeh, where fears of Israeli bombings drive a mass outflow of residents each night.

A worker uses a bulldozer to remove the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit in an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh (Hussein Malla/AP)

Bulldozers rumbled through clouds of dust and smoke on Friday, clearing rubble from the pulverised roads where Israeli warplanes had reduced dozens of buildings to their skeletal remains.

Formerly home to families and businesses, mid-rise apartment blocks were left open to the breeze, walls blown off and furniture buried.

Hezbollah supporters in several locations raised the groups bright yellow banner atop the rubble.

Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted last year, more than 2,897 people have been killed and 13,150 wounded in Lebanon, the Health Ministry reports, not including Fridays toll.

Health authorities say that a quarter of those killed were women and children.

Overall, UN agencies estimate that Israels ground invasion and bombardment of Lebanon has displaced 1.4 million people. Residents of Israels northern communities near Lebanon, roughly 60,000 people, have also been displaced for more than a year.

Hezbollah has continued firing rockets into northern Israel, with projectiles launched from Lebanon on Thursday crashing into agricultural areas and killing seven people, including four Thai farm workers.
Endemic rottenness in the local waste industry a problem Stormont keeps failing to deal with

A restricted PSNI assessment was given to the Department of Justice more than a decade ago, yet still derisory fines  on a par with not having a TV licence  are being handed to offenders

Gerry Farmer and Paul Doherty have admitted running an illegal dump at Mobuoy outside Londonderry, but both men are still awaiting sentence 11 years after the dump was closed

Sam McBride Sat 2 Nov 2024 at 08:21

Across Northern Ireland lie myriad parcels of land which are not what they seem. A pastoral scene where light streams through trees, where birdsong fills the air and where swans swim on a pond can contain an ugly buried truth.
UDA killer Mo Courtney back in court to be fined over firework

Another bad week for notorious paramilitary thug after recent appearance on cannabis charge

Mo Courtney

Christopher Woodhouse Sat 2 Nov 2024 at 14:35







UDA boss Mo Courtney has been hit with a fine after being caught with an unlicensed firework.
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PITTSFIELD  If it wasnt for the student volunteers' purple T-shirts, you could have confused Pittsfield High Schools mock election, held Friday in the school library, for the real thing.

Signs directed voters arriving at the school library to stop and check in with volunteers, checking names off voter checklists separated by class. After casting their ballots, voters were sent out via a one-way exit. There were even I voted stickers for participants.

The students, seniors in the Advanced Placement government class, were responsible for the event. They also presented informational sessions to their peers on the races and the states five ballot questions.

Pittsfield High has run mock elections for the past several presidential ballots, Pittsfield Principal Maggie Harrington-Esko said.

The goal of this tradition is to ensure that students, when they graduate or when they turn 18, understand the process and how to vote, Harrington-Esko said. One of the units in AP government really focuses around voter participation, and we know that not understanding how to vote is often one of the major barriers that keeps people from voting.

The classmates, all seniors, split up their duties throughout the library. Jasmine Small, Brenna Belfontaine, Molly Kennedy-Mutz, Gabe Henner and Emma Goetze were up front checking in voters. Volunteers in the voting and ballot collection area included James Behnke, Zoe-Ruth Brizan, Laura Bronson, Ava Farmer, Ella Bassi and Olivia Holcomb.

For several students, the decision to take AP government was strategic, as they are interested in future careers in criminal justice, politics or the law. Behnke hopes to attend the Coast Guard Academy. Brizan wants to continue her music performance education in classical piano  and become a lawyer.

The students learned a lot from the experience. Goetze came away with a better understanding of "what [election workers] go through and how much hard work it takes to get everything set up. It's a long process, but ultimately, it is worth it."

Goetze was among students interested in politics, and traces her interest back to when she was 9, when Hillary Clinton ran for the White House in 2016. "Personally, I think it'd be awesome to have a woman president. I think it's about time," she said.

Kennedy-Mutz explained that the students each signed up to address a different class about the election, and contributed slides to the presentation. She noted that many Pittsfield students are from different countries and were not aware of how the system works.

"I think it was really important to like share with other kids," Behnke said. "And it's really important for them to like experience this before they grow up and have to go vote."

Brizan was surprised by how many students indicated a willingness to vote "no" on eliminating the MCAS exam as an graduation requirement. She also noticed that juniors and seniors were more interested in Question 5, on applying the minimum wage to food service jobs, as those students are old enough to work restaurant jobs.

Bronson was surprised by the amount of interest in voting for former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, rather than the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. "We live in Massachusetts and it's certainly very liberal, but there's quite a bit of diversity," she said.

In the student election, Harris took 54.8 percent of the student vote, to 28.8 percent for Trump, and U. S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal also won reelection. Students also voted in favor of ending the MCAS graduation requirement, and for establishing a $15 per hour minimum wage for restaurant workers.

Most of the AP government students are 17 and wont be eligible to vote on Tuesday.

I feel like I'm educated enough to vote, and I know a lot about the election and what's going on, Belfontaine said. So it's just kind of sad that I know I'm educated, but I can't vote because I missed it by one year.

As for their feelings about the election: Many of the students expressed hope that Election Day will be peaceful and that the transfer of power will not become violent.

"I just hope it goes well and yeah everyone just respects the outcome, no matter what," Brizan said.
The project outside Town Hall organized by former state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli will honor Berkshire County members of the military who died in service to the U.S. from World War I to the present.
WASHINGTON  A petition seeking to stop a logging and forest management project in October Mountain State Forest was signed by nearly 600 citizens and submitted this week to Gov. Maura Healey.

The petition by the group, Preserve October Mountain State Forest, was also sent to state Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Brian Arrigo.

The document says the group wants to not only stop the project in what is the state's largest forest, but also to place this entire property into a forest reserve so it will be primarily by natural processes with minimal human interference.

The goal, the petition says, is to retain an intact forest for wildlife, water and soil protection, carbon accumulation and recreation.

The DCR proposed the project in 2022 for 343 acres of a total of 447 acres of woodlands known as the Ant Lot." The lot abuts wetlands as well as the Pittsfield State Watershed Area and Sandwash Reservoir  one of Pittsfields six drinking water sources.

Activists staged a rally there in June 2023 to protest the plan and sign the petition.

The state forest is 16,500 acres, mostly in Washington, but also stretches into Becket, Lee and Lenox.

Forestry work outlined in the plan includes tree cutting on 343 acres of the 447-acre lot. The projects aim, is to diversify the forest structure to protect it from disease. Another goal is managing the forest and cutting trees for climate resiliency, according to the DCRs project document.

The project plan says it would involve cutting white ash as a preventative measure against emerald ash borer disease, and remove roadside trees that pose a hazard. The document also says there are possible benefits to the community, like wood for heating fuel.

The project also calls for herbicide use to rid the area of invasive species.

But it is unclear whether the project will go forward, according to Michael Kellett of Concord-based conservation group, RESTORE: The North Woods.

"We've heard through DCR staff, indirectly, that it might be off the table," Kellett said. "We haven't seen any kind of official list. ... We're hoping that it is canceled but we don't have anything official on that."

All forestry projects were paused by Healey in 2022 to give the state time to study the role of forests in offsetting climate change through a Forests as Climate Solutions initiative.

Healeys Climate Forestry Committee, a mix of experts from the fields of climate science and forestry, agreed to the idea of keeping forests as forests. The commission members were in strong disagreement, however, about whether passive or active management is best. Climate scientists on the panel believe the forest should be left alone with a "passive" approach.

Its a debate thats also found its way into other climate forestry" projects in Berkshire County. One is at the Cattle Barn Lot in Mount Washington State Forest. A petition to the state has also circulated to stop that DCR logging project and put the land in the reserve. State officials say a "compromise" might be in the works.

The other controversial project is at Notch Reservoir in North Adams. That forest is owned by the city.

The DCR, note the activists against the October Mountain project, is working to update its policies about how it designates its properties, and that a public comment period is forthcoming.
The students, seniors in the Advanced Placement government class, were responsible for the event. They also presented informational sessions to their peers on the races and the states five ballot questions.
Patrick Tutwiler is on a "Financial Road Show" to get more students to apply for financial aid for college. He said there is "a lot of money on the table" for students. But first they have to apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Im proud and sorry in equal measure to say that I am among the hundreds of thousands who dropped their subscriptions to The Washington Post last year.
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A wide range of stories feature across Saturdays front pages.

The Irish Times reports that pro-Israeli bot networks are suspected of spreading disinformation about Irish troops in Lebanon.

Gardai busted a crystal meth lab in Killarney as the drug was being "cooked", according to the Irish Examiner.

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The Irish Independent reveals that Fianna Fail wants to commit to annual reductions in inheritance tax if they are returned to government after the general election.

The Irish Daily Mail says the Government has been accused of delaying signing off on "politically sensitive" redundancy packages at RTE ahead of the general election.

Barry McGuigan and Maura Higgins are lined up to join I'm a Celebrity, according to the Irish Daily Mirror.

A Co Laois grandmother who continued to draw down her father-in-laws pension for 28-and-a-half years after his death has been jailed for two years, the Irish Daily Star reports.

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The Herald says Thomas "Bomber" Kavanagh's son has admitted helping his father in a plot to amass a guns cache to dupe authorities.

A Co Antrim woman has described her experiences of the deadly Spanish floods to the Belfast Telegraph.

Reaction to the UK government's first budget continues to dominate the British press at the start of the weekend.

The Times says thousands of GP practices and care homes could be forced to close due to tax increases.

The i reports the Tories have polled ahead of Labour in the wake of Wednesdays Budget.

I WEEKEND: Tories inch ahead in poll after Labour hit by budget backlash #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/OvmuFx49ei  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 1, 2024

Elon Musk has called on Keir Starmer to leave the farmers alone amid Labours inheritance tax raid on farmers, according to The Telegraph.

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TELEGRAPH: Musk: PM is wrong on farm tax raid #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/R7cOXT4Ab2  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 1, 2024

The Daily Express says pensioners who were stripped of their winter fuel benefits plan for drastic cutbacks to food and hot water.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mail reports Britain's King Charles has withdrawn Prince Andrews annual 1 million living allowance.

The Guardian says Donald Trumps campaign appears to be preparing to challenge the US election result if he loses.

The Independent leads with calls for aid following deadly flash flooding in Valencia.

And the Daily Star says experts have claimed aliens are hiding under the sea on one of Uranuss moons.
Britain's King Charles is cutting financial ties to his disgraced brother Prince Andrew, according to reports.

Andrews annual 1 million (1.19 million) living allowance has been withdrawn by Charles, according to the serialisation of a new book by royal writer Robert Hardman published in the Daily Mail.

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The move will be seen as another step Charles has taken to publicly distance himself from his younger brother following his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Hardman writes in his forthcoming book that the keeper of the privy purse was instructed to sever his living allowance after Andrew reportedly refused to move out of the Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park, into the nearby smaller Frogmore Cottage.

The duke was said to have signed a 75-lease on the Royal Lodge in 2003.

Citing an insider source, Mr Hardman writes: The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King, confirms one familiar with the situation.

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He claims to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs  which would be a welcome outcome for all parties if that turns out to be the case.

But as to whether this funding can be relied upon in the long term is another matter.

This comes after The Sun on Sunday reported in August that Charles was axing Andrews security at the Royal Lodge, which had been privately funded by Charles after his brother lost publicly-funded police protection in 2022.

In July, palace officials confirmed that Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, remained empty more than a year after they officially vacated the property.

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Pressure mounted on Andrew earlier this year after the unsealing of hundreds of pages of court documents connected to the Epstein scandal which detailed how the financiers former housekeeper Juan Alessi claimed the duke had daily massages when he spent weeks at the paedophiles Florida home.

Previous allegations that Andrew sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre three times when she was 17 years old, including during an orgy, also resurfaced in the court documents.

He has strenuously denied the allegations, saying he never met her, and in 2022 paid millions to Ms Giuffre to settle a civil case out of court.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Israeli naval forces captured a senior Hezbollah operative in north Lebanon, an Israeli military official said on Saturday.

The operation took place in the northern Lebanese town of Batroun, the official said, without providing the name of the person they detained.

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Earlier on Saturday, Lebanese authorities said they were investigating whether Israel was behind the capture of a Lebanese sea captain who was taken away by a group of armed men who had landed on the coast at Batroun on Friday.

The operative has been transferred to Israeli territory and is currently being investigated, the official said.



Lebanese intelligence officers leave a building in Batroun (Hussein Malla/AP)

Residents of the apartment building where the man was seized said the armed group introduced themselves as state security.

We were terrified. They were breaking into the apartment next to ours, Hussein Delbani told The Associated Press near where the man was captured.

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I thought a state agency was doing a security operation, said Mr Delbani, who was displaced from south Lebanon a month ago when the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted.

He said he saw from his balcony people down on the coast and they screamed again for him to go inside.

Minister of public works and transport Ali Hamie told Al-Jadeed TV the man was a captain of civilian ships. He graduated in 2022 and in late September joined the Batrouns Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute for additional courses.





.@UNIFIL_ has not been involved in facilitating any kidnapping or other violation of Lebanese sovereignty. Disinformation and false rumours are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk.  Kandice Ardiel (@hikandice) November 2, 2024

He was speaking shortly after two Lebanese journalists posted a video on social media showing what appeared to be about 20 armed men taking away a man from in front of a house, his face covered with his shirt.

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Kandice Ardiel, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force deployed in south Lebanon, denied allegations by some local journalists who said that the peacekeepers helped the landing force in the operation.

The UN mission, known as Unifil, has a maritime force that monitors the coast.

Disinformation and false rumours are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk, Ms Ardiel said.

Meanwhile, an attack on a central Israeli town on Saturday injured 11 people as Irans supreme leader vowed a punishing response to Israels attack last week and Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza and Lebanon.

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A damaged building where emergency services said 11 people were hurt in a direct strike by projectiles fired from Lebanon after it hit a home in Tira, Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP)

The predawn strike on Tira was one of several barrages fired from Lebanon.

Many of the projectiles were intercepted by Israeli air defences as air raid sirens rang out in parts of the country throughout the day, and others landed in unpopulated areas.

The Magen David Adom emergency service said 11 people were hurt by shrapnel and glass shards in a direct strike on a building in Tira, a predominantly Israeli Arab town.

Footage showed significant damage to the roof and top floor of the three-story building and cars below.

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Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group said it had used missiles and explosive drones to target military and intelligence facilities in northern and central Israel.



Projectiles fired from Lebanon hit a home in Tira (Ariel Schalit/AP)

It claimed responsibility for firing missiles toward the Israeli militarys Unit 8200 base in Glilot, on the edge of Tel Aviv, and for firing rockets toward military facilities in Zvulun.

Hezbollah also said it had targeted central Israels Palmachim Air Base with explosive drones, saying they scored precise hits on targets.

Israels military did not confirm whether any of the three Hezbollah targets had been hit and said it had no comment on the groups claims.

Hezbollah also said that its fighters fired salvos of rockets into northern Israeli towns including Dalton, Yesud HaMaala and Bar Yohai.

An Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Saturday killed one person and wounded 15 others, the Lebanese health ministry said.

Israeli planes resumed strikes on the southern suburb of Dahiyeh overnight on Friday, following a four-day lull in the capital.
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 Its time. Just hours before, the 14th Battalion had been told there was a stunt on tonight at Bullecourt, and they must pack their kit with rations, rifles and Mills bombs, sharpen their bayonets and prepare themselves for battle. There is no talk of tanks, as that information has been withheld from them, just as it has been from all bar their commanding officer. As intelligence officer, Captain Albert Jacka has already gone well ahead, but the rest begin their march forward after dark, heading down the cobbled lanes moving east, as a light snow begins to fall, and their every breath blows out steamy plumes in the cold air. Onwards, they go, neath the incurious moon with a seeming swirl of fireflies at their feet, the result of their hobnailed boots striking sparks from the cobblestones. And listen now, lean closer, as the metallic beat of those hobnails and horseshoes on cobblestones comes ever closer, together with the shouts of the sergeants and corporals along the column keeping the men in time, and on time. German trenches and wire defences on the Western Front. Credit: Daily Mirror Now and then a soldier starts up a marching song, which flares like a lit match in the darkness, flourishes for a short time before slowly fading away, replaced once more by the rattles of gear and swooshing legs and slowly . . . silence once more, as they disappear in the night. Onwards along the roads, onwards into the night. Both Captain Harold Wanliss and Captain Albert Jacka have been frantically busy in the leadup to the attack.

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The battalion staff were working at concert pitch over the final preparations, a soldier documents, and Captain Wanlisss cheery smile of optimism was infectious. Captain Jacka had taken over the duties of I.O. and everything was completed to the smallest detail with a thoroughness that could not be surpassed. Everyone welcomed the instruction to move forward to the jumping-off place in a sunken road about 800 yards from the Hindenburg wire. Just before they go, however, it is Jacka himself who must start the fray before it has even begun. It is his role as intelligence officer to slither, run and crawl right to the edge of the German wire, and ideally to the trenches beyond, to work out just what it is that they will face on the morrow. No Mans Land is Jackas Land. To his fellows he appears nerveless, but that is not the case. It is simply that Jackas jangle of nerves, that shimmer of shell shock that haunts him in everyday life, disappears when he is in the thick of it. Only then is he truly cool and collected; a diamond created by pressure. Jacka knows the more he can see, the more Allies might live when the sun comes up, and the more Germans will die. One of his hopes is that, because shooting of our artillery was very accurate yesterday evening and the heavy and field guns playing well onto wire all along our front, he will find most of the wire between them and the German trenches destroyed. But there is only one way to find out. Artillery was used to prepare the battlefield at Bullecourt. Credit: Australian Official Photo So now in the company of Lieutenant Henry Bradley and Lieutenant Frank Wadge  the latter is the intelligence officer for the 16th Battalion  they head out. Jacka sets the pace, and it is slow, as they crawl ever closer, over the mud, through the mud, under the bloody mud at times, grasping the grass, snaking their way, wide-eyed and watchful, until they approach the first line of German wire. Dammit, it has held, after all! Yes, it is smashed by shell fire in places but just in places. For the most part, it is generally unbroken, which is not what the generals want to hear. In some places, the front line wire [is] about 20 feet through, and some of it as thick as your finger. The previous artillery fire was not enough, the running tomorrow will be rough. Alright, pause now, it is time to go past the wire, this is the end of No Mans Land and the beginning of madness. Jacka will go solo here; leaving the other two gratefully behind for this most dangerous part. Should he buy it, they must return with what they already know. Jacka finds the twisting narrow path that goes through the wire, and begins crawling forward, alone. But he is not alone, for as he gets close to the other side, and as he will tell Ted Rule, I saw for myself the density of machine guns and men in their trenches. It is stacked and packed, a tinderbox that the tanks will explode. To think that some of their senior officers had been insisting that the Germans had abandoned the Hindenburg Line, and it was theirs for the taking!

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Far from it. For, make no mistake . . . The garrison was holding it in strength and was very wide awake. And, good God! Now a German patrol of nearly a dozen men is walking towards him, and there is nothing for Jacka to do but roll himself under the wire, lie completely still, stop breathing, and pray. In his right hand, he clutches his pistol, ready to spring into action at their first cry of alarm. For the moment, though, nothing. The quiet guttural chatter of the Germans sounds like drumbeats to Jackas ears, closer and closer, still he is, and pray he does, as they . . . amble by . . . and past. Thank Christ! British tanks manoeuvre through land mines and barbed wire on the Hindenburg Line. Credit: Australian War Memorial As Jacka retraces his path, he is, of necessity, able to get a good look at just how impenetrable this wire is, as he will record in his intelligence brief for this battle that should not be: Wire before the front line is very massive and of an average depth of between 30 and 50 yards. This is supported on heavy wooden stakes, few iron pickets being in use . . . Wire between front and support lines is thin, only about 5 yards wide, and supported on ordinary corkscrew stakes. This was found almost untouched by our gun fire, but generally was negotiable. Negotiations continuing, Jacka gets through and can see that the second line of barbed wire ahead is also completely intact. There are endless rolls of vicious barbed wire, and a mass of men running up against it would have no chance of penetrating it before being cut to pieces by machine guns. The only hope now would be for the barrage to specifically target this line and blow it to pieces. Which would lose surprise as the Germans would know its a prelude to an assault. Now that he is closer to the trenches, he can certainly hear movement, and it sounds like there are a lot of German soldiers. Jacka has seen and heard enough, and crawls back through the wire to rejoin Bradley and Wadge, his head spinning with the likely consequences of what he has seen. The crestfallen lieutenants are the first to hear the bad news. Jacka also reports his encounter with the patrol.

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How they failed to see me was a puzzle, Jacka whispers. They almost trod on me. But what would you have done if they had trodden on you? Werent you frightened? Captain Jacka VC MC and Bar, is presented with a bar to his MC for bravery during the first attack on Bullecourt. Credit: Australian War Memorial Oh no, murmurs Jacka. I was quite calm because I knew what to do. Oh, yes? And what would that be? I was watching them, and if they had discovered me, I was going to get in among them and shoot the lot before they knew what had happened. Right. Good to know.

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I would have got away easily enough. Yes, he bloody would have. Bradley and Wadge, who are not immortal, imagine their very different fates. But out here, now, the shell-shocked Jacka, the man who shook for an hour when a drawer closed too quickly in a military hospital, has vanished. Loading As a matter of fact, he is now so confident that when one of his companions notes just how quiet the Germans are, and lightly wonders if there really can be that many of them, Jacka decides to prove it to him. Taking off his helmet, he starts bashing the wire with it, the jarring sound cleaving the night. Everyone down! There is an immediate and furious fusillade of fire from German lines so strong that his companions are shocked. How many do you think there are [now]? Jacka asks, once it has died down.

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This story is part of the November 3 edition of Sunday Life.

At Waterloo station, under the Portland stone and bronze Victory Arch, the Roman goddesses flank Britannia, holding her liberty torch aloft. London in July: skies grey, streets flecked with rain. Summer, apparently.

Suddenly, in my mind, I hear the driving electric, bass and acoustic guitars. The hairs on my arms stand up. Terry meets Julie / Waterloo station / Every Friday night. Ray Davies wrote Waterloo Sunset and the Kinks released the single in 1967, the year I was born.

Theatre-lovers are spoilt for choice in London. Credit: Getty Images

Is it possible to feel a past you never experienced? Even on an everyday Monday afternoon in 2024? I was never part of Cool Britannia, a phrase also coined then, for I entered the world via Melbourne, and live in Sydney. But London is eerily familiar in its joyful sorrow: the voyeuristic narrator in Waterloo Sunset is too lazy to leave his room, wondering why dirty old River Thames must keep rolling.

I come to this city for culture, for theatre, for worlds within worlds, within walking distance. I turn amid the grey and see a parked double-decker red bus advertising ABBA Voyage, the Swedish foursome digitally recreated here for an ongoing concert, looking as if the 1970s and disco never died.
Spare a thought for the elite. Worshipped on influencer-gram, but the perennial baddies of much contemporary politics. Elites, the Trumpian narrative goes, promote counterintuitive trade policy, disdain the unskilled and avoid the good, honest transfats consumed by real people.

Elites cop it from the left of politics, too. For the left, the elites are people with privilege, who should be checking it  presumably into a metaphysical cloakroom.

Down with the elites! Credit: Illustration: Andrew Dyson

The concept of an oppressive elite is timeless  there are always those who are doing better than us. The drive to overthrow them is epochal, says Peter Turchin, a Russian-American complexity scientist who studies the trends of history using a mathematical and statistical methodology he and his colleagues call cliodynamics.

It comes about when a society produces too many contenders for elite status  more than there are positions of prestige, or spots in the chairmans lounge, to fill. The elites then scuffle among themselves in a way that can bring down a society. The common people are often invoked  witness the appeal for proletarian justice in the French and Russian revolutions  but the real battle is between the establishment elites and a counter-elite that seeks to replace it.
Indigenous communities across Queensland say theyre devastated that the states Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry will be scrapped.

The inquiry had scheduled hearings in Cherbourg in mid-November, and on North Stradbroke Island in December.

Inquiry chair Joshua Creamer announced the inquiry would pause its work after Premier David Crisafulli confirmed he would not allow the upcoming hearings to take place.

Queensland Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry board members Ivan Ingram, Vonda Malone, chairperson Joshua Creamer, Cheryl Buchanan, and Roslyn Atkinson AO. Credit: Matt Dennien

Creamer said the premiers interference in an ongoing inquiry was unprecedented, noting Crisafulli had not had any contact with him about halting the process.
Police are hunting for a shooter after a man died from gunshot wounds on a street in Melbournes inner north in the early hours on Saturday.

Its a horrific incident. Its something that none of us wanted to experience  police or the local community, Detective Acting Inspector Alan Rumble said at a press conference on Saturday morning.

Emergency services were called to Langford Street in North Melbourne at 3.15am following reports a man was seriously injured after being shot.

The man  who is yet to be identified  died at the scene.
Warning: Graphic and distressing content

A former elite soldier and the founder of a Melbourne swingers network have both been ordered to stand trial over the alleged rape of a heavily intoxicated woman during a threesome in 2022.

Liam OFlaherty, 35, and Gary Broughton, 45, faced a committal hearing on Friday with Magistrate Stephen Ballek finding there was sufficient evidence for the cases against both men to proceed to the County Court of Victoria.

Gary Broughton (centre) leaves the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday Credit: Jason South

Ballek announced his decision after closing the court to view video footage of the sexual encounters, including a 21-minute recording of the threesome taken on January 20, 2022.
Many years ago, due to the beneficence of my travelling companion, I was upgraded to business class on a flight between Sydney and London. The only catch  we had enough points for just one leg of the journey.

We flew in glorious luxury to Singapore, drinking meal-paired wines and ostentatiously stretching our legs. At Singapore, the come-down: a demotion to economy for the longer and more gruelling stretch of the journey. Walking past the front end of the cabin, relegated back to steerage, I felt a sense of grievance rise in my breast. There must have been some sort of mistake? Because I was a business-class person now. Right?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has emphatically denied seeking flight upgrades from Qantas. Credit: Steven Siewert

This glimpse behind the front-cabin curtain brought home how easily a sense of entitlement can arise, when one set of people is elevated above another.

It is closely related to what psychologists call hedonic adaptation  an adaptive human trait whereby, when something positive happens, a treat like getting to fly business class, the happiness it brings quickly wears off. We return to baseline. The treat becomes normal. Expected, even.
The stranglehold that Qantas holds over the $250 million market for politicians, staffers and public servants is costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year while the rules to take the cheapest available flight are being broken, according to competitor Virgin.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Qantas chief Alan Joyce. Credit: Getty

Virgin made the claim in January in a submission to the governments Aviation White Paper, which sets out a course for the industry for the next 25 years, and provided figures to back its claims.

The Coalition is now demanding the cheapest-fare rule be adhered to, pushing more MPs and staff onto the flights of Virgin, which likewise has been stressing the importance of the rule, which is now being reviewed by the Finance Department.

Flying in the face of the policy, more than 90 per cent of the nearly $30 million spent by MPs and their staff on travel last year went to Qantas and its subsidiary Jetstar, according to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. That figure is an increase on the 75 per cent share Qantas had in the previous decade.
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Im strolling along the shore of Lake Geneva in the Swiss resort town of Montreux, admiring the placid waters, when I see a silhouette of a man next to the path. Its a statue with arm upraised, the sun behind it.



Freddie Mercurys statue on Lake Geneva captures the flamboyant singers dynamic defiance. Credit:

My eyes adjust to the glare and I see its a representation of none other than flamboyant Freddie Mercury, much-loved frontman of British band Queen, whose music was a staple of my youth. Its a brilliant representation, capturing the late rock star in a dynamic pose: right arm raised with clenched fist, left arm grasping a microphone stand, his jacket with its multiple buckles flying free. But what is it doing here?

Montreuxs connection with Queen is more than skin deep, Im about to discover, for Im joining a Freddie tour. This walking tour led by Lucien Muller will take our group along the waterfront, abetted by devices playing film and audio. A highlight is the personal commentary of Peter Freestone, Mercurys personal assistant for many years.

As we pass grand art nouveau hotels along the lakeshore, Freestone fills us in on the stars biography: from his birth in Zanzibar to his rise to music stardom in the UK. The connection to Montreux began, were told, in 1978, when Queen came to the town to record the album Jazz at the recording studios in the casino. The song Bicycle Race on the album was inspired by Freddie watching a passing stage of the Tour de France.
Live from New York, its a presidential candidate scrounging for every vote in the final days before the election.

Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise trip to New York City on Saturday to appear on Saturday Night Live, briefly stepping away from the battleground states where shes been furiously campaigning in favour of the iconic sketch comedy show.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on Sunday AEDT. Credit: AP

Harris departed on Air Force Two after an early evening campaign stop on in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was scheduled to head to Detroit, but once in the air, aides said shed be making an unscheduled stop and the plane landed at LaGuardia Airport in Queens.

Harris arrived at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, where SNL is recorded, shortly after 8pm, enough time for a quick rehearsal before the show airs live at 11.30pm. It is the final SNL episode before election day on Tuesday.

Neither the White House nor her campaign have confirmed her appearance on the show, but it was confirmed by three people familiar with Harris plans who were not authorised to speak publicly about them.

Actor Maya Rudolph first played Harris on the show in 2019 and has reprised her role this season, doing a spot-on impression of the vice president, including calling herself Momala.

Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris and Jim Carrey as Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live in 2020. Credit: NBC via AP

Rudolph opened the shows season premiere with the line: Well, well, well. Look who fell out of that coconut tree. And shes joked about keeping President Joe Biden in his place.

Harris husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, has been played by former cast member Andy Samberg and Biden is played by Dana Carvey, who also famously played then-president George H.W. Bush in the early 1990s.

Rudolphs performance has won critical and comedic acclaim, including from Harris herself.

Maya Rudolph  I mean, shes so good, Harris said last month on ABCs The View. She had the whole thing, the suit, the jewellery, everything!

Harris added that she was impressed with Rudolphs mannerisms.

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump, expressed surprise that Harris would appear on SNL given what he characterised as her unflattering portrayal on the show. Asked if Trump had been invited to appear, he said: I dont know. Probably not.

Politicians nonetheless have a long history on SNL, including Trump, who hosted the show in 2015  though appearing so close to election day is unusual.

Hillary Clinton was running in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary when she appeared next to Amy Poehler, who played her on the show and was known for launching into a trademark, exaggerated cackle. The real Clinton wondered during her appearance, Do I really laugh like that?

Clinton returned in 2016, while running against Trump in a race she ultimately lost.

The first sitting president to appear on SNL was Republican Gerald Ford, who did so less than a year after the show made its debut. Ford appeared in April 1976 on an episode hosted by his press secretary, Ron Nessen, and declared the shows famous opening rejoinder, Live from New York, its Saturday Night.

Then-Illinois senator Barack Obama appeared alongside Poehler impersonating Clinton in 2007, and Republican Bob Dole was on the show in November 1996  a mere 11 days after losing that years election to Bill Clinton. Dole consoled Norm Macdonald, who played the Kansas senator.

Then there was Tina Feys 2008 impression of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin  and in particular her joke that I can see Russia from my house. It was so good that Fey eventually won an Emmy and Palin herself appeared on the show that October, in the weeks before the election.

AP
SpaceRISE, the consortium comprising Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL), Hispasat and SES (Ticker: SESG), together with other core members, is pleased to announce it has been awarded by the European Commission to design, deliver, and operate IRIS, the European Unions pioneering multi-orbit connectivity system. This milestone represents a crucial step towards establishing a secure, resilient, and autonomous communications infrastructure for Europe.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241031794269/en/

Interconnected Multi-Orbit System. Credit: SES

IRIS will play a transformative role in reinforcing Europes resilience, digital sovereignty, and low-latency connectivity for all EU Member States. This IRIS multi-orbit satellite system is intended to enhance Europes ability to respond to crises, protect essential infrastructure, and bridge the digital divide. With full operational status targeted for the early 2030s, IRIS will deliver a secure and competitive communications backbone aligned with Europes strategic and digital priorities.

The IRIS2 programme is a public private partnership (PPP) which will be funded by a combination of EU, European Space Agency and private financing from the three satellite operators within the SpaceRISE consortium.

The consortium looks forward to the final phase of the procurement process leading to contract signature expected by the year end.

Eva Berneke, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat commented: The IRIS programme is a powerful extension of Eutelsats commitment to advancing Europes digital sovereignty through sustained investment in multi-orbit technology to deliver multi-layered, low-latency networks, which are essential to Europes strategic resilience. We are proud to support the EU on this project alongside the consortium partners to deliver a resilient, future-ready communication system that meets Europes most critical connectivity needs, while generating value-creation for Eutelsat and its stakeholders by complementing and enhancing our existing LEO capabilities."

Miguel Angel Panduro, Chief Executive Officer of Hispasat added: "We are firmly committed to everything that IRIS represents: a sovereign secure communications system, supported by European innovative developments and driven by public-private partnership. It is an ambitious project, in which the companies of the SpaceRISE consortium are working to offer the best response to the demands of the European Union. This award is an exciting first step of a project that will define the future of satellite communications in Europe."

Adel Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of SES said:Being selected as a trusted partner for IRIS is an honour. SpaceRISE, based on the European Unions requirements will define and develop a future-proof space network that will serve as the cornerstone of Europes space and defence strategies in the years to come. The IRIS system is aligned with SESs multi-orbit network and underscores our commitment to advancing our MEO capabilities, as well as having access to LEO orbit. We will continue to ensure that the contract meets our IRR requirements, cash generation fundamentals, and investment grade metrics.

About SpaceRISE

SpaceRISE which stands for Space Consortium for a Resilient, Interconnected and Secure Europe isdedicated to fostering a resilient, interconnected, and secure Europe through space innovation. Comprising Europes key space and telecom companies including Airbus Defence and Space, Deutsche Telekom, Eutelsat, Hisdesat, Hispasat, OHB, Orange, SES, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space, and Thales, SpaceRISE aims to bring SMEs and New Space players together in a multi-national footprint throughout the EU27 Member States to expand its collaboration. By harnessing the strengths of established industry leaders and emerging innovators, SpaceRISE is set to drive Europes secure and sustainable future in space.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241031794269/en/
By David Young, PA

An investigation has been launched after a bus caught fire on the outskirts of Dublin.

The incident happened on the M1 motorway in north Co Dublin on the southbound carriageway between Balbriggan and Donabate.

Gardai and fire services were alerted shortly after 1.50am on Saturday.

All passengers were safely evacuated from the vehicle and there were no reports of any injuries.

It is understood the bus was hired to bring Shelbourne fans home from their League of Ireland win against Derry.

Another fan bus travelling behind managed to pick the remaining passengers home and bring them the rest of the way to Dublin.

The fire was extinguished and the vehicle has been removed from the scene for technical and forensic examination.
Xi, Slovak PM meet in Beijing, agreeing to elevate ties

Xinhua) 09:43, November 02, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Slovakia, Xi said that after three-quarters of a century of development, the traditional friendship between the two countries is full of vitality, and the cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

"We have decided to elevate China-Slovakia relations to a strategic partnership, which meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and powerful momentum into bilateral cooperation," Xi said, adding that China is willing to work together with Slovakia to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and lift their ties to a higher level.

Xi said the two countries need to deepen political mutual trust, calling on both sides to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, adhere to mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns.

In order to expand pragmatic cooperation, Xi said the two countries should make good use of the newly established inter-governmental cooperation committee to strengthen synergy in new energy, transportation and logistics, infrastructure construction and water resources management. China encourages its enterprises to invest in Slovakia and welcomes Slovak enterprises to explore the market in China, he said.

Xi said the two countries should promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He called on both sides to carry out communication and dialogue among political parties, local governments, youth, think tanks, and the media, and make good use of platforms such as the Confucius Institutes to consolidate the foundation of public opinion for China-Slovakia friendship across generations.

China has decided to grant 15-day visa-free entry to Slovak citizens, Xi added.

Xi noted that the two countries need to strengthen international cooperation. In a complex and rapidly changing world, Xi said, both sides should uphold true multilateralism, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, embrace a vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

China attaches great importance to China-EU relations, Xi said, adding that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and China-EU relations should demonstrate due maturity and stability.

Xi expressed the hope that the new EU institutions will adhere to the orientation of the China-EU partnership, adopt a positive and pragmatic approach, properly manage differences, and refrain from politicizing economic and trade issues.

Fico said Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government representing all of China. Slovakia opposes any interference in other countries' internal affairs and advocates for respecting each country's choice of development path.

Slovakia appreciates China's decision to grant Slovak citizens the 15-day visa-free treatment, Fico said. Slovakia supports facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy and infrastructure, he added.

Slovakia appreciates the three major global initiatives put forward by President Xi, and is willing to strengthen exchanges with China on state governance experience and actively promote the EU's commitment to handling differences through dialogue and consultations, Fico said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi expounded on China's consistent principle and position, commending Slovakia for adopting an objective, rational and impartial stance. He welcomed Slovakia, as well as more like-minded countries, to play a positive role in promoting peace talks.

Fico stated that China's position on the Ukraine crisis is fair, objective and constructive. Slovakia is willing to join the group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis and work with China to contribute to the political settlement of the crisis.

Following the meeting, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Hongyu)
Welcome to Cartoon Brews series of spotlights focusing on the animated shorts that have qualified for the 2025 Oscars. The films in this series have qualified through one of multiple routes: by winning an Oscar-qualifying award at a film festival, by exhibiting theatrically, or by a Student Academy Award.

Todays film is Quota from Dutch trio Job Roggeveen, Joris Oprins, and Marieke Blaauw. The film has qualified through theatrical exhibition and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it won an honorable mention for Best International Short Film.

The previously-Oscar-nominated trio (A Single Life), known professionally as Job, Joris & Marieke, tackle the climate crisis and humanitys global footprint in their latest short. Quota, through an entertaining two-minute story, offers a cynical and gritty take on our highly connected society  and the rather extreme means that are seemingly necessary to raise peoples awareness about our deteriorating environment.

Cartoon Brew: With a big dose of black humor, you portray a society where the climate crisis is a joke, until it isnt. As filmmakers, how does this relate to your own professional views and careers and what does it mean to be a climate-conscious filmmaker today?

Job, Joris and Marieke: We are very concerned about the climate crisis. However, we never speak out strongly about it on a personal level. When someone tells us about their umpteenth flight for a holiday, we just nod politely. Were afraid to create awkward or unpleasant situations by giving our opinion. But when it comes to our work, we feel we can be more outspoken. Quota gives us the opportunity to clearly and loudly express what we truly think about humanitys role in the climate crisis.

When Quota premiered at TIFF, we werent there. We havent flown to festivals in years, and we only attend festivals that are within train distance. This often means we must turn down festival invitations, which isnt always appreciated. And we understand that, because festivals rely on the presence of filmmakers, and for filmmakers, those trips are important to meet other filmmakers and get inspired. For us, going to TIFF would have been great for our network. So it was quite a sacrifice not to attend our own premiere at TIFF.

So, we were very pleased when Quota won an honorable mention and the jury stated, We also applaud the filmmakers for practicing what they preach by choosing not to attend the festival this year as a way to limit their carbon footprint and stay within their quota. Now, were thrilled that the film is qualified for the Oscars. But if Quota gets nominated, we will not fly to L.A. to attend the award ceremony. It will be an even harder pill to swallow for us, but we believe its an important statement to make. We love our work, and it means a lot to us, but we feel the climate crisis is more important.

What was it about this story or concept that connected with you and compelled you to direct the film?

We are all three very concerned about the climate crisis. We try to do whats best  we dont own a car, we dont eat meat, we dont fly, and you can find us at XR (Extinction Rebellion) protests. For a while now, weve been looking for a way to incorporate our views on this subject into a film. But we feared it would only lead to a preachy film and we really hate that.

But one day we were talking about carbon footprints and how there are ways to calculate your own CO2 emissions, and we discussed how it would be fair if everyone got a designated CO2 quota. And then we took it a step further: what if everyone got a fixed percentage of CO2? And what would happen when you surpass your quota? Quite an impossible scenario in real life, but not in animation. The part on what would happen if your percentage came to zero especially sparked our imagination. We came up with a cruel and funny consequence: when youre at zero, you explode. This turned the idea around, this wouldnt be a preachy boring film, but a hilarious gory one! Quota is a funny film, but it also holds up a mirror to your own behavior. It makes you laugh only to realize that the jokes on you.

What did you learn through the experience of making this film, either production-wise, filmmaking-wise, creatively, or about the subject matter?

We made this film as part of the Ultrakort [Ultra Short] program, a yearly project by the Netherlands Film Fund where different filmmakers are chosen to create a two-and-a-half minute short film. The shorts are screened before movies in Vue and NFO [Dutch] cinemas. We also made A Single Life (which was nominated for an Oscar) and A Double Life (nominated for the Dutch Academy Award) through the same Ultrakort program.

We love the Ultrakort Program because it forces you to tell your story in a very compact way. Quota was a great fit for this format, but keeping it to just two-and-a-half minutes was the main challenge. We had a lot of shots to show, and each one had to be incredibly brief. We were literally cutting frames from one shot just to add a few frames to another shot that felt too short.

Another challenge was the story. We needed to show people emitting CO2. And we had to find the right examples. The CO2 emitting situations needed to be accurate, recognizable, but also funny. And the situations also had to be understandable for people who arent too familiar with their own impact on the climate crisis. We struggled with that a bit. For example, importing foreign fruit emits a lot of CO2, but if we can only show a character eating an avocado, the message might not come across clearly. We also had to decide when the crime occurs, at what moment does someone lose CO2 percentage? Does your CO2 quota shrink when you buy meat, when you eat it, or when the animal is killed? These kinds of discussions were really interesting, and we got help from an NGO with expertise in this area.

Can you describe how you developed your visual approach to the film? Why did you settle on this style/technique?

We are a cg studio with a background in stop motion, so it was natural for us to make Quota in cg. However, we wanted to take a different approach to the visual style, aiming for a more graphic look. We liked this aesthetic because it kept everything clean and easy to follow, which was important given the films fast pace.

In the end, we created a very flat style of 3d, something like 2.5d. The characters are quite flat, and we used a focal lens with minimal perspective. We designed the sets as if they were theater sets, very flat and two-dimensional, with only frontal shots. And with all the action taking place in the center of the frame.

Designing these flat characters was a lot of fun. Since they had to scream a lot, giving them big mouths was a key feature. We also wanted to represent a diverse cast, so we made the character designs modular  like Lego  allowing us to easily swap out hair, clothes, or animation. We chose a very simplified character design; the characters consist of one simple shape and dont have a neck. Not having a neck was very important because we thought that would look funnier the moment the characters heads explode. Animating in this flat world was equally enjoyable. We had to focus on creating strong silhouettes and avoid poses where the characters hands were in front of their bodies. Plus, they could only move along one axis, which added an extra layer of challenge.
Brussels-based cg animation app Swoove Studios has raised $7.5 million (6.9 million) in a seed funding round led by European angel investors.

The companys Swoove app, which CEO and co-founder Rudy Verbeeck, says is the future of 3d animated storytelling, uses an AI-powered proprietary platform that allows users to generate cg animation without any prior experience.

Heres a look at the type of animation that is generated through the app:

More details about the funding round:
Omari Godfrey, 16, was a student at Richmond High School. He was killed in an apartment fire in San Pablo on Oct. 20. West Contra Costa Unified School District Malik Gordon, a student at Michelle Obama School in Richmond, is in critical condition after being badly burned in a San Pablo apartment fire on Oct. 20. West Contra Costa Unified School District The back of apartment unit 8 shown at 2518 Manchester Ave. in San Pablo on Wednesday. The unit burned on Oct. 20, killing two people and badly injuring another. Jordan Parker/The Chronicle A memorial for Mychel Gordon and Omari Godfrey sits outside an apartment complex located in San Pablo. The two were killed in an apartment fire on Oct. 20. Jordan Parker/The Chronicle The front windows of apartment unit 8 at 2518 Manchester Ave. in San Pablo are shown on Wednesday. The apartment was the site of a fire that killed 23-year-old Mychel Gordon and 16-year-old Omari Godfrey. Jordan Parker/The Chronicle A poster filled with messages of love and sadness sat at a memorial for Omari Godfrey, 16, on Wednesday in front of an apartment building in San Pablo. Godfrey was killed in an apartment fire there on Oct. 20. Jordan Parker/The Chronicle A poster filled with messages of love and sadness sits at a memorial for Mychel Gordon, 23, in San Pablo on Wednesday. Gordon was killed in an apartment fire there on Oct. 20. Jordan Parker/The Chronicle

A fire that ripped through an apartment unit in San Pablo last month, killing a 23-year-old man and his teen cousin  and critically burning a younger boy  started in the middle of the night on the stovetop, fire officials said Friday.

While fire investigators have identified the cause of the fire as unattended cooking, questions remain about whether the smoke alarm inside the apartment unit where the two younger victims lived with their mother, Denise Kirk  who was working a night shift  alerted the family in time.

The Oct. 20 fire killed Mychel Gordon, 23, and Omari Godfrey, 16, a student at Richmond High School, officials said. Godfreys brother, Malik Gordon, a sixth grader at Michelle Obama School in Richmond, survived the blaze but suffered burns to 95% of his body and remains in critical condition at a Sacramento-area hospital, according to residents at the apartment building who had been in touch with the family.

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The blue two-story apartment building at 2518 Manchester Ave. consists of eight units and residents there told the Chronicle all had smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The smoke alarms even sound instructions in the event of a fire advising people to evacuate, residents said. But residents said they did not hear the smoke alarm sound off in apartment unit 8, the second-floor residence where the fire began, until the flames were engulfing it.

Its disturbing because were (the residents) like a family, resident Kylia Cyrus, 36, said, as she stood in front of a memorial for the victims outside the apartment building Wednesday. We all look out for each other. I dont know what was going on with the smoke alarm.

Cyrus said she was fast asleep in her upstairs apartment, which is a few doors down from unit 8, when she was awakened at 3 a.m. by her neighbor banging on her door.

So I open the door and hes like Its a fire, its a fire, Cyrus said. I open the (front downstairs) gate and it was blazed up. I mean, flames everywhere. Windows were busting out because of the heat. The blinds and everything were just torched. All I was focused on was getting my folks out.

Residents evacuated from their units and watched as firefighters pulled their neighbors from the burned unit. Kirk, Malik and Mychels mom, had been working her usual graveyard shift at a nursing home in El Cerrito, residents at the apartment building said. When residents notified her of the fire, she rushed home. Residents said she was devastated. She could not be reached for comment.

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Chris Toler, a spokesperson for the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, told the Chronicle on Friday that the cause of the fire was unattended cooking on the stovetop in the apartment. Toler said firefighters could not provide information as to what time the smoke alarms in the apartment went off and whether they were working properly.

Another spokesperson for Contra Costas fire protection district told the Chronicle that the apartments did not have fire sprinklers installed since they were not required at the time of construction. The building was built in 1965.

California building code requires functioning smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in residential dwelling units. If an apartment tenant notifies an owner that a smoke alarm isnt working, the owner is responsible for fixing the alarm.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, which is a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more than 1,600 people have died in home fires this year. In California alone, there have been 106 home fire deaths this year.

Nestled into a quiet part of northwest San Pablo, 2518 Manchester Ave. sits surrounded by single-family homes. At the time of the fire, the apartment complex was listed for sale for $2.1 million. The owner of the complex, Charles Lindeman, could not be reached for comment.

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On Wednesday, smoke soot still stained the window frames at the front and rear of apartment unit 8. The windows were now replaced by boards. A memorial for Mychel and Omari was propped up outside the building filled with candles, empty bottles and flower bouquets. In front of the flowers were two posters, one dedicated to Omari and one to Mychel, each filled with messages of love and sadness.

This is a see you later Mychel, your spirit will continue to live on forever, one message said. Others: I love you so much. I love you nephew always and forever. Praying for the family.

Katrinah Armstrong, who has lived down the street from the apartment building for about five years, stopped by to leave a message of her own. At the time of the fire, Armstrong had been on a trip to Pismo Beach and didnt become aware of the fire until she saw social media posts.

I (have) seen firefighters here for days, Armstrong said while standing in front of the memorial. I cant stop looking at it (the torched apartment). Its so sad and this is my neighborhood.

Mary Lewis, 67, was still visibly shaken by the deadly fire Wednesday as she stood in front of the memorial for Mychel and Omari. When firefighters arrived at the apartments on Oct. 20, Kirk said, she alerted them that the boys were still inside.

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I was out here praying, Lewis, who has lived at the apartments for four years, said. Lord, let them live. Lord, let them live.

She expressed that the community, including herself, is still reeling from the tragedy.

I could not sleep for five days after the fire, said Lewis, who described Mychel as really sweet and helpful and said Omari was focused on graduating from high school.

The deadly fire has also shaken up the West Contra Costa Unified School District, whose schools Mychel and Omari attended. In a message to students on Monday, Superintendent Kenneth C. Hurst sought to offer support to students.

This tragedy has deeply affected our community, and our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies go out to the family during this time of sorrow and uncertainty, said Hurst. Our district community has always shown strength and compassion in difficult times. I invite you to join us in standing with this family, whether through a contribution, words of encouragement, or simply keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.

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A routine traffic stop along Interstate 5 in Northern California turned into a major fentanyl bust, according to the California Highway Patrol. The drugs seized were enough to kill a quarter of the states population. California Highway Patrol

A routine traffic stop along Interstate 5 in Northern California turned into a major fentanyl bust, according to the California Highway Patrol.

On Monday, officers pulled over a vehicle for a traffic violation near Airport Boulevard in Sacramento. But what began as a standard stop quickly escalated when a K9 unit from the county sheriffs office detected potential narcotics inside the car.

A subsequent search revealed two duffle bags and a shopping bag filled with counterfeit oxycodone pills, totaling more than 66 pounds  equivalent to around 330,000 pills.

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The driver, a resident of Washington State, was arrested and booked into Yolo County jail.

Authorities highlighted the seizures alarming scale, noting that a few milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The quantity seized could produce 10 million to 15 million lethal doses, enough to potentially kill a quarter of the population of California.

The operation was part of a collaborative effort with the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office and the Placer County District Attorneys Office to enhance highway safety.
The last World War II European Theater Medal of Honor recipient was Chattanooga's own T/SGT Charles Coolidge (USA). Our community said farewell to Mr. Coolidge in April of 2021. He may be gone from this world, but his legacy of patriotism and character endures.





Recently, I had a conversation with a family member of the last of the World War II recipients, Woody Williams, USMC. In 2021, Woody made a quiet pilgrimage to town to say farewell to his old friend Mr.Coolidge. Woody died a year later.





On February 23, 1945, a then-21-year-old Marine corporal, Hershel Woodrow Williams, watched from the bloody beaches of Iwo Jima as our flag was raised atop Mount Suribachi, immortalized by the Marine Corps Memorial sculpture in Virginia.





For his heroic actions on that same day, Williams became one of 27 Iwo Jima Marines and sailors to receive the Medal of Honor  our nations highest military award for valor. It was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history -- 7,000 Americans perished.





Williams, who was a very humble man and welcomed anyone to address him as Woody, was one of 472 World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor. He died at age 98 in his beloved home state of West Virginia.





Woody was the youngest of seven children born into a hard-working farming family, and, at just 3.5 pounds at birth in 1923, he was not expected to survive. Thank God he did. He wanted to enlist in the Marine Corps after the Japs attacked Pearl Harbor, but given that his low birth weight hindered his adult stature, he did not meet the 5'6" minimum height requirement. But the Corps reduced that restriction in 1943 and Woody was in.





He trained in San Diego as an infantryman on the use of flamethrowers. At the time, this weapon was one of the most effective means of extracting Japanese fighters from their cavern entrenchments on Pacific islands. It was a heavy and cumbersome backpack device with three tanks, two for a mixture of diesel fuel and aviation gas and the third for compressed air. And if an enemy bullet pierced the tanks, it meant certain death for its bearer.





His first combat trials were with Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division at Guadalcanal. He then served at the Battle of Guam in 1944 and in 1945 landed on the grainy volcanic sand of Iwo Jima, where he was charged with clearing enemy pill boxes.





His full Medal of Honor citation outlines the extraordinary actions of this man.





"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as demolition sergeant serving with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945. Quick to volunteer his services when our tanks were maneuvering vainly to open a lane for the infantry through the network of reinforced concrete pillboxes, buried mines, and black volcanic sands, Cpl. Williams daringly went forward alone to attempt the reduction of devastating machine-gun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by four riflemen, he fought desperately for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flamethrowers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after another. On one occasion, he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert the nozzle of his flamethrower through the air vent, killing the occupants, and silencing the gun; on another he grimly charged enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and destroyed them with a burst of flame from his weapon. His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strongpoints encountered by his regiment and aided vitally in enabling his company to reach its objective. Cpl. Williams aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."





Like all recipients, Woody was an ordinary individual who demonstrated extraordinary acts of valor when confronted with circumstances that called him to put the lives of others above his own.





After the war, Woody remained with the Marine Corps Reserves 25th Infantry Company, and his final rank was Chief Warrant Officer 4. He then spent 33 years as a counselor with Veterans Affairs. He was a devoted Christian and served as the chaplain for the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for 35 years.





He also headed the Woody Williams Foundation ( https://woodywilliams.org ), supporting the establishment of permanent Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in communities across our nation and providing Living Legacy scholarships to the children of fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.





Like all recipients, Woody considered himself only a caretaker of the medal, and he wore it in honor of all others who served.





The last time we crossed paths was in April of last year at a memorial service for his friend, Charles Coolidge. The image that remains seared into my memory is that of Woody standing quietly alone in a private moment over the casket of Mr. Coolidge. Given his stature, I am reminded of another small man who became a giant among recipients, Desmond Doss, who spent much of his life on Lookout Mountain.





Of his Greatest Generation, Woody said: I feel that our upbringing had some influence on our bravery because we were taught in the Depression years, if you didnt have it, you had to make it. And the only way you could make it was to work at it. Our upbringing gave us the confidence that developed into bravery.





In 2020, the Navy christened the USS Hershel Woody Williams in honor of his service. Of that commission he declared: May all those who serve aboard this ship that will bear my name be safe and be proud. And may she have Gods blessings for a long life of service to the greatest country on earth.





The remaining Medal of Honor recipients issued a statement, closing with, Semper Fi and Godspeed, Woody.





Indeed.





His wife of 62 years preceded him in death in 2007. He is survived by his two daughters and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.





CWO4 Hershel Woody Williams: Your example of valor -- a humble American Patriot defending [Liberty for all]( https://patriotpost.us/ alexander/3467 ) above and beyond the call of duty, and in disregard for the peril to your own life -- is eternal.





"Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends." (John 15:13)





Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.





Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis

Pro Deo et Libertate -- 1776





Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform  Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harms way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.





Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support our historic hometown National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Make a check payable to NMoH Sustaining Fund and mail to: Patriot Foundation Trust, PO Box 407, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407. Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center at Aquarium Plaza. ( https://www.MOHHC.org




The first step in Tennessees annual budget process is determining how much revenue - taxes and fees - the state is expected to collect in the fiscal year. Once that revenue estimate is established, the governor and legislature know how much money they have to spend, raise or cut to balance the budget.



The official state revenue estimate is set by the State Funding Board, a panel of unelected political minions who are meeting Monday.



During Mondays gathering, the Board will hear economic projections from a variety of experts as it works to establish a range of estimated state revenue growth for the current fiscal year and the upcoming fiscal year.



The State Funding Board meets a second time on Nov. 25 at 9:30 a.m. to vote on the final revenue projection.

Both meetings will take place in the Comptrollers Office Volunteer Conference Center on the second floor of the Cordell Hull Building.The meetings are livestreamed.

For context, the state budget enacted last spring estimated $25.5 billion of state revenues, the majority being sales tax collections, according to page 4 of the Factbook.

But costs are piling up: Under Republicans, Tennessee has a $68 billion infrastructure backlog, according to the Building Tennessees Tomorrow annual infrastructure needs report.



Governor begins department budget hearings next week

Nov. 7 and 8 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This is also livestreamed.



Ill call out some points of interest to consider under each:



Tuesday, November 7

9-9:45 a.m. Department of Environment and Conservation



Last year, the department received a $3 million grant to develop Tennessees first-ever plan to cut climate pollution. The department then submitted applications for climate grant funding, but lost.

The demand for Tennessee water and drought is creating problems.

*

A court recently halted development of a 32-mile natural gas pipeline through rural Tennessee.

Developers want to relax the rules protecting Tenn. wetlands.



TN Cities: Solid waste disposal is a growing statewide issue



10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Department of Agriculture



New state rules are threatening to wipe out TNs $200M hemp industry



Ag officials missed a grant deadline for farm and food bank aid

Ag officials say theres no state money to help storm-ravaged TN farmers



10:45-11:15 a.m. Department of Labor and Workforce Development



11:30-12:00 p.m. Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation



1:30-2 p.m. Department of Military / Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

TEMA and the TN National Guard continue to assist East Tennessee in flood recovery



2:15 - 2:45 p.m. Department of Veterans Services



3-3:45 p.m. Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities



Department is displacing disabled adults to make way for children in DCS

On July 1st, a law changed the name of the department to the Department of Aging and Disability



Wednesday, November 8

9-9:30 a.m. Department of Transportation

9:45-10:15 a.m. Department of Commerce and Insurance

10:30-11 a.m. Department of Financial Institutions

11:15-12:00 p.m. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

1:30-2:15 p.m. Tennessee Higher Education Commission

2:30-3 p.m. Department of Economic and Community Development

3:153:30 p.m. Media Availability
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been raising their two children in California for a few years, and King Charles reportedly does not have much contact with the kids.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been raising their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in California for the last four years. Harry and Meghan left the royal family back in 2020 after they were disappointed with the way that both the press and the royal family were treating Meghan.

These days, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet dont see much of their relatives, but a source close to Harry and Meghan says that Meghan is open to letting Charles spend time with his grandkids at some point.

Meghan Markle with Prince Archie and Prince Harry | Toby Melville/Pool/Getty Images

Meghan Markle would let King Charles see her children with better security

Harry made the decision a while back that he would no longer bring his wife and kids to the United Kingdom. After stepping down from their royal roles, Harry and Meghan were stripped of the same security that the other royals have. Harry took the British Home Office to court in an attempt to get it back, but he was unsuccessful. He has since said that he has no intention of bringing his family back to the UK until their security situation is much better.

As a result, Charles has not seen his grandchildren in more than two years. However, a source close to Meghan told the UKs Closer Magazine that the duchess is willing to let Charles spend time with the kids if things with security improve.

Now, if it is deemed safe from a security standpoint, its likely shell give her blessing for Harry to take Archie and Lilibet to see their grandpa, King Charles, at some point, the source said, according to Express. And in terms of logistics, having a place in Portugal will make that easier, because Meghan can fly over with the kids without feeling trapped.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Portugal purchase could change things

Harry and Meghan recently bought a home in Portugal, which has significance because it is their first time returning to Europe in a part-time capacity since they stepped away from the royal spotlight. It could change the dynamic between them and the royal family. Portugal is a short flight from the UK, so its a nice landing point because it allows the couple to be far enough away from Harrys family that they dont have to see them often, but much closer than they are now in California.

As far as anyone knows, Harry and Meghan do plan to continue living full-time in California and use the Portugal home for vacation.
Prince Harry has the option to turn to this British royal whom he 'clearly trusts' to check up on his father and brother, King Charles and Prince William.

Prince Harry can rely on his cousin, Princess Eugenie, to take the British royal familys temperature. A royal expert says all the Duke of Sussex, 40, has to do to learn how his estranged relatives are doing is check in with Eugenie, 34.

Harry can check in on the royal family through Princess Eugenie

Although he and his brother, Prince William, 42, havent spoken in years, Harry can still get updates on his life and that of their father, King Charles III, 75. Not from checking out the royal familys social mediaalthough thats certainly a possibilitybut rather from asking his cousin, Eugenie, how William and the king are doing.

Eugenie undoubtedly does have something of a challenge on her hands to maintain good relationships with both Harry and Meghanand the rest of the Royal Family, Bond told OK! Magazine. But I think the King is probably happy that Harry still has at least one royal cousin he clearly trusts, and presumably wants to see more of.

However, I think its a positive thing that Charles does have someone he can quietly ask about Harrys well-being if he is so inclined. And Harry can presumably gauge the mood of the family via Eugenie.

Any reconciliationwhich at this stage still seems unlikelyhas to start somewhere and with someone, she added. And that person could possibly be Eugenie. But dont hold your breath.

Harry hasnt seen his father since February 2024 when he rushed to London, England, following the kings cancer diagnosis announcement. As for William, he and Harry both attended an August 2024 memorial service for a Spencer family relative but reportedly didnt speak.

Edo Mapelli Mozzi, Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie, and Prince Harry | Ben Stanstall/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Portugal home buy means Eugenie is still Harrys link to the royal family

As for Harry and Meghan Markles reported Portugal vacation home purchase, Bond thinks the pair could become even closer to Eugenie while also maintaining a royal link. She and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, split their time between Portugal and the U.K. because of the latters job.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex havent confirmed theyve bought a home there. Reports say theyve acquired a place at a resort dubbed the Hamptons of Portugal about an hour outside the countrys capital.

It perhaps suggests that they do want their children to know at least some of their U.K. family, the former BBC royal commentator said in reference to Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. It will be good for Archie and Lilibet to spend time with their little cousins. And Eugenie will remain an important link between Harry and the rest of his family.

At the very least, Bond added, buying a vacation home in Portugal points to Harry and Meghan spend[ing] more time on this side of the Atlantic.

Eugenie is in a difficult spot because shes close to Harry

Sure, the royal cousins are seemingly on their way to spending more time together but Eugenies still in a difficult spot. She hasnt cut ties with Harry and Meghan like others have.

So, as an insider claimed in a previous report, she has to carefully navigate her relationship with everyone on both sides of the rift. Eugenie is in a difficult spot because shes always been close to Harry, the source said. But she is extremely mindful that this relationship could rock the boat with the rest of her family. Its a rather precarious position for her to be in and one that requires a delicate balancing act.
Home News Buffer zone law banning anti-abortion protests, silent prayer goes into effect in the UK

A new law establishing buffer zones around abortion clinics has taken effect across the United Kingdom, prohibiting protests within 150 meters (164 yards) of these facilities.

The legislation, which came into force this week, makes it illegal to engage in activities intended to influence or obstruct individuals accessing abortion services, including silent prayer.

The new law, which went into effect Thursday, bars protests  including silent prayer, handing out anti-abortion leaflets, and holding vigils  within a 150-meter radius of abortion facilities.

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The Home Office specified that the ban covers any behavior where someone is intentionally trying to  or recklessly acting in a way that might  influence a person accessing the service, according to The Telegraph.

The idea that any woman is made to feel unsafe or harassed for accessing health services, including abortion clinics, is sickening. This stops today, Home Office Minister Jess Phillips stated, The Telegraph added.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said she was confident that the safeguards we have put in place today will have a genuine impact in helping women feel safer and empowered to access the vital services they need.

The Crown Prosecution Service issued guidance stating that silent prayer within these buffer zones will not necessarily constitute a criminal offense. A person who carries out any of these activities [including silent prayer] within a safe access zone will not necessarily commit a criminal offense, the CPS noted. Prosecutors are advised to consider the context and whether the conduct could be defined as a protest under the law.

The implementation of the buffer zone law comes after Parliament passed the Public Order Act 2023.

Violations can result in up to six months in prison and unlimited fines, according to Catholic News Agency.

Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom UK, expressed concern over the legislation.

The law is written so vaguely that peaceful, consensual conversations or even silent thoughts could be made illegal on certain streets of England, he said, adding, We have already seen the prosecution of individuals like Adam Smith-Connor, who only stopped to pray in his mind for a few minutes.

Army veteran and pro-life demonstrator Smith-Connor was recently convicted for silently praying within a buffer zone. He was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay 9,000 (roughly $11,600) after being found guilty of breaching the ban around an abortion clinic.

With support from ADF UK, Smith-Connor is appealing against his conviction. The government simply cannot be allowed to determine the content of thoughts and prayers, he said.

Smith-Connor served in Afghanistan. I served for 20 years in the Army reserves to protect the fundamental freedoms that this country is built upon, he added. It troubles me greatly to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thought crimes are now being prosecuted in the U.K.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children U.K. criticized the new law, describing its enactment as a day of shame for England and Wales and a chilling moment in Britains history.

Pro-life activist Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, director of March for Life U.K., called the decision to pass the law a national disgrace.

Prior to the CPS guidance, ADF UK launched a petition to be delivered to government officials that garnered nearly 60,000 signatures. The petition urged authorities to reconsider the legislation, asserting it was responsible for the creation of thought crime.

The buffer zones were previously enforced in only five councils across the U.K. The expansion of the law has led to debates over what constitutes harassment and the potential infringement on freedom of thought and expression.

The right to hold a consensual conversation, or engage in silent prayer, constitute the most basic of human rights, Igunnubole argued. They are protected robustly by international legal provisions relating to freedom of thought and speech.

Labour officials replaced draft guidance from the previous Conservative government, which had suggested that silent prayer should be permitted within the new safe access zones. Instead, the current guidance prohibits any attempt to influence a womans decision regarding abortion within the buffer zones.
Home News Chris Pratt joins Fighting Spirit as executive producer to honor military chaplains: An honor

Actor Chris Pratt has signed on to Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplains Journey as an executive producer, joining forces with director Rich Hull and former combat chaplain Justin D. Roberts.

The feature documentary, centered on the often-overlooked role of military chaplains, is set to hit theaters on Nov. 8 ahead of Veterans Day, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the sacrifices and resilience of those who tend to soldiers spiritual needs on the battlefield.

In a first-of-its-kind co-production with the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, the project traces the emotional journey of chaplains from multiple eras, specifically beginning with the poignant tale of Father Emil Kapaun, an Army chaplain and Medal of Honor recipient.

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Father Kapaun, who continued his ministry under harrowing conditions as a prisoner-of-war during the Korean War, died in captivity in 1951 after inspiring countless soldiers with his steadfast faith and courage. After his remains were identified seven decades later, his story found renewed significance, symbolizing the broader narrative of the 419 U.S. military chaplains who have given their lives in service.

The film follows not only the legacy of chaplains like Kapaun, but also the transformative journey of a younger chaplain, portrayed as a modern successor reflecting on the legacy of those who came before him.

Im so excited for audiences to see this film theatrically on Veterans Day, Chris Pratt said, according to Deadline. The work done by combat chaplains to support our soldiers through issues of life and death on the frontlines is truly extraordinary, and to be part of celebrating this story of a chaplains journey in such a cinematic way is an honor.

Distribution veteran Scott Kennedy and his company, Falling Forward Films, have also come on board to support the theatrical release. With a planned release in over 20 major U.S. markets, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Dallas, "Fighting Spirit" aims to reach a broad audience.

Hull, who also co-wrote and produced the film alongside Daniel Schnider, applauded the opportunity of working with Pratt. Chris Pratt is an icon of the big screen, and to see him spark to our film so genuinely is an incredible compliment. Were so grateful to partner with him, along with Scott Kennedy, Bryce Campbell, and our friends at Falling Forward Films, to bring this unique story to theaters on November 8th.

According to the Department of Defense, there is a significant shortage of military chaplains across the U.S., particularly for Catholic servicemembers. This shortage has become increasingly challenging, as many chaplains are retiring faster than they can be replaced, and recruitment struggles to keep pace.

Pratt, known for Guardians of the Galaxy and Parks & Recreation, has been open about his Christian beliefs and how they've guided him throughout his life. Pratt and his family attend Zoe Church, pastored by Chad Veach.

In an interview with Mens Health, the actor said that while he loves God, he takes issue with the ways people have misused religion for evil purposes.

I think theres a distinction between being religious  adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God  and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred. Whatever it is. The evil thats in the heart of every single man has glommed on to the back of religion and come along for the ride, he said.

In response to the backlash Pratt has received for his faith, Joe Rogan, who has the No. 1 most-listened-to podcast, commented that people in Hollywood are terrified that if they step outside the lines, they will experience criticism and ostracization from their overwhelmingly progressive and secular colleagues.

Chris Pratt gets in trouble because hes Christian, Rogan remarked, explaining that the adverse treatment Pratt has received is unwarranted. He described the actor as the nicest ... guy Ive ever met in my life. ... He's done nothing. Hes so nice.

Hes kind of outside of the lines in terms of his ideology. Hes a Christian and pretty open about it, he added. Because of that, they attack him. Its something so simple, like, he just believes in Jesus and he  likes to be a good person.
Shasta County District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert on her cattle ranch near Redding on Monday. Shes running for re-election as a moderate Republican in a county that has been dominated lately by hard-right politicians. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

REDDING  After herding more than 100 cattle onto a gated field, Shasta County Supervisor Mary Rickert reflected on her two professional passions  ranching and local politics  behind the wheel of her mud-strewn John Deere ATV.

Sometimes, I try to use a few of my cattle-handling skills in the boardroom, she said. Animal behavior and human behavior arent too distantly related.

Rickert, 72, should know. In the two years since a slate of far-right candidates seized control of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, she has been subjected to some of the worst human impulses: stalking, taunts from fellow supervisors, even graphic death threats.

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Few would fault Rickert, the most moderate member of the all-Republican board, for retiring from public life. But after the grandmother of six failed to convince anyone else to run as a moderate in the District 3 Supervisor race, she decided to pursue a third term.

If Rickert defeats her opponent, civil contractor and political novice Corkey Harmon, at the ballot box Tuesday, moderate conservatives will retake Shasta Countys board majority. Only then can Rickert attempt to undo efforts made by the ultraconservative board members, which included rolling back social services, making it easier to own guns and introducing a system for hand-counting votes in elections.

Shasta County District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert reviews documents in her office in Redding on Monday. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

I have friends who are contemplating moving based on the outcome of (Rickerts) race, said Traci Shields, a retired educator and Shasta County resident. Thats how high the stakes feel.

Still, a Rickert victory in the mostly rural county 200-plus miles north of San Francisco is not guaranteed. If residents in her ultra-conservative district decide the self-described Reagan Republican, who voted twice for Donald Trump, is not conservative enough, a board majority will likely continue to prioritize Second Amendment rights, election denialism and partisan ideologies over the regions myriad issues.

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The big question is what that could mean for Shasta Countys future.

The county consistently ranks below average in many of the states grimmest categories: drug overdoses, suicides, domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness. Rickert worries that the place she has called home for half a century could devolve further.

For six months, she scoured her district for a suitable candidate to run in her place, only to keep hearing that people were too afraid of political backlash. When Rickert finally submitted her candidacy just before the deadline, her husband, Jim, felt conflicted.

To be honest, Im done with this, he told the Chronicle. Im tired, and I know she is, too. But if theres one thing Ive learned in my 51 years of marriage, its to not question her when she gets her mind set on something.

Mary Rickert herds cattle on her ranch near Redding. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

A successful rancher who has served on numerous local commissions, Rickert makes a point to remember colleagues birthdays, picks up trash on the side of the road in her free time, and was long called Mom by younger staffers. Her opponent Harmon, meanwhile, admitted during a recent debate that he had no knowledge of two proposed ballot measures.

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Harmon has publicly downplayed his ties to the countys far-right Republicans, but he has drawn support from at least one board member. At a voter rally in September, far-right leader and District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom called Harmon a friend who I need on this board very desperately. Another far-right leader, District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye, has been seen talking to Harmon at several board meetings.

Harmon didnt respond to several interview requests for this story.

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The assumption is that, if Corkey gets on the board, he will do (the far rights) bidding, said Doni Chamberlain, editor of the local left-leaning publication A News Cafe.

Rickerts district, a vast expanse of cattle ranches, streams and mountains larger than Rhode Island, is the reddest sector of a blue states reddest county. Despite being a proud gun owner and longtime Republican, she is often derided as a RINO (Republican in name only)  or even a liberal  for shunning many of the far rights extremist stances. Her chief causes, mental-health and substance-abuse programming, dont always resonate with her constituents.

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Sitting beneath a huge buffalo head in his family-owned gun store, District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones leaned back in his armchair as he tried to make something clear: He doesnt like Rickert  not because she doesnt support his far-right initiatives, but because he thinks she is disingenuous.

Shasta County District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones at his familys gun store, Jones Fort, in Redding on Monday. Jones says he does not speak to fellow Republican Mary Rickert. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

If Mary would just change her registration to Democrat, then I could respect her, Jones said. Then her votes would align with her political party. Right now, they do not, so I dont talk to Supervisor Rickert.

During the March primary, Jones  a leading voice in the movement that transformed Shasta County into a national symbol of political extremism  lost his re-election bid by a landslide to a moderate challenger named Matt Plummer. That same month, Crye survived a recall by just 50 votes out of the 9,382 ballots cast.

Many viewed these as signs that the county was finally ready for a shift back toward moderate conservatism. In the District 3 primary, Rickert garnered the highest share of votes, at around 40%. Harmon received about 32% and Win Carpenter  a prominent far-right voice in the State of Jefferson secessionist movement  finished third at roughly 28%.

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Tuesdays turnout will be critical. More than 80% of Shasta County residents tend to vote in presidential elections, a far cry from the 48% who voted in the primary. Rickert is depending on many of those extra votes, but almost all of Carpenters old supporters figure to now back Harmon.

I think people are getting a little tired of all this extremism stuff, said Dolores Lucero, a longtime Shasta County resident who attends every Board of Supervisors meeting. Im hoping Mary gets reelected because we need more balance in our local government.

Signs in support of Shasta County District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert in Palo Cedro on Wednesday. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

For more than four years now, the political climate in this region known as the north state has been defined by chaos. Galvanized by anger over state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions and Trumps re-election loss in 2020, an alliance of self-proclaimed militia leaders, MAGA activists and secessionists embarked on what it deemed a long-overdue course correction.

In 2022, it captured control of the five-member Board of Supervisors, which oversees all county departments, roughly 2,000 employees and an almost $700 million budget. The board majority then began to replace dozens of high-ranking officials with staffers more aligned with their beliefs.

The boards effort to ban Dominion Voting Systems machines captured the attention of MyPillow Chief Executive and pro-Trump election denier Mike Lindell, who offered to help cover any legal expenses should it be sued by the state. The far-right majority also appointed an outspoken critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates as its public health officer. A former prosecutor who had never worked in elections became its elections clerk.

Through it all, Rickert said, she often felt like the only voice of reason. Not that it mattered. Always on the wrong end of 4-1 and 3-2 votes, she knew she could do little  if anything  to prevent the board from advancing the majoritys agenda.

Shasta County District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert stands near her nameplate at the Shasta County Board Chambers in Redding. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

Making matters worse: Her colleagues on the board seemed intent on belittling her, the only woman. Jones and Crye often berated her during meetings, which Rickert calls the The Jerry Springer Show of county politics. District 2 Supervisor Tim Garman, who tended to vote in alignment with Rickert in recent years, said Rickert was treated even worse in closed sessions.

Its been a blessing watching her take a beating time and time again, yet just keep on going, Garman said. She handled a very difficult situation with complete class.

This past February, Laura Hobbs  a MAGA Republican who was running for District 2 supervisor  stepped to the podium during the public comments section with a blown-up photo of Rickerts license plate. Pointing to the numbers 666 on the DMV-assigned plate, Hobbs told Rickert, a devout Catholic, For the love of God, repent. Rickert shot back: Youve embarrassed yourself. Thats terrible.

Sometimes, Rickert said, she opens her work email to messages describing how she should be killed. One such email, with a partial subject line of Dead Woman Walking, sits on a desk in her office as a reminder of the polarization and vitriol shes trying to move Shasta County past.

Mary has been through so much, ranging from personal threats and threats to her businesses and her family, said Mary Williams, the countys former acting CEO. She used to just put her head down. But over the last year or two, she really started standing up for herself and pushing back. I think shes had enough.

Israeli, American and Trump 2024 flags are displayed on a property in Bella Vista in Shasta County on Wednesday. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

All the drama has taken a physical toll. While working on her 5,000-acre ranch outside Redding on Monday morning, she noticed a cow with a badly injured leg struggling to catch up to the rest of the herd. Poor old girl, Rickert said. I relate to her right now.

In April, Rickert took a medical leave from the board to address a nagging lower-back injury. Her doctor had told her it was stress-induced. On top of work pressure, Rickert was dealing with two family crises: Her eldest son had non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and her 4-year-old granddaughter had nearly died from E. coli poisoning.

Rickert returned to the board after taking just four weeks off, sooner than her doctor recommended. There was a vote she felt she couldnt miss: a 59% salary increase for supervisors that would jump their annual pay from $53,508 to $85,024. She was one of two members to vote no.

Its the principle, said Rickert, whos donating much of her raise back to the county. We have county employees who are on food stamps.

Shasta County District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert helps herd cattle on her ranch near Redding. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

On Monday at her ranch, Rickert parked her John Deere Gator next to a red barn and hobbled toward her Lincoln Navigator. Purchased after she was first elected to the board in 2016, the white SUV has 220,000 miles on the odometer  a result of the 90-minute drives she makes daily to and from her home in McArthur (population 440).

After guiding the Navigator to the county government building, Rickert limped to her office door and pulled out a key. I never used to lock my door, she said. Now I do.

She settled behind her desk and began flipping through a thick packet of notes for the next days board meeting. Despite her long commute and ranching business, she has built a reputation for logging more office hours than any other supervisor.

If the people want Corkey Harmon, they should get what they want, Rickert said. If the county implodes, the county implodes. I cant do anything about it. I did what I could. I did my best.
Home News Heritage Foundation pres. warns Kamala Harris most 'anti-faith' candidate in history

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts warned Americans in a Friday press call that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president of the United States, is the most anti-faith presidential candidate in history and that her administration would lead to Christians losing their freedom to worship.

Roberts, who has led the conservative think tank since 2021, hosted a Virtual Faith Media Roundtable to Discuss Why Christians Should Vote Friday. In his remarks, he warned about the implications of a Harris administration and assuaged Christians with concerns about the Republican candidate for president, former President Donald Trump.

The conversation took place four days before the 2024 presidential election, where the Republican ticket of Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, is locked in a tight race with the Democratic ticket of Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

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Roberts described Harris as the most anti-faith, anti-religion presidential candidate in history. He maintained that People of faith who are worried about the choice they are making really need to understand whats at stake.

Were going to lose our ability to worship, were going to lose our religious liberty if the Harris-Walz campaign prevails, he asserted. He cited the vice presidents suggestion to attendees at one of her recent rallies who shouted phrases including Christ is King that they were at the wrong rally as an example of her hostility to religion.

Roberts expressed concern about the prospect of a Harris-Walz administration expanding abortion if the Democrats gain complete control of the U.S. Congress in addition to the presidency as well as a real abridgement of religious liberty and efforts to abridge free speech. He expressed concern that theyre going to abridge free speech for people of faith as well as media organizations.

Although Ive got other things Im concerned about, I think its not hyperbole for me to say that I think the entire First Amendment is endangered in the event of a Harris-Walz victory in the 2024 election, Roberts declared. In addition to laying out the implications of a Harris-Walz administration for people of faith, he attempted to reassure those with concerns that a Trump-Vance administration would not be much better.

Roberts lamented that There are people of faith who are sitting on the sidelines because they have forgotten that we are electing a president, not a pastor. He contended that Christians who plan on sitting out the 2024 election because of their concerns about Trump need to remember that none of us is perfect, including Trump and Vance.

Roberts comments about people of faith sitting on the sidelines in the 2024 election comes as a study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University published last month estimated that 32 million self-identified Christians will abstain from voting.

Addressing the concern that Trump has taken an inadequately pro-life position by insisting that the issue of abortion should be left to the states following the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organizationdecision determining that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion and his vow to not sign a national abortion ban, Roberts maintained that I think people of faith need to remember the  former presidents track record on the issue from his previous time in the White House.

Im cautiously optimistic that in a Trump-Vance administration, that the policy default of the president and vice president will still be solidly pro-life, he said. Reflecting on the assembly of a presidential cabinet and administration that would follow a Trump-Vance victory, Roberts declared Its sort of impossible to avoid appointing pro-life people.

Roberts described the pro-life movement as a vital, vital part of the political coalition that will have succeeded in electing Trump and Vance, stressing that giving pro-life activists prominent roles in the administration would be politically intelligent.

Polling at the national level as well as in individual swing states as of Friday forecasts a close election. The RealClearPolitics average of national polls asking voters which candidate they support shows Trump with a very narrow lead of 0.3 percentage points over Harris. The RealClearPolitics no toss-up map, which projects the outcome of the presidential election in the electoral college based on polling averages in individual states, shows Trump capturing 287 electoral votes to Harris 251.
Home News Families sue Calif. school district over 'shocking' plan requiring kids to teach gender ideology Lawsuit defends parents' right to 'raise their children according to their sincerely held religious beliefs'

Two Christian families from Southern California are suing a school district over a decision to require fifth-grade students to teach kindergartners about gender ideology without prior notification or the option to opt out.

The federal lawsuit challenges the Encinitas Union School Districts Kinderbuddy program at La Costa Heights Elementary School, which officials say was intended to foster mentorship and friendship between older and younger students.

However, the initiative took a contentious turn when fifth graders, including the plaintiffs sons, were unexpectedly tasked with teaching their kindergarten counterparts about gender identity and sexual orientation based on a controversial book selected by the school that promotes controversial views on gender ideology.

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The complaint describes plaintiffs Carlos and Jennifer Encinas and Tom and Rebecca Doe as devout Christians, with the former belonging to both a Bible-believing Evangelical church as well as a Catholic church in their local parish, while Tom and Rebecca Doe are identified as faithful members of their local Catholic church who raise their children in the Christian faith.

According to the complaint filed by First Liberty Institute and the National Center for Law & Policy (NCLP), both Christian families hold the belief that humans are created in Gods image as either male or female. They had previously opted their sons out of gender identity and sexual orientation lessons in health class, only to discover that similar teachings were being introduced in the mentoring program without their knowledge, the lawsuit states.

Viewing children as a gift from God, [the plaintiff parents] believe it is their responsibility as Christian parents to raise their children according to their sincerely held religious beliefs as delineated in Scripture, the complaint states. School promotion of ideologies and concepts that run counter to their sincerely held religious beliefs undermines their parental authority and interferes with their essential roles as parents.

The lawsuit is centered around the book and read-along video My Shadow is Pink, which was selected by the Encinitas Union School District for a fifth-grade mentorship program. The book's author, Scott Stuart, says it's "about a young boy, born with a pink shadow that loves princess, dresses and 'things not for boys.'"

In one part of My Shadow is Pink, the main character  a young boy  says my heart skips a beat/ as I put on a dress" and depicts the boy wearing a dress while looking at himself in the mirror.

The complaint cites an April 30 text message exchange between two teachers regarding the content of My Shadow is Pink in which a fifth-grade teacher and kindergarten teacher called the story "so sweet" and said they "love the overall message."

The plaintiffs argue that the book's content sharply contradicts their belief that gender is a fixed trait, ordained by God and determined by biological sex. They also contend that the ideas introduced in the book are not only inappropriate for their fifth-grade son but also for his kindergarten buddy, raising concerns about the implications of encouraging young readers to question their natural sex.

The Encinas' fifth-grade son, who says he was made to read a book promoting transgenderism and sexual orientation to a kindergartener, said he initially didn't opt out of the Kinderbuddy program because "he didn't want to get in trouble or anything."

"I hoped my buddy wouldn't understand what any of it meant," the boy, who is also a plaintiff in the case, said. "We both thought that it's not okay that they're showing this to kindergartners."

The parents assert that the book promotes a worldview that dismisses traditional views on gender and sexuality, which they believe undermines the biblical values they instill at home. The lawsuit argues that such content should not be presented to their children without prior notification or the option to opt out.

Upon learning of the situation, the families requested that the school provide parental notice and consent for future discussions on gender ideology. However, the Encinitas Union School District responded that its teachers were legally prohibited from notifying parents or obtaining consent, arguing that the information was not distinct from what was covered in health class, according to the lawsuit.

The district indicated it would continue to implement its approach to gender ideology without parental notification or consent.

CP reached out for comment Wednesday from Encinitas school officials. This story will be updated if any response is received.

Greg Burt, vice president of the California Family Council, condemned the schools actions.

It is shocking and dismaying that a school would ask a child to teach a subject as sensitive as gender ideology to young, impressionable kindergartners, especially when that subject conflicts with the childs own faith and family values, Burt said in a statement.
Home News Wife arrested in connection with missionary husband's murder in Angola

A Minnesota woman has been arrested in Angola on suspicion of murdering her husband, a missionary serving in the African nation, according to their church.

Authorities have taken Jackie Shroyer into custody in connection with the death of her husband, 44-year-old missionary and former pastor Beau Shroyer.

Today, our grief and sadness has deepened immeasurably as weve learned that his wife, Jackie Shroyer, has been arrested in connection with his death, wrote Lead Pastor Troy M. Easton of Lakes Area Vineyard Church in a statement released to the congregation, as reported by Fox 9.

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The church, located in Minnesota, had previously announced that Beau was killed in a violent, criminal attack on Oct. 25 while on mission work in Angola.

The Shroyers moved to Angola in 2021 with their five children to serve as missionaries with SIM USA, a North Carolina-based Evangelical organization.

According to the churchs statement, they aimed to teach residents about Christianity and Gods love in a remote bush village without electricity.

Before their missionary work in Angola, Beau served as a pastor at Lakes Area Vineyard Church and had a background in law enforcement, having worked for the Detroit Lakes Police Department in 2013, according to the Detroit Lakes Tribune. He also worked as a real estate agent prior to moving abroad.

The couples five children are being well cared for, and the church is collaborating with SIM USA and SIM Angola to ensure their continued safety and well-being, according to Eastons statement.

SIM USAs Chief Personnel Officer and General Counsel Mark Bosscher told the Tribune that the organization has taken steps to ensure that Jackie has appropriate legal representation. He added that they are working closely with Lakes Area Vineyard Church to care for the Shroyers five children.

In the days leading up to his death, Beau shared glimpses of his missionary work on social media.

Last Thursday, he posted on Facebook about meeting a young student named Mauricio, who walked long distances to attend school. One of the reasons that the Nyneka people, who we are serving, are among the most marginalized people groups in Angola was a lack of access to education, he wrote. Please pray for Mauricio and others like him who spend half of their day walking to school and back.

Another post mentioned his agricultural efforts, saying he had spent the day spreading manure by hand over a 40x16 meter agricultural plot.

Authorities in Angola have not released details about how his wife is connected to the incident. Fox 9 reported that authorities have not disclosed whether any charges are pending.

The church has requested privacy for its members and announced adjustments to their Sunday services to honor the needs of our community at this time. Easton said they are preparing to handle media inquiries by pointing back to the official statement.

SIM USA, which focuses on spreading the Gospel in difficult-to-reach areas, said in a previous statement that Beau and Jackie Shroyer, together with their five children, were some of the first missionaries to begin service with SIM USA after the COVID lockdowns eased. They have brought a faithful, energetic, growing, loving aroma of Christ into our family, Randy Fairman, president of SIM USA."

Beau Shroyer had earlier explained during a presentation that the government of Angola had given the ministry a parcel of land next to an orange farm that was constantly under attack from criminals which affected the property they were trying to develop.

At the top of a list of needs for the property he presented to Country Faith Church was the need to build a perimeter wall and hire more security.

The late pastor said the orange farm next to the property of the youth ministry installed an electrified, 10-foot high razor wire fence and hired about 50 guards to protect the farm day and night but they still struggled with crime in the area.
Home Opinion Abortion colonization: Harris will hold poor nations hostage

You deserve to know whats being done in your name. Against the most impoverished and vulnerable nations. With your tax dollars, no less.

When Valerie Huber served as Special Representative for Global Womens Health in the Trump administration, she defended the equal dignity of women worldwide, advocating for their education, health care, and access to political participation. She also contended that abortion was not an international right, the family was the foundation of human society, and that nations had the prerogative to make their own laws on these matters.

She wasnt alone.

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Along with representatives from over 30 countries, the U.S. Government signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a first-of-its-kind coalition dedicated to improving womens health and upholding these likeminded values.

The Declaration affirms womens universal dignity and equality, and all the social implications of thereby. All women are equal before the law, and human rights of women are an inalienable, integral, and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It emphasizes that there is no international right to abortion and reaffirms the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State. Its signatories included representatives from The Republics of Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Niger, Senegal, Sudan, and Zambia  even the Republics of Iraq, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A remarkable step of U.S. solidarity with developing nations to ensure womens human rights.

So remarkable, that on January 20, 2021, it was the only identifiable policy removed from a government website. Before the sun had set on Inauguration Day, the Biden administration took it down. Eight days later, it had withdrawn from the coalition entirely.

I wish that were the end of the story. It would be concerning enough. But it was just the beginning.

Unfortunately, the U.S. has been an ideological aggressor, Huber explained in an interview. In nations with great needs and traditional values, too often countries apply ideological conditions before they give assistance. Nations that want to develop are economically strong-armed into adopting politically progressive policies on abortion and sexuality.

In her countless conversations with national representatives, shes heard them describe how pressures from outsiders are purely ideological, along with the unprompted refrain: your country is the worst.

Their priority is not the plight of impoverished nations; their priority is the advancement of their cultural agenda. And note well: its the worlds most poor and vulnerable caught in the crosshairs, forced to comply against their cultural values so their children can have a chance.

Now the president of The Institute for Womens Health Valerie Huber continues to work in countries worldwide. She wouldnt disclose which nations the Institute is working with to protect them  any public reports of affiliation could make them political targets. She notes the irony of the international communitys both claiming to value indigenous rights and cultural sensitivity yet devaluing them as a culture and disrespecting them as individuals.

Some countries couldnt withstand the pressure. Their need for aid was so dire, they changed their laws.

Thus, the United States government culturally colonizes a sovereign nation in the name of sexual and reproductive health rights. With American tax dollars, our leaders are leveraging poverty to ideologically conquer the worlds most vulnerable.

For all the talk of defending democracy and upholding freedom, the Biden-Harris administration would rather hold aid to needy children hostage than respect and partner with a nation that unapologetically holds traditional values.

In this election, pro-life voters are hard-pressed to find a candidate who reflects their convictions. Understandably, many are considering  for various reasons  to opt out of voting altogether. But you should know these tactics would almost certainly continue, perhaps even escalate, under a Harris-Walz administration.

Remember that when Christian clerics and commentators urge you to vote for a devoutly pro-abortion candidate  whose most notable accomplishment in office was visiting a Planned Parenthood  for the sake of democracy.

Click to find your congressional representative and petition to rejoin the Geneva Consensus Declaration.

Click to learn more about the Institute for Womens Health.
Home Opinion Floridas Amendment 4: A direct attack on the safety of women

As Floridians prepare to vote on Amendment 4 this November, its essential to understand whats really at stake. This amendment is not just about abortion  its a sweeping measure that would strip away parental rights and put the health and safety of women and underage girls at serious risk. If Amendment 4 passes, Florida will become one of the most extreme pro-abortion states in the nation  a destination for unregulated, unsafe abortions, with little oversight and fewer protections for women and girls.

In just 39 short words, Amendment 4 would do three things: legalize unrestricted abortions up to the point of birth, eliminate the requirement for parental consent when minors seek abortions, and remove essential safety regulations for abortion providers. While some may applaud its brevity, this is not the kind of lawmaking that protects our most vulnerable citizens.

The real issue one must consider with this amendment is the assault on parental rights. Today, Florida law recognizes the critical role that parents should play in their childrens health decisions. If a minor seeks an abortion, her parents currently must provide consent  an appropriate safeguard to ensure that a life-altering decision like abortion is not being made in isolation or under duress. But Amendment 4 would replace this requirement with a far weaker provision: parents would merely be notified, not consulted. Imagine this: your 14-year-old daughter could be taken to an abortion clinic by someone youve never met, and you would have no legal power to intervene once you are notified.

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These concerns are not just theoretical but in fact a dangerous reality. By removing parental consent, we are in essence stripping families of their right to guide their daughters through one of the most difficult and consequential choices of their lives. Parental involvement isn't just a formality; its a necessary protection for young girls who may be facing pressure from peers, a sexual partner, or even those who may be in trafficking situations.



Amendment 4 ignores these realities and undermines the critical role of parents in protecting their children.

An equally alarming point to consider is the potential consequences for the broader health and safety of all women. Florida law currently mandates that abortions be performed only by licensed physicians, ensuring a basic standard of medical care. The vague language contained in Amendment 4 which prohibits any restriction on abortion, would remove this commonsense requirement, allowing virtually anyone to perform abortions with no licensing, training, or oversight. This would open the door for potentially unqualified individuals to administer dangerous procedures, putting womens lives at risk.

Shockingly, Amendment 4 also eliminates the requirement for ultrasounds to be performed before abortions. Without an ultrasound, how can anyone accurately determine what stage their patients pregnancy is in, or even confirm if a woman is truly pregnant? The answer is chilling: under this amendment, women would be left to trust abortion providers, who have a financial incentive to perform the procedure. What this amendment is promoting is not healthcare  this is negligence, plain and simple.

Supporters of Amendment 4 argue that its about protecting womens rights. But the truth is, this amendment will jeopardize womens safety by removing the very safeguards that protect their health. Abortions performed by unlicensed individuals, without proper medical oversight or clarity on how far along a pregnancy may be, are reminiscent of the back-alley abortions of the past. We should be moving forward with womens health protections, not going backward.

And lets not forget what this amendment would allow in practice: late-term abortions up to the moment of birth. The State of Florida already permits abortion in cases of rape, incest, maternal health, and severe fetal abnormalities. Amendment 4 is not about addressing rare or difficult cases; its about removing all boundaries to abortion on demand. By allowing late-term abortion without restriction, we are opening the door to gruesome procedures, including dismemberment abortions, on fully viable unborn children.

No matter where you stand on the issue of abortion, whether youre pro-life, pro-choice, or somewhere in between, this amendment simply goes too far. Its an assault on parental rights, an attack on the safety of underage girls, and a step toward dangerous, unregulated medical practices.

Its time to protect our daughters, safeguard womens health, and defend the rights of parents to be involved in the most critical decisions affecting their children. Floridians must recognize what is at risk and vote No on Amendment 4.
Home Opinion History's end goal: Critical theory vs. Christian worldview

One of the most interesting assessments of critical theory is an essay by Conor Barnes, a former self-professed anarchist, who describes how he left the social justice movement in an essay entitled Sad Radicals. He and his compatriots were, in his own words, committed to deconstructing gender, monogamy, and mental health. They lived and breathed concepts and tools like call-outs, intersectionality, cultural appropriation, trigger warnings, safe spaces, privilege theory, and rape culture. He writes:

Commentators have accurately noted how social justice seems to take the form of a religion. This captures the meaning and fulfilment I found in protests and occupations. It also captures how, outside of these harrowing festivals, everyday life in radical communities is mundane but pious. As a radical activist, much of my time was devoted to proselytizing. Non-anarchists were like pagans to be converted through zines and wheatpasted posters rather than by Bible and baptism.

His ideology made him anxious, depressed, and paranoid. He eventually left and suggests that other radicals need to flee the cult as well.

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While these critics have adopted different labels (intersectionality, social justice, antiracism, etc.), they are clearly all describing the ideology that we have termed contemporary critical theory. And we agree with their assessment. Contemporary critical theory is functioning as a worldview and a metanarrative.

What exactly do we mean by these terms?

We note these concepts are very similar such that the terms can often be used interchangeably. We will offer a bit of a distinction. We take a worldview to be a basic set of presuppositions that answer the big questions in life, like Who am I? What is the fundamental human problem? How can that problem be solved? What is my primary moral duty? How do I know the truth? And, What is the end goal of history? Christianity, like most world religions, answers these questions. But so does contemporary critical theory.

For Christians, our primary identity is vertical. We first relate to God as his creatures and only secondarily to our fellow image bearers through family, friends, communities, and society at large. Our fundamental problem is sin: our rebellion against God, our failure to obey his law, and our inclination to do evil. Because we have all sinned, we are all under Gods wrath and deserve both physical and spiritual death. The solution to sin is not better obedience, but redemption.

God did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He sent Jesus to live a sinless life, to die on the cross for our sins, and to rise victorious from the dead, cancelling our sin and reconciling us to God. From a Christian perspective, it is God himself who is the one who is most concerned about justice and who is also most committed to securing and satisfying the demands of justice within and upon Himself on behalf of others. Our primary moral duty is to glorify God by loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Luke 10:27). We know the truth as God has revealed it in Scripture and nature, and we perceive this truth through reason.

The end goal of history is the new Heavens and the new earth, where God will dwell with His people.

Contemporary critical theory provides extremely different answers to all those questions.



According to contemporary critical theory, our primary identity is horizontal. We are part of various oppressed and oppressor groups locked in a struggle for dominance. Our primary problem is not sin, but oppression; dominant social groups have imposed their norms and values on us. The solution is not redemption, but activism. We dont need salvation from outside; we instead need to free ourselves through liberatory politics. If we are part of dominant groups, we should divest ourselves of our privilege and stand in solidarity with marginalized groups. If we are oppressed, we should rise up to throw off the physical, psychological, economic, and social chains that have bound us. Our primary moral duty is to dismantle the systems and structures that perpetuate oppression.



The end goal (and right side) of history is the attainment of social justice, a state in which power is fully shared between groups.

Originally published at the Worldview Bulletin Newsletter.
Home News Ad rips Kamala Harris for posing with anti-Catholic drag troupe

A Catholic advocacy group is drawing attention to footage of Vice President Kamala Harris posing with members of a drag troupe known for cosplaying as nuns and performing sexually suggestive dances with a cross.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is an LGBT activist group comprised of drag performers who wear religious habits. Critics have referred to the organization as an anti-Catholic hate group, accusing its members of making a mockery of the faith.

On Monday, CatholicVote released a six-figure ad campaign that includes footage of then-U.S. Sen. Harris posing with SPI member Michael Williams (Sister Roma) and LGBT activist James Mitchell (Saint Honey Mahogany) during a 2019 San Francisco pride event. Williams has been a member of SPI since 1987, according to the Catholic advocacy group.

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In addition to showing Harris on stage during the LGBT event, the ad shows a montage of clips, including one of a highly sexual dance routine featuring a man on a cross. One of the performers is seen posed on a cross in an imitation of Jesus crucifixion while another half-naked man dances suggestively.

Last year, one of the groups former members, Clinton Monroe Ellis-Gilmore, was arrested for allegedly exposing himself in the drivers seat of a parked car. Authorities said multiple witnesses saw the 53-year-old man sitting in his truck with the door open and masturbating for an hour.

Why is Kamala Harris posing with the founder of an anti-Catholic hate group? They mock our faith, a voiceover in the ad asks. Another voice recording in the ad explains, The sisters are men who dress in lewd imitation of Roman Catholic nuns that intentionally mock and degrade Christians.

Describing what took place in one of their performances, Bishop Robert Barron of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota lamented, A drag queen comes in and sort of pulls Jesus off the cross. For Catholics, its hard to imagine anything more offensive.

In a statement provided to The Christian Post, CatholicVote said it plans to text the ad to 1 million Catholic voters in swing states. The advocacy group also intends to share it with their 750,000 highly engaged activist networks.

CatholicVote called on Harris to condemn SPI and its disgusting anti-Catholic behavior. As CatholicVote President Brian Burch told CP, the drag troupe is no ordinary LGBT activist group.

Burch stressed that SPI regularly holds Hunky Jesus competitions, where adult drag performers dressed as Jesus or the Virgin Mary simulate sex acts or engage in stripteases. He also recalled an incident in which SPI members tricked a Catholic archbishop into providing the Holy Eucharist, only to desecrate it later in a mock Mass.

This kind of hatred and bigotry cannot be tolerated, much less celebrated by anyone wishing to lead our nation, Burch stressed. Kamala Harris must publicly condemn these sacrilegious actions and any group that exists to mock and defile what is most sacred to Catholics or any person of faith.

Harris campaign did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

Leaders of pro-life and faith-based groups have raised concerns about how a potential Harris administration would address their needs.

During an interview with Harris last week, NBCs Hallie Jackson asked the presidential hopeful whether she would consider religious exemptions to a nationwide abortion mandate. Harris responded, I dont think we should be making concessions.

In an X post following the interview, the pro-life advocacy group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America cited the vice presidents remark as evidence of her intention to federally steamroll Americans into taking part in abortions against their will.

CatholicVote also published an X post in response to the vice presidents comments, sharing a clip of the interview and asking why Christians would vote for Harris.

Kamala Harris admits she would deny religious exemptions for abortions  forcing Christians to kill unborn children and seemingly doubling down on weaponizing the government to jail pro-lifers who pray outside abortion facilities, the group stated.
Home News Calif. can't stop parents from using state special ed funds at religious schools: appeals court

California cannot prohibit a group of Orthodox Jewish parents from using state funds to place their children in special education programs of a sectarian nature, an appeals court has ruled.

A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Monday that California cannot enforce a provision in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act prohibiting state funds from going to religious schools.

Circuit Judge Kim Wardlaw, a Clinton appointee, authored the panel opinion in the case, known as Loffman v. California Department of Education et al., writing that the state failed to prove that the "nonsectarian requirement is narrowly tailored to serve that interest" of government neutrality.

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Parent Plaintiffs are required to choose between the special education benefits made available through public school enrollment (and subsequent referral to a [non-public, non-sectarian school]) and education in an Orthodox Jewish setting, wrote Wardlaw.

Because this presents a tendency to coerce them into acting contrary to their religious beliefs, we find that Parent Plaintiffs have alleged a cognizable burden on their free exercise of religion.

Although largely ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, the appeals court did rule against the Loffman family specifically, with Wardlaw concluding that the complaint contains insufficient factual allegations to plausibly demonstrate that the nonsectarian requirement has any effect on their childs educational placement.

The panel sent the case back to the district court to consider the complaint claims while vacating the lower courts previous denial of the plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction.

Becket, a legal group specializing in religious liberty cases that helped to represent the Jewish parents, released a statement Monday celebrating the unanimous decision.

This is a massive win for Jewish families in California, said Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, as quoted in the press release.

It was always wrong to cut Jewish kids off from getting disability benefits solely because they want to follow their faith. The court did the right thing by ruling against Californias bald-faced discrimination.

The parents filed their complaint in March of last year, naming as defendants the California Department of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, the Los Angeles Unified School District and Anthony Aguilar, chief of special education, equity and access.

The complaint alleged that defendants violated the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause by refusing to provide funds for parents to send their children with special needs to Orthodox Jewish schools. The California Education Code mandates that schools that receive federal IDEA funding be "nonsectarian.

In August of last year, U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton ruled against the plaintiffs, concluding in part that the complaint mischaracterizes the nature of the available benefits and that Californias nonsectarian requirement applies to schools, not IDEA-eligible children and their parents.

Californias NPS system is not a mechanism for subsidizing the education of IDEA-eligible children at private schools, wrote Staton.

Rather, it is a regime whereby the state contractually delegates its responsibility to educate eligible children to private institutions in accordance with IDEA requirements and the same state educational standards that apply to the [local education agency] itself.
Home News Christian college sues Ga. for banning students from financial aid program

A Christian college in Georgia has filed a lawsuit against a state commission for prohibiting students from accessing financial aid to pay for their education.

Luther Rice College and Seminary filed a complaint earlier this month in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, naming members of the Georgia Student Finance Commission and Georgia Student Finance Authority as defendants.

At issue, according to the lawsuit, is that Georgia prohibits private schools that are considered a school or college of theology or divinity from participating in their public tuition assistance programs.

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Even though Luther Rice otherwise qualifies for Georgia student aid programs, Georgia officials excluded Luther Rice from the states student aid programs because most of [Luther Rices] offerings [are] religious based and non-religious degrees [are] substantially intertwined with the schools religious mission, stated the complaint.

Because of that exclusion, no Luther Rice student can receive Georgia student aid for any undergraduate degree or course, not even for a course or degree in the schools general studies or psychology programs. And no Georgia high school student can receive dual credit at Luther Rice.

According to the complaint, Georgia allows other religious schools to participate in their programs, making Luther Rice the only excluded nonprofit school that is located in Georgia, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and awards undergraduate degrees and thus otherwise qualifies for the Georgia student aid programs.

Luther Rice is being represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious liberty legal nonprofit that has a history of winning cases at the United States Supreme Court.

ADF Legal Counsel Andrea Dill told The Christian Post that she believes it's unconstitutional for the government to deny a religious school a public benefit solely for its religious beliefs.

People of faith cannot be discriminated against for choosing the school that best aligns with their beliefs. The U.S. Constitution does not prevent the state from including religious organizations in state funding programs, Dill said.

To the contrary, the Constitution prohibits the state from excluding religious organizations from otherwise available public benefits solely because of their religious character or exercise.

Dill added that since Luther Rice College otherwise qualifies for Georgia student aid programs, Georgian officials cannot exclude Luther Rice students from such programs because of the religious character of the school they chose to attend.

The Christian Post reached out to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for comment, however a spokesperson said they do not comment on pending litigation.

In June 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of David Carson et al. v. A. Pender Makin that Maines state tuition assistance program could not prevent parents from using the funds for schools with religious instruction.
Home News 'No evidence': Christian jailed on blasphemy charge released on bail

LAHORE, Pakistan  A Christian jailed since June on blasphemy and terrorism charges in Pakistan was released on bail on Oct. 23 after a high court noted glaring loopholes in the police case against him, his attorney said.

Chand Shamaun was arrested on June 23 and charged with insulting Islam under Section 295-A of Pakistans blasphemy laws and Section 9 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. He was accused of inciting religious tensions Okara, Punjab Province, by threatening to desecrate the Quran, said attorney Javed Sahotra.

A two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court, Muhammad Tariq Nadeem and Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, on Oct. 10 granted the bail petition of Shamuan, a father of two children, ages 5 and 2.

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Section 295-A prescribes imprisonment of up to 10 years for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. Section 9 of the ATA relates to acts intended or likely to stir up sectarian hatred and is punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years.

Sahotra said that the high court noted that the First Information Report (FIR) registered against the Christian father by police Sub-Inspector Haider Ali pointed to polices mala fide intentions.

The FIR against my client was registered after a 12-hour delay, Sahotra told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Moreover, the police complainant was not even present on the scene of the alleged occurrence. There was also no independent witness; the one witness listed by the police was in fact a police informer and is often used as a complainant or witness in false cases. Most importantly, the police did not recover any evidence that directly incriminated Shamuan.

Noting the discrepancies in the polices FIR and investigation report, the court ordered the release of Shamuan on bail against a surety of 100,000 rupees ($362 USD), he said, adding that Shamuan was released from jail on Oct. 23.

Chand is with his family now, but they are not living in their home, Sahotra said. They were forced to relocate to a safe-house due to security reasons.

The attorney added that he also had received threats because of his advocacy work for persecuted Christians.

A prominent church leader previously told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that he believed Shamuan had been falsely implicated in the blasphemy case.

The police turned a family dispute into a religious incident when in fact no blasphemy had been committed, Baptist Bishop of Sahiwal Abraham Daniel previously said.

Under Pakistans blasphemy laws, those found guilty of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad can be sentenced to death, though authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in attacks on blasphemy suspects in recent years. Accusations or mere rumors of blasphemy spark rioting and rampage by Muslim mobs that can escalate into killings.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Oct. 17 observed that Pakistani authorities have failed to curb a range of human rights violations, including a sharp increase in blasphemy-related violence. Expressing serious concern over frequent attacks against religious minorities, including accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, lynchings, mob violence, forced conversions, and desecration of places of worship, the committee stated that Pakistani society has become increasingly intolerant of religious diversity.

Religious minorities are facing a constant threat of persecution and discrimination amid the rise of religious radicalism, the committee added.

Meantime, in an open letter to the Commonwealth Secretariat ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa on Oct. 21, a coalition of 17 international human rights organizations demanded the suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth of Nations due to its blasphemy laws and other rights violations.

The letter reiterated concerns raised by the UNHRC over the increasing abuse of the controversial blasphemy laws.

The letter highlighted Pakistans failure to reform its blasphemy laws, stating that while no state-sanctioned executions have occurred, vigilante justice and mob violence have become rampant. It cited at least 85 cases of people accused of blasphemy being murdered before their cases could be heard in court, with many involving public lynchings and mob attacks.

The Pakistani governments inaction has resulted in the deaths of many innocent people, and its refusal to reform these oppressive laws contradicts the values espoused by the Commonwealth, stated one of the signatories, Willy Fautre, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.

Originally published atChristian Daily InternationalMorning Star News
San Francisco police have arrested a suspect in a killing in a building on the 100 block of Seventh Street. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

San Francisco police say they have arrested a 37-year-old man in a homicide in a Civic Center building after he was held in an unrelated crime.

Sergii Sakhno, who was in custody in a home invasion burglary, was arrested Thursday in the killing on the 100 block of Seventh Street, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

Police found the victim shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday after conducting a wellness check for the man, who was found lying on the floor. His death was ruled suspicious.

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Police did not specify whether the building where the man was found is residential, commercial or governmental.

Sakhno, who had an arrest warrant in another county, was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of homicide, burglary and receiving stolen property, police said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the police at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, beginning the message with SFPD.
Home News Evangelical churches in Spain ask for prayer, support after torrential flooding

The intense floods affecting Spain have especially impacted the community of Valencia, where Evangelical churches have requested prayer support to face the storm.

As reported by Protestante Digital, the DANA phenomenon (isolated depression at high levels) has unleashed torrential rains, causing flooding in several areas of the city. Evangelical leaders expressed their concern, stressing the need for unity and prayer during this time.

We've been hit by water like the sea, reported Protestante Digital's Joel Forster, based in Valencia, describing the magnitude of the flooding. We have a huge flood. The ravine has overflowed, carrying away bridges, and has reached our neighborhood, which is far away, Forster added.

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Meanwhile, the newspaper El Pais reported that, due to the storm, the emergency level has increased, activating rescue and relief measures in several regions of the country. Authorities have warned citizens to exercise caution and follow recommendations to prevent further tragedies.

This crisis has mobilized Evangelical churches, which have opened their facilities to receive victims and are collaborating in assistance networks.

Amid the adversity, Christian leaders have highlighted the importance of providing spiritual support to those affected. We must unite and pray for our community and our brothers in Christ, they emphasized, calling on the entire Evangelical community to come together in prayer and support.

The Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain (FEREDE) issued a statement expressing its condolences to the affected families: We share in the pain of so many families who today mourn their loved ones, praying that Gods comfort and peace may reach and embrace them in this difficult moment. [...] We pray that, even in a situation as painful as this, we may find reasons for hope in the supportive response of society, said FEREDE.

In addition to the religious community, the regional government has deployed emergency services to manage the situation and bring aid to the most affected areas. The heavy rains have left thousands of people without electricity and access to basic resources, generating concern about the near future and the impact on local infrastructure.

As the rains continue, Evangelical churches remain committed to helping those most in need. According to El Pais, the storm shows no signs of abating, and weather forecasts suggest that there could be more rain in the coming hours.

Originally published on Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
Home News Evangelical group knocks on 8M doors ahead of election, predicts 'historic' Christian voter turnout

An Evangelical advocacy group has reached out to a record number of voters ahead of the presidential election as its leader remains confident that faith-based voters will turn out in historic numbers this year.

The Faith & Freedom Coalition (FFC) announced Monday that it had knocked on a record 8 million doors in the battleground states expected to determine the outcome of the upcoming election. The advocacy organization added that it expects to interact with 17 million to 18 million voters across the seven swing states by Election Day.

We are seeing unprecedented enthusiasm and intensity among our volunteers and the voters of faith with whom they are interacting said FFC leader and founder Ralph Reed in the statement shared with The Christian Post. It is greater than we saw in 2016 or 2020.

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These voters are coming, and they are coming in historic numbers. That is more important than polls that replicate voter turnout models from past elections that may or may not apply in 2024. This election is effectively tied in every battleground state, and this kind of voter education and turnout operation could be the difference.

Reed added that he believes "reports of the inadequacy of the conservative ground game in 2024 are greatly exaggerated.

Throughout the 2024 election cycle, the FFC has repeatedly touted its ground game, which consists of 10,000 paid canvassers and volunteers deployed to engage "low-propensity voters of faith" and get them involved in the election.

FFC hopes to turn out 3 million to 4 million additional voters this year compared to 2020. Additional goals set by the organization this election cycle include completing 10 million volunteer get-out-the-vote calls and distributing 24 million get-out-the vote text messages and 30 million voter guides across 100,000 churches.

While Reed remains optimistic about efforts to target voters of faith and pro-life advocates ahead of the election, others are insisting that churches and faith-based outreach groups have more work to do.

Craig Huey, a researcher who has written a book titled The Christian Voter: How to Vote For, Not Against, Your Values to Transform Culture and Politics, told CP in an interview earlier this month that few Evangelicals are doing whats necessary to mobilize the Church to vote for, not against, their values. He also expressed concern that the amount of effort reaching Evangelicals is sadly lacking.

In a phone call with reporters earlier this month, Reed disputed the narrative that efforts to reach out to faith-based voters are lackluster, buoyed by a report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University estimating that 32 million self-identified Christians plan to sit out the 2024 election.

It doesnt really comport with what were seeing on the ground, Reed explained. In the battleground states that will matter, not just presidential but Senate and even congressional, theyre going to come and theyre going to come in big numbers."

He anticipated that between 75% to nearly 90% of self-identified Evangelical Christians would vote in 2024, stressing that self-identified Evangelical Christians turn out to vote at a much higher rate than both all voters and all Republicans.

Trump and Harris remain close in the polls in the states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which have a combined 93 Electoral College votes.
Home News First-time missionary killed in Angola months after family raised concern about security

Beau Shroyer, a pastor and former police officer from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, who began working with his wife Jackie, and five children as missionaries in Lubango, Angola, for SIM USA, was killed while serving Jesus last Friday, months after his family raised concern at a local church about ongoing security issues they had at the mission. He was 44.

On Friday, October 25, I received a phone call informing me that Beau Shroyer was killed while serving Jesus in Angola and is now with his Savior, Randy Fairman, president of SIM USA, said in a statement released Saturday on the former pastors death.

SIM USA is part of a longtime global missionary organization that focuses on doing missionary work in places where its difficult to share the Gospel.

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The organization did not immediately have any additional updates to provide about Shroyers murder when contacted by The Christian Post on Tuesday but said in their statement on Saturday that Fairman was on his way to Lubango, which is Angolas second biggest city by population.

Beau and Jackie Shroyer, together with their five children, were some of the first missionaries to begin service with SIM USA after the COVID lockdowns eased. They have brought a faithful, energetic, growing, loving aroma of Christ into our family, Fairman said in his statement.

He continued: From our perspective and the perspective of Jackie and the kids, we now must trust Jesus in a season that we never imagined. We must trust Him without requiring Him to give us an understanding of why He allowed this. It is difficult and stretches our faith. I have not yet spoken to Jackie, and many details are still unknown.

Troy Easton, lead pastor of Lakes Area Vineyard Church where Beau Shroyer and his family are longtime members and had last visited only three months ago, said while the circumstances around the missionarys death remains complicated, he confirmed he was killed in an act of violence.

Yesterday, Friday, October 25, we were notified by Mark Bosscher, the Chief Personnel Officer & General Counsel of SIM-USA, that our dear brother and friend Beau Shroyer was killed in an act of violence while serving Jesus in Angola, Africa, he told congregants Saturday.

He said the church had been in contact with the pastors wife and she and the children were safe and being cared for.

In a presentation on their missionary work in Lubango to Country Faith Church in June, Jackie Shroyer revealed that she and her family moved to Angola about three years ago. It was their first time as a family living overseas and their first time working as missionaries.

She explained that in their first year in the city, they focused on learning Portuguese and the culture and constantly battled malaria and security issues.

We battled many other sicknesses. We had a lot of security issues. Mistrust with guards. We went through so many guards and we had several break-ins in our home during the night while we were at home sleeping, Jackie Shroyer said.

On top of everything else, trying to figure out how to live in this culture, we had so many changes, so many difficult experiences that caused a lot of fear and trauma, she added.

Jackie Shroyer said at points it made them question what they were doing in Lubango, but they held on to their faith and continued to serve out their first term as missionaries.

It's really encouraging that now that we're here, we completed that first term. We went to our organization headquarters and did our debriefing and all seven of us can say with certainty we cannot wait to go back and continue working, she said. There's not one doubt in any seven of our minds that this is where we're supposed to be and just so excited to get back and continue our work.

Beau Shroyer would later explain during the presentation that the government of Angola had given the ministry a parcel of land next to an orange farm that was constantly under attack from criminals which affected the property they were trying to develop.

At the top of a list of needs for the property he presented to Country Faith Church, was the need to build a perimeter wall and hire more security.

The late pastor said the orange farm next to the property of the youth ministry installed an electrified, 10-foot high razor wire fence and hired about 50 guards to protect the farm day and night but they still struggled with crime in an area where hunger is considered a big problem.

These guys are here day and night guarding against thieves who will come in to steal the oranges to sell, Beau Shroyer said. It's so bad, actually, that they are shooting at people, and about a week before we came [to the U.S.],  one of the thieves was shot and killed in a machete fight. So it's desperation like Jackie was saying. They're so hungry that they're risking their lives to get a stack of oranges.

The most recent travel advisory on Angola issued by the U.S. State Department in September, just a month after the Shroyer family returned to Angola, ranks the southern African nation at a Level 2.

Violent crime, such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, and homicide, is common, the State Department warns. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.
Home News Full circle: Susan B. Anthony's historic NY home now serves as polling place

The historic New York home of womens rights activist Susan B. Anthony, who was arrested in the 19th century for illegally voting, has been designated as an official polling place.

The Rochester-based historic site, located in a neighborhood named after Anthony, had approximately 700 people show up last Saturday for early voting, The New York Times reported.

In 1872, Anthony voted in the presidential election and was later arrested by authorities who came to her home, as state law prohibited women from taking part in the political process.

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One of the voters waiting in line to vote at the Anthony house told the outlet that it felt very full circle, adding that it was just so cool to be able to vote at the place where Susan B. Anthony was arrested for voting.

According to Deborah Hughes, president of the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, her organization came up with the idea of the house being a polling site in 2020 when New York introduced early voting in presidential elections.

The effort faced some hurdles in securing the designation as an official polling location, reported the NY Times, with one issue being the lack of space at the two-story historic home.

After the historic site built a carriage house with two exits on the property, the Monroe County Board of Elections finally designated it as a polling location earlier this year.

The point wasnt to celebrate this great icon of Susan B. Anthony, Hughes told the NY Times. It was about the cause to which she dedicated her whole life and that we believe is still essential and important. This is right in line with our mission.

Born in 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts, Anthony was inspired by her Quaker beliefs to pursue civil rights causes, including the abolition of slavery and womens equality.

Following her arrest for illegally voting in the 1872 election, Anthony was put on trial, with a judge finding her guilty in June 1873 and fining her $100, which she reportedly refused to pay.

Although Anthony died 14 years before the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which guaranteed women the right to vote, the measure was often nicknamed the Susan B. Anthony amendment in her honor.

As such, it stood as a tribute to Anthonys integrity, determination, and influence, wrote the National Womens History Museum. The fruits of her labor would enable many women to play an integral role in shaping U.S. society for generations to come.
Home News Kamala Harris pledges consensus,' torches Trump at site of Jan. 6 speech

Vice President Kamala Harris pledged to reach compromise with political opponents if elected president, while also labeling her Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump, a petty tyrant.

One week before Election Day, Harris gave a speech at the Ellipse near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the same location Trump held a rally on Jan. 6, 2021, at the same time that a crowd of his supporters and others stormed the U.S. Capitol to try and stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

During her remarks, Harris promised to work with both major parties on policy issues, saying she would build consensus and reach compromise in order to get things done.

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I will always listen to you, even if you dont vote for me, she stated. I will work with everyone. Democrats, Republicans and independents to help Americans who are working hard and still struggling to get ahead.

Harris denounced Trump as unstable and obsessed with revenge, claiming that the former president would use the U.S. military against his political enemies if reelected.

The claim was in reference to a recent interview on Fox News, in which Trump spoke about the enemy from within and suggested using the U.S. armed forces to deal with them.

We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical Left lunatics, stated Trump. I think theyre the big  and it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by [the] National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they cant let that happen.

For his part, Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump's remarks, noting that the GOP presidential nominee was referring to marauding gangs of dangerous, violent people who are destroying public property rather than nonviolent political opponents.

During her speech, Harris also called Trump a petty tyrant who wants unchecked power, claiming that Trump has spent a decade trying to keep the American people divided and afraid of each other.

As Americans, we rise and fall together, she added. For too long, we have been consumed with too much division, chaos and mutual distrust. And it can be easy, then, to forget a simple truth: it doesnt have to be this way.

Harris focused on other issues as well, promising to support a child tax credit, make childcare more affordable, build millions of new houses, advance immigration reform, and sign a bill legalizing abortion nationwide.

According to a report released last month by the Freedom Forum, nearly half of Americans surveyed believed that Trump was a threat to the First Amendment, while 37% said the same of Harris.
Home News Samuel Rodriguez receives Jack Hayford Lifetime Achievement Award for Christian ministry

The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez was recently bestowed the Jack Hayford Lifetime Achievement Award from The Kings University for his ministry work.

Stressing the importance of being intellectually inclined and spiritually empowered," Rodriguez, the president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, shared in an Instagram post last week that he had received the award. Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Rodriguez stated that the glory and honor belong exclusively to Jesus.

The mission of this university is to shape leaders who will impact the world with the love and truth of Jesus, and being a part of this is a true honor, he added. For me, this award is a blessing that comes directly from the Lords hand.

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In a statement shared with The Christian Post, he added: Dr. Jack Hayford was a remarkable man with a deep passion for advancing the Kingdom of God and training the next generation of Christian leaders who are committed to serving Christ and living out His calling on their lives. I am blessed to walk in Dr. Hayfords footsteps and continue the mission he dedicated his life to.

Rodriguez received the award at the Southlake, Texas-based universitys Evening at The Kings gala on Oct. 17. At the ceremony, The Kings University President Irini Fandro said Rodriguez was a disciple, pastor and leader who builds people, crosses and mends bridges and sees no boundaries in his calling to live a lifetime of profound ministry.

I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams to receive an award coming from the name and the legacy and the multi-generational mantle that stems out of the ministry of Dr. Jack Hayford, Rodriguez said as he accepted the award.

Rodriguez recalled how he first met Hayford in his 20s, crediting Hayford as one of the individuals who introduced him to the Charismatic Leadership Council along with a staffer from Charisma magazine: Charisma, for whatever reason in the world, featured me regarding youth ministries in America.

Rodriguez debated whether to characterize his mentor as weird or wired, describing how he demonstrated that the Holy Spirit doesnt make you weird, it wires you, it connects you to the finished work of Christ. He detailed how, before he met Hayford, he came across him on the radio as he sat in a car during his sophomore year of college, debating whether to pursue a career in engineering or ministry.

The car was filled with the Chicano glory of God in such a supernatural way. I broke down, came back home from Penn State, looked at my wife and said, Honey, I need you to get ready, trust the process. Im not going to be a computer engineer. Im going to live out and fulfill the calling.

Rodriguez said he was honored to [receive] an award in the name of a man who was used mightily by God to demonstrate to this young man from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this crazy idea that you can be both intellectually inclined and spiritually empowered, referring to Hayfords influence on his life and career path.

The spirit-empowered reality is not exclusively for the uneducated. It is for everyone, he declared. Your cognitive bandwidth does not have to be sacrificed on the altar of some sort of charismatic exuberance."

Rodriguez also identified the award as a reminder that all of us have a responsibility to pave the way for the next and that "when your integrity is greater than your influence, nothing can stop you.

Who speaks into you is much more important than who speaks about you, he proclaimed. Rodriguez concluded by expressing hope that God would let the next Mark Zuckerbergs and Elon Musks be Christ-centered, spirit-empowered young men and women who change the world.

"Young men and women filled with the Spirit of God, not acting weird but wired, connected to the finished work of Christ with identity, with intimacy, with integrity, influence and innovation, he said.
Home News Supreme Court allows Virginia to remove non-citizens from voter rolls

The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with Virginia, reversing a lower court ruling preventing the state from removing non-citizens from its voter rolls pending the outcome of ongoing litigation.

In an order released Wednesday, the Supreme Court announced that it had granted a request from the state of Virginia to stay an Oct. 25 decision from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruling that the state had violated federal law by removing voters believed to be non-citizens from the voter rolls within 90 days of the 2024 presidential election.

The decision came down along party lines, with the six justices appointed by Republican presidents siding with Virginia, while the three justices appointed by Democratic presidents preferred to uphold the lower court ruling in favor of the Department of Justice.

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Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Associate Justices Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas voted to grant the stay, while Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor would have denied the application.

The stay will remain in effect until a panel of judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issues a ruling on the appeal of the district court decision or if the Supreme Court grants a writ of certiorari to hear the case.

A three-judge panel consisting of Chief Judge Albert Diaz along with Judges Toby Heytens and Stephanie Thacker issued an order Sunday declining to grant the request of a stay of all aspects of the ruling except the portion calling for the state to educate local officials, poll workers, and the general public about the impact of the lower court decision and implement tracking of poll worker training in all 95 counties and cities in the Commonwealth.

All three judges on the panel were appointed by Democratic presidents. Diaz and Thacker were appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama, while Heytens was appointed by President Joe Biden.

The DOJ filed a lawsuit against Virginia earlier this month, alleging that the state had violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 by removing non-citizens from the voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election. Patricia Tolliver Giles, a federal judge appointed to the bench by Biden, ordered the state to restore the voting rights of individuals removed from the voter rolls after Aug. 7.

In a statement posted to X Wednesday, Virginias Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin praised the Supreme Courts order as a victory for commonsense and election fairness.

Youngkin also expressed gratitude for the work of the states Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares on this critical fight to protect the fundamental rights of U.S. citizens, adding, Clean voter rolls are one important part of a comprehensive approach we are taking to ensure the fairness of our elections.

Virginians can cast their ballots on Election Day knowing that Virginias elections are fair, secure, and free from politically-motivated interference, he vowed. Youngkins reference to politically-motivated interference reflects his belief that political motivations on the part of the Biden administrations DOJ prompted the lawsuit against the state, noting how it was filed less than a month before the 2024 election.

Youngkin has consistently maintained that the states actions are consistent with state law, which gives residents who identify as non-citizens at the Department of Motor Vehicles 14 days to affirm they are citizens or be removed from the state's voter rolls, of which they should have never been added.

As Youngkin explained during an appearance on Fox News Sunday last week, if residents cannot prove they are U.S. citizens, they come off the voter rolls.

The governor rejected the premise that the state has conducted a systemic purge of voter registrations within 90 days of a federal election in violation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, characterizing the process the state engages in as individualized. He insisted that the actions taken by the state and singled out by the DOJ are wholly consistent with the U.S. Constitution, the Virginia Constitution and Virginia law.
Home News Taliban bans women from hearing voices of other women: report

The Taliban has passed a measure banning women from being heard by other women in public, in the latest curb on human rights since the Biden administration withdrew U.S. forces from Afghanistan three years ago.

The Telegraph reports that Taliban official Khalid Hanafi announced the new measure, the specifics of which remain unclear.

Even when an adult female prays and another female passes by, she must not pray loudly enough for them to hear, stated Hanafi, according to The Telegraph.

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How could they be allowed to sing if they arent even permitted to hear [each others] voices while praying, let alone for anything else.

The Telegraph quoted an unnamed human rights activist who asked, how are women who are the sole providers for their families supposed to buy bread, seek medical care or simply exist if even their voices are forbidden?

The outlet also quoted an unnamed woman living in Kabul who said the words of Hanafi are a form of mental torture for us and that life in Afghanistan is incredibly painful for us as women.

Afghanistan is forgotten, and thats why they are suppressing us  they are torturing us on a daily basis, she added. They say we cannot hear other womens voices, and I do not understand where these views come from.

In August 2021, nearly 20 years after the U.S. and its allies overthrew the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the Biden administration pulled out its troops out of the Central Asian country, to the surprises of Afghans and allies.

Amid the withdrawal, Taliban forces waged a rapid reconquest of Afghanistan, which resulted in a chaotic evacuation of thousands of Afghans and the death of 13 American soldiers killed in a bombing at the Kabul airport.

Although President Joe Biden promised to use "economic tools" to help protect human rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban continue to enact a strict form of Sharia law with apparent impunity.

In August, for example, the Taliban passed several vice and virtue laws, ordering Afghan women to, among other things, cover their faces while outside their homes, stop speaking in public, and be accompanied by a man if they go out.

This is utterly intolerable, said Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement in response to the laws being passed.

We call on the de facto authorities to immediately repeal this legislation, which is in clear violation of Afghanistans obligations under international human rights law."
Home News Town ordering man to remove 'offensive' Halloween display, bloody handprints at daycare spark debates

A mothers concerns about bloody handprints at her childs daycare and a town ordering a man to remove a Halloween display deemed too offensive have sparked debates worldwide about whether some scary Halloween decorations go too far.

North Carolina resident Scott Feaver has hung a fake body from a tree as part of his haunted Halloween decor for the last three years, but town officials recently ordered its removal for the first time because of its location. Feaver creates the fake body by stuffing and painting a tarp that he then wraps in large chains and hangs with a rope from a tree.

The town of Wake Forest ordered him to remove the Halloween decoration this year after receiving multiple complaints.

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On Monday, Oct. 28, we received complaints about an offensive Halloween decoration suspended from a tree in front of a residence, the Town of Wake Forest said in a statement to The Christian Post. Town staff investigated and determined that the homeowner hung the decoration, not from a tree on his private property, but from a street tree on town property.

The town informed Feaver that the mummy was on public property and he had until 3 p.m. on Tuesday to remove it, according to the statement. After the man claimed he couldn't remove the decoration from the tree by that deadline, the town removed it for him and left the mummy on his porch.

Feaver has since rehung the decoration from a tree on his private property, CBS 17 reported.

According to Feaver, the inspiration for the mummy came from the cover of a 1995 Sonia Dada album titled A Day At The Beach, which shows a body wrapped in a tarp and chains being thrown from a bridge.

Some residents, however, felt a chained-up mummy hanging from its feet by a rope was "too over the top. According to WRAL, one person who filed a complaint called it offensive.

Whether you're hung by your neck or hung by your feet, what's the difference?" a resident said. "It's still offensive."

Feaver disagreed with the accusations, arguing that he had set up the same display for years without issue and that people usually ask for pictures of his decorations.

"As residents of the Wake Forest historic district since 2013, and participating in Halloween every year since then, we were disappointed to learn our decorations offended someone, he said in a statement to WRAL.

Another controversial Halloween display involved a Melbourne mom concerned about a KinderCare class for 3-year-olds decorating a window with bloody handprints. The Australian website Kidspot shared the story, including an example photo of what the mother might have seen at her child's daycare center.

In a Facebook group, the mother said the bloodied handprints adorning the windows belonged to children in the class. The mother noticed that it looked as if someone had dragged their hands down the glass, which suggested some sort of suffering.

"I get they want to get into the spirit (again no pun intended) of things, the mother wrote. But there are plenty of other decoration ideas they can resort to that doesn't portray some sort of child harm.

"Not to mention this can be triggering to people to have lived through trauma or abuse, she added.

One woman who sided with the mother warned that parents shouldn't dismiss certain parts of Halloween as just being a bit of fun and should be mindful to protect their children.

"The parents being killed in kids' movies, the dark nursery rhymes, this Halloween ... there is so so much we need to rethink from the way we are all indoctrinated to take part and [normalize] many warped things, she wrote.

Others, however, didn't see the bloody handprints as problematic, with one person saying that children will likely see far worse when they go out trick or treating. One woman seemed to find the discussion ridiculous, dismissing the idea that the decoration would harm children because its only paint.

"Many shops have far worse, the woman wrote. Stop hiding your children and teach them fake fun from real-life and they won't get [traumatized] by it."

Another commentator who sided with the KinderCare mom said she should speak out about the bloody handprints in case the center decides to do something bigger and scarier next year. The commentator also questioned why anyone would think Halloween is appropriate for children, citing the tradition of taking candy from strangers.
Home News Tucker Carlson claims 'physically mauled' by demon while at Fox News 'Ephesians 6 is real,' Carlson tells CP

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson confirmed to The Christian Post that he believes he was attacked by a demonic spirit in his bed while he was still employed at the network.

"Ephesians 6 is real," Carlson told The Christian Post, referencing the chapter in the New Testament that teaches mankind is engaged in warfare "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Carlson also told CP that the alleged demonic attack that left him bloodied took place on Feb. 20, 2023, two months before he was unceremoniously fired from Fox News, though he added that God "wins in the end."

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In a clip posted by the Christianities? YouTube channel, footage of Carlson went viral on X Thursday, during which he claimed he had "a direct experience" with supernatural evil.

.@TuckerCarlson: 'I Was Mauled By A Demon!'



Clip from my upcoming doc @ChristianitiesXpic.twitter.com/tyrK4sw3Hs  Scooter Downey ?? ???????? (@scooter_downey) October 31, 2024

After First Things Foundation director John Heers asked if "the presence of evil is kickstarting people to wonder about the good," Carlson replied, "Thats what happened to me."

Carlson claimed that he was attacked in his bed at night by what he assumed was a demonic entity.

"I got attacked while I was asleep with my wife and four dogs and mauled, physically mauled," he said.

"In a spiritual attack by a demon?" Heers asked.

"Yeah, by a demon," Carlson replied. "Or by something unseen that left claw marks on my sides."

Carlson said after he inspected his body following the attack, he "had four claw marks on either side underneath my arms and on my left shoulder, and theyre bleeding."

Carlson said the physical marks from the attack remain, and that it pressed him to read the Bible.

When asked if he believes God allowed the demonic attack, Carlson said, "I have no idea what happened. No one has to believe me, I dont care, but that happened to me."

Carlson also noted that he called an Evangelical friend after the incident, who explained to him that such incidents can occur.

"That happens, people are attacked in their bed by demons," Carlson's friend told him, to which he replied, "What are you even talking about?"

Since his ouster from Fox News, Carlson has been outspoken about what he claims is the spiritual nature of the battle afflicting the country.

"This is not flesh and blood at all," he told an audience last March in Fort Worth, Texas.

Carlson's claims about his demonic attack come weeks after former Fox News host Glenn Beck torched Fox News as a source of spiritual evil during a conversation with Carlson in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Three months after Carlson was fired, Beck exposed that the Fox Corporation was willing to match employee donations to The Satanic Temple, though the company pulled the tax-exempt organization from their giving portal after The Blaze broke the story.

????BREAKING UPDATE????



Fox News is no longer matching potential employee donations to the Satanic Temple following our exclusive story exposing their support for far-left charities. #DumpFoxpic.twitter.com/Z7PpuTCjlH  TheBlaze (@theblaze) July 24, 2023

A source with knowledge told Vanity Fair that former Fox Corporation Co-Chair Rupert Murdoch was especially upset by Carlson's speech at the Heritage Foundation's 50th anniversary gala just three days before he was fired, during which he presented the nation's political battles in spiritual terms of good versus evil.

Murdoch, who reportedly broke off his engagement with his fiance shortly after she called Carlson "a messenger from God," found Carlson's speech "too extreme," according to the source.
A Dev Patel look-alike contest is happening at Dolores Park next weekend, inspired by the viral Timothee Chalamet one in New York last week. Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images

Three Bay Area women are hosting a Dev Patel look-alike contest in San Francisco next weekend, and its just as hilarious as it sounds.

A simple white flyer featuring the British Indian actors face and a QR code that links to an invitation has been circulating on social media over the past week  cuz why should only ny have nice things, reads the post on Partiful, a popular party planning app.

More Information Dev Patel look-alike competition: 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. Free. Miguel Hidalgo statue at Dolores Park, Dolores and 19th streets, S.F. www.partiful.com

Organizers are referencing the viral Timothee Chalamet look-alike contest that was hosted at Washington Square Park in New York City last week. The event drew thousands, including the Dune star himself, and has since inspired similar contests around the U.S.

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The Patel look-alike competition is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Miguel Hidalgo Statue at Dolores Park. There will be a $50 cash prize for the winner.

If you look like Dev Patel or have been told you look like Dev Patel, or even if you are just Dev Patel, please show up, TikTok user @cardamomcutie said in a video talking about the event on Oct. 28.

I guarantee that if you look like this man, you will be leaving this event with a wife, she joked.

Patel got his start on the teen drama Skins in 2007, working alongside Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) and Nicholas Hoult (Juror #2). But his breakout role came the following year, playing lead character Jamal Malik in Danny Boyles drama Slumdog Millionaire. He went on to receive Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for his role in 2016s Lion.

This year, Patel made his directorial debut with the thriller Monkey Man, which has sparked buzz as a potential Oscar contender.

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According to the flyer, the event is being organized by individuals who go by the names Sitara, Tasnim and Sahana. Each of them has been sharing the flyer on their personal social media accounts to get the word out.

Another TikTok user, @bayareamaanster, made a post about the event, adding that New York is having a Zayn Malik look-alike contest on Nov. 17, and how it encapsulates both cities more perfectly than anything ever will.
Home News UK lawyer warns Christians of cultural consequences of LGBT laws: 'Sin protected, godliness punished'

British attorney Andrea Williams warned millions of South Koreans gathered for a worship service that the country might soon face devastating challenges similar to those that Western nations have encountered if it embraces legislation that paves the way for LGBT ideology to impact their daily lives.

We have removed Jesus from public life, Williams, founder of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre, declared to an estimated 1.1 million South Koreans gathered in Seoul on Reformation Sunday.

People do not know who Jesus is," she continued. "They do not know that He is the Savior of the world. We have removed Him from the classroom, and we are embarrassed by our Christian heritage. We have legislated for the right to kill our unborn children, 10.4 million. We have legislated to redefine family and marriage by saying two men and two women can be married and have children. We have legislated to say that a man can change sex to be a woman and a woman to a man. Our equality, diversity, anti-discrimination and hate laws enshrined this as the new normal.

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Williams warned that in the U.K., if people refuse to conform to these laws, you are punished, adding: Sin is protected in law and godliness is punished. Street preachers are regularly put in jail. Workers can lose their jobs for offering Bibles or prayer. Doctors, nurses and parents are being reported to their employers, the police or terrorism squads unless they promote the LGBTQ agenda  bank accounts are closed and charity status is removed.

She further stressed that the cultural trajectory of the U.K. serves as a cautionary tale for countries considering legal protections for LGBT-identified individuals: If Korea adopts the same anti-discrimination legislation, the consequences will come much faster, she warned.

Williams also lamented the lack of response from British churches as these shifts took place, saying that many have remained silent or even endorsed ideologies that once were considered contrary to traditional beliefs.

In Korea, you are fast. Perhaps it could happen in two or three years. The Church in the U.K. has been largely asleep, silent, while this has happened, she emphasized. Evangelical leaders in the church are openly endorsing queer ideology in the church. Do you think this cannot happen to you?

The backdrop for the large-scale worship service was a proposed anti-discrimination law in South Korea, which many Korean Christian leaders believe could lead to legalized same-sex marriage and the promotion of gender ideology in schools.

One landmark ruling this past July allowed same-sex couples to share health insurance benefits, an acknowledgment of LGBT partnerships that Christian leaders believe will lead to further legal recognition.

Continuing her message, Williams cited Jeremiah 2:13, which reads: My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

The battle is global, she said. It's a battle between good and evil, between God and the devil, between life and death, truth and falsehood, Heaven and Hell. Korea, God is raising you up to show the world His way. If God is for you, who can be against you? In the name of Jesus, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, rise up, oh Church. As we in the West are sad in our sin, may the church of Korea shine so bright, so bright that all the world will seek King Jesus and turn to Him. In Jesus, all hope is found, not just for me and for you, but for families, communities, cities and nations.



The gatherings purpose was twofold: to express concern about legal changes that could challenge Christian values in South Korea and to create a space for dialogue and reflection among believers.

Throughout the event, which was attended virtually by an additional 1 million viewers, Church leaders sought to bridge divides and rally the community to protect what they view as essential values.

This service will remain as an important moment for the Korean church to reflect on its social responsibility and the essence of faith, the organizing committee stated in a final address, and as a milestone that suggests the direction and role the Church should take.



The Rev. Jung-Hyun Oh, senior pastor of Sarang Church and one of the events organizers, expressed hope that the gathering would inspire not only the Korean Church but the global Christian community.

Through this worship service that we offer today in spirit and truth, I hope that families and churches will live and that the Korean Church and the world church will experience a new revival, he said.
Home News UMC launches project focused on LGBTQ+ United Methodist Heritage at Drew University

A commission of The United Methodist Church has launched a resource center at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, that will focus on the lives and views of LGBT-identified Methodists.

The UMC General Commission on Archives & History held a kickoff celebration at Drew University for the Center for LGBTQ+ United Methodist Heritage that is centered on the history of LGBT individuals in the denomination.

The overall historical archives for the UMC and its predecessor denominations have been located at Drew University since 1982 and are overseen by GCAH and The UMC.

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GCAH General Secretary Ashley Boggan told The Christian Post that while the project had been a goal of hers for some time, UMC rules had restricted the extent to which it could be done.

For decades, the UMC Book of Discipline prohibited church bodies from funding any gay caucus or group, or otherwise use such funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality.

The measure was repealed earlier this year at the UMC General Conference, along with other denominational rules banning the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals.

The reality is that GCAH had already been collecting and preserving the stories of queer United Methodists, but with the lifting of the funding ban, we could finally do some openly, explained Boggan.

At General Conference, when it looked like some of the bans, including the funding ban, might be lifted, I drafted a letter to a board member, Rev. Jeremy Smith, who is a highly respected ally.

According to Boggan, Smith asked the GCAH Executive Committee to support establishing a Center that would intentionally collect, preserve, promote and protect the stories of LGBTQ+ United Methodists.

The Executive Committee unanimously affirmed this action and within 24 hours of the funding ban being lifted we announced the establishment of the Center at a press conference, she noted.

At present, the Center doesn't have a physical location but is a record group within the GCAH facilities at the university. The Center will soon produce online courses and provide additional resources meant to highlight the stories of LGBT-identified UMC members of the past.

Drew University spokesperson Stuart Dezenhall told CP that although the UMC Archives and History Center is located on Drews campus, it's a separate entity run by the GCAH and Drew does not have oversight of their centers or exhibits.

The new center will be chaired by Karen Oliveto, who became the first UMC bishop to be in a same-sex marriage back in 2016, when the denomination still prohibited such appointments.

Although The United Methodist Judicial Council, the UMCs highest court, ruled 6-3 in 2017 that Olivetos election was invalid, the regional body Oliveto led never carried out the process of removing her from office. Oliveto retired from her position in September.

The new center is not without its critics, as Davison Drumm of the Institute for Religion and Democracy recently argued that the new project was biased toward progressive LGBT activism.

[The] new LGBTQ center clearly approves of homosexual relations with no semblance of neutrality, wrote Drumm. Additionally, the GCAH receives its funding, in part, from church apportionments.

Even if you and your local church disagree with the LGBTQ celebration and new sexual ethic permitted by the latest General Conference, your apportionments are being used to promote this celebration. Church members and local churches, then, are not given the choice to support gay marriage; their apportionments are being used for its celebration regardless.

For her part, Boggan told CP that the new center was not propaganda, but rather it was living into the disciplinary mandate that GCAH preserve the history of the denomination.

The UMC intentionally silenced the stories of LGBTQ+ United Methodists, she replied. The conversations about LGBTQ+ persons had drastic effects on the ministries and mission of the UMC over the last 50 years.

I would not be doing my job if I ignored these histories, conversations, and stories. GCAH has other centers such as this one that have a very similar mission of ensuring the silenced voices are protected and preserved  one of them is the African American Methodist Heritage Center.

Regarding the possibility of including the perspectives of LGBT-identified Methodists who also willingly adhered to traditional sexual ethics, Boggan said it was my job to preserve stories of whole movements and that I cannot faithfully discern one side over another.

The LGBTQ+ caucus groups within The UMC have held different strategies, goals and witnesses in the last 50 years, she explained. I hope to preserve all of their stories so that persons in 100 years have a full, nuanced picture of what these discussions and this movement was like.
Home News WaPo owner Jeff Bezos defends paper's 'principled' lack of Harris endorsement, torches media bias

Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post and founder of Amazon.com, released a statement on Monday defending the newspaper's choice not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris or any future presidential candidates, despite resignations from disgruntled staffers who support Harris.

Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election, Bezos wrote. No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, Im going with Newspaper As endorsement. None. What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and its the right one.

Bezos statement comes days after The Washington Posts publisher, William Lewis, announced that the newspaper would be returning to their former standard of not endorsing presidential candidates.

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"The Washington Post will not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in this election. Nor in any future presidential election. We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates," said Lewis on the newspaper's website.

Bezos also noted the low esteem in which the American public holds most journalists because of perceived media bias, and said endorsing candidates would not help that perception.

In the annual public surveys about trust and reputation, journalists and the media have regularly fallen near the very bottom, often just above Congress, he wrote. But in this years Gallup poll, we have managed to fall below Congress. Our profession is now the least trusted of all. Something we are doing is clearly not working.

Bezos appealed to the apolitical example of Eugene Meyer, who served as The Washington Posts publisher from 1933 to 1946 and declined to let the paper endorse candidates, which Bezos said was right.

Bezos conceded that declining to endorse candidates will do little to regain the trust of the public but called it a meaningful step in the right direction, and hit back against any accusations that his business interests compromised his decision.

Neither campaign nor candidate was consulted or informed at any level or in any way about this decision. It was made entirely internally, he wrote, adding that he sighed when Dave Limp, who serves as chief executive of his Blue Origin, met with Trump the day The Washington Post announced their decision because it would give "ammunition" to those alleging a conflict of interests.

But the fact is, I didnt know about the meeting beforehand. Even Limp didnt know about it in advance; the meeting was scheduled quickly that morning. There is no connection between it and our decision on presidential endorsements, and any suggestion otherwise is false, he wrote.

Conceding that he is not an ideal owner of The Post given the appearance of conflict because of the people in his companies who meet with government officials, Bezos maintained the apolitical nature of his ownership.

I assure you that my views here are, in fact, principled, and I believe my track record as owner of The Post since 2013 backs this up, he said.

Since the lack of endorsement, multiple staffers from The Washington Post have resigned in protest, including two columnists and three of the nine members of the editorial board.

Marty Baron, who served as the newspapers editor when Bezos bought the paper in 2013 until his resignation in 2021, denounced Bezos decision on social media.

This is cowardice, with democracy as its casualty, he wrote. [Former President Donald Trump] will see this as an invitation to further intimidate owner [Bezos] (and others). Disturbing spinelessness at an institution famed for courage.

The Los Angeles Times also decided not to endorse a presidential candidate this year, which likewise prompted internal backlash, according to CBS News.

More than 200,000 people have canceled their subscriptions to The Washington Post after their decision not to endorse Harris, according to NPR.
Home News Who is Sheikh Naim Qassem, the newly appointed leader of Hezbollah? Qassem has been a leading figure in Hezbollah for over 30 years

On Tuesday morning, the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah announced the election of Sheikh Naim Qassem as the new head of the group, following the killing of previous leader Hassan Nasrallah.

In a statement on the groups Telegram channel, it announced:

Based on faith in God Almighty, commitment to the authentic Muhammadan Islam, adherence to the principles and goals of Hezbollah, and in accordance with the approved mechanism for electing the secretary general, the Shura Council of Hezbollah agreed to elect His Eminence Sheikh Naim Qassem as secretary general of Hezbollah, carrying the blessed banner in this journey, asking God Almighty to guide him in this noble mission in leading Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance.

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The terror group pledged to work together to achieve the principles of Hezbollah and the goals of its path, and to keep the flame of resistance shining and its banner raised until victory is achieved, saying it would continue the path of Nasrallah.

While Naim Qassem was a well-known figure within Lebanon, he rose to international prominence mostly after the killing of longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Naim Muhammad Naim Qassem, more commonly known as Sheikh Naim Qassem, was born in the Basta al-Tahta area of Beirut, Lebanon, in 1953 to a Shia Muslim family. Qassem grew up in Beirut and studied Islamic theology under Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah while also pursuing a bachelor's of science in chemistry from Lebanese University and taught in French.

Qassem was a founding member of the Lebanese Muslim Students Union in the 1970s.

He has been a leading figure in Hezbollah as one of its chief ideologues as well as one of its founding members. He was part of a network of radical scholars  including Abbas al-Mousaoui, Subhi al-Tufaili, Mohammad Yazbek, Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed, and Hassan Nasrallah  who founded Hezbollah in 1982.

Considered by many in Lebanon to be the voice of Hezbollah, Qassem was elected as the partys deputy secretary general on May 22, 1991. He served under Secretary General Abbas al-Mousaoui until his assassination in 1992. Qassem continued in that position when Hassan Nasrallah replaced al-Mousaoui as secretary general after his assassination in February 1992. Qassem is also a member of Hezbollahs Shura Council and is in charge of overseeing its parliamentary and governmental activities.

Qassem steps into the leadership role of Hezbollah at a difficult time for the terror group. His predecessor, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in a "targeted strike" by the IAF on Hezbollahs underground headquarters, beneath a residential building in Dahiyeh, in late September. Nasrallahs cousin, Hashem Safieddine, was seen initially as the likely successor. However, only a week later, Safieddine was killed in another Israeli airstrike.

Before the airstrike which killed Nasrallah, Hezbollah was rocked by a series surprising Israeli operations which changed the almost year-long status quo of Hezbollah rocket barrages followed by a few retaliatory IDF strikes on launchers.

While the Israeli defense leadership had been stating for months that the country would have to deal with Hezbollah in order to return the evacuees to their homes in Israels northern border communities, the IDFs focus appeared to be firmly fixed on the fighting in Gaza.

After the pager operation, which killed dozens of Hezbollah operatives and injured and incapacitated thousands more, Israel upset that status quo in an unexpected way.

Over the next couple weeks, in a series of precise strikes on Hezbollah leadership and positions, the IDF indicated that it was ready to engage Hezbollah directly and abandon the previous tit-for-tat approach.

After the killing of Nasrallah, Qassem made two televised speeches, both from undisclosed locations. In the first speech, on Sept. 30, Qassem appears to be nervous and sweating profusely. In that speech, Qassem claimed that Hezbollah was still able to fight against Israel, despite the painful blows it had received. He said that Hezbollah would choose a successor to Nasrallah at the earliest opportunity and said the group was ready for an IDF ground incursion.

We will confront any possibility, and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land, Qassem stated. The forces of the resistance are ready for a ground engagement.

In the second speech, Qassem, looking a little more confident despite the recent killing of Hashem Safieddine, claimed that Hezbollah had filled the leadership positions vacated by Israels targeted killings. In that speech, Qassem claimed that the terror groups war with Israel was a matter of who cries first. Hezbollah, Qassem pledged, would not cry first.

Reports in Arab and Israeli media claim that Naim Qassem fled to Iran on Oct. 5, shortly before his second speech. He has not publicly addressed the group or the media since Oct. 15.

UAE-based Aram News website said Qassems move to Tehran came at the orders of Iran, over fears he would also be targeted by Israel.

Shortly after the announcement of Qassems appointment to the position, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted a message to X hinting that the new leader would not last long.
(Photo: Getty/iStock)

What does 'loving our enemies' look like in our bitterly divided society? Although they don't always make the headlines, many people are working hard to overcome hatred for people who vote differently.

"I don't understand how we got so toxic and just so divided and so bitter," said former US president Barack Obama at a rally for democratic candidate Kamala Harris two weeks before the 2024 presidential election.

There is no doubt that hostile political divisions have worsened in the US and the UK. Many surveys show a widening of opinion and a deepening intolerance of the other 'side'. In the UK the split has shifted from party politics to opinions on membership of the European Union: "People on both sides of the Brexit vote dislike the opposing side intensely," summarised a recent report from the Policy Institute at King's College London.

In the US, Obama himself is often blamed (by the other 'side') for making the division worse. Yet in his own party, the blame is usually put firmly on the shoulders of his successor, Donald Trump.

But as both their presidencies coincided with the rise of social media  another factor commonly blamed for the worsening polarisation of society  it is difficult to determine the most important cause.

Whatever the reasons, there are people who are trying to offer solutions and become peacemakers. The need is urgent. The actual and potential effects of increasing division are very real. The recent movie "Civil War" was fairly clear in its message: the US could soon become a dystopian nightmare of violent conflict unless we find a way through this problem. In the UK, around a third of the population think we will see civil war in this country in the next 10 years, according to a recent YouGov poll.

Bridge builders

When people do reach across the divide, interesting things can happen. Arthur C Brooks begins his book Love your enemies: how decent people can save America from the culture of contempt with the story of Hawk Newsome, a Black Lives Matter activist. He had arrived with like-minded friends at a Trump rally in 2017 to confront their opponents. Predictably, both sides traded insults at first. But then the organiser of the rally, Tommy Hodges, invited Newsome to the front to speak to the crowd. After saying a short prayer, the words he chose managed to unite the crowd rather than divide them, and he left the platform to cheers. For both activists, it changed their attitudes and led them towards harmony rather than division. The story hit the headlines.

Religious harmony?

Faith inspired this positive interaction, but many people incorrectly perceive religion to be a significant cause of division, according to recent research from More in Common, a consultancy operating in the UK and US that seeks to build bridges across the divides. It found: "Americans often overestimate the importance Evangelicals and Catholics place on their political identity and partisan affiliation ... Democrats and Independents who overestimate the percentage of Evangelicals who are Republican tend to have more negative views towards all Evangelicals."

The group argued that faith communities can be a source of unity and peacemaking rather than division. "Many Americans seek spiritual solace, moral guidance, and a sense of belonging from their faith communities, rather than political alignment," concluded the report.

"By focusing on these commonalities, rather than partisan differences, faith communities can foster dialogue, reduce fear, and build stronger social cohesion.

"Local places of worship can serve as vital spaces for connection and understanding, helping to counter the toxic polarisation that threatens to fracture the nation. Ultimately, faith communities share an exciting potential to become powerful agents of unity in a divided America."

University challenges

A particular political hotspot of toxic disagreement has been higher education. But here too, there are people who build bridges. Brooks cites the example of Cornel West, a socialist professor who has held numerous senior roles in academia and who Wikipedia describes as "outspoken voice in left-wing politics," who is also running as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Yet he has a friendship with Robert P George, similarly distinguished in his career, but conservative in his politics. Both frequently appear together to discuss how to disagree well and the importance of listening to different points of view.

Dr George said "we should value dissent, even when we are confident that the dissenter is wrong, because that dissent will enable us, by way of having to defend the truth, to deepen our understanding and appreciation of it," at a 2016 event organised by the American Enterprise Institute.

In the USA the university campus organisation Bridge USA seeks to dialogue with politically partisan groups. "We are developing a generation of leaders that value empathy and constructive engagement because our generation will bear the cost of polarisation and tribalism for years to come," says the organisation's website.

Family turmoil

The costs of political division can indeed be high. In a 2019 survey by BMG Research for the Independent newspaper, more than one in 20 Britons said they had "fallen out with or stopped speaking to a family member," and almost one in 12 with a friend, because of arguments over the Brexit referendum. It was worse in younger generations. Around a quarter said they had had heated arguments about Brexit with friends and family.

Living Room Conversations has tools to help people have better discussions across divides  especially in families. "Each year we hear from people that they want to use [our] skills to help heal family relationships," says an online 'tip sheet' for conversation with friends and family. "People have experienced the loss of, or harm, to treasured relationships because of politics.... Does love supersede politics? For most people it does. But there is still confusion and hurt to manage. How do we do this? How can we listen to each other and hold the tension of our differences?"

Perhaps we can practise these vital skills through constructive discussions about politics within our church communities. Can we practise disagreeing well, even if we think the subject is essential and the other person is very wrong? We can search out those who are building bridges and working against the increasingly toxic descent of hatred in our world, in order to learn how to become a peacemaker rather than an instrument of hostility.

Heather Tomlinson is a freelance Christian writer. Find more of her work at https://heathertomlinson.substack.com/ or via X (twitter) @heathertomli
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Church of England

Faithful, orthodox Anglicans in the England have once again been encouraged by the courage and clarity of the leaders of the Gafcon movement. In a Reformation Day Statement, the Primates Council of Gafcon rebuked Justin Welby for his comments to Alastair Campbell and called for his personal repentance.

"While he may claim not to have changed the doctrine of marriage, the Archbishop of Canterbury has demonstrably changed the doctrine of sin, by promoting the sanctification of sin by means of a divine blessing," they said in a statement.

The continued, "We are guided by Jesus' solemn words of warning to the Church of Thyatira, because, 'they tolerate the teaching of Jezebel,' which endorses sexual immorality. Only judgment awaits Jezebel and all who follow her, unless they repent (Revelation 2:21-22; 22:15). Any toleration, let alone endorsement, of immorality is liable to God's judgment.

"For this reason, in response to his public comments, we solemnly repeat our call for Archbishop Justin Welby to personally and publicly repent of this denial of his ordination and consecration vows, where he promised to, "teach the doctrine of Christ as the Church of England has received it."

There are no threats. The majority of the Anglican Communion, represented by Gafcon and the GSFA (Global South Fellowship of Anglicans) have long since rejected the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other 'Instruments of Communion' and are getting on with the work of mission, evangelism and church planting.

Instead, there are promises to continue to "champion" the ever-growing Anglican Network in Europe, as "Gafcon's authentically-Anglican structural provision for those who cannot by conscience remain within the historic, revisionist structures," and "support for The Alliance as they seek to stand firm in defence of biblical marriage within the Church of England."

The Primates opened their statement with words from Jude's letter  a letter which goes on to speak of the scoffers that cause division and calling on the faithful to build themselves up in the holy faith while showing mercy to those who doubt, saving others by snatching them out of the fire and showing mercy with fear to some.

The statement ended by declaring afresh to all those in England who "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to all the saints" that "you are not alone".

It is unlikely that this statement will change the Archbishop of Canterbury's mind, but should he repent and return to believing and teaching the Doctrine of Christ as the Church of England has received it, he too would find he was not alone.
The San Francisco Chronicles first cookbook in more than 20 years is getting shipped out this month. Called San Francisco by Season, its a collection of standout recipes from our columnists and staffers, published over the past decade, that showcase how we eat in the Bay Area.

Want a sneak peek? Here are members of the Food & Wine team sharing their favorite recipes from the book and why theyre special.

Salmon rubbed with parsley, chives and lemon zest is delicious on its own or over salad. Russell Yip/The Chronicle

Im a sucker for a salad Nicoise, and I love this riff that substitutes salmon for the traditional tuna. The fish preparation that Jessica Battilana suggests here  smearing it with an herb-lemon-olive oil paste, then roasting low and slow at 250 degrees for up to 25 minutes  has become one of my go-to protocols for salmon, even if Im not making the rest of the recipe. But on nights when I want to present a big, beautiful platter of dinner to guests, the full salad makes a statement. I especially love the addition of chopped-up cornichons to the crunchy Bibb lettuce and the verdant spring vegetables.  Esther Mobley, senior wine critic

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This creamy carrot dip gets its abundant character from freshly toasted spices, buttery beans and tangy goat cheese. Amisha Gurbani/Special to The Chronicle

You know when you read the comments on a recipe and theyre like, This recipe was so good, I changed everything about it? Im about to be that guy. In my defense, the adaptability of this recipe is part of what makes it such a keeper. No cannellini beans? Use chickpeas. No sumac? Hit the dip with a little extra lemon juice. You can even substitute ground spices for whole if you must; skip the garnishes, and it will still come out earthy, fragrant and fantastic. Serve it as a dip with chips, as suggested, or swoosh it onto a plate and top it with a grilled merguez sausage.  MacKenzie Chung Fegan, restaurant critic

Thinly sliced celery is layered with spicy mayo, citrusy olive oil and cheese for a riff on the popular salad served at Daytrip. Christian Reynoso / Special to The Chronicle

The celery salad at Oakland restaurant Daytrip is a revelation: crunchy, funky, tangy and deceptively spicy. It gives center stage to a vegetable that might otherwise only be extracted of its aromatic essence in a chicken stock. Thankfully Christian Reynoso has given us an excellent recreation. I made it for a New Years Eve dinner and it stole the show, despite competing with lasagna and Thai tea-infused tiramisu. Ive found that the most difficult thing to procure is lemon verbena, but the salad works well with other pungent herbs like basil, too. If all else fails, you could cheat and go to Daytrip and purchase key ingredients like the herby oil and habanero aioli. But wheres the fun in that, cheater?  Cesar Hernandez, associate food critic

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Dungeness Crab is plated with oven-baked fries and pickled pepper tartar sauce. Christian Reynoso / Special to The Chronicle

Is there any local food San Franciscans hold more tightly than sweet, buttery Dungeness crab? I say no! This genius Christian Reynoso recipe combines quick-roasted crab with a pickled pepper tartar sauce  which does double duty as a marinade and punchy dipping sauce for the crustacean and frozen French fries. I can vouch that its just as good with pre-cooked crab as fresh. Its a messy, deeply delicious Bay Area dinner, made even more precious by our sadly dwindling crab season.  Elena Kadvany, food reporter

This pistachio olive oil cake doesnt require any fancy equipment. Russell Yip/The Chronicle

Offered as a beautiful springtime dessert, Jessica Battilanas recipe had me at no mixer, nor the foresight to soften any butter required. With finely chopped fresh pistachios, Greek yogurt and a whisper of orange zest, this moist and nutty cake makes a light yet elegant dessert topped with the fresh fruit compote. And if its not strawberry season? Simply give this easy, breezy confection a light dusting of powdered sugar for a not-too-sweet slice of pure delight for after dinner (or after lunch!). And heres a bonus: It uses just one 8-inch round cake pan so, trust me, it wont overstay its welcome.  Bernadette Fay, contributing editor

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Tofu Matar swaps crispy baked tofu in place of paneer for a vegan spin on the North Indian restaurant favorite. Amisha Gurbani/Special to The Chronicle

This pea-studded tomato-based curry reminds me of gut-busting Indian restaurant meals: Its well-spiced, creamy and rich yet balanced. That I can have it at home, relatively quickly, means Amisha Gurbanis recipe has risen to repeat status for my family. I also appreciate her swap of tofu in place of paneer, which makes it more readily accessible and affordable for day-to-day cooking.  Janelle Bitker, senior editor of Food & Wine

BLT Tostadas with Salsa Macha Mayo turns the classic summer sandwich into a crispy treasure. Christian Reynoso/Special to The Chronicle

In the summer, when juicy, savory heirloom tomatoes are at their peak, it was easy to find an excuse to make this fun, tostada-fied version of BLT sandwiches. The many layers of crispy ingredients combine for a highly textured bite, with a welcome bit of heat from chunky salsa macha mayo. The recipe also allows for plenty of flexibility. I have opted for tostadas from Oakland tortilleria La Finca, to cut a corner on frying tortillas, and if youre missing your favorite salsa macha, you can always reach for Chinese chili crisp as a sub. One non-negotiable, however, is a squirt of fresh lime.  Mario Cortez, food reporter

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Roasted Eggplant alla Norma is a twist on the classic pasta. Christian Reynoso/Special to The Chronicle

At first, this dish simply presented an opportunity to do something new with my homegrown tomatoes, and when I told my husband what I was making for dinner, he was visibly disappointed, asking, So, no meat? Yet Christian Reynosos unexpectedly delicious spin on pasta alla Norma has turned me into an eggplant believer  so much so, I may even plant some next year. The rich, yet light and custard-like texture of the slow-roasted eggplant now lives in my tastebuds rent-free. It can definitely work as a main dish as Reynoso suggests, but in the future, I think Ill use it as a side, a sleeper with the sneaky ability to win a dinner party. Make extra sauce to ensure you have plenty to mop up with the bread, or leftovers to throw over pasta the next day.  Jess Lander, wine reporter

These tacos scream spring when you have fresh peas. When all you have is frozen, they work as comforting winter fare. Christian Reynoso

This recipe starts with permission: to leave the blender ensconced in the cabinet and use a tub of tomatillo salsa from the store. Music to my always-behind-on-dinner ears. What follows is Christian Reynosos take on tacos de papa, with cheesy mashed potatoes and peas folded inside skillet-crisped tortillas for a vegetarian dinner that still feels indulgent. Though the recipe is suited to springs fresh-pea hauls, I like it best in winter, as a creamy, crunchy break from the Bay Area gloom.  Sarah Feldberg, editor of Emerging Product
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I doubt anyone underestimates the business instincts or acumen of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the wealthiest people in the world. As the owner of the Washington Post, as described by former Post editor Martin Baron in his book Collision of Power, Bezos has had a record of navigating the waters of big business, politics, and newspapering with a strong but quiet nimbleness.

That contrasts starkly with the abrupt decision last week to permanently terminate endorsements in presidential elections. His explanation, published on Monday, suggests that there are several things that Bezos hasnt considered, doesnt know, or isnt saying about the impact of endorsements. And some of his misperceptions or misstatements are potentially harmful to the Post, the industry, and even the nation.

First, and perhaps most troubling, Bezos does a disservice to his newsroom and to the industry by perpetuating a mischaracterization about media trust. It is true that a recent Gallup poll found that less than a third of those polled (31 percent) said they trusted the mass media a great deal or a fair amount to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly. The media was the least trusted of ten groups pivotal to democracy, which included the judiciary, local government, and the executive branch.

There are many questions that the poll does not surface, however, such as what people consider to be the mass media, the specific role of newspapers, and where the media falls short. In sum, while distrust is problematically high, and its plausible that there is a link between distrust and endorsements, the poll fails to offer any support for Bezoss assertion.

Further, in a separate Gallup poll this year on the most trusted professions, Americans ranked journalists higher than severalincluding business executives, car and insurance salespeople, lawyers, and state governorsand just behind bankers and the clergy. Bezoss assertion that our profession is the least trusted furthers a simplistic and damaging narrative. (Media owners might also consider that popular social commentary suggests that distrust is especially high in corporate media amid fears that the few, the woke, and the rich use it to impose their values on the nation. Considering the near-simultaneous decision by Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong and a similar announcement by Gannett, the publisher of USA Today, theres reason to fear that corporate edicts may only further erode trust in the independent journalism of important press institutions.)

Second, Bezos implies that readers are uninterested in the presidential endorsements of newspapers, claiming that they have no influence. This suggests that he doesnt know that the Post has a far different experience from other publications that see high interest. For the month of October, for example, eight of the ten pieces of content that generated the most digital subscriptions to the Detroit News were endorsement editorials. October was likely the only month of the year that even one editorial will rank among the top ten.

The Detroit News was founded in 1873 and has traditionally been a conservative, Republican newspaper. The editorial board, which has endorsed only one Democratic presidential candidate in its history (William Jennings Bryan, in 1896), backed the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in 2016. The News did not endorse a presidential candidate in 2020 and this year again could not reach a consensus, though we hope to be able to do so in 2028. Our October 24 editorial explaining the boards views on the candidates generated more subscriptions than any other paywalled article since the day it was published.

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As a journalist who rose through the reporting and editing ranks, I havent focused my career on opinion writing. Since assuming the role of editor and publisher in 2019, however, I have seen how actively many readers seek out and engage with editorials and endorsements to help them navigate their Election Day choices, whether they are taking our recommendations or merely reading to see how their views compare with those we present.

The third Bezos fallacy, and perhaps the most harmful of all, is that stepping back from all presidential endorsements gives candidates yet another reason to avoid tough questions and accountability. Media access to candidates, public officials, and other newsmakers is arguably at an all-time low, as evidenced by the vanishingly few presidential and gubernatorial press conferences, interviews, and interactions.

As part of the endorsement process, newspapers seek to interview candidates, explore their views, and opine on whose approach is best suited to their constituency. To step back from endorsements is to step back from those interviewsand to step back from being a relevant, informed, and valued source of information for our readers. That also means ceding influence to bombastic and less accountable bloggers, podcasters, and YouTubers. There can be high-quality content on any platform, but if candidates and public officials continue the trend of answering questions primarily from sympathetic outlets, the end of endorsements deprives citizens of an opportunity to get hard and important questions answered.

Given the difficulty of justifying endorsements for lesser offices after negating their value for the presidency, theres significant reason to fear the long-term impact of this heedless step down a slippery slope. Certainly, there is a business decision to be made regarding whether newspapers gain or lose more readersand trustby endorsing presidential candidates. Its quite possible that this decision may eventually prove to have been a smart one. But good business decisions (especially those involving the Fourth Estate) ought to be well-articulated, well-timed, and based upon more than flawed sentiments that misstate our influence and underestimate our impact on readers and the nation. Bezoss decision to permanently step away from endorsements, at least as he describes it, fails on all of those counts. On that, apparently, more than 250,000 former Post subscribers seem to agree.
Statues of bulls in Pudong's Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai, China, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.

China issued revised regulations on Friday for foreign investors in its listed companies, expanding eligibility criteria and easing financial requirements in a bid to attract more foreign investment.

Under the new regulations, China will allow foreign individuals to invest strategically in listed companies, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.

The asset threshold for non-controlling foreign investors has been lowered, now requiring $50 million instead of $100 million.

The country will also add tender offer as an approved investment method, along with private placement and negotiated transfer, the statement said.
U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) (R-LA) answers questions during a press conference with Republican leadership on Capitol Hill on September 18, 2024 in Washington, DC.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that Republicans "probably will" try to repeal legislation that spurred U.S. production of semiconductor chips, a statement he quickly tried to walk back by saying he would like to instead "streamline" it.

Johnson made the initial comment while campaigning for a vulnerable New York GOP congressman in a district that is anticipating a large new Micron semiconductor manufacturing plant.

A reporter asked Johnson whether he would try to repeal the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had disparaged last week. "I expect that we probably will, but we haven't developed that part of the agenda yet," Johnson replied.

Democrats quickly jumped on the Republican speaker's comments, warning that it showed how Johnson and Trump are pursuing an aggressive conservative agenda bent on dismantling even popular government programs. The White House has credited the CHIPS Act for spurring hundreds of billions of dollars of investments as well as hundreds of thousands of jobs. Vice President Kamala Harris has pointed to the legislation on the campaign trail as proof that Democrats can be entrusted with the U.S. economy.

Johnson, who voted against the legislation, later said in a statement that the CHIPS Act, which poured $54 billion into the semiconductor manufacturing industry, "is not on the agenda for repeal."

"To the contrary, there could be legislation to further streamline and improve the primary purpose of the billto eliminate its costly regulations and Green New Deal requirements," the speaker's statement said.
Henry Kum Lim sponsored the immigration of his wife, Wai Yen Lim, and his children in the 1960s. Provided by Check Mok

Many would consider how my immediate family came to America in 1966 the right way because they waited their turn in the immigration line.

My grandfather, Henry Kum Lim, sponsored my parents and siblings to come to the United States. Their application was eased by the Immigration Act of 1965  the law that lifted restrictive national quotas that favored immigrants from northern European countries and placed a priority on immigrants who already had family members in the U.S. Its passage started a wave of immigration that continues to this day for my Chinese American family and millions of others from Asia and the rest of the non-European world.

Taking a step back in my familys history, though, and our immigration story may not be so right. My grandfather didnt wait his turn.

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As a young man in the late 1920s, my grandfather was part of the crew of a freighter from Hong Kong that docked in San Francisco. He sneaked off the ship, possibly jumping overboard, and never went back, according to family lore.

He was an illegal immigrant, long the scapegoat for the countrys problems, and the bogeyman Donald Trump is using to sow fear and whip up the support of right-wing voters in his presidential campaign.

If Trump is elected president, hes promised to use law enforcement and the military to help round up undocumented immigrants for mass deportations. The plans are also part of Project 2025, a potential agenda for another Trump administration.

Trump said last year that immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country, and that they are criminals taking jobs away from Americans.

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Its a familiar trope that never goes away. This xenophobic fervor and its racist overtones are on the rise again in the country with Trump basing his presidential campaign on bashing immigrants, among other groups.

When my grandfather came to America, the Chinese Exclusion Act, based on scapegoating and racism, was in effect in the U.S. The law barred most immigration from China and banned Chinese immigrants from becoming citizens.

Thats why my grandfather had to sneak off the ship. How he managed to stay under the radar of immigration authorities has been lost to time.

Like my grandfather, people found a way around the exclusion act, including many who adopted paper identities of legal Chinese immigrants and passed harsh questioning of their backgrounds at the Angel Island Immigration Station.

My grandfather managed for decades without proper documentation (he eventually became a citizen). Had he been deported in a Trump-style roundup, he would have been reunited with my grandmother and my mother and uncle, who he left behind in China.

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But there were no roundups or mass deportations back then. And so, there was no family reunion, yet. World War II made sure of that. My grandfather lost contact with his family, who were displaced by the chaos of war in rural Guangdong Province. It was probably hard for him to not fear the worst.

My grandfather made a life in the U.S., working various jobs in restaurants, as a farm laborer and, when his English was good enough, teaching driving lessons in San Francisco. He even remarried. (This is not an uncommon Chinese immigration story and could be a whole other column.)

Restaurants stuck with him, and after receiving some culinary training, he became a chef in the late 1950s. By this time, his second wife had passed away, and he was making efforts to figure out what happened to his first wife and children. He found them in Hong Kong.

One day in 1961, my mother couldnt believe it when she saw her father walk into the shack with a dirt floor where she, my siblings and my grandmother were living with two other families. Mom thought she was dreaming seeing her dad after all these decades.

Soon after, my grandfather set up the family in better housing, and after returning to the U.S., he started sending money to support them.

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Even after decades apart, the family connection remained strong. My grandfather wanted what all immigrants seek  an opportunity to make a better life for his family.

The wheels were in motion for the rest of the family to immigrate. My grandmother went first in 1963 three years before the rest of the family.

I wouldnt be born until 1968  and if birthright citizenship wasnt allowed, as Trump wants, I wouldnt be a U.S. citizen. I might not be around at all if my grandfather had been caught in an immigration crackdown like the one called for by Trump, or if laws were changed to drastically curtail family reunification, as Trump and Project 2025 propose.

There would be no immigrant moxie to start the family business, a Chinese vegetable farm that my brother eventually took over. There would be no career in journalism for me, as a biologist for my oldest brother or in the National Forest Service for my sister. There might be no grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Some might say we pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps like youre supposed to do. We were fortunate. We got help along the way. It worked for us. Were not much different than most of the millions of other immigrant families, no matter their circumstances or how they got here.

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About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

Trump is right about one thing. The immigration system needs fixing. The solutions are complicated and will take years if not decades. This wont happen as long as immigration is used as a political tool to fan the flames of hate and divisiveness that is halting reforms by Congress.
A 24-hour Yonhapnews TV broadcast at Yongsan Railway Station in Seoul showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) and his daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae (L), observe a test launch of new intercontinental ballistic missile "Hwasong-19" at an undisclosed place in North Korea. Kim Jae-Hwan | SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images

North Korea boasted Friday that the new intercontinental ballistic missile it just test-launched is "the world's strongest," a claim seen as pure propaganda after experts assessed it as being too big to be useful in a war situation. The ICBM launched Thursday flew higher and for a longer duration than any other weapon North Korea has tested. But foreign experts say the test failed to show North Korea has mastered some of the last remaining technological hurdles to possess functioning ICBMs that can strike the mainland U.S. The North's Korean Central News Agency identified the missile as a Hwasong-19 and called it "the world's strongest strategic missile" and "the perfected weapon system." The official media outlet said leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch, describing it as an expression of North Korea's resolve to respond to external threats to North Korea's security. The color and shape of the exhaust flames seen in North Korean state media photos of the launch suggest the missile uses preloaded solid fuel, which makes weapons more agile and harder to detect than liquid propellants that in general must be fueled beforehand.

But experts say the photos show the ICBM and its launch vehicle are both oversized, raising a serious question about their wartime mobility and survivability. "When missiles get bigger, what happens? The vehicles get larger, too. As the transporter-erector launchers get bigger, their mobility decreases," Lee Sangmin, an expert at South Korea's Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. The Hwasong-19 was estimated to be at least 28 meters long (92 feet) while advanced U.S. and Russian ICBMs are less than 20 meters long (66 feet), said Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Seoul's Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. He suggested that the missile's size likely helped South Korean intelligence authorities detect the launch plan in advance. "In the event of a conflict, such an exposure makes the weapon a target of a preemptive attack by opponents so there would be a big issue of survivability," Chang said. Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said North Korea may have developed a larger missile to carry bigger and more destructive warheads or multi-warheads. If that's the case, Lee said North Korea could have used liquid fuels as they generate higher thrust than solid fuels. He said some advanced liquid propellants can be stored in missiles for a few weeks before liftoffs.

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Lee said North Korea may have placed a dummy, empty warhead on the Hwasong-19 to make it fly higher. In recent years, North Korea has reported steady advancement in its efforts to obtain nuclear-tipped missiles. Many foreign experts believe North Korea likely has missiles that can deliver nuclear strikes on all of South Korea, but it has yet to possess nuclear missiles that can strike the mainland U.S. The hurdles it has yet to overcome, according to experts, include ensuring its warheads survive the heat and stress of atmospheric reentry, improving the guidance systems for the missiles, and being able to use multiple warheads on a single missile to defeat missile defenses. "Acquiring reentry technology is currently the most important goal in North Korea's missile development, specifically for ICBMs, but they just keep increasing the ranges instead. This possibly suggests they still lack confidence in their reentry technology," Lee Sangmin said. Chang said Friday's state media dispatch on the launch lacks details on the technological aspects of the Hawsong-19 and focused on publicity. Other North Korean claims about its weapons capabilities have been met with wide outside skepticism. In June, North Korea claimed to have tested a multiwarhead missile in the first known launch of such a weapon, but South Korea said the weapon instead blew up. In July, when North Korea said it had test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying "a super-large warhead," South Korea said the claim was an attempt to conceal a botched launch. North Korea's missile program is still a major regional security concern, with the country openly threatening to use its nuclear missiles against its rivals. In a joint statement Thursday, the foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan condemned the ICBM launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and said they're committed to strengthening their efforts to block North Korea's illicit revenue generation funding its missile and nuclear programs.

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Conservative leadership contender Kemi Badenoch delivers a speech on the final day of Conservative party conference at Birmingham ICC Arena on October 2, 2024 in Birmingham, England.

LONDON  The U.K.'s opposition Conservative Party on Saturday named right-wing Kemi Badenoch as its new leader, closing a long-drawn-out runoff after the Tories' landslide electoral defeat ushered in a moment of reckoning for the party.

Badenoch ousted Robert Jenrick to secure the top job, replacing outgoing leader and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

"It is the most enormous honor to be elected to this role," Badenoch said, giving her maiden speech as party leader shortly after the results were announced.

The decision follows a three-month contest, during which an initial shortlist of six candidates whittled down to two through four rounds of voting by Tory Members of Parliament (MP).

The ultimate winner was decided by Conservative Party members, with Badenoch receiving 53,806 votes to Jenrick's 41,388. Voter turnout was 72.8%.

Badenoch's victory confirms a further shift to the right for the U.K.'s oldest political party, suggesting it may take a more hardline approach toward immigration, climate measures and culture politics in opposition.

Badenoch and fellow right-wing candidate Jenrick were seen as unlikely opponents in the final vote, with some MPs suggesting that tactical voting intended to hurt their least favorite figure had instead backfired on former frontrunner and more centrist contender James Cleverly.

The Conservatives suffered a bruising defeat in the U.K.'s July 4 general election, when Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government secured a landslide victory as voters grew weary of ongoing leadership changes and political infighting at the tail end of 14 years of Tory rule.

Badenoch said the Conservatives had to acknowledge their previous errors and change course.

"Our party is critical to the success of our country. But to be heard, we have to be honest. Honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we left standards slip," she stressed on Saturday.

"The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future. To reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve. It is time to get down to business. It is time to renew," Badenoch added.
An employee works the egg processing machine at Sunrise Farms in Petaluma on Aug. 22. The farm is one of a group that is at risk of shutting down if Measure J, which would ban factory farming in Sonoma County, passes on Tuesday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Organic eggs await processing at Sunrise Farms in Petaluma. The farm is one of a group that is at risk of shutting down if Measure J, which would ban factory farming in Sonoma County, passes on Tuesday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Last week, while trying to vote during lunch, I pored over my mail-in ballot and my pile of Berkeley-specific voter guides, taking care not to get focaccia crumbs and organic tomato juice on everything. So I am the prime voter demographic for the proponents of Measure DD, which prohibits concentrated animal feeding operations  what some would call factory farms  in the city of Berkeley.

Barring two tiny community farms and however many backyard chicken coops, Berkeley doesnt have livestock. Unsurprisingly, I have seen a total of two posters about this issue around the city because at this point the measure is basically as performative as an anti-racist warhead.

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But in Sonoma County, its a different story. Voters will decide on Measure J, a nearly identical ballot initiative to the one in Berkeley that would ban concentrated animal feeding operations, known as CAFOs, from a region where agriculture is a major economic driver, generating $418 million yearly on top of providing 1,381 jobs directly and indirectly related to the industry, according to one analysis. So small and large farmers, local dairy companies like Straus Family Creamery and Clover, environmental nonprofits, multiple city councils, and even the countys Republican and Democratic parties have joined forces to rally against a measure that they say will have devastating consequences for everyone.

Measure J would phase out existing CAFOs of any size by 2027 and prohibit new ones from forming. Doing so would require the county to keep a registry of these operations and report on compliance with the measure. Farms that dont comply would face thousands of dollars in fees and would be open to litigation by private citizens. The measure would also mandate a job-retraining program for displaced workers.

Its true that the American food system desperately needs to change.

Small-scale Bay Area producers of sustainably raised meats like Stemple Creek Ranch are outliers in a national market dominated by corporate livestock operations that generate enormous amounts of pollution, food supply contamination and waste while driving down wages and immiserating people and animals. Two of the nations biggest poultry producers, Tyson Foods and Perdue Farms, were subject to federal investigations during the past year over their use of child laborers tasked with cleaning slaughterhouses on overnight shifts. And recent outbreaks of E. coli and listeria at major grocery stores and chain restaurants like McDonalds are a reminder that monopolistic food production can turn one plants mistakes into an entire countrys problem.

Food security experts and climate scientists generally agree that we need to diversify our food sources, eat less meat and consume less in general. But food is a system, and a ban in one county or city, while admirable, isnt the right way to fix these problems.

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A localized ban, if enacted, is likely to do more harm than good.

The main problem with the approach in Sonoma County and Berkeley is semantics. CAFO, the foundational concept in the measures, is a term used by the Environmental Protection Agency to classify entities according to the amount of water pollution they may generate. If a farm has more than 700 dairy cows kept indoors at least 45 days out of a year, that farm, a large CAFO, is subject to specific regulations over how to handle the cow waste.

No one can even agree on how many CAFOs exist in Sonoma County. The Yes on J website says 21, while the Sonoma County Economic Development Board says 11. When I asked an analyst with the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that researches industrialized agriculture, he estimated six.

Even weirder, the measure is purely about scale and not about how well the animals are being treated or how much space they have. Regardless of whether the 700 cows can graze on 700 acres or seven for most of the year or whether theyre eventually beaten to death or massaged gently into oblivion, its still a large CAFO for the EPAs purposes.

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Liberty Ducks isnt a large CAFO by any means, but fifth-generation owner Jennifer Reichardt told me she is still concerned about how the measure would impact her familys farm. There are the ripple effects of eliminating the countys biggest players from the market, which could potentially drive up prices for feed and other necessities that get cheaper with scale. And smaller farms with razor-thin finances could be sued over perceived violations if the measure is enacted. So it frustrates Reichardt that Measure Js proponents say banning CAFOs would make more room in the market for small farms like hers. You havent talked to us. And it seems like you want to get rid of us.

Economics is everything: Most farmer-operators dont opt into industrial agriculture freely. The average American dairy managed to turn a profit just twice from 2000 through 2021, according to Food and Water Watch, a research group cited by Measure Js supporters.

The way we farm in this country is intrinsically shaped by Americans appetite for cheap food, land prices and top-down policies like grain and dairy subsidies, which push farmers to try to extract as much profit as possible from shrinking plots of land. While CAFOs are owned by major corporations like Perdue, the farmers who operate them are largely contractors trapped in debt to those corporations, said the experts I spoke to. Even as Americans balk at high grocery prices, the profit is gobbled up by corporate middlemen.

Animal producers have to scale to make larger profits, wrote Ethan Bahe, a senior analyst of the Environmental Working Group when I reached out via email. It is very hard for small farms to make enough money off of raising a small number of animals. The input costs required, like barns or feedlots, are similar no matter how many animals you raise, so having more animals is necessary to make more money.

Furthermore, youll receive more federal subsidies for more animals, so the government actively encourages CAFOs.

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While Measure J was inspired by New Jersey Sen. Cory Bookers Farm System Reform Act of 2019, a ballot measure cant be as systemic as federal legislation, Cassie King, the spokesperson for the Yes on J campaign and the Berkeley-based activist group Direct Action Everywhere, told me. Bookers bill (and a similar one championed by Santa Clara Rep. Ro Khanna in 2023) included funding for farmers to get out of debt and invest in more climate-friendly infrastructure, stronger antitrust enforcement to break up corporate food monopolies and prevent price-fixing, and shifted liability for environmental and health issues to the companies, not individual farmers.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

King acknowledged that a ballot measure was incapable of being so comprehensive, though she pointed out that it was at least a big conversation starter. It certainly boosted the profile of Direct Action Everywhere, a major driver of the Sonoma County and Berkeley measures, and prompted farmers in Sonoma to be more vocal about the reality of their work.
America will elect its 47th President next week. At least 99 percent of the votes will be cast by American citizens. With millions of illegal immigrants having poured through our countrys southern border over the past four years, there will be some illegal ballots cast by non-citizens. The opening of the border by the Democratic administration was permitted to allow these illegal immigrants to vote Democratic.

Fortunately, most of these illegal votes will be cast in California, because Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott had the foresight to steer the flow of illegal immigrants to California or bus them to other liberal Democratic sanctuary cities. Thus, any illegal immigrant votes will not affect the bottom-line result, because these states are left-wing, blue Democratic states anyway. The illegal votes will merely run up the score in the national election total votes for the Democrats, which is irrelevant.

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As you know, we do not elect our president by popular vote but by an electoral college system, whereby each state casts the same number of electoral votes as they have members of Congress. The magic number of electoral votes is 270.Thats the number you should be watching for as you surmise the election results next Tuesday night.

As late as six decades ago in the 1960 Presidential Election between Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat John Kennedy, there were 40 states in play that were not predetermined by party preference. People voted for the person and not the party. Therefore, Nixon and Kennedy had to campaign in all 40 states and their appearance and campaigning made a difference. That is why John Kennedy selected his enemy Lyndon Johnson to be his vice-presidential running mate in order to carry the state of Texas.

Today, the election is exactly diametrically the opposite as 1960. In next Tuesdays Presidential Electoral College Election, there are only seven states in play that really matter. The hay is in the barn in 43 states. The country is divided along party lines like never before in history. Thats why the polling reveals a 48/48 split and has since the move by the Democrats to swap Joe Biden for Kamala Harris. If Mickey Mouse were the Republican nominee, he would carry Alabama and Kansas. By the same token, if Donald Duck were the Democratic nominee, he would carry California and New York.

Again, as you are watching Tuesday night, ignore the national horse race numbers. A Democrat will get the most votes because there are more voters in California and New York than there are in Alabama and Kansas. As soon as the polls close, the news channels will color 43 states either red or blue, because the exit polls will tell them what everyone knows and that is that these states are in the bank or as we would say in red states, the hay is in the barn. Most of the country, geographically, including most of the less populous states, will be covered in red. The blue will stick out on the left coast of California, Washington and Oregon. One blue state in the middle of the country, Illinois, and the other end of the country New York and New Jersey.

The battle for the White House will be waged in the seven pivotal, swing battleground states where the partisan divide is especially divided. Those states, which will decide the election are Georgia and North Carolina in the South, Arizona and Nevada in the West and the three rust belt midwestern states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Democrats were going to lose with Joe Biden at the top of the ticket. Younger Democratic voters were not going to vote for a decrepit senile old white man. They were not going to vote for Trump either and would have just stayed home.

However, the orchestrated maneuver to replace Biden with Kamala Harris was a brilliant ploy. She, being a liberal Democrat of mixed origin and of color, has brought the younger Democratic base Black voter into the fold and they will turn out to vote for Kamala Harris. That is what has made this a 48/48 percent horse race, which leaves the 4 percent undecided vote in these seven states  the golden circle of voters. Although Kamala Harris brings home the young, Black Democratic voter, polling shows that this golden circle of undecided voters made up of white, middleclass suburban women, may not be solidly in her corner. These women  probably in Michigan and Wisconsin  will more than likely decide who is the 47th President. However, turnout is the ultimate key to this race and in any close election.

Is the Trump older, conservative Republican base more enthused and motivated, or does the liberal Democratic base get their voters to the polls for Harris?
Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Ryan Khojasteh, a former San Francisco prosecutor, is challenging his former boss in the November election. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

After years of bitterly contested elections for San Francisco district attorney, this years race has played out quietly by comparison.

Ever since her July 2022 mayoral appointment after the recall of progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Brooke Jenkins has sought to cultivate an aura of inevitability in her subsequent campaigns.

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She handily won a November 2022 special election to finish Boudins term, despite some ethical controversies that rattled her first days in office. And this year she has rarely acknowledged challenger Ryan Khojasteh, a former San Francisco prosecutor Jenkins fired shortly after taking office.

While Jenkins team recently released an attack ad on Khojasteh, there have been no debates and no polls released on the race. Meanwhile two pro-Jenkins committees have outraised Khojasteh $544,000 to $109,000.

I dont take Ryan to be a serious contender, Jenkins said when asked why she declined Khojastehs requests for a debate, noting that he had challenged Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi five years ago for her congressional seat.

She did not debate him, I think for much the same reason, Jenkins said.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins says she doesnt take Ryan Khojasteh as a serious contender in the race for her job. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle 2023

Khojasteh struck a more optimistic tone just days before the Nov. 5 election, saying that hes been humbled by the number of residents who say theyve already voted for him.

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I think its a testament to the strength of our grassroots campaign, Khojasteh said in a Thursday interview.

Khojasteh is viewed as the more progressive candidate to Jenkins, a moderate who has won the endorsements of Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Sen. Scott Wiener and six of San Franciscos 11 supervisors. While Khojasteh was endorsed by progressive prosecutor standard-bearers George Gascon in Los Angeles and Larry Krasner in Philadelphia, hes also worked to distance himself from the movement, framing his policies as balanced.

Khojasteh said his run has consisted of door-knocking and more boots-on-the-ground work, talking with residents at bus stops, street fairs and farmers markets. His message, he said, is to remove politics from the offices decision-making, and expand programming that has proven successful in reducing recidivism, like diversion programs.

I tell everyone, I first hope to earn your trust and then your vote, Khojasteh said. And to see all these people who have come up to me since the ballots have gone out, has given me a really confident look on this election.

Jenkins, meanwhile, argued that her race has been drowned out largely because her offices approach to criminal justice is aligned with the majority of San Franciscans.

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I am somebody who believes that we have to, first and foremost, have accountability, but that we can balance that by still accomplishing necessary reforms, she said. I think voters see the momentum that we have right now in addressing the crime problems that were of most concern to them, and they want to see that continue.

Longtime political consultant Jim Ross said that while he thinks the race will probably be closer than a lot of people think, Khojasteh has little shot of winning.

I think the big issue that he faced is that he hasnt really been able to activate that progressive piece in San Francisco, said Ross, who worked on Boudins anti-recall campaign.

Ross said its difficult to run against a district attorney incumbent who isnt seen as vulnerable, and that the presidential election and other local races have largely drowned out this race.

Also, Ross noted, crime has been falling in San Francisco, a trend thats consistent with large cities across the U.S.

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I think police and the DA are kind of getting a handle on things, Ross said. While many people still consider crime trends a top concern, Ross said, I feel like its starting to run its course as an issue.

Jenkins, who was a line prosecutor under Boudin before helping to lead the recall against him, has rolled back some of her predecessors policies, arguing for more people to remain jailed before trial and helping to lead a citywide crackdown on drug crimes.

Like many of Boudins critics, Jenkins seized on fears of out-of-control crime that seethed while he was in office. While crime trends were mixed during Boudins administration, and probably heavily influenced by a pandemic that overlapped much of his term, the perception of a lawless city was bolstered by often-viral footage of brazen store burglaries, homelessness and open-air drug markets.

Khojasteh, who was hired by Boudin and later went on to work for Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price  who faces her own recall election  has aligned himself with the Bay Areas more progressive flank, but said there are key distinctions.

He hasnt proposed the type of sweeping reforms championed by the likes of Boudin or Gascon, which include eliminating or greatly reducing the use of cash bail, charging juveniles as adults or the use of sentencing enhancements.

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Khojasteh instead focused on more granular policy changes: Among them, he said he would like to expand the offices use of collaborative courts and diversion programs, and to more often use a grand jury for charging decisions on politically sensitive cases, like those involving police use of force or public corruption.

Khojasteh said his default policy would be not to charge juveniles as adults, but said there may be rare exceptions. This is similar to Jenkins practice: In her more than two years in office she has only recently requested to charge two juveniles, each accused of murder, as adults.

Jenkins has brought us back to failed policies of the past, Khojasteh said. I have a forward looking approach, but ultimately my job isnt necessarily to pursue criminal justice reform.

Jenkins, whose campaign ad called Khojasteh Boudin 2.0, argues that its her challenger who would move the city backward.